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JEWISHTULSA.ORG 1
Sivan / Tammuz 5774June 2014
Kids’ Korner: The Hidden JewelThe Importance of KavodTemple Continues Shavuot Confirmation Tradition
Klezmer Comes Home
2 JEWISHTULSA.ORG JEWISHTULSA.ORG 3
www.hollandhall.org
“SIMPLE TRUTHS ABOUT
L O V I N GS C H O O L
BY T R U E T T M .”
At Holland Hall, “there’s something about every day that I like,” says Truett. “Sometimes I get extra books for a good reason. Sometimes I get extra recess.
Sometimes I get a “smelly” [a hand stamp that smells yummy]. When I play with some of my other friends, I tell them they should come to Holland Hall because you get to learn more stuff and do a lot of things you can’t do other places. We do these really cool science experiments and the library has so many books.
When I grow up I want to be the head of a school. I’ll learn a whole bunch from my Holland Hall teachers and then I’ll teach it again to all of the kids.”
Discover your love for school at Holland Hall. Contact Olivia Martin, Director of Admission, at (918) 481-1111.
– Truett M., Holland Hall First Grader
CONTENTS june 2014 • sivan/tammuz 5774volume 85 • number 6
4 From the Editor by Melissa Schnur
5 Forging Connection to Israel by Shiri West
6 Klezmer Comes Home by David Hurewitz
9 Butterflies 10 Kids’ Korner: The Hidden Jewel by Eliyahu Krigel
12 June Community Events 14 Honoring the Past … Building a Future 16 Kiwis, Koalas, Kangaroos and Synagogues by Louis Davidson
18 Mizel Impacts Students’ Lives by Sandi Tilkin
19 The Importance of Kavod by Rabbi Charles P. Sherman
20 Sapling from Anne Frank’s Tree Planted on U.S. Capitol 21 Temple Continues Shavuot Confirmation Tradition by Rabbis Karen and Micah Citrin
21 Mazels 22 Genealogy President Publishes Book
18 16
5 6
14
JEWISHTULSA.ORG 5 4 JEWISHTULSA.ORG
How did it get so late so soon?
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December is here before it’s June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
–Dr. Seuss
The month of June crept up on me this year. It’s now been a year that I have had the privilege of serving as editor of this magazine. It’s always a joy each month when the finished edition finally arrives. From emailed articles and ads, the magazine takes shape over the days and weeks well in advance of publication. I get a special thrill when I open the box of the magazines after the printer delivers them. There’s something about the smell of ink on paper and seeing the glossy cover that stirs a sense of pride in me. This June issue of the magazine features a variety of articles and events that highlight news, activities, and information that we hope the community will find helpful.
Despite my at times nostalgic love of printed materials, I am very much part of the generation that increasingly turns to online sources to get information and find out about community events. In addition to the magazine and the Federation’s weekly eblasts, we recently launched a new Twitter account—@JewishTulsa—to help share events going on with not only the Federation, but also the Charles Schusterman Jewish Community Center, Camp Shalom and The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. So if you’re on Twitter, be sure to follow @JewishTulsa to get your news fix between editions of the Tulsa Jewish Review!
-Melissa
From the Editor
Founded in 1930 by Tulsa Section,
National Council of Jewish Women
(ISSN# 2154-0209)
Tulsa Jewish Review
(USPS 016-928) is published monthly by
jewish federation of tulsa
2021 E. 71st St., Tulsa, OK 74136.
Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK.
STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Drew Diamond
[email protected] | 918.495.1100
EDITOR
Melissa Schnur
[email protected] | 918.495.1100
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Mindy Prescott
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Lee Hubby
Marcia Weinstein
BOARD
PRESIDENT, JEWISH FEDERATION OF TULSA
Dr. Myron Katz
ART
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Tulsa Jewish Review, 2021 E. 71st St., Tulsa, OK 74136
4105 S Rockford AveTulsa, OK 74105(918)592-6000fax (918)398-5396
McGrawR E A L T O R S ®
Forging Connection
to Israelby Shiri West
When I first arrived to Tulsa late last summer (which really does feel as if it were only yesterday), I was warned that by May I would not be breathing. Of course, I thought to myself then, “Come on. Really? What are they talking about?”
Yet here I am, almost a year later. I am writing this at the end of April and am right in the eye of a very busy storm. I am on a flight to our Annual Part-nership2Gether Steering Committee meeting in St. Paul, just a few days after a visit of the executive delegation from our partnership region in Sovev Kinneret. It’s also just a few days before Israel’s Independence Celebration and the performances by the musicians from the region. Soon after those musicians leave, our summer Shlichim will arrive on May 15, followed by the amazing Ethiopian-Israeli musician Ester Rada who will be performing at the Jazz Hall of Fame on June 1. Summer will also bring the return of the community favorite
Israeli Scout Caravan and the return of Ivriyeda. It’s definitely been a whirlwind!
