A Publication of the Greensboro Jewish Federation, Greensboro, North Carolina www.shalomgreensboro.org
VOL. 41, NUMBER 2 - OCTOBER 2015, TISHRI-CHESHVAN 5776
FOSTERING COMMITMENT AND RESOURCES WHICH STRENGTHEN AND ENRICH JEWISH LIFE LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY
Former Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren to address Greensboro Community
Sunday, October 4
Inside:
Pages 2 - Feed Your Mind and Soul Page 3 - Federation and UNC-G sponsor Oren's visit Page 7 - JFS Celebrates the New Year
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Federation
Feed Your Mind and Soul Alison Lebovitz, author and television host to speak at Opening Women’s Philanthropy Cabinet program
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ccording to author, television the former co-chair of National Young host, speaker and nonprofit Leadership for The Jewish Federations executive, Alison Lebovitz, “Each of of North America and currently us has the power and responsibility to serves on numerous nonprofit make this world a better place.” boards. Lebovitz is co-founder and The Greensboro president of One Clip at a Jewish Federation Time, a nonprofit inspired by Women’s Philanthropy the Paper Clips Project that Cabinet invites you to promotes student activism join them as they toast and supports service learning to a sweet New Year with in classrooms across North bubbles and treats at America. She is a graduate their 2016 opening event of Brandeis University and on Wednesday, October holds a master’s degree in 14 at 7:30 p.m. The event radio/television/film from to be held at the home of Northwestern University. of Victoria Milstein will The event is open to Alison Lebovitz feature Alison Lebovitz. all Jewish women in the Lebovitz will share with community. Cost is $18. the group the importance of finding To register go to www. greatness in small moments and what shalomgreensboro.org, call 336inspires her to give generously. 852-5433 x233 or email dhines@ Lebovitz is the host of "The A shalomgreensboro.org. List with Alison Lebovitz," a weekly television series for PBS that airs in Tennessee and the author of, "Am I There Yet?" a collection of her candid essays and life-inspired stories. She is
GJF Maimonides Society
END OF LIFE SERIES
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he Greensboro Jewish Federation Maimonides Society begins a three-program series addressing end-of-life issues beginning Sunday, November 1, at the Federation office. The program will begin with the viewing of BEING MORTAL WITH ATUL GAWANDE. Gawande is a surgeon, public health researcher and best selling author whose most recent book BEING MORTAL, tackles the hardest challenge for physicians: How medicine can not only improve life, but also the process of ending it. Following the viewing, the group will engage in a facilitated conversation about issues and topics raised in the film. The panel will be facilitated by Risa Hanau, VP of Clinical Services at Hospice & Palliative Care of Greensboro. Panelists include: Dr. Vinay K. Gudena, HematologistOncologist at Cone Health Cancer Center, Dr. Joseph (Jody) Stern, Neurosurgeon with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, Vivian Sheidler, RN, System-Wide Manager, Clinical Research at Cone Health Cancer Center, and Lois Mezer, MSW, Clinical Social Worker, facilitator of Alzheimer Caregiver Support he Greensboro extraordinary work Group. The discussion will focus on Jewish Federation of Federations. ethical and moral issues along invites you to Plan now to join with local case study examples be a part of the members of our of situations that speak to community delegation Federation staff attending the premier the importance of having and community leadership experience volunteer leaders in conversations with patients as for Federation treatment gets initiated or as it Washington. The volunteer leaders and continues. GA inspires and professionals and those In relation to this program, engages current and engaged in the business members of the Greensboro emerging Jewish of Jewish Philanthropy, Jewish Federation Maimonides leaders, tackles the Jewish Federations Society are encouraged to the most critical of North America attend the Bryan Series lecture issues of the day and showcases the 2015 General Assembly. The GA where Dr. Atul Gawande will be best of the Federation movement. will be held in Washington, D.C. speaking on October 20, 2015 For further information and to on November 8-10 and will feature at the Coliseum. Discounted register go to www.generalassembly. top political figures, exceptional tickets are available through org or call Marilyn Chandler at the thought leaders and phenomenal Maimonides. Greensboro Jewish Federation at speakers. It will celebrate and share Session 2 to be held 336-852-5433, x236. best practices and showcase the on February 21, 2016 will explore Jewish perspectives General Assembly Washington, D.C. - November 8 - 10 2015 surrounding end-of-life
THINK FORWARD 2015 JFNA General Assembly
Join Greensboro Jewish community leaders in Washington
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OCTOBER 2015
decision making. Dr. JuanCarlos Monguilod, Chief Medical Officer, Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro will provide an overview of some frequent care decisions and care options that many people are faced with as end-oflife nears. Rabbi Eliezer Havivi, Beth David Synagogue, Rabbi Andy Koren, Temple Emanuel, Rabbi Yosef Plotkin, Chabad of Greensboro, and Cantor/ Chaplain Katy Claussen will share how Judaism may inform and guide these decisions. The series concludes with Session 3 on April 3, 2016. The closing session will invite the entire Jewish community to participate in a learning opportunity about making endof-life decisions. Discussion will surround the importance of having conversations with our loved ones about care choices, the importance of starting these conversations when we are young and continuing them throughout life. Documents such as Advanced Directives – Living Will, and Healthcare Power of Attorney will be reviewed and made available to be completed to assist in letting others know our wishes. Risa Hanau, VP of Clinical Services, Hospice & Palliative Care of Greensboro will be the presenter. The Maimonides Society Steering Committee is chaired by Gary Fischer and includes members: Sherry Dickstein, Risa Hanau, Mark Hyman, Eric Kraus, Neil Lutins, Steve Mackler, Don Murinson, Richard Rosen, Deb Schoenhof, Jeff Segal, and Jody Stern. To learn more about the opening Maimonides series program or to register to attend, please go to www. shalomgreensboro.org or call 336-852-5433 x233. The GJF Maimonides Society is committed to be at the forefront of Jewish education, networking, philanthropy and social actions for members of the healthcare profession. The Maimonides Builder’s Society recognizes healthcare professionals who make a yearly Campaign contribution of $1,000 or more to the Greensboro Jewish Federtion Annual Campaign.
