05 may 2018 web

An Affiliate of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte

Vol. 40, No. 5

Iyar­Sivan 5778

May 2018

Jewish Federation Annual Meeting to Highlight Israeli Wines The Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte will take place on Mon­ day, May 14 at 7 PM in the Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts at Shalom Park. Please join us to honor Outgoing President, Larry Schwartz, and welcome Incoming President, Alison Lerner.

During the Annual Meeting, the 2018­2019 slate of officers and Board of Trustees will be pre­ sented, and an election will be held. Anyone contributing at least $36 to the Annual Campaign is considered a voting member.

Following the meeting, please join us for an opportunity to cele­ brate Israel’s 70th with a special Israel Wine Tasting experience.

Wine in Israel has a rich history, dating back thousands of years, with many biblical references to local vineyards. For years, many Israeli vintners created wines from high yielding vineyards, with results that tasted generic

and relatively sweet. But the re­ gion’s wine industry has seen a major evolution over the last 30 years; today, high­quality bot­ tlings are becoming more promi­ nent on the market. A Mediterranean climate is experi­ enced throughout much of Israel’s five main areas of production, which includes regions of the Galilee, Judean Hills, Samson, Negev, and Shomron. The soil compositions are quite varied throughout Israel, ranging from limestone and basalt to alluvial and clay loam. The varieties that have yielded the best results from Israel’s terroir include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Syrah. These wines have a rich bouquet with impressive con­ centration and lush texture. We hope you will join us for this wine tasting experience.

For more information, please call the Federation office at 704­ 944­6757. Y

SLATE OF OFFICERS & TRUSTEES AS NOMINATED BY THE BOARD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER CHARLOTTE

OFFICERS FOR 2018-2019 President Vice-President Vice-President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Past President

Alison Lerner* Ron Townsend* Risa Miller* Bill Zimmern* Amy Vitner* Brad Winer* Larry Schwartz

BOARD MEMBERS — TERM ENDING 2021 Gail Baron* Slade Goldstein* Sharyn Handelsman* Julie Sheffer* BOARD MEMBERS — TERM ENDING 2020 Michael Baumstein* Ana Bonnheim* Stephanie Gitlin* Ira Slomka* BOARD MEMBERS — TERM ENDING 2019 George Cronson Jonathan Friedman* Lindsay Muns* Marisa Zeibert *Nominees

PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES Amy Augustine Holly Levinson

Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte Monday, May 14 7 PM Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts at Shalom Park 2018­2019 Slate of Officers and Trustees will be presented.

Enjoy an Israeli Wine Tasting Experience

CONSTITUENT AGENCY DESIGNEES Levine JCC Representative: Jonathan Kulbersh Jewish Family Services Representative: Debbie Porter Foundation of Shalom Park Representative: Barry Bobrow BOARD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE - Holly Levinson, Chair Nancy Kipnis, Sara Kulbersh, Brad Rabinowitz, Andrew Rosen, Jenny Rosenthal and Marisa Zeibert

North Carolina BBYO 1960s and 1970s Reunion Remember the Four Tops, Temptations, Beatles, and BBYO? If you were in BBG, AZA, Hebrew School, or an Amity Club devotee during these years, this reunion is for you.

After many years of talking about how great it was growing up in North Carolina and how wonder­ ful it would be to get together with old friends, we are putting together a plan. We are exploring dates in mid­October 2018 in Charlotte. There will be food, music, and lots of memorabilia to reminisce all the great AZA and BBG highlights of our generation.

How incredible it will be to re­ connect with North Carolina friends you may not have seen for many years.

If you have interest in attend­ ing, being part of the planning or have any suggestions, please let any of us know.

Robert Fligel ­ rfligel@rf­resources.com Cathy Slesinger ­ clsles@verizon.net

David Rousso ­ david@davidsltd.com Donna Cantor ­ cantordonna@gmail.com

Ellen Goldstein ­ egoldstein@bbyo.org.Y

Awaiting a BBYO convention bus at Temple Israel in 1965.

5007 Providence Road, Suite #112 Charlotte, NC 28226 Change Service Requested

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 1208 CHARLOTTE, NC

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 2 Hilmi is a talented young Palestin­ ian artist. Liat is an aspiring trans­ lation student who plans to return to Israel the following summer.

Despite knowing that their love can be only temporary, that it can exist only away from their con­ flicted homeland, Liat lets herself become enraptured by Hilmi, and as her love for him deepens, she must decide whether she is willing to risk alienating her family, her community, and her sense of self for the love of one man. “The land is the same land,” Hilmi reminds Liat. “In the end all the rivers flow into the same sea.”

Sue’s Book Shelf

By Sue Littauer

Recently, a friend remarked, “You love every book you read.”

I was caught off guard and started thinking about what would have given her that impression. As you know, I do read lots of books and am excited when I find ones that I particularly enjoy. I’m always looking for books that will stimu­ late, educate, challenge and enter­ tain us readers and book club members. Do I love every book I read? Definitely not – actually, I don’t even finish many of them.

Perhaps I should consider a new slant for my column – “books I don’t recommend and why!”

I’d love to hear from you about books you’ve discovered and

recommend.

As we celebrate the 70th birth­ day of the State of Israel, I have chosen to highlight the work of two contemporary Israeli authors – Dorit Rabinyan and Ayelet Gun­ dar­Goshen. Both of their books were compelling and are highly recommended.

Dorit Rabinyan’s remarkable novel is a bold portrayal of the strains — and delights — of a for­ bidden relationship, a love story and a war story, a New York story and a Middle East story, an un­ flinching foray into the forces that bind us and divide us.

Charismatic and handsome

All the Rivers, Dorit Rabinyan A controversial, award­win­ ning story about the passionate but untenable affair between Liat, an Israeli woman, and Hilmi, a Palestinian man, who meet in New York City.

Banned from classrooms by Is­ rael’s Ministry of Education,

Sunday

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Once Upon a Storytime 1:15 PM Levine-Sklut Judaic Library 7

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Hebrew Storytime 1:15 PM Levine-Sklut Judaic Library 13

5007 Providence Road, Suite 112 Charlotte, NC 28226

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SHABBAT AND HOLIDAYCANDLE LIGHTING FOR MAY 2018

The Charlotte Jewish News

Next CJE Book Club Meeting: Don’t Let My Baby Do Rodeo

by Boris Fishman ­ Wednesday, May 16, 10:30 AM­12 noon. Y

Check out what’s happening this month at the CJE ?

CJE CALENDAR: MAY 2018

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Friday, May 4, 7:53 PM Friday, May 11, 7:59 PM Friday, May 18, 8:04 PM Saturday, May 19, First Night of Shavuot, 9:06 PM Sunday, May 20, Second Night of Shavuot, 9:07 PM Friday, May 25, 8:10 PM

Waking Lions, Ayelet Gundar­ Goshen After one night’s deadly mis­ take, a man will go to any lengths to save his family and his reputa­ tion.

Neurosurgeon Eitan Green has the perfect life ­ married to a beautiful police officer and father of two young boys. But speeding

along a deserted moonlit road after an exhausting hospital shift, he hits someone. Seeing that the man, an African migrant, is be­ yond help, he flees the scene.

When the victim’s widow knocks at Eitan’s door the next day, holding his wallet and di­ vulging that she knows what hap­ pened, Eitan discovers that her price for silence is not money. It is something else entirely, some­ thing that can shatter Eitan’s safe existence and force him into a world of secrets and lies he never could have anticipated.

Waking Lions is a gripping, suspenseful, and morally devas­ tating drama of guilt and survival, shame and desire from a remark­ able young author on the rise.

Both books can be found in the Center for Jewish Education.

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Once Upon a Storytime 1:15 PM Levine-Sklut Judaic Library 16

CJE Book Club 10:30AM Once Upon a Storytime 1:15 PM Levine-Sklut Judaic Library

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Once Upon a Storytime 1:15 PM Levine-Sklut Judaic Library

PJ Library Baby Storytime 11:00 AM Levine-Sklut Judaic Library PJ Library Baby Storytime 11:00 AM Levine-Sklut Judaic Library PJ Library Baby Storytime 11:00 AM Levine-Sklut Judaic Library

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Book & author event featuring Leonard Rogoff, author of Gertrude Weil: Jewish Progressive in the New South. (see page 3 for details)

The Center for Jewish Education (CJE) enhances community engagement, promotes lifelong Jewish learning, and creates pathways to Jewish identity.

LIBRARY HOURS: Monday - Thursday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm; Friday, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm; and Sunday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

CONTENTS

Youth Visions ........................................p. 11 Community News ........................pp. 12, 13

(voice mail after office hours)

Office 704­944­6765 email: charlottejewishnews@shalomcharlotte.org An Affiliate of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte Amy Krakovitz ­ Editor Advertising Sales Reps: Jodi Valenstein, 704­609­0950 or Pam Garrison, 704­906­7034 Art Director, Erin Bronkar ebronkar@carolina.rr.com CJN Editorial Board Chair ­ Bob Davis Members: Bob Abel, Sara Abadi, David Delfiner, Ann Langman, Linda Levy, Elaine Millen, Andrew Rosen The CJN does not assume responsibility for the quality or kasruth of any product or service advertised. Publishing of a paid political advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate, political party or position by this newspaper, the Federation or any employees.

Published monthly except July An affliate of:

Federation News.....................................p. 1

Synagogues/Cong. ........................pp. 14­18

Sue’s Book Shelf.....................................p. 2

Dining Out ............................................p. 18

Center for Jewish Education.................p. 3

Jewish Community Center ..........pp. 20,21

Schools...............................................pp. 5­8

Women’s News.......................................p.22

Jewish Family Services..................pp. 9, 10

Shavuot...........................................pp. 22­30

I would like to make a contribution to demonstrate my support of The Charlotte Jewish News.

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 3

She Fought for Equality: Gertrude Weil (1879­1971), A Book and Author Evening written and lectured extensively on the Jewish South. Rogoff is also the author of the well­known book Down Home: Jewish Life in North Carolina.

This book and author event is sponsored and organized by the Center for Jewish Education, the Robinson­Spangler Carolina Room of the Charlotte Mecklen­ burg Library, and the Charlotte Chapter of Hadassah.

Leonard Rogoff

May is Jewish American Her­ itage Month which is the annual recognition and celebration of Jewish American achievements and contributions to the United States of America. This year the Charlotte community will com­ memorate the contributions of a truly remarkable Jewish woman from North Carolina — Gertrude Weil. A native of Goldsboro, NC,

she championed progressive and often controversial causes includ­ ing women’s suffrage, labor re­ form, and civil rights. As a Zionist, Weil was also the found­ ing member of Goldsboro’s Hadassah chapter.

Please join us for a book and author event featuring Leonard Rogoff, author of Gertrude Weil: Jewish Progressive in the New South. Leonard Rogoff, a research historian of the Jewish Heritage Foundation of North Carolina, has

Date: Thursday, May 24 Time: 7 PM Location: Shalom Park, 5007 Providence Road Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts Book sales, signing and re­ freshments to follow speaker This event is free and open to all. Registration is requested at www.jewishcharlotte.org/cje.

For more information, please contact Debby Block at Debby.Block@jewishcharlotte.org or 704­944­6780.Y

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Sunday, June 10, 4:30-6 PM Kick-off summer with a Sunday afternoon of fun: Super Kid Workout in Gym Marvelous Music with Miss Patty Fantastic Fables with Miss Debby Cool Treats All welcome. Geared for families with Children ages 3-8.

This event is free but space is limited. Pre-registration is requested. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

-- Register online at NextGen by June 8. -For more information: email Debby Block at Debby.Block@jewishcharlotte.org or call 704-944-6780.

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 4

You are the fuel

that powers the change

that betters

the world.

Federation powers the Jewish community in ways you might not think of, from sending free PJ Library books to families worldwide to supporting Jewish camps, Birthright trips and more. But it can’t happen without you. Donate today, and be the start of something powerful.

Your Gift Powers Engagement. Donate Today.

WWW.JEWISHCHARLOTTE.ORG

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 5

School Graduation at the Jewish Preschool on Sardis is a Time of Great Joy and a Little Sadness May brings about a bitter­ sweetness at the Jewish Preschool on Sardis. It is the time of year we celebrate all the growth, develop­ ment, and friendships that were cultivated during the school year, and it is also a time when we know we must say good bye as our children move onto the next chapter in their school career.

Sometimes it is moving up to an­ other class and other times it is moving on to another school and another chapter of their educa­ tional lives. The Jewish Preschool on Sardis is so grateful for the dedicated, nurturing, and talented staff that help our children achieve these milestones. Big thanks go out to the entire team: Torie

Allen, Kate Badger, Elizabeth Boyce, Ellen Clark, Adriane Dou­ thett, Devorah Gorkin, Tanya Hamilton, Vickey Holmes, Jayme Kreitman, Galia Lapidot Boaz, Jane Lee, Jessie Mazur, Katie O’Reilly, Jennifer Orsomarso, Tiarra Price, Wanda Vande Linde, and Beverly Wakefield.

We could not do what we do without the support of our volun­ teers and families. Many thanks for the hours of dedication to making the school year a success and for paving the way for future JPS students to JPS Advisory Board; Rosie David, Sara Kul­ bersh, Joanna Lindenbaum, Elinor Edvi, Rebecca Dranove, Lauren Sussman, Yael Osovski, and

Alphabetical listing of JPS graduates: Jacob David, Noah David, Baylee Fox, Jacob Fox, Liraz Lasri, Jillian Pilch, Kalani Rose, Imri Rotchild, Mason Schwartz, Jack Siegel, Ridge Smith, Levi Vorst, Taliya Waizman

“I often feel that the children I meet even in the poorest places have a spiritual cleanness about them that makes them seem life messengers from somewhere else. Even when children are surrounded by enormous suffering and sickness, their capacity to affirm life in the midst of death is a miracle that refreshes the world. Someone, I don’t know who, once said, ‘If you seek God, look for a child.’

I’ve been looking for God in the faces of children for 30 years.” ­­Jonathan Kozol, in New Menorah 44 (Summer 1996)

Nancy Delfiner.

JPS congratulates our 2018 graduates. May each and every one go forward with curiosity and eagerness to fulfill their po­ tential and achieve all of their life goals. Y

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 6

It’s Blossoming at CJP

By Brooke Amo, director We all know children need time, space, and nurturing to ex­ perience the kind of learning that is organic, rich in experience, fun, and meaningful to them. At CJP we have been working diligently to reflect on, and continuously de­ velop our learning environments.

We want to ensure that the CJP children have what they need available to them in order to foster learning experiences that stimu­ late the whole child.

Intentionally designed outdoor classrooms support our children’s developing minds in so many ways. When you integrate gar­ dens into the curriculum, research suggests that it fosters children’s readiness to learn, and encourages them to become for more active in solving problems, while boosting literacy and numeracy skills. Fur­ thermore, is it is simply fun, and stimulates a love for learning and translate skills to practical, real­ life experiences where they are learning and growing with nature.

The value of these experiences is why we love watching our Growth through Gardening pro­ gram develop. This spring, chil­ dren and parents have been exercising their green thumbs by weeding, planting, raking, water­ ing and cleaning up from the win­ ter months. In the next month or so, we will see a new water struc­ ture appear that will enable the children to experiment with the properties of water, sinking, and

floating, and manipulate water flow. During science class chil­ dren are experiencing planning, caring for a space, digging, ob­ serving bees and other creatures, harvesting plants, and the list goes on. All of these activities are hands­on and inquiry based that promote a deeper connection to nature, themselves, their school, and their community. They are proud of their beautiful space and their own contributions to the gar­ den. Furthermore, it is a perfect growing place where they can simply have fun and enjoy nature and science with their friends.

This in turn, we believe we will see more thoughtful, engaged, and mindful citizens.

This spring it will be exciting to watch our students and outdoor garden bloom. As children, teach­ ers, and parents collaboratively partner together to grow this space we continue to encourage the value Tikkun Olam and Ba’al Tashcheet throughout our school and eventually throughout the course of their lives.Y

Children express themselves through painting the natural world around them.

Children show curiosity and in­ vestigate the world of nature in­ doors and outdoors.

Above: Children explore colors and properties of water.

Children observe living things and the physical world.

Children participate in the care of living things with guidance and support.

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 7

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 8

The Bill of Rights at CJDS The fifth grade graduates are about to attend middle schools throughout Charlotte, none of them Jewish, and as small and safe as the day school. Teaching our children to understand their rights, to sharpen their voice, and to advocate for their needs, espe­ cially when protected by the con­ stitution, is one of our primary goals. This is even more important in today’s climate when reason and understanding are in short supply.

The opportunity presented it­ self best when learning about the US government, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Mr. Stephen Debresen, the general

studies teacher, and Rabbi Avro­ hom Gordon joined together to in­ vite Dr. Jeff Pelvoorde, Associate Professor of Politics at Converse College in Spartanburg, SC, to discuss the deep implications and protections that the Bill of Rights provides for US citizens.

He proposed four scenarios to the students and asked them to break up into groups to role play the dilemma, take on the different roles, and try out different solu­ tions.

You might want to do the same.

Situation I: Every day in school in your homeroom (your first period) the

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class recites the Pledge of Alle­ giance. A different student leads the Pledge every day. But â&#x20AC;Ś im­ mediately after, the teacher has the class, led by the same student, say a brief prayer that ends â&#x20AC;&#x153;in Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name, Amen.â&#x20AC;? Your turn is com­ ing up. You obviously wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel comfortable saying the prayer, so you talk to your teacher about it.

She/he is a nice person, but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see why it should bother you to say this prayer, so you talk about it with your parents. They arrange a meeting with your teacher, your Principal, your Rabbi, and you. Your parents and your Rabbi try to explain that Jews donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe in Jesus. Your teacher explains her position.

What should the Principal decide?

Situation II: You are a religious/observant Jewish person whose family ob­ serves all the major Jewish holi­ days in the way that they cannot attend school, and your two best friends are a non­religious Jewish person and a non­Jewish person.

You are all very good students, tied for the highest grades in your school. The school awards â&#x20AC;&#x153;summa cum laudeâ&#x20AC;? (graduating with the highest honors â&#x20AC;Ś a very important honor) to only one per­ son, the one with highest grades and perfect attendance, allowing for one sick day and two religious holidays. All three of you have one sick day. Your non­Jewish friend has no problem since his/her holidays are Christmas and Easter, which donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t affect school attendance. Your Jewish friend who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t observe all of the Jewish holidays as strictly as Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t affected, since her/his family only takes off Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. But you also take off Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Pesach, and Shavuot. You speak with your parents, who arrange a meeting with the Principal and your Rabbi, who try to explain the importance of all the holidays. What should the Principal decide?

Situation III: Your school puts up a Christ­ mas tree in the main hall of the school. You and your Jewish friends discuss whether you should ask the school to a) take down the tree or b) allow you to put up a menorah next to the tree.

You discuss it with your parents too. What do you and your parents think? What should the Principal decide?

