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*Click on the LINK & move the cursor over each Service or Event for more information, including time(s).

Tikvah Times Staff: Alene Schonhaut - *Editor at Large, Madeleine Wolf - Assistant Editor, and

Jay Beber - Cover Design & Consultant

Photograph Credits: Sharon & Victor Kahn, Debbie Klig, Meryl Root, Alene Schonhaut, Rabbi Sheinberg, Cheryl Stern, and Madeleine Wolf

*EDITORIAL NOTE - You can click on any picture or article to enlarge it.

Join us for JEWISH A CAPPELLA!

SPREAD THE WORD

Click on the LINK below to order tickets!

Rabbi Randy Sheinberg

Spring Has Begun!

  • All around us are green shoots, buds, and blossoms. The days lengthen, the sun shines brightly, and the temperature climbs. It is a time of renewal and rejuvenation.
  • We sometimes lose sight of this fact, but the Jewish faith is inextricably tied to the seasons and the natural world. Our festivals are linked to the lunar cycle, beginning either on the new moon (like Rosh HaShanah) or when it is full (like Passover). Our calendar is also linked to the sun’s cycle. Unlike the Islamic calendar, the Jewish one is fixed in such a way that our holidays always occur at the same season. Thus Sukkot is always in the autumn, Tisha B’Av in the summer, and Hanukkah in the winter.
  • What then is Jewish about Spring?
  • The festival we just completed in April, Passover is referred to in the Torah as Hag ha-Aviv, the holiday of Spring. However, our celebration of spring does not end with Passover. Immediately on the heels of the first night of Passover, we begin a period known as Sefirat Ha’Omer, The Counting the Omer. According to the Torah, we are obligated to count; day by day, the seven weeks from the second night of Passover to the night before Shavuot. We do so by reciting a blessing and then saying aloud, in both weeks and days, the number of days that have passed since the beginning of The Omer Period. (If you are interested in adopting this practice yourself, our prayerbook has a guide for Counting the Omer - and there are numerous online resources I can direct you to as well.)
  • The origin of this custom is agricultural; it celebrates the spring harvest. An “omer” is a sheaf of barley - and the counting of the period between Passover (the beginning of the barley harvest) and Shavuot (the beginning of the wheat harvest) was our ancestors’ way of thanking God for the success of their past harvest while simultaneously asking for continued success with the next crop.
  • Over time, the custom of Counting the Omer developed significance beyond the agricultural. By counting the days between Passover and Shavuot, we remind ourselves of the link between the two holidays: the redemption from slavery represented by the Exodus (Passover) is incomplete until we receive the Torah and make it our own (Shavuot). In this sense, counting the days of the omer gives us an opportunity to increase our awareness of the gift of freedom and to prepare ourselves to receive the gift of Torah.
  • For the Jewish mystics, it is not enough simply to count the days between redemption and revelation. Rather, they suggest we need to use the days between these two holidays as a time to prepare ourselves for revelation. In order to be ready to receive Torah on Shavuot, each of us needs to cultivate our souls by paying attention to “middot” or qualities essential to building character. Each week of The Omer Period we focus on a particular attribute that we want to cultivate in our lives - generosity, discipline, and balance - to name a few. We water and nurture those habits that allow us to manifest the attribute and we weed out the habits that inhibit it. By the time we reach Shavuot, our souls have “ripened” and we are able to “harvest” the character we wish to be.

During this season of spring, may there be ripeness all around you. May we each make every day ‘count’, so that we may each, along with the flowers around us, blossom into our sweetest selves.

PASSOVER AT TEMPLE TIKVAH

SARAH BROWN CATERING & TEMPLE VOLUNTEERS, ALONG WITH OUR CLERGY & MARALYN SION & ROBIN JACOBSON SERVED US A YUMMY & SPIRITUAL SEDER!

Cantor Guy Bonné

where words fail, music speaks

Temple President - shari rotstein

April Showers, Bring May Flowers!

