Temple Shalom Sisterhood luncheon and fashion show to take place March 27
The Temple Shalom Sisterhood is proud to present “Shabbat Blooms: Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show” honoring Woman of Valor Juli Burreson. The event will take place at the Prestonwood Country Club, 15909 Preston Road, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The fashion show will feature men and women, ages 25 to 85, presenting the latest spring fashions from Stein Mart. Temple Shalom’s Rabbi Andrew Paley will be one of the models. There will also be silent and live auctions, where guests can bid on items like restaurant gift certificates, airline tickets, hotel passes and even a trip to Disneyland. Proceeds will go toward Temple Shalom and Jewish Family Service.
Renee Rubin, event co-chair, said this event has been going on since 1982. She said the main goal of the luncheon and fashion show is to bring people together to honor someone great from the community.
“This is really fun and festive and brings together many different groups in the temple and the community to highlight the strength of the sisterhood,” she said. “It shows the power of women and what the sisterhood can do.”
Reservations are still being accepted. The cost is $50 per person, $40 for people 30 and under and for those 70 and over. To RSVP, please call Allison Harding at 972-965-7279.
Shaare Tefilla holds Purim banquet with a Chinese twist
On Purim day, Tuesday, March 10, nearly 300 people fulfilled the mitzvah of enjoying a Purim se’udah (festive meal) at various homes throughout the Congregation Shaare Tefilla community. In an effort to add to the Purim mystique, each guest family was assigned to a specific host home, but did not find out who else would be joining them until they arrived. Through pre-arranged planning, everything needed for each banquet was provided by either Shaare Tefilla or delegated to one of the guest families, including fun Purim skits, songs and games, a thought-provoking d’var Torah (words of wisdom from the Torah), freshly baked hamantaschen and even delicious kosher Chinese food imported straight from New Jersey.
The Chinese food was delivered frozen and required an extended period of time to defrost and heat up. But, in the true spirit of Purim, what may have otherwise been a disaster — hungry guests waiting for food — was transformed into a blessing — the opportunity to spend more time rejoicing with friends and family. According to Shaare Tefilla’s Assistant Rabbi Jay Weinstein, who coordinated the Shaare Tefilla Purim Seudah Program, “This turn of events actually fulfilled the goal of the home hospitality Purim se’udah, as one of the themes of Purim is strengthening our relationships with our fellow Jews.” One lesson learned by all was that we never really know what lies in store for us; meanwhile we can treasure good times with family and friends, and trust in HaShem.
The Purim Seudah Program was designed in such a way that anyone in the community could host or attend, regardless of their personal kosher observance, and it was successful. “This was the best Purim se’udah I have even been to,” said Akiba eighth-grader Eli Schramm, who was a guest with his family at the home of Jordana and Josh Bernstein.
Stan Levenson newly elected Urban League board chairman
Stan Levenson was sworn in as the new chairman of the Urban League of Greater Dallas board of trustees at its 2009 Annual Meeting Luncheon. The Urban League is an affiliate of the National Urban League, the oldest and largest community-based movement in the country. Levenson has served as a board member for nine years.
“Stan brings a substantial depth of experience in virtually all marketing communications and public affairs practice areas and a very strong understanding of Dallas and its issues,” said Dr. Beverly Mitchell Brooks, Urban League president and CEO. “We look forward to his leadership as the League continues to expand its programs and services throughout Dallas County and move individuals and families to self-sufficiency.”
Levenson is chief executive officer of Levenson & Brinker Public Relations and a recognized public relations professional. He is formerly executive vice president of Bozell & Jacobs Inc., where he was in charge of the Public Relations, Promotion and Retail Services Division. He, his wife Barbara and Bill Hill founded Levenson, Levenson & Hill in 1984. Since merging with Brinker Communications in 2004, Levenson and Brinker Public Relations operates collaboratively with The Levenson Group of advertising and marketing agencies.
Levenson’s commitment to his community, through the numerous charitable organizations he supports, is far-reaching. He has served as senior public relations consultant for the City of Dallas’ Economic Development Department which was responsible for co-chairing the Southern Dallas marketing communications program; two-term chairman of the Communications Committee of the Greater Dallas Chamber; a member of the board of directors of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society; on the Visiting Nurses Association of Texas; and as program chairman for the opening of the Museum of African American Life and Culture.
In 2004, Levenson co-chaired the public relations committee for the Dallas Arts Gala, a citywide tribute to performing and visual arts in North Texas. He is currently a board member of the North Texas Commission and is an active member of the Super Bowl XLV Host Committee as well as the prestigious President’s Advisory Council for the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, the organization responsible for designing and building the new Winspear Opera House and the Wyly Theatre in the Dallas Arts District.
New board members installed at the event were Nafeesa M. Belcher, JC Penney; Jesse L. Crawford, Verizon Operations; and Annette Green, Brinker International.
Key to a joyful Sabbath:
SMU’s José Bowen to visit Temple Shalom with jazz band
Temple Shalom will host José Bowen’s Jazz Shabbat Service at its Friday evening worship on March 27 at 7:30 p.m. Bowen will be joined onstage by a six-piece jazz ensemble.
Cantor Don Alan Croll and the Temple Shalom adult and youth choirs, under the direction of Bob Brooks and Lynn Metrik, and the Meadows School of the Arts Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Rosharra J’Nae Francis, will also share the stage.
Bowen is dean of the Meadows School of the Arts and professor of music at Southern Methodist University.
“How wonderful to become acquainted with such a personality as José Bowen, knowing that he is a committed Jew who shares his musical talent with his people. This Jazz Service is quite a composition, encompassing all the different rhythms that fall under the idiom we call jazz, including blues, gospel and Latin rhythms too,” Cantor Croll said. “Most important is the space he gives professional jazz instrumentalists to improvise … kind of like a traditional cantor!”
In over 30 years as a jazz performer, Bowen has appeared in Europe, Israel and the United States with Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby McFerrin, Dave Brubeck, Liberace and many others. Bowen’s compositions, conducting and playing are featured on numerous recordings and his latest CD, “Uncrowded Night,” features his playing with the José Bowen Quartet. He has written a symphony (nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 1985), a film score, and music for Hubert Laws, Jerry Garcia and many others. Bowen’s Jewish music is also widely performed. (Last year Temple Emanu-El performed his Klezmer Shabbat Service.) Other CDs with Jewish content include “The Garden,” a song-cycle for soprano and tenor based on the first four chapters of Genesis. Featured on the CD is “Voices from the Annex,” with texts based on the words of Anne Frank.
“We’re jazzed to have José Bowen bring to our community a very special Shabbat,” Cantor Croll said. “We hope everyone will join us for this wonderful musical evening.”
Temple Shalom is located at 6930 Alpha Road, Dallas. For further information, please contact Cantor Croll at dcroll@templeshalomdallas.org or 972-661-1810.
Z-Pilates Showcase at the J
Are you looking for a new exercise plan to help make your New Year’s resolution come true? Well, the perfect workout awaits you with Z-Pilates at the J Sports and Fitness Center.
Z-Pilates is based on six fundamental principles, which include breathing, center, concentration, control flow, movement and precision. Pilates strengthens joints and muscles, creating better balance and circulation. It also helps improve posture, enhances flexibility, tones and lengthens muscles and relieves stress.
The Z-Pilates Showcase will take place on Sunday, March 22, from 10 a.m. to noon, and Sunday, March 29, from 2 to 4 p.m.
The showcase, led by Pilates Instructor Zohar Tong, will feature mini mat and “Magic Circle” class, followed by four different apparatuses: the Reformer, Trapeze Table, Wunda Chai and Spine Corrector. Five lucky winners will receive a coupon for a private half-hour Pilates session with Tong.
To make a reservation for the free event, contact Zohar Tong at 214-239-7114. Space is limited.
Of interest at AFI festival
Next week’s AFI Film festival will feature “Adam Resurrected,” the intense story of Adam Stein, a charismatic patient of a psychiatric asylum for Holocaust survivors in 1961. Adam has flashbacks to when he was a cabaret comedian who cheated death through learning to amuse a Nazi officer by behaving like a dog. The Hebrew title of the film, “Adam Ben Kelev,” literally means “Man, Son of Dog.” It was first released in Germany in 2009. This movie is based on the 384-page novel written by Yoram Kaniuk and Seymour Smickes, published in Israel in 1968. Directed by Paul Schrader, the film stars Jeff Goldblum and Willem Dafoe and will screen at the AMC 15 at Northpark Mall on March 29 at 3 p.m. and March 30 at 7:45 p.m.