Situation IV: You are a new sixth­grader in a three­year middle school. Two eighth­graders constantly make fun of you and tease you because you are Jewish. You tell your par­ ents and they set up a meeting with the Principal. What does the Principal do?

When they finished it was clear that we have passionate, knowl­ edgeable, confident, and sensitive students about to embark into the diverse, wide world. They were able to see many sides of the con­ versation and dilemma. They cared about the many people af­ fected, and they realized that an­ swers are not always easy. They

also realized that it was possible that everyone might have to be a bit uncomfortable in order for everyone to find a place of com­ fort.

Wise words from our fifth graders after the class: Judaism is tied to the amend­ ments and constitution. The con­ stitution helps with our Judaism so we can be free to practice our Judaism, free to say what we want about it and free to publicize it if we want. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Henry Bloomfield We are privileged to live in a free country and because we live in a free country all the religions could unite. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Lael Rivas­Zucker All the freedoms of speech and all the basic freedoms make Amer­ ica a special country. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Yehuda Leib Cohen Y

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The purpose of the laws of the Torah... is to bring mercy, loving kindness, and peace upon the world.â&#x20AC;? ­Maimonides, Mishneh Torah: Laws of the Sabbath 2:3

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 9

Jewish Family Services Celebrate a Senior: May is Older Americans Month Did you know there was an Older Americans Month?

For 55 years led by the Administration for Community Liv­ ingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Administration on Aging, May is an opportunity to recog­ nize the contributions and value our seniors offer to our commu­ nity and our lives. If 102­year­old Frieda Roos­van Hessen with a friend. you have a parent or grandparent who is a senior, take tention they need? Are they so­ some extra time this month to en­ cializing, and able to pay their gage with them. Thank them for bills? Are they unusually stressed the foundation they created for or depressed?

Aging is a difficult process and you, the values they instilled and the sacrifices they may have made for many͞ living on a fixed in­ to make your life fuller. Our sen­ come, experiencing a decline in ior population provides us with a their physical abilities, and gen­ history we will never know. Their eral health can lead to mental stories, jokes and wisdom enrich health issues and/or isolation.

JFS offers a wide variety of our livesâ&#x20AC;Śmake an effort to en­ services for seniors. Our friendly rich theirs. home visits, case management and therapy, along with connecting with our partners at Shalom Park can significantly help navigate the fu­ ture for you senior loved one.

So, take the time this month to pay at­ tention to our Older Americans, celebrate their history, the con­ tributions theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Elana Congress and Vlad Plotkin visit Paul Cohen. made and the future that still remains.

older adults ­ Older adults have the highest suicide rate in the country.

Fact: As many as one in five older adults experience a mental health disorder during any given year.

Fact: Older adults have unique mental health care needs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Chang­ ing bodies and chemistry, changes in family and friendships, and changes in living situations all have an effect on mental health.

Fact: Mental health problems

are not a normal part of aging.

Fact: Mental health is as im­ portant as physical health â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Un­ treated mental health disorders can lead to diminished function­ ing, substance abuse, poor quality of life, and increased mortality.

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Contact JFS at 704­364­6594 At Shalom Park, our seniors represent all of the opportunities to find out more about resources available to us as we age. They are for seniors in our community. working out at the gymâ&#x20AC;Ś social­ izing at an Oasis lunchâ&#x20AC;Ś playing Get the Facts About Mental gamesâ&#x20AC;Ś in the Weinberg Center. Health and Aging: Fact: Suicide is a risk among If you work or socialize at the Park take a moment this month to engage in a conversation with one of our seniors, stop in at an Oasis lunch or just say hello and give a smile as you are walking down main streetâ&#x20AC;Śyou may just make their day.

And for those who have a senior loved one in your life, take a mo­ ment to take stock and assess their well­being.

For as much as they give, now may be a time in their life where they need support. Are they getting the medical at­ Passover Seder at Waltonwood.

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­May 2018 ­ Page 10

JFS Monthly Volunteers and Donors March 2018 Volunteers: Rick Abrams, Diana Ades, Madeline Arons, Linda Babich, Ana Bonheim, James Bryan, Chaim Burke, Asia Butler, Suzy Catenazzo, Dan Coblenz, Joelle,Jakob and Maya Cohn, Andrea Cronson,Sheryl Ef­ fern, Ellen Englehardt,, Rob Friedman, Maggie Fogel, Mel

Frank, Neil Golub, Jennifer Golynsky, Leon Golynsky, Gail Halverson,Tara Hubara, Bob Ja­ cobson, Brooks Jaffa, Eric Lerner, Gary Lerner, Kevin Levine, Adam Levy, Kim Levy, Matt Luftglass, Kelly Markowitz, Jack Malin, Harriet Meetz, Frada Mozenter, Mike Phillips, Vlad

Plotkin, Debbie Porter, Barbara Rein, Harry Rubenstein, Linda Safir, Cindy Siesel, Louis Sinkoe, Mason Sklut, Harry Sparks, Fred Sphorer, Liz Wahls, Amalia Warshenbrot, Jan Weiner, Dori Whitman, Nancy Wielunski Food Pantry Donations: Suzy Catenazzo, Dan Coblenz, Roni

Fishkin, Ellen Framm, Cynthia Frank, Eric Lerner, Alison Lerner, Matt Luftglass, Risa Miller, Jan­ ice Nalibotsky, Gliebermans Kosher Mart patrons, Charlotte Jewish Day School, Charlotte Jewish Preschool, Temple Beth El and Temple Israel Congregants, Shalom Park Community Gar­ dens Food Drives: BBYO North Carolina Council Hadassah Cooks: Thank you for the wonderful Passover meals

to Phyllis Berlin, Ilene Cantor, Sharon Cavanaugh, Gladys Cherny, Gail Green, Donna Greenspon, Sandy Hoagland, Fran and Roy Kaplan, Judy Kauf­ man,Penny Krieger, Shelley Leib­ man, Andrea McCleary, Harriet Meetz, Roz Snyder, Marcia Stern, Zachary Strasser.

Special Thanks: Charlotte Jewish Day School for decorating bags and making Passover cards for Passover holiday bags. Y

Donations to Jewish Family Services in March 2018 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO David Abrams from Alan and Ruth Goldberg Jill Newman from Rachel Davis, Stuart and Ellen Fligel, Edward and Arlene Karp, David Kronovet, Leonard and Judy Marco, Elise Menaker, Jack and Vera Mendel, Ruth Nady, Mark and Harriet Perlin, Jackie Pickus, Shawn Pittman, Sam and Ollie Polk, Larry and Dale Polsky, Phyllis Schultz and Matthew Gromet, Marvin and Anita Shapiro, Mattye and Marc Silver­ man, Gary Silverstein, Eric and Lori Sklut, Steve and Barbie Weiner Betsy Olinger from Susan Meyer Jackie Pickus from Ruth Nady Eric Sklut from Robert and Cheryl Comen, Eric and Susan Lerner, Howard and Julie Levine, Peter Sherman, Barbara Sklut, Kevin Levine and Louis Sinkoe IN MEMORY OF Varda, mother of Schar Bar­om from Edward and Debora Pizer Jim Bean to Lynn Bean from Sandra Weinstein Gerald Greenspan to Mollie Cohen from Lisa Richman Leonard Rabhan to Congrega­ tion B’nai Brith Jacob from Ed­ ward and Deborah Pizer Mya Rabhan from Edward and Debora Pizer Your mother to James and San­

dra Friend from Sharon Katz Vladimir Bukingolts to Viktor and Julia Glauberman from Paul and Lynn Edelstein Herbert Jackowitz to Ken and Lori Jackowitz from Harvey Chesler, Douglas Harrison, Peter and Cynthia Levinson Sidney Kaufman to Jon and Jennifer Lahn from Jeffrey and Dana Ditesheim, Todd and Stacy Gorelick, Lisa Richman Dr. Marshall Lindner to An­ drew and Gwendolyn Lindner from Jonathan and Stephanie Simon Doris Scheier Matisoff to Madeline Litman from Vicki Scott MAZEL TOV ON Alex and Alana Fabrikant’s B’nai Mitzvah from Jody Para The birth of Sophie Beth Cohen to Donald and Susan Ja­ cobs from Susan Meyer Ethan’s Bar Mitzvah to Mike Schneiderman from Stephen and Nancy Schreier WISHING A FULL AND SPEEDY RECOVERY TO Maggie Fogel from Ronald and Janice Weiner Harriet Perlin from Stuart and Carolyn Hennes, Robert and Linda Isser, Sharon Katz, Michael and Judie Van Glish Elizabeth Wahls from Ronald and Janice Weiner Y

Older Americans Month (Continued from page 9)

Fact: Mental health problems are a risk for older adults, regard­ less of history. Sometimes mental health deteriorates in response to an illness. Older adults without a history of substance abuse may abuse medications, alcohol, or drugs.

Fact: Our health system is not adequately helping older adults with mental disorders­

Medicare covers 80% of a physical health problem, but only 50% of a mental health problem.

Fact: Primary care physicians fail to diagnose depression 50% of the time and only half of older adults who discuss specific mental health problems with a physician receive any treatment. Y

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 11

Youth Visions Charlotte Teens Serve as Leaders on BBYO’s North Carolina Council Charlotte BBYO teens have had a busy spring. Charlotte BBYO sent 60 teens to Orlando, FL in February, to participate in BBYO’s biggest International Convention to date. Some of the best moments of IC included hear­ ing from incredible speakers in­ cluding Aly Raisman, Josh Peck, Scott Rogowsky, and Abby Wom­ bach, a day of community service all across Orlando, a night out to Universal Islands of Adventure and meaningful Shabbat services with 3,000 Jewish teens.

After a short recovery from an awesome time at International Convention, our teens jumped right back into programming and prepping for our final convention of the year, Spring Cultural.

Spring Cultural is North Car­ olina’s annual spirit convention, where each chapter competes to win the coveted spirit cup, partic­ ipates in a collection drive for Charlotte JFS, and elects the next

(Morah/vice president of mem­ bership), Eddie Horwitz (Shali­ ach/vice president of Jewish Education), Eliza Weidner (Mazkirah/communications), Sam Baumstein (Gizbor/treasurer), and Abby Adams (Safranit/historian).

We are beyond proud of every sin­

Josh Rubin’s Plumbing, LLC Ben Rubenstein, Godol, and Sophie Levy, N’siah of the BBYO North Carolina Council

North Carolina council (state) board. Our very own Mickey Barak Aberman (MBA) AZA won the spirit cup for the boys.

Friday night, the teens reunited

28th North Carolina AZA/BBG boards.

with their friends from all over North Carolina, celebrated Shab­ bat, and honored the outgoing presidents at our States Ceremony.

Saturday was the big day of com­ petition. Chapters competed in contests such as song and dance, banner, newspaper, basketball, and a swim meet. We ended the evening with a meaningful Hav­ dalah service, reminiscing on the year and a fun dance, which in­ cluded a surprise ice cream truck.

Sunday morning, the teens elected the 28th North Carolina Council boards which included many Charlotte leaders. Congrat­ ulations to these Charlotte BBYO members that were successful in their elections: Sophie Levy (N’siah/president), Ben Ruben­ stein (Godol/president), Lauren Mond (S’ganit/vice president of programming), Abby Meyer

Graduating Seniors Write About Their Years at Hebrew High Another year of Hebrew High is ending. Each year we send an­ other group of wonderful young adults into the world to navigate their Jewish identities in the next stage of their lives. It is a bitter­ sweet time for us, as teachers, to know we will not see their smiling faces and witty personalities at Hebrew High next year. But, we know they are empowered to show the world who they are.

Their years at Hebrew High have taught them to embrace Judaism and Jewish values as they navi­ gate their lives and the world­at­ large. Hebrew High is a place that encourages acceptance and re­ spect with a commitment to open sharing without judgement. We are THE PLACE TO BE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS and look forward to another year of bonding, learning, sharing meals, discussing a wide variety of top­ ics, and embarking on new adven­ tures with our new crop of smiling, witty teens.

Some of our seniors wanted to share their thoughts about Hebrew High with the community. We want to thank them for inspiring us over the last five years. Chay­ eem Ta’asu.

gle Aleph and BBG who took the time and effort to run for council board.

Charlotte BBYO welcomes all Jewish teens from 8th – 12th grade. For more information, please email charlotte@bbyo.org or call 704­944­6834. Y

Cara Dillhyon: Hebrew High has been a place where I have made some of my closest friends and grown as a per­ son. I look forward to it every week. I’ll be attending Florida State University as part of the Honors Program in the fall.

Limor Goldsmith: Hebrew High has given me many opportunities to learn and grow as a Jewish young adult.

I’ve been able to begin learning Hebrew as a second language through the Hebrew for Credit class. I’ve also been able to con­ nect with other teens and create a sense of unity through Judaism. In Spring 2019, I will be going to Tu­ lane University. In the semester prior, I plan to take classes at a local community college.

Rachel Musa: For the last five years, Hebrew High has been a place where I have maintained my strong con­ nection to Judaism while also forming lasting relationships with other Jewish teens. At Hebrew High, I am able to comfortably discuss important societal issues that affect me as a Jewish high school student. I have enjoyed being involved in Hebrew High Student Council and will miss my

Wednesday nights here. Next year, I will be attending UNC Chapel Hill.

Alex Olinger: I have been a part of Hebrew High for the past five years and it has helped me to further discover my Jewish identity. I really en­ joyed being around other Jewish people every week because nor­ mally I would not see very many at my school. It’s the place to be on Wednesday nights. I’ll be at Appalachian State University next year.

Peri Sisskind: These past five years Hebrew high as been a place that helped me connect to my Judaism through fun ways. I also have made friendships that will last a lifetime. Hebrew high has given me opportunities that I would not (Continued on page 17)

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 12

Community News

Community Yom HaShoah Event Brings One­Woman Show to Charlotte “You cannot help us. I shall have to help you, God.” So says Etty Hillesum in her diaries, writ­ ten from 1941­1943 in Nazi occu­ pied Holland.

Hillesum began her diaries on the instructions of her therapist when she was 27. Her entries are rich with insights into her feelings as well as the current events of the

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day. She talks about her relation­ ships with family and friends, as well as the dire situation that de­ velops in Holland.

Susan Stein, a New York city based actor, brought Hillesum’s words to the stage at the commu­ nity’s annual Yom HaShoa com­ memoration at Temple Beth El on April 11.

The evening began with a can­ dlelighting ceremony, where the candles were lit by Hebrew High students in the names of the sur­ vivors who were present. This was followed by Stein’s one­ woman show using Hillesum’s words exclusively.

Stein became interested in Hillesum while she was a college student and found an abridged version of her diaries for 50 cents at a garage sale. It took a while for her to warm up to Hillesum, but eventually she saw the value of diary entries. “There’s something about this diary,” Stein says. “Her writing is clunky, spontaneous.

She suffers depression.” It’s a wonder to see that under these frightful circumstances that Etty never allows herself to hate; she maintains her own life.

Stein created the stage play in collaboration with actor and direc­ tor Austin Pendleton (Fiddler on the Roof; Finding Nemo), who di­ rected the production we see now.

The North Carolina Council on the Holocaust brought Stein to North Carolina not only to per­ form her show for the Charlotte community, but also to present it to schools in North Carolina.

“Etty is helping students,” affirms Stein.

Already Stein has brought her show to more than 55,000 people.

“I’m on a mission to bring Etty to as many people as possible.”Y

Some of the Hebrew High students who lit candles honoring the at­ tending survivors.

Samantha Weinstein, Isabelle Holmes, Susan Stein, Charlie Usadi, and Ben­ jamin Guadarrama.

5960 FAIRVIEW ROAD, SUITE 400 CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28210

Susan Stein performs her one­woman show.

TEL: 704.523.2202 w FAX: 704.496.2716 MGOLDSTEIN@MGOLDLAW.COM w WWW.MGOLDLAW.COM Susan Cernyak­Spatz and daughter Jackie Fishman

Michelle Gurevitch, Frida Schwartz, and GertrudeGurevitch.

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 13

Foundation of Shalom Park Names New Security Director In this modern and fast paced world, security is more important than ever. Schools, temples, and Jewish Community Centers should be havens where we learn, work, relax, and practice our faith.

We expect these environments to be open and welcoming as a fun­ damental characteristic of the ways in which they serve the Jew­ ish life. Yet, as news headlines too often remind us, threats to what had been long­standing safe places are all too real. The health and safety of children and some­ times the elderly are at stake, rais­ ing the consequences.

Protecting and preserving the community is job one for the Foundation of Shalom Park. In furtherance of this goal, the Foun­ dation has named Paul Zinkann, III as Director of Security.

Paul retired from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department in 2015 as a Major. But his retire­ ment did not last long. Chief Kerr Putney asked Paul to come back and lead both an External Advi­

sory Committee and an Internal Advisory Committee as part of the Charlotte Chief of Police transi­ tion. During Paul’s 30­year career, he has overseen departments rang­ ing from the Crime Laboratory, Evidence Management, Crime Scene Search, four Patrol Divi­ sions, Homicide, Armed Robbery, Property Crimes, Domestic Vio­ lence, Missing Persons, Juvenile Crimes, Sexual Assault, Special Events, and Financial Crimes, just to name a few. He also worked to develop partnerships with the United Family Services and the District Attorney’s Office to streamline services and provide assistance through the journey of court proceedings. Paul has a de­ gree in Criminal Justice form Gardner­Webb College. Paul comes very highly recommended

by Chief Putney’s office. Needless to say, Paul will bring deep knowledge, experience, and in­ dustry contacts to Shalom Park.

Job one for Paul is to foster a culture of security with staff, vis­

Paul Zinkann, III

itors, and congregants, while also guiding Shalom Park’s strategic security investments in the areas of physical security, guard staff, and technology. These days, secu­ rity is not limited to things seen,

but the unseen and extremely im­ portant electronic and personal data. Cyber security is a necessary focus at Shalom Park.

Paul’s challenge will be to seek ways to tighten security while pre­ serving the vibrant Shalom Park community that remains at the heart of how we have operated for over thirty­five years.

Linda Seigel, President of Foundation of Shalom Park, said, “I am excited that Shalom Park has attracted someone who has impeccable professional experi­ ence, a passion for community safety and security, and the sensi­ tivity to serve a high profile Jew­

ish communal environment. It is a testament to the strong investment by the Shalom Park community in the protection of our people and property against a unique and ever growing range of threats.”

Most importantly, the Founda­ tion of Shalom Park wants its vis­ itors to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that ac­ cess to the Park and buildings is controlled and monitored in ways that preserve its rich history and traditions. Stop by the Foundation office, meet Paul, and learn how he plans to strengthen the plat­ form and culture of security at Shalom Park.Y

The Hebrew Cemetery in Springtime

By Sandra Goldman Late spring is my favorite time at the Hebrew Cemetery. I love the deep green grass. The trees showing off their foliage and birds chirping on the branches. Over the years, I have become an avid taphophile, an individual who has a true passion for cemeteries. This is the time of the year I take most notice of some of our amazing monuments. Winter has been a lit­ tle rough on them and through Mitzvah Days and other volunteer groups we carefully wash the weathered stones.

I am intrigued by the many per­ sonal inscriptions and symbols and the stories behind them. I am captivated by the airplane for the passionate pilot, the dice repre­ senting the joy of playing the games, or the inscription for the Veteran. I appreciate the stories, new and old, that emerge from the mundane to the colorful lives they lived and I continue to be fasci­

nated especially by the very old markers and wonder what it would be like to relive life of their time?

As the cemetery’s director, I am mindful that cemeteries have dif­ ferent meaning to different peo­ ple. While they can be beautiful places filled with history and serenity, they can also be places of pain; especially for those who have experienced a recent loss. It is important to remember the cemetery’s primary purpose: To honor, celebrate, and embrace the lives of our diseased.

At the same time I love to share historical cemetery tidbits with families when they are making fu­ neral arrangements: Did you know that it was during the late 19th century that future prominent Jewish families became rooted in Charlotte, such as the merchant Schiff family and the Heinemans?

Dannie Heineman was born in Charlotte in 1872 and later be­

came a very successful financier in New York and important phi­ lanthropist in Charlotte, creating the Heineman Medical Research Foundation. Jay Hirschinger, who owned a pants manufacturing company, became a strong advo­ cate of education, serving on the Charlotte school board and win­ ning a grant from Andrew Carnegie’s Foundation to build the city’s first public library in 1891. By the turn of the century, it was evident that Jews were a significant element of the Char­ lotte community.

But it is not only the history that can be of interest. There is a vast of information we can learn from the markers. I enjoy the teaching moments when I give tours through our holy grounds and explain to the guests how to read a monument. For example: The Hebrew letters “Pay” and “Nun” stand for “Po Nikhbar” or “Po Nitman” (depending if it is

Problems Affect Everyone: Myth or Fact?

May is Mental Health Month, so we thought you should get the facts.

Myth: Mental health problems don’t affect me.

Fact: Mental health problems are actually very common. About one in four American adults expe­ rienced a mental health issue this past year and one in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression.

Myth: Children don’t experi­ ence mental health problems.

Fact: Half of all mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns 14 years old, and three quarters of mental health disorders begin before age 24.

Unfortunately, less than 20% of children and adolescents with di­ agnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need.

Early mental health support can help a child before problems in­ terfere with other developmental

needs.

Myth: People with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable.

Fact: The vast majority of peo­ ple with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than anyone else. Most people with mental illness are not violent and only 3%–5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental ill­ ness. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times

more likely to be victims of vio­ lent crime than the general popu­ lation.

Myth: There is no hope for people with mental health prob­ lems.

Fact: Studies show that people with mental health problems get better and many recover com­ pletely. Recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live, work, learn, and partici­ pate fully in their communities.

Myth: I can’t do anything for a person with a mental health prob­ lem.

Fact: Friends and loved ones can make a big difference. Only 44% of adults with diagnosable mental health problems and less than 20% of children and adoles­ cents receive needed treatment.

Friends and family can be impor­ tant influences to help someone get the treatment and services (Continued on page 17)

for a man or a woman).

These letters can be translated to: “Here lies.” This inscription is followed by the name – generally the first name son or daughter of fa­ ther’s name (or both parents). Sometimes one can find also an inscription that says “reb.”

This doesn’t always mean that a rabbi has been buried but simply implies “mister.” The final in­ scription of “Tav Nun Tzadi Bet Hay” stems from the first book of Samuel (Chapter 25, verse 29) where it is said: “May his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life.”

By spending time in our beloved cemetery, we are re­ minded that our time on earth is

limted.

Ideally death should teach us how precious life is and about the im­ portance of living life well. We do so as we continue to honor those who came before us.

To schedule an appointment or to receive further information about preplanning or how to leave a legacy gift, please contact San­ dra Goldman at 704­576­1859 or email at director@hebrewceme­ tery.org. Y

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 14

&

SYNAGOGUES CONGREGATIONS Temple Solel Hosts Seder for Local Church radish, but it is only my guess, it is not scientific. We may need to take several people’s guesses and average them. Good luck.” The reply that followed is priceless, “We adore math­momma and her horseradish hypothesis.” Smiley face, smiley face and other cute emojis (or is it emojim?).

All this high­tech texting flurry followed months of Carol Hahn’s meticulous planning which began in July of 2017 working with Di­ rector of Faith Formations, Mary Harden, of Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church in Fort Mill, SC. The Youth Seder finally came to fruition and is one of the most ex­ citing community events Temple Solel has led in our local commu­ nity to share our Jewish customs.

With the assistance of the Jewish Federation Impact and Innovation Fund grant, we were able to pro­ vide this community Seder experience for 200 Catholic youth in Philip Neri’s 9th and 10th grade religious school.

In our article last month, we wrote about the value Temple Solel has experi­ enced sharing our religious customs with the South Carolina community; how­ ever, Carol Hahn took it a step further in our most re­ cent conversation by say­ ing, “So much conflict in our world comes from fear Russ and young man sing “Go Down Moses.” and the unknown(s) until we get to know each other grape juice assuming we will have and share our cultures. Working 4 cups of 4 oz. bathroom size cups together and sharing traditions of for each of 225 people using my faith we can more clearly see our brain and not a calculator (yay for similarities and also have courage me). I figure we need 14 gallons to embrace our differences. When of red grape juice, so it might be we are willing to take that chance, smart to buy 12 gallon size grape that seems to be when the biggest juice and 8 quart size bottles so if growth takes place and relation­ we need to save some for regular ships are strengthened. It applies Shabbat services we do not have to many subjects, but especially to open a big gallon. My guess is religion.”

The event far exceeded our ex­ we need 10 or 11 bottles of horse­

By Shelley Pawlyk Even living daily in such an ex­ pansive world of technology, I don’t ever recall being included on an eight­person group text be­ fore, so when I looked down and read the flurry of messages, it cer­ tainly was attention grabbing.

The text messages started out with dates and times where this group was preparing to meet, but then began to sound more like most of the Jewish Imas and Bub­ bies we hold dear and have be­ come, “I have been looking for red horse radish but with no luck we will have to use white.” An­ other wrote, “I will bring my 50 cooked eggs and kosher salt for salt water.” Then, “Mara is mak­ ing shank bones.” The texts just kept coming. Next, math­momma (aka Wendy Weinberger) chimed in, “I calculated the amount of

pectations working with such a large group of attentive teens who wanted to learn about the Jewish religion by experiencing a Seder during Pesach. The teachers from Saint Philip Neri fully partnered with Temple Solel to set up and help oversee the event. It was col­ laboration we haven’t experienced in such a large venue. Each table was adorned with a beautifully as­ sembled Seder plate containing our traditional ritual items, espe­ cially the red horse radish. The evening was beautifully organized and executed with the type of pre­ cision one would only expect with a prior rehearsal.

Most impressive was how we never saw these young people looking at each other, talking, or looking down at their smart­ phones. They were very respect­ ful, inquisitive, and participatory throughout the Haggadah readings led by Temple Solel Lay Leader, Russ Cobe. Cobe prepared a 20­ page Haggadah reading that would meet the needs of begin­ ners. He read all the sections, but had quite a few volunteer students who came up and read at the mi­ crophone. One young man came up to read the page about “Go Down Moses” and asked if he could sing along with Cobe, “Let my people go.”

Stevie Rivers, Laurabree Monday, Carol Hahn, Mara Cobe, Vicki Weller, Wendy Weinberger, Tanya Trachtenberg

asked several young men who helped carry items to her car if they liked the experience. One an­ swered, “We loved it.” Another said, “It opened my eyes and I hope we can do this again.”

In all there were 13 members from Temple Solel, nearly 20 teachers from Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church and 175 students in the 9th and 10th grades. Even Father John Giuliani made an ap­ pearance. He has been one of

friends helping each other.

Each year, Temple Solel holds a Seder for the congregation too.

Our first several years we met in our members’ lovely homes. An­ other year we used the same com­ munity hall at Saint Philip Neri as we were in with the youth. Last year we chose Tega Cay’s Club House Restaurant. This year was a very special gathering again at Cruzin Reubenz in Indian Land.

Phil Levine, owner of Cruzin Reubenz, and his daughter Leah talked about being “at” our Seder along “with us” and not just being the host restaurant. We appreciate them allowing us the space exclu­ sively so we can have such a spe­ cial time as a South Carolina community. Next Passover, please remember you are welcome to join us as you are always welcome for Shabbat Services. For more in­ formation about our services visit Facebook, our website at: www.templesolelsc.org or call 803­619­9707. Y

Saint Phili Neri Catholic youth Seder.

Cobe recounted that the most meaningful part of the event was­ n’t the Seder itself, but both the quality and the quantity of ques­ tions the youth asked afterwards.

He said, “I wanted to be sure to answer every question as though it was the most important or only one being asked. There weren’t just two or three. If I were to guess, there were almost twenty questions.”

Both Hahn and Cobe went on to describe that one youth asked what the word Pesach meant and if it was a Hebrew word. Another asked what the lamb shank bone signified. Several expressed im­ mense interest in attending a reg­ ular Shabbat service and how they wanted to see a Torah scroll in person with the Hebrew letters.

They asked what a Seder meal was like in someone’s home com­ pared to what they were experi­ encing.

During the Seder, a youth told Hahn his grandmother was Jewish and he didn’t know much about Judaism until this experience. She

Temple Solel’s strongest advo­ cates in Fort Mill and has wel­ comed our group to hold our regular Shabbat Services at their location on Munn Road. This serves as such a great example how these two strong religious communities can come together as

CruzinReubenz community Seder.

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 15

Cantor Roochvarg to Present Jewish Music Exploration Program Havurat Tikvah will host Can­ tor Elias Roochvarg in an explo­ ration of Jewish music on May 6, 3 PM, at the Langsam/Fischer res­ idence, 1607 Dilworth Rd. W. Cantor Roochvarg has served Temple Israel for over two decades and is retiring in early summer. His tenure with the Con­ servative congregation began in August 1995.

The cantor is a Newark, NJ, na­ tive. He earned his Bachelor’s De­ gree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Master’s De­ gree in voice from Boston Univer­ sity. He received his cantorial training at the Institute of Religion in New York and spent three years at Hebrew Union College’s Jerusalem campus, the last two of which he served as cantor and music director. Cantor Roochvarg previously served as cantor for 15 years at Congregation Beth Israel in Owings Mills, MD. He has per­ formed and lectured widely at venues including The Smithson­ ian Institution.

Cantor Roochvarg will remain in Charlotte, NC after retirement.

To attend this event, RSVP to admin@havurattikvah.org by May 4. Seating is limited.

Then on May 20, the congrega­ tion will engage in study for the Shavout holiday with Temple Is­ rael’s Assistant Rabbi Tracy Klirs.

Details on the location and time

Cantor Elias Roochvarg are still being finalized as of press time. Visit the website for more information for more information.

Assistant Rabbi Klirs was the first woman rabbi to head a Jew­ ish congregation in Canada. In ad­ dition, Rabbi Klirs was the lead author and editor of “The Merit of Our Mothers: A Bilingual Anthol­ ogy of Jewish Women’s Prayers” and author of numerous articles on Yiddish prayers and literature.

The congregation continues its monthly third Wednesday minyanim on May 16 at 7:30 PM. Check the website for location.

Havurat Tikvah is a warm, sup­ portive and nurturing Jewish Re­ constructionist congregation with Shabbat services and a full spectrum of holiday obser­ vances, as well as religious educational options for both

adults and children. We are a di­ verse group of families, singles, and Jewish and interfaith couples who participate in projects that promote social justice.

We value and depend upon member participation and leader­ ship for our religious services, spiritual growth, and governance.

Havurat Tikvah is an affiliate of the Reconstructing Judaism movement. This new name was adopted and announced to the worldwide membership during January.

For more information on up­ coming services, programs, mem­ bership or other queries, call 980­225­5330, write to Havurat Tikvah, P.O. Box 12684, Char­ lotte, NC 28220, email member­ ship@havurattikvah.org or visit havurattikvah.org. Havurat Tik­ vah is also on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/havurattik­ vah/.Y

Family Shavuot Celebration

Ballantyne Jewish Center in­ vites you and your family to join us to hear the Ten Command­ ments read from the Torah and enjoy a delicious dairy meal in honor of the holiday of Shavuot.

Shavuot is the time when we com­ memorate God’s giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai and a time to celebrate the true heroes of this holiday which are the children.

Before God gave the Torah He de­ manded guarantors. The Jewish people made a number of sugges­ tions all rejected by God until they declared, “Our children will be our guarantors that we will cher­ ish and observe the Torah.” God immediately accepted them and

agreed to give the Torah.

Let us make sure to bring all our “guarantors” along on the first day of Shavuot to be present for the reading of the Ten Command­ ments. There will be a special pro­ gram, fun activities and an ice cream party for them to enjoy.

Sunday, May 20 5­6:30 PM At the South Charlotte Banquet Center 9009 Bryant Farms Rd. Open to the community free of charge.

RSVP is appreciated ­ email info@JewishBallantyne.com or call 704­246­8881.

There will be a Minyan and Yizkor service the following morning.

Monday, May 21 At the Ballantyne Jewish Cen­ ter 8632 Bryant Farms Rd. 10 AM Service Begins 11:30 AM Yizkor Followed by a Kiddush lunch.

For more information visit us online www.JewishBallantyne. com. Y

Hebrew School of the Arts Registration for the 2018­2019 School Year is now open Call 704­246­8881 or email Leah@JewishBallantyne.com. www.JewishBallantyne.com/ HebrewSchool.

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 16

Join Temple Kol Ami for Annual Picnic June 3 The weather is turning warmer, baseball season is in full swing and the grills are firing up. That can only mean one thing ­ it’s time for Temple Kol Ami’s annual pic­ nic. The community is invited to join Temple Kol Ami for our al­ ways fun and family­friendly pic­ nic on June 3 from 12 noon­3 PM at McDowell Pavilion in McDow­ ell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC. Temple Kol Ami will provide the hot dogs, fixings, and drinks, you are asked to bring a side or dessert to share.

There will be a face painter and balloon artist and most likely a water gun fight to cool off the kids (and adults brave enough to par­ ticipate). If you are new to the

York County/South Charlotte Jewish community, or just haven’t had a chance to meet us yet, this is a great opportunity to connect with the TKA community in a re­ laxed and friendly environment.

For more information, please contact us at yorksynagogue@ gmail.com, or check out our web­ site at www.templekolamisc.org.

Temple Kol Ami is a diverse and welcoming Reform Jewish congregation. We meet in the beautiful sanctuary at Philadel­ phia United Methodist Church in Fort Mill. We would love to have you visit our congregation and find out about our warm, family­ oriented environment. Y Members of Temple Kol Ami enjoy the annual picnic in 2017

“Turn It and Turn It, for Everything Is in It.”

By Rabbi Asher Knight, Temple Beth El It is customary for Jews to study one of the six chapters of Pirke Avot ­ the Ethics of our An­ cestors – on each of the six shab­ batot between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot. Found within the Mishnah, Pirke Avot is a collection of rabbinic sayings and ethical teachings. One of my favorite maxims is attributed to Yochanan ben Bag Bag, one of Hillel’s disciples, said to have lived in the first century. We read, “ben Bag Bag used to say ‘Turn it, and turn it, for everything is in it.’” Most commentators explain that “turn it” refers to the Torah.

Learning Torah is a lifelong en­ deavor, to be examined over and over again, discovering new meanings and nuances with every seasonal turn and with each life

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transition. I would like to suggest a different meaning, however.

Perhaps, “it” refers to the commu­ nity that we create together, “turn it, and turn it, for everything is in it.”

Judaism does not advocate soli­ tude as a way of reaching spiritual or moral attainment. Judaism teaches that it is in relationships with one another where we con­ nect most deeply with God. The potential we have as individuals to grow and transform is strength­ ened by our sense of being rooted in community. Judaism asks us to learn with each other, pray with each other, celebrate with each other, mourn with each other, walk through life together, and see the Godliness that exists in each other’s souls.

Knowing that we need connec­ tion in our lives does not always lead us towards developing com­ munity. Even when we have the best of intentions, we sometimes need support and a hand reaching out to us, inviting us to come along, prodding us to leave the comforts of home and to put our­

selves out there. Authentic and genuine living is about growing and becoming who we are, at every stage of life, in relationship with one another.

A solid community is more than making donations and asking what the rabbi or a congregation or an institution can do for you.

We can’t sit back and wait for community to come to us. In order to be transformed by “it,” we have to build “it.” We have to become “it.” None of us can create con­ nection, meaning, happiness and belonging in isolation.

On Shavuot, we celebrate the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai.

Our tradition tells us that our an­ cestors stood together, ready to re­ ceive the laws, teachings, and the traditions. That sacred moment happened thousands of years ago and continues with us today. You are the “it” that we are waiting for.

You are a central element to the living faith that we build, together.

Bring your unique and distinct gifts to the community. You have abilities that can add, tremen­ dously, to our Charlotte Jewish community. Together, we will build a relevant and living Ju­ daism, weaving a social fabric of shared belonging shaped by the idea that when we are in relation­ ship and well­connected, we can better care for the well­being of one another. And when we sup­ port the spiritual growth and learning of one another we will live better, richer and fuller lives.Y

“Education is that which remains when one has forgotten everything he learned in school.” ­ Albert Einstein, “Out of My Later Years”

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 17

Shavuot Rocks at Ohr HaTorah Where the Children Are Our Stars Shavuot is the Festival of Weeks and marks the anniversary of the giving of the Torah. This year it falls and Sunday and Mon­ day, May 20 and 21.

When God gave the Torah to the Jewish people 3,330 years ago at Mount Sinai, the Jewish chil­ dren were the guarantors. After re­ jecting the Patriarchs and leaders of Israel as guarantors for the Torah, God knew that He could count on the Jewish children, boys and girls, to ensure the Jewish people would love the Torah, learn it, and do its holy mitzvahs.

Every year, on the same date of the giving of the Torah, we cele­ brate this special day by going to the synagogue and hearing the Ten Commandments known in Hebrew as Aseret Hadibrot.

On Sunday, May 20, Ohr Ha­ Torah will begin holiday services at 10 AM and will host a special children’s program beginning at 10:30 AM. The children will join the adults for the Torah reading service and will make a grand entry into the sanctuary before the 10 Commandments are read in the scroll.

Remember: Our children are the guarantors of the Torah. So make sure to be there with chil­ dren and grandchildren.

The festival of Shavuot is also recognized for as a day when we consume appetizing dairy foods like blintzes and cheesecake. The

reason for this custom is that on Shavuot the People Israel received God’s greatest gift to humanity, the Torah. The Jewish people en­ tered into a covenant with God on this day and it is therefore a par­ allel to marriage. One of the first commitments the Jews made to God upon entering this special covenant was to observe the kosher laws. They were not yet fa­ miliar with Kashrut and only ate dairy until they were more profi­ cient in their new life mode of keeping kosher.

In keeping with this tradition that has been practiced for over 3,000 years, feasting on dairy foods during the festival of Shavuot, Congregation Ohr Ha­ Torah continues to celebrate with a scrumptious dairy Kiddush luncheon, after morning services on the first day of Shavuot.

It is obvious that the festival of Shavuot is centered on the theme of the giving of the Torah by God at Mt. Sinai. It is the day that transformed the Children of Israel into a people committed to God and his Torah. The rituals and cus­ toms of this holiday are meant to strengthen the recogni­ tion of this theme and the Jewish connection to Torah.

An all­night Torahthon will be held at Ohr Ha­ Torah on Saturday night, May 19, starting at mid­

night. This is a wonderful practice of this holiday, to study the Torah all night on the first evening of Shavuot. According to the Midrash, the Jewish people slept late on the morning of first Shavuot, and we the descendants, correct it by welcoming the morn­ ing with Torah study. This prac­ tice demonstrates that we are eager to receive the Torah and to learn its precepts. Many have the tradition of reading the Tikkun Leil Shavuot, which contains se­ lections from each book of both the Written and Oral Torah.

This is a candle lighting holi­ day. In addition to the candles being lit Friday evening (7:53 PM in Charlotte) in honor of Shabbat, we light the candles on Saturday night (after 9:06 PM in Charlotte) and Sunday night (after 9:07 PM) as well. [All Charlotte candle lighting times are on page 2.]

Services for the second day of Shavuot, Monday May 21, begin at 10 AM, and will include the Yizkor service. For more informa­ tion, please contact our office at 704­366­3984 or go online to www.chabadnc.org.Y

Hebrew High Seniors (Continued from page 11)

have had anywhere else. It’s a place where Jewish teens can come and be themselves. Next year, I will be attending East Car­ olina University.

Tommy Ecker: The past five years that I have been at Hebrew High has changed my life. The first two years I at­ tended Hebrew High, I took He­ brew for Credit. I was very upset when I had to stop taking it, due to some circumstances, but I still

continued to attend Hebrew High; in fact, I am currently involved in Post Confirmation for the second year in a row. Hebrew High has taught me so much about what it means to Jewish, and I have defi­ nitely embraced Judaism more than I could have imagined five years ago. I will be attending the University of South Carolina next year, and my goal is to continue embracing Judaism there too. Y

May is Mental Health Month (Continued from page 13)

they need by: * Reaching out and letting them know you are available to help. * Helping them access mental health services – JFS offers coun­ seling and a host of workshops that can help. * Learning and sharing the facts

about mental health, especially if you hear something that isn’t true. * Treating them with respect, just as you would anyone else. * Refusing to define them by their diagnosis or using labels such as “crazy.”

Mental Health Is Real Y

Our Future is So Bright!

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 18

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Where Families Come Together

The Ruach Brings the Shabbat Experience to Plaza­Midwood On Friday, March 16, it wasn’t just a good Shabbos…it was great Shabbat! About 125 folks of all ages gathered at The Rabbit Hole on Commonwealth Avenue in Plaza Midwood for The Ruach Shabbat Experience.

At around 6:30 PM, Nancy Good, lead singer of The Ruach, the area’s only indie rock band playing new, Jewish music, grabbed the microphone and wel­ comed the crowd with an ener­ getic, “Shabbat Shalom!” The crowd enthusiastically responded, “Shabbat Shalom!” And with that, the band launched into a rock ver­ sion of Mosh Ben Ari’s “Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu” (“Peace will come upon us”).

The Ruach Shabbat Experience is a celebration of Shabbat and the end of the week. Although the Ex­ perience contains all the elements of halachic Sabbath service, it is much more than that. It is a musi­ cal Jewish spiritual and cultural event that encourages folks to sing along with the band and engage with each other…and embrace the joy of Judaism through rock. As Matt Sadinsky put it, “Shabbat with soul – every prayer a musical journey – it’s hard not to be moved and spiritually present.”

Much of the music that The Ruach plays is original. The songs are meant to convey the meaning and feeling of Shabbat. “Shabbat is a celebration and time for re­ flection,” said Peter Levinson, lead guitarist and leader of The Ruach. “Our goal is for the music and the Experience to be mean­ ingful and make people feel happy and inspired.”

During the Experience, the crowd was treated to the wisdom of Rabbi Rachel Smookler who returned to speak publically for the first time since suffering a massive stroke on the Sunday be­ fore Rosh Hashanah last year.

Rabbi Smookler, moved to Char­ lotte in August of 2017 with her husband, Harrison, an executive with Corning. Before moving she

was senior Rabbi at Temple Beth David in Rochester, NY. The Experience concluded with the Motzi and sharing of challah baked by Good and Lori Jack­ owitz.

Based upon comments heard at the Experience, as well as posted on Facebook and Instagram, it looks like the band is achieving its goal. Here are just a few of the re­ marks: “A fabulous and uplifting expe­ rience.” ­ Racelle Weiman “… wonderful evening … awesome …! ­ Mary­Margaret Kantor “Lots of fun!” ­ Etti Kraus The Ruach Shabbat Experience is for everyone, no matter which Jewish movement you identify with, what synagogue you belong to, or even whether or not you be­ long to a synagogue.

The Ruach has been busy tak­ ing the Experience to other venues in the Carolinas. On Friday March 2, the band travelled to Chapel Hill to play for UNC Hillel and in the past several months has played at Temple Kol Ami and Temple Solel, both in Fort Mill. On Sun­ day, April 15, the band travelled to Asheville to play a noon concert at the JCC. Upcoming dates include a re­ turn to The Rabbit Hole, 1801 Commonwealth Avenue, Char­ lotte on Friday, May 18 (doors open at 6 PM and the Experience will begin at 6:30 PM) and at Temple Kol Tikvah of Lake Nor­ man on Friday, June 8.

If you’d like to hear some of The Ruach’s music it is available for streaming and download at www.theruach.bandcamp.com To keep up with The Ruach: Facebook /RockHaRuach Instagram @the.ruach.new.­ jewish.music.

Twitter @TheRuachSpirit And, to get on The Ruach’s eVite list, send your email address to the.ruach.band@gmail.com. Be sure to put “eVite List” in the sub­ ject line. Y

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The Ruach rocks in Shabbat at the Rabbit Hold in Plaza­Midwood.

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 19

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L’Shanah Tovah Your names here

This Rosh Ha’Shanah, send your New Year Greeting to friends and relatives without even licking a stamp!

If you’re like most of us, you’ll probably wait until the last minute to send your annual Jewish New Year greetings. And, like most of us, you will probably regret having waited so long. This year, let The Charlotte Jewish News take care of your New Year greetings for you.

No Postage ­ No Problem ­ No Sweat Sample C­ $45

Join your friends and neighbors in the special Rosh Ha’Shanah Greetings supplement to be published in the September 2018 Charlotte Jewish News. Simply choose your greeting from the samples on this page, fill out the coupon and mail to The CJN with your payment. if you wish to compose your own greeting, choose”C” or “D” and include your wording in the space provided. limit 25 words, printed or typed, please.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Your greeting here

Hurry!

Deadline for Rosh Ha’Shanah 5771 is August 6, 2018 Order your greeting online: www.jewishcharlotte.org Link to “CJN New Years Greetings”

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May the sound of the shofar herald a year filled with health, happiness, and peace.

Please include me in the Rosh Ha’Shanah Greeting section of the September 2018 Charlotte Jewish News. Enclosed in a check in the amount of $________.

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Return to: CJN, 5007 Providence Rd., Suite 112, Charlotte, NC 28226 by Aug. 6

May M ay 2018 2018

Sandra and Sandra and LLeon eon LLevine evine JJewish ewish C Community ommunity C Center en t er 55007 007 PProvidence rovidence R oad | C harlotte, N C 228226 8226 Road Charlotte, NC 7704-366-5007 04-366-5007 | ccharlottejcc.org haarlottejcc.org | facebook.com/levinejcc faacebook.com /levinejcc

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Adultts Adults FFeaturing eaturing author author and and motivational motivational speaker speaker JJohnnie ohnnie Davis.

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by W Wednesday, ednesday, 5/2 5/2 oonline nline aatt ccharlottejcc.org harlottejcc.org or or call call 704-366-5007 704-366-5007 M/$30 M /$ 30 B/$25 B / $ 25 N NM/$35 M/$ 35 ((plus plus lunch lunch is is on on your your own) own)

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Membership M embership Susan Susan LLerner e ner 7704-944-6741 er 04-944-6741 susan.lerner@charlottejcc.org susan.lerner@ charlottejcc.org EEarly a ly Childhood ar Childhood PPatty atty Torcellini Torcellini 704-944-6891 704-944-6891 patty.torcellini@charlottejcc.org patty.torcellini @ charlottejcc.org K-5th Grade Programs K-5th G rade P rograms Mitch Mitch Ormand Orm mand 704-944-6733 704-944-6733 mitch.ormand@charlottejcc.org mitch.orm mand @ charlottejcc.org Adults Seniors/Oasis Ad ults & S eniors /Oasis Jill Jill LLipson ipsson 704-944-6792 704-944-6792 jill.lipson@charlottejcc.org jill.lipson @ charlottejcc.org Sports Sports Stephanie Garner Stephanie G arner 7704-944-6743 04-944-6743 stephanie.garner@charlottejcc.org stephanie.garner@ charlottejcc.org Aquatics Swim Aquatics / S wim Team Team Joshua Joshua Steinberger Steinberger 7704-944-6746 04-944-6746 joshua.steinberger@charlottejcc.org joshua.steinberger@ charlottejcc.org LJCC LJCC Tennis Tennis / CRUSH CRUSH Greg O’Connor Greg O ’Connor 7704-944-6748 04-944-6748 gregory.oconnor@charlottejcc.org gregory.ocon o nor@ charlottejcc.org Visual/Performing Visual /Performing Arts Ar t s Susan Susan Gundersheim Gundeersheim 7704-944-6778 04-944-6778 susan.gundersheim@charlottejcc.org susan.gundersheim @ charlottejcc.org J-Childcare J-Childcare Amie Amie Gray Gray 704-944-6726 704-944-6726 amie.gray@charlottejcc.org amie.gray @ charlottejcc.org Social Action Social A c t io n Julie Julie Rizzo Rizzo 704-944-6730 704-944-6730 julie.rizzo@charlottejcc.org julie.rizzo z @ charlottejcc.org like us!

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 22

Women’s News Novant Health and Amy Sobel, Celebrate the TaTas 2018 Event Details MD, a Diagnostic Radiologist Celebrate the TaTas is an an­ nual Hadassah tradition launched in Charlotte in 2012. Hadassah Charlotte has attained national and international recognition for this premier program of events that educates, celebrates, and empow­ ers women while raising funds for breast cancer research. 100% of event net proceeds are donated to Hadassah Medical Organization’s breast cancer research initiatives.

Celebrate the TaTas 2018 will have three local events this fall with total expected attendance of approximately over 1,000 mem­ bers of the community: * Painting Days – September 16 and 17 expected attendance:

100. This 7th annual event is an empowering female celebration in which local artists use the body as a canvas. The Celebrate the TaTas logo captures images from past years’ events. * Soccer Tournament of Cham­ pions – October 6 and 7, expected attendance: 750. This 5th annual event is a women’s only competi­ tion in collaboration with the North Carolina Adult Soccer As­ sociation. * Big Reveal Event – October 24, expected attendance: 200. This 7th annual “reveal” will be a spe­ cial night of celebration, which will include speakers, entertain­ ment, and revealing of the collage

poster from Painting Days. Atten­ dees will include Hadassah mem­ bers, their spouses, and friends, our corporate sponsors and their guests, and other members of the community who are passionate about the eradication of breast cancer.

Debra Van Glish and Shelly Steiner, event chairs, are excited to announce the details for this year’s Big Reveal. “The venue will be Queen Park Social, allow­ ing us to have a fun, interactive, high energy night,” explains Van Glish. The guest speakers will be Lori Gentile, MD, a Breast Surgi­ cal Oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer with

specializing in Breast Imaging/ Mammography with Charlotte Radiology.

“In our last Big Reveal year, 2016, we raised over $100,000 and hope to do so again in 2018,” says Dana Kapustin, chapter Pres­

ident. Charlotte businesses are asked to help fulfill this goal by showing their support and gen­ erosity as sponsors. To learn more about the series of events, includ­ ing sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.celebrateth­ etatas.com. Y

Five Ways to Celebrate Shavuot — Without (Necessarily) Studying Torah

By Ben Sales New York (JTA) — Shavuot is the “Rodney Dangerfield of Jew­ ish holidays,” says Rabbi Shira Stutman of Washington, DC’s Sixth and I synagogue.

Meaning: It gets no respect.

Considered by Jewish tradition to be on par with the fall and spring festivals of Sukkot and Passover, Shavuot is sometimes ignored because it is six days shorter ­ the holiday celebrating the biblical giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai is one day in Israel and two outside of it.

Shavuot, which this year starts on the evening of May 19, also lacks iconic, family­centric ritu­ als. One of its only unique tradi­ tions is to stay up until dawn studying Torah on the first night.

Because the holiday demands knowledge and stamina (or lots of coffee), it’s no surprise that pulling an all­nighter poring over the Talmud hasn’t become as widespread as, say, lighting a menorah.

But in recent years, synagogues and Jewish organizations across the country are trying to make the practice more accessible. Here are five ways American groups are reinterpreting the Shavuot all­ nighter.

The Biblical Shavuot What if we celebrated Shavuot the way it is described in the Bible? That’s what a group at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut is attempt­ ing to do.

At its Shavuot retreat, while there’s an option to study Torah on the holiday’s first night, there is also a group that will embark on a midnight hike meant to simulate Moses’ trek up Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. Hikers will proceed silently, sans flashlights, to an overlook.

Because it will be very dark, the three­quarters­of­a­mile trek will take approximately 2­1/2 hours.

In the morning, participants will gather for a parade of ani­ mals, fruits, and grains meant to reflect the ancient Shavuot pro­ cession up to the Temple in

cused on studying and dis­ reinterpret the mikvah, or Jewish Jerusalem, when farmers cussing feminism. With this ritual bath. And owing to the tra­ were commanded to give program, she is making that dition of eating dairy on Shavuot, their first fruits as a tribute. cheesecake and cookies will be happen in a Jewish context.

At the retreat center, a herd of At Feminism All Night, offered. goats will be decorated with “A deep value of our commu­ participants of all genders will ribbons and shirts. Marchers, have dinner and prayers, fol­ nity is understanding and celebrat­ singing and dancing to a lowed by feminist classes and ing its diversity,” said Rabbi Joy drumbeat, carry two large studying from 10 PM­4 AM. Levitt, JCC Manhattan’s execu­ baskets ­ one with a challah, Topics will include Jewish tive director. “We wanted to make to represent wheat, and an­ texts related to women’s sure that we were able to attract other with seasonal fruits.

“It’s exciting because Participants in a past Shavuot program at the rights, like how a Talmudic the widest number of people with we’re reviving what JCC Manhattan gather on the JCC’s roof. The chapter on reparations can be a very expansive view of Torah.”

A similar program will happen Deuteronomy says,” said one JCC’s annual event lasts all night and features an applied to gender equality, as of the parade’s facilitators, array of classes and workshops. (Courtesy of JCC well as lessons on political ac­ across the East River, where tivism and the intersection of Shavuot Across Brooklyn will Sarah Chandler, who also Manhattan) bring together participants from gender and spirituality. goes by the name Kohenet “There’s a lot of political the borough’s range of syna­ Shamira. “We’re going to decorate our animals. We’re going and it will be focused on Jews and urgency around how we decide to gogues and independent prayer live our lives, and I think patri­ groups. to bring the first fruits, and we’re Muslims in America.

The program will bring to­ archy has really kept us down in Similar to the JCC array, ses­ going to make an offering.” gether Jeffrey Goldberg, the Jew­ terms of that and has gotten us sions span from a “Free Minds ish editor­in­chief of the Atlantic, into some really bad habits,” Prison Poetry Workshop” to one The Mountain Shavuot The Living Tree Alliance, a and Duke University’s Imam Ab­ Cohen said. “Being an intersec­ on Hebrew slang.

The top­billed event is a book Jewish agricultural community dullah Antepli to discuss similari­ tional feminist has shown me the reading and discussion by the au­ that lives together on a 93­acre ties and tensions between way to heal out of that.” thor couple Michael Chabon and property in Vermont, will cele­ American Jews and Muslims. An­ brate the lead­up to Shavuot by tepli is also part of the Muslim preparing for it like the Israelites Leadership Initiative, a Shalom Hartman Institute program that did in the desert.

The group will hike on Mount brings together young Muslim Mansfield, the state’s highest leaders to learn about Judaism and mountain, stopping along the way Israel.

The program will start with a for seven readings of poetry and other texts to reflect the seven di­ buffet featuring Palestinian, vine attributes referenced in Jew­ Tunisian, Ashkenazi and Mizrachi ish mysticism. Halfway up, ­ or Middle Eastern Jewish ­ they’ll stop for a Torah service at cuisines. It will also include Mus­ an interfaith chapel. Ambitious lim and Jewish evening prayer hikers will spend the afternoon services, back to back, and a joint scaling the mountain’s peak, text study of Jewish and Muslim 4,300 feet high, to engage in a perspectives on revelation.

Joshua Molina signs his name on the wall of Sixth and I, a historic Washington, “If one of the things Shavuot is D.C., synagogue, at a Shavuot event last year. The synagogue’s Shavuot event worship service.

“Moses climbed Mount Sinai, about is learning sacred texts to­ this year features Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of the Atlantic, and Imam Abdullah so we wanted to get to a high gether, struggling with difficult Antepli. (Courtesy of Sixth and I) mountain peak in Vermont,” said ideas together, sitting together for Ayelet Waldman focused on their Living Tree program coordinator long periods of time — not just The New York City thoughts on a recent trip to Israel Stacey Oshkeloo. “Vermonters 140 characters of Twitter periods Mega­Shavuots What do you do if you have a and the West Bank. The event is like hiking and connecting to na­ of time — we are taking all of that ture, so it seemed like a great way to this conversation,” Rabbi Stut­ lot of Jews living in the same sponsored by Breaking the Si­ man said. It’s a certain type of neighborhood? In the Big Apple, lence, an Israeli veterans’ group to make the holiday accessible.” revelation that we are hoping for.” two groups are doing big Shavuot that opposes Israel’s occupation.

“It’s a reflection of the reality all­nighters, with a range of Torah The Jewish­Muslim Shavuot of people’s interests,” said Matt classes and plenty more.

If some people are taking The Feminist Shavuot Another contemporary take on The JCC Manhattan, which has Green, a rabbinic intern at Con­ Shavuot back 3,000 years, others want to make it relevant to the Shavuot is Feminism All Night, in had an all­night program each gregation Beth Elohim, the Re­ present, politically fraught mo­ Oakland, CA. Creator Hadar Shavuot since 2004, has a sched­ form synagogue in the Park Slope ment. Sixth and I, a historic syna­ Cohen, who runs Pivot to Bloom, ule so full it’s dizzying. Offerings neighborhood that is hosting the gogue that has become a center an organization advancing gender include text study, dance work­ program. “Many of the partici­ for progressive Jewish activism, inclusivity in the tech world, or­ shops, yoga, film screening and pants are familiar and conversant will be doing its Shavuot night ganized the event because she felt meditation. On the roof, an instal­ in Jewish texts, but a much greater learning program a week early ­ there was a dearth of spaces fo­ lation by artist Tobi Kahn will number of people are not.”Y

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018­ Page 23

Always Alw ways a war warm rm welcome welcome. e.

An in inclusive nclusive and dynamic y Reform R Jewish congregation congreg g gation

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Celebrate Shabbat S First Friday First Friday in May: M 55:30 : 30 pm SongFest SonggFest 66:00 : 00 pm Family Fami ly Shabbat Service 88:00 : 00 pm Community Comm munity Shabbat Service All other Fridays: Fridayys: 66:00 :00 pm Comm Community munity Shabbat Service Service Join us Friday, Friday May M 1111 as we honor our 201 20188 Confirmation Class Class.

PPassover aassover celebrations with Sisterhood andd Brotherhood. Photo credit: Susan Abroms (left), (leefft), t) Jeff Bierer (right)

Saturdays: Saturdays: 11:00 11: 00 am Shabb Shabbat bat Morning Ser Service vice Join us Saturday, Saturdayy, May 12 for a Congregati Congregational onal Shabbat Service.

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Please ccheck heck www.templebethel.org service v times and det vice details. www.ttemplebethel.org for weekly ser ails.

Celebrate Shavuot S Saturday, May 19 Saturday, Sinai Study) 77:30 :30 pm TThe he Sina ai Scoop (Ice Cream & Stud dy)

TBBE Religious School 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade TBE Graders ers shared a retreat weekend of praying and playingg at Camp Caamp Thunderbird.

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Celebrate an evening of spiritual audacit audacity, y, song, learnin learning ng and prayer with RRabbi abbi Asher Knight and a Cantor Mar Maryy Rebecca Thomas.

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Sunday, May 2200 Shavuot 99:30 :30 am TTot oot Shav vuot Shavuot Service 111:00 1:00 am Shavuo ot Morning Ser vice with Yizkor Yizkkor www.ttemplebethel.org for service Please ccheck heck www.templebethel.org service times timees and det details. ails.

Find meaningful, hear heartfelt t gifts for all the people tfelt being celebrated in May. M W Wee have a large selection of Judaica, jewelr jjewelry,y, and other special items for moms, gradu graduates, uates, brides and grooms.

Mitzvah Mit zvah Day 201 20188 Sunday, May 6 Every May, hundreds of congre Every congregants egants from TTemple emple e Beth El give ccountless ountless hours of time to communit communityy organiza organizations ations who do so muc muchh good for soo many. Some of our benefiting par partners tners this year include the Hebrew Cemeter Cemetery,y, Jewish FFamily amily Services, Ser vices, Hemby and Levine Ch Children’s hildren’s Hospit Hospitals, als, Salvation Army Center of Hope, Sterling Element Elementary ary Sc School, hool, Sh Shalom halom PPark ark FFreedom reedom Sc School hool and th the he Jewish Communityy Refugee Initiative. On Mit Communit Mitzvah zvah Day, we make a differ difference rence locally zvah at a time. and globally as we repair the world, w one mit mitzvah

Discovered TTraditions rraditionss is open 110:00 0:00 am to 3: 3:00 00 pm Monday M thr through ough FFriday, riday, beforee and after FFriday befor ridday night services, and 9: 9:00 00 am to t 11:00 :00 pm on RReligious eligious School Sc hool Sundays. PProceeds r roceeds suppor supportt the Temple Temple e Beth El Religious Sc School. hool.

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 24

Shavuot Is About Breaking the Tablets, and Putting Them Back Together

By Adina Lewittes (JTA) ­ The festival of Shavuot, which begins at sundown May 19, focuses on Moses receiving the tablets of the law. But an even more fascinating part of the story is when he shatters them. In an as­ tounding Midrash, or rabbinic commentary, Moses’ act is por­ trayed as the epitome of loyalty to the people, but also teaches God about community and continuity.

Descending Mount Sinai, Moses sees the golden calf that the Israelites made while he was gone, a mortal sin according to the Torah he’s carrying, so he decides not to give it to them. The Midrash explains: “Moses started to turn back, but the Elders saw him and ran after him. Moses held on to one side of the tablets, they held on to the other, but Moses was stronger. …

He looked at the tablets and no­ ticed that the writing had disap­ peared from them. ‘How can I give the Israelites blank tablets?’ he thought, and decided it would be better to break them instead.”

(Avot D’Rabbi Natan, Ch. 2) Moses realized there could be no Torah without a community to follow its teachings. Better the Torah be withdrawn than its recip­ ients destroyed. God agreed and erased the laws from the tablets.

Blank tablets aren’t simply tablets lacking inscriptions. They are also tablets written in a lan­

guage people no longer speak or understand. This Midrash teaches that there is no value in Torah for Torah’s sake; its value derives from those who live its traditions.

Even God embraced the primacy of the people, however imperfect we may be, over a “perfect,” but unachievable, Torah.

We’re not the first generation to manage the tension between the Torah and those who chafe against its demands. We’re also not the first ­ or the last ­ to disassemble and reassemble Torah to preserve Judaism and the Jewish people.

When teaching this Midrash to rabbis in NJ, Rabbi Donniel Hart­ man challenged us by saying that every generation must ask what part of the Torah they are willing to “break” to stand beside their people.

The tablets of our time are straining in a world where identity and affiliation are voluntary ex­ pressions shaped by choice rather than heritage. Communal bound­ aries are increasingly porous in our flat, networked society de­ fined by access and collaboration, and in which religious hierarchies make less and less sense. Individ­ uals personally curate their own Jewish lives, drawing from an array of cultural, intellectual, so­ cial, political, ethnic, spiritual, sexual, and gender affiliations within and beyond the Jewish community. Diverse sources of

authority and inspiration abound, shaping multifaceted, multi­vocal Jewish expressions in the global conversation about meaning, con­ nection, and faith.

In this setting, what are we pre­ pared to dismantle and reconfig­ ure to help more Jews feel at home in Judaism and the Jewish community, and motivate them to stay and contribute to a shared vi­ sion of the future? Opening “God­ optional” synagogues, leading kirtan­inflected prayer, creating intermarriage rituals, “revolution­ izing” b’nei mitzvah ceremonies, recognizing patrilineal descent, hosting Ramadan Iftar dinners ­ some communities are fracturing today’s tablets, illuminating our “post­ethnic,” “spiritual­but­not­ religious” Jewish “sensibilities.”

Many shudder at the thought of “shattering” any part of the Torah, but we must remember where the shards of the tablets Moses broke were kept: in the Holy Ark, right beside the new ones. Among those shards lie such historic decisions as embracing matrilineality, ban­ ning polygamy and requiring a wife’s consent to divorce, as well as more recent “fractures” of tra­ dition initiated for the sake of Jewish peoplehood like allowing converts to marry Kohanim, sem­ inaries to ordain women, commu­ nities to enfranchise LGBTQ Jews and Jewish cemeteries to bury non­Jewish spouses.

Illustration by Lior Zaltzman.

The disassembling and re­ assembling of Torah in every gen­ eration is part of the sacred narrative and destiny of the Jew­ ish people. It’s the source of our continuity, not our dissolution.

Will our tablets survive their collision with today’s culture and emerge recast into an authentic Torah for the future? Will the pieces from our dismantling take their place in the ark as part of the ongoing, sacred narrative of the Jewish people?

What’s at stake is more than our own Jewish fate. Judaism, like humanity itself, is at a crossroads.

As economist and social theorist Jeremy Rifkin suggests, along with our potential to deepen spir­ itual and moral consciousness in a world of increasing connectivity comes the possibility of extending our empathic embrace to all forms of life and to the planet itself. If Judaism fails to reimagine itself, the consequences will be devastat­ ing; to some they already are. The consequences of humanity’s un­

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willingness to do the same could be more catastrophic.

Creating a sustainable, open­ sourced, non­hierarchical, collab­ orative Judaism is part of today’s global urgency to create a simi­ larly sustainable planet.

This powerful narrative is awaiting inscription upon our gen­ eration’s tablets. It comes with considerable risk, some loss and the potential for great reward.

Like the midrashic tug of war be­ tween the Elders and Moses over the ancient tablets, our Torah is wrenched between the weight of the past and the call of the future.

Which will ensure its salvation and that of the people to whom it’s continually given: a tighter grip or a more encompassing embrace?Y (Rabbi Adina Lewittes is the founder of Sha’ar Communities, a network that promotes an innova­ tive, pluralistic approach to build­ ing Jewish identity by creating multiple portals into Jewish life and community.)

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 25

If You Marry a Jew, You’re One of Us (Editor’s Note: Since during the holiday of Shavuot, we commem­ orate the acceptance of Ruth into our community, we thought this reprinting this article from 2013 would be timely and appropri­ ate.)

By Steven M. Cohen and Joy Levitt New York (JTA) ­ Millennia ago, before rabbis existed or con­ version was invented, thousands who were not born Jewish became part of the Jewish community through a very simple act: They married a Jew. Sarah was the first, followed in turn by Rebecca, Leah and Rachel. Thousands more followed ­ both biblical characters and many more whose lives as Jews were never explicitly recorded in the Bible. In effect, our ancestors said to them, “If you marry us, you’re one of us.”

Centuries later, at a time when the number of American Jews marrying non­Jews has reached an all­time high – 80% of Reform­ raised Jews who married in 2000­ 2013 married non­Jews ­ thousands are again choosing to join the Jewish people, but nowhere near as many as we would like.

Unbeknownst to even keen ob­ servers of Jewish life, about half of those who identify as Jews but were not born Jewish never under­ went formal rabbinic conversion.

The 2013 Pew survey of Ameri­ can Jews found 79,000 adult Jew­ ish converts, but another 83,000

who identify as Jews even though they reported no Jewish parents and had not undergone conver­ sion.

How did they become Jewish?

Many married Jews. Others have Jewish grandparents or more dis­ tant Jewish ancestry and are re­ claiming their roots. Some do call themselves fully Jewish, but many say they are “partially Jewish,” a newly burgeoning group first doc­ umented in the Jewish Commu­ nity Study of New York: 2011.

To take a real example: One of us is good friends with a well­ known scholar in Jewish life. She (a born­Jew) and her husband, born Protestant, raised their chil­ dren as Jews. He never converted, but he did learn to read Hebrew, say Kiddush on Friday nights, and fully participate in all the Jewish holiday preparations and cere­ monies. According to his wife, if asked if he is Jewish, partially Jewish or non­Jewish, he’d an­ swer, “Jewish!”

This seemingly novel phenom­ enon of joining the Jewish people without rabbinic formalities should not be surprising. In today’s America, more and more social identities are personally chosen and socially constructed.

Religious identities have become among the most fluid, with more intermarriage and more people changing their religious identities than ever before.

Here’s an added appeal to new­ comers: Jews have become the most admired religious group in

America, a Pew center study re­ ported last year, having risen from the least socially desirable ethnic group in the early 1960s, accord­ ing to a study at the time.

Even more significant may be those who marry Jews who think of themselves not as Jewish but as “fellow travelers,” like the biblical category of “ger toshav,” or “resi­ dent supporter.” Some become part of our community because they sense an opportunity to feel part of something important and meaningful. And they often do this despite the fact that we don’t exactly put out the welcome mat for them.

We know that where both par­ ents identify as Jews, nearly all their children identify as Jews as well. And when only one parent sees himself/herself as Jewish, only a minority of their children grow up as Jews. Aside from rais­ ing the inmarriage rate, how can we create more households where both partners see themselves as part of the Jewish people?

One answer is for all of us to change the way we think of, and treat, those who love and marry our children, family members, and friends. Basically we should agree and fully internalize the idea: If you marry a Jew, you’re fully part of our community until proven otherwise. The default option is that you’re in. If you don’t want to be seen as part of the community, you need to opt out, or “unsub­ scribe.” (And if you do, unlike those pesky email lists, we’ll re­

spect your choice.)

In other words, born Jews would undergo a subtle but criti­ cal shift in the way they relate to family members and friends not born Jewish. It would mean fully including them in holiday prac­ tices, life­cycle ceremonies, and Jewishly centered social action and political activities. It would mean concretizing (if not promot­ ing) the social reality that rabbinic conversion is not the only way to join the Jewish people or function Jewishly in a Jewish family. It would also mean that more inter­ married couples would come to see themselves — and be seen by others — as inmarried.

The widespread presumption of Jewish­by­marriage will set many couples on upward Jewish jour­ neys. Most critically, their chil­ dren will see themselves far more often as Jewish, if for no other reason than both their parents see themselves as members of the Jewish people.

This is going to take some work. We have overdeveloped muscles of defense when it comes to who’s in and who’s out. These muscles have been strengthened by anti­Semitism, to be sure. For much of the 20th century, as the Jewish community in America both acculturated and tried to maintain deep connections to Jew­ ish tradition and culture, there was an ongoing struggle about how and if it was possible to engage fully in American life and still preserve high inmarriage rates.

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Jews today are facing an un­ precedented opportunity to share our rich tradition with thousands who are searching for meaning and looking to raise healthy and happy children with a deep con­ nection to community.

Certainly, some who marry us will decide to officially “join” the Jewish people through rabbinic conversion. Our arms should be wide open and encouraging to those on this path. Conversion classes and experiences need to be excellent, accessible and, frankly, more affordable in order to attract larger numbers. Our community needs to set this as a priority.

But for those who choose to be part of our community without formal conversion ­ who come to the Passover Seder and drive their children to Hebrew school, who sit shiva with us, or who bring their sons into the community at a brit milah, who shep naches at their daughter’s bat mitzvah and who go to Israel on vacation ­ we say welcome. It’s a pleasure to know you. Come learn.

You’re one of us if you want to be.Y (Steven M. Cohen is a research professor at Hebrew Union Col­ lege­Jewish Institute of Religion and director of the Berman Jewish Policy Archive. Rabbi Joy Levitt is the executive director of the JCC Manhattan.)

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 26

Shavuot 101 Shavuot Commemorates the Spring Harvest and the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai

By My Jewish Learning Staff Shavuot, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Feast of Weeks,â&#x20AC;? is celebrated seven weeks after Passover (Pesach). Since the counting of this period (sefirat ha­ omer) begins on the second evening of Passover, Shavuot takes place exactly 50 days after the (first) Seder. Hence, following the Greek word for â&#x20AC;&#x153;fifty,â&#x20AC;?

Shavuot is also referred to some­ times as Pentecost. Although its origins are to be found in an an­ cient grain harvest festival, Shavuot has long been identified with the giving of the Torah.

Torah Pronunced: TORE­uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses on Mount Sinai.

Shavuot History Shavuot combines two major religious observances. First is the grain harvest of the early summer.

Second is the giving of the Torah

on Mount Sinai seven weeks after the exodus from Egypt. The first determines the ritual for the holi­ day, which was one of the three pilgrimage festivals of ancient Is­ rael, when Israelite males were commanded to appear before God in Jerusalem, bringing offerings of the first fruits of their harvest. The second determines the signifi­ cance of the holiday for Judaism, tying it in with the seminal event of Jewish religious memory, namely the entering into a covenant between God and Israel, exemplified by Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assump­ tion of Divine law.

Shavuot at Home Since Shavuot is an ancient pil­ grimage holiday, it is not surpris­ ing that its ritual focuses on the community. Nonetheless, there are a number of customs associated with personal practice. Chief among them is the eating of dairy products on Shavuot. Although

the reasons for this custom are not completely clear, it has become traditional to eat milk and cheese products as part of the celebration of Shavuot.

In the Community Much of the observance of the holiday centers on the synagogue and its rituals.

The special readings for the holiday include medieval poems (piyyutim) and the Book of Ruth. A number of reasons are given for the inclusion of the lat­ ter. Among them are that the book takes place at the time of the bar­ ley harvest, that Ruthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assump­ tion of Naomiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s religion reflects the Israelitesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; acceptance of the Torah at Sinai, and that King David, who is alleged to have died at this time of year according to rabbinic tradition, is mentioned at the end of Ruth. Another tradition is to participate in a Tikkun Leil

From Christina Mattison Ebertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;rash Designs series.

Shavuot, an all­night study session marking the holiday. And finally, Shavuot is one of the holidays on which both Hallel, the Psalms of Praise, is recited and Yizkor, the memorial service, is observed.

Shavuot Themes and Theology By associating an ancient holi­ day of the grain harvest with the exodus from Egypt, Jewish tradi­ tion has imbued Shavuot with re­ ligious significance derived from the foundational event in Jewish

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historical consciousness. In the specific case of Shavuot, this takes the form of the entering into a covenant or formal agreement be­ tween God and Israel at Mount Sinai. This is a joyous time, since it is the moment at which God and Israel entered into a figurative marriage with each other, the hopeful springtime of their rela­ tionship. Y

Shavuot Classes in Israeli Homes Meant to Bring Religious, Secular Neighbors Together Jerusalem (JTA) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; An Israeli rabbinical group that works to bridge the religious­secular divide will hold Shavuot holiday learn­ ing programs in homes through­ out the country.

The Tzohar Rabbinical Organ­ ization, which previously only held programs in community cen­ ters and public buildings to en­ courage the participation of the secular public, have opened a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Homeworkâ&#x20AC;? program, in which dozens of Tzohar rabbis and com­ munity volunteers will open their homes and invite their neighbors to learn together, with individual families choosing the subject to be discussed.

One such high profile home is that of Brig. Gen. Eli Ben­Meir, Chief Intelligence Officer and Head of Intelligence, who has in­ vited his neighbors in Modiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;in to hold a discussion with Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni about Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy regarding the civil war in Syria, including such topics as should we intervene, and does Israel be­ have ethically?

Rabbi David Stav, Tzohar chairman, will also open his home in Shoham to the community, where they will talk about Ju­ daism and Israeli society.

Tzohar has been coordinating community holiday programming for over 10 years, with the goal of making Jewish holiday traditions accessible to all Jews in Israel in a non­coercive atmosphere.

Events for Yom Kippur, Purim, and Shavuot are hosted in kibbut­ zim, moshavim, and cultural cen­ ters across Israel.Y

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 27 ALTERNATIVE A LTERNATIVE S SERVICE ERVICE JJAVA AVA N N’’ JJEANS EA N S Saturday, Mayy 5, 10 a.m.

Sa turday, Ma Ž LJŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ ĂďŽƵƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉƌĂLJĞƌ͍ ƌĞ LJŽƵ ƐĞĞŬŝŶŐ Ž LJ ŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ƋƵĞƐ Ğ ƟŽŶƐ ĂďŽƵƚ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉƌĂLJĞƌ͍ ƌ Ğ Ğ LJŽƵ ƐĞĞŬŝŶŐ Ă ĚĞĞƉĞƌ ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĂLJĞƌƐ͍ :ŽŝŶ ZĂďďŝ <ůŝƌƐ ĨŽƌ Ă ĚĞĞƉĞƌ ŵĞ ĞĂŶŝŶŐ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĂLJĞƌƐ͍ :ŽŝŶ Ŷ ZĂďďŝ <ůŝƌƐ ĨŽƌ :ĂǀĂ ͚E :ĞĂŶƐ ŝŶ DĂLJ ;ŵĞĞƚƐ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ^ŚĂďďĂƚ ŵŽƌŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ :Ă ǀĂ ͚E :ĞĂŶ ŶƐ ŝŶ DĂLJ ;ŵĞĞƚƐ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ^ŚĂďď ďĂƚ ŵŽƌŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ĞĞǀĞƌLJ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŵŽŶƚŚ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ǁĞ ǁŝůů ĚĞůǀĞ ŝŶƚŽ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐ ƚŚĞ ǀĞƌLJ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŵŽŶƚŚ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ǁĞ ǁŝůů ĚĞůǀĞ ŝŶƚŽ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƚƌƵĞ ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ ŽĨ ƉƌĂLJĞƌ ŝŶ ĂŶ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂů ƐĞƫŶŐ͘ ƚƌƵĞ ŵĞĂŶŝŶ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ ŽĨ ƉƌĂLJĞƌ ŝŶ ĂŶ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂů ƐĞƫŶŐ͘ ŽīĞĞ ŝƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ĞǀĞƌLJŽŶĞ͕ ƌĞŐĂƌĚůĞƐƐ Žī ĞĞ ŝƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ĞǀĞƌLJŽŶĞ͕ ƌĞŐĂƌĚůĞƐƐ ŽĨ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚ͘ &ĞĞů ĨƌĞĞ ƚŽ ǁĞĂƌ LJŽƵƌ ĨĂǀŽƌŝƚĞ ƉĂŝƌ ŽĨ ũĞĂŶƐ ŽĨ ďĂĐŬŐƌ ŽƵŶĚ͘ &ĞĞů ĨƌĞĞ ƚŽ ǁĞĂƌ LJŽƵƌ ĨĂǀŽƌŝƚ Ž Ğ ƉĂŝƌ ŽĨ ũĞĂŶƐ Žƌ ǁŚĂƚĞǀĞƌ LJŽƵ ůŝŬĞ͊ ŌĞƌ Ă ƌŽďƵƐƚ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƟǀĞ ƐƚƵĚLJ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ĞǀĞƌLJŽŶĞ ŝƐ Žƌ ǁŚĂƚĞǀĞƌ LJŽƵ ůŝŬĞ͊ ŌĞƌ Ă ƌŽďƵƐ Ž ƚ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƟǀĞ ƐƚƵĚLJ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ Ŷ͕ ĞǀĞƌLJŽŶĞ ŝƐ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞĚ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶŐƌĞŐĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĚĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĐ ŽƵƌĂŐĞĚ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶŐƌĞŐŐĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĚĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞĞ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŝŶ ƐĂŶĐƚƵĂƌLJ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂLJ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ <ŝĚĚƵƐŚ ůƵŶĐŚĞŽŶ ĂŌĞƌǁĂƌĚƐ͘ ŵĂŝŶ ŵĂŝŶ ƐĂŶĐƚƵĂƌ ƐĂŶĐƚƵĂƌLJ ĂŶĚ Ɛ LJ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂLJ Ĩ LJ ĨŽƌ ƚŚ Žƌ ƚŚĞ <ŝĚĚƵƐŚ ůƵŶĐŚĞŽŶ Ă Ğ <ŝĚĚƵƐŚ ůƵŶĐŚĞŽŶ ĂŌĞƌǁĂƌĚƐƐ͘ Ɛ

FRIDAY, FRID AY, MA MAY AY 11 11 Torah To orah Tots Tots o Isr Israeli aeli Shabba Shabbat at 5:30 p.m. – Dinner 6:15 p.m. - Service Service Join Rabbi Klirs Klirs for for a special speccial kid-friendly kid-friendly dinner and service service v as we we celebrate celebrate /ƐƌĂĞů͘ >ŽĐĂƟŽŶ͗ >ĞŽŶ Θ ^ĂŶĚƌĂ >ĞǀŝŶĞ ^ŽĐŝĂů ,ĂůůͬDŝŶĚLJ ůůĞŶ >ĞǀŝŶĞ ŚĂƉĞů͘ /ƐƌĂĞů͘ >ŽĐĂƟŽŶ͗ >ĞŽŶ Θ ^^ĂŶĚƌĂ >ĞǀŝŶĞ ^ŽĐŝĂů ,ĂůůͬDŝŶĚLJLJ ůůĞŶ >ĞǀŝŶĞ ŚĂƉĞů͘ sŝƐŝƚ ƚĞŵƉůĞŝƐƌĂĞůŶĐ͘ŽƌŐ ĨŽƌ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĚŝŶŶĞƌ͘ sŝƐŝƚ ƚĞŵƉůĞŝƐƌĂĞůŶĐ͘ŽƌŐ ĨĨŽƌ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌ ĨŽƌ ƚŚ ŚĞ ĚŝŶŶĞƌƌ͘ SPE SPECIAL CIAL PROGRAM PROG GRAM SUNDAY, SUNDAY, MAY MA AY 2 20 0 TTOT OT SHA SHAVUOT AV VUOT with TTemple e emple Isr Israel ael and TTemple empl e e Be Beth th El Sunda Sunday, y, Ma Mayy 20, 2 9:30 a.m. >ŽĐ >ŽĐĂƟŽŶ͗ dĞŵƉůĞ ĞƚŚ ů ĂƟŽŶ͗ dĞ ĞŵƉ ƉůĞ ĞƚŚ ů ŽŵĞ ŽŵĞ ƐŝŶŐ ŽŵĞ ƐŝŶŐ͕ ĚĂŶĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĂLJ ǁŝƚŚ DƐ͘ WĂƩLJ ĂŶĚ ĐůĞƌŐLJ ĨƌŽŵ dĞŵƉůĞ ƐŝŶŐ͕ ĚĂŶ ͕ ĚĂŶ ŶĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĂLJ ǁŝƚŚ DƐ͘ W ŶĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ Ɖƌ LJ ǁŝƚŚ DƐ͘ WĂƩLJ ĂŶ ƩLJ ĂŶ ŶĚ ĐůĞƌŐLJ Ĩƌ ŶĚ ĐůĞƌ ŐLJ ĨƌŽŵ d Žŵ dĞĞŵƉůĞ ĞŵƉůĞ Ğ ĞƚŚ ů ĂŶĚ dĞŵƉůĞ /ƐƌĂĞů ĂƐ ǁĞ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ ^ŚĂǀƵŽƚ͘ KƵƌ ĞŶĞƌŐĞƟĐ ƚŚ ů ĂŶĚ dĞŵ ĞŵƉůĞ /ƐƌĂĞů ĂƐ ǁĞ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ ^ŚĂĂǀƵŽƚ͘ KƵƌ ĞŶĞƌŐĞƟĐ ƐĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŚŽůŝĚĂLJ <ŝĚĚƵƐŚ ƐŶĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ůŽƚƐ ŽĨ ƟŵĞ ƚŽ ǀŝĐĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŚŽůŝĚĂLJ <ŝĚĚƵƐŚ ƐŶĂĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ůŽƚƐ ŽĨ ƟŵĞ ƚŽ Đƌ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ͕ ƉůĂLJ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐĐŚŵŽŽnjĞ͘ tĞ ǁŝůů ĞŶũŽLJ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚĚŽŽƌ ƐƉĂĐĞ ďĞŚŝŶĚ dĞŵƉůĞ ĞĂƚĞ͕ ƉůĂLJ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐĐŚŵŽŽ ͕ njĞ͘ tĞ ǁŝůů ĞŶũŽLJ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚĚŽŽƌ ƐƐƉĂĐĞ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ddĞŵƉůĞ Ğ Ğ ĞƚŚ ů͕ ǁĞĂƚŚĞƌ ƉĞƌŵŝƫŶŐ͘ ƚŚ ů͕ ǁĞĂƚŚĞƌ ƉĞƌŵŝƫ ƫŶŐ͘ YOUTH YOUTH E ͳK&ͳz Z zKhd, EYh d Θ & ^d/s/d/ ^͊ E ͳK&ͳz Z zKhd, EYh d Θ & ^d/s/d/ ^͊ (All Youth Youth o Groups) Groups) Sunday, Sunday, Ma Mayy 6, 4 p.m. @ Temple Te emple Isr Israel ael ŽŵĞ ĂŶĚ ũŽŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ ĨŽƌ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂů LJĞĂƌͲĞŶĚ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƟŽŶ͊ ůů ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ d/ ŽŵĞ ĂŶĚ ũŽŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ĨƌŝĞŶ ŶĚƐ ĨŽƌ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂů LJĞĂƌͲĞŶĚ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƟŽŶ͊ ůů ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ d/ zŽƵƚŚ 'ƌŽƵƉƐ ;D , Z͕ KE/D Θ ' ^, ZͿ ĂƌĞ ŝŶǀŝƚĞĚ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƵƐ ĨŽƌ ĂŶ ŶĚͲKĨͲ zŽ ŽƵƚŚ 'ƌŽƵƉƐ ;D , Z͕ KE/D Θ ' ^, ZͿ ĂƌĞ ŝŶǀŝƚĞĚ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƵƐ ĨŽƌ ĂŶ ŶĚͲKĨͲ zĞĂƌ ĨŽƌŵĂů ĂŶƋƵĞƚ Θ &ĞƐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ tĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjŝŶŐ ŐƌĂĚƵĂƟŶŐ ƐĞŶŝŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ zĞĞĂƌ ĨŽƌŵĂů ĂŶƋƵĞ ů ƚ Θ &ĞƐ Ğ ƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ Ɵ ŝƟ tĞ ǁŝůů ŝůů ďĞ ď ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjŝŶ ŝ ŝŶŐ ŐƌĂĚƵĂ Ě ƟŶŐ ƐĞŶŝŽƌ Ɵ ŝ Ɛ ĂŶĚ Ě ƚŚĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂĚĞ ŽƵƌ LJŽƵƚŚ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ĂŵĂnjŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ LJĞĂƌ͘ ŝŶŶĞƌ ǁŝůů ƚŚĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂĚĞ ŽƵƌ LJ Ğ ŽƵƚŚ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ĂŵĂnjŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ LJĞĂƌƌ͘ ŝŶŶĞƌ ǁŝůů ͘ ďĞ ƐĞƌǀĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĨƵŶ͕ ŐĂŵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŝnjĞƐ ĨŽƌ >>͊ Cost: ďĞ ƐĞƌǀĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĨƵŶ͕ ŐĂŵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŝnjĞƐ ĨŽƌ >>͊ Cost: $5 per person.

Z^sW ďLJ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ͕ DĂLJ ϭ ƚŽ ŵůĞŅŽΛƚĞŵƉůĞŝƐƌĂĞůŶĐ͘ŽƌŐ͘ Z^sW ďLJ ddƵĞƐĚĂLJ Ƶ LJ͕​͕ DĂLJ ϭ ƚŽ ŵůĞĞŅ ŅŽΛƚĞŵƉůĞŝƐƌĂĞůŶĐ͘ŽƌŐ͘​͘ YOUNG Y OUNG PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS 5TH 5 TH ANNUAL A ANNU AL LAG LAG B B’OMER ’OMER C COOKOUT OOKOUT O ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ͕ DĂLJ ϭϮ ͕ ϳ͗ϯϬ Ɖ͘ŵ͘ ^Ă ƚƵƌĚĂ Ě LJ͕​͕ DĂLJ ϭϮ ͕ ϳ͗ϯϬ Ɖ͘ŵ͘ :ŽŝŶ dŽƌĂŚ ŽŶ dĂƉ ĂƐ ǁĞ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ >ĂŐ ͛KŵĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ ŐƌĞĂƚ :ŽŝŶ d dŽ ŽƌĂŚ ŽŶ dĂƉ ĂƐ ǁĞ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ >ĂŐŐ ͛KŵĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ ŐƌĞĂƚ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ͕ ŵƵƐŝĐ ĂŶĚ ĨŽŽĚ͘ ĂƚĞƌŝŶŐ ďLJ /ŶƐŝĚĞ ŚĞĨ͘ Please ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ Ɛ͕ ŵƵƐŝĐ ĂŶĚ ĨŽŽĚ͘ ĂƚĞƌŝŶŐ ďLJ /ŶƐŝĚĞ ŚĞĨ͘ Please RSVP RSVP ƚƚŽ ƚŽƌĂŚŽŶƚĂƉĐůƚΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌ ŽŶůŝŶĞ͕ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ Ž ƚŽƌĂ ĂŚŽŶƚĂƉĐůƚΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŐ ŐŝƐƚĞƌ ŽŶůŝŶĞ͕ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐĐĂůĞŶĚĂƌ͕ Ăƚ ƚĞŵƉůĞŝƐƌĂĞůŶĐ͘ŽƌŐ͘ ŽƐƚ͗ ΨϭϴͬƉĞƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͘ ĂůĞŶĚ ĚĂƌƌ͕​͕ Ăƚ ƚ Ăƚ ƚĞŵƉůĞŝƐƌĂĞůŶĐ͘ŽƌŐ͘ ŽƐ ĞŵƉůĞŝƐƌĂĞůŶĐ͘ŽƌŐ͘ ŽƐƚ͗ ΨϭϴͬƉĞƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͘ ͗ ΨϭϴͬƉĞƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͘ SOCIALC SOCIAL CLUB LUB SSAVE AVE THE DATE: DATTE: MATTHEWS MA AT THEWS PLA PLAYHOUSE AYHOUSE Y E OF PERFORMING PERFORMING ARTS ARTS PRE PRESENTS S SENT S ““SOUTH SOUTH P PACIFIC” ACIFIC ” Sunday, Sunday, June 10, 2 p.m. dŝĐŬĞƚƐ Ψϭϳ͘ϭϲ ƉĞƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͘ DŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ĐŽŵĞ͘ dŝĐŬĞƚƐ Ψϭϳ͘ϭϲ ƉĞƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ Ŷ͘ DŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ĐŽŵĞ͘

THE T HE RO ROSE SE RO ROOM OM-Wo - Women men Of OfT Temple emple Israel Israel GIFT GIFTS SHOP HOP

'ŝŌ ^ŚŽƉ ,ŽƵƌƐ 'ŝŌ ^ŚŽƉ ,ŽƵƌ Ɛ Sunday: 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Sunday: p.m.

TTuesday uesday - Thursday: Thursday: 10 a.m a.m.. - 1 p.m.

Friday: Frida y: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

WƌŽĐĞĞĚƐ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ddĞŵƉůĞ /ƐƌĂĞů͕​͕ tŽŵĞŶ ŽĨ dĞŵƉůĞ WƌŽĐĞĞĚƐ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ dĞŵƉůĞ /ƐƌĂĞů͕ tŽŵĞŶ ŽĨ dĞŵƉůĞ /ƐƌĂĞů͕ Ğ /ƐƌĂĞů͕ ddĞŵƉůĞ /ƐƌĂĞů zŽƵƚŚ WƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ^ŽĐŝĂů ĐƟŽŶ /ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐ͘ ĞĞŵƉůĞ /ƐƌĂĞů zŽƵƚŚ Ž WƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ^ŽĐŝĂů ĐƟŽŶ /ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐ͘

t , s 'Z h d/KE '/&d^͊ t t , s 'Z h d/KE d '/&d ^͊

ŽŵĞ sŝƐŝƚ KƵƌ EĞǁůLJ ĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ 'ŝŌ ^ŚŽƉ͊ ŽŵĞ sŝƐŝƚ KƵƌ EĞǁůLJ ĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ Ě 'ŝŌ ^ŚŽƉ͊ ^ƉĞĐŝĂů ĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ŶŽƌŵĂů ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŚŽƵƌƐ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͗ ^ƉĞĐŝĂů ĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚƐ ƚ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ŶŽƌŵĂů ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐƐ ŚŽƵƌƐ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͗ Ăůů ^ŚĞůůŝĞ ĂƌĞƌ Ăƚ ϱϭϲͲϯϳϱͲϰϳϬϴ ŝŶĚLJ :ĞŶŶĞƐ Ăƚ ϳϬϰͲϰϰϯͲϳϲϰϯ͘ Ăůů ^ŚĞůůŝĞ ĂƌĞĞƌ Ăƚ ϱϭϲͲϯϳϱͲϰϳϬϴ ŝŶĚLJ :ĞŶŶĞƐ Ăƚƚ ϳϬϰͲϰϰϯͲϳϲϰϯ͘

