magazine VOLUME
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ISSUE
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July/August/September 2019
Holidays & Traditions
magazine The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton 525 Versailles Drive Centerville, Ohio 45459 (937) 610-1555 jewishdayton.org
Agency Leadership
Shalom! In a few short months, our calendars will begin to fill up with numerous holiday celebrations. Whether we are gathering with loved ones to ring in a sweet new year at Rosh Hashanah, lighting the menorah at Chanukah, or reading the Haggadah at a Passover Seder, our Jewish lives are rich with
Cathy Gardner CEO Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton
opportunity to come together and commemorate our past. Of course, we cannot forget the most sacred holiday of Shabbat. Celebrating the holidays is a big part of what we do. Did you know the children in our preschool gather together every Friday to celebrate Shabbat? Perhaps you have enjoyed the meaningful Women’s Seder we hold each Spring. Or maybe you join us for our community Chanukah
Jane Hochstein Director Jewish Community Center of Greater Dayton
Celebration or Active Adults Chanukah Brunch. This is just a small sample of the ways we celebrate Jewish holidays through the Federation and its agencies. You can read more about these meaningful programs in this issue of Jewish Dayton Magazine.
Tara Feiner Director Jewish Family Services of Greater Dayton
Cathy Gardner ceo, Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton
Table of Contents
Janese R. Sweeny, Esq. Director Jewish Foundation of Greater Dayton
Magazine Team Editorial Staff
Katie Lehner
Jodi Phares
Jordan Moyer
Alisa Thomas
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Jewish Federation (JFGD)
6-9
Jewish Community Center (JCC)
PJ Library, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)
Tikkun Olam, Early Childhood Care & Education
10-11
Jewish Family Services (JFS)
12-13
Jewish Foundation (JF)
Celebrating the Holidays with Family
Staff Contributors
Cheryl Carne
Audrey Mackenzie
Meryl Hattenbach
The Tradition and Celebration of Giving
Jewish Federation
®
OF GREATER DAYTON
2018/2019 Board of Directors Bruce Feldman PRESIDENT David Pierce IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Todd Bettman PRESIDENT ELECT Dr. Heath Gilbert TREASURER Beverly Louis SECRETARY Dan Sweeny VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT Mary Rita Weissman VICE PRESIDENT OF PERSONNEL /FOUNDATION CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS Amy Bloom Rabbi Judy Chessin Melinda Doner Dr. Samuel Dorf Dr. Michele Dritz Kate Elder Marni Flagel Neil Friedman Alan Gabel Shirlee Gilbert Teddy Goldenberg Helene Gordon Ed Kress Scott Liberman Dave London Ben Mazer Dr. Martha Moody-Jacobs Kathryn Polk Ira Segalewitz
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Check out what's going on across the Jewish community
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and connections among Jews — acting locally, in Israel, and around the world.
Celebrating Holidays with PJ Library Dayton family celebrating the second night of passover with the pj library haggadah [Left]
THE STORY
Photo courtesy of Carrie Siegel
WORK VER Y HARD Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, forced the slav es to build cities and pyra mids – and even make the bricks for building! Is it cruel to make someone wor k hard? What kinds of hard work are good for us, and what kinds are crue l? Pretend you’re a slave, lifting heavy bricks in the blinding sun . Your whole body aches and you ’re not allowed to stop. Show how it feels to be forc ed to work so hard . What are you thinking to yourself as you work?
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The Egyptians we re harsh to us, and made us suffer, and for ced us to work very har d.
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MADE US SUF FER The Tora h tells that the Egyptians took children away from their parents. Moses, who led the Jews to freedom, was saved when he was a baby because his mot her hid him in a basket that floated down the rive r. Imagine Mos es is your baby. You are so afraid that he will not be safe that you wra p him up and hide him in a basket. Sho w how you'll place Moses in a bas ket on the rive r. Is it hard to let him go? Will he be OK? Who will find him? How do you feel as the basket floats away?
Juliet Glaser PJ Library loves celebrating holidays! More specifically, PJ Library loves helping families celebrate Jewish holidays through books, programs, and music. One of the core values of PJ Library is to help families find accessible and meaningful ways to bring Jewish traditions into their homes. Whether families are observant or secular, intercultural or interfaith, PJ Library resources are available to bring everyone together under the very wide tent of Jewish tradition. Every three years, PJ Library conducts an impact survey of all the families who participate in the program. The last survey, completed in 2016, had over 25,000 responses, representing 20% of all families who receive PJ Library books. Based on the responses to the survey, it’s clear to see that the simple idea of reading Jewish books to children at bedtime (or anytime!) has a major impact on how families feel about and practice their Judaism. @@83% said PJ Library has increased their confidence in engaging with their children on Jewish topics. @@96% said PJ Library supports their family in having conversations about Jewish traditions, values, and/or customs. @@41% and 64% of Jewish and interfaith families, respectively, said PJ Library has helped influence their families’ decision to celebrate Jewish holidays.
