Washington Hebrew Congregation "Journal"

JUNE–JULY 2018 / SIVAN–AV 5778

VOL. 59, NO. 6

The Board of Directors Cordially Invites You to

The 166th Annual Meeting of

Featuring The Election and Installation of Nell Shapiro – President, Officers, and New Board Members Sunday, June 3, 2018, at 7:00 pm 3935 Macomb Street NW Washington, District of Columbia Dessert Reception to Follow

JUNE–JULY 2018

VOL. 59, NO. 6

Washington Hebrew Congregation Clergy

M. Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi Susan N. Shankman, Rabbi Aaron Miller, Associate Rabbi Joseph A. Skloot, Ph.D., Associate Rabbi Mikhail Manevich, Cantor Susan R.A. Bortnick, Cantor

Senior Staff – Education

SUPPORTED BY AN ENDOWMENT FROM LIBBY AND MELVIN MANDEL

In This Issue Rabbi’s Reflection, by Rabbi Joseph Skloot...........................................3 Rabbi’s Reflection, by Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig........................................4 Yad B’Yad — You Make It Possible, Make Your Gift Now......................5 Search Committee Insights: Selecting a New Rabbi for Our Congregation.......................................6 Get to Know… Rabbi Eliana Fischel...................................................... 7 Healthy Aging Forum: Navigating Life’s Choices...................................8 Get to Know… Rabbi Eric L. Abbott.....................................................9 A Summer “Outside” the City — Help Simon Students Experience Summer Camp................................................................................... 10 A New Congregational Database for WHC..........................................11 WHC Programs & Events................................................................... 12 Photo Retrospective: Mitzvah Day 2018............................................. 14 June Calendar.................................................................................... 16 July Calendar..................................................................................... 17 B’nei Mitzvah.................................................................................... 18 Life Cycle........................................................................................... 19 Contributions.....................................................................................20 Shabbat in the Summer...................................................................... 23 Shabbat Under the Stars — Summer Send-Off.................................... 32

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DJ Schneider Jensen Head of Schools, Early Childhood Education Ira Miller, Director of Informal Education Stephanie Tankel, Director of Religious Education Alexis Tinsley, Director of the Rabbi Joseph Weinberg ECC

Senior Staff – Administration

Steven Jacober, Executive Director Lindsay Fry Feldman, Director of Member Services Naomi Abelson Gohn Director of Temple Programs & TOV Mohan Mistry, Director of Engineering & Maintenance Eliza Prince, Director of Development Stephen Stoupa, Director of Finance Susan J. Hanenbaum, Executive Director Emerita

Officers

David Astrove, President Nell Shapiro, First Vice President Mark Director, Vice President Richard Newman, Vice President Jeffrey Weiss, Vice President Andrew H. Marks, Treasurer Carrie Coonin, Assistant Treasurer Janet Katz, Secretary Deborah Goldman, Assistant Secretary Lewis Wiener, General Counsel

Board of Directors Jami Axelrod Ellen R. Berlow Sharon Jaffe Dan Beth Levin Dubin Betty Jane Eichberg Brian D. Friedman Susan B. Gerson Jessica Pearlman Isen Edward P. Joseph Anne Lackritz Andrew Lazerow Jeremy London

Past Presidents

Leonard I. Abel David R. Berz Stuart L. Bindeman Earl M. Colson Meg Jacobs Flax Jay W. Freedman Susan J. Hanenbaum

David Metzner William Miller Sandy Nesbit Steven A. Robins Lynn Sachs Cathy Zeman Scheineson Melissa Schwartz Aaron W. Stopak Paula Tiedemann Kimberly Wachen Dan Werner

Sherry Bindeman Kahn Richard D. Kaufmann Hank D. Levine Kenneth L. Marks Paul J. Mason John M. Nannes

Lauren S. Racoosin Froma Sandler Bob M. Shapiro David A. Vise Richard M. Young Peter L. Winik

Auxiliary Presidents & Contacts

2239: Valerie Hillman The Boomers: Jeanne Fleming Brotherhood: Alan Singer Couples Club: Kim & Brian Cooper, Chris McCannell & Ven Neralla EmptyNesters: Joan Adoff, Ruth Seif, Marcia Weinberg Prime Timers: Phyllis Belford, Sandy Grant Sisterhood: Ellen M. Miller WHECTY: Lily Schoonover

We Can Be Reached

Temple Office ........................................ 202-362-7100 (M-Th: 9:00 am – 5:30 pm; F: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm) Weekends/After Hours ...........................202-895-6341 Temple Fax ..............................................202-537-1091 Julia Bindeman Suburban Center ............ 301-279-7505 Julia Bindeman Suburban Center Fax ..... 301-354-3200 Listen In .................................................202-895-6333 Live Streaming of Services......streaming.whctemple.org Website .................................................whctemple.org Jennifer Millstone, Editor, jmillstone@whctemple.org The Washington Hebrew Congregation Journal (Permit No. 4240) is published monthly by Washington Hebrew Congregation. Send address changes to 3935 Macomb Street NW, Washington, DC 20016.

Rabbi’s Reflection Rabbi Joseph Skloot

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e Jews are a people of memory. Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, who taught generations of Jewish historians at my alma mater, Columbia, and who died shortly before I arrived on campus, famously said, “Only in Israel and nowhere else is the injunction to remember felt as a religious imperative to an entire people” (Zakhor, p. 9).

without platitudes? How do we teach memory and history at the same time?

Memory is different from history, Yerushalmi advised. Memory is circular; history is linear.

The past can be ballast, or it can be a burden. The past can inspire us toward right action in the present; it can provoke us to speak truth, to seek out unfamiliar solutions and unrecognized perspectives. Or the past can inhibit creativity; enforce conformity; and limit possibility.

We tend to remember those things that seem to recapitulate pre-existing patterns; in memory, the present always seems to be a repetition of the past.

History, on the other hand, presumes that all events are unique and different, the product of specific social, political, and cultural forces and contexts. The job of a historian is to identify those forces and contexts with as much specificity as possible.

“

One thing I have learned during my four years at WHC is that the weight of the past can be tremendous — and sometimes overwhelming.

Not one moment have I forgotten what a privilege it has been to be welcomed into your lives.”

Woe then to the Jewish historian, for the commitment to Jewish memory and the commitment to Jewish history seem to be contradictory!

Indeed, when I have taught Jewish history here at WHC, I’ve tried to illumine that contradiction: I’ve tried to show how we can derive profound spiritual and theological meaning from the past — lessons that are as enduring to us today in the present as they were for our ancestors. At the same time, I’ve tried to uncover the basic facts of what happened to our ancestors in all their particularity, peculiarity and specificity.

As I prepare to take up a new position as a professor of history at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, that challenge remains the same for me and my new students: How do we find meaning and inspiration in the events of the past without deceiving ourselves, without romanticizing, without half-truths, without over-simplifications,

Washington Hebrew Congregation sank its roots into the soil of the District of Columbia over 165 years ago. That fact enough is simply extraordinary in a city and a country that prides itself on newness and change. How will WHC use the memories and the facts of its past to catapult itself into the future?

I was honored to be selected to serve WHC, and I have been honored to have served it for four years. A brief four years, at least when reckoned in light of my colleagues’ long tenures and this Congregation’s venerable history.

And yet, in the context my memory, and my family’s memory, and perhaps your memory too, those four years loom much larger.

It those years, Erin and I struggled with the greatest challenge of our lives and ultimately overcame it — with your support, kindness, and generosity.

In those years, I completed my first major work of scholarship and my doctorate — also with your support and encouragement.

Continued on page 25.

WHC Journal — June/July 2018 | Page 3

Rabbi’s Reflection Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig

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n May 5, 2018, I boarded a late train to New York after finishing Havdalah services. I was heading to the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) to participate in the ordination of rabbis Eliana Fischel and Eric Abbott who will both join our Congregation in just a few weeks. Ordination is a special and joyous moment when a rabbinical student, after five years of post-graduate study, receives smicha, an ancient tradition of blessing and a laying on of the hands.

