From hellman@teleport.comFri Jul 28 20:20:56 1995 Date: Wed, 8 Mar 1995 17:41:16 -0800 (PST) From: Walter Hellman To: hj@teleport.com Subject: Introduction Collection #1 hellman@teleport.com Internet Public Access User Hillsboro, Oregon USA The following introductions were posted to the hj list from Dec. 11, 1994 to Jan. 15, 1995. We are re-posting these so people who came on after the original postings can get to know some of the people on the list. We encourage all list users to post an introduction. Walter Hellman ............................................................................. Introductions included in this re-posting: Al Tauber Adam Chalom Walter Hellman Joan Starker Miriam Jerris Bert Steinberg Richard Sherman Dennis Geller ....................................................................... AL TAUBER HUMANISTIC JEWS OF GREATER PORTLAND (OREGON) atauber@teleport.com Rec'd Dec. 11, 1994 I think it is a good idea for new list subscribers to introduce themselves to the other list members. So here goes for me. I am a member of Humanistic Jews of Greater Portland and head the publicity committee. I am an industrial engineer who was fortunate to get into the computer industry in 1956 when there were only 250 computers in the entire world and thus have grown up with the industry. My son is in the industry and my grandson is very computer literate and will probably also end up doing something in the industry two when to goes to and graduates college. I currently work for a bank where I am involved in various programs to make it more efficient and effective. I am entrepreneurial and have been involved in various startups or young copanies. I will probably start a business in the future I have been secular all of my life and am excited about HJ and the opportunity to look at the Jewish experience from a fresh and meaningful perspective. Looking forward to hearing from you. atauber@teleport.COM Public Access User --- Not affiliated with Teleport Public Access UNIX and Internet at (503) 220-1016 (2400-14400, N81) .......................................................................... ADAM CHALOM YALE UNIVERSITY, NEW HAVEN, CT. achalom@minerva.cis.yale.edu Rec'd Dec. 12, 1994 All points bulletin: I certainly agree that introductions are in order, so here I go. My name is Adam Chalom, and I am currently attending Yale University, from which I plan to graduate in 1997. I grew up in the Detroit Area in the Birmingham Temple, so I've been a Humanistic Jew all of my conscious life. As for career goals, mine is clear (at this point): I plan to become a Humanistic Rabbi. More immediately, I will be majoring in Judaic Studies, and then attending the University of Michigan for my Master's degree. I'm very excited about this mailing list and its potential, and I hope to hear from other people soon. Not too soon, however, because I have many final exams to study for this week, one of which is tomorrow. Ergo, I must go. Pleased to meet you, ` Adam ......................................................................... WALTER HELLMAN HUMANISTIC JEWS OF GREATER PORTLAND (OREGON) hellman@teleport.com Rec'd. Dec. 12, 1994 Hello All, It's time for me to step up to the microphone and introduce myself. I am a member of The Society for Humanistic Judaism of Greater Portland (Oregon). My wife and I are co-presidents this year. Some background: I was born in NY and know good deli when I see it. At about age 6 months, according to my parents, I decided that I wanted to live in the west. I went to college at SUNY Stony Brook during the 60's, married a fellow New Yorker and started teaching high school physics, as my father did at the Bronx High School of Science. By 1974 Roberta and I were living in Oregon. I did graduate work at Oregon State University in the History of Science (Norbert Wiener and the development of artificial intelligence during WW II). Roberta changed from English major/Elementary Ed teacher to Public Health. The family started arriving in 1976. It was our own. Matt first, then Jeff in 1980. I decided I didn't want to be an academic gypsy and went back to high school physics teaching which I still do. Roberta manages the county public health clinic. We first found out about and joined SHJ around 1983. We were the only members in the state. When Jane Goldhamer started a local community here we were most interested and have become more active than we ever imagined. As humanists we take a great interest in politics and public affairs. As Jews we take great pride in the heritage which brought us here. In SHJ we are extremely glad to have found the company of others who feel the same way. God is a difficult act to follow, but we'll see. Walter Hellman hellman@teleport.com Internet Public Access User Hillsboro, Oregon USA ........................................................................... JOAN STARKER HUMANISTIC JEWS OF GREATER PORTLAND (OREGON) jstarker@aol.com Rec'd. Dec. 13, 1994 Greetings from an ex-technophobe! My name is Joan Starker and, to my surprise, I have recently become addicted to e-mail. I'm hooked. I have attended services, holiday celebrations, etc. of the Humanistic Jews of Greater Portland. I love the people and the feeling of connectedness to our history, music, and cultural heritage. I also appreciate the nontheistic, nonpatriarchal philosophy. (I have spent years avoiding organized religion but finally feel "at home" in this group.) I was always an incurable, inveterate New Yorker. However, beginning in 1972, due to my husband's job opportunities, we moved first to Connecticut and then 3000 miles to Portland (a city that was merely a dot on the map). I really love living in Portland. I am a clinical social worker and sometimes call myself "a freeway warrior." I have a private counseling practice and have a special interest in working with people who are coping with life transitions such as divorce, relocation, midlife, menopause. In addition, I have been teaching in the graduate school at Lewis and Clark college since 1988. I teach a course entitled "Individual, Ethical, and Organizational Development." I didn't write the title (!) but did write the subtitle which is "How to Be a Mensch!" I also often teach women's studies courses at Marylhurst college and conduct workshops in the community. In my spare time (!), I've been co-authoring a book specifically for midlife women. I'm delighted about this new list and hope to hear more from all of you. (the following added in a following message, ed.) I'm glad to read the introductions. I wanted to add some info about my family. My husband is