November February 2006 2007 Heshvan/Kislev Shevat/Adar 5767 5767 August 2008 Tammuz/Av 5768 2200 Baltimore Road Rockville, Maryland 20851 www.tikvatisrael.org Volume 2 Number 7 Donations for School Supplies Needed for Linkages to Learning In these difficult economic times, Montgomery County children and families who are atrisk financially, academically and socially are in greater need than ever. Tikvat Israel has been a tremendous support to these families. Many in our community contributed generously to the Thanksgiving Food and Funds Drive, which benefited Linkages to Learning at nearby Harmony Hills Elementary School. Linkages to Learning is a program assisting at-risk students and families within Montgomery County Public Schools, providing counseling, social services, tutoring, literacy activities and other support services. As the Linkages to Learning program gears up for the new school year, we are again requesting that you consider these needy kids in your philanthropic activities. Linkages would appreciate donations of gift cards, primarily from Target, and alternatively from either Staples or K-Mart, in denominations of $20 or $25. These gift cards will enable deserving families to help kids pick out school supplies that reflect each child s taste and personality. Choosing gift cards, rather than contributing actual school supplies, is the preferred method of donation, as this empowers families to help themselves and preserve their dignity, a key value in Jewish philanthropy. Please submit all gift cards to the TI office on or before August 13. They will be delivered to Harmony Hills Linkages to Learning program on August 14. If you are unable to purchase a gift card, please consider sending a check, payable to Linkages to Learning, to Harmony Hills Elementary School, 13407 Lydia Street, Silver Spring, MD 20906, prior to August 10 (this is earlier than the gift card deadline, as the checks will need to be converted to gift cards by the Linkages staff in time for the families to use them for back-to-school shopping). Your contributions are VERY much appreciated, especially when so many families are being affected by the tough economy. Even a small contribution is very important, as every bit of it will benefit these families in need. Our goal as a congregation is $500 (50-60 children will need assistance, and each child will need approximately $20-$25 in supplies). We would be helping approximately half of these children, which will make a huge difference to these families. Thank you in advance for your support for this worthwhile program. For more information, contact Elyssa Diamond at elyssa_diamond@hotmail.com. Tutoring Rewards Are Many and Personal Weekly Religious Services Monday...6:45 a.m... 7:30 p.m. Tuesday... 7:30 p.m. Wednesday... 7:30 p.m. Thursday...6:45 a.m... 7:30 p.m. Friday...6:45 a.m... Kabbalat Shabbat... 6:30 p.m. Shabbat...9:30 a.m... Sunday...9 a.m... 7:30 p.m. Services are also held at Shiva houses as needed. Mincha August 2...7:50 p.m. August 9...7:45 p.m. August 16...7:35 p.m. August 23...7:25 p.m. August 30...7:15 p.m. Candle Lighting Times August 1...8:02 p.m. August 8...7:54 p.m. August 15...7:45 p.m. August 22...7:36 p.m. August 29...7:25 p.m. Ask any of the eight TI members who tutored a second grader in the county s Ruth Rales Reading Program this past year what they got out of it, and you ll hear pretty much the same thought expressed in different ways: The reward is in the doing! Congregants Mae Bernstein, Carol Chelemer, Ellen Eisner, Sharon Laken, Susan Newman, Marsha and Art Fabel, and Jesse Kaiser tutored once a week at nearby elementary schools. Continued on page 4
Ways to Get Involved Bikur Holim Volunteers Louise Chatlynne cchatlynn@comcast.net 330-9349 Women s Jewish Network Bobbi Gorban: bprem@aol.com 838-4336 Membership Committee Debby Berlyne 340-0075 College Outreach Susan Apter skapter@comcast.net 460-9657 Elyse Bernstein jeffelyse@comcast.net 460-0508 Library Phyllis Leise 588-2089 Attend Minyans Len Lipton : llipton9@comcast.net 929-9106 Social Action Committee Robbi and Larry Cohen lcohendds@yahoo.com Kiddush Volunteers Marsha Lyons: mars545@comcast.net Shepherd s Table Richard Stoll rdstoll@aol.com 946-8435 Stepping Stones Shelter Jay Plafker jayplafker@verizon.net Roma Sohn romarvin@comcast.net Reading Mentors Ellen Eisner: eeisner@comcast.net 598-0635 Adult Education Committee Susan Apter skapter@comcast.net 460-9657 Betsy Miller bnahmiller@hotmail.com 279-0453 Rabbi Liason Committee Cliff Fishman fishman@law.edu 871-6162 Mary Wagner marydpwagner@gmail.com 460-4446 Jonathan Solomon jsnsssrs@verizon.net 929-9545 Haftorah Reading Assignments Susan Apter: skapter@comcast.net 460-9657 Torah Reading Assignments Sam Freedenberg sfreeden@yahoo.com 942-6421 Minyan Information Please call the minyan captain if you plan to attend morning minyan. Sunday Rob Kline 838-0123 Monday Sam Gilston 924-5424 Thursday David Gantz 460-4674 Friday Joelle Black 770-4773 Barry Buchbinder 424-3813 Decisions about whether to hold evening minyan are made by the rabbi and executive director. If minyan is canceled, a message will be put on the synagogue answering machine. If minyan is not canceled, there will be no message on the machine. You can reach the machine by calling 762-7338, and press 8-10. Cemetery Sites Judean Memorial Gardens has established a section for Tikvat Israel. Purchase a site through the synagogue office; it benefits you and the congregation. For details, call Michael Grossman at 762-7338 or David Gantz at 460-4674. Toiletries Collection Box When traveling, please remember to collect the unopened, unused samples you receive and bring them to the basket located in the synagogue MAIN OFFICE. The toiletries will be distributed to a coalition of homeless shelters. Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, a 12-step program for individuals recovering from addictive eating, meets every Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Tikvat Israel in room 11. Newcomers are welcome. For more information, please call Susan at 340-6110. Tikvat Israel Directory Rabbi Howard Gorin hdgorin49@yahoo.com Rabbi Emeritus Lewis A. Weintraub Cantor Rochelle Helzner rhelzner@gmail.com Cantor Emeritus Mark Levi President Ronald L. Rabin, M.D. rlrabin@gmail.com Executive Director Michael Grossman execdir@tikvatisrael.org Office Staff Peggy Mitchel office@tikvatisrael.org Debbie Segal debbie@tikvatisrael.org Religious School 424-4396 Early Childhood Rori Pollak, Director ecc.director@tikvatisrael.org 251-0455 Youth & Family Programming Lynn Berk, Director lberk@comcast.net Synagogue Office Phone 762-7338 Fax 424-4399 Bulletin Editor Andi Kronzek TIeditor@aol.com 294-2682 All phone numbers are in the 301 area code unless otherwise noted. 2
From the Rabbi s Desk Rabbi Howard Gorin We all know the joke about the Jewish mother and the light bulb. That s all right, dear; I ll just sit in the dark. My bubbe was that type of woman. For as long as I could remember, the First Seder was always at my Bubbe and Zayde s, my father s parents. It was a small seder my grandparents, my parents, my two sisters and myself. Every year, it was always the same: the first night at my father s parents, the second night at my mother s. As my grandparents aged, we offered to help Bubbe with the preparations. No thank you, she would respond. I can handle things quite well on my own. Until one year, when she couldn t. Nonetheless, she wouldn t accept anyone s help nor would she even give a moment s consideration to having seder at our home. So for several years, there was a new pattern. Bubbe and Zayde would stay at home, by themselves, in their little apartment in the city. We would sit down at our table in the suburbs. And every year, my father would not be able to make it past the first few lines of the kiddush without breaking down into tears. What did I get from all of this? A powerful lesson about pride, dignity, stubbornness and how difficult it is for a person to accept help, even when it is offered. And if it is difficult to accept help when it is offered, how much more difficult it is to ask for help, when only a vague offer has been made. I was reminded of this lesson at Pesach this year. Our congregants are very good about making room at their seder tables for people who need a place to celebrate Pesach. Word goes out, people call in to say that they can accommodate a certain number of guests and then we wait for people to tell us that they would be glad for the chance to spend their holiday around someone else s table. And every year, I am not surprised that we have a much longer list of potential hosts than we do of potential guests. Because people, as a rule, are not about to say I need help, even when an offer exists. I found this out myself. From about the first of Nisan (two weeks before Pesach) through the eve of the festival, my conversation with any Jewish person that I meet will begin with questions Are you all squared away for the seders? Do you have place to go for the seders? Do you need a place to go for the seders? Most often, the answer is, we are going to friends; we are going back to my parents; we are having our first seder this year at our own home. This year, however, two people in the congregation, who I thought would definitely have made seder arrangements, told me that, no, they don t have a place to go and would welcome an invitation to a seder. They knew that with one call they would be matched with a host, but making that call, putting themselves in a position of having to ask who wants to do that? With Rosh Hashanah coming, two very dedicated Tikvat Israel volunteers Hope Kott and Elissa Schwartz will be identifying those who have room at their yontif table and those who might need a place. In order for their efforts to bear fruit, they need other volunteers to place calls to people who might need/want a place for a holiday meal not only for the food but for the companionship as well but who would not want to ask. Even if these individuals decline the offer, it means a lot to know that fellow congregants care enough to ask. Furthermore, there is a need for a year-round effort to identify transportation needs among our fellow congregants. An increasing number of congregants no longer drive. They may accept an offer of a ride to synagogue or to the supermarket or doctor s office, but they will not ask. A small cadre of volunteers is needed to create a database of who needs a lift and who can provide one. A few years ago, I gave a talk about finding your mitzvah. Not every volunteer opportunity in the synagogue is going to be everyone s mitzvah. What is your mitzvah? Perhaps it is this one. 3 A Yom Hashoa to Remember This year s Yom Hashoa commemoration was particularly moving. One element that made it so was a poem written and read so beautifully by Paul Grayson. Many people requested that it be published. Ashes (In Contemplation of Yom HaShoah 5764) You ashes, You handfuls of crumbling bone, Adrift on the forest floor, I reach across the years to you Across the distances Across the winds that blow and mix Your ashes and mine. Did you once dance to the nimble fiddle? Did you once cry out when the clarinet squealed? Did you once sing with the Choral Symphony: Alle menschen warden brüder? The ashes of your synagogues and homes Leave a sweet and bitter taste upon my teeth: Your dust and ashes Lodge in my throat, my nostrils, I cannot breathe. Adonai, who commanded that your Holy People Should be offered up as a burn sacrifice? Where was it written? Did you hear the roaring clouds of smoke? Did you mistake our ashes for heifer? Did you miss the spice of frankincense and spikenard? Was our sacrifice pleasing in your sight? Deep in this woodland, morning fog hangs low. A beam of sunlight lances through the leaves. What rises from the ashes in this green clearing? Is it defeat, despair? Or fragrant flowering and fresh new growth? Ashes, I call to you, Speak to me. Paul E. Grayson
