Summer 2023
Temple Sholom
Monroe & North Streets
P.O. Box 501
Galesburg, IL 60402-0501
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
Dear Friends of Temple Sholom,
I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and high spirits as we start the summer. As the summer approaches, I know that some of you have a bit more time to explore your spiritual goals. Others are as busy as always. Please take some time for yourselves as you read, walk, attend Shabbat services or have a cup of tea. I’m always willing to share some time with you – let me know if you’d like to meet or talk on the phone.
I was thrilled to “attend” the ordination of Jennie Bunde. She is now a rabbi. I look forward to her continued support of our congregation’s needs and her inspiration to help us all. Jennie has always brought us thought-provoking ideas, meaningful reflections and stories to connect Judaism to our everyday lives.
The security committee has made some progress. The plantings in front of the building look great. I’ve heard many compliments. The windows have been covered with a protective film (from the inside) to protect us when we are in the building. (Please remember that you should never put tape on the windows and only wash the windows with soap & water).
While it may seem early to mention, it’s never too soon to start preparing for the High Holidays. The High Holidays are a profound and sacred time for our community, and we encourage you to take the time to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the year ahead. As the summer unfolds, we will be sharing information about our High Holiday services, and honors and volunteer opportunities, ensuring that we come together to welcome the New Year with warmth and unity.
Remember, Temple Sholom is more than just a building. It is a vibrant and inclusive community where we celebrate our shared heritage and support one another through life’s journey. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and sharing meaningful moments together.
Please note that most of this newsletter was written by me. However, in light of the new technology available, my ideas were supplemented by ChatGPT.
With my good wishes for a peaceful summer,
Faye
RABBI’S MESSAGE:
After ordination, my family and I took a trip to Disneyland. And while we were at Disneyland, we met Mickey Mouse.
Now there’s two ways to think about this: We either met a (presumably very warm) human who was dressed in a costume owned by a multinational corporation, OR we met a real-life, six-foot-tall mouse.
If you choose to meet a mouse (and not the embodiment of capitalism), something pretty amazing happens: you let the magic in. And when you let the magic in, all sorts of wonderful things can happen. Disneyland is filled with people who believe in the magic. Not just employees or cast members, but everyday visitors too. Because of this, it felt like everyone was just a little bit kinder, a little bit nicer, and a little bit friendlier. Other visitors would stop us in the street to tell us a compliment or share a joke, and we would do the same.
In a way, it reminds me of the prayer from Mishkan T’filah: Prayer cannot bring water to parched land, nor mend a broken bridge, nor rebuild a ruined city, but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart, and rebuild a weakened will.
There is no one way to experience G-d. But allowing ourselves to live in a world that includes
G-d creates space in our everyday existence for the Source of Blessing. So too, if we allow ourselves to exist in a world where prayer works, we allow ourselves the opportunity to connect to the Divine.
David and I were given a framed quote about marriage written by Dr J Allan Peterson at our wedding’s rehearsal dinner. One of the lines in it says, “There is no love in marriage. Love is in people. And people put love in marriage.” There is no inherent holiness in Temple Sholom. It’s the wonderful people that infuse the building and the spirit of our congregation with holiness. Ours is a truly sacred space, and as your newly minted rabbi, I can’t wait to watch the magic unfold. Have a wonderful summer.
Rabbi Jennie (she/her)
SERVICE SCHEDULE
| Date |
Leader |
Oneg |
Tech |
| 6/16 |
Schulz |
Lyon |
Lyon |
| 6/23 |
skip |
|
|
| 7/1 |
David/Jennie Bunde
SATURDAY MORNING |
Congregation |
Bunde |
| 7/7 |
skip |
|
|
| 7/14 |
Rubin-Sims
6:30pm START TIME |
Rubin-Sims |
Bunde |
| 7/21 |
skip |
|
|
| 7/28 |
West |
West |
Gold |
| 8/4 |
skip |
|
|
| 8/11 |
Jacobs |
Schulz |
Lyon |
| 8/18 |
skip |
|
|
| 8/25 |
Gold |
Karlin/Raley-Karlin |
Gold |
| 9/1 |
Schulz |
Cohn/Eberhardt |
Amor |
| 9/8 |
Amor |
Jacobs |
Amor |
| 9/15 |
Rabbi Bunde
ROSH HASHANAH |
Congregation |
Lyon |
| 9/22 |
Lyon |
Bunde |
Amor |
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, too, as he sends out the weekly reminders.
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
Temple Sholom is creating a new Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund to which congregants and other friends may make donations. The Fund will be drawn on by the Rabbi to provide tzedakah to those in need, to occasionally supplement normal Temple activities (for example, the cost for a special guest speaker), and to buy books and other materials for the Temple that will help the Rabbi in her work. Also, the Temple will contribute $500 per year to the Discretionary Fund that the Rabbi can use for direct work-related expenses and $1,000 per year to be used for professional development expenses and attending professional conventions. The Rabbi will report annually to the Board on the uses of the Fund, keeping all tzedakah disbursements confidential. Checks should be made out to Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund and may be mailed to Temple Sholom, P.O. Box 501, Galesburg, IL 61402.
