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TREE OF LIFECONGREGATION

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

“KOL T.O.L.” -- THE “VOICE OF THE TREE OF LIFE”MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2015 / TEVET - SHEVAT 5775

JANUARY WORSHIP SERVICES

INSIDE THIS ISSUEShabbat Shirah, Bucks Back ! ! ! ! ! ! 2From the Rabbi! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 3Religious School News ! ! ! ! ! ! 4-5Big Nosh™, Pinat Ivrit ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 6Sisterhood, Brotherhood, Green Team,! ! ! ! 7Tu B’Shvat, Chanukah Happening Pictures! ! ! 8Blood Drive, Religious School Fundraiser, Creative Writing ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 9Reform Jews 4 Israel! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 10Member News ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 11Community News!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 12Yahrzeits! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 13Contributions !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 14

Friday, Jan. 2! Kabbalat Shabbat Service6:00pm !! Early Shabbat Evening Service! ! Torah: Vayechi, Gen. 47:28 – 50:26

Friday, Jan. 96:45pm ! ! KIDZ Shabbat Service7:30pm ! ! Shabbat Evening Service*! ! Torah: Shemot, Ex. 1:1 – 6:1

Saturday, Jan. 1010:00am !! Shabbat Morning Service & Torah Study

Friday, Jan. 167:30pm ! ! Shabbat Evening Service! ! Torah: Va’eira, Ex. 6:2 – 9:35

Friday, Jan. 237:30pm ! ! Shabbat Evening Service! ! Torah: Bo, Ex. 10:1 – 13:16

Friday, Jan. 30! Shabbat Shirah – Sabbath of Song7:30pm ! ! Shabbat Evening Service! ! Torah: Beshalach, Ex. 13:17 – 17:16

Friday, Feb.67:30pm ! ! Shabbat Eve Service! ! Torah: Yitro, Ex. 18:1 – 20:23

Saturday, Feb.710:30am !! Shabbat Morning Bat Mitzvah Service of Hannah ! ! Wassermann

* Childcare is available for services. Please contact Risa to RSVP.

Happy New YearTOL wishes everyone a happy and

healthly 2015

Happy 119th Birthday, Tree of Life Congregation

January 15, 1896January 15, 2015

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SCRIP / BUCKS BACKThank you to everyone who purchased Scrip cards in the month of December.Our next order deadline is Sunday, January 11.If you are new to the program, visit www.tolsc.org/scrip to learn more about Temple’s easiest fundraiser.

Have questions or need assistance? Feel free to contact me.Thank you to all those that support the Tree of Life by purchasing gift cards to your favorite places

through the Temple's Bucks Back program. And remember - the success of the program relies on reorders, reloads, and ScripNow!Let’s see how much we can raise in 2015!Amy Scully803-497-3319 / ascully.59@gmail.com

LET’S DO LUNCHPlease join Rabbi Sherman on Wednesday, January 7 at 12:30pm for lunch at Groucho’s Deli in 5 Points (611 Harden St.). There’s no agenda – let’s just hang out and enjoy a good lunch and good company. We’ll talk Torah, Temple, Israel, sports, or whatever else is on your minds. Have a question to ask? Come and join us. Everyone is invited (lunch is on your own). Thank you to Bruce Miller for opening his restaurant to the Tree of Life. We’ll meet on the first Wednesday of each month. Feb. 4, March 4, April 1, May 6.

SHABBAT SHIRAH – SABBATH OF SONGOn Friday evening, January 30, 2015 we will celebrate Shabbat Shirah – the Sabbath of

Song. The Shabbat takes its name from our Torah portion for this week: “Shirat HaYam – Song of the Sea,” the song of celebration and praise that our people sang with Miriam and Moses after they had crossed the Red Sea and were free for their first time.

To celebrate Shabbat Shirah we will have a festive service with lots of music and singing. To help lead our singing, we have invited the TOL Choir to participate. Who is the TOL Choir? The choir is made up of those who have sung with the choir in the past, including for the High Holy Days. But it is also made up of anyone who would like to join in, learn the music, and have fun singing. No experience necessary! If you enjoy singing, then please consider joining the choir for this special service.

There will be two choir rehearsals at 7pm on Thursday, January 22 and January 29 at Temple. For more information, please contact the TOL office or music director, Sharon Witherell at studiocanopus@hotmail.com or after services.

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FROM THE RABBITHOUGHTS AT THE START OF THE YEAR

by Rabbi Daniel ShermanFirst, I would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy (other) New Year! I pray that 2015 will be an outstanding year for all of us, our congregation, and our community. As we begin the year, I just wanted to share a few thoughts:

CHANUKAH 5775! We had a wonderful Festival of Lights at Temple this year. I want to thank everyone who participated and helped to make our Chanukah observance so special this year: from our Chanukah Happening, to the Families-Helping-Families gift program, to the candlelighting ceremonies at the Waterford, to our Chanukah Dinner & Service on the Shabbat of Chanukah. I would like especially to

thank our TOL Brotherhood who made more latkes than ever before to cover these special events – thank you for all of your hard work and willingness to share your talents and love of things fried (especially potato pancakes!).

