1. No category

Adar / Nissan 5775
March 2015
braving
the MAnEaTING
moSquitOS
Be Happy It’s Adar—Purim 5775
Mizel celebrates Four Decades
Teen Mifgash Tulsa 2015
“ L AU R E L P U T S T H E
CONTENTS
LEADER
march 2015 • adar / nissan 5775
volum e 86 • num ber 3
8
IN
CHEERLEADER.”
“The first middle school football game
I went to, there weren’t cheerleaders,
so I asked my mom if I could get
a uniform,” says Laurel, who then
initiated her own middle school
cheering movement. “All my friends
come and join in, even the boys. And
the high school cheerleaders come up
and say, ‘Good job’!”
Laurel also flips for new books. “I
like how my school library has so
many books, and they always get
new books about different subjects.”
It’s a good thing Laurel likes to read.
When she grows up she wants to be,
“A cheerleader and a doctor and a
school nurse and a teacher. I like music
and P.E. and science. I liked when we
learned about birds and we practiced
picking up popcorn with straws, like
beaks. I like all the subjects.”
Let Holland Hall help nurture and develop
the leader in your child. Contact Olivia
Martin, Director of Admission, at (918)
481-1111.
7
20
8
12
4From the Editor
– Laurel B.,
Holland Hall Second Grader
5What’s Nu? News Briefs
5Jewish Agency Emissary to Washington Visits Tulsa
6Be Happy It’s Adar—Purim 5775 by Rabbi Karen and Rabbi Micah Citrin
6In Honor of Purim by Rabbi Charles P. Sherman
7Staff Profile: Shelly Callahan
8The Cool Factor: Binyamin Zomer—Tulsa Born, Israeli Proud
11 Butterflies
12Four Decades by Lillian Hellman
14Teen Mifgash Tulsa 2015 by Eliyahu Krigel
16March Community Events
17Tulsa Premiere of Above and Beyond
www.hollandhall.org
2 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
19Kid’s Korner: The Smell of Bread by Eliyahu Krigel
20 Braving The Man-Eating Mosquitos by Louis Davidson
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
3 What’s Nu? News Briefs
From the Editor
THE PLURALIST ISRAEL RELIGIOUS
ACTION CENTER’S NEWSLETTER
Founded in 1930 by Tulsa Section,
National Council of Jewish Women
(ISSN# 2154-0209)
Tulsa Jewish Review
(USPS 016-928) is published monthly by
jewish federation of tulsa
2021 E. 71st St., Tulsa, OK 74136.
Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK.
STAFF
EXECUTI VE DIRECTOR
Drew Diamond
[email protected] | 918.495.1100
EDITOR
Melissa Schnur
[email protected] | 918.495.1100
ADVERTI S I NG MA NAGE R
Mindy Prescott
[email protected]
ADVERTI S I NG RE P RESE NTATIVES
Lee Hubby
[email protected]
Marcia Weinstein
[email protected]
BOARD
P R ES I DENT, J EWI S H FE DE RATION OF TU LSA
Dr. Myron Katz
DESIG N
MAG AZI NE D ESIGN BY
Bhadri Verduzco, Verduzco Design
[email protected] | verduzcodesign.com
Postmaster: Send address changes to
March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb
… or so the old saying goes. It originally was
talking about the weather, with winter
holding on with a death grip at times. Some
of the worst winter storms that I can
remember popped up in March. I certainly hope we don’t see any late snow flurries
this year.
But March does come with a flurry of events, following the sometimes sleepy
month of February. If you glance at our Community Events page, you’ll see that this
is especially true this March. There are two Men’s Club and a Ladies Who Lunch
sponsored by the Federation which are a great way to see old friends and perhaps
make a new friend! Everyone is (of course) excited about Purim. Jewish Tulsa offers
many ways to celebrate this joyous holiday from congregational events to the Purim
Mask Invitational exhibit at The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art…there’s a
way for young and old to “do” Purim. For parents with school-aged children, Spring
Break is just around the corner. My friends who teach are looking forward to a week
out of the classroom, while others are planning trips to Disney World. But when
work schedules don’t allow for a family-fun vacation, there’s always Spring Break
Camp at the J. Director of Youth Programs Martha Kelly has created a jam-packed
schedule of fun for the week.
So, join me in hoping for clear skies for March so that we can enjoy all that our
community has to offer!
–Melissa
An Israeli court has awarded damages
to women for having to endure “modesty
signs” on the streets. The court ruled that
modesty signs violate women’s civil rights
and fined the municipality of Beit Shemest
for refusing to take them down, reports the
Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) for
Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism.
IRAC has helped to engage thousands of
Israelis across the country in public events
against racism. They are working with
government agencies to remove gender
segregation signs in cemeteries, eliminate
separate entrances for men and women in
public health buildings, and end modesty
dress requirements in clinics and hospitals.
MEDIA REPORT FROM THE JEWISH
FEDERATION OF NORTH AMERICA
With the release of President Obama’s
proposed federal budget recently, Jewish
Federation leaders are grateful for the
support for older Americans and Holocaust survivors, but are concerned with
the administration’s lack of support for the
charitable contribution deduction.
Mayim Bialik gave the keynote speech
at the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s
annual campaign 2015 closing event in
February. The event celebrated raising $53.1
million from approximately 16,000 gifts.
Bialik calls herself a “personal product of
(UJA) Federation growing up in California”
and a steadfast Zionist. “Because of Federation, I was able to attend Jewish camp for
five weeks a year, to meet other Jews and
learn,” she told the audience. “It’s because of
people like you who gave to people like me,
whose family didn’t have money for camp.”
She continued, “I’m a liberal person. I want
to change the perception that if you support
Israel you’re not liberal…I don’t always
agree with Israeli policies, but I stand with
the State of Israel.” Bialik closed the talk by
laying out seven Jewish principles that she
credits for keeping her grounded: family
values, a sense of routine, emphasis on
joy, the notion of generosity, the notion of
otherness, G-d and Israel. These things take
her out of herself, she explained, instilling
in her a sense of responsibility to her family,
her community and global Judaism.
JEWISH NEWS SERVICE
The Islamic State terror group released
a video in early February showing a
Jordanian pilot being burned alive. In the
video, Jordanian pilot Muath Al-Kasasbeh,
who was captured last December, is seen
standing in a cage as flammable material
nearby is being lit by a masked terrorist.
