This Yiddishe mama had a ‘gut’ time at Mamaloshen Morning
I wasn’t going to go. But I did, and I’m glad I went. After much coaxing, my daughter Sharon Wisch-Ray chauffeured me  to the recent Thursday morning Yiddish group at Shearith Israel, Mamaloshen Morning. Sharon is a very busy lady — a devoted wife, homemaker and mother of three very active sports-dedicated young sons — and holds a full-time job and then more as executive editor at the TJP, yet there’s always time for Mom. My Yiddish is very sketchy at best, remnants from conversations with my mother as a child and the few words that Jimmy and I would exchange when we didn’t want our kids to know what we were saying. It was something that we used fairly often, though, and to this day I still remember many familiar, old-timey phrases. At any rate, the Thursday morning get-together was fun, very social, comfortable and relaxing.
Everyone was called by their Yiddish name, and I was glad that I had an easy one to remember, Chaya. Actually, as a child, many long years ago, my mom called me Chayala, which was a form of endearment.
Israel Becker commanded the fort as head honcho reading poems, jokes and anecdotes from a Yiddish book, and others in the group contributed with their Yiddish selections.
Shearith Israel Program Director Mona Allen was busy as a bee seeing that everyone was seated comfortably, served refreshments of cookies and fresh fruit and coffee or tea. A performance of young Shearith Stars from the Pre-School, under the direction of Pre-School Director Esther Wolf, wowed the seniors.
It was a fun morning, the time passed quickly and I was happy to meet new friends and new faces. Among them were Shirley Greenfield, Sandy Gelfand, Roberta and Steve Toback, Evelyn Shwiff, Pearl Olson, Max Glauben, Ruth Fishman, Ruth Rosen, Mike Lev, Maggie Furst, Bert Romberg and Mildred Rosen.
Thanks, Sharon, let’s do it again on Jan. 8.
Tiferet hosts Chinese dinner and movie on Dec. 25
Congregation Tiferet Israel is hosting a Chinese dinner and a movie on the evening of Dec. 25. Why go out on a cold night among strangers when you can spend a pleasurable evening of warm fellowship, while shmoozing with friends?
Dietary restrictions for the dinner will be under the direct supervision of Tiferet rabbinic authorities. The movie scheduled to be shown will be “Oscar.” Sylvester Stallone stars as a Mob kingpin who needs to learn how to become a banker. Think “the Mob meets Pygmalion.” This is a very funny movie that will provide an opportunity to share many laughs among friends. There will also be a special movie selection for the children in attendance as well.
This event is part of an ongoing and concerted effort on the part of Tiferet Israel to offer programs which meet the needs of a growing and diverse community. All individuals are welcome.
The cost of the event is $20 for adults, $10 for kids ages 4 through 13, with children under 4 being free.
Please call Debby Chambers at 214-691-3611 to RSVP.
Congregation Tiferet Israel is located at 10909 Hillcrest Road, just north of Royal Lane in Dallas.
Congratulate Yavneh grads with a yearbook ad
There is still time to congratulate Yavneh graduates with a yearbook ad.
Don’t miss the chance to wish mazel tov to your “near and dear” students, or to Donald O’Quinn on 10 years at the Yavneh campus.
Yavneh has been on six campuses (including the JCC, Congregation Shearith Israel and Congregation Tiferet Israel) and is now celebrating Yavneh @ 15!
The class of 2009 includes Asriel Agronin, Michelle Bach, Sarah Blasnik, Peter Bokov, Emily Cohen, Ariella Coretz, Shayna Dunsky, Mica Esquenazi, Eliana Gershon, Sara Greenberg, Brittney Herson, Patrice Khunteyev, Zoe Klein, Corey Kleinman, David Kravitz, Laura Kreditor, Aaron Liener, Michael Meltzer, Alexa Meyers, Jonathan Mishler, Eve Moel, Ariel Osterreicher, Zeke Quittner-Strom, Natalie Taub, Ethan Waranch, Sol Weiner, Elizabeth Weinstein, Shelley Widom and William Zalstein.
JWV Ladies Auxiliary celebrates Chanukah
Gather around folks, the Jewish War Veterans Ladies Auxiliary will celebrate Chanukah on Monday Dec. 22, 7 p.m. in the Junior Assembly Room at the J and you are invited to their annual party. There will be delicious deserts, door prizes and a “pinning” ceremony for five new members. There is no admission fee, but members and guests are asked to bring something for the food pantry at Jewish Family Service if possible. Last year the Auxiliary donated $500 worth of food to JFS. A fun (and funny) program is planned. For more information you can call either Mimi Guten, 214-361-2979 or Flora Robin, 214-368-1588.
Teen Connection provides the ideal pre-BBYO experience
On Nov. 23, 50 Dallas-area Jewish seventh- and eighth-graders converged at the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center for a “Tie Dye and Pie” event as part of BBYO’s Teen Connection program for pre-high school students. BBYO (B’nai B’rith Youth Organization) is a pluralistic youth-led organization open to all Jewish high school teens, providing opportunities for socializing, leadership development, Jewish learning, social action and community service.
For this program, each participant brought a T-shirt to tie-dye, found fun “treasures” while making pies and played other games in the JCC Block Gym. Cameron Smith, a seventh-grader at Frankford Middle School, said he came to Tie Dye and Pie “to have fun and be with [his] friends.” Teen Connection events are held several times during the year. For more information on Teen Connection and to get on the mailing list, please contact Tracy Davis at tdavis@bbyo.org or at the Dallas BBYO office at 214-363-4654.