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@@94% and 83% of Jewish and interfaith respondents, respectively, said that PJ Library supports their family in building upon or adding a Jewish tradition to home life.
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PJ EVENTS G IN July 26, August 23* PJ Library Shabbat in the Park
* in partnership with Hillel Academy of Dayton
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The Pj Library Haggadah Photo courtesy of Pj library
It’s not just receiving a book each month that creates this impact on families. While holiday books, with their informative flaps are a big part of the story, PJ Library also works hard to create a variety of meaningful resources and content for families to utilize. PJ Library Radio has made it easier for families to listen to holiday music together. Additional activities and surprises that are included with the books also add to their experience. Some of these activities have included a “Welcome Mobile” that children can decorate and hang in their Sukkah, a board game to celebrate the Exodus from Egypt at Passover, and a family tree mural for Tu B’ Shevat. This year, for the first time, PJ Library collaborated with Kar-Ben publishers to create a “PJ Library Haggadah.” Each family could opt to receive a set of six complimentary haggadot to use for their Seder. These are just a few examples of how PJ Library creates a connection to Jewish holidays and tradition. PJ Library really loves Jewish holidays. And we really, really love helping families celebrate holidays together.
For more information about PJ Library or PJ Our Way, please contact Cheryl Carne, Director of External Relations at (937) 610-1794 or rgilbert@jfgd.net.
Jewish Federation | 3
When isn't it a Jewish Holiday? Rabbi Ari Ballaban Even for people who are Jewish, the Hebrew calendar can be difficult to navigate. For those who aren’t, it and its holidays can feel completely inscrutable, absolute minefields of religious faux pas. The challenge is so great, it has even inspired some semi-comical online tools to help those in need, such as w w w. IsItAJewishHolidayToday.com. Humorous-but-real, this website assists the uninitiated, providing binary yes-or-no answers to an implied question plaguing plenty of non-Jews: When isn’t it a Jewish holiday? It is true: a major stumbling-block for interfaith efforts between Jews and non-Jews is that Jews often endure important events being scheduled on their holidays. No Jew should feel pressured to violate his or her religion as a price for engaging with the greater world; and, yet, when Jewish boys or girls, women or men, are pushed to perform work on their holidays lest they be educationally or professionally disadvantaged, our religious essence is put at odds with a secular reality. Thankfully, most times that such conflicts arise they come from
ignorance, not malintent. Therefore, our goal in the Jewish community must be to continue working to explain our traditions to those who don’t fully understand them. Though it might seem surprising at first, one of the most important types of outreach performed by the JCRC in this vein comes in the form…of a pamphlet. Our Five Year Calendar is an indispensable asset to the Jewish Federation in its mission to help those who are not Jewish understand the needs of their Jewish peers. There is tremendous irony in the fact that the Jewish calendar, at times, leads to the aforementioned sort of clashes with the outside world. Our holidays, “liabilities” though they may sometimes be, also are some of the best resources we have to help people understand Judaism. When we teach the world about what our holidays mean, we help people to understand the things we most value. Each of our holidays speaks to unique themes and principles central to the ethos of Judaism; our holidays say quite a bit about us. In our quest to engage in outreach beyond the walls of the Jewish world, these traditions help people to wrap their heads around the heart of our religion.
So, in short, why should it so matter that the Jewish community have a way to clearly and succinctly communicate our schedule? Our holidays and rituals play an integral role in framing the experiences we have, from day to day and from year to year, as members of the Jewish people. Our special calendar and our holidays are some of the most tangible hallmarks of our tradition, and, to those outside the Jewish community, they can—if understood—represent a summation of what it means to be Jewish. They are a framework, a living structure of our history. In a small way, the Five Year Calendar serves to help educate the world about regular Jewish experiences. It is, of course, only one piece of this pedagogic puzzle. Each of us must work to invite the larger world to join us in understanding our traditions and thereby invite them to better comprehend who and what Jews and Judaism really are. However, the Five Year Calendar helps us get started.
For more information about the Jewish Community Relations Council, please contact Cathy Gardner, CEO at (937) 610-1555.
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G August 18 - Newcomers Event
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July 18 - YAD (ages 21-35) Stand up Paddle Boarding
Jewish Holidays all Jewish holidays begin at sundown the evening before the day listed
* These dates listed are the holiest days of the year; expect virtually ALL Jewish students to be absent. Bolded dates indicate holidays (or the central dates of some holidays) on which work or school is prohibited in Observant Judaism. Some Jewish students will not participate in events during Shabbat, which is celebrated every week beginning Friday evening through sundown on Saturday.
