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HOD Galil - Monthly Update
May 3, 2019 - Houston, Texas
Sunday 4-14-2019 - Men’s Mock Seder
HOD Galil comprised 25% of the group.
Table Of Contents
Upcoming Calendar
President's Column
Last Lodge Meeting Summary
Recent Events
New Members
Featured Brother
Good Work of the Lodge
HOD Galil of Houston Officers
List of all lodges worldwide with contact information for USA Lodges
Upcoming Calendar
All the exciting details can be found at www.hodgalil.org/events
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Mgmt. Meeting: Monday May 6th @ 7:30 pm at Bro. Marc Passy's home
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THURSDAY - May 9th, 2019 COMMUNITY event: Yom Haazmaut
Time: 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the Merfish Teen Center* 9000 S. Rice Ave.
In partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and the Israeli American Council
Join us for our annual community-wide celebration of Israel’s independence & celebrate 71 years of Israel Tel-Aviv style!
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Israeli-Style Torch Lighting Ceremony
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Eurovision-inspired concert featuring local musicians: Mikol Makom, HCRJ Trio, and Tuesday Night Music Club
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Nachalat Benyamin artist fair with art & crafts for sale
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LOTS of crafts, games, and activities for kids
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Tel Aviv “beach” at the Merfish pool (weather permitting)
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Israeli Food catered by Laykie’s Gourmet Café at the J, Genesis Steakhouse, My Pita and Snochefs
*Street parking only at the Merfish Teen Center. Off-site parking and free bus transportation from the main J provided.
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2 events at the Merfish - 9000 S.Rice corner of N. Braeswood
THURSDAY - May 16th 6 pm to 7:30 pm * BBQ & BLOOD
Conversation, drinks, grilled Kosher food and/or donate blood.
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THURSDAY - May 16th @ 7:30 pm * Chavershaft Social Lodge Meeting
with guest speaker - Manuel A. Ramirez, Houston Police Department
Narcotics Division – HIDTA Major Drug Squads / DEA . He will present to the group on the Opiod Epidemic.
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SUNDAY - May 26th, 2019 at 8:00 am for:
Memorial Flag Placement at Houston National Cemetery
 
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Proposed New Member Coffee Meeting:
Thursday May 30th @ 7:30 pm - at Bro. Joe Blog's home.
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Future Events
to be added ASAP ....
President's Column:
At the end of this month, we will celebrate Shavuot, where we traditionally celebrate the giving of the Torah in the wilderness during our forty years of wandering after the Exodus from Egypt. But, unlike every other major holiday in the Torah, the Torah itself it particularly terse about Shavuot. “From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord . . . On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work.” (Leviticus 23: 15-21) That’s about all we get - bring some grain, on a day that was dependent on another holiday.
The tradition of giving the Torah is implied from the text of the Torah, but not explicitly stated. “In the third month after the Israelites had gone forth from the land of Egypt, on that very day, they entered the wilderness of Sinai” (Ex. 19: 1) . Though Shavuot is the only holiday in that month, it’s almost coincidental, rather than a reason for the holiday. Certainly the tradition of dairy meals on Shavuot is all commentary and derivation. I’d like to focus on the p’shat, the plain language of the Torah, with respect to Shavuot.
“...present an offering of new grain to the Lord…” It’s also described as “the festival of the harvest, of the first fruits of your work, of what you sow in the field” (Ex. 23: 16). In other words, far more than our other holidays, it was an agricultural holiday, and as such, one attached to a people who were settled. More importantly, as a bookend to leaving Egypt, it was a celebration of having one’s own land - a celebration of the end of our wanderings in the Wilderness. You can think of Shavuot as the first Yom A’Atzmaut.
But importantly for us in HOD, the essence of Shavuot was the grain offering. Unlike Pesach, with it’s telling of the story,and abstaining from grains, and Sukkot with it’s hut in the fields, the only Torah commandments for Shavuot are to serve G-d together, and take a day off. As you’ve seen, I like to emphasize the service aspect of our Brotherhood, and this is another opportunity mention our many service opportunities. Recently we had the unfortunate opportunity to help with the community vigil for the victims of Poway. At the end of this month, we’ll have the chance to plant flags for fallen soldiers, sailors and airmen for Memorial Day. Whatever you’re interested in, help your fellow brethren serve.
