Shortly after Cantor Jordan Franzel s father, Rabbi Daniel Franzel,

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JUNE 2017 Cantor Franzel s New Harp-Guitar Elevates the Sound of Music By Carole Verona Psalm 147:7 - Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.

She said, You have to get this! So I started to research it.

1 JUNE 2017 Cantor Franzel s New Harp-Guitar Elevates the Sound of Music By Carole Verona Psalm 147:7 - Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. Shortly after Cantor Jordan Franzel s father, Rabbi Daniel Franzel, passed away on January 27, 2017, his sister sent him a Facebook video of a man playing a harp-guitar. She said, You have to get this! So I started to research it. It s the first time I ever saw or heard one and I immediately realized that I needed one, in some way to deal with my grief, Cantor Franzel said. I knew that I was going to name the harp-guitar in memory of my father. My name in Hebrew is Yardein, derived from the words Yoreid Dan which means descending from Dan. My father s name was Dan, he explained, adding that the Dan River flows into the Jordan River. So, exactly what is a harp-guitar? According to Wikipedia, the most common definition of this exotic instrument is a guitar, in any of its accepted forms, with any number of additional unstopped strings that can accommodate individual plucking. In other words, harp strings, which can be plucked, are added to guitar strings, which can be strummed or plucked. The harp-guitar has been in existence for centuries but, according to Cantor Franzel, had a renaissance in the early 1900s with a revival going on right now. To get started on the process, Cantor Franzel was referred to Tonedevil Guitars, a company in Sandpoint, Idaho. Each harpguitar is custom built. Working with Tonedevil Guitars, I was able to add a lot of aesthetic features and personal touches to mine. The fret board features a design of the vine of life inlaid in abalone. I also have my Hebrew name on there. It s a beautiful instrument, he explained. When I first contacted Tonedevil Guitars, I told them that I was a cantor and wanted to use the instrument during services as a way to enhance the sound of the music. Even though the luthier wasn t Jewish, we had a very spiritual connection. He is the one who suggested putting something in Hebrew on the instrument. I thought that was a great idea. I didn t know you could do that. So I sent him my name in a special font and he reproduced it exactly on the guitar in abalone. As he was building it, he put pictures up on his Facebook page, which documented the process. I didn t realize until recently that he was doing that. He said he loved working with me because of all the special unique details, he added. How will the sound of the harp combined with that of the guitar affect what we will hear during services? The harp part deepens the sound. I think the sound will resonate with congregants, that they will feel it, Cantor Franzel said. A self-taught guitarist, he spends a few hours a day learning and practicing his new harp-guitar, so hopefully we will get to hear it soon. King David played the harp. If the guitar was around at his time, I believe he would have played that, too, he concluded. More of the Rabbi s Favorite Things Rabbi Ettman continues to provide us with teasers designed to enhance our interest in each week s Torah portion. June 3 Naso - A Tale and a Blessing as old as time: The Oldest Blessing we know. June10 Behaalotecha - Watching it burn and other important reasons to light the lights. June17 BShelah-Lecha - I spy with my little eye : The biblical version of the game. You won t believe what happens next. June 24 Korah Rosh Hodesh Tammuz: Imagine a Rebellion not built on hope. Be careful what you fight for.

2 Clergy and Staff Rabbi Glenn Ettman Cantor Jordan S. Franzel Rabbi Emeritus Seymour Prystowsky Office Manager Lori Dafilou x200 Administrative Assistant Nick Johnson x201 Early Childhood Education Director Michelle Ruder x400 ECE Center Assistant Director Bree Linder x401 Director of Education and Lifelong Learning Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg x301 Administrative Support x300 Synagogue Office Religious School ECE Center Officers and Trustees Executive Officers Co-President...Larry Paul Co-President...Terri Wolfheimer Vice President...Simi Kaplan Baer Vice President...Hillary Israeli Vice President...Danny Schwartz Treasurer...Joshua Dunoff Trustees Deb Brenner, COATz Chair Tamara Davis Heather Fritts Barb Hoffman, Membership Chair Jackie Kane Andrew Kasmen, Immediate Past President Bill Koeleywn, House Committee Chair Helene Levinson, Spiritual Life Chair Jeff Michaels David Nasatir Jen Segal, ECEC Committee Chair Larry Segal Curt Toll Jenn Weiner, Religious School Chair Fax Oracle Staff Editor Carole Verona carole.verona@comcast.net Deadline First of the month before publication of issue. We reserve the discretion to edit for space limitations. Congregation Or Ami is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism. June Worship Schedule Please note the new, earlier Summer Service start time! Friday, June 2 6:15pm...Tot Shabbat 6:30pm...First Friday Wine and Cheese Pre-Neg 7:00pm...Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, June 3 9:00am...Torah Study Friday, June 9 6:30pm...Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, June 10 9:00am...Torah Study Friday, June 16 6:30pm...Erev Shabbat Saturday, June 17 9:00am...Torah Study Friday, June 23 6:30pm...Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, June 24 9:00am...Torah Study Friday, June 30 6:30pm...Erev Shabbat Our Mission Congregation Or Ami strives to be a warm and welcoming center of Jewish life built on the foundation of Torah (Jewish Text and Tradition), Avodah (Spiritual Fulfillment), and G milut Chasadim (Acts of Lovingkindness). We embrace the varied needs and rich diversity of our congregants, our community, and the Jewish people. We endeavor to create an inviting and inclusive community that promotes spiritual fulfillment for our congregants and supports their search for God. We take pride in the strong partnership among our clergy, professional staff, lay leaders, and congregants. Guided by Jewish values, we are strengthened by our active volunteerism and informed decision-making. We uphold the principles and ideals of the Reform movement and are a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. Y

