Fall 2024 Buletin

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Fall 2024

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:

I’m so honored to have been chosen by you at the Annual Meeting to be the next president of Temple Sholom. The confidence you are placing in me is humbling.

I have a tough act to follow! If you see Faye in the coming weeks, please thank her for her incredible service. During her tenure as president, the Temple oversaw an unprecedented fundraising campaign to secure our future, the hiring of our first local Rabbi in years, the continued vibrancy of our Sunday school (which rivals that of larger congregations in Peoria and the Quad Cities), and the continued vibrancy of our Jewish community.

Of course, none of these accomplishments happened alone. Those of you who spearheaded, organized, or even just supported these initiatives are all part of this success. I hope you will extend the same level of generosity (and perhaps an extra measure of grace) to me, as I step into the roll.

As we approach Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on where our Temple is, both to appreciate its successes and on where you’d like to see it go in the future. If you’d like to get involved in planning any of the Holidays or get more involved in any aspect of the Temple, please get in touch! There’s always more to do!

I’m looking forward to sharing this journey with all of you and, together, continuing the legacy of our Temple and community.

L’Shanah Tova (Happy New Year!)

Jonah

 

RABBI’S MESSAGE:

The book of Ecclesiastes is one of our lesser-read books of the Tanakh, though most of us are familiar with the words from Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, verse 1: “A season is set for everything, a time for every experience under heaven.” But the verse that speaks to me today is from chapter 1, verse 9: “Only that shall happen which has happened, only that occur which has occurred; There is nothing new beneath the sun!”

Strange quote for me to reference, I know.  But to me, it feels as though we are living in “unprecedented” times. And I have been noticing an almost universal feeling of uncertainty in the world.  What a challenge as we move into the High Holiday season!

Ecclesiastes helps me to remember that we, all of us, are the descendants of those who overcame “unprecedented” times throughout history. We have been through times of great change before and come out on the other side.  Case in point: 70 years ago, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel sent a telegram to President Kennedy saying, “the hour calls for moral grandeur and spiritual audacity.”

I won’t go so far to say that the world today is history repeating itself, but we are all looking at the current state of affairs through the lens of our understanding of the past.  The uncertainty we feel was felt by our ancestors as well.  The changes they saw in their lifetimes were but steps in humanity’s journey to perfect tikkun olam, of healing the world.

And so, as we move into the Days of Awe, I invite you to take a moment to remember the duality that imbues our lives.  We are always modulating between states of constancy and change.  The words in our machzorim, our High Holiday prayerbooks, don’t change from year to year, but we do.

How we respond to the ancient texts evolves as our life experiences accumulate. The world has gone through periods of great change before. And change is never easy, but I believe that humanity has the potential to keep improving.  We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know that humanity has gone through times of great turmoil before and come out the other side to a kinder and more gentle world.

I am wishing you all a shana tova, a good and sweet new year.  May blessings, love, and joy surround you.

Gmar Hatimah Tovah

Rabbi Jennie (she/her)

 

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, by either email or text message. 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.

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 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.

HIGH HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 5785/2024

All services and study sessions will be hybrid offerings, both in person and on the Temple’s Zoom site.  If you will be attending services remotely and would like a High Holiday prayer book, contact Faye.

Selichot Service

Saturday, September 28th, led by Guy West                                          8:00 p.m.

Erev Rosh Hashanah

Wednesday, October 2nd                                                                     7:30 p.m.

First Day of Rosh Hashanah

Thursday, October 3rd

Morning Service                                                                        10:00 a.m.

Tashlich and kids’ Shofar activity at Picnic Point                           1:30 p.m.

Shabbat Shuvah

Friday, October 4th, led by Jeremy Karlin and Gabe Raley-Karlin           7:30 p.m.

Reverse Tashlich* at Lake Storey (meet at the Pavilion)

Sunday, October 6th                                                                          11:00 a.m.

Kever Avot – Memorial Service at Brookside Cemetery, led by Jeremy Karlin

Sunday, October 6th                                                                            3:00 p.m

Kol Nidre

Friday, October 11th                                                                            7:30 p.m.

Yom Kippur

Saturday, October 12th

Morning service                                                                         10:00 a.m.

