First Seder, March 29 — Communal Seder, March 30
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770
Rabbi David Forman, Scholar-in-Residence
March 14-17, 2010
We are delighted to welcome Rabbi David
Forman of Jerusalem to El Paso on Sunday,
March 14. From Sunday to Wednesday, he
will teach at Temple and around town.
David‟s presence is sponsored by the El Paso
Jewish Federation‟s CLAL initiative and by
Rabbi Bach‟s Discretionary Fund.
Rabbi Forman is the
founder of Rabbis
for Human Rights.
He served as RHR‟s
chairperson
between 1988 and
1992 and between
2002 and 2003. He
has held a number
of key leadership
positions during his rabbinic career,
including Director of the Israel Office of the
Union of American Hebrew Congregations,
where he led the struggle for religious
pluralism in Israel. Prior to that, Rabbi
Forman was the chairperson of Interns for
Peace (1984-1986), Founding Chairperson of RSVP‟s are very helpful (particularly for
both the Jerusalem Council for Soviet Jewry Tuesday) and can be made by calling Buddy
(1973) and the Cincinnati Council for Soviet at the Temple office or by sending a note to
Jewry (1970); Vice-Chairperson of
Seminarians for Peace, and a member of
Clergy and Laity against the War in Vietnam
(1968-1972). He was also a “Freedom Rider”
in the summer of 1964.
Number 608
Rabbi Forman will speak several times
during his visit to El Paso, including the
following public talks:
At 3 pm on Sunday, March 14, he will
speak in Zielonka Hall on “Jewish
Schizophrenia in the Land of Israel.”
On Monday at 7:30 pm, he will speak at
the El Paso Catholic Diocese‟s Pastoral
Center (499 St. Matthew‟s Street, in the
Mission Valley) on “Jerusalem: Holy City
to Three Faiths.”
Rabbi Forman will be our guest teacher at
Lunch and Learn on Tuesday at 11:45 am,
speaking on the topic, “Can a Jewish
State be a Democratic State?”
Finally, on Wednesday at 7:30 pm in
Zielonka Hall, he will speak to his thirty
years of living in the Land of Israel: “A
Retrospective.”
All of these talks are free and open to the
public; those who wish to purchase a lunch
for the Tuesday session may do so for $10.
bschwartz@templemountsinai.com.
next month, Rabbi Jonathan Slater:
April 9-10
Messages from the Mountain Page 2
Worship Schedule
March 5-6
Parashat Ki Tisa
Friday, March 12
Candlelighting, 5:49 pm
Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Family & Hadassah Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, March 5
Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
March 12-13
Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei
Friday, March 13
Candlelighting, 5:54 pm
Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, March 13
Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
March 19-20
Parashat Vayikra
Friday, March 19
Candlelighting, 6:58 pm
Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, March 20
Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770
March 26-27
Parashat Tzav
Friday, March 26
Candlelighting, 7:03 pm
Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, March 27
Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
April 2-3
Pesach
Friday, April 2
Candlelighting, 7:08 pm
Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, April 3
Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
April 9-10
Parashat Shmini
Friday, April 9
Candlelighting, 7:13pm
Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm
Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm
Saturday, April 10
Torah Study, 9:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Page 3 Messages from the Mountain

From the Rabbi’s Study…

What a gift the folks at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center have given us Jews,
scheduling their annual Celebrity Waiters Spaghetti Dinner for Saturday, March 27. Just two
days before the first Seder, we can take a break from our Pesach preparations and enjoy a hearty
meal of soon-to-be-forbidden pasta!
But seriously, folks…the coincidence of Las Americas‟ spring fundraiser and our festival of
freedom is about more than a last bit of leaven. In truth, the timing is perfect because Las
Americas is an organization dedicated to principles that are at the heart of Passover, and at the
heart of what it means to be Jewish. “You shall know the heart of the stranger…for you were
strangers in the land of Egypt.” “Stranger,” or ger in Hebrew, is a word that marks those who
are marginalized in a society. It often appears alongside two other words, yatom and almanah,
“orphan” and “widow,” forming a trio of the economically disadvantaged and vulnerable.
By providing free and reduced-cost legal aid to people such as immigrant women seeking
protection from abusive spouses, unaccompanied minors caught up (through no fault of their
own) in our nation‟s immigration court system, and people seeking asylum from political
persecution all over the world, Las Americas embodies timeless Jewish values.
My first encounter with Las Americas was several years ago, when I provided an affidavit for a
young Jewish man seeking relief from political and racial persecution in the Former Soviet
Union. I‟ve been an admirer of the organization ever since, and last year was invited to serve
on its Board of Directors. With that honor comes (of course) the responsibility of selling tickets
to the spaghetti dinner…and with that task comes this bulletin article.
I invite you to learn a bit more about Las Americas when intern Karen Vortbedt shares some
stories at our Friday evening service on March 19. I invite you to consider directing some of
your tzedakah dollars to this very worthy cause. And most of all, I invite you to join Alanna and
me at the spaghetti dinner on Saturday, March 27. It begins at 7 pm, at St. Pius X Catholic
Church. Tickets are $30 each, and are available directly from me, or in the Temple office.
Shalom,
Rabbi Bach

Editor’s Note...
With this issue, Tara and I are assuming the duties to edit and see to a timely publication of „Messages
from the Mountain‟. It is our hope to expand the bulletin to include more about the happenings of the
members of our congregation. We invite all to submit articles and information to be reviewed for inclu-
sion in future editions. Additionally, we are always open to suggestions and comments that will make
what you receive in these pages more useful and informative. You can email me at
mark@marksclickart.com. Thank you . Mark Schrier
Messages from the Mountain Page 4 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770

January Birthdays
January 1 January 10 January 19 January 28
Carla Levin Eddie Knipp Glenda Bromberg Levi Eisenberg
Del Raney * Juan Valdez Eugene Finke
January 20 Anna Sofia Uni Loeb
January 3 January 11 Leah Pearlman Lola May
Marilyn Rotwein Sally Strelitz Ann Rothstein Elaine Prensky
James Holderman Danielle Scher
Nathan Wiener * January 12 January 22
Jaime Arbona Lane Frank January 29
January 5 Ruth Stolaroff Ofek Belkin
Simon Karch January 23 Ellen Gulbas *
Miriam Yarber January 15 Sofia Escobar Ruth Katz *
Rita Burman Susan Feldblum Maureen Ley *
January 6 Stuart Kahn Marlene Golden
Judah Horn Jaime Papa January 30
Garrett Levin January 16 Jane Rosen *
Benjamin Hirsch January 24
January 7 Alexandra Holderman Sarah Ames * January 31
Beth McCoy * Madison Holderman Paul Lazovick Robert Duran
Sydney Reiter * Tina Wolfe * Stephen Valdes *
Tania Schwartz January 17
Alison Westermann Abraham Ettinger January 25
Shirley Washer Madison Nadler
January 8
Nicholas Munch January 18 January 27
Mimi Lait Robyn Purvin
January 9 Jerome Levy
Josiah Meyer Jennifer Litt
David Schecter
David Schonberg *

