Shul News & Notes
The Ethical Life: Jewish Values in an Age of Choice
Registration Deadline November 25, 2019
This course is designed to help communities and individuals develop an understanding of how Jewish ethics can inform our discussions and decisions about critical issues. Sponsored by the Marshall S. Hurwitz Fund for Special Programs and Projects of Congregation Tifereth Israel and developed by the Jewish Theological Seminary, this is a rare opportunity to take a dynamic interactive course right here in Greenport.
The complete course is twelve classes and is divided into three sections, starting Sunday December 8, 15 and 29 at 11:30 am, each with a video lecture by JTS faculty, reading material, and professional facilitation by Rabbi Capela. All sessions will be recorded and once you are registered and have paid, you will receive a link giving you access to the videos and course materials online so they can be viewed at home.
Need a ride to the classes? We will take care of that, too.
There is a tax deductible contribution of $36 per individual/$54 per couple for the course payable when you register or you may bring your check to the first class on Dec 8. If you prefer to register by phone, call the office at 631-477-0232.
If you have additional questions, please contact Ann Hurwitz at 212-666-1489 or Kathur6833@aol.com.
The Gift Shop Is Stocked With Hanukkah Essentials
As difficult as it is to believe, it is true that a year has passed, and it’s time to ready your gift list, your gelt list, and your Hanukkah essentials list. You can trust the shul’s Gift Shop to respond to all those needs.
From menorahs to chocolate coins, from majestic tall candles to colorful shorties, from dreidels to, well, gifts, the Gift Shop is your one-stop shopping emporium.
Call the shul at 631-477-0232 and leave a message for Sara Bloom, and you’ll be on your way to Hanukkah happiness. By the way, for last minute shopping, come to the Congregation meeting on Sunday, Dec. 15 (10 a.m.), and browse the Hanukkah goodies on display in the community room.
First Hanukkah candle: Sunday, Dec. 22.
The Book Circle Chooses A High-Stakes Adventure Novel
The Book Circle will meet Wednesday, Nov. 20, at noon, at the synagogue to examine a high-stakes adventure novel by Julie Orringer titled The Flight Portfolio.
In 1940, Varian Fry traveled to Marseille carrying three thousand dollars and a list of imperiled artists and writers he hoped to help escape within a few weeks. Instead, he stayed more than a year, working to procure false documents, amass emergency funds, and arrange journeys across Spain and Portugal, where the refugees would embark for safer ports. His many clients included Hannah Arendt, Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, and Marc Chagall. The race against time to save them is a tale of love, adventure, and courage.
For more information about The Book Circle, call the shul at 631-477-0232, and leave a message for Susan Rosenstreich.
Long-Range Planning survey
Have you completed the Long-Range Planning survey? Our shul’s Long-Range Planning Committee is looking ahead to secure a meaningful future for our synagogue. To that end, your thoughts on the issues addressed in the survey will help guide the committee in this important work. With the results of the survey in hand, the committee will be able to implement plans that will move us forward.
At last report, nearly 50% of congregants have already responded. If you have not, please do so. If you need another copy of the survey, please call the shul at 631-477-0232 and ask Andrea to email a copy to you. Your opinion matters.
Bob Strimban Sculpture dedication
Irma Strimban (Photo left)/ Judith Weiner and Rabbi Gadi Capela (photo middle)
One of the last pieces constructed by artist Robert Strimban is the paper sculpture titled “The Unfinished Rabbi,” completed using only paper and an Xacto knife. The work is now installed permanently in the community room at our shul, thanks to a generous gift by the artist’s widow, Irma Strimban.
The members of the shul’s Judaism & Art group, led by Saul Rosenstreich and Rabbi Gadi Capela, consulted with professional framers to house the sculpture on a base, place it on a pedestal, and protect it with a transparent enclosure that allows viewing from three sides, revealing the work’s intricate details.
The piece was dedicated and officially installed on Sunday, Oct. 20, in a ceremony attended by dozens of congregants and friends. Refreshments were provided by the Men’s Club.
The Shofar joins the membership in thanking Irma Strimban for this generous gift, and the Judaism & Art group for their efforts to display this important work with artistic integrity.
Judith Wiener photo