www.rockdaletemple.org Join Us On Shofar Soundings December 2013 - January 2014 (See page 8 for details) (See page 6 for details) Table of Contents e Rabbi’s Reflections......................... 2 190 Years of Forward inking Tot Shabbat .......................................... 2 From our Assistant Rabbi & Educator........................................... 3 Religious School Update Eighth Night for Ethan........................ 4 From Our Board President ................... 5 Been Touched by an Angel? Tot Shabbat .......................................... 5 Special PJ Library Program Adult Education ................................... 6 190th Celebration........................... 6 Sponsorship Opportunities Dave Brubeck ................................. 7 Gates of Justice Bat Mitzvah Celebrant ................... 8 MLK Lock-In & March ................ 8 Executive Director’s Corner ........... 9 Welcoming our URJ Camp Service Corps Fellow ................................ 11 Library Update ............................. 11 Environmental Committee........... 14 e Rockdale Community is doing its part to take care of the Planet WRJ/Sisterhood ........................... 16 Consecration Pictures ................... 17 Mitzvah Palooza Pictures ............. 18 Brotherhood ................................. 19 Tribute Funds ............................... 20 Mazel Tov..................................... 21 Condolences ................................. 21 Birthdays & Anniversaries............ 21 Mitzvah Opportunities ................. 22 IHN Sign-Up............................... 23 Saturday, December 7, 2013 10:00 a.m. T OT S HABBAT Followed by Snack & Activity (See page 2 for details) Friday, December 13, 2013 5:45 p.m. Shabbat Nosh 6:15 p.m. R OCK S HABBAT With Birthday Blessings Followed by Shabbat Dinner MLK MARCH From the Freedom Center Monday, January 20, 2014 Gala Sponsorship Opportunities Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is proud to sponsor In honor of the 190th anniversary of K.K. Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple January 12, 7:30 p.m. Mayerson Jewish Community Center, Amberley Room, 8485 Ridge Rd, Cincinnati (See page 7 for details)
Transcript
www.rockdaletemple.org
Join Us On
Shofar SoundingsDecember 2013 - January 2014
(See page 8 for details) (See page 6 for details)
Table of ContentsThe Rabbi’s Reflections......................... 2 190 Years of Forward ThinkingTot Shabbat .......................................... 2 From our Assistant Rabbi & Educator ........................................... 3 Religious School Update Eighth Night for Ethan........................ 4 From Our Board President ................... 5 Been Touched by an Angel? Tot Shabbat .......................................... 5 Special PJ Library Program Adult Education ................................... 6
190th Celebration ........................... 6 Sponsorship Opportunities Dave Brubeck ................................. 7 Gates of Justice Bat Mitzvah Celebrant ................... 8 MLK Lock-In & March ................ 8Executive Director’s Corner ........... 9 Welcoming our URJ Camp Service Corps Fellow ................................ 11 Library Update ............................. 11 Environmental Committee ........... 14 The Rockdale Community is doing its part to take care of the Planet
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is proud to sponsor
In honor of the 190th anniversary of K.K. Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple
January 12, 7:30 p.m. Mayerson Jewish Community Center,
Amberley Room, 8485 Ridge Rd, Cincinnati(See page 7 for details)
2 Shofar Soudings
The Rabbi’s Reflections190 Years of Forward Thinking
Mayer Wise (his friend) who was the rabbi at K.K. Bene Yeshu-run. Amidst the pain of change and survival, the congregation became a Reform Congregation and was among the founding congregations of Union of American Hebrew Congregations. Again, K.K. Bene Israel chose to be forward thinking in order to relate to the population which it served.
In the coming months, we will learn and hear much more about our proud history. (I will plan on writing of some other stages in February’s bulletin). I know we will discover that at each stage of our history, we have adapted in order to bring meaning to our community, to support our congregants, and to teach Torah for each new age. What I learn about our past, I know will be true about our future. As we consider the Pew Study in light of our past challenges, we understand that we have been this route many times before. What matters is that we will continue to plan for our future and reach out to our community to teach Torah and values in a way that is right for this time and place and relevant to the next stage of our history. I hope to celebrate 190 years of Forward Thinking with you at our upcoming anniversary year events: Dave Brubeck’s Gates of Justice on January 12th, our Anniversary Service on February 21st, and our Gala Event on February 22nd. Rabbi Sigma Faye Coran Senior Rabbi
As we close out the year 2013 and begin the year 2014, our congregation continues to celebrate its 190th year. January marks the actual month in which our congregation was founded 190 years ago.
Our 190th anniversary gives us an opportunity to reflect on our congre-gation and its mission. It gives us a chance to understand our identity as a Kehal Kodesh—a Holy Community. This significant birthday also urges us to consider where we will go, moving forward.
We consider our 190th with the backdrop of the Pew Study on Jew-ish life, published in October. This study reveals what we already knew—that a growing number of Jews report that they have “no religion.” The study gives us pause but it also spurs us to meet this challenge.
Kehal Kodesh Bene Israel (our congregation’s “given name”) has, al-most from the beginning, been faced with this challenge—namely, how to be relevant in a different and changing world. How to cre-ate a Judaism for ourselves and build for the next generation.
Our founder, Joseph Jonas, wrote in his memoir that he was urged not to come to Cincinnati. A friend warned him, ‘in the wilds of America, and entirely amongst Gentiles, you will forget your religion and your God.” Jonas, from Plymouth, England be-came the founder not only of our congregation, but of the Jewish community in Cincinnati. He came to Cincinnati, and created a Judaism that related to his time and place. For two years, he prayed alone. In 1821, he founded the first Jewish cemetery in Cincinnati, in response to a man who had not “lived as a Jew” but wanted to be buried as one.
In 1824, Jonas and “the majority of Israelites” who lived in the city gathered at the home of his brother-in-law, Moses Morris, to found Kehal Kodesh Bene Israel. Even in those days, many Jews in-termarried, and many left their faith. The new congregation served as a place for Jewish people in the “West” to pray, to gather and to support one another. In those early days, the congregation also served as a place where one could acquire kosher meat and Passover matzah. Although the congregation was founded as an “Orthodox” synagogue, the people who were members were limited by their environment as to the extent they could really be Orthodox.
