Tiferet Bet Israel News Recent articles and news from Tiferet Bet Israel. http://www.tbibluebell.org June, 2010 Ma'aseem - Loving Kindness, Now... The famous 19th century Rabbi, Yisroel Salanter, the father of the Mussar Movement1, said, "Too often religious people are concerned about their own bodies and other people's souls. In truth, we should be concerned about our own souls and other peopl http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=268 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=268/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT June, 2010 Ma'aseem - Find Your Place at TBI Almost a year ago I was elected to a two-year term as President of Tiferet Bet Israel. It has been a busy and exciting year with many opportunities. I have been fortunate to have the support of a great Executive Board, General Board, committees, cle http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=269 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=269/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT June, 2010 - Ma'aseem "If you stage it, they will come!" And stage it we did, with much elbow grease and heaps of enthusiasm.

This springtime's Mitzvah Mania revolved primarily around projects for the school children, who came out en masse to show their comm http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=270 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=270/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT June, 2010 Ma'aseem - Prayer This month's interview is the third in a series on the topic of prayer. I am grateful to the interviewee, who wishes to remain anonymous, for the feelings and experiences shared herein. For some of us, the ability to pray comes easily on a regular ba http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=271 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=271/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT June, 2010 Ma'aseem - Learning To Do God's Work "No one is lonely when doing a mitzvah; for a mitzvah is where God and man meet."
--Abraham Joshua Heschel

The above quote, displayed on the door to Cantor Shammash's office, refers to the partnership that is affirmed each time one http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=272 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=272/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT June, 2010 - Ma'aseem 2009-2010 year brought a range of stellar programming to TBI. From our exceptional adult education class series, to exciting family programs like First Friday Shabbatot, Wondergy, and Storahtelling, to the crown jewel of this year's programming, the http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=273 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=273/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT June, 2010 Ma'aseem May was a busy and productive month for Women's League.

Our annual Ladies' Night Out was a tremendous success. We welcomed Harvard professor and author Elisa New as our guest speaker. Dr. New spoke about her recent book Jacob's Cane, w http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=274 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=274/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT May, 2010 Ma'aseem - You Don't Have To Be Big To Be Great Over the past school year, Cantor Shammash and I have been blessed to have so many wonderful interactions with our early childhood students and faculty. For those of you whose children are past this age and may not get a chance to see that aspect of http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=260 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=260/ Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT May, 2010 Ma'aseem - Their Memories Are A Blessing Sunday, May 2 will be a very special day at TBI -- an ambulance dedication in the morning and the Noa/Mira reception, concert and dinner in the evening. If you read this before May 2 and you haven't purchased concert tickets yet, please be sure to j http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=261 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=261/ Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT May, 2010 Ma'aseem New Projects

Hesed is announcing the need for volunteers to help with driving congregants to various medically-related appointments. Although requests for driving services are infrequent, a large pool will assure infrequent calls for an http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=262 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=262/ Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT May, 2010 Ma'aseem - Prayer Art Skaroff has been a member of TBI (and its predecessor, Norristown Jewish Community Center), with his wife Debra and their daughters Sarah and Rebecca, since 1980. He was on the Board of Directors for many years, has served on the ritual committee http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=263 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=263/ Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT May 2010 Ma'aseem - Tell Me That Story Again... There are some stories that are told and retold. As I am writing this we are preparing to retell one famous story that we hear every year. The intriguing thing about the story of Passover, as told in the Haggadah, is that it is set up to be heard b http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=264 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=264/ Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT May 2010 Ma'aseem - With All Due Respect: Honoring Your Parents May 9, 2010: MOTHER'S DAY

THE MITZVAH OF KIBBUD AV V'EM: RESPECTING PARENTS. With all due respect to Mr. (or Ms., for that matter) Hallmark, the idea of a Mother's Day or Fathers' Day is not something for which we Jews really have a need http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=265 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=265/ Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT May 2010 Ma'aseem It finally happened: spring has truly sprung and May 2 is here! TBI presents Noa with Mira Awad. This year's Music in the Sanctuary highlight concert will officially begin at 5:30 p.m. with the Patron and Sponsor cocktail hour and will conclude wi http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=266 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=266/ Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT May 2010 Ma'aseem Greetings from Women's League!

We anxiously await our annual Ladies' Night Out, scheduled for Wednesday, May 5. We are delighted to welcome author Elisa New as our guest speaker. Dr. New, a cousin of congregant Carol Silver, will speak http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=267 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=267/ Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT April, 2010 Ma'aseem - Learning & Remembering Over the past few months, our synagogue has been blessed with incredible learning opportunities. From deep text study and practical tools to enhance Jewish practice, to the music of our tradition, there has been something for everyone. In March, a http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=251 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=251/ Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT April, 2010 Ma'aseem - This Joint is Jumpin' I'm writing this at the end of February (30 days until Passover!) right after attending our spectacular Purim services. The Sanctuary was overflowing, children and adults were excited, and a creative program engaged everyone. I felt very proud to be http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=252 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=252/ Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT April, 2010 Ma'aseem - A Jew at Auschwitz Cantor Shammash and her mother Estelle participated in Cantor's Assembly mission to Poland and Israel during the summer of 2009. In a previous issue of Ma'aseem Cantor shared highlights of the visit. In anticipation of Yom Hashoah, we asked her to http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=253 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=253/ Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT April, 2010 Ma'aseem HESED AT WORK

From kissing away a child's tears caused by a scraped knee, to sending a crutch to Haiti, to plunking down the cash for building a university hospital, every day we are involved in acts of hesed and tzedakah in our own way http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=254 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=254/ Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT April, 2010 Ma'aseem As an interfaith couple, we always seem to come up with situations we are not sure about. So as a change of pace we thought why not ask you what questions you have about Interfaith topics, Judaism topics, customs, synagogue etiquette, etc, etc. We h http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=255 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=255/ Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT April, 2010 Ma'aseem - Beyond the Classroom Many of the previous newsletters have spoken of the alignment of our daily curriculum with the PA Department of Education Early Learning Standards. Standards give us a yardstick against which to check the children's progress toward desired learning http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=256 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=256/ Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT April, 2010 Ma'aseem - Hametz & Matzah - A Morality Tale As you may be reading this article on either side of your seder, I thought I'd pass along an interesting idea about the topic of matzah (and hametz as well). The subject of matzah is a polarizing one. Most Jews I have met in my life either love it or http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=257 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=257/ Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT April, 2010 Ma'aseem Yom HaShoah Yellow CandleTM Program
NEVER AGAIN!
"The Holocaust was the most evil crime ever committed."
Historian Stephen Ambrose
NEVER AGAIN!
"To this day, there are those who insist that the Holocaust neve http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=258 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=258/ Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT April, 2010 Ma'aseem Welcome to spring!

As we go to press, we are looking forward to Pesach and spending time with friends and family. March was an active month for Women's League. Our Passover candy sale fundraiser was a great success. Thanks to Jeanette http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=259 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=259/ Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT March, 2010 Ma'aseem - Wise or Simple, Wicked or Innocent I look back on parts of my childhood and think to myself, "oy vey." There were moments, especially during my thirteenth year of life, when I was quite a terror. (No, you may not ask my Mom for specific stories.) As many of you know, this was especi http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=241 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=241/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT March, 2010 Ma'aseem From 1996 until the middle of 1999 I worked as the technical coordinator on a large-scale Year 2000 conversion project for the company where I worked for nearly 20 years before retiring in 2007. Most of the data my company used contained dates and t http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=242 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=242/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT March, 2010 Ma'aseem Special Appeal for Cold Weather Clothing

It's cold outside. This has been an especially cold winter and thank God most of us at TBI enjoy the comforts of a warm home, food on the table, and clothing that keeps the chill away. But not eve http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=243 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=243/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT March, 2010 Ma'aseem In preparation for the Passover, we decided to reflect on our trip to Poland and Israel in that light. If you have been following along on our journey in the last few articles, we were about to leave Jerusalem.

