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January 2016 • Volume 30 • Issue 1 A Reform Congregation Embracing Our Jewish Tradition
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Celebrate the
Life & Legacy of
Martin Luther King, Jr.
with a special
Musical Shabbat
January 15th at
8:00 PM
Sounds of Shabbat
on
Shabbat Shirah
January 22nd
8:00 PM
Add your voice to those of our choirs,
instrumentalists and students!
2
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Which One is the REAL New Year?
The other day, after wishing everyone a great
winter break and a Happy New Year, one of the
youngsters came up to me and said “Rabbi,
(with her foot placed just so), back at Rosh
Hashanah, we say Happy New Year, when we
say Shana Tovah, and now we’re saying it again- so which one
is the REAL new year?!”
We have lots of times when a new year begins, like the
beginning of a new school year, a new fiscal year, a new
calendar year…in our Jewish tradition there are four distinct
New Years; the best known are Rosh Hashanah, which comes
in the 7th month of the Hebrew calendar year yet we mark it as
the birthday of the world, and Pesach, which falls in the first
month of our Hebrew calendar, corresponding to Yitzeyat
Mitzayim- the Exodus from Egypt and the “birth” of Am
Yisrael, our people hood.
Another new year occurred during the ancient period on the 1
of Elul, the 6th month, and could be considered a bit like our
own April 15th. This was the date by which the animals
consecrated to the Temple were marked for Nadev Lev- Temple
dues.
Finally, the15th of Shevat is what we know as Tu B’Shevat.
Based upon Torah law, fruits could not be consumed from trees
less than three years old. Tu B'Shevat was used as the starting
date for determining the age of fruit bearing trees. Today, Tu
B’shevat is celebrated as a time when we connect with our
earth, the renewal of the growing season, in the northern
hemisphere, and giving gratitude for its bounty, a bit like Arbor
Day. In modernity, we added the connection to Israel by
investing in the Land of Israel- fulfilling the dream of our
people, helping to make the desert bloom!
As we can see, all of these new years celebrated by our people
offered a distinct time for a recommitment to the values
important to the community while also moving them forward
with a fresh palette to create life anew.
In the spirit of this tradition, as we come into this New Year of
2016, we as a congregation, will begin a few new things. First,
one Friday evening each month during our Shabbat eve service,
we will honor members of our TBT congregational family by
bestowing blessings upon those celebrating an anniversary and
those celebrating birthdays. This way we are truly able to share
in and celebrate the joyous moments of each others lives.
Second, in marking our next new year and holiday, of Tu
B’Shevat, we have created an evening of celebration for all in
the TBT congregational family: Adults- singles and marrieds-
of all ages and stages in life…teens, and children, too.
The Tu B’Shevat Event! will take place on Saturday evening,
January 23, 2016. You will find more information here in the
Kol Tikvah and a link to RSVP for this incredible evening of
celebration and fun on our website or on the TBT Facebook
page.
So in response to the child who asked, “Rabbi, which is the
real New Year?”- My answer to this sweet one is “ there are
many opportunities to begin anew- as we say in our morning
prayers Hamekadesh b’kol yom tamid breisheet- everyday is an
opportunity to celebrate a new day, a real new year.
May it be filled with goodness! Happy New Year!
Introducing the TBT BUSINESS NETWORK Have you ever passed members in the hallways of TBT and wondered what they do for a living?
2016 will be a year of expanding your knowledge, learning from the success of others, and developing relationships
with other TBT members on a professional level.
This group will be meeting 6-8 times per year. We are going to finalize meeting times based on feedback from the initial
attendees. There will likely be meetings from 7:30 – 9:00am at TBT, evening speakers, and happy hours. We will be
creating opportunities that provide value to all attendees.
Please join us on Tuesday, January 26th 7:30am – 9:00am at TBT for
THE TBT BUSINESS NETWORK KICKOFF. $5 at the door includes breakfast.
RSVPs preferred and direct any questions to Lindsay Levin 404.667.3232 / [email protected] OR Dr. Jared Wiskind 404.431.4853 / [email protected]
3
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Notes from Cantor Kassel
“SHABBAT TZEDEK / SABBATH OF JUSTICE”
in commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Friday night, January 15th at 8:00 PM
We need only to look at the events of the past few years in this country to realize there is much work to
be done to establish justice in our own land. Our Judaism commands that we put the principles of the
Torah into action. While the need may be obvious, we are still in need of ongoing inspiration.
We hope you will join us for a special service to commemorate one of this country’s finest sources of
inspirations, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme of freedom permeates our liturgy and this Erev
Shabbat service will include special readings attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King as well as Jewish
scholars throughout the years.
”SOUNDS OF SHABBAT”
in celebration of:
“SHABBAT SHIRAH” – SABBATH OF SONG
Friday, January 22nd at 8:00 PM Let’s nourish our extra Shabbat “soul” and celebrate Jewish Music and its power to elevate our prayer
experience. Join us for this joyous and uplifting Erev Shabbat service. Shabbat Shirah derives its name
from our Torah portion which includes our escape from Egypt, the splitting of the Sea of Reeds -
after which our ancestors broke out into song and dance!
Shiru L’adonai Shir Chadash - Sing Unto God a NEW Song!
Transition Committee Update
It’s hard to believe that 6 months have passed since Rabbi Shuval-Weiner joined Temple Beth Tikvah as our Senior Rabbi. The Search Commit-
tee has now evolved into the Transition Committee, and along with the Board of Trustees, we have been working hard to help Rabbi Shuval-
Weiner and her family acclimate to both a new community and a new role.
This is a big year for all of us. We are learning about each other, we are getting to know Rabbi Shuval-Weiner, and she is getting to know us.
