The Bulletin Adat Chaim s News Source

Transcription

1 The Bulletin Adat Chaim s News Source February 2017 Owings Mills, Maryland Shevat/Adar 5777 From The President s Desk We are so fortunate at Adat Chaim to have a group of individuals who are dedicated to making sure that Adat Chaim operates smoothly and seamlessly. It does, however, take a great deal of effort to pull this off. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Board, Rabbi and Sisterhood for all that they do to provide services, programs and their time to make it all happen. I would like to take a moment to welcome our newest members, Les and Susan Ansel to the congregation. It has been great to spend Shabbat together these last few weeks. We look forward to this Friday evening when we will more formally greet them and other prospective families at services, followed by dinner. As the holiday of Tu b Shevat approaches, I am ever mindful of the quiet month ahead and the celebration of our granddaughter s birth just a year ago. Last year I made a donation to the Jewish National Fund to plant trees in the Carly Diane Litofsky Grove in Israel to mark this wonderful simcha. It will be an annual tradition for me and one that is so very important as Israel undergoes much repair from their recent fires. Let s all think about how we can make a difference locally as well. I encourage you to join the Sisterhood in its effort to support emptybowlsbaltimore. It is easy to particiapte and it does not take up a lot of time. See the flyer in the Bulletin for more informaiton. Also, see Jerry Newman s plea for your particiaption in Purim services on March 11 th. We encourage you to dress up and bring some talent with you to share that evening. I hope that we will expereince many more holidays, events, and community gatherings together at Adat Chaim. I am enriched by your presence and gather strength and direction from your enthusiasm and encouragement. Be sure to check the calendar in this Bulletin as well as be on the lookout for updates and messages sent via . All of these methods are to ensure that you have the latest information on events, services and other happenings at Adat Chaim. Please contact me with any questions or concerns you might have. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at Adat Chaim. Shalom till next month, Cathy Litofsky Please take note of our new address: adatchaim18@gmail.com 1

2 Adat Chaim Pleasant Hill Center Red Run Boulevard, Suite 109 Owings Mills, MD SHUL (7485) Rabbi Jerry Seidler Officers Cathy Litofsky President David Teichman 1 st Vice President Davidalan99@gmail.com Jerry Newman 2 nd Vice President jsnewm@gmail.com Allan Weksberg Secretary weks@comcast.net George Korba Treasurer gkorba@bridgedeck.org Editor Linda Boteach linda.boteach@gmail.com The Bulletin accepts all material relevant to the Jewish community in the northwest corridor. To maintain accuracy all information will be accepted by only. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 18th of each month for the next month s publication. Please contact Rabbi Seidler for all of your Life Cycle Events so that he may provide guidance and support to you and your family members. The synagogue can also help with a variety of services for you. This might include: phone squad or announcements to the congregation, coverage for services, meals, visits, rides to the doctor or any other assistance that you might need. So be sure to contact the synagogue office at: and let us know how we can help. If you need to stop in, volunteers are in the office on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from Call ahead to ensure they are there. Need Information? Adult Education Billing Questions George Korba Bulletin Linda Boteach Catering and Kiddush Sponsorship Tina Asher Facebook Page Wendy Raith Gift Shop Tina Asher Life Cycle Events Synagogue Office Membership David Teichman Mitzvah Cards Janet Korba Ritual Committee Jerry Newman Sisterhood Adrienne Frager Webmaster Lynn Ruddie No phone calls or s on Shabbat please. Remember that the synagogue is supported through the Amazon Smiles program. Log on to and choose the link: Shop Adat Chaim. It is a great way to shop and support Adat Chaim at the same time. 2

