By Amy Wolff Sorter
This column is going “to bed” a little early, thanks to the holidays. I’d like to remind everyone out there that Yom HaAtzmaut begins this year on the evening of Wednesday, April 25. If there are any observances, celebrations, commemorations and so on pertaining to Israel Independence Day, well, get ‘em in! Also, has anyone in your family made aliyah? Did you, yourself, do that at one point? Are any of your loved ones or friends in Israel? Please let me know — it would be a timely and lovely contribution.
Looking Ahead, Post-Pesach
If you’re like me, you’re probably at the point where you’re about matzahed out. A recent column by Holly Clegg, daughter of Ruthie and Jerry Berkowitz, gave me something to look forward to. She writes about the “luscious lemon,” a nice, sunny fruit. Various links on her column will take you straight to her lemon pie recipe. This is a definite “not-kosher-for-Passover” type of recipe, but it looks ridiculously easy to make. So link to the recipe (and others) by logging on to www.hollyclegg.com.
Holly, by the way, knows about more than lemons. She’s an outstanding chef who has been featured in a variety of national publications and is the author of many books. Here’s what I like about her — she’s a fan of quick and flavorful cooking, as well as healthy eating. She’s based in Louisiana, where she’s a regular on “This Week in Louisiana.” Hopefully she makes that delicious lemon pie on the show.
Yom Hashoah Reminders
On April 15 at 6:30 p.m., Congregation Beth Shalom, 1212 Thannisch Dr. in Colleyville, will host a program dedicated to those who risked their lives to save others. The program will begin with a memorial service and a performance of the Holocaust Cantata by the A Cappella Choir and University Singers of UT Arlington. The service will also include Holocaust survivors as well as readings from journals and interview transcripts from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. This appears to be a wonderful way to remember the vanished six million, as well as the souls who tried to protect them.
Final Reminder for the Daytimers
The next event will take place Wednesday, April 18 and will feature a trip to Dallas to view the Kennedy exhibit at the Sixth Floor Museum. The group will meet at the Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center at 1001 Jones St. at noon (to board the TRE to Big D). The train is scheduled to return to Fort Worth by 4:45 p.m. Cost of the trip is $15 (and includes train fare, museum admission and bottled water). For information and reservations, have your credit card handy and call Barbara Rubin, 817-927-2736 or Hugh Lamensdorf, 817-738-1428. You can reserve for yourself, too, by logging onto www.bethelfw.org/donations.
Jewish Community Blood Drive
May might be the time when flowers are in full bloom (and anyone remembering the storminess of “Tornado Tuesday,” April 3 will be thankful for that). May is also the time during which the Jewish Community Blood Drive will take place — specifically, Sunday, May 6, between 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven Road. This drive is taking place in conjunction with Carter BloodCare, and while walk-ins are welcome, it’s better to make a reservation. You can do so by calling Dan Halpern at 817-426-3239.
May 24 is the Deadline
To get in your application for one of two $1,000 scholarships being given by Isadore Garsek B’nai B’rith Lodge # 269. The scholarships are available to parents or guardians of high school seniors headed off to college. The parents/guardians must be members of the Isadore Garsek lodge, or members of an established Jewish synagogue in Tarrant County. The parents/guardians must be members in good standing of either organization for at least 12 months. Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement as well as accomplishments, outside interests and participation in school-oriented and outside activities. Scholarships will be presented at the annual B’nai B’rith Jewish Person of the Year banquet, which will take place June 3. The deadline for applications is May 24. Questions? Contact Dr. Barry Schneider at dr_barrys@yahoo.com or get in touch with your synagogue’s youth advisor or rabbi.