heshvan, 5778 kislev, 5778 in this issue€¦ · today, the adl continues to seek justice and fight...

HORIZONS November 2017 Heshvan, 5778— Kislev, 5778

November, 2017 Heshvan, 5778 —

Kislev, 5778

UPCOMING EVENTS

Host an Oneg ……………………. 2

President’s Column ……………. 3

Rabbi’s Column ………………… 4

Education Director’s Column .. 5

November Yahrzeits …..……… 7

September Contributions ……… 8

Gift Shop ……………………… 9

Rumba at Or Shalom ………….. 10

Friday Night Guest Speakers .. 11

Social News .…………………… 12

Donations . ……………………… 13

Sisterhood News ……………… 14

JEVS Career Building Workshop 15

Classes w/Rabbi Jacob ……….. 16

2018 Upcoming Events ………. 17

Donation Form………………… 19

Calendar …………………………. 20

Advertisers …………………… 21

IN THIS ISSUE

11/5 — Daylight Savings Ends

11/5 — School returns to Or

Shalom

11/5 — FUN Evening around the pit at 4 PM

11/11 — Rumba Latin Dancing Fundraiser 7 PM

11/17 — Friday Guest Speakers after service

11/19 — Blood Drive Social Hall 12:30 to 4:30

11/30 JEVS Career Building Workshop—Exton, PA 6:30 pm

February 24, 2018 6:45 pm

Kallah Night of Jewish

Learning— location TBD

November 11, 2017 7 PM

FUNdraiser Party with Latin-Themed Dinner, Music, and Dancing including Professional Dance Instructors!

HORIZONS 2 November 2017 Heshvan, 5778— Kislev, 5778

Horizons is published monthly. Material submitted for publication may be edited for style, length and content. Please contact the office to report any errors or omissions. Thank you. Editor: Lauren Porter Congregation Or Shalom 835 Darby-Paoli Road Berwyn, PA 19312 Phone: 610-644-9086 www.OrShalom.com E-mail: [email protected]

Congregation Or Shalom Executive Committee

President: Andrew Levin Vice President: Treasurer: Alan Daroff Secretary: Larry Bilker Membership: Scott Markovitz Events/Fundraising: IPP: Alan Messing

Auxiliary & Community Groups

Sisterhood:Mindy Bernstein/Laurie Katz Men’s Club: Dan Bernick Social Action: Gina Arlen Education Chair: Heidi Lurie Ritual Committee: Murray Klug

Advertising rates

Advertising contracts are arranged through the Temple office. All advertis-ing is due the first of the month for next month’s edition of Horizons. We accept ads with a check made out to Congrega-tion Or Shalom and the ad copy sent at the same time. Size 11 issues Per issue Full Page $900 $100 1/2 page $450 $50 1/4 page $225 $25 1/8 page $180 $20

Or Shalom Sisterhood is delighted to announce that you can sponsor an Oneg for any celebration you wish! Friday night and/or Saturday

morning. The Sisterhood will be happy to purchase it and set it up, we only want you to join us and

celebrate! Call Julie Miller at (267) 886-9171 or email Julie at [email protected]

Do you know Unaffiliated Jews in Chester County, Montgomery County

and Delaware County?

Celebrate with an Oneg

Do you have Jewish friends or acquaintances who live in Chester County, Montgomery County and Delaware County who are not already members of a synagogue? If you do, why not invite them to one of the upcoming events at Or Shalom, for example our next Friday night dinner? They may have a good time and decide to come back. They may have such a good time that they decide to become members themselves. According to a recent survey by the Jewish Federation, there are many, many unaffiliated Jews in Chester county. We’d love to contact them, but don’t know who they are. You can help. Todah rabah!


