Encountering Holiness
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The Centre Call GErmAntoWn JEWiSh CEntrE www.GermantownJewishCentre.org Volume 18, Issue No. 6 TAMUZ 5771 JULY 2011 Encountering Holiness Student Rabbi’s sional life before beginning rab- members at the rabbinical college, Column binical school, I spent two years and gotten to know and teach sev- By Alanna Sklover after college working as the Youth eral of our youth and teens at the Activities Director at Congregation Ramah Day Camp and at Camp Beth Emeth in Wilmington, DE. JRF. I look forward to deepening This fall I will begin my Modern these relationships and experi- halom! My name is Alanna (second to last) year at the SSklover, and I am thrilled to Reconstructionist Rabbinical ences and building new connec- join the staff of Germantown College. tions to the Germantown commu- Jewish Centre as student rabbi. I As a rising Modern year student nity as I move into my new role. look forward to the opportunity to at RRC, I am blessed to already Truly a camp person at heart, I meet all of you and introduce feel, in many ways, at home in have a soft spot for the Torah por- myself more personally over the the GJC community. I have spent tions that span from the second coming months. Although I have half of Vayikra (the book of called Philadelphia home for the many Shabbatot singing and dav- ening with Minyan Dorshei Numbers) to the first half of past five years, I was born and D’varim (Deuteronomy) which raised in Washington, DC. I grad- Derekh, celebrated Purim and Simchat Torah with Minyan often fall during the summer, and uated from Goucher College in which many call “Camp Torah.” Baltimore, MD with a degree in Masorti, welcomed b’nai mitzvah theatre and religion. Interested in and new babies in the Charry, In the Torah portion Balak, which getting a taste of Jewish profes- learned with and from many GJC Continued on page 2 Member Spotlight Summer Highlights Kol Zimrah by Linda Kriger July 1 & August 26 Kol D’mamah: redi Cooper has spent all but University, Fredi met Heshie Contemplative Minyan Ftwo years of her life living with- Cooper on the L bus. Heshie, then July 9 & August 13 in a block of Stenton Avenue. But 18, was also a freshman, also lived Hazak Book Group as conservative as her choice has in Mt. Airy, also a half block from July 13 been about where she lives, her Stenton Ave. They’ve been together Tot Shabbat choice of professions has been ever since. July 15 varied and bold. “That’s why my kids aren’t living Pajamarama Fredi grew up in Mt. Airy, on in Philadelphia,” Fredi says some- July 17 & August 14 Barringer St., right off Stenton what ruefully. “I fed them that pab- Hazak trip to National Museum of Ave. Her parents owned a retail ulum: ‘Fly! Be free! Do whatever American Jewish History linen store and a custom drapery you want to do in life!’ I didn’t July 20 business, although when Fredi mean it,” she says. Emily, 36, is liv- Papercutting Workshop: Reviving a was giving birth to her older ing in Tel Aviv, working as a lawyer Jewish Folk Art daughter in Baltimore, her moth- for the Ministry of Justice and Julie, July 20 er returned to her original profes- 38, lives in Chicago and is a pro- Erev Tisha B’Av Program & Service sion, as an obstetrical nurse. fessor of political theory and mod- August 8 When she was 17, and starting Summer Sampler her freshman year at Temple Continued on page 6 August 10 Germantown Jewish Centre • 400 West Ellet Street • Philadelphia, PA 19119 • tel 215.844.1507 • fax 215.844.8309 tAmuz 5771 • July 2011 Student’s Rabbi Column cont’d from page 1 we read this year in the first week munity that valued respect for one I look forward to learning, dav- of July, the Moabite king of that another so deeply that it was ening, and building community name calls on the prophet engrained into the very fiber of their with all of you – and like Israel’s Balaam to curse the Israelites in society – and so he turned and unlikely blesser in parshat Balak, the desert. Now, Balaam is a very blessed them. The lesson I take I look forward to discovering all successful prophet, and he comes from this story is one that I hope to of the hidden blessings that highly recommended – the text carry with me into my work at GJC: become apparent when we truly tells us that the king chooses him that a person must be open to the take the time to stop, look deeper, because it is known that, “who- possibility of encountering kedusha and notice. ever Balaam blesses is blessed, (holiness) in every moment and in and whoever he curses is cursed” every interaction. (Numb 22:6). Although he first refuses this task, Balaam eventu- ally accepts Balak’s assignment Hazak– and sets off with the king’s guard (Programming for Adults 55+) towards the Israelite encamp- ment. Along the way, God sends By Hazak Co-Chairs, Cherie