January Anniversaries
January 2 January 7 January 15 Janaury 23
Dick & Robin Krasne Rick & Leslie Otis Merton & Laura Goldman * Irvin & Alicia Nadler *

January 4 January 8 January 16 January 24

Damon & Janice Crossland Allan & Amy Goldfarb Peter & Tova Herman John & Gloria Lavis

January 5 January 11 January 17 January 26

Dick & Marlene Fass Scott & Tania Schwartz Frank & Susan Kamoroff * Ben & Ruth Taber

January 6 January 12 January 22 January 29

Andrew & Peggy Feinberg Jerry & Julie Kallman Bob & Sara Shiloff Meyer & Mindy Marcus
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Page 5 Messages from the Mountain

February Birthdays
February 1 February 9 February 15 February 23
Miriam Kotkowski Dori Fenenbock Jacqueline Babenco Alicia Nadler *
Dara Leffman * Zachary Gopin James Scherr
February 2 Miriam Pittle
Nirit Belkin February 16 February 24
Mitchell Puschett February 10 Valerie Barnett * William Carvajal
Carl Ryan Jacob Colvard Clarissa Colvard
Skip Litt Hannah Gopin February 25
February 3 Harry Nagler Jerry Appel
Marcus Appel February 11 Paige Chapman
Mollie Kern James Daross February 17 Anne (Billy) Spier *
Mila Marcus * Elizabeth de Vos * Renaye Feldt
Stanley Marcus Gershon Ettinger Elizabeth Schydlower February 26
David Metrikin Shirley Nussbaum Cindy Graff Cohen
Alan Pittle February 19 Margaret Negrete *
February 4 Jan Frame
Joyce Jaffee February 12 Paul Gulbas February 27
Justin Mendeloff Aaron Bodor * Karen Ivey Jennifer Ehrlich
Gary Nadler Robert Snow Melanie Shapiro *
February 20
February 5 February 13 Judy Amstater February 29
Amanda Marcus Christopher Burton * William E. Carvajal Charles Kovan *
Jerry Kallman Marian Daross
February 6 Samuel Schwartz Frank Kamoroff
Sandra Meehan Kristine Shecter * Suzanne Nagler
Olga Rosen
February 7 February 14
Susan Novick Mimi Gladstein February 21
Laura Knipp * Louis Alpern
February 8 Thelma Krugman Hilda Reedman *
Elizabeth Goodman-Levy Bernard Lauterbach Susan Schwartz
Valentina Restrepo Jacquelyn Spier

February Anniversaries
February 1 February 17 February 22 February 26
Tony & Robin Furman * John & Kristine Shecter Gershon & Barbara Scott Stein & Margaret
Ettinger * Negrete
February 2 February 18
Ralph & Rosa Garcia Mark & Jackie Heins * February 24 February 27
Bill & Jessica Carvajal Bill Belford & Vicki Smith
February 4 February 19 David & Susie Novick
Lou & Marie Robbins Jeff & Wendy Siegel
February 25
February 5 February 21 Jim & Marian Daross
Daniel & Michelle Ken & Barbara Given
Blumenfeld
Messages from the Mountain Page 6 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770

March Birthdays
March 1 March 9 March 15 March 24
Ross Dahman Judy Bargman Simon Bir Bertha Blackburn *
Lauryn Rosen Nina Baskind Carly Robalin Martin Colton *
Karen Spivack * Julian Borschow Catherine Glen-Puschett
Benjamin Loeb March 16 Michele Nadler
March 2 Joshua Shecter Mark Heins Jonathan Purvin
Helaine Bach
Bruce Gordon * March 10 March 17 March 26
Sarah Heins Rachelle Nedow Michelle Blumenfeld Alan Ames *
Tess Mansfield * Gary Weiser Monica Escobar * Sylvan Landau *
William Freundlich
March 3 March 11 Anthony Mullen March 27
Jaiden Kimmelman Joyce Davidoff Ben Taber Melinda Marcus
Susan Krupp * Lydia Duran
March 18 March 28
March 4 March 12 Jonathon Gopin Soheil Nazarian *
Esther Bach Lyla Bass Jimmie Parker Frankie Post
Carmela Levitt Burton Cohen Tibor Schaechner
Chad Fruithandler March 19
March 5 Leonard Heller * Thomas Dula March 29
Ellyce Kimmelman Evee Marcus Zachary Wilson
Patricia Marcus March 20
March 6 E.E. Ponsford Dora Goldstein March 30
Ethan Blumenfeld Noel Rosenbaum Barry Mann * Holli Berry
Brittain Chapman * Gene Tucker Bonnie Colton
Alexander Jaffee March 21 Tony Furman *
Jeffrey Katz * March 13 Brandon Gulbas * Fifi Heller-Kaim
Irene Zimmerman Ethan Katz * Theodore Krapin David Mansfield *
Iris Sauermilch
March 7 March 22 March 31
Harrell Rice March 14 William Bass * Janet Keeton
Stephen Riter * Abe Goldberg Louise Rice
Rachel Horn
March 8 Jim Levy March 23
Randee Mansfield Frances Niethamer James McCarthy
Samantha Pittle-Briseno Jane Snow Stanley Nankin

March Anniversaries
March 3 March 15 March 19 March 25
Dan & Leba Hirsch * Mark & Tara Schrier Bryan & Joani Schonberg Brion & Elisa Gluck *
Sid & Fay Kligman
March 4 March 16 March 20 Richard & Marilyn Rotwein
Lowell & Shirley Nussbaum Larry Lesser & Laurie Davis Jerry & Haidi Appel
March 26
March 9 March 18 March 21 Alan & Honey Phelps
Ben Loeb & Quyen Nguyen Gary & Lisa Nadler * Bill & Marcia Dahlberg
Carl Ryan & Suzi Davidoff March 29
March 14 March 24 David & Tita Kaplan
John & Bita Mobbs Adam & Dana Frank
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Page 7 Messages from the Mountain

Hamakom Y’nachem—May God Bring Comfort...

to daughters Edi Brannon and Lee Schwartz, siblings Frances Blumenthal and Albert Schwartz, and wife
Moraima Schwartz, on the death of Herbert Schwartz
to Rose Falcon on the death of her aunt, Hope Garcia
to Mimi Lait, Sue Bendalin & Joan Cherno on the death of their brother Albert Feinberg
to Amissa Burton on the death of her Aunt, Shannon McQueary
to Curtis, Jimmy & Billy Spier on the death of their Cousin, Cheryl Spier
to Alan Karp on the death of his father, Murray Karp
to Boris Kaim on the death of his Aunt, Grazia Boram
to Friends & Family on the death of Terry Liebman

