1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

April 2015
Nisan Iyar, 5775
IN THIS ISSUE
Host an Oneg………………………….. 2
Honorable Mention .... ……………….. 3
President’s Column ……………….. .. 3
Rabbi’s Column ……………………… 4
What Conservative Judaism
Stands for ……………………………. 6
Seder Tips ……………………………. 7
Yahrzeits ……………………...………. 8
Contributions …………………….....
9
Education Director’s Column ….…. 10
May Fundraiser ……………………… 11
Social Actions ………………………. 12
Chametz ………………………………. 13
Gift Shop ……………………………… 14
UPCOMING EVENTS
4/12 school returns from
break
Kosher Korner ………………………. 15
Sisterhood News …………….……... 16
In Memory of Peter Stevens ……… 17
Phila Memorial Ceremony for the
Six Million Jewish Martyrs ……….. 21
4/20 Horizons Article due
for May issue.
Community …………………………. 22
Classes w/ Rabbi Jacob …….…...
23
Donation Form……………………..
24
Monthly Calendar ………………. 25
Advertisers ……………... 26 thru 27
Please visit orshalom.com/
calendar for the latest information about events at
Or Shalom
HORIZONS
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
TD Bank Affinity Program
Horizons is published monthly. Material
submitted for publication may be edited
for style, length and content.
Please contact the office to report any
errors or omissions. Thank you.
Editor: Lauren Porter
Congregation Or Shalom
835 Darby-Paoli Road
Berwyn, PA 19312
Phone: 610-644-9086
www.OrShalom.com
E-mail: office@orshalom.com
Congregation Or Shalom
Executive Committee
President: Stuart Lurie
Vice President: Dan Markind
Treasurer: Fred Leibowitz
Secretary: Larry Bilker
Membership: Scott Markovitz
Events/Fundraising: Wendy Markind
IPP: Fred Leibowitz
Auxiliary & Community Groups
Sisterhood: Mindy Bernstein
Men’s Club: Dan Bernick
Social Action: Gina Arlen
Education Chair: Melissa Schneider
Ritual Committee: Murray Klug
Advertising rates
Advertising contracts are arranged
through the Temple office. All advertising is due the first of the month for next
month’s edition of Horizons. We accept
ads with a check made out to Congregation Or Shalom and the ad copy sent at
the same time.
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HORIZONS
11 issues
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One of our best opportunities to increase Or Shalom’s revenue is
through TD Bank. The bank has a program which pays Or Shalom a
percentage of the total balances of the accounts that are enrolled in
the program and affiliated with Or Shalom. If you already have an
account at TD Bank, you can easily enroll your account in the Affinity
Program by calling Jeff Salvo, the TD Bank branch manager in Devon.
Jeff’s phone number is 610-254-9150.
Remember, any member, relative of a member, or friend of a
member can open a savings or checking account then enroll the
account in the Affinity Program, providing them with Or Shalom’s
name and address. Please note that all your bank account information
is held in strict confidence by TD Bank. Or Shalom is not told anyone’s
account balances and we are not told who is enrolled in the program.
The only information we receive from TD Bank is the total number of
accounts enrolled and the total account balances.
Over the past four years, TD Bank has donated just under
$21,000!
Do you know Unaffiliated Jews in
Chester County, Montgomery
County and Delaware County?
Do you have Jewish friends or acquaintances who live in Chester
County, Montgomery County and Delaware County who are not
already members of a synagogue? If you do, why not invite them to
one of the upcoming events at Or Shalom, for example our next
Friday night dinner? They may have a good time and decide to come
back. They may have such a good time that they decide to become
members themselves. According to a recent survey by the Jewish
Federation, there are many, many unaffiliated Jews in Chester county.
We’d love to contact them, but don’t know who they are. You can
help.
Todah rabah!
Celebrate with an Oneg
Or Shalom Sisterhood is delighted to announce that
you can sponsor an Oneg for any celebration you wish!
Friday night and/or Saturday morning. The Sisterhood
will be happy to purchase it and set it up, we only want
you to join us and celebrate! Call Faye Peel at (610)
356-7335 or email Faye at XAIPE@comcast.net.
2
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
From your newsletter editors
The President’s Column
Stuart Lurie
Do we have your correct email
address? If you have not been
receiving the weekly update,
we probably don’t have a correct address. Please email the
office with your correct address
Continued Appeal for Funds
By now, you should have recently received a letter from me
asking you to consider making a supplemental pledge to the
synagogue to help see us through the remainder of the fiscal
year, which ends June 30.

Do we have a complete list of
your Yahrzeits? We send out a
reminder letter each month. If
you don’t get one, we don’t have
your Yahrzeit records up to date.
Email the office with the name,
relationship to member, and civil
date including year and we will
add it to our records.


Special thanks to the folks
who keep dropping off
Box Tops for Education,
keep it up.
Since our mortgage payment is largely covered by the rent from
our tenant, The Cambridge Schools, the remaining cost of our
operations is approximately $250,000 per year. As a small
synagogue of approximately 130 family units, we don’t have a
large membership based over which to spread these costs.
