Beth Ami
Colorado Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
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Colorado Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
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November 2007 Newsletter To provide information to the Denver/Boulder area Secular Humanistic Judaism community. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Jon Budoff Since I've already been sitting on this newsletter for more than a week, I'll make this short and sweet. I hope you all have a very nice Thanksgiving, and I hope you will join us for some of the many events we have scheduled in December, which includes our annual Chanukah party on December 2nd (with yummy, fresh homemade latkes). BETH AMI JEWISH CULTURAL SCHOOL – Lenore Kingston The Jewish Cultural School celebrated Simchat Torah with a play adapted from I.L. Peretz, Yiddish writer of the late 1800s. Simchat Torah traditionally celebrates the teaching of the Torah and, for Humanists, the teachings of Jewish writers. Maybe Even Higher is about a Rabbi in a small shtetl who values tzedakah over praying during Rosh Hashanah. The School practiced tzedakah when we performed the play a second time at Sunrise Assisted Living in Denver. There were over 30 residents in the audience. Beth Ami’s Adult Education participants also watched our play. The students then delivered noodle kugel, Chanukah cookies, and mandelbread to the audience. Children are reading novels containing important Jewish themes. Grades K-2 are reading Shalom’s Treasure, about the author Shalom Aleichem, who wrote the folktale that later became “Fiddler on the Roof.” Grades 3-5 are reading a story that takes place in 1910, Faraway Summer, and tells about a Jewish family who benefitted from the Fresh Air Society. In Confessions of a Closet Catholic, 6-8 graders share a story about a Jewish girl who wants to explore religions and ends up discovering where she fits in. The children are learning some Yiddish and Hebrew songs. We hope to perform for the Congregation and other groups in the future. MARK YOUR CALENDAR Check updates at www.bethami.com. For Jewish events in Boulder, link to www.boulderjcc.org. For Jewish events in Denver, link to www.jccdenver.org. November 10 (Sat) 5pm Movie Night at DU Hillel, “The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg” 5:20 Havdalah, 5:30 dinner and film 11 (Sun) 10am-12pm, Jewish Cultural School, Westminster Rec 1030am-12p, Adult Ed, Westminster Rec 18 (Sun) 10am Executive Committee at Griss home December 2 (Sun) 10am-12pm, Jewish Cultural School, Westminster Rec 1000am-1130am, Adult Ed, Westminster Rec 12pm-130pm, Community Chanukah Party, potluck, music and fun! 8 (Sat) 5pm Movie Night at DU Hillel, “Rosenstrasse” 5:20 Havdalah, 5:30 dinner and film 15 (Sat) Havdalah service w/ Rabbi Richard Newman, DU Hillel 16 (Sun) 10am-12pm, Jewish Cultural School, Westminster Rec January 5 (Sat) 5pm Movie Night at DU Hillel, “Gentleman’s Agreement” 6 (Sun) 10am Executive Committee at Karasik's (tentative) MOVIE NIGHTS – Michelle Davis Join us for an evening of Havdalah followed by pizza and a movie. All films will be shown at the DU Hillel Center, located at 2390 S. Race Street, Denver, CO, 80210. The suggested donation of $10 per person is a steal for dinner and a movie! Please join us for these great films! Saturday November 10th Hank Greenberg was the first great Jewish star in baseball. At a time when the game was still racially segregated, Greenberg became a first class hitter for the Detroit Tigers, a city not always known for its tolerance. He nearly beat Babe Ruth’s home run record and became one of the game’s best loved figures. The son of immigrant parents, Greenberg was a beacon of hope to America’s Jewish community. As one observer notes, baseball was a way of "showing we were as American as everybody else." To see one of their own succeed in the national pastime at a time of virulent anti-Semitism was a source of pride and inspiration. One lifelong fan, a rabbi, states, "He was the baseball Moses." 95 minutes. Saturday December 8th German filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta directs this war drama based on the plight of “mixed marriages” between Jewish men and non-Jewish women during the Holocaust. In contemporary New York, Jewish matriarch Ruth practices Orthodox mourning traditions for her late husband, to the dismay of her daughter Hannah. At the wake, Ruth’s cousin tells Hannah some family secrets which send her to Berlin in search of the truth. She searches out 90-year old Lena Fischer, who cared for Ruth during WWII. Flashbacks recall the events of 1943, when Jewish husbands of Aryan wives were separated from their families and imprisoned in a factory on a street named Rosenstrasse. During a week long protest of this treatment, Lena meets an abandoned 7 year old Ruth. 136 minutes. Saturday January 5th Gregory Peck stars as recently windowed journalist Phil Green. With a son to support, Green is receptive to the invitation of magazine publisher John Minify to write a series of hard hitting articles on the scourge of anti-Semitism. In order to glean information first hand, Green decides to pose as a Jew. As the weeks go by he experiences all manner of prejudice, the most insidious and subtle being the “gentleman’s agreement” wherein anti-Jewish sentiments are merely taken for granted. Watching from the sidelines is Green’s lifelong Jewish friend Dave, who despite his inherent rage over the iniquities of racism has learned to be philosophical about the failings of his fellow man, but not to the extent that he is willing to give up the fight against blind hatred. 118 minutes. UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
Southlands Shopping Center's Second
Annual Hanukkah Celebration and Sing-a-long
The Boulder International Humanist Institute presents Lawerence Harrison, author of The Central Liberal Truth: How Politics Can Change a Culture and Save It from Itself. Drawing on a three-year research project that explored the cultural values of dozens of nations, Harrison offers a provocative look at values around the globe, revealing how each nation's culture has propelled or retarded its political and economic progress. -Harrison makes bold statements about how religions influence a culture of despair or progress. -In line with Humanist values, countries with the least dogmatic influence are more progressive. -Learn about how the U.S. comes up short and how values contribute to a more desirable culture. This premier event will use telecommunications to bring you an internationally known author immediately after the publication of his book. Harrison’s presentation takes place on Dec. 10 at 6 pm at the University of CO Boulder Law School. Contact http://www.bihi.info or Gordon Gamm at (303) 543-9166. The Christmas Mitzvah Project, sponsored by the Synagogue Council of Greater Denver, provides Jewish volunteers to several Denver hospitals and Shalom Park to assist staff, patients and residents on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Hospital staff and regular volunteers are with families at this time, and assistance from our community is always greatly appreciated. No special skills are required, only a few hours to give in the spirit of interfaith cooperation. An orientation is required, so please register early. To register as a volunteer, or if you have any questions, please send an email to:XmasMitzvah@yahoo.com or synagoguecouncilgreaterdenver@msn.co.To call and leave a message phone: 303-759-8485 (voice)/303-399-6269. History of Judaism I will meet at Front Range Community College Westminster Campus from 2:25 – 3:40 starting Jan. 23.Come study the vibrant topics of Jewish history from the time of Abraham through the Mystic and Messianic Movements ofthe Middle Ages. Instructor Sandra Bornstein earned her MA in Jewish Studies from Spertus College in Chicago. To register,go to www.frontrange.edu and click on “Apply and Register” or call (303) 404-5346. Principles of Peace: A Simulated Mid-East Peace Conference takes place on Sat., Jan. 19 from 9 am- 4 pm at Colorado Free University (CFU), 7653 East 1st Place, near 1st and Quebec. The cost is $54 plus $10 optional materials fee payable in class.Join this simulated peace conference, a role-playing experience with participants choosing to play the political leaders, business persons or grandparents from Israel, Palestine and the U.S. You don’t need great knowledge about the Mid-East for this event, just interest and a passion for peace. Bring a picture of an important family member and a sack lunch for the on-site midday break. The moderator for this event is peace coach, Sandra Hardcastle, published newspaper columnist and author. Sandra has hosted the cable TV series, Simple Paths to Inner Peace. Call CFU, (303) 399-0093, to register for #2494D or register on-line at www.freeu.com. Call Sandra, (303) 423-0486, for more information. RECENT EVENTS
Colloquium 2007 –
Michelle Davis We heard from a variety of speakers over the weekend and learned about the history of relations between Jews and Muslims. We heard from people who have lived and worked in the Middle East, who discussed frankly how the US's presence there is affecting the region. We learned how the economic disparity between classes is influencing the instability of the region, and how societal and economic tensions, combined with political corruption, are moving the area towards uprising and all out conflict. We learned about how it is important to recognize the many different sides to any situation, and how important understanding words and their meanings are. We learned how within Islam there are many diverse groups, just as within Judaism or Christianity, and how important it is to reach out to moderates of all groups and recognize our commonalities. Most importantly, we learned how crucial it is for us as Humanistic Jews to clearly live our values of Humanism; we all have the freedom to choose what we believe and do in our lives. We can affect change in the world, but that change comes in small steps. The words we use are important and we need to be sure we clearly understand each other. The past is important and we can respect it without repeating it. Nothing in our world or lives is ever purely good or bad, and it is up to us to open our eyes and acknowledge the reality. As Humanistic Jews, we must do what we can in our lives and communities, while keeping an eye on the bigger picture and doing what we can to change that picture. OUR EXTENDED FAMILY - Marti and Michael Hirsch Michael and Marti were born, raised and married in Berkeley, California. They spent a couple of years in Princeton, NJ, while Michael completed his mathematics post doc, then moved to Atlanta, GA, where their two children, Rachel and Katya were born. After 12 years in Atlanta, the Hirsch family moved to Boulder, CO, where they currently, happily reside. Katya, a third grade student, is a Girl Scout and studies Aikido and piano. She was just voted onto student council, which makes her very happy. Rachel, a 7th grader, also a Girl Scout, studies piano and viola. Both girls are exceptionally good math students. (Wonder where they get that from?) Rachel is working on her Bat Mitzvah with her mentor, Lenore Kingston, the Beth Ami Education Director. Rachel has chosen to study George Gershwin as her “Jewish person of note.” Michael presently works as a software developer. He is a big proponent of Linux. His hobbies include guitar and yoga, and he has a black belt in Aikido. Marti is an educator. She has taught students in 4 states in both private and public schools, grades pre-K through high