with Professor Daniel C. Matt - Congregation Emanu-El

THE TEMPLE
CHRONICLE
Volume CLXIII, No. 3 | November, 2015 | Cheshvan / Kislev 5776
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, November 11,
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Resurgent, Resplendent
San Francisco
The Jews and the Panama
- Pacific International
Exposition of 1915
Weekend of Nov 20 - 22
Our scholar-in-residence
weekend with
special guest Professor
Daniel C. Matt
Sermon:
Friday, Nov. 20, 6:00 pm
Torah Study:
Saturday, Nov. 21, 9:15 am
Morning lecture:
Sunday, Nov. 22, 9:30 am
December 4, 6:00 pm
Installation of
Cantor Luck
With Special Guest, Cantor
Jack Mendelson
Scholar-in-Residence
Weekend
with
Professor Daniel C. Matt
November Service Schedule
November 2015
Friday, November 6:
6:00 pm: Kabbalat Shabbat Service – Main Sanctuary
6:00 pm: Family Shabbat Service – Martin Meyer Sanctuary
Saturday, November 7:
9:15 am: Torah Study – Library
9:15 am: Torah Study - Room 55
10:15 am: Got Shabbat – Guild Hall
10:30 am: Shabbat Morning Minyan –
Martin Meyer Sanctuary
Friday, November 13:
6:00 pm: ONE SHABBAT – Martin Meyer Sanctuary
8:30 pm: Late Shabbat – Martin Meyer Sanctuary
From Kabbalah to the Big Bang:
Ancient Wisdom and Contemporary
Spirituality
Scholar-In-Residence weekend with one of the world’s
leading authorities on Kabbalah: Prof. Daniel C. Matt.
Friday night 11/20 during the 6:00pm Service:
Shekhinah - The Feminine Half of God
Saturday, 11/21, 9:15 am Torah Study in the
Chapel: The Mystical Meaning of Torah – How
the Zohar approaches the Parasha
Saturday, 11/21 at 7:00 pm: Young Adult
Community lecture: Raising the Sparks: Finding
God in the Material World (at the Haas Lilienthal
House at 2007 Franklin Street; pre-registration
required)
Sunday, 11/22, 9:30 – 11:00 am lecture in the
Main Sanctuary balcony: God and the Big Bang:
Discovering Harmony between Science and
Spirituality
This lecture sponsored by the Charles Michael
Lecture Endowment Fund.
Sponsoring an Oneg Shabbat:
Sponsoring an Oneg Shabbat for Friday evening Shabbat services
is a lovely way to honor or remember a loved one or to celebrate
an upcoming simcha. When you sponsor an Oneg Shabbat you
help us welcome Shabbat with the warmth and community that are
characteristic of our congregation. For more details please contact
Svetlana Leykin at [email protected] or (415) 751-2541 x123.
Thank you to the following for their Oneg Shabbat sponsorship:
David and Hilary Steinberg in honor of Eric Harrison Steinberg’s
Bar Mitzvah.
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Saturday, November 14:
9:15 am: Torah Study – Library
9:15 am: Torah Study - Room 55
10:30 am: Shabbat Morning Service – Main Sanctuary
Guest Speaker, Joshua Holo, Dean of the Los
Angeles Campus and Associate Professor of
Jewish History at HUC-JIR
10:30 am: Shabbat Morning Minyan –
Martin Meyer Sanctuary
Friday, November 20:
6:00 pm: ONE SHABBAT – Martin Meyer Sanctuary
Saturday, November 21:
9:15 am: Torah Study – Chapel with Prof. Daniel C. Matt
10:30 am: Shabbat Morning Service – Main Sanctuary
10:30 am: Shabbat Morning Minyan –
Martin Meyer Sanctuary
Friday, November 27:
6:00 pm: ONE SHABBAT – Martin Meyer Sanctuary
Saturday, November 28:
9:15 am: Torah Study – Library
9:15 am: Torah Study - Room 55
10:30 am: Shabbat Morning Service – Main Sanctuary
Friday, December 4:
6:00 pm: ONE SHABBAT - Martin Meyer Sanctuary
(No family service, but child care will be provided)
WEEKLY TORAH STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
AT THE TEMPLE
Weekly Torah Study with Emanu-El Clergy
Saturdays, 9:15 am, Library
Drop-ins welcome, no registration necessary!
Weekly Torah Study with Rabbi Lawrence
Kushner
Saturdays, 9:15 am, Room 55
Drop-ins welcome, no registration necessary!
Message from the Rabbi
Finding our Identity in the Grocery Aisle
A Message from Rabbi Jonathan Singer
Some of my best Jewish experiences as a rabbi take place
in the grocery store aisles. There, because I often choose
to wear a kippah, people, Jewish and not, stop me and ask
questions. Members of the synagogue greet me and may
take a moment to discuss a Jewish issue they are thinking
about. Standing near the eggs or cheese, we get a chance,
as the v’ahavta teaches – when you walk by the way – to
talk Torah, engage on a Jewish issue, or just be of support.
A casual meeting this past month occurred at Trader Joe’s
where a woman talked to me about coming to the temple.