Reform Judaism really came to K.K. Bene Israel with the arrival, in 1855, of Rabbi Max Lilienthal to our congregation. He was hired to institute the reforms that had been made popular by Rabbi Isaac
Join us for Tot ShabbatFriday, November 1, 2013
5:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat Service followed by Dinner
Saturday, December 7, 2013 10 a.m. Tot Shabbat Service
followed by Snack and Activity
Friday, January 17, 20145:30 p .m. Tot Shabbat Service
with Pre K, K and 1st gradeClass Participation followed by Dinner
Saturday, February 8, 20145:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat Havdallah
with PJ Party
Friday, March 21, 20145:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat Service
Saturday, April 5, 201410 a.m. Tot Shabbat Service
followed by Snack and Activity
Friday, May 9, 20145:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat Service
Friday, June 6, 20145:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat Service
followed by Dinner
Save-the-DateSaturday, December 7, 2013
10:00 a.m. Tot Shabbat Service
Followed by Snack and Activity
Shabbi visits Eden Kraus for Shabbat!
An initiative of the Jewish Federationof Cincinnati
Kehal Kodesh School of Rockdale Temple has already enjoyed four great months of learning in sacred community this fall! Our first semester has been marked by enthusiasm, excitement, and energy, which we know will continue as we make our way through the remainder of the school year. Thanks to the dedication of our school families and the support of our congregational community, the Kehal Kodesh School year has gotten off to an amazing start.
I’d like to let you in on some of the exciting things going on in our classrooms and beyond:
• Rockdale is a host congregation for the inaugural year of the Union for Reform Judaism’s Camp Service Corps Program! This is an innovative and exciting effort to strengthen the connection between our Movement’s congregations and summer camps. We have a Service Corps Fellow serving our congregation, working primarily with our Kehal Kodesh community. You can learn more about our fellow, Michael Levy, in the bulletin. Be sure to say hello to Michael when you see him around Rockdale!
• Our congregation’s Education Committee, led by co-chair Lauren Koon-Herzig, has been hard at work in support of our teachers and madrichim, new curriculum, and spe-cial programs. They are working to become more visible throughout our congregation. If you see them, please stop and speak with them about their important work.
• Two Family Education programs have already taken place, taught by Rabbi Coran. Our PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st graders spent time considering the Biblical narrative of Noah’s Ark, and, with their parents and caregivers, offered blessings for the beautiful things they find in this world. The 4th and 5th graders and their families were able to participate in some “God Talk,” learning about different views of God and finding meaning in the Divine. Family Education pro-grams for the rest of our classes are planned and happening throughout the rest of the year.
• In October, the entire community was able to enjoy a day of music with Jewish Rock Musician Dan Nichols! Each of our classes got an in-depth musical experience with Dan, and then joined him in his hour-long concert. You can hear more of Dan’s music at www.jewishrock.com.
• Our high-school-aged madrichim (“guides”) are serving in all of the Sunday and Hebrew classes, grades PreK through 8th, and for the very first time, are also engaged in their own training workshops and community building activities. They are lead and supported by our new Madrichim Program Co-ordinator, 2nd year rabbinical student Max Miller.
• We have launched an exciting new Hebrew venture for our 7th and 8th grade students called Rak Ivrit (“just Hebrew”). Taught by Monica Meyer and Jason Schapera along with our Chaverim M’Yisrael (young Israeli ambassadors) Hadas and Oren, our Rak Ivrit participants are learning to speak Modern Hebrew and apply it to their own lives!
• Kehal Kodesh students, teachers, madrichim, and families have been praying Sunday mornings with Visual T’filah! We have noticed an increase in participation, an increase in volume (we can hear our students’ voices so clearly and beautifully – not to mention their claps which come so easily without anything in their hands), and an increase in community connection. A big “thank you” goes to our school community for helping us to better Visual T’filah for our congrega-tion’s use.
This is just a small sample of all that’s happening here at Kehal Kodesh School of Rockdale Temple. We have been blessed with a hard-working, caring, and creative teaching staff, all of whom arrive with smiles on their faces, ready to engage with our congregation’s children. Our specialists in the areas of music and art have thrown themselves into all kinds of crazy projects, offering our students different outlets for Jewish learning. Rockdale’s support staff works quietly but diligently behind the scenes each week to make sure that our building and our teachers are equipped to offer our school community all that it needs to be successful. Our adoption of the URJ’s Chai Curriculum has been successful, and our students learn each week within the frame of Torah, Avodah (worship), and G’milut Chasadim (acts of lovingkindness) – feel free to ask any of our young people about this theme!
One of the most important functions of a congregation is to teach its children so that they may gain the knowledge and skills to live Jewishly throughout their lives. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this year – and so many years past – a happy, fun, and valuable learning experi-ence for Rockdale’s children. We look forward to con-tinuing the enthusiasm, excitement, and energy we have found here at Kehal Kodesh School. Rabbi Meredith Kahan Assistant Rabbi
December 2013/January 2014 3
From our Assistant Rabbi & Educator Religious School Update
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Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. This campaign is administered by HelpHOPELive, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing fundraising assistance to transplant and catastrophic injury patients. Information: 800.642.8399.
FOR ETHAN KADISH
To Benefit the Great Lakes Catastrophic Injury Fund
On June 29, at Goldman Union Camp Institute, a Jewish summer camp near Indianapolis, Ethan Kadish was struck by lightning, resulting in cardiac arrest. Today, his brain is struggling to make new connections and he has a long road ahead.
Join us at Eighth Night for Ethan as we celebrate the successes that Ethan has made so far and the hope for his continued recovery. We will light a candle for Ethan and give tzedakah to assist with his care. Young people are encouraged to forego family gifts on the eighth night and bring in filled tzedakah cans while parents will have the opportunity to donate by check or charge. In the spirit of supporting Ethan's young life, we encourage donations in multiples of Chai.
Donations (tax-deductible) can be made to HelpHOPELive, to assist with the immense challenge of financing uninsured therapies, home modifications and other injury-related expenses.
