“Slow” Times - Tree of Life

January/February 2015
Volume Four ✡ Number One
The Simcha Tree
The Newsletter About YOUR Synagogue
President’s Message
“Slow” Times
By Michael Eisenberg, TOL*OLS president
When the lunch or dinner crowds arrive at restaurants, all of the employees focus on serving the customers in the best
way possible. But what do employees do between meals, when customer flow is minimal? And what happens in the retail
environment when customer flow is at its height on the weekends or during holidays, and then on the weekdays or during
the slow months of January and February when there are few customers? What do employees to do to occupy themselves?
“Play on their phones” is not an acceptable response. Business owners know these “slow” times are ideal for cleaning,
organizing, stocking, and preparing for the next rush of customers.
At the shul we are now in one of these “slow” times. We are
taking advantage of this lull in activity by focusing on the
three projects I mentioned during my Kol Nidre speech.
the building. Now that there is less foot traffic within our
walls, the transition to LED and energy-efficient fluorescent
lighting is underway.
The first project is the replacement of current office computer software and hardware. The main system we use to
communicate with our congregants for dues statements,
Yahrzeit notices, or end-of-year tax letters is operating on antiquated hardware and software. The new system we have
planned will be more reliable, efficient, and also will allow us
to communicate with you more clearly. Our fiscal year ended
December 31, and once the end-of-the-year reports are reconciled, Janet, our very competent controller, will focus on
making this much-needed transition.
As you can see, we are using our time wisely by focusing our
efforts on making ourselves more efficient and increasing our
curb appeal. We need to be ready for the next rush of congregants for the Purim holiday in early March. Feel free to stop
in before then to say hello if you’d like; we’ll be happy to see
you, and you won’t find us playing on our cell phones.
The second project is our outdoor signage. Tree of Life and
Or L’Simcha merged five years ago, and we never announced
this to the community with a new sign on our building. This,
too, is long overdue; I’ve heard too many people ask jokingly
(I think) if we’ve changed our name to “Congregation Dor
Hadash.” I am happy to say that as of this writing, the letters
for the sign have been made, and we are only waiting for a
template to have them positioned properly on our building.
Please look forward to seeing them in the very near future on
the high white wall at the corner of Shady and Wilkins
The final major project of this “slow” couple of months is
one that should bring our costs down considerably. As I
announced at Kol Nidre, we won a $5,000 dollar grant from
Direct Energy to install energy-efficient lighting throughout
Inside This ISSUE
Executive Director’s Message
Youth and Adult Programs
Around the Tree
Men’s Club Entertainment Books
Sisterhood Book Group
College Scholarships Available
Birthdays
Torah Lishmah Community
TLC School Calendar
TLC Chanukah 2014
Funds
Honey, I Blessed Our Pets
Toddler and Me
Yahrzeit List
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Tree of Life | Or L’ Simcha Congregation
1
2015
Executive Director’s Message
RESOLUTIONS
By Joel Don Goldstein, FSA, Executive Director
The start of the New Year allows us to imagine what we can achieve if we resolve to make
changes in our lives.
Many of us, myself included, who need to lose a few pounds, begin to exercise more regularly
under a physician’s direction and make certain we are continuing to see our doctors for our annual
check-ups. Some believe in staying away or avoiding the doctor, but in reality, we understand that
regular examinations and treatment are critical to maintaining our health. Consider making your
appointment today.
When your health does change or treatment becomes required, it is often unsettling, and by nature, a
personal and private matter. Our community at Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha, led by Rabbi Chuck,
wants to help when possible should you need assistance, but often we are not notified when a
Joel Don Goldstein
member is hospitalized due to privacy laws. Allow us to add your name to our Mishaberach list so
that we might pray for healing on your behalf.
New Year changes also might include reaching out to someone in need of a ride to synagogue so that they, too, might enjoy the
warmth and friendship of our congregation as an active member of our synagogue community. Age Well Rides—available by
calling 412-422-0400—helps our seniors get to medical appointments, grocery shopping, and other local destinations for free
through a volunteer network coordinated by Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Pittsburgh.
Speaking of enjoying, the daily minyan, which I attend and know you will enjoy, meets Monday through Friday at 7:30 a.m.
The morning service exudes warmth and community followed by a nice breakfast to start your day. True we are all creatures of
habit, but that doesn’t mean new habits can’t be formed—it’s that time of a new year to start.
Wishing you good health and the blessing of shalom in a world filled with shalom.
Youth and Adult Programs
LET IT SHINE
By Alex Speck, Program Director
Hanukkah is most certainly the festival of lights. As we celebrated this joyous holiday by lighting the menorah and spending
time with family and friends, we are reminded of the meaning of the shining light. Light symbolizes joy, happiness, and the future.
Hanukkah is most certainly the festival of lights. As we celebrated this joyous holiday by lighting the menorah and spending time
with family and friends, we are reminded of the meaning of the shining light. Light symbolizes joy, happiness, and the future.
