1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

Speak Up!
APRIL 2015
By Rabbi Kenneth Carr
E
very year, as we sit at our Passover seders, we attempt to make
the ancient master story of the Jewish people come alive in our
own day. One way involves recognizing that Passover inspires
much of the Jewish impulse for advocacy. Repeatedly, when the Torah
commands us to speak up on behalf of those who are powerless
or oppressed, we are exhorted, “Remember that you were a slave
in Egypt.” Once, you suffered in bondage, with no one who would
advocate on your behalf; now that you have power, use it to repair the
broken places of the world. We have the right and the responsibility
to call for change.
Unlike in ancient Egypt, in America one of our great sources of
power is our ability to petition the government. We can meet with
our elected representatives and encourage them to take particular
actions. We can inform them of our perspective on issues and urge
them to vote a certain way. Especially on matters of social justice,
Jewish tradition calls on us to speak up to repair the world.
This past February, as part of our post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah
curriculum, the Confirmation class participated in the L’Taken
seminar. L’Taken (the verb form of “tikun olam,” meaning “to repair
the world”) is organized by the Religious
Action Center of Reform Judaism in
Washington, DC. For three days, our
students joined with 300 other high
schoolers from around the country,
learning how Jewish values apply to
contemporary social justice issues,
exploring Washington, and socializing
with their peers. The culmination of the weekend involved going
to Capitol Hill to meet with staff members for our Senators and
Representatives. Each student had prepared a speech to lobby them
on an issue of personal concern.
Watching these young adults take ownership of Jewish teachings,
apply them to social policy challenges, and passionately advocate
for their perspectives, was truly inspirational. Even beyond the
specifics of their talks, they learned that they have the ability and the
responsibility to speak up for what they believe. In the hopes that
their words will remind the rest of us of that message as well, I’m
honored to share some of their talks here:
Meredith Bernstein and Amanda Colton were
part of a group presenting to a staff member of
Senator Pat Toomey
to change the lives of one sixth of America, unless the funding runs
out. In September of this year, this could happen.
As Jews, we feel an obligation to feed anyone and everyone until
they are satisfied. Whether this entails inviting a friend in for their
first High Holy Day away from home or volunteering at a soup
kitchen to help those who need, we will be there with a smile on
our faces. Great Jewish wisdom, in Sefer Hasidim, says that “if a
community lacked a synagogue and a shelter for the poor, it was
first obligated to build a shelter for the poor.” We understand the
impact of hunger, especially in a person’s childhood, and general
food instability. We understand, and we want to help. The common
phrase heard in the Jewish Community is “may all who are hungry
come and eat.” We are commanded to invite others into our homes,
but we alone are not enough. In the Mishnaic Tractate, Ethics of
Our Fathers, 2:21, it tells us that “it is not upon you to finish the
work, but you are not free to ignore it.” The Reform Movement is
doing everything it can to combat the effects of hunger, and we need
your support in the Senate. This issue is not one we simply watch
on the news – it is near our homes, even in our communities. On
Yom Kippur, a holiday in which we atone for our sins by fasting, my
synagogue holds a canned food drive for Philabundance, a local antihunger organization.
My bat-mitzvah project focused on the donations and volunteer
work at my local soup kitchen, St. Vincent. I volunteered multiple
times, and found that my service to the homeless was very
important, as I gained a new understanding of the impact of hunger.
Each of my visits included serving around two hundred people, some
of which consisted of large families with young children. Not long
after, I began to formulate relationships with some of the homeless
continued on page 15
T
hank you very much for taking the time to meet with us here
today. We are in Washington with hundreds of other teens from
the Reform Jewish movement to participate in the L’taken seminar,
an intensive four day program, focused on Jewish values and social
justice, sponsored by the Religious Action Center, the Legislative
Office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose 900 congregations
across north America encompass 1.5 million reform Jews and the
central Conference for Reform Rabbis, whose membership includes
over 1800 reform rabbis. We would like to discuss the issue of hunger
with you today.
All across the country, our neighbors struggle with hunger.
Almost fifty million Americans encountered difficulty in being able
to purchase enough food for what they needed in 2013. 19.9 percent
of minors lived in poverty in 2013. From this date last year to now,
15.8 million children have faced problems with food insecurity.
These numbers, though staggering, are true. However, there are
already programs in place to aid those who cannot feed themselves.
The National School Breakfasts and Lunches program provides 10.8
million low-priced to free breakfasts to children from low income
families and 20.8 million lunches. The Child and Adult Food Care
Program gave 551 million meals in 2013. The Women, Infants, and
Children Program offered 8.6 million women, infants, and children
the nutrition they required. Lastly, the Summer Meals Program
gave food to an average upwards of three million children per day,
according to USDA data, in 2013. These programs have the potential
Clergy and Staff
Rabbi������������������������������������Kenneth I. Carr
[email protected]
Cantor����������������������������������Jordan S. Franzel
[email protected]
Rabbi Emeritus��������������������Seymour Prystowsky
[email protected]
Office Manager��������������������Jodye Green 610-828-9066 x200
[email protected]
Administrative Assistant����Lynn Alexander 610-828-9066 x201
[email protected]
Early Childhood
Education Director�������������Michelle Ruder 610-828-1086 x400
[email protected]
Administrative Assistant����Lisa Larney 610-828-1086 x401
[email protected]
Director of Education
and Lifelong Learning��������Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg
610-828-4443 x301
[email protected]
Administrative Support�����Jenna Feinman
610-828-4443 x300
[email protected]
Synagogue Office����������������610-828-9066
610-828-3731 Fax
[email protected]
Religious School������������������610-828-4443
610-828-8689 Fax
[email protected]
ECE Center��������������������������610-828-1086
Officers and Trustees
Executive Officers
President���������������������������������������������Andrew Kasmen
First Vice President����������������������������Jeffrey Seidman
Second Vice President�����������������������Curtis Toll
Third Vice President��������������������������Terri Wolfheimer
Treasurer���������������������������������������������Joshua Dunoff
Secretary���������������������������������������������David Nasatir
Trustees
Simi Baer
Leslie Berman
Deb Brenner, COATz Co-Chair
Barb Hoffman, Membership Chair
Hillary Israeli, Religious School Chair
Larry Kahn
David Kessler
Helene Levinson, Spiritual Life Chair
Lowell Raeder, Immediate Past Co-President
Danny Schwartz
Jen Segal, ECEC Committee Chair
Lori Simon, Immediate Past Co-President
Missy Sterling, COATz Co-Chair
Larry Stern
Oracle Staff
Editor��������������������������������������������� Jodye Green
[email protected]
Assistant Editor����������������������������� Susan Ackland
[email protected]
Deadline First of the month before publication of issue.
We reserve the discretion to edit for space limitations.
Congregation Or Ami is affiliated with the Union for
Reform Judaism.
2
April Worship Schedule
Saturday, April 4
9:00 a.m. ����������������������Passover Program & Matza Brei Breakfast
Friday, April 10
7:30 a.m.�����������������������Last Day Passover Service
7:30 p.m.�����������������������Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, April 11
10:30 a.m.���������������������Shabbat Service
Friday, April 17
7:30 p.m.�����������������������Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, April 18
10:30 a.m.���������������������Shabbat Service
Bar Mitzvah of Noah Shubin
Friday, April 24
7:30 p.m.�����������������������Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, April 25
10:30 a.m.���������������������Shabbat Service
B’nei Mitzvah of Amanda and Brett
Fineman
Start Passover off
by learning Torah
while eating delicious
homemade matza brei!
Saturday, April 4, 2015
9:00 AM
All are welcome, we ask that you RSVP
so we prepare enough for everyone!
https://congregationorami.wufoo.com/
Click here to sign up.
forms/z17z1cby1ksjk2n/
Celebrating Peter Weidman - Our Keeper
of the Flame
C
ongregation Or Ami has a long
standing tradition of honoring
those who make a difference in
our community. The tradition continues
on Friday, April 17, 2015 when we honor
our many valuable volunteers, and one
individual whose dedication to Or Ami
has earned him this year’s Keeper of the
Flame award.
Peter Weidman’s dedication to
the Or Ami community is limitless.
