By Sharon Wisch-Ray

Lu Ann Bergman, president of the Jewish War Veterans Ladies Auxiliary Post #256, recently shared news of an award received by her worthy organization. Among its philanthropies, the ladies have one program called Packages for the Troops. Suggested by Marcy Kramer-Kahn, the auxiliary collects and distributes care packages to troops in Afghanistan.

“We recently lost the group that we had been sending boxes to — they all came home, and that is always good to hear. But we wanted to continue this great project, so we found another unit to adopt,” Lu Ann wrote. “One of the young soldiers in that unit, Cutter Kittrell, happened to be one of my friend’s sons. This very thoughtful young man took it upon himself to have a flag flown on a mission in honor of the JWVA #256 on July 4, 2012. His father presented me with the flag for the JWVA #256 along with a certificate of authenticity signed by the flight crew.”
The certificate reads as follows:
“United States of America Task Force ODIN-A4 presented to The Ladies Auxiliary of the Jewish War Veterans Post 256. This American flag was aboard KA300 ‘RedHanded 97’ over Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on 04 July 2012, flying in direct support of combat operations by aircrew members of Task Force ODIN, 306th Military Intelligence Battalion during Operation Enduring Freedom.”
The flag and certificate were mounted in a shadowbox frame by the auxiliary, and it was presented to Kramer-Kahn for all of her and her daughters’ hard work on this project. Marcy will be the custodian of this tribute to the women of the JWVA #256.

Adat Chaverim’s Komen team raises money for the cure.

It was a good day for a Race for the Cure, and Team Adat Chaverim took full advantage of the weather on Oct. 20. Nine men and women representing the Plano synagogue planned to run or walk the full 5K to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Dallas fund-raiser.
More than $1,000 had been pledged by the time team members gathered at 6:45 a.m. to carpool to Northpark Mall. “It was a madhouse,” team captain Sibylle Jacobs said. “There were over 20,000 participants there.”
Jacobs and her son, Martin Siron, 17, were the runners in the group, and they started six minutes behind the shotgun.
“It took me 15 minutes to get to the front of the crowd, but it was meaningful to see all those people walking and running,” she said. “Some were dressed up, and I saw one man wearing a pink bra in memory of someone.”
The two runners and the Team Adat Chaverim walkers — Tiffany Fullman, Louise and Jennifer LeWinter, Amy Neeley, John Sanders, Katie Sanders and Sara Thompson — completed the 5K race. Once they all crossed the finish line, they returned to the synagogue to join Rabbi Ben Sternman and congregants at the morning service. Team members were called to the Torah for an aliyah, as was Barbara Lowry, a cancer survivor.
They also were surprised after Shabbat services Oct. 19 with a cake that said it all: “Race for the Cure 2012. Go Team Adat Chaverim!” And they did.

Synagogues spread warmth

Temple Emanu-El’s annual coats for kids drive is set to wrap up in a couple of weeks, but it is still accepting donations. Bring your gently used coats, jackets, hats, gloves, blankets and other warm apparel to the synagogue, 8500 Northwest Highway.
They will be cleaned by Lone Star Cleaners at no charge and then distributed by the East Dallas Storefront of the Dallas Police Department.
Congregation Beth Torah in Richardson also is accepting donations for this year’s drive, as is Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. The coat drive, founded by then-Brotherhood president Brad Wohlander, is in its ninth year and has already broken all records for donated items collected.
Meanwhile, Congregation Shir Tikvah in Frisco recently wrapped up its own coat drive at the synagogue’s religious school. Students continued the tradition of putting learning into action as they participated in the Coats 4 Kids drive, benefiting the Frisco Family Services Center.
Students and parents sifted through last year’s winter coats and donated gently used jackets to those in need.
“We want to put our learning into action, and we want our students to know that they can indeed make a difference in the community around them, Rabbi Steve Fisch said. It is not only a privilege to do so, but it is our responsibility.”

Noteworthy

• Registration is now open for the J Jr. Basketball League. If your son or daughter is a basketball player in grades 1-8, it’s time for them to lace up their sneakers. The draft will be Nov. 18 with two evaluation days on Nov. 4 and Nov. 11. Practice begins in November, and games start in December. Team jerseys are provided to each participant with paid registration. Visit jccdallas.org for prices and registration or call sports director Tayler Faust at 214-239-7175 with any questions.
• Story Fridays continue at 10 a.m. at Ann and Nate Levine Academy, 18011 Hillcrest Road, for children (and their parents) ages 6 months to 2 years. The free program includes a story with occasional puppets, a musical program and gym time. RSVP to Storyfriday@levineacademy.org or call 972-248-3032.
• The venue has been picked for this year’s Matzoh Ball, Dec. 24. Dallas’ biggest Jewish singles party of the year will be held at eM The Venue, 1500 Dragon Street, Suite D, in the Dallas Design District. Co-chairs this year are Jody Martin and Leon Jacobson.