MAY 2017/IYYAR–SIVAN 5777 VOL. 58, NO. 5
Celebrating Our Youth
MAY 2017
VOL. 58, NO. 5
SUPPORTED BY AN ENDOWMENT FROM LIBBY AND MELVIN MANDEL
In This Issue Director’s Reflection, by Stephanie Tankel............................................3 President’s Column..............................................................................4 L’Dor V’Dor, by Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig.................................................5 Annual Meeting and Nominees for WHC Board of Directors................6 The 129th Confirmation Service.............................................................9 Early Childhood Centers..................................................................... 10 Religious School.................................................................................11 Upper School.................................................................................... 12 WHC Youth Groups........................................................................... 13 May Calendar.................................................................................... 14 B’nei Mitzvah.................................................................................... 16 Life Cycle — Congratulations............................................................. 17 WHC Programs & Events................................................................... 18 Contributions.....................................................................................20 Life Cycle — Condolences................................................................. 21
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: Sandy Nesbit WHECTY: Blayne Schenk
We Can Be Reached
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
Page 2 | WHC Journal – May 2017
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 Stephanie Tankel
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hose who joined us for the Rosh Hashanah Family Service may recall Rabbi Lustig’s story of the boy whose favorite jacket evolved from one thing to the next as time passed. As the child grew, his coat transitioned to a vest, then a tie, a handkerchief, and finally a button that was lost. Distraught over losing this precious item, the child’s grandparents assured him that it is not the objects we possess that matter, but their meaning, which cannot ever be lost. The stories we learn and experience transform us into the people we are and become. Our Religious School students create a number of objects throughout their time with us. From Kiddish cups to matzah covers and mezuzot (plural for mezuzah), we know our families’ homes may be filled with ritual items made by children. Far more important, though, are the lessons and stories imparted and imbued over the course of each year. Rather than filling the shelves and drawers of their homes, they inform the choices our children make throughout their lives.
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appreciate the relationships we are able to develop with children and parents alike. Below are some of our recent highlights, though they are just a sprinkling of the magic that unfolded this year. In preparation for Passover, the pre-kindergarten through second grade students enjoyed a Family Passover program with their parents. They visited five stations, each representing part of the Passover Seder. The stations included a science experiment about what makes something bitter, a chance to design their own seder plate by adding new items that reflect their values, and more!
The stories we learn and experience transform us into the people we are and become.”
How do we impart these stories? We are blessed with a passionate and dynamic team of teachers whose creativity never ceases to amaze us. They teach from the heart and seek to connect with each child individually. Our team also includes assistant teachers, most of whom are college students at the University of Maryland and American University. In spite of their busy course-loads, they wake up early each Sunday to inspire our students and support our teachers. We are doubly blessed with many madrichim (assistants), students in grades eight through twelve, who continue to join us on Sunday mornings as role models and support throughout the school. This team of faculty helps shape the experience of each and every Religious School student. But there would be no students to love and teach without the partnership of our Religious School families. We wholeheartedly
For Passover, the third graders went back in time to the wheat fields of Egypt. They learned about the plants, grains, and how matzah was made by the ancient Israelites, and then baked their own matzah. A few months earlier, they explored every piece used to make a Torah — from animal hide to kosher ink made from gallnuts, which we learned come from trees that have been stung by gall wasps. They then used quills to write their own Hebrew names on pieces of real parchment to see what it is like to be a scribe. Fourth graders recently had their “mini-retreat,” which focused on teamwork and celebrated their increasing ability to read Hebrew. One of their tasks was to dig through shaving cream to find Hebrew words. They then had to work with their classmates to put these words together to form a blessing, which they read together. We are so proud of the students for demonstrating the skill of Hebrew reading and know it is a BIG deal! But far more moving for us was seeing the students work as a team — cheering one another on and helping each other succeed. One of the highlights of fifth grade was our Life Cycle Program. This experience, attended by students and their Continued on page 11. WHC Journal – May 2017 | Page 3
President’s Column David M. Astrove
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pring has officially arrived in Washington, D.C. It is a season marked by renewal, rebirth, color, and warmth. It is also graduation season. Graduation, whether from preschool, grade school, high school, college, or beyond, presents an opportunity for children and young adults to reflect on their achievements and set goals for the future. This issue of the WHC Journal shines a spotlight on the children of Washington Hebrew Congregation, and you will see on the pages that follow that the future is bright for our families, Congregation, and Judaism. During May, some of Washington Hebrew Congregation’s youngest and oldest children will cross important thresholds. The Early Childhood Centers’ pre-kindergartners will celebrate with song the completion of the first step of their educational journeys at the congregational Shabbat service on Friday, May 12. Then on Sunday, May 21, dozens of high school students who make up the Confirmation Class will affirm their commitment to Jewish values during a moving Confirmation Service they not only created but will also lead. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend both of these meaningful services.
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President@whctemple.org 202-895-6301
your goals, Washington Hebrew Congregation can provide just the inspiration. If one of your goals was to spend more time with family, bring everyone to WHC’s Shabbat Under the Stars services this summer at Temple and the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center. These six Friday evening services (three at each location) are more relaxed and casual than traditional Shabbat services and are ideal for intergenerational worship. If one of your goals was to learn about and engage in tikkun olam, Washington Hebrew Congregation offers several opportunities in the coming months to do just that. If you have been moved by a desire to assist refugees who have fled Syria and other troubled areas of the world, I direct you to Rabbi Lustig’s description on page five of ways in which you can participate with your Congregation in these activities. If you desire to better understand the plight of undocumented immigrants and learn about opportunities to get involved in efforts to protect their rights, I direct you to page 18 which describes a moderated discussion hosted by WHC on Wednesday, May 10. Additionally, throughout the summer, the WHC Hunger Project will continue to package meals. You can sign up to join them on July 23 or August 20 and help bring an end to hunger in our community
During the coming weeks, I encourage you to reach out and let me know about your experiences this year as a Temple member.”
Inspired by the opportunities that lie ahead for these young people, many of us find ourselves reflecting on our own lives, which is something we also do on the High Holy Days each year through prayer, readings, and quiet contemplation. We consider the progress we have made toward goals we have set for ourselves throughout the years and ask are we who we want to be and, more importantly, are we the best version of ourselves that we can be? I suggest that springtime is a natural time of year to reconsider the goals we have set for and promises we have made to ourselves, whether those goals and promises were made last Rosh Hashanah or when we were graduates — even if that graduation took place years ago. So, if you find that you need to recommit to Page 4 | WHC Journal – May 2017
If one of your goals was to deepen your connection to Israel, then join us on Wednesday, June 7 for the D.C. premiere of In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem, a docudrama that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War. This screening presents a special opportunity to learn more about the IDF soldiers who risked everything to save their homeland. On a more personal note, May is the last month of the first year of my term as President of this Congregation. It is a Continued on page 28.
L ’Dor V ’Dor
From Generation to Generation
Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig
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he phrase l’dor v’dor — from generation to generation — never seems more relevant in our Congregational life than in the month of May. We stand on the threshold of our celebration of WHC’s 129th Confirmation Class, where our young men and women will honor the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai as they stand before an open ark to confirm their faith in Judaism. It is the culmination of 12 years of religious education that included weekend retreats, trips to New York, Capitol Hill, the Religious Action Center, and homeless shelters; social justice projects; and weekly classes that connected our students to Jewish values on race, sex, discrimination, immigration, communication and nearly every “-tion” you can imagine. It is an opportunity for our students to see in real time how Judaism’s sacred values weather modernity. I feel it is still one of the most critical programs we offer. We
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are, in fact, one of the few congregations that sustains a Confirmation Program. We not only sustain the program but the members of our Confirmation Class continue to sustain Washington Hebrew Congregation: a number of our new Board members are lifelong members and were themselves WHC Confirmands. The longevity of relationships is at the core of WHC’s strength as a community. As your rabbi for nearly 31 years, I have officiated at well over a thousand B’nei Mitzvah. And I now have the privilege of officiating when the children of some of my first students read from the Torah at their own B’nei Mitzvah. L’dor v’dor. This is our community — generation after generation picks up and carries the torch of Judaism into the future. Today, we challenge our Confirmands to know what they are confirming to make their faith and their beliefs real through action.
