xt78gt5ffp5q https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt78gt5ffp5q/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 2012-10 Newspaper of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, previously named the Central Kentucky Jewish Association and Central Kentucky Jewish Federation. Published ten times annually. The Federation seeks to bring Jewish community members together through holiday parties, lectures, Yiddish courses, meals, and other celebrations of Jewish heritage and culture. They also host fundraisers and provide financial assistance for Jews in need, both locally and around the world. This collection is part of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records, 2016ms010. newsletters 2016ms010 English Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Inc.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records Jews -- Kentucky -- Lexington Jews -- History Shalom, October 2012 text image Shalom, October 2012 2012 2012-10 2025 true xt78gt5ffp5q section xt78gt5ffp5q  

October 2012

Newspaper of

OF THE BLUEGRASS

 

W nsnnucnesuvm 5774

 

My Trip to

By Abby Miller

This summer I embarked on a life
changing journey: spending a month
in Israel. Ijoined a youth program
through the organization BBYO (B’nai
Brith Youth Organization) that was
focused on the theme of social justice.
What I expected to get out of my sum—
mer was a bunch of community service
hours and a couple of new Jewish
friends, but what I learned was much
beyond my expectations.

In the first week of the 3—week pro-

W a lot of non— profit
organizations. Some were to help chil-
dren in need, like Save a Child’s Heart,
where they fly children in from devel-
oping countries to operate on congeni-
tal heart defects, free of charge. We also
visited organizations that focused on
recruiting people to be advocates for
social justice and social change. They
stressed the point that we are the gen-
eration that can change what we think
is wrong in the world.

While I enjoyed visiting those places,
my favorite part of the trip was when
we got to be immersed in Israel’s com-
munity. We spent four days painting
and fixing up houses in Bet Shemesh,
where there were many run down
houses of Jewish Ethiopian immi-
grants. Although I can hardly speak

a word of Hebrew, I was still able to
communicate with the children living
in the apartments that we worked on.

Israel

This is a house we painted in Bet Sh-
emesh. I am with one of the Ethiopian
immigrants, Ezra.

You would be amazed by how fluent
we can all be in a common language,
one involving laughing and smiling. I
easily befriended a nine-year-old boy
named Ezra, by just letting him paint
for a few minutes with my brush. I
realized how little contact those kids
living there must have with Americans
like us, and how much of a novelty we
must’ ve seemed to them. I believe that
both of our cultures learned so much
about each other in just a few days of
interaction.

see Israel, page 5

 

mum

in MM
am

M '51!

Mm manna-Mn

ZOSOt AX 'uorfiugxaj - le Buns - P908 90"!!!) 0501
Manuel-09mm

 

 

John And Jo Mink:
Friends Of Israel

By Hanna B. Smith

This year, Dr. John and Jo Mink cel-
ebrate two significant events: their
60th wedding anniversary and John’s,
a pediatric dentist, 50 years as a faculty
member of the University of Kentucky.

The couple came to Lexington in 1962,
when John was hired by the newly
established department of pediatric
dentistry at UK. John was attracted to
UK. by the challenge of developing a
pediatric dentistry program. He recalls
fondly interviewing and hiring new
faculty and training students. Faculty
members brought their individual
talents to the program, yet were uni-
fied in their philosophic approach to
treating children, recalls John.

Your campaign gift

John enjoyed balancing teaching and
research with treating patients. In
addition to routine dental care John

7
<-—- m. .
"at” ’ ' 1 .
| .

see Mink, page 5

.“ w‘fiw'w-pmv
. r :9 #5?

supports Jewish Family

8 ervic e 8

Campaign dollars contributed by our
generous community members are
utilized to fund services in our own
community as well as those in Israel
and around the world. Many are
somewhat familiar with Jewish Fam-
ily Services, but may not know the
range of programs provided. JFS is on
the front lines providing help to those
who need it due to illness, trauma,
unemployment, financial crisis, aging,
and emotional stress. Through short-
terrn counseling and information and
referral services, clients are assisted in
dealing with these issues as they arise.
JFS also provides emergency loans
and grants, transportation stipends to
the elderly or disabled, and admin-

isters Federation’s camp and Israel
scholarships. The Leisure Club is the
JFS social program for those over 60.
Each month participants are treated to
lunch and enjoy a talk by local profes-
sional — rabbis, professors, physicians,
social workers and psychologists, etc.
on a variety of topics. The Leisure Club
members celebrate Jewish holidays
together as well.

