October 2012 • Volume 26 • Issue 10
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
A Reform Congregation Embracing Our Jewish Tradition
Caring Community In the mishnah, we find the text Eilu D’varim she-ein lahem shi-ur. It speaks of “priceless acts whose worth cannot be measured” and continues by enumerating the often simple responsibilities of moments of connection that are an integral part of living a Jewish life, acts like dealing graciously with guests, visiting the sick, providing for the wedding couple.
ness. There is a lot of unknowns and fear when we are in a wilderness. But when we journey together, we can keep those who are struggling next to us up as we walk arm in arm.
We need you. It is more than getting volunteers, we need a community who will lend a helping hand from time to time. If you can prepare a meal, make a call to bring comfort, check in with our neighbors, have a conversation with someone who is facing a I believe that we can soften one another’s sorrows when we share similar struggles as you have faced (this is through our One to One program), let us know. Leslie Swichkow is our Kehillat Chethem. During our shacharit (morning) service on Rosh Hashanah, when sed/Caring Committee Chairperson, and she would love to hear I spoke about some of our dreams as a “world class synagogue,” from you. Just contact our office to get in touch. She would love one of the first things I mentioned was to have a Caring Commit- to hear from you. tee, our Kehillat Chesed, to be fully “staffed” so that we are not May your Sukkot be inspiring and your journey sweet. simply a nice community, but a true Caring Community. The Rabbi Fred Greene challenge, of course, is that the work is endless. But I believe that there are few things as satisfying as being present for someone Notes from the Cantor else, even for someone who we do not know. Rabbi Alexander Schindler, a remarkable human being who served as president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations until his death in 2000 wrote something so powerful to illustrate the power of a caring community:
A FEW REFLECTIONS ON TBT COMMUNITY I keep thinking back on the evening of our “Blue Jean Shabbat” and how it exemplified the kind of community Temple Beth Tikvah is and can continue to be when we put our attention on it. It was one of those undeniably “feel good” moments in our synagogue’s history and a vision I hold to inspire our next 25 years. There were hundreds of people here of all different ages, sharing a meal together and then singing and praying with full hearts in our outdoor chapel. Wearing casual clothes and praying with contemporary music was only one aspect of the evening’s success. So many our of members volunteered their time to prepare the food and music and orchestrate this evening. THIS……. is what it’s all about! It takes PEOPLE BEING PRESENT to make a true community. Community is not an intellectual, heady thing. Community is PEOPLE. ‘Jewish’ community is not created by clergy, staff and lay leadership alone. It takes ALL of us – all of us studying, learning from one another, joining our voices in prayer, and being there for each other when we are celebrating and struggling. It doesn’t matter how much you know or don’t know about Judaism – our “Gateways” are ALWAYS OPEN. Walk on in, be present, and help create the kind of Jewish community you know is important. Cantor Nancy Kassel
Our lives are a wilderness, uncharted and unpredictable-untimely deaths, unexpected blows, unsuitable matches, unfulfilled dreams. And yet, by gathering our heartaches into a house of worship, we find something transformative happening-our sorrows become windows of compassion. Paths through the wilderness, hewed and marked by past generations, give us our bearings. Patterns of meaning and significance emerge. We are moved from self-pity to love. Our individual heartbeats merge with the pulse of all humankind. Suddenly we no longer tremble like an uprooted reed. None of us is immune from life’s struggles. But, as Rabbi David Wolpe observes in his book Making Loss Matter, we can be uplifted and strengthened by bringing meaning to our lives. One of the ways to do that is to share some of the love that we received when we felt empty, when we had a hole due to a loss, and share some of the love that we received with others. It isn’t easy. Rabbi Wolpe even says it is courageous, but in a dramatically fastpaced, complicated world, the need for community has never been greater. As a congregation, a sacred community, we can do so much to offer hope, strength and comfort. As we enter into the Festival of Sukkot, we are reminded that after the liberation from slavery, we journey through the wilder2
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
SUKKOT & SIMCHAT TORAH — NOT JUST FOR KIDS! On the heals of the highly successful “Blue Jean Shabbat” and the soul-searching of the High Holy days come two more major holidays in our Hebrew calendar: Sukkot & Simchat Torah. I’m sure many of us have sweet memories of celebrating these holidays in our youth, as I have from growing up at The Temple here in Atlanta. There are many layers to both Sukkot and Simchat Torah that should continue to be peeled as we grow older. Ten or twenty years from now, wouldn’t it be nice to recall having had a meaningful and joyous celebration of these holidays? The Torah is at the root of our study and ritual and we are taught: all of its paths lead to shalom, to peace. Come join us on Sunday evening, Oct. 7 as we pray, sing and even dance with the Torah. After all, the Torah was given to ALL of us, young and old and in between! ADULT, JR. & TEEN CHOIRS — NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED! ADULT CHOIR: rehearses 2 to 3 Tuesday evenings per month during the school year. JR. CHOIR: rehearses on SOME BUT NOT ALL Sundays after Religious School, from 12:00 to 12:30. TEEN CHOIR: rehearses on SOME BUT NOT ALL Sundays after Religious School, from 12:00 to 12:30. Please contact me at cantorkassel@bethtikvah.com if you or your child are interested in participating in these choirs. It’s never too late!
