Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
2
Cameron, for whom the regiment was named, denied the appointment of Rabbi Fischel. Rabbi Fischel went to
speak personally with President Lincoln, who investigated the matter more fully. In July of 1862, Lincoln sent
a special request to Congress to amend the Chaplain Law to include ordained clergy from Protestant, Catholic,
and Jewish dominations. Since that time, rabbis have played a profoundly important role as chaplains in our
Armed Services.
General Grant and Jewish Merchants in Tennessee. . . . The black market cotton trade had blossomed by the
beginning of the Civil War. Some of those involved were Jewish merchants, and many were Christians, in-
cluding a number of Army officers. Soon the speculation and competition for trading licenses became unman-
ageable, so Lincoln decentralized the licensing procedures to all Army commanders in their respective areas.
General Ulysses S. Grant commanded the Treasury Department of “The Tennessee,” an administrative desig-
nation for an area that included Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi. Thus Grant acquired responsibility for
the licenses in that area. But the need for cotton for uniforms, especially in the North, mushroomed out of con-
trol. Some traders took to bribing officials to allow the trading without permits. Even Grant’s father Jesse be-
came involved in the wheeling and dealing. General Grant became enraged, and took aim squarely at the Jews
of The Tennessee, accusing them “as a class” of “speculation, profiteering, trading,” and constituting a
“general nuisance.” In short, Grant leveled all the money-related anti-Semitic accusations of Europe against
the Jews, which most of them had come to this country to escape. Grant issued what was designated as
“General Order No. 11,” through which he effectively expelled all Jewish merchants and traders from the en-
tire area of Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi, stating that "no Jews are to be permitted to travel on the rail-
road southward [into the Department of the Tennessee] from any point." In November of 1862, Grant sent his
commanders to enforce this order, which became official the following month. A Jewish merchant from Ken-
tucky named Cesar Kaskel led a delegation of Jews from the areas of expulsion to appeal to President Lincoln.
The delegation brought documentation showing that Jews, whether they were involved in the trading practices
or not, were being chased from their homes and expelled from throughout the area. When Lincoln became
aware of the matter, he ordered General Halleck, General in Chief of the Army, to revoke the order immedi-
ately. Halleck wrote to Grant in January of 1863: "A paper purporting to be General Order No. 11, issued by
you December 17, has been presented here. By its terms, it expels all Jews from your department. If such an
order has been issued, it will be immediately revoked." The Jewish community was grateful to President
Lincoln for his swift action to have this vicious order revoked. Several days after the revocation, Rabbis Isaac
Mayer Wise and Max Lilienthal of Cincinnati, Martin Bijur of Louisville, and Moses Strauss of Baltimore, led
delegations to Washington to express their gratitude to the president. Lincoln tried to make amends to the Jew-
ish community on behalf of the government. He said he had been surprised by Grant's order and assured them
that he did not discriminate between Jews or Gentiles and would not allow any American to be discriminated
against based on their religion.
An extraordinary connection. . . . Rabbi Dr. Gary Zola, Director of the Jacob Rader Marcus American Jewish
Archives in Cincinnati, observes: “The Lincoln connection to the Jews in his own time was extraordinary and
remarkable. . . In certain respects, Lincoln might be said to have had the first modern relationship with the
American Jewish community of any American president. . . That means he actually associated personally with
Jews, meaning he fraternized with them. He was extremely cognizant of their political prospects.”
This month we will celebrate Presidents’ Day along with the rest of our compatriots. As Jews, perhaps we
might take an extra moment to contemplate the level of freedom, prosperity and accomplishment that we Jews
have attained here in America, previously unprecedented in our history. This was, in no small measure, due to
the principles and commitments of men like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
-Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman
3
SISTERHOOD & BROTHERHOOD OF UNION TEMPLE
invite you to an extraordinary event
Michael Stolowitzky
As a child, he was saved from the
imminent threat of Nazi extermination by
his nanny, the Righteous Christian
Gertruda Babilinska, who dedicated her
life to protecting him and bringing him
safely through the horrors of
World War II—to the promise of a new
life in Israel.
Their suspenseful, unforgettable story is
revealed in the riveting book
Gertruda’s Oath
A Child, a Promise, and a Heroic Escape During World War II
By Ram Oren
All are welcome. Bring your friends and neighbors!
No one will want to miss this momentous occasion!
4
Preschool
Growing and More
Our preschoolers returned to school in January after the holiday break a little taller, with their usual zeal and
happy to get back to their classes. I am always struck by the amount of growth that seems to occur over the
break. The level engagement and the ability to work on concrete tasks are particularly noticeable in the fours
class. Several new classroom routines were introduced in the fours class in January. Earlier in the school year,
when the Hummingbirds entered the classroom in the morning, they would have to locate their photos and put
them up on an attendance chart. This photo attendance chart has been replaced with sign-in cards. Each morning
when children arrive, they pull out a laminated card with their name and practice writing their name on the card.
