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June 2019 L Iyar / Sivan 5779 Learn Kol K .I. June 2019 l Iyar / Sivan 5779 learn. inspire. grow. together. 16 Colt Road l Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201 l 413.445.4872 l knessetisrael.org • Rabbi David Weiner l Richard Simons, President The 2019 Berkshire Jewish Film Festival …in the Berkshires Fourteen films from around the world highlighted in this season’s line-up Berkshire residents assist in this Monday, July 8, marks the official kick- The festival will be held on six consec- year’s new & exciting format off of the 33rd season of the Berkshire utive Mondays and will feature films at The Jewish Theological Seminary Jewish Film Festival—one of the lon- 4 pm and 8 pm at the Duffin Theater, (JTS) in the Berkshires series will con- gest-running film festivals in the United Lenox Memorial High School, 197 East tinue their reputation of presenting States. This year the BJFF will feature 14 Street, Lenox. All presentations are open outstanding speakers and stimulating films from around the world, including to the public. subjects to our community. This year Holy Land, in which veteran actor James there will be a change in format— Caan delivers a spectacular performance This festival is the result of the work of with theater and musical presenta- alongside Rosanna Arquette. a dedicated team of K.I. members, co- ordinated by Judy Seaman, who work tions intertwined with scholarship. Join us this summer and you will also get to review and select the fine films to Berkshire residents, including the to know the women of the first all-fe- be presented. Benefits go to support Pittsfield High School orchestra, and male volunteer ambulance corps of New Hebrew education at the synagogue. two of K.I.’s talented members will as- York City, watch a young tattoo artist sist the presenters with accompany- from Appalachia cover over a swastika Tickets may be purchased between 3:15- ing music and dramatic readings. JTS on the skin of a former white supreme- 4 pm, and between 6:30-8 pm on the day programs are one of Knesset Israel’s cist, witness one of the last Nazi SS offi- of the show and are general admission. most popular venues, and are always cers on trial, and have your heartstrings There are no season passes this year. well attended. This new approach pulled by the relationship of a father Discount ticket coupons will be available should generate even more interest. (Dov Glickman, star of Shtisel) and his for carpoolers. once-estranged son. film descriptions on page 12 descriptions & schedule on pages 9 & 10 In This Issue Member Mitzvahs & Mazel Tovs Berkshire Jewish Film Festival ........1&12 n Mazel Tov to Elliot and Barbara n JTS in the Berkshires ....................1,8 &9 Paige L. E. Wright ........................June 11 Kronick Greenfeld, celebrating their 60th n Vivian Kasen .................................June 12 Member Mitzvahs ................................2 wedding anniversary on June 7. Elliot n June Calendar .....................................4 and Barbara met during the summer of Joel Balizer ....................................June 14 1958 while working in the Catskills. Elliot, n Ivan Caine ......................................June 16 Community Shavout ............................5 of Brooklyn, New York (Bensonhurst) was n Brenda Landes .............................June 17 From the Rabbi....................................6 a dental student at NYU, and Barbara, of n Rachel Margolis ...........................June 19 North Adams, was a student at Skidmore A Broadway Happenng Gala .................... 6 College. They lived in Canarsie, Brook- n Harriet I. Samuels .......................June 20 Passover with Rosh Chodesh ................. 7 lyn after their marriage in 1959, where n Judith Weiss .................................. June 21 Spotlight On: Joel Curren .....................13 Barbara graduated from NYU and Elliot n Erika Weisbuch ............................ June 21 from dental school. They moved to Pitts- n Yahrzeits, Funds & Endowments ....15-17 field in 1963, setting up his Oral Surgery Steven Perles ................................June 21 .............................................and more! office on North Street. We wish them n Albert Stern ..................................June 22 many more happy and healthy years to- n Rick Robbins .................................June 22 gether. K.I. Staff n Ileen Cohen ...................................June 23 n n OFFICE PHONE 413-445-4872 Rachel Zuckerman and Christopher Judith Kahn ...................................June 23 Peifer were married on May 18, 2019 in n Jodi Sherman ...............................June 23 the Crane Room within the Berkshire Mu- RABBI DAVID WEINER Ext. 10 n Jan Caryl Kaufman ..................... June 24 [email protected] seum. Rachel Zuckerman is the daughter of Susan Zukerman and David Zukerman n Henry Herzberg........................... June 24 DIANA MACFARLANE Ext. 10 (z’il). Our hearty mazel tov goes to the n Hanan Caine .................................June 26 Office Manager happy couple as they set up their home [email protected] n Dvorah Gitlitz ...............................June 28 in Washington Heights, NYC after their ED ROBINSON honeymoon in Spain. n Lisa Udel .........................................June 28 [email protected] n Laura Ferber-Hazen ...................June 28 MYRNA HAMMERLING Ext. 16 Birthdays n Merle Ferber .................................June 29 Director of Adult Education n Lawrence Greenapple ..............June 30 and Programming n Allison Rosenthal ........................ June 30 [email protected] n Joan Grossman ............................... June 1 CHRIS GOETZE Ext. 20 n Inna Saltanovich ........................... June 1 Facilities Director/Head Custodian Anniversaries n Samuel Oren Landes ................... June 2 [email protected] n Trudy Balizer ................................... June 2 JUDITH WEINER Ext. 15 n David & Brandi Dahari ..................June 1 Director of Families Together, and n Nancy Cook ..................................... June 3 n Dawn & Gary Schecter .................June 6 Hebrew School Administrator n Anna Snyder ................................... June 4 [email protected] n Carol Silverman & n Theresa Pill ......................................June 5 Shlomo Silman .............................June 6 ELISA SNOWISE n Richard Holland ............................ June 5 B’Nai Mitzvah Teacher /Coordinator n Dale & Richard Charkow ..............June 8 n [email protected] Ed Udel ..............................................June 6 n Bonnie & Alvin Edelstein .............June 8 n Helene Berke .................................. June 7 LIZ DEMARCO, Web Administrator, n Eve & Bret Goldberg ......................June 9 [email protected] n Joel Less ............................................June 7 n Ann & Dave Krawet ..................... June 10 n Nancy Stoll ......................................June 8 n Kayla & Evan Bellmore .............. June 13 KNESSET ISRAEL n Gerald Hayden ................................June 8 n 16 Colt Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201 n Brandi Dahari ...............................June 10 Ruthie Frommer & Ken Amron .................................. June 13 413-445-4872 n Benjamin Eckstein...................... June 10 413-496-9378 (fax) n n Richard Eckstein ..........................June 10 Mona & Peter Lanzer .................. June 14 knessetisrael.org n Scott Hochfelder .........................June 10 continued next page 2 n KOL K.I. • JUNE 2019 • IYAR / SIVAN 5779 From the Rabbi A Summer of Learning and Experiences We engage in celebration and responsibilty—together The last few weeks of May Hebrew School End-of- Together” programming. Funded by the were a whirlwind of activ- Year Celebration Harold Grinspoon Foundation, these ity at Knesset Israel, as we programs have brought families into the dedicated our new Torah This year the count cul- synagogue for education for parents and covers and then celebrated minates the weekend children and meaningful tzedakah proj- the b’nai mitzvah of Robert of June 8-10, and we’re ects. Ferren, Leora Cook-Dubin, making the most of it. On and Joseph Weiner. What shabbat morning, June 8, I am grateful to the teachers—Elisa Sno- a wonderful way to kick off we will celebrate the end wise, Jilly Lederman, David Dahari, Ben the season! I am especially of the Hebrew School Strauss, Rebecca Cook-Dubin, Ellen Mas- grateful to everyone who year with a special fam- ters, Josh Weisbuch, Dana Siegel, Rabbi supported our family as ily service in the chapel Liz Hirsch, Jenny Gitlitz and Judith Wein- and an informal kiddush er; to the educators who advise on pro- we prepared for Joseph’s Rabbi David Weiner simha and all those who at- luncheon. Our students gramming—Amy Abramovich, Rebecca tended his bar mitzvah. Being in our com- in every grade have ad- Cook-Dubin, Marcie Greenfield Simons, munity for such a joyous occasion made it vanced significantly this year, taking Dara Kaufman and Judith Weiner; to the even more special. their Hebrew reading and tefilla (prayer) parent committee for Families Togeth- knowledge to the next level. While our er; to the Berkshire Jewish Film Festival K.I.’s busy summer season is just begin- younger students explored themes re- and the Jewish Federation of the Berk- ning. This is the time of year when we lated to the holidays, the weekly Torah shires for funding our Hebrew School; quite literally count every day. The sec- reading, prophets and Jewish values,
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