Chanukah Blessings Page 18.

First Light, Tuesday, December 20

December, 2011/ 5772 Kislev-Tevet

Number 626

Join Temple Mount Sinai as we honor Rodef Shalom recipients Elaine and Bob Krasne

and celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of our building Saturday, February 25, 2012 details to follow

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Worship Schedule
December 2-3, 2011 Parashat Vayetzei Friday, December 2 Candlelighting, 4:44 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm Camp Shabbat Saturday, December 3 Torah Study, 9:30 am Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:14 pm December 9-10 Parashat Vayishlach Friday, November 11 Candlelighting, 4:44 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm JNF Shaliach Ron Bernstein, Special Guest Saturday, December 10 Torah Study, 9:30 am Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:14 pm December 16-17 Parashat Vayeshev Friday, December 16 Candlelighting, 4:46 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm Saturday, December 17 Torah Study, 9:30 am Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:16 pm December 23-24 Parashat Miketz Friday, December 23 Candlelighting, 4:49 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm Saturday, December 24 Torah Study, 9:30 am Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:20 pm December 30-31 Parashat Vayigash Friday, December 30 Candlelighting, 4:53 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15 pm Saturday, December 31 Torah Study, 9:30 am Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:24 pm January 6-7 Parashat Vayechi Friday, January 6 Candlelighting, 4:59 pm Oneg Shabbat, 5:45 pm Family Service, 6:15 pm Saturday, January 7 Torah Study, 9:30 am Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Havdalah, 6:30 pm

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December Birthdays
December 1 Joshua Kallman Aaron Velasco December 2 Donna Munch December 3 Marci Karch Jason Marcus Lillian Silberman December 4 Bob Brannon Heather Chapman Julian Horwitz* Shana Levin Sylvia Levin December 6 Eva Pearlman December 7 Hal Ettinger Linda Fruithandler Ashley Mansfield December 9 Bernadine Belkin Rebecca Krasne* Leti Stevens December 10 Ann Louise Leeds Abrielle Meyer December 11 Stephanie Calvo* Chet Frame December 12 Melanie Blumenfeld* Terren Klein* Sig Rosen Phil Rothstein December 13 Martin Kern December 14 Noelle Powers Eric Saks Scott Schwartz December 15 Joe Horn* Avery Mansfield December 16 Paquita Litt December 17 Annette Goldberg December 18 Damon Crossland Lucy Garcy* Carrie Snow December 19 Dan Hirsch Mickey Schwartz December 20 Kaylen Duran Chris Holderman* Allyson Holland December 21 Ian Mobbs December 22 Leah Gluck Miriam Goldfarb Arlene Levenson David Marcus December 23 Allan Goldfarb Josh Meyer December 24 Edward Feldt* Norman Gordon Ruth Taber December 25 Judy Lauterbach December 26 Norma Levenson Ross Rotwein December 27 Matthew Bowman Barbara Given December 28 Keeley Burton Carolyn Feinberg* Molly Goldman Merrill Krupp Mark McCoy December 30 Connie Finke December 31 Arnold Bowman Michelle Ducorsky

December Anniversaries
December 5 Bert & Bert Blackburn December 6 Sig & Olga Rosen December 15 Tom & Sandy Dula December 19 Lou & Laura Alpern December 20 Marshall & Stacy Berry* December 21 Aaron & Sylvia Wechter December 23 Jay & Marilyn Mendeloff* December 26 Milton & Joan Cherno Harry & Suzanne Nagler December 27 Marty & Bonnie Colton Nancy Laster & Ross Dahman Jon & Arlene Sonnen December 28 Keith & Becky Myers December 30 John & Karen Ivey December 31 Bob & Edi Brannon*

*Special 5 or 10 year birthday or anniversary

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Mazel Tov! Congratulations...

...to John and Kristine Shecter on the engagement of their son, Sean Phillip Shecter, to Nicole Andriola. ...to Orit Eylon and Frank Pemberton on the birth of their son, Joel Adam Pemberton. ...to Lenee and Jaime Papa, Jr. on the birth of their son, Kai Mason Papa. Grandparents are Jaime and Laurie Papa, Susan Papa, and Martin and Adel Reyes. ...to Dr. David Novick, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, and Professor in the Department of Computer Science, who has been appointed to the Mike Loya Distinguished Chair in Engineering.

Hamakom Ynachem May God bring comfort...

...to Janet Keeton on the death of her father, Dr. Lloyd Mark. ...to Sue Feldblum and Rabbi Larry Bach on the death of their brother and uncle, Dennis Cohen. ...to Arlene Sonnen on the death of her aunt, Ray Sommers Leonard. ...to Rochelle Saks on the death of her husband, Erik Saks. ...to the family and friends of Kitty Suhler. ...to Fifi Heller on the death of her aunt, Bertha Blanco. ...to the family and friends of Ruth Stolaroff.

