Barshop JCC Center Peace

Center Peace

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DISCOVER WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE J!

Now Enrolling for 2025–2026!

Jewish American Heritage Month Edition: May 2025 Iyar/Sivan 5785 Volume 29 • number 3 jccsanantonio.org

San Antonio Celebrates

The Block and Dreeben School for Young Children is now accepting enrollment for the upcoming school year.

Discover our NAEYC-accredited early childhood program.

Where Learning and Play Connect

Stay Active at the J! From Sports & Fitness and Group Exercise Classes to Tennis and Enrichment programs—there’s something for everyone.

JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH JAHM Co-Chairs: Carrie Douglas Price and Sarah Kestenbaum

"Community Corner" will return in the next edition.

There’s something about this place.® Facility Hours

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Message from the CEO

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JAHM Overview

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Jewish American Artists

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JAHM: April 30 - May 8

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JAHM: May 18 - May 29

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Tributes

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Notice: You will see a series of black and white squares throughout the Center Peace.

These are QR codes, and when you scan them with your phone or tablet camera, they will direct you to a webpage with more information.

LIKE AND FOLLOW THE J! @jccsanantonio

@the.jsa.fitness @the.j.sa

Barshop JCC Barshop Jewish Community Center of San Antonio 12500 NW Military Hwy., Ste. 275 San Antonio, Texas 78231 jccsanantonio.org

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Facility Hours

Fitness Center/Lap Swimming *Aquatics Facilities close 15min. before closing time Monday – Thursday 5:30am-9:00pm Friday 5:30am-6pm Saturday & Sunday 8am-6pm Tennis Clubhouse Monday-Thursday 8am-9:00pm Friday 8am-6pm Saturday & Sunday 8am-6pm Administrative Offices Monday – Friday 8am-5pm JCC Fogiel Gift Shop Monday Closed Tuesday & Thursday 1pm-6pm Wednesday & Friday 11am-4pm WANT TO CONTACT US? Main Number (210) 302-6820 Member Services (210) 302-6866 Early Childhood (210) 302-6846 Youth Services (210) 302-6859 Sports & Fitness (210) 302-6825 Tennis Clubhouse (210) 302-6833 Senior Services (210) 302-6860 Gift Shop (210) 302-6863 Advertising: (210) 302-6810 Email: jcc@jcc-sa.org Web: jccsanantonio.org

Business Spotlight

Upcoming Holiday Hours Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day JCC Sports & Fitness: Open 8 AM–6 PM All Other Services: Closed Monday, June 2 – Shavuot JCC: Closed

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For more information, visit jccsanantonio.org/support or contact Allison Smith at smitha@jcc-sa.org.

The Barshop Jewish Community Center of San Antonio is a beneficiary JCC Mission Statement The Barshop Jewish Community Center of San Antonio is committed to helping individuals develop to their agency of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio and a member of the maximum potential as citizens of our community and our nation. The JCC strives to inspire Jewish Journeys while strengthening Jewish Community Centers Association of North America. individual life, family unity and community involvement. We will achieve these objectives through creative and constructive

programs which meet the cultural, educational and recreational needs of individuals, families and the community at large.

Paid advertisements appear in Barshop JCC publications including print and digital formats. The JCC does not endorse or evaluate the advertised product, service, or company nor any of the claims made or implied by the advertiser. JCC reserves the right to refuse, reject, or cancel any ad for any reason at any time without liability.

BARSHOP JCC OF SAN ANTONIO Ryan Reed, Chairman of the Board • Carisa Lopez Heiss, CEO Lisa Guerrero, Chief Program Officer

Message from The CEO

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San Antonio Celebrates

May 2025: Celebrating Jewish Culture and Traditions at the Barshop Jewish Community Center This May, we, the Barshop Jewish Community Center, along with our valued community partners, are proud to present a variety of arts and humanities events in celebration of Jewish American Heritage JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH Month. Throughout the month, we’ll shine a light on the richness of Jewish culture through programming that explores Art, Community, Cuisine, Film, History, Israel, Legacy, and Literature. It’s a meaningful time to honor our heritage and reflect on the many ways Jewish Americans have shaped and strengthened our society.

