AUGUST 2024 / TAMMUZ - AV 5784
A MAGAZINE THAT HIGHLIGHTS ALL OF US IN THIS ISSUE: PRIDE – MEET YOUR NEW STAFF MEMBERS – GUCI 2024
TISHA B’AV: A TIME FOR MOURNING, A TIME FOR JOY
Phone: 317 255 6647 ECC: 317 254 2186
Participate in person or visit ihcindy org/online for Zoom info
Kabbalat Shabbat Services 6:15 p m Fridays
Shabbat Morning Services 10:30 a m Saturdays
Services, unless otherwise noted, will be live streamed at ihcindy org/streaming
This year, in Israel, the holiday of Tu B’Av occurs on August 18-19 This is a lesser known Jewish holiday, often thought of as the “Jewish Valentine’s Day ”
This holiday was first mentioned in the Mishnah (complied around 200 CE) It was described as an annual matchmaking day when unmarried women would dress in white and dance in the vineyards outside the walls of Jerusalem At the time, it was a day when women were encouraged to propose to their beloveds It was a holiday that celebrated and encouraged love
In modern Israel, Tu B’Av is a celebration of love in all of its forms
Cantor Evan Kent wrote: “During Gay Pride week in Tel Aviv, the main boulevards and streets are festooned with the rainbow flags Tel Aviv Pride is a weeklong festival drawing revelers from all over the globe to a film festival, parties, speakers, dinners, political events and more The week culminates in the Pride Parade that begins in the center of the city and inches its way down to the beach It is one of the largest Pride Parades in the world, bringing together political, social, religious, and cultural organizations It is a roving party with thousands marching and thousands more waving from balconies ”
I have not participated in Tu B’Av celebrations in Israel, but I marched with the Jewish community in the Indy Pride Parade earlier this summer Like attending other large gatherings, in weeks prior to the parade, I felt anxious about marching this year I was nervous about how our group, wearing big Jewish stars on our t-shirts, was going to be received
To my relief, when we arrived at the parade it felt like an explosion of joy We were surrounded by people dressed in rainbows colors or carrying rainbow flags There were messages of love all around us on clothing, banners and floats
The most memorable part of the morning for me was walking in the parade
As we marched, strangers cheered People shouted with joy “the Jews are here” and cheered us on After all of the stresses of being Jewish this year, it felt very uplifting to have the crowd cheering for us
I did not know how much it was going to mean to me or how good it was going to feel to be at the parade this year I am proud of our community’s decision to participate in the Indy Pride Parade once again and appreciate the support we received there In the weeks and months ahead, I hope we all have more opportunities to experience joy and celebrate love together
Jaylan Miller joined our staff in July, and has been busy sending weekly emails, posting on social media, and learning the ins and outs of IHC. You may recognize her from IHC events and services She got connected with us shortly before moving to Indianapolis in December 2022. Originally from Miami, Florida, Jaylan’s family moved to Ohio when she was 15. “Culture shock” is an understatement. She studied English and Writing at Indiana Wesleyan University Upon graduating, she worked as a reporter at a daily newspaper in Marion, Indiana, before being promoted to Managing Editor. While writing an autobiographical piece, Jaylan began exploring her Jewish lineage
Having not been raised Jewish, Jaylan had much to learn. She found IHC after a quick Google search and started streaming services before moving to Indy Her first week in the city, she showed up to an IHC Newish to Jewish Circle Hanukkah party She enrolled in the Intro to Judaism class and is now almost finished with the conversion process.
Jaylan hopes to bring her curiosity and creativity to this position When she is not at work, you will find her on a walk, at a park, or on the couch with her 2-year-old mini pin rescue named Gilligan
JOIN OUR TEAM JOIN OUR TEAM JOIN OUR TEAM
Now hiring: Program & Event Coordinator
Email your resume to ExecutiveDirector@ihcindy.org
Being from a small town called Arroyo Grande on the Central Coast of California, Leah Matthys might need some tips about living in the cold. She grew up in a midsize Reform congregation and was always involved in her local Jewish community and synagogue youth group.
