Chizuk Amuno Program Guide FALL 2015 | 5776
We welcome you to engage in Jewish life and learning with us here at Chizuk Amuno. Here you will find familiar and traditional classes, activities, and services, as well as innovative settings designed to touch you in new ways. We invite you to engage with our community in Jewish ideas and discovery, in Jewish celebrations and conversations, and in Jewish expression and experiences.
Engaging Jewish Life and Learning Life in Perspective – A Series of Fall Lectures Different issues and different perspectives fill our lives with curiosity, care, and concern. Join us and our guest speakers for lectures exploring who we are, what we believe, and what concerns us.
“Baltimore after Freddie Gray” Dan Rodricks Baltimore Sun Columnist, YPR Radio Host Friday, October 2 • 8 p.m. Join us as we welcome Dan Rodricks into our Sukkah and community. From his vantage point commenting on and interpreting events in Baltimore, Dan will speak with us about the issues and challenges we need to understand and respond to in our greater Baltimore community after the unrest following Freddie Gray’s death. Questions of social justice, equality, and human dignity reflect meanings we glean as we celebrate the Festival of Sukkot. Mr. Rodricks is our Sukkot Symposium speaker and will follow Kabbalat Shabbat and New Shabbat services and our Community Shabbat Sukkot Dinner in the Attman Family Sukkah. (weather permitting)
“The Virtue of Humility and the Pursuit of Wisdom: Mysticism and Ethics in Judaism” Dr. Eitan Fishbane Professor of Jewish Thought, Jewish Theological Seminary of America Sunday, November 1 • 10:30 a.m. A scholar of Jewish mysticism and spirituality, Dr. Eitan Fishbane is an award winning writer and speaker. As we welcome Dr. Fishbane to Chizuk Amuno, join us with him to explore humility as a character trait and wisdom as a personal goal.
“Einstein’s Jewish Science” Dr. Steven Gimbel Professor of Philosophy, Gettysburg College Wednesday, December 2 • 7:30 p.m.
A Lost Love: One Family’s Forgotten History Wednesday, October 14 • 7 p.m.
Is relativity Jewish? Was Albert Einstein’s revolutionary science Jewish? Philosopher of science Steven Gimbel explores the many meanings of this provocative phrase and considers whether there is any sense in which Einstein’s theory of relativity is Jewish. With Dr. Gimbel we’ll examine Einstein and his work to explore how beliefs, background, and environment may – or may not – have influenced the work of the scientist. You cannot understand Einstein’s science, Gimbel declares, without knowing the history, religion, and philosophy that influenced it.
Years after her grandparents passed away, journalist Sarah Wildman discovered a cache of love letters sent to her grandfather by a former lover in prewar Vienna. In her debut novel, Paper Love, Wildman details her search to discover information about the mysterious woman and her family’s escape from Nazi persecution and all that was left behind. Wildman will discuss the important role the Museum took in her research as she pieced together the story of a woman who was desperate to escape Europe and still clinging to the memory of a love that defined her years of freedom. Presented by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Free of charge.
Community Playground Design Reveal and Celebration
School Families Shabbat Extravaganza!
Wednesday, October 7 • 6 p.m.
The students have weighed in. The parents have weighed in. So have the educators. Here’s your chance to see the final design of our new Community Playground! We’ll have sacred space, exploration space, physical challenges, an outdoor amphitheater, and so much more. There is a space designed specifically for you. And if you’re interested in participating in the build – in any number of ways – you’ll have the chance to sign-up to volunteer. Our celebration will include entertainment, music, and delicious food. RSVP: playground@ksds.edu or 410-598-3540.
Friday, November 13 • 5:45-6:30 p.m. Join our Shabbat extravaganza and enjoy Shabbat Services led by ALL of our students in ALL of our schools. We join together our Goldsmith Early Childhood Education Center students, our Krieger Schechter Day School students, and our Rosenbloom Religious School students and their families into one large, joyous, exciting congregation for song and prayer, celebration and surprises. Join us afterward for friendship, Kiddush, Motzi, and Shabbat snacks as we enjoy our time all together before going off to our own Shabbat dinners.
