VOLUME 59 EDITION 12

1 August 2017

9 Av 5777

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

Friday, August 4 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Saturday, August 5 9:30 a.m. Shabbat Breakfast

10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service

Friday, August 11 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Friday, August 18 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Friday, August 25 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Torah Selection:

Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Haftarah – Isaiah 40:1-26

ALL SHABBAT SERVICES ARE CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WORSHIP

High Holy Days

Erev Rosh Hashanah – Wednesday, September 20th

Rosh Hashanah - Thursday, September 21st

Kol Nidre – Friday, September 29th

Yom Kippur – Saturday, September 30th

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FROM THE RABBI

Setting Up Social Study Groups

One of our most successful activities this past

year has been groups that have met monthly on

both the Eastern Shore and what we have been

calling the Western Shore, which is

Mississippi. These two groups have been a lot

of fun and have allowed for people who live

near each other and who are a bit further away

from the geographic center of Temple activity

in Midtown, to plan get-togethers where they

can meet their neighbors, share an informal

meal together, socialize, celebrate holidays

together, and pick subjects of interest for study

and discussion. I would like to extend this concept and setup of

a couple of additional such groups. They do

not have to be determined by geography, just

because the first two groups have been. It

would be great to start such a group for

younger people, however one defines younger

people. Another group might consist of parents

with children, which is where this group

concept was most developed in my previous

congregations. I thought maybe our Temple’s

ex-presidents and their spouses might be

interested in setting something like that up.

Perhaps, a group that has a specific

professional interest or academic interest, like

doctors or scientists, might form another group.

The possibilities are limitless. This approach to congregational socializing and

activities was pioneered by Rabbi Harold

Schulweis of California, who called these

groups havurot, the singular form of which

would be havurah. A havurah was a term used

in the Talmudic era to refer to certain types of

small groups that gathered for various religious

purposes. Up until now, we have not used this

term here in Mobile and I am not sure if we

want to. Because while we want to help people

learn about Judaism and practice it in a vibrant

and committed manner, we want to keep the

intimidation factor as low as possible and I am

afraid that Hebrew terms tend to intimidate

many of us. Whatever we call them, these social study

groups have the potential to transform our

congregation in many positive ways. It can

provide us with an informal environment where

we can nosh, chat, and reflect on what it means

to be a human being in the 21st century and

how Reform Judaism can play a role in our

own personal spiritual development. At the

same time, it can help connect us socially to

others in our congregation and thereby help us

translate our personal search for spirituality

into a communal focused encounter. Anyone interested in joining or even leading

such a group should contact me at

danaevankaplan@gmail.com or at the Temple

office 251-478-0415.

Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan

The Springhill Avenue Temple Social Action Committee is holding a food drive for "Feeding the Gulf Coast"

(formerly known as the Bay Area Food Bank)

The food drive will be held during the High Holy Days. Each

family will be given a grocery bag at the conclusion of the Rosh

Hashanah services. We hope to collect thousands of pounds of

non-perishable food.

Please start collecting now so you are able to fill your bag.

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FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Next time you come to Temple, or for that

matter just drive by your Temple, you’ll notice

all the new, young plants in the flower beds

across the front of the building. All the old plants were

removed and the new

ones were planted by

Elliot Cherniak. This

was his Eagle Scout

Project. Not only did Elliot draft

his mom and dad into

this project, but he also

was assisted by his

friend and fellow Eagle

Scout, Robert

Anderson. And from

time to time, other members of B.S.A. Troop

147 stepped in to help. Not only was this a

group effort but it was planned, developed and

managed by Elliot. Elliot had Master Gardner and Men’s Club

President, Larry Miller, help him with plant

selection and garden design. The plants they

selected and planted should provide color the

year round.

One of the things I find interesting about

Elliot’s project is that his great grandfather

Solomon E. Cherniak was our Rabbi when the

building was originally dedicated in 1955. And

some of the plants

replaced had growth

rings showing at least

sixty years of age. It was time to renew

and spruce up the

front of our Temple

and in many ways

these new plants are a

memorial to Rabbi

Cherniak—our Rabbi

from 1949 to 1960. You know, only four

percent of all Boy Scouts achieve the rank of

Eagle Scout. This designation was begun over

one hundred years ago and is granted after a

lengthy review process. Congratulations Elliot!