 Study Session                                                                          about 12:15

Break                                                                                      about 1:15-2:30

Lay-led service, led by Maury Lyon                                              2:30

Afternoon service (Minchah)                                                        3:00

Yizkor (memorial service)                                                            4:00

Children’s activity                                                                        5:00

Ne’ilah and Havdalah                                                      following children’s activity

Motzi to break the fast                                    about 6:00 p.m., following the end of services

                                                                              

*Reverse tashlich–Join environmentally conscious Jewish communities around the world in reversing the tradition of Tashlich. Remove human ‘sins’ (marine debris) from the water in a collaborative waterfront cleanup. It would be helpful for participants to bring trash bags and garden gloves.

 

Names to be added to our memorial list?  If you would like to add to the list of names read aloud during our Yom Kippur Yizkor service, please contact Maury Lyon.

 

SERVICE SCHEDULE

Services are hybrid, for Zoom access please contact the Temple.  

Date Leader Oneg Tech Holiday / Notes
9/6 Schulz Satisky Lyon
9/13 Rabbi Bunde Lyon D. Bunde
9/14 Adult study: Kol Nidre and Demon Bowls, 7pm
9/20 Gold Karlin/Raley-Karlin Amor
9/28 West H. Lyon J. Bunde Selichot, 8pm on Sat
10/2 Rabbi Bunde TBA D. Bunde Erev Rosh Hashanah
10/3 Rabbi Bunde J. Bunde Rosh Hashanah, 10am
10/4 Karlin/Raley-Karlin West Amor Shabbat Shuvah
10/6 Karlin Kever Avot, 3pm at Brookside
10/11 Rabbi Bunde D. Bunde Kol Nidre
10/12 Rabbi Bunde TBA J. Bunde Yom Kippur, 10am
10/18 Rubin Rubin Lyon 7pm start, Succot
10/25 Doug and David Bunde Schulz J. Bunde Simchat Torah
11/1 Rabbi Bunde Satisky Amor
11/8 Satisky/Schulz Bunde D. Bunde
11/10 Adult study: Movie screening about small-town Jewish life and potluck, 7pm
11/15 Amor Jacobs Lyon
11/19 Adult study: Interfaith panel discussion at Monmouth College, time TBA
11/22 West Gold J. Bunde
11/24 Adult study: TALK FOR A CHANGE, 2pm
11/29 Jacobs Cohn/Eberhardt D. Bunde
12/6 Rabbi Bunde Rubin Lyon
12/13 Schulz West J. Bunde
12/15 Adult study: Journeys into Judaism: Key Jewish Moments, 7pm
12/20 Gold Karlin/Raley-Karlin Amor
12/27 Lyon Schulz D. Bunde 12/25: 1st night Hanukkah
1/3/25 Karlin/Raley-Karlin Lyon Lyon
1/10 Rabbi Bunde H. Lyon J. Bunde
1/17 Rubin Bunde D. Bunde
1/24 Amor Jacobs Amor

 

Leaders can find the names to read before the kaddish at 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.

 

Information on adult study events

Saturday, September 14th, 7pm: Kol Nidre and Demon Bowls.   Beginning with Havdalah, we will spend this study session exploring the legal and magical roots of Kol Nidre.  For those interested, we will be creating demon bowls after the text study.  Please let Rabbi Jennie know in advance if you are staying for the demon bowl craft, to ensure she has enough supplies.

Saturday, October 12th, around 12:15 (after Yom Kippur morning services).  Text study on the 13 Divine Attributes of Mercy, as explained in the 16th century work, The Palm Tree of Deborah.

Sunday, November 10th, 7pm: Movie screening about small town Jewish Life. Exact film TBD. Potluck during screening and discussion afterwards.

Tuesday, November 19th, 11am: Interfaith panel discussion at Monmouth College. Details TBD.

Sunday, November 24th, 2pm: TALK FOR A CHANGE.  This is a URJ initiative aimed atbringing communities together to have open conversations, even around difficult topics. Using URJ discussion topics, we will create a culture of constructive, respectful dialogue and engage others with curiosity, even when we have different points of view.

Sunday, December 15th, 7pm: Journeys into Judaism: Key Jewish Moments.  Building on last year’s story sharing event, we invite members of the Temple Sholom community to share times in their lives that defined their identity as a Jewish person.  Please bring a dessert to share.