also a New York transplant and works as a psychologist at a local hospital. Our 18 year old son is a first year college student. He plans to major in theatre. Joan Starker J Starker@AOL.com ............................................................................. MIRIAM JERRIS SOCIETY FOR HUMANISTIC JUDAISM (FARMINGTON HILLS, MI) msjerris@umich.edu Rec'd. Dec. 13, 1994 Shalom everyone, When I logged on this morning I had 20 e-mail messages. About six of them were from the HJ list. It's pretty exciting, but I think I need an address at the office. Most of you may know my name. It's Miriam Jerris. I'm the executive director of the SHJ. I'm very much in favor of us getting involved in this form of communication. I personally enjoy it very much. Currently, I'm at the University of Michigan. I'm completing a Masters Degree in Near Eastern Studies. After my exam on Monday, I will have one more course to go. I've been involved in HJ since 1972. Rabbi Wine, in a previous career, was the rabbi at my reform temple in Windsor, Ontario. When my brother was killed in 1972, we joined the BT. I'm not the kind of person that sits back so I got involved and turned an avocation into my vocation. I just came back from a retreat for the Leadership Conference of Secular and Humanistic Jews. Sixteen of us me in a winter wonderland. We formualted a statement on Aid in Dying (assisted suicide) that we hope to publicize in the Spring. The very best part was the warmth and bonding that we experienced together. Being a madrikha and working as a professional clergy is the very best part of what I do and being with others who share my profession was just wonderful. I won't be able to monitor this much in the next couple of weeks, but I look forward to getting to know how others feel about their Humanistic Jewish identity. By the way, I'm married to Steve Stawicki, a former catholic. I have two children by a previous marriage, Alison who is 19 and Michael who is 17. If you really want to get me going, ask me about my children. Miriam ........................................................................ BERT STEINBERG NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SHJ mate1920@aol.com Rec'd. Dec. 14, 1994 O.K. so introductions it will be--and Al will archive them for future use. Sounds good to me. I just hope we get so popular it will become a problem.. So here goes. I am the immediate past president of the Northern Californbia SHJ and a member of the Board and the Executive committee of the National. I am also in the midst of (with Bonnie Cousens' support) my first issue as the new edtor of Humanorah. In 1989 my wife Sophie and I moved to Lafayette, CA (San Francisco suburb,near Berkeley. Our only son and grandson live in Santa Cruz -- so where do parents go when they retire? Of course, and we did.--some 5 years earlier than we thought we would when we came across an unusual house in this area. After 69 years as born and bred New Yorkers (Manhattan, no less for the last 27 years) we felt travelling to the "other coast" three or four times a year to visit for a week-end was not enough. At a Newcomers Fair at the local JCC, two months before we actually moved, there was Lucie Brandon of the local SHJ Chaptrer at a table being given a pretty hard time by the surrounding groups (some 30 odd of them). But Sophie spotted the material, called me over, and we joined as soon as we got back to NYC--and met the group when we got out here Election Day, 1989. We also joined the JCC and have been involved their as well. Sophie was president of their Senior Council for 2 years -- I am currently a VP at the Center. Between the two organizations, we have never been more Jewish in our lives -- especially since we have never been affiliated with any Jewish organization while in NY, altho we have been very Jewish culturAlly, etc. Professionally, I was graduated from NYU in 1940 with a BS in Journalism but never really used it. My career of some 40 years + was as a financial planner and was quite successful. Sophie, late in life, was a clinical psycotherapist after some years as a school psychologist. As a matter of fact we met when we were 12 in the schules of the IWO and I went on to Mitl Shul, etc. We both come from atheistic, extreme left wing backgrounds -- and SHJ is the answer for us all the way. Enuf for now I think -- glad to be involved here --I am not a computer maven by any means but am enjoying the Mendele and Liberal Judaism lists on the Internet. My real thanks to Walter for getting all this going -- and assuming the massive responsibility he has. Bert Steinberg ........................................................................ RICHARD SHERMAN PORT HUENEME, CA rsherman@rain.org Rec'd. Dec. 15, 1994 For those of you who do not know me yet, I am Richard Sherman, a humanistic rabbinic candidate, living with my wife Joanne and two cats in Port Hueneme, California. I look forward to my ordination in the first half of 1996. Much of my philosophical position was spelled out in a past issue of Humanistic Judaism. My two over-riding concerns as a rabbi will be humanistic Jewish day school education and the pluralization of Judaism in Israel. Brief personal background: B.A. from UCLA in 1968; U.S. Peace Corps-Ethiopia from 68-70; Ph.D. from Brandeis University in 1980. Serious personal and academic interest in the Horn of Africa: Eritrea and Ethiopia. Next probable trip there in early 1995. Finally, when needed, I am available to perform weddings, funerals, and baby namings primarily in the Western U.S. I am delighted to be 'present at the creation' of the hj network and have great expectations for our outreach efforts via the net. I look forward to meeting all of you soon. Regards and shalom, Richard .......................................................................... DENNIS GELLER KAHAL B'RAIRA, BOSTON, MA dennis@epub.ziff.com Rec'd. Jan. 11, 1995 The welcome message from the listserver said to send an introduction... Dennis Geller Member of Kahal B'raira , Boston Area Co-chair of Spirituality/Liturgy committee Software developer Parent of 2 children 9 (M) and 14 (F); one Ba- Mitzah done, saving our pennies for the next Most favorite related books: The Book of J (whatizname), Who Wrote the Bible (Friedman) Also consider, King Jesus by Robert Graves Favorite film this decade: Vanya on 42nd Favorite TV Show: My so-called life Most quixotic hobby: Trying as mere parent to avert oncoming teacher strike atauber@teleport.COM Public Access User --- Not affiliated with Teleport Public Access UNIX and Internet at (503) 220-1016 (2400-14400, N81)