3 Divrei Chodesh D Rabbi Jerry Seidler In December, 693 Jewish clergy signed a T ruah pledge to hold then President-Elect Trump and his administration accountable for protecting human rights and civil liberties. Numerous people asked me why I would sign given the risks. My response was, I signed privately, not mentioning Adat Chaim, but more importantly, retorted, why were there not more Baltimore area signatories? Other than me, the only other local rabbis with synagogue responsibilities were the rabbi of Columbia Jewish Center and the education rabbi at Beth Israel. The two other rabbis and one cantor were either leaving, retired or no longer working. It did not take very long for Jewish religious leaders throughout the country to get on board, at least on one major issue. Yes. From the Orthodox to the Reconstructionists, we have been denouncing the new administration s immigration ban announced on, of all days, Holocaust Memorial Day (during which President Trump did not even acknowledge the singling out and suffering of Jews). Below is the response of the Conservative Movement (including Women s League, the Rabbinical Assembly, the United Synagogue and the Jewish Theological Seminary): Deeply rooted in our tradition, faith, and values, we are a people of immigrants. Throughout our history we often were the stranger in a strange land and were persecuted and attacked simply for being the other. As Jews, it is not only our religious values that speak to welcoming those who seek shelter and safety, but it is also a pillar of free, democratic nations. Our religious tradition repeatedly forbids us from oppressing the stranger. For instance, Leviticus 19:34 commands us, 'The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.' And Exodus 22:21, 'And you shall not wrong a stranger, neither shall you oppress them; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.' It is a betrayal of Jewish history and our own Jewish values to stand quiet as victims of war and terror are left helpless -- especially on the basis of religion. The protracted war in Syria has created 7 million displaced persons within Syria alone and millions more throughout the Middle East, with refugees escaping through Turkey, the Balkans and Europe. Meanwhile, millions of undocumented immigrants in America live in fear of imprisonment, deportation or worse. The Conservative movement has continuously and consistently advocated for the rights of immigrants including pathways to citizenship and family reunification as a top priority. We call on the US government to reject policy proposals that would halt, limit, or curtail refugee resettlement in the U.S. or prioritize certain refugees over others; and urge President Trump and the U.S. Congress to instead take bold leadership by providing robust funding to support refugees around the world as well as provide necessary resources to refugees who are already resettled in the U.S. Most importantly, the Conservative Movement completely rejects the targeting of individuals based on their religion. As Jews, it is an affront to our fundamental values. We are all enriched by the diverse set of experiences that immigrants bring to our society. We see it not only throughout our economy and educational system, but also in our synagogues, camps, schools, and institutions where people of diverse backgrounds, countries of origin and experiences come together to pray to the same God, who sees us all as equals. To do otherwise betrays the Jewish values we find deeply engrained in our faith and history. Please join me and the overwhelming majority of the national Jewish community Never Again starts with you and me. 3

4 Sisterhood Adrienne Frager, President Yashar Koach and Toda Raba to everyone who participated in services on Saturday, January 21 for Sisterhood Shabbat. Janet and George Korba, Tina Asher, Adrienne Frager, Cathy Litofsky, Marcy Wesalo, Charlotte Levin, Norman Ament, Sandy and Jerry Newman, Shahnaz Chaudhary, Howard Wagenheim, Rabbi Seidler, Linda Boteach, Lynn Ruddie, Jaime Reilly, Beverly and Stanley Fishman, Susan and Les Ansel and Arnie Blaustein. Dr Ed Hartman, Executive Director of the Reisterstown Community Crisis Center spoke to us afterwards. Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 12. We will be painting bowls for the upcoming EmptyBowlsBaltimore event to benefit St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore. Sarah's Hope at Hannah More is under St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore's umbrella. We need at least 15 people for the event. The cost is $10 a bowl. Checks should be made out to the Adat Chaim Sisterhood and may be brought the day of the event. We will accept cash as well! A reminder about the event, we do not keep the bowls, but donate them directly to St. Vincent De Paul s. It is a great opportunity to come together to help feed the hungry and participate in this very worthwhile social action project. See the flyer about the event in the bulletin and for RSVP information. We are planning a bus trip on Sunday, April 30th, to the National Museum of Health and Medicine and The Ratner Museum. Cost will be $36 and includes a box/bag lunch. See flyer in bulletin for RSVP information. Federation of Jewish Women's Organizations of Maryland meetings: March 30th - A Day in Annapolis May 11th - 101st Convention, 9:00am - 2:30pm at Temple Oheb Shalom Following is the Book Club schedule which is open to members and non-members. Contact Linda Boteach at linda.boteach@gmail.com to join this group or to get more information. Monday, March 13th - Invisible City by Julia Dahl. Contact Linda Boteach for location. Joint Sisterhood is being held on April 3rd, 6 PM at Beth El. See flyer in bulletin for RSVP information. Women's League for Conservative Judaism Convention July at Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, Virginia. We would love to have a group from Adat Chaim attend this year s convention. Shalom until next month, Adrienne P ri Yadehah Give her the fruit of her hands, and she will be praised at the gates by her own very deeds (Proverbs 31:31). 4

