Congregation Ahavas Sholom

Ahavas Sholom News

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

The Talmud (Tractate Berachos 18a) tells us of two rabbis who happened to be strolling through a cemetery. The tzitzis fringes of Rabbi Yonason were dangling from under his garment. Rabbi Chiya immediately alerted his colleague to tuck the fringes back in - “In order that they (the residents of the cemetery) should not feel embarrassed that they are no longer able to practice mitzvos”.

Rabbi Yonason was taken back by the thought that those who have departed this world, still have any knowledge of what is going on here. After all, the verse states - “For the living know they will die, but the dead know nothing at all” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). And from this simple rendering of a verse, a whole existential discussion ensued about the meaning of life and its absence.

Rabbi Chiya explained, “For the living know they will die” - refers to the righteous who live forever, in a spiritual sense. “But the dead know nothing at all” - pertains to the wicked who even in their physical lives are spiritually moribund.

In other words, things are not always as they appear. Some things as basic as life and death can at times be hard to identify. Paradoxically, the dead can continue to live, while the living are really only empty shells in a slow state of decay.

It was last year at this time that I truly began to appreciate the wisdom of this philosophy. I was in Israel on the Federation's mission only two weeks before Rosh Hashana. We had just finished our first day of touring. As the bus made its way back to the hotel in Tel Aviv, the news came over the radio - “pigua” (attack) - “chayalim” (soldiers). That's all we needed to hear. Just a few kilometers from where we had been earlier, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus-stop filled with IDF soldiers from a nearby base. But the horror wasn’t over yet. Later that evening another senseless attack at Cafe Hillel in the German Colony of Jerusalem. Among the victims were Dr. Applebaum and his daughter. They wanted to share some quality time together before her wedding. She was to be married the next day. Dr. Appelbaum was a pioneer in the field of emergency medicine. The tragic irony was that he was only realized to be among the victims when he didn’t answer the frantic calls to assist at the hospital.

There is no comparison to the pain and pathos that we share with our Israeli brothers and sisters when we are there “in the trenches”, versus here, living in relative safety. The sadness is more real, the loss much more profound. And in all the carnage, the only thing that made sense was that these tragic victims live on. Whether it is a soldier who makes a split second decision to smother a bomb at a checkpoint to save others at his own life’s expense, or the student in Chevron, who confronts gunmen on a Friday night in the kitchen of the Yeshiva. He quickly locks the door to protect the Sabbath diners as he is killed in cold blood. “The righteous live on” while the murderers were really dead long before they pressed the ignition button.

There is a well-known refrain that we recite during this season. “Remember us for life, O King who desires life, and inscribe us in the Book of Life - for Your sake, O Living G-d.” The key is to know what the true definition of life is. A purely physical existence without it being suffused with spirituality is not the ideal life we should aspire to. Punching a time clock and running endless errands while we count our money and search unsuccessfully for self -fulfillment leave much to be desired. The real purpose of Divine Judgment is to realize what the true meaning of life is all about. It is often amazing to witness the rush of vitality that reaches those who take small steps towards spiritual growth in the form of ritual observance and Torah study. Their once dormant lives suddenly become invigorated with meaning and purpose. Each day breathes new life as exciting opportunities, never before realized, jump forward and present themselves. Opportunities that offer the greatest hope for self-definition and fulfillment. And it is this type of life that we all beseech G-d to grant us during this season of repentance and renewal.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year; a year of peace, good health and success for ourselves and our homeland, and most importantly, redemption for the Jewish People.

K’siva V’chasima Tova,

Rabbi Jonathan Rosenberg

High Holiday line-up:
Ahavas Sholom always strives to engage inspiring Ba'alei Tefillah and K'lei Kodesh for the services. Below is our roster:

We all look forward to hearing their inspiring services

P'secha Honors:
The Shul kindly requests a contribution from those who have a p'secha honor - opening the Ark on Rosh Hashana and/or on Yom Kippur.

