Judaism is a historical religion — that means that our history defines our holidays, celebrations and even our worldview. To understand Jews, you must understand Jewish history.

The challenge is that it seems that we fall into two camps: those who love history and those who hate history. If you love learning and delving into history, then Judaism is perfect for you. Begin with the Torah and follow our people through today — it is an exciting adventure.

If you hate history, begin small. Learn these two phrases and then your interest will grow. The truth within a joke is that all Jewish history can be summed up in less than 10 words: “They tried to kill us. We won. Let’s eat.”

It seems that our story is a real roller coaster — when things are good for the country we live in, the Jews contribute to society and are valued members. The minute something goes wrong, we get the blame. One of the fascinating stories is how we were blamed for the many plagues in Europe. Why were we blamed? We didn’t get sick like the rest of the population, so obviously (to them), we must have caused the plague. Why didn’t we get sick? Simple — before we eat, we wash our hands ritually. Even that small amount of cleaning helped us fight off the germs. What a great piece of history.

The second short phrase that tells so much about our history is: “You may not live here as Jews.” This phrase followed us to different lands, and the phrase got shorter and shorter. First, we were told that if we convert, we could continue living in the land. Eliminate “as Jews.” Next, we were told that we had to move — eliminate “here.” And finally, in Nazi Germany, it was “you may not live.” For us, the bad times have always been really bad.

So if you are part of the “I Hate History” group, what can you do to learn? There are some great books out there that make great reading. If you can get a copy of “Jewish History in 100 Nutshells,” great. There are many historical novels available today that make the stories come alive (even though they are not totally factual) – “As a Driven Leaf” by Milton Steinberg is a must read.

Finally for those of us who would really like to get into the stories, I recommend Rabbi Kenneth Roseman’s series. Yes, they are for teens but they are truly involving. They are called “The Do-It-Yourself Jewish Adventure Series” and are designed for you to read a little, make a choice and then turn to the page reflecting your choice. Each time you read, you make different choices and the ending turns out differently.

The stories include subjects like the Tenth of Av, the Inquisition, immigration and the Holocaust. Throughout our history, Jews have made different choices and we learn by confronting those choices.

If you love history or if you hate history, our history is our family. Get to know your ancestors and their stories. Find a good summer Jewish history read. Visit the Tycher Library for some very good reads.

Laura Seymour is director of camping services and director of Jewish life and learning at the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center.

Mika Stein is no stranger to both the Jewish and secular communities. An outstanding senior at Yavneh Academy, Mika has overcome tremendous obstacles to excel at all he embraces. We are pleased to share the following with you:

Stein has won the Dallas Public Library’s “Express Yourself” 17th Annual Youth Poetry Competition’s 2013 Joe M. and Doris Russell Dealey Award of Achievement.

Mika’s original poem “The Poet’s Burning,” was one of 1,300 student entries submitted this year. Mika’s poem has been published in the Express Yourself 2013 Journal.

Among Yavneh’s many finalists in recent years of the Dallas Public Library’s “Express Yourself” Youth Poetry Competition, are this year’s recognized students, seniors Clara Moskowitz and Max Schnitzer.

Mika is Yavneh’s second top winner of the Joe M. and Doris Russell Dealey Award of Achievement. In 2010, Becky Schisler, now completing her junior year at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, received the high honor for her poem, “The Whites of Their Eyes.”

“We are very proud of Mika, Clara and Max, and this is a remarkable achievement,” Yavneh assistant principal Tim Cloward said. He added that Yavneh has had more than a dozen students represented in the last six years. This designation is greater than any other school in Dallas County.

“We offer only one creative writing class to approximately one-third of our seniors each year, and yet we have been able to achieve extraordinary success,” Cloward said. “This really is a testament to the talents of our students and the effectiveness of our English department.”

The son of the late Deborah Stein, and grandson of Moe Stein, Mika will spend next year representing BBYO as its  2013-2014 Grand Aleph Godol/international president before he begins his college studies at New York University.

Mika’s original poem is reprinted below:

The Poet’s Burning
I am a matchstick begging to be struck
Screaming, shouting, shattering the sound barrier
PLEASE OH PLEASE STRIKE ME
Ignite me,
Please just light me.
The smell of phosphorous is in the air
Tempting isn’t it, oh I dare!
Just push me down
Let my style flare
Give me a page and I will not
simply light it
No
I will consume
The whole paper
Every square inch
Engulfed by my words
Consumed by my thoughts, my flaming emotion
My hot words burn
My scorching prose scars
I am the matchstick,
And I dare you to light me.

Fundraising Athletes

• We love to hear from our readers and subscribers. My former neighbors, Miriam and Al Creemer, and a host of their friends created a team called “Brendan’s Buddies” and participated in the Dallas VisionWalk around Bachman Lake.

The team walked in support of Miriam and Al’s grandson, Brendan Creemer, who was born with Usher Syndrome. Brendan was born deaf, had muscular delay and will eventually be blind.

Brendan, now 14, has bilateral cochlear implants and can hear and speak as any healthy child. After many years of therapy, he can, run, ride a bike, swim and skate. However, he suffers from night blindness and has lost 60 percent of his vision.