Peter held a seat on Or Ami’s Board of
Trustees for seventeen years, was Board
Member of the Year in 2003, served two terms as Congregational
President, chaired the Membership Committee, the By-Laws
Review Committee, the Fair Share/Exception Committee, as well
as the Building Project Steering Committee. Peter’s involvement
doesn’t end there, he has also served on countless committees over
the twenty years that he and his wife, Debbie, have been part of our
community.
Peter and Debbi’s three daughters, Hilary, Rachel, and Katie, all
became Bat Mitzvah at Or Ami, and all three continued through
Confirmation. Coincidentally, Hilary’s husband, Drew, also became
Bar Mitzvah at Or Ami and Rabbi Carr and Cantor Franzel officiated
at their wedding in 2013.
Peter is a practicing attorney, along with Debbi, at the firm
Weidman Law, LLC. When he’s not devoting his time to Or Ami,
or at work, Peter can be found playing keyboards for the band Rock
Shabbat, on the tennis and basketball courts, and spending time with
his seven-month old grandson, Brody.
Please join us on Friday, April 17, 2015 for Shabbat Dinner and
Services, as we honor Peter Weidman and all of our volunteers. Click
here to register.
Yom Hashoah Program
Wednesday, April 15, 2015 • 7:00 PM
Or Ami is privileged to host Holocaust survivor Suzy Ressler to give a personal account of the Holocaust. Suzy is
the grandmother of our member Michael Israeli, great-grandmother of Jacob, Naomi, and Lilah Israeli.
This same evening we will be presenting a program by the ADL:
The Persistence of Anti-Semitism 70 years after the Liberation of Auschwitz
Presented by Jerry Clark ,a facilitator with the Anti-Defamation League
This past January we remembered the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau – a day designated by the United Nations General
Assembly as an International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Yom HaShoah is also a day of remembering. And it is also an anniversary – the anniversary
of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. As we remember all of those who were murdered by the Nazis and their multitude of collaborators; as we remember
those who resisted – culturally, spiritually and when they could, in armed uprisings, it is also important to think about anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism,
prejudice and/or discrimination against Jews was an ideological foundation for the Holocaust. However, anti-Semitism long pre-dates the Holocaust and
has persisted 70 years after the liberation of the concentration camps. Old anti-Semitic stereotypes and myths persist and new ones have developed.
Anti-Semitic incidents occur around the world, across the United States and right here in our own community.
3
Membership Matters
O
n April 17th, Or Ami will honor our volunteers and present our Keeper of the Flame award to Peter Weidman. Join us for a Shabbat Dinner
at 6:30 followed by Services at 7:30 to acknowledge all the (non-staff) members who volunteer thousands of hours at Or Ami.
Our Volunteer Appreciation event is a yearly reminder of the volunteer time and congregational talent that goes into making our congregation
strong. Thank you for the role each of you has played in making this a challenging but successful year at Or Ami!
Eric Archinow
Steve Archinow
Debby Askow
Sue Auckland
Joel Azeff
Trudi Azeff
Rachel Bach
Simi Kaplan Baer
David Banks
Eric Banks
Lynda Bard
Jeanette Bawer
Ray Bawer
Rana Bell
Debra Berger
Larry Berger
Seth Berger
Cliff Berman
Jack Berman
Leslie Berman
Maddie Berman
Marjorie Berman
Michelle Berman
Barbara Berr
Steve Berr
Sarah Bertin
Lisa Billings
Henry Bleier
Dene Bloom
Stephanie Bock
Sophie Borislow
Brooke Borsky
Joan Borowsky
Ted Borowsky
Nancy Braitman
Irene Braun
Sara Braun
Deb Brenner
Lenny Brenner
Randy Brenner
Nori Brown
Iris Brownstein
Jake Brownstein
Larry Brownstein
Emily Carpey
Stu Carpey
Hannah Carr
Ari Carr
Rebecca Carr
Lori Coffey
Brandon Cohen
Chelsea Cohen
Doug Cohen
Rachel Cohen
Sam Cohen
4
Suzanne Cohen
Amy Cohn
Jamie Coleman
Gabby Combs
Jill Combs
Zach Cooper
Beth Dainoff
Sherry Dainoff
David Davis
Heath Davis
Lillian Davis
Tamara Davis
Maris Delano
Ali Deleo
Brie Derringer
Jon Dichter
Gail Dichter
Brooke Dunoff
Josh Dunoff
Lauren Dunoff
Raquel Dunoff
Veronica Edelman
Sara Erlbaum
Andrea Feldheim
David Feldheim
David Feldman
Jess Feldman
Stephanie Felgoise
Betsy Filton
Paulette Fineberg
Dina Fink
Alan Fishman
Sharon Fuerman
Patty Gallo
Ryan Gelman
Debbie Gettes
Andree Goldberg
Randi Goldstein
Ami Goodman
Brian Goodman
Mila Gorman
Emily Greberman
Jason Green
Jill Green
Karen Green
Isabelle Greenberg
Jody Greenblatt
Nick Greenblatt
Cindi Grodanz
Bunny Grunes
Irv Grunes
Sandy Grunfeld
Mindi Herman
Scott Hockfield
Sherri Hockfield
Barb Hoffman
Jackie Hoffman
Susan Hoffman
Missy Horrow
Bonnie Hyman
Sondra Hyman
Marsha Isdaner
Hillary Israeli
Lilah Israeli
Michael Israeli
Naomi Israeli
Lori Israelite
Daniel Jeck
Dara Jeck
Barbara Kahn
Larry Kahn
Andy Kasmen
Lisa Kasmen
Adam Kaye
Heather Kay
Jodi Kaye
David Kessler
Karen Kleiman
Helene Klein
Lisa Koelewyn
Judy Koffler
Jackie Konin
Matthew Konin
Allison Krangel
Suzette Krausen
Gabby Krekstein
Shirley Krevitz
Brian Kroker
Michael Krone
Lisa Larney
Suzi Lazarus
Traci Lechwar
Paula Leder
Lisa Lefkowitz
Mike Lefkowitz
Brandon Leibowitz
Jamie Leibowitz
Rachel Leopold
Ron Leopold
Nan Levin
Stephanie Levin
Laurie Levine
Sam Levine
Helene Levinson
Ann Levitt
Sari Lifschutz
Dan Loewenstern
Lisa Loewenstern
Sam Loewenstern
Zella Ludwig
Carole Lukoff
Keri Macken
Amy Margulies
Denise Marks
Jeff Michaels
Marilyn Miller
Fred Morganstein
Robin Morganstein
Dara Nasatir
David Nasatir
Maris Nasatir
Debbie Neibauer
Alyson Nerenberg
Sara Neuman
Hilary Newman
Stephanie Newman
Joselyn Ney
Ruth Orlinghaus
Larry Paul
Margie Paul
Susan Paul
Zachary Paul
Julie Pepper
Heidi Petersohn
Alex Prusky
Daria Prusky
Andrew Prusky
Jane Raeder
Lowell Raeder
Naomi Reses
Lauren Resnick
Steve Resnick
Allanah Richman
Lynne Richman
Juliette Rice
Alan Roomberg
Esther Rosen
Helene Rosen
Terri Rosen
Jen Rosenstein
Mark Rosenstein
Amy Jo Rosenthal
Michelle Rosenthal
Susan Rubin
Barry Ruder
Wendi Rutman
Howard Salasin
Robin Sandberg
Freda Savett
Deb Schulman
Dan Schwartz
Jill Schwartz
Matt Schwartz
Missy Schwartz-Sterling
Rachel Schwartz
Amy Seidman
Jeff Seidman
Jen Segal
Larry Segal
Marla Segal
Eric Shubin
Michele Shubin
Bill Silverman
Doug Simon
Lori Simon
Steve Simon
Joel Sloane
Peggy Sloane
Esther Smith
Philip Smith
Deb Snyder
Jesse Stern
Larry Stern
Marlyn Stern
Myra Stern
Darren Sudman
Phyllis Sudman
Sari Tafeen
Curt Toll
Jacy Toll
Josh Toll
Sarah Toll
Lillian Toren
Carole Verona
Beth Waks
Coby Waks
Hilary Waks
Phyllis Warchaizer
Lauren Weinberg
Joan Weinstein
Mandy Weisbruch
Amy Weisman-Singer
Ben Wightman
Bruce Wightman
Marsha Wolfe
Terri Wolfheimer
Peter Weidman
Emily Weiner
Jenn Weiner
Mandi Weisbruch
Fredi Wolgin
Kristi Yablon
Mitch Zimmer
Randi Zimmer
If we inadvertently omitted or misspelled your
name, we apologize for
the error.
https://
congregationorami.
wufoo.com/forms/
zx8fggc0r78un7/
5
Six Reasons to Attend Jewish
Summer Camp
By Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg, Director of Education and Lifelong Learning
J
ewish summer camps, like URJ Camp Harlam, fuse the activities,
friendships, and communal life of traditional camps with the
Jewish values, role models and culture of our shared heritage.
