Scroll - Congregation Beth El

SisterhoodSisterhoodPublicationsWin AwardsTwo Sisterhood publications garneredgold awards at the December biennialconvention of the Seaboard Region ofUnited Synagogue in December. TheSisterhood Haggadah won in the categoryof unique programming, and theGrandparent’s Memory Book for Jewish Familieswon in the publications category.The Sisterhood Haggadah was createdby a committee chaired by Deb Leibowitzand illustrated by Annette Abrams andTamar Fishman. It was first used at lastyear’s Sisterhood seder and will continueto be used in future sederim. Called AWomen’s Seder, the Haggadah takes a femaleperspective on Seder rituals, includingthe telling of the story of the FourDaughters.The memory book was created bya committee of eight Sisterhood membersand published in December 2006by Kar-Ben. Containing a family tree byTamar Fishman and 13 chapters that enablea grandparent to pass family history,stories, and values on to grandchildren,the book has sold more than 2,000 copiesnationwide. Copies are available inthe Beth El office. •Wine Class and TastingExpert lecturer – Beth El’s ownBob LuskinSaturday, March 7, 7:00 pmCongregation Beth El8215 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD$18 per person, includes lecture,Kosher wine tasting with cheese & fruit,and a discussion of wines and party planning.In addition, you can order gourmet Kosherwines for Pesach and other occasions5:30 pmContact Jon Stone at info@bethelmc.org or301-652-2606 for more information.Please return to Beth El, c/o Men’s Club byFebruary 26:˛ Register us for the wine tasting!Enclosed is a check for $_____ for _____ people.Name(s): ______________________________________________________________________________________Telephone number: ______________________________3

Beth El Seminary ShabbatSome 100 Conservative congregations will host a studentfrom the Jewish Theological Seminaryat their Shabbat service on February28, in a program called “Leadership,Ideas, and Torah: Inspiring the AmericanJewish Future.” Visiting Beth Elfrom the seminary will be second-yearrabbinical student Aaron Weininger,who will give the d’var Torah at the Shabbat morning service.Following the kiddush, Aaron, the first openly gaystudent accepted into the Conservative Movement’s rabbinicalschools, will lead a teaching session on “The Ethicsof Inclusion in the Jewish Community.”Aaron received a BA in Jewish Near-Eastern studiesand anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis,where he was a recipient of the Steven S. SchwarzschildPrize for Excellence in Jewish Studies. While at WashingtonUniversity, he founded Students for a Peaceful Palestinian-Israeli Future. Aaron’s journey to rabbinical school has beenfeatured in The New York Times, The New York JewishWeek, and on National Public Radio. He has spoken beforeJewish and Christian audiences across North Americaon issues of inclusion and culture change in contemporaryJewish life.The purpose of Seminary Shabbat is to introduce congregationsto future Jewish leaders and to enhance the connectionbetween the JTS and Conservative synagogues. •Upcoming MEN’S CLUB EventsSUNDAY, FEB 1, 9:30 amWorld Wide Wrap. Come learn to wear tefillin; all men,women, and children welcome.THURSDAY, FEB 5, 8:30 pmHearing Men’s Voices. Rabbi Greg Harris will lead adiscussion on “Realizing Failure in a Culture of Overachievement.”SUNDAY, FEB. 8, 9:30 amVisiting scholar Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin will speak ontikkun olam.SUNDAY, FEB. 15, 9:30 amOpen microphone (Presidents’ Day Weekend)SATURDAY, FEB. 21, 5:00 pmMincha/Ma’ariv, including third Shabbat meal (theSeudah Shlishit) and HavdalahSave the Date!!Rock, Soul & Billy JoelMegillah Madness returnswith a new showMonday, March 97:30 pmMegillah Madness is a musical extravaganza and a great wayto celebrate Purim! It combines a reading of selected versesof the Megillah with music and song parodies. It’s all doneby members of Beth El. A brand-new show is on the slatefor this Purim, and it will prove to be fun for all ages, sodon’t miss it!For more information, contact Alan Simon atinfo@bethelmc.orgPlease RSVP to info@bethelmc.org12 4

Youth ActivitiesKindergarten ConsecrationBy Robin Rosen SpectorTo celebrate the beginning of their formal Jewish education,44 children participated in the Kindergarten Consecrationand B’nai Torah Ceremony in December. Before theceremony, Rabbi Greg Harris led a program for thechildren’s parents. The rabbi discussed the role of parentsin their children’s Jewish education and stressed that thesynagogue and religious school hope to serve as partnerswith parents in this important endeavor. Rabbi Harriscounseled parents to nurture their children’s dreams andDor L’DorThe Beth El Preschool Fours Class and a group ofBeth El seniors blend together naturally to formDor L’Dor, a special intergenerational program connectingchildren with seniors, as in these photosfrom a recent event. The next Dor L’Dor is Thursday,February 5, at noon, in the Zahler Social Hall.To participate and share some delicious pizza withthe preschoolers, RSVP to Audrey Berger or RicardoMunster at 301-652-2606, ext. 316, or rmunster@bethelmc.org.Dor L’Dor is co-sponsored byBEPS, Vatikkim, and the Senior Caucus. •Youth Committee Seeks MembersJoin the Beth El Youth Committee, and have a hand in shaping the mission,goals, and direction of our Youth Department. The committee meets once amonth, usually on Sundays during Religious School. Committee membershelp hire and supervise the youth staff. Occasionally, we need an errand to berun or an extra chaperone at an event. If you love children (not just yours) andcan serve on the Youth Committee, please contact, Adam Zeren, at 301-652-2606, or azeren@bethelmc.org.encourage their probing questions about their faith. Afterhis brief talk, Rabbi Harris left the parents to schmooze,reminding everyone that in just five years, they would all begathered in the same room to choose b’nai mitzvah dates forthese same children.At the ceremony, the children sang a repertoire of songsand prayers, choreographed with hand gestures, including“Hatikva,” “Every Morning As I Awaken,” “Modeh Ani,”“Am Yisrael Chai,” “Torah Tzivah Lanu Moshe,” “You AreMy Torah,” and the Shema. Abygail Rubin, Edith Sievers,Sharon Strauss, and Laurie Mackey deserve a todah rabah forputting the program together.After the songs, Louis Nagel, Beth El’s Religious Schooldirector, presented each child with a small Torah scroll.Hazzan Abe Lubin then chanted the Shehecheyanu andHaMotzi. Afterwards, the group adjourned to the BenderSocial Hall for a celebratory brunch. •Look for more profiles of Religious Schoolfaculty in the next Scroll.BEPS BigEventEnjoy an evening of fun, food, andfriends at the Beth El Preschoolannual fundraiser on Sunday,March 1, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm,at Union Jack’s, 4915 St. ElmoAvenue, in Bethesda. The event isopen to preschool families, BethEl families, friends, and relativesand will feature games and a notto-be-missedsilent auction. Ticketsare $75. Checks payable toBEPS can be dropped off in anenvelope on the Preschool bulletinboard. For questions or formore information, contact RisaElias or Jen Nordheimer atinfo@bethelmc.org.5

