COM bulletin. Herman and Rose Fisher Library opens to the Kalamazoo community INSIDE SPECIAL EVENTS VISIT US!

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1 COM bulletin CONGREGATION OF MOSES Kalamazoo, Michigan Volume 4, Issue 1 January 1, 2012 Tevet - Shevat 5772 INSIDE CALENDARS pages 4 & 5 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE page 9 SISTERHOOD page 15 HADASSAH page 19 RELIGIOUS SCHOOL page 10 RABBI S MESSAGE page 11 YAHRZEITS page 21 SPECIAL EVENTS EXPANDED SHABBAT January 14 SUNDAY BAGELS ESSENTIAL JEWISH IDEAS January 15 COMMUNITY SHABBAT DINNER January 20 COMMUNITY READ January 22 FROM BIBLE TO SYNAGOGUE January 29 Herman and Rose Fisher Library opens to the Kalamazoo community COM s Herman and Rose Fisher Library is a treasure trove of Jewish literature, housing more than 3,500 Jewish books, periodicals, DVDs and CDs. Recognizing that plenty of non-jews in the Kalamazoo community would like to avail themselves of such an extensive resource, the COM has decided to open its library doors to the public. For an annual fee of $10 (or $20 for a family), Kalamazoo residents can now check out materials during regular library hours on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In the words of Library Director Rachel Haus, the library is just too good to keep to ourselves. She expects new library users to include not just students and teachers but also anyone interested in topics ranging from Bible, law, ethics and folklore to Jewish history, culture and literature. The library includes an impressive collection of Jewish children s books, with selections for preschoolers through young adults. Since stepping in as director five years ago, Rachel has put in countless hours organizing and cataloging materials, instituting an electronic cataloging system and expanding the library s collections and services. If you haven t checked out the COM library lately, or even if you have, stop in and browse for awhile. You may be surprised at the breadth of topics on the shelves. Or go to the library website at pages_/library.cfm where you can search and reserve books by author, book title or description. The library s hours are 9:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. on Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sundays. There is no charge for congregants to use the library. VISIT US!

2 CONGREGATION OF MOSES THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS always welcomes comments from COM congregants and invites you to attend its regular board meetings, typically held the first Tuesday of each month. Minutes of board meetings are available upon request from the synagogue office. Executive Committee President Tamara Norman st Vice President Liz Siegel nd Vice President Cathy Cheron Treasurer Ed Goldenthal Secretary Diane Fogel Immediate Past President Shirley Wise Past President Ken Goodman global.net Synagogue Staff Rabbi Harvey Spivak Religious School Principal Susan Welbourne Office Manager Shirley Mengel Building Manager Rod Anderson Baking Mania Volunteers pull all-nighter Some of our congregants spend so much time volunteering at shul that sometimes it seems they never go home. In the case of six special congregants volunteering their time in the kitchen last month for a marathon 18 hours straight they didn t go home, not even to sleep. To provide enough baked goods for the two-day Sisterhood Bake Sale and the Library Open House, both held in December, Michelle Angel, Joyce Camhi, Cathy Cheron, Beth Grode, Jill Ruterbusch and Liz Siegel began baking at 7 p.m. on a Saturday and continued through the night, measuring, mixing, baking, decorating, cutting and wrapping until 1 p.m. on Sunday. They prepared cheesecakes, brownies, sugar cookies, snowflake cookies, quick breads, decorated Hanukkah cookies, peanut butter bars and chocolatedipped and sprinkled pretzels all for the rest of us to enjoy! The COM bulletin is published monthly by the Congregation of Moses for the benefit of its members. The deadline for submitting articles, photos and ads is the third Monday of each month for publication the following month. Please send submissions to Cindy Beer, editor, at cinbeer@aol.com. Customer Tema Lando (top) purchases 36 Hanukkah cookies lovingly baked by Beth Grode (lower) and crew. PAGE 2

