5315 OLD CANTON ROAD • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39211 • PHONE 601-956-6215 • FAX 601-952-0895 • WWW.BETHISRAELMS.ORG Founded 1860 — A member of the Union for Reform Judaism, Serving Reform Congregations in North America

igigigigig LIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSLIGHTSP U B L I S H E D M O N T H L Y N O . 4 A P R I L 2 0 1 2

Erev Passover Shabbat ServicesFriday, April 6th • 5:00–5:30 pm

It’s time for Sisterhood’s Annual SECOND SEDER

Saturday, April 7, 20126 p.m. at the Temple

adults: $20 • Children: $10Kindly RSVP to the temple offi ce.

Let us know if you will need a veggie entree.

First Night Seder Matching Program

First night Seder is on:April 6, 2012

If you are hosting your own seder and have extra room at your table, or if

you are looking to share the fi rst seder at someone’s home, please contact Michele schipper at

schippermichele@yahoo.com.

Please let Michele know how many people you can accommodate, OR

how many people would like to attend a Seder.

April 12th at Tougaloo CollegeHosted by Tougaloo College, Beth Israel Congregation and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life

Mississippi Humanities Council “Food for Thought” Program:

6:00 pm, Thompson Academic & Civil Rights CenterDr. Jessica harris will give a free lecture relating african american food traditions to the Jewish Passover seder. Dr. harris is the ray Charles Chair in african-american

Material Culture at Dillard University and is the author of 11 cookbooks about foods of the african Diaspora.

Seder and Dinner • 6:30 at Holmes Hallrabbi Valerie Cohen of Beth Israel Congregation and the tougaloo College Choir will lead the fi rst Freedom seder performed at tougaloo College, with a family-style dinner

combining african american and Jewish traditions.

to reserve your place, please contact the tougaloo offi ce of Institutional advancement at 601-977-7871 no later than April 6th.

Dinner is $20 for adults and $10 for students.

April 12th at Tougaloo College

Healing the Wounds:

A Freedom Seder

2 B e t h I s r a e l C o n g r e g at I o n

For

men o

nly! Upkeep Retreat - Men Only!

Friday – Sunday, May 4-6, 2012UrJ henry s. Jacobs Camp – Utica, Ms

Male adult members of the Jacobs Camp Family are invited to help us get ready for summer!

Stay the whole weekend OR just come for the day on Saturday!

The work: From general repairs to special building products, inside and out! We’ll supply the tools, supplies and directions - you supply the energy and enthisiasm! Don’t forget your work gloves!

The fun: We’ll have a delicious dinner on saturday evening with plenty of adult beverages! after dinner, we’ll hang out, watch sports, play cards and do other male bonding activities.

The Upkeep Retreat is FREE!! For more information and an application, go to jacobs.urjcamps.org/yearround/, send an e-mail to jacobscamp@urj.org or contact J.C. Cohen (Di-rector) or gary Brandt (assistant Director) at (601) 885-6042.

Temporary Housing Needed!the Institute of southern Jewish life is hiring interns – college juniors

and seniors as well as one rabbinic student – for the summer and we are in need of housing for them.

the dates are about May 31 – august 12, 2012. Possibilites include house sitting, furnished rental property or a room for rent.

If you have any of these options available, please contact Betsy Samuels at (601) 362-6357 or samuels@isjl.org.

Meet the New Office AdMiNistrAtOr: Meg wilkersON

My name is Meg Wilkerson and I am your new office administrator. I am very eager to learn and meet each one of you!

I worked in banking for 5 years and most recently for a local non-profit organization. I recently graduated from Mississippi College. I am married and have a daughter who will be attending Beth Israel Preschool in the fall. I was born in Baton rouge, la and therefore, I am a huge lsU fan! My family also has a love for good music! Thanks,

Meg

W W W. B e t h I s r a e l M s . o r g 3

In a controversy, the instant we feel anger, we have already ceased striving for truth and have begun striving for ourselves. - abraham Joshua heschel

relationships are complicated. not that I or anyone

else needs to be reminded of this fact… we live in circles of relationships. Just recently, I sat with a couple for a premarital counseling session. In my preparation for our time together, I had reviewed a text on confl ict resolution, and specifi cally on taking a time-out - acknowledging that we need a time-out and taking one is a very mindful practice, and it applies to all relationships, not just marriage. But there are rules for a time-out to work in the context of a relationship.

