1202 February 12 Scroll vWEB
Transcription
1202 February 12 Scroll vWEB
Scroll Congregation Beth El February 2012 • Shevat–Adar 5772 Vol. 61 No. 6 From the Clergy Theme Conservative Judaism • 1, 10-12 From the Clergy • 1 Latke Hamantasch Debate • 5 Adult Bnai Mitzvah Class • 6 CE21 Age & Stage • 6 Youth • 7 Upper School Program • 7 Megillah Madness • 8 Library Corner • 9 Beth El Softball • 13 CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM: By Hazzan Matthew Klein A History For 2,000 years in the Diaspora, the Jewish people took care of themselves. Living in their own communities, by their own laws, they interacted modestly with the outside world. But in the 18th and 19th centuries, Jews achieved emancipation and were finally granted citizenship and (mostly) full integration into the rest of society. So too, Jews were exposed to the full breadth of philosophical and scientific thought of the Enlightenment. But with this freedom there came big questions. How would their communities hold together with so much freedom? How would they view their faith in the And Other Questions… Departments Every four years Americans are inundated with public opinion polls assessing their preferences in the presidential race. In the midst of the nation’s quadrennial survey tsunami, we took the opportunity to poll Beth El congregants about Conservative Judaism and how they became members of our synagogue. The poll was conducted online over a three-week period ending on January 5, and 141 individuals participated. Sid Groeneman, a survey development consultant, helped us tabulate and analyze the results. The results provide a fascinating snapshot of our membership and include some surprises. Although we tend to hear about the decline in Jewish religious affiliation and Men’s Club • 4 Contributions • 17 Bulletin Board • 20 The Scroll is a recipient of three Solomon Schechter Gold Awards from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Early Reform Coalition The first response to these questions was the Reform movement, which began in Germany in the early 19th century. The early Reformers focused on ethical monotheism as the essential truth of Judaism and reshaped many aspects of the Jewish practice to accord with Enlightenment thought. This often continued on page 12 Why Did You Join Beth El? Book Reviews 4U • 14-15 Sisterhood • 3 light of reason? Would they remain a people, or simply be subsumed as citizens “of the Mosaic persuasion”? These are the questions of Jews then and are still our questions today. By Jerry Sorkin observance, 81 percent of survey respondents say they are as observant as or more observant than their parents. And 55 percent say that in striking the balance between traditional Jewish observance and adaptability to modern culture, traditional rituals should be primary or unchangeable. “Location, location, location” is a phrase that seems to apply to both purchasing a home and selecting a synagogue. Some 59 percent of respondents said that location was one of the reasons that they joined Beth El. The services (45 percent) and our “warm and welcoming” community (44 percent) were the second and third most common reasons. Survey responses can be found on pages 10 and 11. n Scroll 8215 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, Maryland 20814-1451 Phone 301-652-2606 Fax 301-907-8559 Webwww.bethelmc.org Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Rabbi William D. Rudolph [email protected] Associate Rabbi Gregory Harris [email protected] Rabbi Emeritus Samuel Scolnic Hazzan Matthew Klein [email protected] Hazzan Emeritus Abraham Lubin [email protected] Executive Director Sheila H. Bellack [email protected] Education Director Louis A. Nagel [email protected] Family Education Director/ Assistant Education Director Elisha Frumkin [email protected] Director of Community Engagement Geryl Baer [email protected] Preschool Director Elaine Auerbach [email protected] Youth Director Adam Zeren [email protected] President Dale Rosenthal Executive Vice President David Mills Communications and Tikkun Olam Vice President Jerome Sorkin Education and Lifelong Learning Vice President Amy Kaufman Goott Worship and Spirituality Vice President Mitchell Solkowitz Administrative Vice President Larisa Avner Trainor Community Vice President Carolyn Weinberg Development and Finance Vice President Bradley Wine Treasurer Robert Rubin Secretary Sharon Zissman Scroll Committee Janet Meyers, Chair, Sharon Apfel, Judy Futterman, Davida Kales, Marci Kanstoroom, Judy Liberson, Helen Popper, Kim Redlich, Marsha Rehns, Jerry Sorkin, and Rosalie Sporn. 4U editors: Jennifer Katz and Jan Maxwell Scroll Design and Layout Adina Moses [email protected] 2 Scroll, USPS Number 009813, is published monthly by Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814. Periodical postage rate paid at Bethesda, Maryland and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Scroll, 8215 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814. Congregational Tu b’Shevat-Shabbat Dinner Sponsored by Minyan Chaverim Friday, February 10 Services at 6:30 pm Dinner at 7:15 pm Please join Minyan Chaverim with a traditional Kabbalat Shabbat service followed by dinner to celebrate Tu b’Shevat and Shabbat. We hope you will join our vibrant minyan for this festive evening. Return this form to the synagogue office (attention Hattie Goodman) with your check payable to Congregation Beth El by February 7 Adult Name(s) _____________________________________ Please list children’s/teens' names and ages __________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________________ Email Address _________________________________ Number of Member Adults/Teens _____ @ $22.00/personAmount $________ Number of Non-Member Adults/Teens _____ @ $27.00/personAmount $________ Number of children (6-12) _____ @ $10.00/personAmount $________ Number of children (2-6) _____ @ $5.00/personAmount $________ (No charge for children under two) Number of vegetarian entrees required _____ Total Amount $________ *Allergies: ________________________________________________ Please try to seat us with the following family: ___________________ __________________________________________________________ Sisterhood Sisterhood/Zhava Upcoming Sunday, February 5, 9:30 am Social Action: Basic CPR training, open to all. Mezuzah Workshop Just in time for Hanukkah gift giving, 15 women took glue and pieces of glass to make one-of-akind fused-glass mezuzot. Sisterhood will sponsor another fused-glass workshop next year. Interreligious Learning Institute Third Annual Wednesday, February 8, 7:30 pm Tu b’Shevat Seder with Gail Fribush. RSVP to sisterhoodevent @ bethelmc.org. $5 admission payable at the door. Women only. Thursday, February 23, 7:30 pm Education: Rosh Chodesh Study Session with Marilyn Fine. Women only. Wednesday, February 29, 7:30 pm Samplers and Socials: Beading Workshop, $25 materials fee payable at the door. RSVP by February 22 to [email protected] Friday, March 2, 9:30 am Challah-Baking Workshop with Janice Liebowitz to coincide with Shabbat Across America, open to all. Please RSVP by February 25 to [email protected] Tuesday, March 6, 9:30 am Hamantaschen-Baking Social Action project with Janice Liebowitz. Make hamantaschen for mishloach manot gifts for Hebrew Home residents. Limited to 10 participants. Please RSVP by February 29 to sisterhoodevent@bethelmc. org Friday, March 9, 6:30 pm, Shabbat Service and Zhava Family Shabbat Dinner The Scholars Sunday, February 26, 10:15 am – 2:00 pm “Peace and Violence: Perspectives from the Sacred Texts of Jews, Christians, and Muslims” Please join Rabbi William Rudolph and Rabbi Gregory Harris as they host this panel of distinguished scholars whose presentations at the Second Institute were enthusiastically received. New this year: The morning plenary discussion and refreshments will be followed by explorations of individual texts in a second plenary session in the afternoon. Professor Mehdi Aminrazavi is professor of philosophy and religion and director of the Middle Eastern Studies program at the University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg,Va. Dr. Rosann M. Catalano is associate director of the Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies in Baltimore as well as its Roman Catholic Scholar. Professor Robert Eisen is professor of religious studies at the George Washington University. Admission is free. A light lunch will be served. Make your reservation at [email protected]. 3 Men’s Club Beth El Men’s Club presents the 2012 Purim Carnival Sunday, March 4 Noon to 3:00 pm Games, fun, prizes, and food! Steve Frank explains the differences among craft beers as men sample the offerings at a Men’s Club class. Photo by Mitchell Solkowitz Upcoming Men’s Club Events Thursday, February 2, 8:30 pm Hearing Men’s Voices. Hazzan Matt Klein and Ben Bronheim will lead a discussion on “Shabbat Shirah: the liturgical melodies that move us.” Sunday, February 5, 8:45-11:00 am World Wide Wrap, minyan, breakfast, and program Sunday, February 12, 10:00 am Program TBD Sunday, February 19, 10:00 am Board Meeting Sunday, February 26, 10:00 am Program TBD Sunday, February 26, 7:30 pm Wine Tasting Tickets: 3/$1 in advance 2/$1 at the door Buy tickets on Sundays at Religious School drop-off. Wine Class and Tasting Expert lecturer – Beth El’s own Bob Luskin Sunday, February 26, 7:00 pm World Wide Wrap XII Sunday, February 5 Please join Beth El Men’s Club members and fellow congregants for this very special day to highlight the mitzvah of laying tefillin. Services start at 9:00 am with breakfast at 9:30 am, and a special program at 10:00 am. Assistance will be available at 8:45 am for those who would like to lay tefillin but need help. Extra tefillin will be available for those who need them. In an article in the January Scroll about Blue Yarmulke winner Howard Feibus, the full sentence about his family should read: Their other son, Michael, lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., and his son, Beau, attends the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. The Scroll regrets the omission. 