Bath Jewish History

September/October 2025
Elul 5785 / Tishri / Heshvan 5786

Rabbi’s Message

Dear Beth Israel Community Members and Friends,

This summer I was blessed to journey with my family on two multi-day camping trips. On each trip as we settled in, we slowly but surely became more attuned to the natural world. We ate all of our meals outside, slept in a tent, swam in chilly water, and enjoyed seeing various wildlife visit our campsite. As we endeavored to take care of our basic needs without all of the usual amenities, we experienced the awe of knowing that we are just a small part of this amazing world. 

At the end of each trip, I felt calm and refreshed. I wondered, how could I possibly feel renewed given all of the schlepping, assembling and disassembling of various pieces of gear which camping requires? Maybe it was the feeling of awe, or gratitude or the sheer luck of good weather, that caused this sense of contentment and joy. I wonder too if the mere fact of getting away, literally changing my location, was enough to leave me feeling reenergized for whatever came next.

Our Jewish calendar offers us an opportunity to step away from our usual routines through the High Holidays. These days from the beginning of the Jewish month of Elul to Yom Kippur are a 40 day stretch focused on teshuva which poet and translator Marcia Falk describes as a “turning the heart…away from ordinary matters of the world in order to return to oneself.” Yet renewal and return don’t just happen, like a successful camping trip, teshuva takes planning coupled with flexibility. It takes work to reap the benefits.

So what does that work look like? The work of teshuva includes taking stock of our actions through prayer, meditation, writing or song. It includes giving tzedakah, hearing the shofar and remembering loved ones who are no longer alive. It includes repairing broken relationships and asking for forgiveness from loved ones and friends whom we have harmed. Each of these actions has the possibility of helping us be grounded in ourselves and our purpose and to connect us to God and to community. 

Rabbi Judah Leib Alter of Gur, a 19th century Hasidic master, offers a beautiful image for the work of teshuva. He teaches that

“Each of us has the word life engraved in our hearts by God’s own hand. Over the course of the year, that engraving comes to be covered with grit. Our sins, our neglect of prayer and Torah study, the very pace at which we live all conspire to blot out the life that still lies written deep within our hearts. On Rosh ha-Shanah we come before God, having cleansed ourselves as best we can, and ask God to write that word once again, and to seal it up on Yom Kippur.”

In this new year of 5786 may we experience good health, safety, peace, community and joy. And may our hearts be opened to ourselves, to each other and to all of humanity.

 L’Shana Tova,
Rabbi Vinikoor

President’s Message

by Marilyn Weinberg

By the time you receive this newsletter, our summer, filled with visitors and travels will be ending and we will be back into a more regular routine. As the days get shorter and the nights cooler we are very aware of the changing seasons. What a perfect time for the High Holidays, with such an obvious awareness of change in the air.

As we come together to observe these High Holidays, we are reminded of the deep-rooted traditions that bind us as a community and as a people. These days serve as a bridge between our past and our future, a time to honor our heritage while embracing the potential for positive change.

As we dip apples in honey and hear the blast of the shofar, let us be reminded of the sweetness and richness that life offers. May these holidays inspire us to strengthen our bonds of family, friendship, and faith, and to strive for a year filled with love, understanding, and meaningful connections. Let us embrace the spirit of forgiveness, compassion, and hope and may this season be a time of spiritual growth and introspection for us all, allowing us to move forward with renewed purpose and determination.

No one person gives a synagogue life. It only works when we all pitch in. Although our membership is not large, there is the benefit in a small shul in that each person plays a very important role. When you come to services on a Friday night or Saturday morning, you make a difference. When you bring food for an oneg, you make a difference. When you attend a lecture or learning session, you make a difference. There are so many opportunities to make a difference in our synagogue and make a real contribution to the life of our congregation.

We welcome all of you who choose to be a part of the Beth Israel community in some way and we wish you a most wonderful new year.

