Collage by Avital Rotbart

TODAY: Jewish Denver Celebrates 155 Years
 
Program Guide: June 22, 2014 (Sivan 24, 5774)
 
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Fresh Episodes Every Week - Exclusively at Chavura.com

There's a lot to look forward to in this week's newsletter, including:
  • Audio: Two Community-Minded Beth Jacob Students
  • Photos: Hillel Academy of Denver - Grade 8 Graduation
  • Photos: Jewish Community Appreciation Day @ Coors Field
  • ScheduleTeam Israel Headed To Denver!
  • Article: Jewish Denver Celebrates 155 Years
  • Welcome AboardMichele Campbell, executive director at Congregation Rodef Shalom
  • Video: Celebrate Family Festival and Walk For Israel - 2014
  • Photos: Pride Musical Shabbat Service and Picnic in the Park
  • Stars For Israel: Today marks 10 days since the kidnapping of Eyal YifrachGilad Shaar and Naftali Frankel
  • Links: Did You Spot These News & Feature Items?
  • Photo: Denver's Camp Maayan Stands With Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali  
  • Prayer: Psalm 121 
  • Article: Where Are Colorado's Jews Hiding? Introducing The Radio Chavura Magazine
  • EventsColorado Jewish Calendar - Don't Miss Any of These Activities
  • AudioBoulder Jewish Festival 2014 - Interviews with Participants
  • Job Opportunity: Schmoozing and Profiting
  Talya Rotbart Flag







Talya Rotbart, our news and features editor, is on Twitter! Follow her @IMAZionist!

Radio Chavura
, the weekly audio program that celebrates the Jewish Community in Colorado and around the world, is proud to announce that it is now regularly recording its shows at 

The Jewish Experience's newly opened headquarters. 


Read the complete story here.BethJacob


This Week on Radio Chavura:

Two Community-Minded Students
From Beth Jacob High School of Denver



Beth Jacob High School Students: Esti Meyer (l) and Irit Kaufman (r)

Beth Jacob High School - located at 5100 West 14th Ave. in Denver's West Side - is one of Colorado's five top-tier Jewish day schools. 
 
Since its founding in 1968, BJHS has been a valued Denver institution, helping to instill a love for Torah and Jewish learning in our daughters while maintaining vigorous secular academic standards. 
 
What is especially impressive about the school is how community-minded its students are. When Time Magazine's Joel Stein lamented last year that teenagers are being lost to a "Me, Me, Me" mentality (the front cover notoriously labeled the current generation "lazy, entitled narcissists"), he clearly hadn't met any Beth Jacob High School students.
 
Defying modern convention about how "the guiding morality of 60% of millennials in any situation is that they'll just be able to feel what's right," the 65 students at BJHS represent what is proper about our children, not what is to be lamented. 
 
Esti Meyer, a 2014 graduate of the school, and Irit Kaufman, an incoming senior, are two shining examples of community-conscious BJHS youth. Both students are involved in all aspects of Jewish life in Colorado, from senior visits to childcare. Esti is now looking at a career in education; Irit in medicine. They want to give back to the people who have given them so much.

In this lively Radio Chavura interview, Esti and Irit reflect on their high school experiences, the meaning of Jewish leadership, and the welcoming nature of Beth Jacob High School of Denver and its students. Listen to the complete program with Esti and Irit here.

Please click on the images below to show your support for each of Denver's top-tier Jewish day schools:

   

HAOD

27 Exclusive Photos:

Hillel Academy of Denver - Grade 8 Graduation
June 17, 2014
 

Click here to view all 27 exclusive photosRockies

47 Exclusive Photos:

Jewish Community Appreciation Day @ Coors Field
June 22, 2014

Click here to view all 47 exclusive photos Lacrosse

TEAM ISRAEL HEADED TO DENVER!
July 2 - July 20, 2014


In 2014, for the first time ever, Israel Lacrosse will participate in the Federation of International Lacrosse's World Lacrosse Championships. The acclaimed tournament - which features talent from 38 countries  - will take place in Commerce City in July.

 

As a first time challenger, Team Israel has not been tested in an official capacity (although we have reason to believe that Israel will be a strong contender in her World Championships debut). Show your support for Israel's National Lacrosse Team by coming to one of the games listed below. Team Israel has specifically asked the Colorado Jewish community to turn out in numbers to the boldfaced games. This list will be updated as more information becomes available. See you there!

