Newsletter Index
http://j-c-a.org/news/
JCA Home Page
http://j-c-a.org/
Calendar Page 21
Jewish Community of Amherst
Candle Lighting
Message from Co-President
Eva Rosenn, 549-6672, hestia_26@yahoo.com
January 4 ~ 4:13 pm
January 11 ~ 4:21 pm
January 18 ~ 4:29 pm
January 25 ~ 4:37 pm
Times shown are 18 minutes
before sunset for Amherst, MA
Special Events
January 11-13
Scholar-in-Residence
Weekend With
Marge Piercy
January 25
Farbrengen Friday &
Tu B’Shevat Seder
January 26
Shabbat B’Yachad
Meetings
January 2
Ritual Life Committee
January 4
Adult Ed Committee
January 8
School Committee
January 9
Education Committee
January 10
Board Meeting
It is a great privilege to be elected to serve
as Co-President for the JCA. I am honored
to serve with Richard Cohen, with whom I
have served on the Board and the Executive
Committee for the last two years, and whose
energy, enthusiasm, and great good sense I
have come to admire greatly. I am excited to
serve with a terrific set of Board members.
And of course, I am so pleased with all that
Rabbi Ben Weiner has brought and continues
to bring to our congregation.
The JCA has been my community for
the last nine years, and it has helped me celebrate the great simchas of my children’s
b’nai mitzvot, as well as deal with the sorrow
of my children sitting shiva for their father.
This is a community that has, at its last Annual Meeting, demonstrated a high level of
engagement by asking serious and thoughtful questions about the nature of our dues
structure, the problem of our projected budget deficit, the creation of a cluster liaison
system to increase communication between
the Board and all our wonderful committees,
and changes in the bylaws regarding that system and our nominating process.
After this Annual Meeting, I was all set
to write about the building of the Mishkan
in Parshat T’rumah (Exod. 25), the commandment to the Israelites to give from the
heart (nadiv lev), and the commentary by
Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev, an eighteenthcentury Polish Hasidic master, who said that
it is the very act of making the sacred space
that will make us holy.
But one conversation I had with a member of our congregation when I called her on
behalf of the Board to ask her to contribute
to our Annual Fund recently made me think
that perhaps that was putting the cart before
the horse. Because this member said to me
that she wasn’t sure that this really was her
community.
Affiliated with the
Jewish Reconstructionist
Movement
January 2013
Tevet/Shevat 5773
Vol. 12, Issue No. 1
What did she mean? The members of
the JCA are not her friends? They don’t
look, act, or think like her? The obligations
of community extend beyond our friends.
They ask us to tolerate differences, some
of which can be uncomfortable. In fact,
sometimes it is the people who are the most
different from us who can be our most profound teachers.
And there can be no mistake that Judaism cannot be practiced without community.
The rabbis tell us that the presence of God
rests only within the context of community
(Berakhot 21b; Zohar II 129b). This precept
is derived from the verse in Leviticus (22:32)
in which God declares, “I will be sanctified
among the children of Israel.” Judaism is
not rife with stories of vision quests or sages
meditating on mountains (indeed, the Talmud’s Kabbalistic story of the four rabbis
who entered the orchard, that is, Paradise, is
itself a cautionary tale, as only one emerged
unscathed [Hagigah 14b]).
Community is a necessity, in fact, an obligation for Jews. Hillel taught: al tifros min
ha-tzibbur--do not separate yourself from
the community (Pirkei Avot 2:4). But community is also a commitment. The Talmud
teaches that “all Israel are sureties one for
another” (Shevuot 39a). And so as I pledge
to commit myself to serve as your Co-President this year, I in turn ask you to commit yourselves anew to the JCA. Attend an
event, come to services, join a committee,
pledge your Annual Fund contribution. Together, let us make the JCA truly everyone’s
community.
B’shalom,
Eva
2
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
Chesed Committee
Jewish Community of Amherst, Inc.
742 Main Street, Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 256-0160, fax (413) 256-1588
Religious School (413) 256-0160 ext. 203
email: info@j-c-a.org; On line at: www.j-c-a.org
Rabbi Benjamin Weiner
Rabbi David Dunn Bauer (2003-2010)
Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg (1989-2002)
Rabbi Emeritus Yechiael Lander
Director of Lifelong Learning: Jody Rosenbloom (256-0160 ext. 203)
Director of Teen Programming: Rachael Goren-Watts (256-0160 ext. 208)
Office Hours:
Tuesday - Friday: 10:30 - 4:00
Wednesday: 4:00 - 6:00 & Sunday 9:00 - 1:00
(When Religious School is in session)
_____________________________
Board of Directors
Officers:
Co-Presidents: Richard Cohen (256-6145)
Eva Rosenn (549-6672)
First Vice President: Maryann Barakso (549-5155)
Second Vice President: Donna Baron (549-7246)
Clerk: Michael Burkart (256-8139)
Treasurer: Jonathan Shefftz (256-1101)
Members:
Molly Goren-Watts, Eli Kwartler, Patty Levine,
Andra Rose, Amy Rothenberg, Bob Solosko William Zimmer
Membership: Tobi Sznajderman (549-1795)
Office Administrator: Marcia Howard (256-0160, info@j-c-a.org)
Administrative Assistants: Nora Mariano, Susan Thomas, (256-0160)
For information about using JCA space including
renting the Social Hall, contact:
Events Coordinator: Karen Loeb (413-575-0774, kloeb@comcast.net)
For a list of committee chairs and members, go to:
http://www.j-c-a.org/committees.html
Please refer to your Guidebook for contact information.
(If you have not received your Guidebook, call the office.)
_____________________________
NEWSLETTER
Editor/Graphic Designer: Aaron Bousel
(Voice: 253-3544, Voice & Fax: 253-3846; news@j-c-a.org)
Proofreader: Sarah Thomson
Deadline for the February issue is January 13th
January 2012, Vol. 12, Issue No. 1
Newsletter is published 11 times per year.
Subscription price is included in membership.
The Chesed Committee assists JCA
members in times of joy, sorrow and
need, coordinating volunteers to help with
meals, rides, errands, visits, shiva minyans, and other needs. We also welcome
new members and babies! Please contact
us if you would like to join the committee
or be added to our list of volunteers.
Also, if you, someone in your family,
or someone in the community is ill, hospitalized, or in need of assistance, please
contact us right away. Even if visits or
phone calls are not desired, it is important
to us as a community to be aware of the
health and well-being of our members and
their families. We realize that providing
this kind of information feels awkward to
many people, but it is an important facet
of being in community. We cannot help if
we do not know.
Contact the Chesed Committee through
the JCA office at 256-0160.
Beit Shalom Committee
The Beit Shalom Committee is available to members of the JCA congregation
wishing assistance in addressing personal
differences that have arisen between individuals, among committees, or with those
in leadership positions within the JCA.
Accordingly, if you have concerns or disagreements, or feel a desire to enhance
communication with another member, a
committee, or leader, please contact a Beit
Shalom Committee member to facilitate
this process. All such communications
will be kept strictly confidential unless
agreed upon differently by the participants.
Committee members are:
Eva Metzger Brown: 256-8066
embrown13@comcast.net
Josette Henschel: 213-0186
josette.henschel@gmail.com
Rob Okun: 253-9372
raokun@verizon.net
Kitty Talan: 253-2248
kittytalan@comcast.net
Haim Gunner: 549-0447
haim_gunner@yahoo.com
3
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
Devarim:
Words from Rabbi Benjamin Weiner
I don’t mean for this column to become the Rabbi’s
monthly doom and gloom report, but, as I write this, we
are still only a couple of days removed from the horrible massacre in Connecticut, and I’m still thinking of
a piece of Torah that came to me in the aftermath of the
tragedy.
As I sat down on the afternoon of Friday, December
14th to study the weekly Torah portion, I was struck, in
a new way, by a familiar verse. Genesis 41:8: “And it
came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled;
and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt,
and all the wise men thereof; and Pharaoh told them
his dream; but there was none that could interpret them
unto Pharaoh.”
You are probably familiar with the narrative context
of this verse, whether from the Bible itself or Andrew
Lloyd Weber. While Joseph languishes forgotten in
prison, Pharaoh dreams of fat cows and skinny cows,
and withered and robust ears of corn. What struck me
particularly, this time around, is the extent to which
Pharaoh’s dream was a vision of horror. In his mind’s
eye, he had beheld something that disturbed and terrified him.
“His spirit was troubled” is a tolerable, if not entirely adequate translation of the Hebrew vatipa’em
rukho. The root of the verb translated as “was troubled”
is pa’am, which, as one helpful commentator pointed
out, is related to the word pa’amon, meaning “bell”,
and also to the sound of a hammer striking an anvil.
Rabbi Liaison Committee
The committee meets monthly with the rabbi.
The purpose of the Rabbi Liaison Committee is to support
and enhance the rabbi-congregational relationship by:
1. Serving as a channel to communicate comments,
issues and/or complaints from congregants who
would prefer not to contact the rabbi directly.
2. Meeting with the rabbi to help with processing and
thinking through issues or concerns that are raised
either by congregants or by the rabbi.
The Hebrew encodes a deeper sensory awareness of the
inner life of Pharaoh’s experience. The horror was not
just “troubling.” It struck a jangling disturbance in the
core of his being, and nobody could restore his peace,
because nobody could provide an explanation sufficient
to set him at ease.
We should remember that this unrelieved ringing in
Pharaoh’s soul is what sets the scene for the emergence
of Joseph, and that Joseph, in our tradition, is a multifaceted entity. On the most basic level, he is the character whose exploits, misadventures, and triumphs we
read about in the last saga of Genesis. But to the mystics, he represented the sphere on the Kabbalistic tree
known as yesod—that divine-cosmic quality that forms
the foundation stone of the soul. A mystical reading of
the text would reveal that, of course, in this moment of
turmoil, of failed explanations and jangling spirit, salvation comes in the form of Joseph; the unlocking of
some new capacity to feel sane and grounded.
But what does Joseph offer to Pharaoh, practically
speaking, that eases his spirit? An interpretation of his
nightmares; a way of framing the horror he has experienced with a story, and a way of responding to that story
with sensible action.
That is, he gives him what we all must discover if we
seek a new foundation following trauma and tragedy:
a way of responding to the senseless and chaotic with
words and deeds of meaning.
All congregants are encouraged to speak to members of
the committee about any concerns they may have that they
would like to be brought to the rabbi’s attention.
All information is shared only with the rabbi and the
committee and will be held in confidence.
Amy Mittelman 256-0883, amGU@hampshire.edu
David Levit 548-1083, dblevit@crocker.com
Aaron Bousel 253-3544, abousel@comcast.net
Barbara Burkart 256-8139, barbruth@comcast.net
Deb Fine 256-1572, zohar01@comcast.net
Ted Slovin 253-3518, tslovin@acad.umass.edu
4
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
Ritual Life Committee
Yossi Breyer-Charette, Co-chair, 860-559-4926, pcharette@lightingaffiliates.com
Sarah Thomson, Co-chair, 413-253-2930, allset22@verizon.net
RELIGION CALENDAR
Shabbat Shemot, Exodus 1:1-6:1
January 4, Friday
5:30 PM PM
Intergenerational Family Service and concurrent Tot Shabbat
followed by potluck supper
Service Leader: Rabbi Weiner
January 5, Saturday
9:15 AM
Shabbat Bo, Exodus 10:1-13:16
January 18, Friday
6:15 PM
Service Leader: Rabbi Weiner
January 19, Saturday
10:00 AM
Service Leaders: Yossi Charette and Rabbi Weiner
D’var Torah: Diana Brewer
Shabbat Yoga
1:00 PM
10:00 AM
Torah Study led by Janis Levy
Service Leader: Rabbi Weiner
D’var Torah: Rabbi Weiner

Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Shevat, Parashat Va’era
Exodus 6:2-9:35, Numbers 28:9-15
Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Marge Piercy
January 11, Friday
6:15 PM
Service Leader: Rabbi Weiner
January 12, Saturday
10:00 AM

Shabbat Shirah, Parashat Beshallach
Exodus 13:17-17:16
January 25, Friday
6:15 PM
Farbrengen Friday and Tu B’Shevat Seder
Service Leader: Rabbi Weiner
January 26, Saturday
Shabbat B’Yachad
9:00 AM
Shabbat Yoga
Service Leader: Rabbi Weiner
D’var Torah: Marge Piercy
10:00 AM
Service Leader: Rabbi Weiner
D’var Torah: Rabbi Weiner


Check the JCA website at:
www.j-c-a.org/services.html
for updated religion calendar information.
Meditation Minyan
Shacharit (morning) Minyan
The weekday meditation minyan continues
to meet every Wednesday at 7:30 am
in the small sanctuary.
The weekday shacharit minyan continues
to meet every Tuesday at 7:30 am
in the small sanctuary.
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
Kiddush and Oneg
Sponsors
If you would like to help with
or sponsor a kiddush, please
contact Karen Loeb at:
413-575-0774 or at
kloeb@comcast.net
December 1Bill & Deborah Evans, in honor
of their son, Brett becoming
Bar Mitzvah
December 8Randi Stein, in honor of
the yahrzeit of her father,
Peter Hereld
January 19Barbara & Ted Slovin, in honor
of their wedding anniversary
5
First Friday Evening Family Service
Please join us on the first Friday of the month at 5:30 pm for a brief child oriented service followed by a potluck supper. Although the service is geared towards young children, it
contains all the elements of a regular Friday evening service, including mourner’s kaddish.
People of all ages are encouraged to attend. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get to know each
other in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Farbrengen Friday
+ TuB’Shevat Seder!
The tradition of a farbrengen, a joyous gathering for melody and learning in honor of
holy Jewish time, comes out of Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidism. The JCA’s farbrengen begins
with a Kabbalat Shabbat service in which we emphasize the singing of, and absorption in,
Jewish liturgical music over and above excessive words of orientation and explanation-something that can captivate the spirit even if you don’t happen to be an expert in this music.
Following the service, we have a potluck supper, and as we sit around sharing our
Shabbat meal, we sing zemirot and niggunim, (songs and wordless melodies) and invite
people to offer words of Torah and wisdom, and maybe even explore other ways to experience our creativity in celebration of Shabbat.
We hope you will join us in the evolution of this program.
This month our regular Farbrengen Friday will happen on the fourth Friday of the
month (January 25th) and will include a Tu B’Shevat Seder following services.
