October 2014 Bulletin - Beth

1
A Reform Synagogue Serving Metropolitan Tarrant County
OCTOBER 2014
Rabbinical Reflections Worship Calendar
Rabbi Jordan Ottenstein
Shalom chevre (Dear
friends),
As we continue through this
season of the High Holy Days, I
hope that they have been meaningful to each and every one of
you. They truly do give us a
time for introspection, reflection,
and tshuvah—a turning from the
times we have missed the mark
in the past year. On Yom Kippur morning, we will read
the Haftarah from the book of Isaiah, who says, “Is this
the fast I seek? A day of self-affliction?...This is the fast I
have chosen: to unlock the shackles of injustice, to loosen
the ropes of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and
to tear every yoke apart. Surely it is to share your bread
with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into your
house; when you see the naked, to cover them.” Isaiah
reminds us that, even though the fast we observe on Yom
Kippur, where we deprive ourselves of food and drink, is
important, the more important method of seeking God is
to help heal injustice in the world by doing mitzvot.
Coincidentally, while we will be fasting on Yom Kippur, and praying for our names to be sealed in the Book
of Life, Beth-El will offer everyone the opportunity to
preform one of the greatest and most important commandcontinued on page 11
Pa z G a nno t ____________
Daughter of Michelle and Shay Gannot
Granddaughter of Sonja and James Stein
Bat Mitzvah, Friday, October 10, 2014
Yom Kippur
Friday, October 3________________________ 8:00 pm
Erev Yom Kippur Service
Cantor Nancy Bach and the Beth-El Choir
will sing for all services
Saturday, October ______________________________
Children’s Service at 9:30 am
Morning Service at 10:30 am
Music and Readings in the Chapel at 12:45 pm
Discussion in the Board Room at 12:45 pm
Afternoon Service at 2:00 pm
Yizkor/Ne’ilah Service at 4:00 pm
followed by Havdalah and Community Break-the-Fast
Wednesday, October 8________________________ 6:30 pm
Family Sukkot Observance (watch for details)
Thursday, October 9_______________________________
First day of Sukkot —Temple Office Closed
Friday, October 10__________________________ 8:00 pm
Shabbat Service
Bat Mitzvah of Paz Gannot
Cantorial Soloist Angie Kitzman will sing
Saturday, October 11________________________ 10:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service
Bar Mitzvah of Saleem Razack
Cantorial Soloist Monica Braverman will sing
Friday, October 17__________________________ 7:30 pm
Simchat Torah and Consecration Family Service
Cantorial Soloist Genie Long will sing
Friday, October 24__________________________ 8:00 pm
Shabbat Service
Cantorial Soloist Linda Hoffman will sing
S ale e m R a z a c k _________
Son of Milena and Kerim Razack
Bar Mitzvah, Saturday, October 11, 2014
Friday, October 31_______ Kabbalat Shabbat Early Service
Candles, Kiddush, and Snack at 5:45 pm
Service at 6:00 pm
Cantorial Soloist Linda Hoffman will sing
2
President’s Message
A New Year, and a time for reflection: Rosh Hashanah
has just ended and Yom Kippur is just ahead—where does the
year go? As always, we have so much to be thankful for as
members of Beth-El. Two wonderful rabbis, a super staff that
takes care of all the details and keeps our Temple so spectacular, and a host of volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain
and constantly improve our programs and functions! Can it
get any better than this? We will keep trying.
Our Temple committees are all functioning like the hum
of a finely-tuned engine. Last month, Alice Pritchard and her
Membership Committee had a beautiful Shabbat dinner for
new members, which was well attended and very successful.
Laurie James and her Social Action Committee have been
very active with a Summer Speakers Forum, a Bone Marrow
Transplant Drive, and of course, our annual school supply
Eddie Feld, President
drive for De Zavala Elementary, which
Faye Slater and FWFTY has directed
so successfully for many years.
Don’t forget the MRJ “Matzo Ball
Golf Tournament” in October—Jeff
Kaitcer and Mike Kalpin promise
great weather, a lot of good fellowship…and probably some
forgettable golf, but always
a fun time for all. Don’t be
shy, there are so many great
opportunities for you to use your talents and experience, so
get involved!
Debbie and I hope the year ahead is filled with happiness
and good health for you and yours! L’Shanah tova!
Gates of Chai Lecture
Synaplex
17th Annual Gates of Chai Lectureship
in Contemporary Judaism
Friday, November 14,
2014
Tuesday, October 28, at 7:00 pm
in the Brown-Lupton University Ballroom 2901
on Stadium Drive at T.C.U.
Synaplex is
Beth-El family night.
Speaker: Dr. Ted Merwin, associate professor of religion and Judaic studies at
Dickinson College and director of the Asbell Center for Jewish Life
Topic: Dressing for Success: Clothing and Jewish Identity in American Humor
Dr. Ted Merwin, is associate professor of religion and Judaic studies at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where
he also directs the Milton B. Asbell Center for Jewish Life. He
teaches courses on American Jewish history and culture. Ted’s
first book, In Their Own Image: New York Jews in Jazz Age
Popular Culture, focuses on 1920s Jewish culture in New York.
