Congregation Ahavas Sholom

Ahavas Sholom News

September - November 2004 ~ Elul 5764 - Cheshvan 5765    Rabbi's Message:

As the Sidrah of Parshas Chayei Sarah was being read, which opens with the tedious narrative of Avraham's purchase of the Cave of Machpela, I couldn't stop focusing on the fact that I was just there a week ago. The sun rose early in Jerusalem on Tuesday, October 26th. The secular date was not of much consequence, however, the Jewish date of 11 Cheshvan was of significant note. It happened to be the Yahrtzeit of Rachel our Matriarch. It is a rare opportunity for travelers from chutz la'aretz (the diaspora) to be afforded the chance to visit the resting place of our weeping Matriarch on the anniversary of her departure. It was not the easy trip it used to be prior to Oslo. The only way to safely arrive at her kever, was to travel the last 500 yards in an armored vehicle. The contrast of the present day state of affairs, with the memories of a different time, allowed us to reciprocate the tears of our Mother with our own.

From Beis Lechem we journeyed on to the city of Chevron. By now the sun was in full force and the usual sense of tension that seems to accompany a visit to the turbulent city was replaced with an eerie sense of calm. Our guide explained that due to the Moslem penitential season of Ramadan, the Arab residents were all cloistered in their homes. The anomaly let us fantasize that the city was once again in our hands - with a quiet, serene spirituality prevailing above all else. The fantasy quickly dissipated as soldiers began a reconnaissance formation with rifles drawn. We were told to quickly return to the bus because the threat of snipers was always present.

Rabbeinu Yonah in his commentary to Pirkei Avos (5:3), breaks ranks with Rashi and the Rambam and records the purchase of the Cave of Machpela as Avraham's tenth and final test. The obvious question is that no matter all the haggling and frustration that Avraham had to endure as he negotiated with Efron the Chitti; that must have paled in comparison to the feat of the Akeidah (the Binding of Isaac). How then can it be considered a more difficult challenge? It is not easy to come up with a straightforward answer to this age old question. Suffice it to say that at least this year, I emotionally felt the answer. It is not easy to relinquish something that was bequeathed to you from a loved one - let alone G-d Himself. Avraham was promised the entire land by word of Hashem. It requires an amazing reservoir of inner strength to face the duplicity of the likes of Efron during Avraham's personal loss. Everyone has a breaking point and one would naturally expect Avraham to have reached it at that trying moment. But consistent with who he was and what he made of himself, Avraham patiently dealt with the "unfairness" of the circumstances.

In some ways, that test lives on with Avraham's descendants. Chevron is ours. It was promised to us by our Creator and for good measure purchased with unimpeachable currency. It isn't easy to see the ancient cave closed off with the sound of Moslem clerics wailing from the tomb of Yitzchak. G-d has his master-plan and we must follow it just as our Patriarch did thousands of years ago. Apparently the test of Chevron continues.

I brought back with me a bumper sticker that reads - "Chevron - Me'az U'l' Tamid - Chevron - from then and for always. " We eagerly await the day that the entire world realizes this to be true. May that day come speedily in our time.

In the Rabbi's Mailbox . . .

15 September 2004

29 Elul 5764

Dear Rabbi Rosenberg,


I want to thank you personally for Ahavas Sholom's participation in the Community - Wide Jewish History Shabbat. Your commitment to preserving and promoting the history of our people and our community is deeply appreciated. As chair of the Columbus Jewish Historical Society's commemorations of 350 years of Jewish life in America, I could not have brought about this event without the cooperation of community leaders like yourself.

Again thanks, and best wishes in the new year,

L’Shana Tova!

Michael

Meckler

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You have a lovely, warm shul. We enjoyed ourselves very much when we visited for Mindy & Matt Cooper's wedding in June. Have a healthy, joyful, peaceful new year.

L’Shana Tova!

Jeffrey & Ilene

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Thank you for my aliyah. It is always a pleasure to visit and spend time with my friends at Ahavas Sholom.

