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January 2013 • Volume 27 • Issue 1

A Reform Congregation Embracing Our Jewish Tradition

SHABBAT SHIRAH 7th ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF JEWISH MUSIC Saturday Afternoon, January 26th 4:30 – 6:00 S’EUDAT SH’LISHEET Please bring a dairy nosh to share.

Put on a Smile and LOL During…

TBT Comedy Night Featuring Jerry Farber and Friends Saturday, February 9, 2013 7:30 p.m. Tam-Blank Social Hall at TBT

MUSIC with our Cantor, Rabbi, Choirs, soloists & instrumentalists

HAVDALAH Farewell to Shabbat. Hello to a good new week.

See page 7 for details

Fridays With Friends and Ruach Shabbat February 1, 2013 See page 13 for details News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

The Day the Rabbi Got Fermisht on the Bima After working with hundreds of students who have stepped forward to lead a congregation in prayer and to inspire them to live Jewish lives…it was my daughters’ turn. Yael and Leora each became a bat mitzvah just one month ago, and I couldn’t have felt prouder. I knew that they were well prepared (I had a little insight into that). I knew that their Hebrew was up to par. But to actually witness your children before you leading services like this is to see your past and future simultaneously stand in front of you. I was proud of how they conducted our service. I was proud of how they had their own honest encounter with the Torah. I was grateful to God for giving them this opportunity and for enabling Deborah and me to learn from them. So…all in all, it was a great day! But truth be told, I was completely overwhelmed. I couldn’t pronounce their names when I was supposed to call them forward to light the candles on Friday eve. I just said “come here.” And a highlight of Shabbat morning’s tefilah/service was to have an aliyah to the Torah with my beloved next to me as we stood next to Leora. Then it happened… we began to chant the blessing and…yes…“yours truly” messed it up! There was a roar of laughter from the congregation that I have never heard before. I was so caught up in the moment that after 11 years of correcting parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and kids…I got fermisht myself! What is the lesson to be learned from this? Is it that I should brush up on the blessings before I do it again? I don’t think so. I think my lesson is to take every moment I can as a father and husband to heart and be present. So present in the moment that I forget what I am supposed to do because the world stops so I can encounter it. What is the lesson for my congregants? Do they make sure the “cheat sheet” for the blessings is up on the reading table before I endeavor to this

again? No, probably not. Perhaps there is another lesson that is just as important as the first: that your rabbi is a dad who got fermisht on the bimah like lots of dads and moms. Maybe, as hard as he tries to be a good rabbi, he is just a guy with his fair share of flaws who loves that his girls love Torah and have grown into such mensches. So on this Shabbat, being a dad trumped being a rabbi for a moment. I hope you didn’t mind. In fact, I know…it was actually a great part of the celebration.

Rabbi Fred Greene

News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

Celebrating Freedom Through Song Did you know………the Shabbat preceeding “Martin Luther King Day” has become known as “MLK Shabbat?” Some years “MLK Shabbat” falls at the same time as “Shabbat Shirah,” resulting in double-celebration of freedom for Jews and African-Americans. This year, however, they fall on two separate Shabbatot. We hope you’ll attend the Erev Shabbat services (below) as well as our Shabbat Shirah program of Jewish Music. MLK SHABBAT Friday night, January 18 8:00 PM Many musical forces at TBT will join together as we honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The theme of freedom permeates our liturgy and this Erev Shabbat service will include special readings and music to highlight this important time of year. SHABBAT SHIRAH Friday night Family Service, January 25 6:30 PM Our 6th graders have been preparing for months to lead us in a music-filled service in honor of “Shabbat Shirah,” the Sabbath of Song. This service is for our entire congregation, not just the 6th graders and their families. SHABBAT SHIRAH Program of Jewish Music Saturday afternoon, January 26 4:30 - 6:00 PM For ‘all’ ages! This will be our 7th annual Shabbat Shirah program featuring our choirs as well as other singers and instrumentalists at TBT. We start off with a bite to eat (please bring something dairy to share), followed by lots of wonderful Jewish music and conclude with Havdalah. There is SO much more Jewish music to be shared with you in addition to what you may hear in services or Religious School! Cantor Nancy Kassel

