Mishpachah Matters

Issue 75.7 and 75.8 Mishpachah Matters Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775 The Newsletter of Bet Mishpachah, Founded in 1975

March and April 2015 by Members of the Washington, DC, Gay Community

President’s Column Rabbi Green’s Spring Class: Spiritually Up Close & Personal By Stuart Sotsky, President March 12, 19, 26 and April 2

When the elements began to form what would become Spirituality Up Close & Personal: From Traffic Jams to the Congregation Bet Mishpachah in 1975, small services in the Meaning of Life to Dealing With Difficult People, How Do homes of Jewish gay men and later in the basement of a th We Cultivate Spiritual Growth In Our Mundane Everyday church at 10 and G Sts. NW, the world was a different place for GLBT people. To form a gay congregation only a few Four Thursdays: March 12, March 19, March 26, and April 2 years after Stonewall and the start of the Gay Liberation at DCJCC from 7:00-8:45 pm with Rabbi Laurie Green of movement, when there was no welcoming place in the Jewish Congregation Bet Mishpachah community, no religious authority in any of the major Jewish movements for acceptance of GLBT people, relationships, or This class will combine text study, conversation, writing, and clergy, and minimal integration of the Gay and the Lesbian other modalities to respond to real-life spiritual challenges like movements, was a radical leap of faith and a bold effort “Dealing With Difficult People.” toward social progress and human rights. We have emerged In order to create an intimate atmosphere, conducive to from our own narrow place in shameful, oppressed, and spiritual conversation, space is limited to 15 participants, so discriminated closeted existences at the margins of American please RSVP to [email protected] by March 6, to reserve and Jewish society to the wholeness of fully integrated your spot. If you RSVP by March 6, priority will be given to religious and sexual identities, and openness in our personal Bet Mishpachah members and to their partners, relatives and and professional lives. We have suffered and survived our friends. After March 6, space may indeed be available; do (Continued on page 7) check with the rabbi before the first or second sessions. Cost: free for Bet Mishpachah members, $25 suggested donation for Bet Mishpachah and The Human non-members (that’s for the whole class, not per session).

Rights Campaign present Everyone is encouraged to try the first session of the class, no Triangles: Witnesses of the commitment required. However, due to the subject matter, all students must join the class by the second session. Holocaust No prior knowledge or experience required. Open to Time and Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 7:00pm everyone of any faith or no faith. Location: Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue NW Table of Contents: Page 11: Calling for Volunteers to Bring During the week of Yom ha-Sho-a, Bet Mishpachah will be Page 3: Passover HOPE joining HRC, and other community members, in a special film Finding Our Collective Truth, Book Group Going Strong screening of Triangles: Witnesses of the Holocaust. Using Part Two Page 12: interviews and images from the Holocaust, this film weaves Page 4: Nehirim East Retreat together a story about Hitler’s LGBT victims that are often left Twenty Years of Tzedaka—The 40 Years of Pride Conference out of history and includes interviews with members from our Richard Krampf Memorial Social Page 13: Action Fund Thanks to Our January/February own community such as Al Munzer, Joel Wind, and Evelyn Save the date for our First Service Leaders Beck. Following the 45 minute screening there will be a Q&A Annual Pot Luck Oneg Thanks to Our January/February session with the film director Ann Meredith. Light Page 5: Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush refreshments will be served. Tickets are $10 online or at the March Calendar Sponsors door. Page 6: Page 14: April Calendar March/April Birthdays and Page 7: Anniversaries www.betmish.org Passover Chametz: Page 14-15: We have a sale for you! Donations Washington DC’s Egalitarian Synagogue Page 10: Page 16-18: Embracing a Diversity of Sexual Join us for brunch with author Member Yartzeits Penny Rosenwasser Page 19: and Gender Identities Directory Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 2

Bet Mishpachah Communications Electronic Newsletter Subscription

This newsletter is published bimonthly by Bet Mishpachah, Do you want to receive Mishpachah Matters electronically and P.O. Box 1410, Washington, DC 20013. Articles must be in living color, while saving the synagogue money? Send an received by the first Tuesday of the month prior to publication email to [email protected]. Include all the email and should be sent to [email protected]. The addresses where you would like to receive the electronic newsletter is sent to members, donors, and various newsletter and your mailing address, as you will no longer organizations. For a three-month trial subscription, write to need the paper version. [email protected]. To advertise in our newsletter, contact Address, Phone, Email Changes [email protected]. Send your name and old and new information to The congregation also publishes ATCBM, the electronic [email protected]. bulletin board of Bet Mishpachah, which contains late- ATCBM Subscription breaking congregational news, as well as other Jewish and/or LGBT news that cannot be printed in this newsletter. We If you wish to receive ATCBM, our electronic announcements maintain a website at www.betmish.org with synagogue about events at Bet Mishpachah and of interest to the Jewish information and links to other websites of interest. LGBT community, please send an email to Information contained in any of our publications may be [email protected] with “ATCBM” in the subject line and reprinted without permission, but acknowledgment of the the email address where you would like to receive mail. source is required. Direct any questions about our editorial or advertising policies to [email protected]. ATCBM Item Submission

Email your item in the body of an email (no attachments) for Shabbat Services ATCBM Submissions to [email protected].

Bet Mishpachah holds Shabbat services every Friday at 8:00 Bikur Cholim — We Care About You pm and the second and fourth Saturdays of every month at 10:00 am at the District of Columbia Jewish Community Become a partner in the mitzva of Bikur Cholim—visiting the Center (DCJCC), 16 and Q Streets, NW. Sign Language sick—by advising our Bikur Cholim Committee, rabbi, or interpretation is available by request to [email protected] with president when you or a relative is hospitalized. We can stay a minimum of two weeks notice. Any changes to this regular informed ONLY if we receive the information. Please email us schedule will appear on our website (www.betmish.org), in the at [email protected]. month’s printed calendar, and/or in our electronic bulletin Death Notices, Bereavement Services board ATCBM. If you are in need of bereavement services or to announce a Enter the DCJCC building on Friday nights through the Q death in your family, email [email protected]. Street door. You will be buzzed in by our shammas. Shabbat worship will be in the DCJCC Kay Community Hall, on the Donations right as you enter. A parking lot is available behind the To make a donation to our congregation, please send it to Bet DCJCC and may be entered from Q Street. It has Mishpachah, Department 0520,Washington, D.C. 20073-0520. approximately 20 spaces, including one designated for disabled Or you can donate via PayPal from the “Donations” page on drivers. our web site, www.betmish.org.

Parking: Free parking for Friday night services is available at To Schedule a Bet Mishpachah Event the surface lot at the Scottish Rite Temple starting at 7:30 pm. The lot will be closed and locked and all cars must be removed Email the date, space needs, and number of expected attendees by 10:30 pm. Parking is at your own risk. The Temple is at to [email protected].