The President’s Column

Don’t me part of the silent majority

It is late October when I am writing this article and it is finally starting to feel like fall. The leaves are turning colors and starting to fall. I am not looking forward to waking up with frost on my car windows in the mornings. We successfully made it through the high holidays. I hope it was as inspirational for you and your family as it was for me and my family. We put the Sukkah put up and we have taken the Sukkah down. Some of us were even fortunate enough to have a service and meal in the Sukkah. A big thank you to everybody that helped with all the jobs that needed to be done. As a follow-up to the holiday services we will be sending a survey out to all members. I really hope you take the time to participate in the survey and provide your feedback. This is another opportunity for you to make Or Shalom a better place. To be more blunt … If you cannot take a couple minutes out of your day to participate in the survey please do not complain later when things change or don’t change based on other people’s input. Salsa dancing is right around the corner (11-November). I look forward to seeing you all out on the dance floor. This is a great opportunity to invite your friends from outside Or Shalom to a night of entertainment, exercise, and socializing. The more the merrier. I want to let you all know how excited I am this New Year that we have two new members to the Or Shalom Board of Directors. Nathan Kasimer and Chuck Brown are newer members of the congregations and have accepted the offer to join the board. It is wonderful to have new members with a strong interest in supporting the shul. We are also very fortunate to have long standing members of the boards that have been work horses for a number of years. I would like to make it clear to all the people who are reading this article. There are plenty of opportunities to help support Or Shalom. Please think about areas that you would like to get involved and reach out. Let me know how you would like to support the shul and we will work to get you

involved. Andy


Mitzvah of the Month Rabbi Jacob Rosner

In the world of my fathers and mothers, in the world of your zeydas and bubbies, a first born son was referred to as “mine kaddishle” (the person who will say kaddish for me). Certainly, in our world Kaddish is not limited to sons. But even in the relatively short time that I have served as a rabbi, I have noticed that fewer and fewer consider this mitzvah to be important in their lives. Every Shabbat I dutifully read a list of yahrzeits for deceased fathers, mothers, spouses, siblings or God forbid children. Too often there is no one to stand for them. The Kaddish was not initially established for mourners. Initially, Kaddish was recited after torah study in praise of God’s greatness. It was composed in Aramaic which was the language spoken by the people.

The question then is: How did the Kaddish come to be associated with mourning?

The ancient rabbis taught that Kaddish was a spiritual connection between child and parent, and served as a way to clear the path in the afterlife for the deceased.

Presumably, our children will be committed to a Jewish life because of how they are brought up. When they live a life of mitzvah, partially guided by the teachings of their parents, they add to their store of mitzvot which will allow them to ascend to higher levels in the world to come.

Our shul is small, and often struggles to get a minyan. It would be so helpful if more of you would attend to say Kaddish.

It has always been my custom to give relatives the opportunity to share something of their loved: a story or a memory that would allow the congregation a bit of an understanding of the deceased.

May we all merit the ability and opportunity to say Kaddish and share the memories of those we love.


From the Education Director Ellen Glassman

OR TAMID RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEWS

In 1913, Chicago attorney Sigmund Livingston founded the Anti-Defamation League, in hopes that the American dream would encompass equality for all and thwart discrimination and threats. Livingston was determined to stop anti-Semitism and defend the Jewish people. Today, the ADL continues to seek justice and fight intimidations to our democracy, bringing awareness and teaching others to stand up against terrorism, hate crimes, bullying, contempt for anyone who is different, coercion of religious minorities, bias in schools and cyber-hate. A few weeks ago, our 7th thru 10th grade students listened to Robin Burstein – Asso-ciate Regional Director of the ADL address, “Hate around the world and in our backyard”. Sponsored by the Men’s Club, Ms. Burstein fueled our students to talk afterwards about the hate they’ve experienced in their schools and communities. It was disturbing and sad to hear that some of our children and teens have dealt with incidents where pennies have been thrown at them in their secular schools and that they have had to combat anti-Semitic slurs, Holocaust denial, fear of wearing their Star of David necklaces to school and bias in the classroom. Asking our students to share what they learned from Ms. Burstein, they were surprised there is a hate group in Broomall and were upset to hear that there is a waiting list for many public schools to connect with the ADL’s “No Place For Hate” program, as in their words, “no school can afford to wait”. Conversation with Hebrew High and Confirmation continued regarding BDS and the fact that anti-Semitism rose 86%in the first 3 months of 2017, and yet incidences have decreased in Europe. The most difficult part of teaching students about anti-Semitism is the fact that we don’t have foolproof strategies to help them combat it. We addressed the importance of standing up for the Jewish people but not at the risk of putting themselves in danger. We brainstormed how to speak up against insensitive jokes and stereotypes and how important it is to respond in a calm and informative manner. Providing a safe forum for our students to learn about and discuss anti-Semitism proved important. These types of programs and conversations will continue in hopes of helping our students stay safe, stand up for what they believe in and strengthen their Jewish pride. Ellen Glassman; Director of Education and Programming


From the Education Director Ellen Glassman (continued)

