WAGGIN’ TAILS FOR WAYSIDE WAIFS — After Jonah Golder’s family adopted a puppy from Wayside Waifs this summer, Jonah thought the animal shelter would be a good beneficiary for his mitzvah project. He initiated “Waggin’ Tails for Wayside Waifs,” collecting toys, supplies and cash donations from his elementary school, Briarwood Elementary, for the shelter. Jonah is the son of Heather Schlozman and Robert Golder and will become a Bar Mitzvah on Nov. 10 at Congregation Beth Shalom.
BIG CAMPAIGN SET FOR MARCH 30 — StandWithUs is urging schools, campuses, synagogues, community organizations and individuals to celebrate Israel by designating March 30 as the day to buy up Israeli goods at local stores. The date was chosen because the anti-Israel boycott campaign has planned a global boycott of Israeli products for the same day (March 30). Protestors will stand outside stores, asking shoppers not to buy Israeli products. StandWithUs, in partnership with the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, successfully countered a similar boycott day on Nov. 30, 2010. They mobilized Israel supporters in every store that the boycotters had targeted worldwide. March 30 is an opportune day for Israeli products because the Jewish holiday of Passover is in April this year. For more information, and to learn what stores carry Israeli products, visit www.BuyIsraelGoods.org.
KANSAS CITIAN FOUNDS ISRAEL TOUR COMPANY — Barry A. Kaplan, a marketing and sales specialist who relocated to Israel three and a half years ago has launched a new company, BAK Tours to Israel. BAK Tours to Israel offers complete services including: meeting at the airport, hotels, meals (full or half board), licensed and experienced tour guides, buses of all sizes with appropriately licensed and experienced drivers, tips and entrance fees. Trips can last anywhere from two full days or more. All itineraries are custom made to the wishes of the clients. BAK will also offer Bar and Bat Mitzvah services in Israel. The website is still under construction, however more information can be obtained by emailing .
HBHA SCORES IN JUMP FOR JUDAISM CONTEST — Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s team of Cameron Burns, Avery Parkhurst, Sophia Porter and David Robinow was one of six finalists for the fifth annual NCSY National JUMP Leadership Competition. The tie for first place this year went to Hebrew Academy of Nassau County of Uniondale, N.Y., and Yeshiva Atlanta of Georgia. The NCSY (international youth movement of the Orthodox Union) teen leadership training program, called JUMP, empowers students to become aware of individual and communal issues facing the Jewish people and to commit to making positive changes in their schools and communities. Two years ago, the JUMP competition expanded to a national program including 15 yeshiva day schools around the country. JUMP kicked-off the year in October with a National JUMP Leadership Training Seminar. Fifteen yeshiva day schools from across the country came together for a two-day comprehensive leadership program in Stamford, Conn. JUMP culminated last week with the top six schools presenting their results. Each team discussed what they accomplished and reflected both their successes and setbacks. The judges were then able to analyze the true leadership capabilities of the students.
BEACH READS — I actually took a vacation this month and while I was gone I read two paperback books that had been sent to us for review. The one I liked the best, “The Wedding Beat” by Devan Sipher (NAL Trade Paperback Original), goes on sale April 3. It is written by the real-life (unmarried) writer of the New York Times “Vows” wedding column and it’s about a male, fictional, Jewish and unmarried wedding columnist at The Paper. I agree with Jennifer Belle’s observation — she’s the author of “High Maintenance” — “Nothing feels more right than love gone wrong from a man’s point of view. Sipher gives us the male Bridget Jones — winning, elegant and terribly lost. No cold feet here. I do, I do, I do!” Sipher has written the wedding column for more than five years, covering more than 1,000 weddings. Another reviewer (Susan Shapiro, author of “Five Men Who Broke My Heart”) praises it as “Laugh out loud hilarious, hip and deeply heartfelt all at the same time, as if Woody Allen was younger, cuter and wrote a wedding column.” I never laughed out loud, but I think it is worth recommending.