Honestly, if the holidays are an occasion for change, I believe we can all use one.

Congregation B'nai Torah

September 2021

Torah Times

When they arrive at the beginning of September, Jews often comment on how early the holiday has come.

Honestly, if the holidays are an occasion for change, I believe we can all use one.

An optimist at heart, even I have noticed the combination of natural disasters, diseased popu- lations, political tribalism, criticism, fear and indifference.

Judaism demands we take these holiday seriously enough to identify faults.

Another way to express this idea: We spend all year quickly identifying ways for others to im- prove. Our tradition acknowledges that, even though it is less than desirable, it is sometimes in our nature, like the bathtub overflowing when we neglect it.

Now is the time to pay attention. Hopefully, as a beginning to paying attention more consist- ently. The idea is not to pay attention to other people's faults more completely, but rather to look for, admit to and try to change our own.

And what about forgiveness?

Personally, I try to forgive people whether they have apologized or not. This way, I don't have to remember to be angry with them. Anger, I think, is a kind of spiritual indigestion. Better to let it pass so we can enjoy the moment. In other words, every moment I remember to be an- gry is a moment I am not experiencing love, joy or compassion.

And I would rather spend my precious moments not concerned with the wrongs done to me.

Ultimately, if someone ought to be punished for their actions, I leave it to God to sort out.

One of the tremendous gifts of our tradition is to remind us to add sweetness to our lives. Perhaps to understand the sweetness that our Creator gives us to experience in the world.

Rabbi Holiday Message and Schedule 1-2

President’s Message 3

Rabbi’s Friend Marc Bernier 4

Religious School Message 5

JNF Message 6

Office Message 7

Sisterhood Message 8

Yahrzeits, Donations & Occasions 9-10

Tree Plaque 11

Inside this issue:

General, Virtual Events and Advertisers 12-14

A message from Rabbi

High Holidays 5782 September

Mon 6 7:00 pm Erev Rosh Hashanah 1st Day Tues 7 9:00 am Morning Service, Torah Part I, Shofar Blowing (1st Service)

12:00 pm Torah Part II, Musaf Service, Shofar Blowing (2nd Service)

4:30 pm Tashlich and Shofar Blowing at Fortunato Park*

Fortunato Park is at 2 John Anderson Drive, Ormond Beach FL 32176 Cross the Granada Bridge to the beach side. The park is on the left, across from the 8-story white condo building, The Ormond Heritage.

Wed 8 9:00 am Classic 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah Service

Fri 10 7:30 pm Shabbat Shuvah Services Sat 11 10:00 am Shabbat Shuvah Services

Sun 12 12:00 pm Memorial Prayers with Cemetery Visit Wed 15 5:30 pm Kol Nidre (1st Service)

7:30 pm Kol Nidre (2nd Service)

Thu 16 9:00 am Morning Service, Torah Part I, Yiskor 12:00 am Torah Part II, Yiskor & Musaf Service 5:30 pm Yom Kippur, Jonah & the Whale, Neilah*

Tue 21 9:30 am Sukkot Service - First Day Wed 22 9:30 am Sukkot Service - Second Day Tue 28 9:30 am Shemini Atzeret/Yiskor

6:00 pm Simchat Torah Service*

NOTE: Any schedule updates will be communicated via email

* - Especially Family Friendly

By: Dr. Charles Stein

Afghanistan and Covid and Ida, oh my! I feel like we’re all charac- ters in the Wizard of Oz.

As we prepare for the High Holidays and realize how fortunate we are to be Jews and observe our traditions with our CBT family, let us remember that there are those less fortunate than ourselves.

In the coming weeks we will observe our sacred Holidays and the

“ritual cleansing” of our transgressions in a modified CBT setting. I wish you all Shana Tova and an easy fast.

May we all strive to be better versions of ourselves in the coming year.

Dr. Charles Stein President

Congregation B’nai Torah

Marc Bernier

Whenever he left, it would have been too soon

My friend Marc Bernier passed away this weekend.

We were closer when we were both younger, but still, I will miss his tremendous sense of curiosity. Marc was driven to learn things on every subject. He wanted to share that knowledge too. Marc was always curious about different faith tradi- tions and showed an enormous respect for Judaism, regularly featuring rabbis on his program.

