Messenger January February 2018

MESSENGER

102

volume

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE RABBI THECALENDAR SYNAGOGUE | CONGREGATION B’NAI EMUNAH | TULSA | JAN + FEB. 2018 | NO. 1-2

TO BE REPLACED

TU BE-SHEVAT AND PLANET EARTH | SEE PAGE 8

PERSONALS

MARCH AT A GLANCE

CHILDREN

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PURIM: THE TRADITIONAL MEGILLAH

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BAR MITZVAH OF REID SOTKIN

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SHABBAT FOR EVERYONE

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SISTERHOOD SHABBAT

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DOING JEWISH

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MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MAZAL TOV

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SALON EMUNAH

Mazel tov to Matt Levitt on his graduation from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business in December.

Matt graduated with his MBA with a focus on Non-Profit Management. In January, Matt will begin full time as the Chief Development Director of Camp Ramah in the Rockies, working remotely from Tulsa.

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BIBI-DIBI: SHABBAT FOR SWEET-PEAS

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MILLENNIALS: PASSOVER 101

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FIRST SEDER

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SECOND SEDER AT THE SYNAGOGUE

Mazal tov to Toby Hurewitz on the official adoption of Adina and Eliana. The family will gather to welcome these baby girls formally into the Jewish community with a naming in February. Mazal tov to the Hurewitz family!

DEATHS Bette Howland Mother of Dr. Jacob Howland Cynthia Ann Friedman Wife of Dr. Michael Friedman Mother of Tallie Friedman

MILLENNIALS FARM TO TABLE

THE MESSENGER

Our community Farm-to-Table Tu Be-Shevat Shabbat will take place on Friday, February 2, 6:30 p.m. at the Synagogue.

January + February - Published Monthly | Bimonthly

Celebrate Shabbat and Tu Be-Shevat with other millennial Tulsans in the Jewish community. Learn about the holiday and local environmental issues, and enjoy a delicious farmto-table Shabbat Dinner, at $14 per person. RSVP to Sara Levitt at slevitt@bnaiemunah.com or call (918) 583-7121.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

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

CONGREGATION B’NAI EMUNAH

ON THE COVER

YOUNG FAMILIES

This classic botanical print features the parts of the almond tree, traditionally the first to awaken from winter in the Land of Israel. It’s a featured player in the celebration of Tu Be-Shevat, the new year for trees, and reminds us of natural rhythms that can no longer be taken for granted. The American Jewish version of Tu Be-Shevat has become an apportunity to address the issues of sustainability, climate change, and our care for the planet.

PAJAMA HAVDALAH ON JANUARY 20 Celebrate the end of Shabbat with your friends at the Synagogue. Say goodbye to Shabbat decked out in your coziest PJs, with a pizza dinner, arts and crafts projects, and more. Pajama Havdalah is geared toward young families, but all are welcome at $5.00 per person. RSVP to Morah Sara Levitt at slevitt@bnaiemunah.com or call (918) 583-7121.

Starting time is 6:00 p.m.

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THE JANUARY CALENDAR AT B’NAI EMUNAH 12

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SHABBAT FOR EVERYONE

The Synagogue’s January life-cycle calendar culminates with the bar mitzvah of Tristan Clemens, the son of Bethany Jackson. Tristan’s preparations have been led by Morah Angelina Dunn and Sara Levitt. The havdalah ceremony will begin at 5:15 p.m.

A monthly communal celebration filled with song, dance, and story, Shabbat for Everyone is an experience for the whole family. We always start with a delicious communal dinner among friends and community at 6:15 p.m. By 7:00 p.m. we’re singing and swaying as we welcome Shabbat with open arms and open hearts. If you’d like to take part in the meal, please make reservations by calling the Synagogue office or visiting our website. No reservation is necessary for the 7:00 p.m. celebration.

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REV. MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADE

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SALON EMUNAH

SEVENTEENTH STREET DELI

Here’s a good way to start 2018 off right, a pile of hot pastrami! Throw in a few pickles, fries and tasty babka, and you’ve got yourself a basket from the Seventeenth Street Deli. Come one, come all, and don’t forget to bring a friend.

Visit tulsadeli.org to make your reservation. Interested in acquiring the ancient wisdom of the deli oral tradition, contact Rabbi Kaiman to join our cooking team!

With the purchase of a health insurance company by one of the nation’s largest retail and pharmacy chains, the landscape of healthcare in the United States seems to be on the brink of further upheaval. What does this mean for patients and providers? How do our healthcare systems intersect with our values? Dr. John Schumann opens up a conversation with Doug Stewart from Blue Cross + Blue Shield as we consider these questions in this salon-style conversation held in the Schumann family home. Coffee and treats will follow the discussion. Please note that there is no cost for this event, but we ask that you call the Synagogue Office to let us know that you’re coming and to get directions. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. Please see the article on page 8 for details.

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DOING JEWISH: THE INTERNET

In the age of Wikipedia and Rabbi Google, the way we ask and answer questions is always changing. As a fire hose of information hits us full in the face, how can we use these vast resources to answer our basic questions about Judaism?

