the centre call · 2018-07-06 · t h e c e n t r e c a l l germantown jewish centre.gajc." 3...

Volume 24, Issue No. 7 ELUL 5775 SEPTEMBER 2015

www.germantownjewishcentre.org

germantown jewish centre • 400 west ellet street • Philadelphia, Pa 19119 • tel 215.844.1507 • fax 215.844.8309

By Rabbi Adam Zeff

Ani hozer ha-baitah… I’m

coming home…”The lyric from this Israeli song (Hebrewwords by Shimrit Or) were runningthrough my mind as my family and I re-turned in July from a wonderful, enrich-ing, and energizing sabbatical in Haifa.We are filled with gratitude to thisamazing community for giving us theprecious opportunity during those ninemonths to learn, to recharge, and to re-connect with each other and with theland and people of Israel. It was an in-credible blessing to us. We are gratefulto the lay leaders, rabbis, staff, andmembers who took it upon themselvesto make sure our community continuednot only to function but to grow anddevelop during our time away. And weare so happy to be back here with you.I am more conscious than ever of theprivilege of being your rabbi in thiscommunity that I love so much, and Ilook forward to reconnecting withevery one of you. The High Holidays are a time ofhomecoming. Families and friendsgather, we see faces we may not haveseen for some time, and we feel onceagain rooted in time, in place, and incommunity with each other. Internally,the High Holidays are also a time ofcoming home to ourselves. We reflecton the past year, we identify the placeswhere we have strayed from our high-est vision of ourselves, and we try –through study, prayer, conversation,fasting – to return and recommit to thatvision. For myself, my time in Israel in

the past year has given me the opportu-nity to recover some parts of myself thathave been dormant as I have devotedmyself to the rabbinate. I was reawak-ened to my identity as a musician and asan anthropologist, and I hope to integratesome of what I learned into my work andinto our community’s life now that I havereturned. I also took the time to reflectdeeply on my own goals, hopes, anddreams for myself and for our commu-nity, and I look forward to making someof those dreams into reality in the yearto come. Music: In Israel, I had the opportunityto study the oud, a thousand-year-old lutewith 11 strings that is core to both Arabicand Sephardic Jewish music, and I cameback with a desire to see us have moremusic at GJC. So for the upcoming year,we have created a monthly series of mu-sical programs, featuring our in-houseband, G’vanim, outside musical groups,and jam sessions to bring together thosewho love music in our community. Avery special part of this series will be aconcert on October 18 by Yair Dalal, aworld-renowned Israeli-Iraqi-Jewish oudplayer and, not coincidentally, myteacher. Nina Peskin will lend her beau-tiful voice to sing along with Yair, and Iwill also play a bit. Don’t miss it! Anthropology: I was lucky enough tostudy spoken Arabic through a class atBeit HaGefen, the Arab-Jewish CulturalCenter in Haifa, which the GJC Israel Tripvisited in December. Beit HaGefen runsan amazing variety of innovative pro-grams to try to bring together Jewish andArab residents of the city, including

children, teenagers, and adults. TheRabbi Charry Memorial Weekend thisfall will feature Asaf Ron, the ExecutiveDirector of Beit HaGefen, along withan Arab and a Jewish teenager fromBeit HaGefen’s Arab-Jewish youthgroup, who will help us learn about thedifferent dimensions of Israeli societyand how Israelis are working peace-fully together to bridge the gaps that di-vide them. We have been planning an excitingBregman program for Yom Kippur dayon pursuing justice, a new niggun-based Friday night service called “KolHaLev” (The Voice of the Heart) thatwill debut in October, a scholar-in-residence weekend with Maharat RoriPicker Neis in December, and muchmore. Please come and explore it all,and bring along those who are inter-ested in GJC to see all that we offer! As we enter the New Year, I encour-age you to try something new, to openyourself up to ideas and activities thatyou may not have encountered before,to stretch and grow in new ways thatyou may not have previously imagined.The year stretches out before us like ablank canvas, waiting for us to fill itwith learning, growing, and engagingwith Jewish tradition and culture andwith each other, enhancing the mean-ing of our lives together in new and ex-citing ways. My wife Cheryl and our sons, Zeke,Avi, & Mati, join me in wishing youa new year full of the blessings ofhealth, happiness, joy, and peace.L’shanah tovah!

The Centre Callg e r m a n t o w n j e w i s h c e n t r e

Coming Home

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www.germantownjewishcentre.org2

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By Mathieu Shapiro, GJC President

President’s Message

As I reachmy second

year as Presidentof the German-

town Jewish Centre, I want to sharewith everyone two things that most ex-cite me about the coming year: (1) I ex-pect Rabbi Zeff to be around the wholeyear; and, (2) I expect Rabbi Lewis tobe around the whole year! I could probably spend this entirecolumn thanking those who helped usget through the past year – and stillleave many people out. I won’t dothat, but I do want to thank:

• all of our members, rabbis andothers, who took on extra leader-ship responsibilities in morningminyans, shiva minyans, and otherreligious and pastoral activities;

• of the rabbis who offered theamazing series of guest d’vars inthe Charry;

• Rabbi Alanna Sklover, who tookon all kinds of additional tasks;

• Rabbi Reena Spicehandler, whomwe were very lucky to have avail-able to us;

• Nina Peskin, who kept everythingtogether; and,

• probably most importantly, all ofyou. I think we, as an institution,did a good job covering RabbiZeff’s sabbatical and Rabbi Lewis’smaternity leave, but I am quite con-fident that things happened thatweren’t up to our normal standards.I heard very, very little about it,however. And I am convinced Iheard so little about it becausethe congregation understood thata simultaneous sabbatical and ma-ternity leave put stress on the insti-tution. So I thank you and extendmy sincere gratitude to all of you for

pitching in, for your graciousness,and for banding together to ensurethat we got through the year as strongand united and engaged as ever.

I remain as inspired as ever by thecollective energy, commitment and en-gagement of this congregation. In the coming year, I will continue toshare our plans for development andfundraising. They are essential to main-taining our staffing level, and to ensuringour future. I will also continue to talk about lead-ership development. We are working to-wards creating an executive committeein which the next three or four presidentsare presumptively known, as they gothrough a standard progression of posi-tions which provide a broad backgroundin how our shul works. If I have an identifiable new theme toadd this year to those two, it is to makeus a more welcoming community. We have talked at length at the Exec-utive Committee about how to makeourselves more welcoming to potentialand new members. We have a physi-cally confusing building. Our collectiveknowledge about and engagement in Ju-daism is one of the things I most loveabout GJC – but it can also be a barrierto those who are less comfortable withtheir own Judaism, knowledge of He-brew, or even our particular practices.And, of course, it is both a gift and a bar-rier that simply picking a service to at-tend can be a challenging endeavor to anewcomer at GJC! People frequently decide whether ornot to join a synagogue based on theirexperiences in the community. Receiv-ing a warm welcome can make all thedifference in that decision-makingprocess. One of the most powerful con-tributions each of us can make to

strengthening GJC and ensuring its fu-ture is enthusiastically and warmly towelcome our guests, so they willchoose to join GJC. Of course, all of our other activitiesand initiatives are also moving for-ward, from engaging with Israel, toJAM, to POWER, to providing thecountless services, programs and otherways for our congregants to engagewith their Judaism that are the back-bone and soul of GJC. There is plenty going on, and plentyfor all of us to do. As always, I inviteanyone and everyone to call me, toemail me, or to send me an old-fash-ioned letter. Tell me what we aredoing well; tell me what we could dobetter. Tell me how to engage you inleadership. Tell me how to make theshul more welcoming. Tell me youwant to know about meaningful waysto give money to the shul, either nowor through an advanced planning gift. In the meantime, thank you forbeing part of this community. Enjoythe fall, and our wonderful menu oftremendous High Holiday offerings.Jessica, Jake, Alex and I wish you alla happy and healthy new year.L’shanah tovah.

Germantown Jewish Centre

would like to extend

thanks and gratitude to the

Wolfe Family Foundation

for generously supporting

and making our

programming possible.

