The CMI Bulletin
More than a place - We’re a community
JUNE 2025
SERIES 109 No. 10
JUNE
SPECIAL SHABBAT SERVICE HONORING CANTOR ARTHUR GIGLIO!!! Friday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m. Special oneg to follow at 7:00 p.m.
Join us for a special Shabbat as we thank Cantor Giglio for his seventeen years of service to CMI. Plan to stay for a special oneg prepared by Michelle Goldstein.
As your Cantor, I would like to thank everyone at CMI from the bottom of my heart for all my wonderful years CMI. I cannot believe almost 17 years have gone by and here I am at yet another milestone in my life. CMI is my other family and I cherish all the friends and relationships that have come into my life. Little did I know when I began at CMI that I would have stayed so long. Personally, it has been a joy and besides Ellen, Lina and Aaron, the best thing that has happened to me in my life!
As your Shaliach Tsibur, literally your messenger of the congregation, I strived to raise the musical bar in services and bring the congregation together by using all the wonderful talent at CMI who joined me on the bimah. I have taught hundreds of B’nei Mitzvah, lead countless services, shared in simchas and sadness and led many exciting, beautiful and meaningful High Holy Days. Do you recall all the duets I have done with my daughter, Lina and my son, Aaron? My gorgeous, and much more talented wife Ellen dancing in the Cantor’s Concert? What a legacy, what an absolute joy. What more could a Cantor ask for? Who knew I would have worked with four Rabbis! It was a blessing to have begun my tenure under the tutelage of Rabbi Brockman. He showed me the ropes, kept me on the straight and narrow and gave me the wings to fly. I helped transition Rabbi Immerman and Rabbi Ross as my clergy partners and this year I have had the privilege of transitioning and working with Rabbi Schaefer. How lucky can you get?
I will deeply miss my favorite partner, Michelle Goldstein, she’s such a force of nature. The wonderful and very special office staff, Sarah, Tamara and Steve - so many fires did we put out together! Finally, my biggest regret is that I will not be able to share another 17 years on the bimah with Rabbi Schaefer and all of you. The future of CMI is in the very capable hands of Rabbi Schaefer and soon to be Cantor Sierra Fox. CMI will continue to grow and flourish and it will be so exciting. Thank you again for allowing me the honor of being your Cantor. I wish all of my CMI family health, happiness, joy and long life!
L’chayim!!
Cantor G. (Arthur)
Thank You to our June Greeters
Ivey Cooley, Michael Dimenstein, Joel Jacobson, Karen Kimball, Hedda Rubenstein, Richard & Marie Shaw and Cliff & True Wolff
Shabbat & Holiday Services
Join your CMI community for Shabbat Services each Friday evening and Saturday mornings when we have a B’Mitzvah to celebrate!
SHABBAT NASO
Numbers 4:21 - 7:89
Friday, June 6
5:30 p.m. Community Shabbat Dinner 7:00 p.m. Shabbat Service
SHABBAT B’HAALOT’CHA Numbers 8:1 - 12:16
Friday, June 13
6:00 p.m. Shabbat Service celebrating Cantor Arthur Giglio
7:00 p.m. Special Dessert Oneg
SHABBAT SH’LACH L’CHA
Numbers 13:1 - 15:41
Friday, June 20
5:00 p.m. Pre Oneg
5:45 p.m. Juneteenth Shabbat Service
SHABBAT KORACH
Numbers 16:1 - 18:32
Friday, June 27
5:30 p.m. Pre Oneg
6:00 p.m. Shabbat Service
SHABBAT KORACH
Numbers 16:1 - 18:32
Saturday, June 28
10:30 a.m. Saturday Morning Service Celebrating Eliza Powell becoming a Bat Mitzvah
A Message From Rabbi Schaefer
I am approaching my one-year anniversary at CMI. It’s been an incredible first year, filled with so many wonderful moments, new connections, and happy occasions. I’m so grateful for the way this community has opened its arms to me, invited me into their homes, shared their stories, and given me permission to learn and grow.
Even with all my history and connections to Mishkan Israel, it’s always a challenge to transition into a new community and learn its rhythms, customs, and values. Thankfully, I have been blessed to have Cantor Arthur Giglio by my side each step of the way.
Getting to spend this year working with Cantor G. has been a gift. For so many years I’ve gotten to appreciate his beautiful voice, warmth, and kindness at family B'nai Mitzvahs and visits home, but getting to experience his humility, dedication to CMI, and vast wisdom up close has been even more special. I’m grateful for being able to share a bimah with such a talented and generous person and will miss him dearly.
