November 2006 Heshvan/Kislev

Transcription

1 November 2006 Heshvan/Kislev 5767 February 2008 Shevat/Adar I Baltimore Road Rockville, Maryland Volume 2 Number 2 Tikvat Israel Serves Those in Need at Shepherd s Table Over the past year, Tikvat Israel has provided volunteers to help at Shepherd s Table. Our scheduled date is the fifth Monday of the month, which this year falls on March 31, June 30, September 29, and December 29. The work that we do is relatively simple. From about 4 to 6 p.m. we set tables, bring out breads, cakes and pastries, fill water jugs and prepare some foods like cutting margarine or mixing salad. Paid staff does all the cooking. From about 6 until 7:15 p.m., we serve the food. From about 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. we clean up, because there are more people than there are seats, and we have to offer a clean table setting to each person sitting down. From about 7:15 to 8 p.m. we clean the tables and floor, dispose of excess food, and place the chairs against a wall. Typically, about 140 people come for dinner. Most of the volunteers come for a two-hour period, but are generally able to leave ten or 15 minutes before those two hours are up. It s a good feeling when you re finished because you know that you ve done something real to help people who need help. The TI congregants who volunteered at Shepherd s Table last year (listed below) have my personal thanks, the support of the congregation for representing them in a civic duty, and the appreciation of the staff and clients of Shepherd s Table. Claire Bernstein Elyse Bernstein Jeff Bernstein Julia Bernstein Larry Cohen Melissa Cohen Robbie Cohen Norm Eckstein Rhoda Eckstein If you would like to add your name to the list by volunteering at Shepherd s Table, please contact me. Richard Stoll TI/Shepherd s Table Volunteer Coordinator Cliff Fishman Jay Goldman Larry Gorban Annabelle Jaffe Barry Jaffe Wendy Jarmuth Les Klein Carl Lerman Jay Plafker Jayme Sokolow Two New Ways to Recycle at Tikvat Israel Sarah Sokolow Anita Stoll Richard Stoll Al Weiner There are now two new ways to recycle at Tikvat Israel. You can bring ALL your BATTERIES and CFL light bulbs to the synagogue cloak room where there are two boxes for recycling. You can recycle all batteries, including dry cell batteries generated from the use of cell phones, laptop computers, flashlights, cameras, watches, hearing aids, toys, two-way radios, electric tools, clocks, electronic devices, etc. This includes everything you would use around your house, with the exception of automobile batteries. The dry cell battery chemistry types are: alkaline, zinc carbon, nickel metal hydride, nickel cadmium, lithium ion, lithium, mercury, silver, and lead acid. If you have any questions, contact Dan Black (danielmblack@msn.com or ) or Art Fabel (artfabel@comcast.net). 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 February :00 p.m. February :10 p.m. February :15 p.m. February :25 p.m. Family and Youth Services Feb Shabbat is Special... 7:15 p.m. Feb Consecration... 9:30 a.m. Feb Yachad. 10:15 a.m. Feb Tot Shabbat. 11:00 a.m. Feb Kehilat Kids. 11:00 a.m. Candle Lighting Times February :11 p.m. February :19 p.m. February :27 p.m. February :35 p.m. February :42 p.m.

2 Ways to Get Involved Bikur Holim Volunteers Louise Chatlynne Women s Jewish Network Bobbi Gorban: bprem@aol.com Membership Committee Debby Berlyne College Outreach Susan Apter skapter@comcast.net Elyse Bernstein jeffelyse@comcast.net Library Phyllis Leise Attend Minyans Len Lipton : llipton9@comcast.net Social Action Committee Robbi and Larry Cohen lcohendds@yahoo.com Kiddush Volunteers Marsha Lyons: mars545@comcast.net Shepherd s Table Richard Stoll rdstoll@aol.com Stepping Stones Shelter Jay Plafker jayplafker@verizon.net Potomac Valley Nursing & Wellness Center Roma Sohn: romarvin@comcast.net Reading Mentors Ellen Eisner: eeisner@comcast.net Adult Education Committee Susan Apter skapter@comcast.net Betsy Miller bnahmiller@hotmail.com Rabbi Liason Committee Cliff Fishman fishman@law.edu Mary Wagner marydpwagner@gmail.com Jonathan Solomon jsnsssrs@verizon.net Haftorah Reading Assignments Susan Apter: skapter@comcast.net Torah Reading Assignments Sam Freedenberg sfreeden@yahoo.com Minyan Information Please call the minyan captain if you plan to attend morning minyan. Sunday Rob Kline Monday Sam Gilston Thursday David Gantz Friday Joelle Black Barry Buchbinder Decisions about whether to hold evening minyan are made by the rabbi and executive director. If minyan is canceled, a message will be put on the synagogue answering machine. If minyan is not canceled, there will be no message on the machine. You can reach the machine by calling , and press Cemetery Sites Judean Memorial Gardens has established a section for Tikvat Israel. Purchase a site through the synagogue office; it benefits you and the congregation. For details, call Michael Grossman at or David Gantz at Toiletries Collection Box When traveling, please remember to collect the small samples you receive and bring them to the synagogue. The toiletries will be distributed to a coalition of homeless shelters. Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous Food Addicts inrecovery Anonymous, a 12- step program for individuals recovering from addictive eating, meets every Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Tikvat Israel in room 11. Newcomers are welcome. For more information, please call Susan at Tikvat Israel Directory Rabbi Howard Gorin hdgorin49@yahoo.com Rabbi Emeritus Lewis A. Weintraub Cantor Rochelle Helzner rhelzner@gmail.com Cantor Emeritus Mark Levi President Ronald L. Rabin, M.D. rlrabin@gmail.com Executive Director Michael Grossman execdir@tikvatisrael.org Office Staff Carol Barsky Peggy Mitchel Amy Schneider Debbie Segal Religious School Sandy Levine, Director slevine@tikvatisrael.org Early Childhood Rori Pollak, Director ecc.director@tikvatisrael.org Youth & Family Programming Lynn Berk, Director lberk@comcast.net Synagogue Office Phone Fax Bulletin Editor Andi Kronzek TIeditor@aol.com Visit Tikvat Israel on the Web at All phone numbers are in the 301 area code unless otherwise noted.