But at the Tree, the menorah is not the only way we are bringing light to our building and community. Literally, the lights will be
getting brighter (and better) at our synagogue! Through a generous grant from Direct Energy, we will be changing a large portion of our
lighting fixtures to brand-new, longer-lasting, energy-efficient light bulbs. This grant, which was made possible by the efforts of our
member Doug Arnold, will enable us to significantly reduce our energy consumption and costs, while improving the environment.
As we complete this project over the coming weeks and months, we remember how light can impact our lives. Whether it is from a
menorah or a bulb, we will let the light guide the way!
January/February 2015
For any questions regarding the Direct Energy grant, please do not hesitate to contact me at 412-521-6788 or [email protected].
Follow
Tree of Life*Or L'Simcha
on
Facebook
www.facebook.com/TreeOfLifeOrLSimcha
The Simcha Tree
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and on
our new Website at:
www.tolols.org
Daily SERVICES
Sunday: 9:00 a.m.
Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m.
Friday Evening: 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:45 a.m.
Around
THE
TREE
Mazel TOV
MAZEL TOV to Jimmy and Susie Cohen on the birth of their grandson, Micah Grey Shropshire.
MAZEL TOV to Sanford and Carole Darling on the birth of their great-grandson, Micah Grey Shropshire.
Please toot your own horn! We’d love to hear about awards, promotions, appointments, and any other newsworthy accomplishments
you’d like to share with the congregation. E-mail your news to Jennifer Bails at [email protected].
CALENDAR WINNERS
DECEMBER
2014
SISTERHOOD COLLEGE
CHANUKAH CARE PACKAGES
Herbert Mendelsohn
Joyce Driben
Brandon Moidel
Candle LIGHTING
January 2 – 4:07 p.m.
January 9 – 4:12 p.m.
January 16 – 4:18 p.m.
January 23 – 4:25 p.m.
January 30 – 4:30 p.m.
February 6 – 4:38 p.m.
February 13 – 4:44 p.m.
February 20 – 4:50 p.m.
February 27 – 4:55 p.m.
www.tolols.org
Thank you for the gift and happy channukah!!!
Tree of Life | Or L’ Simcha Congregation
3
Don’t forget to pick up your 2015
Entertainment Books!!!!!!!!!!
Available courtesy of the
Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Men’s Club
Everyone Wins With the Entertainment 2015 Book
For just $30.00, save up to 50% on Dining, Shopping,
Golf, Travel, Recreation and more.
a great gift for…..
Hanukkah, birthdays, employees, and
teachers!!!
The programming we sponsor include:
➘ Sunday minyon featuring prayers, breakfast, and
camaraderie.
➘ Yom HaShoah candle distribution.
➘ Provide bagels weekly for the TLC Sunday school
➘ Supply candy bars for the Simcha Torah celebration
➘ Provide breakfast for the Sunday morning B’nai Mitzvah
class
➘ Donate with Sisterhood, a Kiddush Cup to every Bar/Bat
Mitzvah Child
January/February 2015
Please make your $30 (per book) check payable to TOL/Or L’
Simcha Men’s Club.
Books are available through the Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha
Office (412-521-6789), the TLC School office, and the
Minyonaires.
Questions or special delivery requests? Contact David
Lilien, 412-310-0977, [email protected], Irwin Harris 412849-3678, [email protected], or Cookie Danovtiz, 412-4210493.
The Simcha Tree
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Sisterhood
HAPPENINGS
By Mickie Diamond , Sisterhood President
SISTERHOOD BOOK GROUP
Date: Monday, January 12, 2015
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Book: Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander
Location: The home of Barbara Wein, 106 Overton Lane, Summerset at Frick Park
Please RSVP to Mickie Diamond at [email protected]. Looking for volunteers to help set up
From Amazon.com: Near-death experiences, or NDEs, are controversial. Thousands of people have
had them, but many in the scientific community have argued that they are impossible. Dr. Eben
Alexander was one of those people.
A highly trained neurosurgeon who had operated on thousands of brains in the course of his career,
Alexander knew that what people of faith call the “soul” is really a product of brain chemistry.
NDEs, he would have been the first to explain, might feel real to the people having them, but in
truth they are simply fantasies produced by brains under extreme stress.
Then came the day when Dr. Alexander’s own brain was attacked by an extremely rare illness.
The part of the brain that controls thought and emotion—and in essence makes us human—
shut down completely. For seven days Alexander lay in a hospital bed in a deep coma. Then, as his
doctors weighed the possibility of stopping treatment, Alexander’s eyes popped open. He had come
back. Dr. Alexander recounts what happened to him during the seven days he was in the coma.
