JUNE 2019

IYYAR/SIVAN 5779
NUMBER 10

THE BULLETIN AHAVAT OLAM - TO LOVE THE WORLD:

SONGS OF SHABBAT
FRIDAY, JUNE 7 | 6:00 P.M.
FLAX FAMILY CHAPEL
Join AAC house band Ein Lanu Z’man as we prepare for Shabbat
through contemporary melodies of our traditional prayers, from Ahavat
Olam to Shalom Aleichem. Invite your friends. Admission is free!

EDUCATION SHABBAT
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
DORA AND JACOB C. COHEN SANCTUARY
Join us as we celebrate the end of the 5779 (2018-2019)
religious school year. Students in grades K - 12 will participate in
AGUDAS ACHIM all aspects of the service, including leading blessings, reading torah
and chanting haftarah. We will honor our graduating seniors and
CONGREGATION hear about their plans for the next year and beyond.

TIKKUN LEIL SHAVUOT

AN EVENING OF LEARNING
SATURDAY, JUNE 8 | 9:30 P.M.
FLAX FAMILY CHAPEL
Join us for an evening of Ma’ariv, cheesecake, and learning. Our
teachers will be Rabbi Ira Goldberg, Rabbi Jack Moline and Hazzan
Robert Scherr.

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

TUESDAY, JUNE 25 | 7:00 P.M.
All AAC members are encouraged to join us as we elect a new
board of directors, discuss the budget, and hear updates on many
aspects important to our community.

2908 V•alley D•rive

Alexandria, V•
A 2• 2302
 SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Shabbat Services....................9:30 a.m.
Mincha..........45 minutes after services
Havdalah Time......................9:15 p.m.
BRETT TOWNSEND BAR MITZVAH
ASHER GAD BEN LEAH CHANA
PARSHA BECHUKOTAI
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
Kabbalat Shabbat Service......6:30 p.m.
Candlelighting.......................8:13 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
EDUCATION SHABBAT
Shabbat Services....................9:30 a.m.
Mincha..........45 minutes after services
Havdalah Time......................9:19 p.m.
Erev Shavu’ot Service &
Tikkun Leil Shavu’ot............9:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, JUNE 9
SHAVU’OT DAY 1
Shavu’ot Morning Service.....9:30 a.m.
Candlelighting.......................9:20 p.m.
Minha/Ma’ariv Shavuot
Service...................................9:30 p.m.
MONDAY, JUNE 10
SHAVU’OT DAY 2
Shavu’ot Morning Service
& Yizkor................................9:30 a.m.
Holiday Ends.........................9:21 p.m.
Ma’ariv Service.....................9:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 14
Kabbalat Shabbat Service......6:30 p.m.
Candlelighting.......................8:17 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Shabbat Services....................9:30 a.m.
Mincha..........45 minutes after services
Havdalah Time......................9:23 p.m.
DALIT MILEWICH BAT MITZVAH
DALIT BAT DAVID REUBEN V’
TAMARA RACHEL HALEVI
PARSHA NASO
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
Kabbalat Shabbat Service......6:30 p.m.
Candlelighting.......................8:19 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Shabbat Services....................9:30 a.m.
Mincha..........45 minutes after services
Havdalah Time......................9:25 p.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
Kabbalat Shabbat Service......6:30 p.m.
Candlelighting.......................8:19 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Shabbat Services....................9:30 a.m.
Mincha..........45 minutes after services
Havdalah Time......................9:25 p.m.
ABBIE ALTENBURG BAT MITZVAH
AVIGAEL BAT YEHOSHUA V’ DEVORAH
PARSHA SHLACH
AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION
RABBI’S
MESSAGE
RABBI STEVEN I. REIN
THE RELATIONSHIP CONTINUES
Two years ago Miri and Amir visited Agudas for the first time while celebrating
their first wedding anniversary. At the time of Miri’s arrival, I wrote that we believe
Israel is the core of our Jewish narrative and Jewish identity. I stressed that the
future of our congregation is forever connected to our engagement with the State of
Israel. Together we affirmed the central Jewish tenet of Ahavat Yisrael – love of
Israel – and our commitment to a meaningful relationship with both the state and
its people.
Two years ago, we celebrated Israel with song and prayer. Today we celebrate
Israel with Miri and Amir at our Shabbat tables, in our Israeli film and book clubs,
Hebrew language learning, Shabbat stories in the preschool, religious school
seminars, monthly Windows on Israel programming, guest speakers, traveling to
Israel, community wide Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations, and so much more. With the
generosity of the Federation of Greater Washington, the AAC Endowment Fund,
and generous members of our community, our relationship with Israel has been
strengthened with Miri as our first schlicha.
It is with great joy that I can formally announce that Miri will be staying
with us for a third year! Miri will continue teaching, engaging, and creating
innovative Israel programming. She will continue bringing Israel to Agudas. And
we will continue to learn, laugh, and grow together.
DISABILITY INCLUSION KABBALAT SHABBAT
REMARKS BY TRACY SOFORENKO
Shabbat Shalom. I am honored to share some remarks for tonight’s service.
Tonight’s remarks will focus on four components: the parsha; the connection to
disability inclusion; how best to interact with people with disabilities; and your role.
In this week’s Torah portion, we learn that everyone in the community is tasked
to contribute to the building of the tabernacle. The tabernacle is a moveable
structure designed for connecting the community with G-d. The portion provides
detailed instructions on how each and every component must be made. Our
synagogue is like the tabernacle – a home to connect with G-d and community.
Everyone is involved in creating the community. Not just a select few, but everyone.
In Rabbi Rein’s High Holiday remarks, the Rabbi talked about that guy who
likes to sing in synagogue but really can’t sing so well. You know the people we
are talking about. He makes people feel uncomfortable and awkward. You don’t
know how to deal with “Mr. Off Key.” My daughter Rebecca leaned over and said,
“Hey Dad, he’s talking about you.” While maybe I resemble that remark, Mr. Off
Key is really quite telling. Mr. Off Key makes us uncomfortable. We are uncertain
on how to react or interact. Congregants with disabilities are like Mr. Off Key. Like
all communities, at Agudas, we have people with disabilities, friends and family of
someone with a disability, and people who don’t have a disability at this present time.
Each of these three groups need to play a role in creating a warm and
welcoming congregation.
People with Disabilities: People with disabilities need to engage in synagogue
life. If we don’t want to be off in the shadows, we need to find ways to contribute
to our rich synagogue community. If we want to be full participants and share in
synagogue life, we need to share the responsibilities. If we only show up for the
High Holidays and Disability Inclusion Shabbat, we are unlikely to build the
connections that enable others to embrace us. (Continued on page 14.)
PAGE 2
 DAILY MINYAN SCHEDULE
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ON PAGE 2.)
Kenneth Labowitz Monday through Friday
Mornings................................7:30 a.m.
Sundays and Federal Holiday
My term as President of the Congregation is coming to an end, and I have Mornings............................... 9:00 a.m.
valued and enjoyed the experience. I am using this opportunity to set down some Sunday through Thursday
thoughts on what I have seen in office. Evenings................................7:50 p.m.
Everything takes longer than expected. I appreciate the usual corollary, that it
usually costs more than expected, but that has not been my experience at Agudas.
For example, the wall at the back of the sanctuary as the divider from the social hall SISTERHOOD
is ending up to be less expensive than originally thought. Go figure. CHEESECAKE AND CHAT
SUNDAY, JUNE 9 | 4:00 P.M.
But the process from the initial concept—“Let’s replace that divider”—to
This Shavuot gathering returns for
execution has taken far longer than I thought it would. It is no one’s fault, but just
an encore. Join us at the home of Rachel
the nature of projects, plus finances, plus other, related issues that have to be
Goldberg, minutes from Agudas Achim.
resolved before the order can be placed and the divider installed. Again, who knew
Chaya Silver, AAC Director of
that the preschool schedule had a role in when the divider could be installed?
Education will grace us with her words
Similarly, on the first day I was in office as President two years ago, I vowed of wisdom and lead us in an interactive
to have the bathroom in the preschool in place. Lots of discussion has followed, discussion. Come celebrate the festival
some design work has been undertaken, a bigger project has been conceived and holiday that commemorates the
further discussion taken place, but there is no bathroom in place. Not for lack of receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
trying, but the situation remains: a great need and no answer in place as yet. Nosh on cheesecake (of course!),
One thing has been a constant in my two years in office: the enthusiasm and pastries, wine, seasonal fruits and other
commitment of the members of the Congregation. It is quite remarkable to me that delicacies. Walk over to shul after the
as many people as there are spend a great deal of their available time in the party and help make a minyan for
synagogue building and at home, devoted to projects related to the Congregation. yuntiff evening services.
There are people working away on projects and issues that may never see the light RSVP by Wednesday, June 5 at
of day or any mention in the Bulletin or from the bimah or anywhere else, that have (bit.ly/aac-chat).
meaning to us individually and collectively, to the spirituality of the services and
the functioning of the entity that is Agudas Achim. CARPENTER SHELTER
It is humbling to have a sense of the energies put into this as a community. And DINNER
there is a great deal of energy going on here. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The best part of the job of President is congratulating the bar and bat mitzvahs. The Carpenter Shelter Dinner
As a congregation, we do an absolutely fabulous job of training these young people Committee provides a dinner item or
to appear in front of the Congregation and do themselves, their families, and the rest helps serve dinner the second Monday
of us proud. They know their stuff. What is more, and very useful for later life, they of every other month. The Carpenter
are comfortable on their feet in speaking and leading services. Would that I had Shelter is temporarily located at
been so poised when I was 13. And if we can convince each one to speak slowly Landmark Mall. There is always a
and clearly so everyone, even those with old ears, can hear what they have to say . . . need for volunteers to cook items or to
My point is to congratulate everyone involved in the training of those young help serve the meal at the shelter.
people. Keep it up. Contacts:
We are on the verge of having a refreshed sanctuary, with new paint, new Debi Leekoff
carpet, a new divider, and eventually improved lighting. I will have more to say djleekoff@gmail.com
about that process in my final wrap up next month, but all of this will be a wonder Julie Keller
to behold. For now, let me just say that the modifier “refreshed” is perfect to Julieringkeller@gmail.com
describe what is happening.

