THE SYNAGOGUE | CONGREGATION B’NAI EMUNAH | PUBLISHED MONTHLY | JUNE 2025
Milestones
Births
Oliva Louise Aussenberg, born to Ben and Hillary Aussenberg
Marshall Parks Clayman, born to Jacob and Katie Clayman
Jonah Irving Coretz, born to Ryan and Courtney Coretz
Morris Abram Coretz, born to Adam and Sara Coretz
Niv Gurevitch, grandson of Danielle and Gilad Gurevitch
Deaths
Isabel Raffkind Sanditen, mother of Linda Werner (Leo), Judith Sanditen, Janie Sanditen Kolman, and Michael Sanditen; wife of the late Edgar Sanditen.
Mazel Tov
Mazel Tov to our Seniors who graduated from high school last month:
Adam Arbital
Addison Barnes
Jacob Barnes
Gabby Irwin-Raskin
Oliver Jeffy
Ryan Levine
Xander Loosvelt
Reese Mason
Seth Mason
ON THE COVER
From Sandy Koufax to Hank Greenberg, Jewish players have left an indelible mark on America’s favorite pastime. This playful collection of buttons from the Baseball Hall of Fame celebrates Jewish baseball legends across generations. Join us in the spirit of summer and tradition at our Father’s Day “Sandlot Softball” game on June 15—a chance to honor dads, swing for the fences, and celebrate Jewish contributions to baseball history.
Masthead
Daniel S Kaiman ................................ Principal Rabbi
Aaron Miller ............................................... President
Noah Bleicher ....................... Executive Vice President
Randee Charney ................................. Vice President
Ilana Shushansky ................................ Vice President
Brae Riley ................................................... Treasurer
Jennifer ..................................................... Secretary
Kate Basch ................................. Sisterhood President
Nancy Cohen ...................... Sisterhood Gift Shop Chair
Sara Levitt ................. Director of Jewish Life & Learning
Cassidy Petrazzi ........................Director of Operations
Richie Bolusky ...................... Director of Programming
Shelli Wright ................................. Preschool Director
Genevieve Rahim ... Director of Outreach & Resettlement
Shawna Fain ................................. Executive Assistant
Marc Boone Fitzerman ...................Rabbi (Emeritus)
Rafi Dworsky ............................... High Holiday Cantor
June Program Highlights
AFTERNOON/EVENING SERVICES
Join us on Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:30 p.m. in the Davis-Goodall Chapel for traditional prayer and community Mourner’s Kaddish. Both in-person and Zoom participation are available. Please register for in-person attendance on our website.
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES
Every Saturday at 9:30 a.m., we celebrate Shabbat through song, Torah study, and fellowship. These services, available both in-person and via Zoom, offer a chance to mark anniversaries, celebrate milestones, and engage in our congregation’s ritual life.
1 A SLICE OF SHAVUOT
Join us Sunday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m. for a joyful and enriching slice of learning, pizza and cheesecake geared towards adults and children of all ages in celebration of Shavuot! Together we’ll explore the deeper meanings of the holiday that marks the giving of the Torah. Through engaging discussions, interactive learning activities, and inspiring storytelling, participants of all ages will connect with the spirit of Shavuot in a warm, festive atmosphere. Come be inspired, uplifted, and united as we celebrate this sacred moment together! We’ll begin this harvest festival with a celebratory dairy dinner of individually curated slices of pizza and cheesecake, before separating adults and children for meaningful Torah study. Visit tulsagogue.com/events to reserve your place at the dinner table.
2 &3 SHAVU’OT YOM TOV SERVICES
JUNE 2025
PUBLISHED MONTHLY
CONGREGATION
B’NAI EMUNAH
1719 South Owasso Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120
Office: (918) 583-7121
School: (918) 585-KIDS
Fax: (918) 747-9696
Web: tulsagogue.com
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news. (Isaiah 52:7)
As always, a full complement of Yom Tov services will take place throughout the holiday. Each morning will begin at 9:30 a.m. These services will include Torah readings tied to the season, messages associated with the holiday, and sweet treats at the conclusion. A yizkor (memorial) service will be chanted on June 3 toward the end of the morning celebration.
