Weekly Emes Archives

Nov 20 - Nov 26, 2020             4 Kislev - 10 Kislev, 5781

Parashat Toldot

Shalom!

Welcome to Congregation Torat Emet's weekly Emes, all the news and happenings at the shul and around the community. Enjoy and Shabbat Shalom!

About Us

         In This Issue:

        Service Schedules
        Classes & Calendar Corner
        Kiddush & Seudah Shlisheet
        Lifecycle
        Synagogue Announcements
        Israel Action
        Community Announcements
        Goods & Services

Office Hours

Monday-Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Thursday & Friday
CLOSED

          Quick Links

              Calendar
              Printable Calendar
              Eruv (614.489.8281)
              Buckeye Kosher
              OU
              AIPAC

Synagogue Leadership

Rabbi Howard Zack
Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein,
Board Chairs
Dr. Michael Blumenfeld, President
Gary Blumberg, Vice President

Betsey Lane, Vice President
Stuart Appelbaum, Secretary
Michael Broidy, Treasurer
Monica Calabrese, Past President
Rabbi Ari Neuman, Associate Rabbi

Schedules & Lifecycle

Important Covid-19 Message from Torat Emet Leadership

As Governor DeWine and the Franklin County Health Department continue to share important health advisories with us, including Franklin County’s climb to a Level 4 alert status, we want to update you on our minyan status at Torat Emet.
 
First and foremost, we want to strongly encourage all our members to follow the essential safety protocols of mask wearing, hand washing and limiting social interactions inside and outside of their homes. 
 
We have worked hard at the shul to maintain those same standards and to create as much of a bubble for our regular minyan attendees as possible. 
 
We plan to continue with our daily and Shabbat minyanim if we can do so safely. To that end we will be more restrictive in allowing non-regular minyanaires to come to shul, especially visitors from out of town.  The Rabbi and at least two doctors on this advisory committee will vet all non-regular attendees who sign up for minyan.
 
Members should continue to sign up in advance to attend services.
 
We want to ask all our minyan goers who are 65 years and older to speak with their doctors and health care providers once again about coming to shul currently. 
 
Everyone who does come to shul must make sure to bring and wear a properly fitting mask that covers their nose, mouth, and chin. Those with loose fitting masks will be required to use a shul provided mask in its place. 
 
We will continue to monitor the local situation and plan accordingly.
 
We are genuinely concerned about families gathering and/or traveling outside of their regular bubble for Thanksgiving, Chanukah, etc.  Please do not.  And if you do, we may need to restrict your minyan attendance. You must contact Rabbi Zack if you have traveled outside of Columbus or had visitors from out of town if you plan on returning to minyan.
 
We can only guarantee a daily minyan inside the shul if you maintain these standards outside of the shul. 
 
Thank you,

Rabbi Howard Zack
Dr. Michael Blumenfeld 
The Torat Emet Covid-19 Advisory Committee

Click HERE to register to attend services next week.

Shabbat Schedule

Weekday Schedule

Friday
7:00 AM   Shacharit
4:45 PM   Mincha 
4:53 PM   Candle Lighting

Shabbat
9:00 AM   Shacharit
Be sure to have seudah shlisheet at home
4:45 PM   Mincha at shul
Siyyum for Masechet Eruvin
Sefer HaChinuch
5:55 PM   Shabbat Ends

Shacharit 
8:00 AM   Sunday
7:00 AM   Monday-Wednesday
8:00 AM   Thursday & Friday

Mincha
4:50 PM   Sunday-Thursday
4:45 PM   Friday

Class Schedule
All classes are clickable links to join the class via Zoom

Click HERE to view our Scholar in Residence Zoom from last night
The Jewish Intellectual Tradition and the Modern Jew with Dr. Alan Kadish

The Book of Yoel with Rabbi Neuman
Sunday morning at 9:00 AM

Orchot Tzaddikim: The Ways of the Righteous with Rabbi Neuman
Tuesday & Thursday at 12:30 PM

Contemporary Halacha with Rabbi Neuman
Tuesday night at 8:30 PM

Podcast
The Characters You Do Not Know with Rabbi Neuman

Available HERE on Apple Podcast!
(Alternatively you can use Spotify or Anchor to listen) 

Calendar Corner

November 17th
Rosh Chodesh Kislev
December 10th-18th
Chanukah

Mazel Tov 
to Shelly and Al Dembe on the birth of their granddaughter. Proud parents are Valery and Danny Lebowitz

Refuah Shleyma
to Janet Abroms, Suzanne Hoxworth, Dora Kopp, Ron Reitman, Stewart Shapiro, and David Weisfogel

