March-May 2012

Spring 2012
March • April • May
Adar • Nissan • Iyyar • Sivan
5772
Vol. LIII, No. 3
March
www.templeshalom.net
FRI
Tot Shabbat, 5:30 PM
Congregational Shabbat Dinner, 6:15 PM
Erev Shabbat Family Services, Grades 2 &
3 Lead/Matan Siddur, 7:30 PM
3
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study, 10 AM
Shabbat Service and Bar Mitzvah of Gabe
Udell, 10 AM
2
SAT
T’tzaveh, Exodus 27:20–30:10
Esther 7:1–10; 8:15–17 or Samuel 15:2–34
9
WED
9
10
Purim Dinner, 6 PM
Erev Purim Service, Schpiel and Megillah
Reading, 7 PM
Shir Shalom Music Shabbat, 7:30 PM
FRI
SAT
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study 10 AM
Shabbat Service and Bat Mitzvah
of Claire Ivers, 10 AM
Ki Tisa, Exodus 30:11–34:353
1 Kings 18:1–39
16
17
FRI
SAT
Brotherhood Dinner, 6 PM
Erev Shabbat Piano Services/Brotherhood
Shabbat, 7:30 PM
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study, 10 AM
Shabbat Service and Bat Mitzvah
of Maia Eskin, 10 AM
Vayak’heil-Pekudei, Exodus 35:1–40:38
Ezekiel 36:22–26
23
24
FRI
SAT
Erev Shabbat Services – Folk Shabbat,
Grade 10 Leads, 7:30 PM
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study, 10 AM
Shabbat Service and B’nai Mitzvah of
Benjamin Auerbach and Jack Barker, 10 AM
Vayikra, Leviticus 1:1–5:26
Ezekiel 45:16–25
25
30
Women’s Seder, 5 PM
SUN
FRI
31
SAT
Tot Seder, 5:30 PM
“Pro-Neg” Nosh, 5:30 PM
Erev Shabbat Services, 6:15 PM (NOTE
EARLIER TIME)
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study, 10 AM
Shabbat Service and Bar Mitzvah
of Jonah Gottesman, 10 AM
Tzav, Leviticus 6:1–8:367
Malachi 3:4–24
April & May Services page 2
continued from page 1
April
SPRING 2012 WORSHIP
6
7
Join us for Temple Shalom’s annual observance of
Passover at Home – No Regular Services
FRI
SAT
Yom HaShoah v’haG’vurah (Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Day)
Clergy Cook-Off Breakfast, 9 AM
Passover Festival Morning Service, 10 AM
First Day of Pesach: Songs of Songs is read
Exodus 12:37–42; 13:3–10
Isaiah 43:1–15
13
FRI
14
SAT
18
20
21
Passover Concluding Service and Yizkor at
Temple Emanuel, 10 AM
Luncheon at Temple Emanuel, 12 NOON
Shir Shalom Music Shabbat, 7:30 PM
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study, 10 AM
Sh’mini 1, Leviticus 9:1–10:11
2 Samuel 6:1–23
Erev Yom HaShoah Service w/Ruach Teen
Choir, Grades 7 & 10 Participate, 6 PM
WED
FRI
SAT
Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot Festival Services
Our tradition of joint Festival morning services with other area Reform congregations continues this
spring, as we celebrate Passover and Shavuot with Temple Sinai, Temple Emanuel and Or Chadash of
Damascus.
Upcoming services for the holidays, both combined with the other synagogues and on our
own, include:
Erev Shabbat Services – Piano Shabbat,
7:30 PM
Erev Pesach
Friday, April 6, 2012
First Night Seder in our homes.
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study, 10 AM
Shabbat Service and B’not Mitzvah of Mikaela
Greenwald & Rebecca Leggett, 10 AM
Sh’mini 2, Leviticus 10:12–11:47
E2 Samuel 7:1–17
27
28
Wednesday,April 18, 2012, at 7 PM
We come together for a service with participation from our Seventh and Tenth Grade classes,
including the annual recitation of the names of loved ones lost during the Shoah by members of our
congregation.(If you are new to the congregation or you have not given our office the names of family
members who perished during the Holocaust, please contact Kristin Lake at [email protected] as
soon as possible, and we will include your family members in our congregational family list.) This service
includes lighting our congregation’s specially designed Holocaust menorah.
Watch for details for that night in the days to come.
NO SERVICES at Temple Shalom on this
particular Friday night!!