3 From the Rabbi s Desk Rabbi Howard Gorin I am about to reveal a secret. There is a structure that protrudes from the outer wall of the room that has been ungainly dubbed the Library Annex. Why was it built? It was built for the same reason that the windows of that room begin twice as high from the floor as the windows in the library itself. The windows were set higher so that people in that room would not see their reflections when they prayed. The structure was built so that the brick of the inner wall could be removed, and an ark could be built right into the wall. In other words, that room was designed to be a chapel, an area smaller than the sanctuary that would foster the intimacy of the worship experience. It is the only prayer space in the synagogue that actually faces east. And although the acoustics of the room may leave something to be desired, they create a surround sound effect that enhances rather than detracts. So let s call the room by the name it deserves: the Library Chapel. Why the room was not outfitted as a chapel merits explanation. For one, we did not have the funds. More important, though, was the fact that the room is needed for a multitude of purposes. To install the accoutrements of a real chapel would have been neither wise nor practical. This past summer the Religious Practices Committee voted to move all services except for Shabbat morning to the Library Chapel. That decision was part of an overall program to enhance the worship experience at Tikvat Israel. It was also made for environmental reasons it is much easier to heat and cool the Library Chapel as well as aesthetic reasons. The lighting in the Library Chapel is superior to that in the Weisbord Chapel, and the fact that the Library Chapel is surrounded by four walls makes for better concentration when praying. The Religious Practices Committee decision was recently implemented. I admit that while this change could have been better publicized and explained, the decision itself has proved to be a good one. Many people have commented favorably about the quality of the services held in the Library Chapel. Attendance for the evening minyan has increased. However, we are also aware that this move is not without some challenges. The biggest is accessibility: the steps leading to the new wing are not easy for someone with impaired mobility. Asking people to use the ramp at the far end of the building and then use the walkway along the front of the building is often asking too much. This issue is the biggest source of complaints; to be a truly inclusive congregation, we will have to be more accommodating. Additionally, we have not made provisions for a coat rack or for a proper place for prayer books inside the chapel. Other logistical concerns need to be addressed. That is what this experimental period is for: to see what is working and what is not and to take steps to remedy the latter. Your feedback is welcome. Without it, we cannot properly assess this experiment. Please direct all comments to office@tikvatisrael.org or call Peggy at the synagogue office. She is the staff liaison to the Religious Practices Committee. In the meantime, you will find me at weekday evening services, more often than not (after I return from sabbatical see below). I hope that you will join me. I think that you too will see what a big difference this move has made. * * * I will be taking a brief sabbatical leave in February and March. During the first part of February, I will be on a four-state speaking tour in the South, organized by the Goldring/ Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. I am planning to visit Nigeria in the first part of March. I have lined up several of my rabbinic colleagues to cover for me, in the event of a situation that requires pastoral care. I want to thank the congregation for affording me this opportunity for travel and growth. From the President s Perspective Ronald L. Rabin, M.D. Whether any of us think of Howard Gorin as THE RABBI, Rabbi Gorin, or simply Howard may depend on our participation in the synagogue, our role in the congregation, our personal relationship with him, or simply the context of one interaction or another during the calendar year. In any event, Rabbi Gorin is our primary teacher, spiritual adviser and theologian, and perhaps our counselor and adviser. On any given day he may be expected to serve in any or all these capacities, in situations when congregants are in no position to consider that concurrent responsibilities are before him. When he is perceived to falter, congregants frequently complain to the synagogue president. The president has a unique relationship with the rabbi, because on the one hand, as the CEO of the congregation (according to the by-laws) the president represents the rabbi s employers, the members of the congregation. On the other hand, as the Matra d atra, the master of the house (as defined by the USCJ), the rabbi has the final word on any matters that cross into his domain 3 which, of course, include most everything. Most synagogue presidents meet periodically with the rabbi. While some have daily discussions or meet weekly, Rabbi Gorin and I shoot for every other week, with frequent or phone conversations in between, when necessary. Whether we are intensely discussing synagogue policy, planning future events, or just schmoozing, these meetings are necessary for the constructive relationship that we have. Continued on page 9

