Chai Benefit 2023 Program

SHULI KARKOWSKY CEO

Dear Tami,

We are so thrilled to celebrate you in our milestone chai year. You have been an instrumental part of everything Moving Traditions has done over those 18 years: as a veteran Rosh Hodesh group leader, an expert consultant helping us develop curriculum and train educators, and as an insightful board member providing guidance and support.

One of the most joyful images in the Torah is Miriam leading the women in song and dance after the crossing of the Red Sea. It is so easy to see in this image the etchings of leaders like you, Tami: leading strong groups of women to share their feelings with music, dance, and bravery. And indeed, the young women in the groups you have led all have iconic stories about how you have inspired them in all these ways.

RABBI DARCIE CRYSTAL

Part of the magic of Moving Traditions’ programs is to engage young people through their minds, bodies, and souls. The reason you have been such a huge part of what we have done is that you personify this unity. You help people become in tune with their feelings, think more clearly, and get in touch with the needs of their physical selves. Your ability to create this coherence in yourself and in others is part of what makes you such an engaging and inspiring leader.

We have been lucky to have you in our corner from the very beginning, advocating for our organization, for the teens we serve, and for the Jewish and feminist values that we embody.

We are grateful for your leadership, your unparalleled joy and enthusiasm, and your passion for helping Jewish teens to live life with purpose!

With thanks and admiration,

Rabbi Darcie Crystal, Board Chair Shuli Karkowsky, CEO

BOARD CHAIR

Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, picked up a hand-drum, and all the women went out after her in dance with hand-drums. And Miriam chanted for them.

— Exodus 14:20-21

TAMI’S FAMILY

Dear Mom,

Growing up, one of our favorite dinner games was “high low mitzvah,” where we would go around and share the best and worst parts of our day and also a mitzvah we did. We would joke that your favorite answer was always, “I don’t need to answer this question, my life is a mitzvah.” As much as we made fun of you for this response, there was such truth to that answer, and there still is. Your life really is a mitzvah.

We get the honor of experiencing the mom version of this mitzvah life you live. You exceed all expectations of motherhood; you give the best advice and care so deeply about everything we do. You radiate positivity and sunshine, lighting up every room you walk into. You give us endless support and love. Every day we try to live more like you, and if we even come close, we accomplish what it means to be a wonderful person.

But, we know this award is not just in attribution of the mitzvah of being our mom. Your life is a mitzvah in all aspects of who you are and what you do,

including your professional work. Luckily, we had an inside look into your impact at Moving Traditions. We remember at the end of a Rosh Hodesh group meeting, cool teenage girls would leave our house and say to us, “You are so lucky that Tami is your mom!” We remember you asking us for our input on a Rosh Hodesh curriculum, showing your care and dedication to the authenticity that you put into every aspect of your work. We remember feeling proud when we met your colleagues and they would rave about how wonderful you are and what an impact you have made, not just on Moving Traditions as an organization, but on every person you interacted with.

We appreciate everything you do — the little and the big mitzvot. Whether it is driving Eden to Institute of Dance Artistry, letting Dad leave an event early to go hang out with our dog Scooter, or moving our entire family to Florida for Michael, you’ve always put family first. Having you as a mom, role model, and friend is more than luck — it is a result of you and the life you lead. Thank you for making your life such a mitzvah. We love you bigger than the sky no matter what.

Love, Eden and Michael Astorino

Moving Traditions has emboldened more than 31,500 Jewish youth and trained more than 2,650 adults to implement Moving Traditions B-Mitzvah Family Education Program and our Teen Groups: Rosh Hodesh for girls, Shevet for boys, and Tzelem for LGBTQ+ teens. Kulam is a series of plug-and-play curricular sessions designed for Jewish educators to use in Hebrew High Schools. Our teen leadership opportunities include the Meyer-Gottesman Kol Koleinu Teen Feminist Fellowship and our latest, Kumi: An Anti-Oppression Teen Leadership Experience. CultureShift training is available for those who work with Jewish youth at camp and elsewhere about how to navigate gender, healthy boundaries, and more .

