January 2008 Tevet/Shevat 5768 Weekly Religious Services Monday ....... 6:45 a.m. ........ 7:30 p.m. Tuesday ................................. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday ............................ 7:30 p.m. Thursday ...... 6:45 a.m. ........ 7:30 p.m. Friday ........... 6:45 a.m. ....................... Kabbalat Shabbat .................. 6:30 p.m. Shabbat ........ 9:30 a.m. ....................... Sunday .......... 9 a.m. ............ 7:30 p.m. Services are also held at Shiva houses as needed. Mincha January 5 .............................. 4:25 p.m. January 12 ............................ 4:35 p.m. January 19 ............................ 4:45 p.m. January 26 ............................ 4:55 p.m. Family and Youth Services Jan. 4 ... Shabbat is Special ... 7:15 p.m. Jan. 5 ...... Jr. Congregation . 10:30 a.m. Jan. 19 .................. Yachad . 10:15 a.m. Jan. 19 .......... Tot Shabbat . 11:00 a.m. Jan. 19 .......... Kehilat Kids . 11:00 a.m. Jan. 26 . Inclusion Shabbat ... 9:30 a.m. Candle Lighting Times January 4 .............................. 4:41 p.m. January 11 ............................ 4:47 p.m. January 18 ............................ 4:55 p.m. January 25 ............................ 5:03 p.m. 2200 Baltimore Road • Rockville, Maryland 20851 www.tikvatisrael.org Volume 2 • Number 1 Plant Yourself at the TI Tu B’Shevat Seder and Beautification Fundraising Fest The TI Landscaping Committee invites you to join them at the shul on Sunday, January 20 at 6 p.m. for a delicious dairy dinner, savory fruits, entertainment, and speakers on landscaping. The purpose of the event is to enhance the beauty of the building by increasing the funding for landscaping. The fee is $15 per adult (age 13+) and $5 per child (age 12 and under). A contribution of $100 or more entitles a family (limited to two adults and their minor children) to free dinner. The registration deadline is January 13. To make reservations, please call the office at 301- 762-7338, or complete the form on page 8 and return it to the office with your payment. Interfaith Group Lauds TI’s Global Consciousness with Award An interfaith organization in metropolitan Washington, D.C. honored Tikvat Israel Congregation for the synagogue’s significant energy-savings campaign over the past year. Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light bestowed its first Energy Award on TI at a public recognition ceremony on November 29 at the Washington National Cathedral’s Pilgrim Observation Gallery. Dan Black, chair of the TI Environmental Committee; Art Fabel, a founding member of the committee; and Rabbi Howard Gorin represented Tikvat Israel at the award ceremony. “Tikvat Israel has been an incredible leader on the congregational level of sustainability to protect creation from the climate change,” said Allison Fisher, coordinator of the 3-year-old interfaith group, in announcing the award. TI’s environmental committee has undertaken a wide range of measures over the past year that are resulting in sharply lower utility usage in the building and lower utility bills. (See a related story, “TI’s Saving the Planet ... Plus $17,000 a Year,” at www.tikvatisrael.org for complete details.) “I am surprised and delighted by the recognition that GWIPL is according us — to be the first recipient of their energy award,” the rabbi said, upon learning of the synagogue’s designation. As part of the committee’s conservation efforts, the Rabbi’s Fund has paid for renewable energy certificates that offset part of the synagogue’s carbon footprint. The energy originates from landfill gas. Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light (www.gwipl.org) is a nonprofit initiative that helps Jewish congregations and other religious institutions work for a more sustainable and healthier environment by reducing the threat of global warming. At the November ceremony, the interfaith group also recognized a second religious organization, the Universalist Unitarian Church of Silver Spring.
Plant Yourself at the TI Tu B’Shevat Sederand Beautification Fundraising Fest
The TI Landscaping Committee invites you to join them at the shul on Sunday, January 20 at6 p.m. for a delicious dairy dinner, savory fruits, entertainment, and speakers on landscaping.The purpose of the event is to enhance the beauty of the building by increasing the fundingfor landscaping.
The fee is $15 per adult (age 13+) and $5 per child (age 12 and under). A contributionof $100 or more entitles a family (limited to two adults and their minor children) to free dinner.
The registration deadline is January 13. To make reservations, please call the office at 301-762-7338, or complete the form on page 8 and return it to the office with your payment.
Interfaith Group Lauds TI’s GlobalConsciousness with Award
An interfaith organization in metropolitan Washington, D.C. honored Tikvat IsraelCongregation for the synagogue’s significant energy-savings campaign over the past year.
Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light bestowed its first Energy Award on TI ata public recognition ceremony on November 29 at the Washington National Cathedral’sPilgrim Observation Gallery. Dan Black, chair of the TI Environmental Committee; Art Fabel,a founding member of the committee; and Rabbi Howard Gorin represented Tikvat Israel atthe award ceremony.
“Tikvat Israel has been an incredible leader on the congregational level of sustainability toprotect creation from the climate change,” said Allison Fisher, coordinator of the 3-year-oldinterfaith group, in announcing the award.
TI’s environmental committee has undertaken a wide range of measures over the past yearthat are resulting in sharply lower utility usage in the building and lower utility bills. (See arelated story, “TI’s Saving the Planet ... Plus $17,000 a Year,” at www.tikvatisrael.org forcomplete details.)
“I am surprised and delighted by the recognition that GWIPL is according us — to be thefirst recipient of their energy award,” the rabbi said, upon learning of the synagogue’sdesignation.
As part of the committee’s conservation efforts, the Rabbi’s Fund has paid for renewableenergy certificates that offset part of the synagogue’s carbon footprint. The energy originatesfrom landfill gas.
Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light (www.gwipl.org) is a nonprofit initiativethat helps Jewish congregations and other religious institutions work for a more sustainable andhealthier environment by reducing the threat of global warming.
At the November ceremony, the interfaith group also recognized a second religiousorganization, the Universalist Unitarian Church of Silver Spring.
Visit Tikvat Israel on the Web atwww.tikvatisrael.org.
All phone numbers are in the 301area code unless otherwise noted.
Minyan InformationPlease call the minyan captain if you plan toattend morning minyan.
SundayRob Kline • 838-0123
MondaySam Gilston • 924-5424
ThursdayDavid Gantz • 460-4674
FridayJoelle Black • 770-4773Barry Buchbinder • 424-3813
Decisions about whether to hold eveningminyan are made by the rabbi and executivedirector. If minyan is canceled, a message willbe put on the synagogue answering machine.If minyan is not canceled, there will be nomessage on the machine. You can reach themachine by calling 762-7338, and press 8-10.
Get Connected with TI ListservTikvat Israel supports two e-mail lists so members can connect to our community.To receive TI news only, visit http://groups.google.com/group/TikvatIsraelNewsOnly.For news and discussion among members, visit http://groups.google.com/group/Tikvat-Israel.For more information about the listservs, please visit our Web site, www.tikvatisrael.org.
Toiletries Collection BoxWhen traveling, please remember to collectthe small samples you receive and bring themto the synagogue. The toiletries will bedistributed to a coalition of homeless shelters.
Cemetery SitesJudean Memorial Gardens has established asection for Tikvat Israel. Purchase a sitethrough the synagogue office; it benefits youand the congregation. For details, call MichaelGrossman at 762-7338 or David Gantz at460-4674.
Food Addicts inRecovery AnonymousFood Addicts inRecovery Anonymous, a 12-step program for individuals recovering fromaddictive eating, meets every Monday from7 to 8:30 p.m. at Tikvat Israel in the libraryannex. Newcomers are welcome. For moreinformation, please call Susan at 340-6110.
3
From the Rabbi’s Desk
Rabbi Howard Gorin
Continued on page 14
From the President’s Perspective
Ronald L. Rabin, M.D.
As we head toward the milestone celebrationof the 60th anniversary of Israel’sindependence, I thought I would share amemory or two of how the connection to theJewish State was inculcated and nurtured inus when we were children.
I started my Jewish education when Iwas six years old, when my family movedfrom the City of Chicago to the Chicagosuburbs and joined the local Conservativesynagogue. An independent State of Israelhad been in existence for a scant seven years,and its survival was still precarious. Myparents’ and grandparents’ generation hadthrilled to the marvel of the creation of asovereign Jewish State. How could they makesure that succeeding generations, who weretoo young to have taken note of the miraclesof November 29, 1947, and May 15, 1948– or who were not yet born – would not takeIsrael’s existence for granted?
In fourth grade, my second year ofHebrew school, our principal, Dr. LouisKatzoff (of blessed memory), introduced aHebrew skills program. We would master askill, at our own pace, and when we feltconfident that we were ready to be tested, wewould go to Dr. Katzoff’s office. Among thoseskills: learning to recite and write each letterof the Hebrew alphabet and knowing eachletter’s numerical equivalent; being able toname all of the months of the Hebrew
calendar in order and to know which holidaysfell in which months – and on which days ofthe month; knowing the blessings that arerecited before eating food – the “motzi” is nota catchall blessing. From there we graduatedto chanting simple prayers and finally toreading prayers written in more difficultHebrew.
