February 2019 Shevat/Adar I 5779

JCC FOCUS Jewish Community Center

of Corpus Christi

Love Grows When Kindness

Is Planted

President - Iris Lehrman

Vice President - Renee Solomon

2nd Vice President - Gary Blum

Secretary - Kari Oshman Rhodes

Treasurer - Matt Adler

Parliamentarian - Carla De Pena

Pres. Appointee - Lois Blum

Pres. Appointee - Linda Snider

Pres. Appointee -Jaron Sela

Board Member - Marcus Lozano

Board Member - Heather Loeb

Board Member - Vincent Muscarello

Board Member - Brittany Sandbach

Board Member - Kristen Erdmann

JCC Director - Norma Levens

JCC Rabbi - Rabbi Roseman

JCC Preschool - Manuela Sela

CBI Rabbi - Rabbi Emanuel

CBI - Leslie Levy

Sisterhood - Jackie Franklin

CJA - Nedra Lockhart

2017-2018 Board of Directors

Board Meeting February 6, 2019

6 p.m.

Jewish Community Center

Congregation Beth Israel Rabbi Ilan Emanuel

4402 Saratoga Blvd. (361) 857-8181

bethisraelcc.com

President: Jim Gold

Jewish Organizations in Corpus Christi

Combined Jewish Appeal (361) 855-6239

President: Nedra Lockhart

Assistant: Norma Levens

Chabad Coastal Bend Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler

4855 S. Alameda St., Suite 108

(361) 500-2173

chabadcorpus.org

page 2

Jewish Community Council of Corpus Christi

Happy Retirement Marla Householder! You will be missed!

page 3

Patrons Chris & Robert Adler

Vincent & Shirley Muscarello*

Susser Family Foundation

Members Marcia Marks

Susan & Bill Martin*

Mary K. Mauel

Amanda & Howard Mintz

Amy & Sean Mintz

Theresa & Abraham Moss

Louis Needleman (MD)

Deborah & Scot Oshman

Kari (Oshman) & Scott Rhodes

Phyllis & Rabbi Kenneth Roseman

Ruthie & Tzachi Samocha (PhD)

Hilda & Charles Schechter

Rebecca & Maurice Schmidt

Barb & Chip Schwamb

Manuela & Jaron Sela*

Nina Shannon

Linda & Dean Snider*

Renee Solomon

Carol Solovey

Marlene & Jack Super

Elizabeth & Jerry Susser

Pat & Sam J. Susser

Phillis Weissman

Helen Wilk

Sue Williams*

Mille Zalim

Sustainers Jaki & Richard Hausman

Annette & Melvyn Klein*

Laurie & Michael Mintz (MD)

Toby Shor

Rona & L. A. Train*

Angels Annette & Jim Cottingham (MD)*

Ginger & Richard Harris*

Beatrice Hinojosa

Carol & Sammy Kins

Members

Randall Berry

Lois & Gary Blum DDS*

Jeanne & Mac Brenz

Carla De Pena

Elizabeth Falk

Carol & Don Feferman*

Roz & Ron Ferrell (DDS)

Jacqueline Franklin

Susan & Myron Grossman

Patricia & Robert Harris*

Marian (Sussman (MD)) & Michael Hiatt

Barbara (Samuels) & Sam Horner*

Ruth Josephs

Karen & Harold Kane

Ruth Kane

Fifi Kieschnick

Jeri Kolpack

Amy & David Krams*

Chris & Carl Kuehn

Iris & Andy Lehrman

Bobbie & Len Leshin

Norma Levens

Leslie & Carl Levy

Nedra Lockhart

Gail Gleimer Loeb

Heather & David Loeb

Kenneth Maltz

2018 Jewish Community Center Members

*2019 Members

page 4

OUR MOST FORMATIVE PERIOD

In previous articles, we’ve learned about the arrival of the central European Jews and their settlement in the United States. In 1840, the best estimate is that there were 15,000 Jews scattered throughout the country. Twenty years later, this number had increased tenfold, to 150,000. The vast majority of this immigrants had arrived from southern Germany and from the border area known as Posen, where today’s Poland and Germany meet. These migrants left their homelands, not because of anti-Semitism (although there was certainly plenty of that curse), but because of economic necessity. The jobs they had relied on for their sustenance had been replaced by factory work, and a massive agricultural drought heaped additional misery upon