News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

Religious School Welcome back to school! I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing winter vacation. I trust that all of our students, teachers, and parents are well rested and eager to begin the second half of the school year. School will resume on Tuesday, January 8th for our 3rd through 6th graders and Sunday, January 13th for the entire school. Kesher will resume classes on the 14th of January. Confirmation class will resume on January 21st. During the 5th grade Shabbat service, one could feel the anticipation and excitement experienced by the students as they were called up to the Bimah by the Rabbi, and presented with their personal Siddur. One only had to look at the parents and teachers to see the pride and naches reflected on their faces as we commemorated this event. Our Chanukah assembly was a hit and our 5th grade students were the stars. They performed several short skits and led us in song. The festivities continued in the classrooms as our students enjoyed playing Chanukah games while eating their donuts and gelt. We also celebrated Chanukah the week before with latkes and applesauce. Our 1st and 2nd grade families joined the Rabbi for a family education day. Parents and students created a beautiful menorah as an art project. Carrie Bickwit, our kindergarten teacher, entertained everyone with a wonderful Chanukah story. As we are beginning the second half of the year, we look forward to welcoming everyone back healthy, rested and ready to dive into the exciting semester we have planned for our students. Mark your calendars for these upcoming events: Friday, January 25th. 6th grade Shabbat Friday, February 8th 3rd grade Shabbat Sunday February 3rd PreK and Kindergarten Family Education Day th Sunday, February 10 7th grade Family Education Day Shalom

Hassia Levin

Early Childhood Education Center The Early Childhood Education Center would like to wish all of our families a very happy, healthy 2013! The Jewish Value for January is Shalom: Peace, Completeness. “The whole Torah exists only for the sake of shalom, “according to the Talmud (Tanhuma, Shoftim 18). Jewish prayer is filled with supplications for shalom. “Grant us Peace, your most precious gift, O Eternal Source of peace…” One of the names for G-d is Oseh Shalom-Maker of Peace. We are a people that, with history so full of tumult and destruction, seek serenity and security, not only for ourselves, but for the whole world. “Shalom” is even the salutation we use when greeting each other or taking our leave. In the early childhood classroom, the value of Shalom takes us beyond another way to get the children quiet. Psalms 34:15 tells us “Seek peace and pursue it.” Children can become Rod’fay Shalom“pursuers of peace,” finding ways to bring calm and community to their own classroom (one child is a Rodef Shalom). Peace requires action. Children can practice the mitzvah of Hava’at Shalom ben Adam L’chaveiro, bringing peace between people, by learning to mediate their own arguments. Children can learn the value of Sh’lom Bayit, creating peace in the home. This year, the ECEC wishes you and yours much Shalom. For more information or to take a tour of our wonderful school, please call me at 678-350-0076 or email preschool@bethtikvah.com. Shalom,

Jenifer Friedman ECEC Director

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

B’nai Mitzvah Benjamin Curtis Kaplan will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on January 26, 2013. Ben is the son of Brad and Jill Kaplan, and the brother to Jacob Kaplan. Ben is the grandson of Mr. Herbert Altman and the late Mrs. Sandi Altman of Brunswick, Georgia, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Jules Kaplan of Toledo, Ohio. He is in the 7th grade at High Meadows School where he participated in the inaugural season of Cross Country for the school. Ben enjoys playing bass and electric guitar, and is an avid soccer player.

Julie Hannah Dichtenberg will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on January 26, 2013. Julie is the daughter of Wendy and Gary Dichtenberg. She is the granddaughter of Rosalynne and Harry Cahn of New York, New York and Stella Dichtenberg of Chandler, Arizona. Julie is in the 7th grade at Crabapple Middle School where she participates in the CMS Drama Club and plays Roswell lacrosse. She is planting trees in Israel through the JNF as part of her mitzvah project.

Youth Group Before our normal youth group news, we’d like to share with you a few thoughts from one of our youth group members after attending the NFTY SAR Fall Kallah in November. NFTY’s regional events offer teens a wonderful way to get connected with other Jewish teens and with their own Jewish identity, as you’ll see from Zoe’s experience: “NFTY SAR’s Fall Kallah 2012 was hands down one of the best experiences of my life. This was my second Fall Kallah, so I sort of knew what to expect, but by the end of the weekend I was so happy that I went. This experience gave me the opportunity to catch up with old friends that I had met in previous events, and it allowed me to make brand new ones! The various workshops I got to attend helped me learn so much about the Jewish culture. The lessons I took from them are very beneficial towards helping me strengthen my Jewish identity. One workshop I attended was entitled “NFTY after High School”. This workshop talked about ways you can still be involved in Jewish activities after high school like going to Hillel, or joining a Jewish sorority or fraternity. All in all, I had a great weekend and I can’t wait until the next Kallah!”

December’s events included a city-wide Latke-in hosted by HOTTY with over 50 teens in attendance. The highlight of the evening was playing broomball (ice + sneakers + brooms).