  

Scrimmages

 

Thursday, July 3 at 4:00 PM - Israel vs. Millenium Chiefs - (Edwards Turf; Vail, CO)

 

Tuesday, July 8 at 1:00 PM - Israel vs. Turkey - (East HS; Denver, CO)

 

Tuesday, July 8 at 4:30 PM - Israel vs. Netherlands - (UC Boulder; Boulder, CO)

 

Wednesday, July 9 at 12:00 PM - Israel vs. Finland - (East HS; Denver, CO)

 

Wednesday, July 9 at 6:00 PM - "Blue vs White Game" - (East HS; Denver, CO)

Free Admissions

 

 

Thursday, July 10 at 11:45 AM - Israel vs. Latvia - (East HS; Denver, CO)

 

Thursday, July 10 at 4:00 PM - Israel vs. Colorado State - (East HS; Denver, CO)

 

 

2014 World Championships

 

Friday, July 11 at 11:30 AM - Israel vs. Sweden (Dick's Sporting Goods Park)

 

Saturday, July 12 at 8:30 PM - Israel vs. Slovakia (Dick's Sporting Goods Park)

 

Sunday, July 13 at 11:30 AM - Israel vs. South Korea (Dick's Sporting Goods Park)

 

Playoffs and Consolation Rounds begin on July 14th

 

Photos courtesy of Israel LacrosseDenverHistory


TODAY IN COLORADO JEWISH HISTORY
June 22, 1859



A claimant to the title of "First Jewish Person To Permanently Settle In Denver, CO," Fred Z. Salomon moved to the Mile High City 155-years-ago today, setting up a dry goods store in what is now downtown Denver.

His accomplishments after moving to Colorado include:
  • Serving on the Denver City Council
  • Serving as the Denver Chamber of Commerce's treasurer
  • Managing the state's first "general merchandise house"
  • Opening the city's first brewery
  • Leasing space for the city's first classroom structure
  • Co-founding the Auraria and Denver Chess Club
  • Co-founding the Colorado State Historical Society
  • Co-founding the Hebrew Cemetery Association
  • Co-founding the Denver branch of B'nai B'rith
Although Radio Chavura was launched on July 1, 2012, on our website we list the date of our founding as June 22, 1859 in honor of Mr. Salomon and the auspicious start that he gave to our state's Jewish community.

You can read more about early Colorado Jewry here.Rodef

Welcome Aboard...

 
...Michele Campbell is the new executive director of Congregation Rodef Shalom, having joined the synagogue from Temple Shalom in Colorado Springs.  Michele, pictured with Radio Chavura's Maxwell Rotbart, and Rodef Shalom have agreed to distribute free copies of The Radio Chavura Magazine, which will be published at the end of August CFF

NOW ON YOUTUBE - WATCH HERE:

Denver's Celebrate Family & Walk for Israel - 2014
@ The Robert E. Loup JCC
 
Were You There?  Who Do You Recognize?


Exclusive Chavura Photos Galorie   
Were You There?  Who Do You Recognize?

The Jewish Experience Center - Grand Opening
More than 900 view to date!
Celebrate Family Festival/Walk For Israel

Denver Jewish Day School Graduation





Israeli President Shimon Peres will be in the United States this week to meet with President Barack Obama. Please call the White House at (202) 456-1111 and ask President Obama to release Jonathan Pollard, issue a statement condemning the kidnapping of the three Israeli students, and pressure the Cuban government to free Alan Gross. The time to act is now.

Today marks 10 days since Eyal YifrachGilad Shaar and Naftali Frankel (www.facebook.com/idfonline), yeshiva students in Gush Etzion, were kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists. 

Today marks 10,440 days since Jonathan Pollard (www.jonathanpollard.org) was imprisoned in the United States. Read Maxwell Rotbart's column, Separating fact from fiction about Jonathan Pollard, on Examiner.com.

Today marks 1,663 days since Alan Gross (www.bringalanhome.org) was imprisoned in Cuba. TalyasNews

 _______________________ 
 

 

DID YOU SPOT THESE NEWS and FEATURE ITEMS? 
Talya Rotbart

Edited by 
Talya Rotbart 

   

Thanks to the following individuals whose keen eyes helped us identify articles of interest in recent editions: Richard Behar, Dr. Herzl MelmedDr. Donald Salem, Lela Kay, Chaya Parkoff, Eve LevyRabbi Daniel Alter, Dr. Harley RotbartCheryl and David Fellows, Tamari Gruszow, and Shirley Lewis. If you spot a news feature that is worth including in a future edition of this newsletter, please email the URL to Talya at [email protected].


by Phyllis Chesler (June 22, 2014)

Google rates the number of times that people re-tweet over time a particular hashtag. The maximum is expressed as 100. In May 2014, #BringBackOurGirls" was rated 100. Today, it is rated at nine. People have a really short attention span and lead busy lives. So far, "#BringBackOurBoys" and "#EyalGiladNaftali" register as 0...