L'Shanah Tovah

The Book of Jonah

by Rabbi Vinikoor

Thursday, August 21, 6:30 pm
Thursday, September 11, 6:30 pm
Thursday, September 25, 6:30 pm
Minnie Brown Center

Prepare for the High Holidays with an in-depth study of the Book of Jonah “one of the shortest, most mysterious and morally ambiguous books in the Jewish canon.” Together we will study the text of Jonah and engage with The Book of Jonah: A Social Justice Commentary by Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz published in 2020. Through reading, discussion and reflection, we will explore themes of the High Holidays such as truth as a value, justice and compassion, our universal and particular obligations, and our human responsibilities in this shared world.

All texts in English and all are welcome. Please RSVP to Rabbi Vinikoor atrabbivinikoor@gmail.comby to sign up for this class. We will be ordering books at a cost of $19.95 each. All classes meet at the Minnie Brown Center

Creating Connection in Challenging Times - Israel/Palestine Conversations

by Rabbi Vinikoor

In today's fraught climate, it can be intimidating to navigate conversations with family, friends, and colleagues—especially when you don't see eye to eye—while maintaining respect and curiosity rather than defensiveness. But understanding someone doesn't require agreeing with them.

Creating Connection in Challenging Times is a four-part reading and discussion series designed to help Beth Israel members navigate hard conversations about Israel/Palestine with empathy and openness. Each session explores one of four themes—home, safety, people, and obligation—through a shared text or short film, followed by guided practice in active listening. By focusing on how we hear one another, even when we disagree, this program offers practical tools for building understanding and strengthening relationships.

Each session will be at the Minnie Brown Center on the following dates and times:
October 12, 3:00 pm
November 13, 7:00 pm
December 11, 3:00 pm
January 15, 7:00 pm

Please RSVP to Rabbi Vinikoor at rabbivinikoor@gmail.com

Flowers and Music for the High Holidays

by Marilyn Weinberg

As in the past, we would like to beautify the synagogue with flowers for the holidays and add a musical component to our services. In order to make that happen we need your financial support. To help sponsor, contact Marilyn Weinberg at info@bethisraelbath.org. Please include the names of the people you would like to honor or remember.

To make your donation for flowers and music click HERE

Or mail to:
Treasurer
Beth Israel Congregation
PO Box 244
Bath, ME 04530

Community Read - Rebecca Wolf, Alive and Beating

by Janet Marstine

Sunday, September 14
1:00 pm
Synagogue

Please join us as we discuss Rebecca Wolf’s provocative new novel Alive and Beating, inspired by an historic event tangentially related to the author herself.

In 1995, a suicide bomber attacked the bus her childhood friend Alisa was on during a trip in Israel, and Alisa’s organ donation caused a shift in Jewish reservations about the practice, leading thousands to become organ donors.

Through separate but interconnected fictional portraits, Wolf presents a vivid collage of life and family dynamics in Jerusalem at the time, imagining the circumstances of the beneficiaries of Alisa’s donations.

Christian, Muslim and Jewish, secular and orthodox, young and old, economically comfortable and marginalized, these diverse characters poignantly wrestle with the role of faith and doubt in the face of disease. The book provides fodder for a fascinating and timely conversation.

Rosh Hashanah Community Luncheon and Dinner

by Marilyn Weinberg

Tuesday, September 23
12:30 pm - Luncheon
5:30 - Dinner
Minnie Brown Center

Rosh Hashanah is the time when we all come together as a community. This year we will have two chances to share a meal together. It will be a great opportunity to catch up with each other and share some delicious food.

We will begin our Rosh Hashanah luncheon immediately following morning services, at approximately 12:30 pm. We will supply some sandwich fixings, and you can bring some salads, breads or desserts. No sign up required.

For those who are unable to attend the traditional Rosh Hashanah morning service and luncheon, we have our afternoon Family Service that will be followed by a potluck dinner We will coordinate meals and side dishes, salads, desserts, and drinks ahead of time

B’Nei Mitzvah

by Sara Helman

October 11, 2025
10:00 am
Synagogue

Sylvie Helman and Judah Helman are in eighth grade at Freeport Middle School. They began attending Beth Israel Congregation during Tot Shabbats with Rachel Connelly and have enjoyed being a part of the Beth Israel Jewish community since that time.

Sylvie loves to sing, dance, swim, and play basketball. She is an enthusiastic babysitter and reader. For her Bat Mitzvah project, Sylvie volunteered at a local farm feeding the farm animals every Sunday morning throughout the winter. Sylvie showed responsibility, problem solving skills, and flexibility while she cared for a wide array of animals on her own.

Judah is an avid sailor who plays lacrosse and basketball. He is always eager for a challenge. Last winter and spring, Judah volunteered for local youth basketball and lacrosse programs, acting as a mentor and coach for younger kids. Judah’s fun and enthusiasm allowed him to easily connect with the kids, and his Bar Mitzvah project gave back to him more than he could have expected.

Please join us for Sylvie and Judah’s are B’nai Mitzvah this Sukkot.

Yahad

by Rachel Connelly

Yahad is Back as of September 13th—Note we will meet on Saturdays this year

September is back to school time even for our youngest members. Our monthly preschool program, Yahad (Hebrew for together) will start on September 13. This year Rabbi Vinikoor and Rachel will be joining forces most months for a Shabbat encounter for both parents and children.

On September 13 the preschoolers and grownups will be on our own with a “let’s get this started” stand alone program at 10:00 am. We will meet at Minnie Brown and share some Shabbat stories and songs and, of course, some Challah and “wine.”

Then in October through February the Yahad programs will be a new format—interwoven with a family Shabbat service—with time together in the sanctuary and then a breakout craft program for the little ones while the adults do a bit of Torah study. We’ll all come back together at the end of the morning for a simple Shabbat lunch.

On March 28 Yahad will be back on its own (like in September). But then in April and May we return to the joint Yahad/Family Services mode.

Here is the bottom line:
The first Yahad program of the school year will be on September 13th. Yahad is designed for children 18 months to 5 years (plus siblings older or younger) plus a grownup. In September we will meet at Minnie Brown.

No RSVP needed. Just put it on your calendar now so you won’t forget.

If putting things on the calendar works for you, here are the rest of the dates for the year. Everything starts at 10:00 am.

Yahad dates for 2025–26:
September 13 (at Minnie Brown)
October 25*
November 22*
December 20*
January 31*
February 28*
March 28 (at Minnie Brown)
April 25*
May 23*
* (in conjunction with family services at the Synagogue)

Community Sukkot Celebration

by Marilyn Weinberg

Thursday, October 9
5:00 pm
Minnie Brown Center

Right after Yom Kippur it’s time to set up our sukkah at the Minnie Brown Center and decorate it for our community Sukkot celebration.

Sukkot is one of the most joyful festivals on the Jewish calendar. Sukkot, a Hebrew word meaning booths or huts, refers to the Jewish festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest.

As we work out our details, you can bet that there will be food and some outdoor activities and of course a chance to hold the lulav and etrog in the sukkah.

Sukkot Shabbat Evening Service

by Rabbi Vinikoor

Friday, October 10
5:30 pm - Minnie Brown Center (potluck)
7:00 pm - Synagogue (service)

Join us for Shabbat Potluck in the Sukkah in front of the Minnie Brown Center at 5:30 pm followed by a musical Shabbat service at 7:00 pm in the Synagogue led by our new rabbinical apprentice Alexina Haefner and featuring our guest speaker Evan Murray (he/him and they/them), Civic Engagement Director for Democracy Maine and the League of Women Voters.

Alexina will lead us in a musical Shabbat service and Evan will speak with us about Question 1 which will be on the ballot this November. Services will be followed by an Oneg Shabbat sponsored with the Cavalieri-Dunn and Inkellis families. It is sure to be a wonderful evening. Join us to celebrate Sukkot, democracy, community and to warmly welcome Alexina and Evan!

