APRIL 2018 The Community Comes Together to Celebrate the Journey to Freedom By Carole Verona Eighty people members of Or Ami and congregants from nine other religious communities came together to participate in an interfaith seder on Thursday, March 15, at Or Ami. The theme of the seder was A Taste of Passover: Sharing our Story of Freedom. Rabbi Glenn Ettman and Cantor Jordan Franzel created a unique 46-page Hagaddah with readings, songs, and prayers centering on the journey of our people from slavery to freedom. But the theme went way beyond that. One of the key messages throughout was captured in the opening reading: And we pray for all who are still bound, still denied their human rights. Scattered throughout the Hagaddah were facts about the plight of the approximately 43.3 million foreign-born people who live in the United States today. Cantor Franzel incorporated music that everyone could relate to, from our traditional Hinei Mah Tov to Paul Simon s American Tune to Go Down Moses. Looking back at the experience of the seder, Helene Levinson, who chaired the event, said one of the accomplishments was that it was a first seder experience for many and I think they really enjoyed it. I loved the Haggadah put together by Rabbi and Cantor which drew from so many traditions, religions and writings. Helene also thanked the members of the committee who helped with every aspect of the event: Sue Ackland, Debby Askow, Heather Fritts, Myra Stern, Lillian Toren, Carole Verona, Mel Waxman, and Randi Zimmer with support from Lori Dafilou, Nick Johnson and Infinity Caterers. I wanted to thank each and everyone of you for your help making the interfaith seder such a rousing success. It couldn t have happened without all of you. From the publicity, to the food, to the set-up, to the beautiful decorations and the very unique Haggadah created by Rabbi and Cantor, it was all wonderful. As we say at the end of every seder in our own special way...next Year at Or Ami! Rabbi Ettman echoed Helene s remarks. This seder was so wonderful and special. And one of the best comments came from a few congregants who said they can t wait to help with next year s version of this. The interfaith seder this year was a pure example of what makes Or Ami so special. And that is how we come together in celebration and in community. The evening provided a moment for us to not just share Passover with our interfaith friends, but to share Passover traditions with each other. From laughter, to learning, to loving one another, this evening was a great success and one which we will continue in the future. I am honored to be your Rabbi and the success of this community is how we come together. May this Passover be one of blessing and hope.
Clergy and Staff Rabbi...Glenn Ettman rabbiettman@or-ami.org Cantor...Jordan S. Franzel Cantor.Franzel@or-ami.org Rabbi Emeritus...Seymour Prystowsky Rabbisp@aol.com Office Manager...Lori Dafilou 610-828-9066 x200 LoriD@or-ami.org Administrative Assistant...Nick Johnson 610-828-9066 x201 nickj@or-ami.org Early Childhood Education Director...Michelle Ruder 610-828-1086 x400 MichelleR@or-ami.org ECE Center Assistant Director...Carly Shaw 610-828-1086 x401 ECECenterOffice@or-ami.org Interim Director of Education...Rabbi Glenn Ettman Director of Adult Learning...Cantor Jordan S. Franzel Interim Assistant Principal.. Stefanie Bock Administrative Support...610-828-4443 x300 office@or-ami.org Synagogue Office...610-828-9066 office@or-ami.org Religious School...610-828-4443 school@or-ami.org ECE Center...610-828-1086 Officers and Trustees Executive Officers President...Larry Paul Vice President...Heather Fritts Vice President...David Nasatir Vice President...Mitch Zimmer Treasurer...Josh Dunoff Immediate Past President...Terri Wolfheimer Trustees Deb Brenner, COAtz Chair David Cohen, Trustee Barb Hoffman, Membership Chair Greg Kapel, Trustee Bill Koelewyn, House Chair Traci Lechwar, Trustee Helene Levinson, Religious Observance Chair Jeff Michaels, Trustee Susan Michels, Finance Co-Chair Sara Neuman, Trustee Alan Roomberg, Finance Co-Chair Jason Salus, Trustee Danny Schwartz, Trustee Jen Segal, Early Childhood Education Center Chair Jenn Weiner, Religious School Chair 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. 2 610-828-8689 Fax April Worship Schedule Thursday, April 5 7 pm...yizkor Service Friday, April 6 6:30 pm...first Friday Pre-Neg 7 pm...erev Shabbat Service Saturday, April 7 9 am...torah Study 10:30...Olivia Prusky Bat Mitzvah Friday, April 13 7 pm...erev Shabbat Service Saturday, April 14 9 am...torah Study 10:30...Jacob Yontef Bar Mitzvah Friday, April 20 7 pm...erev Shabbat Service Saturday, April 21 9 am...torah Study 10:30 am...skyler Alten Bat Mitzvah 6:30 pm...havdallah in the Park Friday, April 27 7 pm...erev Shabbat Service Saturday, April 28 9 am...torah Study 10:30 am...steven Bernstein Bar Mitzvah 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
