By Sharon Wisch-Ray
sharon@tjpnews.com

Housekeeping

In last week’s Around the Town column a couple of errors were brought to my attention.
First, the Federation’s correct number is 817-569-0892.
Second, there is no cost for the dinner in Colleyville on Friday night, Feb. 5. The gentlemen of the Congregation Beth Israel Brotherhood are sponsoring the evening. We regret the errors.
Fort Worth to host PARTNERSHIP2GETHER meetings
Bob Goldberg tells me now is the time to “Be a ‘PART’ of PARTNERSHIP2GETHER!”
The Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County has joined PARTNERSHIP2GETHER (P2G), connecting it with the Western Galilee Region in Israel. P2G is a joint program of the Jewish Agency and Jewish Federations of North America, promoting relationships through cultural, social, medical, educational and economic programs. These programs are dedicated to connecting people and making a difference for Jews in Israel, America and worldwide with the goal of strengthening our global Jewish identity.
From Jan. 21 to 26, the Federation will host more than 45 guests from Israel, Budapest and the 13 U.S. cities that make up its Central Area Consortium.
The meetings include both volunteer and professional leadership focused on evaluating and creating programs that connect with Israel through the task forces of medicine, education, arts, community and resource development.
The Tarrant County community is invited to join the Federation at 9:45 a.m. this Sunday morning, Jan. 25 in the Great Hall at Beth-El for a P2G information session. You will have the chance to learn about Partnership, view a new photo exhibit titled The Peoples of the Western Galilee, and participate in Mayor Betsy Price’s week of compassionate service.
P2G participants will experience the unique culture of Cowtown. Activities include a special Tu B’Shevat seder event at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, a kosher barbecue prepared by competitive barbecue expert Chad Herman, a night at the Fort Worth Rodeo and Stock Show, as well as opportunities to attend services, visit various congregations and meet with community members.
Federation Executive Director Bob Goldberg notes, “We have been blessed with great leadership from Milena Razack, our steering committee volunteer coordinator, and our local P2G committee will be well represented at the meetings by Mona Karten, Stephanie Zavala, Marcy Paul, Nancy Schwartz, Karen Telschow Johnson, Kim Goldberg, Audrey Nacass, and others.”
To contribute to Fort Worth Compassionate Service, for the benefit of the children at the United Community Centers, please donate new crayons, pens, markers, rulers, tape, scissors and other basic school supplies. These can be dropped off at Beth-El Great Hall or at the Federation office throughout the week.
For more information, contact Bob Goldberg at 817-569-0892 or visit www.tarrantfederation.org.

Kornbleet Scholar talk is Jan. 26

TCU biblical scholar Dr. Claudia V. Camp is this year’s Kornbleet Scholar-in-Residence. Dr. Camp will present “Women in the Book of Numbers” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven Road. A dessert reception will follow the free lecture.
Claudia V. Camp has taught at TCU since 1980 and is currently the John F. Weatherly Professor of Religion.
She was an undergraduate religion major at Duke University, earned an M.Div. at Harvard Divinity School and obtained a Ph.D. in Biblical studies at Duke. She teaches an introductory course, “Thinking About the Old Testament,” and upper-level courses in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible that include “Love and Sex in the Biblical World” and “Religion and the Search for Meaning in the Old Testament.”
She has also taught the Religion Department’s Senior Seminar, as well as courses in women’s studies and in the Brite Divinity School Ph.D. program. She has received the Dean’s Award for Research and Creative Activity Award and the award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar, AddRan College, Humanities Division.
Camp’s research has focused on feminist interpretation of the Bible, as well as methodological issues in biblical interpretation more generally. In addition to numerous essays, she has authored two monographs and co-edited five essay collections, which include:

• The Fate of King David: The Past and Present of a Biblical Icon. Essays in Honor of David M. Gunn, 2010
• Constructions of Space II: The Biblical City and Other Imagined Spaces, 2008
• Constructions of Space I: Theory, Geography, Narrative, 2007
• Wise, Strange and Holy: The Strange Woman and the Making of the Bible, 2000
• Setting the Table: Feminist Theologians in Conversation, 1995
• Women, War and Metaphor: Language and Society in the Study of the Hebrew Bible, 1993
• Wisdom and the Feminine in the Book of Proverbs, 1985

She is currently at work on two major projects — a monograph analyzing the role of gender ideology in the rise of the biblical canon and a feminist commentary on the Book of Numbers — and planning future publication on gender and identity formation in the Hebrew Bible.

Israeli wine tasting

Ahavath Sholom’s Ladies Auxiliary will host an Israeli wine tasting event at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 at Classic Wine Storage & Services, 2915 Riverglen Drive in Fort Worth.
Seating will be limited and the $25 per person couvert includes tasting eight wines from Israel in addition to cheese, crackers and small desserts. Wine will be available for purchase at the event with pickup the next day.
Reservations must be prepaid on Eventbrite at bit.ly/1T22vhs or checks made out to Ladies Auxiliary can be dropped off or mailed to the Ahavath Sholom office (4050 S. Hulen St.) or mailed to LaJean Sturman, 6204 Whitman Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76133.