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President's Post
We don't have a
President's message this month, but we thought you might enjoy this
report from Carroll Greenfield...
February Celebrations
Although February is a
short month it was packed with memorable events. The first Shabbat of
the month, February 6th, was Adam Kort’s Bar Mitzvah.
Adam was fortunate to
have 3 sets of grandparents attend and participate. Paternal
grandparents Barney & Jean Kort presented Adam with a tallit, which was
a very touching beginning to the service. Maternal grandparents, Robert
& Andi Parker and David & Patricia Hortze participated by having aliyot
and opening the ark. Adam's aunts and uncles and parents also recited
blessings during the Torah portion of the service. Good family friend
Gordon Wallack read the weekly Haftorah portion - a wonderful addition
to the service.
Adam's Torah portion
was Yitro. His speech led off with stating that it is one of only a few
portions that are named after a person. He included information about
how he relates to the portion where Yitro advises Moses to look to
others for support. Adam spoke about how this doesn't come easy to him,
but that he is learning to ask others for help. He used school work,
performing in plays, tutoring for his Bar Mitzvah, and his mitzvah
project as examples.
Adam's Mitzvah Project
was collecting food for the SCV Food Pantry. Adam placed a request in
his invitation for guests to bring non-perishable food to the service.
His guests came through and about 10 bags of food were donated.
The reception was held
at Porter Valley Country Club - the theme was Broadway - one of Adam's
passions. There was a video montage of Adam through the years, and, of
course, lots of dancing and games for Adam's friends.
Adam loves performing,
especially in musical theater. He is actively involved in the ESCAPE
Theater in Santa Clarita. In February, he performed in Lil Abner. Adam
hopes to attend Julliard, to pursue his love of theater.
On the 20th it was the
Bar Mitzvah of Justin Ross. The Torah portion that Justin read was
Tetsaveh from the book of Exodus which deals with the construction of
the Mishkan (mobile Temple) by the Israelites while they were in the
desert. This portion also describes the garments that the Kohanim
(priests) were instructed to wear which included the breastplate
containing the 12 precious stones.
As for his Mitzvah
Project, Justin has been involved in community service since 4th grade.
This now includes helping with the Santa Clarita Marathon and Amgen
Tour; New Leash on Life dog rescue; working concessions at Rancho Pico
Jr. High School music concerts and with prop building and equipment
handling for the West Ranch Band & Color Guard competitions and football
games. Justin plans to continue to be involved and give back to the
community.
Celebrating along with
Justin were his parents Philip and Brenda and his brother Ryan. Of
course his proud grandparents, Mark and Betty Turer and Ted Ross were in
attendance to cheer him on. Justin was happy to have his aunts, uncles
and cousins join in the celebration.
Justin, at 13, is an
exceptional student who loves sports and has played both baseball and
ice hockey. He is a percussionist in the Rancho Pico Jr. High School
band and is hoping to attend West Ranch High School and play in the drum
line of their marching band. With his love of sports, Justin just might
want to pursue a career as either a sports agent or sports attorney. It
sounds like he is well on his way to achieving whatever he sets out to
do.
I know we all send
these two wonderful young men a big Mazel Tov and wish them well in
their future endeavors.
If you are having a
special event please let me know so we can let everyone share in the
fun.
Carroll Greenfield --
Your strolling reporter
Joyce Stein, TBA President
president@templebethami.org
Revised:
March 01, 2010
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