April 2025 CEI Bulletin
Congregation Emanu-El Israel
222 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA. 15601
Nisan – Iyar 5785
April 2025
724-834-0560
The Mission of Congregation Emanu-El Israel is: To support Judaism and the welfare of our community.
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FROM THE DESK OF: Rabbi Lenny
As the month of April begins, our thoughts turn to Passover. As Jews we love our holidays and celebrations. They are always happy occasions and fills us with wonderful memories. As I began to turn to those remembrances, my rabbinic mind turned to a question. What happens when the holiday ends? How does the holiday just finished affect our lives going forward?
The day immediately following Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot is given a term. It is called Isru Chag. That term is taken from Psalm 118. Isru chag ba’avotim ad karnot hamizbei’ach – Let us bind the festive offering with cords, to the corners of the alter. It suggests that we do not want the festival to pass. We want to hold on to it for as long as possible.
The Talmud tells us that by keeping Isru Chag, it is as if we are building an altar and praying upon it. A Kabbalistic Sage taught that by keeping Isru Chag, we are taking the spiritual light of Pesach and enabling it to continue into following year.
The Sephardim take this a step further and celebrate the festival of Mimouna, the day after Passover. One explanation is that Mimouna is derived from the Arabic word for wealth and good fortune (literally “protected by God,” ma’amoun). Since Passover is the beginning of the new agricultural year, when the world is judged for produce, it is a time to pray for plentiful crops, symbolic of prosperity.
Everything relating to Isru Chag inspires us to concentrate on follow-up, because whenever we have an event – an experience of great significance – it is what follows that will make all the difference.
In drawing on our experiences of Pesach, there is one prime lesson: we look to our past in order to gain inspiration for our present and our future.
The Talmud tells a story of a man who was on his way to a destination he hadn’t previously visited. He arrived at a crossroads and found that the wind had blown down the signpost. He didn’t know whether to go right, left or straight and he sat on the ground to bemoan his fate. Then suddenly a thought crossed his mind. He did know what one of the directions was. He knew where he had come from. He ran up to the signpost and placed it in the ground, with the arrow pointing in the direction of his point of origin, and from this, he could work out which way to go.
Our Sages tell us that it is only when you know where you are coming from that you can know where you are going to.
That is one of the key lessons of Pesach. We are rooted in Jewish history. We gain inspiration for our Jewish present and future by remembering our past. What we should do on the day after Pesach? We should look to our past for the sake of our future.
Amen, Rabbi Lenny
CEI LINK Program – a video conference experience. Even though CEI is open for in-house worshipers, we will continue to video conference the Shabbat Services on Friday at 7:30 PM, so you can continue to attend services from home. Visit our website www.ceigreensburg.org for instructions on how to log into the meeting and for the meeting code (which should be the same each week). If you have any questions, please call and talk with Rabbi Lenny. Songs for the service will be available on the website. The Mishkan T’filah (prayer books) used in the service are available digitally on the website.
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CHATTER
Happy Birthday to: Autumn Blozowich, Wally Caplan, Sister Gemma DelDuca, Francois Gau, Sydney Vegoda Hovis, Natalie Myers, Zoe Pawlak, Don Pripstein, Jack Shpargel, Mira Spor, Richard Virshup.
Happy Anniversary to: Joyce and Jim Schenck.
We mourn the death of former member Stephen Tannenbaum and offer condolences to his wife Shirley and family.
ALFRED RATNER LIBRARY NEWS: Shirley Shpargel, Librarian
On Her Own by Lihi Lapid is a novel of daughters, mothers, and grandmothers and takes place in Israel between the eve of Passover and Israel’s Independence Day. Nina is the novel’s teenage main character. Her mother, Irina, who is a Russian immigrant living in Israel, argued with Nina that, Shmueli, the older man who Nina is dating, is married with children, is abusive and is not for her. Blinded by false love, Nina ran away with Shmueli, but that evening she witnessed his involvement in a murder. Nina managed to escape and was able to hide in a stairwell where one of the building’s tenants, Carmela, saw her and mistook Nina for her granddaughter, Dana, who she hadn’t seen in years. Carmela suffers with dementia so has lost her ability to remember and think clearly. Nina takes on the new identity of Dana and develops a close relationship with Carmela while she is hiding from the abusive boyfriend. Carmela has lost her older son who was a soldier and died in combat and her younger son Itamar lives with his family in the US.