We worked alongside the Rabbi to help her achieve her goal of meeting as many congregants as possible in the months leading up to the High
Holy Days. It was important for her to begin building relationships with you, and to learn what it is that you are looking for out of your relation-
ship with Temple Beth Tikvah.
We are working to create a new identity together. It is important that we all are part of the process to help create what that new identity looks
like. One of the most important tasks of the Transition Committee is to provide Rabbi Shuval-Weiner with meaningful feedback that can help her
address concerns, let her know what you love, and implement change that you would like to see.
Rabbi Shuval-Weiner and the Transition Committee members will be meeting in small groups in January. Our hope is that you will reach out to
one of the Committee members to share any thoughts that you would like passed along during these small group sessions or at any other time
during the year.
Your Transition Committee members are:
The small group meetings will be held on Monday, 1/11 at 6:00, Thursday, 1/21 at 7:00pm and Sunday, 1/31 at 11:00 am. Please reach out to one
of the Committee members prior to one of the meetings if you have feedback you would like to share. Please know that as your liaisons, we will
ensure that any feedback we share will be kept anonymous.
Looking forward, we will formally install Rabbi Shuval-Weiner as Temple Beth Tikvah’s Senior Rabbi in May. Please mark your calendars for
May 13-15 as Installation Weekend and keep an eye out for more information in the coming months.
Co-Chairs:
Sheryl Blechner, [email protected]
Steve Gerson, [email protected]
Committee Members:
Katie Jaffe, [email protected] Kathy Levin, [email protected]
Lois Malkin, [email protected]
Mark Mosbacher, [email protected]
John Restler, [email protected] Harvey Rosenzweig, [email protected]
Debra Schwartz, [email protected]
Hedva Wiener, [email protected]
Rachel Wilson, [email protected]
Susan Wynne, [email protected] Andy Zalkin, [email protected]
Seth Zimmer, [email protected]
4
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
B’nai Mitzvah
We have been very busy at Knit and Nosh in
collaboration with Sisterhood, knitting and
crocheting scarves for the homeless. 13 bags filled
with scarves, fleece blankets, a travel coffee mug
and toiletries were delivered to the women at the Shearith Israel Women's Shelter.
Other scarves have been delivered to the mentally ill homeless in Atlanta. We will
continue working on scarves through the winter as there are many homeless in
Atlanta who are in need. Contributing so far are: Alice Herndon, Kara Segal,
Leslie Swichkow, Adrienne Miller and her mom, Gladys, Ellen Herold, Anne Skal,
Alex Shuval-Weiner and Terry Carasick. If I have missed you, it may be because
there was no identification with the scarves you donated. Anyone wanting to learn
how to knit/crochet, please join us!
Plans for Blessings in a Backpack are scheduled for Feb/March. Stay tuned for
more info on this very special project.
Please keep those toiletries coming!
Terry Apt Carasick [email protected]
Zoe Harris will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on January 23, 2016. She is the daughter of Scott and
Nancy Harris and sister to Lexy Harris. Zoe is in 7th grade at Dickerson Middle School, where she participates in
Orchestra and is an honor roll student. Her hobbies include dance, cello, basketball, and spending time with her
friends and family. Her favorite place is Camp Coleman! For one of Zoe's 13 mitzvot, she volunteered at the Atlanta
Community Food Bank's Kosher food sort, where her group sorted through 7,104 pounds of food and provided 5,920
meals. Zoe looks forward to sharing this milestone with her family and friends.
Charli Mia Shapiro will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on January 9, 2016. Charli is the daughter of
Ilene and David Shapiro and sister to Dianne Eberhardt. She is in the 7th grade at High Meadows School where
she participates in debate. Hobbies include horseback riding and photo/video production. Favorite Mitzvah projects
include donating toys to the Atlanta Humane Society and collecting food and clothes for North Fulton Community
Charities. She is especially proud of recently being selected as the youngest director in Atlanta Jewish Film
Festival history, with her video presentation, “In Our Eyes," scheduled for the January/February program. Sharing
this immense pride are her grandparents Beverly & the late Oscar Alter, and Loretta & Hyman Shapiro.
Amanda Klein will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on January 9, 2016 Amanda is the daughter and
Wendy & Sam Klein. She is in the 7th grade at Autrey Mill Middle School. She is an avid soccer player, and one
of her mitzvah projects involved collecting soccer equipment for children in Africa – she recently shipped 2 huge
duffle bags of equipment as well as raised over $1,000 for the children to be able to experience the fun of her fa-
vorite past time. Her parents and her grandparents, George & Leslie Friedland of Boynton Beach, and Phyllis and
George Schall of Cumming, are so proud of her!
Emily Stein will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on January 30, 2016. Emily Alisa Stein will be called
to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on January 30, 2016. Emily is the daughter of Viki and Eric Stein and sister to Aman-
da Stein. She is the granddaughter of Bernard Taranto, Rosalind Taranto, and the late Louise and Charles Stein. She
is in the 7th grade at St. Francis School. Emily is an avid dancer and loves dancing at the Tolbert Yilmaz School of
Dance. She is a terrific actress and is part of the company at Atlanta Workshop Players in Alpharetta, Georgia. Each
summer Emily looks forward to spending a month at sleep away camp in North Carolina at Camp Judaea. Emily
enjoys cooking, sewing, drawing, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Benjamin Max Berman will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on January 30, 2016. Ben is the son of
Gigi and Neil Berman and older brother to Blake and Alyssa. Ben is a 7th grader at Simpson Middle School where
he enjoys playing the double bass in the school orchestra. Ben has a huge heart and his interests include chess, sci-
ence fiction, comic book movies and animals. Ben completed his 13 Mitzvah projects with these interests in mind.