Prayer At Chizuk Amuno
Communal Prayer Chizuk Amuno Congregation strives to provide engaging and participatory communal prayer. In our prayer services we seek to foster an intimate and relaxed mood with an emphasis on personal prayer and connections. Our clergy and congregants of all ages join in and lead our various services. In our synagogue prayer, we hope to draw nearer to God, Judaism, the Jewish people, and one another. Celebrating Shabbat each week, and gathering for prayer every day, we enjoy marking special personal and family occasions by sharing them with our synagogue family. We also enjoy honoring members of our community with Torah honors as individual expressions of gratitude and belonging. If you would like to receive an aliyah to the Torah or some other synagogue honor during a Shabbat Morning or Daily Minyan service, please be in touch with Judy Simkin in the Rabbinic Office, ext. 232. We’ll do our best to provide you a timely Torah or service honor, subject to each weekly schedule.
New Shabbat Friday evenings, October 2 (Sukkot) and December 11 (Hanukkah) • 6 p.m. (now earlier – just like you asked) “And I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit into you…” (Ezekiel 36:26) New Shabbat is a joyous, informal contemporary Friday night service with instrumental music. Come and enjoy an upbeat Shabbat celebration of prayer, song, and insight with Rabbi Ron Shulman, Leslie Pomerantz, and David Goldstein. Using a special prayer book that includes Hebrew transliteration and English reflection, New Shabbat is enjoyed by adults and children, families and individuals. Bring your family and friends to a service participants describe as “uplifting and joyful,” “moving and spiritual,” “powerful and beautiful.”
Shabbat Morning Services Shabbat mornings • 9:15 a.m.
Daily Minyan We gather for morning and evening services in the Hoffberger Chapel. Weekday services are held at 7:30 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. and Sundays at 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. On Rosh Hodesh, Intermediate Festival Days, Hanukkah, and Purim weekday morning services are held at 7 a.m. and on national holidays at 9:15 a.m.
Shabbat Services Friday Evening Service – Kabbalat Shabbat Fridays at 6 p.m. we gather for an Oneg Shabbat, a light snack and the chance to greet each other. Kabbalat Shabbat Services are held each Friday evening at 6:15 p.m. in the Hoffberger Chapel. We welcome Shabbat in friendship, with song and traditional Hebrew prayer as we come together, taking leave of the busy routine of our week.
We celebrate in the Sanctuary, where our rabbis and Hazzan lead us in a warm, participatory, and engaging service of traditional Hebrew prayer and personal reflection. Our services include Torah study and the consideration of Jewish values and ideas for our lives and our world. Each week our service embraces members who come to celebrate individual and family milestones. On these fall dates, our Sanctuary service is enriched by presentations from the Chizuk Amuno Choir: Shemini Atzeret, October 5; Shabbat mornings October 31 and December 5.
Shabbat teachings and stories. After the Family Service we join our Torah for Tots friends for Kiddush and hang out together playing in the gym. The warm, informal atmosphere makes this service a delight.
Shabbat Together Shabbat October 3 • RRS 5th Grade Shabbat October 24 • RRS 4th Grade Shabbat December 5 RRS Kindergarten and 1st Grade We set aside special Shabbat mornings during the year to highlight our religious school students during Chizuk Amuno’s weekly Shabbat Morning Family Service. This service, led by Rabbi Seltzer, is a unique opportunity for our students to put their learning into practice and celebrate Shabbat with their friends and family.
Torah for Tots September 26 October 10 October 24 November 14 December 12 Shabbat • 10:30 a.m. This interactive family service for families with children who are infants to 5 years of age includes singing, dancing, snacks, stories, and so much more! Torah for Tots meets on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as well.
Family Teen Minyan Shabbat morning, October 31
The Amuno Family Minyan
Join other teens and their families for a spirited and participatory Shabbat morning experience.
Shabbat, November 7 • 9:30 a.m. This is our lay-led participatory Shabbat morning service, a more intimate and informal setting for prayer and Torah study. Family Service participants will also join the Amuno Minyan for a joyous and haimish Shabbat service. Come lend your voice and your spirit.
