Or L’Dor (BHA Newsletter)
Deadline for submission is the 15th of every month. Please contact Joan Pirie: izakb@optonline.net (831-8689) or Laura Liebeck-Smith: lliebeck@aol.com (831-4255).

Let Us Know
If you know of someone in BHA who is ill, please let someone on the Board know so that we may pass the information on to rest of the Congregation. **If your address, phone number or email address has changed, please contact Rebecca Hayes at rohayes@optonline.net.

BHA Gift Shop
Need a gift? You'll find something special at the BHA Gift Shop. Please contact Sue Bernstein at Smb8smb@aol.com

The Golden Book Special Remembrances: Remember loved ones, friends and special occasions with a Golden Book card. Contact FernBlackman@msn.com or 897-5315. Minimum donation is $5 per card, and more is welcomed.
Special thanks to Sadie Jane Cahn for her generous donation made in honor of Ann Wolfson.

Get well wishes
To David Sokol and Margaret Grillot.

Welcome to BHA
Russell & Denise Klein & Family, The Carnabuci Family, and Fred & Ellen Barlow.

Congratulations
To Bobby and Valerie Gropper, owners of My Brother Bobby’s Salsa, for receiving the “Best Bruschetta” award for 2008 from Hudson Valley Magazine. Yumm!

Message From President William Smith
  L’Shana Tova!
It’s been a busy High Holiday season, as it always is and I’d like to thank Rabbi Josh and Cantor Ellen for all of their hard work. As many of you witnessed, neither felt very good during Yom Kippur and Josh even lost his voice at the very end of services. They were troopers and we ALL appreciate all of their hard work and heart.
More thanks…to the Ritual Committee for organizing all of the Torah readers and honors over the entire holiday season…to all of the Torah readers and honorees for accepting the challenge and making our services a rich Jewish and family experience…to the Zollners and committee for organizing an outstanding break-the-fast meal that continued to feed worshipers throughout the season… and to all volunteers who donated their time and efforts to help us get ready for our holiest season of the year, including Izak Breslauer, who works so tirelessly on our building and building maintenance, Klaus Solomon, who dedicates countless hours to the building’s lighting… and to our door repair volunteers, especially to Mark Klein and Brendon Tween, who have poured hours into the restoration of our front doors. I thank you all.
You all probably noticed, and hopefully enjoyed, our Sukkah this year. My personal thanks to all the gentlemen who worked to erect and then disassemble it. And thanks to the children for making all of the lovely decorations. The religious school held a Sukkot celebration in the Sukkah, which included lunch, singing, dancing and a special birthday remembrance. We all had fun!
Simchat Torah was another celebration that brought out families for singing and dancing with the Torah, finished off by cake and candy for all. If we didn’t see you this time around, we’ll look for you next time. Everyone had a terrific time.
Our High Holidays also marked our annual collection of food for the hungry of Dutchess County. Unfortunately, the tough economic times have expanded those ranks and in September/October, the BHA community collected food twice. Our first was to answer an emergency call for food, spearheaded by Linda Tafapolsky, who is the director of Jewish Family Services in Dutchess County, in what was called a Peanut Butter and Jelly campaign. The food went to Dutchess Outreach and we’re told it helped a lot. Linda even wrote an article about it in the current issue of The Voice.
Our second food campaign was held in conjunction with Yom Kippur.
This year, we collected 45 bags of groceries, which were taken to the newly relocated Community Action Partnership in Beacon. The folks there told us it was the single largest donation they have ever received. Their shelves were bare and they were very grateful for the food.
More food has been rolling in and we’ll continue to collect your donations and take them to CAP. Thank you for being so generous with your supplies.
Moving forward, fund-raising projects are needed and we invite everyone to make suggestions and to captain a project that will help raise money for the synagogue’s operation. Winter is coming and with that heating bills. Please think in as generous terms as you can.
Another invitation: volunteer your time. So much needs to be
done: fundraising, repairs, social activities. Please volunteer your time and your skills! We really do need you.
A request: please sign up for Onegs. Services are always followed by some food and without sponsors the selection will be minimal.
Nothing fancy is needed to create a lovely oneg, just parve foods for Friday night and parve or dairy for Saturday. Contact Laura at
lliebeck@aol.com to let her know what weekend works best for you.
That’s it for now. Shalom….Bill

2008-09 Entertainment Books Available - $20 each
This is the first fundraiser for 2008-09 that is a win/win activity for BHA and the purchaser of an Entertainment Book covering the Mid-Hudson Valley. For $20, there are numerous discounts and great savings on restaurants, shopping, services (car washes, movies), and travel (hotels and car rentals). Entertainment books make terrific gifts to mark birthdays or holidays. Share great savings and deals by asking friends and family to support this fundraiser. Books are available for many cities throughout the country. Use this book and you will very quickly save far more than the $20 cost. To purchase your copy of the Entertainment book, please contact Jinny Goff at 831-9268 or e-mail Ishoponsale@gmail.com.

Rabbi Josh Available for Personal and Group Meetings
Rabbi Josh is available to meet with individuals and groups on weekends he is at BHA. Josh arrives on Friday evenings to lead services and leaves at noon on Sundays. While he does have obligations to meet with the board, Ritual Committee and religious school students, congregants are welcome to make appointments with him to discuss issues important to them.

BHA Needs a Publicity Chairman
A volunteer is needed to handle this important BHA position. Please contact Bill Smith at wmurraysmith@aol.com or at 831.4255 to volunteer your services.

UPCOMING SERVICES

Friday, Nov. 28 @ 7:30 pm (led by Cantor Ellen)

Friday, Dec. 5 @ 7:30 pm (led by Cantor Ellen)

Friday, Dec. 12 @ 7:30 pm & Saturday, Dec. 13 @ 9:30 am (led by Rabbi Josh)

Friday, Dec. 19 @ 7:30 pm & Saturday, Dec. 20 @ 9:30 am (led by Rabbi Josh)

Friday, Dec. 26 @ 7:30 pm (leader TBA)

Religious School Schedule for November & December
November classes will be held on Nov. 2, 9, 16, 18, 23 & 25. December classes will be held on: Dec. 2, 7, 9, 14 (all classes held 10-11 am to be followed by the Chanukah party) & 16. The Tots class will be held on Sunday, Nov. 16 from 9:30-10:30 am and Sunday, Dec. 14 from 10-11 am.

Lunch & Learn Set for Saturday, Nov. 21
After Morning Services Rabbi Josh will be leading a Lunch & Learn on Saturday, Nov. 21 after morning services. A light lunch will be available. The topic for the discussion has not yet been finalized.

BHA Chanukah Party Set for Sunday, Dec. 14 at 11 am
Mark your calendar! We’ll be celebrating.

Todah Rabah (“Thank You”):
To: Keith Milcove, Jane Timm, Jamie Abrams & Mark Bass, Harry Kirshen, Ruth Ray, Randi & Howard Davis, Bruce & Eileen Cohen, Glenn & Fern Blackman, Wilda Oken, Julia Oken, Lisa & Doug Price, and Jeffrey & Marlene Kahana for their assessment payments.
To: Regina Klein, Arnold & Enid Schwartz, Barbara Shostack, Renee Blumner, Diane Schank, Nathan Ostreger, and Gina Wolkowitz for their High Holiday Donations.
To: Robert & Jinny Goff for their donation.
To: Alyx Becker for leading services on Friday night, Oct. 10.