4 Fine World-Wide Wines from Dry to Sweet at Congregation Beth El $18 per person, includes lecture, Kosher wine tasting and nosherai, and a discussion of wines and party planning. In addition, you can order gourmet Kosher wines for Pesach and other occasions Must deliver to Beth El c/o Men’s Club by February 10: Register us for the wine tasting. Enclosed is a check for $_____ for ____ people. Name(s): _______________________________ Telephone number: _____________________ Fourth Annual Latke v. Hamantasch Debate By Linda Orenstein A trumpet sounded and the gowned scholars strode in to the hearty applause of expectant onlookers. The faithful debate aficionados who filled the room sang anthems and listened carefully to the words of Rabbi Rudolph, who urged participants to “take the high road” and refrain from bashing the opposition in this fourth annual Latke versus Hamantasch Debate. An unspoken question hung in the air at the December 18 event. Would the debaters be as inventive and imaginative as they had been last year? The speakers would provide the answer. Let the debate begin! David Goodfriend Hamantasch Never Boring The first debater, promoting the well-loved hamantasch, was David Goodfriend, lawyer, lobbyist, triathlete. He dramatically boomed out, “Who are we, we American Jews of Bethesda, Maryland, 2011? According to Goodfriend, the hamantasch is real Judaism, the real Jewish essence, and the latke is an impostor. Goodfriend stirred the audience with his rhetoric, intoning, “Hanukkah is not that important – let’s admit it – we can say it – we have Santa envy!” He stated, “The hamantasch can be eaten alone without other things to prop it up, like sour cream, applesauce, or American commercialization. The hamantasch, a dessert, comes in a variety of flavors, and therefore we never get bored.” Goodfriend launched into the politics of hamantaschenistas, calling them “politically progressive, occupiers, hippies, and not buttoned down.” He continued, “The latkes are Republican, dependent on oil.” He advocated shedding our addiction to oil. Rabbi Rudolph interjected, “Political expressions do not represent the views of the clergy.” Evan Krame songs were written by Jews. Jewish songwriters’ melodies, such as “Silver Bells,” “White Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “Santa Baby,” have delighted listeners for years. Krame said, “Christians need to be encouraged to write Hanukkah songs. They need to eat latkes to be inspired.” Krame suggested they could produce songs such as “Have Yourself a Tasty Little Latke.” Krame and his backup singers, David Abramowitz, Rebecca Gross, and Henry Kahn, sang an ode to the latke to the tune of “White Christmas.” Krame stated there are no songs about hamantaschen. He and his chorus presented an original Jewish version of “The Night Before Christmas.” He characterized the latke as the “Jewish food of choice,” and the “muse of poetry and song.” Magical Hamantasch The husband-and-wife team of Deborah and Alan Pollack promoted the cause of the hamantasch. Alan, a pulmonologist, Debbie Pollack followed a historical line of thinking beginning with King George III and the tea tax. “Jews fought persecution and injustice in this country,” he stated forcefully. The hamantasch needs sugar. George III instituted the sugar tax to prop up the latke. He called the latke “brown, flat, and pedestrian.” The Jewish people have thrived and suffered and are unique Alan Pollack like the hamantasch, he noted. “There are no other three-pointed, fruit-filled pastries,” Pollack reflected. Pollack also noted that the number three is magical and represents a pattern. Debbie Pollack, a psychiatrist, lauded the medical merits of the hamantasch over the Latke Inspiration latke. She maintained the latke is “pointless The next debater, representing the latke, in shape and nutritional value,” and the Erika Dickstein Photos by Lee Shekter was Evan Krame, an attorney currently “unsuspecting Jew ingests too many calories studying for the rabbinate. He is also a chef and historian of and too much fat.” Pollack compared the “unnecessary Jewish trivia. Krame pointed out many popular Christmas latke” to the Republican slate – it is the lesser of two evils. continued on page 16 5 Age & Stage Programs Kickoff CE21 Age & Stage: By Geryl Baer Help launch CE21’s newest program, “Age & Stage: Jewish Lessons for Modern Life,” on Sunday, February 5, at 1:00 pm. The program will feature renowned author Judith Viorst. Refreshments will be served, so please RSVP to Geryl Baer at [email protected] or 301-652-8569, ext. 352. The event is free and open to the entire community, although the talk is geared to empty nesters. Age & Stage is a CE21 model designed to create programs that will appeal to those who may share similar family and personal concerns. Immediately following the talk, we are inviting empty nesters to stay for a short meeting to discuss future programming for the summer and beyond for Age & Stage: Jewish Lessons for Modern Life. Two additional empty-nester Age & Stage workshops have been planned so far. The first workshop, “Transitions in Parenting,” will be held on Thursdays, March 1 and 15, at 7:30 pm. Juliet Wolff, JSSA social worker, will lead the discussions about parents’ relationships with their adult children. The second workshop is titled “Difficult Conversations” and will be led by Elinor Ginzler, from Jewish Council on Aging. Those sessions will take place on Thursdays, May 3 and 17, at 7:30 pm, and will focus on issues with aging parents. n Jewish Lessons for Modern Life Featuring Judith Viorst February 5, 1:00 pm Judith Viorst is an author of many books for adults and children including: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day People and Other Aggravations Yes, Married: A Saga of Love and Complaint Forever 50 & Other Negotiations Suddenly 60 & Other Shocks of Later Life Adult Bnai Mitzvah Graduation Ceremony Join the congregation February 18, as we mark the graduation of our latest class of adult bnai mitzvah students. These students have been engaged in an 18-month learning and community-building program. Working with Rabbi Rudolph this time (he and Rabbi Harris alternate), 20 students ranging in age from their 30s to their 70s have learned about the key elements of Jewish belief and practice. Their teachers have included our three rabbis, plus Rabbis Avis Miller, David Rose, and Barry Freundel, plus Cantors Abe Lubin and Matthew Klein, as well as Anton Sondra Brody Hilda Getz Tassie Hannah Linda Herman Stephanie Kahal Bernadette Kiel 6 Goodman, the Israel shaliach. A number of class members have also learned Torah and Haftarah trope. They and their peers will conduct much of the sanctuary service, and offer divrei Torah and class addresses on Shabbat Shekalim. Over the last 20 years, few Shabbatot have been as consistently inspiring as these, in which the power of the human spirit to learn new skills is on parade. Participants in this year’s ceremony are listed below. Others were focused on the study and will not be taking parts in the graduation. n Glenda Koby Lisa Lerner Reina Lerner Rita Liebowitz Diane Maisel Miriam Nickerson Boris Rekhtman Rahel Rosner Sharona Sapoznikow Connie Stromberg Emily Vartanian Youth Activities USYers Elect Ryan Sherman to International Board By Adam Zeren Ryan Sherman was elected as the International USY Vice President for Israel Affairs by the hundreds of teen delegates to the International USY Convention in December. This is a huge honor for Ryan and for Beth El. In this position, Ryan will be responsible for keeping thousands of Conservative Jewish teens across North America informed on news and events involving Israel. He will work with USY Israel Affairs vice presidents from all of the USY regions to ensure they are planning activities that further teens’ connections to Israel. And he will plan Israel-themed programs at the 2012 USY International Convention. Inspired by Israel Trip A junior at Walt Whitman High School, Ryan is a teen who is truly inspired by his Judaism and love for Israel. Two years ago, Ryan took a five-week summer USY trip to Israel. Last year he held the position of vice president for Israel Affairs for our USY chapter and currently holds that office for the Seaboard Region. Ryan has been incredibly focused on integrating Israel-themed programs into our chapter’s activities. Ryan’s passion for Israel moved him to run for the position at the international level. His interest in the country is so high that he wants every teen to feel the same commitment to our homeland. Yasher koach to Ryan on his election to the International USY Board. We know that he will make Beth El USY and the whole congregation proud. n Upper School Comparative Religions Exchanges By Elisha Frumkin One highlight of the Beth El Religious School experience is the Upper School’s eighth-grade core course on comparative religions which teaches students about Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. Our