GfwGfy Rnyfm 7 - Jewish Post & Opinion

Volume 74, Number 23 • August 6, 2008 • 5 Av 5768 Two Dollarswww.jewishpostopinion.com

Periodicals Postage PAIDIndianapolis IN

Bar/Bat Mitzvah 2008

Abigail Matt, daughter of Bruce and Rhonda Matt, and Rabbi Arnold Bienstock on the bima at Congregation Shaarey Tefilla. Abigail celebrated her bat mitzvah on April 12, 2008. Photo by Goldberg Photography.

IN 2 August 6, 2008 August 6, 2008 IN 3

Sharla Steiman, daughter of Idrienne Steiman and Ben-ny Weidberg, granddaughter of Shirley Efroymson-Kahn and Kopel Kahn, and Ar-thur A. Sobel, celebrated her bat mitzvah on Friday and Saturday March 22–23 at Beth-El Zedeck. Her late grandfather Rabbi Sidney Steiman served this congre-gation from 1961–1976. Her older sister, Synthia, read from the Torah.

Sharla shared that at first she had trouble practicing when the date was still six months away but as it got closer to her bat mitzvah and she began practicing every day, it became easier.

One aspect that was un-expected yet very helpful

was that on the bima, Rab-bis Dennis and Sandy Sasso gave her little cues about what was going to happen next. It made everything go smoother for her. Cantors Judy Meyersberg and Giora Sharon were also a big help to her in preparing for the day.

She was glad that a lot of relatives and friends, some from out-of-town came to her bat mitzvah, especially her cousins from Israel.

Her Torah portion was Tzav, which is about the sac-rifices in the Temple that our ancestors made to cleanse themselves. She compared that to her life today and how she makes sacrifices for her friends.

For her bat mitzvah, Sharla got a special gift. It was the tallit belonging to her father, Benjamin Judah Steiman, of blessed memory, that he had received for his bar mitzvah.

As a mitzvah project, Shar-la donated the flowers from the tables at her luncheon to Hooverwood in memory of her grandmother Clara So-bel and great aunt Annette Levine.

When asked how she feels now that she has the respon-sibilities of an adult, she said that even before her bat mitz-vah, she would try to fast and so forth but she feels better now that she is done and is a full member of the Jewish community.

Although Griffin Harp is just beginning to study his Torah portion for his Oct. 18 bar mitzvah at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, he has thought about many of the aspects of this special event.

When asked if he antici-pated being nervous on the bima, he gave a definite no. But later in the conversation Griffin shared that he thought it might be hard to be on the bima and focus.

Sharla Steiman

So far Griffin has decided that the most unexpected thing about his bar mitzvah is that “I did not know I would have to practice so much outside of class!” He then went on to say that he loved going to Sunday School and the Bureau of Jew-ish Education – I liked all of it, really.

Griffin also shared that “Cantor Sharon at Beth-El and Cantor Meyersberg at the BJE

Griffin Harp with past president of BJE, Jerry Lande, at Griffin’s BJE graduation.

Griffin HarpSharla Steiman

Continued to next page


have really helped me. And so did my BJE teacher Mr. Levine.”

Griffin is expecting quite a few local and out-of-town guests and relatives that he is looking forward to seeing at his bar mitzvah, including his fifth grade teacher, his grand-parents, and his cousin, Izak. His parents, Cindie and Charlie

Harp, and brothers, Max and Cooper, will, of course, be there all along the way.

When asked about doing a mitzvah project, Griffin says, “I am planning to donate a por-tion of my gifts to an organiza-tion for foster kids, as I wanted to help those who had no fam-ily and no home.” And Griffin is looking forward to being responsible to follow the adult Jewish laws and rituals, “even fasting on Yom Kippur.”

Congratulations and best of luck to Griffin Harp!

HarpContinued from prev. page

Many people associate flow-ers with classic decorations used primarily for weddings or more elegant affairs. Others understand their versatility and the many unique moods they can create in the hands of the right creative floral designer. From Star Wars to pop culture themes, the possibilities for flowers are endless. Different flowers are often brought by local florists from other parts of the world during all times of the year.