Nachas Nook Thanks to everyone who participated in the Wesley Enhanced Living Intergenerational 5K and 1 mile walk to defeat dementia and support the Mitzvot of Hiddur P’nay Zakayn – Honoring the Elderly and Al Tashlichani Liate Ziknam – Don’t Forsake Me When I Am Old. It was great to see the generations of children, parents and grandparents run, walk, stroll and hang out with the Phillies Phanatic while raising awareness and funds for the cause! Check out the winners from Or Tamid! Shoshana Blum, Jennifer Pevato, Jennifer Kaplan, (along with her daughter Dalia who ran her 1st 5K today!), Nieta Shapiro and Daniel Grzesik won medals in their age divisions for running a challenging 5K, complete with steep hills! (and Lauren Homel and Jon Kochavi most likely won as well, but there was an error in calculation). Enormous thanks are sent to Rabbi Jacob and Rabbi Blum for leading Minyan with our entire school and helping our students daven. Morah Miriam - you rock! Miriam brought joy to every resident who listened to her play guitar and helped our students sing with heart! I was incredibly proud of our students, as it isn't easy to go into a residential medical unit to sing and interact, especially when the residents are in wheelchairs and many have dementia. Our students were kind, caring and demonstrated great respect for their elders. Thanks to every parent who encouraged their children to attend. (and to those who stayed with us to enjoy and kvell!) Ellen Glassman


november YAHRZEITSnovember YAHRZEITSnovember YAHRZEITS

November 4, Heshvan 15, 5778

Sylvia Koobrick Moyer, mother of Sheila DiDomenico


Eleanore Hayman, mother of Harris Hayman


Herman Bernick, father of Dan Bernick


Paul Sigman, father of Kelly Sigman


Claire Glaser, grandmother of Brett Furman


Joseph Perstein, father of Susan Kaimowitz


William D. Harris, Father of Elizabeth Hyams


Jerome Kornreich, father of Laurie Katz


Sidney Aronoff, father of Marjorie Leonard

November 19, Kislev 1, 5778

Diane Jenkins Cooper, sister of Lane Liebman


David Brown, father of Chuck Brown


Susann Chonoles, wife of Michael Chonoles,

mother of Zev Chonoles

Sadie Scher, mother of Marjorie Schneider


David Barg, father of Irl Barg


Samuel Glaser, grandfather of Brett Furman

Michael Katz, brother of Leslie Jay Katz

Victor Korensky, grandfather of BettyAnn


Contributions

Congregation Or Shalom gratefully

acknowledges the following generous contributions in the month of

September 2017

Hebrew School David & Andrea Allon: Challah Fundraiser 2017 Michael & Gina Arlen: Challah Fundraiser 2017 James & Mindy Bernstein: Challah Fundraiser 2017 Janet & Sarah Emanuel: Challah Fundraiser 2017 Irvin & Janet Hurwitz: Challah Fundraiser 2017 Lisa & Harry Leff: Challah Fundraiser 2017 Harris & Julie Miller: Challah Fundraiser 2017 Building Fund Alan & Susan Daroff: Social Hall Lights David L & Jill S Gordon: In memory of Harriet Friedman (mother of Lisa Leff) Beth Zatuchni & Gerald Satlow: Social Hall Lights Annual Celebration Brenda Belkin & Lawrence Rosen: Latin Fundraiser 2017 Charles G, & Joan N. Brown: Latin 2017 Fundraiser Andrew Levin: Latin 2017 Fundraiser Roslyn Lifshitz: Fall 2017 Fundraiser Morton Aaron Winner: Latin Fundraiser 2017 Beth Zatuchni & Gerald Satlow: Latin Fundraiser 2017 Paul Seres Education Endowment Fund Miriam Seres: memory of Solomon Skolnick Yahrzeit Donations David & Andrea Allon: Memory of Seymour Rose Michael & Zev Chonoles: Memory of Louis Chonoles and Victor Schoenberger Marina Fridman: Memory of Irene and Yefim Udler Scott & Susan Greenberg: Memory of Helen Greenberg David & Florence Hoffritz: memory of Samuel Kesselman & Walter Hoffritz Howard & Jennifer Lurie: Memory of Sarah Lurie BettyAnn Monash: Memory of Eileen Monash Herman & Zora Natanblut: Memory of Corinne & Milton Natanblut Marsha Peltz: Memory of Harold Wachsman, beloved father & grandfather Rabbi's Discretionary fund David & Caryl Keet: Rabbi's Discretionary Fund


GIFT SHOP NEWS

CLOSING SALE

CHANUKAH SALE AT THE OR SHALOM GIFT SHOP

50% off (Exclusions: candles, wine & mezuzah scrolls)

Hours: Sundays, November 5, 12, 19

9:30AM-12:30PM

Tuesdays, November, 21, 28 4:00PM-6:30PM

Saturday, November 11

Open during Salsa Night

Cash, Checks, and Credit Cards Accepted. For information and hours by appointment,

call Sue Daroff 610-644-9320


Upcoming events at Or Shalom

FUNdraiser Party with Latin-Themed Dinner, Music, and Dancing,

including Professional Dance Instructors!

Sponsorship Levels:

"Tango", $500, includes 2 tickets "Salsa", $300, includes 2 tickets

"Cha Cha Cha", $150, includes 1 ticket Individual tickets are $75 each

Couples and Singles Welcome! Bring Friends and Family

Please RSVP with sponsorships and ticket purchases to the office

Please make checks payable to “Congregation Or Shalom”.

Any questions, please email Ellen Gross, at [email protected]

We are grateful for the generous donations of our early bird Sponsors:

Ellen Gross and Jim Patton – “Tango”

Beth Zatuchni and Jerry Satlow – “Salsa” Andy Levine – “Cha Cha Cha”


FRIDAY NIGHT SPEAKER SERIES

BERWYN SYNAGOGUE INVITES PUBLIC TO NOVEMBER 17 LECTURE ON JEWISH-MUSLIM RELATIONS

A Conversation With American Jewish Committee Circle Of Friends Co-Chairs Amid Ismail and Tom Tropp

Berwyn, PA (October 31, 17) – Two leaders of the Muslim and Jewish communities of Greater Philadelphia come to the western mainline to talk religion, politics and friendship. Congrega-tion Or Shalom in Berwyn kicks off a new season of its popular Friday Night Speakers Series with A Conversation About Jewish-Muslim Relations with Dr. Amid Ismail and Tom Tropp. The Friday Night Lecture Series on November 17 begins with 7:30 pm Shabbat services fol-lowed by an 8:15 pm presentation. The series is free, open to congregants and the public. Or Shalom, the western Mainline’s Conservative synagogue, is conveniently located in Berwyn on Route 252, between Lancaster Avenue (Route 30) and Route 3. Dr. Ismail is Dean of Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry in Philadelphia. He has extensive public health, academic, research and community organization experiences. Tom Tropp practiced commercial litigation and family law in Philadelphia for 43 years. He has been active with the Middle East Forum think tank and the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Together the two co-chair American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) Circle of Friends. With approx-imately 30 members representing diverse backgrounds and professions, the Circle of Friends group meets bimonthly, rotating between Muslim and Jewish hosts. They are currently fo-cused on expanding hate crimes legislation locally and nationally, and most recently met with Congressmen Charlie Dent and Brian Fitzpatrick to discuss hate crimes and other issues af-fecting both Muslim and Jewish communities. Their mission is to build relationships between current and future leaders of the Muslim and Jewish communities of the Greater Philadelphia area based on mutual respect, understand-ing, trust and friendship for the purpose of working together to combat acts of prejudice and bigotry directed at either group and/or its members. During their appearance at Congregation Or Shalom they will address three questions – Who are we? What do we stand for as Americans? What is the Circle of Friends? Questions and answers will be encouraged afterwards. The AJC Circle Of Friends lecture is one of many arranged by congregant Warren Hyams who chairs the Friday Night Speakers Series. In the last two years, the roster of speakers has ranged from international travel to lawmakers to diplomats. Recent guest lecturers have in-cluded Cathryn Miller-Wilson, Executive Director of HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) Pennsylvania, North Africa/Middle East travel expert Jerry Sorkin, Congressman Ryan Costel-lo, Pennsylvania State Senator Andy Dinniman and Mid-Atlantic Region Deputy Consul Gen-eral to the Consulate General of Israel Moran Birman.


Social actions


Donations

We would like to thank those who have donated books and other items

to the synagogue. Unfortunately, just like you, we have no space to

accept most of the books and other items that have been donated

unsolicited. Please contact the synagogue office before you drive over

to drop off items. If we can use the items, we will welcome them and

provide a tax letter receipt but if we just have no room for the items you

want to donate, please consider another worthy cause for your donation.

James DiDomenico

Husband of Sheila DiDomenico

Miriam Seres

Membership Directory

The new simplified membership directory and class list is now posted on our web site. It is password protected and will be updated regularly as

members notify the office of changes to their information. Please review it today to make sure information about your

family is correct. If not, contact the office with changes


Sisterhood news Hello everyone. Our year got off to a great start with our sisterhood opening dinner. Thanks to all who attended. A special thanks goes to Beth Burak who did so much work to make this dinner the success that it was. On December 14th we will be cooking Latkes for the Chanukah dinner (which takes place on 12/16). We hope to see you at both events. Please call Mindy if you can help with the Chanukah dinner preparation and cleanup. Details for these two events will be posted in weekly up-dates and in the December Horizons. Please mark your calendars now. Other dates to mark on your calendar include: An evening of painting - January 31 (tentative) Preparation of Shalach Manot bags - February 22 Sisterhood Shabbat - May 5 Sisterhood closing dinner - May 30 If you have ideas for other events or get together, please contact Mindy or Laurie Thanks to everyone who has paid their sisterhood dues! We were able to collect dues from nearly everyone who attended the opening dinner. If you were not at the dinner and would still like to support sisterhood, please send your dues - only $36 this year - to LP at the Or Shalom office. Make your check out to “Or Shalom Sisterhood.” Mindy and Laurie Sisterhood co-presidents Mindy (610-467-1128) Laurie (610-999-9602)


(Not So) Basic Judaism Rabbi Jacob offers a Basic Judaism class for adults each Monday evening, from 7:30 to 8:30. The focus will be on learning about the holidays, life cycle events, great Jewish books and more. The Rabbi promises that even the most knowledgeable will find something new and intriguing in this class.

Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class Rabbi Jacob invites any adult seeking to have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, to schedule private lessons with him.

Other One-on-One Classes with Rabbi Jacob Rabbi is offering one-on-one classes at your convenience on many Jewish topics such

as: Learning to read or speak Hebrew, synagogue skills, bible, Mishna, etc. You can even name your own class! Please email the office at [email protected] to schedule your class with the Rabbi now.

Classes with Rabbi Jacob


2018 UPCOMING EVENTS


Or Shalom Donation Form

I would like to help support Or Shalom. I have specified each donation and I have included one check for the total amount payable to Or Shalom. Please send all donations to: Congregation Or Shalom, 835 Darby Paoli Road, Berwyn PA 19312

Name____________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________ Fund #________Amount $________ Phone #___________________ Made in memory of________________________________________ Made in honor of__________________________________________ Speedy Recovery__________________________________________ Send acknowledgment to (include address)

Name____________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________ Fund #________Amount $________ Phone #___________________ Made in memory of________________________________________ Made in honor of__________________________________________ Speedy Recovery__________________________________________ Send acknowledgment to (include address)

Definition of Funds

1. Building Fund: Donations are used for the continuous upkeep of our building. These funds help offset unexpected expenses such as A/C, Heater, roof repair and any emergency repairs to our facility. 2. Beautification Fund: Donations are used for the upkeep of our grounds. Trees, plants, mulch, etc.

3. Biblical Garden Fund: Donations are used to maintain and support our biblical garden. 4. Paul Seres Education Endowment Fund: This fund is maintained to provide interest income for restricted use by the synagogue for Education.

5. General Fund: All monies donated to this fund will supplement the current year’s budget.

6. Hebrew School: Funds are used for the needs of the Religious School. Examples: Bulletin boards, books and school supplies, etc. 7. Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund: The Rabbi uses these funds for charitable purpose. Donations to this fund can be made directly to the synagogue office.

8. Social Action: Donations will be used for all social action events and programs. Any questions to this fund should be addressed to Gina Arlen at [email protected]. 9. Tree of Life: A leaf can be purchased to honor or commemorate any important life event. The cost of a leaf is $180.00 which will be displayed in our foyer. For more information please contact office at 610-644-9086

10. Yahrzeit Plaque: Two plaques can be purchased for $360.00. The first would be a permanent plaque on the back wall of the sanctuary. The second plaque would be placed during the week of the Yahrzeit on the memorial wall in the front of the sanctuary. Additional information will be requested when purchasing a plaque. Please contact Ellen Gross at [email protected] for more information.

11. Oneg: Sponsor an Oneg for Friday night and /or Saturday morning for any celebration you with. The cost is $45.00 and the Sisterhood will purchase and set it up. Checks should be made payable to Or Shalom Sisterhood

mailto:[email protected]

heshvan, 5778 kislev, 5778 in this issue€¦ · today, the adl continues to seek justice and fight...

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