The Foundation for Fighting Blindness organizes the VisionWalk to support several avenues of research, including gene therapy in Israel, Europe and the United States. The Creemers hope that a cure will be found to help Brendan and many others that suffer from Usher Syndrome, Macular Degeneration and other progressive forms of blindness. More information can be found at www.fightblindness.org.

Brendan’s Buddies placed fourth in fundraising for the event, raising $8,000 for the cause. Joining the Creemers in the fundraising event were members of their chavurah, “Cheyes of Texas,” who are their fellow congregants at Congregation Beth Torah.

• Ourtowner Kevin Libby recently completed the Multiple Sclerosis 150 Bike Ride to help raise money for multiple sclerosis research. Kevin says that it’s not too late to contribute to this fundraising effort. Donations can be accepted through June 5.

To donate online, visit http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/TXHBikeEvents?px=2673892&pg=personal&fr_id=20386.

Donations by check are also welcome. Please make your tax-deductible check payable to the National MS Society and send it to 11107 Hillcrest Road, Dallas, TX 75230. Be sure to write Rider: Kevin Libby and Sam’s Club MS 150 in the memo section of your check.

End of life issues from a Jewish perspective

Zane Belyea, family services counselor at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home, shared with us that Sparkman-Hillcrest is sponsoring an educational forum to discuss “End of Life Issues from a Jewish Perspective” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 4 at the Sparkman Hillcrest Northwest Highway Location.

Rabbi Peretz Shapiro will speak on the topic. Additional participants include Jewish Family Service’s Debi Weiner; the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center adult program associate Heather Cardova; VITAS’ Elise Power; and The Legacy Preston Hollow-Dallas Home for the Jewish Aged’s Cheryl Weitz. These participants will provide additional information and support.

The event is geared toward a target audience of 55 and older; however, everyone is invited to attend. Zane mentioned that 20 spaces are available, and readers can RSVP to zane.belyea@dignitymemorial.com. A kosher lunch will be served.

We will share more about Zane Belyea in next week’s issue.

When I was growing up around the TJP layout room, there was a certain energy that permeated the air as we finalized each issue and looked for errors. Often you would hear an “ay yai yai” when mom or dad saw a mistake and you’d be on the receiving end of a “good catch” when you caught one yourself.

There is a certain amount of stress that goes with putting a newspaper to bed week in and week out. To be honest with you, I sweat every Thursday when the paper comes out, which is usually when I realize or learn of mistakes not caught. When folks are kind enough to take the time to point these out to us (which we truly appreciate, otherwise, we won’t know what part of the system we need to fix) we print the correction as quickly as possible.

Last week I received two corrections. In last week’s Around the Town column, I incorrectly reported that the JWV will hold its Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 27. In fact, this will be held on Sunday, May 26. Time and place are as reported, 10 a.m. at the Kornbleet Chapel at Ahavath Sholom Cemetery. Brigadier Gen. Brian Newby will speak. Post chaplain Rabbi Sidney Zimelman will give the D’var Torah and lead memorial prayers

On a more furry note, last week I heard from “Rayburn,” an apparently multi-talented dog who can type. My apologies to Rayburn, a committed therapy canine, who got his fur a bit on edge when we neglected to mention his name and identified him merely as “dog.” I think it’s time to bring back TJPets, one of our most well received special sections ever. As mom always said, “names make news.”

From Gettysburg to Baghdad

Thanks to Hollace Weiner who shared the following about the veterans exhibit which launches this week.

“This Memorial Day and throughout the summer, check out the veterans exhibit in Beth-El’s Hall of Remembrance. It focuses on local Jewish soldiers who served in uniform from the Civil War to the War on Terror.

“The exhibit begins with the War Between the States and information about Jacob Samuels, an early member of Ahavath Sholom, who has a Confederate battle flag carved on his tombstone at Hebrew Rest Cemetery. Representing the Union is Simon Gabert, a charter member of Beth-El Congregation. Gabert and Samuels, both cavalrymen, were the first two Jews to settle in Fort Worth.

“The World War I display includes photos of soldiers Byron Gernsbacher and Edwin Schwarz, the city’s first pediatrician. Headlines from the Star-Telegram and Fort Worth Press relate how the city’s Jews celebrated in 1917 when the British captured Jerusalem. A printed program from a luncheon honoring Gen. John J. Pershing notes that the Temple choir provided the musical entertainment.

“The World War II exhibit case is devoted to Pvt. Harold Gilbert, who was among 763 soldiers who perished when the Germans torpedoed a troop-transport ship crossing the English Channel on Christmas Eve.

“For decades, details about the 1944 attack and even the name of the ship remained classified until books and TV shows unraveled the missteps, mistakes, and the truth behind one of the more tragic blunders of WWII. On display are several out-of-print books about the incident, including ‘A Night Before Christmas: Sinking of the Troopship SSLeopoldville.’ Pvt. Gilbert’s Purple Heart is among the medals in the display case, which is lined with the 48-star American flag that draped his coffin.

