In with the old: With the prior issue we introduced a new look to these newsletters, and we asked for your feedback. We are grateful to all who responded. The consensus opinion was that while you liked the new color scheme and overall design, you weren’t too crazy about the two-column look, especially since there was a whole lot on the right side and a lot less on the left. I tried to make those changes to the template, but my xhtml programming skills are still too primitive. So for the time being, we’re back to the “old” multi-color, single-column format. We’ll work on those changes over the course of the summer, and we’ll re-introduce the new and improved look as soon as possible. In the meantime, your continued feedback is appreciated.
Gil Brodsky, Editor

Condolences | Blood Drive | Meah | Learn Hebrew | Kiryat Bialik | Trivia | Yard Sale | High Holidays | In the Community | Maccabbi Games | QuickLinks

Our condolences to Judy and Steven Burg on the loss of Judy's father, Harold Roswick. The funeral was held in New York on Wednesday. The family will be receiving condolence calls during the day on Friday and Sunday at their home on 11 Greenwood Avenue in Needham.

May the Divince Presence comfort them, among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

A reminder that on Sunday, June 13, as part of Mitzvah Day, the Men’s Club will hold its annual Blood Drive, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Please email Bob Rosemark or call 617-964-5525 to schedule an appointment, or you may just stop by at any time to donate.

And todah rabbah in advance to all of you who have signed up for the various programs for Mitzvah Day.

We urge you to consider registering for the next two-year cycle for Meah, the program of Adult Education covering over 100 hours of study. This regional program with a “branch” here in Needham run jointly at Temple Aliyah and Temple Beth Shalom, should begin its fourth cycle this fall. However, due to the low number of registratrants so far, we run the risk of not having the program here in Needham next year. Those who have already taken the course have raved about the teachers, the texts, the cameraderie, and the intellectually charged atmosphere. For further information, you can check out more information at the Hebrew College web site, you can contact Terri, or you can get the application form online (pdf file).

For those who are interested in getting a “taste of Me’ah,” you can do so here in Needham on Tuesday, June 22 at 7:30 pm, at Temple Beth Shalom.

Would you like to keep up with your (modern) Hebrew over the summer? Rabbi Perkins recently learned about a site on the web that will send you one Hebrew word each day. The daily word is linked to several sound files, so you can hear how the word is pronounced in various contexts. The Rabbi’s been listening for several weeks now, and so far have not encountered any errors. If you’d like to try it, go to www.milingua.com. Enjoy! (Tehenu!)

Many of you came to our Installation kabbalat shabbat last Friday or to Shabbat morning services last Saturday and heard Rabbi Mauricio Balter speak, and some of you even extended your personal hospitality to Rav Balter during his several day visit here to Needham. Rabbi Balte is, as you know, the Rabbi of our sister Masorti (Conservative) congregation in Kiryat Bialik, outside of haifa. In addition to his remarks to us at last Shabbat’s services, he sent us the following news and greetings:

Shalom Javerim: It is with restrained joy that I am informing you of the latest results of the coalition meeting which took place within the past weeks in Kiriat Bialik Municipality.
The results were positive and in our favour. The majority voted to allow us the right to exist as a Masorti Movement with its own site/premises for a synagogue. The first steps have now been successfully taken.
However the journey ahead isn't 100% guaranteed, as we now have to appear before the appropriation committee and then again in front of the City council. This last stage is less troublesome as the city council consists of the same people as are on the coalition.
I would like to thank you for the tremendous support and help which you rallied in our hour of need.
I feel sure that if it is again necessary to call upon your assistance we will find true friendship in your efforts.
My heartfelt thanks go out to you and I am sure your continued support will always be forthcoming.

Congratulations to David Lintz, who gave he only corect answer to our most recent triviaa question about the haftarah for the first day of Shavuot. David corectly identified the source of that haftarah as the book of Ezekiel, and the song based on that Biblical passage as “Ezekiel Saw the Wheel.” David wins a gift certificate to our Judaica shop.

We’ll take a break from new trivia questions for a while, but we’ll get back to more in the future. In the meantime, if you have a good idea for a future trivia question, let us know.

Doing your spring cleaning???  Don't throw it all away! Instead, donate it to Temple Aliyah! Clean out your garages, attics and basements, and help Temple Aliyah raise funds at the same time.  One person’s junk is another person's treasure, so “donate your discards” to the Temple and join us on Sunday, September 12, 2004 from 9:00 A.M. to noon. You provide the stuff and someone to help sell it; we provide the bagels, entertainment and amusements, and receipts for charitable deduction purposes. All proceeds go to support Temple operations.  It’s a win-win for all!  Delivery instructions and other info to follow. 
For questions or to volunteer to help with this event, email Judy Pike, or call her at 781-444-1114.

The warm weather has finally just arrive, and we’re already talking about the High Holidays?! Yes, that’s right. Once Shavuot is over, one should start planning for the fall (it’s 120 days from Shavuot to Yom Kippur). So here’s what you need to think about:

Please send in your Greetings and Remembrance listings to the Temple office right away. We need to enter all of the new information and get the booklets to the printer soon.

You can review all of the preliminary information which was in the recent mailing on the web site.

Also, if you are at all interested in learning about participating in the High Holiday services, you have the oppoetunity to do so this summer. We will have lessons on High Holiday Torah reading trope and on blowing the shofar, so if you have any interest in either of these, please email Gil Brodsky.

We are also looking for new material for our High Holiday booklet. One of the things we would like to include is personal recollections and reflections about the Holidays from members of our own congregation. So please write out for us your favorite childhood yom tov memory, or a family tradition, or a song you sang, or even a great holiday recipe—it doesn't have to be long, even one paragraph up to several paragraphs will do—and email them to us.

The Jewish Theatre of New England hosts the Israeli theater production of deaf-blind actors,“Light is Heard in Zig Zag.” Performed by the the Nalaga’at theatre company, the production takes place on Wednesday, June 23rd at 7:30pm. The only deaf-blind theatre in the world, based in Israel, Nalaga’at has been hailed by the press as “miraculous,” “glorious,” and “stupendous.” Twelve deaf-blind people have declared war on the darkness and silence of their lives, creating a show based on their memories, dreams and fantasies. Tickets are $25 general; $20 students and seniors. For ticket information call 617-965-5226 or 617-577-5867. Tickets are also available online at theatermania.com. The Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center is located at 333 Nahanton Street in Newton.

Dr. Amatzia Baram is a 2003-2004 Senior Fellow in the Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, DC. He is a professor of Middle Eastern history at the University of Haifa, Israel and a prolific author and editor of dozens of books and articles on Saddam Hussein and Iraqi politics. He testified before Congress on WMD and has consulted widely with U.S. and Iraqi senior government officials. He directed the Arab Center and the Gustav Heinemann Middle East Institute at the University of Haifa from 1999 to 2002. There are two Opportunities to Hear Dr. Baram in the Boston Area:

“From Baghdad to Jerusalem: A Unique Perspective on the Middle East” on Wednesday Evening, June 16th at 8:00 PM, at Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Road, Lexington.
 
“The Crisis in Iraq: Where Is It All Going?” on Thursday Evening, June 17th at 7:30 PM, at Congregation Mishkan Tefila, 300 Hammond Pond Parkway, Chestnut Hill.
 
Both events are free and open to the community. These events are sponsored by Temple Emunah and Congregation Mishkan Tefila
and co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council, American Jewish Committee, Temple Aliyah, Temple Isaiah, and Temple Reyim.

Under Construction:  A Habitat for Humanity Summer Interfaith Program for Kids.  For Pre-school (ages 3-4) through 8th grade.  Taking place from July 6 - July 9, from 9AM to 12:30PM each day, at Needham Congregational Church.  Through participation in faith-in-action, children will learn the joy in serving by creating crafts to sell in July with the proceeds going to the Needham Habitat for Humanity House.  Pre-registration is encouraged, so sign up your child to join the Kids Construction Crew today!  Forms are available in the church office, or by calling 781-444-2510.  You may also be interested in picking up an adult work crew form so you can volunteer to help teach the kids!  Dramas, teaching, activities and carpentry crafts all need adult assistance.  The cost is $50 for the 1st child, $40 for the 2nd child, and $30 for each additional child, with scholarships available.  Fees will pay for the program and be put towards a generous contribution to The Needham Habitat for Humanity Project.

Consulate General of Israel to New England Consulate Co-Sponsored Event on June 20, 2004:
March For Israel 10:00 am -12:00 pm: March from Amory St. Park in Brookline to the Boston City Hall Plaza (3.5 miles)
Rally For Israel 12:00 pm- 2:00 pm: Boston City Hall - located between Tremont Court and Cambridge Street in Boston.
For more information check out the organizing committee web site or call: (617) 648 4482.

Two local children’s theater shows by Open Fields feature TA kids. Come see Greg Bornstein and Leah and Deborah Steinberg featured in the production of Godspell. They have been rehearsing since late March in this exciting show featuring about 30 very talented middle and high school students. The show will premier on Monday June 21 to kickoff the summer. There will be four performances running through June 23rd at the Newman Elementary School in Needham. Also: Michelle and Rachael Bornstein and Deborah and Leah Steinberg are featured in the Open Fields production of Godspell Song Revue. This exciting show features about 45 young actors ranging in age from second through sixth grade. Performances will be on Sunday June 20 and Tuesday June 22.The shows promise to be a great start to the summer season and will bring you back to the nostalgic and carefree days of the 70’s. If you would like information about showtimes and tickets please go to www.open-fields.org or call 508-654-6736.

The JCC Maccabbi games in Boston this August 15-20 still need to recruit and register more than 100 host families and MANY more volunteers. Please help us reach our goals by recruiting your friends and family! To properly match athletes with host families, and to suitably assign volunteers, we want ALL host families and volunteers registered no later than June 30. For information about the 2004 JCC Maccabi Games, to register as a host family or volunteer, or buy a raffle ticket, please visit www.maccabiboston.org or call 617-558-6447. And click here for the JCC Maccabi Games monthly newsletter “Play by Play.”