With great sadness we inform you of the death of long time member Larry Mankin. A graveside funeral will be held on Friday, July 25 at 1:00 p.m. at Westlawn Cemetery Chapel, 7801 W. Montrose, Norridge.
The family will receive calls of condolence immediately following the funeral at the home of Andrea Taalman, 215 East Street, Park Ridge.
The family will receive calls of condolence at home in Park Forest on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 7:00 p.m. with minyanim at 7:30 p.m.
We extend our deepest sympathy to Goldie Mankin and the entire extended family.
May the memory of the righteous be a blessing.
Rabbi Ellen W. Dreyfus Gayla Cahan, President
—- On Edit —-
from the SouthtownStar . . . .
Larry Mankin, 69, of Park Forest, beloved husband of Goldie, nee Blumstein. Loving father of Jeffrey (Lisa) Mankin and Andrea (Kevin) Taalman. Devoted grandfather of Zachary, Taylor, Jacob and Benjamin. Son of the late Emanuel and the late Evelyn Mankin,. Brother of Doreen Sperling. Many loving relatives. Services Friday, 1:00 P.M. at the Westlawn Cemetery Chapel, 7801 W. Montrose, Norridge. Interment to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions would be appreciated in his memory to Ralph H. Hruban, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 401 N. Broadway, Weinberg 2242, Baltimore, MD 21231-2410 for pancreatic cancer research.
This evening’s Erev Shabbat service, conducted by the Dreyfuss - Shore families will begin at 8:00 pm, in the Garfein Wing.
Tomorrow morning’s Shabbat service, conducted by Rabbi Dreyfus will begin at 10:00 am in the Garfein wing. Jerry Levine will be the Cantorial Soloist.
The Prasha is Pinchas, Numbers 25:10-30:1. Last week Pinchas, in the direct priesgtly line descended from Aaron impaled an Israelite man and a Midianite Woman for rather lewd behavior, killing both with one stroke. This week Pinchas, rather than being punished for the taking of life, was praised, and G-d told Moses to go and kill the Midianites who were causing all of this trouble. Next follows a recapitulation of recent Israelite history and geneology, and rules of interitance.
Which brings up the problem of Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah, the daughters of Zelophehad, a man who had recently died. Zelophehad had no male heirs, and his daughters that it to be unfair that his property, and his name, would be lost. They asked that their’s father’s inheritance should descend to them. G-d told Moses that they were right, and decreed that they should inherit.
Joshus ben Nun is then selected as successor to Moses and Moses publicly lays his hands upon Joshua. Finally, we have a statement of the various sacrifices to be brought on various holidays, a section of the Torah that we read throughout the year.
The Haftarah is I Kings 18:46-19:21.
The BYBS Adult Choir adds beautiful music to our services singing from S’lichot through June, singing at all High Holiday services and usually once a month thereafter.
The Choir takes a month off begining mid-June, then begins weekly rehearsals at the end of July, each Tuesday at 8:00 PM at the Temple. The first rehearsal this year is scheduled for July 22, where the Choir will refresh memories of numbers sung in prior years, and begin to work on new music for the High Holidays.
Experience singing formal four part music and the ability to read music is very helpful, but general enthusiasm and a willingness to work long hours for little pay is even more important. If you’re interested, send an e-mail to capelmesiter@bybs.org, or just show up on July 22.
You supply the voice and we’ll make beautiful music together.
For almost 25 years, a bequest from the estate of Hans Jacoby has helped our children to travel to Israel. In the last year high schoolers Sophie Kern and Adam Dreyfuss have each spent a semester in Israel touring and studying under the auspices of the URJ’s Eisendrath International Exchange (EIE), in part thanks to Mr. Jacoby’s generosity.
Some comments from our world travelers:
I spent the first semester of my senior year in Israel on the Eisendrath International Exchange Program, a decision I made fairly quickly during my junior year, through a mixture of curiosity and boredom with high school. Rabbi Dreyfus had been encouraging me to go on the program for years, and The Hans Jacoby Fund supplied a generous donation to help. As the date to leave drew nearer, I started to panic, realizing that I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I had no idea what to expect.
Now that I’m back in the States and it’s been a few months, I’ve realized that there was no way I could have predicted the effect that Israel would have on me. I couldn’t have predicted what it would be like to be able to immerse myself in an ancient history that wasn’t distant or abstract, that I could only read about in books, but one I could see for myself, one that had written itself all over the land, and one that belonged to me. I saw some great things and made some great friends, and ultimately came away with a much clearer idea about where my people came from. That was something that nobody could have taught me with the same relevance and power in the United States.
Sophie Kern
To: The Board of B’nai Yehuda Beth Sholom and the Trustees of the Hans Jacoby Fund
I would like to begin my letter by saying that I can not express my gratitude enough for the funds that you have awarded me for my semester in Israel. When first discovering that a program such as NFTY EIE exists, I immediately turned to my parents to see if this was a possible option in my future; and the immediate answer was NO!