Putting “Mitzvah” in the CelebrationBy Barbara CohenAs a teenager begins the process of becoming a bar or batmitzvah, what a wonderful time it is to experience the coreJewish values of chesed (kindness), tzedakah (charity), andtikkun olam (social justice). At the ceremony, the party, andthroughout the year, there are many ways to include thesevalues and make the experience meaningful and memorable.During the year surrounding their bar or bat mitzvah,teens can participate in, or lead, social-action projects thatare meaningful to them. Owning the process from start tofinish will help build self-confidence and self-esteem andmake tikkun olam a natural part of their lives. For ideasbased on their interests, they can use the online “mitzvahmachine” (www.babaganewz.com/mitzvahmachine), or theycan consider these basic questions:• What am I good at?• What do I like to do?• What bothers me so much about the world that itmakes me want to scream?• What can I do right now?The answers can help teens develop a project that ismeaningful for them and beneficial to the community. Ateen with musical talent whose heart breaks for homelesschildren, for example, can volunteer to perform in a familyshelter or to teach music to the children living there. Tomake it more fun, the teen can bring a friend or two along.In the year after their bar or bat mitzvah, teens can join theirTikkun ProfileWidening the Circle:Ruth SilversteinBy Janet MeyersRuth Silverstein’s living room lastDecember was stocked with toweringpiles of wrapped presents to bedelivered to needy families in the area.It was part of the volunteering sheperforms for A Wider Circle, a SilverSpring-based organization that providesa range of services to those trying torise out of poverty.Ruth became involved with A WiderCircle four years ago. She had readthe organization’s newsletters and wasimpressed that it was founded by MarkBergel with whom she had attendedgraduate school in health and fitness12 6management at American Universityin the mid-1980s. She thought, “Thisseems like a really good thing. Maybe Icould help somehow.”She assisted with grant writing atfirst, but it was soon taken over bythe staff Mark assembled. Now Ruthhandles A Wider Circle’s annual auctioncloseout, a skill she learned fromBeth El Preschool days. She also helpswith the holiday gift drive for familieswho cannot buy Christmas presents fortheir children. Last year, A Wider Circledonated gifts to a record 300 families.Wrap PartyFor the past three Decembers, Ruthrecruited friends to a present-wrappingparty at her house. Her group took onpeers at the Jewish Youth Philanthropy Institute (www.pjll.org) in a program that teaches the skills and value ofphilanthropy through small grant-making sessions.The ceremony and the party afterwards also offeropportunities for tikkun olam. Here are some ideas:Invitations: The Jewish Foundation for the Righteoussells an invitation that involves a bar mitzvah/bat mitzvahfamily in the support of a Righteous Gentile who risked hisor her own life to save Jews.Handcrafted ritual items: Lifeline for the Old (YadL’Kashish) is a Jerusalem-based organization of elderlycraftspeople. The organization sells tallitot, tallit bags, kippot,challah covers, and all types of gifts, many embroideredor in beautifully painted silk (www.lifeline.org.il). Sales ofbeautifully colored kippot crocheted by Mayan women fromMayaWorks support the women’s families and the remotevillages in Guatemala where they live (www.mayaworks.org).Bimah flowers and centerpieces: Flowers and plantscan be brought to hospitals, nursing homes, or homeboundcongregants. Centerpieces can be made from non-floralitems such as books, audio tapes, sports equipment, musicCDs or tapes, and stuffed animals or toys that can bedonated to local shelters or nonprofit organizations.There are more ideas of how to put the “mitzvah” backinto a bar or bat mitzvah at www.mitzvahchic.com/pages/items_charitable.php. •five families’ lists in 2006, 10 in 2007,and 23 last year. In addition to wrappinggifts, some friends buy presents forone person, some for an entire family;others donate money or deliver.Ruth, husband Don, and theirthree daughters have made many deliveries.“The first year I helped, ourfamilies were all in DC.” After they haddropped off packages to an ill singlemother and her young children, Ruthrecalled, neighbors stopped the Silversteinsto express their appreciation.Last year, the 23 families Ruth helpedlived in Bethesda or Kensington; severalwere within a mile from her ownhome in Kensington.A Wider Circle helped 1,081 indicontinuedon page 8

Problem in KostromaBy Claire MarwickWhen Chief Rabbi of Kostroma Nison Ruppo visited BethEl recently, he showed slides of Russia and reluctantly apprisedus—at our request—of difficulties in the country,including Kostroma. The next day, we requested and soonreceived an evaluation from Kostroma physician Dr. MichaelBoudkin.“Due to the global crisis, raw materials prices dropped,”Dr. Boudkin wrote. “All major Russian businesses haddone well due to ‘cheap’ Western loans, which ceased. Economicstagnation ensued. Businesses closed; people were‘sacked’ while the prices of staple goods, including food, risesteadily. The situation is not yet out of control. Analysts predictthat the crisis will peak in the spring of 2009. By thattime, the government may run out of financial reserves.“The Russian ruble is steadily weakening against the USdollar and the euro. Many industrial facilities in Kostromaare at a standstill. Forced vacations are common. Plungingwages and employees shifted from full-time to half-time arerampant. If the situation does not improve, some who areemployed will be fired or forced to rely on a pittance.“All that may lead to social tensions with horrible crimeTikkunOlamrampant in Russia, as in the mid-1990s. Many small andmedium businesses went bankrupt. For Jews, the situationis the same as that of any Russian citizen. Indeed, there aresome families for whom the Chesed assistance is the onlysalvation. Unfortunately, many of our sponsors found themselvesin a predicament. They had either to reduce or discontinuetheir financial aid to the needy.“The present situation can be described as ‘anxious uncertainty.’Everyone knows that the worst is still ahead, butwe do not know how much worse things may become. Wehope that, God willing, sooner or later, we’ll be able to putthis crisis behind us.”We all hear about similar crises all over the world.Kostroma is one of them. The difference is that Kostromais our associated synagogue. We all make contributions toworthy causes, but if you are able and would like to add thatspecial one more—not huge—you will be rewarded by thatfamiliar good feeling of having done tikkun olam. Beth Elwill gratefully accept your contribution to the World JewryFund and dispatch it to the Kostroma Jewish communitywith our thanks and theirs. •Successful Blood DriveOn the second Sunday of Hanukkah, 56 Beth El membersset aside time from winter break to donate blood at theInova-Beth El blood drive. The drive was organized and cochairedby Susan Winarsky and Leesa Fine and guided bythe experience of Steve Frank who originated the Beth Elblood clinic years ago. Inova collected 48 pints of blood—10percent above its goal. The committee expressed gratitude tothe volunteers who welcomed donors and made the day runsmoothly, to Sisterhood, which supplied the “haimische” bagels,lox, and cheese to restore donors’ strength, and of course,to all who, by donating blood, took part in the mitzvah ofsaving a life. •Beth El Tikkun Olam CalendarSunday, Feb. 8 Shepherd’s Table (Peter Novick,301-652-2606, second Sunday of the month)Monday, Feb. 16 Sisterhood meal preparation forRainbow Shelter (Suzanne Bronheim. 301-652-2606)Tuesday, Feb. 24 Weller Road Care Packages (MelissaReitkopp Schwartz, 301-652-2606)Tuesday, March 3 Educational Baby Shower at St.Ann’s Home (Suzanne Bronheim, 301-652-2606)Sunday, March 8 Shepherd’s Table (Peter Novick,301-652-2606)Monday, March 16 Sisterhood meal preparation forRainbow Shelter (Suzanne Bronheim, 301-652-2606)Sunday, March 29 Children’s Inn “Breakfast forDinner” (BEPS organized, Melissa Reitkopp Schwartz,301-652-2606)Ongoing Manna Food Drive (BEPS organized, MelissaReitkopp Schwartz, 301-652-2606)Tutoring at Woodlin Elementary School (Howie Stein,301-652-2606)7

widening the circlecontinued from page 6viduals in 2002; in 2007, it servedmore than 7,225. “It’s a reallyspecial organization,” said Ruth.“I feel good about the small partthat I play.” To volunteer, contactA Wider Circle at 301-608-3504,or visit www.awidercircle.org formore information. •In Case of Inclement Weather- If Montgomery County Public Schoolsare closed, Beth El Preschool and ReligiousSchool are closed, and Vatikkim is cancelled.- If Montgomery County schools have adelayed opening, BEPS will start at 10:15am and end at 12:15 pm. Religious Schoolclasses will take place as usual. Call the officeregarding Vatikkim.- All religious services will take place asscheduled.- A message is placed on the synagogue’s CurrentInformation Line (301-652-8569, ext. 2)by 7:00 am on days when any class or programis cancelled or delayed. Should inclementweather begin after 7:00 am, the message willbe updated during the day as needed. Thesame information will be sent to the listserv.- Religious School information will alsobe included on a message on the SchoolInformation Line: 301-652-8569, ext. 346.Preschool information will be included in amessage on the BEPS information line: 301-652-8569, ext. 311.Scholar-in-Residence WeekendRabbi Nina Beth CardinFriday, February 6 – Sunday, February 8To Till and to Tend: Tikkun Olam and TevaFriday evening congregational dinner and lectureShabbat morning d’var Torah, Shabbat afternoon textstudy, Sunday morning discussionRabbi Nina Beth Cardin is the general consultant for theCoalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) anddirector of the Baltimore Jewish Environmental Network(BJEN) She is the author of several books, including A Tapestryof Jewish Time and Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope.A Shabbat dinner will follow the 6:30 pm Fridayservice. Advance reservations are required.Please return this completed dinner reservation formby Tuesday, February 3, with your check made payableto Beth El.Name _______________________________________Daytime phone________________________________E-mail address ________________________________# Member adults/teens @$22___ Total $_________# Nonmember adults/teens @ $25____ Total $______# Children 6 – 12 years @$10______Total $________# Children 2 – 5 years @$6_______Total $_________Children under 2 are free.Total due: $________Please provide _____________ vegetarian meals.I/We would like to sit with____________________________________________________________________Mail to or drop off at Congregation Beth El, 8215 OldGeorgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814Questions? Contact Elisha Frumkin,301-652-8569 x 319 or efrumkin@bethelmc.orgUnited Synagogue of Conservative JudaismAzor Hof HaYam/Seaboard Regioncordially invites you to theSECOND ANNUALYOUNG LEADERSHIPRECOGNITION RECEPTIONPlease join us as we honor this year’s young leaders fromacross the Seaboard Region who have exhibited outstandingcommitment to their congregation, their region, andthe Conservative movement.Sunday, March 15, 200919 Adar 5769, 5:00 pmCongregation B’nai Tzedek10621 South Glen RoadPotomac, MD 20854Cost: $54.00 per personFor further information: 301- 230-0801, ext. 2BETH EL HONOREES: MINDI AND BUCKY JACOBSON___ I/We look forward to attending the United Synagogue ofConservative Judaism Annual Azor Hof HaYam/SeaboardRegion Awards on March 15.q Enclosed is my check for $_______($54/person).q In addition, I want to help support future Seaboard youth andadult leadership programming and honor our congregation’snominee(s). Sponsors will be listed in the Program Journal.q $36 Friend - Chaver q $154 Sponsor - Tomekhq $72 Donor - Nadiv q $318 Pillar - AmudTotal enclosed: $________ RSVP by March 1Name______________________________________________________Address________________________________________________________________________________________________________________City_________________________________St_______Zip___________Telephone__________________________________________________Email Address ______________________________________________Synagogue Affiliation_______________________________________q I have included payment as a sponsor and want to belisted in the program journal as:________________________________________________United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Seaboard Region121 Congressional Lane, Suite 210, Rockville, MD 2085212 8

