December 7, 2001
Shabbat Shalom!
We just returned from Tot Shabbat at the new Sanctuary! Sydney loved every minute...She even followed me up to the Bima to light the Shabbat candles!! It was fun for her to see all her friends from preschool! Avi cooed and gooed through the Service and delighted everyone! T'was soooo nice to see former students with their kids and parents! Let's see if I can name a few.....Kristin Bloch, Debbie Schane, Tammy Strauss, Eddie Goldberg.....Grandparents Dona and Larry Gratt....Rabbi Kamin and Cantor Bernstein led a sweet service and Tammy Vener organized Shabbat dinner for 180 people!
Let's see...did I tell you that Robbie Ilko, Karen Foster, Scott Silverman and Michelle Raffelson have kids my 5th grade class?
And....Anne Goldberg and Rick Schumacher's sons are coming up for Bar Mitzvah over the next few weeks!
Lani Schlafman passed her written and oral exams and is now officially
a Licesned Clinical Social Worker!
We are sooooo proud of her!
HAPPY CHANUKAH!
Love,
EEMAH
Israel needs this support
Here is a simple act we can take to give voice to help Israel.
Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have proposed an amendment to the fiscal year 2002 Foreign Aid Bill that would hold PLO leaders accountable for perpetrating violence on Israel... by imposing sanctions on them. (including barring their admission to the United States, downgrading the status of the PLO office in Washington and placing the PLO and its constituent groups on the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations). The message of this amendment is that the United States will not tolerate terrorist attacks on Israel
by the PLO.
Ask your senators to support the amendment... in just a few mouse clicks...
1) Go to: http://www.ou.org/public/action/ipa-plosanc.cfm
2) Find your senators on the list
3) Fill in your name and click send ... then again to your other
senator.
4) Forward this to your friends.
Steve Koppel sent us this:
Written by Peter Yarrow, "Light One Candle" was first presented as part of the 1982 Peter, Paul and Mary Hanukkah/ Christmas concert at Carnegie Hall with the N.Y. Choral Society. Later, performances throughout the U.S., Europe and particularly Israel, brought a new and universal meaning to the song.
"Light One Candle" was written, and is sung, for Jews and non-Jews alike. The flame is an historical reminder of an ethical imperative. It burns as a burden, demanding sacrifice and struggle. But it also lights the possibility, the privilege and promise of a better world. We must not let the light go out.
LIGHT ONE CANDLE
Peter Yarrow- ©1983 Silver Dawn Music ASCAP
Light one candle for the Maccabee children
With thanks that their light didn't die
Light one candle for the pain they endured
When their right to exist was denied
Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand
But light one candle for the wisdom to know
When the peacemaker's time is at hand
chorus:
Don't let the light go out!
It's lasted for so many years!
Don't let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears.
Light one candle for the strength that we need
To never become our own foe
And light one candle for those who are suffering
Pain we learned so long ago
Light one candle for all we believe in
That anger not tear us apart
And light one candle to find us together
With peace as the song in our hearts
(chorus)
What is the memory that's valued so highly
That we keep it alive in that flame?
What's the commitment to those who have died
That we cry out they've not died in vain?
We have come this far always believing
That justice would somehow prevail
This is the burden, this is the promise
This is why we will not fail!
(chorus)
Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!
This is from Max Gendelman:
A bit of information that I discovered while doing
genealogical research. Except for aristocrats, wealthy
people and well off Jewish merchants, Jews did not get
surnames in Eastern Europe until the Napoleonic years
of the early 19th century. Most of the Jews from
countries captured by Napoleon Russia, Poland, and
Germany were ordered to get surnames. The reason for
the last names were for tax purposes. After his defeat
many Jews dropped their surnames and returned to "son
of" names like Mendelsohn, Jacobson Lervinson etc.
During the so called Emancipation, Jews were once more
ordered to take on surnames.
In Austria The Emperor Joseph made Jews take on last
names in the late 17 hundreds. Poland in 1821 and
Russia in 1844. Probably some of our families have
only had last names for 175 years or less.