His favorite was interviewing his Bubbie Marion and asking her questions about her life at the age of 13. He also
enjoyed volunteering at our local veterinarians office. It was a great experience and a possible career path. Ben
looks forward to sharing this milestone with his family and friends.
5
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah Click on the coffee cup to RSVP
The Early Childhood Education Center would like to wish all of our families a very happy, healthy 2016!
It is the start of a new year, and we in the ECEC are already planning for the 2016-2017 school year! Our school offers a diverse
program that engages children in many different ways. From sensory exploration to large and small group activities, it is here that
our little ones discover who they are.
On January 20, we will host a Pre-K Open House for our rising 4 and 5 year olds. Our Pre-K curriculum paves the way for success
in school and will ensure a comfortable start in Kindergarten. We invite you and anyone you know that may be interested in our
extraordinary Pre-K program to check us out!
On January 27, we will host a Madrigot Open House! Our Madrigot program is set up for children that have completed their Pre-K
year, but need the gift of time to grow and develop before entering the Kindergarten classroom. This class is amazing and we have
seen much success with our children that have completed it.
Looking ahead, the ECEC will be hosting our VIP luncheon on February 12. This is a great day when the “very important people”
in our little ones lives join us for a beautiful lunch prepared by our wonderful parents and teachers. Thank you in advance for mak-
ing this event so special.
For more information or to take a tour of our wonderful school, please call me at 678-350-0076 or email
Jenifer Friedman ECEC Director www.bethtikvahpreschool.com
ECEC
I hope everyone had a wonderful Hanukkah.
Our Hanukkah assembly was a hit. The 6th grade students read poems as the PreK, Kindergarten and 1st grade classes led the school
in song. The celebration continued in the classrooms with latkes, applesauce, donuts and gelt.
This month we are featuring our 5th grade classes.
Our 5th grade students have been practicing their prayers using the Hineni book as well as their 5th grade folders. They are practic-
ing as groups and as individuals. The kids can be seen learning through games such as puzzles, fill in the blanks, using the ball as
you chant and building prayers with flash cards. The 5th graders have been tested by their teachers as well as me. We are proud to
report that the students passed their tests with flying colors. We are very proud of them and they were very
proud of themselves.
They are also learning about the holidays, Tanach (Hebrew Bible), Ten Commandments, the Parashahs of the
week and learned the Hebrew vowels, family members, numbers, and days of the week.
They are in a process of learning about the cities their classes are named after – Tiberius and Ashdod. After the
break they will start building their display boards in preparation for their class presentations to
the school.
The 5th graders participated in two mixers - they learned about their friends in the entire 5th grade
class, their habits, what schools they attend and what their favorite sports are.
As you can see our 5th grade students are very busy.
Important Dates:
Shalom,
Hassia Levin
Religious School
January 10th - 2nd and 3rd grade family education day *
January 24th – 4th and 5th grade family education day *
February 7th – 6th grade family education day *
* Parents please join us in the sanctuary for Tefilah at
9:35. After services please gather in the social hall.
January 29th - 1st and 2nd grade family Shabbat
January 31st – 7th grade field trip to the Bremen
February 5th – 6th grade family Shabbat
6
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
As 2016 arrives, many of us make New Year’s
resolutions. As Mary Poppins said, “Promises are like a
pie crust – easily made and easily broken.” Think of all
the diet and exercise vows that all of us have made but
usually break before the first week of January is over.
I want to propose a few New Year’s resolutions which I
believe we ought to make and we ought to take seriously.
There is nothing wrong with Jews making resolutions to
be better in the secular New Year. Whatever works,
whatever helps us to be better people and better Jews, is
worthwhile. Some 200 years ago, Rabbi Nachman of
Bratzlav said to his disciples: “If you are not going to be
better tomorrow than you are today, then what do you
need tomorrow for?”
The truth is that in life you never stand still. If you don’t
strive to get better, then you get worse. So I believe it is
right and proper to make New Year’s resolutions, and I’d
like to suggest three resolutions for each of us to consider
making this year. I do not offer them in order of
importance or in order of the ease or difficulty which they
require to fulfill, but I do believe that if we can keep these
three resolutions, then our lives would be enriched and
more meaningful.
The first resolution I recommend
for each of us is to observe a
fast one day each month from
gossip. You see, I think gossip
may be everyone’s favorite sin,
and I know how difficult it is to
keep from gossiping. We might
not think we are gossiping but we do when we talk about
others to third parties even in the most innocuous way.
We read, “Oh God, guard my tongue from speaking evil
and my lips from speaking deceitfully” at the end of every
single amidah. Our sages devote many pages of the
Talmud to warning us against how much harm gossip can
do to the teller, to the listener, and to the victim. The
temptation to gossip is extremely hard to resist, which is
why I do not suggest cutting it out completely. That would
be unrealistic. I ask you, instead, to discipline yourself to
refrain from gossip at least one day a month. That should
be within our ability to do and, if we can do that, then
perhaps next month we can go for two days without
gossiping, and then three and, eventually perhaps we can
overcome – or at least minimize – the desire to gossip.
The second New Year’s resolution which I offer for your
consideration is to give a bit of tzedakah every week.
Actually this is a mitzvah which is harder to do than it
used to be. It used to be that many of us walked around
with change in our pocket, change which we had
accumulated during the course of the day.
At night, before going to sleep, we would
empty our pockets and put whatever
change we had in a bowl, or perhaps into
a tzedakah box. But now we live in an
almost cash-free society. We rarely pay
for anything with cash – not for gasoline,
not for restaurant meals, not for groceries. But the
disadvantage of living in a cash-free society is that we do
not accumulate change during the day, so it is not easy to
find coins to put aside at night. Why do I suggest that we
resolve to give a small amount of tzedakah every week?