College Scholarships Available
Central Scholarship and LOAN REFERRAL SERVICE
Applications for need-based college scholarships for the 2015-2016 school year are available from the Central Scholarship
& Loan Referral Service (CSLRS) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Jewish Family & Children’s Service
administers this program. The funds are made available through the generosity of families who have established
endowments through the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Jewish
Community Center, National Council of Jewish Women, Jewish Women
International of Pittsburgh (formerly B'nai B'rith Women), The Pittsburgh
Foundation, and Rodef Shalom Congregation.
All scholarships are distributed on the basis of demonstrated financial need.
Depending on the scholarship fund, other factors such as academic achievement,
field of study, school attending, and community involvement also may be considered.
In addition, the applicant must be Jewish, reside in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Beaver,
Butler, or Washington counties for at least two years, and need financial assistance
to attend an accredited institution of higher education as either an undergraduate
or graduate student.
The CSLRS online application is available at http://www.centralscholarship.org. All applications are due February 11, 2015.
www.tolols.org
First-time applicants must be interviewed. All of the limited number of after-school, evening, spring break, and Sunday appointments
will be assigned on a “first come, first served” basis to those whose applications are submitted by January 16, 2015. If students
have particular scheduling needs, it is important to submit as early as possible. All applications should be submitted as early as
possible to ensure processing.
Tree of Life | Or L’ Simcha Congregation
5
2015
January
BIRTHDAYS
1st
12th
20th
BARRY ZWIBEL
HAROLD LESSURE
SAMMY NAYHOUSE
RICARDO MITRE
AARON ZUMOFF
HERBERT ORLANSKY
13th
21st
MARC ROSENSTEIN
JORDAN HABER
ALICE SHAPIRO
2nd
MARK LEAPMAN
3rd
THOMAS SAMAKOW
LYNN SNYDERMAN
22nd
EDGAR GOLDFARB
14th
5th
PHILIP ELSON
23th
JOEL KAUFMAN
AMY MALLINGER
MELISSA RINGOLD
SARAH PFEFFER
ERIC MALLINGER
SAMUEL WEINER
SYLVIA ROBINSON
7th
MARIAN WILE
8th
24th
15th
BRIAN EGLASH
ALEC ELINOFF
HEATHER FRIEDLAND
SIDNEY SCLARSKY
DANIEL GINSBURG
SANDRA BAILS
MARVIN LEIBOWITZ
JESSE COSLOV
16th
DAVID DINKIN
HENRY COHEN
25th
JOHN FLEMING
FAITH L HEIMER
ZACHARY WEISS
17th
26th
JACK SINGER
SANFORD DARLING
REMY MARS
9th
LEWIS KULLER
TODD SCHACHTER
18th
10th
MARC TANNENBAUM
MARK EXLER
January/February 2015
BARTON SCHACHTER
RAYNA GROSS
19th
CAROLE G GOTTLIEB
30th
11th
LAUREN HAFFNER
LYNDA COSLOV
JOAN FORMAN
JOSHUA SCHACHTER
DEREK SMITH
The Simcha Tree
6
28th
February
BIRTHDAYS
1st
9th
15th
24th
DANIEL WEINER
PAUL ASHKIN
IRWIN ZIMMERMAN
HERBERT MALLET
JOYCE FIENBERG
2nd
SAM GINSBURG
16th
25th
ROBERTA LANDO BRODY
JESSE RABNER
WENDY KAPLAN
SUSAN TURNER
SHIRLEY GREEN
ANDREW MALLINGER
LAINE GUTTMAN
10th
STEVEN WEISBORD
LILLIAN CIEPLY
18th
PAIGE COHEN
ALISON GROSS
3rd
BENJAMIN AARON FRIEDMAN
MAX KAPLAN
ETHAN ABRAMSON
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
MEREDITH MAURY
LOIS ZWIBEL
CONNIE SUKERNEK
27th
DEAN GOLDMAN
28th
BREA FURMAN
19th
AVRAM MARGOLIS
ERALINE GOLDSTEIN
11th
ELINOR LEVINE
4th
JEFFREY KWALL
GREGORY POLLOCK
JOEL ROSENBLOOM
HERBERT MANDEL
20th
5th
12th
BEN FORMAN
JUDAH SAMET
ELIZABETH COHEN
JOSEPHINE FRIEDMAN
JOSEPH TURNER
JONATHAN HAYNES
MARGO LEVENSON
ANDREA WEDNER
REBECCA LERMAN
21st
6th
13th
IVAN CAPLAN
ZACHARY SIKOV
HILARY WEDNER
RODNEY LIPMAN
MELINDA WEDNER
7th
22nd
JOEY HOFFMAN
14th
ELLIOTT TANACK
BRADLEY LANDO
MICHAEL FISCHER
JENNIFER ZAMPOGNA
JACOB LERMAN
DAVID HABER
ZACHARY SMOLAR
JOSHUA KAUFMAN
CHERIE MAHARAM
8th
ZACHARY SCHWARTZ
GREG ENGEL
www.tolols.org
ALBERT TREGER
Tree of Life | Or L’ Simcha Congregation
7
2015
Torah Lishmah Community
MAGICAL MOMENTS”
By Karen Morris, Principal
Sometimes as an educator you have an “A-ha!” moment, or a magical moment that makes
everything worth it. Our teachers go through this each time they are with our students. After
class I often hear stories of discussions, things our students shared or did, or other moments
that the teacher found significant to share.