Her husband is half Jewish, she mentioned, and though
she wanted to share Judaism with her family, because of
that in-between status, they had not really connected to
a synagogue. It is not unusual for me to hear someone
explain that they felt neither in nor out, because only “half”
of their self is Jewish. The expression “half Jewish” always
leaves me confused. I know that in biblical times, if one
had a Jewish father and not a Jewish mother, one was
Jewish. In rabbinic times, as a means of inclusion after
the Roman rampage against Jews, the passage of status
became matrilineal. In the 1970s, the Reform movement,
soon followed by the Reconstructionist movement, shifted
to either a patrilineal or matrilineal determination, but they
added a caveat that was not a part of the rabbinic tradition
– as long as the child was raised as a Jew – via schooling,
bar/bat mitzvah etc.
Perhaps that last addenda by our
movement is what created the
confusion. How does one define
“raised as a Jew”? How many
steps must one take? Why make
behavior a requirement for identity
inclusion, when we had never done
so before? Lately, I have reached the conclusion that we as
a movement should delete that addenda, and follow what I
think is most logical – an inclusive, egalitarian pathway that
reflects our own attempt to embrace audacious hospitality.
Jewish status would then be clear at least for our movement
if you have a Jewish parent – you are Jewish – no halves!
What you do with that Judaism, how you engage with it,
that is up to you, the individual, to decide, and up to us, a
synagogue and religious leadership, to encourage.
And so what do I say in the aisle of the stores when people
raise this identity confusion with me? “No half Jews; you’re
Jewish! Come bring your family and study Torah and be part
of Jewish life, if that is what you desire. The doors of the
synagogue are open and you are welcome!”
What are your thoughts on this perspective? Please share
them with me. I look forward to engaging with you, either
here at shul, or as we walk by the way in the store, on Lake
Street, or wherever we see each other.
Simchat Torah Celebration!
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High Holy Days 2015/5776
Our teens shared with the congregation some of their poetry
during the Rosh Hashanah service. These amazing students
wrote all the poems themselves.
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Reflection – Isaiah Starks (9th Grade)
Rosh Hashanah Poem
Anna Bernick (12th Grade)
Rosh Hashanah Poem
Reflection,
The process to look inside,
to realize what you did,
and to redefine what you will do.
To find the fears that cause running tears.
The tears that show understanding,
to show change and thus to rearrange.
To see a heart for its own merits,
to find what that heart has cherished.
Ideals and influences ripened to pick,
but to choose to lose to gain the pain of risk.
Decisions aligned as leaves on a tree.
Each one, its own story, but a tree, A life.
As shards of a memory, only words, sights, but a whole, a
lesson.
A sign, pointing to a field of knowledge, blossomed from an
orchard.
An orchard of apples riper than Eden’s.
To pick the fruit,
to eat the apple.
To choose to live,
or to be alive.
to taste the nectar that confirms,
that states you have chosen,
you have chosen to taste the fruit of personal freedom.
To choose what influences affect your fruit.
Knowledge, wisdom, embarrassment, and acceptance.
To seek the pressured thoughts, the veiled memory of death,
of centuries of being less than.
To observe the casualties,
the carnage,
the weapons,
the wars,
the fires,
the floods. And find the truths,
the sanctity,
and the dove with an olive.
To seek the wisdom from above.
Through the memories, the books, the readings, can u not
only reflect,
but enact with your mind intact,
And chose to talk,
to walk,
to feel,
to see,
to cry,
to heal,
to be,
to die,
To pick the fruits
One of the greatest obligations we accept as Jewish people
is that of Tikkun Olam, or “repairing the world.” Looking at
the world today, that’s a pretty big job. However, we can take
as a guideline these words from Pirkei Avot: “It is not your
responsibility to finish the work, but you are not free to desist
from it either.”
I wrote a short poem addressing this saying.
There’s far too much to do
Why not go out and have fun?
After two months of fog
Suddenly we have sun!
But not everyone is happy
Not everyone is fed
Not everyone has a home to go to
Many don’t have a bed.
Around the world thousands must flee
They simply don’t want to be shot at
Never mind being free
When we read the news and papers
There’s room for them in our heart
But when they reach the borders
That’s when the quotas start
It isn’t our job to fix everything
No one person could
But each of us can do our part
And that’s what everyone should
So you do what you can
You do what you must
You work a little harder
You have faith and trust
That others soon will follow
That they’ll join in the fight
That they won’t just depend on the papers
To see who shares the plight
Of the millions who suffer far away
The millions who suffer today
The thousands who need us in our home city
The thousands nearby who need our help, not pity.
Whatever we do to contribute
Though our contributions are small
It surely makes a difference
If we can help at all
Thank you to Our High Holy Day Services Volunteers
Our thanks to those who helped make our High Holy Day services so beautiful.