here’s what the text teaches about time-outs:some confl icts become heated as levels of anger and frustration rise. rather than speaking assertively, people begin to accuse, criticize, or yell. rather than listening actively, partners interrupt, belittle, and

ignore. Physiologically, the “fi ght or fl ight” response is triggered as each person goes into a protection mode with little or no regard for their partner. In this state of escalation, it is not uncommon to say or do things we later regret. Moreover, it is nearly impossible to have a productive conversation leading to a resolution. this is when a “time-out” can be benefi cial.

diVrei hArAV: wOrds frOM rABBi cOheN

couple for a premarital counseling session.

to have a productive conversation leading to a resolution. this is when a “time-out” can

It’s Here!The Beth Israel 150th Anniversary Book

is now available for purchase in the temple offi ce.

50 pages of memories and pictures of Beth Israel from 1861 to the present!

Cost: $25.00 each

recognize your need for a time-out.1. request the time-out and suggest 2. a time when you will be ready to resume the conversation.relax and calm down. take some 3. deep breaths. take a walk or do some other exercise. Meditate. PraY. Do whatever you need to recover.remember what’s important. try 4. to identify what you were thinking and feeling that became so diffi cult to discuss. try to spend some quiet time considering the other person’s point of view and what they might be feeling.enter back into the conversation with 5. a clear head and an open heart.

4 B e t h I s r a e l C o n g r e g at I o n

circle ONe: $18-chAi $36-dOUBle chAi $54-triPle chAi

*In honor of: In memory of: My name: Phone:

*If you are honoring a loved one who lives out of town, please provide us with the ad-dress so a card can be sent in acknowledgment.

Your Mother’s Day Chai tribute will be acknowledged in the May Bulletin. Return deadline: April 6, 2012 (Please make check payable to Beth Israel sisterhood).

Sisterhood Mother’s Day Fundraiser

sisterhood invites you to make a special donation in honor or in memory of your mom. this very

special donation will be used towards the purchase of new folding tables to replace the

extremely heavy ones we currently have.

I’ll gladly honor this very special woman (mother, grandmother, caregiver, etc.) who has touched my life in a way that only a mother could. Enclosed is my donation to help Sisterhood

continue its projects in support of Beth Israel Congregation.

Please return bottom portion of this fl yer to:Beth Israel Congregation 5315 old Canton road • Jackson, Ms 39211Attn: Mother’s Day

PASSOVERJump for Joy –

We now have “FROGS!” Come and get yours

before they hop away!

NEW Passover items have arrived!NEW selection of haggadahs,

seder plates and matzah plates1st Seder is April 6th!

in the Judaica Shop!

NewItems

W W W. B e t h I s r a e l M s . o r g 5

the sisterhOOd sPOtlight

SISTERHOOD MONTHLY MEETING April Luncheon

Wednesday, April 18, 2012BIC Social Hall

11:30 am - 1:00 pm • lunch at noonCost: $10

Join us as we recognize and honor our longest standing members of 35+

years as well as our newest members of 3 years or less

rsVP: sfijman@gmail.com or 601.260.4130

May Shabbat Dinner

Taco Night! Friday, May 4, 2012

after services $10 per adult

$5 per child

send prepayment and reservation to temple offi ce by

May 1, 2012

Future selections: May - In the Garden of the Beast (Larson) • June - Girl from Foreign (Shepherd)

the april sisterhood Book Club meeting will be held at the temple on Sunday, April 15, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. Please join us, even if you have not attended previously. everyone is welcome.

our april selection is Great House by nicole Krauss, who also wrote The History of Love. You can fi nd a review of the book here:http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/books/review/goldstein-t.html?pagewanted=all

great house is a story haunted by questions: What do we pass on to our children? how do they absorb our dreams and losses? how do we respond to disappearance, destruction, and change?

6 B e t h I s r a e l C o n g r e g at I o n

You might remember that last month in my Chailights message to you, I talked about the value of the geese fl ying in V formation and honking from behind.

I’m pleased to tell you that I’m already hearing the encouraging honking from behind and have noticed many of you fl ying with me in V-formation. I’ve heard the honking in various ways: those of you who increased your dues – I consider that a honk of encouragement that your board is on the right track. and those of you that have volunteered as committee chairs (sometimes

even creating new committees) are clearly fl ying in V Formation with your board, sharing the load, allowing us to travel that much further in the achievement of our goals. on a lighter note, the email that said simply “honk” and the one that said “we’re fl ying with you” both brightened my day. thanks to everyone that is listening.

