Washington Hebrew Congregation "Journal" by Washington Hebrew Congregation

JUNE–JULY 2017 / SIVAN–TAMUZ–AV 5777 VOL. 58, NO. 6

Join us Monday, June 5 for the Installation of New Board Members and the Presentation of Avodah Honors Awards

JUNE–JULY 2017 VOL. 58, NO. 6

SUPPORTED BY AN ENDOWMENT FROM LIBBY AND MELVIN MANDEL

In This Issue Director’s Reflection............................................................................3 Rabbi’s Reflection................................................................................4 An American Caravan for Peace...........................................................5 An Update on WHC’s Visioning Effort..................................................6 Avodah Honors.................................................................................... 7 Carrie Simon House Spring Newsletter.................................................9 In Our Hands — D.C. Film Premiere at Temple...................................11 WHC Programs & Events................................................................... 12 June Calendar.................................................................................... 14 July Calendar..................................................................................... 15 B’nei Mitzvah.................................................................................... 18 Support Yad B’Yad: The WHC Annual Fund....................................... 19 Life Cycle...........................................................................................20 Contributions..................................................................................... 21 Mitzvah Day Photo Retrospective...................................................... 22 Summertime at WHC.........................................................................28

Washington Hebrew Congregation Clergy

M. Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi Susan N. Shankman, Rabbi Aaron Miller, Associate Rabbi Joseph A. Skloot, Ph.D., Assistant Rabbi Mikhail Manevich, Cantor Susan R.A. Bortnick, Cantor Joshua O. Haberman, Rabbi Emeritus

Senior Staff – Education

DJ Schneider Jensen, Director of the Edlavitch-Tyser ECC Fran Miller, Director of the Rabbi Joseph Weinberg ECC Ira Miller, Director of Informal Education Stephanie Tankel, Director of Religious Education

Senior Staff – Administration

Steven Jacober, Executive Director Miriam Feffer, Director of Development Lindsay Fry Feldman, Director of Member Services Naomi Abelson Gohn, Director of Temple Programs & TOV Mohan Mistry, Director of Engineering & Maintenance Stephen Stoupa, Director of Finance Susan J. Hanenbaum, Executive Director Emerita

Officers

David Astrove, President Nell Shapiro, First Vice President Mark Director, Vice President Richard Newman, Vice President Jeffrey Weiss, Vice President Andrew H. Marks, Treasurer Carrie Coonin, Assistant Treasurer Janet Katz, Secretary Deborah Goldman, Assistant Secretary Lewis Wiener, General Counsel

Board of Directors Joan Adoff Rochelle Behrens Ellen R. Berlow Sharon Jaffe Dan Brian D. Friedman Susan B. Gerson Diane Cutler Green Jonathan Greenblatt Jessica Pearlman Isen Anne Lackritz Andrew Lazerow Karen Leder

Past Presidents

Leonard I. Abel David R. Berz Stuart L. Bindeman Earl M. Colson Meg Jacobs Flax Jay W. Freedman Susan J. Hanenbaum

Jeremy London William Miller David Oblon Stephanie Posner Steven A. Robins Lynn Sachs Cathy Zeman Scheineson Melissa Schwartz Aaron W. Stopak Richard Sussman Kimberly Wachen Dan Werner

Sherry Bindeman Kahn Richard D. Kaufmann Hank D. Levine Kenneth L. Marks Paul J. Mason John M. Nannes

Lauren S. Racoosin Froma Sandler Bob M. Shapiro David A. Vise Richard M. Young Peter L. Winik

Auxiliary Presidents & Contacts

2239: Valerie Hillman The Boomers: Jeanne Flemming Brotherhood: Alan Singer Couples Club: Kim & Brian Cooper, Chris McCannell & Ven Neralla EmptyNesters: Joan Adoff Prime Timers: Phyllis Belford, Sandy Grant Sisterhood: Ellen Miller WHECTY: Lily Schoonover

We Can Be Reached

On the Cover The 2016 Annual Meeting, which featured the election and installation of WHC’s new Officers and Board members, including David Astrove as President. Page 2 | WHC Journal – June/July 2017

Temple Office ........................................ 202-362-7100 (M-Th: 9:00 am – 5:30 pm; F: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm) Weekends/After Hours ...........................202-895-6341 Temple Fax ..............................................202-537-1091 Julia Bindeman Suburban Center ............ 301-279-7505 Julia Bindeman Suburban Center Fax ..... 301-354-3200 Listen In .................................................202-895-6333 Live Streaming of Services......streaming.whctemple.org Website .................................................whctemple.org Jennifer Millstone, Editor, jmillstone@whctemple.org The Washington Hebrew Congregation Journal (Permit No. 4240) is published monthly by Washington Hebrew Congregation. Send address changes to 3935 Macomb Street NW, Washington, DC 20016.

Director’s Reflection Lindsay Fry Feldman Director of Member Services

lfeldman@whctemple.org 202-895-6321

he Hebrew term for synagogue, beit k’nesset, means “house of assembly.” Our synagogue serves as a central point of community gatherings; we host life cycle events, study, prayer, and a broad range of social justice opportunities. We are a gathering place for those in any and every stage in life. Active synagogue affiliation is critical in the life of our community and the future of Judaism. While there are an increasing number of alternative options to traditional temple membership, none provides the full scope of support offered by a synagogue. As Membership Director, I ask myself, what’s unique about Washington Hebrew Congregation? What value does it add to the members and community at large?

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their lives. Only a synagogue community can maintain and nurture Judaism in such a consistent, intimate, and relational manner. Washington Hebrew Congregation has been and will always be there throughout the lives of our members. The decision to join a synagogue establishes a relationship that will last a lifetime. The value of becoming a part of a long-standing “house of assembly” recognizes and affirms the importance of Judaism in our lives. This decision also reinforces the life cycle of Judaism: building future generations of Jews who together will work toward making the world a better place.

The decision to join a synagogue establishes a relationship that will last a lifetime.”

As part of the WHC senior staff team, I see the thought and compassion placed on each life cycle event that involves a congregant. Guided by our Jewish tradition, our clergy and lay leadership seek to meet current needs and anticipate future ones. We think of every stage of life, from the moment we name a new baby to the end, when we lay a loved one to rest and guide families through that impossible transition.

As a child grows, we focus intently on building their young Jewish identity within our Early Childhood Centers and Religious School. It does not end with becoming B’nei Mitzvah; our students are guided through Confirmation and then through high school. We help shape who they are as young adults, keeping their Jewish identity intact. Our active Sisterhood even ensures our college students remain connected to WHC through the holiday care packages they send. And our children eventually raise families of their own, the Jewish identity and values Washington Hebrew Congregation has instilled will guide them throughout

At 165 years old, WHC is a unique institution that provides continuity. Its many benefits of membership, however, are not easily quantifiable. The worth of premarital sessions designed to imbue the sanctity of the Jewish life cycle and prepare young couples for the challenges of a life together cannot be measured. One cannot quantify the value of a baby naming that welcomes a new life into a thousands-year-old community. You cannot attach a number to the impact of a Conversion journey. One cannot measure what it means to assist a family during times of need. A specific value cannot be assigned to the lifelong friendships our children (and their parents) make at our ECCs and Religious School. When WHC engages in tikkun olam, the benefits of making the world a better place are countless. A synagogue is a crucial component of Judaism when it comes to all of these things and more. Without it, we are at risk of becoming detached from our Jewish identity and perhaps from one another. I’d like you to let me know how WHC has been there for you and your family and invite you to send me an email at membership@whctemple.org and share your story. I am curious to know what we have done here at WHC to show the significance of a beit k’nesset. What does it Continued on page 11. WHC Journal – June/July 2017 | Page 3

Rabbi’s Reflection Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig

en rabbis, ten imams, and ten evangelical pastors walk into a ballroom in Abu Dhabi. It sounds like the start of a bad joke, but in reality, it was 30 prominent American clergy who were beginning a journey to understanding, acceptance, and the hope of peace. From different faiths, life experiences, and ten different pilot cities in the United States, we gathered in Abu Dhabi at the first American Caravan for Peace. This meeting was the vision of Pastor Bob Roberts, a megachurch minster from Texas, and H.E. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies. Sheikh Bin Bayyah is an Islamic scholar, world renowned for his work to stop the proliferation of extremism and violence in the name of Islam. He has stood in the White House and at the National Prayer Breakfast to denounce such acts and claim they hold no place in Islam. He is also a sweet whisper of a man whose warmth, wisdom, and bravery inspires all. Pastor Bob wanted to confront what he knows to be true about the evangelical pulpit — that it can be used to engender either a xenophobic fear or universal love. Pastor Bob’s hope was to move Evangelicals to the latter by letting them learn face-to-face what is in the heart of the Jew and the Muslim alike.

