Happy Passover The Jewish Community Newspaper of Northwest Indiana

Transcription

1 Happy Passover 2010 The Jewish Community Newspaper of Northwest Indiana MARCH ADAR/NISSAN 5770 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 5 JEWISH FEDERATION OF NORTHWEST INDIANA News Briefs Community Meeting There will be a Community Wide Meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the Radisson Hotel in Merrillville. For reservations please call the Federation office at Illiana News survey Lisa Giglio of Lansing is the winner of the $100 gift card from Borders. Ms. Giglio responded to a survey about the Illiana News. Senior Retreat Mark your calendars for Aug. 9 through 12 for the Senior Retreat. This is the 19th Year we have traveled to Camp Perlstein. Call Carol Szaks at (219) Scholarships The Scholarship Committee is accepting requests for grants and loans for Summer Jewish Camping and college tuition until March 23. Please call Laurie Young, Chair, (219) or Carol Szaks (219) , for a scholarship application. Walk With Israel Vendors Fair The annual Walk With Israel will take place April 25. This year the event will include a Vendor s Fair. To volunteer or learn more, call the Federation at (219) Chai Society Book The Chai Book is now available for viewing in the Federation office. For details, call (219) Dance Troupe The Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Co. of the Western Galilee will perform 8 p.m. Saturday March 20 at the Munster High School auditorium. For tickets call YOU make a difference Russian piano/flute duet to entertain donors at Campaign 2010 March 14 kick-off event Michael Sparber and Lou Kaplan, campaign co-chairs invite you to the 2010 Northwest Indiana Jewish Federation fund raising campaign kick-off Sunday, March 14th, a wine and cheese social event from 3 to 5 PM. The theme of this year s campaign is Where YOU make a difference. The entire community is invited to attend. No minimum pledge is required. Cost will be $10.00 per person. Rather than a main speaker as in previous years, entertainment will be provided by Duo Dmitri, a husband and wife team playing the piano and flute who will chronicle We really have a remarkable Jewish community here in northwest Indiana. In an economy weakened by a recession, our biggest industries with our biggest financial resources not indigenously owned and a stock market staggering for recovery, our Jewish families responded to the needs of its fellow Jews magnanimously. As to how and why this happened, there are lots of answers. Although our municipalities seem to be conflicted, the Jews within them seem to be as one family when it comes to caring for one another. That is why your Jewish Federation is so successful in providing a single clearing house for collecting and distributing funds and services. This year Federation s team of solicitors was led by their early years as music students in Moscow and their emigration to Israel and then the United States. They will tell their poignant and touching story interwoven with beautiful music. Luba Agranovsky and Dmitri Kasyuk are graduates of the Gnessen Academy of Music in Moscow. They were winners of numerous Russian piano and flute competitions. They emigrated to Israel in 1990 with their young daughter where they made many appearances with Israeli orchestras as piano and flute soloists and made recordings for Israeli radio and television. They came to the United States in 1997 where they continued their musical education and careers, which included appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra Chamber Music Society and performances at the Spoleto Festival in Italy. During the last ten years they have been performing at music centers in Germany, Italy, England, Scotland, Russia, Israel, the United States and Canada. Please join us for this entertaining afternoon. For details contact Michael Steinberg at Feeding the needy The Noar Youth Group spent a recent Sunday afternoon working in the St. Victor s Church Soup Kitchen in Calumet City. The group agreed the event was inspirational. Those who attended included from l. Erica Tritsch, Jessica Rooth, Josh Shalen, Nathan Sharmat, Cassidy Schwartz, Carly Steinberg, Melissa Tepperman, Harry Goldenberg, Alison and Carly Levin. Federation Executive Director Michael Steinberg and Susan Tepperman also attended. Chai Society a Win-Win a mix of the young and the old : Michael Gideon, a youngster in terms of Federation leadership and Carol Karol who has served every possible position of leadership for more years than she has allowed us to state. Carol and Michael promoted the idea of A Chai Society, an elite number of donors who, despite a down year, would still be charitable enough to increase their Federation donations by a chai amount: 18%. You remarkable Regioners responded, as we stated above, magnanimously! 102 families became members of the Chai Society and your Federation exceeded last year s collections by 8% was a unique year for Federation in what might be termed Carol-blessed. Continued on Page 8 GO GREEN TO REDUCE PAPER WASTE. SEND address to fedweb@airbaud.net FOR REAL TIME FEDERATION INFORMATION GO TO