On Sunday, January 28, at 11:00 a.m., we will explore the plethora of online Jewish resources available at our fingertips. Bring along an internet browsing device to enhance the experience of this inter-connected workshop. “Doing Jewish” is part of our Basic Judaism series on Sunday mornings at The Synagogue. For more information, please contact Rabbi Kaiman.

In partnership with Sisterhood, a delegation from the Synagogue will march in this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade. Standing shoulder to shoulder with brothers and sisters across Tulsa, this is an important public event for our entire community. All are encouraged to attend. If you would like to take part in the Synagogue’s delegation, contact our Rabbis through the Synagogue Office and plan to meet in the parking lot of Spaghetti Warehouse by 10:30 a.m. See Rabbi Fitzerman’s article on page 5.

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BAR MITZVAH OF TRISTAN CLEMENS

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A WORLD IN PERIL: DAVID OWEN

Join us for our latest edition of Tu Be-Shevat, a holiday which asks us to consider the state of the planet and our responsibilities for stewardship and sustainability. We will be partnering with Booksmart Tulsa and Magic City Books to host David Owen, staff writer for The New Yorker, and author of three important books on environmental issues.

Many other organizations will be joining us, including the Tulsa Girls Art School, to focus on climate change, rising sea levels, violent weather, and extinction. Please see the article on page 8 for details.

BIBI-DIBI: SHABBAT FOR SWEET PEAS

Giant pillows, rattling toys, and colorful blocks combine for an interactive Shabbat experience for our very youngest members. Parents, grandparents, and caretakers delight as they watch little faces discover community and comfort in the warmth of the Synagogue. A kid-friendly dinner follows the short service. It all gets started at 6:00 p.m. Call or visit our website to make meal reservations.

THE B’NAI EMUNAH COOKING SCHOOL First session on Sunday, February 25 Instant Pot Shabbat!

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THE FEBRUARY CALENDAR AT B’NAI EMUNAH 4

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FETO: A GATHERING PLACE FOR TULSA

SEVENTEENTH STREET DELI

With an opening in the not too distant future, A Gathering Place for Tulsa is set to become one of the great public parks in the United States. Director Tony Moore joins us at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday morning to share an “inside-look” perspective on this transformative initiative. The Sunday Morning Seminar will be preceded by a Free-Eggs-to-Order breakfast at 9:30 a.m. in the Synagogue kitchen. No reservations are necessary. For questions, contact Rabbi Kaiman.

A pop-up Jewish delicatessen in Tulsa, Oklahoma! Housecured pastrami, freshly baked rye bread, half sour pickles— the only thing missing is the Formica counter-top. You’re hungry for this, and we’re ready to feed you. Fulfill the nostalgic longing of the Jewish people over a deli dinner. Visit tulsadeli.org to reserve spots for February, March, and April.

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Very young children and their parents are invited to join us for another soft and cuddly Shabbat experience. It all gets started at 6:00 p.m. Parachutes, rattles, and toys sit at the center of our circle while parents and kids share in the blessings of peaceful Shabbat. A delicious, kid-friendly Shabbat dinner accompanies this program. Please visit our website or call our offices by Thursday, February 22, to reserve your spot on the floor.

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DOING JEWISH: THE WEDDING

From the wedding canopy to the breaking of the glass, the Jewish wedding ceremony marks transition and transformation with remarkable poetry and power. In this workshop, we will take a closer look at the rites and rituals of the Jewish wedding to gain insight into these rooted practices. Doing Jewish is part of our Basic Judaism series on Sunday mornings at The Synagogue. The hour-long workshop begins at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. For more information, please contact Rabbi Kaiman.

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B’NAI EMUNAH COOKING SCHOOL

The kitchen is always more fun when we fill it with good smells and good company. The B’nai Emunah Cooking School connects eager learners with talented teachers exploring various forms of culinary expression. From “basic chicken soup” to “Seder for 40,” BECS workshops help animate your home cooking and make Jewish culinary tradition come alive. Our inaugural workshop will be held on Sunday, February 25 from 9:30 a.m. to noon and will focus on using the Instant Pot to make delicious home-cooked Shabbat meals. To register for this and future BECS workshops, call the Synagogue Office or visit our website.

POLITICAL TWITTER: BARRY FRIEDMAN

While Twitter’s collision course with politics and grassroots organizing was inevitable from the very beginning, we are now living in an era of heightened sensitivities and roundthe-clock news cycles. What does this all mean for the political observer? And how are we to understand this new reality? Comedian and political commentator Barry Friedman has some thoughts. Join us for this salon-style conversation; location to be announced. Coffee and treats will follow the talk. Please note that there is no cost for this event, but we ask that you call the Synagogue Office to let us know that you’re coming and to get directions to the private residence.

The program begins at 7:00 p.m.

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BIBI-DIBI: SHABBAT FOR HONEY BUNS

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PURIM MEGILLAH AND CARNIVAL!

