December 2013 Kislev-Tebeth 5774 an Intimate and Dynamic Community
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December 2013 Kislev-Tebeth 5774 AN INTIMATE AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY THE DATES ARE SET FOR... RABBI HOLIN AND PETER ABELOW OF KESHET TOURS CONGREGATION KOL AMI TO MEET WITH ADULTS INTERESTED IN THE OCTOBER 2014 IsRAEL TRIP TRIPS TO ISRAEL IN 2014 Join Rabbi Holin and Keshet’s Managing Director Peter Abelow on Thursday, WITH RABBI HOLIN January 23, at 7:00 p.m. at the synagogue to hear more about our 2014 journey! FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY, The new itinerary—call Rabbi Holin if you would like a copy—includes: AND FRIENDS – • Visiting one of Tel Aviv’s “Start-Up Nation” enterprises to get a feel for the IN AND BEYOND THE spirit of creativity and innovation through which modern Israel is making an CONGREGATION impact all over the world in fields such as technology, science, and medicine. • Meeting Aryeh Malkin, a World War II veteran who joined one of the clan- FAMILY TRIP 2014 : destine boat crews bringing survivors to Israel and was interred with them in Sunday, August 17, through Atlit after their boat was captured by the British. Thursday, August 28 • Speaking with Elaine Hoter, a woman who lost a son to terrorism and ADULT TRIP 2014: responded by writing a children’s book on loss and grief. Sunday, October 19, through • Meeting Kabalistic artist David Freedman, who will share with us insights Thursday, October 30 into Jewish mysticism and how they find expression in his artwork. To receive a complete itinerary, • Touring with Ramzi Matar, a Christian Arab, who will guide us to the Church pricing, and information about flights, of the Annunciation and share his perspective on what it is like to be part of hotels, and meals, please contact the Christian Arab minority in Israel. Rabbi Holin at 215-635-4182. • Visiting the Rachel Crossing point along the security wall where Palestinians cross into Israel daily and where Christian pilgrims cross into Bethlehem. • Meeting with settler leader Eve Harow in her town of Efrat, part of the “consensus area” of settlement blocs that will remain in Israel in a negotiated two-state solution. • Participating in a hands-on Tikun Olam project with Keren B’Kavod—the humanitarian aid program of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the Reform Movement’s response to the growing difficulty of many Israelis to provide themselves with basic necessities. • Meeting with Sheldon Shulman, advisor to five prime ministers and negotia- tors on behalf of Israel in previous rounds of Peace Talks. ■ RABBI HOLIN AND ISRAEL TOUR CONNECTION TO MEET WITH FAMILIES INTERESTED IN THE AUGUST 2014 IsRAEL TRIP Join Rabbi Holin and ITC’s Larry Ritter—the program director from our wonderful 2007 Family Trip to Israel—on Sunday, February 23, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the chapel to hear more about our 2014 journey to Israel! ■ WORSHIP SERVICES FRIDAY, December 6, 7:30 p.m. PRESIDENT’S LEttER Musical erev Shabbat Service with our Adult Choir Over the last few months, I have been reinforcing the notion our Rabbi intro- duced two years ago: Sh’lah’chaynee - “Send me.” As Jews, we are perhaps at SATURDAY, December 7, 10:00 a.m. our best when we are inspired to action: action of worship, of learning and Shabbat Service and Torah Dialogue studying Torah, actions that build community, and actions of Tikun Olam. As FRIDAY, December 13, 8:00 p.m. we head towards the end of 2013, it is natural to reflect on the good things we “Second-Friday” erev Shabbat Service have done and create goals that inspire action in 2014. Allow me to suggest with birthday and anniversary actions that can benefit Kol Ami and our community. blessings; preceded by a wine-and Julie Cohen and Robin Warsaw are leading our efforts at Membership and our cheese social at 7:00 p.m. campaign, Strive for 225. You can read more about our Membership efforts SATURDAY, December 14, 10:00 a.m. on page 4. Shabbat Service and Torah Dialogue There is both brilliance and simplicity in their approach. Brilliance in that we FRIDAY, December 20, 7:30 p.m. can all be members of the Membership committee (more hands, lighter load); erev Shabbat Service and simplicity in that you can be a treasured asset just by doing what in many ways comes naturally, such as inviting a friend to an activity that you are look- SATURDAY, December 21, 10:00 a.m. Shabbat Service and Torah Dialogue; ing forward to doing yourself. followed by a potluck lunch Our efforts to attract new members are based on a simple premise: We believe FRIDAY, December 27, 7:30 p.m. that to experience