Voice of the People OGV KUE

Voice of the People
TEMPLE BETH AM
OGV KUE
AFFILIATED WITH THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM • VOL 14, NO. 11&12 • Cheshvan - Kislev - Tevet 5775 • November/December 2014
From our President
Fellow Congregants,
T
he months of November and
December at our shul are packed
with many wonderful opportunities
to learn together, experience a wide
variety of programs and give back
to our community. I encourage
you to read the weekly e-mails, Shabbat Bulletins and
our website for updated information on all that is
happening at Temple Beth Am. There are a couple of
programs that I would like to give special mention.
TBA will get into the Thanksgiving spirit, with a
Temple Beth Am Day of Service Day on November 23rd.
On this Sunday before Thanksgiving the members of
our community will have the opportunity to take part
in a variety of tikkun olam activities including a blood
drive and bone marrow donor screening. Please see the
accompanying information, and plan to join us on this
meaningful day of service.
On Thanksgiving Day our shul provides an Annual
Thanksgiving Lunch for hundreds of seniors in
our community. Many of our guests celebrate the
holiday solely with our community. It is a meaningful
and beautiful event made possible by the generosity
of Angel and Alan Schneider. For most of the past
dozen years I have volunteered at the lunch to serve
meals and celebrate with our special guests. I hope
that you will consider joining me and my family as a
volunteer this year.
On another note, a heartfelt thanks to our Daily
Minyan for the extraordinary recognition that they
received in a recent Jewish Journal cover story, which
you can find at: http://www.jewishjournal.com/
hollywoodjew/item/finding_a_way_through_loss_
and_grief_with_Jewish_ritual. Our minyan makes a
difference in the lives of so many. Please support the
minyan by attending when you can.
As Thanksgiving passes and Hanukkah arrives may
the miracles that we celebrate for eight days illuminate
your home with joy and happiness. See you on
December 18th at our “Light Up The Night” Hanukkah
celebration!
B’shalom,
Mike Cohn
TBA is proud to continue the tradition of our
Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon
Sponsored by Angel & Alan Schneider
Thursday, November 27
Serving hundreds of seniors a delightful
kosher turkey meal with all the trimmings!
To volunteer (min. age 12) contact Alana Levitt at
(310) 652-7354 x212 or [email protected].
Kol HaRav
TEMPLE BETH AM
1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035
310.652.7354 • 310.652.2384 (fax)
To reach an operator,
dial 310.652.7353
SCHOOL PHONE LINE
310.652.2002
School Fax: 310.360.0850
[email protected] • www.tbala.org
TEMPLE BETH AM is an egalitarian Conservative
synagogue that is devoted to spiritual and
religious enrichment and that values Jewish
tradition while embracing innovation. Its
many programs serve a multi-generational
congregation.
These
include
multiple
opportunities for: worship of god, adult
learning, education of children and families,
acts of loving kindness, and outreach to those
seeking community and meaning in their lives.
The synagogue is committed to the institutions
of Conservative Judaism, the broader Jewish
community, the State of Israel and the advocacy
of democracy and religious pluralism.
Mike Cohn, President
Rabbi Adam Kligfeld, Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Ari Lucas, Associate Rabbi
Rabbi Hillary Chorny, Cantor
Sheryl Goldman, Executive Director
Rabbi Yechiel Hoffman,
Director of Youth Learning & Engagement
Dr. Erica Rothblum, Head of School
Rabbi Joel E. Rembaum, Emeritus
Rabbi Jacob Pressman, Emeritus
Rabbi Harry Silverstein, Emeritus
KOL HA’AM
Copy Editor
Graphic Designer
Ellen L. Jacobs
Jeff Baughman
Kol Ha’am (USPS 008-599) is published monthly except
June/July & November/December
by Temple Beth Am, 1039 South La Cienega Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90035-2507
Annual Membership Dues include $5.00 subscription
Periodicals Postage Paid at Los Angeles, California
and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster – Send address changes to:
Temple Beth Am,
1039 South La Cienega Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90035-2507
Phone: 310.652.7353 • www.tbala.org
Kol Ha’am
2
I
was writing the article in my head before
we walked into the store. And my pulse was
already quickening. I was with my daughter
Noa, and we were walking into the Mitzvah
Store on Beverly and Alta Vista. We were about
to make a request that, we imagined, was a very
rare request in that store. We needed someone
to tighten the shel rosh (headpiece) of the tefilin that Noa was
going to be wearing in school starting the next day. The tefilin
she received as a gift from her grandmother was slightly too big,
and the complicated dalet-knot in the back can be adjusted only
by someone skilled. I can adjust the simpler “square-knot” which
is on some tefilin sets, but not the dalet-knot. I had called the
Mitzvah Store on Pico, where I have shopped frequently, asking
for Rabbi Kraft. He is both owner and also trained sofer/scribe,
and as one who makes tefilin from scratch, certainly he would
know how to adjust the knot. I was told that he was in the
store on Beverly, which apparently he opened recently. Already,
that complicated things. Pico-Judaism is getting used to certain
expressions of egalitarian Judaism, and certain ritual acts and
leadership positions done by women. That is a far cry from what
La Brea-Judaism is used to. The store on Beverly is in the heart
of nearly-black-hat La Brea. But we needed to go. Noa had put
on tefilin that morning, a Sunday, at TBA’s daily minyan. The next
day would be her first tefilin-wearing day at school since she had
turned 13 on the Jewish calendar. She wanted it to fit just right
that day, so she could focus on the mitzvah and be confident; for
even at Pressman, her wearing tefilin is not (yet?) a norm among
our female students. We had no choice. Rabbi Kraft, in the La Brea
location, was our only hope.
