MESSENGER
volume
106
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE RABBI
THE SYNAGOGUE | CONGREGATION B’NAI EMUNAH | FEBRUARY 2022 | PUBLISHED MONTHLY
WOMEN’S RETREAT | SEE PAGE 6 FOR DETAILS
MASTHEAD
MILESTONES IN MEMORIAM
Daniel S. Kaiman and Marc Boone Fitzerman.......... Rabbis Dr. John Henning Schumann................................ President Ross Heyman..................................................Vice President Mark Goldman................................................Vice President Sally Donaldson.......................................................Treasurer Nancy Cohen.......................................................... Secretary Jeremy Rabinowitz......... Synagogue Foundation President Roxanne Friedland............................... Sisterhood President Sara Levitt..................Director of Jewish Life and Learning Natalie Shaver...........................................Program Director Shelli Wright........................................... Preschool Director Amber Knecht.............. Director of Refugee Resettlement Happie Hoffman ...................................Artist-in-Residence Cheryl Myers... Accounts Receivable/Administrative Asst. Nicki Johnson and Special Fritz......................Receptionists Betty Lehman + Sally Donaldson.. Interim Administrators Nancy Cohen............................ Sisterhood Gift Shop Chair Design and Typesetting ........................ Davidoff Typeworks
Jean Routman Grandmother of Gene Perry McKee Reed Melton Father of Emily Melton Bolusky
MAZAL TOV To Noam Faingold who was recently named the Oklahoma Music Teacher’s Associate Commissioned Composer for 2023. To Jordan Diamond whose Allstate insurance agency, The Diamond Agency was recently named a top 30 agency in the country. BIRTHS Avi Jonathan Levitt, born to Sara and Matt Levitt, and brother of Lior. Grandparents are Amy and Eric Geboff of Orlando, Florida, and Angie and the late Alan Levitt of Chicago, Illinois.
*Rabbis Kaiman and Fitzerman are affiliated with the Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative Movement.
Theodore Julian Basch, born to Ethan and Kate Basch. Grandparents are Loren Basch of Tulsa. XXXX and XXXX of Los Angeles, and XXXXX XXXX Columbia of New York.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON THE COVER It is remarkable how much art about Purim fails to evoke the fizzy joy of the holiday. This painting by Jerusalem artist Tamir Shefer is an exception. Entitled Purim Box I, it evokes the goofy disruptiveness of the festival and the loosening of standards and practices. Everything in this image— eyes, cheeks, andRoubein nostrils—blends into Hillary everything else. It’s a homemade mask raised to the next level by a talented street artist IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTS with an ebullient heart. Happy Purim!
BOARD HIGHLIGHTS The Board of Directors has given preliminary approval to the renovation of the parking lot north of the Synagogue building. This project will likely unfold over the next eighteen months, with many details yet to be finalized. We look forward to an outcome that will enhance the security of our property and bring our building and parking into closer alignment.
Sally A. Donaldson Craig Silberg Jolene Sanditen
WELCOME TO THE SYNAGOGUE FAMILY
THE MESSENGER
Susie Serafin Jacob and Heather Leader
March 2022 - Published Monthly
CONGREGATION B’NAI EMUNAH
WE’RE SO HAPPY TO
1719 South Owasso Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 Office: (918) 583‑7121 School: (918) 585‑KIDS Fax: (918) 747-9696 Website: www.tulsagogue.com
HAVE YOU WITH US AT B’NAI EMUNAH
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MARCH CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES
10
We’re back with regular services in the Sanctuary once again. Each Saturday morning our community gathers to sing the liturgy of the tradition, study the weekly Torah portion, and spend time amongst family and friends. All are welcome to participate in this experience. For those wishing to attend in-person, we ask that you register in advance on the Synagogue website. Those wishing to attend via Zoom may do so by connecting to the Synagogue Zoom Room. Zoom Meeting ID: 918 583 7121. 7121.
Our ongoing film and television series, Blatt + Blue, spotlights the discussion-leading skills of film and television enthusiasts David Blatt and Alice Blue. This month, they will lead an exchange about The Flat, Flat, an award-winning documentary that follows the journey of Israeli filmmaker Arnon Goldfiner as he investigates long-buried family secrets and unravels his grandparents’ painful past. The Flat is available on Amazon Prime for a modest rental fee. Join us on Thursday, February 10 at 7:00 p.m. for a lively discussion in the Synagogue Zoom room at 918 583 7121.