Exact times and locations for each event will be shared via email.

Details of each event can be found at: https://templesholomgalesburg.org/2024/08/30/adult-education-events-fall-2024/

 

TODAH RABAH

Many thanks to the people who volunteered to clean our Torah scrolls! In order to take advantage of the expertise of sofer Neil Yerman, who was here for two days to supervise us, we worked intensely for several hours each day. The work was hard but satisfying, and having many hands at work meant that we could complete the cleaning of both scrolls. Thanks to these folks, both members and friends of our community, who volunteered on one or both days: David Amor, Rabbi Jennie Bunde, Danielle Fatkin, Yana Fayman, Penny Gold, Deb Katchen, Hannah Lyon, Susan Lyon, Gabe Raley-Karlin, Michal Ran-Rubin, Jonah Rubin, Faye Schulz, Troy Treash.

Thank you to Faye Schulz, Richard Gurevich, and Maury Lyon for cleaning up the parking lot.

 

WELCOME

From the Rericha Family: Baby Tobias was born on August 8 at 12:44 pm. Weighing 7lb 11oz and measuring at 19 inches. We both are doing really well and look forward to Tobias and James meeting each other soon!

We’d also say a special “thank you!” to all the members who sent well wishes and baby presents to us in anticipation of Tobias’ arrival. I have sent out some thank you notes, so hopefully everyone gets their letters soon. We are so thankful for all the love and support everyone has given us!

James also starts his official year of preschool in the middle of August! He is so excited to go back to school.

 

FAREWELL

Sherry Wintory, wife of Mike Wintory, former treasurer of the Temple, died in April. Here is the obituary from the Register-Mail: https://www.galesburg.com/obituaries/pils0875925

ONLINE RESOURCE

From Veronica Aristeguieta: Creative Judaism is a YouTuber who does short videos sharing Talmudic interpretations of each parshah focusing on the silly and absurd things in Talmud.

https://youtube.com/@creativejudaism?si=gDFoEr1Gpj0TLRIB

 

2024/5785 Festival Schedule

(Note: festival begins at sunset on these days)

Rosh Hashanah                         Oct 2

Yom Kippur                             Oct 11

Sukkot                                      Oct 16

Simchat Torah                          Oct 24

Hanukkah                                 Dec 25 – Jan 2

(last night is Jan 1)

Web site with dates of Jewish holidays:          

http://www.hebcal.com

 

 

Interested in Joining the Temple as a Member?

Temple Sholom welcomes all to attend services (including the High Holidays) and other events without formal membership.  But of course, we would also be delighted to have you as a member. As an inclusive Temple, our membership ranks are open to all, we do not have any minimum membership dues, and no member will be turned away due to lack of ability to pay. For those who are able, we ask members to contribute 1% – 1.5% of their household’s gross annual income. Rather than making inquiries about members’ income, we prefer that you make the judgment yourself. As a congregation we are committed to welcoming all who wish to join our community, regardless of financial means, so if a contribution in this range would be a hardship to you, just contribute what you can. To submit an annual contribution, one sends a check (made out to Temple Sholom and marked “annual contribution”) to our treasurer at: Temple Sholom, P.O. Box 501, Galesburg, IL 61402-0501. Some members pay in full early in the fall; others prefer to pay in monthly or quarterly installments.

 

Temple Officers and Board Members, voted in at the Annual Meeting, July 14, 2024

Jonah Rubin, President (2026)

Gabrielle Raley-Karlin, Vice-President (2026)

Nancy Eberhardt, Secretary (2025)

Maury Lyon, Treasurer (2026)

David Amor (2025)

Bob Bondi (2025)

Jeremy Karlin (2025)

Susan Lyon (2025)

Kevin Satisky (2025)

Shawn Greathouse (2026)

Jim Jacobs (2026)

Hannah Lyon (2026)

Faye Schulz (2026)

Guy West (2026)

Jan West (honorary)

Rabbi Jennie Bunde, ex officio (2025)

 

DONATION RECORD

In memory of Jeremy Gold Amor

David Amor and Penny Gold

In honor of Avram Lyon and Doreen Okang’s wedding

David Amor and Penny Gold

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.