June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 Rabbi’s Message Reb Moshe

Our moving cool place to be physically and a hot bar/bat mitzvah place to be spiritually. We are here celebration on May every Shabbat and on August 3rd we will 5 was spectacular. We receive the Shabbat in the open air of celebrated Summit Park. ourselves in the bosom of our community. But even while away, with We were the mishpokhe a little forethought, one and we recognized how can easily be conscious much our offspring, TBZ, of the Shabbat. On Friday reflected our visions, our evening we can create successes and aspirations. a zen-like , yet romantic As in all of our b’nei mitzvah setting with flowers, celebrations at TBZ we candles, flowers, challah exhibited our contagious (or two rolls of any kind). brand of joyous celebration With the offerings of along with opportunities blessings of gratitude for reflection and thanksgiving. The followed by a special generosity of our community permits us meal, this minimal effort can yield to meet our financial obligations and peace and tranquility wherever you to again end our fiscal year on June 30 are. It can even be done in a restaurant more assured of our stability. (There is still setting. time to receive your gift). Whether in Katmandu or Cape Cod June goes by in a flurry, as summer we carve out moments of specialness, becomes a reality. Graduations, kedusha, with Kiddush and motzi, the weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs and other blessing over wine. If you don’t have a joyous occasions that will be celebrated. prayer book I’d be glad to send you a Inside: Many of us will be planning vacations copy of the Kiddush. Co-President’s and family trips. Some of these will be You will be surprised how these small acts Message...... pg. 4 to the mountains, others to the sea, can enhance a sense of togetherness some will travel to foreign lands, some to for both families and individuals; how Rav Claudia’s family reunions near and far. Simply put, they provide a feeling of connection Message...... pg. 5 many of us will be on the move. How do to all in our local and world community we retain our connection to the Jewish Adult Learning...... 6 who are performing these mitzvoth as community while we are away? well. Calendar ...... pgs. 8-9 For those of us who will remain in the Yeladim ...... pg. 11-12 immediate area, TBZ always offers a Continued on page 2 TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772

(continued from page 1) to experience a sense of the deep interconnection of all reality, while in the process of our daily lives. Mitzvot are vehicles for connection to not only the Divine but to our past and our All of this in a berakha? So much in the capacity of our future. consciousness to expand through praise and gratitude? This is the essence of our existence as Jewish human Via mitzvoth we can overcome feelings of beings. This is what wards off despair and kindles and alienation and be brought into greater harmony rekindles our light within, the light that gives us the capacity with the Universe, the Divine and to the Earth. to withstand the trials life hands us. Berakhot, blessings, over what we eat and do, inform us of our deep connection to all of these This deep felt hint at possibility that lies ahead of us never three things; they provide a way to raise up the goes on vacation. mundane into the sublime. Imagine, holding a cup of wine in your hand and acknowledging the miracle My family joins me in wishing all of you a peaceful, that begins with a grape cultivated by the efforts of so invigorating and nourishing summer. many, including the care of the vintner as part of a chain that connects your lips touching the rim of your cup to the verdant earth seeded to bring those grapes into existence. Reb Moshe Rabbi Max Kadushin once called this feeling “normative mysticism”, the capacity, in a moment, via a berakha,

Thank You …to Deborah Chassler …to outgoing Presidents Fran Adams and Jonathan Klein Deborah, one of our TBZ pioneers, is leaving her long time position on the Board where she has for many years At our TBZ Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration, as we contributed her wisdom to our deliberations. She also acknowledged not only our Rabbis and ourselves for the recently concluded her tenure as Chair of Synagogue last 13 years of growth and accomplishment, we also paid Practices. However, she is not going far. We will still see tribute to our two wonderful out-going presidents who Deborah on Shabbat mornings at the bimah, as leyner have so ably guided us these last three years. We thank and gabbai. The “page lady” as she is called by some of you Fran and Jonathan for getting us through difficult times. our kids, will continue to organize our Torah readers. Thank Both of you have exemplified misirut nefesh –soulful giving you Deborah. to our community. We wish you many years of health and continued association with TBZ and we hope you will share And a warm welcome to newly elected Co-Presidents from your experience with those coming after you. Jenni Seicol and David Cherenson, and new Board Members Beth Silverberg Marx and Elana Steinberg. You …to Ken Wexler will hear more from all of them as time progresses. When we began our rejuvenation of the community that has become TBZ, we also began renovating the building that has become home to this community. Ken Wexler brought his professional expertise to this task, as well as his heart. After 13 years Ken is stepping down as chair of Mazel Tov! the committee. We thank him for the countless hours he spent both maintaining our building, and modernizing it to stay current with our ever-changing needs. Among • To our newest Torah readers. (many) other things, Ken supervised the renovation of our • To Sophie Rosenbaum and Michael Strom on their lovely (and air-conditioned) Sanctuary and directed the wedding. complete overhaul of the ground floor. We now have a brightly lit Community Room and Meeting room which • To Sheine Wizel and Joel Kershner on the marriage are the container for our community, as vital a part of of their daughter, Beth Kershner to Daniel Alvarez. our communal life as is the Sanctuary. As he passes the reins into the very capable hands of John Daniels, he • To Thalia and Doug Krakower on the birth of their has promised to remain involved and on call. Thank son, Noam. you Ken. • To Lisa Lovett and Julie Reuben on the bat mitzvah …to John Daniels of their daughter, Charlotte. Page 2 While John is stepping off the Board, he is • To TBZ on our bar/bat mitzvah. stepping way up as chair of the Building • To Suzie Schwartz, our Beit Rabban coordinator, Committee. It is not uncommon to see him, on her marriage to Jojo Jacobson. still in his office clothes, mowing the back lawn. Thank you for taking this on, John. TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772

