June - Jewish Federation of Tulsa

Iyar / Sivan 5776
June 2016
OCCJ’s Camp Anytown Changes Lives
Father’s Day Advice
Plum Perfect and Wisely Done
CONTENTS
june 2016 • iyar / sivan 5776
volume 87 • number 6
5
The world is theirs to explore.
12
T h e a d v e n T u r e b e g i n s aT h o l l a n d h a l l .
11
17
4From the Editor
5What’s Nu? News Briefs by Brian E. Brouse
5Farewell to Tulsa by Co-Rabbis Karen and Micah Citrin
6OCCJ’s Camp Anytown Changes Lives
8June Community Events
10Father’s Day Advice by Rabbi Charles P. Sherman
11Learn, Travel, Taste: Women’s Mission to Israel by Shiri Achiasaf West
12A Window into Muskogee’s Jewish History by Mickel Yantz
13Butterflies
14Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Center Holds Annual Meeting by Brian Edward Brouse
15Mazels
16Putting on the Ritz Highlights
Follow the journey on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @HollandHall
HollandHall.org
18Plum Perfect and Wisely Done by Louis Davidson
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
3
What’s Nu? News Briefs
From the Editor
Founded in 1930 by Tulsa Section,
National Council of Jewish Women
(ISSN# 2154-0209)
Tulsa Jewish Review
(USPS 016-928) is published monthly by
“Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering. There
is a crack, a crack in everything.
That’s how the light gets in.”
jewish federation of tulsa
—Anthem, Leonard Cohen
2021 E. 71st St., Tulsa, OK 74136.
Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK.
STAFF
EXECUTI VE DIRECTOR
Drew Diamond
[email protected] | 918.495.1100
EDITOR
Melissa Schnur
[email protected] | 918.495.1100
ADVERTI S I NG MA NAGE R
Mindy Prescott
[email protected]
ADVERTI S I NG RE P RESE NTATIVES
Lee Hubby
[email protected]
Marcia Weinstein
[email protected]
BOARD
P R ES I DENT, J EWI S H FE DE RATION OF TU LSA
Dr. Myron Katz
DESIG N
MAG AZI NE D ESIGN BY
Bhadri Verduzco, Verduzco Design
[email protected] | verduzcodesign.com
Postmaster: Send address changes to
Tulsa Jewish Review, 2021 E. 71st St., Tulsa, OK 74136
4 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
It’s been a busy couple of months for me. I have been busier
than ever at work, both my day job and my work editing the Tulsa
Jewish Review. There have been too many nights that I go to bed far
later than is good for me. Sometimes it seems as if there is no way
to get everything done. The days run together one after the other
in constant repetition…rise early, go to the office, run errands after
work, come home to cook dinner and work some more, go to bed,
and repeat.
But in the midst of all of the drudgery, little rays of light sneak
in to remind me of the joy and beauty of life and to savor even
mundane moments. Sometimes the rays are work-related, such as
the request from Judy Glatzer to run the birth announcement of her
granddaughter. Living out of state, Judy shared how much pleasure
she receives by being able to stay connected to the Tulsa Jewish
community through the magazine…a pleasure that was shared by
her late mother. L’dor, v’dor. Other times the rays of light are personal.
On a recent Saturday evening, I attended a Tulsa Drillers baseball
game with two of my best friends and their young children. It was
3-year-old Luke’s first time at the stadium. I watched with wonder
as he took in the sights and sounds of the game. After the game
when the fireworks started, his sweet little face lit up, making all of
us adults smile. I turned to my friends and remarked, “You know
it’s a pretty good life.” One of them replied with a smile on her face,
“It really is. We are pretty lucky.”
As days turn into weeks, and we turn the calendar to June, two
holidays (one religious and one secular) will give us more rays of light.
Shavuot comes first, and Jews everywhere will celebrate the giving
of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The secular holiday of Father’s Day is
usually a difficult time for me. This summer will mark 12 years since
I lost my beloved father. Since his death, the holiday has always been
a reminder of his loss. However, this year, I am determined to let in
the light and focus not on the loss of my father, but on the light that
he brought into my life (and the lives of others) with his kindness,
humor, wisdom, and most importantly, his love.
Happy June,
Melissa
From JNS.org, written by
Jacob Kamaras: “Just 11
months after a massive
Memorial Day flood damaged
about 500 Jewish homes
(among more than 2,500
homes overall) and three
synagogues in my current
home city of Houston, what
seems to me to be a flood of
equal or greater magnitude
on wreaked renewed havoc
on the Houston Jewish neighborhoods of Meyerland and
Willow Meadows. For scores
of Jewish and other families
in America’s fourth-largest
city who are still rebuilding
their homes after last year’s
flood, the deluge means
the devastating scenario of
restarting that process from
square one. The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston
had already projected an
18-month recovery timetable, with a price tag of $3.5
million, for the local Jewish
community’s individual
flood victims and institutions
following the May 2015 flood.
Initial indications are that
the congregation I belong
to, United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston, was hit
even harder than it was last
year—when damages to the
synagogue facility exceeded
$1 million.”
—
Rabbi Harold L. Robinson,
Director of the JWB Jewish
Chaplains Council reported
to the JCC Association
of North America that in
March, the JWB Jewish
Chaplains Council launched
a successful campaign, A
Siddur in all Pockets (ASAP)
to raise $7,500 to help print
and distribute the second
printing of 10,000 copies
of the JWB siddur and to
provide funds to create
educational materials to
support greater engagement
through the siddur for Jewish
men and women serving in
the U.S. military, as well as
other support. This prayer
book is the only siddur
approved and fully-endorsed
by the three major Jewish
denominations.
