By Sharon Wisch-Ray

It was thrilling to be in the audience last Sunday as the Maccabeats, Yeshiva University’s male a capella group performed at Shearith Israel as part of the Small Waldman Cohen Music series and in cooperation with Yachad of Dallas. What struck me Sunday was the cross section of our vibrant Jewish community in attendance. It seemed to me as though all facets were represented. I then considered all of the other programs throughout the day open to all: The weekly meeting of ATID (Academy for Torah in Dallas), a program for 11th and 12th grade students; earlier in the day, the sisterhoods of all of our Dallas-area synagogues held their annual intra-faith brunch at Temple Shalom; the ribbon-cutting of the J’s new Naturescape; 18 different Learningfest opportunities; youth sports at the J and more. Wow! A hearty Yasher Koach to everyone in our community that keeps it humming and interesting for all of us. And by the way, if you haven’t been to a Learningfest program yet, by the time you read this you should have some 20+ opportunities to participate in one of the edifying sessions. Visit learningfest.org for more info.

Are You Addicted to Toxic Emotions? Would you Like to Break Free?

On Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. JFS, Chabad of Dallas and Chabad of Plano will present Rabbi Shais Taub speaking on “Emotional Heights: Are We Addicted?” at the Jewish Community Center of Dallas (7900 Northaven Road). Rabbi Taub is the author of “God of Our Understanding: Jewish Spirituality and Recovery from Addiction” and serves as spiritual leader of Conscious Contact, a prayer and meditation center with an emphasis on serving the spiritual needs of addicts in Pittsburgh, Pa. He is on the editorial staff of the websites Chabad.org and Jewish.TV and is a routine contributor to the Huffington Post. The cost is $5 at the door, no RSVP necessary. For more information, please contact Moshe Naparstek with Chabad of Dallas at 972-818-0770.

CBT ‘Burn the Mortgage’ art auction and Men’s Club/Sisterhood breakfast

Congregation Beth Torah has two fun events planned for next weekend.
The Men’s Club is sponsoring an art auction on Saturday, Feb. 11, with all proceeds earmarked to pay down the synagogue mortgage.
The “Deck the Walls — Burn the Mortgage” event will feature a huge selection of fine art, Judaica, and sports and music memorabilia. State of the Art, which organizes fundraising auctions throughout the country, is supplying the art and a professional auctioneer.
Admission is free, refreshments will be provided, and the Men’s Club is picking up all expenses so every penny raised goes to the mortgage.
“We did this in 2010 in time for Chanukah, and this year the timing is perfect for Valentine’s Day,” said Mike Precker, event organizer. “State of the Art brings a truckload of terrific stuff in every price range, and they put on a great show.”
The preview starts at 7:30 p.m., the auction kicks off at 8:30, and the public is welcome. For more information or to RSVP for a great raffle prize, call the synagogue at 972-234-1542.
The annual joint breakfast of CBT Men’s Club and Sisterhood on Sunday, Feb.12, will focus on green energy and the growing revolution in electric cars.
The program will be led by Stanton Zeff, a Beth Torah member, and expert on green energy — and the proud owner of a new Nissan Leaf, one of several electric cars already on the market.
As always, the annual gathering features Men’s Club lox and bagels, delightful Sisterhood desserts and the special camaraderie of the synagogue’s two leading groups. The breakfast begins at 9 a.m., following the 8:30 minyan. The cost is $8 for members, $10 for guests.
Beth Torah is located at 720 W. Lookout Drive in Richardson. For more information, call the synagogue at 972-234-1542.

Maccabi tryouts underway soon for Team Dallas

As someone who’s son had the awesome experience of participating in last year’s Maccabi Games in Philly, I highly encourage you to have your child try-out for this year’s Team Dallas which will travel to Memphis, Tenn. Aug. 5-10. Tryouts will be held between mid-February and the first week in March. The dates are already posted on the JCC Website. At presstime, tryouts are being held in boys basketball, girls basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer, swimming, table tennis and tennis. The games are for atheltes ages 13-16. Athletes age 12 may tryout and be eligible to participate in individual sports only — swimming, table tennis and tennis. For more information, visit the J’s website, jccdallas.org or contact John Mize, director of Fitness and Wellness at 214-239-7147.

Robin Teig receives certification

Congratulations to Robin Teig, activity director on the Memory Care Unit at the Legacy at Willowbend, who has been certified through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP), the only national organization that certifies activity professionals who work with the elderly.
“Robin is now one of only a few hundred people nationwide to have this certification, and we are so proud of her and all that she brings to our residents and to our staff,” said Lana Van Giesen, executive director, The Legacy at Willow Bend. “We take pride in having the best staff possible, and Robin is a major part of our success.”
Certification generally takes around three years to complete. It involves extensive Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP) classes, 30 continuing education credits and a college degree in a related field. The NCCAP sets standards for those working to meet the activity needs of those in their care and provides certified professionals with recognition, development, and collaboration at the national level.
“I am thankful that The Legacy has provided me with the opportunity to receive my certification, and I am proud to represent The Legacy as a certified activity director,” said Teig.
Teig has placed an important emphasis on the arts by using poetry, art and music to help trigger memories in her memory care residents. She also will be facilitating a support group for the family members of her memory care residents at The Legacy to provide them with useful information and the help that they need.

Levine Academy students selected for National Junior Honor Society

Added congratulations to Levine Academy’s newest inductees into the National Junior Honor Society.

In early January, nine new students were selected from 22 eligible candidates to join the National Junior Honor Society at Levine Academy. National Junior Honor Society recognizes those seventh and eighth graders who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, community service, character and citizenship. These applications were reviewed by all middle school teachers who ranked the various characteristics provided by the students. The top students were selected though there was a very narrow margin between all students qualifying. Yasher Koach to the following new students who will join the current 8th grade members Jonas Frenkel, Dani Milner and Elena Okowita:
Eighth graders Eylon Kidron, Elise Eisenberg, and Shira Hovav; and seventh graders Zach Rudner, Josh Rudner, Sabrina Suster, Mira Fradkin, Sophie Bernstein and Ben Schachter.
NJHS members organize and run C.H.E.S.E.D. Day, Mitzvah Madness and Teacher Appreciation among many other programs. They continue to demonstrate their leadership skills as they serve as role models for all of our students.

New venue for Anshai Lunch and Learn Feb. 10

Anshai Torah has moved it’s Lunch and Learn with Scholar in Residence Rabbi Donniel Hartman to Thanksgiving Tower, 1601 Elm Street. The program begins at 12:15 p.m. For more information, or to RSVP by Feb. 6, contact Debbie Butvin 972-473-7718, or email debbie.butvin@anshaitorah.org.

That’s a wrap

Don’t forget as with every Superbowl Sunday, this Sunday morning is the annual Worldwide Wrap, which will be held this Sunday morning, Feb. 5, at Congregation Beth Torah, 720 Lookout Drive in Richardson. The World Wide Wrap is sponsored by the Men’s clubs of Congregations Anshai Torah, Beth Torah and Shearith Israel, and rotates locations from year to year. Bring your t’fillan and say morning prayers with men and women from across the community and stay for a nosh. The program begins at 9 a.m.
We would like to hear from our readers. Send me your news at sharonw@texasjewishpost.com.