COM bulletin - Congregation of Moses

Tu B’Shevat
15 Shevat
COM bulletin
CONGREGATION OF MOSES Kalamazoo, Michigan
Volume 4, Issue 2
February 1, 2012 Shevat - Adar 5772
INSIDE
CALENDARS
pages 4 & 5
SISTERHOOD
page 13
HADASSAH
page 16
RELIGIOUS
SCHOOL
page 10
RABBI’S MESSAGE
page 11
YAHRZEITS
page 17
SPECIAL
EVENTS
EXPANDED SHABBAT
February 4
SUNDAY BAGELS
ESSENTIAL JEWISH
IDEAS
February 5
COMMUNITY
SHABBAT DINNER
February 17
SISTERHOOD
PROGRAM
February 12
MAKE 'N BAKE
HAMENTASCHEN
CLASSICAL CONCERT
February 19
Enjoy classical music — live at COM
The Congregation of Moses sanctuary will come alive with the sounds of classical music
on Sunday, February 19, as Ann Arbor musicians Stefan Koch and his pianist perform
the cello and piano music of Richard Stöhr, a pre-WWII European composer, theoretician
and teacher of composition. Their performance will include a work never before performed
in the United States.
Co-hosted by COM and Temple B’nai Israel and generously sponsored by the Kalamazoo
Jewish Federation, this special concert will begin at 2 p.m. and is open to the entire Jewish
community. Admission is free of charge. Refreshments will follow.
Born into a prominent Jewish Hungarian family, Richard Stöhr was an accomplished
composer and professor at the Vienna Academy of Music from 1901 to 1938 and a central
figure in Viennese cultural life. His works were showcased in hundreds of performances
annually in Europe. In 1938, following the Nazi takeover of Austria, Stöhr emigrated to
the United States and settled in Philadelphia where he taught at the Curtis Institute of
Music. Among his students was the young Leonard Bernstein. Stöhr eventually relocated
to Vermont to teach music and German at Saint Michael’s College. His work encompasses
choral music, chamber music, seven symphonies, symphonic poems, two operas, an
oratoria and two cantatas.
A native of York, Penn., Stefan Koch is a member of the
Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra and the Adrian
Symphony and a frequent performer with the Kalamazoo,
West Michigan, Green Bay (Wisc.), Toledo and Grand
Rapids symphonies, as well as the Michigan Opera Theatre.
Outside of the classical realm, he has also performed with
Sarah Brightman, Anne Murray, Barbara Cook, Dionne
Stefan Koch
Warwick and Burt Bacharach, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Garrison Keillor, Dave
Brubeck, The Boys Choir of Harlem, Mannheim Steamroller, Bernadette Peters, Amy Grant,
the Von Trapp Family, Doc Severinsen and Julius “Dr. J.” Erving.
CELLO AND PIANO MUSIC OF RICHARD STÖHR
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, AT 2 P.M.
CONGREGATION OF MOSES
www.congregationofmoses.org
VISIT US!
www.facebook.com/congregationofmoses

CONGREGATION OF MOSES 269.342.5463
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
always welcomes comments from
COM congregants and invites you
to attend its regular board meetings,
typically held the first Tuesday of
each month. Minutes of board
meetings are available upon request
from the synagogue office.
Executive Committee
President Tamara Norman
353-6044 tdnorman@sbcglobal.net
1st Vice President Liz Siegel
353-6332 eliza.siegel@sbcglobal.net
2nd Vice President Cathy Cheron
Treasurer Ed Goldenthal
383-3581 wingold@charter.net
Secretary Diane Fogel
731-4615 fogeld47@tds.net
Immediate Past President
Shirley Wise 375-0848
goldensmw@sbcglobal.net
Past President Ken Goodman
349-6001 kgood001@sbc global.net
Synagogue Staff
Rabbi Harvey Spivak
avocet68@aol.com
Religious School Principal
Susan Welbourne
morahsarah@hotmail.com
Office Manager Shirley Mengel
comofficemgr@yahoo.com
Building Manager Rod Anderson
combldmgr@yahoo.com
The COM bulletin is published
monthly by the Congregation of
Moses for the benefit of its members.
The deadline for submitting articles,
photos and ads is the third Monday
of each month for publication
the following month. Please send
submissions to Cindy Beer,
editor, at cinbeer@aol.com.
Community
Announcements
New play for Purim
Heads up! Liz Siegel, Beth Grode and Valerie
Eisenberg are working on a new play for Purim on
behalf of the Religious Activities Committee.
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 7. Come celebrate Esther
and Mordecai’s triumphant salvation of the Jewish community of
Shushan. More in the next Bulletin.
Men’s Club meeting: February 12
The next meeting of the Men’s Club is February 12 at 9:30 a.m. in
the Social Hall. This will be a breakfast meeting with no charge for
breakfast — provided you’ve paid your dues for 2012. Annual dues of
$25 cover the calendar year, January 1 to December 31.
Please contact Phil Horwich by February 9 if you’re planning to attend
the meeting: philhorwich@yahoo.com or 269-720-2653.
You may pay your dues by mailing a check made out to Congregation
of Moses Men’s Club and sending it to: Congregation of Moses,
Attention: Paul Nimz, 2501 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49008.
D&W Shopping Days
JANUARY 15–21
FEBRUARY 5-11
FEBRUARY 19-25
Purchases made with your ‘yes’ card will automatically be credited to
our COM account. Not a ‘yes’ card holder? Visit www.myyesrewards.
com, click on ‘Join yes’ and fill out the online registration form. Then
pick up your ‘yes’ card in-store at the Customer Service desk.
This does not interfere with your ‘yes’ card points earned or points
exchanged. You will continue to get ad savings and points and it will
not cost you any money to participate and help COM.
wanted: used spinet piano in good condition
call Rae Lee at (269)544-2894
PAGE 2