T h e C e n t r e C a l l g e r m a n t o w n j e w i s h c e n t r e

www.germantownjewishcentre.org 3

In CeleBraTIon…Carol & Marty Kaplan on their 60th

wedding anniversary

Tamar & Sam Magdovitz in honor of their son Joe’s graduation from Tuck Business School

Molly Weingrod & Joey Weisenberg on the birth of their son, Emanuel Zvi Weisenberg

Justin Stuhltrager & Alison Stumacher on the birth of their son, Nathan Stuhltrager

Chain Dworkin & Linda Cherkas on the birth of their grandson, Noah Joseph Dworkin

Chana Rothman & Rabbi Kevin Kleinman on the birth of their son, Mishael Lev

Janine Jankovitz & Steven Pastor on their wedding

Allan Oster & Izhak Naveh on their wedding

Leah & Norman Schwartz on the birth in Jerusalem of their great-grandson, David Waitzberg, son of Elisheva & Ushi Waitzberg, and grandson of Tanya & Raphael Schwartz

(June 2015 – July 2015)

shabbat Chai-litesSeptember 5

• Charry Service: Mazal tov to Maya Goldshaw, daughterof Scott & Leona Goldshaw, on becoming Bat Mitzvah

• S’lichot Program & Service• S’lichot Late Night Service

September 12• Kol D’mamah (9:30 AM)• Parshat ha-Shavua b’Ivrit

September 19• Musical Marching Minyan

• Minha: Mazal tov to Adin Esberg, son ofDouglas & Tema Esberg, on becoming Bar Mitzvah

September 26• BBMM Shabbat

October 2 & 3• Erev Shabbat Service at 6:30 PM

• Charry Service: Interfaith Hospitality Network Shabbathonoring Milt Cohen and the work of the

Interfaith Hospitality Network over the last 24 years• Kol D’mamah• Sukkah Walk

October 10• BBMM Shabbat

• Charry Service: Mazal tov to Eitan Barash, son ofJosh Barash & Devorah Lissek, on becoming Bar Mitzvah

• Parshat ha-Shavua b’Ivrit

October 16 & 17• Kol Ha-Lev (niggun service)

• Charry Service: Charry Appreciation Shabbat• Musical Marching Minyan

October 24• BBMM Shabbat)

• Charry Service: Mazal tov to Juniper Moscow,daughter of Dan Moscow & Sharon Strauss,

on becoming Bat Mitzvah

October 30 & 31• Rabbi Elias Charry Memorial Scholar-in-Residence

Shabbat with Asaf Ron of Beit Hagefen,Arab-Jewish Cultural Center in Haifa

• Kol Zimrah

Kabbalat Shabbat /Kol ZimrahFridays at 6 PM (unless otherwise noted above)

Shabbat MorningServices at 10 AM (unless otherwise noted above)

Kol D’mamah at 10 AMMusical Marching Minyan at 11:00 AMParshat ha-Shavua b’Ivrit at 11:00 AM

Shabbat Morning Kids Space - Room 305Kids are welcome to play Shabbat-friendly games in

Room 305 - bring your own and some will be provided.Please respect the space, clean up after yourselves

and put all games away after use.

In MeMorIaMLee Reese, mother of Ellen Reese, mother-in-law of Gary Stein, and

grandmother of Margot & SamBart Axelrod, father of David Axelrod, father-in-law of

Keira Chism Axelrod, and grandfather of Benjamin, Gabe & MaxLeonard Alman Lurie, father of Arnie Lurie

Regina Brunner, mother of Eric Brunner, mother-in-law ofLeah Weisman, and grandmother of Anna Weisman Brunner

Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC

Sundays in September-Octoberat 10 AM

beginning September 20

$5 per sessionFor more information,

please call Tamar Magdovitzat 215.247.9614

IsraelI danCIng


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religious school

Pinat Ha-Hinuch (Education Corner)What We Learned on Our Summer Vacation… A spotlight on Professional Development!

New Models @ NewCAJEby Rabbi Alanna Sklover

For a week this summer, I went tocamp. No, no – not the week I

spent up visiting, camp-rabbiing, andplaying across the Jewish SummerCamps in the Poconos – for a weekthis summer I went to camp. Duringthe first week of August, I joined hun-dreds of my colleagues from acrossNorth America for the NewCAJE6conference. At NewCAJE, rabbis,early childhood teachers, school di-rectors, artists, 5-hour-a-week He-brew school teachers, cantors,musicians, and principals gatheredto put our heads – and our hearts –together to collaborate and deepenwhat Jewish education can look likein our ever-changing Jewish land-scape. I wanted to share with you afew snapshots of this powerful andenergizing week of learning, net-working, and visioning. Sunday: Jewish Bluegrass?! At theend of our first evening of learningtogether, a very special concert thatis 2 parts liturgy, 1 part ruach (spirit!),and 1 part Nashville! I will neverhear Esa Einai the same way again –or think about American Jewishmusic as a monolith. With an eye toinclusion, all group sessions and per-formances are sign-language inter-preted. Monday: At breakfast welearn that the University of Hartford(our hosts for the week) has not onlyKashered the entire main diningcampus dining hall for our confer-ence, but brought in mashgichimfrom across the state. We are thelargest Jewish event the campus hasever hosted, the Director of Hospital-ity Services announces with a hugesmile on her face! Tuesday: Learn-ing new children’s music and about

all of the important developmental andspiritual tools each song can buildand reinforce from Ellen Allard(h t tp : / /www.e l lena l la rd .com/ ) .Wednesday: I k’vell about the amazingsuccess that our Religious School hasenjoyed piloting Hebrew ThroughMovement this year, and swap bestpractices with other teachers and Edu-cation Directors on how to grow andsupport this ground-breaking program.Thursday: At the NewCAJE Young Pro-fessionals post-conference, three in-spiring ELI Talks (inspired byhttp://elitalks.org/) by myself and twoother colleagues on “The God Gap,”“Overcoming Fear In Jewish Institu-tional/ Community Building,” and“The Power of Integrating Living andLiving Jewishly.” As the summer winds down and weprepare to re-enter into our fall rou-tines, may we all take a moment tostop and reflect on the many many les-sons learned, gems uncovered, andnew skills acquired on all of our sum-mer vacations. And, as we return tothis place, may we gather them up,hold them close, and use them tostrengthen this incredible GJC commu-nity that we all build together!

A Fresh Look at B’nai MitzvahTutoring – and at Inclusion

by Leah Garber

Irecently attended B’nai MitzvahTraining: Making Accommodations

and Modifications at the Jewish Learn-ing Venture. Gabby Kaplan-Mayer ofthe JLV, and Rabbi Michelle Green-field, who has tutored many of our GJCstudents for their B’nai Mitvah, pre-sented the training. It was nice to meetseveral of the cantors, rabbis, andB’nai Mitzvah tutors from shuls in thearea. A surprising number of out of

town folks also attended- severalfrom New York, and one even fromBoston. It was heartening to seemany people interested in the impor-tant work of including all students inthis important life-cycle milestone. GJC, both as a community and asa Religious School, has in my expe-rience been committed to inclusionas a value we find important. Indeedinclusion is part of tikkun olam (re-pairing the world). I am proud toparticipate in inclusion at GJC byserving as the Special Needs Coordi-nator for the Religious School. Oneof the things that was so pleased toobserve is that several of the strate-gies raised in this rich and full train-ing are already in place at GJC. Forexample, we encourage all studentswho would like to have their b’naimitzvah on Shabbat morning in frontof the congregation to do so. How-ever, for those who prefer to avoidthat kind of pressure, a ceremony inone of the minyanim, or a minchaBar or Bat mitzvah can also some-times be an option, in collaborationwith our rabbis. The training also discussed ad-justing expectations to meet theneeds of the individual child. Gabbyand Michelle emphasized that thereis no one way to have a Bar or BatMitzvah. Suggestions included mod-ifications for kids with sensory sen-sitivities. Occupational therapistJamie Bassman gave a pertinentpresentation on visual processing.Attendees also discussed modifica-tions for minimally verbal kids onthe autistic spectrum. With our large incoming 7thgrade class beginning their B’naiMitzvah year, I am looking forwardto being a resource for students and

continued on page 5



Religious SchoolContinued from page 4

ish community of Philadelphia, andthe special impact that GJC has hadupon our city. We’ll be tracing theties that our students’ families haveto our city, and explore the ways inwhich the Jewish community hasgrown and changed. I hope to in-volve many members of our congre-gation will share their memories andexperiences with us. Please contactme through the Religious School formore information.

their families as they approach thisvery exciting time in their lives!

Fruitful Collaborationsby Melanie Berman

My mind has been busy thissummer! I’ve been working

together with Rabbi Alanna on anumber of curriculum projects forthe GJC Religious School. Each ofthese projects has involved doing re-search on both content and peda-gogy, and I’ve come up with somegreat new teaching ideas and re-sources. These projects are for a va-riety of grade levels, so I’ve beenable to stretch myself to make surethat each curriculum is developmen-tally appropriate. My first project has been to re-view best practices for teaching be-ginning literacy, so that we mightstrengthen our introduction to He-

brew reading and language in the ear-liest grades. We’ll be utilizing a varietyof new strategies to introduce Hebrewletters and vowels, and provide lots oflinks to active Hebrew language learn-ing. My second project has been thedevelopment of a curriculum in Jewishhistory for the Daled (4th grade) class,based on one of my favorite teachingresources, the book The Mystery ofthe Coins, by Chaya Burstein. Twochildren become immersed in thestudy of Jewish history by en-countering stories from vari-ous locations and timeperiods linked to a mysteri-ous coin collection. Thereare wonderful opportunitiesfor project-based learningand presentations thatshould be highly engagingfor our students. Finally, I’m in the begin-ning stages of developing acurriculum for our future Hei(5th grade) class on the Jew-

GJC Religious School teachers attend the wedding ofLeah Garber and Andrea LankinRebecca Barger Photography

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CONNECTCONNECTCONNECT Membership & Welcoming by Naomi KlaymanMembership & Welcoming by Naomi KlaymanMembership & Welcoming by Naomi Klayman


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• • • • • • • • Summer Happenings at gJC • • • • • • • •

On July 16th, GJC welcomed agroup of Muslim students from

Turkey in the Temin Canteen on thefinal night of Ramadan for their cele-bration of Iftar or fast breaking (relatedto the Hebrew root PTH, Pay-Tet-Resh,meaning in Hebrew to set free or toseparate). GJC collaborated withPeace Islands Institute, a national non-profit that “aspires to [act] as an islandof peace for all peoples in a society ofdifferent ethnic, cultural and religiousbackgrounds” according to their web-site www.peaceislands.org. A dozen male college studentsstudying throughout the Philadelphia

region met with about 2 dozen GJC mem-bers. Rabbi Adam Zeff opened the eveningand introduced Imam Bakir, also fromTurkey, who explained the Fast (“sawm” inArabic, linguistically identical to the He-brew “tsom” for all the Semitic languagewonks out there) and the month of Ra-madan during which Muslims are en-treated to fast daily from dawn till sunset(“magrib” in Arabic, linguistically identicalto the Hebrew “erev”). Ramadan 1436 H(Year of the Hijra) began on June 18th onthe purely lunar calendar followed byMuslims which has no leap years, henceRamadan may occur at any time of year. The Imam explained a host of proscrip-

tive behaviors followed during themonth such as refraining from sexualrelations and false speech, and thatsuch fasting and self-control is one ofthe Five Pillars of Islam. Our Muslimguests prayed both before and afterbreaking their fast while facing east(toward Mecca). They invited the restof us to join them in a deliciouskosher and halal feast that they pro-vided for all. The evening was filled with ques-tions and listening, observations andlaughter as Jews and Muslims en-gaged in meaningful sharing underGJC’s welcoming roof.