Library CornerHappy Birthday, Mr. LincolnBy Robin JacobsonDear Librarians:February 12 will mark the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.My family wants to host a Lincoln-themed Shabbat dinner. Beforewe tape Lincoln portraits on the walls and cover the challah with astovepipe hat, however, I thought it might be prudent to check withmy favorite research team. Was Lincoln “good for the Jews”?Sincerely,A Lincoln AdmirerDear Lincoln Admirer:We are happy to report that President Lincoln was very goodfor the Jews. On two dramatic occasions duringthe Civil War, Lincoln vigorously defended therights of American Jews, notwithstandingthat Jews were but a small minority of thepopulation (numbering approximately150,000) and did not uniformly supportthe Union (see sidebar).General Grant’s Order of ExpulsionIn December 1862, Union GeneralUlysses S. Grant issued General OrderNo. 11, expelling all Jews from the area ofhis command (covering parts of Kentucky,Tennessee, and Mississippi) within 24 hours.The order accused Jews of illegally trading in cotton.Jews who had lived in the South for decades were forcedto pack up their families and leave their homes, sometrudging 40 miles on foot to evacuate the area. But evenJews in the North reacted with fear to the expulsion order.It was chillingly reminiscent of European edicts over thecenturies, accusing the Jews collectively of some misdeedand banishing them. Jewish organizations sent indignantletters of protest to the White House.Cesar Kaskel of Kentucky, who had witnessed theevictions, hurried to Washington. With help from an Ohiocongressman, he secured a meeting with President Lincoln.After examining Kaskel’s documents, Lincoln insisted onthe immediate cancellation of Grant’s expulsion order. Atelegram from General-in-Chief Halleck explained to Grantthat as the order “proscribed an entire religious class, someof whom are fighting in our ranks, the President deemed itnecessary to revoke it.”Jewish ChaplainsLincoln also played a decisive role in the appointmentof Jewish army chaplains. At the start of the Civil War,Congress enacted legislation authorizing each regimentto have a chaplain who was a “regularly ordainedminister of some Christian denomination.” ButJews argued that Jewish soldiers fighting indefense of their country deserved to worshipunder leaders of their own faith. After meetingwith the Rev. Arnold Fishel, who representedthe Board of Delegates of American Israelites,Lincoln promised to use his influence “tohave a new law broad enough to cover whatis desired by you on behalf of the Israelites.”Congress soon passed historic new legislationenabling rabbis to serve as military chaplains.In short, Lincoln’s consistent support for Jews meritsrecognition. At the least, the man deserves a Shabbat dinnerfor his 200th birthday. Good luck with your plans!Sincerely,Your LibrariansP. S. For more information on Abraham Lincoln and theJews, we recommend these sources, available in our library:Encyclopaedia Judaica (2nd ed. 2007); From Haven to Home,ed. by Michael Grunberger and Hasia Diner); The Jews of theUnited States 1654-2000) by Hasia Diner; and Judaic Treasuresof the Library of Congress (Karp, 1991). •The Jewish Debate over SlaveryDuring the Civil War, Jewish positions on slavery were diverse. Rabbi Morris Raphall of New York contended that theBible sanctioned slavery in that it stipulated that slaves must have a day of rest and portrayed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob asslaveholders. In rebuttal, abolitionist Rabbi David Einhorn of Baltimore noted that God had shown no fondness for theinstitution of slavery when He emancipated the Hebrew slaves from Egyptian bondage; Einhorn also argued that “religiousprinciples of freedom and righteousness must triumph over . . . hallowed atrocities.” Ultimately, it was geographic locationmore than ideology that influenced Jewish loyalties during the Civil War. Approximately 6,000 Jews served in the Unionarmy, while between 2,000 and 3,000 Jews served in the Confederate army. (See From Haven to Home.)9

The First in ArgentinaBy Irene Lubasch de MünsterConservative Judaism came to Argentina in the 1960s underthe leadership of Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer, z”l. He foundedthe Latin American Rabbinical Seminary and Bet-El synagogueand infused a new spirit into the Argentine Jewishcommunity. Thanks to Rabbi Meyer’s enthusiasm and energyin bringing the Conservative movement to the SouthernCone (southern Latin America), Jewish girls had anopportunity to be part of, and participate actively in, Jewishfestivals and minhagim (customs). Women started to assumethe same rights and obligations as men; women obtained abroad religious education and prepared themselves for botha Jewish and secular world.In 1967, my parents decided that, as my brother had donetwo years earlier, I needed to assume my duties as a Jew. Theyorganized one of the first b’not mitzvah to be held in Argentina.This wasn’t easy, neither for them nor for me. They hadto fight for their ideals and beliefs. I had to study the parashahand haftarah and to understand that my parents were layingthe foundations for future Jewish generations.Double B’not MitzvahI shared my bat mitzvah on November 30, 1968, with myfriend Gabriela. Both of us were studying at Tarbut School,founded by my parents in 1961, so it wasn’t difficult for usto read from the Torah. We had a year of instruction withCantor E. Vogel at Lamroth Hakol Synagogue, a congregationwith about 400 members, mostly German immigrantsescaping Nazi persecution. Cantor Vogel had the patience toteach us and the virtue to trust us, since teaching girls was anew experience for him.Back then, celebrations surrounding b’nai mitzvah weresimple. There were no large gifts, the kiddush luncheon wasAlong Came a SpiderMy bat mitzvah was October 16, 1976, duringSukkot. Under the beautiful sukkah, I began to chantmy maftir and peeked up for a look at my family andfriends when I noticed a spider slowly lowering itselfright in front of my face! It wasn’t so much fun then,but it makes a great story! –Laurie Friedman •simple, and in the evening there was a dinner for family andfriends. We held ours in a large room at the Tarbut Schooland followed the Lubasch’s custom of having many speechesfrom family and performances from friends. One I still recallwas a funny sketch about my mother, an animal lover,who always kept many pets in our home. For the sketch,her friends brought in cages with birds and parrots from mymother’s mini-zoo.For my family, the most important event was the service.My father wanted us to understand our commitment, sowe had to prepare and read an essay on our parashah, Va-yetze.I recall how unhappy I was about this. I was afraid notonly of having to take this big step, reading in front of myfriends and my parents’ friends but also of having to read mythoughts about p’sukim I hardly understood. I didn’t knowif my thoughts and feelings were in accordance with whatmy father wanted me to express. I wanted my parents to beproud of me. But I was terrified!Two days before the service, I lost my voice and had toswallow much honey to soothe my vocal cords. How embarrassing!All those months of preparation and suddenly Iwas faced with a reduced capacity to sing and read aloud.But I was committed to going through with it; I was preparedto take this big step in my life and in the life of myfamily. I still recall the faces of my parents and my grandfather—theirsmiles, their pride, their fortitude. And suddenlyit was all over. I had read the parashah and the haftarah andgiven my d’var Torah. To the congregation’s astonishment,Gabriela and I conducted the whole service. They neverthought that women could perform just as men did; theyhad never questioned the status quo.I believe that this effort allowed me to be more consciousof my Jewishness and my duties not only as a Jewish motherbut also as a Jewish member of our community. •12 10

