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In This Issue: Sustaining Judaism • Pesah Information and Schedule of Services
Sisterhood Judaica Shop
Let us help you set your seder table. Stop in for our special Passover cookbook, pot holders, oven mitts, kitchen towels and more to inspire your culinary creativity. Hours: Sunday ~ 9:15-11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday ~ 10 a.m.-Noon Tuesday and Thursday ~ 1-5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday - 2-6 p.m. Friday ~ 10 a.m.-Noon
Or shop by appointment: call Anne King, 410/303-7716 or 410/484-5813, or Edna Crystal 410/653-3495.
Interview Outfits Unlimited
(I.O.U.) Clothing Drive Sunday, May 4 • 9 am. - 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 Miriam Foss, 410/486-6400, ext. 281or mfoss@chizukamuno.org. A service initiative made possible by the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Gemilut Hasadim Endowment Fund
CHIZUK AMUNO CONGREGATION
PRE-PASSOVER TO BENEFIT COMMUNITY AGENCIES
YYou ou oopen pen YYour our hhand, and, aand nd YYour our ffavor avor ssustains ustains aallll tthe he lliving. iving. —Psalm 145
Chizuk Amuno SiSterhood’S Semi-AnnuAl
Shredding and eCycling Event
Through Wednesday, April 9
Food Wish List: Beef stew • canned fruits, meats/tuna, vegetables dish soap • disposable salt and pepper shakers • condiments laundry detergent • macaroni & cheese • metal forks • napkins paper lunch bags • pasta and sauce • peanut butter & jelly plastic baggies • plastic ware • rice • stove top stuffing • sugar tea bags • toilet paper
Sunday, March 30 - Wednesday, April 9 Monetary option: In lieu of food, monetary donations will be accepted
F OOD W ISH L IST : and donated to kosher Beef stew, canned fruits, canned meats/tuna, canned vegetables, dishfunds. soap, disposable salt and pepper shakers, ketchup and mayonnaise, laundry detergent, macaroni and cheese, metal forks, napkins, paper lunch bags, pasta and sauce, Make checks payable to:ware, Chizuk Amuno, Attn. Drive. peanut butter and jelly, plastic baggies, plastic rice, stove top stuffing, sugar,Food tea bags, toilet paper Monetary lieu of food, monetary donations Foss, will be410/486-6400, accepted and donatedext. to kosher Foroption: moreIninformation, call Miriam 281 funds. Make checks payable to Chizuk Amuno, Attn. Food Drive. For expiration more information, call drop Miriam ext. 281 Please check dates and offFoss, your410/486-6400, sealed, not-for-Passover food Please drop off your sealed, not-for-Passover food (or matzah) in bins (orlocated matzah) in bins located in the Louis A. Cohen Family Chapel Lobby and the in the Louis A. Cohen Family Chapel Lobby and the Administrative Lobby. Administrative Lobby. Please check expiration dates.
A service initiative made possible by the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Gemilut Hasadim Endowment Fund
A service initiative made possible by the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Gemilut Hasadim Endowment Fund
Sunday, May 4, 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: 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
8100 Stevenson Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21208 www.chizukamuno.org
Synagogue Office 410/486-6400 Synagogue Fax 410/486-4050 Synagogue E-mail info@chizukamuno.org Goldsmith Early Childhood Education Center 410/486-8642 Krieger Schechter Day School 410/486-8640 Rosenbloom Religious School 410/486-8641 Stulman Center for Adult Learning 410/824-2055
Officers
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President Michelle Malis, pres@chizukamuno.org First Vice President Dr. Andrew J. Miller, 1stvp@chizukamuno.org Vice President Jason A. Blavatt Vice President Sandra Moffet Secretary Michelle Hettleman Treasure Louis E. Sapperstein Assistant Treasurer Stephen J. Pomerantz, MD
synagogue staff
Rabbi Ronald J. Shulman | x230
rshulman@chizukamuno.org
Rabbi Deborah Wechsler | x231
dwechsler@chizukamuno.org
Rabbi Paul D. Schneider | x226
Director of Congregational Life pschneider@chizukamuno.org Rabbi Emeritus Joel H. Zaiman | x296 Hazzan Emanuel C. Perlman | x233 eperlman@chizukamuno.org Ritual Director Dr. Moshe D. Shualy | x243 mshualy@chizukamuno.org Executive Director
Glenn S. Easton | x224 | geaston@chizukamuno.org Director of Congregational Education
Rabbi Stuart Seltzer | x234 | sseltzer@chizukamuno.org Head of School, Krieger Schechter Day School
Bil Zarch | x226 | bzarch@ksds.edu
Director, Goldsmith Early Childhood Education Center
Michelle Gold | x238 | gecec@chizukamuno.org
Director, Stulman Center for Adult Learning
Judy Meltzer | x287 | stulman@chizukamuno.org
Director, Gemilut Hasadim Service Initiative
Miriam Foss | x281 | mfoss@chizukamuno.org Bar/Bat Mitzvah Coordinator
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Dr. Susan Vick | x291 | svick@chizukamuno.org Choir Director, T. Herbert Dimmock
administrative staff Director of Congregational Advancement
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Contents 2
LaZ’man HaZeh – At This Season Hide and Seek by Rabbi Ron Shulman Life with Intention by Rabbi Debi Wechsler
9 Gemilut Hasadim Volunteering with My Kids by Nancy Hudes Yad B’Yad: RRS Social Action Initiative
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Sustaining Judaism Keeping Pesah in the Family by Audrey Polt More is More by Debbi Cirillo
