June 2026 CEI Bulletin
Congregation Emanu-El Israel
222 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA. 15601
Sivan – Tamuz 5786
June 2026
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
This month we are reading through the Book of Bamidbar. Bamidbar translates into English as wilderness. I like this word far better than the Christian book title of Numbers. Western titles provide some insight into the content of the book, but the Hebrew word envelopes the meaning, the root significance.
The Torah is designed to be a book that helped not only our ancestors, but guides our lives today. So how can this book provide inspiration in navigating modern Jewish communities? The 19th-century commentator Netziv says, ‘this book records the challenges of the transition from living in the desert under God’s protection to the challenges of living as a society in the Land of Israel.’ In Bamidbar there is politics, resource scarcity and abundance, war and peace, family politics, ethnic and religious tension, and gender issues; it’s all there.
The book begins one year after the Exodus from Egypt, just about enough time for everyone to get into a rhythm of living together and learning about life in the desert. It is also just enough time for life to get more complicated and to leave behind the aura of the miracles of the Exodus.
Major issues that catch my eye:
Hunger is Real
In chapter 11, there are constant murmurs and complaints from the people, and Moshe is fed up. He tells God that if this is how it’s going to go, he’d rather not continue. One complaint that drives the people to rebel against Moshe is their food situation. They miss fresh food. Now this may seem like a paltry complaint. Who needs cucumbers and fish when you have manna?! – but it’s vital for us to understand that personal comfort is not something to ignore. We must see to material needs as well as spiritual needs.
Sharing the Load
Moshe’s frustration with the complaints of the people is shared with God and is answered. God tells him to appoint a committee of seventy elders to help support him in his leadership. Remember that there were already a series of appointments in Parasha Yitro (https://exploringjudaism.org/learning/torah/shemot/yitro/) of the Book of Shemot (Exodus).
Radical Humility
Korach rebels against Moshe. He wants to know what is so special about this guy that he should be in charge of everything. Dathan and Aviram have different questions, but also challenge Moshe’s right to rule.
Moshe deals with these challenges through radical humility and provides a great lesson for us today. Moshe listens to the complaints. He doesn’t have an answer, that in itself is a profound lesson. Ultimately, he has to appeal to God and God’s miracles. It is important for us and for the people then, to understand that Moshe is not so much a leader as a go between the people and God. Aaron leads the religious aspect of the community and Joshua the secular. But Moshe listened!
Asking for Help
Two stories that appear unrelated have a very deep message. In chapter 15, we learn that someone has broken Shabbat, and in chapter 26, the daughters of Zelofechad contest the inheritance laws that would leave them without property and land. In both these cases, Moshe needs to ask for help. In each situation, he has the great benefit of turning directly to God to fill in a gap in the legal system.
While we may not have direct access to God, we do have access to teachers, mentors, and friends. If Moshe can ask for help, so can we.
For us today, as we wander in a political and social bamidbar, wilderness, of our world, where leadership is often lacking, we can take some solace. We are not experiencing a new problem. Life is hard. Leaders, even exceptional ones, have a lot to contend with, and it’s a ‘tough crowd.’
The few examples I have shared are focused on humility, on recognizing that there are higher powers and higher values, that there is great benefit in stopping and listening and getting a second opinion. Even when the person asking the question may not have the purest motives, it is worthwhile to listen and consider and maybe ‘sleep on it’ before responding.
I challenge us all to look at ancient solutions to current problems with new eyes.
Amen, Rabbi Lenny
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SISTERHOOD NOTES by Shoshana Halden, President
I was just reading the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronical and a proverb by Rabbi Suzanne Offit touched me. Just in case you did not read it, I would like to share it with you: “Our souls are created in a way that when we are kind and good to other people, it makes us feel better and we want to do it again.”
That brings me to our very successful Rummage Sale from the beginning of set up, selling, and cleaning up. Thank you to all who were involved. Let’s do it again.
