september/october

Transkript

1 september/october

2 Congregation Beth Ami 4676 Mayette Avenue Santa Rosa, CA Telephone707/ Fax707/ Website BethAmiSR.org Please like us at facebook.com/congregationbethami Office and Gift Shop Hours Mon. Thurs. 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Fri. 10 a.m. 2 p.m. Mission Statement Congregation Beth Ami enriches our lives, transforms our hearts, helps heal the world and sustains our Jewish heritage. We are deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and welcome all to our community through celebration, learning, education, and prayer. Personnel Rabbi Mordecai Miller , rabbi@bethamisr.org Judy Gunnar, Administrator administrator@bethamisr.org Elizabeth Jarlsberg, Office Manager , office@bethamisr.org Diane Lennox, Bookkeeper bookkeeper@bethamisr.org Priscilla Lowell, Early Education Director ns@bethamisr.org Rick Concoff, JCC Teen Program , rickc@jccsoco.org Ben and Tara Winkler, Shofar Newsletter , newsletter@bethamisr.org Andrea Nett, Friedman Center Director director@friedmaneventcenter.com Edythe Smith, Invitations Volunteers Bonnie Boren, Gift Shop bonniegboren@gmail.com Officers & Board of Directors, Carolyn Metz, President mzmetzpresident@gmail.com Juli Scherer, VP of Administration kuljul@icloud.com David Ballo, VP of Facilities , klezhead@sonic.net Mel Decker, VP of Ways & Means meldecker5@gmail.com Bobbie Rosenthal, V.P. of Membership robertarosenthal16@gmail.com Barbara McGee, Secretary barbmcgee@comcast.net Henry Cohn, Treasurer henry.s.cohn@gmail.com Henry Cohn, Past President henry.s.cohn@gmail.com Deadline for Nov./Dec Shofar is Oct. 15 Members at Large Irvin Klein , irvin@sonic.net Barb McGee barbmcgee@comcast.net Carol Swanson , swangirl@comcast.net Myra Stern Thomas myra52@comcast.net, Members Ex Officio Judy Gunnar administrator@bethamisr.org Priscilla Lowell nsdirector@bethamisr.org Rabbi Mordecai Miller , rabbi@bethamisr.org Jewish Community Contacts Hillel of Sonoma County JCC, Sonoma County , Jewish Community Federation Carol Appel, , carola@sfjcf.org Jewish Community Free Clinic Donna Waldman, , Jewish Community Relations Council Suzan Berns, 415/ , Jewish Family & Children s Services , September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 2 bethamisr.org

3 Rabbi s remarks Rabbi Mordecai Miller Confrontation! What s your visceral reaction (ie. your gut-feeling) when you think about this word? My own reaction is, I don t like confrontation! I don t like the fact that it raises my stress level heart rate increases, blood pressure goes up; my emotions tend to override my reason; I run a high risk of saying something I m going to regret later. In other words, there s a good chance that my self-control is going to go out the window leaving waves of unhappiness in its wake. Yet, much as I regret having to engage in it, I have to admit confrontation is the very essence of life! It encompasses every emotion from the joy of victory to the agony of defeat. Think of any kind of competitive event (and there are so many of them): every kind of sport, court trials, debates, to movies, the theme of literature, medicine, warfare. The list goes on and on. They are all objects of fascination, if not entertainment. Confrontation is, in fact, practically synonymous with being alive! It comes as no surprise that the TaNaCh (our Bible) is filled with all kinds of confrontation: the story of Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, Pharaoh and the Israelites in Egypt, Moses and Korach, Saul and David, and the Divine drama between God and Israel. We can try to avoid confrontation but, in reality, by the very nature of existence it appears inevitable. If this is true, then how is Peace possible? It seems to me that there are two possible outcomes to a confrontational situation: 1. The determined victory of one side over the other or 2. A willingness to depersonalize the situation. (To use a Buddhist expression; to detach.) We re then in a position to sort out the pros and cons and come to a resolution that takes both sides into account. Nevertheless, it all depends on the specific circumstances of the confrontation. While the second alternative might sound preferable, it s not always possible nor may it even be desirable. For example, if every sports contest wound up in a draw, people would probably stop watching sports altogether! The issue here, isn t so much whether or not there s a clear victory, it s what follows that becomes significant if we seek a peaceful resolution. If you re fortunate enough to be victorious, how do you behave? Do you so to speak rub it in the face of your opponent, or do you show a sense of magnanimity? In other words, a spirit of respect and generosity? The greatest example of this involves the conclusion of the last two World Wars. At the end of World War I, the victorious allies placed punitive conditions on the opposite side. Among other conditions, the losers were expected to assume the cost of the war. The defeat of Germany at this point was humiliating. This, among other factors, pretty much guaranteed a subsequent conflict: World War II! However, at the end of that second struggle, Germany and Japan were treated with a large measure of respect. The Western Allies realized that, following the armistice, there would be a great need to rebuild the internal structure of those countries that had been so profoundly affected regardless of what side they may have been on during the conflict. The fact that since 1947 Europe has essentially been free of war, can be attributed to this foresight. On a much more personal level, we can look into the conflicts that may well be part of the fabric of our own lives: those moments of confrontation that beset families and communities. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the days in between are the annual opportunity to address those moments which challenge our achieving a measure of peace. So often it may involve a clash of wills or values. In so many of these kinds of cases, resolution has to do September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 3 bethamisr.org