This is our community — generation after generation picks up and carries the torch of Judaism into the future.”
or 165 years, this Congregation has made the values and principles of Judaism real through action. When we read in our sacred scrolls the command to feed the homeless and clothe the naked, we heed this call not only on Mitzvah Day but every day. We act on what we believe. More than 30 times, our Torah reminds us we were once strangers in the strange land, and it is incumbent upon us to welcome the strangers in our midst. We stand up for freedom, we fight against bigotry, and we work to make sure all are free. I write with pride that during World War II when Jews were so desperate to escape Nazi Germany, this Congregation, with little fanfare, opened its doors and resettled German Jewish families, providing everything they needed. That is how our Judaism informs and influences the world in which we live.
Today, the world is filled with more refugees than at any time in recorded history. I am proud to share that once again, Washington Hebrew Congregation is moving from advocacy to action as we stand ready to adopt a refugee family and aid in their resettlement in the D.C. area. This will be a Congregation-wide effort, and we will look to you for your time, your resources, and most of all, your love and warmth. America has been our safe haven, and we will make it so for the newest Americans … because once we were strangers and now we are free! Because from generation to generation, we not only confirm our Judaism … at WHC, we live it! Look for more information and details for how to get involved in the coming weeks! WHC Journal – May 2017 | Page 5
The Board of Directors Cordially Invites You to The 165th Annual Meeting of
Featuring Election and Installation of New Board Members Presentation of Avodah Honors Awards Monday, June 5, 2017 at 7:00 pm 3935 Macomb Street NW Washington, District of Columbia Dessert Reception to Follow
Nominees for the WHC Board of Directors Jami Axelrod Jami has been a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation since moving to the area in 2009. She has served on various Temple committees, including the Religious School Committee, the Board Nominating Committee, and the Visioning Committee. Jami is a Partner at Hobson & Company, a management consulting firm that specializes in creating return-on-investment and total-cost-of-ownership sales tools for enterprise technology and software vendors. In the wider community, Jami is a volunteer with Compass, which provides strategic consulting services to local nonprofits and serves on the Board of the Pyle Education Foundation. A graduate of Tufts University, Jami received her MBA from the Yale School of Management. She lives in Bethesda with her husband, Matt, and daughters, Emily and Sophie, who attended Religious School and became B’not Mitzvah at WHC and who are now part of the Confirmation program. Page 6 | WHC Journal – May 2017
Nominees for the WHC Board of Directors
Beth Levin Dubin Beth has been a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation for 12 years. She has served as Vice Chair and Chair for Mitzvah Day and was President of the Rabbi Joseph Weinberg Early Childhood Center Parents Committee. Beth has coordinated the Blood Drive for Mitzvah Day for more than nine years. In the wider community, Beth chairs the 2017 Staff Appreciation Week at Beverly Farms Elementary School, where she regularly volunteers. Before stepping out of the work force to raise her children, Beth was Executive Assistant to John Hendricks, Founder of Discovery Communications. A graduate of the University of Vermont, she received her B.S. in nutrition and dietetics. Beth and her husband, Brian, have a son, Asher (10), and a daughter, Andi (8).
Betty Jane Eichberg
Betty is a fourth-generation member of WHC. She previously served several terms on the Board of Directors and was on the Board of the Sisterhood for many years. A native Washingtonian, she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and upon graduation from college, married John Eichberg, another lifelong member of the Temple. Both John and Betty were confirmed at WHC. Together, they have three adult children: Jay, Lee, and Leslie, who were all confirmed at WHC. Betty and John are also the proud grandparents of Sam, Charlie, and Emily Eichberg; Derek, Michael, and Brady Altobello; and Jillian and Bennett Wise. Six of their eight grandchildren became B’nei Mitzvah and were confirmed at WHC. Betty has served on the Board of Jewish Foundation for Group Homes where she and John chaired an annual scholarship gala. She has also served on the Board of Yachad.
Edward P. Joseph Edward is a third generation, lifelong member of Washington Hebrew Congregation. His wife, Iva, is also an active Temple member; and their two children attend the Edlavitch-Tyser Early Childhood Center. Edward is Executive Director of the Institute of Current World Affairs, a nonprofit foundation established in 1925 to identify promising young Americans and send them on two-year immersion fellowships overseas. He holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia, a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University, and an M.A. from the JHU School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where he serves on the its Board of Advisors and teaches conflict management. Edward is a foreign policy specialist and field practitioner who, for more than a dozen years, has served in conflict areas including the Balkans, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Haiti. His service also included U.S. Army deployment to Bosnia. Edward writes, speaks and provides television commentary on foreign affairs and has been published in most major media outlets. He has visited Israel four times, most recently this past December with Iva and their children. They live in Bethesda and look forward each year to Mitzvah Day.
Anne Lackritz Anne has been a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation for most of her life. She attended Religious School and has celebrated many major life events at Temple. Anne currently serves as the chair of the Early Childhood Committee, is a member of the Professional Development Committee, and was a member on the Rabbinic Search Committee in 2014. Her parents, Marc Lackritz and Mary DeOreo, have been longtime and active members of the Congregation. Anne is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, holds an Ed.M. in school leadership from Bank Street College of Education, and an Ed.D. in human and organizational learning from The George Washington University. Before moving back to D.C. to pursue her doctorate, Anne was a public school teacher in New York City and served as the principal of Girls Prep Charter School-Lower East Side, the first all-girls public elementary school in New York City. Anne and her husband, Victor Pita, have two children, Russell and Daniela, both of whom attend Religious School at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center. Continued on page 8. WHC Journal – May 2017 | Page 7
Nominees for the WHC Board of Directors
David Metzner David and his wife, Viktoria, have been active members of Washington Hebrew Congregation for more than 10 years. Three of his four daughters attend Religious School, and his oldest daughter, Emma, will become a Bat Mitzvah this month. For more than 25 years, David has consulted on the federal nature of the American government and the interplay between states, the District of Columbia, and foreign governments in the development of public policy. David has worked with American Continental Group since 1994. In this capacity, he has assisted corporate and non-profit organizations in understanding the development of public policy. In 2007, he assumed the leadership of ACG Analytics, the firm’s financial industry consultancy, which advises asset managers on how public policy can affect their investment decisions. Mr. Metzner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Boston University, a Masters of Art in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and a Juris Doctor from the George Washington University National Law Center.
Sandy Nesbit Sandy has been a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation for 18 years and is President of WHC Sisterhood. Prior to her term as President, Sandy was an active member of Sisterhood’s Board of Directors, serving as chairperson for its Holiday Boutique for six years. When her daughters were young, Sandy served as Parents Committee co-president for the Rabbi Joseph Weinberg Early Childhood Center and also co-chaired its silent auction. Sandy received her bachelor’s degree from Hood College and is on the staff of both the RJWECC and WHC Religious School. In the greater community, she currently serves as Vice President of the Fallsgrove Recreation Association. Sandy and her husband, Steve, reside in Rockville and are the parents of Caroline and Paige, both of whom attended the RJWECC and WHC Religious School and became Bat Mitzvah at Washington Hebrew Congregation.
David Oblon David has been a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation since he and his wife attended “Introduction to Judaism” in 1996. After a 2011 trip to Israel with the Temple, David became very active. Since then, he has served one full term on the Board of Directors, where he co-chairs the Adult Education Committee, participated on the Rabbinic Search Committee, and has been a regular attendee of Early Torah, Amram lectures, WHC Academy, and Downtown Study. A founding partner of Albo & Oblon, L.L.P., David appears in Virginia courthouses multiple times a week. He has represented one of the nation’s largest companies in complex tax litigation to the Supreme Court of Virginia and has defended criminal cases ranging from murder to reckless driving. Smart CEO magazine named David a “Center of Influence” in 2016, and Washingtonian magazine has repeatedly named him one of the D.C. area’s “Top Lawyers.” He has been appointed a Virginia Commissioner in Chancery and serves on many nonprofit boards, including the Arlington County Bar Foundation. David and his wife, Kari, are the proud parents of Nathan and Jessica who have each been active in Religious School through Confirmation. They reside in Arlington.
Paula Tiedemann Paula has been a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation since 1984. She served on the Minds Matter Committee, for which she spearheaded the organization of a Washington Hebrew pro bono legal program, establishing a relationship between the Congregation and Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. As a result of that connection, several Temple members, including Paula’s husband Chad, regularly provide pro bono legal services at D.C. intake sites to assist clients with access to housing, shelter, and life-saving services. Paula is a past recipient of the Temple’s Avodah Honors Award and became a Bat Mitzvah through WHC’s adult B’nei Mitzvah program. Professionally, Paula is General Counsel, Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She has also been a volunteer attorney with Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless for almost 30 years and has been the recipient, both on behalf of the Temple and individually, of several awards for this pro bono work. Paula and her husband, Chad, have a daughter, Grace, who attended WHC’s Early Childhood Center and Religious School, became a Bat Mitzvah, and participated in the Confirmation program. Page 8 | WHC Journal – May 2017
Celebrating Header Our Youth
You shall be holy, For I, the Eternal your God, am holy. Leviticus 19:2
The 129 Confirmation Service th
Sunday, May 21, 2017 at 9:00 am
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onfirmation is the ceremony through which we recognize and celebrate the importance of continued Jewish education. It is traditionally linked to the festival of Shavuot when the first fruits were brought to be offered at the Temple. During their years of study, Washington Hebrew Congregation’s Confirmands have developed a stronger connection to the Jewish people, a greater understanding of a wide range of Jewish values, and have come to more fully appreciate the diversity of Jewish beliefs and practices.
We applaud the achievements of our Confirmands and invite the entire congregation to join us on Sunday, May 21 at 9:00 am at Temple for the confirmation of these dedicated students. Jack Harrison Abel
Jana and Bennett Abel
Zachary David Blank Jackie and Ken Blank
Alexa Jordan Drescher Darian Drescher and Adam Drescher
Emily Estela Feigen
Georgina and Philip Feigen
Mira Nicole Fink
Susan and David Fink
Ethan Zachery Finke Ashley and Jeff Finke
Jaclyn B. Frank
Aimee and Gregory Frank
Alexander Samuel Friedman
Anne and Ben Friedman
Cara King Gillingham
Denise King Gillingham and the late Gary Gillingham
Lara King Gillingham
Jonah Gold Mendel
Henry Paxton Frederick Goldberg
Dani Rebecca Miller
Charles Kahn Graf
Alex Nordheimer
Alec Rocker Greenfeld
Sam Nordheimer
Jacoba Rose Fishman Harris
Jessica Lauren Oblon
Emma Frances Hoch
Philip Harold Palim
Michael and Kerry Hoch
Erica and Mark Palim
William Arthur Lewis
Emily Paige Posner
Jonah Benjamin Lukin
Ian Benjamin Rosenthal
Denise King Gillingham and the late Gary Gillingham
Becca and Eric Goldberg
Sarah Kahn and Richard Graf Karen and Lee Greenfeld Rebecca Fishman
Barbara Jo Lewis
Elizabeth Stern Lukin and Craig Lukin
Stephanie Gold and David Mendel Beth Freedman and Lee Berner Victor Miller and Dinah Sparks Jen and Brad Nordheimer Jen and Brad Nordheimer Kari and David Oblon
Stephanie and Ethan Posner
Spencer G. Schenk
Deborah and Michael Schenk
George Schlesinger
Jean and Matt Schlesinger
Dorothy Dardick Shapiro Nell and Ed Shapiro
Eitan Drew Weinbaum Felice and Gil Weinbaum
Joseph Drew Weinberg
Jennifer and Jonathan Weinberg
Matthew Eli Winson Susan and Ron Winson
Jaclyn Brooke Youngentob Bonnie and Stuart Youngentob
Justin Ian Zimmer
Tracy Spatz and David Zimmer
Cheryl Katz and Brad Rosenthal
Bennett Alexander Scheer Suzanne and Craig Scheer
WHC Journal – May 2017 | Page 9
Celebrating Our Youth
Early Childhood Centers The Rabbi Joseph Weinberg Early Childhood Center
This year, the RJWECC welcomed a new Assistant Director, Sharon Goldrich, and opened three new auxiliary rooms for every class to explore. The Imagination Playground is a room full of foam tinker-toy-like blocks (as seen in the National Building Museum). The Construction Center has a variety of wood, cardboard, and foam blocks as well as trains and cars. And the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Room contains balances, chutes, light pads, overhead projectors, and a multitude of sensory playthings. Through monthly spirit days and tzedakah projects, the children have connected with each other, the clergy, and our community. We walked to raise money for Carrie Simon House; gave a dozen Thanksgiving meals to families in need; collected, cleaned, and donated 250 toys at Hanukkah; and gave our Purim groggers (more than 100 boxes of macaroni and cheese) to help those supported by Nourish Now. Our Judaic programs — including monthly Tot Shabbats, a Sukkot trip to Homestead Farms, and last month’s classroom seders — have also brought our families together. These opportunities foster lifelong friendships and a strong connection to the Washington Hebrew Congregation community.
The Edlavitch-Tyser Early Childhood Center
A Unified Mission
Together with new Assistant Director Susan Sherman, the E-T ECC’s teachers have worked tirelessly to deepen the children’s understanding of their world and offer them the tools to communicate what they know. Children investigated the topic of nurture and care through the Jewish lens of caring for pets, plants, trees and the earth. We also investigated rainbows and stained glass, writing and producing television shows, folk stories, and many new ways to use mixed media in our art. The children have enjoyed hours of fun in our STEM Area, Construction Room, and “Critter” Corner … This whole place is rocking! Added to our school this year is a more comprehensive resource team, which includes social worker Rachel Ehrenberg and special educator Stacy Schlactus. We also are very lucky to have a wonderful Parent Committee and incredible parents.
Monthly Tot Shabbat services and community dinners are a great way to meet our school families and share Shabbat with wonderful people. Everyone is welcome, and we hope you will join us at any or all of the following Friday evening Tot Shabbats: at Temple on April 28 at 5:00 pm, and at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center on May 5 and June 2 at 5:30 pm. Our schools will come together on Friday, May 12 at 6:00 pm at Temple for a special congregational Shabbat service that celebrates all of our Pre-K students. We hope you will join us. As we close this school year, we reflect on the social, emotional and physical learning, growing and developing that the children have experienced and look ahead to the future. Page 10 | WHC Journal – May 2017
Celebrating Our Youth
Religious School
Our Students Show Their Love of Books
The Religious School and WHC Library have completed their annual Tzedakah Read-a-Thon. This year, 35 students in kindergarten through third grade read 530 Jewish books and raised $2090.75. The money the children raised was donated to three worthy organizations: the Carrie Simon House, a transitional home for women and their children sponsored by WHC; the Jewish National Fund Therapeutic Riding Centers, which gives horseback riding lessons to children with disabilities in Israel; and the Maryland Book Bank, which provides free books to families, teachers, schools, and organizations throughout Maryland. At our Shabbat Purim service, we recognized the children in each grade who read the greatest number of books: Kindergarten: Benjamin Gildea (1st place), Lizzie Gilgoff and Amanda Yates (2nd place); First Grade: Sloane Lieber and Liam McConarty (1st), Nathan Greene and Jake Waxman (2nd); Second Grade: Harrison Rosenberg (1st), Isaac Gilgoff and Arielle Stopak (2nd); Third Grade: Melissa Solomon (1st). We are so proud of our young bibliophiles’ commitment to the Jewish values of tzedakah and learning about Jewish history and culture through reading.
