Seeking Shabbat - Congregation B'nai Israel
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ETERNAL LIGHT - FEBRUARY 2021
Seeking Shabbat
It is easy to think of Shabbat as an antidote to our 24/7
world, a reminder that each of us needs time off. But as
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel explains in his book, The
Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man, Shabbat is more
than a day off or a vacation day. Shabbat is a reminder to
each of us that we need to take time each week away from
our labors as well as the mundane in order to encounter
the holy. We need to create time that is sacred so that we
can encounter the sacred.
While we are to rest on Shabbat and to enjoy Shabbat, there is a deeper purpose to
the time. We make the day distinct and sacred by making the day different than the
rest of the week. For many of us with the restrictions on our lives during the COVID-
19 pandemic the day of the week can feel like today is blursday, we are not sure
where we are in time, even as we are limited in where we go in the world. Making
Shabbat distinct helps us to anchor ourselves in time as we create what Heschel
would call a cathedral in time.
We can make the Shabbat different by making our meals that day special or by
making arrangements to be with our family and friends via Zoom or in person
depending on our circumstances. We can make Shabbat different by engaging in
Jewish learning or by reading a book or listening to music. We can make Shabbat
different by joining in worship with our sacred community at services via Zoom on
Friday night or Saturday morning.
We will experiment with our worship and Torah Study on Saturday mornings
beginning in February. This new Shabbat offering, Seeking Shabbat, will be led by
me. Seeking Shabbat will begin at 9:30 am on Saturday morning, will include Torah
Study, and will last approximately 75 minutes. We will use the Mishkan T’filah prayer
book as well as additional prayers. I chose the name Seeking Shabbat to reflect our
efforts every Shabbat to seek and create that special time for ourselves in order to
encounter the holy.
https://bnaibr.org February 2021 / Shevat—Adar 5781
FROM THE RABBI
We continue to have different services on Friday nights, including our regular Shabbat
service, a shared worship service with Beth Shalom Synagogue monthly, and a Union
Prayer Book Service.
No matter what day you read this article, I want to wish you a Shabbat Shalom! I hope
you have a Shabbat of rest, of enjoyment, and of time to encounter the sacred, this
week and every week.
Old World & New World
Reform Judaism
Wednesdays,
February 3rd and 10th
7:00 pm – 8:15 pm
taught by Rabbi Batsheva Appel
We will be looking at the origins of Reform Judaism and
how the differences between Europe and the United States
affected its development. We will also look at the future of
Reform Judaism, both in the Diaspora and in Israel.
Email Rabbi Appel (rabbibsa@bnaibr.org) to register.
HEALTH FIRST
Please call ahead to visit the Temple office.
MASKS REQUIRED WHEN ENTERING THE BUILDING.
Please do not come into the building if you are not feeling well!
2
FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Beginning with this issue of the Eternal Light our board has launched a new way of
sharing what has been the president’s letter. It will now be a letter from the Board of
Trustees with a different board member writing each month.
We’d like the Congregation to join us in thanking Ben Beychok, Robbie Rubin, and
Julie Suggs, for their many hours of service as they rotate off the Board of Trustees.
Please, welcome your new board members; Carol Newman, Lindi Spalatin, and
Jamie Strickler.
Our Religious School will have a virtual, joint Purim celebration with Beth Shalom’s
Religious School students. The party is sponsored by Henry S. Jacobs Camp and will
be held on Sunday, February 28th from 9:45 until 10:30 AM. Julie Tepper will be
supplying B’nai Israel students with a grogger craft and Hamantachen.
There are lots of opportunities for adult education classes this month. (all virtual)
Rabbi Appel is offering “Old World & New World Reform Judaism” – Feb. 3rd and
10th (page 2), CBI and BSS are co-sponsoring with ISJL a presentation by Rabbi
Rachel Mikva on “Jews and Race” - Feb 18th (page 11), Beth Shalom Synagogue is
offering a Community Mussar Program starting Feb 9th - 11 sessions (register with
Rabbi Appleby at rabbi@bethshalomsynagogue.org. Details of upcoming events will
be in the weekly emails.
The Joint Synagogue Exploration Committee (JSEC) continues to meet and is in the
process of setting up task forces to include more members to further explore the
potential of unification. We welcome one on one conversations with any of you and
would very much like to hear your views and questions on this concept. The CBI
representatives on the committee are Barry Blumberg, Susan Lipsey, Jill Roby Pike,
Robbie Rubin, and Jak Kunstler.
Your Board remains optimistic about being able to return to in person services and
religious school at some point during this year. In the meantime, please, stay safe
and healthy.
Sincerely,
Jak Kunstler, on behalf of the CBI Board of Trustees.