Officers and Board Members

Our Rabbis Past Presidents Finance Reb Moshe Waldoks, Rabbi Gabriel Belt Fran Kantor Rav Claudia Kreiman, Irwin Pless Synagogue Practices Associate Rabbi Howard Cohen Lauren Garlick Co-Presidents Myra Musicant Molly Silver Enid Shulman David Cherenson Membership Jenni Seicol Jay Zagorsky Fran Adams David Cherenson Treasurer Jonathan Klein • Dinners: Ginni Hamburg Fran Kantor Synagogue Staff Kiddush/Oneg Secretary Bob Perlman, Executive Director Ava Berinstein Roger Zimmerman Jeralyn Ellowitz, Office Manager Garden Ed Kleiman, Bookkeeper Members Rick Bankhead Term Ending April 2014 Yeladim Program Israel Committee Steven Lipman Becky Wexler Evelyn Frankford Rachele Rosi-Kessel Amit Segal Joanna Lubkin LGBT Mona Strick Suzie Schwartz Mark Blogier and Lisa Lovett Members Beit Rabban Staff Hesed Term Ending April 2013 Becky Wexler, Joanna Lubkin, • Bikkur Cholim: Deborah Stang Evelyn Frankford Suzie Schwartz, Laura Held, • Senior Outreach: Katie Britton Sue Kahn Miriam Diamond, Micah Shapiro Larry Kraus Social Action Reggie Silberberg, Vice Chair • Tikkun Olam: Leora Faiber • Family Table: Maurice Medoff Members Committee Chairs • Literacy Project: Kim Meyers Term Ending April 2012 House and Capital Projects David Breakstone John Daniels Yeladim Molly Silver Adult Learning Katherine Gergen Barnett Evonne Meranus Beth Silverberg Marx Reggie Silberberg Elana Steinberg • Jewish Book Club: Dave Woodruff Koleinu • Men’s Study Group: Steve Lewis Enid Shulman, Editor Development Sue Kahn Carol Kamin

Condolences • To Rachel Caileff on the death of her brother, David William Caileff. • To the family and friends of longtime TBZ member, Florence Shapiro. • To Leonard and Barbara Jacobs on the death of Lenny’s mother, Shirley Jacobs. • To Larry Kraus and Sara Smolover on the death of Larry’s father, Allan Kraus. • To Jack Eiferman and Fern Fisher on the death of Jack’s father, Irving Eiferman. Rav Claudia and Vice President • To Richard and Judith Wurtman on the death of Richard’s Joseph Biden at the Rabbinical brother, Stuart Wurtman. Assembly Convention in Atlanta. • To Rav Claudia and her family on the death of her Page 3 grandparents, Sofia and Juan (Chona) Wolynski. May their souls be bound up in the Bonds of Eternal life. HaMakom yenakhem otam im shear avlei Tziyon vYrushalayim. TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772

the vibration of heartfelt singing, sink We are so grateful for the amazing Co-Presidents’ into the renewing quiet and calm of teamwork that made our 13th-year Message meditation, or just like to schmooze celebration such a success. So many and eat, there is something joyous people contributed to making this David Cherenson and special that happens when we day special – with their time, their & Jenni Seicol do these things together, something money, and their skill. There were We begin our first column that can’t be reproduced in quite the efforts large and small, but each as your new Co-Presidents same way on our own. Each week made a difference. This was a shining still basking in the glow of TBZ’s in our sanctuary and community example of the hands-on nature of amazing 13th year celebration. room, there is a little bit of magic that our community, and the sense of There was such a great turnout happens, an alchemy that depends ownership so many of us share. If you for this wonderful event, and we on and is affected by each of us. would like to find a way to be more heard from many of you how much involved, please let us know and we you enjoyed it. Some people said There were over 250 people in our will help you! it was their favorite day ever at TBZ! sanctuary on this special day when What made it so special, and why? we celebrated our 13th year. It felt like Finally, what made this day feel so it does at TBZ during the High Holidays. right was the balance of honoring First and foremost, we were together. There was a buzz, an excitement, an the past, looking to the future, and, This seems obvious, but it is also extra level of joy and happiness. most of all, celebrating the present. essential. There is something powerful We thank everyone who helped about being with other people to share As we shared this beautiful day with create and sustain TBZ during the past an experience, one that may vary for you, we wondered and dared to thirteen years. We ask all of you to each of us, but within which there is a imagine what it would be like to have help participate in building the road common bond that connects us, not this many of us come together often. ahead, in whatever way you can only in the present moment, but also It would be transforming! contribute. And we invite you to join deeply with the past and far into the From a place of joy and love, and of together as we celebrate our success future. This is the beauty and wisdom deep respect and appreciation for along the way. of Shabbat. And we get to repeat it each of you, we ask you to consider B’Shalom, each week, strengthening that bond making the celebration of Shabbat at and deepening that connection. TBZ a part of your life. Those of us who Jenni and David Whether we get inspiration from study know the beauty and power of this and ritual practice, resonate with experience want to share it with you.