I was treated to one such magical moment during Latkepalooza on December 14. Our entire
school, and many parents, left TOL*OLS at 10 a.m. that morning to join the JJep Latkepalooza at
Beth Shalom. I was so pleased that many parents enthusiastically joined us—or helped carpool the
students on the short trip.
Latkepalooza is a Chanukah carnival. Games were set up, prize tickets won, prizes earned, and
Karen Morris many fun craft tables were enjoyed with projects to take home. There was a latke bar and homemade sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). Our caring madrichim/teens took on the job of making sure our youngest students were supervised and found their way. I was so proud of our well-behaved and enthusiastic group of TLC students. They made all of us
proud of our school.
During the course of the morning, I was standing near one of our students and observed a conversation between two 8-yearold boys. One said, “Hi, I didn’t know you were Jewish.” The other responded with, “Hi, I didn’t know you were Jewish either.” So, I spoke to the two boys. One boy was from TLC, and the other from JJep. It turns out they both go to Pittsburgh
Minadeo K-5 and are friends. Neither one realized the other was Jewish. The magical moment was the look on both of their
faces, and the excitement to discover this connection. It was important enough to these two 8-year-old boys to talk about it,
to be aware, and to make the connection. For me it was a touching, magical moment as a Jewish educator.
I am fortunate to experience these magical moments every time TLC meets, whether it is a Sunday, Tuesday, Shul’s Cool, or
other special event. For our younger children it may show in their enthusiasm toward reading a Hebrew word or to moving
around a room as they enjoy Hebrew Through Movement, a program we build upon each class session.
Our older students engage in thought-provoking discussions and higher-level topics. Recently our 5th/6th grade class connected with their Israeli pen pals during their Eco Connection videoconference. They also researched tzedakah funds to decide
where our tzedakah will be sent. They chose Camp Shutaf and Birthday Angels. Both are part of “The Good People Fund” in
Israel. You can visit their websites for more info: campshutaf.org and birthday-angels.org/en/. Our tzedakah funds from December and January will go to these organizations. This year each class has an opportunity to choose a fund for part of our donations.
If you are interested in getting more information about TLC, please contact me at [email protected]. I encourage you to
come and join in on our magical moments.
January/February 2015
Spinning
The Simcha Tree
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Torah Lishmah Community
School Calender 2014-15/5775
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HAVE A FEW FREE HOURS IN YOUR WEEK—OR MONTH?
In just six months, AgeWell Rides has provided more than 140
rides to seniors throughout Pittsburgh. AgeWell Rides is a service
of AgeWell Pittsburgh through Jewish Family & Children's Service,
offering rides for seniors who do not drive and need to go to
medical appointments, grocery shopping, attend religious services and more.
Currently, AgeWell Rides needs volunteer drivers. If you can offer one or two short drives a month, you can
help a senior remain active and independent in our community.
www.tolols.org
To make a difference in a senior’s life, email:[email protected] or call AgeWell Pittsburgh
at 412-422-0400.
Tree of Life | Or L’ Simcha Congregation
9
2015
Torah Lishmah Community
January/February 2015
TLC CHANUKAH 2014
The Simcha Tree
10
January/February Funds
FUNDS
AS OF OCT 29-DEC 2
CONGREGATION FUND
Sylvia Moidel
In Memory of:
Lila R. Snyder
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Markovitz
ENDOWMENT FUND
In Honor of:
Flora Berkun
Linda & Joel Goldstein
In Memory of:
Rose Bovitch
Doris Rubin
William Myers
Ryna Perlman
Joel & Linda Goldstein
HIGH HOLIDAY
APPEALS CAPITAL FUND
Lillian Cieply
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Danenberg
Trudi Danenberg
David Dinkin
Dr. Edward & Dr. Kathryn Friedman
Cheryl Garber
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Garfinkel
Marlene Haus
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Hausman
Rhoda Sikov
Mr. & Mrs. Sylvan Simon
Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Solomon
Mr. & Mrs. Marc Tannenbaum
ENDOWMENT FUND
Lillian Cieply
Trudi Danenberg
David Dinkin
Dr. Edward & Dr. Kathryn Friedman
Dr. Furman & Dr. Rossman
