TAS November Newsletter

Temple 

Adas 

Shalom 

M O N T H L Y 

N E W S L E T T E R 

3 

4 

5-6 

7-8 

9-10 

11 

12 

13 

23-24 

25 

President's Message 

RPC Message 

Kehillah MAGNET 

Adult Education 

Sisterhood News 

Safety & Security 

Member Spotlight 

October 2023 

Calendar of Events 

Contents 

September 2023 - 

Donors 

Mi Sheberakh 

Recently Passed 

November 2023 

Yahrzeits Observed 

N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 1 7 T H O F C H E S H V A N 5 7 8 4 - 1 7 T H O F K I S L E V 

Rabbi Meeka’s Musings 

Shalom TAS’s Mishpacha משפחה (Family) 

What can I say, write or express that hasn’t been communicated yet? 

Well, obviously – our group is not touring Israel these days; we are all here, 

trying to wrap our heads and hearts around this unbelievably painful, and 

scary situation. 

As I mentioned in one of my recent Divrei Torah on a Friday evening, The 

American Jewish Committee (AJC), posted in social media the following 

message, which, despite everything, really resonates with me: 

“This war is NOT about Jews versus Arabs, or Islam versus the west, or 

Israelis versus Palestinians. This war is not about land. This war is not 

about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. This war is Hamas’ 

attempt to eradicate the world of the Jewish people. 

Also, Hamas is not Palestine and does not 

represent the Palestinian people.” 

Perhaps this struggle marks the dawning, 

the beginning, the Resheet of a new era for our 

beloved Israel, a time when all our brothers and 

sisters, families and friends will all come together 

as ONE, standing shoulder to shoulders, united under 

God’s sheltering wings of PEACE. 

I find comfort in our liturgy, so I will end with Tfilat Pidyon Shvuyim, a 

prayer for returning all our captives, alive and well: 

Continued on page 2. 

8 N . E A R L T O N R D . E X T . H A V R E D E G R A C E , M D 2 1 0 7 8 

410-939-3170 | ADMIN@TEMPLEADASSHALOM.ORG

Rabbi Meeka's Musings 

Continued 

תפילת פדיון שבויים 

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’Olam Please God, 

the Sovereign of all, please free our captives. God, have their 

captors show mercy. 

Have them treated with humanity. 

Protect them, their bodies, and their minds. 

Send comfort to their families, their communities, and all 

people who are beside themselves with worry and fear. 

Return those kidnapped to their homes, safely and soon. 

Please, God. I beg of you today. 

ברוך אתה אדוני מתיר אסורים asurim, Baruch Atah Adonai, Matir 

We bless and praise You Adonai our God, 

Who frees all the captives, now. 

Amen. במהרה בימנו,‏ אמן 

בשלום ואהבה ve’Ahava, B’shalom 

With a blessing for peace and all-encompassing love, 

Rabbi Meeka 

Temple Adas Shalom Stands With Israel 

Click here for ways to help 



President's Message 

Mark Wolkow 

How Temple and Professional roles can be mutually beneficial 

Volunteering is certainly worthwhile in its own right. You do something that 

benefits people in your synagogue, your school, your community, etc. It’s all 

good. But there are often tangible benefits to your skills, your competencies, 

and even your career. I have found that things I’ve done in my volunteer and 

professional careers have frequently benefited one another. Here are just a 

few examples of how my volunteer experiences helped my career: 

Enrolling in leadership development training; attending conferences that 

included self-improvement/self-development opportunities; gaining 

experience leading projects and people; working with a wide variety of people; 

and learning about things like budgets, curriculum, capital improvements, 

etc. Apart from the Temple, much of my volunteer work has been in 

education, which lead directly to my selection as Director of Academic 

Engagement at the National Security Agency, which turned out to be the best 

job of my career. 

November Service 

Multi Access 

Information and Links 

Please note that streaming will be done 

via YouTube. 

YouTube links for all of our services can be 

found on our calendar. No passcodes are 

required. Past and present services and 

other events can also be found on our 

YouTube channel. 

Friday, November 3rd 

Shabbat Service 

Live Streaming starts at 6:00pm-6:15pm 

In-Person service starts at 6:15pm 

Friday, November 13th 

Veterans Salute Shabbat Service 




Daven & Dine Service 




Shabbat Service 



I encourage everyone to find at least one area at the shul where you can join a 

team, lend a hand, and do something good for others…and perhaps for 

yourself as well. 

Shalom, 

Mark 

^ CLICK TO VIEW^ 

YOUTUBE LINK FOR 

SERVICES 

https://www.youtube.com/@ 

templeadasshalom/streams 



RPC Message 

Melissa Immel & Mike Mullis 

Happy Thanksgiving from the Religious Practices Committee! 

The main theme of Thanksgiving comes from the name itself, reminding 

us of the importance of gratitude. It's no surprise that when a Jew sits 

down to eat, he or she recites: "Blessed are you God, for bringing bread 

from the earth." To say a blessing over bread affirms that God played a 

role in providing for our needs by creating a universe where the sun rises 

each day and the rain falls, making the growth of food possible. Gratitude 

is a cornerstone of our faith. Just as we give thanks for the blessings we 

have, let us remember the strength and resilience of our ancestors, who, 

in the face of adversity, found reasons to be thankful. This Thanksgiving, 

may we carry forward the spirit of gratitude and the knowledge that, 

even in difficult times, there is always a reason to be thankful. 

This month's Daven & Dine is scheduled for Friday, November 17th at 

6:15PM. If you've never attended, Daven & Dine is a 45 minute Kabbalat 

Shabbat service, after which everyone is encouraged to dine-out 

together at a local restaurant. It's always a lot of fun! Please register on 

the Temple Calendar so we can make accurate reservations. Thank you! 

See you in shul! 

Melissa Immel & Mike Mullis, RPC Co-Chairs 




Sarah O’Donnell & Joel Yoffee 

On October 8, 2023, the Kehillah MAGNET Religious School formally welcomed 

ten students into our school during a beautiful Consecration and Simchat Torah 

service. Afterwards, our students and their families wrote messages of hope and 

support to children in Israel that Rabbi Meeka sent to the Holy Land the 

following week. 

During the 2022-2023 school year, our school community voted to donate our 

Tzedakah funds to the Harford Family House. Our students presented a $557 

check to Heather Volk, Resource Development Manager of the Harford Family 

House, on October 15, 2023! 




Continued 

REGULAR PROGRAMMING: 

FAMILY SHABBAT SERVICE: Every other month 

during the academic school year, Rabbi Meeka 

and Mike Mullis, music teacher and director, 

lead one Friday night service that is designed 

with families in mind. Family Shabbat nights 

begin at 5:30pm with a child-friendly meal, 

and the service runs from 6:15 – 7:00pm. 

Attending Family Shabbat is a great way to 

enjoy the company of friends, relax after a long week, and provide further 

understanding of Hebrew learning. 

Adas Shalom Temple (ASTY) Meeting: 

ASTY is held monthly during the school year 

with teens in grades 7-12. Our teens are 

currently planning their first Esports 

competition and redesigning the teen lounge! 

This school year, the program is being led by 

TAS congregants Alison Filicko and Joshua 

Larkin with special support from Karli Chancey! 

ASTY will have its next meeting on 

Sunday, November 12th from 10:45 – 11:45 am. 

TOT SHIRA: Each month 

during the school year 

Kehillah MAGNET welcomes 

families with children ages 5 

and under to attend the Pre- 

K/K music class at our 

religious school. “Tot Shira” is 

a wonderful way to introduce 

little ones to our dedicated 

teachers and fantastic 

students. Our next Tot Shira 

of the year will be on Sunday, 

November 5, 2023. 

Please check out the temple calendar for all upcoming 

events and see you soon! 

Joel Yoffee 

Kehillah MAGNET Religious School Committee Chair 

Sarah O’Donnell 

Kehillah MAGNET Religous School Principal 



Upcoming 

Adult 

Educational 

Events 

Desserts & Discuss 

Tuesday, November 14th 

7:00pm - 9:00pm 

Tea & Torah 

Sunday, December 3rd 

9:45am - 10:45am 


Brian Folus 

Dear Congregants, 

We have a few exciting events coming up and I sincerely hope you 

will join us. First, we will be rescheduling our day trip to Philly, 

visiting Beth Sholom synagogue, which is the only synagogue ever 

designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and the American Jewish History 

Museum. Please see the Calendar for more details and registration 

for this trip in January 2024. 

On Tuesday, November 14 we will present our next Desserts & 

Discussion. Rhonda August will be presenting one of her favorite 

recipes. Do you have a have recipe you’d like to share? Please email 

me, I would love to have you present. We do this all on Zoom and it 

is very easy to present! Please check out Robin Way’s presentation 

from this past August: 

Link to event: HERE 

Password: 8=%AWhw3 

Starting on Sunday, December 10, Rabbi Meeka is planning to 

begin a new class, “Tea & Torah”. This will be held on Sundays from 

9:45-10:45am in the Temple Library. This will be a very informative 

and interactive Torah Study class. The class is free, but Rabbi is 

asking people to register. A link will be on the calendar. 




Continued 

Musical events in our County 

On Saturday, November 11 the Harford Youth Orchestra and Harford String 

Orchestra will present their 23rd Season opening concert at Havre de Grace High 

School. Concert starts at 1:00pm, no tickets need, concert is free and open to the 

public. I conduct the HYO and Ms. Anne Pape conducts the HSO. 

On Saturday, December 2 the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra will present its 

Jazzy Holiday Spirit Concert. This concert features The Duke Ellington “Nutcracker 

Suite” and “A Taste of Chanukah” a medley arranged by yours truly. 

On Sunday, December 10 at 3:00pm the Bel Air Community Band will present their 

Winter Concert. The BACB is under the direction of Mr. Richard Hauf. This concert is 

held at Bel Air High School, no tickets are needed for this concert. 

We truly hope you will join us for these upcoming events and send us suggestions 

and request for topics or movies or programs you would like the Adult Ed. Committee 

to provide for you. As always feel free to sit in on a meeting, just click on the link in 

the Calendar. 

Looking forward to hearing from you! 

Shalom, 

Brian Folus 

Adult Ed. Chair 

S E L L I N G H O M E S S I N C E 2 0 0 5 

PH: 123-456-7890 




Deborah Temple 

Temple Adas Shalom Sisterhood...who are we? 

We are women committed to our mission. Most of us are Jewish and some 

of us are not. We come from a variety of backgrounds with a variety of 

interests and more opinions than members. We support the Temple, our 

community, and Jews around the world, but, most importantly, we support 

each other. 

Harford County is not a place where being Jewish comes easily. Someone 

once told me that when you live in Israel, or even in Pikesville, you are 

Jewish because everything is Jewish, but when you live in Harford County 

you have to work at being Jewish. Our temple is only walking distance to 

one member family. Our children play sports on Shabbat. Our community 

stores often lack simple Jewish items. Anyone ever tried to buy a kippah in 

Darlington? 

Sisterhood 

Events 

All our Sisterhood dates are 

posted on the Temple Calendar 

and appear in bright pink. 

Gift Shop Open 

Sunday, November 5th 

9:00am - 12:00pm 

Sisterhood Hanukkah Party 

Sunday, December 3rd 

1:00pm - 3:00pm 

We are not the Jewish neighborhoods we see in movies and on television. 

We are, admittedly, outside the Jewish geographic mainstream. And as a 

result, we are an incredibly resilient Jewish community with an amazing 

Sisterhood who stands strong and proud as the backbone of Jewish life 

throughout our county and the surrounding areas 

Annual Paid-up Sisterhood Membership Dinner 

Wow says it all! With more than 40 members attending, dinner catered by 

the Falafel House Café, and finished with an exquisite Frida Kahlo 

presentation by Colleen Webster. To say our Paid-up Sisterhood 

Membership Dinner planning team outdid themselves is an 

understatement. We had an awesome night filled with laughter and games 

and meaningful conversations. Great food, great guests, and great art, who 

could ask for more? 

Upcoming Events 

Mahjong 

Mahjong has grown into a monthly event for the Sisterhood. We are not 

sure how it happened, but we sure are glad it did! Our next game day will 

be at the TAS Social Hall on Sunday, November 12th at 1:00. Please RSVP 

to sisterhood@templeadasshalom.org or directly to Denise Gordon. Pizza, 

soft drinks, and coffee will be available. 




Continued 

Hanukkah Happenings 

Look no further than Temple Adas Shalom for all your Hanukkah gift needs because it 

will be here before you know it and the TAS Sisterhood stands ready to help! 

Sisterhood Gift Shop 

Our Sisterhood Gift Shop is filled with goodies. And this year, we are expanding to 

include a line of items only available at our gift shop! Stock is limited, so shop early and 

don't miss Harford County’s best selection of Hanukkah supplies and gifts! 

Temple Craft Show 

Sisterhood member and Temple fundraising committee co-chair, 

Toby M. will be holding a Temple Craft Show in the TAS Social Hall on 

November 5th, 9am – 3pm. We hope that you will support the Temple 

Craft Show and the Sisterhood Gift Shop before you shop anywhere else 

you won't be disappointed! 

Sisterhood Hanukkah Party 

Now is the time to respond for our Sisterhood Hanukkah Party on Sunday, December 

3rd at 1:00 in the TAS Social Hall. Did someone say homemade latkes?! Get the first ones 

of the season prepared by some of our most seasoned latke chefs. Please bring a 

wrapped $20 gift for our Sisterhood Gift Exchange. 

========================================================================== 

A vibrant and multigenerational group of women, we are ready to welcome you! Please 

join today because we need you, and you need us. Email us at 

sisterhood@templeqadasshalom.org, reach out to us on the Temple Adas Shalom 

Facebook page, or pick up the phone and give us a call: 410-939-3170. 

Membership is only $42 per year, and only $36 for new members – dues can be paid by 

cash, check, or PayPal. So come check us out, see what we are doing, and then see what 

the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) has going on regionally, too: https://wrj/ourcommunity/wrj-districts/mid-atlantic 

Shalom, 

Deborah Temple 

Sisterhood President 



Safety & Security 

Pat Wolkow 

Security Quiz Question of the Month 

What is the safe practice of cell phone use in our building during 

emergencies? 

Most folks quizzed replied that cell phones should be silenced during 

services. Good Job! But I didn’t ask why, and you should be made 

aware of the following information regarding cell phone use while at 

our campus. 

SEE SOMETHING? 

SAY SOMETHING! 

SO, WE CAN DO 

SOMETHING! 

security@templeadasshalom.org 

Pros: 

Easiest way to get help by calling 911. 

Great to notify those present/nearby that you are safely away from 

danger. 

Flashlight helpful in darkness of power outage. 

May help emergency responder locate you. 

Cons: 

A ring tone or vibration may alert/give you away your hidden 

location to an intruder. 

A signal could possibly trigger an explosive device. 

Not always a viable connection to cell service. 

Older technology not accurate for others to track you when in 

danger. 

Distraction to “Situational Awareness.” 

So, bottom line, silence your phone while in the building at TAS, and 

use only when it is necessary and safe to do so. Be a “Smart” smart 

phone user. 

security@templeadasshalom.org 

-Pat Wolkow 



Member Spotlight 

This month we begin a new feature in our monthly Newsletter that we are calling “Member 

Spotlight”. This article can be about one Temple member, one Temple Family, one special interest of a 

member or family, or any other topic that will help our congregants get to know one another a little 

better. We begin with a very special article about one of our younger members – Annie Huettel – who 

has a unique story about rugby. Enjoy! 

My Rugby Experience 

By Annie Huettel 

It all started in the Spring of 2019, when I was approached by two coaches asking if I would be 

interested in trying rugby. At the time I was playing soccer and lacrosse and was getting uninterested, 

so I made the decision to give rugby a try. I started practicing right away with the high school team 

that summer so I could start learning the game. I became fascinated with the intricacies of the game, 

while forging some long-lasting friendships with girls from surrounding counties that I would have 

never met otherwise. That chance encounter changed my life. 

As my passion for the game developed many opportunities became 

available to me. Most notably, in my sophomore year I was chosen to 

be part of the Atlantis Rugby team. Atlantis is an elite travel team 

that offers a higher level of competition. They compete in 4 major 

tournaments throughout the year in Utah, Florida, New York, and 

California against teams from around the world. I am also part of the 

United States rugby player pool for prospective Olympic athletes, 

and at age 14 was able to travel to Chula Vista, California to train at the Olympic training center with 

some amazing athletes and coaches. 

Just recently, I traveled to Klagenfurt, Austria with the North American 

Lions, a team comprised of top USA Under 18 players, to compete 

in the prestigious United World Games, where we beat Ireland to win 

gold. While overseas, we prepared for the United Games by competing 

in the Heidelberg sevens, one of Europe’s biggest rugby showcases 

and another international tournament. 

We took home gold there, as well. 

I must say one of the most meaningful and emotional experiences 

during my trip wasn’t the games, but my visit to the Dachau 

Concentration Camp. Starting my Jewish studies when I was in 

elementary school, my Jewish faith is extremely important to me. 

Learning about Jewish rituals, customs, history, and language is 

something I will never forget and hold close to my heart. In April 2019, 

after a lot of studying, I proudly became a bat mitzvah at 

Temple Adas Shalom. 

If you liked this story, please send in one of your own! We would love to hear from you… and actually, we 

need to hear from you to ensure this feature has material to continue! 



Temple Adas Shalom’s November 2023 Calendar of Events

September 2023 – Donors 

BUILDING FUND (L'dor V'dor) 

Anne Pollin 

Charna & Rob Kinneberg (L’dor V’dor) 

David & Rayna Richardson (L’dor V’dor) 

Brian & Jill Schorr (L’dor V’dor) 

Brenda & David Jaffe 

Oneg Fund 

Joseph Kaminkow 

HIGH HOLIDAY DONATIONS 

Fred & Roslyn Belkin 

Ellen & Ken Farkas 

Emily & Micah Harrison 

Justine Davis & Rachel Laskin 

David Beyer 

Elizabeth & Kurt Westendorf 

Selma Wolkow 

Charna & Rob Kinneberg 

Sandy Schwartz 

Debbie Delaney 

Jean & Jessica Piwovar 

HJC GENERAL FUND 

Amy & Andrew Ratner - In memory of Stuart Jay Robinson 

Janice Grant & Woodrow Grant Jr. 

Harvey & Marion Yurow - In memory of Aaron Kaplan, Anne Maxwell & Esther Finkler Stein 

Sandy Schwartz 

Linda Bernsohn 

Brett & Deborah Temple 

Michael & Michele Mullis 

Julie Sang 

David Beyer 

Rabbi Meeka Simerly 

Debbie Delaney 

Marcia & Neil Buchness 



September 2023 – Donors (Continued) 

HJC GENERAL FUND (Continued) 

Patricia & Mark Wolkow 

Patricia & Stephen Marksamer 

Lior Laskowski & Taylor Valencia 

Frederick & Karen Wood 

Jean & Jessica Piwovar 

Rhonda & Richard August - In memory of Lucille Josephs Cohen 

Linda & Stuart Needel 

Ethan Levy 

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND 

Fred & Roslyn Belkin 

Charna & Rob Kinneberg 

David Brown & Carol H Mohr 

Kehillah MAGNET RS Fund 

Gracemarie Garlen 



Anita Rosenzweig 

Barbara Chancey 

Daniel Hurst 

Elise Schipper 

Fred Belkin 

Mi Sheberakh * We Pray for Healing 

Gerri Bronk 

Harvey Malin 

Heather Mullis 

Maddox Langbein 

Marcy Schirloff 

Marcy Werde 

November 2023 - Yahrzeits Observed 

Nancy Lever 

Natalie Litofsky 

Paula Mathai 

Ray Lee 

Steve Nohowel 

Gladys Hecht 

Leroy Edward Baer 

Doris Jolsen Rosenfeld 

Bess Kaplan 

Ada Nathanson 

Nathan Goldstein 

Abraham Fine 

Cathy Ann Glickstein 

Pearl Spring 

Julius H. Snyderman 

George Robinson 

Fred Mullis 

Sophie Spector 

Zachary Davis 

Alexander Brisker 

Daniel T. Katzoff 

Charlotte Maupin 

Isaac Pancer 

Samuel Berger 

Edythe Schechter 

Edith Schechter 

Lisa Schkloven 

Irene Alk Getz 

Lena Apple 

Larry Spring 

Irwin Wolkow 

Louis Markson 

Melvin Howard Sang 

Jerrold Bress 

Ralph Klein 

Julia Pillersdorf 

William Weintraub 

Bernard Gerber 

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Lorraine Jachman 

Alvin Needel 

Max Levin 

Eli Price 

Julius Diamant 

Irwin M. Wolkow 

Leah Abramson 

Arthur J. Davis 

Steven Martin Shuman 

Anna Goldberg Black 

Lyn Stacie Getz 

Natalie Evelyn Buchness 

Susan Ann Kempler 

Liya Leizerbaum 

Merelyn Paul 

Eleanor Portnoy 

Florence Schwaber 

Dorothy Singer 

Mildred C. Spector 

Avraham Hassid 

Stanley Getz 

Morris Weinstein 

Benjamin Hirsch 

Clara Schneck 

Dr. Anthony Ruffino 

Cheryl Miller Shimp 

Morris Apple 

Lillian Ribyat Braverman 

Katherine Hamburger 

Marcia Scheiner 

Joseph Oliner 

Randy Bress 

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Caring Note 

Caring is about both the simchas and healing through support and community. 

Is there a moment you would like to share, privately or publicly? 

We want to be there for you so please let us know. 

Email the Caring Committee at caring@templeadasshalom.org

TAS November Newsletter

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