By Amy Sorter

There are a couple of things I want to mention this week — the first is tomorrow, Veterans Day. Thank you, men and women in uniform past and present, for defending our beloved country. Certainly there are plenty of things wrong with the United States — but unlike what goes on in other nations in the world, we are free to voice our displeasure and to take steps to do something about it without fear of losing our lives or liberties.
Please take a moment tomorrow to pray for our Armed Forces, who are fighting to secure our freedom. And if you see a veteran on the streets, take some time to thank this individual. Without our brave men and women in uniform, we would be in a serious world of hurt.
I also want to extend a “thank you” to the brave forces defending Israel which, in my opinion, seems to be the world’s whipping post these days.
Also along the lines of bullying, I want to send kudos to Jacob Wisch, an Ann and Nate Levine student who will soon celebrate his bar mitzvah. Jacob’s story is on page B6 of this issue, and though I don’t typically focus on individuals on “the other side” of SH 360, this is an important enough topic to cross “Metroplex lines,” so to speak.
At any rate, Jacob has launched a website, standuptoday.net/wordpress (the site already has one of his very well-written poems about bullying). Please visit it and sign the anti-bullying pledge.

Congratulations Rabbi Sidney Zimelman

The former spiritual leader of Congregation Ahavath Sholom will be honored with the State of Israel Bonds Freedom Award on Saturday, Nov. 19 for his 12 years of outstanding service to the Permian Basin as rabbi at Temple Beth El, Midland/Odessa, and to the state of Israel.
The dinner will take place at the Midland Country Club, 6101 N. Highway 349 in Midland. Israel. Brig. General (Ret.) Yehuda Halevy, former President and CEO of the Israel Bonds Organization will be the evening’s special guest speaker

Zimelman has a long and colorful history — he was born in Poland and lived in Canada and Maine before entering a yeshiva in Brooklyn. In addition to receiving a bachelor’s degree from Yeshiva University and receiving his ordination and Doctor of Divinity at the Jewish Theological Society of America, Zimelman served his country as a chaplain in the United States Air Force base in Japan during the Vietnam years.
Zimelman came to Texas after serving as rabbi at Congregation Agudat Achim (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Congregation Adath Israel (Cincinnati, Ohio). After retiring from CAS in the late 1990s, Zimelman ended up at Temple Beth El, though lives in the Overton Park area of Fort Worth. He is married to Vivian, is the father of Elana, Robin, Shari and Alyssa and has 10 grandchildren.
If you’re interested in attending the dinner, which starts at 7:30 p.m., the cost is $50 per person and an RSVP is required. For more information, contact Karen Garfield at the State of Israel Bonds Texas Headquarters at 972-661-9191 or 800-877-4991.

Spend Friday night in Hawaii

On Friday, Nov. 11, Chabad of Arlington’s TGI Shabbat will have a distinct Hawaiian theme, beginning with services at 6:40 p.m. and Kiddush and dinner following at 7 p.m. The address is 2136 Linblad Court in Arlington.
If you can’t make this week’s TGI Shabbat, don’t stress — they’re taking place in 2012 on Jan. 20, March 23 and May 18.
Sponsorship opportunities are available and hosts are welcome. These events are free of charge, though donations are more than welcome.
I’ve attended a few of these TGI Shabbats in Plano and they are a lot of fun. It also means a night off from cooking! Whether you’re new in the community or want to connect with old friends (or meet new ones), these events are the way to go.
Questions? Call Chabad of Arlington at 817-451-1171.

This weekend, learn something

On Nov. 13, 2011, Jews around the world will join together in their communities, homes and online to celebrate their heritage through the Global Day of Jewish Learning.
Jews in Tarrant County will have the opportunity to participate beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, 4049 Kingsridge Rd.
Bring your Bibles, Tanachs and Chumashim; the search will be on for angels, giants and nephilim — who they were, who sent them and their meanings.
Need more information? Contact Barbara Rubin at Barbara@rubin.net or Dr. Arnold Barkman at a.barkman@tcu.edu.

Get a jump on that Chanukah shopping

The Ladies Auxiliary at Congregation Ahavath Sholom is sponsoring its sixth annual Fall Community Gift and Jewelry Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 20 at CAS, 4050 S. Hulen in Fort Worth.
Vendors from throughout the region will be present including Cookie Lee Jewelry, Funshine Music and Prints, Jewelry by Nelly, Barbara Lefer Afghans and author Beverly Malone.
National brands will also be represented: Avon, Mary Kay and Scentsy. Proceeds from the bazaar benefit CAS, so you’re doing two nice things when you support vendors at this event.

And finally …

Time is running out if you want to get your changes into the B’nai B’rith Community Directory of Tarrant County. The Isadore Garsek Lodge of B’nai B’rith is in its last stages of editing this directory, so NOW is the time to make any changes.
Get them in to Alex Nason by Nov. 23. Contact him at 817-346-3991 or alexnason@charter.net.