4 CANTOR S CORNER Cantor Rochelle Helzner Yachad Students in third through seventh grade and their parents are invited to join Cantor Helzner for a special Shabbat morning service on February 9 at 10:15 a.m. in the library. The sixth graders will conduct the service and deliver a fun and interesting presentation. The last Yachad service of the year will be held on March 15. Strathmore Concert Adult and youth choirs, cantors and music professionals from congregations throughout the Washington area will present a concert at Strathmore Hall on Sunday, March 2 in celebration of Israel s 60 th birthday. Adults will sing at both a 3:30 p.m. performance and a 7:30 p.m. performance (note new evening performance time). Tikvat Israel youth will perform at the 7:30 p.m. performance only. Radio personality Martin Goldsmith will narrate. Tickets went on sale January 14. Purim Purim begins on the Thursday, March 20. The family service, which includes Tikvat Israel s renowned Purim Puppet Production, begins at 7 p.m. The full Megilla reading with a Purim Shpiel begins at 7:45 p.m. Puppeteers and character voices are needed for our Purim puppet show. Rehearsals will be held on Sundays, March 9 at 5 p.m. and March 16 at 6 p.m. Please plan to be at both rehearsals. If you are interested, contact Lisa Krell at labell16@verizon.net or at If you are interested in performing in the shpiel, contact Cantor Helzner. Honoring Graduates Mazel Tov to Jennie Berger and Beth Meyers and their families on the occasion of their graduation from the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School on February 10. They both will be spending the next few months in Israel. May they go from strength to strength! Kabbalat Shabbat with Instruments Is Back Join us for a spirited Kabbalat Shabbat with Instruments, followed by a congregational Shabbat dinner, on Friday, March 14. Cantor Helzner will conduct the service accompanied by guitar, piano, bass and percussion. Instruments will be put down before Mizmor Shir l Yom HaShabbat. Make reservations and stay for dinner afterwards. Find out what all the buzz is about! The service will be held at 6:30 p.m. and the dinner at 7:30 p.m. The cost for dinner is $18 for adults and $8 for ages 5 to 17. Reservations are due by March 9 (no exceptions). Executive Branch Michael Grossman, Exectuive Director Is anybody out there? These words are more than Pink Floyd lyrics. I sometimes wonder if you are reading the TI Bulletin. Why do I ask this? Several times a day, members call the shul office and ask questions. Most of the questions have answers that are easily found in the TI Bulletin. Maybe you read it and lost it. Maybe you did not receive it because it is sent bulk mail. Maybe the dog ate it. So I wonder, how are we doing with the bulletin? For the record, I think the TI Bulletin is great! Andi Kronzek does a fantastic job of gathering, editing and organizing articles. She even manages to get me to follow deadlines (ok, extended deadlines). RDW does a great job of layout, printing and sorting. Then I get to schlep it to the post office for mailing. I m not complaining, mind you. I m just wondering if all of this labor is effective. We are in the process of evaluating all of our communications, printed and Internet. So, what is the best way to reach you? If you read this far, please contact me at a special e- mail address, mazel@tikvatisrael.org, and answer me these questions three: 1) Would you like to receive the bulletin by regular mail? 2) Would you prefer to receive the bulletin by only? 3) What do you like/dislike about our bulletin? HOLD THESE DATES Sunday, March 2 Strathmore Concert for Israel s 60 th at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 28-Saturday, March 29 TI Scholar s Weekend Sunday, April 6 Vocal Arts Society Recital at TI at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 8 TI Yom Haatsmaut Celebration and BBQ at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, June 1 Washington Area Celebration of Israel s 60 th Maybe my column isn t exciting enough? If I get a lot of s, I might even offer a treasure hunt in our next TI Bulletin. Thank You Special thanks to Linc Hallen for repairing the binders of the chumashim used in our sanctuary. Yasher Koach Yasher Koach to Susan Stolovy, daughter of Estelle Stolovy, who recently appeared on the episode The Milky Way of the History Channel series The Universe. 4

5 ADULT EDUCATION Israel at 60 Lecture Series Security Challenges Facing Israel at 60 Sunday, February 3 10:15 a.m. In the next of our series of lectures celebrating the 60 th anniversary of the state of Israel s birth, Tikvat Israel Congregant Ilan Berman, vice president for policy at the American Foreign Policy Council, will discuss security challenges facing the Israeli state as it enters its 60 th year. Ilan will examine the continued pressures on Israel from her neighbors Iran, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians, as she plots her next foreign policy moves. The Impact of Immigrants on Israel Sunday, February 24 10:15 a.m. Join us for Dr. Naomi Gale s presentation on the topic Sixty Years of Absorption of Immigrants: Has Israel Succeeded in Her Quest to Create a True Multi-Cultural and Pluralistic Democracy? Dr. Gale is a visiting professor to the Center for Israeli Studies at American University. She will present her thoughts and take your question in this next edition of the Israel at 60 Lecture Series celebrating the 60 th anniversary of the Jewish State. The fee is $5 per lecture. Please call the synagogue office at to RSVP. Coffee and bagels will be available for purchase before each lecture. Discussion Group on the Chumash Essays The discussion continues on Sunday, February 17, after minyan. The single requirement for participation is reading the essay before coming to the discussion. Contact Richard Stoll for information on the essay that will be discussed. RSVP to Richard by at rdstoll@aol.com or by phone at Jewish Literacy 101: Finding God in Judaism s Library Join us on Monday, February 4 as Rabbi Moshe Faierstein leads a discussion on Jewish Mysticism. This class will examine the major mystical movements in the history of Judaism Merkavah Mysticism, Medieval Kabbalah and Lurianic Kabbalah. The focus will be on their theology and its impact on Jewish religious life. Save these dates for upcoming Jewish Literacy 101 classes: March 3 April 7 May 5 Philosophical Literature with Rabbi Alana Suskin Hasidut with Rabbi Moshe Faierstein Responsa and the Cutting Edge of Judaism Today with Rabbi Alana Suskin Feminism and Liturgy Discussion Group This class, led by Rabbi Alana Suskin, meets every other Monday evening. February dates were not finalized as of press time. For information, contact Rabbi Suskin at Rabbi.al@gmail.com. Mark Your Calendars for Scholars Weekend March Our