December 12th News
12/12/07 21:58
PLEASE HELP! On March 29, 2008, the
Temple will hold its Gala Event, “Black Tie and
Pearls.” This event is in honor of our 30th
anniversary. The planning committee would like to
recognize the first thirty babies who were named at
Temple Emanu-El, as well as the first thirty Bar or
Bat Mitzvah children. Please call Brenda Graiser at
770-396-0006, if you think your child might fit into
these categories.
Shabbat is about community. Feel welcome to arrive as early as 7:30pm for snacks and socializing as we prepare for Shabbat Services.
And what about a wall on our southern border? Isn’t it critical to national security? What makes a wall between the United States and Mexico any different than the “fence” Israel has erected on the West Bank?
Where do you draw the line between social justice and clear law-breaking?
These are among the issues of the illegal immigration question that we, as Jews, need to examine through our own prism: the Torah. Please join us this Thursday evening, Rabbi Schwartz will be our teacher as we answer the question: “What does Judaism say about how illegal immigrants and our responsibilities and obligations as Jews?”
That’s the topic of our next Adult Education program in this series, Thursday, December 13th, 7:30-9PM in Social Hall 3, at Temple Emanu-El.
Currently hosting a 2-hour mini camp–Holiday Hop on Sunday, December 16th, 12:45-2:45pm at Temple Emanu-El. Surprise gifts for all every week! Only $20/Sunday. Contact Nikkia Wright, Certified Jazzercised Instructor, for more information jazz4nikkia@comcast.net.
The Big Apple Circus is coming to town! Come for a day of fun at the circus with the family and YFI February 17th 2008. Ticket ordering information coming soon! Look for it and don’t miss this fun family event!
YFI Social Action Family Shabbat February 17th questions, please contact Cara Abramson at 404 290 6023 or caraat@aol.com.
We are looking for committee members to help plan a Mah Jong Tournament. Let us know if you are interested!
YOU ARE INVITED TO LUNCH!
Friday Dec. 14th, 12:00 - 1:00, Brio Restaurant on Ashford Dunwoody Road RSVP to Dina Liss at dlospeech@gmail.com by next Wednesday, Dec 13th. We're planning to have some casual lunches during the year so we can chat and get to know one another better. Great way to make new friends!
We'd love for you to join us; you do not have to have attended any of our book club meetings yet to join us.
The Sisterhood Book Club is off to a wonderful start. You are invited to join us, it's not too late. Our next meeting is on Thursday, January 10th from 11:30 – 1:30. Everyone is invited; come whether you read the book or not. We meet downstairs in the Board Room. Bring your lunch and a drink. To get on the Book Club mailing list or for more information call Vicki Siegel at 770-393-1221 or email at sisterhoodbookclub@mac.com. Upcoming reading selections:
January 10th - "Lovingkindless" by Anne Roiphe
February 7th - "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak
March 6th - OPEN - to be decided at our January meeting
April 3rd - "The Kidnapping of Edgardo Morteza" by David I. Kertzer
May 1st - OPEN - to be decided at our January meeting
An evening book club is in the works! Please let us know if you are interested in helping to co-chair or attend.
Thursday, December 20 - 12pm Women’s Study Group. Please contact Susan Wittenstein at parentspal@mindspring.com for more information.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - A program presented by Jewish Family& Career Services - Shalom Bayit Program "Not So Happily Ever After...the very real stories of some American Jewish families" a dramatic reading based on true stories of Jewish individuals who have been abused, followed by discussion with Wendy Lipshutz, Shalom Bayit Program Director. We need volunteers to participate in a dramatic reading. We need one male and four females. Please contact Sisterhood for more information about participation. This event is sponsored by Sisterhood and open to the congregation and the community.
It is a Tree of Life … and you can be a part of it. Located by the main office, it shines in honor of Simchas and each leaf helps Sisterhood. Order forms for leaves and rocks are available in the front office. Cost per leaf is $118 and rocks are $180.
December 20th from 6:00 – 8:30 PM, join Brotherhood for a night of work at the Atlanta Community Food Bank's Product Rescue Center sorting food for those who need it most. To sign up for this evening of community service, e-mail Sandy Zusmann at zusmann1@mindspring.com.
BROTHERHOOD INVESTMENT CLUB
Brotherhood is launching a parent-child investment club in January.
Children age 13 and older can participate with their fathers, but you don't have to have a child to be a part of the club. If you are interested in becoming a member of the investment club, e-mail Gil Bubis at GBubis@register-akers.com.
