June/July 2018 Sivan-Tammuz-Av 5778 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Business, Professional & Service Directory ......... 4 Jewish Education ...........................................10-11 Camp Corner .................................................16-17 Jewish Federation Upcoming Events ................... 5 Graduation Congrats .....................................12-13 Jewish Social Services ..................................18-21 Congregation News ...........................................8-9 Simchas & Condolences .................................... 15 Israel & The World .........................................22-23 Intersections and HAVA NAGILA PICNIC A GREAT WAY TO KICK OFF SUMMER! Inconvenient Truths Sunday, June 24, 10:30 am-1:30 pm with Yair Rosenberg See back page for information By Rabbi Paula Winnig The Israel and Overseas Committee He has also elicited a correction from and the Business Roundtable of the the Supreme Court on a point of Jewish Jewish Federation of Madison is pleased history. In Memorium: to welcome journalist and thought At present, Yair is a senior writer leader Yair Rosenberg at Tablet Magazine, to Madison on June 20, where he covers politics, Genrikh Babich 2018. culture, and religion, By Louise Goldstein Retired JSS Volunteer Coordinator Yair was born and tackling topics ranging raised in New York, from American Jewish A giant has fallen. Engineer, computer the son of two Jewish responses to modern scientist, traveler, outdoorsman, student, educators and the grand- critical scholarship of the writer, pillar of his community, loving son of Holocaust survivors. Bible to the forgotten and beloved family man, Genrikh Babich As an undergrad at history of Mormon–Jewish z”l was truly a Renaissance man. His zest Harvard, he majored relations. In particular, for life and love of learning provided in Jewish studies and he has chronicled the the foundation for his successful and history, and served as resurgence of antisemitism exemplary transition from Soviet citizen the films editor of the in Europe and, more to immigrant and American citizen. He Harvard Crimson. He recently, in America. In once related that his daughter Helen wrote his senior thesis his spare time, he also suggested he watch soap operas to on Albert Einstein’s builds bots that troll anti- perfect his English; he disliked them, 20-year friendship with Semites on Twitter. Yair Yair Rosenberg but he watched them regularly anyway an eclectic Orthodox will share his insights on and as a result, his English was superb— rabbi, translating the two men’s German the current state of affairs of American he was always ready to do whatever it correspondence and conversations about Jewry in light of the current situation took to learn something important or the Talmud, Zionism, race, and God. He in Israel. This is a unique opportunity interesting. fell into journalism quite by accident, to have a personal conversation with Genrikh served the Madison Jewish Genrikh Babich when he discovered that people were an up and coming thought leader of the community for many years as a member to him that we get it right. He was our willing to pay him money to say things American Jewish world. of the Jewish Social Services board interpreter at events such as Lechayim, he wanted to say anyway. Since then, The event will take place at: AMC and, up until a year ago, wrote full- the annual Chanukah party for Russians, he’s covered the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Madison 6 (formerly Sundance), second page articles in Russian for the monthly and the occasional summer event. For elections, as well as the 2014 Israeli floor, 430 North Midvale Blvd, in the Madison Jewish News on topics that many years he and his beloved late wife elections. He has interviewed and Hilldale shopping plaza, 5:30 pm–7:30 piqued his interest. He was a stalwart Galina, who preceded him in death by profiled multiple White House chiefs of pm. Hors d’oeuvres and a drink are member of the Senior Adult Committee only a few months, attended Lechayim staff and cabinet members, and written included in admission. $10 per person in and for twenty years Genrikh was and audited courses at the UW-Madison for The New York Times, Washington advance, $15 on the day of the event. our consultant on and liaison to local on a wide variety of topics. His was a life Post, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and Russian Jewish seniors; he knew what very well-lived and his gentle, curious the Wall Street Journal, among others. they wanted and needed, and it mattered presence will be missed. Goodman Campus Days of Caring By Ellen Weismer Camp Shalom Director PAID The Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman or yard work and are looking to share Jewish Community Campus is a special your energy, we will be hosting another Madison, Wis. U.S. POSTAGE Non-Profit Org. Permit No. 1341 place to many, and that is why it was volunteer day on June 4. We will be out so easy to find a dedicated group of there working all day from 10:00 am volunteers to help get the Goodman until 5:00 pm, so kids are welcome to Campus ready for the summer season. join us after school. Snow showers late in April forced Please contact Ellen Weismer, us to cancel our volunteer day on April [email protected] for 20, but the following week, when more information. local schools were off for professional Sadie and Matt development, Camp Shalom families came together to help us get some of the jobs done! The to-do list was long and the volunteers worked tirelessly to help weed the garden, clear the brush and paint picnic tables. If you have a love for gardening EWISH FEDERATION OF MADISON OF FEDERATION EWISH Carlos and Doris Brush clean up J 6434 Enterprise Lane Madison, Wisconsin 53719 Change Service Requested 2/Madison Jewish News June/July 2018 Introducing Rabbi Betsy Forester By Matt Banks Rabbi Forester’s path to ordination she is a yoga instructor. Benjy recently President, Beth Israel Center Board of Directors follows a traditional model of deep study completed a year of study at Hadar, is a and s’michah (certification) through a rosh aidah at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Beth Israel Center (BIC) is thrilled Northwestern University; and an M.A. beit din (rabbinic court) upon completion this summer and will begin rabbinical to welcome Rabbi Betsy Forester as our in Jewish Professional Studies from of an intense course of school in the fall of 2018 at the Jewish new rabbi. Rabbi Forester emphasizes Spertus Institute for study. She has studied at Theological Seminary in New York. deep spirituality and intellectual Jewish Learning and the Jewish Theological Shira returns to UW-Madison as a senior engagement in Jewish practice in a Leadership. Seminary of America, and as a BIC Talmud Torah faculty joyful and inclusive way that is a perfect Rabbi Forester Svara Yeshiva, Hadar in September 2018, after a semester match for our kahal. Indeed, when Rabbi most recently has been and with distinguished studying as a Nachshon fellow in Israel. Forester and our kahal (synagogue serving as a Jewish rabbis and scholars Beth Israel Center congregants community) at BIC were introduced, it educator in Chicago, who are leaders in the are remarkably diverse in their was as though a shidduch (match) had where she worked for Jewish world. Rabbi demographics, their experience with been organized by some higher power. 16 years as teacher Forester is a fellow at Judaism, and their world view. Rabbi Rabbi Forester focuses on connecting and Director of Jewish The National Jewish Forester’s breadth of experience and to the rich traditions of Judaism in ways Life at the Solomon Center for Learning and emphasis on making Judaism accessible that are active and innovative, that bring Schechter Day School of Leadership (CLAL). and meaningful will foster participation Judaism to the forefront of how we view Metropolitan Chicago. Rabbi Forester’s and growth in our kahal. We look ourselves and each other, and how we Rabbi Forester has lived ordination is post- forward to her teaching, spiritual act to heal the world. all of her life as an active denominational, and her approach to leadership and pastoral care for many Rabbi Forester holds a B.A. in Hebrew member of the Conservative Movement Torah and Jewish life accords with years to come. Beginning July 1, she and Semitic Studies and Communication and was founding chair of The Ramah traditional, egalitarian, forward- can be reached at (608) 256-7763 and Disorders, and a certificate in Integrated Day Camp. She has worked nationally to thinking, Conservative Judaism. [email protected]. Liberal Studies from the University develop the fields of Talmud, Bible and She and her husband, Scott, have of Wisconsin-Madison; an M.A. in tefillah (prayer) education, and has led three children. Rena lives in Israel where Speech-Language Pathology from numerous youth trips to Israel. June/July 2018 Madison Jewish News/3 Summer Fun with From Your Executive Outreach Director By Tiz Goff Community Outreach Coordinator Dear Friends: There are moments that we call We’re going to have a lot of fun this event is open to everyone. Sheheheyanu Moments. Those times summer so please join us to meet new Make Music Madison is an annual when marvelous things happen for people or to spend time with old friends. citywide, free, outdoor day of music held which we offer the special Sheheheyanu There are many ways to engage and I am on the summer solstice, June 21 (the prayer thanking God for keeping us alive always happy to hear of other activities longest day of the year). Initiated in 2013 and allowing us to reach special times that might interest you. as Madison’s entry into the international and events. One such moment happened Fun on theField summer solstice music celebration, when I saw my first Monarch butterfly Come out and watch the Matzah we join over 700 communities around fluttering around the lilac bush I can see Balls play flag football at Olin Park – the world in kicking off summer by from my office.