guest scholar is Rabbi Burton Visotzky, Appleman Professor of Midrash and Interreligious Studies at JTS. He is active in Jewish- Christian-Muslim dialogue internationally. His lectures, study groups, and books have been hailed on radio, television and in print. He will speak on the topic: Engaging the Other: Christianity and Islam in the 21 st Century. Cairo to Qatar: Recent developments in Jewish-Muslim Interfaith Dialogue (Friday evening after Shabbat dinner) And then I told the Pope. New Insights into Catholic-Jewish Relations, from his tenure as a professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (During Shabbat Service) Isaac Unbound Three Religions Read the Akedah (After Shabbat Lunch) Look for more details as the date approaches. If you would like to volunteer to coordinate the weekend or to set up for dinner, please contact Betsy Miller at or bnahmiller@hotmail.com. Advance registration for ALL EVENTS is strongly requested so that we can plan accordingly. Please help us make these events as successful as possible by letting us know in advance that you plan to attend. 5 Blood Drive: May 4 The Social Action Committee will hold its annual blood drive on Sunday, May 4 in the social hall. If you are a regular blood donor, please schedule your donations so that they will coincide with this date. If you are considering a first-time donation and have concerns and/or questions, please contact Robbi Cohen at Peezer200@yahoo.com. Bereavement Committee Hosts Burial Registry Session The Tikvat Israel Bereavement Committee (Chevra Kadisha) will hold a program on February 6 at 8 p.m. Marlene Bishow, a member of our congregation and president of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington, will speak about her work with the Genealogy Society. As part of her work, she is also involved in a worldwide effort to create a Jewish online burial registry. Before the program, please join us at 7:30 p.m. for minyan. For more information, contact David Gantz at Mourning Note When the casket is carried past us at a funeral, it is customary and appropriate to say Adonai natan vaadonai lakach; y hee shem Adonai m vorach. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; praised be the name of the Lord. Job I:21

6 60 Harvey T. Kaplan TI Representative on the Israel Educators Institute of the Washington, DC Jewish Community Last month, I shared some interesting stories that represent the unique and strong connections between the State of Israel and the American Jewish community at large. In this column, I d like to bring those connections closer to home by discussing some special ties between the Washington, DC Jewish community and Zionist efforts in the Middle East before and after the establishment of the State of Israel. Before I go on, however, it is important to remind everyone that there are numerous events celebrating Israel s 60 th anniversary year all over our Washington DC Metro area. Federation recently mailed out a list of a wide range of activities in our vicinity through March. (A subsequent brochure will cover the events from April through June.) Check out the website, for details. However, do make note of the following four events ones beyond the 13 diverse activities scheduled by our Adult Education, Israel Affairs, and HAZAK programs (that are posted on our website and on posters at the shul) that are extremely relevant to our congregation and local community: 1. Celebration of Israel s 60 th Birthday at Strathmore Hall on Sunday, March 2 at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Youth and adult choirs from area synagogues, including Tikvat Israel, will perform. Visit Strathmore.org for more information. 2. Visit by Israeli author Galila Ron-Feder- Amit, whose 40 books in The Time Tunnel series are popular among Israeli youth. Galila is scheduled to visit our Congregation on Monday, March 3. Separate from the scheduled programs with our religious school students that day, she will meet with their parents, day school students, ECC parents, and any other interested members of our congregation from about 6:15 to 7 p.m. 3. TI Barbecue and Celebration for Chag Ha Atzmaut (Independence Day Holiday). For the entire congregation, this event will be held on Thursday, May 8 the specific date identified for celebration of Israel s 60 th anniversary. 4. Israel@60 Celebration on the National Mall. Join the entire Washington community on Sunday, June 1 for an afternoon celebrating Israel s culture and accomplishments, diversity and democracy. Sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, this event will have something for everyone! I recently toured the exhibit, Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Community, at Washington s Sixth and I Street Synagogue. I want to share some interesting Israel-related material in that exhibit with a Washington focus. Some of the highlights I made note of were: From the collection of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington (JHSGW), there is an oral history quote from Leo Bernstein (from 1998): Before Israel was a state, we had many Haganah meetings [here in the DC area]. We were getting ready to help Jews get into Palestine. They needed money for guns, ammunition, and ships. We met at my office at th Street. Another interesting panel in the exhibit contains some little-known facts about the final days of the Mandate period in Palestine: On November 29, 1947, the United Nations voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. [By the way, this will be the theme of the third book in The Time Tunnel series to be published first in English, then in Hebrew. I ll have more to say about that and the Israeli author of the series in next month s column.] Washington Jews had worked tirelessly to assure the required two-thirds vote. Dr. Harvey Ammerman convinced one of his patients serving at the Chilean Embassy to intercede. The patient called Chile s ambassador to the U.N., and Chile abstained. While working as the physician at the Guatemalan Embassy, Ammerman also won the backing of the Guatemalan Ambassador Jorge Garcia Granados. Here s a major point in the exhibit, one