Mike Pereira, President

July Anniversaries

In order to rectify the omissions made in the July Temple Bulletin, please join us in congratulating the following couples who celebrated their wedding anniversary last month. The following July anniversaries were inadvertently left out of the July Temple Bulletin.

July 19 Harriet & Billy Kahn 58 years

July 25 Patty & Gary Fishbein 35 years

July 25 Ceresa & Paul Frenkel 37 years

July 29 Margie& Jay Altmayer 44 years

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FROM OUR ARCHIVES

By Susan Thomas, Archivist

When Dr. Adolph Moses resigned as rabbi of

the Temple in March 1881, a search was

conducted for his replacement. The Temple

trustees offered the position to Dr. Emanuel

Schreiber, a German scholar who at the time

was living in Bonn, Germany. Dr. Schreiber

began serving as the Temple’s rabbi in

November 1881. Born in Moravia in 1852, Schreiber had studied

under the well-known scholar Abraham Geiger.

How the Temple trustees found Schreiber is not

recorded, but Temple minutes indicate they

were impressed with his credentials and

arranged for him to travel from Germany to

Mobile in September 1881, approving $80 in

travel expenses. The visit was evidently

successful, as Schreiber began his tenure as

rabbi in November of that year earning a yearly

salary of $2,000. Schreiber served as Director of the Religious

School, as well as rabbi. Minutes from the

Religious School’s Annual Report in 1882

indicated that “of course Dr. Schreiber labors

under some disadvantages owing to his

deficiency in the English language, which

however he is fast overcoming, and we take

pleasure in stating that he certainly strives to do

his duty.” Whether or not Schreiber’s English

improved sufficiently is not known, as

a year later he submitted his resignation after

being offered a rabbinate in Denver, Colorado.

Interestingly, the Trustees voted to accept his

resignation “at once,” immediately relieving

him of his duties. Records indicate that Schreiber served as rabbi

in Denver from 1883—1885 and during that

time married Sallie Fist, who suffered from a

rheumatic disorder. Partly due to his wife’s

health issues, Schreiber left the position in

Denver to become rabbi at the Congregation

B’nai B’rith in Los Angeles. Only four years

later, he left Los Angeles to become rabbi of a

Reform congregation in Little Rock. Two

years later, he became rabbi of a new

congregation in Spokane Washington — the

first Jewish congregation established in the

state of Washington. However, his tenure there

was also short-lived. Records state he left “not

long after the Temple was dedicated,” due to

“factionalism” within the congregation. Although Schreiber’s whereabouts after leaving

Spokane are currently not known, he did

eventually retire in the 1920s and returned to

Los Angeles. He died in 1932. Little is recorded in Temple records about

Schreiber’s tenure in Mobile. He was replaced

a few months after his resignation with Henry

Berkowitz, who served until 1888.

Scheduling Reminder

Please let the Temple Office know if you want to schedule

or have already scheduled a meeting at the Temple. The Temple can be very active at times and it is best to

coordinate with the Temple office to make sure the

building is: 1) accessible – we have a very small staff and

if there is only one person working that day, you may not

have access to the building; and 2) to make sure there is

not some other activity (event, construction, and/or

repairs, etc.) going on at the same time that you wish to

hold your meeting and, 3) so, it can be placed on the

Temple calendar for others who may be interested.

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July 1, 2017 Congregation Sha’arai Shomayim 1769 Springhill Avenue Mobile, AL 36607 Dear Temple Family, I just wanted to write a short note thanking you for working with me on my Eagle Project. My project to replant the front planters was the culmination of a multi-year journey through scouting and I’m so glad I was able to share it with you all. Faith and heritage are a major component of scouting and, as the Temple is my spiritual home, there is no better place to show my appreciation of those two important foundations. Again, thank you for helping me grow. I hope we all can enjoy the beauty of our effort for many years to come. Kindest Regards, Elliot Cherniak BSA Troop 147

Eastern Shore Barbeque/Pool Party/Havdalah Service

WHEN: August 12, 2017 – 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Carol & Steve Zimmerman’s residence

203 North Circle, Fairhope

Join us for a grilling good time! (Please bring your own towel if swimming)

BYOB - Kosher hot dogs, buns, and condiments will

be provided by the Eastern Shore Committee

Please contact Carol (990-3060 or carolzimmerman203@gmail.com) or

Deborah (deborahasack@gmail.com) to RSVP and to sign up for cole

slaw, potato salad, chips & dip, etc.