From the President s Perspective Ronald L. Rabin, M.D. As we begin our new fiscal year, Tikvat Israel continues its period of transition. Carol Barsky has retired from her duties in the front office, Amy Schneider will soon stop working there as well, and Sandy Levine has chosen to teach in the Montgomery County Public Schools. I am pleased to report that while Carol, Amy and Sandy are resigning from the staff, they will continue to remain active members of our congregation and community. We all know that the front office is the face of the congregation. For prospective and new members, the front office is the first impression of our community. Long time members rely on the office as a source of information and to register for events. Those who work in the office must rise to frequent challenges while attending to the rhythm of responsibilities commensurate with the Jewish calendar. Carol Barsky came to our front office when we merged with Temple Israel. Her versatility and professional demeanor will sorely be missed. While Carol attended to all aspects of office business, she will particularly be missed by parents of our religious school students with whom she maintained a personal and professional relationship as Ms. Levine s assistant. Carol has a special opportunity to spend more time with her grandchildren, one that she delayed in order to facilitate the adjustments in schedule and curriculum that demanded so much of Sandy and Carol last spring. Thank you, Carol, for your dedication to Tikvat Israel, Yasher Koach, and may you enjoy your family in the best of health. Amy Schneider began working in the office last fall. In the short period of time that Amy has worked in the office, she has become an important member of the office team, and a most personable representative of our community. Unfortunately, while her husband Barry is in Afghanistan as a contractor for the U.S. military, Amy is essentially a single parent to her three young sons, and that is certainly enough work for anyone. We will miss you, Amy. We also support you, and will be of any assistance to you during these challenging times for you and your family. Of course, Sandy s departure from her post as our religious school director has an enormous impact on our congregation. During the 11 years that Sandy has served as TI s religious school director, the school has become one of the finest in the county. Sandy s professional response to the challenging budget cuts was but one example of her creativity and commitment to our religious school. Sandy s dedication to the Tikvat Israel community and to the excellence of our religious school is paralleled only by the distinction by which she served as the school s director. We will remember these 11 years of Sandy s leadership fondly and with tremendous respect and admiration. While difficult, transition presents opportunity to build upon our current strengths with a novel perspective, which is achieved only through a systematic approach towards the choice of a new religious school director. To do this properly, we must allow the necessary time to construct a job description and perform a fair and systematic search. For the coming year, we will have an interim director who will execute our well-planned curriculum. (It is possible that when this bulletin reaches your mailbox, we will have made that decision.) Interim, however, does not mean a holding pattern. The quality of our teachers and volunteers ensures that this program will continue to grow, create, and innovate, even during these trying times of transition. It must be stated clearly that Rabbi Gorin, Cantor Helzner, the TI religious school committee and lay leadership are absolutely committed to a first-rate religious school. We have a first-rate program now, and will continue to have one in the immediate future and beyond. Sandy Levine often uses the wonderful salutation may you go from strength to strength. I wish that for Sandy as she goes from her successful tenure as TI s religious school director to the public schools. As for our program, we will continue to excel as we build upon Sandy s wonderful achievements; we will go from strength to strength. Tutoring, continued from page 1 Tutors say a change in test scores tells only part of the tutoring story; it s often the special relationship that develops between the tutor and student that makes the real difference. As Susan Newman remarked during the group s year-end lunch, I can t tell you how many times my student greeted me with a special poem or card she d made for me it was so touching. Tutors also agreed with Sharon Laken s comment that the tutoring experience is a real boost to the student s confidence, and seeing that is reward in itself. Although one doesn t always see changes in the child s reading skills over the year, two tutors (Sharon Laken and Ellen Eisner) who ve been in the program several years mentioned the thrill they had in seeing former students names on the school honor roll. Sometimes the change you contribute to just doesn t show up right away, said Ellen. Being there regularly for a second grader can also mean much more than helping with reading. Many of these students have hardships at home, and the tutor can become a buffer or cushion. This year Jesse