3 Shabbat service schedule FRIDAY January 6 SATURDAY January 7 FRIDAY January 13 SATURDAY January 14 FRIDAY January 20 SATURDAY January 21 FRIDAY January 27 SATURDAY January 28 7:30 p.m. Announcements: Joyce Camhi 9:30 a.m. Torah: Genesis 49:1-49:26 Judah Ari-Gur Haftarah: I Kings 2:1-12 Rabbi Spivak Announcements: Michelle Angel 7:30 p.m. 9:30 a.m. Learner s Shabbat Tot Shabbat and Junior Congregation begin at 10:30 a.m. Torah: Exodus 3:1-4:17 Al Rosenthal Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13;29:22-23 Dave Rosenberg Announcements: Cathy Cheron 7:30 p.m. Community Shabbat Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Announcements: Lowell Seyburn 9:30 a.m. Board Shabbat Torah: Exodus 7:8-8:15 Rabbi Spivak Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21 Judah Ari-Gur Announcements: Valerie Eisenberg 7:30 p.m. Announcements: Mike Koffron 9:30 a.m. Torah: Exodus 11:4-12:28 Dave Rosenberg Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28 Stephen Koss Announcements: Liz Thall Candle lighting JAN. 6 JAN. 13 JAN. 20 JAN. 27 5:07 p.m. 5:14 p.m. 5:22 p.m. 5:31 p.m. Barucha for candle lighting Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech haolam asher kideshanu bemitsvotav vetzivanu l hadlik ner shel Shabbat PAGE 3

4 January calendar SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT Men s Club Meeting 9:30 am 9 10 Synagogue Board Meeting 7:30 pm 11 Religious School resumes 12 Hebrew Study Group 7:30 pm Learners Shabbat 9:30 am Tot Shabbat 10:30 am Junior Congregation 10:30 am 15 Sunday Bagels Essential Jewish Ideas 11 am-noon 16 Bulletin deadline 5 pm Hadassah Book Club 7:30 pm Executive Committee Meeting 7:30 pm 20 Community Shabbat Dinner 6 pm Services 7 pm 21 Board Shabbat 9:30 am 22 Adult Education: Community Read 10 am Social Hall 29 From Bible to Synagogue 11 am-noon Hebrew Study Group 7:30 pm PAGE 4

5 February calendar SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 5 Sunday Bagels Essential Jewish Ideas 11 am-noon 6 7 Synagogue Board Meeting 7:30 pm Learners Shabbat 9:30 am Tot Shabbat 10:30 am Junior Congregation 10:30 am Hebrew Study Group 7:30 pm 12 Men s Club Meeting 9:30 am Sisterhood Panel Discussion 13 Hadassah Board Meeting 1 pm Executive Committee Meeting 7:30 pm 17 Community Shabbat Dinner 6 pm Services 7 pm Make n Bake Hamentaschen From Bible to Synagogue 11 am-noon COM/B nai Israel Concert 20 Bulletin deadline 5 pm Hadassah Book Club 7:30 pm Hebrew Study Group 7:30 pm No Religious School PAGE 5

6 Mishpacha MAZEL TOV TO... Gerry and Lee Tregerman on the birth of their grandson, Ari Hollingsworth Lori and Steve Krefman on the marriage of Rachel to Reynaldo Castellon Tamara and Earl Norman on their daughter Aviva s graduation from Michigan State University Ken Eisenberg on his special birthday Rae and Frank Friedman on their 50th wedding anniversary SPEEDY RECOVERY WISHES TO... Dean Thommes and Marvin Okun GENERAL FUND Mazel Tov to Gerry and Lee Tregerman on the birth of their grandson, Ari Hollingsworth. Mazel Tov to Lori and Steve Krefman on the marriage of Rachel to Reynaldo Castellon. Mazel Tov to Tamara and Earl Norman on their daughter Aviva s graduation from Michigan State University. In honor of Ken Eisenberg s special birthday. Wishing Dean Thommes and Marvin Okun a complete and speedy recovery. Joanne & Mike Simon, Marilyn & Art Feinberg, Phil Horwich, Pnina & Judah Ari-Gur, Shirley Wise & Frank Szopo In loving memory of my father, Ely Zuravel. Rosalie Halpert In loving memory of our sister, Paula Denise Feldman Parmeter. In loving memory of our nephew, Ryan Wrigley Parmeter. BUILDING FUND Donations have been made to the following tzedaka funds: Elaine & David Feldman Mazel Tov to Gerry and Lee Tregerman on the birth of their grandson, Ari Hollingsworth. Mazel Tov to Lori and Steve Krefman on the marriage of Rachel to Reynaldo Castellon. In honor of Ken Eisenberg s special birthday. Wishing Dean Thommes and Marvin Okun a complete and speedy recovery. Sallie & Ken Goodman, Tamara & Earl Norman Mazel Tov to Tamara and Earl Norman on their daughter Aviva s graduation from Michigan State University. Sallie & Ken Goodman In honor of Norm Marshall s special birthday. Susan & Ron Rosenberg TORAH RESTORATIONS CAMPAIGN In loving memory of my mother, Eta Kercman. In loving memory of my son, Victor Paul Tuchman. Tema Lando Hy Tuchman PAGE 6