This uniquely immersive experience provides a confidence-building
opportunity in which campers experience joy and discovery in a
communal Jewish setting. Read on for the top six reasons parents,
mommoms, poppops, bubbes, and zaydes all over our region are
sending their kids to Camp Harlam and Harlam Day Camp.
1. Experiences first, explanations later. Kids are able to ultimately
and immediately contribute to their Jewish community at camp.
In other realms of Jewish life, they are taught about Jewish
communal life and then experience it. At camp, they experience
it (at meals, during Shabbat, on the ropes
course, in the cabin - everywhere), and the
explanations come later. This is a uniquely
powerful experience they find nowhere else.
2. Camp friendships last beyond the summer.
After the dirty laundry has been washed and
the camp trunk put away, the friendships
endure. Camp is one easy entry point into
a lifelong Jewish community. As kids grow,
opportunities increase to connect with Jewish
peers through COAFTY (our senior youth
group), Omdim, Confirmation, NFTY-PAR (North American
Federation of Temple Youth-Pennsylvania Area Region), Israel
travel, social justice programs, and much, much more. Many
alumni of URJ Jewish camps like Camp Harlam have found
that the friends they make during the summer stick with them
through college, young adulthood, and beyond.
3. Immersive Jewish community, every moment of camp.
Campers who attend the overnight Camp Harlam (24/7) or
Harlam Day Camp are exposed to adult Jewish role models,
Jewish peers, and Jewish friends from different places. These
Jewish connections in every direction are extremely powerful.
Campers experience joy in a Jewish community, develop selfconfidence as Jews, and forge Jewish connections that stay with
them into their lives beyond camp. Nowhere else do campers have
the opportunity to experience Judaism infused into daily life and
reinforced by a community of exclusively Reform Jewish peers.
4. Camp ends, but the Jewish
community continues. Extensive
research in recent years has proven
that children who attend Jewish
summer camp are more likely
to identify as Jewish adults and actively engage in the Jewish
community. The experience of living in a Jewish community
(such as a bunk with their Jewish peers, at camp) has a deep and
profound impact on Jewish children, who are more likely to
practice Jewish behaviors as adults as a result of attending camp.
5. Jewish camp addresses the whole camper. Children learn
confidence, skill-building and socialization by living in a
community. They learn how to manage in
a diverse group of peers, and they face new
situations and overcome challenges on a daily
basis. At Jewish camp, adult role models and
mentors create safe spaces for campers to
grapple with complex ideas based in Jewish
values, texts, and traditions - topics that secular
schools and camps might not be able to address.
Jewish camp is thus able to provide balance
by creating space for spiritual, emotional and
physical growth for campers.
6. Camp helps kids succeed beyond childhood. Camp is all
about fun and can be an environment for “real-world” learning.
Campers who return to camp as staff members can create
opportunities to advance themselves professionally. Many staff
from Reform Jewish summer camps have found that their
experiences as camp counselors have helped them jumpstart their
careers, establish their network on their college campuses and
meet new people as they move away from home to settle in new
cities after college.
As summer draws near, your Congregation Or Ami clergy and
leadership want to be a resource in helping you think about the
best, most meaningful summer experience for your emerging,
growing Jewish children. We can also help you access financial aid
opportunities for attending Jewish camp.
It will be here before we know it…Think Summer!
Glass Art, Cartoons, Biblio-Drama, Modern
Hebrew, Hip-Hop, Rock and Pop!
Our Religious School Students have been hard at work.
Students in grades 4 – 6 will be presenting what they have
learned and worked on during their
Chug activities.
• April 12th 9:15 am - 10:00 am
• Room 200
Parents/guardians of students in grades
4 – 6 are invited to attend!
6
Gan Open House
Is your child entering
Kindergarten in September?
If so, please join us for the Gan
Open House
Sunday, April 12th
9:00am to 10:30am
Join us in the lobby to learn
about our Religious School
program!
Wedding, engagement, new baby, anniversary, or other unique event in your immediate family? Let’s spread the good news.
Please email your announcements to [email protected] or call the synagogue office at 610-828-9066.
Donations
Bridge the Gap
To Jodi and Michael Saidel
We are so sorry. We are thinking
of you������������������������������������������������������������Lisa and Michael Lefkowitz
To Peter Weidman
Mazel Tov on being chosen
as one of the recipients of
“The Keeper of the Flame” award����������Debby and Irv Askow
Early Childhood Education Fund
To Marcia Rubin
In memory of Chad Rubin����������������������Ellen Pesin
To Rachel and Ron Leopold
In honor of Brian’s engagement��������������Ellen, Stan, Staci and Ashley
Ilene Buchert
To Joanne and Steve Tenaglio
In honor of Andrew’s Bar Mitzvah��������Ellen, Stan, Staci and Ashley
Ilene Buchert
To Naomi and Stephen Reses
In honor of Andrew’s Bar Mitzvah��������Ellen Pesin
Ilene Buchert
To Jill and Stuart Green
In honor of Jason’s Bar Mitzvah��������������Ilene Buchert
To Lauren and Adam Stern
In honor of Andrew’s Bar Mitzvah��������Ilene Buchert
Fine Arts Fund
To Perry Weiner
In memory of your mother, Charlotte��Jackie and David Kane
Mitzvah Fund
To Perry Weiner
With deepest sympathy
on the loss of your mother�����������������������Larry and Marlyn Stern
To Bruce Kleiman
With deepest sympathy
on the loss of your mother�����������������������Larry and Marlyn Stern
To Perry Weiner and family
In memory of your mother���������������������Dene Bloom
Nancy Roomberg Memorial Fund
To Mark Blumberg and family
In memory of your beloved
wife and mother, Paula Blumberg����������Lynne and Dar Feinman
To Perry Weiner
In memory of your mother, Charlotte��Michelle and Jack Berman
To Perry Weiner and family
Sincere condolences on the loss of your
mother. May her memory
be a blessing������������������������������������������������Jonathan and Marcy Lipner
Rabbi Carr’s Discretionary Fund
To Dr. and Mrs. Perry Weiner
We hope the love and support of
family and friends will be a source
of comfort to you���������������������������������������Andrea and David Feldheim
Torah Card Fund
To the Raskewitz family
In memory of your beloved
husband and father, Michael�������������������Sandie and Howard Salasin
To Mrs. Louise Gabis
In memory of your son in law,
Michael���������������������������������������������������������Sandie and Howard Salasin
To Naomi and Stephen Reses
Mazel Tov on Andrew
becoming a Bar Mitzvah!�������������������������Howard and Lisa Weinstock
To Bruce Kleiman and family
In memory of your beloved mother
and grandmother, Gertude Kleiman�����Susan and Larry Paul
Craig and Lori Israelite
Hal and Susan Michels
Beth and Bob Waks
Howard and Sandie Salasin
Helene and Alex Levinson
Ellen, Stan, Staci and Ashley Pesin
Bill and Lisa Koelewyn
Carole and Joel Lukoff
Charles and Laurie Morgan
To Perry Weiner and family
In memory of your beloved mother
and grandmother, Charlotte Weiner�����Barry and Marsha Isdaner
Hal and Susan Michels
Howard and Sandie Salasin
Lori and Michael Simon and family
Jay and Jackie Hoffman and family
Mark, Ginni, Brooke and Rob
Salaman
Zelda Etskovitz
Ellen, Stan, Staci and Ashley Pesin
Andrew Miller
To Rachel and Ron Leopold
In honor of the engagement of
Bryan and Hayley��������������������������������������Howard and Sandie Salasin
Lori and Michael Simon and family
Carole and Joel Lukoff
To Dene Bloom
In honor of the engagement of
Bryan and Hayley��������������������������������������Howard and Sandie Salasin
To Stacy and Howie Rosen
In honor of your grandmother���������������Lauren and Jim Rosen
Stacy and Matt Shindell
To Sara and Jeff Erlbaum
Mazel Tov on Hannah
becoming a Bat Mitzvah��������������������������Carole and Joel Lukoff
To Peter Weidman
Congratulations of being selected as the
recipient of the Keeper of the Flame!����Jane and Lowell Raeder
Iris Garden Fund
To James Becker and family
In memory of Joan L. Markman������������Richard S. Miller and Carolyn Draftz
Yahrzeit Fund
In memory of Robert Harvit����������������Jane and Lowell Raeder
Post Passover Pizza &
BYOB
Join us on Friday, April 10, 2015 at 6:30 PM as we
end Passover with a pizza dinner, compliments of
Or Ami and California Pizza Kitchen!