Cheryl Garber
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Garfinkel
Frank Gottlieb
Carol Sikov Gross
Marlene Haus
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Hausman
Wendy Kaplan
Mr. & Mrs. Sylvan Simon
Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Solomon
Dr. & Mrs. Albert Treger
Jeff & Randi Weiss
KOL NIDRE FUND
PHILANTHROPIC FUND
Dr. & Mrs. Harvey Borovetz
Sara & John Buss
Lillian Cieply
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Danenberg
Trudi Danenberg
David Dinkin
Dr. Edward & Dr. Kathryn Friedman
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Garfinlel
Steve & Roberta Gerson
Marlene Haus
Wendy Kaplan
Mr. & Mrs. David Lilien
Rosanne & Cliff Levine
Mr. & Mrs. David Siegel
Rhoda Sikov
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Singer
Eve Skirboll
Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Solomon
Mr. & Mrs. Marc Tannenbaum
MISHEBARACH FUND
In Honor of:
Ralph Young
Willliam Feldman
Stephen Fienberg
Marlene Haus
RABBI DIAMOND
DISCRETIONARY FUND
Thank you for your help during
these troubled times
Murray Lubisch
HIGH HOLIDAY HONOR
David Dinkin
Mr. & Mrs. David Lilien
Mr. & Mrs. Steven Shapiro
MINYAN MAKERS FUND
Lisa Tannenbaum
MISHEBARACH FUND
In Memory of:
Rose Sikov
Rhoda F. Sikov
YAHRZEIT FUND
William F. Adler
Rita Gould
Harold Becker
Joan Mallinger
Selma Berger
Howard Berger
Esther Berschling
Chester M. Berschling MD
Rose Bovitch
Eraline Goldstein
Anna Chesler
Drs. Herbert & Betty Chesler
Lea Corsan
Jeanne Brodsky
Edise Danovitz
Shirley Shiflet
Fannie Brown
Dan & Kathy Brown
Norman Garret
Paula Garret
Edward I. Goldberg
Sam & Joanie Kamin
Allen Gould
Rita Gould
Louis Greenberg
Eraline Goldstein
Corrine Haber
Rita Gould
Dr. William Haus
Marlene Haus
Sol Hoffman
Marc Hoffman
Bernard Joseph
Jack & Gloria Joseph
Gertrude Kosowsky
Wendy Mars
Max Leventon
Claire & Joe Calig
Joan & Sam P. Kamin
Rose Lewis
Tema & Norman Kerman
Arthur Maharam
Gladys Maharam
Dorothy Margolis
Roslyn Litman
Mary Mendelsohn
Shirley Bernstein
Zelda Merenstein
Barry Merenstein
Ira M. Morgan
Amy Morgan
Henry I. Orringer
Ruth S. Orringer
Oscar Orringer
Charlotte Pollock
Sanford Pollock
Lillian Puschett
Jules Puschett
Joseph Rockman
Stanley Rockman
Jean Ginsburg Rosenberg
Richard Kasdan
Sara Rubin
Barbara & Marvin Levendorf
Batya Sherman
Moshe Sherman
Aryeh Sherman
Nettie F. Silverman
Barry Silverman
Harry Smith
Kim Smith
Pauline Solomon
Sandi Bails
Hyman Sosis
Robin D. Elson
Lillian Sosis
William Stark
Sally & Fred Rock
Fannie Strassner
Dr. Robert Stanger
Meyer Walk
Robin R. Friedman
Max Walters
Joseph & Yvette Friedman
www.tolols.org
Sandra Bails
Dr. & Mrs. Harvey Borovetz
Lillian Cieply
Jeffrey & Phyllis Cohen
Trudi Danenberg
Fred & Barb Davis
Dr. Edward & Dr. Kathryn Friedman
Dr. Furman & Dr. Rossman
Cheryl Garber
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Garfinkel
Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Goldman
Carol Sikov Gross
Mr. & Mrs. James Guttman
Marlene Haus
Wendy Kaplan
Mr. & Mrs. David Levine
Rosanne & Cliff Levine
Brian McElwain
Ariel Levavi & Brendan Meeder
Mr. & Mrs. David Lilien
Mr. & Mrs. Steven Shapiro
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Sikov
Rhoda Sikov
Mr. Jack Singer
Dr. & Mrs. Benjamin Smolar
Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Solomon
Mr. & Mrs. Marc Tannenbaum
Jeff & Randi Weiss
Tree of Life | Or L’ Simcha Congregation
11
2015
Rabbi’s Corner
FROM THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
By Rabbi Chuck Diamond
Rabbi Chuck asked to share the following from the Jewish Theological Seminary:
“The Jewish Theological Seminary expresses its deep sorrow at the recent deaths of African American
members of our communities in encounters with law enforcement officers. Their deaths have unleashed
protests and widely shared concern. Important questions are being raised regarding race and equal
justice in America with the unfortunate result that battle lines are being drawn with precious little
self-reflection or constructive dialogue.
With so many lives lost or irreparably damaged, it is time to remind ourselves that each and every individual is created in the
image of G-d. Systemic problems need to be addressed, but we must not obscure the sacred humanity of those people who
have been (and continue to be) impacted by these events—including those who have died, family members, members of minority communities, and law enforcement officers—by referring to them only in terms of categories or constructs. We reduce
individuals to caricatures at our own peril.