Shabbat service schedule
FRIDAY February 3
SATURDAY February 4
FRIDAY February 10
SATURDAY February 11
FRIDAY February 17
SATURDAY February 18
FRIDAY February 24
SATURDAY February 25
7:30 p.m.
Announcements: Bruce Patrick
9:30 a.m. Learner’s Shabbat
Tot Shabbat and Junior Congregation begin at 10:30 a.m.
Torah: Exodus 14:15-16:10 Judah Ari-Gur
Haftarah: Judges 4:4-5:31 Dave Rosenberg
Announcements: Shirley Wise
7:30 p.m.
Announcements: Gerry Tregerman
9:30 a.m.
Torah: Exodus 19:1-20:23 Rabbi Spivak
Haftarah: Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6 Michelle Angel
Announcements: Ed Goldenthal
7:30 p.m.
Community Shabbat Dinner begins at 6 p.m.
Announcements: Tema Lando
9:30 a.m.
Torah: Exodus 30:11-16 Al Rosenthal
Haftarah: II Kings 12:1-17 Judah Ari-Gur
Announcements: Phil Horwich
7:30 p.m.
Announcements: Connie Bowman
9:30 a.m.
Torah: Exodus 26:1-26:30 Michelle Angel
Haftarah: I Kings 5:26-6:13 Stephen Koss
Announcements: Adam Strauss
Candle lighting
FEB. 3
FEB. 10
FEB. 17
FEB. 24
5:40 p.m.
5:49 p.m.
5:58 p.m.
6:07 p.m.
Barucha for candle lighting
Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech
haolam asher kideshanu bemitsvotav
vetzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat
PAGE 3

February calendar
SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
5
Sunday Bagels
Essential
Jewish Ideas
11 am-noon
6 7
Synagogue
Board
Meeting
7:30 pm
1 2 3 4 Learners’
Shabbat
9:30 am
8 9
Hebrew
Study Group
7:30 pm
10 11
Tot Shabbat
10:30 am
Junior
Congregation
10:30 am
12 Men’s Club
Meeting
9:30 am
Sisterhood
Program:
Interior Design
10 am
13
Hadassah
Board
Meeting 1 pm
14 15 16
Executive
Committee
Meeting
7:30 pm
17
Community
Shabbat Dinner
6 pm
Services
7:30 pm
18
19
Make n’ Bake
Hamentaschen
From
Bible to
Synagogue
11 am-noon
20
Bulletin
deadline
5 pm
Hadassah
Book Club
7:30 pm
21 22 23
Hebrew
Study Group
7:30 pm
24 25
COM/B’nai
Israel Concert
26
No Religious
School
27 28 29
PAGE 4