MAZEL TOV
- To Shawn Greathouse and Tiffany Russell on the occasion of their marriage, May 27, 2023.
- To Faye Schulz, who was awarded the Guy Vitale Award for service to the community at the United Way Awards Dinner in February.
TODAH RABAH
Todah rabah to Carol Grodjesk, who donated to the religious school a tzedakah box that she and Ken had filled with coins. The children much enjoyed counting the coins and deciding which local charities would receive the funds. Three groups tied for first place: FISH, Knox County Humane Society, and Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank.
TRANSITIONS
Stephen Sotavento wants to announce: My divorce is final. I have moved to Germantown Hills. Soon I will be having a housewarming party.
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 Penny, 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.
SAVE THE DATE!
The Temple Sholom annual meeting will be on July 23, 2023 at 4pm at the temple. Congregants can also attend via Zoom (same link as for services). Snacks will be provided for those attending in person.
ACCESS TO BROOKSIDE CEMETERY
For security reasons, car access to Brookside Cemetery is controlled by having a locked gate at the entrance, but you can always walk in through the smaller gate to the side. Make a note of the lock combination (0311) so that you have it when you go to visit the cemetery. Please make sure the gate is closed after you exit, with the padlock re-locked. If you have any questions, please contact one of the cemetery trustees: Bob Bondi, David Amor, and Jeremy Karlin.
Proposals invited for use of the Chai Fund: In 2014, Temple Sholom received a gift of $10,188 from the Chai Foundation. We have drawn on these funds for several projects, using about one-third of the funding. The Temple Board welcomes proposals to use the fund; guidelines below. If you have an idea, you might want to start by discussing it with a board member. Proposals can be sent to our president, Faye Schulz.
Mission Statement for use of the Chai Fund: Temple Sholom will use the money from the CHAI gift on initiatives that will invigorate the Temple community. The Temple will give each initiative up to $500. The funds may be used for (but not limited to):
- scholarships for skills/leadership development
- care of the Temple Sholom building and grounds
- programs that bring the Temple community together and support our presence in Galesburg (and surrounding communities)
- tzedakah projects that engage the members of the congregation
- the purchase of religious objects/books, and technological additions and upgrades.
When requesting for funds from the CHAI grant, Temple Sholom members should state how the supported project will realize the mission of invigorating the Temple community.
DONATION RECORD
From the Monmouth chapter of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity
In memory of Ken Grodjesk
Carol Grodjesk
In memory of Mitchell, Rose and Dan Rudman, Doris Rudman and Anne Levy
Margie Cooper
Donations for the seder and to help students (and others) with the cost
Bob Bondi
Jan West
Margie Cooper
In memory of Alexander Faynov
The Fayman family
In memory of Steve Satisky
Co-workers of Kevin Satisky
In memory of Michael Fayman
The Fayman family
In memory of Joyce Carlson
Barbara Reuter
In honor of the ordination of Rabbi Jennifer Bunde
Richard and Beth Wise
Penny Gold and David Amor
Jan West, Guy West, and Bob Bondi
Faye and Chuck Schulz
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, Box 501, Galesburg, IL 61402-050, 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).
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, 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, 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.
Summer 2023 Bulletin
June 16, 2023 by templesholomgalesburg • Uncategorized Tags: Temple Bulletin •
Summer 2023
Temple Sholom
Monroe & North Streets
P.O. Box 501
Galesburg, IL 60402-0501
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
Dear Friends of Temple Sholom,
I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and high spirits as we start the summer. As the summer approaches, I know that some of you have a bit more time to explore your spiritual goals. Others are as busy as always. Please take some time for yourselves as you read, walk, attend Shabbat services or have a cup of tea. I’m always willing to share some time with you – let me know if you’d like to meet or talk on the phone.
I was thrilled to “attend” the ordination of Jennie Bunde. She is now a rabbi. I look forward to her continued support of our congregation’s needs and her inspiration to help us all. Jennie has always brought us thought-provoking ideas, meaningful reflections and stories to connect Judaism to our everyday lives.
The security committee has made some progress. The plantings in front of the building look great. I’ve heard many compliments. The windows have been covered with a protective film (from the inside) to protect us when we are in the building. (Please remember that you should never put tape on the windows and only wash the windows with soap & water).
While it may seem early to mention, it’s never too soon to start preparing for the High Holidays. The High Holidays are a profound and sacred time for our community, and we encourage you to take the time to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the year ahead. As the summer unfolds, we will be sharing information about our High Holiday services, and honors and volunteer opportunities, ensuring that we come together to welcome the New Year with warmth and unity.
Remember, Temple Sholom is more than just a building. It is a vibrant and inclusive community where we celebrate our shared heritage and support one another through life’s journey. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and sharing meaningful moments together.
Please note that most of this newsletter was written by me. However, in light of the new technology available, my ideas were supplemented by ChatGPT.
With my good wishes for a peaceful summer,
Faye
RABBI’S MESSAGE:
After ordination, my family and I took a trip to Disneyland. And while we were at Disneyland, we met Mickey Mouse.