12 BLATT + BLUE — KIDNAPPED:THEABDUCTION OF EDGARDO MORTARA
Join us for a discussion of Kidnapped, a film based on the true story of a young Jewish boy forcibly taken from his parents by emissaries of the Pope in 1858. The conversation will take place on Thursday, June 12, at 7:00 p.m. in the Synagogue Zoom Room (ID: 918 583 7121), concluding at 8:00 p.m. The film is available on Amazon Prime for a modest fee – let us know if you need help accessing it. Now in its fifth year, Blatt + Blue continues the Synagogue’s commitment to inclusive, thoughtful dialogue. Hosts David Blatt and Alice Blue will provide a summary before opening the floor for discussion, so you can participate even if you haven’t watched the film.
13
BIBI-DIBI: SHABBAT FOR LITTLE ONES
Join us Friday, June 13 at 5:30 p.m. for a Shabbat gathering crafted for babies and their families. Revel in the joy of singing songs, playing games, and savoring a delightful Shabbat dinner. It’s an excellent opportunity to establish and embrace your own family traditions. While no reservation is required for the celebration, we ask you to secure your spot for the meal by registering at tulsagogue.com/events.
15
FATHER’S DAY CO-ED SANDLOT SOFTBALL & PICNIC
Grab your glove and bat and join us Sunday morning, June 15 at 10:00 a.m. for a fun-filled game of softball at Whiteside Park, 4009 S Pittsburg, Tulsa. Don’t feel like playing, but like watching an entertaining game while eating peanuts and Cracker Jacks? Bring the whole family to enjoy a day in the park with an impressive water play area and stay to join us for a picnic lunch following the game. Be sure to grab those swimsuits for the kids. There is limited seating, so please bring a folding chair or picnic blanket. This is a free event, open to the community, but please indicate your attendance by registering at tulsagogue.com/events.
17 BOOKSMART: THE EXTINCTION OFIRENAREY WITH JENNIFER CROFT
From the International Booker Prize-winning translator and Women’s Prize finalist, The Extinction of Irena Rey is an utterly beguiling novel about eight translators and their search for a world-renowned author who goes missing in a primeval Polish forest. Jennifer Croft won a Guggenheim Fellowship for this novel, the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing for her memoir Homesick, and the International Booker Prize for her translation of Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk’s Flights. She has also received the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature. In addition to being a talented and accomplished writer, she is also a member of The Synagogue community. For more information regarding this free to attend book release event on Tuesday, June 17 at 7:00 p.m., please visit magiccitybooks.com/events.
22 SEVENTEENTH STREET DELI
Indulge in the delectable offerings of the Seventeenth Street Deli, Sunday, June 22 from 5:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m., where our kitchen crafts dishes with a perfect blend of slow cures, a touch of pepper, and heaps of love. Our much-loved pop-up restaurant invites you to enjoy both dine-in and take-out dinner services. Ensure your place in this culinary experience by pre-registering at tulsadeli.org and choose from our delightful pastrami, corned beef, or deli egg salad options.