JYG had a great time at the Chocolate Factory.

It’s not too late for high schoolers to sign up for Winter Kallah (January 18-21), and 7th and 8th graders should mark their calendars for THEIR one and only regional event of the year – Hatikvah Kallah on March 8-10.

News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

UPCOMING EVENTS: Join JYG (6th-8th graders) for Whirly Ball on January 13, and join HOTTY (9th-12th) at Sky Zone on January 26. Details are on our Facebook pages, or email youth@bethtikvah.com

Shalom Chaverim - ‫שלום חברים‬ I once read an article in which the reporter recalled attending a press conference with Elie Wiesel, and ending the question she asked him with saying, “By the way, I happen to be Jewish.” Wiesel responded not to her question, but to her parenthetical. “Don’t “happen to be Jewish”,” he told her, “Be Jewish.” Wiesel’s words ring in my head as I sit and write this, encouraging -- not just suggesting, but outright asking -each and every one of you to participate in our annual campaign this year: EveryONE Matters. It goes without saying, of course, that being part of a synagogue and synagogue life is being asked by people such as myself to donate to the synagogue and to participate in fundraising campaigns such as this one.

PARTICIPATION. No one amount is the “right” amount for every member. Whatever is comfortable for you and your family and where you are in your life is the correct amount. There is no right or wrong answer to this one. Just give. And let it be a true experience of nadiv lev -- a gift from the heart. Like our modern sage Elie Wiesel said, “Don’t happen to be Jewish. Be Jewish.” Show your commitment to Jewish life, to our congregation, to actively joining with us to create a vibrant kehillah, community, by helping us in funding the work we do for one another -- work that is done to and in our physical building that has an impact on the world at large. To quote Eli Wiesel once again: “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” But really -- I think this one is a little different. EVERYone matters and everyONE matters: Please Our goal for the EveryONE campaign is to have be a part of the work we are doing at TBT by being an 100% congregation-wide participation. This campaign isn’t active part of our congregation by choosing to participate in targeting certain members or certain initiatives. This this year’s annual fundraising campaign. You have the campaign is for everyone. This campaign is not as much choice: To be engaged, or to be indifferent. To happen to about dollars (though of course I would be remiss as a be a member of Temple Beth Tikvah, or to be a member of synagogue president if I said that dollars did not matter Temple Beth Tikvah. Join us, please. all!) as it is about people. We want each and every member of Temple Beth Tikvah to feel completely, holistically, and Shalom, organically committed to our life and work as a congregation, and to show your commitment through Steven C. Gerson annual giving. Although of course we have a targeted President monetary goal, what is REALLY important is YOUR

NEW MEMBERS Temple Beth Tikvah warmly welcomes the following new members to our family: Eric and Kay Smolin 3752 Old Towne Lane Cumming, GA 30040 (678) 513-7108 Rachel, Seaver and Eli

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

January 2013 TBT Happenings Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

New Year's Day

Synagogue Closed

7 No Religious School 9:30am ECEC Classes Resume 7pm Families Anonymous 7:15pm Melton Beyond Borders: The Arab Israeli Conflict 7:15pm Melton Ethics of Jewish Living

13 9:30am Religious School 9:30am Shacharit Morning Minyan 9:45am Leadership Development 9:45am Sisterhood Steering Committee 10am Melton - Your Child Has Questions 10:45am Adult Ed â€“ The Tower of Babel 12:30pm JYG Whirly Ball Atlanta

7pm Families Anonymous

7:30am TBT Business to Business

8pm Shabbat Service

7:30pm Step Up for Israel

12 9am B.L.T., Bagels Learning and Torah

10am Shabbat Service

7:30pm Choir Rehearsal

18 HOTTY - NFTY-SAR Winter Regional & Elections 9:45am ECEC Family Shabbat

7pm Kesher

8pm MLK Shabbat Service w/ Choir

7:30pm Board of Trustees Meeting

19 9am B.L.T., Bagels Learning and Torah 10am Shabbat Service 7pm Men's Club Event - Five Seasons Brewing Company

7:15pm Melton Ethics of Jewish Living

21 Martin Luther King Day

9am Tai Chi

24 7pm Yoga with a Jewish Twist

5pm Religious School

28 7pm Families Anonymous 7pm Kesher, Confirmation 7:15pm Melton Beyond Borders: The Arab Israeli Conflict

