SEPTEMBER 2016 VOL. 57, NO. 13
Welcome Back …to school, to “shul,” to your community
SEPTEMBER 2016 VOL. 57, NO. 13
SUPPORTED BY AN ENDOWMENT FROM LIBBY AND MELVIN MANDEL
In This Issue Rabbi’s Reflection................................................................................3 President’s Column..............................................................................4 Elul, a Month for Reflection and Renewal.............................................5 Selichot — Dinner, Music, and Worship...............................................6 Spiritual Boot Camp............................................................................. 7 Monday Nights at Temple: WHC Academy & 12 Jewish Questions.......8 Amram Scholar Series Opening Film....................................................9 Early Childhood Center News............................................................ 10 Religious School News........................................................................11 WHC Programs & Events................................................................... 12 Carrie Simon House News................................................................. 15 Life Cycle & B’nei Mitzvah................................................................. 18 Contributions.....................................................................................20 September Calendar........................................................................... 22 Welcome to the inaugural issue of our new monthly WHC Journal!
It is an exciting next step in the evolution of our communications strategy, which has given us so many platforms to share information with you, including our Temple-wide weekly enewsletter, website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel. Throughout this issue and in the months to come, you will see topical articles on Jewish life and columns written by clergy, senior staff, and our WHC president, David Astrove. The Journal will give you news and information about upcoming WHC programs and events via internal “ads,” program listings, and a calendar that spreads across two pages. Existing features, such as Condolences, Congratulations, Contributions, B’nei Mitzvah, and the WHC calendar will continue to have a home in every issue. Finally, the WHC Journal will also include paid advertising, which will begin running in October. If you would like to promote your business to more than 2,500 households each month, contact us for information. Page 2 | WHC Journal – September 2016
Washington Hebrew Congregation Clergy
M. Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi Susan N. Shankman, Rabbi Aaron Miller, Associate Rabbi Joseph A. Skloot, 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 Naomi Abelson, Director of Temple Programs & TOV Miriam Feffer, Director of Development Lindsay Fry Feldman, Director of Member Services 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 JBSC 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.
Rabbi’s Reflection Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig
I
want to share with you my thoughts on the transformative summer I experienced in Jerusalem. Just hours ago, I finished my first summer with the Rabbinic Leadership Initiative, a three-year program at the Shalom Hartman Institute. I am one of only 28 North American rabbis hand-picked by Shalom Hartman for this selective program. The Shalom Hartman Institute is a pluralistic center of research and education, dedicated to deepening and elevating the quality of Jewish life in Israel and around the world. The 27 rabbis I am with represent the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and Renewal movements. We work in congregations, on college campuses, and at leading non-profits. I am humbled to be among these smart and talented people who have such a wide range of intellectual and experiential gifts to share.
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Today, I sit in Jerusalem and read about the divisiveness in our great country. Who would have thought that being in Jerusalem for the summer would put me in one of the safer, more stable, and less violent places in the world? It has made me think about chevruta — this ancient tradition of sitting, studying, and learning with someone who is not the same as you. The goal is not to change the other but really to learn who you are by contrast — to clarify what you believe by being challenged to understand what and how someone else believes. Washington Hebrew Congregation has a long tradition of gathering diverse communities to pray, learn, and share. We focus not just on our similarities but also our differences. We gather to listen, respect, understand, and honor each other.
I wish to awaken in each of you the possibility of change.“
We spent the month of July in intense study at the Institute and all year long will dedicate eight hours each week to long distance learning called chevruta. Simply put, technology will allow us to sit face-toface and soul-to-soul as we are drawn together by the ancient text. I have not had the chance for such serious study since rabbinical school — more than three decades ago. It has been wonderful, this exchange of ideas with people whose theological points of view are so very different from mine, whose community of practice and living are alien to me in so many ways. This three-week face-to-face opportunity to meet, study, talk, and exchange ideas was transformative. Adding to the experience were opportunities for interfaith study and discussion when we combined with Christian and Muslim leadership programs.
Our Bible reminds us no less than 32 times that we were strangers in the land of Egypt. We, more than any other people, know the plight of being the “other.” We, more than any other people, understand the power that comes from building bridges between communities and the light that comes from those closest to us who once were strangers. The month of Elul is about to begin. During this month that precedes Rosh Hashanah, Jews traditionally blow the shofar each day to awaken us to the possibility of change. Though we don’t blow the shofar each day at Washington Hebrew Congregation, I wish to awaken in each of you the possibility of change. Use this High Holy Day season to find your chevruta, and face others fully in learning and even in love. Take a class, attend a lecture, participate in an interfaith or social action project, or simply engage in conversation with the intent to learn from others to learn about yourselves. Continued on page 21.
WHC Journal – September 2016 | Page 3
President’s Column David M. Astrove
O
President@whctemple.org 202-895-6301
ver the years, Debbie and I have had the joy of planning three weddings, six B’nei Mitzvah, and countless birthday parties, dinner parties and other events, including having the honor of chairing a charity fund-raiser that attracted about 1,500 attendees. Each event, although wonderful celebrations, involved countless hours of planning and focusing on the details in order to ensure that those who attended had a meaningful and enjoyable experience. I am sure you can relate.
end one year, they start to consider the next. Our rabbis and cantors have met throughout the year to balance a tradition, which has uplifted and comforted Jews for thousands of years, with a worship experience that is meaningful for our Congregation today. Currently, each of our rabbis is focused on the message that they will share with us during the High Holy Days. It always fascinates me what event in a rabbi’s life — or in the world at large — becomes the spark for a High Holy Day sermon.
I bring this up at this time of year in anticipation of the High Holy Days, which are just around the corner. With multiple services going on simultaneously and up to 4,000 worshippers in the building at any given time, preparing for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur requires vision, attention to detail, and excellent communication. The staff, under the direction of Executive Director Steve Jacober, have been working through a checklist that is more than six pages long — and growing!
Even the teachers at our Religious School and ECCs are involved. When school begins, they will help 1,000 students — from toddlers to high schoolers — prepare for a High Holy Day experience that is special and meaningful. As we all know, an inspiring teacher can trigger a lifelong love of Judaism. How lucky we are to be blessed with so many such teachers.
“
It always fascinates me what event in a rabbi’s life — or in the world at large — becomes the spark for a High Holy Day sermon.”
Every staff member is involved. They have shared information about all of our services and are distributing 31,000 tickets to members and guests. They are organizing offsite parking with safe and seamless transportation to and from Temple. They will provide babysitting for families with young children, and ensure that services will be accessible to all. They are hard at work to make sure the building is beautiful and welcoming to all who come through the doors – sprucing up Kaufmann Sanctuary and Kreeger Lobby; tending the grounds and gardens; checking lights, sound, and HVAC systems; polishing silver, and examining every Torah. As you can imagine, our clergy have been working hard as well. Frankly, as soon as the High Holy Days Page 4 | WHC Journal – September 2016
When the High Holy Days finally arrive on Sunday, October 2, nearly 50 people will work at every service to serve all who come to worship while maintaining the sanctity of the day. I will be one of those 50 — worshipping with you at multiple services, greeting you from the bimah, and wishing you a Shanah Tovah at our first ever Rosh Hashanah Community Oneg and “Meet WHC” Fair. This new initiative will be held on Monday, October 3 in Edlavitch Hall from 1:15 – 2:15 pm. Enjoy refreshments; learn how you can get involved in auxiliaries, committees, through events and programs; and reconnect with WHC friends. In case you are interested in a “warm up” to the High Holy Days, this year our Clergy have introduced a Spiritual Boot Camp to be held on September 17. You will find more information about this program on page seven. Continued on page 21.
Elul
a month for reflection and renewal
The last month of the Hebrew calendar — Elul — is a time of reflection in our Jewish tradition. In this late summer/early fall month that precedes Rosh Hashanah, our faith gives us the opportunity to contemplate the state of our spiritual lives and our relationships with the people we love and God. The Hebrew letters that make up Elul — aleph, lamed, vav, lamed — are an acronym for Ani L’Dodi, v’Dodi Li (I am My Beloved’s and My Beloved is Mine), from the Song of Songs 6:3. Most often interpreted as love poetry between a man and a woman, the phrase also reflects the love between God and the Jewish people. This year, Elul begins on September 4. We have put together some suggestions to help you experience this month of reflection in ways that will be most meaningful for you. The key, like anything else, is to find what works for you and stick with it.
Would you like a guided, group experience?
Join us at Temple for Spiritual Boot Camp on Saturday, September 17 at 7:00 pm, and spend an evening preparing your mind and body for the New Year. Turn to page 7 to learn more about this new offering at Temple.
Are you a reader? There are so many passages, books, and blogs to inspire reflection. Here
are just a few of our clergy’s favorites: Days of Awe by S.Y. Agnon • Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippur Survival Kit by Shimon Apisdorf • Being Mortal by Atul Gawande • Inventing Abraham by Jon Levenson • This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared by Alan Lew • Preparing Your Heart for the High Holy Days by Dr. Kerry Olitsky • Wondering Jew by Abigail Pogrebin.
Do you find meaning in music?
We also asked our clergy which artists and songs inspire introspection. They suggested Carrie Newcomer’s “Before & After,” Nava Tehila’s “Waking Heart,” Jay Rapoport’s “Open My Lips,” Stile Antico’s “Song of Songs,” and Barbra Streisand’s “Avinu Malkeinu.”
Prefer to write your thoughts? Whether you prefer to share your reflections with just
yourself through journaling or share with the world on social media, Rabbi Phyllis Sommer’s annual #BlogElul is a list of daily prompts to help inspire reflection. Visit her website (ImaBima.blogspot.com) for more information.
Into technology? Bimbam (bimbam.com) creates fun, acces-
sible, and smart digital media about Judaism for kids, adults, and families who want to spend quality time online.
WHC Journal – September 2016 | Page 5
Selichot Begin the High Holy Day Season with Dinner, Music, and Worship
T
oward the end of the month of Elul, a week before Rosh Hashanah on Saturday night, we will recite selichot. These prayers and poetry on the theme of forgiveness are meant to inspire us to begin the process of asking forgiveness — from God, from our loved ones, from ourselves — for whatever we did wrong in the past year. On Saturday, September 24, we will gather at Temple to begin the spiritual odyssey of the High Holy Days as a community with a dinner hosted by the EmptyNesters, followed by a concert with Mattan Klein, and our Selichot service featuring Cantor Manevich, Cantor Bortnick, and Kol Rinah.
The Evening Begins with a Congregational Dinner
All are welcome to start the evening with us at 5:00 pm for a delicious dinner hosted by the EmptyNesters auxiliary. The cost is $30 per person, and payment is required in advance. You can register for dinner online and pay with a credit card (whctemple.org/Selichot) or send a check payable to WHC along with your name, phone number, email address, and the number of people in your reservation to Beth Donaldson at Temple, 3935 Macomb Street NW, Washington, DC 20016.
Concert Opens Pollin Music Series
Award-winning jazz flutist and composer Mattan Klein, accompanied by his international ensemble of jazz musicians, will add to the beauty of the evening with an inspiring concert at 6:30 pm in Albert & Shirley Small Chapel. One of today’s most well-regarded jazz/world music flutists, Jerusalem-born Klein has performed Page 6 | WHC Journal – September 2016
on prominent stages including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center and provides the musical accompaniment for WHC’s Rosh Hashanah Under the Stars service. Yossi Harsonsky, senior music critic for Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv, calls Klein’s music “flowing, bright and listener friendly, … (his) virtuoso improvisation lifts jazz-flute playing to new heights.” The concert, which opens the 2016-2017 Irene & Abe Pollin Music Program Initiative, will feature jazz and world music from the U.S., South America, and Israel. The ensemble will also play selections from their 2012 tribute to Naomi Shemer and other original compositions by Mattan Klein.
The Origins of Selichot and Our Service
Tradition tells us that Selichot emerged after King David foresaw the destruction of the Temple. He reached out to God asking how to avert this devastation, and God replied, “When suffering will befall the Jews because of their sins, they should gather before me in complete unity. Together, they shall confess their sins and recite the order of selichot, and I will answer their prayers.” Led by our rabbis and cantors, WHC’s candlelit Selichot service, which begins at 7:30 pm, includes poetry and musical prayers to inspire you to reflect on the past year. There is no charge or RSVP necessary for the Mattan Klein concert or Selichot service. For further information about this evening, please contact Beth Donaldson, 202-895-6309 or bdonaldson@whctemple.org.
Spiritual Boot Camp Get Your Soul in Shape for the New Year
G
ifted teacher and scholar Dr. Linda Thal and the WHC clergy are holding a special program at Temple on Saturday, September 17 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm to help you begin the New Year with a spirit of hope and joy.
Spiritual Boot Camp will develop and enhance your attention, equanimity, patience, and gratitude. We will begin with a Havdalah service to bring closure to Shabbat and awaken our senses. Together, we will then explore Jewish texts and participate in exercises that focus on ancient Jewish practices of reflection, learning, meditation, and movement to prepare our bodies and minds for the New Year and will conclude the evening with a fun and festive reception. Come in relaxed clothing, with an open mind, and make 5777 a year of growth, humor, healing, and renewal for yourselves and your families. There is no charge for this program, but advance registration is requested and can be completed online: whctemple.org/SpiritualBootCamp. For more information, please contact Marsha Humphries, mhumphries@whctemple.org or 202-895-6303. This program is sponsored by the Edlavitch-Tyser Family Relations Forum.
Celebrate Sukkot at home with your own lulav and etrog!
Good Food. Good People. Good Conversation. Shabbat Dinner with WHC President David & Debbie Astrove The Astroves invite you to join them in their home for one of their monthly WHC Shabbat dinners. It’s a great way to get to know other Temple members in a small group setting and discover what connects you. Learn more and sign up online: whctemple.org/DinnerWithDavid
Delivery options: WHC/JBSC: $45; Home: $70 Order online by October 3 whctemple.org/Sukkot Questions? Fajr Chestnut: reception@whctemple.org or 202-362-7100 WHC Journal – September 2016 | Page 7
Lifelong Learning
Monday Nights at Temple: WHC Academy and 12 Jewish Questions 12 Jewish Questions — Begins 9/12 What do I believe about God? What happens after we die? How do I succeed at failure? How do I rest when I have no time? These are just some of the questions Rabbi Miller and the clergy team will address during “12JQ,” a 12-week class for adults — Jewish and non-Jewish — who have questions about Jewish identity, beliefs, culture, and customs. It’s an environment to discover (and rediscover) the relevance of Judaism in our lives. Despite years of religious school as children, many of us are unsure how to find meaning in our faith and culture as adults, and issues that may not have been relevant to us decades ago suddenly are filled with new meaning when viewed from an adult perspective. Learn more and register online, whctemple.org/12JQ.
WHC Academy — Begins 10/31
Expand your appreciation of Jewish life and culture and join the hundreds who have participated in WHC’s unique adult education program. We offer a wide array of classes taught by knowledgeable and passionate instructors from WHC and beyond. WHC Academy meets on Monday nights, from 7:15 – 9:15 pm with coffee, light snacks, and time to socialize. Register online at whctemple.org/WHCAcademy.
Game of Thrones:
The Rise and Fall of Israel’s Kings
Fall Course I – Game of Thrones
Israel’s first kings — Saul, David, and Solomon — each brought glory to themselves and the nation of Israel. Yet, each drove their nation to the brink of disaster. Discover how these men built an empire and at the same time how jealousy, lust, arrogance, and ambition unraveled the very fabric of their kingdom. When divine aspirations confront human frailty, the game of thrones begins.
