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Volume 59 Issue 4TI BulletinYou can also visit us on the web at tiob.shulcloud.comVolume 59 Issue 4TEMPLE ISRAELApril 2021 Nisan/Iyar 5781Schedule of ShabbatServicesApril 2021Services in April will be held inRabbi’s Zoom Room. For assistance contact the office attioffice@tiofbrevard.comFriday, April 2PESACH YIZKORChaverim,It has been a whole year. A year of tremendous constriction,a year of tremendous growth. We were constricted like theIsraelites in Egypt – slaves to Pharoah. Egypt, in Hebrew, iscalled Mitzrayim. The ancient mystical text, the Zohar teachesthat the name comes from m’tzarim, meaning “narrow straits”.When God took us out of Mitzrayim, we were taken from aplace of constricted opportunities, narrow minded people – wewere slaves forbidden to move through our lives with freedom.On a certain level, this is what this year has been for us – ayear of great constriction. Yet, out of the constriction we grewand changed and learned to adapt to a very different world.Now it almost seems like I can’t remember what the world wasreally like before this modern-day plague descended upon us.7 PMFriday, April 9YOM HASHOAH PRAYERSParashat Shemini7 PMFriday, April 16CELEBRATE ISRAELParashat Tazria-Metzora7 PMFriday, April 23Parashat Achare-Kedoshim7 PMFriday, April 30SHABBAT UNDER THE STARS 7 PMParashat EmorConstriction – GrowthFear – HopePerhaps we can move towards Sinai together through the ancient ritual of counting the Omer. This year I will be sendingout to you a daily Omer offering, combining some of my writings and reflections of previous years along with additional reflections that pertain specifically to the healing we all need aswe move out of a year of constriction to a year, we pray, ofgrowth. I will share beautiful writings, art and poetry all incorporated into what will be a daily practice for the 49 days of theOmer.1

Volume 59 Issue 4This year I want to hear from you! Please consider sending me your thoughts onthe following themes that take us through the 7 weeks of the Omer.Chesed – LovingkindnessGevurah – Boundaries strengthTiferet – Balance/HarmonyNetzach – EnduranceHod – HumilityYesod – RootsMalchut – Sovereignty/NobilityWe Jews begin our days at nightfall, when you can see the first three starsin the sky. And so, we count at night. If you haven’t said the blessing in theevening, then you can still count the Omer in the morning without the blessing.Every moment counts in our lives. One of the beauties of the Omer counting isto make each moment – each day holy.You will receive, via email, a reflection for each day of the Omer beginningon the evening of March 28 which also happens to be our Congregational ZoomSeder. We are calling it this year Zeder! Please do join us!May your journey be one of enlightenment and grace, filled with the ancient wonder of our people’s continuing existence from Sinai till now.The Cantor, Jenny and I wish each of you a Zissen Pesach, a Sweet Pesachfilled with loving family and friends and lots of matzah!!Loving Blessings,Rabbi PatCounting of the Omer, מֶ לֶך הָ עוֹלָם , ְי ָי אֱ ֹלהֵ ינוּ , בָּ רוּך ַא ָתּה . ירת הָ עֹמֶ ר ַ ִ וֹתיו וְ צִ וָּנוּ עַ ל ְספ ָ ְ ֲֹֹאשֶ ר ִק ְ ֹדּשָ נוּ בְּ ִמצ Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu me-lech ha-olam asher kid-e-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tavvetzi-va-nu al sefi-rat ha-omer.Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Yourcommandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.2

Volume 59 Issue 4President’s Message for April 2021Greetings to you all! I hope you had a wonderful Passover and enjoyed our marvelous Zeder. I’d like toonce again thank Rabbi Hickman and her crew – Wendy, Jacob, and Harry – for doing everything they canto maintain normalcy in what has been a very abnormal period of our lives.On Friday, March 19, we had a “soft” opening of our new building (on the patio) when we hosted Shabbatunder the Stars. Rabbi and Holly (see below) did a wonderful job under initially very warm circumstances.By the end of the service, however, the weather cooled considerably, and those in attendance were treatedto one remarkably, beautiful sunset.SHABBAT UNDER THE STARSAs you now are probably aware, our new Rabbi search has been suspended for this year, and we will collectourselves and begin again with the 2021-22 job market. We are in discussions with Rabbi Hickman, our future Rabbi Emerita, in continuing in a role that allows us to maintain vital and essential spiritual serviceswhile adequately protecting Rabbi’s health and well-being. Details to follow in the weeks ahead, and thecongregation will be convened to approve a contract for this transitional year.The fabulous news on the status of our new building is that the grease trap has been installed. This was thelast minute headache brought to you by Brevard County Zoning which required us to have a grease trapeven though we technically have a warming station and not a kitchen. Anyway, it’s done, and we’re awaiting final inspection for our C.O. We’re now down to just a scheduling wait, so if you stop by the Synagogueyou’ll notice more and more items are being placed. April will be a busy but satisfying month.A few weeks ago we signed a contract with Advanced Recreational Concepts for the manufacture andplacement of a playground (see the graphic on the next page) on the west-side of our property, just southof the patio. It’s a first-rate design and recreational concept and I’d like to give a shout-out to the Roberts’Family, our naming rights sponsor, as well as contributing sponsor Laurie Smirl. We hope to have this readyby late spring/early summer.3