LET’S HAVE LUNCH!! I have really enjoyed sharing lunch and conversation with TOL members at our “Let’s Have Lunch” together on the first Wednesday of each month at Groucho’s Deli in Five Points. Thank you to everyone who has participated. It has been a great opportunity to schmooze and to get to know fellow congregants in a different way. Special thank you to Bruce Miller for opening his restaurant to us each month. I look forward to our continuing to have lunch together in 2015. If you have not joined us yet, please plan on dropping by – I would love to see you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TREE OF LIFE!! This month we will celebrate the 119th birthday of the Tree of Life Congregation. We have come a long way since that cold night on January 15, 1896 when a group of local Jews decided it was time once again for Columbia to have a Jewish congregation. We thank our early pioneers and founders and everyone who has helped lead, support and strengthen our beloved congregation throughout its history.

2 BIG COMMUNITY EVENTS! On Saturday, January 24 we will join with our neighboring congregations and greater Arcadia Lakes and Forest Acres community in a Midlands Green Congregations Initiative Recycling Event to be held at Forest Lake Presbyterian Church from 11am to 3pm. Please plan on bringing items to be recycled – everything from electronics to scrap metal to tires. Paper shredding will also be available. This month is also a good opportunity to thank our TOL Green Team for all of their efforts and to congratulate them on the special Midlands Green Community Neighborhood Award they won. Mazal Tov and Kol HaKavod!! And on Sunday, January 25 our TOL Brotherhood is hosting its Annual Red Cross Blood Drive in the Social Hall. This is such an important event. Blood supplies are typically very low in the month of January – meaning they really need our help. Please sign up to give the gift of life and to help Brotherhood meet our goal this year.

SHABBAT SHIRAH! On Friday, January 30 we will have a special “Sabbath of Song” service featuring our Temple Choir. The service will include both musical favorites as well as new pieces. We would love to have as many people as possible join the choir for this special service – no past experience is necessary. There will be two choir rehearsals to learn everything you will need to know on Thursday January 22 and 29 at 7pm. ! Shabbat Shirah also gives us the chance to thank our very talented music director, Sharon Witherell, for all that she does for our congregation each and every week throughout the year. Sharon is a gifted musician and singer and a true pleasure to work with. Thank you, Sharon, for sharing your gifts and love of Jewish and liturgical music with us at services – we are very fortunate to have you as part of our TOL family.

ISRAEL! Finally, I am very excited to announce that I will be participating in a CCAR Leadership Trip to Israel on January 20-27. It has been too long since I was last in Israel. On this week-long visit, we will spend time touring the country, as well as learning more about the current state of affairs in Israel regarding politics, religion, security, and more. I look forward to seeing the achievements of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism firsthand and to gaining a better appreciation for life in the Holy Land today. I can’t wait to share my experiences with you upon my return. ! I also want to encourage you to take part in the American Zionist Movement elections that begin this month and to vote for “ARZA–Representing Reform Judaism.” More information can be found on page 10 of this month’s newsletter and at the Union for Reform Judaism website (www.urj.org). This is an important opportunity for us, and we must make sure that our voices are heard.

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FROM THE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DIRECTOR! For the past 15 months I have enjoyed the benefits of apartment living and a 5-minute commute to Temple. Take away the noisy people above and the 19 step climb up to my 2nd floor abode, my experience was basically stress-free. Recently, however, I took the plunge and made the move back to the outer reaches of Northeast Columbia to the little village of Lake Carolina. I have to admit that while I am grateful that I no longer have elephants living above me – meeting up again with the “urban-sprawl” of Exit 22 on I-77 has been a bit of a shocker. Three-lane off-ramps, flashing lights, car dealerships that seem to reproduce with a bat of an eye, museum-like gym structures, liquor stores, and dare I say it…a brand-new McDonald’s have greeted me with neon enthusiasm each trek home. And all this so-called “development” has occurred in such a relatively short period of time. The biggest change has been on the property north of the exit. The trees have been removed, and big signs now dot the expanse touting how the land has been primed and ready for commercial development. It is a strange phenomenon this “commercial development” concept, especially since a

“Big Yellow Taxi,” by Joni MitchellThey paved paradise, and put up a parking lot, with a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got ‘til it's gone They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot.They took all the trees, put 'em in a tree museum, And they charged the people a dollar and a half just to see 'em Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got ‘til it's gone They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot.Hey farmer, farmer, put away that DDT now Give me spots on my apples, but leave me the birds and the bees - Please! Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got ‘til it's gone They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot…..