FALL Rosh Hashanah*
2019
2020
2021
2022
Monday–Tuesday, September 30–October 1
Saturday–Sunday, September 19–20
Tuesday–Wednesday, September 7–8
Monday–Tuesday, September 26–27
Wednesday, October 9
Monday, September 28
Thursday, September 16
Wednesday, October 5
Mon–Tues, October 14–15 Wed–Sun, October 16–20
Sat–Sun, October 3–4 Mon–Fri, October 5–9
Tues–Wed, September 21–22 Thurs–Mon, September 23–27
Mon–Tues, October 10–11 Wed–Sun, October 12–16
Monday, October 21
Saturday, October 10
Tuesday, September 28
Monday, October 17
Tuesday, October 22
Sunday, October 11
Wednesday, September 29
Tuesday, October 18
Monday–Monday, December 23–30
Friday–Friday, December 11–18
Monday–Monday, November 29– December 6
Monday–Monday, December 19–26
2020
2021
2022
2023
Tuesday, March 10
Friday, February 26
Thursday, March 17
Tuesday, March 7
Thurs–Fri, April 9–10 Sat–Tues, April 11–14 Wed–Thurs, April 15–16
Sun–Mon, March 28–29 Tues–Fri, March 30– April 2 Sat–Sun, April 3–4
Sat–Sun, April 16–17 Mon–Thurs, April 18–21 Fri–Sat, April 22–23
Thurs–Fri, April 6–7 Sat–Tues, April 8–11 Wed–Thurs, April 12–13
Tuesday, April 21
Thursday, April 8
Thursday, April 28
Wednesday, April 18
Wednesday, April 29
Thursday, April 15
Thursday, May 5
Wednesday, April 26
Friday–Saturday May 29–30
Monday–Tuesday May 17–18
Sunday–Monday June 5–6
Friday–Saturday May 26–27
Jewish New Year
Yom Kippur* Day of Atonement
Sukkot Harvest festival
Shemini Atzeret Assembly of the Eighth Day
Simchat Torah Celebration of the Torah
Chanukah Festival of Lights
SPRING Purim Feast of Esther
Pesach Passover
Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day
Yom Ha'Atzmaut Israeli Independence Day
Shavuot Festival of Weeks
Jewish Federation | 5
Tikkun Olam at the JCC
Meryl Hattenbach
As the children grow, so does their participation in Tikkun Olam. Summer camp for kids is typically a time of sunshine, swimming, arts and crafts and friends. At the JCC’s Camp Shalom, it’s also a time to think of others.
jcc program manager
The cliché is true: there’s no Jewish holiday celebration that doesn’t involve food! At the JCC, it’s also true that a holiday Last summer the campers visited the urban garden at the celebration isn’t complete without the opportunity for our Dayton Food Bank to plant seeds in their vegetable beds and learn community to partake in about the services the Food tikkun olam, the Jewish Bank provides to members of value of repairing the our community who are food I want the children to learn to do mitzvot because world. Tikkun olam is the insecure. Campers have also thread that connects JCC it makes Hashem smile, not so they get served St. Vincent de Paul, program participants to Gateway Shelter for Women recognition or a reward from their teachers. this core fundamental and Families. With Jewish aspect of what it means to Family Services, they chopped Katie Lagasse be Jewish. This tradition vegetables for soup to donate reaches all ages of program jcc preschool teacher to the shelter and also made participants, from toddlers “stained glass” mosaics using to seniors. tissue paper to decorate the windows at the entrance of the building. The very youngest members of our community learn about
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tikkun olam in the JCC’s Early Childhood classrooms. Lead Teacher Katie Lagasse has her pre-K class participate in “Mitzvah Magic!” Once, every child brought in a single flower to create a beautiful bouquet to present to our front desk Administrative Assistant, Karen Steiger. Another time, the children made thank you cards for their music teacher, Miss Mary, who visits every week to play guitar and sing with them. The children also participate in Mitzvah Magic at home by making their beds or helping with the dishes without being asked. At school the children hold the door open for their teachers, or empathize with a friend who’s in distress by sharing a toy or a special sticker. Miss Katie explains, “I want the children to learn to do mitzvot because it makes Hashem smile, not so they get recognition or a reward from their teachers.” She teaches the children that it’s their job to take care of the earth. “That’s why Hashem put us here.”
6 | Jewish Community Center
This summer, our campers made cat toys to donate to SICSA, a pet adoption center. Dr. Lindsey Roth, SICSA veterinarian and parent of a Camp Shalom camper shares, “Cat toys can’t be easily disinfected so we use a lot of them!” Our teens and pre-teens recently planned and implemented an original project for J-Serve: a day of service for Jewish youth. Rachel Crafton, the lead teen on the 2019 J-Serve project, has a passion for art and creativity. She also cares about raising awareness of mental health issues. These two themes acted as the inspiration for an Art Therapy Workshop, with an emphasis on the therapeutic and mental health benefits gained from participating in a creative process. The teens ran the workshop, consisting of four stations, at the Dayton Metro Library on a Sunday afternoon. Nearly 40 members of the community, from toddlers to seniors to adults with special needs, participated in the workshop.