Fall Course II – History of Reform Judaism
H istory of Reform Judaism
Page 8 | WHC Journal – September 2016
Reform Judaism has always asserted that Judaism is a creature of history — a complex of ideas and institutions that developed in response to the stimuli of every age. If this is the case, what makes something Reform? To reckon with this question, we will study the concept of religious change from a theoretical perspective and consider Jewish reforms that preceded the emergence of Reform as a self-conscious movement. We will then focus on reform in 19th century Germany, and its transition to the United States. We will also listen to the voices of the Reform Movement’s early critics, and consider the role of music, architecture, and rhetoric in the Movement. Finally, we will reflect on the current socio-cultural landscape in the U.S. and Israel. Our goal every week will be to do the work of historians and to read primary documents together. No previous knowledge of the field is necessary. Join us as we try to understand how we became the Jews we are today.
Discover more fall classes on pages 12–13 and online at whctemple.org/AdultLearning.
Lifelong Learning
Film Premiere to Open Amram Scholar Series
T
he exclusive Washington premiere of the critically acclaimed documentary Germans & Jews, including a discussion with the filmmakers, will launch the 2016-2017 Amram Scholar Series on Thursday, September 22. Co-sponsored by the German Embassy, this special program at Temple will begin at 6:30 pm with a reception hosted by Ambassador Peter Wittig and Mrs. Huberta von Voss-Wittig.
The film began as a private conversation between the two filmmakers — executive producer Tal Recanati, an American Jew, and director Janina Quint, a non-Jewish German — who were longtime friends. Their examination of the residual guilt and awkwardness that still affect the German-Jewish relationship 70 years after the defeat of Hitler’s Reich would become a broad, nuanced, and probing cultural exchange regarding painful common history. “Don’t expect simple answers in Germans & Jews. Just prepare for formidable questions,” The New York Times observed in a glowing review, praising its psychological astuteness, sly humor, and sharp insights. “Those are the real reasons to see this incisive documentary.” Germany today is home to more than 200,000 Jews, and according to the film, Berlin boasts Europe’s fastest-growing Jewish population. Whether native-born or immigrants, they struggle with the scarring legacy of the Holocaust even as they take pride in Germany’s moral leadership in the refugee crisis facing Europe now. For their part, nonJewish Germans also grapple with anxiety and doubt, uncertain if their Nazi-era relatives were victims or perpetrators. As the film depicts in gripping interviews with both Germans and Jews, efforts to speak honestly about the past produce stressful communication in the present. Despite that tension, the film finds cause for hope in their mutual confrontation with the issues. While there is no charge to attend, reservations are requested: whctemple.org/Amram. For more information, please contact Layne Weiss, lweiss@whctemple.org, 202-895-6307. WHC Journal – September 2016 | Page 9
Early Childhood Centers
Get to Know Our ECCs
The Edlavitch-Tyser Early Childhood Center and the Rabbi Joseph Weinberg Early Childhood Center
O
ur Early Childhood Centers are looking forward to an exciting year! Both locations welcomed new Assistant Directors this July — Sharon Goldrich, who will work with Fran Miller at the Rabbi Joseph Weinberg ECC at JBSC, and Susan Sherman, who will work with DJ Schneider Jensen at the Edlavitch-Tyser ECC at Temple. We are thrilled to have these creative and dedicated professionals on our leadership team. Together, we have been working on new ideas and have wonderful plans for the coming year and beyond! If you aren’t familiar with our schools, please feel free to stop by either location for information and a tour. Our programming at both locations begins with adult-child classes for toddlers and continues through pre-kindergarten. The RJWECC in Potomac also offers a full-day kindergarten, accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education. Both campuses have extended day options, giving families flexibility from 7:30 am until 6:00 pm. Special features at the RJWECC include a brand new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) room, computer lab, and five(!) playgrounds offering safe, fun, and developmentallyappropriate outdoor experiences for all ages. The campus at Temple is excited to begin the year with several new spaces including a STEM hallway and room, an enhanced art studio with more hands-on experiences, a glow-in-the-dark hallway, a pint-sized greenhouse, and a new fish tank. Community and connection are so important to us. We will continue to hold a monthly Tot Shabbat and family dinner at each building and welcome all of our ECC families, WHC grandparents with young grandchildren, and friends to join us. We wish you and your families a happy and healthy New Year – Shanah Tovah!
DJ Schneider Jensen & Fran Miller Director, E-T ECC djensen@whctemple.org
Director, RJWECC fmiller@whctemple.org
Childcare Available During High Holy Day Services As parents, we rely on experienced professionals to provide quality childcare for our little ones while we work, run errands, and attend social events. With the High Holy Days quickly approaching, decisions need to be made: Will our little ones attend services with us or is a childcare provider the better option? Washington Hebrew Congregation offers quality childcare services at Temple for children 2+ years of age during services (Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah Day, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur). Our goal is to provide peace of mind, knowing your little ones are nearby, safe and sound under the care of our ECC teachers, while you take part in the sacred High Holy Day experience. Our teachers have passed current, thorough background checks and are CPR certified. They promise fun and learning, and provide the attention, safety, and care your child deserves and you’ve come to expect. Space is limited, so as soon as you know which service(s) you plan to attend, make your babysitting reservation! To reserve your child’s place or for further information, please contact Maria Thompson, mthompson@whctemple.org or 202-895-6311. Page 10 | WHC Journal – September 2016
Religious School
Stephanie Tankel
Director of Religious Education stankel@whctemple.org
E
ach summer I spend a good deal of energy reflecting on the year gone-by in order to plan for the year to come.
The culmination of this reflection process falls in line with the lead-up to the Jewish High Holy Days. About 10 years ago, I attended a workshop led by Rabbi Peter Rubinstein, Rabbi Emeritus and former Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue, where he talked about setting goals for the year to come. He viewed goal setting as a way to ensure we keep striving. Rabbi Rubinstein’s approach informs how I prepare to greet each New Year with energy, aspiration, and humility. For me, the exercise of goal setting is both personal and professional, and every year I set three goals. The first is a goal I believe I can achieve. Even if it will be difficult (in fact most “goals” require effort!), this first goal must feel realistic. The hope is to achieve the goal by the end of the year, allowing for optimism ideally followed by a sense of achievement. The second goal is one I hope to accomplish. To state the obvious, hope is different from belief. This goal is rooted in sincere aspiration, though the certainty of its accomplishment or attainment is uncertain. Some things take longer to actualize than others, and managing my own expectations involves having space to think, dream, try again and again, perhaps not succeeding. The third goal is one I am fairly certain I will not reach, at least not within the year. This goal leaves room for failure and growth. It offers humility and the space to think really big. It is not necessarily an impossible goal, though it very well may be. Big ideas can take time; perhaps they should. There is something so humbling about working towards a goal like this.
Below are my professional goals for the coming year as the Director of Religious Education. Because each of us, whether directly as parents and guardians or indirectly as WHC members, is invested in the growth and success of our Religious School, I invite you to share your ideas and reactions with me at any time. I also encourage you to set your own goals for the New Year in whatever fashion resonates most — and to consider using one of your goals to explore more of what WHC offers you and your family! After each of my own goals, I’ve included a guiding question that might help you consider your own. Goal #1: Develop a sense of unity among the leadership and faculty of the Religious School. As you may have heard, Michal Limonchik joined our team this summer as the new Religious School Educator for the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center campus. We are blessed to have an incredibly dynamic, passionate, and capable team. Still, transitions do not unfold overnight, and changes — even under the best of circumstances — take time. As a new team, we will spend the year learning what it means to work together in full collaboration. We will focus our attention and effort towards fostering and maintaining a healthy, positive, and highly productive Religious School team. I look forward to this process and recognize the intention it will require throughout the year. I am very confident that come July it will feel as though our team has been working together for ages — in a good way!
In what ways can you strengthen important relationships in your life? Goal #2: Revamp and invigorate Family Worship at WHC. This year we are implementing a new style of Family Worship for families with children in grades 3–7 (though older and younger students are certainly invited). The clergy team and I believe worship opportunities can provide an incredibly meaningful way for families to connect and recharge. Washington Hebrew Congregation is uniquely positioned to offer worship experiences that help families tap into a moving, spiritual place within. Yet I also recognize that change takes time. My goal is to engage families in this exciting endeavor, offering meaningful chances to connect with one another, ourselves, and our Judaism. The potential impact is incredible, and I’m excited to see how it goes! Continued on page 21.
WHC Journal – September 2016 | Page 11
In September …
WHC Programs & Events Featured Programs
Celebrate Selichot with a Dinner, Concert, and Service
Saturday, September 17, 7:00 pm at Temple
Begin the spiritual odyssey of the High Holy Days with us at this beautiful, candlelit service that includes prayers and poetry on the theme of forgiveness. This service is part of a special evening that opens with a community dinner and concert by Mattan Klein. See page 6 for more information.
Spiritual Boot Camp
Get your soul in shape and begin 5777 with enhanced attention, equanimity, patience, and gratitude. WHC clergy and gifted teacher Linda Thal will use Jewish texts and exercises that focus on ancient Jewish practices of reflection, learning, meditation, and movement to prepare our bodies and minds for the New Year. See page 7 for more information.
RSVP preferred (no charge) whctemple.org/SpiritualBootCamp Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303
Amram Scholar Series Presents: Germans & Jews
Thursday, September 22, 6:30 pm at Temple
Join us for the Washington, D.C. premiere of the critically acclaimed documentary Germans & Jews. Launching the 2016-2017 Amram Scholar Series, a reception hosted by Ambassador Peter Wittig and Mrs. Huberta von Voss-Wittig will precede the screening and a discussion with the filmmakers will follow. See page 9 for more information. RSVP preferred (no charge) whctemple.org/Amram Layne Weiss: lweiss@whctemple.org, 202-985-6307
Good Food. Good People. Good Conversation – Shabbat Dinner with WHC President David & Debbie Astrove Friday, September 23, 7:00 pm at the Astrove’s home
Join WHC President David Astrove and his wife, Debbie, at their home for a Shabbat dinner. Held monthly, each dinner is limited to just 12 people. It is a casual way for a few WHC members to get to know one another — and the Astroves — around their table over Shabbat dinner. See page 7 for more information.
RSVP required (no charge) whctemple.org/DinnerwithDavid David Astrove: president@whctemple.org, 202-895-6301
WHC Books welcomes author Steven Pressman
Saturday, September 24 5:00 pm Dinner, 6:30 pm Concert, 7:30 pm Service at Temple
Registration required for dinner only ($) whctemple.org/Selichot Beth Donaldson: bdonaldson@whcgtemple.org, 202-895-6309
Special Worship Experiences
Tot Shabbat
Friday, September 2, 6:00 pm at JBSC Friday, September 23, 5:30 pm at Temple
WHC’s clergy lead a fun, interactive service that engages our youngest worshippers and their families with prayers, songs, and stories.
whctemple.org/TotShabbat Fran Miller: fmiller@whctemple.org, 301-279-7505
Shirei Shabbat
Friday, September 23, 6:00 pm at Temple
Shirei Shabbat (Shabbat of Songs), is an engaging monthly musical service that features the incredible voices of our cantors. With upbeat music and more English, it’s a delightful way to welcome Shabbat.
whctemple.org/Worship Beth Donaldson: bdonaldson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6309
2239’s Metro Minyan
Friday, September 23, 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-as-you-are service starts at 7:00 pm and is followed by dinner. RSVP preferred for all. Registration required for dinner only ($) whctemple.org/2239 Valerie Hillman: vhillman@whctemple.org
Community Memorial Service
Sunday, September 25, 10:00 am at Memorial Park Sunday, October 9, 10:00 am at Garden of Remembrance
During the Days of Awe and reflection, our clergy lead services at our cemeteries to remember and honor the memory of loved ones. Bus transportation is provided.
RSVP required for bus transportation only (no charge) whctemple.org/Worship Nancy Misler: nmisler@whctemple.org, 202-895-6342
Lifelong Learning Early Torah Study
Every Saturday at 9:00 am at Temple
Tuesday, 9/27, 7 pm at Temple RSVP to Ellen Share eshare@whctemple.org or 301-354-3212 Page 12 | WHC Journal – September 2016
Study the weekly Torah portion with our rabbis and cantors. No preparation, special training, or previous experience is necessary, only an open mind and a willingness to share ideas.
whctemple.org/TorahStudy Layne Weiss: lweiss@whctemple.org, 202-895-6307
In September …
WHC Programs & Events Conversational Hebrew (Beginners)
Repentance, Forgiveness, Personal Change: Entering the Days of Awe
Ideal for those with no knowledge of or familiarity with Hebrew. An innovative instructional method emphasizes conversation over decoding the aleph bet.
The educators of Mechon Hadar in NYC will lead a half-day workshop about many of the most crucial questions Jews ask during the High Holy Days. Judaism places enormous emphasis on personal change, but changing can seem impossibly hard — even when we sincerely want to.
Mondays, beginning September 12, 10:00 am at Temple Thursdays, beginning September 15, 11:15 am at JBSC
Registration required ($) whctemple.org/Hebrew Gerdy Trachtman: gerdyt@erols.com, 301-762-6994
12 Jewish Questions
Mondays, beginning September 12, 6:30 pm at Temple
This (re)introduction to adult-level Judaism is a learning community for adults — Jewish and non-Jewish — who have questions about Jewish identity, beliefs, culture, and customs.
Registration required ($) whctemple.org/12JQ Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303
Back to Basics
Tuesdays, beginning September 13, 7:30 pm at Temple Wednesdays, beginning September 14, 10:00 am at JBSC Wednesdays, beginning September 14, 7:30 pm at JBSC
Uncover the answers to the “why” behind Judaism as you dig deep into holidays, life cycle events, history, theology, Jewish religious movements, Torah laws, the Mishnah, the Talmud, and Kabbalah.
Sunday, September 25, 1:00 at the Edlavitch DCJCC
Registration required ($) washingtondcjcc.org/jewish-living Sara Shalva: saras@edcjcc.org, 202-777-3249
Opportunities for Adults to Engage Kol Rinah Rehearsal
Wednesdays, September 7, 7:30 pm at JBSC
Do you love Jewish music and singing? Join us weekly to practice, learn, laugh, and of course, sing and lend your voice to special musical Shabbat services.
RSVP required (no charge) whctemple.org/KolRinah Beth Donaldson: bdonaldson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6309
Up on the Roof at CityCenter with The Boomers Friday, September 9, 6:30 pm at CityCenter
Join The Boomers for an elegant Shabbat evening under the stars at exclusive CityCenter in downtown Washington, D.C.
Registration required ($) whctemple.org/BacktoBasics Gerdy Trachtman: gerdyt@erols.com, 301-762-6994
Registration required by September 6. whctemple.org/Boomers Beth Donaldson: bdonaldson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6309
Conversational Hebrew (Intermediate/Advanced)
Prime Timers Luncheon & Program
Practice and improve conversational Hebrew skills. The ability to read or write Hebrew is not necessary.
Foreign Policy and the 2016 Election: A discussion with Robert J. Lieber, Georgetown University professor of government and international relations and author of Retreat and its Consequences: American Foreign Policy and the Problem of World Order.
