November 2013 • Volume 28 • Issue 10 A Reform Congregation Embracing Our Jewish Tradition News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah It’s the Annual Turkey Drive! Please send your donations in increments of $10 to TBT marked Turkey and we will do the rest. New to the Turkey Drive? Call Marsha Mathis @ 770-992-4256—She loves to talk Turkey! See page 5 for more info See page 8 for details! Temple Beth Tikvah joins with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and neighboring synagogues to celebrate Hanukkah Wednesday December 4, 2013
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November 2013 • Volume 28 • Issue 10 A Reform Congregation Embracing Our Jewish Tradition
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
It’s the Annual Turkey Drive!
Please send your donations in increments of $10 to TBT marked
Turkey and we will do the rest. New to the Turkey Drive?
Call Marsha Mathis @ 770-992-4256—She loves to talk Turkey!
See page 5 for more info
See page 8 for details!
Temple Beth Tikvah joins with
the Jewish Federation of
Greater Atlanta and
neighboring synagogues to
celebrate Hanukkah
Wednesday
December 4, 2013
2
News & Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Rededication of our Jewish Lives
It is hard to believe that we will be celebrating Chanukah at the end of the month. Lots of folks have
already made all the necessary jokes about the intersection of Chanukah and Thanksgiving, giving birth to
Thanksgivukkah. But the coming together of our great American holiday, Thanksgiving, and the
celebration of our religious freedom through Chanukah, offer tremendous insight and inspiration. However, they are not
without their challenges.
Friends, for the past few years, I have shared how there is a crisis in our Jewish community. Not just here in Temple
Beth Tikvah, but in America’s Jewish community. That crisis emerges out of the freedoms we all cherish and celebrate.
Nevertheless, they are a double edged sword. Our ability to blend in, be who we want to be, and participate without
threat in America’s democracy has made this one of the most creative, innovative, and dynamic eras for Jews in all of
Jewish history. And yet, we are finding that despite relatively large numbers, our community is shrinking in
commitments and connections.
In the new study that was just released this past month by the Pew Forum entitled “A Portrait of Jewish Americans” is
taking the Jewish world by storm. We learn a number of things (actually, rabbis already knew its findings; it just
confirmed what we knew with statistics). American Jews overwhelmingly say they are proud to be Jewish and have a
strong Jewish identity. But the study tells us that one-in-five Jews (22%) describe themselves as having no religion. The
survey finds they are much less connected to Jewish organizations and much less likely to be raising their children
Jewish. Broken down by age, 32 percent of Jews born after 1980 — the so-called millennial generation — identify as
Jews of no religion, compared to 19 percent of baby boomers and just 7 percent of Jews born before 1927.
The proportion of Jews who say they have no religion and are Jewish only on the basis of ancestry, ethnicity or culture is
growing rapidly, and two-thirds of them are not raising their children Jewish at all. This is compounded when we look at
the next statistic: Overall, the intermarriage rate is at 58 percent, up from 43 percent in 1990 and 17 percent in 1970.
Among non-Orthodox Jews, the intermarriage rate is 71 percent. This is significant because of our look to the future
when less than one-third of interfaith couples raise Jewish children.
Among Jewish denominations, the Reform movement remains the largest: 35 percent of respondents identified as
Reform. The Conservative movement came in at 18 percent and the Orthodox community as 10 percent. But the second-
largest group is Jews of no denomination – 30 percent.
But it is this statistic that is the most startling to me: Approximately one-quarter of Jews said religion is very important
in their lives, compared to 56 percent among Americans generally. Further, less than one-third of American Jews say
they belong to a synagogue. Twenty-three percent of U.S. Jews say they attend synagogue at
least once or twice a month, compared with 62 percent of U.S. Christians.
I want to embrace Thanksgiving with all of the good fortune that America has given to me, my
family and our Jewish community. But it is also time to embrace the messages in Chanukah that
go beyond gift-giving and speak to rededication. As the Maccabbees rededicated The Holy
Temple that was defiled, we need to rededicate our Jewish Selves so that our rich, beautiful
inheritance is not left behind in a museum or relegated to our Orthodox cousins. A liberal
Judaism, be it Reform or Conservative or any other movement in American Judaism, has a voice
that matters. But we have, as a community, lost our sense of faith.
While identity seems strong, identity does not endure. Identity will not transform history into memory and we cannot
instill Jewish values and ideas without memory.