They also introduced "Letter of the Week." Each week they focus on a different consonant. All week they
practice the sound of the letter and discuss different words that begin with that letter. Every Friday, each child
brings in an item from home that begins with the letter that they focused on during the week. With the help of
their parents, they will also bring in a picture from a magazine, newspaper, or internet that begins with that let-
ter. The pictures will be used to make a collage of images that begin with a specific letter.
In addition to working with consonant sounds and writing their names, the Hummingbirds also worked on a
“feelings” unit. To help explore their own emotions they each wrote a book about what makes them happy
and angry. The books have been placed in the classroom library. Reading about the things that make their
friends happy and angry is a good way to start to understand other people’s feelings and to start to develop a
sense of empathy. They also read a variety of books on emotions such as When Sophie Gets Angry, Walter is
Worried, and Sad Monster, Glad Monster. They followed up with a discussion of strategies for dealing with
frustration. During the month of January the children also drew self-portraits. This is an activity that they do
three times during the year. They drew their first self-portrait in September, and will draw their final portrait
in May. This is a wonderful way to see how the children grow as artists throughout the year.
Our Hummingbirds are very busy and seem more and more like kindergarteners every day.
-Susan Sporer, Preschool Director
Sisterhood
More Great Books and Programs
Tired of this wicked winter with its snow and ice and plummeting temperatures? Sisterhood and Brotherhood invite
you to come in from the cold for a warm and stimulating program you'll be talking about long after the snows melt.
Join us Sunday, February 6th, at 10 AM, to meet and hear our distinguished guest Michael Stolowitzky. As a
child, he was saved from the imminent threat of Nazi extermination by his nanny, the Righteous Christian Gertruda
Babilinska. True to her promise to his dying mother, Gertruda protected Michael through the horrors of World War
II and brought him to the promise of a new life in Israel. Their chilling, unforgettable story is revealed in the rivet-
ing book by Ram Oren—GERTRUDA'S OATH: A Child, a Promise, and a Heroic Escape During World War II.
You won't want to miss this unique opportunity to meet and hear this extraordinary man.
It's not necessary to have read the book to enjoy the program and join in the conversation. Nevertheless, if you
do have a copy of the book, Mr. Stolowitzky will be delighted to sign it! Bring your friends and your
neighbors—and your appetite too, for delicious refreshments will be served.
Sisterhood has additional inspiring programs in store for you this spring. On April 3rd at 10 AM, Rabbi Mary
L. Zamore will be our special guest. She will talk to us about her new book, THE SACRED TABLE: Creating
a Jewish Food Ethic. Then, on May 22nd at 10 AM, back by popular demand, Drs. Gail Levine and Robert
Fried will teach us the Jewish way to FIND THE PEACE WITHIN and help us to discover the tools to deepen
spiritual practice and reduce stress. Watch this space for more information on these exciting programs.
We thank Sheila Soloff for leading us through a lively, thought-provoking discussion of the heart-stirring novel of
the Holocaust SARAH'S KEY by Tatiana de Rosnay in January. It was a terrific way to start off the new year.
-Barbara Brett, Recording Secretary
5
6
Religious School
Siyyum
The Union Temple Religious School finished its half-year of learning with a siyyum (Hebrew: to conclude), a
traditional way to mark the completion of a period of study. Parents joined their kids for a full day of learning
together on our last day of school before the winter break.
Our task at UT is to teach Torah to our children and families. We can understand Torah in its narrow meaning
of law or doctrine. Torah can refer to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, which recount our story from
the creation of the world to the death of Moses. Torah is also understood as the whole of the Hebrew Bible.
At the UT school, we understand Torah in its widest and most embracing sense. Torah means instruction or
teaching. A Hebrew proverb teaches “ –תורה היא אורהlearning is light,” or “study illuminates.” We draw from
our Jewish tradition to learn how to live moral and ethical lives, to treat ourselves, our families and community
and the wider world with kavod/respect. Learning helps us actualize the idea that we are all created in the im-
age of God, however one understands the divine.
For individual Jews and the Jewish people, the fundamental act characterizing human existence is Torah study.
Nachmanides, a 13th century rabbi, taught, "If the Torah is to remain a permanent possession of Israel, the only
way to ensure this is for one generation to teach it to the succeeding generation exactly as it was received."
As modern Jews, we understand the phrase "exactly as it was received" different from the way Nachmanides
did in medieval times. Yet the underlying truth remains. Jewish tradition commands parents to teach their chil-
dren to live full, productive lives. At our school, we strive to inculcate the values that help that happen.
