• President's Message
• Torah Talk
• Inside Scoop
• Message from the Board
• Join Us for Our Fall Events and High Holy Day Services
• High Holy Day Tickets
• Mitzvah Pantry
• Men's Club Re-erected
• Women's Chavurah/WRJ
• Selichot
• Service Leaders
• Changes for Beth Ahavah Online
• Kosher Cuisine
• Israel 2002
• AIDS Walk 2001
• Mark Your Calendar
• Beth Ahavah on Tour
• Congregation Beth Ahavah Funds
• UAHC 66^th Biennial Convention

Shalom!!! I hope everyone's summer has been great.

I am happy to share with all of you that Rabbi Linda Holtzman will be leading services this year at the High Holy Days. Rabbi Holtzman has been an integral part of Beth Ahavah tradition for many years and this tradition will continue. There is still a lot that needs to be done, to prepare for the High Holy Days, so please whatever time and energy you can give towards our programs, I implore you to contact the synagogue and help out.

The new board of directors is up and running. This year, the board is meeting twice a month and is working very hard on all aspects of synagogue life. Our meetings have had up to 20 congregants in attendance. I see that many people are moving forward to take active steps in making the community not only work but also succeed. I invite anyone reading this to attend our regularly scheduled board meeting each month. The meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at 7 pm at the synagogue. If you have ideas, interests, or just want to come be part of the operation please join us.

Everyone should have received his or her membership renewal information in the mail. Please fill it out and return it the synagogue as soon as you can. If you need treasurer's arrangements for dues please contact the synagogue office or myself.

Members can look forward to at least one social activity per month. One of the goals of the new board of directors is to continue to increase interesting and enjoyable social programming for the community. In an effort to emulate the success of our Women of Reform Judaism/Women's Chavaruah chapter, the board has taken measures to help revitalize the Men's club. Men reading this (nonmembers and members alike) can begin to look forward to a diverse array of programming on a monthly basis. Everyone should keep their eyes on our Website (www.bethahavah.org) thanks to Leslie to see the calendar of events.

September 1, 2001

KI TETZE - Deuteronomy 21:10 - 25:19

Parashat Ki Tetze contains 72 mitzvot (commandments). Although they seem unrelated, they all pertain to the morals and values that God wanted to be deeply implanted in the Israelites' hearts and minds. These mitzvot cover a wide variety of topics, from family life, human kindness, respect for property and animals, the safety of others, sexual relationships, escaped slaves, financial loans and charging interest, and keeping promises, to remembering to blot out the name of one of Israel's greatest enemies.

September 8, 2001

KI TAVO - Deuteronomy 26:1 - 29:8

Ki tavo, "when you come" into the Promised Land and settle there, God tells the people, they are to bring a basket containing the first fruits of their harvest to the place that God designates. There, each person is to place the basket on the altar and recite a prayer of thanksgiving, which recalls the history of the people from the time that they were slaves in Egypt, up until God brought them into the land of milk and honey. The parasha ends with Moses reminding the people of the miracles that God has done for them during their wanderings for forty years in the desert - their clothes and sandals did not wear out, and all that they ate was provided for them by God.

September 15, 2001

NITZAVIM - Deuteronomy 29:9 - 30:20

In Parashat Nitzavim, Moses continues his farewell speech to the people. He tells the Israelites that "you are standing" (in Hebrew "Nitzavim") this day before God to conclude the covenant. This covenant binds the Israelites to God and God to the Israelites and was made not only with those present that day but also with all Israel, past, present and future.

September 18, 2001

Rosh Hashanah 5762

The Torah reading for Rosh Hashanah, Genesis 22, is the story of the binding of Isaac, often called the Akedah. In this section, God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son, and Abraham dutifully starts out on a journey with Isaac to fulfill God's command. At the last moment, an angel of God stops the sacrifice of Isaac and commands that a ram be substituted for the boy. Jewish thinkers for generations have been challenged and drawn to this section of Torah because of its complex message.

September 22, 2001

VAYELECH - Deuteronomy 31:1- 30

In Parashat Vayelech, Moses informs the Israelites that he is 120 years old and therefore too old to continue as an active leader. Moses reminds the people that God has already told him that he would not live to enter the Promised Land. Moses publicly announces that Joshua will be the next leader of the people.

September 29, 2001

Ha'azinu - Deuteronomy 32:1 - 52

There's no lack of energy at the new Board of Directors' meetings! In fact, so much is going on that we thought we'd share some of the excitement with you through the Shofar.

And, you will discover that you can be a part of the process that gets things done around BA. When something is on the agenda that we know might be of interest to you, you just might receive a personal invitation to attend the meeting.

The "guest" program has started already, and it's working. A member recently attended a meeting, and presented a terrific program idea, which occurred at Shabbat Services, Friday, August 24th.

Leslie brought the Board some questions and ideas regarding the web site (better than ever ... check it out).

We are mindful that your time is precious and that work and family commitments occupy a great portion of your time. In order for us to continue to provide the same variety and quality of programs and services that you have come to expect from BA, we need your help. If you can join a committee, there are several from which you can choose. Even if you can only spare an hour a month, we will be happy to see you.

For many of us, B.A. has become home and its members our family. While no one organization can be all things to all people, for 26 years, B.A. has been a beacon to the LGBT Jewish Community of the Delaware Valley. Remember what B.A. has meant to you; help us to ensure that B.A. will be there for the next person who needs a place to worship, or the consolation of a community, or a friend.

The meetings of the Board of Directors are held on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM at B.A. and are open to all members of the congregation. We welcome your participation and your input.

Saturday, September 8, 6:30 p.m.*
Israeli Dinner, cost is $10.00 per person (RSVP to 215-923-2003), Selichot educational program 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Followed by Selichot Services (No charge for the educational program or service.)

Monday, September 17, 8:00 p.m.
Erev Rosh Hashanah Services

Tuesday, September 18, 10:00 a.m.
Rosh Hashanah Day Services

Wednesday, September 19, 10:00 a.m.*
Rosh Hashanah/Tashlich Services

Wednesday, September 26, 7:00 p.m.
Kol Nidre Services

Wednesday, September 27, 10:00 A.M.
Yom Kippur Morning Services

Wednesday, September 27, 5:00 p.m.
Yom Kippur Yizkor/Ne'ila Services. Break-fast** (reservations required) immediately following services at the William Way Center 1315 Spruce Street, Phila. PA. Catered by MANNA of Philadelphia.

*Services with an asterisk will be held at Congregation Beth Ahavah. All other services held at the DoubleTree Hotel, Broad and Spruce Streets. Guest tickets may be purchased in advance. For additional information please call 215.923.2003, box #7.

The price of High Holiday tickets is $50.00 for guests of members, and $125.00 for general non-members.

Our prices are still well below the cost for HHD tickets at most other area synagogues.

Selichot, the official start of the High Holy Day period, Saturday, September 8th ... there's going to be an Open House at B.A. (members and non-members), dinner and program. Rabbi Linda Holtzman, who is also leading High Holy Day services for us this year, will lead the Selichot program. Mark your calendars.

Did you know that you can find a timeline B.A.'s entire 26-year history on our website?

Did you know that you could find a special online flyer full of detailed information about this year's High Holy Day observances on the website?

If not, you haven't explored the B.A. website lately.

Congregation Beth Ahavah first ventured out onto the World Wide Web in 1998. Hosted on the UAHC's web service. In the beginning, not too many people knew that B.A. was online. But gradually, as the site came to be maintained with up-to-date information, synagogue members began to use the site to look up event-specific information.

A website like B.A.'s really has two audiences. The most obvious audience is the membership itself. The site provides our members with a calendar of events, links to the synagogue leadership, and articles about issues of importance to our community. The second audience is the world beyond the congregation. Our website is a sort of public face. It represents us to the community beyond our own membership.

With these audiences in mind, I feel that it's time to make some changes to the B.A. website. The first change already has taken place - B.A. has its own unique domain name. That's right, we officially own the www.bethahavah.org URL. Now it's easy to remember (and give out) the B.A. website address. But not to worry, the old UAHC-based address still works.

California Kugel (Dairy/Pareve)

Fresh orange juice and apples are the secret that makes this kugel different!

• 10 ounces medium egg noodles
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups fresh-squeezed orange juice (not frozen), including pulp
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 3 medium tart apples, cored, peeled and grated
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Jews 17th World Congress - International Biennial is scheduled to be held in Israel, July 4 - 7, 2002.

Plan ahead and be part of our growing history as g/l/b/t Jews.

Save the dates and your money. We are in the process of planning a B.A. group to attend the conference. Stay tuned for more complete details!

Last year, B.A.'s AIDS Walk team raised $1572 from only seven team members (one person turned in $670, another submitted $567). The AIDS Walk and other AIDS Fund events (such as Gay BINGO) are major funding sources for many Philadelphia-area organizations that provide HIV/AIDS prevention and education, as well as direct care to those infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Please plan ahead and make your commitment today to either walk/run/rollerblade/bicycle or volunteer as part of the October 21, 2001 walk.

