WOUNDED MARINE UPDATE — A few weeks ago we published a story about Marine Corporal Yevgeniy Shenker’s injuries while serving our country in Afghanistan and the financial struggles his mother, Larisa Shenker, was facing as she helped him recover. NBC Action News picked up the story as well and following Beth Vaughan’s report, the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes came forward with a $2,500 gift to the family. Mike Meyer, vice president for programming of the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, told NBC Action News the coalition makes these types of donations because, “It’s very important in their recovery that they have a loved one around to support them, because it can get pretty lonely in a hospital a thousand miles away.” So far there has been no word whether the Jewish community has set up an organized fund to help the Shenkers.
PRESIDENT RABBI — Rabbi Debbie Stiel of Temple Beth Sholom in Topeka has spent the past two years serving as president of the Midwest Association of Reform Rabbis. MWARR’s membership is a little more than 100, and its president’s main responsibility is planning the Annual Kallah. The Annual Kallah is early next week and Rabbi Stiel will conclude her term at that time. MWARR’s president also speaks for the rabbis in the region with the Central Conference of American Rabbis when the need arises. The meeting is in Phoenix, which is not a part of the region but, as Rabbi Stiel says, is a great place to go this time of year for Midwestern rabbis. “This conference is a wonderful way for us as rabbis to let our hair down and enjoy some time together and study. It’s been great for me to go to for years and this was my opportunity to give back by putting it together.
THE TEBOW PHENOMENON — Those of you who follow professional football, or even watch the late-night comics, know all about Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. He is deeply religious and led the Broncos to a seven-game winning streak and a trip to the playoffs. He has been seen praying on the field, on the sidelines and lifting his fingers skyward to indicate praise and thanks to God. Tebow’s devotion to God (and Jesus) has been a topic of conversation this winter and Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff chose to share his thoughts about it in last week’s Bisseleh Bytes email blast sent to members of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. He is allowing us to share his thoughts with our readers.
“Two weeks ago, a boy in our religious school approached me and asked if I thought Tim Tebow’s prayers to God helped him and the Broncos win,” Rabbi Nemitoff wrote.
“It was an interesting question, and one that —with different variations —is asked all the time: ‘If I pray hard and sincerely, will Aunt Martha get better?’ ‘Let’s pray that Mommy gets the promotion.’ ‘I pray that God will bless and protect Israel.’ “
Rabbi Nemitoff’s response to the religious school student: “Prayer is ALWAYS good. It keeps US focused on that which is bigger than us. I don’t know if God listens (and responds) to Tim Tebow’s prayers ... but I do know that Tim Tebow listens to his own words ... and is inspired to be the best that he can be as a result.”