OR AMI S NER TAMID ENDOWING OUR CHILDREN S FUTURE Join us in helping Congregation Or Ami secure a bright future for our children. Your contributions go a long way in ensuring an enriching, safe, secure environment to educate our children. Though the religious school and ECE receive funding through tuition, much of the programming and supplies are funded by generous donations from our congregation and community. Your donations create real value in helping us support our teachers and staff to ensure a vibrant learning environment. Here are just a few examples of our current costs: F $300 for Tot Shabbat F $450 for Pajama Havdalah F $800 for teacher appreciation awards F $2,000 for teacher/staff training F $1,500 equipment upgrades As you can see, your support makes a difference and is critical to the success of our school. Please know that your donations are tax deductible and any donation of $500 and above will include two (2) tickets to the upcoming Viva Or Ami celebration on April 28th. Thank you all for your continued support and let s reach our goal of $100,000 to enrich our children and community for generations to come! Make a donation at: www.gofundme.com/orami 3
Olivia Prusky Daughter of Daria and Andrew Prusky April 7, 2018 For Olivia s mitzvah project, she chose to support Cradles to Crayons, which provides children in the Philadelphia area with the essentials they need with the goal of having a future free of childhood poverty. Olivia and her family held a bake sale at Or Ami s Purim Carnival and raised $250 for Cradles to Crayons. Olivia also organized a clothing drive on behalf of Cradles to Crayons and volunteered with her family at Cradle to Crayon s Giving Factory in West Conshohocken. Skyler Alten Daughter of Stacey and Brian Alten April 21, 2018 In 2003, my Grammy Toby and Poppy Rich got married and decided to donate their wedding gifts to Children s Hospital of Philadelphia to create the Richard and Toby Korman Davidov Music Therapy Room. This was the first ever music therapy room in the United States. The room is full of various instruments and recording devices and serves as a place where children can communicate by the magic of music and escape their illnesses. For my mitzvah project, I will be raising money for the Richard and Toby Korman Davidov Music Therapy Room. My goal is to continue to help kids and make them happy by helping them gain more musical resources. This money will go toward buying new instruments and sustaining a nurturing environment for the patients at CHOP. Torah Card Fund To Gail Cooperman In memory of Jay Meyer...The Brenner Family Yahrzeit Fund In memory of Ann Solomon...Barbara and Stephen Berr In memory of Max Solomon...Barbara and Stephen Berr In memory of Beverly Eisenstadter...Judith Steier In memory of Mark Dubow...Bryn and Jeffrey Michaels In memory of Rita Lebed...Iris and Joel Lebed In memory of Martha Silverman...Debby and Irv Askow In memory of Ettie P. Kroker...Susan and Larry Paul In memory of Blanche Thomas...Terri and Robert Weiss In memory of Esther Weinstein...Maddy Winsten, Helene and Alex Levinson In memory of Jack Dashow...Maddy Winsten, Helene and Alex Levinson In memory of Lorna Goldblum Rothman Barbara and Robert Goldblum In memory of Philip Rabinowitz...Lorie and Marvin Balistocky In memory of Gertrude Rubin...Marsha and Steven Rubin In memory of Rae Azeff...Trudi and Joel Azeff In memory of Emilie Katz...Mila and Daniel Gorman In memory of Victor Dunoff...Lauren and Joshua Dunoff 4 Jacob Yontef Son of Amy and David Yontef April 14, 2018 For Jacob s bar mitzvah project, he raised money for Justin s beach house in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Justin s beach house allows families with cancer to stay and experience the beach at no cost. Jacob held a charity fitness boot camp at Tone Zone Fitness Studio. 100% of the proceeds were donated to creating welcome baskets for the families that included local favorites, sunscreen, and grocery store gift cards. Steven Bernstein Son of Renay and Howard Bernstein April 28, 2018 Steven has been serving meals to the homeless people at Face to Face for the past two years. He has gotten to know the clients so well that they can t help but to shout Yo, Steve whenever they see him. Steven has learned so many invaluable lessons in their dining hall, and he s excited to continue this mitzvah for many more years to come. Save the Date: Kabbalah and Baklava! What do Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish tradition of mystical interpretation of the Bible, and Baklava, a sweet Middle Eastern pastry, have in common? Well, to find out you ll have to attend the next installment of Illuminations & Libations, Or Ami s interesting, provocative and tasty adult education program. Led by Cantor Franzel and Rabbi Ettman, Kabbalah and Baklava takes place on Sunday, April 8, from 4 to 5:30 pm. Please invite your family and friends! Each Illuminations & Libations event is a presentation on a topic within the JewishWorld. It s also an opportunity to interact with fellow Or Ami-ites while enjoying a delicious thematic snack and drink. Illuminations & Libations programs are generously supported by the Wilma Clauson Adult Education Fund. We hope to see you at our next event!
