january 2013 kol tikvah
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January 2013 Kol TikvahTRANSCRIPT
January 2013 • Volume 27 • Issue 1 A Reform Congregation Embracing Our Jewish Tradition
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Fridays With Friends and Ruach Shabbat
February 1, 2013
See page 13 for details
SHABBAT SHIRAH
7th ANNUAL
CELEBRATION OF
JEWISH MUSIC Saturday Afternoon,
January 26th 4:30 – 6:00
S’EUDAT SH’LISHEET Please bring a dairy nosh to share.
MUSIC with our Cantor, Rabbi, Choirs, soloists &
instrumentalists
HAVDALAH Farewell to Shabbat.
Hello to a good new week.
Put on a Smile and LOL
During…
TBT Comedy Night
Featuring
Jerry Farber and Friends
Saturday, February 9, 2013
7:30 p.m.
Tam-Blank Social Hall at TBT
See page 7 for details
2
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
The Day the Rabbi Got Fermisht on the Bima
After working with hundreds of students
who have stepped forward to lead a
congregation in prayer and to inspire
them to live Jewish lives…it was my
daughters’ turn. Yael and Leora each became a bat
mitzvah just one month ago, and I couldn’t have felt
prouder.
I knew that they were well prepared (I had a
little insight into that). I knew that their Hebrew was
up to par. But to actually witness your children before
you leading services like this is to see your past and
future simultaneously stand in front of you. I was
proud of how they conducted our service. I was proud
of how they had their own honest encounter with the
Torah. I was grateful to God for giving them this
opportunity and for enabling Deborah and me to learn
from them.
So…all in all, it was a great day!
But truth be told, I was completely overwhelmed. I
couldn’t pronounce their names when I was supposed
to call them forward to light the candles on Friday eve.
I just said “come here.” And a highlight of Shabbat
morning’s tefilah/service was to have an aliyah to the
Torah with my beloved next to me as we stood next to
Leora.
Then it happened… we began to chant the
blessing and…yes…“yours truly” messed it up!
There was a roar of laughter from the
congregation that I have never heard before. I was so
caught up in the moment that after 11 years of
correcting parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and
uncles, and kids…I got fermisht myself!
What is the lesson to be learned from this? Is it
that I should brush up on the blessings before I do it
again? I don’t think so. I think my lesson is to take
every moment I can as a father and husband to heart
and be present. So present in the moment that I forget
what I am supposed to do because the world stops so I
can encounter it.
What is the lesson for my congregants? Do
they make sure the “cheat sheet” for the blessings is
up on the reading table before I endeavor to this
again? No, probably not. Perhaps there is another
lesson that is just as important as the first: that your
rabbi is a dad who got fermisht on the bimah like lots
of dads and moms. Maybe, as hard as he tries to be a
good rabbi, he is just a guy with his fair share of
flaws who loves that his girls love Torah and have
grown into such mensches.
So on this Shabbat, being a dad trumped being
a rabbi for a moment. I hope you didn’t mind. In fact,
I know…it was actually a great part of the celebration.
Rabbi Fred Greene
3
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Celebrating Freedom Through Song
Did you know………the Shabbat preceeding “Martin Luther King Day” has become known as
“MLK Shabbat?” Some years “MLK Shabbat” falls at the same time as “Shabbat Shirah,”
resulting in double-celebration of freedom for Jews and African-Americans. This year,
however, they fall on two separate Shabbatot. We hope you’ll attend the Erev Shabbat services
(below) as well as our Shabbat Shirah program of Jewish Music.
MLK SHABBAT
Friday night, January 18
8:00 PM Many musical forces at TBT will join together as we honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. The theme of freedom permeates our liturgy and this Erev Shabbat service will include special readings
and music to highlight this important time of year.
SHABBAT SHIRAH Friday night Family Service, January 25
6:30 PM Our 6th graders have been preparing for months to lead us in a music-filled service in honor of “Shabbat
Shirah,” the Sabbath of Song. This service is for our entire congregation, not just the 6th graders and their
families.
SHABBAT SHIRAH
Program of Jewish Music Saturday afternoon, January 26
4:30 - 6:00 PM For ‘all’ ages!
This will be our 7th annual Shabbat Shirah program featuring our choirs as well as other singers and
instrumentalists at TBT. We start off with a bite to eat (please bring something dairy to share), followed by
lots of wonderful Jewish music and conclude with Havdalah. There is SO much more Jewish music to be
shared with you in addition to what you may hear in services or Religious School!
Cantor Nancy Kassel
4
Welcome back to school! I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing winter vacation. I trust that all of our students,
teachers, and parents are well rested and eager to begin the second half of the school year. School will resume on
Tuesday, January 8th for our 3rd through 6th graders and Sunday, January 13th for the entire school. Kesher will resume
classes on the 14th of January. Confirmation class will resume on January 21st.