2 2 Illiana News March 2010 Adar/Nissan 5770 Galante thankful for community s show of energy, spirit, empathy From l. Carly Steinberg, Joshua Steinberg, Israeli Ambassador Eliahu Lopez, Alvaro Orantes; Casa Hillel President & Michael Steinberg. Israeli Ambassador to Guatemala meets with Executive Director By Michael Steinberg Many may remember Ishmael and Becky Orantes and Isaac and Mario Valdez, the four young Guatemalans from Casa Hillel in Guatemala City who attended JCY Camp last summer. The memories from this experience have made an indelible mark on their lives. The success of this experience has inspired a congregation in Boca Raton, Fla., to follow our initiative and invite four children of Casa Hillel to participate in their summer camp. On a recent trip to Guatemala, I had the opportunity to have breakfast with Eliahu Lopez, the Israeli Ambassador to Guatemala. The focus of the meeting was to give Alvaro Orantes, the president of Casa Hillel the opportunity to speak with Ambassador Lopez about his congregation and the struggles they have encountered for recognition. This was the first meeting of its type that a member of Casa Hillel has had a direct conversation with the Israeli Ambassador. The meeting was positive and assurances were made that relationship between the congregation and the Israeli Embassy would begin to grow. This meeting was seen as a pivotal juncture in the life of Casa Hillel. By Gus Galante It is my honor and privilege to accept the responsibility of leading the Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana into the next d e c a d e. Our Federation is a vibrant organization with strong messages of social action, support for Israel, and growing our community. This is being accomplished through collaboration with all of our local congregations and dedicated members. Our Board of Directors is comprised of a group of committed volunteers. But board involvement is not a prerequisite for enriching our Jewish community. In fact, we have many non-board members serving on our committees, and some are serving as chairs; both being testaments to the willingness of our broader Jewish community to take on volunteer and leadership roles. We have initiated a Communications Committee to develop a comprehensive communication plan. They will be integrating our print, web site, on-line updates, communication, and community calendar. This is a process based on openness, sharing, and participation. As part of this process, we will be designing new web based communication strategies to keep the community informed and engaged. Our Jewish Community Services continues to hold out a helping hand here and abroad. The Haiti Relief Fund was a huge success, almost $15,000 as of this printing, thanks to all The Haiti Relielf Fund was a huge sucess. Almost $15,000, thanks to all of you. of you. On the proactive side we will be presenting health seminars to learn important ways to maintain our wellbeing. Lastly, our strategic planning project is well under way. This process is a fact finding mission to ask you, our members, what our priorities should be for the next few years. We are happy and energized to team up with the various congregations to build fellowship within our community. The strength of our community will come from communication and collaboration, and I thank all of you once again for giving me the opportunity to lead this charge. This Pesach live the words: Let anyone who is hungry come and eat; A Manna Cabana donation fulfills this mitzvah By Rabbi Ben Kramer In Judaism, the direct corollary of freedom is not autonomy, but responsibility. It is for this reason that, for the ancient Israelites, freedom from slavery in Egypt was not to be the culminating event of their national development. That moment would come three months later, when the people would stand at the foot of Mount Sinai and receive the Torah - the holy, divine, legislation which would outline the people s responsibilities to the Creator and to His creation. The acceptance of those responsibilities was an integral part of the experience of being freed from slavery; the nature of these responsibilities, however, largely stemmed from the experience of being enslaved. Indeed, throughout the Torah, many laws are explicitly rooted in the experience of slavery in Egypt, commanding us to behave in a way that demonstrates our empathy with those who are oppressed and downtrodden, as we were in Egypt. Freedom from oppression brings a responsibility to care for the oppressed. It is thus only fitting that on Pesach, when we celebrate our national freedom from slavery, we do so by reaching out to those who are in need. Near the beginning of the Seder we say This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in Egypt. Let anyone who is hungry come and eat! The hunger our ancestors suffered as slaves in Egypt is transformed by the free descendants of those slaves into a responsibility to share our food with those in need. Indeed, we not only liturgically invite the needy into our home to celebrate Pesach, but is the custom to actually invite them to eat with us! Moreover, it is recorded in the Talmud that Rav Huna used to say Let anyone who is hungry come and eat! before every meal, and in fact, our responsibility as free men and women is to support those who are hungry not only during Pesach but throughout the year. So this year, don t the words of the Haggadah be mere words. Invite the needy into your home and commit yourself to helping those oppressed by hunger throughout the entire year. A donation to Manna Cabana, the Federation food pantry, is a great place to start. Chag Kasher v Sameach! Rabbi Kramer is the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Israel in Munster, Ind. Federation Administrative Staff Michael Steinberg, Executive Director Carol Szaks, JCS Director Roseanne Sopher,K Ton Ton Preschool Oded Fromovitz, Shaliach Aimee Luzwick Denise Snyder, Administrative Assistants Angela Christner, Bookkeeper Gus Galante, President Illiana News Editorial Board Len Dreyfus and Carol Karol, Co-Editors Nancy Webster, Managing Editor Boni Fine, Ernest Fruehauf, Gus Galante, Lou Kaplan, Michael Sparber, Michael Steinberg The Illiana News is published four times per year under the supervision of the Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana. Organizations may send their publicity requests by mail, or fax. The Federation reserves the right to reject any material for any reason and to edit, at its own discretion, any material accepted for publication. Jewish Federation 585 Progress Ave. Munster, IN Phone: FAX: fedweb@airbaud.net