Mazel Tov! Congratulations...

to parents Ashley & Michael Mansfield, grandparents Randee & Lyndon Mansfield, and great-
grandmother Sara Mansfield on the birth of Avery Katherine Mansfield on December 15, 2009.
to Becky & Keith Myers on the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer, to Christian Giese, son of Libby
Perez & Jim Giese.
to Leni Berry on the birth of her twin grandsons, Sammy & Mikey, born December 4, 2009. Parents are
Michael & Ilana Hernandez.
to Scott and Angela Feldt, parents, and Leon and Judy Feldt, grandparents, on the Bar Mitzvah of
Edward, which was celebrated at our Shabbat Morning Service on January 16.
to Charles and Carmen Yates, whose daughter Carmen was admitted to the California Bar.
to Bruce and Shelly Gopin, parents, and Sheldon and Carolyn Gopin, grandparents, on the Bar
Mitzvah of Zachary, which was celebrated at our Shabbat Morning Service on February 13.
to Rabbi Larry and Alanna Bach, parents, and Sue Feldblum, grandmother, on the Bat Mitzvah of
Helaine, which was celebrated at our Shabbat Morning Service on February 27.
to the Schwartz and Shecter Families, and particularly grandmother Nancy Schwartz and great-
grandfather Albert Schwartz, on the birth of Eden Adele Peled to Jerami Shecter and Nir Peled.

New Members
We welcome David Rothbardt, Michael Slayton, and Stuart and Dannah Meyers to membership at Temple!
We are also delighted to welcome the Lesser family to membership at Temple, and to turn this month‟s spot-
light on them. Larry Lesser, a UTEP mathematics education professor, has had several of his original songs
(e.g., "Healing Song") performed at Temple and elsewhere. His b'shert Laurie Davis, a neuroscience re-
searcher and manual/massage therapist, has a passion for making traditional Judaism welcoming and acces-
sible. Their son Judah, a 4th grader at the El Paso Jewish Academy, loves building/inventing, nature, science,
math, and music.
Messages from the Mountain
Religious School Cultural Celebration
Save the Date: March 7th
All are invited to join us for the TMS
Religious School Cultural Celebration on
March 7th, from 11:00 to 12:30, at Temple
Mount Sinai, in Schwartz Hall.
During this event, our first through sixth
grade students are given an opportunity to
present a cultural aspect of Judaism at the
Cultural Celebration. Being Jewish is a part
of our whole life, as expressed through
reading, sports, music, art, comedy, movies
and food. Our students are researching,
preparing, and creating displays for us to
learn from and appreciate during the
Cultural Celebration.
Join us as Religious School first grade
students express their Jewish identity
through Art. The second grade students
will present Jewish Folk Dance. Have a
taste of Jewish foods prepared by third
grade students and our Madrichim. Fourth
grade students will bring to light some of
our Jewish authors. Learn about some
Jewish artists and admire fifth grade
students‟ art work. And the sixth grade
students will explain and highlight
accomplishments of Jews in America.
The Tzedakah project during this event is
“A Package From Home.” We will adopt
the Elite Combat Unit consisting of thirty-
four soldiers who help protect Israel. Each
Page 8 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770
package contains a letter offering thanks
and encouragement to the soldiers. The
packages are filled with socks, warm hats
and gloves, t-shirts or two-piece long
underwear sets, candy and snacks,
toiletries, batteries…etc.
We need to raise $1,000 for thirty-four
“Packages From Home.” On November 8th,
during our Religious School Mitzvah Day
and Taco Lunch Fundraiser we raised $400,
to go toward this Special Tzedakah Project.
Also, our students will donate their
Tzedakah money collected from February
1st through March 7thth. Additionally, on
March 7th at noon we will sell tacos
(including vegetarian tacos), dessert, drinks
and Mrs. B‟s salsa.
Plan to join us on March 7th from 11:00 a.m.
to 12:30, for the Cultural Celebration and
stay and enjoy a taco lunch while visiting
with each other in Schwartz Hall. If you
would like to place a special order for salsa
or tacos, please send Grace Bir an e-mail
gbir@templemountsinai.com.
To learn more about our “Package From
Home” Tzedakah Project, please visit
apackagefromhome.org
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Page 9 Messages from the Mountain

Please remember to use your key tag each time

you shop for groceries at Albertsons.
All you need to do is have the card scanned when you check out. Temple will earn 1%
of your shopping total each time you scan the card. If you have a card from another
organization, you may scan more than one card and thereby benefit both organizations.

If you need an additional key tag, contact the Temple office.

From the Social Action Committee

At the request of a builder, El Paso City
Council has been in discussion to revise the
city ordinance on accessible housing. The
revision would reduce construction of Type A
apartments (units with walk in showers) from
5% to 2%. Three months ago, persons with
disabilities and advocates persuaded the City
Council to extend the requirement of 5% for 6
months. Builders and members of the disabled
community were asked to set up a database for
accessible apartments. Action by City Council
is expected in the coming weeks.
Because we are an aging population with
physical limitations, increasing the need for
walkers, canes and wheelchairs, we believe
there is an increase in the demand for
accessible apartments. Please write or call your
City Council Representative and let them
know how you feel.

Leaves and Stones on the Temple’s Tree of Life

Do you know that you can honor or remember a loved one with a leaf or a stone on the Tree of
Life? This beautiful work of art is displayed on the wall in the foyer at Temple just outside the
Sanctuary.
For a minimum donation of $300 for a leaf or $3,000 for a stone, the brass will be engraved
according to your instructions and will remain on the Tree of Life forever. Your donation
becomes part of the Foundation Trust and benefits Temple Mount Sinai in perpetuity.
For more information, contact Sally Parke at the Temple office at 532-5959.
Messages from the Mountain Page 10 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770