3 Thoughtful Words from the Confirmation Class of 5777 On May 19, Eric Archinow, Eric Banks, and Brooke Dunoff celebrated their confirmations. We are sharing some of their original writing and thoughts on what it means to be a Jewish adult in the 21st century. Their words are inspiring and remind us that there is hope for the Jewish community. What I Love About Being Jewish Eric Archinow Rabbi Ettman asked us to find a quote that meant something meaningful to us. After scrolling through pages and pages of different peoples quotes, I finally found one that hit me. It says: You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself. We learned in class that the Torah teaches us to Love your neighbor as yourself. To me this means to love yourself as you love God. I believe that self-confidence is imperative for being happy. For one thing, you cannot be happy with someone else if you re not happy with yourself. If you don t believe in yourself, it is impossible to believe in God. While discussing important events, issues, and conflicts in class, the thought of God has never been more prevalent in my thoughts. Why do bad things happen in the world, and what makes the world go around? I believe in God now; when I was younger, I couldn t say the same. There was never any proof besides what people showed me in a book that was 3000 plus years old. I had never seen God, so I wondered why I should believe in God. I have always been that kid that needed proof to really believe. When I was younger, I didn t believe in myself because I did nothing for myself. My parents bought my clothes and tied my shoes. I had no responsibilities. This was the situation until I grew older, when I began to gain knowledge, and to experience the good and the bad in the world. I perceive things much differently than when I was nine. I believe in myself. I m the only one that gets myself out of bed in the morning. I prepare for tests and finals on my own. What I m trying to say is, as you believe in yourself, you will believe in God. The two go hand in hand, and they fail without each other there to help one another. God needs us to believe in ourselves, so that we can believe in God. What Being Jewish Means To Me Eric Banks I love being Jewish because I have found that embracing my Judaism means that I can share my opinion and be heard and realize that this is part of the history of our community. In confirmation class with Rabbi, we openly discussed our opinions and challenged each other to find our truth about whatever contemporary issue we were discussing to see how it related to being Jewish. It helped me realize that essentially what I love the most about being Jewish is that we, as a community, are committed to sharing opinions in the hopes of making a change. The idea of change is what I associate most with Judaism, as all throughout history the Jewish people have been associated with change, whether it was through aiding African Americans in the civil rights movement or more recently when our synagogue held a service to speak out against anti-semitism in our area. I believe another important way the Jewish community has accomplished change is through entertainment. Throughout most of my life, Confirmation class: Eric Archinow, left; Brooke Dunoff, center; Eric Banks, right; and dedicated teachers Cantor Franzel, Rabbi Ettman, and Rabbi Tornberg. I have looked up to Jewish entertainers such as Steven Spielberg and JJ Abrams. I especially have admired comedians such as Larry David and Mel Brooks. These people have influenced me because I learn better through dialogue in movies or content in books than from lectures and papers. Watching Jon Stewart s comedy inspired me to take an interest in politics. When Mel Brooks made the film The Producers, he used humor to help heal the wounds of one the world s greatest tragedies, and changed the way we looked at the Nazis and Hitler. He turned one of the most feared people of all time into a laughing stock, all through the medium of entertainment. No big speeches, no sermons, just pure silliness. That spoke to me, it was through humor that I connected a meaning to Judaism that felt personal, and has inspired me to want to make the world a better place. For me, being Jewish is the freedom to openly discuss issues that have no right answers, and always strive for change, through any means possible. Tonight, I Confirm Brooke Dunoff I am Nachshon. I walk into the Red Sea knowing that I will face enmity but I proceed with my journey. I don t know what is coming in my future, but I know it will all work out in some way. I have faith. Only nine months ago, I was anything but Nachshon, and I wouldn t even get near that Red Sea. I was afraid of opposition. Before confirmation, I didn t want my opinions to differ from those of my friends and my family. Before this class I used to depend on my parents for my beliefs and opinions, but now that I ve been able to develop my own opinions here, I can confirm that I am an individual and that I can defend my opinions. Whether I was with my camp friends, my family, or my classmates, I would always agree with the majority, even if I didn t feel that way. Just in this class alone, I have become content with my doubt in God. In fifth grade, I started to doubt God s actions and whether or not God exists. For years I would try to convince myself and others that I believed in God. Why couldn t I believe in my own truth? In the beginning of confirmation, I would choose between one side and the other, but towards the end, I created my own side because I have my own perspective. Even those with the smallest voices have their own voice, their own perspective, and their own truths. I don t care about how other people feel about my opinions, and I am willing to disagree with a group of people. Having conversations with this class, I gained a sense of pride in my opinions; as someone who can come off as shy, this was very difficult for me to do. (Ed. Note: Nachshon was the first Israelite to enter the sea when we fled Egypt; everyone else was afraid to do that.) 3