Now there’s two ways to think about this: We either met a (presumably very warm) human who was dressed in a costume owned by a multinational corporation, OR we met a real-life, six-foot-tall mouse.
If you choose to meet a mouse (and not the embodiment of capitalism), something pretty amazing happens: you let the magic in. And when you let the magic in, all sorts of wonderful things can happen. Disneyland is filled with people who believe in the magic. Not just employees or cast members, but everyday visitors too. Because of this, it felt like everyone was just a little bit kinder, a little bit nicer, and a little bit friendlier. Other visitors would stop us in the street to tell us a compliment or share a joke, and we would do the same.
In a way, it reminds me of the prayer from Mishkan T’filah: Prayer cannot bring water to parched land, nor mend a broken bridge, nor rebuild a ruined city, but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart, and rebuild a weakened will.
There is no one way to experience G-d. But allowing ourselves to live in a world that includes
G-d creates space in our everyday existence for the Source of Blessing. So too, if we allow ourselves to exist in a world where prayer works, we allow ourselves the opportunity to connect to the Divine.
David and I were given a framed quote about marriage written by Dr J Allan Peterson at our wedding’s rehearsal dinner. One of the lines in it says, “There is no love in marriage. Love is in people. And people put love in marriage.” There is no inherent holiness in Temple Sholom. It’s the wonderful people that infuse the building and the spirit of our congregation with holiness. Ours is a truly sacred space, and as your newly minted rabbi, I can’t wait to watch the magic unfold. Have a wonderful summer.
Rabbi Jennie (she/her)
SERVICE SCHEDULE
SATURDAY MORNING
6:30pm START TIME
ROSH HASHANAH
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, too, as he sends out the weekly reminders.
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
Temple Sholom is creating a new Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund to which congregants and other friends may make donations. The Fund will be drawn on by the Rabbi to provide tzedakah to those in need, to occasionally supplement normal Temple activities (for example, the cost for a special guest speaker), and to buy books and other materials for the Temple that will help the Rabbi in her work. Also, the Temple will contribute $500 per year to the Discretionary Fund that the Rabbi can use for direct work-related expenses and $1,000 per year to be used for professional development expenses and attending professional conventions. The Rabbi will report annually to the Board on the uses of the Fund, keeping all tzedakah disbursements confidential. Checks should be made out to Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund and may be mailed to Temple Sholom, P.O. Box 501, Galesburg, IL 61402.
MAZEL TOV
TODAH RABAH
Todah rabah to Carol Grodjesk, who donated to the religious school a tzedakah box that she and Ken had filled with coins. The children much enjoyed counting the coins and deciding which local charities would receive the funds. Three groups tied for first place: FISH, Knox County Humane Society, and Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank.
TRANSITIONS
Stephen Sotavento wants to announce: My divorce is final. I have moved to Germantown Hills. Soon I will be having a housewarming party.
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 Penny, 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.
SAVE THE DATE!
The Temple Sholom annual meeting will be on July 23, 2023 at 4pm at the temple. Congregants can also attend via Zoom (same link as for services). Snacks will be provided for those attending in person.
ACCESS TO BROOKSIDE CEMETERY
For security reasons, car access to Brookside Cemetery is controlled by having a locked gate at the entrance, but you can always walk in through the smaller gate to the side. Make a note of the lock combination (0311) so that you have it when you go to visit the cemetery. Please make sure the gate is closed after you exit, with the padlock re-locked. If you have any questions, please contact one of the cemetery trustees: Bob Bondi, David Amor, and Jeremy Karlin.
Proposals invited for use of the Chai Fund: In 2014, Temple Sholom received a gift of $10,188 from the Chai Foundation. We have drawn on these funds for several projects, using about one-third of the funding. The Temple Board welcomes proposals to use the fund; guidelines below. If you have an idea, you might want to start by discussing it with a board member. Proposals can be sent to our president, Faye Schulz.
Mission Statement for use of the Chai Fund: Temple Sholom will use the money from the CHAI gift on initiatives that will invigorate the Temple community. The Temple will give each initiative up to $500. The funds may be used for (but not limited to):
When requesting for funds from the CHAI grant, Temple Sholom members should state how the supported project will realize the mission of invigorating the Temple community.
DONATION RECORD
From the Monmouth chapter of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity
In memory of Ken Grodjesk
Carol Grodjesk
In memory of Mitchell, Rose and Dan Rudman, Doris Rudman and Anne Levy
Margie Cooper
Donations for the seder and to help students (and others) with the cost
Bob Bondi
Jan West
Margie Cooper
In memory of Alexander Faynov
The Fayman family
In memory of Steve Satisky
Co-workers of Kevin Satisky
In memory of Michael Fayman
The Fayman family
In memory of Joyce Carlson
Barbara Reuter
In honor of the ordination of Rabbi Jennifer Bunde
Richard and Beth Wise
Penny Gold and David Amor
Jan West, Guy West, and Bob Bondi
Faye and Chuck Schulz
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, Box 501, Galesburg, IL 61402-050, 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).
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, 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, 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.