On a per-family-unit basis, that comes to $1,923. Under our
pledge system, some have contributed more than this amount,
but far too many have contributed less.
Unfortunately, so far this year, the total amount pledged and
fulfilled is falling well short of this, and we need to raise another
$78,000 to finish out our year. Past years of operating deficits
have left our cash reserves critically low, and so I am, once
again, appealing to you all to give what you can.
If the future of Or Shalom is important to you, please consider
making a generous and immediate supplemental pledge to get us
This newsletter is for all
communicate, to share
thoughts, to tell simchas, to
speak of our
losses, our joys, and to say
“did you know?” Let us
know!
HORIZONS
through the end of the fiscal year. Your Jewish community
thanks you, and I thank you.
Stuart Lurie, President.
3
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
Mitzvah of the Month
Rabbi Jacob Rosner
Message From the Rabbi
It is very important that all of us who support Israel, vote in the elections for world Zionist congress. This year’s election is
of particular importance to us at Or Shalom, as our former beloved rabbi Alan Iser is one of the delegates on the slate for
Mercaz. I urge you to click on the website and vote. You, too can have a voice in Israel. By voting, you are supporting
Israel, the Conservative movement and Rabbi Iser.
Our Platform
MERCAZ USA is the Zionist Organization of the Conservative/Masorti Movement, the voice of Conservative/Masorti
Judaism within the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Jewish National Fund/ Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael, ensuring that our values are expressed at the highest level in regard to matters relating to Israel and the Jewish
world. Conservative/Masorti Judaism was the first of the modern Jewish religious movements to embrace Zionism and has
steadfastly remained at the forefront of the effort to promote its values: the centrality of Israel in the life and consciousness
of the Jewish people and the unity of the Jewish people wherever they may live.
Our connection to the Land and State of Israel and its capital Jerusalem begins first and foremost with our people’s 4000year covenant with the Divine. This covenant has imposed upon us the responsibility not only to support and defend the
State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people but also to create in Zion an exemplary society — democratic and
pluralistic — that empowers all streams of Jewish practice, guarantees the rights of all of its citizens, is uncompromising in
its struggle for security even as it strives for peace with its Arab neighbors and is committed to protecting the environment
and its natural resources.
MERCAZ Stands For:
An Open Pluralistic Jewish Society — A vote for MERCAZ is a vote for an Israeli society that celebrates Jewish values
without limiting itself to one particular stream of Judaism. We insist on the acceptance and registration of all conversions,
weddings and divorces performed by Conservative/Masorti rabbis in Israel and demand that all non-Orthodox rabbis functioning as community spiritual leaders receive State-funded salaries as do their Orthodox colleagues. We applaud the campaign to provide alternatives for marriage and divorce for all Israelis and support the concept of redeveloping the entire
Western Wall plaza to answer the legitimate demands of the Conservative/Masorti Movement, the Reform Movement, the
Women of the Wall and others who seek to pray according to their egalitarian and pluralistic traditions.
A Contemporary Zionist Agenda, including Aliyah, Hebrew and Zionist Education — A vote for MERCAZ is a vote for
keeping Zionism relevant in the 21st Century as exemplified by the 2004 MERCAZ-initiated revision of the Jerusalem
Program. MERCAZ USA supports a pro-active policy to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, encourages Aliyah from
all countries, champions the partnership between the Jewish Agency and Nefesh B’Nefesh and opposes all attempts to restrict the Law of Return. We also call for the strengthening of Jewish/Zionist education in the United States and throughout
the world, including increasing the number of shlichim to college campuses and Jewish youth movements .
HORIZONS
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
Rabbi’s Message continued
We recognize the vital importance of Hebrew as a means of conveying Jewish culture and identity and are committed to joining with others to revitalize Hebrew language instruction and culture in the United States and
throughout the world.
A Negotiated Two-State Settlement between Israel and the Palestinians — A vote for MERCAZ is a vote of support for a two-state solution – one Jewish and one Palestinian Arab – that is the declared policy of the current
Israeli prime minister and of every other Israeli administration for the past ten years. These policies, based on the
principles of territorial compromise, appropriate security arrangements and an explicit recognition of Israel as the
nation state of the Jewish people, will preserve Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. We support the government’s decision to launch this past summer’s operation against Hamas and back its insistence on Gaza’s demilitarization as a condition to reconstruction. We expect the Palestinian Authority to fulfill its commitment to confiscate terrorist weapons, prepare its people to accept the right of Jewish statehood and stop incitement against Israel
in its media, mosques and school textbooks.
Pro-Active Concern for Israel’s Environment — A vote for MERCAZ is a vote for strengthening good governance and ecologically sound “green” policies within the Jewish National Fund/Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael as have
been championed for the past decade by our MERCAZ representatives on the JNF/KKL Board of Directors.
While mindful of the need to maintain development and security to meet Israel’s needs in the 21st century, we
urge more resources be dedicated for river restoration, mass transportation options and recycling projects and
support the maintenance of policies aimed at preventing Israel’s limited irreplaceable natural and water resources
and green spaces from being sacrificed for low density housing projects and unnecessary highway construction.