Development Committee Update

Page 4 • Elise Dwortzan and Ginni Hamburg Sue Kahn and Carol Kamin, Development each for bringing our bulk mail to the Committee Co-Chairs Newtonville Post Office. TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772

Message from lived for close to 40 years. Rav Claudia They learned Spanish, Dear Haverim & Haverot, and came to love living in Buenos Aires. They First of all I would like to thank you loved the music, the food all for your warm support and and the culture. My Zeide words of comfort after the passing eventually owned a furniture of my grandparents. I had the factory and made a good privilege of sharing something living. They had four children: of their life experience with the my mother, Susy, was the eldest community before they died, as followed by my uncle Gaby, my we commemorated Yom Hasho’ah not only witnesses to the destruction aunt Sarita and my uncle Sergio. and then again after I came back of European Jewry. They are also the They were involved in the Jewish form the shiva in Israel. As this last experiential link to the vibrant community and raised their children sharing has been very meaningful to Jewish life in the communities and with Zionist values. My uncle Gaby me and as many of you expressed congregations of European Jewry and my aunt Sarita made aliyah interest in learning more about my before the Second World War. It is to to Israel, which convinced my grandparents, I decided to devote that generation and to its memory grandparents to follow later with this column to their story and journey. that I dedicate this description of my their youngest son. By this time my grandparents’ journeys. My grandparents were mother was already married to my representatives of a generation of My grandparents Chona (Juan) and father and living in Chile. Though Jewish transition. They were born Sophia Wolynski or as I called them they missed living in Argentina, my and raised in the great Jewish Zeide and Baba, were born in the grandparents enjoyed almost 30 center which was Europe, a center town of Sopotkin (Belarus) close to years together in Israel. They lived that effectively ceased to exist the city of Grodno, in 1921 & 1922. mostly in Tel-Aviv and were very during their lifetime. Most of North- They knew each other from high involved in B’nai Brith, Wizo and American Jewry is an outgrowth school and both families owned other organizations, especially of that center, but with fourth and grocery stores. those where other Argentineans fifth generation American Jews, were active. there are fewer and fewer people My Zeide left Sopotkin for Buenos Naturally, the death of my mother who remember Jewish life as it was Aires, Argentina in 1938 at the in the terrorist attack on the AMIA in the “old country”. We often talk age of 17. He was following in the center in Buenos Aires was very about the memory of the Sho’ah, footsteps of his uncle, and left with painful for my grandparents. I made and how it will be preserved when the intention of eventually bringing Aliyah not long after, and during the generation of survivors is no the rest of the family, his brother the ten years I lived in Israel I spent longer with us. But it is important to and parents, to Argentina. A year almost every Shabbat with them. remember that these people were later my Baba left her town with her father Shmuel to go to Montevideo, Having them in my life and spending Uruguay. Her mother Gittel did not time with them always comforted want to leave her Jewish town and me, and they told me numerous stayed in Sopotkin with her son. stories about my mother in her Eventually she realized she needed younger years. Shabbat at their to leave, but by that time it was too home brought the family together late and they were not allowed to in ways I will always remember. do so. Both of my grandparents’ I was blessed to have my families died in the Shoah, leaving grandparents present when my grandparents alone in strange I was ordained as a rabbi in land. Jerusalem. Their pride in my My Baba remembered her friend achievement merged with who had also left for the same my pride at having them area of the world and looked for there with me. him through ads in the Yiddish In the last years of their newspaper. This was a common life they moved to an Page 5 way Jews searched for relatives and assisted living facility friends after the war. In this way they near Natanya found each other, they eventually Rav Claudia with her married, and my Baba joined my Continued on next grandparents, Chile 1986 Zeide in Buenos Aires where they page... TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772

...From previous page in the north of Israel. My Zeide had a after the 3 years my Zeide fought to stay close to Baba, stroke 3 years ago which left him greatly he decided to let go and join her. debilitated. Despite the fact that he could not walk or speak much my grandparents It was a blessing to be with my family, and 8 of the 10 kept each other company and spent their grandchildren who live scattered around the world days together. My Baba was diagnosed with were able to come for the shiva. This felt like yet another lung cancer three months ago, and they were gift from our grandparents who brought us together to then visited daily by my sister Marianella and celebrate their lives. my uncles & aunt who cared for them. My Baba I feel very blessed that my grandparents were an died on Wednesday April 25 and my Zeide passed influential part of my life and that I have so many th away on the 6 day of her Shiva. The death of memories of them. both of them together was painful and exhausting, emotionally and physically for the family, but at the May their memories be a blessing, same time it felt profoundly beautiful to witness their love once more. It felt like after 67 years together, and Rav Claudia