Wouldn’t it be more efficient and more productive if we
gave a large amount of money once in a while instead of
giving pocket change every day? I make this suggestion
because giving tzedakah, like so many other things in life,
is habit-forming. Once we get into the routine of giving
coins, it becomes much easier to give dollars. And once
we get into the routine of giving dollars, it becomes easier
to write large checks. Besides, if we give a dollar ten
times it counts as ten mitzvahs, whereas if we give ten
dollars once, it only counts as one mitzvah. So my
suggestion to you and to myself is that we resolve to give
some amount of tzedakah – be it a large amount or a
small amount –daily or weekly. I hope that you will try this
because not only will you be making the giving of
tzedakah a habit, you will be reminding yourself each and
every day that the money we have is not entirely ours.
We are its stewards. It is our task to share with those who
need it more than we do.
This is the third and final resolution I recommend to you
and to me. This one is obvious and, therefore, very hard
to remember. This one is vital to our lives; therefore, we
all neglect it. My third resolution to you is that we strive to
remember all through 2016 that life is precarious and,
therefore, precious. That we need to make the most of
each day for we have no idea what tomorrow will bring or
even whether we will have a tomorrow or not. That is not
said pessimistically or cynically, but realistically. If you
have some love to share, some good to do, some
apology to make – today is the day to do it, for tomorrow
may never come.
These are the three Jewish-themed resolutions which I
submit for your consideration. I think that they are better
and wiser than the ones most of us tend to make as the
secular year begins. Leslie and I wish you and your family
a safe and healthy 2016.
L’Shalom
Ron Swichkow
Jewish Resolutions for the Secular New Year
7
Youth Group
HOTTY (9-12th Grade)
WHAT DID WE DO THIS PAST MONTH?
We had a blast (as usual!) at our annual HOTTY Latke-In. We had over 60 HOTTY (and NFTY-SARites) there. It was a fun night of mixers, Chinese food, latkes, movies, lighting candles, Havdallah and, of course, broomball. If you
missed it, don’t worry, you can come next year!
We are loving our Youth Lounge Nights each month – it’s a fun and relaxing way to hang out with your HOTTY friends once a month. They are on Wednes-
days from 6-7:30pm.
WHAT’S UP NEXT FOR HOTTY? FROM OUR CVP - JOEY CHANIN
We’ve started collecting spare change for our new Camp Jenny fundraiser, Pennies for Jenny. For those needing a brief summary of Camp Jenny, it is a summer camp hosted by NFTY-SAR over Memorial Day weekend at Camp Coleman in Cleveland, Georgia. The campers who attend Camp Jenny attend F.L. Stanton Elementary School in Atlanta, and must meet certain character standards such as participation in school and kindness towards others in order to go to Camp Jenny, where they enjoy the activities and atmosphere of camp, as well as the love and attention of their counselors, all of whom are NFTY-SAR teens. In order to help raise money for Camp Jenny, HOTTY will be holding a Pennies for Jenny competition, in which the grades will compete to see which can collect the most change in donations to Camp Jenny. For more information on Camp Jenny, visit nfty.org/campjenny. Information on Pennies for Jenny may be found on the HOTTY Facebook page. Finally, NFTY-SAR’s Winter Kallah will take place from January 15th-18th at Camp Thunderbird in Lake Wylie, South Carolina, and the best part is… registration is already open! Regular registration closes on January 4th, and the price is $200. Register at Nfty.com! That’s all for
now! Have a wonderful holiday, and an even better New Year! See you in 2016!
Join the HOTTY Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TBT.HOTTY/) to
stay up-to-date on what's happening and to RSVP for HOTTY events!
Join our Remind101 text updates: text @826ef3 to 81010.
JYG (7-8th Grade)
On February 7th, JYG is giving back to the community. Join us for a Social Ac-tion Project followed by ice cream together. Watch your email and our Facebook
pages for all the details.
Save-the-date: March 11-13th is NFTY-SAR’s Hatikvah Kallah for
7th & 8th Graders at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta!!
We’ll send out more info about this awesome weekend
as the date gets closer.
Join the JYG Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TBT.JYG/) to stay up-to-date on what's happening with JYG, RSVP and arrange carpools for events!
Club 56 (5th & 6th Grade)
Join the 5th & 6th Grade Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/TBT.56/)
to stay up-to-date on what's happening, RSVP and arrange carpools for events!
UPCOMING YOUTH GROUP EVENTS:
January 15/18 – NFTY-SAR Winter Regional & Elections (HOTTY)
January 23 – Family Tu B’Shevat event (grades K-12)
January 30 – Camp Jenny Fundraiser (HOTTY)
February 3 – Youth Lounge Night (HOTTY)
February 7 – Social Action Project (JYG)
Want more info about the youth groups at TBT? Contact Adam or Bobbee at: [email protected] or (404) 228–2494
BONIM / GESHER CHANUKAH PARTY
FREE* JEWISH GENETIC
SCREENING EVENT
January 10th
10 am - 2 pm at Temple Beth Tikvah
With over 99% accuracy, NxGen MDx’s Genetic Carrier
Screening is one of the world’s most accurate tests for detecting
genetic markers that may affect pregnancy and future child
development. Join us for a complimentary screening so you can
have these trusted family planning tools and see
your future with clarity.
*Free with valid insurance card
RSVP to [email protected]
Spinal muscular atrophy
Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase
deficiency
Familial hyperinsulinism Canavan disease
Glycogen storage disease type 1a
Maple syrup urine disease Nemaline myopathy
Usher syndrome type 1F and type
III Joubert syndrome
Walker-Warburg syndrome
Cystic fibrosis
Familial dysautonomia
Niemann-Pick disease type A and type B
Fanconi anemia type C
Gaucher disease Bloom syndrome
Mucolipidosis type IV
Tay-Sachs disease
CLUB 56 - HOLLYWOOD NIGHT
8
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
The Israel Committee was formed in 2009 to facilitate
opportunities for our congregants to learn about Israel, past and
present. Over the past several years the Committee has brought
many prominent speakers to TBT to talk about Israeli current
affairs, politics and culture. We have had presentations and
discussion sessions with representatives from the Israeli Consul
General, AIPAC, the Jewish Federation , Israel Bonds and others.
