Messenger August 2016

MESSENGER

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volume

FROMB’NAI THE RABBI HIGHLIGHTS THECALENDAR SYNAGOGUE | CONGREGATION EMUNAH | TULSA | AUGUST 2016 | NO. 8

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RISE UP SINGING: THE CENTENNIAL EDITION. SEE PAGE 8 FOR DETAILS

PERSONALS

MASTHEAD

BIRTHS

THE MESSENGER

Oliver Tzvi McDonald, born to Michelle and Ryan McDonald. Oliver’s grandparents are Dr. Scott and Harriet Dunitz and Rhea and John McDonald. His great-grandparents are Franklyn and Madelyn Moskowitz and Dr. Norman and Annete Dunitz.

August 2016 - Published Monthly | Bi-Monthly

CONGREGATION B’NAI EMUNAH 1719 South Owasso Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 Office: (918) 583‑7121 School: (918) 585‑KIDS Fax: (918) 747-9696 Website: www.tulsagogue.com

DEATHS

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news. (Isaiah 52:7)

Dr. Steve Kutner Brother of Lee Kutner Uncle of Janet Simmons

CENTENNIAL NOTES

Curtis Green Husband of Joan Green Father of Robin Green, Susan Ring, Judy Kilyk, and Marilyn Rebnord Brother of Nancy Fisher and Mike Green

YOUR HELP NEEDED If you’ve been a member of the Synagogue fifty years or more and missed Milestone Shabbat, not to worry! We have beautiful artisan-crafted tzedakah boxes for all who did not attend. We will be distributing them in the course of our Centennial Year at signature events.

Michael Alan Alperin Brother of Karen Goldsmith Jessie Palik Mother of Emily Palik Killian Ira Schlezinger Husband of Sandra Schlezinger Father of Eric and David Schlezinger MAZAL TOVS Congratulations to Jenna Aizenman, on completing her Master’s degree in the Family Nurse Practitioners Program at the University of Cincinnati.

Mazal tov to Dr. John Schumann, on being recognized by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists for his writing on medical and health matters. John was named the president of OU-Tulsa in 2015.

ON THE COVER Hung in the niche behind the Librarian’s Desk in the Schusterman Jewish Resource Center at the Synagogue, this painting is something of a mystery. It has been in the B’nai Emunah collection for many decades, but we do not have a record of when or by whom it was donated. Nor do we know the name of the artist. Only the last three letters of his/her name are visible; the rest are obscured by the frame. The painting as a whole depicts sober, schematic faces at the base of the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Is it possible that this work was painted to celebrate the unification of Jerusalem in 1967?

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THE AUGUST CALENDAR AT B’NAI EMUNAH 5

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SHABBAT FOR EVERYONE

It’s not just for you. It’s not just for me. It’s Shabbat for Everyone at CBE! Our monthly, kid-friendly Shabbat experience begins with a delicious dinner prepared by us, so you can just relax and enjoy. We then move into the sounds and movements of a joyous Friday night celebration. Your feet will be stomping as the music carries us forward into the night. Top it all off with a delightful story and you’ve got yourself one can’t-miss evening. No reservation is needed for the service at 7:00 p.m. But please call our reservations hotline or visit our website by Wednesday, August 3, to guarantee your place at the dinner table.

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The Synagogue notes with pride the upcoming bat mitzvah of Sophie Rain Williams Raskin, daughter of Greg Raskin and Cory Wren Williams. The services will begin at 9:00 a.m. As always, everyone in the congregation is invited to attend. Here’s to a joyous celebration for us all!

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SISTERHOOD FARM DINNER

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BIBI-DIBI: BABIES + BLESSINGS

Very young children and their parents are invited to join us for another soft and cuddly Shabbat experience. Parachutes, rattles and toys sit at the center of our circle, while parents and kids share in the blessings of Shabbat. A delicious, kidfriendly Shabbat dinner accompanies this program. Please call or visit our website by Thursday, August 25.

JEFFREY TOOBIN AT THE SYNAGOGUE

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Jeffrey Toobin is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the senior legal analyst at CNN. At his upcoming visit to the Synagogue, he will speak about his latest book, American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst. Visit www.booksmarttulsa.com for more information or to purchase a copy of the book, which comes with admission for two to this ticketed event. Co-presented

by Booksmart Tulsa and Magic City Books at 7:00 p.m.

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HEBREW/RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS RESUME

Congregation B’nai Emunah’s religious school offers a rich and meaningful Jewish education for your children. Our goal is to foster a love for Judaism and Jewish community. Every Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon, we offer a comprehensive and fun educational experience in a safe and supportive learning environment. To learn more about our program, call or write Sara Levitt, Director of Jewish Life and Learning at slevitt@bnaiemunah.com.

Once again, Sisterhood is sponsoring an opportunity to enjoy a dinner at the Living Kitchen Farm and Dairy on Sunday evening, August 7. Previous groups which have enjoyed a multi-course meal created by farmers Lisa Becklund and Linda Ford have raved about this dining experience. The Living Kitchen’s mission is “to raise, grow, and forage the perfect meal,” and guests are never disappointed. Cost for the meal is $85 (plus tax), and spaces are filling up very quickly.

If you would like to join in this delectable experience, contact Dr. Sarah-Anne Henning Schumann at hennschu@ gmail.com.

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BAT MITZVAH OF SOPHIE RASKIN

RISE UP SINGING

In honor of the Synagogue’s Centennial year, the theme will be “Ten Decades of Show Music.” The event is free and open to the public, with treats, gourmet coffee, and other beverages during and after the program. An optional dinner catered by the Seventeenth Street Deli will be served at 6:00 p.m. for $20. Call the Synagogue Office at (918) 935-3373 to make your reservation and plan to come early to make sure that you have a comfortable seat. Guests are welcome to tour the Synagogue at 5:00 p.m. before the event begins.