Thank you

Personals:

Mazel Tov to:

• Penny Wenger & Charlie Libicki on the birth of their granddaughter, daughter of Inna Gakh & Daniel Libicki
• Rabbi Baruch & Shoshana Weil on the birth of their new daughter, Elisheva Reba
• Shana & Ary Schottenstein on the birth of their new daughter, Leora Leah
• Ellen & Sonny Romanoff and Ruth Gross on the birth of their new granddaughter and great-granddaughter, Yocheved Yehudis, daughter of Rivka & Binyamin Romanoff, of Cleveland
• Dr. Sheldon & Marilyn Estreicher on the birth of Marilyn's granddaughter, Kayla Padowitz, daughter of Rabbi Joel & Shelly Padowitz of Yerushalayim
• Lea & Tuvia Schottenstein on the birth of their grandson, Aryeh Leib, son of Eda & David Schottenstein
• Faye & Ed Mellman on the graduation of their granddaughter, Chaya who received an award for the highest average in Hebrew studies for all four years of High School
• Faye & Ed Mellman on the graduation of their granddaughter, Sara from Bais Yaakov Seminary in Yerushalayim
• Shelley & Jack Levey on Tzvi Silverman's graduation from high school at Rabbi Schlanger's Yeshiva
• Karan & Paul Tanenbaum on the marriage of their daughter Mindy to Matt Cooper. Mazel tov to Mindy's grandparents, Thea & Pearson Press and the entire family.
• Dr. Robert & Marcia Hershfield on the marriage of their daughter, Jessica to Eldad Malamuth. Mazel tov to Jessica's grandmother, Mrs. Max Ziskind and the entire family.
• Mazel Tov to Diane Chang & Patrick Wiesel on the marriage of Patrick's son Laurent Wiesel to Naomi Goldberg, daughter of Dr. Max & Paulette Goldberg

Thank You to:

• Renee & Josh Seidemann for donating a set of Noda B'Yehudah responsa, written by Rabbi Yechezkel Landau. Rabbi Yechezkel Landau was a preeminent Halachic deciser of the 17th century

Condolences To:

• Eda & David Schottenstein on the loss of Eda's grandmother
• Marty & Geraldine Hoffman on the loss of Marty's sister Molly Hoffman

Refuah Shelaimah:

• Judy Berenstein
• Rabbi Chaim Gourdji
• Luda Ryabinky
• Ariela Turkel

 We Welcome Our New Members:

• Mr. Gary Covel
• Nat & Myra Goldman
• Dr. Avi & Deena Stein & Family
• Jason & Deena Ermine & Family
• Duane & Deanna Palmore & Isaac

 Donations:

Kiddush:

• The Tanenbaums in honor of the marriage of Mindy & Matt
• Dr. Sheldon & Marilyn Estreicher to welcome her children, Rabbi Joel & Shelly Padowitz and their children, Yona, Meira & Kayla from Yerushalayim and to wish mazel tov to Joel on his s'micha and to welcome Marilyn's daughter, Karen Padowitz from San Diego

Shalosh Se'udos:

• The Berenstein Family in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday celebration and in honor of the visit from the Rochester Berensteins
• Richard and Liba Shakarchi in Hoda'ah to HaKadosh Baruch Hu for eight wonderful years of marriage
• The Shar and Samuels Families commemorating the Yahrzeits of Adeline & Farrell Shar
• Sam Nutis in honor of his parents, Ira & Laura Nutis
• The friends of Rabbi Daniel & Chanie Loew - wishing them well as they leave Columbus for Connecticut
• Jonathan & Agi Hartstein with hakaros hatov to Hashem for Ariella's 6th birthday and their 10th wedding anniversary
• Rabbi Shmuel & Zahava Goldstein in appreciation to the entire Congregation with a special thank you to Rabbi Rosenberg, the Burrs, Nutises, and Schottensteins
• Sanford Lefkowitz commemorating the Yahrzeit of his father, Meir ben Moshe
• Ruth, Buddy, Andrew & Hannah Adler commemorating the Yahrzeit of mother & grandmother, Irene Adler

Aliyah Fund:

• Rabbi Shimon David Abrams
• Yehudah Bitton
• Mark Ermine
• Chaim Glazer
• Nat Goldman
• Jonathan Hartstein
• Rabbi Yosef Hauser
• Victor Katz
• Ozzie Lipshtat
• Aaron Mellman
• Rabbi Ben-Zion Mellman
• Ed Mellman
• Pinchas Mikhli
• Hal Miller
• Rabbi Henoch Morris
• Jonathan Nelson
• Michael Portman
• Jerry Rogosin
• Yosef Romanoff
• Boris Ryabinky
• Tuvia Schottenstein
• Eric Schramm
• David Schwartz
• Dr. Richard Shakarchi
• Dr. Arnold Sobol
• Dr. Avi Stein
• Sam Stein
• Paul Tanenbaum
• Yankie Tewner
• Stanley Tuchman
• Dr. Rick Turkel
• Marvin Vinar
• Rabbi Yaakov Weinrach
• Neil Weintraub
• Dr. Moshe Wilhelm

Torah Repair Fund:

• Judy & Irving Modes in memory of parents, Rose & Joseph Modes
• Ellen & Sonny Romanoff commemorating the Yahrzeit of David Leib Gross

