The CMI Bulletin
More than a place - We’re a community
SERIES 108 No. 7
FEBRUARY 2024
FEBRUARY
Shevat - Adar
CMI THROUGH THE YEARS
COURT STREET LOCATION
ORANGE STREET LOCATION
RIDGE ROAD LOCATION
Join your CMI community for Shabbat Services each Friday evening and Saturday mornings when we have a B’Mitzvah to celebrate!
Shabbat Services
SHABBAT YITRO
Exodus 18:1 - 20:23
Friday, February 2 5:30 p.m. Oneg 6:00 p.m. Evening Service
SHABBAT T’RUMAH
Exodus 25:1 - 27:19
Friday, February 16 5:30 p.m. Oneg 6:00 p.m. Evening Service
SHABBAT MISHPATIM Exodus 21:1 - 24:18
Friday, February 9 5:30 p.m. Oneg 6:00 p.m. Family Evening Service 7:00 p.m. Family Dinner
SHABBAT T’TZAVEH
Exodus 27:20 - 30:10
Friday, February 23 5:30 p.m. Oneg 6:00 p.m. Evening Service
TODAH RABAH
Ivey Cooley, Phil Jacobs, Joel Jacobson, Dave Rodnick, Cliff Wolff, True Wolff & Alan Sturtz
FEBRUARY GREETERS
MESSAGE FROM RABBI ROSS
There was something very special in the air at the interfaith Shabbat service honoring the birthday of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It stood out as witness to the outstanding history and vibrancy of our congregational life, and the role that Congregation Miskhan Israel plays in Greater New Haven. The specialness was evident in the meaningful and uplifting spiritual experience enhanced by the presence and participation of religious leaders from a spectrum of faiths. While any interfaith gathering may feel ordinary or common to some people, services and events like that one are more rare these days.
Earlier in my career, interfaith involvement held an important place in any congregational rabbi's "job description." In the congregations I served in Westchester County, Washington, D. C., Western Mass., and elsewhere all those years ago, I regularly participated in interfaith services, educational programs, an interfaith Israel trip, and more. Now, with the decline in church and synagogue membership, combined with fewer congregational clergy in many faiths, and especially after Covid, interfaith get-togethers are less frequent, if they even happen. To be sure, Rabbi Brockman's vision and emphasis on interfaith and intergroup relationship and understanding continue to contribute to our high level of involvement. Yet that Shabbat service, as we welcomed two dozen interfaith religious leaders into our building and sanctuary, stood as a demonstration of this Congregation's sweetness, strength, and commitment to a vision of justice, equity, and inclusion of all. Let's not take it for granted.
What a remarkable Congregation this is!
Rabbi Dennis S. Ross
Preserving Our Historic Home for Future Generations
Leah Glaser
Some, hopefully many, of you may know that our 1960 mid-century modern building had the honor of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021. The building itself reflects our values, especially our involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, in its unique architectural design as a “Temple of Justice.” This listing reflects our contribution to our community and to society. It also makes us eligible for matching grants for the building’s maintenance and preservation.
The Congregation has been actively pursuing these grants. In 2021, we received a non-matching grant from the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office to hire an amazing firm to conduct a Building Conditions Assessment, necessary for future grants.* In 2022, CMI used a matching grant through Preservation Connecticut to clean and repair our beloved stained-glass sanctuary windows. (We cannot express enough appreciation to the sponsor donors who provided the match for this project.) In 2023, we were also able to secure another non-matching grant from the State Historic Preservation Office to commission our same architects to produce comprehensive architectural plans for our roof.
Based on the 2023 grant, the CMI leadership is now turning its attention to the roof. As many of you have surely noticed, our building is revealing its age. There are crumbling and stained ceilings in several areas, especially the rotunda. This is caused by water damage and is affecting the building’s health and energy efficiency. Over the past 60 years, we replaced the original roof with a rubber membrane; we have been patching holes since. Unfortunately, these short-term fixes now need to be addressed. The plans developed by the architects will repair the roof which is quite large, more than 42,000 square feet; they will assure the proper drainage and sealing at all of the windows, skylights, and particularly the rotunda.