The keys to working with a floral professional include:

1. Decide on a feeling, a look, or theme. The designer will want some general direc-tion. Don’t get bogged down in the details until you’ve decided on the big picture, then work out the details. If you don’t have a theme, then discuss your personality or in the case of a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah the young person’s personality, hobbies, and so on, and have the event professionals help you to brainstorm.

2. Be consistent in every-thing you do from save-the-date cards to invitations to how you decorate the event, enter-tainment, and menu. All should have a consistency about them for a more successful event.

3. Be realistic about your budget and communicate that to your vendor partners up front. It will help everyone develop realistic solutions for your project.

4. Set your expectations ac-cordingly, if you have a limited budget, don’t expect thousands of orchid sprays and rose blos-soms.

5. Use flowers in combina-tion with other elements to

create unique design solu-tions. Many rental props are available, and many nonfloral items can be incorporated.

6. Use color and flower choices wisely. Simple color and monofloral themes have the most impact

7. If you have a limited budget, do not spread it too thin everywhere. Do fewer larger items that will be much more memorable than lots of little things.

8. If your event venue has something that you do not like, instead of trying to cover it up do something fabulous in another part of the room to at-tract attention.

9. Remember that some-thing will go wrong. You will

probably be the only one who notices, so relax, go with the flow, and do not let little things ruin the fun of the entire event. This is not to say you should not plan thoroughly, but when things happen, improvise. Ev-eryone will have a better time if the host/hostess is having a good time.

Be sure to pick a team of creative professionals that you trust and feel comfortable with. Relax and enjoy planning the event. Ask for input and ideas. Look at magazines ahead of time; a picture is truly worth a thousand words, even if it just communicates your personal likes and taste.

This article was written by Toomie Farris of McNamara Florist: [email protected].

DecoratingwithFlowers

A few weeks ago Starbucks introduced Vivanno Nourish-ing Blends. Vivanno drinks contain no artificial sweeten-ers and include ingredients such as one whole banana, whey protein and fiber pow-der. Your choices include milk, ice, Naked juice for the Orange Mango Banana Blend and bit-tersweet cocoa for the Banana

Chocolate Blend. To promote its new drink, all participating company-owned Starbucks are offering a free Vivanno drink on Tuesdays, from July 29 through August 12 from 2 – 4 p.m. to any Starbucks cardholder as well as to any customer who shows a gym membership card (this includes a JCC member-ship card).

Starbucks offers Vivanno Tuesdays


Community Events

For Your Most Important Day...

Specializing in designer clothing.A great selection of worsted wool

Suits and Blazers.Available in sizes 4 to 22,

regular and husky.

Call Toll Free: 1-877-505-9431

Adult Education at JCCLearn to play bridge, speak

Spanish, be a photographer, have better street skills as a bicyclist, evaluate collectables, sustain a green home, and make auto repairs. Check out the classes at JCC. For more information call 251-9467.

Genesis – The Early YearsTalk about special effects

and drama! From the beginning of creation to the end of the world by flood – it’s all there in the beginning of Genesis. Oh yes, it also lays the foundation for Judaeo-Christian culture. Join Rabbi Bienstock of Congre-gation Shaarey Tefilla and ex-plore the fascinating details of

the stories you may think you know. Aug. 5 – Aug. 19 (3 ses-sions), at the JCC, 6701 Hoover Rd. Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. $28 JCC members / $38 non-members. For more informa-tion, visit www.JCCIndy.org, call 251-9467.

Teenville reunion Sat, Aug. 9, 8–11 p.m. Re-

member those hot Thursday nights dancing on the JCC’s pool deck? We’re reliving those great days at the much-antici-pated Teenville Reunion. If you were a teenager between 1963 and 1973 you’ll want to join the old crowd for music, dancing and refreshments at JCC, 6701 Hoover Rd. $10 in advance /

$15 at the door. For more infor-mation, call 251-9467.

JCC Business NetworkNext meeting Wed., Aug.

20, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the JCC. Grow your business and build meaningful relation-ships. Everyone will have 2 – 3 minutes to talk about yourself and your business and to tell group how they can help you and, of course, how you can help them. The meeting is free. Dinner is a $10, payable at the meeting. Meal will be salad and baguettes, sandwich, des-sert, water and coffee. RSVP for meeting and dinner to Larry at [email protected] or at 251-9467 ext 233.

Texas Hold’em TournamentOne more time at JCC, 6701

Hoover Rd., Indianapolis. Thurs., Aug. 21, 6:30 p.m. Buy in at $100 before noon on Aug. 20, or $120 at the door. Estimat-ed $10,000 in prizes. For more information, call 251-9467.

Friday night lightsFor youth in grades 6–8, this

is where the middle-schoolers are hanging out one Friday night each month after the JCC closes for an evening of games, socializing and an all-around great night. An educa-tional component includes a

few moments for a discussion about tolerance, understand-ing, compassion and other uni-versal values based on Jewish teachings. Friday Night Lights is a time when kids can relax and just be themselves no mat-ter what religion or race. RSVP to Joe Kinney at 251-9467, ext. 234. FREE! at the JCC, 6701 Hoover Rd. Fridays, 7:30–10:30 p.m. Last one of the sum-mer: Aug. 22.

Parents of North American Israelis, Inc. –

Indianapolis ChapterPNAI is dedicated to keep-

ing open hagesher, the bridge, that joins us with our families in Israel. PNAI summer meet-ing: Sun., Aug. 24, at JCC David Cook Board Room, 10:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. All current members and new families wanting to join are invited. This includes relatives of families living in Israel. Meeting includes a pitch-in dairy brunch – Bon Appetite. Special guest: Dr. Jeffrey Rothenberg, associate professor, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, I.U. School of Medicine, who will talk about the ERG Program and Medicine in Israel.

The ERG is a study and training program at the Western Galilee Hospital, the only border hospital in Israel, wherein physicians and health care workers from the United States train side-by-side with Israeli doctors for mass ca-sualty events and other non-conventional emergency situ-ations. The hospital services Jewish, Druze, Christian and Muslim patients.

Dr. Rothenberg was edu-cated at Tel Aviv University, Indiana University, Weizmann Institute of Science and the Sachler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. Beyond deliveries, surgeries and teach-ing duties, Dr. Rothenberg cre-ates glass sculptures. He has displayed his creations at the Indianapolis Art Center, Riley Hospital and the JCC. His wife, Joani is an art therapist and they are the parents of four children.

Please RSVP to Sylvia or Mike Blain at 251-1914 (afternoons/evenings).

Shaarey Tefilla Shalom Picnic

Barbeque, activities, crafts, games. Aug. 24, 3–5:30 p.m., West Park, 2700 W. 116th St., Carmel, RSVP to Shaarey Tefilla at 733-2169, adults $15;

children 6–12, $7.50; children 2–5, $5; guests free.

Pomelit on the PrairieJoin Pomelit for Beatles

Twist and Shout on the Prairie, Thurs., Aug. 28, 8 p.m. Back-stage with the band at 7 p.m. Complementary appetizers. Reserved lawn seating. Pomelit is a social group with an intel-lectual spirit. Tickets $12 at www.JFGI.orgor contact Laurel Brown at [email protected] or Paul Goldberg at [email protected].

G.U.C.I. alumni shabbatPlans for GUCI’s Gala

Camp Shabbat Reunion on August 29–31 are taking form. Register now as the event will be limited to 500 participants. The camp cannot accommo-date more than 500 for a real camp Shabbat. Currently 325 people are signed up. This ap-plies to Joint Camp Authority members, camp rabbis, etc. You can find more informa-tion and the application form at the G.U.C.I. website at http://guci.urjcampalumni.org under “Alumni.”

Indianapolis Indians overnight for teens

Sat., Aug. 30, 4:30 p.m.–Sun., Aug. 31, 9 a.m. Middle school-ers outing to Victory Field and then to hang out at the JCC after the Indians game until Sunday morning. Dinner is included (location to be announced). For more information, call 251-9467.