Condolences
to Nancy Supowit and family on the passing of father, Herbert Freeman

to Estelle Wallace Grossman on the passing of husband, Neal Grossman

Welcome to Our New Members
Meet the newest members of the Torat Emet Family

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Larry Herer

Torat Emet (TE):  Tell us about yourself.
Larry Herer (LH): I am a computer programmer for the state of Ohio for Jobs and Family Service.  I am married and I have 2 children Ty and Valerie.  I am from Pittsburgh and I am a Steeler and Penguin fan.  I was raised conservative 

TE: What attracted you to the Main Street synagogue?
LH: I  was searching for a temple that was open for the high holiday.  I wanted to be there in person.
. 

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Noah Katz

Torat Emet (TE):  Tell us about yourself.
Noah Katz (NK): I am from Akron, Ohio. Just started my first year of law school at OSU after graduating from University of Cincinnati in the winter of 2019. I grew up on a small farm with bees and chickens. Our honey is very popular in Akron for Rosh Hashanah! 

TE: What attracted you to the Main Street synagogue?
NK: What attracted me to Main Street was when I came to town for the Shabbos that Rabbi Karlinsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Shapell's, was visiting (have learned at Shapell's for the past two summers). Being the only shul that I was familiar with in Columbus, and the fact it was in-between the other shuls, I decided to look for an apartment near main street so I would be nearby. Even though the pandemic has made it difficult to get acclimated to a tzibbur, given the circumstances, Torat Emet has done a nice job welcoming me. If the virus gets under control, I cannot wait to get to know everyone better!

TE: What do you like/love about this community?
NK: I have been going to shacharit regularly and have really enjoyed getting meeting everybody in the minyanim.

TE: What are your interests and hobbies?
NK: My interests are beekeeping, studying gemara, running, swimming, and cooking.

TE: What are your your favorite books, movies or music?
NK: I listen to lots of podcasts. Some of my favorites are Freakonomics, How I Built This, all podcasts by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, Capitalisn't, the Moth, The Journal, Hidden Brain, Tales, and a few parsha drashot from the YU app. 

TE: Your favorite Graeter's ice cream flavor :)
NK: I think that UDF ice cream is better, but I wouldn't say no to ice cream, even Graeter's. 

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Left to Right:
Yaki Liebesman, Yonah Liebesman, Stacy Leeman, Gary Leibesman

Torat Emet (TE):  Tell us about yourselves. 
Leeman/Liebesman Family (L/L): Gary is from Homdel, New Jersey and Stacy is from Columbus, Ohio.  we have lived in Israel and also on the upper west side of New York City.  Stacy even survived a stint in NJ for grad school.  Gary teaches English and US History at CAHS.  Stacy is an artist with galleries in Columbus, South Carolina, and Kentucky and she teaches at Columbus State.  Our two boys are Yaakov and Yonah and they are 16 and 12.  We have two black cats that are brothers named Chimichanga and Chorizo.  (We didn't name them!)

TE: What attracted you to the Main Street synagogue?
L/L: Main Street is attractive to us for many reasons.  We are inspired by the learning and educational opportunities.  We've both benefited from learning with Rabbi Epstein (and our friendship with their family).  Philosophically, Main Street is a wonderful fit for our family and the Zacks have been very good to us for many years.  Additionally, Shira Neumann and Rabbi Neumann are wonderful educators and friends.  We appreciate the community's diligence during the pandemic and the quiet atmosphere for tefillah.

TE: What do you like/love about this community?
L/L: We like the commitment to chesed and learning and the seriousness of the davening and our friends!.

TE: What are your interests and hobbies?
L/L: Gary, Yaki, and Yonah all like any sports activity that includes a ball.  They are especially jazzed by baseball and basketball.  (Gary even played baseball for a season at Penn State).  Stacy likes to do yoga and run.  Stacy & Gary like swimming, too.

TE: What are your your favorite books, movies or music?
L/L: Gary & Stacy like Pete Yorn and Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison is one of the most beautiful books ever.  Arc of Justice by Kevin Boyle was fabulous and inspired a series of paintings.  When the Drexel theater was open we loved to attend their movies. 

TE: Your favorite Graeter's ice cream flavor :)
L/L: As a household black raspberry chip, but Stacy's favorite is actually Pumpkin and Yonah like's strawberry chip, too

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Justin Pinsker

Torat Emet (TE): Tell us about yourself. 
Justin Pinsker (JP): I'm from Pittsburgh originally but have lived in Columbus 16 years. I am the office manager for the State of Ohio's Medicaid eligibility program. 