Risa Hanau, VP of Clinical Services at Hospice & Palliative Care of Greensboro
Dr. Vinay K. Gudena, HematologistOncologist at Cone Health Cancer
Dr. Joseph (Jody) Stern, Neurosurgeon with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates
Vivian Sheidler, RN, System-Wide Manager, Clinical Research at Cone Health Cancer Center
Lois Mezer, MSW, Clinical Social Worker, facilitator of Alzheimer Caregiver Support Group
Federation
www.shalomgreensboro.org Executive Director’s Column By Marilyn Forman Chandler Executive Director, Greensboro Jewish Federation
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obert and I just returned from Paris where we celebrated the B’nai Mitzvah of the eldest children of our former French exchange student, Laetitia and her husband Olivier. We attended a packed Sephardic Orthodox shul for services from Thursday through Saturday, witnessed new customs, heard new melodies and enjoyed so many wonderful conversations. The Jewish community in Paris is vibrant, active, and joyous. We felt a true joie de vivre (joy of living).
Synagogues go unmarked with only a mezuzah on the entrance door frame. One knows there is a synagogue behind the door by the armed guards who stand nearby. I was reminded of our Federation Board of Trustees discussion back in January 2015, in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo and the Hypercacher Kosher Market shootings. We responded to Marilyn Forman a plea from Kathy Chandler Manning, JFNA’s immediate past president of the Board, by voting to grant funds from our Federation to support JFNA’s French Jewry Security Fund. “Je Suis Charlie.” I had to go see the Hypercacher for myself. I hadn’t realized just how close it was to Laetitia and Olivier’s home and that their family regularly shopped there for kosher meat and other products. There are barriers with guards when the store is open, posters depicting those murdered, flowers and a memorial shaped by candles in the form of a Jewish star. My photos can only attempt to share the impact of the murders on the Kosher market in Paris.
And, wow, did we “Feed Our Souls” (our 2016 campaign theme)! Special treats included croissants and pain au chocolat and “piece montee” made for the Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebration. This exquisite French dessert is comprised of pastry balls filled with custard piled high onto a coneshaped mountain and bound together with threads of caramel. France has about 500,000 Jews (the third largest Jewish population in the world) of which 350,000 live in Paris. A majority emigrated from North Africa after WWII. Laetitia and Olivier’s families both emigrated from Tunisia and Morocco. Attending services in France made me feel somewhat vulnerable on the one hand and totally safe on the other due to the presence of French government soldiers at all Jewish community institutions from the Holocaust memorial to the synagogue. This symbol shows what your annual campaign tzedakah accomplishes. Through the Greensboro Jewish Federation, your tzedakah touches Jewish lives in our own Jewish community, in Israel and throughout the diaspora.
and concern. When we asked about concerns regarding anti-Semitism and whether French Jews were leaving to go to Israel, the answer around the table was a guarded “yes”. And when we asked if they had any friends who were making Aliyah, they started naming them. The Aliyah rate from France has risen dramatically; close to 10,000 made Aliyah last year, with 15,000 predicted for 2015. The Jewish Agency for Israel, a Federation partner and overseas beneficiary, assists those Jews moving to Israel. Some are purchasing apartments in Israel and some have obtained dual citizenship. However, France is the country they call home. The visit to France was an opportunity to share a simcha with family and friends. It was also an opportunity to see firsthand the importance of the work we do with Federation. I left with a mixture of sorrow and pride. Sad to experience the angst of recent events in the lives of the Jews of France and proud to know that we at the Greensboro Jewish Federation are there to support them.
HONOR OF: Mazel Tov to Victoria Carlin Milstein on the marriage of her daughter, Dina From: Gary and Ellen Fischer IN MEMORY OF:
Buy One Dozen Bagels, get SIX BAGELS FREE!
(No expiration date)
1577 D New Garden Road 336-763-0380
Federation and UNC-G Host Ambassador Michael Oren
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Community Enrichment Fund
During Shabbat dinner and Shabbat lunch we had long conversations about the Syrian refugees and the pros and cons of the Iran Deal, but it was the shootings at Charlie Hebdo and the Hypercacher, which really captured everyone’s passion
SHALOM GREENSBORO 3
Of: Jack Hoffmann From: Ronnie and Kathy Jones
he Greensboro Jewish Federation and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro are hosting a community event featuring Former Israeli Ambassador Michael B. Oren on Sunday, October 4 at 2 p.m. at the UNC-G School of Music, Theatre, and Dance Recital Hall at 100 McIver Street. Ambassador Oren will be speaking about "Israel, Iran, and the U.S.-Israel Relationship." The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Ambassador Oren is an Americanborn, Israeli historian and served as Israel’s Ambassador to the United States from 20092013. He is the author of two New York Times bestsellers-Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East to the Present and Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the National Jewish Book Award. His recent book Ally: My Journey Across the AmericanIsraeli Divide focuses on the relationship between the two countries. Throughout his illustrious career as a Middle East scholar, Ambassador Oren has been a distinguished fellow at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem, a contributing editor to The New Republic, and a visiting professor at Harvard, Yale and Georgetown University. He is a current member of the Israeli Knesset and lives with his family in Tel Aviv. If you would like to attend, or for disability accommodations, please register at www.shalomgreensboro.org or contact Christina Schiffler at 336-852-5433 x238.
