TOS eWeekly oct 29, 2008
TOS eWeekly Volume 3 Issue 5 October 29th, 2008 URJ Weekly Torah Portion: http://urj.org/torah/ Parashat Noah Genesis 6:9 - 11:32In one of the oldest myths of the Hebrew Bible, we learn about Noah being called by God. The Torah says that Noah was righteous and perfect, that he walked with God in a generation that was wicked and violent. God spoke to Noah and told him to build an ark. God told Noah that the world would be flooded and only those on the ark would be saved.
Noah worked on the ark for years. When the time of the Flood came, he brought animals of every kind into the ark as God had told him to do. He brought along his three sons, their wives and his own wife. Noah took along enough food for the trip.
It rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Everything on the earth was drowned. The dove helped Noah find dry land again. God promised never to flood the earth again. The rainbow is the symbol of that promise.
Ten generations after Noah, Avram, the son of Terach, was born.
Did Noah do enough to save those around him? According to the rabbis of the Talmud the answer was a resounding no! Noah only saved his immediate family and the animals that God told him to save. Noah did only what was required of him, nothing more. What about us? In our daily lives do we go above and beyond, or do we only do the minimum to get by?
We, at Ohav Shalom, are blessed that so many of our members go above and beyond to help others on a regular basis. This is what being part of a covenant community is all about. May we continue to go from strength to strength; reaching out and caring for each other, and therefore be strengthened.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Art Donsky
“A Sweet Shabbat”
Join Rabbi Donsky and our Cantorial Intern, Tifani Katof, for lots of “treats” this Friday evening, October 31st at 7:30 PM. Of course, you are welcome in all your October 31st finery along with your tastiest treats!
FIRST FRIDAY DINNER November 7th
Please be sure to let Alaine Smith know you are coming for dinner. Dinner at 6:00. Service at 7:00. Or call her at 412.369-0900 ext. 19
MAZEL TOV!
I am a little late at reporting this, but did you know Alan and Clemmy Brodsky, Temple Ohav Shalom’s 13th member family, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary??!!!! Clemmy must have been a child bride! Mazel Tov and best wishes from your temple family!
PRESCHOOL HAPPENINGS
The preschool children took their first field trip to Soergel’s Orchard last week. The children learned all about apples. They watched apples being sorted, washed and turned into apple cider. They had great fun as they would their way through a cornstalk maze and played together on a huge haystack.
Morah Stephanie visited and taught the children songs for Sukkot. They really enjoy singing and dancing with her as she plays the guitar. Stephanie comes twice a month for music enrichment with the children.
On October, 29th we will have preschool photos taken during school hours. In the evening, we are holding our annual “Back to School” night. The children come with their parents as they show them around the classrooms, view the wonderful artwork and visit with friends and teachers.
Much more to come in November!
Shalom
Liz Sender
RECYCLING AT TOS
Kristi Karsh, of Sukkah Bimah decoration and take down fame, also reminds us that the 6th grade (Kitav Vav) is recycling all your ink cartiridges and cell phones. There is a drop off bin in the education wing. They raise money for Tzedakah by doing this.
In addition, bring your newspapers to the temple for recycling. The bin is on the left side of the Temple. And we will get an easier bin to use when this one is full!
LIFELONG LEARNING
Last week, I had the unique opportunity, along with my colleagues in the Pittsburgh Area Jewish Educators (PAJE) group, to tour the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center. The archives preserve the history of the Jews who settled here, established communities like ours in the North Hills, and helped to build Western Pennsylvania. Check out the Heinz History Center’s website at http://www.pghhistory.org for more information.
While there, we were introduced to “The Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project”, a website that has compiled articles and images from The Jewish Criterion (1895-1962), The American Jewish Outlook (1934-1962), and The Jewish Chronicle (1962-Present). It can be found at http://pjn.library.cmu.edu. This project serves as both an online reference source and as a digitized historical documentation of the Jewish community of Pittsburgh and its outlying areas. It is possible to enter a family name or date and check out scans of the actual newspaper pages that were published in the past. I entered my maiden name, in fact, and found articles about my grandparents and the things that they and their friends were doing even before my father was born! I was also able to look up my birth announcement and find out how much a bowl of Matza Ball Soup was selling for in 1910. Even for those of you who are not from the Pittsburgh area, I strongly encourage you to check it out.
This great reference tool will be one of the many websites on our recommended list at the new “Alvin Weinberg Children’s Computer Center”. Don’t forget, on Sunday, November 23rd, we will have an official dedication ceremony for the center which I hope that all of you plan to attend, along with your children, as we open up our new computer center to the school.