16th and S Streets NW and the entrance to the parking lot is To Sponsor an Oneg Shabbat or Kiddush accessible via 15th Street. The entrance is closer to S Street than to R Street. Send an email to [email protected], with the date you’d like to sponsor, and the occasion. Mishpachah Matters Staff Newsletter Coordinator — Amy Heffernan Bet Mishpachah’s Affiliations

Design/Layout — Amy Heffernan Bet Mishpachah is a member of: Network of Independent Proofreaders — Eytan Apelberg, Alex Carter, Jewish Communities and Havurot; Jewish Community Council Mindy Gasthalter, Elke Martin, and Martin Robinson of Greater Washington; World Congress of GLBT Jews: Transliteration Consultant — Scott Reiter Keshet Ga’avah; Jewish Funeral Practices Committee of Greater Washington; and Celebration of the Spirit Coalition. Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 3

Finding Our Collective Truth: population are agnostic or atheist, most members of this group believe in God. ‘Spiritual But Not Religious’: Too many pundits have been too quick to judge this group Are We Meeting the Needs of negatively. In the words of one scoffing pastor, SBNRs feel it is “some kind of daring insight, unique to them” that they Today’s Seekers? and How We Can “find God in sunsets.” Rabbi David Wolpe has gone so far Better Facilitate Our Individual and as to proclaim that they want to boost their “self-esteem no Collective Spiritual Growth? matter” their “competence or behavior,” and confine their “devotional life to feeling good.” He even called them “narcissistic and solipsistic .” Part Two by Rabbi Laurie Green I strongly disagree with Rabbi Wolpe in these characterizations. Note: In response to congregant inquiries, I am elaborating on certain parts of my Rosh ha-shana sermon as a series of Don’t get me wrong. I join my clergy colleagues in newsletter articles, in hopes of sparking a larger condemning a self-absorbed culture which eschews congregational conversation about whom we are as a obligation as a dirty word, and I concur that “institutions are community and where we are going. You can find the text of also the only mechanism human beings know to perpetuate my Rosh Hashanah sermon online at www.betmish.org. The ideologies and actions.” Yet this degradation of SBNRs first article in this series was published in the November/ strikes me as proof of clergy-egos and religious self- December newsletter. The January/February newsletter righteousness, phenomena which once almost led me to contained excerpts from my annual meeting remarks (feel become ‘spiritual but not religious’ myself. free to contact me for the full text if you wish— [email protected]). I had planned to use this newsletter So who are the ‘spiritual but not religious’ and what do they issue to discuss the Pew Study but decided to delay in seek? anticipation of the results of our own Federation’s study Scholars, including Fuller and Linda Mercandante, have “Attitudinal and Perceived Needs Study of the Jewish studied the ‘spiritual but not religious,’ and some Community of Greater Washington,” which will be overwhelming trends are clear. “They are . . . trying to forthcoming. I expect to provide an article regarding the understand how the worlds of science and the worlds of their results of both these important studies as Part three in this own spiritual experience fit together.” They accept science series. Since the goal of this series is to further our but reject ‘scientism’—the notion that all existence can be congregational conversation, I welcome members to share explained by observable and rational phenomena. They seek their feedback with me and the lay leadership. to integrate their scientific and spiritual understandings of If you are reading this, there is a distinct possibility that you themselves and the world. are, or were, ‘spiritual but not religious,’ or are or were They also reject both secularism and religious orthodoxy. agnostic, or are or were pagan, Orthodox, or any number of “They are tired of having their spiritual natures squelched or other possibilities. The ‘spiritual but not religious’ are not denied.” They are equally tired of religious institutions they aliens from another planet, though, from the way the media view as ‘comatose,’ ‘fossilized,’ ‘rigid,’ ‘hypocritical,’ discusses this group, you might think they were some new ‘narrow-minded,’ and overly concerned with money and and odd phenomenon. rules.

Though neither new nor odd, the ‘spiritual but not They are spiritual seekers. They are interested in mysticism religious’ (SBNRs) are a large and growing group of and many have reported having mystical experiences. They Americans. According to Pew and The New York Times, often seek these mystical experiences solo, rather than in 37% of the religiously unaffiliated are in this group. Studies groups, though some do belong to meditation circles or take have claimed the “spiritual but not religious” population to be yoga classes or engage in other group spiritual practices. at 33%, 24% or 10% of all Americans. That’s larger than They view their spirituality as a journey and are interested in Jews, Muslims, and even Episcopalians. SBNRs are following that path of personal growth wherever it may lead. growing, and they are overwhelmingly young. One study declared that 72% percent of Generation Y agree they are So, how many of the ‘spiritual but not religious’ are Jews? “more spiritual than religious.” Sadly, we don’t yet have any reliable statistics, but the The scholar, Robert Fuller, defines the term ‘spiritual but not anecdotal evidence is clear. It seems that many SBNRs are religious’ as a popular phrase used to self-identify a “life Jewish. We know that more and more Jews are identifying stance of spirituality that rejects traditional organized religion with Judaism culturally but not religiously. We know that as the sole or most valuable means of furthering spiritual classes in kabbalah and yoga are among the most popular growth.” While many in the ‘spiritual but not religious’ (Continued on page 9) Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 4

Twenty Years of Tzedaka—The Richard Krampf Memorial Social Action Fund

This year marks twenty years of Bet Mishpachah positively Casa Ruby, a D.C. community based organization that impacting the lives of others in our community and the provides a drop-in center for LGBT people with special world through the Richard Krampf Memorial Social Action outreach to the transgendered and Latino communities in Fund. the D.C. area. http://www.casaruby.org

The Krampf Fund was established in 1995 through the Past recipients of the Krampf Fund have been: Project Hope generous contributions and wishes of Richard’s closest in Northern Virginia; Immigration Equality; SMYAL; friends and family after his untimely death in August 1995. Ethiopian Music Education Project; Jerusalem Open House; Richard gave generously of his time and spirit to our Social Keshet; International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Action and Social Justice (SASJ) Committee and we Commission; National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The memorialize his spirit of giving through the work of the fund has also supported serving meals at the Luther Place SASJ on making donations to organizations that work to Women’s Night Shelter and collecting professional clothing make the lives of others better. for needy persons re-entering the workforce.

Annually, the SASJ Committee of CBM reviews requests Donations to the Krampf Fund are encouraged to ensure that from local, national and international non-profit our congregation continues its tradition of Tzedaka and organizations whose mission it is to support Jews and/or Tikkun Olam in our community and the world. Please make lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. your Krampf Fund donations on-line at http:// www.betmish.org/index.php/donate. Note on the donation In January, the SASJ recommended to the Board of page in the Special Fund box that you want your donation to Directors that our congregation make donations of $500 each go to the Krampf Fund. Or mail to Bet Mishpachah, to two organizations that support this mission. The Dept. 0520, Washington, D.C. 20073-0520. organizations are:

The American Jewish World Service’s “We Believe” Campaign, which seeks to end violence against women and girls and LGBT people around the world, and to empower girls to end child marriage. http://webelieve.ajws.org

Save the date for our First Annual Stay Informed

Pot Luck Oneg, March 20 Bet Mishpachah members who are interested in following the activities of the Board of Bring your best parve or diary dish along with the recipe to share with the Directors may join a listserv, which will congregation at our Oneg following services on March 20. Contact transmit to them by email the minutes for each [email protected], or Barbara Goldberg (703) 548-1086, for more information. Board meeting after they are approved. To join this listserv, email Let’s make this a successful annual tradition. [email protected].

