• OUR RABBI •

As We Light Our Menorahs Let’s Spread Love, Hope and Pride

• You could spend a lot of time studying the history behind the holiday of Hanukkah. You could read the account of the uprising in the Book of Maccabees. You could debate whether we should laud the zealots, and whether we as modern Reform Jews should side with those who were opposed to assimilation. There is a lot to study and discuss. Yet for me, the message of Hanukkah is at its essence quite simple - spread light. Don’t give in to the forces of evil or hatred. Resolve to battle oppression, and spread love and joy.
• This year, it seems particularly important to spread the light. For many of us, these have been dark times. Between the wars in Israel/Gaza and Ukraine, the continuing devastating effects of climate change, and the continuing rise of antisemitism and authoritarianism, we need light more than ever.
• The Talmud (Shabbat 21a-24a) teaches us about lighting the menorah. The menorah is not supposed to be lit in a dark corner of the house, or even on the kitchen table - it should be in the window, facing the public thoroughfare, so that passersby can see it. The main purpose of this mitzvah, say the Talmudic rabbis, is “pirsumay nisa”, publicizing the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days.
• We need to publicize the “miracle” of the oil, the belief that even in dark times there is always hope, that light can overcome darkness. And these days, we need to broadcast not only the hope and faith symbolized by the menorah; we also need to broadcast our pride in being Jewish. We need to show the world our pride in our faith, and our commitment to living joyous Jewish lives.
• We will have many opportunities to broadcast the miracle and spread the light this season. *Our Kol Simkha Student Choir will be spreading the light of the season to patients and families at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital on Thursday, December 26th as we participate in their Annual Celebration of Light. *The weekend before that, they will be singing at the Bristal Assisted Living Home in New Hyde Park, spreading light and bringing joy to the residents. In addition, thanks to the Lakeville Estates Civic Association, throughout the eight days of Hanukkah we will kindle the light of a large outdoor menorah on our own Temple front lawn! Please join us to light that menorah together on Friday night, December 27th and stay for our Festive Shabbat Hanukkah Service. Bring your own menorahs - we will kindle them together and watch the sanctuary fill with light. (*More information will be in the Weekly Updates or feel free to call the Office.)

Let us celebrate this festival of light with joy and pride, so that we can keep the light shining for a long time to come. Happy Hanukkah!

• Angel: Arnold & Sylvia Bloch • Barbara Silberman • Susan & Martin Siroka • Neela & Ken Weber
• Benefactor: Judy & Stuart Weinstock
• TZEDEKAH: Gloria & Larry Konstan • Joyce & Joel Mensoff
• PATRON: Ronni & Charlie Hollander • Barbara & Joe Massey • Irene & Stanley Zorn
• SPONSOR: Michele & Dennis Baltuch • Terry & Michael Cutler • Ronald Degen • Martin & Susan Fox • Bruce, Maria, Lauren & Marc Gross • Lois Howard • Joe & Judy Kirschner • Debbie & Larry Klig • Phyllis Richards • Elaine & Helaine Schacter • Gary & Gerri Weinstein
• DONOR: Sharon & Alana Bibergal • Farhad Bolandakhtari & Nazita Dashtipour • The Chirel Family • Sonia Fink • Fran Fredrick • Sharon Fricano • Ruth Friedlander • Steven Gluzband • Margery & Edward Orenstein • David Herz & Janet Stahl • The Magidson Family • Mark & Robin Mandell • Barbara & Milton Rosenberg and Family • Lawrence Roth • Susan Schall • Jack & June Schwarz • Janet & Barry Spool • Sandra Witt • Jack Zaffos
• PARTICIPANT: Deborah Abramowitz • Sheila & Martin Bokser • Barbara Dublin • Alan Fogelman • Leslie Kizner • Steven B. Levine • Lee Newman • The Maletzy Family • Howard & Gale Zeidman