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acceptance and partnership in peace. We took the time to know one another, to ask the difficult questions, to be true to our faiths, and to face our fears about those who are different than us. We learned to embrace the truth we found in others; simply put, we made the stranger a friend. Some topics we placed on a “do not disturb list” to first build trust. We knew that if we could find the courage and grace to dismantle the assumptions, bigotry, hatred, and prejudice that sometimes accompany us from our history, experiences, and habitual bad behavior — all of which blind us — we might see God in the face of the other. The “do not disturb list” will then disturb us so much, we will be compelled to seek, if not resolution, then understanding and acceptance of our differences.

We were flown half way around the world to open our hearts, to think creatively, and to commit to a promise of peace.”

Ambassador Rabbi David Saperstein and I were asked to help put together a group of rabbis who would be willing to partner in this experiment in the promise of human potential. Our hope was — and is — to move rabbis from being observers of the divisive rhetoric of our day, to being the agents of change in our communities. We were flown half way around the world to open our hearts, to think creatively, and to commit to a promise of peace. During our time in Abu Dhabi, we shared our journeys, fears, stories, frustrations, and hopes for

It is hard to describe what took place in Abu Dhabi, but it filled me with hope. Sheikh Bin Bayyah wanted us to know firsthand the love and acceptance that can be found in Islam, so he welcomed us into his home in Abu Dhabi. In a time of hate crimes, divisive politics, and diminished civility, we decided there was an opportunity for a different voice to be heard so there could be a different story told of these days. On a veranda overlooking the beautiful water, sharing meals, and feasting on human kindness, our differences did not disappear. They became clearer; and they were celebrated, questioned, tested, fortified, and — most of all — respected. I was neither baptized nor converted, but I was transformed by our faith in each other and inspired by the possibility of what we could do together. In a few days, peace moved from being a possibility to a promise we made to each other and to God. Working in both city groups and faith groups, we were a creative, courageous collection of souls who were willing to do the difficult work. We made a promise to replicate in our Continued on page 6.

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Tikkun Olam

American Caravan for Peace Washington Hebrew Congregation is honored that Rabbi Lustig was asked to serve as a co-chair for “An American Caravan of Peace,” held last month in Abu Dhabi.

n recent years, there has been a frightening increase in religious extremism and hate crimes committed in the name of religion. This is not the case in the United Arab Emirates, however, where tolerance, mutual respect, and cooperation are national values. It was fitting then that the UAE was the location for the first-ever American Caravan for Peace – a three-day summit in early May conceived and hosted by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies. The Caravan brought more than 30 prominent American clergy together in Abu Dhabi with the goal of developing new models and action plans that will promote coexistence and mutual respect. In 2016, Sheikh Bin Bayyah and the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies hosted a similar summit in Morocco where more than 250 Muslim religious leaders, scholars, and politicians created and signed the Marrakesh Declaration, a document designed to protect the rights of religious minorities in predominantly Muslim countries. It challenged Muslim leaders and influencers to fight extremism and “(restore) our shared trust that has been eroded by extremists using acts of terror and aggression.” It also highlighted the duty of religious leaders to study their theological texts and find a strong ground on which coexistence and equal citizenship could be built. Sheikh Bin Bayyah was the architect of the Marrakesh Declaration, and in his opening remarks at last month’s American Caravan for Peace in Abu Dhabi he shared, “Protestantism has always been proud of tolerance, as ‘tolerance is the Protestants gift to the world.’ But all Abrahamic religions carry fundamental teachings that promote coexistence and peace and the universal quality of human dignity. These teachings can form powerful antidotes to extremism, and an effective approach to counter

hatred, Islamophobia, and religious extremism together.” He added, “The day where stereotypical views and hatredfilled sentiments are replaced with fraternity and the spirit of giving would be a glorious day in the history of humanity.” Coexistence is the key to international peace, and during their three days in Abu Dhabi, the religious leaders’ work focused on several themes. They included mutual visions among followers of different religions and their impact on peace; challenges facing coexistence and opportunities to enhance it; the importance of including peace concepts in sermons; and the role of religion in public life. As part of the Caravan, the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim clergy from each city will continue their work toward coexistence and peace. Their shared goals for the next six months include: • meeting for meals and family gatherings, to foster the friendships made in Abu Dhabi; • bringing their congregations together for shared events, to enhance interfaith relationships and further develop and deepen mutual respect; • participating in a shared community service project, to serve as a catalyst for change and achieve a common goal; • standing by one another at times of crisis, in the face of persecution, or against hatred; • recreating their experience in Abu Dhabi with a widening circle of clergy; and • advancing awareness on the importance of the Marrakesh Declaration and the Forum for Promoting Peace as examples of critical work being undertaken in the field of religious freedom and peace. In his role as co-chair, Rabbi Lustig delivered a blessing at the opening of the American Caravan for Peace. He shared in part: “The rabbis of the Talmud teach, ‘All of humanity was created from Adam, for the sake of peace among Continued on page 17. WHC Journal – June/July 2017 | Page 5

WHC Journal

Envision Our Future

175 An Update on WHC’s Visioning Effort

hank you to everyone who participated in one of our Visioning/Listening Sessions since 2016. Well over 250 congregants have taken the time to share with us their vision of the future of Washington Hebrew Congregation. Our discussions have been illuminating, creative, and thought-provoking, and the feedback has given us an enormous amount to take pride in and consider. While the process of gathering and reflecting on the responses is still very much ongoing, certain values have been repeated by many individuals.

Strong and close CONNECTIONS with other congregants and clergy, and they expect to use new technologies and other tools to enhance these relationships; WHC as a warm and welcoming place that is INCLUSIVE of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and economic circumstances; and JOYFUL, VIBRANT, and MULTI-GENERATIONAL services and programs that challenge and enrich them and are open to both ALTERNATIVE and TRADITIONAL spiritual experiences. We invite you to let us know YOUR vision. Your creativity and ideas will help shape the future of Washington Hebrew Congregation. Please join us for the next Visioning Session on Tuesday, June 13 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at Temple. RSVP: whctemple.org/Visioning; Questions? Please contact Visioning Co-Chairs: Robert Lipnick, rnlipnick@gmail.com; Nell Shapiro, nellshapiro@aol.com; or Lewis Wiener, lewiswiener@eversheds-sutherland.com.

home cities what we had found in our time together in Abu Dhabi: to help others have the courage to write a new story that has a different ending for ourselves and our children. I was honored to participate in this American Caravan for Peace. I left Abu Dhabi reaffirming my belief that this is some of the most important work we can be doing today — and knowing that this type of work has been at the heart of the Washington Hebrew Congregation role in American Judaism since its creation. I hope you will embrace this opportunity as we join with our Evangelical Page 6 | WHC Journal – June/July 2017

Christian and Muslim partners in the face-to-face work of peace making. In our sacred text, we find the tale of the creation of the holy ark of the covenant. It describes in detail that at the top of the ark there are two cherubim positioned face-toface. We are told that is where God will reside. Join me as we journey toward peace, face-to-face and heart-to-heart. Peace is not only a possibility. It is a promise we make together to our children, to our children’s children, and to our God.