Shalom Chaverim - שלום חברים What a difference twenty-five years makes. As you will remember my mentioning on Rosh Hashanah, I still can so vividly recall our first Shabbat together as a congregation, with Hassia and I leading services in the social hall of Saint David’s Episcopal Church. What a beautiful Shabbat that was, as we first came together as a community with a common ideology. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Temple Beth Tikvah this month I am reminded of how our goal then, as it is now, was to establish a congregation of members actively engaged in Jewish thought and Jewish life: Using the Reform movement as our foundation, we would seek to continue to pursue the more traditional and conservative parts of our faith, pushing ourselves intellectually and spiritually to seek a forwardfacing connection to our past. As you know, the name of our shul is Temple Beth Tikvah -- literally, House of Hope. By being members of this congregation, we are charged with building, fostering, and nurturing this hope, and this place of hope. But what does this mean? What does it mean to further hope? Hope is about individuals coming forward. Here at our shul, we talk so much about community, but what is a community but a collective of individuals. What we do -- what each of us does -- creates hope. For our TBT community, for our children, for our fellow Jews everywhere. Here at Temple Beth Tikvah, we talk about our four gateways -- gateways that further our understanding of our own faith, how we practice it, and how it inspires how we interact with one another and the world at large. Those gateways are community, prayer, study, and healing. Community -- how do we gather as individuals to make a larger whole; prayer -- how do we gather as a community to turn inwards as individuals as we pray; study -- how do we turn to our neighbors and friends and those who are still strangers to us to deepen our understanding of ourselves through our texts; healing -- and how do we use all of the above to bring greater wholeness to the world. In doing these things, we actively make hope. We create the possibility of more where before there might have been none. We solidify our promise to our generation of Jews, and to the next. And in celebrating our 25th anniversary, we invite you to join with us in engaging in each of those gateways. On Friday, October 12 at 8 p.m. we will begin our weekend of celebration with prayer: Our special Kabbalat Shabbat service will feature our artist in residence, Broadway star and chazzan of Temple Israel of Hollywood Danny Maseng with the Temple Beth Tikvah choir. On Shabbat morning of Saturday, October 13, Danny Maseng will lead us in study at 9 am prior to Shabbat morning services at our BLT (Bagels, Lox, and Torah) study session , with services beginning at 10 am. After the conclusion of Shabbat, on Saturday, October 13th at 8 pm we will join as a community for a special concert given by Danny Maseng, and on Sunday, October 14th we will commit to furthering healing in our world with the kick-off of the first annual Relay For Life Ruach Atlanta event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Study, prayer, community, healing: What an incredible 25 years it has been. Shalom, Steven C. Gerson, President
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News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Religious School We’ve had a great start to our school year. What a feeling to see our empty rooms suddenly become full of life. Happy faces and cheerful voices were heard throughout the building, and Jewish learning in every room! I am so proud of our wonderful teachers for creating engaging lessons and of our outstanding students who come every session eager to learn. For those of you with Pre K and kindergarten children attending religious school or Jewish day school and those of you with children in first through third grade who have not been consecrated, please mark your calendar for our consecration service on Sunday, October 7th at 6:30 PM. Each child will receive a blessing by the Rabbi under a tallit, a torah scroll of their own, and a certificate that you can keep to remember this meaningful ceremony. Please RSVP to the school office if your child will participate in this ceremony. Our students were again very fortunate to have Dr. Joel Margolies came to the school during this busy holiday season. Dr. Margolies taught the children about the Shofar, the meaning of the sounds the Shofar makes and let the students experience the Shofar up close. To conclude his lessons he blew the Shofar for the students. Thanks to Dr. Margolies for volunteering his time at the school. We are looking forward to our 5th & 6th Grade Retreat which will be held October 25th-26th this year. We have many awesome activities planned so please stay tuned for more details. This year we are continuing with our fundraising and tzedakah projects. Thanks to TBT Congregant Arthur Blank from the Atlanta Falcons, who is very supportive and generous to our school, we have an amazing fundraiser for the beginning of our school year. We have two packages to raffle. The first package includes 4 Tickets for the November 18 th Falcons/ Cardinals game in a luxury suite, 4 Pre Game Sideline Passes and 2 Falcons Shirts and 2 Hats. The second package includes a football signed by Tony Gonzalez