Bowlers roll strikes (and gutter balls) to help the community

Bringing together Jewish young professionals isn’t as hard as you would think! Who doesn’t enjoy a game (or two or three) of bowling? Over 55 people each week did just that as part of the second summer season of the Battle of the Jewish YPs: Young Professionals Bowling League.
The league kicked off its inaugural season last summer and consisted of teams from various synagogues and Jewish organizations in the area. The top teams donated their prize money to various nonprofit groups. “It’s a great way to meet new friends, raise some money for important Jewish charities in town and have fun all at the same time,” said Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein, one of the co-chairs of the league. “We all have fun and it’s nice to bowl with other young adults who are enjoying an evening with friends while benefiting so many great organizations.”
Last autumn, the league had its first fall season and put their prize money toward nearly 250 toys and books for the Santa’s Helpers toy drive. Bowlers brought additional toys to help out the cause as well.
“This has been a great opportunity for all of the YP groups to get together, have a chance to meet each other and do something great for the community,” said Brad Schweig, league co-chair. “But for this summer’s league, we wanted to up the ante and do something great for the entire Jewish community.”
So this summer, in order to raise that ante, each team was given the opportunity to bowl on behalf of their favorite Jewish organization. Some chose their synagogue or favorite organization; others selected a volunteer project or a charitable cause.
The summer league ended up with 10 teams supporting Congregation Anshai Torah, Congregation Beth Torah, Dallas Jewish Historical Society, JCC’s Tycher Library, Jewish Family Services Food Bank, Magen David Adom, North Texas Hillel, Shearith Israel’s Mazon Program, Temple Emanu-El’s Vickery Meadows Project and Temple Shalom YPs.
Each week, teams earned $10 for their organization by having the highest score (with handicap) and highest score scratch (without handicap). The top men’s and women’s bowlers (with and without handicap) received $3 for their organization. The worst teams also got $4 each week for their organization so that EVERY team, no matter how good or bad they are, had a chance to help their group.
The Tycher Library team was the first-place team this season and got a $150 bonus for their charity in addition to the $102 they raised each week. MAZON ended up in second place and received a $100 bonus in addition to their $30.33 weekly payout. In last place was Just Jews (playing for the Jewish Family Services Food Bank), who got a $50 bonus simply because they came out each week, had a good time and realized that sometimes it pays to roll gutter balls. In the end, the league raised over $600 for the various synagogues, charities and organizations.
And while many enjoyed helping their organizations or improving their bowling skills, most just enjoyed the experience. “The league was an amazing networking experience. I just moved to Fort Worth knowing nobody,” said Ilan Fehler, “and now I have over 50 new friends.”
For more information the league, additional events or future leagues, contact the event organizers: Brad Schweig (brad@sunnylandfurniture.com) and Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein (mindisue@aol.com), or visit the group, Battle of the Jewish YPs: Young Professionals Bowling League on Facebook.

DJHS to present author Bryan Stone

The Dallas Jewish Historical Society (DJHS) is pleased to present another in its Harold A. Pollman Lecture Series. Professor Bryan Stone will be the guest speaker on Sunday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m., at the Aaron Family JCC. Stone will talk about his new book, “The Chosen Folks: Writing About the Jews of Texas” — why he wrote it and what it has to say about Texas Jewry that earlier books did not — as well as providing anecdotes from it.
An associate history professor at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Stone received his doctorate in American studies and civilization from the University of Texas at Austin in 2003. His dissertation, “Jews and the Real and Imagined Frontiers of Texas,” planted the seeds for his new book. In his fascinating work, Stone delves into old mythologies about the supposed Judaism of some early Texas pioneers, refuting some claims and providing provocative insight into the Jewish experience in Texas.
Additionally, Stone contributed a chapter about the state’s earliest Jews to “Lone Stars of David,” edited by Hollace Ava Weiner and Kenneth D. Roseman, and also wrote the entry on Texas in the recent republication of the “Encyclopaedia Judaica.” He has also published articles about Kinky Friedman and Edgar Goldberg, the founder of the Texas Jewish Herald (Jewish Herald-Voice) of Houston, the state’s oldest Jewish newspaper.
The Dallas Jewish Historical Society’s Pollman Program will be held in the Zale Auditorium at the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven Road, Dallas. This program is part of a continuing series graciously sponsored by Harold Pollman for the purpose of bringing to Dallas national experts on topics of interest to the Dallas Jewish community. Admission is free and the program is open to the public. Reservations are required for planning purposes. For more information, call 214-239.7120 or e-mail the Society at dtobias@djhs.com.
The Dallas Jewish Historical Society serves as a repository for artifacts, personal papers and records of individuals, organizations and businesses, documenting the contributions and growth of the entire Dallas Jewish community.

Wednesdays with Wallerstein for Women begins Oct. 6

You asked for it, you got it! So many ladies have asked to be part of Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein’s Wednesday night shiur broadcast from New York, that the Shafron family is “bringing” him to Dallas. Every Wednesday night beginning Oct. 6, at 8:30 p.m., all women are invited to come be part of Rabbi Wallerstein’s shiur by viewing it online with a group of friends at the Shafron home, 6630 Shell Flower Lane in Far North Dallas. There is no charge. For more information, please e-mail Jackie Shafron, shafron@sbcglobal.net.