As you contemplate your gift for 2012,
please consider those in our communi-
ty who need help — whether it is funds
for food, housing or transportation or
emotional support to those who are in
need -— and give generoust

 

  

IN THIS ISSUE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director’s Message 3
Attacks On US. Diplomats 3
JFS: At Your Service 4
Ask A Rabbi 6
Cuba’s Jews Need Our Help 7
Stem Cell Advocate Wsits Hadassah's Neurology Experts ......................................... 8
A Manifesto Of Jewish Education, Part 1 9
Pi Library At Woodland Art Fair 10
A little Summer fun withYoung Bluegrass Jews 12
2012 Lexington Jewish Film Series 14
On Leaving The Sukkah 16
B’tayavon 16
The Lexington Havurah 17
The Lexington Chapter of Hadassah 18
B’nai Mitzvah 19
Ohavay Zion Synagogue 19
Temple Adath Israel 20
August Festival Showcases Israeli puppeteers 21
Around the Community 22

 

 

  

  

K... aye; w at
Published ten times per year by the
Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, Inc.
1050 Chinoe Rd., Suite 112, Lexington, KY 40502
Phone (859) 268-0672 . Fax (859) 268-0775
email: shalom@jewishlexington.org

OCTOBER 2012, VOLUME XIX, ISSUE 7
Robert Grossman, President
Judy Wortman, Executive Director
Tamara Ohayon, Communications Director
Talia Smolkin, JFS Director

SHALOM EDITORIAL BOARD
David A. Wortman, Editor-in-Chief
Hanna Smith, Chairperson
Marcia Blacker
Jane Chaput
Susan Cobin
Barbara Goldman
Betty Nigoff
Gary Yarus

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Aryeh Ben David, Abby Miller, Stan Saxe, Hanna Smith, Rabbi H.D. Uriel Smith

LOCAL DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Lowell and Betty Nigoff

" HM»?

Production Services by Georgetown News-Graphic

The editorial staff has the right to edit all articles submitted for publication in Shalom.
Articles should not exceed 500 words.The appearance of any advertising in this pub-

lication does not represent either a kashruth or any other endorsement on the part of
the Federation or any other agency or organizations.

Opinions expressed in Shalom are not necessarily those of the Shalom editorial staff or
the JFB or its constituent organizations.

Shalom is partially supported by the advertisements appearing in the paper.

Copyright © 201 2, Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass. All rights reserved. For reprint
permission contact David Wortman, Editor—ianhief, Shalom, at shalom@jewishlexing-
ton.org

2 | October 2012 Shalom

 

The PI Library is a
national program
offered locally,
which mails free,
high-quality and age
appropriate Jewish
children’s literature

and music to families on a monthly basis.

Library

”ms nouns and son“

 

All families raising Iewish children ages six months to eight years are welcome
to enroll. [PB is proud to ofi‘er your family, through our partnership with local donors
and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, this opportunity to explore the timeless core
values of Judaism through books and music.

Enroll your children or grandchildren today! Call us at 859.268.0672 or
visit www.pjlibrary.com and visit our Lexington community page.