Thanks!
Fraternally,
Bro Marc P
Last Lodge Meeting Summary
Dear Brethren,
The last lodge meeting took place Tuesday April 19, 2019. It was attended by 22 brethren. Our guest speaker gave an enlightening presentation about being an Israeli Shaliach, her service in the IDF and life in Israel.
You should continue to send any Bikur Holim needs to Brother Ivor.
Brother Manny spoke about keeping our eyes open for any job needs and opportunities.
Our gravestone project is continuing to be worked on and will benefit all the local Jewish cemeteries.
Bro. Manny & Bro. Dovid are still looking for any volunteers interested in prison visits.
Recent Events
Sunday 4-7-2019
* HOD at Aishel House - "Food for Friends Volunteer Program"
7 Bro's and 5 spouses volunteer at Aishel House to prepare a kosher vegetarian soup and snicker doodle cookies for residents and guests. When they return from seeing a Doctor or visiting a family member/patient, the first thing the see is a great urn filled with hot soup.
Food for Friends is a tangible way to bring comfort and joy to patients and their families. HOD Galil enjoyed participating and being included in this unique mitzvah!
Numerous wives join us as it is a great family opportunity and social event.
Once again we had a great turnout - thanks to all who assisted.
 
SUNDAY - April 14th @ 7:00 pm *
14th Annual Man's Mock Seder at UOS - open to all irrespective of affiliation.
HOD was listed as a co-sponsor.
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Many Brethren attended the Houston Community Gathering on Monday night
4-29-2019 to show support - below, the banner is already in Poway:
HOD Galil members volunteered to direct traffic and access to the event.
New members in the last 3 months:
Mauricio Bielaz, Scott Gardner, Brian Gavin, Yigal Saghian & Joshua Segall
Allan Panzer, Marshall Learner & Alan Cohn
Proposed members:
David Fishman - approved
Gadi Pour - approved
Michael Lemashev - approved
Featured Brother
BROTHER SETH NICHAMOFF
Tough Last Name to Pronounce, But, an Easy Guy to Like
By Brother Steve Levine
So, let’s start with this, Seth’s last name is pronounced “Nick-em-off” and through the interview with him, I found him very easy to get to know and like.
His story begins in an Ashram in Laconia, New Hampshire. His parents, Rochelle and Alan were “hippies” who believed in working the land and being close to nature. Seth and his older brother, David always had a lot of livestock around that included goats, horses and other farm animals. When Seth was 5 years old and his brother was nine years old, his parents being tired of the organic life, divorced and Seth moved to Dallas, Texas with his mom.
Mom later remarried another “David” (a carpenter and plumber) whose specialty was rebuilding farm houses. His stepfather who was not Jewish at the time he and Seth’s mom married, eventually converted to Judaism. His stepdad built them a house in Bruceville, TX where Seth went to school.
When asked about his high school years at Vanguard College Prep in Waco, TX, Seth is quick to say that thanks to his commitment to sports and other activities rather than his studies, he graduated dead last in the class! His thought process was that he was already in the bottom 10% (like this writer) and didn’t think it mattered to be next to last!
For college, Seth traveled to Galveston, TX and applied in 1996 to Texas A&M’s merchant marine academy and to his surprise was accepted (despite his high school grades).
As a merchant marine cadet at Texas A&M, he was able to sail all around the world and visited many countries and loved every minute. In fact, he held the record for the most amount of days at sea as a cadet.
He even had an opportunity in Rome to have an audience with Pope John Paul which he found to be a very special and spiritual experience. How many of our H.O.D. Brethren can say they had that experience?
He graduated Texas A&M Galveston with a B.S. in Marine Transportation 1996 and worked for a short while as merchant deck officer on tankers and offshore construction vessels. Seth served from 1996 to 2004 as a Navy Reserve officer working with merchant vessels.
Seth has been married twice. He has 3 children with his first wife, son Adam (14) and twins John and Claire (12) and has a stepdaughter Donna (20) and stepson Eric (11) with his lovely 2nd wife Galina.
