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Tikun Olam

Golden Shabbat

Thanks to those who celebrated Shabbat at Golden Estates (formerly Golden Manor), helping residents greet the Sabbath Queen. Thanks also to Marion Bernstein who led services. also participated. The Jewish residents are always happy to see us.

If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Oseasohn.

Welcome New Members!

ISJL Curriculum Adopted for Religious School

For several years, Congregation Beth Am has been using a pilot curriculum developed by the Institute for Southern Jewish Life. This is the first year of the official program.

In order to participate, a Beth Am representative must be trained to implement the curriculum at ISJL headquarters in Jackson, Miss. In August, past con­gregation president Terri Foose went there for train­ing and to bring back the detailed curriculum books, available to instruct Jewish students from pre-school to high school.

Religious school began on Saturday, Sept. 20. For more information, contact Terry Ruiz, 826-4890.

B’nai Mitzvah Policy Approved by Board

          At its July board meeting, Congregation Beth Am officially agreed to an updated B’nai Mitzvah policy crafted by the Ritual Committee under the leadership of Nancy Oseasohn.

Adult Education

Parsha Creative Writing Group

Congregation Beth Am offers a writing group which meets on the last Saturday of each month at the UUC following the Oneg Shabbat. The group will meet for at most an hour. Partici­pants use the weekly Torah portion as a prompt for creative writing. Contact Larry Golden at 690-1919 if you are interested.

The next meeting will be on Jan. 31, Parshat Bo.

• Do I have to be a Torah scholar? No
• Do I have to read Hebrew? No
• Do I have to prepare before coming to the group? No
• Do I have to be a skilled writer? No
• Will my writing be criticized? No

THANK YOU!

Kol Ha-Kavod

CONTRIBUTIONS

Beth Am has received generous High Holiday contributions from:

From Dr. Joseph Wysocki to the general fund.

 In memory of Betty Hilton, with the note: “Todah Rabbah. The Feinglass, Hilton, Danan, Perman, and Wohl families extend their thanks to the Beth Am community for your many visits, food, cards, e-mails, and other kind expressions of sympathy after the passing of Betty Hilton. Thank you to Marion Bernstein for leading shivah services and to the Kurzban-Ruiz family for bringing the siddurim and havdalah set.”

Citywide Sisterhood Luncheon at Rodfei Sholom to Feature Outstanding Educator

The annual joint Sisterhood luncheon, set for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Congregation Rodfei Sholom, will feature educator and parenting expert Dana Werstein Parkoff. She will speak on “Nurturing Your Own Heart: Keys to Unlocking Your Greatness.”

After experiencing the transformation of her own family using the Nurtured Heart Approach, it was natural for Parkoff to find a way to personalize it for the Jewish community. As founder and senior lecturer of Nurtured Heart Parenting & Teaching, Dana teaches parenting classes and facilitates personal growth workshops for women via teleconference.

 A teacher for more than 20 years, Parkoff received her BA in Communications from Pacific University and earned, with honors, her Elementary Education Teaching Credential from California State University. She taught elementary school in Los Angeles and as a Master Teacher supervised student teachers and presented educator seminars and workshops. She has trained Jewish day school teachers and mental health professionals from all over the world. She lectures for, and is endorsed by, the Dallas Area Torah Association, a Dallas Kollel.  She and her husband, Seth, have five children.

Invitations will be in the mail for the event soon. The cost of the luncheon is $18. Reservations may be made by mailing a check made out to Congregation Rodfei Sholom and sent to 3003 Sholom Dr., San Antonio, TX  78230.

Hebrew Free Loan to Host Speaker

The Hebrew Free Loan Association of San Antonio will welcome Susan Candy Luterman of Dallas, Vice President of the International Association of Hebrew Free Loans, to an open board meeting and membership drive on Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m.

All members of the Jewish Community are invited to attend the meeting, which will be held at the home of Dr. Jerry and Rose Newton, 1319 Lockhill-Selma, at the rear of the property.

In parsha Mishpatim, G-d tells Moses and the people of Israel that they may not derive personal benefit from loans made to members of their community - in other words, they may not charge interest. Indeed, this practice has proven to be an integral part of Jewish life for centuries, reflecting a commitment to this ancient ethical teaching. It is the foundation - the inspiration - for the Hebrew Free Loan Association.