Adult Learning at TBZ by Reggie Silberberg, Adult Learning Committee Chairperson During the summer we offer fewer learning opportunities but we never stop completely. Reb Moshe will be teaching a course on the Birth of Jewish Denominations, and Rav Claudia’s Women’s Study will continue to meet. Our Shabbat Afternoon Meditation mini retreats will carry on and we will feature a day-long meditation retreat in June. The TBZ Book Club will also continue to meet. Our full schedule will resume in the fall with our annual learning for the High Holidays. Wishing everyone a wonderful summer that nurtures you body, heart, mind and soul. Why TBZ is Unaffiliated: Meditation The Birth of Jewish Day-Long Sunday Meditation Retreat Denominations with Reb Moshe June 10, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm Wednesdays, May 30, June 6, 13, 20, Just Right Farm, about 1.5 hours from Boston. 7:00 – 8:30 pm in the chapel Contact the TBZ office for registration: 617-566-8171 ext. 14.

Women’s Study Group Shabbat Afternoon Meditation Retreats with Rav Claudia Wednesday, June 13, June 30, July 21, Aug. 11

7:30 – 8:30 pm on the third floor 1:30 – 5:30 pm in the sanctuary

TBZ Jewish Book Club In April we gathered to discuss Urban Exodus: Why the Jews left Boston and the Catholics Stayed, by Gerald Gamm. We were hosted by Suzanne Gelber and had a lively discussion. Many of us told of our experiences living in similar situations. The book contains histories of some of the major synagogues in our area.

Page 6 The next book to be read is The Emigrants, by W. G. Sebald, translated by Michael Hulse. We will meet on Sunday, June 3, at 7:00 pm, at Susan Golberg’s house. Please come and join us. For information about the book club, contact David Woodruff, [email protected] TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 From the Membership Committee:

Tour of the Vilna Shul Sunday, July 1, at 1:30 pm Let’s Have Coffee! The Vilna Shul, Boston’s Center for Jewish Culture, is the last remaining immigrant Come chat with the Rabbis and meet other era synagogue in the city of Boston. Built members, in a more intimate setting, at the home in Beacon Hill in 1919, it has become the place for people from around Boston of a TBZ member. Get to know each other a little and around the world to connect with better and maintain closer contact with our Rabbis. the Boston Jewish historical, cultural Monday, June 11 and spiritual experience. By weaving together Jewish history, culture, and Tuesday, June 19 spirituality, the Vilna Shul energizes a sense of American Jewish pride and Tuesday June 26 creates an approachable space to discuss Judaism. TBZ will host a tour of the Shul by docent Judith Klau. Please note that the tour Call Jeralyn in the office for more information. will involve some walking and stair (617) 566-8171 climbing. Details will be announced.

Walk for Hunger and Evelyn Frankford came to cheer us on as we stopped for a delicious snack at TBZ. by Marilyn Paul Our contribution is important to Project Bread. The Status With over seventy people donating and over 35 people Report on Hunger in Massachusetts 2010, the state’s walking, TBZ raised over $5,000 to support the hungry annual report card on hunger, revealed that over people of Massachusetts. Thank you so much for your 660,000 people in Massachusetts are at risk for hunger — generosity and your time. We had a fantastic time walking a 20% increase over the previous year. More of us need on a cool day. Families, singles, older and younger, we to get involved with this important way to raise money for represented some of the diversity of TBZ. Phyllis Brawasky, Project Break. Please mark your calendar for next year’s the Faiber family, the Gergen Barnett family, Susan Kahn, Walk for Hunger and join us and 43,000 other people who Robert Kaim, the Kraus-Grosman family, Mishy lesser, Zoe participate. It is a very satisfying way to get to know others Levitt, Lisa Lovett and friends and family, the Margalit at TBZ, get a good walk, and to make a solid contribution family, the Marx Silverberg family, Luba Naumova, the at the same time. Ribner family, the Paul Stroh Family, Barbara Sternfield, Amy Sweigenberg and Rebecca Weintraub all walked Page 7 TBZKoleinuNewsletterJune-August June Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Parshat Nasso 2 Pride Shabbat Save the Date - June 30 9:00 am, Torah Study Pride Shabbat 10:00 am, Shabbat Join us on Shabbat as Reverend David Killian of All Saint’s Parish shares a few words with us. Services 6:00 pm, Kabbalat Shabbat 11:30 am, Yeladim Rev. Killian is retiring at the end of June after more than 20 years serving the Brookline Community. Services 1:00 pm, Bnei Mitzvah Group 3 6 7 Parshat Beha’alotcha 9 4 5 8 Bar Mitzvah - Alan Karchmer

4:00 pm, Beit Rabban 9:00 am, Torah Study 10:00 am, Shabbat 7:00 pm, Why TBZ is 6:00 pm, Kabbalat Services (babysitting Unafilliated w/Reb Moshe Shabbat available) 5:00 pm, Board Meeting (see pg. 6) 7:30 Tikkun Olam Group (see pg. 10) 10 11 12 13 14 15 Parshat Sh’lach 16 Graduation Shabbat 10:30 am, Yeladim End-of-Year Celebration Aufruf Jonathan Golden