students explore these religions through group work, class discussions, field trips, speakers, and films. The class visits two churches – one Catholic and one Presbyterian – as well as a mosque, and, new this year, a Hindu temple. Over the past few years, Beth El Upper School has partnered with AFS/YES High School Exchange students, who visit Beth El and teach a class about their religious identities and guide Beth El students through a tour of their mosques and temples. Through these experiences, students gain a better understanding of Judaism and their Jewish identity, learning both about themselves as well as the people they meet. Jody Axinn, a volunteer with AFS/YES and a Beth El congregant, helps coordinate our partnership with AFS/ YES. AFS’s Youth Exchange and Study program provides partnerships with students from countries with significant Muslim populations. More information about AFS/YES Intercultural Programs can be found at www.afsusa.org. Hindi students explain their religion to Beth El class. Photo by Jody Axinn As David Whyman, an eighth-grade student said in a recent Washington Post article, “We’re all living in the world together, so we need to know what they are, so we don’t judge them and so we can all get along.” continued on page 8 7 Comparative Religions Exchange A Student Perspective By Benjamin Katz continued from page 7 the common misconceptions, Judaism and Islam have similarities. We both believe in one God, both religions promote modesty when entering the house of worship, and both follow one Beth El Day Schools Committee book of teachings (Torah and Koran). + I look forward to reciprocating the As part of our comparative religions course in the Upper School at Beth El, the eighth graders went to the Islamic Center mosque in Washington, D.C. When entering the mosque, the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes girls covered their heads with scarves as w w w w a sign of respect. All boys and girls had to wear long sleeves and long pants. Boys and girls split into separate groups led Sunday, March 4 by Muslim exchange students. We were 5:30—7:30 pm taught how to cleanse Beth El Social Hall ourselves, “wudu,” $25 per family includes pizza, drin before praying. Please send your name and number atten Upon entering Muslim students answer questions from Beth El with check payable to Beth El, by Monday the sanctuary, we eighth-graders. Photo by Jody Axinn. Stacey Topol, 5926 Anniston Road, Bethes removed our shoes. I $25 per family includes pizza, hospitality and teaching the exchange drinks, and snacks was then blinded by the colorful and students about Judaism when they visit intricate architecture and design. Next, Please send your name and number 7th -12th graders can earn Community Other dona attending, along with check payable to Beth El later this year. Muslim students recited prayers and Service Hours by helping and having fun hats, strea Beth El, by Monday, February 27 to: Benjamin is an eighth grade student at at the Purim read English translations. Party! sunglasses Stacey Topol, Bethesda, MD 20817. appreciate Beth El. AFS/YES students are scheduled Overall, I felt it was very powerful Become a Sponsor of the Purim Party to learn about another religion. Unlike to come to Beth El for Purim. n All donations will be used to purchase food and Purim Par entertainment for our guests. Sponsorship Levels: ANYTHING GOES : IN SHUSHAN : A COLE PORTER PURIM (Donations are tax deductible and will be listed in our program) w Jester $18 w Mordechai $72 w Haman $36 w Queen Esther $100+ w King Achashverosh $54 Please make checks payable to Beth El and send to: Stacey Topol, 5926 Anniston Road, Bethesda, MD 20817 Wednesday evening, March 7, 7:30 pm Megillah Madness is a musical extravaganza and a great way to celebrate Purim! It combines the reading of selected verses of the Megillah with musical parodies, all written and performed by members of Beth El. A brand-new production – “Anything Goes in Shushan: A Cole Porter Purim” – is slated for this year, and it will prove to be fun for all ages, so don’t miss it. Please note: A traditional reading of the Megillah will also take place on Wednesday evening, March 7, at 8:15 pm, following the 8:00 pm Ma’ariv service. 8 The Jewish Fou is committed t developmenta mental disorde independently personal choic the opportunit supporting oth their own faith Library Corner Masada: The Novel By Robin Jacobson Bestselling author Alice Hoffman says that the inspiration for her latest novel, The Dovekeepers, came to her suddenly, surprisingly, and irresistibly on her first visit to Masada. Standing atop the mountain fortress, where in 73 CE nearly 1,000 Jews committed mass suicide rather than become prisoners of Rome, Hoffman had an eerie sensation that untold stories from this lost community still lingered in the air. Returning home, she dove into the historical works of Flavius Josephus (37 CE – c. 100 CE), a Jewish general regarded both with disdain (he defected to Rome) and gratitude (he wrote the only detailed contemporaneous account of Masada). Learning from Josephus that a few Masada women and children survived the bloodbath by hiding in a water cistern, Hoffman began to imagine and write these survivors’ stories. Critical reviews of Dovekeepers have been mixed (great research, but somewhat portentous writing); nonetheless, fans of historical fiction at Beth El have loved it. The Jewish Revolt Dovekeepers takes place during the Jews’ Great Revolt against Rome, ruler of Judea and master of the ancient world. In 66 CE, Jewish anger at Roman looting of the Temple treasury, following other Roman offenses, erupted into violence. The revolt, led by bands of Jewish freedom fighters, had little chance of success even before violent in-fighting among Jews doomed the cause. One Jewish rebel faction, the Sicarii (“dagger-men”), was notorious for stealthily knifing Jews suspected of being Roman sympathizers. According to rabbinic legend, even the great scholar-hero, Yochanan ben Zakkai, who saved Judaism by establishing a center for Jewish learning in Yavneh, had to sneak out of Jerusalem hidden in a coffin to avoid being killed by Jewish revolutionaries. Finally, in the summer of 70 CE, the Romans brutally sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple. South of Jerusalem, however, Masada remained unconquered. This seemingly impregnable fortress encompassed massive defense walls, an armory, storehouses of food, and a sophisticated water system. After Jerusalem fell, surviving Jewish warriors and their families crossed the desert to join the Jewish forces already at Masada (this dangerous trek forms part of Dovekeepers’ storyline). Three years later, the Romans, determined to stamp out the last vestiges of Jewish resistance, stormed Masada after a several-month siege. With defeat imminent, Masada’s commander, Eleazar ben Yair, called on the defenders to take their own lives rather than be captured by the Romans. Women of Masada In Dovekeepers, four women who live at Masada sequentially narrate their stories: Yael, the daughter of a Sicarii assassin who irrationally blames Yael for his wife’s death in childbirth; Revka, who is raising two small grandsons so traumatized by the Romans’ murder of their mother that they no longer speak; Shira, a medicine woman with a mysterious past that compelled her to come to Masada; and Shira’s daughter, Aziza, who disguises herself as a male warrior to take her brother’s place in battle.These four women are drawn together by their common work assignment in the Masada dovecotes.Tirelessly, they tend thousands of birds, gathering the doves’ droppings to use as essential fertilizer in the community’s vegetable gardens and fields. History tells little of the story of Masada before the devastating ending. Like a biblical midrash, Dovekeepers fills in the white space around the tragic tale with characters, events, and emotion. Hoffman compellingly invites readers to imagine the hopes and fears of those long-ago Jews who sought refuge atop a desert mountain. Those Jews never realized they would be setting an example of courage and defiance that would echo down the centuries. n Beth El Book Club Upcoming Discussions Sunday, March 18, 11 am–noon Comedy in a Minor Key by Hans Keilson. This World War II novella was dubbed “a masterpiece” by the New York Times in 2010. Sunday, May 20, 11 am –noon The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman. Copies of these books are available in our library, public libraries, and through online and local booksellers. For more information, contact [email protected]. 