3 Illiana News March 2010 Adar/Nissan JCRC brings Holocaust education to Region The Jewish Community Relations Council in conjunction with the Ridgewood Arts Foundation will be sponsoring a Holocaust Exhibition from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 15 to 20 at South Shore Arts Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road in Munster. The docent-lead exhibit is presented in conjunction with American Eagle Productions presentation of The Diary of Anne Frank to be performed during the week of March 15 at Theatre at the Center. After seeing the performance, area school corporations will be invited to view the exhibit and listen to local survivors tell their personal experience during the Holocaust. Volunteers are encouraged to help out with this program. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Michael Steinberg at Adult and student visitors will be able to visit the exhibit which chronicles the Holocaust from 1933 to Materials are on loan from the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. To date more than 40 schools throughout the Calumet Region have reserved times to view the exhibit and listen to local survivors tell their stories. The mission of the exhibition is to educate area youth about the evils of bigotry and hatred and facilitate Federation s aim to help build a world based on understanding respect and acceptance. For tickets to Anne Frank call the box office (219) To be a docent contact Michael Steinberg at the Federation. By Michael Sparber JCRC Chairman Federation 1st VP Our JCRC committee met on December 10th, Meeting was led by committee chair, Michael Sparber. It was decided to break down the Council into five ad hoc sub-committees as follows: a. Holocaust Education Chairman Beverly Sanders b. Inter-Faith Chairman Rabbi Michael Stevens c. Legislative Communication Chairman Beverly Sandler d. Anti-Semitic Response Co-Chairmen Rabbi Ben Kramer and Michael Oberman e. Israel Advocacy Co-Chairmen Judy and Rick Katz. These committees will act independently of each other in regard to programming and issues to address. In addition, it gives an opportunity for the volunteers to move up into leadership positions. I wish to personally thank all of the above individuals for generously giving of their time. Remember, there s always room in JCRC for additional leaders and volunteers. L ve Fr m Israel By Andrea Wiese I m sure many of you know who I am, but for those readers who don t, I am Andrea Wiese and have been a member and a part of a family that exists at Temple Israel in Valparaiso my whole life. I attended Chesterton High School, Ball State University, student taught in Germany, studied for a year in Istanbul, Turkey, taught history for one year at Portage High School, and now at 24 years old, I am studying for my Masters in Middle East Studies at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, Israel. I am currently taking five classes: Economy, State, and Society of the Middle East, The Iranian Revolution, Islamic Civilizations, Historiography, and Hebrew. I am learning more in the class than I could have imagined, but I am also learning from being in the Middle East and interacting with the people who live here. For Sukkot, a friend and I traveled to Amman and Mt. Nebo in Jordan and then flew to Egypt and went to Cairo, Alexandria and Luxor. Both countries were extremely diverse and quite different from Israel and Turkey. In the Spring, I am going on a class trip to Andalusia, Spain for a week. At the moment, my parents are here visiting me! They are sunbathing in Eilat (I believe it s snowing in Indiana!!), while I am going to class. Tomorrow we will head to Jerusalem to tour the old city for a couple of days before they head back to the US. Although I travel often, nothing can replace your family and being with them was the best Hanukkah gift I could ever receive! I am also learning more about Judaism in general. They are as many kinds of Judaisms in Israel as there are Jews. There are traditions and customs I have never seen or heard, but all of them have been exciting to learn about and even participate in. Some of my close friends keep Shabbat and at first it was hard to imagine that they wouldn t even write on a piece of paper. Growing up in Indiana, it was never something that I was exposed to. Also, many of my friends really understand the meaning and holiness of Shabbat and often have huge Friday dinners that bring together many of the foreign students making sure we are all with loved ones. The Federation has supported me financially and has helped me a great deal. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping make this opportunity a reality for me. If you d like to follow along my small adventures I keep a blog at: Yom Ha Zikaron Service A letter from the Battlefield By Oded Fromovitz After 61 years of the State of Israel s existence, our Jewish homeland is still struggling for its survival. The continued threat of Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah ultimately want to see the complete destruction of the state. So what is the secret to Israel s survival? It is the people! The people of Israel believe in their home, in their land and in their heritage. This year we will remember the soldiers through letters and poems, which will express their feelings and the thoughts about serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Join us for the Yom Ha Zikaron service at 7 p.m., April 22 at the Jewish Federation Community Building, 585 Progress Ave., in Munster, as we remember the young men and women who have given their lives for Israel. The annual service will be conducted by our NOAR youth group. Book examines Nazi propaganda at work in modern political hatred By Saul Lerner, Ph.D Department of History/Political Science Purdue University Calumet Jeffrey Herf, author of the important analysis of Nazi propaganda, The Jewish Enemy (2008), has just published his significant sequel, Nazi Propaganda for the Arab World. Summarizing some 3,000 pages of transcriptions of tens of thousands of hours of Nazi propaganda broadcasts and millions of Nazi leaflets and pamphlets that inundated North Africa during World War II and describing the role of figures, such as the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Rashid El Kilani, in broadcasting hatred of the allies and the Jews, the book documents the successful Nazi campaign against North African and Palestinian Jews. Herf effectively illustrates the parallelism between the arguments against the European Jews that justified the Holocaust and the arguments employed year after year from 1939 to 1945 against North African Jews. In the process, Muslims, Persians and Arabs were radicalized, and liberal and democratic i d e a l s Book Review w e r e progressively undermined by fundamentalism and fanaticism as kill the Jews became a goal of Nazi broadcasters. There was almost no U.S. or British response, for the allies wanted to retain Arab support against the Nazis. The book documents the formative phase of the process revealed by Dalin and Rothman in Icon of Evil describing the later work of the Grand Mufti, the Timmerman account, Preachers of Hate about the developing post World War II Arab anti-semitism, and George Michael s excellent Enemy of my Enemy which discusses recent relations between American anti-jewish hate groups and militant Muslim support. Continued on Page 8

4 4 Illiana News March 2010 Adar/Nissan 5770 News Briefs JCY Camp Reunion JCY Campers will reunite from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday March 7 at the Federation Building. For information call Carol Szaks (219) Feed the Hungry Jewish Community Services has committed to providing one meal a month to The Mission a shelter in downtown Hammond. Please sign up and cook a simple hot meal. Call Chairman Aida Nozick at (219) PrimeTimers PrimeTimers will take the following trips: March 25 Mercantile Exchange and Federal Reserve; April 15 White Fence Farm; May 6 Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible; June 10 Historic LaSalle Tour. For details call Carol Szaks at (219) Donate a Car Please contact Carol Szaks at (219) if you have a car to donate. Did You Know? Israel is the largest recycler of water in the world with a recycle rate of 75%. Israel is the only country that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees. Israel has the highest number of high tech start ups, per capita, as well as the highest rate of women entrepreneurs in the world! Israel has the largest number of companies trading on Wall Street, after the U.S. Israel is the largest immigrantabsorbing nation in the world, per capita. Source: Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest K Ton Ton s busy season By Roseanne Sopher Rabbi Kramer was our special guest for Purim. He told the Story of Esther and explained the traditions of the festival. The children dressed in costumes, made greggors, baked hamantashen, and participated in a costume parade throughout the building. Our families and friends joined us for a special Purim celebration. The National Marionette Co. presented The Story of Purim in our social hall. It was a musical production staged with beautiful marionettes in colorful costumes. Now we are looking forward to many exciting events this spring. Dads Night will take place on March 18. We are making plans for our model seder for Passover. Afternoon Enrichment has been well attended this year. Many children have been participating in Tumble Bears Gymnastics and Kindermusik classes as after school activities. The Mommy N Me and Me Two participants have been enjoying their preschool experiences very AFC is the Place To Be! By Pat Jacobson AFC Facilitator The Adult Friendship Club has been very busy this past year. We have attended three lunches and plays at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster. Thanks to the Jewish Community Services and much. The toddlers have made so much progress during the school year. Many are looking forward to attending Kamp K Ton Ton this summer in addition to enrolling in K Ton Ton Classes in the Fall. K Ton Ton parents and the Preschool Committee have had informative speakers. Ms. Maureen Stafford from the School Town of Munster came to speak to the staff and parents about preparing children for Manna Cabana is a very busy place. From Nov. 1, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010, the Jewish Community Services Food Adult Friendship Club subsidies, tickets for one of the plays we attended was only $12. This year we will be attending three additional plays: Noises Off, I Do, I Do and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Only AFC members are entitled to receive the discounts to the lunch/plays. Membership is only $10 per year. We have a new chef, Ken, and his meals are EXCELLENT! Join us on Mondays and Wednesdays for a hot lunch. The AFC had some great holiday meals also. Our Chanukah Party, which their academic future. Registration is open for K Ton Ton programming. Registration