After high school, she took a gap year to study and travel around Israel. For the past 3 years, Leah worked as a special education paraprofessional, taught the b'nai mitzvah religious school class, and served as her synagogue ' s youth director, running the youth
group and serving on the board, all while she finished her Bachelor's degree online through Oregon State. Leah graduated in June, and served as camp director for her local JCC day camp this Summer. These opportunities have helped her discover that working with Jewish youth is truly her passion, and she is so excited to be able to do it full-time. Leah hopes to bring energy and new ideas to IHC, and help kids connect to their Jewish identity When she’s not working, you can probably find her playing video games (she loves the Sims!), running, or trying to learn a new language
LEAH LEAH LEAH
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT YOUTH ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR COORDINATOR COORDINATOR
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
My favorite part about GUCI is the people. – Lila
The community keeps me coming back. There is just something about the sense of independence you feel here and about the community you build here. It is really like a home away from home. – Izzy
I love camp because of the people.
– Caleb
GUCI
is not just about the campfires and swimming, but mostly just the community. I am surrounded by people who love me. – Ruby
TextStudywithKnives: AnewwaytoexplorethethemesofSelichot
Husbandandwife teamIsaacand Rabbi Shawna Brynjegard-Bialikwill teachusnewpaths intotheHighHoly Daysthatcombineart withdeepJewish scholarship
SelichotService: 9/27–6:15p.m.
Theartistswill offerreflectionson theHighHolyDays throughavisual sermonFollowing theservice,wewill createartasa community.
ArtExperience: 9/28–4:30p.m.
Theartists,known fortheirhands-on paper cutting workshops for adults,willleadus inatextstudyart experience followedbyalight dinnerandSelichot services.Wewill cutupcomicsto createapersonal commentaryon theTorahportion
Carmel High School graduates: Jessie (Jessica) Barrett, child of Jackie and David Barrett, will attend Northeastern University. Rachel Berebitsky, child of Doug and Kim Berebitsky, will attend IU Bloomington.
Maxwell David Meisner, child of Chris and Rochelle Meisner, will attend Miami University.
Fishers High School graduates: Samuel J. Wain, child of Norman & Megan Wain, will attend University of Chicago. Salem (Abigail)
Waschow, child of Sarah Skwire, will attend Indiana University.
Westfield High School graduate, Sara Borek, child of Rosemary Borek & Tim Borek, will attend Indiana University.
Zionsville Community High School graduate, Phineas Essley, child of Amy and Eric Essley, will attend University of Maryland.
Park Tudor School graduate, Joseph Clark Klineman, child of Andrew and Christina Klineman, will attend Clark Honors College at University of Oregon.
Indiana University High School graduate, Sarah
Oancea, child of Damion and Marla Oancea, will attend Purdue University.
Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate, Charlie Ryan Weinberger, child of Jeffrey and Sara Weinberger, will attend Indiana University.
Sally Brindle
Sam Hanig & Julie Gilgoff
Katie & Dan Sahlein
Reuben & Melinda Benzel
Kyle & Lisa Minor
Toni Potts
B’nai Mitzvah
April
Audrey Simonds, child of Jaclyn Grahl and Joshua Simonds
Sylvia Schnur, child of David and Priscilla Schnur
May
Eric Drucker, child of Paul and Shantell Drucker
Zephyr (Zara) Simon Stuart, child of Rachel Simon and Hale Stuart
Isabella Abraham, child of Benjamin and Nichole
Abraham
June
Bethanie Kaprove, child of Matthew Kaprove
Liam Weinschrott, child of Sara Weinschrott
Naomi Armstrong, child of Joshua and Eliana Armstrong
Euchre circle
Aug. 5 – 10 a.m.
Aug 19 – 10 a m
Aug. 22 – 6 p.m.
Shuffle the deck and deal the cards for this quintessentially Hoosier card game in which you take tricks and trump is never political volunteering
This Circle focuses on helping out at local food pantries and community gardens as a way to address food insecurity in Indianapolis.