Support for the Conservative/Masorti Movement — A vote for MERCAZ is a vote for strengthening the Conservative/Masorti Movement in Israel and throughout the world. We call for increasing the Jewish Agency’s
“Stream Funding” to bolster the institutions of Masorti Judaism in Israel — the Masorti Movement, Schechter
Institute, TALI Schools and Fuchsberg Center— and the allocations from the WZO’s Pluralism Unit to build
Masorti Olami communities in South America, Europe, Ukraine and elsewhere around the world. MERCAZ also
calls for enhanced funding to support North American Conservative programs in Israel, such as USY’s Israel Pilgrimage, Camp Ramah’s Israel Seminar, Schechter Day School Network Israel trips and the United Synagogue’s
NATIV and Conservative Yeshiva.
MERCAZ is Endorsed By: Jewish Theological Seminary of America, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Rabbinical Assembly, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, Cantors Assembly, Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism in Israel, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies,
Masorti Olami, United Synagogue Youth, Masorti on Campus, National Ramah Commission, Jewish Educators
Assembly, North American Association of Synagogue Executives and Schechter Day School Network; and,
Represents the Israeli Masorti Movement, Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, TALI School Development
Fund, NOAM Youth Movement, MAROM Student/Young Adult Movement, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center and
Kibbutz Hannaton; and, is
Affiliated with MERCAZ OLAMI and the other MERCAZ chapters in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada,
HORIZONS
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
What Conservative Judaism stands for
Conservative Jews Commend Netanyahu Apology,
Call for Continued U.S. Admin Support of Israel
March 2015 - Nisan 5775
NEW YORK - During a meeting with minority groups in Israel today, Prime Minister Netanyahu apologized for his Election Day comments regarding Israeli Arab voters. The Rabbinical
Assembly (RA), the association for Conservative/Masorti rabbis, and the United Synagogue
of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) commended the apology. Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive
vice president of the RA; Rabbi William Gershon, president of the RA; Rabbi Steven Wernick
CEO of USCJ; and Margo Gold, international president of USCJ issued the following joint
statement.
"The Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism welcome and
applaud today's apology by Prime Minister Netanyahu during a meeting with minority groups
in Israel, calling out specifically his regret that 'I know that the things I said a few days ago
hurt some citizens in Israel, the Arab Israeli citizens' and that 'this was not my intention and
I am sorry.'
"In this spirit, we hope that this statement begins a process of healing and unity for common
purpose, not only in Israel but for the U.S.-Israel relationship, an alliance driven by deep and
vital shared values and interests. For American Jews, and for those of us in the Conservative
Movement, recent statements by the U.S. Administration that could be interpreted to signal a
potential distancing between the U.S. and Israel have been a cause for grave concern.
"Within the Jewish community there is room for honest response to actions that trouble us,
but the U.S.-Israel relationship is sacrosanct and we consider our support for Israel and for the
strongest U.S.-Israel relationship to be axiomatic to our Jewish identity. What our community
needs is more cooperation and unity in working together toward strengthening the U.S.-Israel
partnership, not creating new divisions by seeking to attack fellow Jewish organizations or
create new points of conflict.
"We congratulate the Prime Minister on his recent re-election and celebrate Israel's robust democracy at this time when there is much urgent work to be done on all critical issues especially
Iran, defense of Israel at the U.N. and other international bodies and the Palestinian-Israeli
peace process. As we pray every evening for our personal security, so do we pray for the wellbeing of our two nations: 'God spread over us your shelter of peace and guide us with your good
counsel.'"
HORIZONS
6
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
The following Seder tips are to share with your family and friends:
Choose Your Megillah Carefully
Most of us spend lavishly when we make our Seder. The food is plentiful, the wine flows
freely, the table is set beautifully. Yet, when we open the Haggadah, that tells the Passover story, more
than likely we have before us a worn, tattered, wine-stained book that cost a quarter when it was purchased in the 1950's and has pages missing. (here is a hint - Maxwell House makes a heavenly coffee,
and Manischewitz makes an okay gefilte fish [real gefilte fish is never bought], but neither of them are
expert Haggadah makers). It would be wise to make a one time investment in a suitable Haggadah that
offers explanations, beautiful art, and a good translation. Each of the major Jewish movements has
created wonderful Haggadahs.
Prepare the Seder
We spend so much time preparing the menu and the guest list. We are concerned with timing,
having the correct food groups, sitting the right people next to each other, etc. How much time do we
spend to make sure that the ritual of the Seder is meaningful to those participating? If your Seder consists of Zeyda sitting at the head of the table saying something like "BzzzzzzzzzBzzzzzBzzzz, mumble,
mumble, mumble, while Uncle Morris keep interrupting to ask, "can we eat already?" and Scott
chases Melanie under the table, then you are all missing the point. If you are not going to say the entire
Haggadah, take the time before-hand to decide what is important and what can be skipped.
Ask any guests you may invite to come prepared with an explanation or a song that they remember from their Seders. It will make your guests feel at home, and it will enhance your Seder as
well.