On June 18, 2014, the New York Times had the strangest, spookiest placement for their coverage of the Prayer Vigils held in New York City for Eyal, Gilad and Naftali. It appeared on page A24-opposite the Obituaries of a novelist, a children's book editor, and a copy-writer. I was quite taken aback. This coverage might have appeared in the City section or perhaps as news, earlier on. It was a fairly sympathetic piece; is this the reason that editors placed it among the Obituaries? Is it entirely coincidental, accidental, or is someone assuming, even actually wishing that these boys are dead? What other rational explanation can there be for such a bizarre placement? 
 

 

Until two days ago, I hadn't spoken with Yishai Fraenkel since last August. I had just published a Forbes magazine cover story about Israeli-Palestinian joint ventures in high-tech (as well as efforts to bring Israeli Arabs and ultra-orthodox Jews into the sector), and had interviewed Yishai for it. As the general manager of the design and development center at Intel's headquarters in Jerusalem, the 44-year-old is spearheading those integration efforts for the company.

 

He gave me a tour, and made others available to speak about the initiatives. Almost instantly, I was struck by his grace, warmth and brilliance. That Intel- the world's #1 chipmaker-is the key player, along with Cisco Systems Israel, in these programs is monumental. The company is Israel's largest private employer (9,855), as well as the nation's largest-single industrial exporter ($3.8 billion; a 10% market share). Intel has invested about $10 billion in Israel over the past few decades, and in April announced it would spend up to $6 billion for an upgrade of a chip-making facility in the country's south.

 

But that conversation last August was a painful one for me. Many Palestinian entrepreneurs hated my cover because it crossed the border from development of their high-tech sector into politics-specifically the prospect that such Israeli-Palestinian partnerships could be the best hope for paving the road to peace. Yishai was comforting, and tried to explain why they were upset. "Please continue to cover our region," he wrote. "As you stated, the rays of sun, even if painful, only do good." I've done so, and only last month moderated a panel in Tel Aviv on Israeli-Palestinian ventures for Israel's largest high-tech trade association. (I didn't have a chance to see Yishai this time around, although he was initially going to be a panelist.)

 

 

by Sean Savage (June 20, 2014)
  

BDS leaders have specifically targeted the churches for co-optation; they hope to capture the churches' moral voice to act as a stalking horse for their cause, which is to dismantle the State of Israel.

 

The PCUSA, though small in numbers, is being watched by a number of other mainline churches.

 

"Passage of divestment could signal to these other churches, which have refrained from passing divestment, to move forward on that front." Yitzhak Santis, chief programs officer and "BDS in the Pews" project director, NGO Monitor

 

 
by The Associated Press (June 19, 2014)

France has the world's third-largest Jewish population after Israel and the United States - about 500,000, according to rough estimates in a country that has outlawed any official documentation of a person's religion since the Holocaust.

 

Since World War II, France has redoubled efforts to make Jewish families feel welcome. But many say dramatic acts of anti-Semitism coupled with France's stagnant economy - which includes a 25 percent youth unemployment rate, compared with 11 percent in Israel - make a hard choice easier.

 

Laurie Levy, 26, left in 2013. A native of the southern city of Toulouse, her departure came after attacks by a French-born Islamic radical on a Jewish school and soldiers left seven people dead, including three children and a rabbi. She has given up on a career in French law and left behind her parents and siblings.

 

In Tel Aviv, she no longer feels the need to hide the Star of David she wears around her neck. But there are other concerns: Her parents are unlikely to uproot themselves and she worries about their future back in France. They, in turn, worry about her, living alone in a different country.

 
Native Son
by Chlo� Simone Valdary (June 18, 2014)

do hope you will pardon me for refusing to bend my knee before you, dear world. But see, I'm a little tired of your empty promises to pursue ideals like justice and liberty and freedom and all those slogans you like to write about in newspapers, while you, at the same time, deny me the right to be free in my land. And I've got to say, you were really beginning to get to me; my spirit was cast down and my soul grew weary and I was depressed for some time.

 

Indeed, you had me in a very defeatist mood thinking I was some sort of aberration of a human being. You had me thinking I should somehow put up with your bigoted attempts at defaming my history, lying about my country, libeling my people and slandering my good name.

