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The Centre CallG E R M A N T O W N J E W I S H C E N T R E
Volume 19, Issue No. 1 ELUL 5770 SEPTEMBER 2010
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
Each year, in preparation for RoshHashanah, we review the past 12
months of our lives. How well did wetreat others? How much did we learn?How deeply did we engage our creativi-ty? How frequently did we despair?How far did we stretch our minds? Andhow broadly did we understand thechoices we made? Then, as we enter thenew year, we have a choice to make.We can let our regrets and our self-criti-cism keep us trapped in the cycles of thepast. Or we can gather our courage andforge a new way for ourselves, taking inthe lessons of the past, but movingbeyond them into a fresh future.
This year at GJC we are helping eachother along the courageous path ofgrowth and change both through somenew High Holiday programming andthrough the focus of our Adult Educationofferings, so I wanted to take this oppor-tunity to highlight some of these newofferings and to encourage everyone totake advantage of them.
New High Holiday programs for children & adults
On Erev Rosh Hashanah, I will beleading a new Tot Rosh Hashanah serv-ice for families with young children,including songs, stories, and activities tointroduce our youngest members to thejoy of the New Year, the birthday of theworld. For teenagers, there will be anew discussion group meeting on themornings of Rosh Hashanah and YomKippur to engage in learning with peersfocused on the meaning of the High
Holidays for teens. Also, for the first timewe will be offering an inclusive HighHoliday service called Kol Rinah gearedfor children with special needs on themornings of the holidays.
On both Rosh Hashanah and YomKippur, we will be offering multiple newoptions for adults to engage in the holidaysin different ways. Torah-centered Yogaclasses, a meditation room for quiet reflec-tion, and intensive text study on thethemes of the holidays are some of theoptions we will have available. Of course,we will also have all of our traditionalHigh Holiday offerings: childcare for ouryoungest children; age-appropriate HighHoliday services for children at three dif-ferent levels (Ginat Hag, Oranim Noraim,and Jr. Congregation); our three adult serv-ices; the Bregman program on Yom Kippurafternoon; and more! Please come andexplore it all, and bring along those whoare interested in GJC to see all that weoffer!
Adult Education 2010-11: New focuson Text Study
Text study has been a central Jewishactivity for at least the last 2,000 years.GJC’s identity as a Beit Midrash – a placefor deep and intense engagement with thetexts of Jewish tradition – is core to oursense of ourselves. Why?
The great Rabbi Louis Finkelstein, thelong-time Chancellor of the JewishTheological Seminary, was often quoted assaying, “When I pray, I talk to God; when Istudy, God talks to me.” We gather togeth-er to study Jewish texts in communitybecause they contain within them thehighest values and aspirations of theJewish people. They are a record of a peo-ple striving to encounter and understand
Program HighlightsSelichot: Singing Before the Gates,
Sacred Poetry & MusicSeptember 4
Stefan Presser Memorial Shabbat(Dorshei Derekh &
Social Action Committee)September 11
Yom Kippur Oscar BregmanMemorial Program on
Sustainable Energy withCongresswomen Allyson Schwartz &
Professor Ken Lande September 18
Sukkah Walk & Family Havurah Gathering
September 25
GJC Celebrates! Sukkot & Hands on Holiday Events
September 26
Putting the New in New Year
the divine. Rabbi Finkelstein’s words are also a
challenge. The texts of the Jewish tradi-tion can speak to us in God’s voice, butonly if we fulfill the mitzvah of studyingthem – not just reading them, but study-ing them to wring from them every lastounce of meaning. This kind of studyrequires serious work, and it requireshelp. We need not only teachers tohelp us along the way, but also com-panions to study with, to challenge us,and to make us see things we have not
Rava said: On the day you are brought into judgment, you are asked: Did you have integrity in your deal-ings with others? Did you set aside time for learning? Did you use your power to create? Did you keepalive your hope for salvation? Did you delve deep into wisdom? Did you gain understanding of what onething teaches you about another? (Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 31a)
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After an excitingspring, my first
two months asPresident of
Germantown Jewish Centre have beenspent with the professional staff, officersand committee chairs developing someof our goals for the coming year.Working with this group it is easy to seewhy GJC was named one of the 25 mostdynamic synagogues in the UnitedStates. We have an extraordinary num-ber of talented and dedicated individualsin our lay and professional leadership.GJC is not just a dynamic synagogue. Itis a warm, vibrant community and aplace that many of us call home.
Obviously, one important task for thecoming year will be the transitionprocess. The Transition Committee hasrecommended and the Board hasapproved a plan by which we will take ayear's breather to collectively identifywhere we are and where we would liketo go in the years to come. During thistime, Rabbi Zeff will serve as our Rabbi.The Committee is beginning to work onthe process by which that will all takeplace and I look forward to hearing fromyou about what you would like to see.
Our Leadership DevelopmentCommittee is looking to identify the next
generation of leaders of our shul. Wehave a strong group of potential leadersamongst our “younger” members and arelooking forward to many of them step-ping up to the plate and assuming lead-ership positions. Our newly formedChesed Committee is working to developsome interesting programs that will,amongst other things, increase our out-reach to members in need – for example,because of a loss in the family or perhapsbecause of an addition to the family. Ifyou are interested in getting involved inthe Chesed Committee or this particularproject please contact our MembershipDirector, Nina Peskin. I hope that wewill continue to develop a culture of vol-unteerism and a culture of volunteerappreciation.
Our House & Design Committee hasspent some time studying the buildingand its uses. There are some improve-ments that we would like to see made.For example, we would like to expandthe Early Childhood Program as well ascreate a space that can accommodate150-200 people. These are good “prob-lems” to have. Our programs are attract-ing more and more people. To accom-plish these goals our DevelopmentCommittee will be starting to work onlaying the groundwork for a capital cam-
paign. On this front, we will be workingon developing a culture of giving.
I look forward to the coming twoyears, even though I feel a bit intimidat-ed, and I welcome and appreciate thesupport so many of you have offered.Believe me, I will be calling on you!Congregations like GJC don't just hap-pen. They require vision, they requirehard work and dedication from volun-teers like all of you and they require com-promise. I believe that one key to oursuccess has been our ability to allow ourdistinct constituent communities, thecommunities within our community, toflourish on their own while also recog-nizing that we are all a part of a greaterwhole. We all have the same goal--astrong, dynamic and vibrant congrega-tion. We may sometimes differ in exact-ly what that means and in exactly how toget there but we cannot ever lose sight ofthe fact that we are all persons of goodfaith striving towards that end. I ask foryour support and understanding in thatprocess. As with so many things in life,you get out of it what you put into it andI have always found the work that I havedone here to be satisfying in the end,even if it had a few bumps along the way.
Shana Tova to you all.
The Coming YearBy Chris Levin, GJC President
President’s Message
seen before.This year, text study will be the focus
of many of our Adult Education courses,and this theme will be highlighted inNovember when GJC participates in aGlobal Day of Jewish Learning onNovember 7, with our Rabbi Elias CharryMemorial Weekend scholar-in-residenceJudith Klitsner, as well as other programsthroughout the year. Whether studyingthe words of the Torah, the writings ofMaimonides, the mystical teachings ofthe Zohar, the wisdom of the tradition onthe Jewish life cycle, or the calligraphy ofthe Hebrew language, these courses willopen us to the deep learning that Jewishtexts contain.