The payoff, besides a sense ofaccomplishment and a kind word from Dr.Katzoff – and a piece of candy from the ever-present candy bowl on his desk? We wouldbe recognized at each month’s family service.Our names would be called, we would go upto the bima, shake hands with the rabbi andthe cantor and receive a small envelope fromDr. Katzoff. Inside the envelope was a card,on which was written the name of the skillthat we had mastered and to which was affixedan Israeli stamp.
It was such a simple concept, but itproduced life-long results. By the time wegraduated high school, all of us whocontinued into Hebrew high school hadvisited Israel at least once. Since then, manyof us have traveled there more than a handfulof times.
That sense of connectedness to Israelseems to be missing in today’s youth. Manyof our teenagers defer their first visit to Israeluntil their college years or beyond. It is truethat the Birthright program has done wonders
to instill a sense of Jewish identity andconnection with Israel into the minds andhearts of young adults. Unfortunately, thatexperience comes too late to nurture them tobecome outspoken, passionate and articulateadvocates of Israel on college campuses, whichare often hotbeds of antipathy toward Israel.
Let me suggest, then, that to celebratethe 60th Anniversary of Israel’s Independence,we all take advantage of another time-testedtool to build Israel consciousness: planting atree through the Jewish National Fund (JNF).This year, Tu Bishvat – the New Year for theTrees – begins on Monday night, January21. Ordering a tree on-line, with our childrenand our grandchildren, will help to forge theirconnection with Israel. It will also supportJNF’s GoNeutral campaign, a modest effortto offset some of the carbon dioxide that wehumans produce. And for many of us, it willbring back fond memories of our childhood,when we would bring our dimes to SundaySchool or Hebrew School, to plant trees andto express our love for and connection withthe Land of Our Ancestors and the JewishState.
Visit JNF’s website at www.jnf.org. Tolearn more about their campaign to benefitthe environment and offset some of ourcontributions to global climate change, pleasevisit www.jnf.org/goneutral.
sufficiency that sustain a healthy community.After services, many congregants — some ofwhom were clearly interested in assistingZambia Hope — took the opportunity tochat with Mr. Musonda and his Americansponsor, Mr. Thomas Cromwell of East WestCommunications (www.eastwest.com).
Our attention towards tzedakah did notend with Mr. Musonda’s presentation.During announcements, Social ActionCommittee co-chair Robbi Cohen informedthe congregation that a donation of $30purchases a solar cooker for a woman in war-
torn Darfur. Solar cookers provide for thesewomen more than a means of preparing food,as they are spared the need to leave their campto hunt for wood. It is during these searchesthat women are raped and murdered. Sosolar cookers are not just utensils for foodpreparation, they are lifesavers. Can any of usfind a better use of $30?
Meanwhile, Rabbi Gorin and 15congregants were spending Shabbat withCongregation Bethel, an African-American
The first two days of December made for aremarkable weekend at Tikvat Israel. OnShabbat morning, we heard from anextraordinary guest. In recognition of WorldAIDS Day, Mr. Adamson Musonda told usabout Zambia Hope International (http://zambiahope.org), which he founded with hiswife when confronted with caring for 20orphans left by 10 relatives lost to HIV/AIDS.Congregants were touched by the story ofMr. Musonda’s use of donated funds to createa successful farm and school where ZambianAIDS orphans learn the skills for self-
4
CANTOR’S CORNER
Cantor Rochelle Helzner
YachadThe next Yachad service will be held onSaturday, January 19 at 10:15 a.m. in thelibrary. Students in grades three throughseven, their parents and all congregantsinterested in a learner’s minyan experienceare invited to share in this innovative servicefacilitated by Cantor Helzner. Future serviceswill be held February 9 and March 15.
Shul SingersCantor Helzner will hold an open session onJanuary 22 after minyan for those whowould like to learn new melodies for Shabbatmorning services. On Shabbat, participantswill seat themselves among the congregationand will join the Cantor in singing thesemelodies, thus increasing and spreadingspirited davening. It is not necessary to beable to read music or Hebrew (transliterationswill be provided). The only requirement is alove of singing, a willingness to participateand a desire to enhance the “ruach” of ourservices.
Strathmore ConcertAdult and youth choirs, cantors and musicprofessionals from congregations throughoutthe Washington area will present a concert atStrathmore Hall on Sunday March 2 incelebration of Israel’s 60th birthday. Adults willsing at both a 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.performances. Tikvat Israel youth will performat the 7 p.m. performance only. Radiopersonality Martin Goldsmith will narrate.Information about tickets will be announcedsoon.
Not too Early to Think About Purim Purim begins on the evening of Thursday,March 20. There are many ways to getinvolved in our celebrations. The PurimShpiel-Writing Committee will have their firstmeeting on Tuesday, January 15 after minyan.Contact Cantor Helzner or just show up. Ifyou are just interested in performing in theshpiel, contact Cantor Helzner.
Puppeteers and character voices areneeded for our Purim Puppet Show.Rehearsals will be held on Sundays, March 9and March 16 at 5 p.m. Please plan to be atboth rehearsals. If you are interested, contactLisa Krell at [email protected] or at 301-774-7526.
Executive Branch
Michael Grossman, Exectuive Director
I’ve been flying solo now for all of two months.I’ve learned a lot in that short time and made afew mistakes here and there. One thing I amsure of … Tikvat Israel is a warm and caringcommunity. Almost everyone I meet ispassionate about what they do at Tikvat Israel,from the president to the committee chairs tothe members at large who faithfully attendprograms and services. My job as executivedirector is to bring all of you together and keepyou all focused on the big picture.
To that end, we are making changes insome of our operational procedures. Our frontoffice staff is very talented and capable. Carol,Peggy, Amy and Debbie are the “face” of ourshul to the membership and the outside world.They answer the phones, take registrations, getout the correspondence and handle many ofthe administrative tasks. Now, they are goingto start taking on a streamlined process for otherareas of administration.
Peggy Mitchel is now in charge of roomreservations. All requests for rooms and setupsshould be submitted to her by phone or [email protected]. In the coming months,we will be training the office staff to handle thereceivables and billing processes as well. DebbieSegal, our new bookkeeper, can now answermost of your billing inquiries. She can also bereached by telephone, as well as by email [email protected]. Please give her sometime to learn the system. Whatever issues shecannot address will be passed along to me. Aswe upgrade technology and train Amy, Caroland Peggy, they too will be able to handle basicbilling inquiries.
So, what will I be doing with all of thisextra time? Those of you who attended thecongregational meeting in December heard thatmy focuses are people, building and processes.My focus on people will be to review and reviseall personnel policies and develop a newemployee handbook. My focus on the buildingwill be to study the existing systems and developa schedule of regular maintenance andcomponent replacements. And you can alreadysee that my focus on process is to tap the abilitiesof our talented staff to improve ouradministration.
Our maintenance staff is one area that Ifeel is extremely important to the shul. Edward
Rosh Chodesh DrummingAttention all Tikvat Israel women! Join CantorHelzner in welcoming in the new month ofAv with a “bang.” Cantor Helzner would liketo combine a drumming circle with Songs ofIsrael on Wednesday night, January 9 afterminyan. Do you have a drum and perhapsone to share? Please let Cantor Helzner know,as she wants to make sure everyone has accessto an instrument. This program is sponsoredby the Women’s Network.
HOLD THESE DATES!
Sunday, March 2Strathmore Concert for Israel’s 60th at 3:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 6Vocal Arts Society Recital at TI at 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 8Tikvat Israel Yom Haatsmaut Celebration and BBQ at 5:45 p.m.
Sunday, June 1Washington Area Celebration of Israel’s 60th
EXECUTIVE BRANCH, cont. on page 15
5
ADULT EDUCATION
Israel at 60 Lecture SeriesExperiencing the Israel of TodayOn Wednesday, January 23 at 8 p.m., NeilGillman, aliyah shaliach from the JewishAgency for Israel (JAFI), and Melissa Frank,Taglit – Birthright Israel ProgramCoordinator at the Partnership for Jewish Lifeand Learning (PJLL), will be at TI to addressthe current possibilities for American Jewswho wish to “experience Israel” on a personalbasis. Our guests will talk about currentprograms available to Jewish teens in ourcommunity, travel possibilities for adults, anda range of other options that our membersmight find appealing.
At the time of the program, Ms. Frankwill have just returned from a three-weekprogram in Europe and Israel with youngmembers of our Jewish community. Pleasejoin us to hear what both she and Mr. Gillmanhave to share. This presentation is appropriatefor adults, as well as high school and collegestudents. Don’t miss this up-to-date andhighly informative presentation. Get a newperspective on the Israel programs that canbe most meaningful and learn more aboutwhat it is like to live in Israel today.
The fee for the program is $5 perperson, payable at the door.
Discussion Group on the ChumashEssays The Chumash essay group will meet onSunday, January 27 at 10 a.m. in room 11 todiscuss the essay titled Ancient Near EasternMythology. It can be found on pages 1344 to1348 of Etz Hayim. The office has offered tosupply photocopies of the essay to synagoguemembers.
The next three meetings are tentativelyset for February 17, March 23, and May 4.The list of essays is found on Page XIII of theChumash.
The only requirement for participationis to read the essay before coming to thediscussion.