You have a choice, if your http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=244 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=244/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT March, 2010 Ma'aseem - Prayer & Praying This month's article is the first part in a four-part series on prayer. I spend a significant amount of time leading prayer, preparing prayer, praying, and discussing prayer with others. I am fascinated with how people pray, why people pray, and espe http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=245 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=245/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT March, 2010 Ma'aseem - The Power of Questions I don't have all the answers, but I am beginning to ask the right questions.
(author unknown)

Our tradition puts great value on questions. We are encouraged to ask questions. The image of scholars actively seeking meanings to rev http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=246 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=246/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT March, 2010 Ma'aseem - The Most Difficult Commandment As we have just read about the receiving of the Ten Commandments (as I write this article in early February) and we are looking at the upcoming Pesach holiday which tells the story of the freedom of the Jewish people from slavery, I am thinking about http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=247 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=247/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT March, 2010 Ma'aseem We are thrilled to welcome Deanna Neil, Storahtelling Maven extraordinaire, to TBI for our March 5 First Friday Family Shabbat. Founded by Amichai Lau-Lavie in 1999, Storahtelling has flourished from a small group of storytellers charged with the re http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=248 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=248/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT March, 2010 Ma'aseem Please join TBI Men's Club for our annual Men's Club Shabbat on March 13 and 14 and celebrate the hard, dedicated work of the George Stickeler Man of the Year and Morris Cohen Religious Award recipients. We will be naming the winners shortly and pla http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=249 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=249/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT March, 2010 Ma'aseem Thankfully, spring is in the air!

At our recent Women's League Shabbat, Jill Kornfeld was presented with the Mary Weiss Award. In recognition of this achievement, Women's League members have purchased a Tree of Life in Jill's honor. Ji http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=250 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=250/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT February, 2010 Ma'aseem - The Virtue of Virtual Our movement, the one in which I grew up, has always used the phrase "tradition and change" as its guiding light. I love the fact that our branch of Judaism tries to uphold the wisdom of those who came before us but also recognizes that our modern w http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=231 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=231/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT February, 2010 Ma'aseem - From Hamantashen, Crumbs of Wisdom For several years I've had a reputation for being able to tell you, at any given time, how many days until Passover begins. My method is pretty simple since I can do basic math in my head: January has 31 days, February has 28, March has 31, so with P http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=232 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=232/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT February, 2010 Ma'aseem Meet TBI's Hesed Committee



The current Hesed Committee has been operational now for several months, and in this very short time, its ranks have grown and its accomplishments have been many: fundraising for and delivery of Th http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=233 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=233/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT February, 2010 Ma'aseem In last month's article about our trip to Poland and Israel, we were exploring Jerusalem. The week of traveling in Israel was packed with sights, sounds, tastes and history and religion. We won't even try to capture everything that we experienced in http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=234 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=234/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT February, 2010 Ma'aseem - Don't Miss out on Mysticism I would say I have been a "dabbler" in Kabbalah study over the last decade. While it is the current "in thing" on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and in many yoga circles, to truly study and understand Kabbalah is yet another story. After reading h http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=235 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=235/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT February, 2010 Ma'aseem - It Should in Early Childhood (with apologies to Dr. Seuss) Early Childhood -- yes it should.
It should, in Early Childhood . . .

How should a child spend his day?
Would you say that it's JUST play?

A school that truly is first rate
Should be a place to educate, http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=236 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=236/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT February, 2010 Ma'aseem - The Book of Esther: A Persian Soap Opera It has all the elements of a great novel. There is the beautiful young orphan girl who rises from obscurity to become queen. She even hides a secret that could bring about her demise. Then there is the ambitious villain whose passion is to destroy th http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=237 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=237/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT February, 2010 Ma'aseem Happy PURIM everyone! I am writing to you this month both as Program Director and USY Advisor as this month's big program is the annual USY Purim Carnival. TBI USY is already hard at work planning our Purim festivities. Carnival games will include http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=238 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=238/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT February, 2010 Ma'aseem As the year comes to an end we look back on a great year with TBI Men's Club. We are delighted with the new, terrific members who have become an active part of Sunday Minyan and breakfast, and those who have donated significant time, energy and money http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=239 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=239/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT February, 2010 Ma'aseem As we go to press, we are anxiously planning Women's League Shabbat. We extend our appreciation in advance to Abbey Sasson and Carin Style for co-chairing the event and to everyone who participated in the service. Thanks to Boni Silverman and Myra http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=240 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=240/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT January, 2010 Ma'aseem I once heard one of my colleagues recount the following interaction he had with one of his congregants: The congregant commented, "I am not religious... I don't know the prayers... I'd feel hypocritical... I am not sure what I believe... so, how can http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=222 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=222/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT January, 2010 Ma'aseem After Hanukkah ends and we are in the month of Tevet, I remember my parents, with my mother's fifth yahrzeit on 11 Tevet and my father's thirty-third yahrzeit on 21 Tevet. Imagine how upset I would be if I went to TBI to recite Mourner's Kaddish but http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=223 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=223/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT January, 2010 Ma'aseem In last month's article about our trip to Poland and Israel, we accompanied the Cantors on the flight from Krakow to Tel Aviv. In the airport we parted company and took a limo to Jerusalem. We got our first peek at the countryside and quickly noticed http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=224 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=224/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT January, 2010 Ma'aseem: The Art of Song Friends,

Our third Music in the Sanctuary series begins this month! We have three incredible concerts to offer you this winter and spring:

I'll kick off with a vocal recital, joined by pianist Don St. Pierre, on Sunday, Jan http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=225 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=225/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT January, 2010 Ma'aseem: Our Learning Community There is power in community. Human beings function best in community. Community gives us comfort, acknowledgement, encouragement, identity and responsibilities. Our first community is our family. Beyond that there are many communities, intentiona http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=226 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=226/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT January, 2010 Ma'aseem: Shabbat B'Yachad About a year ago, I was talking with a fellow Jewish educator, discussing some ideas about having religious school on Shabbat. He told me that he had successfully held a month of school on Shabbat, which worked well in the middle of the winter when http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=227 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=227/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT January, 2010 Ma'aseem Happy New Year TBI! I am so thrilled to kick off our 2010 Israel programming later this month. We have some dynamite events planned for you and your families. On Friday, January 29 Reuven Spero will join the TBI community as scholar-in-residence. http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=228 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=228/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT January, 2010 Ma'aseem TBI MEN'S CLUB PARTICIPATES IN
WORLD WIDE WRAP X

The Tenth Annual World Wide Wrap is almost here! On February 7, 2010 (the event always takes Place on Super Bowl Sunday) thousands of Conservative Jews will gather in synagogues all http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=229 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=229/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT January, 2010 Ma'aseem As usual, December was a busy month . Our knitting group "It's a Knitzvah" met for the second time this year on December 13 to knit caps for Israeli soldiers. Shelly Pasquale joined the group, and along with Gail Zelikovsky and Marilyn Gross, shared http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=230 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=230/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT December, 2009 Ma'aseem It seems as though this time of year brings out many nostalgic memories. Whether tastes, smells, rituals or family heirlooms, there always seems to be something around us that reminds us of years past or special moments with family and friends. Dec http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=211 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=211/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT December, 2009 Ma'aseem I'm writing this page at the end of October, a month before you'll read it. The last of the fall holidays, Simchat Torah, was three weeks ago, but my family's sukkah is still up. We try to make sure it's down by Thanksgiving or, at the latest, Hanu http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=212 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=212/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT December, 2009 Ma'aseem - Mitzvah Mania 2009 MITZVAH MANIA 2009



Our "Mitzvah Mania Day Goodie-Baking" on Sunday November 1 was a fulfilling, inspiring, motivating and very important day. A group of us, both adults and children, met at TBI early Sunday morning, mixed an http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=213 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=213/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT December, 2009 Ma'aseem In last month's article about our trip to Poland and Israel, we were nearly completing our Cantor's Assembly tour of Poland. But looking back at the previous articles we realized that as important as the Holocaust and historical sites were in this pl http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=214 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=214/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT December, 2009 Ma'aseem: Expecting a Miracle I really looked forward to lighting Hanukkah candles when I was a kid. It was the magical part of the holiday for me, standing in front of the candles, building upon light each day until we got to that fully lit moment on the eighth night. Presents http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=215 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=215/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT December, 2009: How are You Smart? A human being mints many coins from the same mold, and they are all identical. But the holy one, blessed by God, strikes us all from the mold of the first human and each one of us is different.
Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5