Tikkun Olam

Avodah Honors

Dan has been a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation since 1994. A past participant of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s Young Leadership Development Program and the AntiDefamation League’s Steinberg Leadership Institute, and a graduate of the School for Advanced Jewish Studies, Dan has put his training to use at WHC and throughout the greater community. He sat on WHC’s Board of Directors from 2004 to 2016; and was the Religious School 7th Grade Coordinator until 2015, President of Brotherhood, and a Team Leader for Mitzvah Day’s blood drive. Currently, Dan sits on the Budget and Finance Committee, is a “red apron” with the WHC Hunger Project, and leads both lay-led Shabbat and shiva minyan services. In the greater community, Dan also leads Shabbat services at Ring House and serves on Montgomery County’s Advisory Committee on Consumer Protection. He is also President of the Promenade Towers Mutual Housing Corporation, and a volunteer instructor for both Junior Achievement and Housing and Community Initiatives, which provides first-time home buyer education to low and moderate income families. Dan and his wife, Shelley, are the parents of Hillary and Carter. They reside in Rockville, Maryland.

Janet Katz has been a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation for over 20 years. She has served on the WHC Board of Directors since 2012 and currently sits on WHC’s Executive Committee, serving as Secretary. Janet is also a member of the Budget and Finance Committee, the Professional Development Committee, the Youth Committee, and the Tikkun Olam Values Committee. Janet tirelessly serves the Carrie Simon House as the Volunteer Executive Director, Chair of the Carrie Simon House Volunteer Committee, and as a mentor to alumni of the program. She has also been involved in a wide range of Temple activities: she is a past Mitzvah Day Chair and Co-Chair, a past Chair of Tuesday Trimmings and Mitzvah Monday, and was active with the Early Childhood Center, Youth, and Religious School Committees. Janet’s many contributions to youth include working with WHC B’nei Mitzvah students on their mitzvah projects and serving on the Adult Board of Directors for the D.C. Council of BBYO. She is a mentor to breast cancer patients and survivors and participates in annual cancer walks. Janet and her husband, Rick, have one daughter, Frankie, who became a Bat Mitzvah and was confirmed at WHC.

Dorothy Kornhauser is a fourth generation member of Washington Hebrew Congregation. Her commitment to volunteerism began when she worked at the Stage Door Canteen during World War II with her grandmother, Rosie Wender. This commitment to community service has been a part of Dorothy’s life view. Dorothy has served two terms on the WHC Board of Directors and as Board liaison to the WHC Library. She serves on the Worship and Music Committee and has participated in every Mitzvah Day since its inception. For more than eight years, Dorothy has worked in the Temple Archives and can be depended upon to serve as a Greeter at Shabbat and High Holy Day services. Dorothy served on the Israel Bonds Membership Committee and since 1979, has worked closely with her husband, Lou, to coordinate the collection of used eyeglasses, which are recycled for distribution to the needy. Dorothy was a co-founder of the Cancer Award League, and she has worked tirelessly for the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington where she served as President of the Women’s Auxiliary. Married to Lou Kornhauser for over 18 years, Dorothy and Lou have an extended family that includes five grandchildren, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

WHC Journal – June/July 2017 | Page 7

Tikkun Olam

Faye has been a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation for over 20 years. She was a member of the Board of Directors for 10 years and sat on the Executive Committee as Secretary. Faye’s involvement in Temple life is broad-based and meaningful. She is a co-chair of the Tikkun Olam Values Committee, which oversees the TOV Fund and coordinates many of WHC’s social justice initiatives. She has also served as Co-Chair of the Religious School Committee and the Edlavitch-Tyser Family Relations Forum. Faye’s participation on the Temple’s Long Range Strategic Planning Committee helped to establish an actionable foundation from which the Temple was able to grow and thrive. She has also served as Chair and Vice Chair of Mitzvah Day and has worked on Rabbinic Search Committees. In the wider community, Faye serves on the Board of Monument Academy Public Charter School, chaired the Board at the Edmund Burke School, and sat on the Board of Directors at Georgetown Day School and the regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League. She has also helped manage the annual Library of Congress National Book Festival. Faye and her husband, Harvey, have four children: Adam, Lexi, Beth and her husband Brian, and Robin and her husband Evan. They also have four grandchildren: Asher and Andi Dubin, and Max and Sophie Hammerman.

Marsha has been a member of Washington Hebrew for over 45 years, where she volunteered to enhance the lives of adults and children alike, helping Rabbi Weinberg write the Funeral Practices Booklet and braiding challah with 3rd graders. She has been a member of or chaired numerous WHC Committees, including Religious School, Worship and Music, Rabbinic Search, Caring, Cemetery Development, Long Range Planning, and Professional Review. She was twice a member of WHC’s Board of Directors and served on the Executive Committee. Marsha also served on the Board of a Montgomery County nonprofit mental health clinic. A volunteer at the Sidwell Friends School for more than 30 years, she generously gave time and energy to its Parents Association, auction, and the needs of its three schools. She was among the first Adult B’nei Mitzvah at WHC and taught 6th grade in Religious School and Hebrew to adults. She teaches preschool now. Marsha and her late husband, Marty, chose to live across the street from WHC, which enabled her to host a variety of guests for the Temple and the RAC. She is the mother of David and Adam Vine, Rachel and Max Pinson, and Max’s wife, Megan.

Cathy has been a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation for 27 years. She has served on the Board of Directors since 2012 and is co-chair of the Community Issues Social Action Committee. Cathy participates in the Temple’s tikkun olam efforts, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, and serves on WHC’s task force concerning immigration issues. Cathy serves on the Anti-Defamation League’s Washington, D.C. Regional Board Executive Committee and as Treasurer and a Board member of Hope House. She was a co-chair of the D.C. Bar Association’s Health Law Steering Committee. Cathy is very active in her law firm’s pro bono program. In 2012, she received McDermot Will and Emery’s award for “Outstanding Achievement and Commitment to Pro Bono and Service to the Community,” was recognized by the American Health Lawyers Association as a Pro Bono Champion, and has worked with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights’ D.C. Public School Partnership Program. Cathy has also advocated for tenants’ rights, disabled children, and the empowerment of minority girls and women. She continues to represent numerous clients seeking political asylum in the United States. Cathy and her husband, Marc, reside in McLean, Virginia and have two children, Andrew and Sara. Page 8 | WHC Journal – June/July 2017

Spring 2017

CARRIE SIMON HOUSE HELPING HOMELESS MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN BUILD BETTER LIVES

Board of Directors Deborah G. Astrove Addie Adelekan Jamie Hanenbaum Groban Melinda Halpert Nicole Johnson Janet Katz Mia Kogan, MD Lissa Levin James Smith Cortney Weinbaum

Help Us Renovate Our Bathrooms! It’s time to renovate two old bathrooms at Carrie Simon House and we need your help! Our bathrooms are leaking, fixtures are broken, and tiles are cracked. We have a plan to renovate this year, and we need help. Visit us online to donate. $ 16 buys a curtain rod $ 28 buys a case of tiles $ 60 buys a sink faucet $ 135 buys a bathtub $ 250 buys a sink vanity cabinet $ 460 buys a shower $ 11,500 buys one entire bathroom!* CarrieSimonHouse.org/Renovations.html

* Donors giving $11,500 or more will be offered a plaque in their honor or in the honor or memory of someone else. All donations to Carrie Simon House are tax-deductible. The bathroom items listed above are representative. Donations will be used to fund this renovation project and to support Carrie Simon House’s mission.

CARRIE SIMON HOUSE

Our Strategic Goals

This year our Board has set three goals for how we will prioritize our resources and focus our efforts in the future. Our goals are:  Provide a safe and nurturing home for the families who live here.  Help program residents achieve self-sufficiency to live on their own and support themselves financially.  Grow multiple sources of funding.

Ways to Help

Make a donation carriesimonhouse.org Become a mentor. Mentors who can commit 1-2 hours per week make a huge difference! Share your special skill or interest. Our moms want to learn healthy cooking and nutrition, child development, resume and interview skills. Plan a fundraising event. Do you enjoy planning social events or community events? We welcome your ideas or you can help us plan one of ours. Engage children in community service projects. Children love getting involved and feeling the rewards of helping others. Engage a school group or student group of any age in a service event with Carrie Simon House.

carriesimonhouse.org

Thanks to your support, 2016 was a successful year for Carrie Simon House! This is what we were able to accomplish with your help:  One family completed the program and is now living independently  A mother currently living with us earned her highest grade point average ever since enrolling in college  A mother currently living with us navigated the college admissions process, secured financial aid, and completed her first semester of community college  All residents developed and managed specific budget plans  One resident completed a financial literacy training program  Donations to our transportation fund enabled residents to use public transportation with less impact on their personal budgets  Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C. and several of our alumni spoke to over 200 attendees at a dinner in our honor  The Board engaged a short-term feasibility study of alternative funding sources Meanwhile, our physical plant has also undergone its own transformation over 2016. We are committed to ensuring a sound, wellmaintained environment for residents and their children. In 2016, generous donors made possible:  First phase of backyard renovation, including landscaping and pathways for a safer, more inviting play space  Replacement and addition of new smoke detectors, carbon monoxide testers, and fire extinguishers  Upgrade of heating system in children’s play area  Upgrade of all electrical outlets  New gutters, re-grading of back stairwell and brick buildup of outdoor steps to address drainage issues  Repairing and painting of front porch railing  New raised surface connecting kitchen to outdoor stairwell  New high beam outdoor safety lighting Our goals for 2017 include:  Begin renovations on two old, outdated bathrooms  Replace leaky plumbing, cracked flooring and tiles  Upgrade the tub/shower, sinks and toilets  Install playground equipment, including climbing/swing set and backyard toys  Install new child proof, flame retardant window treatments  Establish additional funding sources

Culture and the Arts

D.C. Film Premiere at Temple on June 7

oin us for the D.C. premiere event of the docudrama, In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem on Wednesday, June 7 at 7:00 pm at Temple. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War, In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem tells the story of Israel’s 55th Paratrooper Brigade and its role in liberating the Old City of Jerusalem. On June 5, 1967, Israel launched preemptive air strikes and a ground offensive against Egyptian forces in the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip. Syria and Jordan joined their ally, Egypt, in combat against Israel’s surprise attack. Over six days, the four countries engaged in battle, ultimately resulting in Israel acquiring the Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, West Bank, and the Golan Heights. During the fighting, Israeli paratroopers captured the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall from Jordan. Under Jordanian rule, Jews were barred from Jerusalem and unable to visit the Western Wall. For Israel, and Jews around the world, this victory was symbolized by the images of paratroopers, overwhelmed with emotion, reaching for the stones of the Western Wall at the conclusion of the Battle for Jerusalem. The Six-Day War was pivotal in forging an emotional connection between Jews in the diaspora and the new State of Israel. Coming just over two decades after World War II and the Holocaust, this decisive military victory and the announcement to the world that “the Temple Mount is in

our hands,” gave Jews around the world a reason to celebrate and embrace Israel. The evening will begin with the screening of In Our Hands at 7:00 pm followed by a reception. RSVP for this free event at whctemple.org/InOurHands.

mean to you to be part of this Jewish community? And, of course, how can we better support you and build a stronger WHC family? Every week, the staff and lay leadership team at WHC ask ourselves, “Are we doing enough?” We take seriously the responsibility to meet a wide variety of individual needs on a very personal level. There is no Jewish continuity without the Jewish community housed in a synagogue – a beit k’nesset. And it’s incumbent on those of us who care to make it so and help it flourish. At every milestone, we are always here for you as a member of our family, and we thank you for being there for us as well.

WHC Journal – June/July 2017 | Page 11

In June and July …

WHC Programs & Events

Craig Taubman with WHC’s Kol Rinah & JAM

Friday, June 9 at 6pm Come for Shabbat Stay for dinner ($20) RSVP online: whctemple.org/Pollin

Featured Programs Annual Meeting of Washington Hebrew Congregation Installation of New Board Members Presentation of Avodah Honors Awards Monday, June 5, 7:00 pm at Temple

Join us for Washington Hebrew Congregation’s 165th Annual Meeting, which features the installation of new Board members and presentation of Avodah Honors Awards. A dessert reception honoring our Board members and Avodah Honors recipients follows the meeting.

whctemple.org/AnnualMeeting Maria Thompson: mthompson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6311

D.C. Film Premiere: In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem Wednesday, June 7, 7:00 pm at Temple

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War, In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem tells the story of Israel’s 55th Paratrooper Brigade and their role in liberating the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967. With firsthand interviews and historical reenactments, this film focuses on the soldiers who reunified Jerusalem and announced to the world, “The Temple Mount is in our hands.” A reception will follow the film. Registration preferred (free): whctemple.org/InOurHands Madge Novel: mnovel@whctemple.org, 202-895-6314

The Story of a Daring WWII Female Spy in Amram Scholar Series

he Amram Scholar Series partners with WHC Sisterhood to present its closing lecture for the 2016-2017 season: the riveting story of Betty Pack, a beautiful American debutante who became one of World War II’s most successful Allied spies. Join us at Temple on Wednesday, June 14, when bestselling author Howard Blum, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and a former New York Times investigative reporter, discusses Pack’s exploits detailed in his latest book, The Last Goodnight: A World War II Story of Espionage, Adventure, and Betrayal. His lecture, which was originally scheduled for May 24, begins at 7:00 pm and will be preceded by a wine and cheese reception at 6:30 pm. Hailed by General “Wild Bill” Donovan, head of wartime intelligence, as “the greatest unsung heroine of the war,” Betty Pack engaged in death-defying missions vital to the Allied victory, first as a secret agent for Britain’s MI-6 and then for Donovan’s Office of Strategic Services. Code-named “Cynthia,” the intelligent and charming

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spy seduced diplomats and military attachés across the globe in exchange for critically important ciphers and secrets involving Nazi Germany, Vichy France, and Fascist Italy. Delving into recently declassified wartime files, Mr. Blum created a mesmerizing portrait of a complex woman. Pack’s passion and courage were conflicted by the very traits that led to her effectiveness: a lack of deep emotional connections and her readiness to risk everything to help the Allied cause. This program is presented in cooperation with the Jewish Book Council and with support from the Abraham & Freida Hochberg Creative Cultural Fund. Reservations are appreciated for the Amram year-end reception: whctemple.org/Amram

In June and July …

WHC Programs & Events Featured Programs Visioning Session

Tuesday, June 13, 7:00 pm at Temple

Join the more than 250 congregants who have taken the time to share with us their vision of the future of Washington Hebrew Congregation. The discussions are illuminating, creative, and thought-provoking. Share your vision for the future of Washington Hebrew Congregation and join us at our next Visioning Session.

Registration required: whctemple.org/Visioning Lindsay Fry Feldman: lfeldman@whctemple.org, 202-895-6321

Special Worship Experiences

Craig Taubman with WHC’s Kol Rinah and JAM Youth Choir A Pollin Music Shabbat & Dinner Friday, June 9, 6:00 pm at Temple

American singer/songwriter Craig Taubman’s music is relatable to both adults and children. He weaves song and spirit into the fabric of Jewish life, bridging traditional Jewish themes and ancient teachings with contemporary passages and experiences. Join us for this musical service that completes the 2016-2017 season of the Irene & Abe Pollin Music Program Initiative and stay afterward for a community dinner. Registration required for dinner only ($): whctemple.org/Pollin Beth Donaldson: bdonaldson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6309

Tot Shabbat with the Astroves

Shabbat Under the Stars

For this final Tot Shabbat of the 2016-2017 school year, WHC President David Astrove and his wife, Debbie, are bringing their grandson and sponsoring a special dinner for our ECC families. Every month, David and Debbie Astrove have welcomed small groups of WHC adults to their home for a Shabbat dinner. They wanted to enjoy a Shabbat experience with our families who have young children and will join us at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center for Tot Shabbat and dinner.

During the summer, we bring the relaxed, casual feel of long, sunny days to our Friday night services. Enjoy the beautiful grounds surrounding Temple and come to Shabbat Under the Stars! In the event of inclement weather, this service will be held indoors.

