Connection March 2018 Adar/Nisan 5778

Be part of this monumental weekend filled with laughter and gratitude!

Friday night, March 9, features Shabbat Ruach & Dinner with Rabbi Brian Glusman and Michael Levine.

RSVP for dinner at www.templebeth-el.net. Cost is $25 for adults and $10 for kids ages 5 to 12.

On Saturday, March 10, we’ll honor all volunteers during Shabbat morning services. Michael Levine will be leading

a Kirtan mediation service at 9:30 am, as well.

To read more about the weekend or to donate in honor of our volunteers and award winners,

visit www.templebeth-el.net.

March 2 Erev Shabbat 5:45 pm Candle lighting 5:27 pm March 3 Saturday morning 9:30 am Parashat Ki Tisa Maftir: Raffi Ivker Mincha 5:00 pm March 9 Erev Shabbat 5:45 pm Candle lighting 5:32 pm March 10 Saturday morning 9:30 am Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei Maftir: Barry Ivker Mincha 5:00 pm March 16 Erev Shabbat 5:45 pm Candle lighting 6:38 pm

March 17 Saturday morning 9:30 am Parashat Vayikra Maftir: Barry Dreayer Mincha 5:30 pm March 23 Erev Shabbat 5:45 pm Candle lighting 6:43 pm March 24 Saturday morning 9:30 am Parashat Tzav Maftir: Dalia Abrams Mincha 5:30 pm March 30 Erev Shabbat 5:45 pm First Seder Candle lighting 6:48 pm March 31 Saturday morning 9:30 am Pesach 1 Maftir: Doug Brook Mincha 5:30 pm

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WEEKDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE Daily Morning Minyan 7:00 am Sundays & Secular Holidays 8:00 am Daily Afternoon Minyan 5:30 pm *Daylight Savings starts Sunday, March 11. See above schedule for service times.

SHABBAT SERVICE SCHEDULE Friday Evening Services 5:45 pm Saturday Morning Services 9:30 am Tot Shabbat 11:00 am Saturday Afternoon Minyan *5:30 pm

PROFESSIONAL STAFF Rabbi Barry Leff ravbarry@templebeth-el.net

Executive Director Bob Greenberg bgreenberg@templebeth-el.net

Music and Youth Director Sarah Metzger smetzger@templebeth-el.net

Bookkeeper Lisa Adams finance@templebeth-el.net

Communications Lindsey Herring lherring@templebeth-el.net

Administration Pam Williams pwilliams@templebeth-el.net

BOARD OFFICERS President Jacob Halpern jhalpern@majorpromotions.net

Vice President Jessica Goldstein jbg319@gmail.com

Vice President Ronald Levitt rlevitt@sirote.com

Vice President Dan Weinrib dan.weinrib@gmail.com

Treasurer Evan Rhodes treasurer@templebeth-el.net

Secretary Naomi Kipp naomi_kipp@alnd.uscourts.gov

2017-18 Board of Directors

Dalia Abrams Steve Altmann Marsha Asman Barbara Brande Julie Cohen

Todd Doobrow Cathy Fingerman Arlene Fisher Steve Greene Shira Goldberg

Allen Halpern Dani Kahn Krell Sue Lischkoff Lynette Mazer Leonid Mazur

Marjorie Perlman Loraine Reznik Ben Rosenbaum Rebecca Rothman Esther Schuster

Martin Sher Stuart Shiland Steven Sikora Alan Weintraub

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Message from Rav Barry

First-person stories move us in ways that facts and statistics do not.

I was reminded of that earlier today as I listened to some very powerful stories on NPR as I was driving to an appointment. As I write this, it’s about a week after the horrific Parkland shooting, where 17 people (five of them Jews) were murdered in a shooting spree at the Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. When I first heard the news, my reaction was intellectual, not emotional. Another

senseless shooting. Wondering how we can prevent such tragedies. But hearing firsthand reports is what brought me to tears. Hearing the story of a survivor from that day, and what was going through his head, on a show with a survivor of the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado nearly 20 years ago, along with the daughter of a man who was killed in that Colorado shooting went straight to my heart. It’s so different hearing something being told as a personal story of fear and loss, rather than reading an objective news account of the same incident. Facts don’t touch us and rarely change us. Stories do.

That’s the reason why the rabbis commanded that the Passover story be told in such a way that it should feel as if you, yourself, were brought out of Egypt by God. No offense to my grandfather, of blessed memory, but seders at my grandparents’ home in Queens – which involved my grandfather speed-reading the Hebrew of the Maxwell House Haggadah – didn’t convey that feeling. Don’t get me wrong, I totally enjoyed the seders, the great food, running around with my siblings and cousins, negotiating for the afikomen – but that didn’t work as a way of telling the story of the Exodus from Egypt with that first-person intensity.

Passover is “early” this year, on the 30th of March. Which is why I’m talking about Passover in the March Bulletin instead of the more usual April Bulletin. I encourage you to take some time this month to prepare for your seder. Think about who’s going to be there, what ages, what backgrounds. Think about ways to bring the story to life, and to bring out a deeper appreciation of the meaning of the story. If your seder will include young children, you can try props to help create “interactive plagues.” Illustrated haggadot can be another way to engage the younger set. For an older crowd, you can take a more philosophical approach, or ask people to share their own stories of freedom and redemption. And don’t worry, if the stories are sufficiently engaging, no one will be too worried about the “fifth question,” “When do we eat?” And here’s a hint to help with that one: Once you make the blessing for the karpas, you can serve some actual appetizers, such as chopped veggies with dip, to help hold people over until you get to the matzah. If you’re interested in learning more about the Passover holiday, please join our Essential Judaism class on Thursday, March 15, at 6 pm, which will be all about the holidays of Passover and Shavuot, and the 49-day bridge between them, the counting of the Omer.

