It is impossible today to be simultaneously

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1 Standing Against Hate By Hillary Israeli APRIL 2017 It is impossible today to be simultaneously engaged and aware of current events, and unaware of the sharp uptick in anti-semitism and other hate crimes such as mosque burnings and acts of violent racism that our country has experienced in the early months of This awful new reality was brought home for many in our area last week, when vandals destroyed large areas of a local Jewish cemetery, and bomb threats forced the evacuation of the Perelman Jewish Day School and Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood. Many of us have friends or family attending or teaching at those locations, as well as departed family laid to rest in the affected cemetery. Some of us do not, but were nonetheless moved to action. Luckily, the Jewish Federation of Philadelphia helped provide us an outlet for positive public action in response to these displays of hatred. On Thursday March 2nd, on Independence Mall, standing between the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the National Museum of American Jewish History, hundreds of people gathered to show the world that we, the people of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the United States will not tolerate such bigotry. Standing together, we heard messages of inclusion and inspiration from Naomi Adler, CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and from Mayor Kenney, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Governor Tom Wolf, and a number of faith leaders from various religions. We were serenaded by the talented choir from Barrack Hebrew Academy, and we learned about the lives of some of those whose graves were desecrated. Josh Shapiro told the hundreds of protestors my fellow Jews, today it is us, tomorrow it will be LGBTQ people, and another day it will be our African American brothers and sisters or our Latino brothers and sisters But no matter who is being targeted, we are all less safe. It was a good reminder that we are, as a prominent American politician once said, stronger together. Governor Wolf, wearing a kippah, called the recent acts of vandalism and terror the desecration of the values we ALL hold dear, and threats against each and every one of us and against our common humanity. I enjoyed attending this rally along with my COA family of friends - Rabbi Glenn Ettman, Amy Seidman, Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg, the Prystowskis, Sara & Jeff Erlbaum, Stan Sinowitz, Larry Stern, Helene Rosen, Barbara Berr, and Darren Sudman are among those fellow congregants who formed our Or Ami delegation. I also ran into a number of fellow members of the Cheltenham High School class of 1987 as well as my uncle Jeff Katz, who was attending with a delegation from his congregation, Rodeph Shalom. Being there with my newer friends, and finding my old friends and family members unexpectedly there waiting for me, as well as an entire mall full of strangers from a variety of faiths and races, was a wonderful experience that truly helped to replace my growing fear and anxiety with a sense of well-being and hope. I wish you all could have been there with us - maybe next time? More of the Rabbi s Favorite Things Rabbi Ettman continues to provide us with teasers designed to enhance our interest in each week s Torah portion. April 1: Vayikra Watching it Burn: Prayer, BBQs, and the beginning of understanding God April 8: Tzav Shabbat HaGadol U can t touch this: The essence of holiness and separation April 15: 3rd day of Pesach Special Torah Study on the meaning of Freedom and Passover April 22: Shemini You come to me with a strange fire: Two boys, a fire pan, and a lot of chutzpah April 29: Tazria-Metzora The world turned upside down: It isn t as bloody and gross as you think

2 Clergy and Staff Rabbi Glenn Ettman Cantor Jordan S. Franzel Rabbi Emeritus Seymour Prystowsky Office Manager Lori Dafilou x200 Early Childhood Education Director Michelle Ruder x400 ECE Center Assistant Director Bree Linder x401 Director of Education and Lifelong Learning Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg x301 Administrative Support x300 Synagogue Office Religious School ECE Center Officers and Trustees Executive Officers Co-President...Larry Paul Co-President...Terri Wolfheimer Vice President...Simi Kaplan Baer Vice President...Hillary Israeli Vice President...Danny Schwartz Treasurer...Joshua Dunoff Trustees Deb Brenner, COATz Chair Tamara Davis Heather Fritts Barb Hoffman, Membership Chair Jackie Kane Andrew Kasmen, Immediate Past President Bill Koeleywn, House Committee Chair Helene Levinson, Spiritual Life Chair Jeff Michaels David Nasatir Jen Segal, ECEC Committee Chair Larry Segal Curt Toll Jenn Weiner, Religious School Chair Fax Oracle Staff Editor Carole Verona Deadline First of the month before publication of issue. We reserve the discretion to edit for space limitations. Congregation Or Ami is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism. April Worship Schedule Saturday, April 1 9:00am...Torah Study 10:30am...Shabbat Service celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of Adam Knopf Friday, April 7 7:00pm...Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, April 8 9:00am...Torah Study Friday, April 14 7:00pm...Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, April 15 9:00am...Torah Study Friday, April 21 7:00pm...Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, April 22 9:00am...Torah Study Friday, April 28 7:00pm...Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, April 29 9:00am...Torah Study 10:30am...Junior Congregation Service Our Mission Congregation Or Ami strives to be a warm and welcoming center of Jewish life built on the foundation of Torah (Jewish Text and Tradition), Avodah (Spiritual Fulfillment), and G milut Chasadim (Acts of Lovingkindness). We embrace the varied needs and rich diversity of our congregants, our community, and the Jewish people. We endeavor to create an inviting and inclusive community that promotes spiritual fulfillment for our congregants and supports their search for God. We take pride in the strong partnership among our clergy, professional staff, lay leaders, and congregants. Guided by Jewish values, we are strengthened by our active volunteerism and informed decision-making. We uphold the principles and ideals of the Reform movement and are a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. Y 2