GO PAPERLESS
Need less paper in your life? The GJF is once again offering to send your quarterly statement reminders of campaign pledges and other billings due by email. We agree that the less paper the better for all: you, the Federation and the environment. Please let us know that you’d like to receive your statement by email. Once you subscribe, you will no longer automatically receive a paper copy in the USPS mail. Please call Empy at 852-5433 x 230 or send your info. by email to: empy@shalomgreensboro.org
4 SHALOM GREENSBORO
Federation
OCTOBER 2015
From the Campaign Trail
Greetings from the Campaign Trail! By Emily Kranz, 2016 Women’s Campaign Chair
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’ve had the pleasure of working with the 2016 Campaign team for almost three months now, and daily I am thankful to be partnered with this amazing group. In the last issue of Shalom Greensboro you were introduced to Lenny Samet, Phyllis Shavitz, our new Assistant Director Emily Gray, and me. In this issue I would like to bring you up to speed on what we have been working on. The Federation strives to nourish people physically and spiritually both at home and overseas. Each of you who attends a Federation program feeds your soul by nourishing your knowledge and commitment to Judaism. Each of you who journeys on a Federation mission feeds your soul by exploring Jewish communities and customs around the world. Each of you who donates to Federation feeds your soul, and the souls of the Jewish people all over the world. For these reasons “Feed your Soul” has been selected as the theme of the Greensboro Jewish Federation’s 2016 Campaign. During the upcoming campaign year, we challenge you to feed your soul and we invite you to share how and why you choose Federation to help you do so. The Campaign chairs have been busy preparing our event calendar and building their solicitation teams for the year. To start our fundraising off on the right foot, Alina Spaulding, who tours nationally for Jewish Federation’s of North America, will share her extensive knowledge of both development and successful
SHALOM GREENSBORO
and Israel. Ambassador Oren will be speaking on October 4, 2 p.m. at the UNC-G Music Theatre and Dance, Recital Hall. Admission is free, but reservations are required and you are asked to bring a canned good to help feed those in need in Greensboro. For more information and to register go to www. shalomgreensboro.org, call Federation at 336-852-5433 x238 or email cshiffler@ shalomgreensboro.org. Thank you to Randall Kaplan, Kathy Manning, and Debby Miller for their assistance in bringing Dr. Oren to our community. The Campaign Team has enjoyed exploring wonderful ideas about how to incorporate our theme, Feed Your Soul, throughout our campaign The Campaign Team (L to R): Emily Gray, Marilyn Chandler, year. All Jews everywhere Lenny Samet, Marc Isaacson and Emily Kranz. appreciate good food and the 2016 Campaign will celebrate campaign the Jewish palate with a brand leadership at a new and super exciting Kickoff solicitor training event to be held in January. event. If you You will not want to miss it. have not yet been In closing, I would like invited to solicit to thank the Federation and would like to and my co-chairs for this help please call amazing opportunity. I had Federation at 336a wonderful invigoration 852-5433 x233. of my soul while in Israel In October, with the Jewish Women’s Greensboro Jewish Renaissance Project this Federation and summer, which led me to UNC-G welcome accept the challenge of the Ambassador 2016 Women’s campaign. Michael Oren who American-Israeli Divide gives Already I see that I am going will be speaking at an event intimate insight into his time to gain much more than open to the entire Greensboro as Ambassador and IsraeliI could possibly give. To community. As a current American relations. Having be so fully immersed and member of the Israeli Knesset listened to several interviews and former Israeli Ambassador and podcasts with Ambassador connected to my Greensboro Jewish community is a true to the United States, Dr. Oren Oren, I know this is going blessing. I am reminded has a unique perspective to be an interesting and every day that the Federation and impressive knowledge informative event, and I ask stands for all of us, and is on Israeli and American each of you to please come out always there to Feed our politics. His recent book and show your support for the Ally: My Journey Across the Greensboro Jewish community Souls.
For all your printing and direct mail needs! Office: 336.855.2622 Toll Free: 887.271.3004 FREE ESTIMATES
estimates@pdmgso.com
901-A Norwalk St Greensboro, NC 27407
WWW.SHALOMGREENSBORO.ORG 2015-2016 FEDERATION OFFICERS President Keith Rosen President Elect Marc Isaacson Vice President Arthur Samet Vice President Jenny Kaiser Vice President Aaron Strasser Vice President Sue Simmons Secretary John Cohen Treasurer Laurence Goldberg EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Marilyn Chandler Rachel Wolf Dianne Hines Gabriel Fraire Anyone interested in helping shape Shalom Greensboro by participating in the editorial board should contact Gabriel Fraire at jfededitor@shalomgreensboro.org
FEDERATION STAFF 336-852-5433 MARILYN CHANDLER, ext. 236 Executive Director EMILY GRAY, ext. 237 Assistant Director MICHELE PERRELL, ext. 231 Director of Finance and Human Resources DIANNE HINES, ext. 233 Campaign and Program Associate EMPERATRIZ PEREZ, ext. 230 Accounting Asst. GABRIEL FRAIRE, 681-7227 Federation Editor/Graphic Designer CHRISTINA SHIFFLER, ext. 238 Administrative Assistant JEWISH FOUNDATION OF GREENSBORO SUSAN R. GUTTERMAN, 852-0099 Endowment Director MELANIE VERGES, Stewardship, Program, and Communications Coordinator 294-0846 DEBORAH LINDLEY, 852-8462 Senior Financial and Technology Associate JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES MAIN NUMBER, 852-4829 BETSY GAMBURG, ext. 225 JFS Director DAVID FRAZIER, ext. 227 Volunteer Coordinator KATY CLAUSSEN, ext. 228 Chai Notes Facilitator MARCIA HERMELIN, ext. 222 Administrative Assistant MARLENE BARUCH, ext. 224 Congregational Nurse BETH CHILDS, ext. 226 Clinical Social Worker
Shalom Greensboro is published ten times a year from September through May, and June/July, by the Greensboro Jewish Federation, 5509-C West Friendly Ave., Guilford Corporate Park, Greensboro, NC 27410-4211. Telephone: (336) 852-5433. Fax: (336) 852-4346. Its purpose is to provide informational and educational coverage of Jewish news, events and programs in the greater Greensboro and Guilford County areas. The opinions expressed on the Opinion page do not necessarily express the views of the Greensboro Jewish Federation. Delivery is on or before the first of the month. News of community-wide activities are welcome but must be submitted either on a disk or by email to: jfededitor@ shalomgreensboro.org. Photographs are accepted accompanied by captions. Please include the date, the contact person and a phone number with your articles and photographs.
