JANUARY 2020 / TEVET-SHEVAT 5780

VOLUME 14 NUMBER 4 AAC SISTERHOOD SHABBATON

JANUARY 17-19, 2020
THE BULLETIN FEATURING SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE MARGIE MILLER
INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT, WOMEN’S LEAGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM
Join Sisterhood for an exciting line up of events and programs all weekend
long, centered around the annual signature event, Sisterhood Shabbat.
FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER
January 17 | 7:30 p.m., immediately following services
Join Sisterhood for a traditional Shabbat dinner with keynote speaker Margie
Miller. All are invited. $40/person. RSVP by January 6 at www.Eventbrite.
com/e/sisterhood-shabbat-friday-night-dinner-tickets-86525477031
Questions? Contact Debbie Altenburg, deborah_altenburg@yahoo.com.
Checks may be brought in or mailed to the synagogue office. Please make
them payable to AAC Sisterhood with “Sisterhood Dinner” on the memo line
and include names and number of attendees.
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES
Saturday, January 18 | 9:30 a.m.
Come and participate in services led by our Sisterhood members and listen to
the Sisterhood Ensemble. Margie Miller will deliver the address.
Questions? Contact Sara Naphtali-Krumbein, skrumbein@gmail.com.
POST KIDDUSH TALK: LIFE AFTER TRAUMA, LOSS, AND GRIEF
AGUDAS ACHIM Saturday, January 18 | 12:30 p.m.
Margie Miller will share her experience and the strategies she employed to
CONGREGATION cope with profound loss. Margie’s husband, Joel Miller, z”l was killed in the
\Myxa [Tdvga [TTlyhqOOP terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Margie took
on the role as Family Outreach and Program Coordinator at the WTC Family
Center and worked as a bereavement specialist, assisting more than 1,000 im-
pacted families, responders, and survivors. Margie was also instrumental in the
creation of the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
BUILDING SACRED COMMUNITY.
SISTERHOOD BRUNCH
NURTURING LIFELONG
RELATIONSHIPS.
Sunday, January 19 | 9:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Come to Margie Miller’s final presentation. RSVP by Thursday, January 16.
Reservations strongly encouraged to guarantee enough food. RSVP to Judith
Fogel, judith.fogel.007@gmail.com.
TOY DRIVE
Sisterhood brings back its annual toy drive for Chil-
dren’s Hospital, through January 19. Please make sure
donations are NEW, non-toxic toys, stuffed animals,
blankets, or clothes that meet consumer product safety
codes, or bring something from the hospital’s wish list:
https://childrensnational.org/visit/resources-for-
families/family-services/volunteer/dr-bears-closet-
donation-drives. Place donations in the baskets in the
synagogue foyer.
A FUN HANUKKAH
CELEBRATION
Hundreds of AAC congregants
of all ages celebrated Hanukkah
with latkes and sufganiyot; songs
2908 VALLEY DRIVE led by AAC’s in-house band Ein
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22302
Lanu Z’man under the leadership
703-998-6460
of Hazzan Elisheva Dienstfrey;
WWW.AGUDASACHIM-VA.ORG candle lighting and blessings with Rabbi Steven Rein; and a special performance by
the new in-house Drama Chug led by Education Director Chaya Silver.
 SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
JANUARY RABBI’S MESSAGE
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3 RABBI STEVEN I. REIN
Shehecheyanu Service...........6:30 p.m.
Candlelighting.......................4:41 p.m.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4
Shabbat Services....................9:30 a.m. THE CLIMBING TREE
Mincha..........45 minutes after services
Havdalah Time......................5:50 p.m. The most popular tree at Agudas Achim stands just a dozen yards from the parking
lot door. While I am not sure what variety of tree it is, I know that it is perfect. Some
BAT MITZVAH OF YEHUDIT SARAH
“DEE DEE” QUIGLEY of its branches are low and easy for a small child to climb. The tree also offers loftier
YEHUDIT SARAH BAT RACHEL TZIPPORAH heights to be attained with age, strength, and disregard for a mother’s warning. About
PARSHAT VAYIGASH halfway up the tree there is a curvature of branches forming a seat as comfortable as
any easy chair. It is in that tree that many of our synagogue’s children, including my
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 own, have sat and watched their friends and family down below. When our children
Kabbalat Shabbat Service......6:30 p.m.
Candlelighting.......................4:47 p.m. need to think, they climb that tree, feet dangling just above the pressures of reality.
When I think about trees it is often this “climbing tree” that comes to mind.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11 On the last Shabbat of January, as the mercury dwells below freezing, we will
Shabbat Services....................9:30 a.m. announce the new Hebrew month of Shevat, with its notable holiday of Tu Bishvat
Mincha..........45 minutes after services (February 10). Known as the New Year of the Trees, although it came into existence
Havdalah Time......................5:56 p.m.
essentially for ancient tax purposes, the holiday has become over the years a celebra-
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 tion of trees and ecology. The image of trees permeates our tradition. Every Shabbat
Kabbalat Shabbat Service......6:30 p.m. we sing that the Torah is a “tree of life to all who grasp it” and that the righteous are
Candlelighting.......................4:55 p.m. like palm trees and cedars.
The Torah makes an explicit comparison when it says, “For a person is a tree in the
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18
Shabbat Services....................9:30 a.m. field” (Deuteronomy 20:19). The commentaries on this verse try to understand how
Mincha..........45 minutes after services humans are like trees. Rabbi Jacob ben Isaac Ashkenazi claims we are like trees
Havdalah Time......................6:04 p.m. because we grow and bear fruit – our children and our good deeds. Rabbi Judah Loew
thinks we are like trees because we are planted in the earthly soil, but our branches
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24
Kabbalat Shabbat Service......6:30 p.m. reach toward heaven. I would like to add another interpretation: Just as trees can grow
Candlelighting.......................5:03 p.m. alone in a field but are more often found in forests, groves, and orchards, so too are
we humans at our best when we grow in communities.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 As we anticipate the holiday of Tu Bishvat, we would do well to remember our
Shabbat Services....................9:30 a.m. connection to the natural world. On Shabbat, January 25, in addition to announcing
Mincha..........45 minutes after services
Havdalah Time......................6:12 p.m. the month of Shevat, we will welcome Dr. Mirele B. Goldsmith, head of the Jewish
Climate Action Network in the DMV. Her topic, “From Moses to Greta: Leader-
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 ship Lessons for Facing Up to Climate Change,” will address some of the most
Kabbalat Shabbat Service......6:30 p.m. pressing issues of our day.
Candlelighting.......................5:11 p.m.
If you are interested in how we as a community can organize around
the issues of our environment, please reach out to Leib Kaminsky,
DAILY MINYAN SCHEDULE ljk5266@gmail.com. When we come together to learn about the envi-
Monday through Friday
Mornings................................7:30 a.m. ronment and what we can do to protect and preserve it, we should re-
member that we are like trees. We rely on natural resources to be
Sunday and Federal Holiday
Mornings................................9:00 a.m. healthy and grow, and we can provide goods and deeds to help sustain
those resources. We must be planted in reality but with lofty goals of
Sunday through Thursday what our community can do for the planet.
Evenings.................................7:50 p.m.
Most importantly, while we can act alone, we will be that much more
Note: No evening minyan on New Year’s powerful if we act together as a community. Only by
eve, December 31.
organizing and growing together can we make our
orchard flourish and ensure our “climbing tree” con-
tinues to be a special place for our children.
NEW CLASS: FOUNDATIONS OF JEWISH FAMILY LIVING
Thursdays, January 16 - March 19 | 7 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
This Melton course, taught by Rabbi Rein, offers a thought-provoking encounter
Regular office hours: with the core values of Judaism and provides parents with learning, language, and
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. -5 p.m. confidence to teach their children and support Jewish learning at home.
Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. AAC members receive $50 off the $150 tuition. Register through the website,
www.agudasachim-va.org/learn/lifelong-learning#
PAGE 2 AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION | WWW.AGUDASACHIM-VA.ORG
 DEAR HAZZAN
HAZZAN ELISHEVA R. DIENSTFREY