  • Spring is in the air and it feels so nice! I love to hear the birds chirping in the morning, to see the beautiful cherry blossoms on the trees, and to see the flower buds slowly starting to open. How wonderful! I cannot tell you how satisfying it is to me, to put my heavy winter coat away. It is a time to open our windows, get outside more and enjoy some fresh air and see what nature has to offer us. I am guessing that you know exactly how that feels.
  • It is a time for newness, rebirth, and renewal! Even our Haggadot that we recently read from mentions the "green that come to life in the springtime." It is time for planting seeds and for tending to our gardens; and as I tend to our "Temple Tikvah Garden" and try to plant the best seeds for our future, I wanted to let you know that we are about to embark on a new journey; one of exploration and of reflection and re-imagining.
  • To help us, we have retained Rabbi David Wolfman, a consultant from Boston. Rabbi Wolfman comes to us with extremely high accolades and has been highly recommended. We have charged him with leading us in a wonderful process of where we are and where we are going. This will involve our clergy, leadership, and everyone in the Congregation. Indeed, every member of the Congregation will have an opportunity to make their voices heard through a variety of exciting and innovative means…more information to follow!
  • Rabbi Wolfman has already started to get to know our Congregation by doing phone interviews, and last week he came to Temple to do a Board Retreat with our officers and trustees.
  • I am very excited about this journey we are embarking upon and I am most eager to hear from you. Each and every one of you will have an opportunity to communicate during our town hall sessions and our focus groups, about what is near and dear to you at Temple Tikvah. In the meantime, you will all be hearing more about this process and there will be constant updates in the Tikvah Times.
  • If you would like more information about this process, please feel free to call or email me and I will be happy to give you more details.

L'shalom

IN OUR HOME WE CELEBRATE EVERYONE!

ONE'S BAT MITZVAH; SPECIAL BIRTHDAYS; OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION; AND ONE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS!

Temple Tikvah Eagle Scout Project

My name is Brian Chirel and I am an Eagle Scout Candidate with the Boy Scouts of America. Since I was in first grade my family and I have been members of this Congregation. Temple Tikvah is a very special place to me and that is why I selected Temple Tikvah as the location for my Eagle Scout Project. I have designed a general beautification and safety enhancement project for Temple Tikvah. It consists of increasing lighting around the sign and the pathway in front of the Temple, repairing and illuminating the fountain, repainting the guard rails on the stairs and ramp, and replacing the box gardens and handicap parking signs on the side of the building. I have estimated that it will cost approximately $1,500. Any donations for this project, large or small, that anyone in the Congregation would care to make, would be greatly appreciated. Donations to my project can take the form of money, supplies, and/or materials (such as paint brushes, shovels, plants, etc.) or professional help to do the electrical, contracting, and landscaping work. If anyone wishes to make a monetary donation towards my project, please click on the link below and click on Eagle Scout Project in the “Type” drop-down menu. If donating by check, please put “Eagle Scout Project” in the memo. Those who wish to donate in the form of materials and/or professional help can contact me via email at tcchirel@yahoo.com. Thank you!

religious school

Sharon Fricano - Education Director

We Are Busy Bees!

  • Even with Spring Break, April was a busy month for our Religious School, as we celebrated Passover with our School-wide Model Seder and Matzah Brie Feast, cooked by our wonderful Brotherhood. Thank you to all the Brothers who manned the kitchen, and to Debbie Klig and the parent volunteers who helped coordinate the Seder! While technically in March, the Matzah Factory visited our school and taught our students how to make Shmurah Matzah and each student brought matzah home to their families.
  • Also in April, our K/1 Class led us in prayer and song. Kudos to our youngest students for a job well done!
  • We expect May to be equally busy as we wind up the school year. On May 5th, we will celebrate Israel with activities and also nosh on burekas, a favorite stuffed pastry dish popular among Sephardic Jews and in Israel. "Matt the Music Man" will perform for our younger students and as part of our Open House.
  • On May 12th we will honor Mother’s Day with a “Do a Mother Mitzvah.” As in previous years we will also have carnations on sale for $1 each for the students to give to their mothers.
  • On May 19th, we will end our 2018-2019 School Year with our Famous Year-End Barbecue and a Fabulous Game Show appropriate for all ages that will be presented by Hollyrock Entertainment to recognize and celebrate our teachers and students. We encourage all family members to join us for the barbecue, which will end at 12:30pm (instead of the normal dismissal time of 12:00pm.) In addition, 30 minutes later Temple will be hosting the award winning Jewish A Cappella Group Six13 (www.six13.com) at 1:00pm. All families are highly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to attend this performance. What a fabulous way to end the year! For more information and to purchase tickets
  • Congratulations to the Sheinberg Cohen Family on the upcoming Bat Mitzvah of Paola on May 11th!
  • Congratulations to the Kirschner Family on the upcoming B’nai Mitzvah of Aaron and Gabriel on May 18th!

Please join all of our celebrations to end the year!

What Joy We All Shared!

THE RABBI & OUR K-1 STUDENTS; BROTHERHOOD MAKING US MATZAH BRIE; AND NUCCIA & OUR LITTLE ONES MAKING MATZAH TRAYS!

Nuccia Hernan - Early Childhood

Happy Birthday Israel!

  • Temple Tikvah - the place that feels like home invites you to join us on Sunday, May 5th for a wonderful program being presented by Early Childhood and the Religious School to Celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day)!
  • The program begins at 9:15am in the Sanctuary, as we will listen to a musical performance by “Matt the Music Man”. The performance will be followed by crafts, Israeli snacks, PJ Library Story Time, and souvenirs to take home from our magical trip to Israel.
  • There will be no program on Saturday, May 4th (this program is replaced by the Sunday program.) Friday, Night Tot Shabbat is scheduled for May 31st and it begins at 6:30pm.
  • We sincerely hope that you will join us as our community celebrates Israel’s Birthday. This program is free and it is intended for children of all ages and their families. However, to ensure that we have enough materials available for all our guests registration is required. Please register by emailing Shari Rotstein at ECP@templetikvah.org.

Shalom

The Matzah Factory Comes To Temple Tikvah!

FLOUR + WATER = YUMMY MATZAH!

Cheryl Stern - Director of Youth & Family Engagement

Time To Enjoy The Sunshine & Feel Gratitude!

  • In April we celebrated Passover and our freedom from slavery. It was so nice to see so many families and friends join together for our Chocolate Seder. Everyone ate their way through the Seder, while enjoying chocolate milk, chocolate covered matzah, and other goodies. It was all quite yummy!
  • We are all looking forward to our May 4th Havdalah Event with an Israeli Dinner and Dancing. The entire Temple Community is welcome to join us.
  • On Sunday May 19th, we will host “The Holly Rock Game Show”. They are coming to entertain our Religious School students. We will be celebrating another wonderful year of school!
  • Looking Ahead - Our Kollel has been rescheduled for November 15th – 17th 2019. We hope you will be able to join us for this special and amazing opportunity.

Community Outreach!

RABBI SHEINBERG & CHERYL STERN LEADING A SHABBAT SERVICE AT COMMON POINTS IN QUEENS, FORMERLY THE SAMUEL FIELDS Y

MAZEL TOv paola sheinberg cohen!

Bat Mitzvah - Saturday, May 11th 2019

  • My name is Paola Sheinberg Cohen. I attend Herricks Middle School. I live in New Hyde Park with my mom, my dad, and my dog Lola. My sister Ariel and her husband Louis live in Oakland, California. Just a few months ago I became an aunt when their daughter Isadora (DiDi) was born!
  • My interests are playing volleyball, learning how to skateboard, bike riding, basketball, baking, and drawing. I also like to help by making donations to organizations that help repair the world.
  • For my Mitzvah Project I am fundraising for the World Wildlife Fund’s Panda Nation. I chose to support the World Wildlife Fund for my Bat Mitzvah, because I love animals. The World Wildlife Fund helps protect all animals - not just pandas. Not only that, they also protect the environments where they live, including forests and oceans around the world.
  • I am so excited to become a Bat Mitzvah at Temple Tikvah and I hope many of you will be able to share my special day!

mazel tov aaron kirschner

Bar Mitzvah - Saturday, May 18th 2019

Hello, my name is Aaron Kirschner. I live in Bayside, Queens with my mother, my father, my brother Gabriel, and my sister Jessica. I attend MS 74 where I am taking a class in Software Engineering Programming. I am learning to design video games. Besides playing video games, I also like to swim. My brother and I will both be collecting toys for the Cohen Children’s Hospital for our Mitzvah Project, where every gift can make a difference. I am looking forward to my B’nai Mitzvah, because it is a big step in my life.

mazel tov gabriel kirschner

Bar Mitzvah - Saturday, May 18th 2019

Hi, my name is Gabriel Kirschner. I am a big Mets fan! I love playing baseball. I am now on my team in my middle school, MS 74 in Bayside! I love to get outside whenever I can and practice. My favorite subject in school is Social Studies. I love American History and I am an expert on the presidents. My Father is a Social Studies Teacher and he says I may know more about the presidents than he does…lol. My brother and I chose Cohen Children’s Hospital for our Mitzvah Project. We will be collecting toys. I am looking forward to my B’nai Mitzvah.

TEMPLE AT LARGE

BROTHERHOOD'S ANNUAL FUNDRAISER!

brotherhood

President - Marc Gold

Spring Has Sprung, The Flowers Are Beginning To Bloom, I Wonder Where The Birdies Are?

  • What a fabulous season…Spring! We turn our clocks ahead…(even though I can not re-set my car clock), take in all the daylight, stay out late, wash our cars to get all that winter stuff off it, and open our windows to take in that wonderful fresh air. We leave that dreadful season they call winter in the dust…I love it!
  • Smiling faces, happy people, no more heavy winter coats to lug around. Light jackets or even sweatshirts promoting your favorite sports team or school or a place you vacationed at. Did I say…I love it!
  • AND - Baseball season is underway…Maybe you will take in a game or two. Let’s Go Mets…yes Mets!
  • Why not walk with us for a little exercise and fun. Outdoors…we try to walk every Wednesday. No more walks in the mall. A good time of year to wash our decks, porches and screens, and get those outdoor chairs out, because they are going to be used. Hey, time to invite people over. Can you say, “barbecue?” Get my point…I love it!
OUR WALKING GROUP - ALL ARE WELCOME!
  • Here at Temple, Brotherhood is very busy in the spring: • On Sunday, May 19th - Brotherhood Barbecue - A yummy meal will be made for our Religious School on their last day of classes. Why not join us, even if you are not a member • On Friday, May 31st at 8:00pm - The Brothers will lead the Shabbat Service. If you missed last years, c’mon join our Congregation and watch Brotherhood do its thing. Come early for a good seat • On Saturday, June 1st at 7:00pm - Brotherhood will hold its biggest Fundraiser - The Annual Dinner, Auction & Live Show with the singing Chimenti’s and for only $30 per person! See our flyers…RSVP in advance and join us for a fabulous evening. By the way, if you would like to donate goods or service item(s) to auction, please contact us at Brotherhood@templetikvah.org.

Enjoy the month of May, because it only comes once a year!

COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENT!

sisterhood

Co-Presidents - Terry Cutler & Terry Lepzelter

Happy May!