Goren & Sonia Dishler a divine messenger who, through We are pleased to note that GJC’s Executive Committee has voted to amend the a series of strange and miraculous bi-laws, Article VI.A.2, to make the Hazak Chair an ex-officio member of the Board events (including making his of Directors. We are now an auxiliary with a vote! Thank you to Chris Levin and donkey talk) persuades the the Board for making this happen. prophet to rethink his alle- We held our third annual Hazak Shabbat in May. It was beautiful and well giances. When Balaam reaches attended. Thank you to all who participated! his destination he does not curse Our programming continues over the summer! Join us July 20, at 1PM at GJC the people, but rather blesses for a visit with a docent from the National Museum of American Jewish History them with the words we use to who will brief us on exhibits and highlights. This is in preparation for a Hazak group outing to the Museum on Wednesday, July 27 (more details and registration begin our shacharit (morning) info to follow). service, “Mah tovu ohalecha “Opera under the Stars" with Sam Feinberg is always a highlight of our year. Ya’akov, mishk’notecha Yisrael!” Join us Wednesday, August 24 (rain date August 25). Have a great summer! – “How lovely are your tents, oh Hazak is the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s organization for Jacob; your dwelling-places, oh Jewish men and women, 55 years and older. The name HAZAK is an acronym. The Israel!” (Num. 24:5). het stands for Hokhma (wisdom), that zayan for Ziknah (maturity) and the kuph Commentators have long won- for Kadima (looking ahead). The Rhea Shils Chapter of Hazak at Germantown dered what prompted this change Jewish Centre has offered programs that appeal to a wide audience since 2003. in Balaam. Although the p’shat (simple) interpretation would seem to point to the angel that blocked his path, Rashi disagrees. He suggests that it was actually Host Families sought for something that Balaam saw when he looked down at the Israelite Maccabi Games Athletes community, his mouth open, ready to curse the people. Rashi Maccabi games are being held in the Philly area August 14-19 says that Balaam saw that the (at the Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood & other mainline locations). Israelite tents, spread out like a Host families are being sought. It is not necessary for your patchwork quilt over the wilder- children to be participating in the games. ness, set up so that the entrances were staggered in such a way that no one could see directly into Please contact 610-896-7770 or another person’s dwelling. In [email protected] that moment, Balaam saw a com- 2 www.GermantownJewishCentre.org The Centre Call GErmAntoWn JEWiSh CEntrE www.GermantownJewishCentre.org 3 tAmuz 5771 • July 2011 In CElEBRAtIon of... Aviv Bridge on his graduating from Whitman College Rami Bridge on his graduating from Lesley University Michal Berdugo on her graduating from Simmons College Nini Engel on her 50th birthday Patty Wright on her graduating from nursing school Berel & Susan Sternthal on the birth of Rabbi Marsha Friedman & Rabbi Steve Nathan on the 8th her grandson Samuel Morris, son of her grade graduation of their daughter Eitana from Saligman and the daughter Zikki Kristiansson and Harvey (mid-April, 2011 – 5th grade graduation of their son Noah from Perelman Bartle IV mid-June, 2011) William Kavesh & Karen Levitt on the 8th grade graduation of Herb Levine and Ellen Frankel their daughter Meira from the Waldorf School of Philadelphia on the birth of their new granddaughter, Finley Juliana Judd Levingston & Hillary Kruger on the 8th grade graduation Anna Kilmer on becoming Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Miranda from Springside Judy Sussholtz on becoming Bat Mitzvah Juha & Elana Hollo on the 8th grade graduation of their daughter, Caren Borowsky on becoming Bat Mitzvah Naomi Myrna Snyder on becoming Bat Mitzvah Nomi Teutsch on her college graduation and becoming a Tony Judge Harold Berger on being appointed Overseer for Life of the Blair Faith Acts Social Justice Fellow University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering & Applied Lori & Tracy Feldstein-Gardner on the birth of their daughter Science and re-appointed as chair of the Friends of Penn's Biddle Josephine Law Library Helen & Michael Feinberg, on the marriage of their son Josh, to Art Ellis on being named to the Gershman Y board Termeh Kuklinski Ariel Zaslav and David Basior on the birth of their daughter, Madrona Beatrice Zaslav Sonia Borten Reardon on becoming Bat Mitzvah In MEMoRIAM Howard Spodek on the publication of his book "Ahmedabad" and Henry Addison, father of Rabbi Howard Avruhm Addison a 3-volume translation of an autobiography by Gujarati, Indula Yagnik Morton Charlestein, father of Ellyn Phillips