21 minute read
SYNAGOGUES
Last year, Or Atid students (from left) Jackson Gwaltney and Zachary Mollen enjoy a variety of Latkes from the Latke Cook-O.
Or Atid’s Helen and Sam Kornblau Religious School News
By Alison Litvin Education Coordinator
Though the year has been 5780 for a few months, hello to 2020 and Happy New Year to all!
Winter break is almost over and students and teachers alike are looking forward to new opportunities the new semester will bring. December flew by, with students ending the semester and celebrating Hanukkah with two holiday festivals.
Or Atid’s Youth Education Committee hosted a school-wide Hanukkah carnival for all, baking cookies for tiny hands to decorate, making many a Menorah, and organizing a letter exchange between students and Lone Soldiers in Israel. Hanukkah is a special time of year, celebrating the miracle that happened in Jerusalem together.
The Lone Soldiers, young men and women who move to Israel to join the Israel Defense Forces, live and serve in the very land for which the Maccabees fought for Jewish sovereignty.
The legacy of the Maccabees lives on, and students enjoyed making Hanukkah cards and artwork to share with the modern-day Maccabees of Israel.
Families gathered together for Or Atid’s tastiest new tradition - the Latke CookO. During the month of December, students analyzed and broke down the components of the traditional Latke recipe, then compared its structure to potato pancakes around the world. Students worked together to create their own unique recipes, and families came together to prepare, fry, and taste-test each dish. With bellies full of Latkes, the night was a delicious success enjoyed by all. Or Atid teachers will be joining Jewish educators across Richmond for a community teacher appreciation luncheon during RCJE’s Professional Development Workshop on Jan 5.
The Kornblau Religious School is always open to interested families who are looking to start, continue, or explore their own Jewish Journey. In class, students discover new ways to interact with Jewish holidays and traditions, Israeli culture, Hebrew and Tefillah, and the weekly Parsha.
For more information about the school, and to schedule a tour, please contact Education Coordinator Alison Litvin, at relschool@oratid.org, or call Congregation Or Atid at (804) 740-4747.
Rabbi Hal Schevitz and three students taste and like original Latkes last year.
During Or Atid’s Chanukah Carnival, Or Atid Youth Education Chair, Michal Coey, and her daughter, Sara Beth, have some fun.
Original recipe Latkes prepared by students of the Kornblau Religious School in
2018. (Contributed Photo)
The Or Atid Latke Squad - Jacob Greenberg & Gillian Perschetz Garden Vegetable Latkes
Ingredients • 1 Sweet Potato (shredded) • 1 Russet Potato (shredded) • ½ cup Onion (shredded) • ½ cup Carrot (shredded) • ½ cup Bell Pepper (diced) • 1 tsp. Garlic Powder • 2 Eggs • 1 tbsp. Flour • Cream Cheese (to top)
Directions
Step 1: Wash and peel both types of potatoes. Grate the russet potato and drain completely by wringing the potato through a cheesecloth. Then, grate the sweet potato and onion and add together in the bowl. Add shredded carrot, and mix.
Step 2: Dice the bell pepper and combine with mixture.
Step 3: Add fl our and eggs and mix well. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add additional fl our, one tablespoon at a time, if the batter is runny.
Step 4: Heat oil in a skillet, and test with a small piece of batter. If it sizzles immediately, it’s ready. Working in batches, drop one tablespoon of batter in the oil and fl atten slightly into circles. Fry until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes on each side.
Step 5: Remove latkes from heat and drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Top with cream cheese, and enjoy!
RVA
april 21 - 30, 2020
Israel
85th ANNIVERSARY MISSION
.Jewish Community Happenings Community members donate more than $105,600 on Super Sunday
On Sunday, Dec. 8, in about three hours, nearly 70 volunteers had meaningful conversations with community members and raised $105,634 for the Federation’s 2020 Annual Campaign.
The co-chairs for the second year in a row were Helen Grin and her grandson, Pete Chumbris.
Campaign Chair Adam Plotkin, said, “Wow, what a Sunday we had! Thank you to everyone who came out, volunteered and donated to the Federation Annual Campaign on Super Sunday.”
He added, “Your involvement truly made this year’s Super Sunday the most eective one we’ve had in years. Thanks to the generosity of Let’s Give RVA, and the forethought of the JCFR Allocations Committee, there was $26,000 in incentives made available for local Jewish agencies and Synagogues that participated in the day. Seven dierent organizations were represented by the overwhelming 67 volunteers who took part.”
As a result of the most number of volunteers calling on Super Sunday, board support, most new donors reached and most gifts received, Rudlin Torah Academy will receive $21,000 in incentives. In addition, Congregation Or Ami will receive $5,000 for securing the most increased gifts.
The Super Sunday total included 31 pledges from new donors and 70 increased pledges to the Campaign.
The Federation would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for donating door prizes for volunteers: • University of Richmond • Lustre by Adolf • PJ Library • Perly’s
As a result of Super Sunday and subsequent pledges over the past two weeks, the Campaign total is about $2 million from some 700 donors, as the Reflector goes to press the week of Dec. 18.
It’s not too late to support the 2020 Annual Campaign. To make a gift, contact Jesse Feld, director of Development and Engagement, at (804) 545-8623 or jfeld@jewishrichmond.org.
Yehudis Gruber talks to a community member during Super Sunday. JCFR Photos
Shmuel Soloveichik makes a call.
(From left) Abby and Miriam Olihnenco.
(From left) Joshua Follick and Russ Jennings prepare to make calls.
Franklin Wolf
(ABOVE) Super Sunday CoChair Pete Chumbris holds up a PJ Library apron as a door prize for a volunteer as the Federation’s Jesse Feld announces the winner.
Malky and Moshe with their father, Josh Goldberg, and General Campaign Chair Adam Plotkin. The two children had just made a cash donation during Super Sunday.
RTA alumni at Super Sunday gather for a photo: (Front/left) Emily Dolganski, Jennifer Adams, Sorah Plotkin (with Berel Aharon) and Robyn Galpern; (Back) Josh Goldberg, David Hecht and Pete Chumbris.
(From left) Robyn Galpern, Susan Adolf, Lynn Schwartz and David Galpern were among 67 volunteers.
Thank you to our Super Sunday volunteers
thank you!
Pete Chumbris - Co-Chair Helen Grin - Co-Chair Ellen Renee Adams Jennifer Adams Susan Adolf Aliza Asher Devorah Aronowitz Michael Aronowitz Yehoshua Aronowitz Rabbi Dovid Asher Rivka Bart Rabbi Yosef Bart Elliott Bender Heather Braverman Debbi Braverman Zach Brenner Emily Dolganski Karen Farzad Anna Feld Cynthia Shoham Follick Janet Follick Joshua Follick David Galpern Robyn Galpern Frances Goldman Brian Greene Dana Grin Yehudis Gruber David Hecht Russell Jennings Beth Jones Jacqueline Jones Yali Klestzick Rabbi Yossel Kranz Wendy Kreuter Steve Leibovic Kristen Litchfield Marjorie Menacker Eric Miller Nate Mulberg Amy Nisenson Abby Olihnenco E. Olihnenco Miriam Olihnenco Adam Plotkin Elliot Plotnick Sorah Plotnick Tzofi Rendon Jahaziel Rendon Keith Rakofsky Matthew Rosen Alissa Salomonsky Henry Salomonsky III Lynn Schwartz Sandy Sisisky Rivka Skaist Yosef Skaist Rachel Soloveichik Shmuel Soloveichik Logan Staenberg Elliot Warsof John Weinberg Laurie Weinberg Bob Weisberger Franklin Wolf Alexander Wolman
.Synagogue Happenings
Beth-El Religious School Happenings
By Ramona L. Brand
Director of Youth Learning
Nesiyah Family Services
Nesiyah, means journey. What does it mean to take a journey?
Several definitions include the words trip, passage, voyage, wandering, and the act of traveling from one place to another. This is an apt description of what it means to delve into a Jewish learning.
Jewish learning takes place in the classroom, during youth events but most importantly in the synagogue.
Jewish learning is a family journey, one that must be taken together. The value of passing Judaism “L’Dor V’Dor,” from one generation to the next, is so important that it is included in the Kedushah.
In the V’ahavta, we are instructed to teach our children diligently. Sending children to religious school is an important factor in passing our traditions from one generation to the next. Having family experiences together is also crucial in making Jewish practice an important legacy.
Our Nesiyah family services provide an opportunity to experience as a family and community, life-cycle events, such as Consecration and Confirmation and Shabbat. Our Nesiyah Shabbat services include participation by our children and engage the family in celebrating Shabbat together.
January Nesiyah Family Shabbat
Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. 3330 Grove Ave. in the Sanctuary
January Religious School Calendar:
Sundays: Jan. 12, 19 and 26
Wednesdays: Jan.15, 22 and 29
Pre-K, KOACH & Confirmation- noon, Jan. 26
KOACH - grades 8 & 9 meets from 10 a.m. - noon
Confirmation class meets from 10:30 a.m. - noon
Temple Beth-El Tot Shabbat Services Saturday, Jan. 4
For families with children from infants to age 5. Open to the entire community. Families can enjoy a Shabbat service geared for young children and filled with music, stories, movement and more. A musical, meaningful service designed for wiggles.
Meet at 11:15 a.m.in the Kiddush Room at 3330 Grove Ave. Stay for Kiddush lunch after services.
Youth Programs
Our Youth Groups oer social programs outside Religious School hours. Participates have fun while deepening their engagement with each other and to their Judaism. Some events only for the kids and teens, some are for the entire family!
Some events will be free, while others will have a small fee or donation to support the activity/project. The teen group is led by our teen board under the guidance of our Youth Programs Coordinator Simona Spiegel.
Teen Winter Social
Saturday, Jan. 18
Warm up your winter with a friends, games, food and fun. Details TBD. For more information contact Simona Spiegel at youthcoordinator.bethel@gmail.com
Interfaith Friendship Club Community Social Action Potluck
Sunday: January 19
What: The Interfaith Friendship Club brings families from dierent backgrounds together in order to honor our diversity while celebrating our unity. Good food, games, activities and conversation brings all closer together.
We make new friends and deepen our connections. This month we will perform social action projects together and focus on issues of social justice. Our communities have gathered together for mutual support in recent times of pain and grief. Let us resist pain and hate by joining hearts in joy and understanding.
This is for families of all ages.
Time: 5 -7 p.m.
Location: Albert Hill Middle School, 3400 Patterson Ave.
Cost: Free, bring a Nut-free, vegetarian dish to share.
The special event is in collaboration with Congregation Or Atid, First Baptist Church, Seventh Street Christian Church and The Islamic Center of Virginia. Thanks to Richmond Jewish Foundation’s Rachel B. Banks grant.
For more information or to RSVP contact: coordinator.otmb@gmail.com
Contact Ramona L. Brand, Director of Youth Learning at (804) 355-3564 ext. 111 or r.brand@ bethelrichmond.org to learn more about our vibrant Jewish education and our remarkable congregation or visit http://www.bethelrichmond.org/education/brown-religiousschool/ to find a registration form.
Attendees got to play a People Bingo icebreaker game.
(From left) Ramona Brand, Temple Beth-El; Alison Litvin Congregation Or Atid; Jayme Babczak, Seventh Street Christian Church; Simona Spiegel, Temple Beth-El; and Ann Carter,First Baptist Church; pose together at the first Interfaith Friendship Club gathering in November.
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Beth-El teens in action sprucing up their bulletin board.
Beth Ahabah Congregants of all ages packaged 1,500 meals for the hungry in October.
Contributed Photos
Mitzvah Corps: working together for a better community
Volunteers Victoria and Graham Sheridan help clean headstones at Hebrew Cemetery.
From the halls of the Goldburg Auditorium to the banks of the James River, Beth Ahabah volunteers come together to perform acts of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world.
In 2019, the Tikkun Olam Committee piloted a new program. Instead of focusing on a once-a-year, multi-project Mitzvah Day, the committee planned at least monthly Congregation-wide projects integrated with the religious school curriculum.
Each week, while collecting Tzedakah, the teachers introduce the next Mitzvah Corp project and discuss the middot that the project fulfills; for example, feeding the hungry, comforting the mourner, or being good stewards of the environment.
Mitzvah Corps launched with two dozen congregants sprucing up Hebrew Cemetery prior to the High Holidays. In addition, the 4th grade students created containers to hold rocks for visitors to leave on headstones.
During the High Holidays, the congregation also collected nearly 6,000 pounds of food for the food bank at FEEDMORE to help assuage local hunger. Religious School families also collected food and home care items for the Pantry at Beth Shalom Woods.
In late October, 100 adults and children packaged 1,500 meals for Rise Against Hunger. Beth Ahabah’s packaged meals became part of 285,120 meals from Richmond that will feed school children through the program Muslim Aid in Somalia.
In November, more volunteers spent the afternoon cleaning part of the James River Park system at Belle Isle.
The current projects are collecting donations for Richmond Animal League and an already fully subscribed volunteer day at the Richmond SPCA.
Future projects include activities with residents at Beth Sholom Senior Living in January, Cooking for HomeAgain Men’s Shelter in February, volunteering at Shalom Farms in May and a Campus-wide Clean Up in June. The committee continues its years long commitment to provide, prepare and serve lunch once a month for the Friends of the Homeless Lunch Program at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.
For more on Beth Ahabah events and activities, call the oce at (804) 358-6757.
Families help clean up Belle Isle.
Or Ami happenings in January
Rabbi Ahuva’s acclaimed “Introduction to Judaism” course will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 7 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., and continues every other Tuesday for 16 weeks.
The class will cover diverse approaches to Jewish thought, Jewish life cycle events, holidays and values.
You do not have to be a member of Or Ami, or Jewish to register. “Introduction to Judaism” will be of interest to those considering converting to Judaism or simply wanting to learn more about our customs and beliefs.
Tuition is $50 ($36 for Or Ami members) and may include a partner, friend or family member at no additional cost.
Registration is oered online or call the Or Ami oce at (804) 272-0017.
It’s never too late to enroll your child in Torah Tots or Religious Education. We also have Sarah’s Tent, Or Ami’s Shabbat program for preschool children and their families will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11.
This free event, which is open to
members and non-members alike features live guitar music from Rachel Wolman as well as a pizza-making activity led by Joel Moses. Along with our Shabbat service, we will have fun games to play.
Speaking of play, plan to join us on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. for Or Ami’s family game night. Bring a favorite game to share on this enjoyable evening. More play is scheduled for February 22nd when our OATY teens have their fun(d) raiser, Trivia Game night. From 6:30 pm until 8:30 we will have dinner and competitive trivia! The cost is $10 for adults and $7 for children under the age of twelve. The maximum cost per family is $25.
January is packed with fun events including Reel Theology Movie night on Sunday, Jan. 19 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Rabbi Ahuva’s “Introduction to Judaism” 16-week course will kick o Jan. 7, 7 p.m.
Bring snacks to share and don’t forget about the lively conversation after the movie. For movie details, call the oce at (804) 272- 0017.
Congregation Or Ami is a dynamic, sacred community (Kehillah Kedoshah) located on the Southside of Richmond, which welcomes people of all backgrounds seeking spiritual fulfillment and engagement grounded in principles of the Reform Jewish Movement.
Join us for worship on Friday evenings and for Torah Study most Saturday mornings. Want to know more about Or Ami? Contact us at Belong@Or-Ami.com or check us out at www.Or-Ami.com, follow us on Facebook at face-book.com/OrAmiRichmond, or catch us on Twitter@oramirichmond. We welcome your interest and your inquiries.
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.Synagogue Happenings
Richmond Community gathers at KBI to honor veterans
By Judy Levine-Maizels
On Friday, Nov. 15, Keneseth Beth Israel honored veterans at its 8th Annual Veterans Day Shabbat Dinner.
Serving over 140 people including local veterans and their families, this has become a highly anticipated event.
This year included an amazing meal prepared by a group of wonderful volunteers as well as museum quality displays of Jewish soldiers lost in combat as well as Jewish Medal of Honor recipients provided by the National Museum of American Jewish Military
History in Washington, D.C.
KBI thanks all veterans for their service.
For more on KBI programs, contact the oce at (804) 288-7953.
A photo taken during the event set-up of the many pictures of veterans.
Photos by Judy Levine-Maizels
Rashi Class at KBI
A close up of the photos on display at the 8th Annual Veterans Day Shabbat Dinner.
Drew Alexander, teacher of the KBI
Rashi class Contributed Photo
Every Shabbat morning at KBI, some Shul goers at KBI sneak out of Shacharit (morning) services early (apologies to Rabbi Dovid Asher) and head downstairs, to further their Jewish education with the foremost commentator on the Chumash (Torah), the one and only Rashi.
A note about Rashi: Rashi is an acronym that stands for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki.
Rashi was a medieval French Rabbi who authored a comprehensive, clear commentary on the Torah, which is accessible to all levels of Torah students.
As if learning the Rashi commentaries weren’t enough, this KBI class is taught by Drew Alexander. For those who don’t know Drew, he is a wonderful, down-to-Earth, erudite Chassidic teacher with the patience of Hillel.
The class is for any level, from beginner to expert, and requires no previous knowledge of Hebrew. Although Rashi is common in most Chumashim (Torah books), Drew also brings in other sources, such as the Chayenu, to expound on more dicult portions of the text. (The Chayenu is a compilation of the teachings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.)
Have you ever wondered, “Wow, that is an interesting part of the Parasha (Weekly Torah portion), but something is really bothering me about it”? Then, guess what, you are in great company.
It may turn out that Rashi asked the same question way back in the 11th century! And you thought you were the only one that had those doubts.
Indubitably, every week Drew asks the class, “So, now that we have read the plain English (or Hebrew), what is bothering Rashi?” The participants then spend their time, like the Rabbis of the Talmud, debating various positions and arguments provided in the text--and ultimately agreeing (or disagreeing) with Rashi’s position. Whether they agree or disagree with Rashi, they all connect with why he was such an amazing Chacham [wise person and Torah scholar].
The class oers a panoply of other benefits as well, some of which you may be surprised to learn. For beginning Hebrew students, the grammar lessons given by Rashi and Drew are just invaluable. The class may also spur attendees to want to learn more Hebrew--and they can gain that knowledge by attending one of KBI’s Hebrew classes, given by Rich Goldberg.
For more information about the Shabbat morning Rashi class at KBI, please contact the Synagogue oce.
KBI investing in the future: parking lot addition
The gateway to Keneseth Beth Israel just got a lot bigger.
The board is excited by the Synagogue’s recent growth and with it the need for more parking. In November, that number went from 36 parking spaces to 51 spots – 15 more places to park when volunteering for the Food Festival preparation, participating in Shabbat and weekday services, or attending a class.
In recent years, KBI has grown in membership, and the new parking lot welcomes those new to Richmond as well as those locals, long-time members who will now experience a new first impression of one of Richmond’s oldest Jewish institutions. Founded in 1856, KBI has moved from Mayo Street (1869), 19th Street (1908), to the Boulevard (1948), and eventually to its current
A photo of Keneseth Beth Israel’s freshly paved, expanded parking lot. Photo credit: Je Lessin
location on Patterson Avenue.
Since the move west in 1970, the building has been a warm place full of vibrant Jewish learning, community, and prayer. The parking lot, on the other hand, reached 48 years old this year and was in desperate need of replacement. In September, the board voted to make the necessary investment for our future as a congregation and to pave the parking lot. Like many major structural costs, these expenses could have threatened to make a significant dent in our annual budget. The shul would like to thank the donors who made this lot expansion possible, especially a dear friend of the congregation, Mr. Marcus Weinstein, who is the grandson of our late past-president, Mr. Frank Roth obm. Our inspired donors have contributed towards making the expanding home for Richmond’s traditional Jewish practice much more welcoming and more safe. On behalf of the KBI board, we would like to thank those who enabled these improvements to come to fruition.
Make the choice today to impact the future.
Call (804) 545-8656 to include a gift in your will or trust.
robert@rjfoundation.org www.createlegacy.org
Choral Workshop and Community Havdalah Concert set for Saturday, Feb. 8
By Cantor Sarah Beck-Berman
Congregation Beth Ahabah invites all to celebrate Shabbat Shirah with our artist-in-residence for the weekend, Cantor Linda Hirschhorn!
Cantor Hirschhorn is an acclaimed singer, songwriter, choir director and storyteller whose songs and arrangements have been published in major anthologies, and her compositions have become staples of youth and adult choruses around the country.
One of Cantor Hirschhorn’s passions is bringing together groups of all singing levels and abilities and teaching them concert-level choral music that is simple yet sophisticated enough for all to enjoy.
I invite you to register now for a Choral Workshop led by Cantor Hirschhorn on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 4-5:30 p.m. Participants will learn a few songs that we will perform during Cantor Hirschhorn’s Havdalah Concert later that evening!
The workshop is free but registration is requested.
Visit bethahabah.org/event/choral-workshop-2020.html to register.
The Community Havdalah Concert is free and open to all, beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8. Along with Cantor Hirschhorn’s fabulous voice and storytelling, the concert will feature a few pieces performed by Choral Workshop participants.
Cantor Hirschhorn’s previous performances have been compared to “Joan Baez and Carole King rolled into one amazing vocalist.”
For more information about these events, or to receive advanced copies of the Choral Workshop music after registration, contact Cantor Sarah Beck-Berman at 804- 358-6757 (ext. 317) or cantorbeckberman@bethahabah. org.
To listen to her music and learn more about Cantor Hirschhorn, visit www.lindahirschhorn.com.