and a Falcons backpack. The raffle drawing will be held November 11th during Sunday School. For those of you who are not familiar with the luxury suites, they are a premium seat option in the Georgia Dome. Inside, there is a bar and lounge area where you can relax before the event. With private restrooms, locker storage areas, plasma televisions, and more, this is a suite experience like none other! The games are also catered with complimentary delicious food and beverages. This is a once in a lifetime experience that you won’t forget and will help to benefit our school. Tickets this year will be $20 each or 3 for $50. You can mix and match the tickets between the two raffles. You do not need to be a RS family or member to purchase a raffle ticket. Tickets can be purchased from any religious school family or in the religious school office. We are counting on your support for the success of this fundraiser. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Shalom
Hassia Levin For Girl Scouts, there are: Lehavah Award (Grades 2-3) Bat Or Award (Grades 4-6) Menorah Award (Grades 7-9) Or Emunah Award (Grades 10-12)
Calling all Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cubs and Brownies… We are starting to form the courses for scouts (both girls and boys) in our community to provide them an opportunity to earn their religious emblems based on the various ranks.
Classes will be on Sunday afternoons beginning in November. We anticipate these emblems will be completed in time for Scout Shabbat, tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 8, 2013.
For Boy Scouts, there are: Maccabee (Tigers) Aleph (Wolf/Bear/Webelos) Ner Tamid (Boy Scouts/Venturers ages 11-14) Etz Chaim (Boy Scouts/Venturers ages 14-18) Shofar (Adults)
If you are interested in receiving more information, please contact Tony Rosenberg at trosenberg860@gmail.com. 4
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
B’nai Mitzvah David Alexander Zukowski will be called to the Torah at as Bar Mitzvah on October 13, 2012. David is the son of Suzanne and Russ Zukowski and brother to Matthew. He is the grandson of Ann and Larry Winitsky, Gina Wolf, and Carlos Zukowski and Terri Union. David is in 7th grade at Crabapple Middle School where he plays percussion in the band. He enjoys playing soccer and basketball, playing video games, and watching Braves baseball. He is looking forward to sharing this day with his family and friends. Aaron Ross Shapiro will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on October 13, 2012. Aaron is the son of Ilicia and Bob Shapiro and the brother of Carly, 18, and Samantha, 15. He is the grandson of Warren and Cheryl Alifeld and the late Sandy Ashe and Bernie and Selma Shapiro, all of Atlanta. Aaron attends Dodgen Middle School and is in the 7th grade. Aaron loves sports; he plays football, lacrosse and basketball. Aaron loves working on the computer and has even had several apps published on the iTunes store. He is collecting used sporting equipment to donate to the North Fulton Community Charity for his mitzvah project. Aaron is looking forward to sharing this special day with family and friends. Skyler Neil Rabson will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on October 27, 2012. He s the son of Drs. Diane and John Rabson and brother to Jake and Maggie Rabson. He is an Honor Student in the 7th grade at Hightower Trail Middle School. He enjoys all sports, especially playing basketball and travel baseball. He has a love for music, including playing the saxophone in his school band and the piano. He likes to travel, play video games, read and especially likes hanging out with this friends. His mitzvah projects included many ways of helping out in the community, focusing on people in need. We wish him all the best and hope all his dreams come true.
Early Childhood Education Center The new school has year gotten off to a great start! The children have been busy settling into their regular classroom routines with old friendships renewing and new ones forming. The teachers and I are eager to see all of the children’s growth and development over the next few months. Our staff this year includes: Sheri Baker, Mary Block, Lisa Garris, Deborah Greene, Laura Gordon, Alicia Hirsch, Karen Kremer, Lisa Laudicina, Rebecca Mattace, Jill Matthews, Rhonda Povlot, Maria Schwartz, Martyne Seidband, Linda Siegel, Ellisa Vitulli and Rachel Wilson. I would like to thank all of these special women for their hard work and commitment to our wonderful school. This past month has been an extremely busy time of year for our school. Our teachers have been hard at work planning many exciting and new activities for our children. During the month of September, our finest and youngest were dipping apples in honey, making round challahs, and singing happy birthday to the world. They were also busy doing what children do best…playing. The ECEC would like to welcome our new families to the Temple Beth Tikvah community! For more information or to take a tour of our wonderful school, please call me at at 678-350-0076 or email preschool@bethtikvah.com. Shalom, Jenifer Friedman
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
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TBT Community If you wish to buy a luminaria in honor of or in memory of someone you can do so by following the instructions below.
