Agudas Achim Congregation

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Agudas Achim Congregation

401 E. Oakdale Blvd., Coralville, IA 52241

Phone: 319-337-3813

www.AgudasAchimIC.org

September 2016/Av - Elul 5776

AGUDAS ACHIM CENTENNIAL

Jane Zukin, Centennial Committee Chair

We had a great Kick-Off Centennial Weekend the last Saturday and Sunday of August. On Saturday night, 57 people shared a wonderful dinner at The Northside Bistro and heard the story of the 1870s building's historic significance in Iowa City and how owner Andy used all the wood and metal from the old Sugar Bottom Stables barn to refurbish the restaurant. Many thanks to Kineret Zabner who helped plan this event.

On Sunday, children, parents, and grandparents attended the annual Back-To-School Agudas Achim picnic that featured a display and information area for Warm Up America hosted by Connie Berman and a school registration table. Children enjoyed colorful bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and a

craft table where they made 30 Happy 100th Birthday cards with the creative help of Kathy Jacobs. We are aiming for 100 cards so more opportunities ahead. Social Committee members Moshe Picard, Sue Weinberg, and Beverly Jones, with the help of Mark Sandler and Charlie Brenner prepared the hot dogs, salads, and more. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to Agudas Achim and ate birthday cake. Many families signed in and posted arrows with their name on the maps in the foyer showing where they are from and where their ancestors are from. These maps will be up for several months. Please come in and mark your family's geographical history.

(Continued on page 10)

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Torah Portion Date Service Time Siddur

Reeh – First Day Rosh Hodesh Elul

(Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17) Friday, September 2

Saturday, September 3

7:00 p.m.

9:30 a.m.

Mishkan Tefillah (Reform)

Rosh Hodesh Elul – Second Day

Sunday, September 4 8:00 a.m. At Hillel

Shoftim

Saturday, September 10

7:00 p.m.

9:30 a.m.

Sim Shalom (Conservative)

Ki Tetze

Saturday, September 17

7:00 p.m.

9:30 a.m.

Ki Tavo

(Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8) Friday, September 23 Potluck Dinner (Dairy or Parve) 6:00 p.m.

Oneg sponsored by Kineret Zabner in memory of her mother, Rita Bar-Lev. Saturday, September 24

7:00 p.m.

9:30 a.m.

Selichot

Saturday, September 24 9:00 p.m. At Agudas Achim

Selichot are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays, and on Fast Days. In the Ashkenazic tradition it is ushered with a brief service several days before, usually on a Saturday night.

Nitzavim

(Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 ) Friday, September 30

Saturday, October 1

7:45 p.m.

9:30 a.m.

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

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FROM THE RABBI EMERITUS

Jeff Portman

Rabbi’s Column Part One

On Erev Rosh Hashanah, Jews throughout the world come together to celebrate the New Year and embark on a new year full of promise and high expectations. May it be a year of prosperity, health, peace, abundance and renewed hope for the future.

What has bothered me, and I am sure many of you in this election campaign season, is the increased hatred, bigotry and just the sundering of social graces and derech eretz (kindliness) in our society. I am not talking about just the political personalities (although they have a lot

to answer for) but our society in general. Where did all these fanatic bigots come from? Were they always there, but just marginalized? What does it say about us a nation or as Jews? It seems to me that everyone, Jews and non-Jews, really need to do some introspection on these Holy Days to some

serious cheshbon nefesh (accounting of the soul). Perhaps we need to look at the Jewish concept of Ohr lagoyim, that Jews need to be a light to the nations. We all need to be role models of ethical behavior to not just our families but to the people around us. Upon his return from Thailand on a volunteer service trip with American Jewish World Service, Rabbi David Wolpe said to his congregation at Sinai Temple, "We don't sufficiently think about the fact that because the idea is that you're supposed to be an or lagoim, that is “a light to the nations”, that you can't do it if you never do

anything among the nations. If you only have your light on at home, nobody else sees it. ... Nowhere in any Jewish scripture that I'm aware of will you see, 'Jews must only help other Jews.' It doesn't exist. Some Jews will tell you that, but Judaism doesn't tell you that." (from Wikipedia)

