By Sharon Wisch-Ray

Warm wishes to Adrienne and Phil Strull who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Dec. 27 surrounded by their children and grandchildren. One of our favorite things to do is to give a shoutout to those celebrating important milestones. You can send them to the TJP at simchas@texasjewishpost.com.

Challah baking with JET

JET (Jewish Education Texas) hosted a challah baking class for the first event of its brand new program “Jewish Women’s Corner.”
Hosted by Roxy Diamond and Adina Wachsman, at the home of the Wachsmans, the women had a ton of fun. They discovered the power of the Jewish woman while learning the meaning of the mitzvah of challah and how to make it.
Jewish Women’s Corner was created to bring together Jewish women in their late 20s to early 40s, of varied backgrounds, to connect, grow, learn, socialize, laugh and recharge. The get togethers will feature great activities, meaningful discussions and delicious food and drinks.
JET is continuing to expand its programming while maintaining its mission of providing learning and connecting opportunities for young Jewish families in informal settings. No membership is required to enjoy the programming that JET provides.
JET is an unaffiliated organization open to Jewish families regardless of affiliation, financial capabilities or religious backgrounds.
To be informed of future “Jewish Women’s Corner” programs, email office@JETexas.org. For more info on other JET programs, visit www.JETexas.org.

New date for Ladino program

The First International Day of Ladino was marked with programs around the world Dec. 5, 2013. However the one planned in Dallas on that date was foiled by the infamous ice storm. It has been rescheduled for 23:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, at Southern Methodist University’s McCord Auditorium in Dallas Hall. As before, the event is sponsored by the Nate and Ann Levine Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies of Southern Methodist University, and was organized by native Ladino speakers Rachel Amado Bortnick, founder of Ladinokomunita (the online forum in Ladino) and Dina Eliezer, educational director of Congregation Shearith Israel.
Ladino, the Spanish-based language of the Sephardic Jews, has survived a sojourn of more than five centuries since the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. The program on Jan. 12 will include video clips, a short lecture on the past, present and future of Ladino, a folkloric tale, Ladino songs by Raquel P. Gershon and more. The most senior of the Ladino speakers in Dallas, Edith Baker, born in Bulgaria, and Alegra Tevet, born in Greece, will be honored. The honorary consul of Spain, Janet Kafka, will greet the audience.
In Israel this year, a committee in the government-supported National Authority for Ladino and its Culture (NALC), decided to designate the last day of Chanukah as the International Day of Ladino, to occur annually on the same date around the world. The president of the NALC is Yitzhak Navon, the fifth president of the State of Israel and a native Ladino speaker. The largest celebration of the First International Day of Ladino was in Israel, with 1,000 people attending the daylong program of lectures, music, a theatrical play and more at Bar-Ilan University Dec. 5. Jewish communities around the world — in Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Mexico, Spain, and several cities in the U.S., had special programs on that date as well. The program this weekend at SMU is going to be “bigger and better” than the one which was canceled, according to Bortnick.
The public is invited free of charge.

Another ice storm makeup at Beth Torah Jan. 19

Pete Delkus, chief meteorologist for WFAA and one of the most popular media personalities in Dallas, will be the guest speaker at Congregation Beth Torah Men’s Club breakfast at 9 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 19 at the shul, 720 W. Lookout Drive in Richardson.
Delkus was originally scheduled to visit Beth Torah in December, but the appearance was delayed, ironically, by the ice storm that struck Dallas.
Everyone is welcome at the monthly lox-and-bagel. The cost is $10 and $5 for students.

Herzl Hadassah meets  Jan. 13

Home Health Care will be the topic at the Herzl Group of Dallas Hadassah at 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 13 in the conference room at the JCC, 7900 Northaven Road in Dallas.
In addition to learning more about the Legacy at Home, the program will include a discussion on “Understanding Your Medicare Benefits for Skilled Rehab and Home Health Care.” Featured speakers are Lindsay Feldman, Pam Duhon and Elizabeth Mason.
This important information-filled meeting will be of value to members and guests and all are invited.

Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Registration at Yavneh

Yavneh Academy will host its 2014 Zach & Maddie’s Mitzvah Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Registration from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17, in Pollman Hall at the Schultz Rosenberg Campus at 12324 Merit Drive in Dallas.  Maddie White, for whom Yavneh first dedicated its annual drive seven years ago, has strength and spirit that have never waned. She has required a number of surgeries and the transfusion of hundreds of pints of plasma, whole blood and platelets. Today, despite a hospitalization earlier this fall, Maddie is a thriving eighth grader who is doing great.

Yavneh again dedicates its drive to the merit of 9-year-old Zach Guillot, a schoolmate of Maddie whose family belongs to Temple Emanu-El. Zach has spent much of the last year in Seattle, still battling his disease — superhero that he is — strong in heart and soul. Zach’s fight against AML leukemia has been an example of living each day, for hanging on to belief, and for appreciating every moment.
Carter BloodCare will lead the blood drive and Delete Blood Cancer we will be registering prospective bone marrow donors.
Walk-ins are welcome. Email Deb Silverthorn at info@yavnehdallas.org or call 972-839-6916 to make an appointment.