Kaiser s student lost his mother; Jesse was there as a personal support as well as a reading support. Taken together, the rewards of this program are many and personal. If you re interested in joining TI s tutoring group for the 2008-09 school year, please contact Ellen Eisner at eeisner@comcast.net or 301-598-0635. Two-hour training classes are available during the summer and early fall. Tutoring generally begins in October and runs through May. A commitment to tutor your student once a week is required (illness or short travel excepted). Kosher Cooking with Local Ingredients Are you running out of ideas for what to do with all those veggies? Then join Tuv Ha aretz on Sunday, August 17 at 3 p.m. in the synagogue kitchen for a cooking class highlighting local ingredients. The fee is $4 for CSA members and $6 for everyone else. RSVP to Harley Liebenson at hliebenson@comcast.net by August 6. Space is limited. 4
CANTOR S CORNER Cantor Rochelle Helzner Kabbalat Shabbat with Instruments (and Hor d Oeuvres) The next Kabbalat Shabbat with Instruments will be held on August 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the library. Kabbalat Shabbat with Instruments is an uplifting, traditional Shabbat evening service which includes spirited melodies accompanied by guitar, piano, bass and percussion. Instruments will be played THROUGHOUT this service. Come between 6 and 6:30 p.m. for hor d oeuvres. All are welcome to attend. Future Kabbalat Shabbat with Instruments services will be held on September 12 (dinner available) and November 14 (dinner available). SAVE THE DATE Sunday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. Cantor s Concert featuring clarinetist Eyal Bor and the Jewish Soul Trio Youth Shabbat Services 2008-2009 Teen Service NEW! Teens, post-bar/bat Mitzvah through high school, will organize and run this Shabbat morning service with the help of advisor Margie Eiserike. Spirited melodies will be used. The service will be held on the third Shabbat of the month: December 20, January 17, February 21, March 21, April 18, May 16. An organizational meeting will be held Wednesday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the library. Contact Martie Adelman at 301-871- 9338 to get involved. Junior Congregation This Shabbat morning service for students in grades 3-6 will be organized and run by the students themselves with the help of Shayna Solomon and Gedaliah Knizhnik. The service will be held on the first Shabbat of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the library beginning September 6 through June. Yachad Students in grades 3-7, their parents and all congregants interested in a learner s minyan experience are invited to share in this innovative Shabbat morning service. Facilitated by Cantor Helzner, this service includes songs, stories, discussions, skits and explanations. The service will be held in the library at 10:15 a.m. on November 22, December 20, January 17, February 7 and March 21. Torah Club Under the direction of Elliot Cowan, students in grades 4 and up learn Torah trope with the goal of becoming proficient in reading Torah. The club meets every second and fourth Shabbat morning of the month in the school wing at the end of the Torah service. Contact Elliot at 301-460- 9522 for more information. Kehilat Kids Designed for students in kindergarten through second grade, this service will include songs, stories and prayers. The children will follow the service from a special age-appropriate siddur. The service is led by Aaron Mannes and Daniel Mintz. Parents are welcome but their attendance is not required. The service will be held on the third Saturday of each month at 11 a.m. in room 11 in the education wing. The service begins September 20 and continues through June. Tot Shabbat This special Shabbat morning service for pre-school children and their parents will be held on the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. in the library beginning September 13 and continuing through June. Bonnie and Micah Cowan will lead prayers, stories, songs and a Torah parade. A Kiddush snack will be enjoyed by all. Shabbat is Special Families with young children will enjoy this lively Friday evening service conducted by Cantor Helzner. Songs prayers, stories and movement are included, followed by a tasty Oneg Shabbat. This service is held on the first Friday of each month at 7:15 p.m. beginning September 5 and continuing through June. Youth Shabbat All ages will participate in the main service on January 10, 2009. Mailbag Thank you so much for the meal provided to my family during the shiva period for my mother. We very much appreciate the kindness and support shown to us by the members of Tikvat Israel. Many thanks. Rodney, Nancy and Ilana Matheson On behalf of the entire Gantz family I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of sympathy and numerous instances of kindness shown to our family while we mourned for my mother. The Tikvat Israel community was very attentive to our spiritual and physical needs. My parents have been part of many organizations during their lifetime in Washington, but the most important group by far has been their synagogue community. My father shared with me how fortunate he felt as he indeed had two caring congregations supporting us. Please accept our gratefulness for the many instances of loving kindness shown to us during this trying time in our lives. David Gantz for Frank Gantz, Barbara Nachman, Lois Gantz Thank you very much for the generous Bat-Mitzvah gifts. I have already used the candlesticks for Shabbat. I look forward to reading Danny Siegel s book about mitzvahs. I am also glad that I now have a Tanakh to use as a reference book. I am glad to be a part of the Tikvat Israel community! Thanks again. Ilana Matheson Thank you so much for the wonderful gifts for my Bar Mitzvah. I enjoyed very much working with the Cantor and the Rabbi. I ll enjoy the gifts for many years to come. Sincerely, Noam Lautman HAZAK After a summer break, HAZAK will resume programming on Sunday, September 21. Details will follow in the next bulletin. 5