Renewal Shabbat
Prayerbook Fund
The focus of the
Prayerbook Fund will
now be the purchase of
the recently published
Mahzor Lev Shalem
to be used in the
masorti high holiday
services.
Donations of any
amount are gratefully
accepted, however a
minimum donation of
$45.00 is required for a
book dedication plate.
We also encourage
those who attend the
masorti services to
purchase their own
copy to bring and use
at services.
Please join Sara Schley and Felicia Mednick Shabbat morning, Saturday February 2, at
10:00 AM in the small sanctuary at the JCA as we co-create a Renewal Shabbat: chanting,
contemplative prayer and Torah service. Though central to the experience, chanting is not
the goal of this practice, but rather a vehicle for accelerating our connection with the Divine.
We follow the structure of the Shabbat morning service including traditional prayers and
Torah. What is different is the use and experience of chanting, contemplation, and dialogue
to arrive, via a Jewish path, at sacred states of consciousness. We’re delighted to share this
time with you!
Torah Reading Co-ordination
If you are interested in reading Torah and would like
to schedule a time to read, please contact:
Gordon Freed, 256-0355, g.freed@comcast.net (for reading in February & March)
Randi Stein, 549-0526, randistein@earthlink.net (for reading in April)
If you would like to learn to read Torah, or would like help choosing or preparing a
reading, please contact Batya Perman, 549-4853, batya1818@gmail.com.
Thank You To Volunteers
The ritual life committee would like to thank those who have given their time and expertise in service to the ritual life of the community:
• our December Torah readers: Arnie Alper, Jonathan Billig, Joseph Boucher,
Aaron Bousel, Vera Broekhuysen, Richard Cohen, Brett Evans,
Deborah Evans, Howie Feibusch, Janis Levi, Elissa Rubinstein,
Ken Schoen, and Randi Stein,
• our lay service leaders: Ruth Love Barer, Yossi Charette, Gordon Freed, Felicia
Mednick, Rhonda Shapiro-Rieser, Sara Schley
• D’var Torah giver: Devorah Jacobson
• Torah study leaders: Richard Cohen, Joy Ladin, Rhonda Shapiro-Rieser
Chemical Sensitivities
A number of our members have allergies to perfumes, colognes and other fragrances.
Please try to minimize the use of these products when coming to the JCA. Thank you.
6
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
Education News
Jody Rosenbloom, Director of Life Long Learning, 256-0160, ext. 203
Second and first graders will be taking turns hosting the
Shabbat Bear. He comes with his own little house and visits each student for a week. Students and their families help
the Shabbat Bear keep a journal of his adventures and create
household items to enrich his life (e.g. student/parent made
mezuzah, poncho, tallit and kippah). Shabbat Bear enriches
the class units, on Shabbat and welcoming guests, by bringing student lessons home.
Parent Teacher Conferences: January 30
At mid-year, we take time for reflection on how the year
is going. This process includes teachers writing progress reports, parents of children in grades 3-6 attending a parentteacher conference, and students surveyed in their classes.
Teachers and parents have found it helpful to meet face to
face, hear about the curriculum, see the texts and learn about
their children’s work. We are setting aside Wednesday, January 30. Each teacher will have 15 minute slots available between 3:30-7pm. Parents are asked to contact Nora Moriano
to schedule an appointment with their child (ren)’s teacher
(s).
Support our JCA School Fundraisers
And Thanks to Their Organizers
*Box Tops for Education. Remember to collect these coupons off of select products and bring them to class or the JCA
office. Thanks to Nina Kliman for keeping this going.
*Dean’s Beans thanks to the efforts of Jodi Levine and
our loyal customers. Buy your free trade coffee and support
the school at the same time!
* Recycle Shoes thanks to the efforts of Michael Aronson, entrepreneur and Ruth Hutton, parent helper. (No winter boots)
Choose our catering team
to create a mitzvah!
Our team of experienced caterers
has a different take on special
events!
We donate 80% of our fee to
Project Rehovot and 20% to the JCA
We excel in Middle Eastern,
Mediterranean and Jewish
Cuisine!
•we use high quality food for weddings, Bar
and Bat mitzvahs, Garden Parties, Banquets
and other events in your home or another
location; attractive floral arrangments on
every table
For sample menus and price quotes
contact Karen Loeb at:
phone: 413-253-0336
Email: kloeb@comcast.net
Thank-You To:
-The Evans Family for books for the school.
-Helena Donovan for miscellaneous supplies & prizes.
In the Event of Inclement Weather
Just a reminder that the school phone line has the latest notification for weather cancellations pertaining to JCA
school programming. For weekends, a decision is made by 8
am and weekdays by 2pm. If Amherst Public Schools cancel
during the week, we will not have school that day. Dial 2560160 x203.
Calendar
Fri, Jan. 4 Intergenerational Family & Tot Shabbat
Services at 5:30 pm
Followed by a vegetarian potluck
Sat, Jan. 5 7th grade class at 10:00 am
Sun, Jan. 6 Classes resume.
Grades 1-6 & Shalom Sunday
B’tzelem Elohim/In God’s Image Parent
Education/Support Group
Tue, Jan. 8 School Committee at 7:00 pm
Wed, Jan. 9 Education Committee at 7:00 pm
Sat/Sun, No Classes-Martin Luther King Weekend
Jan. 19/20 Holiday
Sat, Jan. 26 Shabbat B’Yachad instead of class on Sunday,
Jan. 27
Wed, Jan. 30 No Class – Parent/Teacher Conferences
THE
Shabbat Bear Begins His Visits
DAVIS
FINANCIAL
GROUP LLC
Allen Davis, CFP®
Financial Planner
10 Bay Road,
Hadley, MA 01035
tel 413.584.3098
Allen Davis is a Registered Representative of and offers securities, investment
advisory and fee-based financial planning services through MML Investors
Services, Inc. Member SIPC. 330 Whitney Avenue, Suite 600, Holyoke, MA
01040, Tel:413-539-2000.