Contributions to The Synagogue
Rabbi Daniel S. Kaiman Discretionary Fund
Vickie Blalock
Ryan and Courtney Coretz
Susan Contente and G. Kurt Piehler
Rowena Galerston Family Trust
Mimi Tarrasch and Jim Jakubovitz
Corey Williams and Greg, Sophie, and Lily Raskin
Eva Unterman Environmental Education Fund
Jason Brimer and Mary Cantrell
Rose Borg Sukkah Fund
Richard and April Borg
Jay and Kathy Friedman
Sam Plost Matzah Fund
Lou, Kathe, Mike, and Susan Stekoll
Karen Tilkin
Drs. Linda and Richard Young
Synagogue General Fund
Linda Brown
Rachel Diagostino
Carol Fisher
Katherine and Lynn Frame
Irvin and Carol Gertner
Elaine Kahn
Edgar and Isabel Sanditen Preschool Fund
Shahaf Feinkuchen
Dave Sylvan Joyful Music Fund
Sheldon and Molly Berger
Joli and Lawrence Shushansky
Scott and Lauren Zeligson
Refugee Resettlement
Joli Jensen and Craig Walter
Chevra Kadisha Fund
Allan and Elaine Jeffy
Harold and Sheryl Springer
Scott and Jolene Sanditen Memorial Community
Service Fund
Jolene Sanditen
Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund
Dr. EN Lubin and Marjorie Lubin Charitable Fund
Building and Grounds Fund
Jonathan Kantor
Altamont Bakery Fund
Harold and Sheryl Springer
Brouse Family Shabbat and Holiday Fund
Betty and Keith Lehman
Carol and Harry Windland
Schlanger-Blend Kitchen Fund
Wynn and Bette Wozobski
Brouse Family Shabbat and Holiday Fund
Barry and Debbie Lederman
Environmental Education Fund
Karen Neuwald
Rose Borg Sukkah Fund
Sophie Biespiel
Jonah Biespiel
In Honor of
Dr. Scott Dunitz
Idan Miriam Feinkuchen
Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman
In Memory of Vellie Bloch
Irving Borg
Harry Borg
Eleanor Brimer
Bessie Contente
Eleanor Fisher
Monroe “Jim” Friedman
Stephen Grissom
Samuel Lenske
Mike May
Dr. Marvin Kahn
Joe Rose, Gertrude Kantor and AD, Jean Eichenberg
Lynn Shirley
Pat Snitz and Vellie Bloch
Ida and Harry Springer
Leonard Springer
Bernice Stekoll
Ena Tarrasch
Sheila Troob
Serene Weiner
Robert D. West
Sam Zeligson
From Rabbi Daniel S. Kaiman
EXPANDING THE COVENANT
“B’nai Emunah” is not the most typical name for a synagogue. It means People of Faith—a phrase beautifully capturing our communal character—and its origin story is as unique as our congregation. According to our synagogue archives, the name was suggested by Rev. Himmelstein, who, at the time, served as the closest thing we had to professional ritual leadership. His role? He was the community shochet—a ritual slaughterer. Not to be too vivid, but yes, our butcher named our beloved congregation.
I love that fact. It speaks to something essential about who we are: a community grounded in both our highest ideals and the practical work of Jewish life. From the very beginning, B’nai Emunah has invested in the tools and resources that allow Jewish life to flourish—meat for our tables, sacred services in our sanctuary, and everything in between.
“For the first time, Jewish families in Oklahoma can access this ancient mitzvah with local support that is both clinically expert and spiritually grounded.”
But in one essential area of Jewish practice, our Tulsa community has long been under-resourced: brit milah, the ancient ritual of circumcision. For decades, families have had to rely on out-of-town providers who combine medical expertise with ritual training. Often, this has meant complicated travel and coordination at one of the most vulnerable moments in a family’s life.
That’s why I am thrilled to share some truly transformative news: Dr. Andrea Schwartz has recently completed her certification as Oklahoma’s only mohelet. A board-certified pediatrician specializing in newborn care, Dr. Schwartz is also a member of our Board of Directors and a parent of three children active in our synagogue life. Having performed thousands of hospital circumcisions over the course of her career, she is now able to offer this sacred service to families in our community—both medically and ritually.
This is a significant milestone. It means that, for the first time, Jewish families in Oklahoma can access this ancient mitzvah with local support that is both clinically expert and spiritually grounded.
At our core, we are a synagogue that holds fast to our values while embracing the day-to-day work of building Jewish life. That’s what makes Judaism special, and that’s what makes our synagogue special. Nearly 109 years after our founding, this new chapter reminds us how powerful it is to be a people of faith—both in name and in action.
Please join me in celebrating this moment of growth, connection, and commitment.
“This has been a great year for movies so far, and Kidnapped is another work of
page 3 for details
Join us June 17
Booksmart: The Extinction of Irena Rey with Jennifer Croft
From the International Booker Prize-winning translator and Women’s Prize finalist, The Extinction of Irena Rey is an utterly beguiling novel about eight translators and their search for a world-renowned author who goes missing in a primeval Polish forest
From Cassidy Petrazzi
LET THERE BE BETTER LIGHT
As the summer heat begins to settle over Tulsa, Congregation B’nai Emunah is taking meaningful steps to care for our sacred spaces and our shared planet. We’re proud to share that we’ve started a project to revamp the lighting systems in both the Kaiser-Miller Auditorium and the Sanctuary, replacing outdated fixtures with new, energy-efficient LED bulbs. This project is made possible through a sustainability initiative offered in partnership between First Light Tulsa and Public Service Company of Oklahoma. With their support, we are excited to upgrade our lighting in a way that significantly reduces energy use while improving the quality of light in our most cherished gathering spaces.
“In Jewish tradition, light is not just physical—it’s deeply spiritual. From the kindling of Shabbat candles to the eternal flame above the ark.”
It’s a win-win for the environment and for everyone who comes together here for learning, celebration, and prayer. In Jewish tradition, light is not just physical—it’s deeply spiritual. From the kindling of Shabbat candles to the eternal flame above the ark. By switching to energyefficient lighting, we honor these symbols in a new way—recognizing our responsibility to care for the earth and to use our resources wisely.
See page 3 for details
This project also reflects a broader intention: to thoughtfully activate and utilize every part of our building. With the expansion of Kesher, our after-school program and the daily use of Sanditen Hall— once reserved primarily for Shabbat dinners and large events—we’re thrilled to reimagine how the Kaiser-Miller Auditorium can serve our growing community. With its new lighting, we know these spaces will be more welcoming than ever.
MAKE DAD’S DAY! JUNE 15
FATHER’S DAY MORNING CO-ED SANDLOT SOFTBALL
From Morah Sara Levitt
SUMMER READS
School’s out for summer! We wrapped up another incredible year of our Synagogue school programs in May and have already begun planning for the next school year. But before we rush away, I wanted to share the books I’ve been collecting this year to add to my reading list for the summer. I hope you’ll read along with me!
First up is Chutzpah Girls: 100 tales of Daring Jewish Women by Julie Esther Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg Pruwer. This book is a collection of short biographies of incredible Jewish women who span different cultures and eras of Jewish history. The title alone was a huge draw to me! While this book has all the greats like Golda Meir and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, it also includes lesserknown women in our history with chutzpah. This book is actually a book for children that perhaps we’ll use in our school programs next year.
this summer.
Next up is a newish book by an author I really love to read, Shalom Auslander. I’ve always been fascinated by people who grew up ultra-orthodox and have left the community. His new book, Feh, revisits and expands on his own story of pain and trauma inflicted by being a part of an extreme religious community. The word “feh” is a Yiddish word that means disgust. I love Auslander’s style of writing, and I’m thrilled to add this to my nightstand
Misophonia A Novel, by Dana Vowinckel, recounts the story of a teenage girl from Germany whose father is a cantor from Israel, spending the summer with her grandparents in Chicago. The story follows her as her family makes plans for her to meet her estranged mother in Israel on her way back to Germany. I’m excited to explore this story of Jews of the diaspora, teenage angst, and family relationships. Finally, is a novel that’s been grabbing my attention all year. It’s called The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride, and it tells the story of the Jewish and African American communities in Chicken Hill, the lowincome section of Pottstown, Pennsylvania around the turn of the century. By the 1930s all of the Jews have left except for the main characters of the story, a couple who owns and operates the Heaven & Earth grocery store. The novel paints an interesting picture of interracial relationships and an important time in American history. From what I can tell this will be a quick read that keeps you on your toes and warms your heart.