10 What’s Nu? • Parent-Baby Classes • Young Families of Chizuk – Painted Palette • Hidden Treasure at the Goldsmith Museum • Vashti’s Banquet • Brotherhood – On Sustainability • Gift of Trees to Chizuk Amuno • Welcoming New Members
6 Avodah – Pesah A Place at the Table Dunkin’ Pots and Pans Siyyum B’khorim – First Born Minyan Sale of Hametz These We Honor Schedule of Services
Debby Hellman | x290 | dhellman@chizukamuno.org Curator, Goldsmith Museum
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Torah Achshav: Leadership Now
12 Congregational Life Laser Lights II Purim: Shushan’s Got Talent and Carnival 13
Pub Night
Laurel Freedman | x275 | lfreedman@chizukamuno.org Synagogue Administrator
Jenny Baker | x227 | jbaker@chizukamuno.org Controller
Rick Bernard | x256 | rbernard@chizukamuno.org Information Systems Manager
Bruce P. Yaillen | x284 | byaillen@chizukamuno.org
Cemetery Director
Marsha Yoffe | x309 | myoffe@chizukamuno.org Director of Communication and Member Services
Cheryl Snyderman | x300 | csnyderman@chizukamuno.org Graphic Designer
Rachel Levitan | x282 | rlevitan@chizukamuno.org
On the cover: This lovely mezuzah can be found on the door post leading to Rabbi Wechsler’s office. Stop by and enjoy its beauty in person. Chizuk Amuno has a long history of proud service to Baltimore’s Jewish community. Dedicated to strengthening faith in our people’s covenant with God, the purpose of Chizuk Amuno Congregation is to create a sacred Jewish community. Here individuals and families can find meaning for their lives from serious engagement with the texts, wisdom, and celebrations of Judaism. In pursuit of this mission, Chizuk Amuno ascribes to the rabbinic teaching: “The world is sustained through Torah – learning, Avodah – prayer and service, and Gemilut Hasadim – acts of loving kindness.”
Hide and Seek E
arly in the seder ritual, we break a piece of matzah, wrap it in a cloth, and hide the larger portion of it for after our meal. In some of our homes, children steal the wrapped matzah from the seder leader and wait for a good “price” to return it. In other homes, the leader hides the matzah and the children search the house seeking it and then return it only after receiving their prize.* Everyone knows the seder can’t conclude until we eat this hidden matzah piece, the Afikomen. More than a fun game for our children, breaking the matzah and hiding the larger portion carry a poignant symbol. Slaves and those who live in poverty don’t know when they’ll eat next. They ration what they can, saving more for later rather than using it all up. They must conserve. They must think about how to sustain their lives and their families. Early in the seder we’re re-enacting slavery. After dinner, we’re rejoicing in our freedom. Even then, in the comfort of our celebration as free people, we know that more about life is hidden from us than revealed. We, too, must consider how to sustain our welfare and our values, our health and our loved ones, our community and our world, unaware of and preparing for what may happen next. 2 | HaZ’man ~ This Season
As Robin and I are now back from our Sabbatical time away, we are grateful for the chance to hide a bit and seek sustenance for ourselves. We spent our time with family and friends in the west and the east. I had the opportunity to do some research, thinking, and writing particularly on the subject of prayer which I’ll share with you over the coming months. We also engaged in Jewish life outside of Chizuk Amuno which enabled us to gain perspective on who we all are and can continue to become as a synagogue community. Looking in at Chizuk Amuno from the outside over the past months, I rejoiced for the celebrations, gatherings, learnings, milestones, and varied programs you all experienced. I also had many of you in my thoughts and prayers as your experience included illness or loss. I look forward to re-connecting and seeing you move forward in life and well-being. In this issue of HaZ’man ~ This Season, Audrey Polt and Debbi Cirillo offer their reflections on sustainability. Perhaps you’ll do the same at your seder, thinking about slavery and freedom, Jewish identity past and present, as well as your personal life needs and how this spring season reminds us to preserve nature’s balance and our own. Hag Sameah v’Kasher – Enjoy a joyous and Happy Pesah!
Rabbi Ron Shulman
*A Word about Prizes In some homes, children attempt to steal the Afikomen and negotiate for a prize later in the evening when it is needed. In other homes, the leader finds a moment to leave the table and hide the Afikomen, later asking children and other seder participants to search for it. Again, the one who finds it may negotiate for a prize. Still other people, especially if no children are present, don’t actually hide the Afikomen. Instead they play a guessing game, asking the leader where in the Exodus story he or she has placed the Afikomen. It is fun and proper to encourage our children to participate in “stealing” or finding the Afikomen. Their reward, however, should be something consistent with our holiday celebration. Simple toys, games, or books that encourage questions, thought, and involvement with others are appropriate. The promise of a family activity or the chance to enjoy a new responsibility and special privilege are appropriate. Money or expensive gifts seem inconsistent with the symbol of a slave’s hidden provisions, and the meager possessions of the Israelites whom we remember on Passover.
