Henry Cisneros to speak at Temple Emanu-El Feb. 23

Housing innovator and former Secretary of HUD Henry Cisneros will be the guest speaker for the annual Rabbi David Lefkowitz Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m. in Temple Emanuel’s Olan Sanctuary. A former mayor of San Antonio and member of President Bill Clinton’s Cabinet, he will speak on “Housing: A Platform for Uplifting Families.”
The economic downturn of 2008 brought the significance of housing to the forefront of the entire nation’s thinking. It is a tremendously significant piece of the nation’s lifeblood, both as a vital part of economic health and stability and as a part of the personal investment and financial security of American families.
Housing is at the foundation of the ability to establish places to work, live, meet and grow community. Cisneros will discuss how the housing crisis ensued and why it is vital to continue to sustain ownership, and he will share his experience in showing how this is one of the foundations of establishing thriving communities.
Throughout his career in both the public and private sectors, Cisneros has offered a passionate voice for affordable housing in America’s cities. He is credited with initiating the revitalization of many of the nation’s public housing developments while he was the HUD Secretary.
The Lefkowitz Lecture is an endowed program generously sponsored by the Rosenstein-Sonnenthol Family Fund of the Temple Emanu-El Foundation. For more information, contact Nancy Rivin at nrivin@tedallas.org or call 214-706-0000, ext. 155.

Carol Aaron will be honored at BBYO convention in Dallas

BBYO extends sincere congratulations to philanthropist and community leader Carol Aaron of Dallas on being named BBYO’s Alumna of the Year Award recipient.
Dallas has the significant honor of being chosen to be the city to celebrate BBYO’s 85th anniversary. This year, BBYO is honoring the thousands of families with multigenerational BBYO involvement throughout the country. Dallas is a special community with a proud AZA and BBG history and an exciting future. BBYO’s International Convention is coming to Dallas Feb. 11–15.
More than 780 of the world’s leading Jewish communal thinkers — all 18 years of age or younger — will gather at BBYO’s largest International Convention in its history. Nearly 50 teens from the Dallas community will attend the convention, which annually brings together Jewish teens from North America, Bulgaria, Turkey, France, the United Kingdom and Israel.
The weekend will be headlined by the Day of Service, in which teen participants will disperse throughout Dallas to more than two dozen service sites including the North Texas Food Bank, The Promise House, Texas Trees and the American Red Cross. It will be framed with Jewish learning and skill-building sessions on creating social change through community organizing, coalition building, philanthropy and community service.
The Dallas Jewish community is also invited to attend several events throughout the weekend including:
•A Dallas BBYO Friends & Alumni Network (FAN) kickoff event with special guest Lynn Schusterman, co-founder of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Foundation, which is dedicated to helping the Jewish people flourish by supporting programs throughout the world that spread the joy of Jewish living, giving and learning. This will be immediately followed by the International Convention opening ceremonies, Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m.).
•Shabbat services and oneg followed by dinner in recognition of BBYO’s Alumni of the Year, Carol Aaron of Dallas and Lee Wunsch of Houston, Friday, Feb. 12, at 5 p.m.
•Adult Learning Breakfast focused on Jewish service learning with Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, director of the PANIM Institute of BBYO, Saturday, Feb. 13, at 8:45 a.m.
•Young Alumni of BBYO Havdallah followed by the “Think Pink” dinner to benefit breast cancer awareness, Saturday, February 13, at 6 p.m.
All BBYO alumni and parents are invited to honor Carol and BBYO in Dallas.
BBYO thanks those who support its efforts; please keep in mind, every donation made stays in Dallas and impacts Dallas teens.
For more information, contact BBYO southwest area director Jayme David at jdavid@bbyo.org.
Harriet P. Gross to give talk at JWV monthly meeting
Jewish War Veterans Post 256 and Ladies Auxiliary’s monthly meeting will be held on Sunday, Feb. 21, 9:30 a.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven Road. The featured speaker will be popular Texas Jewish Post columnist and Dallas Morning News contributor Harriet P. Gross, who will review “The Jews of West Point in the Long Gray Line” by Lewis L. Zickel, a 1949 graduate of the Academy. The community is cordially invited to attend. The usual lox and bagels breakfast will be served for a modest fee.
Please note that the regular meeting date has been changed due to the Purim holiday.

Cooking classes for youngsters

There may still be time to attend the two scheduled cooking classes offered by Rabbi William Gershon and culinary chef extraordinaire, Jeff Kollinger of Spice of Life Catering. The unique cooking classes for your youngsters are set for this Sunday, Feb. 14, and March 7. While the deadline for registration for the first class is past, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to make some great food and spend time with your kids! Class size is VERY limited; instruction is appropriate for children ages 4 and up. For questions or to reserve a spot, please contact Esther Wolf at 214-939-7316 or ewolf@shearith.org.