I know so many of us are grateful for different moments over the last seventeen years. I hope you’ll join us on Friday, June 13th as we celebrate Cantor Giglio at Shabbat services and let him know how much he has meant to our community as he prepares to become Cantor Emeritus at the end of June.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Daniel Schaefer
MAZEL TOV
Bat Mitzvah of Eliza Powell! In person and livestream
Saturday, June 28 at 10:30 a.m.
Mazal Tov to Eliza and her family as we celebrate her becoming a Bat Mitzvah!
Services are open to all in the community.
Eliza will be reading from Korach.
Oneg & Flowers are sponsored in celebration of Eliza becoming a Bat Mitzvah and in loving memory of Mark Powell. With love from the Powell-Pleshek Family
2024-2025 Chai Holy Day Campaign
Thank you to everyone who has already donated to this year's Chai Campaign! We are getting closer to our annual goal of $180,000, but we need all of our congregants to help reach that goal. The past couple of years have stretched Mishkan Israel financially and we hope that you will contribute as generously as you are able to make sure we can flourish.
Please make a gift today -- increments of Chai are welcome, but we also value participation in ANY amount. Please give what you can!
Below are gifts that we have received at the time of press.
SIMCHA David & Karen Astrachan Jerome & Roslyn Meyer
MITZVAH David Silverstone
DOUBLE TORAH Batja Astrachan David Beckerman Ira & Marsha Moses
DOUBLE CHAI Sarah Greenblatt Judith Hahn Jim Horwitz & Sandy Allison Sue McDonald & Corey Stone Hedda Rubenstein & Michael Dimenstein Mark & Judy Sklarz
TORAH Jeffrey & Clarky Sonnenfeld
CHAI Anonymous Betsy Hahn Barnston Irwin Braverman Herb & Elin Brockman Stuart & Hedy Bush Floyd & Letty Caplan David & Julie Chevan Liza Comita & Simon Queenborough Marilyn Fishbone Debbie Freedman & Ben Ledbetter Scott & Abby Friedman Stan & Bobbi Friedman Nathan & Patricia Garland in honor of Sam, Alice, Becky, Jon & Cate Tamar Gendler & Zolan Szabo Steven & Roxanne Glaser Laura Goldblum John & Frances Gordon Avery Grauer & Adam Watsky John & Susan Hoffmann Robert Homer & Susan Fishbein Bill & Nancy Horowitz Ruth Koizim Joan Lakin Madeline Ravich & Scott Gaul William & Elaine Ravich David Schaefer & Janet Hall Larry Schaefer & Lina Lawall Jim & Cis Serling Richard & Marie Shaw Aaron Singer & Elizabeth Caspe Brian & Stephanie Slattery Rabbi Steven & Caryl Steinberg Alan & Jane Sturtz James & Susan Wildes Randy Wingate & Tanya Bilchik
ADDITIONAL GIFTS:
Michele Abrams & Dalton King Brenda Arovas Irma Bachman Amy & Timothy Barry Phyllis Bausher Alice Baxter Alan & Katherine Benard Peter & Nancy Berdon Jay Berger & Barbara Grossman David Berkowitz & Anne Watkins Barry & Peggy Berman Bruce & Tansy Birenbaum Len Brin Dana Brozinsky & John Keegan Richard L. Chorney Robert Cole Confronting Racism Planning Group Jack Crane Rochell Cummings Jeffrey & Susan Dorfman Susan Engelhardt & Family Bob & Tamara Epstein Stephanie Farber Jack & Harriet Fast Burt & Suzanne Finkel Eden & Allan Fisher Steven & Miriam Giskin Leah Glaser & Stephen Amerman Saul & Sonya Goldberg John & Frances Gordon Len & Betsy Grauer Neil & Marlene Greenberg Linda Greenhouse Herbert Hershenson Allan Hillman & Penny Marcus Mark & Sharon Horowitz Joel Jacobson Megan Janoff & Mel Yu Priscilla Jencks Benjamin & Maria Kahn Gerald & Geraldine Katz Ellyn Kaufman Cindy Kissin & John Jacobson
ADDITIONAL GIFTS:
