FEBRUARY 2016KISLEV 5776

facebook.com/ BethAmBaltimore

US ON

We feel blessed to be able to welcome a number of ground breaking thought-leaders to Beth Am in the coming weeks and months. Here are three opportunities that simply can’t be missed!

On February 28 at 11:00 a.m., we will host the second installment of Sages for the Ages with our own Ron Shapiro and Marin Alsop of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Ron has been a treasured member of our Beth Am family for many years, and I thank him for his vision and generosity of time and spirit, making possible this remarkable series. What’s more, to be able to welcome Maestra Alsop, a world-renowned and trailblazing conductor, just days after the BSO celebrates its 100th anniversary is a reminder of how Beth Am continues to position itself at the leading and growing edge of Jewish and urban Baltimore.

As our city grapples with the meaning and long term impact of April, 2015, we celebrate a transformational music director who, unlike so many leaders, organizations and performers during those tumultuous weeks, was quick to stand in solidarity with our city and its most vulnerable populations. The format will be similar to last year’s program with UB President and Former Mayor Kurt Schmoke. Ron will host an informal conversation with Maestra Alsop in the Sanctuary leaving time for your

CONTENTS

RABBI’S MESSAGE

CANTOR’S CORNER

CONGREGATION LEARNING

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

UPCOMING EVENTS

COMMUNITY NEWS

CONTRIBUTIONS

FUND DESIGNATION

*throughout bulletin

1

5

8

10

12*

18

19

23

RABBI’S MESSAGE Learn from Transformational Leaders & Pioneering Thinkers at Beth Am

Rabbi Daniel Cotzin Burg

continued on page 3

2 3

Rabbi Daniel Cotzin Burg

OfficersPresident Julie Gottlieb1st Vice President Lisa Akchin2nd Vice President Lynn SassinTreasurer Alan KopolowSecretary David Lunken

Trustees through 2016Neil KahnCindy ParadiesDesiree RobinsonJim Schwartz

Trustees through 2017David DemskyRisa JampelAshley PressmanNaomi Rosner

Trustees through 2018Debbie AgusDina BillianCarol BerkowerMatt Herman

Past Presidents and Life MembersPast President Scott ZegerPast President Cy SmithHonorary Life Member Lainy LeBow-SachsHonorary Life Member Efrem Potts

Standing CommitteesContinuing Ed Chair Roberta GreensteinContinuing Ed Co-Chair Rachel RosenheckFinance Chair Alan KopolowFinance Co-Chair Joe WolfsonHouse Chair Sam PolakoffKiddush Chair Desireé RobinsonMembership Chair Patricia Fradkin-BermanMembership Co-Chair Robin KatcoffReligious Services Chair Joe WolfsonSocial Action Chair Arthur ShulmanSocial Action Co-Chair Jackie DonowitzYouth Education Chair Dina Billian

Ad Hoc CommitteesAnnual Fund Honorary Chair Gil SandlerAnnual Fund Chair Ricky FineAnnual Fund Vice Chair Jim JacobsBalt. Jewish Council Rep. Ben RosenbergBeth Am Connection Joanne Katz Risa JampelBAYITT Chair Sara GoodmanCongregant to Congregant Joyce KeatingDevelopment Chair Lainy LeBow-SachsDevelopment Co-Chair Cy SmithIn, For and Of, Inc. Don Akchin Marketing Chair Ellen SpokesOperations Co-Chair Ashley PressmanOperations Co-Chair David DemskyRes. Hill Improvement Council Carol Shulman

Office HoursTuesday-Thursday: 9:00-4:00Friday: 9:00-3:00

Office Contact Extentions:Tel: 410.523.2446 / Fax: 410.523.1729 Extensions: Rabbi Daniel Burg - 14Rabbi Kelley Gludt - 15Henry Feller, Exec. Dir. - 20Linda Small, Senior Staff Coordinator - 12Rachel Weistner, Captical Campaign Coordinator - 21Norm Weinstein, Bookkeeper - 17Nakia Davis, Front Office Coordinator and Assistant to the Rabbi - 11 Josh Weisberg - Program Coordinator - 16Lynora Lawless - Communcations and Membership Coordinator - 10Sandy Winters, Ritual Coordinator:410-598-6397 Office E-mail:Email: nakia@bethambaltimore.orgWeb site: www.bethambaltimore.org

Rabbi Daniel Cotzin Burg 443.202.0912 (cell) (emergencies only, please) ravdaniel@bethambaltimore.org

Cantor Ira Greenstein 443.759.7807 (home) cantor.ira@gmail.com

Rabbi Kelley Gludt, Director of Congregational Learning 520.248.9541 (cell) rabbikelley@bethambaltimore.org

Henry Feller, Executive Director henry@bethambaltimore.org 443.742.9654 (cell) (emergencies only, please)

Julie Gottlieb, Board President juliegbetham@gmail.com 410-294-7418

In case of an emergency, please contact: Henry Feller, Executive Director 443.742.9654 (cell)

BETH AM BOARD OF TRUSTEES

3

questions. Then at noon, we’ll feature a 30 minute performance by the OrchKids, students from Baltimore schools who are the beneficiaries of and proud participants in this bold initiative. Please remember to dig up your old instrument to donate if you have one! (See Page 12 of this bulletin for more details).