Volunteers are taking a much deserved August break and planning future volunteer opportunities.
Grab your tile set and play a game or ten with the other IHC mahjong mavens This addicting game of skill, strategy, and luck is a great way to spend an afternoon with other IHC enthusiasts. take a hike together
Ga’avah, meaning “Pride,” is a Circle designed to support and embrace LGBTQ+ congregants at IHC. Ga’avah creates space for LGBTQ+ congregants and allies to socialize, learn, worship, and promote LGBTQ+ social justice at IHC and beyond. New members are always welcome.
Aug 4 10:30 a m Starkey Park 667 Sugarbush Dr
Get outside with a diverse group of fellow IHC members who enjoy sharing their love for exploring the Hoosier landscape and the change of seasons
other on your Jewish journeys.
Therapists, social workers, psychologists: Helping others better understand and cope with thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can take a toll on you.
Though not intended as a clinical support group, gather with other IHC mental health providers to share opportunities and challenges and consider how Jewish wisdom and values find their way into your practice.
The group typically meets monthly and talks about cases, challenges in their practices and over time have gotten to be friends They refer to each other and support each other.
The group’s last meeting was a bit atypical. They worked on a mosaic project for the Damien Center. In addition to making art, they learned about the resources at the Damien Center.
This circle don't post their dates publicly, so email lauriebfreeman@comcast net to get connected
A TEAM OF COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS WHO DESIRE TO FULFILL OUR JEWISH RESPONSIBILITY TO PERFORM DEEDS OF LOVING KINDNESS BY SERVING THE NEEDS OF OUR IHC FAMILY
The Caring Community shows up for their fellow IHC family members in many ways
Some of their deeds of kindness:
* Providing meals to individuals or families when someone is getting home from the hospital or recuperating from an illness
* Sending weekly postcards to congregants on the Mi Shebeirach list or families during Shloshim
* When our congregants celebrate birthdays 80 years of age and older, the community sends birthday cards each month recognizing their special day
* Graciously offering rides to congregants to get to a doctor's appointment
* Making regular phone calls to congregants who have requested we contact them regularly
* Last year during High Holy Days, volunteers delivered prayer books and electric Yahrzeit candles to homebound or nursing home congregants. This year, they plan to deliver small jars of honey.
* To continue staying in touch with our congregation during Hanukkah volunteers delivered electric Hanukkah menorahs and during Purim volunteers delivered small bags of Hamentashen to congregants who are homebound or in nursing homes
* Supporting congregant families or individuals who might be in financial need with grocery gift cards, in cooperation with the Tzedek committee, clergy, and Jewish Family Services
As the Caring Community planning team looks ahead they would like to increase their support of the IHC homebound and congregants in nursing homes by reaching out to them more often by telephone or to have the option of offering more one to one visits In order to do this they need more volunteers.
To register to volunteer with the Caring Community please send an email to ihc caringcommunity@gmail com or call Andrea Burnett at 317-440-4701
If you would like our support or have a family member who would benefit from a call or visit please let them know: ihc caringcommunity@gmail com
Brit Olam fosters a spirit of action amongst the congregation, advocating for lasting change on social justice issues of shared significance Their goals are to educate, advocate, and build a community of action
Sept. 6: Election Shabbat
Tim Kalgreen from the Indiana Bar Foundation will speak on the importance of participating in our democracy and civic education We will be honoring poll workers, have opportunities for voter registration, and a special Oneg
Sept 22: Postcard-writing
Members and guests will be writing postcards to voters encouraging them to vote, and giving election-related information. The postcards and addresses come from the URJ.
Mitzvah Stitchers is a corps of men and women who knit, crochet, quilt, and sew. Together they fashion a stronger community, helping others as well as each other Sunday morning is for stitching, kvetching, and making beautiful items to give to others Their stash of yarn, needles, and hooks provides the materials Also, they love to teach beginners, so no experience is necessary!
