Mazal Tov or b’Sha’ah Tovah?

By Rabbi Miriam Cotzin Burg
Director of Jewish Educational Engagement
Louise D. & Morton J. Macks Center for Jewish Education

One of my favorite parts of my job is teaching Hava NaBaby, the Jewish childbirth education class of the Louise D. and Morton J. Macks Center for Jewish Education. I love working with expectant parents as they prepare to bring their children into the world and begin to contemplate what it means to become an ancestor. I love sharing relevant, meaningful and inspiring wisdom from our tradition that speaks to this moment in their lives. I love facilitating the opportunity for expectant parents to build friendships with one another.

I get a lot of email inquiries about the class from moms-to-be who have just discovered that they are pregnant. When I write back, I want to reflect something of my joy and excitement for them but in Jewish life we don’t offer the most common congratulatory greeting, “mazal tov,” when we learn someone is pregnant. Instead, I need to figure out a way to say the traditionally appropriate greeting to many people who have never heard the words “b’sha’ah tovah” before.  And so I write, “B’sha’ah Tovah!  What wonderful news.” The words do what I want them to do, but the translation is incorrect.

“B’sha’ah Tovah” literally means, “at a good hour.” In other words, it is a prayer that a baby (or babies) be born when they are ready, when they can survive outside the womb. As the mother of a child born seven weeks early who then spent the first month of her life in the pediatric intensive care unit, this phrasing has particular resonance.

There are a lot of superstitions around pregnancy. Traditionally, Jews don’t have baby showers or bring anything for a baby into the house until the baby is actually born. I have even researched historical superstitions like wearing an amulet made of matzah that is seven-years-old to prevent pregnancy loss!

But here is the thing: I don’t think saying “b’sha’ah tovah” is superstitious. I think that it is honest.  Though we live in an age where the medical miracle of giving birth to a healthy child seems ordinary, it is anything but ordinary. A million small things have to go right to form a healthy child – and it is nothing but incredible that it works so often.

We say “b’sha’ah tovah” because as parents it is our responsibility to help our children see the miraculous in the everyday, to learn to be grateful instead of taking things for granted. Before our children are even born, they give us occasion to see the world as it is meant to be seen – surprising, wonderful and miraculous. And, of course, as a parent of two young children myself, I know that our children continue to teach us that lesson over and over again.

Register for the 2012 General Assembly in Baltimore

Baltimore, MD – Online registration is now officially open for The Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) 2012 General Assembly. Close to 4,000 Jews from North America and around the world are expected to attend the event, being held November 11-13 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

The three-day conference will feature sessions, workshops and plenaries exploring a range of topics shaping Jewish life including Israel, politics, Jewish education, philanthropy and the next generation.
The GA also annually plays host to a range of global leaders and VIPs.

“The GA will touch on all aspects of Jewish life. From discussing the most serious issues facing the Jewish community to exploring Jewish culture and spirituality, there will be something for everyone to take home,” said Genine Macks Fidler, who is co-chair of the 2012 GA, along with Linda A. Hurwitz and their husbands, Josh and Steven, respectively.

This year’s GA will also feature the first Marketplace, which will highlight the Jewish experience through film screenings, book signings, Judaica, food and shopping opportunities. Other events throughout the conference include a Taglit-Birthright Israel Bar Mitzvah Celebration.

THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore has worked closely with JFNA to provide special pricing to Baltimoreans interested in attending the workshops and the Marketplace.

“The GA is the right place to be for people from every walk of life in the Jewish community,” said Linda A. Hurwitz. “It’s the right place for Federation professionals to exchange ideas and trade strategies and volunteer leaders to inspire one another toward greatness.”

To volunteer or register for the 2012 GA, go to www.associated.org/ga2012>>

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THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore preserves and enhances Jewish life by addressing charitable, educational, religious, humanitarian, health, cultural and social service needs of the Jewish community in Baltimore, in Israel and throughout the world. As the central fundraising entity for the Baltimore Jewish community, THE ASSOCIATED raises more than $30 million each year, with two-thirds aiding Jews in need locally and the remainder funding programs overseas.

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On Manhigut

By Erika Schon
Former Director
Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University

The Hebrew word for leadership, manhigut, reminds us that we expect a certain conduct, or minhag, from our professional and lay leaders. This behavior includes the careful consideration of succession. Dr. Hal M. Lewis, the noted author on Jewish leadership, writes “the essence of an authentic leader in Jewish tradition is the individual who is always in search of his or her replacement…the true test of success is the long-term continuity of an idea or movement.”  

And so, with humility and gratitude for a challenging and rewarding tenure both at Baltimore Hebrew University and, for the last three years, at Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University, I have taken this notion to heart. 

I am proud to announce that on July 1, Jill Max assumed the position of Director of BHI. Jill is already well-positioned to take on the helm of BHI, having spent the past year as Assistant Director of BHI, focusing on Adult Education initiatives. I know you will join me in wishing Jill ongoing success in her new and expanded responsibilities.

It has truly been a privilege and an honor to play a role in the establishment of Baltimore Hebrew Institute. The integration of BHU’s programs into Towson University was a landmark achievement that was possible through the close collaboration and support of the ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. The transition required not only bridge funding, but also creativity and bold thinking to develop a new educational model. 

As you know, I have tremendous respect and excitement for the programs and students that we are supporting here at TU. In just three years, Towson has become a recognized address for Jewish Education, Jewish Communal Service and Jewish Studies, with outstanding academic offerings for both undergraduate and graduate students. With an exceptional Judaic library collection, dedicated Towson faculty and staff, enthusiastic and talented students and strong University-wide support, I am certain that we have found a wonderful new home for our programs. Each year, I couldn’t be more proud of the BHI-affiliated graduates and I know they are also proud to be members of our BHI family.

As I write this, I am also participating in another first at Towson University that was made possible through the ASSOCIATED’s support: the Instructional Leadership Institute for Jewish Educators runs from July 9 – 13th. Today is day three of the stimulating, well-organized and enlightening week-long course. The 45 educators enrolled in the course span the broadest spectrum of Jewish affiliation and each brings unique experiences and perspectives to the class exercises and conversations. The Institute is being taught by four expert faculty members from Towson University’s Center for Leadership in Education. Following the five days of intense classroom study, the course will continue with online forums throughout the year.  

The success of this innovative professional development initiative has already generated tremendous enthusiasm from all the students and I am personally thrilled to participate as I prepare to launch new music education projects next year. 

To the ASSOCIATED, as well as all of our stakeholders and friends, thank you for your trust and support during our journey together. May we go m’chayil l’chayil, from strength to strength!

Schmoozing With Friends

By Elena Rosemond-Hoerr
Education and Program Coordinator
The Jewish Museum of Maryland

Over the past year, the Jewish Museum of Maryland had the good fortune to watch our First Thursday series, Brews & Schmooze: First Thursdays at the JMM grow. Each month, we welcomed new visitors through the doors and watched as the community came together to socialize, learn and connect.

The series, generously funded by the Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Fund for the Enrichment of Jewish Education, celebrated its 12th installment last month with a cheese making demonstration lead by Kayam Farm, along with a kosher wine tasting. This program, along with other favorites such as Esther Fest (where our own famous Esther Weiner made latkes for the masses) and Iron Chef: Passover, combined themes from the Museum’s current exhibit Chosen Food: Cuisine, Culture, and American Jewish Identity with a fun, upbeat, interactive program.

While I’ve loved each of the twelve events, these were some of the best to experience. Esther Fest, in particular, was a favorite. Esther Weiner is a pro (you may even have heard her on WYPR’s The Signal), She’s always telling jokes and keeping people entertained as she teaches them—the best kind of educator, in my opinion.

Esther is like an adopted grandma to all of us junior staff at the Museum; she tells us she loves us, compliments our outfits and admonishes us if we look too thin. And, like any grandma worth her chops, she can cook! Her latkes are unreal, and that’s only the beginning.

When I started planning Iron Chef: Passover, everyone thought I was crazy. A quickfire cooking competition in a Museum lobby? That would never work. But despite the circuit breaker popping every 30 seconds, the event was incredible. Four teams whipped up a medley of dishes featuring the secret ingredient, horseradish (generously donated by Tulkoff Food Products), while a crowd of excited guests watched, ooohed, and ahhed.

By the end of the night everyone was asking when our next cooking event was going to be. The answer?  Stay tuned for Iron Chef: Sukkout this fall!

Starting in July our First Thursday series will become Late Night on Lloyd Street, a series similar in atmosphere and style to Brews & Schmooze but open to anyone and everyone who wants to come. Brews & Schmooze has evolved and, with the support of the Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Fund for the Enrichment of Jewish Education, become four signature annual programs. This means that there will be more free, open, engaging programming to take advantage of at the JMM this year.

On July 5th, to kick off Late Night on Lloyd Street, we’ll be having an Ice Cream Social in honor of the 100th anniversary of Hendler’s Creamery. Join us for a free program where we make, eat and celebrate all things ice cream.

 

Check out JMM’s calendar of events>>

Stoler ECE first Preschool in County to Participate in Let’s Move Program

By Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore

After a very successful year introducing our Healthy Choices program at the Stoler ECE in Owings Mills, our Health Science Educator, Chris Sigman, decided to take on a new challenge for our school. She has upped the ante a little by registering the ECE for Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” childcare program. Introduced in September 2011, this initiative is designed to change the way preschool-aged children think about food, nutrition and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity. This past January, our school started focusing on four key areas in order to be recognized as a Let’s Move!-certified school.

They include:

• Beverages: We now have pitchers of water available in all of our classrooms and we encourage our parents NOT to send their children to school with sugar-filled juice packs.
• Food: Fresh fruits and/or vegetables are served with both morning and afternoon snacks. Healthy homemade dips are prepared weekly to be served with fresh vegetables during snack time. Family-style dining is taking place for all snacks and lunch.
• Physical Activity: We are aiming for all of our preschool students to have a total of 60 minutes of movement each day and for our full-day, preschool plus students to have 120 minutes of movements each day. Weather permitting, outdoor play will occur at least once per day.
• Screen Time: We are encouraging families to reduce their child’s TV/computer time to two hours a day, and will encourage family participation in National TV Turnoff Week on April 30-May 6, 2012.

In the coming months, Chris will be submitting a written journal as well as photos of the school’s progress to the Let’s Move! website.

“We are very excited to be the first preschool in Baltimore County to participate in this program,” says Chris. “We hope to meet this recognition by May 1.”

For more information about the ECE programs at the JCC of Greater Baltimore , visit www.jcc.org.
Find more healthy living programs in Jewish Baltimore>>