TISHA B’AV SERVICE AND FILM

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The Ninth of Av is a time for remembrance and reflection.

Members of our community will gather for words and music at 8:00 p.m. to recall our people’s past. As our community mourns the loss of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel, we will follow our service with a screening of the PBS special First Person Singular: Elie Wiesel. Wiesel focuses on how human beings dehumanize others in order to kill with impunity, and reflects on the re-emergence of terrorism.

FIRST NIGHT OF MIDRASHA

Midrasha Jewish Community High School is a central address for teens in Tulsa to encounter Jewish learning and living. Facilitated in partnership with Temple Israel, it offers something for everyone. For more information about registration, distance learning, internships and our revamped course offerings, contact Sara Levitt. Midrasha will begin this year at the Synagogue.

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FROM SARA LEVITT

SEPTEMBER AT A GLANCE

IN IT TOGETHER According to Jewish tradition, we are all teachers. In one of our most central prayers, the Shema, we proclaim the “one-ness” of God. This prayer, the text of which is found in the Torah, gives us one of our most basic of tenets of Jewish belief and observance: there is only one God. After one of the most definitive statements in our tradition, we are given seemingly simple instructions: “Love God with all your heart and soul and might” and teach these ideas to your children.

When we are home and when we are away, when we are lying down and waking up, we are commanded to teach our children.

Note that God does not require a teaching certificate or a degree in education. The Shema does not lay out a specific or complicated curriculum. There is even debate about what God meant by “your” children. Did God mean your biological children or children in general? Regardless of expertise or our own education, the Shema empowers us to take the teaching of “our children” into our own hands. I am inspired by these words of Torah, encouraging each of us to be educators in our own right. As a Jewish educator, I understand my professional role as providing tools and resources, opportunities and experiences to inspire all of us to be the best teachers we can be. A strong partnership among all of our children’s educators is paramount to laying a strong foundation of Jewish education and experience. We are partners in helping to form our children’s collective Jewish memories, responsible for bringing our own knowledge and passion to the table.

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SHABBAT FOR EVERYONE: HELLO SARA!

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DOING JEWISH: THE HIGH HOLIDAYS

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SEVENTEENTH STREET DELI

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SMART CONVERSATIONS

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THE LEGO SYNAGOGUE

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BIBI-DIBI: BABIES + BLESSINGS

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SELICHOT

SHIRI WEST FAREWELL LEHITRA’OT Three years ago on July 25, I graduated from the shlichim training program in Jerusalem, and shortly after that arrived in Tulsa with my family: husband, Ben, and kids, Itamar and Alona. It was my second shlichut, but my first one being a community shlicha. Needless to say, I didn’t even know where exactly Tulsa was. How surprised I was to have discovered a thriving, updated, passionate community in the middle of America, the America we Israelis know so little about. I feel that I want to say a personal goodbye to the congregants of B’nai Emunah, a synagogue whose hundredth birthday is being celebrated as I write.

With this partnership in mind, I have been busy planning and dreaming about this upcoming year. The breadth and depth of possibilities under the umbrella of Jewish Life and Learning are endless! Throughout the year, you will see new initiatives and programs coupled with existing signature Synagogue programs. My goal as Director of Jewish Life and Learning is to inspire Jewish learning and curiosity, to build community, deepen connections to Jewish life and instill a sense of pride for people of all ages and stages. Jewish texts, customs, rituals, culture, prayer and other subjects covered in Jewish education are the tools with which we will achieve these larger goals.

I immediately learned that part of the beauty of Tulsa and its significance was its acceptance of newcomers. Being such a small Jewish community allowed for everyone to sit and be Jewish together always. As a young teenager whose father was a shaliach years back in the eastern part of the USA, I certainly had my memories and quite a few memorable moments for comparison. I will never forget that we were told we needed to leave the synagogue on Yom Kippur because we didn’t reserve seats (we had just arrived to the states and had no idea this was the way it worked), something that I can’t even imagine could happen here in Tulsa.

As summer comes to a close, we gear up for the start of Religious School (Sunday, August 21), Hebrew School (Wednesday, August 24) and Midrasha (Wednesday, August 31). Please feel free to be in touch with me via email (slevitt@bnaiemunah.com) or telephone (918.583.7121) at any time. You can also find more information by visiting our website (www.tulsagogue.com) or liking us on Facebook (B’nai Emunah Schools). I am so thrilled to be a part of the incredible community at Congregation B’nai Emunah and look forward to getting to know each and every one of you.

I am sure you all know that we in Israel are challenged at times when it comes to choosing an unorthodox way to celebrate life-cycle events or act upon our Judaism. Many of us shlichim discover our Judaism only when we leave Israel, (continued on page 10) 4

FROM RABBI MARC B. FITZERMAN

SISTERHOOD nook or cranny that conceals something of vast, even cosmic significance, and all we have to do is open our eyes to see it.

FIVE REASONS TO LOVE POKEMON GO Over the next several months, virtually every adult in the congregation will learn something about Pokemon Go (PG).

Our kids are there already, along with millions of millennials.

It’s an on-trend download that mines a digital motherload called “augmented reality,” a way of moving the digital experience into three dimensions. Before you are exhausted by the hype and don’t want to hear another word about it, I offer five reasons (my first listicle!) to love Pokemon Go and think of it as the rare vogue that is fundamentally healthy for children and other living things.