fax 413.584.0160
cell 413.427.2782
ajdavis@finsvcs.com
www.tdgfinancial.com
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
7X%·6KHYDW
1HZ<HDUIRUWKH7UHHV
DWWKH-&$
‡†‡•†ƒ›ǡƒ—ƒ”›͖͗
͘ǣ͔͔Ȅ͙ǣ͔͗’ǤǤ†—”‹‰…Š‘‘Ž
—ǯŠ‡˜ƒ–ǣš’Ž‘”ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡‡˜‡’‡…‹‡•Ǥƒ…Š‰”ƒ†‡™‹ŽŽ„‡†‘‹‰ƒƒ…–‹˜‹–›
‹–”‘†—…‹‰ƒƒ•’‡…–‘ˆ—ǯŠ‡˜ƒ–Ǥ
‰‡ǣ
”ƒ†‡•͗Ȅ͛
”‹†ƒ›ǡƒ—ƒ”›͖͙
‡‰‹‹‰ƒ–͚ǣ͕͙’ǤǤ
ƒ”„”‡‰‡”‹†ƒ›ǣ‡Ž…‘‹‰Šƒ„„ƒ–Ƭ—ǯŠ‡˜ƒ–™‹–Š•‘‰ƒ†ƒ—ǯŠ‡˜ƒ–
•‡†‡”ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰•‡”˜‹…‡•Ǥ
‰‡ǣ‘”ƒŽŽƒ‰‡•Ǥ
ƒ–—”†ƒ›ǡƒ—ƒ”›͖͚
͕͔ǣ͔͔ƒǤǤȄ͕͖ǣ͕͙’ǤǤ
Šƒ„„ƒ–ǯƒ…Šƒ†ȀŠƒ„„ƒ–‘‰‡–Š‡”‡”˜‹…‡•Ǥ
‘”…Š‘‘Ž•–—†‡–•ǡ–Š‹•’”‘‰”ƒ™‹ŽŽ„‡‹’Žƒ…‡‘ˆ•…Š‘‘Ž—†ƒ›ǡƒ—ƒ”›͖͛Ǥ
‘‹—•ˆ‘”ƒ‘”‹‰•‡”˜‹…‡Dz—’Ž—‰‰‡†dzȄ•‹‰‹‰ǡ—•‹…ǡ’”ƒ›‡”ǡƒ†•–—†›ˆ”‘
ƒ›†‹”‡…–‹‘•—•‹‰‘Ž‘ƒ”ȀŠ‡‘‹…‡‘ˆŠ‹Ž†”‡‡…‘•–”—…–‹‘‹•–•‹††—”Ȁ
”ƒ›‡”„‘‘Ǥ—”‹‰–Š‡‘”ƒŠ•‡”˜‹…‡ǡ’ƒ”–‹…‹’ƒ–•…ƒ•Šƒ”‡–Š‡–”ƒ†‹–‹‘ƒŽŠƒ„„ƒ–
Š‹”ƒŠ•‡”˜‹…‡‘”‡š’Ž‘”‡—ǯŠ‡˜ƒ–ǡ–Š‡‡™‡ƒ”ˆ‘”–Š‡”‡‡•Ǥ…–‹˜‹–‹‡•‹…Ž—†‡
•–‘”‹‡•ǡ…”ƒˆ–•ǡ‰ƒ‡•ǡ‡…‘Ǧ…‘•—‡”‡†—…ƒ–‹‘ǡƒ†–”‡‡‹†‡–‹ˆ›‹‰ȄƒŽŽ‡’Šƒ•‹œ‹‰
‡˜‹”‘‡–ƒŽ•—•–ƒ‹ƒ„‹Ž‹–›–Š”‘—‰Šƒ‡™‹•ŠŽ‡•ǤŠ‡‘”‹‰„‡‰‹•™‹–ŠŠƒ„„ƒ–
‘‰ƒƒ–͝ƒǤǤǡƒ†‡†•™‹–Šƒ…‘—‹–›’‘–Ž—…Ž—…Šƒ–ƒ”‘—†͕͖ǣ͔͗ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰
•‡”˜‹…‡•Ǥ”‹‰•‘‡–Š‹‰˜‡‰‡–ƒ”‹ƒ–‘•Šƒ”‡Ǥ‘‡ˆ‘”ƒŽŽ‘”’ƒ”–‘ˆ–Š‡‘”‹‰Ǥ
‰‡ǣ‘”ƒŽŽƒ‰‡•Ǥ
‡‡”‘—•ˆ—†‹‰’”‘˜‹†‡†„›–Š‡ƒ”‘Ž†
”‹•’‘‘‘—†ƒ–‹‘ǯ•ƒ‹Ž›†—…ƒ–‹‘‹–‹ƒ–‹˜‡Ǥ
7
8
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
JANUARY 2013
TEEN PROGRAMMING
for Jewish teens in the region
jcateens@gmail.com
jtovteens@gmail.com
413-256-0160 x208
ents
h’s Ev
s Mont
Thi
Shevet Achim
Tu’B’shevat Sameach
Sunday, January 13th 3-6pm
Contact Howie, group leader, for
location or more information. We are
still accepting new members. Register
at http://jtovteens.eventbrite.com.
JVCorps
u B’shevat, the Jewish Arbor
Day and New Year for the
Trees, brings up the thoughts
about how deep our roots run in
order for us to grow tall, blossom,
and produce fruit, and create a
beautiful landscape of foliage in
months to come. When we are
younger saplings, staying connected
to our roots is vital for our
existence, but as we grow we can
easily forget the importance of our
roots and foundation.
T
In our teen years, we are still
growing and developing a
foundation for who we are in the
future. We are also blossoming and
on the outside are beginning to
look like fuller grown versions of
ourselves. Who we are to become is
still a question to be answered.
I hope that the development of
Jewish identity is part of the
landscape that gets considered at
this vital time. We all benefit from
having other Jewish teens in the
community to voice their
experience and process of being
Jewish and growing into a Jewish
adult.
This month, in addition to the
programs listed at the right, we also
have other programs that are open
to teens, including Shabbat
B’Yachad on Saturday, Jan. 26 and
the Scholar-in-Residence
weekend Jan. 11-13. Please see the
other pages in the newsletter about
these programs.
In addition, we are beginning to
survey the 10-12th graders to
determine interest and availability
for an abbreviated confirmation
program. Please email me if you or
your teen is interested.
Bee Shally,
Rachael Goren-Watts
Director of Teen Programming
Thursday, January 17th
Teens and parents can volunteer to
prepare, serve, and clean up a meal at
the Amherst Survival Center. Food
donations are also needed. Contact
jvcorps4teens@gmail.com or sign up r
at http://jvcorps2013.eventbrite.com.
Rosh Hodesh
Sunday, January 13th
Contact group leaders for time and
location or email jtovteens@gmail.com
Teva Torah
Sunday, Jan. 20
Teva Torah event- more information to
come. Email lCara
CaraMichelle
MIchelle Silverberg
Silverberg
at jcateengroup@gmail.com or
register at http://
jcateens.eventbrite.com
9
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
TOTS
Programming for
Families with Young Children
Contact Rachael Goren-Watts at tots@j-c-a.org with any questions about
programming for Families with Young Children.
on Friday, January 4th at
5:30pm and will be led by
Rabbi Ben Weiner. Pot
luck dinner to follow.
New Havurah K’tana NOW FORMING! We
are starting a new Havurah K’tana (Little
Friends Circle) for families with children
ages 0-5. This Havurah will meet once a
month on Saturdays for Havdallah. Please
email Rachael at tots@j-c-a.org if you are
interested in being a part of the Havurah.
Greenfield
Imported
Cars Inc.
Sales, Service, Parts & Accessories!
VW, VOLVO, SUBARU
and
All Foreign & Domestic Cars
Personal Service
Free Pickup - Amherst/ Northampton Area
John Loeb
and
Bill Leitner,
Owners
335 High Street,
Greenfield, MA
413-774-5517
www.GreenfieldImportedCars.com
SAVE THE DATE
Special JCATOTS Event
Saturday, February 9
4-6pm
Puppet Show with Felicia Sloin
Open to all Families with Young Children
More information to come!
Please email tots@j-c-a.org if you are
interested in helping out with this
program
There will be special programming for
children ages 0-5 during the Shabbat
B’Yachad on Saturday, Jan. 26th. Please
see page in newsletter for more information.
SCHOEN
BOOKS
Serving
scholars
world-wide
and the
literary needs
of the
local Jewish
community
for 22 years.
Detail, A Wimpel for Isaac, 2009
Tot Shabbat will be held
Actively buying
libraries!
Ken will
special order
new books
or suggest
a treasure
from among
30,000 books
in stock.
Call and Visit!
schoenbooks.com
413-665-0066
Ken sells books
and
Jane makes art
in the...
Jane’s art
is all about
collective
memory.
Commissions
accepted
Also...
embroidery,
graphic design,
& Hebrew
calligraphy.
trigere.com
413-665-0548
10
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
SPRING, 2013 ADULT EDUCATION
Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Weiner: The History and Future of Halakhah (Jewish Law)
Every Wednesday 12:15 - 1:15 PM
Shabbat Yoga
January 5 and 26*, February 9 and 23, March 9 and 30*, April 6 and 20,
May 25 and June 8 and 29, 2013
9:15 - 10:30 AM except on Shabbat Yachad* when it will be from 9:00 - 10:00 AM.
The Basics of Hebrew ~ Jody Rosenbloom
Tuesdays, January 29, February 5, 12, 26, March 5, 12, 2013 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Hebrew Calligraphy ~ Jane Trigère
Sunday, January 6, 2013 12:00 - 3:00 PM
and
Emancipation of the Jews in Europe: The Story of the Jewish Artists as Exemplified by Maurycy Gottleib
January 27, 2013 1:00 PM
Spiritual Writing ~ Merle Feld
Sundays, February 17, March 17, April 28, May 19, 2013
1:00 - 3:30 PM
Klezmer Music Ensemble ~ Brian Bender
Thursdays, February 28, March 14, March 28, April 4, 2013
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Eleanor Roosevelt and the Fate of the Jews, 1933-45 ~ John Sears
March 3, 2013 2:00 PM
Adult B’nai Mitzvah ~ Rabbi Weiner
April 7, 28, June 2 , 23, Sept 22, Oct 20, Nov 17, Dec 15, 2013
Jan 12, Feb 9, March 9, April 6, May 4, June 7, 2014
Introduction to Mah Jong ~ Robin Diamond and Judith Souweine
Sundays, February 24, March 3, 10, 2013 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Gender Relations and the Status of Women in Israel ~ Michel Fenkel
Tuesday, April 9, 2013 7:30 PM
Jews and God Talk ~ Judith Plaskow
Sunday, April 14, 2013 7:30 PM
A New Approach to the Torah: Shepherd versus Farmer ~ Richard Ellis
April 23, 30, May 7, 14, 2013 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Birkat Avraham: Training the Mind and Heart towards Wisdom: Dealing with Life's Challenges
and Blessings ~ Nancy Flam
Thursday, April 25, 2013 7:30 - 9:00 PM
11
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
Tikkun Olam Committee
Craig’s Place Cot Shelter Volunteers
Tzedakah Contributions
Thank you to those who have volunteered to help fulfill the JCA’s committment to Craig’s Place, the Amherst
winter shelter.
Amy Rothenberg
Stacy Tobin
Paul Herscu
Ken Talan
Eliezer Huber
Kitty Talan
Ann Armon
Efraim Eisen
Robin Diamond
Rosalie Eisen
Ted Diamond
Joe Genshiemer
Larry Fine
Cynthia Gensheimer
Bruce Ecker
Deb Fine
Kathleen Lugosh.
Genelle Taylor
Your Tikkun Olam Committee has allocated this year’s JCA
tzedakah funds to the following local/regional, national and international organizations: the Amherst Survival Center, the Literacy Project at the JCA, Arise for Social Justice, 350.org, Bend
the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, the Southern Poverty
Law Center, Doctors Without Borders, and the International
Rescue Committee. We will provide more information about
each of these organizations in subsequent months – beginning
this month with our international recipients.
The International Rescue Committee provides the essentials of daily life – medical care, shelter, sanitation, water, food
and security – to thousands of refugees from Syria, the Congo,
Darfur, and other areas of conflict and for those suffering from
natural disasters such as the people of Haiti. To donate or for
more information about the IRC, go to Rescue.org
Doctors Without Borders recruits, trains, and supports
doctors, nurses, and aid workers and sends them to help with
medical emergencies around the world. Examples include establishing surgical hospitals in Afghanistan to attend to the civilian
casualties of the war, establishing feeding programs to aid malnourished children from Somalia, and sending medical response
units to Haiti 48 hours after the 2010 earthquake. For more information, their website is www.doctorswithoutborders.org
Food For The Hungry
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts estimates that
over 100,000 people in Western Mass struggle with hunger.
No one should be hungry. If we are able, when we come to
the JCA, let us make it our practice to bring a donation of
non-perishable food to be distributed to those in need.
Co-President Areas Of Responsibility
Through this division we hope to respond to your
suggestions and concerns more promptly.
Please feel free to contact either of us with your
concerns and/or suggestions
Richard Cohen
Eva Rosenn
Agendas
Beit Shalom
Building & Grounds
Chesed
Chevra Kadisha
Education & School
Camp Shemesh
Fundraising
High Holidays Planning
Ritual Life
Shomerim
Tikkun Olam
Administration
Cemetery
Finance
L’Dor v’Dor
Membership
Nominating
Leadership
Personnel
World Jewish Concerns
Thank You, From Yaffa Gunner
As you may know, at the end of September I suffered from a heart attack and congestive heart failure and
while I was in the hospital, in rehab and finally at home,
I was blessed with innumerable individuals who came
to visit me and to make sure that we were fed and taken
care of when discharged from rehab. Thanks to Marilyn
Kushick’s commitment and organizational ability and to
Robin Diamond, who represented the Chesed Committee, they managed to arrange to have Haim and me fed
daily until we were able to undertake that task by ourselves. I would like to mention and thank the following
JCA members who were so concerned and generous with
their time. We feel very fortunate in being surrounded by
so many caring individuals both in the JCA and out.
Reed Alper, Libby Arny, Ruth Love Barer, Christine
Benvenuto, Neta Bolozky, Betsy Brooks, Jules Chametsky, Robin Diamond, Joan Epstein, Rebecca Fisher, Hadar Grabel, Frieda and Irv Howards, Ellen and
Rob Kaufman, Rita and Allen Kropf, Marilyn and Joe
Kushick, Eli Kwartler, Rose and Rabbi Lander, Karen
and John Loeb, Anna Marcus, Pearl-Anne Margalit,
Nomi Kuger-Nash, Susan Mosler, Linda Reif, Amy
Rothenberg, Eva and Leo Sartori, Ariella Schwell, Barbara and Ted Slovin, Randi Stein, Jody Wax and Tom
Butler, Kathy Weilerstein, Rabbi Weiner.
Weȱcanȱhelpȱyouȱmoveȱlifeȱalongȱ
ƒ Do you need to organize your life?
ƒ Get paperwork under control?
ƒ Clear some space?
ƒ Plan a move?
RethinkingȱMovingȱSinceȱ1996ȱ
www.movingmentor.com
413-549-1039
12
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
A WEEKEND WITH
MARGE PIERCY
JCA SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE JANUARY 11-13, 2013
Come join us for a weekend as Marge Piercy shares her poetry, discusses
what is involved in writing liturgical poetry, and leads a workshop on writing
Midrash. Register online for all or any part of the weekend.
The general public is invited for the Saturday evening poetry reading
followed by dessert/wine/coffee.
“Praised as one of the few American writers who are accomplished poets as well as
novelists — Marge Piercy is one of our country’s best selling poets. She has taught,
lectured and/or performed her work at well over 400 universities around the world.