forms are available for 2010 Kamp K Ton Ton and K Ton Ton Preschool, Mommy N Me, and Me Two Toddler Programs for the 2010/11 school year. You are welcome to visit and observe our classes. Call the Federation or K Ton Ton at for information. was held at Briar Ridge Country Club, was a success. Everyone had a great time! The winner of a wonderful basket full of goodies, for which raffles were sold, was won by the very deserving Allen and Cheryl Warshaw. Join us for fun, friendship and delicious food. Pantry provided 126 bags of groceries and $330 in gift certificates for milk, eggs and fresh meat. Call Laurie Young, JCS Chair (219) or Carol Szaks, JCS Director (219) for more information on any JCS programs. Rent, Utilities and Holiday Checks distributed: Total: $1, Give Generously. (219) FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL JCS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES CALL: Laurie Young, JCS Chair (219) or Carol Szaks, JCS Director (219)

5 Illiana News March 2010 Adar/Nissan JCS to collect prom-wear for Lake Ridge High School teens Jewish Community Services needs your help. We are helping the children at Lake Ridge High School have the best prom night of their lives. This school district is one of the poorest in our area. Their children would like to attend prom and we would like to help them. We are collecting ladies long and short dressy dresses in all sizes and men s tuxedo s and suits again in all sizes. If anyone has dresses in their closet from a recent bar or bat mitzvah, wedding, bridesmaids dresses, etc., or if you have tuxes or suits please consider donating your cleaned items to Jewish Community Services. The school is decorating the gym and having a tea for the children after they receive their new clothing. Please help us to have a successful clothing drive so that all 277 children will have Soup & Cinema movie schedule Jewish Community Services presents Soup and Cinema Night. The evening includes a discussion lead by Dr. Herb Weissman after each movie. 3/9/10 ISRAELI MOVIE (Presented by Oded) Walz with Bashir: One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night it is the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there s a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early 1980s. Ari is surprised that he can t remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images. 4/21/10 Chariots of Fire: Two very different runners hotshot Jewish Cambridge scholar Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) and rigid Presbyterian missionary Eric Liddell (Ian Charlson) compete for the British team in the 1924 Olympics, facing intense pressure and complex personal tests of faith. Hugh Hudson directs this edifying 1981 Best Picture Oscar winner, which is based on a true story. Ian Holm co-stars as Abraham s mentor, Sam Mussabini. 5/12/10 Gloomy Sunday: A romantic melodrama set in 1930s Budapest, Gloomy Sunday centers on a love triangle with tragic consequences. Restaurant owner Laszlo hires pianist Andras to play in his restaurant. Both men fall in love with the beautiful waitress Ilona, who inspires Andras to write his only composition. The resulting song, Gloomy Sunday, is at first loved by the public but soon, its melancholic melody appears to trigger a chain of suicides. Call Co-Chairs Gloria Weissman (219) or Merrill Yalowitz (219) for more information. something wonderful to wear. You can drop off your cleaned clothing to your local temple, synagogue, or federation office. Thank you for helping these wonderful children. If you can t drop off call the following people for pick up. Suzy Wright, Chair pickup for Valparaiso, Merrillville, or Miller Jenny Yalowitz: pickup for Munster and Schererville Adriana Front: pickup for Munster and Schererville Aida Nozick: pickup for Northwest Indiana Laurie Young, JCS Chair: (219) Carol Szaks: pickup for all other areas Absolute deadline March 12, 2010 Help Jewish Community Services to provide nearly 300 local teens with formal clothing for Prom. Speaking of Fabulous Firsts The canary that swallowed the cat is no more fabulous! If you are wondering what the Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana has done for you lately, take a look at this list of initiatives undertaken since the inception of this marvelous organization. Help us add other needed services. Sponsored emigration to the U.S. for European Jews during and after World War II. Carried out Russian Resettlement. Operates K Ton Ton preschool program for 50-plus years. Continues to provide a food pantry (Manna Cabana). Operates JCY Day Camp. Provides the annual Senior Retreat at Camp Perlstein. Offers academic and camp scholarships. Subsidizes trips to Israel. Provides free Business Directory at Sponsors annual Walk for Israel. Publishes Community Newspaper. Promotes membership to community congregations. Contact the Federation at: (219) To Learn More Donate to the Food Pantry JCS needs volunteers, call to offer yourself. FOR FEDERATION INFORMATION GO TO

