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Washtenaw Jewish News Presort Standard In this issue… c/o Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor U.S. Postage PAID 2939 Birch Hollow Drive Ann Arbor, MI Thoughts on Community Terror Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Permit No. 85 Hanukkah Photo groups Album and Facebook Page 7 Page 18 Page 25 December 2015/January 2016 Kislev/Tevet/Shevat 5776 Volume XV: Number 4 FREE Reconstructionists and Jewish Alliance Curator of Polish Jewish Museum to for Food, Land and Justice to host speak at University of Michigan Yaffa Klugerman, special to the WJN Tu B’Shevat Shabbaton f you’ve visited a Jewish museum lately, remarkable integra- Carol Lessure and Margo Schlanger, special to the WJN chances are that Barbara Kirshenblatt- tion of a memorial o you remember celebrating Tu and resources relating to traditions and holi- I Gimblett has visited it too. site, fitting architec- B’Shevat—the Jewish New Year for days. He explains that it was Kabbalists of Safed The list of museums where she has served ture, and innovative D trees—when you were young? May- who in the 17th century created a Tu B’Shevat as a consultant reads like a directory of some multimedia narrative be you shivered your way outside and planted seder, loosely modeled on the Passover seder. of the most well-known Jewish exhibitions exhibition,” she said. Over the past several decades, in the world. They include Beit Hatfutsot in “Nowhere else is this Jews across the world have used Tel Aviv, the Jewish Museum Berlin, the Jew- continued on page 2 Tu B’Shevat as a time to focus on ish Museum in New York, the environment. the Jewish Museum and The January Shabbaton will Tolerance Center in Mos- be environmentally-themed cow and the United States throughout. It will begin Friday, Holocaust Memorial Mu- January 22, with a Tot Shabbat seum in Washington, DC. service from 5:45–6:15 p.m.; She now serves as the chief Rabbi Strassfeld will lead pre- curator of the core exhibi- school kids with songs and a tion of POLIN, the Muse- story. Kabbalat Shabbat services um of the History of Polish start at 6:30 p.m., followed by Jewish in Warsaw—and a vegetarian (nut free) potluck she insists that there is no dinner. Childcare will be pro- other museum like it. Rabbi Michael Strassfeld vided (with reservations). On “POLIN Museum a tree (if the ground wasn’t frozen) or took a Saturday, January 23, Rabbi Strassfeld will lead is a gesamtkunstwerk, a POLIN Museum and (top right ) Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett walk and learned to identify trees by their bark text study at 4 p.m., followed by a Tu B’Shevat and evidence of their leaves and fruits on the seder at 5:30 p.m. ground. For many, this minor holiday didn’t Rabbi Strassfeld explains: “The classic Jew- resonate. It may be the beginning of spring in ish texts about the environment [Deuterono- Light up the night Israel, but in North America, it’s hard to cel- my 20:19-20; Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Laws Chana Sara Elias, special to the WJN ebrate trees in the dead of winter. of Kings and Wars 6:8, 10] prohibit the wan- ome celebrate Hanukkah with of the most prominent public lightings being This year, the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist ton destruction of nature. The stress on wan- Chabad at the “Light Up the Night” the National Menorah, which is held in Wash- Congregation (AARC) and the Jewish Alliance ton destruction implies that the destruction of event at Liberty Plaza, where an eight- ington, D.C., that Joe Biden lit in 2014. There is for Food, Land, and Justice invite the commu- natural resources is permissible if it benefits C foot menorah will be lit on Saturday, December no charge to attend “Light Up the Night.” nity to join them to engage with Tu B’Shevat, human beings. We will study other Jewish texts 12, at 7 p.m. In addition to the menorah light- The Chabad menorah fun doesn’t stop on Friday night, January 22, and Saturday af- to see how Judaism can help us to create a con- ing, there will be a fire show, hot latkes, dough- there—there will be a chance for the kids to ternoon, January 23, at the Jewish Commu- temporary environmental ethic rooted in the nuts and apple cider to enjoy while listening to build their own menorah at Home Depot on nity Center of Greater Ann Arbor. The events value of all things.” Hanukkah tunes. Sunday, December 6, from 2–4 p.m. This is a will be guided by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, a The Tu B’Shevat seder is structured around Chabad is internationally known for their free event, geared to get the kids into the holi- frequent visiting rabbi with AARC this year eating of four different kinds of fruit, coupled outdoor public menorah lightings, totaling day spirit, complete