9 Defining a Conservative Religious School By Louis Nagel Occasionally, I hear that there isn’t much of a difference between what is taught in a Conservative synagogue religious school and the curriculum of a Reform or other non-Orthodox congregation’s program. Indeed, across the spectrum many of us use materials from the same publishers. Most of my colleagues would tell you that our goals are to make Jewish traditions, rituals, ethics, and values relevant and meaningful to their students today while preparing them for their engagement with Jewish community in the future. I believe, nonetheless, that our program varies significantly from the other denominations; these variations go beyond the subject headings on grade-by-grade units or the titles of textbooks. Beth El’s Religious School program has three areas that define it as uniquely Conservative. In our third-tosixth grade tefillah-Hebrew program, students develop the repertoire to meaningfully participate in services based on Siddur Sim Shalom. Most significantly, they learn an Amidah that refers to our Patriarchs and Matriarchs and calls for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and messianic deliverance. They also learn an Aleinu that alludes to us as God’s chosen people. In the classroom we explore those difficult ideas. The environment of our school supports being a regular participant in a Conservative minyan. Brooklyn Shabbaton Immersion Our sixth-grade Brooklyn Shabbaton thoroughly immerses our children in an Orthodox Jewish community and host homes that fastidiously observe Shabbat. Many of our students confront the gap between their own experience of Congregation Survey Results From page 1. The following are the tallies of how members answered several survey quest What was your religious affilia1on while growing up? No religious affilia5on 0.70% Reconstruc5onist 0.70% Not Jewish/other religion Jewish but not affiliated with a congrega5on Orthodox Reform this holy day and a more traditional celebration, one that in many ways is consistent with the principles of Conservative Judaism. It is a transformative experience, putting in perspective the Judaism they observe with an alternative possibility. The seventh-grade Comparative Judaism class is one of our more remarkable and unique projects. Over the course of the year, students explore the fundamentals of Judaism’s approaches to tefillah, mitzvot, God, and Torah. They view the various streams of Judaism through the lens of Comparative Judaism. The classes attend services at Reform, Orthodox, and Reconstructionist synagogues and engage in conversation with those synagogues’ rabbis. This course serves to put our movement into perspective and consistently affirms for our students their families’ and their decision to affiliate with our congregation. There are many other examples to which I could call attention, including the regularly scheduled interactions of students with clergy, our standards for bnai mitzvah celebrations, and the expectations for our students in the run-up to tenth-grade Confirmation. Above all is the context in which our school exists – a congregation where mitzvot are a part of the language, Torah is at the root of our learning, kashrut is meaningful, and the rhythm of the Jewish calendar guides us joyfully through the year regardless of how convenient it is relative to the Gregorian or the Montgomery County Public Schools calendar. Perhaps this is fundamental to our identities – somewhat in sync with the greater society, but slightly out of step. n Why did you decide to join a Conserva3ve syn another branch of Judaism? (Ple How does your current level of observance (e.g. service a7endance, kashrut) compare to your parents' level of observance? I am less observant than my parents. Many or most of my Jewish friends are members of a Conserva<ve synagogue. 18.80% A Conserva<ve synagogue was the most conveniently located for me/my family. 3.60% 7.20% About the same level of observance as my parents 15.10% I wanted my children to have a Conserva<ve Jewish educa<on. 34.10% 19.40% It’s what I grew up with. Conserva5ve 53.20% I am more observant than my parents. 0.00% 0.00% 10 47.10% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% I liked the mix of tradi<onal and modern observance. 0.00% Conservative Judaism Jerry Herman Tackles National Conservative Issues By Janet Meyers “Beth El is a light unto other synagogues,” says congregant Jerry Herman. Jerry should know. Since last June, when he became chief operating officer of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) in New York, he has become well acquainted with the national state of the Conservative movement. From this vantage point he is tackling many of the critical issues Conservative Judaism and its synagogues face today. Last year United Synagogue, the umbrella organization for Conservative synagogues (or kehillot, meaning sacred communities, as USCJ terms them), reorganized its staff in an effort to launch new and revitalized programs and services for member synagogues. Jerry, a longtime Beth El member who most recently served on the Board as vice president for communications and tikkun olam, was recruited to become United Synagogue’s first COO. Jerry is a lawyer and business executive who has worked for public and private companies, mainly in the hospitality industry. Beth El an Exception “Beth El is an exception to the rule,” says Jerry. “With its havurot, minyanim, and other programs, it’s one of the very top tier congregations. With its increases in membership, it’s bucking the trends in the Conservative movement.” The average Conservative synagogue today has about 300 members, says Jerry. Conservative synagogues have seen their membership decrease by 14 percent in the last decade. Larg- er synagogues, with more than 750 members, have experienced an even bigger dip, a 35 percent decline. Still, with 650 synagogues, the Conservative movement is very close (after Reform) to being the largest branch, says Jerry. One of USCJ’s biggest challenges, Jerry notes, is that many younger Jews “don’t believe they need to belong to a synagogue to be properly affiliated with the Conservative movement. Younger adults say that for their identity as Jews, belonging to a synagogue is nowhere near as important as it used to be.” These younger Jews can find their Judaism in many ways outside the synagogue, Jerry explains. “The Sixth and I Synagogue (in downtown Washington) is a good example of that.” Jews can attend minyanim for services and take advantage of programming at a variety of sites without belonging to a synagogue. So they question whether synagogue dues are worth the expense. continued on page 16 tions. More survey results can be found on the Scroll section of the Beth El Web site. nagogue rather than one affiliated with ease choose all that apply.) Conserva)ve Judaism seeks to combine tradi)onal Jewish observance and adaptability to modern culture and circumstances. Which one of the statements below best describes your ideal balance between the two? (Mark one answer.) Why did you join Beth El specifically? (Select/record up to 3 answers.) I wanted my children to aAend the Preschool. 18.10% I liked the acFviFes available at Beth El 18.10% 18.60% All rituals should be changed to reflect modern culture and circumstances. 5.70% I wanted my children to aAend the Religious School. 32.60% Some tradi2ons should remain unchanged, but most can be changed to reflect modern culture and circumstances. 41.90% I liked the clergy. Tradi2on should be primary, but there can be some change to rituals to reflect modern culture and circumstances. 43.40% 65.90% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% Tradi2onal rituals should not be changed to reflect modern culture and circumstances. I had friends or family who already belonged to Beth El. 39.70% 49.60% I found Beth El to be parFcularly warm and welcoming. I liked the services that I aAended. 29.70% 35.50% 38.40% 43.50% 44.90% 5.00% 0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% Beth El was conveniently located. 59.40% 0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 11 FROM THE CLERGY continued from page 1 included a rejection of kashrut, the Hebrew language, and much of the liturgy. The Reformers generally re-created the character of worship in the image of 19th century German Protestantism (complete with choir, organ, and hymn singing). Early Reform was, however, diverse, containing a coalition of liberal, center, and conservative thinkers who argued over many of these innovations. To build consensus, the rabbis convened conferences in Frankfurt in 1845 and in Breslau in 1846. It was there that the intellectual foundations of Conservative Judaism were born. Though attracted by the promise of modern and “enlightened” Judaism, many traditionalists of the Reform coalition found the arguments and practices of their liberal counterparts unsatisfying. The scholar Zecharias Frankel (1801-1875) objected to the ease with which some Reformers had jettisoned thousands of years of tradition, and he abruptly left the 1845 Frankfurt conference over the rejection of Hebrew as the language of prayer. Historical School Frankel and his fellow thinkers on the right of Reform became known as the “Historical School.” These scholars were conservative in outlook, valuing the weight and wisdom of continuous laws and traditions throughout Jewish history.Yet they also discovered that Judaism had changed in every generation, adjusting aspects of its forms to meet contemporary needs. Balancing these complementary and yet contradictory ideas, they turned toward Jewish history as a guide for both continuity and change in the modern expressions of Judaism. The Historical School also objected to the radical reshaping of Judaism by a small cohort of rabbis and intellectuals, in part because these changes broke too sharply with the broader Jewish community’s wishes. The principle underlying this was the Historical School’s idea of the community as authority—an idea that would come to define Conservative Jewish thought. The future movement would embrace changes in Judaism, but only judiciously and according to the collective conscience of the people. Conservative Emergence in America Conservative Judaism’s real emergence as a movement did not happen in Germany, however, but in America, where scholars influenced by the Historical School and its teachings founded the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in 1887. At the turn of the 20th century, the majority of American Jewish immigrants were traditional, Eastern European Jews who clashed with the well-ensconced, upper-class German Jews who filled the pews of Reform synagogues. These “conservatives” had not only intellectual reservations about Reform but also strong emotional ties to the Judaism of their parents. These Jews demanded a Judaism that was traditional, but also modern. In the early 20th century, the religious philosophy of Conservative thinkers blossomed, and the name “Conservative” came to define the movement, its rabbis, and its followers. By the time of the founding of the United Synagogue in 1913, a strong congregational movement of the Jewish center had formed, and it was “Conservative.” n Conservative Judaism’s Nine Building Blocks The Conservative theologian Rabbi Neil Gillman identifies nine building blocks of the Conservative movement’s founding ideology as paraphrased here: 1. America is different. Founded on Biblical principles, equality, and religious freedom, America was seen as a praiseworthy home for diaspora Jewry with little nostalgia to return to Europe. 