ELANA ROZENFELD: CANTOR, FRIEND, MENSCH CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT

Dear Hazzan,
THE BLESSINGS OF OUR
I hear that we are having a guest cantor as our Artist-in-Residence this year. Can
you tell us more about it? COMMUNITY
Thank you,
Shira Shabbat MAY 17 CONCERT AND DINNER
TICKETS AVAILABLE SOON
Dear Shira,
I love what I do; I often tell people that being a cantor is the best job in the Join our community for A Day of
world. However, there are drawbacks, one of the greatest being the inability to Blessings for Our Community, Bra-
listen to other cantors on Shabbat. So, it is such a pleasure to bring my colleagues chot Kehilateinu, on May 17. The
to Agudas Achim where we ALL can appreciate their beautiful voices and inspir- celebration includes a late afternoon
ing teaching. concert in memory of David Sattler
This year, we welcome Cantor Elana Rozenfeld from Newton, MA, the week- and a dinner in honor of Hazzan
end of Shabbat Shirah, which will be February 7-8, 2020. Elisheva Dienstfrey’s 20th Anni-
I first met Elana through her music. Many years ago, Cantor Steve Stoehr had versary at Agudas Achim (by reser-
given me a setting of Kaddish and a few other pieces and asked me to put together vation only).
a women’s ensemble to perform them at one of our conventions. I fell in love with Tickets for the 4:30 p.m. inaugu-
the setting of Kaddish composed by Elana Rozenfeld. Since then, I have taught it ral David Sattler (z”l) Spring Con-
to our Sisterhood Ensemble and a children’s choir to sing at one of our annual cert, featuring Cantor Azi Schwartz,
Northern VA Holocaust commemorations, and I have sung it with my own family are $36 per person. At the reception
at the unveilings of my grandparents. immediately following, attendees
When I met Elana in person, I was so excited to put a face to a name and to a will be able to congratulate Hazzan
voice. I was doubly pleased to discover what a wonderful mensch Elana is in Dienstfrey on her many contribu-
addition to being a talented composer, musician, and teacher. tions to our community and greet
Elana will lead us in t’fillah throughout Shabbat, engage us in study, and will Cantor Schwartz.
perform in a concert on Saturday night along with our AAC in-house band, Ein An elegant dinner celebration will
Lanu Z’man. If you want to get a taste of Elana’s music – both her own composi- begin at 7 p.m. to celebrate and pay
tions and the music of our colleagues, friends, and idols – you need only visit her tribute to our Hazzan. The dinner is
soundcloud webpage at https://soundcloud.com/cantor-rozenfeld. $272 per person and includes the
Please join us for an uplifting Shabbat of song and learning. concert and reception. Sponsorship
L’shalom, opportunities, which support the op-
Hazzan Dienstfrey eration of Agudas Achim, are avail-
able and will be announced soon. A
UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS portion of the dinner price also pro-
vides this support to help our com-
LEARNING THE LANGUAGE: HEBREW & ARABIC – PRAYER, MOVEMENT AND MUSIC munity continue to thrive and grow.
Sunday, February 2 | Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center Watch your mailbox for the Save
See page 11 for details. the Date and email inbox in early
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE SHABBAT WITH CANTOR ELANA ROZENFELD 2020 for information on purchasing
February 7-8 tickets for these special events.
Shabbat will conclude with a Saturday night concert with the Agudas Achim
band, Ein Lanu Z’man, with Hazzan Elisheva Dienstfrey. This event kicks off
AAC’s music festival 2020 celebrating Hazzan Dienstfrey’s 20 years at AAC.
Get a sneak peek of Cantor Rozenfeld’s magnetic personality and gorgeous
sound in this clip of “Raizele”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-s6c_gmQmU

JANUARY 2020 PAGE 3

 WINDOWS ON ISRAEL
Saturday, January 11 | 12:30 p.m.
Flax Family Chapel
E D
XECUTIVE IRECTOR S ESSAGE ’ M
Join Miri, our shlicha, for this BARRY NOVE
month’s “Windows on Israel” session,
which will focus on Hanukkah from a
secular Jewish perspective. The group M P
AKING ROGRESS
will discuss traditional and modern
Jewish texts dealing with the “holiday First, best wishes to you and your entire family for a Happy New Year.
of lights” and its complex history. This As we continue to improve our ability to serve our members, the administration
session was originally developed by Bi- of the synagogue made a major change, moving from an in-house bookkeeper to
nah, the Israeli Secular Yeshiva, where an off-site accounting firm, Wipfli LLP for greater efficiency.
Miri studied for a year after her military Glenn Mays, who has been serving as receptionist and as accounts receivable
service. clerk for almost a year, will work with me on taking “point” with Wipfli while he
continues to offer customer service, answer questions about membership state-
ISRAELI MOVIE CLUB ments, payments, contributions, and accessing Shulcloud online membership ac-
Wednesday, January 22 | 6 p.m. counts. When you come into the office you may not see him in his recent post at
Flax Family Chapel the front desk, but rather around the corner closer to my office.
Our movie this month is Gett: The In keeping with this change, we have been seeking members to volunteer to take
Trial of Viviane Amsalem. Trapped in a shift at the front desk. The responsibilities include: “buzzing” guests in when
an unloving marriage, Viviane Amsa- they come to the front door, answering the phone, and greeting members, guests,
lem has long sought a divorce from her and vendors to the synagogue. The front desk will now regularly serve as a vol-
devout husband Elisha. But under Israe- unteer desk. If you or someone you know, would like to volunteer from Tuesday
li law, all divorce proceedings are over- to Friday for a 3- or 4-hour shift, whether every week, or twice a month, please
seen by an Orthodox rabbinical court, give Erica Jacobs or me a call at the synagogue office, 703-998-6460, or email
which only agrees to dissolve a mar- her at ejacobs@agudasachim-va.org.
riage with the husband’s consent. On the facility side, in December we replaced three sets of emergency exit
Despite the poor situation of their doors and replaced half of the aging skylights above the Siegel Education Wing.
marriage Elisha refuses to grant Vivi- Plans for Phase 2 of our “Refresh” of the building continue. We will be replacing
ane a gett (divorce papers). The hear- carpeting, upgrading to LED lighting, putting a hearing loop in the Flax Family
ings in the court become a Kafkaesque Chapel, and replacing the carpeting in the lobby. We have additional plans, in-
story, where the cluding painting both areas and more; however, these are not yet funded.
person who is be- I continue to encourage our members with Internet access to become familiar
ing sued is the one with our online membership system, Shulcloud, which is also available as an app.
who gets to In addition to being able to access your account, pay bills, and access the mem-
choose his own bership directory, you can let us know whether you prefer receiving statements
verdict. This film and The Bulletin via email, printed mail, or both. We began emailing statements
includes some of out for the first time after Thanksgiving.
the best Israeli ac- Please let us know how you think we’re doing as this process continues. Our
tors, and gained goal is to provide greater efficiency, more transparency, and make all feel wel-
great success in come at Agudas Achim.
Israel and abroad. Thank you.
Barry
bnove@agudasachim-va.org
SHARE YOUR NEWS
We want to support you and celebrate
with you. To share a newsworthy or
noteworthy happening with the Agudas
Achim community, please contact the SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
synagogue office at 703-998-6460. To FOR FRONT DESK SUPPORT
make an appointment with the clergy, Join us in the synagogue office. We’re looking for volunteers who would like
email Erica Jacobs, ejacobs@agudas to lend a hand answering phones, greeting visitors, and performing light admin-
achim-va.org. To put an item in the istrative tasks. Shifts of any duration are available Mondays through Thursdays,
weekly enews Kvelling Corner, contact 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Fridays, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Interested members may contact
Rachel Goldberg, rgoldberg@agudas Barry Nove, bnove@agudasacim-va.org, 703-998-6460.
achim-va.org.

