Union Temple, Brooklyn, NY

March 09, 2010 23 Adar 5770

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Read Before Burning (or Being Burned!)

Ellen

Hard-pressed for a topic to write about for this column this month, I did what any resourceful, modern woman would do: I searched the Web.

I had a vague idea of writing about Passover. I Googled “pesach.” When is Passover 2010? popped up. It’s countdown to chametz-free eating. Hospitals report an increasing number of scalds and burns in the days before Pesach. Glatt Kosher Cruises and Passover Hotels.

Wait a minute. What’s this? Scalds and burns? I had to check it out.

Sure enough, the New York Board of Rabbis supplies us with an official list of Passover Safety Tips. Here, among other things, the Board warns us:

• Never allow children near boiling water when cleaning for Pesach. I didn’t have a clue. What wasn’t I cleaning that required thorough dousing with steaming 212liquid? I began to think I was a terrible housekeeper.

• Be aware that oven cleaners (such as Easy-Off) cause severe burns. Be extremely cautious when using these products. Now I was sure I was a terrible housekeeper.

• Preparing the Seder in the kitchen: A "NO ZONE" around both the stove and the bleach should be created and children forbidden to enter these areas. Well, I am careful about the stove. However, I’m not sure

about the bleach.

• Burning Chametz: If possible set up a buddy system where an older child is placed with a younger child. Of course! Who’s better than an older brother to teach your innocent toddler how to really burn stuff the right way? Why didn’t I ever think of that?

• Also under Burning Chametz: Never use any type of accelerant to increase the flame. See older brother reference above.

To all, a zissen Pesach!

-Ellen Kolikoff, Secretary

Excitement About the Future

Have you noticed the new feeling at UnionTemple? The growing enthusiasm is palpable.

Each event draws in more and more people. At two well-attended congregational meetings, the Strategic Planning committee led discussions of the plans for the next 5 years. Some of these plans are already underway. For instance, a beautification committee has been working hard on improving the exterior appearance of the temple. They plan to fix the doors, take down the faded awnings, put up new banners, install planters, and add lighting.

We are planning social and fundraising events, social action initiatives, and a host of artistic and educational programs. Changes are in store also for the ReligiousSchooland the Preschool.aim to grow membership to 200 families by 2011. We have applied for a grant to add a Synaplex dimension to Shabbat. (More on this next month, if the grant goes through.)Plus, with our new TempleAdministratorin place, we hope for a more streamlined, efficient, and effective administration.

Of course, the emphasis will remain on keeping services beautiful and trying new things to continue to attract members, old and new., there’s a lot of excitement about the future. But it will take a lot of work.We need your involvement – planning for events, attending programs and services, and lending a helping hand in any way you can. Together we can make Union Temple grow even better.

-Jeff Stein, Vice President and Ellen Kolikoff, Secretary