3 Your Connections Build Our Future DO YOU have family or friends in our area who might consider joining Or Ami? DO YOU know former members who would consider returning? The Membership Committee would love to hear from YOU! Your personal connections are important to our growth. When you refer friends and family, we'll roll out the Welcome Wagon and will deliver a gift bag with a fresh challah and an invitation to join Or Ami. You'll get a $100 gift shop certificate as a thank you if your referral becomes a member! Please contact Barb Hoffman today at or barbhoffman@comcast.net We are always eager to grow our community and to share what makes Or Ami such a special place. 3

4 Take Steps Honored Heroes represent the Crohn s disease & ulcerative colitis warriors living in our community. They share their story of life with IBD to raise awareness and inspire others to join the fight against digestive diseases. Meet Sara Braun Sara has always been petite and underweight. About 3 years ago, Sara s primary doctor, Dr. Joann Cozza, D.O., suggested that she see an Endocrinologist. Sara went to Children s Hospital at Philadelphia in May of Both Dr. Bamba and Dr. Cozza were concerned that Sara would stop growing when she hit puberty. Since Sara had been underweight and had short stature-since the age of six, this was a big concern for us. After testing, doctors noticed that some of bood test results indicated that she might have Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Sara was then referred to the GI department at CHOP. Sara saw Dr. Melissa Kennedy in the fall of 2014 where she was tested for IBD by having a Colonoscopy and Endoscopy. Based on the results of the tests, Sara was diagnosed with a mild case of Crohn s Disease which explained to her family many of the symptoms that she had as a youth. Dr. Kennedy was extremely concerned about Sara s weight and height and highly recommended a Nasogastric Feeding Tube. For over a year, Sara put in a feeding tube by herself from 3-7 nights a week. The feeding tube not only allowed her to gain the weight she needed, but controlled her Crohn s as well. During this time, Sara had her Bat Mitzvah. In the Spring of 2016 at the age of 14, Sara and her family decided it was time to get off of the feeding tube since it was coming in the way of her everyday life. At this time, Sara needed to have another Colonoscopy and Endoscopy. From the results of her tests, she had two other options: Remicade and Humira. Sara and her family opted for Remicade because they were worried about Sara giving herself a shot and that it might be painful. Since last summer Sara gets Remicade infusions every 8 weeks at CHOP. She takes ½ day off of school, gets her treatments which she loves going as she can watch TV on her I-pad uninterrupted. Since Sara has started Remicade, she has been able to take Teen Jazz Dance classes, preform in her middle school production of Willy Wonka as Augustus Gloop, take voice lessons and participate in several productions at the Young Starrs Theater Company. Sara will be attending her 5th year of camp at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia and her second year at CCFA S Camp Oasis. She wants to go to Camp Oasis because she wants to meet more people who have the same disease that she does. Over the past 3 years Sara and her family have raised funds for CCFA in hopes of finding a Cure. They are excited for Sara to be one of the Honored Heroes for the 2017 Take Steps Philadelphia Walk. Sara s family heard about the walk from a family friend Gail Dichter, who was diagnosed with Colitis as an adult. They are both excited to bring their friends and families on May 21st to walk around Citizen s Bank Park and enjoy the activities and visit all the booths. Finally, Sara would like to let everyone know that having IBD does not stop you from doing the things you love, which in her case is theater, dance and music. Just last month she was able to sing the National Anthem at a Drexel University Men s Basketball Game. She looks forward to the honor of singing the National Anthem for the Take Steps Walk and can t believe that she will be singing it in a Major League Baseball Stadium! Article reprinted with the permission of the Crohn s & Colitis Foundation A New Face at Or Ami! We are happy to introduce Nicholas Nick Johnson as our new Office Administration and Communications Assistant. Nick comes to us with a strong customer service focus, having previously worked at both Macy s and J. Crew. According to Nick, his goal is to always make sure our congregants leave the office smiling! Nick has a strong computer background and his passion for graphic design can already be seen in our most recent communications. When not at work, Nick likes to spend time listening to music and hanging out with his friends. 4