5 Become an Artist for a Good Cause Paint a Bowl for the Empty Bowls Baltimore event which benefits St Vincent de Paul of Baltimore (This organization supports Sarah s Hope at Hannah More) This will be held at Adat Chaim on Sunday Feb. 12 th from 2 to 4 pm The cost is $10 to paint a bowl We need at least 15 people to host this event so invite a friend. RSVP by Sunday, February 5 th to Adrienne Frager at AdrienneSL@aol.com or Adat Chaim is located in Pleasant Hill Center Red Run Boulevard, Suite 109 Owings Mills, MD Adat Chaim Sisterhood Continues its Food Drive Bring boxed and canned food whenever you come to the synagogue and place the items in the box in the lobby. The items will be divided between the Crisis Center and Hannah More to help support those in need right in our community. Help us fill the shelves at the Reisterstown Community Crisis Center and Sarah s Hope at Hannah More this year. A list of suggested and preferred items is on the Sisterhood page of the web site ( Food Donations Delivered each month. Thank you to all of our members who continue to make this possible! Let s keep those donations coming. 5

6 Please join us for a fun-filled evening at our Annual Joint Sisterhood Dinner Monday, April 3, 2017 Registration 6:00pm Cost $38.00 Hosted by: Beth El Congregation 8101 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD Be prepared to be amazed by Dan Schoener Mentalist Extraordinaire Entertainment for the Mind (Cut here and return with check) I would love to attend the Joint Sisterhood Dinner DEADLINE for Reservations March 24, 2017 Name Phone Enclosed is my check ($38/person) payable to Adat Chaim Sisterhood in the amount $38 If possible, I would like to sit with (limited to 3 people) (to make You happier and our job easier, please be sure that you have each other written down!) Name Name Name Phone Phone Phone My dietary special requests are: (Please check, if applicable): Vegetarian: Allergies: (please specify gluten-free, peanuts, etc) **Please NOTE** Checks will NOT be accepted at the door. To ensure your seat, please return this form and your check by Friday, March 24, 2017 to: Cathy Litofsky 1103 Kingsbury Road Owings Mills, MD

7 Museum Hopping Bus Trip Adat Chaim Sisterhood Presents a Bus Trip to The National Museum of Health & Medicine and The Ratner Museum in Maryland on Sunday April 30th Bus leaves from Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Parking Lot (7401 Park Heights Avenue Pikesville, MD 21208) At 10a.m. Sharp and Returns around 4p.m. Tickets are $36.00 which includes a Kosher Box Lunch Any questions please call the synagogue office at: Cut off and return with your check information requested below Name E- mail: Names of additional people coming: Phone # of people coming Please provide # of Tuna Fish ( ) or Egg Salad ( ) for lunch for each person RSVP by Friday, March 17th by sending a check for $36.00 per person made out to Adat Chaim Sisterhood and mail to our Treasurer: Cathy Litofsky, 1103 Kingsbury Road, Owings Mills, MD Thank you for your interest in our Museum Hopping event. confirmation will be sent out once your check and reservation are received. 7