The entire community is invited to join in celebrating Purim on Wednesday evening, February 28. Events begin at 5:30 p.m. with an optional delicious, festive dinner featuring homemade hamantaschen for dessert. At 6:15 p.m. we’ll gather in the Sanctuary for an Interactive Megillah reading for the whole family. The evening will culminate with the legendary Shushan-o-Casbah-Rama, a Purim carnival for kids young and old. Entertainers, magicians, jugglers, and face-painting abound as we celebrate with treats, hamantaschen, popcorn, cotton candy and so much more! Hope to see you there. Visit our website or call our offices to make your meal reservations soon. Cost for the meal is $14 for adults and $7 for kids 12 years of age and under. The service and carnival are free of charge. Participants are encouraged to come in costume.

SHABBAT FOR EVERYONE

Love to dance? Love to sing? Love spending time with friends and family? Then Shabbat for Everyone is the place for you!

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 contact us via phone or website by Wednesday, February 14, to guarantee your place at the dinner table.

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FROM RABBI FITZERMAN

BAR MITZVAH

SISTERHOOD

MARCHING

TRISTAN CLEMENS

Martin Luther King, Jr. is more important that ever. Whatever the complications of his personal life, he represents the potential of non-violent change and the possibility of redemption against the darkest pessimism. I have wept at the gorgeous cadences of his speechmaking and his ability to endure in the face of enormous resistance.

The short version is that he deserves the many observances of January. For the past several years, we have marched in the Tulsa parade, one of the largest and most impressive in the country. Regrettably, there are too few congregations that do so, but we can help by continuing to build up our numbers. I invite you to join us in the earnest hope that we will turn out a substantial body of marchers.

It’s a simple drill. Call the Synagogue in the coming week.

Tell us that you plan to join in the march. We’ll order a T-shirt for you and have it ready in time. It will be large enough to wear over shirtsleeves if it’s warm, or over a coat if it’s not.

Meet us at the Spaghetti Warehouse parking lot by 10:30 a.m. on the morning of Monday, January 15, and we’ll take the short walk to the parade site a block away. We’ll be done, with hugs and thank-you’s, at noon. Not only that, but you get to keep the T-shirt.

Tristan Clemens, son of Bethany Jackson, will celebrate his bar mitzvah on the evening of Saturday, January 27, 2018, at Congregation B’nai Emunah. This date corresponds to 11 Shevat 5778.

Tristan is a seventh-grade student at Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences. His special interests include photography, singing, and learning several musical instruments such as piano, guitar and ukulele.

You’ll also have the memory of a meaningful gesture. At this moment of profound misunderstanding and provocation, we need to reach toward our sisters and brothers of color and say that we are in this together. When American thugs chanted in Charlottesville that “the Jews will not replace us,” they weren’t just spewing about American Jews. The thugs of Charlottesville were—and remain—equal opportunity haters.

And they must be confronted by men and women of conscience who are ready to demonstrate in the streets of Tulsa on behalf of respect, accord, and enlightened mutuality.

For his mitzvah project, Tristan will be rallying his classmates to prepare Happy Home Packs for Tulsa Cares, a non-profit organization that delivers social services to people affected by HIV/AIDS. Tulsa Cares provides care coordination, health care navigation, counseling, housing and nutrition services to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Rev. King gave his life for the principle of non-violence. This is the fiftieth anniversary of the year in which he was assasinated in a moment that can only be described as martyrdom.

I hope that you will honor him on January 15. It is the very least that we can accomplish together to honor his memory.

Tristan is the brother of Falconian Clemens and Rowan Morris. Preparations for his bar mitzvah have been led by Angelina Dunn and Morah Sara Levitt.

Please join the Jackson, Clemens, and Morris families for a Havdalah celebration at 5:15 pm.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION?

BIBI-DIBI - SHABBAT FOR THE ITTY-BITTIES FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, AT THE SYNAGOGUE

PLEASE CALL RABBI KAIMAN AT (918) 583-7121.

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SISTERS | JANET DUNDEE

FROM RABBI KAIMAN

UPCOMING (CONCLUDED) MAH JONGG CONTINUES

YUM

After a brilliant tournament experience in December, Sisterhood is eager to host additional opportunities to play the game. We’ll now offer Sunday morning Mah Jongg to all interested players at many different levels of play. Everyone is welcome; for more information, please call Rhonda Wagnon at (918) 906-3396 or email her at rhondawagnon@yahoo. com.

It should be no surprise to you that I love spending time in the kitchen. One of my earliest memories is standing in the kitchen with my mother shaping and braiding challah to be freshly baked for our family Shabbat meals. If I close my eyes, I can imagine the wafting aroma and warm glow of our family home.

Beginning January 7, tables will be available for play every Sunday morning that Shul School is in session. The time is 10:00 a.m. to noon, with coffee, tea, bagels and cream cheese always available. There is no charge, and tile sets will be available for those who do not have them already. Just bring a copy of the 2017 Mah Jongg card. The location is Memorial Hall, the brightly lit space between the Library and the Board Room.

There is something fundamentally gratifying about the home-centered dinner parties that animate Shabbat and holiday celebrations. Yet we live in a world which does not always make these feasts possible. Work commitments, the fast pace of kids’ activities, and the onslaught of obligations can get in the way. As a synagogue, we try to approximate the experience of home and comfort with welcoming meals for Shabbat and holidays. But our efforts can only be, at best, partial. There are many moments for gathering and celebration on the Jewish calendar. And there is a special magic possible when your dining room is the place of such a feast.