similar area just east of that site went through a seemingly identical evolution not too long ago. The Sandhills Mall area was a beautiful forest about 10 years ago, and now while it boasts many a fine store, it is also home to a large number of vacant store fronts ,as well. ! Progress and growth are benchmarks of any society. And that includes how we care for our limited natural resources. It is not logical to expect that our growth as a civilization won’t or shouldn’t have an impact on our ecological world. It is just important that we are aware of the consequences and do our best to limit the damage to our planet. Just the other day I was visiting with Marvelous Marvin Bienstock. We were reminiscing about “good music” when we began to sing Joni Mitchell’s wonderful homage to our rapidly fading ecological balance;

As a Jewish people we are obligated to worry and concern ourselves with the environment – not only for our own generation, but for future generations as well. In Midrash Tankhuma Kedoshim, it is written: “Just as you came and found trees planted by others, so you must plant for your children.”

We are very fortunate to have at Temple a group called the Tree of Life Green Team. Since 2011, Tree of Life has been considered a “Midlands Green Congregation.” A very important aspect of Jewish Life is Tikun Olam, repairing the world. Tree of Life’s Green Team helps our congregation care for the world by making our facility and grounds more environmentally friendly, and by educating and encouraging our members to live greener lives.

And this year, because of their efforts with the rain garden, the Temple recycling program, energy-efficient lighting in our building, and composting we have won the 2014 Midland Green Neighborhood award! We congratulate Carolyn Hudson, David Potter, and all the Green Team members for this serious effort! Yasher Koach!

As we look forward to celebrating Tu B’Shvat – the Holiday/Birthday of the Trees-with a special Tu B’shvat Seder and plantings for our newest babies of Temple members, we can collectively say, “Todah Rabah (thank you)” to the Green Team for helping us find ways right here at Temple to ensure our world is a healthy place forever and ever.

On January 15, we will celebrate the TOL’s 119th birthday. It is interesting to note in this age of changing neighborhoods and disappearing buildings that the congregation’s first home on 1320 Lady Street is now part of a major office building complex and home to the Lady Street Development Corporation. And TOL’s second home on Heyward Street has been “recycled” as a Unitarian Univeralist Congregation of Columbia (aka UU). Both re-imaginations of Temple are definitely very good use of Tree of Life’s previous homes.

We say often in Judaism “le dor va dor- from generation to generation”– just a few words, yet full of so much meaning. As we welcome 2015, Tree of Life Religious School is proud to partner again this year with the students from Beth Shalom Synagogue, the Cutler Jewish Day School, the Beit Midrash and Mr. John Baker in collecting our tzedakah through the month of January to support the Jewish National Fund and its efforts to keep Israel green. So, if your child or your friend’s child greets you with a green and blue metal JNF tzedakah box, DONATE. You will be embracing a major ecological and environmental effort and forging a connection with Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel and Jewish people everywhere. For more information about JNF and its programming, go to: www.jnf.org. You may also donate to the JNF by planting a tree or trees in honor of or in memory of a special person. Our TuB’Shvat in the School program that facilitates the tree-planting certificate process will be in progress through April. Forms are available at Temple. Happy 2015 to all of Tree of Life!

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RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEWS

! After such a long winter break it’s always comforting to come back to routine and that means Tree of Life Congregation and all the activities that are part of our TOL program.! However before we take you out of hibernation mode, we must say thank you to everyone who contributed to all of our successful December activities and festivities. Yasher Koach to our Kidz Shabbat crowd, to all of the people who worked on the Chanukah Happening and the Chanukah Dinner including the Brotherhood, the 4 Fathers, and Brian Lewis-Smith, to those who joined us at the Waterford to help their Jewish residents celebrate Chanukah and to all of our teachers, substitutes and RS staff for their dedication and love for Jewish education. Todah rabah as well, to Jean Ginsberg and the Religious School Board for their support of the Families Helping Families collaboration with the Family Shelter. ! January and February are the months when families often begin “making plans” for their children’s summer. There can be no argument about the benefits that Jewish summer camps in America and specifically sleep-away camps have on Jewish children and families. For many children, a Jewish summer camp can be their first real experience of living Judaism to its fullest, where there is no separation between their “Jewish life” and their surrounding secular life. Children return from a Jewish summer camp experience with a strengthened identity, better understanding of their community and enhanced pride in their religion and heritage. We cannot encourage parents enough to consider the wonders of overnight Jewish camping as an option for their children. And if a sleep-away camp is not a possibility, then please consider having your child be a part of the JCC’s Camp Gesher Summer Day Camp Experience for children and teens from age 2 ¾ - Grade 9! For more information about these camps and making camp a reality for your child, please do not hesitate to call the Temple office and speak with Rabbi Sherman or Risa.

The Barton’s Miss Chocolate TOL Annual Religious School Fundraiser Is Underway!

Please help support TOL RS by purchasing your Passover Chocolate from a Religious School student! This is the Religious School’s main fundraiser of the year!

Look for the packet in the lobby at Temple. The sale runs from Jan. 11 – Feb. 20, 2015

Luckily, snow does not happen very often in Columbia J. This will ensure that we have delightful weather to enjoy delightful Temple offerings in January and the beginning of February.

Some Calendar Dates for January/February 20151/6,7,13,14,20,21,27,28/15: 6pm Adult Education Hebrew Classes1/9/15: Kidz Shabbat, 6:45pm; Shabbat Evening Services at 7:30pm1/11/15: Welcome Back to RS, 9am1/18/15: No RS, MLK Weekend1/24/15: Tree of Life Religious School Fundraiser at the home of Lisa and Andy Helfer, 6:30pm1/25/15: RS, 9am and Temple/Brotherhood Annual Red Cross Blood Drive2/1/15: RS, 9am and Tu B’Shvat Seder2/7/15: Bat Mitzvah of Hannah Wassermann, 10:30am. Mazal Tov to Hannah and the entire Wassermann Family.2/8/15: RS, 9am2/13-17/15: NFTY Youth Convention, Atlanta, GA2/15/15: NO RS – President’s Day Weekend

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PINAT IVRITA MONTHLY CORNER OF HEBREW

Each month this space will be dedicated to some interesting tidbit concerning the Hebrew language.

Adama (ground): derived from the root dalet, mem : meaning blood. One may think that this is strange – how is the word “ground” connected to “blood”? Well, in many parts of the Middle East the ground is like clay and full of iron. The color of much of the soil in

Israel (except on the sandy coasts or in the deserts) is very red and has the color of blood. Adom: is the Hebrew word for red.

Adam: the first man, was given this name because he came from the earth.

Tapuach Adama (potato): literally means “fruit of the earth.”

This month at Tree of Life we will rejoice in life from the earth and the natural wonders around us during our Tu B’Shvat celebrations, as well as give life through our blood donations to the American Red Cross on January 25, 2015.

SAVE THE DATE

Tree of Life CongregationJewish Food & Cultural

FestivalSunday, May 3, 2015

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WRJ / SISTERHOOD NEWS BROTHERHOOD REPORT

GREEN TEAM UPDATE! Tree of Life Congregation has been awarded the Midlands Green Community/Neighborhood Award for 2014. Alice Adams and Carolyn Hudson attended the Keep the Midlands Beautiful gala where the award was presented.

! Please remember to take your recyclables to the Midlands Green Congregations Initiative recycling event at Forest Lake Presbyterian Church 6500 North Trenholm Road January 24, 2015 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM .

BOOK CLUBThursday, January 15, 2015

Golden Chopstix1505 Charleston Hwy, West Columbia

This month’s book isThe World to Come

by Dara Horn

BLOOD DRIVESunday, January 25, 2015 from 9am-1pm

To be eligible for the January 25th donation, your last donation will have to have been before November 30th.

2015 Blood Drive Online Donation Request Form - http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/3pd22fOAeUJr93h3z

Becoming a Better Balabusta(little demonstration on raising your skills for

entertaining in your home)Sunday, February 8, 2015

11:00am – 1:00pmMore details to come.

The following materials will be accepted: paper that needs to be shredded, computers, TV’s, power tools,and similar devices, small appliances, scrap metal, and tires. Please see our December Update for more details.

Next month, Jews around the world will celebrate the holiday of Tu B’Shvat, the New Year of Trees. The holiday is often commemorated by holding a special Tu B’Shvat seder that features fruits and nuts, and also by planting trees. In recent years, Tu B’Shvat observances often promote environmental awareness. For more information about the origin and observance of Tu B’Shvat, see http://www.coejl.org/resources/trees-torah-and-caring-for-the-earth-summary-article/. To learn more about the Green Team, please visit http://www.tolsc.org/about-us/associations/green-team Please contact us at greenteam@tolsc.org if you have questions, or to volunteer.Please consider earmarking your TOL donations for the Green

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Tu B’ShvatHad a baby between February 1, 2013 and February 1, 2015?

Then please join TOL Religious School, parents, teachers, and congregants at their annual Tu B’Shvat Seder and plant a tree in honor of your child!

Tu B’Shvat Seder, Lunch, and Tree Planting

(a small donation of “life” $18 is requested to cover costs of materials)When: Sunday, February 1 at 11:00am

Where: Tree of Life Congregation Social HallMeet at the Tree for fun, family, friends, and community!