AAC OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON

THURSDAY, JULY 4.
MORNING MINYAN WILL BE HELD
AT 9:00 A.M.

JUNE 2019 PAGE 3

MEN’S CLUB MENSCHENINGS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S
ELLIOT PARKIN, MEN’S CLUB PRESIDENT MESSAGE
Barry Nove
Yasher Koach to Lee Cohen, Tobias
Dienstfrey, Michael Drobnis, Jeff
Goldstein, Louis Marcus, Don Melman, So much to share, but I feel I should only be brief about our having just recently
Dan Munz, Michael Quint, Lynne completed our transition to our new membership database and installing a new
Rosenblum, and Gary Zuckerman for phone system, which we are quickly mastering. We also are still promoting the
volunteering to deliver the FJMC Spring Appeal which concludes June 30, encouraging contributions to the Security
Holocaust memorial candles to Capital Fund Match and to our Synagogue Fund.
congregants. Thank you all for a job well At the end of June, after Preschool concludes for the year, we will be replacing
done. the roof over the lobby, offices, and Education Wing. This will not affect any
Consider joining the Men’s Club activities planned within the building such as the Congregation’s Annual Meeting
Board. Men’s Club is looking for a few on Tuesday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. Beginning July 1, the ‘refresh’ of the Dora and
good men to fill vacancies on our current Jacob C. Cohen Sanctuary (Cohen Sanctuary) starts; this will affect building usage.
board so that we can continue our full Before I talk about that project, I would like to thank all those who have
range of activities in 5780. You can also supported the matching appeal and our Spring Appeal. Additionally, I would like
help us with ideas for programs and by to thank the anonymous family who offered the matching fund challenge for the
volunteering for our activities. Contact congregation’s security infrastructure, and families anonymous and otherwise who
me at elliot.parkin@gmail.com or 703- are supporting the “Refresh” of the Cohen Sanctuary, including, in particular for
575-7879 with your particular interests. underwriting the painting of the Cohen Sanctuary and Lainof Auditorium by
The Men’s Club Israel Pilgrimage Cydney and Iver Kasenetz, and support from the Spiro Fund completing our
Scholarship Program has provided 105 needed commitment for the installation of a new hearing Loop (both in the Cohen
scholarships over the past 32 years to Sanctuary and the Flax Family Chapel next summer), as well as Gail Bentkover,
teens of the congregation for Israel Facilities Chair, and her sub-committee, which included Karen Parkin. Gail and
experiences. If you have a teen who is Karen have worked very hard to make this happen and this project would not have
interested in a peer trip to Israel, the been possible without their efforts.
Israel Pilgrimage Fact Sheet for 2019 We have been working hard to raise funds to replace our 24-year-old light
can be found on the Men’s Club page of fixtures. This is the last major unfunded item for the refresh of the Cohen
the AAC web site. Contact Mike Sanctuary and Robert I. and Kate C. Lainof Auditorium (Lainof Auditorium). One
Scheinberg at mike@schuschein.com or generous member family has offered a matching grant of $25,000 for new lighting.
me if you have any specific questions. If we can achieve this goal, the new lighting will make the Cohen Sanctuary
warmer and brighter than it is now. Since we hope to replace the Halogen lamps
with LED's, we will be more energy efficient as well. If we exceed our matching
PRE - KABBALAT SHABBAT goal, we can improve the bima and perimeter lighting too. Our architect has
MUSIC, MINGLE AND NOSH already specified the details for these secondary improvements.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21 | 6:00 - 6:30 P.M.
Join us as we wind down from the We plan to remove the pews from the Cohen Sanctuary beginning July
week and prepare for Shabbat. Enjoy 1. Scaffolding will be built to paint the ceiling. It would be great to take advantage
music by AAC members with a glass of this scaffolding to replace - even enhance - the array of lights on the ceiling.
of wine and a little nosh. Interested in With the pews stored in the Lainof Auditorium and Cohen Sanctuary
contributing your musical talents? undergoing updating, both will be closed during this project, which is scheduled
Contact Pablo Zylberglait conclude by August 30. The project, in addition to what I have already described
(pmzmail@gmail.com). and the new carpet, includes a new hearing loop. Only one part of the project will
be completed after the carpet installation process. In September, the Hufcor
partition between the Cohen Sanctuary and the Lainof Auditorium will be
replaced, which takes only one day. This delay is due to production times running
long this summer. We expect to do this final phase of the project well before the
High Holidays.
Beginning in July Shabbat services will be held in the Flax Family Chapel.
Kiddush during the summer will be served in the lobby and will likely be light fare.
If we find that we need to move Shabbat services to another location due to
attendance being over 100, we will notify the congregation. However, we believe
(Continued on page 8.)

AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION PAGE 4

 finger, our pinky, is to remind us that
DEAR HAZZAN we must also pray for ourselves.
Hazzan Elisheva Dienstfrey
We are blessed, as Jews, to have a
written and oral tradition – a liturgy that
guides us in prayer so we always have
Dear Hazzan,
words to say – even when we cannot
I heard that you took part in the Prayer Breakfast at Alfred Street Baptist Church find the words in ourselves. I learned at
that took place on the National Day of Prayer last month. What is a Prayer Breakfast? the Prayer Breakfast, that those words
-Teffi Lah can help us find our own voice, and our
own words are just as important to
Dear Teffi, God’s ears.
Yes, I attended the Prayer Breakfast at Alfred Street Baptist Church last month. L’shalom,
This is the third year I have participated, and each year I learn something new. I’ll Hazzan Dienstfrey
start by answering your question: What is a Prayer Breakfast? *Please Note: This column will
The last couple of years, there has been a breakfast in the Fellowship Hall of the alternate between music reviews/
church for members of the Alexandria religious community, various Alexandria recommendations and “Dear Hazzan”
politicians, and clergy of different faiths. During the breakfast, seven or eight clergy letters. If you would like to introduce
offer different prayers, the subject of which has been assigned to them. There are or recommend recordings, or if you
prayers for the Government, the Military, businesses, the family, the church, have a question for the Hazzan
education, and the media. Sometimes, the teens from Alfred Street Baptist Church regarding the ritual, liturgy, and/or
submit prayers of their own that someone reads or shows on their behalf. The music of the synagogue, please write
prayers are interspersed with religious songs and reflections, usually by one of the Hazzan Dienstfrey at the synagogue
associate ministers at Alfred Street. There are greetings and closing remarks given (2908 Valley Drive, Alexandria, VA
by pastors of Alfred St. Baptist Church as well. 22302) or email her at
HazzanERLD@hotmail.com.
The first year I participated, I was offered the Prayer for the Government.
Fortunately, I could pull out the Siddur Lev Shalem, and read one of the lovely
prayers from our siddur. I supplemented the reading with a song (of course) – Olam
Chesed Yibaneh by Menachem Creditor – about taking part in fixing the world. Just
about every clergy member there (and most of them affiliate with the Baptist
Church), did not have prepared remarks – they just spoke from their hearts –
passionately and beautifully. I was humbled. The second year, I was asked to offer
the Prayer for Education. This time, I wrote something out – did not take something SISTERHOOD’S
from the siddur and then ended with a song (of course) – Kaddish D’Rabanan by JUDAICA SHOP
Debbie Friedman. We are available all summer by
This year, they asked me to offer the Prayer for Businesses. The Prayer for appointment. Contact
Businesses? I had no idea what to do with that. But, with the help of many patient Michelle Shwimer (202-288-9856)
colleagues who helped me talk through this subject, I was able to come up with mshwimer19@gmail.com;
something – and I ended with a song (of course) – Am I Awake? By Noah Aronson. Susan Ravitz (703-489-5068)
I made it work. sravitz@comcast.net.
My favorite part of the morning, though, was that I was able to listen to people
Funds generated from sales help
pray – REALLY pray – from their hearts, from their souls. I heard prayers from
underwrite all that Sisterhood does
teens – asking that God bless all those who take care of them and guide them on
for our Congregation and the
their path. I heard prayers for children – asking God to help us pray FOR our
community.
children not prey ON them. And I heard responses from the congregation – “Yes!”
“M-hm!” “Praise God!”
And I learned about another type of prayer – the “Five Finger Prayer” or the
“Hand Prayer” that many Christians use to help their children learn how to pray and
for whom we pray. The thumb is the finger that reminds us to pray for our family,
the pointer reminds us to pray for those who direct us on our path and inspire us,
the tall, middle finger reminds us to pray for the leaders in our community, the ring
finger, our weak finger, reminds us to pray for those who are the weakest among
us, whether they are struggling with health or poverty, or worse. And the little

JUNE 2019 PAGE 5

 YOUNG FAMILIES “MAH KOREH” - WHAT’S HAPPENING IN
THE EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEPARTMENT
Programming and community Chaya Silver
focused on families with
children ages 0-5. Youth/Education Director