  • May brings us sunshine, beautiful colors all around, and a sense of renewal as the earth is fresh and bright. It is a great time to shake off all of the negative and appreciate the wonder of nature. Whether you take a walk in the neighborhood or relax in your yard, take some deep breaths and enjoy the warm air; open your eyes and ears to the sights and sounds of spring. Can you identify which bird is chirping? What is that bug that is making that zzzz sound? Do you set your sprinklers and love the hissing noise? Can you hear the children laughing in the park? Is that the jingle of the ice cream truck? Spring is the reward after a cold winter. It is the hope of a better world, full of new possibilities and adventures to find. Let us make sure we treat each other with kindness and respect so the world can be a better place.
  • Sisterhood has been busy bringing smiles to everyone’s faces this spring. We were delighted to see so many attend our Sisterhood Shabbat Dinner and Service on April 5th. A big thanks you to Sandy Peskin for the delicious dinner and to Lynn Moser for creating and coordinating a most meaningful Service! In addition, thank you to everyone who participated in making the evening so special.
  • Our Sisterhood Women’s Seder on April 7th was enjoyed by everyone who attended. Thank you to Arline Cazes and crew for preparing and presenting us with traditional Seder plates complete with oranges and a lovely lunch. Thank you to Rabbi Sheinberg and Danielle Weisbrot for leading us in an afternoon filled with music, dance, and traditions for the Passover holiday.
  • We are looking forward to The Golden Age Luncheon on May 3rd led by Sandy Portnoy. Please reach out to her if you would like to volunteer and connect with our senior population and serve them a wonderful meal. It is always a great day that brings joy to everyone’s face.
  • As we begin to wind down our year, we remind you to attend The End of Year Dinner on June 4th. This year we are honoring Maddy Wolf for her years of dedicated work and devotion to Sisterhood! We hope to see you all there to thank Maddy and have a wonderful evening. Please see the flyer below for more information.
  • We will also be installing our new board in June. We hope you will think about becoming more involved with our terrific group and help us keep Temple Tikvah strong. We welcome all suggestions and new ideas!

Enjoy your warm days!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

DEAR SISTERS...WE WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO TOOK PART IN THE SISTERHOOD SHABBAT ON FRIDAY, APRIL 5TH • WHETHER YOU CAME TO DINNER, HELPED SET UP, PARTICIPATED IN THE SERVICE, CAME TO TEMPLE TO SUPPORT YOUR SISTERS OR JUST FEEL GOOD ABOUT BELONGING TO OUR WONDERFUL GROUP, WE APPRECIATE YOU! • SPECIAL THNNKS TO LYNN MOSER, WHO CREATED A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE; SANDY PESKIN WHO COORDINATED A DELICIOUS DINNER; AND TO MICHELE GOLD, WHO DID A FANTASTIC JOB CHANTING FROM THE TORAH!
life long learning

Meryl Root

Lunch & Learn

We do not have a Lunch and Learn scheduled for the month of May. The next one will be on June 1st with Cantor Guy Bonné, entitled: The Opera, Salome. Thank you to Social Action for taking the April Lunch and Learn date and sharing the important documentary, Separated: Children at the Border.

Torah Study:

Friday Night Torah Study with Cantor Guy Bonné will meet on May 3rd and May 17th at 6:30 p.m. & Shabbat Morning Torah Study continues every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the Loretta & George Cohen Library with Rabbi Randy Sheinberg. We are still in the midst of Sefer Vayikra - The Book of Leviticus, which we will be concluding by the end of the month. We will be continuing on our journey through the wilderness to learn the word of G-d though Moses’ speeches. We will also continue to learn about the priests in Leviticus and see how this ancient book is still relevant today. No experience or prior knowledge is required. All are welcome.

Adult Hebrew Class

Adult Hebrew Class continues to meet on Thursday evenings from 7:00 - 8:15 p.m. with Cantor Guy Bonné. The Cantor is delighted that the class has grown and we welcome you to join us. If you are interested in having some fun while learning Hebrew and about Israel, then this is the class for you. In a relaxed atmosphere we watch Israeli television, we review a lot, and we even bake. Speak to Cantor Bonné for more details.

Weeknight Cinema:

The Syrian Bride is an award-winning Arabic/Hebrew/English/Russian/French Film that looks at arranged marriages and what it means to never be able to go back to your homeland once you cross the border. Join us on Tuesday, May 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Please RSVP to lifelonglearning@templetikvah.org so we know to expect you.

Looking Ahead & Planning for Next Year:

Thank you to all of you who have participated in the monthly Lunch and Learns. We are now starting to plan for the next season. If you have any suggestions for topics to explore or speakers to learn from or if you can contribute your own expertise, please let me know at lifelonglearning@templetikvah.org.

Caring community

Sharon Kahn & Helene Schonhaut

A Kind Word Is Like A Spring Day!

