About

Jewish Central Voice is an online publication of:

 Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts, 633 Salisbury St, Worcester, MA 01609, 508-756-1543 ext 29

Please submit your articles, photos, videos to Mindy at MHall@jfcm.org

Contributing writers:

Howard Borer

Allen Edinberg

Mindy Hall

Arnon Hershkovitz

Marcy Ostrow

Laura Porter

Paul Silverman

Stephen Slaten

Bruce Wahle

Note: The content of articles and videos on this site do not represent or reflect the opinions of the Jewish Federation of Central Mass.

In this Issue

  • Editorial Har Herzl is Not Enough: Between Yom haAtzmaut and Shavuot

    Har Herzl is Not Enough: Between Yom haAtzmaut and Shavuot

    One. The Mountain of Memory Jerusalem has not one, but two holy mountains: The Temple Mount in the east, and Har Herzl in the west. Har Herzl, or Har haZikaron, “the Mountain of Memory” has a very deliberate architecture: On its highest point rests Herzl’s grave. It is surrounded by the graves of Israel’s presidents, prime ministers and leaders. On the slopes of the mountain is the national graveyard for fallen soldiers. Follow the path down the mountain to the west, and you’ve arrived at Yad VaShem, Israel’s Holocaust museum. Take the winding road down from the Yad VaShem museum, [...]

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  • News Graduating Class of Hebrew High 2012

    Graduating Class of Hebrew High 2012

    It is with great pride that the Worcester Community Hebrew High School Graduates Invite you to their graduation ceremony Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 7:00 in the evening Temple Emanuel Rose Chapel Please join the graduates and their families for a dessert reception following the graduation ceremony Morgan Fins, son of Deborah & Daniel Fins Joshua Kapiloff, son of Ellen & Perry Kapiloff Samuel Shuster, son of Marcy & Fred Shuster Zoe Summit, daughter of Susan & Jeffrey Summit Evan Swartz, son of Rebecca Brownstein & Daniel Swartz Alice Waters, daughter of Amy & Simon Waters Submitted by Sue Summit, [...]

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  • News Becoming a Bat Mitzvah at 18 Years Old

    Becoming a Bat Mitzvah at 18 Years Old

    My name is Shahar Peleg, and I’m one of the Israeli Young Emissaries in the Central Mass Jewish community this year. It seems like I’m supposed to know a lot about Judaism coming to this job and working with hundreds of Jewish kids and youth.  But I actually came to the States with a lot of knowledge about Israel, obviously, and not about religion. It felt strange being here in the beginning of the year.  Within the first month it was Rosh Hashanah and I went to a service in one of the synagogues with my new American family. It [...]

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  • Features Drawing Closer to One’s “Brand” of Judaism at TribeFest 2012

    Drawing Closer to One’s “Brand” of Judaism at TribeFest 2012

    (Editor’s Note: TribeFest is a program of the Jewish Federations of North America.  This year, 3 members of the Jewish Federation of Central Mass, including this article’s author, Ira Salitsky, represented our community). While I was at TribeFest, there was a small camera crew going around interviewing the attendees.  They asked, “If you could describe TribeFest in one word, what would it be?” Some of the my companions answered, “Awesome” or “Educational” or “Inspirational,” and while TribeFest was all those things – I answered with the first thing that came to mind – “Jewish.”  They looked at me weirdly and [...]

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  • Upcoming Newcomers Event

    Newcomers Event

    You are cordially invited to the Shalom Newcomers Sunset Dessert Reception on Lake Quinsigamond If you have recently moved into the area, or are new to the Central Mass Jewish Community, then please come join us for a dessert reception to meet your new neighbors and welcome you into the Central Massachusetts Jewish Community.  All are welcome!  When:   Thursday, June 7th, from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm                 Where:  The Lakeshore                 65 Lake Avenue                 “The Party Room” on the 2nd Floor                Worcester, MA    RSVP:    Monday, June 1st to Mindy Hall @ 508.756.1543 or email mhall@jfcm.org  or through www.jewishcentral.org       Hosted [...]

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  • Upcoming Jewtopia

    Jewtopia

    Join Federation’s Young Adult Division (YAD) for a night out at Hanover Theatre for “Jewtopia” at the Hanover Theatre In Jewtopia, stereotypes collide, cultures clash, and chaos ensues! It’s the outrageously funny, boy-meets-girl, equal-opportunity satire, the longest running Off Broadway comedy in history. The story of a gentile who wants to marry a Jewish girl….so he’ll never have to make another decision!! JEWTOPIA holds the record as the longest running comedy in Off-Broadway history. After record-breaking runs in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Florida, and Toronto, co-creator Bryan Fogel and co-star Jeremy Rishe make a one-night-only appearance in Worcester. Comedy, [...]

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  • Upcoming Afula Choir

    Afula Choir

    Celebrate our Partnership…and rock out with Shir Ba’Emek Tuesday, May 8 at 7:00 pm Congregation B’nai Shalom 117 E. Main Street, Westboro, MA Join us for a rousing concert featuring Shir Ba’Emek, the internationally acclaimed, award-winning singing ensemble from Afula-Gilboa, Israel. Our own community choral group, Shir Joy will also be performing on its own and together with Shir Ba’Emek. Celebration We will salute our Young Emissary Program which this year is celebrating its 13th (Bar Mitzvah) anniversary. Our community has participated in this program for the past 10 years. Community Library This concert will benefit the Afula’s community library [...]

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  • News Volunteer of the Month: Wendy Wilsker

    Volunteer of the Month: Wendy Wilsker

    Just a few short years ago, Wendy Schiffman Wilsker became a member of Congregation B’nai Shalom.  She is a wonderful woman who loves her temple and Jewish life as exemplified in both her professional and volunteer roles throughout her life. Originally from New Jersey, she has lived and worked in Massachusetts over the past years working in various Jewish organizations including fundraising for the Boston Federation (CJP). She has energy, enthusiasm and donates her limited time to our synagogue putting her fundraising experience to work for us.  Last year, she took on the role of Development Committee Chair running a [...]

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