Dr. Mitchell Schwaber enlightens community on Haiti, Japan relief efforts

Robert Chicotsky, past president of the Texarkoma Region of B’nai B’rith, reported recently on Dr. Mitchell Schwaber’s visit to Fort Worth.
B’nai B’rith Isadore Garsek Lodge hosted a memorable event leading up to Israel’s 63rd Anniversary. Dr. Mitchell Schwaber, an expert on infectious disease and director of the National Center for Infection Control of the Israel Ministry of Health. Dr. Schwaber shared his experiences on the Israel Defense Force’s medical mission to Haiti following the earthquake of January 2010.
“Schwaber was in Dallas for a professional medical conference and presented his talk to the Fort Worth community as part of the American Zionist Movement’s Café Israel program.  This program brings speakers about Israel and Zionism to communities across the United States to share their experiences in a conversation about their commitment to Israel and Zionism in their personal and professional lives.
“Everyone was proud to learn more about Israel’s humanitarian mission and the impacting effort by the Israeli medical teamfrom the IDF Medical Corps, along with security personnel and search and rescue experts from the IDF Home Front Command. The Israelis involved wholly invested their hearts and good will and made tremendous sacrifices with a display of compassion for the world to see.
“B’nai B’rith’s program featuring Schwaber was held at Congregation Ahavath Sholom. Over 75 people attended.  The talk was filled with fascinating facts about the accomplishments of the field hospital that was established by Israel in Haiti. The field hospital was planned in just 48 hours after the earthquake in Haiti, and delivered by a medical and construction team shortly thereafter.
“The hospital treated 1,111 people, using the newest medical equipment and digital technology. More than 240 operations were performed, 16 infants were delivered, and patient follow-up treatments were provided. Schwaber presented photos to provide an up-close view of the response in Haiti, which kept the audience engaged.  The presentation included touching viewpoints of Israel’s Haiti humanitarian mission, as well as information involving Israel’s assistance in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.
“The parent organization, B’nai B’rith International, was very proud to have participated in the relief effort for Haiti, delivering $250,000 of disaster relief assistance, including emergency supplies and expertise to response teams that stayed on the ground in Haiti via IsraAID – an umbrella organization of humanitarian organizations in Israel. Recovery and rebuilding projects are continuing in Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Israel’s efforts, as presented by Dr. Schwaber, help bring light onto other nations.”

Texas Boys Choir appears at “Daytimers”

“Daytimers” enjoyed an outstanding presentation by the Texas Boys Choir Town Choir and Training Choir at the May luncheon at Beth-El Congregation.  The Town Choir is one of two choirs in the Texas Boys Choir’s training program for young singers.  It is composed of boys in grades 5 through 8.  This choir, as the name suggests, performs locally throughout the academic year in a variety of entertainment settings.   They were joined at the end of the program by the training choir, composed of boys in grades 1 through 5, which is housed in the Beth-El classroom area, where the primary grades of the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts holds its classes.
Emcee for the day was Irv Robinson.  Barbara Rubin did a memorial presentation for two “Daytimers” steering committee members, Sylvia Wexler and Carl Morgan, who passed away in April.  Greeting guests at the door were Rosalie Schwartz and Kenneth Baum, and Bill and Roseanne Margolis presided at the buffet table.  The choir was introduced by Edythe Cohen.
The next event for “Daytimers” is the eagerly awaited return appearance of Mark Kreditor with his “Jews of the American Songbook.”  His program will include songs from “Cabaret” to “Bye-Bye Birdie,” all written by Jewish composers.  Lunch will be catered by Jimmy John’s Sandwich Shop.
For reservations, call Barbara Rubin, 817-927-2736, or Irv Robinson, 817-731-7447. Checks can be mailed to Daytimers,Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76109.

The Sylvia Wolens “Daytimers” is a program of Beth-El Congregation with financial support from the Jewish Federation.

Tarrant County celebrates Yom Ha’atzmaut

About 100 Tarrant County Jews  celebrated Israel’s 63rd birthday with an event at Congregation Ahavath Sholom.  Everyone enjoyed the Israeli lunch supplemented with hot dogs and fries for children.  Kids of all ages had fun decorating their desserts—sugar cookies with blue and white icing.  The highlight of the day was the inflatable obstacle course, which was part of the children’s Maccabiah.  The red team and the blue team vied for prizes in several activities, including Family Feud, Israeli style, building towers to ward off the Arab aggressors, learning Israeli geography and cities on the life-sized Israel map, and running the obstacle course.  All of the children earned prizes for their efforts and many had to be pried away from the activities, especially the obstacle course.  The adults had the pleasure of watching an Israeli music DVD, and many stayed to watch the children and schmooze.
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 and Hartman, Leito, and Bolt, LLP.

Yom HaZikaron Commemorated at Ahavath Sholom

Israel’s Memorial Day Service focused on the wars fought for the existence of the Jewish state.  The outdoor portion of the ceremony was highlighted by two Israeli soldiers lowering the Israeli flag, the placing of the wreath by Rachel Niv, and the singing of “El Maleh Rachamim” by Rabbi Dov Mandel of Chabad of Fort Worth.  Poignant displays about each of Israel’s wars lined the route to the sanctuary.  The choir from Beth-El, Monica Braverman, Linda Hoffman, Angela Kitzman, Ellen Rubinson, Denae Chance-Rubinson, Christine Levy and Myron Morgan, sang several songs with the accompaniment of the piano played by Trudi Post. Complementing the musical portion was a stirring visual presentation. All of the readings described the sacrifice of the Israeli soldiers who gave their lives.  The evening ended with the 100-person audience joining in to sing the “Hatikvah.”
Shoshana Howard and Rivka Marco led the committee of Shirley Ben David, Etty Horowitz and Diana Krompass.  They were joined by Garry Kahalnik, Shoshana Isgur, Rabbi Zimelman, Corey Mandel, Aaron Wasserman, Rabbi Ralph Mecklenburger, Rabbi Gary Perras and Yosi Yaacobi, who all participated in the service.
This program 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.