Having said all of this, I’ll admit that I’m not much inclined to devote a lot of time to PG myself. It takes a bunch of energy that I don’t really have for augmented reality, regular reality being complicated enough for me. But I don’t want us to miss an interesting moment in popular culture where the Big New Thing isn’t dangerous or debased, but pretty great. According to reliable rumor, there is a pocket monster hovering in the vicinity of the fountain in the Anne Zarrow Courtyard at the Synagogue. Game on!

ENGLISH

One. Unlike other fantasy franchises (Dungeons and Dragons is the classic example), PG is not played in your parents’ basement or a rank bedroom littered with pizza boxes and cans of Mountain Dew. In order to play it, you have to go outside, where the object is to corral digital creatures (“pocket monsters”) that are essential to the game. Not only that, you have to walk. A lot. You can now stop whining about how screens separate us from the real world.

I’m a big fan of English language education, and we’re gearing up again for the effort. As you may have read, the Synagogue will be partnering this year with Comunidad De Esperanza, a Spanish language congregation that shares space with First Evangelical Lutheran Church at 13th and Utica. We’ve been working on this partnership with our friends, Pastors Alvaro Nova and Rob Martin, for months, and classes will take place in the classrooms of the Synagogue.

Two. It’s free. The price of admission for the PG experience is…nothing. You can purchase enhancements at different points along the way, but all you really need is a smart phone. Except for that (a very big exception), the game is fundamentally democratic and does nothing to contribute to social inequality, downward mobility, or the tiers of restricted privilege that deform so much of American life.

If you’d like to participate, please call Sara Levitt at the Synagogue (918.583.7121). This project falls into Sara’s social justice portfolio, and she is looking for people who can serve as classroom assistants, especially when it comes to one-on-one tutoring. We are also hoping that we can serve the refugee community in Tulsa, but everything will depend on the level of volunteer participation.

Three. There’s violence, but not a lot. And it doesn’t begin to touch the violence of many games in the digital universe which trade on mayhem, dismemberment, and grotesque assaults against persons. A very sensitive kid may be unsettled by the occasional appearance of weaponry, but the game doesn’t glory in gore. It’s less scary than Ghostbusters, which, in its marshmallowy way, establishes a violence comfort zone for me.

Options for participation are currently wide open. Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and you are invited to commit from one to two hours, beginning at 6:00 p.m. each evening. If you’re looking to invest this coming academic year with meaning, we invite you to be part of this model program.

Four. What is glorious about PG is the way that it marks the renewal of a phenomenon that has been with us since 1996.

That’s twenty years ago. What began as a set of trading cards has morphed into something quite unusually alive in the way it revives old ideas and forms in a new domain of experience.

Not to put too fine a point on it, ancient religious civilizations need to work on the same set of issues and continually address the issue of cultural transmission and the resurrection of old memes.

For quick reference, please check the Synagogue’s website at

www.tulsagogue.com You’ll find a useful calendar and many other helpful features, including a growing collection of liturgical music.

Five. Maybe most important for me, Pokemon Go asks its players to rise toward a state of hyper-alertness, where they can detect hidden realities in the created universe. It suggests that what we see before us is not all there is, and that secrets abound in unlikely places. There may be the proverbial 5

SISTERS | JANET DUNDEE

BAT MITZVAH

UPCOMING (CONCLUDED) WELCOME TO BABIES

SOPHIE RAIN WILLIAMS RASKIN

Joan Neidell, Sisterhood Board member, has the pleasant job of welcoming new babies to the congregation. Joan says that she is “a lucky Sisterhood member” and that her committee is the “happiest committee of all.”

Since the establishment of the committee, seven babies have been welcomed into the congregation, three babies in June alone. Joan visits the families, bringing them a baby book entitled “The Places You will Go” by Dr. Seuss, in which a family can record all those special moments in a baby’s life.

Joan wants everyone to know that Sisterhood has “given birth” to this project. Please let Rabbi Kaiman or Rabbi Fitzerman know when a baby is born so that they can give this wonderful news to Joan Neidell.

VOLUNTEERING AT IRON GATE Sarah-Anne Schumann is soliciting volunteers to help serve breakfast at Iron Gate on Sunday, August 28, or Sunday, October 30. A group went to Iron Gate on Mother’s Day and everyone reported that they had a wonderful time.

Those who served breakfast on that day were Carol and Dean Mandlebaum, Bobbi Warshaw, Sabrina Darby, Tina Bollin, and Betty and Keith Lehman. If you would like to volunteer for one of the upcoming dates, please contact Sarah-Anne at hennschu@gmail.com.

Sophie Rain Williams Raskin, Ge’ona Maytal bat Zvi, daughter of Corey Wren Williams and Greg Raskin, will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday morning, August 20, 2016, 16 Av 5776, at Congregation B’nai Emunah. Preparing Sophie for this transitional moment is Jackie Lasky, under the direction of Rabbis Fitzerman and Kaiman.

Sophie has a lifelong love of singing, theater, and dance.

She is a recurring cast member and summer camp enthusiast at Clark Theater. Sophie is working to benefit Clark Theater for her mitzvah project. In addition to musical theater, Sophie also loves volleyball and swimming and has never met a dog she didn’t love at first sight. She will begin her eighthgrade year at Carver this fall.

LIVING KITCHEN FARM AND DAIRY Once again, Sisterhood is sponsoring an opportunity to enjoy a dinner at the Living Kitchen Farm and Dairy on Sunday evening, August 7. Previous diners who have enjoyed a multi-course meal created by farmers Lisa Becklund and Linda Ford have raved about the experience.

Sophie is the granddaughter of Phyllis Raskin, Howard Raskin (of blessed memory), Cathy Taylor of Tulsa, Tom Taylor (of blessed memory), and Steve and Pat Williams of Bakersfield, California. A summer kiddush luncheon will follow services.