Are you a newbie who wants to learn the game from the ground up? Beginning in February, there will be a cohort of teachers present on the first Sunday of every month to teach those who have never played the game before. Sound good? Join us!

And sometimes the obstacle to gathering for a meal is the practical nature of producing such feasts. Even accomplished home cooks are, at times, limited by the experience of what is familiar and achievable. We know that often the best way to learn is with hands-on experience in the kitchen.

By mixing, chopping, and baking under the watchful eye of another, we can be emboldened to take on the challenge of hosting and serving.

SISTERHOOD READS By popular demand, Sisterhood is pleased to offer the second in a series of book discussions; it will take place on Sunday, January 28, at 1:00 p.m. We will be discussing The Orphan’s Tale, a New York Times bestseller by Pam Jenoff.

This novel depicts the story of two women thrown together by destiny, each hiding a secret. Noa, sixteen years old and pregnant by a Nazi soldier, is forced to leave her family and give up her baby. Working as a train station washerwoman, Noa discovers a boxcar containing dozens of Jewish infants bound for a concentration camp. She snatches an infant from the boxcar and flees, finding refuge with the famous Neuhoff German circus. There she meets Astrid, the lead aerialist. Will their friendship be enough to save one another? Dr. Jennifer Airey will lead the discussion of The Orphan’s Tale. Please join us on January 28.

If some of what I have said here strikes a chord, I hope I can elicit interest in our new B’nai Emunah Cooking School program. These periodic workshops focus on the practical skills that could make our home kitchens come alive with the tastes and smells of tradition. Each workshop stands on its own, and the space-limited programs will be offered at several points throughout the year to enable as many people as possible to participate. From Instant Pot Shabbat to Chicken Soup for the Bowl, each workshop will give you step-by-step experience and take-home instructions that we hope will animate your home cooking. The first of these workshops is scheduled for the morning of February 25 and will focus on how to use the Instant Pot pressure cooker to help produce a delicious family Shabbat meal. Here’s to happy cooking and learning!

SISTERHOOD SHABBAT Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 10, when Sisterhood members will lead Shabbat morning services. For further information or to volunteer your participation, contact Jackie Lasky at 918-740-5853. (continued on page 7)

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IN OUR SCHOOL FROM MORAH SARA LEVITT ZEMER

thrilled that we will be continuing the choir (perhaps with a few additional students, after last month’s success); we plan to have a performance sometime in the spring.

A great miracle happened here!

Last month, we premiered our new youth choir, Zemer, at Shabbat for Everyone. After about two months of rehearsals, music selection, and pizza lunches, we pulled it off. Zemer, which literally means song, was born out of the interest of many of our Synagogue families and students, and my own passion for Jewish music and singing. I was thrilled to take on the task, with the help of the very talented Felipe Oyarzo, as musical director, and was astounded by the commitment and excitement of our students.

If you have interested students or are a musician yourself, please feel free to reach out, as we begin rehearsals again toward the end of the month. I look forward to sharing more miraculous moments like these in the future.

SISTERS [CONT.]

(continued from page 6)

IRON GATE

What evolved from October to our performance in December was amazing—something that has been buzzing in my ears since I arrived and something I wasn’t sure how we would pull off. And then it happened. Outside of the group’s intrinsic talent and sweet-sounding voices, what developed in this short period of time was a sense of cohesiveness, community building and fun in the walls of the Synagogue.

Heads up! The next four volunteer opportunities at Iron Gate Sunday morning breakfast will be on January 8, February 25, March 25 and April 22, from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.

Volunteers aged thirteen and up are needed for this important project. Greet Iron Gate guests and help serve them a wonderful breakfast. Contact Dr. Sarah-Anne Schumann at hennschu@gmail.com.

I noticed our students, ranging in age from four years old to high school seniors, engaging with one another, with adult volunteers and the Synagogue space itself, in ways that I had not seen here before. I loved walking into our weekly lunches before rehearsal to see older kids helping younger ones and building relationships with peers to whom they might have not ever spoken before.

THINKING AHEAD TO PASSOVER When planning your Seder, please think Sisterhood Gift Shop for all the supplies you will need. The Gift Shop will have a diverse collection of tableware, haggadot, games and toys, books and cards. Contact Nancy Cohen if there is something special you know you will need.

NEEDED

This is the beauty of efforts like this one. Zemer deepened relationships among students and to our larger community through Jewish music. When the time finally came for our December performance, it all came together. Any nerves beforehand melted away as Zemer walked onto the bimah and sang their first notes. The shirts, the folders, the bands, the soloists, and the speakers all came together in a reflection of my own hopes and dreams for our work as a Jewish community—moments of pride and togetherness, filled with song and excitement, celebration and community. I am

VEHICLES The Synagogue is again looking for two vehicles. The first is a pick-up truck for general Synagogue use. A vehicle in good working order with a few blemishes would suit our purposes beautifully, and we would very much appreciate the donation.

We’re also looking for a low-cost used vehicle for a member of the local Jewish Teach for America community. We have pledged to assist these young people in whatever way we can, and a good deal on a car would be very helpful.