Because of our historic status, we can apply for state and private grants to help defray the costs involved in this project. As these grants, however, require a match, we will incur substantial expenses. As CMI continues on this journey to repair and maintain our spiritual home, we are confident in our ability to procure the needed funding.
The leadership is also extremely excited that once the roof is complete, CMI might be able to use the project to meet our mission of environmental stewardship and Tikkun Olam. Solar energy and vegetated green roof systems can lower our energy expenses and also provide energy to the community as well. But, one step at a time. Watch for additional information as we raise the roof!
*Please be sure to read the National Register nomination form and look at the Building Conditions Assessment on our website under the tab, “Our Home,” for details.
CMI EVENTS
Torah Study Saturdays, February 3, 10, 17 & 24 at 9:00 a.m.
Rabbi Steinberg will lead Torah Study on February 3, 10 & 17. Zoom only (no password needed)
Rabbi Ross will lead Torah Study on February 24 both in person and on Zoom.
Please visit our website for the Zoom link.
Chevra Hands Sunday, February 4 at 10:00 a.m.
Calling all knitters and crocheters! Our dedicated group of quilt-makers, called Chevra Hands, makes shawls, baby blankets and lap blankets that we donate to members of our congregation including newborns, people in the hospital and those who are home bound. Everyone is always welcome to join us.
Rosh Chodesh - Adar I & Shabbat Family Service with Dinner Friday, February 9 at 6:00 p.m.
This month, Rosh Chodesh begins on Friday, Feb 9th, so the Rodesh Group will mark it by participating in the Shabbat Family Service along with Religious School Students, grades 3-6.
All are encouraged to join in welcoming Shabbat and learning a little bit about the monthly celebration of the new moon, Rosh Chodesh.
Services will be followed by a family dinner of pizza, salad, dessert and drinks. Please register for the dinner in advance so we can be sure to provide an adequate amount of food and beverages.
CMI Book Club Wednesday, February 14 at 12:00 p.m. (lounge)
The CMI Book Club will meet to discuss the best-selling recent novel "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" by James McBride. Please bring your lunch and we will provide coffee and tea.
"James McBride’s “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” was inspired by his own Jewish grandmother, who ran a grocery store in a predominantly Black neighborhood of Pottstown, Pennsylvania in the 1930s and ’40s. McBride’s recreation of the place and time is a rollicking story of two communities coming together around a common, racist enemy." ~ Andrew Silow-Carroll, The Best Jewish Books I read in 2023
Life Is Delicious Sunday, February 18 at 10:00 a.m.
Life is Delicious will be in action on January 21, cooking at CMI and serving at Columbus House. Please email Aaron Singer if you would like to participate in any of the following:
Shopping – 10:00 a.m.
Set-up CMI kitchen – noon
Cooking – 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Clean-up – 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Serving at Columbus House – we will leave CMI around 4:00 p.m. Dinner is served promptly at 5:00 p.m. and concludes by 6:00 p.m.
Please visit our website to learn more about Life Is Delicious and other programs you can get involved with.
Wednesday, February 21 at 9:00 a.m.
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.
CMI IN ACTION
MLK Jr. Interfaith Service Once again, the spirit of unity and community was in the air as we joined together to celebrate the incredible legacy of Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Our guest speaker, Reginald Dwayne Betts shared wonderful stories and insight to inspire us to open our minds to those that are often overlooked. He offered inspiration to get involved in the community in any way we are able in order to open our minds and hearts to all people, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity or level of wealth.
Thank you to all the faith leaders who attended and participated.