(See pg. 11) 9:00 am, Torah Study 7:00 pm, Why TBZ is Unafilliated w/Reb 10:00 am, Shabbat Services Moshe (see pg. 6) 6:00 pm, Kabbalat Shabbat 11:30 am, Yeladim Services 7:30 pm, Women’s Study 1:00 pm, Bnei Mitzvah Group /Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 7:30 pm, Member Group with Rav Claudia Coffee (off-site) (see pg. 6) 1:15 pm, Men’s Group

Father’s Day Parshat Korach 17 18 19 20 21 22 Bat Mitzvah 23 Sophia Barrett 9:00 am, Torah Study 10:00 am, Shabbat 6:00 pm, Kabbalat Services (babysitting available) 7:00 pm, Rosh Hodesh 7:00 pm, Why TBZ is Shabbat Group 7:30 pm, Member Unafilliated w/Reb Coffee (off-site) Moshe (see pg. 6)

Parshat Chukat 24 25 26 27 28 29 9:00 am, Torah Study 30 10:30 am, Tikkun Olam 10:00 am, Shabbat Group (see pg. 10) Services

6:00 pm, Kabbalat Page 8 Shabbat

7:30 pm, Member Coffee (off-site) Page 9 TBZKoleinuNewsletter July August Sunday Friday Saturday Friday Saturday Barbecue & Barchu 1 Parshat Balak Friday, August 3, 5:30 pm 3 Parshat Vaetchanan 4 6 9:00 am, Torah Study 7 at Corey Hill Park Chaverim Shel Shalom 10:00 am, Shabbat 9:00 am, Torah Study Services (Rain Date: August 10) 1:30 pm, Tour of Vilna 10:00 am, Shabbat Shul Free and open to all. 5:00 - 8:00 pm, 6:00 pm, Kabbalat BBQ & Baruchu - off-site Services Shabbat 6:00 pm, Kabbalat Shabbat

8 13 Parshat Pinchas 14 10 Parshat Eikev 11 9:00 am, Torah Study 9:00 am, Torah Study 10:00 am, Shabbat 10:00 am, Shabbat Services BBQ & Baruchu Services (RAIN DATE) 6:00 pm, Kabbalat 6:00 pm, Kabbalat Sign up to volunteer go to: Shabbat Shabbat http://www2.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view. June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 cgi?barbecue

15 20 Parshat Matot-Masei 21 17 Parshat Re’eh 18 9:00 am, Torah Study 9:00 am, Torah Study 10:00 am, Shabbat 10:00 am, Shabbat Services Shakespeare on Services

6:00 pm, Kabbalat the Common 6:00 pm, Kabbalat Shabbat Shabbat TBZ’s annual outing to Shakespeare on The Common is Sunday, Parshat Shoftim 22 27 28 August 12. 24 25 9:00 am, Torah Parshat Devarim Study This season’s play is 9:00 am, Torah Study 10:00 am, Coriolanus. We will Shabbat 10:00 am, Shabbat Services Services meet at TBZ at 5 for 6:00 pm, Kabbalat 6:00 pm, Kabbalat Shabbat a 45 minute pre- Shabbat 7:00 pm, Board Meeting performance talk by our own resident Shakespearean scholar, Judith Klau. Tisha B’Av 29 31 Then we will take the T in town together for the 7:00 pm performance. 6:00 pm, Kabbalat “May not be appropriate for Shabbat all ages. Parental discretion is advised.” TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772

Tikkun Olam • On 5/20/2012, we are sponsoring: A Work and Learn Afternoon in the Gardens of “As Jews, we believe that Gaining Ground Farm (GG). 12 TBZ members all human brings are made in will be volunteering at this community farm the image of the Divine, that that grows and donates more than 23,000 all are endowed with equal pounds of fresh food to area meal programs and infinite value.” American and food pantries. By volunteering at Jewish World Service (AJWS) Gaining Ground we will help provide high- Anchoring ourselves in this belief, value, healthy, fresh organic produce to the Tikkun Olam Group (TOG) has people who may not get anything like it. fortified itself with great energy and We are excited about this event and the commitment this year. Our goal is to promise it holds as a link in our efforts for identify projects that: food justice and sustainability. • promote our humanity and our “divineness” • We are exploring the politics of food production, justice, and access—educating ourselves about policies • promote the well-being of those with whom we are such as the Farm Bill. This very complicated piece of in community legislation affects every step in the food chain, from growing it to accessing it for our tables. • honor equality and value amongst and within us all TOG is committed to sustainability and stewardship of our A gargantuan task? ABSOLUTELY!—in its whole…but in earth and ourselves. Our goal is to move forward at TBZ manageable chunks and in connection with others? across generations and across committees. By working DOABLE! together with a shared vision and through collective Following is a summary of this year’s efforts in the areas of action we will achieve undeniable impact food justice, sustainability, and caring for ourselves and “It takes a village” …let us join forces as TBZers to our earth: match Reb Moshe’s and Rav Claudia’s description of a • On 11/6/11, we participated in the Global Hunger community that integrates faith and action. “In Judaism, Shabbat – an action organized by AJWS to work love of God is never a mere feeling: it belongs to the towards ending the global food crisis. Mark Dwortzan sphere of ethical action.” (Leo Baeck) delivered a powerful Dvar Torah that challenged us to Please join the Tikkun Olam group at our next meetings: face the crisis and to take action. • June 6 at 7:30 pm • We have nurtured our relationship with GBIO and worked together for social justice. By building bridges • June 24 at 10:30 am and coalitions between different faiths, cultures, traditions, and socio-economic groups, we create Contact Judy Schechtman with any questions or a greater awareness of and impact on a variety of to say “I’ll be at the next TOG meeting!” issues compromising the quality of life and care among [email protected] or 617-965-8324 residents of this state. • On 4/22/12, a number of TOG and TBZ members attended the Boston Jewish Food Conference – “Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability.” TBZ was a proud organizational partner of this effort. The event was sponsored by Hebrew College, CJP, and Beantown Jewish Gardens. We learned about agricultural Save the Date dimensions of the Jewish calendar cycle, eating ethics and kashrut, contemporary Jewish spiritual June 16 practice, locally sourced Kosher vegetarian food options, composting options for institutions, food Graduation Shabbat justice and access, models of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and sustainable Please submit the names of your graduates to simchas. [email protected].