The pilot is then burned alive. In addition,
Islamic State supporters released a series of
photos of the burning on social media. In
response to the murder, Jordan executed
two Iraqi jihadist prisoners, including
a woman whose release was sought by
Islamic State. “The revenge will be as big
as the calamity that has hit Jordan,” Jordanian army spokesman Col. Mamdouh al
Ameri said, Reuters reported. Kaseasbeh, 26,
a first lieutenant in Jordan’s air force, was
captured on Dec. 24 after he crashed his
F–16 jet near the Syrian city of Raqqa,
which is being controlled by the Islamic
State. Israel’s leaders sent condolences to
Jordan following the brutal murder, with
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drawing parallels between the Islamic
State and Iran.
The American Jewish Joint Distribution
Committee (JDC) said that it is partnering
with the French Jewish community to assist
in the areas of alleviating trauma, crisismanagement training, and the relocation of
at-risk Jews from troubled neighborhoods
around Paris.
The announcement by JDC comes
after last month’s Islamist terror attacks
on the French satirical newspaper Charlie
Hebdo and on the Hyper Cacher kosher
supermarket in Paris. The JDC said it will
partner with French Jewish organizations
to help provide post-trauma care to those
affected by the recent terror attacks and
other anti-Semitic attacks.
—Compiled by Brian E. Brouse
Jewish
Agency
Emissary to
Washington
Visits Tulsa
T
ulsa ’ s jewish community
was honored to host Pnina
Agenyahu, Jewish Agency Emissary to Washington, D.C. for
a weekend in January. Pnina met Tulsans
at different events prior to her lecture at
the Jewish Federation. Pnina shared her
personal story in a lecture entitled “From
Ethiopia to the Promised Land: How
Women Achieve Glory in Israel.” ■
Tulsa Jewish Review, 2021 E. 71st St., Tulsa, OK 74136
4 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
5
Be Happy It’s Adar—
Purim 5775
by Rabbi Karen and Rabbi
Micah Citrin, Co-Rabbis
Temple Israel
I
that on
Purim it is an obligation to party so hard,
to get so silly, that one
cannot tell the difference
between cursed Haman
and blessed Mordechai. Of
all of the different holiday
and ritual observances in
our tradition, who can’t
get behind this mitzvah? It beats fasting for
25 hours on Yom Kippur
(disclaimer: we really like
Yom Kippur, too).
t is said
The revelry of Purim gives us an
opportunity to let our hair down, to relax,
and to remember that Judaism is truly
a fun, life-affirming tradition. Purim
and revealed herself as a Jew. Even the
excessive partying might enable us to
remove inhibition and reveal our true
selves. So in the end Purim is not only
about serious fun, it also has its own
serious side.
If we really stop to consider Haman’s
evil plot to murder all the Jews, we sober
up quickly. According to Jewish tradition, Haman is a descendant of the tribe
of Amalek. In the Torah, Amalek and
his people attacked the Israelites in the
wilderness as they wandered toward
the Promised Land. Amalek attacked
the rear of the Israelite host where the
elderly, the sick, and families with young
children marched. In the Jewish imagination, Amalek came to represent evil.
Future generations of enemies of the
Jewish people, including Hitler, would
be considered the heirs of Amalek.
The lesson of Purim is having the
courage to be like Esther and confront
any Amalek in our midst. And there
can also be an intensely personal aspect
to confronting Amalek on Purim. A
Hasidic teaching makes a pun of the
proper name for Yom Kippur, Yom
Ha-KiPurim, translating it as, the “Day
like Purim.” If Yom Ha-KiPurim is like
Purim, then there must be an aspect of
Purim that is similar to Yom Kippur.
The lesson of Purim is having the courage to be like
Esther and confront any Amalek in our midst.
embodies the old adage about Jewish
holidays—“They tried to kill us. We won.
Let’s eat!”—only on Purim, we take it to
the extreme. We recall how close our
people came to annihilation were it not
for the courage of Esther and Mordechai.
There is a point when we have to stand up
and proclaim who we are, speak out for
what is right, and stare down evil.
This is the irony and complexity of
Purim. We dress up, put on costumes
and masks, and push the normal boundaries of celebration. At the same time,
we recall Esther who removed her mask
6 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
Like Yom Kippur, Purim invites us
to strip away pretense and stand up to
the “Amalek” with whom we struggle in
ourselves. It might be our own shortcomings, our own weaknesses, our own
yetzer ha-ra (ability to do wrong), that
represents the personal Amalek we
would seek to overcome.
So let’s dress up, raise a glass, dance,
sing, and party. This, after all, is what
makes Purim so enjoyable. Let’s also have
the courage of Esther to acknowledge
who we are and who we wish to still
become. ■
In Honor
of Purim
by Rabbi Charles P. Sherman
A
neologism results when
someone uses a familiar word
in a new way, in effect creating a new word. For example,
when the proper noun “Google” was employed as a verb, and we all learned that
we could Google something—that is a
neologism.
A neologism can also be a new word
created by modifying a more familiar
word. For example, we quickly grasped
that “Wikipedia” was encyclopedia-like,
but not quite what we used to mean by
encyclopedia. Other recent examples of
neologisms are “webinar” and “selfie.”
My dear colleague and friend, Rabbi
Ralph Mecklenburger of Fort Worth,
Texas, notes that in psychiatry neologisms are words meaningful only to certain
people—often deeply disturbed ones. But
it is the season of Purim, where a little
madness is considered praise-worthy. (Is
a “little madness” an oxymoron?)
So Rabbi Mecklenburger found the
following winners in a neologism contest held
annually by the Washington Post. I share them
with our readers in honor of Purim.
Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one
coughs.
Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how
much weight you have gained.
Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever
having a flat stomach.
Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in
which you absentmindedly answer the
door in your nightgown.
Gargoyle (n.), Olive-flavored mouthwash.
Flatulence (n.), emergency vehicle that
picks you up after you are run over by a
steamroller.
Balderdash (n), a rapidly receding
hairline.
Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his
conversation with Yiddish-isms.
Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front
of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.
Frisbeetarianism (n.), the belief that
when you die your soul flies up onto the
roof and gets stuck there.