AFTERNOON/EVENING SERVICES
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Twice a week our community gathers for afternoon/evening services. Every Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 p.m. we gather together to experience traditional prayer. Additionally, those who are mourning a loved one or observing the anniversary of a loss (yahrtzeit (yahrtzeit)) can use these opportunities to recite the communal Mourner’s Kaddish. Our Wednesday gatherings take place in the Sanctuary and we ask that in-person attendees register in advance. Friday services always take place on Zoom only. Those wishing to attend via Zoom may do so by connecting to the Synagogue Zoom Room. Zoom Meeting ID: 918 583 7121. 7121.
TWO RABBIS AND | CHOICE
Join us for the new format of our podcast, “Two Rabbis And…” After Shabbat dinner at home, log on to Zoom at 7:00 p.m. for a live conversation featuring Rabbis Kaiman and Fitzerman. This month’s conversation will focus on the upcoming Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that gave every American woman access to a safe and legal abortion. Our guest will be Kathryn Kolbert, author of Controlling Women: What We Must Do Now to Save Reproductive Freedom. Freedom. The book is the definitive account of the battle for reproductive freedom and a bold new strategy to safeguard the gains of Roe v. Wade. The Zoom Room access number is 918 583 7121. Two Rabbis And… is an ongoing conversation about our shared journey in a diverse, multicultural world. As always, the resulting podcast is available on Spotify, iTunes, and the Synagogue website. We hope this new format brings stimulating conversation to your Friday evenings.
BAKER’S DOZEN EVERY MONDAY We continue to collect cookies, bars, and single-serve baked goods and deliver them immediately to frontline workers around the city. All are invited to participate and any gift in any amount is appreciated. Please wear a mask and deliver your cookies to the front desk at the Synagogue on Mondays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Shaver at nshaver@bnaiemunah.com.
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BLATT + BLUE: THE FLAT
TOURO CELEBRATION COMING THIS SPRING!
LIFELONG LEARNERS Health Care Aides
Join us for a new kind of monthly gathering at the Synagogue. Ageless seniors from every corner of the community are invited to join Rabbi Dan Kaiman at the Synagogue for lunch and rabbinic storytelling from the literature of our civilization. The session will begin at 11:30 a.m. and a bus will leave from Zarrow Pointe at 11:00 each time. No charge for transportation (you may, of course, come in your own vehicle) and lunch from Queenies iwill be provided. Please reserve your spot and/or your meal by calling Nicki or Special
If you’ve had a good experience
with a home health care aide, Please share her/his name with Rabbi Fitzerman at marboofitz@bnaiemunah.com
at (918) 583-7121 (continued on page 4)
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MARCH [CONTINUED]
FROM RABBI FITZERMAN
(continued from page 3)
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SILVER LINING
TRADITIONAL MEGILLAH READING
Second year in, I don’t know how much more any of us can take. We seem to have passed the point where the pandemic is a lethal danger to everyone everyone,, but people are still dying, including the very rare victims who are fully vaccinated. This is a good time to remind everyone to test if you are feeling puny, and to watch the news. I’m writing this note as the media continues to identify Oklahoma as a dangerous place. I hope that we are on the other side of the curve by the time this reaches you, but please pay close attention. I won’t relax until the case counts really drop, ICU beds open up, and my health-care friends look less wrung out.
All are invited to gather in-person in the Sanctuary and on Zoom for a short service during which we will chant the Book of Esther. We’ll start at 8:00 a.m. and conclude one hour later so that you can move into your day with joy and strength! Please remember that all people entering the building are required to be masked and all eligible individuals should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Members and friends can participate in this experience by signing on to Zoom at 918 583 7121.
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PURIM STREET FESTIVAL
If there has been a silver lining (for me), all of this has helped with the task of transition and change. My beloved colleagues are now mostly working from their offices while I continue to operate online and from my desk at home. I wanted to see what it was like to disengage from some of the daily routines of the Synagogue and to give my professional family a chance to breathe. I’ve been a constant presence for a very long time, and it’s time for other people to step in. As you may have noticed, Rabbi Kaiman is handling many of the outward facing responsibilities of speaking for us in public settings, presiding at Shabbat services, etc., while I handle back-office functions. There’s still a lot to do, but our Board of Directors has granted plenty of discretion when it comes to timing, defining, and pacing my disengagement. I feel grateful for these permissions and touched by their trust. It will come as no surprise that many other rabbis have a different experience in this part of their careers.
