May 7, 2004
Shabbat Shalom!
Hope all is well with you all!
Just got off the phone with Anne Goldberg…..She really brightens up my day! I’m still laughing!
Tonight David and I are having Shabbat Dinner at the Samiljans with Todd Kobernick and the Galinson parents…Our community camp
Is closing escrow soooooooon!
Tomorrow I’m meeting Kay Gordon and kids for lunch and next week it’s lunch with my Al Pal, Alison Fisher…….Steve Kantor was in town
in March….We had such a nice catchup….He runs his own business in DC…..has 3 daughters……one will be a Bat Mitzvah soon…
Robbie Ilko’s daughter will become Bat Mitzvah next week…Wow! You guys are sure getting up there!
I got an amazing email from Steve Bachrach…He is doing wonderful work in Southeast LA and in Mexico….
Did I tell you that Abby Greenspan is the educator at Emanu El in San Francisco…the Rabbi is Peretz Prussan from Swig….Speaking of Swig, Michael Zeldin and Rabbi Leah Kroll’s daughter, Sivan, is getting married in July!
Our trip to Spain was magical! We loved every minute……on the flight home we met up with Howard Haimsohn…His kids are both grown up and out of the house…I think he was the first of the Madrichim to settle down and have kids…Richie Savitch was a close second…Howard filled me in on some of the “exploits” of the old gang….It’s great that so many of you still keep in touch!
Which reminds me…We need some new photos for our website…How about pictures of your families as well as photos from the past!
Please send them to Rick Shumacher ricks@car.org and he will put them on the photo page on www.Madrichim.homestead.com
Also..the following folks have changed email addresses…If you have their new ones please send ‘em on to me
Marsha Hazan, Shoshana Feher, Suzanne Berman, Michael Epstein, Mitch Berner, Frank Smith, Elana Resh, Marty Gross, Ari Harrison, Jessica Makoff, Gabe Meyer, Laura Ilko
Todah!
Love,
Eemah
Welcome Home!
Excuse me…you couldn’t have been married 40 years! Naw. Not you too young love birds! That would mean that you could be MY Mom!
Got back from 2-1/2 weeks in Australia, visiting the plethora of Geoff’s cousins, aunts, uncles, mother & father in-law, etc. Great Seders but not so great health. All of us got sick at one point or another so Geoff has grounded me until July, when Jr. arrives. We’re working on getting dual citizenship for the girls so they can travel back to see the family on Aussie passports next time.
We were scheduled to do a week in Cabo but since I’ve developed asthma during this pregnancy he’s now taking the guys fishing in place of me (bummer for me but he deserves it and it means I get a “girls trip” rain check out of it).
We decided that since we’ve been to 3 out of the last 4 Aussie Seders, we’re skipping the 14 hour flight next year and he’s taking me the other way to Europe or maybe an around the world trip for my 40th b-day. Something to look forward to!
Thanks for your input on my Dad’s 90th b-day plaque/bench/tree placement. I spoke with Rabbi Lisa at Hillel and they’re going to make it a part of the new project they’re raising funds to build. He’s done a lot of work with them and she’s eager to do something to help honor him. We’re giving him the plaque in Vegas mid-May at a mini family reunion/b-day celebration. FYI, all of Mom’s cancer screenings have remained negative despite their predictions since she started out as stage 4!!!! Miracles do happen, as you know.
What’s new with the grandkids???
Love,
“K” (Kay Gordon)
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the coffee...
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes"
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car The sand is everything else-the small stuff.
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner.
Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal."
Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
May 15, 2004
Boker Tov and Shabbat Shalom!
On Monday I began the day with a stop at Beth Israel Babies(BIBS)….There I visited with Howie Fram’s daughter, Stacey Coleman’s older daughter,( She was there with her grandpa Si) and Leslie Scher’s son….Must admit.. You Madrichim produce adorable kids! Which reminds me….There are lotsa’ prego Madrichim out there….I’ll let you know when the babies arrive!
…On Tuesday I found Natalie Pearl visiting our Day School..(She is now on our list), her brother Daniel just had twins…
Rachel Swimmer’s daughter and Shoshana Feher’s son are in the same preschool class with Dan Schlafman’s daughter!
Last night Stacey Coleman’s baby Kate was named at Temple…Michael Coleman was there with wife Karen, baby Samantha, and grandma Karen! Ian (Marci Silverman’s youngest son) will become a Bar Mitzvah today.. I saw the entire Silverman clan! Michelle Raffelson and Scott Silverman’s daughter Jessica( a dedicated Madricha) is graduating from High School and so is Anne Goldberg’s son, Matthew!
My current 5th grade Hebrew Class led Services…In my class are kids of the following Madrichim: Robbie Ilko’s son Jeff Silberman’s daughter, and Barry Fish’s son.
Robbie Ilko’s daughter just became a Bat Mitzvah and is planning to join our Madrichim class and Karen Foster’s son will also be in Mad in the fall!
Teachers were honored at services..Sooo many of our old friends were there!- Robbie Turner (your Kindergarten teacher!) Joseph Roditi, Dana Jacobs and her dad, Ken to name a few!
Other wonderful news…Lori Levinson’s son, David, was accepted at Rabbinical
School…… Lori’s daughter, Shanna is graduating from High School and will be a freshperson at Uof M…Go Blue! (My husband David played football there!) Michael Zeldin and Leah Kroll’s daughter, Sivan, is getting married this summer! (It seems like their wedding was just the other day!)
Have a grrrrrrrrrreat week!
Love,
Eemah
Dear Helene...Could you kindly forward the email below to Scott Rogow. And
while you are at it, tell me if you are the same Helene as my favorite
Hebrew school teacher? If you are...you continue to be the greatest ever.
Keeping in touch with all of your students is absolutely AMAZING.
I will wait to hear confirmation from you that you are who I think and then
I will give you a total update on me. Until then, Good Shabbas.
Great to hear from you. I am running out of the office to meet my family now so I don't have time to tell you much...just that I am married with a 17 month boy and 3 year old girl. My sister Dana is my partner in our real estate development company, and Dana, Shawn and I are still extremely close. It sounds like all is well with you too. By for now and Good Shabbas.
Steve Goodman
just got off the phone with Steven(Goodman). It was great to catch up with him.
Thanks for keeping everyone in touch with one another.
Scott
--------------------------
Scott Rogow
Market Manager
(760)420-9953
Hi! Even though I was never in Madrichim, Beth Israel was my life in my teen years! I just want you to know how much I really enjoy reading your news letters! Every now and then I run into people, especially in our restaurants, but it's nice to know from your letters what the rest are up to! Thanks for keeping us in touch!
Love, Lisa (Jacobs) Busalacchi
Hi-
Thanks for your e-mails. I love to see what is happening with everyone. I am expecting a baby boy mid June and my family is very excited about the new addition. Elana and Brooke can't wait to be aunts.
Elana is at superelana@hotmail.com. Her mailbox may be full, but that is still her current address.
Hope all is well with you.
Keri Resh Kraft
The following was sent by Steve and Sherri Makoff (parents of Jennifer and Jessica and Camp Swig director in the olden days and Camp Beth Israel toooo!)
God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, green, yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.
Then Satan created Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Krispy Kreme Donuts. And Satan said, "You want chocolate with that?" And Man said "Yes!" And Woman said, "As long as you're at it, add some sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.
Then God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the Figure that Man found so fair.
Then Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them and Woman went from size 6 to size14.
So God said, "Try my fresh green salad."
Then Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.
God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them."
Then Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.
Then God created a light, fluffy white cake and named it "Angel Food," and said "it is good."
Then Satan created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food."
Then God brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds.
Then Satan gave cable TV a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering light and gained pounds.
Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition.
Then Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.
Then God gave lean meat so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite.
Then Satan created fast-food restaurants with 99-cent double cheeseburgers. Then said, "You want fries with that?" And Man replied, "Yes!" "And super size them!" Then Satan said, "It is good." Then Man went into cardiac arrest.
Then God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.
Then Satan created HMOs. And now you know the rest of the story!