And while this printed edition is packed with plenty of great content, there are even more exciting things happening around the J that you’ll want to know about!

Chee 25 rs to

years at the Ca mpus!

Pick Up Your 2025 JCC Fiesta Medal!

Get in the fiesta spirit with your 2025 JCC medal! Stop by the Central Information Desk and pick one up while supplies last — they go fast!

2025 Annual Meeting – Sunday, May 18 Join us for our Annual Meeting as we reflect on the year behind us and share our vision for the year ahead. We will also be thanking our outgoing board members, welcoming new ones, and recognizing our annual award winners.

Following the meeting, stay for the highly anticipated unveiling of the Texas Torah.

Fore! The Kids Golf Classic – Now on Friday, May 30 Mother Nature had other plans in March, but we’re excited to announce that the Fore! The Kids Golf Classic has been rescheduled for Friday, May 30. We’re looking forward to a great day on the course, all in support of the youth programs that help shape tomorrow’s leaders.

Enter Our Fore! The Kids Raffle Feeling lucky? Don’t miss your chance to win big in our community-wide raffle, open to all! Every ticket supports our youth and inclusion programs and services that keep our J strong, vibrant, and welcoming to all. Prizes will be drawn at the tournament but you do not need to be present to win.

Summer J-Camp is Almost Here!

Summer is just around the corner, and J-Camp is ready to deliver another season filled with fun, friendship, and discovery. From swimming to sports to the arts and everything in between, there’s something for every camper. If you haven’t signed up yet, now’s the time!

Save the Date – The Main Event: Saturday, November 15 We’re already looking ahead to The 2025 Main Event, our biggest fundraiser of the year! Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 15, and stay tuned for more details on how we’ll come together to honor community, connection, and all that makes the J so special.

Carisa Heiss Carisa Heiss CEO

4 JAHM Overview

Yom Ha’zikaron & Celebration of the 77th Yom Ha’atzmaut

Perfect Kosher Texas Brisket & Beans Cooking Demo

Film Screening: Impact: The San Antonio Jewish Oral History Project

Installation of the First Texas Torah

Film Screening: Shari & Lamb Chop

JAHM Edition: YAD Disco Bingo

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS!

LONESTAR

CINEMA San Antonio Celebrates

JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Jewish American Artists

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For the month of May, we invite you to experience a special art exhibit in the lobby of the Campus San Antonio Jewish Community: "Art Through the Eyes of a Jewish American" This curated collection showcases the creativity and cultural depth of our community, offering powerful reflections on identity, heritage, and expression. Each featured artist brings a distinct voice and vision shaped by personal stories and shared history. Keep reading to discover more about their work, their process, and the inspiration behind their art.

Jayne Behman As a multidisciplinary artist with over 57 years of experience, her work spans painting, sculpture (including clay, mosaic, and fused glass), drawing, digital collage, animation, and more. Rather than follow a single theme, each piece reflects an emotional response to personal experiences, current events, and the world around them.

Series such as Loneliness emerged during the isolation of COVID, while Hija offers support for those navigating sexual identity, and Transformations documents her brother’s journey with brain cancer. Recent works address the trauma of the Holocaust— past and present—balanced with moments of joy.

Educated at UCLA and the Academy of Art University, she uses a wide range of media to craft immersive, thought-provoking compositions. Her work invites powerful emotional reactions, shaped by each viewer’s unique life experience.

Based in a California bayside village, her studio is open to both gallery owners and the public.

Dvir Bar-Gal Dvir Bar-Gal is a renowned photographer, photojournalist, TV director, and expert on Shanghai’s Jewish history. A Tel Aviv University graduate with a background in Film Studies, Mass Communications, and the Arts, his career spans media from news cameraman to director of short documentaries on cultural stories, travel, and current affairs.

