JHP Weekly E-News

JHP "One On One Mentoring"

April 2 , 2008

in this issue:

• One On One JHP Mentoring
• The Mitzvah of Challah

One On One Mentoring at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP

Last Friday, furthering JHP's mentoring program, a luncheon was held at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP in Center City, Philadelphia. A group comprised of 20 mentors
from finance, real estate, law, public relations, marketing, design & the arts met 30 JHP interns from Penn & Temple. Informally structured, the participants mostly walked around the room interchangeably conversing in one on one fashion. Interestingly at this event, the group of mentors not only included well established seasoned executives, but also rising up & coming young professionals making their mark in their chosen fields.

The program was hosted by Bart Mellits, a partner in the firm & towards the end of the session David Wachs, retired Chairman of Charming Shoppes, a chain of women's clothing stores, addressed the students. In so many words he told the students that they are all going to be successful, bright & accomplished in their endeavors, but they have a responsibility to our people. He encouraged them to send their children to Jewish day schools because the continuity of the Jewish community is at risk.

David was the first to adopt a company policy of offering credit cards to women without the approval of their parents or husbands & his company was also the first to put clothing stores in strip malls. David has been & is now very much a philanthropist & very involved in the Jewish community & a JHP mentor.

A recently acquired asset, Susan Schiffrin, Chief Development Officer, JHP/PCJL who attended the event said, "I think the JHP Mentoring Program is wonderful because the mentors that we get genuinely care about helping the students find their career path & live a meaningful Jewish life."

The Mitzvah of Challah

A spiritually moving JHP "For Women Only" event was held last Wednesday at the residence of Brittany Topilow, JHP intern at Penn as part of JHP intern training & ed-Jew-cation. Nachama Haskelevich led the discussion explaining the Torah view of women's role in the Jewish community, with particular emphasis on the ritual of Challah baking.

Nachama explained that the meaning of Challah is not the bread that we eat, as most of the girls thought. The Halachic definition of Challah is a reference to a Positive Mitzvah. It entails separating a
section of dough from your kneadings and giving it to the Kohen, the high priest. This portion, handful of dough is called "Challah." While the temple is not in existence today, nor the high priest, this is done symbolically in commemoration of this special Mitzvah. In biblical times, the Kohen & his family would eat this portion in ritual purity. Today, the Jewish women knead the dough, separate this portion & burn it.

The girls did the Mitzvah, said the prayer & proceeded to make the 3 braided "Challah." Two of the girls actually baked a 6 braided Challah successfully. Afterwards, they all enjoyed the fruits of their labor & ate their own Challahs.

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