On a lighter note, on Sunday, March 18, we’ll have a fun program at Little Savannah (see pg. 4 in the Bulletin for details): “Irish Whiskey and Irish Jews: Are the Irish One of the Ten Lost Tribes?” There are those who claim there is a connection; come find out why!

May you and your family have a sweet and joyous Passover, Rav Barry

TELLING THE PASSOVER STORY

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Programs

Social Action Committee

THIS MONTH’S RABBINIC CANDIDATE VISIT

Please welcome Rabbi Mark Melamut, a candidate for our Senior Rabbi position, March 2-3.

The Social Action Committee thanks everyone who donated items to the Toiletries Drive. We donated toothbrushes, shampoo, lotion and much more to Be A Blessing Birmingham for their monthly distribution to our local homeless community. Yasher Koach!

IRISH WHISKEY AND IRISH JEWS: ARE THE IRISH ONE OF THE LOST TRIBES OF ISRAEL? Little Savannah 4pm, Sunday, March 18 There are some who claim that Celts are descended from one of the lost tribes. The harp is a symbol of Ireland, and King David played the harp. Both Jews and Irish have a springtime drinking holiday (Saint Patrick's Day and Purim)! There are some other similarities as well. Join us for a sampling of Irish Whiskey (other beverages and food available as well, of course!) and a discussion on what happened to the lost tribes.

PASSOVER JUST AROUND THE CORNER! The Search for Chametz begins March 29, and the first seder is March 30. Passover begins March 31. Be sure to check your emails and the TBE website for your Passover Guide, service information and more. Also note that the TBE kitchens will be closed for Passover. There will be no meals prepared or served March 31-April 7, including Kiddush lunches.

Contemporary Shabbat Service: March 17 Join Rav Barry and Sarah Metzger at 10 am March 17 for Contemporary Shabbat. The service features Sarah’s voice and guitar, and lots of music in general. Plus it includes more English and is shorter than

the traditional service.

Kehillat Shalom will be leading traditional services at 9:30 am on March 17.

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Programs

A TRADITION TO SERVE OTHERS AT COMMUNITY KITCHENS By Lori Weil, Community Volunteer

Every Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, members of the Birmingham Jewish Community gather together to serve lunch for those less fortunate. In turn, the Community Kitchens staff gets to take these days off to celebrate the holidays and spend time with their families. Here is a brief history how “The Kitchens” was started and their mission. On November 11, 1980, Community Kitchens opened its doors to serve meals to the homeless and hungry. This kitchen was opened during a time when recession gripped Birmingham which caused a spike in unemployment. Father Maurice Branscomb saw the impact of this recession on Southside and the downtown area and those who lived here, and responded by starting Community Kitchens at St. Andrew’s Parish. The first simple meal of soup was served to only two people. By the end of the year, the kitchen was open five days a week. These were the humble beginnings of the program that exists today. The mission was simple: to provide a warm and nutritious meal to anyone who is hungry, regardless of situation or condition. Today “The Kitchens” serves lunch meals 365 days per year from St. Andrews on the Southside and Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn. Annually, this amounts to over 95,000 meals served to our guests. The Board of Directors and the staff at Community Kitchens still follow the precedent set forth by Father Branscomb, ensuring that the doors to Community Kitchens are open to all. No one is required to attend a religious service, and rich or poor are equally welcome, as all those who are hungry will be served. Most of all, those who dine at The Kitchens are called “guests” and treated as such. Over the past 25 years, the Jewish community volunteers have been amazing! And for over 20 years, Jewish Community member Eva Wilensky worked to make every aspect of the three holidays extra special for guests, from getting scores of volunteers to procuring all the food for a feast. After her well-deserved “retirement” in 2014, Bob Greenberg, the executive director of Temple Beth-El, did not want to see the program go away, so he worked with TBE and TEE lay leaders to develop a rotating “host” system, where individuals and families can host a holiday meal. In addition, the process for signing up to donate food and paper goods, prepare food, set up, serve food and clean up has been streamlined and simplified. To participate, we ask you to sign up on the SignUpGenius web page, accessible through www.templebeth-el.net, in order for us to know we have all the needed food and volunteers for the day, and also so that there are not too many volunteers! We ask that, for safety and efficiency, only children over age 10 volunteer at meals. Below are details on this year’s Easter Meal. Please watch your emails in March for updates, and if all the signup opportunities are filled, please try again next Thanksgiving and Christmas. We are so grateful to our community for all the wonderful volunteers and donations.

Community Kitchens Easter Meal, April 1 You may support the Easter Meal in the following ways:

• Volunteer to prepare and serve food at either the 9:30 am or 11:30 am shift on April 1.

• Volunteer to collect food or gift cards from local vendors prior to the holiday.

• Make a financial donation to support purchasing holiday menu items. Visit the Temple Beth-El website (www.templebeth-el.net) to find the SignUpGenius volunteer form, or to make a donation to purchase needed items for the Easter meal. Every dollar donated goes directly to food for those in need.

Thank you to our Easter hosts, Jennifer & Jeff Sokol. Email Jennifer if you have any questions at

jensokol@gmail.com. Visit www.thecommunitykitchens.org to learn more about Community Kitchens.

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March Religious School Calendar Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

3 Services Tot Shabbat

4 Purim Carnival at Temple Emanu-El 9:30 am

5 6 7 Religious School 3:45 to 6 pm

8

9

Shabbat Ruach & Dinner 5:45 pm

10 Services Tot Shabbat

11 Religious School 9 am to noon

12

13 14 Religious School 3:45 to 6 pm

15 16

17 Contemporary Shabbat Services Tot Shabbat

18

Religious School 9 am to noon

19

20

21 Religious School 3:45 to 6 pm

22

23

24 Services Tot Shabbat

25 No Religious School (spring break)

26

27 28 No Religious School (spring break)

29 30 31

Services Tot Shabbat

READY FOR PASSOVER?