Walking in, Noa was nervous, and excited. I had prepared her for
several possible scenarios, from the best (Rabbi Kraft would simply
say “yes” to the request and adjust the knot) to the worst (she/we
would be refused service) and several in between. She even said
that, at the risk of being melodramatic, she had a tingle inside
that helped her understand what African-Americans may have
felt pre Civil Rights, walking into a potentially unsafe encounter
with the very real possibility that a request for simple service
would be denied. I told her it was not melodramatic; it was an
apt association, and it made sense for her be jittery. In some parts
of Judaism, women simply aren’t served the way men are. And
however this turned out, just her inhabiting that place of anxiety
could be generative, giving her yet more empathy for anyone
whose dignity is demeaned.
I will make a long story short, and very joyful. It turns out that
our laying out of the potential scenarios, which we thought were
comprehensive, didn’t anticipate what actually took place. Rabbi
Kraft greeted us warmly. Without taking us to a back room, or
pulling us away from the black-hatted other customers that were
being served, and without an ounce of judgment or implied
critique, he adjusted Noa’s knot, in a friendly and mentsch-y way.
And he wouldn’t take any fee for it, my protestations aside. He
sent us off with a smile and said he was delighted to help out.
Calamity averted. Anxiety misplaced. Optimism in the slow-buthopefully-certain evolution towards understanding and mutuality
among Jews restored.
(Continued on page 8)
Temple Beth Am November/December 2014
YOUTH LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT
Rabbi Yechiel Hoffman, Ed.D., Director of Youth Learning and Engagement
Eric Maman, Vice President of Youth Learning and Engagement
JLC
Temple Beth Am’s Youth Learning and Engagement (YLE) cultivates young Jews to embark on a lifetime
of Jewish journeying. YLE’s staff and volunteer leaders create meaningful Jewish formal and informal
learning experiences to connect our youth to their Jewish tradition, their community and each
other. By engaging with youth and their families in Judaism, Jewish life and the Jewish
people, we make it possible for them to create a Jewish life in their present and future.
Shabbat
Yeladim
B’nei
Mitzvah
Camp
Keshet
YLE
Youth
Groups
B’nei Mitzvah
B’nei Mitzvah provides learning opportunities
and resources for families currently immersed in
the B’nei Mitzvah experience. We are committed to
ensuring that each family has an enriching experience
from which they can learn, enjoy and connect with
each other, the clergy and the community.
Rabbi Hillary Chorny, Cantor
Natasha Newman, Assistant Director, YLE
Lori Tessel, B’nai Mitzvah Committee Chair
Jewish Learning Community
The Jewish Learning Community provides meaningful
complimentary opportunities for young learners to
access, explore and encounter Judaism in diverse,
immersive and socially dynamic learning environments.
Teens
Shabbat Yeladim
Shabbat Yeladim creates meaningful
Jewish learning, prayer and social
experiences for children (and
their families). We go beyond
simple “babysitting” to providing
programming that is both engaging
and stimulating to children of all ages.
Rabbi Yechiel Hoffman, Director of YLE
Natasha Newman, Asst. Director. of YLE
Polly Hall, Artistic Director
Danit Ferd, Chair of JLC Committee
Reut Sklar, Shabbat Yeladim Coordinator
Jacqui Jacobs, Shabbat Yeladim Committee Chair
Alana Levitt, Camp Director
Reut Sklar, Assistant Camp Director
Camp Keshet
Camp Keshet provides a fun, social and enriching
Jewish summer experience for campers and teen
counselors.
Youth Groups
The Youth Department
encourages a love of Judaism in
children and teenagers through
programming that engages the
heart, the spirit, and the mind
and fosters connections among
young Jews with each other and
with the larger Jewish world.
It aims to instill the values of
Conservative Judaism in an
atmosphere of camaraderie,
friendship and community.
Teen Engagement
Teen engagement offers
adolescents enriching
opportunities to further develop
as Jews and people through
cohort learning, leadership
programs and community
impact opportunities.
Alana Levitt, Youth Director
Reut Sklar, Assistant Youth Director
Jeremy Markiz, YLE Educator
Michal Vaakil, Youth Commission Chair
JR USY TECHNUS 2015
ancient traditions in modern times
a Far West USY Kinnus Hosted here at TBA!
January 30th – February 1st, 2015
UNPLUG and CONNECT with each other.
DIAL UP your Judaism with camp friends
and broaden your social NETWORK.
TBA families are invited to host Junior USYers
in their homes for this very special weekend.
Don’t miss out on this community event!
Housing Forms, Kinnus application and more
available at tbala.org/technus
COST: $100 per Jr. USYer
Applications due by January 5th
WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS
• Technology-Themed Activities
• Exciting Saturday Night
• Far West Mincha and Creative Services
• Free Time and Sports at the Park
• Special Tikkun Olam Project
• Israel and Technology Program
Contact Alana Levitt, Youth Director at [email protected] (310) 652-7354 x212
3
Kol Ha’am
What’s the Deal with
Year-End Giving?