7 Mishpacha MARVIN AND ROSALIE OKUN RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND Mazel Tov to Gerry and Lee Tregerman on the birth of their grandson, Ari Hollingsworth. Mazel Tov to Lori and Steve Krefman on the marriage of Rachel to Reynaldo Castellon. Mazel Tov to Tamara and Earl Norman on their daughter, Aviva s graduation from Michigan State University. In honor of Ken Eisenberg s special birthday. Wishing Dean Thommes and Marvin Okun a complete and speedy recovery. Susan & Patrick Welbourne, Judy & Lowell Seyburn The Fischell Family, Kim & Arlen Rubin Mazel Tov to Elane and David Feldman on the marriage of their daughter, Amber Elizabeth Baum, to Adam Scott Beslove. The Krell Family In loving memory of Dorothy Fratus, Sadye Rubin, Jack Rubin and Dorothy Miller. Condolences to Anne Arbetter Fischell and family on the passing of her father, Howard Arbetter. Kim & Arlen Rubin Marian & Ken Fisher HARRY AND LILLIAN SOFEN LEARNING CENTER FUND In loving memory of my mother, Lillian Sofen. Nancy Zarnow ANDREW LEVENE SCHOLARSHIP FUND In loving memory of my father, Andrew Levene. Candi Levene JOYCE AND MORTON FISHER KITCHEN/KIDDUSH/ONEG FUND In loving memory of Beatrice Rocklin mother of Sharon Schwartz. In loving memory of Zipra Feder. Sharon & Paul Schwartz Pnina & Judah Ari-Gur We love our sponsors! We are so grateful to our COM bulletin sponsors because their support enables us to produce this key member publication every month, every year. The bulletin keeps our congregants connected and informed and recognizes the good work of the many individuals, committees and other groups who make things happen for our community. So please take note of our bulletin ads (pages 22 and 23) and support our sponsors whenever possible. You, too, can be a sponsor! And you don t have to own a business! Besides ads, we offer sponsorships of individual bulletin pages. Got kids in our Religious School? You can sponsor the Religious School page(s) for only $18 per page per issue (no minimum number of issues required). New member of the Sisterhood? Show your stuff by sponsoring the page featuring the Sisterhood. Other possibilities: the calendar, service schedule, Rabbi s Message, Men s Club, Library, Hadassah, birthday/anniversary, President s Message or yahrzeit pages, or simply sponsor a general page. One-page sponsorship: only $18 Two-page sponsorship: only $36 To become a sponsor or for more information, please contact Cindy Beer at (269) or cinbeer@aol.com. PAGE 7

8 From Bible to Synagogue: How Judaism Became the Religion We Know Today How will the world end? And what can we know about the future while the world is still here? The developing belief in life after death and resurrection began to play an important part in Judaism around the time of the Maccabean revolt that is central to the Hanukkah story. It s a fascinating chapter in Judaism that influenced later Jewish beliefs. You can learn about it in From Bible to Synagogue, a continuation of the popular COM series that began last year. We ll watch a DVD presentation by Professor Isaiah Gafni of Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and follow it with a discussion. SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 11:00 a.m. to noon COM/B nai Israel concert The Congregation of Moses and Temple B nai Israel will host a concert with two University of Michigan musicians, Stefan Koch on cello with a colleague playing piano, in February. They will perform a work never performed in the United States by Richard Stohr, a pre-wwii European composer, theoretician and teacher of composition. Koch is a member of the Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra and a frequent performer with the Kalamazoo Symphony, Windsor (Ontario) Symphony, Green Bay (Wisc.) Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Michigan Opera Theatre and Grand Rapids Symphony. This is truly a wonderful opportunity for our entire community of any age. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, at 2 p.m. PAGE 8 Community Read Finding comfort and faith in tragic times We had the pleasure of Rabbi Noami Levy s presence for the October Torah Weekend. To help keep the momentum going, the Adult Education Committee invites you to join the Community Read book discussion of her book To Begin Again: the Journey Toward Comfort, Strength, and Faith in Difficult Times. In To Begin Again, Rabbi Levy draws upon her recollections of her father s murder at the hands of a mugger and everything that followed. By relating honest, moving stories of her own experiences and those of her congregants, she gives us advice for seeking comfort and finding faith in the face of adversity. A continental breakfast will be served. SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, at 10 a.m.