Please call Valerie Henderson in the Rabbis’ Office at (918) 583-7121 if you can assist us with either vehicle.

Kum Essen V Copies of this classic volume are still available.

Stop by the gift shop soon.

BARRY FRIEDMAN ON FEBRUARY 15

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FEATURED EVENTS AT THE SYNAGOGUE THREE STIMULATING CONVERSATIONS

tor of politics and the like, Barry will help us explore what it means to be watching, listening and participating in an era of political Twitter. The salon-style conversation will begin at 7:00 p.m. and those interested in attending are asked to call the Synagogue office to signal interest and receive directions to the private residence hosting the event. We hope you’ll join us for learning, conversation, and treats.

How are we to understand an evolving health insurance landscape? Interested in an inside look at Tulsa’s “A Gathering Place” project? Looking to explore the politics of Twitter? The Synagogue will convene three stimulating conversations throughout January and February through our Salon Emunah and Sunday Morning Seminar programs.

On Thursday, January 25, Dr. John Schumann will facilitate a conversation on the future of Health Insurance.

Alongside panelists representing private and public interests in the Oklahoma Insurance industry, we will explore the potential impact of industry mergers in this critical landscape.

Whether you are a concerned consumer or a participant in the delivery of healthcare to patients, this conversation will be a keen opportunity to reflect on how all of these changes might impact our values and concerns. The salon-style conversation will begin at 7:00 p.m. and those interested in attending are asked to call the Synagogue office to signal interest and receive directions to the private residence hosting the event.

THE WORLD IN PERIL Our relationship with the earth is an ancient preoccupation. We are required to let the fields lie fallow every seven years, protect fruit trees in times of war, and reapportion the land during the Jubilee. Those are the bedrock principles of sustainability and stewardship. But the degradation of the created world now threatens our fundamental well-being.

The symptoms are climate change, extinction, rising sea levels, depletion of natural resources, and storms of unusual force. We face the real possibility of environmental collapse.

The next conversation in this series will take place on Sunday, February 4, at 10:30 a.m. Tony Moore, the Director of A Gathering Place for Tulsa, will be at the Synagogue to share updates and reflections in anticipation of the park’s opening in 2018. Learn about the building process as well as the vision for Tulsa reflected through this significant development. The seminar conversation will convene at 10:30 a.m. at The Synagogue. A free-eggs-to-order breakfast will be served in the Synagogue kitchen beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Finally, on Thursday, February 15, Barry Friedman will share thoughts on Political Twitter. How does new media mark out a new political reality? A keen observer and commenta-

The Synagogue | Congregation B’nai Emunah will join Booksmart Tulsa and Magic City Books to address these issues in a special appearance by New Yorker writer and author David Owen on the evening of January 31, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. Owen will travel to Tulsa to speak about The World in Peril in a wide-ranging conversation with Jeffrey Martin. (continued on page 9)

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FEATURED EVENTS [CONT.]

TODAH RABAH

David Owen has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1991. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River; Green Metropolis: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less Are the Keys to Sustainability; and The Conundrum: How Scientific Innovation, Increased Efficiency, and Good Intentions Can Make Our Energy and Climate Problems Worse.

Many programs and activities at the Synagogue would not be possible without dedicated and talented volunteers. Over the past month many people have contributed to our work as a community. To all our volunteers, we say “thank you.”

(continued from page 8)

November and December saw beautiful successes on the part of the Seventeenth Street Deli, with many meals served and many happy customers. We’re proud of the good work we’re doing. Be sure to check out upcoming editions of the Tulsa VOICE and Oklahoma Today Magazine for write-ups about our deli. Thank you to the volunteer crew that makes it all possible—Allen Brookey, Colby Craige, Matt Levitt, Isabella Lieberman, Dr. Brian Milman, Will Quillman, Allie Wenger, Tim Wood, and Meredith Wyatt.

Owen’s most recent book on water rights has earned rapturous reviews from a wide circle of critics. The New York Times noted Owen’s rare combination of “the keen observation of a birder combined with…breezy writing to draw you in with unusual insights. . . . [T]he Colorado River is a great, sad, terrifying, possibly hopeful example of the pervasive, permanent mark people are making on the planet.”

The Winterlight Chanukah Festival brought many parts of our community together for song, treats, and a joyous celebration of the season. Thank you to everyone who participated in the event. In particular, thank you to Felipe Oyarzo for providing music and entertainment, and to Rabyne Shirley for coordinating our fire and s’mores station.

The Wall Street Journal noted that “Mr. Owen owns our attention. We have a lot to learn, but this is not a textbook.

What Mr. Owen offers is a detail-rich travelogue, an amalgam of memoir and journalism and history, moving across a watershed that sustains 36 million people from Wyoming to Mexico. This wonderfully written book covers issues that will, or should, give you a headache. But it is a good headache, one that makes you a more informed person.”

ADULT INSTITUTE Please watch your January mail for the announcement about Adult Institute’s winter semester. There are great classes lined up for students at every level of age and experience. Please use the registration form provided, or call the Charles Schusterman Jewish Community Center directly.