  • The Temple Tikvah Caring Community is exploring the creation of additional social and activity groups as a way to enhance and strengthen the community in our Congregation. To best implement this proposal, we have conducted a survey as to what kind of group(s) everyone would be interested in joining and/or perhaps leading.
  • Our group is happy and excited with the number of responses received so far. If you have not yet responded, please do so ASAP. We are hoping that during the next few months we can set up a few of the activities and implement them perhaps as soon as October.
  • If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us or better yet join us at our next Meeting on May 20th!

Looking forward to gardens filled with flowers and love and kindness!

we are grateful FOR ALL donations

ADULT EDUCATION FUND:

Barbara & Joseph Massey in honor Jeanette & Charles Golden upon their 65th Wedding Anniversary

CANTOR’S DISCRETIONARY FUND:

Florence Baravarian in memory of Hortense Herlitschek • Nancy & Robert Kiss in memory of Lila Mae Brown

CARING COMMUNITY FUND:

Florence Baravarian in memory of Hortense Herlitschek

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND:

Florence Baravarian in memory of Hortense Herlitschek • Barbara & Joseph Massey • Andrea & Douglas King in appreciation of Rabbi Sheinberg

SHMIRA (Security Fund):

Shari & Rony Rotstein in memory of Ilene Roth • Laurence Lande in appreciation of Rabbi Randy Sheinberg and Cantor Guy Bonné • Andrea & Marc Comerchero in appreciation of the Clergy & in honor of Isabel becoming a Bat Mitzvah • Sheryl & Fred Gilbert • Barbara Rosenthal • Jody & Arthur Diamond • Saralyn & William Duchan • Helaine & Edward Schachter • Ronni & Charles Hollander • Dennis Baltuch & Michele Pruskin • Robin Savitt & Toby Kemelor • Gloria & Larry Konstan • Sharon Adler • Joyce & Joel Mensoff • Rachel Kupterberg • Jackie & Kevin McCorey

SIMCHA FUND:

Martha Schulzinger Plat & Alfredo Plat; Marilyn & Gary Weiss; and Herbert Skolnik in honor of Gerda Weissfeld’s 100th Birthday • Sharon Adler; Ann & Richard Arkin; Florence Baravarian; Tracy & Tony Chirel; Arleen & Ronald Degen; Friends of the Chirel Family; Phyllis & Joseph Horne; Shari & Rony Rotstein; and Gertrude Wolf in honor of Brian Chirel’s Eagle Scout Project • Helaine & Edward Schachter in honor of Rachel & Nicole Lavoie upon the birth of Carson Miller Lavoie • Elaine Farber in honor of Isabel Comerchero becoming a Bat Mitzvah • Jeannette & Charles Golden in honor of their 65th Wedding Anniversary

TEMPLE TIKVAH MEMORIAL FUND:

Debbie Abramowitz in memory of Beverly Just • Lois & Andrew Baron in memory of Herman Pearl • Maureen & Stephen Berman in memory of Leo Berman • Judith Friedman Brenner in memory of Laurette Friedman • Elaine Brooks & Anthony Kolios in memory of Mortimer Brooks and Nikos Kolios • Rabbi Chizner & Doug Weigler in memory of Anne Selkin • Pamela & Mark Fisher in memory of Wallace Salshutz • Judith & Mitchell Friedman in memory of Ida Eichner • Ruth Gelb in memory of Fredericka Gelb • Susan, Marty, Michelle & Jen Goldschmidt in memory of Robert Schwesky • Yvette Greiff in memory of Florence & Frank Blumenfeld • Sebastiana & Dean Hernan in memory of Sophie Hernandez • Ronni & Charles Hollander in memory of Ruth Warantz • Dacia Horowitz in memory of Beverly Just Sue Hurwitz in memory of Daniel Hurwitz • Judith & Joseph Kirschner in memory of Israel Kirschner • Nancy & Robert Kiss in memory of Daniel Hurwitz • Gloria & Lawrence Konstan in memory of Abraham Siegel • Sandra Lichtenstein and Bradley & Robert Schusterman in memory of Irving Lichtenstein • Lee Newman in memory of Irving Newman • Harriet Peaceman in memory of Morris Paceman • Robin Savitt & Toby Kemelor in memory of Robert David Haver and Florence Klinger • Charla Schnupp in memory of Steven Putzer • Helene, Alene, Jordan, Kristyne, Chelsea, & Marisa Schonhaut in memory of Traci Schonhaut-Fuller Doris & Irving Silberman in memory of Eli Goodman • Neela & Ken Weber in memory of Pearl Weber