• We co-sponsored the Walk for Hunger with We will list their names in our announcements, Page 10 the Yeladim Committee—supporting the read them on Shabbat, and all graduates will be chair, Marilyn Paul. TBZ had over 30 walkers and raised almost $5,000! TBZ called for an aliyah. pledges annual support to alleviate food insecurity in our state. TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772

Katherine Gergen Barnett, Evonne Meranus Co-Chairs, Yeladim Committee Report from us treats. When we gave them the bags, it Pesach Deliveries at felt like we were doing Pinat Yeladim: 1550 Beacon Street something right, and that those people would be able to celebrate Pesach. Children’s By Corner Ella Meranus I also thought that even though these people may Hi my name is Ella Meranus, and in early April, I not be the happiest, our hope was to bring them went with my Dad and Gabriel, Amira-Skye, and joy both at that moment and during the holiday. I Mark Gergen-Barnett to deliver Pesach bags to our recognized that some people were not very happy friends at the 1550 Senior Center. At first, I was a little that they were receiving charity. Some seemed sad nervous, because I didn’t know what the people would to be living alone. Bringing them happiness along with be like. But as soon as we got there, I knew it would be the bags made me feel good. fun. The people there were very sweet, and some offered

Fourth Annual TBZ Annual TBZ With each retreat, people who are regular attendees deepen their relationship with other TBZ members. Community Retreat was a Success! For new attendees, it’s often the first time many have By Rachele Rosi-Kessel and Jane Liebschutz, had time to really get to know other members, and Co-Chairs, Retreat Committee many vowed to return the following year. Participants numbered 114 this year (57 adults and 46 children). Once again, children and parents, singles and teens, With 11 staff members, our numbers were completely gathered at Prindle Pond in Charlton, MA, on March 16- manageable and the ideal size for our location. Suzie 18, for fun, games, learning, food and relaxation. The Schwartz’s organizational skills facilitated the smooth theme this year was, “Building and Strengthening Our functioning of the entire process, allowing both lay and Community.” By simplifying the program and limiting the professional leaders to lead and relax at the same time. number of participants, we were able to have a more relaxed and intimate experience. Highlights of the retreat As chairs of the retreat committee for past two years, we included very spirited tefilah (prayer) for adults and have both learned a lot from the experience, deepened children alike, led by Rav Claudia, Suzie Schwartz, Micah our own commitment to TBZ, and feel blessed that we Shapiro and Ben Madsen. Micah’s percussion and Ben’s could serve in such a joyful capacity. What better job guitar infused playful energy throughout the weekend, than to create a restful Shabbaton for our friends at TBZ! at services, the campfire, and during workshops. This Thank you all for coming and for making the retreat the year’s talent show was a big hit, with many kids exhibiting wonderful weekend it was. their expertise in music, comedy, drama and other more difficult to categorize talents (ask Sarah Mautner to pick up clothes with her toes sometime when you need a belly-splitting laugh). Adam Klauber led an amazing hike and scavenger hunt that stimulated kids and adults to stretch their limits. We also had yoga with Devorah and Evonne, a book group also led by Evonne, an adult talent show mc’d by Cindy-jo, music and dance with Michael KG, and learning with Rav Claudia. The teens had a meaningful program with BBYO staff member Shayna Matzner, and Reb Moshe joined the community for seudah shlishit and Shabbat menucha. The food, supplied by a new caterer this year, was a big hit, with minimal waste at the retreat’s end. The increased coverage of babysitting throughout the retreat by our wonderful staff of Meirav Schatz, Allison Knight, Eli Zimmerman, Rebecca Kaim, and Miranda Bachman gave kids and adults additional opportunities