Have a JOYOUS PURIM! (But then,
what other kind is there?) ■
Staff Profile: Shelly Callahan
F
or more than two decades,
Shelly Callahan has said, “Welcome!” with a smile. From new
members, to Camp Shalom parents, CSJCC staff and more, working in
Giving tours and promoting what the J
has to offer is something that gives Shelly
pride in her workplace. “I think we have a
little bit of everything. It’s clean, peaceful—
it really is a nice place.”
Her favorite time of year is when the building
is filled with the happy noise of Camp Shalom—
consistently rated one of Tulsa’s top summer camps.
Accounting and Human Resources, Shelly
is often the one to see.
“I like what I do,” she says. “This place
is easy to sell. If you get people in the door,
they become members.”
Her favorite time of year is when the
building is filled with the happy noise of
Camp Shalom—consistently rated one
of Tulsa’s top summer camps. It offers
10 weeks of learning and fun to sell-out
crowds of kids. That, combined with the
Mizel Jewish Community Day School,
the fitness classes for adults, and cultural
events, contributes to the family-friendly
atmosphere that Shelly enjoys.
Living in Bixby, where she grew up,
spending days off there with her large
extended family is a favorite pastime;
relaxing at home or gathering for a
cookout.
Working at the J for 21 years, Shelly has
seen a lot of changes, and watched people
come and go. One of her most meaningful
experiences was giving a tour to a woman
curious about the Jewish community, who
wanted to see all of the Zarrow Campus,
and then was moved to tears when she
saw everything it provides for people from
toddlers to senior citizens.
“I think that’s probably the first time
I realized what this place is.” More than
just a job, Shelly saw the campus as truly a
community center that is welcoming to all.
“I really want people in this community to realize what they have here.” ■
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
7 THE
COOL FACTOR
Binyamin
Zomer:
Tulsa
Born,
Israeli
Proud
Now comes the “fork in the road” for
Bini. Not content with visiting once or
twice a year, he watched for opportunities in Israel. In 2009 he met the CEO
of Noble Energy which had been operating in the Mediterranean Sea, offshore
Israel, since 1998. (Coincidentally, Noble
Energy was founded in 1932 in Ardmore,
Oklahoma.) Noble had developed Israel’s
natural gas market and earlier that year
had made the largest offshore natural gas
discovery in the world. Because of this
success and their growing business needs,
Noble needed a Director of Corporate
Affairs and hired Bini. It was a good fit. In
2010 Bini and his family made aliyah and
“began an amazing adventure” in Israel. In
2014 he was promoted to Noble Energy’s
Country Manager. Noble’s work in Israel
is benefiting Israel’s economy and environment while providing energy security
and an opportunity for improved relations
with neighboring countries.
So, what is Bini’s connection to Mizel
Jewish Community Day School/Heritage Academy in Tulsa, Oklahoma? Dr.
Yohanan and Cynthia Zomer were among
the earliest Tulsa Jewish parents to enroll
their children in Heritage Academy. The
school was founded in 1975 and the
Zomer kids attended in the early 1980s.
At that time the school was housed at
Congregation B’nai Emunah, and Bini
recalls many memories from those days.
To paraphrase Bini’s words, some
of his favorite memories were friends,
such as Alan Kalil and Alan Yudovich,
gym class and kick ball, and sandwiches
Binyamin Zomer
(second from Left) with
his extended family.
by Shirley Burger
I
n my volunteer capacity at Mizel
Jewish Community Day School, I
was recently researching past students who attended the school (aka
Heritage Academy). I came upon a child
of the Zomer family, Binyamin, who was
a student in the 1980s. His is an international success story, beginning in the
Tulsa Jewish community. Bini, as he is also
known, currently lives in Israel; however
he traces his roots to Tulsa and to some
happy years at Heritage Academy.
So what is special about Bini? Binyamin
graduated from the University of Texas at
Austin in 1995 with a BA in Government
and from Washington University School
of Law in St. Louis in 1999. In 2005 Bini
worked for Senator Don Nickles in Washington DC. He then worked with AIPAC
as Deputy Director for Policy and Government Affairs. He was a registered lobbyist
and focused on energy and homeland
security.
8 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
I turned pale and thought I was going to
die because the only thing I knew about
kinim was that it was one of the ten
plagues and, if so, it must be really bad!
Binyamin Zomer
made from dandelion leaves with copious
amounts of butter on soft whole wheat
bread! He also remembers a lot of historic
events from that time which peaked his
political awareness . . . the Reagan assassination attempt, the American hostages
were released, and Sadat’s assassination.
In Bini’s words, “I remember gathering
in the Heritage Academy lunch room to
watch the first space shuttle launch. I also
recall having a tick on my head and fellow
student, Yifat Biran, saying I had kinim
(the Hebrew word for lice). I turned pale
and thought I was going to die because
the only thing I knew about kinim was
that it was one of the ten plagues and, if
so, it must be really bad!”
These are memories from a child, but
the impact of his few years at Heritage
Academy endured. Bini also attributes
his success to his parents who were, and
continue to be, his role models. And, he
gives credit to his Heritage Academy
teacher, Malka Biran, for teaching him
many songs in Hebrew which he especially
appreciates today as an Israeli.
Bini Zomer has lived in Modi’in, Israel
since 2010 with his wife, Heather and
three daughters, Noa, Shai and Liel. In
2012 they added their sabra (Israeli-born)
daughter, Elah. Heather is a partner in a
company that makes hats for women. Bini
adds, “Everyone is very happy to be Israeli,
and I am very proud of all of them, especially Heather who managed to acclimate
quickly and create our home with very
little help nearby.”
The roots of Mizel Jewish Community Day School run deep in the Tulsa
Jewish community. Bini and so many
other Tulsa children have gone out in
the world from our unique Jewish Day
School to grow these roots into successful
and happy adult lives . . . from Tulsa to
Israel and beyond! ■
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
9 Butterflies
Honoring Donors
to the Tulsa Jewish
Retirement &
Health Center
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Please note that the telephone number listed in the 2014 Tulsa Jewish
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The correct number for Fitzgerald Funeral Service is 918-585-1151.
10 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
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GENERAL FUND
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Marilyn Green & David Rebnord
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Barbara & Mike Kahn
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Phyllis Lustgarten
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Paula & Malcolm Milsten
Sylvia Oberstein
Sylvia Rosenthal
Isabel Sanditen & Children
Joseph Secan
Fred Strauss
Mimi Tarrasch
Barbara & Ronald Winder
Claire Vincent
Sally & Steve Yancey
Maxine Zarrow
Debbie & Danny Zeligson
Cynthia & Yohanan Zomer
IN MEMORY
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For Appointments
Call 918-749-7711
Call and ask about
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JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
11 Prepare To Have Your Mind Blown.
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Four Decades
by Lillian Hellman, Director Mizel
Jewish Community Day School
T
he number 40 has great significance throughout the Torah
and Talmud. It represents transition or change, the concept of
renewal or a new beginning. With Noah,
it rained for 40 days and 40 nights in
order to purify the earth. Immersion in
a mikvah, the Jewish ritual bath, requires
40 measures of water to bring spiritual purification and renewal to an individual. It
took the Jews 40 years of wandering to
finally understand the significance of their
freedom. And the 40th year of a person’s
life is considered an age of reason, one in
which s/he transitions from one level of
wisdom to the next.
So too with Mizel Jewish Community
Day School, whose 40th anniversary we
will celebrate on March 28, with a beautiful
gala. Through the efforts of three Jewish
families in 1975, Mizel Jewish Community
Day School was born, taking the name
12 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
Heritage Academy. Classes were held at
Congregation B’nai Emunah, but in 1983
the school relocated to its current location
on the beautiful 40-acre Zarrow Campus.
In 2007, the name was changed to the Flo
and Morris Mizel Jewish Community Day
School and still remains the only Jewish
Day School in Oklahoma.
Mizel Jewish Community Day School
provides hands-on learning for students of
all faiths in preschool through fifth grade.
Our highly experienced, talented staff
provides a nurturing environment with
small class sizes, individualized instruction and innovative General and Judaic
Studies.
Hebrew is taught as a modern, living
language and our strong Character and
Values Education Program complements
our overall curriculum. Specialists
conduct classes in Fine Arts, Music,
Physical Education and teachers utilize a
Computer Lab, Smart Boards and iPads.
Educational field trips, student-to-student
mentoring and multi-age interaction
round out our program.
Mizel students also have the unique
opportunity to experience multi-generational activities with the Tulsa Jewish
Retirement and Health Center. Art
appreciation classes are conducted at
The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish
Art, and students participate in planting
and harvesting at the Jewish Federation of
Tulsa’s Community Garden, all located on
our unique campus.
For four decades, our school has
touched generations of children, their
families and the Jewish community
of Tulsa. We look forward to a year
of renewal and growth, with the
continued pursuit of excellence in
learning, for our students, our school
and our community. ■
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camp raven 2015
Patron Chairs for the event are
L to R: Avi Mintz, Michael Mudd,
Jonathan Levine and Richard Borg.
Mizel Jewish Community Day
School will host an evening of
celebration honoring the school’s
40th anniversary with “Four
Decades: Mizel, Music & Memories,”
on Saturday, March 28, 2015. The
event will take place at 6 p.m. at
the Marriott Tulsa Hotel Southern
Hills located at 1902 East 71st
Street in Tulsa. Ticket prices start
at $75 for general admission.
Preferred and patron-level seating
opportunities are available, as
well as sponsorship opportunities.
Proceeds from the evening benefit
the Mizel Scholarship Fund. For
more information call Mizel
at 918.494.0953.
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JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
13 Teen
Mifgash
Tulsa
by Eliyahu Krigel, Director of Education, Congregation B’nai Emunah
T
he connection jewish youth
in Tulsa feel on a personal level
with Israel is real and sustained
due in large part to the valiant
efforts of the Jewish Federation of Tulsa’s
Sovev Kinneret Partnership. From December 28 to January 5, I was honored
to travel with seven Midrasha students
to Israel on the Teen Mifgash Tulsa 2015
trip. Delegates on the trip included: Koby
Abels, Josh Arbital, Kendall Brock, Elie
Benarrous, Brooke Dubin, Eric Haake,
and Maeghan Jakubovitz. From March
24 to 31 this year, the six extremely talented and personable Israelis and their
chaperone who hosted our delegation will
be in Tulsa to continue this critical youth
exchange.
Josh Arbital, a 12th grader at Jenks
High School and member of Congregation B’nai Emunah, had the following
comments regarding his experience on
this past Israel trip: “The trip was a great
experience for me. The amazing feeling
that one could get from being in a place
where they were not the minority, when
they usually are, was so tremendous. Being
in Israel helped me feel like I belonged to
something special that is challenging to
describe with words. I was very happy
to see the Western Wall, Golan Heights,
and the border between Israel and Jordan
along with many other sights. I learned a
lot of history about my people and about
the State of Israel and how it was established. I would definitely recommend this
trip to Midrasha students next year. I can’t
wait for the Israelis to travel to Tulsa later
this month!”
When we first arrived in Israel, as the
Tulsans sat across from the Israelis, both
14 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
groups had big smiles on their faces, as
they had been preparing diligently for our
encounter. The Tulsans met each week
for a Midrasha class with Moreh Eliyahu
and Morah Shiri Achiasaf-West and the
Israelis met with their local teacher to
prepare for the time together. Their smiles
when they first saw each other were reflective of their good will, their admiration for
one another, and the trust they already felt
even though they were just beginning to
get to know each other.
The point of the trip was all about interface and building meaningful relationships
through dialogue and experience. There
were many kernels of truth and parallel
experiences throughout our time together
in good conversation: an Israeli teen who
represented the 26th generation to live in
the Sovev Kinneret region; an American
from Tulsa who is soon graduating high
school and actively involved in ROTC; an
Israeli who doesn’t struggle to keep Kosher
in Ha’aretz (the land); and an American
who has consciously made the choice of
whether or not to ritually observe dietary
laws. So many stories and this was just the
beginning of our time together.
Mifgash means exchange, but on a
profoundly personal and meaningful level,
and that’s what this trip was so successful
in manifesting. Tiberias is a peaceful city of
45,000 people next to the Kinneret in the
north of Israel. During the trip, the Tulsa
delegates were very engaged. They made
a thoughtful presentation at the Kadouri
Agricultural School, as well as at Har Nof
and Amal Nofarim both located in Tiberias. Har Nof is the school our students at
the Synagogue in Religious School Skype
with on a continuous basis during Sunday
School, and meeting these students faceto-face was both exciting and affirming.
Our conversation was based on mutual
cooperation and dialogue. Kadouri is a
multi-cultural school and the elementary
students at Har Nof went out of their way
by providing us with gifts and a special
Israeli breakfast.