on which I ve provided background material in prior articles: On May 14, 1948, at midnight in Jerusalem, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the independence of Israel. Eleven minutes later, at 6:11 P.M. in Washington, President Truman announced the United States recognition of the Jewish state helping to guarantee Jews worldwide a cultural home, and spiritual center. What was the reaction in Washington to Truman s recognition? Wholehearted support, of course! Washington Jews celebrated with thanks and jubilation, according to the exhibit. An exuberant crowd gathered at the Jewish Agency building at 2010 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. as the new flag was raised. They spilled out the door onto the lawn, singing, dancing, and praying. We had a beautiful time, said Fanny Rose in her oral comments to JHSGW in We cried and we danced and we cried. Oh they must have had several hundred people in the street. Another panel makes the point that while Israelis were conducting their fight for independence, Washingtonians raised money, collected supplies, and lobbied for political support. Organizations such as the United Jewish Appeal worked tirelessly to assist Israel in meeting overwhelming social and economic requirements in the new State. Several Washingtonians joined other American Jewish leaders in pledging to help raise $1 billion to enable Israel to build infrastructure and absorb more immigrants. A committee composed of Leo Bernstein, Abraham Kay, Joseph Cherner, and Garfield Kass selected a suitable building for the new embassy at 22d and R Streets, N.W. Of course, there were Washington area Zionists among the group of Americans to emigrate to Israel (i.e., make aliyah). ISRAEL AT 60, cont. on next page 6

7 Israel at 60 continued from page 6 There s an intriguing photo in the exhibit with the following caption, dated 1948: Arnold Kravette and fellow members of the ZOA [Zionist Organization of America] sterilize and repackage canned goods in a Falls Church DGS store for shipment to Israel. [The DGS, or District Grocery Stores, were a cooperative of 12 Jewish owners.] Another photo caption, from the 1950s: Ardent Zionist Nehemiah Cohen, co-founder of Giant Food, greets David Ben- Gurion [in Washington]. One final caption, this one from a 1950 photo: Washingtonian Abraham S. Kay was one of the 44 American Jews invited to Israel by Prime Minister David Ben- Gurion to form the Development Corporation for Israel (now known as Israel Bonds). Clearly, Washington-area Jews had a lot to do with the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, and in supporting it over the ensuing years. Sunday Night at the Movies with HAZAK Mark your calendars for HAZAK s popular movie night on Sunday, February 10 at 4:30 p.m. at the shul. The feature presentation is Where Neon Goes to Die, a visit to Miami Beach south of Lincoln Road before the area was reinvented as South Beach. Many of us have memories of visiting relatives in this area before it became a happening place. This new documentary film has been shown nationally to great reviews. We ll start with refreshments, and the movie will begin promptly at 5:15 p.m.. This is a free event to all paid-up HAZAK members. Dues ($10 per person) may also be paid at the door. Please join us for a nosh, a shmooze and a good movie a great plan for a Sunday in February! Rabbi Liaison Committee The rabbi of any congregation is our primary teacher, spiritual adviser and theologian. He (or she) is the face of the congregation to both the members and the community at large. It is therefore very important that a rabbi and his/her congregants communicate effectively, and that problems or misconceptions are dealt with efficiently and quickly. To maintain a close connection between our rabbi and the congregation, a Rabbi Liaison Committee (RLC) has been established for a trial period (about a year) to foster greater communication, provide a sounding board for Rabbi Gorin, and to teach people about the many things the rabbi does for the congregation and the community as a whole. The job of a rabbi is challenging, requiring a constant effort to balance the many needs and expectations of the congregation. The demands on his time and energy are constant, and his behavior is scrutinized in the context of the expectations of his role. Often, the rabbi gets little or no feedback or worse, only negative feedback to help guide his decisions. All these issues impinge upon a healthy relationship between the rabbi and the congregation. The RLC is a joint initiative of Rabbi Gorin and President Ron Rabin. Both Rabbi Gorin and Ron agree that one of the benefits of belonging to a synagogue like ours is that you aren t lost in a crowd. People care about each other and support each other in good times and bad. This committee should give members another way to feel a close connection with our synagogue. The RLC will serve a variety of functions. For example, a congregant may be reluctant to approach the rabbi to ask a question or express an opinion about some aspect of religious services, may seek help following up on a previous matter, or wish to pass on a complaint, a compliment or an expression of gratitude. In each case, the RLC can serve as a conduit to pass such questions or comments to the rabbi, facilitate a meeting between the rabbi and the congregant, and even join the meeting should the congregant desire a mediator or someone to help him or her communicate. The committee can also help keep the congregation informed about the many things our rabbi does when he is not standing in front of us on the bima. Rabbi Gorin sees the committee as another way to connect with congregants, as well as an opportunity to receive feedback. As you are reading this, you may be asking: Do you mean that from now on, instead of talking directly to Rabbi Gorin, I have to go through this committee? Absolutely not. Members are encouraged to continue going to the rabbi first with any concerns or comments. The objective of the RLC is to serve as an additional way for congregants and Rabbi Gorin to communicate with each other and a way to keep track of issues that congregants bring to our attention. The RLC will not and must not serve as a buffer that may distance the rabbi from the congregation. In keeping with the personalized theme, the committee will be small. The founding three members of the committee are Cliff Fishman, Jonathan Solomon and Mary Wagner. Their contact information may be found on page 2 of the bulletin. Please feel free to call or any of the committee members if you would like further information. Please also understand that the committee will not accept comments or requests on Shabbat or holidays. Rabbi Howard Gorin Ronald L. Rabin, M.D. Clifford Fishman Mary Wagner Jonathan Solomon, Ph.D. Get Connected with TI Listserv Tikvat Israel supports two lists so members can connect to our community. To receive TI news only, visit For news and discussion among members, visit For more information about the listservs, please visit our Web site, 7

8 TICKETS GO ON SALE JAN. 14 Be part of the celebration! Order your tickets now. MARCH 2, 2008 Choral concerts 3:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Strathmore Concert Hall Narrated by Martin Goldsmith More than two dozen Washington-area synagogue youth, teen and adult choirs including ours will join together to present Libi Ba'Mizrach My Heart is in the East: A Musical Celebration of Israel's 60th Birthday Tickets Adults $25 and $18 Children $9 To order, visit or phone

9 Rori Pollak, Director BROADMAN-KAPLAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER January was a jam-packed month. After welcoming in the new year, the staff started back anew. The first thing we did was increase communications from the teachers to the parents. Please visit the ECC website ( / and click on departments to read what each class did for the previous month. The children were excited to see two special performances co-sponsored by the Maryland State Arts Council for the AiE (Artists-in-Residence) Program and performed by InterAct Story Theater. The AiE Artists-in-Residence Program provides opportunities for hands-on intensive workshops involving a small core group of students and teachers over a number of days or weeks. This month, the ECC will have three performances from the AiE Artists-in- Residence Program. Each week throughout January, Rabbi Gorin joined several of our classes to read stories and make challah. The children love when the Rabbi visits. Pictures will be posted on our website. Please check them out. January ended with the ECC s Family Fun Day. This event, nicknamed Friend- Raising, provided a great opportunity for families to spend an informal morning playing games, doing art projects and getting to know one another. I wish to thank Michelle Brami for organizing this terrific event Enrollment Applications for enrollment for the school year are available on-line on our website at template.php?title=departments&cat=d Club ECC Summer Program Applications Will Be Out Soon Club ECC is a summer program designed with preschoolers in mind. Every two weeks, a new and exciting adventure-themed session will begin. Each two-week session will include special theme-related projects, an enrichment class, beachside adventures (water play) and guest performances. Each Friday, better known as Funtastic Friday, we will celebrate Shabbat and incorporate something special. For more information or to receive an application, please call the school office at or me at rori@tikvatisrael.org. February Calendar Tuesday, Feb. 5 AiE* Program: Shake a Leg Wednesday, Feb. 6 He & Me Breakfast Tuesday, Feb. 12 Coffee Club 8:30-9:15 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20 AiE* Program: Song Building Monday, Feb. 25 AiE* Program: Books Alive *Artists in Residence PRESIDENT, cont. from page 3 Until now, the president has raised compliments, complaints or concerns by individual congregants at these meetings. It is necessary that any congregational rabbi be aware of valid complaints, but this responsibility frequently injects a level of tension into some of these meetings that impairs our ability to do business. Furthermore, with the end of each president s term, institutional memory is lost. It is in this context that Rabbi Gorin and I have established, for a trial period of approximately one year, the Rabbi Liaison Committee (RLC). The RLC will serve a variety of functions. For example, a congregant may be reluctant to approach the rabbi to ask a question or express an opinion about some aspect of religious services, may seek help following up on a previous matter, or wish to pass on a complaint, a compliment or an expression of gratitude. In each case, the RLC can serve as a conduit to pass such questions or comments to the rabbi, facilitate a meeting between the rabbi and the congregant, and even join the meeting should the congregant desire a mediator or someone to help him or her communicate. In addition, the RLC will serve to inform the congregation of the many ways that Rabbi Gorin serves us that are not immediately obvious to all segments of the congregation. The RLC does not set policy, but policy may be guided by the reports from the RLC to the board of directors and the president of the congregation. In its mature form, each of the three RLC members will serve for three years. To preserve institutional memory, the terms will be staggered, so to start with, Cliff Fishman will serve for only one year, and Jonathan Solomon and Mary Wagner are deciding whether a coin flip or rock-paper-scissors will determine which of them will serve two vs. three years. New members of the RLC are jointly chosen by the RLC, the rabbi and the president. Rabbi Gorin, the RLC members and I are enthusiastic about this approach to enhancing the lines of communication between congregants and our rabbi. We anticipate that the committee will evolve into an institution that will serve the congregation well and foster a strong, constructive relationship between the rabbi and the lay leadership. I encourage you to read the accompanying article on page 7 of this issue of the bulletin that explains the committee in more detail. Cliff, Jonathan and Mary have both Rabbi Gorin s and my gratitude for agreeing to serve on the RLC. As the founding committee members, they worked hard at defining its responsibilities and limitations, and aside from Shabbat and holidays, are committed to making themselves available to congregants. 9

