NEWS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA THE SHOFAR w6 A Publication of the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Chattanooga Volume 17 Number 4 December 2003 Do you believe in miracles? Dance for Tots: Aleph Bet Community Children's Center to Throw Chanukah Party New Year's Eve Blowout Sunday, December 21,5:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 31 h ish Ciiitu-' •' • • ter 7:30 p.m. until... .._,___ Jewish Cultural Center 'W_S_ Bring your menorah—we will light the The Aleph Bet New Year's bash should top your list of ways to celebrate this third candle together New Year's Eve! A fundraiser for the school, the party gets going at 7:30 p.m. and lasts through a midnight breakfast. For $100 per person, partygoers will enjoy an open bar, heavy hors d'oeuvres Sing along to Chanukah songs and a champagne toast to welcome in 2004. Xplosive Entertainment will provide the can't-help-but-dance music to make the Cultural Center the place to be this New Year's Eve. Enjoy a delicious community "This is going to be an awesome evening full of fabulous food, fun and dancing" said Preschool Committee Co-Chair Alison Lebovitz. "You won't want to dinner and plenty of gelt miss it!" For those who are juggling New Year's options, arrive at the Aleph Bet party after 10:30 p.m. and pay only $50 per person! You'll still enjoy great company, Help judge the First Annual Latke drinks, dancing, late food and party favors. Cook-Off. Bruce Weiss vs. Irv Ginsburg Please RSVP by December 26. Send your check to: Jewish Community Federation Be amazed by the "Magic of Scott", P.O. Box 8947 Chattanooga, TN 37414 (Questions? 493-0270 xlO) How can you do a mitzvah for Israel and enjoy a unique shopping experience At last year's at the same time? Chanukah party, Sande Schulman and daughter Rhea Come to Shop Israel Chattanooga! lit a Lego menorah d made by Rhea's Shop Israel Chattanooga is an exclusive two-day Israeli vendor brother Avery fair at the Jewish Cultural Center featuring 20-25 Israeli artists and Only $5 per person galleries selling unique items made in Israel. Please RSVP hy December IS. Send your check to: Shop Israel Chattanoogai Hours Jewish Federation P.O. Box 8947 Wednesday, December 10,11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Chattanooga, TN 37414 Thursday, December 11,11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Questions? 493-0270 xlO) Sponsored hy the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Chattanooga Choose from a wide variety of distinctive items including jewelry, cosmetics, tapestry, glass, paintings, Judaica and much more. Prices range from $10 to $350 (with some exceptions) IN THIS ISSUE and all proceeds benefit the Israeli shop owners and artists. Federation News Page 2 Jewish News Pages 14-15 Campaign News Pages 3-5 Community Voices Pages 16-17 Want to do more? We need volunteers! Federation Programs Pages 5-6 Mazel Tovs/Condolences ... Page 16 Sign up for a shift working in sales, cashiering, customer service, or various Social Services Page 7 Jewish Education Pages 18-19 other jobs. To volunteer, or for more information, please contact Aleph Bet Page 8 Congregation News Pages 20-25 Michael Dzik at 493-0270, ext. 15 or [email protected]. Newcomers Page 9 Hadassah News Page 26 Rabbinic Thoughts Pages 10-11 Bulletin Board Page 27 "If you can't visit Israel, we will bring Israel to you t» Chanukah 5764 Pages 12-13 Community Calendar Page 28 Check us out!www.jcfgc.com Jewish Community Federation Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage of Greater Chattanooga PAID P.O. Box 8947 Permit No. 63 Chattanooga, TN 37414 Chattanooga, TN Change Service Requested FEDERATION NEWS DOLEV Participants to Meet Israeli Counterparts This Month by Cantor Neil Schwartz For many months, a group comprised of Jewish educators from Atlanta and will not be touring other than when it relates directly to the work we are doing, and Chattanooga have been communicating with a group of teachers in Israel via we will be staying in people's homes most of the time. When we do travel it will be videoconference. This connection was first made by Sharon Levin, and has been in a well-guarded private vehicle, and we will not enter the Territories. The troubles continued by Ilene Glance through our community Religious School with the sup­ have been mostiy in the larger cities and in the settlements, so we should be far port and encouragement of our Jewish Federation. away from any problems. However, we appreciate the concern. The Chattanooga contingent began with six educators: Rachel Sadowitz, Rhonda Seeber, Rhonda Stowe, Chaim and Ronni Charyn, and me. Rachel made many extra "...we'd like to publicly thank Federation Executive trips to Atlanta as our Design Team Leader, helping