Shabbat Morning Family Service Shabbat mornings • 10:30-11:30 a.m. Join us most every Shabbat in the Hoffberger Chapel for our service geared to families with school children who help lead the service. Day School and Religious School children have the opportunity to put their learning into practice by leading parts of the service, learning new melodies, and exploring
3rd and 4th Grade Day Shabbaton Saturday, December 12 Join other third and fourth graders from RRS and KSDS for a jam-packed day of Hanukkah games, programming, food, services, and more! Our day Shabbaton provides opportunities for students to deepen existing friendships and meet other awesome third and fourth graders from the Chizuk Amuno community.
Learning At Chizuk Amuno
We learn best through experience. Our minds, hearts, and souls retain what we discover when we learn with others in environments that embrace, challenge, and accept us. True for children and adults alike, it is through experiential learning and quality relationships that we strive to provide engaging and meaningful Jewish education at Chizuk Amuno Congregation. Our schools, classes, and programs impart religious character, ethical awareness, and a love of Judaism. We encourage our learners to apply their intellectual and spiritual curiosities in order to see life through the lens of Jewish ideas and values. We look forward to sharing the experience of Jewish study with you.
Tales of the Talmud, Stories of our Lives
Talmud Study
Rabbi Ilyse Kramer
Tuesdays, ongoing • 9-10 a.m.
Tuesdays, October 20 – March 22 • 9:30-11 a.m.
A study of the text, history, and philosophy of the Talmud. Reading knowledge of Hebrew is not necessary. No Fee
Monday, February 1 – May 9 7:15-8:45 p.m.
Dr. Moshe Shualy
History & Modernity Jewish Stars: Lighting Up the Firmament
Bible Shabbat Morning Torah Study: the Weekly Torah Portion
This course is intended to introduce rabbinic thought through the study of Talmudic texts and commentaries, as seen through the lens of the questions and experiences of our lives. Together, we will examine issues such as: the complex dance between change and continuity; the function of language and interpretation; the implications of multiple levels of interpretation, multiple truths, and the preservation of diverse opinions; as well as, the art of sacred arguing. At times, it might be difficult to see the connection between the world of sacred text and our lives. The texts we will study in this course will demonstrate how relevant and full of meaning these diverse perspectives are—and even more importantly—how these texts continue to teach us about the human condition and to challenge us with the questions with which we grapple every day… How does one disagree within a community and do so with integrity and respect? How does a community respond to diversity of opinion and real difference, without turning those who disagree into “other” or label them as “outside” of the community? Fee: $125 for CAC Members; $150 for Community Participants
Saturday, beginning October 10 9-9:30 a.m.
Parents and Children
Rabbi Ilyse Kramer “Oranges on the Seder Plate: Exploring a Myriad of Jewish Feminist Teachings”
Chizuk Amuno’s Stulman Center for Adult Learning Through Chizuk Amuno’s Stulman Center for Adult Learning we offer courses built around a core curriculum of Bible, Celebrations & Observances, History & Modernity, and Rabbinic Texts and Jewish Though. Our course titles will intrigue you. Our teachers will inspire you. Our courses will challenge you. We also enjoy experiential and enrichment learning opportunities throughout the year and welcome a variety of scholars and guest speakers.
Join our clergy each Shabbat morning to study and glean insights from the weekly Torah portion. Following our study, join us for Shabbat Morning Services and reading of the weekly Torah portion where we also reflect on the meaning of the Torah text. No Fee
Rabbinic Texts & Jewish Thought Talmud Study Class Rabbi Ron Shulman
Wednesdays, beginning November 4 • 5:30-6:15 p.m. Come enjoy the steady and slow experience of studying the core text of rabbinic Judaism, the Talmud. We’ll learn what the Talmud is and how it informs Jewish life today. Though we’ll study in English, some ability to read Hebrew will be useful as we make our way in discussing and understanding the texts we’ll read. No fee
Rabbi Wechsler
Thursdays, beginning October 22 10:30-11:30 a.m. One of the most fundamental Jewish relationships is that between parent and child. In this text class we will explore that relationship through Biblical and Rabbinic texts and also address questions including what parents owe their children and what children owe their parents, how one honors a parent, and how to mourn an abusive parent. Texts will be presented in both Hebrew and English. No Fee
Monday, six sessions October 12 – November 16 7-8:30 p.m. Coordinated by Judy Meltzer From the beginning of time, Jews have made significant contributions to the world. This year, we explore the lives and teachings of outstanding Jewish personalities who have been a source of Jewish thought and creativity. Our teachers, each an expert in his or her field, will examine their contributions through interactive, in-depth text study. Fee: $10 Dr. Barry Holtz “Rabbi Akiva and the Invention of Judaism” Professor Marc Michael Epstein “There’s Ladies Here: Female Patrons and Female Makers in the Jewish Arts” Rabbi Michael Paley “From Moses Until Moses, There was No one Like Moses: An Introduction to the Thought of Maimonides”
Rabbi Ron Shulman “Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis” Tom Collins-Meltzer “To Live Outside the Law: Bob Dylan and the American Jewish Experience” We are grateful to the Hoffberger Foundation for Torah Study for funding this exciting learning experience.
