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Rabbi Carl M. Perkins |
Peter Seresky, President Gil Brodsky, Editor |
March 18, 2009, Wednesday, 22 Adar, 5769 |
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Baby, Baby, baby!
Mazal tov to
Alan and Claudia Greenfield on the birth of their first grandchild, a boy, Jayden, born to Brian and Aimee Greenfield.
Mazal tov also to Dvora and Saul Garlick on the birth of their first grandchild, a son born to Keren and Matt Hirsch in Phoenix on March 15th (name to be announced at his bris).
And mazal tov also to our long-standing Religious School teacher Marvin Levine and his wife Reba on the birth of their granddaughter Reut Hadas on March 2.
Yizku horeihem... May the parents and grandparents be privileged to raise them to a life of Torah and good deeds!
Coffee and News from Israel — this Sunday — with Guest Speaker
Coffee and News in Israel, is hosting a guest speaker on Sunday, March 22nd, at 9:45 a.m. Dr. Motti Inbari will speak on the thinking of the religious right in Israel and the re-building on the Temple Mount, their effects on politics, and peace efforts today. Ten dollar donation requested per family.
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin to speak at TA this Sunday, March 22
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin will be the speaker at the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts annual Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture, which will take place at Temple Aliyah on Sunday, March 22. Temple Aliyah is proud to be hosting this event this year. Rabbi Telushkin, named by Talk Magazine as one of the 50 best speakers in the United States, is the author of Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History, the most widely selling book on Judaism of the past two decades.
Rabbi Telushkin’s topic will be “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself: A Code of Jewish Ethics.” The talk, which is open to all and free, will begin at 7:30, with doors opening at 7:00. We expect several hundred people to attend, so please come early. Also, there will be a dinner with our guest at 5:30, for a cost of $36. You can register and pay for the dinner via the Synagogue Council’s web site.
For more information about this exciting event, check out the flier online. Of note also, for those who cannot make the talk, is that it will be recorded, and the video will later be posted on the SCM web site.
Special Family Music Program with Singer Rick Recht — March 29
Don’t miss the first in TA’s Cantor’s Concert Series with top U.S. touring Jewish singer/songwriter and entertainer Rick Recht. Rick’s music inspires both youth and adults to connect with each other and their Jewish heritage. Visit Rick's Web Site or his MySpace page to listen to his music. Rick will perform jointly with kids of various ages, as well as with our adult choir, under the new direction of Cantor Gastón. Tickets available at Temple Aliyah or at Kolbo in Coolidge Corner. Adults $18, kids $9, and family $40. Sponsorships are also available, as noted in yesterday’s President’s letter from Peter Seresky. For info and reservations email cantorsconcert@templealiyah.com.
Please note that during the concert, any musicians who play acoustic instruments (guitar, hand drums, clarinet, fiddle, etc) will be able to jam onstage with Rick. If you are interested, please contact Cantor Gastón.
If you are interested in learning the music for the concert, it is all posted online on Cantor Gastón’s web site.
... and More Music!
April 5 @ 10:30 am: Pesach Theme Concert
New TA Choir will be performing beautiful settings of Pesach, Freedom and Spring, a great way to start the morning!
April 9 @ 9:15 am: Pesach Morning Service
Join us for Pesach Services and some delights of Hallel compositions sung by the new TA Chorus.
April 30 @ 8 pm: A Night of Niggunim & Acoustic Jams
A very special, informal evening with Cantor G. and Yehuda Katz, leader of Israel’s Reva l’Sheva and former Music Director for Reb Shlomo Carlebach.
May 3 @ 4 pm: Project Manna Concert (at Temple Emanuel)
Support your fellow members from the TA Choir in an evening of togetherness and soul/gospel choral music by various choirs around the area (Jewish and Non]Jewish). Cantor Gastón will also be featured as a soloist.
June 18: Cantor Gastón & Regional Cantors Concert
Cantor Gastón, TA Choir, and regional cantors for an evening of fun! Cantor Gastón will be formally installed by his fellow cantors to the region.
Click here for the flier of all these events.
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USY Sports News
You may be working on your NCAA ranking, but the results are in for the regional USY basketball league, and Needham took the trophy again!
The Needham USY senior basketball team walked off with the Championship after an exciting game against Sharon, winning 60-56. Needham finished the regular season with the best record (8-2) and beat Temple Emanuel in the first playoff game before facing Sharon at Gann Academy on Sunday, March 15. Needham players included Temple Aliyah members Jacob Berns, Jake Dore, Eric Feldman, Jeff Richmond and Ryan Rosen-Smith, as well as Zach Agranat, Greg Angel, Jacob Coblenz, Adam Mark, Sam Rubin and Adam Werther. Needham was coached by Alan Rubin and Temple Aliyah members Al Dore and Bruce Berns.
Needham USY Basketball is recruiting for next year: There will be a few openings on the Needham USY senior (10-12 grades) basketball team. In addition, efforts are underway to form a new USY junior (7-9 grades) basketball team. Games start in mid-November and continue through the end of February, with finals in early March. Home games are played at Needham High School. Sorry, this league is for boys only. Players are required to be Jewish and to join Temple Aliyah's USY, but are not required to belong to Temple Aliyah (although TA members will have priority if we end up with too many players). Anyone interested in playing (or coaching the junior team) should send an email to Bruce Berns.
Tot Shabbat Friday evening program March 27
Join Cantor Bogomolni for an evening of songs, stories, and fun for families of preschoolers and toddlers, and stay for a delicious Shabbat family dinner! For more information or to reserve your spot, check the online flier or contact Bess Weiskopf. Registration deadline is this Friday, March 20th.
Meditation Shabbat
The next Shabbat morning meditation will take place in the Board Room on April 4, from 9:15 to 10:15. The May program will take place on May 9.
Sisterhood Torah Fund Dinner — Friday, April 3 — with Minyan Shirah
Temple Aliyah Sisterhood’s Annual Torah Fund Event will feature Guest Speaker Rabbi Leslie Gordon. Her topic will be “Women of the Exodus: A Midrashic Exploration.” We will begin with Minyah Shirah followed by an Israeli buffet dinner. Rabbi Gordon’s presentation will follow dinner. Children’s meals will be available, and Childcare will be provided. Families are encouraged to attend.
Donations support The Jewish Theological Seminary. Please fill out the RSVP form and send it to the Temple by March 25.
Book Club — April 9
Due to popular demand, the Temple Aliyah Sisterhood book group has added a meeting. All are welcome to
join in the discussion of
The Jew Store by Stella Subermanrom.
Tuesday, April 28, at 7:45 p.m. (right after minyan), in the Temple Library
Kirkus says: The book is by turns charming, funny, and moving, artfully but simply written and invested with a warm glow of family love. An admirable debut by Suberman, vividly told and captivating in its humanity.
Booklist says:
Suberman tells the remarkable story of her family's sojourn as the only Jews in a small Tennessee town during the 1920s with such sparkle it reads like a novel. Her parents, poor Jews from the shtetls of Eastern Europe, first made their way to New York City, then boldly down to Tennessee where they hoped to establish a dry-goods business, the so-called Jew store. Upon arriving in the town Suberman calls Concordia, the young family was instantly taken in by the town's most independent woman, Miss Brookie, who proved to be an essential ally in helping them to launch Bronson's Low-Priced Store and to pass muster with the local chapter of the Klan. Although Suberman's father took to Concordia like the proverbial fish to water, her mother suffered mightily from a debilitating sense of isolation, but both were bighearted people who met anti-Semitism and racism head-on and ultimately did much to improve the life of the town. As Suberman illuminates this little-known facet of southern Jewish American culture, she offers fresh insights into the dynamics of one small town, where community spirit overcame prejudice. An absolute pleasure on all fronts.
Family Table
April 5 will present an opportunity for a good deed, as we have been asked to provide 10 families to pack and deliver Passover Food to needy families by Family Table from the Waltham facility. This activity is great for children to join with parents in completing an act of tzedakah. Please contact Murray Davidson.
USY takes on the Big Apple — Last chance!
Why be bored by the end of April vacation when you can come to NYC? There are only 2 seats left for the Temple Aliyah Teen Trip to NYC. For just $350, you get roound-trip transportation, 3-star accommodations, all meals (including Friday lunch at Yale) and all admissions. We’ll also get to spend Shabbat with some really cool alternative minyans on the Upper West Side, April 24-26. We really need 1 or 2 more people to make this trip a go. Fun and adventures (and maybe even a B-way play) await all who get on the bus (well, van really). For more info, contact Joey Baron.
Haftarah Readers Wanted
Opportunities for haftarah that are coming up for Shabbat and Pesach: April 4 and 18 (Shabbat); Days 2 and 7 of Pesach (April 10 and 15); and May 16, 23 and 30 (Shabbat). If you’re interested, contact Seth Stadfeld.
Pesach
Passover this year begins on the evening of Wednesday, April 8 and continues through Thursday, April 16, with the sedarim held Wednesday and Thursday evenings, April 8 and 9. Services begin at 9:00am on the 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th days of Passover. Yizkor will be recited on the 8th day, April 16.
A full set of information about Passover programs will be posted on the web site and sent in the next ComingUp.
The Passover wine sale is going on now. The Temple Aliyah Sisterhood is once again offering a wide selection of Passover wines to order from the convenience of your home. You can download the order form for the most popular choices, fill it out, and return it to the Temple with your check, or you can even check out the entire selection list as an Excel file. Just fill in the number of bottles of each choice, and the form will calculate your total cost! Save the Excel file and email it to Karen Kaimo or Jan Feinstein (their addresses are on the form), or print it out and send it in with your check, and you’re all set! The deadline for ordering is March 25, so please act quickly!
The Gift Shop has
special merchandise for Pesach … and all at 20% off! Seder plates, matzah plates, matzah covers, afikoman bags and more, either on hand or purchased through our special order catalog! The Gift Shop is open most Sundays leading up to Passover, or by appointment with our Gift Shop coordinator, Nancy Magier. Come and shop!
Cantor Gastón has a new CD of Passover songs. You can check out the samples online, and you can purchase it either online or at the Gift Shop.
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Mitzvah Day — Sunday, May 17
Please join Temple Aliyah members of all ages on Sunday May 17th, 2009, with kickoff at 9 am. We will have many social action projects to choose from. Here is a sample…
- Go bowling with residents of a local group home
- Make dolls to be given to hospitalized children
- Prepare meals for residents of Ronald McDonald House
- Serve dinner at a food shelter
- Sing songs to residents of a local nursing home
There will be a number of projects suitable for families and temple members of all ages. Sign-up information will be mailed to all Temple members. Remember to sign-up early because many of the projects will have limited space availability (there will be sign up forms the morning of the 4th). Also, we still have opportunities for people who may be interested in leading a Mitzvah Day Project.
Questions or interested in being a Mitzvah Day Team Leader? Please email Don Lassman.
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TA Annual Family Retreat — May 22-24
Great events in the spring — mark your calendars now!
Looking for some quality time with your family in a beautiful spot? Want to spend time with long-time Temple Aliyah friends and/or make new connections? Then save Memorial Day weekend (Friday May 22-Sunday May 24) for the annual Temple Aliyah retreat at Camp Yavneh in New Hampshire. The weekend will include opportunities for singing, praying, learning, boating, tennis, softball, conversation, supervised babysitting for younger kids, plenty of leisure time for adults and kids, and much more. More details and a sign-up form with housing choices are posted on the web site. Please note the April 1 deadline for the lottery for the staff housing.
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In the Community
Schechter PALS Morning Musical Surprise! Preschoolers and their families are invited to PALS (Preschoolers And Little Siblings) Morning Musical Surprise, featuring Mike the Hatman at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 26, at Solomon Schechter Day School, 60 Stein Circle, Newton. Children will laugh at silly sing-along songs, foot-stomping dances and balloon hats. Admission is free. To register or for more information, contact Stephanie Maroun at 617-630-4625 or stephanie.maroun@ssdsboston.org.
An Evening with Etgar Keret: Saturday, March 21, 2009, 8:30 pm, at Hebrew College. $10 general admission; $5 students. Join us for a provocative evening of reading and discussion with the internationally acclaimed writer and filmmaker Etgar Keret. Drawing on his experiences as a creative writer and political commentator, Keret will explore the artist’s role in shaping contemporary Israeli culture.
The Neponsset Valley Philharmonic Orchsetra in Concert at Showcase Live, at the new facility at 23 Patriot Place, Foxborough, on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 3:00 pm. Conducted by music director Lawrence Isaacson, and including TA members Rich Kesner and Susan Silverman. The Program includes Beethoven’s Overture to Coriolanus, Benjamin Godard’s Suite de trois morceaux and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. General Admission is $30 Adults, $20 Seniors, $5 Students. Free parking!! Tickets can be ordered online.
David Horovitz , Editor-in-Chief of the Jerusalem Post, will speak on “Inside Israel: Life Under Fire: A Conversation with One of Israel's Leading Journalists” on Monday, March 30th at 7:30 pm, at Congregation Mishkan Tefila, 300 Hammond Pond Parkway, Chestnut Hill. Refreshments to follow, dietary laws observed. There is no fee, but RSVP is required. Please RSVP to AIPAC at 617-399-2562 or email nereg@aipac.org by March 23rd.
David Horovitz was previously editor and publisher of the award-winning news magazine The Jerusalem Report, and has written from Israel for newspapers around the world, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Irish Times and The (London) Independent. He is a frequent interviewee on CNN the BBC, NPR and other TV and radio stations.
Needham Community Theatre proudly presents Arsenic and Old Lace, on Saturday, April 4 at 8 pm and Sunday, April 5 at 2 pm at Newman Elementary School, Needham, MA. Mortimer Brewster has his hands full juggling two sweet yet poisonous aunts, a brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt and a curious fiancée. Throw in a visit from a murderous brother and his sidekick, Dr. Einstein, and the result is this irresistible farcical black comedy. A beloved theater classic! TA members include Seth Stadfeld in the cast and Joe Silverman as co-producer. Tickets are $20, Seniors only $15 each! For more information or to order tickets visit the NCT web site or call 781-444-4740.
Can you guess what other magical feat Peter Pan can do besides fly?? Speak Hebrew, of course!! South Area Solomon Schechter Day School in Norwood proudly presents a Hebrew musical theater production of Peter Pan, this Sunday, March 22, performances at 12 and 7 pm, and Monday, March 23, at 7 pm, at the former Striar JCC, now Old Colony YMCA, in Stoughton. Tickets are $10 per person, $36/family (up to 4 tickets). For reservations and information, call 781-769-5555, or go to the SASSDS website at or email office@sassds.org. Come watch Peter, Tinkerbell, Wendy, Michael and John fly and speak Hebrew as you've never seen and heard before!
Cantor Bogomolni is featured at the JCC-sonsored program, “Why Is This Night Different?”, on Sunday, March 22, 10-11:30 am
at the Fuller Craft Museum, 455 Oak Street, Brockton. A Passover Family Adventure for children up to age 6. Explore the many aspects of Passover at this fun and interactive family-friendly event! $10/family. Pre-registration with payment is required by March 18. Contact Ellie Cohen at 617-558-6442 or ecohen@jccgb.org.
Boston Uncommon Presents Gathersing: Saturday evening, March 28, 2009, at 7:00 pm, at The Rivers School , 333 Winter Street, Weston. Experience a spectacular evening of a cappella music featuring Boston Uncommon (female sextet including Temple Aliyah’s own Judy Pike and Anne Glanz) and four other top regional groups. Admission is $10 at the door. No advance ticket sales.
The Leventhal-Sidman JCC presents: An Evening of Jazz, Cabaret and Broadway Music. At the Jewish Community Center, Newton, co-sponsored by the National Yiddish Book Center. Saturday, March 21st at 8pm, and Sunday, March 22nd at 2pm. The Three Yiddish Divas pour passion and artistry into a thrilling celebration of diverse music stylings. This sophisticated, emotionally charged and stunningly powerful concert includes music that ranges from Bei Mir Bist Du Shayn to an unforgettable repertoire of the songs that inspired modern Broadway. Featuring Theresa Tova (Jazz-Cabaret Diva), Joanne Borts (Theatre Diva), Adrienne Cooper (Concert Stage Diva), and a live jazz trio.
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Purim Pix!
Our own Josh Levine took a lot of of photos from last Monday night's Megillah reading and has posted them on his website. Enjoy!
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