December 2008 Newsletter

                                              

Join the Hanukah Celebration!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

12 noon at the Malcolm’s

280 S. 39th St. in Boulder

 

We’ll gather to eat, drink and enjoy Hanukah traditions and each other! Things to bring:     

·      Family and friends - and potluck lunch – RSVP to Sheila at 303-499-5933 or sheilamalcolm@comcast.net

·      Canned food for Emergency Family Assistance Assoc.

·      That used White Elephant Gift from the top shelf of your closet, wrapped and ready to hand off!

 

Directions:

From Hwy 36, take first Boulder exit at S. Boulder Rd./Table Mesa. Bear right to the light. Turn left onto Table Mesa Dr. to 39th St. Turn right onto 39th to #280.

From Hwy 93, which becomes Broadway, turn right onto Table Mesa, then a quick left at 39th St. to #280.

From Foothills Hwy, exit at Table Mesa heading west to 39th St.

 

Treasurer Tidbits – Barry Levene

 

The membership drive for 2009 is complete.  The final numbers are 36 households, which include 57 adults and 20 children.  Thanks to all renewing members and a particular thanks and welcome to all new members.  We look forward to your participation and getting to know you better.  New members this year include:

 

Julia Genyuk and Alexander Gorokhovsky      Steven Deutsch and Andrea Seebaum

Michael and Jennifer Gurshtein                   Amelia Iadersosa

Laura Moin                                                Suzanne and Jeremy Neufeld

Sara Kohn Rhoades and Cecil Slaughter        Ruth Rosenblum

 

Jewish Cultural School – Lenore Kingston

 

Teachers, parents and students are actively engaged in tikkun olam and tzedakah tasks while following a curriculum based on the themes of “courage” and “Israel” this school year. The fall semester terminates on Dec. 7 with a Hanukah celebration. We welcome Amelia’s energy and enthusiasm as a new volunteer teacher!

 

Our Jewish Cultural School braided and baked over 40 challahs for the Jewish seniors at Golden West in Boulder and Sunrise Assisted Living in Denver.

 

Recent Events – Sheila Malcolm

 

What an astounding burst of activity this past fall! We’ve become the little congregation that could.

 

Our High Holidays were very well attended by familiar folks and new friends. Madrikhot Michelle Davis and Sheila Malcolm kicked off the New Year with Rosh Hashanah services. Rabbi Miriam Jerris drew crowds at Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur services, and a chilly but heartfelt hike in Boulder. The Executive Committee session following YK was a true meeting of the minds, an affirmation of our good work to date, and a gentle push towards what we need to ensure future success.

 

Rabbi Adam Chalom, Dean of the N. America International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, filled our brains during the seminar “Living the Jewish Year: Jewish Calendar and Holidays.” His Friday evening Shabbat and weekend seminar were followed by a presentation at CU Boulder co-sponsored by Hillel and the Jewish Studies Program. This seminar was an example of the training that Michelle and Sheila are receiving in the Madrikh program sponsored by the IISHJ. We hosted participants from Florida and Minnesota, as well as a large number of our own members.

 

Sukkot was again hosted by the Budoff family, featuring sukkah construction, food, games, a service and appreciation of nature’s bounty by children and adults.

 

The first Movie Night at D.U. Hillel featured “Chariots of Fire,” pizza and a comfortable, living room ambiance. The next film event on Jan. 24 is a re-scheduled showing of “Rosenstrasse.”

  

In October, Sheila attended the Society’s fall Board meeting to represent Beth Ami on the national level, and participate in the Leadership Committee sessions. There’s a lot to learn, and many bright, articulate and seasoned Jewish humanists to learn from!

 

Welcome Coffees have been held in homes and at Countryside during Jewish Cultural School. Thanks to Ron Kingston, we now have an array of media presentations to share with prospective new members.

 

Local Events

 

Did you know that along with Denver University’s established Jewish Studies Department, C.U. Boulder has also begun a Jewish Studies Program, with a number of classes and special events scheduled for winter semester? Visit www.colorado.edu/jewishstudies to explore a list of 20 classes, the Inaugural Goldberger Week of Jewish Culture, Jan. 14-25, in conjunction with Professor David Shneer’s History of Yiddish Culture course, and other events.