Pizza is free, registration is a must!
https://congregationorami.wufoo.com/forms/
Click here to register.
zchnl230cga4nc/
Don’t forget to support RSPO by
attending the CPK FUNdraiser on
Monday, April 13, 2015. Print the
flyer from page 13 and bring it
with you.
7
Noah Shubin
Son of Michele and Eric Shubin
April 17, 2015
For his Mitzvah project Noah chose to
volunteer his time at the Abramson Center
for Jewish Life.
Noah helps transport residents to and from
meals, and services, or activities. He is also
collecting games and large piece puzzles to
donate to the center.
Amanda Fineman
Daughter of Nancy and Richard
Fineman
April 25, 2015
For my mitzvah project, I volunteered with
“Little Smiles”, an organization dedicated to
helping children who are battling cancer. I
helped prepare and organize a very special
holiday event, complete with toys and other
presents, at a nearby hospital. Seeing the
smiles on the kids’ faces at this event was
very meaningful to me. It made me realize how grateful I am for my
health and everything else I have, and I am glad I was able to provide
some joy to these brave children. I plan on continuing to help out
with this charity.
Additionally, I will be holding a bake sale this spring to raise money
for “Hope for Paws”, a charity for animals. I love animals and want to
contribute whatever I can to help animals in need.
Brett Fineman
Son of Nancy and Richard Fineman
April 25, 2015
For longer than I have been alive, our
military troops have been serving the
United States overseas in Iraq. Many of
these brave soldiers are away from their
homes and families for months or years at
a time. I can only imagine the conditions
these troops live in, so for my mitzvah
project, I am collecting essential items that
may provide some much-needed comfort to these troops. Things we
take for granted, like different kinds of soap, lip balm and shampoo,
may help the troops feel a little more at home. I admire all that
the military does to protect our country each and every day. They
sacrifice so much for their country. Delivering these supplies is the
least that I can do to show my support. I have delivered flyers in
many locations asking for donations of these items and will complete
my collection and ship several boxes of supplies overseas in the next
few months. My parents are working to put me in contact with a
specific troop so that I can get to know these soldiers more personally,
which will allow me to stay in touch with these soldiers and make the
project more meaningful.
Women’s Seder
March 26th, sixty-five women gathered to celebrate Passover at Or Ami’s Women’s
OnSeder,
led by Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg, Rebecca Carr and Hanna Carr.
The festive evening celebrated the women of the Passover story, as well as women of
today. Many thanks to the entire Women’s Seder Committee for all of your hard work
and dedication to make the
evening such a success!
8
COATz News
NORRISTOWN MINISTRIES:
W
e need your help ALL year long! This Norristown Center
is the only place that the poor and homeless can get
breakfast six days a week. There are twenty-one free meals
provided in Norristown weekly. Additionally, the homeless are able
to shower here and get clean.
Please think of these people when you go to the grocery store or
you are traveling. It’s so simple to pick up an extra item at the store
and put it into your cart. You can bring in toiletries from hotel stays
too, which will allow these homeless people a way to feel fresh and
clean. This can make such a difference for these homeless people.
The Hospitality Center serves breakfast and gives out toiletries
six days a week. They operate entirely on donations from our
community, and some of their shelves are starting to run low. Please
bring in the following items and make them a part of your daily
shopping list each month:
• SUGAR • COFFEE MATE / POWDERED CREAMER •
POWDERED MILK
• DEODORANT, TOOTHPASTE •
TRAVEL SIZE HAND SANITIZER
Volunteer at SHARE
C
OATZ will be volunteering at SHARE! This is an incredible
opportunity to volunteer by either working inside packing
food boxes, sorting food, or painting; or working outside on
the farm, cleaning up from winter, plant seedlings, mulch, or help to
get raised beds ready for planting. You can choose what you want to do!
When: 1:00-3:00 pm on Sunday, April 12, 2015
Where:2901 West Hunting Park Avenue (where Henry Ave. and
West Hunting Park Ave. meet), Philadelphia, PA 19129
Volunteers can meet in the Or Ami parking lot at 12:30 and drive
over together to SHARE. If you will be attending, please RSVP to
Nori Brown at [email protected]
“Small things done with GREAT LOVE will change the world”
9
April 4: Chol ha-Mo-eid Pesach, Exodus 33:12 – 34:26
The regular cycle of readings is interrupted by a special section for
the Shabbat in the middle of Passover. This portion, which takes
place after Moses has smashed the first set of Tablets in his anger
over the people’s sin with the Golden Calf, details Moses asking God
to reveal Godself to Moses. God replies that humans cannot see
God’s “face” and live, but Moses will be able to see God’s “back.” God
tells Moses to bring a second set of Tablets up the mountain, and
God will rewrite the commandments. God reaffirms the covenant
and re-issues some commandments. This section includes mitzvot
concerning Passover, which explains its selection as the special holy
day reading.
April 11 and 18: Sh’mini, Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47
On the eighth day of Aaron’s ordination, in front of the whole
community, Aaron sacrifices a sin offering and burnt offering for
himself, then a sin offering, burnt offering, and offering of well-being
on the people’s behalf. Now that he is High Priest, Aaron blesses the
people, and God’s Presence appears to all the people at the Tent of
Meeting. The celebration is cut short when Aaron’s sons Nadav and
Avihu make an offering that God had not commanded, and they are
struck down by God’s fire. God and then Moses command Aaron
and his sons about appropriate conduct at the Tent of Meeting. God
instructs Moses and Aaron about which animals are permitted and
forbidden for food. God specifies certain animal carcasses as not
even to be touched, lest they make someone ritually impure.
April 25: Tazri-a/M’tzora, Leviticus 12:1 – 15:33
God describes for Moses various causes of ritual impurity: childbirth,
skin afflictions, inflammations, burns, and skin discolorations. Fabrics and garments can also become ritually unclean. The rituals
of diagnosis and impurity are described. The procedures for
purification from these afflictions are detailed. God tells Moses and
Aaron that houses can become ritually impure, and God teaches
them how to treat such an incident. Emissions from sexual organs,
whether from illness, ejaculation, or menstruation, also make a
person ritually impure; the purification rituals for these incidents are
also described.
Brotherhood has good taste
By David A. Feldheim
T
he Or Ami Brotherhood has been busy since I last wrote to
you in the Oracle, including two wonderful events.
In February, at my house, we had a single malt scotch
tasting, which was enjoyed by all. We sampled the following five
brands, and here is what we learned:
Glenmorangie is made in a
distillery in Tain, Ross-shire, Scotland.
Glenmorangie boasts the tallest stills in
Scotland. Glenmorangie uses a number
of different cask types, with all products
being matured in white oak casks,
which are manufactured from trees
growing in Glenmorangie’s own forest
in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri,
United States. These new casks are left to
air for two years before being leased to
distillers Jack Daniel’s and Heaven Hill
David and a lot of scotch! for them to mature bourbon in for four
years. Glenmorangie then uses their barrels to mature their spirit.