4 Rabbi s remarks continued with a genuine desire for compromise, but it has to begin with a willingness to engage in some kind of soul-searching: looking into our own actions and motives and recognizing our own imperfections rather than the imperfections of others. None of this is ever easy. (On the other hand, it s so easy perhaps delightful to engage in the analysis of the faults of everyone else). The problems here are: 1. Are we being truthful? We may be able to fool others, maybe even ourselves if we get used to this behavior; but at the same time, we may as well give up on finding any sense of inner-peace. 2. Are we helping ourselves and our relationships? If we are gnawed by a certain sense of loneliness, do we only have ourselves to blame? 3. Given our mortality, what kind of legacy do we want to leave? Perhaps we don t care how we ll be remembered, but I wonder how many of us would enjoy people remembering our names with a sense of disgust? 4. And, if we believe in a Divine Source of all reality, how do we account for the incredible gifts we have as humans when we use those gifts to destroy our relationships with others and this world and ultimately, for what purpose? Yet if we are willing to take full advantage of these holidays, what a joy it is to feel that we are contributing participants to Peace in this world: to respect and be respected; to appreciate and be appreciated; ultimately, to love and be loved. Yes, we do live in a world where confrontation is the very essence of being alive; but discovering the secret to unlocking its positive potential may well be the secret of mortality and, immortality! Wishing you a deeply spiritual High Holiday season. September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 4 bethamisr.org

5 Events & Announcements Mazel Tov to the Families of: Samuel Meyer Bornstein, grandson of Charlene & Art Bornstein Our Condolences to the Families of: Mortimer Weiss, father of Dan Weiss Beatrice Betty Adams, mother of Barbara Mc- Gee and grandmother of Jared McGee Allan Brody, husband of Marge Brody Deborah Elkan, sister of Rabbi Mordecai Miller Cynthia Wexler Eric Batzdorff, son of Jon & Rose Batzdorff and grandson of Al & Susanne Batzdorff Wishing a Speedy Recovery to: Alfred Batzdorff Judy Dzik Arnold Drake Anna Judd Dennis Judd David Kahn Welcome, New Members: David & Debra Sokolsky Ilana Stoelting Did you know about Special membership dues for someone 25 35? Yes, there is such a thing, and it s only $360 for a year. We Are One! Join Us, the Congregation Beth Ami Israel Committee We Provide Non-Political Social Action for the Land and the People Israel In prior years we have focused on learning about and responding to the rise of antisemitism, on campuses, in the US, and throughout the world. Our focus this coming year will be on creating Jewish Pride and Identity for all the Jews in Sonoma County. Our purpose is to educate everyone about the People Israel and the Land of Israel, and to work toward peace. Our vision is CLEAR: Communicate with others Learn the facts and Educate ourselves and others Act to Bring Peace Respond to Anti-Semitism Sign up at or call Eli to learn more. Israeli Folk Dancing at the Person/ Finley Center Beth Ami s Israeli folk dance group, in search of a wood dance floor, moved to the Person/ Finley Center of Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks. We meet two Wednesdays a month, 6:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. The Activity Guide for a new session beginning in September has just been posted. Here is a link to the Israeli folk dance listing. srcity.perfectmind.com/23508/clients/ BookMe4?widgetId=46fcbb49-69b9-43af-b23b- 067fb8272c0c&embed=true You can register online or call Finley Community Center s friendly desk staff with questions and to register. Class dates are September 4 and 18, October 2, 16, and 30. You can drop in and register later. September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 5 bethamisr.org

6 Events & Announcements continued Welcome To Congregation Beth Ami s Days Of Awe At a time for opening our hearts, we re opening our doors as well. Congregation Beth Ami warmly welcomes everyone. There is no charge for tickets to any of our High Holiday services. Please call the office at for complimentary and additional tickets. Donation are gratefully accepted. We re so pleased to welcome you to Beth Ami as we approach the coming Jewish New Year, We hope you will seize the opportunity take time out: to step back; to reflect on the past year in the unique way we call T shuvah; to combine ancient traditions and modern perspectives; to listen to and join in chanting both new and familiar melodies. Above all, we hope you find the way to reconnect with your True Source. Perhaps this is your first time participating; perhaps it s part of your family s tradition; perhaps you simply decided to stop back after a hiatus of one or more years. We want you to feel at home. We believe our traditions can awaken in each of us the sense that every single moment in life is an opportunity and every day is a precious gift. L Shanah tovah tikateivu! May you and all those you hold close be written in the Book of Life for a good and sweet year! Our Chazan, Dr. David Ackerman Dr. David Ackerman, our Chazan for the holidays When we learned that Yael Kreiger (who had been our High Holiday Cantor since 2011) had accepted a year-round position, we were happy for her but sad to be losing the artistry and knowledge she brought to our services. Fortunately our search led us to Dr. David Ackerman. We were thrilled to hear his voice and his great diction and tonality. He told us a little about his philosophy of leading services, which is to encourage everyone to daven along and get better as the days progress so that by Neilah we are a powerful single voice together in worship. We are so happy that Dr. Ackerman has agreed to be our High Holiday Cantor. David Ackerman currently is the Director of the Mandel Center for Jewish Education at JCC Association in New York. He received his PhD in Special Education at UCLA and was instrumental in establishing numerous programs for Jewish children with disabilities. He has worked in formal Jewish education at all levels from early childhood to professional graduate training. Most of the important things he knows, though, come from a lifetime growing up in and working in Jewish summer camps (from cook to specialist to program director). Jewish music has always been David s primary avocation (Yiddish folk song, Songs of Israel, and klezmer); he plays guitar, mandolin, and baroque recorder and has been a camp song leader, music teacher for children with disabilities, and High Holiday cantor since 1977 for Temple Beth El of San Pedro, UCLA Hillel, Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles, and B nai Shalom in New Jersey. Currently David is baking his way through the Jewish canon of babka, rugelach, mandelbrot, and strudel. Rosh Chodesh Moon Mavens Female-centered Rosh Chodesh observances vary from group to group, but many like ours at Beth Ami are centered on gatherings of women like our own Moon Mavens Rosh Chodesh group. All Jewish women are welcome regardless of affiliation (or lack thereof). We meet as close to the actual day of Rosh Chodesh as possible each new Jewish month, sometimes having a Sunday brunch, a potluck, a picnic and walk around a park, enjoying a speaker, cooking, or engaging in activities that relate to the facts, characters, and holidays associated with the new month. September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 6 bethamisr.org