—
Menachem Rephun, a writer
for Jewish Political News &
Updates reported that the
Uman City Plaza hotel in
Uman, Ukraine, is refusing to
rent rooms to Jews, according
to a leader of the Ukrainian
Jewish community cited by
Jpost.com. The burial place
of 18th-century Chassidic
Master Rabbi Nachman of
Breslov, Uman is a major
pilgrimage site for around
25,000 Jewish pilgrims from
Israel, the U.S., and Europe
every Rosh Hashanah. The
tradition stems from the
fact that during his lifetime,
Rabbi Nachman called on his
followers to be with him on
Rosh Hashanah.
—
The Jewish Telegraph
Agency (JTA) reports that
as part of its crackdown
on anti-Semitism, Britain’s
Labour Party suspended the
party membership of John
McAuliffe, a columnist from
Ireland who apparently said
Israel was using the Holocaust to receive money. He
allegedly posted on Facebook a message in which he
described the genocide as
“the most useful political tool
of the Zionist government in
Israel to establish a financial
racket in the West, whereby
Israel receives an unlimited
sum for the duration of its
existence.”
—Compiled by
Brian E. Brouse
Farewell to Tulsa
by Temple Israel Co-Rabbis
Karen and Micah Citrin
As we are getting ready to pack boxes, there is so much more
that we will be taking with us. We want to take this moment to
thank the Tulsa Jewish community for warmly welcoming our
family over these past three years. We take memories of new
relationships, friendships, meaningful professional experiences
and growth. We are especially grateful for the collaboration and
partnership with the Jewish Federation of Tulsa. Thank you
to Drew Diamond, Mindy Prescott, Debbie O’Hearn, Melissa
Schnur, and to everyone at the Zarrow Campus. Our boys will
have fond memories of their summers at Camp Shalom!
This month, as we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot, we will
read about the dedication and commitment of Ruth. Ruth cleaved
to her mother-in-law and ultimately to the Jewish People. We
celebrate the dedication and commitment of the Tulsa Jewish
community and wish you continued success and vibrancy. It has
been our honor to serve as Co-Rabbis of Temple Israel during
this important chapter in the life of the congregation. We especially thank the Temple Israel Family for enabling us to be your
Rabbis and for all the holy moments we created together. We
look forward to our next chapter in the Boston area and invite
you to visit us at our new congregation. 
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
5 Yes—and it’s FREE!
Perhaps you didn’t know that Saffa Compounding Pharmacy not
only offers full service compounding, but is also a retail pharmacy that delivers free within the Tulsa metro area. And …
 Saffa has a large inventory of medical supplies/equipment.
 Saffa fills prescriptions for the family as well as your pets!
 Saffa works in partnership with your physicians.
 Saffa provides personalized service and consultations.
 Saffa offers price matching on most local prescriptions.
Don’t deprive yourself.
The best drug store in town is just a call away!
918-492-4242
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm  Sat 9am-1pm / www.saffarx.com
Listen to us LIVE on Sundays @ 9am!
OCCJ’s Camp Anytown Changes Lives
T
h e o k l a h o m a c e n t e r for
Community and Justice’s 22nd
annual Camp Anytown Leadership Institute takes place July 31
through August 6 at St. Crispin’s Camp
in Wewoka, Oklahoma. Registration is
now open.
For over 20 years, Camp Anytown
Leadership Institute has inspired the
knew nothing about” said Shayla Kinsey, a
student from Daniel Webster High School.
“It taught me the kind of person I am and
who I want to be in the future.”
Anytown delegates are the leaders of
tomorrow. Anytown prepares them to
make decisions based on an awareness,
appreciation, and understanding of the
diversity that exists in all aspects of life.
Anytown helped me see what kind of change
can be made in my community and opened me
up to other perspectives I knew nothing about.
dreams of young Oklahomans. Anytown
is an award-winning human relations
camp for teens from throughout the
state. It has been recognized as one of
the most effective leadership and diversity
training programs for youth in Oklahoma.
Anytown builds self-esteem, fosters leadership, promotes good citizenship, and
equips youth to stand up against bullying.
“Anytown helped me see what kind of
change can be made in my community
and opened me up to other perspectives I
6 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
Camp Anytown prepares youth to be
world citizens who can provide value
to society by using knowledge acquired
across cultural contexts.
“I choose to sponsor students to participate in Camp Anytown because I have
witnessed first hand the impact the camp
program has had in helping students
shape their attitudes, form new values
and become activists in their schools in
relationship to social justice,” said Nancy
McDonald. McDonald is an OCCJ Board
Member who has sponsored students to
attend Camp Anytown for several years.
“If we are really serious about helping
the next generation engage in positive
leadership then it behooves each of us to
make an investment in a young person’s
experiences.”
Anytowners represent a wide variety
of racial, religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Sharing ideas,
feelings and individuality—that’s how
Anytowners learn to better understand
themselves and others. Incoming sophomores, juniors and seniors from high
schools in Oklahoma come together
for one week in a peaceful camp setting,
bringing to each other the experiences
of their diverse cultural, ethnic, religious,
racial, and economic backgrounds.
All application materials must be
received by July 8. Applications can be
completed online at www.occjok.org.
Anytown 2016 can accept up to 60 students.
The cost of the week-long experience, $350,
includes round-trip bus transportation
from Tulsa to camp, meals, and housing,
an Anytown T-Shirt, and all workshop
materials. Insurance is provided for the
camp. Scholarships are available.