While your congregational leadership needs you to fl y in V-Formation with us and honk from behind, I’ve learned that there’s a group that needs us all to honk from behind. I recently received a phone call from the President of Beth el synagogue in st. louis Park, Minnesota. he asked our congregation to partner with his on a project supporting a national guard Unit in afghanistan that is actually made up of 24 Minnesota national guardsmen (and women) and 34 Mississippi national guardsmen. the Minnesota Unit is there to train the locals in farming and the Mississippi Unit is there for security. the unit has been deployed since october and is scheduled to return home in september. they, as all our armed forces, would benefi t from “hearing the honking.” they are apparently in the middle of nowhere and need things to do in their spare time. But equally as important I know they would appreciate care packages, letters, etc.

A MessAge frOM OUr PresideNt

Continued on page 7...

“BE LOOKING AROUND your home for

paperback books, magazines, game books, ... brain

teasers, craft kits, DVDs and Wii games that you can

DONATE.”

W W W. B e t h I s r a e l M s . o r g 7

What a Mitzvah it would be for us to support them and their families in this trying time for them. We’re hoping to make this happen with no fi nancial commitment from the temple. I’m pleased to announce that Donald sawyer has volunteered to take on this project. Watch the BIC Blast and shabbat service bulletins on how you can participate. Until then, be looking around your home for paperback books, magazines, game books (like crossword puzzles, word and number games, etc.), brain teasers, craft kits, DVDs and WII games that you can donate. Bring them by the temple offi ce. also be thinking about what you might put in a personal care package for one of these brave men or women to let them know how much we appreciate their service to our country.

a bit of news: We’ve hired a new offi ce administrator, Meg Wilkerson! she has already started and I’m sure you all will love her. stop by to meet her and offer her encouragement. the fi rst few months in this position can be trying and overwhelming, and we want her to be reassured that her efforts are very much appreciated. lastly, be sure to thank Jo ann for taking time from her retirement to come and take care of us. her fi lling in along with training Meg have been invaluable during this month of transition.

have a great april. We are blessed with so many opportunities to participate in our congregational life. I hope to see you here. SINCERELY,

REBECCA LASKIN

continued from page 6...

a MississippiMississippiHomecoming

Come see Jackson’s own Brian Fuente in concert at Duling auditorium on April 7th!

Cocktails at 6:30pmShow starts at 8pm**Brian goes on around 9 pm -

plenty of time to enjoy 2nd Seder at temple and then go to the concert!

Advance tickets: $12 At door: $15

tickets available at: www.ardenland.net

(and click on “shows”)

8 B e t h I s r a e l C o n g r e g at I o n

A Day Camp Program for Children Ages 4 - 6

Co-sponsored by Beth Israel Preschool and the UrJ henry s. Jacobs Camp

2012 Dates: Monday, June 18 - Friday, June 22, 2012

Fee: Just $200

Visit our website to learn more and complete an application:

Camp K’Tanim combines the creative & innovative programing of the Jacobs Camp’s overnight

program within a day camp setting.

jacobs.urjcamps.org/about/daycamp

Beth Israel Preschool will host 5 camps in July. Please reserve your spots today!

all camps are from 8:30 am-11:30 am • open to ages 3-6 years old (except theatre)• theater Camp is for children ages 4-6•

4-Day Camps - $125 • 5-Day Camps - $150registration is a one time fee of $35.00. Make

checks to Beth Israel Preschool. Please call 601-956-6216 for more

information or visit our website: www.BethIsraelPreschool.com.

Save the DateMay 11, 2012 • 6:15 pmDana Dobel • Jennie loeb

alex goldstein • sam PalmerKovi Katz • Mikaela Phillips

2012 Confirmation

Bet h Israe l Preschoo l Summer Camp

July 2-6 (no camp on the 4th): Ocean Explorers & Stay-n-Play Tennis

July 9-13: Theater Kids - Bugs & Butterflies

in my Back YardJuly 16-19:

ComputerTots - Summer OlympicsJuly 23-26:

Ballet Mississippi - Leaps and BoundsJuly 23-26:

ComputerTots - Get a Clue Camp

Save the Date ♦ Bat Mitzvah Hannah Guimbellot

May 26, 201210:15 am

W W W. B e t h I s r a e l M s . o r g 9

BitY & religiOUs schOOl

Relay for Life Luminaries & Torches for Sale

the relay for life celebration includes a luminaria ceremony to remember

those whose lives have been touched by cancer. the bags remain lit

through the evening to remind us that hoPe lIVes among us.