What’s This?

Scan it with a QR code reader on your smartphone and find out! Web: www.betmish.org Facebook: facebook.com/betmish Twitter: twitter.com/betmish Email: [email protected]

Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 5

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Passover Chametz: President’s Column (Continued from page 1) We have a sale for you! own plagues: the deaths of those who in despair took their own lives, the wreckage of those who succumbed to the By Liora Moriel, Vice President Religious Affairs scourge of dependence on drugs and alcohol, and, of course, the illness and deaths of so many afflicted in the AIDS Before Passover (Pesach), we are instructed to clear our epidemic. Yet, as was true for the Jewish people wandering home of all chametz in preparation for the holiday. in the desert for 40 years after the Exodus from Egypt, we According to the Chabad website, Chametz is “leaven”—any were tested and strengthened as a community by our trials. food that’s made of grain and water that have been allowed to We not only survived but we were inspired toward social and ferment and “rise.” Bread, cereal, cake, cookies, pizza, pasta, political activism in the Gay and women’s liberation and beer are some examples of chametz; but any food that movements, and encouraged to risk coming out to our family, contains grain or grain derivatives can be, and often is, friends and coworkers. Within the Jewish community we chametz. Practically speaking, any processed food that is not fought with the support of our straight allies to overcome the certified “Kosher for Passover” may potentially include opposition to our membership in the Jewish Community chametz ingredients. Council, and we seized the moment to move our home from a series of churches to a public place in the heart of the The practice is to make sure no chametz is left at home. Washington Jewish Community at the DCJCC. That’s fine for crumbs, but what to do about boxes of cereal, bags of flour, cookies and so on? This is where we get When I began my own coming out process two years before creative. To avoid throwing out perfectly good food that Stonewall in 1967 while starting medical school at Johns would still be edible and usable a week later, after Passover Hopkins with my then lover Dr. David Lasky z”l, it was only (Pesach), we have another custom, namely, selling the seven years since the lifting of the Jewish quota at the school, chametz to someone who will then return the food items to us and there was still a quota on women and blacks. Known at the end of the holiday. homosexuals could not be licensed as physicians or admitted to the Bar as lawyers in Maryland and most other states To some, this custom of cleaning our home of chametz is because we were regarded as criminal psychopaths. We lived philosophical as well: are we in bondage to our possessions? in the closet in real fear of dismissal. As an intern at the Do we become free when we give them up? As Rabbi University Hospitals in Madison, Wisconsin, I joined the gay Shmuel Lewis writes: “One way to see whether one is in liberation front, its peer counseling collective, and marched bondage to one’s possessions is to examine one’s willingness on the State Capitol in the gay contingent against the Vietnam to give of them.” “True generosity,” Descartes wrote, War. As chief resident in Psychiatry at Yale University, I “consists in knowing that nothing truly belongs to me but the served as group facilitator for the first-ever Conference on freedom to dispose of it and a constant resolution to use that Homosexuality and the Clergy organized at the Divinity freedom well.” This suggests that we relate to our material School by a subsequent lover in 1974 and organized the first possessions as to our soul—as a trust to be looked after and grand rounds on Transsexualism in Psychiatry at Yale to be used appropriately, not as an object of absolute Medical School. When I moved to Washington in 1975 to ownership to do with as we please. As we check our begin a research fellowship at the National Institute of Mental possessions, one by one, let’s look to see what kind of yetzer Health, I learned of a fledgling gay Jewish group and may have gotten into our relationship with them. As one of attended one of the first High Holy Days services in the living my favorite moral philosophers wrote: “we can give only room of one of the members, Al Roberts z”l, in a high-rise in what we possess and only on condition of not being Alexandria. I joined the Congregation in 1976 as one of the possessed by what we own.” founding members, several of whom are still active in the Congregation. After the ground-breaking removal of For us at Bet Mishpachah, we have designated Al Munzer as Homosexuality as a pathological diagnosis by the American the person to whom we can sell our chametz before the Psychiatric Association, followed by similar steps by other holiday and retrieve afterwards. professional associations in subsequent years, I became a founding member of the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists, co-founded the Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrist Group of Washington and Baltimore and served on the Gay and Lesbian Committee of the APA. Later, in the early years of the AIDS epidemic, I was motivated by the illnesses and deaths of friends, colleagues and students to come out publicly in the George Washington University Medical Center, joining our late member and friend Benny Waxman z”l and the Dean of Students Winfield Scott, to teach and (Continued on page 8) Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 8

President’s Column Many of you have approached me since the nominations were (Continued from page 7) announced to share your concerns and ideas. I thank you for model for medical students and residents about GLBT lives that and want you to know that I want to listen throughout the and health care, addressing the fears and discrimination of year. Of course, 185 Jewish men and women do not lack for that time against patients with AIDS, and through my own strongly held and expressed opinions, often conflicting, clinical work focus on their mental health needs. especially about how they want their synagogue run. I appreciate the feeling of proprietary ownership, but also We each have our own personal narratives as we lived know that the Board and I inevitably cannot please everyone, through this era and participated in many ways, great and nor will be free of mistakes at times. I am announcing small, in the once unimaginable social changes for sexual tonight the first of what I hope will be a series of President’s minorities we have witnessed in our lifetimes. As we move Forums, informal meetings between congregants, Board forward in our fortieth year, we must honor our past, the members and the Rabbi, to share observations and ideas and development of an inclusive, egalitarian community, liturgy listen to each other about the identity, mission and direction and services and a tradition of lay leadership. As we are of the Congregation. The first will take place on Friday, poised to enter the promised land as did our people of old, we February 27 at 6:30 pm in the Library before regular Shabbat cannot be certain about whether it will be a land of milk and services, and I invite as many of you as are interested to honey or years of continued strife and battles, or some participate. So, what do I hear emerging as a consensus of mixture of both. But the world is a different place today, and where we need to go and what we need to do to move if we do not evolve and adapt, we will not survive as a forward with renewed spirit? sustainable community of people and values into the future. As a congregation we need to discuss and decide whether we I think we have been too worried about competition as result want to only meet the needs of the generations that have of our success, as though other organizations and walked in the wilderness and then fade away, or empower the congregations are taking away our mission. I agree with next generation to lead a renewed congregation and meet a those who believe that we need to focus on our core mission different set of needs suitable to their lives. A new as a synagogue for spirituality, study and community. We generation has grown up openly and proudly, not can work to strengthen our outreach and collaboration with experiencing the same degree of discrimination, and they do other Jewish and GLBT organizations for functions that they not necessarily have the same need for exclusively GLBT are especially suited to provide by virtue of their funding and lives and organizations, but seem ready to enter this era as staffing, to plan joint events and services, rather than trying to liberated members of the larger society. While we can be do everything ourselves. This needs to be not just with pleased at the progress and proud of the part our lives have GLOE, Gayyim, and Nice Jewish Girls and Boys, but also played in so many ways to reach this time and place, we with other mainstream synagogues, particularly those with cannot know what this new land will be like for those who GLBT members and Rabbis. We will need to consider will settle it in their lifetimes. whether to compete with them for the membership of straight singles and couples, our allies and friends, who may be At the Annual Meeting in December, Rabbi Green and Liora attracted to a downtown, egalitarian, inclusive and Moriel—who deserves our gratitude for assuming the duties participatory Congregation geared to the needs of a primarily of Acting President in addition to serving as Vice President of adult population with progressive contemporary Jewish social Religious Affairs, described the accomplishments of the values. Many of the historically GLBT Congregations in Board and Committees over the past year. Five years ago as other cities now have 20-30% of their membership who part of the transition when Rabbi Saks retired, in a process identify as heterosexual and yet have successfully maintained involving the whole congregation, two sets of their core identity. In addition we need to consider whether recommendations for action were presented to the then our community and our services are conducive to Board: 1) the Strategic Plan titled Derech Shelanu, Our Path, membership by more bisexual and transgender Jews, by more by a special committee headed by Al Munzer; and 2) The deaf Jews, Interfaith couples, college students and those with Report to the Board of the Rabbinic Search Committee disabilities. Some of us may be more or less comfortable headed by Sue Silber. Several Boards of Directors have with such diversity and there may be generational differences worked to implement some of the recommendations, but for in attitude and language. many the pace of change has been frustratingly slow, and frankly some of that is because of division and opposition to We need to accelerate the work of renewal of the quality and change among ourselves. No individual leader as President spirit of our religious services throughout the year to the level or members of the Board can achieve substantial progress we have achieved at the High Holy Days, and this is already without the support of the majority of the Congregation. We underway through the efforts of the Religious Affairs are blessed with considerable talent and experience among Committee chaired by Larry Neff, the Vice President for our members but we are struggling with volunteer fatigue. If Religious Affairs, Liora Moriel, and Rabbi Laurie Green, we see ourselves as the House of the Family, will we work incorporating choral music and song leaders regularly, trying together as a functional family or a dysfunctional family? (Continued on page 9) Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 9