the region. They brought with them a number of survival skills, not the least of which was a little money in their pockets. Every male among them (and many of the women) could read and do basic arithmetic. In an era when roughly 15% of all White Americans were literate, this skill alone gave newly-arriving Jews a decided advantage. Over the centuries, their ancestors had been forced to relocate time-and-again, so one more move was no novelty; they knew how to manage mobility. They brought with them the sense of a “kehillah,” a community in which the ancient rabbinic value that “every Jew is responsible for every other Jew” was a dominant ethos. Perhaps more than anything, they came with the realization that returning to Europe was not an option, so they had no choice but to fashion a better new life for themselves here. Of course, they clustered in large cities. Beyond the eastern seaboard, the midwestern cities of Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Chicago and St. Louis boasted significant gatherings of Germanic Jews. Synagogues held services in the holy language, Deutsch! Because there were few, often none, support services where they ended up in the earliest days, religious compromise and flexibility became the norm. Reform Judaism began in the U.S. in Charleston, S.C. in the 1820s and spread very gradually toward the population centers. During the middle decades of the nineteenth century, an active debate ensued between those who were willing to make only the most essential and absolutely necessary changes (and so they looked a lot like today’s Conservative Jews) and those who were more extreme in their adaptations. This conflict came to a head in 1866 when a group of rabbis met in Cleveland. Isaac Mayer Wise, a centrist, wanted to form a single body of American Jews. There was widespread agreement until they came to the issue of the authority of the halacha, as embodied in the Babylonian Talmud. American rabbis broke from each other over this issue. Beginning in the 1840s, adventurers from throughout the eastern half of the U.S. made their way to the Mississippi River, where they collected at either Fort Smith, Arkansas, or Westport and St. Joseph, Missouri. It was from these frontier outposts that the great trails led across the country. From Arkansas, one could either follow the northern route to Albuquerque, then up through southern Utah and eventually to Los Angeles. As an alternative, the Butterfield trail followed a more southern route across central Texas, then along the Rio Grande valley and to L.A and S.F.. From Missouri, travelers could opt for the Santa Fe trail, which joined the Butterfield passage in Arizona or the very popular Oregon-California Trail which went directly across to Denver and then to Sacramento and headed due north to Portland and Seattle. As the western lands became more peaceful after the Civil War, these overland trails increased in popularity. Some of these intrepid travelers opted, however, for one of two different paths. Some sailed fro m eastern and southern ports to the Caribbean coast of Panama. They then trekked on foot or on mules across the mosquito-ridden Isthmus and then boarded another ship for California. A much longer trip (usually at least three months) was to sail around Cape Horn at the southern end of South America and thence up to a U.S. port. Whichever way they chose to seek their fortune, it was a lengthy, expensive and dangerous undertaking. The result, however, was the establishment of Jewish settlements throughout the western states. Not all, but the vast majority of places where Jews have lived and still live in this half of our country were founded by migrants who left the overland trails. Perhaps they ran out of money; maybe someone became ill or died; or they met a “landsmann,” someone who they had known or known of from Europe. It was in these frontier outposts that they opened stores, held informal minyans, built synagogues, dug cemeteries and established as much of a Jewish life e as they could. Many of us can count family lineage from these settlements. Here’s a terrible joke about westward migration. In the 1840s, the Tates Watch Company of Massachusetts made pocket watches. One year, they ordered too many cases and wondered what to do with the overstock. They decided that people headed west would need compasses, so they bought the mechanisms and quickly sold out their inventions. One problem. The compasses were defective and travelers ended up in Canada or Mexico or just about anywhere but their desired destination. MORAL OF THE STORY: He who has a Tates is lost.

Rabbi Roseman’s Corner

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday!

Pat Susser

Lillian & Donald Katz

A generous donation was made to the Susser Playground fund.

page 5

Grossman Series

Congregation Beth Israel is very pleased to announce the first programs of stimulating interest, sponsored by our new Harvey Grossman Memorial Fund for Film and Continuing Education. This Fund was established by a bequest in the estate of our late member, Harvey Grossman, and makes it possible to invite a guest speaker to bring timely and interesting insights to us. Our guest in February 2019 will be Steven R. Weisman. Mr. Weisman was for many years chief diplomatic and economics correspondent for the New York Times. He served on the editorial board of the paper and was awarded the Edward Weintal Prize by the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He is now Vice-President for Publications and Communications of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Mr. Weisman has edited a book of the letters of the late Senator Daniel Moynihan and in 2016 wrote a book about moral dilemmas in an era of globalization. His most recent book is entitled The Chosen Wars: How Judaism Became an American Religion

On Friday evening, February 22, our guest will discuss one particular insight that emerged from his research: that America and America’s Jews developed a very particular notion of the relationship of the government to religion. He will then contrast this perspective with a different model in contemporary Israeli society. The program on Saturday, February 23, will focus on the American-Jewish community at the time of our nation’s Civil War. Many of our institutions and attitudes were formed during these years. Jews enlisted in the two armies at a rate that exceeded that of their neighbors; it is estimated that 200 Jews fought for the Confederacy. Finally, during the morning of Sunday, February 24, Mr. Weisman will speak on the subject “Fake News: Reporting for the New York Times.” We probably don’t need to tell you that this presentation will elicit a lively and informative interchange. More specific details about the times for these sessions will be forthcoming. You should know, however, that the programs are presented without charge thanks to the generosity of the Harvey Grossman Memorial Fund for Film and Continuing Education and that all members of the Jewish community and their friends are cordially invited to attend. MEANWHILE, MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR FEBRUARY 22-24, 2019 AND PLAN TO JOIN

US FOR SOME STIMULATING LEARNING AND CONVERSATION.

The Corpus Christi Coastal Bend Havarah

wishes to support the JCC and the wonderful

work you do uniting the Jewish Community.

A generous donation was made to the

general fund to help with your

continued work in the community.

Sincerely,

Lynn Fisher-Kattay

page 6

Sammy Ladabaum 1933 - 2018 Corpus Christi Sammy Ladabaum 85, a loving son, husband, and father passed away on Saturday Decem-ber 29, 2018 after a brief illness in Corpus Christi. He was born on July 9, 1933 to Morris and Mae Ladabaum. Sam-my grew up in Brownsville with his parents and his cousins Sam and Isy Kolmen, who lived around the corner. Sammy was known as Shorty and Cousin Sam was known as Big Sam since he was a 6 foot tall redhead. Sammy grew up working at his parents store in downtown Brownsville. After graduating from Browns-ville High School, he went to Texas Southmost College and then was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. Since he was an only child, he was sent to Germany where he drove tanks. During the war, he met Jerry Butchen of New York who became a lifelong friend. After completing his tour in the Army, Sammy completed his studies at the University of Texas in Austin in accounting. It was in Austin where he made another lifelong friend, Barry Kurtz. It was then at the Austin Hillel that Sammy met the love of his life, Randa. Sammy and Randa were married in Houston in June of 1960 and were married for 46 years, until her un-timely death of lung cancer in 2006. Sammy loved Randa and did everything with her. From washing dishes, work-ing in the store together, going on weekly date nights, and attending Friday night services at Temple Beth El, they