Raised in Haifa near the Mediterranean, Bar-Gal's connection to nature, especially the sea, influences his photography, capturing its ever-changing beauty.

In 2001, Bar-Gal moved to Shanghai, where he began research on the city’s Jewish cemeteries. His efforts to preserve gravestones and raise awareness brought global attention to Shanghai’s Jewish heritage. Since 2003, he has led the Shanghai Jewish Heritage Tour and owned the ARTSEA Photography Gallery, promoting contemporary photography in Shanghai.

Bar-Gal is the author of three photo albums: Sea Spirit (1998), For the Benefit of the People (2010), and Shanghai Jew (2013), and published China’s first Passover Haggadah in 2009.

A frequent speaker at U.S. universities and cultural organizations, Bar-Gal continues to share Shanghai’s untold Jewish history.

Since moving to San Antonio, Texas in 2022, he remains dedicated to preserving cultural legacies.

His exhibitions include solo shows like Sea Spirit in Tel Aviv (1998) and RedLand in Shanghai (2005), as well as group exhibitions in Beijing (2009). His work explores memory, identity, and the impermanence of time, urging viewers to reflect on the importance of preserving cultural stories.

Diane Mazur Diane Mazur is a third-generation Jewish American artist, known for her large, figurative, abstracted paintings, collages, and multimedia works. An Expressionist at heart, she draws her art historical influences from Surrealism and Cubism. Her work serves as a dialogue between the figure, fantasy, and abstraction. The Jewish ideal of continual growth and transformation is reflected in all of her artwork, and she experiences a flow of energy while creating, feeling deeply connected to the process.

The pieces Diane is exhibiting in the 2025 Jewish American Heritage Month group show are part of her Vortex Series, created between 2023 and 2025. The vortex, an archetype that she first encountered through a spiral composition in her collage work, became a symbol she wanted to explore further. To her, the vortex represents the spiritual journey of life and the path to enlightenment through energy and time. It signifies continual growth, the expansion of knowledge, the cycle of life, evolution, and the balance of energies.

Diane enjoys experimenting with space, and her pieces in this series exaggerate the implied 3-D space of the 2-D picture plane.

Drawing on the concept of simultaneity, a mystical idea found in Jewish writings, each piece can be viewed from any direction, making them simultaneously four objects. Diane hopes viewers will appreciate the depth and complexity of these works.

Barry Spigel One of the guiding principles in both life and work has been the value of exploring different perspectives. As a Jewish individual, he has always appreciated Judaism’s emphasis on questioning, interpretation, and applying tradition to contemporary life.

Professionally trained as an engineer, he developed a habit of evaluating multiple solutions, challenging assumptions, and applying logical frameworks to problem-solving.

This mindset carries into his photography. He is drawn to capturing the world through unique frames of reference—whether by adjusting depth of focus, zooming in or out, or shifting vantage points from low angles to elevated views. His artistic process is fueled by a desire to find and share viewpoints that are both original and thought-provoking.

6 JAHM: APRIL 30 - MAY 8 Honoring and Celebrating Israel Wednesday, April 30 | Free and open to the community Visit jccsanantonio.org/jahmsa or scan the QR code above to learn more and to register!

Join us for a meaningful evening on Wednesday, April 30 as we observe Yom Ha'zikaron and celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut on the Campus of the San Antonio Jewish Community.

We’ll begin with a Yom Ha'zikaron ceremony at 5:30 PM, hosted by the Barshop JCC in the Holzman Auditorium, as we honor Israel’s Memorial Day, remembering the lives of fallen soldiers and victims of terror.

Following the ceremony, we invite you to stay for the 77th Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration at 6:30 PM, hosted by the Jewish Federation of San Antonio. Together, we’ll celebrate Israel’s Independence Day and the founding of the State of Israel with joy, unity, and community spirit—complete with delicious food, music, Israeli dancing, activities, games, and more!

JAHM Texas Kosher BBQ Cooking Demo Sunday, May 4 | 12:00–2:00 PM | Tickets $20 Visit jccsanantonio.org/jahmsa or scan the QR code above to learn more and to register!

Get ready for a mouth-watering celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month—Texas style!

Join us on Sunday, May 4 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM in the Holzman Auditorium for a Kosher BBQ cooking demo and tasting led by Jeremy Jalnos, the reigning Texas Kosher BBQ Champion. He’ll walk us through the art of the perfect brisket, sharing insider tips and techniques along the way.

After the demo, stick around for a catered Kosher BBQ tasting, featuring: Jeremy’s signature brisket BBQ beans by Eleanor Gossen Classic sides and a sweet BBQ-inspired dessert from Linda Wolfe Come hungry—and ready to learn from the best!

Film Screening: Impact: The San Antonio Jewish Oral History Project Thursday, May 8 | 7:00–9:00 PM | Free Admission Visit jccsanantonio.org/jahmsa or scan the QR code above to learn more and to register!

Join us for a powerful evening as we screen Impact: The San Antonio Jewish Oral History Project, a moving film that tells the story of our community’s roots through the voices of its earliest families.

These first-generation Americans—many arriving with nothing—navigated world-shaping events like the World Wars, the Great Depression, and the 1967 war, all while building a strong, values-driven Jewish community in San Antonio. Their efforts not only shaped our local Jewish institutions but also helped uplift the greater San Antonio community.

Don’t miss this inspiring reflection on the people who built the foundation of who we are today.

Presented in partnership with NCJW and KLRN.

JAHM: May 18 - May 29

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Unveiling of the First Texas Torah Sunday, May 18, 2025 | 12:30 | Free and open to the community Visit jccsanantonio.org/jahmsa or scan the QR code above to learn more and to register!

Join us for a truly historic and meaningful moment as we unveil the First Texas Torah, on special loan from the Institute of Texan Cultures.

Scribed in the mid-19th century and believed to have been brought from Germany to Texas in 1885, this remarkable Torah—known as the Navasota Torah—represents a powerful legacy of Jewish life in Texas. It stands as a testament to the traditions, resilience, and community spirit of early Jewish Texans.

At this special event, you’ll learn about the Torah’s journey, its cultural and historical significance, and the story of Philip Hamburger, whose immigration from Prussia helped establish Congregation B’nai Abraham in Brenham, TX. The Torah, crafted on sheepskin parchment and stretching nearly 13 feet long, includes a rare inscription from 1897: “I corrected this Sefer [Torah] for the Navasota congregation in the month of Menachem Av, 5657 [1897]. Chaim Schwartz, watchman of the House of Israel in Texas.”

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness a sacred piece of Texas Jewish history. We are honored to share this moment with our community.

Film Screening: Shari & Lamb Chop Wednesday, May 21 | 6:30 PM | Free Admission Visit jccsanantonio.org/jahmsa or scan the QR code above to learn more and to register!

Coming-of-age can be difficult, but it’s always easier with someone who connects to you on a cellular level. Shari & Lamb Chop is a heartfelt and entertaining documentary about Shari Lewis—a children’s television pioneer whose impact came before the likes of Fred Rogers and Jim Henson.

Known for her beloved sock puppets Charlie Horse, Hush Puppy, and the iconic Lamb Chop, Shari was a dancer, singer, magician, and above all, a ventriloquist who forever changed children’s television. This upbeat portrait highlights the life, loves, and creative brilliance of a spunky perfectionist whose work inspired generations.

Featuring nostalgic clips and reflections from those she influenced, Shari & Lamb Chop is the warm, whimsical tonic we all need to reconnect with our inner child and celebrate the power of pure imagination.

YAD Disco Bingo Thursday, May 29 | 6:30–9:00 PM | Free Admission | Bingo Cards $3 Visit jccsanantonio.org/jahmsa or scan the QR code above to learn more and to register!

Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month with a night of high-energy fun, groovy music, and classic bingo—Disco Bingo style! Hosted by the Young Adult Division (YAD), this vibrant event brings the community together for an evening of laughter, connection, and cultural celebration.

Enjoy lively disco tunes, themed bingo cards highlighting Jewish American culture, and plenty of opportunities to mix and mingle. Whether you're a bingo enthusiast or just in it for the good vibes, you're guaranteed a great time.

YAD members receive a free drink and complimentary bingo card to kick off the night. Community can purchase bingo cards for just $3 each.

8 Tributes

Thank you to the many families and individuals who contributed to the JCC in Honor or in Memory of someone special during January/February 2025.

The submissions paying tribute in March/April will be featured in our upcoming edition.

LOUIS & ROSE ESSTMAN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

AUTHOR SPEAKER

IN MEMORY OF: Jane Bankler The Family of Jane Bankler Bobby Birnbaum Steven Bankler

Lynda Cohen Loigman

JCC FUTURE PROJECTS & NEW INITIATIVES FUND IN MEMORY OF: Phyllis Brooks Carisa & Josh Heiss

June 4 at 7 PM

Arkadiy Grinman Charles Schwartz Carisa & Josh Heiss JCC Board & Staff

The author will be live over Zoom; audience in person at the Barshop JCC, located on the Campus of the San Antonio Jewish Community

Rose Sherman Williams JCC Board & Staff CHARLIE PEARL SENIOR SERVICES FUND IN HONOR OF: Hannah Margolis on her 90th Birthday Nancy & Martin Hoenig

Use the QR code to RSVP!

IN MEMORY OF: Phyllis Brooks Janelle Owens Betsy Sheerin

Let's Make it Formal!

We want to acknowledge these individuals who have committed to supporting the future of our JCC through The LIFE & LEGACY Community Initiative and remind you to take the next step to formalize your gift.

Darlene Lestz Nancy & Martin Hoenig Iris & Warren Lieberman Geraldine Miller Isabel Resendez Michael Rose Iris, Warren, Evan & Mark Lieberman Rose Sherman Williams Gabe Komerofsky Isabel Resendez Sally Scharff Bert Zinn Shirley Tudzin LEONARD AND GLORIA SEITZMAN FUND

Anonymous • Charlotte Sue Alterman • Gayle K. Alterman • Richard Alterman • Stanley Alterman Jim Barshop and Family • Steve and Susan Butler Jeremy Heath Diskin • Lauren and Joe Duarte • Jennifer and Mark Eichelbaum • Esther Feinberg Howard S. Feinberg • Jerry E. and Nancy K. Gerson • Rhonda Gurinsky • Shana Gurwitz Danna Halff • Jim Halff• Leslie Hyman • Andrew D. Jacobson • Howard Kasanoff Beth Karen Keough • Philip A. Kolovson • Sandy Levenshus • Saul Levenshus • Phil Lynch Marsha Penner • Kristy and Alan Petlin • Richard A. and Sara Planto • Reesa Pullen • Roz Pullen Cathy and Jim Pottorf • Randy Pulman • Shari Pulman Drs. Irving and Joan Ratner (OBM) • Varda and Adam Ratner • Fred Ricci, Jr. Michael and Susan Rosenberg • Lauren Ross • Kendel Cohen-Selig • Jos Selig • Jeff Siegel Steve Silver • Miriam Courtney Silver • Sharon Teich • Alice and Richard Thorner Mary and Gordon Weiner • Barbie Scharf-Zeldes • Adam Zeldes

For information on the formalization process, visit www.jccsanantonio.org/support-the-j/life-and-legacy or contact Allison at smitha@jcc-sa.org.

IN MEMORY OF: Gloria and Leonard Seitzman Jerry Seitzman WALTER & REBA VINER CHARITABLE FUND IN HONOR OF: Brenda & Bill Viner on their Anniversary Mary Sue & Maurie Kern IN MEMORY OF: Rose Sherman Williams Mary Sue & Maurie Kern

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The JCC is proud to be a partner of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio.

Select programs and services are made possible in part through the support of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio Annual Campaign.