For more information, or to join the group, contact Cantor Janice Roger at JaniceR@ihcindy org
by Rabbi Brett Krichiver
One of the more poignant stories told about the many tragedies which have befallen the Jewish people is found in the Talmud, in a tractate known as Makkot – which details the punishments meted out in the days of the ancient Jewish courts.
The sages writing these texts are grappling with a new reality of Jewish life in their time – their beloved Temple had been destroyed not 100 years earlier. And as they longingly describe a world which no longer exists for them, in which evil might be met with justice and punishment, these same sages also plant the seeds for the optimism and hope they know future generations will need to rebuild that world.
In this story (Makkot 24b) we find a description of an auspicious visit to the ruins of the Temple:
Again it happened that Rabbi Gamliel, Rabbi Elazar, Rabbi Joshua and Rabbi Akiva went up to Jerusalem. When they reached Mt. Scopus they tore their garments (in mourning). When they reached the Temple Mount, they saw a fox emerging from the site of the Holy of Holies. The others started weeping; but Rabbi Akiva laughed. They said to him, “A place so holy and now a fox wanders through, should we not weep?”
And he said to them, “It is written that the prophet Uriah foretold, ‘because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field,’ (Micah 3:12) but the prophet Zechariah foretold, ‘old men and women shall once again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.’ (Zech 8:4) As long as the one prophecy has clearly been fulfilled, now I know it is certain that Zechariah’s prophecy will also come to pass!
And they responded to him, “Akiva, you have consoled us! You have consoled us!”
As I write this, the war in Gaza seemingly expands to Northern Israel, where the terrorist organization Hezbollah launches new strikes against the Jewish state. ProPalestinian activists overtly call for the destruction of the State of Israel, and no longer hide behind their inauthentic call for a two-state solution There is much to fear, and much to mourn from the past ten months and beyond
Tisha B’av, the ninth of the month of Av, this year on August 12-13, has served as a national day of mourning for the Jewish people for generations – a day to remember the first and second temples and to recall those who have sought our destruction throughout time
Aug. 12 - 13
But it is also a day for renewed hope and strength, recognizing the heroism of those who continue to defend the Jewish people, and our claim to our national homeland – of those who will prevail. We have seen all too well what the world looks like without Jewish independence and autonomy. Let us use this one day to remind ourselves of exactly what is at stake.
Am Yisrael Chai – the people of Israel choose life.
August 1
Sol Bergstein
Ruth Eddis
Max Lieberman
Rose Nortman
Carolyn Perlman
Rose Rosner
Sarah Spasser
Hyman Taylor
Debbie Zukof
August 2
Al Danenberg
Jacob Dee
Toby Fettner
Joe Gerson
Janet Harris
Natalie Joseph
Leo Miller
Bess Perk
Charlotte Mae Schiff
Esther Silberman
August 3
Alfred Cahn
Esther Cavannaugh
Arthur Cohen
David Dlott
Elliott Fuldauer
Sidney Greenberger
Mabelle Hendleman
Morris Hillman