PAGE 4 AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION | WWW.AGUDASACHIM-VA.ORG

 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
MEREDITH LUDWIG A WARM WELCOME
TO OUR NEW
VOLUNTEERS HELP ACHIEVE VISION MEMBERS
Volunteers, as I mentioned in the Kol Nidre address this year, help us achieve Peter and Sara Kirschner
our vision. Organized into committees and advisory groups, volunteers demon- Marcia Litt
strate their investment in the committee objectives and outcomes by imagining
better ways of working and serving our community. Committee members and
chairs come from among our many member groups, including long-time members
and new members. They represent singles, young married couples, large and
small families. Our recent ad hoc planning committee for the Hanukkah congre- ALIVE! UPDATE
gation-wide event is a perfect example. BY JOAN HARTMAN MOORE
This fiscal year there are some reinvigorated committees and advisory groups The Social Action Committee thanks
at work, advancing our strategic planning objectives. everyone who helped make up the latest
The facilities committee, co-led by Gail Bentkover and Karen Parkin, suc- delivery to the ALIVE! food ware-
cessfully led us through one period of refreshing our building and are planning for house—165 pounds of food for Alexan-
a next phase in 2020. The committee now is intimately familiar with the measure- dria families in need.
ments, colors, strengths, and weaknesses of each and every space in our building. SAC says donors can “think ethnic”
They are working with Facilities Manager Lawrence Mawunya-Yawson (KB) when shopping for ALIVE!—rice,
and Executive Director Barry Nove to meet the Strategic Plan objective of devel- dried beans, dried lentils, masa, chilis,
oping a tool to track repairs. This committee also exercises care in regards to the corn oil and other Latin and Asian foods
ritual purposes of our rooms and care for the religious and decorative objects on as well as traditional canned goods,
the walls and in book and display cases. As an advisory group to the facilities peanut butter, jellies, and cereals.
committee, a new group on Arts Collection and Placement will review our current Wholesome snacks for kids are also
collection prior to the painting of our gathering places (lobby and Founder’s Gal- great. Instant coffees but, please, no
lery) and suggest approaches for displaying cherished art and dedications. large containers of ground coffee and,
Fundraising is a continuing theme in our Board discussions about budget and please, no matzoh or other white flour
financial conditions. This year we are fortunate that Stan Blacker and Marc crackers that provide little or no nutri-
Wilson have volunteered to reinvigorate the fundraising committee, a standing tional value. Your donations fill the ba-
committee in our governing documents. This committee began well into our cur- sic food needs for many of the families
rent fiscal year. Their first efforts will bring us information about current fundrais- ALIVE! serves.
ing efforts and patterns in our synagogue. They are available to offer advice to Food can be dropped off in the bins in
committees and organizations within our congregation. When our budget cycle the coat room at any time (except Shab-
begins again in the spring, the fundraising committee will be working hand in bat, of course). Please note the differ-
hand with our budget committee to operationalize fundraising goals and fulfill the ence between the ALIVE! bins and the
responsibility of coordinating income-generating activities. crate for “Little Things” toiletries dona-
One important area for generating income in many synagogues is the kitchen tions. Thank you.
services. We have talented staff and volunteers for each event, led by Diana Weil.
I have asked a group of congregants to work together as a task force exploring the
strategic plan objectives related to kitchen services. This specific, short-term task
force is being led by Arden Levy.
AAC OFFICE CLOSINGS
We will continue to provide updates about our progress. As always, let me know & MINYAN TIMES
if you have questions or comments, presidentml@agudasachim-va.org.
CLOSED WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020
NEW YEAR’S DAY
MORNING MINYAN AT 9 A.M.
Mark your calendar: EVENING MINYAN AT 7:50 P.M.

CLOSED MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2020

Congregational Meeting DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
MORNING MINYAN AT 9 A.M.

January 28 | 7 p.m. EVENING MINYAN AT 7:50 P.M.