David Owen’s appearance in Tulsa is part of the Synagogue’s celebration of Tu Be-Shevat, and will feature the participation and co-sponsorship of many community organizations. Our continued existence depends on our willingness to confront hard truths with creativity and a sober appreciation of the world’s fragility.

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A CONGREGATION OF IMMIGRANTS

In the center of this picture are Jocelyn Brody and her two daughters. Pacey is on the left side of the frame, and Shelato is on the right. Shelato came to the United States from Sidama, Ethiopia, in 2010. Pacey arrived from Oromia, Ethiopia, in 2008. The girls hold pictures of their birth families in each hand as a way of honoring their origins and those who brought them into the world. In Pacey’s right hand is a photo of herself, her brother, Hailu, and her sister, Bilise. In her left hand is an image of Pacey and her birth mother, Bachu.

On the other side of the picture, Shelato holds a picture of her birth father, Dawit; her siblings, Tungitu, Bereket, Mitsuat, and baby Sitota; and her step-mother, Esther. In her left hand is another image of her birth father, Dawit, along with Shelato, herself.

We’re so happy that the Brody family agreed to be photographed this month. If you would like to be featured in an upcoming edition of the Messenger, please let us know!

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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYNAGOGUE Altamont Bakery Fund Sharon Neuwald Didi Ralph

Ann Beerman Flower and Garden Fund Estelle Finer

Bikur Cholim Fund Jennifer and Sam Joels

Building and Grounds Fund Sharon and Fred Benjamin

Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund Julie Frank

Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman Discretionary Fund Brian Brouse Amy and Eric Henderson Jennifer and Sam Joels Madelyn and Franklyn Moskowitz

Robinowitz Library Fund Brian Brouse

Rose Borg Sukkah Fund

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

S. & J. Frieden Computer Fund

Dave Sylvan Joyful Music Fund

Susan Contente and G. Kurt Piehler

Education Endowment Fund

Scott Foreman Zarrow Rabbinic Endowment

Lenny Seigel Playground Equipment Fund

Scott Sanditen Memorial Community Service Fund

Eva Unterman

Joan Green

Vellie Bloch

Meyer Rozen Prayerbook Fund Carla and Les Weston

Morris and Edith Sylvan Transportation Fund

Hilary, Alison and Rachel Zarrow

Harold Sanditen Jean and Will Sanditen

Sidney & Jenny Brouse Family Shabbat and Holiday Fund Isrella Taxon

Jan Brickman

Synagogue Endowment Fund

Rabbi Arthur D. Kahn, D. D., Culture Fund

Synagogue General Fund

Susan and Jerry Sokol

Rabbi Daniel S. Kaiman Discretionary Fund

Jennifer and Sam Joels Bonnie and George Kennedy Arlene and Earl Starkman

Maxine Milgrim

Tom Adelson O’Neil Cobb Joe Degen Sally and Bob Donaldson Frank Family Foundation Fund Nancy and Phil Hammond Betty and Keith Lehman Norman Levick

Cheryl and Greg Myers Lillian and Bernard Roberts Adria and Brad Sanditen Jolene Sanditen Leslie Sanditen and Frank Zigmund Nancy Zankel

The Religious School Fund Shirley and Willie Burger Frank Family Foundation Fund

Trees of Life Fund Leah Friedman

In Loving Memory

Sam Abravanel Abraham Beerman Ann Beerman Rita Benjamin Rachel Borg Rose Borg Molly Brickman Donna Brown Jay Cohen Milton Morris Cohen Aaron Contente Lois Contente Sylvia Degen Darryl Edelman Jules E. Edelman Ronna Taxon Einhorn Joseph Finer Sharna and Irvin Frank Irwin Friedman Lillian Geboff Frederick Gock Roseline Gussman Jonathan Jeffy Hermine “Bootsie” Levick Ruth and Seymour Marcum Lillian Moskowitz Berthold Neuwald Donald Newman Lillian and Josh Price Annabelle Richman Michael Myer Roberts Scott Sanditen Fred Sokol Stanley Weiner

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYNAGOGUE In Honor Of

Brian Brouse Holly and Phillip Burger and Family Nancy and Harvey Cohen The Altamont Bakery Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman

In Honor Of (continued)

Eliana Joels, on her bat mitzvah Rabbi Daniel Shalom Kaiman Jackie Lasky Betty Lehman

In Honor Of (continued)

Sara Levitt and the Zemer Youth Choir Greg Raskin Bonnie and Louis Spiesberger, on their wedding anniversary

THE WORLD IN PERIL A community conversation with

DAVID OWEN New Yorker Staff Writer and author of Green Metropolis and Where the Water Goes At the Synagogue on Tu Be-Shevat Wednesday, January 31, at 7:00 p.m.

No charge. Book signing following.

In cooperation with Booksmart Tulsa, Magic City Books, Holland Hall, the Tulsa Girls Art School and many other organizations.

