‘Daytimers’ learn about Heritage Trail, Lakes Trail program
During the time that Doug Harman served as president of the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, he developed the Heritage Trail and Lakes Trail program. In his talk this month at “Daytimers,” he highlighted the lives of early leaders, and told where to find their sites or markers in the area.

Corrine Jacobson spoke briefly about the wonderful work that Harman had done for the city during her many years of working with the Convention Bureau.
Also at the meeting, Jewish Women International President Ina Singer presented a $1,000 donation from JWI to support “Daytimers” programming.
Next month “Daytimers” will have a Chanukah party, Wednesday, Dec. 17, with a musical program featuring Jewish and Chanukah music presented by Armen and Ariana Cherkasov. Luncheon will be an Israeli buffet catered by popular Arlington caterer Riki Epstein.
For reservations, call Barbara Rubin, 817-927-2736, or Sylvia Wexler, 817-294-1129, or checks can be mailed to Daytimers, Jewish Federation, 4049 Kingsridge Road, Fort Worth, TX 76109. There has been a change in the credit card processing. “Daytimers” can now accept Discover cards in addition to MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Each card must include the mailing ZIP code and the three- or four-number security code from the card.

The Sylvia Wolens “Daytimers” is a program of Congregation Beth-El with financial support from the Jewish Federation.
Many happy occasions
There’s nothing we love more than reporting simchas in the TJP and the next few weeks will be filled to the brim. For a start, this weekend at Ahavath Sholom is a double celebration — the b’nai mitzvah of Benjy and Molly Karten, children of Mona and Steve Karten and siblings of Carly. Both sets of grandparents, Fay Green and Barry Green and Sol and Phyllis Karten, and other out-of-town guests will join in the weekend festivities.
Special occasions will be celebrated next week by Cathy and Charlie Freid, who will mark their 25th silver wedding anniversary on the 26th; and Leslie and Alan Magee, who will celebrate their 10th on the29th.
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend will be a major celebration for prominent and distinguished ourtowner Lou Barnett, who will mark his 90th. Many more happy returns of the day to Lou.

Also on the calendar is the bat mitzvah of Courtney Anne Smith, daughter of Annette and Mitchell Smith, who will celebrate this special event in her life on Saturday, the 29th. Courtney is the granddaughter of the late Sharon Klemow and Doris Smith and the late Yale Smith. Her maternal great-grandparents were well-known Fort Worthians Faye and Sid Klemow. The same morning at Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas, Elizabeth Kaner, daughter of Marni and Joey Kaner, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah. She’s the granddaughter of the late Fay and Herby Berkowitz. Many ourtowners from their large extended family will join in the celebration.
Mazel tov to all the celebrants and their happy families.
Corrine Jacobson helps Holocaust studies project in Bedford
Performing mitzvahs is not a new endeavor for Corrine Jacobson. She was raised by a mother who taught her well. The late Rose Rosenthal instilled in her daughter at an early age the values and joys in performing mitzvahs and helping others.
Just from reading a news story of a teacher (Miss Kristen Brown) at Harwood Junior High in Bedford who was involved in a project to collect 6 million pencils for a Holocaust studies program (similar to the Paper Clips project that generated national news and interest), Corrine was instrumental in collecting 3,000 pencils to contribute to Miss Brown’s project. Many thanks to Elizabeth Cooper for sharing this with the TJP.
Last chance to RSVP for B’nai B’rith Thanksgiving luncheon
Just a reminder that the B’nai B’rith annual Thanksgiving luncheon will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at Beth-El, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If you haven’t as yet responded, RSVP to Jewish Family Services at 817-569-0898. Please do so as soon as possible.
Hadassah’s Young Judaea 2009 program defies current economic landscape with record early
registration figures
In the first weeks of registration for the coming year, Hadassah’s Young Judaea program has seen a 40 percent surge in its Year Course sign-up despite the economic recession.
Young Judaea, which runs the largest post-high school program in Israel, is experiencing a record sign-up of Jewish 12th-graders for the 2009 program. Hadassah announced that registration for the 10-month program of volunteering and study actually exceeds last year’s record.
Currently, more than 500 teenagers are participants in the year of community volunteering and Zionist education. Representing over 35 American states, four Canadian provinces, Great Britain, Switzerland, Sweden and even Nigeria, the participants represent a spectrum of Jewish backgrounds from the non-affiliated to the Orthodox.
“Even in tough economic times, parents are still committed to fostering their child’s Jewish identity,” said Young Judaea Year Course Director Keith Berman. “In addition, many parents find it cheaper to send their children to Israel than to the first year of university studies, and some of our teens get university credit for the year in Israel.”
The program is divided into three parts, in which the participants experience life in Jerusalem, volunteer and live in Bat Yam and Holon and volunteer throughout the country. Young Judaea alumni have demonstrated the effectiveness of the program in strengthening Jewish identity and creating a lasting connection to Israel. Ninety percent of graduates marry fellow Jews.
In addition to the focus on Zionism and discovering Israel, Young Judaea has recently begun offering specialized tracks. For example, in 2009, participants on a business track will travel to China and India to explore emerging capital markets.
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, was founded by Henrietta Szold in 1912 and has expressed its commitment to the establishment and vitality of the state of Israel through creating health and educational infrastructure. Hadassah is the largest women’s organization in the United States and Jerusalem’s second largest employer.