September 7, 1940, wasone of the most memorabledays of my life. My13th birthday was onAugust 22, 1940, and mymaftir/haftarah and eveningaffair were scheduledfor soon after. Welived in a three-room apartment on St. Johns Place, CrownHeights, Brooklyn, and special consideration had to be givento boarding and feeding family members from out of townin that small space.The years leading up to my bar mitzvahhad a great bearing on what was to be the1930s showcase of all b’nai mitzvah. Fromthe earliest I can remember, I was raised as agifted child with a special voice. One of myuncles, a Yiddish bandleader, coached me inmost of the popular Yiddish songs of stageand radio, and I mastered them early. I learned hazzanut frommy father and my grandfather, who had been a hazzan at thelarge shul in Tarnow, Poland, before they both immigrated tothe U.S. in 1920. Ritual prayers and nusach (melodies) becamea natural extension of my Yiddish musical knowledge. Ourhome was constantly filled with music, especially the soundsand harmonies of musical tefillot.Our family was well known and respected by our neighborsand in the Lincoln Place shul that we regularly attendedwith my majestic grandfather with his long white beard. Istudied Hebrew and Torah in the Howard Avenue TalmudTorah and then with a private bar mitzvah tutor at a storefrontHebrew school. I still had to answer to my father whowas constantly reviewing and shaping and adding trills andrubato timing to my chanting. All the congregants at the shulswhere my father was frequently engaged admired his voiceand his nusach. I was and remain a great imitator of his style.In the years leading up to my bar mitzvah, I was a soloistB’naiMitzvahMy Bar Mitzvahby Seymour Gross“I wore a new, doublebreastedsuit with myfirst pair of long pants”with some of the most prominent choirs of the 1930s, andI performed at weddings, benevolent society affairs, andeven at my public schools. I studied voice and music with afamous Yiddish composer and prepared, under my father’sand grandfather’s tutelage, to perform High Holiday servicesas “Shmulikel, Boy Cantor.”For my bar mitzvah at Adas Yeshurin on Eastern Parkway,I wore a new, double-breasted suit with my first pair oflong pants, a beautiful long tallit, and a high skullcap. Theseats and balcony were filled to capacity that Shabbat, and Iexerted every effort to project my voice, stay on key, and notdisappoint my audience. I spoke briefly of“love of family” and “my dedication to Yiddishkeit.”Rabbi Magnes gave the d’var Torahin Yiddish, and his emotional description ofthe Gross family brought many congregantsto tears. The kiddush was held in the smallchapel and consisted of homemade honeycakes, pickled herring, gefilte fish, challah,schnapps, and wine, all compliments of my grandmother.That evening we had a lavish party and celebration inthe Deluxe Palace on Howard and Pitkin Avenues. Followingthe punch bowl and whiskey reception in the lobby,complete with ice sculpture, we participated in a formalceremony. There were processionals of grandparents, brotherand sister, bar mitzvah boy and parents, and a separate tallitpresentation, all to the sweet musical accompaniment of AbeGubenko and his Yiddish Orchestra. Cantorial and Yiddishsong selections by the famous hazzan, Kalman Kalish,prayers, and speeches rounded out the ceremony, and weexited to the music of Freilachs. Dinner consisted of bakedwhitefish, chicken soup, roasted capon, kishke, peas and carrots,ices, tea, assorted mints, and demitasse.As the guest of honor, I was expected to sing during thedinner, and so in a smoked-filled dining hall with fans buzzingoverhead, I performed a Rosh Hashanah tefillah accompaniedby a choir of my uncles. The music and dancing didcontinued on page 1411

Theme: B’nai MitvahHebrew LessonShalom chaverim ohrcj ouka;Our congregation (kehilah) vkhve is blessed with manyyoung people who become Bat ,c or Bar rc Mitzvahvumn each year (shanah) vba. Girls (ne-arot) ,urgb andboys (ne-arim) ohrgb assume the obligation (chovah) vcujto perform mitzvot at age (geel) khd 13 (shlosh esre) aukavrag. Presents (matanot) ,ub,n and parties (mesibot),uchxn have become part of the celebrations. However,there is serious preparation (hachana) vbfv for the youngperson to be proficient (baki) hec in reciting (kriah) vthrethe Torah vru, and the Haftarah vrypv, as well as learningthe appropriate prayers (tefilot) ,ukhp, and blessings(b’rachot) ,ufrc.Each child must give a d’var Torah vru, rcs, a speech(ne-um) outb about the Torah portion of the week (parashathashavua) gucav ,arp. Additionally (kemo chen)if unf, each has to answer (la-anot) ,ubgk essay questions(she-elot) ,ukta. These questions make the young peoplethink about Jewish ritual (maarechet haminhagim) ,frgnohdvbnv, morality (musar) rxun and repairing the world(tikkum olam) okug iue,. The b’nai mitzvah vuumn hbc arealso encouraged to devise (le-tachnen) ibf,k a mitzvahfrom the clergy continued from page 1bat mitzvah is about acquiring Jewish skills—Torah reading,leading services, and more—but it is also about acceptingthe responsibilities of tikkun olam (repairing the world), rodefshalom (pursuing peace), and deveykut (closeness with God).I want to offer families two ways to bring greater meaningto the bar/bat mitzvah experience. Note that I havebeen calling it an experience rather than a ceremony becausein my view it is about the entire time leading up toand after that particular Shabbat.Family Mitzvah ProjectFirst, the rabbis and hazzan encourage every family to doa family mitzvah project as part of the bar or bat mitzvah.We work with families to develop ideas and carry them outbefore and after the ceremony. Resources for developingthese projects are available on the Beth El Web site, includingdescriptions of completed family projects. Beginning thisspring and as part of our congregational emphasis on tikkunolam, bar/bat mitzvah who are doing projects will receivecertificates acknowledging the effort they have made.Parent Education ProgramSecond, I am continuing to teach a series of classes forparents of children who are one to two years away from thebar/bat mitzvah. We cover issues ranging from understandingthe service to bringing our values into the celebration.We will meet Shabbat mornings from 10:00 am to noon onFebruary 21, March 7, April 18, and May 9. The sessions arefree, and parents can come to one or all of them.Bar/bat mitzvah is a central Jewish rite and is mostmeaningful when families decide to incorporate their valuesinto the experience. My parents’ guidance enabled me tohave a “twin.” I hope this issue of the Scroll reminds us of theimportance and creativity that can accompany this transitionfor our teenagers. •Rabbi Bill Rudolph, age 13. Hazzan Abe Lubin, age 13.project (tochnit) ,hbfu,, such as (kemo) unf collectingbooks for needy (nitzrachim) ohfrmb children, helping innursing homes (batei avot) ,uct h,c or working in shelters(batei machase) vxjn h,c/At Beth El, we have a tallit ,hky making class (kita)v,hf that teaches how to sew (litpor) rup,k an originaltallit (tallit mekorit) ,hruen ,hky. You can see an example(dugma) tndus of such a handmade tallit (tallit shel avodatyad) sh ,sucg ka ,hky on the bimah vnhc, worn forthe first time (ba-paam harishona) vbuatrv ogpc by theproud boys and girls.Too much pressure (lachatz) .jk? Think only a youngperson can do all this? Our shul will give you an opportunity(hizdamnut) ,ubnszv to have an adult (me-vugar)rducn bar or bat mitzvah. People who have participatedpraise (meshabchim) ohjcan this second chance as a wonderfulexperience (chavaya nifla-ah) vtkpb vhuuj! You havethe camaraderie (yedidut) ,ushsh of an entire group (kvutzah)vmuce of people who study together (lomdimb’yachad) sjhc ohsnuk. Your children will be proud of you(ge-im bachem) ofc ohtd!L’hitraot ,utr,vk until next time,Ruthie and Tutti12