Another timely event features scholars from the newly rebranded ICJS and Tom Hall of WYPR’s Maryland Morning as moderator. On March 5, after Sanctuary Services and Kiddush lunch, we will have a panel discussion entitled “How Religious Difference Can Make a Difference?” featuring Drs. Heather Miller Rubens, Homayra Ziad and Beth Am member Benjamin Sax, ICJS’s Catholic, Muslim and Jewish scholars respectively. Many of you are familiar with this highly regarded Baltimore organization with its national platform – and a number of you have played significant leadership roles there over the years.

This January, the ICJS announced that to continue achieve its mission of making religious difference a powerful force for good, it would include the third Abrahamic religion going forward. Beth Am combines forces with the newly renamed Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies for a stimulating exploration of how religious difference can and should be leveraged for the betterment of Baltimore.

Finally, mark your calendars for our May 6-7 scholar-in-residence weekend with Dr. Amy Kalmanofsky, the second (after Judith Hauptman) of two trailblazing JTS scholars to visit Beth Am in 5776. Prof. Kalmanofsky’s scholarship “examines the ways in which the Bible defies and challenges gender norms.” She is working on a new book entitled Gender-Bending the Hebrew Bible.

As the Rabbis say: Tze u’lemad, Come and learn!

Rabbi’s Message from cover

Follow Rabbi Burg on his blogwww.theurbanrabbi.org

4 5

L’EILAH U’L’EILAHPlease join us for family focused Jewish learning and social events in preparation for our 2018 Israel trip.

We are thrilled to be planning this trip and the pre-activities. Because this is a family learning trip and experience, we want to make sure every family has a hand in the planning. If you would like to send an e-mail to ask questions, express your interest and your availability for the these events and/or help with activity planning, please contact Robin Katcoff (robinkrx@yahoo.com) or Rabbi Kelley (rabbikelley@bethambaltimore.org). Families will be asked to lead various learning sessions for the group throughout the next 3 years. Please save these dates for upcoming family events this coming year:

• Saturday, February 20 - Third meal/Havdalah and program • Sunday, May 15 - Program TBD

If you are planning to be a part of this exciting initiative, your participation in these events and activities is very important.

As a kindness to neighbors without parking pads or garages, please park in the Beth Am parking lot behind the Esplanade Apartments - unless you have mobility or accessibility concerns. The lot is accessible from Brooks Lane and Beth Am’s spaces are designated by blue stripes. Take care to park only in the Beth Am spaces to avoid being towed (at your expense).

5

Many of you know that I enjoy hiking, now devoting 4-5 days each summer to an “adventure hike” somewhere away from civilization. Since my days as a Boy Scout, I have enjoyed hiking … and I be-gan hiking again more in earnest about a dozen years ago (with great respect for my hiking buddy, whom many of you also know). To-gether with our spouses, we were very amused by the recent movie “A Walk in the Woods” based on the equally amusing book by Bill Bryson … the book and movie hit the mark, and then some.

I recently read an article entitled “How Wilderness Forms a Jew” by Ellen Bernstein, who personally devotes much energy to ecology and Jewish spirituality. For obvi-ous reasons, the article resonated with me. We don’t typically think of this relationship because it is so fundamental, but also because it is not part of most people’s per-sonal empathetic experiences in the same way as it was with our ancestors. Except … maybe it is.

At the end of January, our Torah readings emigrate from the setting in Egypt to the crossing of the Red Sea and into the Sinai Wilderness.

There, isolated from the rest of the world culture and society, the De-scendants of Israel have a chance to become a principled tribal nation, away from the distracting influence of those “corrupted” by amorality, materialism, selfish-ness, greed, status, etc. By shar-ing in a wilderness survival expe-rience and its attendant challenge, individuals got to bond, share, learn to be a self-reliant commu-nity, understand themselves and their values, rely on each other for defense, and rely on their God for support and guidance.

Even before Sinai, our ancestors travelled through wilderness to find spouses, to find new homes, to find God, and to find surrounding societies with whom NOT to in-teract or by whom NOT to become corrupted. In the Torah, there is a LOT of wilderness. We often forget that.