 

 

 

llNll llllll
SAT. (ill. 20 @ 8:30 PM

(RSVP for location info)

Joln us for a private documentary
_ eereenln‘ I: dleoueelon.
*\ We’ll challenge our
own Ideas about

g; M “m

,7 . . I I I

 

   
   
 
   

YBJ is a gathering of local Jewish adults, ages 21 to ‘40-lsh" (about 45), who get
3 together monthly for social events. Join our mailing list. Contact Tamara Ohayon
at tamara@Jewishlexington.org, (859) 268-0672, or find us on Facebook!

  

If you are not receiving Jewish Weekly email and would like to, please
send your name and email address to lexadmin:i«z>jewishlexingtonorg

    

oi: me BLUEGRASS

fl‘i‘ iizl‘v§!,\\.{\§5 i‘I‘>‘i“‘ flu“;

Federation President Federation Board
Robert Grossman Lori Bernard Larry Kant
Minna Katz—Brown Mimi Kaufman
Executive Committee Jane Chaput Amy Faust Mayer
Kae Schennberg, Vice-President Susan Cobin Betty Nigoff
Hanna Smith, Secretary Gail Cohen Seth Salomon
Gary Yarus, Treasurer Jenn Garlin Marty Solomon
Evalyn Block, Member-at—Large Evelyn Dantzic Geller Paul Tillier
Linda Rawin, Member-at—Large Michael Grossman Elissa Weinstein
Joseph Hernandez David Wekstein

 

Shalom Deadline

. . Deadline for articles for the, liovernher~ Shalom is October 10.
. Email articles to shalom@jewishlexington.org »

 .1,
5”

Director’s message ‘

Judy Wortman, JFB Executive

 

One of the greatest benefits of my
position is the joy of working with a
wonderful staff, several of whom I was
fortunate to inherit and one of whom I
was able to hire myself. Beginning this
month, there will be several changes in
our office.

Talia Smolkin, who has been Director
of Jewish Family Services and Coordi-
nator of Informal Jewish Education, is
expecting her first child in early No-
vember. She will be staying at home

to care for her baby. Her last day at
JFB will be October 12th. We wish Talia
the very best and are grateful for the
time she spent with us both as a social
work intern and later as our director,
and for the significant impact she has
had on our Jewish community. We are
currently looking for one or possibly
two people to fill this position. Candi-
dates must have an MSW or graduate
degree in a related field and experience
in Jewish education, Jewish Communal
Service and / or Jewish programming.

Kathy Feinberg, the director of Camp
Shalom and Camp Gesher, has re—
signed after 12 years in the position.

an amazing job and
has influenced hundreds of children
during her tenure at camp. We wish
her well and hope that she will be a
frequent guest at camp in future sum—
mers.

Tamara Ohayon has been promoted to
Director of Marketing, Outreach, and
Engagement. Tami has worked at the
Federation for the past 7 years as Com-

munications
Director.

In her new
position she
will be re-
sponsible for
Federation's
marketing
efforts as
well as outreach and programming
for young adults and families includ-
ing Young Bluegrass Jews. She will
also become director of Camp Shalom
and Camp Gesher. Tamara has an
extensive background in Jewish camp-
ing and will bring an exciting new
dimension to the camp program. She
has been the liaison to Camp Shalom
for many years and has established
wonderful relationships with the camp
families .

 

We are looking for an assistant camp
director to work with Tamara. This
person needs to be available during the
camp season and for several hours a
week for about 6 months leading up to
the summer and must attend monthly
camp committee meetings. Candidates
must have camp experience and good

.Iemsh programing skills

Working for our Jewish community

is reWarding and challenging. I salute
our staff members for all they have ac-
complished and for their commitment
to Jewish life. I encourage those who
would like to join our exceptional staff
team to call me at 268-0672 or to send
me an email at jfb@jewishleixngton.
org. it!

 

iTNBue

Dignified transportation

      

   
 

Legrass

for sen1ors

lla1\czltl11\1ngtlcsi1t
lo l1clppcoplc.

Become;1\1‘1l11111cc1‘tl111c1‘l

 

Attacks On U. S. Diplomats

The Jewish Federation and Hadas-

sah join the Jewish Council for Public
Affairs and the greater Jewish com—
munity in condemning the attacks on
US. diplomats in Egypt and Libya and
praying for the year 5773 to be one

of cooperation and peace. A state—
ment from JCPA President Rabbi Steve
Gutow can be found below.

JCPA DEPLORES MURDER IN
LIBYA OF US. AMBASSADOR AND
OTHER DIPLOMATS

In response to the attack on the Ameri-
can consulate in Benghazi that resulted
in the deaths of four Americans today,
including the US. Ambassador to
Libya, Chris Stevens, JCPA President
Rabbi Steve Gutow issued the follow-
ing statement:

”As a rabbi, American, and human
being, I am shocked and heartbro-

4. U5

ken by this heinous attack. People of
goodwill everywhere should stand up
and unequivocally condemn these cold
blooded murders. Such violence is un-
acceptable, and the taking of innocent
lives for any reason is deplorable. That
those diplomats killed had come to
Libya in peace in order to foster closer
U.S.-Libyan relations and a better fu-
ture for the people of that country only
highlights the barbarism of these acts.

Circumstances surrounding the events
in Libya remain unclear. Some assert
that the attackers were motivated by
an anti-Muslim movie, a YouTube vid-
eo which we condemn and wish had
never been produced. Other reports
suggest that the attack was planned
well in advance and had nothing to do
with the movie. In any event, nothing
can justify this horrific violence, and
we pray that calm in the region will be
restored quickly.”

 

      
 

.. Sen . yo
j‘ O
«m

Thank you to:

@

 

Make a donation to the Jewish Federation in honor or memory
of someone, or in celebration of a special occasion, and help JFB
nurture the values of tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah

Judy & Rabbi David Wortman in honor of the birth of
Amy 8: Jeb Messer’s son, Ari Ben.

Linda 8r Leon Ravvin in memory of Stanley lsenstein.

Thcjewish Federation

 

OF THE BLUEGRASS

 

 

October 2012 Shalom | 3

 

  

 

Temple Adatla Isl-eel
Preschool and
Pie-Kindergarten

OPEN
ENROLLMENT

 

0 Half-day program (3330 mun-noon)
a Classes for z , 3 and 4-year-olds
a. Jewish music and-art enrichment
g! Excel!ent student-teecherlratlo
_' Nurturing-finally environment

CALL: Katherine Hem-y, director

269-2979
124 North Ashland Avenue

“25 Years of Excellence”

 

 

Holtday Shopping

Haclassah selling Macg’s
Gift Car 5

   

  
 

Make gour gift giving easy, save gas and time, and help
the Lexington Chapter of Hadassah raise funds for
its valuable Programs here in the U5. and in lsrael b9
Purchasing Macy’s Gift Cards.

Macy’s Gift Cards are available in $25. $50, or $100 denominations and are usable
at any of the 400 Macy‘s nationwide stores. They can be used as
gifts for any and all occasions or for yourself for shopping you’ll do
anyway. No expiration date. For that special occasion gift. a larger
amount can be ordered.

Send your check payable to Hadassah Fundraising
VP Odette Kaplan for your Macy’s Cards at
omkaplan@aol.com or (859) 271-8332.

 

 

 

 

4 | October2012 Shalom

JFS: At Your Service ~ ¥

Talia Smolkin, JFS Director

 

The new
year recently
began with
much honey,
celebrat-

ing in the
sukkah, and
time together with the community. It's
a wonderful time for reflecting and
reconnecting with ourselves, our loved
ones, as well as reconnecting Jewishly.

 

With all this sweetness, I must an-
nounce a bittersweet change. As many
in the community know, I am expect-
ing, God—willing, to have a baby this
November. After a great amount of de—
liberation, I have decided to stay home
to care for the baby.