Minyan Matters The Sticky Wall Initiative Improving our Minyanim Diane Gardsbane In November of 2007, I talked to Tikvat Israel congregants, synagogue leaders, and minyan callers about how our evening minyanim (weekday mincha and maariv services) were functioning and how we might improve them. I conducted meetings, distributed on-line surveys (to congregants at large, minyan callers, and board members), and held individual discussions to gather information and suggestions from TI community members. On March 5, approximately 20 people met to hear the results and to talk about how these results could help us improve both our evening and morning (shacharit) minyanim. Some of the key findings, based on responses, included: We have a minyan most evenings (66% of the time by the start time of 7:30 p.m. and 88% by 7:45 p.m.), and almost always have a competent davener (service leader) present. 195 individuals are on lists to attend an evening minyan at least once a month. Most people (62%) say they attend to ensure TI has a minyan (the required minimum of 10 adults) for those who want to say Kaddish with their own community. Most (78%) do not want TI to consider holding joint minyanim with another nearby synagogue. Only 26% attend to say Kaddish for a yahrzeit themselves, and even fewer (16%) to say Kaddish during the mourning period for a parent or other loved one. 31% attend to pray or for spirituality with community. Most people (68%) find it satisfying or very satisfying when they attend minyan. Yet, many people indicated a lack of community when they attend, and there were more comments relating to how to increase this sense of community than anything else. Suggestions for improvement included ways to get to know fellow congregants by name, providing a welcoming environment, and enhancing the minyan experience. The need to find additional callers (for 5 th weeknights, for Kabbalat Shabbat, and as replacements for existing callers) and additional attendees was also evident. At the March meeting, we formed small groups around the four areas that reflected the recommendations that came from the study: logistics, increasing attendance, building community, and enhancing the experience of minyan. The goal of each group was to come up with a list of things that needed action and to outline steps for implementing these actions. These were posted on what is called a sticky wall fabric hung on the wall sprayed with post-it note adhesive on which cards were placed. Although Passover and end-of-schoolyear activities got in the way of moving the sticky wall initiative forward, several ideas for enhancing the minyan experience have been taken up by clergy over the summer and other ideas will be moving forward over coming weeks and months. Some of the things you can look forward to include occasional coffee and bagels during morning minyan, learners siddurim with pencil markings to help guide those less familiar with the service, communal learning of individual prayers, opportunities to become a caller and/or regular attendee, and more opportunities to get to know one another while attending minyan. Ultimately, the ideas that will stick are those that individuals are willing to take responsibility for moving forward. If you are willing to help, please contact Sam Freedenberg at sfreeden@yahoo.com or Diane Gardsbane at dgardsbane@comcast. net. If you would like to be a caller or a regular attendee, please contact Len Lipton at llipton9@comcast.net. And watch this space Minyan Matters for further updates on our initiatives. Sisterhood (Women s Network) Please Join Us! Sisterhood (Women s Network), an affiliate of the Women s League for Conservative Judaism, is beginning another new year. We encourage you to join us. Dues are $36. Please mail your check, made out to Tikvat Israel Sisterhood, to treasurer Janice Balin at 15424 Narcissus Way, Rockville, MD 20853. Please include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address. New synagogue members receive free membership. Women s Network membership ensures that you will be able to participate in our events and receive the Conservative Movement magazine. Money that we raise is donated to various programs and needs in our synagogue. Other Women s Network activities include a book group led by Paula Kasper, Rosh Chodesh groups led by members, and special events. Please join us! Torah Fund Campaign Each year, we ask for your donation to Torah Fund at a level you feel comfortable. The money goes to The Jewish Theological Seminary, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies and the Rabbinical Seminary of Latin America, to ensure the future of Conservative/Masorti Judaism throughout the world. This provides us with our next generation of rabbis, cantors, educators, and other leaders in the Jewish community. This year, the pin that you receive at the benefactor level and higher is engraved 6 with Lev v Nefesh Heart and Soul. It is a beautiful silver and gold set of peace doves forming a heart shape in recognition of your generous support. The levels are: Keter Kavod: $5,000 Scholarship Patron: $2,500 Patron: $1,200 Associate Patron: $600 Guardian: $300 Benefactor: $180 $18 Please choose a level and send your check, made out to Torah Fund JTS, to Torah Fund Chairwoman Fortuna Scheige, 13818 Flint Rock Rd., Rockville, MD 20853. Please include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.
