Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
sisterhood hosted a successful 52nd annual "Interfaith Institute" recently at its temple at 7401 Park Heights Ave. in Pikesville.
Guest speakers for "Religious Responses to Economic Realities, included:
Barbara Levy Gradet, executive director of Jewish Community Services. Barbara's leadership is dynamic and vital in planning for this organization.
The Rev. Kevin Hooks, founding pastor of Transformation of Life Christian Center. Reverend Hooks ministers out of Old Court Middle School. He is known for his interesting sermons that help his parishioners understand everyday encounters.
Mitchell Posner, Executive Director of Govens Ecumenical Development Corp., working with planning and fund-raising efforts to develop Stadium Place, a mixed-income retirement community on the grounds of the former Memorial Stadium. This will soon include The Green House Residences, the first of its kind new model of long-term care, in the state.
Maj. Barry Corbitt is area commander for the Baltimore Metro Area Command of the Salvation Army, overseeing six Salvation officers and a staff of 42 employees that run programs in Baltimore and four surrounding counties. Note: the Salvation Army of Metro Baltimore has assisted over 99,410 people!
The morning's program opened with participants Rabbi Elissa Sachs-Kohen, of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation; Ann Fishkin, president of the congregation's sisterhood; Lois Rosenfield, past president of the group.
Gradet talked about Jewish Community Services, an agency of the Associated Community Federation of Baltimore. She said that in 2008, four services combined. This included Jewish Family Services, Jewish Addictive Services, Jewish Vocational Services and Jewish Big Brother and Sister League.
Jewish Community Services, with 210 employees and 400 volunteers, serves people in Baltimore, and Baltimore and Howard counties. The organization's Jewish response to financial need touches about 25,000 people annually.
Gradet gave several examples of hardship cases Jewish Community Services assisted this past year.
Corbitt reflected on what we all know about the economy, such as gas and food prices, which affect everyone! The main purpose of Salvation Army is to help people in need.
Social Services organizations are facing shrinking budgets!
Posner, executive director of Govens Ecumenical Development Corp., discussed providing affordable housing in communities with supportive services and assists in meeting emergency needs of community residents.
Concluding the morning program were Rabbi Andrew Busch, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation and Carol Caplan, perennial top-notch chair of these annual Interfaith Institutes, and Cantor Robbie Solomon, of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation's annual Interfaith Institute is sponsored by the congregation's Sisterhood and partially by the Bernice S. Kramer and the Alice Hecht Memorial funds.
As mentioned above, Carol Caplan again did a great job chairing this 52nd Annual Interfaith Institute. Alice Dolle Trosch, is the dedicated co-chair of this annual interesting meeting.
Interfaith committee members included Ann and Richard Fishkin, Phyllis Lederman, Mary Magrogan, Linda Miller and Jill Wollman who handled registration and logistics.
Also Marcia Bornfriend, Beverly Goldstein, Lynn Lettre', Sandy Raskin, Helene Waranch and Ted Williams.
Plus Janet Kurland, Jewish Community Services; and Andy Wayne, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation program director.
Philip Abraham is president, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. Jo Ann Windman, is their very efficient executive director.
Mega thanks, Lynda Weinstein, president Federation of Jewish Women of Maryland, for keeping this columnist updated regarding this interesting Interfaith Institute.
People Kudos
Judge Stuart Berger was appointed to The Court of Special Appeals.
Half-Century Rabbinical Ordination
Rabbi Joel Zaiman, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his "Rabbinic Ordination" recently at a special Shabbat service, at Chizuk Amuno Congregation.
Bat Mitzvah Mitzvah
Casey Adashek, for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah project, is collecting gently-used children's books for "Baltimore Reads." These books will be delivered directly to children in our district that have no books at home.
It is requested that you place your gently-used books in the marked box located in the Hoffberger Chapel lobby, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, 7401 Park Heights Ave., Pikesville, before Tuesday, May 1. Todah Rabah! A gargantuan thank you! This is a great project to benefit kids with no books!
Amy, this was a great idea and a wonderful mitzvah!
Lifecycle simcha celebrations
A very happy and a few belated birthday greetings to family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and community celebrating 30-something, more or less. Also a sprinkling of kids, tween/teens and seniors (recycled teenagers):
Lynda Weinstein, Deborah Blank, Diane Newborn, Essie Cohen, Dr. Beryl Rosenstein, Dr. Neil Scheffler, Dr. David Buchalter, Henry Zetlin, Lou Bluefeld, Joel Simon, Buzzy Hettleman, Royal Pollokoff, Suzanne Brafman, Janice Gold, Barb Stadd, Beth Gansky, Barry Kaufman, Jay Gammerman, Andy Katzenberg, Sylvia Feinglass, Lisa Goldberg, Lynn Greenberg, Pennie Hinds, Irv Caplan, Dan Satisky, Richard Kemper.