RSVP to Risa at 803 787 2182 or by email to risa@tolsc.orgMuch Thanks to the Green Team for their assistance!

PLANT TREES IN ISRAEL

On February 1, Tree of Life Religious School will once again celebrate “Jewish Arbor Day” with our annual TuB’Shvat seder - a festival of fruits and juice, skits, writings, planting and song! As part of the celebration, we remember how important it is to protect our environment for future generations. One way to do this is by planting trees in honor of or in memory of someone in Israel. Jewish National Fund “tree planting” forms are in the lobby and in the Religious School office. Please help Israel and support this worthy cause!

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Creative Writing WorkshopThursdays beginning January 15,2015

10:30am-12:30pmAt the Tree of Life Congregation

If you ever wanted to start writing this workshop is perfect for you. We will be an informal class writing about life

experiences as you master your autobiography as well as all kinds of quirky fiction you might dream up. A

supportive atmosphere is presented by Lea Weiner who has over 35 years experience in the writing and teaching

field.There is no fee for the course.

For questions or more information, please contact Lea Weiner at (803)834-4634.

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REFORM JEWS 4 ISRAEL

REFORM JEWS 4 ISRAEL

PLEASE VOTE FORARZA-REPRESENTING REFORM JUDAISM

IN THE 2015 WORLD ZIONIST ORGANIZATION ELECTIONSwww.urj.org

www.reformjews4israel.org

Today, Israel is at a crossroads. Much is at stake when it comes to women’s rights, freedom of worship, and peace in the region. As Reform Jews, we share a commitment to K’lal Yisrael – the many voices of the Jewish people united as one. We work together to foster a Jewish peoplehood and state in which the ideals of pluralism, equality and peace help to secure prosperous, fulfilling Jewish lives for us all.

We have the opportunity to achieve our vision of a just, equal, pluralistic future for Israel by voting to support Reform Judaism in the 2015 World Zionist Organization Election.

In 2015, the American Zionist Movement (AZM) will hold elections to determine US Jewish representation to the World Zionist Congress (WZC), the highest legislative body of the World Zionist Organization (WZO). The WZO provides a forum for all the world’s Jews to come together and deliberate about issues affecting both Diaspora Jews and the state of affairs in Israel.

145 seats in the Congress are dedicated to the AZM. The composition of the Congress has both financial and policy implications in Israel, as resources are directed to recipients in Israel based on the power each party holds within the Congress, and the policy positions of those parties.

In short, these elections are the strongest way for American Reform Jews to promote and encourage the ideals of justice, equality and democracy in Israel itself and help build the kind of Jewish state we all know is possible.

Register with the American Zionist Movement and vote for ARZA-Representing Reform between January 13th and April 30th.

Requirements to register to vote:1) You must be Jewish2) You must be 18 years or older by June 2015.3) You must be a resident of the United States.4) The registration cost is $10.00 ($5.00 for those under age 30).

Register with the American Zionist Movement and vote for ARZA–Representing Reform between January 13 and April 30, 2015.

For more information, go to the URJ website (www.urj.org) or www.reformjews4israel.org. Todah Rabbah!

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Mazal TovCarolyn Hudson on the engagement of her son, Paul ! Hudson to Heather Strauss.

Refuah ShleimaGet well wishes to TOL members recently hospitalized or at home recovering: Marvin Bienstock, Carol Hansen, Debbie Ritter, Jackie McNeil

Condolences to:Jane & Boris Veytskin, on the loss of her aunt Tanya Stinsky

Honor RollWe salute and thank our wonderful volunteers!

Office – Marla MayReligious School Office – Joan Tucker

Green Team / Recycling – Carolyn Hudson, David ! PotterLibrary & Gallery – Brian Lewis-SmithOneg Shabbat Coordination – Laura Becker,

Annette Goldstein

MEMBER NEWS

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES WRJ SHABBAT SERVICE REPS

Please share your good news with your TOL family!

Submit info for our Mazal Tov section to newsletter@tolsc.org

or by calling the Temple Office.

Bob BurgMatt ChislingJoan McGeeMarla MayVee WayburnJustin JacobsMaryann LapineCheri ShapiroPaul WestfallBenjamin CrawfordAriel KattanIgor VolynetsCindy SaadHayden Cohen

January 2January 2January 2January 4January 4January 5January 6January 7January 8January 9January 9January 9January 10January 11

Steven LangerTodd WeissZoe KaplanRichard ChapmanCedar CoffmanEmma IskhakovMary Helen BaumLarraine MosesDiane MellitzShahram NovinbakhtBenjamin AltschulCharles MullisDebbie CohnBeth Crawford

January 11January 12January 13January 14January 14January 14January 15January 15January 16January 16January 17January 18January 22January 22

Rayton FisherPeggy MillerScott KaplanSimone KozlovDonald BowenJackie Dickman-BabcockJan SavitzDavid TedeschiSamuel FriedmanMeri GergelMichael CoffmanYlon StoutKatherine Barroll

January 22January 22January 25January 25January 26January 26January 27January 27January 28January 28January 30January 30January 31

Marilyn & Craig Barkan! ! Jan. 6Irina & Igor Voylnets! ! Jan. 9Karen & Donald Portnoy ! ! Jan.15

January 2 – Marla MayJanuary 9 – Dana CasonJanuary 16 – Dori NudelmanJanuary 23 – Beth HelmanJanuary 30 – Ilene King

Special thank you to Sandy and Bill Sims for their help with the

Chanukah dinner and all around the Temple.