The committee reserves the right to monitor for duplications

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ONEG SHABBAT: A Special Time by Susie Fox, VP, Onegs

I asked several friends to finish this sentence: “Oneg

Shabbat is a time for…”. Among the answers were:

sharing, companionship, joy, reflection, and celebrating.

The O-mazing ONEG Committee does all that, and much

more. From chicken salad and roast beef tarts to mezze

platters and delectable desserts, we linger after services to

share our love for Shabbat. Thank you, oneg members,

for providing such wonderful and unique edibles, and for

helping to set up and assist our remarkable kitchen staff

during the event. We also appreciate how the Mitzvah

Committee tidied the kitchen and made it sparkle! As the New Year approaches, we invite Temple members to consider hosting an oneg in honor

of or in memory of someone special; or for a life event, such as retirement or a special birthday.

Temple committees are also invited to host a Friday evening. We will be there to assist you with

the event and the planning. Again, thank you, Oneg Committee, with a special thank-you to our Temple members who stay

and enjoy Shabbat with us.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brethren to dwell together in unity!

Committee Members: Ellen Carter, Gail Chadwick, Barry Fox, Sandra Gandler, Priscilla Gold-

Darby, Dianna Kubat, Christine Norris, Jamie Novetsky, Alicia Lucas Pereira, Patricia

Silverman, Margaret Segal, Maure Sternberg, and Mel Sternberg

Religious School and Hebrew School will be starting soon!

A Teachers’ Workshop is tentatively being

scheduled for Sunday, August 13th at 9:45 a.m.

All teachers will be notified as soon as the date

and time have been confirmed.

Sunday, August 27th will be our 1st day of

school. There will be a get-together of teachers,

students, and parents. Join us for a special breakfast and a Sunday Family

Shabbat Model Service with Seth Cherniak.

See you there!

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August Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday To ... 1 Jay Handmacher 14 Brooks Fishbein 29 Tamara Fulford

1 Joseph Kogon 15 Marian Berkin 29 Manuel Gardberg

1 Robbie Nadas 15 Fred Miller 30 Jeffrey Kahn

2 Margaret Brown 16 David Gardberg 30 Abe Solomon

2 Andrew Frenkel 16 Eric Gottlieb 30 Joe Solomon

2 George Kidd 17 Marsha Ann Dittman 31 Joshua Altmayer

3 Jennifer Altmayer 17 Deborah Sack 31 Leah Brown

3 Michelle Dobbins 19 Ashley Berman 31 David Harris

4 Milton Brown 19 Pauline Brown

4 Priscilla Gold-Darby 19 Eileen Susman Happy Anniversary To … 4 Stacey Silverman Shostak 20 David Fishbein 2 Cece & Jim Spain

4 Carol Zimmerman 21 Cole Appelman 7 Marian & Mark Berkin

5 Pamela Thompson 21 Susan Koffler 11 Barbara & Seth Cherniak

8 Anna Brown 22 Carrie Friduss 17 Rebecca & David Hochhauser

8 Miriam Fry 23 David Ennis 17 Ellen & William Shulman

8 Joyce Toubiana 23 Jeffrey Miller 22 Kim & David Zimmerman

9 Alicia Pereira 23 Marc Polland 25 Judi & Paul Bergman

10 Megan Dobbins 23 Audra Sack 25 Elaine & Ron Berman

11 Lindsey Gottlieb 24 Jeremy Borak 28 Amy & Jack Friedlander

11 Phillip Magnes 26 Michael Aronson 28 Joyce & Gerard Toubiana

12 William Handmacher 28 Susan Rosenbaum 30 Iris & Nate Ginsberg

September Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday To ...