Al Klevorick & Susan Bender Wendy Kohli & Philip Bennett Meir & Barbara Kryger Robert & Ruth Lesser Lawrence Levenson Diane Lublin Barbara Marcus Sheldon & Nancy Messinger Nancy Moss-Racusin Bob & Susan Nobleman Nancy Olins Karen Orzack-Moore & Daniel Moore Shirley Pripstein Dave Rodnick in memory of Sally Levine Michael Ross & Beth Stenger Jeff & Alyse Sabina David & Ruth Sack Rabbi Daniel Schaefer Leslye Schaefer Karen Scholder Jeremy Schwartz & Tracy Rabin Barbara & Jim Segaloff Michael Silverberg Ana Sirota Rabbi Howard Sommer & Dr. Linda Waldman Gennadiy Sorochan Pearl Spodick Jeanne Steiner & William Rosenblatt Karen Scholder Nanette Stahl Milton & Joan Wallack Bert & Martha Weisbart Marian Wexler Patricia Willens & Michael Loewenberg Cliff & True Wolff Jill Wurcel Nancy Yedlin & Peter Blasini Jonathan & Tracy Zabin
Recent Donations
“…who donates much to charity becomes the richer for it…”
Zohar, iii, 110b
GENERAL FUND Rachel Rashba Berman & Michael Berman in memory of NORMAN RASHBA Stuart & Hedy Bush in memory of NECIA BISCOE BUSH Harriet Calechman in memory of the CALECHMAN & SOFFER FAMILIES Nicholas Cimmino in memory of BARBARA JEAN MILLER-CIMMINO Susan Rashba Engelhardt in memory of NORMAN RASHBA Judith Hahn in memory of HAROLD “BUB” HAHN, JR. Judith Hahn in memory of RUTH SCHEIN Judith Hahn in memory of JACK SILBERBERG Judith Hahn in memory of MARION SILBERBERG Howard & Susan Rashba in memory of NORMAN RASHBA Nanette Stahl in honor of CLIFF & TRUE WOLFF Evan Stone in memory of CAROL STONE Marc Wallman & Cynthia Carr in memory of BEATRICE WALLMAN Marc Wallman & Cynthia Carr in memory of MILTON WALLMAN HUNGER FUND Diane Lublin in memory of JOEL COHEN Diane Lublin in memory of MATILDA LUBLIN DEFEO LIBRARY FUND Diane Lublin in memory of JOEL COHEN Harold Shapiro & Marge Weiner in appreciation of RABBI STEVEN STEINBERG’S class on Jewish History MUSIC FUND Steve & Alisa Germaine in memory of RABBI RICHARD ALLEN Jonathan, Tracy, Seth & Eli Zabin in appreciation of CANTOR ARTHUR GIGLIO Jonathan, Tracy, Seth & Eli Zabin in memory of RUTH ZABIN LEVINE Jonathan, Tracy, Seth & Eli Zabin in memory of ELSBETH ZABIN Jonathan, Tracy, Seth & Eli Zabin in memory of JOEL ZABIN RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT FUND Rabbi Steven & Caryl Steinberg in memory of SHIRLEY FIEDLER, devoted teacher & friend RELIGIOUS SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND Elaine Blumenthal in memory of DONALD BLUMENTHAL
TARGET AREAS - immediate use funds
ENDOWMENT FUNDS - invested funds for specific purposes
CEMETERY FUND Barbara Marcus in memory of DANIEL JARED MARCUS Barbara Marcus in appreciation of the contribution of the CMI COMMUNITY to our family and to Dan’s life ROBERT E. GOLDBURG PEACE & JUSTICE FUND Jim & Barbara Segaloff in memory of the wedding of LIA MASUR & JEREMY GOLDSTEIN RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Karen Kimball & Family in memory of DR. SUSAN SPENCER Karen Siegel in appreciation of CANTOR GIGLIO Karen Siegel in apprecation of RABBI SCHAEFER Dinny S. Wakerley in memory of FENMORE R. SETON
CMI EVENTS
******CMI CLOSINGS******
The CMI building (all offices) and The Learning Tree will be CLOSED on Monday, June 2.
Wednesday, June 4 at 12:00 p.m. noon
We will discuss “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union.” At once a gripping whodunit, a love story, and an exploration of the mysteries of exile and redemption, “The Yiddish Policemen's Union” is a novel only Michael Chabon could have written. Bring your lunch; coffee and tea will be available.
Community Shabbat Dinner
Friday, June 6
Dinner at 5:30 p.m., Service begins immediately after dinner (no oneg)
Join us as we celebrate Shabbat together! We will begin the evening with a lovely dinner prepared by our Ritual Committee volunteers. Following dinner, please join Rabbi Schaefer, Cantor Giglio and musical accompanist, Eric Trudell for Shabbat Services. The Torah portion for the week is Naso.
There is no charge, but a suggested donation of $18 per family. If you would like to help prep, cook, serve, or clean up, please check the box on the online registration form AND ALSO please email Corey Stone.