Thursdays, beginning September 15, 10:00 am at JBSC Registration required ($) whctemple.org/Hebrew Gerdy Trachtman: gerdyt@erols.com, 301-762-6994
POTLUCK
BRUNCH
Sunday, September 11 1100 am - 100 pm
Bring your favorite potluck brunch dish to share. Presented in collaboration by Couples Club & WHC’s Early Childhood Centers. - FREE WITH CONTRIBUTION OF BRUNCH DISH -
Hosted by Danielle & Jonathan Barr in Bethesda, Maryland
- ADDRESS AVAILABLE UPON REPLY -
RSVP whctemple.org/CouplesClub
Monday, September 19, 12:30 pm at Temple
Registration required ($) whctemple.org/PrimeTimers Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303
Tikkun Olam The Unity Walk
Sunday, September 11, 12:30 pm at Temple and in D.C.
People of all faiths and cultures will come to WHC for a service fair and opening program before walking together down Mass. Ave. where houses of worship and cultural centers open their doors with music, food, and friendship. The event ends with a closing program at the Islamic Center. Registration preferred ($) ifcmw.org Layne Weiss: lweiss@whctemple.org, 202-895-6307
Community Issues/Social Action Meeting
Wednesday, September 14, 7:30 pm at Temple
Join committee members for an in-depth discussion of social action issues, and to take part in planning social justice and interfaith relationship-strengthening activities and events.
whctemple.org/CISA Layne Weiss: lweiss@whctemple.org, 202-895-6307
WHC Journal – September 2016 | Page 13
In September …
WHC Programs & Events Youth
WHC Hunger Project
Sunday, September 25, 1:00 pm at JBSC
Put on a hair net, gloves, and apron and help us package more than 12,000 meals in just a few hours as we make an immediate, meaningful impact for people right here in the D.C. metro area.
RSVP required (no charge) whctemple.org/HungerProject hungerproject@whctemple.org, 202-362-7100
Culture & the Arts
Sisterhood Literary Group Presents: Henna House – with Author Nomi Eve Friday, September 16, 10:00 am at JBSC
Nomi Eve will join us via Skype to discuss her novel. From the traditions of the mid-20th century Yemenite Jews, to the far-ranging devastation of the Holocaust, to the birth of the State of Israel, Henna House is an unforgettable coming-of-age story and a textured chronicle of a fascinating period in time.
RSVP preferred (no charge) whctemple.org/Sisterhood Susan Adland: sfadland@gmail.com
8th Grade Ropes Course Program
Sunday, September 11, 9:15 am at an outside location
Eighth graders will get their pre-Confirmation class off to a fun start at a challenge course, where they will spend the day getting to know each other better, working together to achieve greatness, and testing their limits.
RSVP required (no charge for registered students) whctemple.org/PreConfirmation Ira Miller: imiller@whctemple.org, 301-354-3209
3rd and 4th Grade Challah Baking at Religious School Sunday, September 25, 9:30 am at Temple
Each year, our 3rd and 4th grade students braid challah dough for the Congregation to enjoy each Shabbat. After braiding the challah, it will be frozen until it’s time to bake a loaf (or two) in advance of Friday night services.
whctemple.org/ReligiousSchool Jonathan Honigman: jhonigman@whctemple.org, 301-354-3223
6th Grade Walking Tour of Jewish Historic Washington Sunday, September 25, 10:00 am at Sixth & I
WHC Books Presents: 50 Children – with Author Steven Pressman
Tuesday, September 27, 7:00 pm at Temple
Based on his acclaimed HBO documentary, Steven Pressman joins us to discuss his book and share the astonishing, true story of how an American couple — Eleanor and Gilbert Straus — rescued 50 Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Austria in 1939. RSVP preferred (no charge) whctemple.org/WHCBooks Ellen Share: eshare@whctemple.org, 301-354-3212
Families
6th graders and their parents are invited to join us for a special walking tour through Washington, D.C.’s Jewish history, led by the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington. This program is held in lieu of regular 6th grade classes at Temple and JBSC.
whctemple.org/ReligiousSchool Jonathan Honigman: jhonigman@whctemple.org, 301-354-3223
7 Days / 7 Dinners with WHECTY
Thursday, September 29, 6:30 pm, location TBD
Get ready to welcome the New Year with your friends. All 9th through 12th graders are invited to attend this pre-Rosh Hashanah dinner.
RSVP required ($) whctemple.org/WHECTY Ira Miller: imiller@whctemple.org, 301-354-3209
Potluck Brunch with Couples Club & ECCs Sunday, September 11, 11:00 am in Bethesda
Bring your family and celebrate the fall at a potluck brunch presented in collaboration with Couples Club and WHC’s Early Childhood Centers.
Registration required (no charge) whctemple.org/CouplesClub Marsha Humphries: mhumphries@whctemple.org, 202-895-6303
Sisterhood Literary Group
Featuring author Nomi Eve via Skype
Friday, 9/16 10am at JBSC RSVP to Susan Adland sfadland@gmail.com Page 14 | WHC Journal – September 2016
OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY What’s the impact of screen time? Is there a balance that works?
Film Screening: Tuesday, 9/13, 7pm at JBSC RSVP: whctemple.org/Screenagers
CARRIE SIMON HOUSE Summer 2016
HELPING HOMELESS MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN BUILD BETTER LIVES
Board of Directors Deborah G. Astrove Nancy Robinson Breuer Nicole Goodman Johnson Jamie Hanenbaum Groban Melinda Halpert Janet Katz Mia Kogan, MD Lissa Levin James Smith Cortney Weinbaum
News From the House Our moms and kids experience milestones big and small, and we help them celebrate their wins and appreciate their accomplishments. This year, one of our moms achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA at a Washington university where she is an undergraduate student. (Her name and school are withheld to protect her privacy.) In addition, our Case Manager Nicole Goodman Johnson graduated from UDC David A. Clarke School of Law. Congratulations to them both!
On Friday, March 4, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser joined the clergy and congregation of Washington Hebrew Congregation to celebrate Carrie Simon House at a special Shabbat service. Mayor Bowser said that homelessness makes all of life’s challenges feel insurmountable to those experiencing it. She said secure and stable housing allows homeless residents to focus on other goals, like job training and their physical and mental health. Continued on page 16.
Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks at Carrie Simon House Shabbat (Photo credit: WHC)
An evening of celebration with (from left to right): Pastor Adrienne Smith, alumna Tasha Hunt, House Manager Nydia Givens, Executive Director Janet Katz, Case Manager Nicole Goodman Johnson, and alumna Tareice Lee. (Photo credit: WHC)
Carrie Simon House, Inc., is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. All donations are 100% tax deductible. WHC Journal – September 2016 | Page 15
Summer 2016
CARRIE SIMON HOUSE
Ways you can help Donate at www.carriesimonhouse.org Send a gift. Our Amazon wish list contains items we need. Visit it at https://amzn.com/w/P3GN585EPM4X 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 cooking and nutrition, child development, resume and interview skills, financial literacy, and other life skills. We also need website help and grant writers. Plan a fundraising event. Do you enjoy planning social events or community events? We welcome your ideas or you can help plan one of ours.
(continued) Rabbi Bruce Lustig described Carrie Simon House as a “sacred space where women of our community have shelter” since it was founded in 1988. Nicole Goodman Johnson, Carrie Simon House’s case manager and board member, described her own experience CSH alumna Tericka Powell talks about growing up homeless and her experiences (Photo credit: WHC) rising above the poverty line. She explained that women arrive at Carrie Simon House with all of their belongings in a plastic bag. Some of them have never seen or used a dresser to store clothes. She said, “When a new resident enters the program, she only knows how to survive. Carrie Simon House teaches her how to live.”
Engage children in community service projects. Children love getting involved and helping others. Engage a school group of any age in a service event with Carrie Simon House. Show off your penmanship. Volunteer from home by helping us thank our donors and manage correspondence. Join our email list. Receive this newsletter, invitations to events and volunteer opportunities, and Carrie Simon House updates.
Upcoming Events Email Carrie.Simon.DC@gmail.com for details Sep 19, 6:30pm: Volunteer Committee Meeting at WHC Nov 7: Washington Hebrew Congregation Early Childhood Center mini-walk Sep through Nov: Washington Hebrew Congregation Religious School fundraiser www.carriesimonhouse.org Page 16 | WHC Journal – September 2016
Nicole Goodman Johnson speaks about her experiences with homelessness (Photo credit: WHC)
A beautiful three minute video of the evening is available online at: https://youtu.be/Z0SGfxZey8I.
Thank you! Thank you to all of our cherished donors who made our Shabbat celebration special, including: BB&T Bank Eagle Bank Capital One Revere Bank DC Central Kitchen
WHC Journal – September 2016 | Page 17
Life Cycle
Congratulations to… Janet & Jeff Abramson, on the birth of their granddaughter, Hailey Frances Abramson; and to Hailey’s parents, Catherine & Michael Abramson; maternal grandparents, Sallie & Jim Bear; and great-grandmother, Gloria Sterling.
Kathleen Cole, on the marriage of her son, Daniel Cole, to Kristin Werdann. Kristin is the daughter of Barbara Kay Werdann & Francis Joseph Werdann III, and Daniel is also the son of the late Daniel Randolph Cole II. Ashley & Aaron Fisher, on the naming of their daughter, Penelope London Fisher (Faye Leah); and to Penelope’s grandparents, Elysa & Donald Fisher and Margaret & Alan Lerner. Shelley Singer & Michael Gross, on the marriage of their son, Josh Singer, to Alexa Genkin; and to Josh’s father, David Singer; and Alexa’s parents, Lisa & Larry Genkin. Dawn & Matt Jessel, on the birth and naming of their son, Jackson Ryder Jessel (Benjamin Gideon); and to Jackson’s big brother, Dylan; grandparents, Arlene Karpas, Alan Karpas, Lewis Selis, and Rhonda & Peter Jessel; and great-grandmother Ruth Selis. Natalie Ram & Samuel Philipson, on the birth of their son, Asher Matthew Philipson; and to Asher’s grandparents, Michal & Jeffrey Ram and Julia Davis & Robert Philipson; and great-grandmother, Selma Philipson.
Our Sincerest Condolences… Elaine Levy Herold, mother of Arthur Herold (Janice) and Rita Herold Hankins; grandmother of Ashley Herold Grobosky and Spencer Herold. Stanley Mayer, husband of Jane West; father of Jonathan Mayer (Joan) and Emily Mayer (Marc Stern); brother of Yvonne Cohen (Steve). Barbara Joyce Morowitz, wife of Dr. David Morowitz; mother of Joel Morowitz and Nancy Morowitz. Ethel Zauderer, mother of Don Zauderer (Judith) and Philip Zauderer (Karen O’Malia).
…may their memory be a blessing.
Grieving a Recent Loss? WHC Bereavement Group Offers Support Grief can be devastating, but we know that shared experience and education can be helpful during bereavement. WHC’s Bereavement Support Group, facilitated by Erica Berger, LICSW, provides mutual support and education to those who have experienced a loss during the last 18 months. Limited in size to eight participants, the program, sponsored by the Edlavtich-Tyser Family Relations Forum, will be held at Temple at 7:00 pm on Tuesdays, from October 25 – December 6. It recognizes each person’s unique way of grieving and provides a confidential and respectful environment for the bereaved to explore his or her feelings, begin working through complex issues of loss, and start to heal. If you would like to participate, please contact Layne Weiss by Tuesday, October 18 at 202-895-6307 or lweiss@whctemple.org.
Page 18 | WHC Journal – September 2016
Mazel Tov to WHC’s September B'nei Mitzvah Spencer Jayne Ellis September 3, Havdalah Spencer, an eighth grade student at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School, is the daughter of Susan Ellis and Avery Ellis; the sister of Ryan; and the granddaughter of Rita Liebowitz, Elisheva Ellis, Howard Ellis, and the late Jerome Cohen.
Jacob Ethan Namath September 10, Morning Jacob, a seventh grade student at Herbert Hoover Middle School, is the son of Rabbis Susan Shankman & Michael Namath; the brother of Isabel and Evie; and the grandson of Phyllis & Michael Shankman and Beverly & the late Norman Namath.
Cooper Nathaniel Sosin September 17, Morning Cooper, a seventh grade student at Julius West Middle School, is the son of Jill & Jerry Sosin; the brother of Riley and Olivia; and the grandson of Rita & Eduard Sosin and the late Rochelle & Irving Blum.
Kevin Matthew Friedman September 17, Havdalah Kevin, an eighth grade student at Cabin John Middle School, is the son of Karen & Sanford Friedman; the brother of Jason and Melissa; and the grandson of Barbara Kenner, Harris Kenner, Don Friedman, and the late Flo Friedman.
Samantha F. Albert September 10, Havdalah Sammy, an eighth grade student at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School, is the daughter of Mary Coller Albert & Russ Albert; the sister of Molly; and the granddaughter of Henrietta Albert and the late Murray Albert, Sandy Coller, and Fred Coller.
Eli Brandon Schwartz September 17, Havdalah Eli, an eighth grade student at Sidwell Friends School, is the son of Amy Goldberg & Andrew Schwartz; the brother of Ben and Daniel; and the grandson of Nancy & Gerald Goldberg, Joseph Schwartz, and the late Shirley Schwartz.
Jackson Philip Lubar September 10, Havdalah Jackson, a seventh grade student at Cabin John Middle School, is the son of Todd Lubar and Jill & Jonathan Pearlman; the brother of Evie; the stepbrother of Zach and Abby; and the grandson of Barbara & Michael Greenberg, Paul & Terry Lubar, and JoAnn & Stanley Pearlman.