The entire community is invited to join us for our annual Purim Festival! We’ll gather at 10:30 a.m. in the street in front of the Synagogue to fulfill the four mitzvot of the holiday. We’ll read the megillah, enjoy a festive meal, give gifts to each other, and give gifts to the poor. There will be plenty of inflatables, games, face painting, hamantaschen, popcorn, cotton candy, donuts, and so much more! Costumes are strongly encouraged and all are welcome!
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SHABBAT FOR EVERYONE
It’s not just for you and it’s not just for me. It’s Shabbat for Everyone at CBE! Join us for a festive Shabbat dinner in the Synagogue at 6:00 p.m. With indoor and outdoor seating options available, we hope this setting can be safe and comfortable for all who choose to participate. We’ll then move to the Sanctuary for our musical celebration highlighted by song, dancing, and storytelling at 7:00 p.m. The service will be broadcast live on Zoom at 918 583 7121. 7121. In-person capacity is limited, and we’ll be attending to our regular protocols including masks, vaccinations, and pre-registration for everyone entering the building. Please register in advance on our website, www.tulsagogue.com.. www.tulsagogue.com
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And thanks to all of you. Between gradual and abrupt, I always favor gradual in every part of my life. It helps me settle into my own skin and test the big decisions of my life. For those who might be interested, Alice and I hope to be in Tulsa with the Fitzerman-Blue/Sterba Family and all of you for a very long time. There’s lots of project work left to accomplish and I very much like having all my tools at hand, along with the social and emotional satisfactions that have nourished me since the 1980s. Thank you very much for your friendship, support, and care, and your willingness to reckon with the abundance of my idiosyncracies. That might be the biggest blessing of all.
PRIDE CELEBRATION BRUNCH
We are delighted to announce our new Pride Brunch series at the Synagogue. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are welcome to join us for a delicious catered meal and conversation about the intersectionality of queer and Jewish identities. We are intended to be an inclusive, welcoming, and safe social space, not only for those who are out and proud but also for those who need a place to explore their identities among friends. Please register in advance on our website, www.tulsagogue.com.. agogue.com
PLURALISM AND OTHER GOOD THINGS My mother’s family comes from northeast Lithuania, right near the border where it touchs Latvia. Prior to immigration, they lived in a cluster of towns, equidistant from Varklan and Utian, the Lithnuanian home of Rabbi Kahn and his family. So it was with many of the rabbis of B’nai Emunah and, most notably, the Travis brother and their ancestors. But all of these towns had a more important distinction, Whatever liveliness they had as centers of scholarship, commerce and trade, or poIitics and culture, all were within the
(continued on page 5)
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RABBI MARC BOONE FITZERMAN [CONCLUDED] (continued from page 4)
FREE MAUS
orbit of Vilna, the largest and most distinguished city in the region. With ninety thousand Jews before the war, it had a full complement of Torah scholars, yeshivot, and synagogues. A whole approach to Talmud study took root in Vilna and it goes by the name of Lithuanian to this day, an essential counterpoise to the Chassidic courts of the era.
Tennessee got it wrong. When the McMinn County School Board tossed Maus out of its language arts curriculum for eighth- graders, it forgot that suppressing a masterpiece is always a bad idea. Created by Art Spiegelman, Maus is a graphic novel that tells the story of his father’s experience in the Holocaust. It won countless awards including a Pulitzer in 1992, and will remain one of the classic representations of human suffering and industrial genocide.
Of equal importance is that Vilna served as the birthplace of YIVO, the greatest study center of Yiddish culture in the world, some of whose archive made it to New York from the great pile of plunder that was storehoused in Frankfurt during the war.
The essential difference between Maus and other treatments of the Sho’ah is a change in register. Jews are depicted as mice, and Nazis as jackbooted, merciless cats. It allows the reader to look beyond the distractions of time-bound appearances to confront what is real, essential, and true: an ancient hatred raised to a new level of ferocity.
It was long thought that what remained in Vilna was dispersed or burned, or otherwise destroyed by the Nazis. But it turns out that wasn’t the case. The dramatic story of the recovery of that archive is one of the great moments of restoration in Jewish history. And in January of this year came the extraodinary announcement that the whole of the YIVO collection has been digitized, available to scholars, along with you and me.