Please let Richard Stoll know if you planto attend by email at [email protected] or byphone at 301-946-8435.
Jewish Law, the U.S. Supreme Court,and Abortion: Is there a Conflict?Have you wondered how federal laws onabortion follow or conflict with Jewish law?What did the Supreme Court really do lastspring when it upheld a federal lawinvalidating partial birth abortion? What isthe new balancing test when there is tensionbetween the life or health of the mother andthe life or health of the fetus? Will theSupreme Court decision affect how the stateof Maryland addresses abortion this year orin the future?
Join us on Sunday, January 13 from10:15 to 11:45 a.m. in the library as scholarsin constitutional law, Jewish law andMaryland legislative practice discuss these andother questions as part of Tikvat Israel’s AdultEducation program. Featured speakers willinclude Rabbi Susan Grossman, member ofthe Standards and Practices Committee;Jamin Raskin, constitutional law professor atAmerican University Washington College ofLaw and a Maryland House of Delegatesmember; and TI’s own Anne Kaiser, also adelegate to the Maryland House of Delegates.
Breakfast will be available for purchaseat 9:45 a.m. Join us on January 13 for a noshand some knowledge.
Jewish Literacy 101: Finding God inJudaism’s LibraryLed by Rabbi Alana Suskin and Rabbi MosheFaierstein, Jewish Literacy 101 will not meetthis month. The schedule for the rest of theyear is as follows:
Monday, February 4Mystical and Hasidic Literature
Monday, March 3Philosophical Literature
Monday, April 7Musar – Ethical Literature
Monday, May 5Responsa
Feminism and Liturgy DiscussionGroupLed by Rabbi Alana Suskin, this class meetsevery other Monday evening. The dates forJanuary were not finalized as of press time.For information, contact Rabbi Suskin [email protected].
Mark Your Calendar for ScholarsWeekend, March 28-29Our guest scholar is Rabbi Burton Visotzky,Appleman Professor of Midrash and Inter-religious Studies at JTS. He is active in theJewish-Christian-Muslim dialogueinternationally. His lectures, study groups,and books have been hailed on radio,television and in print. He will speak on thetopic of “Engaging the Other: Christianityand Islam in the 21st Century.”
· Cairo to Qatar: Recent developments inJewish-Muslim Interfaith Dialogue(Friday evening, after Shabbat dinner)
· “And then I told the Pope….” – NewInsights into Catholic-Jewish Relations,from his tenure as a professor at thePontifical Gregorian University in Rome(during Shabbat service)
· Isaac Unbound – Three Religions Readthe Akedah (after Shabbat lunch)
Look for further details as the dateapproaches. If you would like to volunteer tocoordinate the weekend or to set up for dinner,please contact Betsy Miller at 301-279-0453or [email protected].
Advance registration for all AdultEducation events is strongly requestedso that we can plan accordingly. Pleasehelp us make these events as successfulas possible by letting us know inadvance that you plan to attend.
Continued on page 14
6
HAZAK Plans Visit toHistoric Synagogue
HAZAK is planning a trip to the Sixth and ISynagogue on Thursday, January 10. We willmeet at the synagogue promptly at noon fora half-hour tour of the sanctuary. We’ll breakfor lunch from 12:30 to 1 p.m.; bring abrown-bag dairy lunch. At 1 p.m., we willhave a 45-minute docent-led tour of thecurrent exhibit titled “Jewish Washington:Scrapbook of an American Community.” Theexhibit chronicles the people, places andevents that shaped the Washington area’sJewish community from 1795 to the present.
The synagogue may be reached bytaking the Metro Red Line to Gallery Place(7th and H Street – Chinatown exit). There isa 2-block walk from that point to the building.The cost is $6 per person. Reservations maybe made by calling the synagogue office. Thisevent will be open to a maximum of 20people. Please note that the synagogue is nothandicapped accessible.
On Sunday, February 10, we’ll view arecent documentary that has been shownnationally to great reviews. Where Neon Goesto Die will take us back to Miami Beach beforeSouth Beach became the “in place.” Theevent will start at 4:30 p.m. with refreshmentsand a social hour, and the movie will startpromptly at 5:15 .m. This event will be freeto all paid-up HAZAK members. Moreinformation about the film will be online andin the next bulletin.
Please be sure to check the lobby outsidethe sanctuary door for information aboutupcoming events.
Israel @ 60
Harvey T. KaplanTI Representative on the Israel Educators Institute of the Washington, DC Jewish Community
In past issues, I’ve tried to include somefascinating aspects of Israeli history that havespecial linkage to the American Jewishcommunity or to American history. I’d liketo continue that theme with a variety of itemsthat I hope you’ll find interesting andmeaningful.
(1) Baseball is becoming popular inIsrael. The Israel Baseball League justcompleted its inaugural season this year. Itconsists of six teams, with Jewish players fromall over the world on the rosters. The finalgame of the season was played at Yarkon Fieldin Tel Aviv in front of an estimated 2,600fans, with the Beit Shemesh BlueSox defeating the Modi’inMiracle for the championship.During the trophy presentation,Beit Shemesh’s Manager RonBlomberg asserted, “I’ve been totwo World Series with the NewYork Yankees, and thischampionship lives up to both.”Incidentally, Beit Shemesh is thePartnership 2000 community that is pairedwith the Washington, DC metro area Jewishcommunity.
(2) Stephen Norman, grandson ofZionist founder Theodor Herzl, committedsuicide in Washington, DC sometimebetween the end of World War II and thefounding of the State of Israel. He had justreceived word that his parents had been killedin a concentration camp. The Jewish AmericanSociety for Historic Preservation located thegravesite of this long-forgotten relative ofHerzl. A society official stated that “he wasthe only Zionist among Herzl’sdescendants…[and] bringing him to Israel issignificant; it shows that we are one people.”Consequently, Stephen Norman is scheduledto be interred on Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl onthe date coinciding with Israel’s 60th
anniversary.(3) The Jewish People Policy Planning
Institute in Israel recently reported that NorthAmerica still has the largest number of Jewsin the world. The current estimate is 5.6million, followed closely by 5.4 million Jews
in Israel. The study concluded that there are13.1 million Jews in the entire world, whichrepresents only a 4% increase (of about500,000) from the 1970 figures. Jewishpopulation dropped significantly in someparts of the world, most notably in EasternEurope where only an estimated 450,000remain. South American Jewry experienced a24% decline over the past 30 years.
(4) Israeli tennis stars Andy Ram andJonathan Erlich are working on an initiativeto launch a Jewish sports foundation fordisadvantaged American Jewish children.They want to do something special for the
American Jewish community,whose donors made their tennistraining possible. The concept isfor the foundation to fightstereotypes of Jews as wealthy andnon-athletic. and to “giveAmerican Jews a way to findathletes and…give themsomething different,” accordingto Erlich.
(5) I recently received an English-language book — To Be a Free People: TheSaga of Israel, edited by Michael Bar-Zohar— that I ordered from Israel. In it, I found aphotocopy of the typed and annotated noteby Harry S. Truman recognizing the State ofIsrael. Since I mentioned President Truman’srecognition in a previous column, I want toshare with you the actual contents of his note:
“This government has been informed thata Jewish state has been proclaimed in Palestine,and recognition has been requested by the [handwritten insert: provisional] Government thereof.The United States recognizes the provisionalgovernment as the de facto authority of the newJewish state [last two words scratched out andreplaced by: State of Israel]. [Signature] HarryS Truman Approved, May 14, 1948.”
The book also contains a photograph ofDavid Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first primeminister, and Abba Eban, who became a well-known Israeli spokesperson and diplomat,presenting a gift of appreciation to PresidentTruman.
Mourning Note
It is the custom of many Jews for familymembers and close friends of thedeceased to participate in the coveringof the casket that has been placed inthe grave by placing a shovelful (orhandful) of soil on the casket.
One explanation of this custom isthat the physical act of participating inthe burial process emulates ourpatriarch Abraham, when he buried hisbeloved Sarah. We are told of this factin Genesis XXII.
7
TI Members Help LocalNeedy Families
A huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to all of themany congregants who participated in TikvatIsrael’s Thanksgiving Food and Funds Drive,benefiting the families served by Linkages toLearning at Harmony Hills ElementarySchool in Aspen Hill.
Together, we raised $385 in gift cards toempower needy families in our area to buy amain course for their festive meal. We alsocollected $277 in monetary donationstowards purchasing additional ingredients fora celebratory meal, and towards the Linkagesto Learning Program in general at HarmonyHills. In addition, we delivered five heapingbaskets of food, providing complete mealsfor five deserving families in our area. Finally,we received a donation of one large kosherturkey, with all the trimmings, which wasalso delivered to one of these needy families.
Overall, we raised over $750 in giftcards, donations, and food items towards thisworthy cause, and we fed between 20 and25 families. What a wonderful result for ourfirst year of conducting this project!
Again, many thanks to all whoparticipated! For more information aboutLinkages to Learning, visit the program’swebsite: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/linkages.
Basketball Team NowRecruiting
The Tikvat Israel men’s basketball team, whichis competing in the Montgomery Countysynagogue basketball league, needs a few newplayers to supplement its returning lineup.The team plays on Sunday mornings, Januarythrough March, at Magruder High School,starting at 8, 9 or 10 a.m.