Life with Intention by Rabbi Deborah Wechsler
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ack in 1987, the Brundtland Commission of the United Nations defined sustainability as “that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” We see this from an environmental perspective as we worry about land use, energy consumption, water availability, and food sources; from a fiscal perspective in the way we spend money as a nation and as individuals; from a social perspective as we live lives in communities with crime and poverty, where the cycle of violence means that children are being sustained, if that, by government programs that are disappearing by the minute; from a religious perspective as we raise a generation of children whose parents cannot afford a day school education for all of their children, who are alienated or simply uninterested in Judaism, who feel that Judaism doesn’t speak to them; and from a personal perspective as we live lives that are simply unsustainable – from the schedules that we keep, to the way we eat and take care of our bodies, to how we treat our spouses and children and families. There is a well-known mishnah in Pirkei Avot, “Al shloshah devarim ha olam omed. By three things the world is sustained. Al ha torah, al ha avodah, ve al gemilut hasadim. By Torah, by worship, and by deeds of living kindness.” As Jews, three things sustain us. Does the world really rest on these things? Maybe, maybe not. What the mishnah is trying to say is that from a traditional perspective a Jew is sustained by living a life with these three elements and that living without them would be unthinkable and unsustainable. This is in keeping with what the world around us says. The larger world has come to the conclusion that sustainability is a worthy and important value. But here’s my concern: we are so focused on sustainability that just sustaining ourselves has become the highest goal. We stay in jobs we don’t like or that are stagnant because they sustain us and they work with our kids’ school schedules – even if we are no longer growing and learning. We stay in social relationships because of habit rather than because they bring meaning and purpose to our lives. We keep doing the same things we have always done because it’s easier, it
helps us “stand” in the language of Pirkei Avot, or because it helps us be sustained but only in the sense that they help us survive. As Jews our tradition encourages us to think beyond sustainability to what might come next. There needs to be a higher purpose, we need to dream beyond what can merely be held up. When we are satisfied with sustainability we fail to strive for the next level, what another mishnah in Pirkei Avot calls kayam. There is a similar teaching– al shloshah devarim ha olam kayam. By three things the world endures. Al ha emet, v’al ha din, ve al ha shalom. By truth, by justice, and by peace. Our tradition demonstrates its universal focus in this teaching. The world might be sustained by the particularistic actions of Torah study, worship, and acts of loving kindness. But what makes the world endure? How does humanity carry on and persist and live lives filled with both stability and permanent value? It happens through the more universal foundations of truth in speech, justice in the deeds and affairs of humankind, and peace as worthy of the highest sacrifice.1 There is almost no point in living sustainable lives if what we wish to sustain is not able to endure. The omed, of the former teaching of sustainability and the kayam, of the latter teaching on endurance are complementary terms and complementary values. We want to live lives of sustainability - with jobs, relationships, schedules, behaviors, and commitments that can be maintained. But more importantly, we want the higher values to be upheld. We don’t want to just get by, we want something more valuable, something more meaningful and that’s what the tradition wants for us as well. The message – don’t get so caught up in the sustainability of our lives that we forget to hope and to dream. By what do we want to be surrounded? Which values and meaning do we want to infuse into our lives. And then of course how do we go about bringing those values into action. What must be taken away to accommodate it? What new practices or rituals do we need to undertake? We pray for lives of sustenance and sustainability. But more than that we pray for lives lived with intention, where we strive for meaning, live beyond our potential, and move towards those things we dream about. n Notes: 1 Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch commentary to Pirkei Avot
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Keeping Pesah in the Family by Audrey Polt
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hen I was a young girl in the 1950s, my most memorable Jewish holiday was Pesah. The enormous amount of preparation started weeks in advance, beginning with spring cleaning. As the house was being put into order, the kitchen was being taken out of order, which involved the packing of our everyday dishes, silverware, and pots and pans, two sets – milk and meat, milchig and fleichig – as well as our glasses, and then replacing them with two sets of Passover dishes, silverware, pots and pans, and dishes. An enormous job, only to be performed again in reverse eight or nine days later. I can visualize my mother lugging out the old-fashioned heavy metal hand crank meat grinder and clamping it onto the edge of the kitchen table in order to grind the fresh carp and pike for her home-made gefilte fish. The odor of the fish permeated the house for days and I remember the delicious taste. And of course, the heads and bones of the fish were used to make a tasty soup. Making sponge cake was another big job. “Careful cracking and ‘separating’ the eggs. Don’t get any egg yolk into the egg whites or the cake will fall flat!” And believe me - it was hard work using a hand mixer to beat the egg whites until they were stiff! And matzah – so much matzah: helzel (an unbelievably tasty matzah meal and vegetable filling stuffed and sown into the neck skin of a turkey or chicken, and baked), fried matzah, matzah farfel in soup, matzah kugel, matzah sandwiches, k’neidlach – matzah balls, plain matzah with
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butter, matzah pizza, matzah meal pancakes, matzah rolls, and more! My brother, Sheldon, and I spent hours playing a game similar to shooting marbles, using small round filbert nuts instead. I don’t remember what was so exciting about accumulating all the nuts, but it certainly kept our attention and enjoyment for hours. Since I was the younger sibling in my immediate family, and the youngest of my 28 first cousins, I always recited the Four Questions at the seder. I walked around the house practicing out loud for weeks prior to Passover. Like many families, we used an assortment of different sized haggadot, compliments of Shapiro’s Kosher Wines, General Israel Orphans Home for Girls, and Maxwell House. Most importantly, the holiday brought family together. The tradition and rituals of the holiday were ingrained in my family. Now, as an adult, I feel the importance of passing on these traditions and rituals, as well as the significance of Passover as the master story of the Jewish people. And so, each year as Pesah nears, I recall the tradition and ritual. The spring cleaning frenzy begins, leaving the kitchen for last. Although I do not go to all the lengths my mother went to, I scrub the stove, the refrigerator, the ovens, and remove all the hametz. I prepare my menus, tape cabinets closed, and make room for my “kosher l’Pesah” order. I no longer use my mother’s old-fashioned heavy metal hand crank meat grinder, but I do prepare an easier recipe for gefilte fish
as well as some of my mother’s traditional Pesah delicacies. The smells that radiate throughout the house bring back childhood memories. Because I eat a vegan diet, I have brought some new foods to the seder, such as mock chopped liver made from walnuts, sautéed onions, and mushrooms. There is still a buzz of excitement and joy as all of our family gathers for our seder at the home of my brother and sister-in-law, Sheldon and Shelley. Now there is a whole new crop of children and grand-children to take over reciting the Mah Nishtana. My sister-in-law works for weeks to prepare for the holiday, perpetuating the old traditions and introducing new ways to keep the children interested and involved. In a time when family members frequently are separated by long distance, Passover continues to bring everyone together. Each year, we do more than retell our story, we continue our story. n Audrey Goldseker Polt is a photo album consultant, helping people preserve their photos and stories in keepsake traditional and digital albums as legacies that will last for generations. She and her husband, Leslie, joined the Chizuk Amuno community in 2009. They have one son, Richard, married to Jennifer, and two grandsons, Sam and Ethan. Audrey enjoys Jewish studies, healthy cooking, yoga, and spending time with family and friends.