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 Batja Astrachan Roz & Jerry Meyer Ira & Marsha Moses Shirley Scholder David Silverstone Marian Fox Wexler
DOUBLE CHAI Sarah B. Greenblatt James Horwitz & Sandra Allison Hedda Rubenstein & Michael Dimenstein
TORAH John & Frances Gordon Judith Hahn Robert & Ruth Lesser
CHAI Barry & Peggy Berman Dr. Irwin Braverman Rabbi Herb & Elin Brockman Stuart & Hedy Bush Letty & Floyd Caplan David & Julie Chevan Stanley & Roberta Friedman Tamar Gendler & Zoltan Szabo Laura Goldblum John & Susan Hoffmann Bill & Nancy Horowitz Priscilla Jencks Joan Lakin Ben Ledbetter, Jr. & Deborah Freedman Matthew Nemerson & Marian Chertow Madeline Ravich & Scott Gaul William & Elaine Ravich Jeremy Schwartz & Tracy Rabin Jim & Cis Serling Aaron Singer & Elizabeth Caspe Richard & Marie Shaw Judith & Mark Sklarz Corey Stone & Susan McDonald Alan & June Sturtz Andrew Ullman
ADDITIONAL GIFTS:
Michele Abrams & Dalton King Peter & Randi Alpert Brenda Arovas Astmann Family Karen Baar Barnett - DiBenigno Family Betsy Hahn Barnston Phyllis Bausher
Richard & Alice Baxter The Berdon Family David Berkowitz & Anne Watkins Bruce & Tansy Birenbaum Elaine Blumenthal Len Brin Wayne & Andrea Chorney Marvin & Arlene Cohen Robert Cole
Ivey Cooley James Cohen & Frances DeToro Matthew & Michele Cohen
Jack Crane
Rochelle Cummings David & Stacey Eldredge Len & Stephanie Farber Jack & Harriet Fast The Finkel Family
Leah Glaser & Stephen Amerman Roxanne & Steven Glaser Saul & Sonya Goldberg Martin Gordon
Neil & Marlene Greenberg David Greisen & Jessica Bell
Herbert Hershenson
Allan Hillman & Penny Marcus John & Susan Hoffmann
Robert Homer & Susan Fishbein Joel Jacobson Cindy Kissin & John Jacobson Alvin Klevorick & Susan Bender Wendy Kohli & Philip Bennett Meir & Barbara Kryger Ruth Lambert & Henry Harrison Jeremy Leven Howard Lurie
ADDITIONAL GIFTS CONT’D Barbara Marcus Irene Miller
Nancy Moss-Racusin Nancy & Marc Olins
Shirley Pripstein Eleanor Rachleff-Serow Howard & Susan Rashba
Marilyn Rittner
Diane Rosen Jeffrey & Alyse Sabina Karen Scholder Jim & Barbara Segaloff Joan Shapiro & Luther Turmelle Michael & Gale Silverberg Ana Sirota Marsha & Ben Snaider Rabbi Howard Sommer & Dr. Linda Waldman Pearl Spodick Rabbi Steven & Caryl Steinberg Jeanne Steiner & Will Rosenblatt Cheryl Tenin Marc Wallman & Cynthia Carr Bertrand & Martha Weisbart Jim & Sue Wildes Randy Wingate & Tanya Bilchik Nancy Yedlin & Peter Blasini
Recent Donations
TARGET AREAS - immediate use funds General Fund Brenda Arovas in memory of BARBARA ABRAMOWITZ Zhozefina Averbukh in memory of my loved ones who have passed Joshua Baum in appreciation of RABBI BROCKMAN Joshua Baum in memory of NANCY GROVES-BAUM Laura Baum & Scott Tremain with deep appreciation for RABBI BROCKMAN Laura Baum & Scott Tremain in memory of NANCY GROVES-BAUM Michael Dimenstein & Hedda Rubenstein in memory of HYMAN DIMENSTEIN Michael Dimenstein & Hedda Rubenstein in memory of MAXWELL RUBENSTEIN Marilyn Fishbone in memory of GERALD FISHBONE Stan & Bobbi Friedman in memory of ESTHER LEDERMAN Sarah Greenblatt in memory of ELAINE G. GLADSTEIN Sarah Greenblatt in memory of DOROTHY K. GREENBLATT Sarah Greenblatt