Joy Report Spring07.Indd

1. Members of the orchestra enjoy a post show moment with Rabbis Shemtov & Weinstein 2. Overﬂow crowd attends performance by 5 members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra 3. Rabbi Weinstein & Dr. Steve Safran, an event sponsor

4. Rabbi Yehuda Shemtov & State. Rep, Petri 19067 PERMIT #70 YARDLEY PA YARDLEY 5. Enjoying some good wine. L’chayim! NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID U.S. POSTAGE

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2, SPRING 2007 �� 1 2 A NIGHT OF WONDER Have you noticed the astonishing, unbelievable, amazing,

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� mind-blowing, incredible, fabulous, magniﬁcent, absolutely � � � � phantasmagorical way people throw around superlatives � � � � � �

� these days? The word amazing is trotted out for everything � � � � � � from an unexpected, game-winning touchdown to brownies � � � � � � with pudding in the mix. And awesome? Don’t get us started. � � � � 5 � �

� Then there’s the Friendship Circle where… � �

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� • More than ﬁfty busy, talented teenagers volunteer their � � � �

� time to visit their special needs buddies for no reason � � Things are buzzing at Lubavitch of Bucks County. � � � � � �

� other than friendship. � View the pictures and see what’s going on. � � � � � � �

� • Despite school and clubs and lessons, travel, and SAT � � � � Highlighted in this gallery are scenes from � �

� prep, they do it once a week. � � � � the Evening of Broadway celebrating our15th � � �

� • Children with special needs and their families are � � �

Anniversary; An Evening of Art & Music; and � � �

� welcomed into the community and invited to participate � �

our Jewish Learning Academy adult education � � � � � in spiritual and recreational activities from which they � � program. � � � � �

� might have previously been excluded. � � � � � � � Marc Salem �

At Lubavitch of Bucks County it is no longer � � � • Dedicated and busy adults volunteer to support the � � � � � � “Build and they will come,” it has become “We � � � �

� teens, act as liasons with the buddies and their parents, th � � � Join us on Sunday March 18 at 5:00 pm at the Glazier Jewish 4 have built it and they keep coming.” Thank G-d! 6 and help the program grow. Center in Newtown, when we will recognize and honor our • Generous community members offer time, valuable incredible teen volunteers and three astonishingly generous services, and funds and ask for nothing in return. community members, Dr. Robert Grifﬁth, CEO of Woods To our minds, The Friendship Circle deserves superlatives for Services, David J. Witchell and Galina Witchell of the David it is truly AMAZING. And probably even awesome as well. continued on page 2

9 Hammentashen and Matzah

� The triangle and the circle. Our two spring holidays compliment each other in ways � � � � � � � � � � � you might not have guessed. � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � . � � � � y � � � � � � � � � � l � � � A Night of Wonder �

� We nosh on triangular hammentashen on Purim. The three deﬁned points of these � � l � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � u � � � � � � � � �

� tasty treats reﬂect the three intellectual powers of idea, analysis and application. � � � � � � � f � � � � � � � � � � � � � y � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � These brain activated capabilities keep us connected to our physical, earthly state. o � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � j � � � � �

� Hamantash and Matza � � � � � � � They are physical. � � � � � � � e

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7 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � n � � � � � � � � � � � � o � � � � � � � �

� Purim commemorates a time when the Jews were physically at risk. Haman wanted � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � to wipe out our presence on earth. G-d acted through the laws of nature, through � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Meet Natalie Kramerov � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � human creative thought to save us from extinction. Nowhere in the Megillah is the � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � name of Hashem mentioned. � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

6. Rabbi Weinstein clarifying a point at a recent JLA class � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Photo Album Passover, on the other hand is a time when we move beyond our intellectual � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7. Enjoy an art exhibition at the Glazier Jewish Center � 8. Broadway Star DUDU Fisher entertaining at the capabilities and tap into something even more powerful---faith. The matza we eat 15th Anniversary Gala event is traditionally round, reﬂecting the all-encompassing, never-ending aspect of faith. 9. A JLI Adult education session at the Glazier Jewish Center. Fundraising continued on page 2 10. The Tamarkin, an event sponsor at the Philharmonc performance 10