WRJ Happenings
Well it's December, so it can only mean one thing if you are Jewish...Hanukkah is coming! One of WRJ's biggest fundraisers of the year has traditionally been the selling of beautifully bagged delicious Hanukkah cookies. We use the funds raised from cookie sales to support the Campership Program at Temple. Camperships help parents send their children to Jewish camps during the summer. Jewish camping is one of the proven factors in our youth maintaining Jewish identities into the future as adults. That being said, our cookie sales really mean a lot! We're asking you to help with this project in any way you can - come to help prepare the cookies, order bags of cookies, or both! See the back page of this bulletin to place an order.

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MRJ World Series Pool

The World Series of Baseball has come to an end. Many thanks to all who helped this year. Your efforts will send another child to summer camp this year! Thank you! Congratulations go to this years winners: Max Mansfield and Harry Levy hit home runs and split first and second place; Merton Goldman had the third-place card; fourth and fifth places were split by Phoebe Mansfield, A. Castro, Tess Mansfield, John Reynolds, Gil Holland, Simon and Grace Bir, Bonnie Colton, Merton Goldman, and Bob Rosen.

TMS Community Garden

"By the sweat of your face you shall eat." On Sunday November 20, the El Paso sun was shining, the wind was low, and a volunteer minyan came out to create Temple Mount Sinai's new community garden. Our day began with a lovely dedication by Rabbi Bellush, as we asked God to "bless our efforts to bring forth food from the earth." With just a little heavy lifting and digging, we were able to put together two raised beds that will be ready for a spring garden. We plan on growing a variety of vegetables and herbs and will be using them for Friday night onegs, religious school, and of course for the volunteers to make fresh, local, and healthful meals at home. Thank you to our volunteers: Bob Snow, Arnie Bellush, Ashley, Michael, Cameron and Avery Mansfield, Aida Samaniego, Cindy Cohen, and Maria Klein. Everyone is still invited to join our group, temple members and guests alike. Please contact Danielle Scher for more information: 305-979-4766 or dscher82@gmail.com

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Laura Tate Goldman Moves the Earth with a tribute to the music of Carole King
The El Paso community packed Schwartz Hall on November 10 to tap their toes, swing their hips, and hum to the tunes of some of their favorite classics by Carole King. The concert, performed by Laura Tate Goldman, Dan Lambert and the Double Drum Trio, was a spectacular performance that is still receiving rave reviews! The event was held to support programs and projects for Temple Mount Sinai, but audience members will paint a much different picture of the eveningit was filled with exceptional food and libations, a beautiful setting, great entertainment, and, most importantly a chance to meet and catch up with friends. Plans are already underway to hold more fun events like this in the future! Special thanks goes out to an incredible group of women who helped coordinate the show: Leslie Beckoff, Stephanie Calvo, Lori Gaman, Cyd Goldfarb, Susie Goldman, Ellen Goodman, Cindy Graff-Cohen, Jackie Heins, Cheryl Karp, Rebecca Krasne, Nancy Laster, Becky Myers, Susie Novick, Shari Schwartz, Marilyn Silverstein, and Jane Snow; plus, sincere gratitude to Laura Tate Goldman for supporting the Temple with her generous performance. Rabbi Bach deserves a standing ovation for singing a couple of favorite songs in harmony with Laura; and hats off to our bartenders Alyssa Goldman, Jessica Goldman, Christian and Jennifer Giese, Alex Jaffee, Justin Pretiger, and Danielle Scherr.

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Norman Rockwell Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of Art Thursday, December 15

If you were born before 1960, you likely remember fondly the classic magazine covers, advertisements, and calendars illustrated by the man often known as Americas best-loved artist of the 20th century, Norman Rockwell. On Thursday, December 15, Temple Mount Sinai adults of any age are invited to get a close -up look at Rockwells work at the El Paso Museum of Art. As part of its outreach efforts, the TMS Membership Committee is hosting a special tour of the museums two popular visiting exhibits, Picturing Health: Norman Rockwell and the Art of Illustration and Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., Michael Tomor, director of the museum and president of El Pasos Jewish Federation, will tell us a bit about how our museum was able to host this important exhibition. Museum docents Joyce Anenberg and Cindy Graff Cohen will then conduct a brief survey of key works and get you started on exploring on your own the more than 100 paintings, sketches, magazine covers, advertisements, and photographs that help represent the scope and stages of the artists work from inspiration to completion. Special thanks to Shari and Stuart Schwartz, co-sponsors of the Behind the Camera exhibit which provides a rare glimpse into the artists creative process. Both exhibits close December 30. After our museum visit, attendees are invited to join us for a no-host dinner at a to-be-determined restaurant. Due to space constraints, reservations for the tour or the tour-plus-dinner will be limited to the first 50 people who respond. Reservations are required no later than Monday, December 12. Please call Becky Myers at 581-5162 or email beckymyers75@gmail.com to reserve your place. Any questions, please call Cindy Graff Cohen at 833-4526.