with bringing home their and Rabbi Emeritus of the Society for the Ad- with readings, songs and kavanot/reflections. personally-built menorahs. Music, dreidels, vancement of Judaism in New York City. Rabbi Rabbi Strassfeld notes, “Our Tu B’Shevat seder latkes and doughnuts will also be provided. Strassfeld is the author, editor, or co-editor of will combine the focus on personal growth of If this isn’t enough dreidels and latkes for numerous books and articles, including three the Jewish mystics with contemporary ecologi- one Hanukkah, then join Chabad again on versions of the Jewish Catalog, A Shabbat Hag- cal concerns.” Detroit’s Congregation T’Chiyah Sunday, December 13, at the new bowling al- gadah: Ritual and Study Texts for the Home; and and its rabbi, Alana Alpert, will be joining the ley, Revel and Run (formally Colonial Lanes) to Jewish Holidays, a guide to the holidays used in Ann Arbor community for the seder, as will bowl to Hanukkah music. A bowling-pin me- many Jewish households. several Hazon Detroit fellows. norah will be lit, in addition to other exciting Since the 1973 appearance of the firstJew - The events are co-sponsored by AARC 15,000 in 2013. In Ann Arbor, this will be the games to play. Admission for this event is $10/ ish Catalog, subtitled “a do it yourself kit,” and the Jewish Alliance for Food, Land, and first time an outdoor public menorah lighting person, it includes bowling shoes and one game. Rabbi Strassfeld’s books have been the go-to Justice. They are a continuation from last will be held for the community-at-large. Ann For more information, contact call 995-3276 publications for progressive American Jews year’s year-long exploration of the teach- Arbor is now joining the menorah-lighting #15 or [email protected]. n seeking explanations, contemporary readings, continued on page 2 ranks with thousands of cities world-wide, one I Community 2935 Birch Hollow Drive Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 New “Issues for Parenting” educational voice: 734/971-1800 e-mail: [email protected] series represents a community effort www.washtenawjewishnews.org Sarah Schneider Hong, special to the WJN Editor and Publisher ince the summer of 2014, Jewish gram like this, with such universal appeal to Susan Kravitz Ayer Family Services has been offering a families, will help strengthen the Jewish com- Calendar Editor S free educational series entitled “Is- munity’s ties to greater Ann Arbor.” Claire Sandler sues for Aging,” co-sponsored with the Jew- The next event in the series, “Issues for ish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor. Parenting: Promoting Financial Literacy Advertising Manager While that popular program is ongoing and for Youth,” will be held Thursday January Gordon White continues to provide valuable information 21, from 7:30–9 p.m. at the JCC. At this free and support to older adults and their caregiv- event, Louise Morse, Financial Literacy pro- Design and Layout Dennis Platte ers, it has also inspired the launch of a new gram coordinator at the Bank of Ann Arbor, community educational program for parents. will address issues such as introducing fi- Staff Writers Issues for Parenting is a new, free educa- nancial responsibility to children; explain- Mary Bilyeu, Sandor Slomovits, Rochel Urist tional series which hosts expert speakers to ing wants versus needs; and understanding present on topics of great interest and rel- credit and money management. Light re- Contributing Writers evance to parents. On October 22, the first freshments will be served. Registration is re- Barb Banet, Kristin Cahill, Rabbi Robert Dobrusin, Chana Sara Elias, Rosemary Frenza Chudnof, Hadar “Issues for Parenting” lecture addressed the quired by emailing programs@jfsannarbor. Dohn, Max Glick, Rabbi Aharon Goldstein, Carl topic of “Cyber Safety.” Melissa Hudson, an org or calling JFS at 769-0209. For questions Goldstein, Maayan Jaffe, Sylvia Jones, Jacob Kamaras, educator from the Washtenaw Area Council and more information, contact Sarah Hong Yaffa Klugerman, Ethan G. Krasnow, Carol Lessure, for Children, presented on essential infor- at JFS. Joan Levitt, Erin Mobley, Avital Ostfield, Wendy mation such as cyber-bullying, privacy, digi- Other possible topics for the Issues for Sadler, Margo Schlanger, Sarah Schneider Hong, tal reputation and more. Parenting series include promoting resilience Alina Dain Sharon, David Shtulman, Clara Silver, All in the community are welcome to at- in students, and childhood nutrition. If you Maxine Solvay, Elliot Sorkin tend these adult-only programs. Ali Reingold, are a parent who would like to suggest a topic The Washtenaw Jewish News is published director of admissions and marketing for He- for the series or an expert interested in donat- monthly, with the exception of January and July.