Brooke Dubin, an 11th grader at Jenks
High School and member of Temple Israel,
had the following to say regarding her
experience on this transformative trip:
“The Mifgash trip to Israel was amazing! I
really enjoyed getting to know Israeli teens
my age on a more personal level. I learned
a lot about the culture in Israel. The differences between Israeli teens and American
teens are surprising, but we found out that
we also had a lot in common! I would definitely like to return to Israel and visit the
friends I made. I can’t wait for them to
come to Tulsa and show them around our
great city!”
During the trip, we also toured Kibbutz
Degania and learned about the Second
Aliyah in the Kinneret Courtyard. Morah
Edna Lapidot, our former Shlicha in Tulsa,
met us for an exceptional tour of Hammat
Tverya which was an ancient neighborhood during Talmudic times. We also
spent quality time visiting and learning
with Moreh Itai Lavi, our previous Israeli
emissary before Morah Edna. Soaking
up the kedusha (holiness) of Rabbi Meir
and his Hasidim enabled us to affirm our
sacred mission.
There were many highlights on the
trip which included a special visit with
Menachem Barkai, a POW after the
Yom Kippur War and relative of Rabbi
Fitzerman, as well as multiple workshops
based on Jewish peoplehood. Menachem’s
important message was the following: “The
only thing you can control in your life is
your attitude, so appreciate each moment.”
The jeep tour of Naharaim in the southern
part of the Golan Heights was thrilling
and a true adventure. The shuk or weekly
market in Tiberias gave our students
a visceral experience as did the artistic
session at Galita Chocolate Factory. We
heard and learned directly from an IDF
soldier and from our Israeli madrich or
counselor, Yaron Ruach, a highly skilled
artistic director. Before Shabbat, we were
able to view an inspiring dance recital
with Yaron’s students. In addition to all the
exciting activities in Israel, we also met up
with two of our recent Midrasha graduates.
We had the opportunity to visit with Gabi
Torianyk who is spending the next three
years in the IDF and also connected with
Reagan Schoenholtz who is participating in
Kivunim on her gap year before attending
Tulsan University in the fall.
Along with all the incredible work
Anat Sharvit and Hadar Binya do on a
consistent basis with the Sovev Kinneret
Region and Partnership2Gether, Lori
Abramson, the Head of Educational
Tourism and Marketing Evaluation in
the Department for Jewish Peoplehood at
Oranim Academic College of Education,
has been brought on as a consultant in
Israel to help strengthen our connection.
Along with working on solidifying the
partnership exchange, Lori is working
with Moreh Eliyahu and a local teacher
in Tiberias, Morah Naomi Benedict, on
developing their school partnership. Just
like the Teen Mifgash, the video conferencing at the Synagogue helps deepen
students understanding and relationship
to Israel in a significant way.
Our students on the Teen Mifgash
journey truly walked away from the trip
with new Israeli best friends. All we can say
is Aroma coffee tops Starbucks any day of
the week! When we share a meal at the same
table, when we look deeply into each other’s
eyes and truly take the time to converse, we
have the potential to change and heal the
world. This was what the Mifgash trip was
all about on an intimate and personal level.
The group will be presenting to the
Jewish Federation of Tulsa and to the
communities of Congregation B’nai
Emunah and Temple Israel in the months
of March and April. A special note of
appreciation to Morah Shiri AchiasafWest for her enormous efforts throughout
with logistics, coordination, and overall
support! Thank you especially to Partnership2Gether, the Jewish Federation
of Tulsa, the families, Congregation B’nai
Emunah, Temple Israel, and Midrasha for
supporting this incredible journey! ■
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
15 It wasn’t their country, but they made it their wa
M A R C H CO M M U N I T Y E V E N T S
Jewish Federation of Tulsa
Winter Institute of Adult Jewish
Studies • Mon., Mar. 2 • Final night of winter
classes. The Institute will return again in the fall.
Men’s Club • Wed., Mar. 11 • Noon • A
delicious lunch will be followed by our speaker,
Shiri Achiasaf-West, whose topic will be Israeli
Current Events. Cost of the luncheon is $7.
Please RSVP to Falisha at 918.495.1100 or
[email protected] by noon on Mar. 10.
Spring Break Camp at the J • Mar. 16-20 • Spring Break Camp at the J is for children 3–12
and offers parents a safe and fun choice for their
children when they are out of school. Visit
www.CSJCC.org for more information and to
register by Mar. 6.
Ladies Who Lunch • Mon., Mar. 16 • Noon • Come enjoy pleasant conversation and great food
at Napa Flats (9912 S. Riverside Pkwy.). Each
person pays her own check. Please RSVP to Lorri
at 918.495.1100 or [email protected] no
later than Fri., Mar. 13.
Men’s Club • Wed., Mar. 25 • Noon • A
delicious lunch will be followed by our speaker,
Nancy Cook, whose topic will be “Masada - from
King Herod through the First Jewish Revolt.” Cost
of the luncheon is $7. Please RSVP to Falisha at
918.495.1100 or [email protected] by
noon on Mar. 24.
Camp Shalom 2015 • May 26–July 31 •
Registration starts Mar. 1 • Register by May 1
for early bird price to save $25 per week. Eight
weekly specialty camps with over 40 specialty
camp choices and two traditional weeks of camp.
Register now at csjcc.org or call 918.495.1111 for
more information.
The Sherwin Miller Museum
of Jewish Art
Exhibit—Ancient Ways: Modern Forms—
An Exploration of Related Experience in
Native American and Jewish Cultures
by Oklahoma Native Artists • Feb. 5–
Apr. 2 • This exhibit features the works of
Cherokee treasures Jane Osti and Martha Berry,
as well as from members of the Southeast Indian
Artists Association, that touch on traditions and
related experiences in the cultures of two ancient
tribal peoples: the Jewish people and the Native
American people.
Exhibit—Ninth Annual Purim Mask
Invitational • Mar. 12 – Apr. 12 • Area
K–12 students participate and learn about the
Jewish holiday of Purim, with the opportunity to
have their creations displayed for several weeks
within the museum. The majority of students
in Tulsa area schools are from faiths other than
Judaism and are often unaware of Jewish culture
and traditions. In creating a mask for Purim and
learning the story of Esther and other Purim
traditions, students are able to learn more about
other cultures and religions. The masks are juried
by a panel of local art experts in separate age
divisions with all masks competing for the “Best
in Show” award. The Opening Reception & Purim
16 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
Mask Awards will be held on Thurs., Mar. 12
from 5–7 p.m. in the Museum Lobby.