This was an incredibly tough decision.
It is remarkable to be part of the Jew-
ish Federation of the Bluegrass (JFB).
It has been an honor to work on our
Jewish Family Services program and a
number of other informal Jewish edu-
cation programs. The way this organi-
zation serves the community through
these programs is an inspiration. It

is clear that the people involved care
greatly for the well-being of our com—
munity and the individuals who make
up the community.

Plans are certainly under way to en-
sure the continuity of this great work
at JFB. My last day of work will be Fri-
day, October 12. Until another Direc-
tor of Jewish Family Services is hired,
Judy Wortman is available to discuss
particularly critical matters with those
in need of JFS services. Judy can be
reached at (859) 268-0672. Additionally,
those looking for ideas for resources
may want to call 2-1—1, which is an
information line of the United Way.
This is a great way to locate services

 

ATTENTION proud grandparents, parents, and students

We want to publish any original writing produced by our community’s
elementary- and high-schooI-age children. If you’re proud of some—
thing written by one of our kids, either fiction or non-fiction, please

email it to shalom@jewishlexington.org

A New Year, Gratitude and Change
(and Medicare!)

regarding finances, health issues, and
numerous other issues.

On Sunday, November 18, we will take
part in our second Global Day of Jew-
ish Learning. The theme for this year
is gratitude and blessings (please see
the ad on page 22 of this issue for more
details). JFS will again host a Jewish
Family Life Education workshop as
part of Global Day. This is a wonder-
ful opportunity to be grateful for the
learning and passion in our commu-

nity.

I am personally very grateful for this
community, for its caring and sup-
port. And, though my role will shift, I
am very grateful to remain part of this
incredible community. I’m certainly
excited for my future child to be a
recipient of P] Library!

Finally, I cannot finish this article
without providing one morepiecg of
information (below) regarding services "
in our Lexington community. Thank
you again for allowing me to be, as

they say, at your service.

Medicare Part D

Open Enrollment begins October 15
and ends December 7. If you need
assistance reviewing and/ or changing
your plan please call Shannon Gordon
at the Lexington Senior Center at 859-
278-6072 to schedule an appointment
or you can contact SHIP (State Health
Insurance Assistance Program) at 859-
233-4556 or 877-293-7447. It!

To contact Talia Smolkin, IFS Director, for
information, referrals, or other needs, e-
mail ]fs@jewishlexington.org or call ( 859)
269—8244.

    
       

 Israel (from page 1)

After we finished our days of painting,
we learned even more about Ethiopian
immigrants at an absorption center.
There, Jewish immigrants can live for
a year or two so that they can learn
about Israeli culture and transition
smoothly into society. Israel’s dedi-
cation for encouraging and helping
immigrants is what really struck me as
amazing when we visited the center.

I was surprised but also inspired by
how well the government takes care of
people living there.

Although we were exposed to many
wondrous and beautiful aspects of
Israel, we were also exposed to the

less endearing side of the country. One
day we took a socio-economic tour
through the poorer parts of Tel Aviv.
We saw numerous homeless Sudanese
immigrants, and although they weren’t
legally allowed to be living there, I
was shocked at the stories we learned
of how they were treated by legal
Israelis. One article we read was of
some Israeli’s who were angry because
illegal immigrants were living in their
neighborhood. The result of their anger
was bombing houses, cars, and even a

kindergarten where illegal immigrants
resided. Sadly, the government took
no action in trying to prevent more at-
tacks, and more attacks happened. My
reaction to this news was pure horror,
because weren’t we as Jews discrimi-
nated against many times in history?
After learning this information, I
vowed to try to stop this injustice
happening in such a progressive and
loving country.

My month-long stay in Israel enlight—
ened me in ways that I could’ve never
have come across in America. I learned
about all the measures Israel is taking
to ensure the prosperity of every one of
their citizens. I also learned that Israel
isn’t perfect, and it’s up to us to learn
about the injustice happening there,
and the injustice happening in our own
communities. My main hope at the end
of the trip was to be able to bring what
I learned in Israel back to my own
home, and to use those ideas to make
BOTH our countries the best that they
can be - in the context of the environ—
ment, the government, and especially
social justice. is:

    

' >1...

Here we are picking unions that are distributed to families in need, along with other food
grown on the farm.

 

 

Mink (from page 1)

treated babies and children with severe
conditions, such as cleft palate, and he
served the Commission for Children
with Special Health Care Needs as a
consultant.

Asked about changes in dentistry
over the years, John says that today’s
pediatric dentists use sedation more
than in the past. Otherwise, basic care
has essentially remained the same.
Fluoridation has made teeth stronger,
but candy wins out in the end, John
observes wistfully.

Jo and John, who are not Jewish,
discovered their love for Israel quite
by chance. In the early 19705 John
volunteered for a six weeks medical
mission in Greece, heating patients in
underserved areas of the country. Jo
and their six children accompanied
him. Arriving in Athens, the family
was aghast to discover that the mobile
unit carrying the dental equipment
was still in the States and would not be
available in time.

A second mobile dental unit had been
sent to Israel by the same program.

Dr. Robert Spedding, John’s colleague
at UK, worked on this mission. He
invited John to joinhim, and the family
went to Israel.

While in Israel, nine-year—old son Jim
developed appendicitis and required
hospitalization. Jim was admitted to
Hadassah Hospital for surgery and
convalescence. As parents, Jo and John
were impressed with the care that Jim
and the other patients received from
Hadassah’s well-trained staff. Also,
Hadassah Hospital encouraged parents

to stay with their hospitalized children.
This was at a time when American
hospitals required parents to observe
strictly regulated visiting hours. Dur-
ing Jim's recovery, the nurses located
another English-speaking patient to be
company for Jim.

John emphasized that Hadassah staff
provided the same quality care to all
patients, regardless of their religion or
ethnicity. There was no discrimination,
according to John.

Once back in Lexington, John was
instrumental in acquiring a mobile
dental unit for UK, for use in Eastern
Kentucky.

John and Jo already had Jewish co-
workers and friends in Lexington.
Their experiences during their stay in
Israel prompted them to support this
country once they were back in the
States. Jo, a weaver and member of the
Kentucky Arts Guild, joined Hadassah.
She chaired various programs in the
Lexington chapter and she became an
active fundraiser. She is a Keeper of
the Gate.

The couple also supports Israel
through the Jewish Federation of the
Bluegrass. JFB Director Judy Wortman
states: ”T he leadership of the Jewish
Federation of the Bluegrass salutes the
Minks for their generosity and commit-
ment to the Federation as well as their
commitment to Hadassah and to the
State of Israel. We are grateful to have
such supportive friends.”

Mazal Tov to Jo and John on their
achievements. 1:1

 

follow us on
twitter

@JFedofBluegrass

 

 

www.twitter.com

 

H \\ rl"hejex-vish Federation

OF THE BLUEGRASS

“Like” us on our

facebook
page

 

www.facebook.com

 

 

 

 

October 2012 Shalom | 5

 

 

 

 

  

Ask A Rabbi

Rabbi Marc Kline

 

: Someone told me that one could be
Jewish and not believe in God. Is that
true

: I was once asked what the most

stereotypical Jewish answer was
to any given question. I responded,
"It depends.” The asker replied, "On
what?” I responded, "It depends."