Jewish History in Context: From Canon to Tradition
Celebrations & Observances Basic Hebrew Reading
Dr. Moshe Shualy
Robin Shulman
Mondays, ongoing • 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Tuesdays, beginning November 10 6:30-7:20 p.m.
Join Dr. Shualy in his ongoing exploration of ancient Jewish texts in a contemporary context. Reflect on these and related questions: How did the synagogue come to be? How was the Torah canonized? What major changes took place after 586 BCE, 70 CE? What is the difference between Torah and Mishnah? Why did prophecy cease after 586 BCE? No Fee
Learn to decode the Hebrew alphabet and read basic prayer book blessings. This is a comfortable first step for discovering or rediscovering your ability to read Hebrew. No Fee
Learning At Chizuk Amuno
Torah Reading
Short Stories by Jesus
Evening Jewish Book Group
Dr. Moshe Shualy
Rosann M. Catalano, Ph.D. and Rabbi Ilyse Kramer
Judy Meltzer
Mondays, ongoing • 7-8 p.m.
Thursdays • 9:15-10:30 a.m.
Experience a great spiritual high. Learn to read and chant Torah. Fulfill a personal Jewish goal. Prepare for a family celebration. Success guaranteed. No Fee
20 sessions: October 15, 22, 29; November 5, 12, 19; December 3, 10, 17; January 7, 14, 21, 28; February 4, 11, 18, 25; March 3, 10, 17 (Snow make-up dates: March 24, 31) One of the few “givens” among scholars of the New Testament is that Jesus of Nazareth taught in parables. Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Conservative Rabbi is Amy-Jill Levine’s contribution to understanding Jesus’ parabolic teachings within the context of first-century Palestinian Jewish life. In it, she argues that the goal of the parables is to transform this world by bringing “comfort to the afflicted and affliction to the comfortable.” This year, Short Stories by Jesus will be our “study” guide. We shall engage in a close reading of the gospel parables; explore what they may have meant to first-century Galileans and Judeans; and investigate how they may still challenge contemporary religious, social, and economic assumptions. Our goal is to ponder together what the Jewish teacher from Nazareth taught about “how to live in community; how to determine what ultimately matters; and how to live the life that God wants us to live.” Please purchase Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Conservative Rabbi prior to the first class. A packet containing copies of the gospel parables will be provided at the first class. Tuition: $350 for CAC Members; $400 for Community Participants
Thursdays, beginning October 1, twice a month • 7:30-9 p.m.
Learning Experiences Living Judaism Rabbi Ron Shulman
Tuesdays, October 20 – December 15 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, October 22 – December 17 9:30 a.m. | Women’s Study Group Let’s have a conversation about being Jewish in today’s world. Through study and discussion let’s explore Judaism’s message and meaning for our lives. Invite your peers and synagogue friends to have an important and compelling conversation about being Jewish in today’s world. • We will explore how to mark the milestones of our lives and the seasons of our years. • We will explore classic and contemporary reasons for being and behaving as Jews. • We will discuss, in an open and honest forum, the core experiences of our lives as Jews and our desires for the future.
Adult Bat Mitzvah Rabbi Debi Wechsler and Hazzan Emanuel Perlman
Tuesdays • 6:30-8:30 p.m. Our Adult Bat Mitzvah program is a two year journey open to Chizuk Amuno women who would like to share an experience of learning and Jewish growth. Together we learn Hebrew, Torah and Haftorah trope, synagogue skills, and engage with issues regarding prayer, the Jewish calendar, and communal involvement. Current participants are halfway through the program and will celebrate their B’not Mitzvah on June 25, 2016. Please contact Rabbi Wechsler, dwechsler@chizukamuno.org, to be added to the list for the next Adult Bat Mitzvah cohort. Space is limited.