The Macallan distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in
Craigellachie, Moray. The Macallan’s stills are the “smallest on Speyside.”
Originally, The Macallan was matured only in oak sherry casks brought
to the distillery from Jerez, Spain. Beginning in 2004, The Macallan
introduced a new main product, the Fine Oak series, with the whisky
mellowed in bourbon oak casks as well as sherry ones.
The Glenlivet distillery is near Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland.
It is the oldest legal distillery in the parish of Glenlivet, and the
production place of the Scottish whisky of the same name. It is “The
single malt that started it all”. The Glenlivet brand is the biggest
selling single malt whisky in the United States and the second biggest
selling single malt brand globally. Glenlivet’s stills are lantern shaped
with long, narrow necks, all of which helps to produce a light tasting
spirit. Spirit from the distillery is then matured in oak casks formerly
used to mature bourbon (ex-bourbon), as is normal throughout the
industry, with some products being finished in casks previously used
to store sherry and port.
The Glenrothes is a single malt Scotch whisky, produced at the
Glenrothes Distillery, beside the Burn of Rothes in the Speyside
region. The Glenrothes is used in blended scotch whiskies such
10
as Cutty Sark and The
Famous Grouse. The
Glenrothes is different
from many other single
malts in that since 1993
the bottlings are not
determined by age but by
vintage. The Glenrothes is
mainly matured in Spanish
ex-Sherry casks, and some David Feldheim and “Voice of the Eagles”
Merrilll Reese
ex-Bourbon casks.
Laphroaig is an Islay single malt Scotch whisky distillery. It is
named for the area of land at the head of Loch Laphroaig on the
south coast of the Isle of Islay. Laphroaig has been the only whisky to
carry the Royal Warrant of the Prince of Wales, which was awarded
in person during a visit to the distillery in 1994. The 15-year-old, the
one we sampled, is reportedly the Prince’s favorite Scotch whisky.
Macallan’s was our favorite by a wide margin. Glenlivit came in
second.
In March, our Brotherhood had the good taste to join with the
Men’s Club of TBI in Blue Bell to co-sponsor a Brunch with Merrill
Reese, the Voice of the Eagles, and this is what we learned:
Merrill Reese is in his 39th year in the Eagles broadcast booth. He
has the longest tenure of any NFL broadcaster, and he loves his job.
He knew since he was a child what he wanted to do, and he worked
hard and passionately to achieve his dream. He will never retire.
Merrill lives in Blue Bell (is a member of Beth Or) and follows the
same routine every game day, beginning with pancakes for breakfast.
He has the highest respect for Jeffrey Lurie’s hands off ownership; is
excited by the energy and intelligence Chip Kelly brings to the game;
and loves working with Mike Quick, with whom he has shared the
broadcast booth for 17 years.
Merrill is not afraid to disagree with Lurie or Kelly, and during
his remarks and answers to questions he spoke freely about Terrell
Owens, DeSean Jackson, Shady McCoy and Riley Cooper.
There will be Brotherhood events in April, May and June.
Why not join the fun and come out to attend one or more of the
programs?
11
T
hank you so much to all of the people
who came out to support “Stop
Hunger Now.” It was very exciting
because together as a community, we
packaged 10,000 meals!
We had a great group of volunteers,
including our sixth graders. The assembly
process combined rice, soy, dehydrated
vegetables and a flavoring mix formulated
by including 23 essential vitamins and
minerals. Each meal costs 29 cents.
The food has a shelf-life of two years.
Fortunately, we had a generous. anonymous
donor who covered half of this program.
Without this donor, this program would not
have been possible and we are so grateful to
this donor!
After we packaged the meals, we
weighed them, sealed them, and then boxed
them to go back to the warehouse where the
meals will be distributed.
Stop Hunger Now provides over 70%
of its meals to support transformational
development programs such as school lunch
programs, vocational training programs,
early childhood development programs,
orphanages, and medical clinics. Working
with these programs helps enhance lives by
giving beneficiaries the opportunity to break
the cycle of poverty through education,
skills development, and healthcare while
also receiving much needed nutrition.
A special thanks to Andrew Prusky who
unloaded the truck and Jodye Green for all
of her help.
Missy Sterling and Deb Delano Brenner
12
FUNdraiser in support of:
Congregation or Ami
April 13, 2015
(All Day)
FUN
Con
Apr
(All
Valid at the following location:
Val
California Pizza Kitchen
Plymouth Meeting Mall
514 W Germantown Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(610) 828-8232
Cal
Plym
514
Plym
(61
13
How do you feel about your family’s use of technology? … texting at the dinner table? Feeling frustrated by those who are always on their phones? Sunday,
April 12th
10:45AM
to
11:45AM
Join Ellen Walters for
discussions, questions and activities!
Ellen Walters is the Director of Learning Initiatives in Early Childhood Education at Jewish Learning Venture. She was also the Early Childhood Director at Or Ami from 2002‐2006! RSVP to JennaF@or‐ami.org by April 5th 14
SPEAK UP…continued from page 1
at the soup kitchen. There, I met a man who collected bread that
people did not want to later feed the birds around his neighborhood.
This was astonishing to me, as I had observed a man who was
struggling to survive off of the little food he could afford; yet he still
put others before himself. After becoming a bat-mitzvah, I continued
to volunteer at St. Vincent, and have now been volunteering there
for four years. Each time I go there, I gain a deeper perspective and
understanding of how strenuous food insecurity is, and it comforts
me to know that the people in the neighborhood recognize that no
matter how much they are struggling, they will always have access to
a meal at the St. Vincent soup kitchen.
With what you have seen about how this has a personal
connection, affects the country, and is part of religious life, we are
asking for your help. Many of the hunger programs, especially
affecting children, could expire on September 30, 2015, such as the
Summer Meals Program and National School Breakfast and Lunches
program. Millions would be affected greatly with the depletion of
these programs. That is why it is vital for you to support preventing
and helping hunger in the United States. To do this, we need you to
fund it and fund it well. 16.7 percent of all American men, women,
and children – nearly one in six – struggle with food insecurity today.
Child Nutrition programs that you can keep available with funding
will help to ensure that families and children from low-income
families have access to healthy and nutritious food where they live.
Thank you.
Sara Tenaglio also was part of a group presenting
to a staff member of Senator Toomey
A
s a citizen of the United States, I am beyond lucky. I get an
education. I have running water to wash my hands, medicine
and vaccines that can save my life- and when a mosquito bites
me, I don’t risk debilitating disability and even death. If I lived in a
country ravaged by Malaria, this wouldn’t be true. If I lived in subSaharan Africa, every night would be a macabre lottery, a game of
Russian roulette that would cause me to wonder, “Is this mosquito
firing blanks, or is it the one that will give me Malaria?” And if I did
contract this disease, I would likely not have access to the treatment
that could save my life. In the US, there is great debate about how to
make up and organize our health care system, and to prevent people
from falling through the cracks—but in a country where Malaria is
prominent, I would not have even this safety net to fall back on.
Much of Africa is not prepared or equipped to treat malaria. In
America, I am given the key to my future in the form of education.
Through an education—in the same classrooms where I hear
about the malignant spread of malaria—I am able to get more
gainful employment in more fields and with more opportunities for
advancement, or even just plain get hired above minimum wage in the
competitive job market. If I suffered from malaria, I would be forced to
stay sick at home, missing a significant portion of my schooling, causing
me to struggle to keep up and perhaps even fail out. Further, a parent
would be forced to take off from work to take care of me, forfeiting
money and/or product that our family survives on.
From malaria alone, Africa as a whole loses approximately $12
billion a year in productivity and it uses up to 40% of all public health
care resources. But the President’s Malaria Initiative and The Global
Fund could save many lives and livelihoods of African families. They
could provide the simple, cheap methods of preventing and treating
malaria, and teach people how to use them.
As a country involved in the global network, it is our
responsibility to aid those countries that are suffering. It is our job to
not only protect and preserve our country, but also each individual
man and woman who needs international help. Each year an
average of 600,000 people die of malaria and about 200 million will
contract the illness in the African continent. This number mostly
being children under the age of five, and those children who do
survive are often left with mental or physical disabilities. In this way
the future for Africa is dwindling in the hands of a single disease.