3
Dear friends,
We are excited to give you an update on the latest from the Joint Synagogue
Exploratory Committee. We are ready to bring congregants into our meetings
as we continue to explore. This will begin with 6 task forces. Each task force
will be led by co-chairs from each congregation, as well as 6-10 congregants
and a member of JSEC. Each task force will meet within the coming weeks
to review objectives and gather information to give us a more detailed
analysis. Our consultant, Rabbi David Wolfman, will provide an orientation
for Task Force chairs and he will participate in the first meeting of each Task
Force.
We have had an overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic response from
those congregants whom have been asked to participate. At this time we
would like to share with you who will lead our task forces. We have formed a
Mission and Vision Task Force which will be led by Mary Ann Sternberg and
Lucas Spielfogel, a Staffing and Human Resources Task Force led by Lisa
Binder and Lindsey Burton, a Facilities Task Force led by Steve Winkler and
Jack Dampf, a Finance Task Force led by Ralph Bender and Mitch Rayner, a
Governance Task Force led by Mike Rubin and David Rubin and a Ritual
Task Force led by Rachel Hausmann and Harold Brandt. We value their
expertise and look forward to learning more about their findings.
Don’t worry, if you have not yet been asked to serve on a task force, we still
value your opinion and look forward to having you join the conversation in
the near future. Please reach out to us if you would like to be included in the
next round of congregant participation. We value your opinion.
Sincerely,
Barry Blumberg and Linda Posner, JSEC co-chairs
James Bullman
Steve Cavalier
Diane Dean
Mark Hausmann
Jak Kunstler
Susan Lipsey
Jill Roby Pike
Robbie Rubin
4
PRAYER
שבת שלום
5
SHABBAT
During the December 2020 meeting of URJ North American
Board Deborah Sternberg was recognized for her now-
completed service as a NAB trustee.
During her three years on the board, Deborah represented the
URJ on the Commission on Social Action as the Commission
focuses on important and pressing needs. She also served on
the Task Force on Youth Survey Evaluation. While she is
ending her time on the NAB, she’ll still be very involved in
engaging and nurturing our young people. Deborah serves as
the chair of the 6 Points Creative Arts Academy summer camp,
which keeps her involved with the URJ year-round.
6
Michael Jay Kantrow Sr. who is known to most as Mike and to his loving and
supportive wife Jill, six children and nine grandchildren as Pop, has guided
his life around two simple but important words: family and community.
Not unlike his late father, Byron R. “Pop” Kantrow Sr, Mike has a relentless
commitment to instill the power and importance of family and community
connectivity in his children, grandchildren and generations to come. This is
his legacy.
Mike is a man of measured and calming temperament, infectious optimism
and luminous compassion. His dedication to family, friends & the Baton
Rouge community at large is guided by his heritage and faith and is evident
in his steadfast personal, pro Bono and professional work that spans
decades.
Most everything Mike sets out to do on the countless boards he has served
on, the professional positions he has held, and the businesses he has
created, has hinged on the simplest of goals. This goal is to bring people
and ideas of all kinds together, to create opportunity, to better our city and
neighborhoods, and to instill in future generations the strength and power of
coming together as a community, to give back.
--- Written by Mike’s son, Sam Kantrow
7
BaRFTY
NFTY- Southern will be hosting Virtual NFTY Convention on February 5-7,
2021. This annual convention is a three day online event open to teens,
parents, Synagogue professionals and alumni. More information can be
found at www.nc21.org
The Temple office will be closed on
February 16, 2021
8
OUR COMMUNITY
Mazel Tov to
Rachelle Hirsch and family
on the birth of
Marcus Benjamin Hirsch
on
December 17, 2020
Parents
Rebekah & Reuben Hirsch
Brother
Delilah Hirsch
Grandparents
Marcia & Howard Hirsch
Great Grandparents
Rachelle Hirsch
& Marcus Hirsch, z’l
9
CALENDAR
Joint Virtual
Thursday, February 25 - 7:00 pm
A short telling of the Purim story, rated PG13.
With Rabbi Appel & Rabbi Appleby
We encourage you to wear a costume, a silly hat,
or have a funny background in your Zoom space.
1011
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
The Religious School project
for Tu B’Shevat was to
register the 8 live oaks into
the Live Oak Society
Because of Covid 19, the
students could not participate
physically - only virtual.
Thank you to Shawn Folks for
helping us measure our 8 oak
trees to enter into the Live
Oak Society for Tu B’Shevat!
PK 4 ready to learn!
12PLANT A TREE
Jewish National Fund - Plant a tree in Israel
Celebrate any lifecycle event.