It’s easy to be pessimistic when you see hatred being spewed on the TV. When I have it on and hear the hate rhetoric, I just mute the TV or turn it off. I am sorry that we, as a society, have become desensitized to hearing and reading that kind of language. Is it just me, but are we as a society being coarser? Are we no longer surprised or horrified

about what we hear or read? We just cannot afford to take that stance. If nothing else, let the High Holidays be a

reminder that we need to redouble our efforts to make ourselves more responsible, our community more responsible, and our nation more responsible. There is no choice. Or the hateful language we hear and read will become the language our children will learn to accept as normal.

Rabbi’s Column Part Two

A few weeks ago, several parents noticed that one of the dates of the Iowa Assessment test dates was going to be held on Yom Kippur. They emailed The Iowa City Community District Superintendent, Stephen Murley, and he said he would look into it.

If nothing else, let the High Holidays be

a reminder that we need to redouble

our efforts to make ourselves more

responsible, our community more

responsible, and our nation more

responsible. There is no choice. Or the

hateful language we hear and read will

become the language our children will

learn to accept as normal.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

Michael Flaum

One hundred years: That’s got to be a milestone in anyone’s book. It’s really something just to think of all the lifecycle events alone: All the bar- and bat- mitzvot, the weddings, funerals, baby-namings, etc. It’s interesting to imagine the themes and content of all the high holiday sermons over the years. What excited and uplifted past congregants? What challenged them? What were the controversies? I guess those are natural kinds of things to think about as we mark this centennial anniversary of the formal founding of Agudas Achim in the fall of 1916. But I also find myself thinking of the more

mundane: A hundred years of preparing and cleaning up onegs; a hundred years of collecting dues and paying the rent or the mortgage on time; a hundred years of board meetings (yikes- that one is a little frightening to imagine.) A hundred years of keeping it going.

What does it take to keep it going? It would be one thing if we were talking about a big congregation in an area with a thriving Jewish population; one with multiple clergy on the payroll as well as

educators, administrators and other support staff; but we all know we are

not that – never have been and probably never will be. We are lucky to have been able to support a full time rabbi (at least over the past few decades), a part-time administrator and secretary, and a very part-time school principal; most of the rest of what it takes to keep it going comes from the

congregants.

So, as I’m thinking of our centennial, I’m feeling particularly grateful to all those who’ve quietly kept it going, here and probably in one form or another, in small to medium size religious communities in many places. All the Bev Joneses preparing and cleaning up after onegs, all the Jeanne Cadorets

organizing and delivering meals of condolence, all the Tom Gelmans making sure the budget is somehow balanced, all the Vickie Ginsbergs checking that every new chair or piece of furniture is delivered as ordered, all the Peter Rubensteins and Jim Estins coming up with thoughtful and provocative responses to even the snarkiest

comments by generations of confirmation students; all the Kineret Zabners planning and cooking

celebratory dinners; all the Esther Retishes making sure the grass stays green in the summer and the gardens are groomed. I could go on and on. None of this happens magically, and most of it goes

unnoticed. Each of these people must have had their predecessors, and hopefully will have their successors. (Speaking of which, we need a

successor for Esther Retish! She has headed up the Grounds Committee for a very long time, and knows that if she doesn’t actively step aside, we will all happily let her continue indefinitely, so she has finally done so. And now you see that my real agenda in this column is to get that positon filled. I probably shouldn’t have admitted that, but what the hey, I’m all about transparency). It is also remarkable to think about how much of our overall history has involved people who remain active in the synagogue today. Rabbi Jeff has been at the heart of Agudas Achim for nearly half its history (42% to be exact), Nina Weinstein has been our administrator for more than a quarter of its existence, and many of our current congregants have been active for longer than they might want to have documented here. (Suffice it to say that there were congregants on the recent rabbi search committee who were on the committee that hired Rabbi Jeff!). So it is not surprising that the rabbinic

What does it take to keep it

going? …most of what it takes to

keep it going comes from the

congregants. So, as I’m thinking

of our centennial, I’m feeling

particularly grateful to all those

who’ve quietly kept it going...