During the siyyum, our parents celebrated havdallah with their kids, learned together in their classrooms,
prayed in tefillah. We concluded the day by studying parashat hashavua/the weekly Bible portion. Parashat
Vayechi, the last in the Book of Genesis, includes Jacob's blessings of his son Joseph's two sons. May all our
children be blessed.
I welcome all your questions and concerns. Feel free to contact me at carolegould@gmail.com.
-Carole Gould, Educator/Rabbinic Intern
Brotherhood
7
Union Temple Establishes a
Tribute Page with the Jewish National Fund
This past December, the worst fire in Israel’s history rampaged through the Carmel Forest, resulting
in a devastating ecological and humanitarian crisis. 43 people were killed, many homes and schools
were lost, over 12,500 acres were destroyed, and some 5 million trees burned. The total cost of the
damage to the Carmel region, which is home to Jews, Muslims, Christians and Druze, will most likely
reach $100 million. Among the first on the ground was the Jewish National Fund - Keren Kayemet
L’Yisrael - not only to help fight the fire, but to initiate an immediate plan of recovery. A project was
created: “Project Carmel Renewal: From Black to Green.” Since the founding of the JNF 110 years
ago, it has been our tradition to donate trees to Israel through the JNF to mark both our simchas and
sorrows. This is the time for us to remember that tradition.
By unanimous vote of our Board of Trustees, Union Temple will participate in Project Carmel Re-
newal by establishing the Union Temple of Brooklyn Tribute Page on the JNF website. We invite you
to visit our page and contribute to this campaign. Your name will appear on the List of Donors on the
webpage. The cost of each tree is $18. Our goal is $1,000. To emphasize and enhance our commit-
ment, Union Temple will match every tree that is contributed. Our Religious School and Preschool
children will be engaging in various projects to join us in this endeavor.
To make a contribution: :
Go to the JNF website and access the Tribute Page at http://www.jnf.org/tributes.
Click on “Find A Tribute.” The tributes are alphabetical so we are toward the end of the entire list.
If you should prefer to pay by check, please make it out to
“Union Temple of Brooklyn,” and send it to the
temple office. We in turn will send your contribution to the JNF,
and enter your name onto the List of Donors.
The great 1st- century sage Yohanan ben Zakkai, who lived in Jerusalem when it was being sacked by the Ro-
mans, taught us the priority of planting: “If you should be holding a sapling in your hand when they tell you
the Messiah has arrived, first plant the sapling, then go out to greet him....”
8
Tzedakah
UNION TEMPLE MEMORIAL FUND
Donated by ........................................................................ in memory of
Marilyn Goodman ............................................................................. Sara Schein Litto
Joyce M. Charles ............................................................................... Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shneerson
Louise Gruber.................................................................................... Frederick D. May
Mark Silverstein ................................................................................ Lila Silverstein
Drs. Robert and Gail Levine Fried .................................................... Bonnie Sue Levine
Drs. Robert and Gail Levine Fried .................................................... Sylvia Wolfson Fried
10
February 2011 / Shevat-Adar 1 5771
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 Rosh Chodesh
Adar 1
9:00 AM
First Friday Shabbat Morning
Family Shabbat Hevre
7:00 PM
6:00 PM Snacks 10:30 AM
Union Temple
6:30 PM Service Shabbat Morning
Singers Rehearsal
Pot Luck Dinner Service
6 9:30 AM 7 8 9 10 11 12
Religious School 9:00 AM
10:00 AM Shabbat Morning
Brotherhood/ Hevre
Sisterhood 10:30 AM
Book Breakfast Shabbat Morning
Guest Speaker: 7:00 PM Service
Michael 6:15 PM Union Temple 6:30 PM
Stolowitzky Officers Singers Rehearsal Kabbalat Shabbat
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
9:30 AM 9:00 AM
Religious School Shabbat Morning
Hevre
10:30 AM
Shabbat Morning
6:00 PM 5:00 PM
7:00 PM Service
Board of Tot Shabbat
Union Temple
Trustees 6:30 PM
Singers Rehearsal
Kabbalat Shabbat
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Religious School Presidents’ Day 9:00 AM
Vacation Shabbat Morning
Fourth Friday
Hevre
Shabbat
10:30 AM
7:00 PM Dinner
Shabbat Morning
8:00 PM Service
Service
Oneg & Discussion
to follow with
Dr. Peter Gomori
27 28
Religious School
Vacation
6:30 PM
Religious School
Committee
11
Prospect Park
Health and Racquet Association
In Union Temple Building at
17 Eastern Parkway
718-789-4600
Ask about Special discounts for
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
Union Temple Members Copy & Design for
Direct Mail ● Emails ● Brochures
●Web & Print Advertising
Ellen D. Kolikoff
ellen@creativsolut.com
917-817-6292
10% Off for Union Temple members
& Brooklyn business owners
FEBRUARY 2011
UNION TEMPLE OF BROOKLYN BULLETIN