I
n the next few weeks you may receive a few or a few hundred
emails with the subject line, “Time Is Running Out,” or something
similar from a nonprofit agency asking you to consider making a
generous gift to their agency before the end of the current year
(TBA is not exempt from this). This can lead one to question, why
is there so much focus on these six weeks and what about the
other 323 days of the year?
According to Charity Navigator, many nonprofits receive close
to 40% of all of their annual giving during this time period and
a few select agencies receive over 80% of their funds in this six
week period. Even though our campaign continues throughout
the year and we receive the majority of our donations before Rosh
Hashanah, during the year-end period last year, Temple Beth Am
received 30% of all its annual gifts.
So, what motivates people to give during this period?
•The Holidays Inspire People
•Last Minute Tax Deductions
•Money Left in a Philanthropic Budget
•There is a Little Money Left Over
Holidays Inspire People: Often Thanksgiving, Hanukkah,
Christmas and New Year’s Eve naturally inspire people to give
to others. It is a time when people take an accounting of what
they have and often with that comes a desire to want to help
those less fortunate than themselves.
Last Minute Tax Deductions: With the United States allowing
tax deductions for donations up to a certain amount depending
on one’s income, many people will wait until year-end when they
have a better understanding of their annual finances before
making a generous commitment. In addition, during the course
of the year, many people may have sold savings bonds, stocks,
property or other assets that are subject to capital gains taxes. For
some they may have made these transactions earlier in the year,
but now realize they want to defray some what they owe in taxes.
Money Left in a Philanthropic Budget: Some families will set
aside funds to be donated to charities, however they may not have
donated as many funds as they intended, so they have a surplus
and want to ensure they maximize their annual donations. In
addition, many companies have matching gift opportunities that
employees want to take advantage of and if they don’t use it that
year, they lose it. Utilizing or leveraging a match is a great way for
a person to enhance their support of a cause they care about.
There is a Little Money Left Over: That new roof cost less than
expected, there was a fabulous rate to refinance a home, a person
was a little more frugal than they originally thought, for whatever
reason, there is a little extra money that was not expected to be
there. Often that is a great opportunity for someone to make a
new gift or enhance a gift they made earlier in the year.
Whichever category you fall into, we ask that you consider
making a meaningful gift to Temple Beth Am/Pressman Academy
during the year-end season. You can make a gift online by
visiting www.tbala.org/giving or calling the Development
Office at 310-652-7354 x205.
If making a gift for tax credit purposes, please consult your
tax advisor first.
Campaign to Break Ground
T
emple Beth Am and Pressman Academy are in countdown mode to break
ground in the Embracing the Sacred, Enriching the Future Capital Campaign.
The end of the calendar year is a great time to plan your capital giving. A
capital campaign gift is an important part of your tax planning as gifts can be
made in multi-year pledge payments, and, when made from appreciated stocks
may greatly reduce the money you pay in taxes.*
We are in a great position after so many years of hard work to cement
the future of Temple Beth Am and our Pressman Academy. Each and every
gift helps us reach our goals, and affirms the commitment of our community
to its future. Thank you for your generous consideration of support for the
Embracing the Sacred, Enriching the Future Capital Campaign.
For more information about supporting the Capital Campaign please contact,
Seth Rosenzweig, Director of Development at [email protected] or
310-652-7354 x 205.
Cement your legacy
in our future and be
part of this exciting
capital campaign.
*As always, please seek advice from your tax advisor!
Kol Ha’am
4
We are now in Countdown Mode
Our B’nai Mitzvah
Adam Tizabi
Son of
Raymond & Hayley Tizabi
NOVEMBER 1, 2014
Sammy Goldman
Son of
Sheryl & Seth Goldman
NOVEMBER 8, 2014
Maya Tochner
Daughter of
Stuart Tochner &
Betty Brasky Tochner
NOVEMBER 15, 2014
Jonah Tochner
Son of
Stuart Tochner &
Betty Brasky Tochner
NOVEMBER 15, 2014
Ezra Bernstein
Son of
Mark & Rosa Bernstein
NOVEMBER 22, 2014
Noa Kligfeld
Daughter of
Rabbi Adam & Havi Kligfeld
NOVEMBER 29, 2014
Sarah Bagley
Daughter of
David & Barbara Bagley
DECEMBER 13, 2014
Liv Reinis
Daughter of
Michael & Nina Reinis
DECEMBER 20, 2014
In Memoriam
We mourn the passing of
Mildred Stoff, grandmother of Kenneth (Vanessa) Stoff
Rachel Evalenko, sister of Alice (Sasha Ezros) Podokshik
Shurah Sulim, mother of Tina (Leon) Kaminiski
Rivka Cohen, mother of Ravit (Steven) Klein
Rahel Nahmany, mother of Shlomi Nahmany
Temple Beth Am November/December 2014
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
ohtcv ohfurc