EVENTS EVENTS PLEASE PLE ASE JOIN US FOR F OR SHA SHAVUOT VU OT SER SERVICES VICES AND PR PROGRAMS OGRAM MS FFOR OR ALL A AGES GES EREV SHAVUOT SHAVUOT Saturday, Sa turday, Ma Mayy 19 6:15 p.m. ^ŚĂ ^ŚĂǀƵŽƚͬ ŽŶĮƌŵĂƟŽŶ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ ǀƵŽƚͬ ŽŶĮƌŵĂƟŽ ŽŶ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĂŝƌLJ ^ŚĂǀƵŽƚͬ ŽŶĮƌŵĂƟŽŶ ŝŶŶĞƌ 7:15 p.m. Ăŝƌ LJ ^ŚĂǀƵŽƚͬ ŽŶĮƌŵĂƟŽŶ ŝŶŶĞƌ 8:15 p.m. TTŝŬŬƵŶ >Ğŝů ^ŚĂǀƵŽƚ ;^ƵƉĞƌǁŽŵĞŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dĂŶĂŬŚ ŝŬŬƵŶ >Ğŝů ^ŚĂǀƵŽƚ ;^ƵƉĞƌǁŽŵĞŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ddĂĂŶĂŬŚ ʹ ZƵƚŚ͕ EĂŽŵŝ͕ ĞďŽ ʹ ZƵƚŚ͕ EĂŽŵŝ͕ ĞďŽƌĂŚ͕ zĂĞů͕ ƐƚŚĞƌ͕ DŝĐŚĂů ŽƌĂŚ͕ zĂĞů͕ ƐƚŚĞƌƌ͕ DŝĐŚĂů ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂƚͲ^ŚĞǀĂͿ ĂŶĚ ĂƚͲ^ŚĞǀĂͿ 9:15 p.m. Ăŝƌ ĂŝƌLJ ĞƐƐĞƌƚ ĞůŝŐŚƚƐ LJ ĞƐƐĞƌƚ ĞůŝŐŚ ŚƚƐ MENU ůŝŶƚnj ^ŽƵŋĠ ůŝŶ ƚnj ^ŽƵŋĠ YƵŝĐŚĞ ddŽƐƐĞĚ ^ĂůĂĚ ŽƐƐĞĚ ^ĂůĂĚ Ž &ƌĞƐŚ &ƌƵŝƚƐ &ƌ ĞƐŚ &ƌƵŝƚƐ ƌŝŶŬƐƐ ƌŝŶŬ ŽƐƚ͗ ΨϭϮͬ ĚƵůƚ͖ Ψϴͬ ŚŝůĚ͖ Ψϱ ;ĂŐĞ ϲͲϭϮͿͬ>ŝƩůĞ KŶĞ ;ĂŐĞ ϭͲϱͿ ŽƐ ƚ͗ ΨϭϮͬ​ͬ ĚƵůƚ͖ Ψϴͬ ŚŝůĚ͖ Ψϱ ;;ĂŐĞ ϲͲϭϮͿͬ>ŝƩůĞ KŶĞ ;ĂŐĞ ϭͲϱͿ Z^sWͬZĞŐŝƐƚĞƌ ĨŽƌ ĚŝŶŶĞƌ ŽŶůŝŶĞ Ăƚ ƚĞŵƉůĞŝƐƌĂĞůŶĐ͘ŽƌŐ ďLJ DŽŶĚĂLJ͕ DĂLJ ϭϰ͘ Z ^sW WͬZ ͬ ĞŐŝƐƚĞƌ ĨĨŽƌ Ž ĚŝŶŶĞƌ ŽŶůŝŶĞĞ Ăƚ ƚĞŵƉůĞŝƐƌĂĞůŶĐ͘ŽƌŐ ďLJ DŽŶ ŶĚĂLJLJ͕ DĂLJ ϭϰ͘ ͕ ^, ^, shKd ͵ z ϭ shKd ͵ z ϭ Sunda Sunday, y, Ma Mayy 20 9:30 a.m. zzŽŵ dŽǀ DŽƌŶŝŶŐ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ Žŵ dŽǀ DŽƌŶŝŶŐ ^Ğ ǀ DŽƌŶŝŶŐ ^ĞĞƌǀŝĐĞ 9:30 a.m. Wƌ WƌĞƐĐŚŽŽů ^ŚĂǀƵŽƚ WƌŽŐƌĂŵ ĞƐĐŚŽŽů ^ŚĂǀƵŽƚ W WƌŽŐƌĂŵ 12 p.m. <ŝĚĚƵƐŚ <ŝĚĚƵƐŚ >ƵŶĐŚĞŽŶ >ƵŶĐŚĞŽŶ 5:30 p.m. zzŽŵ dŽǀ DŝŶĐŚĂ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ Žŵ dŽǀ DŝŶĐŚĂ ƐĞƌƌǀŝĐĞ Ž SHA AVUO V T – DAY DAY 2 SHAVUOT Monda Monday, y, Ma Mayy 21 9:30 a.m. zzŽŵ dŽǀ DŽƌŶŝŶŐ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ zŝnjŬŽƌ Žŵ ddŽǀ DŽƌŶŝŶŐ ^ĞĞƌǀŝĐĞ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ zŝnjŬŽƌ 12 p.m. <ŝĚĚƵƐŚ <ŝĚĚƵƐŚ >ƵŶĐŚĞŽŶ >ƵŶĐŚĞŽŶ 7:30 p.m. t tĞĞŬĚĂLJ ǀĞŶŝŶŐ DŝŶLJĂŶ ĞĞŬĚĂLJ ǀĞŶŝŶŐ D DŝŶLJĂŶ TEMPLE ISRAEL ISR RAEL BOOK CL CLUB UB W ednesday, Ma Wednesday, Mayy 23, 7:30 p.m. ůů ůů Ăƌ ĂƌĞ ǁ Ğ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ƚ ŽŵĞ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƵƐ ;Ğ Ž Ž ũŽŝŶ ƵƐ ;ĞǀĞŶ ŝĨ LJ ĞŶ ŝĨ LJŽƵ ŚĂ ŽƵ ŚĂǀĞŶ ĞŶ͛ƚƚ ƌƌĞĂĚ ƚŚĞ ŬͿ ĞĂĚ ƚŚĞ ŬͿ ůů ĂƌĞ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƵƐ ;ĞǀĞŶ ŝĨ LJŽƵ ŚĂǀĞŶ͛ƚ ƌĞĂĚ ƚŚĞ ŬͿ ƚƚŽ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐ ͞ Ŷ KĸĐĞƌ ĂŶĚ Ă ^ƉLJ͟ ďLJ ZŽďĞƌƚ ,ĂƌƌŝƐ͘ dŚĞ ƐƚŽƌLJ Ž ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐ ͞ Ŷ KĸĐĞƌ ĂŶĚ Ă ^Ɖ

LJ͟ ďLJ ZŽďĞƌƚƚ ,ĂƌƌŝƐ͘ dŚĞ ƐƚŽƌLJ ŝƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĨĂŵŽƵƐ Ă ƌĞLJĨƵƐ ĂīĂŝƌ ƚŽůĚ ĂƐ Ă ĐĐŚŝůůŝŶŐůLJ ĚĂƌŬ͕ ŝƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĨĂŵŽƵƐ ƌĞLJĨƵƐ ĂīĂŝƌ ƚŽůĚ ĂƐ Ă ĐŚŝůůŝŶŐůLJ ĚĂƌŬ͕ ŚĂƌ ĚͲĞĚŐĞĚ ŶŽǀĞů ŽĨ ĐŽŶƐƉŝƌĂĐLJ ĂŶĚ ĞƐƉŝŽŶ ŶĂŐĞ͘ ŽƉŝĞƐ ŽĨ ͞​͞ Ŷ ŚĂƌĚͲĞĚŐĞĚ ŶŽǀĞů ŽĨ ĐŽŶƐƉŝƌĂĐLJ ĂŶĚ ĞƐƉŝŽŶĂŐĞ͘ ŽƉŝĞƐ ŽĨ ͞ Ŷ KĸĐĞƌ ĂŶĚ ^ƉLJ͟ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ >ĞǀŝŝŶĞͲ^ŬůƵƚ ĂŶĚ WƵďůŝĐ KĸĐĞƌ ĂŶĚ ^ƉLJ͟ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ >ĞǀŝŶĞͲ^ŬůƵƚ ĂŶĚ WƵďůŝĐ >ŝďƌ ĂƌŝĞƐ͕ ĂŶ ŶĚ ŵĂLJ ĂůƐŽ ďĞ ŽƌĚĞƌĞĚ ŽŶůŝŶĞ ĨŽƌ ƵŶĚĞƌ Ψϭϱ͘ >ŝďƌĂƌŝĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŵĂLJ ĂůƐŽ ďĞ ŽƌĚĞƌĞĚ ŽŶůŝŶĞ ĨŽƌ ƵŶĚĞƌ Ψϭϱ͘ &&Žƌ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ >ŝŶĚĂ >ĞǀLJ Ăƚ Žƌ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ ŶĂů ŝŶĨĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ Đ Ž ŽŶƚĂĐƚ >ŝŶĚĂ >ĞĞǀLJ Ăƚ ;ϳϬϰͿ ϯϲϲͲϲϯ ϯϲϮ Žƌ ůĞǀLJŽůůŝĞΛĂŽů͘ĐŽŵ͘ ;ϳϬϰͿ ϯϲϲͲϲϯϲϮ Žƌ ůĞǀLJŽůůŝĞΛĂŽů͘ĐŽŵ͘ SAVET SAVE THE HE DA DATE TE TEMPLE ISRAEL ANNUAL ANNUAL MEETING MEEETING Sunday, Sunda y, June, June 3, 3 10:45 a.m. am ůů Ăƌ Ğ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ƚŽ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ Ă LJĞĂƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůŝĨĞ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ddĞŵƉůĞ Ă Ğ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƌ ůů ĂƌĞ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ƚŽ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ Ă LJĞĂƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůŝĨĞ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ dĞŵƉůĞ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƌ ĐĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ͛Ɛ ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚƐ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƚ LJĞĂƌ͘ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ͛Ɛ ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚƐƐ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƚ LJĞĂƌƌ͘ JJOIN OIN U US S tŚĞŶ tŚĞŶ LJŽƵ ũŽŝŶ ƚŚĞ dĞŵƉůĞ /ƐƌĂĞů ĨĂŵŝůLJ͕ LJŽƵ ďĞĐŽŵĞ Ŷ LJŽƵ ũŽŝŶ ƚŚĞ ddĞŵƉůĞ /Ɛƌ Ğ ĂĞů ĨĂŵ ŵŝůLJLJ͕​͕ LJŽƵ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ůŝŶŬĞĚ ƚŽ Ă ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ŵŽƌĞ ůŝŶŬ ĞĚ Ě ƚŽ Ă ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶƐƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ϭϮϬ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽůĚ ĂŶĚ LJŽƵ ĂůƐŽ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚŚĂŶ ϭ ϭϮϬ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽůĚ ĂŶĚ LJŽƵ ĂůƐŽ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ž ƐƐƚŽƌLJ ŽĨ Ă ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ĂŶĚ ǀŝďƌĂŶƚ ĐŽŶŐƌĞŐĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ƚŽƌLJ Ž ŽĨ Ă ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ĂŶĚ ǀŝďƌĂŶƚ ĐŽŶŐƌĞŐŐĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ďĞ Ă ƉŝůůĂƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚĂƌůŽƩĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĨŽƌ ďĞ Ă Ɖ ƉŝůůĂƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚĂƌůŽƩĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ Ĩ Ž Žƌ ŐŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ ĐŽŵĞ͘ dĞŵƉůĞ /ƐƌĂĞů ŝƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƫŶŐ ĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ ĐŽŵĞ͘ dĞĞŵƉůĞ /ƐƌĂĞů ŝƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƫŶŐ ĞĚŐĞ ŽĨ ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟǀĞ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ͕ ďĂůĂŶĐŝŶŐ ďŽƚŚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ ĞĚŐ Ğ ŽĨ ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟǀĞ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ͕ ďĂůĂŶĐŝŶŐ ďŽƚŚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ Ě ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ ĞĞdžƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ ŝŶ Ă ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ͕ ŝŶĐůƵƐŝǀĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ͘ džƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ :ƵĚĂŝƐŵ ŝŶ Ă ƉƌŽŐƌ Ž ĞƐƐŝǀĞ͕ ŝŶĐůƵƐŝǀĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJLJ͘

Cantor C antor Roochvarg a Roochv o var arg C Celebration elebr e ration a W Weekend eeekend JUNE 15-17

,ĞůƉ ƵƐ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ ĂŶƚŽƌ ůŝĂƐ ZŽŽĐŚǀĂƌŐ ,ĞůƉ ƵƐ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ ĂŶƚŽƌ ůŝĂƐ ZŽŽĐŚǀĂƌŐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂŶŬ Śŝŵ ĨŽƌ ŚŝƐ Ϯϯ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƚŽ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂŶŬ Śŝŵ Ĩ Žƌ ŚŝƐ Ϯϯ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬĞŶĚ ŽĨ :ƵŶĞ ϭϱͲϭϳ͊ ŽƵƌ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬĞŶĚ Ž ŽĨ :ƵŶĞ ϭϱͲϭϳ͊ ǀĞŶƚƐ ǁŝůů ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂů &ƌŝĚĂLJ ĞǀĞŶŝŶŐ ǀĞŶƚƐ ǁŝůů ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂů &ƌŝĚĂLJ ĞǀĞŶŝŶŐ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ Ă ĐŽĐŬƚĂŝů ƌĞĐĞƉƟŽŶ ƐĞƌ ǀŝĐĞ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ Ă Đ LJ Ă ĐŽĐŬƚĂŝů ƌĞĐĞƉƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĚĞůŝĐŝŽƵƐ ^ŚĂďďĂƚ ĚŝŶŶĞƌ ;ƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞůŝĐŝŽƵƐ ^ŚĂďďĂ ƚ ĚŝŶŶĞƌ ;ƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƐ ƌƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚͿ͕ Ă ^ŚĂďďĂƚ ŵŽƌŶŝŶŐ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƚŽ ŚŽŶŽƌ ĞƋƵŝƌĞĚͿ͕ Ă ^ŚĂďďĂƚ ŵŽƌŶŝŶŐ ƐƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƚŽ ŚŽŶŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĂŶƚŽƌ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ Ă ďŽƵŶƟĨƵů <ŝĚĚƵƐŚ ƚŚĞ ĂŶ ƚŽƌ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ Ă ďŽƵŶƟĨƵů <ŝĚĚƵƐŚ ůƵŶĐŚĞŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ^ƵŶĚĂLJ ĂŌĞƌŶŽŽŶ ĐŽŶĐĞƌƚ ůƵŶĐŚĞŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ^ƵŶĚĂ LJ ĂŌĞƌŶ ŶŽŽŶ ĐŽŶĐĞƌƚ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƐƐĞƌƚ ƌĞĐĞƉƟŽŶ͘ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƐƐĞƌƚ ƌĞĐĞƉƟŽŶ͘ Visit V isit i templeisr templeisraelnc.org raelnc.or a rg for det details. tails.

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 28

On Shavuot, Who (or What) Will Get the First Fruits?

By Edmon J. Rodman Los Angles (JTA) — As we ap­ proach Shavuot, there’s a battle going on in our garden over who — or what — will get our first fruits.

In ancient days in Israel, begin­ ning at Shavuot — the holiday that marked the wheat harvest as well as the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai — people brought to the Temple in Jerusalem an offer­ ing from their first harvest. The practice is reflected in one of the holiday’s alternate names, Yom Habikkurim, the Day of the First Fruits.

In Deuteronomy, there is an en­ tire ceremony for offering these first fruits. Farmers are required to say a prayer as a reminder that God “brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Though in­ tended for an ancient audience in Israel, this idea of gratitude still resonates today.

Though synagogues today more commonly celebrate Shavuot with confirmations, all­ night study sessions, and services in which the Ten Commandments are read, many Jews keep in touch with the holiday’s harvest side (Shavuot, which this year begins on a Saturday night, is also known as Chag Hakatzir, Festival of Har­ vest). At Shavuot last year in Is­ rael, President Reuven Rivlin and his wife were presented with two baskets of fruit and vegetables from the nation’s farmers. In the U.S., organizations such as

growing a tasty tomato or Adamah have held sharing those tomatoes bikkurim parades, and with a friend. this year, Congrega­ Shavuot, with its har­ tion Kesser Israel in vest ritual, seems to tell us Portland, Oregon, is to be not just consumers having a Bikkurim Pa­ but conscious consumers rade and Fruit Drive and producers. Growing for schoolchildren. edible crops makes us My wife and I like aware of the conditions to embrace the harvest that put food on the table: theme, too. But this There are the things over year we kept putting which we have control, off planting day, so unfortunately our first The bounty of the first harvest is something to be celebrated like the spacing between plants or how much fertil­ fruits — cucumbers, and shared on Shavuot. (Wikimedia Commons) izer and water to use, and squash, eggplants, and several tomato varieties — won’t sharing and showing gratitude, those that are out of our hands, be ready by Shavuot. Still, we couldn’t we transpose that idea to like the weather.

Sometimes I’ve found that the were looking forward to sharing another medium of the non­gar­ insects, viruses, and animals that the bounty of our garden with den variety? members of our minyan at our For the past several years, our also want our first fruits are things Shabbat potluck lunches. minyan celebrated a unique night I can control. Last year, white flies That is until a raccoon began of first fruits. Though decidedly attacked the leaves of the egg­ digging up our garden beds every non­agricultural, it was an plants, so we sprayed the hibiscus night searching for grubs. evening where people could offer plant where they lived with a mix­ One morning, as we sorted up something new: a book they ture of rubbing alcohol, liquid through havoc in the garden — had read, music they recently soap, and water. To scare off the some plants were uprooted, others found, a project they were under­ birds that were pecking the toma­ were buried — I began to wonder taking at work. One woman even toes, we strung up old CDs. Their if this was all worth it. After all, showed clips from a film she was glint did the job perfectly.

But this year, what to do about there is a huge supermarket five working on. minutes away from my home. We It was an enjoyable tradition, the raccoon? First, we tried pro­ also subscribe to a farm service one that connected us to the holi­ tecting many of the plants in that delivers a box of organic veg­ day’s roots. But I’ve found there tomato cages, only to see them gies twice a month. is something about growing living pushed aside the next morning.

With so many convenient ways things that makes you particularly Then, looking for advice on the to get fresh food — and so many grateful and mindful of the poten­ Humane Society’s website — a few inhumane solutions had other things to worry about — did tial and fragility of life. we really need to be at war with As a journalist, I am always crossed my mind as well — I read nature over cukes? Couldn’t we grateful to cultivate a thoughtful that turning on a transistor radio in offer a different kind of first fruit phrase. But when it comes to both the garden overnight might scare for Shavuot? If the modern inter­ immediate and lasting gratifica­ them off.

So, one night, I took a radio out pretation of bikkurim includes tion, that can’t compete with

to the garden. I tuned it to an all­ night call­in show about health and hoped for a garden miracle.

Growing and harvesting crops is something of a miracle. My wife and I have worked hard to bring in those $10 tomatoes — but we also understand that without a little help, everything can wither on the vine. Some might call a successful harvest the result of luck or great planning, or credit it to that most intangible of human qualities: a green thumb.

But for me, by the time Shavuot rolls around, I’m ready to give some thanks. After months of carefully watching, tending, and coaxing, when your labor does bear fruit, you want to acknowl­ edge where your mazel comes from. It’s time to celebrate and show gratitude for another season.

That, to me, is the meaning of Shavuot: giving thanks for being able to fill our baskets once again and sharing the bounty.

As for the radio in the garden, it worked for a week. Then one morning, my wife found an egg­ plant uprooted. But I am not de­ terred. On the night of Shavuot, when the heavens are said to open, I will change channels and try an all­night religion show, hoping the raccoon will get the message — or, at least, show some gratitude.Y (Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA columnist who writes on Jewish life from Los Angeles. Contact him at edmojace@gmail.com.)

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 29

This Torah Study Tool is Everywhere — But You May Have Never Heard of It

By Andrew Silow­Carroll New York (JTA) — One of these days, maybe ahead of Shavuot, you are going to attend a Jewish studies class. Or not. But let’s say you do.