were always together. Throughout his life, Sammy was a caring and loving man and that was evident by his care for Randa, his parents, and his aunts Minca Kolmen and Fannie Ladabaum Bijman. When Sammy got married to Randa, they moved to Brownsville where he went to work for his dad Morris at Alamo Clothing Store on Washington Street. Over the years, the store moved two times to its' last home the old Grande Theater. His wife Randa helped him in the store and loved bringing in plants. Sammy sold hats, boots, jeans, and more! He was one of the largest retailers of Stetson hats in the United States and was very proud of that fact! People from all over came to buy straw and felt hats from Sammy. He decided to open charge accounts in the 1970's and helped many hundreds of families establish credit and get clothing for their families. Sammy and Randa had two daughters, Belinda and Gail. Sammy was a loving and hard working father. Sammy worked diligently to give his family experiences in life that he was not able to have growing up. As a little girl, Belinda looked up to her Dad and wanted to be just like him. He taught Gail and Belinda the value of hard work. Sammy taught Belinda how to work at the store...write up sales, fit clothing on customers, go to market, and more. Belinda and Sammy spent many an afternoon talking about the future, college, and about reading articles in his favorite Wall Street Journal. He sent Gail to computer camp in the 80's as they both knew that it would be a good skill to have in life. They talked daily about her work at Texas Mutual. Gail fondly remembers the Sunday rides around town and the spe-cial dinners at restaurants on Thursday night with the family. To say he was an avid reader would be an understatement. He loved reading several newspapers daily, as well as reading a pleth-ora of 20-30 magazines a month. Sammy loved watching CNN and Fox News as well as talking about local Brownsville politics. He and his friends, Pancho Maldonado, Vincent Crixell, Henry Zepeda, and Joe Trevino would meet every morning at 11 a.m. at C&L Drug Store downtown to discuss the daily Brownsville and national news stories. He also enjoyed conversing with the merchants in downtown Brownsville. Israel Lizka, Bernie Levin,and Bill Bradford Sr. were also his lifelong friends. Sammy Ladabaum closed the Alamo Clothing Store in 1981 so he could retire and be with his wife Randa. Several employees had been with him for over 30 years. These employees were Juanita Martinez, Juanita Espionza, Raquel Deanda, Ana Maria Santillan, and Enri-quetta Herrera. Sammy was a supporter of the BISD DECA program which taught high school juniors and seniors lifelong skills in busi-ness. One of the DECA Students became a friend of Sammy's for life, retired Brownsville Police ChiefCarlos Garcia. Carlos worked for Sam-my while he was in high school. Little did Sammy know that when he retired, Randa would be diagnosed with lung cancer. He took fabulous care of her and they celebrated 46 years of happiness together. During her treatment in Corpus, they spent a lot of time with Doug and Belinda. Doug did a great job of getting them both to laugh at such a difficult time in their lives. Belinda, Gail, and Doug threw them a surprise 46th anniver-sary luncheon at Dolce Italian Restaurant filled with friends and family, a few months before she passed. Throughout his life, Sammy was a walker. Whether it was downtown, Amigoland Mall, Sunrise Mall, or down McLelland Street. Sammy and Randa would be seen walking every night after dinner. After their walk, it was followed by a treat at the local Dairy Queen. He and his friends, Israel Lizka, Tony Verb, Oscar Gonzalez and Joe Trevino would walk every morning at Sunrise Mall and afterwards, hold "Court "at Whataburger to discuss the daily news. Belinda, Gail and Doug surprised him with an 80th birthday party at Red Lobster. He had told Belinda that he did not have birth-day parties or the extra indulgences in life while growing up. Sammy loved dogs...any color and size. He and Randa would often pick up dogs close to the house that were lost and the put them in the back yard until they found their owner. One dog in particular was Lucky. He and Randa picked her up on Boca Chica Blvd. and named her Lucky, because she was LUCKY to be alive. Prayer, gratitude, and thankfulness were very important to Sammy. Throughout his life, he was a Friday night regular at Temple Beth El with his wife and daughters. He served on the Board of Directors as treasurer and assisted with many events. He served in the Bnai Brith Organization and worked on the United Jewish Appeal. He and Randa were also honored by the United Jewish Appeal. One of his favorite sayings was "Si no te cuidas nadie se cuidas." The translation is "if you do not take care of yourself, no one will". Sammy was a quiet contributor to many organizations and charities throughout the United States. He taught Belinda and Gail about the importance of saving and hard work. When Doug, Belinda, and Alyssa would visit him in Brownsville, he would often talk with Alyssa about saving and Judaism. Alyssa, now 21, looked up to him like a Grandpa and he looked to her as a granddaughter. Alyssa is Doug's daughter. Sammy and Randa met Alyssa when she was just 3 years old. Two years ago, Sammy moved to Corpus to be near Belinda and Doug. Gail often came to visit him from Austin. He spent many a day outdoors reminiscing about the past and listening to his favorite country music. Sammy will be missed by all. He is survived by daughters Gail and Belinda Ladabaum, Doug Tenore ( Belinda's fiancee), and Alyssa Tenore. Thank you to the wonderful staff at Elan Assisted Living and Memory Center, Post Acute Medical Specialty on Saratoga Blvd., Harbor Hospice, and his personal caregivers.

page 7

Happy Birthday To Our Friends!

1st Renee Solomon 17th Rikki Schmitchel 21st Marilou Castro

7th Gregory Marks 18th Kathy Hirschman 22nd George Barron

7th Leslie Green 19th Carl Levy 25th Lawrence Caplan

11th Gail Doraine 19th David Engel 25th Leslie Levy

12th Ann Engel 21st Jerry Susser 26th Nelda Garcia Laska

15th Marsha Zeidman 26th Richard Leshin

Heleen Alise Simon Mange 1942 - 2019

Heleen Alise Simon Mange was born at Spohn Hospital on May 6, 1942, to Anna Mae and Leslie Simon, Sr., and died January 20, 2019, surrounded by her loving family. She was a lifetime member of Temple Beth El/ Congregation Beth Israel and lived her 76 years as a beloved and important part of the Corpus Christi community. A graduate of Fisher Elementary, Hamlin Junior High, and Ray High School, she attended SMU and the University of Texas, and graduated from A & I – now A&M Kingsville. Heleen and Eddie married in 1962 and lived a blessed life together for 56 years.

The consummate caregiver, Heleen dedicated herself to providing love and nurture to her children, her husband, her grandchildren, and legions of friends. Despite years of health issues, Heleen disregarded the inconvenience and dis-comfort of her increasing debilitation and faced her daily challenges with a positive attitude and determination to live her life to the fullest. Her son Andrew Martin Mange preceded Heleen in death. She leaves to cherish her memory: husband Eddie Mange; daughter Jody Pearson; grandchildren Simon Mange, Anna Mange, Rachael Pearson, Emily Pearson and Nathan Pearson; brother Leslie Simon, Jr.; sister-in-law Marilyn German; nephews Jeffrey and David Krams; nieces Janna and Tricia Simon; special friends Rona and L.A. Train; and a host of lifelong friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the National Breast Cancer Coalition. (http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org) or the charity of your choice.

page 8

page 7

General Dentist

Two Locations

www.padreislanddental.com 14254 S. Padre Island Dr. Loma Alta Center # 211

(On The Island)

Corpus Christi, TX 78418 (361) 589-4090

(Visa, MasterCard and Most Insurances Accepted)

4949 Everhart Rd. Suite 105

(Everhart Rd. Near McArdle)

Corpus Christi, TX 78411 (361) 853-0439 Dental Implants

Invisalign & ClearCorrect Invisable Aligners

“Creating Healthy Smiles in the Coastal Bend since 1993.”

Helen White Hair Removal & Body Design

Call For More Information & Monthly Specials!

(361) 991-6152 6040 SPID

In the Gulfway Center HelenWhiteElectrologists.com

page 9

page 10

Miriam Recognition Award

The annual Jewish Women’s Joint Installation will be held in May 2019. The MIRIAM RECOGNITION AWARD will be presented recognizing an outstanding woman of the Corpus Chr isti Jewish Community. The recipient will be honored at this luncheon and will receive a MIRIAM’S CUP.