President’s Column Finding Our Collective Truth (Continued from page 8) (Continued from page 3) out different formats for services, such as Torah study on offerings at many Jewish institutions. We know that Friday nights, too, scheduling services aimed at attracting synagogues are full of agnostics, and that most Jews don’t younger members, and maintaining a corps of carefully attend synagogues at all. selected, well-trained service leaders to lead and co-lead services with the Rabbi, whom Scott Reiter has agreed to I can also tell you, anecdotally, that a lot of potential Jews continue to coordinate. We need to move forward to revise define themselves as ‘spiritual but not religious.’ Lots of our prayer books or purchase published prayer books Jews-by-choice are or were agnostics, sought and seek compatible with our values, perhaps from a sibling GLBT mystical experiences, and fled the ‘fossilized’ and Congregation. We need to improve the organization and ‘hypocritical’ institutions in which they were raised. On communication within the Congregation and foster more more than one occasion, I have had a conversion student harmonious collaboration between the Board members, the struggle to logically reconcile their agnostic and scientific Rabbi and the members of the Congregation. The Rabbi has nature with their belief in ‘something bigger’ and their desire agreed to attend all Board meetings and I have begun work for a spiritual quest which has led them to Judaism. with the members of the Board to form teams to focus the My teacher, Art Green, observed just this reality, effort and coordinate responsibilities in five areas: Religious commenting that “in this age of free choice of identities, there Affairs, Programming and Outreach, Administration, will be many” Jewish and non-Jewish “seekers attracted by Financial Management and Development, and such an open-minded yet powerfully spiritual Judaism.” Communications. While many in the Jewish establishment are not surprised by Our programming needs to take better advantage of the many these phenomena, I am shocked by the number of Jewish Jewish and gay events in the Washington area that would be ‘experts’ who are shocked and dismayed. I doubt that most of interest to us. Our events need to be better planned in of us at Bet Mishpachah are very surprised. While no doubt advance, and better publicized and the new website should lots of straight, cysgender folks flee close-minded, help a great deal with that. We must realize that we can no hypocritical, abusive institutions, being LGBTQ is certainly longer think of ourselves as an amateur operation, but invest all-the-more reason to flee. And as many of our straight, cys in professionalizing the running of the Congregation with members remind me, they come to Bet Mishpachah, in part, paid staff so the Board can take less of its time on daily because we are not the establishment. We have our operations and work more toward our strategic goals and imperfections (all institutions do) but nobody has ever long-term planning. We have already hired Sharon accused us of “caring too much about money” or being Greenbaum who has done a remarkably energetic job as “comatose.” We have a history of speaking truth to power, of Program Coordinator. We will move to hire a bookkeeper or pushing the theological envelope, and of sparking creativity service following the recommendations of our accounting in ritual. consultant, working with our incoming and outgoing Treasurers. We should hire an administrator in the But I wonder, are we always doing all we can to meet the Washington area to assist the Board, and to provide the needs of SBNRs of all ages and backgrounds? support services whose lack has often impeded the Board to fully serve the Congregation. We need to develop a strategy Do I, theist that I am, sometimes use God-language that may with our Treasurer to make better, more active use of our seem too ‘traditional’ and that I could qualify differently? special funds and endowment, to invest in the development Does our liturgy represent the latest popular voice of the and growth of the Congregation within our means. And I will SBNRs? appoint a committee to recruit a Board member or committee chair to lead the effort to develop new sources of funding, Do we always advertise our events in ways that clearly including grants, estate planning and gifts. We need to think express our welcome of folks of all spiritual paths? of ways of engaging more members in active roles in the Congregation’s life with less formal institutional lethargy. I regularly encounter people who want to make sure that they @CBM has been very helpful to communicate between are welcome at Bet Mishpachah. These are mostly emails newsletters and changes in the website. Why can’t we use a from gentiles who are interested in coming to shul, but don’t member listserve to spontaneously gather groups with similar know if they are allowed. There are apparently also some interests for an activity? straight, cys Jews who aren’t sure if we’re “for them” either. And even at Bet Mishpachah, I encounter agnostics and We are looking forward to planning a series of special events atheists who struggle to understand our liturgy or to find a and a fundraising gala to celebrate our fortieth year. With place in what can feel like a ‘traditional’ community. I your support and that of the continuing and new members of wonder how we might speak, write, teach, and network in the Board and the Rabbi, I am very hopeful that we can ways that could more clearly express our embrace of revitalize Bet Mishpachah and prepare it for a strong future together. (Continued on page 10) Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 10

Join us for brunch with author Finding Our Collective Truth (Continued from page 9) Penny Rosenwasser—March 22 everyone, especially spiritual seekers of all stripes who have mixed feelings about God, religion, prayer, and religious Join us for a brunch with communities. Penny Rosenwasser, the author of Hope Into This consideration is part of what led me to choose, in Practice Jewish Women consultation with our Education Committee, the topic of my Choosing Justice Despite spring class (see page 1), which will begin soon after you receive Our Fears on Sunday, this column. The course is titled, “Spirituality Up Close & March 22, 2015 from noon Personal: From Traffic Jams to the Meaning of Life to Dealing to 2:00 pm at the DCJCC. With Difficult People, How Do We Cultivate Spiritual Growth In Penny is in the middle of a Our Mundane Everyday.” Based on a model of spiritual 50-event national book education created by my teacher Rabbi Aryeh Ben David, this tour—including Harvard, class is intentionally for everyone. Whether or not you believe in DePaul, the University of God, whether or not you are Jewish, whether you prayer daily or Minnesota, and synagogues never, this class is for you. You don’t have to have any prior in Brooklyn, Chicago, Los knowledge or experience. There’s no secret to exploring Angeles, Boston, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Ann Arbor. spirituality, only a willingness to be honest with yourself is She will be discussing her latest book, which will be required. I hope you will seriously consider joining us for for sale and she is signing. “Spirituality Up Close and Personal.”