 

News from National – Harriet Maza

 

SHJ Board Votes To Change Community Service Month

Change is refreshing—at least that’s what must have been on the minds of SHJ Board members when they met in October and voted March instead of May as Community Service Month, 2009. (Actually, driven by the hardships faced by so many in these difficult economic times, the board voted to implement a March project that would help the less fortunate in our communities.)
 
March is awfully close.  But SHJ communities don’t have to think too hard about their commitment to a March Community Service Month if they just remember that March 10, 2009, marks the start of Purim. Remember Purim?  Reading the megilla and applauding the fictitious Queen Esther who courageously saved the Jews?  It’s a time when we, too, can do good deeds—real ones. The megilla lists four ways to celebrate Purim: reading the megilla, giving charity, giving gifts of food, and sharing a festive meal.
 
SHJ is inviting our communities to join in providing shalakh manot, the sending of baskets to the poor, to local food banks, to international famine relief organizations, to the homeless, and especially to those in your community. Don’t forget: it’s a time, too, to open your doors and celebrations to all. Be a hero in welcoming newcomers to your town. Get busy now and keep in touch. Let SHJ know your community’s plans by emailing SHJ Communications Associate Harriet Maza at harrietmaza@shj.org who will share the wealth of ideas in forthcoming news.
 
Rabbi Jerris Named Rabbi of the Society for Humanistic Judaism (Congratulations, Miriam!)
 
Rabbi Miriam Jerris, former Community Development Director, has now been named rabbi of the Society for Humanistic Judaism. The change of title occurred at the Society’s October board meeting in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and reflects the expanded job function that Rabbi Jerris has assumed in the year following the death of Rabbi Sherwin Wine, founder of Humanistic Judaism.
 
As the rabbi of the Society for Humanistic Judaism, Rabbi Jerris is available as a consultant to affiliated communities. She will work to help grow and strengthen communities by traveling to them to provide holiday celebrations (including Shabbat), educational programs and assistance in organizational development. She is always available to listen, she says, “with an open and compassionate heart.”
 
Said Louis Altman, president of SHJ, “Rabbi Jerris brings an unmatched length and depth of experience in Humanistic Judaism, as well as the warmth, insight and personal commitment necessary to be the rabbi of the Society.  In addition, she is a creative thinker who is always a source of ideas.”
 
 “I am honored to be recognized by the SHJ board of directors for the work that I do,” said Jerris. “I am committed to doing my work with passion and compassion.”
 
Rabbi Jerris has a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies and masters’ degrees in Near Eastern Studies and clinical and humanistic psychology. Over the years, she has served SHJ in various positions, including as its first executive director. She is the 2006 recipient of the Sherwin T. Wine Lifetime Achievement Award and serves as current president of the Association of Humanistic Rabbis.
 

SHJ, Young Adult Youth Group to Offer Birthright Trip to Israel - AJ Chalom

 

We have made connections with a Taglit-Birthright provider to offer a free, 10-day Birthright trip to Israel in Summer 2009 for high school graduates, ages 18-26, who have never been on a peer trip to Israel.  This will be the first designed with Humanistic, cultural and secular Jews in mind. Participants may extend their trips in Israel or Europe for a nominal fee. There are two ways to get on the Birthright interest list.  The first is to email me at hujews@comcast.net with your name, date of birth, email, address and phone number. The other is to join the Facebook Group: HuJews Birthright Interest List Summer 2009. 

 

HuJews and the Society for Humanistic Judaism will be facilitating this trip  through Israel Experience Ltd., a subsidiary of the Jewish Agency for Israel. We hope to continue to offer these trips every 18-24 months in the future.

 

HuJews is the National Youth Organization for Humanistic Judaism. Check out the new website at www.hujews.org.

 

Mazel Tov and Sympathies

 

Sympathy wishes to Marti Hirsch and family on the death of Marti’s mother, Marjorie Abraham, of Berkley, CA.