*
May
4
FRI
5
SAT
Tot Shabbat, 5:30 PM
Congregational Shabbat Dinner, 6:15 PM
Erev Shabbat Family Services, 4th Grade
Leads/Beit Din, 7:30 PM
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study, 10 AM
Shabbat Service and Bar Mitzvah
of Jacob Rains, 10 AM
Mot-K’doshim, Leviticus 16:1–20:27
Amos 9:7–151
11
FRI
12
SAT
Soulful Shabbat Ruach Services and PostConfirmation Graduation with Teen Band &
Choir, 7:30 PM
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study, 10 AM
Shabbat Service and Bat Mitzvah
of Jolisa Osborn-Polakoff, 10 AM
Emor, Leviticus 21:1–24:23
Ezekiel 44:15–31
18
19
SAT
Our now famous enterprise of clergy cooking in
the kitchen with a wide variety of different
matza-brie recipes, followed by the…
*
Page 2
* * *
*
* * * *
* * *
Seventh Day of Pesach
Friday, April 13, 2012, at Temple Emanuel
10101 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD
* * *
*
* * * *
* * *
The Evening of Shavuot
Saturday, May 26, 2012, at Temple Shalom
8401 Grubb Road, Chevy Chase, MD
Erev Shavuot Service, 7:30 PM
including the reading of the Ten Commandments
Dairy Dessert Reception (Blintzes and
Cheesecake), 8:30 PM
Tikkun Leil Shavuot Study Sessions, 9 – 11 PM
*
* * *
*
* * * *
* * *
The Morning of Shavuot
Sunday, May 27, 2012
First Morning of Pesach Festival Service, 10 AM
Confirmation Service at Temple Shalom, 10 AM
Confirmation Luncheon Reception,
following the service.
*
* * *
*
* * * *
* * *
Pesach Concluding Festival Morning and Yizkor
Memorial Service, 10 AM
25
FRI
26
SAT
Erev Shabbat Services – Piano Shabbat, 7:30 PM
B’har-B’chukotai, Leviticus 25:1–27:34
Jeremiah 16:19–17:14
* * *
Clergy Cook Off: Matza-Brei,
Have It Your Way, 9 AM
FRI
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study, 10 AM
Shabbat Service and B’not Mitzvah of Paul
Vasquez & Carlos Giron, 10 AM
* * * *
*
3100 Military Rd, NW, Washington, DC
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study, 10 AM
Shabbat Service and Bar Mitzvah of Noah
Dalbey, 10 AM
Tazria-M’tzora, Leviticus 12:1–15:33
2 Kings 7:3–20
*
The First Morning of Passover
Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Temple Sinai
Erev Shabbat Services – Folk Shabbat, 7:30 PM
FRI
SAT
* * *
“Last Matza” (for Reform Jews) Luncheon
following the service at around 12 NOON
27
SUN
Congregational Shabbat Dinner, 6:15 PM
Erev Shabbat Services – Folk Shabbat and
10th Grade Graduation, 7:30 PM
Graduation Vows, 9 PM
Shabbat Morning Worship & Study, 10 AM
Tot Shavuot Services, 5:30 PM
Erev Shavuot Services, 7:30 PM
Shavuot Dairy Dessert Reception, 9 PM
Tikkun Liel Shavuot, 9:30 PM
graphic design, cover design
and production:
laura-leigh palmer, asap graphics;
[email protected]
B’midbar, Numbers 1:1–4:20
Hosea 2:1–22
editor
Cheryl McGowan,Temple Shalom
[email protected]
Shavuot/Confirmation Services, 10 AM
Produced by Temple Shalom
Phone: 301–587–2273
Current
and back
issues
also
available
online:
www.
temple
shalom
.net
From the Rabbi
“Everybody Must Get Stoned”
A Report from a Front Line of the Culture Wars in Israel
Message from
Rabbi Michael L. Feshbach
When Bob Dylan wrote the lyrics many years ago that “everybody
must get stoned,” I am certain that he did not have Bet Shemesh in
mind. I’m actually not sure what he meant at all, but I am fairly sure
that the song is not about physical intimidation, harassment and assault.
I write these words towards the end of the winter week of my spreadout sabbatical in Jerusalem. This year has been a challenging and deeply
troubling one in the Jewish state. While security measures and
circumstances have brought about a blessed and hopefully long-lasting
reduction in terrorist attacks, internal Israeli issues and Jewish extremism
have roared to the fore. From the massive social protest movements last
summer (that made front-page headlines here for many weeks before
they broke through for any coverage by the American press), to
desecration of mosques and even attacks on IDF soldiers by extremist
West Bank settlers waging a private war called “price tag,” to the
combined exultation and anguish over the return of Gilad Shalit and the
high cost it took to seal that deal, we are a long way, today, from the
easy pride and idealized vision of what was in any event a probably
mythical past.
At the same time, a slew of seemingly anti-democratic legislation has
come before (but not passed!) the Knesset, seeking to limit the rights of
NGOs, minorities, the media, and anyone who would dare speak out
against governmental policy.
Into all this now comes the painful—shameful—issue of gender
segregation and oppression of women in Israel. At least, that’s what I
thought the terrible images coming from a place called Bet Shemesh
were about. It turns out that even these images are more complicated
than I could have imagined.
For those not following this news closely, some background. Over
the past several months, long-simmering issues regarding the role of
women in Israeli society have been covered in the press as never before.