2. Judaism can deal with modernity. Conservative Judaism expressed a philosophy of faith in Judaism’s ability to deal with modernity and to emerge strengthened and enriched. 3. If we are to deal with modernity, we must study Judaism in a modern way. In consonance with this second principle, Jews were to apply modern scientific methods in the study of their own faith. 4. Judaism has had a history. Early Historical School scholars discovered that Judaism had differed in each generation, influenced by the broader conditions under which the Jewish people lived. 12 5. The community becomes the authority. 6. Hebrew must remain the language of the Jewish people. 7. Zionism is a positive force in Jewish history, and it should be encouraged. 8. Halakhah remains the preeminent form of Jewish religious expression. 9. Halakhah does change and develop to meet new situations, but this process is gradual, evolutionary, limited to the more superficial areas of Jewish life, and always under the guidance of recognized authorities in Jewish law. The movement issued no statement of principles until 1987, 100 years after the founding of its flagship institution, the Jewish Theological Seminary. This is because the Conservative movement has always been about the people. Rather than issuing platforms that divided the community, the movement kept a “big tent,” allowing individual conviction to be subsumed within a community united by Jewish life. –Hazzan Matthew Klein Join us for a communitywide event to support the American Jewish International Relations Institute (AJIRI). AJIRI’s mission is to educate the public on the UN’s program to delegitimize Israel and how that program can be brought to an end. SUNDAY, MARCH 25 7:15 pm Ohr Kodesh Congregation 8300 Meadowbrook Lane Chevy Chase, MD Program to feature: Senator Ben Cardin, U.S. Senator from Maryland Ambassador Ron Prosor, Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN and honoring Ambassador Marlene Moses, from the Pacific Island State of Nauru, for her support for Israel within the UN Dessert reception to follow Dietary laws observed For further information contact: Beth El Men’s Club Committee to Defend Against the Delegitimization of Israel Within the UN, Harvey Gershman, chairman, 301-652-2606, or [email protected]. For more information, visit www.ajiri.us. Beth El Gray, B’nai Tzedek Win Fall Softball Season By Mitchell Weiss When Beth El Gray alumnus Leonard Cohen emailed his former teammates, suggesting they field a combined team with B’nai Tzedek for last fall’s softball season, it was a chance for old friends to reunite. However, no one could have foreseen how successful the reunion would be. By combining their assets, Beth El Gray/B’nai Tzedek (BEG/BT) formed a juggernaut that finished the regular season on a six-game winning streak (which included a two-game sweep of Beth El Blue/Norbeck), ending with a 9-3 record and a #2 seed going into the playoffs. On November 13, in the semifinals, BEG/BT stormed out to an early lead with an eight-run first inning against the #3 seed, Oseh Shalom Blue/Temple Emanuel. Led by the speed of outfielder Leonard Cohen and the bats of third baseman Brett Weinroth (3-3, 2 2Bs, HR, 4 RBI), shortstop David Mills (33, RBI), and outfielders Michael Gips (3-3, RBI), Avi Friedman (3-3, 3 RBI), and Michael Kushner (2-2, 3B, 2 RBI), BEG/BT sent an early warning of the offensive storm brewing. Near-Perfect Defense The team played near-perfect defense (including a double play by second baseman Mitch Weiss and catcher Mark Schwartz, to nail a runner at the plate), and pitcher Steve Aisenberg dominated, giving up only one run in the three innings he was on the mound. BEG/BT then scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth to finish off their opponents with a 17-5 mercy-rule victory, after an RBI single provided by inspirational DH Chris Gracey (playing on a broken ankle). Waiting for BEG/BT in the final was the undefeated #1 seed B’nai Shalom of Olney White/Oseh Shalom Silver. In the top of the first inning, BEG/BT sent all 15 batters to the plate, scoring 11 runs on RBIs (including a huge two-out 2 RBI double by catcher Mark Schwartz), to take a commanding lead. BSO White never recovered. BEG/BT followed up in the second inning with another eight runs. Again, BEG/BT played flawless defense (including a double play by first baseman Richard Klein catching a runner napping off third base). Steve Aisenberg went 2-3, with 2 RBIs, and yielded a mere three runs over five innings to the BSO White squad. Avenging Setbacks BEG/BT had clearly avenged early season setbacks that had been served up by the BSO White team, and celebrated after the final out in another five-inning mercy-rule victory, 20-3. The offense was led by outfielders Rob Freishtat (33, 3 RBI), Avi Friedman (2-2, 2 RBI), Michael Kushner (2-2, 2 RBI) and Leonard Cohen (3-3), and infielders Brett Weinroth (3-3, 2 RBI) and Richard Klein (2-2, 2 RBI). The championship was especially sweet for Beth El Gray founding fathers (pitcher and co-captain) Greg Klein, David Mills, Richard Klein, Alon Vogel, and Michael Gips. This year’s Beth El Gray team members also included co-captain Mitch Weiss; infielders Brett Weinroth, Jordan Rosner, Chris Gracey, Mark Schwartz, Dan Bender, Todd Gillman, and Alan Morrison; outfielders Avi Friedman, Mark Manyin, and Michael Kushner; and infielder Saul Golubcow and outfielder Steven Siegel, both of who were on the DL (disabled list) this season. The team will split for the upcoming spring season, which begins in late March or early April, and Beth El Gray will be looking for some additional players. If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Mitch Weiss at [email protected]. n 13 Brielle Ohana (Liat Novek’s class) Make A Wish, Molly by Barbara Cohen; illustrated by Jan Naimo Jones Grade: 1 +; Age: 6 + The book, Make a Wish, Molly, is about a main character, Molly, who is a little girl from Russia. Molly is new to the school, and she gets invited to her friend Emma’s birthday party. She goes to the party but she cannot eat the birthday cake because Molly is Jewish and is observing the first day of Passover. Since Molly listens to her mom and respects her religion, she can’t eat the cake because it is made with ingredients like flour that are not kosher for Passover. Although Molly brought food to eat, she was too embarrassed to eat it. Then Molly decided to finally eat her own food and when she took the food out of her bag, this mean girl named Elizabeth started to laugh at Molly and made Molly cry. Molly left the party and ran back home. A few days later, it was Molly’s birthday, and when she woke up, her parents gave her a beautiful silver necklace. If I had to change the title of the story, it would be Blow out the Candles, Molly because she deserves a special birthday since she kept her Passover. Last year, just like Molly, I kept my Passover as well, even when I had a sleepover. I like Molly’s character because she taught me to always ignore mean people and always follow your beliefs. Alex Margolis (Shuli Shafrir’s class) A Personal Tour of Ellis Island (How It Was) by Robert Young Grade: 4 +; Age: 9 + to see if they could be in the Ellis Island was a place where immigrants went Nearly half of U.S. residents U.S. or not. Ellis Island is in Upper New York Bay. through Ellis Island, including can trace their ancestors back to people who went many people’s point of view. Anna me. The book tells about Ellis Island through ed about Ellis Island. Thomas Hill was a Russian Jewish immigrant who was scar ctor for the legal test. Joseph was a 'grouper'. Inspector Simpson was an inspe grant who had gotten a landing was an Italian translator. Heidi was a German immi een 1892 and 1954. permit to the U.S.. Ellis Island was in service betw Five facts I learned about Ellis Island were: grants didn’t pass the legal test, 1. There were special inquiry boards that if immi that’s where they would go. test. 2. A part of the medical test was the painful eye so they wouldn’t become 3. Immigrants had to have money to be in the U.S. 14 beggars. become criminals. 