We welcome the following New Members
to our Temple Beth Am family (as of 10/10/14):
Diane Cohen
Jessica Pearlman & Josh Fields
Lianna Gliksman
Kyna Levi
Jessie Mallor
Albert & Kaneisha Mayon
Michael & Roslyn Menitoff
Donna Mizrahi
Michael & Jessica Reiss
Diane Roosth
Ryan & Alyssa Schimel
Joey Schwartzman
Julia Mackenzie Miller,
daughter of Jessica Mackenzie and Daniel Miller,
granddaughter of Adrian and Larry Miller,
great-granddaughter of Judith and Louis Miller,
born on September 1, 2014
Asa Everett Gonzalez,
son of Julie Harris and Alex Gonzalez,
grandson of Beverly and Michael Harris,
born on September 10, 2014,
given the name Asa
Lillian Ella Srolovitz,
daughter of Batya & Noam Srolovitz,
granddaughter of Judith and Allen Weinstock,
born on September 21, 2014 in New York City,
given the name Ella Tiveria
Nava Chaya Rabin,
daughter of Max and Tammi Rabin,
granddaughter of Amy and Jeffrey Rabin,
great-granddaughter of Barbara and Jerry Rabin,
born on October 1, 2014 in Jerusalem,
given the name Nava Chaya
Engagements & Weddings
Mazal Tov to:
Ari Siegel and Keren Shpigel on their engagement. Ari is the son of Rachel and Ben z”l Siegel
Yahrzeit Donations
We thank those who support the synagogue community in memory
of their loved ones named below:
Jacob Abrams, Abraham Abramson, Esther Baer, Peter Banks, Morris Barnes,
Murray Barnett, Philip Berlin, Evelyn Billings, Jacob Bohorodzaner, Anne Breskin,
Eva Brisman, Allen Broudy, Asher Eshtiaghpour, Harriet Fox, Sally Frankl,
Manuel Fredman, Sam Friedman, Anna Ganzberg, Harry Gibbons, Heimer Greenberg,
Marion Greenberg, Jerry Harrison, Max Hollander, Sam Horwitz, Allon Iny, Harry Kaplan,
Jules Kaplan, Sam Kleban, Sidney Klein, Edna Kulkin, Jacob Lerman, Della Lott,
Ernest Lovinger, Joseph Malachowski, Herman Michaels, Mathilda Michaels, Anne Miller,
Chaim Mindel, Francis Mintz, Irving Moss, Louise Moss, Rita Nellicks, Manuel Nisenbaum,
Ralph Pearlman, Albert Peskin, Ruth Peskin, Sophie Peters, Adele Platt, Ruth Richard,
Ziporah Ritberg, Gail Roth, Ann Rubin, Beatrice Sachs, Joseph Sachs, Abraham Schwartz,
Rose Sesky, Charles Shore, Solly Stawisky, Sylvia Stock, Stanley Strassberg, Walter Stroh,
Eliezer Vienfald, Janice Wallock, Willaim Wallock, Anne Weinstein
5
Kol Ha’am
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
CALENDAR
CLASSES OF THE REMBAUM INSTITUTE
OF ADULT EDUCATION AND FAMILY
PROGRAMMING
For information and class sign-ups, visit www.tbala.org,
or contact Program Director Daniel Sulzberg at
[email protected] or 310-652-7354 x215.
HUMASH WITH RASHI WITH RABBI ADAM KLIGFELD
Wednesdays, November 5, 19, December 3, 10, 17
at 8:30 a.m.
Study Rashi’s original Hebrew commentary on
the text of the Torah.
MISHNAH STUDY WITH RABBI ARI LUCAS
Thursdays, November 6, 13, 20 , Deceember, 4, 18
at 8:30 a.m.
Engage in the foundational text of the Talmud and
Jewish law in the original Hebrew.
MINI-CLASS ON THE DAILY SIDDUR
Tuesdays from 8:10 - 8:25 a.m.
Join Rabbi Avi Havivi for a 15-minute discussion on topics
from the daily prayerbook right after morning minyan
on Tuesdays in Pilch Hall.
CONTROVERSIES IN 21ST CENTURY JEWISH LIFE
WITH RABBI JOEL REMBAUM
Wednesdays, beginning November 19th, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Read and discuss relevant Jewish sources on issues such
as homosexuality, liturgical change, economic regulation,
global warming, and slave labor. Explore Conservative
Jewish perspectives. Text materials will be provided.
No advance registration required. Drop-ins welcome!
HEBREW CLASSES
Our fall Hebrew classes have begun! If you’d still like to join
in, contact Daniel Sulzberg at [email protected]. Classes
are formed based on students’ interest and proficiency.
INSIDE, OUTSIDE, IN BETWEEN:
JEWISH PEOPLEHOOD TODAY.
It’s not too late to register for the Hartman Institute
Lecture Series – FREE for members of TBA!
The first program will be on Sunday, November 2 at
Sinai Temple with Donniel Hartman.
The second lecture is on Sunday, December 14 at
Temple Emanuel with Yehuda Kurtzer. Limited space available; for registration and full lecture
schedule, visit www.shalomhartman.org/westside. Following each lecture, TBA members are invited to
continue the conversation with one of our Clergy and
share a buffet dinner at a private home. The first dinner
will take place at the home of Julie Shuer & Steve Davis
(Beverly Hills); the December dinner will be announced
soon. Space is limited; for RSVP and location details sign
up at www.tbala.org/hartmandinner
Kol Ha’am
6
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6
7
9
14
NOVEMBER
Saturday - 8:00 - 11:30 p.m.
JR. USY AND USY BIG FUN NIGHT
WITH TBA YOUTH DEPT.*
Sunday - 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
HOUSE OF JEWS AND ISRAELI BREWS.
Fall is here! Join other young Jewish adults (20s & 30s) for an
incredible musical afternoon outdoors at TBA, featuring talented
musicians, The Kosher Palate food truck, and lots of fun booths.
Try an Israeli beer, taste a flavored hummus, and sit back and enjoy
the cool festival vibe. $5 entry fee when you register in advance
at www.tbala.org/yaba. Co-sponsored by MASA Israel Journey &
Moishe House LA.