There is still time to join with or support a Temple Beth Tikvah Relay for Life—Ruach Atlanta team. Please follow the instructions below to Donate or Support A Team or Participant. You can also sign up for a team at this website. Look for names of Beth Tikvah congregants and make a donation or walk with us! 1. Go to www.relayforlife.org/ruachga
1. Go to www.relayforlife.org/ruachga 2. Right side of page look for MORE EVENT INFORMATION (black letters in grey box) 3. Click on Luminaria (first item beneath MORE EVENT INFORMATION) 4. Click on DEDICATE LUMINARIA 5. Options: Participant, Team or Event 6. If you choose Event, you have the option to dedicate In Memory of Someone or In Honor of Someone 7. Follow online prompts
We look forward to seeing you on the 14th. Please come out and support this inaugural relay! Roswell Area Park 10495 Woodstock Road
2. Right side of page look for: DONATE (white letters in purple square)
Roswell, GA 30075 Once you drive into the park, please follow the main road toward the back past the curve, facilities, and playground until you can make your first left (at the stop sign) into a large open parking lot area. The football field is right there. See you on the field!!!!!
3. Options: Support a participant or Support a team 4. Choose option, type your name and click on go and follow online prompts
Join us for our first Seniors Luncheon of the Season!
His program is “Revisiting Tuesdays with Morrie" You've read the book, You've seen the film. now learn how the Jewish experience reshaped America.
Monday, Oct.15th 11:30 AM Our special speaker is Mr. Bob Bahr, former executive at CBS News and CNN.
You don't want to miss this program.
Please RSVP to Ruth Zeidman at 770.552.1966
He is active in the religious and cultural life in the Atlanta Jewish Community. 6
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
TBT Teams Up with the MJCCA Book Festival
Temple Beth Tikvah and The Book Festival of the MJCCA invite you to the ESTHER G LEVINE COMMUNITY READ on Community Partners Night as we present Rabbi Harold Kushner’s
The Book of Job Monday, November 12, 2012 8:15 pm at the MJCCA 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338 Information and tickets are available on-line at atlantajcc.org/bookfestival or by calling the MJCCA Box Office at 678.812.4005. Temple Beth Tikvah members are invited to purchase Book Festival series tickets and individual tickets to their host event (only) at the MJCCA member rate online. In order to receive this special discount, TBT members must enter the Community Partner Coupon Code, TBT, online at the time of their ticket purchase on the ticket order form page.
From one of our most trusted spiritual advisers comes a thoughtful, illuminating guide to that most fascinating of biblical texts, The Book of Job, and what it can teach us about living in a troubled world. The story of Job is one of unjust things happening to a good man. Rabbi Harold S. Kushner examines the questions raised by Job’s experience: What kind of God permits such bad things to happen to good people? Why does God test loyal followers? Can a truly good God be all-powerful? The Book of Job is balm for a distressed age—and Rabbi Kushner’s most important book since When Bad Things Happen to Good People.
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News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
October 2012 TBT Happenings
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News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Donations Jerry and Marcy Kaufman in honor of the marriage of Keith and Melanie Benator Gary and Fran Kamp in honor of Rabbi Greene Robert and Adele Toltzis in memory of Arthur Toltzis, Harriette Seifstein, Mitchell Seifstein and Norton Simons Gerald Prosterman in memory of Sandra Prosterman Ricky and Allyson Thompson in honor of Rabbi Greene Howard and Cynthia Steinberg in memory of Sondra Prosterman Jerry and Marcy Kaufman in memory of Joselyn Berg Bradley and Kimberly Peters in honor of the wedding of Melanie Kaufman and Keith Benator Stanley and Joan Baker in honor of Drew's Bar Mitzvah Ric and Barrie Mershon in honor of Rabbi Greene's support, generosity and kindness Peter and Helene Levinson in honor of Jason's Torah honor upon the anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah Stan Reich in memory of Margaret Danzig Bruce and Carol Waldman in memory of Arthur Pollak