In France and the Anglo Saxon countries surnames went
back to the 16th century. Also Sephardic Jews had
surnames stretching back centuries. (Spain prior
Ferdinand and Isabella was a golden spot for Jews)
They were expelled by Isabella in the same year that
Columbus discovered America. The earliest American
Jews were Sephardic
In general there were Five types of names. People had
to pay for their choice of names. The poor had
assigned names.
1 Names that were descriptive of the head of
household.
Examples: Hoch (tall)
Klein (small), Cohen (priest) Burger(City
dweller), Shein (good looking), Levi (temple singers)
gross (large) Schwartz (dark) Weiss (white)
2 Names describing occupations
Examples: Holtzkocker (wood chopper), geltschmidt
(goldsmith) Schneider (tailor) Kreigsman (warrior) Eisen (iron) Fischer
(fish)
3 Names from city of residence
Examples: Berlin, Frankfurter, Danziger,
Oppenheimer, Deutsch (German) Pollack (Polish)
Breslau, Mannheim. Cracow, Warshaw,
4 Bought names
Examples: Gluck (luck), Rosen and Rosenblatt
Rosenberg (roses),Diamond, Koenig (king),Spielman
(spiel is to play) Lieber (love)
5 Assigned names (usually undesirable)
Plotz (to die), Klutz (clumsy) Billig (cheap)
I hope somebody finds this as interesting as I have.
--------------------------------
Rudnick - town in Poland - Rudnik
December 14, 2001
Happy Chankukah and Shabbat Shalom!
Here is a wonderful true story sent by Ross Yair Kobernick!
Love,
Eemah
During the War for Independence - a true story.
(1775) 5537.
A difficult winter. Terrible cold. We are sitting in Valley Forge and
waiting. Why? I don't know. Perhaps for better days than these. I am the
only Jew here. Perhaps there are other Jews among us, but I haven't seen
any. We hunger for bread. We have no warm clothing or shoes to protect our
feet. Most of the soldiers curse George Washington for going to war against
Britain.
There are those who hope for his downfall, but I believe that his cause is
just. We must expel Britain from America. She wants to put her hands in
everything her eyes see. Although we are suffering here terribly, I am loyal
with all my heart to George Washington. More than once I see him at night,
passing through the camp, between the rows of sleeping soldiers. He gazes
with compassion upon the soldiers who are suffering from the cold. And
sometimes he approaches one of the sleeping soldiers and covers him, as a
father would cover his son.
There are times when the hunger and the freezing cold torture me to death.
But I don't curse General Washington who is fighting for the freedom of
America. At moments like this I think of my father in Poland. I think about
all that he suffers at the hand of the cruel "Poritz". I remember: I was a
child then and I saw my father dancing before the Poritz. What an awful
thing to see! My father was wearing the skin of a Polar bear - and danced
like a bear before the Poritz and his guests.
What terrible pain! What great shame! My father dancing like a bear - and
the "Poritzim" laughing and rejoicing at the sight. I decided then and there
that I will never dance like my father before the Poritz. Afterwards, I
escaped to America.
And now I am lying in Valley Forge and shivering from cold. They say that
Washington is losing and that he can't win this war. But I don't believe all
that. I lie at night and pray for him.
The first night of Chanukah arrives. On this night, years ago, I left my
father's house. My father gave us this Chanukah menorah and said to me, "My
son, when you light the Chanukah candles, they will illuminate the way for
you".
Since then, the Menorah has been like a charm for me. Wherever I go, I take
it with me. I didn't know what to do - to light the Chanukah candles here,
among the goyim, or not. I decided to wait until they were all asleep, and
then I took out my father's Menorah. I made the brocha and lit the first
candle. I gazed at the light and remembered my parents' home. I saw my
father dancing like a bear before the Poritz and I saw my mother's eyes
filled with tears. My heart was filled with pain and I burst out crying like
a small child. And I decided then in my heart, that for the sake of my
father and mother, for my brothers and sisters in Poland. I must help George
Washington make America a free country, a land of refuge for my parents and
brothers who are subjected to the cruelty of the Poritz.