�� Marc Salem Article �� continued from page 1 J. Witchell salon in Newtown. Following a Grand Buffet 1. Mr. Richard Fox, Chairman, Honorary Executive Committee �� Dear Friend, Reception and Awards Ceremony, we will cross the 2. Gregory & Anna Yakobovsky presenting new painting for �� street to the historic Newtown Theatre where world- the Glazier Jewish Center. January and February are generally quiet months in the �� famous mentalist, Marc Salem will entertain us with his 3. Fred Albert & Richard Seitchick receiving Builder’s Award Jewish calendar. In the dead of winter we are snuggled Mind Games. 4. “DUDU” David Fisher �� safely between the High Holy Days and the holidays of 1 �� Purim and Passover. In our part of the world the weather Marc Salem has wracked up his own superlatives from all �� becomes frigid and people like to hunker down in their who have been astounded by his show. One of the world’s 2 homes with a good book and a nice cup of chicken soup. foremost authorities on non-verbal communication, he can �� How is it then that our quiet time was anything but? tell you the serial number on a bill in your wallet, describe �� Nosh For the Soul your last vacation, and divine a single word you’ve picked In January, our 15 year anniversary gala with Dudu Fisher �� out from a book of your own choosing. And he’s funny Only You was a sellout. Lavish food and desserts and a belting too! Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes was flabbergasted. �� Broadway star drew hundreds out of hibernation. At the All this universe was made only for your journey. And all this �� universe was made only for the other guy’s journey. And for end of the month, the balcony to our Pozes Social Hall Mind Games concluded two extended runs on Broadway and mine as well. was opened for the very first time to accommodate an packed houses in London’s West End and across the globe. �� overflowing audience for the Israeli Philharmonic. Our Two superlative entities. One stellar night. Don’t miss out. �� In our mind it is impossible. We are finite. When we put JLI classes achieved record attendance. The Aleph-Bet Covert is $75 per person. Sponsorships are also available. our minds to one idea, there is no room for any other. If �� one point is at the center, there is no center left for any program remained in full swing as was AURA women’s Proceeds will benefit the work of The Friendship Circle. 5 other. league and the bat mitzvah club. Work on the first ever �� Friendship Circle Gala proceeded apace. And that’s what 3 4 �� G-d is infinite. He can have as many points of focus as He we can do when it’s cold outside! Imagine the spring. �� wishes without diminishing the centrality of any of them the Imagine a festive Purim, a spiritual Passover, a Shabbos slightest. �� walk. Imagine a new Library Café. Each one of us is absolutely the most important thing in the �� universe. How is it possible to listen to construction all day and not get a headache? It’s possible when the construction �� is on our brand new library café. Thanks to the Rudolph Dr. Robert Griffith David J. Witchell Galina Witchell family and a grant from the State, our beautiful building will soon become more than a place to stop by. It will Glazier Jewish Center Profile: Meet Natalie Kramerov become a place to stay. You stop by for a class or a function or a service. You stay when you can relax, Nosh For the Soul “When my grandfather died, ancient writings right into the modern world so we can apply read a paper or a good book, sip a cup of coffee, and Love Pulls 7 my father, despite having no them to our own lives. Not only that, he invites you to speak kibbitz with friends old and new. The library café is the There is only one way to bring people closer to truth, whether connections to a local synagogue, your mind, even if your thoughts or opinions don’t always crowning jewel that will help turn our beautiful house your friend, your spouse, your child, or a complete stranger. into a comfortable home. For all of us. It is not with rebuke, not with arguments, not with intellectual wanted to honor his father’s match his.” games-but by drawing them with thick cords of love, by memory by going to services,” says Thanks to the generosity of so many in our community 8 showing your faith in who they are and with real deeds. 6 Natalie Kramerov. “He knocked Lubavitch has tapped into we continue to expand not only our physical space, on Rabbi Weinstein’s door one but our minds and hearts as well. It is your donation of a side of myself that was day and was invited to tunds, time, and care that brought us to this wonderful Hammentashen and Matzah 5. Dr. Rachel & Dean Moshe Porat probably hidden for years. place where despite what the calendar says we never continued from page 1 receiving gift Lubavitch and that changed have a cold or quiet month. Natalie attends the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia At a time when the Jews were slaves, and then later 6. Jonas & Candy Singer receiving everything for our family.” the Couple of the Year Award where she is in a six year Pharmacy Program. She is enjoying Rabbi Yehuda Shemtov in the desert, G-d demanded faith from us. It was our 7. Dr. Moshe Porat, Dennis Alter Natalie, a college freshman who was born in the Ukraine her studies, but also manages to take time to hang out with Executive Director faith that connected us to him and ultimately led to our & Dr. Rachel Porat at the and moved to Philadelphia with her parents when she was her friends, listen to music and go to the movies. Nothing salvation. When we eat the round, hand-baked matza, 15th Anniversary Dinner just two, accompanied her father on that fateful day and she does, however, takes precedence over her commitment we are reminded of our faith that has no boundaries. This was hooked immediately. She has since become an active to Judaism. 9 Passover, you may want to consider adding one of those member of the Jewish community, and claims that Lubavitch “Lubavitch has tapped into a side of myself that was probably round, hand-baked matzas to your seder table to enable will be the center of her spiritual life from here on in. hidden for years,” she says proudly. you to tap into the power of faith that exists within us all. 8. State Representatives Scott Petri & Josh Shapiro and “I’ve been involved with other organizations,” she says, “but Physical and spiritual, Purim and Passover, triangle and Jon Levine enjoying the show Natalie’s beloved grandfather gave her a gift even in death 10 none have moved me the way I am moved by the people circle. Each an elemental part of our psycho-spiritual 9. Dinner Chairman Jim Rudolph, CEO Rita’s Water Ice and through this gift she will be forever connected to him. and programs at Lubavitch. Rabbi Weinstein is one of the selves. Each one comes into play in it’s own time, but 10. Vicki & Gary Erlbaum, Carol and Steven Korman, nicest people ever! When he teaches, he brings all our � neither survives without the other. Sharon Pinkenson & Joe Weiss �