www.shalomgreensboro.org
Foundation
How You Can Create a Jewish Legacy
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he Create a Jewish Legacy initiative began in 2006 as a partnership with American Hebrew Academy, B’nai Shalom Day School, Beth David Synagogue, Temple Emanuel and the Federation to benefit our community. Cathy Levinson chaired this initiative that secured 155 legacies from 50 families. Michael Berkelhammer, former Foundation Chair, is the new Create a Jewish Legacy chair. Some individuals are fortunate enough to be able to make significant gifts to the institutions they are passionate about and be recognized and honored during their lifetimes. Others make annual gifts but do not feel they are in a position to make a substantial gift. They are concerned about having enough money to last through retirement and to leave to their heirs. Fortunately, there are many ways to leave a gift after your lifetime. This is what we mean by “legacy” gift. More than just a monetary gift, it is a testament to your values and your life story that you are sharing with your heirs and our community. By working with the Foundation, you can make those plans and be recognized now for a gift that will be made in the future. There are many ways to leave a legacy gift to the organizations of your choice through the Jewish Foundation of Greensboro. By establishing a named endowment fund ("designated fund"), you can permanently endow one or more organizations that will then receive an annual distribution. The following are some common ways to establish a designated fund: Bequest. You may leave a legacy gift in your Will or trust. Cash gift. You may create a designated fund during your lifetime using cash or appreciated assets such as stocks, bonds, or real estate. Life insurance. You may name the Jewish
Foundation of Greensboro as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy. Discuss the tax deductibility of premiums with your financial advisor. Individual Retirement Account (IRA)/Pension Plan. You may assign the Foundation as a beneficiary. Charitable Remainder Trust. (CRT) A CRT provides for distributions to one or more individuals for a specified length of time then leaves the remainder of the trust to one or more designated charities. The distributions can be a percentage of the value of the trust (Charitable Remainder Unitrust or CRUT) or a fixed amount (Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust or CRAT). Consider your legacy – what is it that you wish to share? Whom do you want to honor? Which institutions, both Jewish and secular, have been important to you? You might discuss these questions with your parents, significant other, and children. When you have an idea of which institutions you would like to support, contact the Foundation, and we can schedule a confidential conversation to discuss how you can accomplish your goals. The next step is to complete a yellow sheet which is a “Declaration of Intent,” choosing which institutions will be included in your legacy plans. The next step is to meet with your financial and legal advisors or make changes to beneficiary designations on your retirement account or life insurance policy. The Declaration of Intent is not legally binding, and you can change amounts or organizations at any time. Once your Declaration of Intent is signed, you will be a member of our Legacy Society, and if you wish for us to share your intentions with the institutions you have selected, you will be part of their Legacy Societies as well. Talk to your financial advisor about which option is best for you. Please contact Susan R. Gutterman, J.D. at 336852-0099 for a confidential discussion of your Jewish Legacy. What will your legacy be?
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SHALOM GREENSBORO 5
“Book of Life" Donor Spotlight Charlotte Hurwitz, z”l
call myself an “itinerant teacher.” I have always been a student and an educator, as was my late husband, Melvin. We even met at school, at a Hillel gathering at the University of Chicago. I was an undergraduate, and he was working toward his master’s degree. After we married in 1943, we both studied and then taught at Cornell. Melvin got a job as a textile engineer in Pennsylvania, and we moved to a town that had a Conservative synagogue nearby – but no Reform congregation. My father was a kosher butcher in Roger’s Park, Illinois, so we kept strictly kosher. I did not like the Orthodox shul we belonged to and avoided going whenever I could; it was humiliating for me to be crammed with the other women and girls into the back rows while the men sat up front and ran the service. There was no Sunday school for women, and certainly no bat mitzvah celebration. I found no joy in this religion filled with these blatant inequalities, and I wanted a different experience for my three children – especially my two daughters. So instead of joining the Conservative synagogue in Pennsylvania, we founded Temple Zion, a small Reform congregation with services held in the nearby Southampton Friends Meeting
House. I taught Sunday school and provided bar and bat mitzvah tutoring. The temple is no longer there; but we formed close friendships, and I am still in touch with our Rabbi. Temple Zion was always small, a labor of our own love. When our children outgrew the religious education we were able to provide for them at our own Temple, we sent them to Hebrew school at Knesset Israel, the oldest Reform congregation in the United States. In 1978, after our children had grown up, we moved to Greensboro and returned to teaching, Melvin at UNCG and I at Guilford Tech, as married couples at that time were not allowed to teach at the same university. We joined Temple Emanuel, and I once again got involved teaching Sunday school and tutoring bar and bat mitzvah students. I was active in the Sisterhood for a long time. I love to teach, and I love to help others. My parents, who were Russian immigrants, instilled this value in me as they worked to bring other family members from Russia to the United States. In our lives, Melvin and I tried to teach our children by example as well. They have been honest and honorable and worked very hard, and I hope that they continue to do so.
Jewish Family Services
6 SHALOM GREENSBORO
Todah Rabah
OCTOBER 2015
A Frozen Yogurt Outing
We thank the following people for their contributions to Jewish Family Services. All contributions to JFS are used for client assistance unless otherwise specified by the donor.
Jewish Family Services In Memory: Of: Irving Chandler From: Fran and Steve Bombart Linda Fleishman Marcia and Les Hermelin Lois and Howard Mezer Of: Alfred Freiberger From: Fran and Steve Bombart Of: Beverly Laster Friedman From: Lois and Howard Mezer Chai Notes In Honor: Of: Katy Claussen From: Fay and Daniel Marks Food Pantry Gail Joseph Susan Strumwasser
JFS & Federation thanked our summer intern, Jessica Kellam, from Guilford College for all her hard work this summer. Jessica spent much time working on the food pantry, the Federation's archive file, assisted with volunteer activities, helped with Sign Up Genius and created new flyers and written materials. Jessica is beginning her junior year and will continue to volunteer with us two days a week. She will be working on food collection for our pantry at Guilford College and will continue to help JFS with the food pantry.
We apologize if we have missed anyone’s contribution. Please call Jewish Family Services at 852-4829, ext. 222 if we missed you, and we will include you in the next issue. The minimum donation for each submission is $10.00. Thank you.
What’s Jewish About Breast Cancer?
Next JFS Employment Workshop
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Using Social Media During Career Transition With Teddy Burriss, Social Media Consultant, Coach & Trainer, Public Speaker, Career Coach Teddy is a dynamic and engaging speaker and an all-around nice guy. You don’t want to miss this workshop!
Wednesday, October 28 7:00 p.m. Jewish Family Services 5509C W. Friendly Avenue Greensboro RSVP to Betsy Gamburg bgamburg@shalomgreensboro.org or 852-4829, ext. 225.
You can donate one bag of food for $20 to the JFS Food Pantry by going to: https://greensboro.secure-fedweb. jewishfederations.org/page/ contribute/donate-to-jfs Thank You!
