By Sharon Wisch-Ray

Kornbleet Scholar Jonathan Adelman will speak on Israel

Tonight at 7 p.m. at Beth-El Congregation, professor Jonathan Adelman, the 2014 Kornbleet Scholar, will speak about Israel’s position in the world outside of the United States and the Middle East.
A full professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, Adelman has been made an honorary professor at both Peking University and People’s University in Beijing.
Having received four degrees from Columbia University, he has written or edited 12 books. In the last year he has written nine op-eds on the Middle East, China and Russia, five of which appeared on CNN.com (three on Fared Zacharias’ blog) and the other four on the websites of the Huffington Post, Forbes, UPI and Reuters. In the last two years he has been quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post and NBC News. He also is working on two books, one of which will be entitled “Crushing the Revolution: The Role of the Military in Revolutionary.”

Rising leaders at Ahavath Sholom complete Sulam

Mazel tov to recent Sulam leadership training graduates. Sulam is a six week intensive course initially structured by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and adapted by Congregation Ahavath Sholom. This program is based upon Jewish text and deals with all aspects of leadership. Sulam refers to “Going up the Ladder” and each participant will be involved in a specific role at the synagogue. Instructors were Rabbi Andrew Bloom and Rhoda Bernstein.

Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut observed

Hundreds of people stood in solidarity with Israel at the community Yom HaZikaron memorial service held at Congregation Ahavath Sholom May 3.
The flag-lowering ceremony, conducted by IDF representatives, led into an indoor service with beautiful music and remembrances.
Special thanks to Michal Bloom, Shoshana Howard, Rivka Marco, and Dorit Schwartz for planning such a meaningful morning.
Kudos also to Cantor Shoshanah Abrams-Kaikov, Monica Braverman, Eliza Williams, and the youth choirs of Congregation Ahavath Sholom and Beth-El Congregation for the beautiful music, and to all the clergy and participants that took time from their day to be a part of the observance.
This service was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County with financial assistance from the Dan Danciger/Fort Worth Hebrew Day School Supporting Foundation.
Immediately following the Yom HaZikaron service the mood became more festive as Tarrant County Jews of all ages celebrated Israel’s 66th birthday across the street at Beth-El Congregation.
Karen Johnson, Ruth Levitz, Jay Feinberg, Klila Caplan, Dina Lindell, Nancy Blount, Murray Cohen, Robert Simon, and Ben Feld opened the festivities with a ceremonial candlelighting. These individuals were chosen for their ties to and support of Israel.
The end of the candlelighting signaled the beginning of lunch and the rest of the afternoon’s events.
Benji Lovitt, Israeli comedian from Dallas, kept the adults in stitches while kids played gaga and matkot and made t-shirts and bracelets.
The afternoon ended with an Israeli wine tasting presided over by Gilad Atlecevitz.
Special thanks to Ilana Knust, Will Kutler and Gilad Atlacevitz for planning the festive afternoon. This celebration was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County with financial support from the Dan Danciger/Fort Worth Hebrew Day School Supporting Foundation.

Save the date: June 8 the twin cantors will perform at CAS

Congregation Ahavath Sholom will present “The Twin Cantors in Concert” at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, June 8 in the Barnett Sanctuary at the shul. The first in a series of performing arts celebrations at Ahavath Sholom, the concert will celebrate the melding of art and Judaica.
Share in this special gift to the community — a delightful concert featuring twin sisters, Congregation Ahavath Sholom Cantor Shoshana Abrams-Kaikov and her twin sister, Cantor Elisa Abrams Casuto of Congregation Beth Shalom in Wilmington, Del.
The sisters’ repertoire will be a Jewish musical journey around the world Ladino, Yiddish, Israeli and English. There will be a special appearance by the CAS Children’s Choir will also be featured.
Hard at work on the concert are committee members Mary Frances Antweil, Laurie Blum, Dr. Murray Cohen, Kim Goldberg, Marcia Kurtz, Ebi Lavi, Debby Rice and Michelle Youngblood.
The concert, sponsored in part by the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County and Congregation Ahavath Sholom, is free and open to the community.
For more information, please call 817-731-4721.