1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, ongoing • 12:30-2 p.m.
Downtown Lunch and Learns
Judy Meltzer
Rabbi Debi Wechsler
Second Wednesday of each month, beginning September 9 • 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Dates to be announced • Noon-1 p.m. This year at our downtown lunch and learn series we will explore the parent child relationship through the lens of Jewish texts. Our two current locations are Johns Hopkins Hospital and University of Maryland Medical Center. Anyone who lives or works downtown near these sites is invited to join us for lunch and learning. If you would like to bring a Lunch and Learn to your workplace in 20152016, be in touch with Rabbi Wechsler.
Enrichment Advanced Hebrew Reading Helen Lewis
Participants read selections from Hebrew literature for discussion in English. New group members welcome. No Fee
Morning Jewish Book Group
Do you like to read? Do you enjoy discussing your reading with other bibliophiles? Join us as we read short stories and books of Jewish content and engage in analysis and lively conversation. Tuition: $50 for CAC Members; $60 for Community Participants
If you love literature, you should join our wonderful group. We read short stories, fiction and non-fiction, both classics and contemporary. Our discussions are always animated. Some of us have been with this group for over thirty years, but we always welcome newcomers. Class takes place offsite. Tuition: $135 for CAC members; $150 for Community Participants
The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning BeMidbar: Leadership Defied and Defended Tuesdays, ten sessions from October 13 – December 15 • 10-11:30 a.m. This course surveys the dramatic events of the fourth book of the Torah, the Book of BeMidbar (Numbers), through analysis of biblical texts, artwork and related commentaries, old and new. As students explore the biblical narratives describing 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they will be surprised to note the timeless nature of those stories. How can the lessons learned from the past be applied to solving the communal challenges of the present and the future? Fee: $290, includes book. (Register at cjebaltimore.org/adults)
The Holocaust as Reflected in Diaries and Memoirs Wednesdays, ten sessions Dates to be announced • 7:30-9 p.m. Journey into the world of Jewish individuals and communities as the events of the Holocaust unfold around them. Students explore the profound record of first-person accounts in diaries and memoirs uncovered in the years since the Holocaust, and gain remarkable insights into the struggle for life as both young and old writers describe day-to-day life coping in the ghettos, imprisoned in the death camps, hiding on the run, and fighting for their lives. These are unforgettable images that help us understand the real events of the Holocaust and its legacy for us today. (Register at cjebaltimore.org/adults) Fee: 250
Learning At Chizuk Amuno
Rosenbloom Religious School
Krieger Schechter Day School The Illusionists – Film Presentation Tuesday, November 17 • 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Shuls in the Zoo Sunday, October 18 Our 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders join their friends from Beth El, Beth Am, and Beth Israel at the Maryland Zoo to celebrate the creation of the world and to learn the Jewish value of kindness to animals.
Philadelphia Adventures Sunday, October 25 The 7th grade curriculum comes alive as our students join their friends from Beth El and Beth Am on a journey to discover the Jewish influences on American history. Highlights include the Liberty Bell, the Philadelphia Jewish Museum, and the Franklin Institute.
Sparks Welcomes Bible Raps Sunday, November 1 Using rap and hip hop, Matt Bar leads our 6th grade students in a journey through Jewish texts to explore their Jewish identities.
The Joy of Learning: A New Twist on Back to School
For Our Youth Sex sells. What sells even more? Insecurity. Multi-billion dollar industries saturate our lives with images of unattainable beauty, exporting body hatred from New York to Beirut to Tokyo. Their target? Women, and, increasingly, men and children. The Illusionists turns the mirror on media, exposing the absurd, sometimes humorous, and shocking images that seek to enslave us. Immediately following the screening of this documentary about the marketing of unattainable beauty around the world, the film’s producer will be available for Q & A. For more information, please visit http://theillusionists.org/. Cost: $10 per person. Presented by Krieger Schechter Day School and Jewish Community Services.
