Winter Bulleting 2025

Winter/Spring 2025

President’s Message:

I have a confession to make: I never much liked Chanukah (at least not as an adult). It is perhaps the most militaristic and nationalistic holiday in the Jewish calendar. The Book of Maccabees is so violent — including violence directed by the Maccabees at assimilated Jews — that the Rabbis decided to exclude it from the Tanakh. And the miracle of the oil is not originally even in there! It is the most minor of Jewish holidays, yet it looms large culturally in what feels like an attempt to not leave Jewish kids out of the commercialized aspects of Christmas.

Rafi, however, loves Chanukah. He loves the candles, the blessings, the songs, the dreidels, and especially the gelt. And as I grow as a father and a Jew, I am learning to appreciate it more and more. So what if the miracle of the oil is not part of the original story? It is a wonderful story that, in my opinion, provides a much more beautiful and well-rounded tale than the original. So what if the Chanukah songs and pajamas take inspiration from those of our Christian neighbors? They give us a sense of joy and, more importantly, of Jewish identity and belonging in a small, tight-knit community. And they give us one of my favorite Temple Sholom rituals of the year — when we gather together as a community, bringing our menorahs to Temple, to light them and sing together.

I did not grow up in the Reform movement. But perhaps no holiday has taught me the importance of Reform Judaism’s commitment to struggling with our faith, committing to our ethics, and evolving to meet the changing needs of our moment more than Chanukah.

This is also why I am so thrilled with many of the changes that Rabbi Jennie has led us on, with the support and coordination of so many of you, in this season. Our adult study is evolving to include new activities, from trivia nights to movie screenings. Our Sunday School has incorporated pre-school activities for the youngest members of our congregation. And our little-Temple-that-could continues as a fixture in the Galesburg community, the Midwest, and, thanks to our participation in Makom – The Center for Small Town Jewish Life, increasingly, nationally as well.

I hope we will all continue to grow, learn, and evolve in the coming months. Please send your feedback about what’s working and what’s not, as well as what you’d like to see that we’re not currently doing or could do better. Together, we will continue evolving as a Temple and community.

Jonah Rubin, Temple President

Rabbi’s Message

I wear a lot of hats. You probably do too. I bring this up because you may notice that I tend to tackle my Temple Sholom responsibilities in fits and starts. Many of you know that sometimes I respond to emails almost immediately. Sometimes. . . it could take a week or more. (I am really sorry about that).

The fact that I have a skewed timeline does not mean in any way, shape, or form, that our congregation isn’t one of my top priorities. Of course it is! YOU are the reason I became a rabbi in the first place!

What it does mean is that my schedule can vary a lot, week to week. Usually, I complete the majority of my Temple responsibilities on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. These are the best days to reach out if you have a question, concern, or anything else you would like to discuss. I do my best to make sure that time sensitive issues are handled promptly. And I will always make time for you.

If you do need me, please make sure that you use my rabbi email address: templesholomrabbi@gmail.com . I only get notifications for this email address on my phone and computer. I tend to respond much faster when you email me here. You can also text me at (309) 539- 4066. With the exception of Shabbat, I try to respond within 24 hours.

I want you to know how important you all are to me. I am honored to serve as your rabbi. I simply ask you for your patience as I navigate all of my responsibilities. Thank you.

Rabbi Jennifer Bunde

Service Schedule:

Services are hybrid, for Zoom Access, please email: TempleSholomGalesburg@gmail.com

Leaders can find the names to read before the kaddish on our Google Drive

Oneg responsibilities include: providing the food for the oneg, setting it out in the social hall, and cleaning up afterwards. (Beverages are kept in stock at the temple.) If you cannot attend services the evening you are assigned for the oneg, please switch with someone for another night, rather than just dropping off the food ahead of time. Thanks!

Need to switch?
If you cannot lead the service or provide the oneg, please find someone to switch with. Inform David Bunde of the switch.

Temple Highlights

Sunday School expanded to include bi-monthly programming for the youngest members of the congregation. Rabbi Jennie led Havdalah- and Hanukkah-themed programs for the preschoolers.

The Sunday School completed a mitzvah project, a workday at Libby’s Corner Community Orchard. We planted, laid mulch, and picked up sticks.

Mary Howell gave a talk about uncovering the story of her father’s life as a spy for the US Army during World War II.

We recently installed the Donor/Honor Scroll from our recent Capital Campaign, framed and hung on the wall just on the left as you enter the Temple. Please stop for a few minutes the next time you’re at the Temple, to appreciate the long list of donors to the campaign and the people whom they have honored through their gifts.

Members of the congregation went to Peoria to see “A Real Pain”, a movie about two cousins on a Jewish heritage tour of Poland.

We had fun at our Hanukkah Party/Game Night, with games, food, and laughter.

Todah Rabah

Thanks to Yana Fayman for cleaning all the Temple’s silver for the High Holidays.

FISH thanks the congregation for the donation we made through the High Holidays Hunger Project. We gave them a total of $277.

Thanks to Shawn Greathouse for coming up with the idea of a Games Night as part of our Hanukkah celebration!