The Living Kitchen’s mission is “to raise, grow, and forage the perfect meal,” and guests are never disappointed.

Cost for the meal is $85.00 (plus tax) and spaces are filling up very quickly. If you would like to join in this delectable experience, contact Sarah-Anne Schumann immediately at hennschu@gmail.com.

KUM ESSEN V

SYLVAN TRANSPORTATION FUND

Carol Mandlebaum and Janet Dundee want you to know that there are still a number of cookbooks for sale at the Synagogue. For $36.00, you can own the latest in a series of Sisterhood cookbooks, filled with diverse and yummy recipes for every day and for holidays.

We’re glad to bring members to Synagogue events when they cannot drive themselves. Please call us at (918) 583-7121 to reserve a ride.

In addition to utilizing Kum Essen V for meals and spe(continued on page 9) 6

THE SYNAGOGUE ARCHIVE

Recently given to the Synagogue by Rosalyn Borg, this clipping from the Tulsa Tribune perfectly describes a moment in life of postwar congregations. It’s four years after the Allied victory, and the social pleasures of life in America have returned. Here, four young women, identified as “children” in the “B’Nai Emunah church school” model dresses for an upcoming fashion show at the “center.” Those depicted are Barbara Fisher, Carolyn Breitfeld (Kriegsman), Renee Neuwald, and Rosalyn, herself. Wartime fabric rationing is clearly over. It’s interesting that the Tribune adopted the native nomenclature of B’nai Emunah to describe us. We called ourselves, not a “synagogue,” but a “center.”

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FEATURED EVENTS AT THE SYNAGOGUE Singing, the Synagogue’s annual participatory concert, on Sunday evening, August 28. Matching its ten decades of life in Tulsa, the Synagogue has chosen thirty bright numbers that span the range from “Give My Regards to Broadway,” to “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from Les Miserables. The music will begin with the decade in which the Synagogue was founded and point forward toward the next century.

JEFFREY TOOBIN ON AUGUST 11 In partnership with Booksmart Tulsa, the Synagogue welcomes New Yorker staff writer and bestselling author Jeffrey Toobin and WBUR for a discussion of Toobin’s latest book, American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst—the definitive account of the kidnapping and trial that defined an era in American history. The story of Patty Hearst, a college student and heiress to the Hearst family fortune, captivated the nation.

Rise Up Singing differs from other concerts in that performers are song leaders, not soloists. Every audience member will receive a complimentary folio of lyrics, and the words to each song will also be displayed on a large screen to facilitate participation. All are invited to join in, singing in full voice in the Synagogue Sanctuary. Hundreds of members and friends of B’nai Emunah are expected to attend this annual event.

Leading the singing this year are Synagogue members and professionals, along with special friends of the congregation, including singer/songwriter Tamara Leback and Scott Gaffen, community arts activist and veteran performer. Rise Up Singing marks another step in the Synagogue’s year-long Centennial Celebration. For eight consecutive months, the congregation has mounted a major event, and published a series of portfolios on its Founders, Presidents, and Rabbis of the congregation.

Still to come is the public dedication of a scale Lego model of B’nai Emunah, a salute to the Synagogue culture of celebratory baking, the publication of a 50-year chronicle on the congregation’s second half-century, albums of liturgical music as sung by Klay Kodesh (the Synagogue’s liturgical ensemble), and a culminating Centennial Gala scheduled for December 11, 2016.

Toobin is also the author of the book which served as the basis for the recent TV series The People v. OJ: American Crime Story as well as The Nine which takes a look inside the secret world of the Supreme Court of the United States. In what most certainly will be a wide-ranging discussion, Toobin will discuss these topics and more.

The concert will take place at Congregation B’nai Emunah at the corner of 17th and Peoria at 7:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public; no reservations are necessary.

Those who’d like to reserve space for a pre-concert meal at 6:00 p.m. should call the Synagogue Reservations Hotline at (918) 935-3373.

The program will begin on August 11 at 7:00 p.m. and will be followed by a book-signing. Tickets to the event can be purchased by visiting www.booksmarttulsa.org. The purchase of one book reserves two tickets for the event. Books will be available for pickup at the event itself. Our thanks to Magic City Books, Tulsa’s non-profit independent book store, for sponsoring this event.

The meal will be catered by the Seventeenth Street Deli, B’nai Emunah’s in-house kosher delicatessen. Patrons can look forward to artisanal, house-cured pastrami, Synagoguebaked rye bread, dill half-sour pickles, and all the traditional accompaniments of a Jewish deli experience. Cost for the meal is $20. Tours of the building will be offered at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. for neighbors and friends who would like to know more about Jewish life in Tulsa. Valet parking will be available beginning at 6:00 p.m.

RISE UP SINGING ON AUGUST 28 For over a hundred years, audiences have been captivated by a uniquely American form of theater, the Broadway stage musical. From the Black Crook, a sorcerer’s tale first performed in 1866, to Hamilton, this year’s popular history triumph, the live musical has continued to capture American affections through the rise of radio, the movies, network television, and the new media empires now taking shape.

This year’s edition of Rise Up Singing honors the memory of Sharna and Irvin Frank, leaders of the Tulsa Jewish community and insightful observers of American Jewish life.

Congregation B’nai Emunah will present a century of Broadway music in a special centennial edition of Rise Up 8

SISTERHOOD—JANET DUNDEE [CONTINUED] (continued from page 6)

cial occasions, Sisterhood member Jackie Lasky has an “add on” for your purchase: a postcard which you can send to the person who submitted the recipe, letting that person know how and why the recipe was served.