I hope you’ll read along with me!
Thoughts and Prayers
NEW BLOG FROM RABBI FITZERMAN
AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, WE DEVELOPED THIS PASTRAMI SANDWICH, SOURCING THE MEAT, DEVELOPING THE SEASONING, AND OVERSEEING THE CAREFUL PREPARATION OF THE PASTRAMI TO GET IT JUST RIGHT AND SHARE THIS TASTE OF NEW YORK WITH TULSA. COME AND GET IT!
JUNE 22 THE DELI RETURNS.
RYE BREAD + PICKLES + SAUTÉED ONIONS + PASTRAMI + SPICY MUSTARD + OLD FASHION SODA & CHIPS
Ensure your place in this culinary experience beginning at 5:30 p.m., June 22 by pre-registering at tulsadeli.org and choose from our delightful pastrami, corned beef, or deli egg salad options.
YAHRTZEIT CALENDAR, 5 SIVAN THROUGH 4 TAMUZ
Sunday, June 1 – 5 Sivan
Rose P. Alamar
Jan Pastor
Monday, June 2 – 6 Sivan
Sam N. Dundee
Aaron H. Kirsh
Hersh Schneider
Tuesday, June 3 – 7 Sivan
Eunice Frank
Sylvia Gore
Sayde Rita LeVine
Leonard Rozin
Hyman Teller
Wednesday, June 4 – 8 Sivan
Beverly Laura Gabel
Irvin Lenovitz
Jean Panken
James Franklin Smith
Harold Stein
Rebecca Zoblotsky
Thursday, June 5 – 9 Sivan
Fannie Guller
Rabbi Arthur D. Kahn
Edgar R. Sanditen
Florence Weisberg
Friday, June 6 – 10 Sivan
Celia Glasser
Barnett Unger
Saturday, June 7 – 11 Sivan
Rita Joyce Mason
Jean Rubinoff
Irving Shalom
Betty Siegel
Seymour H. Taxon
Hymie Viner
Sunday, June 8 – 12 Sivan
Simon Newman
Alex S. Singer
Monday, June 9 – 13 Sivan
Harvey Fisher
Thursday, June 12 – 16 Sivan
James Dworin
Paula Finer
Otto Hart
Ann Tilkin
Friday, June 13 – 17 Sivan
Bertha Friedman
Saturday, June 14 – 18 Sivan
Nathan Miller
Sunday, June 15 – 19 Sivan
Lloyd E. Isham
Simon Lebow
Charlotte Miller
Evelyn Trynin
Monday, June 16 – 20 Sivan
Abraham M. Goodall
Tuesday, June 17 – 21 Sivan
Etta L. Galerston
Dr. Allan Hurst
Mollie Krisman
Florence Sokolof Maske
Wednesday, June 18 – 22 Sivan
Audrey Grubman
Charles Kolisch
Sophia Nadel
Mary Sanditen
Thursday, June 19 – 23 Sivan
Ruth Lenske Borg
Rose Charney
Leonard Krisman
Saturday, June 21 – 25 Sivan
Morris Glazer
Samuel Wolowitz
Sunday, June 22 – 26 Sivan
Yetra Goldberg
Donna Van Slyke
Howard Wolf
Tuesday, June 24 – 28 Sivan
Steve Auerbach
Lila Freidlin
Vera Morse
Hyman Smith
Wednesday, June 25 – 29 Sivan
Dr. Murray Cash
Jacob N. Fell
Milton Oberstein
Dr. James J. Stovin
Esther Kafeman Wolman
Thursday, June 26 – 30 Sivan
Janice Jankowsky
Friday, June 27 – 1 Tamuz
Yehuda Kraus
Gertrude Betty Naron
Max Olesker
Ellen Singer
Edna Smith
Sunday, June 29 – 3 Tamuz
Rose Appleton
Monday, June 30 – 4 Tamuz
Maxine Zarrow