Goldsmith Early Childhood Education Center Transportation Day Moves to the Fall
Sunday, November 1
Wednesday, October 14 • 9:30 a.m.
Parents join their 2nd through 5th grade children for meeting teachers, classroom visits, and family fun.
Vroom! Vroom! Honk! Honk! The parents and children at Goldsmith Early Childhood Education Center (as well as the Chizuk Amuno staff and friends from the neighborhood) always look forward to the big trucks, a motorcycle, a fire truck, police car, special snacks, and our all-time favorite – the helicopter. We will have the opportunity to steer, climb, and explore all of these vehicles, but this year we don’t have to wait until
Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day Sunday, November 22 Our students fulfill the mitzvah of “welcoming guests” as they host their grandparents and special friends for a morning of multi-generational learning and social action projects.
the spring. Every year, we know it will be an amazing day thanks to the Goldsmith Early Childhood Education Center Parent Association. We are always in search of new types of transportation vehicles for our special day. Perhaps you have a “connection” to a specialized type of vehicle… a cement mixer, tow truck, pet grooming van, or any other exciting and interesting mode of transportation. If you do, please contact Karli Ross at karligd@gmail.com.
613 & Me 613 & Me is a series of programs, classes, and experiences for students and parents which take place during your child’s 5th and 6th grade years in preparation for becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. The three main goals of 613 & Me are (1) to give you and your child the skills they will need to become an adult member of the community, (2) to assist your whole family in feeling more comfortable in the synagogue and with the synagogue service, and (3) to get to know you better and have you get to know all the members of our Bnei Mitzvah team.
“It’s a Journey” Friday, November 6 • Services at 6 p.m.; Dinner at 7 p.m. Our first 613 & Me program of the 2015-2016 school year is for 6th graders and their families, who will go on a scavenger hunt through the Friday evening prayer service. Following a delicious Shabbat dinner, our rabbis will lead a discussion on the meaning of becoming Bar and Bat Mitzvah. Our spring Program Guide will have details about additional 613 & Me programs:
It’s a Service Saturday, March 5 • 9:30 a.m. Make Your Own Yad Sunday, April 10 • 10 a.m. NEW! It’s a Date | Tuesday, May 17 • 5:30 p.m. Mitzvah Fair | Date to be announced
Affiliates At Chizuk Amuno
Kadima Youth Programs
Calling all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders! Welcome to a new Kadima year! Kadima is Chizuk Amuno’s middle school youth group, a place for our students from RRS, KSDS, and more to come together for fun programs and holiday celebrations. We hope your child will join us for one of our fall events. For more information about Kadima or any of our events, please contact our Kadima advisor, Sara, at sfinkelstein@chizukamuno.org.
Kadima Regional Fall Kallah Friday-Sunday, October 16-18 Join more than a hundred 6th, 7th, and 8th graders from Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and DC for a full weekend of special programming, s’mores, new friends, and Shabbat fun.
Family Teen Minyan Shabbat morning, October 31 Join other teens and their families for a spirited and participatory Shabbat morning experience.
Kadima Mystery Bus Ride Sunday, November 15 Jump aboard as the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders of Chizuk Amuno are whisked away for an afternoon of mystery fun and activities.
Kadima Hanukkah Program Sunday, December 6
Sisterhood
Brotherhood
Whether it is social, spiritual, or philanthropic moments, you can celebrate them all with Sisterhood! Throughout the year, we join together to learn about ourselves, Torah, and our heritage. We celebrate Shabbat, holidays, and life cycle events together and provide assistance to those in need. We help make our synagogue a warm and welcoming place and we make sure our schools have that something extra that make them so special. And in the truest sense of the word “Sisterhood,” we develop long lasting and meaningful relationships with each other.To find out more about Sisterhood, please contact Dixie Leikach at Sisterhood@chizukamuno.org or 443-386-1062.
Women C.A.N. Tuesday, October 20 • 8 a.m. Wednesday, November 18 • 7 p.m. Are you a woman looking for a way to grow your business? Would you like to hear about successful strategies other women have used? Do you want to get your name “out there” in our community? If you’ve answered “Yes!” to any of those questions, then we’re the group for you. Come to our gatherings and you will leave with new resources and new ideas about moving forward. For more information, please contact Ava Barron-Shasho, avabarronshasho@yahoo.com, or Jill Bers, jillb1118@gmail.com.