Adults in the community also spend time giving back and repairing the world. The JCC’s Women’s Seder serves as a motivation for women to use their positions in the community to combat the “modern plagues” afflicting our society. Women from various backgrounds, Jewish and others, come together for an evening to share hopes of peace and freedom for all-Tikkun Olam. The theme of this year’s seder was “Alleviate Hunger: Nourish Our Community, Feed Your Soul.” The modern plagues included food insecurity, violence, pollution and war, and inaction in the presence of evil. Women were encouraged to bring a donation of food items to give to House of Bread, an organization that provides a hot, nutritious lunch to anyone in need. Past years, the collections have included baby clothes and diapers, peanut butter and toys. Even during one of the most joyful times of the year— Chanukah, the festival of lights, we think of others. Our Early Childhood children have brought in books for Project Reads from their personal collection, donated gently-used winter clothing and toys, as well as participated in canned food drives. During the JCC’s Community Chanukah Celebration we encouraged community members to bring a donation of a toy or game for Care House, an organization serving the needs of abused and neglected children. No matter the program, Tikkun Olam is at the center of what we do. We invite you to join us as we continue to work toward repairing the world!.
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For more information about Tikkun Olam at the JCC, please contact Jane Hochstein, JCC Director at (937) 401-1545 or jhochstein@jfgd.net.
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[photos l to r]: Levi Glaser decorates a card at Yom Ha’Atzmaut for an IDF Soldier, Camp Shalom CIT & LIT BAKE SALE FOR TORNADO RELIEF FUND, Katie Lagasse's pre-k class giving their boquet of flowers to Karen steiger, camp shalom at the dayton food bank, and THE 2019 women's seder Photos courtesy of Katie Lagasse and peter wine
August 4-9 - JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest Jewish Community Center | 7
Photos courtesy of early childhood care and education staff
8 | Jewish Community Center
Early Childhood The magic behind the mitzvahs Audrey MacKenzie
Early childhood director Every day in the JCC Preschool, Jewish traditions come to life. It might look like magic, but it’s absolutely due to our amazing staff of teachers and assistants. I love watching our teachers’ lesson plans breathe new ideas, crafts and celebrations lead to memorable experiences the children take to heart. As a JCC Preschool parent, every time your child asks to lead prayer before dinner, or explains excitedly how a good deed was a mitzvah, it’s our mission coming to life. Experiencing Passover through the JCC Preschool is an immersive experience because of the planning, time, and effort put in by our teaching staff. Blowing the shofar, building their own sukkah, having their own parade on Simchat Torah, our children look forward to these celebrations every day. Our teachers find increasingly creative ways to build these tangible traditions into actionable memories, ensuring Jewish culture is cherished in our fastpaced digital world. The next time you hear your child singing the “Apples Dipped in Honey” song for the 15th time in a row, or they insist on carefully carrying a spider safely outside, or even exclaim in a crowed movie theatre “the movie bad guy is a bad guy just like Haman! BOO!”, take a moment to thank the educators who crafted those experiences to leave those impressions, grounding them in our rich Jewish cultural traditions. We are currently hiring more teaching staff, If you are interested in joining our wonderful staff, please contact us.
For more information about Early Childhood, please contact Audrey MacKenzie, Early Childhood Director at (937) 853-0373 or amackenzie@jfgd.net.
Jewish Community Center | 9
Celebrating the Holidays with Family Tara Feiner
JFS Director What is your favorite Jewish holiday? What is your favorite memory? Is it hearing the blast of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah? Is it feeling the warmth of the lit candles of the menorah and the smell of latkes frying during Chanukah? Is it spending time with family around the table for seders during Passover? Or, perhaps, is it dressing up and enjoying the fun of Purim? Throughout the year, Jewish Family Services (JFS) brings the Jewish holidays to those who might not otherwise be able to celebrate. What do these holiday celebrations look like? • Holiday Outreach Bags At Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah and Purim, JFS, its Advisory Board members, and committee members deliver holiday bags to those who are isolated and alone or who are living in continuum of care facilities. JFS is grateful to the Jewish community - Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, Chabad of Greater Dayton, Temple Beth Or, and Temple Israel - for supporting this initiative. • Community Celebrations For Rosh Hashanah and Purim, JFS holds programs that are open to the community both at a north and a south location for each holiday. Local cantors and music directors lead these programs and there is always a tasty holiday nosh. • Annual Chanukah Brunch Every year, JFS hosts a Chanukah Brunch that is a partnership between the JFS Active Adults, Hadassah, the Jewish War Veterans, and the Lynda A. Cohen Yiddish Club. This popular brunch brings together friends from across the Miami Valley and offers a Chanukah celebration for those who may not be able to attend evening celebrations. • Mitzvah Missions Several times a year, JFS partners with the JCC’s Early Childhood Program, Camp Shalom K’tan, and Hillel Academy to travel to continuum of care facilities to engage with the residents around an activity and noshes. When possible, JFS tries to schedule these missions near a holiday. JFS and children from the JCC and Hillel Academy have brought Passover, Chanukah, Shabbat and July 4th activities and snacks to seniors. Seniors light up when they see the children and many join in songs that they remember. While JFS serves the Miami Valley, for the Jewish community, we are family. By celebrating the holidays in the community, JFS hopes to spark joy by triggering warm memories from the past, creating new memories with new friends, or even just enjoying the holiday in the moment.