2nd Annual Interfaith Iftar Dinner & DiscussionBy Jonathan Harmon



Women’s Club news

So many programs! So many projects!By Yona Diamond Dansky and Marcy Fish, Co-Presidents, with Dena Lake

Welcome Back Brunch onSunday morning, September 20th

In a slight change in our tradition,Women’s Club is partnering withMen’s Club, Hazak and the SocialAction for this year’s Welcome BackBrunch. GJC author Betsy Teutschalong with Cheryl Bettigole will bediscussing Betsy’s new book, 100Under $100: One Hundred Tools forEmpowering Global Women. Pleasejoin us for this important and timelyprogram. Books will be available forpurchase and Betsy will be happy tosign yours. Women’s Club will alsobe sponsoring a Bake Sale that morn-ing. A wise woman author, ErnestineUlmer, stated it perfectly, “Life is un-certain. Eat dessert first.” Look forthe delicious home made desserts.

Women’s Club & Men’s ClubPaid-Up Membership Brunch on

Sunday, October 8thAlex Keiper and Cara Noel Antosca,both of 11th Hour Theatre, will enter-tain us. Alex has also been in showsat the Walnut, the Arden and TheatreHorizon. Cara recently returned tothe area and has performed at theEagle Theater. If your membership inMen’s or Women’s Club is current,there is no charge for this event.

Women’s Club &Early Childhood Program

Last summer, Women’s Club mem-bers began volunteering with ECP asstorytellers, challah baking helpersand craft teachers. The fun continuedthis year as well, as you can see inthe photos. Kathy Amrom kicked offthe “summer of the earth” with apuppet show, while Gina Michaelsgave the children a lesson in makingcasts, using clay to create the moldfor a plaster cast. You can learn moreabout the wonderful work ofWomen’s Club members on the Early

Childhood Program’s page. On a warm Sunday morning in June,long-time GJC member, Anne Shlay in-

formed and enter-tained us witha presentation ofher newly pub-lished book,Jerusalem: TheSpatial Politics ofa Divided Me-tropolis. Address-ing the largecrowd she add-ed her thoughtsabout Women’sClub, “Joining theboard and be-coming active

was the single most important decisionI made in my over 20 years of aGJC member.” We wish AnneShlay the best ofluck in her newposition as De-partment Chairof Sociology atGeorgia State University.

Torah Mantles: Preserving theOld & Planning for the New

Many of the High Holiday and purpleand gold Torah mantles used in theCharry Sanctuary were woven morethan fifty years ago, some by GJC mem-bers. Over the past year, a group of ded-icated and talented women workedtirelessly to repair these cherished Torahmantles until we were able to replacethem. This year, our Building BeautifulProject will be to raise money to pur-chase new Torah mantles. We wouldlove to hear your stories of how thesebeautiful Torah mantles were made.Please contact the GJC office if youhave any details. Intergenerational Women’s Gather-

ing was heldon Sunday morn-ing, August 30th,with the topic,“We’re All Grow-ing Older.” This group meets monthly.For more information on upcomingdates, see the Women’s Club calendaron the GJC website (on the Get In-volved Tab, scroll down to Women’sClub) or contact Nina Gordon [email protected].

The Perks ofWomen’s Club Membership

Please join us in actively sustainingthe synagogue. When you joinWOMEN’S CLUB by paying $45 an-nual dues you help sponsor enrichingprograms and important projects thateveryone enjoys. You can also con-tribute your talents by helpingwith these projects. By being partof WOMEN’S CLUB, you keepGJC in the forefront of the congrega-tion and of the community. You be-come part of a very special, verycaring community. For more infor-mation, email Peninah Berdugo,[email protected] or VilmaLieberman at [email protected]. We would like to wish everyone ahealthy, happy and peaceful year. Aswe reflect on the past year, we arefilled with gratitude and appreciation. *Note: Both Betsy Teutsch’s andAnne Shlay’s books are available inTHE LITTLE SHOP and also on Ama-zon. Please be sure to visit THE LIT-TLE SHOP for a great selection ofholiday and gift items. If you pur-chase anything on Amazon, pleasedo a mitzvah when you shop online:remember to first register on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com); pleasecheck off Germantown Jewish Centrewhen you register. Women’s Clubapplies the proceeds for GJC projects.


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looked forward to it. I’d go every Shab-bat. I’ve always participated in the HighHoliday services. Lately I’ve been aregular for Haftarah for Rosh Hashanah.And I’ve been on committees fordifferent things over the years, includingthe High Holiday Honors Committeelast year”. Beth attended Clark University whereshe met Noel during her sophomoreyear. Noel had taken a gap year betweenhigh school and college to join theYoung Judea program in Israel. When heenrolled at Clark, he received enoughacademic credits to graduate in threeyears. “We knew each other throughcommon friends,” Beth said. “He had acar and would drive me to the Philadel-phia area.” They began dating in 1980.Beth received a Masters in clinical socialwork from Smith College while Noelworked in New Jersey government. Theymarried in 1986. Beth’s first job was as the child ther-apist at the Paley Branch of FederationDaycare. “I was a general social workerfor their clients. Back then, they believedthat every family should have a socialworker available to them for free coun-seling if they needed it,” she said. At thattime Noel was working on his mastersdegree at Penn and they were living at47th & Pine in a house made into apart-ments. “The landlord kept knocking onour door when Noel was cooking, a not-too-subtle hint to be invited to dinner,”Beth said drily. Noel is an excellent andinventive cook and has cooked for Bethand others since they met. Ben and Aaron, 24, were born ontheir fifth anniversary. Ben now worksand attends college in Orlando, FL.Aaron lives outside of Ft. Lauderdale,having received a certificate in televisionproduction and lighting. In Atlantic City, Beth was hired as atherapist at the Family Service Associa-tion of Atlantic County, a social serviceagency that served the entire populationof the county. She became a clinical su-

Beth Rosenbaum and Noel Eisen-stat, both 55, have been active

members of GJC for decades. Beth, infact, jokes that she was a member ofGJC before her birth, since her parentsjoined in 1949, well before she wasin utero. Beth was born in East Mt. Airy. Herparents, Lila and Richard, ownedRice’s Hardware Store on WadsworthAvenue and the family stayed in thearea when many of their neighborsmoved to the suburbs. Beth’s mother,Lila, was a longtime educator in theCheltenham schools before develop-ing a second career as a communica-tions consultant. After her parentsjoined GJC, her grandparents alsojoined, making Beth and Noel’s twinsons, Ben and Aaron, the fourth gen-eration at the synagogue. Beth attended Akiba Hebrew Acad-emy (now called the Jack M. BarrackHebrew Academy) from 6th through12th grades. “I had a really good ex-perience at Akiba,” she recalls. “I gotmy (Judaic) skills through my Jewisheducation there and at Germantown.”Beth does have considerable skills thatshe uses to contribute to the Charryservice, including reading Torah andHaftorah on Shabbat and High Holi-day services, volunteering as a gabbaifor Torah readings, leading Torah serv-ices or Musaf and singing in the HighHoliday choir. She has been a Torah reader sinceher Bat Mitzvah. “I was greatly influ-enced by Ben Meisner, the cantor withRabbi Charry,” Beth recalls. “He keptkids involved and engaged. Back then,after our B’nei Mitzvah through highschool, we would tutor the youngerkids learning their B’nei Mitzvah. We

Noel Eisenstat and Beth Rosenbaum

continued on page 9

Member spotlight By Linda Kriger

pervisor, and then became pregnant.After her leave, Beth went back towork part time with the intention ofgoing back full time, when Noel wasoffered a job with then newly electedPhiladelphia mayor, Ed Rendell. They moved to Philadelphia, whereBeth continued a small private psy-chotherapy practice like one she’d hadin Atlantic City, until her sons beganelementary school. “Then I wanted tobe home after school and in theevenings,” she said. She worked atJewish Family and Children’s Servicefor 13 years. “It was an ideal place tosupport me working and being avail-able to my family,” she explained. “Myhours were whatever the school busschedule was.” At JFCS, Beth coordinated supportgroups and educational workshopsand created continuing education pro-grams for clinical professionals. Shecreated an eating disorder preventionprogram and anti bullying programsthat were run in day schools and syn-agogues. She then transitioned intoworking with senior adults before leav-ing at the end of 2010. She beganworking at the Renfrew Center in 2011as a primary therapist and outpatientsupervisor. She runs therapy groups,sees patients and supervises staff andstudent interns. Her work is exclu-sively with women who struggle witheating disorders. Beth’s mother, Lila Booth and fa-ther, Richard, who are divorced, stillgo to Germantown. Her two brothers,David and Robert, were very involvedin GJC while they grew up. All three ofthem were active in GJC’s USY chap-ter, which existed at the time. Noel was born in Vineland, NJ onthe first night of Rosh Hashanah. Hismother, Lorraine, went into contrac-tions and her water broke while in syn-agogue. “Made a big mess,” Noel said,with characteristic understatement.