Smicha declares the candidate “a rabbi of Israel” worthy of the honor to serve the Jewish people. The President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion acts as the rosh yeshiva (head of the school) and confers the title upon each ordination candidate. This beautiful service is both a mix of the modern academic graduation and the ancient ritual of publicly giving a student smicha.

I was determined to stretch the Sabbath a bit longer that day and had not turned on my cell phone for most of the train ride to NYC. When I did, a flood of e-mails, texts, and calls were waiting for me, all asking, “Have you heard about Aaron Panken?” Rabbi Aaron David Panken was elected the 12th President of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2014. A brilliant scholar and fabulous teacher, Rabbi Panken was one of the natural, visionary leaders of our day. He had been a professor at HUC-JIR, had served as its dean, and was well known and loved in the Reform Movement. He had taught at our Temple on many occasions, and nearly 18 years ago he was the unanimous choice of Rabbis Shankman and Hessel and Cantor Bortnick to speak at

their Washington Hebrew Congregation installation. To me, however, Rabbi Panken was Aaron!

In 1985, we both worked for the Union of Reform Judaism and helped plan and execute the first national NFTY convention in Washington, D.C. Aaron, then a student of electrical engineering at Johns Hopkins University, was keeping his hand in the Jewish world by serving as the advisor to MAFTY (Mid-Atlantic Federation of Temple Youth). I was the OVFTY (Ohio Valley) advisor and a rabbinic student at the HUC-JIR Cincinnati campus.

We spent time together at work weekends for regional advisors where we mused about Aaron becoming a rabbi.

And together we pulled off the miracle of that national convention. This was before email, video conferencing, and cell phones, and we had to pay for and send thermofaxes to communicate. Poor Aaron, I could never use the machine correctly, and he was often left to read the material in a mirror.

As the train rattled slowly toward New York City, Rabbi Shankman contacted me to share that our friend had been killed in a plane crash hours earlier. Aaron was a pilot and would often take to the peaceful skies on Shabbat morning to enjoy his love of flying. But this time something had gone terribly wrong. The flurry of e-mails and phone calls that followed did not dispel the sudden loneliness I felt on that train or fill emptiness the world seemed to represent.

I reached out to Eliana Fischel, our new Assistant Rabbi, and her husband, Eric Abbott, who will serve as our Continued on page 24.

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Faith in Action

Yad B’ Yad

You Make It Possible, Make Your Gift Now!

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ith another transformative year at WHC coming to a close, it is the perfect time to reflect on all of the amazing things that we were able to do because of our members’ support of Yad B’Yad, the WHC Annual Fund.

Welcomed over 100 new families to WHC and ensured that no one was denied membership due to financial constraints

Opened our doors to 1,000 members and hundreds of youth who came from across the country to WHC for “Shabbat for Our Lives”

Educated 790 Students in our Religious School and Upper School programs

Packed and distributed 180,000 meals through the WHC Hunger Project

Taught 240 children in our Early Childhood Centers

Held 14 events for 2239, welcoming over 1,700 Jewish millennials into our community

Celebrated 102 B’nei Mitzvah

Provided tikkun olam opportunities for 1,100 members who came to volunteer on MLK Day of Service

Offered more than 200 Lifelong Learning experiences for adults, including classes, special events, and Torah study

Donations to Yad B’Yad closed the gap between revenues and operating costs, making all of this possible. These gifts allowed us to maintain well-loved programs, explore exciting new projects, and most importantly, welcome all who need the embrace of our caring community.

WHC was here for you this year, whether you launched your children on their Jewish journey, celebrated a milestone in your family, attended one of our fantastic programs, or acted on your values through one of our social action projects.

Please show your support of WHC now with a gift to Yad B’Yad. You have until June 30, 2018, to be counted among this year’s donors. To join the growing list of congregants sustaining our community, visit whctemple.org/YBY or contact Director of Development Eliza Prince at eprince@whctemple.org or 202-895-6312. Thank you for your participation!

WHC Journal — June/July 2018 | Page 5

WHC Journal

Search Committee Insights

Selecting a New Rabbi for Our Congregation

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he process of hiring a new rabbi can be daunting, and to ensure that we find the best person for our Congregation, WHC involves lay leaders, clergy, senior staff, and WHC members of all ages in the process. We recently spoke with WHC President David Astrove, incoming President Nell Shapiro, and Rabbinic Search Committee Chairs Mark Director and Janet Katz about the recent search that will bring Rabbi Eliana Fischel to WHC next month.

Washington Hebrew Congregation: You first met Rabbi Fischel just a couple of months ago while she was still a rabbinic student. What were your first impressions?

Rabbinic Search Committee: Rabbi Fischel has a warmth and genuineness that make her instantly likable and approachable. Empathy and compassion come so naturally to her, and we think our congregants will appreciate her ability to provide comfort.

WHC: As you got to know her a bit better, what else did you discover?

RSC: Rabbi Fischel is a person who thinks outside the box.

She is a creative, smart, spiritual, thoughtful, personable, and energetic woman. She is also a listener with an open demeanor. Her maturity and relatable style make it easy for people to talk with her openly and honestly, even with topics that might be difficult.

WHC: It sounds like she connected really well with the adults who met her. What about our youth?

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RSC: Rabbi Fischel received rave reviews from a group of our teens and tweens who met her. They engaged in a lively, free-flowing discussion. Prompted by Rabbi Fischel’s insightful questioning, the kids shared what made WHC special to them and what they loved best about Religious School and youth group. She also answered their questions about her own Jewish upbringing and how she came to be a Rabbi. She ended their session by asking what they would look for in a rabbi if they got to make the hiring decision. One teenage girl immediately responded that the most important attribute for a rabbi was “to be approachable, just like you are.”

WHC: What made Rabbi Fischel stand out from other candidates?

RSC: So many things. As we look to the future and ways to connect with and attract a younger generation of members, we feel confident that Rabbi Fischel’s ability to integrate Judaism into modern life will be invaluable.

She made a very strong impression on the entire Search Committee and the clergy, and there was a clear consensus that she was our first choice. That says a lot about the kind of person she is and the kind of first impression she makes.

WHC Journal

Get to Know…

RABBI ELIANA FISCHEL An excerpt from our conversation with Rabbi Fischel on the morning after her ordination

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n just over a month, Rabbi Eliana Fischel will begin her service at WHC as our new Assistant Rabbi. She is looking forward to connecting with our members, and we are certain many of you are just as eager to get to know her.

To facilitate the second half of that relationship, Rabbi Fischel has shared with us what drew her to the rabbinate and has given us a glimpse of the warmth, approachability, intelligence, and creativity that we know will enhance our Congregation for years to come.

Washington Hebrew Congregation: You were just ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Mazel tov! Tell us about your ordination.

Rabbi Eliana Fischel: It was a moving but emotionally difficult day. It’s something we have worked so hard for, and now we realize the enormity of the responsibility we are being given. We are truly standing on the shoulders of giants. My ordination was the day after Rabbi Dr. Aaron Panken, the president of HUC-JIR, was killed in a plane crash. It was devastating, and his presence was felt so strongly that day. Rabbi Panken is one of those giants, and I know we will do him proud.

WHC: We know you were a Bonnie & Daniel Tisch Rabbinical Fellow at HUC-JIR. That’s kind of a big deal.

Tell us about the Rabbinical Fellows Program and how it enhanced your experience.

REF: I feel tremendously lucky and blessed that Bonnie and Daniel Tisch contributed so generously and spiritually to my education. The Tisch Rabbinical Fellowship created a smaller community within a community for me — there are just five of us in my class, and 15 total at the seminary

at any given time. Our experiences took us to different communities, including a thriving megachurch, where we saw how the messaging of their values and mission carried into everything they did. Throughout the three-year program, I was mentored, developed leadership skills, and got to participate in a great rabbinic internship. The culmination of the program was a spiritual autobiography that I wrote and presented to our class. This three-year experience helped shaped me into the type of rabbi I want to be and gave me the courage to think big.