During the 5th grade Shabbat service, one could feel the anticipation and excitement experienced by the students as they
were called up to the Bimah by the Rabbi, and presented with their personal Siddur. One only had to look at the parents
and teachers to see the pride and naches reflected on their faces as we commemorated this event.
Our Chanukah assembly was a hit and our 5th grade students were the stars. They performed several short skits and led
us in song. The festivities continued in the classrooms as our students enjoyed playing Chanukah games while eating
their donuts and gelt. We also celebrated Chanukah the week before with latkes and applesauce.
Our 1st and 2nd grade families joined the Rabbi for a family education day. Parents and students created a beautiful
menorah as an art project. Carrie Bickwit, our kindergarten teacher, entertained everyone with a wonderful Chanukah
story.
As we are beginning the second half of the year, we look forward to welcoming everyone back healthy, rested and ready
to dive into the exciting semester we have planned for our students.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
Friday, January 25th. 6th grade Shabbat
Friday, February 8th 3rd grade Shabbat
Sunday February 3rd PreK and Kindergarten Family Education Day
Sunday, February 10th 7th grade Family Education Day
Shalom
Hassia Levin
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Religious School
Early Childhood Education Center
The Early Childhood Education Center would like to wish all of our families a very happy, healthy 2013!
The Jewish Value for January is Shalom: Peace, Completeness.
“The whole Torah exists only for the sake of shalom, “according to the Talmud (Tanhuma, Shoftim 18). Jewish prayer
is filled with supplications for shalom. “Grant us Peace, your most precious gift, O Eternal Source of peace…” One of
the names for G-d is Oseh Shalom-Maker of Peace. We are a people that, with history so full of tumult and destruction,
seek serenity and security, not only for ourselves, but for the whole world. “Shalom” is even the salutation we use when
greeting each other or taking our leave. In the early childhood classroom, the value of Shalom takes us beyond another
way to get the children quiet. Psalms 34:15 tells us “Seek peace and pursue it.” Children can become Rod’fay Shalom-
“pursuers of peace,” finding ways to bring calm and community to their own classroom (one child is a Rodef Shalom).
Peace requires action. Children can practice the mitzvah of Hava’at Shalom ben Adam L’chaveiro, bringing peace be-
tween people, by learning to mediate their own arguments. Children can learn the value of Sh’lom Bayit, creating peace
in the home.
This year, the ECEC wishes you and yours much Shalom.
For more information or to take a tour of our wonderful school, please call me at 678-350-0076 or email
Shalom,
Jenifer Friedman ECEC Director
5
B’nai Mitzvah
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Benjamin Curtis Kaplan will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on January 26, 2013.
Ben is the son of Brad and Jill Kaplan, and the brother to Jacob Kaplan. Ben is the grandson of
Mr. Herbert Altman and the late Mrs. Sandi Altman of Brunswick, Georgia, and the late Mr. and Mrs.
Jules Kaplan of Toledo, Ohio. He is in the 7th grade at High Meadows School where he participated in
the inaugural season of Cross Country for the school. Ben enjoys playing bass and electric guitar, and is
an avid soccer player.
Julie Hannah Dichtenberg will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on January 26, 2013.
Julie is the daughter of Wendy and Gary Dichtenberg. She is the granddaughter of Rosalynne and Harry
Cahn of New York, New York and Stella Dichtenberg of Chandler, Arizona. Julie is in the 7th grade at
Crabapple Middle School where she participates in the CMS Drama Club and plays Roswell lacrosse.
She is planting trees in Israel through the JNF as part of her mitzvah project.
Before our normal youth group news, we’d like to share
with you a few thoughts from one of our youth group
members after attending the NFTY SAR Fall Kallah in
November. NFTY’s regional events offer teens a wonder-
ful way to get connected with other Jewish teens and with
their own Jewish identity, as you’ll see from Zoe’s
experience:
“NFTY SAR’s Fall Kallah 2012 was hands down one of
the best experiences of my life. This was my second Fall
Kallah, so I sort of knew what to expect, but by the end of
the weekend I was so happy that I went. This experience
gave me the opportunity to catch up with old friends that I
had met in previous events, and it allowed me to make
brand new ones! The various workshops I got to attend
helped me learn so much about the Jewish culture. The
lessons I took from them are very beneficial towards help-
ing me strengthen my Jewish identity. One workshop I at-
tended was entitled “NFTY after High School”. This work-
shop talked about ways you can still be involved in Jewish
activities after high school like going to Hillel, or joining a
Jewish sorority or fraternity. All in all, I had a great
weekend and I can’t wait until the next Kallah!”
It’s not too late for high schoolers to sign up for Winter
Kallah (January 18-21), and 7th and 8th graders should
mark their calendars for THEIR one and only regional
event of the year – Hatikvah Kallah on March 8-10.
December’s events
included a city-wide
Latke-in hosted by
HOTTY with over 50
teens in attendance.
The highlight of the
evening was playing
broomball (ice +
sneakers + brooms).
JYG had a great time at the
Chocolate Factory.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Join JYG (6th-8th graders) for Whirly Ball on January 13,
and join HOTTY (9th-12th) at Sky Zone on January 26.
Details are on our Facebook pages, or email
Youth Group
6
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
I once read an article in which the reporter recalled
attending a press conference with Elie Wiesel, and ending
the question she asked him with saying, “By the way, I
happen to be Jewish.”
Wiesel responded not to her question, but to her
parenthetical.
“Don’t “happen to be Jewish”,” he told her, “Be
Jewish.”
Wiesel’s words ring in my head as I sit and write this,
encouraging -- not just suggesting, but outright asking --
each and every one of you to participate in our annual
campaign this year: EveryONE Matters.
It goes without saying, of course, that being part of
a synagogue and synagogue life is being asked by people
such as myself to donate to the synagogue and to
participate in fundraising campaigns such as this one.
But really -- I think this one is a little different.
Our goal for the EveryONE campaign is to have
100% congregation-wide participation. This campaign isn’t
targeting certain members or certain initiatives. This
campaign is for everyone. This campaign is not as much
about dollars (though of course I would be remiss as a
synagogue president if I said that dollars did not matter
all!) as it is about people. We want each and every member
of Temple Beth Tikvah to feel completely, holistically, and
organically committed to our life and work as a
congregation, and to show your commitment through
annual giving. Although of course we have a targeted
monetary goal, what is REALLY important is YOUR
PARTICIPATION. No one amount is the
“right” amount for every member. Whatever
is comfortable for you and your family and
where you are in your life is the correct amount. There is
no right or wrong answer to this one. Just give. And let it
be a true experience of nadiv lev -- a gift from the heart.
Like our modern sage Elie Wiesel said, “Don’t happen to
be Jewish. Be Jewish.” Show your commitment to Jewish
life, to our congregation, to actively joining with us to
create a vibrant kehillah, community, by helping us in
funding the work we do for one another -- work that is
done to and in our physical building that has an impact on
the world at large.
To quote Eli Wiesel once again: “The opposite of
love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not
ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not
heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not
death, it’s indifference.”
EVERYone matters and everyONE matters: Please
be a part of the work we are doing at TBT by being an
active part of our congregation by choosing to participate in
this year’s annual fundraising campaign. You have the
choice: To be engaged, or to be indifferent. To happen to
be a member of Temple Beth Tikvah, or to be a member of
Temple Beth Tikvah. Join us, please.
Shalom,
Steven C. Gerson
President
Shalom Chaverim - שלום חברים
NEW MEMBERS
Temple Beth Tikvah
warmly welcomes the following
new members to our family:
Eric and Kay Smolin
3752 Old Towne Lane
Cumming, GA 30040
(678) 513-7108
Rachel, Seaver and Eli
7
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
8
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
January 2013 TBT Happenings
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5
New Year's Day
No Religious School
Synagogue Closed
6:00pm Relay for
Life Steering
Committee
Dinner/Meeting
8pm Shabbat Service 9am B.L.T., Bagels
Learning and Torah
10am Shabbat
Service
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
No Religious School No Religious School
9:30am ECEC Classes Resume 7pm Families Anonymous 7:15pm Melton - Beyond Borders: The Arab Israeli Conflict 7:15pm Melton - Ethics of Jewish Living
9am Tai Chi
5pm Religious
School
7:30pm Choir
Rehearsal
7:30pm Sisterhood
Bunco
7:30am TBT Business
to Business
7:30pm Step Up for
Israel
8pm Shabbat Service 9am B.L.T., Bagels
Learning and Torah
10am Shabbat
Service
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
9:30am Religious School 9:30am Shacharit Morning Minyan 9:45am Leadership Development 9:45am Sisterhood Steering Committee 10am Melton - Your Child Has Questions 10:45am Adult Ed – The Tower of Babel 12:30pm JYG - Whirly Ball Atlanta
11:30am Seniors
Luncheon
7pm Families
Anonymous
7pm Kesher
7:15pm Melton -
Beyond Borders: The
Arab Israeli Conflict
7:15pm Melton -
Ethics of Jewish
Living
9am Tai Chi
5pm Religious
School
7:30pm Board of
Trustees Meeting
HOTTY - NFTY-SAR
Winter Regional &
Elections
9:45am ECEC Family
Shabbat
8pm MLK Shabbat
Service w/ Choir
9am B.L.T., Bagels
Learning and Torah
10am Shabbat
Service
7pm Men's Club
Event - Five Seasons
Brewing Company
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
No Religious School Martin Luther King
Day
No ECEC Classes No Religious School Synagogue Office Closed 7pm Families Anonymous
9am Tai Chi
5pm Religious
School
7:30pm Choir
Rehearsal
7:30pm Officers
Meeting
7pm Yoga with a
Jewish Twist
6pm Oneg Shabbat
6:30pm Shabbat
Shirah Service led by
the 6th Grade
Tu B'Shevat
9am B.L.T., Bagels Learning and Torah 10am Shabbat Service - Julie Dichtenberg and Benjamin Kaplan B'nai Mitzvah 4:30pm Shabbat Shirah Celebration 7pm HOTTY - Sky Zone
27 28 29 30 31 International Holocaust Remembrance Day 9:30am Religious School/ 4th Grade Family Ed Day 9:30am Shacharit Morning Minyan 10am Melton - Your Child Has Questions 10:45am Adult Ed - Reuven 11am Beginning Hebrew Class II
7pm Families
Anonymous
7pm Kesher,
Confirmation
7:15pm Melton -
Beyond Borders: The
Arab Israeli Conflict
7:15pm Melton -
Ethics of Jewish
Living
9am Tai Chi
5pm Religious
School
7:30pm Achim -
TBT's Men's Group
7:30pm Choir
Rehearsal
7pm Women's Study
Group
9
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Annual Campaign
Sandy & Nancy Simon in memory of Ella Goldstein
Jonathan and Rebecca Bennett in memory of Ellen Berger
Lawrence and Anne Skal in memory of Joseph Cunix
Building Fund
Seymour and Renee Davis in memory of Don Riemenschneider
Brad and Jill Kaplan in memory of Sandi Altman
Campership/Israel Fund
Fred and Patricia Landsberg in honor of Yael and Leora Greene
becoming B'not Mitzvah
Cantor Kassel's Discretionary Fund
Walter and Esther Shultz in memory of Don Riemenschneider
Michael and Nannette Wien in appreciation of Cantor Kassel
Michael and Wanda Cohen in memory of Irving Cohen
Bart and Kara Segal in honor of Ilana's Bat Mitzvah
Caring/Kehillat Chesed Fund
Ruth Zeidman in memory of Donald Miller
Roberta Coad in memory of Dorothy Spielvogel
Chumash Fund
Jordan and Sherrie Wetstone in memory of Ellen Berger
Education Fund
George Plaza and Lyn Nelson in memory of Rose Haber's father
Endowment Campaign
The Chai & Mighty Chavurah in memory of Ellen Berger
General Fund
Jay and Lois Barcus in honor of the birth of Samuel Walker
Scher, grandson of Bonnie and Bruce Walkes
Harlan & Ivie Graiser in memory of Theodore Hilsenrath and
Ellen Berger, and in honor of Adam's graduation-MBA from
Kennesaw State University
Shirley Crawford
Michelle Jacobowitz in memory of Frances and Philip
Rosenbaum and Rose and Shimon Alter Jacobowitz
Ronald and Leslie Swichkow in memory of Ellen Berger
Rhonda Schweber in memory of Ellen Berger
Peter and Lori Deutsch in memory of Ellen Berger
Seymour and Renee Davis in memory of Albert Davis
Michael Zalkin Memorial Library Fund
Mark and Gail Rudel in honor of Yael and Leora Greene
becoming B'not Mitzvah
Andrew and Ilana Zalkin in memory of Ellen Berger
Gary and Dana Cohen in memory of Ellen Berger
Preschool Fund
Douglas Wexler in honor of granddaughter, Adriane Cooper's
election as student President of Hillel at UGA for 2013
Steve and RoseAnn Gerson
Steve and RoseAnn Gerson in honor of the speedy recovery of
Marsha Mathis' mother
Rabbi Greene's Discretionary Fund
Michael and Nannette Wien in appreciation of Rabbi Greene
Bruce Turiansky and Mariann Mamberg in memory of Isaac
Mamberg
Jane Greenberger in memory of Jacob Stern
Lois Clymin in honor of Yael and Leora Greene's B'not Mitzvah
Steve Mahan in memory of Anna Mahan
Jeffrey Willard and Steve Mahan in memory of Ellen Berger
Bart and Kara Segal in honor of Ilana's Bat Mitzvah
Rosalind Taranto in honor of the B'not Mitzvah of Rabbi
Greene's daughters
Dr. and Mrs. Seth Zimmer in memory of Elaine Gralnick
Mark and Arleen Reese in honor of Yael and Leora's
B'not Mitzvah
Scott and Nancy Harris in honor of the B'not Mitzvah of
Yael and Leora Greene
Jeffrey Willard and Steve Mahan in honor of the B'not Mitzvah
of Yael and Leora Greene
Elliot and Carol Millman in memory of Sallie Millman
Lawrence and Anne Skal in honor of the B'not Mitzvah of
Yael and Leora Greene
Jonathan and Allison Agin in honor of Yael and Leora's
B'not Mitzvah
Eric and Victoria Stein for the Family Promise program
Bernard & Rita Tuvlin in memory of Donald Miller
Rabbi Tam's Discretionary Fund
James & Lois Shaevel in memory of Don Riemenschneider