For more information on JFS programs, please contact Tara Feiner, JFS Director at (937) 401-1546 or tfeiner@jfgd.net.
e two bags of v ei ec r to d te h g i el We were d y Services for l i m a F h s i ew J goodies from embered since em r e b to t ea gr Purim. It was ving apartment li l a u d i v i d n i n a we are living in ip. There are sh n ow T i m a i M at Brookdale building and e th n i ts en tm ar p over 100 a mily here. Your fa h s i ew J e lon we are the embered. em r e b l l i w s es thoughtfuln
Ullman ou L & s i or D
Holiday Outreach Bags Photos courtesy of Jewish Family Services
10 | Jewish Family Services
Community Celebrations – Off to a Sweet Start and Purim Programs Photos courtesy of Jewish Family Services
Annual Chanukah Brunch Photos by peter wine
Mitzvah Missions
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Photos courtesy of Jewish Family Services
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August 18 - Active Adults Annual Brunch
September 16 - L'Chaim 2019: Technology and The Independent You Jewish Family Services | 11
The Tradition and Celebration of Giving Janese R. Sweeny, Esq.
Israel received incentive grants totaling $46,250 to benefit their programs at the beginning of the year.
Jewish Foundation Director
This tradition of giving provides us an opportunity to Jewish Daytonians have a long and storied tradition of celebrate, and can provide financial resources for celebrations as giving. As LIFE & LEGACY co-chair Debby Goldenberg puts it, well. Did you know an endowment through the LIFE & LEGACY “We put our money where our mouth is, so to speak.” The walls program can fund a specific program? of the Jewish Federation of Greater Do you love the Purim Spiel at your Dayton remind us of this celebrated synagogue? Do you look forward to the tradition. These photos remind us of our We put our money where our Passover Seder every year? Does your responsibility as Jews to take care of our family look forward to gathering together mouth is, so to speak. people and respect our tradition of giving. for the Chanukah celebration? Your legacy gift can fund these special holiday The LIFE & LEGACY program has Debby Goldenberg celebrations and programs in perpetuity. proven to be another way for Jewish life & legacy co-chair Find out how by contacting Janese R. community members to carry on their Sweeny at jsweeny@jfgd.net or tradition of giving and support the (937) 401-1542. organizations that mean the most to them. Through the program, Jewish Dayton has received 267 Letters of Intent to ensure a For more information on LIFE & LEGACY, please vibrant future. The community participants- Beth Abraham Synagogue, Chabad of Greater Dayton, Jewish Community contact Janese Sweeny, Foundation Director Center, Jewish Family Services, the Jewish Federation of at (937) 401-1542 or jsweeny@jfgd.net. Greater Dayton, Hillel Academy, Temple Beth Or and Temple
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“Ten Decades of Tzedakah” are on display in the JFGD lobby. This pictorial series showcases the tradition of giving in Dayton and is a project of the Jewish Federation Archives and the Dayton Jewish Observer. Photo courtesy of janese sweeny
Daytonians celebrate all things Israel at the Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration at the CJCE.
Photo by peter wine
12 | Jewish Foundation
Temple Beth Or members enjoy the Passover Seder together. [left] and A “Purim in India� Celebration at Chabad. [below] Photos courtesy of Temple Beth Or and chabad Facebook pages
Beth Abraham Congregants come together to build a sukkah for their Sukkot celebration. [left] and the jewish cultural festival at Temple Israel! [right] Photos courtesy of beth abraham and temple israel Facebook pages
JFS Director Tara Feiner and the holiday outreach committee enjoy a Purim Celebration at One Lincoln Park [right]
Photo courtesy of Amy dolph
Hillel Academy Students enjoy a Purim Celebration. [left] and The Community chanukah Celebration is hosted in partnership with the JCC [right] Photos
courtesy of Hillel Academy Facebook Page and by peter wine
Jewish Foundation | 13
Federation:
a Tradition of Dreaming and Doing Cathy Gardner
ceo
Everyone has imagined a better world. A world full of connections, acceptance, and caring. As Jews, we are natural dreamers. Throughout our history, we have dreamt of freedom, of peace, of a better future for the generations that follow us. And as Jews, we have never been content to just dream. Over 100 years ago, a group of businessmen in Dayton joined together, under the leadership of Rabbi David Lefkowitz. They had a simple idea to collect membership dues, donations and legacies and allocate the collected funds to Jewish charities and philanthropic organizations. They imagined that together, they could make the everyday lives of Jews in the Dayton area better. That was the beginning of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton. And our mission has not changed. We strive every day, in every way, to make Jewish life better.