11 am–noon, March 24,

pillow room

Get our kids seder-ready! Locusts not

invited. Frogs ok. Bring your kids/

grandkids, birth to age 5.

Older siblings welcome.

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Men’s Club

I don't think so ... at least not when it comes to Men’s Club!

What an amazing event! “World Wide Wrap” was so rewarding to be a part of. I just had to share it with you. To have so many Men’s Club members and be able to financially do some of the things Men’s Club does. It just could not happen without the support and membership of YOU, the men of Temple Beth-El. THANK YOU for that! We were able to purchase 6 Tefillin, from the holiest place on earth, Israel, and present them to our 5th graders. It doesn’t get any better than that. It was really a moment to watch fathers and Men’s Club members help their sons and daughters put on their very own Teffilin for the first time. It doesn't get any better than that. We all got to experience a moment of generations of Brooks (shown at right), when Julian, Larry and James Henry (all Men’s Club members and hopefully one future member ... I am recruiting early) stand next to each other, sharing the moment of James Henry putting on his very own Tefillin for the first time. It doesn't get any better than that.

Men’s Club is also proud to be a sponsor of “THE VOLUNTEER WEEKEND” coming up on March 9-10. I am privileged to sit on that committee and I know first-hand how much hard work is going into the planning of that weekend, especially from our Chair, Sue Lischkoff. So, please come out and support that weekend ... it is setting up to be a blast!

Also, please try to make one Minyan service a week. I got to experience first-hand what it is like when there is not the magical 10 there. No Kaddish could be performed and that was a shame for the people who were trying to say Kaddish for their loved ones.

It really has been very rewarding to be a part of Temple Beth El’s Men’s Club. If you would like to experience some of these moments and or just help Men’s club achieve its only goal, to support Temple Beth-El and its members, please join Men’s Club. It is only $36 and we need you and your support to be able to make moments like “World Wide Wrap” happen!

Sincerely, Allen Halpern, President of Men’s Club

DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS?!

World Wide Wrap 2018

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TBE Foundation KNOW OUR DONORS: MARJORIE PERLMAN MARJORIE L. PERLMAN CLERGY COMPENSATION FUND

Submitted by Marjorie Perlman

I have written three “KNOW OUR DONOR” Bulletin articles since the Foundation started highlighting the people behind the funds and for some reason this one is the most difficult to start. I am certainly familiar with the donor! Maybe I have too much to say? For those who know me this is often the case. More likely, I’m afraid that I won’t communicate adequately how important Temple Beth-El has been to me since I moved to Birmingham 16 short years ago, in March of 2002. Let me provide some background for context. I was raised in a traditional, but not particularly observant Conservative Jewish household in Forest Hills, NY. We belonged to a synagogue, two actually, but we were not active in synagogue life. We attended services for the High Holy Days, visited the occasional Sukkah, danced in the streets on Simchat Torah, and became practically orthodox over Passover. I was Bat Mitzvahed in October 1975, read the Haftorah, made a moving speech, and had a heck of a party! Being Jewish in New York City is not uncommon. I did not need to join USY or attend Jewish sleep-away camp to be surrounded by Jewish friends, so I didn’t. Nor did I join a congregation in New York when I became an adult living in Manhattan. Fortunately, I was able to attend B’nai Jeshurun for lively Friday night services and Lake Success Jewish Center where my grandmother was a member for High Holy Days. When I moved to Charlotte, NC, in 2000, things were different. I was in the minority in a big way and I didn’t have a network of family or friends to rely on so I made a conscious decision to join Temple Israel, the conservative synagogue on Shalom Park, Charlotte’s Jewish campus. Two years later, I moved to Birmingham and my advance team had already introduced me to Toby Siegel, who took me to my first Shabbat service at Temple Beth-El and later became the host of many Seders for not only me, but my entire family; Micky & Stanley Rubenstein who introduced me to the Original Pancake House and invited me to join their family’s very warm and unique break-the-fast tradition; Joyce Spielberger who tried to pawn me off on another Mah Jongg game, but I

ingratiated myself with her group and the rest is history; and Dan Weinrib who helped me navigate Birmingham Jewish singles. I immediately felt at home in Birmingham and Temple Beth-El. No one was a stranger and I quickly learned that I would never have to eat a holiday meal alone including the meal before Kol Nidre which Ricki & Lanning Kline have graciously turned into a 15-year tradition after we met briefly following Shabbat Services. I had never experienced such a sense of Yiddishkeit, even in New York City. Temple Beth-El has been an important, almost essential, part of my life since 2002. My fiancée, Jay Stern, knew that when we met in 2010. That’s why HE surprised me for Chanukah in 2012 by opening a fund in my honor at the Temple Beth-El Foundation. Jay was still living in Austin, but had attended Rosh Hashanah services at TBE that year and picked up the TBEF Annual Report. It sparked the idea that leaving a lasting legacy at my spiritual home would mean more to me than anything that he could buy. He was right! He opened the fund and allowed me to select the purpose. I chose clergy compensation because I believe that our clergy provides us with the spiritual and educational foundation from which the congregation learns and grows. This fund has been able to contribute a small supplement to the Temple budget annually and I hope to continue to grow the fund so it makes a bigger impact every year.

Marjorie Perlman becomes a Bat Mitzvah on Oct. 19, 1975.

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A Message from TBE President Jacob Halpern

Dear Fellow Members of Temple Beth-El:

My time as your Board president is coming to a close. I never knew two years could last so long or go by so quickly. So many positive events have occurred for TBE during this time. When I became president we were coming out of a period of turmoil but, true to our resilience, we jumped into the Visioning process, looked and reached deep into our hearts to determine just who we are and what we want. We found a way to focus on past good will and setting the best course for the future of our congregation. The sense of community that was renewed in the process took us through our 90 Years celebration. We celebrated who we were, who we are now, and who we will be in the future, all while having a great time and raising a lot of money. More recently, the community “Forging Ahead” civil rights program was hugely successful, and provided a forum for us to showcase who we are to over 575 people who filled our sanctuary. What a beautiful sight.

Moving forward, this month will be Temple Beth-El’s first “Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Weekend” to honor our volunteers, young leaders, and “heavy lifters.” April brings the return of the “When Pigs Fly” kosher BBQ, in a new and improved format. TBE will join with other colleagues in our Jewish community at the LJCC to present the BBQ under the umbrella of the Friedman Family Foundation Jewish Food & Culture Fest.

Meanwhile, this past year has been much livelier with TBE’s addition of Sarah Metzger. Her musical support provides an invigorating spin on our Friday night services. I can honestly say our Shabbat Ruach services rock! Additionally, we now have a variety of services on Saturday mornings. Rabbi Leff and Sarah have started a Contemporary Shabbat service one Saturday morning a month and Nan Unkenholz leads Yoga Nidra. There is something for everyone. Please check the bulletins and weekly emails for details on which services are held when. (We should count our blessings that we have so much going on we need a schedule to keep up with it all!)

Our committees, such as Social Action, Keruv, Ambassadors, Adult Education, Sisterhood and Men’s Club, provide multiple opportunities for each of us to be involved in TBE. Regardless of your forte, we have a committee that can use your skills.

I would be crazy not to mention the Rabbinic Search Committee, which, through hard work and diligence, has brought us three qualified candidates to date after interviewing 10 candidates. This committee has been strategizing how to attract top candidates to Birmingham and TBE. As a companion to their work, during the last six months I started a quiet campaign called Bonim B’Yachad, Building Together. The purpose of this campaign is to help raise funds to secure the future of TBE’s incoming rabbi. I have met with a number of congregants who have committed $230,500 to date which will be held by our partner, the TBE Foundation. These funds will be paid out over the course of three years. If you are interested in being a part of this tremendous campaign, please contact me. I will be happy to meet you at your house or favorite coffee shop to go over the details.

Looking through this list of accomplishments, I am reminded that these are great times at TBE. I am truly honored to be a part of this and to have served as your president for the past two years (almost). With only a few months left as your board president, I would like for us to finish strong. My goal when Treasurer Evan Rhodes and I sat down together in July 2016 was to reach June 2018 with a positive future, spiritually and financially. Due to hard work and sound fiscal planning, we can finish in the black, if everyone is committed to making this happen. Completing your membership contribution before May 31, 2018, and supporting our programs and fundraising, will allow us to reach this goal.

I am grateful to so many of you who have provided wisdom and energy during my time as president. Let us continue on this positive spiritual and financial track for many months and years to come.

Thanks, Jacob Halpern Temple Beth-El President

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MAZAL TOV

With sympathy, we wish the following families peace and love during their time of sorrow:

Stella Antselevich Wife of Leonid Antselevich, sister of Marina Yegorova, and mother of Steven Antselevich and

Alik Antselivich

Annabel Josephine Marks Daughter of Betsy Marks and Paul Marks, sister of Brennan Marks and Remy Marks, and

granddaughter of Stanley Routman

May the families be comforted among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

CONDOLENCES

Victoria & Matt Baldwin (17) Nadine & Louis Cohen (37) Julie & Brandon Cohen (3) Caryn Roseman & Shahar Dillbary (11) Carol & Mark Entman (50) Rhoda & Wayne Fleisig (26) Naomi & Allen Kipp (25) Barbara & Mark Nissenbaum (44) Amy & Stephen Peetluk (18) Arlene & Marvin Shelsky (47) Bridget & Steven Sikora (23)

Caryn Corenblum Stephen Dorsky

Sara Krantz Gregory Odrezin

Allen Shealy Janis Staff

Franklin Tessler Carol Tuck

Evdiniya Zinger

Special birthdays are published from age 50 and every 5 years thereafter.

Make giving even more beautiful with a gift of one of the Tzedakah boxes from our Sisterhood Gift Shop. We have Judaic Gifts for all occasions!

SISTERHOOD GIFT SHOP

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Sisterhood News

TBE’s Sisterhood presents a screening of the film “Violins of Hope — Strings of the Holocaust,” at 7 pm on Saturday, March 3. Sisterhood will be joined by the film’s director, special guest Lance

Shultz. A dessert reception by CoKo Catering will also follow the film. This event is free, but registration is required for admission.

Register for tickets and learn more about this exciting event at www.templebeth-el.net.

SISTERHOOD FILM SCREENING AT TBE ON MARCH 3

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DONATIONS Good Fortune Fund

A Most Generous donation wishing Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Cindy & David Senior A Most Generous donation in honor of Aunt Jan & Uncle Charles Denaburg A Most Generous donation in honor of Aunt Rhoda & Uncle Marvin Link From: Geri & Robert Tape, Michelle & Michael Rosemore, Mr. & Mrs. Eric Whitehead and Sydney Rosemore A Generous donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Jacqueline Macclary A Generous donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Pearl & Robert Kaplan A Generous donation in honor of Jacob Halpern for his contributions to TBE and the Jewish Community A Generous donation in honor of Arlene Fisher for her contributions to TBE and the Jewish Community From: Geri & Robert Stone A Double Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Edward Levin

A Double Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Judy & Sandy Grodin A Double Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Hannah & Colin Helman A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Letty & Robert Marcus A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Pam Ruttenberg & Arnold Shiland A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Phyllis & Norman Berk A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Debra & Jeff Lindy on Morgan and Rebecca becoming B’Nai Mitvah From: Phyllis Weinstein A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Lynette & J.B. Mazer A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Donna & Gary Schiff A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Rosalyn Siegal