Youth and Family Programming Lynn Berk, Director I hope that everyone is enjoying the nice weather and that the kids are enjoying summer programs and camps. We tried something new an outdoor movie night. We used our big movie screen, borrowed a good sound system and turned the grassy area behind the pre-school classrooms into our own Wolf Trap and enjoyed the movie CARS. This was a free program open to our congregants, their friends and neighbors. People brought blankets, beach chairs, dinner and snacks and just relaxed, schmoozed and watched the movie. If you missed out this year, watch for it again next summer. We have been busy planning a full calendar of activities for the coming months for our four youth groups, as well as offering lots of family events and classes. Some of the things we are planning include Kaplan SAT prep classes, driver s education classes, parents nights out, Hav-Deli and Israeli dancing, an adult dance party, a Rosh Hodesh girls group, a trip to Strathmore Music Center, Shabbat afternoon family time, a special youth Shabbat service, and much more. Watch the bulletin, your mail and our flyers outside of the sanctuary to see the calendar of youth and family programming events. Will your children receive flyers and phone calls for these exciting events? Are they on our mailing lists? Have you paid their youth group dues? You can get membership forms in youth group mailings or on the table outside the sanctuary, or ask for them in the synagogue office or in the youth and family programming director s office. Youth group dues are payable to the Tikvat Israel Youth Committee. All checks must be accompanied by a membership and medical form. They can be turned in to Lynn Berk or to the synagogue office. Upcoming Programs Kamp Kadima/USY Encampment August 18-24 at Capital Camps. Join Kadimaniks and USYers for fun religious services, a day trip to Hershey Park, color war, study groups and more. Call Lynn for information. Roses from Israel Sale Purchase roses directly from Israel to decorate your home for Rosh Hashannah. Cost: $24 per dozen. Deadline for orders is Sunday, September 14. Order forms are available in the TI office, outside of the sanctuary and on the TI Web site. All orders must be prepaid. Magic Show featuring Bradley Fields This opening program of the year will be held on Sunday, September 14 at 1:15 p.m. Cost for the Magic Show is $5 per ticket. Children under 2 are free. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. See page 12 for details. Parents Night Out Sunday, September 28, 8-11 p.m. Drop the kids off for USY to babysit. There will be snacks galore, College Outreach arts & crafts, games and a movie. You can grab dinner and maybe a movie and help USY raise funds for Tikun Olam, the USY international charity. Tikvat Israel wants to stay in touch with your college students (children of synagogue members only) by sending them packages throughout the year. Please fill out this form and mail (Tikvat Israel Congregation, 2200 Baltimore Road, Rockville, MD 20851) or fax (301-424-4399) it to the synagogue office by September 2. The form is also available on the TI Web site (www.tikvatisrael.org). For more information, contact Elyse Bernstein (301-460-0508 or jeffelyse@comcast.net) or Susan Apter (301-460-9657 or skapter@comcast.net). Student s Name College Attending Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Graduate Student Student s Address *(U.S. only please) Student s school e-mail Please notify us if there is a change of address during the year or if the student will not be at the above address for one of the semesters. Birthday Parent s Name(s) Parent s Phone Number YOUTH GROUP DUES Yes, I would be happy to help assemble packages during the year Yes, I would like more info about helping to sponsor a package Early Bird Discount Regular before after 10/31/08 10/31/08 Bonim $40 $50 Machar $40 $50 Kadima $50 $60 USY $55 $65 7
Religious School Sandy Levine, Director Dearest Friends, I have been honored to serve as the director of education at Tikvat Israel Congregation for the past 11 years. I am so very proud of our outstanding religious school. We have a professional teaching staff that is fully dedicated to providing dynamic Jewish learning experiences for our children. Our parents care deeply about their children s Jewish education and values. Our students bring eager minds and are truly the heart of our school. I am proud of the years of work that made us worthy to be named a Commended School by the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning and the Covenant Foundation. I regret to inform you that I will be resigning from my position as director of education. My last work day will be Monday, August 11. I am grateful to each of you for your support, wisdom and insight over the years. May you each go from strength to strength. Sincerely, Sandy Levine Sandy Levine: From Strength to Strength Tikvat Israel s religious school has been extremely fortunate to have had Sandy Levine at its helm for the last 11 years. She has accomplished a formidable amount during her tenure as education director. She has developed programs and curricula and has increased the stature of the school program. Under her leadership, the religious school has been designated a Commended School Program by the Partnership of Jewish Life and Learning. Sandy has also obtained a number of grants that have paid for innovative programs. And, recently, she transformed the religious school curriculum to align it with the change to a two-day weekly program. The school has always been more