7 Events & Announcements continued Some background: The Holy One gave Jewish women their reward for not contributing to the Golden Calf. In this world, they are rewarded with a more stringent observation of the new moons than men. They are forbidden to engage in work (spinning, weaving, and sewing: the skills that women contributed to the building of the Mishkan) on Rosh Chodesh. Instead, they celebrate a minor holiday like the intermediate days of Pesach and Sukkot. In the world to come, they are destined to be renewed like the new moons. The first of each Jewish month the celebration of the new moon, its slender crescent barely visible in the night sky is a day historically associated with women s renewal and celebration. In recent decades, Rosh Chodesh has become an occasion for Jewish women to gather for learning, ritual, and spiritual exploration, and to mark life passages. Rosh Chodesh groups, meeting monthly, offer a women s space in time. The Passover Seder addition of Miriam scup (for the prophet Miriam) originated in the 1980s in a Boston Rosh Chodesh group. Our own Rosh Chodesh group pulled off a spectacular Chai Teach in 2008, honoring 28 women over 88 our Matriarchs at Congregation Beth Ami! The next gathering of the Moon Mavens will be a potluck brunch at 10:30 a.m. on Sun., Sept. 1 when we will celebrate the new month of Elul and plan activities for Please join us! Patty Bernstein, basberyl@sonic.net President s Page Carolyn Metz, President I m looking forward to our time together during the upcoming Holy Days: A time of reflection, wonder, prayer, support, making things right where one can do so; I m looking forward to greeting you and sharing our grief and joy, our hopes and yes, our fears, and our prayers for renewal. When you come to the CBA campus now, notice the new fence that has been installed around the Nursery School play yard and along the west entrance. Thank the California Office of Emergency Services (Homeland Security money) and Henry Cohn for writing the grant which paid for the fence. You ll be hearing about additional security endeavors in the coming months stay tuned. Russ Gurevitch is Chair of Security at CBA. The Nursery begins its classes for the year today, August 19, as I write this. The new classroom is beautiful! Poke your head into rooms 12/13 and see how they have transformed the environment to accommodate eight 2-year-olds every day. Very sweet. The cost of making the transformation came from an allocation of the Sustainers Circle (Beth Ami members.) What s next? Many of you have asked about results of the Strategic Planning Focus Groups, which have been on-going since March of this year. I expect to have analysis and options for your consideration this Fall. It s been an interesting journey of discovery, and we re not quite finished yet. Stay tuned. Be well my friends. Hold those you love near in body, heart, mind and soul. Please join members of the Metz family for a hosted Shabbes Lunch on Sept 21 to celebrate the 104th birthday of Florence Metz. September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 7 bethamisr.org

8 Israel From The Left Coast Bob Raful Beth Ami Icon Remembered in Israel Recently, I was invited to a dinner by Beth Ami friends. Like most such meals or meetings, the conversation soon turned to a frequent topic travel, both past trips, as well as the details for planned sojourns. During our visit to Israel in 2012, my dear wife, Susy, and I completed a project to honor a Congregation Beth Ami icon, Elsie Rich. As co-trustees with Susan Miller, I had followed Elsie s instruction for a generous gift to the main Hadassah Hospital at Ein Kerem. Ein Kerem (Spring of the Vineyard) is an ancient village southwest of historical Jerusalem now a neighborhood of the modern Jerusalem. Hadassah is the Women s Zionist Organization of America, founded in It is one of the largest international Jewish organizations with 330,000 Here is the unveiling: members. Hadassah fundraises for community programs and health initiatives in Israel, including the Hadassah Medical Center, a leading research hospital in Israel renowned for its inclusion of and treatment for all religions and races in Jerusalem. In the US, the organization advocates on behalf of women s rights, religious autonomy and And, here is the plaque : US-Israel diplomacy. In Israel, Hadassah supports health education and research, women s initiatives, schools and programs for underprivileged youth. We were able to have an appropriate marker produced and installed, in memory of Elsie. And, going back to the table talk, what is my next planned travel? Israel again! After spending some time in the Midwest during High Holidays, I depart to the Mideast, landing in Tel Aviv and going to Jerusalem with family and friends. I plan to rent an apartment in Jerusalem for two weeks, then revisit several favorite locations in Northern and Eastern Israel. Look for the accounts of this latest visit to the Land of Israel in a future issue of The Shofar! September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 8 bethamisr.org

9 First Day Second Day September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 9 bethamisr.org

10 GREEN Committee Tish Levee and Myra Thomas, co-chairs Saving the shul money and saving the planet Our comprehensive recycling and composting program, started last fall, is saving the shul a lot of money on our trash hauling fees. We started with a 4 cu. yd. garbage bin, costing $ a month. As mentioned in the last Shofar, now we have a 2 cu. yd. bin, costing $422.37, a month we re saving $228.46/ month or $ annually. We re on target to reduce our garbage bin another one cubic yard soon, for even more savings. Thanks to everyone who s helped to make this work. We now have metal flatware and compostable coffee cups, replacing items that were a major component of our garbage. Look for new compostable cold cups soon when we use up the plastic ones on hand. (By the way, we re also saving at least $30 a month by not buying plastic utensils.) So we re saving the shul money; what are we saving the planet? It turns out that a significant amount of the stuff put in the garbage could actually be recycled or composted. We re doing our bit. The 1-1/2 barrels of compost we generate weekly reduces carbon emissions as much as taking 0.88 cars off the road every month; our recycling is equivalent to removing 4.06 cars monthly. So we re really helping the planet. If you want to see how much you can reduce emissions at home, go to stopwaste.co/calculator/ and follow the easy directions. We hope you re doing this at home and not just at shul! We re often asked What goes where? A great place to get answers is What Bin? at Recology has a great website. Be sure you are on the sonomamarin section, though, as we have different guidelines here. Toddah rabbah to everyone. Please be sure to look at the signs before you put something in a bin, ask if you aren t sure, and don t wish cycle. If in doubt, throw it out!! Please let us know what green project you would like Beth Ami to tackle next. Nursery School Notes Priscilla Lowell Early Education Director The Nursery School has just wrapped up Summer Camp and will begin readying the rooms for the Fall School Year which begins Monday, August 19th. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the the Nursery School and we are excited to ring in this special year with some more good news, as our school has expanded! We have opened a second 2 s classroom and will welcome students into the new space Sunday, August 18th when the children and families come for a community picnic and a special mezuzah hanging for the new room. There are a few spaces left for the coming school year, call the Nursery School office at for more information on current class availability and set up a tour! September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 10 bethamisr.org

11 Youth and Teen Programs Rick Concoff, Director Chaverim, our Jewish teen educational program for the past 26 years, has again reconvened for yet another great season. Jewish teens, grades 8 12, from all over the county meet with their own age groups to share dinner and a discussion through a Jewish lens led by Rick Concoff, M.A, and sponsored by the Jewish Community Center Sonoma County. Sonoma County B nai Mitzvah students continue their Jewish education at a retention rate of over 85%, which is far above many similar and even larger communities across the country. Kudos to our students, synagogues, Rabbis, Parents and of course the Jewish Community Center Sonoma County and the Jewish Community Federation for all of support that makes the program happen. Chaverim is a great program to remember when you want to support and sustain teen Jewish education in Sonoma County. For more information visit the Teen tab at jccsoco.org, or call Rick Concoff, Director, at Teen Tschuvah Service, led by Rick Concoff is a long-standing tradition at Congregation Beth Ami. This year, the service will begin at 6 p.m. on Yom Kippur, Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Beth Ami and will culminate with a teen break-thefast dinner at 7:30 p.m. Parents: please pick up your students at 8:30 p.m. This year we are inviting any Jewish teen county-wide to join us as a guest for this service. We will be joined by teens from Congregation Bnai Israel in Petaluma, Ner Shalom in Cotati and Shir Shalom in Sonoma as well as any other area of the County. Teens are encouraged to bring friends (7th 12th grade) to this service. Whether or not students were able to miss school and make it to services, the gates are still wide open for Sonoma County Jewish Teens. More such events will happen later on the year in other areas of the county! Questions, call Rick Concoff Please mark your calendars for our 2nd Reunion Alumni gathering for Jewish students 21 and older who attended any Jewish school, synagogue, youth group, Bnai Mitzvah class, Camp Chai Counselors, or Jewish community group, Saturday, Dec. 21, 7 10:30 p.m. All synagogues, and Jewish organizations hosting Jewish teens welcome. Call Rick Concoff for details or visit the teen tab at jccsoco.org September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 11 bethamisr.org

12 Adult Education Forming New Dramatic Reading Group From Abundant Cba Talent Recently I listened to Jeff Sheff and a couple of other readers at an Oakmont play group and became excited about starting such a group here at CBA. People sit at a table and read. We ll do mainly plays and excerpts from plays by Jewish authors. No group rehearsals, no directing -individuals look over their parts prior to reading. Different members each time. Minimal time commitment. I am a member of our Adult Ed. Committee who feels we learn a lot from the Humanities. I am an enthusiastic listener and willing to handle scheduling, recruiting for each meeting, Cybershul notice to Leanne and would only sub reading if someone were sick at the last moment.i am not a director, but would be a facilitator. If you are interested in picking out reading selections and/or reading for a given time or two, or being an active listener, or have any suggestions, please phone me, Linda Emblen at We will start small (Oakmont meets once/wk!). Aiming for 1st dramatic reading after HHDays and certainly not during wk. of Purimspiel, but spread out during the rest of the year, maybe every 2 mos. to begin with, depending upon response.actors, dramatic readers, please come out-of-the-woodwork. Use your talents. Phone or lindadon@sonic.net.i m thinking of using our multi-purpose room, a smallish room, with about 20-ish people present, as at Oakmont. It was very effective. About Our Drop-In Book Discussion Group For new members information,cba has a dropin book discussion group which reads Jewish fiction writers.we participate in the SF Jewish Community Library s Book Club -in-a-box which has over 150 titles to choose from. In the past year we ve read works by Amos Oz, Michael Chabon, I.B. Singer, and his brother I.J. Singer, Philip Roth, Meir Shalev, Wendy Wasserstein and others. We ll next meet August 28 to discuss Amos Oz s Panther In The Basement. It takes place in 1947 Palestine. Then meet after the HHDays. See Cybershul for details. We trade off leading and each time 1 or 2 regulars give mini-reportson another book that they have read recently. Sponsored by our Adult Education Committee, we are open to all CBA members and friends and meet in our multi-purpose room behind the social hall. Come join us for lively discussion, refreshments, & community. Robin A. Lowitz, M.D. Board Certified, Medical Acupuncture Needle-less Acupuncture Also Available Mention/Bring This Ad & Get a Discount! WellnessAcupunctureTherapy.com WellnessAcupunctureTherapy@yahoo.com 6570 Oakmont Drive, Suite #D, Santa Rosa September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 12 bethamisr.org

13 Social Action Scoop Lyla Nathan The Social Action Committee wishes everyone a sweet and happy New Year. As we prepare for the holy days, we want to thank everyone in the kehilla who helps support our mission of Tikun Olam (fixing the world). Your continued support of the Redwood Empire Food Bank and supplying toiletries and winter clothes for the needy is much appreciated. The bins in the foyer of the shul are always full. Thanks so much As you all know, the need for healthy food is a year round concern. As the holy days approach, please consider collecting food now. Then, when the food drive is held at Rosh Ha Shana and Yom Kippur, you can easily fill a bag and bring it to services. Extra grocery bags are always available at the services. The committee will continue to have a monthly event to serve the community, alternating between volunteering at the food bank and serving a hot meal at The Palms. The volunteer opportunities for the next few months are: Wed., Sept. 18, 4:15 6:15 p.m. at The Palms. Wed., Oct. 16, 5 7 p.m. at The Redwood Empire Food Bank; dinner to follow. Wed., Nov. 20, 4:15 6:15 p.m. at The Palms. Wed., Dec. 18, 4:15 6:15 p.m. at The Redwood Empire Food Bank; dinner to follow. Consider joining us or helping in any way. We always need food for the Palms. We have also committed to bringing two speakers to the monthly Friday Night Shabbat Dinners. We are hoping to bring speakers who will speak on the social issues of today. The speakers will be informational. Details to follow. For many of us, these are very difficult times that we face in our country. We hope that kindness and forgiveness will be in our thoughts as we enter the holy days. Let us remember that once our people were strangers in a strange land and that we are all made in God s image. Beth Ami Gift Shop Do you need a shofar, honey dish, etrog box for High Holidays? Or new candlesticks for Shabbat? A challah cover? Visit our Judaica Gift Shop! M W 10:30 4 Th 10 6 F 10 2 Located in Beth Ami Office Call Bonnie Boren for special orders September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 13 bethamisr.org

14 Generous Contributions to our Congregation The next time you are looking for a meaningful way to celebrate a joyous occasion, remember a loved one, or comfort a mourner, please consider a donation to Congregation Beth Ami. When you make a gift, a card is send to the honoree or the family and your donation is proudly acknowledged in the Shofar. The minimum donation for each occasion is $7.50. Congregation Beth Ami truly appreciates your support. Children s Education Fund In memory of Betty Adams, mother of Barb McGee Mark & Carol Rosen General Fund In memory of Rabbi Miller s sister Arnold & Karen Herskovic In memory of Barb McGee s mother, Beatrice Adams Arnold & Karen Herskovic In honor of Chip & Carol Swanson s anniversary Barbara Levinson In honor of Carol & Chip Swanson s anniversary Barbara Tomin In memory of Betty Adams, mother of Barb McGee Branagan Branagan In honor of Carol & Chip Swanson s 25th anniversary Carolyn Metz Thank you to Rabbi Miller for his blessing that he gave us on our anniversary Chip & Carol Swanson With much appreciation and thanks to the kitchen helpers for our anniversary Shabbat lunch; Richard Kahn, Ahuva SimonSaar, Patrice LePera, Barb McGee, & Irvin Klein Chip & Carol Swanson Speedy recovery to Marilyn Sommer Speedy recovery, r fuah shl lemah to David Kahn In memory of Allan Brody, with condolences to Marge Brody Speedy recovery to Al Batzdorff Mazal Tov to Andy & Nancy Fleming, moving back home Todah rabah to Lisa Iskin & Scott Gerber for a fantastic musical Kabbalat Shabbat Continuing recovery to David Kahn Mazal Tov to the Bornstein family upon the birth of Samuel David & Margorie Ballo In memory of Mortimer Wess, with condolences to Dan & Elizabeth Weiss Welcome Sandi Shulkin Happy Anniversary to Chip & Carol Swanson Ed Harman & Bernice Fox In memory of Rabbi Miller s sister, Deborah Edith Newman A generous donation Elise Watkins In honor of being called to the bimah multiple times Ivan Barta In memory of Barbara Garam Jonathan & Rose Batzdorff In memory of Barb McGee s mother, Betty Adams Judi Hyman In honor of the birth of Charlene & Art Bornstein s grandson, Samuel Judi Hyman In memory of Rabbi Miller s sister Juli Scherer A thoughtful donation Katherine Derenia In honor of Carol & Chip Swanson s anniversary Linda Emblen In memory of Barb McGee s mother, Betty Adams Melvin Decker & Judith Stern In memory of Rabbi Miller s sister Melvin Decker & Judith Stern In memory of my wife, Sharon Weinraub. Thank you to Rabbi Miller during our time of need Michael Weinraub In memory of Barb McGee s mother & Jared McGee s grandmother, Betty Adams Phil Weil & Bonnie Boren In memory of Cynthia Wexler, for her intellect and her leadership Phil Weil & Bonnie Boren In memory of Barb McGee s mother, Betty Adams Richard Kahn & Anne Brown, Stuart & Ethel Schy In memory of Rabbi Miller s sister, Deborah Elkan Stuart & Ethel Schy In honor of Carol & Chip Swanson s 25th anniversary Stuart & Ethel Schy In memory of Betty Adams, mother of Barb McGee Tish Levee In honor of Carol & Chip Swanson s 25th wedding anniversary Tish Levee In honor of Ethel & Leanne Schy s birthdays Phil Weil & Bonnie Boren Israel Programming Fund In memory of Cynthia Wexler Robert Raful Jill Tager Nursery School Scholarship Fund A generous donation Catherine Valerga Library Fund In memory of Barb McGee s mother, Betty Adams Evelyn Gurevitch In memory of Esther Herskovic Evelyn Gurevitch September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 14 bethamisr.org