A Note of Gratitude:

To Sisterhood, Brotherhood & Temple Members who personally made a contribution in honor of our 65th Wedding Anniversary. Many thanks...with Appreciation and Love, Charles & Jeanette Golden

poetry and the arts

Marty Cohen

Tomatoes . . . and A Silver Platter

  • It is May and here on Long Island it should finally be warm enough to put in your tomato plants. In Israel, seedlings would have been safe in mid-February, but the seeds were started 90 years earlier in 1929 or 1930. That was when Nathan Alterman (b.1910, Warsaw; d.1970, Tel Aviv), a teen-aged pioneer whose family who had made Aliyah from Poland to Tel Aviv in 1925, returned to Palestine from his agricultural studies in France, carrying the seeds of the Marmande tomato • The Marmande - large, sweet, and fleshy quickly became the most popular tomato in Israel. (This was decades before Israeli botanists perfected the tasty tomaccio cultivar of the cherry tomato - a plant originally cultivated by the Aztecs in the 15th century.) Still popular in Europe, the Marmande is marketed in the United States as an “heirloom” tomato.
  • In France, Alterman studied modern art and literature as well as agronomy - the science of soil management and crop production, and in Palestine he eventually gave up agricultural work to focus on his writing and journalism. He was twice awarded the Tchernikovsky Prize for his translations and in 1968 he received the Israel Prize for Literature. Throughout his life, Alterman was a major voice of Socialist Zionism and a critic of those fellow pioneers (like Ben Gurion) whom he thought might be making too many concessions.
  • Since May features Israeli Independence Day, let me quote these words regarding one of Alterman’s most beloved poems: "The state will not be given to the Jewish people on a silver platter," ran the saying popularized by Chaim Weizmann and attributed to him by Ha'aretz Newspaper on December 15th 1947, soon after the UN decision to partition Palestine. As war between the Arabs and the Jews approached in Palestine in 1948, the Poet Nathan Alterman put into words the tragic understanding of the sacrifices that everyone understood would have to be made for independence. These sacrifices were made by relatively few - mostly the young people who would defend Israel. The poem, "The Silver Platter", appeared in Nathan Alterman's column, "The seventh column" in the Davar Newspaper on December 19th 1947. [Comments © 2008, Ami Isseroff.]
social action

Elaine Brooks, Judy Kirschner & Elaine Weiss

"THE STRANGERS WHO RESIDE WITH YOU SHALL BE TO YOU AS YOUR CITIZENS … FOR YOU WERE STRANGERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT" (LEVITICUS 19:34)
  • We have followed that command as our theme this year. In October, we opened our hearts and wallets to help an immigrant family. We continued this support throughout the winter and our Passover tzedakah was donated to Immigrant Families Together to continue helping unite separated families. Thank you to everyone for your generosity.
  • On Saturday, April 27th we co-sponsored a Lunch & Learn with Lifelong Learning. We viewed “Separated at the Border” (Frontline: PBS, July 28, 2018). A lively discussion followed.
  • The Golden Age Luncheon is on Friday, May 3rd. If you wish to help during this wonderful event, please contact Sandy Portnoy.
  • We are continuing to support RAC/NY’s “Green Light Campaign.” Allowing every citizen of our state to have a driver’s license is a win/win. Revenues increase and people can go about their business without fear.
  • Flowers are a favorite gift on Mother’s Day. Please think about mothers in need. Please donate to any organization that helps mothers in need. The INN has excellent programs -Contact Information: (516) 486-8506 / Email: info@the-inn.org / 211 Fulton Avenue - Hempstead, NY 11550
  • Please remember that the overwhelming separation of immigrant families at the border separate mothers and their children. Please continue to support Immigrant Families Together.

Enjoy the beauty of spring!

IN LOVING MEMORY
iyar - sivan 5779
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