8002 S Sheridan  Tulsa, OK 74133
HOME.
Is where I want to be.
Located in the Pearl District, Papa Ganouj features
classic Lebanese favorites made from the heart.
Regional wine, beer, and spirits as well.
Open Tuesday through Saturday:
Lunch: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Dinner: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
For reservations: 918-794-8413
1328 East 6th Street, Tulsa / Pearl District
www.TulsaPapaGanouj.com
91st & Lewis | 918-299-9409
southwoodgardencenter.com
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
7 J U N E CO M M U N I T Y E V E N T S
Jewish Federation of Tulsa
My Yiddishe Mamas—The Early Years • Sun., June 5 • 2 p.m. • Tulsa Performing Arts
Center—Norman Theater • This special show is
a tribute and a love letter to the historic women
entertainers who blazed the trail upon which
creator, Rebecca Ungerman, now forges her career.
My Yiddishe Mamas is a show about American
music, the early days of jazz and popular song,
spanning the decades from the early 1900s to
the 1960s. Featuring Ungerman, Jennifer Paxton,
and Machele Miller Dill, the music and stories of
these song-slinging, Jewish women will delight
audiences of all backgrounds and ages. The CSJCC
has purchased a block of tickets at a reduced
price of $15. Please contact Mindy Prescott at
918.935.3662 to reserve a spot.
Men’s Club • Wed., June 8 • Noon • A
delicious lunch will be followed by our guest
speakers Dor Inbar and Michal Saba, our Summer
Shlichim. Cost of the luncheon is $8. Please
RSVP to Falisha at 918.495.1100 or mprescott@
jewishtulsa.org by noon, June 7.
Ladies Who Lunch • Mon., June 20 • Noon • Come enjoy pleasant conversation and great food
at Helen of Troy, 6670 S. Lewis. Each person
pays her own check. Please RSVP to Mindy at
918.935.3662 or [email protected] no
later than Fri., June 17.
Men’s Club • Wed., June 22 • Noon • Come
join us for a farewell lunch for Shiri Achiasaf West,
Tulsa’s Shlicha, who will be returning to Israel this
summer. Cost of the luncheon is $8. Please RSVP
to Falisha at 918.495.1100 by noon on June 21.
The Sherwin Miller Museum
of Jewish Art
Exhibit: Jews Rock! • Now-June 24 • This
exhibit features photographs of music’s Jewish
icons through the lens of photojournalist Janet
Macoska, including Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley,
Paul Simon, and more. Local memorabilia and
programs showcases these famous careers and
share their cultural background and musical
influence on the music industry.
Exhibit: 12 Tribes • Now-Summer • This
exhibit showcases paintings by Ft. Gibson artist
Carla Weston who painted them after living
on two different kibbutzim in Israel where she
studied Hebrew, taught high school English
during the Yom Kippur War, and survived a
terrorist attack shortly after the war. Each painting
uses Hebrew and symbolism juxtaposed for a
unique modern effect.
Exhibit: Yaacov Agam • Now-Nov. 16 • We are happy to showcase the SMMJA permanent
collection of Israeli sculptor and experimental
artist Yaacov Agam. Best known for his
contributions to optical and kinetic art, the
museum has a variety of samples from various
donors of Agam’s work that splash color and visual
stimuli throughout the Sanditen Gallery.
8 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
Exhibit: Besa-Muslims Who Saved Jews
in World War II • June 2–Sept. 25 • Besa
is a code of honor deeply rooted in Albanian
culture and incorporated in the faith of Albanian
Muslims. It dictates a moral behavior so absolute
that nonadherence brings shame and dishonor
to one’s self and one’s family. This exhibition
showcases photographs in Albania and Kosovo
where Muslims sheltered, at grave risk to
themselves and their families, not only the Jews
of their cities and villages, but thousands of Jews
fleeing the Nazis from other European countries.
Exhibit—Fluid Expression: The Prints of
Helen Frankenthaler • July 7–Sept. 18 •
Opening Reception: Thurs., July 7 • 5 p.m. • An influential figure in American art of the late
1950s and early 1960s, Helen Frankenthaler is a
leading abstract expressionist painter, sculptor
and printmaker. One of the early abstract
expressionists, she was also a pioneer in the
development of color-field painting.
Congregation B’nai Emunah
BiBi-DiBi:
Babies+Blessings+Dinner+Bedtime • Fri., June 3 • 6 p.m. • Very young children and
their parents are invited to join us for another
soft and cuddly Shabbat experience. Parachutes,
rattles, and toys sit at the center of our circle
while parents and kids share in the blessings
of a peaceful Shabbat. A delicious, kid-friendly
Shabbat dinner accompanies this program. Please
call our reservations hotline at 918.935.3373 or
visit our website by Thurs., June 2, to reserve your
spot on the floor.
Seventeenth Street Delicatessen • Sun.,
June 5 • 6 p.m. • A pop-up Jewish delicatessen
in Tulsa, Oklahoma! House-cured pastrami, fresh
baked rye bread, half sour pickles, the only thing
missing is the formica countertop. You’re hungry
for this, and we’re ready to feed you. For $18 a
person, fulfill the nostalgic longing of the Jewish
people over a deli dinner. Visit tulsadeli.org today
to reserve your spot. Come hungry, leave happy.
Shabbat for Everyone • Fri., June 10 •
6:15 p.m. Dinner /7 p.m. Service • It’s not
just for you. It’s not just for me. It’s Shabbat for
Everyone at CBE! Our monthly, kid-friendly
Shabbat experience begins with a delicious
dinner prepared by us, so you can just relax
and enjoy. We then move into the sounds and
movements of a joyous Friday night celebration.
Your feet will be stomping as the music carries
us forward into the night. Top it all off with a
delightful story, and you’ve got yourself one can’tmiss evening. No reservation is needed for the
service, but please call our reservations hotline at
918.935.3373 or visit our website by Wed., June 8,
to guarantee your place at the dinner table.
Shavuot Yom Tov Services +
Yizkor • Sun.-Mon., June 12-13 • 9 a.m. • A
major festival holiday on the Jewish calendar,
Shavuot asks us to consider how we express and
exhibit our Judaism in the modern world. Reading
the Book of Ruth, we reflect on the process of
transformation and what it means to accept
responsibility. Services each morning will begin
at 9 a.m., and Yizkor will be chanted at 10:30 a.m.
on June 13.
Stolper Asset Management
Shavuot Dairy Feast • Mon., June 13 • This publication is brought to you each month thanks
Following Yom Tov Services (11 a.m.) • Shavuot
is a time to celebrate Sinai, Torah, and Moses, but
most importantly, it is that time of the year when
it’s okay to indulge in cheesecake! Join us for a
dairy feast in celebration of the holiday of Shavuot.
Immediately following the conclusion of Yom Tov
services, we’ll gather to sing, eat, and celebrate
this wonderful holiday. To make your reservations,
contact us at 918.935.3373 or visit our website by
Fri., June 10, to guarantee your place at the table.
to the support of our advertisers. Please be sure to
use their products and services and mention that
you found them in the Tulsa Jewish Review.
Broken Arrow Eyesight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 1 8 . 74 3 . 9 9 1 8
The Burger Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 1 8 . 2 3 1 . 6 7 5 5
Charles Pest Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 1 8 . 5 8 4 . 3 3 2 3
Temple Israel
Chonowth & Cohen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 4 .7 9 9 . 3 2 8 8
Circle Cinema. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 1 8 . 5 9 2 . 3 4 5 6
Brotherhood Shabbat • Fri., June 3 •
7:30 p.m. • Temple Israel will celebrate its annual
Brotherhood Shabbat in recognition of the vital
role our brotherhood plays in the life of the
Temple. The service will feature brotherhood
members and the brotherhood choir. Our guest
speaker will be Drew Diamond. Brotherhood will
honor Dr. Michael Pollak with the prestigious
Isaiah Award. All are welcome!
Shabbat in the Garden • Fri., June 10 •
6 p.m. • Welcome in Shabbat in our beautiful
outdoor sanctuary (weather permitting) under
the Ten Commandments. Sing, pray, and celebrate
together. Enjoy a savory pre-Oneg at 5:30 p.m.
Erev Shavuot • Sat., June 12 • 6 p.m. • On
This Month’s Advertisers
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Shavuot, we celebrate the receiving of Torah and
our people’s journey to the Land of milk and
honey. Bring your own dairy picnic dinner, study
interesting aspects of the Book of Ruth with Rabbi
Karen and Rabbi Micah, kids will enjoy fun Jewish
games, and we will all conclude with Havdalah
and ice cream. Come celebrate together!
www.StolperAssetManagement.com
1924 South Utica, Suite 805
Tulsa, OK 74104-6516
Securities offered through
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
Member FINRA/SIPC
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Dr. Bernard Robinowitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 1 8 . 4 9 2 . 8 9 8 0
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Shabbat Summer Series: Be Happy, It’s
Shabbat! • Fri., June 24 • 6:30 p.m. • Temple
Israel’s Adult Education Summer Series will
take place on three Friday evenings throughout
the summer. First up is Be Happy, It’s Shabbat!
Following the service, a special chocolate tasting
oneg will be catered by Glacier Confection.
Experience the meaning of oneg! We’ll learn the
science behind why chocolate makes us happy,
create and sample your own flavor combinations,
and sample Glacier Confection truffles. All are
welcome.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
A Restaurant
Like No Other
Shabbat Morning at TI • Sat., June 25 •
10:30 a.m. • Participatory Shabbat morning
worship for all and Torah study followed by
potluck lunch. Come as you are or bring a dish
to share.
Come Discover
918.585.1151
Please note that the telephone number listed in the 2014 Tulsa Jewish
Community Directory is incorrect. We apologize for any inconvenience.
The correct number for Fitzgerald Funeral Service is 918-585-1151.
In Utica Square • For Reservations: 918.742.0712 • wildfork.com
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
9 The
Sea of
Galillee
Father’s Day
Advice
Essential oils and creaan
workshop at the village of Nahalal
by Rabbi Charles P. Sherman
I
Father’s Day and now into my 47th
year of fatherhood, I would like to give my fellow fathers
and would-be fathers a present. This is my very simple
formula for marital success—know the right thing to say
at the right time.
Proof: Jack wakes up with a huge hangover after attending
his company party. Jack is not normally a drinker, but the drinks
did not taste like alcohol at all. He did not even remember how
he got home from the party. As bad as he was feeling, Jack
worried he might have done something wrong.
Forcing himself to open his eyes, the first thing Jack sees is
a couple of aspirins next to a glass of water on the side table.
n anticipation of
Jack takes the aspirins and
cringes when he sees a huge black
eye staring back at him in the
bathroom mirror. Then he notices
a note hanging on the corner of
the mirror written in red ...
And next to them, a single red rose! Jack sits up and sees his
clothing in front of him, all clean and pressed. He looks around
the room and sees it in perfect order, spotlessly clean. So is the
rest of the house.
Jack takes the aspirins and cringes when he sees a huge
black eye staring back at him in the bathroom mirror. Then
he notices a note hanging on the corner of the mirror written
in red with little hearts on it and a kiss mark from his wife in
lipstick: “Honey, breakfast is on the stove. I left early to get
groceries to make you your favorite dinner tonight. I love you,
darling! Love, Jillian.”
Jack stumbles to the kitchen, and sure enough, there is
breakfast, steaming hot coffee, and the morning newspaper.
His son is also at the table, eating. Jack asks, “Son . . . what
happened last night?”
“Well, you came home after 3 a.m., drunk out of your mind.
You fell over the coffee table and broke it, and then you puked in
the hallway. You got that black eye when you ran into the door.”
Totally confused, Jack asked his son, “So, why is everything
in such perfect order and so clean? I have a rose, and breakfast
is on the table waiting for me.”
His son replies, “Oh THAT! Mom dragged you to the
bedroom and, when she tried to take your pants off, you
screamed, ‘Leave me alone, lady, I’m married!’”
Saying the right thing at the right time. Happy Father’s
Day!
10 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
On the way to the Dead Sea.
Learning
about
the Druz
culture
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Learn, Travel,
Taste:
Women’s
Mission to
Israel
by Shiri Achiasaf West
T
here is something about a
group of women doing things
together as a group. I never
thought my role was to lead missions to Israel, but somehow I suppose
that after you teach and talk about Israel
so passionately, it does create a desire to
go and see the land firsthand.
So there in late March, a group of
women from Tulsa traveled to explore an
old country with ancient, gorgeous sites.
They went to Israel to see the land not only
through the Biblical eyes of the Promised
Land and the homeland of the Chosen
People, but also as a contemporary and
interfaith land. The idea was to take a
closer look at Israel’s society.
We started our trip on the Gaza border
at the kibbutz of Tulsa’s former Shaliach
Itai Lavi. It was a very unique beginning.
We woke up to an Israel that not many
tourists get to experience—we saw and
heard many things from local citizens that
often one doesn’t hear about in the news.
The next stops on our journey were
Jerusalem, where it pretty much all began
and then to Tel Aviv where it all continued.
We heard the announcement of the state
of Israel in the middle of the city. We
constantly met with fascinating women:
Druz, Bedouin, Ethiopian, Women of the
Wall, and the chief archeologist of the City
of David, Dr. Eilat Mazar. It was as simple
as it sounds: women to women, culture to
culture, face to face. “It was a very special
time in my life, and I’m so thankful to have
had the experience,” said Karla Campbell,
one of the participants.
Tulsa and Tiberias are joined as Sister
Cities, and our Partnership with the
Jewish Agency’s Sovev Kinneret region,
contributed to an amazing weekend in
that area. After a superb Shabbat with
hosting families from our partnership,
we met with the mayor of Tiberias, had
an exciting visit to a local kindergarten
with a unique, passionate teacher, and met
with the new aliyah of the B’nai Nenashe
tribe from India. Later on we visited a few
projects of Kinneret College on the Sea of
Galillee, went on a jeep ride through the
Jordan Valley and southern Golan Heights,
and our “dessert” for the day was a real
treat at a home at the Moshava Ilaniya,
where we were served locally-produced
beer, cheese, bread, olives, and tea. Judy
Tobjy, participant said, “One of my highlights of the trip was that I got to spend
that time with the Israeli family. It was so
nice to be a part of that family with their
laughter, their stories—it was really super!”
The group of women from Tulsa experienced so much of what Israel has to offer.
As participant Pam Johnson said, “Fun,
fun, fun—extraordinary cultural experience. Not just places, but people sharing
their passion in those places.”
Matthew Ozment, O.D., Dipl ABO
2500 W New Orleans
Broken Arrow, OK 74011
(918) 893-3769
www.BAEyeSite.com
3338 East 51st Street
Tulsa, OK 74135
(918) 743-9918
www.OptiqueEyeCareTulsa.com
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
11 A Window into Muskogee’s
Jewish History
by Mickel Yantz, SMMJA Director
of Collections and Exhibitions
M
uskogee ’ s jewish com -
munity dates back before
the founding of the City of
Muskogee in 1872. Among
the first white settlers was the Joseph
Sondheimer family. Sondheimer emigrated from Bavaria when he was 12. During
the Civil War, he was a supplier for the
Union Army, opening trading posts in
Tennessee and Arkansas for furs, hides
and pecans. J. Sondheimer and Sons, was
founded in 1867 in the Muskogee area as
exporters and dealers in furs and hides.
By 1883, they were exporting as much as
10,000 pounds of deer pelts per shipment
to Europe.
As the town grew with the coming
of the railroad, the Sondheimer family
moved to Muskogee and joined the small
Jewish community. In 1905, the Sondheimer family joined 11 Jewish families
to organize Congregation Beth Ahaba.
Services were conducted in private homes,
and Mrs. Henry Fist held what may have
been the first Jewish Sunday School in
Oklahoma in her home. During the next
several years, a drive was launched to fund
a Temple building. The cornerstone was
placed on July 23, 1916, and the congregation occupied its new home shortly after.
The congregation flourished until
the 1930s when a good portion of the
Jewish community left Muskogee to find
work due to the Depression. The years of
World War II saw an unprecedented but
temporary growth of Muskogee’s Jewish
population. The US Army operated a
military based near Muskogee known as
Camp Gruber. Large numbers of Jewish
troops were stationed there during the war
years and participated in the Congregation’s activities.