Invite Guests
In the beginning of the Seder, we proclaim, "Let all who are hungry come, and eat, all who are
needy come and celebrate Passover with us." Can you imagine the pain in the heart of the senior
citizen who contemplates the holy day without a spouse with whom so many Passovers were shared?
No Jew should be alone on Passover. We are commanded to invite all who are hungry. That commandment includes gay or lesbian Jews who may feel alienated from the community. It includes intermarried families who may feel rejected. It includes university students who are far away from home.
It is a great mitzvah to invite those who would otherwise be alone.
Explain the Rituals
The Haggadah means, "the telling" because it serves as a spiritual tool to fulfill the four time
repeated biblical commandments to tell the exodus story to our children. It is important to relate the
story of
the suffering of our people throughout the ages to the suffering of others today. Perhaps we can use
the Seder as a starting point for a discussion of the plight of the African Americans in our country or
the struggle for freedom for all of the Middle East.
Sing a Lot
Make the Seder a joyous occasion. Be sure that every child present who is capable, get to recite four questions the accompanying nahas of the parents. Each child should be rewarded for finding
the afikomen, not just the actual finder. In traditional circles it is during Pesach not during
Chanukah when major gifts are given.
HORIZONS
7
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
April 1, Nissan 12, 5775
Lillian G. Jenkins, mother of Lane Liebman
April 2, Nissan 13, 5775
Ann Liss Erlich, mother of Michelle Cohen
Irving Hyams, father of Warren Hyams
April 6, Nissan 17, 5775
Albert Krant, brother of Bernard Krant
April 7, Nissan 18, 5775
Norman Wolinerm, uncle of David Walker
April 8, Nissan 19, 5775
Frederick Shore, father of Barbara Pollack
April 22, Iyar 3, 5775
Benjamin Leitner, father of Donald Leitner
Pauline Pass, aunt of Harriet Krant
April 23, Iyar 4, 5775
Joseph Meyer, father of Steven H. Meyer
April 24, Iyar 5, 5775
Ruth Cohen, mother of Jay Cohen
William Swerdlow. Stepfather of Diana Braunstein
April 26, Iyar 7, 5775
Sarah Millrood, mother-in-law of Sylvia Millrood
April 29, Iyar 10, 5775
Sara Swerdlow, mother of Diana Braunstein
April 10, Nissan 21, 5775
Helen Greenberg, mother of Don Strumpf
Esther Rosalie Keet, mother of David Keet
April 11, Nissan 22, 5775
Sylvia Zipkin, mother of Jay Zipkin
Hyman Schneider, father of Bernard Schneider
April 12, Nissan 23, 5775
Hyman Schneider, father of Bernard Schneider
April 13, Nissan 24, 5775
Joseph Laveson, great-uncle of Michael Arlen
April 14, Nissan 25, 5775
Beatrice Korensky, aunt of BettyAnn Monash
April 16, Nissan 27, 5775
Esther Frankovits, mother of Vera Klein
April 17, Nissan 28, 5775
Martin Kaplan, father of Diana Braunstein
Morris Shwartzman, grandfather of Ellen Gross
Alvin Strumpf, father of Don Strumpf
April 20, Iyar 1, 5775
Bernard Scher, father of Marjorie Schneider
HORIZONS
8
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
Contributions
Congregation Or Shalom gratefully
acknowledges the following generous
contributions in the month of
February 2015
Paul Seres Fund
Rabbi Discretionary Fund
Miriam Seres
Miriam Seres
Tema L. Tiller
January 25 Sunday Concert
Jay & Betsy Cohen
Irvin & Janet Hurwitz
Warren & Elizabeth Hyams
David & Caryl Keet
Nancy & James Margolis
BettyAnn Monash
Steve & Nieta Shapiro
R. S. Simmons
Michael & Lisa Winigrad
Oneg Sponsorship
Todd S. & Christina Chusid
In honor of Rose Chusid, Bat Mitzvah
General Donation
Don & Binnie Donald
Yahrzeit Donations
Diana Braunstein
Steven & Beth Burak
Michael & Zev Chonoles
Janet Emanuel
Sylvia Millrood
Sylvia Millrood
Sylvia Millrood
Sylvia Millrood
Sylvia Millrood
James Patton & Ellen Gross
Miriam Seres
Richard & Sheryl Tregerman
Memory of David Braunstein
Memory of Leonard Lafair
cash from Memory Susann Chonoles Bank
Memory of Sylvia Bornstein
Memory of Bernard Millrood
Memory of David Greenberg
Memory of Florence Greenberg
Memory of Herman Millrood
Memory of Sara Millrood
Memory of Susan Dede" Gross"
Memory of Rose Skolnick
Memory of Edity Perzley
General Fund
Boaz & Jill Cohen
Rhonda T. Newmark-White
Women's American
Art Taylor Chapter of
General Fund Donation
Book in honor of father Henry Joseph Newmark
Gift Wrapping Fundraiser, special thanks to Mindy Bernstein, Debra
Behar, Ellen Gross, Renee Haymen, Eileen Kosterich, Helaine
Leibowitz, Mindy Markovitz, Gayle Slaybaugh
Please Note: Any error or omission of a name or
contribution is NOT intentional.
Please contact the office via email
[office@orshalom.com]
if your name and contribution was not included
the list, and we will publish in the next issue. Thankyou.
HORIZONS
9
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
From the Education Director
Na’ama Yarden
What age is the right time to start teaching about The Holocaust?
As educators, we always try to teach to our students the most relevant aspects of our heritage.
We often ask ourselves what is appropriate to teach at every age? As the Holocaust Remembrance Day is coming soon (4/16/15) this question is often raised among educators and parents.
Is it appropriate to teach about the Holocaust to young children? What is the right age to start
discussing the Shoah in the classroom? Some educators think it is a subject that should not be
mentioned before High-School, while other think that a younger age is the right time to start
teaching about it. However, everyone agrees that we need to be very sensitive, aware and
supportive of the students’ emotional state towards the material. As an elementary school
teacher, I believe that we have to educate our students from young age about the Shoah. We
need to start creating awareness in their minds regarding this very significant time in the Jewish
History. When teaching young children, we should avoid graphic descriptions and horror stories.
We need to let our students know some basic facts and start developing a basic understanding of
what happened. As the students grow and are ready for more detailed information we can expose
them to more stories and facts and especially help them develop their thoughts and feelings
towards this subject.
Through out the years, I have been teaching about the Holocaust to second graders and up. I talk
to my students about what happened, but limit the details. I teach them the word “Holocaust” so
they can recognize the importance of this day of remembrance: Yom Hashoah.
At Or Shalom religious school we teach our six and seven graders a unit about the Holocaust.
Every year these students go with their parents to a special program for the Chester County
synagogues. They watch a show and discuss it with the students from other schools. When they
come back they become messengers of what they learned to the rest of the students from 3rd
grade and up. This way we encourage them to get involved and express their thoughts regarding
the Shoah. On Tuesday 4/21/15, these students will lead the Yom Hashoah program at our
school. Conducting this ceremony for the school helps the students to strengthen their Jewish
identity, teach them to carry on the responsibility to teach the world about what happened and to
take a stand towards our history.
This year, when Yom Hashoah comes, I encourage you to take the opportunity to talk to your
children about it. One way to make sure you don’t overwhelm them with too many details is to
let them take the lead by asking you questions and this way to determine what would they like to
know. As adults we should make sure they know that this is an important subject for us to talk
about, to remember and to learn from.
HORIZONS
10
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
Or Shalom Community is coming together to raise a glass and money for our promised future.
Sunday, May 31st 6:00pm- 9:00pm.
Admission is $60/person.
Join us for a fun Concert of Mike Agranoff,
(http://www.mikeagranoff.com) a folk singer and guitar player.
Dinner, silent auction and good friendship will accompany the concert.
Bring along your friends and family. The more- the merrier!
There will be Pizza dinner and a fun activity for children $20/child, $30/family.
Donations for the silent auctions are welcome. Please solicit your favorite store,
or donate a beautiful object.
To RSVP for the event or to donate, please contact the Or Shalom office: 610-644-9086
HORIZONS
11
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
Don’t
Pass-Over
Your chance to help those in need!
Got Chametz?
This year, Or Shalom will once again be collecting non-perishable Chametz (AKA food that is prohibited
during Passover) to distribute to hungry families throughout the area.
Please do your part, and deposit your Chametz in the containers near the Mitzvah Pantry Collection Box
by Sunday, April 12, 2015.
Donated food must have current expiration dates, be unused, and have an unbroken seal.
A Place At The Table: Get Involved!
One in four children in the United States do not know where their next meal is coming from. The acclaimed film A Place At The Table examines the issue of hunger in America through the lens of three people
struggling with food insecurity:
Barbie, a single Philadelphia mother who grew up in poverty and is trying to provide a better life for her two
kids
Rosie, a Colorado fifth-grader who often has to depend on friends and neighbors to feed her and has trouble
concentrating in school
Tremonica, a Mississippi second-grader whose asthma and health issues are exacerbated by the largely empty
calories her hardworking mother can afford
A Place at the Table reveals how hunger poses serious economic, social, and cultural implications for our nation. It also shows how the problem could be solved if the American public decides — as we have in the past —
that making healthy food available and affordable is in our country’s best interest.
To learn more about A Place At The Table, and what YOU can do to help, go to: http://
actioncenter.takepart.com/apatt
A Helping Hand
Rough economic times shouldn’t prevent any family from holding their Passover Seder. If anyone in the
Congregation needs help obtaining Seder staples, please contact Rabbi Jacob in confidence.
HORIZONS
12
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
This year, Or Shalom will once again be collecting non-perishable
Chametz (AKA food that is prohibited during Passover) to distribute to hungry families throughout the area.
Please do your part, and deposit your Chametz in the containers
near the Mitzvah Pantry Collection Box by Sunday, April 12,
2015.
Donated food must have current expiration dates,
be un-
used, and have an unbroken seal.
HORIZONS
13
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
CELEBRATE SPRING
AT THE OR SHALOM GIFT SHOP!
CELEBRATE BRIDAL SHOWERS, WEDDINGS,
BIRTHDAYS, GRADUATIONS, BAR or BAT MITZVAHS
OR BABY’S ARRIVAL
With a gift from the OR SHALOM GIFT SHOP!