One of the big organizations in this movement is the Global Fund,
which fights both tuberculosis and HIV/ AIDS, along with malaria.
This organization raises money from world governments and
international organizations to stop the spread of these diseases. This
issue has certainly impacted the United States in the past, so much
so that they have taken the initiative to provide nearly one-third
of all the contributions to the Global Fund. By becoming such an
active participant in this movement, the United States has proven
themselves to be a large global power in that they are able to sustain
a stable economic country in addition to working to attain stability
for another country. This gives the United States a reason to certainly
be proud: an important aspect of maintaining their position in the
global network. Additionally, the respect for this cause goes as far as
the Whitehouse where the President has requested $1.1 billion for
the Global Fund for fiscal year 2016. The President’s job is to make
decisions based on the well being of the United States. Therefore, this
cause is extremely important to both the lives of people in Africa and
the United States.
Saving lives from Malaria is also very important to us as Jews.
Our tradition teaches us that human life is sacred, because all of
humanity is b’tselem elohim, created in God’s image. It is the greatest
mitzvah, or commandment, to save a life. And by providing funding
to the President’s Malaria Initiative (the PMI) and the Global
Fund, programs whose cost-effective prevention and treatment
interventions for Malaria have been proven by taking Malaria from
the number one killer of African refugees to the fifth, we would be
sending our money directly to the saving of the lives and futures of
millions of families. Our obligation to preserve the sanctity of life is
made clear in the Torah, and we have still in living memory known
firsthand the horror of global indifference. We are obligated to speak
out and take action when other peoples are similarly threatened with
annihilation. The Mishnah says that while it is not incumbent upon
us to solve all the problems facing the world, we are not permitted to
ignore those who most need our help—and we know exactly how we
can best help the families suffering and dying, losing their lives and
futures to Malaria.
In 2005 the United States demonstrated their ability to make
an impact in this movement when George W. Bush started the
President’s Malaria Initiative to protect women and children in
Africa from malaria. With the help of UNICEF, the Global Fund, and
faith-based organizations, this act was able to distribute more than 40
million insecticide-treated bed nets to the vulnerable population in
Sub- Saharan Africa. In this way, you too could make an incredible
impact by strongly supporting the PMI and global fund for fiscal year
2016. It is important that Senator Toomey provide full funding for
these organizations. I encourage you to join the Malaria and Other
Neglected Tropical Diseases Caucus. We appreciate your time and
hope you become an active participant in this profound movement.
Juliette Rice was part of a group presenting to a
staff member of Senator Casey
C
urrently, in 29 American states, it is legal to discriminate against
people in the workplace because of their real or perceived
sexual orientation. In 32 states it is also legal to discriminate in the
workplace based on a person’s gender identity. This discrimination
includes the ability to fire, refuse to hire, demote, or fail to promote
someone based on their involvement in the LGBT community. In
my opinion, these numbers are far too high. According to a study
conducted by UCLA’s Williams Institute, 43% of LGBT people
have experienced some form of workplace discrimination and
90% of transgender workers reported some form of harassment or
15
mistreatment on the job in a 2011 report from the National Center
for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force. Again, these numbers are absolutely mind-boggling. As you
can tell, workplace discrimination for the LGBT community is a
persisting problem. However, the LGBT community also experiences
problems and discrimination in public accommodations. 29 states
lack nondiscrimination protections in public accommodations based
on sexual orientation, and 33 states lack these protections based
on gender identity. A survey of gay and lesbian New York residents
found that 27% experienced inappropriate treatment or hostility in a
place of public accommodation. Seeing as New York has supported
the LGBT community in the past, it seems out of context that this is
occurring. Also, if this happens in such a liberal place in our country,
imagine how similar or even worse this percentage is in Pennsylvania.
In the past, America has seen the huge progression of Civil Rights,
but it is our job to close the gap and make sure that every group of
people is accepted as equal in our country.
As stated in the Torah in Genesis 1:27, “God created humans in
God’s own image, in the image of God.” If we are all created in God’s
“divine image,” how can a person say that someone’s gender identity
and/or sexual orientation is “wrong?” If God created all men and
women equal, then why are some of us still not receiving the same
rights as others? In the Reform Jewish Movement, it is believed that
the LGBT community should be treated in an equal manner as those
who are not included in that group. As quoted by Rabbi Elliot Dorff,
“I, for one, cannot believe that the God who created us all produced
a certain percentage of us to have sexual drives that cannot be legally
expressed under any circumstances. That is simply mind-boggling—
and, frankly, un-Jewish.” As a Jewish teenager, I do not want to grow
up in a world where the values I believe in and have been taught my
entire life are being described as “disgusting” and “wrong.”
My uncle is an openly gay man who resides in Miami, Florida.
For the majority of his life he remained silent about his sexual
orientation. Unfortunately in 2001 he became very ill with what
was HIV, and had already progressed to AIDS by the time of his
diagnosis. As a result of his diagnosis, he subsequently explained his
sexual orientation to his family and friends. Because of his battle with
the epidemic, he lost his sight and almost lost his ability to hear. With
Legislation for Comprehensive LGBT Nondiscrimination, My uncle
could have felt more comfortable with opening up about his sexuality
because of equality in the workplace and public accommodations.
The LGBT community and we thank you for your previous
support of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act. As Reform
Jews and activists for the LGBT community we would like to ask
you to co-sponsor upcoming Comprehensive Non-Discrimination
Legislation. This legislation includes comprehensive protections on
the basis of sexual orientations and gender identity. This legislation
could close the gap of discrimination in the public eye of people all
across America. We are thrilled that this new legislation is being
drafted by Senator Merkley of Oregon and hope that the senator will
chose to co-sponsor the Legislation.
Benjamin Wightman was also part of a group
presenting to a staff member of Senator Casey
T
oday we would like to talk to you about climate change and the
American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act
America needs this act to go through Congress and pass because
it benefits our country. Currently, our country produces about 19%
of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, while we are only home
to about 5% of the world’s population. These gases are extremely
harmful to our climate and our necessities. For instance, long
term building of greenhouse gases could displace tens of millions
of people in low lying areas due to the raise in sea level. People
in China’s Pearl River Delta, Bangladesh, and many small island
16
nations would completely lose their homes. These areas would no
longer exist. Another very negative effect of the amplifying amount
of greenhouse gases is the possibility of the spread of Malaria. With
the increased sea levels there would be an expansion in the amount
of land that mosquitoes can cover. Droughts and changing rainfall
patterns are already affecting farmlands across the Africa. In areas
where farming is the only profitable trade, they cannot survive. The
droughts leave them with no food, no money, and intensified hunger.
These greenhouse gases are dangerous to the whole globe, and action
has to be take immediately to stop the increase.
Everyday acts in America and across the world lead to inflated
amounts of carbon dioxide in the world’s atmosphere. Deforestation,
the burning of fossil fuels, and other agricultural and industrial
practices are major contributors to the billions of tons of Carbon
Dioxide that is released into the environment each year. These
actions rapidly accelerate the damages that are produced from the
emissions of greenhouse gases. Leading climate specialists believe
that we have already surpassed the safe amount of greenhouse gases
and continue to increase that number every year.
The Act is important to our country because it helps to protect
our environment and has many other beneficial factors. This act will
create over 400,000 jobs as well as spur more than $200 billion in
capital investments in renewable energy technology. Also by 2025
it will have decreased the amount of CO2 emissions by the amount
of 120 coal fired power plants. American’s would want this Act
because it is estimated to save the average American home about
$40 annually and in $90 billion in cumulative consumer savings
through 2030. As the most powerful country we have a responsibility
to protect those who need it. The smaller countries cannot afford
to protect themselves but we can. By passing this act we will reduce
the greenhouse gas emissions and globally help the environment.
Our country needs to pass the American Renewable Energy and
Efficiency Act.