Kol Ami is to want to be a part of Kol Ami. We have a full erev Shabbat Service calendar of activities each month that your unaffiliated friends might enjoy, and all you need to do is invite them to join you. For example, in December, SATURDAY, December 28, 10:00 a.m. bring a friend to the musical erev Shabbat service on the 6th or to the wine- Shabbat Service and Torah Dialogue ■ and-cheese social on Friday the 13th. Bring a friend to hear and learn from Sally Eisenberg in our Member-to-Member Conversation on the 8th entitled TORAH & HAFTARAH “No More Deprivation…Giving Our Bodies What We Need.” If you have a third grader, have him or her invite a friend to the Family Education program - December 7 Vayigash on Sunday the 15th, or sit in on a class. Many of you come to our now annual Genesis 44:18-47:27, Ezekiel 37:15-28 Chinese-Food-and-A-Movie night, which this year is on the 24th, so why not December 14 - Vayehi invite a friend to join you? In January, bring adult friends to Casino Night on Genesis 47:28-50:26, IKings 2:1-12 Saturday the 11th, as it is a great opportunity to meet lots of Kol Ami’ers, have December 21 - Sheymote a rollicking good time, and maybe even win a cool gift basket. Exodus 1:1-6:1, Isaiah 27:6-28 By now you get the picture–just invite your friends to Kol Ami events. That’s December 28 - Vaera all you have to do to help us Strive for 225! Exodus 6:2-9:35 Ezekiel 28:25-29:21 ■ A second Sh’lah’chaynee “Send me” opportunity is to get involved in the many social action programs we do throughout the year. Over 80 of us were together on November 3 for our inspiring Stop Hunger Now program, where MAZAL TOV we packed 10,000 meals to feed hungry people. We will be packing food at Congratulations to: Share on December 15 and Cooking for a Friend on January 20 as part of the MLK Weekend of Service. These are magical “two-for” events: two-for-one on the Toni and Russell Montague opportunities to do Tikun Olam and invite unaffiliated friends to experience marriage of their son, Jeremy Cohen, and get involved in the good work we do at Kol Ami. to Meredith Galto on November 2. Kara Schilder, daughter of Russell A third Sh’lah’chaynee “Send me” opportunity concerns visiting Israel in 2014. Schilder and Jodi Bloch Schilder, for In addition to our August Family trip and our October Adult trip, you can now being accepted to the Satell Teen apply for the NFTY Israel trips this summer (www.nftyisrael.org) for your Fellowship for Leadership and Social teen who is at least 15 years old and entering 10th grade. Activism. ■ continued page 4 PAGE 2 CONGREGATION KOL AMI DECEMBER 2013 Adult Learning Opportunities at Kol Ami Continuing Jewish Education Superheroes and Judaism Registration Instructions Instructor: Mr. David Monblatt To register for a workshop, contact Elaine Stevens at Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. [email protected] or 215-635-3110 by the deadline shown. Non-member course fees are $50 February 6, 13, 20 & 27 (4 sessions) per course. Course fees can be applied to membership This fun and engaging course will explore the fantasti- for the current year or forthcoming year. cal world of superheroes and what their stories have in common with Judaism. Over the years, the superhero genre has dealt with a vast array of topics, such as the nature of evil, atonement, remembrance, and the importance of social justice. Super- heroes and Judaism will examine both the DC and Marvel pantheons, focusing on some of the best-known heroes, including Batman, Wolverine, Iron Man, and of course, The Man of Steel. RSVP to the synagogue office by January 27. ■ Ancestors and Ghosts, Spirit Guides, and Reincarnating Souls: Ancient Mystery and Contemporary Meaning of Afterlife in Jewish Traditions Instructor: Rabbi Simcha Raphael Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. December 2, 9 & 16 This is an exploration of Jewish afterlife texts spanning three millennia of history. As travelers through time, we ARTWOR will enter the worlds of Torah, Talmud, Midrash, Zohar, and Hasidic tales investigating diverse ways Jews have under- K BY J stood the enigmatic mystery of death and the world beyond. O S E Searching for spiritual renewal of traditional teachings, MIGUEL we will use these texts for reflection and discussion, dis- S covering practical guidelines for responding to the human ERRANO encounter with death — personally, and in our families and , 2010 communities. DECEMBER 2013 CONGREGATION KOL AMI PAGE 3 PRESIDENT’S LETTER (continued from page 2) Lastly, don’t miss the interview on page OUR JOURNEY CONtiNUES: 5 with Irene Levy Baker, immediate StriVE for 225! past chair of the Membership Com- mittee.