25 6pm Oneg Shabbat

6:30pm Shabbat Shirah Service led by the 6th Grade

7:30pm Choir Rehearsal 7:30pm Officers Meeting

7pm Families Anonymous

9:30am Religious School/ 4th Grade Family Ed Day 9:30am Shacharit Morning Minyan 10am Melton - Your Child Has Questions 10:45am Adult Ed Reuven 11am Beginning Hebrew Class II

5 9am B.L.T., Bagels Learning and Torah 10am Shabbat Service

5pm Religious School

7:15pm Melton Beyond Borders: The Arab Israeli Conflict

4 8pm Shabbat Service

9am Tai Chi

No ECEC Classes No Religious School Synagogue Office Closed

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

9 7:30pm Sisterhood Bunco

5pm Religious School

14 11:30am Seniors Luncheon

20 No Religious School

8 9am Tai Chi

Sat

3 6:00pm Relay for Life Steering Committee Dinner/Meeting

No Religious School

Fri

9am Tai Chi 5pm Religious School

26 Tu B'Shevat 9am B.L.T., Bagels Learning and Torah 10am Shabbat Service - Julie Dichtenberg and Benjamin Kaplan B'nai Mitzvah 4:30pm Shabbat Shirah Celebration 7pm HOTTY - Sky Zone

31 7pm Women's Study Group

7:30pm Achim TBT's Men's Group 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal

7:15pm Melton Ethics of Jewish Living

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

Donations Steve and RoseAnn Gerson Steve and RoseAnn Gerson in honor of the speedy recovery of Marsha Mathis' mother

Annual Campaign Sandy & Nancy Simon in memory of Ella Goldstein Jonathan and Rebecca Bennett in memory of Ellen Berger Lawrence and Anne Skal in memory of Joseph Cunix

Rabbi Greene's Discretionary Fund Michael and Nannette Wien in appreciation of Rabbi Greene Bruce Turiansky and Mariann Mamberg in memory of Isaac Mamberg Jane Greenberger in memory of Jacob Stern Lois Clymin in honor of Yael and Leora Greene's B'not Mitzvah Steve Mahan in memory of Anna Mahan Jeffrey Willard and Steve Mahan in memory of Ellen Berger Bart and Kara Segal in honor of Ilana's Bat Mitzvah Rosalind Taranto in honor of the B'not Mitzvah of Rabbi Greene's daughters Dr. and Mrs. Seth Zimmer in memory of Elaine Gralnick Mark and Arleen Reese in honor of Yael and Leora's B'not Mitzvah Scott and Nancy Harris in honor of the B'not Mitzvah of Yael and Leora Greene Jeffrey Willard and Steve Mahan in honor of the B'not Mitzvah of Yael and Leora Greene Elliot and Carol Millman in memory of Sallie Millman Lawrence and Anne Skal in honor of the B'not Mitzvah of Yael and Leora Greene Jonathan and Allison Agin in honor of Yael and Leora's B'not Mitzvah Eric and Victoria Stein for the Family Promise program Bernard & Rita Tuvlin in memory of Donald Miller

Building Fund Seymour and Renee Davis in memory of Don Riemenschneider Brad and Jill Kaplan in memory of Sandi Altman Campership/Israel Fund Fred and Patricia Landsberg in honor of Yael and Leora Greene becoming B'not Mitzvah Cantor Kassel's Discretionary Fund Walter and Esther Shultz in memory of Don Riemenschneider Michael and Nannette Wien in appreciation of Cantor Kassel Michael and Wanda Cohen in memory of Irving Cohen Bart and Kara Segal in honor of Ilana's Bat Mitzvah Caring/Kehillat Chesed Fund Ruth Zeidman in memory of Donald Miller Roberta Coad in memory of Dorothy Spielvogel Chumash Fund Jordan and Sherrie Wetstone in memory of Ellen Berger Education Fund George Plaza and Lyn Nelson in memory of Rose Haber's father Endowment Campaign The Chai & Mighty Chavurah in memory of Ellen Berger

Rabbi Tam's Discretionary Fund James & Lois Shaevel in memory of Don Riemenschneider Ilene and Zachary Monat in memory of Ellen Berger Barry Kaiser in memory of Herbert Merlin

General Fund Jay and Lois Barcus in honor of the birth of Samuel Walker Scher, grandson of Bonnie and Bruce Walkes Harlan & Ivie Graiser in memory of Theodore Hilsenrath and Ellen Berger, and in honor of Adam's graduation-MBA from Kennesaw State University Shirley Crawford Michelle Jacobowitz in memory of Frances and Philip Rosenbaum and Rose and Shimon Alter Jacobowitz Ronald and Leslie Swichkow in memory of Ellen Berger Rhonda Schweber in memory of Ellen Berger Peter and Lori Deutsch in memory of Ellen Berger Seymour and Renee Davis in memory of Albert Davis

