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Friday, March 5

6:45 p.m. KIDZ Shabbat 7:30 p.m. Shabbat Eve Service* with special Big Nosh presentation and tasting at the Oneg Shabbat Torah Reading: Ki Tisa, Ex. 30:11 – 34:35 Friday, March 12

6:30 p.m. Potluck Shabbat Dinner 7:30 p.m. Shabbat Eve Service* led by Students of Kitah Bet (2nd level Hebrew) Torah Reading: Vayakhel-Pekudei, Ex. 35:1 – 40:38

Saturday, March 13

10:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service and Torah Study Friday, March 19

7:30 p.m. Shabbat Eve Service Torah Reading: Vayikra, Lev. 1:1 – 5:26

Saturday, March 20

10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Bat Mitzvah Service of Jessica Jacobs Friday, March 26 Shabbat HaGadol

7:30 p.m. Shabbat Eve Service Torah Reading: Tzav, Lev. 6:1 – 8:36 Friday, April 2 Shabbat of Passover

7:30 p.m. Shabbat Eve Service Special Torah Reading for Shabbat Chol HaMoeid Pesach

Sunday, April 4 Last Night of Passover

7:00 p.m. Festival & Yizkor Memorial Service * Childcare available. Please contact the Temple office for details.

MARCH WORSHIP SERVICES

TREE OF LIFE CONGREGATION COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

“KOL T.O.L.” — THE “VOICE OF THE TREE OF LIFE”

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

MARCH 2010 / ADAR – NISAN, 5770

From the President 2

From the Rabbi 3

Religious School 4 & 5

Youth Page 6

Seder Reservation Form 7

Sisterhood & Brotherhood 8

Member News 11

Community News 12

Yahrzeits & Bimah Flowers 13

Contributions 14

Calendar of Events 15

Temple News 9

THE BIG NOSH Pre-order Form 10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Get ready for...

THE BIG NOSHTHE BIG NOSHTHE BIG NOSHTHE BIG NOSH Tree of Life Jewish Cultural FestivalTree of Life Jewish Cultural FestivalTree of Life Jewish Cultural FestivalTree of Life Jewish Cultural Festival

Sunday, April 25, 2010 Sunday, April 25, 2010 Sunday, April 25, 2010 Sunday, April 25, 2010

11 a.m 11 a.m 11 a.m 11 a.m –––– 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. See inside for more information on

festivities, food, pre-orders, and

entertainment, as well as sponsorship

and volunteer opportunities.

We need your help to make We need your help to make We need your help to make We need your help to make THE BIG NOSH THE BIG NOSH THE BIG NOSH THE BIG NOSH a success!a success!a success!a success!

HAPPY PASSOVER! HAPPY PASSOVER! HAPPY PASSOVER! HAPPY PASSOVER! CHAG SAMEACHCHAG SAMEACHCHAG SAMEACHCHAG SAMEACH!!!!

Moday, March 29 1st Night of Passover

Tuesday, March 30 TOL Congregational

Seder at 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 1 WRJ/Sisterhood

Women’s Seder at 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 4 Festival Service with Yizkor

at 7:00 p.m.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

INTRODUCING THE BIG NOSH

By Jeff Selig

In past years, the Tree of Life has sponsored a very successful Jewish Food Festival. This year, we are bringing our festival to a new level, and it will now be an indoor/outdoor Jewish Cultural Festival (JCF), which will have not only indoor food, but also community out-reach, vendors, outside food, music, dance and kids’ rides. Our vision for our Cultural Festival is to create an event that has a Jewish theme and a variety of activities that are entertaining and educational for those who attend.

THE BIG NOSH TOL’s 1st Annual

Jewish Cultural

Festival

April 25, 2010

11 a.m. – 7 p.m. This year, more than ever, TOL needs successful fundraisers to help in these hard and stressful economic times. The festival is a significant undertaking and re-

quires tremendous coordination with all of you as volun-teers. Our JCF organization is divided into sub-groups that cover all aspects of the event, i.e., public relations-marketing, community outreach to other Jewish organiza-tions, vendors (music, art, jewelry, dance... all with a Jewish connection), outside and inside food, corporate sponsors and volunteers.

Success is dependent on each and all of you. Just

as the Greek Festival has become a source of pride and

financial support for Columbia’s Greek community, The

Big Nosh will become a tremendous source of pride and

financial success for the Tree of Life.

Volunteers for all of the activities and setup, beginning the week of the festival, will be critical. Please be sure your name is on the list to help; this will be a great event that you will want to be a part of!

Please consider being a “Friend of the Big Nosh” and donate $25 or more to the festival. Your name will be published in the program, and most of all you will help your temple! Contact Annette Goldstein to volunteer and/or do-nate. Annette can be reached at 787-1652 or agold-stein@sc.rr.com.

A big thank you to all of the TOL members actively

working on the festival. Please join them by calling or e-

mailing Annette or me. Updates will be sent periodically to the congregation via e-mails and the newsletter.

The following congregants are currently in-volved….let’s add your name to the list! Jeff Selig, Howard Weiss, Todd Weiss, Joy Parks, Annette Goldstein, Jackie Michel, Michelle Bowen, Risa Strauss, Billy Strauss, Lisa Kaplan, Rick Cohn, Paul Westfall, Richard Cohen, Laura Becker, Debbie Katzman, Frank Baker, Steve Savitz, Ilene King, Amy Scully, Julie Strauss, Debra Stombler, Joan Tucker, Ed Hertz, Cheryl Kline Many additional wonderful activities are happening at the temple. We recently completed a successful Gold Rush headed up by Ned Strauss and his business partner, Roy. Please continue to support the Bucks Back program headed by Debra Stombler. Again, many thanks to all of our volunteers and par-ticipants for all of our activities!

TOL WILL BE MAKING BIG

HEADLINES IN APRIL!

WE WANT YOUR NAME TO BE

LISTED AS ONE OF THE ONES

WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE!

ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

THE BIG NOSH

Kick-Off and Tasting

Friday, March 5, 2010 at the Oneg Shabbat following services Come find out more about our first annual TOL Jewish Cultural Festival to be held on April 25. Enjoy “Small Tastes of The Big Nosh,” and learn all about THE BIG NOSH – including vendors, food, entertainment and more. We will also be signing up individuals to volunteer and help you to find your niche in making this exciting TOL fundraising and community-outreach event a success! For more information, call the Temple

office at 787-2182.

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FROM THE RABBI

FROM SNOW TO MATZAH

By Rabbi Daniel M. Sherman

The month of February contained a number of firsts for me in my time here at the Tree of Life. On Friday, February 12 we had a beautiful and warm ser-vice – just as we have every Shabbat. What was a first for me was the snow – and I mean a REAL snowfall. I want to give a special TODAH RABBAH to Demitris and to Keven Cohen and Todd Weiss and to all who helped clear the paths and keep everyone safe on that snowy Shabbat evening. I also want to thank all those who braved the roads in order to pray at Temple that night.

That service was also very special because we named and entered into the Jewish covenant Sophie and Lucy Westfall, the twin daughters of Paul and Elisa Westfall. Again, a first for me: the naming of twins. And I was doubly blessed because one week later, we had a naming and covenant service for De-laney and Rutledge Smith, twin son and daughter of Jenny Savitz Smith and Bradford Smith. It is a won-derful honor and pleasure to be part of such joyous ceremonies and should provide us all with a hope for an even brighter future.

I am excited about many upcoming events that I want to share with you. THE BIG NOSH is really on its way. So many people are working very hard to make this new Jewish Cultural Festival a reality. I know that it will be a wonderful event for our congre-gation and for our greater community. I hope that all TOL members will find a way to get involved.

We have had some wonderful Adult Education classes take place as a part of our Beit Midrash for Lifelong Jewish Learning. I want to thank Risa Strauss for all the classes she has taught and is cur-rently teaching – as always, Risa goes above and be-yond to give her students the greatest of experiences. Bill Strauss is starting a new class this month. Based on a project he did with his Religious School class and teamed with the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, Bill is offering a wonderful opportunity for par-ticipants to explore and share their own personal and familial stories of Jewish heritage. In the process, they will create an artifact museum of our very own.

Morgan and I are looking forward to attending the annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, held this year in San Francisco dur-

ing the second week of March. This is the annual meeting of Reform Rabbis from across the country and beyond.

And, of course, I am very excited about Pesach/Passover, which begins at the end of this month. It is perhaps our most important, as well as our most widely observed, festival of the year. It is not too early to begin preparing for Passover. This is the time for Spring Cleaning, as well as for examining some of those resolutions we made back at Rosh HaShanah. Passover begins on the evening of Monday, March 29. I hope that everyone has a marvelous seder, filled not only with wonderful foods, but with an exploration of the story of Exodus as we experience once again slav-ery and freedom. Every seder should be seen as an opportunity to connect with fond memories from the past and to create new ones for today and tomorrow. It is also a great opportunity to welcome guests into our homes. If you might have an extra spot or spots at your seder table, please let the Temple know so that we can put you in touch with those who might be look-ing for a seder host.

Our TOL Congregational Seder will be held again this year on the second night of Passover. It is a chance for us to celebrate altogether as a congrega-tional family. Whether it is your first or second seder, we know that you will have a wonderful and meaning-ful time. Please make your reservation early so we know who is coming. Jamine Santiago of Classic Ca-tering will be providing the meal for our seder this year.

Just as we begin Passover with special ceremo-nies, we also have an important service to mark the conclusion of Passover. On the last night of Passover, Sunday, April 4, we will hold our Concluding Service at 7:00 p.m. This service includes our Yizkor Memo-rial Service, at which we will read the names of all those in our congregation who have died since the be-ginning of 5770. It is an important service, and I really hope to see many of you join us that evening.

Have a wonderful (and busy) March and Chag Sameach!

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The Hebrew word aliyah means “going up.” The root letters are ayin, lamed, hey. In common usage it is thought of as a term describing immigration to

Israel. In synagogue we receive an “aliyah” when we recite the Torah blessings, because we are “called up” to the bimah. The term aliyah, however, also evokes a sense of holiness, of rising from one plane of existence to another.

Though I have made aliyah to Israel and have received aliyot in synagogue – each on its own bringing me to a higher level of spirituality – I have always felt an enormous sense of holiness and Jewish awareness as we move into the Jewish month of Nisan and the spring holidays. As a community, during the coming months, we will experience the traditions of Passover and the joys of freedom, followed by the period of the Omer including Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), Yom HaZikaron (Day of Remembrance for Israel’s Fallen) and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day).

We will celebrate learning, studying and our teachers on Lag B’Omer, and then observe together again on Shavuot when we as a people receive the Torah, the one thing that binds each of us, as Jews, together. This period of time is so filled with emotion and historical significance it is difficult not to feel that one is being “elevated,” if only a little higher (a few inches) so that we can fully grasp the meaning and breadth of our Jewish heritage. It is not insignificant to note that Passover and Shavuot are both holidays when traditionally Jews made an “aliyah laregel,” a pilgrimage on foot to Jerusalem. This arduous trek for all was considered to be a source for renewal and inspiration.

While making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem on foot may seem better fitted for marathon runners with the latest equipment, great running shoes and an exemplary GPS system, preparing for and hosting a Passover Seder need not be as overwhelming and exhausting. The key things to remember are: preparation, imagination and

flexibility. Martha Stewart we are not; the Haggadah is the best GPS system in the world for Seder prep and hosting; and no one should feel restricted by those little circles on the Seder plate! The following are some guidelines for enjoying a Passover Seder at home: 1. Prepare: Everyone should have a Haggadah (choose

one that best suits your Seder participants). The URJ website has a nice selection, and many people will be more than willing to share their own personal

favorite. Familiarize yourself with the Haggadah you have chosen, and clarify before the Seder: who is the leader, how will people participate, who will be chanting the Four Questions, what songs you will be singing, and the “hiding and finding of the matzah ritual.”