PLEASE DO YOUR BEST When you pick up or drop off someone at the Synagogue please be careful to observe our traffic standards. Avoid parking between the bright green cones directly in front of the door and please don’t park double file in the circular driveway. Thanks for helping us be safe!

For those who already own Kum Essen V, you can pick up copies of the postcard, free of charge, at the Synagogue to begin a busy correspondence with the Kum Essen V “chefs.”

Sisterhood recommends Kum Essen V as a gift for a variety of occasions. It is a gift which truly keeps on giving, every time someone opens the cookbook and finds the perfect recipe.

RISE UP SINGING

100 YEARS OF

SHOW TUNES

AT THE SYNAGOGUE SUNDAY EVENING, AUGUST 28. FREE CONCERT AT 7 p.m.

KOSHER DELI MEAL AT 6 P.M. CALL (918) 935-3373 FOR RESERVATIONS.

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FROM RABBI KAIMAN

SHIRI’S FAREWELL [CONCLUDED]

BAT MITZVAH

(continued from page 4)

FINDING BALANCE

although in my case, it wasn’t so much the case. I still did my first aliyah ever in Bnai Emunah in the first weekend I came to be introduced to this community and stayed for a few days with the former chair of the Israel committee, Randee Charney, who made sure I learned and got involved with the Bnai Emunah community.

Just a few weeks ago, we read the classic narrative of Balak and Bil’am. Balak, a Moabite king with a grudge against the Israelites, asks Bil’am, a sorcerer famous for his ability to offer blessings and curses, to curse the Israelites so that they do not prosper and flourish. Bil’am accepts the job. However, on his way to complete the mission, a talking donkey and angel intercede. Ultimately, when it comes time for Bil’am to offer the promised curse, he utters a blessing instead. There are several powerful moments in this narrative: the subjugated servant donkey finally expressing herself to her powerful master; the fine line between blessings and curses; the various ways we respond to our fears and challenges.

Later on this past May, we had the pleasure of celebrating our son Itamar’s bar mitzvah, right here at Bnai Emunah with Rabbi Fitzerman and Rabbi Kaiman. Both my kids attended the Hebrew and Sunday schools despite their knowledge of Hebrew, Israel and Judaism, mainly for the social aspect and the great teachers.

But to focus in on the blessing itself for a moment, we note that when Bil’am blesses the people of Israel, he says: “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob: your dwellings O Israel.” We find ourselves puzzled for a moment. We have two words that seemingly refer to the same thing. What’s the difference between saying “your tents” and “your dwellings?” Moreover, why make the specific effort to mention them both?

My son later continued as a Teaching Assistant and, of course, attended Midrasha. We went on various trips, parades, social action activities and fun weekends with the youth directors, and spent many holidays, bar and bat mitzvahs, Shabbat evenings and mornings saying tefillot with you, dancing, singing, and even mourning when the time came to mourn. Ben, who is a chef, volunteered happily when he was needed to cook for special events.

The sages of our tradition offer an idea that the word “tents” here refers to our homes, the centers of our everyday lives. In contrast, the word “dwellings” refers to our synagogues and study halls. So the blessing offered by Bil’am is twofold. The admirable feature of Israelite community as viewed by this outsider is the integration of home and community. Strong and vibrant Jewish life and identity cannot emerge only from the home—disconnected from shared practice and without the framework of community. But neither can synagogues and Jewish Community Centers take full responsibility for the flourishing of Jewish society. Their work will always be inadequate and incomplete without the reinforcement and modeling of joyous Jewish existence in the home itself.

Three years is a big chunk of life, and when it comes to my kids, this is where they grew and matured. This is where my son became a young man, and this is why we chose to celebrate his bar mitzvah here first and not wait until we were in Israel.

Thank you for letting us in and make us feel like a part of your community; I hope and know that you will be just as welcoming and hospitable towards the new shaliach!

MEMBERSHIP

This essential blessing asks us to strike equilibrium between our homes and our institutions: fluently modeling from one to the other and drawing lines between the two. And this perhaps accounts for the prominence of this blessing itself.

We open our service every Shabbat morning with the words “Mah tovu ohaleha Ya’aakov, mishkenotecha Yisra’el.” “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob: your dwellings O Israel.” In doing so, we draw a parallel between what happens within the walls of this institution and what we hope happens within the homes of those in our communities. Of course, each person’s home will look and behave in a way that suits his/her particular circumstances. But most essentially, a fluent modeling of one to the other creates a vibrant and committed Jewish life from one day to the next.

NEW FACES AT THE SYNAGOGUE Here’s a note to introduce new faces to B’nai Emunah.

Members and their families are a source of strength to all of us, and we are pleased to bring good people to your attention.

Larry and Evelyn Fasel 5880 South Quebec Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 We look forward to welcoming Larry and Evelyn as official members of the Synagogue family. Here’s to a great relationship!

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Centennial Highlights

Over the next several months, we’ll be using this space to remind you of events connected with the Synagogue’s centennial celebration. Please make note of these dates and join us for times of festivity and rejoicing.

The Lego Synagogue Sunday, September 18, at 11:15 a.m.

Join us for The Great Reveal of a spectacular new model of Congregation B’nai Emunah, done in Lego by master builder Adam Reed Tucker. Our students will enhance the display with Lego models of their own homes, creating a Synagogue-centered Lego neighborhood.

The Centennial Gala Sunday, December 11, at 6:00 p.m.

This is the culminating event for our Centennial Year of Celebration.

We’ll ring out our year of festivities, exhibitions, and events with a grand banquet, audio-visual summary of our history, dancing and toasts. Look for your invitation in the first part of September.

Please note that there are many other events on the Synagogue Centennial calendar. Watch this space for more good things to come.