Sincerely,

Will

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Personals:

Mazel Tov to:

• Renee & Josh Seidemann on the birth of their son, Yisrael Avishai. Mazel Tov to the entire Seidemann Family
• Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol on the Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Emily
• Rabbi Baruch & Shoshana Weil on the Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Esther
• Lidia & Lev Kucherski on the Bas Mitzvah of their granddaughter, Mara Kinney, daughter of Inna & John Kinney
• Rabbi Joel & Janice Keil Epstein on the engagement of their son, David to Miriam Srolovitz, daughter of Prof. David & Caren Srolovitz of Highland Park, NJ
• The Shakarchi Family in honor of the engagement of Liba's sister Ariela to Steven Goldsmith
• Jeanie & Jay Schottenstein on the engagement of their son, Joey to Lindsay Borish. Mazel Tov to the grandparents, Geraldine & Marty Hoffman and to the entire family.
• Drs. Phil & Julie Weinerman on the engagement of their daughter, Rachel to Ben Spinner
• Lily & Eddie Friedman on the engagement of their son, Chad to Mara Lazarus, of Philadelphia
• Faye & Ed Mellman on the engagement of their granddaughter, Sarah Mellman, daughter of Rabbi Ben-Zion & Miriam Mellman of Baltimore, to Aharon Cohen, son of Rabbi & Mrs. Yitzchok Cohen of Washington Heights
• Rabbi Menashe & Tova Gil on the marriage of their daughter, Tzippy to Nick Wigodah
• Rabbi Hirsch Chinn on his marriage to Chayit Munt, of Montreal
• Rabbi Tzvi & Ilana Tuchman on the marriage of Ilana's brother, Rafi to Devorah Chana Nusson
• Dr. Dan & Ani Nemzer on their recent marriage
• Mrs. Rely Herszage on celebrating her special birthday
• Dr. Maynard & Miriam Goldmeier on celebrating their 50th anniversary
• Thea & Pearson Press on being honored by CTA

Refuah Sheleimah:

• Judy Berenstein
• Rabbi Chaim Gourdji
• Frank Nutis
• Boris Ryabinky
• Luda Ryabinky
• Francine Szames
• Ariela Turkel

Condolences To:

• The Margulies Family on the loss of Julius Margulies
• Lana & Gary Covel on the loss of Gary's aunt
• Minna & Baruch Shifman on the loss of Minna's father

Thank you to:

• Yehudah Bitton for his generous contribution of Scotch whiskey for our Kiddushes
• Those who helped with the Succos preparations: Mrs. Thea Press, Deena Tanenbaum, Hal Miller, Deuel Palmore, Jack Levey, Tzvi Silverman, Bill Young, Nat Goldman, Joel Wolff, Yhezkel Levi, Garret Sobol, Ethan Sobol, Binyomin Wilhelm and Michael Berenstein
• Light Brigade: David Schwartz, Richard Shakarchi, Hal Miller, Paul Tanenbaum

 Welcome Our New Members:

Mr. Gary Covel
123 S. Roosevelt

Mark & Lisa Ermine
104 S. Dawson

The Palmore Family -
Deuel, Deanna & Isaac
2790 Sherwood Rd.

The Schmelzer Family -
Victor, Susan, Samuel, David & Hannah
153 S. Merkle Rd.

The Shulman Family -
Steve, Anne, Ron, Adam & Scott
92 N. Ardmore Rd

The Soll Family -
Bruce, Joy, Jason, Evan & Adam
141 S. Drexel Ave

 Tzeischem L'Shalom to:

• Riva and Michael Portman & family as they move to Cleveland
• Penny Wenger & Charlie Libicki on their aliyah to Eretz Yisroel

Sisterhood News:

• A special thank you and Yasher Koach to Daniel White for putting up the white paroches & shulchan covers for the Yomim Tovim and taking it down every year for many years.
• Many thanks to the following people who donated for the Simchas Torah Se'udos:
  Buddy & Ruth Adler
  Dan & Leslie Chase
  Matt & Betty Goldish
  Charlie Libicki & Penny Wenger
  Judy Groner & Dan Meyers
  David & Miriam Portman
  Warren & Marlene Sobol
  Phil & Julie Weinerman
• Many thanks to the following people who shopped, schlepped, cooked & baked for the meals on Simchas Torah:
  Lea Schottenstein
  Agi Hartstein
  Tova Hauser
  Thea Press
  Julie Weinerman
  Miriam Portman
  Riva Portman
  Ellen Romanoff
  Shelley Levey
  Lana Covel
  Karan Tanenbaum
  Deena Tanenbaum
  Tari Modes
  Bitsy Burr
  Sofiya Karpovich
  Yael Levi
  Marlene Sobol
  Shoshana Weil
  Renee Krause
  Penny Wenger
  Michael Berenstein
  Matt Goldish
  Sanford Lefkowitz
  Yankie Tewner
  Eric Schramm
  Rabbi Shimon David Abrams
• The volunteers who helped at both meals are too numerous to mention, but you know who you are and we greatly appreciate your help!!

Donations:

Kiddush:

• Penny Wenger & Charlie Libicki in honor of the birth of their granddaughter, Yocheved; daughter of Inna & Daniel
• Shelley & Jack Levey in honor of Shelley's children, Tzvi & Rachael Leah Silverman
• Lea & Tuvia Schottenstein as a Hoda'ah to Hashem
• The Sobol Family in honor of Emily's Bat Mitzvah

Shalosh Se'udos:

• Rabbi and Mrs. David Ginsburg on Yeshayahu's siyum on the Gemara Brachot
• The Shakarchi Family in Hoda'ah to HaKadosh Baruch Hu for Richard's birthday
• The Shakarchi Family in honor of the engagement of Liba's sister Ariela to Steven Goldsmith
• Ira & Laura Nutis, Sam, Joey & Sarah commemorating the Yahrzeit of Robert Leitson, father and grand- father; also in honor of the siyum of Brachos by Ira & Rabbi Tzvi Tuchman
• The Sobol Family commemorating the Yahrzeit of Warren's grandfather, Aryeh Leib ben Aharon
• The Sobol Family in honor of Emily's Bat Mitzvah

Aliyah Fund:

• Rabbi Avrohom Berenstein
• Yehudah Bitton
• Rabbi Yitzchak Charner
• Dr. Dan Chase
• Matt Cooper
• Gary Covel
• Todd Delman
• Jack Levey
• Charlie Libicki
• Henry Libicki
• Ed Mellman
• Pinchas Mikhli
• Hal Miller
• Stuart Modes
• Max Moskowitz
• Frank Nutis
• Ira Nutis
• Michael Portman
• Pearson Press
• Binyamin Romanoff
• Sonny Romanoff
• Rabbi Jonathan Rosenberg
• Victor Schmelzer
• David Schottenstein
• Gene Schramm
• William Schwartz
• Rabbi David Seff
• Elliot Shakarchi
• Avi Stein
• Paul Tanenbaum
• Stanley Tanzer
• David Weinerman
• Dr. Phil Weinerman
• Jeffrey Wieselthier

Youth Fund:

• Ruth Quinn commemor- ating the Yahrzeit of mother, Gitel Thall
• Victor Katz commemor- ating the Yahrzeit of Ester bas Yehoshua Phalik
• Ruth Quinn in honor of Eric Schramm
• Ruth Seff in gratitude to Hashem for successful cataract surgery
• Diana & Joel Wolff in honor of Jennifer's graduation from high school

Building Fund:

• Liba & Richard Shakarchi in honor of Paul Tanenbaum

Shul Fund:

• Drs. Phil & Julie Weinerman in memory of Minna Shifman's father
• Dr. Avi & Karen Mikalov in memory of Assaf Mikalov
Leah Corcoran commemorating the Yahrzeit of Sarah Carlstein
• Gayle & Sanford Bloom commemorating the Yahrzeit of Sanford's father, Carl Bloom
• Myra & Nat Goldman commemorating the Yahrzeit of Nat's aunt, Dora Schoenholz
• Myra & Nat Goldman commemorating the Yahrzeit of Nat's grandfather, David Schoenholz
• Agi & Jon Hartstein commemorating the Yahrzeits of Agnes Neubauer, Otto & Anne Neubauber
• Victor Katz commemorating the Yahrzeit of Ester bas Yehoshua Phalik
• Michael Seidemann & Judi Davis wishing a refuah shelaimah to Judy Berenstein
• Michael Seidemann & Judi Davis in honor of Frank Nutis' 83rd birthday
• Betty & Irwin Keller
• Gayle & Sanford Bloom in honor of the High Holidays
Florence Melton
• Samuel Mendel Melton Foundation
• Myra & Nat Goldman in honor of Ed Mellman's birthday
• Tari & Stuart Modes in appreciation to Rabbi Yosef Hauser
• Penny Wenger & Charlie Libicki
• Lea & Tuvia Schottenstein
• George Stiefel in honor of Dr. Dan Chase for his assistance during his recent illness
• Shakia Surles-Combs
• Agi & Jon Hartstein in honor of the high school graduation of Rivka Cherney
• Agi & Jon Hartstein in honor of the birth of Penny Wenger & Charlie Libicki's granddaughter, Yocheved, daughter of Inna & Daniel
• Rabbi Jonathan & Aviva Rosenberg
• Barbara & Marvin Vinar in honor of Thea & Pearson Press being honored by CTA for their many years of dedication to CTA
• Rabbi Noach & Bitsy Burr wishing mazel tov to the Vinar Family on the engagement of Debbie to Barry Hellman
• Rabbi Noach & Bitsy Burr wishing mazel tov to the Weinerman Family on the engagement of Rachel to Ben Spinner
• Rabbi Noach & Bitsy Burr wishing mazel tov to the Mellman Family on the engagement of their granddaughter, Sarah Mellman to Aharon Cohen
• Drs. Phil & Julie Weinerman wishing a refuah shelaimah to Frank Nutis
• Joan & Jim Goodman
• Jerry Hoffnung
• Faye & Ed Mellman wishing a refuah shelaimah to Judy Berenstein, Frank Nutis and Lazar Almasanu
• Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol & Family in honor of the birth of a daughter, Elisheva to Rabbi Baruch & Shoshana Weil
• Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol & Family in honor of the birth of a daughter, Leora to Shana & Ary Schottenstein
• Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol & Family in honor of the birth of a son, Yaakov to Stacy Leeman & Gary Liebesman
• Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol & Family wishing a complete recovery to Judy Berenstein
• Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol & Family in honor of Michael Berenstein
• Diane & Patrick Wiesel wishing mazel tov to the Sobol Family on the Bat Mitzvah of Emily
• Etziona & Hal Miller
• Hanna Praport & Steve Bauml

Holiday Donations:

High Holiday Aliyos:

• Buddy Adler
• Irv Baker
• Michael Berenstein
• Steve Geiger
• Charlie Libicki
• Dr. David Portman
• Allan Silverstein
• Dr. Arnold Sobol
• Dr. Warren Sobol
• Dr. Phil Weinerman

P'secha Honors:

• Nat Goldman
• Jon Hartstein
• Stuart Modes
• Moshe Shor

Simchas Torah donations:

• Michael & Guoda Burr
• Drs. David & Miriam Portman
• Victor & Susan Schmelzer
• Tuvia & Lea Schottenstein
• Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol
• Drs. Phil & Julie Weinerman

Kol Nidre Donations for the Youth Program:

• Buddy & Ruth Adler
• Michael & Judy Berenstein
• Yehudah & Alegria Bitton
• Drs. Dan & Leslie Chase
• David & Pat Gold
• Nat & Myra Goldman
• Jon & Agi Hartstein
• Edgar & Sofiya Karpovich
• Daniel Libicki & Inna Gakh
• Stuart Kingsley
• Ed & Faye Mellman
• Pinchas & Michal Mikhli
• Drs. David & Miriam Portman
• Michael & Riva Portman
• Ruth Quinn
• Jerry Regosin
• David & Esther Schwartz
• Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol
• Yankie & Marlene Tewner
• Drs. Phil & Julie Weinerman
• Dr. Moshe & Esther Wilhelm
• Joel & Diana Wolff
• Betty Ziskind

How do I sponsor a . . . ?

Kiddush:

• Every Shabbos morning following services, the members of Congregation Ahavas Sholom are treated to a Kiddush in the social hall prepared by the Sisterhood. This allows friends to schmooze with each other while enjoying pastries and gefilte fish, herring, wine and whiskey. (There are various menus available - e.g. cholent, salads, etc…)
• There are many occasions for sponsoring a Kiddush: in honor of a Yahrzeit, a Bar or Bas Mitzvah, an anniversary, a graduation and the list goes on and on.


To sponsor a Kiddush, please comply with the following steps:
• call Natalie in the Shul office at 614-252-4815 to reserve date on the Shul calendar
• call the chairperson of the Kiddush committee, Mrs. Thea Press at 614-237-1068 to reserve date and work out all details - menu, costs, etc…
• at least one week prior to date of sponsorship, please communicate to Natalie, via e-mail ahavas@beol.net or phone 614-252-4815, the reason for sponsorship for the Shabbos announcements

Shalosh Se'udos:

• Every Shabbos afternoon, Congregation Ahavas Sholom provides the Shalosh Se'udos meal in Shul following the Mincha service. Shalosh Se'udos is prepared by our Shammosh, Mr. Michael Berenstein. Sponsorships are available for either the standard or gourmet variety. Please speak with Michael Berenstein about details and costs. There are many occasions for sponsoring a Shalosh Se'udos: in honor of a Yahrzeit, a Bar or Bas Mitzvah, an anniversary, a graduation and the list goes on.


To sponsor a Shalosh Se'udos, please comply with the following steps:
• call Mr. Michael Berenstein at 614-235-5093 to see if the sponsor date is available
• call Natalie in the Shul office at 614-252-4815 to reserve the date on the Shul calendar
• at least one week prior to sponsorship, communicate to Natalie, via e-mail at ahavas@beol.net or phone 614-252-4815, the reason for the sponsorship for the Shabbos announcements
• payment must be paid either prior to the sponsorship or no later than two (2) weeks after the date of the sponsorship. Please make checks payable to Congregation Ahavas Sholom and send to:

Congregation Ahavas Sholom

2568 E. Broad St.

Columbus, OH 43209

  Columbus Jewish Federation:

  COLUMBUS JEWISH FEDERATION OFFERING CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
  FOR JEWISH OVERNIGHT CAMPS

The Columbus Jewish Federation offers scholarships to Jewish youth in the Columbus area to attend Jewish overnight summer camps. The scholarships are awarded based on financial need. Students may attend eligible camps such as Camp Ramah, Camp Stone, Goldman Union Camp Institute, Camp Livingston, Camp Wise, Emma Kaufmann Camp, Camp Young Judaea, and many others in other parts of the country.

To receive a camp scholarship application, call Marty Croy at the Columbus Jewish Federation, (614) 559-3239 or email her at mcroy@tcjf.org. Consideration will only be guaranteed for applications received by January 24, 2005.

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  ISRAEL GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

  FOR TEENS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AVAILABLE

  THROUGH COLUMBUS JEWISH FEDERATION

Every Jewish teenager in central Ohio is entitled to up to $1,500.00 from the Columbus Jewish Federation towards an educational trip to Israel. Jewish college students in central Ohio are also eligible for grants and scholarships towards an educational trip to Israel during their college years. Grants and scholarships are available year-round. For more information, contact Lori Fireman at the Columbus Jewish Federation, (614) 559-3242, or email her at LFireman@tcjf.org.