Shul News & Notes
Join Us For Early Shabbat Service On Feb. 21, Followed By Dinner
Following the success of the shul’s early Shabbat service at 6 p.m. on Jan. 24, followed by a Shabbat dinner, the “experiment” will continue this month, on Friday, Feb. 21.
The idea behind the experiment is to welcome Shabbat during the dark winter months of January, February and March closer to the actual time that Shabbat officially begins, not at the 7:30 p.m. time that Shabbat services traditionally begin at our shul. That idea combined with a suggestion that Shabbat dinners are popular with congregants led to what shul president Susan Rosenstreich called “the experiment” — early Shabbat followed by a meal together.
Please RSVP to ctigreenport@gmail.com so we’ll know to expect you on Feb. 21.
Experience An Experiment; Expect Extra Exuberance On Jan. 31
Please excuse our ex-uberant and ex-hausting ex-pression of ex-ultation, but The Shofar is ex-tra ex-cited to report what shul president Susan Rosenstreich calls an “ex-periment.” In the spirit of the ex-periment, we offer the following ex-planation.
The ex-periment will be ex-ecuted three times over the dark winter months, beginning in January, the darkest of them all. It grew ex-ponentially from a discussion at the December meeting of the Congregation, where analysis of the Long-Term Planning Committee’s survey was ex-plored. In dialogue focused on preferred times for synagogue events, congregants ex-plicated that Shabbat services in the winter months take place long after the start of Shabbat, which begins not at 7:30 in the evening, when Shabbat services are scheduled, but often in the late afternoon. Combine that notion with a suggestion that Shabbat dinners are an ex-cellent way to appeal to congregants and prospective members and, well, there you have it — the ex-periment.
So, on Jan. 31, the Shabbat closest to Rosh Chodesh, services will begin at 6 p.m. instead of 7:30. And, services will be followed by a Shabbat supper in the social hall. Similarly on Rosh Chodesh Feb. 21 and March 20, the ex-periment will continue. Watch your email for more information on the January installment of the ex-periment.
See you at 6 on the 31st — no ex-cuses. Please RSVP ctigreenport@gmail.com so we’ll know to ex-pect you. And be sure to ex-press your thoughts to the president before you ex-it.
Shul Member Tells Book Circle Group About Holocaust Escapee
Shul member Graham Diamond will recount for the Book Circle the harrowing story of Aron Goldfarb, who was ripped from his bed in Poland and forced to enter a Jewish work camp, and how he and his brother made their courageous escape.
Maybe You Will Survive: A Holocaust Memoir was co-written by Aron Goldfarb with Graham Diamond. According to the story, the brothers hid together in underground holes on an estate controlled by the Gestapo. The narrative is “a testament to the strength of human endurance, and the power of relationships,” Amazon said.
The Book Circle will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at noon, in the social hall of the shul.
For more information about The Book Circle, call the shul at 631-477-0232, and leave a message for Susan Rosenstreich.
Putting The Survey Results To Work
Surveys are one thing, but putting the information they yield to good use takes meaningful collaboration. At the Dec. 15 Congregation meeting, you — those who completed the Long-Range Planning Committee’s survey, and those who participated in the analytical discussion that morning — showed the committee how to translate the survey’s results into meaningful action. Since the survey data represented a 59% return rate from you, and since you gave us great feedback at the Dec. 15 meeting, we now have a meaningful vision for future programming and growth. Here are highlights from the recent discussion.
PROGRAMMING: What you want in programming is a give-and-take format with speakers, perhaps in conjunction with Shabbat services and /or the onegs that follow. Ethics are high on your list of topics, and the shul’s Education Committee responded with the current JTS course, “Jewish Ethics in Today’s World.” History and Talmud/Torah are also of interest. We would like to hear your thoughts regarding speakers and programs with those interests in mind.
TIMES FOR PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES: Respondents agreed that we need to experiment with alternative times for activities. To begin, the shul is planning to hold Shabbat services at 6 p.m., rather than 7:30 on Rosh Chodesh Jan. 24, Feb. 21 and March 20, followed by supper in the social hall. Watch your email for more information about this initiative. [See separate store in this issue of The Shofar.]
FACILITIES AND BEAUTIFICATION: The newly-formed Fundraising Committee has been asked to address repairs to the Aron Kodesh. Also, since storage space is limited on the main floor, the committee will be looking to make better use of the building’s attic and basement.
NEW MEMBER OUTREACH: Publicity for our programs and special Shabbat services, and coffee hours with the Rabbi are some of the suggestions you would like to see implemented.
NEW FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE: The shul’s new Fundraising Committee, chaired by Judy Weiner, is tasked with coming up with new efforts to strengthen the shul’s financial position. Serving on the committee are Alan Garmise, Micah Kaplan, MD, Susan Rosenstreich, Sherry Shaw, and Nancy Torchio. Your ideas are welcome.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW: What you told us is that we should explore new ideas, working through ad hoc committees, discussions at Congregation meetings, and informal feedback. You are the driving force behind these initiatives, so please let us know what works and what doesn’t.
Thank you for participating in the survey, and for voicing your ideas to put the results of the survey into action.
—Judith Weiner, Survey Coordinator
—Susan Rosenstreich, President
2019 Poetry for Peace
Pictured, some of the young poets who participated in the 
program, held at the Mattituck Library on Nov. 24, and witnessed by one of the largest audiences in the 13- year history of the popular event. In the back row, from left, program facilitators Sylvia Pafenyk of the North Fork Reform Synagogue; Joan Prager and Paula Shengold of Congregation Tifereth Israel; and Billy Hands, one of three local poets who served as judges. Young poets from the Southold School District: Colin Sommo and Lyla Zablotny. From the Cutchogue School District: Raylan Disilvio, Addia Hough, Rachel Kubetz and Lily Lopez. From the Oyster Ponds School District: Nicholas Dowling, Sean Furman, Alex Rowson, Stella Squire and Noel Stevenson. Not pictured, judges Jerry Matovick and LB Thompson; and facilitator Fred Cohen of NFRS. “The program encourages the schoolchildren to appreciate poetry and to share their feelings and thoughts about peace,” Paula Shengold said.
Carol Seigel photo
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