As we move through the first days of Tishrei, we have a great opportunity to reflect, to pray, to think about how best to atone … in short, to become better people than we were last year. This is the great beauty of the Days of Awe between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: We have the opportunity to right our wrongs and to reflect.
Along with these reflections comes a request. I’ll be traveling a great deal next week (but back in time to observe Yom Kippur, of course). As such, if you could forward any items to me for Around the Town ASAP, I’d be forever grateful. As always, my e-mail address is awsorter@yahoo.com.
I said it last week, but I’ll repeat it here: Shana tova, may all of you enjoy a sweet year. I will look forward to interacting with you and getting to know you much better.

Create for the cure …

Congregation Ahavath Sholom is sponsoring a Create for the Cure event, which will take place 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 11 in the shul’s sukkah. As part of this event, renowned sculptor Gary Rosenthal will combine various metals with fused glass to create his outstanding pieces. The community is invited to participate in this mitzvah by assembling the glass pieces Rosenthal will use to create those sculptures. Participants will be provided with easy-to-assemble kits (and will be able to purchase the completed sculptures at a discounted price). The cost is $18 per participant, with all proceeds benefitting breast cancer research. RSVP required by Sept. 30, call 817-731-4721 for more information or to reserve your spot.

Chabads and JLI …

When I ran information last week about Jewish Learning Institute’s upcoming courses for the year, I received a very nice response from Rabbi Dov Mandel with Chabad of Fort Worth/Tarrant County. He tells me that costs for the JLI courses differ between Chabad of Arlington and Chabad of Fort Worth, so those interested may want to check directly with the Chabads for more information. He also tells me that this is the first year Chabad of Arlington will have the JLI programming.
I say “great” and “congratulations” to Chabad of Arlington. I have a personal interest in the JLI program — while living in North Dallas, I frequently attended these programs at Chabad of Plano and found them enlightening and very informative. What I liked best about the programs was the interactive component: Many times during our sessions, questions and comments would be posed by participants that shed a whole new light on different experiences we had when it came to Judaism. I will look forward to continuing that education with Chabad of Fort Worth.
Others who want to join me, or who want to attend Chabad at Arlington’s inaugural program can find information at www.myjli.com; Chabad of Arlington; www.arlingtonchabad.org or Chabad of Fort Worth; www.chabadfortworth.com.

Hadassah Happenings …

The Fort Worth Chapter of Hadassah has some interesting events coming up; the first taking place on Saturday, Oct. 29. This is the “Champagne & Chagall at SiNaCa: A Hadassah Happening!” which will start at 7:30 p.m. and will take place at SiNaCa Studios at 1013 W. Magnolia Ave. in Fort Worth. The cost is $10 per person, $18 per couple. No contact information on this just yet, but I’ll keep you posted.
Also under the category of “time flies when you’re having fun,” Hadassah will be celebrating a century of existence in 2012. To get into the spirit of things, the Fort Worth chapter is offering a $100 lifetime/associate enrollment to Hadassah until December of this year. This is a good deal — after Dec. 31, the price for these enrollments goes back up to $360 per person. Questions? Contact Debby Rice at 817-346-2944 or debbyb@sbcglobal.net

Live, from the 92nd Street Y …

“Andy Borowitz Presents — The Funniest American Writers With Alec Baldwin, Calvin Trillin and More” will be broadcast live from New York’s 92nd Street Y beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Hear the simulcast at Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven Road in Fort Worth. Borowitz, who has been called “one of the funniest people in America” by CBS News Sunday Morning, will be joined onstage by an all-star cast of the best American humorists. The topics? Literary humor and a look at the new Library of America collection Borowitz edited entitled “The Fifty Funniest American Writers,” which examines American humor writing from from Mark Twain and James Thurber to David Sedaris and The Onion. For more information, contact Louis Schultz at 817-292-1586 or e-mail him at ldschultz1@yahoo.com.

Hell hath no fury …

… and in Fort Worth, hell actually had a half acre — which is near where the Fort Worth Convention Center is located. Actually, the area of lower Main Street, south of 9th Street and running to the then T&P Railroad’s depot (present day near Main and 15th Street) was a red-light district known as “Hell’s Half Acre” back in the late 1800s. Hopefully my directions are clear enough here, but the point of this history lesson is that the Daytimer’s October event will feature author Richard F. Selcer, who wrote a book about this few square blocks of Fort Worth. Mr. Selcer will be introduced by another well-known Fort Worth historian, Hollace Weiner. The event will take place at noon, Wednesday Oct. 12 at Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven Rd. in Fort Worth. Lunch will be catered by Ming Wok, and choices are beef lo mein, chicken with vegetables or tofu with vegetables; egg roll is included. Cost is $9 including lunch or $4 for program only. For reservations, call Barbara Rubin, 817-927-2736, or mail checks to Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76109, or make your reservation at www.bethelfw.org/donations.

Chess for a good cause …

As his Bar Mitzvah project, Isaac Narrett is hosting a chess tournament on Sun., Oct. 15 at Beth-El Congregation to benefit the Jewish National Fund Trees for Israel. This is a “non-rated” tournament, and beginners to advanced players of all ages are welcome to turn out (sponsors are certainly welcome as well). This is a highly worthy cause and certainly a unique bar mitzvah project. Questions? Contact Marcy Paul, 817-921-9204 or Isaac at Isaac.narrett@gmail.com.