SEE OUR WIDE SELECTION OF
BREAD BOARDS, SERVING DISHES, PENDANTS,
PICTURE FRAMES, JEWISH BABY BOOKS,
NOVELTIES & TOYS
AND
MEZZUZAHS, MENORAHS, & SEDER PLATES
ALL SUITABLE FOR A VARIETY OF OCCASIONS
AT REASONABLE PRICES
Free Gift Wrap! Cash or Checks Accepted, sorry no credit cards.
Hours: Sundays 9:30 AM-12:30 PM Additional hours by appointment.
For information, call Binnie 610-688-6750.
HORIZONS
14
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE TRIFLE
(not Kosher for Passover)
Prep Time : 5 minutes minimum
Ready Time : 5 min
Servings
8 Servings
Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) prepared pound cake, cut into 1-inch cubes, divided
2 (12-ounce) packages frozen strawberries in sugar or syrup, thawed,
divided
2 (8-ounce) containers non-dairy whipped topping, divided
Directions
Preparation
Crumble 4 cake cubes to resemble coarse crumbs. Set aside.
Place half the remaining cake cubes in the bottom of a glass trifle
bowl.
Spread one package of strawberries in syrup over the cake layer.
Cover with 1 container non-diary whipped topping, spreading to edges.
Repeat layer with remaining cake, strawberries and whipped topping.
Sprinkle reserved cake crumbs over top.
Chill in refrigerator about 2 to 3 hours before serving, but no longer
than 4 hours, because whipped topping will begin to liquefy.
Tips
Decorate the top with fresh sliced strawberries if you like. Or, for a different flavor note, use lemon pound cake.
Contributed by: Quick & Kosher, JAMIE GELLER
HORIZONS
15
April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
Thanks again to those of you who helped bag the shalach manot, and Gerry Satlow for organizing the
sales. As in the past, it was a very successful fundraiser for Sisterhood.
I hope those of you who attended the Sisterhood Book Club/Men's Club Brunch enjoyed our speaker as
much as I did. I am excited to tell you that the author, Ann Atkins, has agreed to come back to tell more
of Golda Meir's life as described in her wonderful book True Grit. The date will be announced soon in
the weekly email.
Our Sisterhood Shabbat is around the corner. Please contact Brenda Belkin or Betsy Cohen to let her
know what part you would like to lead on May 16, and if you are able to help prepare the luncheon that
day.
Our Sisterhood Closing Dinner will be on Thursday, June 4th. If you would like to host it, please let me
know.
Enjoy the warmer weather!
Mindy Bernstein
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
In Memory of Peter Stevens
As most people know, my ex-husband, Peter Stevens, died suddenly and unexpectedly
this past December. Since he was an extremely active member of Or Shalom for many
years, and since many people couldn’t make the services at which I sponsored a luncheon in his memory, I wanted to share with you what our children, Ruth and George,
said at his funeral.
By way of background, he was living in California with his second wife, Flaurie, and the
synagogue to which they belonged there was called Kol Emet.
Ruth said:
My Dad gave me so much throughout my life but I want to focus on the last few years
with him; they have been such good ones in our relationship. As hard as this occasion
is I feel incredibly grateful for the time we got to spend together as adults, his love for
me and George, and his support for our life in Israel. I was here at Kol Emet just a few
weeks ago with him on the last day that I saw him and I think he proudly introduced his
daughter from Israel to almost everyone in the sanctuary. I’d like to read from a poem
by Yehuda Amichai in Hebrew [Hebrew omitted here] and then English which describes
some of what I learned and am still learning from him.
A man doesn't have time in his life
to have time for everything.
He doesn't have seasons enough to have
a season for every purpose. Ecclesiastes
Was wrong about that.
A man needs to love and to hate at the same moment,
to laugh and cry with the same eyes,
with the same hands to throw stones and to gather them,
to make love in war and war in love.
And to hate and forgive and remember and forget,
to arrange and confuse, to eat and to digest
what history
takes years and years to do.
A man doesn't have time.
When he loses he seeks, when he finds
he forgets, when he forgets he loves, when he loves
He begins to forget
George said:
Two months ago, my dad turned 60. Ruth and I called him from Israel to congratulate
him and send him our love. He and Flaurie agreed to sponsor a Kiddush luncheon at
shul, which just about sums up how he’d like to celebrate his 60th.
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
But as the date grew closer, my father grew leery of the idea. He wasn’t willing to show up
to shul, hear a hundred mazel tovs, and be the center of attention. That simply wasn’t his
way. He and the Stevens side of his family, myself included, were about to head to Germany for the installation of plaques on the street in Hannover where my grandfather’s family
had last lived together before they fled or perished. So, on the occasion of his 60 th birthday,
he refused to hold any sort of celebration for himself, and instead turned it into a luncheon
in honor of his father’s family and the upcoming ceremony in Hannover.
This was unbelievably typical of my father. I don’t know whether it was his Canadianess or
just his personality, but my father had a disdain for raw egotism, a deep distrust for selfabsorption in any form. I am more outgoing than my father was, and I always liked the social spotlight somewhat more than he did. So one of the most important things he impressed unto me was that pride and self-absorption take you nowhere. He never said this
message out loud, but he raised us with a firm conviction that you should love yourself but
that you should never be in love with yourself.
****
If you spoke to my father and me about politics, you discovered we were pretty much opposite. That goes for my father and my sister as well. And, as a matter of fact, for him and
both of the women he married, my mother and Flaurie.
So I was forced to wonder here: how was he able to live with all this? What allowed him to
maintain relationships despite the political abyss that stood between us?
First of all, he was committed. And fulfilling the Israeli stereotype of yekkes, of German
Jews, he showed what he cared about through his commitments rather than through his
words. People here at Kol Emet have seen this the past several years, and people at Or
Shalom where we grew up saw this as well. His commitment to his family was total. Despite the difficulty of having both his kids move to Israel, he never tried to convince us not
to, and he never, ever thought about changing the way he felt about us because of that.
During the last years of his marriage to my mother, my grandfather from her side fell ill and
moved in with us. My father, despite that things were probably difficult between him and my
mom, and despite that my grandfather was his father-in-law rather than a blood relation,
showed that he was willing to do anything to help him. And for Flaurie, as I’m sure many of
you know from Facebook, he would buy flowers every single Friday afternoon.
He also felt a deep loyalty to country. He had an undying fondness for Canada. He had a
very deep love for this country, even though he adopted it later in life. And Israel’s existence really spoke to the core of his being. He served in the Canadian reserves and he visited Israel at least once a year since Ruth moved there. And though very few of you probably know this, after asking permission from my mother, my dad volunteered to enlist in the
US military during the Gulf War, though they told him he was too old to serve at that point.
The thought that he would watch on TV as other people sacrificed for our country really
bothered him.
Judaism was the other thing that kept us all close, despite the distance and despite our
political differences. My father, as most of you know, was not raised Jewish, but his embrace of Jewish life was exceptional, made deeper by my Uncle Marc’s discovery of our
grandfather’s story. Perhaps my mind has grown hazy, but I can’t really recall seeing a
convert take on such a central role in synagogue life before. Yet when I think about my father, I’m not even slightly surprised by how active he was in Jewish life during his last two
decades. The only thing that surprises me today is how he ever made it in this world as a
goy. His Jewishness was real and deep and alive, a blessing to his life.
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
And this is what united us: our commitment to Judaism, to Jewish literacy, to Jewish community. He chose shul, and Ruth and I chose kibbutz. But our commitment to Jewish life
never faltered on either side of the Atlantic. Our willingness to place Judaism at the center
of our lives enabled us to grow closer in his final years, even though physically we moved
farther apart. For him, he couldn’t feel at home in a place until he was part of the Jewish
community. And despite the many differences between a place like Kol Emet and my and
Ruth’s urban kibbutz in Haifa, the same feeling permeates us. We choose to place community and mutual responsibility as the core values in our lives, and we choose to do so Jewishly, because that is who we are as human beings.
****
There’s one last thing I want to remember about my father, something that is totally disconnected to the rest of what I’ve said here. My father struggled to express himself. On politics
or on science, his words were sharp and clear. His mind felt at ease in mathematics. But he
struggled more with the inner lives of human beings, with personal and interpersonal aspect of life. Despite his intellectual strength, his mind couldn’t solve the riddle of human
emotion. He struggled to understand this side of life, and he was never very able to articulate even his own feelings.
And despite all the disadvantages and difficulties that came along with this, there was
something beautiful about it. His smiles were the most genuine I have ever seen in an
adult. For him, a smile was something different altogether. For many of us, a smile is an
indication that I approve of you, or that I know I’m meant to be enjoying the present circumstance. My father smiled the way small boys smile, when they are overwhelmed with joy
and don’t know to hide it and don’t want to hide it. Like there is just too much happiness
inside and some tiny portion of it needs to be released to the outside world. If you ever saw
my dad when Ruth or I would fly from Israel and come to services at Kol Emet, you know
what I was talking about. If you saw him at a Phillies game, or when he was with my childhood dog Ori whom he pretended to hate, you know exactly what smiles I am describing.
His smiles were an involuntary reflex stemming from his truest emotions, not from social
conditioning or considerations.
God blessed my sister and myself with more social grace than our father, and we’ve always
had an easier time articulating and understanding the emotional side of life than he did. But
the total genuineness of his smiles, the naïve authenticity behind them, lives us something
to aspire to. I hope that my life can lead me to smiles like that.
Dad, we miss you.
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
Finally:
Donations in memory of Peter Stevens
As some of you know, both Ruth and George live communally,
in urban kibbutzim, in Israel. These groups are affiliated with
an Israeli movement called Dror Israel. Among other things,
Dror Israel runs numerous programs to educate young Israelis
about both the Holocaust and the roots of Zionism; Ruth,
George, and others in their groups are involved in these activities. As such, it is an appropriate organization to which to
make donations in memory of Peter.
If anyone wishes to do so, the simplest way to do so is to go to
https://secured.israelgives.org//Custom/dror/cart and complete
the form. Ruth’s email address is ruthtstevens@gmail.com
and George's is elitistnerd@gmail.com; be sure to click on the
"click here" link near the bottom of the form to have an
acknowledgement sent to either of them
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
There may be a bus leaving from Chester County. If we get additional information; it will be posted in the weekly update
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
COMMUNITY
Hebrew School making hamantashans
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
Classes with Rabbi Jacob
Mishna Class
Rabbi Jacob offers this class on each Sunday morning at 9:30 (immediately following the Sunday morning
minyan). This is a very interesting class with plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate.
(Not So) Basic Judaism
Rabbi Jacob offers a Basic Judaism class for adults each Monday evening, from 7:30 to 8:30. The focus will be
on learning about the holidays, life cycle events, great Jewish books and more. The Rabbi promises that even
the most knowledgeable will find something new and intriguing in this class.
Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class
Rabbi Jacob invites any adult seeking to have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, to schedule private lessons with him.
Other One-on-One Classes with Rabbi Jacob
Rabbi is offering one-on-one classes at your convenience on many Jewish topics such as: Learning to read or
speak Hebrew, synagogue skills, bible, Mishna, etc. You can even name your own class!
Please email the office at office@orshalom.com to schedule your class with the Rabbi now.
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
Or Shalom Donation Form
I would like to help support Or Shalom. I have specified each donation and I have included one check for the total amount
payable to Or Shalom. Please send all donations to: Congregation Or Shalom, 835 Darby Paoli Road, Berwyn PA 19312
Name____________________________________________________
Name____________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________
Fund #________Amount $________ Phone #___________________
Fund #________Amount $________ Phone #___________________
Made in memory of________________________________________
Made in memory of________________________________________
Made in honor of__________________________________________
Made in honor of__________________________________________
Speedy Recovery__________________________________________
Speedy Recovery__________________________________________
Send acknowledgment to (include address)
Send acknowledgment to (include address)
Definition of Funds
1. Building Fund: Donations are used for the continuous upkeep of our building. These funds help offset unexpected expenses
such as A/C, Heater, roof repair and any emergency repairs to our facility.
2. Beautification Fund: Donations are used for the upkeep of our grounds. Trees, plants, mulch, etc.
3. Biblical Garden Fund: Donations are used to maintain and support our biblical garden. Any questions for this fund should be
addressed to BettyAnn Monash at ba.bettyann11@gmail.com.
4. David Braunstein Memorial Scholarship Fund: Donations are used to offer scholarships for Jewish related travel or Jewish
summer camps. For questions regarding this fund please contact Diana Braunstein at braunstein540@comcast.net.
5. Paul Seres Education Endowment Fund: This fund is maintained to provide interest income for restricted use by the synagogue for Education.
6. General Fund: All monies donated to this fund will supplement the current year’s budget.
7. Hebrew School: Funds are used for the needs of the Religious School. Examples: Bulletin boards, books and school supplies,
etc.
8. Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund: The Rabbi uses these funds for charitable purpose. Donations to this fund can be made directly
to the synagogue office.
9. Social Action: Donations will be used for all social action events and programs. Any questions to this fund should be addressed
to Gina Arlen at migi4@verizon.net.
10. Tree of Life: A leaf can be purchased to honor or commemorate any important life event. The cost of a leaf is $180.00 which
will be displayed in our foyer. For more information please contact Christina Chusid @ christina.chusid@verizon.net
11. USY-Or Shalom Chapter: Funds are used to support USY for their activities.
12. Yahrzeit Plaque: Two plaques can be purchased for $360.00. The first would be a permanent plaque on the back wall of the
sanctuary. The second plaque would be placed during the week of the Yahrzeit on the memorial wall in the front of the sanctuary.
Additional information will be requested when purchasing a plaque. Please contact Ellen Gross at Ellenagross@gmail.com for more
information.
13. Oneg: Sponsor an Oneg for Friday night and /or Saturday morning for any celebration you with. The cost is $40.00 and the
Sisterhood will purchase and set it up.
14. Sisterhood Cards & Contributions: Cards for all Occasions cost $5.00, Chaverim is $18.00 and Sisterhood Flowers are
$18.00. A donation can also be made to the Sisterhood General fund.
15. Acme & Giant Script-Purchase supermarket cards and Or Shalom receives 5%. Purchase any amount in multiples of $50.
This donation to Or Shalom COSTS YOU NOTHING! There are no restrictions and no expiration on the use of these cards at Acme
and Giant. Call Paula Blaustein 610-256-1445 or blaus@comcast.net.
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
Calendar
hfile:///C:/
Users/Alan/
Downloads/
calendar_201503-29_2015-05-
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
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HORIZONS
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
ATTENTION
GENUARDIS SHOPPERS:
Since your St. Davids store is now a
Giant Foods Store remember to get in touch
with me to buy Giant scrip cards.
Or Shalom earns 5% of the face value of the
card and you don’t pay anything extra.
Write a check for $50, $100, etc and get the
full value in a card. No restrictions on what
you can buy, even pharmacy items.
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775
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April 2015 Nisan Iyar, 5775