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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYNAGOGUE Abe and Mary Fedman Scholarship Fund Linda Zoblotsky

Altamont Bakery Fund

Anna Hudson Terri and Dennis Johnson Mindy and Harris Prescott Drs. Sarah-Anne and John Schumann Isrella Taxon

Ann Beerman Flower and Garden Fund

Estelle Finer Teresa and Paul Finer Philanthropic Fund Cindy and Michael Guterman Jan and Jerry Potash Joe Secan

Davis-Goodall Chapel Fund Carla and Les Weston

Joe and Dorothy Katz Senior Adult Fund

Brenda and Jerome Katz Debbie and Barry Lederman Rita Zeff and family

Janis Bolusky Memorial Outreach Fund Gloria and Robert Joels

Lenny Seigel Playground Fund Verna Lehman

McClure Emergency Fund

Anne Zarrow Courtyard Fund

Vera Berlin Donna and Gary Dundee Gale Mason Phyllis Raskin

Karen Neuwald

Bikur Cholim

Mizel Family Philanthropic Fund

Barbara and Dr. Rick Cohen

Susan and Jerry Sokol

Brouse Family Shabbat and Holiday Fund

Morris and Edith Sylvan Transportation Fund

Debbie and Barry Lederman Karen Neuwald

Building Renewal Endowment Fund

Sharon and Fred Benjamin

Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund Sandra Klein Stacy Schusterman and Steven Dow

Chevra Kadisha

Molly and Dr. Sheldon Berger Janet Simmons

Dave Sylvan Joyful Music Fund

Jan Brickman

Morris and Toby Fell Landscaping Fund Toby Fell

Norm and Shirley Levin Prayerbook Fund Linda Brown Iris Chandler Betty and Keith Lehman

Rabbi Arthur D. Kahn, D. D., Culture Fund Susan and Jerry Sokol

Karen Neuwald

12

Rabbi Daniel S. Kaiman Discretionary Fund Gale Mason Fred Strauss

Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman Discretionary Fund

Vellie Bloch B’nai Emunah Sisterhood Rosetta and Avrom Brodsky Morris Brown and family Yolanda and Bud Charney Carol and Irvin Gertner Frances Jacobson and Ada Middlebrook Martha and Gary Leff Gale Mason Kay and Sam Oleinick Stephanie and Dr. Stan Pastor Phyllis Raskin Faye and Marvin Robinowitz Dr. Jaqueline and Eric Scholl Drs. Sarah-Anne and John Schumann Lynn Shirley Dr. Don Simkin Randice and Marc Simon Fred Strauss Barbara and Dave Sylvan Judee and Leo Weinberg

Robinowitz Library Fund Rosetta and Avrom Brodsky

Rose Borg Sukkah Fund

April and Richard Borg Rosalyn Borg (St. Louis) and family Bonnie and Louis Spiesberger

Sam Plost Matzah Fund

Phyllis and Herb Plost Louis, Katherine, and Mike Stekoll

Schlanger-Blend Kitchen Furnishings Fund

Bonnie and George Kennedy & Family Karen Neuwald

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYNAGOGUE [CONTINUED] Schlanger-Blend Kitchen Furnishings Fund (continued) Andrea Schlanger Bette and Wynn Wozobski Lauren and Scott Zeligson

Scott Sanditen Memorial Community Service Fund

Bonnie and George Kennedy and family Karen Neuwald Patricia Taubman

Sharna Frank Music Fund Julie Frank

Social Welfare Fund

Gale Mason Janet Simmons, Ian Simmons, and Lee Kutner

Synagogue General Fund Iris Levy Androphy Bernard Backer Vera Berlin Linda Brown O’Neil Cobb Barbara and Dr. Rick Cohen Cindy and Michael Guterman Stan and Sue Harder Elaine Kahn Helen and Henry Katz Terry and Andy Marcum Marty Newman Lillian and Bernard Roberts Lynn Shirley Peggy and Tom Sitrin Barbara and Dave Sylvan Kristi and Jacob Tarabolous Latona and Ron Willhoite Drs. Linda and Richard Young

The Religious School Fund

Nancy Fisher Joan Green Drs. Sarah-Anne and John Schumann

Touro Award Donations

In honor of our presidents Carol and Dr. David Adelson Anonymous Sharon and Fred Benjamin Molly and Dr. Sheldon Berger Laurie and Bob Berman Dr. Marcel Binstock Alice Blue and Rabbi Marc Fitzerman April and Richard Borg Zella Borg Brian Brouse Jenny Brouse Shirley and Willie Burger Sharon and Dr. Jamie Cash Randee and David Charney Nancy and Harvey Cohen Sally and Bob Donaldson Estelle Finer Dr. Janis and David Finer Julie Frank Dr. WC Goad and Mark Goldman Rachel Gold and Rabbi Daniel Kaiman Dr. Linda Goldenstern Joan Green Dr. Martin Greenberg Frieda Grossbard Cindy and Michael Guterman Terri and Bob Hakan Nancy and Phil Hammond Lillian and Howard Hellman Ross Heyman Patty Hipsher and David Blatt Jim Jakubovitz George Kaiser Family Foundation Jon Kantor Judy and Tom Kishner Gail and Les Lapidus Debbie and Barry Lederman Norman Levick Terry and Andy Marcum Carol Miller Cheryl and Greg Myers Ruth Nelson and Tom Murphy Gail and Russ Newman Marty Newman

13

Touro Award Donations

In honor of our presidents (cont’d) Gail and Kip Richards Tobi and Mark Rubin Jeremy and Mara Rabinowitz Adria and Brad Sanditen Debi and Mary Sanditen Isabel Sanditen Leslie Sanditen and Frank Zigmond Jolene Sanditen-Stephens & Jim Stephens Drs. Sarah-Anne and John Schumann Lynn Schusterman Stacy Schusterman and Steven Dow Michele and Dr. David Schwartz Irene Silberg Mindy and Craig Silberg Mona Smith Bonnie and Louis Spiesberger Barbara and Dave Sylvan Kristi and Jacob Tarabolous Claudia Tatum Kevin Thomas Bethanie and Bhadri Verduzco Jill Wenger Diana and Milt Wolff Hilary, Rachel and Allison Zarrow Maxine Zarrow Debbie and Danny Zeligson Phyllis and Stephen Zeligson

In Loving Memory

Ann Beerman Lila Lee Berger Ruth Lenske Borg Bruce Brown Dr. Manuel Brown Caleb Caruthers Ruth Rabkin Cohen Theodore and Mitsu Cohen Nathan Dundee Minnie Green Louis Guller Jacob Fell Harvey Fisher Charles Frank Eunice Frank

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYNAGOGUE [CONCLUDED] In Loving Memory (continued) Irvin Frank Michael Frank Sharna Frank Ann and Travis Harding Otto Hart Samuel Hudson Renetta Jacobson Marcia Borg Jankowsky Thelma Joels Charles Kaplin Grace Kaplin Ruth Kaplin Sam Kassel Dorothy Katz Leah Kraus Yehuda Kraus Mollie and Leonard Krisman Joan Kutner Nettie Lederman Alberta and Henry Leff Sophie Leffmann Henry Melville Mason Charlotte Miller Albert Mizel Robert Morse Dody Nesbit Fanny Neuwald Gretl Neuwald Sylvia Oberstein

Jessie Palik Jan Pastor Donald Peckner Alexander Rabkin Eddie Rabkin Jessie Ann Rabkin Ethel Rae Roberts Jake and Dora Roberts Lillian W. Roberts Myer L. Roberts Shirley Rosenthal Helen Rothman Rose and Jack Schlanger Seymour Shapiro Irving Martin Simon Mildred Sokol Raymond Stekoll Benny Strauss Dr. Arthur Taubman Samuel Wolowitz Dr. Allen Zeff Rebecca Zoblotsky

In Honor

Estelle Aberson Loren Berlin and John Desmond Finan, on the birth of Fiona Berlin Finan Alice Blue and Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman, on the birth of Zelda Alice Blue and Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman, on the engagement of Nina Fitzerman-Blue and Daniel Sterba

In Honor (continued)

Irene and Irv Fenster, on their anniversary Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman Nina Fitzerman-Blue and Daniel Sterba, on their engagement and aufruf Lori Frank Vicki and Dr. David Hurewitz, on their anniversary Rabbi Daniel Shalom Kaiman Jackie Lasky Betty Lehman Kate Lehman and Jordan Westbrook, on the birth of Roosevelt “Rosie� Westbrook Tom Sitrin, on his birthday Liba Wenig Rubenstein and Micah Fitzerman-Blue, on the birth of Zelda Rose Jolene Sanditen-Stephens Jesse Schumann, on his bar mitzvah Craig Silberg Itamar West, on his bar mitzvah Rosie Westbrook, on her babynaming

Speedy Recovery Of Jeffrey Bonem Nancy Cohen Ruth Kozlon Goldberg Jonathan Jeffy Bernard Roberts Lillian Roberts

IN THE COMMUNITY

Please call to add the names of your loved ones to the

2016 Edition of the High Holidays Yizkor Book Call (918) 583-7121 and ask for Caroline Chandler

14

august | tamuz-av Sunday

1

Monday

5:30 PM Service

7

5:30 PM Service 6:00 PM Sisterhood Farm Dinner

8

5:30 PM Service

2

Tuesday

1:00 PM Altamont Baking 5:30 PM Service

9

1:00 PM Altamont Baking 5:30 PM Service

3

Wednesday

9:00 AM Altamont Packing 5:30 PM Service

10

9:00 AM Altamont Packing 5:30 PM Service

4

Thursday

5:30 PM Service

11

5:30 PM Service 7:00 PM Jeffrey Toobin at The Synagogue with BookSmart Tulsa

5

Friday

5:30 PM Service 6:15 PM Shabbat Dinner 7:00 PM Shabbat for Everyone

5:30 PM Service

21

9:00 AM First Day of Religious School 5:30 PM Service

28

9:00 AM Religious School 5:30 PM Service 6:00 PM 17th Street Deli 7:00 PM Rise Up Singing | 100 Years of Song

15

5:30 PM Service

22

5:30 PM Service

29

5:30 PM Service

16

1:00 PM Altamont Baking 5:30 PM Service

23

1:00 PM Altamont Baking 5:30 PM Service

30

1:00 PM Altamont Baking 5:30 PM Service 6:30 PM Sisterhood Jewelry Making Workshop

17

9:00 AM Altamont Packing 5:30 PM Service

24

9:00 AM Altamont Packing 3:30 PM First Day of Hebrew School 5:30 PM Service

31

9:00 AM Altamont Packing 3:30 PM Hebrew School 5:30 PM Service 7:00 PM First Day of Midrasha

18

5:30 PM Service

25

5:30 PM Service

9:00 AM Shabbat Service 8:10 PM Service

Rosh Chodesh Av Candles: 8:05 PM

Torah: Matot-Masei Havdalah: 8:30 PM

12

13

9:00 AM B’nai Mitzvah Retreat 5:30 PM Service

Candles: 7:57 PM

14

6

Saturday

9:00 AM Shabbat Service 8:00 PM Tisha B’Av Readings, Service and Film.

