קול דור חדשJuly - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
T H E V O I C E O F C O N G R E G AT I O N D O R H A D A S HAn Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
In this KOL . . .
GRATITUDE
DanLegertakeshomevolunteergoldwiththeShore-WhitehillAwardfor2016andshareshisapprecia>onwiththecongrega>ononpage5.
FEATURED STORY
LotsoffocusonthefutureoftheDorHadashReligiousSchoolinrecentmonths.AcongregationalmeetingwasheldattheendofJunetohelpusbetterunderstandthesituationandlearnwhat’spotentiallyatstake(p.3)
Dor Hadash Now Has Two Ordained Rabbi Members
Since1986CherylKleinhasbeenthebelovedlaycantoratDorHadash(DH).Inrecentweeksshehasofficiallybecamearabbitoo.FortunatelyforthecongregationshehasnointentionsofleavingherpositionatDHaslaycantorfortheforeseeablefuture,accordingtoastatementshesharedwiththeboardofdirectors.
Thecongregationcannowcountatleast2ordainedrabbiswithinourmembership.MemberDorisDyenisalsoanordainedrabbi.AwonderfultimetobenefitfromallthisgreatJewishlearningandteachingisonShabbatmorningsduringtorahstudy.Frequentlyyou’llfindRabbiDorisandRabbiCheryl,amongothers,sharingwonderfulstoriesandtidbitsabouttheweeklyportion-thestoriesbehindthestory.
RabbiCherylKlein
LEARNING
BackintheSpringDorHadashwasvisitedbybyRabbiMiraWassermantosharedeeperlearningfromtheTalmud.(p.10)
From the President
Congregation Dor Hadash prides itself as a group of independent thinkers who are able to work together to achieve the goal of creating a spiritual community for all of its members. We will be challenged to continue on this wonderful path in the coming months as we resolve the pending issue of religious school education. Presently, the congregation has many strong voices both in favor of and opposed to joining with Rodef Shalom and Beth Shalom in the Joint Jewish Education Program (JJEP). Many board members have been very favorably impressed with what JJEP offers while others believe that our small religious school is the better approach. Religious school families are generally strongly opposed to any such merger, and prefer to keep their children’s religious education in our unique setting. It is my hope as President of Dor Hadash that this decision-making process develops with open and honest discussion and with full respect of our fellow congregants’ opinions. I have heard many strongly expressed opinions and all have been offered with a sincere desire to make the best choice possible. There is no need for personal enmity to enter into this equation as everyone
involved is simply seeking the best possible answer to our children’s religious education.
An Informational Meeting was held on June 27th to engage the congregation in a full and frank conversation regarding this issue. 30 some members attended including some religious school families, general members, and board members to express their thoughts, concerns, and to listen to the opinions of others. The plan originally was to conduct a congregational vote after the High Holidays that would determine the future of the school and this meeting was intended to lead the path towards a more thoughtful dialogue among all of the interested parties prior to the prospective vote. Our conversation was constructive and helpful in bringing clarity to the conversation.
In this edition of the KOL you’ll find a story about the meeting that I hope gives a better understanding of where things currently stand. Ultimately our work together in seeking common ground I’m confident will help us find the best solution. There’s no doubt each of us wants what’s best for our children, and the congregation. Our various voices, many expressed at the meeting, will help us get to where we need to be.
-Mark Rubenstein
July - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
Editor’s Note + Call for Submissions MyapologiesfornotgeWngtheKOLfinishedbeforethefirstofJuly.There’snogoodexcuse.OfcourseIthoughtI’dhaveabunchof>meovertheholidayweekend,whichobviouslywasa[erthenewmonthbegan-yiikes!I’vealsolearnedholidayweekendsreallyaren’tgreat>mestoplansiWnginfrontofcomputerscreenanyways.MiriRabinowitz,JeanHartz,MarkRubenstein,HalGrinberg,AllenBaum,DeborahPrise,CraigChurilla,JaneyClark,andEllenSurloffallsentmecontribu>onstothismonth’sKOLinplentyof>me.I'msorryifI'vemissedanyone,andI'msureIhave..
ThisismysecondKOLaseditor.SinceI'vebeenaDHmemberforthelastseveralyears,andhaveonlypaidcloseacen>onforthelasttwoIhaveyettoobserveasitua>onaschallengingasthecurrentoneaboutthereligiousschool.I'msurethelengthyar>cle,beginningonpage3,dedicatedtotherecentmee>ngaboutitwillnotbewellreceivedbyall,simplybyitslength,butitisanimportantissuethatdeservesproperacen>on.It’snotabadconversa>oneither.It'saverygoodonebecauseit'spressingthecongrega>onaboutanimportantmacerandforcinguscollec>velytoworkthroughit.