 


by Caroline Glick (June 17, 2014)

According to The New York Times' Israel bureau chief Jodi Rudoren, by searching for the boys, Israel has "further destabilized Israeli-Palestinian relations, and challenged the new Palestinian government's ability to hold together disparate political factions and reunite the West Bank and Gaza after a seven-year split..."

"The disparate political factions," Rudoren was referring to are Fatah and Hamas.

 

Hamas, as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said, kidnapped the teenagers. Hamas is a jihadist movement recognized by the US State Department and the EU as a foreign terrorist organization.

 

Its declared goal is the genocide of world Jewry. And to advance its aim, it has murdered Jews, and incited, trained and indoctrinated Palestinians to murder Jews every single day since it was founded in 1988.

 

video by Naftali Kalfa (June 16, 2014)



 
 














WeeklyPhoto

__________

Did You Spot This Photo?
Denver's Camp Maayan Stands With Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali


Denver's Camp Maayan, headed by Rabbi Michael Sunshine out of the Denver Academy of Torah lower school, created posters in support of the three Israeli students who were kidnapped ten days ago. This image is of the students in the youngest group. View all the students showcasing a much larger banner here.Psalm

PSALM 121 - A Prayer For Recovery


Please join Jews and people of peace around the globe in reciting a prayer for the safe and speedy return of: 
Yaacov Naftali ben Rachel DevoraGilad Michoel ben Batgalim; and Ayal ben Iris Teshua
The Three Kidnapped Yeshiva Boys of Gush Etzion


A Song For Ascents: I shall raise my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come?
My help is from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 
He will not allow your foot to falter; Your Guardian will not slumber. 
Behold the Guardian of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 
The Lord is your Guardian; the Lord is your shadow; [He is] by your right hand. 
By day, the sun will not smite you, nor will the moon at night. 
The Lord will guard you from all evil; He will guard your soul. 
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from now and to eternity.Hiding

WHERE ARE COLORADO'S JEWS HIDING?
A New Way to Connect with Colorado's Growing Jewish Community
 
We know they're out there.  

Population studies confirm that Colorado is home to more than 90,000 Jewish residents - a number that almost certainly continues to swell with the influx of newcomers to our Centennial State.

But where are these modern-day descendants of Abraham and Sarah?  How can we connect with them and encourage them to be in contact with us: the Jewish organizations, congregations, businesses, medical facilities and community resources that are anxious to welcome and serve them? 

Since our launch on July 1, 2012, Radio Chavura has used the broadcast airwaves, e-newsletters, social networking sites, photography and videos to connect with both the established Colorado Jewish community and the many so-called "Hidden Yeedin," who identify as Jews, but don't readily affiliate with organized Jewish groups and institutions.

Now, on the eve of our third year of operations, Radio Chavura is pleased to announce plans to publish a free, four-color magazine that will reach Colorado Jews where they shop, eat, learn, live, play, pray and care for themselves.

The inaugural edition of The Radio Chavura Magazine, scheduled to arrive in late August - one month ahead of this year's High Holidays - will be distributed for free to 15,000+ Jewish readers in Metro Denver, Boulder, Northern Colorado, Colorado Springs, Vail and Aspen.

The magazine will be edited by Maxwell and Dean Rotbart, who produce and co-host the weekly Radio Chavura audio programs.  Photography will be provided by Avital Rotbart, who regularly captures local Jewish events and celebrations.  
 
Read more about it and learn how your business or organization can get involved here.

JewishCal

Hebrew Calendar

Radio Chavura's Colorado Jewish Calendar 
 
June 23 (Monday): Mizel Museum's ArtRageous Pets, Compassionate Friends camp will be taking place all week long for ages 6-11 at the museum (400 S. Kearney, 80224).
 
June 26 (Thursday): The Hebrew Educational Alliance (3600 S. Ivanhoe Street, 80237) will be showing a documentary on Mel Brooks at 7:15 pm.
 
June 27 (Friday): The B'nai B'rith Annual Leadville Cemetery Cleanup two-day event begins. Call 303-393-7358 for more information.
_______
 
Colorado's Jewish community welcomes Cantor Sheila Nesis, the new clergy member at Temple Sinai (3509 S. Glencoe Street, 80237) in a 6:00 pm service followed by an Oneg Shabbat.

  

June 29 (Sunday): Hazon's Jewish Food Festival will be taking place from 9:30 am until 3:00 pm at the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center (350 S. Dahlia Street).