“Money is too tight. You go to a great school already. Your brother never did anything like this. You can go during college. Where do you expect us to get this kind of money?” was all I heard. So I began to dig. With the help of the rabbi I began to search, and I hunted down scholarships and I appealed again to my parents, this time with the promise of a smaller dent in their wallets. This time I was given the green light. Had it not been for scholarships like yours, EIE would never have been a possibility for me.
So why is EIE so important for me? I came to Israel with one question: what kind of Jew do I want to be? Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox? Observant or secular? Actually when I came I did not actually know there was such a thing as a secular Jew which just goes to show how much I have learned. Over four months the answer to this question slowly began to show itself to me. Within about 3 weeks I began wearing a kippa on a daily basis. Within a month I strongly believed the Torah was written by G-d. Me! A person who grew up thinking it was silly that anyone could believe in G-d in the first place believing that the roots of the Jewish lifestyle were handed from G-d to the Jewish people at Sinai. This program has guided me in my studies of the Jewish people and for that I am forever grateful.
Another belief I came to Israel with was that Israel was, and is, not an important place, and that Jews can live anywhere they so choose and prosper. Then we went to Poland. My fellow classmates and I boarded a plane and flew to Poland to view, what can only be described as a shocking crime against humanity. It is a place where my great grandparents, Simon and Meta Dreyfuss, had been murdered. It is a place that changed me forever.
And then we returned to Israel. From that point on, I took in Israel with a new perspective and I saw it for the first time as it really is, a necessary safe haven. For 2000 years the Jews have lived in exile and now we are home.
The biggest question that plagues me now is what will I do with all this new information when I arrive home? The answer I have found is simple in its concept but hard in its implementation. I will share my knowledge and encourage others to see the Jewish people as I do. Yet, while this may seem easy, it is something that, without coming here on one’s own personal journey, is extremely hard to communicate. I will begin by educating through teaching at our temple. I will attempt to get my generation to understand as I do, and hopefully encourage a brighter tomorrow for the Jewish people.
Without your generous scholarship none of this would have been possible and so I thank you again with all my heart.
Thank You, Thank You. A Thousand times Thank You.
Adam Dreyfuss
Our congregation is a tapestry; each member is a thread. Together we create a strong fabric. A thread weaves in and out of a tapestry, finding itself in different places of the fabric, creating variations of colors, textures and interest. The impact of each thread could be bold or faint. However, each thread is of vital importance to the whole. We have chosen to weave ourselves together because of our sacred relationships to each other and because of our desire to belong to a spiritually fulfilling Jewish community. By this time you should have received your membership and dues commitment. As a thread in a tapestry, each of you is integral to the strength of BYBS and to the Jewish community. I hope that you have already made your commitment to BYBS this year or plan on doing so very soon.
The future planning committee has been meeting regularly for the past six months. Our meetings have been exciting and filled with energy and great ideas. We are preparing to invite the congregation into the process. We want to discover what our members value and where we should put our energy and resources. We need to discuss our possibilities for the future. What do we want to create together? What kind of congregation do we envision ourselves to be in the next three to five years? Though specifics are still to be worked out, the plan is to arrange dinners for eight or so people in congregants’ homes on Selichot. (September 20). Dinner conversations will be directed to reflect on the congregation and connect with each other. We will then come together before the Selichot service and share our conversations. I cannot think of a more fitting start for the High Holidays. If you are interested in hosting or attending a dinner please call the office. We are looking to reach out to all segments of the congregation.
I want to thank everyone who donated to our year-end appeal. We closed our fiscal year with a balanced budget. Sound finances create a solid base for our temple community. The board will continue to maintain its fiscal responsibility and look for ways to control costs and lower expenses. Your membership pledge and continued generosity allows us to provide positive worship, learning and social experiences at B’nai Yehuda Beth Sholom. The support of each and every household, every thread in our wonderful tapestry, keeps BYBS vibrant, interesting and strong.
Gayla Cahan
The warm days of summer are upon us, with some schedules slowing down, kids playing outside, grills cooking, flowers blooming, fruit growing, long days stretching into starry nights. At BYBS, our summer services take place in the Garfien Wing (the multi-purpose room at the north end of the building) or sometimes outdoors in the Dietch Family Prayer Circle. Summer services are somewhat less formal and very inclusive. We hope that they will include YOU!
This is the time of year when many are on the move, and new people come into our community. We would like to welcome them into our temple family. Also, folks who already live here but haven’t yet taken the opportunity to join a congregation may start to consider affiliation. If they know that they will be welcomed, they are more likely to affiliate. Each member of BYBS is part of the “membership committee” and can do the mitzvah of welcoming guests and drawing new people into the congregation. We can’t do it without you. Please give us names of people we should contact about membership. Better yet, invite them to come with you to Shabbat services. Watch your email for more specific outreach efforts prior to the High Holy Days. Please help our temple grow and remain strong and vibrant.