A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Debbie & Martin Sher A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Joy & Robert Fleisher A Chai donation in honor of the generosity of Mary & David Kimerling From: Simmy & Phillip Barrocas A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday and wishing him a complete and speedy recovery From: Dolly & David Staff A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Bobbie & Howard Sokol A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Rosalyn Bloomston Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Jeff Padawer Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Nadine & Louis Cohen Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Barbara & David Betten

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Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Natalie & Albert Sikora Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Barbara & Henry Helzberg Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Dorothy Shiland Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Susan & Ronald Shiland Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Ruth Siegler Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Faye Bernstein Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Sylvia Gouse Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Joyce & Gaston Stein Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Harriett Shulmister Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Frieda & Eph Mazer

Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday Mazal Tov to Adrienne Brook on her special birthday Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday Mazal Tov to Sherry & Jerry Cherner on their special anniversary Mazal Tov to Amanda & Layne Held on their special anniversary Mazal Tov to Ellen & Terry Bernstein on the birth of their granddaughter Mazal Tov to Faye Bernstein on the birth of her great-granddaughter From: Carol & Jimmy Filler

Simcha Shabbat

A Chai donation in loving memory of Isaac Benjamin From: Marian & Ronny Epstein Robert Spielberger Memorial Fund In loving memory of the following on their Yahrzeits: Dave Bloomston, uncle Raoul Harris, brother From: Lynn & Bert Bloomston

Sisterhood Fund

A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday A Chai donation wishing Rhonda Siegel a speedy recovery and continued good health From: Shirley & Ron Froehlich

Sisterhood Flower Fund

Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday From: Arlene Fisher

Chevra Kadisha Fund

A Generous donation in memory of beloved father Alfred Jaffe on his Yahrzeit From: His Children

Rita Laufman Youth Fund

A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday A Chai donation wishing Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Sue & Bill Lischkoff

Men’s Club Children’s Fund A Double Chai donation in loving memory of Isaac Benjamin A Chai donation in loving memory of beloved father Irvin Allen on his Yarhzeit From: Karen & Reuben Halpern

Elmwood Cemetery Fund Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Debbie & Louis Tuck Speedy Recovery A Chai donation wishing Rhonda Siegel a speedy recovery and continued good health From: Mayer Cohen

DONATIONS

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DONATIONS A Chai donation wishing Faye Bernstein a speedy recovery and continued good health From: Harriett Shulmister A Chai donation wishing Faye Bernstein a speedy recovery and continued good health From: Freida & Eph Mazer Wishing speedy recovery and continued good health to Eph Mazer From: Julie Marks

In Loving Memory A Double Chai donation in loving memory of Isaac Benjamin From: Rebecca & Josh Rothman A Chai donation in loving memory of Isaac Benjamin From: Rhoda & Marvin Link A Chai donation in loving memory of Isaac Benjamin From: Anne E. Cohn A Chai donation in loving memory of Isaac Benjamin From: Sharon Kahn & Richard Lehr In loving memory of Evelyn Allen From: Nancy Denney In loving memory of Isaac Benjamin From: Arlene Fisher Julie Marks In loving memory of Don Levy From: Margaret & Stephen Biller and Family Joan May Carol & Jimmy Filler

In loving memory of Leslie Sanders Allen From: Carol & Jimmy Filler In loving memory of Toots Plotka From: Joan May

Chesed Committee

A Double Chai donation in loving memory of Isaac Benjamin From: Naomi & Edwin Fineberg Mazal Tov to Albert Sikora on his 85th birthday Mazal Tov to Eph Mazer on his 90th birthday From: Dorothy Ziff

Yahrzeits A Most Generous donation in memory of beloved father Manuel Levine on his Yahrzeit From: Richard L. Levine A Most Generous donation in memory of beloved father Peter Kline on his Yahrzeit From: Maxine Sklute A Most Generous donation in memory of beloved mother Marjorie Aronov on her Yahrzeit From: Teri Aronov A Generous donation in memory of beloved father Haim Mouyal on his Yahrzeit From: Regina Smith A Generous donation in memory of beloved brother Zanvel Shitsel on his Yahrzeit From: Genrikh Shicel

A Generous donation in loving memory of Fanya Kishinevskaya, Isaak Kishinevskiy, Esther Kishinevskay, & Gregor Kishinevskiy beloved parents, grandparents, & great grandparents From: Zinaida & Lasa Golubov, Genya & Viktor Safyanov and Families A Generous donation in memory of beloved son Steven Slater on his Yahrzeit From: Barry Slater A Double Chai donation in memory of beloved father Morris “Scotty” Levy on his Yahrzeit From: Peggy Levy Cohn A Double Chai donation in memory of beloved father Kenneth Curtis on his Yahrzeit From: James Curtis A Double Chai donation in memory of beloved sister Robin Kirby on her Yahrzeit From: Joyce & Arthur Serwitz A Double Chai donation in memory of beloved son Steven Slater on his Yahrzeit From: Marilyn Slater A Double Chai donation in memory of Ellen Burwinkle on her Yahrzeit From: Punky Burwinkle A Double Chai donation in memory of beloved brother Igor Bolshinskiy on his Yahrzeit From: Leonid Bolshinskiy

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A Chai donation in memory of beloved grandmother Gussie Garry on her Yahrzeit From: Rhonda & Eric Siegel A Chai donation in memory of Melvin’s beloved mother Rose Davis and Jane’s beloved father Nathan Solomon on their Yahrzeits From: Jane & Melvin Davis A Chai donation in memory of beloved father & grandfather Louis Overdank on his Yahrzeit From: Tobie & Michael Bogart, Laura Bogart and Danielle & Ben Rosenbaum A Chai donation in memory of beloved father Arthur Perlstein on his Yahrzeit From: Sheryl & Jay Perlstein A Chai donation in memory of beloved mother Gertrude Lassen on her Yahrzeit From: Rochelle Bloomston A Chai donation in memory of beloved father Alex Silverman on his Yahrzeit From: Charlotte Corenblum A Chai donation in memory of beloved mother Annie Berman on her Yahrzeit A Chai donation in memory of beloved father Dave Berman on his Yahrzeit From: Irene Raymond A Chai donation in memory of beloved brother Rusty Radwin on his Yahrzeit From: Holly Mazer