Charedi (ultra-Orthodox) communities have instituted gendersegregated (public) buses, and, while the Supreme Court has insisted
that using such buses is legal only if totally voluntary, there have been
many reported cases of vicious verbal and even physical assaults by
Charedi men on women who would not move to the back of the bus
(can you believe you are reading such words?). A Charedi neighborhood
in Jerusalem attempted to divide a public street in half during Sukkot,
mandating that women walk on only one side. A minister of the
government giving an award to a female physician refused to attend the
ceremony unless the awardee agreed not to speak, lest he be forced to
hear a woman’s voice. (In the end, the awardee herself refused to
attend.) Charedi and even National Religious (a group comparable to
the term “modern Orthodox” in North America) soldiers have
demanded to be excused from cultural events, otherwise mandatory for
their units, at which women would sing. Last week, while I was here, a
woman working her job for the government putting up signs and
distributing information was attacked in a Charedi neighborhood just
for being there. And in a city called Bet Shemesh, in an incident that
was caught on camera and then went viral on YouTube, an eight-yearold, modestly dressed Orthodox girl named Na’ama Margolese was
repeatedly attacked on her short walk to school, called a prostitute and a
non-Jew and many other unprintable names ostensibly because she
dressed a little differently than the extremist ultra-Orthodox (although,
as I said, it turns out this particular incident is more complicated than it
seems). She is traumatized and for a while was afraid of any Charedi Jew.
No, this isn’t Iran or Saudi Arabia, and it is important to remember
how many wacky proposals and disturbing ideas are put out there in our
own country. The voices of extremists are heard everywhere, but they
do not represent the whole picture and should not be allowed to do so.
But a community of decency and progressive values will remain that way
only if extremism is met with a vigorous response—with information,
education, and engagement, not by anger, alienation, or absence.
My cohort of rabbis at the Shalom Hartman Institute returned
yesterday from an educational encounter in Bet Shemesh. We met with a
woman who is active at the National Religious Orthodox school that
Na’ama Margolese attends, with a modern Orthodox man who is working
for inner-neighborhood civility, and with a Charedi woman working
towards the same end. We met with Na’ama Margolese’s mother and with
a Charedi rabbi from the extremist Toldot Aharon sect, who sounded slick
and friendly and who said that everyone would get along with one simple
solution: that the modern Orthodox school move somewhere else.
And, it turns out, that is the point. This incident of harassment is as
much a turf war as it is about “modesty” or the role of women. It is a
clash of neighborhood lines, where an expanding Charedi community
does not want to be anywhere near the National Religious community,
whose lifestyle is even more threatening to their isolated way of life than
that of secular Jews… because their children could envision becoming
modern Orthodox, whereas the secular world is simply beyond their
imagination. And it turns out that much of the extremist reaction in many
of the incidents here is a result of real fear… fear of the encroaching
modern world, of Charedi women going to college in increasing numbers
as a result of poverty flowing from large families headed by men who
avoid paid work in favor of full-time Torah study, fear of the wall of
isolation crumbling as information, technology and circumstance make
preserving an ancient way of life increasingly difficult.
I am filled with admiration for the mainstream Orthodox families
under fire in their very homes, where signs appear telling them to dress
even more discretely or watch television where it can not be seen out of
the window. They live under real threat.
But I am also fascinated by the fact—and the way—that the
mainstream Orthodox are fighting back, using Facebook as an
organizing tool (in one instance, to rally a flash mob of dancing women
in the main square of Bet Shemesh—you can see the video of that event
continued on page 5
Page 3
From the Cantor
Message from
Cantor Lisa L.
Levine
Dear Friends,
I am writing this article on a cold, sunny
winter day. The promise of spring is reflected
only in the seed catalogues that are beginning
to arrive at our home. But by the time you are
reading these words, the crocuses will be
popping through the soil and Purim and
Passover will be upon us.
So much is happening this spring at Temple
Shalom that I can hardly keep up with it all!
First and foremost is The Gershwin
Songbook and Rhapsody In Blue on
Sunday March 18th at 4 PM. If you already
became a sponsor or purchased your tickets,
then they will be waiting for you at the door.
If you haven’t done so, please put the date on
your calendar and plan on attending. Bring
your family because they will love the music.
You may not know that our accompanist,
Andrew Stewart, is an accomplished Broadway
and concert pianist and, along with Paul
Carroll, will play a four-handed rendition of
one of Gershwin’s most famous compositions.
It will be a lovely spring afternoon program
followed by wine and cheese.
Also on tap for spring is our Purim Shpiel,
written by Josh Milton and performed by
Temple Shalom staff and friends: “My Fair
Esther” on Wednesday, March 7th at 7 PM.
This hilarious program is also a family affair, so
make sure to dress up in costume.
Because I feel strongly that our young
people be exposed to the best and brightest,
the end-of-the-school-year concert has now
become a tradition. This year it will feature
Jewish music superstar Sam Glazer on
Sunday, May 20th at 11 AM. Sam plays piano
and is a one-man dynamo. The concert will be
followed by our highly anticipated and beloved
Brotherhood picnic!