So let us celebrate our Thanksgiving with friends and family for all the good that America has given to us. And let’s
celebrate Chanukah by bringing the light of Judaism – and God’s light – into our homes and our souls… so that we can
Did you ever think you would hear that at the dinner table?
Growing up as a kid, I remember looking forward to
various solar and lunar eclipses that the adults insisted we
see because they would never happen again in our lifetime.
Well, this year we all have something special to make sure
we don’t miss. The first day of Hanukkah coincides with
Thanksgiving, on November 28th. That’s never happened
before and won’t happen again until the year 79811. No,
that is not a typo. If you miss it this year, you probably
won’t be around the next time it happens 77,798 years
later.
Thanksgiving was established by President Lincoln in 1863
as the last Thursday in November, meaning the latest it can
be is November 28th. In 1942, it was changed to the fourth
Thursday rather than the last Thursday. November 28th is
the earliest Hanukkah can be. The Jewish calendar repeats
on a 19 year cycle and Thanksgiving repeats on a 7 year
cycle. The Jewish calendar is slowly getting out of sync
with the solar calendar by about 4 days per 1000 years. So,
the first day of Hanukkah won’t fall on November 28th
again until the Gregorian calendar loops all the way back
around in year 79811. (The next time the first night of
Hanukkah will correspond with Thanksgiving will be in the
years 2070 and 2165.)
The thought of celebrating Hanukkah and Thanksgiving at
the same time will be a rather unique event. Should we
serve latkes instead of stuffing? Sufganiyot instead of
pumpkin pie? The celebrations do have some common
themes. Both are preceded by specific historical events.
Both are celebratory symbols of survival and endurance.
And, in both instances we are thankful.
There are events, both traditional and new, that will occur
at Temple Beth Tikvah around these holidays. We always
have a Turkey Drive which is a community outreach effort
to help our less fortunate North Fulton neighbors. (See info
in this Kol Tikvah) And, we complete our fourth week of
Family Promise.
Two exciting new events take place in November as well.
Our first annual Family Retreat will be the first weekend of
this month at beautiful Camp Coleman. I am confident that
it will be a fun and meaningful experience for all who
attend. And on November 15th, we will welcome
approximately 250 teens for the weekend for the NFTY-
SAR Fall Kallah. I look forward to their energy and
creativity as they participate in our Shabbat
worship.
On December 3, the Religious School
celebrates Hanukkah with latkes and special
programming. The Seniors have their
Hanukkah celebration on December 9 with Rabbi Tam as
the guest speaker. Enjoy a pot luck lunch with friends new
and old before the program!
We have many reasons to be thankful at Temple Beth
Tikvah. As the current President, all I want for Hanukkah
is for my phone to ring (or my email to ping) with a few
people that might be interested in getting more involved in
the coming months, and perhaps even serving on our Board
of Trustees. For this, I would be very thankful!
I hope that you and your families enjoy your Thanksgiving/
Hanukkah (Thanksgivukkah) celebrations. We can all be
thankful for our own families and our TBT family as well.
L’shalom,
Ron Swichkow
Pass the Turkey and the Latkes!
Howie and Debbie Cohen
Lainey & Rachel
Welcome to the TBT Family!!
5
Book Festival Dates are November 2nd - 17th
TBT will be hosting the following events: Jeffrey Toobin - Thursday, November 7th at 7:30 PM
The Family Reading Festival - Sunday, November 10th at 10:00 AM
Please support this year’s Book Festival and support TBT at the same time.
For every series ticket purchased TBT will receive $18.
Use the code TBT when ordering individual tickets online.
Use the code TBT SERIES when ordering series tickets online.
The 22nd Edition of the Book Festival of the MJCCA, one of the South’s premier literary events, is scheduled for November 2-17, 2013. The Book Festival features works from more than 40 of this year’s most sought-after and talked-about authors, celebrities, and influencers.
Keynote authors include: Scott Turow, Jeffrey Toobin, Chris Matthews, Elin Hilderbrand, Clark Howard, Alan Dershowitz, Brad Meltzer, and Pat Conroy.
Local authors include: Jeffrey Stepakoff, Clark Howard, Wendy Wax, Jim T. Barfield, Lee N. Katz, Jeff Clemmons, and Robert Weintraub. More than 10,000 visitors will enjoy: The Family Reading Festival, The Comedy Night at The Punchline, engaging speaker programs, author meet-and-greets, book signings, panel discussions, and more. Most events will be held at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody.
To purchase tickets, call 678.812.4005 or visit online at www.atlantajcc.org/bookfestival.