Sandra Troyer Kern Memorial Endowment Fund

At the recent Friday night service commemorating the first yahrtzeit of Sandi‟s death, I
announced the creation of the Sandra Troyer Kern Memorial Endowment Fund at
Temple. I‟d like to thank my father Martin and my sister Suzan for helping me provide
the initial funding to create this Endowment in Sandi‟s memory. Sandi‟s Fund will
now serve, in perpetuity, to help pay for activities and programs at Temple‟s Religious
School which Sandi loved and where she taught for nearly 15 years.
Earnings from Sandi‟s Fund will initially cover costs of the “It‟s A Girl‟s Thing” (IAGT)
program for 7th and 8th grade girls at Temple. IAGT is a wonderful program Sandi
loved very much and which has meant a lot to our daughter Mollie and her friends at
Temple. Sandi‟s Fund also will be renovating and refurnishing the IAGT lounge and
resource room to make that a really special and warm place for the girls to gather. That
room will be dedicated to Sandi‟s memory with a plaque on its door and pictures and
other memorabilia of Sandi inside the room. For as long as there is a Temple Mount
Sinai, this room will serve to lovingly honor Sandi.
Over time, as Sandi‟s Fund grows through reinvestment of some of its profits and
through additional donations, the Fund‟s earnings will help Temple pay for many of
the programs and activities of the Religious School. Thereby, Sandi‟s name and mem-
ory will live on and benefit, both today and in future generations, the Religious School
and children of Temple she cared so deeply about.
If any of you are so moved, you can help us grow Sandi‟s Fund by giving a gift to
Temple in Sandi‟s memory. To do so, simply write a check payable to Temple Mount
Sinai, designate the “Sandi Kern Fund” on the memo line and send it to Temple Mount
Sinai, 4408 North Stanton, El Paso, Texas 79902. By contributing to Sandi‟s Fund, you
will join us in honoring Sandi‟s memory by supporting the programs and activities at
Temple which she loved so much. Thank you!
David
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Page 11 Messages from the Mountain

On the First Anniversary of Sandi’s Death

It‟s hard to believe we‟ve been once around the sun

since Sandi‟s physical presence left us
and her spirit went on her way

Much of that year has been an involuntary journey

on a relentless roller coaster ride through time, watching as
surreal questions form in mist and fall like rain on parched earth:

How is it possible she is gone? Are we really still here without her?

From that roller coaster, I‟ve watched this first yahrtzeit approaching
like an unknown object coming from the distant desert on a long, straight road
kicking up dust, gathering momentum, creating anticipation and dread

What was at first a dot on the horizon became recognizable

as something more, the features gradually coming into focus
then arriving, suddenly, like an unwanted visitor at the doorstep

An emissary from death carrying contradictions in its hands:

the icy pain of missing her, with the warm memories of her love
the sorrow of her passing, with hoped-for comfort from the passing of time

And in that doorway within, which the dull blade of sorrow has carved
with a persistent and unyielding hand, I find a heart yet beating
that knows much more of love than it ever knew before

In those moments of knowing, the roller coaster stops

and questions crystallize in air, no longer needing answers
as love surrounds everything that was, is and will ever be

And my thoughts circle back to a gratitude which holds no contradictions:

for blessings of time shared, ways our lives transformed and became better
and for the love, most of all, that still fills my mind and heart

In these moments, the mind recalls what the heart always knows
our journey here is brief, our passage just an instant in God‟s eyes
but love, once found, stays with us for all of time

David Kern
February 1, 2010

In loving memory of Sandra Troyer Kern

7/5/52 – 2/1/09
Messages from the Mountain Page 12 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770

Noar News and Reviews

Movie and Mitzvah Night
What could be more fun than playing games with
your friends, enjoying dinner, doing a mitzvah,
and watching a good movie?! On Saturday,
December 5, eighteen Noar students gathered at
Temple Mount Sinai to do just that. Noar is a
Jewish youth group for third, fourth, and fifth
graders run by Temple Mount Sinai. The goal of
Noar is to bring Jewish children from across the
community together for fun and good deeds.
UTEP Miners Basketball Trip
The Noar students who attended the Movie and
Mitzvah Night played dreidel (to get ready for Saturday, February 6, was a good night for the
Hanukkah), celebrated Havdalah with Rabbi Bach, UTEP Miners! Thirty-five adults and students
and enjoyed a yummy pizza dinner. After dinner from the Jewish community cheered the UTEP
the students participated in a mitzvah project, basketball team on to victory over Tulsa. The
writing letters of support to Israeli soldiers. These group included children from ages six through
letters have been sent to Israel to be included in fourteen and some of their parents. The children
the care packages that “A Package from Home” came from the Noar and Mini-MSTY youth
puts together. groups, which together cover third through eighth
grades.

Before the game we gathered at Temple Mount

Sinai for snacks, mixer activities, and
Havdalah. Following Havdalah we drove to the
home of Rabbi Larry and Alanna Bach and then
walked down to the Haskins Center. The next two
hours were full of cheering, smiles, snack sharing,
and friendly conversation. The evening was
enjoyable and we all look forward to next year's
basketball outing. Go Miners!

If you are interested in having your third through

Following the letter writing we played a couple of fifth grader involved in a Jewish youth group
fun games to get to know each other better and please contact Alanna Bach at 532-5959 or
then it was time for hot chocolate, popcorn, and abach@templemountsinai.com. If you are
the movie “Up”. The students had a fabulous interested in having your sixth through eighth
time and wanted to know when we were getting grader involved in a Jewish youth group, please
together again. contact Alison Westermann at
awestermann@templemountsinai.com or 532-5959.
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Page 13 Messages from the Mountain

Gesher Refresher
Gesher (bridge in Hebrew) is a hands-on
Jewish learning program run by Temple Mt.
Sinai for children from birth through four
years and their parents. Throughout the year
children and parents explore Jewish holidays
and common preschool themes with a Jewish
twist (like “What‟s Jewish about Frogs and
Toads?” and “What‟s Jewish about Colors?”)
Our rich curriculum, designed by Alanna
Bach, includes playtime with thematic toys,
singing, movement, stories, craft projects, and
thematic snacks. Gesher meets at Temple Mt.
Sinai in Schwartz Hall from 10 to 11 am
approximately twice a month. If you are
joining us for the first time in January, there is
a $40 per family registration fee for this
program.

In February, Gesher met twice - once to

explore “What‟s Jewish about Butterflies” and
once to learn about Purim. We laughed, ate
celery and peanut butter butterflies, matzah and cream cheese.
decorated groggers, listened to stories, and
played with our friends. If this sounds like
We hope your family will join us for Jewish
fun, you‟re welcome to come join us in March. fun and learning. Please contact Alanna Bach
at abach@templemountsinai.com or 532-5959
The March Gesher class will meet on for complete registration information. We
Sunday, March 7, to learn about Passover,
hope your family will join us for Jewish fun
the holiday of Jewish freedom.
and learning. Gesher is funded in part by the
Jewish Federation of El Paso and all families
During our Passover class we will hear the are welcome to attend.
story of our escape from slavery, read a
couple of Passover books, create a Passover
craft, sing and dance, and enjoy a snack of
Messages from the Mountain
Tributes — November 20-December 21
Rabbi Bach's Discretionary Fund:
in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Skip & Teresa
Schwartz, Fifi Heller-Kaim & Boris Kaim, Michael Tomor, Blumenfeld
Bettye Kohlhagen, Mildred Marcus, and Wendy Axelrod in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld‟s Special
in honor of Ann Louise Leeds‟ Special Birthday by Bernie Anniversary by Bill & Marcia Dahlberg
& Judy Lauterbach
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special Anniversary
by Bud & Charlotte Ramenofsky
in honor of Phil Alpern‟s Special Birthday by Sara
Mansfield
in memory of Harry Miller, Werner Kohlhagen, Phyllis
Fruithandler by Bettye Kohlhagen
speedy recovery to Martin Kern by Bill & Miriam
Goldfarb
Lothar Blumenthal Fund:
in memory of David Crohn, Michael David Crohn &
Adrianne Crohn by Gloria Crohn
Campership Fund:
in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Andy Saucedo
in memory of Beatrice Pollack by Jeralyn F. Scher &
Michael Sarnoff
Caring Community Fund:
in memory of Adele Gordon by Edward & Evelyn
Schwartz
Cemetery Fund:
in memory of Evelyn Axelrod by Harrell & Louise Rice
Syd Dictor Memorial Music Fund:
in honor of Mike Abrams' Special Birthday by Rona
Dictor
in memory of Dodie Redler by Rona Dictor
Falk Religious School Endowment Fund
in honor of Harvy Falk's Special Birthday by Bob & Sara
Shiloff
Page 14 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770
Floyd Fierman Religious School Fund:
in honor of Paquita Litt's Special Birthday by Ron & Judy
in memory of Edward Sochat by Ron & Judy Blumenfeld
General Donations Fund:
in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Douglas
Waters, Bruce & Kristen Applebaum
in honor of Albert Schwartz's Special Birthday by Tibor &
Ann Schaechner
in honor of Channukah by Allen & Marlene Levine
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special Anniversary
by Carolyn Feinberg, Irene Oppenheimer, Mimi Lait,
Tibor & Ann Schaechner
in honor of Leni Berry's twin grandsons by Nat & Nanci
Maddux
in honor of Martin Kern's Special Birthday by Bob & Sara
Shiloff
in honor of Paquita Litt's Special Birthday by Tibor &
Ann Schaechner
in memory of Anita Mark by Bud & Charlotte
Ramenofsky
in memory of Bruce Litt by Ann Louise Leeds
in memory of David Stolaroff by Sharon Cotter
in memory of Edward Sochat by Larry & Joyce Anenberg
in memory of Leah Brody by Rosilyn Rivkin
in memory of Martha Goldberg by Ann Louise Leeds
in memory of Our Loved Ones by Bob & Sara Shiloff
in memory of Evelyn Axelrod by Ann & Tibor
Schaechner
speedy recovery to Julian Borschow by Abe & Annette
Goldberg
speedy recovery to Mimi Lait by Ann Louise Leeds
speedy recovery to Susie Novick by Bud & Charlotte
Ramenofsky,Bill & Marcia Dahlberg
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Page 15
Tributes — November 20-December 21
Jon L. Heller High Holiday Flower Fund:
in memory of Frank Ruiz by Fifi Heller-Kaim
Kahn Endowment Fund:
in memory of Joshua N. Kahn by Alan & Jean Kahn
Ruth Kahn and Andrew Kahn Rose Gardens:
in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by Bill &
Miriam Goldfarb, Gershon & Barbara Ettinger
Krasne Discretionary Fund:
in appreciation of Elaine & Bob Krasne by Marlene &
Allen Levine
in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by Ruth
Braun
in honor of Paquita Litt's Special Birthday by Ruth Braun
Landscaping Fund:
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special
Anniversary by Dick & Toni Harris, Valerie Barnett
in honor of Lillian Silberman's Special Birthday by Dick
& Jean Scherotter
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger:
in honor of Albert Schwartz's Special Birthday by
Edward & Evelyn Schwartz
Oppenheimer Flower Fund:
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special
Anniversary by Jeanne Moye
in memory of Anna F. Rosenberg by Ruth Braun
in memory of Corrine Alice Coleman by Steve Rosenberg in honor of the Marriage of Amy Weiss & Scott
in memory of Dina Davidoff by Joyce Davidoff Levingston by Bill & Anne Spier
in memory of Eleanor Mayer by Sister Blumenthal
in memory of Jack Marcus by Mildred Marcus
in memory of Leona Goldfarb by Bob & Shirley Goldfarb
in memory of Marla Stein by Scott Stein Family
Messages from the Mountain
in memory of Oscar David Leeser by Arthur & Rhoberta
Leeser
in memory of Robert H.Given by Barbara Given Behne
Novick MSTY Campership Fund:
in memory of Goldie Schleicher Lerner by Henry &
Harriet Geller
Jo Ann Rothbardt Petersen Healing Resource Center:
in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Barry Solomon's 50th Wedding
Anniversary by Phil & Judy Bargman
in honor of Ron & Judy Blumenfeld's Special Wedding
Anniversary by Phil & Judy Bargman
Special Oneg or Kiddush:
in memory of Elayne Bernat by Julian Bernat
in memory of Henry Silverman by John & Rita Silverman
in memory of Jon Heller by Fifi Heller-Kaim
in memory of Joseph Heller by Fifi Heller-Kaim
in memory of Leo Rosen by Sig & Olga Rosen
in memory of Rose Bilsky by Estelle Goldman
in memory of Anne Elizabeth Hawkinson by Lietzie
Belford
Tree Of Life
in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by
Louann Pranses, Sydney Goltz, Eddie & Laurie Knipp
Rabbi Ken & Sue Weiss URJ Youth Travel Fund:
in appreciation of Greta Duran & Lori Gaman by Alison
Westermann and Stacy Berry
Zork Memorial Library Fund:
in honor of Paquita‟s Litt's Special Birthday by Bill &
Miriam Goldfarb, Lillian Silberman, Phil & Judy
Bargman
in memory of Jerry Harris by Ruth Braun
Messages from the Mountain
Tributes — December 22-January 29
Alfred Blumenthal Video History Fund
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bruce & Erline
Gordon
Campership Fund
in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by D. F. Tavana
Caring Community Fund
in honor of Sue & Frank Kamofoff's Special
Anniversary by Bob & Elaine Krasne, Bob & Sara
Shiloff, Marty & Bonnie Colton
Cemetery Fund
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Dorothy Borschow
Choir Fund
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bill & Anne Spier,
Donna Munch
Floyd Fierman Religious School Fund
in honor of Ruth Katz's Special Birthday by Stuart &
Frances Kahn
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Jay & Mary Heins,
Ruth Oppenheim
Friedman/Bloom/Rothstein Outdoor Chapel
in honor of Fanny Laufer Special Birthday by Karl
Friedman
in memory of Fae Tyroler by Phil & Ann Rothstein
General Donations Fund
in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Douglas
Waters
in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Nat &
Nanci Maddux
Page 16 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770
General Donations Fund
in honor of Jane Rosen's Special Birthday by Bill &
Marcia Dahlberg, Bob & Sara Shiloff, Dick & Jean
Scherotter, Norma Levenson, Sara Mansfield, Steve &
Marlene Golden
in honor of Lola May's Special Birthday by Anne
Hollander
in honor of Robert & Naida Lipson's Special
Anniversary by Sara Mansfield
in honor of Sam Ellowitz's Special Birthday by Bud &
Charlotte Ramenofsky
in memory of A. Lee Crawford by Pat Crawford
in memory of Alma Curry by Bill & Marcia Dahlberg
in memory of Eddie Sochat by Jim & Anne Spier
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bill & Miriam
Goldfarb, Bob & Jane Snow, Bob & Sara Shiloff, Bud &
Charlotte Ramenofsky, Buddy Schwartz, Curtis &
Jacquelyn Spier, Dick & Jean Scherotter, Dick &
Marlene Fass, Bill & Marcia Dahlberg..
Dick & Toni Harris, Don & Margie Henderson, Doris
Pryzant, Edward & Evelyn Schwartz, Eleanor
Goodman, Irma Oppenheim, Jim & Anne Spier, Joyce
Davidoff, Ken & Barbara Given, Lillian Silberman,
Marty & Bonnie Colton, Nat & Nanci Maddux, Norma
Levenson,
Schmid, Broaddus, Nugent & Gano Accountants,
Stephen & Heather Caine, Stuart & Shari Schwartz,
Sally, Joseph,& Marlyn Strelitz, Barbara & Gershon
Ettinger
in memory of Leah Brody by Rosilyn Rivkin
in memory of Ivan Chavez by Olivia Chavez
in memory of Joe Siegel by Alan & Mimi Pittle
in memory of Laura Sommer by Jon & Arlene Sonnen,
Sylvia Gershowitz
in memory of Murray Karp by Stuart & Shari Schwartz
Jon Heller High Holiday Fund Donation
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Fifi Heller-Kaim &
Boris Kaim
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Page 17 Messages from the Mountain