Let other peop http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=216 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=216/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT December, 2009 - A New Kind of December Dilemma In past years I have written about December Dilemma and what it means to us as Jews living in a predominantly Christian country. Often what has traditionally defined this term has been the concern of parents that our children would be unduly attracte http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=217 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=217/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT December, 2009 Ma'aseem December will be an extremely fun month at TBI! I cannot wait to meet Ken Fink and the team from Wondergy on December 4. Wondergy exploded in 2002 when Ken Fink and Rebecca Machalow, 2 science students at Columbia University, came together to share http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=218 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=218/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT December, 2009 Ma'aseem The "Taste of TBI" in the Sukkah was a success with over 75 people attending and enjoying some great food, wine, music and community. The Israeli wines that were sampled are still available for sale. See Ben Simkin or Mike Radel for more informatio http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=219 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=219/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT December, 2009 Ma'aseem Happy Hanukkah from Women's League!

November was a busy month. Our knitting group "It's a Knitzvah" met at the beginning of the month and knitted caps for Israeli soldiers. Thank you to Gail Zelikovsky for sharing her expertise with our http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=220 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=220/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT December, 2009 Ma'aseem - More than a Committee, a Way of Life Still in the spirit of reflection and taking stock, when I received the call for chairing Hesed and accepted as a knee jerk reaction, I found myself thinking later, "Why me? Why now?" In the true Jewish tradition, in my head I answered, "Why not m http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=221 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=221/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT November, 2009 Ma'aseem For over sixty years, the Women's League Torah Fund campaign has been raising money throughout the country. As the mission states, "Every woman has the opportunity to participate in preserving, promoting and perpetuating Conservative/Masorti Judaism http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=201 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=201/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT November, 2009 Ma'aseem I spoke about some of these topics on the high holy days and am repeating them in this column. During the holiday season I find myself thinking of my parents, of blessed memory. I grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, as some of you know; I'm always i http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=202 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=202/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT November, 2009 Ma'aseem Hesed: More than a Committee, a Way of Life For many years, Hesed - the concept and the committee - has flourished at TBI through strong leadership and loving help of dozens (perhaps hundreds) of individuals. I doubt there is anyone in our community whose life has not been touched by Hesed. http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=203 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=203/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT November, 2009 Ma'aseem In last month's article about our trip to Poland and Israel, we were arriving in Krakow. See the previous two articles to get on board with the tour.

We found Krakow to be a comfortable, walking city. Big public squares in the European t http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=204 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=204/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT November, 2009 Ma'aseem: A Conversation with our Musicians This month I would like to highlight our Friday night musicians, who give a huge amount of their time, energy and spirit to making Kabbalat Shabbat very special at TBI.

Aaron Simon has been a lifelong member of TBI. Music has been part o http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=205 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=205/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT November, 2009 Ma'aseem - Out of the Classroom Thinking "Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple, or more direct than does Nature, because in her inventions, nothing is lacking and nothing is superfluous."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Children have a strong conn http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=206 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=206/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT November, 2009 - Thanksgiving, Sukkot and the Jewish Family Well, here we are: The leaves are making their annual assault on my backyard with annoying frequency. But as I rake furiously my thoughts turn to that most sublime and hectic time of turkey and Thanksgiving. I find a great symmetry here as we are a http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=207 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=207/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT November, 2009 Ma'aseem I am extremely proud to report that LFAC (Let's Find A Cure)-TeamTBI has already exceeded its $5,000 fundraising goal for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night walk! On September 26 TBIers braved the rainy weather and participated in t http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=208 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=208/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT November, 2009 Ma'aseem First, I would like to thank the members of Men's Club who helped set up the chairs for the High Holidays. This year we were assisted by an army of volunteers from the Boy Scotts from Troop 622 at St. Titus. This made the job much easier. Thanks, http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=209 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=209/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT November, 2009 Ma'aseem It's hard to believe that it's already November! Women's League has had a very busy autumn.

On October 7, Women's League hosted a delicious lunch in the sukkah for our Senior Adults Group; on October 10, we provided a Kiddush luncheon f http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=210 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=210/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT September, 2009 Ma'aseem In just a few weeks we will once again come together as a community to celebrate the New Year of 5770. While I know that for many of you the High Holy Days can be quite daunting, I hope that you will take advantage of our pre-High Holy Day class led http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=182 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=182/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT October, 2009 Ma'aseem Having recently finished the High Holy Days of 5770, it is my prayer and hope that many of you were able to reflect on your relationship with God. Upon arriving to TBI last year, it struck me that many of you who attend services regularly each week http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=183 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=183/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT October, 2009 Ma'aseem As the High Holy Days began this year, our TBI building celebrated its 20th anniversary. I remember vividly how glad we all were that the holidays were "late" that first year, since we needed all the time we could have to get the building ready. As http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=184 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=184/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT September, 2009 Ma'aseem As the new TBI President, I would like to introduce myself. My family joined the Norristown Jewish Community Center -- Tiferes Israel -- in August 1982, when our sons were 2, 4, 7 and almost 9 and I was still an at-home Mom. We had belonged to anoth http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=185 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=185/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT September, 2009 Ma'aseem As you receive this issue of our synagogue newsletter you will feel a hint of fall in the air and know that Rosh Hashanah will soon be upon us. New beginnings and new opportunities are available every year though the work of our Hesed committee to m http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=186 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=186/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT October, 2009 Ma'aseem When we left you last month we promised a series of articles about our reflections from our trip with the Cantor's Assembly Conference for 2009 in Poland and our first-timers' tour of Israel. The Cantor's conference was titled, "Poland to Israel, A J http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=187 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=187/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT September, 2009 Ma'aseem Israel is a unique place in the world. Three major religions converge at this tiny spot on our planet. The study of history and religion are passions of Tim, in particular biblical history and WWII history. No where else could be more appropriate for http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=188 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=188/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT October, 2009 Ma'aseem Sukkot is a very underrated holiday. I think many of us tend to feel that we've done a lot of hard work over Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, especially with the fasting and the al chet litany (recounting of sins), and that we've had enough holiday tim http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=189 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=189/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT September, 2009 Ma'aseem Here comes Rosh Hashanah, again! It always seems to creep up on us, no matter how aware we are of it. We have the month of Elul to prepare, yet unless we consciously attune ourselves to the Jewish calendar, it can be but a blip on our personal radar http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=190 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=190/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT October, 2009 Ma'aseem - Thinking Outside the (Sand)box "Leftover parts are proof that you made it better."

- Anonymous quote on a T-shirt



Some of the world's wisdom is found on T-shirts. These words, displayed by a young engineering student, reminded me of the value http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=191 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=191/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT September, 2009 Ma'aseem - How I Spent My Summer Vacation Much have I learned from my teachers:
even more from my colleagues;
most of all from my students.
- Taanit 7a

For many of us in the Early Childhood Education Community (EC)2, this summer was very much about learning a http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=192 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=192/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT October, 2009 Ma'aseem - Teachers: Our Educational Role Models As a child who grew up in the 50's and 60's, I was particularly drawn to the events of August 28 and 29 this year. It began after our weekly Shabbat dinner as my wife and I sat down to watch the tribute to the late Senator Edward Kennedy. That evenin http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=193 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=193/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT September, 2009 Ma'aseem - A New Year, A Fresh Start Shalom. It's always jolting to be writing an article in the middle of summer that speaks of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Please slow down the progression of time (a function of getting older no doubt)! But by the time you are reading this, we will h http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=194 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=194/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT October, 2009 Ma'aseem I hope you have all been enjoying early fall. I love the excitement of the first weeks of school, the breeze that finally cools off the humidity of August, the sense of spirituality that floods TBI throughout the High Holy Days. And what better way http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=195 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=195/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT September, 2009 Ma'aseem Shanah Tovah! After a long, refreshing, and quiet summer it is wonderful to feel TBI buzzing with the excitement on the cusp of a new year!