Players must be 18 or older and have aformal affiliation with Tikvat Israel, either asa member or as a parent of a child enrolledin the synagogue’s Early Childhood Centeror religious school. Collegians are permitted. Contact Coach Warren Berger [email protected] or 301-460-8736if interested in joining the team.
Blood Drive – Save theDate
The Social Action Committee will hold itsannual blood drive on Sunday, May 4 in thesocial hall. If you are a regular blood donor,please schedule your donation so that itwillcoincide with this date. If you are consideringa first time donation and have concerns and/or questions, please contact Robbi Cohen [email protected].
College OutreachUpdate
Please let us know if your college studentgraduated in December, will have a changeof address second semester or if they will bestudying abroad.
Thank you to the following people forhelping to assemble our December package:Debby Berlyne, Robbi Cohen, DebbieLevine, Jay Plafker, and Karen Lipsy.
If you are interested in chanting a Haftorah,please contact Susan Apter([email protected] or 301-460-9657) foravailable dates from February through April.In addition, if you are celebrating a milestoneBar/Bat Mitzvah anniversary or other occasionand would like the opportunity to chant,please let Susan know.
Free Self-DefenseClass
Learn basic self-defense techniques in orderto protect yourself and your family. TheChung Shin Do School of Karate offers thisfree self-defense course as a public service tothe community. The adult co-ed class meetsin the TI social hall on Wednesdays from 8 to9:15 p.m. for eight weeks beginning January9. Registration deadline is January 3.
Participants will learn how to avoidconfrontation, and how to increase thechances of avoiding injury or death ifassaulted. Students are also encouraged toprovide their own “what-if ” scenarios. Ifyou’ve taken this class before, this is anopportunity for refresher training.
Class size is limited to about 12 students.If there is not enough interest (about eightstudents) we’ll cancel the class. An Octoberissue of the Gazette described a rash of attacksin the Bel Pre/Georgia Avenue area duringthe summer. Would knowing self-defensehave helped? Perhaps, just by showing an airof confidence, the attackers might pass youby for a different target.
We request a $25-$35 donation to theshul for allowing us to meet in the social hall.To register, or for more information on theself-defense class or our regular Wednesdaynight karate class, please contact Joel Kristal(evenings) at 301-460-6668 or by e-mail [email protected].
Wine Tasting and Sale
Saturday evening, March 8
Time TBA
Babysitting available
Watch for details!
An Essential Source:Your SynagogueWebsite
The TI website (www.tikvatisrael.org) is the“go-to” source of information for allcongregants. In addition to news and featureson various aspects of synagogue life,congregants now can access — with apassword — a members-only area, where amembership directory and current and pastissues of the monthly bulletin can be found.
A photo gallery has been added to thesite. In addition, the houses a blog, wherecongregants can post views on relevant topicsand others can comment.
Janaki Kuruppu serves as webmaster, andJay P. Goldman serves as the chief editor ofthe site.
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TIKVAT ISRAEL LANDSCAPING COMMITTEE
TU B’SHEVAT SEDER AND BEAUTIFICATION FUNDRAISING FEST
Sunday, January 20
6:00 p.m.
• Delicious dairy dinner
• Savory Tu B’Shevat fruit
• Entertainment
• Information on landscaping
Enjoy a Tu B’Shevat seder while helping to enhance the beauty
of our building by increasing the funding for landscaping.
$15 per adult (age 13+)
$5 per child (age 12 and under)
A contribution of $100 or more entitles a family (limited to two adults and their minor children) to free dinner!
Additional contributions are welcome.
Registration deadline is January 13. To make reservations, please call the synagogue office at 301-762-7338 or complete the formbelow and return it to the synagogue office with payment.
Yes, I/we would like to attend the Tu B’Shevat Beautification Fundraising Fest.
Number of Adults _______ Number of Children _______
Sorry I can’t come, but I would like to make a contribution to the Beautification Fund in the amount of $_________.
Total Enclosed $________.
Please make checks payable to Tikvat Israel indicating “Beautification Fund” on the memo line.
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Toastmasters Training Course for Teenagers
The Tikvat Israel Committee for Leadershipand Public Speaking, in collaboration withHopeful Talkers Toastmasters Club at TikvatIsrael, is offering a course in speech andcommunication to Tikvat Israel and other areateenagers. Similar to the previous three courseswhich have proven so popular and successfulfor pre-bar mitzvah and bat mitzvahstudents, this one-time-only course is openexclusively to youth aged 13-15.
Leaders in Hopeful Talkers have hadnumerous inquiries about offering such acourse. It is now going to be offered on sixSundays beginning on January 13 andending on February 24 (no class on January27). It will be held at Tikvat Israel from 2 to
3:45 p.m. and will accept only the first 20applicants. The cost per student for the entirecourse will be $40. Proceeds from this coursewill be donated to Tikvat Israel.
For those of you not familiar with thiscourse, each student will be mentored by ateam of experienced public speakers fromTikvat Israel’s Toastmasters club, as well asaward-winning speakers from theWashington area. Working from a manual,each participant will prepare and deliverseveral speeches on a variety of subjects. Eachspeech will be evaluated by the adult teammembers in a positive and friendlyatmosphere. Students will also learn the artof positive criticism by evaluating each other’s
speeches. Participants will be critiquedregarding their grammar and physicalpresence. They will also learn how to speakextemporaneously, a crucial skill for school,college interviews, and job interviews. Mostimportantly, they will rapidly develop greaterself-esteem and confidence, characteristicsfrequently in need of improvement inadolescents.
Please note that the course is also opento the outside community and we havealready had inquiries from interested parties.Please call before all spaces are filled. ContactJudy Katz at 301-977-3086 today.
John Melmed and Robert Katz
Junior Toastmasters Class at TI Cultivates Young Speakers
By Allie Freedman
After nearly two months of mastering skillsin public speaking, the third JuniorToastmasters class took center stage atCongregation Tikvat Israel on November 19to show off its newfound expertise. Dressedfor success and bursting with confidence, the17 polished students presented speechesranging from sibling rivalry to classical musicto a packed sanctuary filled with beamingparents and grandparents.
“In just seven short weeks, the studentslearned how to face their public speaking fearsand command an entire room’s attention bytheir confidence and strong presence,” statesJeff Smith, Junior Toastmasters coordinatorand a Tikvat Israel congregant.
Smith and his team of adult Toastmastershelp the pre-teens become better publicspeakers in preparation for their upcomingBar and Bat Mitzvahs. Sponsored by TikvatIsrael’s adult Toastmasters club “HopefulTalkers,” the unique program trains 12-yearolds in the intricacies of public speaking.Members of the adult chapter, whichachieved Toastmasters’ “Distinguished” statuslast year, provide constructive feedback to theBar and Bat Mitzvah candidates in an effortto help them perfect their technique andboost their self-confidence.
“My wife and I are both big proponentsof Toastmasters,” says Keith Brooks, parentof Junior Toastmasters student GabriellaBrooks. “It is good practice for her Bat
Mitzvah since she seems so much moreconfident now getting in front of anaudience.”
Gabrielle agrees that she has made greatstrides due to the program. “I feel morecomfortable talking to groups of people. Thetrick is to only look at one person at a time andto practice a lot,” says a more confident Brooks.
In order to help the students confidentlystand in front of a large crowd and discuss agiven topic, the Junior Toastmastersinstructors teach the students a variety of skillsthat help them speak with much morestrength and effectiveness. The class focuseson four main techniques: organization, vocalvariety, gestures and eye contact. Theseacquired skills enable the young talkers todraw audiences into their speeches.
“The first day of class, I must say, I wasawful at speaking,” says Junior Toastmastersstudent Rachel Solomon. “But after I learnedmany of the techniques such as voice variationand hand gestures, I now know how toengage the audience with my speeches.”
During the recent graduation ceremony,Solomon demonstrated one of the variousexercises practiced each week in class called“Table Topics.” Basically, Smith gave her atopic, and she had to present a one-minutespeech about it on the spot without any priorpreparation. This method shows students thateven on the spot, they can make a decentspeech using the techniques they learned in
the class.Parents and students alike are unanimous
in their praise of the program and its manybenefits. As a result, The “Hopeful Talkers”club will open up the Junior Toastmasterscourse to teenagers and adults in thecommunity at large in January. ParentJonathon Solomon believes his daughter’spublic speaking ability has improved so muchthat he would love to see other students inthe community have the same opportunityto become strong speakers.
“I would recommend this class toanyone in the (Washington) communitybecause the students have gained so much interms of public speaking that it would be ashame not to offer this class to a wider rangeof students,” says Solomon, who works as aschool psychologist.
According to Smith, teaching youngpeople to excel in public speaking is one ofthe greatest gifts a person can offer.“Everything you do in life involves interactingwith people,” says Smith. “Helping studentslearn how to become better communicatorsleads to better interactions with people as awhole. Everyone has the ability to be a greatpublic speaker, and it is very rewarding tohelp students bring it out.”
Allie Freedman is a junior at SherwoodHigh School, where she is the features editor ofthe student newspaper, The Warrior.