• TEMPLE PRESIDENT •

Let’s Feel Joy and Pride in Every Holiday & In Being Inclusive

• Raising my children in an interfaith family, I have always had to deal with the December Dilemma. Like many parents and grandparents in our congregation, I chose to raise my children Jewish.
• Out of respect for my husband and his family, we also celebrated the secular aspects of his traditions - meaning we decorated trees at Christmas, hunted (mostly chocolate) eggs at Easter, and most importantly attended family holiday gatherings.
• As my children got older, we dropped most of those traditions, yet Christmas dinner is still a thing. I cook brisket and homemade latkes for Hanukkah and (mostly) homemade Italian food for Christmas. In my family, we also do a vegan holiday dinner, however that is a totally different conversation.
• What to do then, when Hanukkah and Christmas fall on the same day? While a “Chrismukkah” celebration sounds like a good compromise, I don’t see latkes and chicken parmesan in the same meal working out well.
• Each holiday deserves its own traditions, so in all likelihood, we will probably pick one to do on Wednesday, December 25th and one to do on a different night, yet it will still be a lot of holiday overload in one week.
• Navigating different family traditions is never easy, but when the holidays fall on the same day, life becomes even more stressful.
• Celebrating only Hanukkah can be equally as stressful for some. Let’s face it, Christmas is hard to ignore. How do we handle this? Do we say Merry Christmas or the more generic Happy Holidays? Do we take our children to visit Santa Claus when they ask? How do we dress for the office holiday party?
• There is no one answer to the December Dilemma. We all have to find the right balance for our families. My Jewish Learning has compiled an assortment of good articles on the December Dilemma in one place. Just click on the LINK below if you are looking for inspiration on this topic, you might find this reference helpful.

• While activities at Temple tend to slow down in the second half of December, we still have a lot going on. Sisterhood is sponsoring a Game Night on Tuesday, December 3rd and a Comedy Night with the Bible Players on Saturday, December 14th. Brotherhood is sponsoring a discussion about urology on Sunday, December 8th and a NY Islander Game on the Tuesday, December 10th. Our next Family Shabbat Dinner and Grade Service is Friday, December 13th. More information can be found in the flyers in this Issue and in the Weekly Updates.
• And please mark your calendars for Sunday, December 8th at 7:00pm for our Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting. I hope to see everyone there.
• As always, please feel free to reach out to me by clicking on the LINK below or any member of our Board of Trustees with your questions and concerns.

Wishing everyone a Happy Hanukkah and peaceful, healthy, and happy holiday season and new year.

• TEMPLE - AT - LARGE •

HAPPY HANUKKAH

LET US SEE THE LIGHT!

• BOOK CLUB & WRITING GROUP INFORMATION •

REMEMBER TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The Temple Book Club will next meet on *ZOOM on Monday, December 9th at 7:30pm to discuss The Orphan Keeper by Camron Wright...Based on the remarkable true story of Taj Rowland. Seven-year-old Chellamuthu's life is forever changed when he is kidnapped from his village in India, sold to an orphanage, and then adopted by an unsuspecting couple in the United States. (from LINK re: Camron Wright)

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REMEMBER TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The Creative Writing Group will next meet on Tuesday, December 10th at 7:30pm.

• SOCIAL ACTION •

We Are Still Here! Casting Light Into the Dark! We Move On Through it All! • The Maccabeats •

• This month we will celebrate Hanukkah, our Festival of Lights; a holiday that has many happy and delicious traditions. However, we also know that we are celebrating a miracle that occurred at a very dark time when Jewish identity, political autonomy, and self-determination were under relentless attack by powerful forces.
• In dark times those menorah lights have special meaning. They can represent a brave act of defiance and resistance.
• Most of us have seen the iconic picture below of a Hanukkah menorah in a window in Kiel, Germany opposite a Nazi flag. The history of that photo is worth remembering. • It was Hanukkah, 1931: Rabbi Dr. Akiva Posner was serving as the Rabbi of the port city of Kiel. He would be the last before the Holocaust. That December many German Jews closed their curtains to hide their menorahs. Rabbi Posner’s wife Rachel placed hers in an uncovered window opposite the Nazi flag flying from the newly opened Nazi headquarters across the street, in a building that was a popular concert hall. Then she took out her camera and captured the image for all time. •

• By that time there had already been many instances of antisemitic violence in Germany and the crisis was accelerating. In Kiel, the persecution of Jews began even earlier than in most of the rest of the country. Rabbi Posner published a protest letter in the local press in 1932, expressing outrage at signs around the city declaring “Entrance to Jews Forbidden,” which had appeared even before Hitler came to power. He was then summoned by the leaders of the local Nazi party to take part in some sort of public debate. In August of 1932 Kiel’s synagogue and a Jewish-owned department store were bombed. The Posner Family left Germany for Palestine in June 1933 by way of Antwerp, taking the family menorah with them. Before leaving, Rabbi Posner convinced most of his congregants to leave as well.
• In 1974 the city of Kiel put out a call for any objects that could help them tell the story of pre-Holocaust Jewish life there. Rachel Posner sent them the photo we now know so well along with 16 others. The image has since been shown in exhibitions around the world. The actual menorah is now exhibited at Yad Vashem, yet the family continues to reclaim and use it every Hanukkah.
• Here are some references to read more about this story and the descendants of the Posner Family:

• SISTERHOOD •

It’s Hanukkah Time!