school. Currently, she works in the library at Katya's school. Her hobbies include volunteering, cooking and Mah Jongg. She is planning on getting back into Aikido soon so she too can earn a black belt. (She stopped at one test below when 5 months pregnant with Katya.) Marti is one of the Beth Ami Jewish Cultural School teachers. Our family became attracted to Humanistic Judaism when we lived in Atlanta. Michael had never been interested in being a member of a synagogue, but Marti had been searching for years to find the right place. She went to services with various congregations, but though she liked the members, never felt comfortable with the Judaism. Eventually, she discovered a humanistic group in Atlanta and things just clicked. Every publication she read from SHJ echoed her own feelings regarding the practice of cultural Judaism. She was exceptionally pleased when the family moved to Boulder and found that there was a humanistic congregation near by. ********************************************************************************* Condolences to Ron and Lenore Kingston on the passing of Ron’s mother, Ida. Speedy recovery to Yona Segal, daughter of Hillel and Rena Segal. Yona suffered extensive injuries in a recent car accident and is being treated at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, CA. Hillel and Rena are with her and her network of friends in California. FOR READERS – Sheila Malcolm Check out jbooks.com, the online Jewish book community, for reviews of new publications and archives of titles that cross your path. The September edition highlighted an essay titled “Secular Jews and Jewish Ritual” by Rabbi Peter Schweitzer of City Congregation, a sister SHJ in NYC. Planning to purchase Hanukah gift books? Remember to access amazon.com through our very own website www.bethami.com. NEWS FROM NATIONAL Legacy Heritage Scholarships: Are you a high caliber, promising high school junior? Are you looking for a summer science internship? Would you like to travel to Israel this summer at no cost to you? Then check out Legacy Heritage Internships at http://www.legacyheritage.org/. Deadline for applications 2-01-08. Lorraine and Ben Pivnick of Farmington Hills, Michigan, are this year’s recipients of the Society for Humanistic Judaism’s Sherwin T. Wine Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring years of work exemplified by dedication, devotion, adherence to and activity in the Secular Humanistic Judaism Movement. Founding members of the Birmingham Temple, the Society for Humanistic Judaism, and theInternational Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, the Pivnick’s have generously supported every major project associated with Humanistic Judaism with their time, energy, and commitment. Key among their contributions was securing the parcel of land in Farmington Hills that became the home of the Birmingham Temple. Their challenge grant in 1989 fueled the creation of the Pivnick Center for Humanistic Judaism (dedicated in 1994)—home to the Society for Humanistic Judaism, the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, and the Birmingham Temple school. In 2005, the couple established the Pivnick Community Developmentgrants. The three-year grants carry an award of $50,000 that enables qualifying Society-affiliated communities to 1) create a Humanistic Judaism presence in areas with little or no presence and 2) send trained rabbinic leadership into these communities. At Rabbi Wine’s 65th birthday in 1994, Ben, in his tribute to Sherwin, quipped, “Sherwin founded and I funded.” Rabbi Wine was immensely pleased when he learned this past summer of Lorraine and Ben’s nomination for the award, commenting that he could not imagine anyone more worthy than his beloved and dedicated sister and brother-in-law. The award was established by Bert Steinberg, a member of the Society for Humanistic Judaism and San Francisco’s Kol Hadash congregation, in 2004 in honor of the 75th birthday of the movement’s founder, the late Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine. It was presented to the Pivnick’s, Sat., Oct. 20, at Colloquium 2007. Barbara Bloom, Development Associate SHJ CONFERENCE AND TEEN/YOUNG ADULT CONCLAVE! “Connecting to Judaism: I Did It My Way”. Join our hosts, Adat Chaverim Congregation, as we celebrate the life of Rabbi Sherwin Wine. Book reservations now for the SHJ Conference 2008 on Fri., April 4, to Sun., April 6, at the Marriott Warner Center in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. Call 1-800-228-9290 and tell them the Society for Humanistic Judaism sent you! ($119 per night if booked by 3/17/08). Then register online at http://www.shj.org/. Post-Conference Tours are Sun., April 6-Tues., April 8.
INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM: A HUMANIST
PERSPECTIVE - Jewish Enlightenment - Jewish Nationalism - The American Jewish Experience - The Humanistic Jewish Movement Available on ONE DVD. Price $22. Shipping and Handling $6.50. Michgan residents add 6 percent sales tax. Mail your check to the Society for Humanistic Judaism, 28611 West Twelve Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334. This DVD may not be reproduced. FROM THE EDITOR – Sheila Malcolm Seeking feedback! In an effort to improve the usefulness of this newsletter to you, dear readers, please send kind words of advice by phone or email. Do you want more or less of something? Do you have time to read this rag and mark your calendars? Is there someone out there with more advanced organizational skills (and time) willing to volunteer to upgrade the format? Keep in touch. This newsletter is published at least four times/year with the goal of communicating events and information 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@comcast.net. |
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Last modified: 11/05/06 |