Finally, mark your calendars for the one and
only Julie Silver, Artist-in-Residence
Weekend, Friday and Saturday, June 1st
and 2nd. The concert weekend is sponsored
by the Bederson/Druin Family. Julie is the
premier singer/songwriter/spiritualist of the
Reform Movement, and her music and spirit
will fill you with inspiration. She will work
with our choirs to present a program on Friday
and then give a home concert Saturday night.
Watch the Shofar and emails for more details!
Just as I’m planting seeds in my garden, so
too are we continually planting seeds of
identity and connection to our temple family
and Am Yisrael through song and prayer. May
all the seeds we sow be nurtured and watered
by our dedication and love for our children
and support of our Mishkan, our holy place!
Artist Weekend With:
Singer/Songwriter
Julie Silver
Friday, June 1st 7:30 PM
Temple Shalom
FREE
Saturday June 2nd 7:30 PM
House Concert
at the home of the
Bederson/Druin Family
(Proceeds to benefit the Temple Shalom
Music Fund)
Tickets:
$36 for Adults $18 for Kids
Light buffet throughout.
(FREE Shuttle to
run from Temple Shalom)
Yours in song,
Cantor Lisa
P.S. My heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of
cards, emails, calls and donations in memory
of my brother, Danny Lipco. Your support has
given me and my family great comfort.
Dana Bederson joins Cantor Levine at the
dedication of the Debbie Friedman School
of Sacred Music in New York City on
December 7, 2011.
Page 4
From the Rabbi (cont.) • High Holy Day Schedule
from page 3
Everybody Must Get Stoned (continued)
on You Tube)… and I note that the
moderate/modern Orthodox community of Bet
Shemesh consists very largely of Anglo
immigrants. These Jews from English-speaking
countries are drawing a line in the sand,
bringing values they learned in democratic and
progressive countries to stand firm, to not run
away, to fight for their homes and their lives.
Extremism in any form calls for a response.
We are at the moment locked in a global
struggle against all kinds of extremism. One of
the gifts of our own country to the rest of the
world is the possibility and promise that
different kinds of people really can learn to live
together. It may have taken us a long time to
learn this here, there may be a long way to go
(some of the stories our Emeritus Rabbi, Bruce
Kahn, tells from his work at the Equal Rights
Center are certainly shocking), and we must
assert constant vigilance to make sure we do not
slip back to where we once were.
But I am proud that, in part, American
values and American-style activism are being
deployed now to make Israel live up to what it
should be. The outcome of this struggle is
neither pre-determined nor clear. What Israel
needs now is…you. To learn, to come, to
care…and not to run away.
Sometimes we face a moment—a person
making an ethnic slur, telling an inappropriate
joke, engaging in offensive behavior—and we
know we have to act.
So. OK. That is the world in which we find
ourselves. Let’s roll up our sleeves. Let’s make it
better.
Michael L. Feshbach
Rabbi
Help Build our Website!
To help complete a new Temple Shalom facilities website page, we are seeking photos of our
Social Hall and Chapel decorated for Bar and
Bat Mitzvahs and other celebratory events.
Please snap a few pix of your decorated party or
reception space before the crowd arrives, then
send your digital photos as e-mail attachments
to Cheryl in the admin office at
[email protected].
Or drop off prints in the Temple office.
They’ll be returned
A NEW SHAPE FOR THE NEW YEAR
Restructuring High Holy Day Services at Temple Shalom
Friends: The Gregorian New Year is recently behind us, and the Jewish new year and the fall
High Holy Days will be here before we know it. Responding to trends of recent years and with
the desire to come together as a single community, after consultation with the Board of Trustees
and exploration with other constituencies in the congregation, we are announcing a major
change in the structure of High Holy Day services at Temple Shalom, at least for the coming
year. In essence and with some exceptions, we are moving away from “double” sequential
services, and towards a single service for most of the High Holy Days.
Practically speaking, there will be no more “early” and “late” tickets, and the major services
will begin at what most of us consider a much more reasonable time: 8 PM for the evening
services and 10 AM for the morning services.
We will continue to offer two differently styled services on Erev Rosh Hashanah, and we will
continue with the very successful simultaneous downstairs Youth Service during the morning
services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We also will continue our long-standing tradition
of opening afternoon family services to the community.
