Category Archives: 2013
FOUR JEWISH NEW YEARS?
A Taste of Torah
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following was sent to me by Elliott Magalnick, a student of the Melton School sponsored by the Colorado Agency for Jewish Education. I thought it was interesting enough to share with you.
We just celebrated the Gregorian New Year on January 1, but there’s another New Year right around the corner — and it’s one of four Jewish new years. We think mainly about Rosh HaShanah as the Jewish New Year, but there are three others that coordinate with harvest times. This month, January 25-26 marks Tu B’Shevat, the “new year for trees.” According to the Torah, fruits cannot be consumed from trees less than three years old (this is where the Upsherin celebration comes from), so Tu B’Shevat was used as the starting date for determining tree ages. In modern times, many view this holiday as a “Jewish Earth Day” and mark the day with a Tu B’Shevat seder.
Here are some fun facts and websites to check out to learn more about new year’s celebrations and Tu B’Shevat.
- Did you know that up until 1752 England observed March 25 as New Year’s Day?
- If you’re wondering how to mark the day with your children, PJ Library has some stellar suggestions.
- For more information on the practices and beliefs of Tu B’Shevat, check out My Jewish Learning!
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A SHORT-LIVED RESOLUTION
THE PARKING SPACE
Moishe is driving in NYC .
He’s late for a meeting, he’s looking for a parking place, and can’t find one.
In desperation, he turns towards heaven and says:
“Lord, if you find me a parking place, I promise that I’ll follow all of your commandments and live my life as an exemplary Jew. ”
Miraculously, a place opens up just in front of him.
He turns his face up to heaven and says,
“Never mind, I just found one!”
ONE OF OUR OWN … WINNING INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING COMPETITIONS AT AGE NINETY!
Maurine Kornfeld swims at the 2011 Mesa Spring Nationals in Mesa, Ariz. Kornfeld, 90, won five gold medals at the 14th FINA World Masters Championship in Riccione, Italy, in June.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article from the Missoulian was brought to my attention by Jerry Weissman. It is about Maureen Kornfeld, one of our former congregants who, at age ninety, is still winning swimming competitions.
According to Jerry Weissman, a neighbor of the Kornfelds at the time, “Maureen was an early congregant of the Great Falls Jewish community in the 1930’s and has not forgotten her Great Falls roots. Actually, there were three children to the Kornfelds. Herb was a noted artist who left Great Falls to go to work for Walt Disney. Their brother Ray was an accountant in L.A. and led a quieter life.
“At the same time there were other ‘young’ Jewish people who were contemporaries of the Kornfelds, the Gomavitz family, for instance. Their son Lew (Lewis) left Great Falls to work for Billiy Wilder and learned the Movie Trade. He went to Chicago to be the Director of the hugely popular (1947-1951) KUKLA FRAN AND OLLIE show. He was the (volunteer) director of the first of many Democratic Party Conventions. He passed away in Los Angeles. His bother Alex lived in Tacoma, Washington.”
Here is the Missoulian’s story, with some fascinating history. Mazal Tov to Maureen Kornfeld.
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 