4. Immigrants couldn’t be liars so they wouldn’t so they wouldn’t get people 5. Immigrants had to be healthy to be in the U.S. Ellis Island hospitals. If they sick. If they were sick, then they would go to couldn’t be cured, they would be sent back. Island because it tells me about Ellis I think the title was A Personal Tour of Ellis Jewish life as an immigrant would Island and what it was like to be an immigrant. nd must have been terrifying. Jewish have been hard because going through Ellis Isla life now is not terrifying at all. Back by popular demand! Beth El’s very own Religious School students have proven to be excellent book reviewers in the past. Below are three new reviews, hot off the press. These third graders, in Shuli Shafrir and Liat Novek’s classes, each took a different approach to writing a book review. Please visit the Beth El Library to find these and many other wonderful children’s books. If you come across a book you’d like to review (it does not need to be for a class assignment), feel free to send it to the Scroll, at scroll@ bethelmc.org, for possible future publication on the 4U page. Daniel Bronfman (Shuli Shafrir’s class) Albert Einstein (History Maker Bios) by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson Grade: 2 +; Age: 7 + Albert Einstein. An amazing scie Book Reviews 4 U ntist. Without him, some of the best stuff that we have e of the things I learned from the book – ALBERT EINSTEIN wouldn’t be here. These are som (History Maker Bios) Here are five new facts that I lear 1. He turned down being the first kept him too busy. ned about him: president of Israel. He said that he was too old and his work 2. He was the first to prove that light is both a particle and a wav e. 3. He was the father of the atom ic bomb, without which World War II wouldn’t have ended. 4. He played the violin. 5. What E=mc2 really means: Ene rgy = mass x the speed of light x itself. The main character is Albert Eins tein. He was a man of perseverance in science, math, and violin. He also, believe it or not, was a very funny comedian. What I like about Albert Einstein is that he is a man of perseverance and humor and I love both of those things. The result of what Einstein did is obvious. He became the best man of science who ever lived. He it was all worth it. never gave up, and Positive Consequences Incl ude: • He gave Jews a good name duri ng World War II. • He became the best man in scie nce because he helped to found modern astronomy. Negative Consequences Incl ude: • He got expelled from school bec ause when he went to school it was the time when teachers were very didn’t like kids asking questions. strict and That was one of his favorite thin gs to do. His teachers thought he cause trouble so they expelled him was trying to . • He was famous, and he didn’t like it. If I could interview Einstein, I might ask the following question s: 1. How did you feel about getting expelled from school? 2. How did you become interest ed in science? 3. How did you figure out E=mc2? 4. Did you like the fact that peop le disrespect you because of your way of thinking? 5. You said, “Science without relig ion is lame, religion without scie nce is blind.” What did you mean 6. How did you feel while waiting by that? for the results of your “bending light” theory? 7. Why did you turn down being the first president of Israel? 8. Did you feel good about being a Jewish male scientist? 9. Did you feel good about being you? 15 Latke-Hamantasch continued from page 5 She stated, “The hamantaschen provides vitamins and antioxidants, not just to survive, but to thrive.” Pollack praised the hamantasch and touted its superiority in its portability, munchability, diversity of flavors, and nutrition. In the two weeks following Hanukkah, Pollack mentioned, there is an increase in gallstones because of the greasy latke, whereas after Purim fewer laxatives are needed due to the dried fruit in the hamantasch. The latke increases health risks, but the hamantasch bestows medical benefits. Dickstein sees latkes as confident, as demonstrated by the Web site www.latkesrule.com. She compared the Facebook pages of both foods and assessed the discussion on the latke to be more “robust.” Dickstein asserted the Facebook page of the hamantasch was so-so and had weak points and latke envy. Dickstein consulted Wikipedia regarding the latke and hamantasch. The latke was clearly considered outstanding, she said. Linkedin, another authoritative Web source wrote that “latkes rule.” Latkes Rule At last, Rabbi Rudolph called Erika Dickstein, a Web for a vote on the Hanukkah marketer, solves business delicacy versus the Purim problems and works on specialty. Audience members Rabbi Bill Rudolph Web projects and marketing indicated their preferences, but campaigns. She crafted a query for the Web to determine the rabbi declared the debate a tie. The winners were all whether the latke or the hamantasch is superior. Dickstein those who listened and then adjourned to savor delicious found no response was available. A latke proponent, latkes and tasty hamantaschen. n Jerry Herman continued from page 11 Strategic Plan to Help Shuls That’s part of why United Synagogue has just launched a three-year strategic plan. If USCJ can assist synagogues to offer superior value and meaningful communities, Conservative shuls will be able to attract new, committed members, explains Jerry. United Synagogue has a four-pronged attack. First, says Jerry, it has started SULAM, an online and on-site training program for current and upcoming synagogue leaders, presidents, and executive committee members. Over the next several years, USCJ hopes 5,000 synagogue members will take part in SULAM. USCJ will work to update Conservative education programs for all ages. There will also be a concerted effort to bring young singles and young adults to shuls, as USCJ has just given grants to more than 30 synagogues for new programs geared to young adults. The organization also plans to help synagogues improve marketing and develop successful business and organizational resource materials for synagogues. United Synagogue has assigned staff, or “kehilla relationship managers,” to regions around the country to help 16 shuls implement these new programs. “This is historic,” says Jerry of what United Synagogue is planning. “USCJ’s strategic plan is one of the most important transformations underway in the Jewish world, which is the strengthening of synagogues and of the center of Judaism, the Conservative movement.” n Condolences to Jim Altman on the death of his father, George Lawrence Altman Charles Cohen on the death of his father, Stanley Cohen Bev Dankowitz on the death of her father, Robert Dankowitz Sheldon London and Matt London on the death of their brother and uncle, Marvin London David Metzger on the death of his father, Sidney Metzger Joseph Nabatkhorian on the death of his father, Elias Nabatkhorian Rene Zitter on the death of her sister, Lorraine Weinberg Contributions Please remember that contributions can be made easily, quickly, and securely via our Web page – www.bethelmc.org Donations made from November 22 to December 19, 2011 Bendit Adult Institute Fund In Honor Of: Special birthday of Mrs. Milton Lichtman by Albert Fox Sixth wedding anniversary of Steven and Rachel Fox by Albert Fox In Memory Of: Goldie H. Press, mother of Ann Barcome, by Ann Barcome Jacob Kopin, father of Irwin Kopin, by Rita and Irv Kopin Beth El Forest In Honor Of: Gabriela Ruth Rossner’s bat mitzvah by Julia P. Copperman In Memory Of: Marvin London, brother of Shelly London, by Joan and Joel Simon Irving Goldberg by Joel and Joan Simon Beth El Israel Fund In Honor Of: In appreciation of Rabbi Rudolph’s showing Israeli movies by Tutti Sokol In Memory Of: Albert Mapou by Julia P. Copperman Marvin London by Nancy and Cary Feldman Building Fund/Capital Campaign In Memory Of: Marvin London, brother of Sheldon London, by Michele Herman Alvin Odintz by Joshua and Jennifer Odintz Walter Solomon by Steve Solomon Cantor’s Fund In Honor Of: In appreciation of Hazzan Klein on the occasion of Valerie’s bat mitzvah by Sarah and Mark Kass Hazzan Klein for his guidance and help for David’s bar mitzvah by Bob and Sheryl Isaacs and family Hazzan Matthew Klein, in grateful appreciation of minyan for my father’s shiva by Vivien and Lester Marion In appreciation of Hazzan Klein performing the minyan service for my beloved husband, Irving Goldberg, by Annette Goldberg In Memory Of: Ruth Neipris, mother of Deborah Neipris Hendler, by Larry Sidman and Jana Singer Jacob Shapiro by Annabelle Band Marvin London, brother of Shelly London, by Mitzi and Max Goldman My dear father, Maurice Horowitz, by Rita Liebowitz Irving Goldberg by Jack and Johanna Minker Anna Dickler by Elliott and Phyllis Dickler Chevra Kadisha Fund By: Ellen and David Darr In Memory Of: Irving Goldberg, husband of Annette Goldberg, by Rosalie Sporn Erika Meyerhoff by Gabriela Bebchick Community Torah Institute Fund In Honor Of: Merry Eisenstadt, for reading Torah, by Sharon and Jeremy Zissman General Fund By: Ellen and David Darr Helene Weisz and Richard Lieberman In Honor Of: Evan Krame, Sid Getz, and Scott Glick for the Kol Haneshama service by Rita and Irwin Kopin Larry Sidman by Barbara and Ursula Prada Peter Novick for his leadership of the Shabbat Early Morning Service by Herb Bloom Jorge’s aliyah by Sharona and Jorge Saposnikow Birth of Ari Gerstein, grandson of Susan and Bert King, by Nancy and Cary Feldman Bar mitzvah of Jordan Werbel, by Mindi, Bucky, Matt, and Lily Jacobson First anniversary of Larry Sidman and Jana Singer by Selma Barron Hazzan Klein speaking at Jews and Brews by Mitchell Solkowitz Susan Levine for receiving the Golda Meir Award by Bob Janney Sincere appreciation to Rabbi Rudolph from the Bnai Mitzvah Class of 2012 Rabbi Greg Harris by Mindi, Bucky, Matt, and Lily Jacobson