Member Spotlight Continued from page 8

His mother, then 21, liked Noel Cow-ard, the playwright and composer andEllery Queen, a pseudonymous mys-tery writer, so she named her son,Noel Ellery. At the time, Vineland had a vibrantJewish community. It was originallysettled in the 1880s by Russian Jewishimmigrants escaping from thepogroms, and later became home formany Holocaust survivors. Vinelandbecame the commerce center of theregion, which was dotted with smallagricultural communities. “Jews weresubsistence farmers, then productionfarmers and then they got into the foodprocessing business,” Noel said. “Firstthey grew just enough to eat for them-selves, then they grew enough to sellto others, then they became mer-chants, and then they told their chil-dren to become professionals, andthey stopped coming back.” Noel struggled with a learning dis-ability and left public school to attenda very small private Catholic BoysHigh School. He went to Hebrewschool and to Israel after high schoolas a way to defer college and get awayfrom home. “Back when there wasno Internet, no cell phones and it was-n’t so easy to call,” he said, “I wasreally away.” Whatever learning issues Noelstruggled with, he has compensatedfor them by forming, nurturing andmaintaining relationships that haveserved him in his career. Those rela-tionships opened doors to governmentjobs, the first one being in the NewJersey Division of Housing in Trenton,where Noel helped to plan and ad-minister revitalization programs indistressed neighborhoods, which in-volved doing door-to-door surveys. Healso worked to stabilize housing andcommunity conditions. After 18months, Noel went to the Universityof Pennsylvania to study government,taking most of his electives at Wharton

Business School and in the departmentof City and Regional Planning, where hefocused on urban development. At the same time that he workedtowards a Masters degree in govern-ment, Noel worked in Atlantic City inmunicipal government, mostly coordi-nating governmental affairs with countyand state governments. He then wentto Rutgers Law School, continuing tocommute between and Atlantic City.“I wanted to leave what I was doingand I didn’t know what to do but togo to law school,” he recalls, adding,“but it turned out to be immenselyvaluable, in fact, crucial” to his career.“It allowed me to be much more effec-tive in government, because it provid-ed my credentials in dealing withgovernment lawyers.” From 1987 to 1991, he became theExecutive Director of the Casino Rein-vestment Development Authority in At-lantic City, directing a small sliver of themoney from three casinos mostly intocommunity development projects Noelleft that job in August 1991 to finish lawschool and study for the bar. “In January, 1992, while I was study-ing for the bar, I was approached for aseries of interviews with the Rendell Ad-ministration. I was an outsider. I wasn’tfrom here. It was unique for a personfrom the outside to run the City’s Rede-velopment Authority.” Noel spent eightyears there, and during that time, heoversaw the renovation of Reading Ter-minal Headhouse, as well as renova-tions of portions of the city’s publichousing stock. Noel was involved inmuch of the early HOPE VI program thatused federal and private funds to knockdown and rebuild some of the most no-torious public housing projects, includ-ing the Southwark and Schuylkill Falls. After the Rendell years, Noel went towork for the National Passenger Rail-road Corporation, the legal name forAmtrak, as Senior Vice-President forbusiness planning and commercial de-velopment. He was there for two years.Before his Amtrak job, he would some-

times take his boys to 30th street andbefore all the security was in place,take them downstairs so they could“look down into the locomotives atthe knobs, dials, and controls,” hesaid. “Sometimes, the engineer wouldlightly blow the horn.” At the end of 2002, Noel decidedto open up a consulting practice. “Ihave a pretty eclectic set of clients thatrange from for-profit housing and non-profit developments to large institu-tions mostly focusing on project fi-nance and real estate development,”he said. “Much of my work is aboutattracting capital and financing to un-dertake mostly urban developmentprojects that are difficult to financeand need the help of the public sec-tor.” A few years ago, when the Co-opwas renovating its Mt. Airy store andbuilding a new one in Chestnut Hill,Noel volunteered his efforts forWeavers Way. He is a member of thePennsylvania Housing FinanceAgency since 2003 and after years asan active member, serves as vice-chairof Philabundance. At GJC, in the early 1990s, Noelwas co-chair of the social action com-mittee with Seth Lieberman. He ap-plied his professional expertise afterthe capital campaign was completedand the money already earmarked be-cause the need arose to borrowmoney to do major renovations to theschool building. He spent eight yearsas an officer on the executive commit-tee and the board as well as chairingtwo spring concerts. For both Beth and Noel, member-ship at GJC has merged communitywith spirituality. Beth’s parents andgrandparents found a home here. Bethand Noel got their footing in the com-munity when their sons attended theEarly Childhood Program and Beth or-ganized potluck dinners for youngfamilies. Now that baton has beenpassed to another generation and Bethand Noel have moved into anothersatisfying phase of life with GJC.


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www.germantownjewishcentre.org 11 www.germantownjewishcentre.org

and paperversions ofthe newH a z a kquestion-naire outduring thes u m m e r.The ques-t ionnai rewill helpus to tailorHazak pro-grams to the wishes of our consti-tuents. Anyone 55 and over iseligible to complete it. Please takethe time to complete and return it;your responses will enable us to planthe events and activities YOU WANT!If you have not received a copy,please contact Coleman Poses at 215-510-1750. Thanks!

News from Hazak (55+ Programs)By Coleman Poses

Hazak

Join Hazak, along with BetsyTeutsch & Cheryl Bettigole, onSeptember 20th as they co-sponsor a kick-off WelcomeBack event!

The dog days of summer couldnot suck the vibrancy out of our

Hazak programming. Co-chair HelenFeinberg facilitated a “Senior PoetrySlam,” at GJC’s summer sampler. What could possibly competewith this battle of the poets? Why, abattle of the Verdi baritones that SamFeinberg hosted the following weekduring his celebrated “Opera Underthe Stars,” of course. As always, Samprovided rare footage of wonderfulopera productions, which was fol-lowed by socializing and noshing onwine and cheese. But wait, there’s more! On Sun-day, September 20, Hazak is co-spon-soring a “Welcome Back” event, fea-turing Betsy Teutsch and Cheryl Bet-tigole, who will discuss Betsy’s newbook 100 Under $100: 100 Tools forEmpowering Global Women a won-

derful compilation of projects andproducts from around the world thatmake life healthier, safer and more liv-able. Other sponsors of this event in-clude Women’s Club, Men’s Club, andthe Social Action Committee. Betsy’sbook will also be on sale. How much?Here is a hint. It is well under $100. And on Sunday, October 25, RabbiDayle Friedman will discuss her newbook, Growing Older – Wisdom +Spirit Beyond midlife, in a morningevent co-sponsored by Hazak, andWomen's Club. Those who attendedHazak Shabbat in April were fortunateto experience Dayle's extensive knowl-edge about aging and her amazing abil-ity to make it all right. In October wewill have the opportunity to hear more,as well as to purchase her book to learneven more. Also, we have sent both the electric


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social action Update

GJC Contingent Joins Local JewishFaith Leaders in Harrisburg Soundthe Shofar for School Funding

As State Senators debated this year’sbudget proposal, GJC’s Rabbi

Annie Lewis and a group of GJC mem-bers joined over 30 rabbis and Jewishlay leaders for a rally and public actioncalling for full fair funding of public ed-ucation as part of POWER’s participa-tion in a statewide “Moral Takeover ofthe Capitol” by interfaith leaders andpublic school parents from across thestate. On June 29, the 10th and finalday of the initiative, Rabbi Lewis and

co-leader, Rabbi Avi Winokur of So-ciety Hill Synagogue, led the groupin prayer and study before marchingto the Senate Chamber during a ses-sion and to key legislative officesthroughout the Pennsylvania Capitolbuilding blowing multiple shofarot toawaken lawmakers to a call for jus-tice through a fully and equitablyfunded education system. Jewish faith leaders sounded theshofar in the tradition of ancient Is-raelites as a warning that if schoolscontinue to be underfunded, thewhole community will suffer. RabbiLewis said “The voice of the shofar isa prophetic voice, calling on us to find