A note from long-time former members, Arlene and Steven West, who now live near Columbus, OH: It’s been a very long time since we left Galesburg (25 years), but our fond memories and the friends we made while living there will last a lifetime–so thankful for Facebook and emails to keep our friendships going. Columbus has been good to us. Living close to our kids and just two hours from Cleveland has been great. With everyone getting older, especially our family in Cleveland, we needed to be here. Our grandson Hank had his Bar Mitzvah last March. Now that he is a “man”, their temple asked him to be one of the Madrichim, so he helps out in a second grade Sunday School. He loves it!! Other than that, everyone else is doing well, gainfully employed and getting older. Where does time go?? A Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone at Temple Sholom. Take care!!

From Faye & Chuck Schulz: On September 9, 2024, our son, Ben Schulz, married Yuhee Kim in Seoul, South Korea.

For those of you who knew Vivien and Al Halpern, former members of the Temple, here’s a link to Vivien’s obituary online.

Names for the Mi Shebeirach list:

If you have a name you would like to add to the Mi Shebeirach list for healing, send a note to Gabe, chair of the Hesed Committee. We will keep saying the name each week, until we know there’s no longer a special need for this person. We will still ask for names at each service; this is just an additional way to add a name to the list.

For security reasons, car access to Brookside Cemetery is controlled by having a locked gate at the entrance To gain access or if you have any questions, please contact one of the cemetery trustees: Bob Bondi, David Amor, and Jeremy Karlin.

Scholarship funding available for Jewish camps: a $200 scholarship per child per year to families sending children to Jewish camps. A maximum of $1,000 will be budgeted yearly. Apply to the Temple Treasurer by January 15.

The Hesed Committee

Once a year we put a reminder in the bulletin about the Temple’s Hesed Committee. If you know of someone who might need assistance, or if you could use some help yourself, contact Gabe Raley-Karlin, who will follow up from there. Examples of the kinds of help we can provide:

• Dinner meals for a period of time when someone is ill, or for a family where a new baby has been born.
• Rides to services for those who can’t drive.
• Visits to someone who is ill or in a nursing home.
• Participation in daily services during shiva, and providing food at the home.
• Welcoming newcomers to the community.

Donation Record:

• In memory of Barry Stein, Jan West and FamilyIn honor of Faye and Chuck Schulz’s AnniversaryJan West and Family
• For the continuation of Temple Sholom, Marjorie and Steve Cooper
• In memory of Khaya Taymanova, The Fayman family
• In memory of Jacquelynn Murphy Simpson, Jeannie Duncan and John Thompson
• In honor of the High Holidays, James Whitehill
• In memory of Yeva Fayanova, The Fayman family
• In memory of Michael Fayman, The Fayman family

Don’t see your name? If you have made a donation but do not see your name on this list and/or have not received an acknowledgement by mail, please let Nancy Eberhardt know. Sorry in advance for any slip ups!

Making a donation to Temple Sholom? If you would like to make a donation to Temple Sholom, please send your check to: Maury Lyon, Treasurer, Temple Sholom, P.O. Box 501, Galesburg, IL 61402-0501, identifying the nature of the gift (e.g., in memory of, in honor of, or for the speed recovery of a particular person). Maury will notify Nancy Eberhardt, who takes care of correspondence concerning such gifts (e.g., notifying the family of the deceased that a gift has been made in memory of that person).

Give to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

The Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund was established by the Temple Sholom Board in 2024, at the time that Rabbi Jennie Bunde was engaged as our rabbi. A regular part of most congregations that have ongoing clergy, this fund is intended to provide Rabbi Jennie with the means to provide tzedakah on behalf of the congregation to individuals and charitable organizations in times of need, both in the congregation and in the larger community. It can also be used to help the rabbi with professional expenses, books and other materials used to further her professional development. The Temple does make a contribution to the Fund each year, but the hope and expectation is that gifts from congregants and friends of Temple Sholom will also help to build the fund.

If you are planning a gift to Temple Sholom, please consider making it to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund. It could be in memory of a loved one, an expression of thanks for a life milestone, or any other reason, even just to support the fund. Checks should be made out to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund (NOT to Rabbi Jennie personally) and sent to Maury Lyon, Treasurer, Temple Sholom, P.O. Box 501, Galesburg, IL 61402-0501.

Happy Tree of Life Donations

Donations may be made in recognition of a variety of events, for example: in honor of a happy occasion (anniversary, birth, bar/bat mitzvah, birthday, etc.), or in honor of an individual or family. Donations may be made by an individual or a group, and may be made at three levels: a leaf ($200), an acorn ($500), and a stone ($1,000). A leaf can be engraved with four lines of text with 20 characters in each line, plus a brief fifth line (often a date). Acorns and stones are larger than leaves and can accommodate more text.

Sample wordings can be found by looking on the Happy Tree of Life. If you want to make a donation, you can send your gift, along with specification of wording, to Maury Lyon, Treasurer, Temple Sholom, P.O. Box 501, Galesburg, IL 61402-0501

Memorial Plaques: If you would like to purchase a memorial plaque ($250), send your donation and desired wording to Maury Lyon, Treasurer, Temple Sholom, P.O. Box 501, Galesburg, IL 61402-0501. You will find samples of what to include on the plaque by looking at ones already on the memorial board.

Gift Shop

Gift shop offerings have been pared back to candles (Shabbat, memorial, Hanukkah) and mezuzot. The easiest times to access the case are Friday evenings before or after services. For access at another time, contact Faye Schulz, 335-7192.