Religious School Fund Hyman and Loretta Shapiro in honor of the anniversary of Ilene and Dave Shapiro The Staff at the North GA Pain Clinic in appreciation of Barry Straus Torah Fund Morray and Susan Scheinfeld in honor of Leora and Yael Greene's B'not Mitzvah and in memory of Don Riemenschneider Youth Fund Steve and RoseAnn Gerson in memory of Ellen Berger Jane Greenberger in memory of Benjamin Findley

Michael Zalkin Memorial Library Fund Mark and Gail Rudel in honor of Yael and Leora Greene becoming B'not Mitzvah Andrew and Ilana Zalkin in memory of Ellen Berger Gary and Dana Cohen in memory of Ellen Berger Preschool Fund Douglas Wexler in honor of granddaughter, Adriane Cooper's election as student President of Hillel at UGA for 2013

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

SOCIAL ACTION Ready to make your voice heard? New Jewish advocates needed in Georgia As Proverbs 31:9 teaches, “speak up, judge righteously, champion the poor and the needy.” With this message at its heart, the Southern District Social Action Committee of the Union for Reform Judaism, through its TzedekGeorgia reform Jewish advocacy project, is enlisting congregants from its 18 congregations in Georgia to join in an effort to lobby the state legislature on social justice issues. The goal is for participating members from all of our congregations to meet with their Georgia state legislators at the Capitol to address the root causes of social and economic injustice while advancing religious tolerance and human dignity. The issues at hand are consistent with the Jewish mandate of Tikun Olam – “repairing the world.” Proverbs 31:9 teaches that God expects us to speak up on behalf of the vulnerable in our society to those who make the civil laws by which we live. We must be the ones to speak for those who are oppressed and poor, who cannot plead for themselves nor pay others to plead for them. While the URJ’s Religious Action Center in Washington, DC, engages in the legislative process nationally, many social justice issues are resolved at the state level. We will use the positions taken by URJ resolutions adopted at URJ Biennials or passed by the URJ Board of Trustees as our guide to advocacy in Georgia. Your voice can make a difference. You can join the great tradition of Jewish social justice advocates from Moses to Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel who spoke out in defense of morality and justice. Experience with lobbying is not required. Participants who are new to the process will be trained on how to advocate effectively, with the project creating accessible opportunities to put into action for participants the knowledge gained through this training. To join the effort, please contact tzedekgeorgia@yahoo.com. For more information find us on the web at www.tzedekgeorgia.org. or call (770) 886-1704. .

Why Should You Join a Chavurah?

TUTORS NEEDED

The Chavurah program is designed to bring congregants with similar interests together who might otherwise not have an opportunity to meet. It is a chance for congregation members to get to know each other outside the synagogue, yet it is designed to build relationships within the synagogue.

National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Atlanta section is seeking TUTORS as part of the Atlanta Jewish Coalition for Literacy program. The tutors will help children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade with reading. For just one hour a week and not too far from your home, you can positively and permanently change the life of a child. Most tutors work with one child 3045 minutes per week at a school near the tutor’s home. The goal is to increase early reading among the children who will become independent readers. What a mitzvah to make a difference and get involved in this community program. It is a win-win situation for both you and the children. For more information on how to become a tutor, please contact Rita Zadoff at the NCJW office 404-843-9600 or e-mail ritaz@ncjwatlanta.org.

When does a Chavurah meet? Each Chavurah usually meets once a month in the homes of its members (or at another location), in rotation. With that said, each Chavurah sets the frequency of meeting that works best for that particular group. The group will decide on the most convenient dates and times based on the schedules of all its members. Sometimes meetings alternate adult only and family events. How large is a Chavurah? Each group should have approximately twenty members. However, there are no "rules" about the group size. Chavurot exists for individuals and families.

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

“Upon examination and reviewing the results of his recent echocardiogram, I knew the patient’s valves were incredibly dysfunctional; I had no idea how he was alive,” said Dr. Lipsitt. “I never dreamed it would be possible to get Eyasu to Atlanta for this operation. However, with the cooperation of Gwinnett Medical Center, Dr. Langford, Jewish Healthcare International and Congresman Tom Price, as well as the generous donation of valves from Medtronic, an impossible feat was accomplished.