Did
YOU
know?
IN 1910 the first membership dues to the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton were $3.00. IN 1911 the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton dispersed its first allocations, giving Miami Valley Hospital & St. Elizabeth’s Hospital each $100. IN 1948 the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton raises $300,000 to support the newly formed state of Israel. TODAY, the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton raises over $1,000,000 annually, with funds supporting local Jewish culture, Jewish Education, Israel, and Jews in need all over the world.
Jewish life and Jewish identity continues to expand with every generation. Not just here in Dayton, but around the world. And each facet has their own needs. For some, basic needs like housing and food are critical. For others, it's finding a way to connect and celebrate within a community. And for others, the need is having an opportunity to participate in a Jewish educational experience. Whatever the need may be, it is a chance for us to make Jewish life better. The Federation exists as a way for all of us to be a part of making our community, and our world, better. We are not about just dreaming; we are about doing. We didn’t just dream about resettling Jewish refugees after World War II; we worked out a plan that ultimately helped resettle nearly 100 refugees here in Dayton. We didn’t just dream about returning to eretz Yisrael; in 1948, weeks after the formation of the State of Israel, our community personally handed Golda Meir a check for $300,000 to support the Jewish state. Throughout the history of Jewish Dayton our community has come together and worked to meet needs. At Federation, we never stop dreaming. A couple of years ago, we started a visioning initiative called “Jewish Dayton Dreams Big”. We asked our community to imagine what Jewish Dayton could be in 20 years. The ideas and plans that came out of that process were incredible and inspiring. All of the ideas we are working on are all part of making Dayton “the best little Jewish community in the country.” The impact of this dream goes beyond Jewish Dayton to the broader Dayton community. Everyone in this community who pledges to the Annual Campaign, makes a commitment to the idea, that together, we can make Jewish life better. We can truly be there - every day, and in every way. In 1918, when Rabbi Lefkowitz was raising funds for Dayton’s War Chest Campaign, he urged community members to give “in such proportion that there will be no cause for reproach.” This year, I am asking you to imagine a better Jewish world and give a meaningful gift that will help realize that dream.
For more information about the Annual Campaign, please contact Janese Sweeny, Financial Resource Development Director at (937) 401-1542 or jsweeny@jfgd.net.
This June at Presidents Dinner, our community engaged in a powerful case for giving prior to dinner, which motivated everyone in attendance to “Imagine” beyond what we have accomplished in past years. There is still time to give to the 2019 Annual Campaign. donate today and help us make Jewish life better, every day in every way. Photo by Mendy Fedotowsky
14 | Jewish Federation
Young Adults Begin Their Own Holiday Traditions Cheryl Carne
director of external relations Moving to a new city can bring a lot of stress with it. Between packing up all our possessions and then unpacking all our possessions, to becoming acclimated to our new environment, to meeting new people – it can be daunting. One thing that can make it that much more distressing? Holidays. As much as many of us look forward to celebrating the holidays with family and friends, for people new to Dayton, that might not be an option. Perhaps they are unable to travel to spend time with loved ones, or maybe they haven’t had the opportunity to cultivate friendships in Dayton. As part of our Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton mission statement, we work to create connections among Jews locally, in Israel, and around the world. One example of our efforts can be seen through outreach and our Young Adult Division (YAD). We receive multiple calls from caring community members offering to host newcomers and YAD members in their homes for Shabbat, Break Fast, and many other holiday gatherings. It ends up being such a warm, positive experience that many young adults develop meaningful relationships in the community and return to their host’s home year after year.
Sydney & David Feibus hosted the YAD Chanukah celebration at their home in 2018. Brandon Schwartz attended with about 15 other people. “Growing up in a reform Jewish household in Los Angeles, the holidays were always a special time for my family,” says Brandon. “I was so grateful to be able to spend Chanukah with my new friends in Dayton and keep the tradition going. Even though I don’t get to attend services because of my busy medical school schedule, I cherish the opportunity to come together and celebrate what it means to be Jewish.”
YAD chanukah at scene 75 [top] and chanukah shabbat dinner [bottom] Photos courtesy of cheryl carne
Jewish holidays are by their very nature meant to be celebrated in the company of others. The Mitzvot of breaking bread together, singing, and celebrating can't be done in isolation. It's comforting to have a group like YAD to rely on to help make the holidays the joyous and community filled experience they should be. Josie Green ~ Yad Member
In addition, young adults have come together to begin their own tradition of celebrating Shabbat and the holidays with each other. Mary and Jacob Stephens hosted YAD members for a pot luck Break Fast in 2017 and 2018. One of the attendees, Josie Green, found it to be a wonderful experience.