$10 donation for each white bag$25 donation for each gold bag$100 donation for each torch

the torch includes the names of the donor and individual for whom it was purchased.

To order, please contact Traci (traci@bethisraelms.org, 601-956-6215)

by April 13th.

Please join BItY at the Jackson-hinds County relay for life April 27 (6pm) to

April 28 (6am) at Millsaps College.luminaria Ceremony begins at 10 pm.

100% of the proceeds go to the american Cancer society.

Preschool B a l l e t R e c i t a l

April 21, 2012 3:00 pm

Trinity Presbyterian Church Social Hall

B.H.O.P. BITY House of Pancakes!

AllYou can eat pancake brunch!SundayApril 1

11:30 am 12:30 pm*Sunday School will end at 11:30

Proceeds to benefit theAmerican Cancer Society$10 adults $5 8th grade and younger

RSVP toTraci by Friday, March 31Traci@bethisraelms.org 601 956 6215

2nd annual B.H.O.P.

BITY House of Pancakes!

AllYou can eat pancake brunch!SundayApril 1

11:30 am 12:30 pm*Sunday School will end at 11:30

Proceeds to benefit theAmerican Cancer Society$10 adults $5 8th grade and younger

RSVP toTraci by Friday, March 31Traci@bethisraelms.org 601 956 6215

2nd annual B.H.O.P. BITY House of Pancakes!

AllYou can eat pancake brunch!SundayApril 1

11:30 am 12:30 pm*Sunday School will end at 11:30

Proceeds to benefit theAmerican Cancer Society$10 adults $5 8th grade and younger

RSVP toTraci by Friday, March 31Traci@bethisraelms.org 601 956 6215

2nd annual

10 B e t h I s r a e l C o n g r e g at I o n

ANNOUNceMeNts | BirthdAYs & ANNiVersAries

FROM THE OFFICE

Contributions• processed after april 10th will be included in the June issue of Chailights.

to protect your privacy and to ensure all checks are handled in a timely manner, • please put all checks in the black lock box by the BIC Offi ce door. the box is conveniently located on the wall to the left of the door. Please do not leave checks anywhere else. thank you!

Reports and articles for the May issue of ChaiLights• are due Tuesday, April 10th. submissions can be e-mailed** to support@bethisraelms.org. submissions

received after the 10th will be included on a space-available basis. **Please note in the subject line “(May 2012) ChaiLights submission.”

ANNOUNceMeNts | BirthdAYs & ANNiVersAriesANNOUNceMeNts | BirthdAYs & ANNiVersAriesANNOUNceMeNts | BirthdAYs & ANNiVersAries

DATES TO REMEMBER

april 2 Meals on Wheelsapril 4 Billy Brumfi eld house Mealapril 4 shirim Choir rehearsal, 7:00 pm april 6 Meals on Wheelsapril 6 offi ce Closes at 12:00 for the First night of Passoverapril 8 religious school not meeting april 13 offi ce Closed for the last Day of Passoverapril 19 Monthly Board Meeting, 6:00 pmapril 25 shirim Choir rehearsal, 7:00 pm

hAPPY BirthdAY tO... 4/01 Max Palmer 4/03 helen Petersen 4/04 Janice leBlanc 4/04 suzanne rotwein 4/04 tamar sharp 4/05 helen leighton 4/08 Bob Berman 4/08 sue Jacobs 4/08 Donna Kaminsky 4/08 sandra liverman

4/08 louis newman 4/10 David Kweller 4/11 Mark Burleson 4/12 richard snyder 4/14 Dana larkin 4/14 Don Mitchell 4/16 Zoey Mabry 4/18 Bob Petersen 4/20 Carol Cherkasky 4/21 steve Pollock

4/21 ara robbins 4/22 robyn Pollack 4/24 Mariel Kassoff 4/25 Donna orkin 4/27 Mindi Phillips 4/29 hannah harris 4/29 harold Kolodney 4/30 gilda hesdorffer