than just a job to Sandy. As a deeplycommitted professional as well as a fellow TI congregant, her work has been a labor of love. Sandy s style of leadership was always hands on, as personified by her smiling presence at the door of the school as the children and teachers would enter and leave the building. This created a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Sandy knew each child by name and could relate to them on a direct and personal level. This genuine concern for the well being of each and every child was tangible. And it wasn t just the children who felt her support. The staff always knew that Sandy was behind them and encouraging them. Sandy has been open to new ideas and introduced learning opportunities for the staff in order to enrich the quality of the teaching and curriculum. A case in Broadman-Kaplan Early Childhood Center point was her getting Dr. Scott Goldberg, a Yeshiva University professor, to do inservice training for our religious school staff while he was in the area training day-school staffs. Tikvat Israel was the only religious school program to receive his training and at no expense to the synagogue, as Sandy obtained a grant to pay for it. At press time, Sandy was not certain where she will be working next year, but she has been offered a position by the Montgomery County Public Schools. President Ron Rabin summed it up well, saying, Sandy was a real asset to Tikvat Israel and its religious school. She will be greatly missed. We wish her all the best in her new endeavors. The search is on for an interim director to ensure the smooth operation of the TI religious school while we find a more permanent match for our school s evolving needs. We are seeking a leader with the energy and experience to spearhead our school s continued growth and development. Plans are to have the new interim director in place in time for the start of this fall s program. We will then concurrently search for a permanent replacement. The Religious School Committee thanks Sandy for all she has done and, as she has often said to many of us, we hope she goes from strength to strength. Rori Pollak, Director Summer camp is winding down and the kids have had a marvelous summer. I wish to thank Camp Coordinator Lisa Creadick for her hard work in compiling the curriculum, organizing the program, and scheduling performers. The children enjoyed a visit from Incredible Insects and had an opportunity to rocket up to outer space as they bounced in a space shuttle moon bounce. Our big 3 rd session program is on August 14, a concert by Mr. Derby, followed by a cook out. The last day for Club ECC is Friday, August 15. During the week of August 18, staff will be preparing for the first day of school. At a student orientation on Friday, August 22, children and parents can visit the school, visit their classroom, meet some of their classmates and be introduced to their teachers. The new school year begins Monday, August 25. New Parent Orientation, which provides information pertaining to the daily operations of the ECC, is being combined with Back-to-School Night this year. With the addition of HDI to the property, there are many changes relating to building admittance, morning drop off, pick up, 8 where to leave tuition payments, parking, enrichments, communications, and so on. Please mark your calendar for Parent Orientation and Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, August 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. This program is specifically designed for parents only. Our annual ECC family Shabbat dinner, to be held this year on September 5, is a wonderful way to welcome everyone back to school and to welcome new families. It will be followed by Shabbat is Special, led by Cantor Helzner. Prices TBA. Enjoy the rest of your summer. L Hitraot.
Toastmasters Club TI s own toastmasters club, Hopeful Talkers, has grown to 23 members. It includes several new members who have joined the club to improve their speaking and communication skills and their self-confidence. The club meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month in the library after evening minyan. This year, some of the club s most experienced speakers will again be teaching next year s bar/bat mitzvah class the skills they will need to stand before the congregation, read from the Torah and deliver their D var Torah fearlessly and flawlessly. If you are 18 or older, you are welcome to visit one of our club meetings on Thursday nights. If you want to register your child for the bar/bat mitzvah toastmasters class beginning in October, please call the synagogue office. Solar Cookers Project The Solar Cookers Project lobby displays are currently on vacation. However, donations for the Solar Cookers Project can be sent directly to Jewish World Watch through their Web site, jewishworldwatch.org. If you would prefer to receive a donation form, please contact Robbi Cohen at peezer200@yahoo.com. TI Softballers Finish a 9-9 Season The TI men s softball team ended its 2008 regular season with a 9-9 win-loss record and a setback in the opening round of the post-season playoffs of the Montgomery County synagogue conference. The TI softballers, who put together a seven-game winning streak in mid-season, tied for 14th place among the league s 22 competing synagogue teams. The top 16 finishers advanced to the conference playoffs. TI s highlights came in May with doubleheader sweeps against Temple Emanuel, Ohev Shalom and Kehilat Shalom and a twogame split with Shaare Torah Silver. Congregants 18 and older who d like to play for the TI team