More is More by Debbi Cirillo
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hen I think about sustainability, I often do so from the perspective of environmental law. In that context, we often discuss the challenges of sustaining the quality of our environment and maintaining our natural resources. In working towards environmental sustainability, we lean on the principles of sufficiency, restraint, and frugality. To implement these principles, experts recommend such tools as conservation and regulation. In preparing to write this article, it struck me how different my prescription for sustaining a Jewish home is from my prescription for achieving environmental sustainability. In contrast to many natural resources I use regularly and rely on, my relationship with Judaism seems most healthy and vibrant when it is tapped deeply and often. The challenges in sustaining Judaism in our home arise not from a limited resource but from our limitations in managing our time, space, and energy. It is in the context of these three areas that I see how many of our Jewish practices function as tools for sustaining Judaism in our homes. The key to sustaining our Jewish home – despite the time demands of work, secular activities, and non-Jewish family and friends – has been making a habit of our ritual behavior. We have taken on certain observances which, repeated often enough,
have become normal routine. A good example of this is our Shabbat observance. On Shabbat, we have a routine of home rituals that reconnect us with our Jewish identity and community. Most weeks, I am thankful and prepared for the special moments we share, such as when I light candles and wish Tony “Shabbat Shalom.” But on the weeks when I’m tired, running late, or “not feeling it,” we still perform our Shabbat rituals because it’s what we do. I am grateful we have made a habit of these practices because the habit holds the time aside as sacred and provides opportunities to find peace and meaning when we are able to be open to these opportunities. Making our home a Jewish space has largely been an enjoyable experience for our family. The key to sustaining our Jewish home as it relates to our space has been abundance. The more we see our Judaism, the more engaged we are with it. Tony and I both appreciate the Jewish “look” of our home. We love seeing our beautiful ketubah hanging in our living room. As Pesah approaches, I’m excited to take out the seder plate we bought the first year we were married, the matzah cover my bubbie used on her table, and the matzah patterned apron from the Sisterhood Judaica Shop that Tony surprised me with last year. Like many people we know, we often feel endlessly busy and, sometimes,
overwhelmed. These feelings are not particularly helpful for sustaining the energy necessary to prevent the Jewishness of a home from becoming stagnant or, worse, resented. The key to sustaining positive energy in our Jewish home has been to make it a joyful and welcoming place, particularly on holidays. Since we were first dating in school, we hosted friends for Hanukkah parties and ran the school’s “Sushi in the Sukkah” events. I love that we still have friends over for dinner in our sukkah and often host family and friends for holidays. If implementing a plan for environmental sustainability, as I often think about it, tends to involve a commitment to a “less is more” lifestyle, I’d suggest that the recipe for sustaining Judaism in our home has been a commitment to a “more is more” lifestyle. The more consistently, more abundantly, and more joyfully we practice our Judaism in our home, the more sustainably Jewish we have made it. n Debbi Cirillo lives with her husband, Tony, in Mt. Washington. She is an attorney at the Social Security Administration. Debbi and Tony joined Chizuk Amuno in 2012 and have been enjoying getting to know the community. They are expecting their first child in April.
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Pesah 5774 A Place at the Table
Be a host for Passover seder! We are often contacted by college students, local hospitals, and also congregants who would like to share a Passover seder. If you have room at your table for new friends, please be in touch with Rabbi Wechsler. Be a guest for a Passover seder! We have wonderful seder experiences with new Chizuk Amuno friends waiting for you. If you are in need of a seder to attend for either first or second night, please be in touch with Rabbi Wechsler.
Dunkin’ Pots and Pans
On Monday, April 7, from 6-7 p.m. in the Esterson Auditorium kitchen, we will help you kasher your silverware or metal pots and utensils. Items used during the year may be used for Passover, if they undergo a process of kashering called hag’alah. Hag’alah involves immersing the item in a container filled with boiling water. Please note: Baking utensils cannot be kashered. Silverware or pots must be made entirely of metal. Items must be thoroughly cleaned prior to kashering. Items may not be used 24 hours prior to kashering. Please line up by the Esterson kitchen at the door off the driveway. Bring a laundry hamper and clean towel to take your items home, as we do not have room for storage and drying. You will also be able to pick up bedikat hametz kits, sell your hametz, and donate Ma’ot Hittim. Prior reservation required: Judy Simkin, ext. 232.