Service Participants:
Floral Committee:
Ushers, continued:
Laurie Beijin
Fran Benjamin
Alison Sirkus Brody
Matt Bushell
Dan Coles
Dana Corvin
Robert Denebeim
Chris Ehrlich
Sophia Felson
Jackie Ferris
Lilah Ferris
Benji Friend
Donny Friend
Janie Friend
Jason Friend
Patricia Gibbs
Caroline Kahn-Werboff
Rick Kaufman
Alan Mathis
Liz Matthews
Judith May
Dan Meer
Laurie Miller
Susan Moldaw
David Orleans
Dashiell Prince-Judd
Robin Reitzes
Devorah Rosner
Lauren Scher
Carlyn Strang
Abby Walker
Carey Wintroub
Noah Wintroub
Anthony Witte
Justin Young
Andy Zittell
Judy Camp
Sheryl Caro
Susan Cole
Judy Colton
Judy Grossman
Roberta Holden
Vicki Kahn
Diane Levison
Joan Lewis
Jane Lurie
Melanie Maier
Maxine Sigel
Sherri Sugarman
Marsha Veit
Jason Bley
Remy DeJean
Lisa Douglass
Josh Haims
The Mann Family
Biana Mills
Ari Pearlmutter
Ethan Pearlmutter
Steve Pearlmutter
Bill Rusitzky
Dylan Snow
Sam Snow
Scott Snow
Gayle Strang
Richard A. Goozh
Michelle D. Green
Marsha Guggenheim
Ralph J. Guggenheim
Stanley D. Herzstein
Frances S. Hurwitz
Susan Kitchell
Phillip Klugman
Svetlana Kristal
Renee Ledesma
Jean E. Levinson
Gershon Levinson
Kimberly M. Litchfield
Burt Magen
Catherine L. Manshel
Laurie H. Miller
Barbara W. Moser
David E. Moser
Kirsten L. Muetzel
Mark Nagel
Aliza M. Nogradi
Allie O’Leary
Josue C. Pat
Basya Petnick
Kelly Pfeifer
Robin M. Reitzes
Roslyn Rhodes
Aidan M. Rosenberg
Benjamin B. Rosenfield
Marcia T. Ruben
Stephen B. Ruben
Bill Rusitzky
Merle L. Ryan
Stuart D. Scheinholtz
Dee Seligman
Larry Seligman
Shulamit Sofia
Gary Stolzoff
Yefim Sverbilov
Richard L. Swig
Anita Tanenberg
Stuart J. Tanenberg
Sands T. Tucker
Marissa J. Wertheimer
Justin B. Young
Paul H. Zarefsky
Ushers:
Sukkah Staff:
Lawrence D. Israel, Head Usher
Suzi K. Alexander
Lynn A. Altshuler
Elyse A. Blatt
Alyce G. Brown
Barbara Cohrssen Powell
Dana A. Corvin
Stuart Corvin
Lara A. Ettenson
Marsha B. Felton
Terri Forman
Stephen Frapart
Miriam Freedman
Robert H. Freedman
Scott Goldman
Rabbi Jonathan Singer
Svetlana Leykin
Penny Mika
Sandy Rechtschaffen
Fabian Vasquez
Teen-Led Service Participants:
Isabel Aks
Daniel Berkowitz
Anna Bernick
Sophia Felson
Ben Ozer Fields
Jonah Fleishhacker
Kara Fleishhacker
Ben Jeremy
India Jeremy
Gabriel Newbrun-Mintz
Dashiell Prince-Judd
Eytan Schillinger-Hyman
Gabriel Schillinger-Hyman
Nikki Shaw
Brenna Slatkin
Hezekiah Smithstein
Isaiah Starks
Sarah Starks
Adrien Stroumza
Julien Stroumza
Marissa Torrano
Simona Trubin
Abby Walker
Max Wellins
Rob Werner
Sukkah Planning Committee:
Dovid Coplon, chair
Thomas Bates
Jonathan Feldman
Will Fleissig
Stephen Hegedus
Joseph Kaplan
Jennifer Kaufman
Wendy Kohn
Aviva Litman-Cleper
Jim Shapiro
Gary Strang
Sukkah Volunteers:
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Development
Congregation Emanu-El Legacy Circle
by Al Zemsky
I suspect if you ask five random
members of our congregation why
they chose to join Congregation
Emanu-El, you would be treated
to five disparate responses. The
motivation to become part of a
synagogue community is often based
on a very specific, immediate need,
which, over time, somehow evolves into a consequential
understanding of what it means to be part of a vibrant
religious, intellectual, cultural and social neighborhood.
Over the years, I’ve been amazed by the depth and
variety of interactive programing offered here, and have
enjoyed the opportunity to participate in a wide range of
educational, social action, musical and otherwise-enriching
experiences with many new, and not-so-new, friends.
I’m optimistic that this historic institution will continue to
thrive in the years ahead, and to assure this I’m pleased
to be part of the Legacy Circle estate planning program.
By making a bequest gift, my contribution has no impact
on current personal finances, but can have a substantial
effect as part of my estate distribution. I hope others will
consider the value of this type of contribution, and help
sustain our treasured Jewish community.
Year-end Giving with Stock
With year-end giving in mind, note there are potential tax
advantages to making a stock gift to Congregation Emanu-El.
By giving stock, you may receive an immediate tax deduction
for its value and avoid paying capital gains. You may also
reduce your taxable estate by donating stock.
If you are making a stock gift (for dues, Impact Emanu-El 2016
etc.) please use the following information:
First Republic Securities Co, LLC
Account Name: Congregation Emanu-El
For Further Credit to Account Number: 33L064574
Clearing Firm: Pershing LLC
Pershing LLC DTC# 0443
Also, please make the Development Office aware of your
stock gift before it is transferred so that your donation can be
tracked and appropriately directed as you wish.