Tributes — December 22-January 29

Isadore Kahn Memorial Fund Special Oneg or Kiddush
in honor of Keith & Becky Myers' daughter, Jennifer‟s in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Leon &
engagement by Stuart & Frances Kahn Judy Feldt, Scott & Angela Feldt
in honor of Ann Louise Leeds' Special Birthday by in memory of Josefina Holguin by Fifi Heller-Kaim &
Buddy & Ellen Dorfman Boris Kaim
in honor of Stuart Kahn's Birthday by Buddy & Ellen
Dorfman E Oppenheimer Flower Fund
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Stuart & Frances in honor of the baby naming of Cara Sala by Valerie
Kahn Frost
in honor of Edward Feldt‟s Bar Mitzvah by Angela &
Amelia G. Krohn Basic Judaism Collection Scott Feldt
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Jim & Patricia in memory of David Dichter & Dorothy Solomon by
Krohn Edward & Helene Solomon
in memory of Effie Parker & Herman Klee by Jim &
Jo Ann Rothbardt Petersen Healing Resource Center Carol Parker

in memory of Ed Sochat by Ed & Lory Oppenheimer in memory of Florence Adler Jacob by Terren & Maria
Klein
speedy recovery to David Rothbardt by Bud &
Charlotte Ramenofsky in memory of Hedwig Grunebaum by Jim & Carol
Parker
in memory of Hilde Mason & Bertha Juda by Jim &
Krasne Discretionary Fund
Carol Parker
in honor of Bob & Naida Lipson's Special Anniversary
in memory of Jacques Belbel by Roger & Trish Belbel
by Marty & Bonnie Colton
in memory of Jean Feinberg by Steve Feinberg & Susan
in honor of Jane Rosen's Special Birthday by Bill &
Foote
Anne Spier, Bob & Elaine Krasne, Marty & Bonnie
Colton in memory of Phyllis Fruithandler by Ross & Linda
Fruithandler
in memory of Alma Curry by Bob & Elaine Krasne
in memory of Sara Krasne & Harold Novak by Bob &
in memory of Audry Given by Marty & Bonnie Colton
Elaine Krasne
in memory of Eddie Sochat by Marty & Bonnie Colton,
Bill & Anne Spier
Prayer Book Fund
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Bob & Elaine
Krasne, Ruth Braun in memory of Lucy Bleiberg by Al Bleiberg

Landscape Special Projects Fund Rabbi Bach's Discretionary Fund

in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Audrey & Eitan in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Estelle
Lavi, Suzie & Lillian Schaechner Goldman

MAZON Fund in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Julian Bernat

in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special

(Continued on page 18)
Anniversary by Ed & Lory Oppenheimer
Messages from the Mountain
Tributes — December 22-January 29
Rabbi Bach's Discretionary Fund (continued)
in appreciation of Rabbi Larry Bach by Ron & Judy
Blumenfeld
in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Sara
Mansfield
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special
Anniversary by Ross & Linda Fruithandler
in honor of Stella Couch's naming by Charles & Carry
Couch
in memory of Bing Borschow by Molly Rosen
in memory of Eddie Sochat by Judy Leonard
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Judy Leonard, Molly
Rosen
in memory of Murray Karp by Ross & Linda
Fruithandler
in memory of Regina F. Eisner by David Eisner
SKIP Fund
in honor of Edward Feldt's Bar Mitzvah by Donna
Munch
in honor of Judy & Ron Blumenfeld's Special
Anniversary by Tony & Lindsay Gronich
Religious School Toner Cartridge Fund
You‟ve heard the saying “One Man‟s
Trash is Another Man‟s Treasure”. As part of
a Religious School Fundraiser, may we be the
recipient of your used (empty) toner and ink
cartridges? They can be any brand or size of
toner/ink cartridge available.
Staples Office Supply will give us a
$3.00 credit (to buy supplies for our Religious
School) for each toner or ink cartridge we
bring in.
We will collect the toners/ink car-
tridges at Temple and periodically make trips
Page 18 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770
in honor of Sam Ellowitz's Special Birthday by Larry &
Joyce Anenberg
in honor of Sue & Frank Kamoroff's Special Anniversary
by Larry & Joyce Anenberg
in memory of Herbert Schwartz by Tony & Lindsay
Gronich
in memory of Cheri Spier by Larry & Joyce Anenberg
A & S Stolaroff Fund
in memory of Beulah Schuadig by William Loventhal III
& Rita Loventhal
Youth Fund
in memory of Murray Herschel Karp by Dennis & Anat
Reiter
Zork Library Fund
in memory of Bruce Litt by Jim & Patricia Krohn
to Las Cruces to redeem them for credit at the
Staples Office Supply Store.
I will make arrangements to pick-up
your used toner and ink cartridges. Thank
you for your support. Please contact me at
gbir@templemountsinai.com or 532-5959, ext.
27.
Thank you,
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Page 19 Messages from the Mountain

Young Adults of Mount Sinai (YAMS)

YAMS is the newest chavurah--affinity group at
Temple! These young adults range in age from
22-39 and are passionate about their Judaism.
The group meets monthly and would love for
you to join them. Each month features Jewish
learning and community building.
Along with their monthly events YAMS are
actively engaged with the Center Against
Family Violence. Danielle Scher, organizer of
YAMS states, “Think globally, act locally! As
members of YAMS we are committed to the
Jewish teaching of Tikkun Olam, “repairing the
world.” As YAMS we are rooted into our local
community and can only begin to repair the
world by helping those around us. Therefore,
YAMS is collecting all of those little toiletries
(shampoo, conditioner, soap ,lotion) that you
pick up at hotels. These will all be donated to
the Center Against Family Violence in El Paso
(http://www.cafv.org). There will be a box at
Temple for anyone who wants to make a
donation.”
In February, the group met at Crawdaddy‟s to
learn how to make mixed drinks (Tequila and
Tefilah) . Rabbi Bach led a discussion on how to
make prayer a part of today‟s busy lives.
For the month of March they plan to have a
movie night (date pending) and would love to
see more congregants participating.
Again, bring your toiletries! If you have any
questions or comments please do not hesitate to
contact Danielle Scher (dscher82@gmail.com) or
Hedy Uecker (hedvoguecker@yahoo.com) and
they will be more than happy to assist you.

Upcoming Community Events

Passover Family Event at TMS Sunday March 28th from 9:30—12:00
El Paso families are invited to Temple for a morning of Passover games, crafts and a model seder.
Please RSVP to Alanna Bach at abach@templemountsinai.com by Wednesday March 24.

Community Passover Seder at TMS Tuesday March 30th at 6:00

The Temple will be hosting a community Passover seder. Adults: $18 Children (5-12): $9 Children
Under 4 are free. Please RSVP by March 23 by calling 532-5959 or email:
bschwartz@templemountsinai.com. “Let all who are hungry come and eat”

Second Annual Jewish Women’s Retreat May 14-16, 2010

Join Temple Mt. Sinai for our second annual Jewish Women‟s Retreat in the beautiful Sacramento
Mountains. Take this opportunity to remove yourself from the pressures of everyday life in El Paso
and focus on friendship, Judaism, and personal growth. The weekend programming will be a mixture
of prayer, adventure, and relationship building. We will stay in hotel-style accommodations at the
Sacramento Methodist Assembly Retreat Center. This year‟s programming promises to be as fabulous
as last year‟s – this is an event you won‟t want to miss!

For more information or to RSVP for the retreat, please contact Alanna Bach at
abach@templemountsinai.com or 532-5959.
Messages from the Mountain Page 20 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770

Lunch and Learn, March 16 at 11:45 am

Take the opportunity to learn with friends as our Lunch and Learn series continues on March
16. We‟ll begin at 11:45 am as a delicious lunch is served.
Rabbi Bach will take a break from teaching and be a student this month, as our guest teacher,
Rabbi David Forman, explores the topic, “Can a Jewish State be a Democratic State?” Learn
more about Rabbi Forman on the front page of this bulletin.

Future lunch and learn dates are April 6 and May 4.

Lunches are $10 each. Please send in your check if you want to prepay or call Buddy Schwartz
at 532-5959 or email him at bschwartz@templemountsinai.com

B’nai Shabbat
Do you have children in first grade or experiential Shabbat service conducted on the
younger? Do they like to sing and dance? Do bimah in the main sanctuary at Temple. At the
they like to sit in a circle and listen to stories? service there will be candle lighting, singing
with Rabbi Bach, and joyful praying.
B‟nai Shabbat participants are invited to join
the rest of the congregation at 5:45 pm for a
delicious oneg prepared by Simon Bir.
Following the oneg, childcare will be available
the children. Parents are invited to enjoy an
adult service beginning at 6:15 pm.

Please join us for the B‟nai Shabbat Service on

Friday, March 12, at 5:15 pm in Temple‟s
main sanctuary. To RSVP for the service or
for more information please contact Alanna
Bach at 532-5959 or
If you answered yes to any of these questions, abach@templemountsinai.com.
please bring your children and join us to
welcome Shabbat at our special B‟nai Shabbat
services once a month. B‟nai Shabbat is an
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Page 21 Messages from the Mountain

Why is Passover in the Spring?

The Torah places great stress on the fact that Passover occurs in the spring. In biblical times, the
month in which the holiday fell was called Aviv (spring). During the first exile in Babylon, the
months were given Babylonian names. Passover's month was renamed Nisan. Although the
name shifted, the Hebrews upheld the Torah's insistence on the link of spring and Passover.

Critical scholars believe that the date connects spring festivals (the Feast of Unleavened Bread
from pastoral roots and the Paschal lamb from shepherd traditions) that were absorbed into the
Passover holiday. In this view, the earlier ritual elements were incorporated and reinterpreted as
historical reminders of redemption. Many traditional scholars have objected to any attempt to
place the Torah in a cultural context. Some, such as Maimonides, have seen no religious objection
to having the Sinaitic revelation transform earlier elements into the Torah's theological/historical
pattern, as long as its divinity is upheld.

The Torah stresses both the agricultural and the historical aspects of Passover. There is a strong
but subtle relationship of nature and history in the Bible's teachings. The human being is a
body/soul fusion. Somatic states affect the mind just as strong emotions--jealousy, anger, lust--
rack the body. Because the spiritual and the biological are intertwined, shifts in one dimension
translate into shifts in the other. The reward of righteousness is long life; living in harmony with
the divine blessing yields prosperity and fertility. Moral evil pollutes the land; cruelty to other
humans drives away the Divine. The fullest spiritual development will take place when the peo-
ple feel secure and rooted in the land. In the messianic age, when humans will "know" God, peo-
ple will dwell under their own trees and vines in peace and harmony.

Thus, in the Bible, human and natural phenomena are read at two levels simultaneously. The
Hebrew Scriptures are this-worldly. Nature is true substance; the world of biological phenomena
is not illusion. Yet, while these phenomena are real, they also reflect the divine realm, which
transcends nature. The people of Israel are at once a human family with self-interests, sibling ri-
valries, and daily cares, and also witnesses of Divine Presence in the world. The land of Israel is
at once a land of milk and honey, of rain and mountain springs, and the land on which God
keeps a divine eye from year's beginning to year's end.

Biblical language and symbol point to spring as the proper season for deliverance. The rebirth of
earth after winter is nature's indication that life overcomes death: spring is nature's analogue to
redemption. Life blossoming, breaking winter's death grip, gives great credence to the human
yearning for liberation.

A correct reading of the spring season would hear its message of breaking out and life reborn at
the biological level simultaneously with an Exodus message of good overcoming evil, of love
overpowering death, of freedom and redemption. The Bible envisions a world in which moral
and physical states coincide, when nature and history, in harmony, confirm the triumph of life.
The Exodus paradigm suggests that the outcome of history will be an eternal spring. Read with a
historical/theological hermeneutic, spring is Exodus.
Messages from the Mountain Page 22 March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770

more from the Rabbi’s Study…

The following is a reflection prepared for a program
measurable spaces: hospital rooms, the living
I’m currently enrolled in, the Institute for Jewish
room at a shivah minyan, and even the Chapel. I
Spirituality’s Rabbinical Leadership Program. I find the notion of a personal, providential
share it here, and hope it prompts some theologizing
deity often brings tremendous comfort in those
on your part. places, and I am quite comfortable reflecting
In seminary, the arch-rationalist Professor of back others‟ affirmations of that God. I don‟t
Philosophy, Alvin Reines (z”l), was on a feel the need to convince anyone that their
mission to break his students of their theism. I belief system is wrong, even if it isn‟t one that I
don‟t believe I was much of a traditional theist necessarily share. If “God wanted…” offers
to begin with, but I wasn‟t hostile to the someone a measure of relief from pain, then
concept or its adherents, and so I pushed back who am I to argue? On the other hand, I also
against his teaching, hard. One moment from know that many people are wrestling as I am
class has stuck with me, and even now is the with the idea of God-as-Process, and they are
framework in which I place my own often delighted to find that their rabbi shares
theological reflection. their more inwardly-oriented, mystical
theology.
Reines was on a tear that day, railing against
religious supernaturalism. “We know that I am increasingly at home with non-theistic,
Euclid was all wrong about space! Einstein process theology. To return to the metaphor, I
proved it! Parallel lines meet! Space bends! To find that non-Euclidian geometry is the best
insist that it doesn‟t in the face of scientific way for me to measure the area of my yoga
evidence makes as much sense as maintaining mat, or that of my desk, covered with
the existence of an invisible „Person‟ who commentaries of the early Hasidic masters and
creates and guides the universe! Traditional latter-day teachers like Art Green. I feel best
Jewish theology is to reality as Euclid is to when I‟m aware of divine shefa and chiut
Einstein!” (It made an impression, and I think animating me (and everything), all at once. I
that‟s more or less verbatim, including the am less moved, personally, when I talk to God,
exclamation points). the transcendent Other.

My response (not verbalized; there was no
point in arguing with Dr. Reines): “Yeah, but
I‟d rather have Euclid measure my floors for
tile.” If I want to know the space of a room,
Euclidian geometry is indispensible and
quantum mechanics rather useless.
Ultimately, I believe that both of these ways of
relating to Divine Reality are metaphors, more
or less useful to different people in different
moments, and I‟m grateful to have an
elementary grasp of both of them and the
flexibility to speak through each.

This “Euclid-Einstein tension” metaphor stuck As always, I’d be delighted to know your thoughts.
with me, and has helped me to navigate my Shalom,
world. So much of my life takes place in
Rabbi Bach
March 2010/Adar-Nisan 5770 Page 23 Messages from the Mountain

Community Hanukkah Celebration

activities by ages: The 0-4 year olds had a
special play and craft room. The 5-11 years olds
separated into classrooms for age appropriate
lessons. The middle schoolers joined Rabbis
Rosenthal, Bach, and Leon for a mixer, story,
and a discussion. Parents accompanied their
children in these special activities.

To conclude the morning everyone came

together in the social hall for the EPJA Drama
Club‟s production of “The Chanukah Candle
Caper”. During the morning Temple Mt.
Sinai‟s Men of Reform Judaism prepared five
different types of latkes. After the play the
middle schoolers judged the latkes for the Lip
Temple Mount Sinai and Congregation B‟nai
Licking Latke Contest. The winning latkes were
Zion came together on Sunday, December 13,
prepared by Scott Feldt - the family special
for a community Hanukkah family event. The
latkes!
morning was full of laughter, fun, learning, and
creating. It all began at 9:15 am with This was a fabulous community celebration
registration, dropping off mitzvah gifts, and a enjoyed by over 200 people!
Hanukkah quiz. Once everyone had arrived we
proceeded into the chapel for a Hanukkah sing-
down with Rabbi Bach, Ray Sias, and Bill
Radcliff. Then the answers to the quiz were
revealed with prizes to those who answered
correctly.

Next eight “characters” from the Hanukkah

story came up in full costume to introduce
themselves to the group. A little taste … the
Hanukkiah told us, “Count my branches, there
are nine. One for each day, a candle will shine.
Using the shamash we light from left to right.
Lighting one more candle each night”.

The next part of the morning included learning

Temple Mount Sinai NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
4408 North Stanton Street U.S. Postage
El Paso, TX 79902 PAID
EL Paso TX
Phone: 915-532-5959 Permit No. 1386
Fax: 915-533-0092
www.templemountsinai.com

Mailing Address

Staff
Rabbi..................................................................... Larry Bach
Rabbi Emeritus......................................................Ken Weiss
Administrator.......................................................Sally Parke
Temple Mount Sinai is the Reform
Administrative Assistant ............................Buddy Schwartz
Religious School Director .......................................Grace Bir
Jewish congregation serving El
Outreach Director .............................................. Susan Jaffee
Family Educator ................................................ Alanna Bach
Paso, Texas.
Youth Advisors .......... Stacy Berry and Alison Westermann
Bulletin Editors ................................. Mark and Tara Schrier We are a congregation of
Building Manager ..................................... Frank Hernandez
House Keeping............................................ Ramona Pinales supportive, caring and diverse
Accompanist.................................................. Linda McClain
people with a rich history.
Officers
David Kern ............................................................. President Temple is a place for prayer, ritual,
Shari Schwartz .............................................. President-Elect
Marian Daross ................................................ Vice President spirituality, education, wholeness
Greta Duran ................................................... Vice President
Ellen Goodman .............................................. Vice President and healing, social action and
Jon Sonnen...................................................... Vice President
Tommy Goldfarb ........................................... Vice President celebration.
Stephanie Calvo ...................................................... Secretary
Marcia Dahlberg ..........................Immediate Past President
Join us as we explore, through these
Trustees
Rick Amstater, Olivia Chavez, Joyce Davidoff,
elements of sacred living, the
Scott Feldt, Lori Gaman, Susie Goldman,
Jack Heydemann, David Leffman,
richness of Jewish faith and
David Mansfield, Hal Marcus, David Novick
Debby Robalin, Phil Rothstein
tradition.