10 YOUTH & FAMILY PROGRAMMING Lynn Berk, Director Purim Carnival The Annual TI Purim Carnival will take place on Sunday, March 16 from 12:15 to 2:30 p.m. There will be lots of booths, a hot dog lunch (with a veggie alternative), hamantashen, fantastic prizes, a special preschool guaranteed-win section, Girl Scout cookies for sale and so much more. To volunteer or for more information, call Lynn at USY is Really Cooking Our USYers are collecting recipes and special memories of Passover to put together into a special edition Passover cookbook. If you have a recipe or a memory that you would like to share, please it to USY adviser Ariel Gold at areilmgold@gmail.com by March 1. The cookbook will be available for sale at the Purim Carnival, Megillah reading and in the TI office through April 15. younger. The fee is $10 for adults (13 to 120) and $5 for children (3-12). Family maximum is $30. Reservations can be made by sending your check to Lynn Berk. Please list the ages of children attending the program. RSVP Policy In recent years, Youth and Family Programming Department events have been negatively affected by registrants who commit to attendance but then do not attend, and by those who do not register in advance. To ensure consistency of events, the following RSVP policy has been instituted: 1. All events require an RSVP, and will have a deadline date. The program will not be held unless there is sufficient enrollment by that date. If there is insufficient enrollment, only the people who registered will be notified of the cancellation. Those who desire to walk in for events are strongly advised to call the advisor to confirm that the event will take place. Publicity will include the words, RSVP is required by (date). The event will not be held unless (number) people register by that date. 2. Some events will involve a fee. There will be a pre-registration amount for those who pre-register, and an at-the-door amount for those who walk in without preregistering. These fees will be clearly posted on event publicity. 3. Events with fees often involve a financial commitment by the Youth and Family Programming Department. For that reason, assuming that the event is held, everyone who registers will be expected to pay the fee for the event, whether or not they attend. Uncollected fees will be added to the family s synagogue bill at the at-thedoor rate. B nai Mitzvah Retreat A B nai Mitzvah sleepover retreat will be held at TI February 9 and 10 for all children currently in 5 th or 6 th grade. We will play icebreaker games to help religious school kids and the day school kids get better acquainted, do several short Jewish-identity exercises, watch parts of the movie Keeping Up with the Steins as a trigger for discussion, enjoy some fun social activities, and so much more. Parents are invited to join us for special programming on Sunday morning. The retreat will end at noon on Sunday. If your child has not yet signed up for this event, please contact Lynn Berk as soon as possible. Hav-Deli Join us on Saturday, February 23 for HAV- DELI Havdalah, a deli dinner and Israeli dancing for the whole family. The program will begin at 5:30 p.m. with Ma ariv and Havdalah, followed by dinner and Israeli dancing for children, beginners and experienced Israeli dancers. There will be special activities for children age 5 and YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING CALENDAR Feb 9, 10 Sat., Feb. 23 BONIM Sun., Feb. 24 MACHAR Sun., Feb. 24 KADIMA Sun., Feb. 17 Feb B nai Mitzvah Retreat Hav-Deli & Israeli Dance Fun Bus TI Trip to Barry s Magic Shop Multi chapter Snow Tubing Regional Kadima Kallah USY Sun., Feb. 3 Super Bowl Party in Youth Lounge Sat., Feb. 9 Regional Formal Dance Sun., Feb. 10, 24 Basketball League Fri., Feb. 22 USY Shabbat Dinner Sun., Feb. 24 Leadership Drum Circle 10

11 Religious School Sandy Levine, Director Our third- through tenth-grade teachers and students are delighted to have a computer and printer in each of their classrooms. These computers are used for differentiated instruction strategies such as having individual children practicing the tefillah curriculum as they listen to Cantor Helzner s voice and see the Hebrew text on the monitor, and researching special questions concerning Israel or other topics. We are excited that 50 of our students are among 1,000 children all over the world who will be able to participate in a special global Jewish beta group and discover an amazing educational online world. The story of our computers is wonderful a testimony to the power of committed and knowledgeable volunteers who are willing to use their skills to help others. Congregant Art Fabel relays the story as follows: Project Reboot is made up of a bunch of retired government workers whose average age is about 70. These folks take computers which were discarded by Montgomery County Public Schools and refurbish them and then load new software and operating systems. They give the computers to needy individuals and nonprofit organizations. Project Reboot only charges $5 for the computers, as that is what Microsoft charges them for a software license. They are working out of a condemned house that doesn t get mail, telephone service or an Internet connection. They get the house free from Montgomery County, with free utilities. Rabbi Gorin connected Art Fabel with Project Reboot, which is run by Gerry Rosenkranz, who is a former Temple Israel member. Art has been our liaison with Project Reboot and picked up the equipment. Art worked with Yehuda Shem-Tov to get everything connected and running. You may recall that Yehuda was instrumental in making the computer shipment to Nigeria a reality. Ah, the interconnectedness of a good deed. Next time you see Art or Yehuda, please thank them for their time and effort on behalf of the Religious School. Gimmel Class Consecration Please join us on Saturday, February 