We would like to thank those who have joined others this year as members of the Emanu-El Legacy Circle.
Legacy Circle Names as of September, 2015.
* may their memory be a blessing
Anonymous (15), Lowell Adelson, Eugenie S. Alanson, Herbert
Alter, Ludwig and Emmy Altman, Cantor Roslyn Jhunever
Barak, Rabbi Ryan Bauer and Alisa Arquilevich Bauer, Mrs.
Centa Baum, Ernest A. and Fritzi L. Benesch, David and
Riva Berelson, llya Berman and Larisa Lisista, Louis and
Lenore Blumenthal, Bertel Borowsky, Dale Boutiette and Alla
Gershberg, Sue Bransten, Mrs. Iris Bulasky and Mr. Louis
Bulasky, Caro-Serensky Families, Arthur and Shirley Cerf, Alvin
and Hélène Cohen, Steven J. Cohen, Bernice Cohn, Gary
S. Cohn, Mrs. Edith S. Coliver, Andrew and Suzanne Colvin,
Herbert R. Cook Fund, Adele Corvin, Dana Corvin and Harris
Weinberg, Mr. and Mrs. Steven E. Dinkelspiel, The Harold
and Annette Dobbs Family, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ehrman III,
Philip M. Eisenberg, Stuart and Deborah Eisendrath, Maurice
Eliaser, Mrs. Helene Ettelson and Mr. George Ettelson, Ted
Euphrat, B.J. Feigenbaum, Dorothy B. Feigenbaum, Joseph
and Cheryl Feigenbaum, Egon Fireside, Margarete Fischer,
Alfred P. Fisher, Mortimer Fleishhacker III, Frederick Fox and
Cathy Brooks Fox, Albert and Eleanor Fraenkel, Fannnie H.
and Walter J. Freudenthal, Joseph and Mollie Friedman Family,
Donny and Janie Friend, Dora Fritschi, Lucile B. Gabriele,
Elena F. Gary, Oscar Geballe, Dan and Mona Geller, Dorothy
Tonn Gold and Benjamin P. Gold, Mr. David N. Goldman and
Ms. Angela Lin, Francis S. Goldsmith, Pauline S. Goldsmith,
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Edgar and Regina Goldstine, Mrs. Doris Livingston Grasshoff,
Joan and Donald Green, Rosalind Greenfield, Hans and
Elizabeth (Libby) Gronowski, Ralph and Marsha Guggenheim,
Alfred and Martha Gutman, Katherine S. Hack, Isser Harel,
Preston Hartman, Louis H. Heilbron, Alfred and Ruth Heller,
Richard H. Heller, Isaias Wolf Hellman, III, John F. Hogan, Jr.,
Florence and Stanley Holcenberg, Margo Horn, Harry Jacobs,
Rita E. Jacobs, Scott and Vicki Kahn, Barbara and Ron
Kaufman, Golda Kaufman, James G. and Bertha P. Kaufman,
Mrs. Margaret Kaufman, Madeleine Kaufmann, Michael and
Martina Knee, Dr. Sidney Konigsberg and Vivian Konigsberg,
Terry Kraus, Terri L. Kwiatek, Thea Werth Lambertsen, Dr.
Richard and Sharonjean Leeds, Kerri and Mark Lehmann,
Mr. Max S. Levi and Mrs. Eva I. Levi, Bette Goldburg Levy
and Richard N. Levy, Donald E. Levy, Fred and Yvonne Levy,
Harold and Phyllis Levy Trust, JoAnne and Jesse M. Levy,
Mrs. June Levy, Roger M. Low, Fern and William Lowenberg,
Dorothy C. Lurie, Patricia Lurie, Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann,
Melanie and Peter Maier, Mrs. Sophie Manasse, Mrs. Mae
Mandl, Victor L. Marcus, Ms. M. Dulcenea Martinez, Kathleen
Maynard, Marilyn Mercur, Jane L. Mierson, Rabbi Sydney
Mintz, Hanna W. and Frederick L. Morrison, Greta Newman,
Dr. Raquel H. Newman, Walter and Ellen Newman, Rabbi
Stephen S. and Laurie E. Pearce, Jefferson E. Peyser,
Programs & Events
3rd Annual Kristallnacht Commemoration Program
Community Engagement
TOOTHBRUSH AND TOOTHPASTE
COLLECTION
Next time you visit your dentist, please ask for a donation of
supplies to help the homeless with their daily hygiene. Drop
off donations in the bin in the temple foyer.
Reflections on Resistance:
50 Children:The Rescue Mission of Mr. &
Mrs. Kraus
The HBO documentary film sharing the story of two ordinary
Americans, 50 innocent lives and one unforgettable journey.