Friday, June 2, 5:30 pm at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center

Registration required for dinner only (free): whctemple.org/TotShabbat Deb Young: debmilleryoung@gmail.com

Shabbat Under the Stars & Shabbat Dinner with the Astroves

Friday, June 2, 6:00 pm at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center

Our annual outdoor summer Shabbat series begins with this service at JBSC. It’s a relaxed and casual way to end the week with WHC friends. For this summer’s first service, WHC President David Astrove and his wife, Debbie, would like to mark the end of the first year of his term and celebrate the beginning of summer in a special way. Throughout the year, the Astroves have welcomed small groups of WHC adults each month to their home for Shabbat dinner. The dinners have been casual, meaningful opportunities for our members to connect and get to know each other. For their final WHC Shabbat dinner of the season, they invite everyone to join them for dinner after the service. All are welcome. There is no charge, but advance registration (for dinner only) is needed to help us plan. In case of inclement weather, we will hold the service and dinner indoors.

Registration required for dinner only (free): whctemple.org/SUTS Madge Novel: mnovel@whctemple.org, 202-895-6314

Friday, June 23, 6:00 pm at Temple Friday, July 14, 6:00 pm at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center Friday, July 28, 6:00 pm at Temple

whctemple.org/SUTS Madge Novel: mnovel@whctemple.org, 202-895-6314

2239’s Metro Minyan

Friday, June 23, 6:15 pm at Calvary Baptist Church Friday, July 28, 6:15 pm at Calvary Baptist Church

This Shabbat evening for young professionals begins with “A Shot of Torah,” an opportunity to study the weekly Torah portion and dive into some Jewish discussion. The guitar-led, come-asyou-are service starts at 7:00 pm and is followed by dinner. Registration required for dinner only ($): whctemple.org/2239 Valerie Hillman Bluestein: vhillman@whctemple.og

Continued on page 16.

Shabbat Under the Stars Dinner with Couples Club Friday, June 23 at Temple Dinner will follow 6:00 pm service

Bring an entrée and an hors d’oeuvre or dessert to share

RS V P

whctemple.org/CouplesClub WHC Journal – June/July 2017 | Page 13

Page 14 | WHC Journal – June/July 2017

Camp Keetov Begins (M)

3:00pm “Stars of David: Story to Song” Concert with Cantor Bortnick (OUT)

12:30pm Prime Timers Luncheon (M)

Camp Keetov Begins (B)

11:00am Sisterhood Museum Tour (OUT) 7:00pm Annual Meeting of the Congregation (M)

Monday

8:00am WHECTY Trip to Hershey Park 1:00pm WHC Hunger Project Food Packing (B)

Sunday

June 2017

7:00pm WHC Books Program (M)

7:00pm Visioning Workshop (M) 7:30pm The Red Stone (M)

6:30pm Fistful of Shekels Meeting (M)

Tuesday

7:30pm Community Issues/Social Action Meeting (M)

6:30pm Amram and Sisterhood Present: Howard Blum, a Reception and Lecture (M)

7:00pm D.C. Premiere: In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem (M)

Last Day for RJWECC (B) Gap Camp Begins (M)

Wednesday

M: Temple

Services: 6:00pm Shabbat Service (M)

10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B)

Services: 6:00pm Shabbat Under the Stars (M) 6:15pm 2239’s Metro Minyan (OUT)

10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B) 7:00pm Couples Club Dinner (M)

Services: 6:00pm Shabbat Service (M)

10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B)

Services: 6:00pm Pollin Music Shabbat Service with Craig Taubman & Shabbat Dinner (M)

OUT: Not at a WHC location

Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) 5:30pm Afternoon Service and Havdalah (M) Bat Mitzvah of Michelle Cooke

17 Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) Bat Mitzvah of Ava Drescher 5:30pm Afternoon Service and Havdalah (M) B’nei Mitzvah of Ethan Eisenstein and Noah Reiskin

10 Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) B’nei Mitzvah of Lex Bernstein and Rachel Wohlstadter 5:30pm Afternoon Service and Havdalah (M) Bat Mitzvah of Olivia Sitrick

Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) Bat Mitzvah of Mia Fainbraun 5:30pm Afternoon Service and Havdalah (M) Bat Mitzvah of Ella Rossoff

Services: 5:30pm Tot Shabbat & Dinner (B) 6:00pm Shabbat Service (M) 6:00pm Shabbat Under the Stars & Dinner (B) 10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B)

Saturday

Last Day for E-T ECC (M) 10:30am Sis Mah Jongg (B)

Friday

B: Julia Bindeman Suburban Center

Thursday

Sivan–Tammuz 5777

Monday

Page 15 | WHC Journal – June/July 2017

1:00pm WHC Hunger Project (B)

Sunday

July 2017

7:00pm The Red Stone (M)

Offices Closed (M&B) Camp Keetov Closed (M&B)

Independence Day

Tuesday

Wednesday

M: Temple

Services: 6:00pm Shabbat Under the Stars (M) 6:15pm 2239’s Metro Minyan (OUT)

10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B)

Services: 6:00pm Shabbat Service (M)

10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B)

14 Services: 6:00pm Shabbat Service (M) 6:00pm Shabbat Under the Stars (B)

10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B)

Services: 6:00pm Shabbat Service (M)

10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B)

Friday

B: Julia Bindeman Suburban Center

Thursday

OUT: Not at a WHC location

Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M)

Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) Bar Mitzvah of Danny Mermelstein

Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) Bar Mitzvah of Ben Berzok

5:30pm EmptyNesters’ Havdalah, Dinner, and Program (B)

Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M)

Saturday

Tammuz–Av 5777

In June and July …

WHC Programs & Events (continued from page 13) Opportunities for Adults to Engage Fistful of Shekels

Tuesday, June 6, 6:30 pm at Temple

WISE AGING

Join a community to plan for the next stage of your life. Learn skills and Jewish wisdom to deal with life’s challenges.

FALL 2017

Learn more: whctemple.org/WiseAging

Lifelong Learning

Amram Scholar Series & Sisterhood Present: The Last Goodnight with author Howard Blum Rescheduled from May 24 Wednesday, June 14, at Temple 6:30 pm Reception, 7:00 pm Lecture

Journalist and best-selling author Howard Blum joins us for the closing Amram Scholar Series of the 2016-2017 season lecture on his new book The Last Goodnight: A World War II Story of Espionage, Adventure, and Betrayal. The Amram Scholar Series is partnering with WHC Sisterhood for this special program about the life of Betty Pack, a dazzling American debutante who became an Allied spy during World War II. Registration preferred (free): whctemple.org/Amram Layne Weiss: lweiss@whctemple.org, 202-895-6307

WHC Books Presents: “We Came to America” The Lives of Emma Lazarus and Levi Strauss Tuesday, June 27, 7:00 pm at Temple

The final WHC Books program for the 2016-2017 season concludes with an early Fourth of July celebration. The lives of Emma Lazarus, whose poem adorns the base of the Statue of Liberty, and Levi Strauss, the first blue jean manufacturer, will be used to compare and contrast immigrant experiences and attitudes in the early-to-mid 19th century. Wear your denim to celebrate Strauss’ contribution to fashion. We will enjoy an indoor picnic-inspired dinner, and create a craft to help decorate your home for the Fourth! Registration required (free): whctemple.org/WHCBooks Ellen Share: eshare@whctemple.org, 301-354-3212

Page 16 | WHC Journal – June/July 2017

New and continuing investors are invited to come to this quarterly meeting of WHC’s Israel investment club. Socialize, have dinner, learn about and discuss the Fistful of Shekels’ portfolio, and support the Israeli economy!

whctemple.org/Shekels Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303

Cantor Bortnick in Concert: “Stars of David: Story to Song”

Sunday, June 11, 3:00 pm at Temple Sinai, Washington, D.C.

Cantor Susan Bortnick will take the stage with cantors from several other congregations to celebrate through song the stories of some of America’s most notable Jewish figures. This funny and captivating revue, based on the best-selling book by Abigail Pogrebin, features original music by Broadway’s finest composers and lyricists.

Registration required ($): CantorsConcert2017.eventbrite.com Temple Sinai: 202-363-6394

Prime Timers Luncheon & Program Monday, June 19, 12:30 pm at Temple

Meet at Temple for a delicious lunch and entertaining program. Our luncheon events range from lectures to performances to films. Stay tuned for more information.

Registration required ($): whctemple.org/PrimeTimers Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303

Couples Club: Shabbat Under the Stars Dinner Friday, June 23, 6:00 pm at Temple

Join us for Shabbat Under the Stars and enjoy dinner with the Couples Club afterward. Each couple is asked to bring an entrée and either an hors d’oeuvre or dessert to share.

Registration required (free): whctemple.org/CouplesClub Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303

WHC Books’

Fourth of July Celebration

Tuesday, June 27, 7pm at WHC

Emma Lazaru s, Levi Strauss, and the 19th-centu ry immigrant experience Picnic-inspired dinner (no charge) RSVP required: whctemple.org/WHCbooks

In June and July …

WHC Programs & Events For Youth

A Day at Hershey Park

Sunday, June 4, leaving at 8:00 am from the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center

Our Jewish Singers & Comedians

An Evening of Music, Smiles, and Laughter

Saturday, July 15 at 5:30 pm Julia Bindeman Suburban Center

Featuring

Wine • Appetizers Havdalah Service Dinner • Entertainment

RSVP: $32/person whctemple.org/EmptyNesters EmptyNesters: Our Jewish Singers and Comedians An Evening of Music, Smiles, and Laughter Saturday, July 15, 5:30 pm at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center

Join us for a unique journey down memory lane with a film and video program featuring many of our most beloved Jewish singers and comedians. The evening begins with wine and appetizers followed by a Havdalah service, a delicious dinner, and our evening’s entertainment.

Registration required ($): whctemple.org/EmptyNester Beth Donaldson: bdonaldson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6309

A trip to Hershey Park is the perfect way for our 7th – 12th graders to end the school year! At the park, students will be required to be in small groups, and any group made up of primarily middle school students will have staff with them at all times. Students should bring/wear a swimsuit and towel if they plan to spend time in the water park. Fee includes charter bus transportation and admission to the park. Please bring extra money for food and souvenirs. Space is limited, and we do expect to sell out. Registration required ($): whctemple.org/WHECTY Ira Miller: imiller@whctemple.org, 301-354-3209

For Families and Young Children Camp Keetov

Wednesday, June 7 – Friday, August 11 at Temple Monday, June 12 – Friday, August 4 at JBSC

“Camp Keetov is fun!” We can’t wait to hear this beloved refrain, sung on our fields and in our halls by happy campers coming for Camp Keetov’s 28th summer! Each summer, we create a fun, exciting, and memorable adventure for preschoolers with caring, dynamic, and energetic staff who fill their days with age-appropriate experiences and countless opportunities to laugh, make friends, learn, and grow. Families entrust their children to us, confident that they are safe and happy.

Registration required ($): whctemple.org/Camp Laurie Shaw (Temple): lshaw@whctemple.org, 202-895-6334 Helaine Groeger (JBSC): hgroeger@whctemple.org, 301-354-3203

Tikkun Olam

WHC Hunger Project

Sunday, June 4, 1:00 pm Sunday, July 23, 1:00 pm Both events are at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center

Hunger doesn’t get a summer vacation! Join us to help those without enough to eat in the D.C.-area. In just a couple of hours, we expect to produce 50 cartons of food (about 10,000 meals), all of which will go to local charities. If you have already participated in a food packing with the WHC Hunger Project, you know how worthwhile it is. If you have not been to a WHC Hunger Project Food Packing event, you are in for a special experience. All participants are required to wear hair nets, gloves, and aprons, which we will supply. Please do not wear jewelry and be prepared to sanitize often. This is tikkun olam at its very best. Registration required (free): whctemple.org/HungerProject hungerproject@whctemple.org

humankind, so that no one should say to another, My ancestor was greater than yours.’ Imagine if, suddenly, we lived in a world where all of humanity understood that each of us was created in the Divine image ... how might we behave so very differently. There would be dignity in our differences: race and gender and faith would not divide us but would be celebrated; bigotry and hatred would give way to tolerance and love; benevolence would supplant the malevolence of xenophobia….” As our clergy would say, “Ken yehi ratzon. May it be God’s will.” Washington Hebrew Congregation embraces the efforts of An American Caravan for Peace, and we look forward to adding this important, new dimension to our interfaith work. Information on programs and opportunities will be shared in future issues of the WHC Journal, in Life@WHC, and on our website. WHC Journal – June/July 2017 | Page 17

Mia Jade Fainbraun June 3, Morning Mia is a seventh grade student at North Bethesda Middle School. She is the daughter of Karyn & Sebastian Fainbraun; the sister of Reese; the granddaughter of the late Raul Fainbraun, Susana & Steve Shapiro, Morris Krumhorn, and the late Adrienne Krumhorn; and the greatgranddaughter of Rosita Tijman.

Andrew Nicholas Palim June 10 Andrew is a ninth grade student at Walt Whitman High School. He is the son of Erica & Mark Palim; the brother of Sophie, Philip, and Emma; and the grandson of Doris & Byron Roth, Ralph Palim, and Nadja Cantacozene.

Ella Madison Rosoff June 3, Havdalah Ella is a sixth grade student at the Bullis School. She is the daughter of Shannon & Laurence Rosoff; the sister of Dylan and Taylor; and the granddaughter of Suellen & the late Melvyn Estrin and Shifra & Robert Rosoff.

Olivia Rosemary Sitrick June 10, Havdalah Olivia is a seventh grade student at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School. She is the daughter of Mary Beth & Bob Sitrick; the sister of Emma; and the granddaughter of Kathleen & John Hilliard, Joe & Selma Sitrick, and the late Geraldine Sitrick.

Rachel Rebecca Wohlstadter June 10, Morning Rachel is a seventh grade student at the National Cathedral School. She is the daughter of Deborah & Jacob Wohlstadter; the sister of Noah; and the granddaughter of Barbara & Tim Wiggin and Nadine & Samuel Wohlstadter.

Ava Jaden Drescher June 17, Morning Ava is a seventh grade student at the Bullis School. She is the daughter of Darian Drescher and Adam Drescher; the sister of Alexa; the granddaughter of Meris Chang, Gene Huske, and Irene & Jared Drescher; and the greatgranddaughter of Bea Wattenberg.

Lex Simon Bernstein June 10, Morning Lex is a seventh grade student at Herbert Hoover Middle School. He is the son of Todd Bernstein; the stepson of Amy Bernstein; the brother of Emi; the grandson of Eve & Bill Fischer and Rob Bernstein; and the great-grandson of Muriel Shpritz.

Ethan Noah Eisenstein June 17, Havdalah Ethan is a sixth grade student at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School. He is the son of Stacey & Matt Eisenstein; the brother of Dylan; and the grandson of Linda & Ronald Recht and Joyce & Barry Eisenstein.

Page 18 | WHC Journal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; June/July 2017

Noah Chan Reiskin June 17, Havdalah Noah is a seventh grade student at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School. He is the son of Christine Chan & Matthew Reiskin; the brother of Julia; and the grandson of Or Joyce Ho & the late On-Lung Chan and the late Wendy & Leon Reiskin.

Michelle Elizabeth Cooke June 24, Havdalah Michelle is a sixth grade student at Norwood School. She is daughter of Ruth & Charles Cooke; the sister of Lauren; and the granddaughter of Allen & the late Hanna Kowarski, Kay & the late James Cooke, and the late Margarette Cooke.

Benjamin Samuel Berzok July 15, Morning Ben is a seventh grade student at the Ivymount School. He is the son of Jennifer & Matthew Berzok; the brother of Alexandra; and the grandson of Jane & Ronald Katz, Deirdre Channing, and Robert & Linda Berzok.

Daniel Hayden Mermelstein July 22, Morning Danny is a seventh grade student at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School. He is the son of Amy & Roger Mermelstein; the brother of Sam; and the grandson of Diane & Thomas Ferrino and Dana Jo & Marvin Mermelstein.

Support Yad B’Yad: The WHC Annual Fund

ith another transformative year drawing to a close, now is the perfect time to contribute to Yad B’Yad, The WHC Annual Fund, co-chaired by Past Presidents Sherry Bindeman Kahn and Peter Winik. Membership revenues and fees support only 75% of Washington Hebrew Congregation’s operating costs, so Yad B’Yad — Hebrew for “hand in hand” — helps bridge this gap. Your tax-deductible gift allows us to maintain our exceptional programming and keep membership open to all. Every contributor will be recognized at the Annual Meeting on June 5, and all gifts will be listed in the 2016-2017 Annual Report. Whether you turned to WHC this year to launch your children on their Jewish journey, celebrate a milestone in the life cycle, deepen your understanding of Judaism, or act on your values through tikkun olam, WHC was here for you. With a gift of any amount to Yad B’Yad, you can show your support for WHC today. To join the growing list of congregants sustaining our community, visit whctemple.org/giving or contact Development Director Miriam Feffer, 202-895-6312. WHC Journal – June/July 2017 | Page 19

Life Cycle

Lesley Young & Jonathan Chavkin, on their marriage. Leslie is the daughter of Nancy Holland Young & the late Michael Young; Jonathan is the son of Nancy & Peter Chavkin. Ethan & Jeffrey Gelber, on the naming of their daughter, Sloan Marie Gelber (Sara Miriam); and to Sloan’s grandparents, Nancy & Rand Gelber and Sandy & Frank Gelber. Beverly Gendleman, on the marriage of her granddaughter, Claire Rosenberg, to David Reed Jr. Claire is the daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Rosenberg; David is the son of Mr. & Mrs. David Reed. Janice & Richard Newman, on the marriage of their daughter, Jessica Newman, to Jeffrey Goldsmith, son of Andrea & Stuart Goldsmith. Sindy & Donald Rogers, on the marriage of their daughter, Ryan Rogers, to Adam Cohen, son of Lois & Joel Cohen. Polly & Bill Sherard, on the marriage of their daughter, Hallie Sherard, to Jason Kuller. Heidi & Sandy Sinick, on the marriage of their son, Kyle Sinick, to Alexandra Karasavva, daughter of daughter of Linda Farhood Karasavva and Nicos Karasavva. Rabbi Joseph Skloot, who received his Ph.D. in History from Columbia University. His dissertation, “Printing, Hebrew Book Culture and Sefer Hasidim,” explores the effects of printing on Hebrew texts during the 16th century. Lisa Huang & David Solnick, on their marriage. Lisa is the daughter of Helen Kou & Byron Huang; David is the son of Connie Lee-Solnick & Marc Solnick.

Maury Abraham, husband of Karen Abraham; father of Sidney Abraham; brother of Gail Douglas and Larry Abraham. Janis Orleans Brown, wife of Terry Brown; mother of Jennifer Vandroff (Mark) and Lauren Dee (Larry); sister of Ron Orleans (Eileen). Myron Coonin, father of Brian Coonin (Carrie); David Coonin (Lauren), and Adam Coonin (Vina); grandfather of Sam, Jake, Max, Allie, Alex, Tyler, and Ariel. Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel, mother of Randi Meyrowitz (Marty) and the late Nancy Minkoff (Rusty); grandmother of six and great-grandmother of two. Frances Lustigman, mother of Carol Stern (David); grandmother of Paige Rosenfeld (Aaron) and Jessica Cohen Miriam B. Ostrow, wife of Bernard Ostrow; father of Karen Stempel (Scott), and Joanne Ostrow (Liz Shane). Larry Popofsky, father of Mark Popofsky (Suzanne Yelen) and Kaye Kramer (Jeremy); grandfather of Madeleine Popofsky, Maxime Kramer, Jules Kramer, and Oscar Kramer. Nettie Salzman, mother of Anthony Salzman (Shelley), Andrea Gardana, Andrew Salzman (Joan); grandmother of Nikki Salzman, Glenn Salzman, Michael Salzman, Amanda Shannon, Ashley Gardana, Rachel Salzman, and Matthew Salzman; great-grandmother of three. Rita Shore, mother of Carol Shore (John McReady) and Laurence Shore (Monique); grandmother of six. Rhoda Silverman, mother of Carol Lieberman (Jim) and Bill Silverman (Bonnie Holcomb). John Louis Sullivan, husband of Andrea Kaufman; father of Lulu and Chloe Sullivan. Bessie Wool, mother of the late Carol Kellner (Bruce) and the late Sam Wool (Sande); grandmother of five and greatgrandmother of nine.

Page 20 | WHC Journal – June/July 2017

Contributions

H. Max & Jodie and Stephen C. Ammerman Performing Arts Fund

Donor Andrew Ammerman Donor Andrew Ammerman

In Honor of: Patricia Fitzgibbons’ Birthday Nate Judson’s Birthday Sidney Silver’s Birthday In Memory of: Sheldon Kohn

Lillian & Alfred Bennett Fine Arts Endowment Fund

Donor Bobbi & Ed Schiff Donor Mr. John Zeller

In Honor of: Bat Mitzvah of Goldie Aronson In Memory of: Dr. Adolphe J. Zeller Mary Zeller

Jane Burka Sisterhood Leadership Fund

Donor In Memory of: Janet & Jeff Abramson Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel Susan & David Fink Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel Carol & Benson Klein Capt. Arthur Norman Flior (Ret.) Sharyn Nerenberg, Ethan & Jared Glickfield Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel Lynne & Mark Schaffer Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel WHC Sisterhood Randy Cutler

Cantorial & Concert Fund

Donor In Honor of: Haylie Iseman & Andrew Bernstein Cantor Manevich Annette Brooks & Family Cantor Bortnick Amy & Michael Sklaire Cantor Bortnick Donor In Memory of: Annette Brooks & Family Alvin J. Brooks Linda & Steven Cohen Sandra Kouzel Dr. & Mrs. Nicholas Fleischer Edith Fleischer Phyllis Meyers William Oshinsky Alexis Levine, Amy Munaker, Bill Bronrott Pauline Leibowitz Bev Rosenblatt Janet Thau

EmptyNesters Fund

Donor Holly & Jeff Bergman

In Memory of: Irene Dick

Lois & Richard England Special Needs Endowment Fund

Donor Florence Allentuck Sophia Fleischer Ida D. Levin

General Fund

In Memory of: Carl J. Kaufman Marcia “Peggy” Goldsmith Marcia “Peggy” Goldsmith Anna Dreishpoon

Donor In Honor of: Glenn Amster & Shelly Shapiro Josh & Rachel Rosenthal’s Marriage Darian Drescher & Adam Drescher Bat Mitzvah of Ava Jaden Drescher Murray & Doris Friedman Dan Caplan, Avodah Honors Award Recipient Donor In Memory of: Marshall Ackerman Rose Ackerman Carolyn Alper Oscar Dodek Jr., M.D. Gemma “Mimi” Jabes Marcia “Peggy” Goldsmith Michael Backenheimer Rose Backenheimer David K. Berler Della Berler Flo & Norman Berry Oscar Dodek Jr. M.D.