The first difficulty I find with this
question is that it presumes that there
is an answer. I cannot fathom, with
my human limitations, how to answer
this question in any finite way. Here is
what I can offer. Rabbi Rifat Sonsino
and Rabbi Daniel Syme published a
book, ”Finding God.” The purpose

of the book is to demonstrate many
different ways in which Jews define
God. The second edition of the work
includes over a dozen different Jewish
understandings of God’s nature, God’s
process, and God’s influence. Implicit
in each of these diverse understand-
ings are differing takes on what the
nature of God might be. The takes on
God in the book are equally divergent.
What we know is that Mairnonides
taught us that to say what God is, is
blasphemy. To say what God is not
borders on blasphemy. We also know
that one’s belief in a certain aspect of
God is not tied to one’s religious faith
or observance. Rabbi Sol Freehoff
wrote that if the world has 6 million

Jews, it has 6 million Judaisms. Martin
Buber spoke at length about the "I and
Thou” relationship we have with God
and with tradition. So, we know that
there is not a Jewish catechism about
what God is or how we relate to God.

I do know that we have saddled ”God"
with a lot of baggage over time. We
have put God on a pedestal and then
spent centuries knocking God off of it.
We blame God for illnesses that strike
good people, as if God causes some of
us to have cancer, diabetes, or heart
attacks. We blame God for the evils of
war, hate, and degradation for which
we are guilty, and divest ourselves of
any credit for the blessings that we
bring each other. We ”leave in God’s
hands” matters that are absolutely
under our control. God cannot feed a
starving person, no matter how hard
that person prays, if one of us does not
go out there with food/ sustenance. Of
course, there are the great many people
who try to tell us that God likes only
people who think the way in which
the speakers think For too many of
these voices, I have to argue that if

this is what God likes, I want no part.
There are a lot of spiritual people in
this world who cannot use the word
”God," because of all the things we
have thrust upon this word.

Faith comes in all shapes and sizes,
some are traditional and some not so
much. Included in the book ”Finding
God” is a conversation on Human-
ism. Humanists think of themselves as
either ”God-optional Jews" or athe-
ist Jews.” This calls into question the
existence of God. If we begin with the
premise that there are no set answers
and that everything depends, then we
have to discern whether it is even for
us to decide whether or not there is a
God any more than it is for the person
trying to ignore parents to decide that
they simply do not exist. I think that
the word ”God” has a lot of baggage.
We have misused "God" for centu-
ries. In the Humanist world the term
is used to describe the individual, if

it were possible who would possess
and exhibit all of the finest qualities
known to humanity. That paradigmatic
perfection would be the closes thing to
divinity to which they would reach. Is
this Atheism? I think saying that this
is not God is also limiting. I taught a
class at Centre College last semester. I
made the statement that there are no
atheists. Several students challenged
me. I asked if they set alarm clocks, to
which they responded affirmatively. I
asked why they did so. They said they
needed to make sure that they were

in class on time. I asked what made
them sure that there would be a today
never mind this class? They did home-

work, took
showers,

set alarms
and went to
sleep, believ-
ing that
something
other than them would make sure that
today would happen and that class
would meet. They believed it enough
that they prepared for it as if they
knew it would be so. One student said
that he realized that I was defining
faith for him, and that he knew every-
body believed in something beyond
themselves. I admitted that this faith
nay not always fit within a defined re-
ligious boundary, but it was faith, none
the less. All agreed. This said, I think
that the best way for me to answer the
original question would be to say that
I believe that there are lots of Jews, and
most likely lots of people in the world
who have real issues with u-aditional
notions of the word ”God," and the
baggage we have historically attached
to it, but people are no less spiritual.
Jews who reject any traditional notion
of God still believe that being part of
the peoplehood matters; that ritual (in
some form or fashion) matters. 80, yes,
there are lots of Jews who reject the
existence of the ”God” who we blame
for so much, but I do not think that
anyone is without faith. It!

 

 

First and third Sundays of the month

Yiddish Drop-in!

l0:30 am. at the JFB office. An hour of Yiddish
with Refoyl linkel (Rafi linkel). Beginners

I? tinting. li'ilri“.iilnii

welcome, fluent speakers welcome, and those
who remember ”22 nor verter fun der heym”
also welcome. We’ll adjust what we do

to the levels of those who come.

No long‘term commitment necessary

No charge Worth every :cent, at least!