ONGOING EVENTS On a Sunday morning, while greeting children and parents as they arrived, I
observed a parent in heated discussion with an elementary school child who was
Gan Shabbat complaining that they were tired and didn’t want to go to class. The parent was
Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon overheard saying “I didn’t like going to Sunday School when I was a kid, and I had
Volunteer-led service for kids ages to go anyway. Now you have to go anyway. That’s the tradition.”
0-5, accompanied by an adult. Looking
for volunteers to lead – no experience While teaching a group of 7th graders, the discussion turned to planning for the
necessary. coming year and what might entice them to return. The discussion had scarcely
started when one teen spoke “My parents told me I was finished after my bar
Oh Say Shalom Sing-a-Long and mitzvah and I don’t have to go to religious school or do Jewish stuff anymore if I
Playgroup don’t want to. Hey, I am a Jewish adult!” The other kids laughed and more than half
Sunday, June 2 | 11:00 a.m. of the others said they had been told the same thing by their parents.
Hazzan Elisheva Dienstfrey leads
songs for the first half-hour with free I have been asked to find ways to improve the retention rate for community and
play after. No Jewish knowledge or school participation for our post-bar or bat mitzvah students. Discovering the right
experience necessary. Each child requires combination of classes, social opportunities, and community engagement has been
an accompanying grown-up. like searching for the missing link. I wonder sometimes if it even exists. I take some
comfort in the fact that we are not alone. In the May 2019 Journey’s article
Shababy Kabbalat Shabbat published by USCJ titled “Making Your Child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah More Meaningful
Friday, June 21 | 5:30 p.m. and Relevant”, a few scant lines at the end remind parents to tell their kids that the
Flax Family Chapel b’nai mitzvah is not the end of the journey, and asks that parents stay involved with
Friday night service for kids 0-5 and their kids Jewishly at home in the years that follow. It does not encourage kids to
parents with songs, instruments, scarves, join youth groups or synagogue teen programs. It does not reinforce the value of
dancing, parachutes, challah and juice. If community.
you are interested in volunteering to lead,
sign up on the Young Families page of the In August 2013, Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin wrote in an article titled Can Bar/Bat
AAC website. Mitzvah Be Saved? “Approximately fifty percent of our post-pubescent Jewish kids
drop out after bar/bat mitzvah. And so do their families. You can practically hear
CONNECT WITH YOUNG the synagogue doors slamming right after Ein Keloheinu…” His suggestion is
FAMILIES changing the age from 13 years old to 18 years old - right before a child leaves home
  Find  us  on  the  Facebook,  ‟Agudas for work or college. I have to say he makes a very compelling argument, but I don’t
Achim Young Families” Group, to keep think the idea will catch on. At the close he writes “Jewish parents of America: are
track of what is going on and receive the we ready to articulate Jewish expectations for our children?”
latest updates! For more information or to In the anecdotal stories shared above, we see that in this regard too many of us
get involved contact: are falling short. One of the stumbling blocks to better post b’nai mitzvah programs
aacyoungfamilies@gmail.com is the lack of support programs get from parents. Perhaps Gen-X parents are
unwilling to insist on having their teen attend an after school program when their
Hannah Kraushaar
memories of religious school are bad. Perhaps, since post b’nai mitzvah
Jennifer Munz
programming doesn’t obviously help with college entrance exams, parents may
Mackenzie Silverman
weigh the value of more homework time, sleeping in on the weekends, or playing
sports with the value of joining a synagogue program that has no official reward at
the end. Salkin’s charge to clergy, educators, and lay leaders is spot on. He reminds
us that it is our challenge to create irresistible programs for teens. Only by providing
enticing options that are synagogue based, do we have a chance of attracting teens.
One idea that works is making it possible for teens to assist in the school. Social
action activities are appealing as are certain guest speakers. However, this isn’t
enough.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS We need to convince parents that keeping their teen engaged with the Jewish
A warm welcome to our newest community after bar or bat mitzvah significantly increases their child’s lifelong
member, Steven Caswell. engagement with Judaism and the likelihood of their child seeking Jewish life when
they go to college. The synagogue program is an option as are area youth groups. It
(Continued on page 8.)

AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION PAGE 6

 BRINGING ISRAEL TO HEBREW MARATHON
AGUDAS: OUR SHLICHA, Sunday, June 30 | 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
MIRI BERNOVSKY Agudas Achim
This exciting program will be led
by our own Nancy Hailpern. The
June is here, which means that we are finally done with Spring and its endless
program is designed to provide you
stream of important dates and events, from the Israeli election, through Passover
with the basics of beginning level
and up to Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut. I have to say that while I enjoyed
Hebrew. At the end of the 8-hour
all the programming we did around these issues and others, it's also good to see on
marathon, you will know all the
the horizon the Summer, which is more relaxed and gives us all time to prepare for
Hebrew letters. The program is free of
the next big wave of activities around the High Holidays.
charge, but requires an RSVP by June
I'm also looking forward to the Summer because it means Amir and I will be 21 to participate. Sign up by calling the
going home to Israel for a long visit, the first time we'll be home since our office or send an email to
December congregational trip. I'm already busy working on a list of all the "must ejacobs@agudasachim-va.org.
dos" for our time home - places we have to go, new restaurants we have to try,
friends and family we have to meet, things we have to buy. Luckily, we did get to VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION
see some family during Passover when Amir's parents came to visit and did the
Seder with us. My time here at Agudas has taught me to re-appreciate the The entire Agudas community
importance of time with family - it's truly a blessing. wishes to thank all who graciously
volunteered this year. Please look for
In the meantime, we still have some great activities coming up, especially a token of our gratitude in the entrance
Shavuot, which as some of you know, is my favorite holiday of the year. I really area of the synagogue.
enjoyed the Tikkun Shavuot we did at Agudas last year, and am very much looking
forward to this year's holiday. We also have a wonderful book for our Israeli book -Mindi Maline and Jane Schichman
club and a great film for our monthly movie club - please read and I hope you will Vice Presidents of Membership
join us when we meet later this month.

