Bnai Zion to honor Posy McMillen at Nov. 1 event
If you haven’t as yet had the opportunity to meet Monica “Posy” McMillen, I’m sure most of you are at least familiar with her name. She’s a longtime dedicated supporter of not only our Jewish community, but Israel, as well. A well-known teacher extraordinaire, Posy will be recognized by the community and selected by the Texas Region of Bnai Zion Foundation as one of their main honorees for their ninth annual gala, scheduled for Nov. 1, at the elegant Westin Park Central Hotel in Big D. Before you have any qualms about not crossing over the Trinity to Dallas, rest assured, round-trip transportation will be provided at no fee. RSVPs (for bus and the dinner) can be made with Texas Region Director Avrille Harris Cohen, 972-918-9200 or e-mail avrilleharris-cohen@bnaizion.org.
“Posy,” as she is called by all who know and love her, has a most impressive resume. Of Mennonite Christian origins, taught early in her youth the love for Israel and the Jewish people, she authored and teaches a 22-week course titled “Anti-Semitism and the Church.” She has also done several 13-week courses on traditional Judaism: “Judaism 101,” “The Jews in Their Land: 169 BCE to 1917 CE,” “Jewish Holidays and Their Significance in Christianity,” “Hebraic Footprints in the New Testament,” “The Jewish People in the First Century” and “Jewish Women in Greco-Roman Judea.”
In 1997, Posy served as chairman of the Anne Frank in the World: 1929–1945 International Exhibition, which was held in Fort Worth, and chaired it again in October and November 2002. In 1998, she was awarded a grant to study in an intensive four-week (180-hour) Holocaust study program at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. She has served on the Program Committee for the Dallas Holocaust Museum and is on the Speakers’ Bureau for the National Unity Coalition/Voices United for Israel.
Posy has twice been vice president of education for Fort Worth Hadassah and was vice president of fundraising. At present, she is serving as representative of the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County on the Texas Coalition for Holocaust Education.
She is the founder of the Fort Worth branch of Yad B’Yad (Hebrew for “Hand in Hand”), an organization of reconciliation between Christians and Jews that she started in 1998, and head of a pro-Israel activist group called HaShomer (“The Guardian”). Posy has also taught several times for the Tapestry of Jewish Education program at the Jewish Community Center in Austin.
A graduate of Indiana University, Posy is a native of Fort Wayne, Ind. She is the recipient of many honors, including the Israel Freedom Award (2002) from Israel Bonds, Four Chaplains Award (2002) from the Fort Worth Jewish War Veterans, and American Eagle Award from B’nai B’rith (2007) for her work in the Jewish community, and is a member of many organizations that have benefited from her leadership and advocacy.
Bnai Zion is delighted to have this righteous Christian as its next honoree, as we are all the beneficiaries of her remarkable contributions to our world. Bnai Zion, founded in 1908, has provided over 100 years of aid in both Israel and the United States with its far-reaching humanitarian, nonpartisan projects and causes, focusing on improving the human condition. The world-renowned Bnai Zion Medical Hospital in Haifa, Israel, serves as the medical teaching arm of the Technion, Israel’s answer to our own MIT. Bnai Zion’s volunteers hope to secure funds to help the Bnai Zion Medical Center continue its life-saving work.
Press notes
Former ourtowner Toni Gernsbacher was host to a group of friends and kinfolk at a delightful weekend retreat, in celebration of her 50th birthday, at the Lake Austin Spa.
Happy July anniversary greetings to Judie B. and Bob Greenman, their 45th on the 12th; Sharon and Bill Clark, their 20th on the 22nd; Carol and Ronnie Goldman, their 45th on the 26th; and Cynthia and Jeff Prostok, their 20th on the 29th. Happy birthday greetings to Bennie Luskey, who will celebrate his 90th birthday this Saturday at a luncheon at Cousin’s hosted by his children Jeanie and Henry Luskey and Dr. Gary and Rossi Solomon of Dallas. It will be a maftir weekend for Leon Brachman, who will celebrate his 89th birthday on Aug. 1, at the Shabbat service this Saturday at Ahavath Sholom, where he will chant the same maftir from his bar mitzvah in Marietta, Ohio so long ago. Leon will be honored, by family and friends, following the service at a Shabbat luncheon.
Mazel tov to all the celebrants.