Planting trees in Israel is a beautiful way to show you care. In fact, we’ve been planting trees in Is-
rael for over a century. It connects us to the land, it celebrates our joys and it literally plants a stake
of hope and optimism in the future of Israel.
Each tree ordered comes with a certificate of your choice, mailed to the recipient with your personal
message. Buy trees now.
Plant a Tree in Israel – jnf.org
One Tree Planted
One Tree Planted is a non-profit environmental charity
on a mission of global reforestation. Through our part-
nerships with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. State For-
est and Conservation District, we are able to plant
trees in many regions across the United States, includ-
ing California, Colorado, Florida and Oregon.
California's forests provide innumerable benefits, includ-
ing clean water and air, recreation, habitat, and beautiful
scenery. Healthy forests also play an important role in
addressing climate change. Five years of drought and a
large-scale bark beetle infestation have seriously dam-
aged California’s forests. 2017’s record-breaking wildfire
season burned more than 1.3 million acres – an area the
size of Delaware. 2020's fire season has consumed
close to 3 million acres, resulting in hundreds of millions
of trees that will need to be restored.
Plant Trees in California | One Tree Planted
13CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE NOW
The Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge 2021 camp
scholarship application is NOW available. Funding is limited and will
be awarded for those in need on a first come, first served basis. Any
application submitted MUST be completed in its entirety. Incomplete
applications will be sent back.
You can find the application at the following link: camp scholarship
In addition to the Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge, Jewish
Endowment Foundation of Louisiana is also offering scholarships to
eligible campers.
The Goldring Jewish Summer Camp Experience 2021 Grant
provides up to $1500 for a Jewish child to attend a Jewish nonprofit
sleepaway summer camp for the very first time. There are no need -
based requirements. Every Jewish child in Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama, Arkansas and the Florida Panhandle who has never attended
a nonprofit Jewish sleepaway summer camp is eligible.
The application is available at www.jefno.org
Also available is the RoseMary and Saul Brooks Fund for Jewish
Youth Engagement. Its goal is to help children - those who are
physically distanced from synagogues, youth groups and other Jewish
community events and activites - increase their exposure to their
Jewish heritage and peers during their formative years. The fund will
provide an incentive grant of at least $550 for up to ten Jewish children
to attend a Jewish nonprofit sleepaway summer camp annually.
Eligibility requirements and the application form can be found at
www.jefno.org.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss anything further, please
contact the Federation office at 225.379.7393 or
ellen.sager@jewishbr.org
14Shabbat Service & Torah Study
Saturday Mornings - 9:30 am - 10:45 am
Reflecting our efforts to seek and create that special time for
ourselves in order to encounter the holy.
UPCOMING ADULT LEARNING CLASSES
Old World & New World Reform Judaism
Wednesdays, February 3, 10 at 7 – 8:15 pm, taught by Rabbi Batsheva Appel
We will be looking at the origins of Reform Judaism and how the differences between Europe and
the United States affected its development. We will also look at the future of Reform Judaism, both
in the Diaspora and in Israel. To register, email Rabbi Appel (rabbibsa@bnaibr.org)
Judaism's Great Debates
Wednesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24, from 7 - 8:15 pm, taught by Rabbi Batsheva Appel
Not surprisingly, Jews do not always agree and at key moments in our history, there have been de-
bates about what direction Judaism should go. Does spirituality come from intellect or from emo-
tion? What are the boundaries of Jewish thought? Big questions underlying big debates. We will
examine four key debates from the time of the start of Hasidism to an imagined debate between
Theodor Herzl and Rabbi Isaac M. Wise about Zionism. We think we know who won, but there is
more to the story. These are questions that we continue to debate today. To register, email Rabbi
Appel (rabbibsa@bnaibr.org)
URJ Introduction to Judaism Online
Thursdays, March 18 – July 29, from 7 – 8:30 pm, taught by Rabbi Batsheva Appel
This is a 21-session class covering topics including: holidays, life cycle, theology, prayer, Bible, his-
tory, Holocaust, Modern Israel, the American Jewish Experience, and the tapestry of Jewish people
today. The class is for individuals considering conversion, spiritual seekers, adults raising Jewish
children, interfaith couples, and Jews who want to learn more about Judaism
When you register, register for the Thursday night class that begins March 18 and you will be in her
class. There are classes available other days of the week if that works better for people's sched-
ules. There is a fee of $450 for the class, and there is scholarship money available. For a scholar-
ship assistance, registrants should apply both to the URJ as well as call or email Rabbi Appel. For
more information: https://reformjudaism.org/learning/judaism-classes/introduction-judaism/
Remembering
Detective Sargeant Charles Dotson
He was a protector of the Temple for many years. He was the face seen before you
entered the Temple for Shabbat or a special event. He made everyone feel like a friend.
Dropping by to check on the staff when he was in the area made you realize that he
really cared. The stories shared and his laughter was always a treat. This dear friend of
the Temple will be missed tremendously and will always be in our hearts.
15YAHRZEIT זִכְ רוֹנָם לִ ְב ָרכָה
Zichronam Livracha
May their memories be a blessing
February 5
Julius “Buddy” Bombet Father of Charles Bombet
Brother of Ronnie Bombet
Uncle of Alley Bombet and Julie Suggs
RoseMary Brooks Mother of Rick Brooks
Ernest Dampf Husband of Aileen Dampf
Father of Jack Dampf
Barbara Marcus Desenberg Aunt of Susan Dampf
Felix B. Fraenkel Great-grandfather of Albert Fraenkel
Sally Moss Jellin Mother of Jak Kunstler
Beulah R. Kahn Mother of Jack Kahn
Gus Kaplan Grandfather of Miriam del Rio
Fred Korn Brother of Linda Levy
Helen Korn Aunt of Linda Levy
Edith Levine Grandmother of Lee Michael Berg
Helen Levy Mother of Charlotte and Helen Levy
Joseph Lipsey, Sr. Father of Richard Lipsey
Leah Molle Uncle of Ronnie Marks
Great Uncle of Spencer Marks
Jean Van Os Wife of Herman Van Os
Mother of Ellen Becker and Jill Van Os
February 12
Jane Barrisch Sister of Chunky Folks
Arlene Feldman Aunt of Jack Isaacs
Palmyre Dreyfus Fraenkel Great-grandmother of Albert Fraenkel
Dianne Lynn Levy Daughter of Carol Levy
Sister of Cindy Levy
Billie McGuire Mother of Esther Sachse
Floret Newman Mother of Carol & Lee Newman
Thaia Pick Mother of Wendy Herschman
16YARHZEIT
February 19
Dorothy Arnold Mother-in-law of Jimmie Murvin
Stanley Hirsch Father of Alec Hirsch
Sam Kaplan Grandfather of Seth Kaplan
Myrtle Sanchez Cousin of Jim Mayer
Rachel Watsky Mother of Mathile Abramson
Natalie Abramson Weill Aunt of Jay Dardenne
Harold Wormser Grandfather of Ben Wormser
February 26
Laulette Marcus Black Wife of Jerome Black
Mother of Doug Black
Melba Brown Mother of Randy Brown
Walter Brown Grandfather of Harold Brandt
Leonard Edelman Brother-in-law of Frances Edelman
Uncle of Ann Edelman
Lillian Elkind Mother of Karen Hirsch
Lillian Fishbein Grandmother of Alan Fishbein
Great-grandmother of Adam Fishbein
Beverly Kaplan Aunt of Dan Cassin
Ben Levy, Jr. Father of Robert Levy
Grandfather of Robin Levy
Lazard Levy Father of Nathan Levy
Mary Louise Levy Mother of Robert Levy
Grandmother of Robin Levy
Sybil Bender Lubarr Sister of Marvin Bender
Aunt of Ralph Bender
Daniel Pratter Brother-in-law of John Dupaquier
Victor Alphonse Sachse, III Father of Victor Sachse
Shirley Haas Snyder Grandmother of Sherry Mayer
Jo Wormser Grandmother of Ben Wormser
17DONATIONS
18DESIGNATED FUNDS
19The L’dor V’dor Legacy Society was
established to grow the endowment to
support Congregation B’nai Israel for
generations to come. It is comprised
of individuals who have made or have
notified Congregation B’nai Israel of
their intent to make a planned gift
through their will or estate plans.
Please return your information card
to the temple office or fill out the form
online at:
2021
22
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Andy Blumberg, President
Jak Kunstler, Vice President
Scott Berg, Treasurer
Heather Folks Givens, Secretary
Nicole Hazey Jack Isaacs Robert Levy
Carol Newman Becky Ratcliff Victor Sachse
Hamilton Shaw Lindi Spalatin Jamie Strickler
Nathan Levy, Men’s Club President Paige Wormser, Women of CBI President
Charlie Roth, BaRFTY President
STAFF
Batsheva Appel, Rabbi (rabbibsa@bnaibr.org)
Barry Weinstein, Rabbi Emeritus
Julie Tepper, Religious School Director (RSDirector@bnaibr.org)
Cathy Duplechin, Office Administrator (office@bnaibr.org)
James Hickman, Custodian
TEMPLE OFFICE VOLUNTEERS (TOV)
Edie Bender Edie Bernard Laurie Brandt Robbie Rubin
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