Shir Tikvah Religious School helps Frisco families blast into summer

The Shir Tikvah Religious School of Frisco is gearing up for an incredible 2011-2012 school year. The Religious School is under the leadership of Director Misty Lewin and ISJL Curriculum Coordinator Stephanie Lambert.
“We wanted to begin this amazing school year by impacting our community,” said Lewin. “We celebrated this mission with our first annual ‘Blast Into Summer’ mitzvah project. The families of Shir Tikvah joined together and donated water guns, sunscreen, and bubble items to the Frisco Family Services Center.
“We are looking forward to making a difference by partnering with The Frisco Family Services Center throughout the upcoming school year,” she added.
Myrna Martinez of The Frisco Family Services Center joined the Shir Tikvah congregation at Shabbat services on Friday, June 17 to accept the “Blast Into Summer” donations. Rabbi Steve Fisch and the Shir Tikvah congregation celebrated this special moment as the children of Shir Tikvah brought joy to the lives of others.
The Shir Tikvah Religious School and congregation will be hosting their Open House event on Friday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m. at 7700 Main Street in the C3 Frisco Complex.
“We are excited to extend an invitation to the community to celebrate Shabbat with Shir Tikvah of Frisco,” said Craig Lewin, president of Shir Tikvah. “Families will be able to meet Rabbi Steve Fisch and be welcomed by the loving families of our congregation. The Religious School administration and staff will present their exciting program for the 2011-2012 school year, as well as enroll students for the fall. Following services, families are invited to experience a delicious oneg prepared by the families of Shir Tikvah, as well as activities for the children presented by the Religious School staff.”
For more information, visit www.shirtikvahfrisco.org. To learn more about the Shir Tikvah Religious School contact Misty Lewin at 214-733-1167.

Cinema Emanu-El presents four outstanding films in July and August

There are few things more synonymous with summer than the big screen, and Temple Emanu-El aims to oblige with its annual summer film festival. From a spellbinding Israeli thriller, to a search for Jewish identity by a young journalist in present-day Germany, Cinema Emanu-El presents four outstanding films as the series opens on July 12.
“We are pleased, once again, to be able to present another group of outstanding films as Cinema Emanu-El continues to bring thought-provoking and diverse films to Dallas each summer,” said Cinema Emanu-El chair, Leslie Null.
The four films for 2011 are:
Tuesday July 12, 7 p.m.
“The Debt” (2007)
A spellbinding, Israeli thriller, “The Debt” dramatically unravels the haunting complexities of a secret Mossad mission when, three decades later, disturbing information revealed in an obscure German newspaper forces an agent to revisit her worst nightmare. Subtitled. The film received four Israeli Academy Award nominations. Post film discussion to be led by Rabbi Adam Allenberg.
Tuesday, July 19, 7 p.m.
“Brothers” (2009)
A secular Kibbutznik’s world is shaken when his long-lost brother, now an orthodox Jewish lawyer in the United States, arrives in Israel to defend students who refuse military service. This topical Israeli drama portrays the struggle between two radically different visions of the future of the Jewish State. Subtitled. The film won the Audience Award at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival. Post film discussion to be led by Rabbi Asher Knight.
Tuesday, July 26, 7 p.m.
“Just an Ordinary Jew” (2005)
In this probing drama set in present-day Germany, a young journalist struggles with his Jewish identity. The private emotional avalanche that ensues may leave you wrestling with your own sense of self and what it means to be Jewish in 21st century America. Subtitled. This film was screened at both the San Francisco and San Diego Jewish Film Festivals. Post film discussion to be led by Cantor Richard Cohn.
Tuesday, August 2, 7 p.m.
“Wrong Side of the Bus”
In this moving documentary, an eminent professor of psychiatry returns to Cape Town after a 40-year absence, accompanied by his teenage son, to seek forgiveness for what may be his complicity in South Africa’s shameful past. This film was screened at the Boston and Atlanta Jewish Film Festivals. Post film discussion will be led by Rabbi Debra Robbins.
All screenings will be in the Tobian Auditorium at Temple Emanu-El, 8500 Hillcrest Road in Dallas. Tickets are $4 per film, or $12 for a season pass. For tickets or information, contact Nancy Rivin at 214-706-0000 or nrivin@tedallas.org.
The Cinema Emanu-El film series is presented annually at Temple Emanu-El.

Mazel tov to Eleni Wilsmann

Mazel tov to Eleni Wilsmann, recipient of the Hank Bodner Award for Good Sportsmanship last week at the Aaron Family JCC Annual Meeting.
The Hank Bodner Award is given each year to a young athlete between the ages of 15 and 19 who has displayed excellence in sportsmanship, leadership and citizenship in athletics and academics. Hank Bodner was instrumental in creating the youth sports program at the J, and was a role model for its young athletes.
Eleni Wilsmann began her journey at the J at the age of eight and has been playing tennis there ever since. Eleni is an exceptional athlete who also excels in volleyball and softball as a student athlete at Lakehill Preparatory.
Aside from third place TAAPS 2A girls singles in tennis, this year she was awarded RBI leader with 37 RBIs in 2A/3A softball, first team all district in softball, first team all district in volleyball, and Honor Club Award in recognition of participation in three varsity sports while maintaining at least an A-B Honor Roll -status for the entire school year. In addition to her athletic qualities, Eleni also possesses the unique ability to be great with kids. After attending tennis camp at the J as a youngster, she was hired as a teen to be a tennis camp counselor and instructor and has been working in that capacity for the last four summers. Next year, she will attend Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. Eleni is an outstanding person and athlete whose competitiveness and ability to teach young people have made her who she is today.