Well, It's about to be 2026 and we are finishing up finals for Madison winter semester senior yr at Tenney. She has AP Environmental Science. Government, Computer Applications, English 4, AP Intro to Engineering and AP Calculus. Running with FPR and Eyecan Alliance. Madison is currently accepted to Arkansas (honors college), Mizzou, UT-Dallas, Colorado@Denver, New Mexico Tech and Florida Tech. Hannah finishing up 1st semester at Memorial High with water polo in the fall and now in the thick of the swim season with coach Mauss. Her PR for the 50 freestyle was reached at 29 seconds and she successfully completed her 500 meter free at 6:40. Hannah is Busy with Geography, Algebra II, Biology, Spanish3, English(Heather Mayes). Ready for a ski vacation with the Haering family to Boston and Ski at Stowe, VT. Jacqueline skipped out on the trip and will stay with Piper the amazing flying schnauzer (8 yrs). Jacqueline is planning a gala for Poppies for Life combatting depression. And is keeping us all a tight ship. My office is busy and keeping up with the latest and greatest in technology and quality dental care. Enjoying running and will be my 8th half marathon January 11, 2026 guiding Justin Kuhlers a blind athlete from Middle Tennessee State.

Hannah’s bat mitzvah preparations

Hannah is doing a great job studying Hebrew this summer getting ready for her Bat Mitzvah for January 27, 2024 with her partner Jacqueline Ford. Brenda Namer is her bat mitzvah Tutor and says that she is doing amazing with her Hebrew. The maftir and Haftarah were beautifully done and the service was amazing and the party will go down in history as nothing short of EPIC!

Fun summer’23

we just finished up with the first year of middle school sixth grade at Westchester Academy and ninth grade at Tenney School and ready for a fun filled summer of vacations and camps. We just got done with an amazing summer week vacation on royal Caribbean voyager of the seas from saturday July 1 through the thursday (july 6th) the vacation departed Galveston on Saturday where we had a fun beach day, although it was very hot!! We got on board the ship after Jacqueline got bitten by fire ants! Sunday was a fun, relaxing sea day. Monday, July 3 we got to Costa Maya and relaxed by the pool and saw some amazing dancers on Tuesday, July 4. We took an amazing snorkel adventure where we saw three different sites. We went to coral reefs. We saw amazing multicolored fish, and coral. The starfish were beautiful on the floor of white sand and bright blue water. we met a mexican surgeon and his family from monterray and ate ceviche and drank beer on an inner tube in the gulf. We were so tired by the time we got back to the ship that we didn't even get to see the balloon drop or enjoy the Fourth of July festivities on the ship that night. July 5 was a sea day and then we got back early July 6 Thursday. I had to run to the office and cover for Saima Malik, who didn't even show up to work that day. This was the third time she did this to me and finally I got rid of her. 3rd year of avid4.com summer camp. The kids are leaving Sunday, July 30 through sunday August 6 for Hannah's backpacking adventure for seventh graders and Madison's water sports adventure for 10th graders in camp curt Gowdy Wyoming. Jacqueline and I will meet them on August 4 Friday and possibly go white water rafting on Saturday August 5. I will talk more about this next post.

Madison and Hannah are excited for Jake's new baby sister Ellie Audra Maloney born 4/23/21

Big congrats goes out to Mike and Stacy on their 2nd baby Ellie. She is a beauty and we can't wait to meet her at the end of the summer!

Adam Smooke father Bat Mitzvah speech 3-6-2021

Father of bat mitzvah speech: > > As I look out at all of you, friends and family. I remember my bar mitzvah in Pittsburgh in 1989. I was just 13, Bar mitzvah is a right of passage. It is about a Jewish young kid growing up. > > I look at you Madison, and I’ve seen just this in the past 13 years: a young child growing up, dealing with adversity, and maturing into a smart, well adjusted young lady. > > Your mom and I are SO incredibly proud of you. All that you have learned in school and the amazing teen you have become. We are incredibly proud of your honor roll you get in school. Your competitiveness in volleyball, and the amazing talent you have in reading Hebrew. You impressed us all. This day is an important day for your mom and I as well March 6, 2004. Your mom and I were married. BESHERET=MEANT TO BE. On the day of our wedding, we were explained that in Jewish tradition back to Abraham and Sara, the groom was to lift up the veil of the bride to be to make sure that, indeed, she was the correct bride. So, as tradition goes, I lifted up your mom's veil and said, "Jacqueline, open your mouth. . . . Yep, this is the correct twin that I am marrying!!" HAHA. So, "Madison, please open your mouth!. . . . Yep, this is the correct daughter!! You may proceed with your incredible Bat Mitzvah"