9 On December 3, we celebrated COM s golden anniversary of our Stadium Drive building. About 70 people gathered to dance to the freilach tunes of the Klezmer Fusion Band of Ann Arbor and gush over the vintage photographs, professionally displayed by Carolyn and Brad Kennedy of Lucky Dog Media. Gerry Tregerman and Sallie Goodman, cochairs of the Social Committee, planned a lovely evening with black and white table décor, candlelight, champagne punch and more. They had a terrific team to help them add just the right touches. A fantastic album of reminiscences from more than two dozen members was a highlight of the evening. If you missed this event, be sure to browse through the album now available in the COM lobby. And, if you are so inspired, please submit your personal recollections as a member of the congregation. The album is a work in progress. As I mentioned at the Black and White Dance, Chanukah is a holiday of rededication. Recall how the Maccabees re-entered the destroyed Temple and kindled the menorah that stayed lit for eight days. It is fitting that we rededicate our 50-year-old building at this time. Please consider making at least a $50 donation to our building fund by purchasing one of the beautiful mezzuzot and kosher scrolls now featured on a display board in our lobby. We will post them on one of our building s many doorways, such as the Religious School classrooms and youth lounge. Proceeds will benefit the Building Renovation Fund. While one of the next projects to tackle may not seem holy, our circa-1960 bathrooms are sorely in need of renovation. Let s stop complaining about them and make 2012 the year we update them. The more we beautify and modernize our building, the more pride we share in it. President s Message I hope that this Chanukah season will be a time of warmth and reflection for all the miracles, both great and small, that have been bestowed on us this year. Chag Chanukah Sameach! Tamara Norman President January celebrations BIRTHDAYS 1/3 Miriam Mim Brot 1/3 Rod Anderson 1/4 Gloria Besbris 1/5 Madeline Strauss 1/6 Emily Hoffman 1/7 Sandra (Sandy) Rose 1/11 Richard Kirschner 1/15 Beth Morrison 1/16 Fran Raffle 1/18 Stuart Berke 1/22 Avery Howard 1/22 Nan Goldenthal 1/23 Elana Spivak 1/24 Danielle Beer 1/29 Olivia Judith Scheinker 1/30 RaeLee Howard 1/30 Susan Welbourne ANNIVERSARIES 1/9 Diane & Bruce Minsley To be included in our monthly recognition of birthdays and anniversaries, please contact Joanne Simon at (269) or jhsimon@charter.net. PAGE 9

10 Marvin and Rosalie Okun Religious School PAGE 10 JANUARY Dec Jan. 8 Wednesday, Jan. 11 Saturday, Jan. 14 Sunday, Jan. 15 Friday, Jan. 20 Saturday, Jan. 21 Sunday, Jan. 29 The Religious School staff and students would like to express our gratitude and thank our Library Director, Rachel Haus, for arranging, providing, organizing and facilitating last month s Library Open House. The students, teachers and families from the Congregation of Moses, Temple B nai Israel and the Kalamazoo community enjoyed, participated and learned throughout the event. The featured author, Marilyn Price, was so dynamic, interesting, energetic and engaging that every child and adult at the standing-room-only event was completely attentive and involved in her presentation of stories and puppets. The Social Hall was filled with crafts that Rachel, her mother, her mother-in-law and others had planned for the students to make and enjoy. Marilyn Price taught everyone how to make very creative puppets. Food was provided for all to eat by our very nice COM women. The event ended with a book-signing and Q&A by Marilyn. This worthwhile and important event was a dream of Rachel s for years: having the Congregation of Moses library serve as an important resource for the entire southwest Michigan area. The Jewish Federation sponsored the event, and all of us benefited from Rachel s vision, perspective, foresight, passion and perseverance to make such a wonderful event happen for all of us. We are grateful and express our appreciation to you, Rachel. The Religious School staff, students and members of the COM also thank the Mens Club for the delicious homemade latkes and Hanukah lunch! Thank you also to our talented and adorable students for their first-rate performances of plays and songs for our Hanukah program. The Religious School staff and students want to send a special thank you to Montana s father and Gillian s husband, Dean Thommes, for cutting all the wood for us to make our creative, beautiful and original menorahs. We also send healing good wishes to Dean for a speedy and healthy recovery. The Religious School staff, students, Religious School Committee and congregation want to thank our 7th graders and high school students for leading services so capably on December 9. We love to see our students continuing to be involved and participating in so many ways at the COM. Yashar Koach to all of you! (Yes, you are talented and adorable, too!) Please keep collecting Box Tops For Education for our school. They add up! Liz Siegel is keeping track of all of the box tops on a big poster in the hall at COM. I hope you enjoyed every heart-warming, smile-bringing moment of Hanukah! Hope to see you at our next Enhanced Shabbat on Jan. 14, for more knowledge, naches and noshing! Best wishes for a healthy, happy and restful winter vacation. Sincerely, Morah Sarah / Susan Welbourne Religious School Principal Winter vacation Religious School resumes Learners Shabbat, Tot Shabbat and Junior Congregation Essential Jewish Ideas, Rabbi Spivak, 11 a.m. to noon Community Shabbat dinner; COM Board leads service Board Shabbat important dates to remember From Bible to Synagogue, Rabbi Spivak, 11 a.m. to noon