5 Need something to look forward to at the end of Passover? How about places to EAT BREAD and SPEND BREAD? Take your pick! Tuesday, April 18, % of all sales brought in by Or Ami will be donated to RSPO FIVE GUYS, 200 West Ridge Pk, Conshohocken, PA Print this page, and bring these ads with you to make sure your food purchases count for RSPO! 5

6 Sangria and Song On Sunday, March 19th, over 60 Or Ami friends gathered for a delightful concert led by Cantor Jordan Franzel and his fellow cantors: Faith Steinsnyder, David Perper and Jamie Marx. The cantors entertained us with a wide selection of songs based on requests made by congregants in advance and including hits by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, The Eagles and Carole King. It was a diverse playlist, which included everything from Ripple to Hal luyah by Leonard Cohen. The crowd sang along and the choir Shir COAch joined in on a rousing rendition of Bedtime Shema. Keeping with the theme of the concert, there was both red and white sangria on the beverage table, along with a selection of tasty snacks. Thank you to everyone who made the afternoon a success. Mitzvah for MLK Day Omdim volunteered at Cradles to Crayons as a belated MLK Day Mitzvah Night on March 7. Cradles to Crayons is an organization that provides children living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive at home, at school and at play. They collect new and nearly new children s items through grassroots community drives and corporate donations. Volunteers process and package the items, which are distributed through a collaborative network of social service agencies and school partners. Help Beautify our Synagogue with a Fine Arts Stained Glass Window Gift Card For a $10 minimum contribution, the Fine Arts Committee will send a beautiful card for you, In Honor or In Memory The card depicts one of the large stained glass windows (designed by Benoit Gilsoul) on either side of the Beit K nesset Just call the office at Card will be inscribed with your personal message. Proceeds go toward beautification of our synagogue 6