Siyyum B’khorim First Born Minyan
Followed by Breakfast Siyyum B’khorim is a morning minyan and brief study session followed by a light breakfast, the last hametz meal before Passover. Attendance at this minyan is a special mitzvah for all first-born males. First born daughters and everyone else are also welcome! The tradition of attending a Siyyum B’khorim marks the role of the first born of both Israel and Egypt in the Exodus story. It is also a moment to mark with gratitude the gift of freedom we will celebrate on Passover. Join in this final preparation for Passover on Monday, April 14 at 7 a.m. in the Hoffberger Chapel. The breakfast is sponsored in part by a generous donation from Jack and Anne Needle and Lynne Komins and family, in loving memory of Warren Komins.
Sale of Hametz
Hametz may be sold by completing this form by 10 a.m., Monday morning, April 14, 2014. Hametz that is sold reverts to your ownership when Pesah is concluded on Tuesday evening, April 22, 2014. I/We hereby authorize Dr. Moshe Shualy as the agent of Chizuk Amuno Congregation to use the enclosed contribution in part to symbolically sell all leaven (hametz) in my/our possession. The remainder of my/our contribution will be set aside as tzedakah for Ma’ot Hittim.
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These We Honor
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REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS
HONORING ou have shared with us the names of 43 THE SURVIVORS survivors of the Holocaust, members of the greater Chizuk Amuno family. All of them have been interviewed by our team of high school seniors: Aaron Gladstone, Hallie Miller, Matt Rosen, Naomi Roswell, Josh Schwartz, Rebecca Shapiro, and Solomon Swerling. Many of the survivors will be in attendance at services on the last day of Pesah, April 22, and will host tables at the luncheon following services, where interested congregants can hear their individual stories. We hope you will join us in honoring them: Rita Abel, Ela Amsterdam, Herta Baitch, Rachel Bodner, Ruth Ciker, Blanche Danick, Dr. Irv Danick, Irv Feldman, Mayer Feldman, Monica Finkel, Monique Epstein Goss, Adele and Israel Gruzin, Nehemia Hampel, Ingrid Hess, Lottie Holzman, Bernice Horon, Anna Jacobs, Howard and Edith Kadinow, Rachel Gani Kurss, Irene Starkov Lebovic, Max Lerner, Renee Guntherz Neschis, Robert Okonski, Erich Oppenheim, Minnie Osher, Frieda Pertman, Rifka Pollack, Eva Raden and Alex Raden, Sara and Bernard Rosenthal, Bluma Shapiro, Frieda Shualy, Helen Silber, Mania Smith, Henny and Leo Stern, Marion Stern Straus, Ruben Szajer, Dr. Henry Tyrangiel, and Mieke Van Praag-de la Parra.
Signature and date Address and city Forms are to be returned to Marci Scher, ext. 223.
Av o d a h
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Our Synagogue Mission:Prayer
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oliday services are warm and special times. We invite you to experience the meaning, spirit, and beauty of celebrating Passover with your synagogue community. Our Festival Services will begin at 9:15 a.m. on each of Passover’s four holiday mornings. We’ll share in prayer, celebration and reflection, and study Torah and Passover’s themes together. Our festival gathering will conclude with a holiday Kiddush.
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Service
v s u c g Friday, April 18 | 2nd Hol HaMoed Shaharit
7:00 a.m.
Oneg Shabbat/Minhah Kabbalat Shabbat Candle Lighting
6:00 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 7:28 p.m.
7:00 a.m.
Shabbat, April 19 | 3rd Hol HaMoed Shabbat Hol HaMoed Pesah Morning Service 9:15 a.m. Recitation of Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs) Volunteer Shabbat ~ Honoring Our Volunteers
6:00 p.m. 7:24 p.m.
Study Session Minhah/Ma’ariv Havdalah
6:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 8:14 p.m.
Sunday, April 20 | 4th Hol HaMoed Shaharit
9:15 a.m.
Minhah/Ma’ariv Erev 7th Day of Pesah Candle Lighting
6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Second Seder Night
Monday, April 21 | 7th Day Pesah Passover Festival Morning Service
9:15 a.m.
Wednesday, April 16 | 2nd Day Pesah Passover Festival Morning Service
9:15 a.m.
Minhah/Ma’ariv Erev 8th Day of Pesah Candle Lighting
6:15 p.m. 8:16 p.m.
Minhah/Ma’ariv Havdalah
7:45 p.m. 8:11 p.m.
Thursday, April 17 | 1st Hol HaMoed Shaharit
7:00 a.m.
Minhah/Ma’ariv
6:15 p.m.
Monday, April 14 | Erev Pesah Shaharit – Siyyum B’khorim Fast of the First Born Minhah/Ma’ariv Erev Pesah Candle Lighting First Seder Night Tuesday, April 15 | 1st Day Pesah Passover Festival Morning Service
9:15 a.m.
Minhah/Ma’ariv Erev 2nd Day of Pesah Candle Lighting
6:15 p.m. 8:10 p.m.