Irina is worried that her missing daughter is in trouble, so she goes to the police to search for Nina. Shmueli stalks Irina, takes her phone, hoping her daughter will contact her mother. Carmela has a son, Itamar, who moved with his family from Israel to the United States to advance his career, but now senses in his weekly phone calls to his mother, that something is wrong. He also senses a divide with his daughter, the real Dana, who is becoming Americanized and rejects Itamar’s Israeli heritage and demands he not speak Hebrew to her. Both parents, Irina, being from Russia and Itamar from Israel living in the US, value their native culture and try to pass it along, but their children are resistant to it.
On Her Own was released in Hebrew in 2022, where it became a best seller before translated into English by Sondra Silverston. Lihi Lapid is the president of Shekel, an organization that supports Israelis with disabilities, including providing vocational training and housing. Her husband, Yair Lapid, was a former prime minister of Israel. On Her Own is available for check out from the Alfred Ratner Library.
INVITATION TO WORSHIP
Do you know of someone who is Jewish and currently unaffiliated?
Do you know of someone who would like to worship with us as a member?
If so, please give info to Anna Spor.
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ESTATE PLANNING
If you are planning to initiate or change your will or estate plan, please remember to include Congregation Emanu-El Israel (CEI) as part of your legacy. The monies can be used for a specific purpose as designated by you, or added to an Endowment Fund already set up to assure the ability to continue providing a full-service Congregation to serve the Jewish people of the area.
This legacy can be accomplished by a simple bequest in your will, by one of the allowable charitable trusts where you get an immediate tax advantage, or through life insurance.
PLEASE DO IT NOW! Please check with your attorney or insurance agent. If you have any questions or need additional information, contact Gary Moidel (724-244-6421) or Bob Slone (724-836-5468).
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TREE OF LIFE
Share your joy by inscribing simchas on our Tree of Life… an everlasting remembrance of the meaningful happy events that touch us. Inscribe a leaf our Tree of Life. Leaf – $180 ea. (Price includes engraving)
The golden leaves may be inscribed to commemorate joyous events such as births, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, etc. Share your joy by inscribing simchas on our Tree of Life… an everlasting remembrance of the meaningful happy events that touch us.
Memorial Plaques are for remembering a loved one. You may purchase a plaque for the sanctuary Memorial Boards by contacting the CEI office (724-834-0560). Cost per plaque $300.00.
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WHEN MAKING A DONATION
When making a donation, whether to a CEI Fund or the Remembrance Fund, please provide complete information. This will make it easier and faster to process.
1 The name and address of where to send the response to let them know you made a donation.
2 The reason for the donation (in memory of, in honor of, speedy recovery, etc.) and the full name of the honoree.
3 Name and address of donor.
Example: Please send a card (or accept this donation) to Jane Doe, XXX Main St, Greensburg, PA 156XX. In Honor of the Birthday of Jane Doe! From Jack Jones, XXX Broadway Dr., Greensburg, PA 156XX.
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WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THESE GIFTS
PULPIT FLOWERS: In Memory of:
Feb. 14: Stanford Davis by Marilyn & Jim Davis and Linda & Jeffrey Reisner. Alvin Holzer by Marilyn & Jim Davis. Boaz Lurie, Reuven Lurie & Zilpa Lurie by Shoshana & Bob Halden.
Feb. 28: William Davis by Marilyn & Jim Davis and Linda & Jeffrey Reisner. Tom Ziff by Marilyn & Jim Davis.
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CEI FUNDS
CARING FUND: Supports congregants who are experiencing sickness, bereavement & other personal difficulties.
CEI ENDOWMENT FUND: Provides for the continuity of the congregation by subsidizing future operating expenses.
CONGREGATION GENERAL FUND: CEI operating expenses.
