Monday, June 22, 2009

Florence Melton Adult Mini-School

The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School is coming to Temple Ohav Shalom!!! Yes, Finally!!!!!

Melton is a two year adult education program devised by a team of scholars and educators at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  It provides the opportunity for adults to achieve basic Jewish literacy in two years.  Learners are introduced to a broad spectrum of Jewish knowledge through an integrated, sequential course of study in a pluralistic and non denominational approach.

1st year classes:

- Purposes of Jewish Living- Essential Jewish concepts and ideas as they unfold in the bible and other sacred texts.

- Rhythms of Jewish Living- Central ideas which mold the traditional patterns of life cycles, holidays and practices which define and shape a Jewish life.

Tuition:

- Ohav Members:  $350 for 30 classes (partially subsidized by Ohav Shalom)
- Non members:  $525

A $125 deposit is necessary to reserve your spot. The remainder can be paid throughout the year.

Class begins Sept. 23rd

To register, Click here to print the Registration Form and send to TOS, or contact Amy Karp at 412.521.1101 or l.

The Rabbi’s Challenge

Dear Friends,

We all know, too well, of the difficult economic situation facing our country and our own community.  Our congregation, like thousands around the country, is facing a financial short-fall that will affect our ability to offer the many needed services that we have come to expect in the past.

Recently, I offered a challenge to the Executive Board and then to the Board that I want to share with you and encourage those of you, who are able to do so, to take up this challenge.

I plan to donate a portion of my scheduled cost-of-living increase, $2,500, back to the temple. I challenge 10 individuals, families, or groups of individuals and families to match my tzedekah. While the $27,500 this challenge can raise won’t completely fix our current cash-flow and budget difficulties, I do believe that it will certainly help. I am a ready to do my part!

In addition, I am very grateful to the hard work and long, long hours that our president, Ralph Karsh, and our treasurer, Martin Greenberg, along with the rest of the Executive Board and Board, have dedicated to our congregation during the past 10 months to guide us on a path toward fiscal solvency.  Yasher koach! (Way to go!)

I urge you to please participate in this unique challenge today; as we say after we finish reading one of the books of Torah – hazak, hazak, v’nit’hazek – be strong, be strong and together we shall be strengthened. Please contact or to let them at what level you will participate; remember no amount is too small and by contributing together we can meet this challenge.

B’shalom,

Art

Rabbi Art Donsky

Thursday, June 11, 2009

LLC Members honored

This past Sunday, two member of our Lifelong Learning faculty, Deb Cohen, our Kindergarten (Gan Yeladim) teacher, and our Marci Barnes, Lifelong Learning Director, were honored by the Agency for Jewish Learning in two separate but important communal programs.

Deb was recognized as one of the greater Pittsburgh Jewish community’s “Unsung Heroes” for her tremendous dedication to our youngest religious school students.  Each Sunday during the school year, Deb has offered a welcoming and warm classroom for these students as they continue their Jewish education after attending our pre-school.  Simply, Deb is a magician in the classroom because if you see her students at the beginning of the year and then watch them come the Spring you will be amazed about how confidant and comfortable they already feel about their connection of Judaism and our community.  Thank you Deb for all you do for our temple family and for the Jewish people each Sunday!

Also, last Sunday, Marci Barnes, was honored by the AJL for her efforts to enhance our programming for our Special Needs students.  Marci with the help of our faculty members, especially Cathy Filson, and dedicated parents, has worked during this past year to ensure that all of students have an opportunity to experience a quality Jewish education.  Thank you, Marci for these efforts.  And thank you for all that you began to accomplish this past year. Sadly, because of our difficult financial situation, Marci, as you already have learned, will not be with us next year.  We will miss you and I know, that I speak for our congregation in wishing you only the best in the coming year.

And this week we will also say thank you to Elliot Frank who has served our community as Executive Director for the past year and a half.  Elliot has worn many hats around the temple – treasurer, construction manager, administrator/executive director – and we are grateful for his dedication to the temple.  And we wish him well in his future endeavors.

We like many, many small and medium size congregations around the country are facing very real financial difficulties because of the current state of our nation’s economy and our past deficit budgets.  Our president, Ralph Karsh, and members of the temple’s executive board, are currently preparing a detailed letter explaining our particular situation. This letter will be forthcoming soon, and I urge you to join us for a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 28th at 9:30 AM as we seek to move forward in the coming months towards a more secure fiscal future.

B’shalom,

Rabbi Art Donsky