January 2026 CEI Bulletin
Congregation Emanu-El Israel
222 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA. 15601
Tevet – Shevat 5786
January 2026
724-834-0560
The Mission of Congregation Emanu-El Israel is: To support Judaism and the welfare of our community.
—————————————————–
FROM THE DESK OF: Rabbi Lenny
To kipa or not to kipa – that is the question! It has been my custom for some time to wear a kipa as I travel in public. I do this far less for the main reason the Orthodox wear a kipa, which is to acknowledge God, and more about reminding the general populace that we Jewish people are present among them. It often gives me a chance to answer questions that the public may have and to make them feel comfortable that we are part of the world.
At times it proves very beneficial. I decided one day to stop for breakfast in a restaurant on the way to the synagogue. I was wearing a kipa. As I was finishing up the waitress came over and said that another customer had paid my bill. The person wanted to remain anonymous so I was not able to thank them, but it was a nice gesture in recognition of who I was as a Jew.
Yet over the past number of years, I have often chosen not to wear a kipa. When I was young, antisemitism was present but done secretly, as an undertone within society. It was not overt, publicized. Not so today. Time and again we see acts that are as in your face and as public as possible.
Judaism teaches us that life takes precedence over everything. I remember once I was in the middle of Florida traveling with an associate. We decided to stop for lunch and he asked me to take off my kipa because we were in the middle of Ku Klux Klan territory. He just did not want to provide an opportunity for something bad to happen. I complied.
Since then, I tend to be far more aware of my surroundings and I sometimes choose not to wear my kipa. Yet even then problems can arise. Recently Karen and I were traveling to Atlanta to see the grandkids. Due to timing we decided to take an uber to the airport. I do not wear a kipa when traveling thru an airport – again just in an abundance of safety. I find Uber drivers tend to be either very talkative or very quiet. On starting the journey, the driver asked what I did. Before I could respond in a nondescript manner, Karen spouted out that we were Jewish and I was a rabbi. The driver responded with he was Muslim. My thoughts turned to the news report from a few months earlier when an Uber driver in Pittsburgh had robbed and killed a passenger… I really did not think we were in any danger. However, the driver proceeded to give a one-hour lecture on Islam, all the way to the airport. I was not in the mood to debate or discuss the religious comparisons of Judaism and Islam at that particular moment. I was happy when we had finally arrived at the airport.
Yet the episode had and still bothers me. I do not like hiding that I am Jewish. Although I have many Muslim friends, I did not like that I felt the need to hide myself in this particular case. I do not like that the world we live in is so combatant, so discordant, so unhospitable.
As we turn to a new year, I pray that you are not only healthy but are safe as we travel down this road of life together – wherever that road takes us. The reality is that you must be very aware of your surroundings, and at all times. Yet you must also find the times to express who you are as a Jew, and when that happens it should be a with pride, joy and in celebration.
Shalom v’shalom, Rabbi Lenny
—————————————————–
SISTERHOOD NOTES by Shoshana Halden, President
Wishing you a happy (secular) New Year. How lucky can we be to celebrate two New Years in one?
As you read this article we have already celebrated Chanukah in many wonderful ways, individually and as a Congregation. At this late date I would like to thank Robin Mickey, Terri Katzman, Yvonne Bureau, Karen Sarko, Dave and Debby Blozowich for helping us in making latkes for the Chanukah dinner. Yet, we have more activities ahead of us!
On January 11 at 10:00 am we will bake challahs in our great CEI kitchen under the direction of Karen Sarko. Please sign up so that we can be prepared with sufficient ingredients. No, there is no fee, just R.S.V.P.
Please pick up and read the book “My Father’s Paradise” by Ariel Sabar. We will have a book discussion on February 22, 2026 led by Shirley Shpargel in our social room at 12:00 noon. Bring your favorite salad to share and we will supply dessert. Please RSVP so that we can prepare for the number of readers planning to attend.
Stay warm, Shoshana
—————————————————–
ALFRED RATNER LIBRARY NEWS by Shirley Shpargel, Librarian
Maggie Anton is well known for her Rashi’s Daughters series, has chosen to write about two Egyptian midwives that joined the Israelite Exodus from Egypt in her novel The Midwives’ Escape: From Egypt to Jericho. Asenet and Shifra are mother and daughter in an Egyptian midwife family who join Asenet’s sister a midwife, Pua who is married to a Hebrew. Asenet’s abusive husband and son are among the dead when the plague kills all the first born. Asenet is so impressed that the Israelite God saved the Hebrews that Asenet and her daughter Shifra, and her wainwright father and his two apprentices join the Exodus.
Anton tells the story through the view of the two midwifes Asenet and Shifra. The people are skilled at goat herding and therefore they have milk, cheese, and meat. The group in Anton’s novel spend thirty-eight years in Kadesh where there are olive trees to provide oil and date trees to make beer from fermented dates. These items are for trade with caravans that pass-through Kadesh. During these years the generation that worshiped the golden calf die away and a new generation is ready to fight their way into the land of Canaan.
