Written by Member Al Stein-Seroussi

Peter R. Beckman, Ph.D., retired Professor of Political Science and now a mystery writer, will speak to Kol Haskalah, A Jewish Humanistic Congregation, about “God and the Murder Mystery.” Beckman, husband of member Toby Beckman, includes religious questions in his Henry Carey mystery series (self-published), which grows from a course he taught at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Beckman’s multiple interests will provide many insights into our own humanistic concerns.

A brief Shabbat service will start the evening and dessert potluck will follow the program!

Saturday, April 7th at 4:30pm at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (ERUUF), Fellowship Hall, 4907 Garrett Road, Durham, NC 27707

EVERYONE IS WELCOME! BRING FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Cost for Members:
$17.50 adults (15 or older)
$8.00 ages 10-14
$6.00 ages 5-9, Under 5 Free
($50 maximum per family; $1 less/person for vegetarians)

Cost for Non-Members:
$25.00 adults (15 or older)
$8.00 ages 10-14
$6.00 ages 5-9, Under 5 Free
($65 maximum per family; $1.50 less/person for vegetarians)

NOTE: Reservation AND check must be received by April 2nd.

ALSO, please bring a dish to share that will serve at LEAST 8 OTHER PEOPLE.
We look forward to tasting your holiday specialty! Please bring your own serving utensils (labeled).
We will provide chicken, matzos, sacramental wine, grape juice, and cold drinks. You are welcome to bring your own wine for the dinner.

For more info. call 968-7888 or email info@kolhaskalah.org

The Board of Kol Haskalah, after considering the matter at the request of a member of the congregation, has adopted a resolution opposing this amendment. The Board is authorized, under the Congregation’s by-laws, to adopt such statements “on issues of social concern consistent with the Congregation’s commitment to Tikkun Olam,” The proposed constitutional amendment contradicts not only the published policies of the Society of Humanistic Judaism, which expressly “support the legal recognition of marriage and divorce between adults of the same sex” and “the value of marriage between any two committed adults,” but also Humanistic Judaism’s abiding commitment to Tikkun Olam and recognition of the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Moreover, since the State Assembly has decided to press this issue to a state-wide vote, members of our community will be called upon to take action regarding this issue.

Therefore, the Board has determined that it is necessary at this time to affirm our commitment, as Humanistic Jews, to equal rights, the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and the right and responsibility of adults to choose their partners in marriage and domestic unions, by opposing the proposed amendment to the State Constitution. All of the Jewish congregations in the Triangle, as well as many secular organizations and town councils, have already adopted policy statements opposing the proposed amendment, and a group of organizations affiliated with the Inter Faith Council is also working on a statement in opposition.

Below is the Resolution that the Board has adopted. Its language is taken largely from the resolution regarding marriage rights and same-sex couples that the Society for Humanistic Judaism adopted in April 2004. If you have any questions please contact the Board through either Jenn Sessler (jrosesg@gmail.com), Faye Kalman (Faye@metarhythm.com ), or Paul Bogas (pbogas@bellsouth.net).

Resolution:

Board of Directors of Kol Haskalah, Triangle Congregation

For Humanistic Judaism

Resolution Opposing the Constitutional Amendment

Proposed by North Carolina Session Law 2011-409 Senate Bill 514

Whereas the principles and values of Humanistic Judaism affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person,

Whereas the principles and values of Humanistic Judaism support the right and responsibility of adults to choose their partners in marriage and domestic legal union,

Whereas the principles and values of Humanistic Judaism are supportive of equal rights and responsibilities for all in the matters of marriage and domestic legal union,

Whereas the Society for Humanistic Judaism has formally adopted a policy supporting the legal recognition of marriage between adults of the same sex and affirming the value of marriage between any two committed adults with the sense of obligations, responsibilities, and consequences thereof,

Whereas the provisions of North Carolina Session Law 2011-409 Senate Bill 514 mandate a state-wide vote to amend the North Carolina State Constitution to prohibit the legal recognition of marriage and domestic unions between members of the same sex,

Whereas the constitutional amendment proposed in North Carolina Session Law 2011-409 Senate Bill 514, is contrary to the principles and values of Humanistic Judaism, and an affront to the inherent worth and dignity of every person,

Be it resolved that the Board of Directors of Kol Haskalah, the Triangle Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, opposes the proposed constitutional amendment and supports the efforts of gay and lesbian couples to share fully and equally in the rights of marriage and domestic legal union.

Please keep on the lookout for more information from Kol Haskalah regarding programming in April to discuss the proposed legislation and the opportunity to cast your vote, which will be held during the May 8, 2012 primary election.

Two Mosaic Comedy-Fantasies
By Michael Halperin
a staged reading presented by OdysseyStage Theatre
Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 19 at 3:00 PM
Sunday, February 26 at 3:00 PM
The Levin Jewish Community Center
1937 West Cornwallis Road, Durham NC
Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door
Directed by Charles M. Stern
For reservations call (919) 354-4936
or visit www.odysseystage.org

View the full flyer

This year’s fun and festive Hanukkah celebration, organized by Leslie Sheitman, Rosemary Smith, Julie Wynmor and Dan Zackary. Several generations of Kol Haskalah community members and visitors were in attendance. Dreidel games took place all over the Fellowship Hall, and the younger Sunday School students wore some great costumes; there were little ones dressed as menorah candles, dreidel letters, and pieces of Hanukkah gelt. The musicians (Dan Zachary, Rich Stern, Tom Gordon, and Lauren Robins-Pollack) warmed up, while in the kitchen the intrepid latke friers (Lance Thompson, Rich Stern, Frances Presma, Valerie Brown, Scott Rendell, and Alice McCall-Smith) were hard at work. Rosemary Smith led the Hanukkah “Service” with the help of Julie Wynmor and this year’s Mitzvah class students, Hazel, Ilan, Max, Spencer, Eli and Aaron. The Mitzvah students had also done a great job making the candle, dreidel, and gelt costumes for the little ones.

Rosemary and the Mitzvah students talked about the history behind the story of Hanukkah and the background behind lighting the Menorah, eating latkes and playing the dreidel game. As each of the eight candles were described, with help from the members of the congregation who were reading responsively, each one of the little ones came “onstage” in his or her candle costume, complete with flame headdress. By the end, the children had formed a beautiful living Hannukkiah, with 8 candles and shamash in the center, and were ready to sing along to “I’m a little latke”. While Rosemary talked about the Dreidel Game, 4 children came onstage, dressed up as sides of a dreidel decorated with one of four Hebrew letters. They stood back to back and the dreidel “spun” as we all sang “I Have a Little Dreidel” Dan gave each child who wanted to take a a turn a chance to stand at the microphone and sing their favorite verse of “I have a Little Dreidel.” There were many hilarious and original verses. The service ended with a “train” procession of all the little candles, dreidels and gelt around and among the tables as people clapped and sang “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah. , Rich and Dan entertained us with a hip hop Hanukkah song. Several people had constructed menorahs at home and brought them in to display, including Hazel and Aaron. Each designer brought their menorah forward and told a little about its design and construction. During the marvelous pot luck meal, Marv Axelrod entertained us with a hilarious Hanukkah poem, while we ate our fill of great salads, many casseroles, lovingly cooked delicious latkes, and tasty desserts.

Randall Best, Ethical Humanist Society, will speak about Ethical Culture, and the founder of Ethical Culture Felix Adler, who left Reform Judaism to found a non-theistic religion. There will also be a discussion of ways that we can coalesce with his group.

Join us for a brief Shabbat service, followed by this enlightening and interactive discussion. Please bring a dessert to share.

Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Durham
4907 Garrett Road, Durham
6/10 mile east of 15-501, on the left
***This Event will be held in the Commons room, not the 4/5 classroom.***
Campus Map

Don’t miss it!

 Saturday, Dec. 17th from 5:00-8:30pm

The Mitzvah class students will lead the service and other fun activities.  Dan will lead us in singing Hanukkah songs with live music  followed by a potluck dinner.

SO MUCH COOLER ONLINE! Please join congregation member Andrew Robbins-Pollack on Sunday, December 4th at 10:15AM in room 104-Murphey Hall for a discussion of Social Media. Topics to be covered include: History of Social Networking, What Social Media can accomplish, Privacy and Parental Concerns with Social Media and a BONUS in depth look at http://www.hjnc.org, our very own website for Kol Haskalah. Bagels and coffee will be provided.