His second book, Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of
the New York Jewish Delicatessen, will be published in 2015 by
NYU Press. For more information, or to purchase tickets (by
October 21), please visit www.brite.edu/gatesofchai.
Synaplex is just
around the corner.
Will this year’s Synaplex
be the best ever?
Synaplex has programs
created just for you!
More information will be
available in the
November bulletin.
Synaplex: A Smorgasbord
of options to bring
Shabbat alive.
Beth-El Congregation • 4900 Briarhaven Road • Fort Worth, Texas 76109 • 817-332-7141 - phone • 817-332-7157 - fax • www.bethelfw.org
email - Rabbi Mecklenburger: [email protected]; Assistant Rabbi Ottenstein: [email protected];
Educator Ilana Knust: [email protected]; Temple Administrator: [email protected];
Temple Secretary: [email protected]; Communications Coordinator: [email protected]
Officers: Eddie Feld, President; Laurie Kelfer, President-Elect; Jane Nober, 1st Vice President; Karen Telschow Johnson, 2nd Vice President; Dan
Blumberg, Secretary; David Clay, Treasurer
Directors: Anna Caplan, Marc Goldman, Julie Goldstein, Laurie James, Mike Kalpin, Joan Katz, David Klein, John Mowry, Trudie Oshman, Alice
Pritchard, Evelyn Siegel, Faye Slater; Shana Gibbs, Women of Reform Judaism President; Jeff Kaitcer, Men of Reform Judaism President
Staff: Ralph D. Mecklenburger, Rabbi; Jordan M. Ottenstein, Assistant Rabbi; Ilana Knust, Education Director; Suzie Koonsman, Administrator;
Alexa Kirk, Communications Coordinator; Sareth Collins, Congregational Secretary; Jaime Rivera, Custodian
3
PJ Havdalah in the Sukkah
Sunday, October 11, at 6:30 pm, in Beth-El’s Sukkah
Sukkot... Havdalah... Dinner... PJs?!
Are you, or someone in your family 7 years old or younger? Do you like to come
to Temple? Do you like to wear PJs? Then this is the night for you! Come to BethEl as we eat dinner in the Sukkah, make Havdalah together, and have a PJ party!
Who: Any Beth-El Family with kids age 7 and under
(older siblings welcome too!)
Why: To have some fun, celebrate Shabbat and Sukkot,
and get to know each other.
How much: Free, but donations are accepted.
RSVP to Beth-El at 817-332-7141 or [email protected] by Tuesday, October 7, 2014
92nd Street Y
This fall, you will have three opportunities to view the renowned 92nd Street Y program. It costs $19 per ticket there, but we ask for a $3 contribution to help defray expenses and give you dessert! This program is made possible by grants from the Jewish
Federation and our Endowment #2.
When Your Life is on
Fire, What Would You
Save? Alan Alda, Jane
Pauley, Fred Newman,
with Erik Kolbell
Wednesday, October 1,
7:15 pm
What would you save if your
house was on fire and it contained
not only everything you own, but
everything you are?
As we’ll learn from Alan
Alda, Jane Pauley and Fred
Newman, the question provokes
unique responses and forces us
to delve deeply into our personal
lives, work and faith. Psychotherapist and pastor Erik Kolbell, the
author of the book of the same
title, asks the questions and helps
us all to consider what it is that
we value most in life.
Cooking Fast and Slow
Mario Batali and Mark
Bittman, with Sam Sifton
Sunday, October 12,
6:00 pm
Mark Bittman—the beloved
New York Times food writer and
author of the mega-selling How
to Cook Everything—joins his
friend, master chef Mario Batali,
for a gastronaut’s tête-à-tête.
Mario celebrates slow food
in his new book, America Farm
to Table, which pays homage to
American farmers with brilliant recipes created from their
lovingly grown top-of-the-line
produce; Bittman—who’s just
revolutionized everyday cooking with his new magnum opus,
How to Cook Everything Fast—
shares his genius for creating
maximum
flavor with
ease in
minimal
time. Hear
both sides!
America and
Israel: The Way
Forward
Dalia Rabin and
Dennis Ross,
with Ethan
Bronner
Thursday, December 4, 7:15 pm
Join Dalia Rabin,
the former Israeli Deputy Minister of Defense
and current chairperson
of the Yitzhak Rabin
Center, and Ambassador Dennis Ross, who
played a leading role
in shaping US involvement in the Middle East
peace process, for an
enlightening discussion
on the future of Israel.
An
Artist’s
View
Tuesday,
October 7, 2014
7:00 - 8:00 pm
Beth-El
Congregation
In connection with
the installation
The Mother Lode
at the Dallas Museum of Art, The
Jewish Federation
of Fort Worth and
Tarrant County
and Beth-El welcome Israeli artist
Shira Richter.
This event is free.