10
For information, call (818) 501-1836 or email [email protected] DO NOT STAND IDLY BY
HELP THEWOMEN OF
DARFUROUR PROJECTJewish World Watch is committed to protecting refugeewomen and girls from rape and other egregious forms of violence.Women and girls who have fled the genocide in Darfur, Sudanare particularly vulnerable to rape while performing the essentialtask of collecting firewood for cooking and fuel. Our mission isto reduce the frequency of these heinous crimes by providingwomen from refugee camps with alternative cooking optionssuch as solar cookers. Solar cookers enable women to remaininside the relative safety of the camp.
The Solar Cooker Project not only serves to protect women,but it also provides them with income opportunities such asmanufacturing solar cookers, training others to use the cookers,and making carrying bags to increase the life span of the cookers.This project has been successfully realized in the Iridimi refugeecamp and we are now in the process of introducing it to theTouloum refugee camp. We plan on initiating this project in othercamps in the near future with the goal of mitigating the numberof crimes committed against refugee women throughout Africa.
WHO WE AREJewish World Watch works to mobilize synagogues and theirsurrounding communities to combat genocide and other blatanthuman rights violations around the world.
THE GENOCIDE IN DARFUR• Black Africans have been terrorized, driven out of theirvillages, and decimated by Arab militias, the Janjaweedand the Sudan government since 2003.
• It is estimated that at least 400,000 people are dead.• 3.5 million people have been displaced.• Women and girls have been raped and beaten at analarming rate.
• The U.S. government and the U.N. have labeled this a genocideyet no definitive action has been taken to quell the violence.
THE REFUGEES• 200,000 women and children refugees live in camps inChad across the border from Sudan.
• Women must search for firewood outside of the refugeecamps where there is no protection.
• While outside of the camps, women are often beaten, raped,and branded by bandits or the Sudanese supportedJanjaweed militia.
IRIDIMI CAMP IN CHAD• There are 17,159 women and children refugees in the camp.• The area is devoid of vegetation even though there areoptimum conditions for growth including abundant sunlight,and between 3” and 5” of rainfall yearly.
• Relief Agencies provide the refugees with monthlyallotments of uncooked food and firewood, but the allottedamount of firewood only lasts for a couple of days.The refugees must then search for wood outside of thecamps, thereby subjecting themselves to attack.
TOULOUM CAMP IN CHAD• There are 22,038 refugees in this camp, and a large proportionof this number are women and children.
• The environment is similar to that of the nearby Iridimi camp.(see above)
BENEFITS OF SOLAR COOKING• Solar cooking reduces the need for frequent firewoodcollection, which in turn, lessens the amount of violencecommitted against women and girls.
• Two solar cookers can save one ton of wood each year.• There is no need to tend to a fire so women are free todo other tasks.
• Manufacturing solar cookers provides incomeopportunities for female refugees.
❑ Check enclosed (payable to Jewish World Watch)❑ Please charge my: ❑ Visa ❑ Mastercard
Name(s)
Address
City State Zip
Tel Email
Name on credit card
Card # Exp. date
Signature
Billing Address
Detach
and
mail.
For information, call (818) 501-1836 or email [email protected] DO NOT STAND IDLY BY
Please mail this form to: JWW, Solar Cooker Project, 16944 Ventura Boulevard #1, Encino, CA 91316 or fax to: (818) 501-1835. Oct 07
❑ YES! I want to bring solar cookers to the women in the refugee camps.
THE COOKIT SOLAR COOKER• The CooKit is a simple solar cooker that converts sunlightinto heat to cook food.
• The CooKit is easy to manufacture because it is made outof cardboard and aluminum foil, and can be easilyhand assembled
• It is light, small, and very inexpensive.• It has been successfully used in several refugee camps inKenya, Ethiopia, and now in Chad.
OUR PARTNERSJewish World Watch is proud to work in partnership withKoZon, a charitable organization based in the Netherlands.KoZon’s aim is to provide women in developing countrieswith cheap and effective solar cooking alternatives.TchadSolaire, the NGO on the ground in the camps, providesstaff and training for the Solar Cooker Project. Solar CookersInternational provides technical assistance. The camps arerun by CARE International and the United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
WHAT YOU CAN DOHelp us provide refugee camps in Chad with solar cookers byraising awareness and money.• Raise awareness by hosting an informational event with anengaging Jewish World Watch speaker at your home, work,parent association, library, synagogue or church.
• Organize a fundraiser to help bring solar cookers home tothese women. Ideas: BBQ, bake sale, car wash, dinner ortheater party.
• Make a donation: A $30 donation supports one family byproviding two solar cookers, training, and two pot holders.
A $150 donation supports five families by providing ten solarcookers, training, and ten pot holders, and so on.
OUR PROJECT: 100% SOLAR COOKERSIN THE IRIDIMI & TOULOUM CAMPS IN CHADJWW’s goal is to have every family outfitted with at least2 solar cookers (3 or 4 for larger families.)
IRIDIMI• As of May 2007, virtually all of the 4,669 women in the Iridimicamp have been trained to use solar cookers.
• Families of 5-12 people live in one tent. Often the woman, who isthe head of the household, takes care of her own children aswell as several orphans.
• Trained individuals provide follow-up assistance by helping thewomen keep their cookers in good working condition.This promotes the efficiency of the solar cooking process.
• In each area of the camp teams of two women manufacture thesolar cookers, thus providing the women with a new skill and anopportunity to generate income for their families. Currently 24women are trained assemblers.
• More than 10,000 cookers have been manufactured anddistributed to the Iridimi refugee camps. (Replacement solarcookers are needed every three - six months.)
• The women have begun to manufacture carrying bags (toprotect the cookers) and hay baskets (which keep the eveningmeal that is cooked in the daytime hot until it is eaten.)
• After completing a 5-day training, women in the Iridimi campreceived at least 2 solar cookers. One is used for maize meal,the main food distributed by the World Food Programme.The other solar cooker is used for water, sauce, or vegetables(provided they are available.)
TOULOUM• Construction of a manufacturing plant and store room in theTouloum camp was completed in July 2007.
• Solar cooker training has begun.• Women manufacture the solar cookers, thus providing thewomen with a new skill and an opportunity to generate incomefor their families. Currently 24 women are trained assemblers.
• 40 refugee women work part-time as auxiliary trainers along-side the Tchad Solaire team.
• 500 women will be trained to solar cook each month.
The most important goal of our early childhoodcurriculum is to help children becomeenthusiastic learners. This means encouragingchildren to be active and creative explorers whoare not afraid to try out their ideas and to thinktheir own thoughts. Our goal is to help childrenbecome independent, self-confident,inquisitive learners. We teach them how to learn,not just in preschool, but also throughout life.We allow them to learn at their own pace andin ways that are best for them. We try to teachthem good habits and encourage positiveattitudes, particularly a positive sense of self,which will make a difference throughout theirlives.
BKECC’s curriculum identifies goals inseven areas of development for young children:emotional, psychomotor, cognitive, social,language, curiosity and creativity. Our stafffocuses on the area of social and emotionaldevelopment, first and foremost, because it iscritical to children’s well-being and success, inschool and in life. Children who go throughour program are confident, friendly and able
to develop good relationships with peers. Theyare able to concentrate on and persist atchallenging tasks. They are able tocommunicate frustration and anger, as well asjoy. They are able to listen to instruction andbe attentive. When a child has developed skillsin this key area, they are ready and eager tolearn. Visiting the center, you will see childrensharing a book together, negotiating whose turnit is to use the computer, building block towers,playing chase on the playground, and evenbringing a tissue to a friend who is crying. Ourclassrooms are a community, a place wherelearning takes place through positiverelationships with other children and adults.
Most Americans think education beginswith kindergarten at age five. But children arelearning from the moment they’re born. Andfor millions of youngsters, the reality is thattheir early learning is a joint enterprise betweenparents and early childhood educators. Thefirst national goal put forth by PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush focused directly on theearly childhood years. It states, “By the year
BROADMAN-KAPLAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
2000, all children in America will start schoolready to learn.” What does “ready to learn”mean? According to kindergarten teachers andspecialists in the early childhood field, what itdoes not mean is that when a child startskindergarten, they are able to read, write anddo math. In actuality, from the time of birth, allchildren are ready to learn. However, what wedo or don’t do as individuals, educators, andcollectively as a society can impede a child’ssuccess in learning.
At the BKECC, our philosophy is verysimple – children learn best through play.Teachers plan and supervise activities thatenhance children’s self-esteem and minimizethe experience of failure. We respectdevelopmental stages of early childhood bytailoring activities and expectations to the age,interests and ability of the individual child.Our center adheres to standards set by theNational Association for the Education ofYoung Children. We are proud to be anaccredited center since 1997.
Lynn Berk, Director
Family Game DaySaturday, January 5 • 1:30-4 p.m.Join us after Shabbat services and the kiddushfor a nice relaxing afternoon.We will play Scrabble,Boggle, Four Across,checkers, chess, ping pong ,pool, cards and more. Stayaround on a winterafternoon, visit with friends,play with your kids and just have some old-fashioned fun.
B’nai Mitzvah RetreatThe b’nai mitzvah retreat has beenrescheduled from January 11-13 to February9-10. Space is still available for all currentTikvat Israel Religious School 5th- and 6th-grade students and to all TI kids attendingcommunity Jewish day schools. The retreatwill be held as an overnight at Tikvat Israel.We will begin with havdalah on Saturdaynight and go straight through until noon on
Sunday. The program will feature ice breakersto help the children get better acquainted,Jewish identity activities, cosmic bowling,pizza and other snacks, discussion groups,short films, a sleepover, services, brunch, funand friends. Parents are invited to join us onSunday morning for brunch and a discussionon what bar/bat mitzvah can mean to thefamily, forming a bar/bat mitzvah chavurahand the assignment of upcoming bar/batmitzvah dates. To sign up, please call LynnBerk as soon as possible.
Time for 4-Year-Olds to Move UpBeginning this month, we invite our 4-year-olds to attend Bonim activities. Bonim is ouryouth group for kindergarten, first- andsecond-graders. All of the 4-year-olds in thecongregation and in the ECC will receiveflyers and phone calls. For more information,contact Bonim advisor Hilary Hirsch [email protected].
YOUTH & FAMILY PROGRAMMING
Eighth-Graders Have a ChoiceKadima kids in 8th grade have a choice ofattending Kadima events or participating inUSY events. USY is open to all students ingrades 9 through 12. We invited our 8th-graders early so that they want to continue inUSY when they enter high school and arefaced with a choice of many Jewish groups.All 8th-graders should begin receiving flyers,e-mails and phone calls about USY thismonth. For USY information, e-mail advisorAriel Gold at [email protected].
SAVE THE DATES
Jan. 5 Family Game DayJan. 12 Kadima Regional
Saturday Night Live ProgramJan. 13 Bonim Trip to College Park
Aviation MuseumJan. 13, 20, 27
USY Basketball League
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RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUNDRAISERBAGELS TO GO!
What? Fresh Bagels from Goldberg’s. Hot coffee. Relax at TI or take home a dozenbagels (or two!)
When? Sunday, January 13 (and monthly thereafter) from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where? Room 14, Religious School Wing
How to order: Return the order form and your check made out to Tikvat Israel ReligiousSchool to Sandy Levine or the synagogue office by Wednesday, January 9 for pick-up onSunday, January 13. Questions? Call Stuart Berlin at 301-315-6141.
BAGEL ORDER FORMFor pick-up on Sunday, January 13
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Name ____________________________ Email ________________________
Telephone number ________________________________________________
Number of bagels: Please order by the 1/2 dozen ($6 each) or dozen ($10 each).Minimum advance order is 1/2 dozen of each kind.
Plain ____ Sesame ____ Everything ____
Raisin ____ Egg ____ Black Russian ____ (pumpernickel w/Vidalia onions)
Flavor of the Month! Whole Wheat _____ TOTAL = $_____________
Religious School
Sandy Levine, Director
Most of us have heard of the Yiddish wordmensch — one who does good deeds, a goodperson, the kind of person you can count on— and would like tobe thought of as a mensch. This month, our8th-grade families will have the opportunityto participate in the workshop, “What is aMensch?” The exchange of ideas betweenparents and their children, facilitated byGenie Glucksman, will be thought-provoking and transformative. I am veryproud that family education is an integralpart of our religious school.
Blend together exceptional studentswith creative, dynamic and dedicatedteachers, and you have the recipe for exquisiteJewish learning. Each day, I have the privilegeof witnessing holy moments whereeverything is just right for teaching andlearning. Allow me to share such a story:
I was delighted to be observing a classwhen the children were playing hangmanwith Hebrew words. One of the studentswas unsure how to form a particular letter.So a friend came up to the board, and puther hand over the child’s hand and they wrotethe letter together. It was a precious momentof friendship and kindness. Both studentsstood at the board smiling with pride.
Thank you so much for supporting ourbagel sale. Pre-orders by the half dozen mustbe turned in by January 9. Join us on Sunday,January 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. fordelicious fresh bagels from Goldberg’s withyour choice of toppings, coffee, juice andbottled water. Proceeds benefit the religiousschool.
Many thanks to Laurie Weker and LisaKrell, who have volunteered to co-chair ournext Sally Foster Gift Wrap Sale.
Please plan to join us at Shabbat serviceson Saturday, February 2 for the Gimmel classconsecration. This is a wonderful opportunityfor the congregation to honor our third gradestudents for their commitment to Jewishstudy.
We are very proud of all of our 4th-through 6th-graders who entered the Mid-Atlantic Jewish Arts and Essay Contest. Mazeltov to the following winners:Lenny Fobe Honorable Mention, Art;Melissa Garfinkle 2nd Place, Art;Joseph Holzman 2nd Place, Art andHonorable Mention, Essay; Suzanne Joseph
1st Place, Art; Ari Kirschbaum 3rd Place, Art;Rebecca Matathias Honorable Mention,Poetry; Emma Renteria Honorable Mention,Art; Jordan Schneider Honorable Mention,Essay.
14
PRESIDENT, cont. from page 3
congregation in Philadelphia. This“extraordinary and ordinary” Shabbat (SamFreedenberg’s words on the TI blog) includeda delicious kosher “soul food” dinner on ErevShabbat, and an incredibly spiritual, andsometimes rather loud, Shabbat morningservice. The day was at once foreign andfamiliar: an infusion of African-Americanculture into a traditional Shabbat service.
This was not the first time Rabbi Gorinhas reached out to African American Jews;nor will it be the last. Last spring, we hostedmembers of the Ethiopian HebrewCongregation of Chicago. Some of us heardabout the congregation from Rabbi JoshuaSalter that afternoon at Seudah Shlishit. Andduring the second weekend in December,Rabbi Gorin traveled to Memphis to witnessthe conversion of 55 African-American men,women and children at a mikvah. Togetherwith his efforts in Nigeria and Uganda, theRabbi’s work on behalf of K’lal Yisrael (theCommunity of Israel) is a source of great pridefor Tikvat Israel. I am very proud to beassociated with a synagogue that supportsthese efforts.
On Sunday following that extraordinaryShabbat, Cantor Helzner and the RobynHelzner Trio gave us a concert to remember.They were singing, children were dancing,and we were all waving, rocking and tappingour feet to songs in English, Hebrew, Yiddishand Ladino that reminded me in a verydifferent way of the spirit of K’lal Yisrael.The joy in our social hall that afternoon wasextraordinary.
There are times during my tenure ascongregational president that I feel sohonored to serve our extraordinarycommunity. The dedication of our new Torahlast spring was one of those days, and the firstweekend of December was another.
Adult Education Committee PresentsThe Third Annual Israeli Film FestivalExperience Israel from a unique perspective: through the lens of award-winning Israeli-produced films. Join us for a stimulating discussion anddessert after each film with moderators Eric Zakim, associate professorand executive director of the Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute forIsrael Studies and the coordinator for Modern Hebrew Language andLiterature, and Sheila Jelen, assistant professor of Hebrew Literature,University of Maryland.
The fee for each film is $10 per person for TI members, and $12 per person for non-members. In case of inclement weather, consult WTOP for information on event status. Thesnow date is Saturday, January 26.
Close to Home • Saturday, January 5 at 8 p.m.Smadar and Mirit, both 18 years old, are assigned to patrol the streets of Jerusalem together aspart of their military service. Worlds apart in their personality, their initial frosty relationshipchanges to friendship as they deal with their own emotional issues, the crushes and break-upsin their love lives and the political reality of the city in which they live. Co-writer and directorsDalia Hager and Vidi Bilu strived to create a film with “political meaning,” as well as cast a freshperspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Close to Home is the first film to focus on womenwithin the Israeli Military Service, and was inspired by their own experiences.
Live and Become • Saturday, January 12 at 8 p.m.Based on a true story, Live and Become chronicles the 1984 fleeing of thousands of Africansfrom 26 countries struck by famine to camps in Sudan and its impact on two families. On theinitiative of Israel and the United States, a vast action is led to take thousands of Ethiopian Jewsto Israel. A Christian mother pushes her nine-year-old son to be declared Jewish to save himfrom famine and death. On arrival in the Holy Land, he is declared an orphan and is adoptedby a French family living in Tel Aviv. He grows up living with the fear of having his double liediscovered: that he is neither Jew nor orphan, only black. This beautifully-crafted coming-of-age tale is the classic story of migration, assimilation and identity, told with warmth and humor.
James’ Journey to Israel • Saturday, January 19 at 8 p.m.A cannily droll mix of social commentary and modern fable, Israeli filmmaker Ra’ananAlexandrowicz’s debut feature follows the adventures of young James, a devout wide-eyedChristian attempting a pilgrimage from his African village to the Holy Land. Jailed by theimmigration authorities upon his arrival in Tel Aviv, this contemporary Candide is miraculouslybailed out by a shady small-time businessman, only to become part of his migrant labor pool.Undeterred, James perseveres in his religious quest, until he gets a taste of fortune by exploitinghis employer’s friends and colleagues for his own profit. Alexandrowicz filters an astuteexploration of the economic, moral and spiritual hypocrisies of Western society through anevocative portrait of modern Israel’s cultural and generational divisions.