This is a great fundraiser for the Schiff Pre-School. For every card that is ordered the pre-school will receive $1.00. The cards cost the same as they do when ordered directly from the Mah Jongg league. The orders will be shipped directly to your home. Small card is $6.50; Large card is $7.50 Please make the check payable to: Schiff Preschool Parent's Group and send order and check to: Amy Leftoff, 615 Water Garden Way, Roswell, GA 30075. Orders must be received by Friday, February 1, 2008.
We are looking for volunteers to help in the Judaica Shop Monday & Wednesday (4:55-6:40pm), Friday (9-11am) & Sunday's (9-12pm). No long term commitment required! Please let us know if you are interested. Please email sisterhood or call Samantha Susca 404/867-0480.
Regular Gift shop hours coincide with Religious School: The Gift Shop hours are Mondays/Wednesdays 4:55pm-6:40pm, Sundays 9:00am-12:00pm and Friday’s 9-11am. By appointment call Samantha Susca 404/867-0480.
With the growth of intermarried households far outpacing in married Jewish households in Atlanta, the community recognizes that more must be done to support intermarried couples and their families - including the parents of Jews who have intermarried. The Jewish Outreach Institute (JOI) has developed the “Grandparents Circle” program, which offers FREE education and support to help Jewish grandparents share their Judaism in an effort to nurture and in some cases establish their grandchildren’s Jewish identities. The program creates a warm and supportive community of grandparents and can improve participant’s relationships with their adult children and grandchildren as well.
Grandparents Circle: The Course begins in January of 2008
A Series of 5 Sessions, Tuesday evenings, 7:30-9:00 pm, MJCCA Zaban Park – Reserve your spot now by contacting Pathways!
For further information about Grandparents Circle, please call Rachelle at 770-395-2664 or e-mail Suzette at suzette.cohen@atlantajcc.org. To learn about other Pathways programs, visit www.pathwaysatlanta.org.
With Hanukah here, the social action committee is asking our congregation to help us with a social action project that is coming up in February. We would like everyone to purchase a gift card to Target, Wal-Mart or Kmart for the amount of $10 or more to go to Interfaith Outreach Home to help these homeless families of IOH when they need to purchase cleaning items, school supplies, food, diapers or whatever they may need at the time that they might not have enough money to purchase. What a wonderful way to remind our children and ourselves the important teaching of Judaism...Tikkun Olam! Please leave in Social Action box in office.
CARING COMMITTEE – We need volunteers to help as occasional substitute callers. It involves contacting congregants to offer assistance while they are experiencing life cycle events such as weddings, births, illnesses or deaths. This Mitzvah is very appreciated by our congregants and our Committee. If you are interested, please call Ann Fine at 770-457-2786 or Gerri Penn at 770-457-2474.
Volunteer at the Temple Shelter
The Temple Shelter is a great way to get kids and adults involved in our community. Temple Emanu-El needs groups of 4 or more to cook and serve dinner for the residents of The Temple Shelter. Each group will be asked to prepare a full dinner for 50 residents, and then bring their dinners to the shelter and serve the residents.
This is a great way for chavurah groups and school friends to share a true mitzvah.
This is a first come first serve basis, so don’t delay!
For more information please contact Teri Edelstein at msedel@gmail.com or 770-734-0377.
Temple Emanu-El will serve and cook dinner on the 20th of each month October through April.
Please donate Kroger, Publix, Wal-Mart, & Target gift cards in denominations of $10 or more to help the families of the Interfaith Outreach Home. The Interfaith Outreach Home is a facility that helps homeless families get back on their feet during their year long program. The cards will help buy groceries, cleaning supplies, school supplies, and many other necessary household items. Please leave all donations in the Social Action mailbox in the temple office.
Would you like to participate with the Garden Isaiah, but don't have a green thumb? Then we have a job for you! Our Isaiah Gardeners are looking for volunteers to take our freshly picked vegetables to the Community Action Center on a regular basis. If you can do this mitzvah once a summer, once a week, or somewhere in between, please contact Marci Gaither (mdgaither@comcast.net or 770-619-0275) and let her know! We usually pick once or twice a week. The veggies can be picked up at Temple Emanu-El and taken to the CAC, which accepts donations between the hours of 10:00am and 2:00pm, Monday through Friday.
Effective January 1, 2008, Arlington Memorial Park will have a price increase that will affect the members of Temple Emanu-El. Please contact Aaron B. Sarab or Maureen David at Arlington Memorial Park at 404-255-0750.
The Israel Encounter is an exciting 10 day exploration of Israel designed specifically for interfaith couples (married, engaged, living in the Atlanta Metro area) with children under 6 years of age or planning to have children.
Led by Dr. Steve Chervin and Mitch Cohen, who’ve supported interfaith couples throughout Atlanta for years, The Israel Encounter is a once-in-a-lifetime, full immersion opportunity.
Trip Dates are May 25-June 4, 2008
Thanks to a generous 50% foundation grant, your cost per couple is $3,500 ($1,750 per person).
Contact: The Israel Encounter team at: www.israelencounter.com to download an application, which is due no later than Jan. 15, 2008. or contact The Israel Encounter, 770-500-2008.
Friday, December 14:
- 8:00 PM – Rabbi Schwartz and Cantor Adler will be honored at Shabbat Services by Israel Bonds. Mr. Brad Young, Regional Director of Israel Bonds will speak and present special recognition to them for purchasing Israel Bonds for each member of the 2007 Confirmation class. This is a first of a new tradition.
Shabbat is about community. Feel welcome to arrive as early as 7:30pm for snacks and socializing as we prepare for Shabbat Services.
Saturday, December 15:
- Chevrah Torah at 9:00 AM. – Genesis 44:18-45:27. All are welcome.
- Shabbat Service in the Sanctuary at 10:00 AM. During Services we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Alexandra Krantzler.
- Casual Shabbat Service in the Chapel at 10:00 AM.
Sunday, December 16: (Religious school recess begins Sunday, December 23rd and resumes Sunday, January 13th.)
- Minyan – 9:15 AM – 9:30 AM.
- Religious School at 9:15 AM.
- Oneg 8th Grade Teen Program- 9:15 AM.
- Adult Advanced Hebrew Class – 9:30 AM.
- Family B’nai Mitzvah Class #5 – 9:30 AM.
- Trop Class – 9:30 AM.
- Back to Bible Class – 10:30 AM.
- Adult Advanced Beginners Hebrew Class – 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM.
- Jr. Jazzercise Holiday Hop – 12:45 – 2:45 PM.
Adult Education
Are they illegal immigrants or simply undocumented workers? Should they be treated differently than anyone else who either enters the United States illegally or over-stays their visa permission?And what about a wall on our southern border? Isn’t it critical to national security? What makes a wall between the United States and Mexico any different than the “fence” Israel has erected on the West Bank?
Where do you draw the line between social justice and clear law-breaking?
These are among the issues of the illegal immigration question that we, as Jews, need to examine through our own prism: the Torah. Please join us this Thursday evening, Rabbi Schwartz will be our teacher as we answer the question: “What does Judaism say about how illegal immigrants and our responsibilities and obligations as Jews?”
That’s the topic of our next Adult Education program in this series, Thursday, December 13th, 7:30-9PM in Social Hall 3, at Temple Emanu-El.
Prague and Budapest Trip:
Rabbi Schwartz will be leading a trip to Prague and Budapest. Jackie Granath has arranged for this wonderful Jewish Heritage Tour July 19th -29th 2008. There will be an informational meeting on Monday, December 17th at 7:00 PM. Please call or e-mail Jackie with any questions, 770-394-0541 or j-granath@comcast.net. Please bring other family members and friends. It is not necessary to be a member of Temple Emanu-El to participate in the trip.Coming Weeks
Rabbi Schwartz’s Monday Study
Please join Rabbi Schwartz every Monday from 10AM - 11AM. The topic discussed will be “Understanding God from the Perspective of Different Jewish Theologians." Any one interested should e-mail Jackie Granath at j-granath@comcast.net or call 770 394 0541.Jr. Jazzercise Holiday Hop
Encourage healthy habits for life with Jr. Jazzercise - an exercise program designed especially for children. It’s playful, popular and teaches that fitness can be fun.Currently hosting a 2-hour mini camp–Holiday Hop on Sunday, December 16th, 12:45-2:45pm at Temple Emanu-El. Surprise gifts for all every week! Only $20/Sunday. Contact Nikkia Wright, Certified Jazzercised Instructor, for more information jazz4nikkia@comcast.net.
YFI
Mark Your Calendars!!The Big Apple Circus is coming to town! Come for a day of fun at the circus with the family and YFI February 17th 2008. Ticket ordering information coming soon! Look for it and don’t miss this fun family event!
YFI Social Action Family Shabbat February 17th questions, please contact Cara Abramson at 404 290 6023 or caraat@aol.com.
Sisterhood
Volunteer OpportunityWe are looking for committee members to help plan a Mah Jong Tournament. Let us know if you are interested!
YOU ARE INVITED TO LUNCH!
Friday Dec. 14th, 12:00 - 1:00, Brio Restaurant on Ashford Dunwoody Road RSVP to Dina Liss at dlospeech@gmail.com by next Wednesday, Dec 13th. We're planning to have some casual lunches during the year so we can chat and get to know one another better. Great way to make new friends!
