Hundreds celebrate Purim at community carnival

Sunday, Feb. 28 found Beth-El Congregation hopping. Over 200 people enjoyed the Purim atmosphere of the community carnival and lunch. Children were treated to carnival games manned by youth groups from the Fort Worth Federation of Temple Youth, Fort Worth United Synagogue chapter, B’nai B’rith’s AZA and Ahavath Sholom Religious School. The Jewish Education Agency provided cotton candy; FWUSY had popcorn. The Men of Reform Judaism offered lunch, and the Women of Reform Judaism sold their hamantaschen. The girls of BBG put everyone in their “jail” and treated the lucky ones to a tasty cupcake walk. Led by President Emily Englander, BBG also collected used clothing to perform the mitzvah of giving to the needy. The clothing will go to Haiti to clothe the homeless. Other mitzvot of Purim were observed including the Purim feast (with apricot hamantaschen) and decorating and filling mishloach manot bags (gifts of food).
Thanks to Adam Siegel of the Men of Reform Judaism for organizing lunch and to Women of Reform Judaism members Linda Hoffman and Eileen House for their super leadership in arranging and providing the hamantaschen. Judd Vermillion graciously helped set up the community games he had built.
This festive event was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County with financial assistance from the Dan Danciger/Fort Worth Hebrew Day School Supporting Foundation.

Bat mitzvah of Sarah Celia Silverberg

The Kal and Karen Silverberg clan is celebrating daughter Sarah’s bat mitzvah this weekend at Congregation Ahavath Sholom with a full calendar. Sarah is the granddaughter of Elaine and Herb Silverberg of Fort Worth and the late Audrey and Stanley Kolker of St. Louis, Mo. (Before Audrey’s untimely death, this writer had the pleasure and privilege of being a friend of this lovely woman, who was cared for so lovingly in her critical illness by her children and grandchildren, Karen, Kal, Sarah and Steven, during the several years she lived here. The children called Audrey “GiGi” and she was so proud of both of them.)
Starting the weekend, Sarah will lead “Sound of Music” Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv services Friday night at Congregation Ahavath Sholom. Following services, a family dinner will be sponsored by Sarah’s aunts and uncles, Kimberly and John Bivens, Kathleen and Benjamin Blass, Bonnie and Kenton Kolker, and Felice and David Silverberg.
On Saturday morning, the weekend continues with services beginning at 9:30, followed by a Kiddush luncheon sponsored by Karen and Kal Silverberg. Sarah’s brother, Steven, is sponsoring the bimah flowers in honor of his sister, and the sweet table at the luncheon comes from the fantastic baking team of Sheila Stocker, Nancy Stansbury, Etta Miller, Anita Davidson, and Elaine Bumpus, ably supervised by Elsie Blum and Bessie Bodzy.
Saturday evening the fun continues with Havdallah, dinner and dancing at Mira Vista Country Club. The weekend concludes with a brunch for out-of-town guests sponsored by paternal grandparents Elaine and Herb Silverberg in honor of their granddaughter.
Among family and friends expected from Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Corsicana, Waco, Tyler, Abilene, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Tampa, Walnut Creek, Calif., and Port Allen, La., are former ourtowners Rita and Doron Becker and son Elan of Potomac, Md.
Sarah is a seventh-grade honor student at McLean Middle School and a former student of the Fort Worth Hebrew Day School. An active member of Kadima, the Ahavath Sholom Youth group, she is a Third Degree, Level 3 Black Belt in the International Tae Kwon Do Alliance and a Level 2 Instructor. She is a percussionist in the McLean Symphonic Band and a member of the McLean Mirror newspaper writing staff.
Mazel tov to the Silverbergs, who look forward to a wonderful weekend.

Cooking with Holly Clegg

Fort Worth’s own Holly Clegg has a long history of her success in the many “Cooking Light” books she has authored through the years. The daughter of Ruthie and Jerry Berkowitz, she started her incredible career as a teenager when she baked cakes for friends and neighbors. She has appeared on major television programs, lectured extensively, traveled and had book signings, to mention a few of her activities. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, she’s a busy housewife and mother of two beautiful children. Recently, she partnered with Wal-Mart’s Great Value brand to help them develop healthy and affordable meal solutions. Watch for Holly’s new cooking Web sites at www.walmart.com/greatvalue.

Tom Thumb now has kosher items available

Did you know that Tom Thumb on Hulen and Bellaire is not only carrying Passover supplies, but also has an entire section of kosher items, both fresh and frozen? The genial manager, Chris Maiden, is working with the community to maintain availability and is trying to obtain kosher challahs and other bakery items. The store also will carry kosher cold cuts and other refrigerated items.

Works of Beethoven, Bartok, Mendelssohn to be featured at March 20 concert

Beethoven’s “Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97, ‘Archduke,’” Bartok’s “Contrasts for Clarinet, Violin and Piano” and Mendelssohn’s “String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 44, No. 3” are the featured works at The Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth’s March 20 concert. The concert will be held, beginning at 2 p.m., in the auditorium of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, located in Fort Worth’s museum district at 3200 Darnell St. Among the artists on this program are Tamas Ungar, pianist, and Ana Victoria Luperi, clarinetist.
Renowned for his powerful performances and innovative programming, Tamas Ungar performs and teaches regularly all over the globe and has become one of the United States’ best-known and most respected teachers of piano. As founder/executive director of Piano Texas International Academy and Festival and a member of the TCU piano faculty for over 30 years, Ungar attracts students from across America, Europe and the Far East.
Ana Victoria Luperi joined the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in 2006 as principal clarinetist. She has served as guest clarinetist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Ms. Luperi currently serves as instructor in clarinet at TCU.
Chamber music regulars appearing on this program are violinist and artistic director, Robert Davidovici; Curt Thompson, violin; Misha Galaganov, viola; and Karen Basrak on cello.
Single tickets are available by calling 817-924-9207. For more information, please visit the Web site: www.chambermusicsocietyoffortworth.com.