She will present
An Artist’s View:
How War Affects
Women and
Mothers in Israel.
tarrantfederation.org
4
Beth-Elements
Day ti m e r s
Daytimers presents
Professor Jim Riddlesperger
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Location: Beth-El Congregation
Time:12:00 pm
Price: $9 per person for program and
lunch
$5 per person for program only
Election Day is just around
the corner, and we are all
wondering: What will it bring?
Who will become our new
Governor? Will Texas go blue
or stay red? Or is there a little
purple coming in the terms
ahead? Well Jim Riddlesperger
is not a seer, and he cannot
see into the future, but he does
know politics. He has toiled in the TCU political
science department since 1982 and he waxes poetic,
mostly in the arena of American politics, focusing on
the presidency and Texas politics. If you are looking
for knowledgeable insight into what is likely to happen in November, you won’t want to miss even one
word of his comments.
Lunch , which will be catered by Subay, includes
chips, coffee, tea, cookies, and one of the following sandwiches: roast beef, tuna, turkey breast, or
veggie delight. For reservations, go online to www.
bethelfw.org/donations or call with your credit card to
Hugh Lamensdorf (817-738-1428) or Larry Steckler
(817-927-2736 or 520-990-3155). Please include
your billing address, zip code, and security code with
your credit-card number. You may also mail checks
to Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven Road, Fort
Worth, TX 76109. The Sylvia Wolens Daytimers is a
program of Beth-El Congregation, with support from
the Jewish Federation.
Also this month:
Tuesday, October 21, 2014, 1:30 pm. Daytimers
Bridge. To make reservations, call Bill Margolis at
817-292-0798.
Coming Events:
Wednesday, November 12, 2014. Music from
Broadway will be brought to us by the Gold Tone
Senior Citizen Show Choir. They will present a full
hour-long program of Broadway music.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014. Chanukah
party - latkes and more!
Dau ghter s o f Abraham
The Daughters of Abraham is an interfaith organization comprised of Jewish,
Muslim, and Christian women, with several groups meeting at different times and
places. We discuss issues of interest to all
faiths from a perspective of respect and
acceptance; we do not discuss politics, nor do we proselytize.
For information on the organization, please check the website at
daughersofabraham-tx.org.
Several members of the group attended a screening of the
new Omni movie, Jerusalem, on Monday, September 8, at the
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.
The evening group, which meets the third Tuesday of
the month, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, met on September 16 at the
masjid Al-Ibrahimi to discuss who we are and what we believe, and to review the ground rules of the organization. For
more information, contact Genie Long at 817-343-9036 or
[email protected].
The morning group, which meets on the last Wednesday of
the month, from 10:00 to 11:30 am, met on September 17 at Rush
Creek Christian Church to discuss Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, by Karen Armstrong. The meeting date was moved to
avoid a conflict with the High Holy Days. For more information,
please contact Janice Lord at 817-492-9208 or [email protected]
The Northeast Tarrant County group, which meets the first
Thursday of each month, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, met on September
4 at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville to discuss women’s
role models in the three faiths. For more information, contact
Adena Cytron-Walker at 817-332-3271 or [email protected].
The Dallas group, which meets on the third Thursday of each
month, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, met on September 18 to discuss the
religious education of children in the three faiths. For more information, contact Dawn Anderson at 214-418-2728 or skycase@
yahoo.com.
At tent io n Yo u ng Families!
We want to hear from you! Over the next few weeks, Rabbi
Ottenstein will be holding focus groups in order to find out from
YOU what you are looking for from your Temple and it’s worship experience. Two separate meetings will be held on Sundays, October 26 and November 16 at
9:30 am. If you are interested in joining the conversation, please
contact Rabbi Ottenstein at
817-332-7141 or [email protected].
continued on page 10
5
Beth-Elements, continued from page 4
D o You L i ke to Sing ?
Our new Music Director, John
Sauvey, whom you will recognize as the long-time baritone in
the Beth-El Choir, invites you to
become a member of the Beth-El
Choir! With the thought that music
is a path straight to the heart—and the
mystics would say straight to God!—the
goal is to involve congregants in this vital aspect of our
worship. You do need to be able to carry a tune to sing
with the Choir, but we understand that few congregants are
going to be as expert as our Choir members. Those with
greater professionalism can help others to learn and then
sing the music. We imagine some pieces will be sung by
the whole Choir and some by soloists or duets, by our four
paid members, and so on. The Choir sings approximately
twice a month except in the summer (with Cantorial Soloists singing for other services.) “Sing a new song unto
God!” says the Psalm. For now just email or phone the
Temple office or one of our rabbis and we will get you on
the list. After the Holy Days, John Sauvey will be in touch
with you.
Com e D i scu s s t h e H o t te s t Jewish
B o o k s of th e Pa s t Ye a r !
Some congregants may already have read the brilliantly
researched and written, sometimes disturbing, but definitely
both controversial and enlightening, My Promised Land:
The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel, by Ari Shavit. Shavit
is a great-grandson of Zionist pioneers
and a leading Israeli journalist. His survey of Zionist history, with focus on the
relationship between Jews and Arabs,
was a New York Times best seller and a
National Jewish Book Awards winner.