Temple Israel
Brotherhood Breakfast with Scholar in
Residence Professor Marc Dollinger of
San Francisco State University • Sun.,
Mar. 1 • Breakfast 9:30 a.m./Program 10 a.m. • All are welcome. The cost for breakfast is $8
with advance reservation or $10 at the door. The
program entitled Jews and Eastern European Roots:
A Multi-Media Presentation follows breakfast. RSVP
to Gary at 918.645.5621 or [email protected].
Women’s Torah Study Purim Version • Wed., Mar. 4 • Noon–1 p.m. • The Women’s
Torah Study group will be reconvening to study
the women of the Megillah. Most of us know
Queen Esther, but there are others! Who were the
female contemporaries of Queen Esther? Join us
as we discover who these intriguing women were
and how they affected change during their time.
Rabbi Karen Citrin will help us find these women
in the Megillah and understand the impact they
had then and now. We’ll meet in the youth lounge.
So, bring your lunch, hamantaschen to share, a
friend and your curiosity as we learn together.
Sisterhood Shabbat • Fri., Mar. 6 •
7:30 p.m. • In honor of Temple Israel’s 100 years,
there will be a panel of speakers on the past,
present, and future of Sisterhood at TI. All are
welcome. Contact Lori Lieb-Rosas at llb4410@
yahoo.com or 918.851.0170 for more information.
Purim Festivities—Megillah & More! • Sun., Mar. 8 • 9:30 a.m. • Learning for kids and
adults begins at 9:30. Our celebration continues at
11 a.m. with a hilarious shpiel and joyful retelling
of the story of Esther, followed by a fantastically
fun carnival. We’ll have games, prizes, inflatables,
food, art activities, and so much more! Purchase
your all-inclusive wrist band at the door or in
advance for $10 a person, with a family max of $36.
Children 5 and under are free. Come in costume!
All are welcome! For more information, please
contact Jenn Selco at [email protected]
or 918.392.8483. TGIS (Thank God It’s Shabbat!) • Fri.,
Mar. 13 • Pre-Oneg 5:30/Service 6 p.m. • Start
Shabbat with savory hors d’oeuvres at the pre-oneg,
followed by a lively musical service and a delicious
catered Shabbat Dinner. RSVP for dinner to the
Temple office or [email protected] by
Mar. 11.
Shabbat Morning @ TI • Sat., Mar. 14 •
10:30 a.m. • Participatory Shabbat morning
worship for all and Torah study followed by lunch;
come as you are or bring a dish to share.
Shabbat Service in the Round • Fri.,
Mar. 20 • Picnic Dinner 5:45 p.m./Service 6:30
p.m. • Bring your dinner and add your voice to a
relaxed, joyful Shabbat celebration for all.
“Women and Water”—A Sisterhood
Outing • Sun., Mar. 22 • 11 a.m. • Learn about
the meaning and use of the mikvah (ritual bath)
for women according to Jewish tradition, as well
as modern day views and practice. We’ll explore
Jewish perspectives on menstruation, sexuality,
BiBi-DiBi: Babies+Blessings+
Dinner+Bedtime • Fri., Mar. 13 •
“the red tent,” and a variety of new ceremonies for
women’s ritual immersion today with Rabbi Karen
Citrin. Following the discussion, we will view the
mikvah and then all are welcome to enjoy lunch
at the Palace Café. Temple Israel’s Sisterhood
extends a warm invitation to Congregation
B’nai Emunah’s Sisterhood to join together for
this gathering. Meet at CBE @ 11. To RSVP or
for more information, contact Lori Lieb-Rosas
at [email protected] or 918.851.0170, Holly
Burger at [email protected] or 918.280.9727,
or Sharon Cash at [email protected].
Tot Shabbat • Sat., Mar. 28 • 9 a.m. • A short,
fun, service for babies, toddlers, young elementary
age children and their families followed by an
oneg snack and activity. There’s plenty of space
for everyone so feel free to come and meet other
families. Wake up and celebrate Shabbat together!
Sisterhood Mah Jongg Tournament • Sun., Mar. 29 • 10 a.m. • Beginners to more
experienced players; a fun day of playing for all!
Contact Lori Lieb-Rosas at [email protected]
or 918.851.0170 or Holly Burger at hollytate77@
gmail.com or 918.280.9727 for more information.
Congregation B’nai Emunah
Purim Extravaganza and Megillah
Reading • Wed., Mar. 4 • Dinner 6 p.m. /
Readings 6:45 p.m. • Dust off your groggers, pull
on your costumes—it’s time for Purim! Festivities
begin with dinner featuring a Mediterranean
feast, as well as homemade hamantaschen for
dessert. The meal will be followed by parallel
Megillah readings at 6:45 p.m. Choose between
a participatory English reading or a traditional
Hebrew reading of the story of Esther. It’s your
synagogue, your choice here at Congregation
B’nai Emunah! Both readings will be followed by
the legendary Shushan-a-Rama, a Purim carnival
for kids young and old. Entertainers, dancing,
balloon artists, jugglers and face-painting abound
as we celebrate with treats, more hamantaschen,
popcorn, cotton candy and so much more! Hope
to see you there. Call the Synagogue by Mar. 2 at
918.935.3373 to make your reservations for the
meal or email [email protected].
Cost for the meal is $12 for adults and $6 for kids
12 years of age and under. The service and carnival
are free of charge. Coming in costume? So much
the better.
Smart Conversations from the 92|Y
with Alan Alda and Regis Philbin • Mon., Mar. 9 • 6:30 p.m. • What was it like to
grow up in the place that bred influencers in just
about every field of endeavor today? The Bronx is
where Al Pacino, Carl Reiner, General Colin Powell
and so many other leading artists, athletes, scientists
and entrepreneurs spent their formative years.
Three of the Bronx’s favorite sons and daughters
get together to reflect on stories from Arlene Alda’s
new book, Just Kids from the Bronx, and to share
memories of where it all began. Smart Conversations
features dynamic and visionary thinkers,
newsmakers, and entertainers in live conversation
via satellite from Manhattan. Tickets for the single
lecture cost $10. Students are admitted free of charge.