MICHAEL, EDEN, DAVID, & TAMI ASTORINO

TAMI ASTORINO

Tami Astorino has been a central part of Moving Traditions since the very beginning, 18 years ago.

She facilitated three Rosh Hodesh groups, gathering monthly with girls throughout their middle and high school years. These “girls” are now young adults who still talk about the indelible impact Tami had on their lives. In addition to being a group leader, Tami spent years working with Moving Traditions, providing her expertise in teen development and Jewish communal life. With unparalleled joy and energy, she helped write the Rosh Hodesh curriculum and developed Moving Traditions’ training institutes. She taught hundreds of educators and clergy how to understand the needs of Jewish teens and support them with Moving Traditions’ programs. Through her work at Moving Traditions – and with 18Doors

(formerly Interfaith Family), as well as her numerous volunteer roles at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia – Tami has served as an articulate and persuasive ambassador for our organization, for the teens we serve, and for the Jewish and feminist values that we embody. Seven years ago, Tami launched her own business, Rise Gatherings, retreat experiences for women, but she never stopped supporting Moving Traditions. In 2020, Tami joined the Moving Traditions board, chairing the development committee as it navigated the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and enriching the board with her tremendous insight, interpersonal skills, and passion for the work.

Tami lives in Maple Glen, PA with her family. Her daughter and son participated in Moving Traditions’ Teen Groups, Rosh Hodesh and Shevet.

7 p.m. 8 p.m. 9 p.m.

COCKTAIL HOU R

WELCOM E

Shuli Karkowsky • CEO

OPENING RITUAL

Rabbi Darcie Crystal • Board Chair

Tracy Gordon • Benefit Co-Chair

Melissa Anderson • Benefit Co-Chair

Julie Axelrod • Benefit Co-Chair

Deborah Meyer • Moving Traditions Founder

A TEEN PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

Tami Astorino • Honoree

Pamela Barkley • Vice President of Program

Rabbi Daniel Brenner • Vice President Education

HONORING TAMI ASTORINO

Gila Axelrod • Teen Group Leader and Tami’s Rosh

Hodesh Group Participant

BLESSING

Rabbi Tamara Cohen • Chief Program Officer

DESSERT

P R O G R A M

THANK YOU

We deeply appreciate the generous support from the many individuals honoring Tami Astorino and Moving Traditions by joining the Benefit Committee.

EVENT CHAIRS

Melissa Anderson 

Julie Axelrod

Rabbi Darcie Crystal •

Tracy Gordon

VISIONARY

Anonymous

Mary and Nathan Relles

Rabbi Darcie • & Jonathan Crystal

Sally Gottesman 

Sheryl  & Chip Kaye

LEADER

Tami,• David, Eden, & Michael Astorino

Alisa  & Dan Doctoroff

Elyse • & Scott Everett

Hope  & Adam Suttin

Jasmine • & Rob Tarkoff

BUILDER

Madelyn Bucksbaum

Adamson • & Allen Adamson

Suzanne • & Richard Feld

Rabbi Lori Koffman •

Susanna Lachs & Dean Adler

Neubauer Family Foundation

Bethany • & Garett Shiner

Bobby • & Molly Zuker

CHANGEMAKER

Rabbi Noah • & Tammy Arnow

Lori Perlow  & Dan Kadish

Renée Sackey 

Robbi & Bruce Toll

INNOVATOR

Anonymous

Julie & Rob Axelrod

Frank Chudnow  & Margie

Patlak

Tracy & George Gordon

• CURRENT BOARD MEMBER

 FORMER BOARD MEMBER

LIST CURRENT AS OF APRIL 19

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

 Our supporters who make our programs possible — MovingTraditions.org/Funders

 Barbra Berley-Mellits, original Rosh Hodesh author, for beautifying our space tonight

 Elyse and Scott Everett for their generous donation of Taylor Swift tickets to auction