Annual Campaign Saul and Gloria Levenson in memory of David Levenson and Henry Sirot Steve and RoseAnne Gerson in memory of Florence Friedman Building Fund Dale and Wendy Bearman in memory of Julius "Jay" Bearman Andy Berke and Family in memory of Stanley Berke Campership/Israel Fund Barbara Giordano in memory of Israel Gerber Cantor Kassel’s Discretionary Fund Michael and Lisa Cohen in appreciation of Cantor Kassel for all her help in preparing Josh for his Bar Mitzvah Stanley and Joan Baker in honor of Drew's Bar Mitzvah Peter and Helene Levinson in honor of Jason's Torah honor upon the anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah Ruth Zeidman in memory of Celia Mendelson Endowment Fund Lawrence and Anne Skal in memory of Samuel Skal
Rabbi Tam’s Discretionary Fund Martin and Fern Soniker in memory of David Soniker Alan and Barbara Chaiet in memory of David Mellinger Barry Kaiser in memory of Irving Kaiser Gene Carasick and Terry Apt Carasick in memory of Simon Rieder
General Fund Richard and Susan Staviss in honor of the birth of Ari and Daniel Cooper Seymour and Renee Davis in honor of Amanda Davis becoming a Bat Mitzvah Veronica Krapf in memory of Matilda Benefield Dror Bezalel in honor of the birth of Ari and Daniel Cooper Neil and Ruth Hilsen in memory of Edna Licht Lonnie, Debbie, Devyn & Allie Carter in memory of Sy Lewis Mark and Sally Vosk in honor of Mandy Davis becoming a Bat Mitzvah Shirley Crawford Kathleen Schoenblum in memory of Duane Rutte Shirley Crawford
Religious School Fund Fred and Patricia Landsberg in memory of Mildred Turkel School Scholarship Fund Terry and Michelle Stein in honor of Rachel's academic and musical achievement David and Ellen Herold in memory of Carole Kaminsky Torah Fund Morray and Susan Scheinfeld in memory of Morris Belger Ira and Phyllis Madans in memory of Carol Robinson
Preschool Fund ECEC Staff in honor of Jenifer Friedman Stanley and Joan Baker in memory of Carole Kaminsky Rabbi Greene’s Discretionary Fund Jeffrey Willard in memory of Morris Willard Jason and Maggie McAuliffe in honor of the birth of Harris McAuliffe Michael and Lisa Cohen in appreciation of Rabbi Greene for all his help in preparing Josh for his Bar Mitzvah Families Anonymous in honor of Rabbi Greene Sam and Alice Herndon in honor of Rabbi Greene
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News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
SOCIAL ACTION
New Year’s Resolution Judaism is not just a religion of belief; it is a religion of action. That is why Reform Jews call it Social Action. In Reform Judaism what you do is more important than what you believe! Our sages instructed us to partner with God to take action to heal and repair our world. Micah 6.8 tells us that we are required to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God. On the High Holydays, we were asked to make vows for the coming year. Our prayers in the Gates of Repentance ask for forgiveness for not taking action to help correct injustice in our world. When we ask for forgiveness it is implied that we will change our behavior. The Kol Nidre prayer asks that the vows that we made and did not complete in the last year be nullified. The important line is that we be absolved of uncompleted vows only after we have made an honest effort and find ourselves unable to fulfill them. At the start of the New Year, your Social Action Committee wants to help you make that honest effort in the coming year. Please contact Jeff Willard at pursuejustice@comcast.net or call 770-886-1704 to help you find the appropriate activity.
It’s The Annual Turkey It’s not too early to begin to think of those who are in need. Please remember to send your check in increments of $10 and we will distribute grocery gift certificates to NFCC and JF&CS throughout the holiday season.
For more information on this project, please call Marsha Mathis at 770-992-4256 or email at marmat0915@yahoo.com. Thank you for your support of this worthy cause.
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News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
NEW MEMBERS Temple Beth Tikvah warmly welcomes the following new members to our family: Lee and Jennifer Engel 5090 Ashurst Drive Roswell, GA 30075 (770) 998-6647 Grace & Madelyn
Bernie & Gail Natter 1466 Cameron Glen Dr Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 973-7559
Ellen Frank & Peter Klokow 3594 Corners Way Norcross, GA 30092 (770) 416-6980
Ryan & Rachel Palazzo 260 Bluff Oak Drive Roswell, GA 30076 Nathan & Aaron
Many thanks to Jenifer Friedman for creating such a wonderful tzedakah box for us to enter in the Tzedakah Box contest. We have not been officially notified as yet, but in our eyes, we are a winner! Thank you Jenifer!
