Guide to Schools & Camps 1908 2016 Schools & Camps 107 Supplement years Section B

EL C. DUKE JHV: MICHA sori Montes Goldberg obs, UOS David Jac ol children wn Scho , L exi Bro an Vaknin h Jonath ect tzedaka Torok coll and Ella chool day. t of their s at the star January 21, 2016 • Section B • Jewish Herald-Voice The Texas Gulf Coast’s Jewish Newspaper Since 1908

January 21, 2016 - 11 SHEVAT 5776 Volume CVIII - Number 46 Two Sections Houston, Texas jhvonline.com $2 Per Copy Busting a move on Madonna’s dance floor Pop star makes special donation to Houston JCC By AARON HOWARD | JHV Colton put the call through to assistant executive director Marilyn Hassid. Thanks, Madonna. She may be a “Material “ ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor’: A-list Girl” but she’s also a “Ray of Light.” performers, like Madonna, travel with 20-30 On the afternoon of Jan. 12, the phone rang at trucks,” Hassid told the JHV. “They sometimes the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC’s main number. Debbie donate their props and purchase new ones in the Colton, who has worked the front desk for 12 years, next city. Most likely, she has been traveling with answered. this dance floor. She may own multiple dance A woman, who identified herself as Abby, told floors. Her crew assembles the same dance floor Colton she was with Madonna. The pop star was in for each concert, so everyone knows exactly where town at the Toyota Center as part of her worldwide to properly place themselves during each song.” “Rebel Heart” tour. Madonna wanted to donate her Madonna’s dance floor is hand delivered to the Merfish Madonna portable dance floor to the JCC. See Madonna on Page 2A Teen Center. NY teens aid with Community mourning after flood recovery, learn gun accident civil rights history By JHV Staff A Houston teen was killed in a shooting accident Saturday, Jan. 16. Jacob Remels, 15, died of a gunshot wound in his Meyerland-area home, after a semiautomatic pistol acciden- tally discharged. CPR was performed on the teen, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to reports. The fatal shooting has been referred to a Harris County grand jury, Houston Police said in a statement. Remels previously attended The Emery/Weiner School. His family belongs to Congregation Emanu El. Graveside services were held Jan. 18 at Congregation Emanu El Memorial Park. The community mourns Remels’ loss and prays that his memory will remain an eternal blessing. Tu B’Shevat: a celebration for the trees By AARON HO WARD | JHV

Tu B’Shevat (the 15th day of the month of Shevat) is a holiday that marks the beginning of the New Year for trees. Based on the rainy season and agricultural cycle in the Land of Israel, JHV: MICHAEL C. DUKE the day celebrates the date when the new J Teen Leadership volunteers rebuilt sandboxes on the playground of UOS Goldberg Montessori School Jan. 15 as part of the New York group’s service year began for produce. Following the trip to Houston. (Top) Hannah Malter joined Houston trip co-chairs Rachel Kleinhandler and Sam Roth as they prepped a house for repainting Jan. 17 as part of a community service project sponsored by Rebuilding Together Houston. rainy season (from Sukkot, the 15th of Tishri, until the 15th of Shevat) fruit from By MICHAEL C. DUKE | JHV she and 28 other student volunteers from J Federation of New York in Westchester trees that blossomed after Tu B’Shevat Teen Leadership emptied 50-pound bags of County. The teen-led organization brings would be set aside according to a six-year It was a typical Friday at UOS Goldberg sand into a pair of sandboxes. Jewish high school students together, from cycle. In the first, second, fourth and fifth Montessori School until a knock came on “I knew a lot of people who were hit by all backgrounds, to develop leadership year of the six-year cycle, the farmers the door of each classroom. floods in Long Island from Hurricane Sandy skills, practice core Jewish values and set aside ma’aseir rishon (first tithe) for In walked groups of Jewish teens from [in 2012]. Seeing all the struggles they went perform community service projects. the Levites and brought ma’aseir sheini New York, bearing children’s books and through and how devastated they were from Each year, the group selects service (second tithe) to Jerusalem. On the third Judaica items to replace those lost last year it made me want to