next spring should contact Coach Wil Hochman to be included on the team roster. All members of the team must have a financial commitment to the synagogue, either as a dues-paying member or as parent of a child enrolled in the religious school or early childhood program. Donations The Congregation gratefully acknowledges the following contributions which were received from June 15 through July 15, 2008. Donations made on the occasion of yahrtzeit in memory of: Abraham Abramowitz by Adele Bayer Mark Chorvinsky by Milton and Irma Chorvinsky Ella Karabell by Sonya and Maurice Dunie Minnie Gladstone by Adelle Goldberg Sender Goldberg by Paul Grayson Frieda Mendelson by Ruth Kleinman Leonard Stein by Edith Stein Kronenberg Joseph I. Levin by Gertrude Levin Yetta Oppenheim by Julius A. Oppenheim Ludwig Regensteiner by Dorothy Regensteiner Leon Rosenberg by Janice Rosenberg Sylvia Schottenfeld by Roberta Steiner Maurice Schottenfeld by Roberta Steiner Irving Edelman by Myrna Wagman Sarah Weiser by Alan Weiser Cantor s Fund In honor of the Bernstein Family By Belle and Bernie Schechter In memory of Pearl Gantz By Leslie and Aaron Fineman In honor of the naming of my granddaughter, Brooke Arielle Pelish By Ela Pelish General Fund In appreciation of Tikvat Israel and its congregants, for the kindness shown to our entire family as we mourned for my mother, Pearl Gantz By Dave Gantz and family, Frank Gantz, Barbara Nachman and Lois Gantz In memory of Nathan Adelman By Jesse and Marian Kaiser In honor of the birth of Carol and Richard Barsky s new grandchild By Jesse and Marian Kaiser In memory of Nissim Armomza By Jacob Armoza and Harriet E. Armoza In memory of Pearl Gantz By Frederick S. and Betty R. Roberts By Rosalyn and Ted Kram Joyce and Arnold Schwartz In loving memory of Robert Korn, son of Judge and Mrs. Seymour Korn By Arnold and Joyce Blumberg Schwartz Landscape Fund In honor of Jill Furman By Wendy Miller In memory of Nathan Adelman, father of Martie Adelman By Bea and Al Solomon Bereavement Committee In memory of Pearl Gantz By Melanie Grishman and Herman J. Flax Library Fund In honor of Cliff and Betty Fishman s anniversary By Melanie Grishman and Herman J. Flax Tzedakah Fund In memory of Pearl Gantz, mother of David Gantz By Marilyn Fliegler Torah Fund In memory of Louis Pelish By Ela Pelish Rabbi s Fund In memory of Robert Lerner By Freda Stutz In gratitude for our safe visit to and return from Israel By Sue Sandler In appreciation of my special haftorah honor By Jeff Bernstein In appreciation of Rabbi Gorin By Zivan Cohen For misheberach for Mietek Lidert By Ela Pelish 9
Tikvat Israel remembers with respect those whose yahrzeits occur from 29 Tammuz to 30 Av August 2008 29 Tammuz/August 1 Harriet Kravitz Charles Lane Bessie Winer 1 Av/August 2 Jennifer J. Flax Esther Gottlieb Sophie Jancowitz Esther Rosenthal Harvey Savely Joseph Weinberg 2 Av/August 3 Ruth Kaiz Louis Simball 3 Av/August 4 Abigail Lefkowitz 4 Av/August 5 Ida Cohen Morton Oppenheim Evelyn Waldman 5 Av/August 6 Milford Hillerson Paul Ludwin David Schwartz 6 Av/August 7 Edith Kaplan 7 Av/August 8 Jerome Pasternak 8 Av/August 9 Harry Greene Eugene Perry 9 Av/August 10 Philip Cohen Harry Cooper Phyllis Menduke 10 Av/August 11 Sarah Krick Betty Morrison Bertha Polster Sidney Springer Bertha Tranen Gertrude Weker Shirley Zoltrow 11 Av/August 12 Fanny Feigin 12 Av/August 13 Anne S. Prince Kate Hayley Schaffman Betty Stein 13 Av/August 14 Adele Boden Hertha Ermann Benjamin Geller Israel Kauffman Mary Klass Estelle Kornhauser 14 Av/August 15 Usher Feinsilber Dorothy Frank Roslyn Kalinsky Fannie Raine Rose Saldinger Marvin Schneider Rabbi H. Jonah Waldman Jennie Wein 15 Av/August 16 Dr. Israel Levin 16 Av/August 17 Rose Cohen Arnold Janco Mordko Smolar Belle Wagman 17 Av/August 18 Frances Berger Harry Feldman Isidor Sohn 18 Av/August 19 Rose Altschuler Louis Coren Samuel Goldstein Arthur Milder 19 Av/August 20 Victor Issac Bigio Ester Danoff Hyman Geller Morris Prince Rose Schrier 20 Av/August 21 Abram Berlin Nathan Fishman Jack Kornhauser 21 Av/August 22 Rosa Miriam Bosques Emil Glater Herschel Wartofsky 22 Av/August 23 Naomi Kaplan 23 Av/August 24 Anne Bernstein Helen Schechter Rosella Silverstein Sadie Wartofsky Idelle Weiner 24 Av/August 25 Lucille Feinman Faye Glater Belle Rosenthal 25 Av/August 26 Rose Lesser Tillie Nisenson Sadie Smith Alfred Steiner 26 Av/August 27 Rebecca Feldman Anna Sulsky 27 Av/August 28 Hilda Shulman 28 Av/August 29 Jack Chelemer Shirley Cohen Harold Goldstein Shirley Schwartz Richard Spector 29 Av/August 30 Rose Blonder Max Feingold Claire Kahn Rachel Pachenker Rabbi Leivey Smolar 30 Av/August 31 Sonia Goldstein Sarah Kay Lloyd Oppenheim Edith Smith Elias Wolfe 10
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Tikvat Israel Congregation 2200 Baltimore Road Rockville, MD 20851 non-profit org. u.s. postage paid permit no. 147 rockville, md Dated Materials.... Please Deliver Promptly Tikvat Israel Youth & Family Programming Department Presents YOUTH DEPARTMENT OPENING PROGRAM SUNDAY, SEPT 14 TH @ 1:15 P.M. for Kids of all ages & their Families featuring a MAGIC SHOW by BRADLEY FIELDS Students in religious school will be picked up at 12:00 p.m. They should bring a bag dairy lunch. They will eat lunch, play games & relays while parents attend the Back to School Program. CHILDREN UNDER 7 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT FOR THE SHOW Cost to attend - $5.00 per ticket (Children under 2 are free) RSVP TO: lberk@comcast.net Hilary (703) 371-3006 Ariel (215) 208-6407 Shirin (502) 693-0070 Dana (410) 370-7409