Over the summer TBI families and friends were treated to a concert by the Alaska Children's Choi http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=196 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=196/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT October, 2009 Ma'aseem First I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy, safe, joyful and peaceful New Year: L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu. This year Men's Club was responsible for setting up the sanctuary chairs for the High Holidays, saving TBI about $750. I want to than http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=197 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=197/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT September, 2009 Ma'aseem Just getting started...!
When my family and I joined TBI over 17 years ago, I never would have thought that I'd get to be the President of TBI Men's Club. After raising two daughters in the TBI community with my wife Wendy and participating in http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=198 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=198/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT October, 2009 Ma'aseem Women's League wishes everyone a sweet and joyous New Year.
A special thank you to Helen Feldscher for coordinating the high holiday bimah flowers and to Lynn Alexander for compiling the New Year Greetings booklet. Thanks also to Boni Silverma http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=199 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=199/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT September, 2009 Ma'aseem Greetings from Women's League!
As always, our rummage sale was a tremendous success. In these times of economic hardship, we are proud to have provided the opportunity for our extended community to purchase clothing, toys, and household items http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=200 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=200/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT June, 2009 Ma'aseem I can't believe that I am about to celebrate my first anniversary here at TBI. It seems like yesterday that Selilah and I moved our family to Blue Bell. I feel so blessed to be the leader of such a special community and truly treasure all the frien http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=173 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=173/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT June, 2009 Ma'aseem In a few short weeks, our terms as Co-Presidents will be over. TBI has been through many changes and challenges during this time, and we have many people to thank for their support during the past two years. First and foremost, we need to thank our http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=174 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=174/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT June, 2009 Ma'aseem Keeping it light for the summer, here is an interesting article we found about interfaith and, you guessed it, baseball. The old timers usually think of Sandy Koufax, but things have changed in 40 years. The article appears on the InterfaithFamily.co http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=175 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=175/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT June, 2009 Ma'aseem You probably have heard by now that TBI is "twinning" with Kehillat Netzach Israel, a Conservative synagogue in Ashkelon, Israel. There are various exciting projects we are taking on as a community in which to get to know our new friends better, of http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=176 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=176/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT June, 2009 Ma'aseem - Reflections In order to know where you are going, it is important to know where you've been.

What's in a name?
For the last year it may have seemed that we don't know who we are. A variety of names has been used to refer to what has always http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=177 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=177/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT June, 2009 - Ma'aseem - Jewish Education in Our Schools: It's Been a Very Good Year As you read this article the books have been stored for another summer, the rooms lie quiet and our children prepare for summer activities. But in our preschool, religious school and high school it's been a great year of growth and continued positiv http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=178 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=178/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT June, 2009 Ma'aseem Kehillat Netzach Israel was struggling to survive attack after attack as bombs fell on Ashkelon throughout the Hanukkah season last winter. Many mornings I arrived at TBI and found an email from our contact at the Kehillah, Terri Davis, describing t http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=179 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=179/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT June, 2009 - Ma'aseem As we go to press, we are eagerly preparing for Ladies' Night Out, scheduled for May 20. Many thanks to our chairperson Ceil Cable, and to her supportive and enthusiastic committee. As always, we know that everyone will really enjoy the chance to ha http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=180 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=180/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT May, 2009 Ma'aseem After spending a lot of time discussing the many questions of the Passover seder I have to admit that I have continued to contemplate the question, "How can one generation teach the next about the complex relationship between freedom and responsibili http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=165 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=165/ Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT May, 2009 Ma'aseem One of the challenges we face as a congregation is to continually identify, recruit, mentor, train and support leaders. We are not alone in this--every organization needs leaders. Googling "leadership" yields 256,000,000 hits, an indication of how http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=166 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=166/ Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT May, 2009 Ma'aseem Dealing with the death of a family member, relative or close friend is almost always very difficult. Last December, Tim's father passed away after a long illness. The memories of Doreen's father 's passing about four and half years ago are still ling http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=167 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=167/ Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT May, 2009 Ma'aseem If I had a nickel for every time someone has said to me over the course of my life, "You have such a talent! Oh, to be born with such a talent..." Yes, it is true that I have a talent for music, an inclination for it (just as I decidedly do not have http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=168 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=168/ Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT May, 2009 Ma'aseem - How to Grow a Mensch "Train your child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)



The short term goal of discipline may be to control behavior, but the ultimate goal is more far reaching, and i http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=169 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=169/ Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT May, 2009 Ma'aseem - Etz Chaim: Helping TBI to Create the Next Generation of Jews When I think of how much our Sages valued Jewish learning, an interesting passage of Talmud that appears in our liturgy comes to mind. If you open a siddur you will find, interspersed within our different services, texts from Tanakh (Torah, Prophets, http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=170 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=170/ Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT May, 2009 Ma'aseem Spring has FINALLY sprung! The birds are singing and the flowers are blooming here at TBI! It is hard to believe that it is already time to begin planning our 2009-2010 programming calendar. As the process of brainstorming and creating new ideas b http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=171 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=171/ Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT May 2009 Ma'aseem On behalf of Women's League, we extend our heartfelt mazel tov to Rabbi Kalev on his installation. We are delighted to welcome him and his family to our community.

We were thrilled to participate in Rabbi Kalev's installation by sponsor http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=172 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=172/ Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT January, 2009 Messenger There is no question that we all begin the new, secular year of 2009 with much anticipation and wonder for the world's future. From the inauguration of a new President, the upcoming Israeli election, continued unrest in Israel and the world, and a p http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=136 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=136/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT January 2009 Messenger - Gems Revealed One of the privileges we experience as leaders of the congregation is to learn how many people work tirelessly to keep the many facets of our congregation running smoothly. Many committees are regularly mentioned in the Messenger, or are prominent http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=137 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=137/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT January 2009 Messenger - What's A Cantor For? This is a partial re-print of an article that appeared in the Winter 2008-09 publication of Kolot, the magazine of the Conservative?Masorti Movement, by Hazzan Henry Rosenblum, Dean of the HL Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish Theological Seminar http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=138 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=138/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT January, 2009 Messenger - Home Away from Home There is a children's song that starts:

Wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish.

You're never alone when you say you're a Jew.

So when you're not home and you're somewhere kind of newish

The od http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=139 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=139/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT January, 2009 Messenger- Hebrew High @ TBI One of the unplanned side benefits of TBI's participation in the NESS (Nurturing Excellence in Synagogue Schools) Initiative over the past 2½ years has been the revamping of our post-B'nai Mitzvah education program. The NESS Initiative, administered http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=140 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=140/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT January, 2009 Messenger I hope you and your families are enjoying the start of a happy and healthy 2009!

Synaplex
December was a particularly special month here at TBI. The 2008-2009 Synaplex series kicked off on December 12 with a concert from Shira Kle http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=141 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=141/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT January, 2009 Messenger We hope that everyone had fun celebrating the Festival of Lights! Fran enjoyed her first Hanukkah as a grandmother, while Amy stressed over finding 16 "perfect" presents for her two children.

We would like to thank Sue Feller, Boni Silv http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=142 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=142/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT February, 2009 Ma-aseem The question I have been asked the most over the past few months -- besides "How are you?" -- has definitely been about my faith in God. People have wondered, and so have I, how God could allow my body to be invaded by cancer for a second time. As http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=143 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=143/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT February, 2009 Ma'aseem - Music Comes In Many Flavors Haverim,

Our Music in the Sanctuary series is off to a wonderful start! We had two of our five concerts last month, a string quartet of students from the Curtis Institute of Music on January 11, playing Haydn, Mozart and Dvorak quartets, http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=144 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=144/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT February, 2009 - Ma'aseem - To Maintain and to Build As Rabbi Kalev said in his column in last month's Messenger, TBI is standing at the brink of a "new age." Our educational, religious and social programming is rich, with a menu of options that reflects a diverse but passionate congregational family. http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=145 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=145/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT February, 2009 Ma'aseem - Purim and Intermarriage Purim and Intermarriage

We hope you'll enjoy this article by Rabbi Gila Rayzel Raphael, reprinted from Issue 179 (August 1, 2006) of www.interfaithfamily.com.