2 for the Gimmel Class consecration. This is a wonderful opportunity for the congregation to honor our third graders for their commitment to Jewish study, their enthusiasm and their skill. Congratulations to the following students, and may the each go from strength to strength. Congratulations to: Jessica Freedman, daughter of Monica and Jeff Freedman Matthew Kaminow, son of Ellen and David Kaminow RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUNDRAISER BAGELS TO GO! What? Fresh Bagels from Goldberg s. Hot coffee. Relax at TI or take home a dozen bagels (or two!) When? Sunday, February 3 (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 Religious School to Sandy Levine or the Synagogue office by Wednesday, January 30 for pick-up on Sunday, February 3. Questions? Call Stuart Berlin at BAGEL ORDER FORM For pick-up on Sunday, February 3 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Daphne Kirschner, daughter of Brigitte and Jonathan Kirschner Matthew Mintz, son of Elyca and David Mintz Adam Schneider, son of Amy and Barry Schneider Dana Shapiro, daughter of Dr. Marla Shapiro Ruben Silverstone, son of Maya Chauls and Jon Silverstone Noah Sultan, son of Karen and David Sultan Meet Author Galila Ron-Feder-Amit Join us in the social hall on Monday, March 3 from 6:15 to 7 p.m. to meet Galila Ron- Feder-Amit, Israeli author of the famous Time Tunnel Series. Name 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 = $ 11

12 Mail Bag Thank you for the fruit basket in memory of my father and for the support of the congregation in our loss. Harvey and Lynn Berk Kosher Wine Tasting Join us on Saturday night, March 8 at TI to taste a variety of fine red and white kosher wines imported from all over the world by event sponsor Royal Wine Imports. Details to follow on the listserve and TI website. Women s Network/ Sisterhood Help Wanted! A small group of women have been working on programs, finances and the Torah Fund for several years, and we need to ask for your help and support in the coming year. We have been able to raise money for the synagogue, run the Gallery Space and continue to support the Women s League programs, especially the Torah Fund. We need a few women to take the responsibility of several positions to create a future for the Women s Network/Sisterhood in our congregation. Co-Presidents to organize the membership and provide the support for the ongoing programs we have established Treasurer To collect and organize the dues and support the Gallery Space gift shop by coordinating the payment to the participating artists who consign with us. Rosh Chodesh Coordinator Book Group Coordinator These positions comprise a small group, but are very important to the structure of Women s Network in the coming years at Tikvat Israel. To volunteer for any of these positions or for more information, contact Bobbi Gorban at or bprem@aol.com. Donations The Congregation gratefully acknowledges the following contributions, which were received from December 14, 2007 through January 15, Aaron Apatoff by Irv Apatoff Max Bassin by Bob and Shirley Bassin Salomon Battino by Victor and Elisabeth Battino Dorothy Caplan and David Caplan by Francine Behrman Benjamin Kay by Joan and Myer Berman Irene Berger by Sue and Jerry Boden Ruth Katzen by Jeanne and Julius Bowen Louis Broadman and Louis Waxler by Sandy and Ira Broadman David Glass by Irving and Barbara Cohen Morris Cohen and Ruth Hochberg by Adele and Leon Cohen Rachel Cohen by Zivan Rosalie Cohen Reuben Lapin by Karen Cohen Irving Karabell by Sonya and Maurice Dunie Julie Auerbach by Marsha and Arthur Fabel Benjamin Feinman and Rose Feinman by Harold Feinman William Mazaroff by Ruth Fine Saul Cohen by Joyce and Rudy Fischer Jennie Strassman by Sally and Ben Friedman Nathan Gershowitz by Albert Gershowitz Bertha Grossman by Bernice Grossman Fay Blum by Elaine and Herbert Raymond Eldredge by Annie and Joel Kahn and daughter Mollie Radin Schrager by Marian and Jesse Kaiser Samuel Kier by Lionel Kier Max Mendelson by Ruth Kleinman Joshua Krepchin by Pearl Krepchin Anne Kristal by the Kristal and Shore families Arlene Simon by Andi and Sheldon Kronzek and family Rose Oppenheim Levin by Mike and Betsey Levin Jacob B. Levin by Gertrude Levin Havivah Levy by Maimon and Anna Levy Alexander Lewis and Robert Lewis by Donald and Betty Lewis Lillian Walder by Ruth Yudkoff Love Louis Hecht and Celia Hecht by Joan and Don Margolies Meyer David Green by Rianne and John Melmed Harriet Miller by Jeff, Betsy, Michal and Tamar Miller Helen Berger by Elaine Moses Selma Oppenheim by Julius Oppenheim Rose Blackstone and Miriam Hoffman by Michele and Roy Peck Nathan Plafker by Jay and Sue Plafker Leo Pachenker by Sylvia Pachenker Ben Perlmutter by James and Maxine Perlmutter Harry Levinstein by Stephen and Helen Raucher Ida M. Scheffman by Alvin and Barbara Reiner Dr. John Mandel and George Simball by Alvin and Barbara Reiner Bess Snyder by Anne Rosenberg Julius Rom by Rose Rom Marion Salon by Rebecca Salon Abraham Schuchman by Gerald Schuchman Walter Blumberg and Goldy Blumberg by Joyce Blumberg Schwartz Rose Schwartz by Arnold Schwartz Henry Schwartz and Bernice Schwartz by Dudley and Alice Schwartz Florence Nachamkin, Nathan Nachamkin, Ricki Jane Nachamkin and Marsha Fleisher by the Soffrin family Sara Sokolow by Jayme Sokolow Joseph Steinberg by Sophie Steinberg Louis Luck Goldberg by Ann Rita Sterling Joseph Sully by Paul Sully and Diane Gardsbane Bernard Gross by Len and Marilyn Teitelbaum Frieda Cohen and Caren Thaler by Barbara and David Thaler Jennie Schnitzer by Selma Winson Sarah G. Kravitz by Debbie and Mike Yanoff Chai Campaign Anne Rosenberg Mr. & Mrs. Martin Kronenberg General Fund For a refuah shlemah for Barbara Katz s father by Dottie and Lou Kornhauser In memory of Melanie Grishman s beloved father, Moody Grishman by Jesse and Marian Kaiser by Lou and Dottie Kornhauser by Barbara and Phil Katz by Susan and Neil Newman Happy 16 th Birthday to Anna Anglin by Sheila and Jerry Danoff In appreciation of Rabbi Gorin and Cantor Helzner by Sheila and Jerry Danoff In memory of our dad, Jack Zoltrow by Sheila and Jerry Danoff 12