Compiled by Sharon Wisch-Ray
sharon@tjpnews.com

Robert Chicotsky tells me that its time for high school seniors graduating between December 2015 and June 2016 to apply for one of the two Isadore Garsek Lodge scholarships.
The scholarships are valued at $1,000 each and will be awarded and presented at a place and time determined by the B’nai B’rith board. One is an academic scholarship, and the other is based on BBYO participation.
The purpose of the program is to provide scholarships to children of members of the Isadore Garsek Lodge and/or of an established Jewish congregation in Tarrant County. The parent or guardian must be a member in good standing for at least 12 months prior to submission of the application. Children of deceased parents are also eligible if the parent died while a member for at least 12 consecutive months.
Applicants can apply for one or both scholarships. For the academic scholarship the student must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale or the equivalent at the time of application. The application must include school transcripts, class rank and test scores for SAT and/or ACT. If your school transcripts do not reflect class rank, please obtain a letter from your principal indicating your approximate class ranking. Applicants must plan to attend an accredited university or college in the summer or fall semester of 2016. Those planning to enroll in a non-academic program, certified program or tuition free institution such as the U. S. Military Academy are not eligible for a scholarship award.
The BBYO participation scholarship is based on a comprehensive point system that rewards applicants for their participation in BBYO. Points will be used to assist the committee on ranking applicants.
Applications are now available from rabbis and educational directors or from Barry Schneider at dr_barrys@yahoo.com.
Completed applications must be mailed. Email submissions will not be accepted. Mail completed applications and all supporting material to: Dr. Barry J. Schneider, Isadore Garsek Scholarship Selection Committee, 6616 River Bend Road, Fort Worth, TX 76132. Phone: 817-360-9298. Do not delay.
All applications must be postmarked no later than May 1.

Daytimers learn about Revolutionary War

Almost 40 Daytimers gathered in the Great Room at Congregation Beth-El for lunch and a presentation about Jews in the Revolutionary War. Dr. Jane Pawgan kept her audience entranced as she named many of the most significant participants and explained, in detail, how they contributed to the war that created the United States.
The role of Jews is largely unrecognized, given that they represented only a tiny percent of the overall population. Like other colonial Americans, their loyalties were divided, with a sizable majority favoring the Patriot vision of an independent America.
About 100 Jews fought in the revolution and many Jewish merchants’ signatures appeared on the various non-importation resolutions adopted by the individual colonies.
The first Jew to die fighting for American independence was, ironically, also the first Jew elected to public office in the colonies.
For Jews, participation in the war marked the first time since their exile from Jerusalem that they could take their place alongside their neighbors as equals in the fight for freedom.
Lunch was soup and sandwiches cooked on-site by Rich Hollander, who whipped up his tomato-basil soup and two-cheese grilled cheese sandwiches.

— Submitted by Larry Steckler

Press note:

Corrine Jacobson reached out last week to comment on how touched and overwhelmed she was by the outpouring of support she received after the death of her son, Ed Bond. “We have a great group of Jewish caring people,” she wrote.