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO...4/07 sarah Buxbaum and Dave ross 4/11 amy and Mark Burleson4/11 Betty and leo Mermelstein4/15 Paula and lewis loeb4/20 shelly and David ladden4/25 helen and Bob Petersen4/26 Charna and Bruce schlakman4/27 Mary gail and harold Kolodney4/30 tara and David Blumenthal

W W W. B e t h I s r a e l M s . o r g 11

Thank YouThank You

Mazel Tov!♦♦♦

Richard and Judy Stamm are proud to announce

the engagement of their daughter, Regina Stamm,

to Alan Miao of Dallas, Texas.

Wedding to be held June 30, 2012.

In Memory of Guierl Lee SmithBy Carol thompson to the rabbi’s

Discretionary Fund

In Honor of the Birthday of Honorine WeissBy Debra and Joel Jacobs and family to the

rabbi’s Discretionary Fund By Marla harbor and erik hearon to the

shirim Choir Fund

In Appreciation of Beth Israel CongregationBy Carol thompson to the general Fund

By rose Mary Foncree to the general Fund

In Appreciation of Rabbi CohenBy gilda hesdorffer

to the rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

In Memory of Gerda StessmannBy emily Kamber to the Caring Committee

In Memory of William OstrovBy shirley Kelley to the rabbi’s

Discretionary Fund

In Appreciation of Saturday Morning ServicesBy gavin Brannan to the saturday Morning FundIn Honor of the Birthday of Dr. Ralph Daniel, III

By syril Portnoy to the general FundIn Honor of Michele Schipper

By Carol Kossman to the Capital FundIn Honor of Ben Russell

By Carol Kossman to the Capital FundIn Memory of Nokhim Ivshin

By ninna Ivshin to the general FundBy lisa and Michael Ivshin to the general Fund

In Memory of Vladimir IvshinBy ninna Ivshin to the general Fund

By lisa and Michael Ivshin to the general FundIn Memory of Sima Finkelstein

By lisa and Michael Ivshin to the general FundIn Memory of Leib Finkelstein

By lisa and Michael Ivshin to the general FundFor the Beautifi cation of the Offi ce

Reception AreaBy the Meyer Crystal Family Foundation

❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀

Shabbat Service Schedule

Fridays, 6:15 pmsaturdays, 9:00 am

torah studysaturdays, 10:15 am

Unless otherwise noted

Non-Profit OrgU. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit #123JACKSON, MS

5315 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS 39211

Phone: 601.956.6215 Fax: 601.952.0895

Yahrzeits for April 2012

*Denotes Memorial Plaque

April 6-7Joe rubintoby rubinsky *Joe schneiderDorothy shermanMorris BinderJoseph Dornbaumselma JacobsonJoseph KirschMollye rones *roselyn schlesingerJill sonnabendsally asherhattie l. edelstonruth laskinDinah Packlibby sollek*elik h.Balkinsamuel ruvinskyBiffiel sartorIsaac elfassysue elsonMax evansBen Kulman *Jennie landaurose sasan *

Penia stotlandsam Millstein *Beatrice snyderJonathan souweine

April 13-14abe levylillian sawyerlouis WeissClaudette goodwinDavid harrisann Kulmaneugenia BergerWalter lipsichJules Wienernokhim Ivshin *gerda stessmannadar a. alloucheMaxwell D. BermanJ’net Kulman *leona Pattersonemanuel BurnsteinBernard CohenBenjamin Freedman *earl Friedman

Carl levy *evelyn nashlouis oppenheimPeter h.thames

April 20-21Jane taubmanDavid s. Weineresther eisenbergFanny gordon *Kolman KatzBernice lazarushelen D. Millersteven e. BalkinClifford Davisoscar Dumontshia Dumontely siegal *Clifford abramsPhil Bloomh. steve Browdyalvin loebrose steinMaurice Burnsteinsamuel eisenbergJack ginsburg

elaine Metzhelene W. MetzDaniel W. ready, Jr.

April 27-28Mike Binder *george J. segelMaurice WolfMiriam FratkinMarie JolleyBetty rubinsky *eileen hanfedith harteva susmanruth o.Dormanlena Mermelsteinruth s.rice *anna gordonJacob Mitchell *Paul goodmanJanet laskinJoseph PollackMilton stiebel