Torah: Devarim Havdalah: 8:25 PM

19

20

Candles: 7:48 PM

Torah: Va-Etchanan Havdalah: 8:15 PM

26

27

Candles: 7:39 PM

Torah: Eikev Havdalah: 8:05 PM

5:30 PM Service

5:30 PM Service 6:00 PM Bibi-Dibi

9:00 AM Shabbat Service and Bat Mitzvah of Sophie Raskin 7:55 PM Service

9:00 AM Shabbat Service 7:45 PM Service

THE SYNAGOGUE

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID

CONGREGATION B’NAI EMUNAH

Tulsa, Oklahoma Permit No. 587

1719 South Owasso Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 P.O. Box 52430 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74152

YAHRTZEIT CALENDAR­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­— 26 TAMUZ THROUGH 27 AV 5776 Monday, August 1 - 26 Tamuz Ruth Marcum Tuesday, August 2 - 27 Tamuz Ida (Garber) Harkavy Anna Dean Jones Alex Karchmer Joe Miller Sadie Moran Dora Miller Roberts Helen Rosenstein Wednesday, August 3 - 28 Tamuz Gerson Apt Irving Arbital William Berry Ida Miller Donald Webber Thursday, August 4 - 29 Tamuz Gershon Fenster Minnie Milner Emily Smith Sam Sotonoff Friday, August 5 - 1 Av Isaac J. Bortel Mottel Ch. Fell Leah Keller John Moskowitz Lillian W. Roberts David Rubin Fred Skuy Ezzie Springer Mollie Turner Larry Zankel Dr. Allen Zeff Saturday, August 6 - 2 Av Samuel M. Fadem Sylvia Kahn Sarah Frances Lhevine Bertha Serlin Max Silberg Lillian Viner Sunday, August 7 - 3 Av Harry Gershow Hugo Herman Kaiser Naomi Ruth Kravetz Hanna Ungerman Max Olesker Ellen Singer Edna Smith Monday, August 8 - 4 Av Kris Cooper

Tuesday, August 9 - 5 Av James E. Ballew Sam Dittman Herman Feldman Max Kriegsman Olga Miller Jacob L. Sherman Max D. Zankel Wednesday, August 10 - 6 Av Dr. Louis Lipnick Arthur N. Phillips Lucille Sobel Thursday, August 11 - 7 Av Joseph C. Freed Sam Manes Allick Markovitz Betty Mizel Sam Mizel David Lee Murphy Esther Prussack Marcelino Rosas Rose Schlanger Friday, August 12 - 8 Av Max Aberson Justin Gendlin Hedwig Jankowsky Marvin Howard Kahn Sam Schusterman Tseitel Weisman Saturday, August 13 - 9 Av Diane Chariton Lotte Kahn Judith I. Kleiner Muriel Seidler Betty Lamm Simon Alice Strauss Joseph Strauss Sonia Warshaw Schwartz Sunday, August 14 - 10 Av Phyllis Brodsky Jan Degen Sarah Dritch Herman Eckstein Sarah Frieden Gelfand Charlotte Zoblotsky Monday, August 15 - 11 Av Hyman Blackman Victor David Harry Moskowitz Faigeh Nadel Abraham M. Sorokin Chasye Riva Sorokin

Tuesday, August 16 - 12 Av Ida F. Bloch Emma Bobrow Isidore Krasne

Wednesday, August 24 - 20 Av Marvin Dorskin Aaron Taxon Maynard Ungerman

Wednesday, August 17 - 13 Av Ida Blufston Sharon Bode-Hempton Sadie Nanette Cohen Nancy Schoenfield Esther Emma Youngheim

Thursday, August 25 - 21 Av Max Kosloff Meyer Moran Lillian Goldberger Price Frieda Siegal Henry Vinick

Thursday, August 18 - 14 Av Minnie Bernbaum Lee F. Brody Joseph Panken

Friday, August 26 - 22 Av Abe Abend Isaac Javaherian Fradel (Fannie) Selinger Libby Singer

Friday, August 19 - 15 Av Rachel Aberson Orpa Fucs Bar Meyer O. Dritch Anna Fedman Syna Leah Fischbein Yetta Kassel Steven Lederman Abraham Stolov Saturday, August 20 - 16 Av Joseph Cleary Anna Fitterman Rabecca Lieberman Sandow O. Ruby Lottie Schwarz Danny Melvin Shapiro Sarah Singer Sam Sitrin Sunday, August 21 - 17 Av Lionel Cohen Nebye Morgan Abraham Singer Edith Weinberg Monday, August 22 - 18 Av Eva Alexander Pola Baum Arthur Hansen Eva Landa Meyer Rozen Louis Saveth Morris Weissbord

Saturday, August 27 - 23 Av Violet Aaronson Sidney Conan Max Feldman Gertrude Hart Frank W. Patterson Myer L. Roberts Frances Schneirow Pearl B. Sellinger Nathan Zeff Sunday, August 28 - 24 Av Mamie Blum Dorothy Kessler Monday, August 29 - 25 Av Klara Kohlhagen Sophie Kriegsman Delphine Rozen Sam Viner Joseph Yusim Morris Zeligson Tuesday, August 30 - 26 Av Alan Guterman Taube Kahan Wednesday, August 31 - 27 Av Louis David Adelson Billie Grabel Maguy Kaiser Adolph L. Kaplan Howard L. Raskin

Tuesday, August 23 - 19 Av Kenneth Malcolm Axelrod Brona Borofsky Benjamin Schlanger John Schwarz Herman Storch

May their souls be bound up in the bond of life everlasting. Please note that each yahrtzeit begins at sunset on the day before the date listed.