Ilene and Zachary Monat in memory of Ellen Berger
Barry Kaiser in memory of Herbert Merlin
Religious School Fund
Hyman and Loretta Shapiro in honor of the anniversary of
Ilene and Dave Shapiro
The Staff at the North GA Pain Clinic in appreciation of
Barry Straus
Torah Fund
Morray and Susan Scheinfeld in honor of Leora and Yael
Greene's B'not Mitzvah and in memory of Don Riemenschneider
Youth Fund
Steve and RoseAnn Gerson in memory of Ellen Berger
Jane Greenberger in memory of Benjamin Findley
Donations
10
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
SOCIAL ACTION
TUTORS NEEDED
National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Atlanta
section is seeking TUTORS as part of the Atlanta
Jewish Coalition for Literacy program. The tutors will
help children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade with
reading. For just one hour a week and not too far from
your home, you can positively and permanently change
the life of a child. Most tutors work with one child 30-
45 minutes per week at a school near the tutor’s home.
The goal is to increase early reading among the
children who will become independent readers. What a
mitzvah to make a difference and get involved in this
community program. It is a win-win situation for both
you and the children. For more information on how to
become a tutor, please contact Rita Zadoff at the NCJW
office 404-843-9600 or e-mail [email protected].
Ready to make your voice heard?
New Jewish advocates needed in Georgia
As Proverbs 31:9 teaches, “speak up, judge righteously, champion the poor and the needy.” With this message at its
heart, the Southern District Social Action Committee of the Union for Reform Judaism, through its TzedekGeorgia
reform Jewish advocacy project, is enlisting congregants from its 18 congregations in Georgia to join in an effort to
lobby the state legislature on social justice issues.
The goal is for participating members from all of our congregations to meet with their Georgia state legislators at the
Capitol to address the root causes of social and economic injustice while advancing religious tolerance and human
dignity. The issues at hand are consistent with the Jewish mandate of Tikun Olam – “repairing the world.” Proverbs
31:9 teaches that God expects us to speak up on behalf of the vulnerable in our society to those who make the civil
laws by which we live. We must be the ones to speak for those who are oppressed and poor, who cannot plead for
themselves nor pay others to plead for them.
While the URJ’s Religious Action Center in Washington, DC, engages in the legislative process nationally, many
social justice issues are resolved at the state level. We will use the positions taken by URJ resolutions adopted at
URJ Biennials or passed by the URJ Board of Trustees as our guide to advocacy in Georgia.
Your voice can make a difference. You can join the great tradition of Jewish social justice advocates from Moses to
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel who spoke out in defense of morality and justice. Experience with lobbying is not
required. Participants who are new to the process will be trained on how to advocate effectively, with the project
creating accessible opportunities to put into action for participants the knowledge gained through this training.
To join the effort, please contact [email protected].
For more information find us on the web at www.tzedekgeorgia.org. or call (770) 886-1704.
.
Why Should You Join a Chavurah?
The Chavurah program is designed to bring congregants
with similar interests together who might otherwise not
have an opportunity to meet. It is a chance for
congregation members to get to know each other outside
the synagogue, yet it is designed to build relationships
within the synagogue.
When does a Chavurah meet?
Each Chavurah usually meets once a month in the homes
of its members (or at another location), in rotation. With
that said, each Chavurah sets the frequency of meeting
that works best for that particular group. The group will
decide on the most convenient dates and times based on
the schedules of all its members. Sometimes meetings
alternate adult only and family events.
How large is a Chavurah?
Each group should have approximately twenty members.
However, there are no "rules" about the group size.
Chavurot exists for individuals and families.
11
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Michael & Jeanne Lipsitt
give the gift of life
this holiday season
Earlier this year we shared a story of Tikkun olam, as
Temple Beth Tikvah congregants Michael and Jeanne Lipsitt
were seeking to bring Eyasu Minas Woldekikos to America
from Ethiopia for a life-saving valve replacement surgery.