New Horizons Focuses on Pop Culture Tell Your Dogs! Havdallah in the Park Is Back Join us in Miles Park on April 21 at 6:30pm for Havdallah accompanied by our four-legged friends The New Horizons group will come together on Wednesday, April 18, at 7 pm. Rabbi Ettman will present Lights, Camera, Torah: The Jewish Influence in Pop Culture. New Horizons is a social group that meets every month. They have presented musicians, authors, comedians, historians, and other interesting guests. There is a nominal fee of $20 to join New Horizons, payable at the beginning of the program year. For more information about New Horizons, contact David Grunfeld at 610-828-1480. Like us on Facebook and check in often to keep up-to-date on what s going on at Or Ami! Tennis Anyone? Our women s tennis group is in search of new players for the 2018-2019 season. The group plays at a 3-3.5 level. We play from September through April indoors at Green Valley Country Club. Our court time is on Sundays from 4-5:30. If you are interested, contact Hélène Rosen at skieur@rosenhome.org. 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 610-828-9066 Card will be inscribed with your personal message. Proceeds go toward beautification of our synagogue 5
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 610-574-2278 or barbhoffman@comcast.net We are always eager to grow our community and to share what makes Or Ami such a special place. 6
7
April 2018 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 1 16 Nisan 2 17 Nisan 3 18 Nisan Tuesday Afternoon Reli. 4:15p Omdim @ Youth Lounge 6:30p 4 19 Nisan 5 20 Nisan Yizkor Service 7:00p ECE Center Staff Meeti. 6:30p Candle Lighting 7:11p RSC Meeting 7:00p 6 21 Nisan Passover Yizkor ECE Center Closed ~ All Students First Fridays Wine and. 6:30p Erev Shabbat Service 7:00p Candle Lighting 7:12p 7 22 Nisan BM Olivia Prusky Bat Mitzvah of Olivia Prusky Torah Study 9:00a Havdalah 8:21p 8 23 Nisan Religious School 9:00a Or Ami Happening 4:00p Illuminations 4:00p 15 30 Nisan NFTY-PAR Spring Kallah Religious School 9:00a 9 24 Nisan 16 1 Iyar 10 25 Nisan Tuesday Afternoon Reli. 4:15p Omdim @ Youth Lounge 6:30p 17 2 Iyar Yom Ha'atzma'ut Commemoration Tuesday Afternoon Reli. Omdim @ Youth Lounge 4:15p 6:30p 11 26 Nisan 12 27 Nisan Yom HaShoah Executive Committee Me.7:00p Yom HaShoah program 18 3 Iyar 19 4 Iyar Yom HaZikaron Yom HaAtzmaut Israel Independence Da. 9:30a New Horizons Meeting 7:00p 13 28 Nisan NFTY-PAR Spring Kallah Erev Shabbat Service 7:00p Candle Lighting 7:19p 20 5 Iyar Erev Shabbat Service 7:00p Candle Lighting 7:26p 14 29 Nisan Sh'mini Bar Mitzvah of Jacob Yontef NFTY-PAR Spring Kallah Torah Study 9:00a BM Jacob Yontef 10:30a Havdalah 8:28p 21 6 Iyar Tazria-M'tzora Bat Mitzvah of Skyler Alten Torah Study 9:00a BM Skyler Alten 10:30a Havdallah in the Park 6:30p Havdalah 8:35p 22 7 Iyar Religious School Teachers- Reconsideration letters due back to Ed Director Religious School 9:00a Friendship Circle 10:00a 29 14 Iyar RS Faculty Meeting Religious School 9:00a Friendship Circle 10:00a 23 8 Iyar 30 15 Iyar 24 9 Iyar Tuesday Afternoon Reli. 4:15p Omdim @ Youth Lounge 6:30p 25 10 Iyar 26 11 Iyar ECE Parents' Night Out 7:00p Board Meeting 7:00p 27 12 Iyar Erev Shabbat Service 7:00p Candle Lighting 7:34p 28 13 Iyar Acharei Mot- K'doshim Bar Mitzvah of Steven Bernstein Torah Study 9:00a BM Steven 10:30a Bernstein VIVA OR AMI 5:00p Havdalah 8:43p 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 someone 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 610-724-4188 for an appointment