for play and relaxation. The children especially benefited Page 11 from an extended time to gather with their peers in outdoor play. Scooters and soccer balls, frisbees and havdalah candles all brought us together in a wonderful celebration of our community. TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 Beit Rabban Tzedakah Project Our Beit Rabban tzedakah project this Students spent the first hour in their classrooms learning year was Birthday Wishes, a fabulous more about what Judaism and Jewish texts say about organization that works hard to provide homelessness and in the second hour they gathered birthday parties for children living in homeless together to do hands on social justice work for Birthday shelters locally and throughout Massachusetts. Wishes. With help from Birthday Wishes staff and Beit Rabban parent Jenny Berz, we have spent time We are grateful to Jenny Berz, mother of Noah and Sara as a community and in our classrooms discussing who helped us connect with Birthday Wishes and organize what it means to be homeless, what Judaism says this program. As we begin planning for next year’s Beit about homelessness and how we can help. Rabban, we will be looking forward to our next Tzedakah project. In our final month of Beit Rabban we dedicated much time engaging in this project. May 30 was a mitzvah day. Save the Dates JUNE 9 & 23 Babysitting JUNE 10, 10:30 am-12:30 pm Yeladim programs will resume in September. Annual End-of-Year Celebration Stay tuned for our 2012-2013 calendar

Picnic at Summit Park (in case of rain we will meet at TBZ) BEIT RABBAN 2012-2013 Information about enrolling in the Beit Rabban JUNE 2 & 16 program for 2012-2013 will be available soon. Last Tfilot Yeladim before summer break If you have questions, please contact Suzie Schwartz at [email protected]

Strengthening Our Community This is our Bnei Mitzvah milestone. TBZ’s Bnei Mitzvah Gift: The Next Phase of One of the more significant changes proposed is to the composition of the Board of Directors [Article III]. A Board of Structural Change 15 persons is proposed to replace the current 23-member By now, most of you know that TBZ is deeply involved in a board, to be comprised of two Co-Presidents, five Vice- process of structural change. At the April 29th Community Presidents, and eight additional ‘At-Large’ individuals, all Meeting, a summary of the proposed new TBZ Bylaws was elected by the Congregation. presented, which will change our board and committee structures. If you would like to read the entire proposed Directors and officers are generally elected to a two-year Bylaws, they are posted on our website (http://www. term and there is a term limit of two terms. tbzbrookline.org/). The responsibilities and duties of the officers are also This proposed structural change results from a charge to specified in much greater detail than in the current Bylaws the Board’s Leadership Development Task Force in the (Article IV). Each of the five Vice President positions are fall of 2010. The Task Force was asked to find ways to responsible for one of the following activities: (i) Finance promote greater involvement and participation by and Administration, (ii) Programming, (iii) Ritual Practices, TBZ’s membership in all aspects of our functioning. (iv) Member Relations, and (v) External Relations. This direction was reinforced by expressions of great A robust Committee structure is contemplated and fourteen interest on the part of members at coffees in the specific committees are listed, including an Operating spring of 2011 and at the fall 2011 Community and Nominating Committee which is intended to focus on Meeting. the more day-to-day aspects of the synagogue. Provision In response to this desire to promote greater is also made for Development, Leadership Development and Strategic Planning Committees.

Page 12 participation, the proposed Bylaws specify term limits for board members and committee We would like to thank the task force for its incredible chairs; these provisions will require a work, in particular co-chairs Evelyn Frankford and David constantly-replenishing supply of people, Cherenson, and Jack Eiferman. where we all work to bring new people into activities and leadership. TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772