2. Imagine: According to Jewish law, the key elements of the Seder are telling the story, eating matzah, drinking four cups of wine/grape juice, eating Maror (the bitter herb) and reciting the Hallel. But the Haggadah specifically states, “Whoever expands upon the story of the Exodus deserves praise.” A traditional name for Passover is “Zeman Cheiruteinu – the Time of our Liberation.” The Passover Seder has always been the perfect time to dialogue about equality, freedom and the struggles of so many people around the globe. Don’t be afraid to discuss – no one is going anywhere, at least not before the meal! A basket of old clothes, scarves and musical instruments lays the foundation for a great skit for instance. Make your Seder memorable and place a pre-made “plague bag” (with individual items representing the 10 plagues) by each table setting to help explain and illustrate the plagues for your younger children. Many families have their children create “Welcome Elijah” door hangers for their front doors and set an extra place setting for an unexpected guest at the table. In addition to the cup filled with wine for Elijah, a cup filled with water for Moses’ sister, Miriam, is a custom in many people’s homes.

3. Be Flexible: If your numbers warrant it, set your table with more than one Seder plate, or even one mini-Seder plate for every two people. Encourage your guests’ own traditions by asking them to bring Seder plates, candlesticks, stories and food! When family and friends share in the preparation of the meal, it enhances the Seder experience for everybody. To stave off any pre-meal hunger, cut-up veggies can be placed around the table and some coloring equipment will help sedate even your “antsiest” of participants. Note: accidental spills will happen at any meal, but especially at a Seder. A bottle of club soda to blot up anything purple in color is a “must.” On Passover we remember our exodus from Egypt, but we

can also remind ourselves that preparation, imagination and flexibility will most certainly help our Seder to run smoothly. Everyone is there to experience, enjoy, learn, eat and share in a wonderful Jewish tradition together. Please do not hesitate to contact Rabbi Sherman or myself for more information about Passover, its history and traditions.

Chag Samayach (Happy Holiday) and LeShanah Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim (Next Year in Jerusalem)!

FROM THE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DIRECTOR

INGREDIENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SEDER

By Risa Strauss

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RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEWS

IMPORTANT TOL RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DATES IN MARCH

3/05 Kidz Shabbat, 6:45 p.m., child care from 7:15 p.m. and Regular Shabbat services beginning at 7:30 p.m. 3/07 RS, 9 a.m. and noon presentations from Randy Coleman, director of the 6 Points Sport Academy (a URJ affiliate camp) – everyone is invited; Grade 1 and 2 Family Life Program at the home of JB and Teri Sobel (Andrew, Daniel and Clair) 3/12 Kitah Bet (2nd level Hebrew) potluck supper and Shabbat service, 6:30 p.m.; child care will be available from 7:15 p.m.; Regular Shabbat services begin at 7:30 p.m. 3/12-14 HaTikvah Kallah (7th and 8th Grade NFTY-SAR Convention in Atlanta) 3/14 Religious School, 9 a.m. 3/20 Bat Mitzvah of Jessica Jacobs, Mazal Tov to the entire Jacobs family 3/21 RS, 9 a.m.; Pizza lunch fundraiser coordinated by Brotherhood, Bina Book Club; Chai School for 11-12th graders 3/28 RS, 9 a.m.; Tree Tumblers and Model Seder – details coming! March Birthdays! 4/04 No Religious School, Spring Break 4/11 No Religious School, Spring Break; Yom HaShoah Service, 7 p.m. at Beth Shalom Synagogue 4/16 Kidz Shabbat, 6:45 p.m. 4/18 Religious School, 9 a.m.; April Birthdays and Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration 4/25 THE BIG NOSH!

As we all know, “being Jewish” is definitely a life-long, hands-on experiential endeavor. The month of March at TOL Religious School provides many op-portunities for our children and their families to “live Jewishly.” Here are a few ways for example that your family might want to prepare for the upcoming Pass-over celebration in your home: 1. Have each child especially clean his/her room (making sure to vacuum away all cookie crumbs and snacks so there are no bread products left behind). 2. At the supermarket have your children help you shop by checking for the “Kosher for Passover” label. 3. During the Hebrew month of Nisan (Passover begins on the 15th of Nisan, the evening of Monday, March 29), it is customary to give special tzedakah to those in need. Perhaps your family can make a donation to the Columbia area Family Shelter or the Harvest Hope or Jewish Family Service food banks. And, 4. Encourage your kids to make their own school lunches during the week of

Passover. Not only does their creativity come out when no bread is allowed, but they can really explain to their friends about the traditions of the holiday when they know and understand them themselves.

Some calendar highlights in the month of March include: “Kidz Shabbat”, a Grade 1 and 2 Fam-ily Life Program, a visit from the Director of the 6 Point Sports Academy Camp (that is being held at the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro, N.C.), a Kitah Bet Shabbat service and potluck supper, the Bat Mitzvah of Jessica Jacobs on March 20, our annual Model Seder, 11-12th grade Chai School program-ming, and an all-you can eat pizza lunch fundraiser.

The TOL Religious School thrives because of the efforts and support of multitudes! To all TOL con-gregants and to all community members who teach, substitute teach, or simply support the Religious School in so many different ways – we say Todah Rabbah!

6 POINTS SPORTS

ACADEMY A URJ Summer Camp

www.6pointsacademy.org

(561-208-1650)

• Designed for athletic boys and girls ages 10 to 15

• 2-week sessions of inten-sive training and cross-conditioning electives

• Train in state-of-the-art facilities at the American He-brew Academy in nearby Greensboro, NC

• Learn sports skills and Jewish life values from top-level coaches and counselors Come for an information ses-sion and meet Director Randy Coleman at TOL, Sunday, March 7 at 12 noon.