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"Jewish holidays are by their very nature meant to be celebrated in the company of others,” shares Josie. “The Mitzvot of breaking bread together, singing, and celebrating can't be done in isolation. It's comforting to have a group like YAD to rely on to help make the holidays the joyous and community filled experience they should be."
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If you find that you are alone without a place to go for Shabbat or the holidays, please contact me at 937-610-1778 or ccarne@jfgd.net. I will work to find a comfortable place for you to celebrate.
For more information about YAD, please contact Cheryl Carne, Director of External Relations at (937) 610-1778 or ccarne@jfgd.net.
CO Save the Date! August 20 - Annual Meeting Check for updates on the Jewish Dayton calendar
Jewish Federation | 15
Beth Abraham Synagogue 9 Over 90 Beth Abraham congregants Stanley Blum, Bill Schoenfeld, Oscar Soifer, Henry Guggenheimer, Shirley Frankowitz, Clara Hochstein, Dottie Engelhardt, Bea Burke and Betty Alter share an afternoon of camaraderie, reflection and humor as they recollect their decades of membership. At Beth Abraham, we are a community full of life stories. For these 9 active members over 90, they’ve found spirituality, Jewish enrichment, friendship, comfort, and opportunities to engage in acts of social justice. They came from diverse religious backgrounds and all found a home at Beth Abraham. They’ve participated in daily minyan, taught Sunday School, served as our Executive Director and were active on our Board and with our Sisterhood and Men’s Club. They’ve built enduring connections with generations of rabbis, shared their family celebrations and have left an indelible mark on the heart and soul of our congregation.
Beth Jacob Congregation Just like the little engine that could - we at Beth Jacob Synagogue keep working to keep our Traditional Judaism engine running. We welcome our latest Board Members Sophie Cohn, Ruthie Davis, Brad Jacobs and Jese Shell. Our next Visiting Rabbi weekend with Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin of Chabad will be held Friday July 19th and Saturday July 20th. It is our joy and pleasure to experience a Shabbat weekend of prayer, food and learning with Rabbi Klatzkin. As always we will be respectfully having Mechitzah (separate) seating for all services with Rabbi Klatzkin. Beth Jacob Synagogue is excited to announce that for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we are happy to have the return of Rabbi Adam Rosenthal, now living in Los Angeles and Cantor Rami Isser from Baltimore. Our High Holiday Traditional services have been blessed and enriched to have this awesome duo lead us through the New Years in past years and we are thrilled to have them return to us this year.
Chabad of Greater Dayton Camp Gan Israel July 22- August 9 for boys and girls ages 5-11 Gan Israel campers are imbued with a deep sense of pride in their Jewish heritage and a love for the land of Israel. Weekly Judaic themes are taught through exciting activities, stories, songs, games and contests, which are part of the unique Gan Israel experience. Our weekly program is enhanced with songs, sports, drama, carnivals, dress-up days, overnights, color war, Shabbos parties, Challah baking, and ... oh ... so much more. Gan Israel's, Trip Days, which are well known, are geared to the children's interests and scheduled twice a week. We feature excursions to many local attractions as well as attractions in Columbus and Cincinnati. Gan Israel is much more than a physical break from the school routine and yearly activities. It's a comprehensive program designed to strengthen the body and soul. It provides your child with a rich and wholesome summer vacation of fun and excitement along with friendship and meaningful educational experiences. Kosher lunch and snacks are provided each day. Call today 937-643-0770 x1 or visit www.ChabadDayton.com/camp Scholarships available.
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Community Catchup
Congregation Anshe Emeth Congregation Anshe Emeth in Piqua, OH, is a legacy congregation organized in 1858 and was established along with Cedar Hill Cemetery to meet the needs of a small, immigrant population. We are sustained by many decades-long members and continue to serve as a warm and welcoming Reform Synagogue, offering diversity and outreach for mostly rural and small-town Ohio. We serve the northern greater Dayton area including Piqua, Sidney, Greenville, Troy, Tipp City and surroundings. We are led yearly by a Rabbinic Intern from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, with services scheduled monthly for our small congregation as well as the High Holidays. Our Temple family enjoys Shabbat suppers and other holiday gatherings and welcomes all. Ansheemeth.org
Dayton Jewish Chorale The Dayton Jewish Chorale had an amazing 4th season! We were honored with the opportunities to perform with Joshua Nelson, Noah Aronson and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. We would like to say thank you to our wonderful community for your support this year. Our 5th season will begin with the Community Selichot Service on Saturday night, September 21, at Temple Beth Or. We will usher in the holiday season with the soulful melodies that will inspire us for the new year. Stay tuned for more info... If you are interested in singing with the Chorale, please email Cantor Jenna Greenberg at yoninale@hotmail.com. And if you would like to make a donation, checks can be written out to JFGD with Dayton Jewish Chorale in the memo line.
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Thank you for your support!