The Lipsitt’s decided to utilize all their resources to make
this incredible journey into a reality. For nearly nine years, Michael – an interventional
cardiologist – and Jeanne – a cardiac nurse – have been
volunteering with Jewish Healthcare International (JHI), an
international non-profit organization of multi-specialty
healthcare professionals who volunteer their time and
expertise to improve the quality of and access to healthcare
services for communities in need throughout the world. The Lipsitt’s were part
of only the second
medical group to visit
Ethiopia on behalf of
JHI. While there they
met the 29-year old
Woldekikos, who
required valve
replacement surgery
resulting from severe rheumatic fever experienced as a child,
and were determined to save his life. There were numerous obstacles that the Lipsitt’s had to
traverse to get Woldkikos to America to receive the
necessary medical care needed to save his life. First, they
worked with Congressman Tom Price for an expedited visa
approval. Simultaneously, they negotiated with Gwinnett
Hospital to secure medical facilities for the procedure. Once
all this was secured, they personally financed to bring
Woldkiko and his traveling companion to America. In addition, Michael
performed a left and right
heart catheterization on the
patient. Dr. David A.
Langford perfectly
performed the successful
complex triple valve
replacement. This charitable
work was made possible by
contributions from
individuals, from the hospital, and from Jewish Healthcare
International.
“Upon examination and reviewing the results of his recent
echocardiogram, I knew the patient’s valves were incredibly
dysfunctional; I had no idea
how he was alive,” said Dr.
Lipsitt. “I never dreamed it
would be possible to get
Eyasu to Atlanta for this
operation. However, with the
cooperation of Gwinnett
Medical Center, Dr.
Langford, Jewish Healthcare
International and
Congresman Tom Price, as
well as the generous donation of valves from Medtronic, an
impossible feat was accomplished.
The Lipsitt’s
commitment to
Woldekikos didn’t
end following the
surgery. They housed
the patient at their
home, while Jeanne
performed the critical
post-surgery care.
Once Woldekikos was
recovered, they served as tour
guides, so that Woldkikos and
his companion/translator could
visit several sites around the
state and take home memories
beyond a hospital room.
To date, the Lipsitts have visited Minsk in Belarus, Odessa
in Ukraine, and Kishenev in Moldova on behalf of
JHI. They look forward to many more journeys across the
globe to make a difference.
12
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Carly Sirlin understands the impact a positive mentor can have
on the development of a child. She also knows not all children
are lucky enough to have an adult in their lives with whom they
can form that unique kind of relationship. As the new PAL
program coordinator at JF&CS, her goal is to match children who
need someone to trust and look up to – someone who can have a
positive influence on their life – with the right adult.
“Having a consistent, responsible and caring adult is so
important,” Carly said. “With the right match, a child can build
his or her social skills and enhance his or her ability to form adult
relationships. It also can enhance the interactions within the
child’s own family.”
A program in JF&CS’ Child & Adolescent Services – Tools for
Families division, PAL, also known as Atlanta’s only Jewish big
brother/big sister program, provides one-on-one mentoring
relationships to children between the ages of 5 and 17 who live in
single-parent homes or diverse families who could benefit from
this type of nurturing relationship. But PAL is not simply a
Jewish mentoring program. More than just a role model, a PAL is
a caring Jewish adult volunteer who can help your child grow
and develop in new ways. And right now, JF&CS is looking for
more PALs – big and little.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for people in the community who
want to give back and for kids who could benefit from some
extra TLC,” said Jackie Cohen*, whose son, Charlie*, is a little
PAL. “Kids have different needs and adults have different things
to offer, and the program tries to match up the right ones.”
PAL currently has 18 matches and about 500 “alumni”, which
includes younger PALs who have “graduated” from the program
(those who have turned 18) and past volunteers. Carly is working
to grow the program and incorporate more training to meet new
requirements. For example, all volunteers now go through
training to report child abuse and neglect. She also is planning
more social opportunities, including big PAL get-togethers that
will allow the adult volunteers to network, to get suggestions
from each other and build a greater sense of community.
“We also want to start an initiative that will provide mentorship
opportunities for big PALs,” said Carly. “When a new volunteer
signs on, he or she will be matched with a more seasoned PAL to
meet for coffee or get advice when necessary. And because it can
be hard to find free or low cost activities, I’m hoping to create
more opportunities for all PALs as well as their families to get
together at community and program-sponsored events.”
For more information about finding a PAL for your child, if you
or someone you know might be interested in volunteering as a
big PAL or if you would like to donate to or sponsor an event for
PAL, please contact Carly at [email protected] or
770.677.9390. Adults must be at least 21 years old and must
commit to a minimum of one year, with two visits each month
and contact by phone at least once each week.