JANUARY 2020 PAGE 5

 YOUNG FAMILIES MAH KOREH - WHAT’S HAPPENING IN
Programming and community for
families with children ages 0-5. EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEPARTMENT
TU BISHVAT CELEBRATION CHAYA SILVER, YOUTH AND EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Sunday, February 9 | 10 a.m.
For details, visit us on the Agudas
Achim website, www.agudasachim T P
AKE RIDE IN HO E RE W W A
va.org/community/young-families or As December draws to a close, especially in a year when Hanukkah and Christ-
on the Facebook group, Agudas Achim mas overlap, I find myself tiptoeing down the treacherous path we call “The De-
Young Families. cember Dilemma.” At this time of year, many Jewish kids and adults try to
conform to the customs, sing along to music, and partake of food and beverages
ONGOING EVENTS that are part of a culture that isn’t ours. Children who resist making Christmas
GAN SHABBAT trees in art class or adults who ask office mates to call the end of year party
Saturdays | 11 a.m. - noon something other than a Christmas party might be accommodated but are forever
Volunteer-led services for children looked upon as demanding or ill-spirited, or are called Scrooges.
ages 0-5 with an adult. We are looking The cultural divide has become so challenging for some Jews that they have
for volunteers to lead – no experience “given in” to the symbols and rituals of the Christmas season with its lights, cook-
necessary. To lead, please sign up at: ies, trees, and parties telling themselves that these are American customs instead
www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4aa4 of religious ones. Our Christian neighbors have traditions that reinforce their faith
ac2ea4fc1-ganshabbat and history. One example that comes up as we shop in malls or watch television,
is how to talk about Santa Claus with our children. Sometimes we even find our-
OH SAY SHALOM SING-A-LONG AND selves in the position of asking that our children keep the “secret” that there is no
PLAYGROUP such thing as Santa Claus from their Christian classmates.
No playgroup in January. We will In a recent article, “Our Jewish Kids Shouldn’t Have to Lie About Santa,” pub-
meet again on Sunday, February 2, at lished by Kveller, author Mirah Curzer writes:
11 a.m. Teaching our kids to keep the Santa secret is, for many Jewish parents, the
Hazzan Elisheva Dienstfrey leads first time we give our version of “the talk.” Not the one about the birds and
songs for the first half-hour with free bees, but the one that parents in all marginalized groups give their kids, about
play afterward. No Jewish knowledge otherness and discrimination and how to avoid getting hurt because of who or
or experience necessary. Each child re what you are.
quires an accompanying adult.
When we do have “the talk” with our children we have the opportunity to rein-
SHABABY KABBALAT SHABBAT
force pride in our heritage while teaching that there is value in multiculturalism.
Friday, January 17 | 5:30 p.m.
We are given the chance to remind our children that we are privileged to live in a
Flax Family Chapel
country that is enriched by multiple ethnic groups and which has the foundational
Friday night service for kids 0-5 and par-
principle of separating church and state. All Jews around the world are not so
ents with songs, instruments, scarves, danc-
lucky. When we don’t recognize that every culture can and should celebrate their
ing, parachutes, challah, and juice. If you
own traditions and instead assimilate to appear non-threatening, we run the risk of
are interested in volunteering to lead, sign
promoting the idea that the majority culture has the right to impose their will on
up on the Young Families page of the AAC
everyone.
website, www.agudasachim-va.org/
Curzer writes that “by demanding that everyone participate in making Christmas
community/young-families.
magic for their kids, Christian parents teach their children that they have the right
to live in a homogeneous bubble where absolutely everyone observes Christian
CONNECT WITH YOUNG FAMILIES
traditions.”
Find us on the Facebook Group Agu-
None of this means that Jews have the right to demean the splendor and beauty
das Achim Young Families to keep
of our neighbor’s holiday. Neither we nor our children need to become misanthro-
track of events and receive updates! For
pists. It is possible to appreciate the holidays of others without making them our
information or to get involved contact
own. Our desire to be true to our own heritage can be done without diminishing
aacyoungfamilies@gmail.com.
anyone else. In a 2019 report, ADL noted that “assault, harassment and vandalism
- Rachel Brown against Jews remain at near-historic levels in the U.S., making American Jews feel
- Jennifer Munz more vulnerable than they have felt in decades.”
- Mackenzie Silverman I believe that adopting the trappings of the dominant culture is not the way to
combat hate. Instead, I suggest that we spend more time in the coming calendar
year teaching our children about our Jewish heritage and to take pride in who we
are and to focus on our tradition’s values of tolerance, justice, love, and courage.
PAGE 6 AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION | WWW.AGUDASACHIM-VA.ORG
 PRESCHOOL NEWS see us for who we are, to regret for past
JEN HALPERN, DIRECTOR mistakes, and to a desire to make
amends, to try to put things back togeth-
er the way they once were when we
were younger and life seemed simpler.
IT’S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS That’s not always easy to do, but I
The story of Joseph is wonderfully complex. It's full of rich details and imagery,
think that’s the message of this parsha.
a multitude of characters, and themes that resonate across time. Joseph’s story has
Being with all his brothers for the first
a coat of many colors and a silver goblet. There’s a fake death, a kidnapping, a time in years, seeing the care and love
seduction, and an unlikely rise to power. There are lots of dreams. And lots of lies.
they have for each other and the sacri-
And, ultimately, there’s forgiveness, which is what Parshat Vayigash is about. fices they’re willing to make for each
Joseph’s story is longer than Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s combined. Why? other, Joseph forgives them for what
Abraham was the first person to understand the unity of God, Isaac was almost they did to him so long ago. He just
sacrificed in order to praise that God, and Jacob literally and figuratively wrestled
wants to move forward and be with his
with God in an effort to understand God. These three men are the patriarchs of family, to make up for lost time.
Judaism. We include their names in our daily prayers. So why does Joseph’s story Whatever holidays your family cele-
get so much more room in the Torah? Why does Joseph get to star in his own Tim brates between November and January,
Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical? and in those stressful moments that
I’ve always thought that maybe it was because Joseph’s story is more about his those celebrations inevitably bring, re-
relationship with his family than his relationship with God. And Joseph’s family member Joseph. By that point in his
was what we in today’s world would call dysfunctional. People can relate to that. life, his past with his family mattered
Who among us can really relate to Abraham’s internal struggle of whether or much, much less than what the future
not to sacrifice his son on an altar? Or to Jacob’s confusion and frustration whencould bring.
he accidentally marries the wrong woman? But just about every one of us can
relate to there being someone in our family who thinks they’re superior to every- Originally posted on Jen’s preschool
one else, to selfish and mean-spirited siblings who abuse us, to parents who don’t blog, December 14, 2018

Contact Wendy Bond to place an ad today!