15 Generous Contributions to our Congregation Continued Congratulations to Charlene & Art Bornstein upon the birth of their new grandson, Samuel Evelyn Gurevitch In memory of Rabbi Miller s sister, Deborah Elkan Evelyn Gurevitch Get well soon, Al Batzdorff! Evelyn Gurevitch In memory of Allan Brody Evelyn Gurevitch In memory of Jerry Lakins Evelyn Gurevitch Malk Fund In memory of Barb McGee s mother, Beatrice Betty Adams Irvin & Vivian Klein In honor of my son Tad s birthday Phyllis Shapiro Get well soon, Edith Newman! Phyllis Shapiro Nursery School Donation In memory of Michael Kobre In memory of Phyllis Kaplan, mother of Ronnie Rosenbach In memory of Betty Adams, mother of Barb McGee Rabbi s Discretionary Fund In loving memory of Sherri Kahn Please Support Our Advertisers Contact Congregation Beth Ami Office office@bethamisr.org for details about advertising in the Shofar. Thank you! In memory of Deborah Elkan, sister of Rabbi Miller In memory of my father, Charles Sternfield Edee SternfieldSquires A thoughtful donation Jeffrey & Janet Stein-Larson In memory of Rabbi Miller s sister, Deborah Elkan Richard Kahn & Anne Brown In memory of Rabbi Miller s sister, Deborah Elkan Tish Levee In memory of Eric Batzdorff Richard Kahn & Anne Brown Simcha Board Tree of Life Honor thy mother...also thy aunt, uncle, cousin, child, best friend, teacher with an engraved leaf on our Simcha Board, commemorating any joyous occasion, bestowal of an honor, or cause for thanksgiving. Leaf $360 Small Stone $1000 Large Stone $2500 We also provide the opportunity for you to memorialize loved ones. Yahrzeit Board Plaque $450 ALEF isn't enough BET isn't tough Study Hebrew from the source with a native Israeli. All levels. The easy way. Prayers, Chanting Torah Tropes contact Ahuva Simon-Sa'ar at (707) or Ahuva@sonic.net September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 15 bethamisr.org

16 Beth Ami Calendar Sunday, September 1 8:30am Morning Minyan 10:30am Rosh Chodesh Women s Group 5:00pm evening service Monday, September 2 Office Closed 5:00pm evening service Tuesday, September 3 2:00pm Mishna Class Wednesday, September 4 3:30pm Focus Group 6:30pm Chaverim - 10th grade Thursday, September 5 Office Open 10am -5:00pm 6:30pm Chaverim - 9th grade Friday, September 6 Office Open 10am-2pm 6:00pm Erev Shabbat Services 6:30pm Shabbat Dinner with Alissa Hirsfield-Flores Saturday, September 7 9:30am Shabbat Services 12:00pm Luncheon in honor of Ethel and Leanne Schy s birthdays Sunday, September 8 8:30am Morning Minyan Monday, September 9 7:00pm Beth Ami Choir Practice Tuesday, September 10 2:00pm Mishna Class Wednesday, September 11 4:00pm Adult Education Committee Mtg. Thursday, September 12 Office Open 10am -5:00pm Friday, September 13 Office Open 10am-2pm 7:30pm Erev Shabbat Services Saturday, September 14 9:30am Shabbat Services 12:00pm Hosted Luncheon in honor of Ahuva Simon-Saar Sunday, September 15 8:30am Morning Minyan 6:00pm Movie Night Monday, September 16 7:00pm Beth Ami Choir Practice Tuesday, September 17 2:00pm Mishna Class 7:00pm Executive Committee Mtg. Wednesday, September 18 6:30pm Chaverim - 10th grade Thursday, September 19 Office Open 10am -5:00pm 6:30pm Chaverim - 9th grade Friday, September 20 Office Open 10am-2pm 10:00am Religious Practices Committee Meeting 7:30pm Erev Shabbat Services Saturday, September 21 9:30am Shabbat Services 12:00pm Hosted Luncheon in honor of Florence Metz s 104th birthday 8:30pm Selichot service Sunday, September 22 8:30am Morning Minyan Monday, September 23 7:00pm Beth Ami Choir Practice Tuesday, September 24 2:00pm Mishna Class 7:00pm CBA Board Meeting Wednesday, September 25 Thursday, September 26 Office Open 10am -5:00pm Friday, September 27 Office Open 10am-2pm 7:30pm Erev Shabbat Services Saturday, September 28 9:30am Shabbat Services 12:00pm Luncheon in honor of Alan Shotkin Sunday, September 29 8:30 a.m. Morning Minyan 8:00pm Erev Rosh Hashana Monday, September 30 Office closed 8:30am Rosh Hashana First Day 11:00 am Children s Service 4:30pm Tashlich, Howarth Park 5:30 Mincha and Maariv, Howarth Park September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 16 bethamisr.org