come down here to help projects that involve travel. Houston was and sixth year, ma’aseir ani was given during the Memorial Day flood. the community,” Young said. among those chosen this year, in order to the poor in lieu of ma’aseir sheini. Of After introducing themselves, the guests School leaders were grateful for the to assist with rebuilding efforts from the course, on the seventh year, the land was presented the donated items and spent teens’ help. Memorial Day flood – the costliest natural supposed to rest. the afternoon reading, playing games and “J Teen Leadership brought books, disaster in Jewish Houston history. Since tithes had to be given from the singing Shabbat songs with the children. At Judaica and assistance to our school that “We know from J Teen experience that fruits that grow on the tree each year, Tu the end of class, the teens regrouped outside continues to grow after the destruction of when teens have an idea and are proactive B’Shevat was established as the cutoff and worked together to improve the school’s the flood,” said Debra Kira, UOSGMS’ head in taking action, we can make a difference,” date between one year and the next or playground. of school. “They came into the classes and said Sam Roth, 18, who recognized the need ma’aseir ani (the New Year for Trees). “We heard about what happened here – brought stories, smiles and gifts. It was a in Houston and co-chaired the project with After the Temple was destroyed, Tu people in Houston had been hit with flood huge mitzvah that is so appreciated by staff Rachel Kleinhandler. B’Shevat lost this purpose, because the damage on Memorial Day and that help was and students.” needed to rebuild,” said Olivia Young, 17, as J Teen Leadership is a program of UJA See Teens on Page 4A See Trees on Page 4A PAGE 4A JEWISH HERALD-VOICE JANUARY 21, 2016 UP CLOSE

Teens From Page 1A Valley home. “Your work, today, is very important to Abbe Marcus is executive director of J us,” said Rebuilding Together’s Terri Drabik Teen Leadership and was one of a half-dozen O’Reilley, in thanking the teen volunteers. staff members who accompanied the teens “You’re saving us about $8,000 in labor costs, in Houston. which allows us to leverage our funds to do She said the trip’s goals were to mobilize more critical repairs inside the home.” resources and deliver supplies to those in On Monday morning, the group returned need, to discover the history of the local to Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church for Jewish community, to learn the stories of another service project, then departed those they meet, and to connect the group’s Houston. work to Jewish values and teachings. Reciprocal impact J Teen Leadership spent three days in J Teen Leadership made a difference in Houston over the MLK holiday weekend, Jan. the lives of Houstonians, according to those 15-18. Besides flood relief, the group studied who directly benefited from the group’s good the history of local Jewish-black relations works. during the civil rights movement and Similarly, Houston had an impact on J worked on other service projects, benefiting Teen volunteers, they agreed. Houston’s black and Latino communities. “This trip gave me a whole new oppor- During their visit to UOS Goldberg tunity to volunteer in a place that I’ve never Montessori School, whose building and been before,” said J Teen volunteer Harrison contents suffered heavy damage during the Singer, 16. flood, the students met with community “As I’ve grown older, I’ve gained a sense members impacted by the disaster. JHV: MICHAEL C. DUKE of how privileged I am to live in northern Jordan Weintraub was among a group of J Teen Leadership volunteers who donated school supplies “We had no warning. We had no prepa- to UOSGMS and spent an afternoon reading and playing with children there. Westchester, New York. My friends and I are rations. We had no time,” said Freda Wadler, fortunate to have good lives there. a teacher at Goldberg Montessori, whose After J Teen’s work at Goldberg us when you see something that’s not right, “I feel like I have the responsibility to home in the Willow Meadows subdivision Montessori, the group took a tour of historic you stand up and say something.” help others who don’t necessarily have that took in more than a foot of water during the Jewish Houston, retracing the community’s Like many Houston businesses, Three or who find