While some details have yet to be worked out, and there are, of course, both anticipated and
unexpected implications to any major change, here is a schedule outline for the coming Days of Awe:
High Holy Day Schedule
2012 (5773)
Selichot
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Coffeehouse: Gerard Edery, 8–10 PM
Havdalah and Selichot Service, 10–11 PM
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Community Family-Style Service, 6:15 PM
Erev Rosh Hashanah Service, 8 PM
Rosh Hashanah
Monday, September 17, 2012
Rosh Hashanah Morning Service,
10 AM–12:30 PM
Rosh Hashanah Children’s [and possibly Teen]
Services and Activities, 10 AM–12 NOON
Rosh Hashanah Community Family Service,
2–3 PM
Tashlich, 3– 4 PM
Second Day Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Second Day RH Morning Service,
10 AM – 12 NOON
Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidrei
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidrei Service, 8–10 PM
Yom Kippur
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Yom Kippur Morning Service, 10 AM–12:30 PM
Yom Kippur Children’s [and possibly Teen]
Services and Activities, 10 AM–12 NOON
Guided and/or Individual Study and
Meditation, 1–2 PM
Yom Kippur Community Family Service, 2–3 PM
Yom Kippur Afternoon Opportunities for
Adults, 2–3:30 PM
Healing Service, 3:30–4 PM
Yom Kippur Afternoon Mincha Service, Yizkor
Memorial and Ne’ilah Concluding Service,
4:30–7 PM
Mini Break-Fast, 7 PM
And, just for your advance information, the
dates of the other fall holidays,
with service details to follow:
Erev Sukkot
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sukkot
Monday, October 1, 2012
Erev Simchat Torah (Reform)
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Simchat Torah/Shmini Atzeret
Monday, October 8, 2012
Page 5
From the Religious School
URJ Biennial
Rabbi Rachel Ackerman
Director of Education
I still remember my first weekend at a
North American Federation for Temple Youth
(NFTY) event. That’s probably because it was
last September! I was not a NFTY kid growing
up, although I was involved with my
synagogue youth group. Going to the NFTY
leadership training retreat in September
opened my eyes to the power of teen
leadership. Between what I observed and
conversations with the TaSTY (Temple Shalom
Temple Youth) board, I have learned:
1. Teens crave ritual. Everything about
NFTY events is ritualized, from what happens during meals, to the hand motions
during birkat hamazon (grace after meals).
From the shtick incorporated into services,
to the cheers they shout. I have learned
from our TaSTY board members that
services can actually be fun!
2. Teens take leadership seriously. All NFTY
programs are planned by, led by, and
taught by teens. They consult youth advisors, clergy, education directors, and other
adults, but ultimately the transmission of
Jewish tradition is from peer to peer, not
from adult to child. They make Torah
(study), avodah (worship), and gimilut
chasadim (acts of loving kindness) a priority. Youth group is powerful because it’s
teens learning from and teaching one
another. As one of our teens said, “You get
to do fun stuff that your board plans for
you. People [our own] age pick stuff so it’s
more fun than if an elderly person like a
Page 6
rabbi picks stuff.” We “elderly” folks appreciate this leadership model.
3. Youth need a space to call their own.
The power of youth group is the opportunity to manage life’s ups and downs with
the support of adults, but driven by youth
in their own way in their own time in their
own space. In the larger world, youth
answer to adults 90% of the time. As part of
youth group, they answer to one another.
4. Youth group creates a safe environment
of universal acceptance. Similar to the
effect of Jewish camping, youth group provides an atmosphere where “coolness” and
“geekiness” are redefined, where ability
and disability are both embraced and supported, where the silos of cafeteria cliques
are broken down and everyone has an
opportunity to engage in a dramatically different way than they do inside the walls of
school. Youth group also provides an
opportunity to express one’s insecurities
and fears in a place free of judgment. Our
teens note the brit kehillah (covenant of
community) that they sign and read at
every event.
5. Youth group makes our Jewish institutions fun places to be and expands the
reach of Judaism. As one of our board
members said about Temple Shalom,
“[Youth group] makes coming here so
much more enjoyable.” Also, while an
incredible amount of learning goes on, the
social aspect is significant. One teen noted,
“You’re not just going to the Temple to do
work.” Furthermore, it encourages youth
to realize that Judaism exists and can be
practiced beyond the synagogue walls. One
teen notes, “If your Jewish life is only at
the Temple, it will get boring. NFTY
enhances what being a Jewish teen means.”
A wealth of opportunity exists for our 7th12th graders to engage with youth groups on
a synagogue, regional, and even national level.
For those who have loved our religious
Shabbatonim and retreats, NFTY gives an
photo by Benjamin Feshbach
A universal “Yes” resounded from several
thousand URJ Biennial participants in support
of the Campaign for Youth Engagement. The
Reform Movement has affirmed as a
community that youth, as the bearers of Jewish
tradition, need to be our priority as a national
movement and as individual synagogue
communities. What this looks like is individual
to each community, but certain elements
contribute to deep Jewish connections and
formative Jewish experiences: Jewish camp,
teen trips to Israel, friends from religious
school, and youth group engagement.
Temple Shalom’s own Stephen Sacks
addresses the Biennial as its new Board chair
opportunity to experience more of these in a
youth-driven setting. For those who may not
have entire weekends to devote to NFTY,
TaSTY offers numerous social, social action,
religious and cultural events throughout the
year, from laser tag to cooking for local food
pantries. Within these informal educational
settings, lifelong Jewish friendships are built,
Jewish learning is acquired, and what is learned
inside the classroom is reinforced in the “real”
world. Our youth learn and understand that
being Jewish goes far beyond book learning,
services, and Shabbat dinner.