11 Rabbi s Message Many Conservative synagogues and cemeteries that serve Conservative congregations have designated special areas for families in which one or more members are not Jewish. This recognizes that interfaith families choose to be members of Conservative synagogues and wish to participate in Jewish communal life to the extent permitted by Jewish law, including being buried in a Jewish cemetery. Should the Congregation of Moses establish a section for interfaith burial in our cemetery? We will have a meeting of interested members to discuss this question and to talk about the pros and cons. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 25, at 7:30 p.m. We will not reach a final decision for the congregation during the meeting, but the opinions expressed during the meeting will be important in forming policy. While a decision on a matter like this is formally made by a synagogue s Rabbi, the cemetery belongs to all of us in the congregation. Therefore, I believe that a policy change like this if there is change at all ought to have the backing of the majority of concerned members. I will lead the discussion and will provide information from Jewish sources about this topic. A report about the meeting, along with my recommendation, will be brought to the Executive Committee and General Board. We will talk about whether further discussion or membership meetings are appropriate before making a decision about whether there should be change in policy. All members are welcome to attend on January 25. Rabbi Harvey Spivak The Essential Jewish Ideas God spoke to Moses this is one of the commonest expressions in the Torah. What does it mean exactly and how have outstanding Jewish teachers through the ages understood its meaning? This was the subject of The Essential Jewish Ideas last month, and we will complete the topic (for now!) on Sunday, Jan. 15, 11 a.m. to noon. Time permitting, we will begin the next subject: How do we know anything about God? And what is it that we know? You re welcome to join us, even if you have not come to earlier sessions. THE RABBI S RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE GOES TO... Carolyn & Brad Kennedy! Thank you, Carolyn and Brad, for generously donating your talents and professional skills to help the Congregation of Moses. The synagogue website is something to be proud of. The enlarged photos and commemorative book helped make the 50th anniversary celebration an event to remember. We appreciate the attractive and creative poster for the Library Open House. TODAH RABBAH! PAGE 11

12 Congregation of Moses Community Shabbat Dinner January 20 at 6 p.m. Services begin at 7 p.m. Led by the Congregation of Moses Board of Directors PRICES PAID ADVANCE RESERVATIONS: (must be paid by 5 p.m. the Tuesday before the dinner) $10 per adult, $5 per child, or $25 per family Children 4 and under are free! AT THE DOOR: (please drop your check into the box prior to candle lighting) $12 per adult, $6 per child, or $35 per family Children 4 and under are free! Please contact Shirley in the synagogue office to make your dinner reservation. Call or comofficemgr@yahoo.com. You may leave your completed reservation form and check in the special box by the synagogue office. COMMUNITY SHABBAT DINNER RESERVATION FORM Date Name(s) Number of adults Number of children over age 4 Amount paid $ PAGE 12