You’ll sit in a classroom, or a lounge, or in the front row of a synagogue. There will be a teacher, and he or she will pass around a stapled packet of papers — maybe two sheets, maybe five — with various biblical verses, Talmudic excerpts, examples of Jewish law and perhaps a snippet of a contemporary essay or a quote from Martin Buber or Han­ nah Arendt.

I want to talk about these sheets, why they may be uniquely Jewish, and why they may be the most important and ubiquitous ex­ ample of Jewish educational tech­ nology that you probably take for granted — or never heard of.

The packets are known as source sheets, and they’ve been with us since … well, at least since the widespread use of the mimeograph machine in the 1950s. Before that, rabbis or teachers might quote from a pile of Jewish books they kept in front of them, and perhaps refer stu­ dents to a similar pile on their desks.

But once teachers could cheaply copy fragments of Jewish text, and cut and paste them in any order they wished, the source

sheet became a tool for flexibility, convenience and ingenuity in the Jewish classroom. And their cur­ rent dominance is an example of how technology transformed tra­ dition — and continues to do so in the digital age.

“When you are weaving to­ gether different threads from dif­ ferent texts composed during vastly different times and places, the best way is to pull excerpts from different texts,” said Sara Wolkenfeld, director of education at Sefaria.org. “There is an art form to it. The way you pull and combine helps express the story you want to tell in the class you are teaching.”

Sefaria, a nimble online data­ base of Jewish texts in both their original language and in transla­ tion, is rapidly becoming the red­ hot center of the source sheet universe, which I assure you is a thing. Since Sefaria was founded in 2013, over 12,000 people have made some 74,000 source sheets using the site’s handy source sheet builder. Of those, 7,200 of their creations are available online.

(Disclosure: Daniel Septimus, Se­ faria’s executive director, sits on the board of 70 Faces Media, JTA’s parent company.)

And the range of subjects is testament not only to the depth of the Jewish canon but to the breadth of Jewish obsessions.

There are sheets for lessons on

sex, death, love, money, family strife and sibling rivalry, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. For Shavuot, which begins this year on the evening of May 19, there’s a sheet on Judaism and immigra­ tion justice. There’s even a sheet about whether or not Jews should take part in Halloween.

Other sites share their source sheets online. The Shamayim V’Aretz Institute posts sheets on animal welfare. American Jewish World Service offers material on social action. The Orthodox NCSY youth group has sheets on a range of topics.

Rabbi Dan Epstein, the senior Jewish educator at the George Washington University Hillel, also refers to creating a source sheet as an art form. Epstein should know: He’s shared nearly 100 source sheets on Sefaria, and they’ve been viewed collectively over 72,000 times.

To teach a lesson on Jewish views on the afterlife, for exam­ ple, he might include verses from the Bible; Talmudic passages known as Mishna or Gemara; per­ spectives from the medieval sages Maimonides and Saadia Gaon about the soul and reincarnation; and a teshuvah, or rabbinical rul­ ing, from the 20th­century Mod­ ern Orthodox authority Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. These would form the basis for a guided class­ room discussion, perhaps after the

students had a chance to review the material and a few key ques­ tions in chavruta — that is, in pairs or small groups, a staple of yeshiva education going back cen­ turies.

Epstein might not get to every text in a lesson, but that’s OK. “The lesson is like a concert and the source sheet is more like a set list,” he explained. “You’ll get to it, but maybe you’ll cancel some songs or just play a few of the longer songs.”

The key, he said, is knowing your audience — the languages they understand, their level of knowledge and their interests.

“You need to make the student feel connected and touch the head and the heart and the hand,” Ep­ stein said. “And not just teach them new info, but teach them to do something. That’s what I based my lessons around.”

Rabbis and teachers had always done this kind of layered Jewish teaching, building an argument or lesson out of centuries of Jewish writing on a topic the way a geol­ ogist describes a mountain by pointing to the layers of rock be­ neath the surface. But the source sheet revolutionized Jewish learn­ ing by making sure every student was literally on the same page.

Many educators credit Nechama Leibowitz, a legendary Israeli teacher, with popularizing and democratizing Torah study in

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Israel with the distribution of her mimeographed work sheets, or gi­ lyonot. Sent to subscribers by mail between 1941 and 1971 (and later collected between hard covers), Leibowitz’s work sheets offered Torah verses and rabbinic com­ mentary, and questions quizzing students on the connections be­ tween them.

Leibowitz, who was teaching nearly up to the moment she died in 1997 at age 92, would comment on the students’ answers and mail them back.

Barry Holtz, the Theodore and Florence Baumritter Professor of Jewish Education at The Jewish Theological Seminary, remembers learning Torah from original texts and all­Hebrew textbooks in the 1950s at Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline, Massachu­ setts. But the assistant rabbi there, Joseph Lukinsky, introduced new ways to teach his Hebrew school classes.

“He was an incredibly creative young rabbi, maybe ahead of the curve,” Holtz recalled. “He must have been one of the first people to introduce a tikkun leyl Shavuot” — an all­night study session on the spring holiday of Shavuot — “outside of the Ortho­ dox world, in 1962, just for the teenagers.

“It’s weird that I can remember this, but he had created a packet I suspect is someplace in a closet in my house, with texts that we stud­ ied all night long, and the title was ‘Gods Jews have known, and Jews God has known.’ It was so (Continued on page 30)

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 30

Shavuot, When We Became Who We Are

By David Wolpe Los Angeles (JTA) — Rabbinic tradition teaches that when God spoke at Sinai, the world was si­ lenced — birds did not sing, breezes did not rustle leaves in the trees. Out of that profound silence came the word, and were the world silent again, for even an in­ stant, we could hear the everlast­ ing echo of God’s voice.

In one way that is a beautiful metaphor for the holiday of Shavuot. Among the holidays, it is “silent” in that no custom imposes itself on our imagination. There is no sukkah, no Seder. It slips by, for many Jews, almost unno­ ticed. Yet the echoing voice makes it the central moment in our his­

tory. On Shavuot, we celebrate the giving of the Torah, the establish­ ment of the Jewish covenant.

The rabbis tell us that the Torah is the ketubah between God and the Jewish people. A ketubah is sometimes called a wedding con­ tract, but it is better called a covenant. It enshrines sacred ob­ ligations. Jews are a covenantal people; we are bound to one an­ other and to God by the idea of everlasting, mutual obligation.

Sinai was the chuppah, and Shavuot is our anniversary.

On our anniversary we recall what made us a people. It is cus­ tomary to stay up at night to study on Shavuot in order to demon­ strate symbolically that we stand

at the ready to receive the Torah. It is also a signal of acceptance and of passion.

Our tradition advises us to read the Torah as a love letter. One who receives a letter from a beloved reviews it again and again, search­ ing each word and clause for sig­ nificance, noting what is said and what remains unsaid. We read the Torah with the lens of the lover, dwelling over each word, unwill­ ing to set it aside, certain that to study it once more will help us un­ derstand.

The Book of Ruth is read on this holiday because Ruth took upon herself the Jewish tradition in full. She accepted, as a true convert must, both the people and

God. Israel embraces more than the individual’s relationship to the Divine; we are bound to one an­ other. When Ruth declares to Naomi, “Your people shall be my people and your God my God,” she epitomizes the covenantal message of mutual interdepend­ ence, past and future, the dual covenant of faith and of fate.

There is a custom to eat dairy foods on Shavuot, given for a va­ riety of reasons, including the in­ ventive idea that the laws of kashrut were unclear before the giving of the Torah and eating dairy was therefore less compli­ cated. It may also be tied to the idea of eating lighter fare, which makes it easier to stay awake for the tikkun. Symbolism and practi­ cality are at times symbiotic in rit­

J.K. Rowling Is Giving a Master Class in Identifying Anti­Semitism and It’s Magical

By Ron Kampeas (JTA) – There’s an unsettling debate underway in Britain about whether the right or the left is more anti­Semitic, and videos of Jewish members of Parliament reading out some of the anti­Se­ mitic invective they’ve suffered have gone viral.

J.K. Rowling, the non­Jewish author of the Harry Potter series, decided to weigh in on Wednes­ day, defining anti­Semitism for her 14.4 million Twitter followers.

She posted a screen grab of a non­Jew gentile­splaining what Judaism is – “Judaism is a reli­ gion not a race” – and gently ex­ plained why this is hardly relevant to defining anti­Jewish bias.

“Most UK Jews in my timeline are currently having to field this kind of crap, so perhaps some of us non­Jews should start shoulder­ ing the burden,” she said. “Anti­

Semites think this is a clever argu­ ment, so tell us, do: were atheist Jews exempted from wearing the yellow star? #antisemitism.”

Rowling’s head­smacking was almost audible as she sorted through responses to that tweet, including one that said arguing against anti­Semitism was “cul­ turally insensitive” to Muslims.

“When you only understand bigotry in terms of ‘pick a team’ and get a mind­boggling re­ sponse,” she said.

She also reacted with im­ patience – attaching a GIF of an exasperated Hugh Laurie – when someone ar­ gued that Arabs can’t be anti­Semitic because they are Semites. – The ‘Arabs are Semitic too’ hot takes have arrived,” she said.

“Split hairs. Debate ety­ mology,” she said in a tweet attached to a definition of anti­ Semitism as “hostility to or preju­ dice against Jews.” “Gloss over the abuse of your fellow citizens by attacking the actions of another country’s government. Would your response to any other form of racism or bigotry be to squirm, de­ flect, or justify?”

Rowling got in so deep, she forgot for a moment that her fol­ lowers mainly want to chat about, well, Harry Potter. “How wonder­ ful that you’re experiencing it for

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the first time,” one said to another who posted that he had just started reading the series. “Enjoy.”

Rowling quoted the reply, and said: “For a second there I thought @jessiebacho was telling me it was wonderful that I was experi­

ual life.

The great Saadia Gaon taught that we are a nation only by virtue of our Torah. For a people dis­ persed throughout the world, the Torah was the one precious pos­ session — containing our history, our values and our practice — that bound us one to the other. Shavuot is the moment that made us who we are. We celebrate, on this hol­ iday, our relationship to God and to one another. As we hold the Torah aloft, we also celebrate our identity as Jews, eternal people of the covenant. Y (Rabbi David Wolpe is the rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los An­ geles and author “David: The Di­ vided Heart.”)

encing anti­Semitism for the first time ... then I realised she was re­ sponding to somebody who just finished reading Harry Potter for the first time. #ReadCarefullyBe­ foreCursing.”

Seeing anti­Semitism every­ where? J.K., welcome to our nightmare. Y

Torah Study Website (Continued from page 29)

radical and amazing and interest­ ing at the time.”

Lukinsky, who died in 2009 at 78, became a revered professor of education at JTS. Source sheets have spread to all the Jewish movements, and to classrooms where the often eso­ teric Talmudic texts and medieval commentaries may be daunting or unfamiliar.

“I am a lover of rabbinic text — particularly in the Reform movement that often finds it less accessible,” said Rabbi Sari Laufer, director of congregational engagement at the Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles. “People aren’t as familiar [with Talmud or rabbinic text] or feel that it is not ours in some way. I am very com­ mitted to using and unlocking a lot of rabbinic text.”

A prolific poster to Sefaria, Laufer has created source sheets on work­life balance, the theology of food and seduction, and the im­ agery of darkness in Jewish thought, among many others.

Working though the multiple layers of Jewish learning, she said, “grounds us in an entire his­ tory — a great reminder that ques­ tions we think of as modern are questions people have been asking for thousands of years with in­ credible insight.”

And sometimes a list of sources can be a powerful tool for conver­ sation — and even change.

Abby Stein, a transgender ac­ tivist and teacher who grew up in a prominent Hasidic family in Williamsburg, NY, uses a source sheet in classes she teaches on Ju­ daism and gender. The sheet, titled “Changing the Conversation: Jew­ ish­Gender IS Queer … and Fem­ inist,” is available on Sefaria and linked to her Facebook page.

“After everything I had done to enrage the Hasidic community, the most negative, most hate I ever got was for that Torah sheet

— not media, not transitioning, but for publishing that source sheet,” Stein recalled. “It threatens them the most because it is using their own text.

“Usually they are very dismis­ sive. Here when I show them a text from a Hasidic rabbi saying a man [can be] in the wrong body, or from Zohar saying an ideal per­ son has to balance femininity and masculinity at all times, or a wife can’t have kids because she is a male, they can’t just dismiss it as BS.” Sefaria is trying to chart a fu­ ture for a study tool that is itself the product of a mid­20th century information revolution. Its library of online source sheets is interac­ tive — that is, every source on a sheet links to the database of myr­ iad Jewish texts.

“When you put a bunch of sources on paper, the audience can only see what’s on the sheet,” Wolkenfeld said.

Using the database, however, “you are in control of the story.

You can open up a chapter and see the larger context,” she said.

“From three commentaries I can navigate to 10 others.”

And if students have tablets or laptops, they can do all that ex­ ploring during the lesson itself.

Holtz warns that if there is a downside to the source sheet, it’s the temptation by a teacher to pick and choose from the wide and woolly corpus of Jewish text to prove a dubious point.

“Some would argue … that you don’t cherry­pick,” said Holtz, who wrote a popular beginner’s guide to studying Jewish text, “Back to the Sources.” “And Jew­ ish study according to this argu­ ment should not be about all the good parts or the cool parts or ob­ viously meaningful parts, but you should work hard through all the parts as you encounter them.”Y

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ May 2018 ­ Page 31

South Carolina Becomes 1st State to Pass Landmark Bill to Confront Campus Anti­Semitism Advocates Hoping This Momen­ tous Step Will Launch National Wave Washington, D.C. — The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (LDB) today applauded the South Carolina General Assembly for being the first state to pass legislation that will help tackle the rising anti­ Semitism plaguing U.S. college campuses.

The legislation, which was in­ cluded as part of a larger state spending package, was approved late yesterday in the Senate by a vote of 37­4, and the House of Representatives passed it by a vote of 116­2 in March. South Carolina Governor Henry Mc­ Master has already endorsed the anti­Semitism measure, and has committed to sign it into law.

“There has been an alarming increase in anti­Semitism nation­ wide, and particularly on our na­ tion’s college campuses,” stated LDB’s Director of Legal Initia­ tives Aviva Vogelstein. “This bill gives South Carolina the tools to protect Jewish students’ and all South Carolina students’ right to a learning environment free of un­ lawful discrimination. Just as two dozen states followed South Car­ olina’s lead on legislation con­ demning the movement to boycott certain countries, we are hoping this momentous step will result in another national wave to, once

and for all, begin defeating rising anti­Semitism.” LDB representa­ tives testified at multiple South Carolina hearings on the bill and have been working closely with state legislators to ensure passage.

Joseph Sabag of the Israel Al­ lies Foundation added, “This bill gives educators a uniform tool for ascertaining intent, similar to the use of confessions in criminal pro­ ceedings. It will ensure authori­ ties consider the federal government’s definition of anti­ Semitism in instances when it is necessary to determine the intent of constitutionally unprotected ac­ tivities, including assault, battery, harassment, intimidation, and vandalism. And it will protect against unlawful suppression of speech to ensure that all views can be fully expressed.”

South Carolina was the first state to pass legislation prohibit­ ing state governments from con­ tracting with entities that support the discriminating practice of boy­ cotts on the basis of national ori­ gin. Since South Carolina passed its bill, H. 3583, 24 states have passed similar laws.

According to the FBI’s Hate Crime Report, Jewish hate crime victims outnumber victims of all other religious groups combined.

And the problem is most serious on college campuses. A Brandeis Center/Trinity College study found that 54% of Jewish students

reported experiencing or witness­ ing anti­Semitism in 2014. A Brandeis University study found that by 2015, the number of Jew­ ish students experiencing anti­ Semitism spiked to nearly 75%.

According to the Anti­Defamation League’s latest report, anti­Se­ mitic incidents on U.S. college campuses increased 89% in 2017.

The South Carolina legislation will help break down the barriers in the fight against anti­Semitism by providing educators and ad­ ministrators with a clear and uni­ form definition to recognize anti­Jewish bigotry.

The definition included in the bill is the global “gold standard” used to define anti­Semitism, and is used by the U.S. federal govern­ ment to assess incidents that occur abroad. It is substantially similar to the definition that has been sup­ ported by the 31 governments that are members of the International Holocaust Remembrance Al­ liance; all 50 countries, except for Russia, that make up the Organi­ zation for Security and Coopera­ tion in Europe; and the governments of the United King­ dom, Romania, Austria, Germany, and Bulgaria. It has also been adopted by the United Kingdom to use in colleges and universities.

“Anti­Semitism, and the forces that have led to its resurgence, are not representative of the values of South Carolina,” stated Represen­

tative Alan Clemmons (107th Dis­ trict) who authored the legislation.

“Yesterday, Holocaust Memorial Day, is the culmination of a two­ year legislative effort to respond to the FBI’s findings that Jewish students are the mostly likely of all minority groups to suffer hate crimes on campus. Thanks to Sen. Larry Grooms’ leadership in the Senate, South Carolina has taken the ultimate legislative step in codifying a uniform definition of anti­Semitism for state supported institutions of higher education that must be applied to illegal acts and breaches of university policy to determine anti­Semitic intent.

This measure is an important step forward in protecting the civil rights of Jewish students. As we remember the millions of Jewish lives taken in the Holocaust and the dramatic increase in anti­Se­ mitic incidents we see happening in the U.S. and around the world, I’m hopeful that South Carolina will be the first of many states to take such action to discourage anti­Semitism on campus and to appropriately discipline those who engage in such hateful activity.”

Senator Larry Grooms (37th District), who fought hard for the bill in the Senate, stated, “South Carolina legislators are incredibly disturbed by the increase of anti­ Semitism around our nation and particularly the threats our young people face daily on campus. We

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all agree this must stop. All stu­ dents deserve the same protec­ tions of their rights, and our colleges must address all discrim­ inatory conduct, including anti­ Semitism, with equal rigor and condemnation. My colleague Alan Clemmons introduced a bill to provide our state’s colleges with the crucial tools to fight dis­ crimination of Jewish students, and I am pleased my Senate col­ leagues approved it with over­ whelming bipartisan support.”

“We applaud the South Car­ olina legislators, particularly Rep­ resentative Alan Clemmons, who authored and shepherded this crit­ ical legislation from its inception and through every hearing and every vote, and Senator Larry Grooms who championed this leg­ islation and brought us victory in the Senate, as well as Representa­ tive Beth Bernstein, Joseph Sabag and our colleagues at the Israel Al­ lies Foundation, Columbia Jewish Federation, Charleston Jewish Federation, and the scores of South Carolina students, parents, educators and religious leaders for their tireless efforts to fight hate and discrimination,” added Vogel­ stein.

The South Carolina bill is care­ ful to protect students’ First Amendment rights. The bill lan­ guage states, “Nothing in this pro­ viso may be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right pro­ tected under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States or section 2, Article 1 of the South Carolina Constitution, 1895.”Y

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