March calendar
SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
1 2 3 Learners’
Shabbat
9:30 am
Tot Shabbat
10:30 am
Junior
Congregation
10:30 am
4
Men’s Club
Meeting
9:30 am
5
Rummage Sale
set-up
10 am-3 pm
6
Rummage Sale
set-up
10 am-3 pm
7
Rummage Sale
set-up
10 am-3 pm
8
Rummage Sale
set-up
10 am-3 pm
9
Rummage Sale
set-up
10 am-3 pm
10
Purim
Luncheon and
Carnival
Synagogue
Board
Meeting
7:30 pm
Hebrew
Study Group
7:30 pm
11
Essential
Jewish Ideas
11 am-noon
Sisterhood
Rummage
Sale
12 noon-3 pm
18
Sisterhood &
Hadassah
Mah Jong
& Martinis
2 pm
12
Sisterhood
Rummage
Sale
10 am-2 pm
followed by
clean-up
19
Bulletin
deadline
5 pm
Hadassah
Book Club
7:30 pm
13 14 15
Executive
Committee
Meeting
7:30 pm
16
Community
Shabbat Dinner
6 pm
Services
7:30 pm
20 21 22 23 24
Dave
Rosenberg
Birthday
Kiddush
17
25
Sunday Bagels
From
Bible to
Synagogue
11 am-noon
26 27 28 29
Hebrew
Study Group
7:30 pm
PAGE 5

Mishpacha
CONDOLENCES TO . . .
Steve Krefman and family on the passing of his father, William Krefman
Joshua Ellison and family on the passing of Elizabeth Ellison
GENERAL FUND
In honor of the birth of Judy Davis and Al Rosenthal’s grandson, Lucas Davis Liebman.
Congratulations to Tamara and Earl Norman on their daughter Aviva’s graduation from Michigan State University.
Maxine & Neal Berke
Condolences to Steve Krefman and family on the passing of his father, William Krefman.
Condolences to Joshua Ellison and family on the passing of Elizabeth Ellison.
Joanne & Mike Simon, Marilyn & Art Feinberg, Phil Horwich
Pnina & Judah Ari-Gur, Shirley Wise & Frank Szopo
In loving memory of Sig Baum.
Donations have been made to the following tzedaka funds:
Elinor Star
BUILDING FUND
Condolences to Steve Krefman and family on the passing of his father, William Krefman.
Condolences to Joshua Ellison and family on the passing of Elizabeth Ellison.
Sallie & Ken Goodman, Tamara & Earl Norman
In loving memory of my father, Sam I. Stein
Bruce Stein
MARVIN AND ROSALIE OKUN RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND
Wishing Marvin Okun a return to good health.
Sandy & Larry Rose
Condolences to Steve Krefman and family on the passing of his father, William Krefman.
Condolences to Joshua Ellison and family on the passing of Elizabeth Ellison.
Susan & Patrick Welbourne, Judy & Lowell Seyburn
The Fischell Family, Kim & Arlen Rubin
HERMAN AND ROSE FISHER LIBRARY FUND
Condolences to Joshua Ellison and family on the passing of Elizabeth Ellison.
BEREAVEMENT FUND
Condolences to Joshua Ellison and family on the passing of Elizabeth Ellison.
Rachel, Jeff, Shira, Nava and Mazal Haus
Tamara & Earl Norman
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
Condolences to Joshua Ellison and family on the passing of Elizabeth Ellison.
Pnina & Judah Ari-Gur
PAGE 6

Mishpacha
NELSON SCHUPAN USY FUND
In loving memory of our son, Seth Schupan.
In loving memory of Charlette Schupan.
In loving memory of Haim Noah Feder.
BEN & MIRIAM BROT ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE FUND
In loving memory of Reuven Aglanov.
JOYCE AND MORTON FISHER KITCHEN/KIDDUSH/ONEG FUND
In loving memory of Sidney Schwartz.
CEMETERY FUND
In loving memory of my mother, Annelise Loeser.
Jeanne & Marc Schupan
Pnina & Judah Ari-Gur
Pnina & Judah Ari-Gur
Paul & Sharon Schwartz
Marjorie Gaynor
February celebrations
2/2 Judy Davis Rosenthal
2/2 Ed Goldenthal
2/2 Steve Camhi
2/7 Anne Fischel
2/11 Brad Kennedy
2/12 Marcie Brown
BIRTHDAYS
2/14 Brandon Berke
2/18 Steve Kapetansky
2/19 Julia Strauss
2/20 Paul Wienir
2/20 Marissa Icabone
2/20 Mazal Haus
2/20 Gabriel Amy
2/24 Evan Scheinker
2/26 Judah Ari-Gur
2/27 Ken Fisher
2/29 Cooper Howard
Celebrating birthdays and anniversaries is as easy as cake!
You can sponsor a cake for Oneg Shabbat during the month of your special occasion simply by making a phone call or
sending an email. Here’s the procedure:
1. Call Brad or Carolyn Kennedy at 375-8377 or email us at info@luckydogmedia.com and let us know you want
to sponsor a cake, and on which date. Please allow one week’s notice. You can pay for the cake online at www.
congregationofmoses.org/oneg or arrange to send a check. Your choice.
2. We’ll call the bakery and order the cake of your choice. There are many flavors, sizes and prices available. Just let us
know your favorites, and we’ll get it ordered (see box at right).
3. You can pick up the cake and bring it to Friday night services or we can. We’ll even do the table preparation for you
and help serve. Your name will be announced as Oneg sponsors and you’ll be showered with thanks and adoration.
PAGE 7