Each chapter opens with a Biblical quote that shows Anton’s researched for the novel and has chosen which route the Exodus took. Anton also illustrated the novel with examples of Jericho’s collapsed city wall, the battle with Amalek, the cloud over the tabernacle, the ground opening under Korah near Hazeroth. The mixed multitude of non-Hebrews are often to blame for the uprisings against Moses in commentaries on the Torah, but Anton has chosen the two Egyptian midwives who look down at the Hebrews and are shocked each time they fail to trust Moses. As members of the mixed multitude, the reader can observe the various cultures of this time and the survival skills needed in the desert. The Midwives’ Escape is available to check out from the Alfred Ratner Library.
—————————————————–
CHATTER
Happy Birthday to: Chris DeMarco, Kala Gau, Sophie Gau, Shoshana Halden, Margaret Kates, Jody Keating, John Lieberman, Irene Rothschild, Loren Vivio, and Jack Wilder.
Happy Anniversary to: Jonathan and Margaret Kates.
Thank you! To the following Congregants for lighting the Chanukah Menorah on the front lawn: Chris DeMarco, Bruce Kaufer, Sarah Marshal & Avi Mazor, Gary & Teri Moidel, Joel Last, Yvonne & Ed Bureau.
—————————————————–
CEI LINK PROGRAM
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.
—————————————————–
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.
—————————————————–
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).
—————————————————–
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 on 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.
—————————————————–
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.
—————————————————–
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THESE GIFTS
PULPIT FLOWERS: In Memory of:
December 12: John Halden by Bob & Shoshanna Halden. Freda Virshup by Richard & Georgi Virshup. Melva Weisberger by Jim & Marilyn Davis and Jeffrey & Linda Reisner.
December 19: Harry Goldman by Cori & Michael Liptak. Mildred V. Wilson by Virginia & John Lieberman. Robert Davis by Marilyn & Jim Davis and Linda & Jeffrey Reisner. Rae Levine by Marilyn & Jim Davis. Lillian Weiner by Terri & Stanley Katzman.
—————————————————–
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. A Donation by Jonathan Kates. Stuart & Esther Glasser and The Glasser Family Foundation. High Holy Day Appeal: Irene & Rabbi Ronne Friedman. Joyce & Jim Schenck. In Memory of: Milton & Margaret Goldberg by Carol & Ted Goldberg.
CONGREGATION YAHRZEIT FUND: In Memory of: Nathan Metz by Shirley Shpargel. Ruth S. Roth by Shirley Ratner & Family. Alexander & Cecillia Bluestone and Rose Glasser by William VeShancey. Helene Geier by Suzy & Jon Geier. Tina Peter & Rose Mallinger by Gary & Teri Moidel. David Balk by the Balk Family. Robert Davis by Marilyn & Jim Davis. Freda Virshup by Richard & Georgi Virshup. Benjamin Kates by Jonathan Kates. Sarah Pavloff by Yolanda & Gerald Pavloff. Max Litchfield by Jeanne & Jeff Sicuro. Robert Mendler by Michael & Stacy Mendler. Dr. Matthew Leiner by Irene C. Rothschild. Dorothy Claire Farber by Jeffrey & Cathy Feryus. Charlotte Krinock by Ronald Vorel. Bertha Ainbender & Hilda Freeman by Anita & George Freeman. Lillian Weiner by Terri & Stanley Katzman. Judith Strauss by Rachel Minushkin.
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. In loving memory of Lara L. Wong by Marsha and Richard Wong.
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND: Helps individuals and/or org. in need. A Donation by Earl Raab. In Memory of: Faye Redlich by Stephen Redlich.
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 Memory of: David Moffit by Karen & Brian Chobirko. Jim McElhinny by Karen, Brian, Justin & Jason Chobirko.
TEMPLE EMANU-EL CEMETERY FUND: For beautification and upkeep of the Temple Emanu-El Cemetery. A Donation by: Robert C. Levin. Martin and Deborah Brill Family Philanthropic Fund. Beryl Drexler.
TREE OF LIFE: A personalized leaf commemorating a happy lifecycle event to be added to the Tree of Life.
—————————————————–
SAVE THE DATE
Please Note: All times & events subject to change.
Sunday, February 22: Sisterhood Book Discussion Program with Shirley Shpargel. 12 noon.
—————————————————–
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Wednesday, January 14: CEI Board Meeting. 7:00 PM.
Sunday, February 22: Sisterhood hosted Book Discussion led by Shirley Shpargel in the Social Hall at 12:00 noon. Please pick up and read the book “My Father’s Paradise” by Ariel Sabar. Bring your favorite salad to share and we will supply dessert. Please RSVP to Shoshana, so that we can prepare for the number of readers planning to attend.
—————————————————–
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE CHALLAH
Join Karen Sarko and Shoshana Halden on Sunday, January 11 at 10:00 AM to do just that. Karen will bake a Challah at home and that way you can taste it. At the temple, you’ll watch how to braid (with a recipe already put together).
You’ll be given the recipe and you can try your hand at baking a Challah on your own. For reservations – call Karen at 260-466-9088 or Shoshana 412-610-1924.