After the war, there was a need to
renovate and expand the original 1916
structure. Construction was started in
1948, and a community room was added
along with a classroom and better kitchen
facilities. It was at this time the congregation installed a new stained glass window.
12 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
In 1983, Beth Ahaba’s neighbor, the
First Baptist Church of Muskogee, offered
to build a new Temple, in exchange for the
Beth Ahaba property. The new Temple
was constructed just two blocks away.
To achieve a feeling a continuity from
the original Temple home to the new
one, several elements from the original
building were incorporated, including the
stained glass window amongst other items.
The Temple thrived in Muskogee for
94 years. As happens in many smaller
communities, children born in Muskogee grew up, went to college, married
and raised families, but never returned
to Muskogee. The congregation slowly
dwindled until, in 2010, the last remaining
members realized the Temple would have
to close. They began to investigate the
possibility of selling the property.
The Temple congregation called
upon The Sherwin Miller Museum of
Jewish Art to help preserve the history of
Temple Beth Ahaba. A plan was worked
out over the course of a year to house
the remaining archives and objects from
the Temple at the Museum. In Fall 2011,
archives and furnishings were moved
from the Temple to the Museum, with
pews, a lectern, bimah chairs, menorahs,
and the ark cabinet all moving into the
second floor model synagogue.
The final piece of the Beth Ahaba
collection was installed earlier this year,
when 100 years after the original Temple
dedication, the original stained glass
window found its third and final home
welcoming the guests to our Museum and
keeping the history of Muskogee’s Jewish
community alive.
Butterflies
Honoring Donors
to the Tulsa Jewish
Retirement &
Health Center
Dermatology
Bernard Robinowitz, M.D.
We’ve moved !!
9245 S. Mingo Road  Tulsa, OK 74133
Phone 918.492.8980  Fax 918.495.0607
www.UticaParkClinic.com
General Fund
FROM
Sandy Cardin
Frieda Grossbard
Norman Levick
Myrna Lubin
Phyllis Lustgarten
Paula & Malcolm Milsten
Debbie O’Hearn
Jolene Sanditen-Stephens
Joseph Secan
Mark Shaw
Fred Strauss
Susan Surchev
IN MEMORY
Marsha Gropper
Alena Horska
Donna Jelley
Herbert Kramer
Marjorie Lubin
Sylvia Oberstein
Alicia Urban
BIRTHDAY WISHES
David Bernstein
Etel Weg
HONORING
Lynn Schusterman and Stacy
Schusterman at Passover
Wellness Program Fund
FROM
Leonard Di Liberto
Bob & Gloria Estlin
Carol Krueger
Kathleen Phipps
Julie Rowe
Sarah & Richard Tilden
IN MEMORY
Irene Tillman
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
13 L-R: Rob Coretz,
Jim Jakubovitz,
Russ Newman
Tulsa Jewish
Retirement and Health
Center Holds Annual
Meeting
by Brian Edward Brouse
Pam Waddell
The annual board of directors meeting of The Tulsa Jewish
Retirement and Health Center
was held on Sunday, April 17,
2016, in the Burnstein Auditorium of the facility. Outgoing
President Rob Coretz presided
over the meeting and had
many kind words for the staff,
board, and executive director
Jim Jakubovitz. Jim thanked
everyone for attending and gave
kudos to Susan Surchev and her
staff for a wonderful dinner. Jim
introduced two special guests,
State Senator Gary Stenislawski
and Lobbyist Vicki White
Rankin, who both spoke about
challenges facing the health
care industry, seniors, and
the Oklahoma economy. Rob
introduced incoming president
Russell Newman who thanked
Rob for his leadership during
his presidency.
Jim Jakubovitz announced
long-time employee Pam
Waddell was recently honored
at the Oklahoma Leading Age
Conference in Oklahoma City.
Pam received an award for
Outstanding Employee of the
Year for the State of Oklahoma.
Pam has been with the center
for 30 years.
Ask Us about our
Kosher kitchen designs!
Before
5936 S. Lewis Ave I Tulsa, OK 74105 I 918-779-4480 I kitchenconceptstulsa.com
After
14 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
After
Mazels
Birth:
Clara Lynn Glatzer
Graduation:
Britney Wambold
Bar Mitzvah:
Jesse Henning Schumann
Bat Mitzvah:
Hannah Woods
C
B
J
H
lara Lynn Glatzer
was born in Falls
Church, Virginia on
April 13, 2016 to Dania and
Michael Glatzer. Paternal
grandparents are Judy and
Larry Glatzer of Bethlehem,
Georgia. Maternal grandparents
are Dr. Matthias and Astrid
Liebergesell of Pennsylvania.
Maternal great-grandparents
are Mahmoud & Ellen
Mohtadi of Germany. Clara’s
paternal great-grandparents
were the late Morris and
Hannah Goldstein Bernhardt
of Georgia. Hannah was a longtime resident of Tulsa where
she and Morris were married
at Congregation B’nai Emunah
in 1948.
ritney Wambold
recently graduated
from The University of
Oklahoma where she majored
in International Security with
minors in African Studies
and Social Justice. Britney
is the daughter of Erin and
David Wambold and the
sister of Brooke Wambold.
During college, she studied
abroad in Peru and Brazil. On
Wednesdays, she enjoyed getting
to see her “little sis” as a mentor
for the Big Brothers Big Sisters
program. She was also an active
member in her sorority, where
she served as vice president of
public relations and marketing
and as assistant to the vice
president of recruitment.
Britney was the president of
Sooners for Israel where she
worked closely with AIPAC as a
campus liaison. Her senior year,
she had the honor of being a
Water4 Fellow. This experience
allowed her to spread awareness,
plan events, and raise funds to
build affordable and practical
water wells throughout Africa.
Also during her senior year,
she was a government affairs
intern at the State Chamber of
Oklahoma.
esse Henning Schumann,
the son of Sarah-Anne
and John Schumann and
brother of Noa, will celebrate
his Bar Mitzvah on June 4,
2016 at Congregation B’nai
Emunah. Jesse is in seventh
grade at University School. He
plays violin and tennis and
enjoys math competitions,
reading, and movies. Jesse is the
grandson of Michael Schumann
and the late Norita Wyse
Berman of Cleveland and Grace
Weiner Wolf and Joel Henning
of Chicago.
annah Jacklyn Woods,
daughter of Tracey
Herst-Woods and
Paul Woods, will become a Bat
Mitzvah in Las Vegas, Nevada,
at Congregation Ner Tamid
alongside her cousin Noah
Huckabee on June 18, 2016.
Hannah and Noah decided to
become B’nai Mitzvah together
because they have an incredible
bond and sharing this day is a
perfect way to bring their family
and friends together. Hannah
is a student at the Owasso
Sixth Grade Center. She enjoys
hanging out with her family,
singing in the school choir, and
playing video games. For her
Mitzvah project, Hannah and
her cousin Noah are sending
correspondence to the Lone
Soldiers in Israel and providing
them necessary items. Friends
and family attending the B’nai
Mitzvah are invited to bring
letters and small items to send
to these brave men and women.
Hannah will participate in the
service at Congregation B’nai
Emunah in a year when her
Torah portion is read again.
Hannah and her family would
like to thank Helen Winoker
for preparation help, even after
she moved to Maryland, as well
as Rabbi Fitzerman and Rabbi
Kaiman for their guidance
making the day possible despite
the distance.
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
15 Putting on the Ritz Highlights
The Flo and Morris Mizel Jewish Community Day School
held their annual Board of Trustees’ fundraiser on April
9, 2016. The evening was complete with Model T’s, cocktails, costumes, food, music, and dancing. Guests enjoyed
dinner prepared by Chef Tuck Curren of Biga, jazz music
from Donald Ryan and Company, and casino style gaming
from Casino Nights of Tulsa. The Barbara and Dave Sylvan
Auditorium served as a 1920s backdrop while Jennifer Paxton
used her musical talents to emcee this magical evening.
Many thanks to the Event Chairs Angela Taubman and
Cynthia Thetge, as well as the committee for all their hard
work. A special thank you to all event patrons for your
generous contributions. Your gifts support the Jewish education of children of our community who otherwise would not
be able to attend Mizel JCDS.
The Marx Brothers: Larry Mizel; Steve Mizel; and The
Guterman Family Foundation
Charlie Chaplin: Monica and EJ Goldzweig
Mae West: Julie Frank—In Loving Memory of Sharna and
Irvin Frank; Lori Frank and LaVonna Reed; The Sharna and
Irvin Frank Foundation; Joan and Curtis Green; DeeDee and
Jonathan Levine; Karen and Avi Mintz; Ruth Kaiser Nelson;
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation; Stacy
Schusterman and Steven Dow; Angela and Kevin Taubman;
and Cynthia and Jeff Thetge
Jack Benny: Sharon and Jamie Cash; Kim and Rob Coretz;
Estelle Finer; Nena and Michael Mudd; George Singer; and
Barbara and Dave Sylvan
Al Jolson: Alice Blue and Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman;
Molly and Sheldon Berger; Klara and John Bode; April and
Richard Borg; Shirley and Willie Burger; Nancy and Harvey
16 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
Cohen; Marilyn and Louis Diamond; Harriet and Scott
Dunitz; Jan and David Finer; W.C. Goad and Mark Goldman;
Frieda Grossbard; Laura and Martin Levine; Nancy and Mark
Lobo; Sandi and Mike May; Sharla and Mike Pinn; Jolene
Sanditen-Stephens and Jim Stephens; Jean and Will Sanditen; Joseph Secan; Erin and Geoff Stackenwalt; Angie and
Jon Stolper; Kristi and Jack Tarrabolous; and Cynthia and
Yohanan Zomer
Sophie Tucker: Rosalyn Borg and Family – In Memory of
Ruth and Joe Borg; Brian Brouse; Jenny Brouse; Randee and
David Charney; Rabbi Karen and Rabbi Micah Citrin; Sherri
and Stuart Goodall; Marcy Hammerschlag and Michael
Cyter; Lillian and Howard Hellman; Vicki and David Hurewitz; Rachel Gold and Rabbi Dan Kaiman; Ellen and Nathan
Lifsics; and Tracey and Paul Woods
George and Gracie Burns: Sharon and Fred Benjamin;
Becky and Robert Billings; Marcel Binstock; Janet Brickman;
T.J. and Alexander Briskin; Jocelyn Brody; Mitzi and Jim
Carrington; Dana and John Clawson; Sabrina Darby; Janet
Dundee and Jeff Darby; Gloria and Bob Estlin; Jennifer
and Jacob Howland; Jeanne Jacobs; Jennifer and Michael
Jacobs; Evelyn and Roy Jones; Jane and Mickey Katz; Rachel
Lishansky; Marty Newman; Nanette and Larry Peck; Brina
Reinstein; Lori Lieb-Rosas and Larry Poellinger; Mary and
Ira Rothman; Karen and Larry Saunders; Nancy and Rabbi
Charles Sherman; Janet Simmons; Judy and Allen Smith; Fred
Strauss; Wendy Weisberg; and Debbie and Garrett Zelkind
Corporate Sponsors: Chimi’s; CrossFirst Bank; Holly
Helps; David and Lorna Jones; King Law; Mobile Locksmith;
Monat Dream Team; Troutman & Troutman; and The Vineyards on Memorial
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
17 Cincinatti, Ohio’s Plum
Street Synagogue
Plum Perfect
and Wisely Done
by Louis Davidson
O
bta i n i n g
permission
photograph Cincinnati,
Ohio’s Plum Street Temple
took almost as long as building it. The saga began in February of
2010 when I emailed the congregation’s
executive director requesting permission to photograph their historic temple.