As we celebrate Hanukkah, we are reminded of the rabbinic instruction to increase the light over the course of the holiday.
So too we need to increase the light in our communal lives so that we can see clearly the faces of our neighbors and public
servants.
Our country needs to have some difficult conversations, and we need to listen to one another better. Religion is not about
making us comfortable; it’s about challenging everyone—from all perspectives—to make the world a more compassionate and
just place. As JTS professor Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel reminded America during the civil rights struggles of the 1960s:
“To meet a human being is an opportunity to sense the image of G-d, the presence of G-d.” And according to a rabbinical interpretation, “G-d said to Moses, ‘Wherever you see human beings, there I stand before you.’”
We at JTS are proud of our heritage of taking our religious teachings outside the walls of JTS and outside our synagogues and
institutions into the public realm. We challenge our students and teachers to take the truths of our Torah and live them in the
world. This is an immense responsibility in any time, but it is all the more true in this one. As Rabbi Heschel said, “The hour
calls for high moral grandeur and spiritual audacity.”
We all have to commit ourselves to the difficult but critical work of listening, healing, and repair, and resolve to see the real
people in front of us, with real fears and concerns, and all created in the image of G-d.
January/February 2015
TODDLER AND ME
The Simcha Tree
12
Morning Minyanaires
LEADING BY ACTION
By Joe Charny (Yosef ben Avraham Lev), Morning Minyanaires Correspondent
Joe Charny
January-February 2015 corresponds
to Tevet-¬Shevat-Adar, 5775 in the
Hebrew calendar, a long winter
stretch without a Jewish holiday.
While we’re waiting for Purim to
come, there’s always the weekly
Torah reading to engage our attention.
For this calendar period, we read
most of the Book of Shemot, telling
of the Exodus from Egypt and the
Revelation at Sinai
In these readings we get to know the many individuals whose
part in this great saga is noted almost in passing. We are
introduced to Moses and Aaron, and we get to know his wife,
Zipporah, and their sons, Gershom and Eliezer. There is even
an interesting encounter with Moses’s father in-law, Jethro.
And who can forget Shifra and Puah, the two courageous
midwives who defied Pharaoh’s order to kill all the male
babies they delivered? And what about Moses’s sister Miriam,
who watched over him as a baby and arranged for him
to be nursed by his own mother after his rescue by
Pharaoh’s daughter?
There are so many events in Torah that focus on the courage
and devotion of ordinary individuals who appear so briefly
in the narrative, but who nonetheless play a vital role in
emancipation from slavery in Egypt and the survival and
ultimate triumph in the wilderness.
You are all well aware, I’m sure, of the numerous polls and
surveys which report on the drift away from what, for the last
60 years, has been the standard of Jewish life in the U.S.:
synagogue membership and unquestioning support of Israel.
Among the younger generation especially, we are seeing the
development of alternatives to the old practices and rituals,
including loosely configured social groups participating in
their own forms of engagement with their Jewish identity and
heritage. Their alienation from unquestioned commitment to
the Jewish state has disturbed many of us who lived through
the era of the Holocaust, witnessed the miracle of Israel’s
rebirth, and remain supportive of Israel despite some
questions about some the government’s actions vis-à-vis the
presumptive Palestinian state.
Here’s my point: they are not lost to us as long as we have
something to offer them that they cannot get elsewhere. But
can we honestly claim to have that something for them if we
do not value it for ourselves? When a congregation like ours
can only attract 30 or 40 attendees to a Shabbat service and
struggles mightily to have a minyan for the daily service,
what exactly is our message to Jewish youth who seek a place
for themselves in Jewish life? Yes, we have our youth programs and our wonderful Minyan Makers, but what happens
to their commitment when they are ready and eager to go out
on their own and make their own decisions about what they
believe and how they are going to enact those beliefs?
I do not pretend to have a specific solution to this threat to
Jewish life in our country. But I do believe that we must
show by our actions that we value our Jewish identity and
our commitment to Israel. Handwringing with repeated “oy
vey” isn’t going to do it. Synagogues with active, engaged
participation at least give us a chance to make the case for
the continuation of Jewish life in America.