Thursday - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
HAPPY SENIORS LUNCHEON
Don’t miss this opportunity to get your seasonal Flu &
Pneumococcal Immunization, Blood Pressure Screening and
Education. Immunizations are available for all TBA members.
Afterwards, join the Happy Seniors for a wonderful luncheon,
co-sponsored by Cedars Sinai Medical Center and including some
lovely entertainment. $10 members. $12 non-members. Please call
Daniel at 310-652-7354 x215 to reserve your place.
6:30 - 9:00 pm
TBA MEN’S SOCIETY FALL “MEET & GREET” MIXER. See Page 10 for Details
Friday - 6:00 pm
JEWLYWEDS SHABBAT DINNER.
Meet other newly engaged and married couples for services at TBA
at 4:45 pm and then head over to the home of Rabbi Ari Lucas and
Talya Oberfield for an intimate and wonderful Shabbat dinner.
RSVP to [email protected] or call (310) 652-7354 x215.
Sunday - 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
THE NEXT STAGE SEMINAR: LOOKING FORWARD AND GIVING BACK,
co-sponsored by TBA at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills. Baby
boomer? Empty-nester? Sandwich generation? We’re starting
a conversation and we need your voice. Guest speaker Marc
Freedman, CEO and founder of Encore.org. For more information
or to be added to the guest list please email Daniel at
[email protected] or call (310) 652-7354x215.
Friday
NIGHT OF 1,000 SHABBATS
Be a part of the Jewish Federation’s annual event!
Sign up to Host Or Be Hosted for Shabbat Dinner with other TBA
members. A great way to expand your circle of friends within
the TBA/Pressman Community. Complete the on-line survey at
surveymonkey.com/s/HOSTRBHOSTED by November 3, and we will
contact you to make the match. RSVP Deadline: November 2nd.
Daily
Minyan
Times
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16
23
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27
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MORNING MINYAN:
DAILY MINYAN - EVENING MINYAN
FRIDAY NIGHT NESHAMA MINYAN
Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m.
November and December: 4:25 p.m.
November:
December:
Sunday & Federal Holidays: 8:00 a.m.
SATURDAY:
90 minutes before the end
of Shabbat
Rosh Hodesh & Hol Ha-Moed: 7:15 a.m.
1,000 SHABBATS – FOR 20-SOMETHINGS
SHABBAT DINNER AT THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE.
Enjoy a festive and intimate Shabbat dinner with
other 20-somethings. Hosted by TBA’s Artist in
Residence, Josh Warshawsky at 6:30 p.m. at his
home on Corning. RSVP to Josh at
[email protected]
Sunday
REMBAUM INSTITUTE SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE
ARTIST DAVID MOSS
Join us for a wonderful and artistic day of learning
with Mitzvah beautifier, Illuminator, Animator, and
Transformer of Jewish texts, objects, spaces, and souls.
More details coming soon at www.tbala.org.
Sunday - 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
A DAY OF SERVICE.
Give back during Thanksgiving week.
Tikkun Olam activities for both adults and children.
Also Cedars Sinai Blood Drive and Bone Marrow
Donor Screening as well as Wags and Walks Pet
Adoption. To volunteer or to sign up to donate
blood please email Daniel Sulzberg at
[email protected] or call (310) 652-7354 x215
12:30 p.m.
Regional Kadima Day- Members Only! $25 per person
(4th & 5th Grade)*
Monday - 7:30 p.m.
ROSH HODESH, A WOMEN’S GATHERING:
EXPLORING OUR PATHS
See p. 10 for details on this month’s Sisterhood program
Thursday
Annual Thanksgiving Lunch. Each year, over 400
seniors are served a delightful kosher turkey meal
with all the trimmings along with entertainment
and a few sweets to take home. Volunteers (min.
age 12) are needed to set up and serve the luncheon,
to assist with registration, and help us welcome these
special people into our Temple. To volunteer please
visit www.tbala.org/thanksgiving or for more
information contact Alana Levitt at (310)652-7354 x212
or email [email protected]
DECEMBER
Thursday - 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
PRESSMAN ACADEMY HANUKKAH BOUTIQUE
Your one-stop Hanukkah Gift Shop!
See Back Cover for details
(continued on page 8)
4:45 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
Saturday Morning Services
Meditation Plus
9:15 a.m. Whiteman Conference Room
Shir Hadash
9:15 a.m.
Sanctuary
BAIT Tefillah will combine with the Sanctuary Service
on November 8, 15, 22 and 29
BAIT Tefillah
9:45 a.m.
Pilch Hall (except for dates indicated above)
Library Minyan
9:45 a.m. Dorff Nelson Chapel
Shabbat Yeladim – Youth Services
10:00 a.m.
Tot Shabbat - Room 104 6 months-3 year olds
Parparim - Room 105 4-6 year olds
Tefillat Yeladim - Room 106 Grades 1-5
Koleinu - Special Needs
November 1, December 6 10:30 a.m.
Havah Narishah - Family Service
November 8, December 13 - 10:30 a.m. in the Lainer Library
Havah Narishah with TBA Family Shabbat (grades 1- 5):
November 22
TBA Family Shabbat
November 15, 10:00 a.m.
Shir Shabbat
Saturday, December 6, 10:00 a.m. (followed by lunch)
For info. and lunch reservations, call 310-652-7354 x228
Teen Minyan
Saturday, November 15 - 4:00-6:00 p.m.