A Chai donation in memory of beloved mother Anne Litowich on her Yahrzeit From: Samantha St. John A Chai donation in memory of beloved mother Ida Brown on her Yahrzeit From: Jerome Brown A Chai donation in memory of beloved daughter Linda Cohn Speaks on her Yahrzeit A Chai donation in memory of beloved father-in-law Abe J. Cohn on his Yahrzeit From: Anne E. Cohn A Chai donation in memory of beloved father Jess Bernstein on his Yahrzeit From: Bob & Andy Bernstein and Family A Chai donation in memory of beloved sister Robin Kirby on her Yahrzeit From: Barbara & Stuart Royal A Chai donation in memory of beloved mother Sarah Goldman on her Yahrzeit From: Kathy & Steven Goldman A Chai donation in memory of beloved mother Lena Weiss on her Yahrzeit From: Howard Weintrob & Family A Chai donation in memory of beloved father Irvin Klein on his Yahrzeit From: Kathy Goldman A Chai donation in memory of beloved mother Helen Rotenstreich on her Yahrzeit From: Joy & Robert Fleisher

A Chai donation in memory of beloved mother Rae Green on her Yahrzeit From: Rochelle & Marty Green A Chai donation in memory of beloved grandmother Lena Davis and uncle Edward A. Davis on their Yahrzeits From: Sybil & Lawrence Michalove A Chai donation in memory of beloved mother-in-law Fannie Goldberg on her Yahrzeit From: Lenora Buchalter Alfred Jacobs, father From: Jeffrey Jacobs Sophie Kaplan Ceitlin, mother & grandmother From: Margaret & Stephen Biller and Family Joseph Cohen, beloved father Daniel Cohen, beloved brother Isadore Schlaff, beloved father-in-law From: Shirley Schlaff Ernest Marks, grandfather Jessie Levy, grandmother From: Julie Marks Rebecca Berman, mother From: Norma Jean Long Alexander Robinovich-Shohar, uncle Moses Golubov, uncle From: Lazar Golubov David Greenberg, brother From: Dorothy Marks Abe Davis, grandfather From: Michelle Tishler

DONATIONS

CONNECTION PAGE 16 MARCH 2018

Ann Brick, grandmother Rita Routman, mother From: Cindi & Michael Routman Josephine Goldstein, grandmother From: Sherry Hoffman

Hyme Cohen, grandfather From: Cindy & Harvey May Esther Goldforb, grandmother From: Jeff Padawer Sharna Treyger, mother From: Yefim Treyger

Beatrice Levy, mother From: Foster Levy Vladimir Lyublinsky, cousin Molka Draluk, mother Gersh Draluk, father Aron Gershengorin, cousin From: Tatyana Shitsel

DONATIONS

Donations submitted after Feb. 5, 2018, will be printed in the April 2018 bulletin.

TEMPLE BETH-EL FOUNDATION DONATIONS

A donation has been made by Marsha Asman to the Jill Radwin Confirmation Trip Fund in memory of Marian Radwin’s sister.

A donation has been made by Albert & Natalie Sikora to the Ruth & Joseph Sikora Children’s Education Fund in honor of Albert’s 85th birthday.

A donation has been made by Debbie & Robert Stern to the J.B. & Lynette Mazer Temple Beautification Fund.

A donation has been made by Victoria & Matt Baldwin to the Rabbi Culpeperand Irby Cohen Performing Arts Fund.

Donations have been made by Julie Marks to the Jill Radwin Confirmation Trip Fund. A donation has been made to the General Fund by Ilene & Allan Wilensky. A donation has been made by Joyce Spielberger & Maury Shevin to the

Tenenbaum/Spielberger Tikkun Olam Fund in memory of beloved fathers J. Harold Shevin and Alvin M. Tenenbaum on their Yahrzeits.

A donation has been made by Margy Rosenbaum to the Margy & Albert Rosenbaum Fund in memory of her mother-in-law, Franny Rosenbaum.

A donation has been made by Hirsch Perlstein to the Bonfield Family Volunteer Recognition Fund in honor of Barbara Bonfield receiving the Montevallo Distinguished Alumni Award.

A donation has been made to the General Fund by Micky & Stanley Rubenstein. A donation has been made by Ann Cohen to the Myron “Pete” & Ann Z. Cohen Aron

HaKodesh Fund in honor of Albert Sikora’s 85th birthday and Eph Mazer’s 90th birthday. A donation has been made by Susan & Billy Lapidus to the Maxine & Stanley Lapidus Special

Projects Fund in honor of Eph Mazer’s 90th birthday. A donation has been made by Arlene Fisher to the Murray Saul Fisher Cantorial Fund in honor

of Eph Mazer’s 90th birthday. A donation has been made by Sol Kimerling to the Esther & Charles Kimerling Family Media

Fund in loving memory of Gerald Sklute on his Yahrzeit. A donation has been made by Maxine Sklute to the Esther & Charles Kimerling Family Media

Fund in memory of beloved son Gerald Sklute on his Yahrzeit.

CONNECTION PAGE 17 MARCH 2018

Jewish Community News

WOMEN’S MEGILLAH READING 3 pm, March 1, N.E. Miles Jewish Day School

Mothers, daughters and female friends are invited to this Purim celebration. Email Ilene Kosoff at Ilenekosoff@gmail.com with questions or to volunteer.