One “civilized” but concerned friend recently asked me if I ever felt that someone on the trail might steal my food or cash, or harm me. First off, any aspiring thieves who think they’ll become rich by exerting THAT much ener-gy to get to a place – sparsely

CANTOR’S CORNERJewish Relationship with the WildernessCantor Ira Greenstein

6 7

“populated” as it were with large-ly un-materialistic people focus-ing on mutual physical challenge and basic survival, and taking personal risk to do that – and then thinking they can abscond with some modest valuables and somehow make it BACK to civilization with a substantial booty, is a bit unbalanced (OK, out of thousands of hikers on the Appalachian Trail each year, there may be a dangerous wacko once a decade). I was surprised by the inquiry, but in truth, upon reflection, it made considerable contextual sense. Really, it is a fascinating and revealing ques-tion.

Part of the point of wilderness trail hiking is PRECISELY to be AWAY from the materialism, pressure-to-perform, political correctness, politics, inattentive-ness to the natural world, etc. Sure, you plan the trip carefully to ensure you have food, clothing, shelter, hiking poles, shovel, etc. … but once you get past that and onto the trail, your mind clears and you have the time to ignore all the amenities that we have created and appreciate camara-derie, your own thoughts, and your place in the natural world. Bernstein captures this well, extending the experience to one that is “spiritual.” The view from the top looking down and “360-de-grees” all around is far different

from the view from below looking up. The sky is unaffected by city lights. The sunrises and sunsets are unencumbered. Time can be an imprecise estimation observed more from the sun than your wrist or iPhone. The tempera-ture, precipitation, and wind are unadulterated. The air, sounds, and the smells are stimulating.

Bernstein observed that it seemed that Jews were NOT rep-resented well in the modern-day wilderness experience, much as wandering DEFINED the early Jewish experience. She notes the contrasts between the planning we do today and the absence of planning of our ancestors. Still, for both eras, the wilderness takes anxiety to a basic level, altering (at least for a time) our values and perceptions. It brings us back to the ethic in Pirkei Avot, that “He is happy who is satisfied with his lot in life.” Or as Bernstein puts it: “We find out who we are and where we belong, and we learn to live in community with other people.” Our ancestors had “pilgrimage festivals” three times a year, when they might walk 100 miles or more to offer sacrifices to God. Bernstein’s point is that the pilgrimage might have been as important as the holiday itself, and we are missing out on that experience today.

Unless we create it ourselves.

Read more of Ellen Bernstein’s works atwww.ellenbernstein.org

7

Rachel is not a stranger as she has called Beth Am home for the past several years.

Her family of three girls can be seen occasionally in the office while she helps guide the Campaign for Beth Am to its fruition.

NEW

STA

FF

Rachel WeitznerCaptial Campaign Coordinator

Lynora joins Beth Am with a masters in Publication Design from University of Baltimore and undergraduate work from Frostburg St. University.

Preparing to pursue a doctoral pro-gram, Lynora’s passion for design ex-tends into her various projects: trifles.website- a photo blog and the upcom-ing sunnysideup.website- a cooking video blog for the cash strapped.

Lynora Lawless Membership and Communications Coordinator

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Sarajane Greenfeld and Betty Seidel for

their support proofreading for Beth Am!

DIY JUDIASM

2.25 3.3 3.10Contact Rabbi Kelley for more information at:

rabbikelley@bethambaltimore.org

Join Rabbi Kelley for a three-week class on Shabbat honors. Learn how to lift and dress a Torah, have an Aliyah, and more!

8 9

CONGREGATIONAL LEARNINGRabbi Kelley Gludt

As 2015 came to a close, 800 teens from all over the United States and Canada descended on the Inner Harbor for the 65th United Synagogue Youth International Convention (IC), with the theme this year was “Think More, Do More, B’more.”

Fortunately for us, three of those high schoolers were Beth Am’ers.

Ariel Goldberg, Isabel Lunken and David Wittenberg spent four days at Beth Israel of Owings Mills at the local pre-convention, hosting nearly 65 kids from HaNegev, the southern region of USY, where they davened (prayed), participat-ed in social action projects around the city, and met new friends.

On Sunday, they moved on to the main event- IC. Held at the Marriott in Harbor East, the con-vention started off with a rousing open session. Over the next four days, the teens chose tracks focus-ing on various aspects of advocacy: combating anti-Semitism; political activism; Israel on campus; Israeli pluralism; issues of race and poverty; understanding, includ-ing, accepting and advocating for LGBQT; changing gender norms;

mental health awareness, and our planet.

They bonded, prayed, ate, sang and danced. Danny Siegel led a panel on finding your passion, while Tim Kaminski headlined a comedy club. The teen president of USY, Hailee Grey, addressed the convention, as did Sam Daley-Harris, founder of Center for Citizen Empowerment, and Dr. Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service. They brought voices of warmth and hope to our city as they sang throughout the Inner Harbor, saw Camden Yards and visited the Na-tional Aquarium. The daily dav-ening options included straightfor-ward services and creative prayer experiences, including everything from a Harry Potter Minyan to Shacharit through Visual Arts, Davening in the Dark, Relaxation and Meditation, Improvisation Shacharit, Broadway Shacharit and iPod Shacharit.