McMinn County saw none of this, complaining about bad language, copyright issues, and, of all things, pornography—namely the image of naked mice. If you are scrambling for a definition of offensively absurd, McMinn County is ready to help. That’s why the civilized world is quickly organizing to protest its error.
I tell this story for many reasons, but the one that moves me most is the diversity of the collection. As it happens, there wasn’t one Jewish Vilna or one Jewish Europe in the lands beyond. Those who have looked at the digitized material decsribe it as a heterogenous trove of documents ranging from political leaflets, secular literature in Yiddish, theater posters and (wait for it) dirty jokes. There are robust statements of Zionist devotion and equally robust calls to strengthen a Jewish proletariat in Europe. There are children’s word games and lists of obscenities.
The Synagogue has now joined its dear friends at Magic City Books to fund the purchase of as many copies of Maus as we can acquire. It’s slow going, because so many people want them. As soon as he can, Jeff Martin and his staff will put dozens on the counter in the store for free distribution. That means free as in free.. We’ll do the same at the Synagogue. We want to speak in free clear terms about the importance of literature, the stimulating exchange of ideas, and the rightness of educating children and all other living things about injustice, cruelty, and grotesque indifference.
The archive describes a community—indeed a whole civilization—that looks a whole like the pluralism of the American Jewish world, with our disagreements, differences, and diverse attitudes toward life. Lots of energy in the Jewish neighborhoods of Vilna and elsewhere went into the production of Jewish scholarship, but there was a lot left over for other pursuits that had little to do with the traditions of the Jews, or at least the ones that were sanctioned by the rabbis. No single container could hold these energies. One of the greatest communities in Jewish histroy was all over the place in the things it cared about, including theaters and synagogues, medical case notes and politics, and those pesky fragments of salacious storytelling and pornography. What thrills me about all of this, is an enduring image of vitality. The Jews of Europe had a name for Vilna. It was the Jerusalem of Lithuania, Lithuania, a city on a hill that became an object of reverance in its time and afterwards. But it was a real community, exploding with energy, and it marked out a specrum of possibility for its members.
It’s the least we can do. It’s a very short distance between book banning and book burning. Our campaign to “Free Maus Maus”” is a way of saying no to the closing of minds, politically motivated decision- making, and self-defeating acts of philistinism. Tell everyone you know to pick up a copy, especially eighth graders in your orbit. They need Maus Maus—and —and we need to help. If you’d like to contribute to the project of purchasing copies of Maus, please send your check to the Synagogue or make an online gift at www.tulsagogue.com.
If it weren’t for the war, it would be there still. churning out alternatives, options, and pathways. One small idea will never satisfy the Jewish people. I am not the first to say and neither will I be the last: give us time and space to stretch our spirits and our intellects. We need a banquet of choices to survive and flourish. 5
SISTERS—JANET DUNDEE
SPECIAL EVENTS
BABIES!
BLATT+BLUE: THE FLAT ON MARCH 10
Joan Neidell has an enviable position with Sisterhood. Joan gets to greet new parents in the congregation and gift them a Baby Book for their newborn children.
In the great avalanche of films on Jewish concerns, The Flat is a standout documentary on one of our signature preoccupations. Winner of multiple awards (Tribeca, Toronto Film Festival, Jerusalem Film Festival), the feature follows the journey of filmmaker Arnon Goldfiner as he investigates long-buried family secrets and unravels his grandparents’ painful past. The result is a moving family portrait and an insightful look at the ways different generations deal with the challenges of the Jewish history.
Joan reports that her recent visits to families included a chorus of dogs barking as she approached each home. Surely, she mused, each of these families have at least two dogs. What fun! Joan thought. Mazel Tov to Laura Bellis and Stewart Habig on the November birth of daughter Shoshana. Zak and Jessica Rose-Reneau welcomed Winter Ruthie Rose-Reneau, also born in November. Kate and Ethan Basch balanced out the girls with their son, Theodore (Teddy) born in January.
Israeli critic Yehuda Stav gave it a rapturous review: “Arnon Goldfinger’s spellbinding work The Flat is one of the most intriguing and important documentary films made in Israel in the last decade. This is not only because of its unbelievable subject matter, but because of its meticulous weaving, its artistry of filmmaking and above all because of the complexity of issues that are addressed and the deep emotional impact they have on the viewer.”