I vividly recall my bat mitzvah on March 27, 1981. Mydevoted parents beamed up at me as I recited my haftarahportion (most of which I still remember to this day). Myclose relatives from “the old country” had come from allover the U.S. to share in our simcha. I remember lookingdown from the bimah at the proud faces of my cherishedBubbe Lena Rosensky and her two sisters, Tanta Thelmaand Tanta Dorothy, who had flown in from Chattanooga,Tennessee, where they had settled after immigrating toAmerica from a small shtetl in Eastern Europe in 1926.(Their father, my great-grandfather, had left for America 10years earlier. At last, he had saved enough money to get themout, too.) At 13, I recognized that I would not have beenthere to celebrate that monumental occasion if my grandmaand two aunts had not risked their lives to leave Russia.As I looked out at the crowd, in an effort to calm myTheme: B’nai MitvahFirst Solo Saturday Bat MitzvahBy Joe YoungAt Beth El today, a bar or bat mitzvah or both may becelebrated at our Shabbat morning services; our expectationsand rituals do not differ because of the gender of theparticipants. Until about 30 years ago, however, Beth El’sb’not mitzvah were celebrated only on Friday nights. Thiscustom persisted, even after the congregation voted in 1973to institute total equality for men and women. Women werecounted for minyanim and honored with aliyot, permittedto read the Torah and haftarah and to lead services, but girlsstill had to celebrate their b’not mitzvah on Friday nights,reading the haftarah “for show,” since it wasn’t part of theservice.As it neared the time to schedule our daughter Michal’sSeptember 1978 bat mitzvah, Leila (my late first wife) and Ibegan to panic. A Friday night bat mitzvah for Michal wasunacceptable to us. Oddly, at that time, it was not unusualfor pre-bar or bat mitzvah children to read Torah on Shabbat,and Michal had already read before the entire congregation.Ironically, we were being faced with a situation inwhich it would have been possible for her to read Torah ona Shabbat morning both before and after her bat mitzvahbut not for her actual bat mitzvah.After some pressure from a number of concerned families—many,the parents of sons but not daughters—and ayear’s study, a motion was passed that allowed girls the op-The Ancestors Who Made It PossibleBy Sheryl Rosensky Millertion to schedule their b’not mitzvah on either a Friday nightor a Saturday morning. The change was to take effect forthe 1978-79 year, for which no b’nai mitzvah had yet beenscheduled. For the 1977-78 year, a girl would be allowedto change her ceremony to a Saturday morning if no barmitzvah was already scheduled for that date—no bar mitzvahcould be displaced. That motion allowed us to scheduleMichal’s bat mitzvah for September 1978. As luck wouldhave it, that made Michal’s the first solo Shabbat morningbat mitzvah ever held at Beth El.The Tallit Had to WaitYou might think that was the end of the matter, but it wasnot. Michal did not wear a tallit at her bat mitzvah; thathonor had to wait three years, until her younger sister Avigaylhad her bat mitzvah. Friday night bat mitzvah ceremoniesremained an option for a number of years. Today, I amcertain that any girl asked to have a bat mitzvah ceremonyon a Friday night would be flabbergasted.I don’t know if their Shabbat morning b’not mitzvahhad anything to do with it, but Michal and Avigayl haveremained committed Jews. Michal, a marketing executive,and her husband are active members of their local MassachusettsConservative congregation, and she still reads Torahand haftarah. Her four children attend the local SolomonSchechter School. Avigayl was the first woman brought upin the Beth El community to be ordained as a rabbi at theJewish Theological Seminary. She is now a Jewish educatorin Massachusetts. •nerves, I saw my smiling Grandpa Abe, who left Poland atage eight, but would never, ever talk about his arduous lifethere. He was next to my Bubbe Ruth Kirschenbaum whohad been like a second mother to me until she passed awayfour years ago. On that special day, my love for my relatives,who fled Europe to give future generations of our family abetter life, was overwhelming.None of my relatives from the “old country” are alive today,but my heart still fills with warmth, love, and gratitudeevery time I think of them and their fun Yiddish expressions,Yiddish songs, and inimitable accents that barely existanymore. When I recently shared my bat mitzvah album withmy daughters, Lindsey Ariella, named for Lena Rosensky, andAmanda Eliana, named after Abraham Kirschenbaum, all thememories came flooding back to me. On my bat mitzvah day,I recalled, doing my very best was the least I could do for mycherished relatives who had sacrificed so much to enable myfamily and me to live in America, where we could freely practiceJudaism without fear. •13

Theme: B’nai MitvahThirteen Was Long AgoBy Joyce OlinerWhen you think of a bar or bat mitzvah, you probably thinkof a gangly teenager whose voice cracks on the first fewnotes of “Ein Kamocha,” while parents and siblings lookon proudly from the front rows of the sanctuary. But everycouple of years at Beth El, a very different group of b’naimitzvah takes the bimah when the adult b’nai mitzvah class“graduates.” Last March 22, my class led the Saturday morningservice, starting with P’sukei D’zimrah, and includingchanting Torah, leading prayers, giving the d’var Torah, andpresenting the all-important bar mitzvah speech.The 2007-08 adult b’nai mitzvah class included almost30 men and women, whose ages spanned five decades.Meeting every couple of weeks for 18 months, we exploreda variety of topics, including Jewish history, liturgy, theology,music, life cycle events, and Israel. We also brushed upon our Hebrew, which for some of us necessitated deepbrushstrokes. Classes were led by our own wonderful clergyand occasional invited speakers. We also engaged in socialaction by giving tzedakah to a charity selected by the classand by serving dinners to families of children staying at TheChildren’s Inn at NIH.Wide-Ranging DiscussionsThe classes were anything but dry. I frequently was struckby the willingness of our class to share personal experiences,difficult questions, and challenging ideas. Nothing wasoff-limits. Discussions ranged from abortion to the role ofthe clergy in Jewish life. Even issues as fundamental as theexistence of God were discussed often. Rabbi Rudolph andGross Bar Mitzvah continued from page 11not end until 3:00 am, since the hall and kitchen did notopen until well after Shabbat. We paid for the affair withcash gift envelopes collected in a cigar box—approximately$325. I also received the classic gift of a leaky fountain penand a small siddur, which I have kept to this very day.The love, fame, and attention showered upon me by myfamily and neighbors at my bar mitzvah is something I willtreasure for the rest of my life. Oh yes!! Two weeks laterand again the following year, I performed admirably as BoyCantor, at High Holiday services. A little boy with cantorialkitel, high hazzan hat, and long tallit, standing on acovered milk box chanting Hinneni, Kol Nidre, and otherintricate tefillot for a congregation of almost 350 people.How could I ever forget? •Rabbi Harris deserve credit for that spirit of openness, but Ithink the willingness to share reflected both the seriousnesswith which the class approached the b’nai mitzvah processand our trust in and respect for one another.Although we were spared the infamous “HundredQuestions” that our own children have labored over ontheir way to becoming a bar or bat mitzvah, we had aneven more challenging assignment: to prepare our owntheological statement. Rabbi Rudolph shared portions ofthese with us shortly before our service was to begin, andit was profoundly moving to hear some of the life experiencesthat had led fellow students to their current relationshipswith God.Liturgy, History, and FriendshipsWhy devote so many precious Sunday mornings to this endeavor?For me, it was to come closer to the Jewish community.Having learned more about the liturgy and improvedmy Hebrew, I feel better able to participate in the services.Our surveys of Jewish history left many of us eager to studyin greater depth. Perhaps most important for me was theopportunity to become friends with some wonderful congregantswho had decided to make the same journey. Wewere kindred spirits as we struggled with Hebrew or sharedstories from our lives. We all took pride in each other’s progress,particularly as we watched in awe as fellow classmatesconfidently handled the service.Beth El feels more like home now when I see my fellowb’nai mitzvah in shul or we catch up over tuna fish at a kiddush.I would recommend the adult b’nai mitzvah class toanyone who would like to enrich his or her experience ofJudaism and Beth El. •Ask the ClergyWhat is the meaning ofthe words: maftir andhaftarah?By Hazzan Abraham LubinBoth words mean “conclusion.” They come from theHebrew root word patar, meaning “to be rid of, to befree of, to end or complete something.”The very last aliyah (Torah honor) is called themaftir or maftirah (feminine form), or the “concluder.”Following the reading of the Torah, an additional “concluding”selection is read from the books of the Prophets,and that text is called haftarah, or “conclusion.”12 14

Reach...(learn something new)When you think of a bar or bat mitzvah,do you think of someone about 13 yearsold? When Jan, one of the writers of “4U,”was 13 years old, it was unusual for a girl tohave a bat mitzvah ceremony. So she didn’t.When she grew up and had a daughter, shedecided to study with her rabbi and cantorto read Torah and join in the tradition. Janwas 40 years old when she was officiallywelcomed into the community as a Jewishadult. TEACH...Share...Even if you are not old enough to be a baror bat mitzvah, you can do a mitzvah (gooddeed). Choose one mitzvah (like being kind toanimals or sharing your good fortune with peoplein need), and try to fulfill the mitzvah every dayuntil next Shabbat.MITZVAH4UB’NAIA bar or bat mitzvah is a person, notjust a party. When children become b’naimitzvah (children of the commandment),they are considered Jewish adults. They arecounted in a minyan (a prayer group of 10).They also have new grown-up responsibilitieslike wearing tefillin, fasting on fast days, andobserving the mitzvot.13 Questions AboutB’nai MitzvahAcross1. The age at which a girl can have her batmitzvah3. What family and friends say to you on thisspecial day5. B’nai mitzvah families often provide a special___ for this special day.7. Discussion of the week’s Torah portion8. Hebrew word for Jewish law9. Men sometimes have this for the secondtime when they reach 83 years of age.11. Translation of bar mitzvah is “son of the___.”12. B’nai mitzvah are called to read from the___.Down1. A mitzvah that a boy can begin performingeach morning after his bar mitzvah2. Means “daughter of the commandment”4. Family and friends often throw this when theTorah portion of the service is over.6. B’nai mitzvah usually take place on thisday of the week.10. A boy who has had reached the age ofmitzvot can now be counted as a part of thisprayer group.Answers: Across: 1 Twelve; 3 MazalTov; 5 Kippah; 7 D’var Torah; 8 Halacha;9 Bar mitzvah; 11 Commandment; 12 Torah. Down: 1 Wearing tefillin; 2 Batmitzvah; 4 Candy; 6 Shabbat; 10 Minyan.15