(editor’snotecon>nuedonp.9)
2
The School/Shul Merger Takes It ’s First Test Dor Hadash school families and general members have an open discussion to find common ground
byLouFineberg/KOLeditor
Acongrega>onalmee>ngwascalledonJune27thabouttheDorHadashReligiousSchool(DHRS).Originallythefocusofthemee>ngwassupposedtobeabouttheprospectofaschoolmerger,butitwasdecideditwasbesttofocusontheDHRS.Theeveninggotofftoarockystartastheacendeesgrappledwiththeevening’sfocus.Somepeoplecamewan>ngtoknowmoreabouttheJointJewishEduca>onProgramofPicsburgh(JJEP),whileotherswantedtoknowmoreaboutDHRS-it’scurriculum,goals,andevalua>onstandards.S>llotherswantedtoreminisceaboutthehistoryofJewisheduca>oningeneralorexplorethecorevaluesofReconstruc>onistJudaism.
PresidentMarkRubenstein,wasadamantatthestartandendofthemee>ngthatthedesireofsomecongregantstoexploreamergerwithJJEPhasinnowaybeena“powerplay.”Althoughhepersonallyisnotinfavorofamerger,thecongregantswhoareintriguedbyithaveonlythebestinten>ons-tolearnifitcouldbeamorerobustexperienceforourreligiousschoolstudents.TheprospectofaJJEPmergerhasul>matelypromptedques>onsaboutourownschool,whichhassparkedins>tu>onalreflec>onaboutwhatcanbedonetomaketheschoolbecerandthecongrega>onmoreunited.
Whatwasclearatthemee>ngistheschoolfamiliesthatacendedarequitehappywithit.Oneparentsaidforthefirst>meshehasfoundaHebrewschoolthatherchildrenthinkmakeslearninginteres>ngandfun.Thesnacks,shepointedout,didn’thurteither.WhetherornotsnacksareuniquetoDHRSwasunclear.Another
parentpointedouttheonlyreasonhisfamilyweremembersofDorHadash(DH)wasforthereligiousschool.Hefeltmanyschoolfamilieswouldagreewithhimandlikelywouldn’tbememberswithoutit.Theschool’svalues,itswarmthandin>macy,wonderfulteachers,anditsonceaweekcommitmentseemedtoallbethingsthathasacractedfamiliestoit.
Theotherpointthatwasmadeabundantlyclearatthemee>ngisthattheinterestinexploringJJEPhasnotbeenmo>vatedatallbyfinances.TreasurerAllenBaumpointedoutthattheschool’scostisfixed,whichhasitsadvantagesbecauseitprovidessomelevelofcertaintyoftheexpense.Currentlytheschool’sbudgetisabout$48,000annuallyofwhichthecongrega>onsupplementsabout60%ofthecost,whichisjustunder$30,000.JJEP’scostwoulddependonhowmanydaysperweekourstudentswouldacend.Sincedetailslikethathavenotbeendeterminedandthefactthatcostisnotissuemakesclearthecongrega>oniss>llintheearlystagesofthisconversa>on.ItwaspointedouttoothatfamilieswhowereinterestedinJJEPcouldenrollindependentlyanddonotneedtobepartofanaffiliatedcongrega>ontopar>cipateinit.
Memberswhoacendedthemee>ngwhowereinterestedinlearningmoreaboutDHRSexpressedconcernsthatthecurriculumwasn’treadilyavailable.Theyalsowantedtoknowhowstudentsandteacherswerebeingassessed.SomewantedtoknowDHRS’sgoals,whichbeggedsomeonetoask,“Whatarethecongrega>on’sgoals?”Thispromptedsomelaughterasmanypeoplelookedblanklyatoneanother.
SchoolPrincipalHalGrinbergpointedoutthattheschool’scurriculumwasavailableontheDHwebsite.Healsoexplainedthatstudentsareassessedbyacombina>onofreportcards,grades,and“observa>onsfromteachers.”
(School/Shulcon:nuedonp.7)
July - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
�3
R E L I G I O U S S C H O O L N E W S Ha l G r i n b e r g / S c h oo l P r i n c i p a l
OntheJune4thShabbatmorningservicewecelebratedtheGraduationofthe7thgradeclass.GraduatingwereHannahThompson,MaddyRuder,KaiSpadafora,SimonAizenstein,andOrliMeiksin,wholivesinScotlandandattendedourschoolviaemail.Thestudentsledmostoftheservice,hadagroupaliyah,readindividualHebrewandEnglishparts,andmostimportantly,sharedthoughtsabouttheirreligiousschoolexperience.Thosewhoattendedwerequiteimpressedwiththegraduates.Classparentsparticipatedinagroupaliyah,asdidthemembersoftheYouthEducationCommittee.ThankstoTinaLondonandWendyKobeewhohelpedsupplypartofthelunchfollowingtheservice.
Wehadaservice/picniconMay27th;itwasanend-of-the-yearcelebration.ThankstoJaneyClarkwhohelpedwiththeset-up,andalltheparentswhohelpedclean-up.Anotherservice/picnicisscheduledforAugust26th.
TheHEH/VAVclass,whichstudiedtheHolocaustthisyearattendedthecity-wideannualYomHaShoahprogramattheJCCwiththeirparents.TheyheardthestoriesoflocalHolocaustsurvivorspresentedbylocalhighschoolstudents,aswellassometraditionalhazanutchantedbyCantorTaube,whoworkedintheSchindlerfactoryasachild.TheysaidKaddishforthe6millionwithoverathousandpeople.Itwasamovingexperienceforeveryone.
Attendanceatthereligiousschoolwasaround90%.thisyear.Weenjoyednewactivities,especiallythehamentaschenandmatzahbakingevents.Theincrediblecooperationoftheparentsandthestudentshardworkhelpedmakeitallveryrewardingforusall.Iespeciallywanttothanktheteachers:SharonSerbin,HeleneKessler-Burke,SierraLautman,andLisaRothstein;averydedicatedandcreativebunch.Ilovedseeingthepositiveandenergeticexpressionsontheirstudent’sfacesattheendoftheday.Allteacherswillbereturningnextyear,exceptforHelene,whowillbemissed.
ThankstothoseonYouthEducationCommittee:LaurenResnick,WendyKobee,AbbyHorn,TobyYanowitz,MichaelMarks,DanZuckerman,andtoourleaderTinaLondon,ChairoftheCommittee.WehavealwayshadagoodmixofcurrentschoolparentsandparentswhohavestayedactiveandinterestedintheSchoolaftertheirchildrenhavegraduated,andthattraditioncontinues.Ithankthemforthetimetheyputin,theattentiontheybringtotheSchool,andthethoughtfulnesstheybringtothemeetings.Wehadsomechallengesthisyear,andthiscommittee’scouncilhasbeencrucial.
PleaseremembertotellpeopleaboutourReligiousSchoolandourcongregation.Mostofourrecruitingcomesfromword-of-mouth,ourfamilieslettingotherfamiliesknowaboutoursmallclasses,ourwonderfulteachers,ourfriendlyatmosphere,andtheexcellenteducation.Ifyouknowsomeonewhomightbeinterested,givemetheirnameandIwillcontactthem,orhavethemcontactme.
Photo of matzah-baking: flour, everywhere. Photo credit: Hal Grinberg
July - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
�4
July - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
T h a n k Yo u ! (anotetothecongregationfromDanLeger)
ItiswithasenseofhumilityandwithgreatdelightthatIwishtoexpressmysincerethanksforhavingbeenselectedastherecipientoftheShore-WhitehillAwardfor2016.IamdeeplyhonoredthatCongrega>onDorHadashwouldconsidermefornomina>on.Theceremonywasverymeaningful,theluncheonwaslovely,theservicewasthoughuulandprayerful,andthegenerousdona>onsmadebysomanyweredeeplymoving.TheShore-WhitehillAwardisatributetothecommunityofDorHadashandIamsothankfulandfeelsoblessedtohavemademyhomewithinthisveryspecialfamily.Iamproudtoberecognizedaspartofagroupthattakesseriouslytheneedtoraiseawarenessofthegreatdiversityofthosewhomakeupourworld,andonethatworksthoughuullyandpurposefullytowardstheremovalofbarrierswhichcon>nuetomakeitdifficultando[enimpossibleforsometobefullyincluded.ThattheJewishFedera>onofGreaterPicsburghandJewishResiden>alServicesbestowedthisyear’sawardonamemberofCongrega>onDorHadashservesaspublicrecogni>onofthedeeplyheldvaluesofinclusionanddiversitywhichhavelongbeenahallmarkofourcongrega>on.AtDorHadash,andaspartofthefamilyofJewishReconstruc>onistCommuni>es,weconstantlyseekwaystowelcomeallthosewhowishtofindaplaceinthevastandopententofJewishlife.Thankstoeachandallofyou!
DanwithhiswifeEllenandsonJakea[eraccep>ngtheShore-WhitehhillAward.PhotocourtesyofDanLeger
Mazel Tov( s ) DHPresidentMarkRubensteinonthebirthofhisgranddaughterAveryMillieMonroe.
CongregationalManagerJeanHartzontheweddingofhersonBrianMcElwain.
LayCantorCherylKleinonbecominganordainedRabbiandthemarriageofhersonJonahtoRobin.
KathleenBleewasawardedtheJohnD.McCarthyAwardforLifetimeachievementintheScholarshipofSocialMovementsandCollectiveBehavior.
(Allmazeltov(s)andphotossubmittedforinclusion.IfyouwanttosendoutaheartymazeltovintheKOLsendittokol@dorhadash.net)
MarkRubensteinwithdaughterCaseyMonroeandAvery.Photo:EllenSurloff
�5
July - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
C A L E N D A R Saturday,July2/26Sivan ShabbatMorningServiceandTorahStudy10:00–noon,TheStudyParsha:Sh'lach,Numbers13:1-15:41Ha[ara:Joshua2:1-2:24
Wednesday,July6/30SivanThursday,July7/1Tammuz RoshChodeshTammuz
Friday,July8 ErevShabbatService,8:00pmServiceLeader:BruceHerschlagSedraReview:MiriRabinowitzOnegSponsor:RosiePinkus
Saturday,July9/3Tammuz ShabbatMorningServiceandTorahStudy10:00–noon,TheStudyParsha:Korach,Numbers16:1-18:32Ha[ara:ISamuel11:14-12:22
Saturday,July16/10Tammuz TorahStudy,9:00amintheTheStudy ShabbatMorningService,10:00am Parsha:Chukat,Numbers19:1-22:1Ha[ara:Judges11:1-11:33
Friday,July22 ErevShabbatService,8:00pmServiceLeader:KerryBan OnegSponsor:MaryKorytowski&BruceHerschlag
Saturday,July23/17Tammuz ShabbatMorningServiceandTorahStudy10:00–noon,TheStudyParsha:Balak,Numbers22:2-25:9Ha[ara:Micah5:6-6:8
Saturday,July30/24Tammuz ShabbatMorningServiceandTorahStudy10:00–noon,TheStudyParsha:Pinchas,Numbers25:10-30:1Ha[ara:Jeremiah1:1-2:3
Friday,August5/1Av RoshChodeshAv
Friday,August5ErevShabbatService,8:00pmServiceLeader:JudyGrumetOnegSponsor:Donna&JimLenkner
*KiddushluncheonfollowsSaturdayMorningServices,unlessotherwisenoted
Saturday,August6/2Av ShabbatMorningServiceandTorahStudy10:00–noon,TheStudyParsha:Matot-Masei,Numbers30:2-36:13Ha[ara:Jeremiah2:4-28;3:4
Sunday,August7/3Av DorHadashBoardMeePng10:00–noon Everyoneisencouragedtoacend
Saturday,August13/9Av ShabbatChazonTorahStudy,9:00amintheTheStudy ShabbatMorningService,10:00am Parsha:Devarim,Deuteronomy1:1-3:22Ha[ara:Isaiah1:1-1:27
Saturday,August13intheEvening,wewillbejoiningthecommunityobservanceofTishaB'AvatBethShalom(5915BeaconSt) 6:45 Minhah(a[ernoonservice) 7:15 Se'udahShelishit(lightmeal)8:00 Shi'ur(Studysession) 8:45 Ma'ariv(eveningservice)9:00 Qeri'atEikhah(Lamenta>ons)
Sunday,August14/10Av TishaB’Av
Friday,August19 ErevShabbatService,8:00pmServiceLeader:MiriRabinowitzSedraReview:JerryRabinowitzOnegSponsor:JaniceGordonandRobKra[owitz
Saturday,August20/16Av ShabbatNachamuShabbatMorningServiceandTorahStudy10:00–noon,TheStudyParsha:Vaetchanan,Deuteronomy3:23-7:11 Ha[ara:Isaiah40:1-40:26
Friday,August26 TBD
Saturday,August27/23Av ShabbatMorningServiceandTorahStudy10:00–noon,TheStudyParsha:Eikev,Deuteronomy7:12-11:25Ha[ara:Isaiah49:14-51:3
�6
July - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
School/Shulfrompage3con:nued...
Theprocessforevalua>ngteacherswasn’texpoundeduponmuch,butsomesortofprocessisinplace.