The committee will be accepting nominations for this award from the community. A NOMINATION WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED WITH A RESUME OF THE INDIVIDUAL, according to the following guidelines: 1. Full participation in a variety of calendar community activities, with emphasis on contributions to

Jewish organizations. 2. Ongoing acceptance of responsibility as a Leader and/ or a Worker in the Jewish community.

3.Value and quality of contribution in time and work to the Jewish community. 4. Previous recipients of the Woman of the Year Award and the Miriam Recognition Award are NOT eligible. 5. IT IS NOT MANDATORY TO MAKE A SELECTION FOR THE MIRIAM RECOGNITION AWARD EACH YEAR.

Please do not go to the person you intend to nominate for the resume. If you obtain help from family members, please ask them not to consult the nominee. If you need help preparing a resume or have questions concerning the nomination, please contact any of the following recipients of the Woman of the Year/ Miriam Recognition Award (listed in order of receipt):

Ruth Josephs Elinor Roosth Amy Krams Julia Noble Sue Marks Elizabeth Susser Mille Zalim Robin Adams Clarice Wallock Laurie Mintz Suzy Hilliard Laura Hausman Davie Lou Solka Mary Lynn Rhodes Roslyn Josephs Helen Wilk Ruth Kane Nedra Lockhart Phyllis Roseman Rikki Schmitchel Chris Adler Leigh Sheinberg Laura Smith Noe Glenda Kane Rona Train Ann Engel Karma Lakin Marcia Marks Susan Martin

Please send your nominations for the Miriam Recognition Award to:

Suzy Hilliard 4817 Lake Granbury Corpus Christi TX 78413 or Suzyhh@sbcglobal.net

Important Reminders:

A resume is needed for the nomination Do not consult the nominee for a resume Nomination deadline is March 15, 2019

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19 20

21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28

CBI Services @ 9 a.m. Torah Study @ 11 a.m.

18 Adar I

4 Adar I

27 Shevat

CBI Services @9 a.m.

Torah Study @ 11 a.m.

28 Shevat 30 Shevat 1 Adar I 2 Adar I 3 Adar I

5 Adar I 6 Adar I 7 Adar I 8 Adar I 9 Adar I 10 Adar I

12 Adar I 13 Adar I 14 Adar I 15 Adar I 16 Adar I 17 Adar I

29 Shevat

CBI Shabbat Services @ 6:30 p.m.

(Family Dinner to follow)

CBI Services @ 9 a.m. Torah Study @ 11 a.m.

CBI Services @ 9 a.m. Torah Study @ 11 a.m.

CBI Shabbat Services @ 6:30 p.m.

19 Adar I 20 Adar I

Shabbat ends

6:47 p.m.

Shabbat begins

5:58 p.m.

Shabbat begins

6:03 p.m.

Shabbat ends

6:57 p.m. 11 Adar I

Shabbat begins

6:08 p.m.

page 11

CBI Shabbat Services @ 7:00 p.m.

Shabbat ends

7:01 p.m.

Shabbat ends

6:52 p.m.

JCC Community Calendar February 2019 Shevat/Adar I 5779

21 Adar I

22 Adar I 23 Adar I

Shabbat begins

5:52 p.m.

CBI Shabbat Services @ 6:30 p.m.

26 Shevat

2810 Airline Road gillnursery.com (361) 992-9674

Your Best Source for Quality Tools & Equipment

WEBER BINGO

Mon.-Thurs. 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.

Fri. - Sat. 7 p.m., 9 p.m., & Midnight

Sun. 7 p.m. (Family Night)

(361) 855-3916

www.weberbingo.org

Let’s Play Bingo!

TILE MASTER

Stripping & Refinishing of Tile

Specializing In: SALTILLO-TERRAZZO-D’HANIS

QUARRY-BRICK PAVERS-CONCRETE

Mark Malowitz - Owner

Serving the Corpus Christi area for over 31 years!