Rabbi’s Message Continued from page 1
GJC has cemetery plots for sale at King David Cemetery in the
Northeast.
Questions? Contact Rachel Gross inthe Office.
Embrace the newAs we enter the new year, I encourage
all of us to try something new, to openourselves up to ideas and activities thatwe may not have encountered before, tostretch and grow in new ways that wemay not have previously imagined. TheNew Year stretches out before us like ablank canvas, waiting for us to fill it withlearning, growing, and engaging withJewish tradition and with each other,enhancing the meaning of our lives innew and exciting ways.
-Cheryl and our sons, Zeke, Avi, &Mati, join me in wishing you a new yearfull of the blessings of health, happiness,joy, and peace. L’shanah tovah!
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
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IN CELEBRATION…Susan & Ken Weiss on their daughter
Naomi, graduating from Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University
Stuart & Shari Feldman on the birth of their son, Samuel Mitchell
David Kanthor & Burgandy Holiday on their marriage Sandy & Jim Meyer on their 44th wedding anniversaryLeona & Scott Goldshaw on the birth of their daughter,
Miriam Shoshanah GoldshawRabbi Leonard Gordon and Dr. Lori Lefkovitz on their new
jobs and move to BostonBeth Rosenbaum on her 50th birthdayLila Booth on her 80th birthdayAaron Weber in his 89th birthdayMaxine & Maurice Feldman on their granddaughter's
Bat MitzvahSharon Webber on being named Congregant of the YearMaxine Margolies on being named Congregant of the YearRachel Falkove & Michael Masch on being honored at the
GJC Spring ConcertRabbi Leonard Gordon and Dr. Lori Lefkovitz on the graduation
of their daughter Samara, from Barrack Hebrew AcademyLinda & Jake Kriger on the graduation of their son Daniel Solway
from Barrack Hebrew AcademyKathy & George Amrom on the graduation of their daughter Aria,
from Barrack Hebrew AcademyAndrea & Edward Rock on the graduation of their daughter
Miriam, from Barrack Hebrew AcademyDonald Joseph for his many years of dedication as
Treasurer for Dorshei DerekhAnna Herman for her excellent accomplishments as
Minyan Coordinator for Dorshei DerekhHilda & Paul Minkoff on the birth of their grandson,
Noah Avi MinkoffConnie Katz on being recognized by Ben Gurion University &
the Philadelphia Women's Division State of Israel BondsRabbi Dayle Friedman on her receiving an honorary
Doctorate from HUCMichael Feinberg on being named President of the
PA Psychiatric SocietyLeah & Norm Schwartz on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson,
Shlomo Zalman Schwartz and on the birth of their great-granddaughter, Batsheva Nadler, both in Israel
Peter Kuriloff on receiving a teaching award from the Graduate School of Education from University of PA
Jeremy Brochin on his retirement from Hillel, University of PANina Gordon and Lou Walinsky on the marriage of their
daughter Naomi Gordon-Walinsky to Gary KingAlice & Richard Mandel on their 45th anniversaryCarol & Marty Kaplan on the birth of their great grandson,
Elisha, son of Galit & Moshe BoutavyaPenina Kelberg & Mike Gross on the birth of their
twin daughtersLauren & Andy Siegel on the baby naming of their daughter
Shayna AbbyLyndall & Chuck Miller on the Aufruf and wedding of their
daughter, Kelilah Miller and Sean Leber-FennessyAdina & Norman Newberg on the birth of their grandson,
Lev ShimonRabbi Dayle Freidman on being named one of the 50 most
influential women rabbis in America Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer on being named one of the 50
most influential women rabbis in America
IN MEMORIAMRuth Seldin, mother of Alex SeldinJoseph Brownstein, father of Eleanor BrownsteinSydell Kramer Norman Gitman, father of Steve GitmanGeorge Erlbaum, father of Sheila Erlbaum
REFUAH SHLEIMAH
(June 9 – Aug 9, 2010)
Gloria GeisslerMarilyn Kraut
Shabbat Chai-LitesSeptember 11
• Stefan Presser Memorial Shabbat (Dorshei Derekh &Social Action Committee)
September 18• Yom Kippur (special schedule)
September 25• Sukkah Walk
• Prospective Member Shabbat & Open House• Family Havurah
October 8-9• Tot Shabbat
• Bat Mitzvah of Naomi Hollo (Minyan Masorti)
October 16• Aufruf of Daniel Schwartz & Lauren Ende (Charry Service)
October 23• Israel Shabbat with Guest Speaker Consul
General Daniel Kutner (Charry Service)
October 30• Bat Mitzvah of Rebecca Spivack (Charry Service)
Kabbalat Shabbat: Fridays at 6 PM
Shabbat Morning Services: Saturdays at 10 AM
NEW MEMBERS• Edward & Mari Siegel
• Bryan Schwartzman & Amy Weinberg• Tamara Cohen & Gwynn Kessler & Family
• Gary Crawford & Marsha Zibalese-Crawford & Family
• Leslie Hilgeman• Nia Key
• Andy & Lauren Siegel & Family• Sue Rochman & Family
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www.GermantownJewishCentre.org4
Sundays at 10 AM$5 per session
For more info call TamarMagdovitz at 215-247-9614
ISRAELI DANCING
Welcome Shabbat with Rabbi Adam Zeff in a celebration specially geared for toddlers, preschoolers and their families!
Does your child like to….Sing, clap hands and play bells?
Dance around? Listen to puppet stories?
Do you like to…Welcome Shabbat with other
young families?Not have to worry about kids
being kids?
Join us at 6 pm for a program & celebration followed by asimple yet delicious catered dinner (around 6:30 pm)
Cost is $5 per person (adults & children)
ADVANCED REGISTRATION & PAYMENT NECESSARY
Save the Dates!9/8 – Tot Rosh Hashanah
10/8 – Tot Shabbat
11/19 – Tot Shabbat
1/21 – Tot Shabbat
2/5 – Tot Shabbat/Ginat Shabbat in the Charry Service (Saturday morning)
2/12 – Tot Havdallah (Saturday night)
4/1 – Tot Shabbat
5/20 – Tot Shabbat
6/17 – Tot Shabbat
Tot Shabbat & HolidaysWednesday, September 8 –
Tot Rosh HashanahFriday, October 8 –
Tot Shabbat
Early Childhood Program (ECP)
This year, CampKeshet learned allabout things in the sea.The Camden Aquariumcame out and showedthe children sea creatures. They sawturtles, snakes, bears,penguins and seals.
Camp Keshet’s second theme for thesummer was high inthe sky. Briar BushNature Center came tothe camp with a blowup planetarium.The children wentinside and learnedabout some of theplanets, constellationsand looked at the starsfor shapes such as animals.
Briar Bush also taught the children about the planets andhow to see into the sky using a telescope. The childrenloved looking at the planets and the moon through the telescope.
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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
Member Spotlight by Linda Kriger
and health professions services as thedirector of business process manage-ment.”