13 BOOK REVIEWS Strange Relations by Sonia Levitin Reviewed by Naomi Verne In the wonderful book Strange Relations, a girl named Marne goes to Hawaii to her Aunt Carole s house, where they are very religious Orthodox Jews. Marne learns there that spending time with family is better than shopping at the mall. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves good, realistic fiction. I would also recommend that children under the age of 10 should not read it. Tamar by Mal Peet Reviewed by Tamar Grode A little while ago I read the book Tamar by Mal Peet. And, yes, I mostly read it because its title is my name. I actually didn t have very high expectations for this book. I didn t think it sounded that interesting, but I was very wrong. Tamar is a very wonderfully written book that weaves together two stories, 50 years apart, both about somebody named Tamar. One of the stories is set in Holland in 1945 during World War ll and is set around two spies their code names are Dart and Tamar who fall in love with the same woman. This story by itself is great. It mixes romance with the violence and terror of a spy s life. The other story is about a 16-year-old girl named Tamar. Her grandfather has recently committed suicide and leaves her a box of things, including a map of the river Tamar. The girl wants to figure out why her grandfather committed suicide and she thinks that following along the river will help her find out, so she gets her cousin Yoyo to come with her. This story is much less exciting but it is sweet and realistic. Mal Peet is great with switching his style of writing between a teenage girl living in the 90s to a 20-something spy in the 40s. You can feel the difference in thinking between all of the different narrators. I also loved this book because of the historical aspect. It gives an insight into a part of the Second World War that many people probably don t know about. The Dutch resistance in Nazi-occupied Holland is not talked about much. I m not usually a fan of spy or war novels, but Tamar had enough romance, friendship and real emotion that it balanced out. I was surprised, though, how much I did like the war and spy aspect of the book, probably because of how realistically it was portrayed. The stories of two different Tamars are told side by side until they come to a shocking conclusion. The book ends with a twist that I did not see coming. I really enjoyed reading Tamar. It was a very interesting, riveting and sweet book, and Mal Peet is a great author. I would definitely recommend it. PAGE 13

14 RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES REPORT We asked members of the Synagogue to respond to a survey printed in the COM bulletin (also sent separately by ) regarding the New High Holy Day Machzor. We received 17 responses in favor of using the New Machzor and 15 asking to return to the old one. We will endeavor to search for 2005 editions of the New Machzor so that by next year we have a uniform edition for everyone. We will not buy new books but look for donated copies and/or used ones. In December we welcomed back our Holocaust Torah. Please come in and take a look at it when you have a chance. To my practiced eye as a museum professional, I can see many positive changes. It has been quite a journey for the torah scroll. This past summer the torah was driven to the Chicago Conservation Center where it was determined that it had a great deal of active mold and dirt on its surface. This needed to be taken care of as quickly as possible to prevent further damage. Money was approved for treatment and stabilization of the scroll. For a number of weeks it resided at the center where it was bombarded by short-wave UV light waves that ultimately killed the mold. We then decided to send it to Sofer-on- Site in Miami, Fla., for cleaning and repairs. This center is run by rabbis who are also conservators and sofers. They came highly recommended by the Czech Memorial Scrolls Trust in England and synagogues in the United States that have used their services. The center s experts spent several weeks cleaning the surface of the torah and repairing and sewing sections that were torn. When completed, it was wrapped up and sent back to COM via overnight mail. The torah originally came from a village in Milevsko, Czechoslovakia. In November 1942, the village s Jewish residents were transported to Teresienstadt Concentration Camp and many of its religious objects, including our torah, were confiscated by the Nazis. Joe Hirschfield will be organizing a commemorative service to honor these Jews on November 17, We will rededicate our Holocaust Torah at the same time. Thank you to Shirley Wise and Frank Szopo for picking up the torah in Chicago and bringing it back to Kalamazoo. Valerie Eisenberg Religious Activities Committee Chair Camp grants for kids Summers at Jewish overnight camp turn Jewish youth into spirited and engaged adults who value their heritage, support Jewish causes and take on leadership roles in their communities. That s why the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC), along with its partner organizations, offers incentive grants ranging from $700 to $1,000 to first-time overnight Jewish campers. If your child has never attended an overnight Jewish camp, check out the One Happy Camper program at jewishcamp.org. See how your child can get up to $1,000 off his or her first experience at a Jewish nonprofit summer camp, regardless of financial need. The program has 155 camps across North America to choose from, including specialty camps ranging from art and sports to filmmaking and music. PAGE 14

15 SISTERHOOD NEWS Dear Sisterhood and COM members, Greetings to you and your family in the New Year! Sisterhood had so many great events in 2011, and we are looking forward to many more in It s a new year, with new opportunities to get involved. Please join us We need you! Dues are only $25 for the year. Shalom, Tema Lando Sisterhood President TemaZysla@chartermi.net 2012 calendar of events PANEL DISCUSSION Sunday, February 12, 10 a.m noon Program: Child/Teen Development RUMMAGE SALE Sunday, March 11, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, March 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. MAH JONGG AND MARTINI Joint program with Hadassah Sunday, March 18, 3-5 p.m. TORAH FUND DINNER Thursday, May 24, 6-9 p.m. Celebrating our Woman of Achievement, Julie Northrop Annual Torah Fund Dinner to support the Jewish Theological Seminary SISTERHOOD RETREAT June (TBA) Our SISTERHOOD GIFT SHOP is well-stocked with a wide variety of Judaica items for Bar and Bat Mitzvah, weddings, holidays and much more. Open Sundays, 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m. PAGE 15