We'd love for you to join us; you do not have to have attended any of our book club meetings yet to join us.
The Sisterhood Book Club is off to a wonderful start. You are invited to join us, it's not too late. Our next meeting is on Thursday, January 10th from 11:30 – 1:30. Everyone is invited; come whether you read the book or not. We meet downstairs in the Board Room. Bring your lunch and a drink. To get on the Book Club mailing list or for more information call Vicki Siegel at 770-393-1221 or email at sisterhoodbookclub@mac.com. Upcoming reading selections:
January 10th - "Lovingkindless" by Anne Roiphe
February 7th - "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak
March 6th - OPEN - to be decided at our January meeting
April 3rd - "The Kidnapping of Edgardo Morteza" by David I. Kertzer
May 1st - OPEN - to be decided at our January meeting
An evening book club is in the works! Please let us know if you are interested in helping to co-chair or attend.
Thursday, December 20 - 12pm Women’s Study Group. Please contact Susan Wittenstein at parentspal@mindspring.com for more information.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - A program presented by Jewish Family& Career Services - Shalom Bayit Program "Not So Happily Ever After...the very real stories of some American Jewish families" a dramatic reading based on true stories of Jewish individuals who have been abused, followed by discussion with Wendy Lipshutz, Shalom Bayit Program Director. We need volunteers to participate in a dramatic reading. We need one male and four females. Please contact Sisterhood for more information about participation. This event is sponsored by Sisterhood and open to the congregation and the community.
Congregation
Cookbooks have arrived and are on sale now! We’re proud to present our second cookbook, “Serving It Up Sisterhood Style”– a cookbook with recipes from our Sisterhood as well as other Temple Emanu-El members! This cookbook includes over 375 wonderful recipes that are sure to be a hit in your house! These cookbooks would make a fantastic gift to your friends & family. Purchase in the gift shop or fill out an order form to have one set aside for pick up.It is a Tree of Life … and you can be a part of it. Located by the main office, it shines in honor of Simchas and each leaf helps Sisterhood. Order forms for leaves and rocks are available in the front office. Cost per leaf is $118 and rocks are $180.
Brotherhood
ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANKDecember 20th from 6:00 – 8:30 PM, join Brotherhood for a night of work at the Atlanta Community Food Bank's Product Rescue Center sorting food for those who need it most. To sign up for this evening of community service, e-mail Sandy Zusmann at zusmann1@mindspring.com.
BROTHERHOOD INVESTMENT CLUB
Brotherhood is launching a parent-child investment club in January.
Children age 13 and older can participate with their fathers, but you don't have to have a child to be a part of the club. If you are interested in becoming a member of the investment club, e-mail Gil Bubis at GBubis@register-akers.com.
Schiff Preschool
ORDER YOUR 2008 MAH JONGG CARD!This is a great fundraiser for the Schiff Pre-School. For every card that is ordered the pre-school will receive $1.00. The cards cost the same as they do when ordered directly from the Mah Jongg league. The orders will be shipped directly to your home. Small card is $6.50; Large card is $7.50 Please make the check payable to: Schiff Preschool Parent's Group and send order and check to: Amy Leftoff, 615 Water Garden Way, Roswell, GA 30075. Orders must be received by Friday, February 1, 2008.
Tot Shabbat
The next Tot Shabbat will be on Saturday, January 12th at 9:30AM.Judaica Shop
All Hanukkah merchandise will be 60% OFF Monday 12/10-18. Sisterhood discount does not apply.We are looking for volunteers to help in the Judaica Shop Monday & Wednesday (4:55-6:40pm), Friday (9-11am) & Sunday's (9-12pm). No long term commitment required! Please let us know if you are interested. Please email sisterhood or call Samantha Susca 404/867-0480.
Regular Gift shop hours coincide with Religious School: The Gift Shop hours are Mondays/Wednesdays 4:55pm-6:40pm, Sundays 9:00am-12:00pm and Friday’s 9-11am. By appointment call Samantha Susca 404/867-0480.
The Grandparents Circle is Coming to Atlanta!
Our Community to Pilot this New Program for Jewish parents of Interfaith CouplesWith the growth of intermarried households far outpacing in married Jewish households in Atlanta, the community recognizes that more must be done to support intermarried couples and their families - including the parents of Jews who have intermarried. The Jewish Outreach Institute (JOI) has developed the “Grandparents Circle” program, which offers FREE education and support to help Jewish grandparents share their Judaism in an effort to nurture and in some cases establish their grandchildren’s Jewish identities. The program creates a warm and supportive community of grandparents and can improve participant’s relationships with their adult children and grandchildren as well.