WHC: Tikkun olam is a strongly-held value at WHC, and we have projects throughout the year to help with food insecurity in our community. You worked in the HUC-JIR Soup Kitchen and, we hear, had a pretty significant impact on its operation. Tell us about it.

REF: It was opened in 1988 by rabbinical students who realized that they were learning to be good people but “stepping around bodies” — literally — on their way. The (New York City) West Village had a community in need with no resource to provide meals to the homeless on Mondays, and so the HUC-JIR Soup Kitchen was born. I began volunteering there during my first year in seminary Continued on page 21.

WHC Journal — June/July 2018 | Page 7

Lifelong Learning

H ealthy Aging Forum Navigating Life’s Choices

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mbrace the process of aging at this bi-annual day of learning, resources, and more on Sunday, June 10, from noon – 5:15 pm at Temple. Geared toward adults over 50 and caregivers, the Healthy Aging Forum promotes active and positive aging through healthy lifestyle choices. The Forum will feature a vendor fair, a choice of two interactive workshops with expert facilitators, and a keynote address from Kojo Nnamdi, host of NPR’s Kojo Nnamdi Show.

The cost is $18 for members of WHC or Northwest Neighbors Village and $33 for all others. Some of the topics covered in this year’s workshops include: how to prepare to age at home, how to share the wisdom of your years with your family, how to be a caregiver for a loved one, and strategies for eating right and staying active as you age.

During his keynote address, Mr. Nnamdi is expected to reflect on his career and his own experience navigating the aging process. He will also take questions from the audience following his remarks.

To register for this event, please go online to whctemple.org/HealthyAging.

For further information, call 202-777-3435.

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WHC Journal

Get to Know…

RABBI ERIC L. ABBOTT Washington Hebrew Congregation Rabbi-in-Residence

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s we shared in the May issue of the WHC Journal, when Rabbi Eliana Fischel begins her service at Washington Hebrew Congregation in July, we are thrilled that her husband, Rabbi Eric L. Abbott, will also join us at WHC. Rabbi Abbott will serve as a Rabbi-inResidence for up to a year, supplementing our rabbinic presence as he searches for a permanent position in the D.C. area.

Rabbi Abbott graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Judaic Studies. A classmate of Rabbi Fischel’s, he was also ordained at the New York City campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in May. To help you learn a bit more about Rabbi Abbott, we would like to share with you some insights from our recent conversation and his rabbinic vision statement.

“

I am a native Rhode Islander and love Boston sports — especially the Red Sox and the Patriots. Coming to a congregation of Washingtonians, I know my teams may not be popular here, but Eliana and I also love playing board games — our favorite, by far, is Catan. Feel free to challenge us to a game! I am also an avid rock climber and love camping and hiking too. Connecting with the

outdoors is a passion Eliana and I share. Between college and rabbinical school, I spent a year and a half working at a rock climbing gym in Rhode Island and climbing various cliffs throughout New England. This is, in part, what sparked my rabbinic thesis, which explored mountains in the Bible. Watching a sunset over nature, looking out from a tall peak — this is when I best feel God.

“

To me, Torah is not just what is written on the page.

From formal education in the synagogue to informal education at camp, from interfaith dialogue to interdenominational discussions, I like being able to help people grapple with Torah and find its relevance in their lives.

This is true for all ages. With my degree in education and rabbinic studies, I can help make Torah real. Whether it’s telling stories to nursery school children, engaging with students in elementary through high school, or leading lively discussions in Torah study with adult learners, as a rabbi and an educator, it’s a terrific moment when you see the connection happen and Torah comes alive.

“

I’m excited for our move to D.C. Not only am I eager to explore this new city and all it has to offer, but I’m also anticipating exploring how Judaism and my rabbinate intersect with our nation’s capital. And most importantly, I can’t wait to get to know the WHC community!

WHC Journal — June/July 2018 | Page 9

WHC Faith in Journal Action

A Summer “Outside” the City Help Simon Students Experience Summer Camp

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or the past 16 years, you have made it possible for more than 500 kids from Abram Simon Elementary School to spend part of their summer at an overnight camp.

Camp is more than just some time away. Many of these children have never left the District and most have never been away from home. Camp is such a life-changing experience that many kids return year after year until they age out — and then they come back as camp staff or counselors.

Help Send a Child to Summer Camp

The cost for a child to spend a week at camp is $250. Our campers also need basic supplies, and you can also support our campers by purchasing the supplies they need while they’re away. Go to whctemple.org/SimonSchool to see what is needed and purchase an item (or more!) from our Amazon Wish List by Friday, June 15.

To make an online contribution toward a child’s summer camp experience, go to whctemple.org/giving, then select “Abram Simon Elementary School Camp Fund” from the drop-down list of funds on the web page that opens. For assistance, please contact Petra Tchouante, ptchouante@whctemple.org or 202-895-6318.

Thank you for your continued support.

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WHC Journal

A New Congregational Database for WHC Updated Technology Will Enhance All Facets of Congregational Life

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hrough the diligent efforts of a cross-functional team of professional staff and lay leaders, we have just completed the migration to a new, robust Temple-wide database. Built on the strong and proven Salesforce platform, Congregation Connect will enhance our communications with you and the “technical side” of your member experience.

WHC staff have been learning about and training on this new platform for some time, and we are excited about the features this database will bring to us for years to come. However, as we get up to speed with this new system, we know that there may be some data that didn’t make it through the migration properly. So, we ask that when you receive your next WHC mailings, statements, etc., please review the contact information that is printed on the materials, and if you find something that should be adjusted, please contact WHC Finance Director Steve Stoupa, sstoupa@whctemple.org or 202-895-6315.

We appreciate your patience and partnership with this process!

WHC Journal — June/July 2018 | Page 11

In June and July …

WHC Programs & Events Featured Programs The Annual Meeting of Washington Hebrew Congregation Sunday, June 3, 7:00 pm at Temple

Join us for the 166th Annual Meeting of Washington Hebrew Congregation. This year’s meeting will feature the election and installation of Nell Shapiro as WHC President, Officers, and new Board members. A dessert reception will follow the meeting.

whctemple.org/AnnualMeeting Maria Thompson: mthompson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6311

Healthy Aging Forum: Navigating Life’s Choices Sunday, June 10, 12:00 pm at Temple

Embrace the process of aging at a special day of learning.

Emphasizing active and positive aging through healthy lifestyle choices, the Healthy Aging Forum will feature a vendor fair and interactive workshops with expert facilitators. Kojo Nnamdi, host of the Kojo Nnamdi Show, joins us as our keynote speaker.

Registration required ($): whctemple.org/HealthyAging Layne Weiss: lweiss@whctemple.org, 202-895-6307

Worship

Shabbat Under the Stars & Camp Send-Off at JBSC

A Family-Friendly Shabbat Experience for All Ages Friday, June 8, 6:00 pm at JBSC

During the summer, we bring the relaxed, casual feel of long sunny days to our Friday night services. Taking advantage of our beautiful grounds at both Temple and JBSC, we hold Shabbat Under the Stars (SUTS) outside. Always appropriate for all generations, our first SUTS of the summer will be especially family-friendly, blessing all of our campers (from preschool through high school) before they head off for their summer adventures. The service will also be followed by an optional family-style dinner. In the event of inclement weather, this service will be held indoors. When SUTS is at JBSC, we will also hold our regular 6:00 pm Shabbat service at Temple.

Registration required for dinner only ($): whctemple.org/SUTS Richard Gordon: rgordon@whctemple.org, 202-895-6337

2239’s Metro Minyan A Shabbat Experience for Adults in Their 20s and 30s Friday, June 22, 6:15 pm at First Congregational UCC Friday, July 27, 6:15 pm at First Congregational UCC

This monthly Shabbat experience for young professionals begins with “A Shot of Torah,” an opportunity to study the weekly Torah portion and dive into some serious (and not so serious) Jewish discussion. The guitar-led, come-as-you-are Shabbat service starts at 7:00 pm and is followed by dinner.

Registration required for dinner only ($): whctemple.org/2239 Valerie Bluestein: vbluestein@whctemple.org

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Worship

Shabbat Under the Stars

A Shabbat Experience for All Generations Friday, June 29, 6:00 pm at Temple Friday, July 13, 6:00 pm at JBSC Friday, July 27, 6:00 pm at Temple

Our outdoor summertime Shabbat service series continues!

Join us for our outdoor evening services, held once a month at each location from June through August. In the event of inclement weather, these services will be moved indoors.

When Shabbat Under the Stars is at JBSC, our regular 6:00 pm Shabbat service will still be held at Temple.

whctemple.org/SUTS Richard Gordon: rgordon@whctemple.org, 202-895-6337

Opportunities for Adults

Shabbat Home Dinner With the EmptyNesters Friday, June 15, 6:00 pm at outside locations

Join us for Shabbat dinner at the home of one of your fellow EmptyNesters. Hosts will provide the main course, and the guests bring all the side dishes, desserts, and wine.

Registration required (free): grodinl@aol.com Linda Grodin: grodinl@aol.com

Shabbat Home Dinner With the Boomers Friday, June 22, 7:00 pm at outside locations

Celebrate Shabbat with a family-style dinner hosted by one of your fellow Boomers. Over a delicious potluck meal, we will enjoy an evening of conversation and togetherness.

Registration required (free): whctemple.org/Boomers Beth Donaldson: bdonaldson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6309

In June and July …

WHC Programs & Events Opportunities for Adults

Faith in Action

Dinner, Service, and Program Organized by the EmptyNesters Saturday, July 14, 6:00 pm at Temple

A Tikkun Olam Opportunity for All Generations Saturday, June 9, 3:30 pm in Washington, D.C.

“The Great American Songbook Havdalah” With wine, cold drinks, and nibbles, followed by a wonderful dinner and great entertainment, our annual program is a delightful way to spend a warm summer evening. Our guest entertainer this year is Past President Dick Kaufmann, who will sing songs that we all can relate to immediately. And we’re not just having fun, we’re doing good as we continue our tradition of raising funds for a worthy charity.

Registration required ($): whctemple.org/EmptyNesters Beth Donaldson: bdonaldson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6309

Lifelong Learning

WHC Books Presents: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators A Film and Birthday Party for Adults Tuesday, June 12, 7:00 pm at Temple

Join us to celebrate Curious George’s 75th birthday with a screening of Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators — a documentary about Margret and Hans Rey. We all know Curious George, but what about Hans and Margret Rey? From fleeing Nazi Germany on handmade bicycles to encounters with exotic animals in Brazil, the Reys lived lives of adventure that are reflected on the pages of one of the most treasured children’s book series of all time. In true birthday party-style, we’ll enjoy pizza, birthday cake, and other good things to eat.

Capital Pride Parade

Join your WHC family as we celebrate LGBTQ+ pride at the Capital Pride Parade, the District’s biggest and most colorful festival to celebrate the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community.

It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the progress our nation has made toward LGBTQ+ equality and to inspire us to continue the work that still needs to be done. Meet us at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (the RAC) at 3:30 pm for sign-making and refreshments before we step together onto the parade route to show our pride!

Registration requested (free): whctemple.org/PrideParade Noah Fistgerel: nfitzgerel@rac.org or 202-387-2800

Families With Young Children RJWECC End-of-Year BASH!

Sunday, June 10, 10:00 am at JBSC

Join us for a day filled with rides, inflatables, games, entertainment, face painters, food, and so much more. It’s a fundraiser benefiting the Rabbi Joseph Weinberg Early Childhood Center that you and your little ones won’t want to miss. And it’s open to the community, so bring your friends, family, and neighbors.

Tickets required ($): whctemple.org/EOYBash Alix Bortnick and Lindsay Maarec: RJWECCBash@gmail.com

Registration required (free): whctemple.org/WHCBooks Ellen Share: eshare@whctemple.org, 301-354-3212

Faith in Action

WHC Hunger Project Food Packing A Tikkun Olam Project for All Generations Sunday, June 3, 10:00 am at JBSC Sunday, June 24, 10:00 am at JBSC Sunday, July 22, 10:00 am at JBSC

Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation, so we invite you to put on a hair net and join us to make a real impact on hunger in our community. All ages are welcome as we work together to package nutritious meals for those in need. Help support Manna Food, the Capital Area Food Bank, the Maryland Food Bank, and Bread for the City. SSL hours are awarded too.

Registration required (free): whctemple.org/HungerProject Jeff Bergman: hungerproject@whctemple.org

WHC Journal — June/July 2018 | Page 13

Mitzvah Day April 22, 2018

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Hands & H earts H ealing the World

WHC Journal — June/July 2018 | Page 15

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10:00am WHC Hunger Project (B)

10:00am Conversational Hebrew: Intermediate (M)

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Father’s Day

First Day for Camp Keetov MD (B)

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10

1:00pm Healthy Aging Forum (M)

10:00am RJWECC End-of-Year Bash! (B) 10:30am WHC Hunger Project (B) 7:00pm The Annual Meeting of Washington Hebrew Congregation (M)

4

Monday

3

Sunday

June 2018

19

12

5

26

7:00pm Fistful of Shekels Meeting (M)

7:00pm WHC Books (M)

Tuesday

6

7:30pm Community Issues/Social Action Meeting (M)

27

20

13

1:00pm Wednesday Study Group (M)

Last Day for RJWECC (B) First Day for Camp Keetov DC (M)

Wednesday

28

21

14

7

M: Temple

6:00pm Shabbat Under the Stars (M)

Services:

29

10:30am Women of WHC Mah Jongg (B)

6:00pm Shabbat Service (M) 6:15pm 2239’s Metro Minyan (OUT)

Services:

22

10:30am Women of WHC Mah Jongg (B) 7:00pm Boomers’ Shabbat Dinner (OUT)

6:00pm Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

15 10:30am Women of WHC Mah Jongg (B) 6:00pm EmptyNesters Shabbat Dinners (OUT)

6:00pm Shabbat Service (M) 6:00pm Shabbat Under the Stars & Camp Send-Off (B)

Services:

8

1

10:30am Women of WHC Mah Jongg (B) 7:00pm Shabbat Under the Stars & Camp Send-Off Dinner (B)

6:00pm Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

10:30am Women of WHC Mah Jongg (B)

Last Day for E-T ECC (M)

Friday

B: Julia Bindeman Suburban Center

10:00am Conversational Hebrew: Intermediate/ Advanced (B) 11:00am Conversational Hebrew: Beginner/ Intermediate (B)

Thursday

2

9

OUT: Not at a WHC location

9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

30

9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

23

9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) Bar Mitzvah of Benjamin Cigliano 5:30pm Afternoon Service and Havdalah (M)

Services:

16

9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) B’nei Mitzvah of Isabel Dorfman and David Smith 5:30pm Afternoon Service and Havdalah (M); B’nei Mitzvah of Ryan Davis and William George

Services:

3:30pm Pride Parade (OUT)

9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) B’nei Mitzvah of Kathryn Fuller and Joel Pesachowitz

Services:

Saturday

Sivan-Tammuz 5778

30

29

16

15

23

9

8

22

2

Monday

1

Page 17 | WHC Journal – June/July 2018

10:00am WHC Hunger Project (B)

Tisha B’Av

Sunday

July 2018 Tuesday

31

24

17

10

3

11

4

25

18

7:30pm Community Issues/ Social Action Meeting (M)

Offices and Camp Closed (M&B)

Independence Day

Wednesday

26

19

12

5

6

13

20

27

M: Temple

6:00pm Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

10:30am Women of WHC Mah Jongg (B)

6:00pm Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

10:30am Women of WHC Mah Jongg (B)

6:00pm Shabbat Under the Stars (M) 6:15pm 2239’s Metro Minyan (OUT)

Services:

10:30am Women of WHC Mah Jongg (B)

6:00pm Shabbat Service (M) 6:00pm Shabbat Under the Stars (B)

Services:

10:30am Women of WHC Mah Jongg (B)

6:00pm Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

10:30am Women of WHC Mah Jongg (B)

Friday

B: Julia Bindeman Suburban Center

Thursday

7

14

OUT: Not at a WHC location

9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

28

9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

21

9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

6:00pm EmptyNesters’ Havdalah, Dinner, and Program (M)

9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M)

Services:

Saturday

Tammuz–Av 5778

Mazel Tov to WHC’s June B'nei Mitzvah Kathryn Sophia Fuller June 2, Morning Kate is a seventh-grade student at North Bethesda Middle School. She is the daughter of Stacy & Timothy Fuller, the sister of Jacqueline, and the granddaughter of Lenore & Paul Robinson and Beatrice Fuller.