Director’s Reflection (continued from page 3)
families, ended with a mock wedding “officiated” by our clergy where the students played each and every role: bride and groom, best man and maid of honor, and even grandparents. They had a ball with this festive and sacred experience, and some parents even shed tears of joy! In an activity sponsored by the TOV Fund, sixth graders recently planted potatoes at One Acre Farm, marking the connection between agriculture and Jewish practices. Those same potatoes will be harvested this summer by WHC teens and then placed into Thanksgiving boxes for Abram Simon Elementary School families during November’s Sunday Stuffing program. We have run this program for several years and see time and again the sixth graders’ pride in completing the first part of a cycle bigger than themselves and in the impact of their work. Our seventh graders are in the midst of their “MIT” (Madrichim in Training) programming, which includes lessons on leadership and managing up. The MIT program also has the students rotate through classes to assist teachers and younger students as they explore their own leadership styles. We already know many of these students will continue in the coming year as madrichim (classroom assistants) and are looking forward to their contributions. WHC Journal – May 2017 | Page 11
Celebrating Our Youth
Upper School “I wish this was offered when I was a teenager!” This is the sentiment we most often hear from parents when we describe the Upper School programming we offer students in 8th through 12th grades at WHC. We know that our students are busy and have many options. We also know that their time is valuable, and they do not want it wasted. Our goal is to offer programs and opportunities that meet our student’s needs — spiritual, educational, and social. We create experiences that students enjoy and want to attend and schedule classes and programs on both weekdays and weekends to try and give each student an opportunity to be involved. More often than not, when a student cannot join us, they are disappointed and know they are missing something great. However, we preach “no guilt Judaism.” We never make a student feel bad about missing a class or program and are happy to welcome them back the next time they are able to be with us. Whether it is their last year of middle school or their last year of high school, it is never too late for your teen to enroll and look forward to seeing their smiles in photos like the ones on this page next year!
Page 12 | WHC Journal – May 2017
Celebrating Header Our Youth
WHC Youth Groups From a color war competition for high school students that included trampoline dodgeball to a petting farm where kindergartners interacted with alpacas and bunnies, WHC’s youth programming has given young members of the Congregation an abundance of opportunities to have fun, create stronger social connections, and feel like this is their congregation, not just their parents’. It has also elicited reactions from kids such as “This is the best day ever!” (Kindergartner) and “Whoa, this is so much fun!” (11th grader). We have four different youth groups that serve kindergartners through seniors in high school, and from years of experience, we know that our youth programming gives students not just a day of fun but it also creates lasting memories and forges lifelong friendships. For more information about any of our youth groups or youth programming, please contact Ira Miller, Director of Informal Education, 301-354-3209 or imiller@whctemple.org.
WHC Journal – May 2017 | Page 13
May 2017 Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
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Yom HaZikaron 7:00pm 12JQ (M) 7:15pm WHC Academy (M)
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9:30am Religious School (M&B) 9:30am 9th Grade Trip to Annapolis (OUT) 12:00pm Family Spring Carnival (B) 5:30pm Post Confirmation (OUT)
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Lag B’Omer Mother’s Day
9:30am Religious School (M&B)
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9:30am Religious School — Last Day (M&B) 9:45am Divorcing with Dignity (M) 4:00pm Washington Jewish Film Festival’s Annual Community Education Day on Arab Citizens of Israel (OUT)
8
11:00am Sisterhood Art Tour (OUT) 7:00pm 12JQ (M) 7:15pm WHC Academy (M)
15
12:30pm Prime Timers’ Luncheon (M) 6:30pm WHECTY “Senior Send Off” (B) 7:00pm 12JQ (M)
11:00am Sisterhood’s Installation Luncheon (M) 7:00pm 12JQ (M)
22
Wednesday
2
Yom HaAtzmaut
4:00pm Continuing Ed. for ECC (M) 4:30pm Hebrew School (B) 6:00pm JAM Rehearsal (B) 6:00pm Confirmation Rehearsal (M) 7:00pm Bereavement Group (M)
9
4:00pm Continuing Ed. for ECC (M) 4:30pm Hebrew School (B) 6:00pm JAM Rehearsal (B) 6:00pm Confirmation Rehearsal (M) 7:00pm Bereavement Group (M) 7:30pm The Red Stone (M)
16
4:00pm Continuing Ed. for ECC (M) 4:30pm Last Day of Hebrew School (B) 6:00pm JAM Rehearsal (B) 6:00pm Confirmation and PreConfirmation Program (M) 7:00pm Bereavement Group (M)
23
4:00pm Continuing Ed. for ECC (M) 6:30pm WHECTY Banquet (OUT) 7:00pm Bereavement Group (M)
3
1:00pm Wednesday Study Group (M) 4:00pm Continuing Ed. for ECC (B) 4:30pm Hebrew School (M) 6:00pm JAM Rehearsal (M) 7:00pm WHC Attorneys’ Study Group (OUT) 7:30pm Kol Rinah Rehearsal (B)
10
1:00pm Wednesday Study Group(M) 4:00pm Continuing Ed. for ECC (B) 4:30pm Hebrew School (M) 6:00pm JAM Rehearsal (M) 7:00pm “Sanctuary for the Individual and the Institution” (M) 7:30pm Community Issues/Social Action Committee Meeting (M) 7:30pm Kol Rinah Rehearsal (B)
17
1:00pm Wednesday Study Group (M) 4:00pm Continuing Ed. for ECC (B) 4:30pm Last Day of Hebrew School (M) 6:00pm JAM Rehearsal (M)
24
1:00pm Wednesday Study Group(M) 4:00pm Continuing Ed. for ECC (B) 7:30pm Kol Rinah Rehearsal (B)
Services: 9:00 am Confirmation Service (M)
28
Memorial Day
29
Offices and ECCs Closed (M&B)
7:00pm Bereavement Group (M) 7:00pm WHC Books (M)
30
Shavuot
31
Offices and ECCs Closed (M&B)
Services: 10:30am Shavuot Festival and Yizkor Service (M) Page 14 | WHC Journal – May 2017
B: Julia Bindeman Suburban Center
M: Temple
OUT: Not at a WHC location
Iyyar – Sivan 5777 Thursday
Friday
4
10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B) 5:00pm Tot Shabbat Family Dinner (B)
Saturday
5
Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) Bat Mitzvah of Melissa Finke 5:30pm Afternoon Service and Havdalah (M) Bat Mitzvah of Bailey Kramer
Services: 5:30pm Lay Led Service (M) 5:30pm Tot Shabbat (B) 6:00pm Shabbat Service (M)
11
10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B) 7:00pm EmptyNesters’ Shabbat Dinners in Members’ Homes (OUT)
12
Services: 5:30pm Lay Led Service (M) 6:00pm Congregational Shabbat Service with ECC Pre-K Shabbat Celebration (M)
18
10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B) 7:00pm Couples Club Dinner (OUT)
19
10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B)
Services: 5:30pm Lay Led Service (M) 6:00pm Shirei Shabbat Service (M)
13 Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) B’not Mitzvah of Julia Cortez and Rachel Emanuel 5:30pm Afternoon Service and Havdalah (M) B’not Mitzvah of Mia Paris and Charlotte Siegel
20 Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) B’nei Mitzvah of Allison Berman and Parker Silverman 5:30pm Afternoon Service and Havdalah (M) B’nei Mitzvah of Mallory Herron and Riley Herron
Services: 5:30pm Lay Led Service (M) 6:00pm Congregational Shabbat Service with Confirmands and Teacher Recognition (M) 6:15pm 2239’s Metro Minyan (OUT)
25
6
4:00pm Club 56 Program (OUT)
26
27 Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) B’not Mitzvah of Emma Metzner and Lara Nobleman 5:30pm Afternoon Service and Havdalah (M) Bat Mitzvah of Ilana Brodsky
WHC Journal – May 2017 | Page 15
Mazel Tov to WHC’s May B'nei Mitzvah Melissa Julie Finke May 6, Morning Melissa is a seventh grade student at Cabin John Middle School. She is the daughter of Ashley & Jeff Finke; the sister of Ethan, Owen, and Sarah; and the granddaughter of Joyce B. Isaacson, Jack & Pat Isaacson, Harry & Olga Finke, and the late Patricia Finke.
Bailey Cory Kramer May 6, Havdalah Bailey is a seventh grade student at Herbert Hoover Middle School. She is the daughter of Bryn Sherman and Scott Kramer; the sister of Kyle; and the granddaughter of Sandra Sherman & Ron Edlavitch, the late Stephen Sherman, and the late Myrna & Richard Kramer.
Mia Isobella Paris May 13, Havdalah Mia is a seventh grade student at Lakelands Park Middle School. She is the daughter of Karen Paris and Brian Paris; the sister of Blake; and the granddaughter of Leslie & James Weightman, Harry Suissa, and Maxine & Donald Paris. Charlotte Janine Siegel May 13, Havdalah Charlotte is a seventh grade student at Westland Middle School. She is the daughter of Jodi & Jonathan Siegel; the sister of Emmett; and the granddaughter of Rochelle Siegel, the late Allen Siegel, the late Joel Saltzman, and the late Charlotte Saltzman.
Julia Esther Cortez May 13, Morning Julia is a seventh grade student at Herbert Hoover Middle School. She is the daughter of Tamara & Hector Cortez; the sister of Ashley and David; and the granddaughter of Carolyn J. Tebo, the late Donald Tebo, Angela Gil, and the late Fernando Cortez.
Allison Hilary Berman May 20, Morning Allie is a seventh grade student at the Bullis School. She is the daughter of Dawn & Glen Berman; the sister of Matthew and Zachary; and the granddaughter of Joy & Stuart Levy and Lorraine & Joel Berman.
Rachel Hannah Emanuel May 13, Morning Rachel is a seventh grade student at Alice Deal Middle School. She is the daughter of Maria & Adam Emanuel; the sister of Joshua; and the granddaughter of Annalee Emanuel, the late Theodore Herzl Emanuel, Marlene Marmol, and Frank Cevallos.
Parker William Silverman May 20, Morning Parker is a seventh grade student at Kingsview Middle School. He is the son of Rebecca & Scott Silverman; the brother of Tobey; and the grandson of Karen & Robert Silverman, Laura & David Sheinhorn, and Ruth & William Swartz.
Page 16 | WHC Journal – May 2017
WHC’s May B’nei Mitzvah
Mallory Jeanette Herron May 20, Havdalah Mallory is a seventh grade student at the Norwood School. She is the daughter of Karen & Brendan Herron; the sister of Liam and Riley; and the granddaughter of Carole & Ron Korn and the late Jeanette & Joseph Herron.
Lara Valentina Nobleman May 27, Morning Lara is a seventh grade student at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School. She is the daughter of Daniela & Marc Nobleman; the sister of Rafael; and the granddaughter of Angelika Andreae, Karl-Johann Andreae, Nedra Nobleman, and Howard Nobleman.
Riley Morris Herron May 20, Havdalah Riley is a seventh grade student at the Norwood School. He is the son of Karen & Brendan Herron; the brother of Liam and Mallory; and the grandson of Carole & Ron Korn and the late Jeanette & Joseph Herron.
Ilana Jade Brodsky May 27, Havdalah Ilana is a seventh grade student at Herbert Hoover Middle School. She is the daughter of Amy & Jason Brodsky; the sister of Zachary; and the granddaughter of Judith List, Stuart Brodsky, Joan Maitre, and Bill & Lillyan Mintz.
Emma Sophie Metzner May 27, Morning Emma is a sixth grade student at the Washington International School. She is the daughter of Viktoria & David Metzner; the sister of Anna, Lena, and Allegra; and the granddaughter of Isolde Jerch & the late Wenzel Jerch, and the late Eleanor & Stanley Metzner.
Life Cycle
Congratulations to… Kara & Cameron Chisholm, on the naming of their daughter, Ava Dawn Chisholm (Adira Meital); and to Ava’s big sister, Talia; and grandparents, Janet Kandel, Richard Kandel, and Marla & Duncan Chisholm. Olivia Ivey & Jeffrey Morrow, on the birth and naming of their son, Ephraim Kessler Morrow (Shamai Ephraim); and to Ephraim’s grandparents, Angela & Douglas Ivey and Judie & Harry Morrow.
Lisa Reiner and Burton Reiner, on the birth and naming of Lisa’s grandson and Burton’s great-grandson, Ryder Austin Rosenberg (Lev Eiton); and to Ryder’s parents, Ali & Danny Rosenberg, and paternal grandfather, Ronnie Rosenberg. Debra & Steven Robins, on the marriage of their son, Chad Robins, to Jillian Rubinton, daughter of Sharon Rubinton and Jeffrey Rubinton. Heidi & Sandy Sinick, on the marriage of their son, Kyle Sinick, to Alexandra Karasavva. WHC Journal – May 2017 | Page 17
In May …
WHC Programs & Events Featured Programs Supporting Refugees and Providing Sanctuary Challenges and Questions for the Individual and the Institution Wednesday, May 10, 7:00 pm at Temple
The concept of “Sanctuary” can include legal assistance, material or financial support, advocacy, education, or the act of providing temporary physical shelter. Sanctuary can be distinguished from providing sponsorship for refugees and asylum seekers in cooperation with the U.S. government and various relief agencies. Unlike refugee sponsorship, “Sanctuary” — as it is now used in this context — refers to providing support for undocumented individuals (including “DREAMers”), and the legal issues surrounding “Sanctuary” are both unclear and evolving. Join us to understand the critical questions that need to be asked and answered concerning Sanctuary, including, “Where does civil disobedience end and obstruction of justice begin?” and “What concerns do individuals and religious institutions need to consider if they wish to provide Sanctuary and how do they differ?” whctemple.org/CISA Layne Weiss: lweiss@whctemple.org, 202-895-6307
Sisterhood’s Installation Luncheon Keynote by Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter Monday, May 22, 11:00 am at Temple
Sisterhood’s new slate of officers and new Board members will be installed at this springtime luncheon with a keynote speech given by Deborah Rutter, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The first woman to head the Kennedy Center, Deborah oversees its operations in theater, dance, music, awards, and the affiliated National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera.
Registration required ($): whctemple.org/Sisterhood Sandy Nesbit: whcsisterhood@gmail.com
Special Worship Experiences
Tot Shabbat and Family Dinner
Honoring RJWECC Director Fran Miller Friday, May 5, 5:30 pm Service, 6:00 Dinner at JBSC
Our clergy make going to Friday night services a fun, fulfilling event for families with young children (or grandchildren), and this special service will honor our retiring director, Fran Miller. We’ll begin with a a Tot Shabbat service, which lasts about a half hour and teaches Jewish prayers, traditions, and rituals through songs, stories, and art projects and will follow it with a family-style dinner.
