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

SNOVID ‘21

We were supposed to go to winter park/granby ranch colorado for skiing the weekend of february 12-15, 2021. We ended up getting stranded because united cancelled all flights until saturday 20th. It ended up being a really fun trip and madison shredded down the blues and Hannah went VERY CAUTIOUSLY down a blue. We took Madison's friend Emma Slator with us and the three kids had a blast!! Went ice skating at Keystone and park with obstacle course that had zip lining at Highlands Ranch with Meredith Frosts family as well. Unfortunately, when we returned home, we lost 4 pipes in the kitchen ceiling and garage breezeway as well. back to school now and bat mitzvah post is next weekend at Beth Israel and the Westin Memorial City. Madison is doing great on her Hebrew and has one more rehearsal tonight with Elena Lonsford and Cantor Star Trompeter. The trend these past few weeks has been better on COVID '19 and with more people getting vaccinated (including myself and Jacqueline) the frequency of illness is going down. However, there are still strict mask restrictions in place across the country but, our first flight since 2019 was easy besides the weather related cancellations. I really haven't posted any pictures at all during Covid '19 until now because there have been really strict restrictions on all social gatherings during the last year, sports have been played without audiences, bars and restaurants have been closed, even the mall was closed down in April, May and June of 2020. Schools have gone back with masks and social distancing and its really been just a weird, surreal lifestyle since March 6, 2020 when we went to the last HSLR concert for Chance the Rapper. I want things back the way they used to be!!