Mickey’s Corner with Bob Knight

Mark your calendar – Wed., Sept. 10 at the JCC. $10 per ticket, maximum 6 tickets per person. Tickets available in West Lobby; members may purchase tickets (must present JCC key fob) beginning Mon., Aug. 25, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the general pub-lic Tues., Aug. 27, 9 a.m. (while supplies last).

J-Café Teen Concerts at JCCSat., Sept. 13, 7:45–11 pm:

“The Revibes.” The runner-up of this year’s Battle of the Bands at the JCC, Park Tudor’s very own “The Revibes.” $5 in advance / $7 at the door.

Israel Bonds dinnerThe date for the 2008 Israel

Bonds dinner has been resched-uled for 5:30, Oct. 19 at the Ar-thur M. Glick JCC, 6701 Hoover Rd. Lynne and Phil Himelstein will be honored.


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This year’s July Shaarey Tefilla picnic included a boat ride at Eagle Creek Park. The USS Yenta (aka pontoon boat) was provided by Ellen Brown and piloted by Captain Mark Klein (an unofficial admiral in the CST Navy). More photos on page IN 7. Photo by Jay Perler.


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TheIndianaJewishPost&OpinionisnowavailableatfourlocationsinIndianapolis:Marshat86thandDitch,NorthsideNewsat54thandCollege,NoraLibraryandShapirosinCarmel.

On Sun., July 27, Shaarey Tefilla congregants enjoyed an annual picnic; this year it took place at Eagle Creek Park, where Rabbi Bienstock moved and conducted Minyan services (in the wild). The event was hosted by the Harper’s. Others contributed coolers, cold drinks, plates, knives, toys and treats, hot coffee, and publicity for the event. It definitely takes a community. Photos by Jay Perler.


Mazel tov! Brody Aydn Goldsmith was born to Sam and Talia Goldsmith on July 30, 2008. Brody is the grandson of Nikki and Phil Goldsmith of Indianapolis, and of Eileen Ehrlich and Neal and Mel Ehrlich, all of Chicago. Brody Ayden weighed in at 6 lbs. 14 oz., and was 19 inches long.

Nate and Rachel will cel-ebrate their b’nai mitzvah, the first b’nai mitzvah in the city of Carmel, on Nov. 29, 2008. They’re twins and will celebrate their 13th birthday approximately two weeks prior to the event.

Rachel was away at camp last week so Nate filled us in on all the details of their event. He tells us that they are both excited and have been studying with Rabbi Bienstock for the big day. Asked if there was anyone else he should mention who helped them with their stud-ies, Nate very diplomatically said he would have to men-tion all of his teachers all the way back through elementary school, especially those who taught reading the Hebrew in the Torah.

Nate said that he and Rachel will share the bima and the re-sponsibility for the readings and leading the congregation during the Friday and the Sat-urday services the weekend of their b’nai mitzvah.

Their Torah portion is Toldot, which Nate explained

was about generations and the children of Isaac, Jacob and Esau, who were also twins. He shared that learning about Jacob and Esau reinforced what he already knows to be true – that you can be a twin and be very different, and that is important to have and maintain your own individuality.

When asked about how he and his twin sister are differ-ent he smiled and said, “Lots of ways. I like history and current events, and I like to stick around after our lessons and talk with Rabbi Bienstock. And I’m an interpreter at Con-ner Prairie, where I play a 10-year-old 1836 boy. Rachel likes athletics and is a really good rock climber. And she’s a good musician, too. She plays the oboe and is away at music camp right now.”

Nate said that learning his Torah portion was interesting and thinks that his favorite part about the whole process

Nate and Rachel Meyers

Continued to next page

Nate Myers

Rachel Myers


will be the accomplishment of it all. He’s both excited and a little nervous to think about leading the entire congrega-tion even though he has done some readings previously. So he practices and studies a lot. Nate said the most difficult part for him was the actual Hebrew language and the trope: “Everything has its own sound and that’s sort of difficult.”

He talked about how im-portant it is that this is about his ancestors and his roots and that he feels like “now it’s my turn.”

Nate and Rachel and their parents, Sally and Michael Meyers, are expecting lots of guests, many from out of town – from as far away a Califor-nia, Texas, Florida, New York. He thinks most will come.

At the close of our con-versation, Nate said he likes to set his expectations high and work hard to achieve his goals. He shared a favorite quote from Cicero, which he read on the wall of the library at the University of Colorado when the family went with his older sister Rachel when she was visiting colleges: “One who knows only of his generation always remains a child.”

Congratulations and best of luck to Nate and Rachel Meyers!

MeyersContinued from prev. page

On Tuesdays, beginning Aug. 19 – Sept. 23, 7:00 p.m. (6 sessions). This is for any-one who has never learned Hebrew (or have forgotten what they once knew) – an introduction to Hebrew. Stu-dents will learn the Hebrew alphabet and begin putting the letters together to read words. (This course satisfies the basic Hebrew require-ment for those who want to participate in a future adult B’nai Mitzvah class.) Instruc-tor: Marv Goldstein. Fee: $50 members / $70 nonmembers (fee includes text). At India-napolis Hebrew Congrega-tion, 6501 N. Meridian St. To register, contact Dovie, at 255-6647 x 200. Questions? Contact Marcia Goldstein, x213.

Beginning Hebrewat IHC

Jewish boys coming of ageCelebrating one’s becom-

ing a bar mitzvah in the man-ner common in today’s world is new, relatively speaking; a similar celebration did not exist in the time of the Bible, Mishnah or Talmud. This cere-monial observation developed in the Middle Ages.

The current practice is that on a Sabbath shortly after his 13th birthday, a boy may recite the blessings for the Torah reading, read from the Torah five books of Moses and Haf-tara (selections from the books of the Prophets), and give a d’var Torah (a discussion of that week’s Torah portion). Some boys may also lead part or all of the morning prayer services.

Calling the boy to say the Torah blessings is called an aliyah, from the Hebrew word for “to rise, to ascend; to go up.” Precisely what the bar mitzvah should lead dur-ing the service varies from one congregation to another and is not fixed by Jewish law. Sephardic Jews tend to bring the boy into adulthood a little later than Ashkenazi Jews, waiting until after his 14th birthday. Notwithstand-ing the celebrations, how-ever, males become entirely culpable and responsible for following Jewish law once they reach the age of 13.

Sometimes the bar mitz-vah celebration happens during another service that includes reading from the Torah. The service is often followed by a celebratory meal with family, friends, and members of the com-munity. In the modern day, the celebration is sometimes delayed for reasons such as availability of a Shabbat dur-ing which no other celebra-tion has been scheduled, or the desire to permit family to travel to the event. However, this does not delay the onset of rights and responsibili-ties of being a Jewish adult, which comes about strictly by virtue of age.

Many Jewish boys do not have a bar mitzvah celebra-tion. In this case the boy’s 13th birthday is considered the child’s coming of age. Not having a bar mitzvah celebra-tion does not make the child becoming an adult any less of a Jew. Although some people wish to be “bar mitzvahed” as an expression of their faith,

this celebration has no reli-gious significance.

“Bar mitzvahed” is an incorrect use of the term as a participle. The proper way to say it is “to become a bar mitzvah.”

Jewish girls coming of ageExcept in Italy, no ceremo-

ny parallel to a boy’s bar mitz-vah ceremony developed for girls before the modern age. The Orthodox Jewish Italian rite for becoming bat mitzvah made a great impression on Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan, a rabbi who was originally Or-thodox, became Conservative, and then became the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism. Through his influence at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, in New York, Jews from all branches of non-Or-thodox Judaism learned about and emulated this practice for girls, though at the time most Orthodox rabbis strongly rejected its usage, despite its Italian Orthodox background.

The first public celebration of a bat mitzvah happened on March 18, 1922, at the Society for the Advancement of Judaism in New York City for Judith Kaplan, daughter of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan. As the ceremony became ac-

cepted for females as well as males, many women chose to celebrate the ceremony even though they were much older, as a way of formalizing and celebrating their place in the adult Jewish community.

Today, most non-Orthodox Jews celebrate a girl’s bat mitz-vah in the same way as they celebrate a boy’s bar mitzvah. All Reform and Reconstruc-tionist and most Conservative synagogues have egalitarian participation in which women read from the Torah and lead services. Conservative Judaism is pluralistic, and a small percent of Conservative synagogues are still concerned about the halakhic propriety of women reading the Torah portion in public.

The majority of Orthodox Judaism rejects the idea that a woman can publicly read from the Torah or lead prayer services. Haredi Jews (Ultra-Orthodox) are especially op-posed. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein has opposed anyone attending a bat mitzvah and has referred to the ceremony as hevel, or nonsense, while the Sephardic rabbi, René Samuel Sirat, who served as Chief Rabbi of France, has also opposed bat mitzvah.

However, the public cel-ebration of a girl becoming bat mitzvah has become stronger in Modern Orthodox Juda-

ism and in some elements of Haredi Judaism, especially Chabad-Lubavitch. In these congregations women do not read from the Torah or lead prayer services. Occasionally, Orthodox girls will lecture on a Jewish topic to mark their coming of age, learn a book of Tanakh, recite the verses from other texts (such as the Book of Esther or the Book of Psalms) or prayers from the siddur.

Jewish “adult” responsibilities

Once a person is bar or bat mitzvah, he or she has the responsibilities of an adult under Jewish law. He or she is not innocent anymore, and is responsible for his or her own actions (good or bad). Tradi-tionally, the parents of the bar or bat mitzvah give thanks to God that they no longer have to carry the burden of their child’s sins. He or she is eli-gible to be called to read from the Torah and to participate in a Minyan. (In Orthodox de-nominations, only males read from the Torah or participate in a Minyan.) He or she is, in theory, legally old enough to be married according to Jew-ish law. He or she must follow the 613 laws of the Torah.

Source: http://en.wikipedia-.org/wiki/B’nai_Mitzvah. Ac-cessed on July 26, 2007.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah History


ObituariesKhaya Ringo, 93

Khaya Ringo, of India-napolis, died July 18, 2008 at Hooverwood Nursing Home. She is survived by her loving sons, Alex (Maria) Ringo and Lev (Maria) Ringo; grandchil-dren, Ann, Renay and Renata, and great-grandchildren, Dar-ren, Maya and Lenny. Her hus-band, Naum, preceded her in death. Graveside services were held on Sun., July 20, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in Beth-El Zedeck North Cemetery. Arrange-ments entrusted to Aaron-Ru-ben-Nelson Mortuary.

Dorothy Mae Winston, 92

Dorothy Mae Winston, born April 8, 1916, died here in Indianapolis July 29, 2008. She peacefully departed this world at home, with loved ones by her side, following a long, courageous battle with cancer.

Dorothy was the only child of Irvin Glosson of Seymour,

Ind., and Maude Perkins of Indianapolis. She graduated from Tech High School and spent ten years as a secretary to a local doctor’s group. She then served as an assistant to the regional director of the United Auto Workers. Dorothy left the UAW when she married Martin Winston, who was a nationally prominent businessman.

Dorothy and Martin were married happily for 53 years. Martin predeceased Dorothy in 2000.

Dorothy has been a gener-ous contributor to St. Vincent Hospital Foundation. Her lat-est bequest will benefit the new Oncology Center, which was dedicated in April. She and Mr. Winston were longtime mem-bers of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck and former members of B’nai Torah Congregation.

Dorothy is survived by her cousins Debbie (John) Higgens and Scott (Mary) Hoereth and their extended families and sister-in-laws, Harriet (Robert)

Glazier and Rose Freedman and their extended families; and by many dear friends and her devoted caregivers. Funeral services were held at Aaron-Ruben Nelson Mortuary in Indianapolis on Fri., August 1, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Burial fol-lowed in Beth-El Zedeck South Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dorothy and Martin Win-ston endowment fund c/o St. Vincent Hospital Foundation 8402 Harcourt Rd., Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46260

Dorothy Berger Rosenbaum

Dorothy Berger Rosenbaum died on July 31, 2008. Dottie was an avid and highly accom-plished bridge player. She just recently reached the Diamond Life Master level and is the first woman in central Indiana to achieve this designation.

Dottie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Univer-sity of Illinois, where she also received a masters degree in secondary education. She was licensed to teach English and French.