All those interested may call Hinda Greenberg, chapter president, at 210-834-6918, for information.

Our “Lone Star” at the JRF Convention
by Nancy Oseasohn

As promised, here is more about the convention. There was more than the vendors referenced in the December newsletter! There is more to life than shopping!

You would have loved the session run by Deborah Grayson Riegel, with MyJewishCoach.com! She radiated energy, mixing lecture with discussion and exercises done with a partner. She brought lots of photo­graphs – erupting volcanoes, buildings, a pair of ducks, all kinds of things. Each person picked two pictures. Then, the assignment was to briefly talk with a partner about how one picture represented our past or present and the other our future. Each partner spoke to the group for a moment or two about what the other partner had said about the picture, their past and their future. What a great way to get to get to know a person! If you are ever looking for an ice-breaker, try this one! She also suggested some questions de­signed to improve relationships:

Questions That Can Dramatically Improve Your Relationships

1.               What do I say or have said in the past that you have appreciated the most?

2.               What do I say or have said in the past that makes you uncomfortable?

3.               How do you argue or disagree most effec­tively?

4.               What happens if we can’t agree on something important that involves both of us?

5.               What should I never say to you, even in frustration?

6.               What might I say or do to get your attention about something urgent if other approaches haven’t worked?

7.               How might we take responsibility for our own communication and actions, rather than blaming one another?

8.               How might our relationship evolve and change over time?

9.               What will be the early warning signs that our relationship is in trouble?

10.            What can I do to make your day?

11.            How do you like to receive both positive and constructive feedback?

12.            What are your “hot buttons”?

13.            What’s the biggest lesson I might be able to learn from you?

14.            What’s the biggest lesson you think you can learn from me?

15.            What do we do if we’re both having a bad day?

16.            What about our work together is likely to give us a recurring problem?

You might check out her website: http://www.myjewishcoach.com

During Shabbat morning services, the per­son who chanted Haftarah did so in Hebrew in­terspersed with English. That made me feel right at home and immensely proud of Karen Berkowitz and our other Beth Am congregants who chant Haftarah. At this time, the English chanted was more than the translation of the Hebrew. Part of President-elect Obama’s ac­ceptance speech was included. That was truly special! Please permit me to quote some of that rousing speech because it is so fitting for each on of us every day as well as on that momentous occasion of the election of the first person of color to the highest office in the land.

JRF Publications

A NIGHT OF QUESTIONS

The Reconstructionist Press unveiled a 10^th anniversary edition of A Night of Questions, the Reconstructionist Passover Haggadah, at the 42^ndBoston last November. This 10” x 10” hardcover gift edition contains all of artist Jeffrey Schrier’s original artwork from the softcover edition plus a new section, “The Seder as a Spiritual Practice” by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld. 

         JRF is offering a 35% savings off the $72 list price on all orders: Final cost is $54 each.

       1% of all proceeds will be donated to hurricane relief efforts.

Cemetery Plots Offered

Temple Chai, which has purchased and consecrated a new Jewish cemetery on the north side of town, is offering plots for sale to Beth Am members at the same price it is charging for its own congregants. Those who are interested should contact Dr. Elliot Weser, 824-8791.E-mail BethAm@satx.rr.com

For more information about cemetary plots and funeral arrangements click here

CONDOLENCES

To our former spiritual leader, Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan, Joel Feinglass and Sylvia Hilton on the loss of Betty Hilton, their mother, wife, and sister-in-law. A former member of Beth Am, Betty served as a hospital chaplain at Methodist Hospital and had often played piano at Beth Am services.

YAHRZEITS

SERVICES and ONEGS:

January Shabbat Services

Childcare is available for Shabbat morning services. All Saturday services are at 10 a.m in the Fellowship Hall, UUC, 7150 IH-10 West. 

Shaliach Tzibur made Simpler…

Board Meeting Dates as: Word File PDF

Executive Officers

Board Members:

Archived Bulletins (Free Adobe Reader needed to read)

2008 January February March April May    June   July    August   September  October November  December

2007 September October November December  

Go to Home Page of Congregation Beth Am of San Antonio, a Reconstructionist Synagogue