LUNCH-AND-LEARN ON EMPTY NEST SYNDROME 12:30-1:30 pm, March 7, 14 and 21, CJFS office

Join CJFS for “Launch,” a 3-part lunch-and-learn series addressing Empty Nest Syndrome, the grief and loneliness many parents face when their kids head out into the world. CJFS Licensed Clinical Social Worker Catherine Findley will lead the discussion and offer helpful insights and tips.

Bring your lunch and meet us at the CJFS office, 3940 Montclair Rd., Suite 204. Fee for the series is $36, and all are welcome. To register or for more information contact Catherine at catherine@cjfsbham.org or 205.879.3438.

PARENTS EDU SERIES 10-11:30 am, March 18, N.E. Miles Jewish Day School

Join the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School for our Parent Edu series for parents of children ages 0-6 on March 18. Miriam Friedman will lead a discussion about "how to talk so kids will listen and how to listen even when kids won't talk." RSVP to RWeinberger@nemjds.org. Space is limited.

OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THE HOMELESS IN BIRMINGHAM Family Promise is a small but vital community program, serving approximately 20 families per year by providing safe, home-like lodging where homeless families can stay together while working to regain their independence. Temple Emanu-El, along with the support of Temple Beth-El, houses and feeds these parents and their children four times a year for a week at a time. About 90% of families leave the shelter of Family Promise and move into more permanent housing of their own. We need volunteers to help transform classrooms into bedrooms and back again a week later; to cook or buy one dinner for 4-8 people, on average; and to have dinner with the guests and stay the night in their own classroom-bedroom. If you would like more information or are interested in receiving emails four (4) times per year regarding volunteer opportunities – call or email the Family Promise Coordinator for Temple Emanu-El & Beth-El, Billie Marsala. Her email is billiemarsala@gmail.com and her cell number is 417-861-1410.

SUMMER CAMP COUNSELORS NEEDED AT LJCC Being a part of the LJCC Summer Day Camp staff is a unique and rewarding experience. Teachers, college students, and high school students all have a place on our staff. Now hiring for senior/junior counselors and those who’d like to enter the Counselors in Training (CIT) program. The new CIT program is designed to be fun, challenging, and create a lasting, positive summer experience.

To apply go to Bhamjcc.org. Contact Camp Director Tina Weldon with questions at TWeldon@bhamjcc.org.

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Shabbat Ki Tisa March 2-3 Mariya

Alexsandrovich Paulina

Belotserkovskaya Abraham

Belotserkovskiy *Louis Berkowitz Marilyn Bernstein Rose Biel Joseph Bindler Jacob Bronstein *Menachim Brown Rose Cohen *Max Copeland Elizabeth DeYoung Lewis DeYoung *Libbie Dombrow *Joseph Eiman Ida Fishkin David Fleisher *Rita Fleisher Jim Foy Anne Friedman Faina Gershengorina Muriel Gershon *Rose Goldberg *Minnie Goldner *Herbert Goldstein *Sam Goldstein Dan Grace *Henry Greenberg Jerome Greenberg *Arthur Herschthal *Helen Isenberg *Wolfe Izen *Morris Jaffe *Rachel Jaffe Doris Kanter Della Katz Sidney Katz Sima Kaz-Kagar *Nathan Kianoff *J. Kisber Olena Knecht *Stanley Knecht Rosemary Laskin *Sara Lepp Alan Levine Dora Levy *Rose Love

*Jack Luck Lois Mendelsohn Margot Mendler *Rae Meyers *Ethel Mitchell *Julie Moore *Margaret Newman *Esther Padove Lillian Panzer *Morris Pearlstein Betty Pekarne Joan Rittenbaum Herman Rosenbaum *Elaine Royal Evelyn Schaeffer *Edna Schnaper Joseph Schuster Ruth Shahid *Bernice Shaw *William Slater *Alexander Sperling Audrey Stein *Isadore Stein *Louise Temerson Boruh Vaysbroyt Charlotte Weinstein Harry Werbin *Harry Wilk Manuel Wolbe Bernice Zalkin Barbara Zitron Shabbat Vayakhel-Pekudei March 9-10 Lolly Abrams *Robert Back *Elaine Benjamin Alan Benson *Estelle Berkowitz *Nathan Berry *John Binderman Louis Bresler Pauline Bronstein Pearl Bronstein *Libby Brook *Rose Butler Nathan Cales Jacob Cherner Albert Cohen *Matilda Cohen Rebecca Cohen *Victor Cohen *Esther Cooper

Isadore Davis *Maurice Davis Marylyn Dorsky Kenneth Engelhardt *Nathan Epsman *Ruth Evans *Harry Feigelson Volf Feldman Yosif Felgendler *Sarah Frankel Bertha Geeser Rose Glick *Marvin Goldberg Helen Goldenberg *Alex Goldstein *Elsie “Cookie”

Goldstein *Lillian Goldstein Gita Golubova *Pauline Gouse Cissy Greene *Barbara Hallerman Hannah Halpern Sam Horowitz *Frances Jaffe Polina Kalikhman *Sarah Kanter David Koshin Vita Koshina *Arnold Krell Arthur Laskin *Raphael Leaf Anna Levine Anne Levy *Harry Levy *Alex Lischkoff Hyman Ludensky Beverly Marks *Max Marx Max Mutchnick Burton Olshan *Helen Radoms *David Randman Ann Reed *Sara Reed *Joe Reznik Annie Ripps *Albert Robins *Joe Seligman Nazlie Senior Bessie Shapiro *Sam Shapiro William Shapiro *Rose Silverfield Stuart Simon