By Andrea Moselle

POWER Highlights

our prophetic voice. It calls on us andall our legislators to do justice, mercy

Storytelling to my first graders eachweek is the high point of my

week! Where else can I enter a roomand be greeted with cheers, a flurry ofhigh fives, hugs, and “see you nextweek?” Each year it's a love festbetween me and the kids, who lovestories and love the special attention. During my very first two years inmy first grade teacher’s class, I toldGreek myths, beginning with the Iliadand Odyssey (abridged!) and thenwent on to famous legends likeMedusa, Theseus and the Minotaur,and the Labors of Hercules. Last year,we spent the first half of the yearhearing African folktales, principallytales about Anansi the Spider, anda few by Rudyard Kipling from his“Just So Stories.” During the secondhalf of the year, we heard African-American stories that grew out ofthese African slave roots, mostlyfrom the Uncle Remus collection, asretold and “liberated” by JuliusLester. The kids loved these talesabout Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby,Brer Bear and Brer Fox, Brer Coon

By Ellen Frankel

Story Hour at the Henry School

and Brer Turtle, and Mammy-BammyBig-Money. I tell the stories rather than readingfrom a book. I print out images I find on-line: cartoons, fine art, black and whitesketches, illustrations from books, graphicart, and old-fashioned images. I do this toshow the children that each artist inter-prets the characters, and even the actionsof a story so differently. And therefore,they can, too! Whenever possible, I alsodownload a video from YouTube or Vimeoof the story we are doing in class, so thestudents can absorb the tale through dif-ferent mediums. I especially love whenthe kids jump up spontaneously, andbegin to dance to the music on many ofthese videos! I will be back next year in Room 101for another group of budding storytellers--and more of those hugs and cheers. At Henry School, GJC volunteerscontinue our Centre’s longstandingcommitment to our NeighborhoodSchool. Each Volunteer regularly visits1/2 hour each week, to read to childrenin grades K-3. Maxine Margolies([email protected]) and Sandy Meyer

([email protected]) coordinatethe program, which was founded byRenee Levine (of blessed memory). Community Volunteers has been atthe Houston School for more than tenyears when the Thursday Literacysection was conceived, created, andcoordinated by GJC member BarbaraBloom. Five years ago, Elayne Blenderjoined Barbara in a leadership roleand has since added math tutoringand library staffing components.In tutoring literacy or math, thevolunteer and child are usually to-gether the entire year providing an op-portunity for the adult to develop thebest ways to develop skills of and pro-vide encouragement to a particularstudent. In this time of funding cuts,under Elayne’s leadership, the pro-gram has also been able to open thelibrary to teachers and their classes tocheck out books for research orgeneral reading. Volunteers are wel-come for all of these. For more infor-mation, contact Barbara Bloom(215-247-2311) or Elayne Blender(215-248-0413).

continued on page 13

Members of the GJC contingent on the PA CapitolSteps. From L to R: Ilene Blitzstein-Poses, AndreaMoselle, David Mosenkis, Ed Lake, Rabbi AnnieLewis, Cantor Naomi Hirsch



and follow God’s ways. We blew theshofar throughout the Capitol today be-cause all of Pennsylvania’s children de-serve the resources they need to learnand grow.” Earlier in the day, Jewish leaders leda Teach-In on the Capitol steps abouteducation funding, including study ofclassical Jewish texts on the basis forsupporting education. GJC member,David Mosenkis, gave a presentation onprogress that has been made toward afair formula and how to resolve racialinequities which research he conductedrevealed. Rabbi Carl Choper of Harris-burg, President of the Interfaith Allianceof Pennsylvania, said, “Education affectseveryone’s future. The kids we’re teach-ing today will be the people running oursociety tomorrow. As a matter of justice,students in every place should haveequal access to education.” As we go to press, the Pennsylvaniastate budget is still being debated andfunding for schools across the state, in-cluding Philadelphia, remains in ques-tion. GJC members continue to beactive in POWER’s work on education.

Social Action Update Continued from page 12

If you are interested in getting involved,please contact David Mosenkis([email protected]) or AndreaMoselle ([email protected]).

Conversation on Race at GJC On June 9th, 22 GJC members gath-ered for “A Conversation About Race”,hosted by the Social Action Committee.Earlier in the year during Granger Shabbatand at a panel discussion about AbbyPerkiss’ book “Making Good Neighbors”,we heard from many of those who at-tended that they found the rich and livelyconversations helpful and hoped therewould be opportunities to continue talk-ing. We were also building upon positiveexperiences of other congregations whoare part of the POWER interfaith network. The session was designed to provide asafe space to share personal experiencesaround race and provide a structure tobetter comprehend these experiences andthose of others. We also hope this discus-sion and others which follow will helpus gain a deeper understanding of the rolerace plays in our lives and our societyand enable us to develop new ways ofcommunicating and working across di-verse groups. Designed and facilitated by Steve

Weinberg, Seth Goren, David Mosenkisand Andi Moselle; the program used amixture of small and large group discus-sion to explore how race has impactedour lives. Working in pairs and thengroups of four, participants felt that theywere able to comfortably share theirown experiences, and nearly everyoneexpressed interest in follow-up pro-grams. GJC members can look forwardto opportunities coming up this fallthat include:

• A series of professionally facilitateddiscussions building on thefirst programs.

• A book/article discussion group.The first book will be the recentlypublished book by Atlantic colum-nist Ta-Nahisi Coates, “Between theWorld and Me”

• Exploring the possibility of get-ting together with an African Ameri-can congregation

Watch upcoming GJC bulletins for moreinformation. If you are interested inlearning more, contact Andrea Moselle([email protected]) or DavidMosenkis ([email protected]).

On April 26, the Social ActionCommittee, with co-sponsor-

ing by a number of groups, includingthe GJC Social Action Committee,Weavers Way Food Cooperative,Interfaith Power and Light, the ShalomCenter, the Men’s Club, Women’sClub, PennFuture, and Hazak, held anEarth Day discussion of the dangers ofa fossil fuel energy hub in Philadel-phia and the great advantages ofdeveloping a renewable energy hubhere instead. The event began with “Boom,” aten minute film that recounted thedevastation of Lac Megantic - a town

By Maxine Margolies

Towards a Sustainable Energy Hub

in Quebec - on July 6, 2013, by thederailment and explosion of a traincarrying crude oil. The film was followedby a presentation from Robert Altenburg,JD, director of PennFuture Energy Center,who questioned our continued relianceon fossil fuels when renewable energyseems to be a more economical and earthfriendly alternative. Mr. Altenburg’s talkwas followed by GJC’s Ken Lande, whotied the Lac Megantic tragedy to theproposed fossil fuel energy hub forPhiladelphia, which would convert fossilfuels into refined fuels, manufacturedgoods, etc. While warning of the in-creased dangers of such an energy hub,

he proposed an alternative renewableenergy hub, one which would manu-facture the massive wind turbine com-ponents such as the blades andtowers, assemble these componentsinto wind turbines as well as serve asa center for off shore deployment andinstallation of these wind turbines.Philadelphia’s unique geographymakes it an ideal location for such amanufacturing complex, one thatwould be both economically as wellas environmentally sustainable andemploy a large number of people farinto the forseeable future.


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early Childhood Program (eCP)

Nina Gordon donated hertalents as a potter expert fora morning.

PPP OOO BBB JJooiinn PPeeooppllee ooff tthhee BBooookk

ffoorr aannootthheerr yyeeaarr ooff ggrreeaatt ddiissccuussssiioonn::

SSeepptteemmbbeerr 88tthh

Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk

OOccttoobbeerr 1133tthh

Ten Green Bottles: The True Story of One Family's Journey from War-torn Austria to the

Ghettos of Shanghai by Vivian Jeanette Kaplan

NNoovveemmbbeerr 1100tthh

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry

DDeecceemmbbeerr 88tthh

The Aleppo Codex: In Pursuit of One of the World's Most

Coveted, Sacred, and Mysterious Books by Matti Friedman

JJaannuuaarryy 1122tthh

The Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

FFeebbrruuaarryy 99tthh

The Catcher Was a Spy: the Mysterious Life of Moe Berg

by Nicholas Dawidoff

MMaarrcchh 88tthh Henna House by Nomi Eve

AApprriill 1122tthh

Little Failure by Gary Shteyngart

MMaayy 1100tthh

Thirteen Days in September: the Dramatic Story of the

Struggle for Peace by Lawrence Wright

JJuunnee 1144tthh

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

TTuueessddaayyss aatt 77::1155 PPMM

iinn tthhee QQuuiittmmaann LLiibbrraarryy

This summer we decided to give thechildren a camp experience that

would leave them with no questionthat they had been in CAMP. Wewanted the feeling of sun, earth, andwater to be their biggest impressions ofthis summer. Our brainstorming of this“Summer of the Earth” led us to opena space behind the playground for thechildren to romp in, extending theiroutdoor time, and giving us more roomto plant gardens, erect tents, experimentwith materials, and generally havea good time. We imagined ways forthe children to get their hands in thedirt, and got busy programming withcommunity members and parents to

enrich the summer experience. We areso gratified to acknowledge that theexperiment worked! From home-made popsicles to water squirts, togardens, to time with clay, mosaics,and plaster, the children have hada truly rich summer. Looking ahead, we are workingon ways to bring family and commu-nity members into the preschool ona regular basis. Our Holiday curriculaare a special focus for innovation.Stay tuned for reports of interactionsbetween preschoolers and religiousschool children, special High Holidayevents, and new ways to experiencethe unfolding of the Jewish calendar!

By Anna Goldberg

Reviewing our Camp Keshet summer,and looking ahead to a great year!

The children participated incoloring the cloth, which weused to construct this teepeetent. It is a wonderful additionto our “outdoor classroom”.

Throughout the summer,the children gardened andplanted. Here they plantedbeans in recycled containers.

Recipe for a car wash: water, sponges,cars, children. Mix.

We enjoyed sign‐language story time with GJCmember Sheila Erlbaum, sponsored by theWomen’s Club. Most of our programs took placeoutside, weather permitting!


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The work of Philadelphia InterfaithHospitality Network is up close

and personal. A mother of threewhose husband died, leaving her un-able to cover the rent on one in-come…… A devoted working fatherof two children who tried to make thefamily unit work, but left with the kidsto prevent them from a mother unableto overcome drug addiction….. Anaged out- of foster care mother whowandered the streets with her babyhaving no place to stay; a single momwho was doing OK until she lost herjob and lost her apartment; a womanwhose husband began drinking andbeating her. These are just a few sto-ries from our neighborhood. Home-lessness happens to people who aretrying their best, working hard and“playing by the rules,” but find them-selves in a perfect storm of unfortunatecircumstances. These people are ourneighbors and friends, fellow congre-gants and classmates. At a point whensupportive community means themost is where PIHN makes the differ-ence. This is the work of PhiladelphiaInterfaith Hospitality Network, involv-ing 1500 volunteers from 50 congre-gations and community institutionswho work together to make a differ-ence for at-risk neighbors. Based in Northwest, and more re-cently in Northeast Philadelphia,PIHN starts with the basics- food,clothing and shelter, and moves onfrom there to supportive services, fi-nancial, career, education and hous-ing counseling, and from there tofamily and self- care, all with the sup-port and encouragement of compas-sionate volunteers. The end goal…. Afamily that can manage to live a se-cure and self- sufficient lifestyle, withchildren who know and trust that theyhave a secure place to call “home.”

The day center at 7047 GermantownAve. is a space where all families, thosewho are without homes or those whoare couch surfing and staying with oth-ers, can come for a place to be… towork on computers, to enjoy a quiet dayand play, to eat a snack, to do home-work or write a paper for school. It’s aplace to regroup and move forward.Families without homes receive hospi-tality in area congregations, allowingthem to remain in Northwest Philadel-phia, the area in which they are familiar,have supports, and where their childrenattend and can remain in their schools.Homelessness is a wrenching experi-ence, but losing one’s community andabsolutely everything familiar puts salton the wound , making moving forwardmuch more difficult. Germantown Jewish Centre is afounding congregation of PIHN. In fact,GJC’s own Elaine Dushoff and HowardSpodek were among the group of found-ing organizers. In later years, Howardwent on to serve as President of the(N)PIHN Board. Elaine and a smallgroup of representatives from severalother local congregations associatedwith Northwest Interfaith Movement,learned about the work of a small coali-tion of congregations in New Jersey andmodeled our program after their pro-gram. Now that little New Jersey pro-gram has grown into a national programwith nearly 200 affiliates offering emer-gency hospitality to homeless familiesacross the United States (even in Hawaiiand Alaska!). PIHN has grown as well,expanding our services to NortheastPhiladelphia in addition to NorthwestPhiladelphia and also broadening thescope of our work to serve alumni, whoremain at risk, even when they achievethe goal of moving to housing. People really do want to solve theproblem of family homelessness, but it

feels so overwhelming and compli-cated that it’s hard to know what to dofirst. Breaking the problem and workdown to one family at a time makes iteasier to get a handle on things. That’swhat PIHN does, and so can you.Please join us in our work. Cook ameal, play a board game, overnighthost, become an adopted Santa, coacha family with their budget, tutor achild, tutor an adult, help a teen applyto college, support our office crew, doa random act of kindness driving a par-ent to a job interview. Share yourstrengths and abilities by helping aneighbor. It’s simple and it’s effective.It makes the difference. With thanks to GJC and to our car-ing community of congregations, or-ganizations, and volunteers! Rachel Falkove, Executive Directorand Rev. Amy Yoder McLaughlin,Board President For more information on thePhiladelphia Interfaith Hospitality Net-work and how you can be involved,please contact Debbie Stern at [email protected].

Join us on Saturday, October 3rd in the Charry Service for a special Shabbatas we honor Milt Cohen & the work of the Interfaith Hospitality Network

Get Involved with the Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network


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“How good it is for brothers and sisters to sit together.” (Psalm 133)

During Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and year-round, our synagogue is full of life, song, study, prayer, community,and opportunities for connection. Germantown Jewish Centre welcomes family and friends of our members to attendHigh Holiday services in the Charry Service, Dorshei Derekh, Minyan Masorti, Kol D’mamah, and children’s services,and to enjoy meaningful programming throughout the building.

In order to sustain our abundance of activity and to ensure that we can accommodate all who want to celebrate theholidays with us, we ask that our members request guest tickets for those who will be joining you. We welcome yourchildren of all ages; no tickets are necessary for children through their college years. We suggest a donation of $36for full-time students beyond college-age. For all other guests, there is a suggested a donation of $200.00 per ticket.

GJC participates in a reciprocal ticket program. If your guests are members in good standing at another synagogue,they are eligible for free tickets at GJC. To receive reciprocal tickets, please provide a letter from your guests’synagogue to the GJC office, confirming their membership status.

You can help us grow our membership by inviting guests who are new to the area or considering joining GJC toHigh Holiday services. We are happy to make guest tickets available to them for one year, which would laterbe applied toward dues if they choose to join our community. If you have friends who fit this category, pleaseencourage them to be in touch with Rabbi Lewis. In her new role focusing on outreach and engagement, shewould be delighted to get to know them and to speak with them about our GJC community, our High Holidayprograms and services, and membership. She can be reached at 215-844-1507, extension 16, or by email [email protected].

Thank you in advance for filling out the form below and returning it to the office by Wednesday, September 9, 2015so that we may accommodate your request. We look forward to welcoming your family and friends to join us incommunity this High Holiday season!

~ Nina Peskin, Executive Director-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

High Holiday Guest Ticket Request FormPlease return by Wednesday, September 9, 2015 to the GJC office (400 W. Ellet St, Philadelphia, PA 19119).

Member’s Name: ______________________________________________ Phone: ______________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

� I will pick up from the GJC office by 9/11/15. � Please mail these tickets to the above address.

Enclosed is my check for $_________ to cover the cost of guest tickets for:

Guest Names & Relationships: _________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Guest Names & Relationships: _________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Please send me reduced price tickets for my children who are full-time students beyond college-age:

Names: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

High Holidays Guest Tickets Request Form 2015/5776


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5776/2015 KolNidrei Food DriveThis is my chosen fast —share your bread with

the hungry.

from Yom Kippur Haftarah (Isaiah 58:6-7)

When you come to GJC for Kol Nidrei onTuesday, Sept. 22, from 5-5:45 pm,

PLEASE BRING…√ TUNA FISH

√ CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY

(Plastic Containers Only)

√ MAC & CHEESE

√ CANNED GREEN BEANS, CORN,

PASTAS & FRUIT

√ HOT & COLD BREAKFAST CEREALPlease note…

o Please bring SMALL OR INDIVIDUAL

SIZED items that have been recently

purchasedo No old, dented, corroded, or soiled canso No other kinds of food or supplies

FUND BY OCCASIONChesed Fund Lynne & Art Ellis in memory of Lorna Carroll, mother of Sherry Pomerantz in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher Rachel Falkove in memory of Leah Greenberg Solomon, aunt Neil Kitrosser in memory of Benjamin Kitrosser, father Alex Seldin in memory of Ruth Seldin, mother Naomi Young in memory of Katherine Wieselman, motherDorshei Derekh Mikael Elsila & Dina Pinsky in memory of Leonard Alman Lurie, father of Arnold Lurie Dena & Edward Lake in honor of Allan Oster & Izhar Naveh, on their marriage