For more information, please call: 513-984-3770
Live Music
Dessert
Candle Lighting
Tzedakah
Live Concert by Modern Jewish Rock Musician Dan Nichols
8401 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, OH 45236
December 2013/January 2014 5
From Our Board PresidentBeen Touched by an Angel?190 Years of Forward Thinking
In the late 1990’s, Touched by an Angel started off the Sunday night lineup on CBS. If you don’t remember the series, Della Reese led the cast of angels as the vet-eran (and occasionally crusty) Tess supervising co-angels Monica and Andrew. Over nine seasons, the trio encountered nearly 200 challenged, distressed or troubled individu-als. Andrew, played by the hand-some actor John Dye, was one of several who periodically played the Angel of Death. The series was not specific in theology although it did
occasionally touch Jewish themes.
The Angel of Death is complex in Jewish teaching. When the show was popular, I recall a discussion in our New Jersey synagogue with our Rabbi pointing out that some thinkers specifically describe the Angel of Death as attractive and appealing in human form. While many of our traditions include heroic struggles with a demonic frightening Angel of Death, there is also room for an alternative nar-rative. I do not recall all of the theological details, but this all came rushing to mind after a long day of business meetings with a group of fellow executives a couple of weeks ago in Louisville. Imagine our reaction when our host told us we were heading for dinner fol-lowed by a theatre performance he wanted us all to see.
The Mountaintop depicts Dr. Martin Luther King returning to his room at the Loraine Motel less than 24 hours before his assassina-tion. The entire play covers about two hours of that night--never leaving Room 306 and never specifically confronting the tragedy of the next day. Spoiler-alert-- I am not giving away anything that you cannot find on the Internet, but quite attractive and somewhat seductive actress playing against Dr. King in the two-person show eventually reveals herself as the Angel of Death.
As we mark 190 years of K.K. Bene Israel, it is a fateful and inter-esting reminder of our duty to social justice that 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of so many events significant to the civil rights effort including The March on Washington, The Children’s Crusade and President Kennedy’s famous Civil Rights address. We also remem-ber the tragic events fifty years ago including the horrific bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. The Mountaintop graphically depicts Dr. King including many of his much-reported personal shortcomings. In doing so, playwright Katori Hall teaches something very Jewish about Tikkum Olam—God does not require perfection. God only expects each of us to contribute according to our talents and our means. Tikkun Olam is a thread running through Rockdale Temple from our annual Mitzvah Palooza to the social action components of our education programs, culminating with Rabbi Coran’s annual Confirmation Class trip to the Religious Action Center in Washington, DC.
As Cincinnati prepares to honor Dr. King, we are inviting the com-munity on Sunday, January 12, 2014 to share in a performance of jazz composer Dave Brubeck’s composition of The Gates of Justice—composed in the aftermath of Dr. King’s assassination hoping to
remind both Jews and African Americans of their common goals of social justice and first performed at the 1969 dedica-tion of Rockdale Temple. We are able to offer this free of charge to the entire community only because of the generosity in our community.
Elsewhere in this Shofar Sounding, you will find details of both the January performance and the February gala as well as your opportunity to show your support for the future of K.K. Bene Israel—The Rockdale Temple. If you have made your contribution, we thank you. If you are still considering your contribution, please consider this as your opportunity to sup-port the teaching, ritual and social action legacy of our Rock-dale Temple.
Steven Ackermann Board President
Tot ShabbatWith Pre K, K & 1st Grade Participation
and Special PJ Library Program
Friday, January 17, 20145:30 p.m.
Followed by Tot Shabbat Dinner
Rak Limud:Adult Education 5774
Gates of JusticeJanuary 12th at 7:30 PM A performance of the Jazz cantata composed by Dave Brubeck to foster reconciliation in the wake of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The piece was premiered at Rockdale Temple as part of the dedication of the Ridge Road building in 1969. Sponsored by HUC, the MLK Coalition and Rockdale Temple.
Rockdale Anniversary Service 190 Years of Forward Thinking February 21st at 6:15 PMRabbi Gary Zola Director of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
190 Years of Forward Singing: Sunday mornings at 10:15 AMCantor Alane Katzew February 2nd World Jewish Music An exploration of music from Jewish communities around the world.
February 9th Forward Singing in Prayer: The development of liturgical music in the Reform Movement in America.
☐ Founders Sponsor = $190 • Recognition in Tribute Book
☐ Builder Sponsor = $500 • Recognition at event • Quarter Ad in Tribute Book
☐ Broadway Sponsor = $1250 • A ticket for two (2) attendees to the 190th event • Recognition in Tribute Book, pre-event press releases, table signage and thank you display at the event
☐ Mound St. Sponsor = $2500 • Preferred table of 10 for you and your guests • Name and logo prominently displayed at the entrance of the event • Name and logo in Tribute Book • Table host gift • Recognition in program, pre-event press releases, table signage and thank you display
☐ Rockdale Ave. Sponsor = $5000 • PREMIER Placement of 10 for you and your guests • Special thanks by Emcee at the event • Champagne Toast at the table for you and your guests • Name and logo prominently displayed at the entrance of the event • Name and logo in Tribute Book • Table host gift • Recognition in program, pre-event press releases, table signage, and thank you display
☐ Ridge Rd. Sponsor = $10,000 • Event Title Sponsor • Two (2) PREMIER tables of 10 with close proximity to the stage • Special thanks by Emcee at the event • Champagne Toast at the table for you and your guests • Name and logo prominently displayed at the entrance of the event • Name and logo in Tribute Book • Table host gift • Recognition in invitation, program, pre-event press releases, table signage, and thank you display
First and Last Name:
Address: Phone:
Email:
** Paying by check, please make all checks payable to ROCKDALE TEMPLE and in the memo section include, 190th Gala.
190th Rockdale Temple Sponsorship Opportunities (Check those that apply)
{ }Do you need a tax deduction?Sponsorship Opportunities are available. Please consider making a donation by January 1st for inclusion in the Tribute Book.
Women’s Book Club Monday, January 6, 7:00 p.m.