A self-described life-long heartfelt rabble-rouser for That being said, I certainly don’t expect any four-session class to justice, she earned her PhD at the California Institute be a “magic fix” to the spiritual ailments of our society. I hope of Integral Studies (San Francisco) in that individually and collectively, we will continue and enhance Transformational Learning & Change. Penny is our journey together. On an individual level, I am available for former Jewish Caucus Chair of the National Women’s spiritual guidance and conversation. Collectively, I encourage Studies Association and a founding board member of you to speak with myself and the rest of our Religious Affairs and Jewish Voice for Peace. She teaches an Education cadre about your needs in worship and study. Anti-Semitism/Anti-Arabism class with a Palestinian colleague at the City College of San Francisco and As a shul, we are embarking on a religious adventure, making belongs to Kehilla Synagogue. changes to our liturgy, exploring new worship formats, bringing new music and investigating the next phase of our communal Transplanted to Oakland, California from Northern spiritual journey. I, and our lay service leaders, want to hear your Virginia/Washington, D.C., Penny she has been active thoughts. We want to hear what works for you, as well as what on issues ranging from ending nuclear power and doesn’t. We welcome your questions, and we welcome your time weapons, to feminism and queer liberation, to peace and your passion to engage in the work that needs to be done. and racial justice, especially focusing on Israel- You don’t need to know Hebrew to reassemble prayer book pages Palestine—including leading four women’s peace or to share your thoughts on possible liturgical layouts. delegations to that region. We want to hear from you. We also want to push you, stretch you Please RSVP to Sharon Greenbaum at a bit. After all, if your synagogue and your rabbi don’t push your [email protected] by Wednesday, March 11, boundaries and stretch your limits, then what are we here for? By 2015, if you would like to attend. stretching ourselves and stretching each other, we can ensure that we don’t become ‘comatose’ or ‘fossilized’ or ‘closed minded.’

We may think, oh that will never happen to us. We’re Bet Mishpachah. We’re the anti-shul. But after 39 years, any person Community News? or group of people can get a little stuck. I can’t say it any better than Linda Mercadante did. “All of us, not just religious people, Let Us Know! are in danger of becoming rigid or comatose, inflexible or numb. All of us need to find ways to develop and live our faith in the company of others, which is, in fact, what religion is all about.” Did you get a promotion? Has a new niece or nephew arrived lately? Did you solve the entire Sunday New Next time: Check back here in the next newsletter, as I explore York Times crossword, in ink? Send any cause for a “What the Pew Report and the Jewish Federation of Greater Mazel Tov to [email protected]. Washington’s Recent Study Really Tells Us About Our Jewish Community, and About the Future of Bet Mishpachah.” Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 11

Calling for Volunteers to Bring Book Group Going Strong Passover HOPE to Needy Jewish Families By Nathaniel Deutsch in Maryland and in Northern Virginia Sunday, March 29 Looking to exercise your mind, have stimulating Bet Mishpachah is once again organizing volunteers to deliver conversation, eat some Passover Food Baskets in partnership with JSSA’s Holiday Giving yummy food, and meet Program to those in need in our local Jewish community. Bet Mish interesting people? Then delivered alone in Maryland 25 baskets in 2014! consider joining us for one of Bet Mishpachah’s We hope that you will become a part of this mitzva. Last year Project Book Group meetings. It HOPE delivered nearly 500 baskets! Project HOPE also needs couldn’t be easier: there’s members of each synagogue/organization who is participating to make no Book Group a monetary donations or they be forced to reduce the number of people “membership,” and who receive Passover Baskets. anyone is welcome to Project HOPE 2015 will take place on Sunday, March 29 and the participate at any time. Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) has agreed, again, to be full partners with the Chesapeake Bay Region of B’nai B’rith to sustain Here’s how it works. We alternate between works this very important community service program. Bet Mishpachah will of fiction and nonfiction, selected collectively by be participating for the ninth year in a row in Project HOPE! Your the group. Books suggested for consideration participation and help will be especially appreciated given growing must have either a Jewish and/or a GLBT theme. poverty. We get together in participants’ homes. Although there is no regularly set schedule, we usually meet How to participate: Volunteer teams of two people, driver and rider, every other month or so. Meeting times are 7:00 will pick up Passover food items at a distribution point and deliver to 9:00 pm. We start with schmoozing and a pot them to needy Jewish families in the Maryland suburbs or Northern luck supper. Dishes may be dairy, pareve, or Virginia. Many of the recipients are elderly Russian immigrants who vegetarian (no meat). After dinner, we discuss the don’t speak much English. They are always delighted and thankful book for about an hour. when you deliver their food and volunteers feel like they have done a real mitzva in preparation for the Passover holiday. Books vary widely. We try to select books that are available in paperback and may be available in The procedures in Maryland and Virginia differ in several ways. In public libraries. In the past year, among the Maryland, the volunteers can choose ahead of time the zip code(s) in works we’ve discussed are: Nonfiction—Yehuda which they want to deliver. Volunteers pick up individual grocery Halevi by Hillel Halkin, A Train in Winter: An bags of nonperishable Passover items at the Berman Hebrew Academy Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship, and in Rockville for delivery to several addresses in the chosen delivery Resistance in Occupied France by Caroline area. The names, addresses and driving directions are provided to the Moorehead, and The Genesis of Justice, by Alan teams. M. Dershowitz; Fiction—Sing You Home by Jodi

In Virginia, teams pick up a whole car trunk full of perishable and Picoult, The Two Hotel Francforts by David nonperishable food items to last a whole week at a location in Fairfax Leavitt, and Khirbet Khizeh by S. Yizhar. County starting at 11am for delivery to a single address. The action in NOVA involves lifting heavy cartons of food and longer distances We’ll be posting meeting dates on the Bet than the action in suburban Maryland. In both cases you can count on Mishpachah website. For specific meeting 2-3 hours for pick-up and delivery. locations, or for more information, or to get on our email list and be kept up to date on our To sign up as a volunteer: For NOVA, please send an e-mail to gatherings, please contact Barbara at [email protected] or call her under 703-548-9485. [email protected]. We look forward to For Maryland, please email Ken at [email protected]. seeing you!