David Krieger
Arthur Mitlak
Ethyl Arnold Morse
Michael Albert Rodgers
Pearl Shonfield
Alda V Speicher
Charles E Sydney
Mitchell Amich Tavel
August 4
Carol Behr
Hilda Bergstein
Mark Braun
Irving Cohen
Bonnie Goodman
Ella Katona
Fannye Levy
Robert Markus
Nathan Nisenbaum
Jake Schneider
Harry Solomon
Harry Stadler
Frances Whitson
August 5
Richard Carl Law
Isadore Rosenfield
June Sussman
August 6
Morris Bank
Donald Bell
Zelda Epstein
Albert E Goldhamer
Harvey Kahane
Lee Leventhal
A Edward Mantel
Ethel Roth
Bette Schnur
Celia Segal
Rosadelle Spanier
August 7
Harry Cohen
Renate Eckman
Lena Glass
Mollie Glick
John Winslow Hiser
Phyllis Jordan
Inge Levenbach
Charlie Scheffler
Marion Weil
August 8
Eleanor Alexander
Nancy Bonhomme
Maureen Greenfield Crespo
Marlene Epstein
Howard Kraner
Melvin Patterson Lobb
Rachel Lowe
Ruth Medias
Maurice Newman
Joan Ossip
Hannah Fagie Rosen
Harry Edward Stein
Fred Steingold
Esther Tolmach
August 9
Floyd Freeman
Jeanne Hirsch
Lina Janovsky
Katherine Langman
Jacob "Jack" Nelson
Celia Segal
Jeno Stern
Anne Wohlmuth
Blanche Wolf
Ruth Yosha
August 10
Adolph Biccard
Charles Phillip Cohen
Lottie Cooper
Sara Kolodin
Dorothy B Krieger
Isadore Mirkin
Sidney Rice
Mayme Tavel
August 11
Sam Eisenberg
Florence Goldberg
Ralph Helms
Gladys Hurwitz
Charles Karsch
Joseph Orenstein
Paul Paul
Bertha Spak
Abraham Spasser
Tillie Sussman
Genevieve Wolf
August 12
Emma Borinstein
Luke Borinstein
Lisa Borinstein
Bryan Davis
Bill Duncanson
Kenneth Goldstein
Susan Schiller Leibow
Maurel Rothbaum
Daniel Wolf
August 13
Bob Barcheck
Rose Bassler
Sarah Michelle Cohen
Marie Efroymson
Judy Foster
Rose Foster
Robbie Greenberger
Sidney Josephson
Louis Levy
Max Mayer
Natalie Reed
Loretta Glazier Rose
August 14
Steve Ancel
Jules Barrash
Abe Borinstein
Marcus Borinstein
George Bremen
Monie Chasteen
Steve Gavin
Henry Kahn
Sandra Meyer
Janice Patchett
Marcus Simon
Christopher Leon Walsh
Anne Satulsky Zwirn
August 15
Adolf Bildstein
Marvin Buckler
Charles Butcher, Jr.
Barbara Cohn
Eugene Fishman
Frances Guggenheim
Harry David Mark
Helen Rohde
Cyril-Ann Rosenberg
Morris Rothbard
Elizabeth Rudick
Augusta Selig
Carolyn Winn
August 16
Joseph M Dee
Raymond Asher Goodman
Phyllis Himelstein
Gene Klein
Kiefer Lazarus
Phyllis Netzorg
George Owens
Bradford Pearl
Louis Rapoport
Sylvia Stavitsky
Judy Upman
August 17
Folkert Theo Anema
Eric Bram
Max Braunstein
Steve Dansker
Jacob Friedman
Albert Krauthamer
June Lerman Lerner
Howard Bob Mass
Grace Nefouse
Herman R Nides
Leo Paul
Edith Poller
Henry Schahet
Beverly Schiff
Kathryn Zander
August 18
Elizabeth Goldsmith
Daniel Goodman
Morris Jaffe
Ann Baker Katz
Richard Frank Katz
David Kempler
Gertrude Layton
Edis Lewis Parkans
Joseph Ruekberg
Frances Segal
Blanche Sulkin
August 19
Pearl Agriss
Donald Bogar
Sophie Kaplan Bogar
Ralph Doehrman
Deborah Cooper Downs
Jacob Goodman
Harry Kaufman
Ernest Mayer
Joel Sherman Morse
Nancy Rosenbaum
Dena Schoenberg
August 20
Walter Bellman
Sidney Ehrenwald
Helen Engelberg
Yudit Fichman
Ida Kelber
Herbert Klineman
Jeanette Shonfield
Louis Skolnick
August 21
Robert Bodner
Manuel Freeman
Selma Herman
Janet Koppelson
Milton Law
Helen Medias
Barbara Pomeranz
Minnie Roth
Miriam Schwartz
Robert Wides
David Zoll
August 22
Mindie Bailie
Kim Barcheck
David Broxmeyer
Helen Gittleman
Bess Goldstein
Betsy Lutz
Bette Grosch Lyons
Casey Ribicoff
Esther Slutzky Rosenberg
August 23
Justin Gould
Robert W. Grow
Brett Henry
Norman Kahn
Rhea Leffel Krulewitch
Anita Lowe
Robert Lowe
Jane Schloss
Starter Schreibman
Marguerite Stewart
Edward Traugott
August 24
Stanley Craig
Carol Finkel
Melvin J First
Richard Glasser
Mose Levenstein
Jason McCune
Gloria Marlene Schwartz
Laney Silver
Rose Simon
August 25
Ruth Cahn
Gary Garelick
Robert Helford
Donald Loganofsky
Samuel J. Mantel
Arnold Patterson
August 26
Harriett Borman
Lena Cohen
Micki Lurvey Cooley
Robert "Tony" Anthony
Cooper
Henry Fleck
Becky Levin
Gabrielle Lewis
Beatrice T Mantel
Ruth Nassau
Harry Oshrin
Don Rogowski
Sheldon Siegel
Rita Stark
Rebecca Stoner
Ernest Winter
Louis Wolf
William Wolf
Shirley Wormser
August 27
Sallie Dodson Ryan Barrett
Frida Fishova
Daniel Hewitt
Asher Hyatt
Sadie Meyer
Isaac Perlstein
Anna Sugarman
Bailee Elise Terman
Edna Weiner
August 28
Sophie Sablosky Blieden
Esther Cohen Fogel
Morrie Gumbiner
Alex Levinsohn
Marvin Rubner
Abe Saperstein
Dora Cohen Simon
August 29
Jennifer "Jenni" Berebitsky
Emmanuel Burman
Ronald Cottman
Augusta Dee
Lillian Fox
Edward A Kahn
Morris Kerschenblat
Judith Pattinger
Myron Rapkin
Ernest Roth
Israel Simon
August 30
Mildred "Muncie" Cohen
Gertrude Foster
Evelynne Fuldauer
Fred Gerber
Inge Hauschild
Matilda Hurwitz
Hy Jacobs
Eugene Kaplan
Mona Levy
Max Mandel
David Mustin
Stella Winkelman
August 31
Al Booth
Carolyn Brinkley
Susan Cohen
Margo Wendy Gottesman
Mollie Guntman
Samuel C Henry
Katy Sandler Lazerov
Frances Rothschild
Louis Schwartz
INDIANAPOLIS
HEBREW CONGREGATION
6501 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46260
IHCINDY ORG | 317-255-6647
CLERGY
SENIOR RABBI
Brett Krichiver CANTOR
Aviva Marer
ASSOCIATE RABBI
Jordana Chernow-Reader
CANTOR EMERITUS
Janice L Roger
E D U C A T I O N
DIRECTOR OF LIFELONG LEARNING
Rabbi Roxanne Shapiro
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
DIRECTOR
Jodi Kaseff
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Leah Matthys
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE OFFICE OF LIFELONG LEARNING
Beth Meade-Hession
LIBRARIAN EMERITUS
Evelyn Pockrass
S T A F F
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Pete Smithhisler
ACCOUNTING MANAGER
Adrienne Aronson-White
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Kendra Steele
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Jaylan Miller
MAINTENANCE
Gary Davis
Joyce Patterson
SECURITY
Willard Mosley
Shawn Boone
Hawaii Lee
Stephfon Seymour
BOARD OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Sarah Freeman
VICE PRESIDENTS
Lorraine Ball
Eric Simons
TREASURER
Benjamin Abraham SECRETARY
Jennifer Vigran
Non-profit Organization
US Postage PAID
Indianapolis, IN Permit No. 819
MEMBERS AT LARGE
Jon Barefoot
Steve Bulloff
Andrea Burnett
Patty Goodman
Ken Gould
Michelle Lawrence
Marci Price
Julian Shepard
Polly Spiegel
Drew Soshnick
Carly Turow
Lilia Zurkovsky
Kulanu is published ten times per year by Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation For more information, please call the Temple office at 317 255 6647 For most up-to-date information, make sure you’re receiving our weekly eNewsletter Sign up on our website at ihcindy org