Tuesday, April 22 | 8th Day Pesah, Yizkor Passover Festival Morning Service 9:15 a.m. Yizkor Memorial Prayers These We Remember Minhah/Ma’ariv Havdalah Hametz may be eaten
7:45 p.m. 8:17 p.m. after 9:00 p.m.
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Achshav: Leadership Now T
his year we are thrilled to welcome 17 Rosenbloom Religious School Vav graduates into Achshav: Leadership Now, a new eighth grade leadership program held in partnership with our friends at Beth El. These students set aside valuable time from their busy academic schedules and extracurricular activities to explore leadership through a Jewish lens, and to participate in a 10-day mission to Israel. Every Tuesday night, after reconnecting and socializing with their peers over dinner, our 26 Chizuk Amuno and Beth El students engage with the values and characteristics necessary for becoming strong leaders through experiential activities, guest speakers, discussions, videos, and Jewish texts. They bring their voices and experiences to our tradition’s conversation on leadership and learn that our history and literature are rich with role models who led by example and made tough choices. Our studies have taken us from the biblical account of Moses to the inspirational story of Nelson Mandela, from the vision of
8 | HaZ’man ~ This Season
Theodore Herzl to the bravery of Hannah Senesh, and from the familiar landscape of America to the new and exciting possibilities of Israel. Several times over the past semester the students have divided into leadership teams and Project Ascent, a leadership training group, leads them through various team building and leadership development activities. The students have already developed a vocabulary of leadership and reflected on their own personal leadership strengths and weaknesses. Our students are motivated and engaged, and have already benefited from the program. As Cali, one of our students says, “Achshav has helped me reflect on my personality and the characteristics I can use to step up and be a great leader in any situation. It also helps me work in groups and come up with solutions for our task. I really enjoy being a part of this program.” Like yesterday’s leaders, our Achshav students push themselves beyond the norm. They are learning about their own leadership potential and how they can contribute to the Jewish community. They see that
they can make a difference and envision and initiate change. Many of the Achshav students are just starting to get excited about their 10-day leadership mission to Israel, which will take place this coming December. Thanks to the generosity of the Florence and Charles Hoffberger Family Foundation and other community donors, we are able to offer this trip at a highly subsidized price. We would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of our Achshav pioneers. We celebrate the energy they put into uniting the graduates of two different religious schools into one cohesive student cohort. We celebrate the thought they put behind every discussion question, new topic, and tricky leadership dilemma. We celebrate their enthusiasm for their Jewish heritage and their curiosity to discover what it means to be a Jewish leader in today’s world. Most of all we celebrate their dedication to their personal Jewish identities and to the greater Jewish community. n
Reflections
on
Our Synagogue Mission: Acts
of
Loving Kindness
Volunteering with My Kids by Nancy Hudes
O
ver the years, my kids have watched as I’ve been involved in volunteering at Chizuk Amuno, at their schools and camps, and other organizations. I’ve loved being involved because of the people I’ve met and the feeling of being a part of something creative, exciting, and worthwhile. It has always been on my mind to find opportunities to volunteer with my kids. This has been challenging because, understandably, there are often age requirements. A couple of years ago, I learned that my son, Matthew, was old enough to participate with Chizuk Amuno at Ronald McDonald House. Once a month, volunteers cook and/or serve dinners for guests at the House, families whose seriously ill children are receiving treatment in area hospitals. This captured our imagination immediately. Matthew loves to cook and is great at preparing and serving food. For about two years, Matthew
step up and accept this responsibility as he was becoming a Bar Mitzvah. After that, our family arranged an activity hour for the kids and their families at the House.
and I have frequently gone as part of the Chizuk Amuno team. We always cook something in advance and love being there with the other congregants. The residents are always so appreciative of our efforts! The month before his bar mitzvah, Matthew was assigned group leader for the upcoming visit to the Ronald McDonald House. He did a fabulous job organizing the food and working with the other volunteers to make sure everything was just right. It felt special to me that he could
On Christmas eve, we showed up with the centerpieces from his party and a huge box of juggling balls. Matthew and his siblings taught everyone how to juggle and do different tricks. Everyone enjoyed the activity and each kid was given a basket full of toys and prizes. My husband, Rick, and I were so proud. We were so excited when we learned that Chizuk recently partnered with Art with a Heart and that the activities are appropriate for all ages! At the first visit, my youngest son, Paul, and I joined with other volunteers and painted stakes that were to be used to decorate the outside of a new Baltimore community center. It was such an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We hope to bring the rest of our family next time! n
Yad B’Yad: A Social Action Initiative by Rosenbloom Religious School
There is something very meaningful about firsts. Our firsts emphasize what we value and they set the
groundwork for future endeavors. How appropriate that the first initiative of the newly formed Rosenbloom Religious School Parent Association was a call to lend a hand in our community. The Yad B’Yad – hand in hand – club, under the leadership of parent volunteers Michelle Clay and Richard Stone, brings the families of Rosenbloom Religious School together to plan, discuss, and carry out social action projects. During their inaugural meeting in February, a group of about 40 RRS students and parents met to introduce themselves, brainstorm ideas for childfriendly community service projects, and make cards for returning American soldiers. The energy ran high as the students took the lead in offering suggestions and helping each other with the day’s social action project.