7 Donations Cantor s Discretionary Fund To Cantor Franzel In memory of Rabbi Daniel Franzel...Larry and Debra Berger Philip and Marilyn Ettman Eric and Michele Shubin Fine Arts Fund To Marvin Balistocky Get well wishes...dene Bloom To Mr. and Mrs. Michael Freedman In memory of your brother, Michael Borenstein...Randi and Mitch Zimmer To Marjorie and Joseph Picone In memory of your brother-in-law, Robert Beaubaire To Marilyn Zimmer In memory of your brother, Michael Borenstein...Randi and Mitch Zimmer Jeff Kedson Youth Fund To Joel and Gail Cooperman In memory of Sam Cooperman...Helene and Ron Rosen To the Ravitch family Congratulations and best wishes to Michael and Lizzy...Barb and Jeff Hoffman Joseph Goldblum Library Fund To Mrs. Marilyn Caine In memory of Stephen Caine...Robert and Barbara Goldblum Light of Our People To Dene Bloom Wishing you a speedy recovery...judith Steier To Joel and Gail Cooperman and family In memory of your father, Sam Cooperman...Craig and Lori Israelite To Cantor Franzel In memory of Rabbi Daniel Franzel...Deb, Randy, Lenny, Kailey and Sophie Brenner To Debbi and Peter Weidman In honor of your granddaughter!!!...craig and Lori Israelite Mitzvah Corps To Randy Brenner and family In memory of your father, Michael Brenner...Dene Bloom To Joel and Gail Cooperman and family In memory of Sam Cooperman...Dene Bloom To Jordan Franzel In memory of your father, Rabbi Franzel...Dene Bloom To Charlotte Spector and family In memory of Allen Spector...Dene Bloom To Brooke Stolper and Brian Kroker In memory of your step-father, Mort Schaeffer...Dene Bloom Nancy Roomberg Memorial Fund To Rose Cooperman In memory of your beloved husband, Sam Cooperman...Phyllis and Stanley Warchaizer Prayerbook Fund To Simi and Marc Baer In honor of Alexa s Bat Mitzvah...Marilyn and Jerry Bard To the Family of Honey Barsky In memory of Honey Barsky...Marilyn and Joseph Bard Religious School Fund To Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg Mazel Tov on your marriage!...deb, Randy, Lenny, Kailey and Sophie Brenner Synagogue Operating Fund To David Cohen In memory of Edward Cohen and in honor of his three sons, Jeff, Greg and David...Perrin DesPortes To the Cooperman Family In memory of Sam Cooperman...Josh and Lauren Dunoff To Robert Freedman In memory of Julius Freedman...Gene and Etta Waldman To Jenn Steele and family Thinking of you... Deb, Randy, Lenny, Kailey and Sophie Brenner Torah Card Fund To Simi and Marc Baer In honor of Alexa s Bat Mitzvah...Ellen and Sam Barsky To Dene Bloom Get well wishes...stephen and Barbara Berr To Randy Brenner In memory of Michael Brenner...Eric and Michele Shubin To David Cohen In memory of Edward Cohen...Citi Mid Atlantic Team To Joel and Gail Cooperman and family In memory of your beloved father, Sam Cooperman...Phyllis Glassman Mimi Prushan Jane and Lowell Raeder Larry Paul and Terri Wolfheimer To Sandy Sill In memory of your brother, Marty Tarticoff...Howard and Sandie Salasin To Charlotte Spector In memory of Allen Spector...Steve Berr Larry Paul and Terri Wolfheimer To Brooke Stolper and Brian Kroker In memory of your step-father, Mort Schaeffer...Hochbaum family To Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg Mazel tov on your wedding....brian Kroker and Brooke Stolper Lillian and Caren Toren To Debbi and Peter Weidman Mazel tov to the ever expanding Weidman brood!...jane and Lowell Raeder Yahrzeit Fund In memory of Rae Azeff...Trudi and Joel Azeff In memory of George Dainoff...Sherry Dainoff and family In memory of Jack Dashow, father of Maddy Winsten, grandfather of Helene Levinson...Helene and Alex Levinson In memory of Rabbi Franzel...Debra and Laurence Berger In memory of Jane Gorman...Mila and Daniel Gorman In memory of Robert Harvit...Jane and Lowell Raeder In memory of Sally Katz...Mila and Daniel Gorman In memory of Naomi Kleinman...Maris Delano In memory of Ettie Kroker...Susan and Larry Paul In memory of Rita Lebed...Joel and Iris Lebed In memory of Yetta Miller...Steve Horwits In memory of Betty Norman...Marilyn and Jerry Bard In memory of Elan Prystowsky...Sim and Cochava Prystowsky In memory of Nathan Rafael...Paul and Sharon Rafael In memory of Claire Roncy...Jane and Lowell Raeder In memory of Lorna Rothman...Barbara and Bob Goldblum In memory of Gertrude Rubin...Marsha and Steve Rubin In memory of Ann Solomon...Steve and Barbara Berr In memory of Max Solomon...Steve and Barbara Berr In memory of Faye Tanack...Bob and Terri Weiss In memory of Blanche Thomas...Bob and Terri Weiss In memory of Anita Toll...Curtis and Jacinta Toll In memory of Gertrude Waldman...Etta and Gene Waldman In memory of Esther Weinstein, mother-in-law of Madeline Winsten, grandmother of Helene Levinson...Helene and Alex Levinson Madeline Winsten 7

8 A Doggone Great Havdallah with a Purpose! Join us on Saturday, April 29 at 6:30 PM in Miles Park (we will gather near the Pavilion) for our last Havdallah service of the season. This time, we invite you to bring your four-legged family members along as well! Please note that all dogs must be leashed and kindly remember to bring waste disposal bags to clean up after your pets. As with our other Havdallah events, we will be live on Facebook while we recite the blessings and sing a few songs as we say farewell to Shabbat and prepare to welcome the week ahead. We would also like to add a mitzvah component to the evening by asking everyone to bring a can or bag of pet food that we will donate to the SPCA. Plan to join us it will be a barking good time! Happy Pesach! Passover Wine Sale! Available in Store and Now Available to Order Online Love the Passover wine sale but struggle finding time to come in and shop? Have no fear because online ordering is now here--just click the link! With our new and improved wine sale you can now order from a great selection of wines from the comfort of your own home! You can either select for the wines to be delivered to the gift shop or right to you courtesy of Rachel herself. The gift shop will have a selection of wines available for those who would like to do their shopping in person. Questions? You can reach Rachel Leopold at or via at jbsmom20@gmail.com 8 Mention this ad and get $5.00 off your purchase of $25 or more. Shopping at Or Ami s Gift Shop is easy and convenient. And all proceeds go to Or Ami. We have a we trust you policy. If no one is in the shop, go to the office and Lynn will help you. Or leave a note with your name, phone number and a description of what you took and Rachel will contact you for payment. Our Hours: Monday Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. to noon Or call Rachel at for an appointment

9 congregationorami. wufoo.com/forms/ rc5wxcy1ev63n0/ Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting is happy to announce their new online Passover Ordering system to help you make Passover even easier this year! Just go to: to begin shopping! We hope you will support Whole Foods, as they support us this year, they are providing all of the desserts for Viva Or Ami, our spring fundraiser. 9

10 RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEW STUDENT OPEN HOUSE For families with children thinking about Religious School in the Fall PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS Sunday, April 30, am to 10:30 am CONGREGATION OR AMI 708 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA Are you considering Religious School for your child or children? Interested in learning what Religious School is about how to enroll? Come explore our Religious School Program with no obligation Meet the Rabbi, the Director and our Teaching Staff Members and Prospective Members are Welcome! 9:00 9:35 Join us for Family Tefillah (service) in the Sanctuary 9:35 10:15 Children will have a taste of a Sunday morning class and parents will have a group orientation 10:15 10:30ish School and Synagogue tour For more information or to register to attend Please contact Rabbi Tornberg - RabbiT@or-ami.org or Registration is required please by 4/23-10

11 Please join us for a special Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration and screening of Mekonen: The Journey of an African Jew* DATE: Tuesday, May 2, 2017 TIME: 7:00 PM 8:45 PM LOCATION: Temple Sinai, 1401 N. Limekiln Pike, Dresher, PA The program will include the film and speaker Michelle Barrack, who will discuss her personal experience with Ethiopian Jews making Aliyah to Israel. Israeli style refreshments will conclude the evening. Presented by the Temple Sinai Israel Advocacy Committee and the JFGP Bux-Mont Kehillah There is no charge for this program but please RSVP to: Barbara Rosenau bbrosenau@gmail.com *Mekonen: The Journey of an African Jew is a mini-documentary that follows the personal journey of Mekonen Abebe, a young African immigrant to Israel. As a child, Mekonen was a shepherd in rural Africa, and now serves as a commander in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). mekonen.jerusalemu.org 11

12 Commemorate, Celebrate, Honor Your Loved Ones Forever With an Engraved Copper Leaf on the Tree of Life The Or Ami Tree of Life is a tree of simchas, celebration and honor that continues to flourish with the names, events and dates of our milestones, achievements and acknowledgements. What a wonderful way to commemorate a birth, an adoption, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, confirmation, wedding, anniversary, conversion, accomplishment or award, while contributing to our synagogue s beautification and sustainability. For only $118 per leaf, you can give a beautiful, meaningful gift that will last a lifetime. To order, please use the form below or call the Or Ami office at , or order online at: and click through the Tree of Life Order Form. Place your order now! Tree of Life Order Form (Please print) In Honor of: Date of Event: Event (i.e., Bar or Bat Mitzvah, wedding, etc.) Greeting (Love, From, etc.) Purchased by: Name Address City State Number of leaves* Amount enclosed ($118/leaf ) * For additional leaves, please fill out the above information on the reverse side of this form. 12

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

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

16 April 2017 Su n d a y Mo n d a y Tu e s d a y We d n e s d a y Th u r s d a y Fr i d a y Sa t u r d a y