1 Celebrating Our 1st Anniversary! Feb. 8, 2018 Bi-Weekly 23 Shvat 5778 ISSUE #22 CONNECTING THE DC, MD, & NOVA JEWISH COMMUNITIES Choosing a Camp for Your Child By Janna Zuckerman To put it simply, Jewish summer camp is a blast! Campers have an in- Recognizing that Jewish summer credible time participating in high-qual- camp is one of the formative experi- ity activities and discovering new skills ences through which our youth build and interests. They celebrate Jewish a strong Jewish identity, The Associat- values, traditions, and Israeli culture ed: Jewish Community Federation of through song, food, art, and dance. Baltimore created the Center for Jew- Campers grow their independence ish Camping (CJC) in 2013. The CJC pro- while they connect with their Jewish vides community outreach, education, peers and make lifelong friendships. and public awareness about the ben- How do I choose which Jewish camp is From left: Rabbi Nissan Antine, Rabbi Benny Lau, Maharat Ruth Friedman, Maharat Dasi efits of attending a Jewish camp and right for my child? Fruchter, Rabbi Haim Ovadia, Rabbi Uri Topolosky, and Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld at an showcases the many options available, Choosing a Jewish camp for your International Rabbinic Fellowship event. (SOURCE: MAHARAT DASI FRUCHTER/FACEBOOK) locally and nationally. child is an exciting time, but it can also In my role overseeing the CJC, I work be overwhelming. With so many Jew- Synagogues with closely with Jewish camps throughout ish camps to choose from, it may be the country, providing families with difficult to figure out which one is the Maharats Are Still in guidance on everything from overnight right fit for your child. CJC provides and specialty camps to programs for in- free, personalized guidance to fami- the Fold, At Least for Now dividuals with special needs. lies who are considering Jewish day or Here are some frequently-asked overnight camp. I am happy to meet By Malka Goldberg ic Responses,” the statement said. “The questions I get from parents when with you in person or speak to you Board will evaluate the results of these they begin the camp selection process, over the phone to learn more about Disappointment tempered with op- efforts in three years.” In the meantime, along with my answers: timism were the prevailing feelings no other synagogue will be able to hire What is so special about Jewish camp? CONTINUED ON P. 26 among clergy members at two local Or- female clergy without losing their OU thodox synagogues directly impacted by membership. the Orthodox Union (OU) Board’s recent “I’m disappointed that it is limiting ‘The Notorious RBG’ Talks statement reaffirming the organization’s for other communities who would want ban on female clergy. to hire a maharat,” said Maharat Ruth Outsider Politics and Equal Beth Sholom Congregation in Po- Friedman of Ohev Sholom, in response tomac, Maryland, and Ohev Sholom – to the OU Board’s decision. “The state- Rights at Adas Israel Event The National Synagogue in Washing- ment is disappointing but also empower- ton, D.C., both employ maharats — a ing, because even if [female congregants] By Seth Jacobson title derived from the Hebrew acronym see other people disagreeing with what of “manhiga hilkhatit, rukhanit, Toranit” we’re doing, they see that what we’re do- In a wide-ranging conversation in (female leader of law, spirituality, and To- ing is right and will continue to embrace front of a sold-out crowd on Feb. 1, rah). In its Jan. 31, 2018 statement, the OU that for themselves.” Forward editor-in-chief Jane Eisner Board announced that it will continue to “I believe we should do everything and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bad- “urge” these and the two other OU-affili- we can to try to make it work with the er Ginsburg talked about Justice Gins- ated synagogues in the U.S. with maha- OU,” said Rabbi Nissan Antine of Beth burg’s family, her professional trajec- rats on their staff to “modify their prac- Sholom. “There is a lot [the OU] does per- tory, and her future. One theme was tices,” but the OU will not be taking any mit — almost everything that is done by clear: America has improved over the punitive action against the synagogues our maharat.” He stressed that “the whole course of its history in how it deals at present since they have already em- movement toward female spiritual lead- with institutional racism, sexism, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader ployed female clergy for some time. ers in Orthodoxy has been done with anti-Semitism, but there is still room Ginsburg at Adas Israel Congregation “The OU Board determined to con- great halachic care.” (Maharat Dasi Fruch- for improvement. in Washington, D.C. tinue its dialogue with these synagogues ter of Beth Sholom did not respond to re- To introduce Eisner and Justice (SOURCE: ADAS ISRAEL CONGREGATION/FACEBOOK) in the hopes that such continued dia- quests for comment for this article.) Ginsburg, Kathleen Peratis, a Forward logue can bring these synagogues ful- board member, recited “A Prayer for CONTINUED ON P. 7 ly within the parameters of the Rabbin- CONTINUED ON P. 13 1 2 2 February 8, 2018 • 23 Shvat, 5778 WWW.KOLHABIRAH.COM 2 3 "From Founding to Future" In Tribute to Kol HaBirah Shonny SHONNY KUGLER Agent - Top 1% Nationwide I am writing to describe the very positive experience I had with Shonny Kugler who was the agent who handled the sale of my Mom’s house. Shonny was recommended by a family friend and introduced herself at a very difficult time just after my Mom’s death. She was sympathetic and used her experience to gently guide us through the entire real estate process. She carefully went through the property and made recommendations as to how to prepare the house for sale. Because we were out of town, she supervised the preparation, the building inspection, explained the intricacies of the paper work, set the asking price, developed the marketing strategy and, most importantly, quickly found a buyer who offered the listed price. Kugler We couldn’t have been more satisfied with the entire process. YOUR COMMUNITY REALTOR David Samols Cell: 301-452-1801 Home Office: 301-649-3649 Office: 301-907-7600 [email protected] Contact mе for all your Real Estate needs! Bethesda Gateway Office 4650 East West Highway, Bethesda , MD 20814 WWW.KOLHABIRAH.COM February 8, 2018 • 23 Shvat, 5778 3 3 4 ABOUT US Kol HaBirah: Mission and Goals The mission of Kol HaBirah is to serve, connect, and strengthen the Great- er Jewish community. We encourage diverse perspectives but will er Washington Jewish community. To achieve this, we will provide: strive to avoid including content and views that may appear offen- sive or hurtful to specific people or groups of people. 1. Community Enrichment and Support Kol HaBirah will increase the 4. Traditional Torah Values – Kol HaBirah proudly upholds traditional visibility and utilization of our Jewish community’s businesses, or- Torah values (e.g. not employing staff on Shabbat; promoting Kosher ganizations, programs, initiatives, and services. This will be achieved restaurants, events, and news) and will strive to maintain these values through our news and feature reporting, our robust community re- while respecting the values of the entire Jewish community. sources section, and advertising opportunities. 5. Support for the United States and Israel Kol HaBirah is committed to 2. A Community Newspaper for All Jews Kol HaBirah will foster con- the safety and support of the government and citizens of the United nection through the sharing of news, ideas and resources, traversing States and Israel. various geographic and ideological boundaries and strengthening the bond of community. We believe Kol HaBirah will further establish the Greater Washington 3. Credible Reporting and Respectful, Open Dialogue Kol HaBirah is Jewish community’s presence on the map as a leading and vibrant Jewish committed to fact-based news reporting and providing a space for community in America and beyond. Thank you for your continued sup- the respectful exchange of ideas on issues that matter to the broad- port, and keep reading! EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Alan Fisher Phil Jacobs Steven Lieberman Ahuva Orlofsky Fred Shapiro An affiliate of the Jewish Link of New Jersey, Jewish Link of Bronx, Westchester & Connecticut , and the Queens Jewish Link. 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