TBT is proud to have 90 kids go to different Jewish
summer programs last summer and hopes the number
will continue to rise. To help do our part, we have a
Scholarship Committee that provides modest need-
based grants for Jewish summer camps, service
learning, and Israel programs. If you need financial
assistance to get your child to one of these overnight
programs, please send a confidential letter to Rabbi
Greene at [email protected]. A committee
will sensitively review all requests. Allocations are
made from a restricted fund called the Campership/
Israel Scholarship Fund. The monies from this fund
are received from individual contributions, the Men's
Club, Sisterhood, and our clergy's discretionary
funds. If you have any questions, please contact Rabbi
Greene.
JF&CS - PAL Program Summer Camp Scholarships
13
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
14
Join the Men’s Club
for an evening out at
The 5 Seasons
Brewing Company
January 19th at 7:00 pm
$25 per person admission covers the tour, one beer or
wine and appetizers (additional drinks may be purchased)
Couples are welcome and
we hope to see some new faces.
Please contact Neil Goldstein or Ted Nathan if
you are interested in joining us or have any
questions. More info after the first of the year.
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Sisterhood Bunco at TBT
January 9th 7:30 pm
$5 at the door for
the winning pot!
Fun drinks and snacks provided
Come schmooze with your TBT sisters.
Check out our new Facebook page to get
updates and event information
http://www.facebook.com/#!/
TempleBethTikvahSisterhood
15
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
ADULT ED
Joshua ben Perachyah said:
Find for yourself a teacher and get yourself a friend;
and judge every man towards merit.
Pirkei Avot 1
New Class Starting Sunday, Jan 13
SUNDAY MORNING TEXT STUDY
WITH
RABBI PAMELA GOTTFRIED
January 13th, January 27th, February 10th, February 24th, March 10th
10:45-11:45 a.m. in the Library RSVP to [email protected]
Pamela Jay Gottfried is a rabbi, parent, teacher and the
author of Found in Translation: Common Words of
Uncommon Wisdom. Since her rabbinic ordination from
the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1993, Gottfried has
taught students of all ages in synagogues, churches, JCCs,
day schools & colleges. She prefers to teach Melton courses
at The Brill Institute and ceramics at Camp Ramah Darom.
Gottfried is an alumna of Clal’s Rabbis Without Borders and
a volunteer at North Fulton Community Charities.
Course Description:
Looking at familiar biblical stories, we will examine how the
early sages communicated their ethical concerns through
storytelling. Each session will include the careful reading of
a biblical text and a sampling of rabbinic literature related
to that passage. Our discussions will center on essential
questions related to the human condition.
Click here for a listing of all upcoming Adult Ed classes
Nominating Committee - Call for Petitions
It’s not too early to begin thinking about our new slate of volunteers
for our May congregational meeting. The Temple Beth Tikvah
Nominating Committee is requesting nominations by petition for
the 2013-2014 Board of Trustees, Officers, and Board of
Education.
If you would like to nominate a congregant or submit a nomination for
yourself, these are the criteria, according to our by-laws:
1) All nominations by petition must be separate for each position.
2) Each petition must be signed by twenty-five (25) *voting members
of the congregation and must also be signed by the voting member
who has petitioned.
3) No more than one (1) petition shall be submitted for any one
member.
4) All petitions must be submitted by March 1, 2013.
*A voting member is defined as "member in good standing"
by our constitution.
Please send all nominations to the Temple office, attention to
Vicki Steine, Nominating Committee Chair.
THANK YOU TO OUR KEHILLAT
CHESED COMMITTEE
All Kehillat Chesed Committee members are cordially invited to a
Brunch
Sunday, January 13
at 10:00 am
at the home of Leslie Swichkow.
Please RSVP to [email protected]
by January 9, 2013
If you are currently serving on the Kehillat Chesed Committee in any capacity, this is a
small way to thank you for all your efforts. If you would be interested in
joining our committee and serving the TBT community through Kehillat Chesed, please
feel free to contact Leslie.
16
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Temple Beth Tikvah acknowledges with sorrow the passing of:
Elle Goldstein Mother of Cindy Getty
Donald Miller Father of Kimberly Rosenthal
Harriet Hoffspiegel Aunt of Julie Scott
Adeline Shilling Mother of Spencer Shilling
Emanuel Eisner Grandfather of Wendy Lenhard & Karen Kremer
Hedy Pollack Mother of Robin Elinger
Lorraine Korsen Mother of David Korsen
May God console you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Condolences Submissions for the
February Kol Tikvah are due to the synagogue
office by Monday, January 7. Please email to
Planning a simcha or group gathering? The Tam-Blank Social Hall is the Place to Be.