In the last fifteen years, Marge Piercy has become involved in Jewish renewal. She
helped found the havurah of the Outer Cape, Am ha-Yam. She worked on the Or
Chadash siddur and often teaches at the Jewish renewal retreat center, Elat
Chayyim. Her poetry is included in Kol Haneshamah, the Reconstructionist
HOW TO REGISTER
prayerbook.”
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday Jan. 11th:
>Services at 6:15 p.m.
>Dinner* at 7:30 p.m. with Marge Piercy followed by Q&A
moderated by Rabbi Weiner
Saturday Jan. 12th
>Services at 10:00 a.m. D’var Torah by Marge Piercy (open
dialogue about poetry and writing 8:45-9:45 a.m.)
>Kiddush open to all in Library following
>Lunch* in Social Hall approx. 12:30-1:15 p.m.
Saturday evening 7- 9 p.m.
>Poetry reading by Marge Piercy
>Dessert and Wine/Coffee
Sunday Jan. 13th*
>Bagels and coffee 9:00 a.m.
>Midrash Workshop with Marge Piercy from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
>Book signing 11:30-12:00
*Pre-registration required
Registration for all events and meals for synagogue-affiliated attendees
is $75.00. Unaffiliated $85.00.
Prices for individual sessions, please see registration forms at:
http://j-c-a.org/sir-reg.pdf (print out and mail in)
http://j-c-a.org/sir-reg.html (for online registration)
Pre-registration is required for all
events. Payment at the the door if
space permits.
**Discounts for students and
synagogue-affiliated members
**Discount for registering for all
events/meals
ONLINE REGISTRATION
1. Go to http://j-c-a.org/sir-reg.html
2. Complete the registration form
checking the boxes for the events
you would like to attend.
3. Please note that meal costs are
separate.
4. Pay using credit card or PayPal
REGISTRATION VIA MAIL
1. Print out on-line registration form
at http://j-c-a.org/sir-reg.pdf or
pick one up in the foyer at the
JCA
2. Complete the registration form
checking the boxes for the events
you would like to attend.
3. Please note that meal costs are
separate.
4. Mail your completed form with a
check to: JCA, 742 Main St.,
Amherst, MA 01002
JEWISH COMMUNITY OF AMHERST, 742 MAIN ST., AMHERST, MA 01002
13
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
You are needed!
Every Tuesday morning several people meet in the small sanctuary
for a morning service. Often, we are not able to make a minyan
and what’s frustrating is that more often than not we are eight
or nine people. This is a wonderful way to begin your day. The
service begins at 7:30 and is over by 8:30. Latecomers are always
welcome. Your attendance could make the difference between
someone being able to say Kaddish for a loved one or not.
Please consider coming when you can.
Newsletter Advertising Rates
Business Card - 2 x 3.5
Non-Member
rate per issue
JCA Member
rate per issue
1 issue
4 issues 11 issues
$ 40.00 $ 135.00
$ 300.00
$ 33.75
$ 27.27
$ 30 $ 110.00
$ 242.00
$ 27.50
$ 22.00
¼ Sheet - 3.5 x 4.75
Non-Member
rate per issue
JCA Member
rate per issue
½ Sheet - 4.75 x 7
Non-Member
rate per issue
JCA Member
rate per issue
1 issue
4 issues 11 issues
$ 124.00 $ 420.00
$ 955.00
$ 105.00
$ 86.81
$ 100.00 $ 340.00
$ 680.00
$ 85.00
$ 61.82
1 issue
4 issues 11 issues
$ 68.00 $ 225.00
$ 515.00
$ 56.25
$ 46.81
$ 54.00 $ 180.00
$ 420.00
$ 45.00
$ 38.18
Full Sheet - 7 x 9.5
Non-Member
rate per issue
JCA Member
rate per issue
1 issue
4 issues 11 issues
$ 225.00 $ 755.00
$ 1750.00
$ 188.75
$ 159.09
$ 180.00 $ 605.00
$ 1390.00
$ 151.25
$ 126.36
14
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
The Jewish Community of Amherst is proud to announce that the following members have made a
commitment to leave a legacy gift to the JCA in their wills or estate plans.
We extend our deepest appreciation to those who have helped to insure the future of JCA
by leaving a legacy that will continue beyond their lifetimes.
JCA L’dor V’dor Legacy Circle Members
Suzanne Arnopolin & Ronnie Williams
Cathy I. (Kitty) Axelson-Berry
Joanna & Clay Ballantine
Rabbi David Dunn Bauer
Neoma Berger
Normand & Barbara Berlin
Barbara Weinberg Burkart
Michael & Jaymie Chernoff
Jeffrey Cohen & Lori Holder-Webb
Richard Cohen & Eliza Gouverneur
Allen and Judy Davis
Ted and Robin Diamond
Robert S. Feldman & Katherine Vorwerk Feldman
Rachael & Molly Goren-Watts
Josh & Marina Goldman
Harold Grinspoon
Ann J. Hastings
Karen Helfer & Richard Madowitz
Paul Herscu & Amy Rothenberg
Irving and Frieda Howards
Len “Eliezer” Huber
Devorah Jacobson & Margaret Mastrangelo
Hollie Kalkstein & Bob Weitzman
Carol Kaminsky
Jacqueline Katz
Oran Kaufman & Danielle Barshak
Bettie S. Kravetz
Eli Kwartler & Barbara Benda Jenkins
Rabbi Yechiael Lander & Rose Lander
David Levit & Ruth Kane-Levit
John & Karen Loeb
Susan Myers
Anita Page
Jayne Pearl
Lisa Perlbinder Porter & Tom Porter
Alan Peterfreund
Johanna & Tom Plaut
Robert & Jeanne Potash
Joan & Monroe Rabin
David Rothenberg & Barbara Skolnick Rothenberg
Joan Saperstan & Josette Henschel
David & Barbara Schimmel
Sara Schley & Joe Laur
'DYLG6KDUNHQ-RDQQH-DIÀQ
Linda M. Sinapi
Barbara & Ted Slovin
Judith Souweine
Ms. Randi Stein
Robert L. Stern & Judith S. Glaser
Ken & Kitty Talan
Joan Temkin
Phil & Kathy Weilerstein
Guy A. Wood
Stephen & Beverly Woolf
James E. Young
Plus 4 donors who wish to remain anonymous
If you want to join the Legacy Circle or have any questions,
please contact David Sharken at 413-297-5500 or david@hgf.org.
15
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
JCA Adult Reading Group
Visual Arts Committee
The third meeting of the year of the ARG will
be on Thursday March 28th, 2013, at 7:30 PM in
the JCA library. We will be discussing 2 novels that
have received very positive reviews, Sex Wars, A
Novel of Gilded Age New York, (primary text, if
only reading one book) and Gone to Soldiers (secondary text), by Marge Piercy, who will be a scholar in residence at the JCA in January 2013. They are
in paperback.
Come join us;
new participants are always welcome!
Any questions, please call Ken Talan, 253-2248.