If you would like to support the project and cannot be there in person, please sponsor one or more baskets ($36 fills one basket) by either going on-line to www.jssa.org/BBI, and write Bet Mishpachah as your affiliation, or you can send a check made payable to “B’nai B’rith Project HOPE” to: B’nai B’rith Project H.O.P.E., P.O. Box 4488, Silver Spring, MD 20914, and note your affiliation with Bet Mishpachah. Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 12

Nehirim East Retreat 40 Years of Pride Conference May 15-17, 2015 June 9-11, 2015

EXPLORE your connection to Judaism with spirited—services, Israel’s First-Ever Global LGBT Leadership workshops, and community-led programming. Summit Co-sponsored by the World Congress of GLBT Jews of which Bet Mishpachah is a RELAX and enjoy nature and a beautiful site outside Baltimore, member. To attend, register at http:// Maryland. www.40yearsofpride.com/.

CONNECT with an inclusive and diverse community—of LGBT Stay over: Jews, partners, and allies. June 9-11, 2015 The Royal Beach Hotel The Nehirim East Retreat; co-sponsored by Bet Mishpachah, is May Tel Aviv, Israel 15-17, 2015 at the Pearlstone Retreat Center: 54125 Mount Gilead Road, Reisterstown, MD, 21136. Rabbi Green will be presenting. The 40 Years of Pride Conference will bring Deadline for financial aid is Friday, May 1 and is on a first come, first together diverse LGBTQ leaders from around the serve basis. world, people at the forefront of LGBTQ issues in political and legal activism, religion, media, arts Go to www.nehirim.org/east/#comments for registration information. and culture, and business. A non-residential rate for the retreat has been set at $180. Call Barbara Goldberg, 703/548-1086 or email her at [email protected] We will gather in the heart of Tel Aviv, home to a for more information. vibrant and committed LGBTQ community, to inspire and strengthen each other, build our skills and networks, and celebrate 40 years of LGBTQ progress in Israel. We will also travel to the historic city of Jerusalem to visit Yad v’Shem, the Old City, and meet with key Israeli policy makers and community leaders in the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament). The Conference concludes the day before the ever-fabulous weekend of Tel Aviv Pride, a celebration that attracts 150,000 people from across the world.

Join Bet Havarim, the Paris member organization of the World Congress of GLBT Jews for a Shabbat dinner on Friday night after the Pride parade, and stay for the World Congress Board Meeting on Sunday, June 14. A Saturday night party is also in the planning stages.

Contact Barbara Goldberg, 703/548-1086, [email protected], also the Officer-at-Large Western Hemisphere, GLBT Jews for more Chaplain Michael Bloom views some of the food served at the well- information. It would be great to get a Bet attended brunch the Education Committee sponsored on January 25. Mishpachah contingent and possibly share Chaplain Bloom’s wide-ranging talk ranged encompassed foods that are lodging. typically considered Jewish, such as the bagels in the picture, and those are not, such as fish and chips. Also covered were tasty foods such as hamentashen and offal ones such as lung. (Photo by Marc Bernstein) Follow us online

Website: www.betmish.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/betmish Twitter: @BetMish Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 13

Thanks to Our January Thanks to Our January and February Oneg Shabbat and February Service Leaders and Kiddush Sponsors

Friday, January 2: Larry Neff and Rabbi Ben Want to remember a loved one, celebrate a special event or just help out the Shalva Oneg and Kiddush coordinator? You can do this by sponsoring an Oneg Shabbat or Kiddush lunch. It’s simple and pain free. Contact Barbara Friday, January 9: Louis Blank and Paula Goldberg at [email protected] or call her at 703/548-1086 to save your date Morris and receive more information.

Saturday, January 10: Rabbi Laurie Green Can’t sponsor? Consider sending a donation of Chai ($18) or more to bring extended life to the Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Friday, January 16: Rabbi Laurie Green Fund, established by a generous bequest from our beloved member Joel Woldman. Send donations to Bet Mishpachah, Department 0520, Friday, January 23: Allan Armus Washington, DC 20073-0520. Saturday, January 24: Rabbi Laurie Green Thanks to Joel for assisting with shopping (not mentioned in previous Friday, January 30: Rabbi Laurie Green and newsletter) . Larry Neff January 2: Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Fund Friday, February 5: Rabbi Laurie Green and January 9: Louis Blank and Dan Yost, in honor of finally signing a contract Rabbi Ben Shalva to start on their kitchen renovation Friday, February 13: Eryca Kasse and Jutta January 10: Aaron Hoffman, in honor of Mike’s birthday Brettschnieder January 16: Murray Woldman, in memory of his Mother, Lillian Woldman Saturday, February 14: Ruth Potts and Alex January 23: Allan Armus, his annual Bar Mitzva Bash Carter January 24: Jeff Burka, in memory of his mother (Jane Burka) and Friday, February 20: Rabbi Laurie Green grandmothers (Edythe Pollack, and Louise Burka) Friday, February 27: Allan Armus January 30: Past Presidents, in honor of the incoming Board of Directors

Saturday, February 28: Rabbi Laurie Green February 6: Board of Directors, in honor of New Member Shabbat Saturday, February 28 (Purim): Brian Parks February 13: Barbara Becker and Yutta Brettschneider, to celebrate life’s and Marlene Cohen changes February 14: Keith Cohen, in memory of his father, Maxwell Joseph Cohen February 20: Diane Tobin, in honor of Morris Umansky’s birthday on February 15 February 27: Stuart Sotsky, in honor of the new Board of Directors February 28: Eva Freund and Elke Martin, in celebration of their anniversary on March 1 Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 14

March 2015 April 2015 March 2015

Member Birthdays Member Birthdays Member Anniversaries

2 JonRobert Johnson 2 Abbey Farkas 1 Eva Freund and Elke Martin 8 Stefan Taske 2 Hank Londner 11 Margy Kohn and Myrna Chasanow 12 Thomas A. Sachs 3 Carol Stern 20 Jessica Erfer and Michael Gonen 12 Charles S. Stewart 5 Cecilia Rothschild 26 Batya Hyman and Belinda Cross 14 Richard 7 David Schwarz 26 Jessica Erfer 8 Bruce Frishman April 2015 28 Michael Greenwald 9 Gail Tannenbaum 28 Batya Hyman 10 Keith Cohen Member Anniversaries 30 Davi LaBarre 10 Barbara Goldberg 31 Mark David Agrast 11 Rachel Wolkowitz 9 Jerald Goldberg and James Olson 13 Harvey Stoler 16 Louis Blank and Dan Yost 13 John Winterson 18 Ellen Levy and Joy Savage 14 Liora Moriel 20 Robert Hollis 20 Susan Silber 23 Jocelyn Kaplan 24 Jeff Burka 26 Paul Entis 28 Sharon Greenbaum 28 Mark 29 Scott Segal

Donations  Marc Bernstein and Jeff Burka  Alex Carter We appreciate the generosity of our members and friends, and  Keith Cohen recognize them for their support. Contributions may be made  Nathaniel Deutsch, in memory of his cousins, Benay at any time during the year. To make a contribution, send a Hecker and Peter Steckler check payable to Bet Mishpachah, Department  Andres Doernberg 0520,Washington, DC 20073-0520.  David Fox, in memory of Ruth Wind, mother of Joel Wind and mother-in-law of Al Munzer November—Non-Member Donations  Steven Frank, in memory of his aunt, Ada Solomon  Barry Friedman, in memory of Morris and Ann Monica Lobo Filho Baruch Memorial Fund for Visiting Friedman, Harry and Sarah Friedman, and Rose and Artists and Scholars Rev. Samuel Mendelson  Mary Hunt and Diann Neu  Bruce Frishman December—Members Donations  Jerry Goldberg, in memory of Ruth Wind, mother of Joel Wind and mother-in-law of Al Munzer Monica Lobo Filho Baruch Memorial Fund for Visiting  Letitia Gomez Artists and Scholars  Jack Hillelsohn  Eva Freund, sponsorship of Judith Plaskow event  Robert Hollis and Donald Jewler, in memory of Ruth Wind, mother of Joel Wind and mother-in-law of Al Operating Fund Munzer  Anonymous  Deb Hyman and Paula Morris  Allan Armus, in memory of Ruth Wind, mother of  Jeffrey Kahn Joel Wind and mother-in-law of Al Munzer  Jocelyn Kaplan, in memory of Ruth Wind, mother of  Douglas Auerbach Joel Wind and mother-in-law of Al Munzer  Joel Berelson, in memory of his mother, Jan (Continued on page 15) Berelson Dickstein Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 15

Donations  Mindy Gasthalter, in memory of Gail Tannenbaum’s (Continued from page 14) mother, Rita, and in memory of Ruth Wind, mother  Susan Kirshner and Liora Moriel, in honor of Al of Joel Wind and mother-in-law of Al Munzer Munzer and Joel Wind’s marriage  Diane Liff and Georgia Korn, Past President’s  Margy Kohn Installation Oneg in honor of the new Board of  Barry Kropf Directors  Timothy Kynerd  Scott Reiter, Past President’s Installation Oneg in  Davi LaBarre honor of the new Board of Directors  Art Leabman, in memory of his aunt, Ruth Leabman  Murray Woldman, in memory of his beloved twin  Mark Levine, in honor of his loving family brother, Joel Woldman, and a former member of Bet  Diane Liff and Georgia Korn Mishpachah  Robert Mapou, in memory of his father, Albert Mapou December—Non-Member Donations

 Elizabeth, in memory of Barrett Brick Operating Fund  Paula Morris and Deb Hyman  Anonymous  Al Munzer and Joel Wind  Randall Bell  Jeffrey Nakrin  David Burka  James Nathan  Michael Chase  Larry Neff  Larry D. Cohen  Joseph Pomper  Larry Ira Cohen  Ruth Potts, in honor of Allan Armus’ many years as  Stephen Groh Treasurer  Richard Grossman, in memory of Sylvia Rodman  Rodney Ross  Lisa Happ, in celebration of Bet Mishpachah’s 40th  Tom Sachs, in memory of Bill Lemen, Lilian Jaco, anniversary and in honor of Dr. Judith Plaskow and Cynthia Sachs  Diana and Richard Parson, in honor of their son,  Roger Schechter and Craig Ziskin, in memory of Brett Parson Corinne and Seymour Schechter  Judith and Seymour Pomper, in honor of their son,  Scott Segal and Travis Hatch Joseph Pomper  Warren Snaider, in honor of Allan Armus’ birthday  Theodore Xakellis  Carl Spatz  Morris Umansky, in memory of Gertrude and Leo Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Umansky Fund  Steven Weinberg, in memory of Cal Steinmetz  Elke Martin, Past President’s Installation Oneg in  Noah Wofsy honor of the new Board of Directors  Murray Woldman, in memory of his beloved twin brother, Joel Woldman, and a former member of Bet January—Members Donations Mishpachah Operating Fund  Rachel Wolkowitz, in honor of Rock ‘N Scroll  Ellen Levy, in memory of Marcia Klane Peltzman, Shabbat—Great Job! mother of Maxine Klane  Craig Ziskin and Roger Schechter, in memory of

Ben and Florence Bloomfield, and Lillian and Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Joseph Ziskin Fund Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund  Jocelyn Kaplan, Past President’s Installation Oneg in  Diane Liff and Georgia Korn honor of the new Board of Directors

 Al Munzer and Joel Wind, in appreciation of Rabbi January—Non-Members Donations Green’s help during a difficult time Operating Fund Ritual Objects Fund  Timothy Gloster  Barbara Goldberg and LySandra Brady, in memory  Joy Savage, in memory of Marcia Klane Peltzman, of Gail Tannenbaum’s mother, Rita, and in memory mother of Maxine Klane of Ruth Wind, mother of Joel Wind and mother-in- law of Al Munzer Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush

Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Fund Fund  Scott Mezistrano and Jeff Kaye, Past President’s  Louis Blank, in honor of his niece, Rebecca Flax, Installation Oneg in honor of the new Board of being accepted into college Directors Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 16

Member Yartzeits

March 2015

Announced on March 6 Ruth Seidman March 6 Aunt of Gail Tannenbaum David Snaider Adar 15 (March 6) Uncle of Warren Snaider Tom Chase March 7 Friend of Ruth Potts Norbert Munzer Adar 16 (March 7) Cousin of Al Munzer Miriam Cohen Schwartz March 7 Grandmother of Karl Schwartz Arthur Magid Adar 17 (March 8) Uncle of Carl Spatz Arnie Medvene March 8 Friend of Alex Carter Charles Most March 8 Grandfather of Morris Umansky Chrystal Searles March 8 Friend of Carol Wayman Clara P. Manheim March 8 Mother of Carol Manheim Dora Rodbell Silber March 9 Grandmother of Fran Sneider Abraham Most March 10 Cousin of Morris Umansky Joseph Gottesman March 10 Grandfather of Andi Kasarsky Arnold Stern March 10 Father of Milton Stern Dora Reiter March 12 Grandmother of Scott Reiter Sylvia Youngman Adar 21 (March 12) Aunt of Joel Wind David Grossman Adar 22 (March 13) Grandfather of Joseph Pomper Philip Magid Adar 22 (March 13) Uncle of Carl Spatz

Announced on March 13 and 14 Angela Carter March 14 Aunt of Alex Carter Joseph Lehman Adar 23 (March 14) Maternal Grandfather of Michael Hoffman Shelly Lomberg Adar 23 (March 14) Niece of Allan Armus Martin Gross March 15 Uncle of Mark Beatrice Blank March 16 Grandmother of Louis Blank Donald Haines March 16 Friend of Eryca Kasse Kenneth Cross March 17 Brother of Belinda Cross Samuel Spatz Adar 26 (March 17) Grandfather of Carl Spatz Ben Barlas March 18 Uncle of Judy Barlas Harriet Behrens March 18 Cousin of Mindy Gasthalter David Bodenstein March 18 Member of Bet Mishpachah Leon Smelo March 18 Uncle of Betty Roy Strassman March 19 Friend of Larry Neff Murray Eneman Adar 30 (March 20) Grandfather of Jeffrey Berns Clarence Adar 29 (March 20) Father of Glenn Esther Topkis Potts Adar 29 (March 20) Aunt of Ruth Potts