Despite his love of sailing, Seth’s career path lead him to practice law. He graduated University of Houston in 2000 and is now a successful trial lawyer (17+ years) with his own practice with 100’s of cases and 100’s of clients and his cases have been published eleven times!
What lead Seth to our lodge was the comradery that we share and is very proud to be a brother.
When asked “What do you want your legacy to be, he replied, “I just want to leave this world and people that he touched just a little bit better because he was there.”
So, what is not to like about a guy like that, who just happens to have a last name a little easier to pronounce now, right?
Good Work of the Lodge
The Mitzvah of Helping out at Funerals
Your HOD Galil brethren have been called on numerous occasions to help make a minyan at a funerals over the past few years.
This has truly met one of our pillars of Ahaha, Love of our fellow man.
To participate in helping to make a minyan at a funeral, is considered even more of a mitzvah because the act of kindness can never be repaid.
We have also been asked to assist at shiva minyans and even making a minyan at a yorzheit shacharit, mincha or maariv.
Kol Hakavod to those brethren who have been willing to help our fellow Jews in these difficult occasions.
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Gravestone Project - * UPDATE below:
The lodge is embarking on an impressive mitzvah project.
Bro Alan L. and Bro Ivor S. are heading up the start of a large project to get all Jewish Cemeteries to get stones on graves that do not have them. More details to follow soon. These are for burials that occurred many years ago and for one reason or another the deceased either did not have local family or the family themselves might be deceased now.
So far it looks like most of the Rabbis and Shuls are on board and we are now waiting to get an estimate of how many will be needed, which will enable us to firm up a price for markers.
Let all souls rest in peace with markers.
For anyone interested in helping on this project, please do not hesitate to call us.
Bro Alan and Bro Ivor
* UPDATE - 5-1-2019 :
Prices of markers and lists of names have been obtained from the 4 "main" cemeteries. The plan is to have an "unveiling" of ONE marker in conjunction with Rabbis from each community to launch the program and help get the word out.
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Bro Manny M. wants to remind us of this feature to our members.
Always looking to put people to work and places to offer them work.
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Prison Chaplaincy
Bro. Manny M. & Bro. Dovid G. are looking for volunteers to assist with the Jewish programs at the Stringfellow Prison in Rosharon and the Jester 3 Prison in Richmond.
If you are interested in getting involved by visiting one of the prisons, please send a picture of your Drivers License to rabbi@rabbired.com ASAP.
They will then call a meeting and have a training session which will allow you to be a volunteer. At least 6 people are needed to have an orientation class.
NEW video of what HOD Galil has done during the last year:
Here's where to see the video of our activities through 2018.
https://youtu.be/MGRz1xheEqg
This video was "Premiered" at the wonderful Spouse Appreciation Brunch held on 1-27-2019 at the ERJCC.
HOD Galil of Houston Officers
Albert Passy - President
Shim Brookman - Vice-President
Paul Wainstein - Past President
Joe Blog - Treasurer
Jeff Klein - Secretary
Josh Sanchez - Preceptor
Mark Katzenellenbogen - Scribe
Steve Levine - Registrar
Andrew Toubin - Inner Guard
Lawrence Barris - Trustee
Steve Meyer - Trustee
Alan Lipman - Trustee
Nat Levy Honorary - Trustee
HOD Podcast!!!
A Jewish radio station in South Africa has a weekly radio show/podcast on HOD with a former HOD International Grand President, Stan Klaff . You can listen here:
http://www.chaifm.com/the-hod/
UPDATE: see below as the one saved - (Thursday 31 January 2019) includes Houston WB Lawrence Barris, our founding President !!... :
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Thursday 31 January 2019
6 to 7pm
Why Our Service Organizations Are Dying (and how to fix them)
Michael Brand from Portland, Oregon
Wor Bro Lawrence Barris founder of Lodge Galil in Houston
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ChaiFM is not only Live on Air it has live streaming as well
http://www.chaifm.com/
Recordings of the show will be available on the site and we will distribute regularly
We are also selling Advertising during the show in 30 second slots - reasonable rates - just ask - the revenue is part of a fundraising exercise for the Order
for any queries or suggestions (most welcome)
Wor Bro Stan Klaff
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