16 PAGE 16 Herman and Rose Fisher Library Our secular New Year is often a time for resolutions. Well, I resolve to somehow find space on this page to thank everyone who helped make the Library Open House last month a great success! First off, my greatest thanks goes to the members of the Library Committee Harvey Fogel, Diane Fogel and Chair Liz Thall as well as past and current COM Presidents Shirley Wise and Tamara Norman, who sat in on meetings. They provided the support and encouragement I craved and the experience I lacked to flesh out the bones of an idea conceived many years ago. That idea opening the library to the entire Southwest Michigan area required funds, and for that I thank the board of the Kalamazoo Federation. With the funds in place, I was able to bring in children s author and puppeteer Marilyn Price from Chicago, who absolutely enraptured the kids (and their parents). Since I am not especially crafty or creative, I worried about publicity until Brad and Carolyn Kennedy took over. It is hard to overestimate their contribution: through their company, Lucky Dog Media, they designed, created and delivered to COM every poster and flier you saw at shul and around town. They also continue to work behind the scenes on the library s website ( and online catalog. Thank you, Brad and Carolyn! Part of the promotional picture was to contact the Kalamazoo Gazette with a news release. I appreciate the Library Committee s feedback, but I especially want to thank Joanne Krell, who, with her expertise in public relations, added a professional polish to the release. The Open House event involved crafts, and I would have been overwhelmed had it not been for the cheerfully helpful hands of Religious School Principal Susan Welbourne and Coordinator Gillian Thommes. While they organized the craft supplies, Shannon Dion and Diane Fogel donated material and provided their expertise in children s crafts that was invaluable. Thanks also to Anne Fischell and the Religious School aides and teachers who helped the kids with the crafts. But this was also a family affair: thanks to my own mother, Helen Perse, who pre-sewed more than 70 felt cookies and to my mother-inlaw, Marlene Haus, who cut the little felt chocolate chips and manned the Library Used Book Sale. Wow! But when was I going to find time to bake all of the real chocolate chip cookies? To the rescue came Beth Grode and her amazing team of bakers and chefs Cathy Cheron, Liz Siegel, Jill Ruterbusch, Michelle Angel and Joyce Camhi. They STAYED UP ALL NIGHT the night before, ostensibly for the Sisterhood Bake Sale, but also to bake cookies and create fabulous hors d oeuvres, worthy of a catering company, for the Open House. Thank you so much! I must also thank Rod Anderson, who pulled the physical elements of the event together, and Shirley Mengel and Rabbi Spivak for their moral support. Finally, I want to thank you, library patrons, who have enjoyed the library all of these years and make it all worthwhile. They say it takes a village to raise a child; the same applies to all the small and large endeavors that become meaningful moments in our lives. Thank you, Congregation of Moses, for being just such a village. Have a Happy New Year, Rachel Haus Library Director

17 Library Open House Puppets take center stage for entertainment and learning Marilyn Price: I love being Jewish, and I value Judaism s lessons. PAGE 17

18 Congregation of Moses can earn a donation every time you search the Internet and shop online!!! Search the web with Yahoo-powered GoodSearch.com and they ll donate about a penny to Congregation of Moses each time you search! Shop at more than 1,300 GoodShop.com merchants including Amazon, Best Buy, Toys R Us, and others, and a percentage of each purchase will go to Congregation of Moses! Use a gift card purchased from our ScripPro program when you shop on-line and you can double our earnings without spending any extra money and just a little effort to purchase the gift card ahead of time. PAGE 18

19 HADASSAH UPDATE Chasing away the winter blues with friends When Hadassah was anonymously given a number of tickets to the Farmer s Alley production of The Winter Wonderettes, we decided to take the Hadassah Ladies of Friendship Village to a matinee. The musical is a nostalgic trip back to the 1960s, filled with quick jokes and silliness, plus a few sensitive, still moments and audience involvement. The cabaret-style seating, along with a beverage and dessert, added to the warm, feel-good performance, and everyone left with their spirits lifted and a spring in their steps (well, almost). Helen Levy, Hilda Slosberg, Selma Price and Rosalie Halpert loved participating in the fun afternoon, and they thank the donor for such a lovely interlude. It was a great way to begin a holiday season and for Hadassah to participate in a Mitzvah Day. Rosalie Halpert, Helen Levy and Selma Price Hilda Slosberg, Shirley Weiss and Helen Levy Selma Price and Rosalie Halpert Bene Israel encore After our November luncheon meeting on the Jews of India we had a number of people say they were so sorry they had missed the program. So, we re repeating the short movie In Search of the Bene Israel and Raye Ziring s talk tracing some of the history of the four sects of Jews settling in India. n Tuesday, January 24, 7:30 p.m. n Shirley Weiss home 4207 Lake Forest, Kalamazoo n RSVP to Shirley Weiss at or sfweve2003@yahoo.com