Would you like to be a sponsor for a family dinner and receive recognition from the bima? Sponsorship for a dinner is $360. It is a perfect opportunity to recognize a milestone birthday, anniversary, or other simcha. Sponsorship contributions of less than the full amount (minimum $72 dollars) will also be accepted and recognized. Organize your friends to sponsor as a group! If you are interested in sponsoring, you can add the chosen additional amount to the Suggested Donation box on your registration form. You may also contact the office at 203-288-3877.
***Please register in advance for the dinner so we can be sure to provide enough food for everyone.***
CMI 2025 Annual Meeting Sunday, June 8 at 10:00 a.m.
Please join us in-person or via live-stream as we come together to celebrate our CMI community at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Congregation.
Highlights of the Annual Meeting will include:
· Review of 2025-2026 annual budget
· Election of congregational leaders for next year
· Recognition of those who have served the congregation over the past year
· Reports on all that CMI has been doing to serve and strengthen our community
· Plans for the future
If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting in-person or plan to participate via live-stream, please complete the online form to allow us to reach a quorum of at least 75 members who can vote at the meeting.
Juneteenth Shabbat Service Friday, June 20 NOTE SPECIAL TIMES: Oneg 5:00 p.m. Service 5:45 p.m.
Join us to celebrate Juneteenth, when more than 250,000 enslaved black people in Texas finally received the news, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, that they had gained their freedom. Also known as Black Independence Day, Juneteenth is now a Federal holiday, celebrated on June 19.
Our speaker for the evening will be Secretary Stephanie Thomas. Stephanie Thomas was sworn in as Connecticut’s Secretary of the State on January 4, 2023. With a distinguished 30-year career advising and problem-solving for nonprofit organizations, running her own business, and serving as a State Representative of the 143rd District (Norwalk, Wilton, Westport), Secretary Thomas brings a unique blend of business expertise and a passion for civics to public service. To read more about Secretary Thomas, visit cmihamden.org.
Rosh Chodesh - Tammuz with Potluck Dinner On the Patio Thursday, June 26 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Join us on the patio to celebrate Rosh Chodesh this month! (if it’s rainy, we’ll move into the Social Hall). We will eat, talk and reflect about this past year, and imagine what next year might include. Please note the earlier start time - we hope that works for most of you. If not, come when you can. We hope you can join us whether you’ve been coming regularly, occasionally or coming for the first time. Please RSVP to Patricia so we will know what you plan to bring. Children are welcome to this event.
Join Rabbi Schaefer on Saturday mornings: 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28 at 10:00 a.m. Please watch the E-News for updates. You can also check dates in our online calendar.
Cantor's Concert Celebration & Thank Yous
From Cantor G.
It has been my pleasure and joy to bring Cantor's Concerts of high quality and talent for all the years I have been at CMI. This year was the most extraordinary of them all. The Zamir Choral Foundation has always been close to my heart as my daughter Lina was part of the High School and Young Adult choirs, HaZamir and Zamir Noded. Maestri Mati Lazar's career has been to raise the bar for Jewish music by bringing us incredibly high quality music, old and new, from all over the world, especially Haaretz Israel. In my mind, there is nothing more exciting than a wonderful choir. The sound of all those voices reaches into your soul and touches you in a way that can only be described as "a religious moment"! It has always been my belief that the voice of the divine is music. It is the universal language that has the power to move mountains and topple nations. It is truly Tikkun Olam. In the face of endless oppression, our tiny tribe has led the world with so many of the greatest minds and talents. For me, that will always be our mission. Kol HaKavod to my CMI family!
From Concert Chair, Sarah B. Greenblatt
What an amazing afternoon of music and fundraising nachas! Together we raised over $210,000 which included a generous match of $75,000 from our anonymous CMI family in honor of Cantor G's legacy, and $12,000 from the Silent Auction and flower sale the afternoon of the Concert! Thank you to all who gave of their amazing donations, treasures, talents and time to make this concert our best ever! Together we can reach beyond this high bar in the year to come!