I’d like to put forth a challenge that every
one of our 7th–12th graders attend at least
four youth group events during the course of
each year—at least one of which is TaSTY and
at least one of which is a regional NFTY
event—whether a Shabbat service, an evening
out eating pizza and playing ping pong, or a
weekend-long retreat. These experiences will
form and shape our 7th–12th graders. (If cost
is an issue, please do not hesitate to contact
the religious school office or the clergy.)
At the URJ Biennial, we unanimously
supported the Campaign for Youth
Engagement. Now it is upon us to ensure that
our youth have opportunities to be engaged.
Rabbi Rachel Ackerman
Director
Religious Education
From the President • 2012 Religious Activities • Israel 2012!
FROM THE PRESIDENT
What a wonderful experience it was to attend
the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial in
December. Approximately 100 Temple Shalom
volunteers assisted guests in the various venues
and throughout the convention center. Their
consistent presence sure made our Temple shine.
My thanks to all the volunteers who gave of
their time.
Many of us stood on line for hours to get
into the venue and listen to President Obama. It
was an amazing experience to see the President
and listen to a very dynamic speech.
Our new Union for Reform Judaism
president, Rabbi Jacobs, gave a great
motivational speech regarding youth
engagement. It is Rabbi Jacobs’s hope that our
young people will continue on past
Confirmation. Approximately 80 percent have
no affiliation with their Temple after
Confirmation. It is incumbent upon us to
encourage our children and grandchildren to
continue their Jewish education and identity.
One of our Temple’s most attended services
of the year is the annual Martin Luther King
Shabbat. Many thanks to Cantor Levine and all
the voices of our choirs and the music of the
Ruach Bands.
How wonderful it is to see the warmth and
friendship that transpires each Shabbat with
congregants greeting each other, sharing the
meaning of Shabbat and engaging in
conversation at the Oneg.
How fortunate we are at Temple Shalom to
have such a wonderful senior staff who
consistently provide us with warmth and
spiritual guidance each Shabbat. Our Shabbat
worship has many variations and, if you are not a
regular attendee at services, check the weekly
email for information on services Friday night.
This Shofar covers a period including
Passover, so I would like to wish all a wonderful
Pesach.
Myles R. Levin
President
2012 Religious School Activities
Friday, Feb. 24
Grade 6 Shabbat La’Nefesh
Sunday, Feb. 26
Grade 1 Jewish Family Education-Synagogue
Friday, March 2
Grades 2 & 3 Lead the Shabbat Family Service
Sunday, March 4
Purim Carvival 9:30 AM–12:30 PM
Friday, March 9–Sunday, March 11
Grades 8 & 9 Retreat
Sunday, March 11
Grade 7 Jewish Family Education-Holocaust
Museum Trip
Friday, March 23
Grade 10 Leads the Shabbat Family Service
Sunday, March 25
Grade 4 Jewish Family Education-Weddings
Sunday,April 1–Monday,April 9
NO SCHOOL-Spring Break
Friday,April 13–Sunday,April 15
Grade 10 Retreat
Saturday, May 20
Sam Glaser in Concert
Page 7
Funraiser • Renaissance Group • Bookclub
SAVE THE DATE
TEMPLE
SHALOM GALA
“FUNRAISER”
SATURDAY
MAY 12, 2012
7 PM
Put it on your calendar, enter it into
Outlook, tell your cell phone, write
it on the back of your hand, but
please—do whatever that you have
to do—to SAVE THE DATE
because you will not want to miss
the annual Temple Shalom Gala
“Funraiser” to be held on
SATURDAY, MAY 12 AT 7 PM.
Plans are being made for an evening
of music and dancing, food and
drink, and fun-filled auctions and
raffles. (Why? To raise some muchneeded gelt for our synagogue!)
If you have Nationals box seats, a
beach house rental, or some
schmattas that someone would love
to buy, please contact Seth Maiman,
Fundraiser Chair, at
[email protected] about donating items for the silent auction.
See you May 12
Bring your dancing
shoes ... and your credit
cards!
Page
2012 Book Club Selections & Discussion Dates
Temple Shalom Book Club usual meeting time will be 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM, except the
last day, May 20, 2012, when we meet from 10–11:30 AM during the Unisession.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Safe Passage by Ida Cook: The true story of two young women who were interested
in coming to America to see great opera stars perform and who ended up rescuing
refugees from Europe at the start of the Holocaust. They were recognized by Yad
Vashem as Righteous Among Nations.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer: An exploration of the lives of Jews in other places, this novel
depicts a wealthy father who is separated from his Jewish family in Iran shortly after the revolution.
His wife and daughter struggle to survive while searching for him, and his son struggles to make it
in Brooklyn. It raises philosophical questions including those of allegiance to country vs. religion
and the role of masters vs. servants.