Join the cause—you may even discover just how precious and
satisfying the rewards will be!
www.tolols.org
Tree of Life | Or L’ Simcha Congregation
13
2015
YAHRZEIT LIST
January 1, 2015 to January 3, 2015
Tevet 10, 5775 to Tevet 12, 5775
SARAH BERNSTEIN
PEARL KITMAN
LOUIS LEVIN
HARRY RUBEN
HARRY TANNENBAUM
January 4, 2015 to January 10, 2015
Tevet 13, 5775 to Tevet 19, 5775
LILLIAN BAILY
LUCY BECKER
BOB CHARNY
REBECCA KORNBLUT EDWARDS
SOPHIE FINK
BELLE MANDELL FODOR
MOLLIE FOX GOLDBERG
SAMUEL GREENBERGER
SAMUEL F LEVINE
MORRIS L LIEBERMAN
LEONID LISITSA
PAUL MENDELSOHN
HERSHEY MERENSTEIN
MILTON PINSKER
JEROME SCHNEIER
IRWIN SHAPIRO
MEYER SIKOV
LOUIS SOMERS
NATHAN STALINSKY
MARY WEISMAN
WILLARD WEISS
January/February 2015
January 11, 2015 to January 17, 2015
Tevet 20, 5775 to Tevet 26, 5775
MILDRED ALEXANDER
BERTI BROOKS
ABE R COHEN
BESSIE DANIELS
PHYLLIS FALLER
ELLA FINN
SAM FORMAN
IRVING FRIEDMAN
BELLE GERSON
JACK GINSBURG
CELIA GOLDBERG
BERTHA GORDON
ELIZABETH B HESSE
ROSE JACOBSON
The Simcha Tree
14
ZELMA KAUFMAN
FREDA KELLER
PETER KELLER
EDWARD KIMBALL
DOROTHY KING
ESTHER LEE LEVENTON
MELVIN MAMOLEN
FREDERICK MARKS
ALFRED MENDELSOHN
GLADYS MEYERS
SARAH G PASEKOFF
ROBERT PIRCHESKY
NATHAN RIPP
LENA HABER SOFFER
MARVIN (BUNKER) STEIN
DOROTHY WASSERMAN
January 18, 2015 to January 24, 2015
Tevet 27, 5775 to Shevat 4, 5775
ELIAS BERSCHLING
MARY COHEN
GEORGE FAIRMAN
ROBERT FORMAN
JACK GERSON
MARGUERITE HERRING
SI KAUFFMAN
ROSE KITMAN
JAY LEBLANG
FANNIE MALLINGER
OSCAR PEARLMAN
GOLDIE ROFEY
RAPHAEL ROSHINSKY
NATALIE M SMITH
ROBERT BUCHMAN SMITH
ANN STAHLER
EVA STANGER
FLORENCE STONE
JACK TREGER
LEONARD WINGERT
MAX YOUNGER
January 25, 2015 to January 31, 2015
Shevat 5, 5775 to Shevat 11, 5775
MARTIN CAPLAN
A LOUIS CHARNY
ROSE COHEN
RUBY R COSLOV
DR ROBERT H FRIEDMAN
GOLDIE FRIEDMAN
SARA GARFINKEL
JACOB GRAFF
DYLAN ISAAC LEVENSON
ANNIE LEVENTON
MORRIS LEVENTON
NORMAN LEWIS
MARIAN PAPERNICK LINDENBAUM
SUSAN G LIPMAN
JEREMY MARCUS
RENEE SAROFF OLINER
ANNE PIRCHESKY
JOSEPHINE CAPLAN RUDKIN
SEYMOUR SIKOV
LOUISA WODNICKI
February 1, 2015 to February 7, 2015
Shevat 12, 5775 to Shevat 18, 5775
ANNETTE CALIG
ETHEL COHEN
MILTON DRIBEN
CECELIA S FRISS
MILTON GLICK
MOLLIE GREENFIELD
PEARL GREENFIELD
RUBEN KANAREK
BEATRICE KOHEN
NATHAN H LEVENTON ESQ
DAVID JOEL LEVINE
ROSE MARKOVITZ
ELEANORE POPKY
RITA WEISBRODE RINGOLD
BEN ROFEY
FREDA ROSEN
YETTA RUBIN
JULIA SHAPIRO
MAX SINGER
ABRAHAM STAIMAN
PHYLLIS WEINER UNGER
JACK WEDNER
CLARA ZATMAN
RACHEL ZISKIND
February 8, 2015 to February 14, 2015
Shevat 19, 5775 to Shevat 25, 5775
MORRIS BIRNKRANT
HAROLD COHEN
IRWIN DEHAVEN FALL
TOM FRANK
ROSE GOLDSTEIN
ETHEL GREENBERG
ANNA B HAUS
ROBERT JEDEIKEN
LOUIS KAPLAN
CARYL ASKEW NUTTALL
LILLIAN ROSENBERG
DAVID ROTH
PHILIP SCHMEISER
SIMON Z STEIN
LILLIAN WALTER
NORMAN J WEDNER
BERTHA WEITZEN
HANANAH KANEL WILDMAN
DAVID E WOLFSON
ARLENE YOUNGER
LESTER E ZITTRAIN
February 15, 2015 to February 21, 2015
Shevat 26, 5775 to Adar 2, 5775
LOUIS J ACKERMAN
PEARL ARANSON
MEYER BAILS
DAVID R BERZON
VICTOR L CAPLAN
ISRAEL CHODOCK
JOSEPH COHEN
HELEN CYMERMAN
IDA DANENBERG
IDA BROURMAN FRIEDMAN
O HICKS FRIEDMAN, ESQ
BRINA GERSON
FANNY GITELMAN
ISAAC GUZNOR
SHAEL HAIT
LILLIAN HELLER
DOROTHY ISRAEL
BERTHA JENKINS
SAMUEL KAMIN
ETHEL KESSLER
CHARLOTTE LEBOW
BERNARD J LIFF
BLUMA LISITSA
ANNA MALLINGER
ISADORA MAYER
BEATRICE NAHEMOW
ROBERT B NUTTALL
MARIE ORGEL
ROSE RABINOVITZ
LEE RADBORD
STANLEY ROSENSTEIN
MALCOLM B SAMAKOW
SARA (SUNNY) SCHNEIER
HARRY SEGAL
SIDNEY STANGER
MOSHE STEIN
SALLIE STEIN
FLORENCE ROSE SUCHMAN
FAYE TANACK
DAVID RUDOV
HARRY SILBERSTEIN
PHYLLIS TREELISKY
SHELTON WASSERMAN
REBECCA WATZMAN
Condolences
Our sincere condolences to Mitchell
Pakler on the loss of his mother,
Marilyn "Patsy" Pakler.