ContributionsBarbara Wolf “Israel Quest” FundIn Memory Of:Abraham Sherman by Lola and Gerald ShermanBendit Adult Institute FundIn Honor Of:Stephanie Ventura by Mollie BerchHowie Stein by Mollie BerchRecovery of Toby Gottesman by Suzanne StoneStan Baldinger by Suzanne StoneRecovery of Marilyn Fine by Suzanne StoneIn Memory Of:Sarah Cherkas, mother of Rhoda Nichaman, by Rhoda andMilton NichamanJacob Kopin by Irwin and Rita Kopin and familyBeth El ForestIn Memory Of:Leah Duboff by Ellen and Steve BeznerBeth El Israel FundIn Memory Of:Henrietta Dewald by Michele HermanEve Tishkoff by Julian TishkoffSidney Koch by Barbara EisensteinCantor’s FundIn Honor Of:Joshua Ian Dupler’s bar mitzvah by Mitch and Heidi DuplerHazzan Lubin, with thanks for Michelle’s bat mitzvah, by Boband Sheryl IsaacsHazzan Lubin, for sharing his beautiful voice during minyan atour home after the death of Sam Levine, by Bob and MicheleLevineIn appreciation of Hazzan Lubin, for his help with Robin’s batmitzvah, by David and Helene FisherIn Memory Of:Emanuel Rabin, beloved husband, by Harriet RabinBenjamin Miller, father of Phyllis Dickler, by Phyllis and ElliottDicklerDr. Jacob G. Shapiro by Dr. and Mrs. Bernard A. BandBeloved father, Samuel Sklaroff, by Claire MarwickBen Kirsch by Laurence S. and Celia KirschCapital CampaignIn Honor Of:David Margulies receiving the Man of the Year Award by Sabinaand Mark ShalomPeter Novick, for his dedicated service to the Early MorningShabbat Minyan, by Sabina and Mark ShalomIn Memory Of:Esther Aisenberg by Irv Aisenberg and Jane BartonPhil Belferman by Richard BelfermanMartin Lipman, father of Bob Lipman, by Mona KlapperSadie Goldberg, beloved mother of Irving Goldberg, by Irvingand Annette GoldbergStanley D. and Alice S. Resnick by Mr. and Mrs. BernardResnickMy most beloved mother, Elsie Strauss-Prepsler, by SabinaShalomChevra Kadisha FundIn Memory Of:Dearest sister, Theba, by Sabina ShalomPaul Dymond by Lee Dymond16Bruce Wine by Mark Wine and Joyce LowensteinErika Meyerhoff by Gabriela BebchickHarry and Henrietta Bruckheim by Arthur BruckheimJulius Boman by Julian TishkoffCollege Outreach FundIn Memory Of:Ronald Raffel by Janice Raffel, Robert and David SametHarlee Senzer Popick, mother of Barbara P. Rosing, by BarbaraP. RosingAlejandro Munster by Irene, Ricardo, Gustavo, and RobertoMunsterDisabled Access FundIn Memory Of:Mendel Goldberg by Harriet WeinsteinDorothy Beverly Kitchen FundIn Memory Of:Sylvia Platt, sister of Lillian Kessler, by Judith and JonathanLevinElie Hazan and Phyllis Sultan by Danielle and Evan SultanElaine Tanenbaum Religious School Enrichment FundIn Honor Of:Cheryl Kreiser’s 18th year at Beth El by Sandra Pearlman andEugene MeyerCheryl Kreiser, who has inspired us, by Sarah, Abigail, and JacobCutlerMarilyn Fine’s return to the classroom after her surgery byBarbara, Eric, and Connor SchoneSpecial birthday of David Brooks by Dr. Herbert TanenbaumIn Memory Of:Bertha R. Schwartz by Dr. Robert DeckelbaumPhilip Deckelbaum by Dr. Herbert TanenbaumFeld Lecture FundIn Honor Of:The 90th birthday of David Brooks by Claire MarwickFine Arts FundIn Memory Of:My father, Merritt L. Koenig, by Bob KoenigGeneral FundBy: Al and Evelyn FoxAnonymousIn Honor Of:Sheila Bellack, for her guidance and understanding after thedeath of Sam Levine, by Bob and Michele LevinePeter Novick by Arthur and Nancy SalwinEd Berger, for a speedy recovery, by Jodi, Stuart, Paul, andStephanie CohenDavid Brooks’s 90th birthday by Karl and Rita Girshman,Sam and Tamar Fishman, Doris Oshinsky, David and MarciaHoexter, and Marilyn LichtmanRabbi Harris by Jews and Brews CrewHanukkah by Ruvan and Ida ZusinJason Gutman’s graduation from the University of Maryland bythe Fields/Band familyIn Memory Of:Lawrence Cherkas, brother of Rhoda Nichaman, by RhodaNichamanManuel M. Malman by Alan Malman and Reba A. MalmanBenjamin L. Levin by Ed LevinIda Rubinow, beloved mother, by Ruth Kay

Contributions ContinuedNitzanim FundIn Memory Of:Gertrude Liberson and Bernard Siegler by Judy and GaryLibersonPerspectives FundIn Honor Of:David Margulies being voted Beth El Men’s Club Man of theYear by Claire MarwickHerb and Estelle Wiser’s 60th wedding anniversary by Davidand Jacquelyn LevineMarty Wapner by Andrew WapnerIn Memory Of:Beloved father, Joseph Stone, by Jonathan R. StonePrayerbook FundIn Honor Of:Seymour Gross, thank you for leading minyan, by RogerFriedmanDavid Brooks’s 90th birthday by Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Rabinand Ilene and David JacobowitzSonny Karlin, thank you for your help, by Roger FriedmanIn Memory Of:Isadore Routhenstein, in loving memory, by your daughters,Irene Routhenstein and Shirley R. LevineBeloved sister, Sylvia Ozarin, by Lucy OzarinBarney Krosnick by Phyllis and Jeffrey LavineMartin Lipman by Kent ReedMinnie Bobb by Sharon BobbMay Feldman, beloved mother-in-law of Shirley Feldman, byShirley FeldmanRhona “Roni” Packer, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, andsister, by Julian LevinAbraham Katz by Linda M. Katz and Donald S. SteinSemeon Nusinovich by Gregory NusinovichMy brothers, Reuven and Leev Gendelman, by BorisGendelmanStella Cernea by Andrei CerneaMy beloved father, Maurice Horowitz, by Rita LiebowitzRabbi’s FundBy: Vicki Wood and Lee and Sheryl MillerIn Honor Of:In appreciation of Rabbi Rudolph and Beth El by ChristineYamamotoRabbi Rudolph, with thanks for Michelle’s bat mitzvah, by Boband Sheryl IsaacsIn appreciation of Rabbi Harris and Congregation Beth Elfor providing a spiritual home for us as we celebrate thebirth of our first child, Francis (Baruch) Eli Clark, by DavidaSteinberg and Calvin ClarkMy marriage to Eddie Mills by Rachel MalkinIn appreciation of Dan Hirsch, for his ongoing assistance inteaching me to read Torah, by Rachel MalkinJoshua Ian Dupler’s bar mitzvah by Mitch and Heidi DuplerAaron Boxerman’s bar mitzvah by Kim and Mark SchifrinIn appreciation of Rabbi Rudolph’s warm support by HarveyResnikMisheberach by Anita and Sanford BernsIn appreciation of Rabbi Greg Harris, for his help with Robin’sbat mitzvah, by David and Helene FisherIn Memory Of:Irving Muntner by Michael MuntnerPhilip Florin by the Florin-Thomashauer familyEsther Levin and Benjamin Lesselroth by Naomi and EdgarLevinBeatrice Gilbert by Robert GilbertHenry Rabin, father-in-law, by Harriet RabinEthel P. Richman by David and Marjorie RichmanPhilipW. Deckelbaum by Sandra and Gerald FriedmanLarry Kahn, beloved father, by Harriet RabinMax Richter by Lenore RichterManuel Parris, grandfather of Ellen Chubin Epstein, by Davidand Ellen EpsteinSylvia and Gunter Chapin by Joel SimonBeloved mother, Margaret Kahn, by Harriet RabinAnna Dickler by Elliot and Phyllis DicklerJack I. Bender by Howard M. BenderSol Strauss, beloved father of Gertrude Oliner, by GertrudeOlinerBertha Gomberg Kirsch by Lawrence S. and Celia GoldmanKirschGladys Eisler, sister of Dr. Howard Ratain, by Anita and HowardRatainAnna Boman by Julian TishkoffPhyllis Frank by Wynne SitrinAnnie R. Sherman by Libby and Harvey GordonJudy Levine by Ken Levine, Diana Huffman, and Laura LevineGeraldine Garfinkel by William and Marcie GarfinkelPearl Goldberg by William and Marcie GarfinkelReligious School Tzedakah FundIn Honor Of:Cheryl Kreiser’s 18th anniversary at Beth El by the Polis familyand the Sachs familyResnik Memorial Lecture Endowment FundIn Memory Of:Audrey Resnik by Harvey ResnikRuth Friedman Sigmon by Hilary SigmonSisterhood Kiddush FundIn Honor Of:The Tallit Workshop by Pamela FieldsMarsha Rehns receiving the Golda Meir Award by Walter andDeborah CohnBarbara Friedman’s Sisterhood award by Ilene and DavidJacobowitzIn Memory Of:Hilda Shamash Sidman, beloved wife and mother, by Larry,Jeremy, and Melissa SidmanSam Levine by Debbie LeibowitzSisterhood Shiva Meal FundIn Memory Of:Lionel Brazen by Judy BrazenMy father, Louis Raisman, by Margaret RifkindSam Levine, father of Bob Levine, by Barbara and BarryFriedmanBenjamin Levine by Shirley R. LevineSocial Action FundBy: David and Harriet Brooks and by Rabbi Harris’sWednesday Morning Haftarah ClassIn Honor Of:Diana Huffman by Cynthia Huffman and Ray Heacox18

Contributions ContinuedAnthony Koo, and in appreciation of the aging parents supportgroup, by Emily KooPeter Novick’s dedication and leadership of the Early ShabbatService by Judith and Jonathan LevinIn Memory Of:Jennie Berde by Irene HauserHonorable Ruth D. Vogel by Donna VogelSteven Palance, loving husband and father, by Dianna PalanceMilton Goldstein by Steve GoldsteinHarry Scheer by Iris and Murray KivitzSuls Youth Activities FundIn Memory Of:Samuel Parnes by Carole and Stanley SchwartzTorah Scroll FundIn Honor Of:Evan Krame and Sid Getz by Suzanne CytrynIn Memory Of:Leif Finkel, uncle of Kira and Nadia Finkel, by Cheryl KreiserElaine Finkel, grandmother of Kira and Nadia Finkel, by CherylKreiserPillars continued from page 1Pillars of Beth El. Members of the congregation who have resourcescontribute a minimum of $1,000 annually to help thosemost in need. We want our community to remain vibrant, andwe want to help our members survive the recession. For anyonewho has considered joining Pillars, now is the time.The need for help is probably the greatest since Beth Elwas founded more than 55 years ago. Everyone is cutting backon spending, including charitable contributions, but we musthelp those who need our help. Please join the congregantswho have committed to becoming Pillars of Beth El. If youhave already made a commitment, we hope you will considerincreasing it this year.Current Pillars MembersThank you to these Pillars contributors (through December29, 2008): Richard Ansbacher and Terry Whitehouse, WalterArnheim and Marsha Rehns, Jonathan Band and Leesa Fields,Sheila Bellack, Brent and Carolyn Berger, Howard Berger andLinda Goldsmith, Ann Birk, Henry Birnkrant and Lynn Goldin,Estie Bomzer, Sam Boxerman and Debra Vodenos, Douglas andBrenda Bregman, the Honorable Stephen Breyer, Jonathan andDianne Brickman, Mark and Lisa Bronfman, Ben and SuzanneBronheim, Larry and Sherri Cafritz,Mark Clein and NancyLemann, Benjamin and Ruth Cohen, Stephen Cohen and DebbieFriedman, Susan Cohen, Walter and Debbie Cohn, MichaelCutler and Dale Rosenthal, Jerome and Patricia Danoff, PaulDevinsky, Craig Dreilinger and Amanda Ford, Adam and ShelleyDucker, Bill and Abbie Eckland, and David and Barbara Eisenstein.David and Eve Farber, Peter and Rachel Federowicz,Michael Feinstein, Cary and Nancy Feldman, Michael andMelissa Fox, Russell Fox and Andrea Shandell, Barry andVatikkimIn Honor Of:Ricky Munster, for his friendship and for his kind assistance afterSam Levine’s death, by Bob and Michele LevineIn Memory Of:Carola Shapiro, beloved mother of Yael Greenberg, by YaelGreenbergBeloved husband, Samuel Leibowitz, M.D., by Frances (Fran) H.LeibowitzWerner Liturgical Music FundIn Memory Of:Harold Feigenbaum by Kenneth FeigenbaumWorld Jewry FundIn Honor Of:Claire Marwick by Sam and Tamar FishmanDavid Brooks’s big birthday by Arthur and Marianne RosenWishes for good health to Albert and Doris Povitch by RosalieSpornIn Memory Of:My beloved mother, Ericka Kaplan, by Rosalie SpornPhilip B. Gravitz by Melvin and Harriet GravitzMy father, Charles Rosen, on his yahrzeit by Arthur Rosen •Paula Friedman, Hy Garfinkel, Daniel Geselowitz and SandraCohen, Sid and Janet Getz, Harvey and Dale Gold, Murry andLisa Gunty, Don Gutman and Ivy Fields, Murray and MarilynHammerman, Jerry and Linda Herman, Daniel Hirschand Brenda Gruss, Bucky and Mindi Jacobson, Henry Kahnand Laura Primakoff, Sarah Kalser, Don Kaplan and EvelynKarson, Bill and Hilary Kapner, Frederic and Maria Kaye, Bertand Susan King, Larry and Celia Kirsch, Benjamin Klubes andRisa Bender, Bob and Evyan Koenig, Mark and Marji Kramer,David and Jacqueline Levine, Ken Levine and Diana Huffman,The Levitt Foundation, Jonathan Levy and Patricia Forsythe,Richard Lieberman and Helene Weisz, Ace and Linda Lipson,Robert Litowitz and Karen Dubin, and Sheldon and MargeLondon.Rhoda Mancher, Bob and Elizabeth Margolis, Philip andPhyllis Margolius, David Margulies and Donna Vogel, ClaireMarwick, Roy Millenson, David and Eve Mills, Mark Milnerand Hattie Ulan, Sam and Debbie Olchyk, Lucy Ozarin,Arthur and Helen Popper, Barry Pupkin and Barbara Klein,David Raim and Leslie Shedlin, The Myra Reinhard FamilyFoundation, Lenore Richter, Margaret Rifkind, Todd Rosenbergand Erika Dickstein, Steven and Lori Ross, RobertRubin and Mimi Tygier, Rabbi Bill Rudolph and Gail Fribush,Devin and Sarah Schain, Mark and Kim Schifrin, LarrySidman, Joel and Joan Simon, Jana Singer, Kathy Sklar, MattSlater and Faith Roessel, Jose and Tutti Sokol, Steve andPhyllis Solomon, Jerry and Lisa Sorkin, Roz Sporn, LeonoreSwerdlow, Jonathan and Alisa Talisman, Ben and DebbieTeicher, Steve Teitelbaum and Susan Kitt, David and StaceyTopol, Robert and Rhonda Zahler, and Jeremy and SharonZissman. •19

C o n g r e g a t i o n B e t h E l8215 Old Georgetown RoadBethesda, Maryland 20814-1451PeriodicalsPostagePAIDBethesda, MD20814While we know you’ll want to read every word in this issue of the Scroll, when you’re finished, please recycle it.Bulletin BoardCondolences toRalph Deckelbaum on the death of his brother, PhilipDeckelbaumJonathan Gottlieb on the death of his father, JuliusGottlieb.Robert Lipman, on the death of his father, MartinLipmanBrad Nordheimer on the death of his grandmother,Evalyn NordheimerTerry Whitehouse on the death of her father, LeonardWhitehouseMazal Tov toNancy and Cary Feldman on the engagement of theirson, Michael, to Erica Laden of New York City and oftheir son, Steven, to Lauren Eisenberg of New York City.Andrew and Katie Herman, parents, and to MicheleHerman, grandmother, on the birth of their son andgrandson, Leo Herman. Proud big brother is AsherHerman.Maury and Merrily Sterns on the birth of their grandson,Benjamin Jackson Gordon. Proud parents are Michaeland Hannah Gordon of Hoboken, New Jersey.Adele and Sherman Winters on the arrival of theirgrandson, Isaac Milton Winters. The parents are Ben andDiana H. Winters of Brooklyn. Proud big sister is Rosalie.NoteworthyBridge – the greatest game ever! Join us on the second,third, and fourth Mondays of each month. Drop in and joina game; no partner necessary. Contact Shirley Levine atinfo@bethelmc.org or 301-652-2606. If you are interestedin playing but need transportation, please call Roz Spornat 301-652-2606, Richard Belferman at 301-652-2606, orClaire Marwick 301-652-2606. They will try to arrangetransportation 20 for you.Send submissions to the Scroll to scroll@bethelmc.orgThe Beth El Israel Investment Club will meet Sunday,February 8, at 11:00 am in the Zahler Social Hallfollowing the Men’s Club meeting. The club that invests inIsraeli companies and bonds is open to all interested Beth Elmembers. For information, contact Phil Ochs at 301-652-2606 or info@bethelmc.orgRoundtable with the Rabbi: Wednesday, February 4, at2:00 pm. Join us to celebrate February’s birthdays (yoursand those of others) with dessert, coffee, and an inspiringdiscussion lead by Rabbi Rudolph. The discussion is alwayslively and challenging. Birthday people receive a specialinvitation, but all are welcome each month.Vatikkim: Brown Bag Lunch on the second and fourthThursdays of the month at noon in the Zahler Social Hall.One of our clergy members will join the group and lead adiscussion. Come and socialize with your friends and enjoysome light refreshments and dessert. •Openings on Beth El’s Board of DirectorsIn accordance with the bylaws, there will be 16positions on the Board of Directors that will becomevacant at the annual meeting in May 2009. This includesall 10 officers and six at-large director positions. Anyadult member of Beth El who has the interest andtime to serve the congregation may be considered fornomination. Potential nominees should submit a briefdescription of their background, previous leadershipexperience, and what they feel they could bring to theBoard to Walter Arnheim, Nominating Committeechairman, info@bethelmc.org, 301-652-2606, no laterthan February 9.