Also Henry Scherr, Michael Demb, Andy Sandler, Brooke Zigler, Margy Feigelson, Len Nelson, Dan Kozlow, Ron Walpert, Beth Fribush Mayers, Ileen Bard, Ed Freiman, Elaine Scott, Stan Sacks, Mace Crystal, Barb Narrow, Mildred Nochumowitz, Hilda Perl Goodwin, Nat Caplan, Ralph Brunn, Michelle Berman, Chris Madairy, Al Auslander, Ron Glassman, Ellen Lindenbaum.
Happy, happy birthday to each and every-one and those celebrating birthdays not listed!
Hope you all enjoyed oodles of ice cream, cake and goodies. Especially the goodies! Yes!
Engagement congrats
Natalie Luney to Joe Manekin
Kristin Pavlick to Andy Black
Marriage
Best wishes for wedded bliss: Rissa (Bordenick) and Josh Perkiel
Newborns
Welcome to this trio of adorable precious bundles of joy:
A daughter, Faye Li, to Margo and Frank Shian
A son, James Asher, to Connie and Aron Beninghove
A daughter, Elizabeth Anne, to Shannan and Dan Mannes.
Mazel Tov to all! Enjoy with oodles of kisses and a few lovable squeezes on their eensie, weensie tiny diapered tushes!
Anniversary congrats
A whopper gorgeous (diamond plus, plus, plus) 65th anniversary to Shirley and Stan Rutko. An equally gorgeous (diamond plus, plus) 63rd anniversary to Mildred and Phil Nochumowitz. And, a gorgeous (diamond) 61st anniversary to Harriet and Alvin Sandler.
WOW! A 65th, 63rd and a 61st anniversaries! Fantabulous! We all wish the above, many, many more wonderful anniversaries with good health and happiness! Yes!
A beautiful (emerald) 55th anniversary to Eunice and Milt Kaplan.
A great 51st anniversary to Judy and Fred Zimmerman, Mr. and Mrs. Bernie Kirsh. Ringing in their (golden) big 5-0, half-century anniversary are Barb and Allen Bazensky, Frida and Dr. Moises Fraiman.
An attractive (sapphire) 45th anniversary to Tammy and Jerry Schnydman.
A lovely (ruby) 40th anniversary to Joyce and Arnold Fruman, Debby and Art Gerson, Joan and Richard Lessans.
A fab (double chai) 36th anniversary JoAnn and Harry Windman, Dr. and Mrs. Bert Glaser. A wonderful 34th anniversary Robin and Fred Hiken. An attractive (pearl) 30th anniversary Nancy and Marc Muser, Shari and Larry Cooper.
A fab 29th anniversary Renee and Scott Furman. A great 27th anniversary Fran and Joel Selzer, Celebrating their (silver) 25th quarter century anniversary Rochelle and Lester Schneiderman. A very happy 23rd anniversary Linda and Rick Esterson. An equally very happy 22nd anniversary Leslie and Barry Thomas.
A fab 16th anniversary Alma and Dr. Larry Becker. A beautiful (crystal) 15th anniversary Sherri and Stuart Fox. A great 14th anniversary Carrie and Todd Weitzman, 11th Lois and Scott Cohen, 7th to Laura and Jared Hosid, and 6th to Brandy and David Dopkin.
Happy anniversary also Sandy and Bob Hillman, Giselle and Natalio Pincever, Lida and Michael Feder.
Happy anniversary to all of the above and those celebrating anniversaries not listed! May you all enjoy many, many more wonderful anniversary simchas! L'Chaim!
Shannon and Taylor Stern, tween/teen, young adult and under-30 social columnists
Bat Mitzvah
Mazel Tov Elana Rubin.
Bar Mitzvah
Mazel Tov Eli Snyder, Ethan Greenberg and Gabe Perman.
Happy young adult birthdays to Emily Eisner, Shana Kaplan, Erin Esterson, Melynda Kromsky, Dave Eisenstein, Dan Hayes, Andy Walowitz and Maxwell Torn.
Happy 20-something and under-30 birthdays to Yonah Esterson and Harris Levitas.
Happy birthday to all the double-digit, Bat and Bar Mitzvah celebrants, young adult and 20-something and under-30 birthday celebrants not listed! Happy milestone birthdays all!
Holidays
Friday, April 6, is Good Friday
Friday evening, April 6, is Erev Passover, the first Seder.
Saturday, April 7, is the first day of Passover.
Sunday, April 8, is Easter.
Best wishes to everyone with good health and happiness on the celebration of your individual holidays!
Memo
Shabbat candle-lighting time, Friday evening, April 6, is 7:17 p.m.
Have and enjoy a terrific week and the above listed holidays!