*Please note a new day and time. in the Rockdale Temple Library. At that time we will determine a location for future meetings. January’s selection: The Arrogant Years by Lucette Lagrado, a sequel to The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit. All women are welcome to attend an organizational meeting. Please feel free to bring a friend and join us in what is always a lively discussion!
6 Shofar Soudings
December 2013/January 2014 7
8 Shofar Soudings
MLK ProgramClub 456, Rak Noar & YGOR Members & Family
SAVE THE DATE: MLK DAY MONDAY, JANUARY 20TH! The Youth Group of Rockdale (YGOR) is hosting a
Citywide Lockin Sunday, January 19th at Rockdale and then going on the march the next day! We hope you will join us for a fun,
interactive, and educational exploration of civil rights in America through a Jewish lens.
A Day On, Not a Day Off
9:00 a.m. ..... Meet at Rockdale Temple for breakfast and sign-making10:00 a.m. .....................Depart for the Freedom Center
10:45 a.m. .......March from Freedom Centerto Fountain Square.
11:15 a.m. .............................................. Interfaith ServiceFollowed by March to Music Hall
12:30 p.m. ........................Lunch Downtown 1:30 p.m. .............................Return to Rockdale Temple
Families who wish to attend the
Commemorative Program at Music HallFrom 12:00-2:00
May Meet their children at Music Hall
Martin Luther King, Jr. March
From the Freedom Center
Monday, January 20, 20149:00 a.m.
We will have lunch downtown after the March to Music Hall. Parents may pick up their children from lunch
or children will be transported back to Rockdale.
Attention:
Club 456, Rak Noar & YGOR
Bat Mitzvah Celebrant
Saturday, December 14, 2013 10:30 a.m.Bat Mitzvah of
Sydney CropperDaughter of
Leanne Cropper & Susan Peskin
Sister of Kate Cropper
Sydney is a 7th grader at Indian Hill Middle School. She is a talented Equestrian Rider and member of the United States Pony Club. Sydney loves Musical Theatre and Choir and enjoys participating in her school’s plays during the year. She is currently perform-ing in their Fall production. Team sports are important to Sydney. She plays lacrosse with her friends and hopes to play for her school in the Spring.
Sydney’s Mitzvah project goes “hand in hoof ” with her love of horses. She will be donating money and items to the Brennan Equine Welfare Fund. They provide grants to serve equine rescue shelters across the country that provide dignity to final years of aged, injured, abused or starved horses, as well as those used in medical experi-mentation. Funds support registered 501(c) (3) organizations that specialize in retirement and rehabilitation services and offer a peaceful and permanent sanctuary for these beautiful animals.
Sydney lives in Indian Hill with her moms and dog Lola, a Lhasa Apso. She has an older sister, Katie, who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Sydney is looking forward to spending quality time with Katie when she comes home for her Bat Mitzvah.
Sydney is looking forward to sharing and cel-ebrating her Bat Mitzvah this December with her family and friends.
I would like to thank my tutors for all their time and efforts and to my parents and sister for all their love, support and belief in me. Rabbi Coran, thank you for your guidance and comfort during the year.
One of my goals this year is to focus on how Rockdale can continue becoming a more volunteer-driven congregation instead of staff-driven. Essentially that involves a culture change from reliance on our staff to plan, organize and implement pro-grams and activities, to volunteers who will assume responsibility for those same tasks. We have recently taken a number of steps toward this shift; first with the planning and organizing of the 190th; we have dozens of people involved on every level with mak-
ing sure each event associated with our 190th Anniversary celebra-tion will be successful. The renovation of the Board room, led by our Women of Reform Judaism, has been another great example—that was all volunteer-driven and it has been quite successful; be sure to stop by and see their work. They were assisted by a number of our Brotherhood members so it was a joint effort. Both projects have so many people involved in the process—there is so much to be done and we have such a great group of dedicated members to do the work!
On Sunday, November 3rd, we saw many of our members spending the day doing the work of tikkun olam, repairing the world, mak-ing our part of the world a little better. Many of you were involved in sacred work to improve the lives of people in our congregation, our community, our state, our world. Some of them are people we know, but frequently they are people we have never met, and are not likely to ever meet. However, it is the work that is important, not whether you know the person. If you remember Maimonides hierarchy of giving levels, one of the highest levels is to give cheer-fully without any expectation of receiving anything in return. That is the essence of Mitzvah Palooza—we go to places all over the community, or participate in activities at Rockdale without any ex-pectation of knowing who will receive benefit from our efforts. The joy is in the effort of the task before us and in spending time with members of our community. So whether you spent the afternoon knitting, raking leaves, cleaning, sorting canned goods, making cards for soldiers or any of the other activities that were available, you gave of yourself and someone will benefit from your efforts.
Being a volunteer-driven congregation has many advantages. When you volunteer for an organization you have a greater sense of ownership to the mission and work of that community. You find yourself wanting to spend more time with other people who are associated with the same group, you make friends with people who adhere to the same values, and you discover a purpose that you might not have been aware existed before. Your time as a volunteer has a ripple effect—it allows staff to attend to other matters, it en-courages other people to make similar commitments of time and energy, and it opens doors to welcome people into the congrega-tion who are seeking a spiritual home.
Regardless of your personal situation there is always something that can be done on a voluntary basis. One of the things I say
repeatedly is that people join congregations because they are looking for a place for a specific purpose: it might be for religious school for their children, a wedding, somewhere to say Kaddish, a home for the High Holy Days, but they stay because they find a community. Whether you can volunteer for something on a regular weekly basis, serve on a committee, help with a task from home or lend your expertise for a specific project, we need your knowledge, skill and energy. We have a wonderful community of people; come meet them, get involved and begin making a differ-ence. This is your temple, it’s right here waiting for you. Margaret Friedman-Vaughan Executive Director
You are invited to an evening of delicious food, good friends and wonderful entertainment at
Vito's Café, 654 Highland Ave., in historic Ft. �omas
4th & 5th Grade Family Education Program Sunday, October 13th
Come celebrate Shabbat with us on
Rockdale Temple Chapel
Students will be participating in the Service at 6:15 p.m.