February 22, 2015 to February 28, 2015
Adar 3, 5775 to Adar 9, 5775
ELLIE TURK BARMEN
CHARLES BERMAN
SAMUEL BERNSTEIN
REBA CHARNY
STANFORD I COHEN
MARION BECKER DWOSKIN
LENA D EISNER
DR RICHARD FINN
PEARL FRISCHMAN
DOROTHY GLICK
MANNY GORDON
NETTIE B GOTTLIEB
JOHN GREEN
MARSHALL MELVIN HARRIS
BERLE B HAYNES
RONNIE E IZENSON
HARRY JACOBSON
CAROLYN KAMENS
HELEN KAMIN
JERRY KITMAN
JASON KRAMER
HARRY LEBOVITZ
ISABELLE LOEVNER
JACK MALLINGER
DIANE HABER MARCH
PHYLLIS MYERS
SOREL MYERS
DR HARRY ORRINGER
SHIRLEY ROBINSON
www.tolols.org
Tree of Life | Or L’ Simcha Congregation
15
Tree of Life | Or L’Simcha
CONGREGATION
STANDING AND AD HOC COMMITTEES:
Have you got time to make a difference? Sign up for one of the committees listed below.
ADULT EDUCATION
LAURIE ZITTRAIN EISENBERG
[email protected]
CEMETERY
BERNIE PINSKER
[email protected]
ENDOWMENT
TERRY LERMAN
[email protected]
FINANCE
DAVID LILIEN
[email protected]
INTERFAITH OUTREACH
COMMITTEE
IRWIN HARRIS
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP
JANICE SHAPIRO
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
SAM SCHACHNER
JANICE SCHAPIRO
[email protected]
RITUAL
DANIEL WEINER
[email protected]
STRATEGIC PLANNING
MICHAEL EISENBERG
[email protected]
SOCIAL ACTION
MARY DAWN EDWARDS
[email protected]
YOUTH COMMISSION
ALAN HAUSMAN
Administration
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Rabbi Chuck Diamond
Rabbi, [email protected]
Richard Ackerman
Doug Arnold
Jennifer Bails
Marissa Boevers
Ellen Cohen
Suzanne Donsky
Greg Engel
Scott Fingal
Kathryn Friedman
Audrey Glickman
Sara Guttman
Alan Hausman
Wendy Kaplan
Andrew Mor
Sarah Pfeffer
Ina Sable
Sam Schachner
Janice Shapiro
Rochelle Sherman
Ellen Sikov
Kara Spodek
Marcia Stewart
Alvin K. Berkun D.D.,
Rabbi Emeritus; [email protected]
Joel Don Goldstein, FSA,
Executive Director; [email protected]
Karen Morris
Principal; [email protected]
Alex Speck
Program Director; [email protected]
2014-15 Officers
Board of Trustees
President
Michael Eisenberg
January/February 2015
Vice Presidents
Fred Davis
Craig Frischman
Ben Simon
Daniel Weiner
Members at Large
Adam Berger
Robin Friedman
Carol Sikov Gross
Monday – Thursday
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday
8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday
Closed
Contact Us
By Phone: 412.521.6788
By Email: [email protected]
On the Web: www.tolols.org
By Mail:
Tree of Life * Or L’Simcha Congregation
5898 Wilkins Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217-1299
A founding member of the Jewish
Theological Seminary and the United
Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Morning Minyanaires
Moe Lebow
Secretary
Irwin Harris
Sisterhood
Mickie Diamond
Treasurer
David Lilien
Men’s Club
David Edwards
Immediate Past President
Paula Garret
The Simcha Tree
16
Business Office Hours