Early Childhood Program Fund Mitchell Berk & Beth Stearman in honor of Anna & Phill Goldberg, on being honored as GJC’s Congregants of the Year Linda Dzuba in memory of Nathan Routhinstein, father Jodi Gordon in memory of Bart Axelrod, father of David Axelrod Neil Kitrosser in memory of Beatrice Kitrosser, mother Louise Leibowitz in memory of Jack Leibowitz, father Tamar & Sam Magdovitz in honor of Dveera Segal, on her birthday in memory of Aryeh Stein-Azen, son of Rabbi Margot Stein Robin Minkoff in memory of Arlene Ostrow Smolar, mother Sherry & Bob Pomerantz in memory of Jean Cohen, mother of Amy Cohen Brian & Elana Shaw in honor of Debbie & George, for being incredible mensches Elana Shaw in appreciation of Tamar Magdovitz, for her help when Elana broke her wrist Joan Silver in memory of Bart Axelrod, father of David Axelrod Debbie Stern in memory of Paul & Eva Klepper and Murry & Anna Schoen, grandparentsFloral Fund Anne Bonn in memory of Belle Greenwald, mother Evelyn Caplin in memory of Dora Nierenberg, mother Vincent DiLorenzo in memory of Sophie DiLorenzo, motherGeneral Fund Neil Actor & Nini Engel in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher in memory of Lorna Carroll, mother of Sherry Pomerantz in memory of Bart Axelrod, father of David Axelrod in memory of Lee Reese, mother of Ellen Reese Liz Bloch-Smith & Mark Smith in honor of Dveera Segal, on her birthday Martin & Brenda A. Brenner in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC Gary Charlestein in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC Amanda, Daniel & Olivia Ebbin in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC Mikael Elsila & Dina Pinsky in memory of Bart Axelrod, father of David Axelrod Rachel Falkove in memory of Naomi Falkove, mother Jerry & Helene Feldman in memory of David Mermelstein, father of Andrew Mermelstein Norman & Marilyn Hardy & Family in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC Jeremy & Shellie Holl in memory of Aryeh Stein-Azen, son of Rabbi Margot Stein Audrey Isdaner in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC Kate & Peter Kelsen in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC Tracy King in memory of Lorna Carroll, mother of Sherry Pomerantz Diane Ajl & Neil Kitrosser in honor of Ned & Karen Kripke on the marriage of their son, Joe Kripke, to Stephanie Winheld Judah Labovitz in memory of Clara Levy, mother-in-law in memory of Deborah Labovitz, wife Gerald & Rosemary Lorenz in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC Jim & Sandy Meyer in honor of Dveera Segal, on her birthday in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC in honor of Elana Shaw and family Martin Millison in memory of Mamie Millison, mother Janet Neufeld in memory of Regina Brunner Holmes, mother of Eric Brunner Allan Oster & Izhar Naveh in memory of Florence Leichter, mother Daniel Piser in memory of Regina Brunner Holmes, mother of Eric Brunner P’nai Or Philadelphia in memory of Regina Brunner Holmes, mother of Eric Brunner Steven & Belinda Raikin in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC Genie & Ameet Ravital in memory of Bart Axelrod, father of David Axelrod Howard B. Rosenblatt in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC Chuck & Martha Schleifer in memory of Bertha “Bunny” Stein, a long time member of GJC in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher Patricia Segal in memory of Benjamin Bateman, father Toni Seidl in memory of Robert David Friedman, husband Benjamin & Rosanne Shore in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC

Contributions For the period of June, 2015 through July, 2015

Todah Rabbah!Sincere thanks and appreciation to those who remember to honor their friends and loved ones through their generous contributions.

The fastest way for your contribution to be processed is for you to fill out a Contribution Form (available in the office or on our website) and return it

to the office along with a check. Or just send in a check with a note.




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Contributions ContinuedGeneral Fund Jill Steinberg in memory of Bertha “Bunny” Stein, a long-time member of GJC Betsy & David Teutsch in memory of Leonard Alman Lurie, father of Arnold Lurie in memory of Regina Holmes Brunner, mother of Eric Brunner Gabriel Miller & Minna Ziskind in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJCHazak Fund Samuel Feinberg in memory of Abraham Feinberg, father Helen Feinberg in memory of Ethel Ross, mother Sam & Helen Feinberg in memory of Howard Rosen Jim & Sandy Meyer in honor of Aaron Weber, on his birthday in honor of Paul Minkoff, on his birthday Susan Rothschild in memory of Robert Rothschild, husband Aaron Weber in memory of Abraham Weber, father Lucille Weber in memory of Rose Applebaum, motherInterfaith Hospitality Network Betty Ann & David Fellner in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher Nancy Fredland in memory of Beth Wiener, mother Cecile Merion in memory of T’ai Merion, grandson in memory of Joseph Kopstein, brother in memory of Goldie Kopstein, mother Deborah White & Dan Piser in memory of Lorna Carroll, mother of Sherry Pomerantz in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher Frieda Sanders in memory of Abraham Goldenberg, brother in memory of Charles Wasserberg, uncle in memory of Lena Goldenberg, mother in memory of Eva Goldenberg, sister Steven Wade in memory of Bart Axelrod, father of David Axelrod Geanne Zelkowitz in memory of Edward Kulberg, fatherIsrael Affairs Fund Liz Bloch-Smith & Mark Smith in honor of Dveera Segal, on her birthday Tamar & Sam Magdovitz in honor of Ronit Treatman, for her recognition by the Philadelphia Voice Cyrilla Rosen in honor of Naomi Hirsch, on receiving an honorary doctorate on the 25th anniversary of her ordination as a cantor in honor of Anna & Phill Goldberg, on being honored as GJC’s Congregants of the Year in honor of Elana Shaw & family in memory of Abram Gaber, father Judy Schwartz in memory of Ida G. Prager, mother Judy Schwartz & Jay Seitchik refuah shleimah to Nan Daniels refuah shleimah to Linda Needleman Leah & Norman Schwartz in memory of Esther Sharlin, mother of Leah Schwartz in honor of Raphael & Tanya Schwartz, grandparents in memory of Paul Schwartz, son Dveera Segal in memory of Mayer & Esther Cohen, grandparentsIsrael Garden Fund Evelyn Caplin in memory of Sophie Barash, aunt Sheila Erlbaum in memory of Nathan Erlbaum, brother Marcia Landesberg in memory of Emanuel Burd, long-time member of GJC David Young in memory of Rochelle Carlton, wifeKiddush Fund Ann & Martin Itzkowitz in memory of Richard Pepp, friend Barbara Menin in memory of Mildred Lance, mother Richard Menin in memory of Victor Menin, father Hilda & Paul Minkoff in memory of Bertha “Bunny” Stein, a long-time member of GJC in memory of Gabriella “Gabi” Fellner, mother of David Fellner & a long-time member of GJC in honor of Rabbis Lewis & Goldman, on the birth of their daughter in honor of Marty Kaplan, on his 85th birthday in memory of Bette Sinett, sister of Carol Kaplan in honor of Cherie Goren, on her 90th birthday in honor of Reena & Aryeh Friedman, on the birth of their new grandson in honor of Leah & Norman Schwartz, on the birth of their three new great-grandsons in appreciation of Rabbi Reena Spicehandler, for her service at GJC in honor of Judy Schwartz, on being honored at the Women’s Club Torah Fund Brunch in honor of Bev Somerson, on being honored at the Women’s Club Torah Fund Brunch Betsy & Hershel Richman in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher Susan Rothschild in memory of Rosa Heimann, mother Leah & Norman Schwartz in honor of Nina Gordon & Lou Walinsky, on the birth of their granddaughter, Amira Taeaolasi King in memory of Bart Axelrod, father of David Axelrod Joan Stern in memory of Ruth Winderman, mother


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Contributions ContinuedLibrary Fund Kathryn Hellerstein in memory of Herman K. Hellerstein, father Betty Ann & David Fellner in honor of Ned & Karen Kripke, on the marriage of their son, Joe Kripke, to Stephanie Winheld Kathryn Hellerstein in memory of Mary Hellerstein, mother Jerry Kutnick in memory of Esther Kutnick, mother Tamar & Sam Magdovitz in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher in honor of Erica Solis, on becoming Bat Mitzvah Chuck & Martha Schleifer in honor of Ned & Karen Kripke, the aufruf & marriage of their son, Joe Kripke, to Stephanie Winheld Leah & Norman Schwartz in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie AsherMusic Fund Evelyn Caplin in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year's Spring Concert Mikael Elsila & Dina Pinsky in memory of Regina Brunner Holmes, mother of Eric Brunner Dena & Ed Lake in honor of Lou Walinsky, on his 70th birthday David Major & Evelyn Eskin in honor of Betsy Richman, on her special birthday refuah shleimah to Linda Needleman Jonathan Moselle in memory of Claire Moselle, mother Martha Schleifer in memory of Esther Myers, aunt Chuck & Martha Schleifer in memory of Lorna Carroll, mother of Sherry Pomerantz in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher in memory of Martin A. Myers, MD, uncle of Martha SchleiferPrayerbook & Ritual Items Fund Lynne & Art Ellis in memory of Lee Reese, mother of Ellen Reese Richard Mandel in memory of Henry S. Mandel, father Richard Rosenbaum in memory of Benjamin Rosenbaum, father Joan Silver & Ellen Kopeland in memory of Majorie Kopeland, motherProgram Fund Alice & Joe Antonelli in memory of Emanuel Burd, a long-time member of GJC Monte & Linda Block in memory of Emanuel Burd, a long-time member of GJC Donna & Michael Cutler in memory of Bertha “Bunny” Stein, a long-time member of GJC Betty Ann & David Fellner in honor of Ronit Treatman, for her recognition by the Philadelphia Voice Ann Marie Healy & Bruce Hudman in memory of Emanuel Burd, a long-time member of GJC Susan Kavesh in memory of Miriam Kavesh, mother Stephanie Klein & David Landau in memory of Emanuel Burd, a long-time member of GJC Jane & Kenneth Lieberthal in memory of Emanuel Burd, a long-time member of GJC Hon. Shelley Robins New in memory of Emanuel Burd, a long-time member of GJC & Hon. Arnold L. New Hal & Sandy Rosenberg in memory of Emanuel Burd, a long-time member of GJC Beth Stearman in memory of Al Denniberg, grandfather Stephen Tobias in memory of Rebecca Tobias, wife Arthur Weinrach in memory of Stephen Weinrach, brother in memory of Benjamin Weinrach, father Anita Zippert in memory of Emanuel Burd, a long-time member of GJCRabbi Lewis’s Discretionary Fund Eileen Bazelon in memory of Edith Ferrin, mother Amy Cohen & Mark Spiller in memory of Jean Cohen, mother of Amy Cohen Mindelle Goldstein in memory of Emanuel Burd, a long-time member of GJC Ellen Fleishman & Allen Gottlieb in memory of Lorna Carroll, mother of Sherry Pomerantz Martin Itzkowitz in memory of Simon Itzkowitz, father Peter Kuriloff in memory of Lucy Winifred Kuriloff, mother Barbara Lissy in memory of Frank M. Lissy, father in memory of Mark J. Rosenberg, husband Sherry & Bob Pomerantz in memory of Theodore “Ted” Charles Bloch, father of Elizabeth Bloch-Smith Cyrilla Rosen in honor of Anna & Phill Goldberg, on being honored as GJC’s Congregants of the Year in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher in honor of Betsy Teutsch, on the publication of her new book Eleanor Seif in memory of Annabelle Cohen, mother Mona & Marc Yudoff in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie AsherRabbi Zeff’s Discretionary Fund Daniel Bacine in memory of Jules Bacine, father Charles Becker in memory of Edward Becker, father Lawrence Charap in memory of Stanley Charap, father Joyce Eveloff in memory of Philip Blumenthal, father Neil & Ellen Feldman in memory of David Mermelstein, father of Andrew Mermelstein Maxine Field in memory of Gladys Major, mother Ellen Fleishman in memory of Edythe Fleishman, mother Jeffrey Freedman in memory of David Freedman, father Mindelle Goldstein in memory of David Mermelstein, father of Andrew Mermelstein Ellen Fleishman & Allen Gottlieb in honor of Dveera Segal, on her birthday Vilma Lieberman in memory of Kenneth A Lieberman, husband Linda Needleman in memory of Melvin Goodfriend, father