Sunday, November 8, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, Martin Meyer Sanctuary
Film screening, including a Q&A with the film’s director and
producer, Steven Pressman
Free Holocaust Education Program for the community
In the spring of 1939, a Jewish lawyer and his wife left their
comfortable home and two children in Philadelphia and
embarked on a bold and improbable plan to rescue fifty
children from Nazi-controlled Vienna. Despite the oncoming
horrors of the Holocaust, Gil and Eleanor Kraus bravely
traveled into the heart of the Nazi empire in an effort to save
innocent lives. Their unlikely mission would turn an ordinary
American couple into extraordinary heroes. Their incredible
story has never been told ... until now.
Reflections on Resistance is made possible by the generous
support of the Ingrid D. Tauber Philanthropic Fund. Additional
support is provided by the Holocaust Memorial Education
Fund of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco,
the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties.
This program is honoring the memory of Liz Perle, long-time
Emanu-El member and granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus.
All donations will be distributed during the Homeless Interfaith
Shelter Dinners in January. Ask your dentist, orthodontist and
periodontist to donate today!
NAMI Support Group
For Family Members,
Caregivers & Friends
of People Experiencing
Mental Illness
Second Tuesday of Every Month, 7:00 - 8:30 pm, Guild Hall
Nov 10, Dec 8, Jan 12, Feb 9, March 8, April 12, May 10,
June 14
As a follow-up to Emanu-El’s offering of the 12-week, Familyto-Family National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) series
this past spring, we are excited to announce the creation
of a support group which will provide knowledge and
understanding along with an opportunity for group attendees
to share experiences in a confidential setting. You do not have
to be a graduate of the Family-to-Family series to participate
in this support group.
Led by congregant Lori Campbell, a trained facilitator with
extensive experience supporting individuals and families
affected by mental illness.
Questions? Contact Lori Campbell at lori.j.campbell@
comcast.net.
No need to register. Drop-ins welcome.
Questions about this program? Contact Director of Adolescent
and Adult Education Ariana Estoque at [email protected]
or 415-751-2541 x307. This film is suitable for children 11
years and older.
Emanu-El Legacy Circle continued
Pollard Family Trust, Steven and Kirsten Polsky, Abigail
and Jason Porth, Estate of Jacqueline A. Reed, Helen
Regensburger, Helen Rice, Rose P. Rinder, Ella Rinkel,
Barbara Rogers, Barbara J. Rolph, Theodore T. Rosenberg,
Mr. Morton A. Rosenblum and Mrs. Barbara Rosenblum,
Ruth Friedman Rowell and Alfred Rowell, Ilya and Mayya
Rudyak, Robert Sachs, Barbara Rose Sagarin, Elyse A.
Salven-Blatt, John Henry Samter, Rita R. Semel, Theodore
R. Seton, Ruth Sevier, Gary and Dana Shapiro, Mary Shapiro,
Clara (Kay) Shiman, Paul J. and Sheri Dana Siegel, Jonathan
Sorgen, Nathan Spivock, Steven K. Steinberg, Mr. and Mrs.
Edwin Stern, Ronna Stone and Tim Smith, Irving Sugarman,
Roselyne Chroman Swig, Charles J. Tanenbaum, Laszlo N.
Tauber Family Foundation, Tonkin Family Fund, Rabbi Leo
and Gunda Trepp, John Upton and Janet Sassoon-Upton,
Shirley and Herman Victor, Lottie Viyolini, Alan Warshaw,
Yvette Watenberg, Sylvia and Julian Weidler, Arthur and Hilda
Weil, William and Rochelle Weiman, Marilyn and Raymond
Weisberg, Sam Welling, Dr. Lawrence H. Werboff and Caroline
Kahn Werboff, Louis M. Werth, Henry and Erna Wertheim,
Irene E. White, Robert Louis Wiel, Paul Zarefsky, Frederick
and Juanita Zelinsky, Harold and Doris Zellerbach, Al Zemsky,
Polina and Lew Zikman, Helene (Lani) Zinn, Naftali and
Schirley Zisman, Andrew Zittell and Mia Mitchell
* may their memory be a blessing
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Programs & Events
EMANU-EL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER GATHERINGS
Emanu-El in the Neighborhood offers home-hosted, potluck
gatherings, ranging from clergy-led Havdalahs, to Shabbat
dinners, to Break Fasts and more. These gatherings provide
an opportunity for congregants to meet their neighbors in
intimate settings and get to know one another outside of the
synagogue walls.
For latest updates on Neighborhood gatherings and to meet
your Neighborhood Liaisons, visit www.emanuelsf.org/EIN.
Look for your email invitation and RSVP!
Marin County
Wednesday, November 11, 4:00 - 5:30 pm – Limonata and
Learning
Book Passage, Corte Madera
Clergy: Rabbi Jonathan Singer
Nob Hill, Russian Hill, North Beach and surrounding areas
Saturday, November 14, 6:30 - 8:00 pm – Havdalah
Host(s): TBD
Clergy: Rabbi Jason Rodich
JEWMBA With Marsha Attie
Wednesday, November 18
7:00 – 9:00 pm, Rinder Chapel
Please register at www.emanuelsf.org/register.
The Hebrew Bible and Talmud refer to many events related
to dance and contain over 30 dance terms. Whether you
are a dancer or an observer, you are encouraged to join this
energetic and interactive evening which celebrates women!
MEN’S GROUP
Men of Congregation Emanu-El enjoy a monthly opportunity
to socialize and study with a member of the clergy. This
cross-generational group provides a small group experience
so important to building community. Men’s Group events are
congregant only.