Announced on March 20 Mary Ford March 20 Mother of Alex Ford Jack David Neff March 20 Father of Larry Neff Jack Sherman March 21 Grandfather of Joan Sherman Mohr Weber March 21 Grandfather of Denise Leish Gary R. Fuson March 22 Partner of Karl Schwartz Jack Halpern March 22 Grandfather of Roger Schechter Augusta Verdin March 22 Grandmother of Catherine Tarabochia Rob Madna Nisan 3 (March 23) Foster Brother of Al Munzer Blanche Baar Stern March 24 Grandmother of Seymour Stern Seymour Bachman Nisan 5 (March 25) Father of David Bachman Menachem Moriel March 25 Father of Liora Moriel Stan Schwartz March 25 Friend of Larry Neff Jackie Gentry March 26 Friend of Alex Carter and Ruth Potts David Magid Nisan 6 (March 26) Uncle of Carl Spatz (Continued on page 17) Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 17

Member Yartzeits (Continued from page 16)

Announced on March 27 and 27 Murray Dennis March 28 Cousin of Morris Umansky Seymour Schechter March 28 Father of Roger Schechter Gustave Stern March 28 Grandfather of Seymour Stern Shirley Dwartz Nisan 9 (March 29) Grandmother of Paula Morris Abraham Singer March 29 Grandfather of Michael Singer Harry Selbin March 29 Grandfather of Denise Leish Joseph Rheingold March 29 Grandfather of Mindy Gasthalter Henrietta W. Goldberg March 30 Mother of Jerald Goldberg Joseph George Resnick Nisan 10 (March 30) Grandfather of Michael Resnick Sara Magid Patt Nisan 11 (March 31) Aunt of Carl Spatz Jan Welch March 31 Dear Friend of Maxine Klane Leon Jackson April 1 Partner in professional dance company with Devra Floyd Tom Moffett April 1 Friend of Catherine Tarabochia Anat Levy Shmueli April 1 Cousin of Michael Singer Rae Freeman Allman April 2 Grandmother of Beth Cohen Sandi Gross Nisan 13 (April 2) Aunt of Jeff Burka Rona Riibner April 2 Cousin of Larry Neff Corrine Schechter April 2 Mother of Roger Schechter Eunice Magid Spatz Nisan 13 (April 2) Mother of Carl Spatz

April 2015

April 3 Bet Mishpachah will not hold a Shabbat service on April 3 because it is the first night of Passover and the first Seder. Therefore, yartzeits will not be announced on April 3. The following yartzeits will be observed that week by our members: Louise Kadun Chiprut Nisan 15 (April 4) Grandmother of Beverly Nissenbaum Rebecca Sharp Nisan 15 (April 4) Grandmother of Murray Woldman Arthur Dwartz Nisan 17 (April 6) Grandfather of Paula Morris Barbara Kohn Katz April 6 Sister of Margy Kohn Mary Madna Nisan 18 (April 7) Aunt of Al Munzer Manuel Less Nisan 19 (April 8) Father of Martin Less Alan Cohen April 9 Uncle of Beth Cohen Sonya Gross April 9 Aunt of Mark Ida Snaider Nisan 20 (April 9) Mother of Warren Snaider

Announced on April 10 and 11 Edna Korn April 10 Mother of Georgia Korn Shirley Leish April 10 Grandmother of Denise Leish Simon Gordon April 10 Uncle of Maxine Klane Sylvia E. Liff April 10 Mother of Diane Liff J. Lloyd Elsten April 10 Member of Bet Mishpachah Monica Lobo Filho Baruch April 11 Member of Bet Mishpachah B. Neal Klenke April 11 Member of Bet Mishpachah Leah M. Potts Nisan 22 (April 11) Grandmother of Ruth Potts Leland Manuel Reiner April 13 Friend of Karl Schwartz Sean Sebastian April 13 Nephew of Denise Leish Bracha Apelberg Nisan 25 (April 14) Grandmother of Eytan Apelberg Chick Gordon Nisan 25 (April 14) Uncle of Warren Snaider Alfred Salomon April 16 Brother-in-law of Eva Freund Abe H. Goldberg April 16 Father of Jerald Goldberg Ann Friedman Nisan 27 (April 16) Mother of Barry Friedman Abraham Cohen April 16 Father of Larry Ira Cohen

(Continued on page 18) Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 18

Member Yartzeits (Continued from page 17)

Announced on April 17 Elsie Freund April 17 Mother of Eva Freund Debbi Willett April 17 Friend of Jack Hillelsohn Donna Floyd April 18 Cousin of Devra Floyd Annie Singer April 19 Grandmother of Michael Singer Elizabeth Anne Hubner April 20 Friend of Morris Umansky Rose Mendelson Iyar 1 (April 20) Grandmother of Barry Friedman Phyllis F. Scheinberg April 20 Friend and Colleague of Larry Neff Morris Sobel April 20 Grandfather of Carol Stern Fred Weinberg Iyar 1 (April 20) Father of Steven Weinberg Dolores K. Cohen April 21 Mother of Keith Cohen Lia Horowitz Iyar 2 (April 21) Mother of Bruce Horowitz Glenn Neuman Rein April 21 Partner of Morris Levitt Nikki Felch April 22 Friend of Catherine Tarabochia Miriam Londner April 22 Mother of Hank Londner David Sotsky Iyar 4 (April 23) Father of Stuart Sotsky

Announced on April 24 and 25 Jacques Carle April 24 Partner of Jack Hillelsohn Max Klane April 24 Grandfather of Maxine Klane Flossie Kline April 24 Godmother of Milton Stern Judith Smith April 24 Partner of Diane Citron and Member of Bet Mishpachah Selma Cobden Iyar 6 (April 25) Grandmother of Jeffrey Berns Saul Gass April 25 Uncle of Eileen Greenberg Manya Gass April 25 Aunt of Eileen Greenberg Issac Fox Iyar 7 (April 26) Grandfather of David Fox Salvadore Montanino April 26 Paternal Grandfather of Michael Montanino Minnie Casel Lev April 27 Grandmother of Larry Neff Helen Gitelson Neff April 27 Aunt of Larry Neff Lorna Melinger Iyar 9 (April 28) Mother of Debra Montanino Martin Reiter April 28 Father of Scott Reiter Molly Dickson Iyar 10 (April 29) Aunt of Stuart Sotsky Betty Saks April 29 Mother of Rabbi Bob Saks David Youngman Iyar 11 (April 30) Uncle of Joel Wind Donald Bruce Schwartz April 30 Brother of Karl Schwartz Norma Sobel April 30 Aunt of Jessica Erfer Mishpachah Matters—Adar - Nisan - Iyar 5775/March and April 2015 Page 19