wbond@4LPi.com or (800) 477-4574 x6420

3-D-4-5 For ad info. call 1-800-477-4574 • www.4lpi.com 14-0995

IN THE FAMILY hxpwmb
SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO: HAZZAN’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In memory of Florence Esbin
Julie Hammerman and family Barbara Esbin & Kostas Liopiros
On the death of her grandmother In memory of my mother Rosalind Salomon
Estelle Handler George & Caryl Bernstein
Helene Schrott and family In memory of Alvin Rosenblum
On the death of her sister-in-law In memory of Ida Linver
In memory of Betty Linver
Rosalind Schrott Kaye
Michael & Mina Jo Linver
Renee Greenberg and family In memory of Iris Zirinsky
On the death of her mother Richard Adler & Andrea Nordell
and to Anita Turk and family KIDDUSH DONATION
On the death of her cousin In memory of my sister, Joci Pearl, on what would have been her
Barbara Rollins 75th birthday
Andrea Bregstone
In memory of Laura Ziegeler, my mother
MAZEL TOV TO: Gloria Canter
Meryl and Joel Goldhammer MUSIC FUND
On the birth of their granddaughter In appreciation of Hazzan Dienstfrey’s leading High Holiday
Sylvia Wren Tauchen services
Adam Hirschfeld
In appreciation of a recent Shabbat aliyah
BUILDING FUND Neale Ainsfield
In appreciation of Barry Nove, for all his work with the building In memory of Anna Lange
and facilities to help make Julianna's bat mitzvah celebration a Elinor & Jack Abraham
success In memory of Michael Tureck
Arden Levy & Tony, Jacob, and Julianna Sanchez Jeffrey & Sharyn Tureck
In memory of Monroe Lange In memory of Dr. Edward Abramson
Elinor & Jack Abraham Lynne & Donald Sandler
In memory of Mae Nordell
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUND
Richard Adler & Andrea Nordell
In memory of Phil Weinkrantz
In memory of Kay Shapiro, mother of Bob Shapiro
In memory of Morris Weinkrantz
Robert & Maureen Shapiro
Marilyn Levine
In memory of Helen Singer
CEMETERY FUND Sonya Singer Livingston
In memory of Bette Levin In memory of my mother, Lois E. Ranck
Lynne & Donald Sandler Teri Matzkin
HAZZAN’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT PRAYERBOOK FUND
Get well to Allison Hirschorn In memory of Dora Rutman
Joshua & Aviya Hirschorn Eileen & Martin Aronovitch
In honor of Hazzan Elisheva Dienstfrey, for all she does for our In memory of Kenneth Barnett
community Janet Barnett
Arden Levy & Tony, Jacob, and Julianna Sanchez In memory of Judith Arkin
In memory of Rose Flax Michele Arkin
Andrea & David Flax PRESCHOOL DONATION
HAZZAN’S DISCRETIONARY FUND In memory of Jack Nordell
In appreciation of the Hazzan helping Julianna prepare for her Richard Adler & Andrea Nordell
bat mitzvah
Arden Levy & Tony, Jacob, and Julianna Sanchez RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
Get well to Allison Hirschorn
In appreciation of beautiful High Holiday services Joshua & Aviya Hirschorn
Jeffrey Goldstein & Samara Weinstein In appreciation of Rabbi Rein, for helping Julianna prepare for
In appreciation of Elisheva for the High Holy Day services her bat mitzvah
Sonya Singer Livingston Arden Levy & Tony, Jacob, and Julianna Sanchez
In appreciation of the support provided to me by the Rabbi and
Hazzan during my recent period of mourning for my father
Steven Caswell (Continued on page 9)

PAGE 8 AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION | WWW.AGUDASACHIM-VA.ORG

IN THE FAMILY hxpwmb
(Continued from page 8) SYNAGOGUE FUND
In honor of the birth of the Wayne’s granddaughter, Eva
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Barbara Wayne
In appreciation of High Holiday words of wisdom Elliot & Karen Parkin
Jeffrey Goldstein & Samara Weinstein In honor of Miriam Perlberg reading the Torah
In appreciation of the help with Avery Effron's baby naming In honor of Phil Lurie for his kindness
Michael Effron Pat Franklin
In appreciation of a Happy New Year In memory of our parents Norton Dahne, Leon Levin,
Sonya Singer Livingston Bebe Levin
In honor of the Carpenter’s Shelter new building Arnold & Ellen Levin
Agudas Achim Sisterhood SYNAGOGUE FUND
In honor of Jacob & Kendra's Wedding In memory of Henrietta Rustwijk
Ina Asher Hanna Gutterman
In honor of appreciation of High Holiday words of wisdom In memory of my beloved husband Norman Schrott
Jeffrey Goldstein & Samara Weinstein Helene Schrott
In honor of Charley and Ellen Wayne's new addition to the In memory of Katherine Kohr
family, Eva Barbara Howard & Sherri Kohr
Sherri & Howard Kohr In memory of my father
In honor of the support provided to me by the Rabbi and Hazzan Levi Goldfarb
during my recent period of mourning for my father In memory of Alvin Rosenbloom
Steven Caswell Michael & Mina Jo Linver
In memory of Isidor Turk, father-in-law In memory of Charney Weber, husband of Marjorie Weber
Anita Turk Michael Osber
In memory of Ann Helman
Gerald Helman SAM AND ANITA TURK MUSIC ENDOWMENT FUND
In memory of Ray Wiener In memory of Rachael Kaflowitz
Howard & Sandra Wiener Andrea & David Flax
In memory of Phillip Abraham To make a donation in honor or in memory of someone,
Jack & Elinor Abraham
send a check to the synagogue office with the fund indicat-
In memory of Esther Eisenberg
Jay Warshawsky
ed on the memo line or visit www.agudasachim-va.org
In memory of Charlotte Bazer z"l, mother of Rabbi Larry Bazer /payment.php.
Sherri & Howard Kohr
In memory of Phoebe Saperstone
Stephen & Barbara Saperstone
JUDAICA SHOP
Shop with us for all your Judaica needs. Proceeds from
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Sisterhood’s Judaica Shop support AAC and other worth-
In appreciation of Chaya Silver, for helping Julianna prepare for while causes. Open on Sundays when Religious School is
her bat mitzvah
in session (9 a.m. - noon). Contact Michelle Shwimer at
Arden Levy & Tony, Jacob, and Julianna Sanchez
202-288-9856 or Susan Ravitz at 703-489-5068.
SEFER TORAH FUND
In appreciation of your wonderful organization
The Irving & Shari Weinberger Foundation,
by Rochelle Weinberger & Len Guedalia KADIMA & USY AT AAC
USY empowers teens to lead meaningful Jewish lives
SPIRO ADULT EDUCATION FUND through fun programming, prayer, social action, leader-
In honor of Martin Frost ship development, and immersive travel. Our chapter is
Agudas Achim Sisterhood
coordinated by Kyra Schuster and Chapter President Avi
SYNAGOGUE FUND Scheinberg. Questions? Contact Kyra at kyra@
In appreciation of Our Agudas Achim Family for welcoming schuschein. com.
back our “children” to High Holiday services
Amy Melnick-Scharf & Jeffrey Scharf UPCOMING EVENTS
In appreciation of the Scholars-in-Residence committee Seaboard Region USY Formal | January 18
Elliot & Karen Parkin “Doing Church” with Alfred Street Baptist Church
In appreciation of Samara Weinstein’s High Holiday honor January 19
In appreciation of Jeff Goldstein’s High Holiday honor Pizza and … Israeli Game Night | January 29
Jeffrey Goldstein & Samara Weinstein