Registration required for dinner only (free): whctemple.org/TotShabbat Deb Young: debmilleryoung@gmail.com
ECC Pre-K Shabbat Celebration
Friday, May 12, 6:00 pm at Temple
This special congregational Shabbat service features the Edlavitch-Tyser Early Childhood Center and Rabbi Joseph Weinberg Early Childhood Center’s pre-kindergarten students as they celebrate the culmination of their preschool experience. whctemple.org/Shabbat DJ Schneider Jensen (E-T ECC): djensen@whctemple.org, 202-895-6360 Fran Miller (RJWECC): fmiller@whctemple.org, 301-279-7505
Page 18 | WHC Journal – May 2017
Supporting Refugees and Providing Sanctuary Challenges and Questions for the Individual and the Institution Wednesday, May 10 7:00 pm at Temple whctemple.org/CISA
Confirmation and Teacher Recognition Shabbat Friday, May 19, 6:00 pm at Temple
This congregational Shabbat service — which begins a special weekend for WHC’s Confirmation Class — recognizes the ECC and Religious School teachers who made their journeys possible and honors WHC’s teachers who are marking their 18th anniversary. whctemple.org/Worship Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303
2239’s Metro Minyan
Friday, May 19, 6:15 pm at Eastern Market
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 ($): whctemple.org/2239 Valerie Hillman Bluestein: vhillman@whctemple.org
Confirmation Service
Sunday, May 21, 9:00 am at Temple
During their years of study, WHC’s Confirmands have developed a stronger connection to the Jewish people, a greater understanding of a wide range of Jewish values, and have come to more fully appreciate the diversity of Jewish beliefs and practices. The culmination of their journey is a service designed and led by our Confirmation class.
whctemple.org/Confirmation Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303
Shirei Shabbat
Friday, May 26, 6:00 pm at Temple
Shirei Shabbat (Shabbat of Songs) is a musical, participatory service led by one of our rabbis and featuring the beautiful voices of Cantor Manevich and Cantor Bortnick. It’s an upbeat, uplifting, and inspiring way to end your week.
whctemple.org/Worship Beth Donaldson: bdonaldson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6309
Shavuot Festival and Yizkor Service
Wednesday, May 31, 10:30 am at Temple
The last of the Jewish calendar’s four festival services, Shavuot gives us another opportunity to come together in prayer as we remember those whose memories live on in our hearts. whctemple.org/Worship Layne Weiss: lweiss@whctemple.org, 202-895-6307
In May …
WHC Programs & Events Lifelong Learning
@WHC Academy
Congregational Conversations
American Jews and Israel Mondays, beginning May 1, 7:15 pm at Temple
Stephanie Tankel concludes our three-session sample of the Shalom Hartman Institute’s iEngage program with “Jewish Values and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.” This course is part of WHC’s partnership with the Hartman Institute.
Registration required ($): whctemple.org/WHCAcademy Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303
WHC Attorneys’ Study Group
Wednesday, May 3, 7:00 pm in Washington, DC
Discover Jewish insights into the Anglo-American legal system with WHC’s new study group for attorneys. Meeting four to five times this year, the WHC Attorneys’ Study Group delves into topics like the relationship between constitutional law and Jewish law. Featured guest facilitators like Phil Selden, Assistant U.S. Attorney at the Maryland United States Attorney’s Office, will shed light on the role Jewish lawyers have played in establishing the rule of law as we know it.
SHABBAT DINNERS in Members’ Homes Friday, May 12 at 700pm
We invite you to join us for one of our most popular programs of the year. With the warmth of the candles, the taste of delicious food and wine, and the delight of good conversation, our dinners in members’ homes are a truly memorable Shabbat experience.
RSVP: Contact Ruth Seif at 301-213-0499
Registration required ($): whctemple.org/Attorneys Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303
Tikkun Olam
WHC Books Presents: The Secret Chord
Part of the Washington Jewish Film Festival Sunday, May 21, 4:00 pm at the Edlavitch DCJCC
Facilitated by Rabbi Susan Shankman Tuesday, May 30, 7:00 pm at Temple
Join us for a special Shavuot edition of WHC Books with Rabbi Shankman. We will discuss The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks, a book that peels away the myth around King David and provides new context for some of the best-known episodes of his life while introducing us to lesser-known remarkable and emotionally intense moments. Following the tradition of studying on Shavuot eve, we will have a short study of sacred text during our program, and in celebration of the holiday, we will serve delicious blintzes.
This program is made possible by the Harriet M. Kriesberg Fund for the Study of Torah. Registration preferred (free): whctemple.org/WHCBooks Ellen Share: eshare@whctemple.org, 301-354-3212
Community Education Day on Arab Citizens of Israel
This seventh annual program begins with a screening of a moving and insightful documentary, 77 Steps. It is the personal story of the film’s director who leaves her Arab-Muslim village and to moves to Tel-Aviv where she encounters housing discrimination by most landlords because of her Arab origins. A romance develops with her new neighbor, a Jewish-Canadian man who immigrated to Israel, but everything is complicated by their religions, backgrounds, and society-at-large. A panel discussion will follow, featuring Fida Nara and Reem Zoabi Abu Ishak. Fida is Co-Director of the grassroots, feminist, Jewish-Arab organization MahapachTaghir, and Reem is Director of Nazareth Riyan Employment Center, one of 21 centers established in Arab society through a strategic collaboration between the Israeli government, JDCTevet, and Yad Hanadiv Rothschild Foundation. Registration required ($): wjff.org/DayOfEd Information and questions: info@wjff.org, 202-777-3248
Opportunities for Adults to Engage Prime Timers: Luncheon & Program
Spring Installation Luncheon Monday, May 22, 1100am at Temple Join us for the installation of new Officers and Board members and a keynote speech by
Deborah Rutter
Monday, May 15, 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 Continued on page 22.
President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts $65/person • RSVP: whctemple.org/Sisterhood WHC Journal – May 2017 | Page 19
Contributions
We gratefully acknowledge the following contributions, received through April 7. To make a contribution to any of Washington Hebrew Congregation’s funds, please visit whctemple.org/donate. Lillian & Alfred Bennett Fine Arts Endowment Fund
Donor William H. Davis
Florence & Norman Brody Archives Endowment Fund Donor Beverly Baker
General Fund
In Memory of: Rita G. Davis
In Memory of: Sarah G. Baker Harry Brody
Jane Burka Sisterhood Leadership Fund
Donor In Memory of: Mindy, Jim & Spencer Brodsky Capt. Arthur Norman Flior (Ret.) Rebecca & David Burka Ronald Kane Abraham Joseph “Joe” Levy Kathy & Jody Dreyfuss Mortimer Hirschfield
Cantorial & Concert Fund
Donor Veda Levy Donor Barbara Blechman Susan & Alan Gold
In Honor of: Cantor Manevich Cantor Bortnick In Memory of: Solomon Ackerman Mickey Gold
EmptyNesters Fund
Donor In Honor of: Barbara Sonies & Harvey Kupferberg Stanley Adoff’s 90th birthday Joan K. Rosenbach Stanley Adoff’s 90th birthday Sondra Snyder Stanley Adoff’s 90th birthday
Lois & Richard England Special Needs Endowment Fund
Donor The Stein family
General Fund
In Memory of: Fannie Meyers
Donor In Honor of: Dawn & Glen Berman Bat Mitzvah of Allison Hilary Berman Adam & Maria Emanuel Bat Mitzvah of Rachel Hannah Emanuel Allyson & Stewart Grossman Alan Dolleck’s Special Birthday Joan Maitre Bat Mitzvah of Ilana Jodi Brodsky David & Viktoria Metzner Bat Mitzvah of Emma Sophie Metzner Jon & Jodi Siegel Bat Mitzvah of Charlotte Janine Siegel Scott & Rebecca Silverman Bar Mitzvah of Parker William Silverman Donor In Memory of: Carolyn Alper Milton “Mickey” Mulitz Ledolph & Inge Baer Leonora Baer Gordon & Marilyn Berg Sofia B. Berg Susan Berg Julius T. Wilensky Jane Wilensky Mitchell Berliner Jerome Berliner Michele & Allan Berman Annie Lou Berman Dr. Blaine Selma Blaine & Harold Blaine Jandy Blaine Arthur Rosenthal Francis Chucker, MD Beatrice & Lewis Wexler Grace Robinowitz Dody Stella Robinowitz Lois England Dick England Linda & Jay Freedman Arthur Miller Beverly Gendleman Milton Gendleman Marilyn Grafman Irving Kleinman Michael Herman Toby Herman Fred & Sarah Hoffman Irving Herbert Hoffman Page 20 | WHC Journal – May 2017
Donor In Memory of: Sally Hollman Morris Wineck Ferne Jaffe Toby M. Kaplon Robert & Ronnie Jersky Michael Jersky Norton Katz Gertrude Katz Kate, Josh & Rebecca Kaufman Selma Lynn Paul Ross Samuel Ross Gregorio Koss Jaime Koss Nina Kraut & Nicholas Kraut Rose Baum Kraut & Dutch Kraut Peter Kreeger Carmen Kreeger Dr. Barbara Sonies Elias Cohn Marvin Levy Margaret Levy Jane Cafritz Morris Yarowsky Gail Martin Bernard Martin Deborah Litman Mizus & Irving Mizus Dr. Samuel Litman Judith Litman Lindau Courtney & Eric Moseman Mildred April Lionel & Annette Pashkoff Nat Pashkoff Geraldine F. Pilzer Oscar Dodek Jr., MD Arthur I. Ross Jr. Charlotte Ross Nancy Roth Sylvia Roth Jack Sandler Fred Sandler Mr. & Mrs. Jack Sandler Mary Alprin Raymond Scalettar Mark Scalettar Tom Schaumberg Ernest Schaumberg Suzanne Scheer Maruice Gilbert Joan & George Schonholtz Morris Schonholtz Mildred Hirsch Carol Schwartz Stanley Levitt Lauralie Schwartz Herbert Schwartz Leslie Shapiro Marlyn Cohen Riki & Michael Sheehan Michael Poster Family of Jacob Billig Jacob P. Billig Family of Anna Billig Anna Billig Marvin & Jeanne Spivak Julia Cohen Spivak Richard Sugarman Ervin Unger Lan & Mel Swerdloff Pauline Berholtz Albert H. Taub, MD Debra Ann Taub Ruth Wagman Beverly Bernstein Stacy R. Nerenstone, MD & Morton L. Weinstein Capt. Arthur Norman Flior (Ret.) Ron West Abe West Angela & Daniel Yergin Stephanie Adler Benjamin & Jaime Zindler Cheryl Zindler
Leo & Elizabeth Goodman Public Issues Endowment Fund
Donor In Honor of: Joan Churchill Birth of Wyatt Jamie Neimark Shattan Donor In Memory of: Joan Churchill Loretta Bremmer
Joshua O. Haberman Scholarship & Publications Endowment Fund
Donor In Honor of: Sherry Sundick Rabbi Haberman’s Special Birthday
Abraham & Freida Hochberg Creative Cultural Fund Donor Jane & Philip Hochberg
Hurston Library
Donor Cheryl Bleiberg Philipson family Roslyn Wolf
In Memory of: Sarah G. Wolf
In Memory of: Richard Fetters Benjamin M. Bloom Abraham Joseph “Joe” Levy
Carol Kellner ECC Memorial Fund
Donor Rickie & Ray Bialek
In Memory of: Jacob Silverman
Kol Rinah Choir
Donor In Memory of: Dr. Barbara Baylus Stein & Murray Stein Dr. Meyer Baylus
Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig Scholarship Fund
Donor Joyce Sands & Randy Posin
In Memory of: Saul & Ethel Denis
Zena Mason Early Childhood Education Fund Donor Lynne & Ira Bluestein Fran Miller
Mitzvah Day
Donor Betsy Grossman Kathy & Bob Wenger
In Memory of: Dr. Scott Spear David Glazer
In Memory of: Dr. Nancy Falk Dr. Martin Rosensky Paul Yanuck
Stephanie Morris Prime Timers Programming Fund
Donor Suzy & Al Morris Lillian Smuckler Donna & Stan Stoller
In Memory of: Dr. Fredric Schiffman Gary Smuckler Laura Gail Stoller
Kamy Loren Nathanson Bar & Bat Mitzvah Kiddush Cup Endowment Fund
Donor In Memory of: Steven C. Fischer & Linda Adler Joseph Barsha Linda Adler & Steven Fischer Helen Adler Amy Bronrott Munaker & Alan Munaker Annette Bronrott Louis Munaker
Sylvia & Saul Ritzenberg Humanitarian Fund
Donor In Memory of: Marsha Pinson & family Bob Greenbaum Sheila & Larry Wilensky, Robert, Natalie & Jacob Belinger Jeanne Bendheim
Naomi & LeRoy Robins Medical Emergency Fund
Donor In Honor of: David & Carol Ginsburg Alan Dolleck’s Special Birthday Donor In Memory of: The Robins Family Charles Silverman
Sheldon & Judy Sadugor Memorial Fund of ECC
Donor In Honor of: Steve & Sharon Seidel Moss Bar Mitzvah of Trevor Gutmann Debra & Steven Robins Jillian & Chad Robins’ Marriage Lori & Bob Rodman Jillian & Chad Robins’ Marriage Donor In Memory of: Debra & Steven Robins Dr. Scott Spear
Selinger (Childrens) Library
Donor Wendy Cimmet Veda Levy & Family The Pinson/Vine family Deborah Wolf
In Memory of: Maxine Markson Margaret Levy Lisa Vise Phyllis B. Wolf
Contributions Abram Simon Elementary School Camp Fund
Tikkun Olam Values (TOV) Fund
Donor In Honor of: Ellen & Neal Brown Natalie Rosenberg’s Birthday Donor In Memory of: Marsha Pinson & Family Marty Pinson
Carrie Simon House
Donor In Honor of: Lynn & Larry Silverberg Alan Dolleck’s Special Birthday Donor In Memory of: Susan Rolnick Mildred Lozowick
Sisterhood Youth, Education & Enrichment Fund Donor Joanne Lamm Ellie Palmer
In Memory of: Randy Cutler Randy Cutler
Albert & Shirley Small Chapel Fund Donor Steven C. Fischer & Linda Adler
In Memory of: Lester Fischer
C. Haskell & Ruth Behrend Small Music Fund
Donor In Honor of: Janice Ackerman Bar Mitzvah of Cameron Balamaci Sherry Sundick Dorothy & Louis Kornhauser’s Birthdays Donor In Memory of: Sherry Sundick C. Haskell Small Ralph Alterowitz
Tikkun Olam Values (TOV) Fund
Donor The Sklaire family WHC Staff Donor In Honor of: Melvin & Beverly Cook Stanley Adoff’s 90th birthday
Life Cycle
Donor Tina & Albert Small Jr.
In Memory of: Selma Lynn
Rabbi Joseph Weinberg Young Leadership Community Service Fund
Donor Hermine Levy Dreyfuss
In Memory of: Lillian Salle Levy
Wender Memorial Archives Fund
Donor Louis Kornhauser
In Memory of: Edith Kornhauser Adler Jennie Kornhauser
WHC Hunger Project
Donor Holly & Jeffrey Bergman Donor In Honor of: Hilde Alter Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein The Iseman/Bernstein Family Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Molly Distefano Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Jerry Feinberg Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein RobBee & Joshua Fredricks Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Sylvia Harrison Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Joyce B. Isaacson Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Esther Iseman Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Helen Kleiman Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Kun Lee Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Mark J. Ratner Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Lynne Skivington Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Amy & Michael Stolker Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Jason & Melissa Levine Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Eliot Widaen & Michele G. Worst Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein Marsha Zakofsky Bar Mitzvah of Jasper Bernstein
Worship & Music Fund
Donor St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School Donor In Honor of: David & Julie Abel Rabbi Shankman Ellen & Barry Direnfeld, Robin & Scott Weisman Rabbi Skloot Charles Goldsmith Rabbi Lustig The Family of Frieda Keller Rabbi Miller Beth & Shelly Leidner Irving & Carol Yoskowitz Debra & Steven Robins Rabbi Lustig Cantor Manevich Laura & Perry Apelman Rabbi Lustig Donor In Memory of: Mrs. Roy Garber & Family Janet Zelinsky Charles Goldsmith Marcia “Peggy” Goldsmith Susan & Larry Harris Helen R. Banes Jay & Dorothy Martin Bernard A. Martin Kaye Appleman & Ed Mopsik Frances Appleman Sophie & Paul Nemirovsky Vladimir Lishnevsky Eleanor T. Rosenfeld Samuel J. Rosenfeld Mr. & Mrs. Gary Siegel Scot A. Siegel Ron Sinker Robert Sinker
Young Professionals (22-39) Fund Donor Nancy Klothe Veda Levy
In Honor of: Rabbi Miller Rabbi Miller
Youth Fund
Donor Pam & Dan Wojnilower
In Memory of: Lisa Vise
Ivy Zola’s Help-a-Friend Fund
Donor In Memory of: Mr. & Mrs. Dudley Dworken Eva Ehrlich Joanne, Steve & Sarah Lamm Oscar Dodek Jr., MD Joan & Norman Smith Harriet Orleans Susan April Marshall Oscar Dodek Jr., MD Andrea & Geoffrey Zola Alvin Brooks
Our Sincerest Condolences… Ralph Alterowitz, husband of Barbara Alterowitz; father of Elyse Alterowitz and Ben Alterowitz; brother of Nat Alterowitz (Florence). Marlyn Brown, wife of Marvin Brown; mother of Scott A. Brown and Nanci Brown (Luis Silva); grandmother of Julian Silva. Muriel Sculky Feldman, mother of Barbara Blavatt (Bryan); sister of Milton Sculky. Robert Goldberg, father of Gary Goldberg (Vivian Matz), Jeffrey Goldberg (Shirin), and Jill Schwartzbach (Cary); grandfather of Eric, Ariel, Kelsey, Joseph, Richard, and Zoe.
Michael Green, father of Scott Green (Diane); Mark Green (Denise); Jay Green, Steven Green (Jennifer), and Louis DeLuca (Christina). Gemma “Mimi” Jabes, sister of Tina Winston, Sheila Tucker, and Angelino Jabes. Frieda Keller, mother of Nancy Klothe; Susan Scharf, and Judy Keller (Tony Curtis). Anna Lake, wife of Harold Lake; mother of Steven Lake (Maureen), Bradley Lake (William Brockschmidt), and Richard Lake (Lisa); grandmother of Gregory, Ryan, Devin, Jillian, Marisa, Ben, Gabriel, and Ellie. Selma Lynn, mother of Janet Cornfeld (Michael); grandmother of Jennifer, Melissa, and Sarah. Iris Rombro, wife of Judge Richard Rombro; mother of Howard Kandel (Sarah) and Richard Kandel (Amy). Dorothy Stein, mother of Andrew Stein and Beth Stone; sister of Sylvan Herman, Kit Herman Levine, and Gilbert Herman.
…may their memory be a blessing. WHC Journal – May 2017 | Page 21
In May …
WHC Programs & Events (continued from page 19)
Shabbat Dinner Couples Club FRIDAY, MAY 19 with
730pm at Temple
(dinner will follow Shabbat services)
TICKETS $36 per couple RSVP
whctemple.org/CouplesClub
Opportunities for Adults to Engage
EmptyNesters: Shabbat Dinners in Members’ Homes
Friday, May 12, 7:00 pm at locations in the metro-D.C. area
The EmptyNesters organize many events throughout the year, but nothing compares to the most successful event on their calendar, Shabbat Dinner hosted by members throughout the metro area. With the warmth of the candles, the taste of delicious food and wine, and the delight of good conversation, this program makes Shabbat a truly memorable experience Registration required (free): whctemple.org/EmptyNesters Beth Donaldson: bdonaldson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6309
Prime Timers’ Luncheon & Film
Monday, May 15, 12:30 pm at Temple
The Prime Timers’ monthly luncheon will be accompanied by a screening of Mel Brooks’ classic comedy, Blazing Saddles. It is certain to be an afternoon of good food and laughter with special friends. Registration required ($): whctemple.org/PrimeTimers Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303
Shabbat Dinner with Couples Club
Friday, May 19, 7:00 pm at a location to be announced
Celebrate the warmth of Shabbat at a special dinner with the Couples Club. Hosted by Couples Club members, this night out will help you connect with new and old friends.
For Families Spring Carnival
Organized by the RJWECC Parents Committee Sunday, May 7, 12:00 pm at JBSC
This fun afternoon for families is open to the community! Come and enjoy moon bounces, games, mini golf, Mad Science demonstrations, a pedal car race track, train rides, a photo booth, food trucks, and a DJ! It’s a terrific event and a great fundraiser for the RJWECC! There is no admission fee and tickets for games, rides, entertainment, and food can be purchased at the Spring Carnival or in advance at a discounted price.
whctemple.org/ECCMD Tracy Weatherford: tracym921@yahoo.com, 240-994-0783
For Youth
Club 56 — Adventure Park USA
Saturday, May 6, 4:00 pm in Monrovia, MD (drop off and pick up at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center)
Club 56 invites fourth graders to join them to experience a taste of what Club 56 has to offer. Sign up now for an evening of fun that includes four go-kart rides, unlimited roller coaster rides, mini golf, and more! Transportation, dinner, and snacks are also included.
Registration required ($): whctemple.org/Club56 Debbie Letter: dletter@whctemple.org, 301-354-3217
WHECTY Senior Send Off
Monday, May 15, 6:30 pm at JBSC
WHECTY seniors are getting ready to start the next chapters in their lives. Join us to send them off in style!
Registration required ($): whctemple.org/WHECTY Ira Miller: imiller@whctemple.org, 301-354-3209
WHECTY Banquet
Tuesday, May 23, 6:30 pm at a location to be announced
Celebrate another great year in WHECTY! The annual banquet includes thanking outgoing Board members and installing the new 2017-2018 WHECTY Board.
Registration required ($): whctemple.org/WHECTY Ira Miller: imiller@whctemple.org, 301-354-3209
Registration required ($): whctemple.org/CouplesClub Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303
Divorcing with Dignity
Sunday, May 21, 9:45 am at Temple
This group, facilitated by Dr. Leslie Zirkin, a licensed psychologist, provides community education, and support for those going through a divorce. Registration required (free): whctemple.org/AdultLearning Leslie Zirkin: Leslie@LZirkin.com, 301-641-4483
Spring Carnival Fun for All Ages! Inflatables • Games Rides • Food Trucks Live Music • Live Shows … and so much more!
Sunday, May 7, 12 – 3 pm at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center
Page 22 | WHC Journal – May 2017
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President’s Column
(continued from page 4)
year that has been rewarding, challenging, and very busy. During the coming weeks, I encourage you to reach out and let me know about your experiences this year as a Temple member. I would like to know what has been successful for you and ways you believe the Congregation could serve you better. These conversations will help me to assess how I have performed and provide me an opportunity to make improvements for next year. I would also like you to mark your calendars and join me at Temple for the Annual Meeting of Washington Hebrew Congregation on Monday, June 5. At this meeting, we will assess accomplishments, identify goals for next year, and elect the slate of Temple members who will join the Board of Directors in service to Washington Hebrew Congregation. In addition, we will take the opportunity to recognize certain Temple members whose volunteer work has earned them Avodah Honors awards. I hope each of you takes the time to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of this time of year — and to reflect and recommit yourselves to the values and principles of Reform Judaism. As always, I look forward to seeing you this month and throughout the summer at the services and programs that make Washington Hebrew Congregation unique.
A
DOCUMENTARIES FILM
D.C. Film Premiere & Reception at Temple
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7 AT 7:00 PM Share in the story of Israel’s incredible battle for survival, 50 years ago, during the Six-Day War. Free! RSVP whctemple.org/InOurHands