• December is the month with the least amount of daily sunlight and the start of the cold winter season. It is also when Hanukkah occurs; a holiday bringing light into our dark, cold nights. Hanukkah has always been a family time for me. Together we decorated the house for the holiday. Together we lit the menorah bringing some light into the dark night. It was a time for gathering with the extended family eating latkes, lighting the menorah, playing with dreidels, and exchanging presents. I have been lucky to have celebrated Hanukkah over the years with five generations of my family. And I have continued the holiday traditions that were a part of my childhood with my daughter and now with my grandchildren. L’dor V’dor. I love watching their excited faces as we light the candles and watch the candles burn, enjoying their light during these dark days.
• Sisterhood came together for our first big event of the year, the Paid- Up Membership Brunch on Sunday, November 3rd. It was a lovely afternoon for everyone with great entertainment from Kathryne Kitt and Julie O’Donnell, good conversations, plentiful food, some shopping, and the excitement of our raffle. Thank you to our Two Terry’s for organizing the event and to all those who helped make it happen so successfully.

• Our First General Meeting will be a Game Night on Tuesday, December 3rd at 7:30 pm. On Saturday, December 14th we will be welcoming the Bible Players who will provide a humorous and adult spin on tales from the Torah. We hope that we will see you at these events.

L’dor V’dor ~ From Generation to Generation

• BROTHERHOOD •

Hanukkah 5785

• How do we overcome darkness...Our candles will help, yet we will need more. We could spend the winter in Argentina. That will give us much more light than living in New York. However, that is not the darkness we need to overcome.
• We need to look inside ourselves and realize that good overcomes evil. That there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. And, if possible, we move the train a bit faster to reach that light.
• This has been a most difficult year for Gloria and me. In March we lost a sister-in-law, in May a brother, and in October another brother. How do we keep the light shining. ~ We remember their lives and the amazing amount of pleasure they brought us while living; their humor, their smiles, and their love of life. We recall the many dinners we had together with them and the sharing of holiday tables. Their memories and the memories we shared with them are truly a blessing ~
• So, we will “light one candle for all we believe in that anger does not tear us apart” and we will “light one candle to find us together with peace as the song in our heart”.
• This has been year of loss at home and in the lands around the world, however our candles and our hopes will let the light shine.
• Thank you to everyone that joined us at our Panera Bread Fundraising Event in Mineola on Tuesday, November 12th to support Brotherhood.
• Our next event is on Sunday, December 8th at 10:00am when Dr. Gary Goldberg will discuss urological issues affecting both men and women, and we will serve bagels, coffee and tea.
• And on Tuesday, December 10th at 7:30pm - 20 Temple members and friends are looking forward to the NY Islanders vs. LA Kings Hockey Game at the UBS Arena in Elmont.
• Finally, our last event for the year will be on Sunday, December 15th when Brotherhood will once again be preparing latkes for Hanukkah for our Religious School students.

Hanukkah and New Year’s Greetings for Health, Love, Peace, and Happiness

• LIFELONG LEARNING •

The Season of Light is Upon Us

• As everyone knows, Hanukkah begins this year on Christmas Day. In addition, the second night of Hanukkah occurs on the first day of Kwanzaa, the annual celebration of African-American culture. In other words, many Americans will be happily celebrating in late December their past, present, and future. Light is a theme for all these holidays: the eight candles of Hanukkah, the star of Bethlehem for Christians, and the seven candles in a kinara (similar to our menorah) that symbolize the seven principles of Kwanzaa. (Look them up, they are interesting.)
• One way to see the light, not just during Hanukkah but all year long, is to join in the celebration of Group Torah Study with your fellow members of Temple Tikvah. Every Saturday around 15 or so adults join Rabbi Sheinberg in studying the Torah, each of us striving to understand its importance and meaning for our lives today. We are in Genesis now, where many of our well-known ancestors struggle and rejoice with their newly found God. (Jacob for instance, actually physically fights with God, causing him to get a new honorary name, ISRAEL - meaning one who has wrestled with God…and won!) Come join the wrestling match on Saturday mornings at 9:15am, always on ZOOM and often in-person at the synagogue. Read the Weekly Update to find out how to join the group each week. Bring your own light to our discussion.
• In December, we have another treat. On Saturday, December 21st at 11:00am, there will be a showing of a recent talk given by Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz on an incredibly timely issue, “On Borders and Migration: How Jewish Texts Can Guide Us on Immigration.” What could be more relevant for the years to come? The presentation is sponsored by LAASOK. (The Hebrew word laasok means to immerse/to engage/to busy oneself. We say the word each Saturday as part of our prayer before we immerse, engage, and busy ourselves in the study of the Torah.) LAASOK, the organization is supported by many Jewish organizations (including the Union for Reform Judaism) and intends to empower progressive or ”non-Orthodox” Jews to connect with Judaism, with each other, and with themselves through meaningful engagement with all sacred Jewish texts.
• The event is a Lunch and Learn format: You bring lunch, we’ll supply the drinks and dessert. The one-hour presentation will be followed by a lively discussion among attendees. Watch for the announcement in upcoming Weekly Updates for more information. When you see it, and if you are interested, we ask that you please RSVP.

