m411111111m-

Temple Needs A Name

C

ongregation Albert, the most unusual syna-
gogue appellation in the country.
In 1897, the founders of this Albuquerque
house of worship auctioned off the privilege of
selecting a name and, according to the original
minutes, "after some exciting biding (sic) it was
sold to the Grunsfeld Family for 250 Dollars."
The Grunsfelds decided to
honor their late patriarch, and
thus came "Congregation
Albert." The Jews of
Albuquerque would have a lot
more explaining to do if their
shul had been called
Congregation Wyatt or Temple
Billy-Bob.
RABBI BOB
Geography has always played
ALPER
an important role in Jewish des-
ignations. Mobile, Ala., is home
_
- to the Springhill Avenue Temple, and Cincinnati
is home to the Rockdale Temple, which moved
away from Rockdale Avenue about 30 years ago.
But Temple Sholom in Broomall, a Philadelphia
suburb, has never been called by its street name,
probably because it's on North Church Lane.
When shifting demographics necessitate clos-
ings or mergers, the loss of a name can produce
feelings of sadness and grief, with heroic efforts
sometimes made to retain old names.
Consider this news announcement: "At a
June 10, the membership of Anshe
Emunah-Aitz Chaim-Tifereth Israel voted to
merge
with Moses Montefiore Emunath Israel-
b
Woodmoor Hebrew." ''
These two Baltimore synagogues probably
dwindled due to an exodus to the suburbs, but
another reason may be that their incomes were
reduced when members suffered debilitating
hand cramps while trying to write the names of
their congregations on their checks.
My suggestion to the merged leadership:
with all due respect to sentiment, don't opt for
,- Anshe Emunah-Aitz Chaim-Tifereth Israel-
Moses Montefiore Emunath Israel-Woodmoor
Hebrew. How about something like "Temple

Char? D

The synagogue torchings in Sacramento and anti-
Semitic shootings in Chicago are ...

Voter

isolated events.
a rising trend.
0: a persistent U.S. problem.
Vote on JN Online wvvw.detroitjewishnews.com

1:

Results from last week's poll (37 respondents)
The U.S. budget surplus would be best spent to ...
.0 expand Medicare (24%)
cut taxes (14%)
* protect Social Security (35%)
increase defense spending (27%)

iddish Limericks

"It's strange," said a gullible beauty,
A newlywed calah* named Judy.
"I went to the mikveh,"
She said, "but Aunt Tikveh,
Since when's there a lifeguard on duty?"

bride
** ritual bath

comic and author.

OUR INVITATIONS
.YET?
kiVITAT IONS? GET
&J(11--1 (T,RABFq,
WE'RE J-UST GON6 TO
E-MAIL EVEQ oNE

JARC
proudly presents

4f-

What Is Handal liabayitg

rt means "home dedication," which is the recitation of the appropriate
iblessing and the hanging of mezuza on the upper right-hand
doorpost of a home. Jews are commanded in the Torah to
inscribe words "on the doorposts of your house and on your
gates." Those words are the Torah verses that refer to loving and
believing in God, keeping the commandments and teaching
them to children. The mezuza is a small protective case that contains a
hand-lettered parchment inscribed with these Torah verses. A hanukat
habayit can be as simple as reciting this bracha (blessing): Baruch ata Adonai
Eloheinu melech hefolam ashen kidshanu bMitzvotav vtzivanu likboa mezuza
— "Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sancti-
fied us with commandments and commanded us to attach a mezuza". It's
appropriate to hang a mezuza on the doorpost of every room in a home
except the bathrooms, storage areas and closets. A dear Torah (Torah lesson)
or special readings and a light meal could be added as well. TI
— June D. Bell

Source: How To Run a Traditional Jewish Household by Blu Greenberg.

Mendel

so, yOO K I 75 ARE 6eTI1NG
MRRRIE.D?HAVE,90U0-{OSEAJ

SUNDAY
OCTOBER 24

— Martha Jo Fleischmann

Send a postcard to: Judaism 101, The Jewish News, 27676 Franklin Road,
Southfield, MI 48034. For more Judaism 101, check out JN Online at
www.detroitjevvishnews.com and click on Judaism 101 on the homepage.

Rabbi Bob Alper is a Vermont-based stand-up

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