SUPPORTER

Jan & Pete Albert

Lauren Albert Ravitz

Marcy & Daniel Bacine

Rabbi Carole Balin  & Michael Gertzman

Barbra Berley-Mellits & Bart Mellits

Eileen Chudnow

Mark & Jill Fishman

Mindy & Thaddeus Fortin

Mignon & Jim Groch

Jennifer Groen & Ami Dolev

Kathy Gubernick

Beth & David Joseph

Shuli Karkowsky • & Avi Rabinowitz

Rabbi Dena Klein •

Jonathan Krasner • & Frank Tipton

Daniel, Aiven, Parker, Gray, & Lane Relles

Amy, Ben, Ethan, Emma & Aviva Relles

Shirley & Jim Saltzman

Lisa & Doug Schoenberg

Sarah, Jeff, Ruby, Siena, & Josie Vogel

Robin & Greg Zappin

TRAILBLAZER

Beth & Jonathan Kern

C and N Bank

Joseph Zuritsky

Michelle Toll & William O’Flanagan

Shelley & Bruce Menkowitz

AMPLIFIER

Deborah Meyer 

Jill & Paul Aschkenasy

Julie Gubernick

The Gladstone Family

Margie & Jeffrey Honickman

NETWORKER

Wendy & Bruce Armon

Francis & Debbie Astorino

Eve & Jonathan Berger

Penni & Mark Blaskey

Sheree Bloch

Abby and Jonny, Eli, Nathan, & Eva Mars

Sara Shay & John McCauley

Ben Schindler & Becky Rohtbart

Liz Shaid

Mindy Shapiro & Alan Mendelsohn

Cindy & Amanda Warkow

FRIEND

Jennifer Albert

Rebecca Aqua

Blueweiss Family

Jennifer Brier

Sara Bucholtz & Talia, Dena & Ilan Feldman

Richard Chudnow

Robyn & Adam Cohen

Lorin  & Kim Decker

Carol Einhorn

Lisa Feingold

Paige & Rabbi Megan GoldMarche

Nancy Gordon

Adena Greenberg & David Cooperberg

Jill Hampton

Amy Hersz

Cindy & David Horowitz

Lainie & Howard Ishbia

Michelle Jarvis

Sarah Kahn

Debbie & Alex Kaufman

Marla & David Kepniss

Pam Landes

Mimi Leitner

Michele & Robert Levin

Laura & Alan Libove

Barbara & Dr. Arnold Lincow

Jodi Miller

Brian & Jessica Mono

Holly Nelson

Rabbi Stacy Rigler, RJE

Victoria Ritter

Elana Rivel, Jewish Learning Venture

Andrea & Scott Rosenthal

Rachel Rubin & Tink Fisher

Julie & Jordan Savitch

Amy, Jake, Max & Foster Schrader

Stacy Shapiro

Ronit Sherwin

Rachel L. Steinberg

Nancy Steinhouse & Robert Rosenthal

Liz Kaufman Taylor & Andrew Taylor

Joan Wallis

Arnee & Walter Winshall

LIVING LIFE WITH PURPOSE

RABBI ZUSYA

Knowing who we truly are is important. And our tradition tells us this in many ways, but perhaps none better than in the story of Rabbi Zusya. Once, the Hassidic rabbi Zusya came to his followers with tears in his eyes. They asked him: “Zusya, what’s the matter?”

And he told them about his vision: “I learned the question that the angels will one day ask me about my life.”

The followers were puzzled. “Zusya, you are pious. You are scholarly and humble. You have helped so many of us. What question about your life could be so terrifying that you would be frightened to answer it?”

Zusya replied: “I have learned that the angels will not ask me, ‘Why weren’t you a Moses, leading your people out of slavery?’ and that the angels will not ask me, ‘Why weren’t you a Joshua, leading your people into the promised land?’”

Zusya sighed. “They will say to me, ‘Zusya, why weren’t you Zusya?’”

QUESTIONS

• What is your reaction to this story?

• How do the achievements or expectations of others affect the way you evaluate your own accomplishments?

• How can you tell if you are being yourself?

ROSH HODESH BLESSING

chodesh Iyar. May the month of Iyar be a month of blessings: blessings of goodness, blessings of joy, peace and kindness, friendship, and love.