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COMMUNITY NEWS Lunch and Learn with Dr. Josef Olmert on Current Israeli Affairs

Friday, January 1611:30 a.m.

Whole Foods Community Room702 Cross Hill RoadColumbia, SC 29205

Please RSVP to LaurieS@jcccolumbia.org

This event is free and open to the public.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE2015 SOLOMON-TENENBAUM LECTURESHIP IN

JEWISH STUDIESUniversity of South Carolina College of Arts & Sciences

“Does the History of Anti-Judaism have anything to do with the Present?”

Dr. David NirenbergDeborah R. & Edgar D. Jannotta Professor of Medieval

History and Social Thought and Dean of the Division of the Social Sciences at the University of Chicago

Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 7:30pmColumbia Metropolitan Convention Center

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BIMAH FLOWERSYAHRZEITS

ONEG SHABBAT HOSTS

Note: If you are unable to bake or purchase Oneg Shabbat refreshments you may donate $20.00. Homemade goods are always preferable. Checks need to be sent to the temple office two weeks prior to your Oneg Shabbat date. Thank you!

January 2 – David E. Cohn*, Ben Levin*, Jacob J. Freedman, Aaron Garbuz, David Moses, Goldie Slone, Hilde Brauer, Julian Henning, Jr.*, Abraham Nisenholz, Sarah Plavin, Leona Sobel*, Hugo Wolf Terner*, Nathan C. Bass*, Frances Berry, Isidore Circus*, Gertrude Coplan*, Louis Coplan*, Moe Finkelstein*, Joseph Groeschel*, Arthur Gross, Lillian Helman*, Benjamin King, Hanna Messer, Morris Sheftman*, Joseph Foglia, Stanley Abrams*, Celia Greenfield, Robert N. Rosichan*, Bertha Schwartz*, Jeffrey Wander

January 9 – William Y. Rast, Mollie Blatt*, Betty Kaplan*, Philip Posner*, Sadie Wainstolk, Rita Wasserman*, Rose Joseph*, Patricia-ann F. Schwab*, Elsie Wolff*, Rochelle Cooper, Dorothy Weingarten*, Ann Weiss, Isaac Donen*, Lucile S. Heyman*, Abraham Schulman*, Simpson Robert Walker, Jr.*, Samuel Meyer Gladstone*, Beverly Lichterman, Julia Nathanson, Daniel Cooper Reyner*, Stanley Weiss*, Moses Kornblut, Joseph Rabinovich

January 16 – Morris Chernikoff, Herman Mischner*, William L. Scott*, Zachary Moses Bazerman*, Mariam Kaplan, Rabbi Milton Schlager, Gertrude “Gigi” Becker, Frank Bruck*, Mortimer Burger*, Ada Berman Daniel*, Raymonde Jaffe*, Marion Rosenman Rothstein, Judith Weinberg Thompson, Myron H. Cohn, Roy B. Mitchell, Stanley Sidenberg*, Helen Poole Womersley*, Benjamin Dunay*, Eddie Linzer, Sophie Madoff, Murray Buchsbaum, Nathan Mandell*, Sylvia Rosh January 23 – Edward E. Rothstein*, Seymour Bermak*, Norman Rotholz, Freeda M. Siskin*, Eleanor Alpert, Herman Erlichson, Ella Garlick Gabriel, Samuel Ginsberg*, Lorenz Kronrad*, Sandra Leavitt Barshop, Sylvia Berger Brown, Leo Silverfield*, Alfred Weiss*, Vaughn A. Hill, Lillian K. Burger*, Roy K. Diamond, Stephen Echlov, Frank Spencer, Eugene Emanuel Stiglitz, Charles “Dan” Daniel*, Arthur G. Gibson*, Lillian Herman*, Bryan McMullen, Joe B. Berry*, Harry H. Blecker, Sara Carr, Clara Levin*, Kyle Kenneth Segal* January 30 – Anna Bornstein, Hedva Fried, Molly Korash, Marie Wheeler, Maxie Alpert, Rebecca Blenner, Minnie Brady, Keith Saul Miller*, Frances B. Rothschild*, Ralph Segal, Ann Lieder Savitz*, Oscar Alexander, Edwin Nathan Mittle*, Josephine T. Specter*, Larry Newton*, Darrell Cooper*, Sol Kohn*, Charles Thide

Friday, December 5, 2015Jan Barkan, in memory of Carol BarkanBeth Maris, in memory of Mildred Axelrod

Friday, December 12, 2014Linda Helman Ackerman, Natilie Picow, & Rene Dunlop, in ! memory of Joseph George HelmanEllen & Richard Helman, in memory of George HelmanHarvey and Beth Helman, in memory of George HelmanSteve Merlin, in memory of Julie MerlinFeliks and Sarra Rabinovich and Family, in memory of ! Sonia RobinovichRevera Wayburn, in memory of Mamie K. Tolochko

Friday December 19, 2014Benjamin, Jean, & Jack Ginsberg, in memory of Joseph ! Harold GinsbergLewis & Maryann Lapine, in memory of Jack LapineThe Magaro Family, in memory of Christopher MagaroMarci & Fred Medway, in memory of Arnold David LutzSteve Merlin, in memory of Israel MerlinCheryl, Allan & Brody Nail and Glantz Family, in memory of ! Michael Jay GlantzJeannie & Hyman Rubin, Jr. in memory of Hyman Rubin, Sr.

Friday, December 26, 2014Rosann Canady, in memory of Albert SchwartzRoberta & Steve Friedland, in memory of Joseph NifoussiEllen & Richard Helman, in memory of Herbert YoungSteve Merlin, in memory of Phillip TurnerSam, Kim, Harrison and Jake Moses, in memory of ! Solomon LourieToby Lourie, Larraine and Jeff Moses, in memory of ! Solomon LaurieStephen & Jennifer Savitz, in memory of Sylvia SavitzJan, Philys, Zack & Erin Savitz, in memory of Sylvia SavitzBradford Smith and Jenny Savitz- Smith, in memory of ! Charles Bradford and Sylvia SavitzWalton, Jeff, Aleka, Kiber and Sam Selig, in memory of ! Marvin SeligJoan Tucker in memory of Sarah SchwartzRevera Wayburn, in memory of Marian V. Waxelbaum and ! Myron Bernard Kahn.Philip & Mary Wittenberg, in memory of Rhea Wittenberg

January 2, 2015 Roger Kuperman- Chair, Keven & Laney Cohen, Raymond Cohen, Richard & Myrna Cohen, Steven & Helga Cohen, Rick & Debbie CohnJanuary 9, 2015 Jackie Dickman-Babcock- Chair, Alan & Carolyn Conway, Mark & Pamela Crawford, W. Greg & Beth Crawford, David & Erika Cutler, Elaine Cypress, Sanford DanielJanuary 16, 2015 Bruce Miller- Chair, Fred & Doris Davidson, Carla Davis, Ann Diamond, Meyer & Barbara Drucker, Stacy Duty, Elliot Echlov & Alexa ClaremontJanuary 23, 2015 Yuliana Iskhakov- chair, Michael & Marilyn Ehmke, Jerry & Judi Emanuel, Gerald & Sandra Euster, Libbie Fechter, Robert Feinstein & Jessica Elfenbein, Eric & Pamela FeuersteinJanuary 30, 2015 Amanda Hamilton- Chair, Fred & Irene Fields, Maxine Garber & Rayton Fisher, Bernard Fleischman, Bonnie Foster, Yvette Frank, Carl & Naomi Freedman

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We gratefully acknowledge the following thoughtful donations:

CONTRIBUTIONS

General Funds ($5 minimum donation unless otherwise noted)• Building Fund ($10 minimum)• Choir Fund• Green Team Fund• Foyer Leaf Fund ($72/leaf) – to purchase &

inscribe a leaf• General Fund• High Holy Day / Passover Fund – to help cover

holiday operating expenses• Library Fund – to help provide books &

resources for TOL library.• Memorial Board & Plaque Fund ($500/plaque)

– to purchase a yahrzeit plaque for the sanctuary memorial boards.

• Prayer Book Fund ($30 minimum) – to purchase a Shabbat prayer book

• Rabbi’s Discretionary fund – to render emergency assistance to individuals, promote Jewish causes, and to open opportunities for Jewish learning and spiritual development.

• Religious School Fund – to help cover regular operating expenses & educational resources of the Religious School.

• Religious School Neil Cartiff Memorial Fund – to support teacher and leadership training

• Youth Activities Fund – to provide financial aid for helping our students participate in Israel programs, URJ summer camps, and NFTY regional events.