8 Ritual Committee Jerry Newman, Chair On Friday 2/3/17 we will be having Friday night services starting at 6:30 p.m. We will be having dinner after services to welcome our new and prospective members. If you have any neighbors or friends who would like to attend this service to see what Adat Chaim is all about, this is the time to do it. Please let me know no later than Wednesday 2/1/17 if you have anyone to invite so that we will have enough food for all of our congregants and guests. We continue to need all of your support to assure weekly minyans for Friday night and Saturday services. Saturday morning services begin each week at. If you can commit to at least one Saturday service each month, it would be greatly appreciated. Through the winter months, we will continue to have Friday night services the first Friday of every month. Next month services will be held on Friday, March 3, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. Let s gather to celebrate Shabbat together. It is more meaningful when we can share the experience. Be sure to check the website and message on the phone at the synagogue for any closings or changes in service times due to inclement weather. We will also try and send an out to everyone as well. If you need a minyan for any reason during the week or on Shabbat, please contact Jerry Newman at jsnewm@gmail.com so that he can arrange it for you. Please give at least two weeks notice for a yahrzeit minyan, allowing time for the Ritual Committee and our congregants to be notified. We are looking for a few good not-so-ready for primetime players to participate in Purim services on Saturday evening, March 11 th at 7PM. Bring your reading talent, dress for the occasion and entertain us with a skit, song, parody, comedic act, etc. No act is too small or too short. We will chant, sing, enjoy a little schnapps and, of course, eat some hamentaschen! Contact Jerry Newman if you are interested! 8

9 Happy Birthday Happy Birthda y Yahrzeits The families listed below will be observing Yahrzeit for family members and need to say Kaddish during the month. To schedule a minyan service on a date other than Shabbat, contact Jerry Newman at or jsnewm@gmail.com. (Candles should be lit at sundown the night before) Date: Yahrzeit of: Relationship: Thursday, February 2 nd Ben Friedheim Father of Tina Asher Katherine Friedman Tuesday, February 7 th Bella Koffman Grandmother of Cathy Litofsky Friday, February 10 th Tyler Ruddie Husband of Lynn Ruddie Father of Elliot Ruddie & Jaime Reilly Sunday, February 12 th Elaine Guralnick Mother of Wendy Raith Monday, February 13 th Fanny Litofsky Mother of Irv Litofsky Wednesday, February 15 th Louis Amler Father of Beverly Bernstein Saturday, February 18 th Abraham Davidson Grandfather of Irv Litofsky Johanna Davidson Grandmother of Irv Litofsky Monday, February 20 th Elinor Reamer Mother of Steve Reamer Saturday, February 25 th Ruth Luria Mother of Lori Teichman Sunday, March 5 th Celie Schneider Aunt of Janet Korba. If you have a Yahrzeit and don t see it in the bulletin or wish to be included on the list for a relative s Yahrzeit, please call the office and we will be happy to update our database. TZEDAKAH Since the last edition of the Bulletin, the following donations have been made to Adat Chaim s General Synagogue Fund by: Beverley & Stanley Fishman Cathy & Irv Litofsky HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES GO OUT TO: February 20 th March 2 nd March 8 th March 27 th March 31 st Monica Rosen Wendy Raith Ryan Asher Adrienne Frager Lenny Mzhen If your birthday does not appear or you have a correction to what we have, please call the office at HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Helen & Armand Gold February 3 rd 65 th Susan & Les Ansel February 22 nd 50 th 9