Sisterhood celebrates the excitement of having new children in the congregation. NEW BOOK CLUB SELECTION
Blatt + Blue is one of the longest-running projects at the Synagogue during the period of the pandemic. Born in March 2020, it has run consistently for two full years, spotlighting a diverse and provocative roster of films. The series expresses the Synagogue’s own commitments to an inclusive and pluralistic vision of the Jewish world. No single film can capture the whole of the Jewish experience. Film and television enthusiasts David Blatt and Alice Blue begin each session with a summary of the featured material. It means that you’ll be able to follow the conversation even if you have to delay your viewing of the film itself. After that, it’s questions and comments from the Zoom Room audience.
Hillary Roubein and Jan Finer have announced the next selection for the Sisterhood Book Club, which will meet at the Synagogue on Sunday, March 6 at 11:00 a.m. The book for this session is Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro. Inheritance is a beautifully written memoir about long-held secrets regarding Shapiro’s biological identity. After 50 years, the author discovers she is not the biological daughter of her father, a fact which sends her on a journey to discover the truth about herself. What Shapiro tells the reader is that we live in a world in which science and technology have outpaced not only medical ethics but the capacity of the human heart to contend with the consequences of what we discover. Inheritance is the New York Times Editors’ Choice and in 2019 was cited as the Most Anticipated Book of the year by BitHub, the Washington Post, and other sources.
The Flat is easily available on Amazon Prime for a modest rental fee. Join the Zoom discussion on Thursday evening, March 10, at 7:00 p.m. The Zoom meeting ID is 918-5837121 and the session will conclude at 8:00 p.m. Please note that security protocols are always in place during Synagogue events.. If there is a film you’d like to see in these sessions in the future, please reach out to Natalie Shaver at nshaver@ bnaiemunah.com.
Inheritance can be found at the Tulsa Public Library or purchased through Barnes & Noble or Amazon.
Reproductive Freedom a special edition of Two Rabbis And...
with Kathryn Kolbert Friday Evening, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. Zoom Access r: 918 583 7121 6
FROM MORAH SARA LEVITT
SPECIAL EVENTS [CONTINUED] (continued on page 5)
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ON MARCH 11
I often hear from folks who are new to Tulsa or just interacting with the Synagogue for the first-time. They remark about the number of things going on for the size of our community. While there is always room for growth and improvement, we work hard to perform at a very high level—beyond congregations with even larger rosters.
For half a century, American women have had the freedom to choose the legal termination of an unwanted pregnancy. Every progressive Jewish organization in North America has supported that right and valorized the Supreme Court case that established it.
Aside from the regular sorts of offerings you’d expect at a synagogue (ritual, life cycle events, Shabbat morning services), our efforts often push the boundaries of what’s expected. I am indeed proud to be a part of a Synagogue that thinks outside the box, sees itself as a part of the larger Tulsa community, and constantly asks itself what more there is to do.
Roe v. Wade is now imperiled. The conservative majority on the Supreme Court is almost certain to strike it down in a pending decision this spring. That is the result of a nationwide mobilization to create bullet-proof state laws that will make abortion nearly impossible for poor women. The increasing divide between rich and poor will be part of the collateral damage of this expected ruling.
Many factors contribute to the ethos of our work at the Synagogue. We have a dedicated staff, a supportive board of directors, resources unlike many other communities of our size, and we live in a city with a can do attitude that offers partnership and inspiration.
The Synagogue has asked lawyer and activist Kathryn Kolbert to discuss this issue with the entire community. In 1992, Ms. Kolbert argued Planned Parenthood v. Casey before the US Supreme Court. It was only her second appearance, but one that has been widely credited with saving Roe v. Wade and protecting a pregnant woman’s right to have an abortion.
But the one ingredient in this recipe that should not and can not be overlooked is the dedicated team of volunteers who make so much of the Synagogue’s work happen. In particular, I want to highlight our crew of Bikkur Cholim volunteers who cook, bake, package, deliver, and shop for our members in their greatest time of need. This work takes time and energy, care, patience, and passion. In the past several years, Bikkur Cholim has grown to include Challah for Shabbat, cookie trays for shiva, Covid Care packages, and the occasional flower delivery when food didn’t seem like the right fit. It’s a project that makes people feel cared for and loved by their community, and it’s all powered by their fellow congregants and members. We’ve pivoted throughout the pandemic to figure out the safest and best way to get people what they need.
A co-founder of the Center for Reproductive Rights, Kolbert has spent her career working to ensure that all people, wherever they live, whatever their life circumstances, whatever their age or race or LGBTQIA+ status, have the ability to choose whether to be a parent and obtain safe, legal abortions. Perhaps more than anyone, she understands how we got here, what’s at stake -- and how the reproductive freedom movement can move forward. As a corollary to her other work, Ms. Kolbert also created NPR’s Justice Talking. The Synagogue’s invitation to Ms. Kolbert reflects its decades-long commitment to reproductive freedom. We are currently working to ease the burden at the Peoria Health Center site of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. Because of bounty-hunter legislation passed by the Texas Legislature, there is a constant stream of patients traveling north to get medical service in Tulsa. Once a month, The Synagogue provides a respite meal for the two-dozen staffers working at the site under the direction of Felicia Martinez.
My deepest thanks to each of our Bikkur Cholim volunteers who bring joy to our members and friends and add to the richness of our larger Synagogue community. Interested in joining the team? Know someone who could use something from their Synagogue? Please be in touch with me at slevitt@bnaiemunah.com or call us at (918) 583-7121.
“Two Rabbis And…” now takes place monthly at the Synagogue | Congregation B’nai Emunah. After your Friday evening dinner at home, please relax and tune in on Friday night, March 11, at 7:00 p.m. The Synagogue Zoom Room can easily be accessed at 918 583 7121. We look forward to seeing you.
Coming Soon
Second Seder at the Synagogue April 16 at 6:00 p.m.
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FROM RABBI KAIMAN
SPECIAL EVENTS [CONCLUDED]
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
PURIM IN THE STREETS!
Every two years, I write an article for the Messenger sharing a message I’ve shared before. I’m ready to learn with you. Study is perhaps one of the essential expressions of Jewish life. When a group sits together to pour over our tradition’s texts, we connect not only to the generations who came before us. But we also feel connected through shared discourse.
It’s the Jewish carnival season at Congregation B’nai Emunah. Costumes, dancing, confetti, treats! It’s a gigantic celebration that you will not want to miss. The holiday of Purim is the time of year we recall the story of Queen Esther and the triumphant victory over the evil Haman, who plotted to destroy the Jews. On this day we celebrate the distinction between good and evil, and the ability for the righteous to prevail even in the most perilous circumstances.
We are the People of the Book. I take that to mean we are a people of an ongoing exploration of the ideas and conversations that have shaped our community generation after generation. Study at the Synagogue takes many forms, but one expression of this value is through the ongoing study groups that meet with Rabbi Fitzerman or me, usually weekly. There are many such groups, and each has a unique tenor and character. Over the past two years, some of these groups have pivoted to online formats, and others have struggled to maintain momentum. This is the natural course of such things.
On Sunday, March 20 at 10:30 a.m. we’ll kick things off with an interactive, musical Megillah reading to remind ourselves of this important story. The street in front of the Synagogue will then be transformed into a carnival space to bring our joy into the world at large. There will be new games and toys. Balloon artists, face painting, and entertainers will delight and engage people of all ages. And don’t forget all the delicious treats. This multi-generational event is fun for the entire congregational family.
That being said, I write now in hopes of extending interest in the study life of our congregation. If there’s a piece of text you’ve always wanted to explore; if there’s a group of people you’d like to be more deeply connected with; if you’re just interested in feeling closer to Jewish life and the Synagogue, then perhaps a study group is something for you. Send me a note about your interest, and we’ll do our best to plug you in. Already have a group of friends organized and ready to commit to an experience? Then let’s schedule a session and get started. We must start somewhere, so why not now?
Tradition dictates that we include the neediest among us as we dance and sing and play. There will be a special opportunity to take part in a service project connected to our Refugee Resettlement efforts as we recognize the need to blot out the evil and unfair circumstances that exist in our broader community. This time of year is not just about celebration. It is about cultivating a greater sense of our society and ourselves. As we recognize the difficulty in distinguishing between good and evil, we dress in costume. So come in your most creative outfits. While there is no need to RSVP, please contact Natalie Shaver if you’d like to volunteer for the carnival itself. We do Purim right at Congregation B’nai Emunah!
Finally, I’m grateful to share a regular public learning format for lifelong learners that will now take place the first Wednesday of every month at 11:30 a.m. at the Synagogue. We’re calling these sessions Lifelong Learners, and we’ll explore a survey of Jewish texts in our time together. These sessions will occur in person at the Synagogue, and Zarrow Pointe will provide transportation. Every session will begin at 11:30 a.m., and we’ll have sandwiches from Queenies ready for lunch. All you have to do is call the office or visit our website to register in advance, and we’ll be prepared to learn together.
TIME TO JOIN SISTERHOOD CALL RANDEE CHARNEY AT (918) 636-0945
The Synagogue In the heart of Maple Ridge, just down the street from Brookside, Cherry Street, and Utica Square Kathryn Kolbert, champion of reproductive rights. See page 7 for details.
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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYNAGOGUE Bikur Cholim Fund Gale Mason
Building Renewal Fund Michael Kahn
Dorothy and Joe Katz Senior Adult Fund Sheila and Sam Harding
Eva Unterman Environmental Education Fund Gale Mason
Norman and Shirley Levin Prayerbook Fund Shirley Levin
Synagogue General Fund Dr. Andrew Gottehrer Karen Kiley Irene Silberg
Rabbi Arthur D. Kahn D.D. Culture Fund
Braden Riley
Bonnie and George Kennedy
Enrique and Margarita Cortez
Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman Discretionary Fund
David “Toots” Borochoff
Isrella Taxon
In Memory Of
Dr. Morris Brown
Miriam Brown
Tim and Laura Howard
Loving Memory of Irvin and Sharna Frank
Susan Contente
Renee Gottehrer Molly Katz
Irvin and Sharna Frank Endowment Fund
Rabbi Daniel S. Kaiman Discretionary Fund
Dr. Elliott Charles Mason
Julie Frank and Sons
Rabbi David Kaiman and Rebeca Shalom
Bess Haas Robinson
Randy and Paul Brodsky
Seymour Shapiro
Lubell Family Social Activism Fund
Sam Plost Matzah Fund
Sandra Tilkin May
Gale Mason
Adolf Neuwald
Shlomwitz Family Stanley Silberg Darrell and Sylvia Smith Serene Weiner
OPASSCO Oklahoma Passover Supply Company
Watch your in-box for a boatload of Passover news soon and remember to contribute to the Plost Matza Fund!
PURIM
SEE PAGES 4 + 8 FOR THE
FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
march | adar i-adar ii Sunday
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
11:30 AM Lifelong Learners 4:00 PM Hebrew Lab 5:30 PM Aft/Evening Service 7:00 PM Midrasha
Thursday
3
4
5:30 PM Aft/Evening Service 6:03 PM Candles
Rosh Chodesh Adar II
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9:00 AM ShulSchool 10:00 AM Intro to Mindfulness 11:00 AM Sisterhood Book Club
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8
7:00 PM Board of Directors
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4:00 PM Hebrew Lab 5:30 PM Aft/Evening Service 7:00 PM Midrasha
Friday
10
7:00 PM Blatt and Blue
Rosh Chodesh Adar II
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5:30 PM Aft/Evening Service 6:09 PM Candles 7:00 p.m. Two Rabbis and...
Saturday
5
9:30 AM Shabbat Morning 7:05 PM Havdalah
Torah: Pekuday
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9:30 AM Shabbat Morning 7:11 PM Havdalah
Torah: Vayikra
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14
15
16
17
8:00 AM Traditional Megillah Reading
Midrasha Spring Break Trip to Los Angeles Erev Purim
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10:30 AM Purim in the Streets
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4:00 PM Hebrew Lab 5:30 PM Aft/Evening Service 7:00 PM Midrasha
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5:30 PM Aft/Evening Service 7:16 PM Candles
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9:30 AM Shabbat Morning 8:17 PM Havdalah
Torah: Tzav
Purim
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5:30 PM Aft/Evening Service 7:22 PM Candles 6:15 PM Shabbat Dinner 7:00 PM Shabbat for Everyone
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9:30 AM Shabbat Morning 8:23 PM Havdalah
Torah: Shmini
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9:00 AM ShulSchool 11:30 AM Pride Brunch
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THE SYNAGOGUE