All the above immediately connects me to the question which some people ask me: what do you do? What does a shaliach/shlicha do? I totally get this question, as this whole word is somewhat unclear to begin with. I suppose the simple answer would be: my job is to bring Israel—taste, voice, information, culture—to Tulsa, and in return bring Tulsans to see what Israel is all about and discover its unique colors and shape. According to the Jewish Agency for Israel who coordinates commu-nity shlichut all over the world, the goal of these emissaries is “to strengthen the unique and multi-faceted significance of Israel in the community and connect the next generation of the Jewish people to its people and homeland.” Shlichim are there simply to make the people-to-people connection. All these delegations—the teens, the musicians, the artists, the speaker—whether from our sister region Tiberias or not—are all part of this connec-tion. Looking forward to how we are planning to strengthen Tulsa’s ties to Israel this summer, we have something for everyone.
Each year, almost 1,700 summer shlichim are matched and placed with Jewish overnight and day camps as counselors for Diaspora Jewish chil-dren and teenagers. Their role is to strengthen the connection with Israel; develop young Jewish lead-ership; deepen their knowledge of, and familiarity with, the State of Israel; and create cultural and social bonds between the Diaspora and Israel. We are fortunate once again to be welcoming two summer shlichim to Tulsa. Mor Norani and Noya Nahshon will arrive in mid-May and will be here until Camp Shalom ends in August. Mor and Noya are looking forward to making Tulsa their home this summer, but host families are still needed to provide home-hospitality. Please contact me at 918.495.1100 if you are interested in hosting either one or both of these incredible young women for a week in your home.
Have you ever wanted to improve your conversa-tional Hebrew? Ivriyeda is back! This crash course is being coordinated by Alin Torianyk and will feature three professional teachers from our part-nership region in Israel. Class will be held nightly from 6–8 p.m. at the JCC from July 7–17. Cost of this program is only $120. For more details, call me at 918.495.1100 or email [email protected].
Mark your calendars now for our annual visit by the Israeli Scouts Friendship Caravan. Each Caravan is made up of a group of five girls and five boys and their two leaders. They are chosen to be members of the Caravan based on their maturity, fluency in English, and of course their talent in the performing arts. The scouts spend a year training and rehearsing for their exciting summer in North America. This free, fun family event will be at the JCC on July 23 at 7 p.m. You don’t want to miss it! ■
What does a shaliach/ shlicha do?
get involved
this summer:
1
Open your home as a
host family.
2
Take a crash-course in Hebrew.
3
Enjoy the Israeli Scouts
Friendship Caravan.
6 JEWISHTULSA.ORG JEWISHTULSA.ORG 7
Klezmer Comes Homeby David Hurewitz
What is klezmer anyway? It is an art form centuries old. It is the traditional instrumental and dance music of the Yiddish-speaking Eastern European Jews. Klezmer includes all kinds of folk music and uses special notes and scales that make the music sound as if it were
being sung at a religious service, including the krechtz, a specific ornamentation that a Chazzan would use in singing both sad and joyous prayers. Over time, all kinds of Yiddish music became incorporated into a Klezmer bands’ repertoire.
I’ve always thought of the band as a Tulsa community-wide klezmer band—a town kapelya because of the many varied and wonderful musicians who have participated over the last 30+ years. Personally, I have felt it to be a mitzvah, this opportunity to preserve and provide traditional Jewish music to the Tulsa community.
It started in the late 1970s, shortly after I came to Tulsa. I met our Shaliach Boaz Felzenstein, who had been the klezmer accordionist for his kibbutz in Israel. I had grown up in Philadelphia, exposed to all kinds of Jewish music, and had studied clarinet with a terrific jazz and klezmer clarinetist and saxophonist, who played in all the Jewish bands for affairs like weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Boaz and I began jamming, playing Israeli and klezmer music together. When he left Tulsa, I met David Waterman, a Chicago architect, here to build the Woodland Hills Mall, who was also an accordionist with a good appreciation for Jewish music. We took up where Boaz and I left off, and we became a real musical team. One day, the late Rabbi Kahn heard us, and invited us to play at B’nai Emunah one Saturday evening for a melava malka, a party after the Havdalah service.
David and I played while people ate, sang, and danced. An Israeli family living in Tulsa at the time brought drums, which added to the energy and festivity of the evening. We played together many times. In fact, once I remember the two of us riding on the back of a pick-up truck, leading a march from Temple Israel down Lewis to the Tulsa Jewish Community Center Campus for an Israel Independence Day celebration.
Subsequently, over time, the Tulsa Klezmer Band was born. It just evolved, with different combinations of instruments and musicians. I always played my clarinet. Throughout
the years, there were trumpets, pianos, drums, mandolins, guitars, violins, tubas, and many other instruments in the band. The late Dr. Len Kishner relearned to play the violin, so he could join the band to play “Sunrise, Sunset” and “My Yiddishe Momma.” At times we’ve had a tuba player and even wonderful accordionists over the years who had immigrated from Russia. Oleg came first and then Alex, who had been a Choir Master and musician in Moscow. When in high school, Paul Bryant (who is now a Dean at Curtis Institute of Music) was our first trombonist. A fabulous accordionist, Nick Bratkovitch, an expert in Balkan and Serbian music, has recently joined the band, becoming the next in a legacy of accordionists. Over the years, the musicians have changed, but not the music. Not all the musicians were Jewish, either.