TE: What attracted you to the Main Street synagogue? 
JP: I have come to the synagogue on and off for a few years but I started regularly attending the Zoom minyanim during the pandemic, which led to me attending daily minyan when it restarted, and next thing you know, I'm a member. Life is full of twists and turns like that.

TE: What do you like/love about this community? 
JP: Everyone has been welcoming pre-pandemic and since the pandemic started, it's been very humbling to be a part of the community at a time when we are struggling for connection.

TE: What are your interests and hobbies?
JP: I am very into hockey and yoga. I also do some acting when there isn't a pandemic going on.

TE: What are your your favorite books, movies or music?
JP: My favorite movie is probably Avengers: Infinity War. 

TE: Your favorite Graeter's ice cream flavor :)
JP: Birthday cake ice cream.

Favorite Quote: When life leaves us blind, love keeps us kind. Take care of each other.

_________________________________________________________

Eric Samorodnitsky

Torat Emet (TE): Tell us about yourself. 
Eric Samorodnitsky (ES): I was born in Haifa in 1984, but moved to the US in 1986 and eventually settled in Ithaca, NY, where I grew up. I am a post-doctoral researcher at OSU; my lab sequences the DNA of cancer patients in order to find ways to treat their cancers.

TE: What attracted you to the Main Street synagogue?
ES: I started coming to Torat Emet, because I am interested in increasing my connection with Hashem and becoming more spiritual.

TE: What are your interests and hobbies?
ES: I have several interests. I mainly love traveling. I have been to 30 countries and always aim higher! I always like biking and yoga.

_________________________________________________________

Mark & Sally Wachter

Torat Emet (TE): Tell us about yourselves. 
Wachters: We were born and raised in Cleveland and met at Cleveland Heights High School. After graduating from the University of Michigan (that’s the school that does not need to capitalize the “T” in “the”), we did a  stint near Washington, D.C., while Mark went to law school and Sally began her career as a Special Education teacher. We returned to Cleveland to be near our families, and stayed for 45 years. Our son, Daniel, and his wife and three sons live in Chicago, where he is an E.R. doctor and his wife, Annie, is a social worker. You probably know our daughter, Meagan, and son-in-law, Jeff Buren, and their kids – the reason we moved to Columbus. Meagan is a research and communications consultant and Jeffery is the managing partner of Glacial Capital Group, a real estate investments and development firm. They are presently “on the road” pulling a 33-foot RV through the West. Sally is now retired but helping to teach the grandchildren via Zoom and tutors GED candidates, on-line, through a Cleveland program – Seeds of Literacy. Mark is practicing law with his firm, Wachter Kurant, LLC, concentrating on real estate, construction and business law and serves as an arbitrator and mediator privately and through the American Arbitration Association.

TE: What attracted you to the Main Street synagogue? 
Wachters: We felt comfortable and welcomed at Main Street Synagogue from our earliest visits when Meagan and Jeffery moved to Bexley. The culture is similar to The Beachwood Kehilla where we were founding members and we look forward to becoming an active part of the Main Street community.

TE: What are your interests and hobbies?
Wachters: We are about everything outdoors – walking, hiking, biking, and skiing which Mark loves, and Sally tolerates. We also enjoy cooking and reading. Sally plays mahj and practices Tai Chi.

TE: What are your your favorite books, movies or music?
Wachters: While we both enjoy Oldies, Mark’s taste includes Classical, Folk and the Grateful Dead.

By the way – Mark makes his own ice cream, which we have been told rivals anything Graeter’s has to offer. Look for Charoset flavored ice cream next summer, a real hit at grandkids’ birthday parties.

Donations

CHESED FUND
in memory of
Neal Grossman from Sima Gellman & Needham,
Herbert Freeman from Rochell & David Weisfogel,
Rabbi Millen's brother from Rochell & David Weisfogel,
Marilyn Winter from Rochell & David Weisfogel,
Ruth Schildhouse from Rochell & David Weisfogel

RABBI'S FUND
in appreciation of
Rabbi Zack from Pamela Ryan, Michael Ryan & Family,
David Schottenstein from Pamela Ryan, Michael Ryan & Family,
Betsey Lane from Beverly Roseman-Shapiro & Stewart Shapiro
in memory of
Rabbi William Millen from Stacy Leeman & Gary Liebesman,
Neal Grossman from Meri & Ed King,
Herbert Freeman from Beverly Roseman-Shapiro & Stewart Shapiro

SYNAGOGUE FUND
in commemoration of the yahrzeit of
mother, Olga Dobkin from Vicki & Jeff Dobkin
in memory of
Herbert Freeman from Meri & Ed King,
Neal Grossman from Dr. Rochel & Rabbi Henoch Millen,
Herbert Freeman from June & Jerry Frankel,
Herbert Freeman from Linda & Barry Starr,
Rabbi William Millen from Lynn & Joel Fisher,
Rabbi William Millen from Marilyn & Stuart Cole,
Herbert Freeman from Dr. Rochel & Rabbi Henoch Millen
Herbert Freeman from Stuart Weltz
wishing a mazel tov to
Alison and Matan Gutwaks, and Terri and Rick Barnett, on the birth of their son and grandson from Lynn & Joel Fisher

Happy birthday this week to:
Ava Rosenthal, Talya Beigelman, Lila Gisser, Joey Schottenstein, Raphael Rosenthal, Daniel Epstein, Cherie Winter, Lori Polster, and Joel Marcovitch

Yahrzeits for this week are
Mary Spitz, mother of Helene Lehv
Rose Broidy, mother of Michael Broidy
Avraham Biegacz, father of Anne Shulman
Alan Wolf, father of Michele Bernstein
Anne Fisher, mother of Joel Fisher
Henry Spitz, father of Helene Lehv
Eric Reitman, father of Ron Reitman
Jonathan Crespy, brother of Melissa Crespy
Leo Keil, grandfather of Janice Epstein; great grandfather of Shaul Epstein
Abraham Metz, father of Benjamin Metz
Ellin Gurvitch, sister of Stuart Weltz
Ida Gorenstein, mother in law of Marci Gorenstein
Joseph Wolpert, father of Francine Greff; grandfather of Joel Greff

Thank you to to 
 
for their financial assistance in reopening the synagogue for services, and partnering with us to provide our security for Shabbat and Holidays, and for 
Donate to their annual campaign here.

Synagogue Announcements

Scholar in Residence Zoom with Dr. Alan Kadish

If you missed our Scholar in Residence Zoom last night with Dr. Alan Kadish, President of Touro College and University System, on "The Jewish Intellectual Tradition and the Modern Jew" click the link below to view the video:
https://youtu.be/-kqAH0tCQvc

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_________________________________________________________

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Message from Dr. Rochel L. & Rabbi Henoch Millen

To our dear friends in the Torat Emet community,

Our deep appreciation to all those who gave tzedakah in memory of my dear brother, Rabbi William(Billy) Millen, a"h; and special thanks to the many who sent messages of nechamah in our time of grieving.

May Hashem bestow His blessings on all of you, and may we all celebrate simachot in our families.

B'vrachah and besorot tovot,
Henoch and Rochel Millen

_________________________________________________________

Memorial Booklet
Below is a link to the Torat Emet Memorial Booklet
5781MemorialBook.pdf

_________________________________________________________

Important Message from Torat Emet, Ahavas Sholom, Beth Jacob, Kollel and CTA Rabbinic Leadership

COVID-19 Guidelines for Columbus Torah Academy and the 
Columbus Orthodox (Synagogue and Kollel) Community:

Our synagogues and our school are open! We rightly celebrate this achievement.  But it is up to us –us as individuals and us as a community – to do everything we can to support these institutions and the many people who have worked so hard to make this happen. We, the leaders of these institutions, therefore implore you to comply with the following guidelines:

1. You must wear a mask that covers both the nose and mouth at all times while inside any establishment, especially shuls, kollel and CTA.
2. Maintain a distance of 6 feet from any people not part of your household.
3. If a person or a member of their household visits a state that is defined as a hotspot by the state of Ohio, that person, and any members of that person's household may not enter the school, shuls, or kollel until 14 days following their return to Columbus.
4. No member of a family that hosts visitors from any state that is defined as a hotspot by the state of Ohio may enter school, shul, or kollel until 14 days after the visitors have left.
5. Any individuals visiting from outside the greater Columbus area should get the approval of the Shul rabbis, Rosh Kollel or Head of School before coming to school, shul, or kollel.
6. If one wishes to have guests for meals, it is our strong recommendation that meals should be held outside with appropriate social distancing and not exceed two families (including the host family).
7. If someone chooses to attend a large gathering where someone has either tested positive or subsequently tests positive for COVID-19, either all members of the family in attendance may not enter school, shul, or kollel for 14 days regardless of the duration of contact with the specific individual; or must obtain clearance from the Shul rabbis, Rosh Kollel or Head of School and Franklin County Department of Health.
8. If you have one of the following symptoms you may not go to shul or school:
        a. Fever >100
        b. Cough
        c. Loss of sense of taste or smell
        d. Cold symptoms (sore throat, congestion, runny nose)
9. If you have any two of the following symptoms you may not go to shul or school:
        a. Headaches
        b. Body aches
        c. Fatigue
        d. Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea)
10. Everyone who is medically able should get a flu vaccine this year.
11. We realize that is a divisive issue.  In order to avoid any possibility of Lashon Harah, any concerns regarding this policy should be discussed with either a Shul rabbi, Rosh Kollel or Head of School.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Claman, Rabbi Drandoff, Rabbi Goldstein, Rabbi Morris, and Rabbi Zack