General Fund

Donor In Memory of: Marlene & Stan Besen Simon Dublirer Roberta & Leonard Biegel Louis B. Sodsisky Beverly & Bruce Birchman Robert A. Birchman Lisa Brotman Barry G. Brotman, M.D. Lane S. Lipton Cafritz Frederick Lipton Lyn, Barry, Brandon, Catherine, Ben & Blake Chasen Leonard Kaplan Moritz Cohen Jr. Addie Cohen Patricia Alper-Cohn Morton Alper Helen & Earl Colson H. Thomas Austern Gertrude Phillips Austern Lester Austern Hollie Cutler Murray Cutler Patricia Fabrikant Barbara Ellen Carlin Barbara & Gary Faigen Phyllis Kolodner Schwartz Linda & Jay Freedman Sophie G. Freedman Beverly Gendleman Norman Rosenberg Jody Katz, Jeff Gibbs, Norton Katz Laine R. Katz Lydia Gillman Dr. Aaron Marvin Gillman Sandra Goldstein David Douglas Sandra Grant Arnold Grant Paul Greenberg Harold Greenberg Sylvan Herman John Herman David Hillman Joseph W. Hillman Mr. & Mrs. Richard Kline Bernice Rothman Goldstein Bill & Marilyn Lane Frances Lane Arthur Lazerow Hessie Lazerow Alisa Liebowitz Dr. Harold Liebowitz Marsha & Ken Linde Gertrude Friedman Barbara B. Luchs Wallace Luchs Jr. Zena & Paul Mason Selma Lynn Myron & Susan Myers Reuben Myers Thomas Nordlinger Janet Nordlinger Ronald J. Orleans, M.D. Harry B. Orleans, M.D. Alan Peikin Rae Peikin Jane & Jerry Putnam Maurice Berger Susan & Arnold Quint Eleanor S. Arenson Linda Shapiro Irving Sacks Leslie & Dennis Speisman Dorothy Stein Gloria Sterling Beatrice & Jacob Flyer Gerdy Trachtman Amy Trachtman Simon Wagman Abe Wagman Lenore Weinberg Norris Weinberg Roslyn Wolf Kenneth Diamond Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Zelenko Morris A. Saltz

Hurston Library

Donor Susan & Larry Harris Patricia & Willy Lin

In Memory of: Daniel Banes Dr. Ron Hurston

Carol Kellner ECC Memorial Fund

Donor In Honor of: Sherry Bindeman & David Kahn Fran Miller’s Retirement as Director of the RJWECC Donor In Memory of: Toby & Joe Kullbach Bessie Wool

Rose E. Koenig Religious School Fund

Donor Martha & Stuart Bindeman

In Memory of: Nathan Koenig

Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig Scholarship Fund

Donor Jacqueline & Frank Zappala

In Memory of: Muriel Feldman

Zena Mason Early Childhood Education Fund

Donor In Honor of: Bobbie Greenebaum Zena Mason’s Special Birthday Donor In Memory of: Froma Sandler Lisa Sandler Spaeth

Mitzvah Day

Donor Anne & Jeffrey Abend Jane Flior Sherry Sundick

In Memory of: Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel Esther L. Ehrlich Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel

Stephanie Morris Prime Timers Programming Fund

Donor Suzy & Al Morris

In Memory of: Sara Schiffman Harry Schiffman

Kamy Loren Nathanson Bar & Bat Mitzvah Kiddush Cup Endowment Fund

Donor In Memory of: Amy Bronrott Munaker & Alan Munaker Fannie Bragman Samuel Bragman

Sylvia & Saul Ritzenberg Humanitarian Fund

Donor In Memory of: Joan Greenbaum Bob Greenbaum Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel Barbara & David Marblestone Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel

Sheldon & Judy Sadugor Memorial Fund of ECC

Donor Barry & Rozelle Grossman

In Memory of: Barbara Chizever

Selinger (Childrens) Library

Donor In Memory of: Marsha Stiefel Pinson Selma Lynn Amy & Samuel Stoleru Abraham Joseph “Joe” Levy

Abe & Sylvia Shrinsky Creative Worship Program Fund Donor Faith & Jim Kirk

In Memory of: Sonne Babkes

Carlynn & Larry Silverman Family Endowment for Jewish Life & Learning

Donor Lisa & Bruce Harwood Carlynn Silverman

In Memory of: John Mannes Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel John Mannes

Abram Simon Elementary School Camp Fund Donor Joan Greenbaum Hilary Rubin

In Memory of: Marty Pinson John Mannes Bob M. Goldberg

Carrie Simon House

Donor Catherine Green Donor Jessica Berk Dolleck Juliette Peternick Honey & Les Schneider

In Memory of: Philip Milestone Hillary Goulding Helen & Walter Herman Alan Bortnick Continued on page 22.

WHC Journal – June/July 2017 | Page 21

WHC Journal Sisterhood Youth, Education & Enrichment Fund

C. Haskell & Ruth Behrend Small Music Fund

Mitzvah Day

Tikkun Olam Values (TOV) Fund

Big hands, small hands, all hands came together on Mitzvah Day! Here is a glimpse to the wonderful impact some of our amazing hands had. See more photos online at whctemple.org/MitzvahDay!

Donor In Memory of: Sherry Bindeman & David Kahn Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel Toby & Joe Kullbach Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel Steve & Joann Lamm Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel

Donor Sherry Sundick

In Memory of: Amnon Behrend Amy Nordlinger Goldstein

Donor Susan Adland

In Memory of: Sandra “Sandy” Kouzel

Rabbi Joseph Weinberg Young Leadership Community Service Fund

Donor In Honor of: Ellie Palmer Fran Miller’s Retirement as Director of the RJWECC Donor In Memory of: Linda & Roy Green Herman Green Marcia Weinberg Ruth Ellis

WHC Hunger Project

Donor In Honor of: Amy & Michael Sklaire Bat Mitzvah of Katie Sklaire

David Wise Jr. Human Needs Fund

Donor Mr. & Mrs. Howard Denis

In Memory of: Sylvia Denis

Worship & Music Fund

Donor In Honor of: Kara, Cameron, Talia & Ava Chisholm Rabbi Lustig Joan Dodek Rabbi Shankman Amy & Michael Sklaire Rabbi Skloot Donor In Memory of: Arlene Friedlander Stacey & Steve Friedlander Ann F. Joseph & Family Benjamin D. Friedman Carol & Benson Klein Henry Epstein Dr. Scott Spear Priscilla & Alan Levine Sidney Reinhart Mrs. Millie Miller Dr. William S. Miller Susan & Stephen Porter Sally Porter Lan & Mel Swerdloff Elka Zweig Yitzchak Zweig Chana Zweig Broncha Zweig Salla Zweig Peter Yeskel Stanley Yeskel Bonnie & Stuart Youngentob Nellie Brier

Young Professionals (22-39) Fund Donor Joan Dodek St. Albans School

Youth Fund

Donor Carol & Benson Klein

In Honor of: Rabbi Miller Rabbi Miller

In Memory of: Hillary Goulding

Ivy Zola’s Help-a-Friend Fund

Donor In Honor of: Haylie Iseman & Andrew Bernstein Rabbi Miller Donor In Memory of: Janet & Jeff Abramson Lynne Kaufman Annette Brooks & Family Alvin J. Brooks Shelley & Joe Chartoff Harold Nevin Ben Chartoff Alison McWilliams Lillian R. Goldberg Lynn & Larry Silverberg Morton Silverberg

Page 22 | WHC Journal – June/July 2017

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3935 Macomb Street NW Washington, DC 20016 202-362-7100 whctemple.org facebook.com/whctemple

Summertime at WHC Wherever you find yourself during the summer, Washington Hebrew Congregation is here for you! Enjoy the warm, summer weather at Shabbat Under the Stars where we bring the casual feel of long, sunny days to our Friday night services. Twice each month — once at Temple and once at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center — you can experience the beauty of Shabbat outdoors on our lovely grounds. whctemple.org/SUTS Out of town? If you can’t make it to one of our regular Shabbat services at Temple, you can still enjoy a Washington Hebrew Congregation Shabbat as long as you have an internet connection. whctemple.org/Worship/Streaming Want to do some tikkun olam? Hunger does not take a summer vacation so neither will the WHC Hunger Project! Join them at one of their summer meal packings to make difference. whctemple.org/HungerProject Looking for some summer fun for your preschooler? Look no further than our Camp Keetov at Temple and the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center for fun, safe, and memorable “first camp” experiences for your little ones. whctemple.org/Camp Thinking about the High Holy Days? We are! Coming soon to your mailbox: the 2017 High Holy Day Guide to Services and Tickets. Complete and return your ticket request and Memorial Book forms, then go and enjoy your summer! whctemple.org/HighHolyDays

And more!

Although we don’t publish the WHC Journal in July, you can stay up-to-date on everything that’s happening at and around Washington Hebrew Congregation through Life@WHC, emailed every Thursday; our website, whctemple.org; and our Facebook page, facebook.com/whctemple.