We hosted a roundtable of Rabbis from the Reform, Conservative
and Modern Orthodox movements to discuss Israel and the Middle
East. And we have sponsored several Israel Film Nights, featuring
current Israeli films.
While we will continue these types of events, going forward we
would like to focus our attention on developing personal
connections between TBT congregants and Israeli citizens in areas
of mutual interest. Rabbi Shuval-Weiner has already begun to
explore a possible relationship with a shul in Yokneam-Meggido,
in northern Israel. Let us know if you would be interested in
participating in this effort.
Israel is an important part of our Jewish lives. You can’t appreciate
Israel fully until you have experienced it in person. If you have the
means, please go if you have never been there (and go again if you
have). I have had the good fortune to go to Israel three
times in the last five or six years. I still have not had
enough. It is an indescribably rich experience, at times
overwhelming. It had a deep and profound effect on
my life. Rabbi Shuval-Weiner will be organizing a congregational
trip to Israel in the near future. Take the trip if you can!
Experience Israel’s uniqueness, its vibrancy; and get to know its
amazing people.
The Committee is looking for new ideas, particularly regarding
how we can establish personal connections with Israelis. Your
suggestions are welcome. Also, if anyone is interested in assisting
the Committee with future projects, please let me know.
Gene Carasick,
Happy 2016 to you! Sisterhood welcomes January and the new
year with many events planned in the upcoming months ahead. In
January please plan on attending two very different events.
Knit and Nosh, Sunday, 1/10/16, 9:45 a.m., is our ongoing
project making warm scarves for homeless adults sheltered in the
Atlanta area. We welcome experienced and novice knitters or
crotcheters, and can help you start a scarf.
Meditation and Stress Reduction Techniques will be offered
Sunday, 1/24/16, 9:45 a.m. Learn how to manage the stresses of
daily life in a healthy and productive way. Come prepared to
“de-stress!”
A big thank you shouts out to Leslie Swichkow and Lindsay Levin
for a very successful night at Oli and Ve, 12/3/15. Our tastings
were yummy and the company was fantastic! Mah Jongg and Knit
and Nosh have been back by popular demand and a heartfelt thank
you goes out to Mah Jongg leaders Elisa Siegal, Leslie Swichkow,
and Danielle Rubenstein, and to Knit and Nosh leader Terry
Carasick for organizing these recurring events. Great job indeed!
Mah Jongg mornings have been well attended and we have knitted
and crotched many scarves for homeless folks in Atlanta. A big
THANK YOU is in order for all of our scarf designers! We also
received an anonymous and thoughtful donation of blankets to
distribute to homeless individuals…Thank you!
Please sign up for Sisterhood sponsored onegs in the winter and
spring, and to be a Shabbat greeter Friday nights or Saturday
mornings. We look forward to seeing you!
Robin Bledsoe Sisterhood Chair
Join Sisterhood for a book review of
Naomi Ragen’s, The Devil in Jerusalem
Led by Rabbi Shuval-Weiner
We wanted to let you know so
you have plenty of time to
read the book!
TBT Seniors Luncheon
Monday, January 11th at 12 PM
Paul Troop presents
Why Newspapers are Shutting Down -
And It's Not Because of the Internet
Please bring a grocery gift card to donate to
Jewish Family & Career Services
RSVP to Natine at [email protected]
9
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
The Beginnings of Judaism
Sundays in January
(except for Jan 3rd)
10 - 11:30 am in the Library
Much of what we know as Judaism is NOT in the
Torah. How did we evolve from Torah-mandated
centralized worship only in Jerusalem to dispersed
worship in synagogues today? What did the Torah's
system of sacrifices and priests morph into, and why?
To what extent has our history caused Judaism to
continually adapt and change?
These and other questions will be addressed in a
DVD-based course, The Beginnings of Judaism. The
professor is Isaiah M. Gafni of The Hebrew University
of Jerusalem. Guest facilitators will include clergy and
lay leaders from Temple Beth Tikvah.
Please join us for this interesting class on the
beginnings of Judaism.
No prior knowledge is required.
Please RSVP to [email protected] so
that appropriate seating can be provided.
ATTENTION!
NOMINATING COMMITTEE SEEKS YOUR INPUT
The Nominating Committee for the 2016-2017 slate for the
Board of Trustees, Officers and Board of Education
has begun their work.
If you have names that you would like to suggest
to the committee for consideration,
please send them to Todd Boehm at
Chavurot / Connections Corner
What Do You LOVE to Do?
Chavurot as we know them at TBT are still going strong,
but in 2016, we'll also form special interest (affinity-based)
Chavurot for members!
Love going to sporting events? Cooking (and eating!) with
others? Hiking on Shabbat afternoons? There's a TBT
group for that! Well, not yet, but you can make it happen.
Starting NOW Chavurot will not only be formed according
to demographics, but also by interests. So, if you'd like to
start a TBT sports fan, foodie or other special interest
Chavurah for TBT members, please contact the
Chavurah committee at [email protected] and we'll
help you get started, or download the new interest form at
bethtikvah.com.