JANUARY 2020 PAGE 9

 BRINGING ISRAEL TO AGUDAS
OUR SHLICHA, MIRI BERNOVSKY

THE POWER OF VOTING

Nine months ago, when Israel was gious parties and forced on the rest of the population – suddenly ended.
about to hold its April 2019 election, I Tel Aviv and the neighboring cities designed bus routes that operate starting
used a “Windows on Israel” sessions to from Friday evening until Saturday evening. The bus lines don’t go anywhere near
explain about our election system and religious neighborhoods, and they don’t operate in the same frequency of week-
the issues at the heart of that election. day public transportation. They do, however, make it possible for people to enjoy
At the end of the session, which drew their weekend like in any normal country – without having to drive or pay a lot of
dozens of participants, people asked me money for it.
to predict what will happen. The initiative has many other advantages. It will reduce the number of young
I don’t remember what I predicted, people who drive after partying and drinking on Friday night, thus making the
but I know for sure that it wasn’t a sec- roads safer; It will make it easier for people who live in Tel Aviv to give up their
ond election in September – and then cars, or at least use them less frequently; and it will connect neighborhoods that
another one in March 2020. Who could are farther away from Tel Aviv’s cultural center, like the working class immi-
have guessed? Certainly not me. grants’ neighborhood where I grew up, to the city’s main attractions.
I voted in the April and September None of this would have been possible if not for the election results of 2019. In
elections, and yes, I will also vote in the both the April and September elections, the religious parties lost their status as the
upcoming election in March. I think “kingmakers” of Israeli politics, and Prime Minister Netanyahu could not build a
voting is important and have never coalition with them like he’d done in the past. Thus, for the first time in many
missed an election that I was eligible to years, local mayors used the power vacuum in order to take an initiative and “set
participate in. Anyone who tells you facts on the ground.”
that elections don’t matter and that your I have no idea what will happen in the next election in March. But I do know
voice doesn’t make a difference is dead this: In 2019, my vote already made a difference for the life of my family and
wrong. friends in Israel.
Here is an example: Last month, a American Jews can’t vote in Israeli elections, unless they make aliyah and
small revolution took place in Israel. become Israeli citizens. But between now and March 11, there is also going to be
For the first time ever, the city of Tel another very important election, one in which American Jews are eligible to vote
Aviv and several cities and towns and Israeli Jews are not.
around it, began operating public trans- This is the election for the World
portation on Friday evening and Zionist Congress, the representa-
throughout Saturday. tive body of the Zionist institu-
For seven decades, secular Jewish Is- tions. It’s an extremely important
raelis (almost half of the country’s pop- election that happens once every
ulation, and a big majority in the Tel five years and determines the pri-
Aviv area) and non-Jewish Israelis orities and spending decisions of
(20% of the country’s population) could several powerful and important
not enjoy this very basic service. Want bodies within the Jewish world.
to go to the park with your children on American Jews, being the largest
Saturday morning and don’t own a car? Jewish diaspora in the world, have
Too bad. Want to have Shabbat dinner the largest delegation in the World
with friends or family without paying a Zionist Congress, but the make-up
lot of money for taxis? Your problem. of that delegation depends on the
That was the reality until four weeks question of “who votes.”
ago, when the mayor of Tel Aviv and I encourage EVERYONE at
the mayors of several neighboring cities Agudas to educate themselves
said, enough is enough. The lack of any about the issue, to vote online
public transportation on Shabbat – a re- (very easy process), and to get
ality that was dictated by Israel’s reli- their friends involved as well.

PAGE 10 AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION | WWW.AGUDASACHIM-VA.ORG

 SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE MARK YOUR CALENDAR
KATHERINE ALLEN, CHAIR
JANUARY 2020
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1
▪ New Year’s Day, office closed
PACK 20,000 MEALS IN 2020 MONDAY, JANUARY 6
▪ Preschool General Registration Begins
MLK DAY OF SERVICE ▪ Depression Support Group
MONDAY, JANUARY 20
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7
Agudas Achim will host “20,000 Meals in 2020” – a two-hour community ▪ Emerging Leaders Cohort
food-packing event to provide more than 20,000 nutritious meals for hungry THURSDAY, JANUARY 9
neighbors in the D.C. region. This event is organized in fellowship with Alfred ▪ Social Action Committee Meeting
Street Baptist Church, supported by the Henry H. Krevor Endowment Fund for SATURDAY, JANUARY 11
Social Action, and facilitated by The Outreach Program. The Outreach Program ▪ Windows on Israel
organizes food packaging events around the country. SUNDAY, JANUARY 12
Participants of all ages are welcome and may sign up for 1 or 2 one-hour shifts, ▪ Inclusion Parent Coffee
10 a.m. - noon. Set up and clean up help is also needed. One adult must accompa-
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14
ny each child in grades K-3, and one adult must accompany every two children in ▪ Senior Lunch and Learn
grades 4-6. Children in grades K-6 may sign up for one shift only. All volunteers
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16
may sign up at www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f45acae2da3f85-20000. ▪ Foundations for Jewish Family Learning
120 volunteers (60 volunteers per hour) will work together in an assembly line Begins
to create protein-enriched meals to combat hunger domestically and international-
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JANUARY 17-18
ly. Volunteers will work in teams to create meal bags. Exact duties will differ but ▪ Sisterhood Shabbaton with Margie Miller
may include scooping raw ingredients, weighing meals for accuracy, sealing the
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19
meal packs, and boxing the completed meals. Each of the meals contains more ▪ Sisterhood Brunch with Margie Miller
than 21 essential vitamins and minerals and at least 7 grams of protein per serving. ▪ Social Action Committee visits Alfred
Training will be provided on site. Accommodations for special needs are avail- Street Baptist Church
able. Depending on the role, physical requirements differ. Most roles are per- ▪ Knitting Club
formed standing and tasks are performed using hands (scooping, weighing bags, MONDAY, JANUARY 20
sealing, etc.). Chairs are available for those unable to stand the entire time. ▪ MLK Day, Office Closed
Please volunteer and/or give generously to the Henry H. Krevor Endowment ▪ Food packing event
Fund for Social Action to support this work. Questions may be sent to Esther TUESDAY, JANUARY 21
Miller at nykoftyme@gmail.com ▪ Board Meeting
Thank you so much for joining this important event in our community! WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22
INTERFAITH DIALOGUE – LEARNING THE LANGUAGE: HEBREW AND ARABIC ▪ Israeli Movie Night
Sunday, February 2 | 1:30 p.m. SATURDAY, JANUARY 25
Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center ▪ Shabbat Guest Speaker Mirele Goldsmith,
Please join the next Muslim-Jewish conversation which will cover faith tradi- Jewish Climate Action Network - DC
tions on Prayer, Movement, and Music. This session will be led by Hazzan SUNDAY, JANUARY 26
Elisheva Dienstfrey and her counterpart from the mosque. ▪ Youth Group Activity
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28
INTERNATIONAL GOOD DEEDS DAY ▪ Congregational Meeting
Sunday, March 29, 2020 THURSDAY, JANUARY 30
Once again Agudas Achim will join thousands of Jewish organizations for In- ▪ Israeli Poetry with Miri
ternational Good Deeds Day. Confirmed activities at press time include: stream
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31
cleanup with Congregation Kol Ami and Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment; ▪ K-2 Shabbat Service and Dinner
repairing and painting a home for a senior or individual with a disability with
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2
YACHAD and Congregation Etz Chaim; knitting for children at Fairfax Hospital; ▪ 5th-6th Grade B’nai Mitzvah Info Fair
a concert for residents in a nursing home; Young Families making get well cards ▪ Oh Say Shalom Playgroup
for ill congregants; and a project for the ALIVE! Child Development Center. ▪ Social Action Committee: Descendants of
AAC Religious School will participate. Abraham – Prayer, Movement, and Music
If you would like to help the Good Deeds Day Committee prepare for this event, ▪ Men’s Club Superbowl Party
contact socialaction@agudasachim-va.org, or one of our co-chairs, Barbara
Elkin or Esther Miller.

JANUARY 2020 PAGE 11

 ACTIVE SENIORS LUNCH MEN’S CLUB MENSCHENINGS
Tuesday, January 14 | 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. ELLIOT PARKIN, MEN’S CLUB PRESIDENT
Join us for an encore performance of
Helping Hearts Through the Arts ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE SCHOLARSHIPS RECIPIENTS TO SPEAK
(HHA), a non-profit organization dedi- Saturday, January 11
cated to connecting individuals and Bring your teens to Shabbat services and hear from recent scholarship recipients.
groups within our community in artistic The self-sustaining program has provided 105 scholarships over 32 years to AAC
and meaningful ways. This all–volun- teens for Israel experiences. Consult the Pilgrimage Fact Sheet on the Men’s Club
teer outreach group is composed of page of the AAC website for application details.
dedicated technically trained dancers MEN'S CLUB SUPER BOWL PARTY
whose ages range from 40 to 70+. They Sunday, February 2 | 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
will perform dances taught to them by Join fellow congregants at the home of Michael and Mina Jo Linver for a fun
professional local choreographers in evening with big-screen TVs, plenty of tailgate food, and a schmooze room for those
styles of musical theater, contemporary who would rather socialize than watch the game. Daven ma’ariv during halftime. No
dance, and tap. Visit HHA at www. admission fee, but we will gladly accept donations to Men’s Club. Space is limited so
helpingheartsthroughthearts.com. please RSVP early to Tobias Dienstfrey at tjdienstfrey@ gmail.com to reserve seats.
Reservations required. Contact Jane 2020 BLUE YARMULKE HONOREES
Bergen (703-861-6419; jane bergen@ Sunday, March 22 | Congregation Beth Emeth, Herndon, VA
verizon.net) or Nancy Siegal (703 Men’s Club will honor Josh Kraushaar and Amir Tibon in appreciation of their
671-0957; nsiegal@comcast.net). service to our community. Details forthcoming.
Suggested donation of $5 per person is MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN
appreciated. Paidup membership is well short of this year’s goal of 125. Dues for the year are
Volunteers for set up and clean up are just $36; please consider donating “Chai’er” amounts. Checks made payable to Agu-
welcome. Contact Jane or Nancy if in- das Achim Men’s Club can be mailed or dropped off at the synagogue. Contact
terested. Harold Salters, hms5516@gmail.com, or me, elliot.parkin@gmail.com.

THIS SPACE IS

3-D-4-5 For ad info. call 1-800-477-4574 • www.4lpi.com 14-0995

 IN MEMORIAM
JANUARY 1, 2020 4 TEVET 5780 JANUARY 9, 2020 12 TEVET 5780 JANUARY 18, 2020 21 TEVET 5780
* Richard Hodges * Bernard Lowel Thelma Cohen
* Braine Hoffman Albert Mourad
JANUARY 19, 2020 22 TEVET 5780
Karyn Poole
JANUARY 2, 2020 5 TEVET 5780 * Allan Kamerow
Jack Stoler
* Roselyn Arons
JANUARY 20, 2020 23 TEVET 5780
Raymond Beans JANUARY 10, 2020 13 TEVET 5780
* Harry Bonnett
* Minnie Beekman Marie Reif
* Malka Chester
* Frank Elster Kate Schneider
* Max Kline
* Abraham Goldberg Adam Sher
* Bas Shevah Rubin
* Basil Greene
JANUARY 11, 2020 14 TEVET 5780 * Jeanne Weinberg
* Rose Hayman
Anna Alster
* Jacob Homes JANUARY 21, 2020 24 TEVET 5780
* Bessie Cohen
* Gertrude Kushner * Sidney Bank
Mollie Rose
Blanche Melman * Louis Biron
* Gussie Shapiro
* Evelyn Rosen Eugene Davidson
Beatrice Sadowsky JANUARY 12, 2020 15 TEVET 5780 * Israel Perkal
* Henrietta Levine Rita Schmeir
JANUARY 3, 2020 6 TEVET 5780
* Anna Sklarewitz Rena Schwieger
* Ruth Adler
Ida Seidenberg
Sorita Barder JANUARY 13, 2020 16 TEVET 5780
Paul Wengrovitz
* Haskell Cohen * Mordechai Arkin
* Samuel Kaufman Eti Lieberman JANUARY 22, 2020 25 TEVET 5780
Charles Nauert * Harry Sandler * Harriet Finn
* Leonard Roberts * Seymour Kwerel
JANUARY 14, 2020 17 TEVET 5780
Arthur Rose Fred Lindenbaum
Sara Anglister
Anna Wengrovitz * Rachel Schlafstein
* William Davis
* Shirley Woolf
Morris Dinerstein JANUARY 23, 2020 26 TEVET 5780
JANUARY 4, 2020 7 TEVET 5780 Rena Franklin * Henry Berkowitz
* Mortimer Cohen * Bernard Lehman Paula Feldman
* Milton Frank Joseph Lichtman Jacob Lukaczar
Florence Gaffen Evelina Moulder * Philip Shapiro
Michael Kornfein Sidney Ratner Rena Udeleff
Rose Terner Adrienne Warshawsky
JANUARY 24, 2020 27 TEVET 5780
Helen Weintrob
JANUARY 5, 2020 8 TEVET 5780 * Frances Greene
Harry Greenberg JANUARY 15, 2020 18 TEVET 5780 * Jacob Shapiro
* Merlin Kutchinsky Ayala Dvoretsky
JANUARY 25, 2020 28 TEVET 5780
* Allen Sorens Lawrence Friedman
* Ida Grossman
* Minnie Stein Selma Issner
Ruth Helman
* Julius Stone Solomon Ludwig
* Bessie Wolff
* Solomon Rosen
JANUARY 6, 2020 9 TEVET 5780 Edward Schwartz
Jim Scherr
Ben Fagen
* Ida Valenstein JANUARY 27, 2020 1 SHEVAT 5780
Louis Keller
* Alex Acs
JANUARY 16, 2020 19 TEVET 5780
JANUARY 7, 2020 10 TEVET 5780 * Harriet Bondareff
* Ellen Fagen
Clair Begun Doris Davidson
Janice Greenberger
Seth Fingerman * Beverly Flax
* Avraham Hoffman
Sheila Friedman Shirley Nauert
Arnold Laifsky
* Janie Kleiman * Sara Newberger
Abraham Miller
Morris Kesner Margarita Vega
* Jerome Rosenstock
* Ben Zion Mendelson Herman Weiner
* Helen Rubin
* Simcha Perlmutter
JANUARY 28, 2020 2 SHEVAT 5780
Murray Rosen JANUARY 17, 2020 20 TEVET 5780
* Edith German
Ramon Ruiz Bessie Davis
Jacqueline Gutierrez
Hyman Weinstein * Joseph Lainoff
* Myer Weiner
Taylor Lazarus
JANUARY 8, 2020 11 TEVET 5780
Aaron Meller JANUARY 29, 2020 3 SHEVAT 5780
Florence Barnett
William Mulligan * Maurice Adem
Sue Berlowe
Naomi Decter
Edward Meritz JANUARY 18, 2020 21 TEVET 5780
* Ethel Dorfman
* Nosan Rubin Nancy Drembus
Henry Lee
Jacqueline Russler Max Levin
Manuel Morse
* Frederick Kutchinsky
Elicia Wolf
* Ruth Stier