4 Your Connections Build Our Future DO YOU have family or friends in our area who might consider joining Or Ami? DO YOU know former members who would consider returning? The Membership Committee would love to hear from YOU! Your personal connections are important to our growth. When you refer friends and family, we'll roll out the Welcome Wagon and will deliver a gift bag with a fresh challah and an invitation to join Or Ami. You'll get a $100 gift shop certificate as a thank you if your referral becomes a member! Please contact Barb Hoffman today at or barbhoffman@comcast.net We are always eager to grow our community and to share what makes Or Ami such a special place. 4

Havdalah with a Purpose Congregants and pets celebrated

We collected dog food that we contributed to the SPCA

Education Shabbat On May 5, Or Ami had a special

Glass Window Gift Card For a $10 minimum contribution,

you, In Honor or In Memory The card depicts one of the

Gilsoul) on either side of the Beit K nesset Just call

5 Havdalah with a Purpose Congregants and pets celebrated Havdalah together at Miles Park on Saturday, April 29. We collected dog food that we contributed to the SPCA on Ridge Pike. Education Shabbat On May 5, Or Ami had a special shabbat service honoring our religious school teachers. Below are pictures from the service. Help Beautify our Synagogue with a Fine Arts Stained Glass Window Gift Card For a $10 minimum contribution, the Fine Arts Committee will send a beautiful card for you, In Honor or In Memory The card depicts one of the large stained glass windows (designed by Benoit Gilsoul) on either side of the Beit K nesset Just call the office at Card will be inscribed with your personal message. Proceeds go toward beautification of our synagogue 5