“The Vietnam War display showcases memorabilia from career Air Force pilot Ken Sherwin and Army quartermaster Morty Herman. Sherwin loaned the Beth-El Archives a visor, a sash and his Distinguished Flying Cross certificate. Among Herman’s mementos are a full-page, color map of the war zone, a souvenir South Vietnam flag and a shadow box with patches, military dog tags, medals, ribbons and photos.

“From the War on Terror, there are photos of Army Maj. J. Scott Baum and the text of his thank-you note to the congregation for items sent to his unit. Navy Lt. Brad Lewis is pictured on board the USS Winston Churchill, where he was chief engineering officer. Spec. Jon Haber, of the Texas National Guard, was photographed seated in Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi palace. Haber’s picture was published in the Jewish War Veterans calendar of July 2010, which is in the exhibit.

“The veterans display, organized by Beth-El Archives staff, will remain on exhibit until late August.”

News and Notes

More on this next week, but I want to alert you to an upcoming film festival sponsored by Ahavath Sholom beginning Sunday, June 9 and running through Aug. 18. The films are “Chariots of Fire,” “Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story,” “Footnote,” “Arranged,” “Victim No. 17,” “The Magician of Lublin” and “Follow Me.”

Also next week, we’ll feature Marvin Blum’s recent Q&A with Warren Buffet.

I’ve long believed that there are only two kinds of people in this world: balloons and stringholders. The first have big, ideas; the second tether them to the earth while finding means of implementation. The first are the dreamers; the second, the builders.

Texas Torah Institute, blessed with both, honored one couple in each category at its recent 10th anniversary celebration.

Rabbi Aryeh and Rebbetzin Henny Rodin are quintessential dreamers who opened their shul, home and hearts in 2003 to the first boys getting a local yeshiva education. Ivan and Melanie Sacks anchored this dream from the start and have moved it to reality — and beyond.

(Appropriately recognized in 2010 when the yeshiva’s current campus was dedicated and named in their honor: members of the Basil and Dot Haymann family – builders extraordinaire.)

I am not an Orthodox Jew. But I have the background to understand Orthodoxy, and therefore I admire and respect it. And I know that no community can truly call itself Jewish unless and until all streams of Judaism live comfortably within it.

When I moved to Dallas more than 30 years ago, there was one kosher store, which was absolutely filthy. The overhead light housings were filled with dead bugs, and the dust on many cans was thick enough to write in. I was afraid to buy anything.

For me, kashrut involves more than ritual slaughter of approved animals and hechshers on packages; I applaud today’s Conservative movement for its Magen Tzadek, a mark certifying the ethical treatment of both food producers and our environment. But this is now. That was then …

… When I went home and called my Chicago rabbi for his advice, which was part serious, part in jest: “Ask if they’ll deliver, so you won’t have to see the dirt.” That’s the day I realized the most observant of our people could not be comfortable here, and the rest of us could never claim Jewish community completeness without them.

Was it the chicken or the egg? I don’t know. But gradually, over the past three decades, comfort has come for those Jews who rely on clean and dependable kosher markets, eruvim for Sabbath enhancement, Orthodox synagogues in a variety of sizes and worship styles and educational opportunities to meet very specific needs.

This last is where Texas Torah Institute comes in. What began in August 2003 with eight boys in two grades learning together at Congregation Ohev Shalom now boasts a student body of 55: 33 high schoolers who may leave for college after graduation; 22 who’ve opted to stay on for three additional years of advanced, intensive Torah study.

Today, it’s possible for parents who want the most rigorous, traditional Torah education for their sons to find it right here. About a third of TTI’s current students are local boys who a decade ago would have had to go elsewhere for yeshiva study. But now, young men from elsewhere are heading here.

Example: Aaron Yurowitz, an attorney with Hewlett-Packard, came from Queens, N.Y., to see what Dallas had to offer. More than simply satisfied, he’s become a booster of both city and yeshiva, urging friends to relocate their families here as he has done. He now serves as TTI’s president.

The celebratory dinner attracted more than 500 supporters and raised funds for continuing expansion. Rabbi Daniel Ringelheim, a rosh hayeshiva, described the event as providing “good food for the body, inspiration for the soul, and good laughs for the heart.”

For this last, rumors were floated that the promised but unnamed “special guest speaker” might actually be George W. Bush. Well, it did turn out to be a president: an incredibly realistic, humorous Barack Obama impersonator. Torah study is serious business, but there’s always room for some fun.

Also at the dinner, the young men of TTI’s first graduating class rose as a group to pledge $18,000 for the future of their yeshiva. Talk about balloons and stringholders!

Photo: Courtesy Temple Shalom
Pretending to be the Swedish supergroup ABBA during a past Temple Shalom Purim show were, from left, Temple Shalom Rabbi Andrew Paley, former Associate Rabbi Jeremy Schneider and Cantor Don Croll, who will sing his last service as full-time cantor May 31. | Photo: Courtesy Temple Shalom

Cantor Don Croll has considered Temple Shalom his second home for the past 17 years, a place where he has fostered his love for singing and built relationships to last a lifetime. He will sing his final note as a full-time cantor next week as he embarks on retirement after 34 years in the field.

Temple Shalom will honor Croll during a Shabbat service at 7 p.m. Friday, May 31 at the synagogue, 6930 Alpha Road in Dallas. The event, called “Shalom Shabbat Shalom,” is open to the community, and various people who have been close to Croll over the years will speak. A dessert oneg will follow.

Croll is looking forward to seeing what retirement will bring, he said. Although he will no longer walk through the doors of the synagogue every morning, he and his partner, Jan Gartenberg, are staying in Dallas and are excited to continue being part of the community.

“There are so many possibilities for me now, and I’ve heard people say that they do more in retirement than when they worked,” he said, laughing. “A cantor is not a 9 to 5 job, and the idea of being able to wake up on a Sunday and read The New York Times is great. Although I don’t know what’s next, music will always be a part of my life and I’m excited for the future.”

Croll will officially become Temple Shalom’s cantor emeritus and hopes he can still use his skills to teach, be a substitute cantor or even serve as a cantor-in-residence. The synagogue has not yet found anyone to replace him.

Since arriving at Temple Shalom in 1996, Croll has spent countless hours training bar/bat mitzvah students, performed in numerous concerts and made the synagogue more musical, which he said have been some of his biggest accomplishments over the years. He has also worked with adult b’nai mitzvah and confirmation students, taught classes and participated in the synagogue’s many Purim Shpiels.

“We are a singing congregation and that was important to me. When I arrived, people were singing, but you couldn’t hear them in the main sanctuary and now you can,” he said. “I will remember that fondly, and it feels good knowing that I brought more of that to the congregation. Working with students has also been one of the best parts of my job, and I have always tried to make each one shine as bright as they can for their bar or bat mitzvah.”

A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Croll majored in theater at Ithaca College. He always had an interest in music, something for which he developed a love after seeing his mom participate in the choir at his home synagogue.

He graduated from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Sacred School of music in 1978. He then became a full-time cantor at Temple Beth Torah in Upper Nyack, N.Y., for 10 years, followed by stints in Los Angeles and Albuquerque before coming to Dallas.

Croll also has a rich history in acting, which he said has helped in his cantorial work. He began his career on Broadway in 1971 in the revival of Leonard Bernstein’s “On The Town,” starred in the off-Broadway musical “The Golden Land,” toured in several productions of “Man of La Mancha” with Howard Keel and John Raitt, and danced in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

His love for Broadway music has influenced his role as a cantor, Croll said. Broadway songs were the highlight of one of the many Metroplex Cantorial Concerts he participated in, and he has performed various other hits throughout his time here.

“Music engages people, is spiritual and helps us connect to our tradition, and my musical theater background has allowed me to do even more as a cantor; that’s been wonderful,” he said. “I’ve also met the late Debbie Friedman and Josh Nelson and have also worked with other noted cantors over the years. That has been very gratifying.”

Working with other area cantors and clergy has been rewarding too, he said, and his colleagues feel the same way.

Temple Shalom Rabbi Emeritus Ken Roseman, who serves at Congregation Beth Israel in Corpus Christi, was at the synagogue until 2002 and said it was a pleasure working with Croll. He has made a tremendous impact on Temple Shalom, Roseman said.

“It was wonderful working with Don, and he is able to sing everything from Broadway songs to the most complicated cantorial music,” he said. “It was great to have at resource like that. He always worked hard and has a marvelous sense of humor, which goes a long way. There is no question he made the congregation better and I believe everyone would say that.”

Added Temple Shalom Rabbi Andrew Paley: “He is kind, caring and absolutely beloved here, and it’s been wonderful working with him. There is always something to laugh about with him and always something to appreciate. He has been at life-cycle events and important moments in the congregation, so he has been a guiding light in many ways. With his presence, we have been able to provide the right programs and he has been an invaluable part of the congregation.”

It’s these moments, Croll said, that he will miss the most.

“I will miss the people — from young families, to adults, to members of the brotherhood, sisterhood and Shalom Silver — and everyone else who has been so good to me over the years,” he said. “On June 1, after I sleep in, I’ll be able to take a big breath and say ‘what do I want to do next?’ I don’t know what that is, but the possibilities are endless.”

Barbara Rubin, who most of you know diligently coordinates the Daytimers program, supplied us with a wonderful update on the recent trip to the Chagall exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. You can find some great photos and a synopsis on Page 16 of this week’s issue.

Thanks, Barbara, for all your hard work and keeping everyone in the loop on the Daytimers’ activities. It looks like the day at the museum via the TRE and DART was quite an adventure.

JWV’s upcoming slate

The Martin Hochster Memorial Post 775 of the Jewish War Veterans has two important events lined up in the coming weeks.

Memorial Day will be observed at 10 a.m., Monday, May 27 at the Kornbleet Chapel at Ahavath Sholom Cemetery. Brigadier Gen. Brian Newby will speak. Post chaplain Rabbi Sidney Zimelman will give the D’var Torah and lead memorial prayers. The names of our veterans who have passed away will be read, as will those who have died in recent conflicts. All veterans and their families are encouraged to attend.

The post will have a breakfast installation and raffle at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, June 2 in the Great Hall of Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven Road in Fort Worth. The annual Morton Herman Service to Veterans Award will be presented to former Secretary of the Army Pete Geren.

During his tenure, Geren helped correct many problems at Walter Reed Medical Center, stating that wounded soldiers deserved better treatment and facilities than they were getting. He also pushed an initiative for the army to pursue a more family friendly attitude toward those serving their country and their dependents.

The drawing at the event will include many restaurant gifts cards, tickets to athletic and entertainment events, a stay at a luxury condo, gift baskets, jewelry and more. Funds from the drawing will benefit the many veterans services provided by JWV 755. These include items donated to Liberty House, a reintegration facility for homeless veterans, The Fort Worth VA Clinic, packages to troops overseas, Sew Much Comfort (adaptive clothing for wounded vets and amputees), ROTC Scholarships, military honor services for deceased veterans and their families, flags at veterans gravesites and free copies of “They Were Soldiers in Peace and War” for bar and bat mitzvahs, among other things.

New officers will be Ron Sivernell, commander; Peter Levy, senior vice commander; Arnie Abrams, junior vice commander; and Will Cutler, judge advocate. Barry Schneider, district JWV commander, will be the installing officer.

For information on either event, contact past commander Julian Haber at julianhaber@aol.com or 817-346-1902; or commander Richard Morris at bearloverrich@yahoo.com or 817-581-9679.

Incidentally, this is the fourth year the veterans have given a service award but the first to be called the Morton Herman Service to Veterans Award. JWV Post 755 renamed the award in February to acknowledge the tremendous amount of pro-bono work Morty Herman has done for the JWV and veteran community.

Previous winners of the award were: Year 1, state Sen. Wendy Davis; Year 2, Judge Brent Carr; and Year 3, Stevie Hansen and Nikki Hatley of MHMR Visions, who were instrumental in getting together Liberty House and VETCO-Veterans Council of Tarrant County.

Holly Clegg’s newest cookbook

I’d like to consider myself a decent home-cook and can attribute some of my success to Holly Clegg’s “Trim & Terrific” series. Many of you know Holly, the daughter of Ruth and Jerry Berkowitz, was way ahead of the curve when it came to fast healthy cooking.

The newest installment in Holly’s series is “Eating Well To Fight Arthritis: 200 Easy Recipes and Practical Tips to Help Reduce Inflammation and Ease Symptoms.” The book is designed to aid the estimated 46 million adults in the United States living with a form of arthritis. With more than 100 types of arthritis and no known cure, physical therapy, medication and lifestyle changes, such as healthier eating and recipe preparation modification, are the best defenses to a condition that plagues many.

As soon as I received the book Holly sent me in the mail, I could tell it was a winner and immediately ordered a copy for a friend of mine with rheumatoid arthritis.

Holly’s user-friendly, illustrated cookbook features 200 delicious, everyday, time-friendly recipes, as well as the basic tools and tips needed to create a healthier kitchen. As the second most frequently reported chronic condition in the United States, arthritis can strike at any age. Clegg worked closely with the Arthritis Association of Louisiana to research and learn the correlation between food and arthritis. The family-friendly recipes throughout the book are made of ingredients that work to alleviate arthritic symptoms, such as joint inflammation, fatigue and nausea. The book’s chapters are organized by the symptoms they combat, including:

• No Fuss Foods: Easy-to-prepare foods that are light on the joints

• Bone Building: Recipes high in calcium and vitamin D, which combat osteoporosis

• Fight Fatigue: Foods that boost energy when tired

• Spice Up Your Life: Recipes heavy on spices that have anti-inflammatory properties

For easy reference, the nutritional and dietary exchange information is included for each recipe, and symbols highlighting Freezer-friendly, vegetarian, gluten-free and diabetic-friendly recipes are included throughout the book. Additional helpful features include “Terrific Tips” that provide quick recipe references and shortcuts, and “Nutrition Nuggets,” which give important information about the nutrient-rich ingredients in each recipe.

With more than one million cookbooks sold, Clegg has become an expert on easy, healthy recipes through her best-selling cookbooks, including more targeted, health-focused cookbooks “Diabetic Cooking” with the American Diabetes Association and “Eating Well Through Cancer.” Holly has appeared on “Fox & Friends,” “NBC Weekend Today,” QVC, “The 700 Club,” USA Today, WebMD and The Huffington Post. For information, visit www.hollyclegg.com or http://thehealthycookingblog.com.

News and notes

• 

  Whitney Bond, left, and mom Lynell Moses Bond-Norman went on a Caribbean cruise recently in advance of Whitney’s 30th birthday. | Photo: Courtesy Lynell Moses Bond-Norman

  Lynell Moses Bond-Norman shared that she and daughter Whitney Bond enjoyed a Caribbean cruise last month as a pre-celebration of Whitney’s 30th birthday, which is July 22. “We both had a wonderful time, me relaxing and sightseeing, and she doing more adventurous things like zip-lining and snorkeling,” wrote Lynell.

• Cantor Shoshana Abrams of Congregation Ahavath Sholom will be among the delegates when the Cantors Assembly convenes its 66th annual convention May 19-23 at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel and Conference Center in East Rutherford, N.J.

The theme of this year’s convention is “L’eila: Raising Cantors Higher.” Its emphasis is to equip cantors with the skills needed by today’s synagogues. Sessions offered will include: chaplaincy, homiletics, song leading skills, spirituality, social media and technology.

That’s a 30 for this week. I love to hear from our readers. Send your news to me at sharonw@texasjewishpost.com or 7920 Belt Line Road, Ste. 680 Dallas, TX 75254.

The National Academy of Sciences recently announced the election to membership of Dr. Beth Levine, professor of internal medicine and microbiology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Beth Levine

This represents one of the highest honors attainable by an American scientist, according to a UT Southwestern statement. With Levine’s election, UT Southwestern has 20 members of this society among its faculty.

“I am thrilled to be acknowledged by my fellow researchers with such a prestigious honor,” Levine said. “I am extremely appreciative to those who have supported me along the way and for all those who have helped contribute to the scientific discoveries in our lab.”

Levine directs the Center for Autophagy Research in Internal Medicine and holds the Charles Cameron Sprague Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science.

“Most of all, I appreciate the freedom I have enjoyed throughout my career to pursue new scientific ideas — as this freedom has been at the root of our discoveries,” she said. “We hope to use our discoveries to improve the prevention and treatment of human disease.”

Levine’s research explores a cellular process called autophagy, in which cells devour their own damaged or unneeded components. Her laboratory identified the first known gene in mammals that is responsible for autophagy. Her research has since shown that defects in the expression or function of this specific gene, called beclin 1, may contribute to cancer, aging, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and infectious diseases.

Conversely, beclin 1 activity and the autophagy pathway appear to be important for protection against breast, lung, ovarian, and perhaps other cancers, as well as for fighting off viral and bacterial infections, and protecting individuals from neurodegenerative diseases and aging.

Levine’s current research focuses on the role of autophagy in normal development and control of lifespan, the mechanisms by which autophagy genes suppress tumors, the biochemical mechanisms that regulate beclin 1 function, and the role of autophagy as a defense mechanism against certain viruses and bacteria.

“Levine’s groundbreaking work has identified fundamental biological pathways with broad importance for understanding the pathogenesis of many of the most significant disease challenges of our time,” said UT Southwestern president Dr. Daniel Podolsky. “This award is a well-deserved acknowledgement of her accomplishments and another shining example of the strength of UT Southwestern’s research community.”

Levine received her medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. She completed her residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She was a faculty member at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons before joining the UT Southwestern faculty in July 2004. A recipient of the American Cancer Society TIAA-CREF Award for Outstanding Achievements in Cancer Research, Levine was elected to membership in the American Society of Clinical Investigation in 2000 and the Association of American Physicians in 2006.

“This is terrific news. Beth is an extraordinary physician scientist, and her work in autophagy has defined an entirely new area that has fundamental importance across medicine and biology. This election is so well deserved, and I think the best is yet to come,” said Dr. J. Gregory Fitz, executive vice president for academic affairs, provost and dean of UT Southwestern Medical School.

In 2008, Levine received one of four Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas. The annual award honors researchers in science, medicine, engineering and technology innovation whose work seems destined for international prominence at the highest level.

“Beth is justly deserving of this latest honor based on her remarkable scientific achievements. She is such an amazing mentor and a superb role model for our young physician-scientists. We are incredibly proud to have her as a colleague in medicine,” said Dr. David Johnson, chairman of internal medicine.

In all, the NAS announced the election of 84 new members and 21 foreign associates. One other new member is from a Texas institution, which makes for a total of 31 NAS members at Texas academic medical centers, almost two-thirds of them at UT Southwestern. The election of new NAS members was announced during the 150th annual meeting of the academy in Washington. The NAS is a private, nonprofit society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research.

Other UT Southwestern faculty who are members of the NAS and the years they were appointed are:

Dr. Ronald Estabrook, 1979; Dr. Michael Brown, 1980; Dr. Joseph Goldstein, 1980; Dr. Jean Wilson, 1983; Dr. Jonathan Uhr, 1984; Dr. Alfred Gilman, 1985; Dr. Roger Unger, 1986; Dr. Steven McKnight, 1992; Dr. Ellen Vitetta, 1994; Dr. Johann Deisenhofer, 1997; Dr. Eric Olson, 2000; Dr. Joseph Takahashi, 2003; Dr. Masashi Yanagisawa, 2003; Dr. Melanie Cobb, 2006; Dr. David Russell, 2006; Dr. Helen Hobbs, 2007; Dr. Bruce Beutler, 2008; Dr. David Mangelsdorf, 2008; and Dr. Luis Parada, 2011.

Connecting and reconnecting

Mazel tov to David H. Hoffman, who will graduate with honors from Albert Einstein Medical College May 29 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York.

David is a 1999 graduate of Akiba Academy and a 2003 graduate of Yavneh Academy. He also graduated from Yeshevat LevHatorah in 2009 and Yeshiva University in 2009. David will begin his residency in general surgery at NYU in June.