On the subject of communication within the congregation, two items for you to consider: First of all, we are sending more information by email, which is faster and more environmentally sensible. But we are concerned about those of our members who do not use computers. As we have mentioned in the past, if you do not get email, please make sure you have an “email buddy” – someone from the congregation who can notify you when there is an email to the congregation, and either read it to you over the phone or print it out for you to read. Secondly, perhaps you are not aware that hospitals no longer notify congregations when their members are admitted. If you do not tell us that you or a family member or friend are in the hospital, we will not know. We cannot visit patients we don’t know about! Please, please call the temple office to inform us when a member is hospitalized, and we will do our best to make a personal visit.
Have a wonderful summer!
Rabbi Ellen W. Dreyfus
With great sadness we inform you of the death on July 12, 2008, of Walter Wolf, past-president and long-time member of our congregation. The funeral service will be on Tuesday, July 15, 10:00 a.m. at B’nai Yehuda Beth Sholom, with interment following at Jewish Oakridge Cemetery.
The family will receive calls of condolence at home, with minyanim Tuesday, July 15 and Wednesday, July 16, 7:30 PM at home of Dorothea Wolf, 18058 San Diego, Homewood, and Thursday, July 17, 7:30 PM at home of Clifford Wolf, 3635 Pebble Beach, Northbrook, IL.
We extend our deepest sympathy to Dorothea Wolf, Michelle and Ron Tenny, Clifford and Robin Wolf, Henry and Lucille Wolf, Margot David, and the entire extended family.
May the memory of the righteous be a blessing.
Rabbi Ellen W. Dreyfus Gayla Cahan, President
On Edit: This death notice published in the Chicagso Tribune.
This evening’s Erev Shabbat Service is secheduled for 8:00 pm in the Garfein Wing, and will be conducted by Peter Dubrow and Carol Zucker.
Tomorrow’s service will begin at 10:00 am in the Garfein Wing.
The Parsha is Balak, Numbers 22:2 - 25: 9. The story of the Jews wandering in the desert continues with the story of Balak, a Moabite royal, Balam, a professional magician with some spiritual connections, and Balam’s donkey or, as usually denominated, Balam’s ass. Balak hires Balam to curse the Jews, who are about to invade his country, but after three tries, when even his Ass tells him that G-d does not want the Jews curese, blesses the Jews with the familiar words
“How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel!”
The Parsha ends with the the Priest Pinchas and his very forceful approach to quelling intermarriage.
The Haftarah is Micah 5:6- 6:8
It is our sad duty to report the passing of Rabbi Dr. A. Stanley Dreyfus, father of Dr. James Dreyus and Father i Law of Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus died in Brooklyn, New York, on July 8. The facts of Rabbi Dreyfus’s life and his many accomplishments are available online at the Web site of the the Brookyln’s Union Temple. But we, at BYBS, were lucky to have him and his wife Marianne share many holidays and Simchas with us. We will miss him.
Calls of condolence may be made at the home of Dr. James and Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus,
1322 West 190th St., Homewood, IL:
Saturday, July 12 minyan at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 13 at home 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., minyan at 8:00 p.m.
Monday, July 14 minyan at 8:00 p.m.
Zecher Tzaddik Livracha - May the memory of the righteous be a blessing.
Our annual all star celebration of the Shabbat and the Fourth of July begins this evening at 8:00 pm in the Garfein Wing. A Chorus of thousands under the able direction of Ernie Ratowitz and Carole Fefferman will lead us in prayer, song and festivities, with lots of appropriate desserts, as with everything else this evening, in Red, White, Blue and a little Jewish flavor.
Tomorrow’s Shabbat morning’s service, will begin at 10:00 am in the Garfein Wing, and will be conducted by David Epstein. Niki Cummings will be the Cantorial Soloist.
The Parsha is Chukat, Numbers 19:1 - 22:1. We begin with the mysteries of the perfect Red Heiffer, sacrified and burned to an ash that makes the impure pure and vice versa. The Israelites then traveled to Kadesh in the the desert of Zinn, where Miriam died and was buried there. The masses began to complain again, this time because there was no water. G-d told Moses to speak to a rock to get some water for the people. A little provoked by the complaints, Moses hit the rock. The waster came, but G-d punished Moses for the transgression by banning Moses from entering the promised land.
Next, the Israelites came to the country of Edom and Moses asked permission to take the group through Edom, paying for any damages they may cause. Edom refused permission and they went around Edom. The got Mount Hor, where Aaron died, after Moses stripped him of his garments and turned them over to Aaron’s son Eleazer. The Israelites then continued on their journey, but fighting, rather than avoiding, a variety of kingdoms, and winning, with the assistance of G-d.
The Haftarah is Judges 11:1 -33