1 Jacob Holberg 12 Fran Passero Happy Anniversary To …

2 Benjamin Frenkel 12 Lila Sack 1 Sandy & Ralph Holberg

4 Jon Fusco 13 Madelyn Friedlander 2 Susan & Jeff Friedman

4 Mona Loeser 18 Cindy Magnes 4 Sandra & Harvey Gandler

5 Sam Feibelman 19 Bill Denson 7 Deborah & Alton Sack

5 Mathew Weinstein 22 Jonathan Fratkin 29 Diane Garden & Michael Monheit

5 Buzzy Zivitz 22 Billy Kahn

6 Craig Ginsberg 22 Megan Moore

6 Daryn Glassbrook 23 Amanda Miller

7 Iris Klein 23 Adrian Pereira

8 Richard Frank 25 Sam Eberlein

9 Steven Hirsch 25 Lisa Rosenfeld

10 Aaron Ayers 26 Mary Ann Friedlander

10 Pat Bloom 26 Leonard Wells

10 Howard Silverman 27 Terry Harris

11 Barbara Paper 27 Evan Klein

11 Keith Spain 28 Randy Fry

12 Michael Gardberg 28 Meredith Hoffman

12 Iris Ginsberg 28 Sandra Nadas

12 Brandon Miller 29 Alton Sack

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SPRINGHILL AVENUE TEMPLE SISTERHOOD & MEN'S CLUB

2017-2018

We Make It All Happen!

Friday Night Onegs Shabbat Breakfasts

Holiday Celebrations & Dinners Mah Jong

Corned Beef Fundraiser Challah Classes

Upgrades To Our Building & Sustainable Garden

Support Of The Religious School & Youth Group Projects

SOCIAL SERVICE PROJECTS: Reducing Our Use Of Paper Goods By Upgrading Our Appliances

Collecting Food To Reduce Hunger

Join us for another exciting year of celebrating Judaism and strengthening our Temple.

Sisterhood and Brotherhood dues keep these projects going.

Dues (check all that apply):

_______$35 Men’s Club _____$30 Oneg

_______$35 Sisterhood _____$55 Individual

_______$100 Couple ($35 Men's Club, $35 Sisterhood, $30 Oneg)

Please send your payment to Springhill Avenue Temple, 1769 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, AL

36607. Make checks payable to Springhill Avenue Temple Sisterhood.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name:_______________________________________________ Cell Phone #__________________

Email:___________________________________________________

New Men’s Club or Sisterhood Members Welcome

No Charge for First Year

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FROM YOUR SISTERHOOD

In last month's Sisterhood article, Jaime

Novetsky reviewed the history of Sisterhood

from service in the kitchen to service in the

community. This morning, I spent time with

Phyllis Feibelman and our archivist, Susan

Thomas, reviewing the past accomplishments

of our Springhill Avenue Temple Sisterhood. I

discovered, that under the leadership of many

competent Boards, our Sisterhoods have

supported many community projects, such as

The Child Advocacy Center; furnishing the

playroom at the Woman and Children's

Hospital; and, developed the plan for getting

ARC started.

Where do we want to go next? How do you

see Sisterhood making a change in Mobile?

Where can we make a difference? Tikkum Olam directs us to do these things.

And in doing so we grow spiritually, make our

community stronger, and continue the

traditions of Sisterhood at our Temple.

Priscilla Gold-Darby, Sisterhood President

We invite you to join Temple committees,

participate in more activities, and enjoy the

Temple EVERY WEEK!

New Year’s Greetings Dear Friends: The New Year of 5778 begins at sundown on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. Temple

Sisterhood has given congregants the opportunity to extend New Year’s Greetings to each

other in a special portion of our New Year’s bulletin which has become a tradition for our

Temple. If you would like to have the names of your family members published in the bulletin,

please send a contribution made out to Temple Sisterhood before August 21st. Your

contribution will be used to support the various vital services that Sisterhood provides for

our Temple. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of an early response. Happy New Year and many thanks! ------------------------------------------------clip here----------------------------------------------------------

Please PRINT your information below and enclose it with your tax-deductible contribution

made payable to “Temple Sisterhood” and send to Mrs. Charles H. Brown, 3807 Claridge

Road, Mobile, Alabama, 36608. Please print the names as you would like them to appear in the bulletin:

(please print legibly)

Amount of donation: $______________________

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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.