to craft the direction and con­ Director Michael Dzik and the Federation Board and tent of this pioneering program. After months of videoconferences, the Charyns and Officers who have believed in this program and I will now join a delegation of Atlanta teachers on a working trip to Israel in Decem­ encouraged our participation." ber to meet intensively with the Israeli teachers. Some of them in return will come to Atlanta this spring to see how we do things here. We have already seen how the videoconferences have made a difference in the edu­ This trip is being made possible with the support of our Federation, and before cation we provide our Religious School students. By meeting with the Israeli teach­ even going, we'd like to publicly thank Federation Executive Director Michael Dzik ers in person and visiting their schools, we will be able to even better understand and the Federation Board and Officers who have believed in this program and en­ their issues and concerns. When we return, we will bring back to our local teaching couraged our participation. an increased knowledge and sensitivity of how to include Israel in our Jewish edu­ Some members of our Jewish community have expressed concern for our safety, cation curriculum. We look forward to sharing our experience with you in the Feb­ as word of this trip gradually spreads. Since this is a working trip to the northern ruary issue of the Shofar. Again, thank you for this opportunity. part of Israel, to schools in smaller towns and kibbutzim, we will be very safe. We Foodie Movie Camp and Israel November 12, Jewish Cultural Center The Foodie Movie series, featuring a food-themed movie matinee followed by Grant Application dinner, is co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation and Alexian Live at Home. See page 7 to find out about the last Deadline: December 15 movie in the series. «•_• • _ . • • • Contact Michael Dzik, 493-0270, ext. 15 or [email protected] for information and/or an application The mOvie series has brought many new faces to the Jewish Cultural Center Happy Chanukah from the Jewish Federation and Aleph Bet Children's Center Amy Boulware Alice Morgan Ella Boyd Sheila Nunley Bridgette Bryant Billy Joe Ragland Michael Dzik Rachel Schulson Ilene Glance Jessie Sitnick Amy Gray Wendy Smith Gini Johnson Tony Stokes Carole McNabb John Wooden Alexian Live at Home Director Jane Kelley talks with movie goers I Visit www.jewishchattanooga.com to | see photos from the November 22 Community Havdallah event • Ruben and Dot Dubrow JoAnn and Maish Richelson, Amy Boulware, and Miriam Richelson The Shofar December 2003 FEDERATION CAMPAIGN MESSAGE MESSAGE FROM THE FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT DIRECTOR by Michael Lebovitz by Michael Dzik [email protected] [email protected] Under Susan DiStefano's leadership, there have been many new components to Being in Israel our Annual Campaign. One ofthe nice additions is in-home small gatherings. These small gatherings were conceived in response to interviews conducted by United Michael submitted his article from Jerusalem where he is attending the Jewish communities (UJC) representative Rachel Miller this past spring. Rachel United Jewish Communities' (UJC) General Assembly (GA) felt that even those who contributed to the Federation were not clear about our role in the Jewish community. When I landed in Israel for the UJC General Assembly, the importance of being While we certainly entice people with drinks and dessert, these gatherings are there didn't really hit me until I was passing through immigration. I guess the atten­ promoted as "more than just great desserts" and they really are. In our first two dant assumed that I am Jewish from my last name, and knew from my passport that meetings, there was great discussion about what Federation does daily while also I am American. She said to me (in broken English), "Glad you are home." highlighting what is "behind the scenes" of Federation work. These meetings give From that moment on, the importance of GA delegates just being present in you, our consumers and constituents, the opportunity to voice your opinion while Israel—at this important time in our Jewish history, during these trying and difficult learning more about what we do and how your dollars are spent. times as Americans, and as American Jews—became an undercurrent of this sig­ To-date, we have held two neighborhood meetings in people's homes in North nificant gathering. Chattanooga and on Signal Mountain and a third is on the horizon. The goal is to Initially, when UJC decided to stage the GA in Israel, there was the real fear that have only three or four couples, creating an intimate and welcoming environment. I it might be a flop, drawing less than 1,000 participants.