Donations Leonard & Nancy Goldstein Mark Magid James Rachel Goodman Leonard Marcus & & Susan (3/3/12 - 5/2/12) Stanley & Janice Green Wendy Caplan Snider Jeffrey Abrams Alan Greenberg Daniel & Beth Silverberg Marx Deborah Stang Stephane & Mara Acel-Green Cindy-jo Gross Mayor & Bronislava Dan & Frederique Apffel-Marglin Paul & Virginia Hamburg Maystrovsky Donna Stanger William Bachman & Craig Harris & Audrey Wagner Maurice Medoff Geoffrey & Megan Gerber Mitchel & Beth Harris Jordan & Evonne Meranus Priscilla Stein Richard Bankhead Steven Hassan & Carol Michael Rabbi Stephen & Morton Berenson Misia Landau Gloria Michelson Lisa Steindel Ava Berinstein Muriel Heiberger Alex Milstein & Leeza Kapuler Barbara Sternfield Daniel Berman & Megan Hinckley Sheila Miner Robert Stickgold & Sarah Meyers Mark Housman Svetlana Mondrus Deborah Korn Ilan & Ilana Bikel Leonard & Barbara Jacobs Minia Moszenberg Mona Strick Jeffrey Borenstein Meredith Joy David Neiman & David Stroh & Marilyn Paul Anne Braudy Jack & Audrey Kadis Patricia Lotterman Gregory Surilov & David Breakstone Robert & Susie Kaim Selwyn Notelovitz & Elena Fateeva Sue Brent Alan & Carol Kamin Amy Voorhes Amy Sweigenberg David & Betty Buchsbaum Fern Kanter David Ofsevit & Edward & Sandra Taub Tali Walters Buechler Fran Kantor Nancy Mazonson Aaron Tillman & Shira Lewin John Burstein & Molly Silver Roman & Vana Kats Lilly Pelzman Irina Tolmach David Cherenson Paul Katz & Linda Brodt Zina Pelzman Lidiya Tsiferblat Irwin Cherniak Robert & Barbara Katz Robert & Lesley Perlman Michael Tuteur Debbie Cohen Steven Kaufman & Irwin & Gloria Joan Pless Stewart & Elanah Uretsky Judith Cohen Barrie Keller Bernard Plovnick Sheila Vernick Casey Corcoran & John Keith & Shelly Hoon Kenneth Reich & Reb Moshe & Anne Waldoks Margie Skeer Corcoran Rita Keller Susan Rosbrow-Reich Ken & Barbara Wexler Naomi Cotter Joel Kershner & Sheine Wizel Joseph & Gail Reimer Deborah Wieder & John & Jane Daniels Adam Kessel & Claire Helene Reyner Philip Schuchert Aaron & Janice Darsa Rachele Rosi-Kessel Diane Richler Neal & Hope Wolf Paul Davidovits & Daniel Kirschner & Susan Kahn Rabbi Or Rose & David & Judith Woodruff Judith Taplitz Judith Rulnick Klau Judith Rosenbaum Richard & Judith Wurtman Edward De Vos & Adam Klauber & Leonard & Linda Rosen Ilene T. Young Lipari & Judy Schechtman Rebecca Weintraub Michael Rosenbaum & Salvatore Lipari Deborah De Witt & Edward Kleiman Julie Arnow Jay Zagorsky & Kim Meyers Ronald Joseph Jonathan Klein & James Ross & Irene Colestos Roger Zimmerman & Rohit Deshpande & Amy Schottenfels Glenn & Susan Rothman Jane Liebschutz Rebecca Schorin Viktoriya Kovalenko & Sharon Rozines Miriam Diamond Boris Furman Harold & Renee Rudnick David & Jeralyn Ellowitz Lawrence Kraus & Ted Rybeck & Ellen Brodsky Diana Engel Sara Smolover Valerie Samuels Noah Fasten & Rav Claudia Kreiman & Richard & Amy Sands Phyllis Brawarsky Rabbi Ebn Leader John Sano & Julie Seeger Jill Feblowitz Michael Krieger David Scharfstein & Ellen Feingold Pnina Lahav Sarah Feldman Joan Fine Yana Lapkin Wendy Scheinfeld Richard Fisher & Kenneth Lawrence Leslie Schonberg Judith Epstein-Fisher Ruth Leabman Henry & Lois Schoolman Len Fishman & Susan Schnur Judith Lepor Jessica Schwartz George & Leslie Fox Mishy Lesser Amit Segal & Barrie Wheeler Ana Francisco Klara Levin Rabbi Samuel & Jenni Seicol Meryl Franzman Alan & Helen Leviton Ben Selling Bella Freydina Steve E. Lewis Alan Shapiro & Priscilla Harmel Anita Garlick Charles & Gayle Lichtman Raisa Shapiro Jonathan & Lauren Garlick Steven & Marilin Miller Lipman Stephen & Susan Sherman Suzanne Gelber Debbie Lipton Enid Shulman Linda Gelfond Polina Lokshina W. & Sybil Shulman Page 13 Betsey Glaser David Lucal & Emily Sigalow Susan J. Goldberg Deborah Chassler Jackie Slivko Goldman Paper Len & Maxine Lyons Marc & Marsha Slotnick Judith Mabel Albert & Anita Smolover TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 Kiddush and Oneg • Julie Arnow and Michael Rosenbaum, and Carol and Steven Latz, IHO the wedding of their daughter Sponsors and niece, Sophie Rosenbaum to Michael Strom. • Sheine Wizel and Joel Kershner • Irwin and Gloria Pless IHO the yahrzeit of their friend IHO the yahrzeits of Sheine’s Harry Rosenbloom. father, David Wizel Szewc, and her grandmother, Rosa Pearl Winter. • Stewart and Elanah Uretsky IHO TBZ. • David and Betty Buchsbaum IHO the yahrzeits • Lilly Pelzman, Jeff Borenstein, Joshua, Benjamin, of David’s father, Joseph Buchsbaum, and and Anna, IHO the birthday of their mother and Betty’s father, Max Sanders. grandmother, Zina Pelzman. • Jonathan and Tamar Duke-Cohan in celebration • Lisa Lovett and Julie Reuben IHO the bat mitzvah of of TBZ’s Torah readers. their daughter, Charlotte. • The TBZ Community IHO our bar/bat mitzvah. Page 14 TBZ Koleinu Newsletter June-August/Sivan-Tamuz-Av-Elul 2012/5772 The High Holidays are right on time this year. (As in not before Labor Day and not in mid-October.) IT’S NOT TOO SOON TO START PLANNING.

SATURDAY, SEPT 8 at TBZ: Selichot Service, co-sponsored by KI Classes from 9:30 pm, Tefilot with Rabbi Ebn Leader at 11:30 pm Sunday, Sept. 9: High Holiday Prep Day

Sunday, Sept. 16: Erev Rosh Hashanah Tuesday, Sept 25: Kol Nidre Monday, Sept 17: Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Wednesday, Sept 26: Yom Kippur Tuesday, Sept 18: Rosh Hashanah Day 2

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