West Coast Mincha - (6th-12th Grade)*
Teen Minyan is entirely led and run by our wonderful and talented
TBA teens, and is followed by a delicious Kiddush with special treats.
To get involved, email Jeremy Markiz at [email protected]
For more information on Shabbat Yeladim and
Services for children and young families, contact Reut Sklar
at [email protected] (310) 652-7354 x248
Torah Portion
November 1 Lekh Lekha
November 8 Vayera
November 15 Hayei Sarah
November 22 Toldot
November 29 Vayetze
December 6 Vayishlah
December 13 Vayeshev
December 20 Miketz
December 27 Vayigash
Candle Lighting
November 7 4:36 p.m.
November 14 4:32 p.m.
November 21 4:28 p.m.
November 28 4:26 p.m.
December 5 4:25 p.m.
December 12 4:27 p.m.
December 19 4:29 p.m.
December 26 4:33 p.m.
7
Kol Ha’am
CALENDAR
5
5-7
12
13
14
18
21
(Continued from page 7)
DECEMBER
Friday
COMMUNITY SHABBAT DINNER.
Join us for Neshama Minyan Kabbalat Shabbat Services
at 4:30 p.m. followed by a festive community-wide
Shabbat dinner (5:45 p.m.) with our Rabbis, Cantor
and special guests. Advance dinner reservations
are always required. Please visit www.tbala.org/
communityshabbat to RSVP now.
Friday-Sunday - December 5-7
KADIMA KINNUS AT CAMP RAMAH
Scholarships available. Members Only! Approx. $250*
Friday - 5:00 p.m.
TEEN MINYAN: KABBALAT SHABBAT(6TH-12TH GRADE) SERVICE AND DINNER*
6:00 p.m.
YABA’S LATKES & VODKAS SHABBAT
Latkes meet vodkas... and you meet lots of
awesome people! Join other young adults (20s & 30s)
for Kabbalat Shabbat and an awesome Hanukkah
Shabbat dinner (7:00 p.m.) RSVP required.
Visit www.tbala.org/yaba to reserve your space today!
Saturday - 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. KADIMA AND USY DRIVE-IN MOVIE
ON THE ROOF AND SLEEPOVER
$5 Members, $10 Non-Members*
Sunday
MEN’S SOCIETY: FATHER/CHILD NATURE HIKE
Details Coming Soon!
Thursday - 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT.
A community wide celebration of Hanukkah
on the Pilch Rooftop. Join your TBA family for
candle-lighting, music, sufganiot, and social
action. Help shine your light and make a
miracle happen. Free of charge (Optional
$10 donation to one of our featured causes).
Sunday - Thursday, December 25
USY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
(9-12TH GRADE) ATLANTA, GA*
*For information and reservations for these
Youth Dept. events, contact Alana Levitt at
[email protected] (310)-652-7354 x212
Kol Ha’am
8
Kol HaRav
(Continued from page 2)
I share this with the TBA community for three reasons.
1. As your rabbi, I enjoy sharing some of my own experiences
in the LA community with you, and how it informs my own
thinking as a leader and also as a fellow Jew.
2. If you have choices about where to shop for Judaica, here is
my boost for the Mitzvah Store and Rabbi Kraft. I have always
found him pleasant and helpful. He earned my deep respect
and admiration for how he handled this situation, and I would
love to help support him. One day, perhaps, such graciousness
by an Orthodox sofer/store-owner won’t be remarkable. But it
is now, particularly in La Brea. And he should be rewarded with
patronage from the non-Orthodox local customers.
3. The best way to make such future encounters less remarkable
is for more of us to put forth our proud, vibrant, egalitarian/
traditional Judaism “out there” for the Jewish world to see, and
for store owners (and customers) to witness. If in a given year, 15 or 25 or 50 bat mitzvah girls went to
local Judaica stores to purchase tallit/tefilin, or to have them
adjusted, we will start impacting, and defining the norm. If
the Mitzvah Store is saturated with requests for tikkunim (the
special volumes used when preparing a Torah reading) from
girls/women in our community, the norm will change. This
is not about winning the approbation of Orthodoxy. This is
about moving the dial towards understanding and acceptance
of the beauty and richness of our approach to Jewish life and
tradition. And we can be bridges between the current time and
when a 13 yr old Jewish girl can walk into any Judaica store in
LA, or worldwide, to get her tefilin adjusted and have only the
joy of mitzvah on her mind.
Thank you, Rabbi Kraft. See you soon.
Rabbi Adam Kligfeld
Temple Beth Am November/December 2014
From our Head of School
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head.
If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
– Nelson Mandela
C
ommunication – the second C in
hazoneinu, our vision. There is
probably nothing as important as communication – we can
teach incredible lessons, hold exciting assemblies, develop
insightful programs and inspire children daily, but it’s not
going to be worthwhile if no one knows we are doing it!
We know that the ways we communicate will impact the
education our children receive, and so we are committed to
examining and reassessing our communications.
When thinking about communication – whether through
email, phone calls, in-person, informal, formal, websites
and so forth – the teachers and administrators at Pressman
Academy are considering:
the teacher. It’s important to us that parents know
what is happening in the classroom, that they feel their
child’s teacher is responsive and accessible, and that they
trust the teacher to take care of their child. These goals
are met through teacher communication. It is our job to
examine these goals and ensure we are communicating
in a way that meets those goals.
