The CMI Bulletin
AUGUST 2023
More than a place - We’re a community
SERIES 108 No. 1
Search me, O God, and know my heart. Examine me, and know my anxious thoughts, and see if there be any offensive way within me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
– Psalm 139:23-24
The New CMI Bulletin
In early 2019 (see the March 2019 Bulletin), we at CMI decided it was a great time to follow our passion to leave a “green” thumbprint as a congregation. We considered the massive use of paper we generate yearly and found it was a perfect time to “go green”. At that time, we implemented our paperless monthly bulletin as part of a series of eco-friendly initiatives.
This Spring we renewed that effort with the goal of distributing the CMI Bulletin more efficiently and at a significant savings to the congregation. The Board of Trustees authorized a transition from our traditional hard copy to an electronic bulletin. The Bulletin Subcommittee of our Revenue Generation Task Force facilitated this transition. To ensure that everyone continues to have access to the Bulletin, paper copies will still be available to those who prefer it.
As you read the electronic Bulletin, you will see much that is familiar. Greetings from our Clergy, calendar listings of events, Yahrzeit remembrances, grateful acknowledgements of donations, appreciation of greeters, and notifications of B’nai Mitzvah celebrations remain in the newly formatted Bulletin. Some noteworthy changes are also evident. Going forward, each edition of the bulletin will highlight messages from different lay leaders, along with updates on the wide array of committees and group projects that are active at CMI.
We hope that the new form of the Bulletin meets your needs. Please send feedback to Len Brin, treasurer@cmihamden.org.
Shabbat Friday Night Services
Join your CMI community and meet Rabbi Ross at weekly Shabbat evening services at 6:00 p.m., (pre-Oneg at 5:30 p.m.) through the summer weeks. In keeping with tradition, CMI members will lead us in prayer, learning and song throughout. In addition, Rabbi Ross will be at most services to either lead the service and preach or offer a greeting.
SHABBAT EIKEV
Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25
Friday, August 4
5:30 Early Oneg
6:00 Evening Service
SHABBAT RE’EH
Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
Friday, August 11
6:00 Evening Service
7:00 Pasta on the Patio!
Saturday, August 12
9:00 Torah Study
SHABBAT SHOFTIM
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Friday, August 18
5:30 Early Oneg
6:00 Evening Service
Saturday, August 19
9:00 Torah Study
SHABBAT KI TEITZEI
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19
Friday, August 25
5:30 Early Oneg
6:00 Evening Service
Saturday, August 26
9:00 Torah Study
Meet Rabbi Ross
Join us in welcoming Rabbi Dennis Ross to CMI! As an intentional interim rabbi, Rabbi Ross has supported synagogues through transitions since 2004. Prior to that, he has served as Rabbi at numerous congregations New York; New Jersey; Washington, D.C.; and Massachusetts. He is a noted author, sought-after speaker, inspiring educator, and a licensed clinical social worker.
Throughout the summer, there will be a few special opportunities to welcome Rabbi Ross, get to know him, and, most importantly, help him get to know us. Please join us on the following dates.
Friday, August 11 – Rabbi Rabbi Ross will lead Shabbat services, which will be followed by Pasta on the Patio. Come for services at 6:00 pm and stay for dinner and conversation. RSVP for dinner
Friday, September 8 – Shabbat Under The Stars will be led by Rabbi Ross. Join us for a BBQ dinner before services and stay for an outdoor service, weather permitting. More information to follow.
We look forward to welcoming Rabbi Ross and hope to you see you at one or more of these events!
Audacious Hospitality
As you enter CMI every Friday night for services, our Greeters meet you at the doors with a smile, a warm Shabbat shalom, and hand out siddurim. These devoted congregants help to create our community and its welcoming spirit. In addition to representing CMI, Greeters embrace Audacious Hospitality, which is the Reform Jewish Movement’s focused effort on Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. The Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) acknowledges that our communities are not whole until everyone experiences a sense of belonging within the Jewish community. We will be a stronger, more vibrant community when we fully incorporate the
diversity that is the reality of modern Jewish life.
Karen Kimball and Richard Shaw lead our team of Greeters with warmth, caring, and dedication to the principles that define Congregation Mishkan Israel. We thank them and the whole Greeter Team for their dedication and service to the Temple. If you’re interested in joining the Team, please call the Temple at 203-248-2148 for more information. If you are interested in learning more about the URJ’s Audacious Hospitality efforts, click here.
2023-2024 Chai Holy Day Campaign
Thank you to everybody who has already donated to the Chai Holy Days campaign! These generous unrestricted contributions will allow CMI to address some of the financial challenges our congregation has faced. We are grateful to all who help ensure that CMI stays strong now and well into the future.
Below are gifts that we received at the time of press.
Double Torah
Roz & Jerry Meyer
Shirley Scholder
Double Chai
James Horwitz & Sandra Allison
Hedda Rubenstein & Michael Dimenstein
Torah
Robert & Ruth Lesser
Chai
Rabbi Herb & Elin Brockman
Sarah B. Greenblatt
Jeremy Schwartz & Tracy Rabin
Additional Gifts:
Astmann Family
Richard & Alice Baxter
Ivey Cooley
Jack Crane
Rochelle Cummings
Martin Gordon
Neil & Marlene Greenberg
Herbert Hershenson
Allan Hillman & Penny Marcus
Barbara Marcus
Nancy Moss-Racusin
Shirley Pripstein
Marilyn Rittner
Rabbi Howard Sommer & Dr. Linda Waldman
Community Notes
Religious School begins Sunday, September 10 with a wonderful Family Fun Day planned! Please be sure to enroll your child(ren) in Religious School for 2023-24 as soon as you are able. For information about Jewish Federation Scholarships and to apply, please visit their website. If you have any questions or issues, please call the office at 203-288-3877 or email Tamara at tepstein@cmihamden.org.
The Congregation Mishkan Israel Nursery School starts the new year on Wednesday, August 30 and is welcoming applications. Our new director, Jennifer Verrier, brings a wealth of experience, commitment and warmth to the program, and would be happy to speak to parents of prospective students. You can reach Jennifer by email or by calling 203-288-2375. Please tell your friends and neighbors.
On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 9:00 am, the American Red Cross will return to CMI for another blood drive. Each donation can save up to three lives! Please register and enter "Mishkan" to give blood or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule an appointment.
Recent Donations
“…who donates much to charity becomes the richer for it…”
Zohar, iii, 110b
High Holy Days Events
Save the Dates
Saturday, September 9 - Selichot Community Service at B’nei Israel in Southbury
Sunday, September 10 - Memorial Service at the CMI Cemetery
Friday, September 15 - Erev Rosh Hashanah
Saturday, September 16 - Rosh Hashanah Day
Sunday, September 17 - Rosh Hashanah Day 2
Monday, September 24 - Kol Nidre
Tuesday, September 25 - Yom Kippur Day
Saturday, September 30 - Sukkot
Friday, October 6 - Simchat Torah
Saturday, October 7 - Simchat Torah with Yizkor
Details with specific services and times will be included in the September bulletin and can be found on our website.
Preparing for the New Year: The Spiritual Side
Wednesday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m. - In person
Wednesday, August 23 at 12:00 p.m. - In person - Bring your own lunch
To help us get into the mood of the High Holidays, Rabbi Ross will lead a discussion series, in person at CMI. Through reflection on the special High Holidays prayers, and by seeking spiritual direction from select Tales of the Hasidim as edited by 20th century Jewish thinker, teacher, and writer, Martin Buber, we will look back on the closing year and take stock of what surrounds us as we anticipate the New Year, 5784. The sessions are stand alone -- you can join us for one or both and will be approximately 1 hour long. The sessions are being supported by the Brotherhood of Men and Women. See you there!
Yahrzeits
* In perpetual memory
Bernice Abrams
Esther M. Alderman
Richard Alpert
Joseph Alterman
Dorothy Breslav
Joel Cohn *
Lillian G. Fleischner
William D Goldberg *
Dr. Ira Goldenberg *
Louis Greenbaum *
Esther Greenberg *
Simon Grossman *
Adele Marqusee Hahn *
Pauline F. Hertz *
Lila Horwitz *
Jack Insler *
Walter Jarecki *
Jordan William Kaufman *
Hurley King
Lottie Kaminsky Katz Kisner
Charlotte S. Law
Sophie Levin
Jules Lichtman *
Susan Brand Mack
Sam Marcus *
Florence Marqusee *
Wallace McDonald
Dorothy Casher Mendelsohn
Gussie Meyerson *
Frieda Burke Offenbach *
Phillip Perlman
Dora Pious
Hazel B. Posner *
Rebecca Nicole Quantinez
Henrietta Zaur Rappaport
Ruth Ravich
Marva Schoen
Burt Schwait
Miriam S. Schwartz
Hedwig Shartenberg *
Gabriel Sorochan
Tui Isobel Spodick
Jerome Stenger
Jack A. Tiven
Irving Gordon Venit *
Minnie P. Walman *
William Earl Weiner *
Ida Willensky
August 4
Jane M. Albert *
Rhea Alprovis *
Herman Berkowitz *
Donald Bruson *
Joel Chetrick
Phyllis Feinberg Cohen *
Theresa D'Arco
Robert E. Frankes
Victor Goodman *
Adele Adler Gordon *
Meyer Green *
Isabelle Hartenstein *
Merle Hershey Weisman
Milton Immerman
Saul Jack Landau
Fred Landorf
Estelle Kronick Leventhal
Sadie B. Levine
Max Livingston *
Joseph Lynes *
Doris H. Machol *
Mabel Tosh Millen
Paul Milstein
Aaron Nasper
Susan Lynn Pechter *
Robert A. Pines
Zalman Roitman
Gail B. Schiff *
Dr. Martin N. Seligman *
Frances Sirkin
Paul R. Solomon
Ella Strauss *
Gerson Strauss *
Roslyn Goldstein Teiger *
Rose Wasserman *
Daya Sahar Weisbart *
August 11
Anna Astmann
Anna Barkin *
Edward Biondi *
Dr. Samuel Braffman *
Ben Brownstein *
Sydney Bruskin
Rose Cohen Chauser *
Doris Chertow
Edward Cooley
Philip Dale
Sylvia Dansker *
Nedra LeVine Einstein *
Anna Eisen
Andrew Eldredge
Rose Greenberg Feigenbaum
Dorothy Newman Fox
Rudolph Gallert *
Henry Giskin
Morris Greenberg *
Morton Greenblatt
James Henchel *
Elihu A. Hershenson
Bernhart Eliot Hoffman *
Israel Joseph Hoffman *
Dr. Harvey Kaetz *
Paul Karp *
Rhoda Korff
Rachel Kraft
Rae Wilensky Krug
Herbert Landorf
Dr. Hyman A Levin *
George R. Lewis *
William Henry Miller
Dr. Eugene Moss *
Amal Murarka *
Fannie O'Brasky
Paul Press
Maxine Press
William Puklin
Reina Halperin Searles *
Paul Solomon
Rochelle Sonnenfeld
Julius G. Sterling *
Fannie R. Ullman *
Doris Zelin *
August 18
Abraham S. Aaronson *
Julius Alderman *
Anne Cohen Baker
Clarence Beloff *
Mildred Blumenthal
Lillian Opper Coe *
Esther Gold Milikowsky Copelon
Phillip D'Arco
Caroline Gallert
Sylvia Lublin Goldbaum
Paul Goldstein
Arthur Gray *
Pola Fish Greenstein *
Lynette Rosenholtz Handleman *
Peter Israel Hershman *
Jed Horowitz
Theresa Horowitz
Sydney Klevorick *
Bertram D. Knapp *
Augusta Lawall
Louise Lopez
William D. Machol *
Dr. Ronald B. Mack
Irene Naftali
Abram M. Paul *
Marvin C. Perlin
Esther Popowich *
Jennie R. Press *
David Ruth
Adeline Sanders
Jordan Shapiro
Bernard J. Stein *
Raye H. Steinbach *
Milton H. Strauss *
Bernice Sturtz
Joseph Swinkin
Abraham S. Ullman *
Margaret Kander Weisselberg *
Lawrence Winer *
Rose Wolf *
August 25
Social Justice
Sunday, August 6, 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. on the New Haven Green
CMI is a partner for this event, which brings together people from diverse traditions in support of a variety of community service projects. Each project includes a facilitator to encourage interfaith dialogue. Arrive early or throughout the day. Volunteer for one or more of the service projects. Projects will be located both on the Green and at offsite locations, with private bus transportation provided by IWagePeace.Org. Please visit IWagePeace.Org for more information and to sign up to participate in advance. Admission is free and open to all ages.
August 30, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on the CMI Patio, weather permitting, we invite all CMI members who want to learn and discuss more about a Jewish perspective on race and racism to join us as we welcome our special guest, Rabbi Joshua Pernick, Director of Jewish Life and Community Relations at the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, Leader of JEDI (Jewish Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Greater New Haven. Rabbi Joshua Pernick will introduce the Jewish Federation of North America’s JEDI initiative, in which CMI is a participant. JEDI aims to advance a culture of belonging in Jewish communities to help Jewish communal institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse North American Jewry.
Please plan to join us for a dinner of Greek food and an evening of stimulating conversation with fellow CMI members and our featured guest. RSVP BY AUGUST 25 to help us plan dinner. For more information, contact Nancy Yedlin.
One of our settled families would like to make some decorative items for their home (i.e. pillowcases & chair cushion covers). If you are able to donate any fabric (pieces should measure a yard or more), please email Sue Millen or call her at 203-589-9797. As always, thank you for your generosity.
Contact Us
THE CONGREGATION MISHKAN ISRAEL BULLETIN
August 2023 Series 108 No. 1
THE CONGREGATION MISHKAN ISRAEL
785 Ridge Road, Hamden, CT 06517
Phone: (203) 288-3877 Fax: (203) 248-2148
http://cmihamden.org
Rabbi Dennis Ross x238 rabbiross@cmihamden.org
Rabbi Emeritus Herbert N. Brockman, Ph.D. D.D. x243 cmirabbi@cmihamden.org
Cantor Arthur Giglio x244 cantorg@cmihamden.org
Steven Jacober, Executive Director x241 sjacober@cmihamden.org
Michelle Goldstein, Religious School Director x237 mgoldstein@cmihamden.org
Jennifer Verrier, Early Childhood Director x245 jverrier@cmihamden.org
David E. Silverstone, President president@cmihamden.org