Joel Green Pesachowitz June 2, Morning Joel is a seventh-grade student at Cabin John Middle School. He is the son of Jamie Green & Daniel Pesachowitz, the brother of Max, and the grandson of Constance & Alvin Pesachowitz and the late Terri & Jon Green.

William Kogan George June 9, Havdalah Will is a seventh-grade student at the Landon School. He is the son of Mia Kogan and Alexander George; the brother of David; and the grandson of Diana & Israel Kogan, Ana Bobic, and the late Peter Georgevich.

Ryan Anthony Davis June 9, Havdalah Ryan is a seventh-grade student at Lakelands Park Middle School. He is the son of Rachel Davis and Kevin Davis, and the grandson of Layne & the late Harlan L. Weiss and Maria & Ed Davis.

Isabel Rose Dorfman June 9, Morning Isabel is a seventh-grade student at Cabin John Middle School. She is the daughter of Anne & Mark Dorfman, the sister of Layla, and the granddaughter of Penny & David Lewis and Patti & Michael Dorfman.

Benjamin I. Cigliano June 16, Morning Ben is a seventh-grade student at the McLean School of Potomac. He is the son of Jennifer Rosen & James Cigliano; the brother of Jacob and Elijah; and the grandson of Eileen & Fred Rosen.

David Sebastian Smith June 9, Morning David is a seventh-grade student at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School. He is the son of Alyssa & James Douglas Smith III and the grandson of Barbara & James Douglas Smith Jr. and the late Bonnie & Stephen Gallin.

Ryan Matthew Frank June 30 in Israel Ryan is a seventh-grade student at North Bethesda Middle School. He is the son of Aimee & Gregory Frank, the brother of Jaclyn, and the grandson of Bunny & Tony Frank and Susan & the late Gerald Fischer.

Page 18 | WHC Journal — June/July 2018

Madelyn Rose Walsh June 30 in Israel Maddie is a sixth-grade student at Julius West Middle School. She is the daughter of Melissa & Jon Walsh, the sister of Brady, and the granddaughter of Zina & Joseph Lichaa, Richard & Miriam Greene, Jack & Carole Walsh, and the late Dolores Ann Walsh.

Alan Benjamin Whitman June 30 in Israel Alan is a seventh-grade student at Cabin John Middle School. He is the son of Elizabeth & Peter Whitman, the brother of Melissa, and the grandson of Babette & Dr. Marvin Whitman and the late Virginia Ayres Whiteside & the late Hon. Alba L. Whiteside.

Congratulations to…

Life Cycle

Niki Mock & Phil Leibovitz, on the birth of their granddaughter, Marley Mock DeChiaro, and to Marley’s parents, Samantha Leibovitz & Rob DeChiaro.

Julian Schneider, recipient of the 2018 Fulbright/University of Kent Award. Julian’s research during his 10-month master’s in law program in Canterbury will focus on conflicts that emerge between European Union law and member state law.

Barbara & Sandy Silverman, on the engagement of their son Joshua Silverman to Annie Mathies.

Emily & Howard Smith, on the birth and naming of their son, Landon Howard Smith (Shai Lev); and to Landon’s grandparents, Lora & Craig Treiber and Debbie & Jerry Smith, and great-grandfather, Warren Perlman.

Joan Sarah Wexler, whose photographs will be on display in an art exhibition at Bethesda’s Gallery B throughout July.

Our Sincerest Condolences…

Martin Barr, father of Stephanie Soofer (Robert), Laurence Barr (Janis), and Howard Barr (San); brother of John Barr (Robin); grandfather of six.

Beatrice Burke, wife of Melvin Burke; mother of Shelley Banks (Robby), Donna Tehaan, and Glen Burke (Michele); grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of three.

Patricia Gail Eisner, wife of Bart Eisner; mother of Adrienne Blaine Eisner (Sasha Kushner).

Ronald Fried, husband of Cheryl Hamilton, father of Nora Fried, stepfather of Audrey Hamilton, brother of Brandon Fried (Kim), stepson of Tina Fried Heller.

Shirley Harsfield, mother of Deborah Epstein (Steven), Jeff Harsfield (Karen), and Judith Horblitt (Gary).

Hy Liber, father of Holly Deckelbaum (Todd); grandfather of Kyle Deckelbaum (Katelyn) and Paige Deckelbaum.

…may their memory be a blessing.

WHC Journal — June/July 2018 | Page 19

Contributions

We gratefully acknowledge the following contributions, received through April 30. To make a contribution to any of Washington Hebrew Congregation’s funds, please visit whctemple.org/donate.

H. Max & Jodie and Stephen Ammerman Interfaith Fund

Donor In Honor of: Andrew Ammerman

Elaine Ammerman’s Birthday

Craig Collin’s Wedding

Rachel Collin’s Birthday

Nancy & Steve Kohn’s Anniversary

Eric Salat’s Birthday

Melissa Levine’s Birthday

William “Skipper” Loewenberg’s Birthday Donor In Memory of: Andrew Ammerman Faye Cohen

Lillian & Alfred Bennett Fine Arts Endowment Fund

Donor John Zeller

In Memory of: Dr. Adolphe J. Zeller Mary Zeller

Florence & Norman Brody Archives Endowment Fund Donor Beverly Baker

In Memory of: Harry Brody

Jane Burka Sisterhood Leadership Fund

Donor In Honor of: Rebecca Fox & David Gottesman

Mildred Amer’s birthday

Cantorial & Concert Fund

Donor Joanne Peck Donor In Honor of: Alyssa & James Smith Cantor Bortnick Sondra Snyder

Nancy & Everett Korman’s 50th Anniversary Steve & Audrey Wasser Cantor Manevich Marilyn Wessler Cantor Manevich Donor In Memory of: Dr. & Mrs. Nicholas Fleischer Edith Fleischer Phyllis Meyers William Oshinsky Susan & Harry Moatz David Solovey Marsha Pinson & Family Marty Pinson

EmptyNesters Fund

Donor Joan & Stanley Adoff Holly & Jeff Bergman

In Memory of: Shirlee Rivin Irene Dick

Lois & Richard England Special Needs Endowment Fund

Donor Ida D. Levin

General Fund

In Memory of: Anna Dreishpoon

Donor Marilyn & Michael Glosserman Donor In Honor of: Faye & Art Bildman Ann Joseph’s Special Birthday Leslie & Steve Cohen

Bat Mitzvah of Dylan Arielle Cohen Timothy & Stacy Fuller

Bat Mitzvah of Kathryn Sophia Fuller Mia Kogan & Alexander George

Bar Mitzvah of William Kogan George Betty Glassman Simon Wagman’s 95th Birthday Jonathan & Judith Miller David & Debbie Astrove Donor In Memory of: Dr. & Mrs. Marshall Ackerman

Rose Sanders Ackerman Carolyn Alper Mickey Mulitz

Page 20 | WHC Journal — June/July 2018

General Fund

Donor In Memory of: Michael Backenheimer Rose Backenheimer Susan Berg Elaine Gottlieb David Berler Della Berler Mitchell Berliner Jerome Berliner The Family of Anna Billig Anna Billig Lisa Brotman Barry G. Brotman, M.D. Lyn, Barry, Brandon, Ben & Blake Chasen

Leonard Kaplan Patricia Alper Morton Alper Jessica & Alan Dolleck Philip Milestone Wilma & Raymond Dorris Tillie Rosenberg Barbara, Gary, Stephanie & Becca Faigen

Phyllis Kolodner Schwartz Susan & David Fink Jack Goldrosen Carol Fischer Mary Sue Stein Linda & Jay Freedman Arthur Miller Beverly Gendleman Norman Rosenberg Marilyn & Stephen Grafman Irving Kleinman Sandra Grant Arnold Grant Scott L. Green & Dian Green Michael Green Paul Greenberg Harold Greenberg The Edward Heller Family Abraham Heller

Eva Heller Michael Herman Toby Herman Fred & Sarah Hoffman Rose & Herb Hoffman Ferne Jaffe Alfred Jaffe Carolyn Kaplan Janice Goldsten Mr. & Mrs. Richard Kline Bernice Rothman Goldstein Dr. Gregorio Koss Jaime Koss William & Marilyn Lane Frances Lane Arthur Lazerow Hessie Lazerow Barbara Baer Luchs Wallace Luchs Sr. The Ken Luchs Family Abraham Robert Suritz Gail Martin Bernard Martin Deborah Litman Mizus Samuel Litman Myron & Susan Myers Reuben Myers Norman & Susan Oblon Belle Stratton Juliette Peternik Helen Herman

Walter Herman Susan & Stephen Porter Sally Porter Jane & Jerry Putnam Maurice Berger Susan & Arnold Quint Eleanor J. Arenson Eleanor T. Rosenfeld Samuel Jay Rosenfeld Nancy Roth Sylvia Roth Jack Sandler Fred Sandler Suzanne & Craig Scheer Gloria Gilbert Joan & George Schonholtz Mildred Hirsch

Morris Schonholtz Linda Shapiro Irving Sacks Riki & Michael Sheehan Michael Poster Mrs. Gail K. Siegel Helen J. Kaufmann Sherie Silverman Arnell Kudysh

Barry Wessler Sandy & Heidi Sinick Theresa Sinick Stephanie Soofer Barbara Barr Leslie & Dennis Speisman Dorothy Stein Janet Steinhardt Arnell Kudysh Gloria Sterling Jacob Flyer Lan & Mel Swerdloff Broncha Zweig

Chana Zweig

Elka Zweig

Salla Zweig

Yitzchak Zweig Gerdy Trachtman Amy Trachtman Simon Wagman Abraham Wagman Pam & Dan Wojnilower Lisa Vise Roslyn Wolf Kenneth Diamond

General Fund

Donor Peter Yeskel The Zindler Family

In Memory of: Stanley Yeskel Cheryl Zindler

Rabbi Joui Hessel Fund for Engagement

Donor Dr. Raymond Scalettar

In Memory of: Mark Andrew Scalettar Oscar Dodek Jr., MD Dr. Jerome W. Canter

Hurston Library

Donor In Honor of: Ruthjoy Leventhal

Bat Mitzvah of Samantha Goldberg Donor In Memory of: Ledolph & Inge Baer Leonora Baer Margaret R. Lawson Murray G. Lawson Pat & Willy Lin Dr. Ronald Hurston Selma Philipson Benjamin M. Bloom

Rose E. Koenig Religious School Fund

Donor Joshua Lamel & Meredith Persily Donor In Honor of: Laurie & Murray Goldstein Rabbi Hessel Donor In Memory of: Don & Dale Yablonowitz Stanley H. Weisman

Harriet M. Kriesberg Fund for the Study of Torah

Donor William H. Davis

In Memory of: Rita G. Davis

Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig Scholarship Fund

Donor Sandra Shorr

In Memory of: Arnell Kudysh

Zena Mason Early Childhood Education Fund Donor Lynne & Ira Bluestein

In Memory of: Nettie Gardner Jerome Bluestein

Mitzvah Day

Donor In Honor of: Anne Friedman

Debbie Corwin, Chair of Mitzvah Day 2018 Stephanie Pelmoter, Chair of Mitzvah Day 2018 Linda & Ron Recht Bat Mitzvah of Abby Altschuler Kimberly, Howard & Charli Vogel

Bat Mitzvah of Dylan Rosen

MLK Day of Service

Donor Andrea Grant

Stephanie Morris Prime Timers Programming Fund

Donor Louis Kornhauser Suzy & Al Morris

In Memory of: Edith Kornhauser Adler Harry Schiffman Sara Schiffman

Kamy Loren Nathanson Bar & Bat Mitzvah Kiddush Cup Endowment Fund

Donor In Memory of: Amy Bronrott Munaker & Alan Munaker

Louis Munaker

Samuel Bragman

Fannie Bragman

Albert & Scott Pelmoter Youth Scholarship Fund

Donor In Memory of: Stephanie & Andy Pelmoter Karl (Bubba) Friedman

Andrew Unterberg

Contributions Sylvia & Saul Ritzenberg Humanitarian Fund

Donor Joan Greenbaum & Family

In Memory of: Bob Greenbaum

Naomi & LeRoy Robins Medical Emergency Fund

Donor Eve Robins

Sheldon & Judy Sadugor Memorial Fund of ECC

Donor Kimberly Wachen

In Memory of: Charles Silverman

In Memory of: Lois Robins

Abe & Sylvia Shrinsky Creative Worship Program Fund Donor Margery Freedman Shrinsky

In Memory of: Stuart Freedman

Carlynn & Larry Silverman Family Endowment for Jewish Life & Learning

Donor Lisa & Bruce Harwood

In Memory of: George Perlman Lois Robins

Abram Simon Elementary School Camp Fund

Donor Mr. & Mrs. John Harris Nancy G. Simon Deborah Wolf Donor In Honor of: Jo Ellen & Alan Fishman Ann Joseph’s Special Birthday Donor In Memory of: Joan Greenbaum Marty Pinson

Abram Simon Elementary School Fund

Donor In Memory of: Meryl Silverman & Mark Carlin Irving Silverman Lydia Gillman Dr. Aaron Marvin Gillman

Carrie Simon House

Donor Ann & Cornelius Kerwin

In Memory of: Shirley & Arthur Londe

Sisterhood Youth, Education & Enrichment Fund Donor Louise Bittker Linda & Roy Green Linda & Ron Recht Max & Sheri Zweig

In Memory of: Barry Wessler Barry Wessler Barry Wessler Barry Wessler

C. Haskell & Ruth Behrend Small Music Fund

Donor Sherry Sundick

In Memory of: Amnon Behrend

Tikkun Olam Values (TOV) Fund

Donor In Honor of: Wendy & Jeff Cossman

Neil Kishter, Recipient of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Lifetime Achievement Award Donor In Memory of: Cathy Kwart Arnell Kudysh David Muenzer & Melissa Schwartz

Harry Sydney Dublin Gerald & Susan Savitsky Howard & Lois Robins Tina & Albert Small Jr. George Perlman

Rabbi Joseph Weinberg Young Leadership Community Service Fund

Donor Mr. Moritz Cohen Jr. Linda & Roy Green Marcia Weinberg

In Memory of: Addie M. Cohen Herman Green Ruth Ellis

Wender Memorial Archives Fund Donor Frank Spigel

In Honor of: Rabbi Skloot’s Appointment as a Professor at Hebrew Union College David Oblon’s Appointment as a Fairfax Circuit Court Judge

WHC Hunger Project

Donor Holly & Jeffrey Bergman Donor Margery Shrinsky & Family

Worship & Music Fund

In Memory of: Sandra N. Yuffee

David Wise Jr. Human Needs Fund

Donor Howard Denis

In Memory of: Sylvia Denis

Worship & Music Fund

Donor Brian Halle Mr. & Dr. David Lash Donor In Honor of: Wendy & Sean Cohen Rabbi Skloot Debra Epstein Rabbi Skloot Alyssa & James Smith Rabbi Lustig Traci Solovey Rabbi Skloot Marilyn Wessler Rabbi Shankman Claire West & Family Ann Joseph’s Special Birthday Lester Yuffee Rabbi Miller Donor In Memory of: Steve Herman Carlyn Herman Dr. & Mrs. S. Kalman Kolansky Richard Fetters Dr. Barbara Sonies & Dr. Harvey Kupferberg