I remember when he started his weekend show, Bookmark (BookMarc?). We sat over tea as he talked about how the outlets for authors were shrinking but the thirst for knowledge was still out there. He helped me start the Movie Maven tra- dition which ran on various shows for 20 years and he was always fun when it was called for and serious when he needed to be. When I lived in Israel, he arranged live broadcasts from there to give people perspective on what life was like during the intifada.

He was our super neighbor on the radio, trying to get an answer from a public servant. He gave local people running for elected office a chance to express them- selves, he wanted them to "make their case."

He was our therapist, listening to our fears and passions pour out in the after- math of 9-11. He was an advocate for his political positions but always willing to find nuance. Always asking why something was done or why it couldn't or should be changed.

He adored his family and also wanted to be a man with relationships that turned into friendships. If you ask dozens of people throughout our county, they will all tell you the same thing. They felt close to him. He cared about them. It was his gift.

He served so many functions; promoting local business, supporting educational institutions, political advocate, outlet for religious leaders, celebrity interviewer, issue explorer, news commentator and a man who would listen.

There is a Marc Bernier shaped hole in the heart of our community.

Rabbi S. David Kane 386-872-8787

Classes began on August 22. This year’s theme is Tzedakah and how, we as Jews, can change ourselves into a better self.; it is not just charity, it is justice. The students were given Tzedakah

banks and encouraged to start saving. In my class, we discussed the meaning and symbols of Rosh Hashanah. During our August 29 class, we talked about, what a Mitzvah is and what it is not.

The children also did a project with Jonah and the whale.

Morah Virginia's class also prepared for Rosh Hashanah. They discussed the rungs of Rambam. The students were given a bucket to go along with the book “Have you Filled Your Bucket Today?” It deals with filling the bucket with “good thoughts and feelings about yourself.” If you can fill other peoples’ buckets with kind deeds, you can change lives and do better. When your bucket fills up too, it makes you happy to do those things for others.

Every class was visited by Dr. Ken Nusbaum who blew the shofar for us.

Rabbi's class practiced the blessings for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Our stu- dents will be participating in the High Holiday Services.

On August 22 we held “The Big Clean.” Our volunteers were wonderful. The school building has never looked so good. Shelves were moved and cleaned, and lots of trash was brought to the curb. Thanks to the following volunteers:

Laurie Davis who made us delicious muffins and has done much to clean the building and grounds; Alan Kisseloff who moved poker items, installed a new lock and a Ring, and made the building a safer place; Charlies Stein who is making sure the building looks more like a school; Harriet Fritts and Sue Abel who fixed up my room; Marc and Acacia Myara who did all the heavy lifting and carrying; Suzanne Stein and Robin Freedman who lifted and carried and helped clear out the storage closet; Jerry Epstein who helped move bookcases, and Larry and Virginia Horowitz who moved, swept, and carried things out of the closet and up to the curb. It was a group effort and it looks so clean.

L’SHANA TOVA!! May you have a healthy, happy, and safe New Year.

May you be inscribed in he Book of Life!!

Miss Helen

Religious School Report

by Helen Farb

The Jerry Doliner Food Bank

is asking for donations

Items needed:

Canned Tuna Boxed Cereal Peanut Butter

Pasta Sauce Pasta

Please try to pick one item to fill a bag with. This makes it easier when the food is being put away at the Food Bank. Thank You!

Our fund to buy perishables is depleted, so feel free to also send a check.

You may bring your donations to the Office or drop them off at the Jewish Federation

470 Andalusia Drive, Ormond Beach, FL 32174

Office Chatter

My first time helping Rabbi, the Board, Sisterhood and Congregation prepare for the High Holidays has been exciting and challenging. What fun distributing the fabulous Rosh Hashanah “goodie bags” to help everyone enjoy a sweet New Year. After all, what is Rosh Hashanah without a little honey cake and chal- lah?

Many thanks to the CBT Sisterhood, Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, Dr. and Mrs. Michael Diamond, Dr. David Cohn, Ira and Robin Freedman, and Haigh-Black Funeral Home . Your generosity will help us welcome in year 5782.

We have been busy weeding and trimming. Though there is still more to do, and we will continue to work on the property after the holidays, it is gratify- ing to see the property looking so beautiful just in time for the High Holi- days! Thank you for all your encouragement as the project has progressed.

A big thank you to all our Annual Spic & Span Cleanup volunteers. We had a healthy crowd of people come by to help organize and clean the Religious School and what a difference they made. The school looks bright and cheer- ful. What a wonderful mitzvah!! Thank you to all who joined in and donated their organizational skills and muscle power.

The opportunity to participate in all the wonderful events B’nai Torah ar- ranges for their Members is a true privilege and honor. I hope you have been enjoying them as much as I am. Ben Outhwaite’s presentation on the Ginzah Manuscripts and the incredible concert by Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell were two recent events we enjoyed.

I am looking forward to seeing those of you I have to come to know and the others I have yet to meet here at the synagogue or on Zoom in the coming weeks.

Happy New Year to all of you. My wish for you is good health, lots of laugh- ter, and to not gain too much weight from all the good things in the Rosh Hashanah goodie bag!!

Laurie Davis, CBT Office Administrator

This past year and a half our lives changed drastically due to Covid 19. Our traveling, eating out with friends, and mostly our connec- tion with B’nai Torah either stopped altogether or was altered.

Hopefully in the near future, as this pandemic wanes and the temple re- sumes live services, we will onve again meet together as the Family we are. We have been through a hard time but have met the challenge - and we will continue to do so!

B’nai Torah needs you now. Join the Sisterhood and become involved, so we can continue our work for the Temple. The Membership Form is be- low.

I wish you all a Sweet, Healthy and Peaceful year, and look forward to seeing you all.

Sema Friedman

Dues for the year 2021-2022 are $25

Please send this form and a check made payable to CBT Sisterhood to:

Helen Farb, 22 Old Bridge Way, Ormond Beach, FL 32174

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

Address:_________________________________________________________________________

City: _____________________________________________ State: _______ Zip: ________________

Cell Phone: ________________________________ Home Phone: _____________________________

Email Address:_____________________________________________________________________

I am interested in helping the CBT Sisterhood with (check all that apply):

____ Membership ____ Kitchen Angels

____ Programs ____ Other ways - Please specify: ___________________

____ Fund Raising ____________________________________________

____ Activities ____________________________________________

Semareva Friedman, CBT Sisterhood President

Ira and Robin Freedman Jason and Jennifer Eckert Dr. Michael and Violette Diamond Roberta Feldman

Sherry Armstrong Abe Bockish and Cathy Michaels Charles and Lea Moskowitz Helen Farb

Allen Siel by Sherry Armstrong Max Singer by Harvey Singer

Ida Minus by Ira Freedman Frances Acosta Pell by Jesse Acosta

Leo Theuman by Laura Ashkenazi Paul Cohen by Barbara Singer Sylvia Shemeley by Dr. Steven Serkin

Minnie Strasnick by Rosalie Ferry

Norman Greenberg by Leslie Greenberg-Goodman Ethel Steiner by Emil Steiner

Jean Steiner by Emil Steiner Robert Alexander by Dr. Marilyn Hunter

Rose Alexander by Dr. Marilyn Hunter Ethel Steiner by Barbara Goldstein

Jean Steiner by Barbara Goldstein

Yahrzeit Donations

Sincere Thanks For Your Generous Donation

2 Lisa Ravede

3 Laura Ashkenazi 4 Doug McEwen 5 Robin Weiss 9 Rena Katz

9 Charles Hechtman 13 Don Holbert

15 Steve Halpern 15 Larry Cooperman 16 Stuart Amols

19 Dr. Alan Goldsmith 21 Gloria Max

26 Valerie Kisseloff 28 Ellen Rabin

29 Betty Berdichevsky

SEPTEMBER

1 Rose Grace & Steve Halpern 2 Valerie & Jared Kisseloff 9 Fran & Emil Steiner

10 Dr. Joyce Battle & Steven Marks

13 Lorna & Charles Beck

15 Adrienne & David Offenberg 28 Gloria & Ray Max

SEPTEMBER

You can pay your dues and send contri- butions on the CBT website. If you would like to process your card request contributions or make any type of do- nation, go to Mybnaitorah.com. Hover over “Donate” and click on the type of donation you want to make. Of course, you can continue to mail contributions directly to the office.

Did You Know?