Afterwards, one of our partici-pants talked about what it was like to “find” so many Jewish teens and what that meant. All three Beth Am participants talked of forging a stronger Jewish iden-

9

tity, and mentioned the impact of the convention quote: “You are not the future, you’re the present.” Our teens have taken this to heart and have committed to establish-ing an official USY chapter here at Beth Am. They plan on participat-ing in regional events in the near future, and will work on establish-ing a board leadership structure to go into effect in the fall.

Many people supported these teens attending pre-convention

and International Convention, in both time and expense. I want to not only sincerely thank those who made this experience possible for Ariel, Isabel and David, but to reassure everyone who stepped up and stepped in that it was a worthwhile use of our resources. I can’t wait to share everything that grows out of this successful convention experience as USY’s newest chapter moves ahead!

To learn about the 66th United Synagogue Youth International Convention, visit www.usy.org

Youth Education Committee Open Meeting

Sunday, February 21Beth Am Synagogue

12:30-2:00PM

Lunch and playtime for the kids following LabWe need everyone’s input--please join us!

For more information, please email:josh@bethambaltimore.org

10 11

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVEJulie Gottlieb

January 9, 2016 will long be remembered as the date on which we woke up and smelled the coffee. The brew served at Kiddush lunch was no longer a brownish version of hot water, but instead was a recognizable version of the real thing. Thanks to research and changes implemented by the co-chairs (and sole members) of the Coffee Task Force, Hillary Jacobs and Stephen Gottlieb, what we drank at Shabbat on the 28th of Tevet was a great improvement on what we’ve been drinking for years and complements the delicious food prepared by our wonderful Kiddush lunch volunteers. What I didn’t know when I ap-pointed the Coffee Task Force was how integral a role Jews have played in the history of coffee. Howard Schultz of Brooklyn (a.k.a. Mr. Starbucks) is only the most recent well-known exam-ple. After coffee houses became common in Constantinople and elsewhere in the Middle East, a Jew introduced the phenomenon to Europe, opening a coffee house in Livorno, Italy in 1632. A Jew is credited with establishing the first coffee house in Oxford, England in 1650. In post-medieval Ger-many, Jewish involvement in the coffee trade was protested as a threat to beer-drinking traditions

and trade. In the U.S., Martin-son’s, Savarin, and Chock Full ‘o Nuts were Jewish-founded or led businesses. Of the major coffee companies, only Maxwell House was not a Jewish firm. But they printed free, ad-filled Haggadahs – and have distributed some 50 million to date – on the suggestion of a Jewish advertising manager who had an Orthodox rabbi certify that coffee was a berry, not a bean, and therefore could be consumed on Passover. The introduction of markedly better coffee at Beth Am yielded all sorts of information. I learned who brings their own, barely con-cealed, cold-brewed at home java to Kiddush lunch; who strolls to the newly-opened Dovecote Café (2501 Madison Ave.) after lunch to savor coffee from small batch roasters; and who has a stash of choice Honduran beans at home. Work on the coffee situation continues apace. As with many challenges at Beth Am, there are numerous variables – equipment, beans, temperature, and timing – involved in reaching the optimal solution. If we can significantly upgrade the quality of Beth Am’s coffee by applying creativity and hard work to the problem, there is nothing we can’t accomplish.

11

Learn more and register online at:www.ayelet.com/CASpain2016.aspx

July 3 - 14, 2016SPAIN

Dear friends and congregants,Plans are moving forward on our Incredible Cantors Assembly Musical Mission to Spain in July 2016.IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN THE TRIP, NOW IS THE TIME! It is going to be an amazing tour “In Search of Jewish Spain”. We have been in contact with Ayelet Tours and reserved seats on airline flights are filling up. Contact Ayelet Tours (1-800-237-1517) to speak directly with Grace for assistance or questions or you may also call either Cantor Greenstein or Roberta at 443 759-7807.

88.1 FM YOUR NPR NEWS STATIONCOMING THIS MARCH“How Religious Difference Can Make a Difference?”

March 5, 2016 Following Sanctuary Shabbat and Kiddush Luncheon Beth Am is honored to host “How Religious Difference Can Make a Differ-ence,” a panel discussion inspired by “Living Questions,” a WYPR series about the role of religion in the public square created in partnership with the Institute for Islamic Christian and Jewish Studies (ICJS). Maryland Morning’s Tom Hall will moderate a discussion with Jewish, Christian and Muslim schol-ars from the ICJS about how our religious differences can be a powerful force for good in Baltimore City, the recent ICJS name change, and the organiza-tion’s commitment to foster inter-religious learning among Jews, Christians and Muslims here and around the country.

12 13

UP

COM

ING

EV

ENTS

Marin Alsop and OrchKids A Conversation and Performance

Moderator: Ron Shapiro

Sunday, February 28Talk at 11:00 am

Performance at 12:00 pm

Rabbi Burg welcomes to the bimah Beth Am member Ron Shapiro to lead a conversation with the acclaimed music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop, about her leadership and vision. Following the talk, enjoy a performance of OrchKids, the BSO’s after-school outreach program designed to create social change and nurture promising futures for youth in Baltimore City.

13

LUNCHlearn&

MONTHLY ON TUESDAYS

NOON - 1 PM

Please join Beth Am congregants and friends for Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Daniel Burg and Rabbi Kelley Gludt. All are welcome. Please bring a fish/dairy lunch.

Location:Karin Batterton’s Office Coldwell Banker BrokerageVillage of Cross Keys 38 Village Square Baltimore, MD 21210

Schedule: February 16March 15April 19May 17

KESHER L’NESHAMA

SOUL CONNECTION

Once-a-month, Kesher becomes Kesher L’Neshama! Tefilah connects us to one another and to God, but some of us struggle during services to connect with ourselves. This service is meant to help us interface with that part of ourselves that craves inspiration, purpose and meaning.

Come prepared to learn new and uplifting melodies as we raise our voices, engage our souls, and expand our horizons!

Upcoming Dates for Kesher L’Neshama

February 20, 2016March 26, 2016April 16, 2016May 28, 2016June 18, 2016

Held after Kiddush lunch, congregants share their personal interpretation of what Judaism means to them and how they integrate Judaism into their daily lives. If you are interested in sharing your Jewish journey, please contact Michael Sanow, msanow@ccbcmd.edu

Upcoming dates: March 12 April 9

14 15

“ When John and I contemplated ‘estate planning,’ of course we wanted to provide for our children and grandchildren. But Beth Am also was like family, and a legacy gift was a painless way to provide for it as well. All we had to do was designate the portion of our estate to go to Beth Am when we die. We won’t be around to miss the money, and future generations can benefit.”

- Elaine Freeman

While there are many ways to give to Beth Am, we hope you will consider supporting the Synagogue’s missions by making a bequest to Beth Am in your will or living trust.

Making a bequest allows you to combine your financial planning with philanthropy to make a lasting investment in the future of our congregation.

Contact your attorney, to learn how you can make a bequest to Beth Am.

ALL ARE WELCOME! BRING YOUR ENERGY, YOUR PASSION AND YOUR THOUGHTS!

We address many issues relating to poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, environmental sustainability, literacy and more in the Reservoir Hill community and beyond at the home of Jackie Donowitz, jemdonowitz@hotmail.com. Contact Arthur Shulman if you need a ride to the meeting at arthur.shulman@gmail.com.

SOCIAL ACTIONCommittee MeetingMarch 21 at 7:30 pm

Did your son go off to college years ago and leave his clarinet in his closet? Did your daughter quit trumpet lessons after four months? Does your cherished old viola have some missing strings?

Donate these unloved instruments to City kids who will love and play them again! We are collecting instruments to donate to the BSO’s OrchKids. Bring your instruments when you come to the concert on February 28 or drop them off at Beth Am any time during January and February. Look for the donation box in the Chapel Hallway.

UNWANTED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

15

SHADES OF YALEJANUARY 17, 2016

SOR

RY

YOU

MIS

SED

IT!

DIM SUM AND KREPLACHJANUARY 9, 2016

View

full

albu

ms

onlin

e at

: bet

ham

balt

imor

e.or

g/co

nnec

t/ph

otos

/

17

FEBRUARYSHEVAT/ADAR 2016/5776

2.6 8:45 am Torah Study 9:30 am Sanctuary Service (no Yachad)

2.7 9:00 am Minyan- (pg. 17) (Super Bowl Sunday)

2.12 6:30 pm Bayitt (pg. 17)

2.13 8:45 am Torah Study 9:30 am Kesher Service 11:15 am Shabbat Yachad 2.14 9:00 am Minyan

2.16 noon Lunch and Learn (pg. 13)

2.20 8:45 am Torah Study 9:30 am Kesher L’Neshama Service 10:30 am w/ Junior Congregation 11:15 am Shabbat Yachad 5:15 pm Family Israel Program

2.21 noon Youth Education Committee Open Meeting (pg. 9)

2.25 7:00 pm DIY Judaism Honors Class (pg. 7)

2.27 8:45 am Torah Study 9:30 am Kesher Service - Teen Takeover 11:15 am Shabbat Yachad

2.28 9:00 am Minyan 11:00 am SAGES OF THE AGES (pg. 12)

17

MINYANSundays at 9:00 am.

Beth Am needs you for Minyan! Ten adult Jews are needed for a Minyan - without it, people can’t say kaddish. Sign up at www.tiny.cc/pqtubx to pick your week to participate or speak to one of our Minyan Reading Coordinators: Zack Berger, Richard Bloom, David Schwartz, Annie Kaufman, Rachel Weitzner and Robin Katcoff.

From every person whose heart is willing take my offering...and make me a holy space that I may dwell among them.

- Exodus 25

Thank you to everyone who has so generously con-tributed to this year’s Annual Fund. We hope for

100% participation from the Beth Am family in sup-port of our synagogue. Please make your donation

now by calling Ricky Fine at 410 358 2380.

BAYITT We are young adults in our 20s and 30s transforming Jewish life in Baltimore City by building an egalitarian, socially conscious Jewish community.

Looking Ahead to Upcoming “Second Fridays February 5 (note this is the first Friday)BA

YITT

18 19

PRAYERS FOR HEALINGCarol Allan, stepmother of Eli AllanJulie Levitt, aunt of Maggi Gaines Russell Kassman, cousin of Rabbi Burg Stuart Burman, husband of Martha Burman and father of Karen McCarthyDana Anderson, wife of Yaniv EargasArcher Senft, friend of Jason MoscowCecilia Braunstein, aunt of Inbal BraunsteinErin Levitas, friend of Susan SchwartzCharlie Blair, family friend of Jason & Robin KatcoffRon Silberberg, friend of Robin & Jason Katcoff Blaine Hall, friend of Jamie & Mike CatelinetNed Pollard, friend of the Spokes Family Mike Hess, cousin of Lou WohlmuthRebeca Kimchi, mother of Eitan Kimchi Asher Kimchi, father of Eitan KimchiMerle SachsMurray SachsLottie Greene, mother of Meg HymanDonald Allen, father of Lisa MinickSteven Kraft, brother of Jim KraftHilda CoyneVickie DorfFran Kanterman

COM

MU

NIT

Y N

EWS

50+ ANNIVERSARIES70+ BIRTHDAYS

Jonathan and Hillary Epstein on the birth of their son, Ezra Dylan Epstein

Naming for Alexa Moinkoff, granddaughter of Sharon Zamkoff

Katie Kline and David Finkler on birth of their son, Judah Kline Finkler

MAZEL TOV

Erin Levitas, friend of Susan Schwartz

Peter Fitz 2-FebMerle Sachs 2-FebBurton D’Lugoff 3-FebEdward Gulin 3-FebRichard Himelfarb 3-FebGilbert Sandler 3-FebHelen Weiss 3-FebMichael Noonberg 5-FebMonica Sagner 6-FebMignon Rosenthal 7-FebEve Berkow 8-FebAnn Sarrin 14-FebStuart Burman 16-FebDeborah Potts 20-FebMartha Burman 21-FebShale Stiller 23-FebMerle Fishman 24-FebWilliam Rothstein 26-FebElaine Weinstein 26-FebStanford Lamberg 28-Feb

Patricia & Mark Joseph 6- Feb

RECENT DEATHS

19

CONTRIBUTIONSThank you!

Building Preservation & Ritual Enhancement Fund

NO

VEM

BER Denise Macey

in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey KahnSheila & Ron Cuccaro in memory of Billy Kahn, father of Neil KahnDave Demsky & Emily Gaines Demsky in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey Kahn in memory of Hershel Polakoff, grandfather of Sam Polakoff in memory of Meri Shulman, grandmother of Arthur ShulmanBeverly & Jordon Max in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey KahnTatiana & Larry Sherman in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey KahnGail & Jerome Kurman in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey KahnMichelle & Jeffrey Hettleman in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey Kahn and father of Neil KahnShirley Braverman in memory of her brother, Oscar Goldman, on his yahrzeitMichelle & Jerry Levine in memory of his father, Albert Levine, on his yahrzeitGwen & Jerry Paulson in honor of David Paulson, on his birthdayReneé & Henry Feller in memory of Meri Shulman, grandmother of Arthur Shulman in memory of Billy Kahn in honor of Amy & Steve Gore, on the marriage of their daughter Alena Gore to Alvaro Morales in honor of Harriet Miller, on the Bar Mitzvah of her grandson Seth in memory of Jerome Gudelsky, father of Ilene Cohen in memory of Elizabeth Stern, mother of Andy SternJudith & Robert Bergman in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey KahnMarcia & Robert Kargon in memory of Jerome Gudelsky, father of Ilene CohenCarol & Jerry Doctrow in memory of his brother, Martin Doctrow, on his yahrzeitJudy Hozore in memory of her mother, Ethel Schupper, on her yahrzeitAnn Sarrin in memory of her sister, Mollie Bleakman, on her yahrzeit

General Fund Jill, Aaron & Anna Levin in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey KahnRichard Lewis in memory of Billy Kahn, father of Neil KahnSteve Himmelrich & Eileen Fader in memory of Billy Kahn, father of Neil Kahn Andrew Miller & Danny Cohn in memory of Charles BaumJane & Lawrence Rivitz in honor of Rheda Becker & her Martyrology

20 21

Dave Demsky & Emily Gaines Demsky

Inbal & Brett Sander

Ida Gulin in memory of her mother, Lillian Balk, on her yahrzeitEllen & Stuart Fine in memory of his parents, Gussie & P. Edward Fine, and her parents, Doris & Albert Himelfarb, on their yahrzeitsEleanor & David Goldstein in memory of her brother, Allan Shenker, on his yahrzeitDoreen, Richard & Connie Rosenthal in memory of Jerome Gudelsky, father of Ilene CohenDovey Kahn in memory of Jerome Gudelsky, father of Ilene CohenSandy & Bob Hillman

Jacob Wittenberg & Stephanie Hershkovitz

Amanda & David Conn

Ricky & Eric Fine in memory of her father, Eugene Scherl, on his yahrzeitLisa & Don Akchin in memory of his mother, Betty Akchin, on her yahrzeitMarcia & Ave Amith in memory of his mother, Miriam Amith-Waldman, on her yahrzeit

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund

Stephanie Fleishman in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey KahnRalph Raphael & Elaine Richman in honor of Connie & Tom Baker, on the birth of their granddaughter Lila BakerJo-Ann Orlinsky in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey Kahn in memory of Meri Shulman, grandmother of Arthur Shulman in memory of Jerome Gudelsky, father of Ilene Cohen in honor of Stuart Stainman, on his special birthday in memory of Phyllis Schreter, sister of Gloria Hack & Lane Berk in memory of her father Henry Mayer, and her sister, Shari Mayer on their yahrzeitsJoyce Keating in memory of Meri Shulman, grandmother of Arthur Shulman in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey KahnJackie & Mark Donowitz in memory of her father Walter Marx and his mother Ruth Einstein, on their yahrzeitsMichael Pearlman & Paula Singer in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of DoveyLisa & Don Akchin in memory of Jerome Gudelsky, father of Ilene CohenSteve Gore & Amy Davidoff in memory of her father Mark Davidoff, on his yahrzeitMimi Davidoff in memory of her husband, Mark Davidoff, on his yahrzeitJudy, David & Abby Drager-Davidoff in memory of Mark Davidoff, father of Judy & grandfather of Abby, on his yahrzeit

Social Action Fund

Chickie Grayson in memory of her mother, Ann Grayson, on her yahrzeit

Garden Fund

Jo-Ann Orlinsky in appreciation of Lunch and Learn in appreciation of Karin Batterton, for a meeting space

Educator's Discretionary Fund

21

Cantor's Discretionary FundDave Demsky & Emily Gaines Demsky Janet & David Ring

Doreen, Richard & Connie Rosenthal in memory of Hershel Polakoff, father of Larry PolakoffRicky & Eric Fine in memory of his father David Fine, on his yahrzeitEllen Spokes in memory of her brother, Daniel Kotzen, on his yahrzeit

DEC

EMBE

R

Ilene Briskin Jill & Alfred Sommer in memory of Elizabeth Stern, mother of Andrew SternGeorgia Parker in memory of her father Morris “Pat” Carasik, on his yahrzeitAlan Yuspeh & Janet Horn

Susan & Neil Serotte in memory of Blossom Kahn, her mother on her yahrzeitPatsy & Tony Perlman

Ida & Edward Gulin in memory of her father Harry Balk, on his yahrzeitAnn Sarrin in memory of her brother, Louis Scherr, on his yahrzeitElaine Freeman in memory of her brother, Alan Kaplan, on his yahrzeitIda & Edward Gulin in memory of her brother, Lois Balk, on his yahrzeitJudy Miller in memory of her friend Myra Land, on her yahrzeitStacy & Gary Suskauer in memory of his grandmother, Ida Suskauer, on her yahrzeitJill & Al Sommer in honor of Connie Caplan, on her birthday

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund

Roz & Nelson Hyman in memory of her father, Ruben Miller, on his yahrzeitLinda Gilfix in memory of Bernice “Bunny” Rosenthal, sister of Leonard SachsLeonard & Lainy LeBow-Sachs in memory of Elizabeth Stern, mother of Andrew SternMinna & Louis Katz in honor of Judy Langenthal, on her special birthdayEileen Yoffee in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey KahnEleanor & David Goldstein in memory of his father, Isaac Goldstein, on his yahrzeit in memory of his sister, Rena Madansky, on her yahrzeit in memory of his mother, Celia Goldstein, on her yahrzeitAnn Sarrin in memory of Robert & Beverly Auslander

Building Preservation & Ritual Enhancement FundCONTRIBUTIONSThank you!

22 23

Social Action Fund

General Fund

Garden Fund

Harriet & Herb Goldman in memory of Bernice “Bunny” Rosenthal, sister of Leonard SachsSusan & Neil Serotte in memory of Blossom Kahn, her mother, on her yahrzeitBarbara & Barry Blumberg in memory of her mother, Evelyn Kaplan, on her yahrzeit

Irma Weinstein in memory of her mother, Marcia Kramer, on her yahrzeitLynn & Nate Sassin in memory of her father, Benjamin Sassin, on his yahrzeit

Elaine & Ralph Raphael Richman in honor of Tony and Patsy Perlman, on the upcoming marriage of Erick & Janelle Perlman

Adult Education FundRuth, Eric & Mark Mandel in memory of Billy Kahn, husband of Dovey KahnSusan & Neil Serotte in memory of Blossom Kahn, her mother, on her yahrzeit

Prayer Book Fund for a MahzorMarcella Kaplan in honor of her granddaughter, Jordana Meisel, on reading TorahDee & Ben Rosenberg in memory of his parents Albert & Toba Rosenberg, on their yahrzeit

Accessibility Fund

Roz & Nelson Hyman in memory of Elizabeth Stern, mother of Andrew SternGail & Lou Wohlmuth in hopes of a speedy recovery for Stuart Stainman

Philip Symonds & LeslieSporn-Symonds in appreciation of Cantor Greenstein on the marriage of their daughter, Tamara Symonds to Ben Ring

Cantor's Discretionary Fund

Eleanor & David Goldstein in honor of Patsy Perlman, on her birthdayGail & Lou Wohlmuth in hopes of a speedy recovery for Eileen YoffeeHarriet Miller in hopes of a speedy recovery for Stuart StainmanCarol & Jerry Doctrow in memory of his mother Ruth Doctrow, on her yahrzeit

Kiddush Fund

You can now make online credit card payments to acknowledge life cycle events and special occasions.

bethambaltimore.org/donate/

23

FUND DESIGNATIONAccessibility Fund - Used to make the facility accessible to those with impaired physical abilities

Adult Education Fund - Supports educational programs for all adults

BAYITT Fund - Beth Am’s Young Adult Initiative for 20’s and 30’s

Building Preservation and Ritual Enhancement Fund - Supports the preservation and renovation of the building and the ritual items

Cantor’s Discretionary Fund - Allows the Cantor to support special programs and individuals in need

Educator’s Discretionary Fund - Allows the Educator to support special programs and individuals in need

Etta & Louis L. Kaplan Education Fund Supports the purchase of furniture, equipment and capital improvements for the Jewish Discovery Lab

Floral Fund - Beautifies the Bimah

Garden Fund - Beautifies grounds

General Fund - Applied to the operating budget of the congregation

I. William Schimmel Student Scholarship Fund - Assists students in their educational pursuits

Kiddush Fund - Used for luncheons following Sabbath and holiday services

Prayer Book Fund - Supports the purchase of prayer books and dedication prayer books

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund - Allows the Rabbi to support special programs and individuals in need

Social Action Fund - Supports social action activities in the Reservoir Hill area and the general community

Tiny Tots Shabbat Fund - Supports Shabbat programs for our preschoolers

Youth & Teen Education Support Fund - Supports educational programs for all of Beth Am’s youth

ACKNOWLEDGE THE OCCASION THROUGH BETH AMWe encourage all congregants to send their contribution requests directly to Nakia Davis, nakia@bethambaltimore.org so they can be processed in a timely manner. Online donations available at our website bethambaltimore.org/donate/

First & Last Name(s): _______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________If your contribution is from a couple or family, please list all names (use additional paper if necessary)

Telephone: (________) __________ - ___________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip: ____________________________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________ Amount of Donation: __________________________($10 minimum requested; please make checks payable to Beth Am)

Fund Designation__________________________________________________________________

In honor/memory/appreciation of ___________________________________________________Send Acknowledgement Card To:

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip: ___________________________________________________________________

25

01

Eu

taw

Pla

ce

Ba

ltim

or

e, M

D 2

12

17

Beth

Am

Syn

agog

ue is

a m

embe

r of

the

Unite

d Sy

nago

gue

of

Cons

erva

tive

Juda

ism

. Lo

ok fo

r the

USC

J on-

line

at:

ww

w.u

scj.o

rg.

© 2

016

Beth

Am

Syn

agog

ue