10
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
January 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 20th of Tevet 5776
New Year's Day TBT Offices Closed Shabbat Service 8:00 pm
2 21st of Tevet 5776 Bagels, Learning &
Torah 8:45 am Shabbat Service
10:00 am
3 22nd of Tevet 5776 No Religious School
4 23rd of Tevet 5776 No Religious School
Teacher Workday Families Anonymous
7:15 pm
5 24th of Tevet 5776 No Religious School ECEC resumes 9:30 am Tai Chi 9:30 am Officers Meeting 7:30 pm
6 25th of Tevet 5776 HOTTY Board Meeting
6:30 pm
7 26th of Tevet 5776 8 27th of Tevet 5776 Shabbat Service 8:00 pm
9 28th of Tevet 5776 Bagels, Learning &
Torah 8:45 am Shabbat Service -
Klein/Shapiro B’not
Mitzvah 10:00 am
10 29th of Tevet 5776 Family Promise Camp Scholarship Meeting
9:30 am Religious School 9:30 am Religious School - Family
Education -2nd and 3rd
grade 9:30 am Sisterhood - Knit &
Nosh 9:45 am The Beginnings of Judaism
10:00 am
11 1st of Shevat 5776 Family Promise Senior Luncheon 12:00 pm Kesher, Confirmation &
Kivunim 6:45 pm Families Anonymous
7:15 pm
12 2nd of Shevat 5776 Family Promise Tai Chi 9:30 am Religious School 5:00 pm BOE Meeting 7:00 pm
13 3rd of Shevat 5776 Family Promise
14 4th of Shevat 5776 Family Promise
15 5th of Shevat 5776 Family Promise NFTY Winter Regional
Elections ECEC Family Shabbat 9:45 am MLK Shabbat Service
8:00 pm
16 6th of Shevat 5776 Family Promise NFTY Winter Regional
Elections Bagels, Learning &
Torah 8:45 am Shabbat Service
10:00 am
17 7th of Shevat 5776 Family Promise NFTY Winter Regional
Elections No Religious School The Beginnings of Judaism
10:00 am
18 8th of Shevat 5776
Martin Luther King Day MLK Social Action Program NFTY Winter Regional
Elections No ECEC No Religious School TBT Offices Closed Families Anonymous
7:15 pm
19 9th of Shevat 5776 Tai Chi 9:30 am Religious School 5:00 pm Board of Trustees Meeting
7:30 pm
20 10th of Shevat 5776 ECEC - Pre-K Open House
10:00 am - 11:00 am
21 11th of Shevat 5776 22 12th of Shevat 5776 Shabbat Shirah Service
8:00 pm
23 13th of Shevat 5776 Bagels, Learning & Torah
8:45 am Shabbat Service -
Harris Bat Mitzvah
10:00 am - 12:00 pm Family Tu B'Shevat
Event 6:00 pm
24 14th of Shevat 5776
EREV TU BISHVAT Religious School 9:30 am Religious School 4th and
5th grade Family Education
9:30 am Sisterhood / Adult Ed
- Meditation & Stress
Reduction Techniques
9:45 am Religious School Tu'b Shevat
Assembly 10:00 am - 11:00 am The Beginnings of Judaism
10:00 am Kehillat Chesed 4:30 pm
25 15th of Shevat 5776
TU BISHVAT Tu B' Shevat Kesher (Parents Night),
Confirmation & Kivunim
6:45 pm Families Anonymous
7:15 pm
26 16th of Shevat 5776 Tai Chi 9:30 am
Lunch & Learn: The Syrian
Refugee Crisis & the
Impact on GA 12:00 pm Religious School 5:00 pm Officers Meeting 7:30 pm
27 17th of Shevat 5776 ECEC Madrigot Open House
10:00 am - 11:00 am
28 18th of Shevat 5776 29 19th of Shevat 5776 Oneg 6:00 pm Family Shabbat Service
hosted by 1st & 2nd
Grades 6:30 pm
30 20th of Shevat 5776 Bagels, Learning & Torah
8:45 am Shabbat Service - Emily
Stein/Ben Berman B’nai
Mitzvah 10:00 am HOTTY - Camp Jenny
Bingo Fundraiser 5:00 pm
31 21st of Shevat 5776 Religious School - 7th grade
Field Trip 9:00 am Religious School 9:30 am Purim Carnival Meeting
9:45 am The Beginnings of Judaism
10:00 am Religious School 6th Grade
Onsite Improv Theatre
10:10 am
11
Shalom!! If you are reading this article or the KT for that matter, plain and simple, this
action shows that you have a curiosity about what is going on at your temple. Not only do
you have a curiosity but you probably deeply care about TBT. On behalf of the Board of
Trustees, Thank You for your EMPATHY, now let’s do something about it…The Annual
Campaign needs your help…we are trying to ‘Build for the Future” and supporting the
Annual Campaign with a gift will go a long way to helping our future.
If you can pledge $100+ before January 31st, your pledge will be worth $150 as the Blank Foundation will match .50 on every $ up
to the first $50,000 we raise or $25,000, making our first $50,000 actually $75,000.
Next, if you are able to contribute $250+ above what you donated last year, then through our other matching donor fund, this will
become $500.
Can’t remember how to contribute? Follow this link: http://www.bethtikvah.com/annual-campaign-building-our-future-today. We
need your help to help build a better future today.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I'd like to thank the following members of our TBT family for their generous pledges and gifts:
Shalom,
Jonathan Agin Fundraising Chair [email protected]
Jonathan and Allison Agin
Barry and Shari Alhadeff
Steven and Teri Astren
Dale and Wendy Bearman
Bruce Beck
Harris and Suellen Bergman
Josh and Andrea Berman
Michael and Jeannine Bernstein
Scott and Mary Block
Todd and Jennifer Boehm
Michael and Heather Braun
Lonnie and Debbie Carter
David and Roberta Coad
Michael and Marlene Cohn
Mark and Stephanie Craig
Renee Davis
Gordon and Holli Decker
Joseph and Waynah Dunn
Elliot and Donna Feller
Steve and Michele Gergans
Steve and RoseAnn Gerson
Harlan and Ivie Graiser
Anne Grossman
Michael and Anna Gutkin
Andrew and Karen Gutman
David and Ellen Herold
Jamie and Katie Jaffe
Peter and Sharon Jedel
Daniel and Stephanie Joseph
Morris and Anna Kagan
Jill Kaplan
Sidney and Robin Karlin
Valerie Kassel Jr
Howard and Linda Katz
Lloyd and Diane Katz
Jerry and Marcy Kaufman
Peter Klokow and Ellen Frank
Jack and Karen Korshak
Robert and Karen Kremer
Kenneth Lawler, Jr. and Ginger Glazer
Judy Levine
Sherwin and Judee Levinson
Jeffrey and Ellen Levitz
Emily Lewit
Gary and Michal Loventhal
Hadley and Lisa Lowy
Gil and Ellen Ludwig
Murray and Sonia Lynn
Sidney and Lois Malkin
Joel and Aviva Margolies
Jonathan and Joan Marks
Thomas and Marsha McMurrain
Howard and Helaine Medoff
Gary and Peggy Mendelson
Mark and Jennifer Mosbacher
Bernie and Gail Natter
Allison Oreck
Ryan and Rachel Palazzo
Shirley Plotkin
Herbert and Bunny Renkin
Robert and Ellen Rickles
Russell and Gailen Rosenberg
Harvey and Natine Rosenzweig
Brian and Danielle Rubenstein
Kevin and Andrea Rubin
Mark and Gail Rudel
Paula Sandfelder
Joel and Kathleen Schoenblum
William and Marjory Segal
Bart and Kara Segal
Stacy and Alicia Sher
Allan and Pessie Shippel
David and Robyn Shippel
Carol Shutzberg
David and Elisa Siegel
Sandy and Nancy Simon
Larry and Anne Skal
Stuart and Frances Solomon
Terry and Missy Stein
Shelby Steinhauer
Aaron and Sheila Stieglitz
Mathew and Dani Stordy
Ronald and Leslie Swichkow
Rosalind Taranto
Mark and Sally Vosk
Bruce and Carol Waldman
Bruce and Bonnie Walkes
Jay Weiner and Rabbi Shuval-Weiner
Robert and Ellen Weiner
Doug Wexler & Jane Greenberger
Todd and Rachel Wilson
Andrew and Ilana Zalkin
Seth and Ellen Zimmer
Paul and Andra Zolty
12
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Annual Campaign
Ronald and Leslie Swichkow in memory of George Jordan
and in honor of all our TBT Vets, in honor of the B'not
Mitzvah of Kay and Rachel Smolin, in memory of Bonnie
Keller and in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Ryan Cohen
Steve and RoseAnn Gerson in memory of Bonnie Keller
Paul and Andra Zolty in honor of Marilyn and Donald Tam
Sidney and Lois Malkin in appreciation of
Rabbi Shuval-Weiner and Cantor Kassel
Sandy and Nancy Simon in memory of William Berney,
Leonard Paul and Charles Zeitz
Steve Mahan in memory of Anna Mahan
Douglas Wexler in memory of Dr. P. Richard Wexler
Rochelle Lawrence in honor of the Senior Lunch program
Building Fund
Bernie and Gail Natter in memory of Robert Feldser
Campership/Israel Fund
Jared and Rachael King in honor of Hudson King's
Bar Mitzvah
Scott and Kristin Oman in honor of Hudson King's
Bar Mitzvah
Howard and Suzanne Silverman in memory of Ina Lieber
and Bertha Schwartz
Cantor Kassel’s Discretionary Fund
Mike and Kathy Levin in memory of Shulamit Noiyman,
Aline McMurrain and Bonnie Keller
Michael and Wanda Cohen in memory of Irving Cohen
Leon and Judy Cohen
David and Roberta Coad in memory of Dorothy Spielvogel
Rosalind Taranto in memory of Philip Pomerance
Frances Jordan in appreciation of Cantor Kassel
Steven and Sheila Barid in memory of Aleck Andich
Lori Shapiro in appreciation of Cantor's wonderful Chanukah performance for the Breman volunteers Michael and Lisa Cohen in appreciation of Cantor Kassel
Caring/Kehillat Chesed Fund
Leonard Berger in memory of Doris K. Berger
Jane Greenberger in memory of Ben Findley
Betty Rickles in honor of Jeff Willard and Steve Mahan
Frances Jordan in appreciation of the TBT Caring/Kehillat
Chesed committee
General Fund
Scott and Marsha Wiatric in memory of Jerome Wiatric
Leon and Judy Cohen in honor of Ryan Cohen's
Bar Mitzvah
Shirley Crawford
Frances Jordan in appreciation of Rick Weiner for
conducting the Shiva service
Arnie and Aubiere Cohen in memory of Belvie Hawkins, Bessie Hawkins, Carlton Hawkins, Morris Cohen, Gloria Ershler and Bessie Mandel Stanley and Bobbie Kopkin in memory of Virginia Raidor
Jill Kaplan in memory of Sandi Altman
Michael Zalkin Memorial Library Fund
Andrew and Ilana Zalkin in memory of Betty Jacobson
Steven and Helen Kraus in appreciation of Andy and Ilana Zalkin Clifford and Loretta Weiss in memory of Rhonda Knowles
Prayerbook Fund
Mark and Sally Vosk in memory of Irving Vosk
Preschool Fund
Loretta Weiss in memory of Rhonda Knowles
Rabbi Shuval-Weiner’s Discretionary Fund
Sidney and Lois Malkin in memory of Annie Pater
Randall and Amy Siegal in support of Family Promise
Seth and Erin Cooper in appreciation of Gary and
Michal Loventhal taking amazing care of Ellie Cooper
Leon and Judy Cohen
Gene Carasick and Terry Apt Carasick in honor of
Rabbi Shuval-Weiner
Harvey and Natine Rosenzweig in memory of
Julius Rosenzweig
Steven and Sheila Barid in memory of Mary Barid
Frances Jordan in appreciation of Rabbi Shuval-Weiner
Seth and Ellen Zimmer in memory of Elaine Gralnick
Michael and Lisa Cohen in appreciation of
Rabbi Shuval-Weiner
David and Robin Bledsoe in memory of Lawrence Reuss
Rabbi Tam’s Discretionary Fund
Carol Shutzberg in appreciation of Rabbi Tam's enjoyable, educational and witty class at SEL lectures Barry and Dore Kaiser in memory of Herbert Merlin
Andrew and Barbara Sacks in memory of Hyman Sacks
Religious School Fund
North Georgia Pain Clinic Staff in appreciation of Dr. Barry Straus
(donations processed through 12/21)
Donations
13
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
SHMOOZE NEWS / KUDOS CORNER
In Memoriam
Temple Beth Tikvah acknowledges with sorrow
the passing of:
Oscar Alter
Father of Ilene Alter-Shapiro
May God console you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Thank You to our Amazing Office
Volunteers!
