Pomegranate Division

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Shalom from Julie Puchkoff

Happy Summer to all!

 I am excited to be serving as the incoming Chair of the Pomegranate Division and a new member of the Board of Directors of UJA. I would like to thank Pamela Zuker and Rachel Hahn for not only establishing the Aspen Pomegranate chapter, but providing leadership since its inception. I hope to continue their great work! 

Thank you to all who attended last month’s breakfast at my home. It was great to meet many of you for the first time. For those that were not able to attend, we had some lively discussion about projects for 2010 and we completed our first (hopefully annual) holiday mitzvah project. Travel-sized amenities were collected from the group and toiletry packets were compiled for our local homeless shelter (see attached “Thank You” note). Our final tally (after much debate) turned out to be 40 men's and 11 women's packets. As the saying goes, “Many hands make light work” and, this was certainly true.

 We are currently 12 members and growing. Although our group is committed to a 3-year sponsorship of the Gamla Mentoring Program in Lod, Israel, we have decided to bring our energy and creativity to our local Roaring Fork Valley community as well. Details on this additional direction to our efforts can be found below. 

Finally, I would like to encourage any suggestions or ideas you may have on making the Pomegranate experience meaningful and rewarding. I can be contacted at Puchkoff@yahoo.com or at home 970-925-3356.

 Shalom,
Julie

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Update on Gamla Project in Lod, Israel
Please click here for the latest 2010 update on Gamla

Click here for the latest Pomegranate Newsletter
The Pomegranate Division of United Jewish Appeal Aspen Valley is open to any woman who makes a lifetime commitment of a $1800 annually. For more information please call 970.704.1827

Why the Pomegranate?
Custom designed Aspen Valley Pomegranate Pin

Pomegranate Division Information
Approximately 20,000 women have made this promise.

As Rabbi Shawn Zevit writes, "we live our values in the way we organize our lives." Your inclusion in this group is an affirmation of tikkun olum and a meaningful expression of your desire to heal the world.

A new and evolving group, the Pomegranates are working together to create our own philanthropic initiatives and encourage tzedkah among women in our Valley. Locally we will get together several times a year for special events, interesting speakers, and conversation, while sharing the promise to help ensure the well being of the Jewish people.

The Pomegranates are considering a variety of projects, both local and international, to sponsor.

Pomegranate - 
One of the Seven Fruits in the Bible

Jewish tradition teaches that the pomegranate is a symbol for righteousness, because it is said to have 613 seeds which correspond with the 613 mitzvot or commandments of the Torah.

For this reason and others, many Jews eat pomegranates on Rosh Hashanah. The pomegranate is one of the few images which appears on ancient coins of Judea as a holy symbol, and today many Torah scrolls are stored while not in use with a pair of decorative hollow silver "pomegranates" (rimmonim) slid down over the two upper scroll handles.

While the land of Israel is blessed with many fruits, the seven described in the biblical verse below are special. They were the ones brought to the Temple once a year as First Fruits, and on Tu Bishvat, it was a custom to make a point of eating and saying blessings on these fruits in particular.

"For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land ... of wheat and barley and grapevines and honey (from dates)."

1. Wheat - chitah

2. Barley - se'orah

3. Grapes - gefen

4. Fig - t'einah

5. Pomegranate - rimon

6. Olive - zayit

7. Date - tamar (D'vash) 

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Thank You Letter to the Pomegranates from the Aspen Homeless Shelter