themselves in tough situations,” flood. origins through the Galveston Plan, to its Brothers was damaged by the Memorial Day he said. “The worst thing that happened that growth in Riverside Terrace, to its eventual flood. For J Teen volunteer Zoe Moskowitz, 17, night was the fear,” she told the students. move to Southwest Houston. “It’s been a humbling experience,” Janice the experience helped shape her aspirations “The fear comes hard and fast and you are in The teens celebrated erev Shabbat that Jucker said. “We’re used to being the ones for college and career. absolute shock. You don’t know what’s going evening at Brith Shalom, which closed its who give the help, not need it.” “I’m a changed person after doing these to happen. ruach service by singing “Deep in the Heart trips,” said Moskowitz. “I love all the places “You lose your shul. You lose your of Texas.” Afterward, Rabbi Ranon Teller Home repairs we go, because they’re all so different in school. And, you’re concerned about others. met with the teens and shared stories about The following morning, the teens nature. You’re not so concerned about yourself,” his predecessor, Rabbi Moshe Cahana, who traveled to Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church “It makes me want to keep doing this. she said. “We had to rely on everyone in the was among the first rabbis in the U.S. to rally to participate in an interfaith MLK Day I’m going off to college soon and I’m inter- community to rebuild together. behind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and helped service. ested in a major that’s all about community “What kept me going was my desire to lead the civil rights movement in Houston. Afterward, they joined Rebuilding service,” she said. “J Teen Leadership has show others how strong you have to be,” said On Saturday, the teens participated in Together Houston, a nonprofit organization opened so many doors for me.” Wadler. “We just moved back into our home a civil rights-themed morning service, then that provides critical systems repairs to Several of the teens said they appreciate after being displaced for seven months and enjoyed an oneg, catered by Three Brothers homes for low-income seniors, the disabled having the opportunity to work together, three days. It’s a miracle. Bakery. The bakery’s current owners, Bobby and veterans. among peers, to help others. Many of the “When you’re part of a community, when and Janice Jucker, told the story of Houston’s The teens worked on two projects: volunteers said they didn’t know each other you’re surrounded by people who care about oldest family-owned kosher bakery, which Painting the home of a veteran family, and prior to the Houston trip. Project chairs each other, you can do anything,” she said. was founded by three Holocaust survivors. helping a disabled couple move back into its were responsible for recruiting other teens “When my father and uncles opened home, following the Memorial Day flood. to participate. Civil rights history the bakery in Houston, Jim Crow was here “This means a lot to us,” said Juanita Project co-chair Rachel Kleinhandler A network of local Jewish agencies, insti- and they were told that businesses needed Mejie, whose husband, Jesse, served in the said one of her favorite moments in Houston tutions and community members helped to have separate facilities for blacks and U.S. Army during Vietnam. “We’ve lived in was their visit to UOS Goldberg Montessori coordinate J Teen’s work in Houston. These whites,” Bobby Jucker told the teens. “My this house for 40 years. Every time it rained, School. included Big Tent Judaism, Congregation father’s response was, ‘Are you kidding me? we had to put down buckets throughout the “I love working with kids,” said Brith Shalom, Jewish Family Service, We just survived the Holocaust. Everybody house because the roof leaked.” Kleinhandler, 17. “It was really special to Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, is equal. We’re not going to discriminate.’ In addition to new exterior paint, have time to play with the kids at the school Jewish Herald-Voice, Lone Star BBYO, Three “They decided not to participate in that Rebuilding Together also installed a new and to see their connection to the Jewish Brothers Bakery and UOSGMS. kind of stupidity,” Jucker said. “They taught roof and a walk-in shower at the Mejies’ Pine community, in comparison to ours.”