(361) 949-1515 www.mmtilemaster.com

ANDREW J. LEHRMAN Attorney/Mediator

Anderson, Lehrman, Barre & Marist, L.L.P. Gaslight Square Area Code: 361 1001 Third Street, Suite 1 Telephone: (361) 884-4981 Corpus Christi, Texas 78404 Fax: (361) 888-7697

E-Mail: alehrman@albmlaw.com www.lehrman-mediation.com

page 12

When Herzl Planted a Tree

A well-known story that weaves together Tu Bishvat, tree-planting and the rebuilding of Israel

While it has the appearance of a legend, modern Zionism founder Theodor Herzl himself recorded the fact that he planted a cypress tree on his visit to Motza, located outside Jerusalem. Reprinted with permission from The Jewish Holidays: A Journey Through History (Jason Aronson). Most everyone knows that the holiday of Tu Bishvat is associated with the planting of trees in Israel. Throughout the centuries, trees have been planted in Israel on Tu Bishvat as a celebration of the special qualities of the land, as well as its connection to the Jewish people. Prior to the scorching of the land by Roman legions following the Judean revolts over 1,800 years ago, Israel was adorned with lush forests and bountiful produce. In the latter half of the 19th century, when the Ottoman Turks ruled the land, the first waves of Zionist immigrants began to arrive. Their objective was to develop the land and restore it to its former splendor. When Tu Bishvat arrived, they would gather together and mark the day with tree-planting ceremonies. Soon, clusters of young saplings were transformed into forests. Each forest that was planted brought the dream of a Jewish state a little closer — a dream that seemed distant while the land was under the harsh rule of the anti-Zionist Turks Just as every forest was precious, so too was each tree. The story of one particular tree symbolized the plight of Zionism in its earliest days and proved that adversity might be an obstacle but not a deterrence. No impediments would prevent the development of the land of Israel. While visiting Israel in 1898, Theodor Herzl sought an audience with German Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was also in the Holy Land. After visiting the coastal settlements of Mikve Yisrael and Rishon LeTzion, Herzl traveled toward Jerusalem. As he passed through the Judean hills, he noticed its splendor as well as its barrenness due to neglect over the centuries. However, he noticed an island of green amidst the desolation. It was a small Jewish settlement, the only one in the area. The settlement, named Motza, possessed a population of 200 people and was located several miles west of Jerusalem. Its abundance of olive, date, and apricot trees, along with clusters of grapevines, gave it its fertile appearance. Herzl and his entourage proceeded toward the village, where he was warmly received. As he rested in the shade, he gazed upon the land of Judea. The sun began to set and a variety of lights of brilliant colors reflected upon its hills. Captivated by the sight, he told members of his entourage that he wished to plant a tree at that location. Herzl ascended the hill and planted a young cypress tree. The tree grew rapidly. Six years later, it stood tall and statuesque signifying to the settlers the Jewish people’s return to Zion. Seven years later, on the 20th day of the Hebrew month of Tammuz , 1904, Herzl died at age 44. The stunned members of the Yishuv (Jewish community in pre-state Israel) mourned his death and continued to commemorate their leader in the years to come. On the day of his yahrzeit (the anniversary of his death), Zionist youth continued to ascend that hill and plant trees around Herzl’s. When World War I broke out several years later, the British and the Turks were locked in a bitter struggle over control of the Holy Land. As the tide of battle was turning in favor of the British, the Turks, suffering a wave of defeats, vented out their anger upon the Zionists. Many Zionists were imprisoned or exiled; others had their wealth and businesses confiscated. Despite the hardships, the settlers continued to develop the land. When the 20th of Tammuz arrived in 1917, Zionist youth, in accordance with the annual custom, once again returned to Herzl’s tree, but they found that it had not survived. The Turks had hewn it down. Scattered around the remains of the tree, the young Zionists found cones from the cypress tree, which they placed in their pockets. They returned to Jerusalem under cover that night to avoid the watchful eyes of the Turks. Those cones, which contained numerous seeds, were carefully guarded. In 1917, the Turks were defeated and forced out of the land. The 400-year rule of the Turks was over. Those who collected and guarded the seeds proceeded to plant them throughout the land. Soon, from Herzl’s destroyed tree, many young trees sprung forth across the land of Israel — from the Galilee to the Judean hills. The settlement of Motza was likewise cut down. A wave of Arab riots against the Jews erupted throughout the Holy Land in 1929, and Motza suffered at the hands of Arabs from neighboring villages. The beleaguered settlement was soon abandoned. However, four years later, a new settlement, Moshav Motza Ilith (Upper Motza) was established near that location, situated slightly higher on the same hill. In clear view of the Moshav rested the remains of Herzl’s cypress tree. A tree was cut down, but its seeds remained in order to be planted in the future. On Tu Bishvat, a nation plants seeds to recover what was lost in the past. The Romans might have left the land bare, but there was always hope for its revival and the renewal of its legendary forestry. Every Tu Bishvat those seeds, which are remnants of the destruction of forests in the past, are planted to build future forests in the land of Israel.