6 6 Illiana News March 2010 Adar/Nissan 5770 Busy Temple Beth-El prepares for Women s Seder By Miriam Marcus Who says things slow down during the winter months? Not true at Temple Beth-El! Ladies, mark your calendars! Our annual Women s Seder, which is open to the entire community, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday March 28 in the temple social hall. This is a very popular event so please make your reservations early. Call the office at to reserve your spot. Cost is $12 per person. Please feel free to bring your sisters, daughters, nieces and friends. The more the merrier for this very special event. The programs and activities just keep on coming. Upcoming Shabbat events include our special Grandparents Shabbat on Friday April 16 and a Shabbat Chicken Dinner. A special New Member Shabbat was set for Friday March 5. The congregation has had a busy start to In January, By Amy Lavalley We ve almost made it through winter here at Temple Israel in Valparaiso. Almost. But looking ahead, signs of spring are showing up on the temple calendar, so longer days and warmer weather or at least less snow and cold must be coming soon. The popular second-night Passover Seder will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30. The event always draws a crowd, with 100 or more people crowded into our temple for matzo balls, prayers and a good time. The temple s annual Israeli dinner and program Little sisters preparing challah from l.: Shelley Gurevitz, Katie Dedelow, Dana Levitan, Danielle Oberman, Megan Dedelow, Rachel Front and friend Andrea Marselos, Natalie Ostrow, Riley Knestrict, Lily Yalowitz, Rachel and Emily Schoffman (not pictured). our Sisterhood hosted a Little Sisters Challah Baking lesson and spaghetti luncheon. Great fun was had by all. Brotherhood hosted a dinner Temple Israel in Valparaiso plans popular second seder Second-night seder 6 p.m. March 30, Temple Israel Valparaiso. will be at 6 p.m. Friday, April 23, hosted by Rabbi Shoshana and Bob Feferman. Delicious food and an interesting program bring families together for an always-educational evening. Other events on the Temple Israel calendar in the coming months: The 7:30 p.m. March 5 service will include a presentation by David Ibsen, followed by the movie I m Still Here a documentary about diaries of young people which were hidden and found after the Holocaust. At the end of the month, we associate director of the organization United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI). He will discuss the threat of Iran and nuclear weapons. The Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana is sponsoring the event. The 7:30 p.m. April 9 service will include a discussion lead by Dr. Fred Kobak and Bob Feferman on the new book, Start-up Nation, written by Dan Senor and Saul Singer. Josie Tolin, daughter of Hal and Rosanne Tolin, will celebrate her bat mitzvah at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 29. held our annual Shabbat Shirah service, which is a unique service in song. Thanks to Kristin Stern and our wonderful Adult Choir for a very moving service. To end the month, our religious school children participated in a special Tu B Shevat program with their friends from Congregation Beth Israel, B nai Yehuda Beth Sholom and Anshe Sholom. In February, a group of TBE volunteers cooked a meal for the homeless (thanks to all who volunteered to take part in this mitzvah) and we held our annual Sisterhood Shabbat. We had a rousing Purim celebration at Temple Anshe Sholom in Olympia Fields with all our Jewish friends, and our TBE kids were invited by Anshe Sholom to participate in their Purim Cantata. Our second grade students led the family worship service in February and our third and fourth graders will conduct the service in March. The Junior Choir always provides the music for these services. Miller, Michigan City meet the Wizard of Dogz Did you ever wonder what happened to the rest of Haman s family after Purim? Did you think that they could not even be elected dog catcher? Well, you are wrong! And every dog in the 127th Ward is in danger. But wait! Golda is going to save the day, and lead everyone to the Wizard of Dogz. This was the Purim Spiel enjoyed by Temple Israel of Gary and Sinai Temple of Michigan City to celebrate Purim. Rejoicing in our survival in Persia then and everywhere today and in the future makes Purim the highlight of all the holidays. Featured performances were Anna Bloom s Follow the Yellow Dog Nose and Jesse Herman s Somewhere Under My Elbow. CBI unveils new website, plus social action committee By Laura Brenman Yes, we ve done it again we have formed yet another committee. As a reflection of our commitment to the value of Tikkum Olam (repairing the world), CBI has formed a new social action committee. Under the leadership of Iris Greenbaum, we will be able to focus on the needs of our community by transforming ideals into realities. Please contact Iris for the specifics. We are very excited about our new online CBI site. According to Rabbi Kramer, the site will function on two levels. Both are Website includes Shop-to-give at directed at keeping the doors of communication open for current members as well as attracting potential new members. In addition, you can be a part of our Shopto-Give program. If you visit our website, there is a link which you can click on and find many popular stores which are joining us in raising funds by giving us a percentage of sales. Our address is In addition to our many educational and spiritual activities, CBI held the tenth Annual World Wide Wrap on February 7th. Jews from around the world joined in performing the mitzvah of putting on tefillin. Book club is doing well. This month the book is The Slave by I.B. Singer. This book has been called a timeless folktale. Ursula and Ernest Fruehauf were the hosts. Purim not only brings to mind clatter and costumes (what a megillah ), but also the craving for hamentashen. This year Sisterhood will be baking this Purim treat for us to savor following the Megillah reading and will have a sale as well. We are appreciative for this delight but are also thankful to our Sisterhood for preparing all of the delicious Shabbat dinners and Kiddush lunches, including an Inauguration Kiddush, to celebrate our new board members, led by President Ed Sopher. Happy Purim, happy early spring, and look for up-and-coming events for Passover.