The Visual Arts Committee hopes that everyone was able to see
the wonderful article in the Daily Hampshire Gazette about Jane
Trigère and her exhibit at the JCA. If you were unable to attend the
Art Walk and hear Jane talk about The Women of the Balcony and
the other pieces in the show, she is planning to do another Art Walk
on January 3rd. It will begin at 5 PM and Jane will be available to
speak from 7PM to 8:30. There was a strong attendance last time
so try to make time to come and learn about the pieces in the Hall
Gallery and in the Social Hall. There is lots to learn about.
Looking ahead, starting in February, our next exhibitor will be
Julie Lapping Rivera. More about her and her work in the next
newsletter.
Have you checked out the
JCA Judaica Store lately?
Books by JCA members and others,
siddurim, chumashim, tallitot, mezzuzot
and many lovely gift items.
You can shop whenever
the office is open
THE
NATHAN
AGENCIES
Since 1969
Amherst
Financial
Services
Agency
Mutual Funds • Investments
Financial, Tax & Estate Planning
Ronald J. Nathan, CLU, ChFC
Advisory services offered through Capital Analysts, Inc., or
Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc., • Registered Investment Advisors
Securities offered through Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. • Broker/
Dealer • Member FINRA/SIPC • www.lincolninvestment.com
Amherst Financial Services and the above firms are
independent, non-affiliated entities.
413-256-8351
20 Gatehouse Rd
Amherst
Corner Route 9 & Gatehouse Rd
Visit Our Website at
www.nathanagencies.com
16
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
3rd Annual Borsch
BorschtBelt
BeltComedy
ComedyNight!!
Night!!
with special guest appearances by......actually you have to supply the jokes
Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz
Jerry Levitch
Julius Henry Marx
Arthur Adolf Marx
Leonard Marx
Herbert Manfred Marx
Allen Stewart Konigsberg
Saturday, March 9, 2013
7:30
Eat Borscht, Bring your jokes and your potty mouth, No kids under 18 but
you can act like one....Suggested donation $10
All jokes under 3 minutes. If you are particularly sensitive to being
offended - this may not be for you
At the Jewish Community of Amherst
David Daniel Kaminsky
Sponsored by the JCA membership committee
For more information contact Oran Kaufman at 413-256-1575 or oran@orankaufman.com
17
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
Israeli
Film &
Food
A mid-winter
mini-series
Sunday February 3 - 3:00p
m
Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi
(Hebrew title: Ha-Kochavim
Shel
Shlomi - ‘Shlomi's Stars’) is a
2003
film telling the story of Shlom
i, a
sixteen year old Moroccan-Isra
eli,
who cares for everyone in his
life
except himself.
Sponsored by
World Jewish
Jewish Community of Amherst—
Concerns Committee
el Committee
Congregational B’nai Israel—Isra
r of Hadassah
Northampton/Amherst Chapte
Jewish Co
mmunity
of Amher
st
Social Hall
Main Stre
Amherst M et
A 01002
FREE & O
PEN
THE PUB TO
LIC
3:00pm
Sunday February 10 -
A Matter of Size
dol – ‘A
(Hebrew title: Sippur Ga
following
Big Story’) is a 2009 film
ight
the lives of four overwe
Ramle,
friends in the poor city of
eight
who decide to quit a “W
der to
Watching” program in or
Sumo
become the first Israeli
wrestlers.
What better way
to spend a cold
Sunday
afternoon in Fe
bruary than wat
ch
“feel good” film
ing a
with friends, sc
h
m
o
ozing
and noshing on
Israeli food?
Come enjoy “s
weet and spicy”
Israeli
films (no war o
r politics) follow
ed
by Israeli
refreshments &
discussion.
18
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
Donations
Annual Giving
Tobi Sznajderman & Joel Harris
Barbara & James Pistrang
Eva Rosenn
In memory of our parents (Marilyn & Jeffrey Blaustein)
In honor of all the members who contribute and keep the
JCA vibrant (Kitty & Ken Talan)
Sharon Vardatira & Marion Wolfson
Susan Zarchin
Susan Myers
Jeanne & Bob Potash
In honor of Eli Kwartler (Fay Zipkowitz)
Carol Kaminsky
In memory of my parents, Frank & Tina Sardo
(MaryAnn Grim)
In memory of Alexander Teitlar (Ellen & John Middleton)
Ellen Grobman & Evan Bollinger
In honor of the many JCA members who engage in Tikkun
Olam to make our community a better place
(Cheryl Zoll & Eric Sawyer)
Aaron & Patience Bousel
In honor of those who have donated so generously their
time & resources to the JCA
(Margaret Mastrangelo & Devorah Jacobson)
Stephanie Sandler & Austin Sarat
Evelyn Goldenberg
In honor of Sara Schley, who calls our neshamas to rise
(Felicia Mednick)
Eliza Gouverneur & Richard Cohen
James Seltzer and Holly Perry
Joseph Boucher
In honor of Rebekka Erlich’s Bat Mitzvah (Natalie Jarmon)
In memory of Blanche Schimmel
(Barbara & David Schimmel)
Phyllis & Hans Herda
Catherine Madsen & Sarah Thomson
Barbara & Michael Burkart
Marcia & Sheldon Goldman
In honor of Nathan Isabelle Mondshein
(Linda Mondshein & Warren Smith)
In honor of Yaffa & Haim Gunner (Eva Sartori)
Barbara & Gordon Freed
Merle & Edward Feld
Elaine & Arnold Trehub
Jane & Daniel Giat
Patricia Levine
Kathy & Philip Weilerstein
In honor of the birth of Amelia Dorothy Morse
(Joanna & Gideon Morse)
In memory of Jonathan Souweine (Judith Souweine)
In memory of Enrique Kaufman
(Oran Kaufman & Danielle Barshak)
In memory of Leonard Israel (Mark Israel)
In honor of Jody Rosenbloom (Amy Kroin & Robert Radin)
In memory of Shirley Gladstone (Judith Loischild)
In memory of Fay Katz (Anita Page)
In honor of Eli Kwartler (Karen & John Loeb)
In gratitude to the community (Jane Trigère & Ken Schoen)
Anna-Beth Winograd
Susan & Peter Cinner
Daniel Berlin
continued on next page
Condolences
New or Returning Members
We offer our sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the
families and friends of those who have recently died:
Elizabeth Haines, mother of Gail Haines, mother-in-law of
Guy Wood and grandmother of Timothy Haineswood
Mollie Bessin Weiner, mother of Alan Weiner, mother-inlaw of Mary Whiston, and grandmother of Shoshana and
Eliana
Ernestine (Tina) G. Sardo, mother of MaryAnn Grim,
grandmother of Jennifer Katon and Andy and Jonathan
Grim and great-grandmother of Rubystarr and Jonathan
Grim and Wyatt and Leah Katon
Irwin Berger, father of Elizabeth Trobaugh and father-inlaw of Ted Trobaugh, grandfather of Hannah, Tess, and
Gabriel
Hyman Goldin, father of Jonathan, grandfather of Gabriella,
husband of Lillian.
Carl Krogh, father of Jean Krogh and father-in law of Bob
Solosko. He also leaves daughter Betsy Krogh and son-inlaw Nick Grabbe of Amherst and grandchildren Benjamin
Krogh-Grabbe and Alexander Krogh-Grabbe
Janet Lehan Bloom, mother of Jason and Alex Bloom and
former wife of JCA member Fred Bloom
We warmly welcome the following people to the JCA
community:
Jonathan Goldin
Michael Wolff
Celebrating Babies
Know any new babies in the community?
The JCA’s Chesed and Membership Committees have
teamed up with Havurah K'tana (Little Friends Circle) to
welcome new babies into our community with a Shalom
Baby Basket.
Please contact us when you learn of families with a new
baby (JCA members or potential members).
We will stop by with a decorated basket containing a menorah, PJ Library book, and a card made by children in the
JCA Religious School as well as information about area Jewish resources for families. We’ll also bring a meal and a plate
of goodies for the family!
Please contact Ariella Schwell at ariellachef@yahoo.com
or 230-3694 or Reed Alper at reedmangels@comcast.net or
549-0438.
19
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
continued from previous page
Robin & Ted Diamond
Alice Friedman
Nina & Donald Tetenbaum
Hadar Grabel
Andrea Newman & Jonathan Shefftz
Marsha & William Zimmer
Joan & Monroe Rabin
Hollie Kalkstein & Robert Weitzman
Richard Tessler
Ronnie Janoff-Bulman & Michael Shea Bulman
Jean Krogh & Robert Solosko
General Fund
In memory of Sylvia Levine & Hannah Fierman
(Gregory Firman)
In memory of Ann Blaustein (Marilyn & Jeffrey Blaustein)
In honor of the baby naming for Amelia Dorothy Morse
(Amalia Dvora), daughter of Joanna & Gideon Morse
(Charlene & Jonathan Morse)
In memory of Frances Kates, longtime JCA member on the
occasion of her yahrzeit (Bill Kates)
Guidebook
Robert Stern & Judith Glaser
Thomas Porter & Lisa Perlbinder
Steve & Bev Woolf
Eliza Gouverneur & Richard Cohen
Pearlanne & Nathan Margalit
Open Door
In memory of Marilyn Harwin (Judith Berger)
Prayerbook Fund
In memory of my mother, Lillian Lewis, on her 36 Yahrzeit
(Merle Feld)
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Melinda & Eric Elman
In honor of Rabbi Sheila Weinberg (Joseph Boucher)
In memory of Barbara Goodman (Joseph Boucher)
In honor of the hard work of those who volunteer at the JCA
(Barbara & Roger Bacon)
In honor of my grandson Brett Evans’ Bar Mitzvah
(Bernie Taub)
In honor of Rabbi Weiner & Cantor Elise Barber’s son
Efraim as he celebrates his first Chanukah
(Barbara & Marty Winn)
Scholar In Residence
Doug Lowing
Randi Stein
Marsha & William Zimmer
Elaine Walsh & Margy Andrews
Tikkun Olam
In memory of Victor Kelly (Walter Carroll)
Tzedakah Fund
In memory of Tara Michelle Katzner (Ruth & Don Katzner)
If someone in your family, or someone you know
in the community, is ill and/or in the hospital, please
contact the Chesed Committee by calling the office
(256-0160).
Even if visits or phone calls are not desired, it is
important for us as a community to be aware of the
health and well being of our members and their families.
We cannot help if we don’t know.
The Deadline for the
February Newsletter
is January 13th
All submissions MUST be made either by e-mail or
e-mail with a file attached.
If you do not have access to a computer or email,
please contact the editor.
PLEASE RESPECT THE DEADLINE!
Thank you, Aaron Bousel,
news@j-c-a.org 253-3544
Patience Meigs Bousel, CTP, CSE, LMT
Certi¿ed Trager® Practitioner, Clinical Somatic Educator, Licensed Massage Therapist
Experience peace and calm
through deeply relaxing touch.
Discover the joy of moving
with freedom and ease.
413-218-7815
800 Main St., Amherst, MA
pmbousel@comcast.net
20
Jewish Community of Amherst Newsletter — January 2013
nts
e
m
e
c
n
u
o
n
n
A
y
Communit
Culture Connect
www.JewishCultureConnect.com
seeks subscribers! Jewish Culture Connect is an online listing of Jewish arts,
culture, and educational events in western Mass and beyond! Stop by to find
something to do this weekend or to
peruse the directory of artists, lecturers, performers, scholars, and organizations who provide Jewish programming
throughout western MA, southern VT,
and Berkshire County. While you’re
there, sign up to receive monthly event
highlights, and we’ll send Jewish culture right to your email inbox! Find
“Jewish Culture Connect of Western
Mass” on Facebook also to learn more
about Jewish arts and culture! p.s. Do
you create Jewish programming for
your organization or community? Submit your event and let us help you get
the word out! Contact Marla Shelasky
at 413-439-1928 or marla@hgf.org, for
more information.
Fiddler on the Roof
Amherst Leisure Services Community Theater presents:
Fiddler on the Roof
January 17,18,19,20,24,25,26,27
JL Geriatric Services
Full Scope Nursing and Life Enhancement
Israel and Human Rights,
Setting the Record Straight
Bowker Auditorium, University of
Massachusetts, Amherst
For ticket information and other details about this full-scale production,
please visit <www.alsct.org>.
Yiddish Book Center
The Yiddish Book Center’s Wexler
Oral History Project is seeking five to
six volunteers to serve as shraybers, oral
history field processors.
Working from home computers, volunteers will dive into our growing oral
history collection, mining interviews
for great stories and preparing them for
inclusion in the collection’s fully-accessible online archive. This opportunity is
open to qualified applicants across the
country and around the world!
For more information and to read the
full job description:
yiddishbookcenter.org/oral-historyshraybers-field-processors
PLEASE NOTE: You do not need
to know Yiddish to do this work! However, any familiarity with Yiddish language, culture, and history is a plus.
Please go to the link below to fill out
the online application by January 13,
2013:
yiddishbookcenter.org/field-processor-application
A presentation sponsored by The
Israel Committee of CBI with guest
speaker Dexter Van Zile, a Christian
Analyst for CAMERA, the Committee
for accuracy in Middle East Reporting
in America
Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 7:00 pm
CBI Social Hall
Meditation Group
Thursday Morning “Lecha Dumiyah
Tehillah”* Meditation Group
Every Thursday in the CBI Library,
from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Led by Rabbi Nancy Flam
Please know that is not an instructional group. Rather, each of us comes
with our own silent meditation or prayer
practice and draws strength and affirmation for our deep, inner work by being
together in community.
• Arrive & Settling In:
8:00 – 8:15 a.m.
• Setting of Kavvanah/Teaching:
8:15 – 8:25 a.m.
• Bell to begin silent meditation:
8:25 a.m.
• Bell to end silent meditation:
8:55 a.m.
* “To You silence is praise.”
Psalm 65:2
(413) 253-5384
Care
Judith Loischild RN, MSN
Director
Home Care Services
Nursing Facility Care
jloishcildRN@Gmail.com
PURVEYORS OF FINE WINE,
413 303 9434
LIQOURS, MICRO & SPECIALTY BEERS
41 Years of Service
338 COLLEGE ST.
PO BOX 506
AMHERST, MA 01004
Jewish Community of Amherst
742 Main Street
Amherst, MA 01002
Return Service Requested
o
ase
-D
lay
De
R
le
l-P
ia
ter
a
dM
ush
t
No
te
Da
January 11-13
Scholar-in-Residence Weekend
with Marge Piercy (see page 12)
January 25
Farbrengen Friday & Tu B’Shevat Seder
January 26
Shabbat B’Yachad (see page 7)
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Amherst, MA
Permit No. 90