Some of you saw him on a 92nd St Y
broadcast here at Beth-El. We will meet
monthly beginning Wednesday evening,
October 22, at 7:30 pm, reading and discussing a couple of
chapters at a time with our rabbis. Please find yourself a
copy and read chapters 1 and 2, “At First Sight, 1897,” and
“Into the Valley, 1921,” prior to the first meeting.
Peo ple o f t he B o o k
Join us on Tuesday, October 14, at 10:00 am in the
Temple Library. We will discuss Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices,
by Mosab Hassan Yousef. Yousef is the
son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding leader of Hamas, internationally
recognized as a terrorist organization
and responsible for countless suicide
bombings and other deadly attacks
against Israel. An integral part of the
movement, Mosab was imprisoned several times by the
Israeli internal intelligence service. After a chance encounter with a British tourist, he started a six-year quest that
jeopardized Hamas, endangered his family, and threatened
his life. He has since become a Christian and sought political asylum in America. Marla Parvey will lead the discussion. This is a great group! Why not start off the New Year
with some good reading? In upcoming months our group
will discuss The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and
the Battle Over a Forbidden Book, by Peter Finn, Second
Person Singular, by Sayed Kashua and Mitch Ginsburg,
and The Fortune Teller’s Kiss (American Lives), by Brenda
Serotte.
BEJY
Marc Sloter & Pam Kalpin, Co-Chairs
BEJY’s Annual Alley Cats Kick-Off
Beth-El’s junior youth group had a nice turnout for
its first event of the year over Labor Day weekend. Our
middle schoolers spent the morning at Alley Cats enjoying
bowling, laser tag and games. In addition to our Fort Worth
kids, we were joined by some friends from neighboring
Tarrant County congregations Beth Shalom and Beth Israel.
We will share some highlights from our September
Whirlyball event in next month’s bulletin. And, keep an
eye out for an evite for our October event which we are
planning as a mitzvah project to give back to our community. Details to come.
If you have questions or comments, please contact
Pam Kalpin at [email protected] or Marc Sloter at
[email protected].
L’shanah tova!
Intro d u c ti on to J u d a is m
Interested in conversion to Judaism? Want a refresher
on the basics? Then join Rabbi Mecklenburger and Rabbi
Ottenstein for this 16-week course beginning on Monday,
October 20, at 7:00 pm. Cost of $20 covers books and supplies. For more information, or to sign up, contact Rabbi
Ottenstein at [email protected].
BEJY enjoys an outing at Alley Cats
8
Men of Reform Judaism
As we move toward the High Holy Days, the Brotherhood has begun its activities in earnest. Over the Labor
Day weekend, the Brotherhood provided catering services
for a Bat Mitzvah Kiddush lunch and an evening dinner.
Those assisting with the prep work on Friday evening
were Adam Siegel, Alan Feinberg, Michael Ross, Jim
Stein, David Kessinger, and Lou Schultz. Alan Feinberg,
David Kessinger, Nick Montroll, Jim Stein, Mike Kalpin,
and Jeff Sacks helped renowned Chef Adam Siegel serve
the Kiddush lunch, while Chef Adam’s daughter Nina,
Nick Montroll, Jeff Sacks, and Jim Stein assisted Adam
with the dinner Saturday evening. Thanks to all for making the event a success.
On Monday, September 1, the Brotherhood fielded a
team consisting of Adam Siegel, Monica Braverman, Alan
Feinberg, and Marty Rubinson for the inaugural Kosher
Chili Cook Off sponsored by Hillel Academy. While we
did not take home the trophy, there was no question that
our team had by far the best presentation and was definitely the most creative and innovative.
I hope that most of you had a chance to meet our new
Assistant Rabbi Jordan Ottenstein, his wife Marni, and
their son Noah at the picnic lunch cosponsored by the
Brotherhood and the Women of Reform Judaism, held on
September 7, where we provided hamburgers, hot dogs,
and all the trimmings. I would like to thank Alan Feinberg,
Michael Ross, Nick Montroll, Peter Levy, Les Rosenthal,
Lou Schultz, Joe Gorsd, Marty Rubinson, Mike Kalpin,
and Gary Goldstein for their endeavors in serving about
300 members in such a short period of time. I also want to
recognize, in particular, new congregants Blake Alter and
Ryan Johnson who participated with our “Kitchen Crew”
for the first time. We welcome them and hope to see them
again at our events in the near future.
On Sunday, September 21, the Brotherhood met for
a “Brotherhood After Hours” social to watch the Dallas
Cowboys trample the St. Louis Rams (One can dream....).
Special thanks to technology guru Gary Goldstein for his
expertise in setting up the connections for the game. A
good time was had by all, and I hope that you will join us
in the future for our “Brotherhood After Hours” events.
As is traditional during the High Holy Days, the
Brotherhood provided ushering for Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur services. As this article is being written prior
to the actual High Holy Days, I do not know the names
of those who will be ushering. I am sure they all did an
excellent job (or at least I hope that they did), and I will
recognize them in the November bulletin.