20 Experience Israel this summer with USCJ July 30 to August 10 $3,800 per person for air/land package The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism s 2nd annual Family Israel Experience is happening this summer. Want to meet families from around the country? Want to experience Israel through a Conservative lens? Want to share with your children the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touch that only Israel offers? This is your opportunity to make all this a reality for your family. This dynamic Israel travel program encompasses many of Israel s wonders: Caesarea on the Mediterranean, the Carmel Mountains, Masada, the Dead Sea, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The program has a multi-generational approach with activities designed for youth, teens, adults and even active grandparents! Family Israel Experience also provides the opportunity to celebrate B nai Mitzvah in Israel, or celebrate the anniversary of your own bat/bar mitzvah, in a Masorti/Conservative setting. The trip is led by Rabbi Charles Savenor and his wife, Julie Walpert. Rabbi Savenor is the USCJ Director of Kehilla Enrichment and a veteran Israel group leader. To register and for more information, go to For questions about the program, contact Rabbi Charles Savenor at savenor@uscj.org. For questions about registration, contact our travel partner at Authentic Israel, karen@authenticisrael.net. What a great trip! Over forty people of diverse ages and backgrounds from across the country were treated to an unforgettable experience in Israel. The itinerary was well thought out, allowing us to experience the history and culture of Israel. Minyanim were offered each morning, adding to the spiritual connection we all felt. The trip was led by Rabbi Charles Savenor, whose insights and good natured sense of humor were both fascinating and thought-provoking. I highly recommend this trip. Harry Baumohl, Maryland PAGE 20

21 Yahrzeit January 6, 7 (12 Tevet 18 Tevet) Alice Aleinik Ben Brot* Bernard Deutsch Haim Noah Feder Jacob Gerber* Samuel Kirsch Arlene Lando* Harvey Lipsitt Nathan Marcus* Sadye Levy Rubin Leo Salomon* Charlette Schupan* Rebecca Schwartz January 13, 14 (19 Tevet 25 Tevet) Leah Budin* Barbara G. Finestone* Max Jaffee Bessie E. London* Rose Paull* Vivian Pollack* Bernice Roodin* Dr. Sam I. Stein* Ben Zimmerman* January 20, 21 (26 Tevet 3 Shevat) Rose Berkowitz Dr. Morris Berkson Samuel Colef * Frances M. Fisher Nesha Gerber* Sussman Gerber* Isadore Halpert* Chester Holstein Ethel Kotzer* Ben Kozel Annelise Loeser* Louis Miller* Sylvia Nierman* Zachary Price* Sidney Schwartz* Bertha Shinberg* Samuel Slosberg* Dr. Morris Sofen* Mary Tyktin Myer Winick* Jesse S. Zimmerman* January 27, 28 (4 Shevat 10 Shevat) Gordon Bennison* Barry Berke Sophie Blasky* Arvin Davis* Evelyn Hyman Bella Kaiser* Sydney Konigsberg Michael Kurlandsky* David Leder* Hans Liepman Ethel Lookholder Martin Morrison* Nathan Oshinsky Nathan J. Rosenbaum* Birdie C. Sanders* Julius Schensul* Marilyn Silverman* Louis W. Watchel* * Denotes a plaque in the main sanctuary PAGE 21

22 PAUL F. DAVIDOFF ATTORNEY AT LAW PAUL F. DAVIDOFF, P.C. The Cornerstone Building 405 W. MICHIGAN AVE., SUITE 130 P.O. BOX KALAMAZOO, MI Telephone: (269) Fax: (269)

23 please support OUR SPONSORS! We offer caring and comprehensive counseling services for adults, teens and children of all ages individual, family, couples and group counseling psychological testing substance abuse evaluations 34 therapists in two locations most insurances accepted Kalamazoo Office (269) Director: Larry Beer, Ed.D. Portage Office (269) Director: Tim Howard, Ed.D. More than 20 years of treating people right

24 CONGREGATION OF MOSES 2501 Stadium Drive Kalamazoo MI (269)