Gefilte Fish Gang: youth group revival
The youth group has been resurrected by the youths themselves, and they are now calling themselves the “Gefilte Fish
Gang.” They have a group on Facebook, and Jamie Peters, a Western Michigan University student who teaches in our
Religious School, has offered to be their advisor.
Officers were elected at the Gefilte Fish Gang’s first meeting, which was held in December at Panera and attended by
10 kids plus Jamie.
PRESIDENT Shoshana Grode
VICE PRESIDENT Sydney Angel
SECRETARY Sam Siegel
TREASURER Avi Grode
RELIGIOUS CHAIR Sara Torres
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES CHAIR Tamar Grode
The group also discussed what kinds of activities they would like to do. Already, they've held a social action activity
where they performed tzedaka by helping Loaves and Fishes assemble boxes for its annual holiday food drive. And, on
Christmas Day, the kids gathered at the Angel home to watch movies and enjoy Chinese
food prepared by Michele Angel. The Gefilte Fish Gang’s next activity will be a sleepover
sometime this month.
The group welcomes new members at any time. Youth interested in joining the Gefilte
Fish Gang can contact Beth Grode at beth.grode@yahoo.com or 324-6953.
"And a Child Shall Lead" This is a play about the
heroic and true story of children coming of age in Terezin, the “Jewish city” established by the
Nazis near Prague as a way station before the death camps. In the face of unspeakable horror,
these children use their determination and creativity to build lives filled with hope and beauty
while constantly at peril of their lives. The actual poems and stories of the children in Terezin
are woven into a fast-paced drama.
“And a Child Shall Lead” will be performed at Portage Northern High School on Feb. 3, 4, 10
and 11 at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 3 p.m.
Seating will be limited (about 90 per performance) for this intimate and powerful theater
experience. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and are on sale online at
www.seatyourself.biz/pndrama.
THE RABBI’S
RECOGNITION
CERTIFICATE GOES TO . . .
Jill Ruterbusch!
The Congregation of Moses thanks Jill for being in charge
of the Scrip program. The success of this important
fundraiser depends on the persistence of the Scrip
leader — and we appreciate Jill’s persistence. Big
applause for her singing commercials! Thank you, Jill, for
caring about the Congregation of Moses.
www.seatyourself.biz/pndrama/
TODAH RABBAH!
PAGE 8

It’s not too late to submit stories, photos for
50th anniversary commemorative scrapbook
If you missed the chance to share your COM
memories at the synagogue’s 50th anniversary gala
in December, not to worry: You can still have them
added to the 50th anniversary scrapbook created by
Carolyn and Brad Kennedy in commemoration of the
special event. Now displayed in the synagogue lobby,
the scrapbook is a beautifully designed compilation
of stories and photos submitted by congregants who
wanted to share with the rest of us their fondest
memories of the Congregation of Moses.
What are some of your best memories of COM? Share
them with other congregants and future generations
by including them in the scrapbook. Just follow these
guidelines:
Stories/memories: Length can be a half-page to one
full page, or more if you feel like writing. We reserve the
right to edit your story.
Photos: Please include any old photos of yourself or
your family that you are willing to lend, especially if
they were taken at COM. Your photos will be scanned
and returned to you, so please put your name on them.
All photos should include a caption.
Attribution: Be sure to include your name, along with a
bit of information about your background, i.e., how long
you’ve lived in Kalamazoo, when you joined COM, etc.
Deadline: FRIDAY, MARCH 30
Story ideas to get your mind going:
• good friends you’ve met through COM
• funny incidents that occurred at COM
• touching or sentimental memories
• something you’ll never forget
• something that you tell other people about COM
• family stories that involve or took place at COM
• what you’ve enjoyed most about COM
• something you learned or received from COM —
something that couldn’t have come from any other place
Send submissions to Shirley at
the synagogue office by March 30.
Be sure to label all photos with
your name and a caption.
PAGE 9