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Religious School Mitzvah Day

On Sunday, Novmber 6, we gathered in the Chapel at 9:30 for Tefilah led by Rabbi Bach and Rabbi Bellush. Michelle Blumenfeld (our Mitzvah Day Coordinator) thanked everyone for all of their donations. As students walked into the Chapel, they placed their donated items in the vestibule of the chapel. (Madrichim helped take the items from the Chapel to the Art Room to be sorted until pick-up time.) After Tfilah, everyone returned to their classroom for a CHAI GMilut Chasadim (Deeds Of Kindness) lesson, then began working on their Mitzvah projects. The Pre- Kinder thru 3rd grade (led by their teachers and teaching assistants) divided seeds into small baggies and inserted a label that identified the seeds. These baggies were sent back to the Dinner Garden, an organization that helps to fight hunger. The Dinner Garden takes ten different types of seeds, puts them in larger bags with planting instructions, then sends them out to families, schools and organizations. The 4th thru 6th grade students decorated two hundred plastic bags with stickers and then added six different types of sweet snacks into the bags to be donated to Kellys Food Pantry. When these students finished their project they went outside to help the 7th & 8th grade students with their project. The 7th/8th and some MSTY-ites, (led by Tina, Ian and Stacy) met in the parking lot next to Zielonka Hall and began washing the white chairs we use throughout the year. Frank set out the chairs, brushes, soap, towels, and a water hose. All of the students (and their parents) participated in the Hidden Treasures Mitzvah Project by donating clothing, blankets, toys and books, and bringing plastic and paper grocery bags for the Kellys Food Pantry Mitzvah Project. At 11:45 a.m., students, teachers, teaching assistants, and parents met in Schwartz Hall for a
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Taco Lunch Fundraiser. The money collected at this fundraiser is for our special Religious School Tzedakah Project, Trees For Temple. We raised $381.35, ($281 in food/dessert/drink sales and $100 donated by grandparents. It is nice to see our families and students come together at the end of the Mitzvah projects and enjoy eating and socializing together. A very special Thank You goes out to everyone who contributed their time and energy during our Mitzvah Day Event. Scott and Bonnie Stevens, Esther Furrer, Bita Mobbs, Jennifer Pratt, Linda Miner and Michelle Blumenfeld sorted and bagged all of the items donated for the Hidden Treasures project. Monica Escobar, Angela and Renaye Feldt, Carly, Shana and Gabe Levin, Rivkah Meyer, Maddie Goldfarb and Grace Bir met on Saturday to prepare the tacos and salsa. Noelle Powers, Angela Feldt, Maddie Goldfarb and Grace Bir also baked for the sale. Sunday morning, Simon Bir, David Wolfe, JoAnn Farley, and Jaime Papa worked in the kitchen frying the tacos. Elisa Gluck collected the money and the Madrichim assisted with the sale of cupcakes, drinks and salsa. Rabbi Bellush (with assistance from students and Madrichim) loaded her vehicle with twohundred goodie bags and lots and lots of plastic and paper grocery bags for Kellys Pantry, and delivered everything on Monday morning. Frank Hernandez helped with the set-up before our event and the clean up afterwards. We certainly appreciate all of Franks support and hard work for our Religious School. Please plan to join us for our next big event: a pre-Chanukah celebration of learning, held jointly with the Congregation Bnai Zion Talmud Torah. Well meet at Congregation Bnai Zion (805 Cherry Hill Lane) at 9:30 am on Sunday, December 11 for a morning of learning, fun, crafts, and food. Parents are urged to stay and be a part of the activities.

Throughout the 2011-2012 school year, Temple Mount Sinais Religious School will fundraise to help buy new trees for Temple. We plan to raise money via two fundraising lunches, proceeds from the Hebrew School Snack Shack, bake sales, and most importantly, through the support of our wonderful Religious School families! To make a donation, please be in touch with Grace Bir or Sally Parke in the Temple office. Gifts of any size are appreciated; each new tree is expected to cost approximately $200.

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Rabbi Bachs New New Testament?