•Likewise, it’s imperative that teachers know they have a
partner in the parents and that they feel respected
in this partnership. This occurs in the ways we support
parent-to-teacher communication. We want to be clear
about the ways we need, want and expect parents to
communicate with their child’s teachers.
•School-to-parent communication – There is a lot of
information to share: the time of the basketball tryouts,
the theories behind our Hebrew immersion curriculum,
or the days our partner school will be visiting us. We
sometimes hear that we send out too much information,
that we send out information but not the kind that
parents want, or that there is information we never
shared. Throughout this year, as we examine
communication, we are critically examining our school to-home communication to ensure we are sharing
important information in a way that can be digested.
In this vein, all school families should have recently received
the link to a survey. This is the next step in our parent-toschool communication. It is important to note that we are
working with an outside firm in the survey design and data
collection, so you can rest assured that your answers are truly
anonymous. Please take the time to complete the survey
and communicate with us. We want to know what you are
thinking and feeling about Pressman Academy. We promise
to be transparent with the results and to communicate
them to you; we hope this survey will be the first step to
communicating in a language that goes to your heart.
•Teacher-to-parent communication – Probably the most
important relationship in any school is the parent and
B’shalom,
Dr. Erica Rothblum
OPEN HOUSES
Parents are invited to participate
in Parenting Institute Programs Including:
eet our new Head of School, Dr. Erica Rothblum; our
principals and staff, visit our school and learn more
about our warm Jewish community, our rich curriculum,
and our exceptional Hebrew Immersion Program.
Stepping Stones: Clarifying our Parenting Vision.
Discussions with Sari Abrams will take place on Tuesday
Mornings at 8:15 a.m. on: 11/4; 11/18; 11/25; 12/2. Angie Bass
and Rabbi Lucas will join some of the discussions.
Day School
10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
November 6; November 19; December 9;
December 16 - Current ECC Parents ONLY. RSVP at www.pressmanacademy.org/openhouse or call
Lesley Bloom at (310) 652-7354 x227
“How to Talk to Your Kids About....”,
A monthly discussion group with Sari Abrams and
Sharon Bacharach will deal with a new topic each month.
Discussions will take place on Wednesdays at 8:15 a.m. on:
11/19; 12/17; 1/28; 2/25; 3/18; 4/29 and 5/27
M
Early Childhood Center (ECC)
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
November 18; December 3; December 17, January 13
RSVP at www.pressmanacademy.org/eccopenhouse or
call Betsy Krut (310) 652-7354 x237
Talking Books: An interactive story time for
parents and children in the library.
Gather at 3:00 p.m., program begins 3:10.
On: November 13, December 11,
January 15, February 19, March 19, May 14
9
Kol Ha’am
T
BA Sisterhood has had a great beginning to our
New Year. We welcome the 224 (and counting)
women who joined TBA Sisterhood this year. Every
woman in our community and beyond, are invited
to join TBA Sisterhood.
TBA Sisterhood is proud to announce this year’s
recipient of the Chayai Olam award, Fran Grossman,
who will be honored at our annual Torah Fund
Dinner on Wednesday evening, April 29, 2015.
TBA MEN’S SOCIETY IS BACK!
Temple Beth Am Men’s Society
Proudly Invites You To Our
Fall “Meet & Greet”
Mixer
Thursday, November 6
6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Please join us for our upcoming events:
Mahjong Monthly:
Wednesday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Beginners are welcome! We play mahjong
every third Wednesday of the month.
We usually have a table of beginners and
a table of people who already play.
Come join the fun! We play at the home
of Ann Istrin. Contact Ann Istrin at
[email protected] or RSVP at
www.tbala.org/sisterhood.
Novel Book Group:
Thursday evening, November 20
This book club will be reading The Lier’s Wife,
by Mary Gordon. We will be meeting in a
private home (location disclosed upon RSVP).
This book club meets bi-monthly as is facilitated
by Literary Affairs (fee of $30 per meeting).
Contact Ann Istrin at [email protected] or RSVP
at www.tbala.org/sisterhood.
Grab a drink and let’s get to know each other! We welcome you to
join us for dessert and refreshments and learn more about Temple
Beth Am Men’s Society, its upcoming events and how you can get
involved! This event will present a unique opportunity to generate
new friendships and rekindle old ones.
At a Private Home In Beverlywood (Address to be provided with RSVP)
RSVP at http://www.tbala.org/fallmixer
COST: $18 PER PERSON PRE-PAID
HOLD THE DATE
Father/Child Nature Hike
Sunday, December 14
Details coming soon!
Rosh Hodesh, A Women’s Gathering:
Exploring Our Paths
Monday, November 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Join us for Dessert and Wine and discussion
on “Validation” with Rabbi Cheryl Peretz
(location upon reservation). RSVP online at
www.tbala.org/sisterhood.
Mystery Book Club:
Tuesday evening, November 25
Mystery lovers love our book club! We will be
reading and discussing The Golem of Hollywood,
by Jonathan & Jesse Kellerman, at the home of
Manya Weber (location upon rsvp). The Mystery
Book Club is facilitated by, Marlene Braer. Please
rsvp at [email protected] or rsvp online at
www.tbala.org/sisterhood.