Stay and be our guests for 4th-5th-6th Grade
10 Shofar Soudings
December 2013/January 2014 11
Library UpdateKaren Zanger
If you are like most people I know, including me, you’re doing most of your “pleasure” and “news” reading online. You’re scanning the NYT headlines for the few stories you can spend the time to read, or dipping into the digital edition of a magazine subscription. You might resort to your smart phone when you have a little time to kill and no three-dimensional reading material at hand.
Lately some specifically Jewish online sources have consistently caused me to do a “Jewish double take,” as it were: Did that headline say what I think it said? I gotta take a look.
The first one I found via the website for Nextbook, where I check for books to add to the library’s collection. There was a link to Tablet Magazine, “the daily online magazine of Jewish news, ideas, and culture.” It would be impossible to list the full range of what you might find on Tablet--- let’s just say it’s eclectic and irreverent on the way to being Jewish. I signed up for the daily digest to come to my mailbox and yes, I blow it out on days when there’s just no time to even peek. Whenever I do open the page, I find something I didn’t know, or an outlook that I’ve craved to hear expressed. Articles are neither bite-size nor book length. Try it, you’ll like it! Tablet Magazine – Jewish News and Politics, Jewish Arts and Culture, Jewish Life and Religion
Here’s one that some might say is just “TOO Jewish,” to quote comedian Jackie Mason. It’s a website devoted to airing the writings of a growing group of Orthodox rabbis who totally embrace science, yet maintain their faith. It is called TheTorah.com - A Historical and Contextual Approach. The premise they start from is that tremendous and varied evidence points to the Torah NOT having been given by God to Moses whole and perfect on Sinai. And while this may have occurred to you too (certainly to me), it is quite another thing to hold such beliefs in the Orthodox community. I give the website’s founder Rabbi Zev Farber props for courage, and many of the contributors my attention when I have any to spare. It’s heady stuff!
The Jewish Daily Forward online is a worthy reincarnation of the historic publication many grandparents and great grandparents read faithfully a hundred years ago in Yiddish. Only now it’s in English, and it’s delightful!
One more. A fellow named Andrew Steinberg created a website called Hidden Jewish Cincinnati. It is bare bones, very simply organized, and lets you look at all the places we Jews have inhabited in Cincinnati over the decades---almost two centuries to be exact. You will see art or a photo of the historic location as it looked back then, and a photo of what that place looks like now. Five regions of our city are represented, and all the “stripes” of Judaism. Have a look!
Karen Zanger Volunteer librarian
Welcoming our URJ Camp Service Corps Fellow
My name is Michael Levy and I am a 20 year old sophomore at the University of Cincinnati. I major in accounting and I am a brother of Alpha Epsi-lon Pi, the Jewish Fraternity. I grew up here in Cincinnati and am a member of Wise Temple. I am also a long time camper at Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI). I have been on staff the past
two summers as a counselor, and this past summer as the Security Director and part of the maintenance team. I am here at Rockdale for the religious school year as the URJ Camp Service Corps Fellow. I will be present at religious school to help implement camp style programming, as well as get kids excited to go to camp. I am also available for all parents to discuss camp and any questions anyone may have regarding sending your child to camp or what goes on at camp. I can be reached anytime at [email protected]. I look forward to getting to know the Rockdale community!
190 Years of Forward ThinkingDecember 2013Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 Chanukah ~5th Candle~ No Religious School or KULANU High School ~ Winter Break ~
2 Chanukah ~6th Candle~
3 Chanukah ~7th Candle~ 4:30 p.m.Hebrew School 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. RUACH Chanukah Party
4 Chanukah ~8th Candle~ 7:00 p.m.Eighth Night for Ethan
30 31 5:45 p.m.Shabbat Nosh6:15 p.m.Shabbat Service With 4th, 5th & 6th Class Participation Followed by Dinner
14 Shofar Soudings
Environmental CommitteeThe Rockdale Community is doing their part to take care of the Planet
Environmental Committee meetings Jan. 12th, Feb. 9th, Mar. 9th,
Apr. 6th and May 4th
At the 6th annual Mitzvah Palooza, Temple members learned how small changes can improve the environment and the health of community and individuals.
Perry Leitner and Karen Barras told the audience of about 18 people how through the use of new technolo-gies we can reduce air leaks in our homes and business. New insulation products for both the attic and walls can easily reduce air leakage. We only need 30% fresh air in our homes, so making them more air tight can
create savings. A blower test measures air leaks and the technician recommends changes to make your home more energy efficient. Once your home is tighter you can look into additional ways to lower your bills. Solar panels cost 25 times less than they did just 3 years ago. Tax write-offs for solar and other energy saving devices go through December 2015. Duke Energy provides a carbon tax credit as well as net metering for additional savings. By reducing the amount of energy your home uses you save money and burn less CO2. Contact the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance for more information at http://greatercea.org/ .
The second presentation about local food sustainability included presenter Kristin Gangwer from Our Harvest, a Community Sup-ported Agriculture (CSA): David Rosenberg, a Cincinnati farmer
for the past 35 years: and Stuart Zanger, Board President of the Montgomery Farmer’s Market. It is so important for your health and the health of the community to know how your food is grown and where it comes from. It is going to be-come even more important to preserve farm land and protect fertile soil as sprawl and megafarms replace family farms. The Tri-state has very fertile soil, generally good weather and water conditions for growing produce. Kentucky has the highest number of family farms per capita in the nation. But due to low pay, competition from megafarms and urban sprawl, as well as poor distribution systems to market their produce and public policy, the family farm’s very survival is threatened. Supporting local agriculture through CSA’s and Farmer Markets is the first step to creating a source for fresh, sustainably grown food for your table. For resources go to http://www.eatlocalcorv.org/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/cincilocavore/info.
The Cohen Recycling team received a consistently steady stream of electronic, plastic and metal items to be recycled for use for new products saving raw material resources. Thank you for keeping these items out of the landfill. Joanne Gerson Environmental Committee
What is a CSA? I am asked this quite often when mentioning that I have joined a local CSA. The acronym “CSA” stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It is essentially where members of the CSA purchase a “share” of the farm’s harvest up front, and in return receive a box of seasonal produce harvested on the farm each week throughout the growing season. By buying into the program, you are not only supporting sustainable farming, but you are also helping create local jobs, train new farmers, preserve valuable farmland, and promote the local food movement.