 

Maida Deborah's grandson, Brendan Allen, has been accepted and will be attending college in the fall of 2009 at the University of Kansas in their School of Journalism.  He will be admitted directly to the School of Journalism as he just received great scores on his recent ACT exams.  His grandmom is very proud!

 

Mazel tov to Suzanne and Irving Franke as they celebrate their 50th anniversary, and best wishes for daughter Lisa’s recovery.

 

Joyous mazel tov to Gordon Gamm and Grace Tucker, who will marry on Dec. 6. Sheila Malcolm will officiate.

 

Continued speedy recovery to Stan Gosch post-surgery.

 

Happy Birthday!                                                  Happy Anniversary!

Herb Josepher – Dec. 12                                     Irving & Suzanne Franke – Nov. 9

Andrea Seebaum – Dec. 12                                   John & Sheila Malcolm – Dec. 27

Michael Hirsch – Dec. 13

Laura Moin – Dec. 20                                                                     

Suzanne Zarnow Neufeld – Dec. 24

Michael Gurshtein – Dec. 28

Michael Handler – Jan. 8

Ron Kingston – Jan. 25

 

Calendar

 

Sun, Dec 7 -

- 1000a - 1230p - Last class of Jewish Cultural School (JCS) Fall semester and JCS Hanukah party at Countryside Recreation Center at 10470 Oak Street in Westminster (off of 108th near Wadsworth Pkwy).  Details have been sent to JCS students/parents in a separate email.

- 1030a - Showing of the movie “Matzo and Mistletoe.”  Filmaker Kate Feiffer explores the paradoxes and complexities of secular Jewish identity, using her own experience and that of her parents and others.  Among the people interviewed are Mike Wallace, Alan Dershowitz, and Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald of the National Jewish Outreach Program.  All are invited to join us for this movie.

- 100p - 300p - Executive Committee meeting at Countryside Rec., Westminster. Open to all, especially anyone who has not attended an Exec meeting!

Fri, Dec 12

- 700p - Shabbat service and Red Cross presentation on disaster preparedness, Carson Nature Center, Littleton.  The Carson Nature Center is located at 3000 W Carson Drive Littleton, CO 80120.  
Driving Directions - Driving on I-25, exit at 207B toward Sante Fe Drive. Drive 9.3 miles.  Turn right on W. Mineral Ave.  Drive 0.1 miles.  Turn right onto S. Platte River Parkway. Drive 0.2 miles.  Turn left onto W. Carson Drive.  Drive 0.1 miles.  Arrive at the Carson Nature Center.  It's pretty dark out there, so remember to bring a flashlight!

Sat, Dec 20

- Congregation Hanukah Party at the Malcolm home in Boulder. See top for details. RSVP!

 

Sun, Jan 4

– 1000a – Executive Committee

– 300p – Adult Ed continues at 777 Washington St. Contact Terry Fleisher for details at 303-860-0031.

 

Fri, Jan 9

700p – Shabbat service and presentation by Dr. Caryn Aviv about her book “New Jews,” at Countryside Rec Center, Westminster.

 

Sun, Jan 11

– 1000-1230a – JCS at Countryside

 

Fri, Jan 23

– Adopt-a-Shabbat at DU Hillel to prepare meal and facilitate service for students.

 

Sat, Jan 24

– Havdalah and Movie Night at DU Hillel – “Rosenstrasse”

 

Lifelong Learning

 

The link below connects to an article I discovered while exploring myJewishLearning.com, the “personal gateway to Jewish exploration.” Although the emphasis seems to be on traditional forms of Judaism, there were a number of interesting offerings when I searched “humanism.” Some of the discussion items also resonated, like “How could any Jewish person vote for proposition 8?”

www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Jewish_World_Today/Denominations/SecularHumanism.htm#top

 

Beth Ami - Colorado Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, provides the opportunity to celebrate Jewish culture and identity consistent with a humanistic philosophy of life.  Humanistic Judaism offers a Secular alternative in contemporary Jewish life, and is compatible with many belief systems.  It was established by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine in 1963 in Detroit, Michigan, and has grown into a worldwide movement.  Beth Ami is affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism.