masthead
In This Issue
Note from Rabbi Julie
Calendar
Rabbi's Message
Do You Sing?
Education Program
Passover Seder
Fundraising Salon
Living Simply Group
A Walk Back in Time Lecture
Needed: One Storage Cabinet
Honoring Sue Frank
In Memoriam: Roy Shenberg
Retreat at the Shore
Purim Party
Member Birthdays
Member Yahrzeits
Looking Ahead
Something new for Shavuot!
While the details are not yet firm, we are planning to join with other Philadelphia Jewish congregations in a joint celebration of Shavuot in May. Please be on the lookout for more details on this.

Annual Meeting on June 1
We'll be reviewing the past year, planning for the future, electing new officers, and more! And of course brunch will be included! Please plan to attend from 11am to 1pm on Sunday, June 1 at the Kennedy House Community Room. 
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Leyv Ha-Ir Listserv

To Post a Message - just send an email to [email protected].

 

Leyv Ha-Ir Event Postings - will be posted by Claire Dubin using the information on our web calendar.

 

Other Postings - You can post information about other events or information of interest by sending an email to [email protected].

 

Contact Beverly or Bobbi if there are questions about the listserv.

Chesed Reminder
A reminder that we have a Chesed (acts of loving kindness) committee who will do their best to offer assistance to LHI members in need. If you find yourself in that situation please call and we'll see how we can be helpful.

Contacts:
Joan Goldberg. 215-561-5193
Pat Wisch 215-563-1894
Marking Lifecycle Events

Please remember Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City when you have any occasion to send a greeting card to someone. 

 

While we are happy to receive contributions in any amount, for a minimum $10 contribution we will gladly send one of Marci Fleet's lovely art cards created for this purpose to the recipient of your choice.

 

Sue Frank will send Marci's card and compose a note that expresses your thoughts. She can also customize a card based on your suggestion.

 

Please use the 
contribution form on our website, which contains the mailing address for your contribution, PO Box 15836, Philadelphia PA 19103. You can also
Home Shabbat Hosts Needed
Our monthly Friday night home Shabbats have become a popular mainstay of Leyv Ha-Ir community life. Hosts are needed for upcoming months.

Host responsibilities are minimal and support is available to guide you every step of the way. Attendance averages 10 to 18 people.

For more information or to volunteer as a host, please contact Marsha Hyman at 610-733-6652 or [email protected].  You'll be glad you did.
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
Find us on Facebook!

Be sure to join and visit Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City's Facebook group

 

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Jewish Exponent
Contact Leyv Ha-Ir
 
Voice Mail:
215-629-1995


APRIL 2014
Dear Friend of Leyv Ha-Ir ~ Heart of the City,   

 

Time marches on. Hopefully we are finished with the snow and brutal cold for this year. We had a fabulous retreat at the shore, thanks to Sandy's and Evy's efforts. Our education program was interesting, and well attended. And wasn't Purim great fun?  It's heartwarming to feel the joy from people whose lives we touch when we come to their building. And as we always do, we rallied to provide comfort to Myrna Shenberg after Roy's passing. All of this was in addition to our regular schedule of Shabbat services.

April will be an equally busy month. We have the last in the series of Rabbi Julie's education programs, a Shabbat morning service, a Kabbalat Shabbat service, our annual Passover Community Seder (hint-hint, get your reservations in), and a Passover home Shabbat. We hope to see you more often as we gather our renewed energy for Spring.

Best regards,

    

Bobbi, Roby, Myrna Schlanger, Iris N. and Sandy 

Your Executive Committee

FROM RABBI JULIE
Dear Friends,

Abundant thanks for the many cards and donations made in honor of my mother, Polly Hoben Greenberg. I can't tell you how deeply I appreciate your care and concern. My mother lived a long and amazing life and I am honored to celebrate her legacy with you.

Many Thanks,
Rabbi Julie

LHI CALENDAR APRIL 2014

Saturday, April 5, 10:00 AM, Shabbat Morning Service

Join our lay-led minyan for a Shabbat morning service, Torah discussion and pot-luck veggie/dairy lunch.  

Location: Ethical Society, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Sq., second floor front.

 

Sunday, April 6, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Engaging with Prayer:  Passover

Come for brunch and the third session of our education series with Rabbi Julie. You are welcome even if you missed the first sessiona. See article below for more information. 

Location: Laura Jacobs' Home just off Rittenhouse Square (call us at 215.629.1995 if you need the exact location)  

Members - $10, Guests - $15  

Pre-registration requested (not required) by contacting Evy Simon at [email protected] or 215.561.7474

 

Monday, April 7, 7:00 PM, Council Meeting

All members are invited to our monthly Council meeting.
Location: Joan Goldberg's home. Call 215.561.5193 for exact location.  

 

Friday, April 11, 7:30 PM, Kabbalat Shabbat Service  

Rabbi Julie Greenberg will lead our Friday night service, with Cantorial Soloist Jessi Roemer and the Leyv Ha-Ir Choir.
Location: Ethical Society, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square, 1st Floor Auditorium


Tuesday, April 15, 6:30 PM, Community Passover Seder

Our annual Community Passover Seder is always one of our major events.  A full dinner and seder and lots of camaraderie.  Reservations with payment must be received by April 8.  Reservation form and details are available here.  

 

Friday, April 18, 6:30 PM, Home Shabbat Service and Dinner 

Join us at Evy Simon's home for a lay-led Friday night service followed by a pot-luck veggie/dairy Pesach dinner. Please contact Evy at [email protected] or 215.561.7474 to RSVP and let Evy know what you are bringing. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS SPECIAL PASSOVER HOME SHABBAT. 

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Take a complete look at Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir upcoming activities. 

RABBI'S MESSAGE
Rabbi Julie Official Photo

Dear Chevre,

 

We are about to enter the month of Nissan, Passover season. As we prepare for seders it is a time to remember the small steps that lead to big change. When Shifra and Puah, the brave midwives, decided to save the babies in ancient Mitzraim, how could they possibly have known what a great freedom story they had launched? When Moses showed up at the burning bush and said "Hineni/Here I am," how could he possibly have known that he had just taken the first step in a powerful liberation mission?

 

Hope is something we actively choose again and again, without knowing the specific outcomes of our actions. We choose to show up. We choose to take the first step. We choose to live with uncertainty and complexity and to stay present to life. This is what it means to be people of faith. This is the message of our rites of renewal at this season.

 

As you prepare for your seders this year, I invite you to take in the spirit of Shifra, Puah, Moses and Nachshon (our ancestor who took the first step into the scary Red Sea). Let's let these great spirituall models inspire us in our own lives to do what needs to be done.

 

Love and Blessings,

 

Rabbi Julie

DO YOU SING?
The LHI Choir Wants You

Do you love singing with others?

Consider joining the Leyv Ha-Ir Choir!

We are a lovely group and are seeking new members.

Please contact Jessi at  [email protected].
ENGAGING WITH PRAYER - PART 3, PASSOVER

Led by Rabbi Julie Greenberg

Sunday April 6th 11am- 1pm 
at Laura Jacobs' home

Get more out of Passover. Explore the wisdom of the Haggadah. Learn how to make this night different from all other Passover nights.

Come on April 6th. Bring Haggadot, different ones if you have them.

Our brunch will include some unusual Passover dishes as well as non holiday food.

Get ready to enjoy  the holiday.
$10 members, $15 guests
Brunch included

Pre-registration requested (not required) to Evy Simon at [email protected] or 215.561.7474. You can find Laura's address on the member list, or contact us for specifics.  All are welcome!
PASSOVER SEDER
One Week Remaining to Reserve Your Place at the Table!

Please plan to share the Passover holiday with us at our annual Community Seder:

Tuesday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m.
The Philadelphian, Social Room
2041 Pennsylvania Avenue, Philadelphia

Rabbi Julie and Jessi will be leading us, along with the LHI choir. A full dinner and Passover wine is included along with camaraderie and fun for all. Entree choices include fish or vegetarian. Guests are welcome at the member rate.

Cost: $55 per adult, $20 per child ages 3-12

Reserve now by clicking here, printing and mailing the reservation form along with your payment. Reservations must be received by April 8.

We will need a few people to help set up on April 15.  If you can help out, please contact Susan Thompson at 215-923-4040 or [email protected].
LEYV HA-IR FUNDRAISING SALON - SAVE THE DATE! 
Cocktail party for salon
Saturday, May 10     

 

We're delighted that Marsha Hyman will be coordinating an encore Salon event, and that the Steel's are again graciously hosting this event.  

 

Those who attended last year's Salon can tell you what a lovely time was had by all.  SAVE THE DATE for Saturday evening, May 10, and stay tuned for more information.   
  