Of course, I explained the reason for the
request and included my credentials. Receiving no response after two weeks, I
re-sent my inquiry with care not to offend
the sensitivities of their spam filter. When
no response was forthcoming, I sent a
short note asking if my previous emails
had been received. That elicited an answer
to
18 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
that was remarkable for its brevity: “I will
respond later today.” She didn’t. During
the spring of that year, I made several
telephonic attempts to reach the elusive
executive director to set up a photo-shoot
appointment for that summer. When she
wouldn’t answer my phone calls, I began
to get the hint. She didn’t want me to take
pictures of the building. Why, I wondered.
Did she think I would put them in the
centerfold of Playboy?
Three years later I realized my photo
itinerary would be taking me near Cincinnati once again. Feeling like a big game
hunter who hadn’t bagged his trophy
on a previous safari, I still hungered to
photograph the Plum Street Temple. Yet
the prospect of having my ego further
bruised by another brush-off from the
Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise
who founded American
Reform Judaism
director was about as appealing as being
trampled by a stampeding herd of water
buffalo. This time I would use different
ammunition: David Bernstein of the
Tulsa Jewish Federation and one of the
directors of the Beit Hatfutsot Museum
of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv both
wrote personal letters to my evasive Plum
Street Temple quarry. Their efforts bore
fruit: Plum Street fruit. I photographically
bagged my trophy in July of 2013.
The Plum Street Temple is rightly
known as the fountainhead of Reform
Judaism in the United States. It was the
primary pulpit of Rabbi Isaac Mayer
Wise who founded American Reform
Judaism. Wise immigrated to the United
States in 1846 from Moravia, now the
Czech Republic. That same year, he was
appointed rabbi of Congregation Beth-El
of Albany, New York. He soon began
agitating for reforms in the services, such
as a mixed-gender choir and counting
women in forming a minyan. An 1850
fistfight between Wise and Beth-El’s
president led to the formation of a new
synagogue and four years later, Wise’s
move to The Lodge Street Synagogue of
Cincinnati. Under Wise’s wise leadership, the congregation built the grand
Plum Street Temple which was dedicated
in 1866.
During his time in Cincinnati, Wise
created this extraordinary house of
worship, as well as an entirely new style
of Jewish worship. Superlatives are simply
not super enough to describe the Plum
Street Temple. In the words of the noted
architecture writer G. E. Kidder Smith,
“The Plum Street Synagogue was designed
by James K. Wilson, a Cincinnati architect,
working closely with Isaac Mayer Wise ….
the Saracenic exterior is complete with two
prominent minarets …. the neo-Gothic
interior is ablaze with glory. Kaleidoscopic
motifs and colors are woven together like
a gigantic Oriental rug. Scarce an inch is
left unattended.” The 1,500-seat Temple
is the third-oldest functioning synagogue
building in the United States. Only the
Touro Synagogue of Newport, Rhode
Island (1863) and Temple B’er Chayim
of Cumberland, Maryland (1864) are
its senior.
While Plum Street’s striking minarets
and Byzantine ornamentation slathered
on neo-Gothic forms connect the building
with Judaism’s roots in Middle Eastern
antiquity, it is a place where Judaism
burst into modernity with a whole series
of firsts. Burt Gross, house chairman and
third generation member of Plum Street
Temple, says, “Here was the first time that
men and women sat together and prayed
together. It was the first time that there
was instrumental music to accompany
the prayers and songs, anywhere. It was
the first time that a choir combined men
and women. It was the first time that an
American flag appeared on the pulpit in
a synagogue sanctuary.”
The corner of West 8th Street and Plum,
where the Temple is located, is the center
of an amazing ecclesiastical architectural
mélange. Try saying that fast ten times.
Immediately to the west of the Temple
across 8th Street, there was the magnificent Romanesque-domed St. Paul’s
Episcopal Cathedral, which was destroyed
in 1937. Facing the Temple across Plum
Street, there is the iconic Greek Revival
style St. Peter in Chains which for many
years was Cincinnati’s tallest building.
The Gothic-style Covenant First Presbyterian Church backs up to the Temple.
Moorish- Byzantine Plum Street Temple
is surrounded by Greek Revival, Gothic
and Romanesque neighbors, and nowadays a parking garage that I won’t dignify
as having any particular style.
If all of this eye candy leaves you longing
for a visit to one of Cincinnati’s Jewish deli’s,
consider that the famous Manishewitz
Jewish foods company was founded there
as a small matzo bakery in 1888. Their
original product, the square matzo, revolutionized matzo making. Before this
game-changing culinary breakthrough, the
process had been to hand roll and trim the
bread of affliction’s edges. Another first!
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
19 2021 East 71st Street/Tulsa, OK • 918.495.1111