May 27, 2005
Shabbat Shalom!
Leah Finkelstein told me that Amanda Allen is getting married!
Jeff Silberman has just completed his term as president of Beth Israel!
Grandpa Izzy would be soooo proud!
Have a wonderful Shabbat!
Love,
Eemah
REMARKS OF APPRECIATION TO JEFF SILBERMAN
OUTGOING CBI PRESIDENT
May 18, 2005
It is so easy to offer praise and thanks to my dear friend, Jeff Silberman. Yes, it is your last day as President, but by no means your last day on the job as a leader of this synagogue. I have many witnesses who have heard you promise that – so you will have to make good on it. You are leaving quite a legacy.
Jeff Silberman. You have taught me everything I know … about using sports metaphors to make a point. After all these years around you, I surprise myself by what phrases now come so naturally to me. I always have thought you had "a lot on the ball" and most other people, by "this stage of the game, the homestretch" would be "not up to par." When you "carry the ball" on a project for Congregation Beth Israel, it is as though "the bases are loaded" and the "ball has just been hit out of the park."
The many issues you have "gone to bat for" have been seen "through to the last inning," no matter how long "the overtime." You publicly made many things seem like a "slam dunk" while in reality, things were occasionally "down for the count."
On sports philosophy, you and I agree with George Will’s line, "Football is a mistake. It combines the two worst elements of American life. Violence and committee meetings."
But you live by the Little League Motto, "character, courage, loyalty."
So I learned a lot by listening to you, but I learned a lot more by watching you. You define the word mensch. You are strong in spirit, and stronger in character. It is so easy for people to rely on you – because you are there and you are so solid.
When there is a need, you provide the resources to get the job done, whether that is in financial, intellectual or manpower terms. The jobs you have taken on, in over eighteen years on the board, are what made you capable of leading the synagogue as its President. And your presidency was not defined, as you had planned, by stability in the early days. Your devotion and your sense of love for this synagogue is truly unequaled.
That has certainly characterized the way you have adopted the case for endowment and made it your personal mantra. Your mode is straight from the Talmud just as the story of Choni asking the man why he is planting a carob tree when it takes 70 years to bear fruit. He answers, "I found the world provided with carob trees; as my forefathers planted them for me I likewise plant them for my descendents."
Jeff Silberman, your giving nature, in all respects, has planted for so many generations to come.
The Israeli artist, Gad Almaliah, has embodied this in one of his metallic expressions and we have that for you today. It says in Hebrew and in English, "as my ancestors planted for me before I was born, so do I plant for those who will come after me."
We hope that over the coming years when you look at this you will see it as our suggestion to you that your work will continue here for many generations – your own legacy of giving of yourself.
I am grateful for a most wonderful friendship and the several times a day that we usually chat. I hope that won’t change. If you don’t continue to call me on your cell phone every time you start your car engine, I will be lost.
When we started this journey, we said we spoke with one voice and it has been an honor for me to stand next to you or in your stead. I appreciate your support and truly, "all that you have planted before me … "
So as I take the "bat" from you, I am conscious of who came before me in so many ways. I will try to "play the game" at the same "level" as you – often "out of sight", but never "out of bounds.. It has been my great joy to often "pinch hit" for you and now I will have to "step up to the "plate." You will, though, always have the "home court advantage". If this was truly a sport, we would have to retire your number and wish you a fond entry into the Hall of Fame.
On behalf of all of us at Congregation Beth Israel, thank you for all you have and will continue to plant for us!
Barbara Haworth
President, Congregation Beth Israel
Liz and I would like for you all to meet Mark Holden Brown. He was born on May 16, 3:41pm and was 20inches long and 6 lbs 15 oz.
Everyone is happy and healthy and the Brown family came home Thursday night.
Seth and Liz
Hi Helene. thanks for the CBI overview. don't forget next time to mention Lauren Pollock, daughter of Tony Pollock, born Feb. 3, little sis of Nate Pollock
Hi Eemah --
Ahh, yes, good ol' Hebrew Camp! How much fun was that?!? What great memories those were! Hard to believe it's been 36 years (for you)! That's got to be startling in and of itself. Of course, the hope would be that next year, CBI will be going to Mountain Chai for Hebrew Camp, of course...
Yeah, those Ivrit Chaya's were fun! I'd love to hear what the campers have come up with now. Corny, but a bunch of fun, for sure!
Sorry I won't see you at the Brunch, but hopefully at the next Board meeting on the 19th? Take care, have a great time this weekend, and look forward to seeing you soon, either way.
Love, Jimmy
Please keep this going for a good cause!
New M&M colors
Pass this on to all of your friends. There are many women out there who have breast cancer. Lets do all we can to support this cause.
New Pink & White M&M's
The maker of M&M candies has teamed up with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to raise funds through the sale of their new "pink & white" M&M candies.
For each 8-ounce bag of the special candies sold, the makers of M&M (Masterfoods) will donate 50 cents to the foundation. The next time you want a treat, please pick up a bag (now sold in stores nationwide) - You will be donating to a great cause and satisfying your sweet tooth.
Please pass on to all your family and friends -- Thank you.
May 13, 2005
Hi and Shabbat Shalom!
Hope all is well with you…..
Lots of weddings coming up this summer!
Ali Graff
Joel Gendelman
Jessica Dubick
Becky Barth
Marc Sternfield
Last weekend we helped to celebrate Greg Goldman’s baby’s first birthday…….Dan’s daughter, Sydney is becoming good friends with Scott Goldman’s daughter Megan! Grandma Barbara and I are enjoying every moment! There were babies everywhere…Scott and Danny Katz both have baby daughters 2-3 months old! Lee Finkel’s daughter, Lauren took charge of the kids…She is a very grown up 5th grader!
Which reminds me….Please send in photos of you and your families for our photo page! (ricks@car.org)
Our community camp Mountain Chai is in full swing! This Sunday be sure to come to the JCC for the celebration of Yom Ha atzmaut!
The camp will have a whole area complete with a climbing wall and ga ga pit! Laura Galinson, Alison Fisher Prager, Howie Fram, Lee Finkel and Jim Lewis are all involved with planning and programming……..and of course Todd Kobernick is the president of the board of directors!
Beth Israel is planning a big fund raiser this month featuring “Second City!” Eddie Goldberg and his wife Deanne are chairs of the event!
I just love to see so many of you so involved in the Jewish Community!
Have a wonderful Shabbat!
Love,
Eemah
THE ULTIMATE BLESSED LIST
Ø Blessed are they who do the ironing, for they shalt not be depressed.
Ø Blessed are they who process lettuce, for they shalt see the tip of the iceberg.
Ø Blessed are the fishermen, for they shalt have net income.
Ø Blessed are those who drink orange juice, for they shalt be able to concentrate.
Ø Blessed is he who attends church at more than one denomination, for he shalt be bi-sectual.
Ø Blessed are those who make perfect bread, for they shalt be a good roll model.
Ø Blessed are they who have cellular phones, for they shalt receive the call wherever they are.
Ø Blessed are those who turn off their cellular phones, for they shall have peace.
Ø Blessed are those who laugh often, for they shalt have strong funny bones.
Ø Blessed are those who speak as lawyers, for they shalt be brief.
Ø Blessed are those who meet their mate on the internet, for it shall be love at first site.
Ø Blessed are bald men, for they shalt not have toupee for haircuts.
Ø Blessed are the plastic surgeons, for they shalt put a whole new face on things.
Ø Blessed are the electricians, for they shall remove your shorts.
Ø Blessed are the hard of hearing for they shall miss all the small talk.
Ø Blessed are those who swallow bitter words so they won't have to eat them later.
Ø Blessed are the brief, for they shalt have lower phone bills.
Dear family and friends:
We wanted to wish everyone a Chag Kasher V’sameach, and bring you up to date on our lives in Baltimore. The children are all doing great. School is definetly challenging here, and so much more advanced then I remember it being when I grew up. The girls are thriving in it. They all take piano lessons and are also doing well. Sheina and Peninah take ballet and are getting ready for their end of the year recital. Kaila takes gymnastics and is really learning some great acts. Yaacov is maturing faster than I can keep up with him. He goes to preschool but has no specific curriculum. However, he is learning his letters and loves books. He seems to spend all his spare time reading or at least studying the pictures very intensely.
The kids will all be going to camp this summer except for a week where the family will be in Florida. We rented a house near the beach and plan to relax. I am expecting in August, so we are trying to get everything in during the early part of the summer. Andrew is doing great at work. Always busy, which is a good thing, and still traveling much of the time.
The weather here definitely has its seasons and right now we are in a beautiful one. The Cherry Blossoms are all blooming and the other flowers are out too. The birds are all out. It is amazing to watch a Cardinal or Oriole just sitting on the fence of your yard. Meanwhile nearby the bunnies are hopping across the yard. A chipmunk and squirrel can be in the picture too, and occasionally we see dear as we go to school. There is a whole family of dear that live on the girls school, so we see them often.
As for our house, we finished construction but have not really had the impetus to put the final touches together. It will be a work in progress for a while…
Hope all of you are well, we are gearing up for Pesach. My in-laws are coming and the Litenatsky’s from LA are coming as well. We are going to have a very full house but we are all looking forward to it. When we re-did the house we were able to put in a Pesach kitchen which is truly a pleasure. I have been cooking and freezing for a week or two, so I know I will go into Pesach this year much more relaxed.
Love to everyone and please know that there is an open invitation to visit whenever you can. Have a beautiful shabbos
Lenie (Greenspan)
While I was studying with Yair this morning, Jennifer Lewis Bernstein called Yair – the word on the street is that Jennifer, her husband Mark and their children are moving to Israel – they are living in the Baka-German Colony area of Jerusalem. Everyone is doing quite well and it sounds as if the Bernsteins are quite happy. (I thought you might need some news for your Shabbat Shalom email.)
Todd Kobernick