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UPCOMING BAT MITZVAH

JESSICA AMANDA JACOBS

Jessica is the daughter of Todd and Winnie Jacobs and is the older sister of Justin and Grant. Jessica has lived in Chapin her entire life and is a 7th grader at Chapin Middle School. She enjoys trav-eling and drawing. Jes-sica plays the clarinet and is on the Chapin High School swim team. For her Mitzvah Project, Jes-

sica – who loves animals and pets – volunteered at Pets, Inc., where she helped to take care of the

dogs and clean the facility.

TOL RELIGIOUS SCHOOL PIZZA FUNDRAISER All You Can Eat and/or Pre-Ordered Takeout

(Coordinated with love by the Brotherhood)

For All Temple Members “Hand-Tossed” by our very own, Dave Tedeschi!

ALL YOU CAN EAT!

Who: Religious School Students, Teachers, Parents and Friends What: All You Can Eat Pizza, carrots/celery and dip, juice box or soda, dessert When: Sunday, March 21, 2010 @ 11:10 a.m. Where: Social Hall Why: It’s a fun and delicious way to raise funds for the TOL Religious School. No worrying about making a lunch to send in or rushing to bring your child lunch during school. How: RSVP by prepaying or phoning/emailing your order. $3 meal-for grade 3 and younger or a $5 meal-for grade 4 and older. The deadline for ordering is Wednesday, 03/17. You may RSVP by email to risatol@bellsouth.net, by phone: 787-2182 or send in the flyer.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Ordered Takeout Name:________________________

Cheese Pizza = $7 White Pizza = $8 Pizza w/topping = $8

Cheese Pizzas: #_____ x $7.00 = ______ White Pies: #_____ x $8.00 = ______ Pizzas w/topping: #_____ x $8.00 = ______ Circle 1 Topping: Onions Mushrooms Olives Peppers Amount $ Enclosed: $______

Pick-up in the Social Hall between noon & 1 p.m.

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PASSOVER 5770

TTTTREEREEREEREE OFOFOFOF L L L LIFEIFEIFEIFE

CCCCONGREGATIONALONGREGATIONALONGREGATIONALONGREGATIONAL S S S SEDEREDEREDEREDER

2222NDNDNDND N N N NIGHTIGHTIGHTIGHT OFOFOFOF P P P PASSOVERASSOVERASSOVERASSOVER

Tuesday, March 30 at 6:00 p.m.

Come and celebrate Passover with your TOL Community!

This is a family event for all ages led by Rabbi Sherman.

The meal consists of all the traditional seder courses and foods,

and is being provided by Classic Catering.

Your check made out to Tree of Life for the total payment along with the form below must be re-ceived by the TOL office no later than Friday, March 19, 2010.

Your check is your reservation.

If you would like to participate but are unable to pay the full price, please contact Rabbi Sherman.

Sorry, we cannot guarantee dinners after March 19

for those without reservations.

Mail your check and reservation form to: Tree of Life Congregation 6719 North Trenholm Road

Columbia, SC 29206

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tree of Life Congregational Seder

2nd Night of Passover – Tuesday, March 30

Name _____________________________________Phone ________________

Please make reservations for:

_____ Adults: TOL members — $25/person _____ Children (age 5-12) — $10/person

_____ Adults: non-members — $35/person _____ Children under age 5 — no charge

_____ College Students & Military — $15 per person

_____ TOL Family Maximum $75

Amount Enclosed $_____________ Ck# ________

_____ I am available to volunteer to help with set-up.

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SISTERHOOD NEWS

Sisterhood’s January nutrition program was full of useful information on how to eat healthier and feel better. Approximately 30 people learned to “take white [food] out of your life” from nutritionist Mary Kent Hearon. “White” foods include white bread, white potatoes, white flour, etc., and these white foods turn into sugar very quickly. Sugar, we learned from Ms. Hearon, is as addictive as caffeine. She also advised that as long as you eat everything in moderation, that is a major step to a healthy diet.

** Be on the lookout for your 2010 Holland bulb order forms ** The Tree of Life Sisterhood has been selling Holland bulbs since 1954. Blooms from the Sisterhood grace many personal gardens, patios, and various businesses across the Midlands and throughout the Carolinas.

SAVE THE DATE!

WOMEN’S SEDER

THURSDAY, APRIL 1 AT 6 P.M.

SISTERHOOD QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Getting together with the women of Sisterhood is always exciting. We are supporting the

Temple and participating in educational and fun activities all at the same time. It is truly re-

warding to be part of Sisterhood!”

-Roberta Friedland, Sisterhood Member (and sister-in-law of WRJ National President, Lynn Lazar)

BROTHERHOOD NEWS

JANUARY BLOOD DRIVE

The Tree of Life Brotherhood would like to thank every-one who participated in our January blood drive. It was a big success. We had 47 potential donors, of which 42 were able to give.

RETURN OF THE MONGOLIAN BARBEQUE

Please join us Saturday March 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the Tree of Life as the TOL Brotherhood is bringing back our famous stir-fried dinner. It’s a time to catch up with old friends and make new ones as you stand in line wait-ing for your food to be cooked by a group of Brotherhood chefs. For those of you not familiar with Mongolian Bar-beque, you choose from a selection of vegetables and sauces, meat or chicken and it is cooked on a hot grill. If you would like to make a reservation, please send an e-mail to brotherhood@tolsc.org with the number of din-ners or call 788-6603. The price is $13 per person. Hope to see you there.

PIZZA LUNCH AND TAKE OUT

Sunday, March 21st, the Brotherhood will be sponsoring another Pizza lunch for Religious School. New this time: we will also be taking carry-out orders. The cost for lunch for adults is $7.50, grades 3 and younger is $3, and all other grades is $5. All money from this goes to the Religious School. Forms for registering for lunch or pre-ordering takeout will be e-mailed shortly.

JULY BLOOD DRIVE

A request has been made to the Brotherhood to hold an-other blood drive. We are considering sometime in July. Please send an e-mail to David Carr at brother-hood@tolsc.org if you would possibly be interested in giving at that blood drive. This is not a commitment, but we are trying to gauge interest.

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TOL BUCKS BACK PROGRAM We’ve started our year off with a bang! We earned approximately $115 from our February Bucks Back order through The Great Lakes Scrip Center. Thanks to those families who participated!