The Torah talks a lot about keeping the integrity of the
environment. In Genesis 2:15, it says “The human being was placed
in the Garden of Eden to till it and tend it.” That means that we as
Jews and people of the Earth need to take care of the planet and
damage it as little as possible. Human activities are enhancing the
natural greenhouse effect which has been significantly changing the
global climate. If this damage does not stop, more severe weather
events such as droughts, floods, heat waves, and infectious diseases
could occur. Those things harm the Earth and we need to focus on
preventing such occurrences.
There is also a Talmudic concept, “bal tashchit,” which means
“do not destroy”. It proves God’s ownership of the land and any
act of destruction is an offense against God’s land. The damage
humans have done is done, and we need to focus on the future.
First world countries such as America are the main contributors of
emissions. The Torah commands, “Justice, justice shall you pursue”
in Deuteronomy 16:20, suggesting that those who cause a problem
need to fix it themselves. In this case, we, the United States of
America, a strong contributor to this drastic problem, need to stand
up, do what’s right, and try our very best to fix it.
When God took Adam around the Garden of Eden, God said
something that closely relates to the duty we have now. God said:
“See how beautiful and praiseworthy all of My works are? Everything
I have created has been created for Your sake. Think of this, and do
not corrupt or destroy my world; for if you corrupt it, there will be
no one to set it right after you.” Our time to act is now; we are today’s
generation and it is our duty to give a better world for our future
generations. Just as God said to Adam, if we don’t act now and fix
our beautiful world, those who come after us will have no world to
live in.
As an experienced senator for the state of Pennsylvania, I’m
certain you recall the havoc wreaked by Superstorm Sandy. Many
people often confuse global warming with climate change, but
they are not the same thing. Rather, global warming is a symptom
of climate change. I use the word symptom because, in my mind,
excessive climate change is a sickness afflicted upon the earth by
human beings. Along with global warming, some of the other
symptoms of climate change include heat waves, hurricanes,
wildfires, and flooding. Those are only a few in a long list, a list that
Superstorm Sandy is on.
The buildings in my area lost power for only a few days when
Superstorm Sandy hit. As I do not live along the shore, I was
spared the unparalleled devastation that affected that area. Once
the storm had passed, we thought that it was over and we could
all return to our normal lives. That assumption was incorrect.
The high-speed gale force winds of the superstorm set up a trap
that activated numerous times throughout the next few months.
The trees in the area that had not fallen already had been badly
weakened by the storm, some suspended by merely power lines. As
a result, I lost electricity many times during the months following
Sandy, sometimes power outages triggered by nothing more than
an ordinary breeze. Had the trees been untouched by Sandy, those
outages would not have occurred. At one point during the winter, my
area was without electricity for six days. While my family, through
a combination of proactivity and luck, was spared the destruction
caused by frozen piper and conflagrations from broken power lines,
I know many who were not. My history teacher’s truck broke down
from a burst pipe, and a religious school teacher whom I assisted
that year had a fire outside her apartment complex. A friend of
mine was forced to move into a hotel for those days due to the bitter
cold. I myself had to move into the third floor of a dentist’s office
temporarily with my family.
Even though I did not suffer as much as those whose homes
were obliterated by the storm, I can still speak on their behalf.
Superstorms like Sandy will continue to occur unless something is
done to curb climate change. The passage of legislation such as the
American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act could do just that,
saving countless lives.
I encourage you to enforce the American Renewable Energy
and Efficiency Act because it would help reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, generate more electricity from renewable sources than
nonrenewable sources, and distributing renewable technologies. This
program requires utilities to meet a certain percentage of electricity
generated from renewable sources such as wind or solar power
compared to nonrenewable sources like oil, coal, or fossil fuels. It also
gives tax credits based on the energy produced to all who choose to
install solar panels or small-scale wind energy production methods.
We know you have supported many environmental acts in the past,
but we hope you would support this one.
Raquel Dunoff and Jacob Israeli were part
of groups presenting to staff member of
Representative Boyle and Representative
Meehan
T
hank you very much for taking the time to meet with us today. We
would like to discuss the issue of stem cell research with you today.
“God created food and water; we must use them in staving off
hunger and thirst. God created drugs and compounds and gave us
the intelligence necessary to discover their medicinal properties; we
must use then in warding off illness and disease.” That was a quote
from Moses Maimonides’ Commentary on the Mishnah (Pesachim
4:9). As Reform Jews we believe that it is our responsibility to save
the lives of people and to support advancements in medicine. Stem
cells are cells that can develop into any kind of cell, tissue or organ
in the body. I know it sounds crazy but this actually exists and the
medical applications are endless. We could use stem cells to cure
degenerative diseases for the cureless Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
disease, create new, cheaper organs that one’s body won’t reject and
could even lead to 3-D printing skin tissues directly onto the body.
We hope that you will support Stem Cell Research so scientists
can continue working on these amazing accomplishments of the
medical community.
Here in the United States, millions of people die from currently
incurable diseases every year. As a nation, it is our responsibility
to save as many lives as we can. 29.1 million people in the US
have diabetes, and 106 million people worldwide are projected to
have Alzheimer’s by 2050. Currently one of the most promising
paths to curing these mentioned diseases is embryonic stem cell
research. Embryonic stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can be
“reprogrammed” to develop into any kind of cell in the body. These
cells have potential for saving lives if they are properly researched
and implemented in medicine. However, research on stem cells is
limited and only funded by an executive order. Executive orders can
change quickly, especially when a new president is elected. Along
with developing cures, stem cells could be used, in the future, for
growing new organs. Every day thousands of people wait on a long
list, for a very small supply of organs. These waits for new organs can
take years, and completely disrupt transplant patients’ lives. People
awaiting organs would not have to rely on donations of organs if
scientists were able to develop organs grown from stem cells. Along
with saving lives and preventing the suffering of people awaiting
organ transplants, stem cell research can lead to economic growth,
new jobs, and continue to prove that the United States is a worldwide
leader in genetic research. Embryonic stem cell research will benefit
the United States greatly.
Maya Rigler, the daughter of local Philadelphia rabbis, was
diagnosed with cancer at age two. After treatment, the cancer
receded and recently reoccurred at age 10. This type of cancer is
extremely rare, meaning that there are no easily accessible ways to
treat it. Properly developed embryonic stem cells could potentially
be used to cure cancer by replacing the cancer cells with healthy cells
created from the stem cells. Just yesterday, Maya raised $1,000 from
her camp friends and in the two weeks since her diagnosis she has
raised $50,000 going towards her treatment and research. Children
like Maya who have cancer are innocent and have nothing to deserve
it. The quicker that stem cell research is funded, the quicker children
like Maya can be saved.
Next we would like to share our views on stem cell research as
Reform Jews. During worship services we pray for the complete
healing of the body and mind for those who are ill. We also are
taught that saving a single life is the same as saving the whole
universe. Just that one life has the chance of saving hundreds of lives
of generations to come. As Reform Jews we believe it is important
to continue stem cell research in order to prolong the life of fellow
citizens and even save the lives of many citizens who have otherwise
incurable diseases. In the Talmud it says, “One who saves one life
is accounted as if a world is saved.” As Reform Jews we believe that
preserving life and promoting health are the most precious of values
and we hope that you agree.
We hope you take into consideration what we have to say and
understand the importance of continuing stem cell research. We
would also like to ask you to please sign or co-sponsor a Stem Cell
Research Advancement Act when it is reintroduced in the House. Do
this for Maya, and the millions of other Americans in need of a cure.
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Josh Brownstein and Matthew Konin were part
of a group presenting to a staff member of
Representative Boyle
T
hank you very much for taking the time to meet with us here today.
We would like to discuss the issues of torture with you today.
As I am sure you are aware, torture has come up in the media very
much as of late, in particular, the United States’ stance on the topic.
When the Senate Select Intelligence Committee’s report on the CIA’s
Detention and Interrogation Program was released in December of
2014, the world was introduced to the horrific tactics used by the
CIA. This was especially chilling to Americans because it is being
done in our name. Everyone wants to be seen in the best way to the
public; America is no different. When this report was released, not
only did it frighten the citizens of this country, but it also puts a dark
cloud over the U.S. that stretches around the world. For America to
change its disposition, we need to pass legislation that permanently
bans torture in our country. Torture needs to be eradicated from this
country due to the fact that the world views us as a country in a lesser
manner because of these allegations.