Diners’ Club

by Anne Rankin

Come join Beth Israel’s new Diners’ Club for forays to local restaurants. If interested, please let us know your preferences (days of the week; dinner or lunchtime; and restaurant or locations, e.g., Brunswick/Bath, etc.). We’ll try to accommodate requests, and see what works for the most people. We might switch days and times each month, so many people can participate. Whether you just want a nosh or have an appetite for more, we’d love for you to join us! Contact Anne Rankin at dinnerclub@bethisraelbath.org

Simchat Torah Celebration

by Marilyn Weinberg

Monday, October 13
5:00 pm
Minnie Brown Center

At the end of the fall High Holiday cycle comes the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah where we take all of the Torah scrolls out of the ark, sing traditional songs and say the blessings as we dance with them, round and round!

Join together for our annual Simchat Torah celebration followed by a pizza and salad potluck dinner.

Security Message

by Peggy Brown

Dear Beth Israel Congregation

As our community starts to prepare for the upcoming holidays, the Security Committee at Beth Israel is thinking about how to best ensure that everyone who joins us for services and events feels welcome and safe. Over the past several years we have developed policies which align with the best practices suggested by the Secure Community Network (SCN), Community Security Service (CSS), the security folks at Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), and our local Bath Police Department. Greeters at our holiday services are there to welcome us and to keep an eye out for our safety. We have hired City of Bath Police officers to provide security details while we gather for prayer, meditation and celebration. We ask that you register in advance for the services you plan to attend. It's okay if your plans change a bit, but the registration makes us better aware of who to expect. We lock the doors once services begin, so if you arrive late, you may find the door to the shul is locked with a note asking you to text the Greeter for admission. We hope you will understand the reason behind this slight inconvenience. 

If you have questions about any of our safety and security practices or if you're interested in learning more about serving as a Greeter, let us know. We would love to hear from you!

Security Training

by Peggy Brown

Thursday, October 30
5:30–7:00 pm
Synagogue

Beth Israel Congregation and Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) is inviting all members to attend a security training. Mark your calendars! This training is free and important! Light dinner provided.

Mark Atlee, Regional Security Advisor for Boston's CJP Communal Security Initiative (CSI), will facilitate this training.

Community Relations Council

by Joanne Rosenthal

Some of you may have met Zach Schwartz, the new Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) at the JCA. The JCRC is being re-formed and is tasked with antisemitic incident response, government advocacy, education reform, intercultural events, and interfaith coalition-building.

I will be serving on this committee representing the synagogue and will regularly report on its activities. Having participated with the ADL’s Kulanu program for several years, I look forward to continue addressing antisemitism, this time with members of the southern mid-coast Jewish communities. We will be stronger together with the cross-fertilization of ideas and experiences. If you are interested in learning more about the activities and committees of the JCRC, please contact Zach at (207) 772-1959.

Jewish Maine 2024 Community Study

by Marilyn Weinberg

Many of you participated in providing information for the 2024 Jewish Study conducted by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) and the Steinhardt Social Research Institute (SSRI) at Brandeis University.

The results are in. This demographic and population study reflects the most comprehensive research of Jewish Maine to date. The study provides a fresh picture of our Jewish community statewide, providing vital insights into ways of meeting current community needs and building a thriving community into the future.

At an overarching level, this study is focused on what it means to be Jewish in Maine at this moment. How large is our community? Where does our population live? How do we engage in Jewish life and connect with the Jewish community? How do we connect to Israel? How are we raising and educating our children? How many of us struggle with unmet health, financial or social needs? How many are living with disabilities? This study answers these and many other questions relevant to the present and future of our community and offers guideposts for creating the most welcoming, inclusive and vibrant Jewish Maine possible. To read the study click HERE

REMEMBRANCES FOR MONTH–MONTH YEAR

May their memories be for a blessing.

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Listing the birthdays and anniversaries of those in our immediate family creates a wonderful opportunity for our community/shul family to have an excuse to celebrate with each other.