Madison Bat Mitzvah speech

Thank you for being here with me on this very special day. my torah portion is called Ki Tisa from the book of Exodus. It talks about what happens after the creation of the golden calf. Moses goes to God and tells him people make mistakes and deserve a second chance. Moses helps God reflect on the wonderful attributes of the Israelites. Moses proclaims them to God as kindness faithfulness passion graciousness and forgiving of all sins. The theme of my Torah portion is one should give another a second chance for their sins. Moses convinces God to give the Israelites a second chance. God has placed them in an evil environment where they learn bad habits. Moses changes gods mind and advocates for his people even though they made a mistake. Eli Wiesel states “In spite of his disappointments, in spite of his ordeal and lack of gratitude he encountered, Moses never lost faith in his people. This quote is meaningful ,because Moses saw the compassion and kindness in the Israelites, and realize they made a mistake. I agree because no one is perfect and you should always find the good in everyone. Before today, I did mitzvot all the time but it was by choice. Now that I have become a bat mitzvah, the Torah COMMANDS me to Perform Mitzvot. On that note, throughout this past year I chose to perform the Mitzvot of GEMILUT HASIDIM (acts of loving kindness). I chose to volunteer to deliver 200 meals to police officers and first responders. This pandemic has Made me realize how important the courageous acts of first responders are for our community. Every Sunday after religious school for a few months, I went to police stations and spent time helping to deliver meals. Although this doesn’t seem like a lot, it was an important job and very meaningful to me because what I was doing was helping to make their lives a little easier. My mitzvah project intertwine with my Torah portion by doing selfless acts of kindness and rewarding me respect from the first responders. This is in comparison to the selfless acts the Israelites show toward God and earn the respect for Moses. My mitzvah project has taught me doing good deeds for others is rewarding in the end. The more time I spent doing this I had a deep sense of respect for those who helped out our community. I plan to continue volunteering to do this as it is now an obligation to perform mitzvot. On this special day I offer a prayer to God . Thank you to mom and dad for all the planning that went into today, helping me to prepare and all of your support. Thank you most of all for passing the jewish religion on to me. I want to thank my sister Hannah for always being my biggest supporter. I also want to thank my grand parents Joan and David, Sharon and Rich and Joel and Kerry. lastly, I appreciate all of my family and friends for coming out here today physically and on zoom to honor me becoming a bat mitzvah!

Madison Haley Smooke 3/6/2021-Bat Mitzvah at Beth Israel and Westin

Well, the Smooke family did it!!! Well to be sure: Madison did it!! We are all so proud of the kid to adolescent transformation of Madison. All the hard work, studying Hebrew and learning their Torah portion and Haftorah. Madison's practice, practice, practice mentality paid off dividends. The weekend started off on Friday night at the Union kitchen. We had a nice family dinner with Joan, David, Jennifer Mike and Emily; Bubbie and Poppa Rich, Jean, Alan, Ross, Crystal, Jeff, Elisa, Lyla, Garrett, Aunt Carol, Uncle Leonard and Aunt Shirley. It was very nice to all get together at a restaurant to eat and celebrate the Friday night kiddish and the upcoming Bat Mitzvah at Beth Israel Saturday morning. Well, Saturday morning came along and Madison dressed well, looked sharp and certainly polished off the service in Hebrew with an amazing speech recalling her Mitzvah project where she fed 200 meals to first responders who graciously deserved it for all the hard work during the pandemic. That night was so much fun with dinner and dancing, DJ, airbrush hats and Tee Shirts. The night was complete with dancers and cake, and an ice cream bar. Thanks a million to Grandma Gigi for all the hard work it took to make this happen. The long and the short of it is that now that we are all vaccinated from Corona virus. We can all feel a little more at easy being social and enjoying a simcha!! We love you Madison to the sun, the moon and the stars and back. You make daddy so unbelievably proud of you!!! Mwah! Always know that I will be on your side, through thick and thin. You are a strong, beautiful, amazing young person. I love you no matter what!!!!!!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOX