Elul 5778 - Tishrei 5779 September 2018 HIGH HOLIDAYS ISSUE Have a Sweet New Year! • New Executive Director for Federation and Foundation page 3 • New Rabbi for B’nai Zion pages 5 and 12 • New school year page 10 Permit No. 1256 No. Permit RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE RETURN El Paso, Texas Paso, El El Paso, Texas 79912 Texas Paso, El PAID 7110 N. Mesa N. 7110 U.S. Postage U.S. Jewish Federation of El Paso El of Federation Jewish Non-Profit Org. Non-Profit 2 | September 2018 FEDERATION Message from the President My father, Sidney Elias Kent, camps… was born in Siegbert Cibulski in On that first trip to Wilhelmshaven, Germany in 1928. His Germany, I searched for family flourished until life dramatically some answers and found changed in 1933. He rarely spoke about an article, “A Refugee his past, but we knew he was named for Family,” written by Dr. the men who sponsored his family of 3 Gerhard Falk, a living and his uncle to immigrate to Shreveport cousin I had only just in 1939. He is and always has been an learned about. It was a extremely optimistic person not only difficult article to read Janet Wechter surviving his own personal history, but discovering the fate of taking care of a sick wife, while nurturing the Cibulskis and it had This time of year brings much three kids. We learned from our parents a big discrepancy. Dr. excitement and opportunity; an early on that being kind and true to Falk had written that my opportunity to begin again, start fresh others was the key to a good life. He dad, wife and kids had with a pure heart and clear head. I am always found time to volunteer at our left the tribe (or Jewish grateful to serve as president of the JFED Temple, the Federation and other non- faith). My dad had not of Greater El Paso; it is both an honor profit boards. My first experience with heard or seen the Falks and a privilege. We are fortunate to live in the Jewish Federation was traveling with since traveling by train to a safe place-more Cleveland or less free from in his Vintage photographs of Janet Wechter’s father, along with anti-semitism and Mentors and role models matter. teens by one of his mother’s monogrammed handkerchiefs and fa- terror. The recent himself to ther’s Tefillin, found when she was researching her family occurrences of the vandalism at our him on a JFNA Mission to Israel in 1986 visit the cousin he used sacred burial grounds is a reminder of where my Jewish identity was sparked. to play with in Germany. ORT we are able to witness strong and a need to always be aware of what can Mentors and role models matter. Family matters. vibrant Jewish communities throughout happen. A few years ago, I let him know Randy Fast forward to this summer’s the world. Our involvement and dollars This summer, I was fortunate to and I were going to Germany with our Leadership Mission to Berlin and matter. travel as one of four El Paso delegates as children, Ryan and Jenny. I was nervous Budapest; Our agenda was packed full I encourage each and every one of part of the 129 Federation professional to tell him, but I wanted an address or a of incredible programming and inspiring you to honor your legacy, your own and lay leaders on an extraordinary clue about his past. I visited him before speakers. Learning about the 250,000 Jewish story and pay it forward. May FRD leadership mission to Berlin and leaving and little did I know that he Jews living in Germany and 110,000 you all have a sweet, happy and healthy Budapest. This was an opportunity to would give me an old leather portfolio living in Hamburg was truly remarkable. New Year. L’Shanah Tovah tikatein experience first hand how and where full of yellowed documents in German This is something one doesn’t expect and Vitichateimn! our overseas dollars are being invested in and a large white dress box containing certainly not my dad. I could not wait Jews around the world, helping to build four antique tefillin and his mom’s lovely to tell him that because of the significant Janet Wechter strong and vibrant Jewish communities. monogrammed handkerchiefs. This was work of The Jewish Agency, The Jewish President 2018-2020 For many of us, we traveled with heavy a shock for my siblings and me; treasures Joint Distribution Committee and World Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso hearts, conflicted to visit cities with a that linked our father to his past. He had horrible past. For myself and the other always acted like he and his family were delegates, it was indeed personal. not victims like those that suffered in the A publication of the Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso The Jewish Voice of El Paso, published ten times a year, is dedicated to informing, educating, and uniting the Jewish community by providing news items of local, national, Israeli and international concern. The Jewish Voice will consider for publication any materials submitted that support the mission of the Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso and have relevance and appeal to the El Paso Jewish community. Articles are subject to editing at the editor’s discretion and are subject to space limitations. Letters cannot be longer than 150 words and articles must be kept to a maximum of 300 words. Please email to [email protected] Opinions are those of individual writers and not necessarily those of the Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso. The Jewish Voice is not responsible for the kashrut of any product or eating establishment advertised herein. Executive Director: Robert French Editor: Cindy Graff Cohen Campaign Director: Sue Bendalin Layout and Design: Beatriz Garcia President: Janet Kent Wechter Advertising Representative: Said Buhaya Deadline for the October issue of the Voice: September 13 Office: 915-842-9554 Printing: PDX Printing 7110 North Mesa, El Paso, TX 79912 Deadline for the November issue of the Voice: October 10 IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU You make everything we do possible September 2018 | 3 FEDERATION A common purpose This past summer many of us were individuals. have no way of knowing what awaits mesmerized, fixated and fascinated by These words resonated strongly with us around the corner. No way of telling the ordeal of the 12 Thai soccer team me especially given this polarized world how long we will live in this world. On boys and their coach trapped by rising where so many of us are greatly at odds this day, and indeed every day, we would flood waters for days and weeks deep with one another. Things have become do well to remind ourselves of the gift inside a cave in northern Thailand. We ugly. Very ugly. TV, the internet and of life. Every moment must count. We were glued to our screens and hoped social media are strewn with disdain have no time to waste. What is our sense and prayed for their wellbeing and and vitriolic diatribes for those who of “common purpose” here in El Paso? their safe return. The frenetic energy don’t share our opinions. Thankfully, The start of a new Jewish year is that engulfed the rescue site was quite the collaborative effort to save the 12 a time of opportunity for us all where remarkable. Thousands of people came boys and their coach paid off – although we relive our beginning and reflect on from far and wide to pray, to cook, to sadly, a seasoned diver sacrificed his how we can make a fresh start. It is if report, to sell their wares and, most life in the endeavor – and the euphoria we are put back in the Garden of Eden Robert French importantly, to support the rescue effort surrounding their rescue engulfed us. with all our choices and challenges laid in any and every way they could. My time in El Paso since my arrival out before us so we can decide how to I read an article by Rabbi Yosef in late June has been warm and most respond to them. Let us hope that this on Rosh Hashanah. We need to stand Vogel who remarked that, when welcoming. (With the summer heat it New Year be full of hope and promise before G-d, and before ourselves and questioned about why this event drew was sometimes a little too warm but I and that we, too, continue to find our strive to achieve this “common purpose” so much international and local interest understand it does get better!) This is a sense of “common purpose”: Giving – every single day. as well as media attention, one of the community filled with history, passion and working beyond ourselves for the Starting today. divers who was interviewed talked about and pride. I am learning a lot each greater good of El Paso, Israel and the Robert French the fact that everyone shared a profound day and with every encounter. There is Jewish world. Let us also remember that Executive Director sense of “common purpose” in seeing much to boast about. the ball is in our court. We cannot just Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso the return of these thirteen trapped As we approach the New Year we go through the motions once a year Jewish Community Foundation of El Paso Dori Fenenbock on JFNA These We Honor with Our Tributes Jewish Federation of Greater Federation office From: Sue Bendalin Strategic Review Task Force El Paso From: Janet and Randy Wechter From: Carmen Berunda Some of the biggest Club of America and the From: Reta Cook To: Janet Wechter in honor of To: Jamie Flores with From: Margie Copeland challenges facing the United Way.