Kol Ha’am
10
The TBA Men’s Society was founded to meet the unique communal,
social, and Jewish spiritual needs of the Temple’s men. We provide fun
and dynamic social, athletic and tikkun olam opportunities that help
our members forge and strengthen friendships. Our central mission
is to bring the Temple’s men together as part of a single kehila. Our
Men’s Society provides an avenue for men to come together by
combining non shul based activities, with a Jewish component.
For more information, email [email protected].
Temple Beth Am Gratefully Acknowledges Donations through October 5, 2014.
GENERAL FUND
IN HONOR OF
Beloved Parents
Josh Cohn’s Bar Mitzvah
Ellen L. Jacobs’ birthday
Debra Kasirer’s birthday
New Year/5775 IN MEMORY OF
Rachel Evalenko
Shura Sulim
Lillian Saiger
Irving Szkolnik
Dina Hellerstein & Josh Metzger
Judy & Les Eber
Susan & Jay Greenwald,
Karen & Jonathan Kaplan
Elizabeth & Daniel Harrison
Beverly & Michael Harris, Alison & Jonathan Kalinski
Michal & Jacob Vaakil
Dina Hellerstein & Josh Metzger
BILL STRICK MEMORIAL HELPING HAND FUND
IN HONOR OF
Abby & Larry Harris’ 25th anniversary
Lisa Feldman & Brian Greene
The birth of Beverly & Sanders Family
Michael Harris’ grandson
LAURA & SID KLEIN
IN MEMORY OF
Sid Klein
Abbey Klein, Steven Klein
RABBI KLIGFELD’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN HONOR OF:
Our grandson Levi Kobin Oren’s brit milah
Phyllis and Michael Sadoff
and Marlene and Mati Oren
Your support and encouragement
Harvey Shaps
Rachel’s bat mitzvah
Joshua Metzger and Dina Hellerstein
Opening the Ark at Bella Szkolnik Kapp
High Holiday services
Janine Moses earning her pilot’s license
Carol Rosenberg
IN MEMORY:
Rachel Evalenko
Roland Del Cid
RABBI ARI LUCAS’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
ON THE OCCASION OF:
High Holiday services
Fran and Joel Grossman
LIBRARY MINYAN DONATIONS
IN HONOR OF
Aliyah to the Torah
Baruch Link
Our 45 wedding anniversary
Mitch and Phyllis Miller
Kiddush Fund
Abe and Annette Berman
Bar Mitzvah of Ari Taryle
Allan and Laraine Kokin, Jay Sanders
MARCY COLKER KLEIN/BARRY SHAPIRO MEMORIAL FUND
IN HONOR OF
The birth of Julie Harris & Alex Gonzalez’ son
Dvorah Colker
Rabbi Harry Silverstein’s 2nd Bar Mitzvah
Dvorah Colker
IN MEMORY OF
Ben Bazler, father of Manya Beier
Adam Rich and Ted Rich, brother and father of Debbie Rich IN MEMORY OF
Stuart Marylander
SISTERHOOD TRIBUTES
To place a Sisterhood Tribute, contact Marlene Glaser at 310-550-1738 or
email:
[email protected]
PRAYER BOOK FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Barney Kleinman
PRESSMAN ACADEMY DAY SCHOOL
IN HONOR OF
Sarah Pretsky’s Bat Mitzvah
Harvey Shaps
Barbara & Jerry Rabin
Bert Kleinman
Bella & Howard Kapp
Beth Liebman
PRESSMAN ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
IN HONOR OF
Ari Taryle
Chaja & Sam Tuchband
YOUTH DEPARTMENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND
IN HONOR OF
Joel’s Nativ year
Rabbi Gail Labovitz & William C. Seligman
DAILY MINYAN
IN HONOR OF
Hagbah
IN MEMORY OF
In Loving memory of Rachel Evalenko
In loving memory of my grandfathers Lev ben Gersh & Lev ben David In loving memory of my grandmother Bella Slobodetskaya
Manya and Don Beier
Debbie Rich
MAZEL TOV!
Marilyn and Bruce Fogel
Happy 45th Anniversary
Faye Gelb
Beverly and Michael Harris
Birth of Grandson
The Emert Family
Lida Baker and Paul Nisenbaum Happy 29th Anniversary!
Faye Gelb
CONDOLENCES
Arlene Podokshik and Sasha Ezros
Loss of Sister, Rachel
Arlene Hillinger
Loss of Husband, Father &
Grandfather, Paul
The Emert Family
Ricki Breskin-Kulkin and
Marshall Kulkin
The Sisterhood sincerely apologizes for any errors in the High Holiday
Greeting Book. Please note the following corrections:
Robert Bird
Ezros Family
Stella Ezros & Family
L’Shana Tova
Joshua & Stephanie Charlin, Myrna Charlin,
Stacie Charlin, Jacob & Simon Fox
A Healthy & Peaceful New Year
Our Best Wishes for a Happy & Healthy New Year
Thelma Post and Family
Isak Herman & Family
Stella Ezros & Family
11
Kol Ha’am
SAVE THE DATE
Pressman Academy
Gala
2015
Saturday Night,
January 10, 2015
Etz Chaim Award Recipient:
Dina Hellerstein
Teacher Recognition Award Recipients:
Debi Lozano
Marcy Steiglitz
Rabbi Chaim Tureff
Formal Installation of
Dr. Erica Rothblum
Head of School
Kol Ha’am (USPS 008-599)
Temple Beth Am
1039 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035-2507
Periodicals Postage Paid at Los Angeles,
California and additional mailing offices.