Shul News & Notes
Oculus: Eye On Art
This month’s Oculus column features a 14 x 4-inch clay figure by Graham Diamond, a member of the shul’s Judaism and Art group. As the artist explained, he was working on a figure of a sleeping woman in a class with six women and Margaret Wozniak, their Polish teacher. One of the women began talking about the many different ways of making pierogies — what spices to include, which oils to use in the pot. “Eavesdropping, I learned there are different uses for the cooking oil once the pierogies are done. As my piece took shape, my sleeping sculpture resting there with her eyes closed, I knew it was fate.
I titled her ‘Pierogi Dreamer.’”
Photo by the artist
Vigorous Bidding Right Up To Deadline At The Virtual Silent Auction
It was a nail-biter right up to the final minutes at the closing party of the 2021 Virtual Silent Auction. With all the last-minute traffic on the 32 Auction site, some bidders were having trouble accessing the list of items on the auction block. Working in the background to keep pace with the bidders were auction co-chairs Tom Byrne, Francis Dubois and Madelyn Rothman, who were also pointing out some of the great bargains that were there for smart bidders.
The 50-50 raffle, a popular purchase for the chance to win some cold hard cash, had buyers jumping in before the site closed promptly at 6 p.m. on May 23. Tom Byrne, tasked with adding names to the pot, was scrambling to get every last bid before the final seconds.
When the site shut down at 6 p.m., Tom was ready. He handed the container with the names of the buyers to his wife, Veronica Kaliski, who drew the name of the winner — shul member Ann Hurwitz, who exclaimed that before that minute, she had never won anything in her entire life. The 50-50 raffle alone brought in $1,980, with the winner entitled to half
Total revenue from the auction was $6,721. Those assembled applauded Ann on her win, and the three co-chairs for a terrific job amassing more than 60 items and making the 2021 event profitable for the shul and a fun time for all.
Nominating Committee Announces Slate of Officers For 2021-2022
The Nominating Committee has announced the slate of officers and directors for the 2021-22 term:
President: Judith K. Weiner
Vice President: Sara Bloom
Treasurer: Alan Garmise
Financial Secretary: Susan Rosenstreich
Corresponding Secretary: Elaine Goldman
Recording Secretary: Joanna Paulsen
Members at Large:; Miriam Gabriel; Ann Hurwitz; Madelyn Rothman
Also serving on the board
Sisterhood Representative: Adrianne Greenberg
Men’s Club Representative: Thomas Byrne
The election will be held at the annual Congregation meeting on Sunday, June 13, 10 a.m., via Zoom. All congregants are encouraged to attend the meeting to vote on the slate and to show support for the officers and directors for the new term.
Members of the Nominating Committee are Rochelle Garmise, chair; Paul Nadel and Dede Whitsit.
Lunch And Learn – Israel in Crisis: The View From Those Living It
Monday, 31 May
No Lunch and Learn: Memorial Day observance
Thursday, 3 June
Israel in Crisis: The View From Those Living It
An Important Lunch and Learn Discussion
Lunch and Learn has just secured three guests with first-hand knowledge and personal insights on the conflict in Israel and Gaza. Zoom at noon on Thursday, June 3, for “Israel: A Shul Family View,” portrait of a nation in crisis.
Featured speakers are Saura Weiner Naim, shul president Judith Weiner’s daughter, who lived in Israel and was visiting family there when the sirens sounded; Judith’s granddaughter, Matan Naim, who lives and works in Tel Aviv; and Efrat Derry, Rabbi Gadi’s sister, who lives with her family in Ashdod. Their witness reports can run counter to the mainstream media and social media versions we hear in this country — often skewed to the politics of the news organizations.
A cease fire is in place. Yet, it seems tenuous at best. We heard about continuing civil unrest from Israelis who joined us on our earlier Lunch and Learn session devoted to the recent strife. What’s more, the focus on Israel has served as a catalyst for extremist views and a terrifying uptick in antisemitic activity throughout this country and abroad. How do we respond to these threats?
Be sure to Zoom at noon next Thursday, June 3, for an important and compelling Lunch and Learn.
Virtual Silent Auction Closing Party 🎉🎉🎉
It’s another party, and you’re invited.
Remember all the fun we had at the opening party to kick off our Virtual Silent Auction? Well, there’s more fun on the way with our closing party, set for Sunday, May 23, at 5 p.m. Zoom in with your cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in hand, and take one last look at the goods and services on the auction site before the bidding stops and the auction closes precisely at 6 p.m. Be sure to stick around because at 6:01, we’ll draw the winning name and find out who is going to take home big money — that’s real money, nothing virtual about it — from the 50-50 auction. Maybe it will be you.
Come to the party this coming Sunday, May 23, at 5 p.m.
Directions: visit www.
See you Monday at 5 on Zoom.
Get Social