Dottie was married to Ir-ving Rosenbaum, who was an Indianapolis pediatrician and community leader. Dottie is survived by her four sons and three daughters-in-law: James (Ginny), Lawrence, Robert (Kay), and William (Mimi); and four grandchildren, Janet, Thomas, Alan and Deena.

Dottie requested that there be no funeral service. The fam-ily will have a private memo-rial service at a later date. She will be entombed next to her husband at Washington Park North Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Indianap-olis Bridge Center, the Irving Rosenbaum Fund at Planned Parenthood of Indiana, or the Indianapolis Zoo. Arrange-ments entrusted to Aaron-Ru-ben-Nelson Mortuary. Online condolences may be made at arnmortuary.com.

William Alan Solotkin, 77

William Alan Solotkin, formerly of Indianapolis, at his home in Dallas, Texas, on

July 22, 2008. He was born in Indianapolis on July 1, 1931 to Samuel and Lillian (Goldberg) Solotkin. He graduated from Shortridge High School and attended Indiana University and Butler University.

Bill is survived by his chil-dren, Susan, Bob, Nancy, Don and Douglas; grandchildren, Jordan, Rachel, Adam and Da-kin; sisters, Sandra Borns and Marcia Dayan and brother-in-law, Bob Borns. Additionally he had numerous nieces, nephews and cousins that he was also close to.

While living in Indianapolis, Bill was a partner in Solotkin Scrap Metal Corp. in Greenfield and Industrial Salvage Corp. in Indianapolis. In Texas, he was a partner in Rex-Tex Equipment Corp. Once a member of Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis, he was a very active member of Tiferet Israel in Dallas. A very quiet phi-lanthropist, he helped support many needy families through a special arrangement with a Dal-las rabbi. He had a very large ac-tive circle of friends in the Dallas area and was much beloved by his family and friends.


In an effort to put a non-standard twist on a 2008 bat mitzvah, Sigal Tavel

and her family planned her event a little differently. They started with a camping party in Brown County rental cabin for Sigal and her girl classmates. They hiked and cooked over a campfire and went swimming, and kept it all kosher.

Prior to her bat mitzvah weekend, Sigal studied her Torah portion (Va’Etchanan) and her Haftarah (Nachamu). Sigal explained that she really focused on small areas of the lessons because her teacher, Mr. Hakimi, has the philoso-phy of “quality not quantity.” With his help she put together a D’var Torah from her les-sons like most other girls her age, but she read it at a “grandparents dinner” with 13 older relatives instead of in a synagogue service. Then Sigal and her immediate family celebrated by flying to Maui instead of planning a weekend-long bash and acci-dentally leaving someone off the invite list. During their stay in Hawaii, they attended shul there.

Sigal shared that the Has-ten Hebrew Academy has really made an impact on her Jewish education, and that although Mr. Hakimi helped her study her Torah portion, many people have helped her and shaped her into what she is today. “The synagogue Etz Chaim along with its congre-gation have made me realize

that a shul is not only the place where you connect to G-d, it's the place where you connect to the rest of the Jew-ish Community.”

When asked if she was do-ing a mitzvah project, she re-sponded: “I was not assigned a bat mitzvah project partly because my parents don't give us projects that will last only one year. My parents objective is to teach me and my brother to be empathetic toward those in need, so that we will give on our own, without having someone lay what should be done in front of us.”

Sigal talked about some of the other aspects of her bat mitzvah training. “One of my mom’s ideas to help me get ready for my bat mitzvah dinner with my relatives was to have me read an English passage every Shabbos at synagogue. I'm not extra-verted like my mom and my little brother, I'm more like my dad in that sense, I only socially interject myself when necessary, so it made me uncomfortable. On the other hand, though I can't say that being an adult now is really my "favorite" part, but I like the feeling that I've finally crossed the bridge between childhood and adulthood.”

She also shared that during her training she had looked back at pictures of herself from baby pictures up to about a year ago and was able to reminisce and think about crossing over the bridge into adulthood.

Sigal Tavel

IN 12 August 6, 2008

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GfwGfy Rnyfm 7 - Jewish Post & Opinion