Judy came to her love for Judaismthrough her paternal grandmother, whohad come from an extremely Orthodoxbackground, yet married a Socialist whohad to flee Poland. “My grandmotherwas so learned for a woman of her timein Poland. She’s why I’m the only one ofmy family who’s observant. We were sit-ting upstairs in shul one Shabbat and Iasked her why the men were sittingdownstairs closer to the Torah. She said,“Don’t worry about it. They’re closer tothe Torah but we’re closer to God.”
Judy went to Hebrew school andwhile living at home she’d go to shulmost of the time by herself. “I found itall very compelling. I had a strongJewish identity, and love of Jewish learn-ing. One of the things that was transfor-mative about moving to Michigan is thatin New York, there are so many Jews thatyou can feel Jewish without participat-ing in the community. But when youmove to Ann Arbor, you have to affiliate.Judy was also active through her serviceto the Washtenaw County JewishCommunity Association, and was co-chair of the Community Relations com-mittee.
When she moved to Philadelphia,friends from her Havurah in Ann Arborrecommended that she try GJC’s MinyanMasorti. “I came here and I never left.It’s sort of in between Conservative andOrthodox for me. The people are won-derful. I started making new Jewishfriends.”
Which brings us back to how andwhy Judy started organizing trips to thetheater and inviting people from GJC tojoin her. “I had a long engagement tosomeone I met right after my father died,and it ended in 2008. I was living on myown again and I didn’t always want todo things by myself. It occurred to methat I might not be the only person who
years, and because I was so advanced,they told me I’d have to take all thesegraduate courses in biology. Instead, Ichanged my major to psychology, whichhad the least number of required courses,so I could finish quickly. So I have a psy-chology degree with high distinction, spe-cializing in cognitive psychology from theUniversity of Michigan,” she said.
Armed, finally, with her collegedegree, Judy then began working on aMasters in Information Science and wentback to work at the University ofMichigan medical school. Rather thanreturning to research, she worked in med-ical education while finishing her Mastersdegree. That was a decision driven by hersingle motherhood. “It’s very hard whenyou’re a research scientist to be a mother,because experiments don’t always end ontime. I couldn’t be at day care exactly at 5.Although I loved the academic environ-ment, I did not make much moneybecause I was not an MD. So I went towork for a Thomson Reuters medicalinformation company where I doubled mysalary, just in time to get Daniel a car andbegin paying college tuition.”
Judy stayed in Michigan until 1999,when her son left for Beloit College inWisconsin and her friend Lisa recruitedher to work as vice president of operationsfor a company in Wilmington DE. “Imoved to West Chester,” she said. “Myson was off to college, and I came backEast myself with my two cats.” During thistime, Judy received an MBA fromMichigan State University, flying back toMichigan almost every weekend.
“I had just moved to Philadelphia anddidn’t know a soul. I lived in theWashington West area. I made one closefriend, Shleah (also now a member ofMinyan Masorti), but knew very few peo-ple since I did not work in town. Then Igot a call that my father in Florida couldno longer live alone so I moved him upand he lived with me. I spent the next yearand a half taking care of him,” sherecalled. “Then I realized I needed to goback to work. One of the reasons I put offtaking a job is I knew he’d hang in there“taking care of me” until I got a job.” Judygot a job at the National Board of MedicalExaminers in March, 2003, and her fatherdied at the end of June. She has nowworked there for almost for 7 ½ years. “Icurrently work in the medical education
Judith Miller created the outing club atGJC, now being called GJC Tiyulim
(Trips) in a way that many programs hereare created, from the ground up. Shehad a personal need, found a solution tothe need, and watched as her individualidea morphed into a full-blown commu-nity-building project.
But let’s back up. Judy was born on Valentine’s Day
1953 in the Bronx, where she could seeYankee Stadium from her bedroom win-dow. She was raised in Baldwin Harbor,Long Island. When asked where shewent to college, she says, “Wherehaven’t I gone?” She started studyingBiology in college while still in highschool – she took college courses atColumbia University. She then went toVassar, which had just become co-ed,although her mother didn’t tell herfather that, because he was worried thatboys would call her all the time the waythey did when she was the only girl inher class at Columbia. He worried thatshe wouldn’t get any work done.
Judy majored in biology at Vassar buthad to leave after her junior year to takecare of her ailing mother. When hermother partially recovered, Judith got aresearch job at Cornell Medical Collegeand then another at Sloan KetteringMemorial Cancer Center, without hav-ing earned a Bachelors degree. She mar-ried one of the researchers in her groupand moved to Ann Arbor, Michiganwhere she remained for 21 years. Alongthe way, she acquired a Michiganaccent.
In Ann Arbor, Judy continued to workin the Medical research field - still with-out a college degree – until she took ayear off when her son, Daniel, was born.Daniel, who will be 30 in December,lives in Seattle and works as a senioraccount executive at a technology com-pany. When in Philadelphia, he oftenattends Minyan Masorti Shabbat servic-es with Judy despite his jet lag. Shewent back to work when her son was ayear old and met her "BFF” (best friendforever) and now roommate, LisaDailey.
“When my husband and I gotdivorced, we agreed that since I hadsupported him through graduate school,he would support me while I completedmy B.A. I had to do a minimum of two
Judith Miller
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wanted to go out. I remember going to amuseum with two friends and I said I’dorganize an outing. Before I knew it, Iwas organizing all these outings. I’d sendout emails, ‘Who wants to go see “YooHoo Mrs. Goldberg” and “My Name isAsher Lev” and we’d have a dozen or twodozen people going to see things.
“Last year Rabbi Gordon and thenGJC President, Howard Treatman heardabout it and asked me to make it a syna-gogue-wide group, which is where it’sgoing now. I began to meet people inother parts of the synagogue. We neverfelt that Outing Club was a great name,and recently Rabbi Zeff suggested we callit GJC Tiyulim (trips in Hebrew). NinaPeskin, GJC’s new Membership Director,is going to help me broaden the reach ofthe group. I’ve found free software thatwill help me organize the trips instead ofdoing everything by email and by hand.”
Judy is now treasurer of the synagogueand a member of the ExecutiveCommittee. She belongs to the Women’sClub and the synagogue’s book club(People of the Book) as well. “I startedmaking lots of friends and enjoyingmyself.” Outside of GJC, she is on theboard of the Haim Yassky Hadassahgroup, where she co-chairs Programmingwith her close friend Jaci Tusman (ofDorshei Derekh).
She moved to Mt. Airy a year ago intoan “enormous Mt. Airy apartment that’salmost bigger than the house I had inBala Cynwyd.” Her “BFF” Lisa is sharingthe apartment. “Lisa also took time offfrom work when her mother was sick.Then her mother died and she startedlooking for work again in the recession. Iinvited her to leave New Jersey and tomove to Philadelphia with her dogClancy, staying with me while she looks
for work in human resources. Peoplefrom the synagogue have been greathelping her network. She’s Catholic, andshe runs a tight kosher kitchen in theapartment. Everything’s labeled andcolor-coded. She’ll hold up a can andsay, ‘I don’t know if this heksher is anygood. Is it?’”
Judy stresses that her grandparentsand parents both taught her that tikkunolam (repair of the world) extendsbeyond the Jewish community. “Theytold me it’s important to do things in theworld and not isolate yourself. I’vealways been involved in communitythings.”