The next big event that we have is the 8th annual
Matzo Ball Golf Tournament, which will be held at
the Whitestone Golf Course with a tee-off of 2:00 pm on
Sunday, October 26. As usual, Mike Kalpin and I will
be hitting up members of the congregation, and especially
our Brotherhood members, to sponsor holes as well as
to play in the tournament. As you may know, this is our
primary fundraiser with the proceeds primarily utilized
to provide scholarships for children of congregants to
attend Greene Family Camp. Please mark this event on
your calendar, plan to play, and if you can, sponsor a hole.
For more information on this event please contact me at
817-994-1184 or at [email protected]. Our co-chair
for this event is Mike Kalpin, and he can be reached at
214-533-0931 or by email at mkalpin@gerdauameristeel.
com.
Finally, please plan to attend our next meeting on Sunday, October 5, which will commence immediately after
we utilize our collective expertise in building the Sukcontinued on page 11
Women of Reform Judaism
Chag Sameach! The WRJ wishes everyone a happy and
healthy new year.
A special thanks to Sheri Gorsd and her amazing baking
team for the fabulous Rosh Hashanah Oneg honoring Rabbi
and Ann Mecklenburger and Rabbi Ottenstein, his wife,
Marni, and their son, Noah. I would also like to extend many
thanks to the many remarkable women who support the
annual Rosh Hashanah reception and to everyone at BethEl who contributed food items and their time to make this
reception so wonderful. To our outstanding Rosh Hashanah
Brigade:
Faye Slater, Mara Berenson, and Stacey Smith, who,
year after year, coordinate the shopping, baking, and set up
Jeff Kaitcer, President
Shana Gibbs, President
for the beautiful reception. This year we also thank Alice
Pritchard, who hosted the first-ever Young Professionals reception for people in their 20s and 30s (post college). It was
held in the Beth-El Café, located near the gift shop.
Hold on to your hats—announcing TEA TIME at BethEl, on Sunday, October 19, from 10:00 to 11:30 am. Come
explore the history of the WRJ while schmoozing with family and friends. Please don’t forget—you can join WRJ by
going online at www.bethelfw.org.
Thanks to everyone who has joined WRJ so far. I look
forward to an outstanding year ahead of us.
Once again L’shanah tova and Happy New Year.
The Judaica Shop
I wish everyone a very happy and healthy New
Year. Don’t forget to send out your New Year
cards. We have a very nice selection for you at only
$1 per card. We also have cards for all occasions. A
new service that we offer is ordering customized kippot for your special occasions. If you have a Bar or
Bat Mitzvah or a wedding coming up, we are ready
to help you with whatever you need. Don’t forget
the Groom’s Glass for the wedding and a beautiful
mezuzah to hold the shards of glass.
Please come in and take a look around. Feel free
to browse, and if there is an item you are looking for
and cannot find, please feel free to ask. We are more
than happy to try to order it for you if we can. Also,
if you need something from the shop at a time when
it is not open, please call Reggie Rog for a special
appointment.
We need your help in the shop. Volunteers are
the lifeblood of the Temple and our shop. You get the
satisfaction of performing a mitzvah, as well as 10% off
your purchases. If you have any spare time and would
like to help, please contact Reggie Rog at 817-9891862.
Sh op H ou rs
Wednesdays: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Thursdays: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Sundays: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Special Appointments: Call Reggie at 817-989-1862.
Yahrzeits
O c tob er 3
Mary Andrews
Abe Anisman
Arthur Beck
Tessa N. Bermont
Isadore Carb
Chandler Greines Cohen
Irving J. Cohen
David Echt
Bayard Friedman
Jean Frolkis
Helen Stern Gernsbacher
Elise Schoenberg
Greenman
Ida Jacobs
Jerry Lamensdorf
B. Max Mehl
Fannie Potishman
Betty Rice
Doris Lackritz Roth
Lila Letwin Tuchin
Rose Ungar
Seymour Weisser
Hortense Weltman
Joe Zeve
O c tob er 10
Anne Berenzweig
Grace Bressert
Abraham Carp
Gail Chance
Babette Krauss
Doernberg
Anna Mae Drescher
Charles Etcoff
Leo Freeman
Louise Freeman
Daniel Gachman
Aaron Gernsbacher
Hyman Ginsberg
Solomon Griver
Isadore Grossfield
David Hirsch
Dr. Richard Hochberger
Sol Hochster
Shirley James
Sam A. Joseph
Bessie Korman
Kathlyn Parker Landman
Harry Lederman
Alfred Levine
Did You Know?
Presented by the Worship Committee
D id yo u k now we recite t he K addish t w ice o n Frid ay night s?
The first Kaddish is called the Readers Kaddish or Chatzi
Kaddish (half Kaddish). The Readers Kaddish is used to move
from one section of the service to the next.
In our siddur (prayer book), at the completion of the Kabbalat Shabbat, which is the service for welcoming Shabbat, we
chant the Readers Kaddish. After the Readers Kaddish we start
the section of the service entitled “Shema U’birkoteha” (the
Shema and its blessings), with the Barchu (“Call to Worship”).