Thank you, and happy baking! Karen Sarko
—————————————————–
GO FOR THE GELT RAFFLE WINNERS
1. Joel Last
2. Robin Mickey
3. Gary & Teri Moidel
4. Richard Virshup
5. Virginia Lieberman
6. Marion Slone
7. Yvonne Bureau
8. Cheryl Bradshaw
Congratulations to the winners and Thank You to all who supported C.E.I. in this raffle. Checks will be mailed out soon.
—————————————————–
HOSPITAL VISITS
The Rabbi will gladly make visits to local area hospitals to visit sick Congregants. Since hospitals no longer release patient information, your help is needed for these visits to take place. Please notify Rabbi or the CEI office with patient name and hospital.
—————————————————–
OFFICE HOURS
The CEI Office is open Monday, Thursday & Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Tuesday and 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.
—————————————————–
CEI LEADERSHIP
Rabbi Leonard Sarko
CEI Officers:
President: Joel Last. Vice President: Jamie Kaufer. Treasurer: Julie Goldstein. Recording Secretary: Virginia Lieberman. Sisterhood President: Shoshana Halden. Men’s Club President: Gary Moidel. Bulletin Editors: Mary Ellen Kane, Karen Sarko & Bea Harrison.
—————————————————–
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:
January 2: *Benjamin S. Browdie, *Julius Caplan, Florence Clovsky, Mildred Davison, Dorothy C. Farber, *David Flamm, *Lena F. Friedlander, *Miriam Gillis, *Samuel Glicenstein, *Celia R. Goldberg, *Rachel Gordon, *Martin D. Gordon, *Gizella Holtzer, Jenny Lalli, Zalate Goldsmith Levine, *Anna Lewis, *Golden Litchfield, Jacob Meyers, *Sylvia Moidel, *Morris M. Naumoff, *Lena Pomerantz, *Louis Rubin, *Ellen Rochelle Rudt, Louis Segal, *Charles Shendowich, *Morris Shendowich, *Moses M. Shoag and *Paul Shoff.
January 9: *Samuel Brill, *Minnie Dates, *Simon Davis, *Norman Epstein, *Max M. Finkelstein, *Morris Gold, *Ben Gross, *Benjamin M. Harris, *William M. Kahanowitz, Frank Keating, Charlotte Krinock, Marjorie Lieberman, *Bess Marchel, *Sam Miller, Evelyn Neumann, Alex Pavloff, *Isadore Pittler, Ruth Schrag, *Alex Shofnosky, Louis Strauss, *Sylvia Becker Victor, *Sarah Weiner, *William Wolfe, *William Wolinsky, *Elizabeth Ziff, *Morris Ziff and *Morris Zwibel.
January 16: *Dorothy K. Abramson, *Harold Bloom, *Benjamin Conn, *Maurice J. K. Davis, *Lt. Ivan I. Elpern, *Alfred Engel, *A. Harry Felder, Jay Friedman, *Eva Glicenstein, *Max Glickman, Howard Gold, Daniel Katzman, H. Sylvia Perman, *Isaac B. Rabinowitz, *Max Segal, **Eleanor Segal, *Elder H. Stein, *Bessie V. Young and *Ivan B. Young.
January 23: Rose Buchman, Ella K. Button, Leah Dorfman, *Eva Drexler, *Rosalind Elpern, *Dora Feinberg, Estelle Fried, *Solomon Gross, *Fannye Hochberg, Irving Kaufer, *Benjamin Kaufmann, Joseph Krokosky, *Joseph H. Levin, Ida Liebman, Alvin Lippard, *Andrea B. Millstein, Sidney Minushkin, *Erica Susan Pittler, Leonard Poster, Bernard Redlich, *Bessie Rubenstein, Stanley Tattenbaum, Norman Weiner and *Alfred A. Wolf D.P.M.
January 30: Jack Axelrod, *Walter W. Baker, Joseph Blum, *Anna Brill, *Lewis C. Daniels, *Abraham Davis, Simon Dreifus, *Celia Farber-Glantz, *Anna R. Gross, *Louis Grossman, *Joseph Hochberg, *Nahum Jacobson, *Robert Kane, *Alfred J. Levy, *Louis Lewis, Eugene Lipowitz, Chuck Pearlstein, *Joseph Pomerance, *Herbert G. Ratner, Sr., *Isidor Reisberg, *Rose Rosner, *Harry E. Rubin and Ivan Schwartzman.
February 6: *Jane Goldberg Berkman, Anna Bernstein, *Fannie Daniels-Solof, Stanford Phillip Davis, Albert Farber, Helen Stoll Feuerstein, Harold Freeman, Gerald Fried, *Katherine D. Friedlander, *Richard T. Goldberg, Jennie G. Lasday, *Rabbi Joseph Levine, Edith Mindlin, Sandra Moldovan, *Jay M. Morris, Jennie Roth, *Frank Rubenstein, *Ignatz Schneider, *Charlotte Shapiro, *Sarah L. Shapiro, *Dreza Shirey, Howard Spiegel and *Benjamin Victor.
* A light will be lit on a Memorial Board