THIS SPACE IS

3-D-4-5 For ad info. call 1-800-477-4574 • www.4lpi.com 14-0995

 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE
(Continued from page 4.) PRESCHOOL NEWS
the Flax Family Chapel should be able Jen Halpern, Director
to accommodate the number of Shabbat
morning attendees during the summer.
We are also considering offering
meditation and/or beginner’s minyans in As the end of my third year as preschool director approaches, I’ve been thinking
the classrooms to also help meet our about how much we’ve accomplished together.
space needs, while offering a warm and The preschool has a STEAM Lab, where the children explore concepts related
inviting Shabbat experience to all. to science, technology, engineering, art, and math; where they create and problem
Feel free to contact me with any solve; where they collaborate and experiment with their peers; where they find new
questions about these projects. Next solutions to old problems; and where they prepare themselves for the challenges of
summer we plan to carpet the Flax the future.
Family Chapel, add a hearing loop Every December, the children shop at our Chanukah Bazaar to find gifts for their
there, carpet the lobby and offices, andfamilies, learning about giving as well as receiving in the process. We celebrate
build a bathroom in the Education Purim every year with an increasingly hilarious Purimspiel, put on by the teachers.
Wing, which will meet the needs of both Every March, we spend a week focused on literacy, which culminates in a Storybook
young and older children. Day celebration when everyone is encouraged to dress up as their favorite character
I know the updating of the Cohen from children’s literature. It warms my heart when a child comes to school dressed
Sanctuary has been a long time coming as Frida Kahlo or the fictional Miss Viola Swamp.
and am looking forward to kvelling with We have found a way to bring Israel to the children (or the children to Israel,
you over the result in September. depending on your point of view) every year on Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Just last month,
after flying El Al and getting our passports stamped and currency exchanged in Tel
Aviv, we went shopping at the shuk in Jerusalem, ate a snack in a Bedouin tent in
Beersheva, went fishing in Eilat, collaged doors blue in Tzfat, and undertook an
engineering challenge in Haifa. Next year, Jerusalem!
As I have been fortunate to say many times in this space over the past three
years, our playground, gross motor play space, and classrooms have been able to
acquire more high-quality toys, games, and equipment, thanks in part to this
community’s generosity.
Finally, all our teachers have been able to participate in professional
development by attending the Federation’s annual Jewish Early Childhood
Education Conference along with hundreds of their colleagues from around the
MAH KOREH Beltway. We’ve also brought in presenters to learn more about STEAM, early
(Continued from page 6.) literacy, room design, and serving children with special needs.
is up to us to remind parents that teens
who are involved with Jewish life Looking ahead, I’m excited about bringing more Hebrew into our classrooms,
through high school will be better offering more parent education sessions and family programming, digging deeper
prepared to address the rise of anti- into the importance of social-emotional development and play-based learning, and
Israel, anti-Semitic, Holocaust-denying continuing to improve and update our facility. It is no understatement to say that
rhetoric on college campuses and in the having age-appropriate bathrooms in the preschool wing will be a game-changer. It
world by giving them stronger Jewish will greatly reduce the amount of time we spend walking the children to -- and
identity and a sense of belonging. It is physically supporting them once inside -- our adult-size bathrooms; better yet, it will
also our job to remind parents that they increase the amount of time we can spend with the children engaged in more
are essential in the work to secure strong meaningful activities.
post b’nai mitzvah education and The next few years may also bring other kinds of changes to our program. As
engagement. Only by working together more and more families require full-time care for their children, we may have to
do we have a chance to avoiding the re-evaluate what kinds of services we are able to provide, and when and where we
sound of kids and families leaving once can provide them.
the teen steps off the bima at 13. It is up
to all of us to make sure that teens are We also need to re-think the ways in which we advertise and promote our pro-
still here for years after that 13-year-old gram to better account for the transient nature of our community, and that’s where
sings Ein Keloheinu. we’d ask for your help. Families, and members of the synagogue community, are
our single best resource when it comes to advertising, and positive word-of-mouth
(Continued on page 12.)

AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION PAGE 8

IN THE FAMILY
ENDOWMENT FUND
We mourn the loss of our longtime member Refuah Shlema to Anita Turk
Barry Landau
May the Almighty comfort the bereaved mourners. In Memory of Thomas A. Ainsfield
Neale Ainsfield
SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO: Wishing Meredith Ludwig a speedy recovery
Marcia Lawson, Sarah Lawson, David Lawson and family Sam Ozeck
on the death of their mother and grandmother, In Memory of Howard Ludwig's brother
Sylvia Zelda Sogin Cohen z"l. Sam Ozeck
Lawrence Mawunya-Yawson and family In Memory of Arthur Flax
on the death of his mother-in-law, Benedicta Amege z"l. David Flax
Howard Siegel, Sasha Siegel and family ESFORMES FUND
On the death of their brother and uncle, In Memory of Lynn Esformes-Smith
Melvyn Edward Siegel z"l. Jack Esformes
In Memory of Sylvia Esformes
CAMP RAMAH FUND Jack Esformes
In Memory of Larry Shuman HAZZAN'S DISCRETIONARY FUND
Lisa Petkun In Memory of Gustav and Rosalind Salomon (my parents)
Dene & Mel Garbow Caryl Bernstein
In Memory of my brother Paul Katz HENRY H. KREVOR SOCIAL ACTION FUND
Marshall Katz In Memory of Alice Quint - with deepest sympathy
In Honor of Bat Mitzvah of Rachel Robbins Anita Turk
Barry Landau In Memory of my sister, Betty Saks-Lotstein on her yahrzeit
In Memory of Dr. Larry Shuman June Krevor
Samara Weinstein & Jeffrey Goldstein In Memory of Larry Shuman
In Celebration of a new granddaughter for Meryl and Joel June Krevor
Goldhammer In Memory of Beverly Flax
Arden Levy & Tony Sanchez June Krevor
In Memory of Sylvia Levy, grandmother of Arden Levy In Memory of Alice Quint
Arden Levy & Tony Sanchez Carole Pollner & Jay Warshawsky
In Memory of Alice Quint Marissa Salli
Arden Levy & Tony Sanchez June Krevor
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUND Samara Weinstein & Jeffrey Goldstein
In Memory of Larry Shuman In Memory of Adeline Sandler
Lenore & Phil Garon Lynne & Donald Sandler
In Memory of Lillian Levine KABACK FUND
Bob, Robin and Jaime Levine In Memory of Dr Lawrence H Shuman
In Memory of Arthur Flax Mr & Mrs Morton Zetlin
David Flax MUSIC FUND
CEMETERY FUND In Memory of Larry Shuman, special friend
In Memory of Anne Bernanke Tanya Bodzin
David & Judith Bernanke In Memory of Alice Quint, an amazing woman
In Memory of Larry Shuman Tanya Bodzin
Janet Barnett In Memory of Jacob Raiten
CHEVRA KADISHA Sharyn & Jeff Tureck
In Memory of Beverly Flax In Memory of Alice Quint
Ed Newberger Maureen & Bob Shapiro
In Memory of Ruth Kraushaar In Memory of Elsie M. Kodish
Ed Newberger Tanya Bodzin, Samantha, Peter, Max & Emily Seigman
In Memory of Alice Quint In Memory of Arthur Flax
Ed Newberger Andrea Flax
In Memory of Marilyn Davis PRAYERBOOK FUND
Ed Newberger In Memory of Larry Shuman
COMMUNITY CARING FUND Maureen & Bob Shapiro
To honor the memory of Dr. Larry Shuman In Memory of Elizabeth Seligman
Sheila Bicoff Jack & Elinor Abraham
In Memory of Larry Shuman PRESCHOOL FUND
Gabriela & Morris Siegel - Benveniste In Memory of John Siegel
In Memory of Alice Quint David & Judith Bernanke
Szeina & Phil Lurie In Memory of Anne Kutchinsky
In Memory of Dr. Lawrence Shuman Jewell Hirschorn
Vanessa Mullins
JUNE 2019 PAGE 9
(Continued from page 9.) SYNAGOGUE FUND
In Memory of Alice Quint
RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND Lenore & Phil Garon0
In Memory of Larry Shuman Judy & Vic Tynes
Alvin & Florence Bernstein Scott Sugarman
Stanley Blacker Hanna Gutterman
In Memory of Ethel Shapiro (Aunt) Helene Schrott
Illa Brown In Honor of Susan Ravitz’s Birthday
Mazel Tov on your new granddaughter Emilia Louise Unger Michelle Shwimer
Sherri & Howard Kohr In Memory of Dr. Lawrence Shuman
In Honor of your new granddaughter Emma Bella Scott Sugarman
Sherri & Howard Kohr In Memory of Harriett Gutterman
In Memory of Albert Herman Hanna Gutterman
Lynne & Donald Sandler In Memory of Dr. Larry Shuman
In Memory of Dr. Lawrence Shuman Rhoda Brenner
Michael & Anita Pupa Dorian Brown
In Memory of Marlowe Solomon In Memory of Melvyn Siegel
Joel Solomon Elliot & Karen Parkin
With Thanks to Rabbi Rein for teaching a very interesting and In Honor of birth of granddaughter Emma Bella Kreinbihl
thought-provoking class: Mahloket Matters Elliot & Karen Parkin
Ellen Bayer Mazel Tov to Susan Ravitz on her birthday
In Memory of Sheila Hefferan Les & Jane Bergen
Kasenetz Family In Honor of the birth of Hadley Maya Bondy, granddaughter of
In Memory of Rose Gaidelman Liz and Paul Frommer
Jack & Elinor Abraham Les & Jane Bergen
In Memory of Robert Lange In Loving Memory of our parents, Rita and Leon Banov
Jack & Elinor Abraham Les & Jane Bergen
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND
In Memory of Doris Gazin
In Memory of Larry Shuman - to our wonderful friend Larry, You
Helene Schrott
will be missed
In Memory of Larry Shuman
Barbara & Jack Dorfman
Helene Schrott
In Loving Memory of my mother, Faye Snowhite
Sara Eisenberg
Sheila Bicoff
In Memory of Marilyn Davis
In Memory of Dr. Larry Shuman - with deepest sympathy
Marcia Trick
Anita Turk
In Memory of my Wife, Ruth
In Memory of Lawrence Shuman
Col. Levi Goldfarb
Myra Roney
With Thanks to Hedieh & Eric Fusfield
In Honor of Linda Lichtman
Sonya Singer Livingston
Jason & Shannon Rubin
In Honor of Miriam Perlberg reading Torah
In Memory of Dr. Larry Shuman
Pat Franklin
Barry Landau
In Memory of a good friend and great doctor, Dr. Larry Shuman
WOW! Mazel Tov to Ian Waters on completing his PhD in
Arthur Altman
Nurclear Enginerring at Univ. of Wisconsin
In Memory of Marilyn Davis
Sheila Bicoff
Susan Crawford
In Memory of Alice Quint
TURK MUSIC ENDOWMENT FUND
Stanley Blacker In Memory of Alice Quint
SCHIFF ENDOWMENT FUND
Leib Kaminsky
In Memory of Edward J. Liebman
Allan & Mickey Lazarus
Joan Liebman
SEFER TORAH FUND
In Memory of Lawrence Shuman
In Memory of Dr. Lawrence Shuman Carole Pollner & Jay Warshawsky
YOUTH ENRICHMENT FUND
Judy & Vic Tynes
In Memory of Lawrence Shuman
In Memory of Larry Shuman
Laura McKee
Gerald Helman
SPIRO ADULT EDUCATION FUND
In Memory of Larry Shuman
Allan & Mickey Lazarus
In Memory of Dria Siegel THANK YOU TO ELLEN FINGERMAN AND
Judith & David Bernanke PAMELA MANDEL FOR PROOFREADING THIS
In Honor of our cherished friends, Joan & Lester Edelman
Jack & Rhoda Berson MONTH’S BULLETIN.

AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION PAGE 10

 GOOD DEEDS DAY
APRIL 7, 2019
Good Deeds Day (GDD) is a global day that unites people
from 108 countries to do good deeds for the benefit of others Hats knit for babies in the
and the planet. All over the world, hundreds of thousands NICU and children in the
choose to volunteer and help others, putting into practice the cancer ward at Fairfax
simple idea that every single person can do something good, be Children’s Hospital.
it large or small, to improve the lives of others and positively
change the world. GDD was adopted three years ago by the
Agudas Achim Social Action Committee and has rapidly
become one of the most important events in our community.
Please join us in giving a heartfelt thank you to the 220+ (right) Young Families
Good Deeds Day volunteers! We would particularly like to made cards for our sick
thank Alli Korman, the Religious School GDD Coordinator or homebound
and we appreciate our team leaders: Barbara Fiedler, Howard congregants.
Frank, Patti Rounsevell, Hazzan Dienstfrey, Rachel Albert, Jay
Berman, and Hannah Kraushaur (and many many more
volunteers). (below) Four-mile Run
Adults, teens, and children in the community volunteered Stream clean-up lead
to help repair a home for a low-income family; fix up a by Jay Berman.
playground; prepare meals for a homeless shelter; perform a
concert for residents at a nursing home; and clean up a part of
Four Mile Run Stream. The AAC religious school students
celebrated GDD with a series of programs and activities
focused around "Hachnasat Orchim" - the Jewish value of
welcoming the stranger.
We are so proud to be part of this strong and caring
community! We are already looking forward to next year!
Barbara Elkin and Esther Miller
AAC Good Deeds Day Co-chairs

(left AAC volunteers worked

with Yachad and Etz Chayim
to repair the home of a low-
income family.

(below) Hazzan Dienstfrey

led a group to perform for a
retirement community.

Religious School students making the new

welcome banner.