As you may know, we celebrated our closing of the year 2025-2026 on Tuesday May 12th at the Boulevard. It was great. Thanks to all who were there, all who paid for next year’s dues, and the biggest “Thank You” and appreciation to Mary Ellen Kane and Teri Moidel without whom we would not have enjoyed the evening as much.
Thank you to Terri Katzman and the bakers for organizing the special oneg in honor of Rabbi Lenny and Karen’s fiftieth wedding anniversary.
It is now time to enjoy the summer and plan to participate in our future activities.
B’shalom, Shoshana
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ALFRED RATNER LIBRARY NEWS by Shirley Shpargel, Librarian
Book Donation: Zayde Comes to Live by Sheri Sinykin (Easy Reader) donated by Pantalone Funeral Home.
Snow in August by Pete Hamill is a novel that blends fiction and fantasy; taking place in 1947 Brooklyn and deals with themes of anti-Semitism, friendship and magic. The main character is Michael Devlin, an eleven-year-old American Irish boy living with his widowed mother, Kate Devlin, in the top floor of a tenement high rise. His father was killed during World War II in the Battle of the Bulge. Michael is an alter boy at Sacred Heart Catholic Church for the early 8 o’clock service. The book begins with a terrible winter snow blizzard, but Michael is determined to brave the wind and snow drifts to walk eight blocks to church. On his way Michael passes the Jewish synagogue where a bearded man wearing all black is asking for his help. The Rabbi asks Michael to turn on the synagogue lights because it’s Shabbat. Rabbi Judah Hirsch, a Holocaust refugee, who is new to Brooklyn from Prague, speaks little English and needs a Shabbat goy. This begins an unlikely friendship between Michael and the Rabbi. Michael teaches the Rabbi English and shares his love for the Brooklyn Dodgers, while the Rabbi teaches Michael Yiddish and shares his love for Prague through books and pictures and the folklore of the Golem.
Michael dreams of Captain Marvel and the new Dodgers rookie, Jackie Robinson; but then Michael witnesses the gang leader, Frankie McCarthy beating the Jewish owner of the corner candy store into a coma. McCarthy warns Michael to keep quiet. McCarthy and his gang continue to reign terror by painting swastikas on the synagogue, beat up Michael, and sexually harass his mother, and then beat up Rabbi Hirsch. Michael uses legends of the Golem to create a protector for the Rabbi, leading to an unexpected snowfall in August. Snow in August can be checked out from WLN libraries.
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CHATTER
Happy Birthday to: Kara Kamler, Nina Lewis, Ruth Papernick, Jerry Pavloff, Robert Slone, Jeremy Spor, John Vivio, Hannah Winters.
Happy Anniversary to: Suzan & Josh Estner, Karen & Bruce Kaufer, Virginia & John Lieberman, Yolanda & Jerry Pavloff and Anna & Jeremy Spor.
Mazel Tov! To member Wally Caplan on his grandson Tyler Price graduation with a Master of Science degree from Penn State University. Ty is the son of Sharon and Bud Price.
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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.
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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 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.
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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:
April 10: Sol Shpargel by Shirley Shpargel. Eric Peter by Gary & Teri Moidel. William Virshup by Richard & Georgi Virshup.
April 17: Richard Dunhoff by Dalia Dunhoff & Family. Noah Wood Toig by Marilyn & Jim Davis.
May 8: George Ekstein by Esther & Stuart Glasser. Mark Weisberger by Linda & Jeffrey Reisner. June Ziff by Marilyn & Jim Davis.
May 15: Janet Engelhart Gutterman 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: Morris Bergstein, Jeny Bergstein & Anna Pavloff by The Pavloff Family. Richard Dunhoff by Dalia Dunhoff & the Dunhoff Family. Dr. Thomas Warren Wilson by Virginia & John Lieberman. James Applebaum & Frances A. Abramson by Barbara & Daniel Glennie. Dorothy Sandson by Andra Sandson Condon. Carol Cowen by William VeShancey. Herbert L. Friedlander by Jody, Mike, Stacey & Mikey Keating and Bill Friedlander. Minna Feuerstein by Shirley Shpargel.
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 birth of a grandson to Joel and Judy Guggenheimer by Irene Rothschild. Get well wishes to Wally Caplan by Irene Rothschild and Virginia & John Lieberman. Get well wishes to Scilone Mraz by Irene Rothschild. The birth of a daughter to Bob and Emily Martin by Irene Rothschild. The Price Family on Ty’s graduation with a Master’s Degree from Penn State by Irene Rothschild.
TEMPLE EMANU-EL CEMETERY FUND: For beautification and upkeep of the Temple Emanu-El Cemetery. In Loving Memory of: David Richard Gold, Henry Gold, Sadie Gold & Dr. Philip H. Gold by Andrew & Amanda Gold & Family.
TREE OF LIFE: A leaf commemorating a happy lifecycle event to be added to the Tree of Life.
IN HONOR OF SISTER GEMMA DELDUCA FOR HER KINDNESS, CONTRIBUTIONS AND FRIENDSHIP. 2026
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SAVE THE DATE
Please Note: All times & events subject to change.
Monday, July 6: CEI Closed for Independence Day.
Friday, July 17: Early Service followed by Summer Sounds Concert. Elton Rohn.
Wednesday, July 22: Washington Wild Things vs NJ Jackals baseball game. First pitch @ 6:05pm; depart CEI @ 4:15pm.
Friday, July 24: Bar Mitzvah of Cason Grossman, son of members Jonathan & Jennifer Grossman and brother to Reece & Jake. 7:30 PM.
Friday, July 31: Early Service followed by Summer Sounds Concert. The English Channel.
Friday, August 7: Early Service followed by Summer Sounds Concert. Mark Milovats.
Friday, August 28: Early Service followed by Summer Sounds Concert. The Plate Scrapers.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
CEI Annual Congregation Meeting and Pot-Luck Dinner – June 14, 2026
1:00 – The meeting will start in the sanctuary with a presentation by the Greensburg Police Department. Details to follow.
Following the presentation, the meeting will continue with reports from the Rabbi, President, Treasurer, Restricted Funds Treasurer and all committee chairs. [Questions and comments]
4:00 – Pot-Luck Dinner. Men’s Club will provide hotdogs and buns and do the grilling.
Yvonne will manage all food items brought in and set up the tables. Please bring all food items in a serving bowl/plate before the meeting and take all items home at the end of the evening.
Congregants with last names from A – M, please bring a PARVE (non-dairy) side dish.
Congregants with last names from N – Z, please bring a PARVE (non-dairy) dessert.
Please sign-up on the form in the office or call the office to rsvp.
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CONCERTS IN THE PARK
For the past few summers, we have had early Shabbat Services beginning at 5:30 PM. This allows our Congregants time to enjoy the free Summer Sounds Concert in St. Clair Park offered by the City of Greensburg at 7:00 PM. We will have early services on the following Fridays, after which you can enjoy the concert listed below:
June 12: Coastal Country (Brings you sand & summer sounds)
June 26: Aristotle Jones (Appalachian Soul Man)
July 17: Elton Rohn (Elton John Tribute)
July 31: The English Channel (Tribute to original British bands crossimg the pond)
August 7: Mark Milovats (Tribute to Frank Sinatra, Perry Como & Barry Manilow)
August 28: The Plate Scrapers (Upbeat bluegrass music)
Mark your calendars to join us for the above concerts. For a complete list of performances or to listen to a sample of each band, please visit the website www.greensburgpa.org/summersounds.
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MEMORIAL BOOKLET
Once again, we are in the process of preparing the Memorial Booklet for the Yizkor service on Yom Kippur, September 21, 2026. This tradition has been well received by our membership and in this time of virtual services, we would still like it to continue as an Online Memorial to your loved one/s.
