Reform to fund rabbi slots
The Central Conference of American Rabbis, a Reform group, is offering to fund rabbi positions in communities with declining Jewish populations.
Several rabbis will each sign a three-year contract with a congregation, with a three-year renewal contract possible. These “Heartland Fellows” will be coached and mentored, with funding for salary and medical benefits.
“This grant is a win-win, enabling rabbis to experience the joys of small congregation life, and allows these communities to be served by full-time rabbis,” said Rabbi Nora Hurston, CCAR chief executive.
Placement efforts will start in spring 2022 under the supervision of Rabbi Cindy G. Enger, director of rabbinic career services. Applicants must be members in good standing with the CCAR and newly ordained or ordained within five years.
Congregations and rabbis will apply through the CCAR Office of Rabbinic Career Services. Rabbis seeking more information should contact Rabbi Cindy G. Enger at Cenger@Ccarnet.org.
– Eli Friedman
Scammers may claim to represent credit card
If someone calls you claiming to be from your credit card’s fraud office, it may not be true. You can hang up and call the phone number on the back of your credit card to make sure you’re actually speaking with the credit card company.
Scammers may seek your three-digit security code on the back of a credit card or other sensitive information, according to Visa.
A scammer make claim to work in the “Security and Fraud Department.” They may claim that your card has been flagged for suspicious transactions and you need to prove that you have the card in your possession. The scammer may then ask you to provide the three-digit security code.
You should know that, typically, financial institutions do not call customers and request their personal account information, according to Visa
Hazzan Jeremy Stein releases album
Hazzan Jeremy Stein of Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid is set to release an album of original havdalah music in the style of classic rock to benefit Jewish summer camps. Stein sings on the album, with others.
“I decided I would like to do something not just artistic but also do something for the community,” Stein said.
The five-song album consists of three traditional havdalah prayers, one contemporary havdalah poem — Miriam Hanavia by Rabbi Leila Gal Berner — set to music, and a version of Ani Ma’amin by Maimonides.
Stein worked with musicians both local and national on the album, which will support Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and the Steve & Shari Sadek Family Camp Interlaken JCC, among at least eight other camps outside the state.
“That was one of the special parts of the project, is to be able to include so many different people,” Stein said. “Some of whom had their own home recording studio, others just sang into their smartphones.”
The album is available for pre-order at Cantors.org/HavdalahCd/ and will become available for the release concert, which is on June 9 at 8 p.m. The free concert can be attended on Facebook at Facebook.com/Jeremy.Stein.1840 or on Zoom at TinyUrl.com/HavdalahAlbum.
B’nei mitzvah candidates can work with Ovation
Wisconsin bar and bat mitzvah candidates may work with Ovation Communities, a Jewish organization that provides senior living in Milwaukee, to complete their b’nai mitzvah projects.
These projects enrich its community as well as offer an opportunity for a personalized bar mitzvah experience, according to Ovation Communities.
The organization’s website suggests some projects, including sharing a talent or writing notes to residents.
B’nai mitzvah candidates interested in working with Ovation Communities can visit its website at Ovation.org or reach out to Julie Shlensky, the Posner Chair for Intergenerational Programming, at JShlensky@Ovation.org.
– Eli Friedman
Summer teaching program seeks volunteers
The Summer Step-Up School program sponsored by Congregation Sinai, Tikkun Ha-Ir and Cross Lutheran Church is seeking volunteers with any level of experience to teach, assist and chaperone children between 1st and 8th grade this summer.
The program, which intends to assist students who struggled academically during the past school year, will run weekly Monday through Thursday, from June 21 to July 29.
After attending four two-hour training sessions over Zoom between May and June, volunteers will gain hands-on teaching experience and the opportunity to support their community, according to organizers. The program’s hours are from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., but volunteer hours are flexible. Coaching can be provided as needed.
Prospective volunteers should apply at Bit.ly/StepUpVolunteer.
– Eli Friedman
Southwest Airlines to fly to Miami
Southwest Airlines has created a new nonstop flight from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport to Miami International Airport.
The new flight to Miami will start June 12 and continue every Saturday through Sept. 4, according to a press release.
Southwest’s daily service to Fort Lauderdale will continue through Sept. 6, with two roundtrips flying every Saturday through Oct. 30.
– Eli Friedman
Chronicle intern wins awards
Northwestern University college student Hannah Feuer has won two journalism awards for her work last summer, when she interned with the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle.
Feuer won two silver awards in the collegiate section of the 2020 Milwaukee Press Club awards. She won a Best Pandemic Story in Print Silver Award for her story, “Nervous about postal delays? Here’s how to make sure your vote is counted.” She was also awarded a Best Short Soft Feature Story Silver Award for “Mequon native’s novel is on childhood medical condition.”
Feuer will intern with “Moment Magazine” this summer.
Rubin is co-valedictorian
Shoshana Rubin has been named co-valedictorian at the Milwaukee High School of the Arts, where she graduates this month.
Rubin, who was born in Mequon but now lives in Milwaukee, studied in her high school’s vocal program, focusing on vocal jazz, opera workshop and choir.
“I would love to keep music within my life,” Rubin said. “I think it’s definitely difficult having the time. I have a dream of just being within jazz clubs for the rest of my life and having music as a side hustle.”
Rubin will attend DePaul University in Chicago on a $100,000 academic scholarship. She intends to enter the school’s program in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies.
“I’m definitely not pro-war in general with my beliefs, so I’m hoping to either work in nonprofits surrounding war, or possibly working with veterans and therapies surrounding that, or to be working as an occupational therapist and integrating peacefulness and mindfulness into my practice,” she said.
–Eli Friedman
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