Sometime in the 1980s, my wife and I joined the late Gerry and Charlotte Richards, who were active in the Tulsa International Dance Club at KlezKamp near San Jose, California. What an expe-rience … a total immersion in Yiddish culture! At the camp, there were many famous old-time European Klezmer musicians who were still living, younger musicians who were involved in the 70s and 80s revival of Klezmer music, ethno-musicologists and many others from all over the world. Workshops were held on all aspects of Klezmer music and included not only listening to old recorded Klezmer bands and Yiddish theater music and discussing their styles, but also how to arrange and play Klezmer music, as well as other aspects of Yiddish culture, like songs, dance, food and more! At camp, we also formed bands and played what seemed to be all day and almost all night. The training at KlezKamp definitely helped me to work with the band back in Tulsa.
The Tulsa Klezmer Band has had the privilege of playing for a variety of celebrations and festivals, both religious and secular, ranging from Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, milestone birthday celebrations, and engagement and anni-versary parties from Tulsa to Oklahoma City to Fayetteville. The band performed
at the Oklahoma City International Folk Festival in 1989 and 1991 where the high-light was people actually dancing on tables to our music! We also had the honor to play at the Annual International Folk Festival in Lawton which claimed to be the most ethnically diverse town in Oklahoma (who knew!?). There were services and celebrations for Simchat Torah, Purim, Sukkot, Yom HaShoah and many more at congregations from Tulsa, Muskogee, Oklahoma City and Little Rock. The band has also played for a non-Jewish wedding reception, at several churches, and provided entertainment at some retirement and health care centers in Tulsa.
In February 2013, I was invited to give a lecture on Klezmer music at the Univer-sity of Arkansas for “An Evening of Jewish Music and Art” to explore the roots and legacy of Jewish art and music in the early 20th century. Dr. Richard Sonn, Professor
of History, discussed immigrant artists in Paris, like Marc Chagall, and their work. I was asked to return this year with a live band and with someone who could sing Yiddish, so people could hear what the language sounds like. So the re-formed Tulsa Klezmer Band went on the road once more and performed for 90 minutes to an enthusiastic crowd in April at the Arkansas Union Theater on the Univer-sity campus. On trumpet was Rev. David Gazer, Dr. Craig Sanford on trombone, Eliyahu Krigel on drums, Jon Glazer playing piano, and me on clarinet. Moe Bernstein sang Yiddish songs with the band, and several solos accompanied by his banjo. An extra treat was the addition of Prof. Sonn, who sat in playing violin and mandolin, and then performed on the tsiblm (a type of hammered dulcimer played by gypsies and heard on old recordings of Klezmer bands). ■
It started in the late 1970s, shortly after I came to Tulsa. I met our Shaliach Boaz Felzenstein, who had
been the klezmer accordionist for his kibbutz in Israel.
What an experience … a total immersion in
Yiddish culture!The re-formed Tulsa Klezmer Band went
on the road once more and performed for 90-minutes to an
enthusiastic crowd in April at the Arkansas Union Theater on the University campus.
Author David Hurewitz plays clarinet in The Tulsa Klezmer Band.
The Tulsa Klezmer Band
8 JEWISHTULSA.ORG JEWISHTULSA.ORG 9
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The Hidden Jewelby ELIYAHU KRIGEL, Director of Education, B’Nai Emunah
Long ago in a not too distant world before greed and envy were behind every choice tempting hu-manity, there lived a righteous
man named Rabbi Shimon ben Shetakh. Rabbi Shimon was known throughout the land as a learned teacher who practiced
what he taught. The Torah for him was something he cherished beyond belief. He worked the fields in the hot sun during the day on his farm. In the afternoon after that day’s work was complete, he often would retire into the house of study for serious contemplation and thoughtful reflection.
One morning after waking up and reciting his morning prayers, he ventured out into the field to begin his daily respon-sibilities. After working for some time, he realized he was the only one in the field tending to the crops. Where was the donkey, where were the others, and why was he all alone? He gained his compo-sure and briskly went inside the barn to see where everyone had gone. Unfortu-nately, he then realized that his donkey
was sick, so he needed to find another donkey to work for the day. He went into the market and after searching through all the available possibilities, he came across a healthy donkey. He made the purchase and told the non-Jewish merchant that he would send his student to pick up
the donkey later that afternoon. The merchant was pleased to sell the donkey and all the parties were happy. When the student arrived to claim the donkey for Rabbi Shimon, he noticed a hidden jewel hanging from the donkey’s neck. He made a quick judgment and decided not to say anything to the merchant who sold him the original donkey.
In his excitement, the student ran home to show his master Rabbi Shimon what he thought was their good fortune. “Master! Master!” he pontificated. “I just was at the market and after I claimed your new donkey, I noticed a large jewel was hanging around his neck. I decided I would simply claim the donkey as you asked and not say anything to the merchant who I presume didn’t know the jewel was hiding under the neck of the beast. Now we don’t have to work ever again. We can sell this jewel and raise enough money to support our efforts to study Torah forever.”
After meeting the gaze of the young student, Rabbi Shimon said that it was his duty to take the jewel back to the
merchant. He said, “I purchased a donkey, not a jewel.” He wanted his student to take the jewel back to the innocent merchant because the jewel, even though it would make his life less stressful and also relieve his anxiety over providing for his family, was not his to keep. When the student returned the jewel to the merchant, the merchant blessed the practice of Rabbi Shimon. From that day on, Rabbi Shimon continued to teach by emphasizing that it’s better to act with integrity at all times than to hide out and act in a devious way only some of the time. May we all be blessed with thoughtful action on the outside which reflects how we feel on the inside in order to truly stay connected to our authentic identity every breath we take! ■
He made a quick judgment and decided not to say anything to
the merchant.
12 JEWISHTULSA.ORG JEWISHTULSA.ORG 13
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JUNE COMMUNITY EVENTS
Jewish Federation of TulsaMen’s Club • Wed., June 11 • Noon • A delicious lunch will be followed by our guest speaker, Aaron Miller from George Kaiser Family Foundation whose topic will be “The New Downtown.” Cost of the luncheon is $7. Please RSVP to Falisha at 918.495.1100 or [email protected] by noon on June 10.
Ladies Who Lunch • Mon., June 16 • Noon • Come enjoy pleasant conversation and great food at Infusion, 9999 S. Mingo. Each person pays her own check. Please RSVP to Mindy at 918.935.3662 or [email protected], no later than Fri., June 13.
Men’s Club • Wed., June 25 • Noon • A delicious lunch will be followed by our guest speaker, Itzik Levin who will show the 55-minute movie One Flight for Us. Cost of the luncheon is $7. Please RSVP to Falisha at 918.495.1100 or [email protected] by noon on June 24.
Tulsa Jewish Film Series — Our Films Aren’t Selected … They’re Chosen! Film: The Sturgeon Queens • Sun., June 29 • 1 p.m. • Circle Cinema (12 South Lewis Ave) • For nearly 100 years, people have made the trek to New York City’s Lower East Side to buy smoked herring and lox at the famed Russ and Daughters Emporium. Four generations of the Russ family have kept the iconic store afloat – from patriarch and founder Joel Russ, who left the store in his daughters’ hands, to the present owners, his great-grandchildren, who struggle to bring the little store into the 21st Century. The Sturgeon Queens is the deliciously charming true story of one immigrant family’s experience in America. Tickets can be purchased at the door or on Circle Cinema’s website, but please RSVP to Mindy at 918.495.1100 or [email protected] to let us know you will be attending the movie, as there will be a special treat following the film from Russ and Daughters Emporium.
Temple IsraelErev Shavuot & Confirmation • Tues., June 3 • 7 p.m. • Temple Israel will confirm eight students. Share in the celebration of Confirmation as our 10th grade class affirms their commitment as lifelong students of Torah and leads the congregation in festive worship and song. Students will share inspiring reflections about their connections to Judaism and their interpretations of Jewish tradition.
Brotherhood Shabbat • Fri., June 6 • 7:30 p.m. • Join us as Brotherhood helps lead this special service. Brotherhood will honor Joe Eglash with the prestigious Isaiah Award. Michael Brose, Executive Director of the Mental Health Association Oklahoma, will be featured speaker. He will address the recent name change of the association and its impact on the State of Oklahoma and issues related to homelessness and mental illness. Please plan on joining us for an evening of celebration, inspiration and appreciation.
Summer Series: Rabbi Kenneth D. Roseman, Ph.D • Mon., June 9 • 7:30 p.m. • Rabbi Roseman kicks off our summer series with the theme, Not All Who Wander Are Lost: Jewish Journeys Around the World. This scholar and author of Jewish adventure books for teens and adults will be traveling to Tulsa from Corpus Christi, TX to engage us in lively historical perspective and discussion.
Shabbat Evening Honoring Cantor Kari Siegel–Eglash • Fri., June 13 • 7:30 p.m. • Join Temple Israel for a special Shabbat Service and Oneg to honor Cantor Kari Siegel-Eglash and her family. This special service will celebrate Cantor Kari’s many contributions to Temple over the past ten years and send well wishes with her family to their new community.
Summer Series: Jewish Communities Around the World • Mon., June 16 • 7:30 p.m. • A panel of Temple Israel members who have lived in Jewish communities around the world will share their personal stories and experiences. Explore a variety of Jewish customs, language, food, and community.
Summer Series: Jewish Travel in Israel • Mon., June 23 • 7:30 p.m. • Shlicha Shiri Achiasaf West will lead us in a dynamic virtual tour of Israel and engagement of daily life in the Holy Land. If you can’t travel to Israel this summer, come experience a close encounter!
Summer Series: Outing to the Woody Guthrie Center and Guthrie Green • Sun., June 29 • A fun adventure for all ages. Walk in the steps of Guthrie’s journey, explore parallels to Jewish journeys in America, sing, eat, and enjoy an afternoon with your Temple family.
The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art
Exhibit: Theodore Fried: Pivotal Moments in 20th Century Art • Now–Sept. • Born at the beginning of an era in both art and politics, Theodore Fried was a talented young artist whose career intersected with the major movements in modern art during the 20th century. From Paris in the 1920s to New York after WWII, Fried was a member of the School of Paris and the Society of Modern Painters and Sculptors in New York. The survival of his talent and vision continued in New York. After his safe arrival in 1942, Fried established a studio and began to rebuild a body of American works. Exploring subject matter in the City-Central Park, neighborhood life, Fried began to show his modern paintings in contemporary exhibitions, garnering fresh recognition of his figurative works and color compositions. Following his death, he appointed a trust to perpetuate his work, and in 2004, the SMMJA received his estate. Now mounting the first extensive retrospective of his work, this original, self-curated show will demonstrate how Fried’s work and life bridged the Holocaust experience and encompassed early to mid-20th century fine art, drawing from the large collection of original art work and other archival material.
Miller Kids Family Art Workshop: Find in Fried • Sun., June 22 • 1 p.m. • Join us for an hour of family fun exploring the Theodore Fried exhibit in this interactive workshop. A scavenger hunt through the exhibit will challenge children as they search for objects to Find in Fried while exploring Pivotal Moments in 20th Century Art.
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Su p p o r t e r s o f t h e Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art gathered recently to honor the
past and celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking to mark the start of construction of the new entrance and gallery expansion. The new entrance and gallery are dedicated in memory of Mildred and Julius Sanditen, given by Lori and Michael A. Cohen of Dallas, TX and Deana and Michael G. Maloney of Williamsburg, VA. The 800+ square-foot addition will consist of a new entrance to the museum, as well as an additional exhibition gallery.
Although rain forced the cere-mony inside, over 100 community members and students from Mizel Jewish Community Day School gathered to celebrate this milestone. Museum Board Chair Nancy Lobo welcomed those in attendance with brief remarks. “Those of you here today are in the good company of founders and benefactors, spanning generations, and representative of our rich history. Sustenance and nurture are words relevant to the significance of breaking ground on this day. Honoring the memory of stalwart members of the Museum and this community, in permanent fashion, is the nurturing legacy of Mildred and Julius Sanditen,” said Lobo.
Executive Director Drew Diamond shared that construction on the new entrance and gallery
will start soon and is projected to be finished by the end of summer. Following his brief remarks, he introduced donor and grandson of Mildred and Julius Sanditen, Mike Cohen. “Mildred and Julius Sanditen had the vision to help this building of important Jewish artifacts get off the ground. They continued to support it throughout their lives with their time, energy and dollars. They saw this primarily as a place to educate and teach tolerance,” said Cohen.
After sharing a few memories of his grandparents, Cohen shared the following quote about the article that appeared in the Tulsa World upon his grandfather’s passing, “On February 20, 1977, the day after Julius Sanditen died, the Tulsa World said the following which I believe accurately describes both of my grandparents. ‘Sanditen was one of those immigrants who worked hard and long to take full advantage of the opportunity offered by America. He shared his personal success with the community through his generosity and service to many community organizations. Tulsa is a better city because of Julius Sanditen.’” Cohen concluded his remarks by saying,
“And I am a better person because of Mildred and Julius Sanditen. This new entrance to honor the memory of my grandparents will serve to personally remind me and my family of the example they set and how we should live our lives.” ■
NEW ENTRANCE GALLERYTHE SHERWIN MILLER MUSEUM OF JEWISH ART
Honoring the Past … Building
a Future
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As january’s bitter cold and snow were once again pounding Tulsa, New Zea-land Air Flight #1 landed in
Auckland on a gorgeous southern-hemi-sphere summer morning. Your intrepid synagogue photographers were aboard. Our mission: to photographically docu-ment the synagogues of New Zealand and Australia. So why not do it when the weather is good?
New Zealand’s earliest non-Aborig-inal settlers were whalers, mariners, escaped convicts from Australia, and Jewish traders. Three of New Zealand’s prime ministers had Jewish ancestry. Of the three, Julius Vogel, who served twice in the 1870s, was a practicing Jew. The other two, Francis Bell, PM during the 1920s, and John Key, the current PM, had Jewish mothers. Although anti-Semitism is almost non-existent in NZ, Mr. Key was recently forced, under the Official Infor-mation Act, to answer whether he was a “shape-shifting reptilian alien in disguise.” Key told reporters, “I’ve taken the unusual step of not only seeing a doctor but a vet, and both have confirmed I’m not a reptile … I’ve never been in a spaceship, never been in outer space, and my tongue’s not overly long either.”
New Zealand occupies two large islands and many much smaller ones. Its land area is nearly equal to that of Colorado—also mountainous, but mostly subtropical. To photograph all of New Zealand’s syna-gogues, we drove around both of the large islands, enjoying the magnificent scenery, dodging sheep, looking for kiwi birds, and all the while trying to remember to drive like the British on the left-hand side of the road.
The synagogues in the large population centers of Auckland and Wellington were predictably impressive. However, because
Kiwis, Koalas, Kangaroos and Synagogues
by Louis Davidson
it is the southernmost permanent synagogue in the world, we were irresistibly drawn to the small shul in Dunedin. In 2010, we photographed the world’s northernmost synagogue in Trondheim, Norway. So bagging Dunedin would give us both extremes. Yet, this was not easy.
There are only a couple of dozen Jews in the Dunedin area, no full-time synagogue staff and no response at the phone number or email address shown on the Dunedin Synagogue website. Digging through every online document I could find related to current day Dunedin Jewry, I finally found a Jewish sounding name. Using antipodean online white pages, I located the phone number of Mr. S. whom I called, careful to consider the 19 hour time difference between Tulsa and New Zealand. Mr. S was indeed affiliated with the shul, most friendly and welcomed my proposal to photographically preserve their edifice. However, he could not give permission without consulting his board, which would not meet until the day before my anticipated arrival. I had to proceed to Dunedin based only on the hope that permission would be forthcoming.
Dunedin, on New Zealand’s South Island, was a thriving whaling and trading port in the early 1800s. The Otago Gold Rush of 1861 and the West Coast Gold Rush of 1864 brought enormous growth and prosperity. To this day, wonderfully well-preserved Georgian and Victorian era buildings are found throughout the city. Dunedin’s first synagogue opened in 1863. Eighteen years later, the Jewish community’s growth necessitated its replacement. A grand neo-classic synagogue with seating for 600 was built. Just as in Butte, Montana, the gold played out, commerce declined and predictably, the Jewish community of Dunedin dwindled. In 1965, the over-sized Doric-columned synagogue was sold to the Y.M.C.A. It was replaced with a compact synagogue of contemporary design in the city’s verdant University District.
As we photographed the building, Mr. S. explained that there are now only about two dozen Jewish families within a hundred miles and all four of the current board members are American born. Intermarriage is more common than not. In fact, if it were not for intermarried members, there would be no congregation.
Our work and play in New Zealand completed, we continued to Australia where the Jewish population is approximately 112,000—the ninth largest in the world. The majority of Jews live in the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Australia is the only country in the world, other than Israel, whose founding members included Jews. From the outset, Jews were treated as equal citizens. Incidents of anti-Semitism are very rare. Prominent Australian Jews have included the mayor of Melbourne, premier of the State of South Australia, speaker of the House of Representatives and speaker of Parliament. None of them were reptiles either.
The earliest Jews in Australia came as British prisoners in the late 18th century. For the next 100 years, economic opportunity and social freedom attracted Jewish immi-grants, primarily from England and Germany. Refugees from Poland and Russia came in the 1890s and early 20th century. When Hitler came to power in Germany, Australia allotted an extra 15,000 visas for “victims of oppression.”
We photographed a diverse spectrum of Australian
synagogues. However, because of its unique situation, dwarfed between towering modern buildings, the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation synagogue is particularly charming. In the early 1880s, an archi-tectural competition was held for the design of Brisbane’s new synagogue. The winner was a neo-byzantine design by Andrea Stambuco, an Italian-born archi-tect. Completed in 1885, this classic gem is still used daily. A new building hidden behind, houses a Jewish day school and facilities for the active community.
Photographing the synagogue’s historic sanctuary was a piece of cake … very well-baked cake. Brisbane is tropical, and remember, it was summer down under. Historic meant no air conditioning. While folks back home shivered and shoveled snow, we were shvitzing as we photo-graphed the sanctuary. When we finished, the thoughtful and gregarious rabbi invited us into the community building for a cool down with lemonade and cookies.
Other highlights of the trip included numerous sightings of koalas, wombats, wallabies and kangaroos—even a large kangaroo happily hopping down Main Street in Canberra, the nation’s capital. ■
To photograph all of New Zealand’s
synagogues, we drove around both of the large
islands, enjoying the magnificent scenery,
dodging sheep, looking for kiwi birds.
Brisbane Synagogue
Brisbane Synagogue
Dunedin Synagogue
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by Sandi Tilkin, Mizel Director
As we prepared for our fifth grade graduation in mid-May, I am re-minded of our history as the only Jewish Day School in Oklahoma.
Mizel Jewish Community Day School began as Heritage Academy in 1975 as the dream of three leading members of the Jewish Com-munity who established the Heritage Academy Foundation. Throughout its 39-year history, the focus on a dual Jewish/Secular curriculum has resulted in excellent academics and well-rounded Hebrew/Judaic education. The name was changed to Flo and Morris Mizel Jewish CommnityDay School in 2006 with an Endow-ment Fund established by Larry and Steven Mizel in honor of their parents.
Our nurturing Jewish environment perme-ates all we do every day. Students spend quality time in Hebrew class learning to read, write and speak Hebrew. They are introduced to Torah study and modern life in Israel. As pen pals with students at Kadoori School in Israel, our students share their events with their Israeli peers and exchange Jewish holiday packages. A video of our school was sent to Kadoori students for them to see our classrooms and other facilities.