Hadassah, Dayton Chapter Please join Hadassah for An Israeli Food Celebration and viewing of excerpts from the movie The Hope: The Rebirth of Israel, on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at the Gleneagles Clubhouse, 560 Eagle Circle, Kettering. The cost is $18 per person. RSVP to Suzi Walk at 937-602-4668. The Hope: The Rebirth of Israel examines the creation of the State of Israel covering a time period from early Jewish settlers and philanthropists in the 19th century to the Israeli declaration of statehood in 1948. The series tells the story through the perspective of Zionist leaders and visionaries.
Community Catchup
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Hillel Academy of Greater Dayton ACADEMICALLY DRIVEN. CULTURALLY INSPIRED. Hillel Academy of Greater Dayton provides the opportunity for all Jewish children in Kindergarten through 6th grade, to receive an outstanding integrated Judaic and secular education. Hillel Academy's dedicated and experienced staff develop each child's potential to become an independent and curious learner grounded in Judaic values and ethics. Students learn primarily through projects, often connected to community professionals in science and the arts. Students develop the skills and confidence they need to become creative, critical thinking, compassionate and responsible members of their communities. For enrollment information please contact: dkmecoli@daytonhillel.org
Temple Beth Or Let Temple Beth Or Help Your Child Walk Confidently into Jewish Adulthood. "Launching your child into Jewish adulthood is no easy task. Temple Beth Or wants to be your partner in raising caring, educated young Jewish adults who are knowledgeable in their Judaism, confident in their identity and proud of their heritage. Starting your children's journey into Jewish education early is important. That why we offer a full 9:30-12:30 Sunday program, Makor, for children as young as preschool age. Makor participants in elementary school enjoy learning in a summer camp-inspired atmosphere, filled with exciting electives. 9th-12th grade students study weekly with the rabbis, focusing on contemporary topics of concern and Jewish values in a confusing world. Additionally, our B’nai Mitzvah candidates are trained entirely by our rabbis for their coming of age ceremony. At Temple Beth Or, we want all of our children to have a close relationship with their rabbis, and to feel that their synagogue is their Jewish home away from home. We know that every family is a little different, and it's our goal to make children and parents of all backgrounds feel welcomed and comfortable as part of our Temple Beth Or community. Call our office at 937-435-4300 or visit www.templebethor.com to learn more about our innovative Makor educational program, how to have your child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth Or, Rabbis Judy Chessin and Ari Ballaban, our interfaith activities, and our innovative High Holiday Services which are open to the entire community."
Temple Israel Seated along the Miami River, Temple Israel boasts beautiful views of the water in a natural environment filled with trees and lush greenery. Jewish tradition teaches us to care for our planet in order to preserve that which the Eternal One has created. Whether it is a beautification effort on our grounds or in the community, a light stroll along the bike path, or simply enjoying lunch outside on the patio, we are grateful for all that nature gives us and strive to give back whenever we can. This summer we encourage you to get in touch with nature and celebrate all that it has to offer. Please join us at these upcoming programs and events: Prayer & Play Goes Swimming at Sycamore Trails Aquatic Center – Saturday, July 13 at 12pm Shabbat Under the Stars – Friday, July 19 at 6:30pm Share Shabbat & Jewish Cultural Festival Appreciation – Friday, August 2 at 6:00pm Shabbat Under the Stars & Tu B’Av – Friday, August 16 at 6:30pm
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Community Catchup
Spring Recap 2019 2
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1. At PJ Library Good Deeds Day families helped create 50 Blessings Bags for people without homes in the Dayton area as well as 30 Birthday Bags for children who have been away from their homes for a period of time. 2. Dayton area Holocaust survivors were honored at Dayton's Annual Yom HaShoah Remembrance Program. 3. YAD enjoyed Happy Hour & Art at The Dayton Art Institute. 4. Our fourth session of The Beat was held, focusing on Israeli Music facilitated by Cantor Jenna Greenberg.
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5. Jewish singer/songwriter Rick Recht celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut - Israel’s Independence Day - with the Dayton Jewish Community on Thursday, May 9. 6. Dayton Junior Youth Group (grades 6-8) had their final event of the year, “Clubs and Cones!”
PHOTOS COURTESY of katie lehner, cheryl carne, Jane Hochstein meryl hattenbach, and by peter wine
Community Catchup
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NON-PROFIT ORG
Jewish Federation
US POSTAGE
PAID
OF GREATER DAYTON 525 Versailles Drive Centerville, Ohio 45459
DAY TO N , O H PERMIT NO. 59
2019 ANNUAL MEETING
for the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton & its Agencies
Tuesday, August 20 6PM @ Boonshoft CJCE (525 Versailles Dr., Centerville, 45459)
featuring special guest MICHAEL LIEBERMAN for more information, contact Alisa Thomas at athomas@jfgd.net.
Jewish Community Center Jewish Federation Jewish Foundation Jewish Family Services ®
OF GREATER DAYTON OF GREATER DAYTON OF GREATER DAYTON OF GREATER DAYTON