Whitney Susan Phillips Klein September 24, Morning Whitney, an eighth grade student at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, is the daughter of Elise & William Klein; the sister of Aliya; the granddaughter of Anita & Donald Klein, Beth Stoddard & the late Doug Trottier, Nancy & Thomas Phillips; and the greatgranddaughter of Rose Oshinsky. WHC Journal – September 2016 | Page 19
Contributions
We gratefully acknowledge the following contributions, received through July 28. To make a contribution to any of Washington Hebrew Congregation’s funds, please visit whctemple.org/donate. H. Max & Stephen C. Ammerman Performing Arts Fund
Donor In Honor Of: Andrew Ammerman Eli Collin’s Birthday Miriam Comer’s Birthday Joyce & Sidney Levine’s Anniversary
Lillian & Alfred Bennett Fine Arts Endowment Fund
Donor Mr. & Mrs. John Zeller
Florence & Norman Brody Archives Endowment Fund Donor Dr. & Mrs. Michael Brody
In Memory Of: Solomon Zeller
In Memory Of: Frances Brody
Jane Burka Sisterhood Leadership Fund
Donor In Honor Of: Mildred & Howard Amer Daniel Amer & Julia Abelkop’s Engagement Donor In Memory Of: Kathy & Jody Dreyfuss Clarice Levy Edmund Dreyfuss Miriam Feldman
Cantorial & Concert Fund
Donor Barbara Polansky Donor In Honor Of: Constance M. Burtoff Cantor Manevich Marion Kraskin Dina Manevich & Michael Sharnoff’s Marriage A. Joseph & Veda Levy Barbara Berman’s Special Birthday Deena Kaplan’s Recovery The Scheineson Family Dina Manevich & Michael Sharnoff’s Marriage Donor In Memory Of: Phyllis Dreyfuss Bess La Borwit Lydia Gillman Marjorie Gillman Gordon S. Golder & Anne C. Golder May Golder A. Joseph & Veda Levy Annette Bronrott Clarice Levy Judith Oppenheim Louis L. Homer Barbara & Ray Sherbill Donald Blechman Mel & Lan Swerdloff Pauline Meisner
Empty Nesters Fund
Donor Carol & Roy Nerenberg Linda & Al Neuman Eleanor Palmer Sondra Snyder Marcia Weinberg Helenfae Zatcoff
General Fund
In Memory Of: Sonia “Sonny” Hirshfeld Sonia “Sonny” Hirshfeld Sonia “Sonny” Hirshfeld Sonia “Sonny” Hirshfeld Sonia “Sonny” Hirshfeld Harriet Strasberg
Donor Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Jacobson James A. Marples Donor In Honor Of: Amy Goldberg & Andrew Schwartz Bar Mitzvah of Eli Brandon Schwartz Donor In Memory Of: Mr. & Mrs. Byrle Abbin Harry Benson Michael Backenheimer Rosa Backenheimer Mitch Berliner Rose Schiff Dr. & Mrs. F. Norman Berry Joseph Cohen Marjorie & Harold Bingham Morris M. Danziger I. C. Fuchs Page 20 | WHC Journal – September 2016
General Fund
Donor In Memory Of: Marjorie & Harold Bingham Gertrude F. Rosenthal Max P. Rosenthal James & Daphne Bloomberg Herman S. Bloomberg Lynne A. Davidson Charlotte C. Davidson Dr. Blaine Harold Blaine Selma Blaine Sylvia R. Gasperow Goldie K. Shakewitz Barbara Gordon Herb Gordon Rebecca Fox & David Gottesman Miriam Feldman Brad Kleinman Joseph Kleinman Arthur & Tina Lazerow David E. Lazerow Ellen & Alan Lescht Marvin Jacobson Ilene Leventhal Julius Epstein Rose Epstein Louis Levy & Wilma Probst Bernard Cohen Barbara Luchs David Alphonse Baer Hollis Nesbit Scott & Rita Cohen Ronald Nessen Ida Nessen Carol Schwartz Blanche Schwartz Leslie Shapiro Leonard Shapiro Linda Shapiro Dorothy Sacks Rochelle R. Siegel Allen G. Siegel Barbara & Sandy Silverman Freida Silverman Bob Sitrick Geraldine Sitrick Peter Yeskel Evelyn Yeskel
Goodman Public Issues Forum Fund
Donor Joan Churchill Donor Joan Churchill
In Honor Of: Elizabeth & David Christopher Beazley’s Anniversary David Churchill’s Birthday Lily & Carlos Landau’s Anniversary In Memory Of: Sonia “Sonny” Hirshfeld Hon. Norma L. Shapiro
Rabbi Joui Hessel Fund for Engagement
Donor In Honor Of: Harriet & Shelly Contract Birth of Maren Faith Hexter Sherry Sundick Birth of Maren Faith Hexter
Carol Kellner ECC Memorial Fund
In Memory Of: Nathan Lazer
Kol Rinah Choir
Donor In Honor Of: Dr. Barbara B. & Murray R. Stein Dina Manevich & Michael Sharnoff’s Marriage Donor In Memory Of: Dana Jo & Marvin Mermelstein Hannah Kahn
Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig Scholarship Fund
Donor Martha Gross Michael Gross
In Honor Of: Rabbi Lustig Rabbi Lustig
Zena Mason Education Fund Donor Linda Haft
In Honor Of: Ava & Jane Umansky’s RJWECC Year
Mitzvah Day
Donor Betsy Grossman
Donor Louis Kornhauser Suzy & Al Morris Lillian Smuckler
In Memory Of: Jacob Kornhauser Ruth Force Clarice Levy Harry Zembrosky
Albert & Scott Pelmoter Youth Scholarship Fund Donor Allie & Matthew Ammerman Gail A. Edelsohn, MD David Egeland Melvin & Roz Kalmans Renee Schectman Susan Spira Silvia Vettese
Sylvia & Saul Ritzenberg Humanitarian Fund
Donor Cathy & Scot McCulloch
In Memory Of: David “Joe” Pelmoter David “Joe” Pelmoter David “Joe” Pelmoter David “Joe” Pelmoter David “Joe” Pelmoter David “Joe” Pelmoter David “Joe” Pelmoter
In Memory Of: Clarice Levy
Abe & Sylvia Shrinsky Creative Worship Program Fund Donor Faith & Jim Kirk
In Memory Of: Helene S. Kirk
Abram Simon Elementary School Camp Fund
Donor In Honor Of: Harriet & Shelly Contract Daniel Amer & Julia Abelkop’s Engagement
Carrie Simon House
Donor Justin Barstein & Stephanie Purisch Donor In Memory Of: Barbara S. Landow Edith K. Siegel Della & Michael Budow Elsie Jaret Moritz Cohen, Jr. Haidee Steinhardt Ron & Susan Karp Zelda Karp Ronald & Phyllis West Hannah Grossman
Sisterhood Youth, Education & Enrichment Fund
Israel Quest
Donor Pastor Scott A. Ryan Donor Bessie Wool
Stephanie Morris Prime Timers Programming Fund
In Memory Of: Saul Vuni Barmash Beatrice Nevin Miriam Feldman
Donor Louise Bittker
In Memory Of: Sonia “Sonny” Hirshfeld
C. Haskell & Ruth Behrend Small Music Fund
Donor In Honor Of: Constance M. Burtoff Sherry Sundick’s Special Birthday Donor In Memory Of: Sherry Sundick Barbara Burtoff
Tikkun Olam Values (TOV) Fund
Donor In Honor Of: Susan, David, Carlyn & Harris Rosenblum William Landis’ Special Birthday Donor In Memory Of: Linda & Ron Recht Tobee Wynne Kaplan The Shandler Family David “Joe” Pelmoter William & Pollly Sherard Ruth & Simon Dancyger
Rabbi Joseph Weinberg Young Leadership Community Service Fund
Donor Moritz Cohen, Jr. Linda & Roy Green Ron & Jane Katz Marcia Levey
In Memory Of: Virginia L. Krinsky Sylvia Green Max LeShay Beatrice Nevin Meyer Schofer Rose Schofer
WHC Hunger Project
Donor Sylvia Harris Susan Sall
In Memory Of: Barbara Burtoff Martin Hertz Ronald M. Sall
A Global Sisterhood: Investing in Women for Peace, Prosperity, and Progress
Worship & Music Fund
Donor In Honor Of: The Children of Miriam Feldman Cantor Bortnick Rabbi Lustig Cantor Manevich Constance M. Burtoff Rabbi Skloot The Family of Eugene Cowen Rabbi Lustig Rabbi Skloot The Willner Family Harry Alexander Donor In Memory Of: Gerdy Trachtman Lester Trachtman Eve & Nate Wallace Henry Tovey Dr. & Mrs. Allan B. Weingold Irving Weingold Layne, Rachel, Ryan, Brian, Ilyssa & Ethan Harlan L. Weiss Ellen & Bruce Winston & Family Dr. Jerome Footer
Keynote: Pamela Reeves Keyn
Advisor to Melinda Gates
RSVP & Information: whctemple.org/Sisterhood
WHC Sisterhood’s Fall Luncheon Tuesday, October 25, 11 am, JBSC
Ivy Zola’s Help-a-Friend Fund
Donor In Memory Of: Gordon S. Golder & Anne C. Golder Michael Jeffrey Golder Ellis & Mildred April Family Miriam Feldman
Upat on the Roof CityCenterDC
Rabbi’s Reflection
(continued from page 3)
We need to remind ourselves that in this crazy, divisive world, we are all on the same journey in the same boat. And it is only when we realize that we share the opportunity to grow together that we will cross the seas of conflict and find the shores of a better tomorrow. Then, when we hear the shofar this year, we will be ready to make it a sweet New Year where we can embrace the other as our sister or our brother. Shalom.