Enjoy the month. We hope you get a nice surprise present for Hanukkah.

• HAKARAT HATOV •

• DONATIONS •

• ADULT EDUCATION FUND: Lois Silverman in honor of Rabbi Randy with affection and gratitude.
• CARING COMMUNITY FUND: Debra Feder
• HELEN BADER SPECIAL PROJECT FUND: Jeremy Wise
• KEHILLA FUND: Ellen Osuna in memory of Karla Osuna, my wonderful Mom, who was grateful to be embraced by the Temple Tikvah Community.
• RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND: Micky Josephs in memory of Michael Konstan • Leslie Kizner
• SIMCHA FUND: Beverly Osrow in honor of the birth of her great grandchild, Moshe Yochanan Gordon • The Rieger Family in appreciation of PJ Library
• TEMPLE TIKVAH MEMORIAL FUND: Deborah Abramowitz in memory of Sylvia & Daniel Lerner and Karla Osuna • Marian & Seth Baskin in memory of Harry Baskin • Lorraine Bertan in memory of Celia Bertan • Sharon Bibergal in memory of Edith Goldberg • Kristine Blackwood in memory of Terrie Goldstein • Arnold & Sylvia Bloch in memory of Eleanor Bloch and Judson Schiebel • Bernice Bloch in memory of Judson Schiebel • Sheila & Martin Bokser in memory of Lillian Jupiter Sussman • Brotherhood in memory of Terrie Goldstein • Elaine Farber in memory of Dora Berger and Walter Roth • Michele & Marc Gold in memory of Guy Bonné, Louis Lasker, and Wilma Cohen • Lawrence Goldstein in memory of Terrie Goldstein • Michael Golob in memory of Debbie Golob • Mark & Lori Gordon in memory of Herman Gordon • Muriel Gorochow in member of Dina Zavlick • Beth, Steven, Molly & Andrew Herrick in memory of Stephen Berman • Joseph & Phyllis Horne in memory of Judy Serebnick and Natalie Spector • Lois Howard in memory of Sheldon Faitell and Richard Howard • Toby & Steve Israel in memory of Jules Beers • Joseph & Judith Kirschner in memory of Michael Konstan • Lisa Lupo in memory of Pearl Panes • Estelle Magidson in memory of Goldie Farber and Joseph Farber • Barbara & Joseph Massey in memory of Michael Konstan, Jeannie Friedenberg, and Lenore Katz • Jacqueline McCorey in memory of Larry Mills • Joyce & Joel Mensoff in memory of Michael Konstan, Sidney Fingerhut, and Bess Mandell • Lynn Moser in memory of Sonya Okun • Sue & Kent Moston in memory of Terrie Goldstein and Michael Konstan • Lee Newman & Family in memory of Lillian Newman • Michael Newman in memory of Manuel Gutierrez and Carman Gutierrez • Jody & Terry Osterweil in memory of Michael Konstan • Sandra & David Peskin in memory of Lois Robbins and Karla Osuna • Phyllis Richards in memory of Mollie Glick • Milton & Barbara Rosenberg in memory of Henry Rosenberg • Susan Schall in memory of Burton Schall and Michael Konstan • Barbara Silberman in memory Samuel Kellner and Michael Konstan • Lora & Saul Teichberg in memory of Norman & Ruth Weiselberg and Lillian Teichberg • Neela & Ken Weber in memory of Sidney Weber • Teresa & Jeffrey Weisbrot in memory Michael Konstan • Howard & Gale Zeidman in memory of Robert Mindlin • Stanley Zorn & Irene Heimrath in memory of Michael Konstan