[Rabbis Without Borders, the initiative of CLAL that I took part in last year, has begun a daily blog at myjewishlearning.com. I write a piece every other Tuesday. Heres my offering from November 29. LAB] The seminary: Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, affiliated with the Reform movement. The class: The New Testament, taught by Rabbi Michael Cook. A classmates copy of the Oxford Study Bible falls to the floor. The student asks, Do I kiss it? To which another quips, without missing a beat: Dependswhat side did it land on? I thought about that moment on Friday when I read the New York Times Beliefs column, which included a nice review of a new commentary on the Christian Bible (or New Testament, in Christian parlance). What makes this commentary very interesting is that is was written entirely by Jews chiefly, Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler. Ive gotten my copy, and Ive spent some time leafing through it. It appears to be an invaluable resource for rabbis and scholars, which is no surprise, given the lineup of writers who contributed (a lineup which includes my teacher, Michael Cook). But Ill go further and say that the New Testament this New Testament, in particular is a book that belongs in every Jewish home. Im joking, right? Just how without borders, are these rabbis, recommending that Jews buy copies of that book? So let me clarify by saying that I dont believe Jews ought to read this book for devotional purposes. To give it a place in the canon, to treat it as Torah, would be to step over a border that Im not the least bit interested in questioning or crossing. No, I recommend the Jewish Annotated New Testament because I believe that an appreciation of this book can enhance the Jewishness the authentic Jewishness of Jewish homes. I believe this is so, in the first instance, because so many Jews have a visceral, negative reaction to the very idea of the Christian Bible. We come by those feelings honestly (two millennia of Church -sponsored antisemitism leaves a mark), but fear of a book is unbecoming the people of the book. Ignorance is nothing to be proud of, and willful ignorance even less so. Thus, the simple act of bringing this book into our homes may be a step away from a fear-driven relationship to Christianity. Furthermore, the vast majority of American Jews (at least outside of the most traditionally observant circles) have friends and even extended family who are Christians. I believe it to be a
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sign of respect when we show some interest in the book that inspires them. Jews are respected by our neighbors for (among other things) our intellectual acumen, and our curiosity. How strange it must seem to them when we demonstrate no knowledge or curiosity at all about their sacred book. I know how strange it sounds to put it this way, but I believe it is a kiddush hashem a positive and public Jewish act for Jews to have this book on their shelves where their Christian neighbors, friends, and family can see it. Finally, let it not be said that the Jewish Annotated New Testament is only about the optics. Were that the case, we could just put those words on the spine of a book, and conceal some other book inside (the Torah perhaps, or maybe Mad Magazine). No, this is a book whose spine is very much worth cracking. Though Ive only begun to do so myself, I feel confident in saying that to delve into the essays, and the textual notes, and yes, even the stories themselves, is to gain a deeper understanding not only of Christianity (which is a worthwhile intellectual endeavor) but also of Judaism (which ought to be a worthwhile spiritual endeavor). Co-editor Amy-Jill Levine, in the previously linked-up NYT piece, says that her deepened understanding of Christianity has made her a better Jew. I believe her, and I look forward to engaging more deeply with her work in this field. The Jewish Annotated New Testament may not be Torah for us Jews, and it might not get a kiss after an inadvertent fall. But it ought to take its place in our libraries as an indispensable window into the sacred texts of our neighbors, and its presence on our personal bookshelves may also tell us something important about ourselves.

Lifelong Learning in December

There are several opportunities to learn at Temple in December, including: Lunch and Learn, which will be held on Tuesday, December 13 at 11:45 am in Zielonka Hall. This month, Rabbi Bach will offer some reflections on Hanukkah: Festival of Light, Days of Dedication. Lunch is $10, and may be reserved by calling Elisa at 5325959. Ron Bernsteins visit to El Paso on December 9 is more fully described on page 13 of this bulletin. Join us for a Kabbalat Shabbat Service that will include an opportunity to learn about how Israel continues to bring sustainable living to the harsh Negev Desert. Shabbat Morning Torah Study, each Saturday at 9:30 am. This month, Rabbi Bellush continues to guide us through the stories of our ancestors in the Book of Genesis. Our weekly yoga class with Susan Jaffee is held at 9 am on Wednesdays.

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MSTY/Mini-MSTY
The NFTY (National Federation of Temple Youth) annual Fall Kallah took place on the weekend of November 11-13 and the El Paso/Las Cruces youth groups were very well represented. Sixteen kids from El Paso and 4 from Las Cruces attended this amazing event in Las Vegas! The weekend was full of fun and educational experiences. The teens attended several informative workshops and programs. They also went to Shabbat services Friday night and Saturday morning, had time to re-connect with old friends and meet new ones from all over the Southwest region. Saturday night they had a blast at an 80s theme party. The next event will be SAW (Social Action Weekend), February 2-5 in Phoenix, and all of the kids are really looking forward to it. More information will follow. The Mini-MSTY group had a great time at the corn maze, and will get together again on Sunday, December 4 to go ice skating at the El Paso Coliseum. Check your e-mail for more information.

Jewish Federation Merry Mitzvah

This year collections for Merry Mitzvah will focus on two desperately needed itemsnew (or almost new) fleece warm-ups (in kids and adult sizes) and powdered milk. Why? Because those are great unmet needs in this area. Hungry and cold kids and adults in both El Paso and Juarez will benefit from your act of lovingkindness and generosity. We have requests from Clinica Guadalupana in far east colonias of El Paso County, Lee and Beulah Moor Childrens Home, Ojitos de Dios Orphanage in Juarez, Asilo de Ancianos Senecu in Juarez, Rape Crisis Center and others. How many we can help depends on all of us. Hopefully, we will make a difference to many. No need to pick up a box this year, and convenient drop off is available at the JCC, Bnai Zion and Temple Mount Sinai. Bring the warm-up suits and powdered milk to any of our drop-off locations between now and Thursday, December 22.

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Ron Bernstein, JNF Speaker, December 9

Ron Bernstein, Jewish National Fund (JNF) Israel emissary for the Southwest region and expert on agriculture, will be with us as a guest speaker at our Kabbalat Shabbat Service on December 9. He will discuss the new Yahel Park and JNFs work with water conservation and development. Bernstein decided to immigrate to Israel and devote his life to agriculture after working on a kibbutz while studying at Hebrew Union College. He was among the founders of Kibbutz Yahel in the Negev desert in 1977, where he has been living ever since. Bernstein is a manager of the Agricultural Experimental Station at Kibbutz Yotvata, and Kibbutz Yahel's vegetable and citrus operation. Traveling at least twice a year to North America, he has put tremendous efforts into fundraising at dozens of URJ synagogues, representing the Reform Kibbutzim, Yahel and Lotan, promoting their great work and importance to agriculture in Israel. Kibbutz Yahel, located north of Eilat, is a vibrant community of nearly 200 residents in the center of the harsh Arava Desert Valley. JNF and Kibbutz Yahel are developing a recreational/educational park to serve travelers driving to and from Eilat and the Sinai all year round. The Yahel Park will be a boon to the existing tourist business, attract new residents and provide opportunities for employment that have been severely lacking at Yahel.