Hal & Jill Leitman 2915 Ivey Oaks Lane Roswell, GA 30076 (678) 366-9485 Jarrett & Robbie
Your preschooler has embarked on an exciting journey of Jewish learning; learning each day about the meaning of mitzvot and core Jewish values and how to live them. Let us teach YOU the same lessons, so that you can continue the conversation at home and enhance YOUR Jewish educational journey. By learning the lessons your child is learning, you will be empowered to engage in conversation about Jewish values that will enrich your entire family. This course will utilize “Foundations for Jewish Living” and “PJ Library” books that have been specifically chosen for you. Fee: $100 per person for 10 lessons + $40 for the Student Reader. The first 10 participants to register will receive a $50 subsidy for this course provided by Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. For more information: Brill.institute@atlantajcc.org or 678.812.3723
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News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
TBT 25th Anniversary Info
TBT at 25! A Special Congregational Celebration October 12 - 14 and October 28, 2012 A quarter century ago, a few families had an idea to create a warm, welcoming and engaging place to worship. They called it Temple Beth Tikvah – the “House of Hope.” Twenty five years later, TBT has lived up to its name and then some. Now, that’s something to celebrate!
Mark Your Calendars for these Special Events to Celebrate TBT at 25! We have planned a wonderful celebration of TBT’s 25th anniversary that offers something for everyone. Please mark your calendars for these very special events as we celebrate this important milestone. More details will follow soon.
25th Anniversary Kabalat Shabbat Featuring Renowned Playwright, Composer, Actor and Cantor Danny Maseng and the TBT Choir Friday, October 12, 8 p.m. Oneg Shabbat to follow
Danny Maseng in Concert Saturday, October 13, 8 p.m. TBT Sanctuary Refreshments will be served following the performance
The First Ever Sunday Relay for Life: Ruach Atlanta Sunday, October 14, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Roswell Area Park Fan the flames in search of a cure! Registration at www.RelayForLife.org/ruachga
25th Anniversary Family Picnic at TBT Sunday, October 28, Noon
One of the most popular and respected composers of contemporary liturgical and synagogue music, Danny has released a treasure trove of beautiful music. He has been the invited guest of the American Conference of Cantors, the Cantor's Assembly, as well as the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Equally at home with pop and rock, Danny's CD 'Just Like Home' has been hailed "a love letter to a place and a faith called Israel" by Rolling Stone's contributing editor David Wild and his long awaited double CD, 'Heaven on Earth: Shabbat at Temple Israel of Hollywood ' is hot off the press and getting rave reviews!
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News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
With this in mind, JF&CS began this summer going to synagogues, Jewish schools and area Hillels to educate people from adolescents to adults about the realities of addiction. “The average age of first use is reported to be from 9 years old to 11, so it’s important to get in front of kids and their parents with accurate information early,” said Peggy Kelly, Director of Clinical Practice Management at JFCS. Peggy and her team are building age-appropriate curricula to take into schools and colleges. At the same time, they will focus on increasing the number of 12-step recovery programs in synagogues. Currently, many are held in churches. Most people know about Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon and Narcotics Anonymous. But there is another example, perhaps less familiar: JACS (Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically-dependent persons, and Significant-others). JACS was born in 1978 to help alcoholic and chemically addicted Jews and their families.
Sunday Oct. 28 at noon Celebrate as a family! Join us for Kosher hotdogs &
As part of the effort, JF&CS has formed an advisory council comprising people of various ages with personal or professional experience with the diseases of alcoholism and addiction. Rabbi Fred Greene of Temple Beth Tikvah sits on the council.
sides, cake, a kids' bounce house,
“There’s a stigma in our community,” he said. “We have a lot of successful families who do not want to talk about how their child or spouse is in crisis. Lots of young people – and not so young people – find their way into addiction. So the question becomes, “What do I do? How do I deal with it? How do I get the person affected to confront this? What resources are available?
interactive Israeli dancing, and fun with TBT friends. Bring a picnic blanket. Price - $10 per family,
“People don’t imagine they can go to their rabbi about it. But we have traditions that can make a difference. We want our congregants to know their synagogues are safe places.”
Cash day of event
RSVP - Email rsvp@bethtikvah.com
Like any sickness, it’s important to remember that addiction is not a moral issue or about willpower, said Peggy. “It is a chronic, progressive, potentially fatal yet treatable disease. We want people to call us. We can point you in the right direction, refer you to the best place and help you begin to address this problem. This disease has physical, psychological and spiritual symptoms, which is why we feel it’s so important to join with our synagogue partners in this effort.”
JF&CS Tools for Shuls More than 15 percent of teens today meet the criteria for alcohol and drug abuse, according to a recent U.S. News & World Report study. And when kids start early, chances are they will continue as they get older. Among the many myths about Jews is one that they’re not as susceptible to alcohol abuse and other addictions as the general population. But there’s a growing realization they are, and Jewish communities nationwide are addressing the problem. In Atlanta’s Jewish community, the problem of addiction has been made clear by the number of calls JF&CS has been fielding from local rabbis and directly from congregants who are struggling with this disease and don’t know where to turn.
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Currently, several synagogues host 12-step meetings. Temple Beth Tikvah hosts Families Anonymous on Mondays at 7:15 p.m. Temple Kol Emeth and Congregation B’nai Torah host Al-Anon Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Temple Kehillat Chaim hosts Alcoholics Anonymous Tuesdays at 8 p.m. JACS meets at Congregation Etz Chaim the first and third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. For more information, please contact the synagogues. For information on services offered by JF&CS please email addiction@jfcs-atlanta.org.
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Rosh Chodesh (New Moon) Women’s Spiritual Group Caring for yourself is not self indulgent Caring for yourself is an act of survival
Sunday, October 21, 7:00-8:30 pm in the little oneg room Yoga/stretch portion is 7:00 - 7:30 pm This is your opportunity to strengthen your belief in yourself, respect yourself and energize the goodness inside you! We will explore the relevance of each Hebrew month, hear stories about Jewish female figures and discuss how each of these affects us in ways we don’t always recognize. Each meeting begins with optional gentle yoga/stretch/breathing to unwind. Wear comfortable, loose clothing. (If you have physical limitations, have no fear. You can participate sitting in a chair) What to bring - A candle in a container, a yoga mat if you have one. Don't have any of these? Come anyway!
Celebrate your feminine spirit and its link to the Hebrew calendar Reserve these dates: Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Dec. 16, Jan. 20, Feb. 10, March 17, April 21 and May 19 Future meetings will be in the little oneg room
To RSVP or to be added to our evite list, contact Pam Chanin at 404-219-1453 or chaninp@bellsouth.net
10% OFF EVERYTHING IN
Upcoming Sisterhood Events
THE Temple Beth Tikvah gift shop !
October 3rd- Dinner at Ceviche @ 7pm
A great start for our gift shop was had during the first several weeks of everyone coming back to Religious School. For the month of October, EVERYTHING will be 10% off. WOW.....don't miss this chance to come by and see all the new items that we have brought in for this year.
October 18th - Exploring Psalms Women’s Study Group meets Wed evenings Instructor: Shelley Buxbaum, PhD $18 for the entire year. Please register by sending your check to the TBT office, designated for Women’s Study Group on the memo line
October 28th- TBT Family Picnic $10/family November 11th- Baby Shower @ TBT to benefit the Drake House and Foster Care Support Check out our new Facebook page to get updates and event information
We thank you and please feel free to call us if you have any questions. Carrie can be reached at 404-457-3242.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/ TempleBethTikvahSisterhood
Carrie, Pam and Rhonda
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News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
ADULT ED
REGISTER TODAY! atlantajcc.org For questions, please contact Laurie Finkelstein at laurie.finkelstein@atlantajcc.org or 678.812.3723. Please note: for class participation, please register your attendance before the class starts. For all TBT classes, let us know which class you are attending at rsvp@bethtikvah.com.
RAMBAN’S “LETTER FOR THE AGES” WITH RABBI DONALD TAM, TBT’S RABBI EMERITUS
THE RABBI’S TISCH – SITTING & CHATTING WITH RABBI GREENE Sunday mornings, October 14, December 16, February 3 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Do you happen to be around TBT this morning? Come and sit and talk about a range of issues relating to Jewish life and the Jewish community. Topics will be determined Musar is an ethical literature that is integral to Jewish eth- based on what is going on in our lives… but might include ics and central to the study of traditional Jewish writings. Jewish Parenting, Jewish Views on Sex & Sexuality, CurThe Jewish guides to “right and wrong” and “character for- rent Events, and more. If you have some ideas for topics, mation” are not always systematically spelled out in the send them to rabbigreene@bethtikvah.com. Torah, but often extrapolated from its study. One of the most important musar writings is the Igerret HaMusar, a Achim – TBT’S START UP MEN’S GROUP letter written by the Medieval Jewish Sage Ramaban Thurs, November 6; Thurs, December 20; Tues, January 29; (Nachmanides) from Acco in the Land of Israel, to his son February 21 Nachman in Catalina, Spain. In these five sessions, Rabbi Over the last few months, a few men have shared that they Tam will explore its meanings and discuss implications for would appreciate having a "place" for men to gather and our complicated age. talk about things other than sports, business and the like. Here is our chance to share as men in a safe place. BEGINNERS HEBREW, LEVEL 2 Rabbi Greene will be kicking off some ideas about how to WITH CANTOR KASSEL connect… in relationships, with God, our Selves, our roles Sundays October 7 through May 5 as fathers and grandfathers, our roles as husbands or just as 11:00 am – 12:00 pm This class is a continuation of previous “Beginners Hebrew men. If one of us has some tsuris (trouble) or another has a simchah (joyous event), here is a chance to come together classes,” focusing on reading prayers, learning to chant in a safe place as men and as achim (brothers). Torah, and prepare for our Ben/Bat Torah experience. Sunday mornings, November 4, 11; December 2, 9, 16 11 am - 12 pm in the Michael Zalkin Library
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News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Condolences Temple Beth Tikvah acknowledges with sorrow the passing of: Carole Kaminsky Mother of Sheri Baker Douglas Moore Brother of Jewel Rubin
Carol Robinson Sister of Norma Rosen Margie Astren Mother of Steve Astren
Honor a special person or event with a leaf on our Tree of Life
May God console you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Get Well Wishes
The Tree of Life is a great way to honor a person or life cycle event. Leaves can be donated by individuals or by several people or families. Please consider the Tree of Life the next time you are looking for a way to honor someone or something special!
The following congregants have recently been ill. We hope and pray for a complete and speedy recovery of the following members of our Beth Tikvah family: Jeanne Lipsitt Barbara Schall
Kudos Corner
“It 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 behind”.
Thank you to… Esther Shultz, for preparing the Kiddush lunches during the months of August and September. Janice Liederman and Aaron Stieglitz for all their hard work and beautiful calligraphy on the Bar Mitzvah certificates.
The following Memorial Plaques have been placed onto our Memorial Board this past month:
Marsha Mathis, June Wallach and Leslie Swichkow for volunteering their time to help in the office.
Sam Speer Father of Sheryl Blechner
Kudos go to Dyann Diamond and Bram Bessoff. Bram and Dyann created the look for the website and then Dyann extended the design to the eNewsletter!
Isaac & Lola Mamberg Parents of Mariann Mamberg
Mazal Tov to… Benjamin Strauss, son of David And Anne Strauss, who graduated from Medical College of Georgia in May. He will be doing his ophthalmology residency in Pittsburgh, PA.
Harold & Enid Levitz Parents of Jeff Levitz
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News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Submissions for the November Kol Tikvah are due to the synagogue office by Friday, October 5. Please email to koltikvah@bethtikvah.com
Memorial Plaques Memorial plaques are a beautiful way to honor the memory of a loved one. Your loved one’s plaque will be lit up several times throughout the year.
Planning a simcha or group gathering? The Tam-Blank Social Hall is the Place to Be.
We recite the Kaddish on the anniversary of their passing and Yizkor, which means to remember, is recited as part of the prayer service four times during the year.
For more information on renting our Social Hall, contact the synagogue office at 770-642-0434.
The price of a plaque is $300. If you have any questions or would like to order a plaque, please contact Lisa in the synagogue office at 770-642-0434 or send an email to lisa@bethtikvah.com.
Donations may be mailed to: Temple Beth Tikvah 9955 Coleman Road Roswell, GA 30075
On October 11, the Anti-Defamation League and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus will present Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezin, a multi-media concert that tells the story of the courageous Jewish prisoners in the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp during World War II who learned Verdi’s Requiem Mass by rote and then performed this compelling work 16 times. The concert/drama features a full performance of the Requiem, video testimony with surviving members of the choir, original Nazi propaganda film footage, and actors telling the remarkable story of the Jewish prisoners who sang as a symbol of secret defiance against their Nazi captors. The performance is powerful, dramatic and inspirational, with a contemporary message of hope. Click here for Defiant Requiem video & more!
Tickets are on sale NOW and can be purchased by calling the Woodruff Arts Center box office at 404 733-5000 or on the Atlanta Symphony website at www.atlantasymphony.org. Use discount code ADL10 for a 10% discount on each ticket. 17
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
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 Men’s Club Neil Goldstein nsg24@cornell.edu Nominating Committee Bart Schwartz bart_schwartz@coface-usa.com Andy Goldstrom agoldstrom87@hotmail.com Outreach To Be Determined Ritual Esther Shultz savtaesther5@gmail.com Rosh Chodesh Women’s Group Pam Chanin chaninp@bellsouth.net Security Michael Gutkin gutkin1@bellsouth.net Seniors Ruth Zeidman zeidmanr@comcast.net
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Sisterhood Mary Block 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 Chad Salinas csalinas@b2bworkforce.com
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 26 Issue 10 Issue Date: October 2012 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
Attention Postmaster: Time Sensitive Materials ďƒ˜ In home date: Sept 30, 2012ďƒ—
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