Ini>allythelackofclearstructureforthemee>ngcreatedasomewhatchao>ctonetohowthingsproceeded.Onecongregant,JudyYanowitz,suggestedaframeworkshecalledCCCL–cost;curriculum;community;leadershipasawaytoevaluatetheschool’sperformanceanddirec>on.Periodicallythroughouttheeveningpeoplewouldreferbacktothisstructureaswayto>etheirinputtotheconversa>on.
Insummarythemee>ngbroughttolightseveralissuesthatwerereadilyapparent.Theschool,itsadministra>onandparents,seemedblind-sidedthatthecongrega>onwaspreparingasearlyasthisFalltovotewhetherornottobecomeanaffiliateofJJEPortocon>nuewithourownschool,especiallyinlightofthefactthatschoolparentsalmostunanimouslyhaveexpressedsupportforkeepingthingsstatusquo.ThemovetoexploreJJEPwasadesirebysomecongregantstoconsiderotherop>onsforourschool.ThelocalJewishcommunityandJewisheduca>oningeneralarechallengedinwaysthecommunitywasn’tagenera>onago.JJEPpresentedanopportunitytojoinothercongrega>onsinaddressingeduca>ontogether.Theexploratoryprocessgeneratedobjec>veques>onsaboutthequalityofeduca>onatourownschool.
Whatsurfacedisthatthere’salargedisconnectbetweentheschoolandthecongrega>on.Nowthatthetwoarejoinedasone,themergerchangesthedynamicmorethansomemayhaveexpected.Congrega>onmemberswantmoreaccountabilityfromtheschool.TheywantmoretransparencyonhowitoperatesandtheywanttobeconfidentDHfamiliesarereceivingthebestJewisheduca>onpossible.Boththecongrega>onandtheschoolwantstheothertoplayamoreac>veroleintheirsimchasandprograms,whichstartedsomehumorousquibblingasmembersfromeachaccusedtheotherofnotpar>cipa>ngintheirevents.This,though,for
someiswhatmakesDHsoacrac>ve.Anindividualorfamilyshouldbeabletopar>cipateasmuchorlicleasthey’dlikewithoutbeingjudgedonhowtheylivetheirJewishexperience.
Long->meDHmemberSaraAngristimploredacendeestorememberthatReconstruc>onistJudaismisnotjustareligion,it’saciviliza>on,itsrichnessisonlypartlyreligiousinnature.Thegoal,shecon>nued,ofReconstruc>onJudaismasenvisionedbyitsfounderRabbiMordecaiKaplanwasbeingJewishinafullersense,incorpora>ngeventhemoremundaneandsocialaspectsoflifeaspartofagreaterJewishexperience.AtitscoreReconstruc>onistJudaismisn’taboutshowingupwhenthespiritmovesyouit’saboutbeingac>velyengagedinawaythathonorsourpastandbalancesitwithmodernvaluesandlifestyleingeneral(Ifthistopicinterestyoustaytunedfortheprospectofafollow-uptoSaraandPamGolden’sReconstruc>onist101programthattookplaceearlierthisyear).
Inanefforttobridgethegapbetweentheschoolandthecongrega>onseveralmemberssuggestedmoremul>-genera>onalac>vi>esneededtobeorganized.Someini>alideasincludedhos>ngnewmembersonShabbat;pairingschoolfamilieswithgeneralmembers;andvisitstoDHRSclassroomsbycongregants.Acommunityb’naimitzvahwasanotheridea.JaniceGordon,theProgrammingCommiceeChair,wasexcitedtoannouncehergroupisstar>ngtoconsiderideaslikeamul>-genera>onalbookclub.
Attheconclusionofthemee>ngitwasunclearwhenavotetojoinJJEPwouldexactlytakeplace.SomeacendeesexpressedthattheFallseemedtoosoon.Otherswereconfusedastowhyavoteatthispointwass>llonthetable.EllenSurloff,DHBoardPresidentelectandTinaLondonVPofYouthEduca>onagreedtomeettohelpthecongrega>onfigureoutthenextsteps.
(School/Shulcon:nuedonp.11)
�7
Name English Hebrew This Year Name English Hebrew This Year
Tillie Ungar Bails 6/29/92 28 Sivan 4-Jul-16 Dolores Murock 8/6/11 6 Av 10-Aug-16Saul Bleiweiss 6/18/85 29 Sivan 5-Jul-16 Lorna Margolis 8/2/95 6 Av 10-Aug-16Nora McCardell 6/24/98 30 Sivan 6-Jul-16 Mary Leger 7/25/93 7 Av 11-Aug-16Walter Jetter 6/29/95 1 Tammuz 7-Jul-16 Leo Kraftowitz 8/1/79 8 Av 12-Aug-16Evelyn Baumann 6/20/04 1 Tammuz 7-Jul-16 David Murray Heinz 7/22/80 9 Av 13-Aug-16Sandor Weiss 6/21/66 3 Tammuz 9-Jul-16 Irwin Diamond 7/31/90 9 Av 13-Aug-16Nathan Belle 6/26/71 3 Tammuz 9-Jul-16 Edith Brenner Dyen 8/6/76 10 Av 14-Aug-16Morris Kross 6/29/06 3 Tammuz 9-Jul-16 Eileen Hochheiser 7/23/99 10 Av 14-Aug-16Sandor Weiss 6/21/66 3 Tammuz 9-Jul-16 Emil Friedman 7/22/91 11 Av 15-Aug-16Marge Schwager 7/7/08 4 Tammuz 10-Jul-16 Sidney Drescher 7/26/99 13 Av 17-Aug-16Henry Frischhoff 6/24/15 7 Tammuz 13-Jul-16 Irving Rubinstein 8/18/86 13 Av 17-Aug-16Blanche Brown 6/18/02 8 Tammuz 14-Jul-16 Ann Reder 8/14/84 16 Av 20-Aug-16John Kershman 6/24/50 9 Tammuz 15-Jul-16 William Budd 8/14/03 16 Av 20-Aug-16Ester Mandelker 7/16/05 9 Tammuz 15-Jul-16 Betty Lichtblau 8/5/93 18 Av 22-Aug-16Murray Zeilinger 7/8/14 10 Tammuz 16-Jul-16 Norbert Engler 8/1/61 19 Av 23-Aug-16Betti Kurtzman 7/17/05 10 Tammuz 16-Jul-16 Janice Colker 8/9/09 19 Av 23-Aug-16Morris Merenstein 6/29/85 10 Tammuz 16-Jul-16 Sherwood N. Fox 8/5/07 21 Av 25-Aug-16Earl Mattes 7/16/97 11 Tammuz 17-Jul-16 Eric Smith 8/11/09 21 Av 25-Aug-16Norman Leger 6/23/91 11 Tammuz 17-Jul-16 Phyllis S. Mizel 8/21/11 21 Av 25-Aug-16Harry Rothstein 6/25/72 13 Tammuz 19-Jul-16 Stephen Clauss 8/27/05 22 Av 26-Aug-16Lester Fertman 7/15/03 15 Tammuz 21-Jul-16 Saul Hineck 8/20/84 22 Av 26-Aug-16Edna Reder 7/17/11 15 Tammuz 21-Jul-16 Richard Bonime 8/18/14 22 Av 26-Aug-16Marcella G. Goldberg 7/6/12 16 Tammuz 22-Jul-16 Albert Schubert 8/4/10 24 Av 28-Aug-16Frank Reder 6/25/56 16 Tammuz 22-Jul-16 Clara Kuntz 8/1/75 24 Av 28-Aug-16Jack Zlatis 7/1/80 17 Tammuz 23-Jul-16 Victor Julius Mizel 8/30/05 25 Av 29-Aug-16Jacob Kotovsky 7/1/61 17 Tammuz 23-Jul-16 Paula Ben David 8/1/13 25 Av 29-Aug-16Bernard Berne 7/3/07 17 Tammuz 23-Jul-16 Harriet Rosenberg 8/28/78 25 Av 29-Aug-16Lillian Freedman 7/3/88 18 Tammuz 24-Jul-16 Rose Sucov 8/17/71 26 Av 30-Aug-16Eddie Kroser 7/12/98 18 Tammuz 24-Jul-16 Ida Abelson 8/12/15 27 Av 31-Aug-16Samuel Chelemer 7/13/98 19 Tammuz 25-Jul-16Kathy Goldring 7/19/06 23 Tammuz 29-Jul-16Daniel Klein 7/21/14 23 Tammuz 29-Jul-16Jerome Seiner 7/21/98 27 Tammuz 2-Aug-16Beatrice Sultanik Brothman 7/31/73 2 Av 6-Aug-16Milton Sackin 7/13/10 2 Av 6-Aug-16Shirley Greenstein 7/28/87 2 Av 6-Aug-16Maurice Meyer Brothman 7/31/73 2 Av 6-Aug-16Pauline Heinz 8/2/65 4 Av 8-Aug-16Alexander Zabusky 8/5/08 4 Av 8-Aug-16Harry Gershfeld 7/31/87 5 Av 9-Aug-16
July - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
YA H R Z E I T
�8
(editor’snotecon:nuedfromp.2)
Inthebrief>meI'vebeeneditorit'sbecomeveryclearjusthowvitaltheKOLcanbeinhelpingshapethecongrega>on.ThisisnottosaythatI'mcapableofdoingthat,butcollec>velythroughtheKOLwecanmakeaposi>vedifferenceinthefutureofDorHadashandourcommunity.TheKOLwillbeatitsbestwhenitrepresentsmanyvoicesandperspec>ves.PLEASEsubmitstories,reviews,opinions,photos,mazeltovs,ideas,volunteer&socialopportuni>es,evenclassifieds,whateveryouthinkisrelevanttoourcommunity.Helpcra[theKOLasabuildingblockforthecongrega>onsoweallcanbecerfosteritspoten>alincommunica>ngourinten>ons,values,andfuture.ThenextdeadlineisAugust19
LouFineberg/KOLEditor
July - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
In Honor of Dan LegerLauren & Dan ResnickDonna & Bob CoufelLynne RederDolores BlumsteinElissa & Charles HirschStefanie & Bernhard BehrendNancy Joel MerensteinTed SternEva EnglerJudy GrumetBernard GoldsteinJoyce & Joop OffermanJoan SaroffMarlene HausBruce LedewitzLisa & Jonathan BuddJean HartzThe Phyllis & Victor Mizel Charitable Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation
In Memory of Esther TuckerPaul HarrisYetta & Arnold FreedmanElissa & Charles HirshStephanie & Jacob BirnbergPamela Weiss & David KlahrJudy GrumetMarlene & Jeffrey Haus
In Memory of Beth HydovitzJudy GrumetLynn & Joel SpiegelNancy Levine and her B’not Mitzvah Sisters
In Memory of Karen AbelsonLinda & Allen Selig
In Memory of Paul BrownElizabeth & Peter Joseph Brown
In Honor of Dean RootRonna & Dan Askin
In Honor of Cheryl KleinNorma Artman
In Honor of Mark RubensteinRuth & Seymour Drescher
In Honor of Nancy Levine’s BirthdayBill Blewitt & Craig Churilla
In Honor of Lynne Reder’s Tennis AcumenAllen Baum
High Holidays ContributionPhyllis Wanetick
C O N T R I B U T I O N S
�9
Visiting Rabbi Wassermann Engages Congregants With the Talmud
byLouFineberg/KOLeditor
BackintheSpringtheDorHadashcommunitywastreatedwithavisitfromRabbiMiraWasserman,anAssistantProfessorofRabbinicLiteratureattheReconstruc>onistRabbinicalCollege.OverthecourseofoneShabbatsheheldthreedifferentsessionsinhopesthatcongregantswhowereinterestedwouldatleastbeabletoacendone.Sessionswerefilledwithanywherebetween12and30par>cipants.
InthefirstsessionRabbiWassermanaskedWhatistheTalmudandWhyShouldReconstruc:onistsCare?SheusedthetalmudicstoryfromChagigah15aaboutAcherandMeir.Acher,ridingahorseonShabbatwasfollowedbyMeirwhowastrailingonfoottolearnTorahfromhismouth.A[ersomanypacesMeircalculatesbyhishorse’sstepthatthey’rereachingtheTechunShabbat-thelimitwhereitispermicedtowalkonShabbat,andwarnsAchertoreturn.Meirdemandshisteacherreturntoo.Acherrespondsthathe’sheardfrombehindthedivinecurtainthatanexcep>onhasbeenmadeforhim.Naturally,thetwentyorsopeoplewhoacendedtheFridayeveningservicehadmanydifferenttakesonthestory’smeaning,andasmanyques>onsasanswers.AstheexerciseinTalmudicstudyprogresseditbecameclearthattheanswersweren’tsoimportant.Farmorevaluablewastheinspira>ontothinkandwonderaboutitsmeaningandwhyitwasrelevanttotheindividualandthecommunitythatpondersit.
Theweekendfollowedwithanothersessionabout...depic:onsofnon-JewsintheTalmud,whichIwasn’tabletoacend.TheminiseriesconcludedwithTwoStoriesofRabbinicRomance.ThefirstwasaboutRabbiAkivaandhiswifeRachel.ShesacrificedeverythingsothatAkivacouldbecometherenownteacherweremembertoday.Eschewingherwealthyfatherandeven>mewithherhusbandRachelplacedthehighestvalueonAkivaremainingsteadfastinhisstudies.(seeRabbiWassmerman’svisitp.11)
July - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
A D U LT E D U C AT I O N
Adult Education board chair Deborah Prise and her committee are exploring a wide variety of topics to engage the congregation in the upcoming months: Reconstructionist philosophy; SCOTUS decisions; Yiddish stories; Jewish history; Klezmer music; and end-of-life planning. If any of these topics interest you (or if you have other suggestions), the DH Adult Education committee is looking for an additional member or two. We invite you to join us in our goal of providing informative and enjoyable topics to the DH community! Please contact Deborah Prise - [email protected] - for additional information.
RabbiMiraWasserman,Ph.D.
10
Thismee>ngbroughttolightthatthere’salotmoreforustolearnaboutthenatureofourpriori>es,asamember-ledcongrega>on,andasReconstruc>onists,andhowwegoaboutachievingthem.Themee>ng,thoughtangledat>mes,demonstratedasinceredesiretonotonlyfigureoutthebestdirec>onforourschool,butalsoinspiredcongregantstothinkaboutwaystobringthecongrega>onandschoolcloserandmakethemergerofthetwomorecomplete.
Ifyou’dliketogetmoreinvolved,butdon’tknowhowpleasecontactaboardmemberonthedirectoryinthisissueoftheKOLthatyouthinkbestmatchesyourinterest.There’sagreatdealofenergyandenthusiasmwhennewboardmemberstakethehelm,butit’sthepar:cipa:onofmembersthathelpsfuelthefire.
School/Shulfrompage7con:nued...
July - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
RabbiWasserman’svisitcon:nuedfromp.10
TheconcludingstorywasbyfarthejuiciestandprovidedinsightintotherichnessanddiversityoftheTalmud.InthisstoryRabbiYochananandReshLakishcrosspathsintheJordanRiverwhenLakishjumpedina[erYochananinaprovoca>veway.YochanansuggestLakish’sstrengthshouldbeforTorahandLakishreplies,“[Yochanan’s]beautyshouldbeforwomen”.TheirfriendshipandJewishlearninggrowspredicatedonYochanan’spromisetogiveLakishhissister,morebeau:fulthanhe,ifLakishrepents.Inamacerofseveralparagraphsit’sclearthetwomen’srela>onshiponlygrowsmorechallengingandcomplicated.Ul>matelyoneloseshislifeandtheotherhismind.Needlesstosay,thestory’smeaningarousedplentyofspecula>on.InbothromancestoriesJewishlearningplaystheroleofalover,some>mesfavored,other>mesjilted,butit’sfascina>ngtoseetheRabbinicmindatwork,spinningyarnsandengagingmindstothinkandthinkagain.RabbiWassermanplayedherroleastutelyprobingthegroupwithques>onsandencouragingustoseedifferentperspec>vesandnewangles.
Conquering the Cycle DorHadashPresidentMarkRubenstein&friendshostedascreeningofConqueringtheCycleinthePavilion.Thefilmisaboutlocalinner-cityhighschoolstudentsonalifechangingadventureacrosstheUnitedStateswithMark’sorganiza>on,PicsburghYouthLeadership(PYL).TolearnmoreaboutthegreatworkofPYLvisithcp://picsburghyouthleadership.org/
Photocredit:EllenSurloff
�11
CONGREGATION DOR HADASH
5898 Wilkins AvenuePittsburgh PA 15217
July - August 2016Volume 58 Number 10 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV 5776
OfficersandAdministration
President,[email protected]
President-elect,EllenSurloff
VPofRitual,[email protected]
VPofAdministration,[email protected]
Secretary,[email protected]
Treasurer,[email protected]
AdultEducation,[email protected]
VPofYouthEducation,[email protected]
LifeEvents,[email protected]
Programming,[email protected]
SocialAction,[email protected]
SocialEvents,[email protected]
Membership,[email protected]
MemberatLarge,BethSilver [email protected]
KOLEditor,[email protected]
CongregationManager,[email protected]
SchoolPrincipal,[email protected]
Announcing the Nathan and Libby Elbaum Fund Wearepleasedtoannouncetheforma>onoftheNathanandLibbyFund,anewfundbeingmanagedforusbytheJewishCommunityFounda>on.TheFundwasestablishedbyabequestfromtheEstateofLibbyElbaum.Sheandherhusband,Nathan,werelong-standingmembersofourCongrega>on.TheFundassetsarenotcurrentlydirectedtoaspecificpurpose,althoughdistribu>onswillbemadewiththeapprovaloftheEstate’strustees.
Top Related