The Shalom Dear Friends, Hanukkah begins on Sunday evening, De- cember 6th. The word hanukkah means dedication, or re-dedication. Because of my three-month sabbatical from this December 1st through February 29th, this holiday sea- son allows some new and unique opportuni- ties for our rededication as a community. For one type of rededication this season, Oseh Shalom will broaden and deepen its connection to our own Reconstructionist movement. During my sabbatical, we’re hir- ing two student rabbis, Hannah Spiro and Emily Cohen, from the Recon- structionist Rabbinical College (RRC), each to spend a number of week- ends at Oseh Shalom. They’ll introduce us to new ideas, music, practic- es, and leadership styles from the center of our movement at RRC. I’ve met both of our student rabbis. They’re delightful individuals with a great deal to give and teach, and I’m confident that they’ll offer much inspiration to our congregation while they’re with us. I hope that, as a result of their presence at Oseh Shalom, our members will feel a deeper investment in our Reconstructionist movement, our future rabbinical leaders, and RRC’s process of envisioning and planning a virbrant future of the American Jewish community. Many Shabbat services during my sabbatical, particularly on select week- ends without the visiting student rabbis, will also allow our talented lay leaders the opportunity to rededicate, utilize and deepen their service- Rabbi Doug Heifetz Cantor Charlie Bernhardt Executive Director Barry Nove Religious School Director Renee Richards Volume 49, No. 4 December 2015/5776 Oseh Shalom’s Monthly Newsletter Content Highlights Rabbi Heifetz’s Monthly Word Come to the Chanukah B’Yachad! Friday, December 11th Dinner at 6:00 PM/Service at 7:00 PM See page 12 for additional details 1 Rabbi’s Monthly Word 2 From the Executive Director 2 News From School 3 Social Action 6 Anniversaries and Birthdays 8 Information for the Annual Retreat 13 Yahrzeits 17 Oneg Sponsors 18 Contributions 19 Oseh Shalom Calendar 20 Candle Lighting Times Oseh’s Vaughn Winchell made his championship appearance on Jeopardy during the November games Continued on back cover
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The Shalom€¦ · son allows some new and unique opportuni-ties for our rededication as a community. For one type of rededication this season, Oseh Shalom will broaden and deepen
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The Shalom
Dear Friends,
Hanukkah begins on Sunday evening, De-cember 6th. The word hanukkah means dedication, or re-dedication. Because of my three-month sabbatical from this December 1st through February 29th, this holiday sea-son allows some new and unique opportuni-ties for our rededication as a community.
For one type of rededication this season, Oseh Shalom will broaden and deepen its connection to our own Reconstructionist movement. During my sabbatical, we’re hir-
ing two student rabbis, Hannah Spiro and Emily Cohen, from the Recon-structionist Rabbinical College (RRC), each to spend a number of week-ends at Oseh Shalom. They’ll introduce us to new ideas, music, practic-es, and leadership styles from the center of our movement at RRC. I’ve met both of our student rabbis. They’re delightful individuals with a great deal to give and teach, and I’m confident that they’ll offer much inspiration to our congregation while they’re with us. I hope that, as a result of their presence at Oseh Shalom, our members will feel a deeper investment in our Reconstructionist movement, our future rabbinical leaders, and RRC’s process of envisioning and planning a virbrant future of the American Jewish community.
Many Shabbat services during my sabbatical, particularly on select week-ends without the visiting student rabbis, will also allow our talented lay leaders the opportunity to rededicate, utilize and deepen their service-
Rabbi Doug Heifetz Cantor Charlie Bernhardt
Executive Director Barry Nove Religious School Director Renee Richards
Volume 49, No. 4
December 2015/5776 Oseh Shalom’s Monthly Newsletter
Content Highlights Rabbi Heifetz’s Monthly Word
Come to the Chanukah B’Yachad! Friday, December 11th
Dinner at 6:00 PM/Service at 7:00 PM
See page 12 for additional details
1 Rabbi’s Monthly Word
2 From the Executive
Director
2 News From School
3 Social Action
6 Anniversaries and
Birthdays
8 Information for the
Annual Retreat
13 Yahrzeits
17 Oneg Sponsors
18 Contributions
19 Oseh Shalom Calendar
20 Candle Lighting Times
Oseh’s Vaughn Winchell made his
championship appearance on Jeopardy
during the November games
Continued on back cover
The Shalom Volume 49, No. 4
Page 2
Welcome to the December
issue. Hanukkah is just
around the corner. I would
like to look back at the past
twelve months. Oseh Shalom
has put in a new floor in the
Social Hall; installed a new
sound system, with Stream-
ing capacity; expanded rentals (for example,
ABCKidstime is now at its licensed capacity, renting
eight of our classrooms – they began with just two
classrooms 5 years ago); and we are in the midst
of a Strategic Planning Process. Ron Benton-Klein
as Building and Grounds chair has done an amazing
job sprucing up the parking lot (all the lines and
disabled parking areas were repainted in time for
the High Holidays). Additionally, Phil Victor and Ste-
ve Klein have replaced a number of broken and old
landscaping lights around the building with new
LED ones (and making electrical and other repairs
in our building, which save us a great deal on
building maintenance costs).
Our B’Yachad program now has a coordinator, Kelly
Benton-Klein, who has been doing a marvelous job
organizing everything to perfection, making our
first three B’Yachad program among the best ever.
On top of all that, we are now approaching our
50th Anniversary (our Jubilee) as a congregation.
It is thanks to members of the congregation
(named and unnamed – though, I should mention
that I could not do what I do without the support
of our Administrative VP, Allison Holtz) – that all
this and a lot more have been made possible.
Hmm, I would be remiss, if I also did not mention
the Shalom In Brief, which debuted this year,
which would not have been possible without the
support of the Shalom’s editor, Carolyn Makovi. Ku-
dos must also go to Adam Goldfarb, who has been
designing the Shalom In Brief and the online edi-
tion since last winter and, though, he is now in
From the Executive Director
Continued on page 4
The Shalom is a great place to advertise!
If you know someone who is interested, please contact:
The congregation extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to the Everett family on the death of Peter Everett, z'l, brother of Chris Everett and broth-er-in-law of Sonya Everett.
The congregation extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to Marilyn Bernhardt on the death of her aunt Bernice Rubenstein,z'l.
The congregation extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to the Bernhardt family on the death of Matilda Weiner, z'l, mother of Marilyn Bernhardt and mother-in-law of Cantor Charles Bernhardt.
The congregation extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to Judy Tabachow and her family on the death of her husband, Denny Tabachow, z'l.
May the mourners find consolation within the gates of Zion and Jerusalem.
Community News
Mazel Tov!
Mazel tov to members Stephanie and Ben on the birth of their baby, James Anders Fogle!
Sponsor a Friday Night Oneg Shabbat
Honor a loved one by sponsoring an oneg. This is
a unique and special way to commemorate life
events, such as birthdays, anniversaries, bar/bat
mitzvahs and special additions to the family. You
would also be contributing to the spirit of commu-
Oseh Shalom is a vibrant, inclusive Reconstructionist synagogue, with members throughout the Baltimore
-Washington area, dedicated to providing a supportive community for celebrating Jewish life through
prayer, learning and social action.
leading skills for the benefit of the congregation.
Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to the upcoming opportunities for my own rabbinic ‘rededication’ during my sabbatical. After nearly ten years of serving as the Rabbi of Oseh Shalom, this interlude will offer occasions to deepen and broaden my areas of knowledge and ability. I will engage in some religious studies courses, both locally and online. I’m also taking a metalsmithing/jewelry class. As some of you know, I’ve begun to create silverware jewelry, often incorporating Jewish ideas and symbols. Many of my pieces are already on sale at the gift shop here at Oseh Shalom, to benefit the congregation. I plan to spend time working with members of our community on jewelry and art pro-jects upon my return. If you’d like, please follow my progress during my sabbatical on my metalwork website at: www.lostandforged.com
I’ll miss my frequent contact with the wonderful members of our congregation during these three months. You’ve helped me to grow tremendously over the years, and I’ve come to feel increasingly relaxed and happy with so many of my ‘official’ and informal roles. When my sabbatical ends in March, I’ll be eager to share my experiences from this three-month interlude, and to hear about those from members of the congregation.
Best wishes for a wonderful Hanukkah, and a fruitful and happy season of rededication.