* A memorial light will be lit in the synagogue for those names marked with an asterisk. (Continued on page 14)

JANUARY 2020 PAGE 13

 IN MEMORIAM PROFILE OF OUR LEADER
(Continued from page 13)
BY CAROL BACKMAN
JANUARY 30, 2020 4 SHEVAT 5780
* Edith Bank
Louis Frapolli Jr.
* Eddye Goodman TWENTY YEARS OF BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TOGETHER
* Alvin Weinberger “When people ask me about my job, I tell them it is the best job in the world. I
Charles Weiss
* Corrine Wolff
get to sing, to teach, and to work with people of every age. I do what I love every
day,” says Elisheva Dienstfrey, hazzan (cantor) at Agudas Achim Congregation.
JANUARY 31, 2020 5 SHEVAT 5780 On May 17, Hazzan Dienstfrey will celebrate 20 years of creating and singing
* Sol Hirschorn
Norman Nathan
beautiful music at AAC with a special dinner and concert for the congregation.
* Simon Samuelson She was born in Albuquerque, NM, and although her family moved five times
* Norman Witkin by the time she was seven years old, they made a home in New Mexico. She
* A memorial light will be lit in the synagogue graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles where she majored in Music
for those names marked with an asterisk. and Religious Studies.
To add a family member to the yahrzeit/ “Everybody wanted me to be a cantor, and after the first year of college, I
memorial list, go to www.agudasachim-va decided that’s what I wanted to do,” she says. In the Conservative movement,
.org, click on the “My Account” tab; then click women weren’t able to be cantors until the late 1980s. Hazzan Dienstfrey spent
on the “My Yahrzeits” button and update your her junior year abroad at Hebrew University in Jerusalem to improve her Hebrew.
list; or call the Agudas Achim office, 703-998- After graduation, she attended the H.L. Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish
6460.
Theological Seminary in New York City and was ordained a hazzan in 2000.
Hazzan Dienstfrey says one of her greatest challenges throughout the years has
been the unpredictability of working with people, especially people who have
grown up questioning. Not only have people been one of the greatest challenges
in her job, but they also represent her greatest successes. “You get to use your
strengths and hone them,” she says. While the Hazzan is a planner naturally, she
has taught herself to improvise on the spot to teach a melody. “It takes me three
to four weeks to prepare for the High Holidays though. It’s such a big responsi-
bility,” she adds.
Another challenge Hazzan Dienstfrey faces has been balancing her home life
with work life. “Being a mother and managing a home is my other full-time job,”
she admits. I want to be the best mother and the best cantor, and it’s easier to be
a cantor than a mom. I have constant guilt about not spending enough time at
home,” she explains.
Hazzan Dienstfrey met her husband, Tobias, a high-school math teacher in
Fairfax County, in her senior year of college while he was working on his M.B.A.
at the University of Judaism. “He asked me if I wanted an aliyah at services, but
I didn’t have time for a boyfriend,” she recalls. She quickly remedied that. They
got married in Albuquerque in 1998 after she returned from a year in Israel. For
their wedding, the hazzan wrote a love song for Tobias based on Song of Songs,
and they played the song at the Ein Lanu Z’man concert of Jewish Women Com-
posers in honor of their 20th anniversary.
The Dienstfreys have four children: Margalit, 18; Akiva, 16; Dassi, 12; and
Lev, 10.
The Hazzan, along with Education and Youth Director Chaya Silver, works
with b’nai mitzvah students to create the best possible experiences for the stu-
dents and their families. She also participates in life cycle events from brit milah
to funerals. Another part of her job is answering questions and connecting people.
A few years ago, Hazzan Dienstfrey had the good fortune of her parents moving
into the house across the street from her home. “It is the best thing that could have
happened for me,” says our hazzan.
Being a cantor at Agudas Achim is Hazzan Dienstfrey’s first job out of canto-
rial school. When then-Rabbi Jack Moline picked her up at the airport, he greeted
her with the words “Welcome Home.” After 20 years she agrees with him, “Be-
cause Agudas Achim has become my family.”

PAGE 14 AGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION | WWW.AGUDASACHIM-VA.ORG

 Enjoy the Carefree Lifestyle You Deserve! RABBI MICHAEL HENESCH
Celebrating
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Agudas Achim Congregation WHAT’S INSIDE . . .
2908 Valley Drive
Alexandria, VA 22302 Sisterhood Shabbat ..................page 1
Rabbi’s Message.......................page 2
Phone: 703-998-6460 Fax: 703-998-5843
Schedule of Services.................page 2
The Bulletin is published monthly - ISSN1084-9858 Dear Hazzan.............................page 3
Musical Events.........................page 3
Rabbi ........................................................................................ Steven I. Rein
Executive Director’s Message..page 4
Hazzan ........................................................................ Elisheva R. Dienstfrey Israeli Movie Club....................page 4
Rabbi Emeritus ............................................................................ Jack Moline Windows on Israel .................. page 4
Executive Director ........................................................................ Barry Nove President’s Message.................page 5
Youth/Education Director .......................................................... Chaya Silver Education and Youth................page 6
Preschool Director ....................................................................... Jen Halpern Young Families........................page 6
Shlicha ................................................................................... Miri Bernovsky Preschool News........................page 7
President .............................................................................. Meredith Ludwig In the Family.............................page 8
Sisterhood Co-Presidents .......................... Lenore Garon and Susan Auerhan Judaica Shop.............................page 9
Men’s Club President ............................................................... Elliot Parkin Youth Groups...........................page 9
Communications Coordinator .............................................. Rachel Goldberg Bringing Israel to Agudas ......page 10
Email: synagogue@agudasachim-va.org | Twitter: @agudasachim Mark Your Calendar...............page 11
Web: www.agudasachim-va.org | Facebook: facebook.com/agudasachim Social Action Committee.......page 11
Men’s Club Menschenings.....page 12
ONGOING. . . Senior Lunch and Learn.........page 12
In Memoriam..........................page 13
Fridays, 9 a.m. Talmud Study Class Profile of Our Leader .............page 14
Saturdays, 9 a.m. Parashat Ha’Shavua
Saturdays, 10 a.m. NOAM Shabbat Service
Saturdays, 11 a.m. Gan Shabbat
Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Basic Jewish Ritual Class
Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Intro to Judaism Class
Thursdays, 7 p.m. Foundations for Jewish Family Living

THE MONTH AT-A-GLANCE

Wednesday, January 1 ..........................Federal Holiday, office closed
Friday, January 3 ...............................Shehechiyanu/Birthday Service
Saturday, January 11 ..............................................Windows on Israel
Friday, January 17 ....................................Shababy Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday, January 18 .............................................Sisterhood Shabbat
Monday, January 20 .............................................Meal Packing Event
Monday, January 20..............................Federal Holiday, office closed
Wednesday, January 22 .........................................Israeli Movie Night
Thursday, January 30 ............................................Israeli Poetry Night

Alexandria, VA
Permit No. 263 Time Value
PAID Address Service Requested
U.S. Postage Alexandria, VA 22302
Non-Profit Org. 2908 Valley Drive
Agudas Achim Congregation