Secular teachers have Hebrew words posted around their classrooms using appro-priate vocabulary to reinforce common
Hebrew terms. Books are shared by their teachers in the various classrooms to enhance and support Jewish holiday celebrations. Specialists in art, music and library skills also focus on Judaica for important holiday celebrations. For example, craft activities in art class support Judaic customs, particu-larly Chanukah and cleverly designed Purim masks for The Sherwin Miller Museum Purim Mask Invitational. Hebrew songs are taught in music classes to enhance celebrations at Kabbalat Shabbat for special holidays. Books pertaining to the holidays and stories about Jewish families are shared with students who are encouraged to check them out to read at home.
A Mizel tradition has been to focus on a Jewish value each month that is discussed at our monthly school assembly. Students write their thoughts and or draw pictures for the Jewish Values Bulletin Board to remind students of its importance in their daily lives. We teach our students the importance of leading an honorable life, what it means to be Jewish, and prepare them to be able to meet life’s trials and tribulations. Mizel students recite prayers in our Monday/Thursday Tefillah Services in The Sherwin Miller Model Synagogue. They also recite bless-ings every Friday at Kabbalat Shabbat over candle lighting, challah and wine (grape juice). Prayers are also recited before they snack and before and after their noon-day meal.
All of these practices throughout the week serve to remind students of leading Jewish lives respectfully and engaging in thoughtful, appropriate behavior in school and when they leave at the end of the day. As they engage in their secular studies, they are surrounded by a nurturing Jewish atmosphere.
Our teachers present challenging lessons and also provide the support for various learning styles. We want our students to become lifelong learners to recognize this is an important ingredient for daily living and the pursuit of academic excellence. Our goal for our students is to have them graduate from Mizel Jewish Community Day School with confidence and have a sense of pride regarding their Jewish heritage.
With our open enrollment, we welcome new students in Pre-K through fifth grade at any time. For three year olds that begin their early years at Mizel and continue through fifth grade graduation before entering middle school, parents will find their child is well prepared and has the self-confidence to be successful. This year’s graduates are no excep-tion. They qualified for placement in advanced classes in their respective middle schools as incoming sixth graders.
As the director for the last eight years, it has been fulfilling for me to see Mizel Jewish Community Day School thrive. Establishing a quality preschool has helped to ensure continued growth. It has been a pleasure to work with our well-trained staff and have the support of parents, Mizel board of trustees, Tulsa Jewish Federation and community foundations and donors. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this wonderful Jewish educational institution.
Call our school office at 918.494.0953 for a tour or drop by. “Our house is always open!” ■
Throughout its 39-year history, the focus on a dual Jewish/Secular curriculum has
resulted in excellent academics and well-
rounded Hebrew/Judaic education.
Mizel Impacts Students’ Lives
The Importance of Kavod
by Rabbi Charles P. Sherman
Kavod is a Hebrew term which we should all know. It comes from the word kavayd, which means “heavy.” The common meaning of kavod has to do with honor and respect. Honoring God, our People, and our tradition is a serious matter and a heavy responsibility.
The prayerbook refers to God as ha-Kavod. The honor, respect, and great-ness of God are proclaimed in every service; Baruch shaym kavod … is the second line of Judaism’s watchword.
Two of the Ten Commandments deal with kavod—honor your mother and father, and remember Shabbat. We show kavod for Shabbat when we observe its ceremonies and customs—lichvod Shabbat—in honor of Shabbat. It is considered an important obligation to honor parents since, according to Jewish tradition, parents are God’s partners in the creation of life. Mutual respect towards parents and children of all ages has been a basic premise of Jewish family life.
Kavod begins with each person. If we feel proud of ourselves, what we achieve, how we behave, that is called self-respect—kibu atzmo. In modern Hebrew we use the term kol ha-Kavod when we want to say congratulations to a person for a personal achievement.
Kavod between people is one of the highest values in Judaism, which empha-sizes the worth and dignity of each individual. In Pirke Avot we read: “Ayzehu mechubad—who is honored and respected? Hamechabed et haberiyot—the one who honors and respects others.” ■
Right to left: Seth Thetge, Noah Bearstler, Peyton Smith, Itamar West, Ilia Gavrilko
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Temple Continues Shavuot Confirmation
Traditionby Rabbis Karen and Micah Citrin,
temple israel
Our tradition teaches that all Jews in every generation stood at Mt. Sinai when the Torah was given. As we celebrate Shavuot, the festival that celebrates the giving of Torah, we prepare ourselves to receive Torah once again in our own day. We open ourselves to understanding ancient words of Torah with renewed relevance.
Each year around Shavuot, the Reform Movement recognizes an impor-tant segment of our community that stands ready to affirm the values of
Torah and to embrace Judaism in a meaningfully personal way. During this season, thousands of high school students in Reform congregations across the country will complete a rite of passage called Confirmation. Confirmation is a year of learning, usually with the rabbi(s) of the congre-gation, in which tenth graders study the questions of Jewish belief in a more complex manner, grapple with texts of our tradition, consider the meaning of Israel in our lives, and confirm their own personal beliefs about what it means to live a Jewish life. We recognize that adolescents are becoming mature enough to engage with the tensions, complexities, and subtleties that reside at the heart of Judaism. The year concludes with the Confirmation Service on Shavuot. The Confirmation Students write original personal prayers and reflections, lead the service, and teach their interpretations of Torah. Confirmation is an inspiring celebration of what it means for young adults to embrace our heritage and to make it their own.
On Erev Shavuot, June 3 at 7 p.m., Temple Israel will be part of the Confirmation tradition as eight wonderful young men and women will complete the Confirmation process. Temple Israel will honor:
Elie Benarrous, son of Marc BenarrousAmy Coretz, daughter of Kim and Rob CoretzBrooke Dubin, daughter of Cheryl Kagan & Dr. Hilly DubinErik Haake, son of Melanie & Bart HaakePaige Rudd, daughter of Tracey & Scott RuddNathan Stolper, son of Angie & Jon StolperDakota Suter son of Heather Suter-McArter & Joe McArterBen Weintraub, son of Leisa & Adam Weintraub
We hope you will join us as the Confirmation Class of 5774 leads an uplifting, spiritual, and thought provoking service. Everyone is welcome as we affirm and celebrate the giving and receiving of Torah. ■
On Erev Shavuot, June 3 at 7 p.m., Temple Israel will be part of the Confirmation tradition as eight
wonderful young men and women will complete the Confirmation process.
Sapling from Anne Frank’s Tree Planted on U.S. Capitol (JNS.org) A sapling grown from the
original tree that stood outside the hiding place of Holocaust teenage diarist Anne Frank was planted on the U.S. Capitol’s west front lawn. Frank wrote about the original tree in her diary.
“Our chestnut tree is in full blossom,” Frank wrote on May 13, 1944. “It is covered with leaves and is even more beautiful than last year.” The tree became diseased over
the years, eventually being blown over from high winds in 2010. Eleven saplings to be planted around the world were created from the collapsed tree.
The planting ceremony for the sapling in the Capitol was attended by politicians from both major U.S. parties, foreign dignitaries such as Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans, and Holocaust survivors.
“It’s fitting that we plant a tree in Anne Frank’s memory in the shadow of our majestic Capitol dome,” the building’s chief architect Stephen Ayers said at the ceremony, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.
“Years from now, visitors to the Capitol will find shade and solace in its mighty branches.”
House of Representatives Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who is Jewish, recited the Jewish “Shehecheyanu” prayer in English. “Today we dedicate this tree as a living testament to the memory of Anne Frank, a young woman of grand pleasantry and gifted insight, but who knew no peace,” Cantor said. ■
Amanda Freedman
Amanda Freedman, daughter of Judy Finer Freedman and Jeremy Freedman of Toronto, Ontario and granddaughter
of Estelle Finer, Tulsa, has been elected as president of the International B’nai B’rith Girls Organization. Amanda will defer her freshman year at Tufts University to travel around the world to represent Jewish teens and enhance Jewish identity. Amanda is the 70th president of the organization, and follows in the footsteps of her cousin Dina Finer, daughter of Jan and David Finer of Tulsa, who served as 62nd president.
Mazels
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Please note that the telephone number listed in the 2014 Tulsa Jewish Community Directory is incorrect. We apologize for any inconvenience.
The correct number for Fitzgerald Funeral Service is 918-585-1151.
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Genealogy President Publishes
Book
Ph i l g o l d fa r b, f o u n d i n g president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tulsa, has recently had a book published which combines
genealogy, history, biography and education. A Page of History: Passport Applications 1851–1914 is the first book in a series that takes rare, previously unpublished documents of famous individuals and makes them available to the public. “I have been collecting these authentic records for over 20 years and have had them digitally enhanced and restored” said Goldfarb. Each form has a corresponding narrative which explains what was included in the application along with a brief biography of that individual. Each narrative contains interesting and unusual facts about the person applying for the passport. Some of the 63 famous people in the book include presidents, generals, businessmen, inventors, newspapermen, sports, bankers, and actors.
Tate Publishing which has a release date of June 10, 2014 for the book calls it “One of the most interesting, unusual and significant historical books that we have published for 2014” and “A gift for someone who enjoys history and biography and is looking for that unique and special book.” The book is available for pre-order on the Tate Publishing website: www.tatepublishing.com and after June 10th will also be available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
Goldfarb is a genealogy contributor and expert for several websites, has written numerous articles on genealogy for periodicals and is a well-respected lecturer on the subject. He will be having a lecture and book signing at the Tulsa Historical Society on Saturday, June 28 at 11 a.m. Admission is free.
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tulsa was founded in 2005, is a member of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) and is one of only 73 Jewish genealogy societies worldwide. It is affiliated with The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art and has the Markovitz Genealogy Study and Resource Center located within the Museum’s library. ■
The book is available for pre-order on the Tate Publishing website: www.tatepublishing.com
and after June 10th will also be available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
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TULSA JEWISH FILM SERIESOur �lms aren’t selected...
they’re chosen
Sunday, June 29 • 1:00 p.m.Circle Cinema (12 South Lewis Ave)
The Tulsa Jewish Film Series is a partnership between Circle Cinema, Jewish Federation of Tulsa and The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art
Cost: $9/Adults, $7/Seniors, Students, Military, $6/Circle Cinema Members