Brotherhood • Women’s Seder
MESSAGE FROM
BROTHERHOOD
Brotherhood ended 2011 with a couple of
enjoyable events. On Sunday, December 18, as
part of the Religious School’s Hanukah
celebration, we hosted the 4th through 7th
grades in a demonstration on how to fry
The Brotherhood held its first Latke Fry on
December 18, 2011. Students in the 4th
through 7th grades grated potatoes,
chopped onions, beat eggs, and mixed potato pancake batter. Special thanks to the
day’s volunteers: Maurice Axelrad, Bernie
Blumenthal, Bob Goodman, Bonnie Green,
Lynn Kanowith, Dan Lahn, Seth Maiman,
Jeffrey Steger, and Peter Wolk
latkes. The students in each class rotated
through three stations where they scrubbed
and grated potatoes, peeled and sliced onions,
mixed in eggs, salt and flour, delivered their
mixture to the kitchen for frying, and received
a pre-warmed latke with sour cream and apple
sauce. It was a great success enjoyed by all
with but a single casualty: one cut finger. Then
on Saturday, December 24, with Renaissance
and Sisterhood, we co-sponsored the annual
dinner and movie night, when a large crowd
enjoyed a traditional Chinese meal and an
Israeli movie.
even order wines in advance of pick-up by
contacting Harvey Berger at 301-680-0052.
Finally, please save the dates for these
Brotherhood events later in the year:
Our 2012 program began with our February
5 brunch, when our own Dr. Eric Cline
presented a fascinating talk on “Recent
Archeological Discoveries at Megiddo and Tel
Kabri in Israel.” Our next event was something
new—a Family Bowling Evening on February 26
at the Gaithersburg Bowl America, followed a
few weeks later by the Brotherhood Shabbat
dinner and service on Friday, March 16. More
about these diverse and entertaining activities in
the next Shofar!
• April 15, Sunday Brunch featuring political
commentator Mark Plotkin
Look forward to our annual sale of fine
wines for Passover, which will be held at the
Temple on March 18, 25 and 28. You can
And remember, everyone is welcome to
attend our meetings the first Wednesday of each
month, with a deli meal at 6:30 PM followed by
a brief business meeting. Please join us and
bring your fresh ideas and suggestions.
Maurice Axelrad, Brotherhood President
• May 6, our annual pre-Mother’s Day
Brunch featuring Natasha Barrett, host of
“Let’s Talk Live” on NewsChannel 8 and
reporter for WJLA-TV
• May 9, our expanded co-ed Poker/Game
Night
• May 20, our annual picnic
Rabbi Feshbach speaks on “Israel in our
Hearts and Mind: What Does Israel Mean to
Us?” at the Temple Brotherhood’s first
Sunday brunch of the new Jewish year on
November 13, 2011.
Page
Adult Education • Beit Din
Beit Din Completes Winter Clothing Drive
One of the leading historians of
Reform Judaism is
coming to Temple Shalom
Being a Jew in Nazi Germany:
Nazi Oppression and the Jewish
Response
Temple Shalom
7:30 – 9 pm
Speaker: HUC-JIR Professor Dr. Michael
Meyer
How did the Jews of Germany respond to the
rise of Hitler, which put an end to their
dreams of political equality in a liberal state
and cultural integration into a civilized society?
This lecture will deal with the radically
changed circumstances and the remarkable
moral resistance that rabbis and laity displayed
in the face of ever increasing oppression.
Michael A. Meyer was born in Berlin and grew
up in Los Angeles, where he received his B.A.
(with highest honors) from UCLA. His doctorate is from Hebrew Union College in
Cincinnati.
Program supported by Gary and Bernice
Lebbin as part of a series on German-Jewish
Cultural Heritage
Co-sponsored by the Foundation for Jewish
Studies.
photos by Leslie Rubin
Thursday, March 29, 2012
by Beit Din members
As you can see in the above picture, we had a
great response to our winter clothing drive!
We really appreciate your donations!!! The
purpose of the clothing drive was to help local
kids in need of warm clothing for the winter.
It was important to do this so that those children who received the clothing will know that
others thought about them and their situation.
Tzedakah—the obligation to help those who
need help
Some of the Jewish values that were demonstrated through this collection are:
We hope you will donate to our drives in the
future.
Gemilut chasadim—acts of loving kindness
V’ahavta l’reyecha kamocha—Love your neighbor as yourself
“Whoever saves a single soul…, it is as if that
person had saved a complete world”—Talmud,
Sanhedrin 37a
Tikkun Olam—repair of the world
Thanks to everyone who contributed so generously
to the Beit Din winter clothing drive!
Page 1
TIKKUN OLAM
Eighteenth Annual Mitzvah Day
More than 220 members of the Temple
Shalom family gathered for the 18th annual
Mitzvah Day on Sunday, November 6. After
breakfast and a dvar torah with Rabbi Feshbach,
participants headed off to perform tikkun olam
in our community and at the Temple.
Norma and Steve Fenves did yeoman’s
work once again, mostly behind the scenes,
organizing the brunch and many other
Mitzvah Day logistics. Thank you to Sarah
Leavitt for setting up the online registration
process and to the rest of the steering
committee for their countless hours planning
and organizing all aspects of Mitzvah Day:
Jean Carlson, Cliff Schwartz, Diane Cline,
Tami Mark, Linda Gurevich and Laura Fenves.