The topic of torture is important to us as Jews for many
reasons. We have many teachings and laws that prohibit torture.
By definition, torture is basically any act by which severe pain or
suffering, whether physical or mental, is put upon a person in order
to get a confession, punish them for something they or someone else
is suspected to have done, or intimidating them. One of our Jewish
values says, “A person may not incriminate himself”. With torture, a
confession would incriminate them, or may falsely incriminate them
if they admit to something they didn’t do, just to stop the torture.
Most experts have found that information obtained under torture is
not all reliable. Why should we put people through this is we are not
getting the truth?
The Book of Genesis teaches that all humans are created in the
image of God, or b’tzelem Elohim. We are commanded to save lives
at all cost. Torture and holding people captive unnecessarily are the
opposite of this belief. If there are people being hurt on purpose, it
is basically saying that they are worth less than everyone else, and
deserve what they are getting. We don’t believe that anyone deserves
to be treated less than holy.
Another important commandment, which comes from the book
of Exodus in the Torah, says, “You shall not suppress a stranger, for
you know the heart of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers
in the land of Egypt.” What this quote is teaching, is that you
shouldn’t hurt anyone, because we all know how it feels to be alone.
The people who are being tortured may not have even been charged
with anything yet. They are just suspects, who for all we know, may
have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is possible
that they have not done anything wrong, but are still being hurt and
oppressed.
Jews, as a people, have been tortured for most of our history. Since
we know what is like to be in that situation, it is easy for us to see how
wrong it is. Nobody should have to go through what they are being
put through. Torture has to stop. There has to be a law that makes it
never able to happen again. Until then, we as Jews will continue to
fight, so that nobody has to live through what we have lived through.
As you are aware, torture is often a strategy used to obtain
pertinent information from POWs or other vital assets. This torture
is defined as any act by which severe pain of suffering, whether
physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such
purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information
or a confession. In his first days in office President Obama signed
Executive Order 13491 banning torture and calling for the humane
treatment of detainees. Nonetheless, a future President could easily
overturn this ban, and I believe that it is important that this ban
18
stay in position. What originally made me feel this way was how the
many forms of media that show torture actually portray it. Movies
like Zero Dark Thirty and shows like Homeland depict torture as
excellent ways of obtaining important information, and these events
of torture almost never fail. At first, before I really thought about this
in depth, I had a really jaded opinion of the torture in media, as it
always seemed brutal, but I was led to believe that it was necessary
for the country. In reality, torture is not only illegal, but has proven to
be an ineffective and unnecessary tool for acquiring information.
When I read more on the actual outcomes and effects of torture,
I learned that people subjected to great physical or mental pain
are likely to confess to anything to make that pain stop. Thus the
accuracy of the information gained from torture is automatically
suspect. I personally feel like the depiction of torture in media is
deceptive of the truth and that the ban of torture should stay in place
in future presidencies.
Why should you reintroduce the American Anti-Torture
Act? The answer is so simple and is so helpful, yet nobody in the
Pennsylvania delegation in the House of Representatives has seemed
to see the picture yet. I am asking Representative Boyle to be a
trendsetter, to take charge of becoming the first Representative for
Pennsylvania in the House to not only support legislation against
torture and indefinite detention in the new Congress, but also to
possibly reintroduce the American Anti-Torture Act in the next
Congress too. By doing this it would make the Army Field Manual
standard operating procedure, therefore preventing U.S. sponsored
torture.
A presidential executive order is not enough; that is why we need
you more than ever. Executive Orders can always be revoked and
overturned, which was proven in 2009 when President Obama tried
to an Executive Order that the Army Field Manual be the guide for
all interrogations and that torture should not be used. With your
help, though, the 114th Congress can pass a lasting and binding law
that will change the lives for millions of Americans who are affected
by this issue. Thank you for your time.
Philip Smith, Zoe Topaz, and Coby Waks were
part of groups presenting to staff member
of Representative Boyle and Representative
Meehan
G
un violence contributes to almost 30,000 deaths of American
lives each year, specifically that of women and victims of stalkers.
It is stated that 1 in 6 women experience stalking victimization; of
that, 66% are stalked by former intimate partners. These victims
are put into danger, as the access to guns is readily available. This
has developed into a nationwide issue that can be mitigated by the
Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims act. This act
would broaden the definition of an “intimate partner,” therefore
expanding domestic violence protections to non-married partners, as
well as making it illegal for convicted stalkers to possess and purchase
guns. By supporting this act, it would ensure crucial protections
under the existing background check system. In relation to the
already existent economic problems, the estimated medical social
cost of gun violence in America is 100 billion dollars per year. Again,
this total can be reduced by supporting the Protecting Domestic
Violence and Stalking Victims act. We cannot stand idly by while the
American people are subjected to this type of violence.
In the Jewish tradition, violence and weapons are denounced
many times, and human life is one of our primary virtues. Everybody
knows “Thou shalt not murder.” (Exodus 20:13) The Talmud teaches
us that “he who takes one life, it is as though he has destroyed the
universe, and he who saves one life, it is as though he has saved the
universe.” (Sanhedrin) The dehumanization of human life and the
carelessness which life is taken these days stands in complete direct
violation of our beliefs, traditions, teachings, and the Torah itself.
Not only that, but the prophet Isaiah exhorts the people of the earth
to “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning
hooks.” (Isaiah 2:4) We are commanded to turn our tools of war and
death into tools for the greater good of society.
As a young kindergartener, I was at an early age introduced to
the idea of domestic violence. On the first day of kindergarten, I had
befriended a fellow student who continued to be my best friend all
through elementary school. I had noticed that the people bringing
her to the first day of school looked a lot older than my parents.
As time went on, I learned that those two people were in fact her
grandparents. As a young child, I was very confused why she didn’t
have a mother and a father with her on the first day of school. I
eventually learned the story. After the birth of two children, my
friend’s father obtained access to a gun. He went on to shoot his wife
and then following killed himself. My friend was very young at this
time, and she and her sister were sent to live with their grandparents.
After hearing about what had happened to my friend, I knew that
guns and violence were awful, but it was not until I grew older
that I realized how this relates to the importance of gun violence
prevention. I can’t even imagine what it must be like growing up
without your mother and father, especially knowing that domestic
violence has killed them both. This is not only something I heard
about, but I know people directly affected. Gun violence prevention
is so important; in my friend’s case, it would have been the difference
in growing up with both her mother and father.
Once again, thank you for your time. As you can see, gun
violence prevention is a very relevant and important issue in our
society today. Being members of the Reform Jewish movement and
citizens of the United States, we ask you to consider cosponsoring
the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims act. Again,
by supporting this act, it would ensure crucial protections under the
existing background check system. Thank you.
One of the most important issues to American Jews is the security
and well-being of Israel. As the United States’ strongest ally in the
Middle East, Israel serves as a model for democracy in the region.
Israel is not only important to the security of the Jewish people, but
is also crucial to securing American interests in the region. Unlike
any other country, Israel must continually fight for its survival. We
recognize that the advancement of peace is vital, and urge active US
involvement in peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
A two-state solution is necessary to protect Israel’s status as a Jewish
and democratic state. In addition to threats from Israel’s immediate
neighbors, we fear Iran’s development of nuclear weapons. the
acquisition of nuclear weapons by Iran, whose leadership has
repeatedly called for the destruction of the Jewish state, would pose
an unacceptable and serious threat to Israel and to other nations
as well. We urge you to ensure that Iran does not attain nuclear
capability. Additionally, the United States has long supported Israel
through strong foreign aid packages, which serves as a reflection of
our nation’s commitment to Israel, the peace process, and Israel’s
security. Of note, 75% of American foreign aid to Israel is spent in
the US, which aids US technological innovation and job creation. We
urge the Senator to continue to support Israel through robust foreign
aid. We thank you for your past and ongoing support of Israel, and
we thank you for taking the time to listen to all of us today.
Red Cross Blood Drive
At Congregation Or Ami • Tuesday, May 5, 2015 • 1:30 to 6:30 PM
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appointment
19
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