By Marlene Baruch, RN, MSN Congregational Nurse ne in 40 men and women of Ashkenazi (Central or Eastern European) Jewish descent carries a genetic mutation that greatly increases the risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer, nearly 10 times the rate of the general population. Researchers have determined that women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have an increased genetic susceptibility to breast cancer and ovarian cancer, primarily due to the increased likelihood of carrying a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. If you or your partner is of Ashkenazi descent, genetic counseling and testing can help you determine if either of you carries a BRCA gene mutation. Knowing this information can impact the course of action you and your family choose to pursue. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer or ovarian cancer, learning more about your genetic background may influence your surgery and treatment decisions. If you haven’t been diagnosed, but you have a strong family history of cancer, learning more about your genetic background may help you identify options that could reduce your risk of developing cancer and assist in early cancer detection. The likelihood that breast cancer and ovarian cancer are associated with BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes is highest in families with histories of multiple cases of breast cancer, cases of both breast and ovarian cancer, families where one or more family members have two primary cancers and ovarian cancer at any age. Many insurance companies cover the cost of genetic testing in those who meet genetic criteria. Screening should be discussed with a certified genetic counselor or your health care provider. Marlene can be reached at 852-4829,
ext. 224 or mbaruch@shalomgreensboro. org and is in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This program is funded in part by BJH Foundation for Senior Services
Our Young Adult Special Needs group continues to meet quarterly and enjoyed an outing at Menchie's to spend time together. Volunteers and others joined them to enjoy sitting together "front porch" style. Summer activities and school and work plans were the topics under discussion. The frozen yogurt was great and the chance to enjoy late summer together was fun. Future plans include helping at Abbotswood for the JFS community Hanukah party.
English as a Second Language Class enjoys traditional Russian dance and music
Some of our Russian older adults from the ESL class enjoyed a performance of traditional Russian dance and music and ended the concert with a group picture including the lead singer.
The English as a Second Language Class, under the capable direction of Christina Shiffler, meets weekly and serves as both a place for our older Russian adults to practice and develop their language skills as well as lively place to socialize and catch up on the news of the day. The group has celebrated holidays together with parties in their classroom, at JFS, and in the home of a past teacher. While English is the focus, topics and programs have focused on
falls prevention, avoiding scams, good nutrition, sharing stories of their past, music and many others. An outing to vote together and a trip to the Farmer's Market have been enjoyable. At the end of the summer, a field trip was arranged to the Walkertown Library to see a performance by the Golden Gates and Moscow Nights dancers. Their beautiful costumes, traditional instruments, and the Russian folk dances made a memorable afternoon.
www.shalomgreensboro.org
Jewish Family Services
SHALOM GREENSBORO 7
JFS Celebrates the New Year
Betsy Gamburg (center) with Illein Youngman (left) and Goldie Wetter. Volunteers pose for a group shot at the Rosh Hashana Gift Bag Assembly and Delivery Program.
Beth Childs, JFS Social Worker, poses with guest Harvey Broder.
Photos provided by David Haber, Ivan Cutler, and David Friazier
Marilyn Chandler, Executive Director of the Greensboro Jewish Federation, greets guests. Guest enjoying themselves... Shana Tovah!
Volunteers busy with the soup.
Volunteers Debbie Barry and Lori Heimann worked hard but enjoyed themselves.
Rabbi Eli Havivi sounding the shofar.
...and each other's company. Thank you to the great kitchen crew.
Leslie Conway from Well Spring, our corporate sponsor, presents the door prize.
144 guests attended the Rosh Hashana Senior Lunch & 101 gift bags were delivered Volunteers scurried to prepare for the Jewish New Year season by participating in two annual senior events. At the Rosh Hashanah Senior Luncheon, guests enjoyed a festive kosher meal and heard the blowing of the shofar at Beth David Synagogue. One hundred and forty-four attendees shared in the fun and enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by Joy Thomas. The Rosh Hashanah Gift Bag Assembly And Delivery program held at JFS provided holiday gift bags for over 100 seniors. Children and families, teens, and adults all spent an afternoon putting the bags together and enjoyed a pizza lunch. We are grateful to all our volunteers, to the BJH Foundation for Senior Services, to Well Spring, and to Foster-Caviness for their generous sponsorship and assistance in making these programs possible.
Children and teens were important participants in getting the work done.
Max Doroshevich (left) and his brother Dimitri at the gift bag program.
Volunteers work together to package over 100 bags for older adults.
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Federation
OCTOBER 2015
Cuba Mission
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orty members of the Greensboro Jewish Federation will be departing on October 7 for a five-day mission to Cuba. Cuba is a country rich in tradition and mission delegates will discover the history and dynamics of the small, but vibrant Cuban Jewish community.
Board of Trustees Meeting
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abbis Fred Guttman and Andy Koren of Temple Emanuel, Rabbi Michael Ross of Beth David Synagogue, Susan Seigel of B'nai Shalom Day School and Dr. Gary Grandon of the American Hebrew Academy participated in a panel discussion at the Greensboro Jewish Federation September board meeting about the status of Jewish Education. The discussion focused on affordability and encouraging local students to attend. Cuba mission leaders at the orientation meeting for Cuba mission (L to R): Erin and Keith Rosen, Jen and Aaron Strasser, Jerry and Linda Shapiro.
Interfaith Mission
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reensboro Jewish Federation in cooperation with the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and National Conference for Community and Justice of the Piedmont Triad has begun recruitment for the 7th Interfaith Study Mission to Israel, March 6 - 17, 2016.
(L-R) Rabbi Andy Koren, Dr. Gary Grandon and Susan Seigel
Ivan Canada, executive director of the Interfaith Study Mission to Israel addresses the group of potential mission participants. The mission is cosponsored by the Federation, NCCJ (National Conference for Community and Justice) and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.
www.shalomgreensboro.org
Federation
SHALOM GREENSBORO 9
Maimonides Society The Greensboro Jewish Federation Maimonides Society began its Fall programming on Sunday September 20 with an evening featuring Dr. Timothy Lane addressing “Infectious Diseases in the 21st Century and the Growing Reality of Antibiotic Resisitance.� The dessert reception was held at the home of Joan and Sam LeBauer.
Maimonides Chair, Gary Fischer blows the shofar to welcome guests.
(L-R) Robin Lane, Risa Hanau, Marian Stein, Elizabeth Applebaum and Ellen Fischer.
(L-R) Hosts, Sam and Joan LeBauer; Guest Speaker, Tim Lane; Maimonides Chair, Gary Fischer; and Mens Campaign Chair, Lenny Samet.
Guest Speaker Tim Lane.