Richard Staviss
June Wallach
Lois Malkin
Leslie Swichkow
Marsha McMurrain
Marla Ramaglia
And a shout out to: Wendy Bearman
RoseAnn Gerson
Leslie Swichkow
and
Kathleen Levin
for shopping for and
preparing TBT onegs in
December.
If you would like to
help with an oneg,
please click here to
sign up.
New leaves have
been added to
Temple Beth
“Plan Ahead” An in-depth conversation regarding funeral pre-planning
Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care cordially invites you to join Edward Dressler, Licensed Funeral Director
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm Whole Foods Market, 1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta
complimentary dessert and drinks will be available
Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care provides a variety of services to Atlanta’s Jewish community including funeral and burials in Georgia,
coordination of funerals in other states and Israel, purchase of cemetery plots and grave markers, and non-traditional requests.
Death is not an easy topic to discuss, yet many families find it more manageable to deal with the death of a loved one when a family member or
friend has pre-planned all of the arrangements. Funeral pre-planning alleviates emotional decisions and financial stress at time of death.
Funeral pre-planning is responsible, safe, and easy to complete. Anyone can pre-plan and pre-pay for him- or herself, or for a loved one, in one
lump sum or over time. When pre-paying, funeral home service fees, casket, vault and headstone prices become fixed, and are placed in an escrow
account owned by the purchaser (not owned by the funeral home). Pre-paid funeral costs are released to the funeral home upon death.
Attend our complimentary pre-planning seminars and learn about:
♦Planning a funeral ♦Cemetery options ♦Fixing costs and how pre-payment works
♦Out-of-town funeral planning ♦Traditional and non-traditional options
Helen Scherrer-Diamond is Community Outreach Director for Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care. She helps individuals understand the importance of
funeral and cemetery pre-planning, offers continuing education for LMSWs, LPNs, and Chaplains, and Jewish Funeral Traditions education. Please rsvp to Helen at 770-289-8964 or [email protected]
Edward Dressler, Owner
14
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Synagogue Information
Synagogue Office - 770-642-0434
Fax Number - 770-642-0647
School Office (Perri) - 770-642-4168
Preschool (Jenifer) - 678-350-0076
Assistant to Clergy - Michelle Leder
Financial Secretary - Jenny Korsen
Admin. Assistant - Lisa Singer
Office Manager - Becky Sullivan
Adult Education Ivie Graiser [email protected] Budget & Finance Karen Korshak [email protected]
Camp/Israel Scholarship Marcia Haber [email protected] Chavurot Dalia Faupel [email protected] College Outreach Lynda Bennett [email protected] Beth Kess [email protected] Communications
Mark Rudel [email protected] Family Promise Randy and Amy Siegal [email protected] Brian and Jennifer Steinberg [email protected] Tony Rosenberg [email protected] Fundraising Jonathan Agin [email protected]
House Ted Nathan [email protected] Human Resources Seth Zimmer [email protected]
Israel Gene Carasick [email protected] Kehillat Chesed (Caring) Leslie Swichkow [email protected] Library Ilana Zalkin [email protected] Long Range Planning Harvey Rosenzweig Membership Recruitment &
Retention Jill Leitman [email protected] Marcia Pearl [email protected] Men’s Club Mark Greenspan [email protected] Peter Hartog [email protected]
Nominating Committee Todd Boehm [email protected] Ritual Rick Winer [email protected]
Security Jay Sausmer [email protected] Seniors Natine Rosenzweig [email protected] Sisterhood Robin Bledsoe [email protected] Social Action Terry Apt Carasick [email protected]
Website Development Scott Povlot [email protected] Youth Group Debra Schwartz [email protected] Michal Loventhal [email protected]
Get Involved! TBT Committees and Chairpersons
Planning a simcha or group gathering?
The Tam-Blank Social Hall is the Place to Be.
For more information on renting our Social Hall,
contact the synagogue office at 770-642-0434.
15
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
16
Alexandria Shuval-Weiner Rabbi
Donald A. Tam
Rabbi Emeritus
Nancy Kassel
Cantor
Hassia Levin
Education Director
Jenifer Friedman
ECEC Director
Ron Swichkow President
Harlan Graiser
Vice President and
President Elect
Todd Boehm
Vice President
Rhonda Povlot Vice President
Joe Dunn
Treasurer
Michael Braun
Secretary
Mary Block
Chairperson, Board of Education