JUNE 2019 PAGE 11

 PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR MESSAGE
(Continued from page 8.)
is what often brings prospective fami-
lies in for a tour. I often hear from fam-
ilies who have just moved into the area
and are just beginning to look for a
preschool: I was at the playground (or
my older child’s school) and I asked
around and everyone said we should
check out Agudas Achim Preschool.
Please continue to spread the word
about our program, and let families
know that we do have openings next
year. Interested families can call or
email me with questions. Thank you
for all you have done and will continue
to do for our preschool in the years to
come.
Contact Scott Messner to place an ad today!
smessner@4lpi.com or (863) 875-1101
3-D-4-5 For ad info. call 1-800-477-4574 • www.4lpi.com 14-0995
MONTHLY PROGRAMMING
WITH OUR SHLICHA MIRI
ISRAEL BOOK CLUB
Thursday, June 6 | 10:00 a.m.
Flax Family Chapel
Valley of Strength, by Shulamit Lapid, is one of the best novels written about
the life of Zionist “pioneers” in the land of Israel before the establishment of the
country. Set at the end of the nineteenth century, the book follows the big struggles
and small dramas of Fania, a 16 year-old girl who came to Eretz Israel with her
uncle after surviving a pogrom in Ukraine, and now has to start over in a distant,
foreign and tough land. Besides being an excellent historical novel, it is also
considered one of Israel’s most impactful feminist books.
SHULCHAN IVRIT
Saturday, June 15 | During Kiddush
Join Miri during kiddush to speak in conversational Hebrew.
ISRAEL FILM SERIES
Wednesday, June 26 | 6:00 p.m.
Flax Family Chapel
The Matchmaker, a beautiful coming-of-age film is set in Haifa in the late
1960’s. Arik, a teenage boy growing up in the city’s working class area, gets his first
job working as an assistant for Yankel, a matchmaker who survived the Holocaust
and has taken as a mission to create new Jewish families. While working for the
matchmaker, Arik learns about love, rock ’n’ roll and the mysteries of the human
heart. The film won awards in Israel and abroad.
 IN MEMORIAM
JUNE 1, 2019 27 IYYAR 5779 JUNE 12, 2019 9 SIVAN 5779 JUNE 21, 2019 18 SIVAN 5779
* Kate Katz * William Leventhal Malka Kornfein
* Estelle Kushnick * Sylvia Bregman Sarah Fine
* Mary Abraham Eleanor Freedman * Ilene Carson
* Barbara Kasoff * Betty Kamerow JUNE 22, 2019 19 SIVAN 5779
* Vivian Kabcenell JUNE 13, 2019 10 SIVAN 5779 * David Biron
JUNE 2, 2019 28 IYYAR 5779 * Sophie Binder * Philip Bass
James Moulder * Alvin Levy Judith Bregman
Adele Graboyes * Judith Salzberg * Rebecca Edelman
JUNE 3, 2019 29 IYYAR 5779 * Mariska Goldstein Arthur Katz
* Louis Berkowits Phyllis Mottsman * Miriam Chalefsky
* Maurice Fischer Rae Frank Rose Mankofsky
* Elsie Shulman * Lester Wishnatzki John Parkin
Jennie Kwaselow JUNE 14, 2019 11 SIVAN 5779 Mildred Tropp
Bonnie Yatt Ray Berman JUNE 23 2019 20 SIVAN 5779
JUNE 4, 2019 1 SIVAN 5779 Oscar Rothleder * Basye Wise
* Bennie Cohen * Eva Freed Margo Lange
* Samuel Glass Marcia Gilman Robert Goldberg
* Joseph Hayman * Henry Krevor JUNE 24, 2019 21 SIVAN 5779
Naomi Sprecher JUNE 15, 2019 12 SIVAN 5779 * Hymen Elovitz
Adam Cohen * Yithak Chaim Leib Jennebelle Weinstein
Robert Groll * Harold Rudolph Charles Rawson
Regina Rosenberg * Etta Stein * Hannah Levine
JUNE 5, 2019 2 SIVAN 5779 * Jane Fox-Barke Ernest Silver
* Natalie Elias Joseph Mottsman JUNE 25, 2019 22 SIVAN 5779
Ben Mushkatel * Elias Weinstein * Morton Blum
JUNE 6, 2019 3 SIVAN 5779 JUNE 16, 2019 13 SIVAN 5779 Selma Spatz
* Rebecca Baum * Eda Chunowitz Julian Kotler
* Joseph Levinson * Moshe Fagelson Herman Levy
* Helen Marnot Ardith Gordon Edna Gorewitz
Jack Lubotsky * Phyrne Pitkin Hyman Blecher
Rebecca Quint * Julian Meyer
JUNE 7, 2019 4 SIVAN 5779
* Reba Shuman
* Sarah Kline JUNE 26, 2019 23 SIVAN 5779
* Blanche Levin JUNE 17, 2019 14 SIVAN 5779 * Rose Jacobson
* Samuel Radow * Jack West * Jacob Schwartz
Alan Brin Melvin Feldman
JUNE 8, 2019 5 SIVAN 5779
Debra Goldberg * Seymour Katzer
* Sarah Goldfein
* Pearl Chaiken Leonard Notis
* Karen Ann Slavin
Harry Zemon Arthur Fotios Kalfopulos
JUNE 9, 2019 6 SIVAN 5779 Florence Lavine Clara Greenberg
* Betty Cotton George Axelrad JUNE 27, 2019 24 SIVAN 5779
* Harry Tepper
Chain Arkin
JUNE 18, 2019 15 SIVAN 5779 Max Rothleder
Ann Citron * Randi Gould
Samuel Jahss
Joseph Rosenbloom JUNE 19, 2019 16 SIVAN 5779 Barney Snyder
Anne Borisnick * Albert Chaiken JUNE 28, 2019 25 SIVAN 5779
Bernard Wasserman Edith Ascher
* Shirley Passow * Ida Jurin * Sidney Jonas
* Albert Levy * Anne Kamerow
JUNE 10, 2019 7 SIVAN 5779
Frances Cohen Claire Levine
* Chave Levinson
Max Zenn Daniel Weinberg
* Israel Mayer
* David Rosenblatt
* Chaya Resha JUNE 29, 2019 26 SIVAN 5779
Margaret Stern * Ida Stone
Ida Weinstein
Solomon Mamber Lillian Bookfor
Irving Pentelnik
* Abraham Weinberg * Alfred Kimmel
Harvey Weinstein
JUNE 11, 2019 8 SIVAN 5779
JUNE 20, 2019 17 SIVAN 5779 Nathan Silberberg
* Steven Dolan Robert Stern
* Anna Blum
* Michael Shuman
* Nat Slotkin JUNE 30, 2019 27 SIVAN 5779
Miriam Arkin * Irving Rosen
* Rachel Witkin
Harry Goldberg JUNE 21, 2019 18 SIVAN 5779 * Irving Scholl
Edgar Hausman * Bessie Katz Norman Alper
Harry Goldberg * Louise Kline Sara Rebecca Cooper
* Irving Weiss * Charlotte Radow Augusta Sutin
* Frank Shapiro * Charles Weinberg
* A memorial light will be lit in the synagogue for those names marked with an asterisk.