The emphasis in the story of Purim, the Jewish holiday which fall http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=146 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=146/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT February, 2009 Ma'aseem - Early Childhood Marketplace: Parents as Consumers This is the time of year that parents of young children are looking at preschools or early childhood education programs for next year.

Sadly, consumers often put more time in looking at options related to choosing a car, than in choosing http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=147 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=147/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT February, 2009 Ma'aseem - Challenges of Creating Meaning-Centered Curriculum Over a year ago I wrote my monthly article about the challenges of creating a meaning-centered curriculum for the supplementary synagogue religious school. It's hard to believe, but we are past the mid-point of another school year and I feel it's imp http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=148 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=148/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT February, 2009 Ma'aseem Happy February! Our February Synaplex with Danny Maseng is just around the corner. After our Chinese dinner at 6:00 p.m., Danny will join us at 7:00 on Friday, February 6 for Kabbalat Shabbat services. He will join Rabbi Kalev and Cantor Shammash http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=149 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=149/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT February, 2009 Ma'aseem Happy February!

Women's League continues to support our TBI community in so many ways. As in the past, we provided small tokens of appreciation to our wonderful TBI staff at Hanukah. This year, in furtherance of TBI's fundraising effort http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=150 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=150/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT March, 2009 Ma'aseem I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed working at TBI over the past 7 months and I feel so blessed to be a part of such an outstanding professional team. Each of us loves what we do and we put our entire soul into helping create a vibrant synagog http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=151 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=151/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT March, 2009 Ma'aseem Our community has much to look forward to in the coming weeks. We hope you will join us for the Megillah Reading on March 9. Then we will all be preparing for Passover, with the first seder occurring on April 8. Immediately after Passover, we will http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=152 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=152/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT March, 2009 Ma'aseem As an interfaith family, probably the most consistent, significant religious family tradition has been our celebration of Passover. Our adult children always look forward to this event with the haggadahs, the Kosher wine and symbolic foods, and the f http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=153 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=153/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT March, 2009 Ma'aseem - The 3 R's of School Readiness Relationships, Respect, Responsibility

In a recent announcement, Arne Duncan, President Obama's Secretary of Education, prioritized early childhood programs as "Job One" in the new administration's education agenda.

Years ag http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=154 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=154/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT March, 2009 Ma'aseem - Standing Together, Witnessing History There we stood, all together, eyes transfixed on the TV set up in the office with a makeshift antenna--a rather curious sight in an age of 500-channel cable. Somehow all of us drifted into the room as if called by a mysterious force telling us that n http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=155 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=155/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT March, 2009 Ma'aseem As this article goes to press, it is cold and snowy - we anxiously await the first day of spring! As usual, it has been a busy time for Women's League.

On February 22 , Women's League and Mens' Club co-sponsored a joint brunch. Cantor http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=156 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=156/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT April, 2009 Ma'aseem It is incredible that my favorite holiday is here, Passover. Each religion has a defining story and ours is most definitely that of the Exodus from Egypt. God's love and devotion to our people is shown through our redemption from Egypt and subseque http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=157 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=157/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT April, 2009 Ma'aseem Second Avenue...Molly Picon...Abraham Goldfaden...Sholom Secunda...these names and places used to be household friends to our parents and grandparents, and could we say that our children would recognize any of them? Imagine...

In its hey http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=158 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=158/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT April, 2009 Ma'aseem For the past 18 months, our Etz Chaim campaign committee has been working hard to substantially increase our endowment funds to help achieve long term financial stability for TBI. We are now entering the final 100 days of the campaign which will end http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=159 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=159/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT April, 2009 Ma'aseem We found an article by Jane Cohen, reprinted from www.InterfaithFamily.com that seems very appropriate for ideas on celebrating Passover. Some excerpts from the article follow. We encourage you to go to the website and read the whole article, includi http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=160 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=160/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT April, 2009 Ma'aseem - Why is this job different from all other jobs? "When we become parents, whether intentionally or by happenstance, our whole life is immediately different, although it may take some time to realize just how much. Being a parent compounds stress by orders of magnitude. It makes us vulnerable in way http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=161 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=161/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT April, 2009 Ma-aseem - You Shall Teach Your Children Pesach: The Ultimate Family Education Event

I can never resist the temptation to use the Pesach Seder as the ultimate setting for Jewish education. For in reality, that's exactly what our Sages intended it to be when the Hagaddah was co http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=162 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=162/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT April, 2009 Ma'aseem March flew quickly by beginning with our wonderful Purim Carnival! Thanks to our TBI USYers and Hebrew High schoolers the carnival was filled with colors, creativity, and pure Purim fun! We bounced in King Ahashuerus and Queen Esther's castle, took http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=163 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=163/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT April, 2009 Ma'aseem Happy Spring! So far, it has been a fantastic year.

March was a busy month for Women's League. We want to thank everyone who made our Mishloach Manot basket fundraiser a tremendous success. Special thanks to Boni Silverman, Lynn Alexa http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=164 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=164/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT December 2008 Messenger After the Jewish people had dwelled in the land of Israel for more than 1,000 years, the Seleucid Greeks occupied the land and outlawed Jewish religious practices. Their defeat by the Maccabees, a local band of Jewish warriors, is commemorated at Han http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=130 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=130/ Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT December 2008 Messenger Coming Together

The following is an edited version of our Kol Nidre speech:

As we come together tonight like Jews all over the world, we must realize that the future of TBI and the future of the Jewish people depend on our a http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=131 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=131/ Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT December 2008 Messenger Light Up Your Life

Haverim,

Who doesn't love Hanukkah? It's such an easy holiday to love: low-stress, candle-filled, oil-laden...and the presents! Hanukkah is "win-win," in that there is little we have to give of ourselves o http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=132 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=132/ Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT December 2008 Messenger Make This Hanukkah a Special Family Affair

Every December/Kislev I say to myself, "no, I'm not going to write about Hanukkah again. What else can I say about this holiday that I haven't said before?"

Well, here it is, that t http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=133 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=133/ Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT December 2009 Messenger E pluribus unum: Out of many, one.

I am writing this four days before Election Day. By the time you read it, we will all know the outcome. The interpretation of the above phrase is pivotal to how we view "being American," and was even http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=134 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=134/ Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT December 2008 Messenger I truly cannot believe that we are already well into December! What an extremely fast 2008!

CROC FEVER HAS HIT TBI! Inspired by Marci Blum and driven by Cantor Shammash and Rabbi Kalev's extreme enthusiasm for their crocs and jibbitz, http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=135 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=135/ Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT November Rabbi Kalev I recently heard a television show character comment that religion is like a buffet table -- you take what you want and leave the rest. In a sense, this interesting analogy supports the theory that everyone makes religion suitable for their own need http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=121 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=121/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT November Presidents' Message As the holiday season ends, the regular weekly Shabbat Torah reading cycle begins again at TBI. Beginnings are a very powerful time. One place to learn about beginnings is in the first parasha of the Torah- Bereshit.

When the Torah des http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=122 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=122/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT November Interfaith Matters Interfaith "Inreach"
I met with the preschool parents along with Rabbi Kalev, Jane Greenberg, Susan Kasper, and Eileen Kupersmith for the Preschool Coffee and Conversation event on Wednesday, September 17. We had many parents attend and heard http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=123 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=123/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT November Cantor's Corner Haverim,

Have you called TBI recently and been put "on hold"? What did you hear? Our new and improved phone system now allows us the feature of programming "hold music" for your listening pleasure. No more silence on the airwaves as you http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=124 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=124/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT November 2008 Am HaSefer traditionally refers to the Jewish people and our relation to the Torah, and subsequently to the Mishnah, the Talmud, and other sacred books. Books and learning have always been important in our tradition. The importance of books is app http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=125 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=125/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT November 2008 I try to include an update to you every other month, on TBI Religious School's participation in NESS (Nurturing Excellence in Synagogue Schools), the four-year program administered by the Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education.