YAHRTZEIT CALENDAR­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ — 16 SHEVAT THROUGH 13 ADAR 5778 Thursday, February 1 - 16 Shevat Fred Strauss Jerry Feenberg Pansy Lorraine Kaplan William Kessler Friday, February 2 - 17 Shevat Freda Robinson Irving Brown Pauline Borofsky Carmel Shawn Kurtis Eckstein Tillie Fein

Miriam “Mim” Brown Moses Abraham Reuben Pan Marks Rebecca Tublin Reva F. Vinick Sidney Gore Saturday, February 10 - 25 Shevat Albert Fadem Bernard Schacht Ida Springer

Saturday, February 3 - 18 Shevat Gernhild Anderson Henry Zarrow Joseph Miller Martin Bresloff Miriam Rabkin Sara Lewis Sunday, February 4 - 19 Shevat Alice Drucks Annie Brooks Libby Lebow Mania Wozobski Nellie Gribin Norman Tugenberg Seymour Shapiro Monday, February 5 - 20 Shevat Fred Mudgett Nathan Kleiner Samuel Marks Sandy Blumenthal Sarah Sokol Herman Jeffy Joseph Brickman Millicent L. Aaronson Rita Glazer Reznikoff Rose Sobel Sarah Martha Kerbel Sig Guthman Tillie Stekoll

Sunday, February 11 - 26 Shevat Anna Moyen Flora Mizel Jack Saikin Leah Gilenson Robert Green Sharon Robinowitz Monday, February 12 - 27 Shevat Chaye Esther “Edith” Taubman Elmer Price Frank Grabel Goldie Shapiro Tuesday, February 13 - 28 Shevat Brian Sweet Jack Eiziks Joseph Teichman Judy Pertofsky Norman Finkel Rose Weiss Wednesday, February 14 - 29 Shevat Bertha Roberts David Berman Harry B. Davis Jack Herst Julius Sanditen Sarah Bernice Butkin Shirley Stavinsky Horwitz Sylvia Davis

Wednesday, February 7 - 22 Shevat Emma Reeves Loretta Sitrin Minnie Freigher Weinstein Samuel J. Singer

Thursday, February 15 - 30 Shevat Frieda Bonem Harry Mizel Jacob Leon Wyman Jennie Poznik Susan Goldstein

Thursday, February 8 - 23 Shevat Abraham Brodsky Armin Price Harold L. Margolis

Friday, February 16 - 1 Adar E. Stanley Berger, M.D. Herbert Gussman Isadore Karchmer

Friday, February 9 - 24 Shevat Anna Winer Delphine Phyllis Loomstein

Saturday, February 17 - 2 Adar Albert Supofsky Celia Teichman Harold Slocum Henry Fishman Idah Burnstein Renee Gottehrer

Friday, February 23 - 8 Adar Abraham Goldstein Bella Kopp Benjamin Albert Bessie Zeff Elliott Mason Ethel Markus Harry Kravetz John Frank Mary Kallmeyer Michelle Borofsky Deissig Sheldon Tilkin Verlea Bercutt

Sunday, February 18 - 3 Adar Barbara Robinowitz Curnutt Cynthia Thelma Aaronson Ethel Cohen Helen Goldberg John Welcher Molly Katz Sophie Rubin

Sunday, February 25 - 10 Adar Bessie Rips Freda Kornfeld Paul Friedman Beatrice A. Rotman Bessie Zeldich Ungerman Edwin Marcum H.Z. Fell Harry S. Blufston Ida Finkelstein Abramson Jack Eilenberg Lee Roodman Minnie Moran

Monday, February 19 - 4 Adar Marshall Grossbard Marvin Kahn Morris Foonberg Rebecca Robbin Serene Weiner Tuesday, February 20 - 5 Adar A. Lou Brouse Abbo Arcader Abraham Sucherman Adolph H. Eichenberg Clara Berger Dr. Gerald Sanford Richards Gertrude Kantor Mendel Rubin Rose Degen Sarah Finkelstein

Monday, February 26 - 11 Adar Bess Hass Robinson Bess Heyman Elayne Cohen Eva Brouse Isadore C. Alamar Julius Bookman Morris Kessler Nathan Magoon

Wednesday, February 21 - 6 Adar Adeline Fish Dorothy Pruitt Rainey Fred Fidanque Gertie Nissim Harry Tugenberg Herbert Morris Paul Jack J. White Louis B. Webber Sam Plost Thursday, February 22 - 7 Adar Charles Rosenthal Darold Eagle Fannie Eva Vinick Florentine Binstock Louis Lederman Maurice Schwartz Mischa Abraham Kahn Rose Kantor Ruth Snitz Sol Panken

Tuesday, February 27 - 12 Adar George Fischbein Irv Frank Isidore Gelfand Louis S. Rubin Sam Rothman Samuel H. Getz Scott Sanditen Yom Tov Sobel Wednesday, February 28 - 13 Adar Arnold Schreier Elijah Zacharin Fannie Miller Jack J. Weisberg Jerome R. Watt Leona Taylor

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.

PLEASE HELP the synagogue HELP REFUGEES IN TULSA JOIN US IN OUR ENGLISH-AS-A-SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAM.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ON WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. CALL SARA LEVITT AT (918) 583-7121.