Trees From Page 1A with him: “A person should always be soft as important in business or with loved ones. will continue to circle even when the tree is a reed and not rigid like a cedar” (Tractate We should be able to compromise when we planted instead of growing out into the soil. laws of tithing and planting did not apply Taanit, Ch. 3). relate to others. This is a common problem.” outside the Land of Israel. There are two elements to a tree, said “People with deep roots have the confi- Then, examine the site where you want Then, in the 16th century, a group of Rabbi Zaklikofsky: what’s beneath the dence to be able to compromise. Too often, to plant the tree. If you’re planting a large kabbalists in Safed brought a new interpre- surface and what’s above. individuals are driven by the fear of coming tree (one that will grow 40 feet or more), tation to the observance of Tu B’Shevat. “In terms of our core identity, we’re like across weak and not having strong opinions. don’t plant near a power line. They celebrated the holiday by eating trees in the need to have strong, deep-rooted I’ve found that fear often comes from people “Learn how much water the tree will particular fruits of the Land of Israel and principles of who we are as Jews. This core who are not grounded or who lack a real require. In Houston, we generally get drinking four cups of wine in a specific order is nonnegotiable. Without these strong roots, understanding of what is important in life.” enough rainfall once a tree is established. (Seder). The Safed kabbalists saw in Torah we are like trees that are easily toppled in a In the 20th century, as Jews returned to But, droughts can severely affect a tree, (Deuteronomy 20:19) a text that compared storm. Israel, they brought still another interpre- especially in the growth stage,” said Merritt. man to a tree: “For man is a tree of the field.” “In terms of who we are on the outside, tation to the observance of Tu B’Shevat. The Understand if your tree is shade tolerant The obvious question is: What can man the way we relate to and engage others, day began to be marked as a Jewish Arbor or loves full sunlight. Generally, fruit trees learn from a tree? we should be as pliable as a reed. That Day, a time to plant trees and reforest the need full sun. The Shul of Bellaire’s Rabbi Yossi means we should be able to consider the land. (Israel is one of only two countries in Know your soil. Test your soil for pH Zaklikofsky told the Jewish Herald-Voice other person’s perspective, not only our the world that entered the 21st century with (acidity). Most Houston soils are in the there’s a saying from Talmud that resonates own perspective. This quality is especially a net gain in its number of trees.) neutral zone, between 6.5-7 pH, said Merritt. More recently, Tu B’Shevat has become Also, is the soil more clay or more sand? identified with planting trees here, as well Some trees don’t do well in clay soils. as in Israel. Tu B’Shevat (which begins on Now, it’s time to plant: WE’RE HERE TO MAKE the evening of Jan. 24 this year) through “You want your hole to be one-and-a-half February is a good time to plant a tree in to two times the width of the root ball. Put THINGS EASIER FOR MOM. Houston. To maximize your chances of your container on the ground with the tree (NOT TO MENTION FOR YOUR CHECKBOOK.) success, Michael Merritt, regional urban in it. Make an oval outline with your shovel forester, Texas A&M Forest Service, gave of the intended width. Scrape the grass off Herald readers a list of “do’s and don’ts” for the planting site and lay the grass, soil side planting your tree. up, to the side. Save First, take a close look at the prospective “Start digging your hole. The depth tree at your local nursery or box store. You should be an inch or two shallower than want the tree to have good leaf color and your root, so the top of the root ball is an a full crown without gaps or holes, said inch or two higher than the existing grade. $3,000 Merritt. Remember, don’t make the hole too deep. when you move in by March 31. “Ideally, you want one straight trunk “Then, start your backfill. No amend- or stem, although crepe myrtles can be an ments (additions) to the soil are needed. Call today for details! exception,” said Merritt. “Structurally, that Tamp down your backfill to get rid of air makes the tree stronger. You don’t want pockets. Create a planting ring around the co-dominant stems (two or more stems outside edge of the root bowl for watering. 713.364.0449 coming out of a branch union).” Layer with 1 to 2 inches of mulch. Don’t Next, examine the root ball of the tree. mulch against the trunk of the tree. Leave “That means you have to pull the tree out of airspace. Then, water well.” the container,” said Merritt. “Remember, you Given the swings in Houston rainfall, are buying the tree. The root system is the how much does one water? Five to 8 gallons lifeblood of the tree. You don’t want to see of water per inch of trunk diameter two to circling or girdling roots; that is, roots that three times per week in the hottest and have hit the edge of the container and begun dryest part of summer. Otherwise, once a elmcroft.com Facility # 030414 circling around. This indicates the tree has week. been in the container too long. The roots Have a happy and fruitful Tu B’Shevat!