At Beth-El, on a Friday night, the second time the Kaddish
shows up is when we read the Mourner’s Kaddish at the end of
the service. This version, which helps us commemorate our lost
loved ones, does not speak of death. Rather, it is used to praise
the great name of God.
These are only two of the five types of Kaddish in a traditional siddur.
Notice the slight distinctions between the two versions
of the Kaddish. We chant the Readers Kaddish, but read the
Mourner’s Kaddish.
So, at your next Friday night service, watch for the Readers
Kaddish and chant it with us as we anticipate the “Call to Worship.”
Is there anything you would like to know about our
worship services and rituals? Email your questions to
[email protected].
Donald Louis
Selma Weiner Mayer
Hennie Milner
Sam Nurenburg
Ben Rauch
Gary Rosenthal
Harold Schechter
Paul Schneiweiss
Loraine Schwartz
Viola Fleetwood Seltzer
Bertha Blumenthal
Shaw
Harold Sloane
Ethel Stenzler
Cipa Rosenberg Taylor
Henry J. Weltman
O c tob er 17
Abram Bodzy
Rabbi Abraham J.
Brachman
Bessie Brown Carb
Phyllis Falik
David Field
Ruth M. Friedman
Harold Frolkis
Albert D. Gugenheim
9
Robert C. Gurney
A. Haller
Maurice Hofstein
Rose Honigfeld
Byron Jacobi
Jennifer James
Faye Kaitcer
Marguerite Weltman
Katz
Gertrude Kottler
Gus S. Landman
Gloria Lederman
Ben Levy
Mabel Saperston Levy
Estelle Masters
Jerome W.
Mecklenburger
Brudus Meyerson
Ethel Collins Oshman
Isidore Rubinson
Paul Schaefers
Edwin G. Schwarz
David Stenzler
Dorothea Slavin Tabor
Jim Zack
Frank Rupert Benjamin
Rose Wagner Bock
Dr. Gustav Braun
Gertrude Edelstein
Tobia Ellman
Hortense Fox
Rabbi G. George Fox
Solomon C. Freed
Byron S. Gernsbacher
Herman L. Goldstucker
Max Granek
Meta Hochster
Betty Kessler
Selma Krauss
Dorene Bassist Landman
Sam Levy
Lilli Bogen Morris
Minnette Morris
Shirley Rubinson
Irving Sachs
Carl J. Schoenfeld
Sarah Schwartz
Derrell Slater
Mike Stein
Louis Weiner
O c tob er 24
Ben Alpern
O c tob er 31
Barnett Bernstein
Michael Boxer
Hattie Kahn Carb
Ernest Friedson
Abe B. Gardner
Louise Gaston
Fannie L. Ginsberg
Sylvia Goldman
Esther Frindell Hoffman
Nathan Imber
Elliot Jacobson
W. P. Kruckman
Samuel Lefkovitz
Morris Lulky
Jack Orlow
Harry E. Ritchey
Frances Schechter
Flora Weltman Schiff
Ann Schuster
Edwin Schwarz, Jr.
Dr. Joseph Selman
Clifford Stearns
Bill Steinman
Jean Strassman
Max Switzman
Beatrice Weinshenker
Muriel (Mimi) Weisser
Joseph Zentner
10
Contributions
Rosenthal-Siegel Education Endowment Fund
In Memory of_________________________________From
Roz Rosenthal, on her birthday
Ira and Sandy Hollander
Roz and Harvey Micklin
Judie B. and Bob Greenman, on their anniversary
Roz Rosenthal
Floral Fund
In Memory of_________________________________From
Dorothy Daniels Polsky
Sandy and Joe Polsky and John, Debbi, and Julian Tyler
Albert V. Halpern
Terri and Dan Halpern
Richard Slatkin
the Slatkin family
Merwin J. Sherline
Helen Sherline
Library Fund
In Memory of_________________________________From
Esther Berman Singer
Judy and Don Cohen
Joseph Harold Singer
Seyman Rubinson
Arlene Antweil
Mona and Leslie Kaitcer
Connie and Danny Cerveny
Leslie Kaitcer
Harriet and Leon Lurie
Charles Cristol
David, Rachel, and Reuben Cristol
Mitch Stenzler Sunday School Scholarship Fund
In Honor of__________________________________ From
a speedy recovery for Elizabeth Lederman
Edie and Richard Yentis
Sylvia Weiner, on her birthday
Brigitte Altman, on her birthday
Avette Covitt
Mitch Stenzler Sunday School Scholarship Fund
In Memory of_________________________________From
Sonja Hecht
Sonya Stenzler
Prayerbook Fund
In Honor of__________________________________ From
Elaine and Allen Schuster, on their anniversary
Wendy Newberger
Prayerbook Fund
In Memory of_________________________________From
Seyman Rubinson
Beverly and Michael Ross
Joel and Harriet Selig
Rabbi Mecklenburger’s Discretionary Fund
In Honor of___________________________________From
God’s blessings on my recovery
Smadar Atkins
Rabbi Mecklenburger
Judy and Martin Tobey
Rabbi Mecklenburger’s return
Linda Hoffman
Alli Engfer, on her Bat Mitzvah
Dick Abrams and family
Beth-El Congregation
Peter Pactor
Susan and Jonathan Knopf
Jack Simanek, on his Bar Mitzvah
the Simanek family
Rabbi Mecklenburger’s Discretionary Fund
In Memory of_________________________________From