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Rosh Hashanah 5777

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Evening Services 8:00 p.m.

Monday, October 3, 2016

Morning Services 8:30 a.m.

Lunch (RSVP requested) 12:30 p.m.

Children’s Services (ages 8-10 in Becker Room) 11:00 a.m.

Tashlich (Rain delays until Tuesday) 3:00 p.m.

City Park by Iowa River near rides

Second Day Rosh Hashanah Evening 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Second Day Morning Services 8:30 a.m.

Tashlich (if Monday is rained out) 3:00 p.m.

City Park by Iowa River near rides

Yom Kippur 5777

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Kol Nidre Service 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Morning Services 8:30 a.m.

Yizkor 4:50 p.m.

Minchah (Afternoon Service) 5:00 p.m.

Neilah (Closing Service) 6:30 p.m.

Havdalah and Blowing of Shofar 7:10 p.m.

Break-Fast at conclusion of service

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FROM THE RABBI EMERITUS (continued)

After some back and forth between Mr. Murley, Diane Schumacher (Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment), the parents and me there was a resolution (see below). I mentioned this to Paul Retish who is on the Equity Committee for the schools and he brought this issue up at their Equity Committee meeting. A few days later, he and I met with Kinglsey Botchway, the Director of Equity and Engagement for the Iowa City Schools.

Botchway wanted to apologize for the error in scheduling and said he and others in the school administration would take steps so that this would not happen again. This might include putting the rabbi on the calendar committee or having someone at the synagogue look at the dates of major events before they are finalized. Both of these are good solutions. If these are indeed implemented it would be a great step forward. He was very sincere and I do hope he can make these changes happen.

I relate this to you for a couple of reasons. First, to thank Amy Charles and others who noticed this conflict. If they had not spotted this when they did, it would have been too late to solve the problem.

The second reason I am telling you this is to express my frustration that after all the years we have been at this, (at least 42) the schools just don’t seem to get it. It is not like Yom Kippur is not on their

calendar. Any secular calendar has it. Also, if you go to the Iowa City School’s own web site and

download the calendar, there is a list of religious holidays. In addition, Carrie Norton developed a calendar called BMindful which is on the Iowa City/ Coralville Convention and Visitors’ Bureau website, http://iowacitycoralville.org/BMindful. It includes the important holy days of all the major religions for three years. All the people we talked to were very sincere in their apology and stressed that there would not be a reoccurrence. I am sure the reasons that they give why such conflicts happen are all valid, but it does seem to happen repeatedly. It just goes to show that there just is no substitute for us remaining vigilant. If we are not, the losers are our children, for if they and their parents are forced to choose, no one wins. This will be just one more item to be added to Rabbi Hugenholtz’s list.

(Continued from page 3)

Iowa Assessment Test Dates

Elementary grades 3-6 October 17-21 Junior High grades 7-8 October 24-28 High School grades 9-11 October 25-26

GIFT SHOP NEWS

Joanne Margolin

The High Holidays aren’t until October this year, but we’re ready for you to stop in and get your holiday cards, decorative candles, and other holiday needs any time you’re at the synagogue. In addition, we still have sets of Rosh Hashanah placemats and

greeting cards for children to color. They’re on sale at $8 for a set of 10 placemats and 10 cards – FUN!

What other Judaica do you need – or would you like to have – for yourself, your offspring, or your holiday hosts? Let me get it for you!

Enjoy the last days of a summer! Joanne Margolin 351-2181 or [email protected]

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FROM THE PRESIDENT (continued)

Michael Flaum

transition has been, and remains, a very big deal in the life of this community.