In the spring, my family and I started participating in the CSA program offered at Temple. When I mentioned this to my family, they weren’t initially all that interested. My husband asked, won’t a lot go to waste? I told him let’s try this out. The thought of getting fresh; local produce grown with no pesticides or chemicals was very exciting to me. The first week of pickup we got a huge bin of vegetables. I remember looking at the bin thinking how in the world are we going to use all of this in one week! I brought the fresh produce home and showed my family. That first week we used about half the vegetables and I gave away half to one of my neighbors. The second week, we still had some of the first weeks, vegetables and we had a whole new bin
of vegetables to put away. Once again, I gave away half to one of my neighbors. While my neighbor was very happy to get all this fresh produce, we weren’t using as much as were getting. The next day, my oldest daughter Abigail approached us and told us she wanted to become a vegetarian. We fully supported her on this but wondered how effectively we could create separate meals for her. Well, the produce kept pouring in. In the begin-ning it was a lot of produce that I had never thought about buying before at the grocery store. I can honestly tell you I was a little bit intimidated on how to use some of the produce. As the weeks went on, I became excited to pick up my vegetables and see what we were getting. It was like getting a present every week. As we received the new vegetables, my family started to spend more time looking up recipes and researching how to cook or use the vegetables. It became a lot of fun! And slowly but surely, I started making more vegetarian meals for the whole family and not making a separate meal for Abigail. Our eating habits have evolved into not using vegetables as a side dish, to having the vegetables as the main dish! This has been totally transformational for my family. The best part is that I know that my food came from a local farm, that we are supporting a great environmental effort, and that my family is eating a much healthier diet!
Submitted by Jennifer Clark
December 2013/January 2014 15
Mazel Tov! Rabbi Meredith Kahan
Our thanks to Julie Torem for all her hard work and dedication to making this night so special; and our greatful appreciation to the Sisterhood Cookbook
Endowment Fund for making Dan Nichols participation possible.
At a special Shabbat service on November 15, we celebrated the joint 100th birthdays of WRJ and Rockdale Sisterhood. In addi-tion, we honored Nancy Schwartz for her many years of dedicated work. The generous response
to the appeal for funds to honor Nancy enabled us to buy a new piece of art for the boardroom and paid for a majority of the refresh of the boardroom. A special thanks goes out to all who contributed and to brotherhood for their gener-ous donation as well. Specifically we want to thank the members of Brotherhood and Sisterhood who volunteered their time over weekends and weekdays to help renovate the boardroom (sincere apologies if we missed anyone who helped!)
Glenn Chundrlek Randi Chundrlek
James Dugan Bob Ingberg
Bob Frohman Barrie Kraus
Joe Loewenstein
Deb Loewenstein Tracy McMullan Chris Malhotra
David Rosenberg Abby Schwartz Mindy Seibert Karen Zanger
December 2013/January 2014 17
David Zuckerman & Family Julia Frankel & FamilyC. Matias Knudsen & Family Jacob Shapiro & Family
Consecration 2013/5774September 25, 2013
Ike Green & FamilySeth and Lillian Liner & Family
18 Shofar Soudings
Mitzvah Palooza 6~Sunday, November 3, 2013~
At Cedar Village, care of our residents is our first priority. We offer services for the whole person, meeting their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs to ensure that they achieve an optimal quality of life. We take our commitment to the community very seriously and we live our mission, to provide the highest quality healthcare, senior residential and community services, in keeping with Jewish values, yet open to all faiths. Cedar Village … It’s about caring.
Cedar Village Retirement Community5467 Cedar Village Drive, Mason, Ohio 45040
Tel: 513.754.3100, www.cedarvillage.org
• Driving Assessment Program• Cedar Village Home Care• Independent and Assisted Living• Rehabilitation After Hospitalization• Nursing Care and Specialized Dementia Care• Hospice—Comfort and Care• Shalom Center for Elder Abuse Prevention
c e d a r v i l l a g e s e r v i c e s
Cedar Village is a nonprofit retirement community, located in Mason, Ohio.
This is a direct quote from the Hoxworth Blood Cen-ter coordinator, who said they were thrilled with the Rockdale Temple Blood Drive!
The Brotherhood/Sisterhood Blood Drive has grown bigger each year.
26 donors showed up for the 2013 Mitzvah Palooza blood drive... FANTASTIC!
Thanks to everyone who participated.
Hoxworth knows they can count on our event to turn out donors. They shared that sometimes they will send the donor mobile to sites where only 5 people show up.
But that’s not the case at Rockdale!
Do you belong to an organization that would like to sponsor a blood drive?
It’s easier to set up a drive than you may think! If interested in having the blood donor mobile at your group’s event, contact Darryl Dick at 513-884-1919, and he can explain the process and put you in touch with the right people. Thanks again to everyone!!!
Darryl Dick and Glenn Chundrlek Brotherhood Co-Presidents Teresa Ames & Alison Auerbach Sisterhood Co-Presidents
College Students from Cincinnati –
Summer Internships Available!
Give back to the Jewish community and get paid to intern in a Jewish agency in Cincinnati.
The Workum Fund provides highly rewarding summer internships for Jewish college students from
Cincinnati. Applications are available at our website at www.workum.org and are due by December 15th.
Interviews will take place over Winter break.