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

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Join Our Whatsapp Group!

T.E.amwork
Torat Emet Friends -

While the stay at home directive has constrained our traditional socializing routines, the gift of technology has allowed us to remain joyfully connected.  Torat Emet has introduced a WhatsApp group specifically dedicated to keeping us together during this historic time.  Members of the Torat Emet family are posting the same kind of information that we enjoy sharing when we are physically together – general community updates, jokes, family news, inspirational messages….. 

I hope that you will join our WhatsApp group.  The family is not complete without you.

Talk to you in the App!!
 
Rabbi Zack

_________________________________________________________

• HowtoWear&MakeFaceMasks.pdf
• ​​​Franklin County Public Health
• Ohio Department of Health 
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Overview - Centers for Disease Control
• World Health Organization COVID-19 Advice For The Public   - World Health Organization
• Johns Hopkins Global COVID-19 Case Map   - John Hopkins Hospital
• Travel Tips: Coronavirus   - U.S. Department of State's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)

• https://www.yutorah.org/
• https://www.sefaria.org/
• https://www.aish.com/
• https://www.etzion.org.il/en

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High Street Synagogue

The High Street Community is a project sponsored by Jonathan and Nicole Schottenstein, and led by Rabbi Ari Neuman, for young professionals looking for meaningful Jewish experiences and fun ways to meet other young Jewish adults.  The program's goal is to help its participants learn about Judaism in a way that is exciting, enjoyable, open, and welcoming to others no matter their background.
For more information, or to sign up for HSC events and e-mails, please contact Rabbi Neuman at rabbineuman@toratemet.org
or call the office at 614-238-6778.

Israel Action

Community Announcements

RSVP by November 30 to receive your Community In A Box!
REGISTER

GET IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. HELP US GIVE BACK.
Join our Hanukkah Drive, in collaboration with Jewish Family Services and enjoy some Hanukkah donuts from J Catering before the big event!

DRIVE-THRU LOCATIONS
JCC East - front entrance
JCC North/Beth Tikvah - parking lot
JCC New Albany -North entrance, by big playground

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8
HOURS: 8-9am, 12-1pm, 4:30-5:30pm

JFS GIFT CARD SUGGESTIONS
$25 to Kohl's, Kroger, Meijer, Target, or Walmart

​​​​​​​Buckeye Kosher

Buckeye Kosher Now Delivers
In an effort to help the community during this uncertain time, Buckeye Kosher is trialing a kosher-food shopping/delivery service to those who have an underlying need and are unable to get out during this time. Please email Kosher Department orders to  deliveries@buckeyekosher.org . We plan to shop before 5:30 pm on Mondays and Thursdays, with delivery shortly thereafter. Payments will need to be paid with a credit card via Square the day that the shopping is made prior to drop-off. Please note that we will not always be able to fulfill the entire order due to supply limitations.

Please e-mail us with any questions.

Buckeye Kosher Korner

For a recently updated list of Kosher symbols approved by Buckeye Kosher click here

Buckeye Kosher works only with approved caterers and commissaries. Please check their website buckeyekosher.org

Follow Buckeye Kosher (@BuckeyeKosher) on Twitter for the latest kashrus updates

www.buckeyekosher.org or info@buckeyekosher.org

Columbus Community Mikvah

Call or text (614) 239-0838 for appointments
columbuscommunitymikvah.org
columbusmikvah@gmail.com

Columbus Eruv
Visit  eruv-columbus.com  or follow on twitter @ColumbusEruv for all the latest updates, or call (614) 489-8281

Shabbat Table Discussions
To view or download Yeshiva University's latest Shabbat Table Discussions click  here ​​​​​​​

Goods & Services

SUPPORT TORAT EMET!
Use this link and place your next flower order with Oberer's Flowers and Torat Emet will earn 20% of the purchase price!
​​​​​​​http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?oberers-flowers+hJmLV5+index.html+