B’nai Israel unites community
The B’nai Israel Religious School launched a new program in the Jewish community known as the “Flat Jacob” project. The program is based on the book “Flat Stanley” by Jeff Brown, and strives to help children all over the Dallas area experience synagogue life throughout DFW, as well as Jewish life all over the world. A “Flat Jacob” doll is mailed from synagogue to synagogue and his experiences are captured through photographs. They are then sent to Misty Lewin, the B’nai Israel Religious School director, where she posts his travels on Flat Jacob’s very own Web site. Children from synagogues in the DFW area and beyond will be able to log on and follow Flat Jacob’s journey while they experience synagogue life throughout the world. The directors of Dallas-area synagogues have all joined together in this amazing mission to unite the community.
In times like these, it is important to come together as a Jewish community and support one another. B’nai Israel is doing just that at their annual Purim carnival on Sunday, March 8 at noon. The synagogue will celebrate Purim with the theme, “We’re All In This Together!” featuring a Religious School musical based on the movie “High School Musical.” B’nai Israel invites everyone to join in the fun and spirit of Purim as the cast of “Hebrew School Musical” encourages all to unite and inspires all to join hands because “We’re All In This Together!” Tickets are now available. Please contact the B’nai Israel Religious School for more information at schooldirector@bnaiisraelnorthtexas.org.
Levine Academy students inducted into honor society
On, Friday, Feb. 6, Levine Academy inducted eight new members into the National Junior Honor Society. Levine Academy chartered its first chapter in 2005 with the goal of providing an avenue to further student leadership and commitment to tikkun olam, repairing the world. “We have great expectations of our Honor Society students,” said Wende Weinberg, NJHS advisor. The NJHS members organize the Levine Academy Annual Chesed Day and Mitzvah Madness Day, which are both devoted to helping those less fortunate in Dallas, and serve as academic tutors and teacher aids within the Academy. “As a result of programs such as Mitzvah Madness Day,” added K-8 Principal Dr. Susie Wolbe, “all of our students see the world beyond their own needs and discover the rewards of helping others in the greater Dallas area.” In the past, the students have prepared Thanksgiving dinners for the homeless and helped at many agencies.
A seventh- or eighth-grade student may be considered for membership in the NJHS only if he or she has achieved a cumulative grade point average of 85 or higher. Once that criterion is met, a Faculty Council evaluates each student based upon the following criteria: service, leadership, character, citizenship. Selected students meet regularly to plan and execute one or more school service projects, in addition to continuing their own social service endeavors.
Congratulations to the following Levine Academy students who were inducted into the NJHS: class of ’09, Talia Richman; class of ’10, Jordan Cope, Nathan Jajan, Sasha Kislak, Matthew Milner, Sylvan Perlmutter, Dania Tanur, Brent Weinberg. They join current members from the class of 2009: Jeffrey Diamond, Shelby Gadol, Rachel Goodman, Grace Horn, Justin Katz, Liz Livingston, Yosef Presburger, Kayley Romick and Dillon Shipper.
The NJHS has more than 5,000 chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, many U.S. territories and Canada.
IDF careerist to speak at Bnai Zion event, March 4
Maj. Gen. (ret.) Uri Sagie, distinguished Israeli Defense Forces careerist, will be the guest speaker at a Bnai Zion event at Congregation Shearith Israel on March 4. Maj. Gen. Sagie, the president of Ahava Village for Children and Youth in Kiryat Bialik and a noted commander in the IDF, served as head of the Intelligence Directorate after a long list of military accomplishments. His visit to Dallas kicks off a promotion for the second annual brunch to benefit Ahava that will be held at Shearith Israel on Sunday, April 19, in honor of Carole and Joram Wolanow.
Ahava Village for Children and Youth, a Bnai Zion project, is a residential center for children at risk, ages 6 to 18, where they receive education, care and therapy to overcome their troubled past and become well-adjusted, productive members of society. Maj. Gen. Sagie, a published author and lecturer on strategic and national security issues, participated in the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition, the Yom Kippur War, the First Lebanon War, combat activities in the Security Zone (Lebanon) and the first intifada. He served as brigade commander in the renowned Entebbe operation in 1976 and retired from active service in 1995. As president of Ahava, Maj. Gen. Sagie heads up a committed board devoted to Ahava’s life-transforming work and plays an inspirational role for residents, staff and supporters alike. Yoav Apelboim, the executive director of Ahava, will also be in Dallas during Maj. Gen. Sagie’s March visit and will return for the April brunch. Bnai Zion, marking its centennial, supports humanitarian projects in Israel that improve the lives of many. Other current projects include the Bnai Zion Medical Center in Haifa; the Quittman Center at Israel Elwyn in Jerusalem; the David Yellin Academic College of Education in Bet Hakerem and Ma’aleh Adumim.
For more information and reservations for this event on March 4, as well as for the brunch on April 19, please call the Bnai Zion Texas regional office at 972-918-9200 or e-mail avrille.harris-cohen@bnaizion.org. More details are available at www.bnaizion.org.
Community Kollel to offer free Hebrew reading courses
The Community Kollel of Dallas, in conjunction with the National Jewish Outreach Program, will offer crash courses in Hebrew reading at three levels.
“Beginner’s Luck: A Hebrew Reading Primer” is a seven-part course at the beginner level. It will meet Tuesdays, 8:15–9:15 a.m., in the Library Conference Room of the Schultz Rosenberg Campus. Course dates are March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31, and April 21 and 28.
“Why Is This Night ‘Different’ for Hebrew Readers?” will be given at both the intermediate and advanced levels. It will improve Hebrew reading skills through guided study of Passover seder texts. The six-part intermediate level course (basic knowledge of Hebrew letters and vowels required) will meet Mondays, 2:30–3:30 p.m.; course dates are March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, and April 6. The five-part advanced level course meets Wednesdays, 2:30–3:30 p.m.; course dates are March 4, 11, 18 and 25, and April 1. Each meets in the Boardroom of the Schultz Rosenberg Campus. All courses are free. To register, contact Shirley Rovinsky at the Community Kollel of Dallas, 214-295-3525 or kollelofdallas@sbcglobal.net. The Schultz Rosenberg Campus is located at 12324 Merit Drive, Dallas.