10 February 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Groundhog Day 3 4 Bo 6:30PM Sisterhood Board Meeting 7:00PM 5:12PM Rabbi Seidler :20PM 11 Beshalach Shabbat Shirah Rabbi Seidler Synagogue Board Meeting 7:00PM 17 5:28PM Tu b Shevat 18 Yitro Rabbi Seidler Presidents Day :36PM 25 Mishpatim Shabbat Shekalim 26 Rosh Chodesh Adar 27 Rosh Chodesh Adar 28 Looking for some not-so-ready for primetime Purim players to delight and entertain us on Saturday evening March 11 th as we celebrate Purim at Adat Chaim. Contact Jerry Newman and sign up for a slot. The more the merrier! Remember that the synagogue is supported through the Amazon Smiles program. Log on to and choose the link: Shop Adat Chaim. It is a great way to shop and support Adat Chaim at the same time. If you have some time, check out this website that details Jewish historical items of interest for each month. This is the link to February: 10

11 March 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Terumah Sisterhood Board Meeting 7:00PM 6:30PM 5:43PM Rabbi Seidler Int'l. Women's Day :51PM 11 Tetzaveh Shabbat Zachor Rabbi Seidler 12 Daylight Saving Begins 13 Book Club Invisible City by Julia Dahl Synagogue Board Meeting 7:00PM 17 6:58PM Erev Purim Services7PM 18 Ki Tissa Shabbat Parah Rabbi Seidler Purim :05PM 25 Vayakhl/Pekudei Notes: 7:12PM 11

12 Jewish Genealogy Society of Maryland Real-World Examples of the Frustrations of Endogamy Please join us on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at 1:30 p.m., at the Pikesville Library s meeting room, 1301 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, for our next program: Real-World Examples of the Frustrations of Endogamy, presented by Lara Diamond. If you have Jewish ancestry and have taken a DNA test, you ll have noticed that you have a lot of matches that are predicted to be relatively close matches but to whom you can find no geographic or surname similarities. That s because Jews are an endogamous group. All of us descend from a small group of ancestors who lived hundreds and even thousands of years ago, making us seem much more closely related than we are. Individuals with endogamous ancestry get many more matches than testees in the general population including false-positives. This talk shows why endogamy makes genetic genealogy more difficult and will give real-world examples of why false-positives happen and depict how endogamy looks in practice. It will also give some strategies to show how genetic genealogy successes are still possible when you re from an endogamous group. Lara Diamond is President of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Maryland (JGSMD) and has been researching her family for over 25 years, since she was too young to have a driver s license and had to rely on her mother as a chauffeur. She has traced all branches of her family back to Europe and most multiple generations back in Europe using Russian Empire-era and Austria- Hungarian Empire records. Most of her research is in modern-day Ukraine, with a smattering of Belarus and Poland. She recently took over running JewishGen s Subcarpathia SIG and, in addition, runs several town-focused projects to collect documentation to assist all those researching ancestors from common towns. She blogs about her mostly Eastern European research at The program is free for paid members and $5 for non-members (applied to membership fee when a visitor joins JGSMD) after their first meeting. Refreshments will be available. Please check our web site at for late updates and for the time, location, and program of future meetings. 12

13 Office Use Card sent Use this form to mail in your contributions to Adat Chaim I am enclosing Chai ($18) Double Chai ($36) Triple Chai ($54) 10 X Chai ($180) Other Contributions can be made: In Memory of For a Speedy Recovery In Honor of In Appreciation of Yahrzeit of Other: (Please specify) Contributions can be made to: General Synagogue Fund Rabbi s Discretionary Fund Rabbi Seymour Essrog Lecture Fund Tree of Life ($180) Yahrzeit Plaque ($250) I would like to donate to the following fund: (Please specify name of fund) Donation for (name/occasion) Your name(s) as you wish them to appear in Bulletin Send card to Card to be signed Address Your Address City, State, Zip City, State, Zip Attention Amazon Shoppers Remember that the synagogue is supported through the following secured Amazon link: or if you are on our WebSite, and choose the link: Shop Adat Chaim on our HOME page, at the bottom of the page, you can log on. Either way, it is a win-win for you and Adat Chaim The first time you sign in on Smile Amazon you will need to pick from their list of charitable organizations, Adat Chaim. After that every time you shop on Amazon through Smile your Synagogue will receive a percentage of your purchase. 13