Our next Bucks Back order deadline is Monday, March 8.

See the new retailers, specials, and permanent rate changes below! All checks need to be in the Temple office by noon. Order forms are available on-line and in the Temple office. Orders will be available for pick-up by Friday, March 12. NEW RETAILERS

Neiman Marcus has joined the program and is offering a 12% return to the Temple. Omni Hotels are now available with an 8% return. SPECIAL DEALS Fashion Bug 8% (until 6/4/10) Motherhood 12% (that's double!) (until 4/2/10) Exxon 2.5% (until 4/2/10) Celebrity Cruise Lines 12% (until 4/2/10)

Remember to mark your calendars for the 2010 Bucks Back Program. The deadline to order is the second Monday of each month.

Order forms are available outside the Temple office. April 12 May 10 June 14 July 12 August 9 September 13 October 11 November 8 December 6 December 13

Thanks again for your support!

ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES with RABBI SHERMAN

Wednesday evenings, March 3 &17

7:00 – 7:55 p.m. DEATH & MOURNING IN JUDAISM (sessions #3 & 4) 8:05 – 9:00 p.m. INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM (class continued from the Fall)

OUR JEWISH HERITAGE – AN ADULT EDUCATION PROJECT with Bill Strauss Wednesday, March 10 & 17, April 14 & 21

6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Our community is blessed with a diverse group of members from a wide variety of backgrounds and traditions. In conjunction with the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, we invite you to participate in an adult education class that will share and ex-plore each participant’s heritage through the investigation and presentation of a personal artifact. We will create an on-line museum on the “Living Museum” web site (www.living-museum.org), as well as a physical museum displaying our artifacts to be visited during The Big Nosh Festival at Tree of Life in April.

Over the four class sessions, participants will discuss their unique personal Jewish heritage, bring in and present an object that is representative of that heritage, and help organize and build both the on-line and physical museums. This class will be taught and facilitated by Bill Strauss and is open to all members of our Jewish Community. Call the Temple office for more information.

NEW Sunday morning BEGINNING HEBREW HOUR with Michelle Segal

February 21, 28; March 7, 14, 2, 28; April 18; and May 2, 9, 16

9: 15 – 10:15 a.m.

Using the text Alef Isn’t Tough, participants will learn all 22 letters and the vowels of the Hebrew language and be able to read with ease after 10 enjoyable sessions. This class is perfect for everyone and especially for parents of children in Religious School! Put this class on your calendar and make it part of your Sunday morning!

CONTRIBUTION RATE CHANGES Dominoes 8% Land's End 16% (starting 2/6/10) Shell 2.5%

BEIT MIDRASH FOR LIFELONG JEWISH LEARNING

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THE BIG NOSH

TOL’s 1st Annual Jewish Cultural Festival April 25, 2010

PRE-ORDER MENU Sponsored and cooked with love by Tree of Life Congregation

All Items will be packaged refrigerated.

Pre-Orders can be picked up during festival hours, but parking will be limited.

Please return this order form with your check payable to Tree of Life Congregation by Friday, April 9 to:

Tree of Life Congregation 6719 North Trenholm Road

Columbia, SC 29206

Name_________________________________ Phone Number: ______________ Check # ________

Express Pre-Festival Pickup Orders with quick on-site 10 minute parking will be available from 9am - 10:30am on the day of the festival. We recommend you avoid the crowds and pick up your orders early!

Looking for a sandwich or a blue plate special?

Take-out containers will be available at THE BIG NOSH all day!

Item Price Qty. Total

Quart of Bubbe’s Chicken Soup with Matzah Balls $7.00 Quart of Rabbi Marcus’ Special Cabbage & Beef Soup $7.00

Stuffed Cabbage (package of 4) $8.00

Noodle Kugel (9x9 pan) $15.00 Beef Brisket (pound) $12.00

Kosher style Corned Beef (pound) $12.00

Kosher style Pastrami (pound) $12.00 Chopped Liver (pound) $7.00

Knish (each) $3.00

Rugelach (dozen) $12.00 Challah $4.00

Ed’s famous Apple Strudel (whole) $12.00

Homemade Cheesecake $25.00 Total

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Marilyn & Michael Ehmke Mar. 6 Pam & Dennis Cohen Mar. 8 Jocelyn & Robert Burg Mar. 16 Joann & Jan Barkan Mar. 18 Carolyn & Alan Conway Mar. 22 Leah & Paul Cherney Mar. 26

MEMBER NEWS

MAZEL TOV

• Jennifer & Ryan Liss, on the birth of their son Benjamin Eli

• Julie & Ned Strauss, on the engagement of their daughter Sarah to Brian Levin

CONDOLENCES TO

• Marlene Korash & family, on the loss of her

husband Eugene Korash

REFUAH SHLEIMA

Get well wishes to TOL members recently hospital-ized or at home recovering: Suzanne Ash Roper,

Hal Birch, Henrietta Farber, Carole Rothstein,

and Julie Strauss

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

Abe Wandersman Mar. 1 Aileen Sunshine Mar. 2 Sarah Brotman Mar. 3 Eric Elkins Mar. 3 Frieda Ritter Mar. 3 Samuel Helman Mar. 4 Ilene King Mar. 4 Vladimir Plotkin Mar. 6 Jennifer Shechter-Liss Mar. 6 Hannah Stein Mar. 6 Winnie Jacobs Mar. 8 Jeff Silver Mar. 8 Wyatt Tucker Mar. 8 Allan Ackerman Mar. 10 Ed Hertz Mar. 10 Sheila King Mar. 10 Laura Becker Mar. 11 Marsha Shtessel Mar. 12 David Wile Mar. 13

Eden Picow Mar. 14 Shawn Youngstedt Mar. 14 Pam Crawford Mar. 16 Andrew Cherney Mar. 18 Alan Reyner, Jr. Mar. 18 Daniela Friedman Mar. 19 Debbie Ritter Mar. 19 Selma Dickman Mar. 22 Jerry Emanuel Mar. 22 Lory Bellino Mar. 23 Erica Allison Mar. 24 Andrew Greenberg Mar. 25 David Schwartz Mar. 25 Belinda Gergel Mar. 27 Samantha Marcus Mar. 28 Eleanor Bornstein Mar. 31 Nancy Cartiff Mar. 31 Grady Tucker Mar. 31

WRJ SHABBAT SERVICE REPS

March 5 – Jeanne Volin

March 12 – Annette Goldstein

March 19 – Cheri Shapiro

March 26 – Debra Tedeschi

HONOR ROLL

We salute and thank our wonderful volunteers!

