C ommunity
NE WSMAKERS
Shir Ami Collects Jackets for Refugees
Jewish Family Service Gives Toys to Needy
Shir Ami in Newtown collab-
orated with Bethany Christian
Services on a winter coat drive
for Afghan refugees during the
holiday season. The organiza-
tions gathered enough coats
to help hundreds of refugees
in the Philadelphia-Allentown
area. Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties distrib-
uted toys to more than 50 families in need during the holiday Jewish Family Service of
season. The toys included stuffed animals, games and books, Atlantic & Cape May Counties
among others.

named Caelin McCallum as its
new director of healthy commu-
nity initiatives on Dec. 27.

McCallum will manage The
From left: Vanessa
Lynn Kramer Village by the
Smith and Jeanenne
Shore, The Rothenberg Center
Simon pose with the
for Family Life, Volunteer
presents that JFS
distributed to local
Services and the Food Pantry.

Back row, from left: Rabbi Eric
Goldberg, Stan Cohen, Katharine
Woodward and Jared Smith
Front row, from left: Shelly Cohen,
Essie Cherkin, Barbara Roth, Ellie
Short and Rabbi Charles Briskin
Jewish Family Service
Names New Director
families. Courtesy of Jewish Family
Service of Atlantic & Cape
May Counties
Photo by Jodie Levinson
Israel Bonds Philadelphia Women’s
Division Hosts Talk
Israel Bonds Philadelphia Women’s Division held its
in-person Aviva program Nov. 18 at Har Zion Temple
in Penn Valley. This year’s speaker was Jonathan
Schanzer, an author and Middle East analyst. Schanzer
is senior vice president for research at the nonpartisan
think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies in
Washington, D.C.
Caelin McCallum
Courtesy of Jewish Family Service of
Atlantic & Cape May Counties
Jonathan Schanzer speaks at the Aviva
program Nov. 18 at Har Zion Temple.

Jonathan Schanzer signs his book.

Courtesy of Philadelphia Women’s Division
COMMUNITYCALENDAR FRIDAY, JAN. 7
Branching Out Exhibit
The Old City Jewish Arts Center will
host Branching Out: A Celebration
of Trees by award-winning artist
Diana T. Myers of Elkins Park until
Jan. 30. The exhibit commemorates
the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat
and honors the four seasons. Private
showings can also be arranged by
contacting dianatmyers@gmail.com.

119 N. Third St., Philadelphia.

SUNDAY, JAN. 9
Writing Course
In the Briya Project’s “Sh’ma – Hear
Your Inner Voice” weekly course
of eight, two-hour class sessions
from 6-8 p.m., we gather on Zoom
for moments of ritual and writing.

Contact talia@briyaproject.com
for more information.

MONDAY, JAN. 10
Climate Fest
Participate in the Big Bold Jewish
Climate Fest, an international Jewish
climate festival reflecting a cross-
collaboration of hundreds of Jewish
organizations committed to making
climate action a central priority of
the Jewish community, until Jan.

14. For more information, visit
jewishclimatefest.org. TUESDAY, JAN. 11
Sisterhood Meeting
The Sisterhood of Congregations of
Shaare Shamayim will host a virtual
general meeting at 1 p.m. on Zoom:
“New Year’s Resolutions: Building
a Health Plate for You.” There is no
charge, but we will need your email
address so we can send you the
link for the meeting. Contact the
synagogue office at 215-677-1600 for
further details.

Text Study
Join Beth Sholom Congregation
Rabbi David Glanzberg-Krainin at 8
p.m. for a close reading of Avivah
Gottlieb Zornberg’s work “Moses: A
Human Life,” which reveals Moses as
far from perfect; a very human man,
riddled with insecurities, anxieties
and uncertain of his faith. 8231 Old
York Road, Elkins Park.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12
Mahjong Class
Old York Road Temple-Beth Am
presents weekly beginner mahjong
classes until Jan. 19 from 6:45-9
p.m. $80. Contact Gail Stein at
aplusteacherus@gmail.com or 215-
947-2203 for registration. 971 Old
York Road, Abington.

Book Talk
Har Zion Temple Sisterhood and
Department of Lifelong Learning
present the “Open A Book ... Open
Your Mind” event series via Zoom.

Each event will cost $18. At 4 p.m.,
author Meg Waite Clayton will
discuss “The Postmistress of Paris.”
For information and to register, email
openabook@harziontemple.org. Global Connections
Robert Siegel interviews David
Ignatius (foreign affairs columnist,
Washington Post), Roya Hakakian
(author; founding member, Iran
Human Rights Documentation
Center) and other experts as part of
the Global Connections: Navigating
the New Normal series. 4 p.m.

Register for free at rb.gy/0i8ocv.

Religious Pluralism Lecture
Gratz College presents “Fighting
for Religious Pluralism: World War
I and American Judaism,” a lecture
at 7 p.m. by Muhlenberg College
Associate Professor of Religious
Studies Jessica Cooperman.

Free online program with
preregistration. For more
information, contact
mcohen@gratz.edu or
215-635-7300, ext. 155.

THURSDAY, JAN. 13
Bend the Arc Meeting
Join Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
South Jersey for an evening of
focused movement-building in South
Jersey. Meetings are the second
Thursday of the month. 7:30 p.m.

Register by the Tuesday before and
sign up for email alerts: bendthearc.

us/southjersey_signup. l
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