Suddenly I felt a gentle hand touching my head. I lifted my eyes and it was
he - he himself was standing over me and he asked, "Why are you crying,
soldier? Are you cold? ".
Pain and compassion were in his voice. I couldn't bear to see him suffer. I
jumped up, forgot that I was a soldier standing before a General, and said
what came from my heart, like a son speaking to his father:
"General Washington," I said, "I am crying and praying for your victory. And
I know that with the help of G-d we will win. Today they are strong, but
tomorrow they will fall because justice is with us. We want to be free in
this land. We want to build a home here for all those who flee from the
hands of "Poritzim", for all who suffer across the ocean. The "Poritzim"
will not rule over us! They will fall and you will rise!" General Washington
pressed my hand.
"Thank you, soldier," he said. He sat next to me on the ground, in front of
the Menorah.
"What is this candlestick?", he asked.
I told him, "I brought it from my father's house. The Jews all over the
world light candles tonight, on Chanukah, the holiday of the great miracle".
The Chanukah candles lit up Washington's eyes, and he asked joyfully, "You
are a Jew from the nation of Prophets and you say we will be victorious?!"
"Yes sir," I answered with conviction. "We will win just like the Maccabees
won, for ourselves and for all those who come here after us to build a new
land and new lives."
The General got up and his face was shining. He shook my hand and
disappeared in the darkness.
My faith prevailed. Washington's victory was complete. The land was quiet.
My General became the first President of the United States and I was one of
its citizens. I soon forgot the terrible days and nights in Valley Forge.
But I kept the memory of that first night of Chanukah in my heart like a
precious dream. I did not relate it to anyone because I said to myself: Who
will believe me? I was certain that the General forgot it completely. But
that was not the case. He didn't forget.
The first night of Chanukah (1776) 5538.
I was sitting in my apartment in New York, on Broome Street, and the
Chanukah candles were burning in my window. Suddenly, I heard a knock at my
door. I opened the door and was shocked: my General, President George
Washington, was standing in the doorway (there himself), in all his glory.
"Behold the wonderful candle. The candle of hope of the Jewish People," he
proclaimed joyously when he saw the Chanukah candles in my window.
He put his hand on my shoulder and said, "This candle and your beautiful
words ignited a light in my heart that night. Soon you will receive a Medal
of Honor from the United States of America, together with all of the brave
men of Valley Forge. But tonight, please accept this token from me."
He hung a golden medallion on my chest and shook my hand. Tears filled my
eyes and I couldn't speak. The President shook my hand again and departed....
I came to, as if from a wonderful dream, then I looked at the medallion and
saw an etching of a beautiful Chanukah Menorah. Under it was written: "A
token of gratitude for the light of your candle - George Washington".
December 21, 2001
Wow! I can't believe that it's Shabbat again! Hope you all are having a good one!
Love,
Eemah
MITZVAH REMINDER!
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SEND NEWS!
> >
> THE DAFFODIL PRINCIPLE....
>
> Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come
see
> the daffodils before they are over."
> I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead.
> "I will come next Tuesday," I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third
> call.
> Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I
> drove there.
> When I finally walked into Carolyn's house and hugged and greeted my
> grandchildren, I said, "Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is >
invisible
> in the clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and
> these children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch!" My
> daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, mother."
> "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm
> heading for home!" I assured her.
> "I was hoping you'd take me over to the garage to pick up my car."
> "How far will we have to drive?"
> "Just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."
>> After several minutes, I had to ask, "Where are we going? This isn't
> the way to the garage!"
> "We're going to my garage the long way," Carolyn smiled, "by way of the
> daffodils."
> "Carolyn," I said sternly, "please turn around."
> "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if
> you miss this experience."
> After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a
> small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand-lettered sign >
that
> read, "Daffodil Garden." We got out of the car and each took a child's >
hand,
> and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, we turned a corner of the
path, > and I looked up and gasped. >> Before me lay the most glorious
sight.
It looked as though someone had > taken > a great vat of gold and poured it
down over the mountain peak and slopes.
> The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns-great ribbons and
> swaths of deep orange, white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, saffron, and >
butter
> yellow. > Each different-colored variety was planted as a group so that
it swirled
> and > flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five
acres
of > flowers.>
> "But who has done this?" I asked Carolyn.
> "It's just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. >
That's her home."
> Carolyn pointed to a well kept A-frame house that looked small and modest
> in > the midst of all that glory.>
> We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster.
> "Answers to the Questions I know you are asking" was the headline.
> The first answer was a simple one: "50,000 bulbs," it read.
> The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet,
> and very little brain."
> The third answer was, "Began in 1958."
>> There it was, The Daffodil Principle. For me, that moment was a
> life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met,
> who, > more than forty years before, had begun-one bulb at a time-to bring
her
> vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountain top. Still, just planting
> one bulb at a time, year after year, had changed the world.
>> This unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She
> had > created something of ineffable (indescribable) magnificence, beauty,
and
> inspiration.>
> The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles
> of celebration. That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one
> step at a time-often just one baby-step at a time-and learning to love the
> doing, learning to use the accumulation of time.
>> When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily
effort, > we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can
change the > world.
>> "It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have
> accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty
> years > ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all
those
years. > Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"
>> My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way.
> "Start today," she said. "It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of
> yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a
> cause for regret is to only ask, 'How can I put this to use today?'". . .
.
> .
> Author Unknown
>
> We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have
a > baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old
enough
> and we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that
> we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are
> out > of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when
our
> spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we are
> able to go on a nice vacation, or when we retire. The truth is there's no
> better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will
> always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and
> decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment
> that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone
> special, special enough to spend your time with ... and remember that time
> waits for no one.
>
> So, stop waiting... Until your car or home is paid off, Until you get a
new > car or home, Until your kids leave the house, Until you go back to
school,
> Until you finish school, Until you lose 10 lbs., Until you gain 10 lbs.,
> Until you get married, Until you get a divorce, Until you have kids, Until
> you retire, Until summer, Until spring, Until winter, Until fall, Until
you > die. There is no better time than right now to be happy.
> Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So work like you don't need
> money, Love like you've never been hurt, And, dance like no one's
watching.
>> If you want to brighten someone's day, pass this on to someone special.
> I just did.
December 29, 2001
Shabbat Shalom!
Last night was college reunion at Services!
It was such fun to see all the college kids so mature and grown up looking....Darren Schwartz, the Unger girls, all of the Nalvan clan, The Valderamas, the youngest Bushman, Allison Okmin etc etc!!!
The highlight of Services last night was the baby naming of Salet Abadee, daughter of Kay Gordon and Geof...She was adorable and so was the baby!!
Twas fun to see the pregos...Stacy Coleman due in 2 weeks and Cynthia, Howie Fram's wife due in May!!
Abby, the year and a half old daughter of Alison Fisher and Steve joined in the fun celebration.... She is sooooooo cute...She looks like baby Alison.....
Mazal Tov to Jennifer Berton and family on the birth of their new baby boy! Charles Berton Handler!!
Sydney and Avi are coming over to play this morning.....Life is wonderful!
Enjoy the following via Max Gendelman!
Love,
Eemah
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have seen repeatedly the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice, really nice!!
* * * * *
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That's a mere $24.24 a day! Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice says don't have children if you want to be "rich." It is just the opposite. What do your get for your $160,140?
Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
Glimpses of God every day.
Giggles under the covers every night.
More love than your heart can hold.
Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
A hand to hold, usually covered with jam.
A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sandcastles, and skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.
Someone to laugh yourself silly with no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140, you never have to grow up.
You get to finger-paint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightning bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to keep: reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watching Saturday morning cartoons, going to Disney movies, and wishing on stars.
You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.
You get to be a hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off the bike, removing a splinter, filling a wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat to history to witness the first step, first word, first bra, first date, and first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal.
You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren.
You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there with God.
You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.
ENJOY YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