  

July 4 (Friday): Temple Emanuel will be having a special Independence Day service and barbecue at 5:30 pm at 51 Grape Street.
_______
 
Congregation Har HaShem will be hosting a picnic for Boulder's homeless at Eben G. Fine Park from 11:30 am until 1:30 pm. Volunteers are welcome. Email [email protected] if you are available to help.
 
July 11 (Friday): At 7:00 at its Meditation Garden, Congregation Rodef Shalom (450 S. Kearney Street, 80224) will be hosting a "Shabbat Under The Stars" service.
 
July 12 (Saturday): At 9:00 am, Temple Emanuel will be having a family hike and worship service. Email [email protected] for more information.

  

July 13 (Sunday): The Jewish Women's Theatre Company (formerly the Jewish Denver Drama Girls) presents Peter Pan at 2:00 pm at Aish Denver (9550 E. Belleview Avenue). Directed by Wendy Greenwald, music direction by Randy Weiss, and choreography by Chana Weiss. For boys age 4-8 and women of all ages. Fee. See ad above.
 

 Send calendar notices for your organization's upcoming events to us at: [email protected].


Boulder

2014 Boulder Jewish Festival  
Exclusive Interviews



Congregation Har HaShem in Boulder joins the growing list of organizations that agree to distribute
The Radio Chavura Magazine, coming in August. Pictured is Gary Fifer of Har HaShem (l) and Radio Chavura's Dean Rotbart.

The 20th Annual Boulder Jewish Festival - held Sunday, June 8th, at the Pearl Street Mall - was an incredible showcase of the talents and organizations of the Colorado Jewish community. Festival director Cheryl Fellows (who, along with her husband David, publishes the Boulder Jewish News) once again outdid herself.  Although it rained and poured at times, the weather did not dampen the ruach - the spirit - of the event.

Among the festival participants interviewed on this week's program are:
  1. Jonathan Lev, executive director, Boulder JCC
  2. Rivka Miriam Brackman, former counselor, Camp Gan Izzy
  3. Ann Lederer, founder, Dyes on Silk
  4. Jerry Pinsker, volunteer liaison, ADL's No Place for Hate
  5. Amy Atkins, coordinator, Jewish Together Boulder
  6. Kayla Goldstein, Kate Sadow, and Rachel Heilbronner, representatives, BBYO
  7. Arel Mishory, founder, The Hands Work
  8. Debbie Garelick and Marilyn Pinsker, members, Bonai Shalom Sisterhood
  9. Josh Gold, initiative manager, MazelTot
  10. Rabbi Anat Moskowitz, spiritual leader, Congregation B'nai Torah
  11. Debbie Schwartz, vice president of programs, Jewish Genealogical Society of Colorado
  12. Rabbi Pesach Scheiner, spiritual leader, Chabad of Boulder County
  13. Josh Raderman and Ezra Cohen, chefs, LB Kosher Grill
  14. Rabbi Joshua Rose, outgoing spiritual leader, Congregation Har HaShem Jobs

 What A Job! - Schmoozing and Profiting

 

Sales Collage

  

Radio Chavura, which will soon complete its second year serving the local Jewish community, is seeking a part-time, commission-only sales person to sell sponsorships for our program, newsletter, website, and other content. 

 

The right candidate will enjoy "schmoozing" with Jewish business owners and non-Jewish businesses that serve greater Denver's vibrant Jewish community. This is a perfect opportunity for a candidate with previous sales experience who would enjoy the networking and socializing that comes with doing person-to-person sales. 

 

We pay a generous commission on all sales, beginning at 20% and ranging as high as 45%.   

 

Please email a brief note of interest, contact information, and sales experience to [email protected]. For more information, phone Maxwell or Dean at 855-JEWISH-4.


Photography by Avital
 Children * Parties * Graduations * Camps * Events * Reunions



Contact Avital by email at [email protected] or phone her at 855-539-4744 


HAVE YOUR CHILDREN JOINED YET?
 
Click on image above to view the 3rd and 4th Gen page

The newly launched 3rd and 4th Gen Holocaust survivors Facebook page is a place for young people to connect and share stories about their ancestors and their own lives today.

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Radio Chavura is a labor of love. We are proud to serve as Colorado's only radio voice of the Jewish community.  It is our weekly mission to celebrate the organizations and individuals who enrich us all through their hard work, dedication and love of Judaism and Israel.  


If you would like to support our efforts and the unique role we play, you can now make a donation (in any amount of your choosing) using a credit card via PayPal. You need not be a PayPal member to contribute to Radio Chavura.

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Maxwell and Dean 


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