page 13

By: Larry Domnitch Reference: myjewishlearning.com

Hamoshava Motza, where Theodor Herzl stayed and planted a tree during a visit in 1898. (Central Zionist Archives/Wikimedia Commons)

page 14

For more information on the JCC Preschool or the JCC Summer Program Please contact: Manuela Sela, JCC Preschool Director at (361) 855-6239 or

Email: jewishcommunitypreschool@yahoo.com

Dear parents, Thank you all so much for volunteering during the Challah bake with the students. It makes us happy to see how great the parent involvement is at the JCC. I am happy to announce that Ms. Alexis is coming back next school year and we will have two kindergar-ten classrooms. She will start in February 2019, in our current kindergarten class where she will shadow Ms. Cris-ti. Ms. Alexis and Ms. Cristi will work together on next school year’s lesson plan and curriculum. Also, new this summer is our toddler program. We used to take students in the age of two and up but this year we start one try out class for the toddlers (15 months and older) this class will not go to the pool area, but they will have every Friday Splash day! On February first, our in-house enrollment summer and school 2019 – 2020 starts for our current stu-dents, their siblings and alumni’s and on March 1st we will open the enrollment for the community. Please know that enrollment is based on a first come first serve. If you need more information about enrolment/ fees feel free to contact Manuela Sela. With warm regards, Manuela Sela JCC Preschool director.

Important days: February 8th - Donuts with Dad 8.30 am hosted by PTO February 28th - PTO meeting 9.00 am

AGES 15 MONTHS TO KINDERGARTEN

A Note From...

Challah Baking!

JCC The Place To Be!

page 15

Shabbat and Mitzvahs

Happy Birthday!

February 7th - Ms. Kimberly (Pre-K 1 Teacher)

February 18th - Ms. Sam (PM Care Teacher)

February 23rd - Sonya Olivas (JCC Main Office)

Important Dates to Remember!

Friday, February 1st In-House Registration & Early Enrollment for JCC Alumni. (for the 2019 - 2020 School Year)

Friday, February 8th Donuts with Dad hosted by PTO (8:30 AM in the JCC Auditorium)

Thursday, February 28th PTO Meeting (9:00 AM in the JCC Boardroom)

Feb. 1st - In-House Registration and Early Enrollment fro JCC Alumni for the

2019-2020 School Year

Feb. 8th - Donuts with Dad hosted by the PTO

Feb. 28th PTO Meeting

February 1st ……….…...Shabbat 9:00am/ Mitzvah Ms. Becky & Ms. Iris “Friendship” February 8th ……..…….Shabbat 9:00am/ Mitzvah Ms. April “Donuts with Dad” February 15th ……….….Shabbat 9:00am/ Mitzvah Ms. Abigail “Acts of Loving Kindness” February 22nd ………….Shabbat 9:00am/ Mitzvah Ms. Abigail “Acts of Loving Kindness”

750 Everhart Rd.

Corpus Christi, TX 78411

(361) 855-6239

jcccorpuschristi.org

Return Service Requested

Please Note: The JCC Focus is only mailed out to JCC

Members. Don’t let this be your last FOCUS! Renew

your JCC Membership to continue to receive our

monthly newsletter. Thank you for your support!!

2018 Membership January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019