To update you on that score, it has now been about six months since we submitted the visa application for Rabbi Hugenholtz. We were advised at the outset that if we didn’t hear anything after five months, we should start being a squeaky wheel at that point, so we started squeaking a few weeks ago. We were able to engage Congressman

Loebsack’s office, and they’ve made some inquiries. As anticipated, the hold-up appears to be with Homeland Security. According to the staff member in the congressman’s office who is working on this, their calls usually serve to bring the application to the top of the pile – and he anticipates that there is a good chance we will hear something within the next few weeks. If we don’t, we have some other ideas. Our resident State Department expert, Janice

Weiner, tells us that once it gets past Homeland Security, the rest of the process should go relatively quickly – but at this point, I think we all recognize that it is very unlikely that Rabbi Hugenholtz will be here for the high holidays. Personally, I’ve found a sweetness in sitting in services with Rabbi Jeff again. It’s kind of like the feeling I get each time I go the Mill lately to hear music, after having attended a series of “Mill Closure” events several years ago. I don’t think Jeff will think it’s sweet if this goes on for several years, but he has been incredibly

gracious about stepping in for now, and I’m sure I’m not alone in really appreciating the opportunity to experience our 100^th high holiday season with him. Thank you again, Jeff.

Finally, a big shout out to Jane Zukin for envisioning and organizing our hundred-day celebration of our hundred years. And thanks to all the past and future Jane Zukins for helping us get here and for planning our bicentennial events.

FROM THE STACKS

Nu? Recommendations from your fellow congregants! This month, we welcome Dick Caplan:

“For some years I’ve felt the need to learn something more (almost anything) about Islam, and when I saw this title in the Agudas Achim library, I decided the time had come. It’s Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Islam for Jews, by a scholar of Islam, Khalid Duran. The content is mostly an introduction to Islam as a religion with its attached culture and politics so important in our world. As the subtitle suggests, the author takes pains to speak of historical content that might especially interest a Jewish reader, trying hard to be objective, except for his clear dislike of the Islamists (and he tries to help with vocabulary.) This is indeed readable, and thus contrasts mightily with the Koran itself (also available in the synagogue library.) I’ve returned the Duran book, so it’s there for your edification (call number 297 Dur).”

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FROM RABBI HUGENHOLTZ

Esther Hugenholtz

Date Your Judaism

My husband and I celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary this week and reflected on the blessings of love, family and a shared sense of purpose that is leading to our next adventure in Iowa City. When we stood under the chuppah, almost a decade ago, we consciously chose to get married in the month of Elul, right on the threshold of the High Holy Days.

The Jewish tradition is fond of acronyms and the aleph-lamed-vav-lamed of

‘Elul’ was reinterpreted to signify ‘ani l’dodi v’dodi li’ – ‘I am my beloved and my beloved is mine’ from Shir haShirim (Song of Songs 6:3). Romantic though this may sound, this

interpretation is rooted in our relationship to our Judaism.

In the Rabbinic imagining,

Elul is the month to ‘date your Judaism’. As we inch closer to the High Holy Days, we are invited to reflect on the role of relationship and intimacy in our lives: between our near and dear ones, with the Jewish People and all of humanity and with God, however you choose to define the Divine. There is an intentional ascendancy to each passing day as we prepare for Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur: how can we strengthen our sense of love and connection? Are we able to hold those meaningful (and sometimes difficult) conversations that allow for repair and growth? Is there a way in which we

can court our own (Jewish) soul and make us fall in love (again) with the wisdom and kindness of our tradition? Through the intellectual rigors of learning perhaps, through challenging ourselves to explore a new mitzvah and through simply trying to be the best and kindest version of ourselves.

The romance of the Jewish tradition is covenantal and reciprocal. We have to work at it, and embrace it with unreserved joy. In a time where the tensions

in our personal and civic lives can run high,

consciously stepping into this season of introspection is a gift we can give to ourselves. Like a date night, we can refocus our energy, get to know each other again and look forward to all that we can learn from and about each other. As for myself, I’ll have to settle for a ‘long-distance relationship’ until my Visa comes through (speedily and in our days!) but I look forward to entering this covenantal relationship with Agudas Achim. I am excited about getting to know the congregation, learning from you and starting down this path together. Meanwhile, my blessing for you is that you will find that touch of the romantic, the caress from the eternal and a moment to treasure all that you cherish about being part of our Jewish

community during the Yamim Nora’im. May you be blessed with a ‘shanah tovah u’metukah’ – a sweet and good New Year!

As we inch closer to the High

Holy Days, we are invited to

reflect on the role of

relationship and intimacy in our

lives: between our near and

dear ones, with the Jewish

People and all of humanity and

with God, however you choose

to define the Divine.

LIFE MILESTONES

Mazel Tov to Deborah Kutschke (daughter of Bill

& Pam Kutschke) and Ezekial Rutherford, who were united in marriage on August 6, 2016.

Mazel Tov to Devra Flatté (daughter of Michael

& Rabbi Jennifer Flatte) and Daniel Hake who will be married on September 4, 2016.

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RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEWS

Sonja Spear

Sunday School

Sunday School began with the synagogue picnic. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces – and one or two new ones, too! I’m always amazed at how much kids grow in a summer. Everyone looked so big!

We will take a little break for Labor Day

Weekend, and then resume on September 11^th. If it is September, then Rosh Hashanah is just around the corner! Don’t miss apple picking at Wilson’s Orchard on September 18^th, right after Sunday School at 1:00 p.m.

The B’nei Mitzvah Class will be interviewing members of the Congregation for their Oral History project. The class does this project every year, but this year the interviews will be part of the synagogue’s centennial celebration. I have invited the Iowa Youth Writing Project to help the students reflect on these interviews. All the kids need now is someone to interview. So, if you grew up or raised children in Iowa City and you would be willing to share your

memories of Sunday School and Jewish celebrations, please let me know. The kids would love to talk with you.

Hebrew School

Hebrew School is just about to start as I write this. We meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:15-6:15.

As usual, the kids will begin by preparing to read the end of Deuteronomy and the beginning of Genesis for Simchat Torah. The beginning class will spend most of their time

mastering the alphabet, but they will also prepare some songs for parading with the Torah. Please join us for Simchat Torah on Monday, October 24^th from 5:00-6:00 p.m. We will parade with the Torah and dance.

Absolutely everyone is welcome!

Confirmation will meet this year. Jim Estin has volunteered to teach the Confirmation Class in the fall. As you may remember, Jim taught this class for many years. He is a thoughtful, kind, and passionate teacher.

Jewth: I would like to introduce the new Jewth Leader, Bennett Shapiro. Bennett is very

excited to be working with young people at Agudas Achim. He is an experienced camp counselor with a commitment to social justice. He would like to engage Jewth in more fun and more service projects.

In my next bulletin entry I will be able to report the activities of each class. Until then, welcome back to school! Don’t forget to pick apples at Wilson’s Orchard on September 18^th!

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COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER

September 24 - Antique Jewish Roadshow from 1:30 to 4:30 in the Social Hall featuring Traditional Jewish Desserts made by Sisterhood members Flyer will be in your mailbox soon. Sign up to reserve a space to show and tell about your personal antique Judaica. Take a tour of the synagogue art and Judaica led by the Art Committee. Come to learn, share, and have dessert.

September, October, November, December

Starting about mid-September, Centennial displays and memorabilia will be set up in the Becker Room. Learn about the congregation's history and get

acquainted with some of the people who came before us through their photos, newspaper articles, and biographical vignettes. Learn about the Iowa Jewish Women's Archive at The University of Iowa. Visit the Becker Room anytime the synagogue is open.

Also, in late September, members will receive an online survey about who they are, what they do, and where they come from. Please watch your email for this brief survey that will collect information for future Agudas Achim generations.

SAVE THESE DATES

More Information to Follow

Sunday, October 30 at 10:30 a.m. -- "Tracing Iowa Families from the Old Country to New"

The Adult Education Committee presents a workshop experience featuring several synagogue members speaking about growing up Jewish in Iowa City.

Sunday, November 12 at 7 p.m. -- "An Evening of Jewish Music" Some of our musical members present Jewish, Hebrew, and Yiddish music, along with a Jewish Camp Music Sing-a-Long.

Sunday December 11 at 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 -- "Where Greed Reigned: An Inquiry Into a Shadowy Corner of the Holocaust."

Presentation by UI Chair in Public Affairs, Visiting Professor of Law and Senior Scholar, and former U.S. Congressman Jim Leach. Reception to follow. Open to the public. No charge. Reservations required.

Want to Help?

Thank you! Volunteer forms and schedules are located in the synagogue foyer.

AGUDAS ACHIM CENTENNIAL (continued)

Jane Zukin, Centennial Committee Chair

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SISTERHOOD NEWS

Beverly Jones

Sisterhood Lunch Out

After a summer hiatus, our monthly Lunch Out is back in action. We will be meeting at Monica's, 303 2nd St., on the Coralville Strip, on Monday, Sept. 12 at 11:30am. Please join us for good food and good conversation in a casual atmosphere. Please RSVP to Nancy Sprince, [email protected], or 330-2203 by Sunday,

Sept. 11. You need not be a member of

Sisterhood to attend. Guests are welcome.

Fall Welcome

Event

In a change from tradition, we will be postponing our Fall Welcome Event from the very beginning of the New Year until such time as Rabbi Hugenholtz arrives. We want to make sure that she is among the new synagogue women that we honor at our Welcome Event.

Rosh HaShanah Oneg

Sisterhood will again be hosting our annual "Not Only Honey Cake Oneg" following Erev Rosh HaShanah services on Sunday, Oct. 2. Please

help us make the start of the New Year a joyous occasion by providing a honey cake, or a favorite dessert that uses apples, honey or ingredients reminiscent of the

season. Please contact [email protected] if you can help.

Yom Kippur Break Fast

Sisterhood is happy to be helping the Social

Committee in organizing the Yom Kippur Break Fast

on Wednesday, Oct. 12. The Social Committee will be providing bagels and cream cheese. The rest of the menu will be the same as in previous years. We need a lot of volunteers to make this successful. Please help us by providing tuna, egg, salmon or pasta salads; herring; kugels; cheese; hard-boiled eggs; veggie platters; fruit platters or desserts. Please contact [email protected] if you can help.

High Holiday Childcare

We will again be providing childcare for High Holiday services. We can always use

recommendations for childcare providers. Please contact [email protected] if you know of anyone who may be available.

Sisterhood Dues

It's time to pay your annual Sisterhood dues for 2016-2017. Dues are $36.00/year. We use a part of that money to pay our institutional dues to Women's League for Conservative Judaism and to Women of Reform Judaism. The bulk of your dues stays in Iowa City, and goes to support synagogue projects. You will be receiving a dues mailing soon. You can also send your dues check, made out to Sisterhood, to our treasurer, Mindy Russell, 30 Heron Court, Iowa City, IA 52245.

Thank You

Thank you to Pam Kutschke who will be stepping down from the Sisterhood Board. We appreciate all the work that

she's put into Sisterhood, and we appreciate her willingness to continue to work on special projects for us.

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HABITAT BUILD TEKIAH - A CALL TO ACTION

Tikun Olam Committee

In the coming High Holy Days, we turn our attention to the welfare of the world and those who live in it. A central theme of this time is social justice and it is the focus of many of the passages we will read. Especially pertinent is the Haftarah from Isaiah which we read on Yom Kippur morning. A passage from this reading states

Is such the fast I desire.

A day for men to starve their bodies? Is it bowing the head like a bulrush And lying in sackcloth and ashes?...

No, this is the fast I desire: To unlock fetters of wickedness

And untie the cords of the yoke

To let the oppressed go free: to break off every yoke.

It is to share your bread with the hungry, And to take the wretched poor into your home; When you see the naked to clothe him,

And not to ignore your own kin.

Another important High Holy Day theme is the sounding of the shofar. Its piercing cry is a call to action, alerting us of a need that should be addressed. As written above, no need is more important or urgent than working to better the world and the lot of its inhabitants. This need is embodied in the phrase Tikun Olam or healing the world. The focus of the Tikun Olam

Committee this year will be a number of activities and opportunities in which we can engage to bring about a better world. We hope that the sounds of the Shofar will remind you of the urgency of this need and the need for your involvement in meeting these goals. We hope you will join us in these activities throughout the coming year.

Come One Come All:

All congregants, friends, Hillel students

Habitat for Humanity is having an interfaith building project. The Tikun Olam Committee of Agudas Achim Congregation have signed up to help on September 15.

All levels of volunteers are welcome

 You can do simple projects or more advanced projects.

 Volunteers needed for the afternoon shift.

 Volunteers are also needed to provide lunches.

 Donations are accepted as well, and up to

$2500 will be matched by members of the congregation.

This is a great way to get in the spirit for the High Holidays by giving back to a family in need.

If you are interested in volunteering, please call the office at 337-3813 or email

[email protected] to give your contact information. If you’d like to make a donation, send the check to Nina Weinstein at the synagogue: Agudas Achim, 401 E. Oakdale Blvd, Coralville, IA 52241.

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AGUDAS ACHIM BOOK GROUP ANNOUNCES – THE NEW 2016-2017 SEASON!!

WONDERFUL BOOKS TO TALK ABOUT Meetings on Thursdays, September 8 and September 22, 8:30 a.m., at Agudas Achim

GREAT SCHMOOZE GUARANTEED

BOOK GROUP NEWS

Frank Salomon

The Mussar reading group will

resume Saturday September 9th at 1:00 p.m. in the synagogue

conference room. We will briefly revisit our last discussion with a short guided

meditation focusing on loving kindness

(Chessed). We will discuss chapter 21, Achrayut (Responsibility) from Alan Morinis' book "Everyday Holiness". Newcomers are welcome.

MUSSAR READING GROUP

Kathy Jacobs

WARM UP AMERICA

Connie Berman

Warm Up America will meet at this month on September 11 and September 25 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Synagogue.

WILSON’S APPLE ORCHARD TRIP

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DONATIONS

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Ewa Bardach & Hani Elkadi

Sue Blackwell: In memory of Jerry Baskin

Connie Brothers: In memory of Benjamin Marcus Arthur & Miriam Canter: In memory of Ida Canter Gary & Cathy Cohn: In memory of Charlotte Cohn Sam & Marj Kuperman: In memory of

Rose "Rae" Levin

Steven & Barcey Levy: In honor of Michael Abramoff on receiving the Robert C. Watzke Professorship in Retina Research

Steven & Barcey Levy: In memory of Bernard Levy

& Jessica Thurston

Micki Soldofsky: In memory of Robert Soldofsky Michelle & Don Stalkfleet: In memory of Harriet Clark Mel & Diane Sunshine: In memory of Sam Brodsky GENERAL GIFTS

Jody & Janie Braverman: In memory of Morris Breggin

Kathleen Jacobs: In memory of Richard Jacobs Sam & Marj Kuperman: For Warm up America in

memory of Eleanor Frank

Richard & Ellen Caplan for the Oneg Fund

Carrie Z. Norton: In memory of Bob Braverman for the Oneg Fund

CEMETERY FUND

Ewa Bardach & Hani Elkadi: In memory of Janusz Bardach

Lorraine Dorfman: In memory of Morris Tiss Micki Soldofsky: In memory of Robert Soldofsky

RABBI PORTMAN PROGRAM FUND

Mace & Kay Braverman: In memory of Bob Braverman

Marilyn Krachmer: In memory of Sam Cohen Steven & Barcey Levy: In memory of Ana Cotler GARDEN FUND