For more information on renting our Social Hall, contact the synagogue office at 770-642-0434.
Mazal Tov to...
Adriane Cooper, granddaughter of Douglas Wexler and a junior at the University of Georgia, has been elected President of Hillel for 2013. Adriane has also worked with Jenifer Friedman for the past two summers at the TBT preschool summer camp.
Jewish Family & Career Services on being awarded the 2012 Managing for Excellence Award from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
Schmooze News / Kudos Corner
HELP US HELP YOU
Your synagogue community wants to be
a Caring Community/Kehillat Chesed.
If you have recently experienced a loss or are facing a crisis, please let our office know as soon as possible.
Our clergy and friends strive to be a source of support as best as they can. If you know of one of our fellow congregants that has experienced a loss or can use a hand, please contact the office at 770.642.0434.
“It is hard to sing of oneness when our
world is not complete,
when those who once brought
wholeness to our life have gone and
naught but memory can fill the
emptiness their passing leaves be-
hind”.
The following Memorial Plaque
has been placed onto our
Memorial Board this past month:
17
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
TBT Seniors Luncheon
Monday, Jan 14 at 11:30 AM
Proudly presents
Dr. Michael and Jeanne Lipsitt
representing Jewish Healthcare International
This wonderful couple are active members of TBT and they travel the world giving
medical treatment wherever needed. Some of the countries they have visited are Minsk, Belarus, Odessa, Ukraine and Ethiopia.
They have shown the true meaning of Tikkun Olam.
Please join us to hear their amazing stories.
RSVP to Ruth Zeidman at 770.552.1966
18
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Synagogue Information
Synagogue Office - 770-642-0434
Fax Number - 770-642-0647
School Office (Perri) - 770-642-4168
Preschool (Jenifer) - 678-350-0076
Assistant to Clergy - Michelle Leder
Financial Secretary - Jenny Korsen
Admin. Assistant - Lisa Singer
Office Manager - Becky Sullivan
Adult Education Cindy Getty [email protected] Budget & Finance Harlan Graiser [email protected] Chavurot Ivie Graiser [email protected] College Outreach Lynda Bennett [email protected] Ginger Glazer [email protected] Communications Dave Faupel [email protected] Fundraising Ruben Braiter [email protected] Gift Shop Pam Alterman [email protected]
Carrie Bickwit [email protected] Rhonda Schweber [email protected] House Ted Nathan [email protected] Human Resources Karen Moss [email protected]
Israel Gene Carasick [email protected] Kehillat Chesed (Caring) Leslie Swichkow [email protected] Membership Recruitment & Retention Mark Rudel [email protected] Men’s Club Neil Goldstein [email protected] Nominating Committee Vicki Steine [email protected] Outreach To Be Determined Ritual Esther Shultz [email protected] Rosh Chodesh Women’s Group Pam Chanin
[email protected] Security Michael Gutkin [email protected] Seniors Ruth Zeidman
[email protected] Sisterhood Mary Block
[email protected] Social Action Jeff Willard [email protected] Rodney Eberhardt [email protected] Social Committee To Be Determined Website Development Mark Weiss [email protected] Scott Povlot [email protected] Youth Group Michal Loventhal and Debra Schwartz [email protected] [email protected]
Get Involved! TBT Committees and Chairpersons
Potential Customers are
Reading this
Publication Right Now!
Call Lisa at 770.642.0434
to find out how you can advertise your business.
19
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Publication’s Title and Number: Kol Tikvah • Volume 27 Issue 1
Issue Date: January 2013 Frequency: Monthly
Authorized Organization’s Name and Address:
Temple Beth Tikvah • 9955 Coleman Road • Roswell, GA 30075
For A Special Friend: A courtesy examination & x-ray at
no charge when you present this card
L E V I N S O N CHIROPRACTIC & VAX-D CENTER
5457 Roswell Road, Suite 102
Sandy Springs, Georgia 30342
404-257-0404
www.levinsonchiropractic.com
Potential Customers are
Reading this
Publication Right Now!
Call Lisa at 770.642.0434
to find out how you can advertise your business.
20
Fred Greene
Rabbi
Donald A. Tam
Rabbi Emeritus
Nancy Kassel
Cantor
Hassia Levin
Education Director
Jenifer Friedman
ECEC Director
Steve Gerson
President
Ron Swichkow President-Elect
Paul Beckman
Vice President
Todd Boehm
Vice President
Marsha Mathis
Vice President
Mark Craig
Treasurer
Rhonda Povlot
Secretary
Seth Zimmer
Chairperson,
Board of Education
\
TBT Comedy Night
February 9th, 2013
TBT Social Hall
Featuring Jerry Farber and Friends
More details on page 7