Coffee, treats, and conversation precede and follow
each performance. To purchase tickets or for more
information, call the Synagogue at 918.935.3373 or
write us at [email protected].
6 p.m. • Very young children and
their parents are invited to join us
for another soft and cuddly Shabbat
experience. Parachutes, rattles and
toys sit at the center of our circle
while parents and kids share in the
blessings of peaceful Shabbat. A
delicious, kid-friendly Shabbat
dinner accompanies this program.
Please call our reservations hotline
at 918.935.3373 or reservations@
bnaiemunah.com by Thurs., Mar. 12,
to reserve your spot on the floor.
Shabbat for Everyone • Fri.,
Mar. 27 • Dinner 6:15 p.m./Service
7 p.m. • Love to dance? Love to
sing? Love spending time with
friends and family? Then Shabbat
for Everyone is the place for you!
Our monthly, kid-friendly Shabbat
experience begins with a delicious
dinner prepared by us, so you can
just relax and enjoy. We then move
into the sounds and movements of
a joyous Friday night celebration.
Your feet will be stomping as the
music carries us forward into the
night. Top it all off with a delightful
story and you’ve got yourself one
can’t-miss evening. No reservation
is needed for the service, but please
contact us at 918.935.3373 or
[email protected] by
Mar. 25, to guarantee your place at
the dinner table.
Doing Jewish: Passover
Prep • Sun., Mar. 29 • 11 a.m. • Jews have been eating gluten-free
long before it was trendy. Every
Passover we purge chametz from our
homes and eat a gluten-free diet for
a whole week. From world famous
matzah ball soup to sweet charoset,
Passover is pumped full of love
and cheer by the tastes that pour
forth from our kitchens. Join us for
a look into kitchen secrets, family
recipes and an overview of how
to eat Jewishly on this impending
holiday. “Doing Jewish” is part of
our Basic Judaism course on Sunday
mornings. For more information,
contact Rabbi Kaiman by calling the
Synagogue office.
Second Seder at the
Synagogue • Sat., April 4 •
7 p.m. • The Synagogue’s annual
“Second Seder” is open to the entire
community, with a special welcome
to Tulsa newcomers and those
whose families are far away. Join
Synagogue members and friends
for a joyful celebration of the most
important event in Jewish history.
The Seder will feature spirited and
moving music from members of the
Synagogue’s instrumental ensemble,
Klay Kodesh, and participants
will enjoy a festive mixture of
Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions.
For more details or to make your
reservation, please contact us soon
at 918.935.3373 or reservations@
bnaiemunah.com.
Tulsa Premiere of Above and Beyond
Distribution Contact:
Producer
Contact:
Publicity Con
,
at 1:30 p.m., Circle Cinema will be premiering an important
film,
Above and Beyond:
The Untold True Story. The film is a documentary
Wendy Lidell
Nancy
Spielberg
AdammadeJ. Segal
by Nancy Spielberg (Steven Spielberg’s sister) about a group of young Jewish men,
who
were American fighterProductions
pilots in the 1940s who fought for and
helped 2050
estabInternational Film Circuit
Playmount
The
Gro
lish the State of Israel. It’s the fascinating true story of these men, who in the aftermath of the
Holocaust, secretly
came together to do the important work of helping Israeladam@the2050
win the War of
[email protected]
nancyspielberg@
Independence. Please join us on Sunday, March 8 at 1:30 p.m. for this special showing of the
movie. John Lichter,
the son of one of the pilots, will be with us along with Nancy
Spielberg,
playmountproductions.com
202-422-4673
O
n sunday march 8
who will join the discussion via Skype. They will answer questions about the movie, and Nancy
will explain how she became involved in the effort to tell the story. Advanced ticket sales will be
available by calling the Circle Cinema at 918.585.3456 or [email protected]. This program
is endorsed by StandWithUs teen internship, an organization dedicated to Israel advocacy. ■
Downloadable presskit & hi res images:
http://aboveandbeyondthemovie.com/press-kit
17 JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
[email protected]
[email protected]
918.605.2995
918.688.5467
Camp
McGraw
4105 S Rockford Ave
Tulsa, OK 74105
(918)592-6000
fax (918)398-5396
R E A L T O R S ®
Kid’s Korner:
The Smell of Bread
by Eliyahu Krigel
This Month’s
Advertisers
This publication is brought to you each month
thanks to the support of our advertisers. Please be
sure to use their products and services and mention
that you found them in Tulsa Jewish Review.
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18 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
I
n a town very similar in size to Tulsa
but extremely different in attitude,
there once was a bakery that made
and sold the most scrumptious breads,
cakes, pastries, and goodies imaginable. In
the bakery, the bakers were especially renowned for making very delicious challah,
the traditional bread consumed on Shabbat and holidays. Customers would travel
from miles and miles away to taste the soft,
warm bread and baked goods. It so happened that one Friday morning an elder
in the community walked by the bakery
and smelled the delicious bread herself.
She was a hard worker, well beyond her
years, and her tired body felt renewed
and happy upon smelling the delightful
bread. All she wanted to do was stand by
the bakery and smell the bread. She had
very little money and therefore couldn’t
afford any of the challah or baked goods
in the artesian confectionary.
As she stood motionless simply
smelling the bread, the head baker
abruptly approached her and asked her
to either buy something or leave. “Excuse
me,” the baker loudly shouted at the old
woman who was simply smelling the
delightful bread. “You either need to buy
some bread or move on. You’re blocking
the way and my other customers can’t
place their order.”
The elder quizzically looked the baker
over and then replied, “Dear sir, all I am
doing is standing here smelling your
amazingly delicious baked goods. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough money to
purchase even the smallest of loaves, and
so all I want to do is stand here and smell
this wonderful aroma. You see, I used to
bake challah each week for my family
when they lived with me but now my
children are grown and have moved far
away and my husband recently departed
this world. Smelling this bread brings me
back to my happy place. Can’t I just stand
here and smell your bread?”
With that, the baker turned up his
nose in disgust, rolled his eyes, and said
without remorse she had to move along.
He also had issues he was dealing with
in his own family and he was only trying
to run a simple business. “Please move
along,” he said to her in the most direct
way possible. “I don’t care about your
problems. I’m trying to put food on the
table for my family, and you’re blocking
the way of other paying customers.”