Although more people than ever are living with, rather than dying from, this disease, HIV/AIDS remains the second leading cause of death among adults, ages 25-44, and is the #1 cause of death of African-Americans in this same age group. Today, 36.1 million people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS. Of these, 34.7 million are adults, 16.4 million are women and 1.4 million are children under 15. Also, Pennsylvania and New Jersey are among the ten states reporting the highest number of AIDS cases.

If you'd like to participate, but are not available on the day of the Walk or if such a large-scale activity is not your "thing," you can help out as a volunteer in the Center City office on any of the days prior to the Walk.

Other ways to help:

• Pick up AIDS Walk posters at B.A. services to display on your job, where you shop, etc.
• Buy (and wear -- all the time!) AIDS Walk buttons (available at B.A. services).
• Talk about the Walk to people you know or meet.
• If you choose not to be a B.A. team member, please sponsor someone who is on the team.

Please seriously consider becoming a part of B.A.'s team (if you are not already a member of another team). If every member of Congregation Beth Ahavah sponsors himself/herself plus gets two, three or more sponsors for a total of as little as $50, we have the potential to raise at least $7500. With just a little bit more effort and the repeated efforts of those two individuals who raised over $1200, last year, our synagogue's team could easily raise $10,000 for the fight against HIV/AIDS. All of us interact with people regularly who would sponsor us for this very worthy cause - if only we asked them. If you have never tried it, it is much easier than you realize.

Ask friends, co-workers, neighbors, and fellow students, people you know from organizations or socially, merchants where you shop and professionals whom you patronize.

You can help to make a difference by being part of the "strongest link."

Lastly, because I am also a Team Captain of another team, I am seeking someone to assume this role for B.A.'s team. Please contact the synagogue office for more information.

Join us Saturday, October 6 at 7:00 p.m. for our annual "Sukkot" party. This wonderful harvest festival celebration will be held at a member's home in King of Prussia, and includes an incredible dessert buffet. You must RSVP to the synagogue office at 215-923-2003.

Members and prospective members are encouraged to come "greet and meet" old friends and to make new ones. Watch your mail and the Shofar for additional information.

November 17th....BA will be going to Atlantic City (The Sand's Casino) for some great entertainment.

Christopher Peterson's "Eyecons" will be performing at the Sand's from the 13^th to the 21^st of November. Chris has been performing in Rehoboth Beach at the Renegade for the last 4 summers! We have seen his show many, many times and it keeps getting better. He also performs in Palm Springs, Las Vegas and has a cameo in the new movie "Rat Race."

What is Eyecons? It is Chris's look at many of the female icons like Marilyn Monroe, Liza, Judy Garland, Barbara Streisand, Lucille Ball and the BEST Bette Davis you will ever see!!

Chris uses his own voice...there is NO lypsyncing!!

More information will follow in the next few weeks. Keep that date open. You will not want to miss this show!!

NFTB (North American Federation of Brotherhoods) will hold it's 38^th Biennial Convention on December 6-9, 2001, in Boston, MA. Contact NFTB at NFTB@UAHC.ORG for additional information. Or call 1-800-765-6200

April 2002 is a ways off, but just an FYI. Chava Alberstein, Israel's "First Lady of Song", is the most accomplished singer in Israeli history, having over 50 recordings. Six of these recordings were awarded with Israel's Grammy, the Kinor David Prize.

She will be performing on Sunday, April 14, 2002, at 7 PM at Irvine Auditorium, 34^th and Spruce Streets, on the Penn campus. Tickets go on sale August 1. Prices are $35, $30, and $25. Call Penn Presents at 215-898-3900 to order, Mon. - Fri. 12 - 6 PM.

Center City Kehillah's scheduled tour on Sunday, September 9^th, includes B.A. Join us from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. to greet tour participants.

Congregation Beth Ahavah Funds provide a beautiful way in which you may remember someone special and, at the same time, help to support several worthwhile synagogue projects. Acknowledgement of your contribution is made in our newsletter. The Synagogue of your generosity notifies the family of the deceased or the individual being honored.

DARE TO DREAM IN BOSTON with 5,000 of your fellow North American Reform Jews, and learn what the future holds for our synagogue communities.

The UAHC Biennial - that once-every-two-year time when we totally immerse ourselves in our Judaism. Away from the everyday, we take time to explore synagogue life and gather new ideas; study with scholars and celebrate with friends; learn from the pros and each other; and sing and schmooze.

DATE AND PLACE: December 5-9, 2001, Boston, MA