Michael & Jeanne Lipsitt give the gift of life this holiday season Earlier this year we shared a story of Tikkun olam, as Temple Beth Tikvah congregants Michael and Jeanne Lipsitt were seeking to bring Eyasu Minas Woldekikos to America from Ethiopia for a life-saving valve replacement surgery. The Lipsitt’s decided to utilize all their resources to make this incredible journey into a reality. For nearly nine years, Michael – an interventional cardiologist – and Jeanne – a cardiac nurse – have been volunteering with Jewish Healthcare International (JHI), an international non-profit organization of multi-specialty healthcare professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to improve the quality of and access to healthcare services for communities in need throughout the world.

The Lipsitt’s commitment to Woldekikos didn’t end following the surgery. They housed the patient at their home, while Jeanne performed the critical post-surgery care.

The Lipsitt’s were part of only the second medical group to visit Ethiopia on behalf of JHI. While there they met the 29-year old Woldekikos, who required valve replacement surgery resulting from severe rheumatic fever experienced as a child, and were determined to save his life.

Once Woldekikos was recovered, they served as tour guides, so that Woldkikos and his companion/translator could visit several sites around the state and take home memories beyond a hospital room.

There were numerous obstacles that the Lipsitt’s had to traverse to get Woldkikos to America to receive the necessary medical care needed to save his life. First, they worked with Congressman Tom Price for an expedited visa approval. Simultaneously, they negotiated with Gwinnett Hospital to secure medical facilities for the procedure. Once all this was secured, they personally financed to bring Woldkiko and his traveling companion to America.

To date, the Lipsitts have visited Minsk in Belarus, Odessa in Ukraine, and Kishenev in Moldova on behalf of JHI. They look forward to many more journeys across the globe to make a difference.

In addition, Michael performed a left and right heart catheterization on the patient. Dr. David A. Langford perfectly performed the successful complex triple valve replacement. This charitable work was made possible by contributions from individuals, from the hospital, and from Jewish Healthcare International.

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

Summer Camp Scholarships

JF&CS - PAL Program Carly Sirlin understands the impact a positive mentor can have on the development of a child. She also knows not all children are lucky enough to have an adult in their lives with whom they can form that unique kind of relationship. As the new PAL program coordinator at JF&CS, her goal is to match children who need someone to trust and look up to – someone who can have a positive influence on their life – with the right adult. “Having a consistent, responsible and caring adult is so important,” Carly said. “With the right match, a child can build his or her social skills and enhance his or her ability to form adult relationships. It also can enhance the interactions within the child’s own family.” A program in JF&CS’ Child & Adolescent Services – Tools for Families division, PAL, also known as Atlanta’s only Jewish big brother/big sister program, provides one-on-one mentoring relationships to children between the ages of 5 and 17 who live in single-parent homes or diverse families who could benefit from this type of nurturing relationship. But PAL is not simply a Jewish mentoring program. More than just a role model, a PAL is a caring Jewish adult volunteer who can help your child grow and develop in new ways. And right now, JF&CS is looking for more PALs – big and little. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for people in the community who want to give back and for kids who could benefit from some extra TLC,” said Jackie Cohen*, whose son, Charlie*, is a little PAL. “Kids have different needs and adults have different things to offer, and the program tries to match up the right ones.” PAL currently has 18 matches and about 500 “alumni”, which includes younger PALs who have “graduated” from the program (those who have turned 18) and past volunteers. Carly is working to grow the program and incorporate more training to meet new requirements. For example, all volunteers now go through training to report child abuse and neglect. She also is planning more social opportunities, including big PAL get-togethers that will allow the adult volunteers to network, to get suggestions from each other and build a greater sense of community. “We also want to start an initiative that will provide mentorship opportunities for big PALs,” said Carly. “When a new volunteer signs on, he or she will be matched with a more seasoned PAL to meet for coffee or get advice when necessary. And because it can be hard to find free or low cost activities, I’m hoping to create more opportunities for all PALs as well as their families to get together at community and program-sponsored events.” For more information about finding a PAL for your child, if you or someone you know might be interested in volunteering as a big PAL or if you would like to donate to or sponsor an event for PAL, please contact Carly at csirlin@jfcs-atlanta.org or 770.677.9390. Adults must be at least 21 years old and must commit to a minimum of one year, with two visits each month and contact by phone at least once each week.

TBT is proud to have 90 kids go to different Jewish summer programs last summer and hopes the number will continue to rise. To help do our part, we have a Scholarship Committee that provides modest needbased grants for Jewish summer camps, service learning, and Israel programs. If you need financial assistance to get your child to one of these overnight programs, please send a confidential letter to Rabbi Greene at rabbigreene@bethtikvah.com. A committee will sensitively review all requests. Allocations are made from a restricted fund called the Campership/ Israel Scholarship Fund. The monies from this fund are received from individual contributions, the Men's Club, Sisterhood, and our clergy's discretionary funds. If you have any questions, please contact Rabbi Greene.