17 Beth Ami Calendar Tuesday, October 1 Office Closed Rosh Hashana Day 2 8:30am 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah service 7:30pm Mincha & Ma ariv Wednesday, October 2 6:30pm Chaverim - 10th grade Thursday, October 3 Office Open 10am -5:00pm 6:30pm Chaverim - 9th grade Friday, October 4 Office Open 10am-2pm 7:30pm Erev Shabbat Services (no dinner) Saturday, October 5 9:30am Shabbat Shuvah Services 12:00pm Potluck Luncheon Sunday, October 6 8:30am Morning Minyan 11:00am Kever Avot Monday, October 7 Tuesday, October 8 Erev Yom Kippur Office Open 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 5:00pm Pre-Kol Nidre Dinner 6:30pm Kol Nidre Service Wednesday, October 9 Office Closed Yom Kippur 9:30am Yom Kippur Service 11:00am Children s service 4:15pm Mincha & Yizkor 6:00pm Teen T shuvah Service 8:00pm Break the Fast Thursday, October 10 Office Open 10am -5:00pm Friday, October 11 Office Open 10am-2pm 7:30pm Erev Shabbat Services Saturday, October 12 9:30am Shabbat Services 12:00pm Potluck Luncheon Sunday, October 13 8:30am Morning Minyan 6:00pm Erev Sukkot service Monday, October 14 Office Closed Sukkot I 9:30am Sukkot - 1st day service 6:00pm Sukkot Evening Service Tuesday, October 15 Office Closed Sukkot II 9:30am Sukkot 2nd Day service 7:00pm Executive Committee Mtg. Wednesday, October 16 Thursday, October 17 Office Open 10am -5:00pm 6:30pm Chaverim - 9th grade Friday, October 18 Office Open 10am-2pm 7:30pm Erev Shabbat Services Saturday, October 19 9:30am Shabbat Services 12:00pm Potluck Luncheon Sunday, October 20 Sukkot VII/Hoshanah Rabah 8:00am Hoshn a Rabbah 6:00pm Shemini Atzeret evening service Monday, October 21 Office Closed Shmini Atzeret/ Simchat Torah 9:30am Shemini Atzeret Morning Service 11:00am Yizkor 6:00pm Erev Simchat Torah Service Tuesday, October 22 Office Closed 9:30am Simchat Torah service 7:00pm CBA Board Meeting Wednesday, October 23 6:30pm Chaverim - 10th grade Thursday, October 24 Office Open 10am -5:00pm Friday, October 25 Office Open 10am-2pm 7:30pm Erev Shabbat Services Saturday, October 26 9:30am Shabbat Services 12:00pm Potluck Luncheon Sunday, October 27 8:30am Morning Minyan Monday, October 28 Tuesday, October 29 2:00pm Mishna Class Wednesday, October 30 Thursday, October 31 Office Open 10am -5:00pm September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 17 bethamisr.org

18 September Yahrzeits Secular dates correspond to Hebrew date of death. Observance of yahrzeit begins at sundown the previous day. All yahrzeits observed at Beth Ami. Announced on Aug. 30 & 31 Aug. 31 Josephine Sherman, Mother of Edward Sherman Sept. 4 Sarah Estrin, Grandmother of Charlene Bornstein Sept. 4 Joseph Raful, Father of Bob Raful Sept. 5 Ernest Rosenthal, Father of Bobbie Rosenthal Announced on Sept. 6 & 7 Sept. 8 Myrna Drake, First Wife of Arnold Drake Sept. 8 Joyce Vrobel, Mother of Laura Alexander Sept. 9 Ida Mann, Grandmother of Judith Helman Sept. 10 Dorothy Drain, Grandmother of Janet Stein-Larson Sept. 10 Martin Rosenblatt, Father of Robin Rosenblatt Sept. 11 Elie Negrin, Father of Ronit Glickman Sept. 11 Ruth Newman, Mother of Jerry Newman Sept. 12 Sylvia Golemb, Mother of Sherrill Golemb Sept. 12 William Hahn, Father of Edith Newman Sept. 12 Harry Schulman, Cousin of Judith Helman Sept. 13 David Katz, Father of Audrey Darby Sept. 13 Selby Morse, Husband of Myrna Morse Announced on Sept. 13 & 14 Sept. 16 Audrey Schoen, Sister of Phyllis Shapiro Sept. 17 Angela Kupperberg, Wife of Michael Kupperberg Sept. 18 Dan Ben Hershel, Nephew of Evelyn Gurevitch Sept. 18 Yechezkiel Rivkin, Father of Adolph Rivkin Sept. 19 Sophie Sampiere, Mother of Etienne Sampiere Sept. 19 Barbara Wallace, Sister of Arnold Drake Sept. 20 Joshua Cohen, Father of Leonard Cohen Sept. 20 Morris Marks, Grandfather of Myrna Morse Announced on Sept. 20 & 21 Sept. 21 Vivian Frye, Friend of Ellen Mundell Sept. 23 Emil Judd, Father of Dennis Judd Sept. 24 Naftali Morse, Father-in-law of Myrna Morse Sept. 25 Carolina Gordon, Granddaughter of Marjorie Gordon Sept. 25 Harald Quam, Father of Lindsay Kvam Sept. 26 Irving Nathan, Father of Asher Nathan Sept. 26 David Sternfeld, Father of Jeffrey Sternfeld Sept. 27 Frances Spiegleman, Grandmother of Ronit Glickman September Birthdays If you do not wish to have your birthday listed in the Shofar, please contact the office 2 Myra Stern Thomas 5 Phil Weil 6 Bonnie Boren 8 Leanne Schy 11 Ilana Stoelting 13 Adrea Moss 16 Ethel Schy 18 Elaine Golemb 18 Dr. Gary Herzberg 18 Florence Metz 18 Carol Newman 18 Sherri Weinstein 20 Randy Weinstein 22 Ahuva SimonSa ar 25 Susanne Batzdorff 26 Leonard Cohen 26 Robin Rosenblatt 30 Joyce Kobetz September Anniversaries 7 Daryl & Joan Schloss 10 Ronit & Howard Glickman 13 Jodi & Dylan Cohen 14 Adolph & Rimma Rivkin 14 Phil Dwight & Jane Rogan 15 Ross Jones & Jane Paul 25 Russ & Terry Gurevitch Announced on Sept. 27 & 28 Sept. 30 Arthur Levine, Former husband of Gussie Levine Sept. 30 Rose Zittin, Grandmother of Bill Friedman & Charlene Bornstein Oct. 1 Myer Brust, Grandfather of Barbara McGee Oct. 1 William Colton, Brother-in-law of Evelyn Gurevitch Oct. 2 Avar Metzger, Mother of Joslyn Metzger Oct. 3 Marilyn Sternfeld, Mother of Jeffrey Sternfeld Oct. 4 Helene Senzer, Mother of Adrea Moss September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 18 bethamisr.org