Special thanks to Miriam Foss, who prepared this initial social action project. Yad B’Yad was launched at a particularly timely season, as we look ahead to the holiday of Passover. The sacrificial Passover meal was all about community. Every Passover during the time of the Temple, communities would gather together to share the Passover sacrifice and, in the process, would welcome in the newcomer, the beggar, the elderly, and all other community members. Just as the holiday of Passover reminds us to welcome the stranger and embrace the less fortunate, so too is Yad B’Yad poised to build on our strong beginning and carry out our mission of lending a hand to the overlooked and forgotten members of our community. Pesah 5774 | 9
Little Lions – Chizuk’s New Parent-Baby Classes In February, we started our first Mother Goose on the Loose class. This series of classes for children from birth through 15 months old, is an award-winning, nationally renowned, early-literacy program and we’ve added a Jewish twist. The fun-filled, interactive session, uses rhymes, songs, puppets, and musical instruments, to stimulate the learning process of babies and toddlers. Our classes are taught by Jan Fabiyi, Mother Goose on the Loose certified facilitator. Initially, we planned for one class, however the demand was so great that we opened up two additional
sessions. Two classes meet on Wednesdays, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and the third is on Friday mornings at 9 a.m. The cost for the eight week session is $100 and drop-ins are welcome for $15. Our hope is to expand to other classes as the program grows and offer Shabbat, movement and even stroller exercise classes. For more information about upcoming classes, please contact Liz Minkin Friedman, KSDS Director of Community Outreach and Engagement, at Lminkinfriedman@ksds.edu.
Without Atmosphere, a Painting is Nothing — Rembrandt One Saturday evening in February, Young Families of Chizuk Amuno hosted Painted Palette of Baltimore. Almost 40 parents spent the evening creating (with the help of an instructor) a beautiful painting on a canvas they could take home. The atmosphere was full of love, friendships, competition, and creativity. Some couples worked together to create their masterpiece, while others competed against each other to see whose was better, and others painted alongside friends. Wine, beer, and good music added to the lively atmosphere, one that will be remembered each time the participants look at their canvas they’ve hung in their homes. The atmosphere on Shabbat mornings is filled week after week with the energy of parents and children praying, shmoozing, and enjoying Shabbat lunch
together. Once a month, we hold a lively Torah for Tots service, appropriate for families with newborn children up to 5 years old. Plan to join us on one of these upcoming dates: April 5, May 3, and May17. The service begins at 10:30 a.m. and is followed by open gym and lunch. Please contact Jodi Wahlberg, jwahlberg@chizukamuno.org for more information. Chizuk Amuno is THE place to be for young families!
Hidden Treasure A wonderful discovery was made at Chizuk Amuno a couple of months ago – a crate of 48 prints from the 1950’s was found in a storage room in the synagogue basement. The crate was found during a major reorganization of the room, and it was brought to our attention by Ernie Lancaster, our building superintendent. A quick look at the contents revealed that this was a collection of lithographs, woodcuts, and engravings by 10 | HaZ’man ~ This Season
the first generation of Israeli artists following the creation of the state. The collection was probably purchased by Chizuk Amuno when the congregation was building the museum collection under Rabbi Goldman in the 1960’s. The works represented in the collection include those by award winning artists Marcel Janco, Yochanan Simon, and Miron Sima. Jacob Steinhardt, who served as director of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem
from 1954 to 1957, is represented by 13 lithographs. Several of the artists were Holocaust survivors and most studied in some of the most prestigious pre-World War II art studios in Europe. We are very fortunate to have found this collection of prints in relatively good condition. Stay tuned as we make more discoveries about the artists and the works that are now a part of the Goldsmith Museum treasure.
Vashti’s Banquet
It was a freezing winter evening, but the warmth of Sisterhood was felt on February 26, at Sisterhood’s annual paid-up membership event. The Krieger Auditorium was elaborately transformed into a Persian banquet, much like the one held by Vashti in the Purim story. Sisterhood members were encouraged to wear “Harem Casual” attire and indulge in pampering at one of the scarf-draped tents: yoga, massage, henna designs, and makeup tips. Another popular station was “Beauty Secrets of the Bible,” which included spa-like treatments with oatmeal, honey, olive oil, and goat’s milk. The inspiration for the evening’s theme came out of a new way of looking at Vashti. Even though she has been portrayed as vain and arrogant, Vashti did refuse to appear before the King and a royal court filled with debauchery. This, of course, led the way for Esther to enter the Purim story. However, Vashti can also be seen as upholding the sacredness of the human aspect in a royal
court that could very well have dehumanized any woman, let alone a woman as attractive and powerful as she. Appropriately, Middle Eastern dinner and dessert were served, as well as the evening’s signature drink: the “Vashtini!” The evening ended with belly dancing lessons for everyone – no bellies bared – but lots of fun out on the Krieger dance floor! Special thanks for the evening goes to Sisterhood members Joy Katz, Amy Blavatt, Patty Anbinder, Sue Crystal, Arlynne Brown, and their committee, including Diane Dansicker, Miriam Golob, and Donna Friedman. In addition, the committee thanks
Jenny Baker, Synagogue Administrator, for her help in coordinating the evening.
Sustaining Judaism – The Brotherhood Way How does the Chizuk Amuno Brotherhood “live” Torah, worship, and acts of loving kindness? Brotherhood members learn about various aspects of Torah and Judaism at their monthly Sunday breakfast minyans, which feature speakers who illuminate Torah lessons. In addition, each regular board meeting begins with a d’var Torah presented by a Brotherhood member. Brotherhood lives prayer by participating in and
assisting with daily minyans and providing shivah minyans at mourners’ houses. This past year they established a program encouraging members to recite Kaddish for young Holocaust victims. Also, many members take part in the annual Brotherhood Shabbat service. Acts of loving kindness are a core value of Brotherhood, demonstrated through many of their activities: Adopt-ARoad, blood drives, sukkah construction, lulav and etrog
assembly, and support for Camp Ramah. The three pillars – Torah, worship, and acts of loving kindness are the nucleus of the Chizuk Amuno Brotherhood. This group sustains Jewish values by providing opportunities for men to serve the shul and the greater Jewish community, as well as social events for men to gather and strengthen their bonds.