Yahrzeits
* In perpetual memory
Adele Altschuler * Elizabeth Joan Baratz * David D. Berdon Harris Jack Berman * Gertrude Blumenthal Donald Blumenthal * Anna K. Brandriss * Susan Caminear Merrill Farber David Flit Samuel Fox * Annette Forman Friedman * Martha Goller Violet P. Goodman * William R. Green * George J. Greenberg * Jerome F. Greenwald * Harold H. Hahn, Sr. * Abram Hartenstein * Jack Hauser * Martin Helpern Molly Kamens Horton * Lucile Marqusee Jacobs * Morris Karmasin * Sol Kean * Rose Shelling Kelsey Annette Knapp * Julius Kornicker * Hyman Krug Max Langrock * Roslyn Shapiro Lewisohn * Leo Links * Pearl R. Lipsky Soltan Moskovits * Elliott Perlman Milton E. Rosenthal * Jean N. Scheps Helen Chargar Schwartz * Bernard Shoninger * Joanne Tepp Lena Ticotsky Gisya Tziferman Dr. Milton Wallman Isabelle Walton Solomon Weil * rmgard Steinhardt Weiss *
June 6
Ida Alpert * Edward Bailey James Bradbury Daniel A. Chimes Anne Cohen Lillian Kravitz Dimenstein * Matilda Eisenberg Marie Eisner * Robert Martin Glassman Arnie Goldman Elizabeth Green * Bernard E. Hanauer Hannah Hanina Charles Paul Huether Robert A. Jacobs Alexander Jacoby Nathan David Kaufman Hirsch Koch * Rosa Lang Kornicker * Stanley Kruger Celia Katz Mailhouse * Hannah Marcus Harry Mark Eli Milner Matilda Myers * Doris Nasper Richard W. Opper * Sydelle Perlman Jacobi Press Sonya H. Rashba Yetta Waldman Ratner * Norman Redlich Vivian Hubelbank Ruth Marci Sellers Rifka Shapiro Rae Shapiro Heloise S. Shoninger * USArmy PFC Eric Daniel Soufrine David Teitelbaum Laurel Vlock Evelyn Reich Wareck * Tessie Rozen Weiss Nancy Ruth Kruger Williams * Dr. Paul Winer * David Zakar
June 13
Dr. R. Scott Borrus George Brand Harriet Harris Breslav * Arthur Caskill Sarah E. Chain * Estelle Lyons Dryfus * Larry C Franken * Philip Freedman Herman Gold Minnie Chauser Gold Ruth Cohn Goldberg * Steven Grove Jacob Haber * Louis Hamerman * Lila Jacoby Samuel Karlan Alfred Klein * Edna Knopp Arthur Kramer Blanche Kramer Morris Krug Zelda Chernoff Lapides Gerald E. Marcus Marion Marcus David Mersey * Norma Neufeld * Rae Paul * Ronald J. Portugal * Gary Racusin Abraham S. Rosenfeld * Anne Shapiro * Sadye Comins Shapiro * Lottie Siperstein Prof. Albert J. Solnit Anna Heitman Stein * Henrietta Teitelbaum Anna Traiman Florence Walman * Alfred W. Weil * Rachel F. Weiner * Charlotte Solomon Weinstein * Margo S. Wiener
June 20
Edward I. Ackerbaum Morton Adams * Robert Bachman Kathryn Belleau Irving Berkowitz * Louis Goodman Black * Muriel Freedman Braverman Helen D. Breslav * Sam Brody Morton Harold Cohen * Richard H. Cole Jacob J. Cooley * Alta Cooperman * Ralph Egel * Muriel Esposito Morris Farber * Meyer Forman Marjorie G. Frankenberger Lewis J. Freedman * Samuel Goldman Dr. Nathan A. Goldstein * Elaine Kliger Gray * Louis Heller Brett Hellerman Fred Hoffman Bessie E. Hoffman * George Kasterbaum Rabbi Abraham J. Klausner Daniel Klein Anne Isaacs Kornicker * Seymour "Ted" Lakin Celia Levin Ester Levine Florence Doduck LeVine * Sam Levine Elsa Guttman Links * Levi Lyons * Mae Lapides Merliss * Jonathan Milikowsky Henrietta Muhlfelder * Marion Press O'Brasky * Ruth Rennert Fanny Rozovsky * Lawrence K. Schnadig * Emil Schoenberger * William Schoninger Monty Soufrine Dr. Charles Steiner Marcia Teitelbaum Theodor Tuckell
June 27
IN MEMORIAM
J. Lance Lichtor
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Contact Us
THE CONGREGATION MISHKAN ISRAEL BULLETIN
June 2025 Series 109 No. 10
THE CONGREGATION MISHKAN ISRAEL
785 Ridge Road, Hamden, CT 06517
Phone: (203) 288-3877 Fax: (203) 248-2148
http://cmihamden.org
Rabbi Daniel Schaefer x236 dschaefer@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 Childhood Director x246 jverrier@cmihamden.org
Alan J Sturtz, Ed.D, President president@cmihamden.org