December 2012/January/February 2013 - Congregation Mishkan ...

CMT’ers Reaching Out
Last Fall, I saw a notice in the CMT order of service requesting volunteers for Families Connecting with Families
International Conference, co-sponsored by NAPVI Jewish Guild for the Blind at the Perkins School. This conference
was designed to meet many goals to enhance and support the growth and lifelong skills needed by youth who are
visually impaired. It covers all aspects of raising and educating a child with visual impairment. I signed up to help and
it turned out to be an amazing memorable and emotional experience.
My job was to help with the barbeque. On the day of the conference, unfortunately, it started to rain. Volunteers had
to carry all the supplies inside, and set up 25 tables to accommodate the 250 kids and parents. One of my tasks was to
hold 2 umbrellas and escort the families from the bus into the dining room. I met many wonderful families but one
that I became especially close to was the Kulh family from Charleston, West Virginia. The parents Sigal and Charles
have 3 boys: Liad, 13, Ben 11, and Ely 9. Liad is both deaf and legally blind.
Sigal is originally from Haifa and works as an Occupational Therapist in the school system and Charles is a pharmacy
manager. In February, their son Liad celebrated his Bar Mitzvah using sign language while his brothers acted as interpreters.
I really enjoyed meeting all the Kuhls so much and learning about them that I returned to the conference on
Sunday for the final program and drove the entire family to the Science Museum.
I am so glad that I had the opportunity to help others.
Mitchell Selig
Our Fourth Annual Alan J. Tichnor
Memorial Symposium
On Thursday, October 11th, hundreds of people
attended the Alan J. Tichnor Memorial Symposium
and enjoyed an inspiring and lively panel presentation
on “Conservative Judaism: Directions for Today and
Tomorrow”. Chancellor Arnold Eisen of the Jewish
Theological Seminary first addressed our group, and
was followed by responses and vision statements from
Rabbi Steve Wernick, CEO of the United Synagogue
of Conservative Judaism and Rabbi Julie Schonfeld,
Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Assembly.
Professor Jonathan Sarna from Brandeis University
provided the introduction and history of the conservative
movement and our congregation. He then
moderated a discussion and question and answer from
the audience, and participants then enjoyed a wonderful
dessert reception.
This program was funded by the Tichnor family to remember Alan’s
many years of philanthropy and leadership in the Jewish Community.
CMT appreciates the efforts of Sid & Nancy Lejfer, Program Chairs,
and the entire Tichnor family for putting this together.
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CONGREGATION
MISHKAN TEFILA
CONGREGATION MISHKAN TEFILA December 2012 - February 2013