Beth Ami
Colorado Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
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Colorado Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
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August 2005 Newsletter SHALOM TO THE DENVER/BOULDER AREA SECULAR HUMANISTIC JUDAISM COMMUNITY! This newsletter will be published at least four times/year with the goal of communicating events and opinions to inform our members and those interested in celebrating "Jewish culture and identity consistent with a humanistic philosophy of life."* Kindly send submissions by email to sheilamalcolm@earthlink.net. *Check out our website at www.bethami.com PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Barry Levene, President This is my last message as President of Beth Ami. I have decided that two years is enough, and I will not continue to be President after the August congregational meeting. It has been a challenging and learning experience for me, complete with the expected ups and downs, frustrations and successes. I am extremely pleased that Jon Budoff has offered to be a candidate for President. I think he will do a terrific job and I look forward to working closely with him during and after a transition to make Beth Ami even stronger than it is today. When I first took on the job very reluctantly in 2003, I was concerned that Beth Ami was on the verge of dissolution. I did not want to see that happen and decided that to avoid that possibility, I needed to make more of a personal commitment. Becoming President was not my first choice. I had offered to become Treasurer earlier that year and thought that would be a big enough job. I was new to Humanistic Judaism and really did not know many in the congregation. Yet, I thought I could at least provide some consistent leadership and the basic structure that any congregation needs to remain viable. It was my hope that the remainder of the congregation, especially the Executive Committee, would provide additional leadership, ideas, follow-through, and direction that would make up for my shortcomings. So, one major focus was the attempt to conduct regular and substantive Executive Committee meetings. To remain viable any organization has to grow and adapt. If there was any theme to my tenure, it was an interest in bringing in new members, particularly younger ones. To do that, we needed an appealing and unique program and an outreach effort to let people know about the program and our existence. We started a Sunday school with the help of a grant from the national SHJ. We held monthly events, mostly Shabbat services. We initiated a new website that is regularly maintained. We began advertising in the secular media. We held monthly Executive Committee meetings. We reinstituted a liturgy committee to evaluate our services and develop new ones. We attempted without success to engage a rabbi. Although the results of those efforts are mixed, I think there is a bright future if we all keep plugging along and making our individual contributions. Our membership has stabilized. The Sunday school enrollment seems to be growing. We continue to provide quality monthly programs. None of this would be possible without the tremendous amount of help provided by a great many members. No matter what the level or type of your contribution, I thank you. I look forward to seeing you at the congregational meeting in late August at my house where we will once again lay out plans for Beth Ami’s future success.
SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS Aug. 27 Congregational meeting at the home of Barry and Donna Levene 12449 E. Amherst Circle in Aurora at 10 a.m., with potluck lunch to follow. We will select officers, discuss and approve the budget, celebrate our successes and plan for the future. All members have been invited. Sept. 9 Shabbat at 7 p.m. led by Elaine Bloch, with a guest speaker. Details coming soon. Sept. 11 First Sunday School class RMCAD Historical Presentation at 1:30. See below Sept. 18 Executive Committee meets at Elaine Bloch's home at 10 a.m.
HIGH HOLIDAYS Oct. 1 Saturday evening Havdalah Service and potluck dinner with Rabbi Miriam Jerris at 6:00 p.m. in Boulder. Members, potential members from Boulder, and member friends only. Oct. 2 Sunday morning - Executive Committee and any interested members to meet with Rabbi Jerris on congregational development at Elaine Bloch’s from 10 - 1. Afterward those interested could take to the mountains for an afternoon hike, weather permitting, followed by an informal dinner. Oct. 3 Monday evening - Rosh Hashanah Service led by Rabbi Jerris at 7:30 p.m. at the Rotunda Room at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Lakewood. Details to be announced soon. Oct. 4 Tuesday morning - Taschlich Service with Rabbi Jerris at 10:00 a.m., followed by brunch. Details to be announced soon. Oct. 13 Thursday evening - Yom Kippur family service and break-the-fast dinner. Details to be announced soon. Nov. 11 Friday evening - Shabbat service at 7 p.m. Topic to be determined. Calendar events will be updated on the website, www.bethami.com.
ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Every year we have an important meeting of Beth Ami members to elect officers, approve a new budget, and decide what our priorities are for the coming year and how to get them accomplished. This year’s meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. on August 27 at Barry Levene’s house, 12449 E. Amherst Cir., Aurora. The meeting will be followed by lunch. Barry will provide drinks and sandwich makings. All others can bring something to share. Specific directions and an agenda have been provided in an announcement that was either emailed or sent regular mail to all members. Contact Barry for more information and come if you can possibly make it.