Temple Mount Sinai is committed to making sure that Jewish Summer Camping is attainable for all of our families, and we devote significant resources to scholarships. WRJ and MRJ, the Lauterbach, Novick and Roth Campership Funds, the Weiss URJ Youth Fund, and the Rabbis Discretionary Funds are all used to insure that children in our congregation have the experience of attending summer camps where they can live and breathe Judaism and Israel. Letters of intent for these camperships are due to Grace by December 16. We ask that the campers write a letter describing their interest in Jewish summer camping, and that the parents let us know which camp their child will attend, and what the cost of tuition will be. We will help families find scholarships, from the Temple sources mentioned above and elsewhere.

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Tributes: October 16-November 12

Campership Fund in honor of Bob & Jane Snow's daughter, Whitney's, engagement by Stuart & Frances Kahn in honor of Cliff Eisenberg's Special Birthday by Stuart & Frances Kahn in honor of Keith Myers' Special Birthday by Stuart & Frances Kahn in honor of Sheldon Gopin's Special Birthday by Stuart & Frances Kahn in memory of Barbara Schieman by Stuart & Frances Kahn in memory of Rona Dictor by Stuart & Frances Kahn Caring Community Fund in honor of Keith Myers' Special Birthday by Bill & Anne Spier, Mike & Susan Jaffee, Marty & Bonnie Colton, Charlie & Sue Zaltz, Arthur & Rhoberta Leeser in memory of Ida Markman by Sy & Joan Becker & Roberta Kligman in memory of Rona Dictor by Keith & Becky Myers in honor of Jack Heydemann receiving the Las Americas "Border Hero" award by Bill & Anne Spier Cemetery Fund in honor of Keith Myers' Special Birthday by Jay & Marilyn Mendeloff in memory of Bill Goldfarb by Jay & Marilyn Mendeloff in memory of Cornelius Ryan by Carl Ryan & Suzi Davidoff in memory of Gertrude Colton by Marty & Bonnie Colton in memory of James Oppenheimer by Jeanne Moye in memory of Jerry Cohn by Bruce & Shelly Gopin in memory of John Crohn by Gloria Crohn in memory of Judy Blumenfeld by The Blumenfeld Family in memory of Rona Dictor by Jeanne Moye in memory of Sam Balk by Bob & Shirley Goldfarb in memory of Samuel Shabatai Bir by Simon & Grace Bir in memory of Sarah Silverman by John & Rita Silverman Floyd Fierman Religious School Fund in memory of Fan Geller by Sidney & Bettye Anna Louick Friedman/Bloom/Rothstein Outdoor Chapel in memory of Bill Goldfarb by Phil & Ann Rothstein General Donations Fund in appreciation of Temple Mount Sinai by Azucena Monzon, Carl Johnson & Sonya Loya, Paul Langner, Douglas Waters in honor of Jim Schwartz's Birthday by Skip & Teresa Schwartz in honor of Keith Myers' Special Birthday by Allan & Amy Goldfarb in memory of Beto Goodman by Ann Louise Leeds in memory of Bill Goldfarb by Oren & Nirit Belkin, Bill & Anne Spier, Marty & Bonnie Colton, Bob & Sara Shiloff, Rick Oppenheim & Irma Oppenheim, Jim & Marian Daross, Mike & Susan Jaffee, Stuart & Shari Schwartz, Bob & Jane Snow, Ann Louise Leeds, Charlie & Sue Zaltz, Keith & Becky Myers, Ruth Braun, Rodney & Sharon Gappelberg & Family, Mike & Pam Saks & Family, Ron Saks, Deborah Marlin, Norma Levenson, Lowell & Shirley Nussbaum, Mark & Dori Fenenbock, Bruce & Erline Gordon, Alan & Mimi Pittle, Mary Yelderman, Stancy Stribling, Steve Feinberg & Susan Foote, Rick & Cerena Suarez, Eleanor Goodman, Simon & Grace Bir, Arthur & Rhoberta Leeser, Steve & Eve Riter, Jeff & Ruth Katz, Jim & Anne Spier in memory of Dennis Cohen by Carol Russell in memory of Kenneth Given by Barbara Given in memory of Marcella Schapiro by Ann Louise Leeds in memory of Martin Naparstek by Jeff & Ruth Katz in memory of Rae Stein by Sara Mansfield in memory of Rona Dictor by Libby Feldmesser Gus & Rosalie Zimmerman Rose Garden in memory of Bill Goldfarb by Tina & Michael Novick & the Borschow Family Isadore Kahn Memorial Fund in memory of Bill Goldfarb by Buddy, Ellen, Adam & Leslie Dorfman, Stuart & Frances Kahn Jo Ann Rothbardt Petersen Healing Resource Center in honor of Sue Bendalin's grandchildren's B'nai Mitzvah by Phil & Judy Bargman in memory of Bill Goldfarb by Phil & Judy Bargman in memory of Rona Dictor by Phil & Judy Bargman Jon Heller High Holiday Fund in memory of Bill Goldfarb by Boris Kaim & Fifi HellerKaim speedy recovery to Rick Otis by Boris Kaim & Fifi HellerKaim Krasne Discretionary Fund in honor of Alan & Rebecca Krasne's Special Anniversary by Marty & Bonnie Colton, Bill & Anne Spier in honor of Keith Myers' Special Birthday by Bob & Elaine Krasne in honor of Mildred Marcus' Birthday by Marty & Bonnie Colton in memory of Bill Goldfarb by Bob & Elaine Krasne in memory of Dennis Cohen by Bob & Elaine Krasne speedy recovery to Dick Fass by Bob & Elaine Krasne speedy recovery to Marlene Fass by Bob & Elaine Krasne

Ethel Oppenheimer Flower Fund in memory of Bill Goldfarb by Jeanne Moye

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Teplitz Landscape Special Projects Fund in honor of Ann & Tibor Schaechner's Anniversary by Edward & Evelyn Schwartz in honor of Cliff Eisenberg's Birthday by Jack Heydemann in honor of Jack Heydemann receiving the Las Americas "Border Hero" award by Steve & Eve Riter, Stuart & Shari Schwartz in honor of Keith Myers' Special Birthday by Edward & Evelyn Schwartz, Jack Heydemann in honor of the birth of Tom Given's granddaughter by Louis & Cindy Cohen in honor of the engagement of Sean Phillip Shecter and Nicole Andriola by John & Kristine Shecter in memory of Bill Goldfarb by Larry & Joyce Anenberg, Edward & Evelyn Schwartz, Mel & Arlene Levenson, Tibor & Ann Schaechner, David & Susie Novick, Dick & Jean Scherotter, John & Kristine Shecter, Jack Heydemann, Jay & Mary Heins, Helen Goldberg in memory of Dennis Cohen by Larry & Joyce Anenberg in memory of Eugene Romero by John, Kristine, Josh & Sean Shecter in memory of Rona Dictor by Larry & Joyce Anenberg, Sue Bendalin, Mel & Arlene Levenson, Dick & Toni Harris in memory of William A. Thurman by John & Kristine Shecter speedy recovery to Rick Otis by Louis & Cindy Cohen Prayer Book Fund plaque a prayer book in honor of Keith Myers' Special Birthday by Bob & Carol Teplitz, Rick & Paige

Marcia Dahlberg in honor of Jack Heydemann Rabbi Bach's Discretionary receiving the Las Americas "Border Hero" award by Bill Fund & Marcia Dahlberg in appreciation of Rabbi Bach by Bob & Edi Brannon, in honor of Vivian Blaugrund's Birthday by David & Shelly Mansfield, Ellen, Barry, Adam & Leslie Alan & Mimi Pittle in appreciation of the Doug Dorfman in memory of Bill Goldfarb Cotler concert by Stuart & by Bill & Marcia Dahlberg Shari Schwartz in honor of Jack Heydemann in memory of Charles Streusand by Buddy & Ellen receiving the Las Americas Dorfman "Border Hero" award by Judy Leonard in memory of Dr. Lloyd Mark by Bill & Marcia in honor of Rabbi Bach's Dahlberg Birthday by Marty & Jody Klein in memory of Bill Goldfarb Shlichei K'hilah by Judy Leonard (Synagogue Associates) in memory of Dennis Cohen Fund in appreciation of Ellen by Loree Furman, Fran Goodman's leadership Fleischer, Stuart & Shari during High Holiday Schwartz, Marty & Bonnie services by David & Jeryl Colton, Bill & Anne Spier, Marcus Marty & Jody Klein in memory of Rona Dictor by Lola May, Judy Leonard Special Oneg or Kiddush in memory of Solomon in honor of Keith Myer's Harrison by Judy Leonard Special Birthday by Keith & Becky Myers in memory of Bill Goldfarb Rabbi Bellush's by The Goldfarb Family Discretionary Fund in appreciation of Rabbi in memory of Esther Freifeld Bellush by Bob & Edi by David & Tita Kaplan Brannon in memory of Evelyn in honor of Ashley Eger's Axelrod by Wendy Axelrod Special Birthday by John in memory of Jeffrey Eger Howard Weiss by Arthur in honor of Jack Heydemann Weiss receiving the Las Americas in memory of Judy "Border Hero" award by Blumenfeld by The Allan & Amy Goldfarb Blumenfeld Family in honor of the TMS in memory of Lazar & Community Garden by Lillian Kopilowitz by Louis & Cindy Cohen, Blanche Brown Terren & Maria Klein in memory of Bill Goldfarb in memory of Mary Streim by Sister Blumenthal, Terren by Boris Kaim & Fifi Heller& Maria Klein Kaim Ruth Kahn/Andrew Kahn Rose Garden in honor of Cliff Eisenberg's Special Birthday by Bill &

by Anne Hollander, Sara Mansfield, Mildred Marcus, Dick & Jean Scherotter, Terren & Maria Klein, Bud & Charlotte Ramenofsky, Bill & Marcia Dahlberg, Charlie & Sue Zaltz, Herbert & Brenda Ehrlich, Carolyn Feinberg, Jim & Anne Spier, Marty & Jody Klein Tree Of Life Donation in honor of Keith Myers' Special Birthday from: Cindy & Louis Cohen, Claire & Bob Jacobs, Debby & Mike Robalin, Jane & Bob Snow, Janice & Donny Glickstein, Julie & Shane Vinikoff, Leslie & Rick Otis, Leslie & Robert Beckoff, Lindsay & Tony Gronich, Lory Goldberg & Jonny Rogers, Marilyn & Hy Silverstein, Shari & Stuart Schwartz, Tammy & Barry Karch, Tricia & Allen Borschow, Tobi & Jon Purvin Youth Fund in honor of Keith Myers' Special Birthday by Abe & Annette Goldberg

Thank you for your ongoing contributions to the various endowment and income funds; Temple would be a very different place without these gifts.

To make Tribute gift, please be in touch with Elisa or Sally in the Temple office, or visit us in memory of Robert Washer online. by Shirley Washer
Syd Dictor Memorial Fund in memory of Rona Dictor

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December, 2011/Kishlev-Tevet, 5772

Yahrzeits
December 2-3, 2011 Morris Bernard Elayne Plous Bernat Karen Orr Bernbaum Bernard M. Blumenfeld Colman Bonart Henry Cohen Moshe Yitzchak Davis Isedore Elion Romolito Escobar Sadie Levy Feiner Gertrude Klein Freiden Eva Garcy Julius Grunebaum Jon Heller Sam Hoffman Carrie D. Horwitz Russell Hyman Joshua N. Kahn Louis Kahn Seame Katz Leah S. Krupp Eva B. Lapowski David Levine Eleanor Mayer Helen Meyeroff Joseph A. Miller Adele A. Oppenheim Manny Ponsford Anne Prensky Art Robalin Rosa Rosen Rose Krause Rosenberg David Schechter Edgar L. Schnadig, Sr. David Sheffer Frederic Stanley Strelitz Evadina Vargas Dora S. Zielonka December 9-10, 2011 Louis Bernat Selma Borschow Sarah Brannon Sarah Burks Paul Burstein Jesus Gonzalez Candelas Nan Christianson Dianne Cloud Fred Collatz Reuben Feinberg Joe Fink Fredrick Frey Solomon H. Fridner James B Gerton Fanny Sattinger Goodman Robert Lockwood Graff Abe Hill Alfred Hirsch Rebecca Horwitz Charles H. Karch Dietrich Kaufman Solomon Luger Jacob Mann Jack L. Marcus Annie Dashefsky Markowitz Miriam Myers Celine Nitzburg Petrice E. Potash Fernando Rivera Morton Rivkin Marilyn Rolf Anna F. Rosen Jack Schecter Sander Starr Maye M. Stein Frank Stolaroff Sarah G. Stolaroff Philip Terk Ezri Uval Max Wolfe December 16-17, 2011 Dora Avner Alice Barasch Bernie Berg Rose K. Bilsky Morton Blaugrund Guy Bodor Anatole A. Boguslav Irwin Brand Jeffrey Chernick Ann Enriquez Cecelia Alexander Feiner Sidney Frankel Alexander Freydberg Ida Wildstein Gold Leonard A. Goodman, Sr. Anne Elizabeth Hawkinson Joseph Heller Milton Hollander Joe Jacobs H. A. Jacobson Alexander I. Jaffee Aaron Kahn Maury Herschel Karp Bane Katz Leo Kenoffel Emilia Krause Helen R. Laskin Morton Harry Leonard Morris Levine Min Markowitz Levinson Louis Levitt Lee Levy Bertha Miller Regina Moses Stanley E. Myers Francine A. Raileanu Anna F. Rosenberg Abraham Edward Silberman Marla Stein Anna D. Stroud Mary E. Weiller Mike Weinstein Julie Weiss
(Continued on page 17)

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Messages from the Mountain

December 23-24, 2011 Lena Alfman Anna Aufman Bernard Eva Birnbaum Ernest Blumenthal Minnie Brounoff Ivan Chavez Adrianne Crohn David Crohn Michael David Crohn Dina Davidoff Steve Duviner Abraham Elion Melvin Fiedelman Hope Garcia Isedore Bernard Goodman Sylvia Heim Herman Klee Fannie Brown Kosins Anna Stern Lecker Paula Martinez Harry Miller Robert Morgan Aaron Novick Mickey Oppenheim Effie Parker Jake Rosen Norma Sawyer Max Schecter Myrna Schwartz Edwin Smith David Stolaroff Herbert Washer Marcel Weiller Steven Wigodsky Irving Zenn December 30-31, 2011 Frank Appel Milton Balin Jen Barnett William Sax Barnett Frieda Batkin Jacques Belbel Jeanette Braunstein

Clara Chernick Mary Cherno Mollie Cohen David Dichter Bertha Fenenbock Milton Fink Alfred Finke Harry Jacob Finke Jarvis Freiden Morris H. Given Robert H. Given Sherman Bernard Given Anna Gopin Florence Wolfe Grossel Sarah Katz David Klein Paul Marcus Rose May Angel Woods Meyer Ida Ovsay Freda Winer Ray Jacob Rosen Bessie Rosenthal Bernard Rothbardt Edward Rubin Philip Saltzman Sam Scherotter Herbert M. Schwartz Dorothy Solomon Laura Sommer Ethel Taber Chad Michael Vojtas Isabell Weinblatt Abraham Wolff Ruth Schwartz Zork January 6-7, 2012 Manuel W. Blaugrund Lena Brent Ada F. Calisher Edward A. Cohn Mark Cohn Lee Crawford Eva Fayman Benjamin S. Feinberg Lillian Friedman

Bertha Gage Audrey Given Hedwig Grunebaum Dorothy Levy Katz Maurice S. Kauffman Jeri Jacob Klein Werner Kohlhagen Coleman Kovan Goldie Lerner Charles Levy Jennie Levy Sarah Melmed Marion Ogron Harry Rosenbloom Robert Louis Rosenthal Howard I. Scherotter Mel Schwartz David Sopkin Emma G. Weiller Harold J. Weiller Martin Zielonka Benjamin S. Feinberg Lillian Friedman Bertha Gage Audrey Given Hedwig Grunebaum Dorothy Levy Katz Maurice S. Kauffman Jeri Jacob Klein Werner Kohlhagen Coleman Kovan Goldie Lerner Charles Levy Jennie Levy Sarah Melmed Marion Ogron Harry Rosenbloom Robert Louis Rosenthal Howard I. Scherotter Mel Schwartz David Sopkin Emma G. Weiller Harold J. Weiller Martin Zielonka

As a reminder, our cemetery is open from 8 am until 3 pm, Sunday through Friday. It is closed on Shabbat.

If you notice an error in our Yahrzeit lists, please speak with Sally or Elisa in the Temple office. They will be happy to correct it.

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December, 2011/Kishlev-Tevet, 5772

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Messages from the Mountain

Temple Gift Shop Chanukah Sales

New Chanukah merchandise has arrived: Menorahs, candles, home dcor, kids games, crafts, gifts and party items! EXTENDED HOURS FOR YOUR SHOPPING CONVENIENCE: Sunday, December 4, 20119:30 am to 12:00 pm Wednesday, December 7, 2011 4:15 pm to 5:30 pm Monday, December 12, 2011 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Wednesday, December 14, 2011 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm Monday, December 19, 2011 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Chanukah Cookie Sales

Lori Gamans dreidel and star-shaped sugar cookies dipped in white chocolate have been an El Paso favorite for many years. Made with love by Lori and the fabulous WRJ bakers at Temple Mount Sinai, the cookies are on sale now. At $8 a dozen, they are a great item for class parties, teacher gifts and family dinners! Please send in the order form below or contact Elisa Gluck at Temple at egluck@templemountsinai.com or 532-5959 to order your cookies. Place your order soon, as we always sell out. Your cookies will be available for pick up beginning Friday, December 9. Proceeds from the cookie sales help WRJ support youth programming at Temple Mt. Sinai and fund camp scholarships. To order by check, send this bottom portion with a check payable to Temple Mount Sinai to: Temple Mount Sinai, 4408 N. Stanton Street, El Paso, TX 79902. Name: __________________________ Phone Number: ___________________ _____Dozen Cookies @ $8.00 per dozen $______________ total.

Temple Mount Sinai 4408 North Stanton Street El Paso, TX 79902 Phone: 915-532-5959 Fax: 915-533-0092 www.templemountsinai.com

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. Postage PAID EL Paso TX Permit No. 1386

Mailing Address

Staff Rabbi............................................................. Larry Bach Rabbi...................................................... Sandra Bellush Rabbi Emeritus ............................................. Ken Weiss Administrator ..............................................Sally Parke Administrative Assistant ........................... Elisa Gluck Religious School Director ............................... Grace Bir Youth Advisor ............................................ Stacy Berry Building Manager ............................. Frank Hernandez House Keeping ................................... Ramona Pinales Accompanist ......................................... Linda McClain Officers Shari Schwartz ............................................... President Thomas Goldfarb .................................. President-Elect Greta Duran ........................................... Vice President Lori Gaman ............................................ Vice President Jack Heydemann.................................... Vice President David Leffman ....................................... Vice President David Novick................................................. Secretary David Kern.......................... Immediate Past President Trustees Rick Amstater, Bill Carvajal, Cindy Graff Cohen, Scott Feldt, Susie Goldman, Ellen Goodman, Arthur Leeser, Hal Marcus, Susan May, Josh Meyer, Debby Robalin, Danielle Scher, Mark Schrier, Jane Snow

Temple Mount Sinai is the Reform Jewish congregation serving El Paso, Texas. We are a congregation of supportive, caring and diverse people with a rich history. Temple is a place for prayer, ritual, spirituality, education, wholeness and healing, social action and celebration. Join us as we explore, through these elements of sacred living, the richness of Jewish faith and tradition.