Shocked and disappointed, the woman
went to the Rabbi of the local Synagogue
for advice. She brought the Rabbi to the
bakery and related the issue at hand. “All
I want to do, Rabbi, is stand by the bakery
and smell the bread. The head baker won’t
let me and that’s just wrong. What should
I do?”
With that question and after hearing
the baker’s perspective, the Rabbi went
back to the Synagogue only to return
moments later carrying a container full
of coins. The Rabbi told the woman who
wanted to smell the bread that he had
some tzedakah or money set aside for a
sacred purpose at the Synagogue that he
thought could relieve this complicated
situation. The Rabbi then asked the baker
to come out from behind the counter and
then began to directly address the quarrelling pair. “I thought about what to do
in order to solve this problem, and I have
come up with a solution. In my hand is a
container that holds the weekly tzedakah
or sacred donations that were set aside in
our community to help those in need. This
is what I would like to do.”
With that, he held up the change bag
near the baker’s ear. He then jingled the
change so the baker could hear the sounds
of the coins rattle and move. “That’s my
solution,” he said. “Just like the women
who simply wanted to smell the bread,
here is some money the baker can hear
rattle inside the container.” After he held
up the coin purse next to the baker’s ear,
he then gave the elder in the community
the tzedakah to do with it as she wanted. It
turns out there was another bakery in town
that also was known for their challah. That
afternoon, the woman walked around
the corner and used her gift to purchase
challah from a different bakery so her
Shabbat table would be in perfect order
later that night. ■
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
19 E
braving
the MAnEaTING
moSquitOS
ntering the sanctuary of
South Portland, Maine’s Bet
Ha’am Synagogue was a socksoff experience. Not that we were
barefoot—rather, the in-your-face visual
impact of the stunning garden and reflecting pool just knocked our socks off. After
photographing hundreds of synagogues,
this was the first we’d experienced that
involved water as a primary architectural element, enhancing the religious
experience with the beauty of nature in a
stunning symbiotic spiritual relationship.
Paraphrasing the first of the four questions asked at the Passover Seder: why
is this synagogue different from all other
synagogues? In all other synagogues
array of equipment, I was missing a critically important item: mosquito repellent.
August is mosquito season in Maine and
sundown is dinner time for those hungry
denizens of the garden. With my wife as
the hors d’oeuvre, I became an entrée. Just
try holding a camera steady with one hand
while slapping mosquitos with the other.
By the time I had my photos, like Elvis, I
was “itching like a man on a fuzzy tree.”
Completed in 2009, Bet Ha’am has
been recognized as one of the 50 most
stunning synagogues around the world.
Native woods and simple natural materials are used inside to further the union
of indoors and out. From within the sanctuary the striking view of the garden and
Outside the glass wall, two tablets
(now covered with more ivy than Harvard
University) soar towards the sky. These
symbolize the Ten Commandments.
Inside, there is undeniably unique, nativewood bimah furniture: the Aron Kodesh
and Rabbi’s lectern were handcrafted by
prominent sculptor Wendell Castle. The
accompanying chairs were designed and
carved by his students.
While we were oohing and aahing
about the wonderful sanctuary, Temple
Sinai’s executive director told us confidentially that the nearly 50-year old glass
roof suffers continually from leaks. In
my estimation, a minor inconvenience
compared to man eating mosquitoes.
On a high bluff overlooking the Pacific,
you’ll find the Malibu Jewish Center. Its
minimalist-modern sanctuary is a curved
shell airily floating above a plateau. Clear
glass expanses open to the mountains and
ocean. The congregation describes itself
as, “Reconstructionist with a progressive, contemporary approach to Jewish
life. Shabbat with a salsa beat and organic
The Malibu Jewish
Center features a curved
shell airily floating
above a plateau.
by Louis Davidson
Bet Ha’am Synagogue illustrates
the impact of making the interior
sanctuary one with nature.
Temple Sinai of Rochester, New
York. Its sanctuary is shaped to
suggest a tent, symbolizing the
nomadic theme in Jewish history.
20 J EW I SHTU L S A.ORG
the sanctuary encloses the congregation,
separating it from the outside world with
a man-made controlled environment that
focuses within. In this synagogue, nature’s
ever changing moods and light are invited
into the sanctuary, forming the congregation’s experience, moving the focus out to
the broader world and our connection to
it. The sanctuary’s architectural surfaces
and furniture are fashioned from the forest
woods, physically connecting us to nature,
allowing us to touch and feel it, not just
see it through the glass.
Congregation Bet Ha’am’s new architecturally-acclaimed synagogue brings
the congregation into close communion with nature. In order to capture the
glowing essence of this lovely new synagogue, we arrived well before sundown
and set up our photo gear in the garden.
For the next 45 minutes, we would shoot
a variety of photos in the changing light
of sunset. Although I carry an extensive
reflecting pool is a kind of metaphor for
spiritual reflection. For those who are
less contemplative, the pool could serve
as a mikvah … okay, okay, it was just a
thought!
Having photographed nearly 400
synagogues, I can count barely a handful
that invite nature into their sanctuaries.
Perhaps the earliest building of this genre
is the 1967 Temple Sinai of Rochester,
New York. Its sanctuary is shaped to
suggest a tent, symbolizing the nomadic
theme in Jewish history. The soaring
concrete walls were poured in-situ (on
site). The five sections of each sidewall
symbolize the ten lost tribes of Israel,
which under King Jeroboam, once made
up the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Through the glass roof one is invited to
look upward and be reminded that God
once promised Abraham that his descendants “would be as numerous as stars in
the sky.”
gardening in its own nature preserve.”
What else would we expect in Malibu,
California? Salsa, organic gardening and
progressivism aside, the space, sheltered
by the floating shell, is both breathtaking
and functionally flexible for multiple
purposes with a moveable Aron Kodesh
and bimah.
Do these synagogues and their visual
union with nature enable their worshippers to have a more meaningful spiritual
experience? The answer to that question
may, like beauty, be in the eye of the
beholder. ■
JEWI SHT U LS A.ORG
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6/21/10 9:36 AM
6/21/10 9:36 AM
TULSA JEWISH FILM SERIES
Our films aren’t selected...
they’re chosen
Wednesday, March 25 • 7:00 p.m.
Circle Cinema (12 South Lewis Ave)
Cost: Adults $5 / Midrasha Students Free
This special film presentation is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Tulsa,
Circle Cinema and Tulsa Midrasha.