August 4 Emma Raider, Raymond Frankel, Herman Patterson,

Anne Heart Bergman, Lillian Muhlfelder

August 11 Federick H. Vogel, David Wagman, Evelyn Feibelman, Charles Hoffman,

Sigmond Kahn, Marian Berkin, Evelyn Hoffman, Paula Raider Olichney

August 18 Helen Edelbaum, Bennie Friedlander, Murry Benenson, Heather Marie Pereira,

Anne Teles Fink Aratchofsky, J.B. Friedlander, Becky Friedlander,

Reuben Kamil, Irving Jacob Buchanan

August 25 Juliette Harries Garb, Geraldine “Gerre” Koffler, Abe Levine,

Sam Shulman, Janice Fry Goldman, Abraham Gardberg,

Edwin A. Zelnicker, Sr., Gail Stone Bergman, Julien Marx

Springhill Avenue Temple Gift Shop

The Gift Shop has apple and honey plates for your

Rosh Hashanah celebration. We have several sizes of shofars from Israel for you to

welcome in the New Year. Shop us first for gifts for all occasions!

Amy and Judy

Come On, Let’s Play a Game!

Every Monday at 3:00 p.m., Temple Social Hall

Mah Jong and Scrabble tiles are being dealt every Monday in the Social Hall at 3:00 p.m. Lessons are free, playing is fun! Or bring your own game and play with us - a game of gin rummy, perhaps? Come join us every week!

- 11 -

CONTRIBUTIONS

A plaque has been placed in honor of Susan Herring for her dedicated years of

service – Springhill Avenue Temple Board of Trustees

In memory of Jean Fry – Bobette & Lowell Friedman, Iris & Nate Ginsberg,

the Hochman family, Iris & Albert Klein, Alan Goldberg, Diane & Richard Frank,

Barry Silverman, Phyllis Feibelman, David Rose, Jill Gottlieb, Leigh & Keith Parks,

Lisa Womack, Yvonne & Timothy Holladay, Debbie Clolinger, Jamie & Gregory Saad,

Venetia Prince, Rhonda Kaye & Warren Koffler, Mary & John Tillman,

Sandy & Ralph Holberg, Ellie & Cole Appelman, Isabelle Seiken, G.B. Kahn,

Nancy & Wayne Freedman, Sheila & Jay Ross, Abbe Stein Fass, Jo Ann Flirt,

Margaret & Milton Brown, Ellen, Allen & Jordan Ross, Carol & Steve Zimmerman,

Mimi Holberg, Deborah & Alton Sack, Ellen & William Shulman,

Mike & Alicia Pereira, Carol & Howard Oxman

In memory of Tommy Jackson – David Rose, G. B. Kahn

In memory of Randy Kogon – Ellie & Cole Appelman

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund – Emily & Harold Fink, Donnie & Pam Friedlander

In memory of Ira Saks – Iris & Albert Klein

In memory of R.C. Schwarz – Mimi Holberg

In memory of Elizabeth Strauss Eber – Jill Gottlieb

In memory of Joseph B. Miller – Joan (Miller) & Gordon McCracken

In memory of Shan Amy Glass – Penny & Joe Adamo

In memory of Terry Barkin – Theresa Barkin

In memory of Alvin & Dolores Loeb – Marc Loeb

In memory of Douglas Shapiro – Paul Berman

High Holy Days

Erev Rosh Hashanah – Wednesday, September 20th

Rosh Hashanah - Thursday, September 21st

Kol Nidre – Friday, September 29th

Yom Kippur – Saturday, September 30th

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CALENDAR

Wednesday Torah Study 5:30 p.m. August 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30

Hebrew School Sundays 9:45 a.m. August 27th

(more info page 6)

Religious School Sundays 9:45 a.m. August 27th

(more info page 6)

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

Friday, August 4 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Saturday, August 5 9:30 a.m. Shabbat Breakfast

10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service

Friday, August 11 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Saturday, August 12 6:00 p.m. Eastern Shore BBQ/Pool Party/Havdalah Service

(more info page 5)

Friday, August 18 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service

Friday, August 25 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

Dana Evan Kaplan, Rabbi Aaron Solomon, Second Vice-President Michael Pereira, President Liz Fry, Treasurer

Alan Goldberg, First Vice-President Maure Sternberg, Secretary