Volume 42 Number 11 June / July 2019 • Iyar / Sivan / Tammuz • 5779 Message from the Rabbi By Rabbi Howard Siegel We look forward How’s this for a metaphor? It comes to welcoming from the book, Sparks Beneath The Surface: A Spiritual our new Rabbi! Commentary On The Torah, co-authored by Rabbi Kerry Olitzky and Rabbi Law- rence Kushner. “Jewish tradition might be thought of as a magnificent banquet table, piled high with everything Jews have ever tried in response to God. After three thousand years, it is a very big table. Some of the dishes are immediately tantalizing; if we are not careful, we could fill up on them and leave room for nothing else. Others at first don’t look so good; and when we were children, we needed to be persuaded to try them. Often, when we did try them, we were surprised and delighted to discover that they were Rabbi Rachel Blatt & her family will be moving delicious. There are others we simply may to Tampa during the summer & never enjoy, understand, or even get to she will be starting with Kol Ami on August 1, 2019. at all. No one is exempt from trying every dish, just as no one is prohibited from reverently offering an addition. In this way, while we may not resolve Contents the logical tension between a God who President’s Message ......................p.3 Youth Groups ..............................p.16 spoke once and for all at Sinai and a God Facility Focus & June Events Calendar ...................p.17 who continues to speak, we may be able Security Spotlight ....................p.6 July Events Calendar ...................p. 18 to endure the paradox.” Tree of Life Long Learning..............p.8 Yahrzeits ......................................p.19 Sisterhood .....................................p.9 Birthdays .....................................p.20 The holiday of Shavuot celebrates the Brotherhood ................................p.12 Anniversaries ...............................p.21 receiving of Torah on Mt. Sinai. Though Kids’ Konnections ........................p.13 Donations....................................p.21 received collectively as a people, each of Message from the Rabbi (continued from page 1) Congregation Kol Ami us individually is called upon to climb the mountain and accept Contact us: (813) 962-6338 our “God-given” responsibilities as Jews. Having accepted the David Pearlman, President challenge, we are invited to take our place at the “banquet table [email protected] of Jewish tradition.” Rabbi Howard Siegel This year’s “feast” of Shavuot begins on Saturday evening, June [email protected] 8th-10th (check the Shavuot schedule included in the ChaiLites Mitchell Weiss, Executive Director on page 4). A reservation has been made and a place set for you [email protected] at the table. Will you join us for the banquet? Jennifer Halls, Education Director [email protected] The spiritual joys of metaphor! Rachel Degani, Youth Director Rabbi Howard Siegel [email protected] Joanna Paley, Office Manager [email protected] Abby Salem-Goldman, Office Assistant [email protected] Rosie Grumbley, Accounts Receivable & Billing [email protected] Steve Lynn, Facilities Life Cycle Events [email protected] If you wish to have a life cycle event included in Roberta Baer, Sisterhood President [email protected] the ChaiLites, please contact Joanna Paley at least 2 weeks before the 1st-of-the-month publication date Mario Rodriguez, Brotherhood President at 813-962-6338 or email [email protected]. [email protected] ChaiLites Staff Mazel Tov to: Graphic Design: Black Marker Creative Gwen Niehoff on becoming Kol Ami’s Sisterhood Torah www.blackmarker.net Fund Honoree. Staff: Jamie Krischer & Jody Sampson-Nair, Proofreaders Max Zalkin on his 80th Birthday. Office Hours: Monday through Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Roberta & Howard Baer on the birth of their Grand- daughter, Hallie Alexander. June / July 2019, Vol. 42 Issue 11 Congregation Kol Ami ChaiLites Hamakom Yinakhem, Condolences to: 3919 Moran Road, Tampa, FL 33618 Roslyn Willis on the passing of her son, Jamie R. Willis. Ph. 813-962-6338 Fax: 813-968-2219 [email protected] Bonnie Amsterdam-Miele, Ben Miele, and Briana Miele on the passing of Bonnie’s beloved mother and Briana’s The Kol Ami ChaiLites is published on the first of every beloved grandmother, Michelle R. Amsterdam. month by Congregation Kol Ami, Conservative Congregation affiliated with The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. All articles and announcements are due two weeks prior Request from Rabbi Siegel to the month being published. We reserve the right to edit for length and consistent editorial tone. Please keep us informed of significant events in your family life. It is our desire to be of help and service to you in times of The ChaiLites is published 11 times a year. special need. It is especially important that we know of those Advertising in the hospital, and assisted living or nursing homes, so that Please contact the office at 813-962-6338. we can visit and they may be included in a prayer for recovery at Shabbat Services. 2 Congregation Kol Ami • June / July 2019 • Iyar / Sivan / Tammuz 5779 B’Yachad ing@Kol Ami” to share your thoughts on some cases re-building, relationships with By David Pearlman, President how we can make Kol Ami even better. each other. Whether we agree or disagree We will keep you updated as to when this on an issue, we can all agree that there I know what you are is live, and I will commit to this congrega- are just not that many Jews in the world: thinking….He’s still tion that we will do our very best to make a small number are living in Florida, and an President? I’m just as sure that anyone reaching out will have a even smaller number are here in our little surprised as you are, voice. nook in Tampa, Florida. How lucky are we and yet here we are. to have each other! As our Recharge Committee continues As I write the June its work, it becomes even more important Things are not just heating up outside, B’yachad column, it for us to all work together to build the type things are heating up right here at Kol is mid-May and we are going to be cele- of community that we wish for. At Ami! brating this coming Shabbat with Rabbi the most basic level, what we seek will Siegel as he prepares to move on to his B’yachad, David Pearlman ultimately come down to us building, or in next adventure. Rabbi Siegel has brought to Kol Ami a wonderful ruach and love for Judaism and Torah that can be infectious. Having worked with him over these past two years, I can personally vouch for his love of Kol Ami, and we will miss him. Thank you, Rabbi, for your leadership over these past two years, and B’Hatzlacha to you and Ellen on your continued adventures. The summer months sometimes can be slow. Let me assure you all that this is hardly the case as the calendar turns to Which of these committees June, 2019. As I mentioned last month, look interesting to you? I’m excited to be joining Rabbi Blatt in Please let us know. New York this month for the USCJ seminar, Etz Ratzon. This is a program which is We would love for you to get involved…. specifically designed for new clergy who Be a part of your Kol Ami community and have fun doing it! will be working with new presidents. So, For further explanation of each committee description, please go to if this were Fiddler on the Roof, I’d be the Kol Ami website at https://www.kolami.org/welcome/volunteers-welcome screaming, “It’s a perfect match!” Topics range from “Explain Your Congregations’ Please select any committees that are of interest to you and contact Joanna Ongoing Narrative” to “Foster Personal in the main office at [email protected] or call 813-962-6338. Connections.” I look forward to sharing • Adult & Family • Guess Who’s Coming • Office Committee the results with you in an upcoming Education Committee: to Shabbas Dinner? • Parent/ Family B’yachad column. Additionally, the Tran- Tree of Life Long • House Committee Committee sition Committee and Mitch have been in Learning • Jay Fink Memorial • Recharge Kol Ami regular contact with Rabbi Blatt to make • Brotherhood Library Committee sure that we are all ready for the big day • Chavurah Committee in August when we begin our new future • Kol Yeladim School • Ritual Committee • College Outreach Board B’yachad! Stay tuned for details as we • Security Committee Committee • Ma’asim Tovim work together to find opportunities for the • Sisterhood • Endowment Committee Blatt family and Kol Ami family to get to Committee • Social Action • Minyanaires Committee know each other. What a wonderful thing! Committee • Fundraising • Membership Committee We are also attempting to create a feed- Committee • Social Commitee back forum for all things Kol Ami. Updates • Youth Committee will be forthcoming, but basically the idea is for congregants to go to the Kol Ami website and use the forum under “Trend- Congregation Kol Ami • June / July 2019 • Iyar / Sivan / Tammuz 5779 3 Shavuot 5779/2019 Saturday, June 8 8:00PM - Erev Shavuot Services (Jacobson/Wolf Chapel) 8:30PM - Shavuot Dessert & Study Session (Jaffe Board Room): Almighty? No Way! Loving The God We Really Believe In: A Discussion for Those Who Can't Believe Sunday, June 9 9:30AM - Shavuot Services (Jacobson/Wolf Chapel) Monday, June 10 9:30AM - Shavuot Services with Yizkor (Sanctuary) 4 Congregation Kol Ami • June / July 2019 • Iyar / Sivan / Tammuz 5779 Howard Kanter Kiddush Fund Luncheon Shabbat & Services Please join us for our next How- at Kol Ami ard Kanter Kiddush Fund Lun- cheons on Saturday, June 15, and June / July Saturday, July 13.