Office – Mary Helen Baum, Sandy Hertz Hospital Calls – Sandy Hertz Library – Alvin Steingold

NEWS FROM THE OFFICE

FYI – The Temple Office has a new copy machine. If you need to use the copier for temple business, instructions and Department Codes are posted in the Copy Room. Please speak with Linda if you have any questions.

ONEG SHABBAT HOSTS

March 5 – Chair: Richard Cohen, Todd & Natalie Scolnick, Rob & Amy Scully, Jack & Helene Selbiger, Jeff & Walton Selig, Brad Smith & Cheri Shapiro, Kathryn Shaw March 12 – Parents of Kitah Bet students March 19 – Chair: Deborah Greenhouse,

Todd & Winnie Jacobs, Howard & Karyn Sheftman, Vladimir & Tat’Yana Shtessel, Jeff & Linda Silver, Bradford & Jenny Smith, Joseph & Terri Sobel, Steven & Bethany Sorenson March 26 – Chair: Debra Stombler, David & Lora Stein, Jack & Linda Sterne, Jon & Debra Stombler, Lonnie & Steve Stout, Ned & Julie Strauss, David & Debra Tedeschi Note: If you are unable to bake or purchase

Oneg Shabbat refreshments you may donate $20.00. Homemade goods are always preferable.

Checks need to be sent to the temple office two

weeks prior to your Oneg Shabbat date. Thank you for your support.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Come help celebrate the 10th anniversary

of the Columbia Jewish Film Festival!

March 20-24

at the Nickelodeon Theater.

Presenting six films including: Ben and Eli Watching the police take his father into custody changes everything for 12 year old Eli. When the police begin to question him about his father’s actions, Eli begins to feel like a double agent. Where, he wonders, is the truth?

The Debt Rachel, a former Mossad agent who participated in the killing of Max Rainer, a notorious Nazi criminal, is drawn back to her past when a man claiming to be the real Rainer surfaces in Europe.

Don’t miss our much anticipated Festival Brunch and the documentary Killing Kasztner on Sunday, March 21, 2010. Gaylen Ross of New York, writer, pro-ducer and director of the film will be our

guest speaker.

Donors to the Film Festival will receive complementary passes to all Festival films and the Sunday Brunch. More information will

follow shortly.

Director Michael Bailey of Stage 5 Production

& The Katie & Irwin Kahn JCC Proudly Present

SEUSSICAL JR. A JCC Children’s Theater Production

Saturday, March 13

7 p.m. (preview performance) Sunday, March 14, 3 p.m.

Advance tickets available at the JCC front desk

or by calling 787-2023 Tickets: $8 adults / $5 children

Mark your calendars for …

KIDS GET FIT TRIATHLON

May 23, 2010

Presented by the Katie & Irwin Kahn Jewish

Community Center

Beth Shalom Synagogue

Cordially Invites the Community to Our

DANCING WITH THE STARS Fundraising Gala

March 13, 2010

Embassy Suites Hotel

7:00 p.m. Champagne & preview of

silent auction items 7:30 p.m. Havdallah service, seated

dinner, & program

$75 per person Black tie optional

RSVP to Beth Shalom Synagogue (803-782-2500)

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March 5 – Doreen Friedman, Jennie Ginsberg*, Dora Meyers, Samuel A. Mild*, Cheryl Reich, Harold Weiss, Ruth Grossman Diamond, Rita Bierfass Green*, Elaine Harris, Tania Paul, Sidney Conway*, Nathan Blatt*, Edward Davidson, Waneta De Blasé, Morris Rauch*, Ben Stein*, Mariya Volfson, Elaine Gomberg*, Gary Gomberg*, Beatrice Kapilian, Gertrude Pall, Harold Schnieder, Rachele A. Rothfeder* March 12 – Rhonda Brandon, Nathan Brenner, Anna Gordon, Sadie F. Horn*, Richard C. Shivley, Philip Winter*, Cecile Wolff*, Golda Rothberg Belove*, Kate Posner, Benjamin Radin, Terry Hertz*, Paul Snyder, Julius J. Teskey*, Hanna Pearlstine*, Rebecca Rogol Winter*, Jospeh H. Bloom*, Maurice Marcus, David Milman, Martin Needles, Grier Park, Mary M. Rothstein*, Abraham Isaac Trager* March 19 – Frank Boxt, Rose L. Cohen*, Julius Jastrow*, Benjamin Shechter, William S. Reyner*, Elizabeth Auerbach Wilken*, Wyman Lilly, Dorothy B. Herzog, Ann Trachamofsky Leader, James Masur*, Elliott Posner*, Michael Sigel, Robert Solomon, Sylvia Solomon, Reuben Brody, Marian D. Fleischman*, Hannah Frayda, Sidney Goodwin, Ernest Spacone, Arline Wander*, Charles Ralph Daniel*, Nettie Hagenbuch, Cela Miller, Myron Wander*, William Workman, Geraldine Kreiselman, Shep Pearlstine*, Jesse Weiner* March 26 – Ida C. Fidelholtz*, Fritzie Alene Mann*, Irving Schwartz, Nancy Love Weiss*, Edward Furman*, Goldie Hoffman*, Josiah Morse, Rose Silk, Freda Benowitz, Samuel Birch*, Jerry Brandon, Dorothy Haegele, Arthur Ginsberg*, Nettie Weisberg, Elic Hyman, Samuel Lewis Rifkin*, Charles Solomon *name memorialized by a plaque in the sanctuary