Sisterhood Funds ($5 minimum donation)• Reyner Convention Fund – to send Sisterhood

members to conventions.• Courtesy Fund – to help beautify the Temple.• Evelyn & Dan Daniel Leadership Development

Fund – to send youth to leadership camp (formerly known as the TYG Fund)

Endowment Funds ($25 minimum donation) • General Endowment Fund• Jeanette Birch Endowment Fund – for grounds

beautification.• Diane Brown Sobel Endowment Fund – helps

purchase items for the Religious School.• Marian D. Fleischman Endowment Fund –

helps fund TOL programming.• Ralph & Sarah Levine Endowment Fund – for

capital improvements to our building.• Sylvia & Sam Savitz Music Enrichment

Endowment Fund• Jonathan Train Youth Group Endowment

Fund

TOL FUND DIRECTORY

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to your favorite TOL General, Sisterhood, or Endowment fund.

Donations make wonderful gifts!

If you have made an in-kind donation in 2014 and need a letter for tax purposes, please contact the Temple Office.

Choir FundHugh & Roxanne Corbett, in appreciation

General FundKen Wolf, in appreciation

Diana Brown Sobel Endowment FundRob and Amy Scully, in memory of Ethel BrodyNed and Julie Strauss, in memory of Ethel Brody

Jonathan Train Youth Group Endowment FundHans and Jennifer Mykytyn in memory of Jeffrey Blank

General Endowment FundRob and Amy Scully, Mazel Tov to Ned and Julie Strauss on the ! birth of granddaughter Amelia Madeline LevinNed and Julie Strauss, in honor of Zack Helman's Bar Mitzvah

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SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 New Years DayOffice Closed

26:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service

3

4No Religious

School

5 66:00pm

Introduction to Hebrew with Risa

76:00pm Beyond

Beginners Hebrew with Risa

8 96:45pm KIDZ

Shabbat7:30pm Shabbat Evening Service

1010:00am Shabbat Morning Service and Torah Study

119:00am Religious

School

12 136:00pm

Introduction to Hebrew with Risa

146:00pm Beyond

Beginners Hebrew with Risa

6:00pm Executive Committee

Meeting

7:00pm TOL Board Meeting

15TOL’s 119th

Birthday

10:30am Creative Writing Workshop

6:45pm WRJ Book Club Meeting

167:30pm Shabbat Evening Service

17

18No Religious

School

19Martin Luther King

Jr. Day

206:00pm

Introduction to Hebrew with Risa

216:00pm Beyond

Beginners Hebrew with Risa

227:00pm Big Nosh

Meeting

7:00pm Choir Rehearsal

237:30pm Shabbat Evening Service

24Arcadia Lakes

Recycling Program

6:30pm Religious School Fundraiser

259:00am Religious

School9:00am-1:00pm

Annual Brotherhood Blood Drive

26 276:00pm

Introduction to Hebrew with Risa

6:45pm WRJ Board Meeting

286:00pm Beyond

Beginners Hebrew with Risa

297:00pm Choir

Rehearsal

307:30pm Shabbat Evening Service

31

January 2015

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Tree of Life Congregation6719 North Trenholm RoadColumbia, SC 29206

TREE OF LIFE CONGREGATIONEstablished 1896

6719 North Trenholm Road * Columbia, SC 29206Office: (803) 787-2182 * Fax (803) 787-0309

Website: www.tolsc.orgEmail: info@tolsc.org

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pmFriday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

RABBI Daniel M. Shermanrabbisherman@tolsc.org

RABBI EMERITUS Sanford T. Marcus, D.D.Risa Strauss, RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DIRECTORrisa@tolsc.org

OFFICERSPresident! Rick CohnFirst Vice President! Alan BrillSecond Vice President! Bruce MillerSecretary! Lisa HelferTreasurer! Joy ParksImmediate Past President! Steve SavitzBOARD MEMBERSLaney Cohen! ! ! Donna MagaroJackie Dickman–Babcock! Ernie MagaroJessica Elfenbein! ! Amy ScullyEric Feuerstein! ! ! Jeff SeligAnnette Goldstein! ! Jeff SilverScott Kaplan ! ! ! Julie StraussRoger Kuperman! ! G. Todd Weiss LIFETIME BOARD MEMBERSBernard Fleischman, Jr.! Howard WeissStephen Savitz

COMMITTEE CHAIRSEndowment! Ned StraussFinance! Ernie Magaro!House & Grounds! G. Todd WeissMembership ! Annette GoldsteinReligious School Board! Yuliana IskhakovRitual! Jessica ElfenbeinAFFILIATESBrotherhood President! David CarrSisterhood Presidents! Amanda HamiltonCOFTY President! Micah FeinsteinTEMPLE STAFFOffice Manager! Nancy GlazCustodian! Demitris GilmoreTEMPLE MUSICIANSMusic Director! Sharon WitherellDirector Emeritus! Jackie McNeil