Grandparents Circle: The Course begins in January of 2008
A Series of 5 Sessions, Tuesday evenings, 7:30-9:00 pm, MJCCA Zaban Park – Reserve your spot now by contacting Pathways!
For further information about Grandparents Circle, please call Rachelle at 770-395-2664 or e-mail Suzette at suzette.cohen@atlantajcc.org. To learn about other Pathways programs, visit www.pathwaysatlanta.org.
Social Action Community
Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood needs your help! In an effort to help underprivileged families we are collecting the following items for ATLANTA HOSPICE A nonprofit homecare and hospice provider for the Atlanta community. Items Needed:* Diapers (ALL SIZES) * Baby Wipes * GIFT CARDS($10 increments to Target, Wal-Mart, etc) Collection Bins will be located in the Sanctuary lobby, Religious School entrance, and the Preschool lobby through Dec 2nd. Your participation is greatly appreciated. Any questions, please email: templeemanuelsisterhood@gmail.comWith Hanukah here, the social action committee is asking our congregation to help us with a social action project that is coming up in February. We would like everyone to purchase a gift card to Target, Wal-Mart or Kmart for the amount of $10 or more to go to Interfaith Outreach Home to help these homeless families of IOH when they need to purchase cleaning items, school supplies, food, diapers or whatever they may need at the time that they might not have enough money to purchase. What a wonderful way to remind our children and ourselves the important teaching of Judaism...Tikkun Olam! Please leave in Social Action box in office.
CARING COMMITTEE – We need volunteers to help as occasional substitute callers. It involves contacting congregants to offer assistance while they are experiencing life cycle events such as weddings, births, illnesses or deaths. This Mitzvah is very appreciated by our congregants and our Committee. If you are interested, please call Ann Fine at 770-457-2786 or Gerri Penn at 770-457-2474.
Volunteer at the Temple Shelter
The Temple Shelter is a great way to get kids and adults involved in our community. Temple Emanu-El needs groups of 4 or more to cook and serve dinner for the residents of The Temple Shelter. Each group will be asked to prepare a full dinner for 50 residents, and then bring their dinners to the shelter and serve the residents.
This is a great way for chavurah groups and school friends to share a true mitzvah.
This is a first come first serve basis, so don’t delay!
For more information please contact Teri Edelstein at msedel@gmail.com or 770-734-0377.
Temple Emanu-El will serve and cook dinner on the 20th of each month October through April.
Please donate Kroger, Publix, Wal-Mart, & Target gift cards in denominations of $10 or more to help the families of the Interfaith Outreach Home. The Interfaith Outreach Home is a facility that helps homeless families get back on their feet during their year long program. The cards will help buy groceries, cleaning supplies, school supplies, and many other necessary household items. Please leave all donations in the Social Action mailbox in the temple office.
Would you like to participate with the Garden Isaiah, but don't have a green thumb? Then we have a job for you! Our Isaiah Gardeners are looking for volunteers to take our freshly picked vegetables to the Community Action Center on a regular basis. If you can do this mitzvah once a summer, once a week, or somewhere in between, please contact Marci Gaither (mdgaither@comcast.net or 770-619-0275) and let her know! We usually pick once or twice a week. The veggies can be picked up at Temple Emanu-El and taken to the CAC, which accepts donations between the hours of 10:00am and 2:00pm, Monday through Friday.
Community
Will Lewis volunteers to assist kids on a soccer team. The team was organized for a group of young refugees to encourage them with school work and assimilation in their new environment. Right now there is a need for winter coats for these kids. If you would like to donate clean used or new winter coats, please bring them to the temple. If you have any further questions, please contact Randi Lewis at 404-281-8754.Effective January 1, 2008, Arlington Memorial Park will have a price increase that will affect the members of Temple Emanu-El. Please contact Aaron B. Sarab or Maureen David at Arlington Memorial Park at 404-255-0750.
Israel-A Promised Land Personal Journey
The Israel Encounter is an exciting 10 day exploration of Israel designed specifically for interfaith couples (married, engaged, living in the Atlanta Metro area) with children under 6 years of age or planning to have children.
Led by Dr. Steve Chervin and Mitch Cohen, who’ve supported interfaith couples throughout Atlanta for years, The Israel Encounter is a once-in-a-lifetime, full immersion opportunity.
Trip Dates are May 25-June 4, 2008
Thanks to a generous 50% foundation grant, your cost per couple is $3,500 ($1,750 per person).
Contact: The Israel Encounter team at: www.israelencounter.com to download an application, which is due no later than Jan. 15, 2008. or contact The Israel Encounter, 770-500-2008.