Federation
10 SHALOM GREENSBORO
OCTOBER 2015 Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle
“A Moment of Silence” By Yoni Glatt Across
Down
Crossword Answers P 12
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1. ___ Chip Frappuccino (option at 1. 55-Across translated Howard Schultz's chain) 2. Air raid siren, e.g. 5. Like Natalie Portman in "Black Swan" 3. Alex Clare's "War Rages On," e.g. 4. Where Samson's jawbone came from 10. Deli staple 5. Follower of Israel's Galei Tzahal 14. Roth and Wallach 6. March's was on Purim in 2014 15. Like a day when "chatzot" is noon, 7. ___ Talks (what ELI Talks are modeled after) Talmudically 8. Ahasuerus had one 16. At first, David did it with his sword 9. In Heaven before deciding to use pebbles against 10. Asian version of Mossad Goliath instead 11. Two-time Super Bowl champ John Frank, 17. Oodles of shekels once, for short 18. Parsha 12. One from Shushan, now (Var.) 19. ___ Yisrael 13. Routine 20. Location of the Limerick Boycott of 21. Ayin alternative the Jews: Abbr. 23. Upsherin sound 21. Moments of pressure for Abe 26. First class on El Al, e.g. 27. Bungler Saperstein's team 28. Coveted 22. Some Abrams extras 30. Much of Syria, biblically 24. Abbr. in a bar mitzvah invite 32. A Schechter might have one: Abbr. 25. Have a chat 33. In 2015, JTS sold this kind of rights to its 27. Yutz campus 29. Dreyfus was sent to Devil's Island, 34. Sarnoff 's studio which was this kind of colony 35. "Too ___ Hot" (number in a musical with a 31. "To ___ For", 1995 Phoenix film book by the Spewacks) 32. ___ up, as Ben Cohen and Jerry 37. Marvelous Arad? Greenfield did in Vermont in 1978 38. Sportscaster Berman 36. One of many works attributed to 39. Site of a 1933 anti-Hitler rally: Abbr. David 42. Cafeteria latke measures 40. Word that appears three times in the 45. "___ O Lord God! Behold, I know not to speak for I am a youth" (Jerem. 1:6) title of a Sherman Brothers song written 47. Sidekick in Donner's "Superman" for Disneyland 49. ___ Hashem, youth group 41. It comes before Gan? 51. Strong 43. Burl who co-starred with Newman in 52. Regarding one of 613 "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof " 53. Haim sister 44. Coffee chain with 125 Israeli branches 54. Spain's 1492 Alhambra Decree, for example 46. "___ Evil: Nazi Imagery/Recent Art" 56. Abdul art (Jewish Museum exhibition) 57. Graff of "Mr. Belvedere" 48. Like Deuteronomy, verse 24:15, for 58. Spoof the Torah: Abbr. 61. "If ___ the World- The Life of Lyn P. 50. Like traditional Jewish descent Meyerhoff " by Karen Folk 51. Word before "Hasenpfeffer 64. Marks of a kosher cookbook? 66. Org. with its own "Jewish lost and found" Incorporated!" on TV 67. Start of a celebration 55. Source of many theme answers in this puzzle 59. Israel's Megiddo 60. Caesar known for his strength (and humor) 61. Ketubah conditions SHALOM GREENSBORO 62. Mount in a Hammerstein musical 63. Ancestor of Haman killed by Samuel 65. "And let us say..." 67. ___ Brak 68. Florida philanthropist Garfinkle 69. Involving a Chanukah number 70. Skin woe for Adam Levine, once 71. ____ Yisrael Tell Them You Saw Their Ad 72. Whence some refuseniks in Shalom Greensboro
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SHALOM GREENSBORO 11
Your Future ...
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B
JH Foundation hopes you had an enjoyable, spiritual holiday period and you are off to a wonderful, fulfilling year in 5776. We are all in different phases of life. Some are moving from childhood to college to young adulthood, others to family or middle age challenges, and many are transitioning into the “golden years.” As we move forward, it is important to understand the needs of everyone. Some will continue working until they’re 80 or 90 while others retire at 50, 60 or 70. The needs for each can be similar or significantly different. BJH Foundation’s mission is to help older Jewish adults within North and South Carolina by awarding grants to other nonprofit organizations and their programs serving this population. To do this, BJH Foundation needs all of you, those served, as well as those providing service, to share information and ideas. Learning is a key aspect of Judaism, and BJH Foundation is always interested in learning what works and where the gaps in service occur with the older Jewish adult population. Your input and
Our Focus
suggestions are important and always welcome. Just imagine, your idea may be the exact program others need and could become the basis for a grant with a qualifying nonprofit organization in 2016. Now is the time to put on your thinking caps, looking at the services available, determining where the gaps are while considering how your ideas could work with an organization, bringing a solution to needs of the older Jewish adult population. BJH Foundation would love to learn about your thoughts and ideas. Your input could be a launching point for future grants. The 2016 BJH Foundation Grant Application will be available the beginning of 2016. Now is the time to start the planning process. The best way to contact us is wcutler@bjhfoundation.org. Of course there is always the USPS to deliver your message. Our address is BJH Foundation, Post Office Box 10383, Greensboro, North Carolina 27404. We look forward to your ideas and solutions in helping BJH Foundation reach our special older Jewish adult population.
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12 SHALOM GREENSBORO
OCTOBER 2015
B’nai Shalom Day School
Beth David Synagogue
Security Upgrades at B’nai Shalom By Susan Siegel, Head of School
T Beth David Synagogue October Events Schedule of Holiday Services Sunday, October 4 Hoshanah Rabbah 9:00 a.m. Monday, October 5 Shemini Atzeret Yizkor Erev Simchat Torah Tuesday, October 6 Simchat Torah
9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.
Hoshanah Rabbah Family Day & Ushpizin Ride Sunday, October 4 10:30 a.m. t0 12:00 noon
We will have a special Sukkot dance party with our lulav and etrog. Breakfast to follow services. After we eat, we will climb on our bicycles and tour the neighborhood sukkot, with snack offerings!
Erev Simchat Torah
Monday, October 5 6:00 p.m. Family Dinner and Dancing with the Torahs.
Vatikim
Weekly Lunch and Learn, made possible by a grant from the BJH Foundation: Tuesday, October 13, Sue Polinksy: Frustrated with Facebook? Tuesday, October 20, Rabbi Michael Ross Tuesday, October 27, Bob Cone: Experiences in Health Care
crossword answers
he safety and security of the students and staff is always a priority at B’nai Shalom Day School. A new visitor management system, Lobby Guard, is now in use at the main entrance, and in October a new fence will be installed around the back perimeter of the school. Lobby Guard is used by private and public schools across the country. All visitors will be asked to input information via a driver's license. The information garnered from the driver's license will produce a background check on every individual who enters the building. All visitors will also be given
a sticker to wear while in the building that notes time of entrance and exits. This allows the school’s administration to know who and how long each individual is in the building. Additionally, if there is a fire or some other emergency, school leadership will know who is in the building to ensure everyone is accounted for at all times. If you would like to learn more about B’nai Shalom and the new security system in place, please contact me at 336-855-5091 or ssiegel@bnai-shalom. org. I am happy to give you a tour of the school with attention to the new security upgrades. Learn more about B’nai Shalom Day School at www.bnai-shalom.org.
L’Shanah Tovah from the Students at B’nai
T
he months of Elul and Tishre are a special time of year in the school as all the students learn the Jewish traditions to bring in the New Year. The preschoolers learned about holiday symbols including a visit by a local beekeeper, Robert Jacobs, to see, firsthand, how bees make honey. First through 4th graders learned about teshuvah, repentance, through story analyzation. The students discussed real situations of the three Above: 2nd Grade Round Challah Below: Preschoolers Beekeeper main phases of repentance: remembering the wrongdoing, intentionally apologizing with heart and mind, and working to “fix” the misdeed. The 7th and 8th graders participated in chavrutah study about Rosh Hashanah as a judgement day. Chavrutah study is a traditional rabbinic approach to Talmudic study in which pairs of students analyze, discuss, and debate a shared text.
Community
www.shalomgreensboro.org
SHALOM GREENSBORO 13
Greensboro BBYO’s Ice Cream Social
Temple Emanuel October Programs for Tots Saturday, October 3, 10:00 a.m. – Tot Brunch in the Sukkah Friday, October 9, 6:00 p.m. – Tot Shabbat and Oneg Sunday, October 11, 11:00 a.m. – Temple Emanuel’s Jewish Festival Kids Zone Friday, October 23, 6:00 p.m. – Tot Shabbat & Shabbat Mishpacha dinner (RSVP online for dinner at www.tegreensboro.org) For more information about tot programs, contact Louise Van Schaack at 292-7899 ext. 302 or lvanschaack@ tegreensboro.org
J Triad in the Sukkot
Friday, October 2, 6:30 p.m. If you are in your 20’s or 30’s come celebrate Shabbat in the Sukkah at Temple Emanuel with J-Triad. This is a wonderful way to meet new friends and reunite with old ones. Check out the J Triad group on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/groups/jtriad.
Yizkor Service at Greene Street
Sunday, October 4, 5:45 p.m. Jewish tradition mandates that we attend Yizkor Services if we have lost a parent, spouse, sibling or child. Yizkor will be held at Temple Emanuel’s Greene Street location. All are welcome to attend. Simchat Torah & Consecration: Monday, October 5, 6:00 p.m. Mark the end of the High Holy Days with this service full of singing, dancing and marching all around the Temple carrying our four sifrei (scrolls) Torah. Our consecration service for first grade students will also take place this evening.
Schmooze with the Rabbi at Print Works Bistro
Wednesday, October 8, 12:00 p.m. Enjoy a casual lunch with the Temple rabbis along with other friends at the Print Works Bistro. Join us as we talk about anything and everything – from local politics to Jewish issues. Your lunch is on you, while the conversation is on us. Reserve your spot with Noah at (336) 2927899 or ndomont@tegreenboro.org.
Breast Cancer Shabbat Service
Saturday, October 17, 10:30 a.m. Join us for this special Shabbat and Healing Service during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Temple Emanuel’s Jewish Festival
Sunday, October 11, 2015 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Some of the highlights of Temple Emanuel’s Jewish Festival include: fantastic New York deli food, continuous entertainment on the main stage, educational activities, artisans and, of course, the Kids Zone with arts and crafts, inflatables, and lots of fun for the kids. Invite co-workers and your non-Jewish neighbors. Admission is only $1 and kids under five are free. This year’s festival has a 50-50 raffle, with a potential grand prize of $5,000. Second prize is $500 and third prize is $100. Tickets are $20 each or can be purchased, six for $100. Send check to Temple Emanuel (marked Raffle) or purchase them online on the Festival website. If you would like to become a Friend of the Festival, your tax-deductible donation will be greatly appreciated. For $100 or more, your name will be listed in the Temple Emanuel bulletin, on the website and included in the pamphlet handed out on the day of the Festival. Send your check to Temple Emanuel (marked Friend of the Festival), or donate online on the Festival website. Check out our new website at www. templeemanueljewishfestival.org for a full description and details of all the activities, events, the food and a list of our sponsors. Raffle tickets and sponsorships can be made on the festival website too.
Shabbat Mishpacha Friday, October 23, 6:00 p.m. - Tot Shabbat Service 6:30 p.m. – Dinner (RSVP required – online at www.tegreensboro. org) 7:30 p.m. – Congregational Shabbat Service followed by Oneg hosted by the Temple Sisterhood
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n Sunday August 31, BBYO held its annual ice cream social to recruit new members and welcome back current members to both chapters in Greensboro, Etta Spier and SSP. The board members from each chapter planned and led the entire event. About 30 teens attended this event where the teens participated in icebreakers to get to know each other
and ate ice cream while reconnecting over the summer. BBYO meets weekly for programming and there are many other events already planned for this year. BBYO hopes to have many more successful programs and events filled with new faces all year long. Anyone interested in BBYO or know someone who is, please contact greensborobbyo@gmail.com
“Rima’s Recipes"
Cinnamon Apple Mini-Strudel
While it's a joyous holiday, Simchat Torah isn't traditionally associated with specific dishes. However, cylindrical foods (to resemble the shape of torah scrolls) are becoming increasingly popular holiday foods. You might find cabbage rolls or dolmas-style rolls on Simchat Torah menus, but why not make the holiday a little sweeter with these Cinnamon Apple Mini-Strudels? A seasonal favorite, apples are a good source of dietary fiber and polyphenols, both of which may help keep blood sugar levels stable and protect against heart disease. Apples are also rich in vitamin C, which is important for boosting our immune system. Ingredients 2 tsp. canola oil, divided 3 apples (red or green), chopped 2-4 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided 1/4 tsp. allspice 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1/4 cup honey 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. water 1 egg white 8 oz. (or about 20 sheets) of phyllo dough, thawed 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds or nuts, chopped 1/4 cup raisins or mixed dried fruit Cinnamon-sugar for sprinkling on top (optional) Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. While oven is preheating, heat pan over medium heat, then add 1 tsp. canola oil. In a medium bowl, mix apples, 2 tsp. cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, honey and vanilla. Add apple mixture and water to heated pan. Cook 5-7 minutes, or until apples are soft. Remove from heat. Rima Kleiner, MS, RD, LDN Registered Dietitian | Nutrition Consultant | c 703.877.9339 | rima@kleinernutrition.com Find me at kleinernutrition.com or on Twitter @RimaKleinerMSRD
14 SHALOM GREENSBORO
Community
OCTOBER 2015
American Hebrew Academy
AHA boasts largest-ever entering class Students ready for the new year.
T
he American Hebrew Academy has boosted new student enrollment for the 2015-16 school year by 61 percent, and set a school record by welcoming the largest class of entering students in Academy history. This year, international enrollment at the boarding school also reached a record high 39 percent, making the incoming class the largest and most diverse in school history, and expanding the cultural diversity of the student body. Thirty five countries have been represented on the Academy’s campus since its founding in 2001, and this year, for the first
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time, students from France, Australia, Indonesia and the Ukraine are enrolled. “Efforts to raise awareness of the Academy worldwide and increased interest among Jewish families in the United States seeking to provide innovative Jewish education for their children at one of the most formative stages in their development has certainly helped boost our enrollment,” said Glenn Drew, American Hebrew Academy CEO. “In the coming year, we look forward to expanding our worldwide reach even further.” The American Hebrew Academy, is the only international Jewish college prep boarding school in the world. In addition to a diverse international student body, intellectually adventurous teenagers from 28 states have been educated on the Academy’s 100-acre campus. Over the course of 2014-15, the American Hebrew Academy’s Admissions team sponsored new student recruitment events in 14 countries, 21 states, and at 34 summer camps. The school-wide strategic effort to boost enrollment has been tremendously successful, as shown not only by numbers of students attending the Academy, but also in the record number of meritorious scholarships that have been awarded for the 2015-16 Academic year. “The American Hebrew Academy is no longer going to be called Greensboro’s ‘best kept secret,’” stated Hillary Zaken, American Hebrew Academy Director of Communications. “We are constantly strengthening our unique position in the world as the only international Jewish college prep boarding school, the leading school where Jewish students from around the world come together to shape their futures.” Academy CEO Glenn Drew added: “The Academy’s mission is to educate and inspire the next generation of Jewish leaders from around the world and across all Jewish communities. This year, we are fortunate to welcome more outstanding and motivated students than ever before. As the only school of its type, the Academy was once dubbed a bold educational experiment but it is clearly here to stay.”
Community
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SHALOM GREENSBORO 15
Chabad of Greensboro and B'nai Shalom Day School
Record: Nearly 200 Greensboro Jewish Women Gather to Bake Challah
R
enee Miller is still on a high from what she describes as the “awesome” experience of joining nearly 200 Jewish women from the Greensboro area to bake challah, the traditional Jewish braided bread eaten on Sabbath and holidays. “There were so many generations there,” says the New York native, who has called Greensboro home for 28 years. “From BBYO teens and Hillel students to mothers, grandmothers, and even great-grandmothers, we were all in one place to do something inspiring, Jewish, and fun.” Baking challah is a traditional Jewish craft which Miller says she very rarely does and some participants had never experienced before the Sept. 10 event. “This was an opportunity to do something very connected to who we are in an enjoyable setting,” she explains. “What’s unique about Chabad events is that they are for people from all across the Jewish community, regardless of affiliation, so you really had the whole Jewish people represented.” But there was much more than just kneading and braiding dough: Participants also gave coins to charity, an act that was explained by Susan Siegel, head of school at B'nai Shalom Day School (co-host of the event with Rebbetzin Hindy Plotkin of Chabad of Greensboro). A heartfelt prayer for Israel was led by Ziva London and Anne Naude. And a fast-paced Jewish trivia game where participants texted responses to be posted on a large screen was hosted by Shelley Segal. When asked what she did with her challahs, Miller replied, “I baked them at home, froze them, and served them on Rosh Hashanah [the Jewish New Year]. We all enjoyed them very much.”
Chabad of Greensboro
Where Does the Soul Go After It Departs This World? JLI Offers a New Course on the Spiritual Side of Existence
T
he Rohr Jewish Learning Institute’s newest course examines the soul and its journey through ancient and eye-opening Talmudic teachings. Some questions are universal to the human experience. Is there life after death? What happens to the soul after we die? What is it like for those who have traveled over to the Great Beyond? These are but a few of the questions addressed in the newest course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI). Beginning Oct. 27, JLI will present The Journey of the Soul, the institute’s new six-session fall 2015 course. Rabbi Plotkin will conduct the six course sessions at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning Oct. 27 and at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays beginning Oct. 28 at the Chabad Jewish center. “There’s a significant amount of confusion in the Jewish community about what happens to us when we die,” explains Rabbi Naftali Silberberg, the lead editor for the course from JLI’s headquarters in New York. “Many ideas that originate in other religions and belief systems have been popularized in the media and
are taken for granted by unassuming Jews. In Journey of the Soul, we clear up these misconceptions and introduce an authentically Jewish approach which is both surprising and refreshing.” Journey of the Soul provides spiritual insight into the soul’s journey through life, death, and beyond, as well as ancient Jewish wisdom that sheds light on the philosophical, emotional, and practical aspects of coping with death and mourning. “Science knows the very little about the soul and what happens to it post mortem,” said Rabbi Plotkin, the local JLI instructor in Greensboro. “It’s about what is truly valuable and meaningful in life which is relevant to everyone, and many in Greensboro have expressed their curiosity to learn about the topic, so we’re expecting a good turnout.” Professor Sheldon Solomon of Skidmore College who co-authored the book The Worm at the Core: On the role of Death in Life commented about the JLI course: “This course strikes me as a very fine juxtaposition of ancient theological wisdom with contemporary
empirical science. My sense is that this will be an interesting and rewarding educational and personal experience.” Similar sentiments were expressed by other experts in the field, including Professor Jeff Greenberg of University of Arizona; Dr. Casey Skvorc from the National Institutes of Health; Pamela Blair, co-author of I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye; and Bianca Nogrady, author of The End: The Human Experience of Death and others. The course is being offered in joint sponsorship with the Washington School of Psychiatry, enabling medical and mental health professionals to earn up to 7.5 AMA, APA, CBBS, and ASWB continuing education credits for their participation. Like all previous JLI programs this one is designed to appeal to people at all levels of Jewish knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. Interested students may call 336-6178120 or visit www.myJLI.com for registration and other course-related information.
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