CONGREGATION YAHRZEIT FUND: In Memory of: Sara F. Cohen by Stanley Cohen. Irving L. Bloom by Joel Bloom. Eileen Cohen by Amy & Alan Karelitz & Family. Rozlyn Naughton by Rachel Minushkin. Joseph C. Binakonsky by Mark Binakonsky.
LIBRARY BOOK FUND: Provides for the purchase of books and other resource material for the library.
NEW HIGH HOLIDAY, MISHKAN HANEFESH, PRAYER BOOKS: Provides for the purchase of new High Holiday Mishkan HaNefesh.
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND: Helps individuals and/or org. in need.
REMEMBRANCE FUND: A special donation to Sisterhood to honor or celebrate an event or person. Virginia Lieberman (724-668-2442) or Yvonne Bureau (724-837-8072). In Honor of: The speedy recovery to Arnie & Ruth Papernick by Bob & Shoshana Halden. The speedy recovery to Mary Ellen Kane by Jack Wilder and Virginie & John Lieberman. In Memory of: Will Brown by Wally Caplan. Steve Tannenbaum by Wally Caplan, Virginie & John Lieberman, Jack Wilder and Irene Rothschild.
TEMPLE EMANU-EL CEMETERY FUND: For beautification and upkeep of the Temple Emanu-El Cemetery. A donation by the Martin and Deborah Brill Family Philanthropic Fund and Deane E. Marchbein and Stuart J. Cohen.
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SAVE THE DATE
Please Note: All times & events subject to change.
Friday, May 2: Corned Beef Fundraiser order pick up.
Wednesday, May 14: Sisterhood Closing Dinner @ DeNunzio’s in Jeannette @ 6 PM.
Wednesday, May 21: CEI virtual Board meeting.
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PASSOVER CELEBRATION AND DINNER
Come rejoice with the community on this special holiday.
Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 6:00 PM at the CEI Social Hall
Traditional Passover Meal
A short service will be interwoven throughout the meal.
Cost: $20 per person, ages 12+. No cost for those 11 and under.
Reservations must be made no later than April 7 (no walk-ins) to the CEI office, 724-834-0560 or Terri Katzman, 724-837-8275.
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CEI SISTERHOOD CLOSING DINNER
CEI sisterhood is pleased to announce that the closing dinner for year 2024-25 will take place on: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 6 PM.
At: De Nunzio’s Italian Restaurant, 700 Lowry Avenue, Jeannette, PA 15644
Cost depends on your choice of dinner.
Please join us as we look back at this year’s achievements and install new officers for 2025-26.
President, Shoshana Halden
Vice President, Robin Mickey
Secretary, Teri Moidel
Treasurer, Marion Slone
RSVP by Monday, May 5th. Call the CEI office at 724-834-0560 or contact Terri Katzman at terriandstan@comcast.net or 724-837-8275.
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YOM HASHOAH: HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
Sunday, April 27th, 2:00 PM, Cecilian Hall at Seton Hill University. Featuring Iris Samson, Producer of WQED “An Unlikely Refuge: Surviving the Holocaust in Shanghai”. Presented by the National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION
Elections will be held from May 9 – June 6, 2025 to elect eight Board members for two-year terms. The election will be conducted by e-mail and mail.
The following people have one more year to serve on the Board. They may be up for re-election next year.
Jon Dohner
Irene Rothschild
Jamie Kaufer
Pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the By-Laws, a Nominating Committee has been appointed to nominate one person to fill each of the eight vacancies. The Nominating committee has nominated the following people to run for Board Membership.
Christopher DeMarco
Robin Mickey
Julie Goldstein
Gary Moidel
Joel Last
Ben Resnick
Virginia Lieberman
Anna Spor
Any other members in good standing who desire to run for the Board of Directors may do so by presenting to the Nominating Committee a nominating petition signed by twenty (20) congregation members in good standing. Any such petition must reach the CEI office by noon on Monday, May 5, 2025. For your convenience, a template of a nominating petition has been included in the Monthly Bulletin.
Elections will be held by returning a ballot, which you will receive at a later date. The ballots should be returned to the Congregation office in person, by mail, or by e-mail between May 9 and June 6, 2025.
Nominating Committee:
Robin Mickey, Chairman
Julie Goldstein, Board Member
Loren Vivio, Member at Large
Mary Ellen Kane, Member at Large
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Friday, April 4 at 7:00 PM will be the Conversion Ceremony on the front porch followed by the 7:30 PM Shabbat Service and Naming Ceremony for Ari Gabrek, Vlad Norris and Zoe Pawlak in the sanctuary. A special Oneg will follow in the Social Hall. We hope you will plan to join with us for this special milestone.
Saturday, April 26 14th Annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes hosted by the Blackburn Center in St. Clair Park, Greensburg. Check-in begins at 9:00 AM and the walk begins at 10:00 AM.
Registration is $5 for each participant (Children 12 & under are free). Register online at www.blackburncenter.org or for more information call 724-837-9540 x144.
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OFFICE HOURS
The CEI Office is open Monday, Thursday, & Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Tuesday & Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Rabbi Lenny, generally, has office hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Making an appointment is highly recommended, since emergencies and meetings outside the office do occur. The Rabbi can also be available at other times, for your convenience. Please call 724-834-0560 or Rabbi directly at 724-963-0789.
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CEI LEADERSHIP
Rabbi Leonard Sarko
CEI Officers:
President: Irene C. Rothschild. Vice President: Jamie Kaufer. Treasurer: Julie Goldstein. Recording Secretary: Virginia Lieberman. Sisterhood President: Terri Katzman. Men’s Club President: Gary Moidel. Bulletin Editors: Mary Ellen Kane, Karen Sarko & Bea Harrison.
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HONORING THEIR MEMORY
Families of the following loved ones will honor their memories and mark the occasion of their family history by reciting the Kaddish this Shabbat.
The following Yahrzeits will be honored at CEI:
April 4: *Benjamin Berkofsky, *Louis Bleiberg, Frances Brodell, *Goldie Cohen, Louise Davidson, Judy Dohner, Seymour Farber, *Elliot Farber, Clara Sedel Greenberg, *Burrel Hochberg, Helen Kirkpatrick, *Lillian Kogut, Charles Koral, *B. Jacob Levine, *Michael Magadof, Sara Schulman Metz, Addie Reid Powell, *Darlene Robinowitz, *Israel Samuels, *Maxene Rita Segal, *Sol Shpargel and *William Zakowitz.
April 11: Dr. Boyd Button, *Sheldon Cohen, Saul Farber, *Celia Grossman, *Saralouise Hirshberg, Joan Mendler, Anna Pavloff, *Isaac Pomerantz, *Alfred W. Ratner, *Rolf Rothschild, Norma Shapiro, Joel Travers, William Virshup and *Pearl Y. Ziff.
April 18: *Divine Joy Bayer, Jeny Bergstein, *Morris Bolner, *Richard Dunhoff, *Samuel J. Friedland, Mollie Drexler Goodman, Joseph Israel, *Eva Kahanowitz, Paula Last, *Thelma Levin, *Dorothy C. Miller, *Sylvia R. Naumoff, *Dr. Samuel Pittler, *Catherine Ratner, *Gertrude “Tootsie” Ratner, *Wolf Shoag, *Noah Wood Toig, Mayer Wolinsky, *Bessie Ziff and *Joseph Ziskind.
April 25: *Sara Altman, Morris Bergstein, Fred Bray, Jr., *Bette Buchman, *Joseph Callet, *Sheldon Cohen, *Bennett Davis, *Ida Diamond, *Meyer Farber, Norma Gespass, *Alyce Hochberg, *Max Pretter, *Yetta Sandson, Ruth Metz Shpargel, *Sarah K. Silverman, *Jennie Soltz, *Mary Whiteman, Dr. Thomas Warren Wilson, *Rose Witaskis and *Louis I. Zakon.
May 2: *Sadie B. Daniels-Adler, *Nathan Dates, *Max Harris, Anita Koral, *J. Levin, Melvin Levin, Libby Louis, Goldye Pittler, Leonard Pittler, Mireille Rousseau, Dorothy Sandson, Harry Sandson, *Ethel Stalin, Mark Weisberger, *Louis Wilder and *Esther Wolinsky.
* A light will be lit on a Memorial Board