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
CONGREGATION B’NAI EMUNAH
PAID
Tulsa, Oklahoma Permit No. 587
1719 South Owasso Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 P.O. Box 52430 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74152
THE SYNAGOGUE CONGREGATION B'NAI EMUNAH
YAHRTZEIT CALENDAR — 29 ADAR II THROUGH 29 NISAN Saturday, April 2 - 1 Nisan Joseph S. Kantor Shimon Sam Mizel Morris Mizel Bessie Stekoll Abbo Stekoll Sunday, April 3 - 2 Nisan Charles Borochoff Nadine Iola Wise Ilse Schwarz Mark Seigel Sol Spector Bernice Stekoll Benjamin Franklin Stockfish Monday, April 4 - 3 Nisan Celia Davis Barbara Rambach Eva Rashbaum Tuesday, April 5 - 4 Nisan Henry “Hank” Alcouloumre Monroe “Jim” Friedman Max Wolens Wednesday, April 6 - 5 Nisan Joe Bobrow H.C. Bortel Maxine Jeffy Etta Price Dr. Milton Taubman Thursday, April 7 - 6 Nisan Mark Finston Bella Jankofsky Mike May Odie McReynolds Nathan Mizel Milford S. Ungerman Friday, April 8 - 7 Nisan Jacob Greenberg Norma Lee Hipfner Ruben Kern Morris J. Krawitz Marjorie Lubin Ruben Leib Paru Katie Pollock
Saturday, April 9 - 8 Nisan Goldie Cash Naomi Isaacs George Ludman Harry L. Miller Harry L. Miller Etta G. Milsten Lottie Minsky Sylvia Oberstein Leonard Seigel William Stein Sunday, April 10 - 9 Nisan Berel Dundee Joe Katz Philip Rubinstein Tillie Welcher Monday, April 11 - 10 Nisan Charles Brouse Bahram Delrahim Abraham Finkelstein Aaron Moran Marvin Phillip Shalon Tuesday, April 12 - 11 Nisan Frances Klein Eva Wiseman Wednesday, April 13 - 12 Nisan Harry Beinhorn Louis Berlowitz Frances Brodsky A. Jeb Lewis Samuel David Miller George Robison Thursday, April 14 - 13 Nisan Saul Baum Dorothea Dundee Paul M. Jankowsky Helen Langer Ben Stoyen Jerry Wittels Friday, April 15 - 14 Nisan Harry Fadem Abe Fedman Barbara Goldberg Mina Lapidus Alicia Urban
Ben Watt Lillian Sanditen Weinstein Saturday, April 16 - 15 Nisan Irwin Oleinick Dorothy Zarrow Renberg Sunday, April 17 - 16 Nisan Bernard Clay Hawkins Shulamith Massil Ethel Salle Monday, April 18 - 17 Nisan Solly Appel Aaron Nisson Levin Chaya Leya Levin Nathan Price William Nathan Raskin Al Solow Chasya Zarrow Tuesday, April 19 - 18 Nisan Earnest Appel Irving M. Blum Abraham Markovitz John Griffin Moody Grace Solomon Dr. Ronald L. Solow Fannie Tenner Harry Zoblotsky Wednesday, April 20 - 19 Nisan Paula Ethel Bergman Thursday, April 21 - 20 Nisan David C. Goldberg Alena Horska Jacob Marks Judah Zeldich Friday, April 22 - 21 Nisan Harry Borg Edward Isadore Cohen Sam Goldstein Herbert Kramer Samuel Lenske Randall H. Levin Regina J. Milsten Abraham Isaac Schwartz Abraham Siegal
Saturday, April 23 - 22 Nisan Esther Ginsberg Morris Milsten Abraham Minsky Fred Preston Shirley Rabinovitz Monday, April 25 - 24 Nisan Falik Kravetz Jacqueline Payne Michael Myer Roberts S. Laurence “Larry” Sobel Hyman Soclof Robert Delos West Tuesday, April 26 - 25 Nisan Janie Glasser Doris Lantz Dr. J. B. Raffkind Maurice Sanditen Ethyle G. Travis Sarah Wolfson Wednesday, April 27 - 26 Nisan Abraham Gilenson Norma Marcum Richard Replogel Dan H. Schusterman Charles Trynin Dorothy Turk Anne Zechman Goltz Bernice Zeldich Thursday, April 28 - 27 Nisan Hal Fein Mamie “May” Singer Lillian Smith Mayer Taxon Friday, April 29 - 28 Nisan Esther Fell Gordon Lantz Louis Rich Guss Zeldich Saturday, April 30 - 29 Nisan Rae Aaronson Joe Degen Rose Mizel Jay Newman Albert Stein Gladys Weinberg -
May their souls be bound up in the bond of life everlasting. Please note that each yahrtzeit begins at sunset on the day before the date listed.