YAHRZEITS BIMAH FLOWERS

February 5

Dan, Lory, & Rebecca Bellino, in memory of Barry Levey Stan & Terry Gomberg, in memory of Ruth Richmond Ernie, Donna, Mark, & Abby Magaro, in memory of Mac Davidson The Reyner family, in memory of Rose Wildman Stern Igor Volynets, in memory of Mira Volynets February 12

Cheri Alexander, in memory of Alvah Hope Gould Cheri Alexander, in memory of Catherine Weiner David & Lea Weiner, in memory of Catherine Weiner Joel & Cindy Becker, in memory of Norman Becker Bessie Garber, in memory of Paul Garber Leon Garber, in memory of Paul Garber Joan & Tom McGee & family, in memory of Rabbi Harold Gelfman Jennifer & Hans Mykytyn & Matthew Train, in memory of Jonathan Scott Train Gerald & Arline Polinsky, in memory of Gertrude Segal Furman Harriet Posner, in memory of Mabel Mann Jennifer & Stephen Savitz, in memory of Sam Savitz Jenny & Bradford Smith, in memory of Sam Savitz Heather & Todd Weiss, in memory of Sam Savitz Alice Terner, in memory of Isadore Jack Hoffman David & Lea Weiner, in memory of Goldie Weiner Ida Weisberg, in memory of Michael E. Weisberg Irwin Zucker, in memory of Sidney Zucker Jeanne, Andy, Adam, & Jessica Volin, in honor of the naming of Sophie & Lucy Westfall February 19

Belle S. Fields, in memory of Ethel Ann Serbin Steven, Naomi, & Samuel Grosby, in memory of Herbert Grosby Suzy B. Herzog & Harvie Nachlinger, in memory of Charles M. Herzog Retha & Ross Lynch, in memory of Robert Glenn Shultz Peggy, Jeff, & Danny Miller, in memory of Florence Snyder Marvyn Milman, Alison Bedford Weinreb, & Cara Bedford Hanin, in memory of Nancy Bedford Milman Judith Kalb & Alexander Ogden, in memory of Bella Kalb The Reyner family, in memory of Bernard Reyner Feliks & Sarra Rabinovich, in memory of Yakov Volfson Bethany & Steven Sorenson, in memory of Kenneth Sorenson February 26

Barbara & Bruce Becker, in memory of David Becker Meri Gergel and Richard & Belinda Gergel, in memory of Jean F. Gergel Suzy B. Herzog & Harvie Nachlinger, in memory of Dorothy Berlin Herzog Murray Politis, in memory of Kay Politis Jerry & Carole Rothstein, in memory of June Goldfein The Reyner family, in memory of William Frisch Bash Savitz, in memory of Maurice Savitz Peter & Margo Savitz, in memory of Maurice Savitz Howard & Karyn Sheftman, in memory of Rena Sheftman

COME, LEARN, AND EXPERIENCE…

ISRAELI DANCING AT TOL!

We are very excited to let you know that … we're getting together a group for Israeli dancing! We'd love to have you join in! Our group will be learning a set of dances that we will share with the TOL community at THE BIG NOSH on April 25. If you really want to dance but are shy about this part, don't stay away. You are still welcome to come dance and learn with us. But we are really hoping everyone can make it on the 25th to show ruach (spirit) for the Temple.

So join us on Monday evenings at Temple at 7:00 p.m. It’ll be lots of fun!

Please RSVP to TOL member and instructor

Eleanor Stein at 376-6015.

14

CONTRIBUTIONS

We gratefully acknowledge the following thoughtful donations:

Building Fund

Myrna & Richard Cohen, in memory of Clara Levin Ross & Retha Lynch, in memory of Abraham Nisenholz Choir Fund

Gerald & Arline Polinsky, in memory of Clara Levin Foyer Leaf

Harriet Posner, in loving memory of Clara Levin, devoted mother & grandmother

General Fund

Melanie & Frank Baker, in memory of Clara Levin James Cranford, in memory of Mildred Silverfield Fred & Irene Fields, in memory of Clara Levin Ann Gaton, in memory of Clara Levin Sidney & Anne Krauss, in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Sandy & Ed Hertz Shelly & Rob Kriegshaber & family, in memory of Clara Levin Shelly & Rob Kriegshaber & family, in honor of David Friedland’s engagement Shelly & Rob Kriegshaber & family, in honor of Sarah Strauss’s engagement Shelly & Rob Kriegshaber & family, in honor of Mary Helen Baum’s birthday Barbara LaBelle, in memory of Lillian Herman Leah Meador, in appreciation Hans & Jennifer Mykytyn, in memory of Clara Levin Thomas Newton, in memory of Susan Markel Starr Harriet Posner, in memory of Abraham Nisenholz Kay & Ira Radin, in memory of Abraham Nisenholz Jack & Linda Sterne, in honor of Mary Helen Baum’s special birthday

Prayer Book Fund

Elsie Wolff, in memory of Dorothy Lavisky Lyon

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

Sylvia Friedman Cremer, Golden Anniversary wishes to Ed & Sandy Hertz Sylvia Friedman Cremer, in memory of Mildred Silverfield Ann Gaton, in memory of Clara Levin Stan Gomberg & Terry Ross, Happy Birthday wishes to Jeff Fink Regina Shechter, in honor of the birth of her great-grandson Benjamin Eli Liss

Religious School Fund

Sandra & Gerald Euster, in honor of Howard Weiss, newly elected president of the JCC The Russ Family, in appreciation of Rabbi Marcus Religious School’s Neil Cartiff Memorial Fund

Barbara & Bruce Becker, in memory of Clara Levin Sherry & Bob Blenner, in memory of Clara Levin Nancy Cartiff, in memory of Clara Levin Heidi & David Lovit, in memory of Clara Levin

Sisterhood Courtesy Fund

Nancy Cartiff, in loving memory of Abraham Nisenholz Dr. & Mrs. Herman Salzberg, in memory of Rona Russ Beth Helman, in loving memory of Clara Levin Eleanor & Barry Bornstein, in loving memory of Clara Levin