Mah Jong 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month • 9:30 a.m. We hold a casual Mah Jongg game for all levels in the Kolker Youth Lounge. RSVP to Randee Glassman, randee853@aol.com.
Sisterhood Goes to Broadway! Sunday, November 8
Put on your yarmulke, here comes Hanukkah…the Chizuk Amuno middle school students will spend the morning getting pumped for the Festival of Lights. Bring your harmonica and tell your friend Veronica, because it’s time for Hanukkah funukkah!
Join us to see Fun Home – a musical comedy and winner of five Tony Awards! Our bus will leave Chizuk Amuno at 7 a.m. and leave New York at 5:45 p.m. Kosher breakfast and dinner will be provided on the bus. The cost is $185 per person. RSVP to Marilyn Spector, 410-486-3888 or marilynspe@gmail.com. Your reservation will only be finalized once your check made payable to Chizuk Amuno Sisterhood is submitted to the synagogue office.
The Chizuk Amuno Brotherhood has a long proud tradition of serving the shul since 1921. We aim to have fun and do fun Jewish “guy stuff” at all of our activities. Our gatherings this fall focus on issues important to us, including discussions about health and wellness,“Wrestling with God,” and, of course, our ever-so-popular Baltimore Ravens Monday Night Football TV and Brotherhood night. In addition, we have some new service activities planned. If you would like to learn more about Brotherhood, are interested in participating, or have some awesome programming ideas, please contact Chizuk Amuno Brotherhood president Eric Beser, eric.beser@e-isg.com.
Club Hatikvah Club Hatikvah is Chizuk Amuno’s social group for those seasoned to perfection - over the age of 50. We hold six or seven Sunday evening functions throughout the year, complete with catered dinner and exceptional entertainment. As we enter a New Season and New Year, Club Hatikvah is excited to announce our fall programs:
Oklahoma Sunday, October 18 Presented by The Musical Artists Theatre. Plan to arrive for our opening event in your Surry With the Fringe on Top and join us for a wonderful evening.
Fifty Years of Great Hits Sunday, November 15 Presented by the oh-so-talented Ellen Katz. You will leave with a smile on your face and your toes a-tappin’. You may even want to sing along!
Two for the Show Sunday, December 20 Back by popular demand, Paula and Tom will sing Broadway and Popular Hits. Their parodies are really funny and entertaining! Come join us for an evening of fabulous food, catered by Yaffa and served at your table. Renew old friendships and make new ones and enjoy the outstanding entertainment we have lined up for you. For further information, call Carol Davis, 410-833-7673 or carolgildavis@aol.com.
Gemilut Hasadim At Chizuk Amuno
Volunteer Opportunities Volunteers are the heart and soul of our congregation. Personal service is a significant force for caring and community building. Our volunteers add warmth, meaning, and vitality to all that we do as a sacred community.
Adopt-A-Road Sunday, October 11 • 9 a.m. (Rain date: October 18)
Knitting Havurah
Reading Partners
Wednesdays, October 21, November 18, and December 16 • 2 p.m.
Contact: Barbara Grochal, bgrochal@gmail.com Through oneon-one tutoring and a structured curriculum, empower elementary school students to succeed in reading and life. You can make a difference in the life of a child in just one hour per week.
Contact: Rabbi Debi Wechsler • We knit and/ or crochet blankets for babies in Israel and Baltimore. Knitting instruction is available and everyone is welcome.
Operation Welcome Home Maryland
Contact: Irwin Golob, 410-560-7422 • Chizuk Amuno Brotherhood performs the mitzvah of shmirat adamah, protecting the earth, by cleaning a segment of Greenspring Avenue. All supplies will be provided. All are welcome.
Ronald McDonald House Wednesdays, October 21, November 11, and December 23 • 4:20-7 p.m. (Sisterhood will cook and serve on December 23)
Art with a Heart Sunday, November 1 • 1:30-3:30 p.m. Contact: Deb Charles, text 443-386-1324 • Volunteers work on art projects at Art with a Heart headquarters in Hampden. All those aged 5 and up are welcome. Carpooling available from the Chizuk Amuno parking lot at 1 p.m.