Volume 59 Issue 4I’ll once again end this note by imploring you to help us automate. Labor-time is scarce, so please help yourTemple Family by utilizing ShulCloud to meet your Temple obligations in the same way you pay your FPL, cable,or phone bill. The regularity in payments and predictability in cash-flow are all vital to ensuring that our newbuilding thrives.If needed, the office can assist you in setting up an automatic payment method through ShulCloud. Just contactJacob Eichenbaum, our Office Administrator, at tioffice@tiofbrevard.com, or by leaving a message at 321-631-9494, extension 101.Regards to All,Mike Slotkin, PresidentTemple Israel of Brevard4

Volume 59 Issue 4WOMEN OF TEMPLE ISRAEL/SISTERHOODAPRIL, 2021Women of Temple Israel / SisterhoodLois and Joy at the PurimCelebration.in March 2021Our Women of Temple Israel mourns the passing of life member Lois Katzin.Lynda Wilson, her friend of 30 years, recalls working with her on Jewish Federation projects. Recently Lois volunteered in the temple office, in our Judaicashop, and in any way involving children. “ If it’s not for the children, we wouldn’tbe here,’ she said. Lynda said that for Lois, “Temple Israel was her family”. Shewas 83 and died peacefully.WTI deeply appreciates the help of “our fairy godfather Larry Rodriguez” in completing our kitchen. Larry installed shelves from lumber left over from the library.Now that the kitchen and gift shop boxes have been moved, we are ready tostart unpacking them. Joy Inventasch has assembled a team of volunteers towork in the kitchen and gift shop. Thanks to Debbie Weiskopf, Bobbi Rodriguez, Gail Ellis and Monica Fishkin. If you can join them, please call Joy Inventasch at 321-253-8579.The WTI Book Club welcomed author Marcia Rudin at our last meeting on Thursday, March 18. Lastmonth we read her novel “Flower Toward the Sun.” Marcia revealed that she wrote it a screenplay andthen adapted it as a novel. Since the book was so visual, we were not surprised. She did extensive research for the novel, especially on Ellis Island procedures in 1905, and immigrant life in North Dakota.Marcia interacted with us all, suggesting other books that would appeal. Rabbi Hickman wrote to her thatit was “an inspiration” and delightful to meet her.ALL Temple members are welcome to attend our Book Club and to suggest books. We meet on the thirdThursday of the month. The next meetings are on April 15 to discuss “The Yellow Bird Sings” by JenniferRosner, and on May 20 to review “The Lost Boys” by Faye Kellerman. If you are new to the book club,contact Diana van den Boogaard at dianaboogaard@gmail.com, or Rabbi Hickman at phickman@tiofbrevard.com, so that we can send you the Zoom link.Thanks to Ilene Baklor for renewing her WTI / Sisterhood membership for 2021. To renew, send 36 toTreasurer Rose Schoenfeld at 6717 Sutro Heights Lane, Viera, FL 32940. Call Rose at 321-622-6454 formore information. Annual memberships are 36 and new temple members are 18 for the first year. Lifememberships are 180.To sponsor a Virtual Oneg, contact WTI Treasurer Rose Schoenfeld at 321-622-6454, or roseschoenfeld1941@gmail.com. Make a 40 donation to WTI for a specific Shabbat service. Join the service onZoom and light the candles. Rabbi Hickman will work out the details and you will be honored for contributing the Oneg. We will have a colorful illustration of the virtual foods you want to share.5

Volume 59 Issue 4WOMEN OF TEMPLE ISRAEL PHOTOSAuthor Marcia *********LARRY RODRIGUEZ INSTALLING SHELVING INTHE KITCHEN6

Volume 59 Issue 4WOMEN OF TEMPLE ISRAEL SISTERHOODMEMBERSHIP APPLICATION for 2021 (Please Print Legibly)ififNAMEEMAILADDRESSCITY/STATE/ZIPPHONE (Home) CELLAFFILIATION Temple Israel NON-Temple IsraelWhat type of activities would you like to attendWhat Zoom meetings would you likely attend:Your preferred Zoom meeting days and times:Do you need help with ZOOM meetings?ONEG SHABBAT: Please pick a date to sponsor an Oneg in honor of a birthday, anniversary, special occasion, or inmemory of a loved one. I can sponsor an Oneg on Thank you!Please call Rose Schoenfeld at 321-622-6454 to reserve your date. The cost is 40The Oneg will be for Zoom services until we can move into our new Temple.Check all activities that interest you (most will be on Zoom temporarily): WTI officer WTI boardOnegs Programming Telephone Committee Fundraising Fun & Games, Mah JonggCooking Crafts or Knitting Menorathon Gift Shop New building teamHospitality, Welcoming new members Sisterhood Shabbat Condolence CommitteeWebsite, Facebook page, Publicity team Book Club Social Action or Women’s IssuesZoom helper OtherTRANSPORTATION (for when we meet): I need a rideI can provide a rideThank you so much for your support of the Women of Temple Israel, and for your input and feedback!Please send your filled in membership application and dues payable to Women of Temple Israelto our Treasurer, Rose Schoenfeld, at 6717 Sutro Heights Lane, Viera FL 32940Life Members: Please return your survey to Rose. No payment is due, but donations are welcome.EARLY MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL BY DEC. 31, 2020 : 30AFTER JAN. 1, 2021: 36.00 (through Dec. 31, 2021)NEW TEMPLE ISRAEL MEMBER ONLY: 1st year 18.00LIFE MEMBERSHIP: 180.00SIGNATURE DATEREMEMBER your dues help pay for Friday night Onegs, Gift Shop merchandise, our Menorathon, Purim hamantaschen, Bar/BatMitzvah gifts to each celebrating child, and much more that we do to support our Temple. THANK YOU.For more information contact Joy Inventasch 321 253-8579 email: harveyiandjoyi@yahoo.com7