Sustaining Our Campus This winter, Chizuk Amuno was the beneficiary of a gift of trees from Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake in conjunction with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Though the trees will have only a minimal impact
on the quantity of water flowing to the Bay, trees are very effective in helping to improve the quality of the air we breathe. By removing some pollutants from the air, there will be fewer pollutants in the rain, and therefore less damaging storm water runoff flowing to the Bay. When they mature, the trees will also provide shade and a habitat for local wildlife.
As part of the Chizuk Amuno – Small Watershed Action Plan, 22 trees were planted in the first phase of implementation – nine Red Oak, eight Sugar Maple, and five Fringetree. All are native to this area of the United States. The trees are quite small, but our hope is that in years to come they will make a huge impact on the appearance of our campus while also helping to clean the air we breathe.
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B’rukhim Habaim • Welcome to Our New Members Julie and Josh Bender Liana and Larsson Davis
Aileen Frank Mark Frank Stacy Landsman
Lori and Larry Lickstein Diane Minerbi and Aaron Pressman
Laura and Richard Reaven Marianna and Stephen Safran Amy and Hugh Schwartz
Keira and Joshua Shein Sarah and Joel Sunshine
We are happy to welcome those who have most recently chosen to join our Chizuk Amuno family. If you have friends or family who may be interested in joining Chizuk Amuno, please call our Director of Communication and Member Services, Cheryl Snyderman, 410/486-6400, ext. 300. Pesah 5774 | 11
C o n g r e g at i o n a l L i f e
There is a wealth of opportunities to gather with friends at Chizuk Amuno. Watch for future events and plan to join us!
Laser Lights II
866/653-2853 • www.wondergy.com We express our gratitude to Wondergy for their support.
Purim 5774
12 | HaZ’man ~ This Season
Purim Carnival sponsored by the Parents Association of Chizuk Amuno Schools
Pub Night In January, Brotherhood and Sisterhood combined their efforts to bring us Pub Night, a truly wonderful evening filled with music, food, drink, games, and comedy/magic. The Krieger Auditorium was transformed into a pub. Bars (wine/beer/soda) and a fabulous dinner buffet helped to create the casual atmosphere conducive to socializing and enjoying music. Three separate groups performed: Three of a Kind, Bisamim, and a group consisting of Chizuk Amuno members – the Snyders, the Amsterdams, and the Kahan-Zagers. A strolling comedy/magic show was performed during the musical presentations. The weather outside was frightful, but inside there was a certain warmth in the air – everyone spent an enjoyable time together.
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MAY 18, 1-4:30 P.M.
Performance Psychology Sciences Society Stories Business Family Health History-Politics Hobbies Judaism Performance Psychology Sciences Society Stories Technology Travel Arts
Judaism
Stories Society Sciences
Psychology Performance Judaism
Honor the memory of a loved one or celebrate a milestone or lifecycle event. $250 per brick for up to four lines of text, 15 characters per line Package options available Purchase a brick online using a credit card at http://bit.ly/DerekhAmuno, or contact Glenn Easton, 410/485-6400.
Technology Travel Arts Business Family Health History-Politics Hobbies
on
Technology Travel Arts Business Family Health History-Politics Hobbies
Purchase an Inscribed Tribute Brick C h i z u k A m u n o ’ s P at h way t o F a it h
Business Family Health History-Politics Hobbies
Leave a Legacy at Chizuk Amuno
Arts
jxc dpen` Pathway to Faith
Performance Psychology
Derekh Amuno
Judaism Sciences Society Stories Technology Travel Arts Business Family Health History-Politics Hobbies Judaism Performance Psychology Sciences Society Stories
LUV LEARN IDEAS HAPPEN AT CHIZUK! Expand your mind at our fun Luv2Learn. Choose from over 20 amazing experts from within our Chizuk Amuno community who will be giving 30 minute talks on a variety of subjects, including health, the arts, history, business, Judaism, science, and everything in between! Drop in or stay for all three sessions, followed by wine, cheese, and great conversations. Watch for more details! Don’t miss it! Brought to you buy the Congregational Life Committee
Pesah 5774 | 13
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We invite you to join us in recognizing and honoring our congregational volunteers for their service. Shabbat Hol HaMoed Pesah, April 19, 2014 • 9:15 a.m.
Chizuk Amuno Congregation
Program made possible by the
8100 Stevenson Road
Harry and Jeanette Weinberg
Kiddush luncheon following services
Gemilut Hasadim Endowment Fund
GECEC Annual Gif tique Wednesday, April 30 12:30 - 6 p.m. Come check out our Giftique for your personal shopping and gift needs. We’ll have jewelry, children and adult clothing, purses, personalized items, and skin care. And that’s just a sampling!
Esterson Auditorium Proceeds from the Giftique will support programming by the preschool Parents Association.
Non Profit Org. us postage Paid Baltimore, MD Permit No. 544
8100 Stevenson Road • Baltimore, MD 21208 www.chizukamuno.org time sensitive m aterial please deliver promptly