Shavua Tov,
Marci
T-shirt Design Contest!!!
Design the new Temple T-shirt!
Entries due:
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Questions? Contact Molly Karsh at
Please submit all entries to Alaine Smith in the office of life long learning
PITTSBURGH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Please Join
Shalom Pittsburgh’s Mitzvah Division/ Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity
to build a home and bring warmth to a needy family during the holiday season.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
1805 Chessland Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15205.
Rain or Shine (We will be working inside the home).
Please arrive at 8:30 am. so we can promptly start at 9 a.m.
Kosher boxed lunch will be provided.
Volunteer project is for individuals ages 16+*
Individuals between 16 and 18 are not permitted to use power tools, go on ladders, or be on the roof, and must be accompanied by an adult (5:1 ratio).
register by November 5, 2008.
Questions? Please contact Stephanie Brenner at 412.992.5212 or .
Community Day School Information Opportunity (with Bagels!)
Parents who are considering enrolling their child in Community Day School are invited to Bagels at the Bettinger’s on Tuesday, November 18th from 10:00-11:30AM. Avi Baran Munro, Headmaster, will be there. This will take place in the home of Dee & Robert Bettinger, 5108 Karrington Drive, Gibsonia, PA 15044. Please RSVP to Judy Goldman, Admissions Director, @ 412.521.100, x 2113 or
JOIN THE MEN’S CLUB MAILING LIST
Our website at Temple OhavShalom.org has a new mailing list feature that allows us to create opt-in mailing lists to which certain people can send messages. We will use this to make announcements or coordinate events.
To get things started, we are announcing the creation of a mailing list for the Temple Men’s Club. If you are an active member of the temple and would like to receive news about upcoming Men’s Club happenings, please sign up. It is free to be on the mailing list, but you must be registered as a user on the website.
To sign up for the list, go to the Temple website at http://templeohavshalom.org/ and log in. Then, browse to Get Involved, then Adult Organizations. Under Men’s Club there’s a link to join the mailing list. Sign yourself up. You should get a confirming email, which you must respond to immediately in order to be activated.
Messages sent to the Men’s Cub list will include an opt-out link if at any time you want yourself removed from the list.
If at any time you experience difficulty with the signup process, please contact our Webmaster, at
OHAV YOUTH GROUP
Mark your calendars NOW for the Youth events.
Also, we are still looking for volunteers to assist on other Temple Ohav Shalom events. Upcoming events are the following:
November 8, 2008 Judaic Family Arts Program
December 21, 2008 (after Sunday School) Hanukkah Party (K-5)
January 18, 2009 Family Mitzvah Day
February 21, 2009 Film Night (Family)
February 22, 2009 Teen Rummage Sale (High School)
March 8, 2009 Purim Carnival (K-5)
March 21, 2009 (Being rescheduled) Splash Lagoon (Family)
April 5, 2009 Pittsburgh Zoo (Family)
April 26, 2009 Talent Show (High School)
If you are interested in helping for any of these events, please contact Ken Eisner at or his cell at 412-414-1533
NHCO FOOD BANK DONATIONS
If Temple members would like to continue helping NHCO Food Bank with a bag full of food for Thanksgiving dinner, here is what is requested by November 7:
Grocery store certificate for $10 or more (to purchase a turkey, etc.)
Large box of stuffing mix
Large box of instant mashed potatoes
Can of cranberry sauce
Two cans of vegetables
Pie crust mix
Can of “easy” pumpkin pie mix
Can of evaporated milk
Muffin mix
Turkey gravy mix
Napkins
Thank you very much for remembering these local families in hardship so that they can have a wonderful holiday!
Clemmy “The TOS Bag Lady” Brodsky
GIFT SHOP
The Gift Shop is open during Sunday School and by appointment. Contact Elaine Cohen - 412-364-8484 or Andi Turkheimer 412-367-7864. We have many beautiful items for all aspects of Jewish life. There is no need to go to Squirrel Hill - visit us first!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, Oct. 29th TOS 101 10:00AM & 7:00PM
Wednesday, October 29th Preschool Open House 7:00PM
Sunday, November 2nd NO SUNDAY SCHOOL
Tuesday, November 4th NO SCHOOL
Friday, November 7th 6:15PM First Friday Dinner
Saturday, November 8th 9:00AM Special Needs Shabbat
Saturday, November 8th Special Needs Shabbat Celebration 9:00AM-9:45AM
Thursday, November 13th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Sunday, November 16th !:00-4:00PM Mah-Jongg
Sunday, November 23rd Dedication of Children’s Computer Lab
2009
Thursday, January 15th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Saturday, January 24th Special Needs Shabbat Celebration 9:00AM-9:45AM
Thursday, March 5th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Saturday, April 25th 9:00AM Special Needs Shabbat
Schedule of Worship Services for October/November
Parashat Noach
Friday, October 31 ---2 Heshvan, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof, Cantorial Intern
Parashat Noach
Saturday, November 1 --- 3 Heshvan, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Bat Mitzvah of Lena Ogiwara
Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof, Cantorial Intern
Parashat Lech-Lecha
Friday, November 7 --- 9 Heshvan, 5769
6:00pm Dinner for All
7:00pm 1st Friday Family Shabbat
Rabbi Donsky & Bethany Hodes
Saturday, November 8 --- 10 Heshvan, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Rabbi Donsky & Pre-B’nai Mitzvah Students
Parashat Vayera
Friday, November 14 --- 16 Heshvan, 5769
6:15pm Tot Shabbat
Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof, Cantorial Intern
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof, Cantorial Intern
Saturday, November 15 --- 17 Heshvan, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Bar Mitzvah of Kyle Silberstein
Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof, Cantorial Intern
Parashat Chayei Sarah
Friday, November 21---23 Heshvan, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Shara Taylor
Saturday, November 22 --- 24 Heshvan, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Parashat Toldot
Friday, November 28 ---1 Kislev, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday, November 29 --- 2 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Bill Lowenberger
Happy November Anniversary
1 Adam and Frederique Ennis
2 Todd and Susan Hertzberg
Doug and Deb Taylor
3 Mike and Tara Ginsburg
Alan and Pam Peisakoff
4 Ed and Marcie Fassler
5 Domenic and Daryl Jean Marks
6 Richard and Leslie Snow
Brad and Amy Trust
7 Martin and Judy Smith
15 Scott and Marcella Pollock
22 Gilbert and Audrey Baker
29 Luke and Corri Parrinello
Happy November Birthday
3 Richard Matthew Adelson
Amanda Boehmke
Jason Piechowicz
6 Michael Auron
Jared Cohen
7 Natalie Stahl
9 Julia Solomon
10 Ryan McCurry
Max Fleischer
16 Benjamin Pasternak
17 Chloe Geller
Daniel Lebovitz
18 Benjamin Pizov
19 Jllian Siegal
20 Tyler Skirble
Sara Weiss
23 Samuel Adelson
Shane Mitnick
26 Casey Ferrara
28 Ethan Maenza
Abigail Savitz
Lane Trust
29 Phil Krassenstein
30 Andres Hoberman
Alison Karsh
Caleb Karsh
May Their Memories
Be For A Blessing
November 2 / Heshvan 4
Allan Rose
Brother of Elaine Rose
November 3 / Heshvan 5
Abe Claitman
Father of Ann Rosenthal
Roland Harrison
Father of Lee Harrison
November 5 / Heshvan 7
Nathan Kaufman
Father of Herb Kaufman
November 6 / Heshvan 8
Anita Parrinello
Mother of Luke Parrinello
November 8 / Heshvan 10
John Sample
Father of John R. Sample
November 9 / Heshvan 11
Leonard Friedman
Father of Ellen Sapinkopf
November 13 / Heshvan 15
Paul Begler
Father of Arnold Begler
Mendel Strul
Father of Maurice Strul
November 15 / Heshvan 17
Claryne Leatrice Karsh
Mother of Ken Karsh
Mother of Ralph Karsh
November 17 / Heshvan 19
M.J.Wizig
Father of Janet Barankin
November 20 / Heshvan 22
Marilyn Elefant
Mother of Karen Borden
November 21 / Heshvan 23
Irvin Moschinsky
Brother of Gerri Greenberg
November 24 / Heshvan 26
Elaine Shangold
Mother of Steven Shangold
November 25 / Heshvan 27
Harold Sapinkopf
Father of Robert Sapinkopf
November 26 / Heshvan 28
Bernard Sanders
Father of Mark Heims Sanders
November 27 / Heshvan 29
Edwin Buturla
Father of Barbara Adelson
Ruth Buturla
Mother of Barbara Adelson
November 28 / Kislev 1
Rose Kaufman
Mother of Herb Kaufman