Rabbi Zeff’s Discretionary Fund Sherry & Bob Pomerantz in honor of Dveera Segal, on her birthday Ellen Reese in memory of Jacob W. Reese, father Judy Rohtbart in memory of Zoltan Teller, father Meyer Rohtbart in memory of Molly Rohtbart, mother Priscilla Roslyn in memory of Joel Roslyn, husband Gloria Salmansohn in memory of Adelheid Tilla Benjaim, friendReligious School Fund Rosalie & Sidney August in memory of Dr. Sayre Schatz, husband of Letta Schatz Josh Barash in memory of Bart Axelrod, father of David Axelrod Melanie Berman in memory of Leon Sherry, father in memory of Ellinor Sherry, mother Sofia Cohen in honor of Matthew & Yoel Solis, on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Erica Ben Greberman in memory of Betty R. Werner, sister Linda Millison in memory of Ethel Raichlen, mother Nan Myers & Mark Lipshutz in memory of David Mermelstein, father of Andrew Mermelstein Nan Myers & Mark Lipshutz in memory of Bart Axelrod, father of David AxelrodSocial Action Fund Eleanor Brownstein in memory of Joseph Brownstein, father Rachel Falkove in memory of Naomi Falkove, mother Betty Ann & David Fellner in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert in memory of Lorna Carroll, mother of Sherry Pomerantz in memory of Florence Leichter, mother of Pesha Leichter in memory of Lee Reese, mother of Ellen Reese in memory of Bart Axelrod, father of David Axelrod in memory of Regina Brunner Holmes, mother of Eric Brunner Richard Mandel in memory of Lucille B. Mandel, mother Kate Margo in memory of Virginia Lane, mother Charlotte Peitzman in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher Joan Silver in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher George Stern in memory of Carlyn Stern, motherSpecial Education Fund Michael Rodin in memory of Esther Akselrod, grandmother Stefanie & Alex Seldin in memory of Jean Cohen, mother of Amy Cohen Gary D. Stein & Ellen Reese in memory of William Stein, husband of Libby SteinSpring Concert Fund Adina Abramowitz & in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being Naomi Klayman honored at this year’s Spring Concert Barbara Bloom in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert Amy Cohen & Mark Spiller in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert Ramy Djerassi in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert Linda & Richard Feder in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert Shellie Holl & Famly in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert Ned & Marian Levine in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert Maxine Margolies in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert Abby & Dan Pozefsky in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert Marcy & Greg Rost in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert Denise Wolf & Paul Rudick in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert Judy Schwartz & Jay Seitchik in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring Concert Joan Silver in honor of Josh Goldblum & Debbie Fishman, for being honored at this year’s Spring ConcertTorah Restoration Fund Diane Ajl in memory of Samuel Ajl, father Diane Ajl & Neil Kitrosser in memory of Lee Reese, mother of Ellen Reese Evelyn Caplin in memory of Herbert Caplin, husband Lynne & Art Ellis in honor of Ned & Karen Kripke, on the marriage of their son, Joe Kripke, to Stephanie Winheld Sheila Erlbaum in memory of George Erlbaum, father Maxine & Maurice Feldman in memory of Bette Sinett, sister of Carol Kaplan in memory of Lorna Carroll, mother of Sherry Pomerantz Diane Ajl & Neil Kitrosser in honor of Ned & Karen Kripke, on the wedding of their son, Joe Kripke to Stephanie Winheld Tamar & Sam Magdovitz in memory of Lee Reese, mother of Ellen Reese

Contributions Continued


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Contributions ContinuedTorah Restoration Fund GJC Israeli Dancers in memory of Lee Reese, mother of Ellen Reese Eve Pinkenson in memory of Aaron Blumenthal, father Joan Silver in memory of Jerold G. Klevit, brother of Linda Hahn in memory of David Mermelstein, father of Andrew Mermelstein Bev & Ira Somerson in memory of David Mermelstein, father of Andrew MermelsteinWomen’s Club Beverly Diamond in honor of Bev Somerson, on being honored at the Women’s Club Torah Fund Brunch Beverly Diamond in honor of Judy Schwartz, on being honored at the Women’s Club Torah Fund Brunch Lynne & Art Ellis in honor of Linda Cherkas & Chaim Dworkin, on the birth of their grandson, Noah Joseph Dworkin Frances Gold in memory of Max Gold, husband in memory of Morris Malmaud, cousin Sandi Goldstein in honor of Bev Somerson, on being honored at the Women’s Club Torah Fund Brunch Connie Katz in memory of Donald B. Hackel, father Marcy Landesberg in honor of Bev Somerson, on being honored at the Women’s Club Torah Fund Brunch in honor of Judy Schwartz, on being honored at the Women’s Club Torah Fund Brunch Bev & Ira Somerson refuah shleimah to Nan Daniels refuah shleimah to Linda NeedlemanYouth Activities Fund Lynne & Art Ellis in honor of Matthew & Yoel Solis, on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Erica in honor of Mathieu & Jessica Shapiro,on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Alexandra Bob Epstein in honor of Rabbis Lewis & Goldman, on the birth of their daughter Betty Ann & David Fellner in honor of Erica Solis, on becoming Bat Mitzvah Linda Millison in memory of Vivian Rabineau, aunt Leslie & Curt Pontz in memory of Jerold G. Klevit, brother of Linda Hahn in memory of Lorna Carroll, mother of Sherry Pomerantz in honor of Ellyn Phillips, on the marriage of her daughter, Amy Phillips to Elia Einhorn in memory of Steve Asher, husband of Louie Asher in memory of Bart Axelrod, father of David Axelrod in memory of Jake Taylor Pontz, grandson in memory of Regina Brunner Holmes, mother of Eric Brunner Curt Pontz in memory of Sidney J. Stein, a long-time member of GJC in memory of Harry Pontz, father Leah & Norman Schwartz in honor of Mathieu & Jessica Shapiro, on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Jessica Lawrence Sternthal in memory of Jacob Sternthal, father

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Please submit all articles via email to [email protected].

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Permit No. 7944

Inside Centre CallRabbi’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 1

President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 2

Shabbat Chai-Lites . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3

What’s New in the Mishpoche . . . .Page 3

Religious School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4

Membership Corner . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 5

Interfaith Iftar Dinner . . . . . . . . . . .Page 6

Women’s Club News . . . . . . . . . . .Page 7

Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 8

Adult Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 10

News from Hazak . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 11

Social Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 12

Early Childhood Program . . . . . . .Page 14

People of the Book . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 14

High Holiday Hub (begin on) . . . .Page 15

Interfaith Hospitality Network . . .Page 17

Contributions (begin on) . . . . . . . .Page 21

Mathieu J. ShapiroP R E S I D E N T

Adam ZeffR A B B I

Annie LewisA S S I S TA N T R A B B I

Nina PeskinE x E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

Alanna SkloverR A B B I E D U C AT O R

Gloria Geissler F I N A N C E D I R E C T O R

Jodi GordonE A R LY C H I L D H O O D D I R E C T O R

Kate LawnP R O G R A M D I R E C T O R

Leonard D. GordonR A B B I E M E R I T U S

David FishM E N ’ S C L U B P R E S I D E N T

Yona Diamond Dansky & Marcy FishW O M E N ’ S C L U B C O -P R E S I D E N T S

affiliated with the United synagogue of conservative judaism

(215) 844-1507 fax: (215) 844-8309Web: www.GermantownJewishCentre.org

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