7 Illiana News March 2010 Adar/Nissan Temple Israel Miller hosts annual Penny Harvest The Temple Israel Sisterhood will host their Annual Penny Harvest on Friday, Mar. 26 at 7 p.m. The service will be led by the Religious School Students, who have been saving their change and other currency to raise money for Sisterhood projects. Each year, Temple Israel celebrates by matching their collections. Please bring a pot of homemade chili or soup. There is no fee to attend. To make reservations, please contact Wendy Roman at (219) or Lisa Giglio at (708) Temple Israel Miller Adult Ed to read People of the Book The Temple Israel Adult Education Class has elected to read and review a historical novel, People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks for the March 23rd meeting at 7pm in the Temple s Library. By Marge Zucker A very large and enthusiastic crowd made our second annual Trivia Night a huge success. The community really responded to this evening of fun, and the silent auction proved to be a lucrative fundraiser. A must for next year. The Purim Carnival and Megillah reading will be held at our Temple on February 28th, and we People of the Book can be purchased for $13 in paperback or $16 hardcover from amazon.com. Adult Education Meetings are held at 7pm on the fourth Tuesday every month. will be joined by Temple Sinai of Michigan City. This is always a fun celebration and one the kids Arba Onot Hadassah supports area families, Israeli youth villages By Doreen Navarro Again, this year at Chanukah, we adopted area Jewish families, ensuring them a Chag Sameach. This project has grown each year, as we have added extra families to our goal annually. We are very proud of our membership s generosity. Friends and members are encouraged to contribute to Hadassah funds all year long. Donations to our chapter support Hadassah projects. Marlene Rothenberg, , will be delighted to send a beautiful, meaningful Hadassah tribute card from you for any occasion. Hadassah Medical Organization, Hashachar, Youth Aliyah, Jewish National Fund all benefit from your contributions. Spotlight on Youth Aliyah/Children at Risk: Hadassah supports three residential youth villages in Israel where children at risk receive shelter, education, nurturing, self-esteem really look forward to. Program starts at 10 a.m. Everyone is welcome. The weekend of October 8-10, 2010 we will be celebrating our 100th birthday. A big weekend is planned for this special occasion. The committee is making arrangements and a chance to dream. They are Meir Shfeyah, Ramat Hadassah Szold and Hadassah Neurim. Founded in 1935 to rescue children from the darkening situation in Europe as the Nazi movement came to power, Youth Aliyah has given life new meaning to over 400,000 children. Children and teens today include immigrants and sabras, some with educational or emotional problems, many from needy or dysfunctional family situations. To learn more about membership in Arba Onot, contact Ruth Anderson, Membership chair, You don t have to live in Lakes of the Four Seasons to join our group. Many of our members live all over Northwest Indiana and Illinois. We are a diverse group with one purpose: helping Israel. Now, more than ever, Israel needs our support. Temple Israel Miller continues to plan its Centennial celebration Oct. 8 through 10 Temple Israel in Miller will celebrate its 100th Birthday. for a busy 3-day event, starting with a special Shabbat Service, Saturday night dinner with entertainment, and an informal brunch on Sunday. We re looking forward to seeing many friends who spent their early years in our area and attended religious school at Temple. More news of this anniversary weekend to follow. HELEN STEPHENS Helen, Yiayia Stephens, 84, of Indianapolis went home peacefully to her Lord and Savior, February 8, She was born March 1, 1925 in Cleveland, OH as the first daughter of Paul and Krina Kyros. Helen married William Stephens in 1946, and he preceded her in death. Her sister, Vicky Kyros; and her son, Paul Stephens also preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Tietz and husband Jay of Martinsville; sisters: Arty Taseff and Maggie McDuffie; grandchildren: Kristin Matherly, David Namovich and John Paul Stephens; and six great-grandchildren. Helen moved to Gary, IN where she worked at The Spot Cafe YMCA and The Jewish Federation, retiring at age 79. Anyone around Helen never went hungry for nourishment or encouragement; her Greek pastries were always in high demand. She traveled all over the world and enjoyed a full life. Helen was a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Carmel and of SS Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Merrillville. Memorial contributions may be made to either Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church or SS Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral. ARTHUR M. HELLER Arthur M. Heller, age 78, of Munster passed away on Monday, December 14, He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Fine Heller; son, Bruce (Ann) Heller; daughters: Wendy (Hon. Bennett) Braun and Bonnie (Steven) Stein; and seven grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents: Arthur G. and Ruth Heller; and sisters: Lois Lebo and Muriel Altschuler. Arthur was a member of Temple Beth El, Jewish War Veterans, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, B nai Brith, former VP of the Laundromat & Dry Cleaners Assn. South Suburban Real Estate Board member and a Real Estate agent for 25 years. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Hospice of the Calumet Area, Temple Beth El or the American Cancer Society in his memory would be appreciated. Campaign Kick-off March 14, to 5 p.m. $10 Call (219) Temple Israel Miller hosts Peace and Justice Seder Temple Israel invites surrounding communities to attend the annual Peace & Justice Seder on Friday, April 2 at 601 N. Montgomery St. in Gary. Doors open at 6 p.m and service begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. A potluck will follow the service. There is a $10 fee for each person who attends the potluck; no fee for children under the age of 10. Kosher side dishes (unleavened) are appreciated, but not required. Reservations are preferred. Please mail your information to 601 N. Montgomery, Gary, Ind and include the number of adults and children attending, your preference of chicken, brisket or vegetarian dinner and a check for admission fees. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Temple office at (219)

8 8 Illiana News March 2010 Adar/Nissan 5770 A Word From Our Sponsor: Thou Shall Not Be Lonely Every one of the services offered by the Federation is staffed in part by volunteers just like you. AFC: Join our volunteers as they help to prepare and serve hot kosher meals twice a week for our senior citizens of the Adult Friendship Club. The AFC offers a wonderful opportunity for people to socialize and have a nutritious meal. We also offer Chat with Judy, music, programs, speakers of interest, the Lyric Opera Series, safety in homes, visits from Rabbis, transportation for doctor visits, grocery shopping and lunch out. Holiday celebrations. PRIME TIMERS: Active senior volunteers gather to plan monthly social programs. Federation provides economical transportation to local programs and throughout Illinois and Wisconsin. JCY CAMP: Volunteers and paid staff work together to create a high-quality private summer camp for kids K-6th. K TON TON: Our volunteer Preschool Committee is devoted to assisting the staff of our Preschool and summer programs by organizing book fairs, hosting preschool graduation, offering monthly parenting discussions and more. NOAR: Teen youth group. TODA RABBAH: Adult volunteers supervise Youth Programs for K-6th grade. Social events and Tzedekah programs. MANNA CABANA: All donations to the food pantry are provided by volunteers. Some volunteers stop by with contributions. Others organize mass donations via Mitzvah projects or other community-based food drives. This pantry provides food for the needy throughout the year. To volunteer for, or utilize any Federation programs, call Michael Steinberg, Executive Director Carol Szaks, JCS Director Chai Win Continued from Page 1 Besides the non-stop leadership energy provided by Carol Karol for the fund drive (and endless other committee and volunteer hours), Carol Culberg (joined equally by Janine Rothschild) finished a record breaking 4 year stint as Federation s co-presidents, and Carol Szaks finished her 20th year (and perhaps her busiest year) as our consummate director of Jewish Community Services. So if you called the Federation office and asked for the Carol who is doing all of the good work, you may have gotten three remarkable women on the phone. (No offense meant to Janine) But don t let our successes in 2009 serve as a reason to relax. Our 2010 needs grow even larger as the economy struggles for recovery and more and more families are unemployed. Your Federation, under the new leadership this year of an energized and focused Gus Galante, will again approach you to show what a wonderful, supportive Jewish community we, indeed, are and will continue to be. Book Review Continued from Page 3 The Herf book and these others show how hatred and anti-semitism generated by the Nazis more than a halfcentury ago became part of Muslim religious and political hatred of the Jews and the west that can be found today in the words and deeds of Osama bin Laden and militant Muslim fundamentalists. As disturbing as is the Herf book, it is strongly recommended. The Jewish Federation Non-Profit Organization 585 Progress Avenue U.S. Postage Paid Munster, IN The Jewish Federation, Inc. Dyer, IN Permit 2118