Wine Tasting, Sunday, November 15
Please register at www.emanuelsf.org/register.
Join Rabbi Jonathan for a vineyard tour,
wine tasting, olive press and dinner in Napa/
Sonoma. We will study the role of the fruit of
the vine and the olive tree in Jewish life, and
enjoy camaraderie as we eat and drink of
the bounty of that region.
Inner Richmond
Saturday, November 14, 6:30 - 8:00 pm – Havdalah
Host(s): TBD
Clergy: Cantor Arik Luck
Marin County
Wednesday, December 2, 4:00 - 5:30 pm – Limonata and
Learning, Book Passage, Corte Madera
Clergy: Rabbi Jonathan Singer
Mission, Bernal Heights, Castro, Noe Valley, SOMA, and
Potrero Hill
Saturday, December 12, 6:30 - 8:00 pm – Chanukah Party
Host: Mauri Schwartz
Clergy: Rabbi Beth Singer
Outer Richmond/Sea Cliff
Sunday, December 13, 6:30 - 8:00 pm – Chanukah Party
Host: Ricki Pollycove
Interested in getting involved in your neighborhood? Many
neighborhoods are seeking volunteers to host, reach out to
congregants in need, welcome new congregants, or send a
monthly newsletter. Questions? Contact Jennifer Goldstein at
[email protected] or 415-750-7548.
An active and committed group of dads of Congregation
Emanu-El ages 30-50 working on building community
over time. The Tribe’s areas of focus are deep discussions,
community service and play. Tribe events are congregant only.
Deep Fried Poker Chanukah Celebration
Tuesday, December 8, 7:30 – 9:30 pm, Temple Emanu-El
Please register at www.emanuelsf.org/register.
Join the men of The Tribe for a fun evening celebrating
Chanukah with poker and fried chicken made by our very own
Rabbi Ryan Bauer. Bring a beverage to share!
INTERFAITH GROUP
Do you identify as interfaith? Are you interested in meeting
other Emanu-El congregants and families who also identify
as interfaith? Then come join us at an upcoming gathering!
Interfaith Group gatherings are congregant only.
Congregant Gatherings
Happy Holidays? Let’s Talk About Honoring Traditions
Tuesday, November 3, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Rinder Chapel
WOMEN’S GROUP
Please register at www.emanuelsf.org/register.
The Congregation Emanu-El Women’s Group monthly gettogethers offer a combination of relationship development
along with the creation of meaning and impact in the lives of
participants. The women’s group spans all demographics of
the congregation. Women’s Group events are congregant only.
Questions? Contact Community Engagement Professional
Jennifer Goldstein at [email protected] or 415-7507548.
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THE TRIBE
Commonly known as the “December Dilemma,” interfaith
families often want to know how to respect and honor each
other’s religious holidays while at the same time finding a
level of participation in family traditions with which they feel
comfortable.
Join us for a candid conversation led by Rabbi Jason Rodich
and Rabbi Mychal Copeland of InterfaithFamily/Bay Area as
we learn and share our best practices of how to handle what
may be a delicate subject!
Programs & Events
STORIES OF YOUR LIFE
10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Temple Emanu-El
Monday, November 2
Monday, December 7
Join our ongoing group of adult peers to explore, share and
preserve your unique life in writing. Get to know yourself
and others better. The stories are more important than the
writing, so don’t worry about skill level. Past topics have
included: Turning Points, Your Relationship with Money,
Pleasant Surprises and more. The writing is done at home
and shared in class in a safe and structured way. Our friendly
group welcomes newcomers. Facilitated by fellow congregant,
Nancy Alpert, LCSW. To register, contact Jennifer Goldstein
at [email protected] or (415) 751-2541 x171. New
participants are always welcome!
Competition and Acceptance: The Craze
around the High School and College
Application Process
Parent Parallel Program: Parenting Jewish Teens
Tuesday, November 10
7:00 – 8:30 pm, Rinder Chapel
Parent Parallel Programs bring parents together to discuss the
hard topics of parenting Jewish teens in a modern, secular
society. This program is for parents only, is open to the
community, and is free of charge.
The high school and college application process can take a
toll on students, parents and the entire family. It can be allconsuming, causing stress and worry at a time that should
be exciting. Come and hear from some experts from our local
Jewish Community High School of the Bay: Michael Brody
- Assistant Head of School, Adam Eilath -Jewish Studies
Teacher / College & Gap-Year Advising and Geoff Smith Dean of College and Gap-Year Advising.
This program will help parents navigate the insanity of the high
school and college application process. For those parents
that are in the middle of it, this will also help you with triage
once the applications have been submitted. The program
additionally discuss how to keep Shalom Bayit, peace in the
home, during this hectic and emotional time.
Mark Your Calendar Other PPPs:
· January 12 – Sex and Sexuality
· March 8 – Body Image and Eating Disorders
· May 24 – TBD
RSVP to Ariana Estoque, Director of Adolescent and Adult
Education at [email protected] or (415) 751-2541
x307.