Marvin and Rosalie Okun Religious School
FEBRUARY important dates to remember
Saturday, Feb. 4
Sunday, Feb. 5
Sunday, Feb. 12
Friday, Feb. 17
Sunday, Feb. 19
Sunday, Feb. 26
Tot Shabbat and Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.
Tu B’Shevat Tasting Party/Seder, 11 a.m.
Special event at Temple B’nai Israel for students and teachers (Yom Ahava, 9:15-12)
Community Shabbat dinner, 6 p.m.; services led by grades 4, 5 and 6
Make 'n Bake Hamentaschen (volunteers needed)
No school (KPS mid-winter break)
Once again, the coming month is filled with special events planned by the Religious School staff and students.
SUNDAY, FEB. 5 Students in pre-K through 6th grade will create and participate in a TU B’SHEVAT TASTING
PARTY/SEDER. They will participate in songs and prayers and taste sweet fruits and seeds. The students will then plant
their own seeds. This holiday reinforces our Jewish commitment to taking care of our Earth, water, trees and each other.
SUNDAY, FEB. 12 All students and teachers from COM and Temple B’nai Israel will participate in a special event at
Temple B’nai Israel called YOM AHAVAH. Parents should drive their students to the temple by 9:15 a.m. and pick them
up at 12 noon. We are asking each student to bring an unwrapped gift to be delivered to a sick child at Bronson Hospital.
If each student brings a gift, the principals from both schools will do something surprising to reward the students for their
loving and caring efforts for the sick children in the hospital. The event also involves crafts, singing and a snack. This is a
new event involving both religious schools to demonstrate our love and kind feelings for others.
SUNDAY, FEB. 19 We will make and bake HAMENTASCHEN for the Purim Carnival on March 4 and for
Shalot Manot. We need many volunteers for this activity, so please let me know if you can help out.
SNEAK PEAK AHEAD Looking into March, our annual Purim Carnival and Mens’ Club Purim Lunch will
take place on Sunday, March 4. Also on that morning, Lee Trepeck from
Tamarack Camps will present information to parents and students
about Tamarack’s various camp programs. We will also make
Shalot Manot to be delivered. More information on these
events will be emailed to parents.
Please keep an eye on local news and your email for
information about school closings due to weather. I will also
make an effort to reach each family by phone. The rule for
Wednesdays is: If Kalamazoo Public Schools and Portage
Public Schools are closed, we will be closed. On Sundays, you
will be called by 8:30 a.m. if we are closed.
Hope to see you soon at the COM for our great events.
Sincerely,
Morah Sarah / Susan Welbourne
Religious School Principal
PAGE 10

Rabbi’s Message
?
Join us for any session — even if you’ve never tried it before. And your questions are always welcome!
How do we know anything about God? And what is it that we are able to know?
How many versions of Judaism were there during the time of the Second Temple? How did these divisions
influence the way Judaism is taught and practiced today?
?
Jewish belief in the afterlife — including resurrection of the dead — began to take hold about the same time as the
events that we celebrate on Hanukkah. What is the connection between these beliefs and Hanukkah?
These and other interesting questions are the topics of two learning opportunities: “The Essential Jewish Ideas” and
?
“From Bible to Synagogue: How Judaism Became the Religion We Know Today.”
Rabbi Harvey Spivak
The Essential Jewish Ideas FEB. 5, MARCH 11
From Bible to Synagogue JAN. 29, FEB. 19, MARCH 25
All times are Sunday, 11 a.m. to noon
Jewish Federation camp scholarships An experience at a Jewish summer camp is an outstanding
way for our youth to connect with their Jewish peers and to strengthen their Jewish roots. Children who wish to
attend a Jewish summer camp in 2012 and are in need of some funds to support that intention may apply to the
Jewish Federation of Kalamazoo & Southwest Michigan for a scholarship to help them participate in this great
experience.
The Federation’s Annual Campaign is the main source of funds for the Federation’s Youth Camp Scholarships.
The amount available for scholarships depends on the success of the Federation campaign. The amount of each
scholarship also is affected by the number of applicants. While an attempt is made to provide some funding to
each child who makes a request, some applicants have larger gaps between the amount their families can manage
and the cost of the camps. Accordingly, a need-based factor is included in deciding how much each applicant will
receive from the Federation. In addition, participation by, service to, and contributions by families to the Jewish
community are considered positive factors in deciding scholarships. In the past few years,
scholarships have ranged from $50 to $1,000.
Applications for camp scholarships can be obtained from Richard Kirschner
(rjkirschner@yahoo.com) or Beth Grode (beth.grode@yahoo.com). The deadline for applications is April 29.
The decision process will be completed and response letters will be sent to applicants by May 2.
PAGE 11