Jonathan & Susan Simon: In memory of Alex SImon GINSBERG YOUTH FUND

Mark & Vickie Ginsberg: In memory of Marvin Pomerantz

LIBRARY FUND

Sam & Marj Kuperman: In memory of Burton Frank Paul & Esther Retish: In memory of Rae Levin Rhoda Vernon: In memory of Lillian Sternan MEL MARCUS FUND

Richard & Linda Kerber: In memory of Max Kerber SCHOOL FUND

Jonathan & Susan Simon: In honor of Emily Schoerning's Bat Mitzvah TIKUN OLAM FUND

June Braverman: In memory of Bob Braverman

& Charles Rotman PJ LIBRARY

Chuck & Karen Friedman: In memory of Rose Levin LAUREN REECE FLAUM TERRACE

Connie Brothers: In memory of Benjamin Marcus

SEPTEMBER YAHRZEITS

Charles Anolik Serena Armstrong Jack Balch

Janusz Bardach Rina Bar-Lev Jerome Baskin Rose Brady Eli Braverman Victor Brecher Pamela Breckner Leonard Brodsky Ida Canter Ruth Cohen Bebe Cohen Brenna Davidson Donald DeVore

Katharine Anne DeVore Rosa Dicker

Abraham Dicker Rebecca Engman Ronald Farber Eleanor Frank Louis Ginsberg Adolph Glaser Larry Goldblatt Kenneth Graff Ann Hecht Donald Herbach Samuel Kaufman Dorothy Haber Kaufman Pat Kean

Milton Klausner

Yochanan Kohen Tillie Koreman Robert Kubby Sima Lavi

Jacob Louis Levin Joseph B. Levin

Celia Hubelbank Levine Mortimer Levine Robert Godin Mangers Benjamin M. Marcus Columbus Claude McLellan Mary Ruble McLellan David Milavetz David Paul

Etta Dubin Portman Frances Raskin

Selma G. Rose Sylvia Roston Walter Roston Susan Rotman Irene T. Sideman Miriam Silversteen Herman Snider Robert Thurston Louis J. Tunik Ida Vernon

Edward Weinberger Murray Weiner Maurice Weinstein Julie Whitebook Lillian Zwerling

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September 2016

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“As tiny scales join to form a strong coat of

armor, so little donations combine to form a large total of good”

From the Talmud

Should you desire to make a contribution, may we suggest any of the following synagogue funds:

__Braverman Talmud Torah __Building Fund

__Cemetery Fund __Fine Arts Fund __General Fund

__Garden & Landscaping Fund __High Holiday/Cantor Fund

__Lauren Reece Flaum Terrace Fund __Library Fund

__Louis Ginsberg Youth Fund __Marcus Scholarship Fund

__The Rabbi Portman Program Fund __Prayer Book Fund

__Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund __School Fund

__Sim & Sara Strauss Memorial Fund __Sisterhood Mitzvah & Memorial Fund __Synagogue Assistance Fund

__Tikun Olam Fund

__Torah Enhancement Fund __Kadima Fund

Contribution in memory of _______________________________________ Contribution in honor of _________________________________________

STAFF

Rabbi Jeff Portman Youth Director Bennett Shapiro

Administrator Nina Weinstein Office Secretary Karen Brady

Principal Sonja Spear Custodian Amos Kiche

Board of Trustees

President Michael Flaum Ritual Barb Canin

President Elect Kathy Jacobs Social Moshe Ledeboer

Vice President Karen Charney Tikun Olam Martha Lubaroff

Treasurer Tom Gelman Ways & Means Tom Gelman

Board Secretary Carrie Z. Norton Youth Rachel Joselson

Adult Education Frank Salomon At Large 1 Mark Greiner

Membership Kineret Zabner At Large 2 Janelle Jaskolka

Religious School Renee Zukin At Large 3 Jeff Braverman