BETH AMI SUNDAY SCHOOL Gerrie Karasik, Education Committee Chair We have moved! This year our Sunday school will be held at the Westminster City Park Recreation Center, located at 104th Ave and Sheridan Boulevard. We are very happy that Adam Schonburg will again be both our principal and head teacher. Our first class will be held on Sunday, September 11, from 10:00 to 12:00. In memory of 9/11, the themes will focus on Acceptance of Differences, Respect, and Family. All members are invited to visit the class. We will also be welcoming our new teacher, Suzanne Zarnow, who attended a Humanistic Jewish School in San Diego and was one of the first to be Bat-Mitzvahed there.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION Sunday, September 11, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. The Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society and the Beck Archives, in cooperation with the JCRS Isaac Solomon Historic Synagogue Foundation and the Jewish Genealogical Society, invite you to a special event that explores the history of the Jewish Consumptives Relief Society (JCRS) at the turn of the century, when 'chasing the cure' became an integral part of Colorado history and culture. The event is free and open to the public but reservations are required - RSVP at 303.871.3016. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design 1600 Pierce Street (North of Colfax and Pierce Street) Program highlights include: l Historical overview by Dr. Jeanne Abrams, author of "Blazing the Tuberculosis Trail." l Students in the Visual Sequencing course taught by artist Martin Mendelsberg will showcase their presentation books featuring stories and images based on the lives of patients in the early 20th century. l Tours of the historic JCRS campus and the Isaac Solomon Synagogue. l Refreshments
NEW JEWISH WORDS (with thanks to Gerrie Karasik) 1. JEWBILATION (n.) Pride in finding out that one's favorite celebrity is Jewish.
2. TORAHFIED (n.) Inability to remember one's lines when called to read from the Torah at one's Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
3. SANTA-SHMANTA (n.) The explanation Jewish children get for why they celebrate Hanukkah while the rest of the neighbors celebrate Christmas.
4. MATZILATION (v.) Smashing a piece of matzo to bits while trying to butter it.
5. BUBBEGUM (n.) Candy one's mother gives to her grandchildren that she never gave to her own children.
6. CHUTZPAPA (n.) A father who wakes his wife at 4:00 a.m. so she can change the baby's diaper.
7. DÉJÀ NU (n.) Having the feeling you've seen the same exasperated look on your mother's face, but not knowing exactly when.
8. DISORIYENTA (n.) When Aunt Linda gets lost in a department store and strikes up a conversation with everyone she passes.
9. GOYFER (n.) A Gentile messenger.
10. HEBORT (v.) To forget all the Hebrew one ever learned immediately after one's Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
SUMMER SUMMARIES June 11th Birthday Party Beth Ami celebrated its birthday on Sat., June 11th at Chautauqua Park in Boulder. We mingled with old friends and some prospective new members for a bountiful potluck lunch on a beautiful day. July 15 Shabbat and Tribute to Albert Einstein The Einstein tribute was very enjoyable. The evening started with a candle lighting service dedicated to Einstein. Jon Budoff presented a slide show with information on "Einstein the man vs. Einstein the icon," quotes from Einstein detailing his views on religion and God, and quotes on his thoughts on Judaism. Each member of the audience drew an Einstein quote from a box and shared that quote with the rest of the audience. After the presenta- tion, we drew numbers corresponding to the quotes, and gave away six Einstein bookmarks and a grand prize of Ideas and Opinions, written by Einstein. The evening concluded with a slide show of pictures from Einstein's life that ran during the Oneg Shabbat. August 12 Shabbat and Movie Members and Friends gathered on August 12 at 7:00 p.m. for a short candle lighting ceremony led by Gerrie Karasik, followed by the viewing of a documentary entitled "Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport." Jon Budoff introduced Mark Jonathan Harris' Oscar-winning documentary that told the story of an underground railroad -- the Kindertransport -- that saved the lives of more than 10,000 Jewish children at the dawn of World War II. Narrated by Judi Dench, survivors movingly recounted being taken from their families and sent to live with strangers in the relative safety of England. It was a moving film for those who attended. More movie nights are planned. Do join us next time.
Beth Ami/CCHJ is off to an exciting New Year. Keep in touch!
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Last modified: 11/05/06 |