Bar mitzvah of Sam Rosenthal by Mindi, Bucky, Matt, and Lily Jacobson Bnai mitzvah of Daniel and Joshua Strauss by Mindi, Bucky, Matt, and Lily Jacobson In Memory Of: Anna Berger, mother-in-law of Bea Berger, by Bea Berger Lorraine Weinberg, sister of Rene Zitter, by Judy and Alan Gann and Jack and Johanna Minker L. David Korb by Gail Korb Fred Schulman by Richard and Sharon Schulman Julius Gottlieb by Jonathan Gottlieb Minnie Derkay, mother of Lee Derkay, by Lee and Gloria Derkay Marilyn Davidson by Rebecca and Jonathan Kaltman Marvin London, brother of Sheldon London, by Judy and Alan Gann, Howie and Holly Stein, Susan and Lewis Winarsky, and Larry Sidman and Jana Singer Barney Krosnick by Phyllis and Jeff Lavine Jacques Perez by Yvonne Mirengoff Beatrice Wald, mother of Cheryl Rod, by Bernie and Cheryl Rod Frieda Kay, beloved mother of Joseph George Kay, by Ruth Kay Jean Niederman, mother-in-law of Etta Kline, by Etta Kline Isidore Stein by Ruth Stein Eugene Eisenberg by Allen Eisenberg Erika R. Behrend by Susan Jerison My beloved father, Abraham Bernstein, by Susan and Lewis Winarsky Beatrice Gilbert by Robert Gilbert Benjamin Lerner by Reina Lerner Abraham Katz by Linda M. Katz, Don Stein, and family Ted Meltzer by Sartorius Stedim North America, Inc. 17 Contributions Continued Matthew Kantor, father of Vivien Marion, by Susan and Lewis Winarsky Louis Rosoff by Janice Raffel Beloved mother, Margaret Kahn, by Harriet Rabin Beloved father, Larry Kahn, by Harriet Rabin Beloved husband, Emanuel Rabin, by Harriet Rabin Gregory Dvorkin by Etia Dvorkina Edith Judson, mother of Rob Judson, by Larry Sidman and Jana Singer Dorothy Yudkovitz, mother of Marvin Yudkovitz, by Larry Sidman and Jana Singer Lester Fox, father of Russell Fox, by Larry Sidman and Jana Singer Elaine Silverman Gessow College Activities Fund In Honor Of: Rabbi Rudolph, for college outreach, by Steffie and Jim Johnson In Memory Of: Irv Goldberg by Mrs. Alfred Gessow Irv Goldberg by Dr. and Mrs. Marc Michelson Ted Zinnreich by Hedy Teglasi and Saul Golubcow Groner Ramah Scholarship Fund In Honor Of: Arielle Calem’s bat mitzvah by Erwin and Leena Groner Benjamin Aaron Levin and family on his bar mitzvah by Judith and Jonathan Levin In Memory Of: Marvin London, brother of Shelly London, by Erwin and Leesa Groner Ernestine Goldstein, beloved mother of Judith G. Levin, by Judith and Jonathan Levin Hanukkah Wish List By: Karen Levy and Mitch Rabinowitz and Samuel, Andrew, and Matthew Rabinowitz Judy and Bob Rovner Israel Experience Teen Fund In Honor Of: Cheryl Kreiser for her guidance for David’s bar mitzvah by Bob and Sheryl Isaacs and family In appreciation of Beth El allowing me to say Kaddish for my father by David Fogel In Memory Of: Matthew Kantor, father of Vivien Marion, by Amy and Gene Goott Helen Checkner, mother-in-law, by Benjamin C. Fassberg Marc Russel Devinsky by Paul Devinsky Kimball Nursery School Fund By: Ellen and David Darr Library Fund In Honor Of: Adrienne Clamp by Yael Greenberg In Memory Of: Carola Shapiro, beloved mother of Yael Greenberg, by Yael Greenberg Samuel Heller, father of Ruth Catan, by Ruth Catan Eleanor Morel by Annette Moshman Sheldon London’s brother, Marvin London, by Lois and Peter Bachner 18 Litman Holocaust Education Fund In Memory Of: Ruth Gutmann by Hanna Gutmann Richard Ornsteen, father of Marjorie Litman, by Mark Milner and Hattie Ulan Mazon In Honor Of: Kenneth Levine by Deborah Schenk In Memory Of: Matthew Kantor, beloved father of Vivien Marion, by Rhoda and Milton Nichaman Milton Harrison by Michael Harrison Men’s Club Perspectives in Dialogue Fund In Memory Of: Irving Goldberg by Laura and Diane Rosenberg Morning Minyan Fund In Honor Of: Amy Berman Jackson’s judgeship by Nancy and Cary Feldman Peter Novick for his leadership of the Shabbat Early Morning Service and for Merry’s first Torah reading, by Merry and David Eisenstadt In Memory Of: Our dear father, Isadore Routhenstein, by Irene Routhenstein and Shirley R. Levine Henrietta and Harry Bruckheim by Arthur Bruckheim Mary Fried by Dr. and Mrs. Robert J. Rubin Pillars of Beth El In Memory Of: Louis A. Cohen by Susan A. Cohen Prayerbook Fund In Honor Of: In appreciation of Peter Novick, leader of the Shabbat Early Morning Service, by Barry and Paula Friedman In Memory Of: Minnie Bobb by Sharon Bobb Rabbi’s Fund In Honor Of: Rabbi Harris, to wish him a speedy recovery, by Martin and Anne Rosensky In appreciation of Rabbi Rudolph’s support after the death of my sister, Deborah Gabry, by Jerry Gabry Rabbi Harris for kindness and the service for my mom’s funeral by Kay Baer and family Rabbi Rudolph for his guidance and help for David’s bar mitzvah by Bob and Sheryl Isaacs and family In honor and great appreciation of Rabbi Rudolph, Hazzan Klein, and Cheryl Kreiser by Sherri and Larry Cafritz In appreciation of Rabbi Rudolph for his support at the time of our loss by Robert and Karen Judson and family Rabbi Harris for his guidance and help for David’s bar mitzvah by Bob and Sheryl Isaacs and family Rabbi Harris, in appreciation for the National Gallery of Art trip, by Robin Jacobson With gratitude to Rabbi Rudolph for Valerie’s bat mitzvah service by Sarah and Mark Kass In appreciation of Rabbi Rudolph’s support and help at the time of the passing of my beloved husband, Irving Goldberg, by Annette Goldberg Contributions Continued Rabbi William Rudolph, in grateful appreciation of minyan for my father’s shiva, by Vivien and Lester Marion In Memory Of: Jack I. Bender by Howard and Sondra Bender Sara Socher by Sharona and Jorge Saposnikow Judith and Isadore Fine by Leesa Fine Louis Pernick by Irwin Pernick My beloved sister, Lorraine Weinberg, by Rene Zitter Our beloved father and grandfather, Herb Shapiro, by Margie, Joe, Ellen, and Erica Hoffman Marvin London by Ralph and Vera Deckelbaum, Naomi Greenwood and Thomas Dahl, and Rita and Irv Kopin Annie R. Sherman by Libby and Harvey Gordon Gunter and Sylvia Chapin by Joan Simon My father by Marshall L. Sneiderman Robert Einzig by Bert and Judy Spector Anna Boman, Julius Boman, and Eve Tishkoff by Julian Tishkoff Lorraine Weinberg, sister of Rene Zitter, by Mitzi and Max Goldman Edith Yvette Judson, mother of Robert Judson, by Mark Milner and Hattie Ulan My late husband, Moshe Friedman, and my parents, Esther and Faivel Landau, by Sarah Friedman Beloved brother, Benjamin Perlman, by George and Elaine Perlman Lottie Heller, grandmother of Ruth Catan, by Ruth Catan Beloved father and grandfather, Harry Perlman, by George and Elaine Perlman. Simos Music Fund In Memory Of: Lea Glick, beloved mother of Scott Glick, by Scott and Debbie Glick Lillian Cohen by Barbara S. Spitzer Sisterhood Flower Fund In Memory Of: Nina Freedman, mother of Rhonda Zahler, by Larry Sidman and Jana Singer Sisterhood Shiva Meal Fund In Memory Of: My beloved husband, Irving Goldberg, by Annette Goldberg Irving Bogler and Margaret Bogler by Ruth Rondberg Sisterhood Torah Fund In Honor Of: Gale Dutcher receiving the Sisterhood Torah Fund Award by Bob Janney and Susan Levine Social Action Fund In Honor Of: The birth of Susan and Bert King’s grandson, Ari Gerstein, by Lois Hartman Diana Huffman by Deborah Schenk Diana Huffman and Ken Levine by Courtney Schenk In Memory Of: Simone Lipman, mother of Bob Lipman, by Larry Sidman and Jana Singer Elaine Tanenbaum Religious School Enrichment Fund In Honor Of: Louis Nagel, superb educator, and his outstanding staff by Rita and Irv Kopin Trudy and Sy Weker Family Program Fund In Memory Of: Trudy and Sy Weker by Laurie Weker Lipton Vatikkim In Memory Of: Irving Goldberg by Julia P. Copperman and Lucy Ozarin My beloved mother, Ericka Kaplan, by Rosalie Sporn Vince Prada Technology Fund By: Barbara and Ursula Prada In Memory Of: Simone Lipman, mother of Robert Lipman, by Mark Milner and Hattie Ulan Barbara Wolf “Israel Quest” Fund In Memory Of: Abraham Sherman by Gerald H. Sherman World Jewry Fund In Memory Of: Philip Gravitz by Melvin and Harriet Gravitz n In Case of Inclement Weather Now that winter is upon us, please note the following regarding programs, classes, services, and other events at Beth El during inclement weather. • If Montgomery County Public Schools are closed, Beth El Preschool (BEPS) and Religious School are closed, and Senior Caucus/Vatikkim programs are cancelled. • If Montgomery County Schools have a delayed opening, BEPS will start at 10:15 am and end at 12:15 pm. Religious School classes will take place as usual. Call the office regarding Senior Caucus/ Vatikkim. • All religious services will take place as scheduled. • A message is placed on Beth El’s Current Information Line (301-652-8569, then press 2) by 7:15 am on days when any class or program is cancelled or delayed. Should inclement weather begin after 7:15 am, the message will be updated during the day as needed. The same information will be distributed on the listserv. • Religious School information will also be included on a message on the School Information Line (301-652-8569, ext. 346). Preschool information will be included in a message on the BEPS information line, 301-652-8569, ext. 311. 