Congregation of Moses
Community Shabbat Dinner
February 17 at 6 p.m.
Services begin at 7 p.m. and will be led by
Marvin and Rosalie Okun Religious School
5th- and 6th-grade students
PRICES
PAID ADVANCE RESERVATIONS:
(must be paid by 5 p.m. the Tuesday
before the dinner)
$10 per adult and $5 per child, or
$25 per family
Children 4 and under are free!
AT THE DOOR: (please drop your check
into the box prior to candle lighting)
$12 per adult and $6 per child, or
$35 per family
Children 4 and under are free!
Please contact Shirley in the
synagogue office to make your
dinner reservation. Call 342-5463
or email comofficemgr@yahoo.com.
You may leave your completed reservation form and check in the special box by the synagogue office.
COMMUNITY SHABBAT DINNER RESERVATION FORM
Date _____________ Name(s) __________________________________________________________________
Number of adults _________ Number of children over age 4 ________
Amount paid $ ______________
PAGE 12

SISTERHOOD NEWS
Dear Sisterhood and COM members,
Winter brings us beautiful white landscapes. Sisterhood brings us friendships and opportunities to learn and share,
meet people (old/new alike) and so much more. If you’re not a Sisterhood member, find out how Sisterhood can become
a meaningful part of your life by contacting me or by attending one of our programs. (See below for details about our
February program.)
We express our sadness with the passing of Elizabeth Ellison. Elizabeth was an active member of our Sisterhood family,
volunteering countless hours helping with the Gift Shop and Rummage Sale and baking her delicious challahs for the High
Holidays. We will dearly miss her. May her memory be a blessing.
Sisterhood would like to acknowledge all the volunteers who made the Hanukkah Bazaar and Bake Sale a big success. We
could not do it alone!
Todah rabah to: Judy Davis Rosenthal, Valerie Eisenberg, Betty Hirschfield, Alice Koss, Pat Kirschner, Cheryl Isley,
Tamara Norman, Julie Northrop, Robyn Levene, Rae Lee Howard, Emily Hoffman and Tema Lando. Special kudos to
Kim Rubin and Candi Levene for chairing the Hanukkah Bazaar.
Todah rabah to: Liz Siegel, Joyce Camhi, Beth Grode, Michelle Angel, Cathy Cheron and Jill Ruterbusch for spending
countless hours baking delicious cookies/desserts with a special flare for the Bake Sale. You rock!
Our Sisterhood family is growing. We welcome four new members:
ELANE FELDMAN Elane and her husband, David, moved to Kalamazoo when David accepted the position of Director
of Kazoo School.
GILLIAN THOMMES Raised in Kalamazoo, Gillian moved back from Florida with her husband, Dean, and daughter,
Montana. She teaches 5th and 6th grades in our Religious School.
EFRAT GELMAN Efrat moved here from New Jersey when her husband, Oren, accepted a position with Stryker. They
have three boys, two of whom attend our Religious School.
MAXINE BERKE Maxine has been a frequent visitor to Kalamazoo to visit her husband, Neal, who relocated here for a
new position. She will move here from Massachusetts as soon as their house there is sold.
Please introduce yourself to our new members and make them feel welcome.
Shalom,
Tema Lando, Sisterhood President TemaZysla@chartermi.net
New visions for remodeling your home
with interior designer
Cathy Hoyt
Sunday, February 12
10 am - 12 noon
COM Social Hall
free to Sisterhood members
$5 for spouses and guests
PAGE 13

Herman and Rose Fisher Library
Now that we’ve come down from the high of December’s Library Open House, it’s time to get back to business.
Time to order new titles!
Several of you have made requests for certain book and DVD titles, and I will do my best to accommodate — within
reason. For instance, a while back our Religious School asked if the library could purchase an updated DVD of the history
of Israel for the older students. The best I could find was Pillar of Fire: A History of Israel’s Birth, with a price tag $89.99.
Since the library could not possibly afford that, I will substitute the History Channel’s Israel: The Birth of a Nation. Other
requests include The Bedside Torah by Bradley Artson and The Prime Ministers by Yehuda Avner.
Perhaps you’d like a peak at some upcoming acquisitions I’m considering for late winter/spring?
PAGE 14
ADULT
Scenes from a Village Life by Amos Oz
The Dovekeepers: A Novel by Alice Hoffman
The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco
MetaMaus: A Look Inside a Modern Classic, Maus by Art Spiegelman
The Debt (DVD)
CHILD/YOUNG ADULT
Lily Renee, Escape Artist by Trina Robbins
The Apple Tree’s Discovery by Penninah Schram
Dinosaur Goes to Israel by Diane Rauchwerger
Sabrina, the Girl with the Hole in Her Heart by Wendy Lewis
Of course, there is always more to buy, more holes in the collection to plug. That can’t happen without your help. All
donations are welcome, from gently used Jewish books/CDs/DVDs to gifts made out to the Fisher Library Fund. But the
greatest gift of all is your continued presence in the library – your library.
Todah Rabah,
Rachel Haus, Library Director
A little forethought goes a long way
Do you buy groceries? If so, you could be earning the synagogue cash! For example,
purchase your groceries at Meijer using Scrip Pro gift cards, and the synagogue earns
3 percent. With D&W gift cards, 2 percent. And if you shop at Hardings, you can use an
escrip card and earn 1-4 percent, depending on your purchases.
Last month, congregants earned $250 for the synagogue by purchasing Scrip cards. It didn’t cost anyone extra
money, just a bit of forethought.
Please continue to use Scrip Pro when purchasing groceries, going out to eat or shopping at department or
specialty stores. Scrip frequently adds new merchants — most recently, the Cheesecake Factory, Buffalo Wild
Wings, DSW and Hyatt Hotels, among others — and offers time-limited Special Bonus Discounts. Check out the
website at www.scrippro.com.

JEWISH FEDERATION REPORT
2011 Annual Campaign
During the recent 2011 fund drive, the Jewish community of southwest Michigan raised more than $82,000
in direct donations or pledges. The money will be used for local, national and international needs. Some of
the exciting programs we are supporting include:
• A direct community-to-community sponsorship involving the Jewish populations of southwest Michigan and
of Tblisi, Georgia, in the former Soviet Union. Most elderly Jews in Tblisi are in desperate financial straits; food,
shelter and heating are hard to come by. It costs $500 to provide a food card for an elderly person in Tblisi for a
year. Our Federation recently donated $20,000 for the purchase of 400 food cards for the needy Jewish elderly of
the Tblisi community.
• As a participating member of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), our annual undirected
pledge will fund the work of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
and the occupational and vocational training programs of World ORT. JAFI (www.jafi.org) works to address
disparities in economic advantage and education in Israel; JDC (www.jdc.org) works in more than 70 countries
to rescue Jewish lives at risk, bring relief to Jews in need and provide non-sectarian disaster relief and long-term
development in many countries; and World ORT (www.ort.org) has graduated more than 3 million people from
its programs worldwide.
• Western Michigan University's Hillel will have its basic programming needs met through Federation’s support.
• Our community’s youth programs, such as the Gefilte Fish Gang (see page 8) and Camp Keshet, will receive
partial or total support from Federation, and we will continue to fund scholarships to Jewish summer camps (see
page 11 for more information on summer camp scholarships).
• The Congregation of Moses and Temple B’nai Israel religious schools will be encouraged to apply to
Federation for any non-salary financial need.
• Special programs for our community will be funded as interest and need arise.
A meeting will be held March 7 at the home of Federation president Beth Grode to make allocations for the
coming year. If you have a program or community need that can be met through a funding allocation, please
submit a request to beth.grode@yahoo.com. Attendance at the allocation meeting by all interested community
members is welcomed and encouraged.
Federation expresses deep thanks to all who contributed to the 2011 campaign.
PAGE 15

HADASSAH UPDATE
Plant a tree — or even a forest!
Tu B’Shevat, the 15th day of Shevat on the Jewish calendar — celebrated this year on Wednesday, February 8 — is the
day that marks the beginning of a “New Year for Trees.” This is the season in which the earliest blooming trees in the
Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle. We express our joy and thankfulness for
the trees, harvests and the natural world by eating delicious fruits, especially those indigenous to Israel, and planting trees
at home and in Israel.
What, you won’t be in Israel around February 8? Hadassah can take care of planting your tree, or even a forest for that
matter. What a great way to remember a loved one or a mitzvah, or just to teach a lesson to a child. When you do visit
Israel and you’re overwhelmed by the beautiful green landscape, thank the Jewish National Fund. Since its inception in
1901, the JNF has planted more than 240 million trees in Israel. (It also has built 180 dams and reservoirs, developed
250,000 acres of land and established more than 1,000 parks.)
To order JNF Tree Certificates, contact Liz Thall (dzt@aol.com or 381-0810) or Charlotte Marvin (charlottemarvin@yahoo.
com or 492-8292). Checks should be made payable to Hadassah.
1 tree: $18
5 trees (circle of trees): $90
10 trees (circle of trees): $180
100 trees (garden of trees): $500
Methuselah resurrected from the (near) dead
Last November, a ceremony was held on Kibbutz Ketura, attended by distinguished guests from around the world, to
plant the famous date palm “Methuselah.” You may have read that in the mid-1960s, during the excavations of Masada,
ancient date seeds were discovered beneath rubble at the Northern Palace
approach. The Judean date, prized in antiquity for its taste, size and medicinal
properties, had been extinct for centuries. Radiocarbon dating indicates that
this seed was at least 2,000 years old. In a unique experiment, Dr. Sarah Sallon,
Director and Founder of Hadassah's Natural Medicine Research Center, and
Dr. Elaine Solowey, Director of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture at the
Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, succeeded in germinating one
of these ancient date seeds. This is the oldest seed that has been successfully
germinated, surpassing a 1,300-year-old sacred lotus seed. “Methuselah” has
been kept in a quarantine site but now is determined healthy, strong and
ready to live permanently in the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
where it can be viewed by the public.
PAGE 16
Fires have ravaged the Carmel Forest near Haifa in northern Israel. Five million
trees on 12,500 acres are gone. We must reforest, replant, regrow. Plant a tree
— or a dozen, or more — today.
Researchers Dr. Sarah Sallon and Dr. Elaine
Solowey and Hadassah National President
Marcie Natan

Yahrzeit
February 3, 4 (11 Shevat – 17 Shevat)
Louis Brown* Viola Doggett Rebecca Gubin*
Abraham Kaiser* Johanna Kroon* Lambert Kroon*
Anna Levinson* Dorothy Miller Emanuel Schupan
Leo Simon
Hyman Tregerman
February 10, 11 (18 Shevat – 24 Shevat)
Sidney Eisenberg Eugene Field* Ann Fine
Waller J. Finn* Max Friedman* Ralph D. Golden*
Minnie Graff* Brina Hadesman* Hyman Kirschner
Evelyn Krasnick* Robert Levy* Sidney Litvak
Tito Marzan Eli Mindel* Manuel Newlander*
Charlotte Stulberg* Esther Stulberg* Michael Stulberg*
Donna Taylor
Mary Zuravel*
February 17, 18 (25 Shevat – 1 Adar)
Adela Blum Frieda Friedman* Morris Friedman*
Rachel Goldstein* William Leder* Betty Levene*
Caryn Levene* Miriam Epstein Lieberman* Dorothy Masursky Moyer*
Balfour Peisner* Lou Sanders* Rebecca Stulberg*
Terry Wienir
William Zheutlin*
February 24, 25 (2 Adar – 8 Adar)
Aaron Columpus* Sallie L. Cushner* Anna P. Davidoff*
Jean Rosenblatt Davis Archie Feinberg Lilas Felix
Herman Fisher* Sarah Forman* Theodore Forman*
James H. Goldman* William Greiner* Benjamin Gubin*
Adele Gudovitz Marion Halpert* Marianne Mimi Katz*
Barry W. Kirschner* Canuto Ruiz Michile Schaff
Isidore Schanwald Morris Schensul Harriet Swartz*
Dora Zheutlin
* Denotes a plaque in the main sanctuary
PAGE 17

We owe a debt of
We offer caring and comprehensive counseling
services for adults, teens and children of all ages
• individual, family, couples and group counseling
• psychological testing
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• 34 therapists in two locations
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Kalamazoo Office
(269) 372-4140
Director: Larry Beer, Ed.D.
Portage Office
(269) 321-8564
Director: Tim Howard, Ed.D.
www.childandfamilypsych.com
gratitude to our sponsors
for their generous
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Please help us thank
them by supporting their
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More than 20 years of treating people right

PAUL F. DAVIDOFF
ATTORNEY AT LAW
PAUL F. DAVIDOFF, P.C.
The Cornerstone Building
405 W. MICHIGAN AVE., SUITE 130
P.O. BOX 51066
KALAMAZOO, MI 49005-1066
Telephone: (269) 388-2100 Fax: (269) 388-5454
e-mail: pdavidoff@ameritech.net

CONGREGATION OF MOSES
2501 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008
(269) 342-5463