Campaign TBT: EveryONE Matters Update Campaign TBT: EveryONE Matters, our annual campaign, has kicked its second year fresh on the heels of a successful inaugural effort that exceeded our goal of $100,000. Last year’ campaign generated gifts of $107,000, a 16% increase over the prior year and increased the number of families participating by 48% compared to the prior year. However, we did fall short of our goal of 100% participation.
This year, our Campaign TBT goal is once again $100,000 and 100% participation. We are counting on the Annual Campaign to enable us to:
Help meet our operating expense budget
Replace carpeting throughout the building,
Upgrade the sanctuary audio system,
Address landscaping and drainage needs around the backside of our facility, and
Meet other important facility needs
If you have not yet made a pledge to the 2013-2014 campaign, please consider doing so. You can make your pledge by:
Returning the response card recently mailed to you
Calling the TBT office (770-642-0434), or
Visiting www.bethtikvah.com and selecting "Annual Campaign - EveryONE Matters" on our donation page (http://www.bethtikvah.com/make-donation).
To ensure everyone can participate, there is no minimum pledge amount. For your convenience, your pledge can be paid all at once or over the remainder of our fiscal year.
WHAT DID WE DO THIS PAST MONTH? HOTTY had a great turnout for our kickoff
event in September…Movie Mall Madness. We
had a potluck dinner at TBT and then headed to
the Avenue and Picture Show Theater for a
scavenger hunt and movie. We finished up the
night with a creative Havdallah service led by
our RCVP Sam. We had two other events in
October as well…HOTTY’s Chopped
Competition was a blast! We have some true
culinary talent in our youth group. We also
participated in the Atlanta’s Ruach for Life and
helped raise money by selling survivor
bracelets during the event.
UP NEXT: We are SO, SO excited to be hosting NFTY-
SAR Fall Kallah November 15-17th. Get ready
as over 200 teens from around the Southeast
descend upon TBT for an awesome weekend of
learning, praying, community service, and fun!
We hope you will all join us for services led by
our youth group on Friday night. Also, if you
haven’t signed up to help house, it’s not too
late. Go to: www.nfty.org/sar/about/
volunteerform/
Join the HOTTY Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TBT.HOTTY/) to stay up-to-date on what's happening and to RSVP for HOTTY events!
JYG (6-8th Grade)
WHAT DID WE DO THIS PAST MONTH? JYG had a ton of fun at our September Pizza in
the Sukkah event. How can it be bad when you
start with a pizza lunch and finish with ice
cream sundaes? In between we played a bunch
of games and mixers, like, Group Blackjack
and Captain’s Coming. It was a great way to
start the year and let everyone have the chance
to get to know each other. JYG also
participated in Atlanta’s Ruach for Life in
October.
UP NEXT: Before you head off for Thanksgiving, join
JYG on November 24th at Sky Zone. Watch our
Facebook page and your email for more details.
The event will start at 12:30pm, right after
Religious School. Hope you can join us!
Join the JYG Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TBT.JYG/) to stay up-to-date on what's happening and to RSVP and help arrange carpools for events!
Yoga with a Jewish Twist November 14th, 7 - 8:15 pm
We continually talk about shalom, or peace, but how can we embody the idea?
This class is for anyone who would like to strengthen their body, calm their mind, dissolve anxiety, engage their spiritual side and live life with passion.
In each class we will discuss the weekly parsha then unite the theme with yoga poses.
Our guide will be The Kosher Sutras – The Jewish Way in Yoga and Meditation
9
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
November 2013 TBT Happenings
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2
Family Retreat at Camp
Coleman
8pm Shabbat
Service
Family Retreat at Camp
Coleman
9am Bagels, Learning & Torah
10am Shabbat Service
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Family Retreat at Camp
Coleman
9:30am Religious
School
10am Rabbi
Tam’s Adult Ed
Class
12pm HOTTY
Fall Kallah Work
Day
5:45pm Fall
Kallah Planning
Meeting
6:45pm Kesher /
Confirmation /
Kivunim
7pm Families
Anonymous
7:15pm Melton -
Dramas
9am Tai Chi
5pm Religious
School
5th & 6th Grade Retreat
6pm Oneg
6:30pm Family Shabbat Service hosted by the 6th Grade
5th & 6th Grade Retreat
9am Bagels, Learning & Torah
10am Shabbat
Service
Bar Mitzvah of
Justin Kremer
Bar Mitzvah of
Adam Lenhard
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
9:30am Religious
School
10am Rabbi
Tam’s Adult Ed
Class
10:15am 2nd &
3rd Grade Family
Ed Day
10:30am Cantor’s
Corner
12pm HOTTY
Fall Kallah Work
Day
12pm Senior
Luncheon
5:45pm Fall
Kallah Planning
Meeting
6:45pm Kesher /
Confirmation
7pm Families
Anonymous
7:15pm Melton -
Dramas
9am Tai Chi
5pm Religious
School
7pm Yoga with a
Jewish Twist
7pm Dor Chadash
December
Dilemma
Discussion
NFTY-SAR Fall Kallah
8pm Shabbat
Service led by
NFTY
NFTY-SAR Fall Kallah
9am Bagels,
Learning & Torah
10am Shabbat
Service
B’not Mitzvah of
Leah and Sophie
Heit
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
NFTY-SAR Fall Kallah
9:30am Religious
School
10:30am Cantor’s
Corner
1pm Chanukah
Scavenger Hunt
with PJ Library
6:45pm Kesher /
Confirmation /
Kivunim
7pm Families
Anonymous
7:15pm Melton -
Dramas
9am Tai Chi
5pm Religious
School
7:30pm Board of
Trustees Meeting
7pm HOTTY Fall
Kallah
Celebration
Dinner
7pm Women's
Study Group
7pm Breast
Cancer Support
Group
7:30pm Officers
Meeting
12pm ECEC
Chanukah &
Thanksgiving
Celebration
8pm Shabbat
Service
9am Bagels,
Learning & Torah
10am Shabbat
Service
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
No Religious
School
12:30pm JYG -
Sky Zone
No Religious
School
7pm Families
Anonymous
7:15pm Melton -
Dramas
No Religious
School
9am Tai Chi
1st Night of Chanukah 2nd Night of Chanukah
Thanksgiving
3rd Night of Chanukah 4th Night of Chanukah
9am Bagels, Learning & Torah
10am Shabbat Service
Bar Mitzvah of Zachary Eagen
10
News and Happenings from Temple Beth Tikvah
Campaign TBT - EveryONE Matters
Lawrence and Anne Skal in memory of Lenore Cunix Levy
Lionel Stutz in memory of Kathleen and Benjamin Stutz
Sandy and Nancy Simon in memory of Rita Weiner
Bruce and Bonnie Walkes in memory of Nathan Mangen and
Sarah Wixman
Dale and Wendy Bearman in memory of Jacob Dutkiewitz
Dale and Wendy Bearman in memory of Eleanore Bearman,
Jules Stein and Jeanne Laibow
Walter and Esther Shultz in honor of Jeff Willard and
Steve Mahan, Gene Carasick's new granddaughter, and in
appreciation of Natine Rosenzweig
Building Fund
Jeffrey & Pam Flatow in memory of Mary Schlifka
Dale and Wendy Bearman in memory of Fritzie Shaw
Lila Stein in memory of Fritzie Shaw
Bernard and Susan Greenberg in memory of Harry and
Nina Greenberg
Campership/Israel Fund
David & Christine Toltzis in memory of Harris Simons
Cantor Kassel’s Discretionary Fund
Ira and Brenda Share in memory of William Henry Share
David and Ellen Herold in honor of Cantor Kassel for leading
beautiful holy day services
Harvey and Natine Rosenzweig in appreciation of Cantor Kassel
Caring/Kehillat Chesed Fund
Ruth Zeidman in honor of the birth of Lois Clymin's great
granddaughter, Morgan Taylor Abramson
Aaron Stieglitz in appreciation of his High Holy Day honor
Ronald and Leslie Swichkow in memory of Elizabeth Hodes,
Morris Hodes, Jean Kozlin and Edith Swichkow
General Fund
Shirley Crawford
Carol Lipinsky in memory of Helaine Lipinsky and in
appreciation of Liana's High Holy Day aliyah
Lauren Fields
Arthur Blank in memory of Max Blank
Seymour and Renee Davis in memory of Eli Waxman
Ellen Rosenthal in memory of Alfred Rosenthal
Spencer and Debra Shilling in memory of William Kerbel
Howard and Pamela Levitt in memory of Betty Levitt