President’s Column
(continued from page 4)
Finally, I want to thank all of our talented staff who have been the moving force behind the new look and feel of our Journal. As I have mentioned before, it is my strong belief that communication is the foundation of our relationships, and anything we can do to increase the quality of our communication receives my whole-hearted support. I wish each of you a wonderful end to 5776 and look forward to worshiping together during the High Holy Days to bring in an exceptional 5777 filled with joy, meaning and fulfillment.
Friday, September 9 at 6:30 pm Price: $22 (includes a brief Shabbat celebration, dinner, and wine bar) Register: whctemple.org/Boomers by Tuesday, September 6 Questions? Beth Donaldson, bdonaldson@whctemple.org, 202-895-6309
Stephanie Tankel, Director of Religious Education
(continued from page 11)
How can you infuse your life with more spirituality in the coming year? Goal #3: Retain ALL students post-B’nei Mitzvah. Most congregations can keep barely 25% of their post-B’nei Mitzvah students engaged. Some don’t even offer formal post-B’nei Mitzvah education. What happens at WHC is rare: we have an average post-B’nei Mitzvah retention rate of over 50% and have expanded our existing educational model through Post Confirmation. What we do for our 8th – 12th grade students is exceptional. Yet our ambition should be greater. This year’s unattainable goal is to find a way to retain ALL of our post-B’nei Mitzvah students. Different types of community building and outreach will be involved, along with examining our current structure. This goal demands team effort and patience. Luckily, we are blessed with an incredible team and very supportive lay leadership. I am eager to tackle this ongoing project with humility and tenacity. Any chance you can help?
What does it mean to be part of a thriving intergenerational Jewish community? Needless to say, these goals are not the sum of the coming year’s work or focus. They are a taste, though. Perhaps even a big bite! May this New Year, 5777, be a good one — filled with goals to keep you striving, a sense of fulfillment, and peace.
WHC Journal – September 2016 | Page 21
September 2016 Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
4
11
9:15am 8th Grade Program (OUT) 11:00am Couples Club/ECC Potluck Brunch (OUT) 1:30pm Unity Walk (M and OUT)
9:30am First Day of Religious School (M and B)
18
25
9:30am Religious School (M and B) 1:00pm Mechon Hadar Pre-High Holy Day Workshop (OUT) 1:00pm WHC Hunger Project (B)
Labor Day Offices Closed (M & B)
10:00am Conversational Hebrew (M) 6:30pm 12JQ (M)
5
12
19
10:00am Conversational Hebrew (M) 12:30pm Prime Timers Luncheon and Program (M) 6:30pm 12JQ (M) 7:00pm RJWECC Back to School Night (B)
10:00am Conversational Hebrew (M) 6:30pm 12JQ (M)
26
6
9:15am First Day of School for RJWECC (B) 6:30pm WHECTY Board Meeting (M)
13
10:00am Sisterhood Meeting (M) 6:30pm Showing of Screenagers Film for Upper School, Parents, and the Community (B) 7:00pm Red Stone (M) 7:30pm Back to Basics (M)
20
4:30pm First Day of Hebrew School (B) 6:30pm 8th Grade Pre-Confirmation (B) 7:30pm Back to Basics (M)
4:30pm Hebrew School (B) 6:30pm Confirmation and Post Confirmation (M) 7:00pm WHC Books (M) 7:30pm Back to Basics (M)
27
6:30pm E-T ECC Back to School Night (M) 7:30pm Kol Rinah Practice (B)
7
14
10:00am Back to Basics (B) 7:30pm Back to Basics (B) 7:30pm Community Issues/Social Action Meeting (M) 7:30pm Kol Rinah Practice (B)
21
10:00am Back to Basics (B) 1:00pm Wednesday Study Group (M) 4:30pm First Day of Hebrew School (M) 7:30pm Back to Basics (B) 7:30pm Kol Rinah Practice (B)
10:00am Back to Basics (B) 1:00pm Wednesday Study Group (M) 4:30pm Hebrew School (M) 7:30pm Back to Basics (B)
28
Services: 10:00am Memorial Service at Memorial Park Page 22 | WHC Journal – September 2016
B: Julia Bindeman Suburban Center
M: Temple
OUT: Not at a WHC location
Thursday
Friday
9:00am RJWECC “Meet Your Teachers (B)
1
Saturday
2
10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B) 5:00pm Tot Shabbat Family Dinner (B)
Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) 5:30pm Afternoon Service & Havdalah (M) Bat Mitzvah of Spencer Ellis
Services: 6:00pm Shabbat Service (M) 6:00pm Tot Shabbat (B)
8
9
10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B) 6:30pm Boomers Shabbat Dinner (OUT)
15
16
10:00am Sisterhood Literary Group (B) 10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B) 4:00pm NFTY-MAR JELLO (OUT - through Sunday)
22
29
10:00am Conversational Hebrew: Beginning (B) 11:15am Conversational Hebrew: Intermediate/Advanced (B) 6:30pm WHECTY’s 7 Days/7 Dinners (OUT)
10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B) 4:00pm 9th Grade Retreat (OUT - through Sunday) 6:00pm Tot Shabbat Family Dinner (M) 7:00pm “Dinner with David” (OUT)
23
Services: 5:30pm Lay Led Service (M) 5:30pm Tot Shabbat (M) 6:00pm Shirei Shabbat (M) 6:15pm 2239’s Metro Minyan (OUT) 10:30am Sisterhood Mah Jongg (B)
7:00pm Spiritual Boot Camp (M)
17
Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) Bar Mitzvah of Cooper Sosin 5:30pm Afternoon Service & Havdalah (M) B’nei Mitzvah of Kevin Friedman and Eli Schwartz
Services: 5:30pm Lay Led Service (M) 6:00pm Shabbat Service (M) 10:00am Conversational Hebrew: Beginning (B) 11:15am Conversational Hebrew: Intermediate/Advanced (B) 6:30pm Amram Opening Program: Germans & Jews – History is the Memory of a People Film and Panel Discussion (M)
10 Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) Bar Mitzvah of Jacob Namath 5:30pm Afternoon Service & Havdalah (M) B’nei Mitzvah of Samantha Albert and Jackson Lubar
Services: 5:30pm Lay Led Service (M) 6:00pm Shabbat Service (M) 10:00am Conversational Hebrew: Beginning (B) 11:15am Conversational Hebrew: Intermediate/Advanced (B)
3
24
5:00pm Selichot Dinner Hosted by the EmptyNesters (M) 6:30pm Mattan Klein Concert – Pollin Music Opening Program (M) Services: 9:00am Early Torah (M) 10:30am Shabbat Service (M) Bat Mitzvah of Whitney Klein 7:30pm Selichot Service (M)
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Services: 5:30pm Lay Led Service (M) 6:00pm Shabbat Service (M) WHC Journal – September 2016 | Page 23
NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID SUBURBAN, MD PERMIT NO. 4240
3935 Macomb Street NW Washington, DC 20016 202-362-7100 whctemple.org facebook.com/whctemple
! New
Rosh Hashanah Oneg Reconnect, schmooze, and nosh your way around Edlavitch Hall as you get to know your Temple in a whole new way.
Selichot Dinner, Concert, & Service
Monday, October 3 1:15 – 2:15 pm
Embrace the next phase of your life.
WISE AGING
This fall, navigate the challenges and opportunities of aging with resilience, resources, support, and wisdom. whctemple.org/WiseAging or 202-895-6303
Saturday, September 24 at Washington Hebrew Congregation
See page six for information and details.