6 Donations Cantor s Discretionary Fund In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Joel and Carole Lukoff Helene and Alex Levinson Michele and Jack Berman Joel and Carole Lukoff Lisa and Andrew Casel Early Childhood Education Fund In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Ellen and Michael Pries Education Fund To Alex and Dana Rosenthal In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Crescent Elementary School Fine Arts Fund To Paula and Daniel Leder In memory of Meryl Much...Josh and Lauren Dunoff Marlyn and Larry Stern Jackie and David Kane Sandra and Matthew Bennett Terri and Mark Wolfheimer Marvin and Lorie Balistocky Bob and Carol Klein Henry and Fredelle Menin Jeff Kedson Youth Fund In memory of Brian...Marlyn, Larry, Lauren and Rachel Stern Joseph Goldblum Library Fund In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Lois and Leon Fox Robert and Barbara Goldblum Light of Our People In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Susan and Hal Michels Beth and Bob Waks Jackie and David Kane Terri and Mark Wolfheimer To Debbi Schwab and family In memory of Howard Bolotin...Karen and Alan Fishman To Debbi and Peter Weidman Congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter...karen and Alan Fishman Michael Salkoff Endowment Fund To Judy Bolotin In memory of Howard Bolotin...Reba and Bob Salkoff Mitzvah Fund In memory of Brian...Deb and Randy Brenner Nancy Roomberg Memorial Fund To Paula and Daniel Leder In memory of Meryl Much...Joel and Carole Lukoff In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Carol and Alan Roomberg Rabbi Prystowsky s Discretionary Fund In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Arlene and Victor Adlin Rabbi s Discretionary Fund In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Kal and Lucille Rudman Remembrance Fund In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Jennifer Wolff Dan Neumann 6 Rona Rosner Memorial Fund To Mandy Kroker In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Kathy and Mark Gordon Synagogue Operating Fund In memory of Brian...Susan (Gonen) Neidich Karen and Nik Frankel Torah Card Fund To Michele Shubin Wishing you a smooth and quick recovery...randi and Mitch Zimmer In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Randi and Mitch Zimmer Phyllis and Stanley Warchaizer Jane and Lowell Raeder Brian Kroker and Brooke Stolper Lisa and Howard Weinstock Maris Delano Debby and Irv Askow Susan and Larry Paul Susan Rubin Kathleen and Frank Seidman Janice and Len Freed Peggy and Joel Sloane Marty and Susan Freed Susan and Charles Klein To Howard and Sandi Salasin In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Brian Kroker and Brooke Stolper To Steve Berr Get well soon...maris Delano Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Rapoport In honor of the marriage of your son Daniel...Debby and Irv Askow To Michele Shubin Refuah Shleymah...Susan Rubin To Sandra and David Grunfeld In honor of Jordyn s bat mitzvah, Mazel Tov!...Susan Rubin To Jack and Michele Berman In honor of Melissa s graduation...susan Rubin To Meryl and Ray Raskin In honor of the birth of Frances Lillian...Susan Rubin To Judy Bolotin In memory of Howard Bolotin...Susan Rubin To Fred Pesin and family In memory of your father...ilene and Michelle Buchert To the Weinstein family In honor of Chelsea and Rob s wedding...susan and Hal Michels To Blair and Jason Manus Congratulations on the birth of your daughter...ilene Buchert To Nancy Aaron Congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter...ilene Buchert To Stephanie Felgoise In memory of Jerald Friedman...Larry Paul and Terri Wolfheimer To Amy Veloric Mazel Tov on the marriage of Stacy and Lance...Susan Rubin To Linda and Russell Peltz In memory of your son, Matthew Erik...Susan Rubin Tree of Life In memory of Brian...Randy and Chris Cherkas

Wilma Clauson Adult Education Fund in memory of Brian Rosenthal...Es and David Nash Marilyn and Gene Miller Yahrzeit Fund In memory of Jack Zove...Sydelle Zove In memory of Shirley Paul Zove.

..Rick Simon In memory of Nathan Bree...Ann Levitt In memory of Lillian Bree...Ann Levitt In memory of Jerome Berger...Laurence and Debra Berger In memory of Brian Rosenthal.

..Bryn & Jeffrey Michaels In memory of Marvin Dichter...Gail & Jonathan Dichter In memory of Julius Katz...Gail & Steve Katz In memory of Abraham and Ruth...Jay Goldsleger In memory of Vera Lee.

7 Wilma Clauson Adult Education Fund in memory of Brian Rosenthal...Es and David Nash Marilyn and Gene Miller Yahrzeit Fund In memory of Jack Zove...Sydelle Zove In memory of Shirley Paul Zove...Sydelle Zove In memory of Shirley Cooperman...Joel and Gail Cooperman In memory of Mary Snyder...Joel and Gail Cooperman In memory of Irving Weiner...Perry Weiner In memory of Minnie Simon...Rick Simon In memory of Nathan Bree...Ann Levitt In memory of Lillian Bree...Ann Levitt In memory of Jerome Berger...Laurence and Debra Berger In memory of Brian Rosenthal...Bernice Schwartz In memory of Rachel Corcos...Cochava and Seymour Prystowsky In memory of Irwin Axelrod...Jeffrey Erlbaum In memory of Hank Fenichel...Ben & Elyse Leace In memory of Mark Dubow...Bryn & Jeffrey Michaels In memory of Marvin Dichter...Gail & Jonathan Dichter In memory of Julius Katz...Gail & Steve Katz In memory of Abraham and Ruth...Jay Goldsleger In memory of Vera Lee...Jeanette & Ray Bawer In memory of Edward Bard...Marilyn & Jerry Bard In memory of Estelle Linenberg...Marsha & Steve Rubin In memory of Jacob Polen...Phyllis Polen In memory of Morris Salkoff...Reba & Bob Salkoff In memory of Max Strongin...Rick & Jane Simon In memory of Theodore Schattner...Sue & Richard Ackland In memory of William Hendler...Susan & Robert Rose Mention this ad and get $5.00 off your purchase of $25 or more. Shopping at Or Ami s Gift Shop is easy and convenient. And all proceeds go to Or Ami. We have a we trust you policy. If no one is in the shop, go to the office and someone will help you. Or leave a note with your name, phone number and a description of what you took and Rachel will contact you for payment. Our Hours: Monday Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. to noon Or call Rachel at for an appointment 7