Only the names of those deceased during the past year (5786: 2025-2026) will be read from the pulpit. If you wish to have the names of deceased relatives included in the Memorial Booklet on our website, please list them on the form in this month’s bulittin or mark “same as last year” and only write in names to be added. Please indicate if any of the names appear on the Memorial Plaques. This will help us publish an accurate record in the Virtual Memorial Booklet online.
At this time of the year, it is appropriate to make contributions in memory of our loved ones. If you wish to honor your loved ones in this way, kindly indicate the contribution below and make checks payable to Congregation Emanu-El Israel or to CEI and mail to CEI, 222 N. Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601. Please note that due to High Holiday deadlines, forms must be returned no later than September 10, 2026.
May the upcoming year bring you the blessings of love, health and happiness.
Sincerely,
Memorial Committee
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SISTERHOOD PULPIT FLOWER ORDER FORM 5787
How praiseworthy are the father and mother that raised this child.
One is duty bound to honor one’s parents, even after their death. Both sons and daughters fulfill this duty by keeping the yahrzeit, by contributing to charity in honor of the deceased, and most importantly by living a life that brings them credit. (Rabbi Hayim H. Donin)
We hope that you will take this opportunity to order pulpit flowers for the coming year for loved ones and friends. Since we update our records annually, we need a new form from you each year if you want to order pulpit flowers.
To order pulpit flowers for a yahrzeit (anniversary of death), Rosh Hashana and/or Yom Kippur use the order form in this month’s bulletin.
Forms must be received by AUGUST 7, 2026 to be included in High-Holiday Services.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
June 5: *Joseph Bayer, Stanford P. Davis, *Isidore Felder, Stuart Freeman, *Dr. Philip H. Gold, *James (Yaney) Grossman, *Margot Halden, *Maurice Kramer, Ethel Krokosky, Sara Pittler Kurtz, Bill Moldovan, Maxine Morris, *Abraham Pavloff, *Robert Schindowich, Robert Schrag, Esther Segal, Howard Spiegel, *Mollie R. Whiteman and *Barbara Wilder.
June 12: *Patricia “Paddy” Borowsky, Dr. William Felder, *Isadore Friedman, *Louis Glantz, *Rose Goldberg, *Edward Gordon, *Simon Gordon, *Barry J. Kane, Adele Kates, *Sarah Levin, *Yale Ozik, *Lewis Schindowich and Fay Wolinsky.
June 19: *Abraham Buchman, *Sarah Tucker Cohen, *Elaine Friedlander Smith, *Benjamin Geier, Norton Geier, *Anna Magadof, *Martin Theodore Sadock, *Isadore Sine and *Ethel Ziff.
June 26: *Albert Boyer, *Lawrence Brodell, William Buchman, *Esther Caplan, *Jacob Daniels, Helen “Honey” Davis, *Ida Sarah Friedman, *Aaron Harry Gillis, *George Gillis, Herbert Kramer, *William Lifshitz, Joe Naughton, *Theodore “Ted” Rossen and Joan Silvis.
July 3: *Edna G. Cobetto, *Fannie Davis, Samuel Farber, *Rachel Leah Flamm, Norman Glantz, *Louis I. Gould, *Nathan Jaskulek, Richard Kates, *Beila Mace, *Maurice Nevins and *Leonard Wolinsky.
July 10: *Diane “Deanie” Blum, *Dora Charapp, Harry Feuerstein, Milton Gespass, *Gloria Glasser, Alvin Glenn, *Esther Gordon, *Kate Grossman, *Alan D. Karelitz, Edwin Karelitz, *Marcy Weiss Langer MS, CCC-A, *Hyman Levin, *William Lipman, Annabelle Frances Millstein, Bradford Powell, *Louis Shofnosky, *Jacob Stern and *Anna Sucatzky.
* A light will be lit on a Memorial Board