6 | October 2012 Shalom

 

 

 

OF THE BLUEGRASS

 

ni\ 'l‘hr Jixi ish l(i,li ration

Lunch and Learn with our
Lexington community rabbis

October 30 with Rabbi Uri Smith

' At 13 noon on the last Tuesday of each month
in the [EB office, rabbis, on a rotating basis,
will be discussing the holiday 5, the Torah
portion of the week, and other topics of
interest A dairy lunch is offered at a nominal
charge If you are interested in attending,
please call Iiidy Wortman at 859- 268— 0672
so we can order lunch for ion

 

 

 

 

  

F Retirement Living
f at it’s Finest!

Cuba’s Jews Need Our

  

Help

In the September 2012 edition of
Shalom we reported about the plight

of Cuba’s Jews who are in dire need of
medical and other supplies. The Jew—
ish Federation of the Bluegrass is col-
lecting needed supplies and monetary
donations to aid the Jewish community
in Cuba. Lori Bernard, wife of Rabbi
Marc Kline, will travel to Cuba in
October on a mission trip, sponsored
by the Fairmount Temple of Cleveland,
Ohio, to transport supplies.

Below is a list of needed items. You
can also write a check, marked “Cuban
assistance” on the memo line, to the

0 Omega 3

0 Antibiotic creams, antifungal
creams

0 Anti-inflammatory creams

0 Antibiotic tablets and powder for
children

- Vitamin C

0 Zyrtec

0 Ranitidine

0 ("lmmlruitin sulfate plus glucos-
amine

0 Ibuprofen

0 Low strength aspirin (No regular
aspirin)

0 Children’s Tylenol

0 Children’s ibuprofen

0 Vitamin drops

0 Vitamin tabs

0 Thermometers

0 Toothpaste

0 Alcohol pads

0 Cotton swabs

0 Latex gloves

0 Toothbrushes

0 Denture creams

Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass,
phone 859-268-0672. Your check will
be used to purchase supplies and to
pay for shipping. We must pay for
anything over 40 pounds.

All donations must be received by
October 20, 2012. The Federation
office is located at 1050 Chinoe Road,
Suite 112, Lexington, Kentucky 40502.
Please remember that this does not
count for your annual Federation
donation but is in addition, so that we
can help the Jews of Cuba. Thank you
for your generosity. Q

0 Body wipes

0 Baby wipes

0 Prescription medication: (All
medicines must be current.
Expired medications are not
allowed into Cuba. Half-used
bottles of pills are OK.)

0 Metformin

0 Loratidine

0 Zithromax

0 Cipro

0 Advair

0 Enalapril

0 Diclofenac

0 Singulair

0 Beclomethasone spray

0 Other:
- Band-aids, etc.
- Thermometers
- Hand sanitizer
- Reading glasses
— Sanitary napkins
- Deodorant
- Shabbat candles
- Hanukkah candles

 

 

 

Planning on leaving town for a
few months? Going on a long
vacation? Moving any time
soon?

You can help save the Jewish Federation
money by informing us of your plans and
preventing the US. Postal Service from

charging us for returned mail and address
change notices.

Before you go, call the Federation office or

send us an email and let us know if you would

like the mail sent temporarily to a different
address, at no charge to you, or halted for a
certain number of months. Give us a chance
to get it right for you on the first mailing.

Contact Tamara at (859) 268-0672.or
tamara@jewishlexington.org

Are you on the
Jewish Federation’s
email list?

We send updated
announcements and
special event details

weekly to those who
wish to receive them.

Send Tamara Ohayon an
email if you would like to join
the list.

tamara@jewishlexington.org

OF THE BLUEGRASS

 

Irr‘ Tltejewish Federation

 

 

 

 

3310 Totes Creek Road.
Lexington Kentucky 40502 3
(Across from Lonsdowne Shoppes) ;

     

 

 

 

. lNDEFENDENT LIVING &