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Commemorate, Celebrate, Honor Your Loved Ones Forever With an Engraved Copper Leaf on the Tree of Life The Or Ami Tree of Life is a tree of simchas, celebration and honor that continues to flourish

11 Commemorate, Celebrate, Honor Your Loved Ones Forever With an Engraved Copper Leaf on the Tree of Life The Or Ami Tree of Life is a tree of simchas, celebration and honor that continues to flourish with the names, events and dates of our milestones, achievements and acknowledgements. What a wonderful way to commemorate a birth, an adoption, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, confirmation, wedding, anniversary, conversion, accomplishment or award, while contributing to our synagogue s beautification and sustainability. For only $118 per leaf, you can give a beautiful, meaningful gift that will last a lifetime. To order, please use the form below or call the Or Ami office at , or order online at: and click through the Tree of Life Order Form. Place your order now! Tree of Life Order Form (Please print) In Honor of: Date of Event: Event (i.e., Bar or Bat Mitzvah, wedding, etc.) Greeting (Love, From, etc.) Purchased by: Name Address City State Number of leaves* Amount enclosed ($118/leaf ) * For additional leaves, please fill out the above information on the reverse side of this form. 11

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13 Burns & Kasmen Andrew S. Kasmen ATTORNEY AT LAW Two Bala Plaza Suite 718 Bala Cynwyd, PA office direct cell fax Like us on Facebook and check in often to keep up-todate on what s going on. Please patronize our advertisers! 13

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15 Heaven & Earth Salon The One Salon for all your Beauty & Relaxation Needs 505 1/2 Germantown Pike Lafayette Hill

June 2017 Su n d a y Mo n d a y Tu e s d a y We d n e s d a y Th u r s d a y Fr i d a y Sa t u r d a y 1 7th of Sivan 5777 2 8th of Sivan 5777 3 9th of Sivan 5777 6:00 pm ECE Center PTO End of Year

16 June 2017 Su n d a y Mo n d a y Tu e s d a y We d n e s d a y Th u r s d a y Fr i d a y Sa t u r d a y 1 7th of Sivan th of Sivan th of Sivan :00 pm ECE Center PTO End of Year Picnic 6:15 pm Tot Shabbat featuring the 2 and 3 year old classes 9:00 am - 10:30 am Torah Study 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm First Fridays Wine and Cheese Lobby 7:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service 4 10th of Sivan th of Sivan th of Sivan th of Sivan th of Sivan th of Sivan th of Sivan :00 am - 11:00 am Calendar Oneg Room 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Annual Congregational Dinner and Social Hall 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm RSC Lobby ECE Center Noon Dismissal - Traditional School Year Students 9:30 am - 9:00 pm ECE Center Pre-K Closing Exercises 9:00 am - 9:00 pm ECE Center Open - Full Time Students Only 7:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service 9:00 am - 10:30 am Torah Study 11 17th of Sivan th of Sivan th of Sivan th of Sivan st of Sivan nd of Sivan rd of Sivan :00 am - 9:00 pm ECE Center Open - Full Time Students Only 9:00 am - 9:00 pm ECE Center Open - Full Time Students Only 9:00 am - 9:00 pm ECE Center Open - Full Time Students Only 9:00 am - 9:00 pm ECE Center Open - Full Time Students Only 9:00 am - 9:00 pm ECE Center Open - Full Time Students Only 9:00 am - 10:30 am Torah Study 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Finance Conference Room 7:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service 18 24th of Sivan 5777 Father's Day 19 25th of Sivan :00 am - 9:00 pm Camp Or Ami 1st Day 20 26th of Sivan th of Sivan th of Sivan th of Sivan :00 pm Erev Shabbat Service 24 30th of Sivan :00 am - 10:30 am Torah Study 25 1st of Tammuz nd of Tammuz rd of Tammuz th of Tammuz th of Tammuz th of Tammuz :00 pm Erev Shabbat Service

November Worship Schedule

November Worship Schedule NOVEMBER 2018 Clergy and Staff Rabbi...Glenn Ettman rabbiettman@or-ami.org Cantor...Jordan S. Franzel Cantor.Franzel@or-ami.org Rabbi Emeritus...Seymour Prystowsky Rabbisp@aol.com Executive Director...Lori