His wife, Yaffa, and daughter, Talia, are sharing the excitement as they begin the next chapter in their lives. David is the son of Kathleen Hoffman and Jeffrey and Jaine Hoffman. Proud grandparents are Sydelle “Cookie” Hoffman of Wellington, Fla., and Jean Rooke Carter of Austin, Dilford and Sigrid Carter of College Station and the late Frank Hoffman of Wellington, Fla.

Joining David, Yaffa and Talia for the festivities will be David’s parents; Yaffa’s parents, Steven and Sarah Karp of Elizabeth, N.J.; and Bernie Laderman of Wellington. The Hoffman and Karp families will celebrate David’s graduation with a special dinner in his honor.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Paul Fenyves and Ilana Bragin and their 19-month old daughter, Michelle Lior, of New York recently spent a week with Paul’s parents, Steve and Sheila Fenyves. Paul and Ilana, who are board-certified internists, each have private practices on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Ilana is a former contributing writer to the TJP.

While in Dallas, Paul, Ilana and Michelle enjoyed visiting with Paul’s sisters and their families — Kari Fenyves Bernstein and children, Shauna and Ryan; and Lauren and Seth Margolies and their children, Ethan and Sari. Ilana is the daughter of Bella and Alex Bragin of Westchester, N.Y. Proud great-grandparents are Edith and Julius Fenyves of Toronto.

Calling all mah jongg players

Kathryn Kaplan of Anshai Torah Sisterhood dropped us a note saying that the sisterhood is now accepting registration for its annual mah jongg tournament, which will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 9 at the Plano synagogue, 5501 W. Parker Road. Play begins promptly at 1 p.m.

The tournament uses the National Mah Jongg League rules, and players should be able to complete four games per hour to qualify. Prizes will be awarded to the top seven to 10 winners, round winners and the last-place finisher. Among the top prizes are hotel stays, restaurant gift certificates, artwork, jewelry and spa services.

For information, contact Lisa Olschwanger at marlipop1@tx.rr.com.

Tributes for graduation

The Dallas Hebrew Free Loan Association can help simplify graduation gift dilemmas. DHFLA executive director Deborah Dana said a contribution to the organization is an outstanding way to honor a graduate. It is a gift that keeps on giving, as DHFLA has interest-free loans that help students pursue their studies.

When the loans are repaid, the funds are loaned to another student. There are many ways to send tributes. For information, contact dhfla@sbcglobal.net.

The Hebrew word keruv means “bring close.” That’s what some branches of Orthodoxy have been doing for a long time — working actively to bring those who are already Jews closer to their Judaism.

More recently, the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs launched its own keruv outreach with a broader focus: to help Conservative movement synagogues create the most welcoming environment possible for families in which not everyone is a born Jew.

This effort spoke directly to Liz Cox, 44. She’s Jewish, her husband is not, and together, they’re raising their son in his mother’s faith. Liz is a 12-year member of Congregation Beth Torah, which she said “has always been open and welcoming. But I wanted to make it official, to shout it from the rooftops.” So a few years ago, she accepted the task of putting together a local keruv plan.

“It took about a year to figure out what I wanted to do,” Liz said. Barry Newberg, a Beth Torah member with a family makeup similar to hers, signed on as co-chair. What evolved was a program incorporating three elements: the educational, the conversational and the social.

Participants enjoyed wine-tastings and other informal gatherings, planned and took part in interfaith Shabbat services and attended a variety of professionally facilitated discussion groups covering vital topics such as how to celebrate holidays with family members — particularly children’s grandparents — of other religions.

Beth Torah even brought Rabbi Charles Simon, founder of the Conservative keruv movement, to Richardson for one of its annual congregational scholar-in-residence weekends.

Liz is quick to note that these keruv activities are not exclusively for Beth Torah members, nor are they intended as “feeders” for conversion to Judaism — although they may open a pathway for those who find themselves interested.

“How you and your spouse make a marriage work applies to everyone,” she says. Programs like these can help couples navigate some difficult situations that often arise, specifically within an intermarriage.

Conservative keruv “consultants” — people like Liz who bring this initiative into their own communities — get together for an annual retreat, which presents opportunities to grow personally through sharing the diversity of attitudes among their peers and the synagogues they represent. Liz’s own focus and goals have changed quite a bit over these past few years.

“I want to cast a wider net now,” she said. “My belief is that keruv should not be just interfaith, but for other ‘non-traditionals.’ They could be LGBTs, minorities, anyone seeking a welcoming spiritual home. People are looking for a community where they will be accepted, and they will find a community somewhere. I think we are doing the right thing by providing this as an option.

“I think this era is the best we Jews have ever had,” she continues, honing in on “people who cast their lot with us” as her own non-Jewish husband has. “I am committed to Torah as a tool for learning lessons. It’s history, and a moral compass. I give our son all the information about what I believe, and his father brings in science and what other people believe. Together, we — and families like ours — educate. We teach our children to be proud of who they are, and to be spokespeople for their heritage.”

Of her own synagogue, she said, “Beth Torah has almost always been ahead of the curve as a comfortable place for people to migrate to. But now I see that a welcoming environment can have many points of entry. If people become more engaged and involved [with the keruv effort], they become more welcoming. To be welcoming, to ‘bring in,’ is a product of involvement. On the ‘Barometer of Acceptance,’ there’s no such thing as just continuing the job. We can all do better.”

