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VOLUME 61 EDITION 4 1 December 2018

23 Kislev 5779

Congregation Sha’arai Shomayim Founded 1844

Springhill Avenue Temple

The Temple Bulletin

springhillavenuetemple.com

We are coming together as a caring, inclusive community united in a common commitment to Judaism and to

furthering our spiritual growth. We desire to do this recognizing that worship of God, study of Torah, caring for the

Jewish people and our community, are central to our being as a Reform Jewish congregation. With these principles

as our foundation and guided by a historic past, we anticipate our future, one of continual lifelong self-renewal.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES

Saturday, December 1 9:30 a.m. Shabbat Breakfast

10:30 a.m. Morning Shabbat Service

Rabbi Kosovske will conduct service

Friday, December 7 6:00 p.m. Religious School Hanukkah Service

Rabbi Kosovske & Glen Mutchnick

will conduct service

Dinner following service

Friday, December 14 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Friday, December 21 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Friday, December 28 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Torah Selection:

Genesis 37:1 - 40:23

Haftarah: Amos 2:6 - 3:8

ALL SHABBAT SERVICES ARE CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WORSHIP

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From Our President

We Now Have an Interim Rabbi At a Special Meeting of the congregation held

on Wednesday, November 14, the Board of

Trustees’ recommendation to hire Rabbi

Howard A. Kosovske as our interim rabbi was

approved. The vote in favor of his appointment

was unanimous. Under terms of his employment contract, Rabbi

Kosovske becomes our Temple’s Interim Rabbi

and spiritual leader on a part-time basis starting

November 26, 2018 and ending on June 30,

2019. Rabbi Kosovske will be in Mobile for

six (6) individual ten-day stays and, of course,

is available every day via Skype, Zoom, and

cell phone when not in town. He will be on call

for life cycle events. Rabbi Kosovske will also

consult and advise the Temple Board of

Trustees and appropriate Temple Committees

to help us find suitable rabbinic candidates for

the full-time office of Temple Rabbi. But just who is Rabbi Kosovske? He has

described himself as a card-carrying Reform

Jew from birth. But he’s eclectic! To quote

Rabbi Kosovske, “My own personal Judaism is

a conglomeration of beliefs and practices.

They span every sector of Judaism, from

Classical Reform to Right-wing Orthodox,

from German through Eastern European to

Sephardic. And for me it works, though I’ve

never pushed my own particular take on

Judaism onto anyone else, congregation or

individual ... I am who I am, my Judaism is

what it is (and that changes from time to time)

and I and it, though maybe unique, are, as I

have finally come to see, only at home under

the umbrella of Reform Judaism.” I like the guy! And I believe you will also! He

even ordered grits with his breakfast. He has quite a success record with other

congregations. He believes a congregation

should be about the particular people who

comprise its constituency. He believes we

should be bold, experiment and become

something unique in our own Jewish way.

Toward the end of his resume, the Rabbi wrote,

“Just as my own Reform Judaism is particular

in it’s being about me, so, I have learned, is the

Judaism as well of most of my members. They,

as individuals and as a group, have their

particular needs too that they are looking to

Judaism and the synagogue to fulfill. There, if

we want to flourish as a congregation, we need

to pay attention to and address their needs.” A final thought: I have given you just a

glimpse of Rabbi Howard Kosovske. Come

meet the Rabbi! He is engaging, interesting,

and fun to be around.

J. Michael Pereira

President

Springhill Avenue Temple Gift Shop

Chanukah is a joyous eight-day celebration during which we commemorate the victory of the

Maccabees over the Syrians and the rededication of the Temple. The Gift Shop has candles, gelt,

dreidels, decorations, and menorahs for your Chanukah festivities.

We will be open December 2 and 7 during the Chanukah dinners.

Purchases can also be made during the week.

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Join us for the Joint Hanukkah Party!

Sunday, December 2, 2018 – 5:00 p.m.

At Springhill Avenue Temple

with Ahavas Chesed Synagogue

Dinner, latkes, magic show, menorah lighting, and so much more!

If you didn’t RSVP, it is $15 at the door.

From Our Archives By Susan Thomas, Archivist One of the speakers at the Southern Jewish Historical Society’s recent conference in Mobile was

Marlene Trestman, an attorney who is currently writing a scholarly book on the New Orleans

Jewish Orphans Home. The Home, which was founded in 1856, was one of the first Jewish

orphanages in the United States. It remained in operation until 1946.

The Sha’arai Shomayim

congregation had a close relationship

with the New Orleans children’s

home. Members of the congregation,

through the B’nai B’rith society,

were able to refer Jewish orphans

from Mobile for admission to the

home. The local B’nai B’rith lodge

supported the Home financially and

on at least one occasion B’nai B’rith

member Leon Schwarz delivered the

keynote address at a dinner

commemorating the Home’s

anniversary. The congregation’s

Rosa Bauer Sewing Society was initially established to sew “garments of all sizes, sheets, pillow

cases, blankets, etc.” for the Home, according to a 1910 B’nai B’rith publication.

Five children from one Mobile family were placed in the orphanage in June 1935. Their mother,

Fanny Salmon Pierce Whitehead, had died of meningitis at age 42. The father was a seaman and

unable to care for them and thus petitioned for them to be admitted to the New Orleans home.

Even though the father was not Jewish, the children were granted admission since Fanny

Whitehead had at one time been a member of the congregation. The children remained in the

home until they became adults. Ms. Trestman is interested in hearing any family stories about children who resided at the New

Orleans home. When the home closed in 1946, most remaining records were destroyed, making

research more difficult. If you have any information you could share with Ms. Trestman, please

e-mail her at marlenetrestman@gmail.com.

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From Our Religious School

by Patricia Silverman, Th.M., Religious School Director

On Sunday, November 11, the Ahavas Chesed Synagogue Religious School joined the Springhill

Avenue Temple Religious School to honor our fallen veterans at the cemetery. David Rose

identified the veterans’ grave sites by placing hand-painted markers that were created by our

students.

The meaningful ceremony, conducted by Dr. Nate

Ginsberg and Howard Silverman, former

Commander, Navy Seal, included many personal

stories told by the veterans from our

congregation. The ceremony concluded with the

students placing American flags on each of the

marked graves and Gabe Sternberg beautifully

playing taps. Many thanks to Eddie Irby of the 92nd Infantry

Division, who donated the American flags for this

event and to others in our community who

supported this program. There was no Religious School on November 18

and November 25 due to the students’

Thanksgiving/fall break. Our students and their

families enjoyed this special time together in a

spirit of gratitude.

On Sunday, December 2, we are having a joint

celebration for Hanukkah at our Temple.

Students and families from both synagogue

Ahavas Chesed and Springhill Avenue Temple are coming together to light the first candle in the

big menorah that Howard Silverman built for our Temple. Before lighting the candle outside, we

will be sharing a great dinner prepared by the Sisterhood and Men’s Club. On Friday, December 7, our students from the Religious School will participate in the Shabbat

service and entertain the congregation with a humorist skit. Before dinner we will all celebrate

the lighting of the sixth candle on the big menorah outside. Afterwards, we will again enjoy a

dinner provided by the Sisterhood and Men’s Club. On Sunday, December 16, we will continue our annual tradition of entertaining the residents of

Somberby with our Hanukkah skit.

December will be very busy and fun.

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Religious School and Hebrew School

Honor Jewish Veterans

On Sunday, November 11, 2018, the Religious School, Hebrew School, Temple veterans,

and congregants met at the Springhill Avenue Temple Cemetery to honor the Jewish

veterans with a Memorial Service and by placing American flags on their grave sites.

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The Mobile Area Jewish Federation

2019 MOBILE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL BEGINS

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Current Schedule of Films

Thursday, January 10 – 2:00 pm - Mobile Museum of Art

“The Invisibles”

Sunday, January 13 – 3:00 pm - Ahavas Chesed

“The Boys” (followed by a Disney singalong and dessert reception)

Tuesday, January 15 – 7:00 pm - Laidlaw Performing Arts Center-USA

“The Last Suit” - Introduction by David Meola

Wednesday, January 16 – 7:00 pm - Laidlaw Performing Arts Center-

USA - “The Cakemaker”

Thursday, January 17 – Laidlaw Performing Arts Center USA

“The Band’s Visit” (followed by dessert reception)

Saturday, January 19 – 6:30 pm – Springhill Avenue Temple

“Humor Me” (preceded by Delicious Deli)

Tuesday, January 22 – 7:00 pm - USA campus in Fairhope

“The Interpreter” (followed by a reception)

Wednesday, January 23 – 7:00 pm - Bernheim Hall

“A Bag of Marbles”

Thursday, January 24 – 7:00 pm – Ahavas Chesed Synagogue

“Inside the Mossad”

Sunday, January 27 – 3:00 pm - Springhill Avenue Temple

“Itzhak” (followed by violin/piano mini-concert and dessert reception)

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Save the Date!

Friday, February 1 and

Saturday, February 2, 2019

Formal Invitation to Follow

We are planning a SPECIAL 175th CELEBRATORY EDITION of our monthly bulletin

for January 2019 for our historic anniversary.

If you or your company would like to send congratulatory, remembrance and/or well

wishes to the Temple, following are several options.

Option #1 $18 will include you in the “Mazel Tov” list

i.e., Mr. & Mrs. Toda and family

Option #2 to add business cards/family pictures/special notes

$36 for 1/8 page

$54 for 1/4 page

$72 for 1/2 page

$108 for full page

You will need to supply camera ready artwork, pictures, and/or copy.

The deadline is DECEMBER 15, 2018

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December Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday to ... 1 Jon Fusco 15 Carolyn Shulman

2 Meagan Leah Furman 20 Frankie Bloom

4 Emily Fink 22 Anna Swan Gardberg

4 Patricia Silverman 24 Gail Chadwick

6 Pam Friedlander 24 Stephen Prager

6 Elliot Maisel 26 Harold Fink

9 Mimi Johnson 27 Yaffa Brown

10 Marla Seiken 27 Frances Mutchnick

11 Michael Ennis 28 Cindy Bloom

12 Leighton Silverstein 28 Renee Stein

12 Michael Sternberg 29 Suzanne Brown

12 Sydnie Trusty Shuford 30 Sam Borak

13 Cassie Fishbein 30 Karen Singh

13 Eric Lansky 30 Anne Zelnicker

14 Ryan Kunstadt 31 Sharon Vega

15 Wendy Rich Abright

Happy Anniversary to … 1 Jinks & Marc Loeb

6 Penny & Joe Adamo

14 Edith & Irwin Misrok

18 Alicia Lucas & Mike Pereira

23 Rose & Phillip Brunson

24 Nancy & Roy Hoffman

26 Bobette & Lowell Friedman

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January Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday to ... 3 Claris Feibelman 18 Terry Passman

4 Ann Miller 20 William Baron

6 Alice Rose Handmacher 21 Lowell Friedman

6 Mimi Holberg 21 Ryan Fusco

7 Jane Rosner Allen 22 Stephanie Dittman

7 Phillip Feibelman 22 Sam Lansky

8 Jeff Conrad 24 Barbara Cherniak

9 Ellen Carter 25 Hugh Borak

9 Lynne Switzky 25 Debra Fetterman

10 Will Kinsella 25 Deanne Schjott

10 Bill Susman 26 Jonathan Hirsch

11 Alan Franco 27 Margie Altmayer

11 Harvey Gandler 28 Andrew Brown

13 Vicki Silverman-Lugar 29 Daniel Kinsella

14 Judy Dittman 30 Joshua Mutchnick

17 LeNae Denson

Happy Anniversary to …

29 Susan & Terry Passman

30 Dana & David Furman

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The Temple Library, Religious School, and Archives are

grateful for the recent donation of books from the Estate of

G.B. Kahn. The books were recently given to the Temple

by G.B.’s son, Andrew.

CONTRIBUTIONS

In honor of Iris & Nate Ginsberg – Stacy & Gary Levine

In honor of Nate Ginsberg’s birthday – David Rose, Jill Gottlieb

A speedy recovery for Patricia Silverman – David Rose, Iris & Nate Ginsberg

A speedy recovery for Charlie Brown – Sandra & Harvey Gandler

For the Cemetery Fund in memory of Amy Harryl and Maury Friedlander –

Beth Vorwaller, Michael Friedlander, and Mary Ann Friedlander

In memory of Joan Conlon – Phyllis Feibelman

In memory of Annice Miller – Joan Miller McCracken

In memory of Carolyn Brown – Margaret & Milton Brown

In memory of the Hon. Alan D. Oboler – Eileen Oboler

In memory of Harriet Friedlander – Emily & Harold Fink In memory of Joshua Fetterman – Iris Klein

YAHRZEIT

It is a true Mitzvah to honor those whose memory we hold dear by attending services

on the Shabbat Yahrzeit (year’s time), joining your congregation in reciting Kaddish,

and the giving of charity in their memory.

December 7 Tini Appelman, Joseph C. Fusco, Edith Maisel Laden, Elaine LeMay, Rose Shulman,

Frank Rubel

December 14 Jenny Buchman, Herman Kopelman, Betty Zimmerman Cohn, Sarabel Reiss,

Etta May Friedman, Carol Kopelman

December 22 Vera Heinrich, Jean Schjott, Rebecca Shulman, Max Fratkin, Nathan J. Friedman,

Jack Silberstein, Willis Darby, Jr., Jerry Rose, Leah Newfield

December 29 O.W. Allen, Julia Holberg Kohlman, Annie Greenwald Salmon, Cyril Rich,

Emma Rheinstrom, Lucille Schwarz, Susan Sparks

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Calendar

Hebrew School & Religious School

Sundays 5:00 p.m. December 2 Joint Hanukkah Celebration

10:30 a.m. December 16 Meet at Somerby – Performing skit

Friday 5:30 p.m. December 7 R.S. Practice Skit

6:00 p.m. R.S. Traditional Hanukkah Service

Torah Study

Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. December 5, 12, 19, and 26

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Saturday, December 1 9:30 a.m. Shabbat Breakfast

10:30 a.m. Morning Shabbat Service

Rabbi Kosovske will conduct service

Sunday, December 2 5:00 p.m. Joint Hanukkah Celebration with

Ahavas Chesed at Springhill Avenue Temple

Friday, December 7 6:00 p.m. Religious School Hanukkah Service

Rabbi Kosovske & Glen Mutchnick will

conduct service

Dinner following service

Friday, December 14 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Friday, December 21 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Friday, December 28 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

THE TEMPLE BULLETIN

(USPS-966-900) is published monthly

by Springhill Avenue Temple,

1769 Springhill Avenue Mobile, AL 36607.

“Periodicals Postage Paid at Mobile,

Alabama.” POSTMASTER:

Send address change to:

1769 Springhill Ave. Mobile, AL 36607