Scholar in Residence 2012

January 28, 2012

Shaarai Shomayim is proud to announce its 2012 Scholar-in-Residence, Ron Wolfson, Ph.D., the Fingerhut Professor of Education at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles. Dr. Wolfson will present four workshops during the weekend of Feb. 3-5: 
“Building Good Tents: Envisioning the Synagogue of the Future” - Friday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m.
“The Seven Questions You’re Asked in Heaven” - Saturday, Feb. 4, 9-11 a.m.
“A Workshop on Welcoming” - Saturday, 7 p.m.
“God’s To-Do List: 103 Ways to be an Angel and Do God’s Work on Earth” - Sunday, Feb. 5, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Admission is free, however, if you are interested in attending any of the workshops, please RSVP to Aaron Zinner at or at 371-8049.

Wolfson is a visionary Jewish educator whose enthusiasm for bringing Judaism alive in homes and synagogues has shaped his work in the community. He is the author, most recently, of The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation Into a Sacred Community and God’s To-Do List: 103 Ways to Be an Angel and Do God’s Work on Earth (Jewish Lights Publishing). A pioneer in the field of Jewish family education, Ron has authored The Art of Jewish Living series of books (Jewish Lights Publishing): Three of the titles (Shabbat, The Passover, Hanukkah) are designed to enrich the celebration of Jewish holidays, and one (A Time to Mourn, A Time to Comfort) provides a guide to Jewish bereavement and comfort.
Wolfson has been a member of the faculty of the American Jewish University since 1975. He has also served as Dean of the Fingerhut School of Education, Vice President and Founding Director of the Whizin Center for the Jewish Future and the Whizin Institute for Jewish Family Life.The book, First Fruit: A Whizin Anthology of Jewish Family Education, which he co-edited with Adrianne Bank, won the 1999 Jewish Book Award.

His interest in synagogues dates back to his involvement in a Conservative congregation, Beth El, in his home town of Omaha, Nebraska. Over the years, he has visited hundreds of synagogues across North America as a consultant, teacher and scholar in residence widely recognized for his passionate, insightful and often humorous presentations. Ron is a co-founder of Synagogue 2000 (with Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman) and currently serves as President of Synagogue 3000, a catalyst for excellence, empowering congregations and communities to create synagogues that are sacred and vital centers of Jewish life.

Shaarai Chef 2012

January 10, 2012

Get Ready for Shaarai Chef!

It’s a whole new ball game this year for competing chefs at Sisterhood’s annual cooking event, Shaarai Chef!

This year, our chef-testants have the advantage of experience as they jump into the competitive pressure-filled environment of world class Jewish (and otherwise) cookery.  Come vote on your favorite dishes in the spacious new venue of the JCC ballroom, on January 28th at 7 p.m.  Try your hand at Quick Fire Challenges!  Win prizes! Eat great food!

Make your reservation by emailing Amy Catalan at , and pay at the door or send a check for $20 per person to her at 519 Greenhowe Dr., Lititz, PA 17543.  Ticket price includes unlimited tasting, a multi-ingredient gourmet salad bar, and five tickets for voting, raffles, or an adult beverage.  More tickets will be available for purchase at $1 each.

You can still enter the challenge, and see if your kugel stands up to Babette’s or find out if your brisket can beat Henrietta’s. Is your stuffed cabbage a contender to Randi’s? Clearly Emily has the chili department buttoned up….or maybe not!  Contact Lisa Rohde at to enter your dish!

An additional highlight to this year’s gastronomic adventure is the publication of the Shaarai Chef Cookbook.  Part Jewish history, part cookbook, this volume will appeal to everyone who is a foodie at heart.  You won’t want to miss the reveal of Sharon’s hamentashen recipe, or find out Tama’s special trick to bringing out the flavor in chicken!

And let’s not forget that when all of this is chewed and swallowed, the important thing we are doing is raising funds for the youth of our temple to grow Jewishly, go to camp, and participate in NFTY events.

Miller Music 2012

January 03, 2012

Shaarai Shomayim is excited to welcome Cantor Ross Wolman’s beautiful
voice back to our temple, as Ross will be this year’s Miller Music
Festival’s guest artist.  Wolman will present a concert on Saturday, 
January 7, singing solo and with some of the youth choir and members
of Chavrai Zamir. This is a family-friendly concert, with Ross’ 
favorites from Jewish liturgy, sacred, and Israeli folk music.

Ross grew up in Shaarai Shomayim and was the temple’s cantorial
soloist for a time.  He is now the assistant cantor at B’nai Jehoshua
Beth Elohim in Deerfield Ill., a position he has served in since July
2011. He previously served at Congregation Sukkat Shalom in Wilmette
following his 2007 ordination.

He is an exciting young cantor, a master teacher, a talented musician
and has a warm and open personality. He currently serves as the
president of the Reform Cantors of Chicago and has been affiliated
with OSRUI since the summer of 2001. In addition to his congregational
work, Cantor Wolman has been an active leader and organizer of the
Riding4Reform cycling fundraiser benefitting the Israel Movement for
Progressive Judaism.

Cantor Wolman graduated from Temple University with a B.Mus. in Music
Education. He has a strong love for education, film, cooking, and the
Hebrew language. Cantor Wolman lives in Chicago with his wife, Malka.

The Miller Music Festival is made possible by an endowment from
Rosanne and David Selfon, in honor of Rosanne’s parents Madaline and
Lester Miller.  To perpetuate their love of music, the annual festival
features nationally recognized Jewish musicians in concert at the
Temple.