*Gerald Sklute William Solomon *Victor Spira *Myer Staff Fannie Steinberg *Nancy Steiner *Joe Toranto *Victoria Toranto *Barbara Touger *Bettie Urdong *Hyman Weinstein *Chita Weintrob *Sophie Winograd Shabbat Vayikra March 16-17 *Eva Alper Carole Altman *Sam Applebaum *Anne Baker *Blanche Berk Daniel Bernstein Ruth Blender Martin Brill *Abe Butler *Dan Danneman Phillip Davidson Libby Denaburg *Reiza Feinberg Michael Feirman Yakov Feldman Dorothy Foy *Mary Ginsburg *Mildred Ginsburg *Annie Goldberg Martin Goldman *Bessie Goldner *Jake Goldstein *Victor Hanan Norman Hirschberg Giza Horowitz *Nanette Hyatt Boris Ioshpa Sol Klinger Goldie Krys Meyer Laskin Mary Leitner *Joyce Levy Seymour Link *Leonard Lischkoff *Sarah Lischkoff Alfred Long *Larry Lubel Sam Marks

*Abraham Meer *Gustave

Meyerowitz Seymour Padove Burton Peetluk Glavdja Peremitina Philip Plotka *Eugenia Poliakoff Gus Raymond *Lynn Rosemore *Sol Sacks *Vigdor “Buddy”

Sarasohn Nachama

Schlossberg *Fannie Schwartz *Isaac Schwartz *David Shapiro Diane Sidel *Herman Siegel Florence Silverberg *Mary Silverfield Joseph Sirote *Arthur Smolian *Nathan Sokol *Henry Spira Leah Sulsky Lena Trestman Maury Weiner *Jacob Weinstein Alex Wilensky *Leonard Zarovsky Shabbat Tzav March 23-24 *Joe Apolinsky *Irene Axel *Vladimir

Belotserkovskiy *Beatrice Binstock Saul Charny Miriam Cohen *Marvin Cohn *Lucille Cotton Juanita Daskin Robert Degen Rebecca Gershon Ruth Goldman Bessie Green Daniel Green Melvin Greenberg *Esther Kimerling Archie Leder *Frieda Levy

YAHRZEITS

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Property Task Force Update

Miriam Lilienthal *Joseph Mazer *Rose Leah Mazer *Sylvia Olim Serafyma Iokhymivna

Paley Pearl Perling *Tess Pike *J. B. Royal *Meyer Shiland *Harold Silverfield Enid Silverstein *Blair Simon Selma Spielberger Alma Stein Sam Tenenbaum

*Sam Warner *Isadore Weinstein *Yehuda Wertheimer Anne Wildstein *Abraham Yanuck *Alexander Zinger Pesach March 30-31 *Sylvia Back Marilyn Bearman Bell *Harvey Benjamin *Harry Berk *Dora Block *Harriet Bogart Annie Bram Conrad David Cohen

Sylvia Cohen Hyman Coplon *Molly Crayne *Harry Evans *Charles Feigelson Roslyn Fingerman *Rachel Friedman Rae Garfield Leonard Gennis *Myron Ginsberg *Dave Goldberg Bennie Goldstein Fred Goldstein Ethel Gorlin *Bernard Gottlieb Blanche Gottlieb Georgia Griffith Sheina Grusin

Ester Gutman Max Hasson Stanley Hellman George Hiller *Max Hoffman Sarah Jacobson *Herman Jaffe *Philip Kadis Rose Kaufman Edith Kreisman Richard Levy *Abraham Lipsitz *Walter Morse Anna Odrezin *Josephine Regal Libby Reznik Bertha “Fritzi”

Rosenberg

*Robert Rosenbluth *Annie Rotenstreich Ben Royal *Sam Rubenstein *Jennie Rubin Jerome Safer Marie Scheuer *Chana Schniper *Wilyum Sher Jack Silverman *Fannye Sokol *Melvin Sokol Pauline Sokol Paul Steinlauf Shirley Waxman *Helen Wilder *Henrietta Wolf *Philip Ziff

YAHRZEITS

The following message was emailed to congregants on Feb. 16.

Dear Friends:

I want to update you on the culmination of our Property Task Force committee work led by David Kimerling and Marvin Shelsky. The Task Force completed a thorough review of data last summer, and made their final recommendation to the Board in January after the Freidman Center/Knesseth Israel came back on the market. While the Task Force explored a wide array of property options, they focused particularly on the feasibility and desirability of purchasing the Friedman Center/Knesseth Israel property on Overton Road. In addition, options involving rental of space in our Highland Avenue property, building a new space on the LJCC Campus, alternative rental spaces and collaborations were explored.

The Task Force reached a consensus that the Friedman Center/KI property did not provide adequate seating/event capacity or parking options to serve our congregation well. There are zoning and moving issues which are costly and limit our ability to adapt the space. In addition, the savings from a smaller space are much less than anticipated and not enough to justify a move. The conclusion of the Task Force in general was that TBE would be better served exploring alternative options at this time, and the Board accepted this recommendation unanimously.

I know there are some who will heartily agree with this decision, and there may be some who do not agree. The strength of our congregation comes from our ability to move forward together, and I am grateful to the entire Building Task Force for their devotion of time and expertise. If you would like to see the full report, or provide feedback for the Task Force chairs, please email David Kimerling at davidkimerling@gmail.com or Marvin Shelsky at Marv929@aol.com.

Thank you for the wonderful support you have shown me as Board President, and which you have shown through your efforts on behalf of our synagogue.

Warmly,

Jacob Halpern, Temple Beth-El President

Temple Beth-El 2179 Highland Ave. S. P.O. Box 550220 Birmingham, AL 35255-0220 (205) 933-2740

Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Permit No. 889 Birmingham, AL

When

Pigs Fly

Kosher

BBQ

Cook-

Off

11 am to 3 pm, April 22

Friedman Family Foundation Jewish Food & Culture Fest

Now accepting BBQ team registrations. See

www.templebeth-el.net for registration packets and sponsorship opportunities.

Visit bhamjcc.org for more info on this exciting fundraiser!

Pg. 11