in memory of SAMUEL F. GREENBLATT John & Susan Hoffmann in memory of NANCY GROVES-BAUM Gerald & Geraldine Katz in memory of MARLENE PAGE Jennifer Levin-Tavares in memory of FRANK TAVARES Howard Lurie in memory of HYMAN LURIE Nancy Moss-Racusin in memory of CAROLINE OSTER Marc & Nancy Olins in memory of SAMUEL A. SIMONS Linda Prosco in memory of RHODA KORFF Dave Rodnick in memory of SALLY LEVINE Dave Rodnick in memory of STEVE ZIELINSKI Joel & Lorraine ROseman in memory of MORRIS ROSEMAN David & Debra Samuels in memory of SHELDON D. SAMUELS Pearl Spodick in memory of ROBERT C. SPODICK
“…who donates much to charity becomes the richer for it…”
Zohar, iii, 110b
Building Fund Lynn Bullard in memory of CLIFFORD ALTSCHULER Judy Naden in memory of SARAH NADEN
Cemetery Fund Linda Greenhouse in memory of DOROTHY ELEANOR GREENHOUSE Joel & Cindy Kramer in memory of NATALIE RAPOPORT Joel & Cindy Kramer in memory of DR. HARRY SAGANSKY Joel & Cindy Kramer in memory of ANDY SAGE Joel & Cindy Kramer in memory of BURTON SAGE Andy & Maryann Postman in memory of GRACE ZEIDENBERG POSTMAN
Hunger Fund Fred Rosen in memory of STEPHEN FLOMAN Fred Rosen in memory of MARJORIE JACOBS
Library Fund Carole Greenbaum in memory of SANDRA MILLES Judy Naden in memory of ELIZABETH GOLDSMITH, dear mother
Music Fund David & Julie Chevan in memory of MIRIAM ABRAMS Cantor Arthur & Ellen Giglio in memory of IRSA GIGLIO Jennifer Levin-Tavares in memory of MURIEL LEVIN William & Elaine Ravich in appreciation of CANTOR GIGLIO for teaching our granddaughter to chant Torah Michael Ross & Beth Stenger in memory of IRSA GIGLIO Jim & Cis Serling in memory of ESTHER LEDERMAN Jim & Cis Serling in memory of DAVID POPOWICH Jim & Cis Serling in memory of MAURY POPOWICH Pearl Spodick in memory of IRSA GIGLIO
Nursery School Fund Michael & Erika Forte in memory of LEE PERLMAN
Religious School Development Fund Jennifer Levin-Tavares in memory of ALFRED LEVIN M. Grey Maher in appreciation of ALEX FORTE M. Grey Maher in appreciation of CANTOR GIGLIO M. Grey Maher in appreciation of MICHELLE GOLDSTEIN
Social Action Rachel & Michael Berman in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday Dana Brozinsky & John Keegan in memory og MIRIAM ABRAMS Susan Rashba Engelhardt in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday Amy & Steven Rashba in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday Howie & Susan Rashba in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday Lois Weiner in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday Marjorie Weiner & Roger Shapiro in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday
ENDOWMENT FUNDS - invested to generate annual income for specific purposes
Robert Goldburg Peace & Justice Fund Phyllis Bausher in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday Nancy Kramer in memory of LOUIS VENER
Mabel Klebanoff Fund (transportation) Martin Korn & Sylvia Betcher in memory of SYLVIA KORN
Isidor E. Offenbach Musical Service Russell Offenbach in memory of ISIDOR E. OFFENBACH
Rabbinic Endowment Fund Marilyn Fishbone in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday Carole Greenbaum in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday Jennifer Levin-Tavares in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday Judy Naden in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday Marc & Nancy Olins in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday William & Elaine Ravich with gratitude to RABBI BROCKMAN for leading the Torah service for our granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah Mark & Judy Sklarz in appreciation of RABBI BROCKMAN
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund Deborah Bovilsky in memory of JAY BOVILSKY Deborah Bovilsky in memory of SAMUEL MILNER Jack & Harriet Fast in memory of NANCY GROVES-BAUM John & Frances Gordon in memory of ISRAEL (BABE) GORDON Alyssa Greenwald & Edward Wittenstein in memory of MILLICENT NATHAN Karen Orzack-Moore & Daniel Moore in memory of MIRIAM ABRAMS Karen Orzack-Moore & Daniel Moore in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday Karen Orzack-Moore & Daniel Moore in memory of ESTHER LEDERMAN William & Elaine Ravich in appreciation of Rabbi Ross for preparing our granddaughter for her Bat Mitzvah Cindy Massey Lazaroff & Peter Lazaroff and Family in memory of ALAN S. MASSEY Ellen Ross & Family in memory of ALAN S. MASSEY Bert & Martha Weisbart in honor of RABBI BROCKMAN’S milestone birthday
A very special thank you to the following people who donated to the RDF in response to Rabbi Ross’s request for his trip to Israel
Timothy & Amy Barry Phyllis Bausher Deborah Bovilsky Dana Brozinsky & John Keegan Michael Dimenstein & Hedda Rubenstein Joshua Groffman & Rebecca Van Tassell Cindy Kissin & John Jacobson Wendy Kohli & Philip Bennett David & Susan Millen Judy Naden Robert & Susan Nobleman Karen Orzack-Moore & Daniel Moore Jon & Leslie Redmond David Rubenstein David Silverstone Nancy Yedlin & Peter Blasini
Yahrzeits
* In perpetual memory
Janice Ackerman S. Bennett Alderman * Valerie Allen Howard M. Barach * Essie Barest Rabbi Harold Brockman Henry Kleiner Cahn Lillian Chaprack Bruce Howard Chorney Dorothy Cohen Lori Cohen Varma * Rose Danzinger Hyman Dimenstein * Max Evans Irene Pines Finke Rachel Student Fishbone * Thomas Flynn Herman Fribush Herschel ben Velvel Gingis Rose Gingold * Elaine Greenblatt Gladstein David Glass Eleanor Glazer Flora Goldstein Helen Katz Goodkind Melvin Green Joseph Handleman * Bessie Handleman * Seymour J. Hatkin Albert Hoffman * LeRoy Homer Rose Starin Hyman * Isadore Jacobson Jerome Jason Harry Korman Martin Lowlicht * Mary Jane McDonald Estelle Meyer Barbara Fast Mezoff Sarah Naden Pauline Newman * Caroline Oster May Louise Osterweis Adrian Ostfeld * George Paley Francine Schaefer Ponchick David M. Popowich Isidor Premark William S. Richman * Harry Rittner Morris Roseman * Helen Hydeman Ross * M. Wallace Rubin * Anna Schreiber A. Herbert Schwartz Joseph Shelnitz Elaine Shelnitz Stein Louis Shure * Joel Silverman Samuel Simons Ida Shoninger Sonnenberg * Dr. Maurice J. Strauss * Louis Sturtz Lena Sturtz Rebecca Tuckell Paul Turner Marshall Richard Weiner Gertrude Baumgartl Wolf *
February 2
Louis Adams Florence Opper Alderman * Jennie Arovas * Milton B. Baker Jack I. Baser * Louis I. Berdon Elaine B. Berkowitz * Sylvia Bernstein Eva Brody Louise Buxbaum * Jacob Cooperman * Charles Eisenberg Alfred Benjamin Fishbone * Betty Fleischner * Pauline Freed * Sonya Gale Walter Fuld Gips Israel Goldstein * Israel "Babe" Gordon Leo Jacob Gordon Dorothy Eleanor Greenhouse * Minna B. Hoffman * Sidney Hubelbank Emily Kohn Isaacs * Celia Kassow Jacob Kassow Elsa Klahr Julius Kraft Hyman Land Joanna Frances Landau Anna K. Lapides * Ruth Lapides * Sally Levine Hyman Montlick * Sam Nobleman Kenneth Rocklin Douglas Sandlaufer Dr. Bernard Schneider Sam Seif Rose Fuchs Shernow * Theresa Silver Joseph Smolinsky Delores "Dubby" Spivack Addie Stinow * Elsie Stromfeld Jules Sturtz Louis Vener Isadore L. Wexler George Woodbridge Sarah Zuckerman
February 9
Bessie Adler Stanley Back Inge Battige Hyman Bostin * David Caeser * Henrietta B. Cahn * Herman Robert Cherman * Abraham Cohen Sadie Cohen Ida R. Cohen * Samuel Dryfus * Ben Eager Jack H. Evans Ernest I. Frankenberger * Malka Gingis Walter Fuld Gips, Jr. Bernice Giskin Betty Doris Goldberg * Anita Goldberg Jennie H. Gompertz * Emanuel H. Gratenstein * Norman Greenstein * Dennis Grove Betty D. Heller * Joyce Hirschhorn Zelda Hoffman Rebecca Govrin Jacobson Ann Schpero Kaplan Benjamin B. Kauffman * Mrs. Doris G Kaufman Milton Kirsch * Dr. Harry E. Klebanoff * Ronni Knapp Robert Lebson Roger C. Lehman Mr. Herbert S. Levinson Robert Maisel * Hinda Massey Bertha Milander * Yale Roy Nemerson Ellinor G. Newman Max Jordan Rand * Howard Roseman Gertrude Rosenthal Gerald Rozen Herbert Schaffer Pearl Shindler Fanny Shoninger * Abraham Skolnick Emma M. Sonnenberg * Alex Sterling Myron Teitelbaum * Burton Tenner Alan Tiven Maurice Vener Louis Weiss Gerald Wyndorf Marisa Yudkin Dorothy Zundell
February 16
Harry Astmann Edward S. Beck * Sylvia Bernstein Bertha Blech Jacob Blech Myron Blumenthal * Theodore Bovilsky Molly Braverman Valija Brin Cheryl Ann Campbell Sherwin Casher Arthur Eder Harry Evans Clara Field Gerald Gale Louis Michael Gompertz * William Wolf Goodman Samuel F. Greenblatt Tevye-Rasia Hanina Elizabeth Harris Esther Hershman * Emily Heller Herz * Mildred Kirsch * Belle Krall Samuel Kryger Jennie Doroff Lavietes * Charlene Natovich Lavin Harry Levine * Joseph E. Levy * Dr. Bernard Lipman Veronica Loewenbaum Charles H. Marks * Morris Marqusee * Clara Menzel Mollie Opperman Myron Puklin * Cecelia Rosenberg * Jean Rothbaum Irwin Sack Robert H. Saltzer * Norma Abeshouse Schaefer Joan H. Schwarzkopf * Harvey Seltzer Frances Shartenberg Shure * Augusta Thomas * Gershon Tziferman Hannah Stodel Weiner * Hugo Weiss * Samuel Zakar
February 23
IN MEMORY OF
Sandra Milles Ann Tendler
IN SYMPATHY TO
Ruth Sack on the loss of her mother, Esther Lederman
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Contact Us
THE CONGREGATION MISHKAN ISRAEL BULLETIN
February 2024 Series 108 No. 7
THE CONGREGATION MISHKAN ISRAEL
785 Ridge Road, Hamden, CT 06517
Phone: (203) 288-3877 Fax: (203) 248-2148
http://cmihamden.org
Rabbi Dennis Ross x236 rabbiross@cmihamden.org
Rabbi Emeritus Herbert N. Brockman, Ph.D. D.D. x238 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 Learning Director x246 jverrier@cmihamden.org
David E. Silverstone, President president@cmihamden.org