19 Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, Maryland 20814-1451 Periodicals Postage PAID Bethesda, MD 20814 While we know you’ll want to read every word in this issue of the Scroll, when you’re finished, please recycle it. Bulletin Board Mazal Tov to Adjunct Rabbi David Abramson on his certification by the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP) as a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain Edgar and Naomi Levin on the marriage of their son, Mark Levin, to Rennie Grafstein David and Alison Martin on the birth of their daughter, Caroline Rose Martin Noteworthy Senior Caucus Meeting, Wednesday, February 1, 1:00 pm. These vibrant, active retirees join to discuss the ongoing programs and plan new activities. Be one of them. This program is followed by: Roundtable with the Rabbi, Wednesday, February 1, 2:00 pm. Join us to celebrate February birthdays (yours and those of others) with desserts, coffee, and a lively discussion led by Rabbi Rudolph. Birthday celebrants receive a special invitation, but all are welcome. DOR L’DOR, Thursday, February 2, noon. Join the Beth El Preschool (BEPS) 4s Class,Vatikkim, and Senior Send submissions to the Scroll to [email protected] Caucus for this intergenerational program connecting children with seniors. To participate and share some delicious pizza with the preschoolers, RSVP to Audrey Berger at 301-652-2606, or Ricardo Munster at 301-6528569, ext. 316, or [email protected]. Vatikkim, Thursdays, February 9 and 23, noon. Brown bag lunch. Come and socialize with your friends and enjoy refreshments and dessert. One of our clergy members will join the group and lead a discussion on February 9. Senior Caucus - Vatikkim/Luncheon Program, Thursday, February 16, noon. Following lunch, we will have a movie TBA. Lunch costs $8. To RSVP for lunch, call Ricardo Munster at 301-652-2606, ext. 316, or rmunster@ bethelmc.org, by Tuesday, February 14. The program is free and begins around 1:00 pm Bridge - the greatest game ever! Join us every Monday, except February 20 because of President’s Day. Drop in and join a game; no partner necessary. Contact Shirley Levine at [email protected] or 301-652-2606. If you are interested in playing but don’t have transportation, please call Ricardo Munster at 301-652-2606, ext. 316, or rmunster@bethelmc. org. He will try to arrange transportation for you. n Weekly Parashiot Source: Siddur Sim Shalom B’Shallah February 4, 11 Shevat Pharaoh regrets losing his slaves. Pursuing the children of Israel, he traps them at the Sea of Reeds. God splits the waters, allowing Israel to cross safely. The Egyptians follow, only to be engulfed, at God’s hand, in the swirl of returning water. Moses and Miriam lead the people in joyous song, extolling God.Yet the Israelites soon complain of thirst and hunger. God responds, providing water and manna. When Amalek attacks, God helps Israel prevail. Yitro February 11, 18 Shevat Moses spends much of his time explaining God’s statutes and laws to the people; his father-in-law, Jethro, suggests that he delegate some of this judicial authority. After ascending Mount Sinai to speak with God, Moses returns to prepare the people for Revelation. Amidst awesome thunder, lightning, and flame, God, glorious and holy, reveals to Israel the Divine Presence—and the Ten Commandments. Mishpatim February 18, 25 Shevat The civil laws, along with moral and religious precepts, are presented after the Ten Commandments. The people accept the Torah wholeheartedly, vowing, “All that Adonai has commanded, we will do.” Israel affirms the Covenant, and Moses returns to Mount Sinai to receive the law, etched in stone, from God. Terumah February 25, 2 Adar While Moses remains on Mount Sinai, God provides detailed instructions regarding the construction and decoration of the Mishkan. This Tabernacle is to house the Ark and allow the Divine Presence to dwell among the people. Tetzaveh March 3, 9 Adar God commands that a lamp filled with oil should burn all night in the Mishkan, that priests serving therein should wear holy garments, and that the High Priest should wear a breastplate with 12 precious stones, one for each tribe. God provides directions for the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests and prescribes their duties. Beth El Calendar &Weekly Parashiot Descriptions of Services Minyan Chaverim offers the ruach of the Shabbat services in USY, BBYO, and Hillel. We have a lay-led, traditional, participatory, spirit-filled service, including full repetition of the Shacharit and Musaf amidah, as well as the full Torah reading with an interactive Torah discussion. A pot-luck lunch follows the service at a nearby home. For information, contact Debbie Feinstein or Sheryl Rosensky Miller at info@ bethelmc.org. The Worship and Study Minyan is conducted by members of the congregation and combines evocative Torah study with ample singing and ruach. Children are welcome, although the service is oriented toward adults. For information, contact Dan Hirsch, Sid Getz, or Mark Levitt at 301-652-2606, [email protected]. Teen Service is a cool service without parents, conducted by and for post-b’nai mitzvah teens, with a great kiddush. To volunteer to read Torah, conduct part of the service, or help with a discussion, contact Aaron Slater at 301-652-2606, [email protected] Other Youth /Family Services, for information, contact Elisha Frumkin, 301-652-8573, ext. 319, [email protected]. Daily Services M-F 7:30 am Sun-Th 8:00 pm Fri 6:30 pm Sun 9:00 am Shabbat Services (all services are weekly, except as noted) Early Morning Service Main Service Babysitting (2-6 years old) Minyan Chaverim (3rd Shabbat) Worship and Study Minyan (1st Shabbat) Shabbat Study Group Mincha, Seudah Shlishit, Ma’ariv and Havdalah Service (1st Shabbat) Youth Shabbat Services 7:30 am 9:30 am 9:15 am 9:30 am 9:45 am 12:40 pm 4:45 pm Teen Service (1st Shabbat) 10:00 am Junior Congregation (5th grade +; Library) 10:00 am Shitufim 10:30-11:30 am (3rd and 4th grades; 2nd & 4th Shabbat; Zahler Social Hall) Gan Shabbat (kindergarten-2nd grade; 1st & 3rd Shabbat; MP 1&2) 10:30-11:30 am Nitzanim (birth - kindergarten; 2nd, 4th, 5th Shabbat; MP 1&2) 10:30-11:30 am Congregation Beth El February 2012 Monthly Calendar Sunday 1 Shevat–Adar 5772 Monday 2 Tuesday 3 Wednesday 1 9:00 am Rabbi’s Torah Class 9:30 am M. Fine Class 9:30 am Rabbi’s Haftarah Class 2:00 pm Roundtable with the Rabbi Thursday 2 Noon Vatikkim 6:30 pm Tallit Workshop 8:30 pm Hearing Men’s Voices Friday 3 Candles 5:13 pm 9:30 am BEPS Coffee House w/Rabbi Harris 10:30 am BEPS Shabbat Service 6:30 pm Friday Evening Service Saturday 4 7:30 am Early Shabbat Service 9:30 am Main Shabbat Service 9:30 am Sophie Lavine Bat Mitzvah 9:45 am Worship & Study Minyan 10:00 am Jr. Congregation 10:00 am Teen Service 10:30 am Gan Shabbat 12:40 pm Shabbat Study Group 4:45 pm Shabbat Mincha, Seudah Shlishit, Ma’ariv, Havdalah 5 9:00 am Minyan 9:00 am RS Parent Social 9:30 am Men’s Club Breakfast 9:30 am Sisterhood Social Action – CPR 10:00 am Men’s Club Program 10:00 am Zhava Self-Defense Class 1:00 pm Age & Stage with Judith Viorst 6:30 pm Yoga 12 9:00 am Minyan 9:00 am Zhava Board Meeting 9:30 am Men’s Club Breakfast 10:00 am Men’s Club Program 2:00 pm BEPS Sunday Fun Day 6:30 pm Yoga 19 Offices & Schools Closed 9:00 am Minyan 9:30 am Men’s Club Breakfast 10:00 am Men’s Club Program 6:30 pm Yoga 26 9:00 am Minyan 9:30 am Men’s Club Breakfast 10:00 am Nitzanim Pre-Purim Party 10:15 am Interreligious Learning Institute 6:30 pm Yoga 7:00 pm Men’s Club Wine Tasting 6 1:00 pm Bridge 7:00 pm Boy Scouts 13 1:00 pm Bridge 7:00 pm Boy Scouts 7:30 pm RS Committee Meeting 20 Offices & Schools Closed President’s Day 9:00 am Morning Minyan 27 1:00 pm Bridge 7:00 pm Boy Scouts 7 8:30 am A Taste of Talmud 6:30 pm Mah Jongg 14 8:30 am A Taste of Talmud 6:30 pm Mah Jongg 7:30 pm BEPS Board Meeting 21 8:30 am A Taste of Talmud 6:30 pm Mah Jongg 8 Tu B’Shevat 9:00 am Rabbi’s Torah Class 9:30 am M. Fine Class 9:30 am Rabbi’s Haftarah Class 7:30 pm Sisterhood Tu B’Shevat Seder 15 9:00 am Rabbi’s Torah Class 9:30 am M. Fine Class 9:30 am Rabbi’s Haftarah Class 22 9:00 am Rabbi’s Torah Class 9:30 am M. Fine Class 9:30 am Rabbi’s Haftarah Class 9 Noon Vatikkim 7:00 pm Executive Committee Meeting 10 Candles 5:21 pm 9:45 am BEPS Dialogues with Darci 10:30 am BEPS Shabbat Service 6:30 pm Friday Evening Service 7:30 pm Congregational Tu B’Shevat Shabbat Dinner 16 Noon Vatikkim Luncheon 7:30 pm Sisterhood Board Meeting 23 Rosh Hodesh Adar Noon Vatikkim 7:30 pm Sisterhood Rosh Hodesh Study Session w/Leesa Fine 17 Candles 5:29 pm 10:30 am BEPS Shabbat Service 6:30 pm Friday Evening Service 24 Candles 5:37 pm Rosh Hodesh Adar 10:30 am BEPS Shabbat Service 6:30 pm Friday Evening Service 11 7:30 am Early Shabbat Service 9:30 am Main Shabbat Service 9:30 am Skylar Gunty Bat Mitzvah 10:00 am Jr. Congregation 10:30 am Shitufim 10:30 am Nitzanim 12:40 pm Shabbat Study Group 3:45 pm Jordan Kessler Bat Mitzvah 18 7:30 am Early Shabbat Service 9:30 am Main Shabbat Service 9:30 am Adult B’nai Mitzvah 9:30 am Minyan Chaverim 10:30 am Gan Shabbat 12:40 pm Shabbat Study Group 7:30 pm Israel Media Series 25 7:30 am Early Shabbat Service 9:30 am Main Shabbat Service 9:30 am Tamar Jacobsohn Bat Mitzvah 10:00 am Jr. Congregation 10:30 am Shitufim 10:30 am Nitzanim 12:40 pm Shabbat Study Group 28 8:30 am A Taste of Talmud 6:30 pm Mah Jongg 7:30 pm Board Meeting 29 9:00 am Rabbi’s Torah Class 9:30 am M. Fine Class 9:30 am Rabbi’s Haftarah Class 7:30 pm Sisterhood Beading Workshop 1 Noon Vatikkim 7:00 pm Age & Stage: Empty Nesters 8:30 pm Hearing Men’s Voices 2 Candles 5:44 pm 9:30 am BEPS Coffee House w/Rabbi Harris 10:30 am BEPS Shabbat Service 6:30 pm Friday Evening Service 3 7:30 am Early Shabbat Service 9:30 am Main Shabbat Service 9:30 am Ari Rosner Bar Mitzvah 9:45 am Worship & Study Minyan 10:00 am Jr. Congregation 10:00 am Teen Service 10:30 am Gan Shabbat 12:40 pm Shabbat Study Group 5:30 pm Dustin Brown Bar Mitzvah