Did you notice that we did not send a letter asking for donations this year?  Well, your participation at this year's Salon will support your Leyv Ha-Ir and you'll have a great time!  Much more fun that simply writing a check. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.
JOIN THE NEW LIVING SIMPLY GROUP

Living simply is paring away - obligations, expectations, stuff and people. It's making space in your life, your heart, your brain and your place for exactly and only what you need by removing glut and rubble from your life,

 

Be part of this new circle of Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir friends who will participate in quarterly workshops to discuss, learn tools, and practice simplicity in all its forms.

 

The first workshop will be held this spring. Additional details will be available soon.


Contact Claire Dubin (
 [email protected]) or Donna Finkelstein ([email protected]) for more info and to join.
A WALK BACK IN TIME
Special Lecture at Ethical Society

The Ethical Society has invited us to attend this special lecture.

"A Witness to History: Memories of the Nuremberg Trials"

Dr. George Sakheim, an Ethical Society member, will share his experience as an interpreter and translator for the Nuremberg trials of war criminals, 1945-1946.

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014, 1:30 PM at the Ethical Society

Come listen to George Sakheim share his experience as an interpreter and translator for the Nuremberg trial of war criminals in 1945-1946.  He had a front row seat, literally, to a parade of some of Nazi Germany's most notorious war criminals including Hermann Goring.

This is free and open to the public.  Bring interested parties along with you. Flier can be found here.
NEEDED: ONE STORAGE CABINET
For LHI Storage

As those of you who help set up or clean up know, one of our storage cabinets in the basement of the Ethical Society is falling apart.  We need to replace it and plan to do so over the summer.

Before we go out and buy one, does anyone have a spare cabinet they would like to donate to us?  Or do you know of anyone who may be willing to do so?  If you do, please let Roby know by emailing her at [email protected].

Thank you.
OUR LADY OF THE CLOTHIER AND COMPANY

The "Queen" of our Purim celebrations has been, not Vashti, not Esther, but Sue Frank.  Every year, Sue brings many wonderful exotic outfits from her costume collection for us to dress up in, adding greatly to our fun. Behind the scenes, she maintains the outfits and schleps them to us.

A graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Sue is also a drummer and a belly dancer.
IN MEMORIAM
Roy Shenberg
April 13, 1936 - March 10, 2014

A long-time member of Leyv Ha-Ir passed away in March. Roy Shenberg will always be remembered for his sparkling wit and for
his poetry. Rest in Peace, Roy.

The following poem was written by Roy in 2013, and was distributed and read at his funeral:

HARMONY

                                                          

The whole world's  

Write these words   

Listening                    

In the clouds

For your harmony song

With everyone to see

Bring it on, bring it on,

We've been longin'

Bring it on

For your song

We're eagerly waiting

Teach us how to

So that we may get along

Get along

Sing your song

Sing your song

Sing your song

Bring it on

Sing your song

Bring it on

 

 

Teach us your

Sing your song

Words

Bring it on

So together

Loud and strong

We'll be strong

Every town,

Old wounds will heal

Every place

Pain disappear

On the land and in the sea

All violence

has been waiting

Be gone

to sing with you

Be gone

In four part

Be gone

Harmony


Roy Shenberg, 2013

 

"There's no expiration date on creativity. No shelf-life on dreams".....Roy
2014 RETREAT AT THE SHORE
Back to the Shore again, after several years away.

It was a wonderful event with 23 of us in attendance and Rabbi Julie leading us in prayer. An abundance of good will and good food was ever present. Kudos to Sandy Brown and Evy Simon for their hard work in pulling this together. A huge undertaking!!
PURIM PARTY
Note Karen's Tattoo
Two Members in Costume



Our annual Purim party was held March 16 at the William Penn House. As usual, the Leyv Ha-Ir crowd was raucous in celebrating this wonderful Holiday. Rabbi Julie & Jessi Roemer led the Megillah reading and the LHI Purimspiel was hilarious. Many thanks to Karen Zietz for organizing it.


APRIL MEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Happy Birthday
Please join us in extending birthday wishes to these members:

April 14 - Beverly Hayden
April 17 - Joanne Perilstein
April 17 - Pat Wisch

APRIL YAHRZEITS
May These Souls be Bound in the Book of Eternal Light: yahrzeit
 
Samuel Goldberg
Irving Gussman