As http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=126 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=126/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT November 2008 October was a very special month here at TBI. We were honored to celebrate the 80th birthdays of Elie Weisel and Dr. Shammash between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We enjoyed a month of holidays and celebration, culminating in an exciting tour of T http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=127 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=127/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT November 2008 October was a very busy month for TBI and for Women's League.

Our Women's League Greeting book was distributed at services. We appreciate all the work that Lynn Alexander put into this project. Thanks, Lynn!

As in the pa http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=128 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=128/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT November 2008 Mitzvah Mania is here! Since the year 2000, Hesed has been coordinating one or two Mitzvah Days each year. These special days are opportunities for our entire TBI community to come together to create meaningful projects for a wide variety of recipi http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=129 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=129/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT September 2008 Rabbi Kalev Every four years, I anxiously await the Summer Olympics. As one who absolutely loves sports and competition, there is no better happening than the grand stage of the Olympics. This year, the Olympics were played out in China amidst much controversy http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=105 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=105/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT October 2008 Rabbi Kalev Whenever I have had the privilege of studying with and assisting an individual through the conversion process, the most difficult aspect of this journey seems to be the "loss" of Christmas. So often the convert expresses incredible memories of bring http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=106 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=106/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT September 2008 Presidents Message As we welcome Rabbi Joshua Kalev to TBI, we look forward to a bright and exciting future for our synagogue. We are fortunate to have a team of talented and dedicated professionals in place, including Rabbi Kalev, Cantor Elizabeth Shammash, Executive http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=107 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=107/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT October 2008 Presidents Message Over fifty years ago, Abraham Joshua Heschel, in his book The Sabbath, emphasized the importance of Shabbat to modern life. Rabbi Heschel described Shabbat as a "palace in time" whose architecture is built through acts of prayer, study, joyous meals http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=108 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=108/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT September 2008 by Rabbi Charles Simon

It has become clear to the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs' Keruv lay and rabbinic think tanks and training programs that there is a pressing need for strategies for parents with adult children who choose to inter http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=109 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=109/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT September 2008 Dear Friends:

L'Shana tovah tikatevu! May you and your families be inscribed for a year of health and success. I look forward to celebrating the new year with you later this month.

Summer was busy here at TBI! We have been http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=110 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=110/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT September 2008 The Talmud advises that one should pray only in a room with windows. To sing to God and not see God's world is a contradiction!

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch suddenly announced to his students that he was going to Switzerland to climb in http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=111 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=111/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT September 2008 Shalom! My name is Hilary Yohlin and I have joined the staff at TBI as your new Program Director, USY Advisor, and seventh grade teacher! As I begin to balance my different roles at TBI, I am deeply grateful for the open arms with which I have been http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=112 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=112/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT September 2008 We are delighted to be serving as Women's League co-presidents. Many thanks to those who made our installation such a memorable occasion -- including Cecelia Cable, Jill Kornfeld, Myra Goldman, Boni Silverman and our immediate past presidents Lynn http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=113 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=113/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT September 2008 Happy September! Welcome to a season of new beginnings, new schools, new friends, new members, relationships, goals, commitments, etc. But of course, a special welcome to our Rabbi Joshua Kalev, his wife Rabbi Selilah and their big eyed smiley daug http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=114 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=114/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT October 2008 Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a time for forgiving, being forgiven, making new resolve, and shedding negative feelings. Use the holiday theme of evaluating one's life and actions to look at how your own family operates. This is a good time to ta http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=115 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=115/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT October 2008 Haverim,

I hope you have had an uplifting, fresh start to the New Year and are looking toward a meaningful Yom Kippur. I look forward to spending this month celebrating the start of 5769 with you.

It is a wonderful coinciden http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=116 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=116/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT October 2008 The Lord said to Moses, "Carve out two tablets of stone . . . I will inscribe on the tablets the commandments. . . "
-- Deuteronomy 10:2

Even God doesn't do things alone.

Perhaps it is the American frontier mentality t http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=117 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=117/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT October 2008 Shanah Tovah! What an exciting beginning of a new year! TBI is buzzing with activity and, as Program Director, I am having a blast at the center of it all!

Our summer drew to a close with an uplifting concert by the Israel Scouts Frien http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=118 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=118/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT October 2008 Shanah Tovah! What an exciting beginning of a new year! TBI is buzzing with activity and, as Program Director, I am having a blast at the center of it all!

Our summer drew to a close with an uplifting concert by the Israel Scouts Frien http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=119 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=119/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT October 2008 Best wishes to our community for a happy and healthy New Year!

We hope that everyone enjoyed our New Year's Greetings. Thanks to Lynn Alexander for all her hard work in putting the booklet together.

September was a busy mo http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=120 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=120/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT October 2008 ROSH HASHANAH & OUR WORLD-ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

In my Messenger articles I try to alternate months when I write about our schools and then write about a broader Jewish topic. This month a http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=104 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=104/ Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT September 2008 WELCOME BACK IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR!

After what is now 17 years in Jewish education, I’ve learned that Jewish educators have their own cyclical calendar. Our year ends http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=103 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=103/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT June 2008, Rabbi Kamens There is an old rabbinic adage that "all beginnings are hard"! I tend to believe that both "beginnings" and "endings" are hard.

Rhoda and I are entering our last month as part of this wonderful TBI family with a measure of sadness. You http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=93 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=93/ Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT June 2008, Rabbi Kalev As I write this message, Selilah, Noa, and I are in the midst of preparations for our impending move to Blue Bell. While surrounded by boxes, tape, and bubble-wrap, we feel an excitement beyond which words cannot express as we prepare to join all of http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=94 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=94/ Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT June 2008 As summer begins, we are ending a year of many transitions. Cantor Shammash has now been with us for a year and will provide continuity for us in the coming months. She has developed close relationships with many of us, and we are especially grat http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=95 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=95/ Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT June 2008 Haverim,

We made it through the desert, through the long stretch of counting the omer, and here we are ready to receive Torah! Shavuot begins on Sunday night, June 8 with our confirmation class leading ma'ariv, followed by some study to http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=96 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=96/ Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT June 2008 There is a tradition in academia of giving a "Last Lecture" toward the end of one's career. The purpose of this "Last Lecture" is to provide academics the opportunity to discuss their career as a journey and to describe for colleagues and students w http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=97 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=97/ Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT June 2008 Last month we sent specific thanks, as we often have done, to "some of the very capable women who keep our Sisterhood going and thriving." This month our thanks go to the women who made May special at TBI--to Risa Altman for facilitating another stim http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=98 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=98/ Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT June 2008 It is with mixed emotions that I write to you to let you know that I have decided not to renew my contract with TBI for the coming year.

This past year has been wonderful; and I have enjoyed working with all of you to plan great progra http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=99 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=99/ Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT May 2008 As we welcome springtime and celebrate Passover, we are also beginning a new chapter in the history of our sacred community. Joshua Kalev will be our new rabbi starting July 1.

Rabbi Kalev has served as the rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom i http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=84 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=84/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT May 2008 COUNT ONLY HAPPY HOURS

The last box of Pesach dishes has been put away, the last box of Pesach macaroons has been eaten, but to hold on to the spirit and mood of Yom Tov we are in the midst of the counting of the Omer. This is our way, http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=85 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=85/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT May 2008 SOULMATE MUSIC

Dear Friends,

Am Yisrael Chai! Israel's 60th birthday, Yom HaAtzma'ut, finally arrives on May 8, the third day of Iyar. We have been celebrating this milestone community-wide for a few months now, and last mon http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=86 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=86/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT May 2008 Join us for the last Synaplex of the year which celebrates Israel's 60th birthday. We will have a fun filled night with Aztilut: Concerts for Peace, a Jewish/Arab Cultural bridging project, Israeli children's entertainment, a giant jigsaw puzzle map http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=87 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=87/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT May 2008 Love, Protect, Nurture, Guide, Teach ... MOTHER

God could not be everywhere, so (s)he created mothers.
-- Jewish Proverb

Every day is a time to appreciate mothers. Mothering is manifested in many ways. The words abo http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=88 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=88/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT May 2008 The Challenges of Teaching Kids about Israel Today

In the TBI Religious School, one of our curricular goals is to teach about Israel and nurture a love for the Jewish nation in our students. Many of our grades have components about the h http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=89 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=89/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT May 2008 Thanks are due to some of the very capable women who keep our Sisterhood going and thriving:

Thanks to our Mishloach Manot team, Boni Silverman and Lynn Alexander, with help from Myra Goldman, for organizing the purchasing, ordering and http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=90 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=90/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT May 2008 An Intermarriage Bibliography

We hope these books on intermarriage will be a helpful resource.