JUNE 2019 PAGE 13

 SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE of services, and I love washing your
VOLUNTEER. ORGANIZE. ADVOCATE. dishes in the kitchen. Every year, I try
SAMARA WEINSTEIN, CHAIR to work the Purim Carnival. I choose
things that work: no to basketball; yes
In light of the horror at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Chabad in San for helping the little kids dig in the
Diego, the Mosque in New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and the burnings of African- wheel barrel. Just like any other
American churches in Louisiana, we invite you to re-commit to repairing our world. congregant, I will have strengths and
Take Tikkun Olam to a new level and join the Agudas Social Action Committee. weaknesses.
We hope to see you at our final Social Action Committee meeting of the year on Provide me with some useful
Thursday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Schonberger Library. We will celebrate our information: Sure, it helps if you
May programs and begin planning for next year. Join us! mention your name when you greet me.
Muslim-Jewish Conversations I’m good with voices but not that good.
Thank you to all who attended the “Descendants of Abraham: Muslim-Jewish In the Kiddush line, I am grateful for
Conversation” at the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center. What else brings people together some information about what is being
but food!! The focus of our conversation was on "Food and Fasting" as we met served. For some people, they might
immediately after Passover and before Ramadan. I have received positive feedback prefer that you set up a plate. For me, I
from a number of Agudas members who attended yesterday afternoon. They felt want to select, because I love tuna, but
welcomed, enjoyed the small group discussions, learned a lot, and left wanting to I don’t eat lox. If we are in a meeting
continue the conversation. DAH invited the Agudas Achim community to join them together, I am grateful for materials
for the 'Breaking of Fast (Iftar)' Bring a friend program at Dar al-Hijrah Islamic emailed in advance so I can be reading
Center. We learned about Ramadan, heard the call to prayer and enjoyed Iftar, the them alongside of you.
evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. Give me a chance: So, what is your
Racial Wealth Gap Simulation Workshop role in the process of disability
Many thanks to the Agudas participants who joined our friends at Alfred Street inclusion? Don’t let me be the one
to learn how U.S. federal policies created structural inequalities - property ownership example. Put congregants with
and education are just two among many areas affected - and how these policies disabilities to work. We might not do
increase hunger and poverty in communities of color. The exercise was stimulating things the same way. We might not
and raised our awareness of what we can do as a community to reduce racial inequity meet every expectation and fulfill every
and effect change commitment. We are just like everyone
else in the Congregation. If you want
StepALIVE! Walkathon
your synagogue experience to provide
Kol ha’kavod to Joan Hartman Moore, AAC's liaison to ALIVE! and the Agudas
the true richness of life, making these
team of walkers and "virtual" walkers. Agudas doubled our participation from last year!
broad connections in your synagogue
SOFORENKO COMMENTS family, outside the usual crowd of your
synagogue mishpacha, may be the means
(Continued from page 2.)
to make synagogue more enriching for us
Friends and family of someone with a disability: Our friends and family need to all.
allow us to participate and have high expectations for us. If you do everything for us,
we aren’t participating, we are riding on your coattails. For this presentation, I learned that
Agudas Achim means an association of
People who don’t have a disability at this present time: The rest of the brotherhood. For Sharon, Jessica,
community needs to invite us to engage, even if it seems awkward and you aren’t Rebecca and me, Agudas Achim is that
really sure how. Use our many talents and invest in building relationships, just like loving synagogue family we are proud
you would with others in the congregation. to call ours. The Disability Inclusion
Using myself as an example, let’s suggest some ways to make it easier for me to Committee provides one more way to
participate. I am not an expert in disability. I am just a blind person who enjoys our build that tabernacle and the covenant
congregational life. I will offer three rules that I think are generally applicable with that bind us together. But to create an
examples from my experience: treat me the same; provide me with some useful inclusive community, inclusion requires
information; and give us a chance. each of us to take a role as the champions
for a welcoming community. As the
Treat me the same: Sometimes, I just want to be a Jew in the pew. Just because Parsha states, we are all tasked to create
I do things using alternative techniques, it doesn’t mean I want any extra attention. I the tabernacle of love, warmth and
want to be trusted to do things that others would be asked to accomplish, regardless community. Our actions determine if
of my disability. At Simchat Torah, the Rabbi handed me a Torah, and another we create a place for the talents of all to
congregant taught me to lift the Torah. No one said, “He can’t see, he might drop be included in the great work we do as
the Torah.” They simply asked what I needed and we figured it out together. These Agudas Achim.
are the small moments where inclusion is just magical. At Agudas Achim, I have had
the honor to serve in many roles. I’ve served on the board, led committees, led parts
AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION PAGE 14
 Enjoy the Carefree Lifestyle You Deserve! RABBI MICHAEL HENESCH
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Agudas Achim Congregation WHAT’S INSIDE . . .
2908 Valley Drive
SHAVUOT WEEKEND........................page 1
Alexandria, VA 22302 RABBI’S MESSAGE...........................page 2
Phone: 703-998-6460 Fax: 703-998-5843 TREMARKS BY TRACY SOFRENKO....page 2
The Bulletin is published monthly - ISSN1084-9858 SCHEDULE OF SERVICES..................page 2
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE...................page 3
Rabbi ...….................................................................….………Steven I. Rein EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE...page 4
Hazzan..........................................................................Elisheva R. Dienstfrey MEN’S CLUB MENSCHENINGS...........page 4
Rabbi Emeritus...............................................................................Jack Moline DEAR HAZZAN.................................page 5
Executive Director.....................................................................….Barry Nove MAH KOREH....................................page 6
Youth/Education Director...........….……….................................Chaya Silver YOUNG FAMILIES.............................page 6
Preschool Director……............................................................….Jen Halpern OUR SHLICHA..................................page 7
Shlicha.………………………………………………………Miri Bernovsky PRESCHOOL NEWS..........................page 8
President……..……………………………………………Kenneth Labowitz IN THE FAMILY.................................page 9
Sisterhood Co-Presidents..............................Lenore Garon and Susan Auerhan GOOD DEEDS DAY RECAP.............page 11
Men’s Club President..........................…..………………………Elliot Parkin SHLICHA PROGRAMMING................page 12
Communication Specialist.....………………….………………Marya Runkle IN MEMORIAM................................page 13
Email: synagogue@agudasachim-va.org Twitter: @agudasachim SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE..........page 14
Web: www.agudasachim-va.org Facebook: facebook.com/agudasachim

WHAT’S AHEAD . . .

Fridays, 9:00 a.m...........................................................Talmud Study Class

Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. ....................................................Parashat Ha’Shavua
Saturdays, 11:00 a.m.................................................................Gan Shabbat

THE MONTH AT-A-GLANCE

Sunday, June 2, 11:00 a.m.................................Oh Say Shalom Playgroup
Thursday, June 6, 10:00 a.m.............................................Israel Book Club
Friday, June 7, 6:00 p.m.............................................Ahavat Olam Concert
Saturday, June 8, 9:30 a.m.............................................Education Shabbat
Saturday, June 8, 9:30 p.m...........................................Tikkun Leil Shavuot
Sunday, June 9, 9:30 a.m.........................................Shavuot Day 1 Services
Sunday, June 9, 4:00 p.m............................................Cheesecake and Chat
Monday, June 10, 9:30 a.m..........................Shavuot Day 2/Yizkor Services
Saturday, June 15, during kiddush........................Shulchan Ivrit with Miri
Friday, June 21, 5:30 p.m..................................Shababy Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, June 21, 6:00 p.m......................................Music, Mingle and Nosh
Tuesday, June 25, 7:00 p.m......................Annual Congregational Meeting
Wednesday, June 26, 6:00 p.m..........................................Israel Film Series
Sunday, June 30, 9:00 a.m...............................................Hebrew Marathon

Time Value
Alexandria, VA
Permit No. 263 Address Service Requested
PAID
U.S. Postage Alexandria, VA 22302
Non-Profit Org. 2908 Valley Drive
Agudas Achim Congregation