"A Jew cannot be a
  Jew on his own. 
 A Jew needs to be
 part of a community."

  - Elie Wiesel

An Evening of Jewish Music was held June 2 outdoors on the grounds of Walk a Crooked Mile Book Store, Mt. Airy Train Station (R-7) corner of Gowen & Devon Sts. Over 150 of our friends and members came out to hear performances of Jewish music from medieval to contemporary styles and raise funds for the Folkshul.

Our 2007 Talent Show/Silent Auction

was a great success!!

A BIG THANK YOU to all who generously donated and bid on goods and services to help make this our best Silent Auction ever! Top item was donated by Glen Loev & Youval Balistra: 5 days in their luxury vacation villa Casa Amigos in Costa Rica! Many thanks to Glen & Youval. Congratulations to Nancy & Richard Adler on their winning bid – enjoy Paradise in Costa Rica!

~ BART and NAN meet ART and FRAN at the Talent Show ~

“Souper Sunday” is Folkshul families’ annual Tikkun Olam project.  Proceeds benefit Federation’s Mitzvah Food Pantry. The program culminates at the Pantry when students and parents stock the shelves with food purchased with the proceeds from the fundraiser.

This year we raised over $1200 for the Mitzvah Food Pantry!!

YIDDISH CLASS (Note date change)

The Kehilla/Folkshul multigenerational beginners' Yiddish class will begin Sunday, February 25, 2:45 PM at Paul Shane’s home.
Fee is $75 for ten sessions. Contact Paul for info or to enroll.

The Folkshul LIBRARY DEDICATION

took place on Sunday December 17, 2006 in Springside School's Samuel Klein Upper School Library

Check a book out with your child!

From left: Mindy Blatt, Folkshul Education Director; Martha Payne, Springside Head Librarian; Joan Morein, Folkshul Library Chair; Priscilla Sands, Springside Head of School

In December's Philadelphia Jewish Voice, read the interview with Milt Kant about the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring: http://www.pjvoice.com/v18/18400groups.aspx 

Teen Action Groups 2006-07

• Overcoming Intolerance -- Facilitators: Ann Gluck, Pam Albright

Discover sources of intolerance and hate on all levels, and how it operates in our lives. Topics will include bullying and the issues of conformity and difference. We will talk about examples of hate and intolerance in society, both past and present, possibly including early intolerance of Quakers, homophobia, and the situation for Muslims in America today. How do these examples relate to intolerance of Jews? For our action project, we would like to bring in representatives of different groups for dialogue. We will also look for opportunities for activities that we can do in solidarity.

• Science, Religion and Public Policy -- Facilitators: Randy Libros, Lisa Hastings

Some of the "hot-button" debates in recent years have taken place at the intersection of science, religion and public policy. What is life? When does it begin? Is it ethical to use stem cells to study, and then develop cures for diseases at the genetic level? Is the government making choices for research that we want to support? What is the morning after pill and does it destroy life?  Is cloning sacrilegious? dangerous? Should parents tinker with/choose genetics of unborn offspring?  What do we say about gay marriage when many people can't be easily categorized as men or women?  What should schools teach about evolution?  How do we, as secular humanist Jews, evaluate these issues and what actions can be taken to advance our decisions?

YOGA                 

 Join Yogi Lisa on the Lower Level from 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM for a Sunday morning Yoga class!

 Wear loose-fitting clothing and bring a mat.  All levels welcome.

 Still only $10!

Yiddish Classes !

An eight-week Yiddish class for members of Folkshul and Kehilla for Secular Jews will begin Sunday, October 22  – December 10, 2006, 12:45 PM at the home of Ana & Paul Shane, 151 W Tulpehocken St, Phila. 19144. Cost is $50/person; text book extra (approximately $10 for beginners, more for intermediate participants). Yiddish writing notebooks also available for a slight additional cost. Along with vocabulary, the alefbeys will be introduced and practiced so people can read material for discussion. Instructor is April Rosenblum with Fran Kleiner and Paul Shane assisting. For further info: pshane@andromeda.rutgers.edu 

Co-Presented by 
Jewish Children's Folkshul Adult Community & Kehilla for Secular Jews

Publications

Springside School

After a comprehensive search of over 40 possible locations, and  thoughtful consideration of the option to stay at Germantown Friends School in other buildings, the Site Selection Committee recommended, and the Board approved, moving Folkshul to Springside School in Chestnut Hill.  Members of the Committee and the Board visited Springside and were very impressed with the facilities. The classrooms, playground, auditorium and common meeting spaces are excellent. The location enables us to continue to serve current families without increasing drive times.

We moved in over the summer and hosted a dedication/family picnic on August 23, 2006.

 Kudos to our Site Selection Committee and advisors:

   Mindy Blatt                  Jorge Pardes
   Ben Burenstein             Melissa Acker Reichner
   Laura Cohn                  Adam Silverman
   Barbara Halpern           Margie Singer 
   Alice Lesnick                Suann Shuster
   Ruth Litman                  Eric Woolf
   Alina Macneal

2005 and 2006 PHOTOS by Lou Hartman are available in our online Photo Album.

Run a photo album slide show!
Click the first picture of an album to display it full-screen -- then click again or press <Enter> for the next picture.

Who won the 2005 RAFFLE??

The proud new owners of a 7" Samsung portable DVD player are......The Hartman Family!!

Try again next year!

Copyright ©2008 Jewish Children's Folkshul Inc.   All rights reserved.
Folkshul meets at Springside School in Chestnut Hill, 8000 Cherokee St., Phila. PA 19118