KI’s Matan Peled to shave head, support pediatric cancer research
Lunch & Learn to focus on disability and inclusion
CCAR & Congregation Keneseth Israel Press Release
By Annabel Williams JFLV Marketing Intern Join guest speaker Rabbi Rebecca Einstein Schorr as she focuses on “Disability and Inclusion in the Jewish Community” at this campaign year’s final Jewish Federation Women’s Division Lunch & Learn at 12 p.m. at the JCC on Wednesday, April 30. Despite maintaining a vibrant career as a mother of three, Schorr found it best to rearrange her work life when her autistic son and his two siblings needed more from her. The transformation from a religious community leader to what her kids call a “house mother” has been nothing short of life-altering. Ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Schorr is a CLAL Rabbis Without Borders Fellow, a contributing writer for “The New Normal: Blogging Disability” and the editor of the newsletter of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. She is a regular contributor to Kveller.com and RJ.org, and a frequent guest on Huffington Post Live. Schorr is also a contributor to “The Sacred Encounter: Jewish Perspectives on Sexuality” and the co-editor of a forthcoming publication on the impact of 40 years of women in the rabbinate. “The Jewish community strives to be inclusive,” Schorr said in a recent interview. “However, many times, our institutions don’t know how or where to start.” At the Lunch & Learn, Schorr will seek to provide a better understanding of what disability looks like, define types of disability and reveal ways in which the Jewish community can better include disabled persons in all aspects of life. “The Lunch and Learn is going to be a wonderful opportunity to get a general overview of what we can do to create a community that truly honors the Divine Spark within every individual,” she said.
Lunch & Learn
Disability and Inclusion in the Jewish Community
Join the Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley for Rabbi Rebecca Einstein Schorr’s presentation on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the JCC of Allentown. Cost is $12, including lunch. Men and women welcome.
During the 125th Annual Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) Convention, over 60 male and female Reform Rabbis will shave their heads to raise awareness of and funding for pediatric cancer research. In addition, some participants such as Matan Peled, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College student and director of youth engagement at Allentown’s Congregation Keneseth Israel, are shaving in their home communities. As HAKOL goes to press, Peled is set to shave during religious school at KI on Sunday, March 30. The connection between the Reform Jewish community and pediatric cancer advocacy began with the story of Samuel Sommer, the son of Rabbis Phyllis and Michael Sommer. Phyllis Sommer serves Am Shalom in Glencoe, Ill., and her husband has served Congregation B’nai Torah in Highland Park, Ill., and North Shore Congregation Israel. The Sommers had documented Sam’s battle with cancer on their blog, “Superman Sam.” From the blog, there came an outpouring of support from people all over the country who sympathized with Sam and his family. Rabbis across denominations prayed Mi Shebeirach
Danny Cohen Continues from page 1
basic philosophy of life with a quote on a plaque given to his father in 1955 after his tenure as president of the Easton JCC: “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that
for Sam’s recovery. In October 2013, Rabbi Phyllis Sommer and Lehigh Valley Rabbi Rebecca Einstein Schorr had the idea to organize a massive fundraiser, “Shave for the Brave,” in which 36 rabbis would shave their heads, raising awareness of the reality that only 4 percent of United States federal funding for cancer research is earmarked for all childhood cancers. The initial fundraising goal for “Shave for the Brave” was $180,000 to fund pediatric cancer research. “We have surpassed our initial goal, but will not stop. Not now; not ever,” Schorr said. Sam succumbed to leukemia in December 2013. Rabbis of “Shave for the Brave” are banding together to help save other families from having to go through what the Sommers went through. “[We are] slightly meshugene, but very devoted rabbis who are yearning to do something,” Schorr said. “We couldn’t save Sammy; perhaps, though, we can save others like him.” The official “Shave for the Brave” event will take place on April 1, at the CCAR Convention, which will be held at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park. The CCAR is the representative organization of nearly 2,000 Reform rabbis, the world’s largest group of Jewish clergy. The rabbis’ “Shave for the Brave” fundraiser benefits St. Baldrick’s,
I can do or any kindness that I can show to another human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” -Stephen Grellett, 1773-1855 “You can’t talk about ProJeCt’s 45-year history without talking about Danny Cohen and his unwavering commitment to our
a charity committed to funding childhood cancer research. So far, the CCAR Rabbis have raised over $330,000 for St. Baldrick’s and hope to reach their goal of $360,000. “I am honored to participate in the ‘Shave for the Brave’ fundraiser and to support St. Baldrick’s in their efforts to research pediatric cancer and find a cure,” Peled said. “My eighth grade Jewish American Heroes class selected Sam Sommer as one of their heroes. They learned about his family and his story, creating a plaque in his honor just days before the world lost this precious life.” You can visit http://bit.ly/36rabbis to make a donation to St. Baldrick’s in memory of Samuel Sommers.
mission, our work and the people in our community,” said Executive Director Janice Komisor. “Danny is a shining example of compassion and generosity of heart and we are privileged to honor his selfless dedication to the community with this award.” For more information or reservations, visit www.projecteaston.org.
Yom Hazikaron Ceremony ISRAEL MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY Yom Hashoah v’Hagvurah
yom hashoah
Choosing to Act Stories of Rescue SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 7:00 PM | JCC of Allentown
Featuring guest speaker
FRIEDA GARCIA
Daughter of Col. Jose Arturo Castellanos, who helped save tens of thousands of Jews from Nazi persecution by providing them with papers of Salvadoran nationality. Col. Castellanos was posthumously inducted as one of Yad Vashem’s Righteous Among the Nations in 2010.
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FREE AND OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY www.jewishlehighvalley.org
MAY 4, 2014
7 p.m. | JCC of Allentown Commemorate as a community in solidarity with Israel
HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | APRIL 2014 5