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday from Lea & Charles Moskowitz to Lisa Ravede, Laura Ash- kenazi, Doug McEwen, Robin Weiss, Rena Katz, Charles Hechtman, Don Holbert, Steve Halpern, Larry Cooper- man, Stuart Amols, Dr. Alan Goldsmith, Gloria Max, Valerie Kisseloff, Ellen

Rabin and Betty Berdichevsky Happy Anniversary Happy Anniversary from Lea &

Charles Moskowitz to Rose Grace & Ste- ve Halpern, Jared & Valerie Kisseloff, Fran & Emil Steiner, Dr. Joyce Battle &

Steven Marks, Lorna & Charles Beck, Adrienne & David Offenberg, and Glo- ria & Ray Max

We received this beautiful plaque

just in time for the start of Religious School

You don’t need to be a PhD to volunteer at CBT!

Extra hands are welcome.

If you are interested in know- ing how you can help our Con-

gregation, please call or email Laurie at the office.

Volunteers Welcome!

Please let the office know if you change your address,

phone number or email address. It will help us keep

in touch with you.

Thank you!

Congregation B'nai Torah has an Amazon Smile account!

Support CBT every time you shop on Amazon. Make CBT your designated charity at AmazonSmile.com. There is

no cost. You’ll find the same low prices on the same selec- tion of products and experience the same convenience as on”regular” Amazon and a portion of your purchases will

be contributed to CBT.

INSTRUCTIONS: Before you begin shopping, go to smile.amazon.com and select Ormond Beach Conservative Jewish Association, Inc. as your charitable organization. Bookmark the

page to use the smile.amazon.com site EVERY TIME you shop.

Now go forth and purchase, knowing while you are buying, you are also helping CBT!!

Thank You!

Tuesday evenings at 7 PM beginning October 5th, you will have the opportunity to join Rabbi Shapiro for Adult Education. Each week will have a new interesting discussion about the

Book of Exodus.

Zoom Link is emailed each week. Call the office to be added to the email list!

If you need help setting up Zoom in order to connect and participate in

our weekly Services and events, please call:

Charlie Moskowitz (386) 871-0427 Or Alan Kisseloff (386) 290-4188

Please Support Our Wonderful

Advertisers!

This spot could be YOURS!

$100 for 12 months

Supported in part by the Jewish Federation and the Jewish Federation Endowment Fund.

403 N. Nova Road

Ormond Beach, FL 32174 Phone: 386-672-1174 Email: cbt@cfl.rr.com

www.MyBnaiTorah.com

Upcoming Virtual Events

Friday Sept 3 7:30 pm Shabbat Zoom Services Saturday Sept 4 10:00 am Shabbat Zoom Services Monday Sept 6 7:00 pm Erev Rosh Hashanah

Tuesday Sept 7 9:00 am Morning Service, Torah Part I, Shofar Blowing 12:00 pm Noon Service, Torah Part II, Shofar Blowing Wednesday Sept 8 9:00 am 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah Service

Friday Sept 10 7:30 pm Shabbat Zoom Services Saturday Sept 11 10:00 am Shabbat Zoom Services Sunday Sept 12 10:00 am Religious School

Wednesday Sept 15 5:30 pm Kol Nidre (1st Service) 7:30 pm Kol Nidre (2nd Service)

Thursday Sept 16 9:00 am Morning Service, Torah Part I, Yiskor

12:00 pm Afternoon Service, Torah Part II, Yiskor & Musaf 5:30 pm Yom Kippur, Jonah & the Whale, Neilah

Tuesday Sept 21 7:30 pm Sukkot Service Wednesday Sept 22 9:30 am Sukkot II

Sunday Sept 26 10:00 am Religious School

Tuesday Sept 28 9:30 am Shemini Atzeret, Yiskor 6:00 pm Simchat Torah Service

Officers and Trustees President: Dr. Charles Stein

Vice President: Adrienne Cooperman Treasurer: Larry Horowitz

Secretary: Doug McEwen

Religious School Chair: Helen Farb

Immediate Past Presidents: Ken Haberman, Alan Kisseloff, Charles Moskowitz

Trustees: Sue Abel, Bonnie Berns, Robin Freedman, Barbara Kusnick, Rita Pender Sema Friedman, Harriet Fritts