Jonathan Scott Train Youth Group Fund

Fred & Marcia Medway, in honor of Amy Scully's 50th Birthday Fred & Marcia Medway, in memory of Abraham Nisenholz Ned & Julie Strauss, in memory of Clara Levin Amy & Rob Scully, in honor of Jennifer Mykytyn’s becoming an Adult Bat Mitzvah Scrappy & Suzi Stark, in honor of Matthew Scully's 21st Birthday Scrappy & Suzi Stark, in honor of Jennifer Mykytyn’s becoming an Adult Bat Mitzvah Scrappy & Suzi Stark, in memory of Clara Levin Harriet Posner, Mazel Tov to the Strauss Family on the engagement of Sarah to Brian

Youth Activities Fund

Marguerite Brill, in memory of Clara Levin Susan J. Brown, in memory of Clara Levin Stephen & Roberta Friedland, in memory of Clara Levin TOL Sisterhood, in memory of Clara Levin

Tree of Life entrance covered in

snow for Shabbat, Friday, Feb-

ruary 12.

15

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

28 HAPPY PURIM!

9:00pm

Religious School Breakfast

1

7:00pm Israeli Dance

2 3 6:00pm

Conversational Hebrew

7:00pm Death & Mourning

In Judaism

7:00pm Adv Beg Hebrew

8:00pm Intro to Judaism

4 5 6:45pm

Kidz Shabbat

7:30pm Shabbat Service BIG NOSH

Kick-Off & tasting during

Oneg Shabbat

6 6:30pm

Brotherhood Mongolian

BBQ

7 9:15am

Beginning Hebrew

12Noon 6 Points Sports

Academy Camp Dir

4:00pm Grades 1 & 2 Family Life

8 7:00pm

Israeli Dance

9 10 6:00pm

Adult Jewish Museum 6:45pm

Executive Board 7:00pm

Adv Beg Hebrew 7:30pm

Board of Directors

11

Newsletter

Deadline

for April

12 6:30pm

Potluck Dinner

7:30pm Shabbat Service

(Kitah Bet)

Hatikvah Kallah 7-8 Gr (Atlanta)

13 10:00am

Shabbat Morning Service & Torah

Study

Hatikvah Kallah 7-8 Gr (Atlanta)

14 Daylight Savings Time begins

9:00am Religious School

9:15am Beginning Hebrew

Hatikvah Kallah 7-8 Gr (Atlanta)

15 7:00pm

Israeli Dance

16

17 6:00pm

Adult Jewish Museum

7:00pm Death & Mourning

In Judaism

8:00pm Intro to Judaism

18 19 7:30pm

Shabbat Service

Deadline

to RSVP for

Passover Seder

on March 30th

20 10:30am

Bat Mitzvah of Jessica Jacobs

21 9:15am

Beginning Hebrew

RS Pizza Lunch Fundraiser

22 7:00pm

Israeli Dance

23 6:30pm

Sisterhood Board Meeting (library)

24

8:00pm Intro to Judaism

25 26 7:30pm

Shabbat Service

27

28 9:00am

Religious School 10:15am

Model Seder

9:15am Beginning Hebrew

29 First Night of

Passover

30 First Day of Passover

(Office Closed)

6:00pm Tree of Life

Passover Seder

31 Passover

1 Passover

6:00pm

Sisterhood Seder

2 Passover

7:30pm

Shabbat Service

3 Passover

March 2010

16

DIRECTORY

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Endowment………………………………….…Ned Strauss Finance………………………………...………..Peter Kline Fundraising…………………………...…….G. Todd Weiss House & Ground………………..………….…..Andy Volin Membership…………………...……………...Laney Cohen Outreach…………………………………....Debra Tedeschi Religious School Board………………...….Debra Stombler Ritual…………………………….……….…...Terry Garber Security……………..…………………….……………….. Social Action………………………………………………. Temple Youth Group……………………….…..Bill Strauss AFFILIATES Brotherhood President………………………….Brad Smith Sisterhood President..………..……….….Daniela Friedman COFTY President…………………….…..Shayna Bannister TOL NEWSLETTER Design...…..……………………………….Morgan Sherman Proofreader……..………………..…………....Marc Rapport TEMPLE STAFF Office Manager……………………………...Linda Frederico Custodian………………..…………..….....Demitris Gilmore TEMPLE MUSICIANS Music Director……………………...…...…Sharon Witherell Music Director Emeritus………………......…Jackie McNeill

TREE OF LIFE CONGREGATION Established 1896

6719 North Trenholm Road Columbia, SC 29206

Office: (803) 787-2182 Fax: (803) 787-0309

Website: www.tolsc.org Email: tolcong@bellsouth.net

Office Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday 8:30 am – 4 p.m.

Closed daily 12 noon – 1 p.m.

RABBI Daniel M. Sherman rabbisherman@bellsouth.net RABBI EMERITUS Sanford T. Marcus, D.D. Risa Strauss, RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DIRECTOR risatol@bellsouth.net

OFFICERS PRESIDENT………….…………………………….…….Jeff Selig jhselig@bellsouth.net 1ST VICE PRESIDENT…………..……………...Annette Goldstein 2ND VICE PRESIDENT………….………………..…….Ilene King TREASURER………………………..………..….....Howard Weiss SECRETARY…………………………..…...….........Jackie Michel IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT………………….....Amy Scully

BOARD MEMBERS

Michelle Bowen Scott Kaplan Julie Strauss Laney Cohen Donna Magaro Debra Tedeschi Richard Cohen Joy Parks Andy Volin Richard H. Cohn Arline Polinsky Paul Westfall Deborah Greenhouse Marc Rapport LIFETIME BOARD MEMBERS Bernard Fleischman, Jr., Stephen Savitz, Howard Weiss

Tree of Life Congregation 6719 North Trenholm Road Columbia, SC 29206 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID COLUMBIA, SC PERMIT #121