Elias Cohn Alan Levine Sidney Reinhart Gary & Laura Siegel Scot Siegel

Donor Frank Spigel

June E. Sussman

Bonnie & Stuart Youngentob

In Memory of: Jerry Samuel Helen Spigel Pearl Quint D. William Quint Nellie Brier Julius Beiser

Young Professionals (22-39) Fund

Donor In Honor of: Adam Edelman & Rachel Cooper Rabbi Miller Donor In Memory of: Susan & David Rosenblum George Perlman

Lois Robins

Max Massey

Youth Fund

Donor In Honor of: Rabbi Jen, Zach & YFTI WHC’s Hosting of Shabbat for Our Lives Program

Ivy Zola’s Help-a-Friend Fund

Donor Shelley & Joe Chartoff

Mr. & Mrs. Dudley Dworken Charlene & Marvin Feldman Alison McWilliams Lynn & Larry Silverberg

In Memory of: Harold Nevin Ben Chartoff Eva Ehrlich Pat Shweky Lillian Goldberg Morton Silverberg

Get to Know … Rabbi Eliana Fischel (continued from page 7)

because Eric (who is now my husband) was volunteering. We had just begun dating. Within a couple of months, we both took on leadership roles — I led the educational component for volunteers. When people would come in to volunteer, we didn’t just put them to work. I’d first share the history of the Soup Kitchen and information about food insecurity and hunger in our area.

Mondays became my favorite night of the week (who says that, right?). We fed between 70-120 guests every week, but it was really difficult because we were working with a kitchen from the 1970s, and more often than not, something was broken or not really safe enough for the volunteers. At this point, Eric and I, along with our classmate and friend, now Rabbi, Juli Karol were running the Soup Kitchen, and we decided to begin a capital campaign to raise the money needed to renovate it. I was grateful to have Lisa Messinger, Rabbi Panken’s wife, guide and mentor me through this process and am so proud to share that we raised $100,000 and last fall, opened our brand-new kitchen.

WHC: You mentioned your husband, Eric Abbott, who was also your classmate at HUC-JIR. We have to ask … did you meet at the seminary?

REF: Nope. We actually met over the summer after my year in Israel, while working at URJ Eisner Camp in the Berkshires. Summer romance definitely turned into something much bigger. Eisner Camp is one of my happy places.

I grew up going to camp there and then worked, first as a counselor, later as a unit head, and even as a summer assistant director. Little did I know, I was building my resume to become a rabbi. And because I met Eric there, it’s now become a happy place for both of us. It’s also where we got engaged, and although we weren’t married at Eisner, we did hold a family Shabbat dinner there on the weekend of our wedding.

Continued on page 22.

WHC Journal — June/July 2018 | Page 21

WHC Journal

Get to Know … Rabbi Eliana Fischel (continued from page 21)

WHC: You had already decided to become a rabbi when you met Eric, so being at HUC-JIR with him was great added benefit. What led you to decide to become a rabbi?

Did you have a “calling”?

WHC: You were an intern at Westchester Reform Temple, a congregation similar to WHC. What did you most appreciate about your time there? Tell us about some of the programs you implemented.

REF: Sometimes things point you in a direction for a reason, but you don’t realize it’s happening until it all comes together. I had several of these moments during my young adult life… One summer at Eisner, my supervisor was a rabbinical student, and we talked about her journey toward becoming a rabbi. She was a psychology major like me, and I came to realize that although psychologists can help people through the painful times in their lives, rabbis can offer counsel through every aspect of their lives — through joy as well as pain. And this appealed to me.

REF: During rabbinic school, I interned at Westchester Reform Temple. I grew up in the area, so there was some comfort that comes with familiarity, but wasn’t a member at WRT, so my experience at this congregation was new.

WRT has a really strong rabbinic internship program, and I learned so much from my time there. Over my threeyear internship, I served all facets of the congregation and participated in all aspects of temple life. I loved working with WRT’s teens; they were passionate, good, loving people. The clergy team was terrific and is similar in size to WHC’s. As an extrovert, I thrived being part of a team where I could bounce around ideas and develop them into something greater than I had imagined. I was also given the opportunity to experiment with worship styles, and I introduced ways to incorporate movement into worship.

When I was at Connecticut College, I had to write a thesis for each of my majors — psychology and dance — and coincidentally, it ended up that both touched on Judaism and religion. I was also working toward a certificate in public policy and community action at Connecticut, which brought me to a lot of rallies and demonstrations where I often saw clergy of all faiths. I had assumed they were there because they were good-hearted people providing support. But they were more than that. I came to realize that they were also movers and shakers who wanted to create change to improve lives. This appealed to me a lot.

In my senior year at Connecticut, I applied for a bunch of fellowships but nothing panned out, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do after graduation. I was a member of the ski team at college, and decided to move to Jackson Hole, Wyoming with a few friends from the team and become a “ski bum” for a couple of years.

When not on the slopes, ski bums typically earn money by waitressing or bartending. Unfortunately, I had experience in neither. The path from waitress/ski bum to rabbi isn’t really clear, so bear with me … Instead of working in a restaurant, I used my psych major to find a job at a state-run residential facility for children and young adults with behavioral and emotional disabilities.

It was really difficult work, but it taught me so much about patience, communication, empathy, and navigating challenges. I also found my way to the Jackson Hole Jewish Community, where I developed and led holiday and Hebrew lessons for elementary and middle school kids. My experience there confirmed my feeling that entering the seminary was the right thing for me.

So maybe it wasn’t a “calling,” but there was an “a-ha” moment, and I think there was definitely a helping hand that guided me to the right place.

WHC: Have you always felt a connection to Judaism?

REF: I proudly share that I am a “card-carrying Reform Jew,” but my upbringing was at a Reconstructionist congregation — Bet Am Shalom Synagogue in White Plains, New York. It’s where I fell in love with theology. And it was the first place where people took my ideas and thoughts about religion seriously and didn’t just expect me to regurgitate facts. Reconstructionist congregations are all really different. Our community focused more on Shabbat morning services, which were lengthy and incorporated davening.

Members would also volunteer to give the drash (sermon) on Saturday mornings and lead interactive discussions in the middle of services. I believe that people should feel empowered to connect to Judaism in ways that work for them. The Jewish experience should be filled with joy and love, and it should be a place to bring the hard stuff.

Both my rabbi and cantor at Bet Am Shalom, Rabbi Lester Bronstein and Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller, graduated from HUC-JIR, and it was during my time at the College that I grew to love the history of the Reform Movement. The Reform Movement began because our leaders saw that for their communities to have a lasting connection to Judaism, Judaism needed to shift and change to meet their needs.

Change is hard, but it is necessary, and to do it well, you need to hold the people who are most affected by it.

WHC: What’s your favorite holiday?

REF: Oh, gosh. That’s hard. Hmmmm …. I’d have to say Pesach (though in my head I can hear my mom groaning because cleaning out the chametz and turning Continued on page 23.

Page 22 | WHC Journal — June/July 2018

WHC Journal

Shabbat In the Summer 2239’s Metro Minyan Friday, June 8 at 6:00 pm Dinner follows

Friday, July 13 at 6:00 pm Friday, August 10 at 6:00 pm

Friday, June 22 at 6:15 pm Friday, July 27 at 6:15 pm Friday, August 10 at 6:15 pm

Friday, June 22 at 6:00 pm Friday, July 27 at 6:00 pm Friday, August 31 at 6:00 pm Dinner follows

*Our regular 6:00 pm Shabbat service will also be held at Temple on the Fridays that Shabbat Under the Stars is at the Julia Bindeman Center.

Get to Know … Rabbi Eliana Fischel (continued from page 22) over the house is tough). But I do love this holiday.

It’s pretty amazing because our center of Jewish life is most often the synagogue, but here we have this holiday that puts the center of Jewish life at our own dining tables. Pesach brings us together to sit, eat, study, and drink — and I love all of that. And because there are so many social justice themes woven throughout the Passover story, it gives us the opportunity to talk about social justice and perform some tikkun olam.

WHC: You’re from New York, which has some pretty strong sports teams and feelings that go with them. Yankees or Mets?

REF: Definitely the Yankees, but I am in a mixed marriage: my husband Eric is a die-hard Red Sox fan.

We coexist really well as far as the sports rivalry goes, but there’s compromise too. When I married him, I adopted the Patriots as my football team (sorry!).

WHC: What do you like to do in your free time?

REF: I love yoga, rock climbing (with Eric), hiking, skiing, cooking, and challah baking.

I really, really like to bake challah.

WHC: Favorite movie?

REF: “My Cousin Vinny” — I watch it with my dad every year.

WHC: Are you binge-watching anything right now?

REF: Eric and I watched a lot of “Friends” this year.

It was great to have a fun show to watch when life got really hectic. I’m just starting season two of “Handmaid’s Tale,” and we are watching “The West Wing” to help us prepare for D.C. life.

WHC: Last book you read?

REF: For fun, it was Ayelet Tsabari’s “The Best Place on Earth.” It was a series of short stories about Mizrahi Jews (Jews from Arab lands) living in Israel. I love the year I spent living in Israel, and reading her stories brought me back to the beauty, and difficulties, of the land.

WHC: Thank you for your time, Rabbi Fischel.

We can’t wait to welcome you — officially — to Washington Hebrew Congregation in July.

REF: I can’t wait! I’ve been made to feel so welcome already, and really look forward to getting to know everyone and becoming a part of this incredible community.

WHC Journal — June/July 2018 | Page 23

WHC Journal

Rabbi Lustig: Rabbi’s Reflection (continued from page 4)

Rabbi-in-Residence. They were standing on the threshold of excitement and joy of ordination and faced with the loss of their rosh yeshiva, their teacher, the one who they were supposed to face before an open ark to hear words of wisdom and blessing before they were ordained as rabbis. To Eliana and Eric, I wrote: We will just have to be his eyes, his ears, his heart ... and bear witness to the sacred.... As Victor Frankel taught, we cannot change the facts, just how we react to them ... I will not let my pride in what he helped create be diminished. See you soon, Rabbis. I will be the short one, probably in the back, with tears of pride and joy in my eyes ...because I will still be able to taste the sweetness of the future despite the bitterness of such tragic sadness ...

See you in Shul!

MBL The ordination that Sunday was beautiful. The HUC-JIR faculty reminded the rabbis that there will often be situations where joy and deep sadness will exist side-by-side, and they will have to feel both and not ignore one for the other. I was proud to know our choice of rabbis was worthy of the title itself. I witnessed their ability as compassionate human beings to embrace the fullness of the moment — both the joy of ordination and the tragic loss of their teacher.

Rabbi Panken’s family is woven throughout the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). His sister and one of his sisters-in-law are also rabbis; another sister-in-law is the Chair of the URJ’s North American Board of Trustees. Aaron’s wife, Lisa Messinger, was president of their synagogue, Westchester Reform Temple (WRT). WRT is where URJ President Rick Jacobs served as Rabbi, where our new rabbi, Rabbi Eliana Fischel, interned the past three years, and where Aaron’s funeral was held.

Our movement is built on three institutional bodies: the URJ — our federation of more than 900 congregations, camps, and day schools; the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) — the Reform rabbinic leadership organization; and HUC-JIR — the seminary that trains our rabbis, cantors, and educators. Leadership from each organization spoke at Aaron’s funeral. All were powerful, and their remarks are worth reading. However, HUC-JIR professor Larry Hoffman spoke of the address Rabbi Panken was not able to deliver to the new rabbis. The text upon which Aaron’s address was based is the familiar “Know Before Whom You Stand,” which is written in many synagogues above the holy ark to remind us of purpose, responsibility, and our relationship to our God. Rabbi Panken’s message to the rabbinical candidates was that as rabbis and Jews, we should remember that we stand before God. But it is equally important to remember that we must stand for what we believe, for we live in a world in which Judaism’s gifts will not come to fruition unless we are willing to take a stand.

The words at Sunday’s ordination about sadness and joy existing side-by-side rang true for me at that moment. As I grieved the loss of a friend, I also felt pride. Last September on Erev Rosh Hashanah, I shared with you a story about a young man who created a campaign to honor his father whose actions came with the words, “because I said I would.…” His message was, you can pretend to care, but you can’t pretend to show up. At Washington Hebrew Congregation, our values are aligned with the principle Rabbi Panken wanted to share. We show up. We teach our children that we must stand for what we believe, and we demonstrate this not only in our prayers and teachings but also in our daily actions. We not only read the words of Isaiah, “Share your food with the hungry and the homeless,” but we collect, prepare, and pack meals on Mitzvah Day, MLK Day of Service, and Sunday Stuffing. And our efforts continue all year long through the WHC Hunger Project, which stands ready to pack its millionth meal this fall. We lived Rabbi Panken’s words when we participated in the Women’s March and the Ministers’ March for Racial Justice. We lived them when we welcomed Sheikh Bin Bayyah on Shabbat of Peace with joint choirs of Jewish and Muslim children singing songs of peace. And we lived them when we opened our doors to youth from across the country before the March for Our Lives and filled our sanctuary at Shabbat for Our Lives with even more teens and adults looking to heal and create change through prayer, song, and action.

I will miss you, Rabbi Aaron Panken, but I am comforted that your last message, the one you intended to give to our new Jewish leaders, was a lesson we live every day at Washington Hebrew Congregation: “Know before whom you stand … And remember to stand. Stand for what you believe … and believe!” Rabbi Panken, we believe because we stand, and we stand for what we believe. May your memory be a blessing and may our actions as Reform Jews humbly bless your memory as well.

Page 24 | WHC Journal — June/July 2018

WHC Journal

Rabbi Skloot: Rabbi’s Reflection (continued from page 3)

In those years, our daughter Maya began and is about to conclude her first and most formative period of her education.

And, in recent months, we have been preparing to welcome the newest member of our family. Stay tuned for that!

And of course, in those years, I have stood beside you at countless funerals, shivas, weddings, and namings.

I have spent hours with your children as they prepared for the most important moments of their young lives, reading and teaching Torah.

I offered prayers with you at moments of struggle and joy, held our Torah scrolls high, and of course, sang out the glorious words of our prayer book — probably too loudly for our cantors.

Not one moment have I forgotten what a privilege it has been to stand with you at these moments.

Not one moment have I forgotten what a privilege it has been to be welcomed into your lives.

I know from my own experience that it’s not easy to invite someone you don’t know, young and inexperienced — with boyish, chubby cheeks — into your home, into your story. And yet you did. From the moment I arrived, you placed your confidence in me and made me your rabbi.

For that confidence and for that privilege, I am especially grateful to the leadership of this Congregation.

Above all to Rabbi Lustig and to the congregational presidents these last years — Sherry Bindeman Kahn, Meg Flax, and David Astrove, and soon-to-be-President Nell Shapiro. To the search committee who brought me to WHC, led by Meg Flax and Lew Wiener. To the entire Board, whose wisdom and creativity never fail to amaze me.

And then, of course, thank you to my clergy and senior staff colleagues, who have taught me about the nitty-gritty of Jewish leadership, matters great and small, these last years. To the administrative and support staff of WHC — especially my amazing assistant Marsha Humphries, Mohan Mistry, and Binyam Habteyes — who make everything seem so effortless here, even when I regularly created more frustration than necessary.

Finally, while I may be leaving to go up north, WHC will never be far from my heart. New York is only a well-trafficked I-95-ride away, and I look forward to keeping in touch and learning how WHC continues to find inspiration in its glorious past while charting new courses for what will surely be a dynamic future.

ilbox! a m r u o y Watch Holy h g i H o t e The “Guid ckets” i T & s e c i Day Serv on! o s g n i m o is c WHC Journal — June/July 2018 | Page 25

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