The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2002 - Page 2
A Weekend in Washington; Basketball in
Rockville
By Amy Krakovitz Montoni
Just before Chanukah, No. 1
son’s new basketball team from
the American Hebrew Academy in
Greensboro had some games
scheduled at two Day Schools
in Rockville, MD. With its
proximity to Washington, DC, I
decided to visit our nation’s
capital with No. 2 son.
Our trip started out poorly
with a flight attendant calling in
sick and our flight delayed 1-
1/2 hours. But when the
replacement finally appeared,
the already weary travelers
were gracious and appreciative. |
She even received a warm
round of applause when the
captain introduced her.
Upon arrival at Washington
Reagan Airpoit, we whisked our
selves off to the car rental counter
and I attempted to drive to our
hotel.
Have you ever driven in
Washington. DC? I got lost and
back on track a total of four times,
turning a 20-minute drive into a
one-hour aggravation. It’s these
circle things, where you can’t tell
which spoke your street is turning
off into, and even if you can, I
challenge you to get in the conect
lane at each light around the cir
cle.
Once we finally airived at our
hotel, we decided to walk (an easy
six blocks) to the White House. It
was indeed an easy walk and if not
for the weather (drizzly and cold)
would have been lovely. We were
too late for the White House tour
but No. 2 son was just as thrilled
to have his picture taken right out
side.
When we attempted to continue
our walk, we were stopped by a
security guard at the driveway. A
No. 2 son at the White House in
December.
long motorcade with two limou
sines and several SUVs were exit
ing the White House grounds. It
was the Vice President, we were
informed. He had been at the
White House while the President
had gone to Maryland. I missed
the picture but No. 2 son had
another moment of excitement.
On the other side on the White
House, on a field known as “The
Ellipse” stood a giant Chanukiah
ready for the lights to be kindled.
The one picture I took of the
menorah came out looking like
vaseline had been rubbed on the
lens.
We walked in the cold drizzle
up to the Washington Monument
for a photo op as the monument is
still closed to the public for reno
vations.
We spent the rest of the day,
more than two hours, in the Gems,
Minerals and Geology section of
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Candle
Lighting for
January 2002
Friday, January 4
5:05 PM
Friday, January 11
5:11 PM
Friday, January 18
5:18 PM
Friday, January 25
5:25 PM
fi ft
Point of View
Each issue of the CJN features an article written by one
of the rabbis active in the Charlotte community.
the Smithsonian Museum of
Natural History. It was fascinating
and beautiful. No. 2 son read
every display, studied every gem,
participated in every hands-on
and interactive program. We
know now that we need at least
a week in Washington just to
see what interests us at the
Smithsonians.
That night the basketball
teams from American Hebrew
Academy were scheduled to
play at the Charles Smith
Jewish Day School in
Rockville. I understand that
there are over 1000 students at
the school, which goes up to
12th grade. AHA has 77 stu
dents in 9th and 10th grades.
What are the odds AHA will have
a better team?
Well, apparently the odds are
50-50 because the girls’ team won
their first ever basketball game.
The boys, and No. 1 son by exten
sion, lost a dismal 84-12.
The next afternoon, they played
at the Melvin Berman Hebrew
Academy. Again, the girls won,
and the boys lost, but not by such
a devastating mai'gin. The score
the second day was 25-17.
AHA also brought their cheer
leaders with them, who were
enthusiastic and cute, and contin
ued to keep the spirits of their
teams up, even when they were
falling behind (far behind).
One interesting note, the cur
rent coach at AHA, Phil Papier,
was the former coach at Charles
Smith JDS. They honored him
between games and made the
AHA family feel very lucky to
have him on staff. O
This month:
Rabbi Yossi Groner of Congregation
Ohr HaTorah and Lubavitch of North
Carolina
“Tu Bishvat: A Time for Renewal”
I
One of the exciting holidays
observed in Israel each winter is
the New Year for Trees. The 15th
day of the Hebrew month of
Shevat has been designated by the
Talmud as the Rosh Hashanah for
trees. In Israel new trees are plant
ed on this day. and many Jewish
communities in the Diaspora cele
brate by eating from the five fruits
with which Israel is praised in the
Torah. This year Tu B’Shevat falls
on Monday, January 28.
One of the reasons that trees
have been awarded a special cele
bration is because the Torah in the
book of Deuteronomy compares
humans to trees. And indeed there
are many lessons learned from
trees that when applied to humans
serve us well.
The comparison between trees
and humans begins with the plant
ing of the tree and culminates with
the final product of the delicious
fruit produced by the tree that ben
efits mankind.
Planting a new • tree requires
much care and effort in order to
ensure a healthy and productive
tree. This includes daily watering
and ensuring that the soil contains
the right nutrients. As the tree
grows, it needs pruning and sup
port so that it will grow straight
and sturdy. Healthy and deep roots
help the tree survive harsh ele
ments.
Similarly, with humans we
must take extra care in the early
years of the child to nurture him
with the right values and in a prop
er environinent to ensure his
growth into a mature and produc
tive adult.
Today more educators have
come to the conclusion that the
Torah value system that has exist
ed within the Jewish community
for thousands of years really
works. The transmission of strong
values in a sheltered and protected
environment allows the child to
grow and develop into a responsi
ble and productive adult.
Moreover, it allows the child to be
confident in who he is and to be
equipped with knowledge and a
This month’s Tu B’Shevat
cover is “Planting the Orange
Grove,” from Jerusalem
around 1920.
L^month’s Chanukah paint
ing was by Arthur Szyk, 1948.
Both photos were provided by
the Library of the Jewish
Theological Seminary.
sense of history.
As the roots of the young are
firmly planted in their heritage,
they have the ability to endure
most of the harsh challenges fac
ing today’s youth. These young
adults have the confidence and
enthusiasm to contribute to an
ever-changing society with their
creativity and sense of self-assur
ance.
The success of Jewish survival
is due to the responsibility that
each generation feels towards the
next generation. The Torah
instructs parents to teach their
children. By imparting Jewish
knowledge, practice, and values to
our children, we guarantee the
sustenance and survival of
Judaism.
At Tu B’Shevat, when we plant
new trees, we experience a renew
al of sorts. We see the new trees
taking root and beginning to grow
we think about a whole new gen
eration of trees that will benefit
the environment and society at
large. As we nurture the young
saplings, we reflect on our own
renewal as Jews. We look at our
children and realize that our young
can achieve greatness, but it is up
to us to help them.
It is our privilege and responsi
bility to give them the knowledge
of our precious heritage, the God-
given Torah, and to imbue them
with the pride that we feel in our
Judaism. The more time we spend
investing in our children, the more
productive they will be as they
grow up.
Tu B’Shevat is a time that we
think about Israel and its trees.
After all, the holiday originated in
Israel and is still observed today
by planting new trees. I may add
that trees and Israel are very much
tied together.
Trees are a symbol of hope.
Even after devastating forest fires
that may destroy many trees, trees
always make a comeback. There
in the midst of ruin and destruc
tion, one can see young saplings
rising from the ground.
After years of hardship and
destruction, we see Jewish life
flourishing in Israel. Yes, even
now as it has experienced the
worst wave - of terror since its
inception, Jewish life is flourish
ing and thriving in the Holy Land.
At this time more than ever, we
must commit to the renewal and
survival of Israel.
May this Tu B’Shevat bring
true and everlasting peace to the
Holy Land, and may the sweetness
of its fruit allow us to savor the
joys of life and all its blessings. 0
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