19 October Yahrzeits Secular dates correspond to Hebrew date of death. Observance of yahrzeit begins at sundown the previous day. All yahrzeits observed at Beth Ami. Announced on Oct. 4 & Oct. 5 Oct. 5 Susan Dove, Niece of Betty Franks Oct. 6 Frances Brust, Grandmother of Barabara McGee Oct. 6 Lillian Kahn, Mother of David Kahn Oct. 6 Raymund Mundell, Father of Michael Mundell Oct. 8 Joseph Diamond, Father-in-law of Marilyn Diamond Oct. 8 Shulamit Sapojnkikov, Mother of Ahuva Simon-Sa ar Oct. 11 Carl Connors, Father of Tish Levee Oct. 11 Harry Friedman, Husband of Edith Friedman & Uncle of Bill Friedman & Debra Chapman Oct. 11 Ruth Hess, Mother of Barbara Tomin Oct. 11 Ester Pekker, Mother of Semyon Pekker Announced on Oct. 11 & Oct. 12 Oct. 12 Shmuel Berenstein, Father of Dan Anbar Oct. 13 Florence Zivin, Mother of Edee Sternfield-Squires Oct. 15 George Barta, Father of Ivan Barta Oct. 16 Abraham Jones, Brother of Maury Jones Oct. 17 Mollie Raful, Mother of Bob Raful Oct. 18 Dean Darby, Husband of Audrey Darby Announced on Oct. 18 & Oct. 19 Oct. 19 Dorothy Yelin, Grandmother of Francie Rogovin Oct. 20 Morris Edelberg, Father of Marjorie Gordon Oct. 20 Phyllis Kaplan, Mother of Rhonda Rosenbach Oct. 22 Naomi Goren, Mother of Judith Helman Oct. 22 Michael Letourneau, Son of Pam Jacobs Letourneau Oct. 22 Frances Miller, Mother of Debra Sokolsky Oct. 22 Lester Schloner, Father of Carol Swanson & Fred Schloner Oct. 23 Nicholas Sweeney, Father of Jim Sweeney Announced on Oct. 25 & Oct. 26 Oct. 27 Mitchell Boyd, Father of Betty Boyd Oct. 27 Adolph Stern, Father of Myra Thomas-Stern Oct. 28 Brukha Vilenskeya, Mother of Malvina Tsipan Announced on Oct. 28 & 29 Oct. 29 Mary Diamond, Mother-in-law of Marilyn Diamond Oct. 29 James Plattner, Father of Kenneth Plattner Oct. 29 Harold Rosen, Father of Mark Rosen Oct. 29 Al Sherman, Father of Edward Sherman Nov. 1 Tillie Edelberg, Mother of Marjorie Gordon October Birthdays If you do not wish to have your birthday listed in the Shofar, please contact the office 3 Anna Mollow 7 Earl Goldberg 7 Carl Servin 9 Laura Alexander 11 Blair Pleasant 12 Malvina Tsipan 14 Jeffrey Sommers 18 Judi Hyman 19 Richard Kahn 19 Rabbi George Schlesinger 19 Jeffrey Sheff 20 Andrew Brown 20 Kenneth Plattner 20 John Whitaker 23 Judy Gunnar 25 Marge Brody 25 Gerald Petlock 26 Paul Kaltenbach 27 Rita Kagan 27 Rimma Rivkin 30 Rick Concoff October Anniversaries 1 Michele & Steve Baime 6 Phil Weil & Bonnie Boren 25 Joe & Signe Minuskin 25 Andrea & Stephen Nett September / October 2019 Congregation Beth Ami Shofar page 19 bethamisr.org

20 Address service requested September Shabbatot Sept. 7 Shoftim Candle Lighting 7:15 p.m. Havdalah 8:11 p.m. Sept. 14 Ki Tetzei Candle Lighting 7:04 p.m. Havdalah 8 p.m. Sept. 21 Ki Tavo Candle Lighting 6:53 p.m. Havdalah 7:49 p.m. Sept. 28 Nitzavim Candle Lighting 6:42 p.m. Havdalah 7:37 p.m. Sept. 30 First Day, Rosh Hashanah Candle Lighting 6:39 p.m. Havdalah 7:34 p.m. October Shabbatot Oct. 1 Second Day, Rosh Hashanah Candle Lighting 7:34 p.m. Havdalah 7:33 p.m. Oct. 5 Vayelech Candle Lighting 6:31 p.m. Havdalah 7:27 p.m. Oct. 9 Yom Kippur Candle Lighting 6:25 p.m. Havdalah 7:21 p.m. Oct. 12 Hazzinu Candle Lighting 6:20 p.m. Havdalah 7:16 p.m. Oct. 14 First Day, Sukkot Candle Lighting 6:18 p.m. Havdalah 7:14 p.m. Oct. 16 Second Day, Sukkot Candle Lighting 7:14 p.m. Havdalah 7:12 p.m. Oct. 19 Interm. Shabbat Candle Lighting 6:10 p.m. Havdalah 7:07 p.m. Oct. 26 Bereshit Candle Lighting 6:01 p.m. Havdalah 6:58 p.m.