ADULT EDUCATION, cont. from page 5
Get Connected, Get Excited, Get Ready…Israel@60 Celebration on the National Mall
Sunday, June 1
Join the entire Washington community for a day of celebration to mark Israel’s 60th birthday. It will be anexciting day of festivities to mark 60 years of Israel’s achievements, culture, diversity and democracy. For themost up-to-date information on this momentous event, sponsored by The Jewish Federation of GreaterWashington, visit www.israel60dc.org.
15
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Mazel Tov
Asher Kline, son of Shelley and Ina, who willbecome a Bar Mitzvah at Tikvat Israel onJanuary 12.
Mark and Robin Waldman on the birth of ababy girl, Lilah Rebecca, on December 11.
Mailbag
Dear Friends,I want to express my gratitude to TI for
lovingly caring for me when my fatherrecently died. Your thoughtfulness innourishing me both spiritually as well asphysically was so appreciated during thisdifficult time. The “embrace” of my T.I.family meant so much. Thank you for caringin such a special way.—Denny Kanuck
To the Tikvat Israel family,Judy and I are relocating to Charlotte,
North Carolina on December 27. We choseto be close to our daughter and family andthe grandchildren. I have mixed feelingsabout leaving the Rockville area, my homefor the last 42 years, and a place I came tovisit family as a young boy in the ‘50s. Somany changes have occurred here but theconstant in all this has been the TIcongregation. Whether a joyous time or asad one, the friends and members of thesynagogue were there. I have been attendingshul in Charlotte when we visit and it is nice,but it isn’t TI. Hopefully Judy and I will findthe same friendships there that we havefound here. I could make a long list of namesto thank but sufficient to say shalom, todahto all, and we hope to be at TI during ourvisits here.—Len and Judy Marco
Special Thanks to…
Dr. Dan and Amy Matathias for contributinga new Torah belt for the Torah in the Chapel.
Jayme Sokolow for donating an 8-DVD set ofdocumentaries from The Simon WiesenthalCenter Collection to the Flax Library.
Roy and Michele Peck for the donation of agorgeous coffee table book, Jewish Art byGrace Cohen Grossman, which will be keptin the Flax Library.
CondolencesTo Shirley Greenberg on the death of herhusband, David Greenberg.
To Carol Barsky on the death of her aunt,Marilyn Burdett.
To Morton Koeppel on the death of his wife,Nettie Koeppel.
TI Women’s Network
Bobbi Gorban, Director TI Women’s Network(formerly Sisterhood)
Join us on Wednesday, January 9 at 7:45p.m. for Rosh Chodesh. Cantor Helzner hasanother creative plan for this event. Detailswill follow on the theme.
Our Book Group will meet onWednesday, January 16 at 7:45 p.m. to discussRashi’s Daughters, Book One: Joheved byMaggie Anton. It is a wonderful story andwill lead to an interesting discussion led byEllen Lederman.
If you plan to attend the Rosh Chodeshevent and/or the book discussion, please planto be at shul at 7:30 p.m. those evenings toattend minyan, and support those who needto say Kaddish.
If you missed last month’s paid-upmembership event, we are sorry that youcouldn’t be there. If you did not know it wasbeing held, please let me know, so that I cancompile a list of those who don’t have e-mail.We notified people by the listserve and flyerson the table by the sanctuary.
Happy and healthy secular new year.
Cantor’s ConcertPlayed to AppreciativeAudience
Hillary Berman, Cantor’s Concert Chair
What a treat! This year’s cantor’s concert, “AHelzner Happening,” was a wonderful andexciting afternoon for the almost 300 peoplewho attended! Children and adults dancedin the aisles and sang along to manyHanukkah favorites.
The beautiful voice of our own CantorHelzner is always a crowd pleaser, and the additionof her sister Robyn and the Robyn Helzner Triomade the afternoon even more special for all!Fourth- through sixth-graders from Tikvat Israeland the children’s choir from Hebrew Day Institutehelped conclude the event with their wonderfulenergy and lovely voices.
Many thanks to the volunteers whohelped make the afternoon successful: DannyBachman, Elyse Bernstein, Ellen Eisner, SamGilston, Jay Goldman, Angie Hersh, DanielleHersh, Fran Kline, Vivian Liebenson, SusanNewman, Gail Pressman, Ellen Smith, JeffSmith, Charlotte Zeidman and Ben Zweig.
ATTENTION: Parents ofchildren born in 1997B’nai Mitzvah scheduling for the year 2010will begin shortly. Our policy is to scheduleyour simcha on the closest Shabbat followingyour child’s 13th birthday on the Hebrewcalendar. Girls may receive a date before their13th birthday, if necessary. Contracts will bemailed to you in the spring. If you would liketo request a specific date, please send an e-mail to Executive Director Michael Grossmanat [email protected]. All requests mustbe in writing. We will do our best toaccommodate your needs.
Our computer records show that thechildren listed below were born in 1997 andwill be scheduled to become a Bar or BatMitzvah in 2010. If your child was born in1997 and is not included in this list, pleasenotify me immediately. Children born in1997 according to our records are: DillonBehrman, Micah Cowan, Lital Elfassi, LorenHersh, Sarah Hoffman, Joseph Holzman,Benjamin Kaminow, Gabriella Katz, ElonKline, Joshua Lempert, Sarah Meiselman,Daniel Mintz and Jordan Schneider.
“Eddie” Flemming, Boris Bolembakh, JohnnyColmes, Bradley Colmes and Ricardo Gomezare very dedicated and extremely hard-workingindividuals upon whom I depend each andevery day. Already, they have bailed me out ofquite a few tight spots by taking care ofsituations quickly and gracefully. We arefortunate to have such a great crew!
Our January congregational meeting willbring up many complex issues that will need to beaddressed. I encourage all of you to attend.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, cont. from page 5
16
Donations
The Congregation gratefully acknowledges thefollowing contributions which were receivedfrom November 16 through December 13, 2007.
Donations made on the occasion of yahrtzeitDonations made on the occasion of yahrtzeitDonations made on the occasion of yahrtzeitDonations made on the occasion of yahrtzeitDonations made on the occasion of yahrtzeitin memory of:in memory of:in memory of:in memory of:in memory of:
Samuel Altschuler by Betty and Leon Altshuler
Doris Amster by Michael and Deborah Amster
Max Teitel by Bee Apatoff
Alfons Reich by Muriel and Jules Asher
Belle Meyers by Muriel and Jules Asher
Lena Burdett by Carol and Richard Barsky
Phil Abramowitz by Adele Bayer
Zenita Berman by Howard Berman
Max Wottitzky, Grandfather, by Ruth Binder
Philip Grossmann by Joelle B. Black
Esther Berk by Shirley and Joseph Bogage
Samuel Braunstein by Philip Braunstein
Asher Berkowitz by Barbara Brown
Lena Burdett by Marilyn B. Burdett
Fannie Burdoo by Gertrude Burdoo
Louis Burdoo by Gertrude Burdoo
Sam Jorban by Gertrude Burdoo
Minni Jorban by Gertrude Burdoo
Bernard Cohen by Richard and Francine Cohen
Robert Eisner by Ellen and Sherman Eisner
Milton Rodes by Ellen and Sherman Eisner
David Cohen by Faye First
Rebecca Gershowitz by Al Gershowitz
Jacob Golding by Dov Golding
Fred Meyers by Tamah Graber
Jacques Kahn by Joel and Annie Kahn
William W. Radin by Marian and Jesse Kaiser
Daniel Kaiser by Jesse and Marian Kaiser
Sol Baron by Doris and Milton Kanner
Jair Kaplan by Irene Kaplan
Fannie Stein by Edith Stein Kronenberg
Dora Tanker by Anita and Amor Lane
Sol Danoff by Marsha and Murray Lyons
Ada Punitzer by Joan and Don Margolies
Ruth Moses by Ed and Karen Moses
Esther Adelson by Rae Newman
Beryl Newman by Susan and Neil Newman
Max Glick by Julius Oppenheim
Louis Pelish by Ela Pelish
Steven Prince by Frances Penenburgh
Jacob Dall by Jay and Susan Plafker
Doris Kalman by Annette Rankin, HowardKalman and Elaine Coburn
Eric Gerstle by Jason and Debra Levine
Alice Regensteiner by Dorothy Regensteiner
5768 Chai Campaign Contributors
Gold PlusGold PlusGold PlusGold PlusGold Plus
Clifford and Betty FishmanRianne and John MelmedTom and Shelly MulitzFred and Mary Wagner
G o l dG o l dG o l dG o l dG o l d
Elyse and Jeff BernsteinHerman Flax and Melanie
GrishmanJayme Sokolow
Si lver P lusSi lver P lusSi lver P lusSi lver P lusSi lver P lus
Kenneth BirrellBarbara and Irv CohenMichael and Shannon
GellmanJesse and Marian KaiserDaniel and Amy MatathiasJanaki Kuruppu and Ron
RabinCelia and Leonard
SchuchmanLorita and Mike SchwartzRuth and George Simbal
S i l v e rS i l v e rS i l v e rS i l v e rS i l v e r
Robbi and Larry CohenFrank CooperSheila and Jerry DanoffSam and Penina
FreedenbergLarry and Bobbi GorbanRichard and Andrea KatzJacob and Natalie
KirschbaumNancy and Rodney
MathesonRoy and Michele PeckJames and Maxine
PerlmutterGale and Marc PressmanJoel ShulmanSamuel and Regina Spiegel
C h a i + C h a iC h a i + C h a iC h a i + C h a iC h a i + C h a iC h a i + C h a i
Muriel and Jules AsherLyne and Ira BenzionDanny Bachman and Debby
BerlyneBrenda and Keith BrooksLoiuse and Chuck ChatlynneJeannette and Ronald EislerEllen and Sherman EisnerFaye First
Rebecca Salon and JayGoldman
Sara and David HarrisJack and Kelcey KlassPhyllis LeiseJeffrey and Betsy MillerSusannah Challis and
Richard NisensonNancy and Mark
SchaffmanBernard and Belle
SchechterEdward and Linda
SilversteinRichard and Beth SmithJonathan and Nancy
SolomonMilton and Renee ThalerLeonard and Marilyn
TeitelbaumBen and Minna
Wil l iamowsky
C h a iC h a iC h a iC h a iC h a i
Alan and Susan ApterVictor BattinoMichael BermanJonathan and Laura
BodnerJoseph and Shirley
BogageJeanne and Jules BowenPhilip and Betty BraunsteinDaniel and Edna BreitMarilyn BurdettMadeline Cohen OakleyNorma DancisHarold and Debra
DiamondSteve and Michele
EisenbergMargie and Steven
EiserikeHarold FeinmanTony and Jamie FreedmanPaul GraysonArlene GardsbaneAl GershowitzSam and Tami GilstonGenie Glucksman and
Joseph GlaserRobert GoldBernice GrossmanAnnabelle JaffeScott JancoMichael and Shira KabikGrace and Harry Kagan
Gerald and Geraldine KaizDenise KanuckIra and Julie KaplanPhilip and Barbara KatzRobert and Judy KatzBoris and Irina KnizhnikLou and Dotty
KornhauserTed and Roz KramNeil and Sally KramMicah KrichevskyJill Furman and Daniel
LacoretzBarry and Sharon LakenHanig LaurieRichard and Ellen
LedermanCarl and June LermanSandy and Larry LevineJason and Debra LevineLaurie Walker and
Leonard LiptonJudy and Len MarcoEd MosesElaine MosesEd and Maida NussbaumJanet and Gordon
OppenheimerSusan and Jay PlafkerDalit Baranoff and Josh
PollackEllie Weingarten and Irv
RabikDorothy RegensteinerAlvin and Barbara ReinerEugene and Barbara
RidbergSteven and Fortuna
ScheigeMartie Adelman and Marc
SchneiderBeverly and Mark
SchwartzEugene and Sandra
SheskinRobert and Roni
SilversteinRoma and Marvin SohnArnold and Hilda SpringerSophie SteinbergEstelle StolovyLeonard and Myrna
WagmanSheldon WagnerWendy Miller and John
WielgoszHoward and Sue Wilchins
17
Donations continued
Gilda Greene by Dorothy Regensteiner
Pauline Greene by Dorothy Regensteiner
Irving Reiner by Alvin and Barbara Reiner
Joseph Cohen by Eileen Romm
Henry Aronson by Anne Rosenberg
Sidney Sandler by Anne Rosenberg
Herschel Herscovitz by Charles and KarenSanders
Isidor Schechter by Bernard and Belle Schechter
Sam Schuchman by Celia and LeonardSchuchman
Herman Sheskin by Marian Sheskin
Shirley Blau by Marian Sheskin
Gary Shuken by Jeffrey Shuken
Jeanette Sohn by Roma and Marvin Sohn
Max Keusch by Roma and Marvin Sohn
Dorothy Wolfe by Lynn, Bill and Emily Spector
Robert Kandalis by Sophie Steinberg
Morton Lerner by Freda Stutz
Jacob Geller by Julia Sulsky
Leon Louis Cohen by Barbara and David Thaler
Lazar Volin by Ann Ruth and Rudolph Volin
Samuel Salit by Minna Williamowsky
Mildred Baron by Minna Williamowsky
Solomon Zimmerman by Leni-Joy Zimmerman
Alana E. Fishman by Ellen Zweig
Bereavement FundBereavement FundBereavement FundBereavement FundBereavement Fund
In memory of Belle Meyers by Carol Chelemer
In gratitude to Tikvat Israel for comfort duringbereavementby Denny Kanuck
Broadman-Kaplan Early Childhood CenterBroadman-Kaplan Early Childhood CenterBroadman-Kaplan Early Childhood CenterBroadman-Kaplan Early Childhood CenterBroadman-Kaplan Early Childhood Center
In appreciation of Rori Pollackby Jo Wilson, Cary and Nathan Abend
Cantor’Cantor’Cantor’Cantor’Cantor’s Funds Funds Funds Funds Fund
In honor of Cantor Helzer and her fabulousconcertby Bob and Janice Balin
For the honor of dressing the Torahby Beverly Stevens
The yahrtzeit of Jacob Sterlingby Beverly Stevens
In honor of Susan Newman’s Retirementby Barbara and Eugene Ridberg
In honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Leor Newmanby Beth and Michael Newmanby Rodney and Nancy Matheson
In honor of the birth of Dr. and Mrs. MarkPressman’s twinsby Myer and Ruth Binder
AlfrAlfrAlfrAlfrAlfred Cowan Ted Cowan Ted Cowan Ted Cowan Ted Cowan Torah Club Fundorah Club Fundorah Club Fundorah Club Fundorah Club Fund
by Muriel and Jules Asher
In memory of Alfons Reich by Muriel and JulesAsher
In memory of Belle Meyers, Mother of TamahGraber, by Muriel and Jules Asher
GeneralGeneralGeneralGeneralGeneral
In memory of Marilyn Burdettby Barbara and Phil Katz
In memory of Marilyn Burdettby Ethel Waltzer
In memory of Terry Kinbergby Al and Harriet Schwartz
In memory of Marilyn Burdettby Susan and Neil Newman
In honor of the engagement of Ethel Waltzer’sgranddaughter, Jenniferby Roma and Marvin Sohn
In honor of Myke Schwartz’s birthdayby Regina and Sam Spiegel
In appreciation for an Aliyahby Elizabeth Chambre
In memory of Irwin Scheckerby Ethel Waltzer
With thanks for her Aliyah on Shabbatby Ethel Waltzer
In memory of George Simballby Annabelle and Barry Jaffe
In memory of Dr. John Mandelby Annabelle and Barry Jaffe
In appreciation of Tikvat Israelby The Generation After
by Helen Schwartz
Kiddush FundKiddush FundKiddush FundKiddush FundKiddush Fund
In memory of David Schlesengerby Anne Rosenberg
Beautification FundBeautification FundBeautification FundBeautification FundBeautification Fund
In memory of Robert Oakley by Eugene andBarbara Ridbergby Kenneth Birrell
Rabbi’Rabbi’Rabbi’Rabbi’Rabbi’s Funds Funds Funds Funds Fund
In loving memory of Ella Rosenbergby Anne and Janice Rosenberg
In memory of Irvin Lernerby Freda Stutz
In honor of the marriage of Brian S. Kristal to AliWebsterby Joel and Barbara Kristal
In appreciation of Rabbi Gorinby Joel and Angela Hershby Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Aronby Lois Goldrichby Freda Stutz
In honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Leor YoavNewmanby Beth and Michael Newman
Religious School FundReligious School FundReligious School FundReligious School FundReligious School Fund
For a refuah shlemah for Carol Barskyby Sandy and Larry Levine and Aaron Cohn
In memory of Marilyn Burdettby Sandy and Larry Levine
With gratitude for Neil and Mary Meyerson’sfriendship and hospitalityby Ken Birrell
In honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Leor YoavNewmanby Beth and Michael Newman
Tikvat Israel Africa FundTikvat Israel Africa FundTikvat Israel Africa FundTikvat Israel Africa FundTikvat Israel Africa Fund
by Beth Israel Congregation
by Bernard Aron
TTTTTorah Fundorah Fundorah Fundorah Fundorah Fund
by James and Maxine Perlmutter
In memory of Ellen Bermanby Howard M. Berman
YYYYYouth & Family Prouth & Family Prouth & Family Prouth & Family Prouth & Family Progammingogammingogammingogammingogamming
In memory of Joey Pearlby Carol Chelemer
Charlotte Lowenfeld Memorial FundCharlotte Lowenfeld Memorial FundCharlotte Lowenfeld Memorial FundCharlotte Lowenfeld Memorial FundCharlotte Lowenfeld Memorial Fund
In memory of Albert Mukaseyby Rhoda and Norbert Eckstein
Tikvat Israel Funeral Practices CommitteeTikvat Israel Funeral Practices CommitteeTikvat Israel Funeral Practices CommitteeTikvat Israel Funeral Practices CommitteeTikvat Israel Funeral Practices Committee
The many acts of loving kindness to our familyby Joel and Angela Hersh