It’s all about building community.
Germantown Jewish Centre Men’s Club members, familyand friends enjoyed (or perhaps suffered through) a
marathon Camden Riversharks game versus the Newark Bearson Sunday, August 1. The Riversharks lost, 19-11, in a fourhour, six minute game with 32 hits. Unfortunately, none of uswere fans hardy enough to stay until the end to enjoy freeTurkey Hill ice cream after the game.
Men’s Club NewsBy Ken Weiss & Rod Griffith
Men’s Club Co-Presidents
Member Spotlight Continued from page 5
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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
Women’s Club News
Membership Update
A Cry from the HeartBy Judy Schwartz & Bev SomersonWomen’s Club Co-Presidents
Bev and I were recently discussing theHigh Holidays and the sound of the
shofar. Both of us expressed that at timeswe are scared of the sound of the shofarand at other moments exalted. We did alittle research on the sounding of theShofar and have decided to share it.Perhaps you too have wondered aboutthe awesomeness of the experience. TheTorah tells us to sound a shofar on RoshHashanah. Even though this is a divinedecree, we can understand its purpose.The sounding of the shofar is like a cryfrom deep within us to express regret forthe past and to say that we are deter-mined to do better in the future.
There are many symbolic elements tothe sounding of the shofar on RoshHashanah. Here are three:
1. It is the beginning of Creationwhen God created the world and becameits Sovereign. We sound trumpets whenwe want to glorify royalty and declareour subservience and so we sound theshofar to show that we accept God’sdominion over us.
2. Since Rosh Hashanah is the firstday of the Ten Days of Repentance, we
sound the shofar to proclaim this periodof repentance. So too did royalty havetrumpets sounded to announce theirdecrees.
3. The revelation at Mt. Sinai wasalso accompanied by the sounds of theshofar. We show our acceptance of theevent when we too sound the shofar.
The shofar is blown 100 times duringeach of the two days of Rosh Hashanah.Hearing the sound of the shofar is a mitz-vah and its blasts act as wake up calls.Rosh Hashanah is the time of the year torise up out of our spiritual slumber, torepent, and to recommit ourselves todoing better. The sounds of the shofarhelp us to open our hearts, regret oursins, and lead us to repentance. Webelieve that God is compassionate andjust and that our prayers for forgivenesswill be accepted.
Traditonaly there are specific foodsassociated with Rosh Hashanah. Three ofthese are apples, honey, and carrots. Webegin the holiday meal by dipping theapple in honey and asking God to blessus with a sweet, good year. We also cookwith honey and eat honey cake. Carrotsare eaten for their sweetness and becausethe Yiddish word for carrot means “toincrease” and we want all good things toincrease during the year. The Hebrew
word for carrot is gezer. Gezer comesfrom the same Hebrew root as “judg-ment.” We want all of our judgments,gezeirot, to be positive, good, and sweet.
L’Shanah Tovah TikatevuMay you be inscribed in the Book of Lifefor a good year.
We enjoyed a splendid turnoutat our annual Summer
Sampler event designed to givecurrent, new and prospectivemembers a taste of the year tocome at GJC. A special thanks toour Membership Committee andmany other volunteers for makingthe evening a success!
Save the Date!
Women’s Club Book Review (co-sponsored by GJC’s People of theBook Group)
Please join us for a Book Reviewon Tuesday, September 21st at 7 PM atthe home of Connie Katz. Coffee anddessert to follow. Bev Rosen willreview Philadelphia’s 2010-2011 OneBook One Jewish Community(OBOJC) selection By Fire, By Waterby Mitchell James Kaplan. Bev is astimulating, informing and interestingspeaker; you’ll enjoy her review evenif you haven’t read the book! See youthere!
Books are available for purchasein the GJC office at the discountedprice of $10 each. Contact the officeor drop by to get your copy.
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High Holiday & Sukkot Services
2010/5771
Day/Date
Service
Charry Service
Minyan Masorti
Dorshei Derekh
Children’s Services
Child Care
Sat., Sep. 4 Selichot 9:30pm Havdallah & Refreshments; Program & Service at 10:00pm
Wed., Sep. 8 Erev Rosh Hashanah 7:00pm [CS]
6:00pm Tot
Rosh Hashanah
Thu., Sep. 9 Rosh Hashanah 9:00am [CS] 9:00am [CAN] 9:30am [MAR] 11:00am 9:00am-2:00pm
Tashlich Meet at the Synagogue at 4:00pm
Mincha/Maariv 7:45pm [MC]
Fri., Sep. 10 Rosh Hashanah 9:00am [CS] 9:00am [CAN] 9:30am [MAR] 11:00am 9:00am-2:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00pm [MAS]
Sat., Sep. 11 Shabbat Shuvah 10:00am [CS] 10:00am [MAS] 10:00am [CAN]
Presser Shabbat
Regular Children’s Shabbat Offerings
Sun., Sep. 12 Fast of Gedalya 9:00am [MC]
Fri., Sep. 17 Kol Nidrei 6:00pm [CS] 6:00pm [CAN] 6:00pm [MAR] 6:00pm [MAS]
Family Service
6:00– 9:00pm
Sat., Sep. 18 Yom Kippur 9:00am [CS] 9:00am [CAN] 9:30am [MAR] 11:00am 9:00am – 2:00pm
Yizkor Aprx. 11:30am Aprx. 11:30am Aprx. Noon
Oscar Bregman Prog. 2:30pm [CS]
Services Resume 5:00pm [CS] 5:00pm [CAN] 5:15pm [MAR]
Neilah 6:30pm [CS] 6:30pm [CAN] 6:45pm [MAR] 6:30-8:15 pm
Blow Shofar 7:48pm [CS] 7:48pm [CAN] 7:48pm [MAR]
8:00pm [MAS] Break-the-Fast
Thu., Sep. 23 Sukkot Day 1 10:00am [CAN] 10:00am [MAS]
Fri., Sep. 24 Sukkot Day 2 10:00am [CAN]
Erev Shabbat 6:00 pm [MAS]
Sat., Sep. 25 Shabbat/Sukkot Day 3 1:00pm Sukkah Walk
Sun., Sep. 26 Sukkot Day 4 9:00am Morning Minyan [MC]
11:00 am GJC Celebrates! Sukkot: Trip to Weaver’s Way Farm
Wed., Sep. 29 Hoshanah Rabah 6:00 am [CS]
Dorshei Derekh
Simchat Torah
7:30pm [CAN]
Thu., Sep. 30 Shemini
Atzeret/Yizkor
10:00am [CS]
Yizkor
10:00am [CAN]
Yizkor 10:00am [MAS]
(Simchat Torah
Service, Yizkor)
Simchat Torah Service 7:00pm [CS]
GJC Celebrates!
8:00pm 7:00pm [CS]
GJC Celebrates!
Fri., Oct. 1 Simchat Torah Service Simchat Torah Service (CS and MM
together) 9:30am [MAR]
Erev Shabbat 6:00 pm [MAS]
CS: Charry Sanctuary MAR: Marcus Auditorium MAS: Maslow Auditorium CAN: Temin Canteen Room MC: Magil Chapel
Parents must pre-register for Childcare and Children’s Services.
Forms are available in the main office & education office.
9www.GermantownJewishCentre.org
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
PEOPLE OF THE BOOKGJC’s Jewish Book Reading Group
We meet monthly on Tuesdays at 7:15pm at Big BlueMarble Bookstore on Carpenter Lane in Mt. Airy. We
read fiction and nonfiction books of Jewish interest writtenmostly, but not solely, by Jewish writers and chosen by thegroup. Volunteer group members lead the discussion.
For more information, contact Dena Lake [email protected] or 215-233-1414.
Tuesday, September 14 By Fire, By Water by Mitchell Kaplan(Philadelphia’s One Book One JewishCommunity 2010-2011 Selection, ForSale in the GJC Office for $10).
Tuesday, October 5Friendly Fire: A Duet
by A.B. Yehoshua
DIVRAY CHINUCH…a few words from the GJC Education Department
Generously supported by the GJC Women’s Club
As we approach the high holidays, amidst the self-evaluationand reflection that are an important part of our Jewish lives
during the month of Elul, we can’t help but share with you our excitement as we begin a new year, 5771, in the Education Department. Religious School, Teen Institute,Shabbat Programming, and GJC Celebrates the Holidays willall begin on the dates below. And here’s some of what’s newthis year!!!
˙ We will begin to rejuvenate our youth social programs witha Kadima group for our 4th and 5th graders. Led by LeahCorsover, our new Kadima Coordinator, we look forward to anexciting year of fun activities for this age group.
˙ Our 8th and 9th grade students will be invited to participatein what we hope will be the first annual GJC Teen Trip. Theywill brave the winter, and head north in February for a week-end of study (Judaism and Environmentalism) and snow sport.
˙ A new Rosh Hodesh group for girls will be added to the pro-grams that GJC sponsors, bringing the number of active RoshHodesh groups to three. We currently sponsor two groups of8th grade young women, as well as this new 6th grade group.
˙ We will be adding the Marching Musical Minyan to our reg-ular repertoire of Shabbat Programming. No beginning datehas been set, but we will let you know when we’ll restart thispopular program.
Here is the list of starting dates - make sure they’re on yourcalendars, and we look forward to seeing you then!! Look outfor more details through emails, snail mails, the GJC Web-site,or certainly feel welcome to give us a call!!
BEGINNING DATES:
September 11 Beginning of Regular Shabbat Programming
September 12 GJC Community Visit to King David Cemetery
September 19 Opening Day of Religious School
September 26 GJC Celebrates Sukkot
October 6 Opening Day of Teen Institute and Confirmation
October 9 First Day of Shabbat BBMM (Bar and Bat Mitzvah Mehina)
October 16 First Day of Sunday BBMM (Parents and Students)
Please consider making a planned gift to theGermantown Jewish Centre’s endowment fund.
Planned gifts come in many forms, including, forexample, charitable gift annuities, life insurance,
trusts, or even a bequest in your will. Recentchanges in the tax laws allow those over 701⁄2 years
of age to make tax-free distributions to charitiesfrom their IRAs through 2007. (Consult your tax
advisor for details.)
For more information about how you can join theNer Tamid Society, call
Rachel Gross, 215-844-1507 ext.12
Join the Ner Tamid Society
by Making a Planned Gift
E L U L 5 7 7 0 • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0
www.GermantownJewishCentre.org10
Hazak
It has been a long hot summer and has hopefully cooled offby the time you are reading this. We all looked forward to
Opera Under the Stars and Sam Feinberg did not disappointus. Between the music, the wine and seeing old friends, whoneeds to go to New York? Our membership is ever increasing;it’s never too late to pay the modest $10 Hazak Membershipfee. Members can attend all programs for free. Why pay the$5 per program guest fee? If you’ve already paid your 2010-2011 dues, thanks! If not, it’s never too late.
We are looking forward to our Paid Up MembershipBrunch on Sunday, October 3 and don’t forget about our BookGroup on Wednesday, October 11. Sid August will start us offby leading a discussion on The Rosendorf Quarter and then inNovember we will discuss The Glass House. Mark your cal-endars with the complete Hazak Calendar (see below). Moredetails will follow. We wish you A Happy Healthy New Year!
Sun. 10/3 Paid Up Brunch, 10:00 amWed. 10/13 Book Group, 10:00 amWed. 11/10 Book Group, 10:00 amWed. 11/17 Program, 1:00 pmWed. 12/8 Program, 1:00 pmWed. 1/12 Book Group, 10:00 amWed. 2/9 Book Group, 10:00 amWed. 1/26 Program, 1:00 pmWed. 3/9 Book Group, 10:00 amWed. 3/23 Program, 1:00 pmWed. 4/13 Book Group, 10:00 amWed. 5/11 Book Group, 10:00 amSat. 5/14 Hazak Shabbat, 10:00 amWed. 6/15 Book Group, 10:00 amSun. 6/19 Program, 10:00 am
Hazak is the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’sorganization for Jewish men and women, 55 years and older.The name HAZAK is an acronym. The het stands for Hokhma(wisdom), that zayan for Ziknah (maturity) and the kuph forKadima (looking ahead). The Rhea Shils Chapter of Hazak atGermantown Jewish Centre has offered programs that appealto a wide audience since 2003.
Programming for Adults 55+By Hazak Chair, Cherie Goren The High Holidays are
EARLY, come to theLittle Shop for all ofyour holiday needs!
Our September Monthly Special is10% off all Talitot and sets, bagsincluded.
Early Bird Special returns inSeptember! Shop 12-3 any weekdaythat we are open and get 10% offeverything (excluding Wine, Books,Mezuzah Scrolls, and Sale Items).
We will be open before Labor Day:September 1, 2 and 3 from 12-6 PM
The week of Rosh Hashanah we are open:Tuesday, September 7 from 12-6 PMWednesday, September 8 from 10 AM – 12 PM
Before Yom Kippur we are open:Sunday, September 12 from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PMTuesday, September 14 from 11 AM – 6 PMWednesday, September 16 from 11 AM – 6 PMFriday, September 17 (Erev Yom Kippur)
from 10 AM – 12 PM
Our Pre-Sukkot hours are:Sunday, September 19 from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PMTuesday, September 21 from 11 AM – 6 PMWednesday, September 22 from 11 AM – 4 PM
We will also be open:Sunday, September 26 from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PMTuesday, September 28 from 11 AM – 6 PMWednesday, September 29 from 11 AM – 4 PM
11www.GermantownJewishCentre.org
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
Social Action Update
The Green Mezuzah Project — GJC’scommunity for the discussion of
environmental issues from a Jewish per-spective — successfully wrapped up itsfirst six-month cycle of meetings. Part ofan innovative pilot program launched byRabbi Nina Beth Cardin, Director of theBaltimore Jewish EnvironmentalNetwork, the curriculum of the shul’snewest Havurah has explored issuesranging from the pragmatic to the deeplyphilosophical.
For our session on Local Food, GJCmembers Anna Herman and BetsyTeutsch led a discussion on the conceptof "eco-Kashrut," or expanding ourunderstanding of Kashrut to incorporateethical and ecological issues relating tofood production and consumption.Members of the Havurah shared infor-mation and resources to promoteinformed, responsible food purchasesand healthy eating. Next, we focused onthe Jewish concept of sova or "enough-ness" with GJC members ReenaFriedman and Ameet Ravital. Weexplored what it means to avoid over-consumption and live more simply, andthought about concrete steps that wecan take to achieve this goal. Throughour study of selected Jewish texts, wediscovered that our tradition has muchto teach us in this area. During our mostrecent study session, GJC members KenLande and Herb Levine led us in a dis-cussion called “Sustainable Industry.”Herb taught us about the concept of baltashchit — “do not destroy.” Ken dis-cussed what we need to do to get from afossil-fuel society to a non-fossil fuelsociety and why it is critical to do so.Humanity, Ken explained, has alreadyconsumed almost half of the earth’spetroleum supply and 70 percent ofwhat is left is in the Persian Gulf. Kenwill continue this discussion on YomKippur as he has graciously acceptedour invitation to be our Oscar BregmanMemorial Program speaker.
These study sessions have bothinformed and motivated members’ com-mitments to making changes in theirdaily lives at home. During each month-ly session, we shared our experiencesduring the prior month and discussedways in which we worked to make addi-tional changes. Members are alwayssharing new information. For example,did you know that you can reduce thenumber of unwanted catalogues by sign-
ing up with www.catalogechoice.org? What’s next? The first meeting will be
a Sukkot Potluck on September 26 atBetsy Teutsch’s house.
What's different this year? Events willbe publicized synagogue-wide and nolong-term commitment necessary; just joinus for whatever sessions interest you.
For more information, please contactReena Friedman at (215) 947-2965/[email protected]; Betsy Teutsch at (215)438-6836 /[email protected] ; orSharon Webber at (215) 247-1631 /[email protected].
Green Mezuzah Havurah Celebrates Debut and Looks Forward to Year TwoBy Social Action Committee Co-Chair Sharon Webber
Green Mezuzot created by Anna Herman
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www.GermantownJewishCentre.org12
The Story Program at the C.W.Henry School, for grades K-3,
began in February 2009 as a part-nership between the GermantownJewish Centre Social ActionCommittee and the C.W. HenrySchool. It was funded by a socialaction micro grant from the JewishFederation of Greater Philadelphia'sCenter for Social Responsibility. Weare assisted by ASAP (After SchoolActivity Partnerships), whosefounder and president is a GJCmember, Marciene Mattleman.
The Story Program completed it’ssecond year and we are looking for-ward to 2010-11. We started with areading experience for eight classes,which turned into to a weekly expe-rience for ten classes. The reading isdone by seven committed volun-teers, including many GJC members.This year’s volunteers include: KellyDevlin, a Henry School parent;Jessica Lember, a Henry schoolneighbor who enjoys reading tochildren; and five volunteers fromGJC who enjoy the experience ofreading books to children. Our GJCvolunteers are: Gloria Hoffman,Connie Katz, Linda Kriger, ReneeLevine and Myra Leysorek. Theyhave watched the children listen,interact and respond to the materialpresented in the books.
Mrs. Caren Trantas, the schoolprincipal, feels the program hasenriched the learning experience ofthe students and is looking forwardto the many different ways listeningand connecting with the content inthe books will continue to promotethe learning experience of the stu-dents in the next school year.Anyone interested in becoming avolunteer in the Story Program forthe C.W. Henry School, grades K-3,for the 2010-2011 school year isinvited to call Renee Levine (215)842-1476.
Introduction to the HenrySchool Library
By Renee Levine
Adult Education 2010-11/5770-71
Courses at a GlancePlease review the chart below for our courses at a glance. Complete details can befound on our website or in our printed brochure.Advanced registration is requested for all courses. Contact the office to register.
TTitle Instructor(s) Timing Dates Cost GJC Members/Non Members
Feeding the Soul: Making, Tasting & Studying Holiday
Favorites
Rabbi Fredi Cooper
Tuesdays 7-9 pm
Sep 14, 21; Mar 29, Apr 5; May 17, 24
$90/120 (3 holidays)
$80/100 (2 holidays)
$50/60 (1 holiday)
From Birth to Death: The Cycle of Jewish Life in Text
& Practice
Rabbi Adam Zeff
Sundays 10-11:30 am
Fall—Oct 3, 10, 24; Nov 14, 21; Dec 5 Spring—Feb 27; Mar 6, 13, 27; Apr 3, 10
$120/150 (Fall & Spring)
$75/100
(Fall OR Spring)
Interpreting Torah: Akedah
(Binding of Isaac)
Student Rabbi Jill Levy
Sundays 12-1 pm
Oct 3, 10, 17, 24; Nov 14
$60/75
Women’s Nutrition for Optimum Health
& Weight (with a Jewish Twist!)
Andrea Diamond
Tuesdays 7:30-8:30 pm
Oct 5, 12, 19, 26; Nov 2, 9, 16, 30; Dec 7
$100/125
Center City Lunch & Learn The Book of the Covenant: Interpreting
the Earliest Biblical Code of Law
Rabbi Adam Zeff
Wednesdays 12:15-1:30 pm
Oct 6, 27; Dec 1; Jan 5; Feb 2; Mar 2
$150/200 (CLE Credits available for
add’l fee paid directly to Penn)
Adult B'nei Mitzvah Class
(only available to con-tinuing students who
began the course in Fall 2009)
Rabbi Fredi Cooper
Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 pm
Begins Oct 6 $300/Year ($600 total—2 year course)
ReJEWvenate: Yoga, Chant &
Meditation
Leah Weisman
Wednesdays 6:30-8 pm
Oct 6, 13, 20, 27; Nov 3, 10, 17; Dec 1, 8, 15
$100/125
Safrut: The Art of Hebrew
Calligraphy
Josh Peskin
Wednesdays 7-9 pm
Oct 6, 13, 20, 27; Nov 3, 10, 17; Dec 1
$100/125 (includes materials)
The land of Israel in
Kabbalistic Literature
Rabbi Mira Regev
Tuesdays 7-8:30 pm
Feb 22; Mar 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
$80/100
RAMBAM’s Laws of Repentance
(Hilchot Teshuvah)
Student Rabbi Jill Levy
Sundays 10-11:30 am
May 1, 8, 15, 22; Jun 5
$50/75
Adult Education at GJC 2010-11/5771: Courses at a Glance
Social Action Update
13www.GermantownJewishCentre.org
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
15www.GermantownJewishCentre.org
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
Contributions For the period of June 10, 2010 through August 9, 2010Todah Rabbah!Sincere thanks and appreciation to those who remember to honor their friends and loved ones through their generous contributions.
FUND BY OCCASIONAdult Education Fund Yona & Howard Dansky in memory of George Erlbaum, father of Sheila Erlbaum
Tamara & Earl Norman in honor of Alice & Richard Mandel, on their 45th anniversaryBeck Scholar-in-Residence Fund Rose Beck in memory of Florence Mahon, mother, Rose Beck, mother-in-law
and Morris Beck, father-in-lawSheldon Eveloff in memory of Louis Eveloff, fatherNancy Gettes in memory of Rea Gettes, mother
Bess Schick Fund Selma Brodsky in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan BacineDayle Friedman in memory of Fred Marcus, step-fatherRobert Joseph in memory of Max Joseph, fatherJoyce & Bud Kutler in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan BacineDavid Podietz in memory of Emmy Lenore Podietz, wifeAbigail Sandler in memory of Louis Matkoff, father of Meryl Cohen and Lisa SandlerCarole Schaffzin in honor of Marcy & Dan Bacine, on their 40th wedding anniversarySandy Sherman in memory of Daniel Sherman, fatherNina Silverman & Ernest Mukamal in honor of Rabbi Gordon, on his dedication to GJCBev & Ira Somerson in honor of Hilda & Paul Minkoff on the birth of their grandson,
Noah Avi MinkoffSharon Webber in memory of Burton Webber, fatherGloria Weiss in honor of the Hahn-Weiss family, for all their simchas
Children's Services Fund Rose Lifschitz refuah shleimah to Bess DienerCommunity Support Network Fund Judah Labovitz in memory of Deborah Labovitz, wife and Clara Levy, mother-in-law
Early Childhood Programs Fund Keira & David Axelrod in memory of Anna Kfare, grandmother of Michael PosnerBarbara Coopersmith in memory of Abraham Kushner, fatherPhyllis Kauffman in honor of Marcy & Dan Bacine, on their 40th wedding anniversaryGail Kunreuther in memory of Lilian Blender, motherRose Lifschitz refuah shleimah to EllaMindy & Gary Pitkofsky in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan Bacine
refuah shleimah to Gloria GeisslerFloral Fund Ellen Kopeland in memory of Solis D Kopeland, father
Gloria Salmansohn in memory of Rubin Salmansohn, husbandGeneral Fund Louie & Steven Asher in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan Bacine
Marcy Bacine in memory of Mae Ehrenthal, auntThe Finder Family in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan BacineHillary Kruger-Levingston &
Judd Levingston in honor of Rachel Falkove & Michael Masch, on being honored at the GJC Spring Concert
in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan Bacinein honor of Samara Gordon, on her graduation from
Barrack Hebrew Academyin honor of Daniel Solway, on his graduation from
Barrack Hebrew Academyin honor of Aria Amrom, on her graduation from
Barrack Hebrew Academyin honor of Miriam Rock, on her graduation from
Barrack Hebrew AcademyJim and Sandy Meyer in memory of Ruth Seldin, mother of Alex SeldinFrances Neiman refuah shleimah to Marvin Levy, friend
in memory of Alexander Goodrich, fatherStefanie & Alex Seldin in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan Bacine
Hazak Norman Schwartz in memory of Joseph Schwartz, fatherInterfaith Hospitality Newtwork Louie & Steven Asher in memory of Joseph Brownstein, father of Eleanor Brownstein
Josh Barash in memory of Abraham Barash, grandfatherCecile & Sam Merion in honor of Rachel Falkove & Michael Masch, on being honored
at the GJC Spring ConcertBarbara Porges in memory of Paul B Cohen, sonFreida Sanders in memory of Charles Wassenberg, uncle
in memory of Lena Goldenberg, motherMartha Schleifer in memory of Esther Myers, auntHoward Spodek in memory of Yetta Spodek, motherGeanne Zelkowitz & Family in memory of Edward Kulberg, father
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 returnit to the office along with a check. Or just send in a check with a note.
E L U L 5 7 7 0 • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0
16 www.GermantownJewishCentre.org
Israel Affairs Fund Bobbie Morgenstern in memory of Phyllis Rasner, motherCyrilla Rosen in honor of Paul Minkoff, on his 82nd birthday
in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan Bacinein memory of Sydell Kramer, mother of Lee Ann Kramer Wash
Judy Schwartz in memory of Sydney Schwartz, husbandJudy Schwartz & Bev Somerson in honor of Nina Gordon and Lou Walinsky, on the marriage of
their daugther NaomiIsrael Garden Fund Yona & Howard Dansky in memory of Freda & Joseph Brownstein, parents of
Eleanor BrownsteinLynne & Art Ellis in memory of George Erlbaum, father of Sheila ErlbaumLyndall & Chuck Miller in honor of the Israel Garden
Kiddush Fund Julia Bell in memory of Robert E Bell, fatherSonia Dishler refuah shleimah to Barbara Beller, friend
in memory of Hannah BrickmanHelen & Michael Feinberg in memory of Joseph Brownstein, father of Eleanor Brownstein
in memory of Ruth Seldin, mother of Alex SeldinSuzanne & Solomon Levy in honor of the baby naming of their granddaughter,
Shayna Abby SiegelLeah & Norman Schwartz in honor of Marcy & Dan Bacine, on their 40th wedding anniversary
in honor of Leslie & Curt Pontz, on the birth of their grandson, Ezekiel
in honor of Leslie & Curt Pontz, on the marriage of their son, Jared to Melanie Cohen
in honor of Joan Stern, on the birth of her granddaughter, Talia Corrine Wine
Linda & Steven Siegel in honor of the baby naming of their granddaughter, Shayna Abby Siegel
Joan Silver in honor of Nina Gordon and Lou Walinsky, on the marriage of their daughter, Naomi
refuah shleimah to Carol Kaplanin honor of Hilda & Paul Minkoff on the birth of their grandson,
Noah Avi MinkoffMen’s Club Phyllis Kauffman in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan Bacine
refuah shleimah to Arnold BarrMinyan Masorti Memorial Shabbat Fund Jerry Kutnick in memory of Esther Kutnick, motherMusic Fund Beverly & Ira Somerson in honor of Susan & Ken Weiss, on the graduation of their daugther
from the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana Univ.Playground Fund Marian Darmstadter in memory of Martin Potash, fatherPrayerbook & Ritual Items Fund Keira & David Axelrod in memory of Elaine Mendelsohn, mother of Alan Mendelsohn
Lynne & Art Ellis in honor of Rabbi Leondard Gordon & Dr. Lori Lefkovitz, on their new jobs
Joan Silver & Ellen Kopeland in memory of Solis D Kopeland, father Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El in appreciation of the generous gift of GJC's Harlow MahzorimBetsy & David Teutsch in memory of Joseph Brownstein, father of Eleanor Brownstein
Quitman Library Fund Jim and Sandy Meyer refuah shleimah to Marilyn KrautReligious School Fund Keira & David Axelrod in memory of Ruth Seldin, mother of Alex Seldin
Julia Bell in memory of Bob & Andrea Bell, brother & sister-in-lawMyra & Isador Kranzel in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan BacineBev & Ira Somerson in honor of Reena & Aryeh Friedman, on the graduation of their
daugther Tamar from High School and her prize for excellence in Hebrew from Gratz College
Denise Wolf & Paul Rudick in memory of Ruth Seldin, mother of Alex SeldinSamuel Furman Achievement Fund Klara Furman in memory of Abraham Myers, brotherSocial Action Fund Keira & David Axelrod in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan Bacine
Mindy & Eliot Friedman in honor of Alice & Richard Mandel, on their 45th anniversaryLeah & Norman Schwartz in honor of Rabbi Leonard Gordon and Dr. Lori Lefkovitz, thanks
for the memories and best wishes in your new careersDebbie Stern in memory of Charlotte Schoen, mother
Torah Restoration Fund Martha & Chuck Schleifer in memory of Jules Bacine, father of Dan BacineWomen's Club Frances Gold in memory of Morris Malamaud
Phyllis Kauffman in honor of Bev Somerson, on her graduation from the Florence Melton Adult Mini School
in honor of Carol & Marty Kaplan, on their 55th wedding anniversaryin honor of Joan Stern, on her graduation from the Florence
Melton Adult Mini School
Contributions Continued
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
17www.GermantownJewishCentre.org
Judy Schwartz in honor of Hilda & Paul Minkoff on the birth of their grandson, Noah Avi MinkoffJoan Silver
Joan Silver refuah shleimah to Mia Blitstein, daughter of Yona Diamond Dansky & Howard Dansky
Youth Activities Fund Keira & David Axelrod in honor of Maya Sultar, on her Bat MitzvahLeslie & Curt Pontz refuah shleimah to Mia Blitstein, daughter of Yona Diamond
Dansky & Howard Danskyin memory of Jake Taylor Pontz, grandsonin memory of Ruth Seldin, mother of Alex Seldin
Sidney Stein in memory of Max Stein, fatherin memory of Bella Stein, motherin memory of Philip Stein, brother and Anne Kontner, sister
Contributions Continued
E L U L 5 7 7 0 • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0
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What’s HappeningAT TH
E GERSH
MA
N Y
COM
MU
NITY &
CLASSES
Intro
du
ctio
n to
Ma
h J
on
gg
3 sessions to choose from!
Start S
eptember 14, 29 or O
ctober 12 C
ost: $90 for 4 classes
Th
e J
ew
ish
Fa
rm S
ch
oo
l’s
Urb
an
Su
sta
ina
bility
Be
t Mid
rash
Septem
ber 20 - Novem
ber 29, 6 - 7:15 pmC
ost: $65
Pla
yw
riting
Wo
rksh
op
Septem
ber 26- October 24, 6 - 8 pm
Cost: $120
Co
ok
ing
With
Bu
bb
eA
t Philly K
itchen Share, 1541 S
outh St., P
hila.S
eptember 27, 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Cost: $40
So
Yo
u W
an
na
Le
arn
to D
an
ce
?S
eptember 29 - D
ecember 15, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Cost: $120 per person or $220 per couple
Choose Latin, B
allroom or both!
Je
wis
h A
me
rica
n W
om
en’s
Writin
g
October 8 - N
ovember 5, 10:30 am
- 12 pmC
ost: $125
Th
e L
an
gu
ag
e o
f Film
October 27- N
ovember 17, 10 am
-1 pmC
ost: $125
Yo
un
gis
h a
nd
Yid
dis
h L
an
gu
ag
e C
lass
October 5 - D
ecember 14, 7 - 8:30 pm
Cost: $100
Th
e F
lore
nc
e M
elto
n A
du
lt Min
i-Sch
oo
lS
tarts October 5, 9:30am
-12 pmC
ost: $780 for 30 weeks
Kn
itting
for B
eg
inn
ers
October 7- N
ovember 4, 6:30 - 8 pm
Cost: $75, plus cost of m
aterials
A T
aste
of Is
rae
l Cu
lture
Cla
ss
(Fo
r 32
& Y
ou
ng
er)
October 7- N
ovember 11, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Cost: $40
Th
at’s
Am
ore
! 4
0s/5
0s S
ing
les Ita
lian
Co
ok
ing
At P
hilly Kitchen S
hare, 1541 South S
t., Phila.
October 14, 6:30 -9:30 pm
Cost: $40
LIND
Y LIFELON
G
LEARN
ING
SERIES
FREE!
Eve
ryth
ing
bu
t the
Co
ffee
October 17, 11 am
C
ost: $ 15
THE JO
SEPH P. SO
BOSU
ND
AY BRUN
CH SERIES
Au
tho
r Ta
lks
97 Orchard: A
n Edible H
istory of F
ive Imm
igrant Fam
ilies in O
ne New
York Tenem
ent w
ith author Jane Ziegelm
anS
eptember 28, 7pm
Graphic T
herapy: A G
raphic Novel
with author E
mily S
teinbergO
ctober 26, 7 pm
Ne
w – B
oo
k G
rou
p!
The C
hangelings (1955) by Joe S
inclairO
ctober 6, 7 pm
Sa
lon
Se
ries – C
an
We
Ta
lk?
Intermarriage: D
oes it matter?
October 13, 7 pm
At N
aked Chocolate C
afé, 31 S. 18th S
t.A
$3-5 contribution is suggested
MO
RE THA
N
JUST BO
OKS
On
e F
oo
t in A
me
rica
: T
he
Je
wis
h E
mig
ran
ts o
f T
he
Re
d S
tar L
ine
a
nd
Eu
ge
en
Va
n M
ieg
em
Septem
ber 16 - Novem
ber 21F
ree Public P
review reception, O
ctober 10, 2-4pm
Plu
s…
Be
lgia
n B
ee
r an
d C
he
ese
Ta
stin
gS
eptember 21, 6 – 8 pm
Cost: $21
Je
wis
h H
isto
rica
l Fo
od
Wa
lkin
g T
ou
r O
ctober 3, 2 – 4 pmC
ost: $24
Ph
ilad
elp
hia
’s Im
mig
ratio
n B
usin
ess
October 11, 7:30 pm
FR
EE
Un
cove
ring
Ou
r Je
wis
h R
oo
tsO
ctober 25, 7 – 9 pmC
ost: $20
IN TH
E GA
LLERIESAT TH
E GERSH
MA
N Y
Le
t’s M
ake
Mu
sic
(6 – 2
4 m
on
ths)
Septem
ber 27- Decem
ber 6, 10:20 – 11 pmC
ost: $100
Sh
alo
m Y
og
a (3
– 6 y
ea
rs)
Septem
ber 29- Decem
ber 15, 3:30 – 4:30 pmC
ost: $100
Bro
ad
Stre
et a
t Pin
eF
or tickets and information visit w
ww
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ak
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4 m
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October 7- N
ovember 4,
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eC
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$1C
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ctober
NER
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UN
ITYY
16 adults 35 & under
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8, 7:15pm
T
For
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ie
et
oa
d S
trB
r
Cost: $100
Septem
ber 29- Decem
ber 1 ea
og
a (3
– 6 y
Sh
alo
mYY
o
.org .gershm
anyinform
ationvisitw
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ea 15, 3:30 – 4:30 pm
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ar
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n M
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or call 215–545–4400
m 7–
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g P
lay
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ah
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1:30 pm4, N
ovember 8, D
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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
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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
ECP & Tot Shabbat . . . . . . . . . .Page 4
Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . .Page 5
Men’s Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 6
Women’s Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7
High Holiday Schedule . . . . . . Page 8
People of the Book. . . . . . . . . .Page 9
Education Dept. . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 9
Little Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 10
Hazak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 10
Social Action Committee . . . .Page 11
Adult Ed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 12
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 13
Contributions (begin on) . . . . .Page 15
Save the Dates
Women’s Club Craft ShowSunday, October 24
Global Day of Jewish Learning @ GJCSunday, November 7
Rabbi Elias Charry Memorial WeekendNovember 12-13
Scholar-In-Residence, Judy Klitsner“Subversive Sequels in the Bible”