Elaine Samson
Susan Samson Saxe and De De Samson Seltzer
Joy Spiegel
Ric Spiegel
Rabbi Ottenstein’s Discretionary Fund
In Honor of___________________________________From
Brigitte Altman, on her birthday
Debbie and Eddie Feld
Rabbi Ottenstein - welcome to Fort Worth
Harriet and Leon Lurie
an auspicious beginning for Rabbi Ottenstein
Linda Hoffman
Rabbi Ottenstein’s Discretionary Fund
In Memory of_________________________________From
David A. Feld
Debbie and Eddie Feld
Seyman Rubinson
Felise and Harold Leidner
Religious School Fund
In Honor of___________________________________From
Evelyn Siegel, with great gratitude
Sandy and Ira Hollander
Temple Fund
In Honor of___________________________________From
Linda Hoffman, on her birthday and
Rose-Marie and Len Schweitzer
on her richly complex chanted Torah portion
Judie B. and Bob Greenman, on their anniversary
Jeanne and Steven Ginsberg
Brigitte Altman, on her birthday
Judie W. and Dick Greenman
Jeanne and Steven Ginsberg
a speedy recovery for Kenneth Baum
Leigh and Louis Schultz
Judy and Martin Tobey
a speedy recovery for Adele Arensberg
Amy Stien
the Steinberger family
the estate of Livia and Sam Levine
Temple Fund
In Memory of_________________________________From
Sallye Rosenblum
Michelle and Tim Finucane
Natalie Simon
Golda and Gene Wilkenfeld
Seyman Rubinson
Harriet and Joel Selig
Gwen and Barry Rubin
Rhoda and Howard Bernstein
Jacob Ross
Beverly and Michael Ross
Florence Gordon
Sandra and Kenneth Baum
Edith Zodin Gachman
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Gachman
Faye Nathan
Elaine, Steven, and Kenneth Klein
Dorothy Kaplan
Robert Kahn
Al Davis
Minnie Kahn
Clare Blackmon
Dana and Jacob Rosenstein
Clara Zack
Susan and Bob Lewis
Leslie Kaitcer
Elaine and Jim Stanton
Debbie and Eddie Feld
Mona and Leslie Kaitcer
Connie and Danny Cerveny
Youth Fund
In Memory of_________________________________From
David A. Feld
Luann and Rusty Feld
Mona and Leslie Kaitcer
Connie and Danny Cerveny
Facility Rental
The Great Hall, catering kitchen, boardroom, and
Gathering Area are available to the public to be rented
for an occasion, reception, or group meeting.
For additional information regarding availability,
to take a tour, or to schedule an event, please call the
Temple at 817-332-7141 or send an email to bethelofc@
bethelfw.org.
At any Moment in Time, Members of our Con-
gregation may be in Need—Not of Charity—but
in Need of Acts of Loving Kindness! In order for
the Caring Congregation Committee to do its best job,
we need to know who needs a welcome visit, who
is ill, and who needs a meal. Please contact
the Temple office, and a member of our
committee will be in touch. We want to
know, for the Caring Congregation cares!
—Carol Minker, chair
11
The Temple Family
Welcome New Members____________
• José & Sarah Escamilla, 4909 Sailwind Dr., Fort Worth, 76135,
512-635-3813, [email protected], [email protected]
• Darcy & Steve Miller, 4603 Ranch View Rd., Fort Worth 76109
• Wendy Sosa, Lomo Alto Dr., Fort Worth, 76132, 817-729-0075,
[email protected]
• Dave & Katie Maxon, 4024 Eldridge, Fort Worth, 76107,
817-944-7342, [email protected], [email protected]
• Stephen & Nancy Schwartz, 709 Greenbriar Dr., Keller, 76248,
817-482-1730, [email protected]
Members on the Move____________
• Fannette Sonkin, 6101 Ohio Dr., Ste. 600, Plano, 75024
• Emma Lou Glenn, 1250 West Pioneer Pkwy., Apt. 1303, Arlington,
76013
• Richard & Carol Minker, 2865 Manorwood Trl., Fort Worth, 76109
• Catherine Slatkin, 11953 N. View Dr., Aledo, 76008, 817-3680052, [email protected]
• Mikhail & Alla Barash, 148 Deer Creek Dr., Aledo, 76008
• Sergei & Marianna Chunkovsky, 2514 Via Venicia, Apt. 2811, Fort
Worth 76109
• Kraig & Lisa Pepper, 4308 Briarhaven Rd., Fort Worth, 76109
• Robert & Nancy Ginsberg, 1201 Thomas Place, Fort Worth, 76107
• Lynne Tilkin and George Harris, P. O. Box 123996, Fort Worth, TX
76121
• Jon & Suzie Siegel, 6475 Crestmore Rd., Fort Worth, 76116
• Stewart Keller, 3700 Sierra Ct., Fort Worth, 76109
• Sigal Ohayon, 3121 Shoreline, Burleson, 76028
• Sharon Buckley, 3317 Purdue Dr., Denton, 76210
Mazel Tov_________________________
• to Judie and Martie Tobey, grandparents once again, on the birth of
Elie Asher Walsh, son of Rachel and Steve Walsh of Dallas.