Contact Workum Fund Program Director, Brett Pelchovitz Stern, at
*Partially funded by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
The Ritual Committee serves as a liaison between the congregation and the clergy. Its goals are to promote and encourage participation in services for Shabbat and festivals and Shabbat Morning Torah discussions and services, to evaluate liturgy and music, to discuss issues raised by congregants, to understand rabbinic plans in order to explain them to congregants, and to participate in Temple activities. Fay May, 779-2774 or [email protected] Next Meeting: January 14, 2014
Ritual Committee Fay May, Committee Chair
20 Shofar Soudings
Tribute FundsDonations from October 4, 2013 - November 5, 2013
In Honor of our 190th Anniversary
Rabbi Coran’s Discretionary FundIn Honor of Ethan Kadish’s laugh Bill Weinstein
In Honor of Jake Coppel’s Baby Naming Steve & Ruth Coppel
In Honor of Emily and Ryan’s Wedding Donald & Barbara Misrach
In Honor of the Marriage of Pintouran & Travis Reidel James & Lori Reidel
In Memory of Rose B. Nacht Dan Hoffheimer
In Memory of William Patrick O’Brien Dan Hoffheimer
In Memory of Anne Weihl Rudolph Jonathan & Judy Hollander
In Memory of Nancy Schild Dan Hoffheimer
In Memory of Hildred D. Schwartz Phil & Helene Cohen
Jules & Elizabeth K. Oppenheimer FundIn Honor of Rabbi Sigma Coran & the
Temple Fund In Honor of Ed Wertheimer’s Birthday Frances Cheyne Ester Winston
In Honor of Rockdale Temple – Best wishes in the New Year Stanley & Jane Shulman Dr. and Mrs. David Kerman Ophra Weisberg
In Memory of Nancy Schild Suzanne Dunbar Edward and Andrea Herzig Michael Oestreicher Mary-Bob & Jack Rubenstein Rabbi Victor & Louise Reichert FundIn Memory of Nancy Schild Philip & Helene Cohen
Steven Altman FundIn Honor of Helene and Millard Mack’s 50th Anniversary Alfred Cohen & Ann Pappenheimer
Heldman Family FundIn Memory of Nancy Schild Anne Heldman
Shabbat Nosh In honor of Jason Berry becoming a Bar Mitzvah Lisa and Mike Berry
In Honor of Rabbi Meredith Kahan’s Installation The Family of Rabbi Kahan
In Honor of Sarah Green becoming a Bat Mitzvah Maurey and Randy Green Library FundIn Honor of Virginia Felson’s Birthday Annette Horwitz
In Memory of Nancy Schild Joan Scheineson
Soup Kitchen Fund In Memory of Nancy Schild Barbara & O.J. Cohen
Anonymous Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Rosemary & Frank Bloom Bernie & Roz Dave
Risa & Stephen Feagins Dr. Barry Gibberman, DMD
Julie & Roger Heldman Andrea & Dr. Edward Herzig
Daniel Hoffheimer Dori Mack & Brad Holcowitz
Scott & Carrie Lipps Helene & Millard Mack
Christine & Ramesh Malhotra Lynn Mayfield
Tracy McMullen Bernard & Leslie Reiss
Nancy & Ed Rosenthal Joshua & Heather Shapiro
Lois Spahn Sharon Nelson, Kenneth Venick &
Arieh Nelson Venick Ann & Mort Zeff
December 2013/January 2014 21
HappyAnniversary
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Anniversaries are listed every five years starting with the 10th anniversary.
All anniversaries of 50 years and over are recognized.
AnniversariesBirthdays
December Anniversary 30 .....Edward & Nancy Rosenthal ~ 55th January Anniversaries 5 ..... Howard & Shirma Revelson ~ 67th
26 ..... Edward & Leah Levy ~ 56th
Adults of December 1 .....Lee Rozin 2 .....Esther Silverman .....Lillian Zanger 3 .....Sanford Paris ..... Jeff Routh 4 .....Vanessa Kurtzer 5 .....Vera Sanker 6 .....Bernie Dave .....Marion Levy 10 .....Liza Feldman .....Dalvik Khaykin .....Nancy Gibberman 11 .....Suzanne Dunbar .....Edward Levy 14 ..... James Dugan 15 .....Brad Hoicowitz 16 .....Bennett Kottler 17 .....Burton Perlman 19 .....Eleanor Cohen 27 .....Estelle Finkelman 30 ..... Jeanne Goldberg 31 .....Bette Karpen
Children of December 2 .....Matthew Wagner ~ 14 years old 3 .....Ben Green ~ 17 years old 4 ..... Julia Mattis ~ 17 years old .....Rebecca Peters ~ 14 years old 9 .....Sydney Cropper ~ 13 years old 10 .....Minerva Hill ~ 4 years old 14 .....Sammy Maltz ~ 5 years old .....Anna Rose von Thomsen
~ 8 years old 16 .....Austin Dick ~ 16 years old 18 ..... Jason Berry ~ 13 years old .....Sam DeFalco ~ 5 years old 29 ..... Joe Shapiro ~ 11 years old 30 .....Matthew Auerbach ~ 17 years old .....Elianah Cohen ~ 11 years old .....Emma Cohen ~ 11 years old 31 .....Alison Epstein ~ 9 years old
Adult Birthdays are listed every five years starting with the 40th birthday
and for all members who have reached the age of 75. “ Children of the Temple”
Children of January 3 .....Nathan Cohen ~ 9 years old 7 .....Max Frankel ~ 15 years old 8 .....Barry Waxler ~ 9 years old 10 .....Dani Grossman ~ 6 years old 13 .....Adam O’Koon ~ 7 years old 15 .....Tamas Bonyhati ~ 17 years old 16 .....Maggie Rubenstein ~ 6 years old 19 .....Liam Dunkelman ~ 5 years old .....Ellie Friedman ~ 8 years old 24 .....Phoebe Rubenstein ~ 8 years old 26 .....Zsofia Bonyhati ~ 8 years old
On the birth of Tolliver James Ackermann
Grandson of Meg and Steven Ackermann
Great Grandson of Helen Ackermann
Born October 21st
On the birth of Micha Adi Schwartz
Grandson of Abby and David Schwartz
Son of Jason and Shira Schwartz
Born November 5th
On the birth of Aliza Fox
Granddaughter of Lisa and John Fox
Daughter of Rivkah and Rick Fox
Born November 10th
On the birth of Weston Graham
Grandson of Lisa and John Fox
Son of Jori and Jon Graham
Born November 11th
Mazel Tov
Nancy Schild beloved mother of
Steven and Rachel Schild devoted grandmother of
Todd Schild and Sarah Weiss & Jason and Robin Schild
Thomas Ungar
Cousin of Bob and Loris Ungar
Janet Doernberg cherished mother of
Dee-Dee and Rick Abraham
Marvin Sandor beloved father of
Doug and Bette Sandor
Condolences To the Family and Friends of:
URJ Disaster Relief for the Philippines
www.urj.org/socialaction/issues/relief
22 Shofar Soudings
Kroger Rewards Kroger Reward Cards are an easy way to
support Rockdale Temple.
The new Kroger programnow requires annual enrollment.
Go to www.Kroger.com andclick on the COMMUNITY tab on
the top of the page then select Kroger Community Rewards along the left hand side of the page. Or, call the Rockdale
Temple office and someone will be happy to help!
Soup KitchenDecember 22nd & February 23rdPlease volunteer and do not miss a fun Sunday with a nice group of people. Looking forward to working with you. To volunteer please call:
Dolores Goldfinger891-0725
Mitzvah Opportunities
Jewish Hospital Needs Volunteers
The Jewish Hospital is a community faithful to its Jewish heritage and grounded in the Jewish and Catholic traditions of Service to the community.
We are looking for volunteers that would like to share their time. A minimum of 4 hours a week is the commitment. We have many opportunities in various departments to make a difference!
The Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati is Seeking Volunteers Join the Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati in the mission to change lives through reading, tutoring and character development. Volunteers are needed for various programs, including Cincinnati Reads, Winners Walk Tall, and office help. Contact Kathy Ciarla or Sarah Cranley, at (513) 621-READ, on how you can positively impact the lives of children in the community.
Comfort Trays for the GrievingSisterhood recognizes the need to help make things easier for congregants sitting shiva or hosting family after a funeral by providing a tray of sweets. If you are able to provide baked goods that we can store in the freezer, or if you are able to help assemble and deliver the trays when needed, please contact:
It only takes a few minutes to set aside a half dozen cookies or brownies in a freezer bag and to drop them off at temple. Then mark the bag with the list of ingredients for those who might be allergic to specific items and you have performed a mitzvah.
I cannot volunteer my time, but would like to make a monetary donation of
$____________________
Please make checks payable to Adath Israel; IN THE MEMO, PLEASE WRITE: “IHN”Mail to: Adath Israel, 3201 E. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236
We are trying something new this hosting week where we are in charge of getting volunteers for only one evening during the hosting week.
PLEASE CHOOSE THREE JOBS from the list below which interest you and mark them, ORDERING THEM IN PRIORITY from 1(1st choice) to 3 (3rd choice). First come first served basis. We will do our best to give each person his/her first choice. Please e-mail the form to Linda Chatterjee at [email protected], mail the form to Adath Israel, or drop it off to either Adath Israel or Rockdale Temple.
Pre and Post-Hosting Week Jobs: ____ Chef
Plans the menu according to Adath Israel’s strict kosher rules, buys and pays for the ingredients. (May store them there in fridge). Arrives at Adath Israel between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on the Friday and cooks dinner for about 20 people. Nothing may be prepared at your home. Serves dinner at 5:30 p.m., eat, and clean up.
____ CooksBring an ingredient for the dinner as agreed with the Chef. Arrive around 4 p.m. Help to cook and clean up. Eat there.
____ Evening Hosts (5:00 PM - 8:30 PM)A great job for a couple or family. Bring dessert. Arrive by 5 p.m., greet guests, take medicines to office for safe keeping, converse with guest over dinner, help them to pack lunches for next day.
____ Activity Helpers (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM)Must be 13 or older unless accompanied by a parent. Assist with planned activities and/or supervise and join in “free-play” time.
____ Overnight HostsArrive at 8:30 PM; stay overnight in your own room. Serve breakfast from supplies on sight. Help families back onto the bus around 7:30 a.m.
Rockdale Temple IHN Volunteers Needed
Interfaith Hospitality Network hosts a group of homeless families at Adath Israel Synagogue for 3 weeks per year – a week in July, a week in August and the week of Christmas. (For more info about the IHN program see http://www.ihncincinnati.org/) On each of those weeks, Rockdale supplies the food and the volunteers to host on the Friday nights. The following volunteers are needed.
For further information and a tour of the facilities, please contact Rockdale Temple’s chairperson,
Linda Chatterjee is currently putting together a team of volunteers to help prepare dinner and host homeless families at Adath Israel on Friday, December 27th. Next year our dates will be during the weeks of June 8th and August 3rd. We usually take Friday’s, Rockdale members are welcome to help out on other days by signing up on the Adath Israel website.
The commitment here is very small. You can make a difference! If you are interested in being part of the Rockdale team on December 27th or next summer, please contact Linda Chatterjee for more information, (513) 759 2266 or e-mail me at [email protected].
Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage
PAIDCincinnati, OhioPermit No. 7074
Address Service Requested8501 Ridge Road, CinCinnati, ohio 45236
Send us your e-mail address for weekly Rock-mail!
Affliliated with the URJ (Union for Reform Judaism)
Liturgical CalendarFriday, December 6, 2013 5:45 p.m. Shabbat Nosh 6:15 p.m. ShabbaT SeRvice With Anniversary Blessings and Choir Singing Saturday, December 7, 2013 9:30 a.m. Sichat Torah (Torah Discussion) 10:00 a.m. Tot Shabbat Service Followed by Snack & Activities10:30 a.m. Service-in-the-Round
Friday, December 13, 2013 5:45 p.m. Shabbat Nosh 6:15 p.m. Rock ShabbaT SeRvice With Birthday Blessings 7:15 p.m. Rock Shabbat Dinner Saturday, December 14, 2013 9:30 a.m. Sichat Torah (Torah Discussion)10:30 a.m. Bat Mitzvah of Sydney Cropper Daughter of Leanne Cropper and Susan Peskin Friday, December 20, 2013 5:45 p.m. Shabbat Nosh 6:15 p.m. ShabbaT SeRvice Saturday, December 21, 2013 9:30 a.m. Sichat Torah (Torah Discussion) 10:30 a.m. Service-in-the-Round
Friday, December 27, 2013 5:45 p.m. Shabbat Nosh 6:15 p.m. ShabbaT SeRvice
Friday, January 17, 2014 5:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat Service With Pre K, K, 1st Grade Participation Followed by Dinner 5:45 p.m. Shabbat Nosh 6:15 p.m. Shabbat Service