Sound interesting? For further information, for a schedule of programs or to find out how you might bring yourself into this effort “to bring in,” email Liz at keruv@congregationbethtorah.org.

Camp is approaching, and for me this year, as director of camping services for the Aaron Family JCC, it means American Camp Association reaccreditation. The J’s Ken and Sherry Goldberg Family Early Childhood Center went through National Association for the Education of Young Children reaccreditation this year and passed with flying colors.

So what makes this Jewish? ACA and NAEYC have their own 613 commandments, and we have chosen to take them on. As we work through the criteria, a fleeting thought occurs: Is this one really important? And, sometimes, we see all the work, effort, thinking, striving and believing, and question if it is worth it. That fleeting thought passes because we believe the criteria, even the ones we “don’t get,” make us better and help us provide a better experience for our children and, ultimately, for our staff and ourselves.

This is the way it is with the mitzvot — how many must we really keep? The categories are many: positive, negative, between man and God, between man and man, obvious ones, not so obvious.

However you group them, the questions remain — how many do I need to do and what happens if I don’t do them? Leviticus is the book with the most mitzvot and the words “you shall be holy” are repeated often. The keeping of mitzvot should make us holy (yes, we must ask what does it mean to be holy?)

So many questions. My students constantly ask for “the answer” as if there is only one answer or one right way in Judaism and in life. The answers are personal, yet tied to tradition. A simple example: If every time I put something in my mouth I check to see if it is kosher, hopefully I am thinking what God wants me to do with my life, and then eating suddenly becomes more than that simple act — it becomes a way of life.

At the JCC camp and preschool, we will continue meeting every criteria that NAEYC and ACA give us the best we can, and we will strive to also follow the Torah commandments that, in the end, are all there to make us better people.

Laura Seymour is director of camping services and director of Jewish life and learning at the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center.

Dear Rabbi Fried,

I have recently been bombarded by a number of downturns in my personal life; trouble with my teenage kids, health issues with my husband and myself, and, of course, issues with the bank. I am grasping to find a way to find joy in life despite all this. I know you’ll say just trust in God, but right now that’s not enough. Do you have something I can grab onto to perhaps have some simcha in my life?

— Marcy L.

Dear Marcy,

Allow me to relate a story I heard from my recently passed dear rebbe, R’ Yosef Tzeinvirt of Jerusalem.

Reb Yosel, as he was fondly known to his students, often would tell the story of a group of downtrodden, troubled Jews who traveled a long distance to visit 18th century Polish Chasidic master, Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk. They appeared before the holy rabbi, and each member of the group presented his package of problems: sickness, poverty, etc.

They wanted his advice on how to deal with their situations. The rebbe advised them that if they want an answer of how to deal with their myriad problems, they should go to the nearby study hall and present their issues and problems to his brother, Reb Zushya of Anipoli. The group heeded the rebbe and entered the study hall, asking for Reb Zushya. The man who met them at the door pointed him out; he’s the one over there with the torn suit that, due to his abject poverty, he cannot afford to fix or replace. In addition, his wife and children are home sick, with a leaking roof over their dilapidated, one-room house. You’re welcome to approach him.

The group approached Reb Zushya, saying they had come to Reb Elimelech to receive his advice how to deal with the problems, issues and lacking in their lives. Reb Zushya, taken by surprise, apologized that they must have mistakenly been sent to him.

“I’m sorry I’m not able to give you any advice; I don’t have any problems in my life, baruch Hashem. I have all I need and have exactly what is intended for me, so I can’t really relate to your problems and issues because I have never had any myself. Perhaps you should go back to my brother and revisit your problems with him.”

Needless to say, the men got their answer.

Reb Yosel was actually, inadvertently, describing himself. He lived most of his life with a life-threatening heart disease that prevented him from giving the lectures he so desired to deliver, and lived in poverty in the most simple of homes.

Despite this, none of us ever witnessed anyone whose joy and ecstasy in every moment of life even approached the simcha R’ Yosel expressed every day, in each discussion, every mitzvah he performed or Torah he learned and discussed with us.

Joy, we learned from Reb Yosel, is not something that comes from outside in, depending upon circumstances. It is, rather, a human condition that flows from inside out, with no bearing or relation to the actual situation one is found in.

Consider a poverty-stricken woman who just won $1 million in the lottery standing next to a woman who had $2 million and just lost a million on a deal that went south. They presently both are in the exact same financial condition, but will they have the same mood? Is their mood reflective merely of the situation, or of their interpretation of their circumstances?

Attempt to focus on the blessings of your life and look at them as challenges to overcome in the game of life; unique challenges endowed to you by Divine wisdom. The inner joy of that connection can overcome any external situation from putting a damper on the innate joy of your soul.

Rabbi Yerachmiel D. Fried, noted scholar and author of numerous works on Jewish law, philosophy and Talmud, is founder and dean of DATA, the Dallas Kollel. Questions can be sent to him at yfried@sbcglobal.net.