Weekly ParshiotSource: Siddur Sim ShalomB e t h E l C a l e n d a r& W e e k l y P a r s h i o tB’ShalahShabbat ShirahFebruary 7; 13 ShevatPharaoh regrets losing his slaves. Pursuing thechildren of Israel, he traps them at the Sea ofReeds. God splits the waters, allowing Israel tocross safely. The Egyptians follow, only to beengulfed, at God’s hand, in the swirl of returningwater. Moses and Miriam lead the people injoyous song, extolling God. Yet the Israelites sooncomplain of thirst and hunger. God responds,providing water and manna. When Amalek attacks,God helps Israel prevail.YitroFebruary 14; 20 ShevatMoses spends much of his time explaining God’sstatutes and laws to the people; his father-inlaw,Jethro, suggests that he delegate some of thisjudicial authority. After ascending Mount Sinaito speak with God, Moses returns to prepare thepeople for Revelation. Amidst awesome thunder,lightning, and flame, God, glorious and holy,reveals to Israel the Divine Presence—and the TenCommandments.MishpatimShabbat ShekalimFebruary 21; 27 ShevatThe civil laws, along with moral andreligious precepts, are presented after the TenCommandments. The people accept the Torahwholeheartedly, vowing, “All that Adonai hascommanded, we will do.” Israel affirms theCovenant, and Moses returns to Mount Sinai toreceive the law, etched in stone, from God.TerumahFebruary 28; 4 AdarWhile Moses remains on Mount Sinai, Godprovides detailed instructions regarding theconstruction and decoration of the Mishkan. ThisTabernacle is to house the Ark and allow theDivine Presence to dwell among the people.Descriptions ofServicesMinyan Chaverim offers theruach of the Shabbat services in USY,BBYO, and Hillel. We have a lay-led,traditional, participatory, spirit-filledservice, including full repetition ofthe Shacharit and Musaf Amidah, aswell as the full Torah reading withan interactive Torah discussion. Apot-luck lunch follows the serviceat a nearby home. For information,contact Debbie Feinstein at info@bethelmc.org.The Worship and Study Minyanis conducted by members of thecongregation and combines evocativeTorah study with ample singingand ruach. Children are welcome,although the service is orientedtoward adults. For information, contactDan Hirsch, Sid Getz, or MarkLevitt at 301-652-2606,info@bethelmc.org.Teen Service is a cool servicewithout parents, conducted by and forpost-b’nai mitzvah teens, with a greatkiddush. To volunteer to read Torah,conduct part of the service, or helpwith a discussion, contactCarl Slater at 301-652-2606,info@bethelmc.orgDaily Services M-F 7:30 amSun-Th 8:00 pmFri 6:30 pmSun 9:00 amShabbat Services (all services are weekly, except as noted)Early Morning ServiceMain ServiceBabysitting (2-6 years old)Minyan Chaverim (3rd Shabbat)Worship and Study Minyan (1st Shabbat)Shabbat Study GroupMincha, Seudah Shlishit, Ma’arivand Havdalah Service (3rd Shabbat)Youth Shabbat ServicesTeen Service (1st Shabbat)Junior Congregation (5th grade +; Library)Shitufim(3rd and 4th grades; 2nd & 4th Shabbat; Zahler Social Hall)Gan Shabbat(kindergarten-2nd grade; 1st & 3rd Shabbat; MP 1&2)Nitzanim(birth - kindergarten; 2nd, 4th, 5th Shabbat; MP 1&2)7:30 am9:30 am9:15 am9:30 am9:45 am12:40 pm5:00 pm10:00 am10:00 am10:30-11:30 am10:30-11:30 am10:30-11:30 amOther Youth /Family Services,for information, contact ElishaFrumkin, 301-652-8573, ext. 319,efrumkin@bethelmc.org.

C o n g r e g a t i o n B e t h E lMonthly CalendarFebruary 2009Shevat–Adar 5769Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1 2 3 4 5 6 Candles 5:17 pm 77:00 pm Boy Scouts 7:00 pm Melton Class9:00 am Rabbi’s Torah ClassNoon VatikkimScholar-in-Residence7:00 pm Mah Jongg9:30 am M. Fine Torah Class6:30 pm Tallit Workshop7:30 pm Cantillation Class9:30 am Rabbi’s Haftarah Class8:30 pm Hearing Men’s VoicesWeekend2:00 pm Roundtable with the Rabbi10:30 am BEPS Shabbat6:30 pm Traditional Friday Service6:30 pm Kol Haneshama7:00 pm Congregational Shabbat Dinner9:00 am Minyan - World Wide Wrap(Men’s Club)9:30 am Men’s Club Breakfast10:00 am Men’s Club Program10:00 am RS Parent Coffee10:00 am RS Adult Institute10:00 am Third Grade Family EducationProgram11:00 am Israel Investment Club7:30 am Shabbat Service8:45 am Iyun T’filah Class9:30 am Main Shabbat Service9:45 am Worship & Study Minyan10:00 am Teen Service10:00 am Jr. Cong.10:30 am Gan Shabbat8 9 Tu B’Shevat 10 11 12 13 Candles 5:25 pm 149:00 am Minyan9:15 am Sisterhood Board Meeting9:30 am Men’s Club Breakfast10:00 am Men’s Club Program10:00 am RS Adult Institute7:00 pm Middle School Dance Class1:30 pm Bridge7:00 pm Boy Scouts7:30 pm Religious School CommitteeMtg.7:00 pm Melton Class7:30 pm Cantillation Class9:00 am Rabbi’s Torah Class9:30 am M. Fine Torah Class9:30 am Rabbi’s Haftarah Class11:00 am Family Education Mtg.Noon Vatikkim6:30 pm Tallit Workshop7:00 pm Executive Committee Mtg.10:30 am BEPS Shabbat6:30 pm Traditional Friday Service7:30 am Shabbat Service9:30 am Main Shabbat Service9:30 am Naomi Solkowitz BatMitzvah10:30 am Nitzanim12:40 pm Shabbat Study Group15 Offices & Schools 16 President’s Day 17 18 19 20 Candles 5:33 pm 21ClosedOffices & Schools Closed 7:00 pm Melton Class9:00 am Rabbi’s Torah ClassNoon Vatikkim Luncheon10:30 am BEPS Shabbat9:00 am Minyan9:00 am Morning Minyan7:00 pm Mah Jongg9:30 am M. Fine Torah Class6:30 pm Tallit Workshop (snow make-up) 5:00 pm BEPS Shabbat Dinner9:30 am Men’s Club Breakfast7:00 pm Boy Scouts7:30 pm BEPS Parent Board Mtg. 9:30 am Rabbi’s Haftarah Class6:30 pm Friday Evening Service10:00 am Men’s Club Program7:30 pm Cantillation Class7:00 pm Karlin Hebrew Class7:00 pm Middle School Dance Class22 23 24 25 26 27 Candles 5:40 pm 289:00 am Minyan9:30 am Men’s Club Breakfast10:00 am RS Adult Institute10:00 am Community Torah Institute7:00 pm Middle School Dance Class1:30 pm Bridge7:00 pm Scout Committee Mtg.7:00 pm Boy Scouts7:00 pm Nominating Committee Mtg.7:00 pm Melton Class7:30 pm Cantillation Class9:00 am Rabbi’s Torah Class9:30 am M. Fine Torah Class9:30 am Rabbi’s Haftarah Class7:00 pm Nominating Committee Mtg.Noon Vatikkim7:30 pm Board Meeting10:30 am BEPS Shabbat6:30 pm Friday Evening Service7:30 am Shabbat Service8:45 am Iyun T’filah Class9:30 am Main Shabbat Service9:30 am Brandon Sickel Bar Mitzvah9:30 am Minyan Chaverim10:00 am Jr. Cong.10:00 am Parent Education Program10:30 am Gan Shabbat12:40 pm Shabbat Study Group5:00 pm Mincha, Seudah Shlishit,Ma’ariv, Havdalah6:30 pm BEPS Movie Night7:30 am Shabbat Service9:30 am Main Shabbat Service10:00 am Jr. Cong.10:30 am Shitufim10:30 am Nitzanim12:40 pm Shabbat Study Group25 26 27 28 29 30 Candles 5:09 pm 31