• to Marc and Jane Cohen, new grandparents of Leon Everett Cohen.
Proud parents are Joshua and Randi Cohen of Richardson.
• to Gilda Cohen, whose daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Seth
Goren of Maryland, just had a baby boy, David Asher Goren.
• to Barbie and Stanley Eisenman, on the marriage of their daughter,
Leigh, to Ian Hummel in New York.
Our Sincere Condolences_________
• to Alice Finkelstein, and all the family, on the death of her father,
Manuel F. Pampin.
• to Jeff and Mike Kaitcer, and all the family, on the death of their
father, Leslie Kaitcer.
Thank you
• Thanks so much to our dear friends for sending the
Uniongram for our 15th anniversary. ~Meg and John
Rubin
Rabbinical Reflections, continued from page 1
ments. The Talmud, in tractate Yoma 84b, teaches that the
highest Jewish value is that of pikuach nefesh—the saving
of a life. This commandment overrides almost any other
one, for we know, that “to save one life is to save the world
entire” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:9). So, on Yom Kippur, we,
along with a number of other congregations around the
country, have partnered with the Religious Action Center
for Reform Judaism (RAC) and the Gift of Life Foundation in order to have a Bone Marrow Registration drive. I
would like to invite everyone in the congregation to come
to the hallway near the Great Hall, before the morning
service, beginning at 9:15 am and immediately after the
service to do a quick and simple cheek swab so that you
can put your name on the list of possible bone marrow donors. This is a fast and painless procedure that could lead
to the possibility of you saving someone else’s life. Rabbi
David Saperstein, the director of the RAC, said, “The work
of tikkun olam—repairing the world—has no more powerful manifestation than the saving of lives. Strengthening
the bone marrow registry…will help prevent the deaths of
untold numbers of people.” Jay Feinberg, Gift of Life’s
Founder and Executive Director, himself a bone marrow
transplant survivor, explained, “We are thrilled about this
opportunity to offer URJ congregations the tools they
need to participate in the greatest mitzvah of all, pikuach
nefesh—saving a life. The program will provide more than
a simple, effective social action program for URJ congregants to participate in. Cutting edge technology enables potential donors to join the Gift of Life Registry with a simple
cheek swab. It will, without a doubt, save lives.”
Please join us on Yom Kippur as we pray together, fast
together, and, through this registration drive, save lives
together.
Gamar Chatimah Tovah (May you be sealed for blessing in the Book of Life).
MRJ, continued from page 8
kah for the Religious School and other Temple functions.
(Imagine that—Jews with power tools. The apocalypse is
upon us.) We will serve coffee, juice, bagels, a schmear,
and herring. This is, of course, assuming that none of us
are killed or seriously injured during the Sukkah construction. An ASPCA representative will be on hand to insure
that proper safety precautions are observed. So please join
us to keep up-to-date on our activities as well as to join in
the camaraderie of your brethren. As always, if you have
any questions or suggestions for other activities, please
feel free to contact me.
It has been a really great start to the Brotherhood for
the year. We look forward to continuing our service to the
Temple community.
12
Religious School
Ilana Knust, Educator
“O th e r p e op le’s d ig nit y s h o u ld b e as precio u s to yo u as yo u r own . ”
~Pirkei Avot 2:15
In the Religious School, we have been emphasizing
to our children the Jewish value of Kehilla—community.
Our sense of community begins in our families and then
extends outward to include more and more people as we
grow. Today, as families move away from extended family,
it becomes even more important to find a new community
and sometimes even create a new “family.” The value of
belonging to community today will last forever in our children’s memories. How do we build a sense of community
with our children? We start with getting together in the first
15 minutes of Religious School for tzedakah and sharing
our thoughts and feelings with each other. We pray and sing
together in the chapel for another 15 minutes—what a great
way to start the day!
BUT, this year, it is more than just a community. It is a
Thanking God for being
alive.
Kehilla Kedoshah.
New friends.
Experiential Learning.
Holy Community.
As a holy community, we aim to be warm, welcoming,
and inclusive in our words and in our actions, recognizing
that all human beings are made betzelem elohim—in the
image of God. We take this mandate seriously, in the ways
that we speak to, and act toward one another in classes,
at services, and in the halls of our Temple. We take this
mitzvah as a reminder to care for, support, and nurture one
another through good times and bad times.
Welcome New
Students
Together as one.
Camp-style service.