Prayerbook Fund
Mark and Sally Vosk in memory of Leonard Vosk
Preschool Fund
Richard Orenstein in honor of a speedy recovery for Mrs. Phyllis
Cohen and Jenifer Friedman
Linda Siegel and Sheri Baker in honor of Cameron Schwartz
becoming a Bar Mitzvah
Rabbi Greene’s Discretionary Fund
Douglas Wexler and Jane Greenberger in memory of
Delores Wexler
Lois Clymin in honor of the marriage of Addie Myers' son,
EJ, to Rosemary
Rabbi Abner and Linda Bergman
Saul & Shirley Plotkin in memory of Rose Trucker
Steven and Sheila Barid in memory of Mary Barid
Stuart Farber in memory of Myra Farber, Esther Farber
and Arthur Farber
Howard & Cynthia Steinberg in memory of Gerald and
Sondra Prosterman
Rosalind Taranto in memory of Abram Pomerance
Ronald and Renee Gurin in memory of Etta Klepak and
Alan Pearlstein
Ira and Brenda Share in memory of William Henry Share
Rhonda Schweber in memory of Stanley Albert
David and Ellen Herold in honor of Rabbi Greene for leading
beautiful holy day services
Ruth Zeidman in memory of Harris Simons
Anne Grossman in memory of Conrad Grossman, MD
June Wallach in honor of the birth of Lois Clymin's first
great granddaughter, Morgan
Elliot and Carol Millman in memory of William Millman
Saul & Shirley Plotkin in memory of Henry Trucker
Seth and Ellen Zimmer in memory of Elaine Gralnick
Harvey and Natine Rosenzweig in appreciation of Rabbi Greene
David and Anne Strauss in honor of the aufruf of
Benjamin Strauss and Elaine Mebel
Addie Myers in honor of the birth of Lois Clymin's great
granddaughter, Morgan Taylor Abramson
Michelle Jacobowitz in memory of Philip Rosenbaum
Steven and Sheila Barid in memory of Aleck Andich
Andy and Marci Fried in memory of Ruth Fried and
Florence Rogol
Rabbi Tam’s Discretionary Fund
Bruce and Carol Waldman in memory of Sylvia Waldman
Ira and Brenda Share in memory of William Henry Share
Alan and Barbara Chaiet in memory of David Mellinger
David and Ellen Herold in honor of Rabbi Tam for leading
beautiful holy day services
Barry and Dore Kaiser in memory of Sylvia Kaiser
Religious School Fund
Fred and Patricia Landsberg in memory of Albert Landsberg
and Dan Gaenger
Torah Fund
Ira and Phyllis Madans in memory of Leonard Madans
Morray and Susan Scheinfeld in memory of Florence Lewkowicz
Youth Group Fund
Steve and RoseAnn Gerson in honor of the engagement of
Micah Blechner and Jenny Gurman
Steve and RoseAnn Gerson in memory of Florence Friedman
Your synagogue community wants to be a Caring Community/Kehillat Chesed.
If you have recently experienced a loss or are facing a crisis, or are celebrating a simcha, please let our office know as soon as possible.
Our clergy and friends strive to be a source of support as best as they can. If you know of one of our fellow congregants that has experienced a loss or can use a hand, please contact the office at 770.642.0434.
“It is hard to sing of oneness when our
world is not complete,
when those who once brought
wholeness to our life have gone and
naught but memory can fill the
emptiness their passing leaves behind”.
The following Memorial Plaques
have been placed onto our
Memorial Board this past month:
Milton and Esther Kirchheimer
Grandfather and Grandmother of
Shari Alhadeff
Mazel Tov to: Gene and Terry Carasick on becoming grandparents to Harper Adilynn Hellwig on 10/8/13. Proud parents are Gene’s son, Brian and his wife, Jen.
Jeff Willard and Steve Mahan on their upcoming official ceremony in New York on 11/17/13. Anne and David Strauss on the upcoming marriage of their son, Benjamin , to Elaine Mebel, on 11/16/13.
Thank You to our Amazing Office Volunteers!
June Wallach
Ellen Frank
Aaron Stieglitz
Roberta Goldman
Richard Staviss
SHMOOZE NEWS / KUDOS CORNER
Planning a simcha or group gathering?
The Tam-Blank Social Hall is the Place to Be.
For more information on renting our Social Hall,
contact the synagogue office at 770-642-0434.
In Memorium
Temple Beth Tikvah
acknowledges with sorrow the passing of:
Miriam Seldin
Grandmother of Bobbee Seldin-Griff
Roslyn Cohen
Mother of Howard Cohen
Natalie Bronk
Cousin of Stan Reich
May God console you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.