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

Join the Menâ€™s Club for an evening out at The 5 Seasons Brewing Company

Sisterhood Bunco at TBT

January 9th 7:30 pm

January 19th at 7:00 pm

$5 at the door for the winning pot!

$25 per person admission covers the tour, one beer or wine and appetizers

Fun drinks and snacks provided

(additional drinks may be purchased)

Come schmooze with your TBT sisters.

Couples are welcome and we hope to see some new faces.

Check out our new Facebook page to get updates and event information

Please contact Neil Goldstein or Ted Nathan if you are interested in joining us or have any questions. More info after the first of the year.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/ TempleBethTikvahSisterhood

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

ADULT ED THANK YOU TO OUR KEHILLAT CHESED COMMITTEE All Kehillat Chesed Committee members are cordially invited to a Brunch

Joshua ben Perachyah said: Find for yourself a teacher and get yourself a friend; and judge every man towards merit. Pirkei Avot 1

Sunday, January 13 at 10:00 am at the home of Leslie Swichkow.

New Class Starting Sunday, Jan 13

Please RSVP to lswichkow@comcast.net by January 9, 2013

SUNDAY MORNING TEXT STUDY WITH RABBI PAMELA GOTTFRIED

If you are currently serving on the Kehillat Chesed Committee in any capacity, this is a small way to thank you for all your efforts. If you would be interested in joining our committee and serving the TBT community through Kehillat Chesed, please feel free to contact Leslie.

January 13th, January 27th, February 10th, February 24th, March 10th 10:45-11:45 a.m. in the Library RSVP to rsvp@bethtikvah.com

Pamela Jay Gottfried is a rabbi, parent, teacher and the author of Found in Translation: Common Words of Uncommon Wisdom. Since her rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1993, Gottfried has taught students of all ages in synagogues, churches, JCCs, day schools & colleges. She prefers to teach Melton courses at The Brill Institute and ceramics at Camp Ramah Darom. Gottfried is an alumna of Clalâ€™s Rabbis Without Borders and a volunteer at North Fulton Community Charities. Course Description: Looking at familiar biblical stories, we will examine how the early sages communicated their ethical concerns through storytelling. Each session will include the careful reading of a biblical text and a sampling of rabbinic literature related to that passage. Our discussions will center on essential questions related to the human condition.

Nominating Committee - Call for Petitions Itâ€™s not too early to begin thinking about our new slate of volunteers for our May congregational meeting. The Temple Beth Tikvah Nominating Committee is requesting nominations by petition for the 2013-2014 Board of Trustees, Officers, and Board of Education. If you would like to nominate a congregant or submit a nomination for yourself, these are the criteria, according to our by-laws: 1) All nominations by petition must be separate for each position. 2) Each petition must be signed by twenty-five (25) *voting members of the congregation and must also be signed by the voting member who has petitioned. 3) No more than one (1) petition shall be submitted for any one member. 4) All petitions must be submitted by March 1, 2013. *A voting member is defined as "member in good standing" by our constitution.

Click here for a listing of all upcoming Adult Ed classes

Please send all nominations to the Temple office, attention to Vicki Steine, Nominating Committee Chair.

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

Condolences

Submissions for the February Kol Tikvah are due to the synagogue office by Monday, January 7. Please email to koltikvah@bethtikvah.com

Temple Beth Tikvah acknowledges with sorrow the passing of: Elle Goldstein Mother of Cindy Getty Donald Miller Father of Kimberly Rosenthal Harriet Hoffspiegel Aunt of Julie Scott

HELP US HELP YOU

Adeline Shilling Mother of Spencer Shilling

Your synagogue community wants to be a Caring Community/Kehillat Chesed.

Emanuel Eisner Grandfather of Wendy Lenhard & Karen Kremer Hedy Pollack Mother of Robin Elinger Lorraine Korsen Mother of David Korsen

May God console you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

If you have recently experienced a loss or are facing a crisis, please let our office know as soon as possible. Our clergy and friends strive to be a source of support as best as they can. If you know of one of our fellow congregants that has experienced a loss or can use a hand, please contact the office at 770.642.0434.

Schmooze News / Kudos Corner Mazal Tov to... Adriane Cooper, granddaughter of Douglas Wexler and a junior at the University of Georgia, has been elected President of Hillel for 2013. Adriane has also worked with Jenifer Friedman for the past two summers at the TBT preschool summer camp. Jewish Family & Career Services on being awarded the 2012 Managing for Excellence Award from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. â€œIt is hard to sing of oneness when our world is not complete, when those who once brought wholeness to our life have gone and naught but memory can fill the emptiness their passing leaves behindâ€?.

Planning a simcha or group gathering? The Tam-Blank Social Hall is the Place to Be. For more information on renting our Social Hall, contact the synagogue office at 770-642-0434.

The following Memorial Plaque has been placed onto our Memorial Board this past month:

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

TBT Seniors Luncheon Monday, Jan 14 at 11:30 AM Proudly presents

Dr. Michael and Jeanne Lipsitt representing Jewish Healthcare International This wonderful couple are active members of TBT and they travel the world giving medical treatment wherever needed. Some of the countries they have visited are Minsk, Belarus, Odessa, Ukraine and Ethiopia. They have shown the true meaning of Tikkun Olam. Please join us to hear their amazing stories. RSVP to Ruth Zeidman at 770.552.1966

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

Synagogue Information Synagogue Office Fax Number School Office (Perri) Preschool (Jenifer) Assistant to Clergy Financial Secretary Admin. Assistant Office Manager

- 770-642-0434 - 770-642-0647 - 770-642-4168 - 678-350-0076 - Michelle Leder - Jenny Korsen - Lisa Singer - Becky Sullivan

Potential Customers are Reading this Publication Right Now! Call Lisa at 770.642.0434 to find out how you can advertise your business.

Get Involved! TBT Committees and Chairpersons Adult Education Cindy Getty cindygetty@me.com Budget & Finance Harlan Graiser harlanng@yahoo.com Chavurot Ivie Graiser iviegraiser@yahoo.com College Outreach Lynda Bennett lrbennett08@comcast.net Ginger Glazer ggchoc@bellsouth.net Communications Dave Faupel davefaupel8@yahoo.com Fundraising Ruben Braiter rbraiter@manh.com Gift Shop Pam Alterman pmalterman@earthlink.net Carrie Bickwit carriebickwit@yahoo.com Rhonda Schweber rschweber@comcast.net House Ted Nathan tnathan@baldwinscheduling.com Human Resources Karen Moss karenmoss4@msn.com

Israel Gene Carasick gcarasick@gmail.com Kehillat Chesed (Caring) Leslie Swichkow lswichkow@comcast.net Membership Recruitment & Retention Mark Rudel mrudel@ups.com Menâ€™s Club Neil Goldstein nsg24@cornell.edu Nominating Committee Vicki Steine vicsteine@comcast.net Outreach To Be Determined Ritual Esther Shultz savtaesther5@gmail.com Rosh Chodesh Womenâ€™s Group Pam Chanin chaninp@bellsouth.net Security Michael Gutkin gutkin1@bellsouth.net Seniors Ruth Zeidman zeidmanr@comcast.net

Mary_block@hotmail.com Social Action Jeff Willard pursuejustice@comcast.net Rodney Eberhardt reberhardt@amerisourcebergen.com Social Committee To Be Determined Website Development Mark Weiss maweiss@mindspring.com Scott Povlot spovlot@yahoo.com Youth Group Michal Loventhal and Debra Schwartz loventhalmichal@gmail.com dls63@bellsouth.net

Sisterhood Mary Block

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

For A Special Friend: A courtesy examination & x-ray at no charge when you present this card

LEVINSON CHIROPRACTIC & VAX-D CENTER 5457 Roswell Road, Suite 102 Sandy Springs, Georgia 30342 404-257-0404

www.levinsonchiropractic.com

Potential Customers are Reading this Publication Right Now! Call Lisa at 770.642.0434 to find out how you can advertise your business.

Publication’s Title and Number: Kol Tikvah • Volume 27 Issue 1 Issue Date: January 2013 Frequency: Monthly Authorized Organization’s Name and Address: Temple Beth Tikvah • 9955 Coleman Road • Roswell, GA 30075 19

News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah

Fred Greene Rabbi Donald A. Tam Rabbi Emeritus Nancy Kassel Cantor Hassia Levin Education Director Jenifer Friedman ECEC Director Steve Gerson President Ron Swichkow President-Elect Paul Beckman Vice President Todd Boehm Vice President Marsha Mathis Vice President Mark Craig Treasurer Rhonda Povlot Secretary Seth Zimmer Chairperson, Board of Education

TBT Comedy Night February 9th, 2013 TBT Social Hall Featuring Jerry Farber and Friends

More details on page 7