• YAHRZEITS •

• SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1st - NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL • AND • NO KOL SIMKHA CHORUS REHEARSAL
• TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3rd - Sisterhood Board Meeting at 6:00pm • and • Sisterhood General Meeting / Game Night at 7:00pm
• WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4th - Choir Rehearsal at 7:00pm
• THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5th - On the Marc Sports Talk at 4:00pm with Marc Gold • and • Cardio, Core and More! with Lori from 5:00pm
• FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6th - Shabbat Service at 7:30pm (Shabbat Candles Lit at 4:10pm)
• SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7th - *Torah Study Plus at 9:15am / IN-PERSON & ON ZOOM (LINK in the Weekly Update) • and • Parent Discussion on Antisemitism in Our Communities at 11:00am
• SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8th - Kol Simkha Choir Rehearsal at 9:00am; Religious School at 9:30am; Brotherhood Event: Urology Health Seminar with Dr. George Goldberg, MD, FACS at 10:00am (bagels, coffee & tea will be served); Youth Afterschool Event with Kathryn Kitt at 12:00pm; and L’Taken Program Meeting with Teens from 12:30pm - 1:30pm
• SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8th - SEMI-ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING AT 7:00pm
• MONDAY, DECEMBER 9th - Brotherhood Meeting at 7:00pm • and • Book Club Meeting at 7:30pm
• TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10th - Brotherhood Sponsored Event: NY Islander Game at the UBS Arena at 7:30pm • and • Writing Group at 7:30pm
• WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11th - Choir Rehearsal at 7:00pm
• THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12th - On the Marc Sports Talk with Marc Gold at 4:00pm • and • Cardio, Core and More! with Lori from 5:00pm to 6:00pm
• FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13th - Congregational Dinner at 6:00pm • and • 5th/6th Grade Shabbat Service at 7:00pm (Shabbat Candles Lit at 4:11pm)
• SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14th - *Torah Study at 9:15am IN-PERSON and ON ZOOM (LINK in the Weekly Update) • and • Sisterhood Evening Event with Bible Players at 7:30pm
• SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15th - Kol Simkha Choir Rehearsal at 9:00am; Religious School Hanukkah Program at 9:30am; Tot Hanukkah Celebration at 10:00am; AND...Brotherhood will be Serving Our Youngsters their Scrumptious Latkes! at 11:30am, Accompanied by The Bible Players
• MONDAY, DECEMBER 16th - Executive Board Meeting at 7:30pm
• WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18th - Choir Rehearsal at 7:00pm
• THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19th - Wise Aging at 11:00am; On the Marc Sports Talk with Marc Gold at 4:00pm; and Cardio, Core and More! with Lori from 5:00pm to 6:00pm
• FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20th - Shabbat Services with Choir at 7:30pm (Shabbat Candles Lit at 4:13pm)
• SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21st - Torah Study at 9:15am ONLY ON ZOOM (LINK in the Weekly Update) • and • Lunch & Learn Event at 11:00am
• SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22nd - NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL / Kol Simkha Choir Sings at The Bristal at 1:30pm
• TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24th - CHRISTMAS EVE
• WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25th - CHRISTMAS DAY • AND • EREV HANUKKAH (1st candle lit)
• THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26th - 1st DAY OF HANUKKAH (2nd candle lit) / On the Marc Sports Talk with Marc Gold at 4:00pm • and • Cardio, Core and More! with Lori from 5:00pm to 6:00pm
• FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27th - 2nd DAY OF HANUKKAH (3rd candle lit - before Shabbat Candles) / Festive Shabbat Hanukkah Service at 7:30pm (Shabbat Candles Lit at 4:17pm)
• SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28th - 3rd DAY OF HANUKKAH (4th candle lit - after Shabbat) / Torah Study at 9:15am ONLY ON ZOOM (LINK in the Weekly Update)
• SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29th - 4th DAY OF HANUKKAH (5th candle lit) / NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL • and • NO KOL SIMKHA CHOIR REHEARSAL
• MONDAY, DECEMBER 30th - 5th DAY OF HANUKKAH (6th candle lit)
• TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31st - NEW YEAR’S EVE / 6th DAY OF HANUKKAH (7th candle lit)

* PLEASE REFER TO THE WEEKLY UPDATES & THE LINK BELOW (CLICK ON NEW EVENTS, THEN CALENDAR) FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION *

OUR LEADERSHIP

TIKVAH TIMES STAFF

Editor - Alene Schonhaut / Assistant Editor - Madeleine Wolf / Jay Beber - Cover Design & Consultant