Cowan, Paul with Cowan, Rachel. Mixed Blessings: Overcoming the Stumbling Blocks in an Interfaith Marriage. Penguin Books, Inc., http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=91 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=91/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT April 2008 Again last month we shared some more of our experiences as an interfaith couple from the perspective of our adult children. As previously explained, we discussed their religious upbringing during our annual Christmas get-together. Thus far we have co http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=92 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=92/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT March 2008 DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

"There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among all the provinces of your kingdom and their laws are different from those of every people." (Esther 3:8) So begins Haman"s calumny of the Jewish people http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=68 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=68/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT March 2008 C'EST TROPE!*

The B'nai Mitzvah students work diligently (and complain maybe just a little) at mastering two trope (cantillation) systems: those for the chanting of Torah and Haftarah. They always ask me a good question when we begin stu http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=69 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=69/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT March 2008 It is hard to believe that we are over halfway through our first year as co-presidents. We began the year hoping to find ways to make TBI a more welcoming community, and many of you have been active in this endeavor. The Membership and Ritual Commi http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=70 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=70/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT March 2008 Last month we shared some of our experiences as an interfaith couple from the perspective of our adult children. As previously explained, we discussed their religious upbringing during our annual Christmas get together. We asked nine questions and o http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=71 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=71/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT March 2008 Creating Shalom Bayit*
While Responding to War and Superhero Play

Or -- Where Have All the Hamantashen Gone?

This month we celebrate Purim. The Megillah of Esther speaks of persecution and heroism. Some major themes http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=72 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=72/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT March 2008 GROWING UP ONLINE

Facebook. YouTube. iPods. MySpace, text messaging. It's the greatest threat to our children in history. It's the greatest innovation and creative tool in history. The Internet. It's the most pervasive double-edged sword http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=73 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=73/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT March 2008 It's Adar! Our month begins with Hamantaschen baking on Sunday morning, March 2. Mishloach Manot packages will be assembled during this first week of March--please call Lynn Alexander or Boni Silverman if you can help. We will distribute bags at TBI http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=74 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=74/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT March 2008 Time Marches on! And welcome to spring, finally, the season of renewal and re-birth. But come to think of it, isn't every day that we wake up a chance to renew, to start over, re-commit to one another or even our traditions? An opportunity to rej http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=75 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=75/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT March 2008 Shabbat Across America
"Shabbat Across America" is an unparalleled display of unity and Ahavat Yisrael, created in the hope of making certain that every North American Jew will have the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat!

Imagine an http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=76 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=76/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT April 2008 YOU MUST TELL YOUR CHILD

A number of years ago, my wife Rhoda wrote about the Shabbat candles that "they create memories even as they burn".

In this context, we approach Pesach this month and every year with a special emphas http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=77 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=77/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT April 2008 JAMMIN' AT TIFERET BET ISRAEL

This month is packed with events! I want to highlight a few of the musical events as we look toward Pesach and Yom Ha'atzma'ut, celebrating Israel's 60th birthday:

Have you ever watched Edie Har http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=78 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=78/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT April 2008 At the High Holidays, we challenged everyone to think about ways to make a stronger connection to Judaism and TBI by increasing religious observance in ways that are uniquely meaningful to each of us. The idea of being observant can be intimidating, http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=79 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=79/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT April 2008 Oh The Places You'll Go!

This phrase, the title of a book by Dr. Seuss, conjures up excitement and adventure, as well as fear and insecurity. Last month, at just about the same time as we celebrated Dr.Seuss' birthday, the children in http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=80 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=80/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT April 2008 SURVIVING THE MULTIGENERATIONAL PESACH SEDER
Or, How I learned to Love Matzo Balls at 11:00 p.m.

Every year at this time I promise myself that I'm not going to write another April article about Passover. And basically, every year I http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=81 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=81/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT April 2008 I love spring: flowers, the green grass and all the holidays! April brings us Passover. The name "Passover" refers to the fact that God "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In Hebrew, it is known as Pesa http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=82 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=82/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT April 2008 It is April, it is spring, it is Nisan. Our Women's League Seder on March 30 marks the beginning of this season for many of us. Thank you to coordinators Amy Spitofsky, Amy Sauber and Shelley Menkowitz, to Cantor Shammash, to the Women's League kitch http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=83 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=83/ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT February Messenger 2008 In previous columns we have discussed our experiences as an interfaith couple. We have shared some of the difficult decisions that we struggled with early on in our marriage and those over the years. In reflecting upon what to share in this column, w http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=67 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=67/ Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT February 2008 MITZVAH MODELS



There is a great deal of news out there about the "role models" who are held up for our children and us to respect. These include athletes who disappoint with anti-social behavior; politicians who stretch the http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=60 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=60/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT February 2008 Winter at TBI is a quieter time in terms of Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, but a very active time in the life of our congregation. We hope that you have all met Rabbi Sylvan Kamens. He has jumped right in with an active schedule of services, meetings, class http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=61 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=61/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT February 2008 WHY SHABBAT?

Haverim,

If you have been at Friday night services, you've noticed that we've been singing a piyyut called Yedid Nefesh, composed in the 16th century by Kabbalist Rabbi Eleazar Azikri. It begins "Yedid nefesh, a http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=62 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=62/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT February 2008 We are pleased to reprint these remarks by Fran Held, chairperson of the Rabbi Farewell Weekend honoring the Ackerman family. Fran gave this talk of Friday evening, December 14, following a lovely family-style Shabbat dinner attended by over 500 peo http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=63 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=63/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT February 2008 AT HOME IN A JEWISH WORLD

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

In Israel, the almond trees are just beginning to bloom; the new fruit is beginning to form, signaling the beginning of http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=64 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=64/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT February 2008 JEWISH STUDENTS, JEWISH TEACHERS, AND THE "S" WORD

Over the past few years, one of the hottest items on the Jewish scene has been the "newly rediscovered" concept of spirituality. All one has to do is scan any of the Jewish newspapers ar http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=65 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=65/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT February 2008 Hi everyone!

I hope you have all had the opportunity to meet Rabbi Kamens. If not, you should check out his adult education class meeting on Mondays at 9:30 a.m. For those of you who have been asking for adult ed in the evening, March http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=66 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=66/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT January 2008 "Tu B'Shevat Higia, Hag Ha'ilanot!...."
I would like to extend a warm welcome to Rabbi Sylvan and Rhoda Kamens, who join the TBI community this month--B'RUCHIM HABA'IM! I know that the entire extended TBI family joins me in embracing you and http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=53 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=53/ Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT January 2008 As we enter the new secular year, our focus at TBI is on welcoming.

Please come to Shabbat services and take the opportunity to welcome Rabbi Sylvan Kamens, our new full time interim rabbi. He is an experienced pulpit rabbi who has spen http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=54 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=54/ Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT January 2008 The Gift of Time . . . Too Valuable to Give Up

One who is descended from you often teaches you.
-- The Talmud

The Preschool ended the calendar year with a flurry of activities.

The first part of the year h http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=55 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=55/ Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT January 2008 Curriculum and Meaning-Centered Learning
As we move along in our second year of our four-year NESS (Nurturing Excellence in Synagogue Schools) participation, two prominent areas of positive change are becoming evident in our Religious School. http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=56 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=56/ Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT January 2008 Our first Synaplex with Rabbi Elana Zaiman was enjoyed by all who attended. Children played with the Little Gym and the Spinning Leaves entertained us during our Oneg Shabbat. A big thank you to Marsha Gayl and Barbara Miller, our Synaplex chairs, http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=57 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=57/ Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT January 2008 First and foremost, I would like to offer a warm Men's Club welcome to Rabbi Sylvan and Mrs. Rhoda Kamens as they begin their stay here at TBI. An Interim Rabbi position is by no means a simple task, or just biding time. The rabbi must immediately http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=58 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=58/ Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT January 2008 January may be cold outside, as it should be, but it is warm inside TBI--especially at the January Women's League events:

Book Club meets on Sunday, January 6 at 10:15 a.m. to discuss Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky, this year's One B http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=59 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=59/ Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Messenger Article December 2007 This month we say good-bye to Rabbi Ackerman as our full time rabbi. He has been our spiritual leader and friend for 15 years, and has inspired, supported, and taught us in so many ways. For many of our children, he has been their rabbi for their http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=44 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=44/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger Article December 2007 This is the talk given by Hesed Co-Chair Fran Held as the speaker at the 25th Anniversary of the Home Delivered Meals Program of the Mitzvah Food Pantry on November 1, 2007. In response to requests by volunteers, Fran's talk is reprinted here.
http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=45 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=45/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger Article December 2007 On Sunday afternoon, October 28, 2007 the Tiferet Bet Israel community honored me with a beautiful installation ceremony and reception, formalizing my appointment as your cantor. I am touched by your presence and loving support on that special occas http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=46 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=46/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger Article December 2007 8 Days, 8 Actions--a Family Hanukkah Project

It's hard to believe, but Hanukkah is upon us again! Since we and our children have heard the story of Hanukkah (many times over for some of us), I wanted to share with you, an unusual aspect http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=47 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=47/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger Article December 2007 The Jewish people, ever since David slew Goliath, have never considered youth as a barrier to leadership."
John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Today's Preschoolers will shape our future!
One of the goals of early childhood education is http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=48 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=48/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger Article December 2007 In America today, interfaith marriages, interfaith families and Jewish children growing up in interfaith homes is a common reality. As the December holidays approach, how do American interfaith families who are raising their children as Jews balanc http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=49 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=49/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger Article, December 2007 Greetings from the Men of the TBI Men's Club. We're all around you, having a positive impact in your life. I hope you enjoyed the History of Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs on page 20 of the November Messenger. For fun, see page 22 of this issue http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=50 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=50/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger Article December 2007 November was a busy month with our first Rosh Hodesh meeting -- thank you to our chairs Barabara Katzman and Karen Shapiro and to Naomi Shapiro for her presentation on "Mothers and Daughters in the Torah and What We Can Learn From Them". Thank you t http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=51 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=51/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger Article November 2007 Haverim,

I love to travel, and one thing I always try to do is visit a local synagogue. I have been to shul in London, Prague, Rome, Florence, Venice, Istanbul, Tsfat and Athens, among other places. No matter where I am in the world, kno http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=36 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=36/ Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger Article November 2007 We hope you were all able to join us for the installation of Cantor Shamash at the end of October. It was a fabulous event for our community. In November, we welcomed Cantor Walters back, sharing the bimah with Rabbi Ackerman in his role as cantor http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=37 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=37/ Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger November 2007 Fall is such a wonderful holiday season for Jewish families. Jewish holidays seem to be planned with young children in mind. We know that children learn best when their hearts, hands and minds are engaged. Jewish holidays have so much that is conc http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=38 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=38/ Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger Article November 2007 NESS and TBI: Important Partners for Change

Developing an Educational Vision
When I was growing up as a kid in Detroit in the 1960's my Jewish identity was being forged by a strong family background of Jewish philanthropy, a love http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=39 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=39/ Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger November 2007 Shalom! My name is Marlyn Gelb and I am very excited to be joining the staff of TBI as your new program director. My background includes an MSW and Certificate in Jewish Communal Service from Yeshiva University and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies f http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=40 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=40/ Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger November 2007 Greetings from the men of the TBI Men's Club. We are here, everywhere you look. And everywhere you look, we have had an impact in your lives. From building the Sukkah, to taking down barriers to communication; from distributing Shabbat Kiddush wi http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=41 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=41/ Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Messenger November 2007 High Holiday snacks for our children, flowers to beautify the synagogue during the Holidays, Onegs for Sukkot and Simchat Torah, lunch preceding the Sukkah Hop, Simchat Torah candied apples, Book Club, Sunday brunch with Men's Club, greeting congrega http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=42 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=42/ Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Early Learning Standards and Jewish Values -- Play as the Child's Work The Preschool at TBI has been in session for a month. Based on the 9 Key Learning Areas of the PA Early Learning Standards, our program is similar to other high quality secular preschools, with an additional focus on Judaism. The Jewish component http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=28 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=28/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT From the President Okay. You may now take a deep breath, hold for a moment, and let it out slowly. Do it again. And now reflect on the peace of mind that you and your family are on the other side of the High Holidays! As the summer drew to a close, and the holiday http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=29 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=29/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Presidents' Message October 2007 As the fall holidays end, we can look back at several milestones in our life as a congregation. We welcomed Cantor Shammash and were inspired by her davening at Rosh Hoshana and Yom Kippur. We experienced our last High Holiday services with our bel http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=31 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=31/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT From the Hesed Committee TBI Messenger, October 2007

Have you ever known someone who was struggling with illness? Maybe one of your parents was sick? Or perhaps a grandparent or even a sibling? If you have gone through life and never known anyone who becam http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=16 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=16/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT From the Women's League Co-Presidents TBI Messenger, October 2007

Women's League had a busy summer--we held a successful rummage sale, paid for improvements to the outside step at the kitchen door, served a congregational Shabbat lunch, bought new benches for the TBI lob http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=17 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=17/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT From the Education Director TBI Messenger, October 2007

We're Underway with a Great New School Year

As you read this we will be about 3 weeks into our new Religious School year at TBI. And although I addressed some of the new and continuing eleme http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=18 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=18/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT TBI Messenger Haverim,

We Jews have been praying our hearts out for a really long time. Imagine if we just spoke our prayers, rather than chanting and singing them, how absolutely dull that would become! I think we might have gotten tired a long tim http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=24 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=24/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Preschool Education Committee Co-Chairs: Margie Kerbel and Sheila Kowit

The mission of the Preschool Committee is to be a voice and an advocate for all of the members our Preschool family. With the direction and input of the Preschool Committee, the Preschool D http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=25 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=25/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Camp TBI Camp TBI is the summer session of our preschool with registration for 4 or 8 weeks (other time periods by special arrangement). We welcome campers from 2 to 5 years of age. It's a great opportunity for your child to get acclimated to our staff and http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=26 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=26/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT TBI Messenger "Many things we need can wait, the child cannot. Now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made, his mind is being developed. To him we cannot say tomorrow. His name is Today."

Gabriela Mistral

No http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=27 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=27/ Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT From the Education Director TBI Messenger, September 2007

Sukkot: When Nothing Turns into Something

As we begin the start of a new year in our Jewish lives, I am going to skip past the "usual" topics of the High Holy Days and Teshuvah and go dir http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=19 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=19/ Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT TBI Messenger Haverim,

First things first, I would like to thank you all so much for such a warm welcome to Tiferet Bet Israel! I feel so delighted to be a part of this vibrant community, and I have been overwhelmed by your gestures of welcome and http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=23 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=23/ Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT Presidents' Message September 2007
As the new TBI Co-Presidents, we would like to introduce ourselves. - Jane Greenberg

I converted to Judaism in 1981 before marrying Mark. We joined Beth Israel in Lansdale and sent our two children, David and Ju http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=30 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=30/ Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT Presidents' Message February 2007

We hope you enjoyed all the events in January as much as we did. From the Cantor's Shalom concert which delighted all who attended, to the Synaplex event on the 27th and the Affair Fair on the 28th, we experienced some varied and fun programming http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=10 http://www.tbibluebell.org/article.aspx?id=10/ Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT