By Sharon Wisch-Ray
sharonw@texasjewishpost.com

Those of you who are faithful to this space, know that Rosh Hashanah is one of my favorite Jewish holidays.
For the past many years I’ve written about the influence of not only my late mother, Rene, but also the late Bea Levine and the late Miriam Labovitz on my Yom Tov table. As I go about making stuffed cabbage, honey cake, brisket, soup and all the trimmings, I can literally hear their voices in my head.
I also vividly remember the steps Rene took to make her fabulous chopped liver, onions sizzling along with the livers as I head to Central Market to pick up some of theirs. Nope, I haven’t mastered chopped liver yet… or kreplach that don’t fall apart, for that matter.
As you go about preparing for the holidays, the TJP family wishes you a happy, healthy and sweet New Year. L’shanah tovah, May you be inscribed for life!

Barbara Herman recognized for outstanding service at TCU

Last month, Dr. Barbara Herman came in for honors when TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. named her the recipient of the 2015 Chancellor’s Staff Award for Outstanding Service at the Opening Faculty Staff Luncheon Aug. 15. According to TCU’s website, “The Chancellor’s Staff Award for Outstanding Service was initiated in 2003 to annually recognize a staff member noted for exemplary service and above and beyond contributions to the welfare of the campus community. Award winners possess a record of meaningful collaboration and positive impact through interaction with faculty, staff, students, and alumni as well as a demonstrated support of University programs and events.. A photo gallery of recipients is on display near the Chancellor’s Office in M.E. Sadler Hall.”
Barbara Herman is the associate vice chancellor for student affairs and the dean of student development at TCU. Her nominator wrote “Dr. Herman strives to find creative, innovative, and meaningful ways to connect students with the TCU community and mission statement.
The signature programs with which she has been involved have made a significant impact upon our campus… Barbara is a tireless volunteer, contributing to programs that enhance the lives of women in Fort Worth, supporting community leadership and enhancing the quality of life for underrepresented groups in our community.”
Dr. Barbara Brown Herman is the creator of Frog Camp and the TCU Leadership Center and the co-creator of TCU Allies and the Chancellor’s Council on Diversity. During her 23 years at TCU, she has initiated such programs as the Common Reading, Model United Nations, Theme Semester, Connections, Leadership for Life, the TCU Challenge Course, and the University’s Strengths and Wellbeing initiatives. Barbara has degrees in English, psychology and education, and has done post-graduate work at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Pacific University Institute for Intercultural Communication.
She is a certified trainer in the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory, StrengthsQuest, Crucial Conversations and the Leader’s Discipline Coaching Model, and has been trained as a chemical dependency counselor and a ropes course facilitator.
In addition to the programs currently housed in SDS, Barbara has experience in Alcohol and Drug Education, Campus Recreation, Inclusiveness and Intercultural Services, Campus Life, and Community Involvement and Service-Learning. She wrote the proposal for the Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community, and has successfully authored numerous other grant proposals. Barbara is actively involved in the Fort Worth community and is passionate about helping students to live the TCU Mission Statement on campus and beyond. When time permits, she also loves to teach undergraduate courses in the English department and graduate seminars in the College of Education.
“I am both honored and humbled to have received this award,” said Herman. “I have always considered it a privilege to be part of the TCU community and to work with great students and wonderful colleagues. I admire each of the other finalists and salute their many contributions to our beloved institution.
“It was especially gratifying to me to be able to tell my 95-year-old mother that I had followed in her footsteps; she worked in the business school at the University of Texas for many years and was the first recipient of their outstanding staff award.”
Nominations are requested each May and reviewed by the vice chancellors of their respective divisions. The top nominees from each division are shared with Chancellor Boschini, who selects the annual winner.
Mazel tov to Barbara, her husband Morty and sons Kyle and Lee on this well-deserved honor!

Kever Avot at Beth Shalom

In last week’s Kever Avot listings, we inadvertently left out that Beth Shalom will also be holding services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 at Gan Shalom at Moore Cemetery.