Prayer Book Fund:

• Ruth Gross in memory of beloved mother, Mary Gross
• Ruth Gross in memory of brother-in-law, Israel Gross

Youth Programming Fund:

• Beth & Ron Dolinger in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Helen Carmen in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Ruth Seff

Shul Fund:

• Faye & Ed Mellman in memory of Ida Cooper
• Myra & Nat Goldman in memory of Joe Nichol
• Myer Bornstein in memory of grandmother, Sarah Goodman
• Natalie Berenstein in memory of her Aunt Fannie
• Phyllis Zierler in memory of her grandfather, Barnett Swissman
• Shirley & Aaron Yablok commemorating the Yahrzeit of Lillian Yablok
• Sam Katz commemorating the Yahrzeit of Ester bas Yehoshua Phalik
• Nancy Levin & Shelly Schwartz in honor of Frank Nutis' second Bar Mitzvah
• Sofiya & Edgar Karpovich in honor of Charlie Libicki on the occasion of his aliyah to Israel
• Rabbi Reuven & Sharon Green in honor of Charlie Libicki
• Lea & Tuvia Schottenstein wishing a refuah shelaimah to Judy Berenstein
• Amy & Josh Greenberg
• Mrs. Helen Rosen
• Sharone & Shmuel Goodman
• Miriam Carlip
• Sofiya & Edgar Karpovich in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Roberta Heller in honor of Ruth Seff on the occasion of her special birthday
• Geraldine & Marty Hoffman in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Lea & Tuvia Schottenstein in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Faye & Ed Mellman in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Hattie Haas in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Harriet & Larry Felsenthal in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Marcia Meckler in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Dr. Maynard & Miriam Goldmeier in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Susie & Jonny Diamond in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Judy & Irving Modes in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol and family in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Drs. David & Miriam Portman in honor of Ruth Seff's special birthday
• Helen Nutis in honor of Ruth Seff's 90th birthday
• Phyllis Flancbaum in honor of Penny Wenger and Charlie Libicki on Charlie receiving the Amud HaChesed Award
• Phyllis Flancbaum in honor of the marriage of Mindy Tanenbaum and Matt Cooper
• Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol and family in honor of the birth of a son, Aryeh Leib to Eda & David Schottenstein
• Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol and family in honor of the marriage of Patrick Wiesel's son, Laurent
• Michael Stan & Sally Fingerett and Families in honor of Ed Stan's 80th birthday
• Inna Gakh & Daniel Libicki wishing a refuah shelaimah to Tanya bas Sara
• Barry Cooper in honor of Matt & Mindy Cooper's wedding
• Dr. Richard & Liba Shakarchi wishing a refuah shelaimah to Chaim ben Penina Sebiha Simcha
• Barbara & Marvin Vinar in honor of the birth of Aryeh Leib Schottenstein, son of David & Eda Schottenstein and grandson of Tuvia & Lea Schottenstein
• Dr. Rick Turkel in honor and appreciation of Lea Schottenstein
• Diane Chang & Patrick Wiesel in honor of the marriage of Patrick's son Laurent Wiesel to Naomi Goldberg, daughter of Dr. Max & Paulette Goldberg
• Drs. David & Miriam Portman wishing a refuah shelaimah to Judy Berenstein
• Barbara & Marvin Vinar wishing mazel tov to Rivka & Binyomin Romanoff, Ellen & Sonny Romanoff, and Ruth Gross and on the birth of Yocheved Yehudis, daughter of Rivka & Binyomin
• Rabbi Daniel & Chanie Loew thanking Rabbi Rosenberg and the entire shul for all they have done for them during their time in Columbus. They will always cherish the friends they have made, the warmth of the shul, and the leadership of Rabbi Rosenberg

Upcoming Events!

• Saturday, September 11 - JAAM (Jewish Awareness AMerica) 3rd Annual Worldwide Pre-Selichos Video Event - featuring Rabbi Yissocher Frand - 10:00 pm.
• Shabbos, October 2 - Community-wide women's learning group will meet at home of Dr. Judy Groner & Dan Meyers 120 S. Chesterfield. Mrs. Ellen Romanoff will I"H speak.
• Sunday, October 17 - Sisterhood Paid Up Membership Brunch at 10:30am at Ahavas Sholom Social Hall - More info to follow
• Shabbos, November 6 - Bas Mitzvah of Emily Sobol, daughter of Dr. Warren & Marlene Sobol
• Shabbos, November 6 - Community-wide women's learning group will meet at home of Terri & Rick Barnett 43 S. Cassingham. Mrs. Chaya Morris will I"H speak.