In addition, thank you to Rabbi Feshbach for
providing inspiration. Temple staff Susan
Zemsky and Cheryl McGowan were also 100%
supportive and helpful.
TSY and Ruach Teen Choirs with Cantor Lisa at Brighton Gardens
Mitzvah Day benefited from a group of
energetic and passionate Team Leaders as well:
Tami Mark (Brookside Gardens), Sandra
Roland and Richard Udell (Jones Mill Creek
Bed Cleanup), Sarah Posner and Jenny
Brilliant (Martha’s Table),Jennifer Goodman
and Katherine Freedman (A Wider Circle),
Juliet Mellow and Barry Molar (Star Gazing
Farm), Debbie Duel and Margo Gottesman
(Washington Animal Rescue League), Robin
Koralek and Sharon Bisk (Project LINUS),
Virginia Kling and Maddy Wilks (Thoughtful
Treasures), Diane Cline (Operation Welcome
Home), Betsy Kingery (Bikes for the World);
Mike Gurevich (Temple Maintenance) and
Linda Gurevich (Library Cleanup).
Check out the Temple website to see
the Mitzvah Day slideshow!
—Janice Pliner
Mitzvah Day yielded a trunkload of
casseroles for S.O.M.E.
Page 1
IN MEMORIAM
NEWL Y ESTABLISHED PERPETUAL
MEMORIALS
E D WA R D A R T H U R
BEEMAN
Husband of Jean Beeman and
father of Barbara, Cynthia,
J u di a n d R o b e r t
HAL
BRUNO
H u s b a n d o f M a rg a r e t B r u no
and father of Harold and
D a n n y B r un o
JOSEPH HENRY
CARO
F a t h e r o f S h e l l e y, E d it h
and Len Caro
“They rest from their labors,
and their good works do follow
them…”
Page 12
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Adult Education
Steve Hirschfeld
ARZA
Joan Kalin
B’nai Mitzvah
Rita Klein
Brotherhood
Maurice Axelrad
Lynn Kanowith
Capital Projects
Mark Ross
Cemetery
TBD
Chavurah
Rick Meyers
College Outreach
Communications
Finance
Barbara Shulman
TBD
Marc Feinberg
Kenneth Kramer
Founders
Jean Beeman
Historian/Parliamentarian
Sandra Kamisar
House/Grounds
Mike Gurevich
JCC Delegate
Joan Kalin
Leadership
Anne Feinberg
Legal Counsel
Marc Feinberg
Membership
Leslie Rubin
Linda Aldoory
Mitzvah Corps
Music
Nominating
Outreach
Religious Education
Renaissance
Sisterhood
Wilma Braun
Lori Weinstein
Betsy Kingery
TBD
Jeffrey Steger
Lynn Kanowith
Karen Safer
Linda Gurevich
Special Funds
Harvey Berger
Tikkun Olam
Josh Silver
Worship
Marty Shargel
Youth
Bonnie Green
Page 13
Temple Shalom
www.templeshalom.net
Phone: 301–587–2273 • Fax: 301–588–9368
8401 Grubb Road • Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Clergy & Staff
Senior Rabbi Michael L. Feshbach
Cantor Lisa L. Levine
Rabbi Rachel Ackerman, Director of
Education
Susan Goutos Zemsky, Executive
Director
Rabbi Emeritus Bruce E. Kahn
Cantor Emeritus Saul Rogolsky
Cheryl McGowan, Executive
Assistant
Kristin Lake, Clergy Assistant
Lois Simpson, Bookkeeper
Jossie Lerner, Office Assistant
Board ofTrustees Executive
Committee
Myles Levin, President
Harvey Berger, Exec.Vice President
Allison Druin,Vice President
Caryn Anthony,Vice President
Margo Gottesman,Vice President
Mark Ross,Treasurer
Robert Krauss, Financial Secretary
Marilyn Ripin, Secretary
Lynn Kanowith, Financial Secretary
(in training)
Trustees
Jordin Cohen, Steve Hirschfeld, Royal
Hutchinson, Rita Klein, Kenneth Kramer,
Peg MacKnight, Seth Maiman, Barbara
Miller, Michael Richards, Leslie Rubin,
Marty Shargel, Jeffrey Steger, Richard
Udell, Stefanie Weldon, Richard
Weitzner
Voting Auxiliary Members
Elizabeth Kingery, Immediate Past
President; Maurice Axelrad and
Lynn Kanowith, Brotherhood CoPresidents; Zach Kushner & Ben
Feshbach, TaSTY; Karen Safer and
Linda Gurevich, Sisterhood CoPresidents; Andrea Mark, Member
at Large
Auxiliary Members Ex Officio (NonVoting)
Rabbi Michael Feshbach
Cantor Lisa Levine
Rabbi Rachel Ackerman, Director of
Education
Susan Goutos Zemsky, Executive
Director
Sandy Kamisar, URJ Board Member
Stephen Sacks, URJ Counsel
Jean Beeman, Founder’s
Representative
Marc Feinberg,Temple Counsel