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

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

YAHRTZEIT CALENDAR­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ — 14 TEVET THROUGH 15 SHEVAT 5778 Monday, January 1 - 14 Tevet Harry Cohen Tuesday, January 2 - 15 Tevet Al Morrison Ben Moskowitz Benjamin Rosen Celia R. Apt Charles Hertwig Edward Weinstein Ethel Ettie Sack Isadore Gordon Renetta Jacobson Rosalind Bolusky Rose Steigman Samuel Davis Shirley B’tesh Wednesday, January 3 - 16 Tevet Abraham J. Freed Charles Miller Joseph Manes Sam Sanditen Thursday, January 4 - 17 Tevet Adolf Neuwald Donald Viner Ida Soclof Rebbitzen Anna Kahn Scott Zarrow Friday, January 5 - 18 Tevet George Paru Saturday, January 6 - 19 Tevet Adeline Sara Singer Bernie LeVine Joseph Lewis Mary Goldstein Robert A. Jacobs Sam Epstein Sunday, January 7 - 20 Tevet Ely G. Sanditen Frances Shushansky Ivonne Goldstein Martha Strauss Monday, January 8 - 21 Tevet Abram “Abe” Lippy Borofsky Bessie Tureck Harry W. Glasser Jacob Rozen Mandel Fischer Pearl Watt Isralsky Ralph Jeffy Rebecca Olson Robert A. Stekoll

Tuesday, January 9 - 22 Tevet Bernard Finer Ethel Zukerman Leona Gordon Maurice Abrams Wednesday, January 10 - 23 Tevet Harriet Levinson Martin Weise Max Katz Wallace Levy Thursday, January 11 - 24 Tevet Helmut Kaiser Juda Neuman Mary Raskin Max Rubin Milton Lasky Ronald Kriegsman Sol Marvin Levin Yetta Magoon Friday, January 12 - 25 Tevet Harry Springer Mark Sokol Martin Hersh Shellim Massil Walter Leffmann Saturday, January 13 - 26 Tevet Bella Finer Golda Waldinger Melvin Goldenstern Occie Edna Hawkins Ray Shirley Rose Stekoll Sam H. Weisman Tzvia Shaharabany Sunday, January 14 - 27 Tevet Abe Borofsky Bessie R. Goldsmith Louis Klein Sam Bookman Monday, January 15 - 28 Tevet David Trope Iola Frank Lifsics Georgia Mizel Peter Wozobski Tuesday, January 16 - 29 Tevet Anne V. Zarrow Frida R. Sherman Gene Serlin Pearl Zeff Ruth Victor

Wednesday, January 17 - 1 Shevat Darrell H. Smith Isadore Paskel Jettchen Katz Leonard Kitz Mary Wax Ms. Ray Brown Paul Frank Bernstein Solomon Apt Vinita Carruthers Thursday, January 18 - 2 Shevat Leona Adelaide Hurst Marion Brodsky Rabbi Isaac Paru Sanford I. Brophy Friday, January 19 - 3 Shevat Edward S. Zechman Ethel Moran John Mason Mings, V Mathilda Lewis Saturday, January 20 - 4 Shevat Arthur Brimer Henrico Farina Jose Rousso Lois Contente Melvin C. Resnick Nellie Mandel Rose Winer Sadye Sanditen Shirley Kahn Malkove Zel Rozin Sunday, January 21 - 5 Shevat Fannie Miller Florence Williams Louis Levy Rachel Bedrick William Israel Weisman Monday, January 22 - 6 Shevat Brooke Tivol McGrath Elkan Massil Joseph D. Davis Julius Oleinick Morad Nejad Khalil Myrtle Della Hudson Paul Marks Phyllis Mendlowitz Tuesday, January 23 - 7 Shevat Flora Solow Herman Leff Philip Sherman Rebecca Yett Vinick Ruth R. Shwatshkin

Wednesday, January 24 - 8 Shevat Anna Appelman Meyer Spector Thursday, January 25 - 9 Shevat Alexander George Wolf Hyman Dundee Jack Zarrow Jacob Israel Singer Martin Kallmeyer Moses Abraham Hyman Sylvia Golsen Friday, January 26 - 10 Shevat Aron Youngheim Basia Reiff Charles Goodall Clara Youngheim David “Toots” Borochoff Dorothy Wolowitz Eva G. Steinberg Harry L. Steinberg Rosalia Toer de Herscovich Ursula Guterman Saturday, January 27 - 11 Shevat Arieh Kozlowski Sarah Levinson Sunday, January 28 - 12 Shevat David Fist Edith Wolfson Edwards LaNelle Love Donaldson Lena S. Aaronson Morris Schechtman Sheldon M. Paru Tessie Schwartz Ben Rubin Helene Bloch Minnie S. Speciner Pearl Gordon Sam Poznik Samuel Hyman Wittels Tuesday, January 30 - 14 Shevat Fannie Moran Mildred Hurewitz Oscar Velarde Siegfried Kohlhagen Sylvia Smith Tybie Davis Satin Wednesday, January 31 - 15 Shevat Albert Rabinovitz Daniel Zeligson Dr. Mable Stovin Harry Waldinger Iraj Javaherian Isador Sanditen Robert Stanley Berger

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.