Hakhnasat Orhim – Welcoming Guests Contact: Rabbi Debi Wechsler • For those living within walking distance of the synagogue who are able to host visitors for Shabbat. Also, if you are in need of hospitality, please let us know.
Jared Scott Levy Memorial Garden
Contact: Rabbi Debi Wechsler to be on mailing list Join us as we welcome home our troops from military service overseas. Volunteers meet at BWI airport and help pack goodie bags, cheer for soldiers, and thank them for their service. Dates are set 1-3 weeks in advance of the incoming flights. This project is suitable for adults and children of all ages.
Our Daily Bread Sundays, October 25, November 29, and December 27 • 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Contact: Allen Brown, 410-363-3605, abrown86@verizon.net. For gardening enthusiasts of all ages who would like to help with planting and maintaining our garden.
Contact: Linda Levy, lindalevy10@gmail.com • Join us as we cook and/or serve dinners at Ronald McDonald House for families with seriously ill children being treated in Baltimore area hospitals.
Transportation Service on Shabbat Need a ride to shul on Shabbat mornings? Rides for members who no longer drive can be arranged on a week-by-week basis. Just call Judy Simkin, ext. 232, by Monday or Tuesday of the week you want to attend services.
Jewish Volunteer Connection’s Community Mitzvah Day Friday, December 25 Once again, Chizuk Amuno will join thousands of volunteers in various locations throughout Baltimore to celebrate this annual community wide day of service by participating in hands-on projects helping those in need in Baltimore and overseas. Watch for more details.
Keeping in Touch with Our Elders Contact: Rabbi Debi Wechsler • We will be instituting monthly phone calls to be more in touch with fellow congregants who are not able to come to shul as often as they would like. Be part of our elder dialogue.
We express special gratitude for funding from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Gemilut Hasadim Endowment Fund of the Chizuk Amuno Foundation, Inc. Contacts: Wendy Davis, 410-358-5979 or bandwdavis@aol.com or Jenny Baker, 410-6029885 or bakerjenny@yahoo.com • Join the Chizuk Amuno team to help serve meals to hungry men, women, and children.
For questions or to participate in any Gemilut Hasadim programs, contact Rabbi Debi Wechsler, dwechsler@chizukamuno.org, or refer to our website for more information.
Community At Chizuk Amuno
C h i z u k A m u n o S i s t e r h o o d ’s S e m i - A n n u a l
Shredding and eCycling Event Sunday, October 18, 9 a.m. - noon Chizuk Amuno Parking Lot
All electronic and paper material to be recycled—no landfills used.
$10 for up to 5 bags/boxes of paper to be shredded; $10 for a trunk-full of electronic items. No HAZMATS, no light bulbs, no refrigerants. Flat panel TVs accepted at no charge. Older CRT TVs measuring 27” or less are $20; CRT TVs over 27” are $30. No wood and/or projection style TVs will be accepted. Used cell phones with charger will be donated to CHANA.
Questions? Please contact Marcia Scherr, 410-484-2480, or marcia@marciapscherrcpa.com ITEMS WE CAN RECYCLE: AA and AAA Batteries • Audio Systems • Bicycles • Dishwashers • Electric Motors • Exercise Equipment Flash Drive • Floppy Drives Hard Drive • Head Phones • Keyboards • Wires • PDA’s • Printers • Radios Remote Controls • Speakers • Typewriters • Webcams
Interview Outfits Unlimited (I.O.U.) Clothing Drive
Sunday, October 18 • 9 a.m.–noon Please drop off cleaned, gently worn professional clothing on hangers and accessories for men and women. Volunteers are needed to transport items. Questions? Contact Marcia Scherr, 410-484-2480 A service initiative made possible by the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Gemilut Hasadim Endowment Fund Co-sponsored by Chizuk Amuno Sisterhood
Derekh Amuno Dedication Saturday, October 17 After morning services
Join us as we dedicate the second stage of our walkway, Derekh Amuno ~ Pathway to Faith. We thank all those who purchased bricks for their generosity. If you would like to purchase an engraved brick in memory of a loved one or celebrate a milestone or lifecycle event, please be in touch with Glenn Easton.