Lost and Found: How, after a halfcentury of separation, Tevye’s
grandchildren rediscovered one
another and changed the world
Sunday, November 15, 3:00 to 5:00 pm Private Residence in Presidio Heights Are you, your parents, or your spouse, from the former Soviet
Union? Would you like to learn more about the history of the
role Bay Area Jews played in bringing over 100,000 Soviet
Jews to America?
Please join us for an intimate, congregant gathering with
special guest speaker, David Waksberg, CEO of Jewish
LearningWorks and former executive director of the Bay Area
Council for Soviet Jews. Enjoy snacks and refreshments as
you meet your fellow Russian congregants. Registration is required as space is limited. Questions?
Contact Monica Pevzner at [email protected].
Current Issues For French Jewry
Wednesday, November 18
Noon – 1:00 pm at the Mechanic’s Institute, 57 Post Street
Join Rabbi Jonathan for a Downtown lunch with Philippe
Karsenty, deputy mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, to learn about the
tensions and issues facing French Jewry. Drinks will be provided
but bring your own lunch, brown bag or not. Take a break from
work, and learn about this important Jewish community issue.
RSVPs greatly appreciated. Please contact Ariana Estoque at
[email protected] or 415-751-2541 x307.
Volunteer Opportunities
COOKING FOR CONGREGANTS:
An Easy Way to Give Back to the Emanu-El
Community
First and Second Thursdays of the month,
9:00 -11:00 am in the Emanu-El Kitchen
Thursday, November 5
Thursday, November 12
Do you enjoy cooking?
Participate in this mitzvah led
by congregant and former
restaurant owner, Gail Laghi.
Together, up to 5 volunteers
make meals for congregants
in need due to a recent illness,
death, or birth.
All congregants are welcome to join! Menu, ingredients
and storage containers are provided. Basic cooking skills
preferred. Questions? Contact Jennifer Goldstein at
[email protected] or (415) 751-2541 x171 or register
at www.emanuelsf.org/register.
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9
HOLIDAY DINNER DRIVE
Send back your Turkey Envelopes!
Please make all checks payable to
the SF-Marin Food Bank and mail to:
Congregation Emanu-El, Two Lake
Street, San Francisco, CA, 94118 or
donate online at www.sfmfoodbank.
org/dinnerdrive and choose the
Emanu-El Holiday Dinner Drive from
the dropdown menu.
For the past eleven years,
Congregation Emanu-El
congregants have come together
to support the SF-Marin Food Bank
and its mission to end hunger in San
Francisco and Marin.
Please remember our appeal for the
annual Holiday Dinner Drive (formerly
the “Turkey Drive”) to benefit the
clients of the San Francisco Food
Bank by providing them with a
holiday dinner for Thanksgiving.
ARTS
The Elizabeth S. and Alvin I. Fine
Museum presents:
150 Years of Jewish
Magicians and their
contributions to the
performing arts
Jewish artists, actors and variety performers have been in the
forefront of entertainment throughout history. It’s no surprise
that magical Jewish inventors, producers and performers have
shaped their art through history.
Asked to name a few famous magicians, people recall only
Harry Houdini or David Copperfield. Both have left an indelible
mark in entertainment and both entertainers were Jewish. Few
people know that in the past 150 years there have been over
250 famous Jewish magicians! From Victorian to contemporary
Jewish performers, these entertainers have made lasting
impressions in the performing arts.
In the 1800’s, the Bamberg and Herrmann families were “royal
dynasties” bringing five or six generations of magicians to the
stage. Today a large number of entertainers including David
Copperfield, Ricky Jay, David Blaine and Teller (of Penn & Teller)
along with a few dozen of our own Bay Area magicians practice
magic worldwide.
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Starting in November, relive the mystery and amazement
of a bygone era and celebrate the entertainers of today.
Congregation Emanu-El will explore the careers of dozens of
illusionists who’ve contributed to both their Jewish heritage
and the performing arts.
The exhibition includes posters, letters, biographies, theater
and programs, spanning 150 years of magic. Friday night,
November 6, magicians will stroll throughout the exhibit,
treating visitors to magic right under their noses.
In January, the Congregation will present a special event
recreating famous moments from Jewish magicians’
historical shows and include a discussion about the impact
Jewish magical artists have made on generations of people
who love to be enthralled and entertained.
For more information contact Judi Leff, Director of Arts and
Cultural Programs, at [email protected].
Programs & Events
RESURGENT, RESPLENDENT SAN FRANCISCO:
THE JEWS AND THE PANAMA - PACIFIC
INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION OF 1915
Mishpacha and Families
Wednesday, November 11, 7:00 - 9:00 pm,
Martin Meyer Sanctuary
Drop in with your little one (birth to 30 months) and spend time
with other parents. Join us as we prepare to welcome Shabbat
on Fridays and celebrate Havdalah on Mondays. Enjoy music,
stories, puppets and more with Early Childhood Educator
Mimi Greisman. Take advantage of a wonderful opportunity to
connect with other parents and create lasting friendships.
Less than a decade after the devastating earthquake and
fire, and a year after the opening of the Panama Canal, San
Francisco regained its place as the major metropolis of the
American West. The symbol of that revival, and in some
ways its engine, was the dazzling PPIE, perhaps the greatest
world’s fair before or since.
Sprawled over 635 acres in the Marina District, the
magnificent exposition bequeathed the Palace of Fine Arts
to San Francisco and left a legacy both of resilience and
grandeur. The group most responsible for this landmark event
was the city’s powerful German-Jewish elite.
Join us as historians of Bay Area Jewry will discuss the
meaning of the PPIE and the outsized Jewish role and
contribution to this celebrated time and event.
Speakers include:
Fred Rosenbaum, author of The Cosmopolitans and Visions
of Reform
Frances Dinkelspiel, author of Towers of Gold and Tangled
Vines
Dr. Ava Kahn, author of Jewish Life in the American West
and (with Dr. Marc Dollinger) California Jews
Ann Harlow, author of Independent Scholar: Albert Bender
and Anne Bremer
Co-presented by the California Historical Society,
Congregation Emanu-El, and Lehrhaus Judaica
Admission is free. For more information, please contact Judi Leff,
Director of Arts and Cultural Programs, at [email protected].
Two Parent-Baby Groups Now Available
Free of Charge
Bagels and Babies
Fridays, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Mazel Tots!
Mondays, 9:30 – 11:00 am
GOT SHABBAT?
For families with children under age 5
Monthly on Saturdays at 10:15 am: November 7, December 12
FIRST FRIDAY SHABBAT SERVICE
For families with young children
First Friday of every month; optional pre-registration Simchat
Shabbat dinner follows during the school year.
Side By Side - Fall 2015
Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning October 13, Congregation
Emanu-El.
Two sessions per week for 12 weeks (24 total sessions)
Member price: $540/Price: $720
Emanu-El’s Side by Side program introduces our youngest
children (18 months to 2.5 years) to a preschool environment
with their parent or caregiver by their side. Our Side by
Side program is rich in Jewish content, celebrating Jewish
traditions and holidays. This program will be a wonderful
introduction to preschool that will deepen relationships in our
community and launch a meaningful beginning to the school
experience for both parents and children.
Installation of Cantor Luck
December 4, 6:00 pm
SAVE THE DATE!
Services at 6:00 pm
Pre-oneg at 5:30 pm
with reception following the service.
Special Guest Speaker,
Cantor Jacob Mendelson.
(This will be the evening’s only service, it is for all ages.)
Join us, as Cantor Arik Luck is installed as the 8th cantor in the
150-year history of Congregation Emanu-El. Together with Cantor
Luck and special guest Cantor Jack Mendelson, we will celebrate
the renowned musical legacy of our synagogue, and look boldly
towards the future of Jewish music in the 21st century.
Child care will be offered in the Martin Meyer Sanctuary.
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Annual Survey Results
Survey Says – “Community”
By David N. Goldman, Executive Director
A Brief Recap of the Congregational Survey
Thank you to the many hundreds of individuals who responded to the first annual
congregational survey. The survey was part of a larger effort to give members more
opportunities to meaningfully participate in shaping the direction of Emanu-El.
We want you to feel like owners of the temple – because you are!
Overall Assessment – In a Word “Community”
Community was overwhelmingly the first word that came to
mind when congregants think about Emanu-El (25% listed
community first compared with the second most frequent
response - spiritual at 5%). The word “community” was the
number choice in nearly every demographic (young and old;
new member and veteran). The importance of community
pervaded throughout the survey results. K’hilah Ke’doshah Supporting One Another In Sacred Community was one of the
top three values named by congregants. Of all the Emanu-El
functions queried in the survey, Welcoming Newcomers was
the item most congregants strongly agreed that Emanu-El
did well (73%). Regarding members’ personal experiences,
five out the top six most agreed upon statements involved
the relationships people had with clergy, staff, and other
members.
Broad Satisfaction From Members
There is broad satisfaction in both how the congregation
functions and the impact that we have on people’s lives. Over
84% think the congregation is heading in the right direction
and 85% would recommend the temple to a friend. Over
60% of members either agreed or strongly agreed with the
following statements (in descending order):
In my experience
• I know clergy are available to me.
• I am comfortable approaching a clergy person.
• I feel personally connected with at least one member of
the clergy.
• My worship needs are met.
• I celebrate joyous times with others.
Emanu-El…..
• Welcomes newcomers.
• Plays a leadership role in the broader community.
• Communicates openly and honestly.
• Is well-run.
• Highly values active participation.
• Provides a wide range of opportunities for volunteering
through Emanu-El.
• Is clear about what it stands for.
• Highly values financial contributions at any level.
• Is headed in the right direction.
• Is innovative
• Leadership is open to new ideas.
Taking a step back from detailed responses, the majority
of congregants agreed or strongly agreed with every single
factor questioned but one (clearly communicates about
finances). And not a single factor garnered more than 8% of
congregants saying that they disagreed or strongly disagreed
with the statement.
12
12
We can do better
It is clear that Emanu-El is making a positive impact in
people’s lives and doing a very good job of delivering its many
services, but we can do better. There were only a handful of
criteria where “strongly agree” was the most frequent answer:
• I am comfortable approaching a clergy person.
• I feel personally connected with at least one member of
the clergy.
• I feel personally connected with at least one member of
the staff.
• Emanu-El welcomes newcomers.
Further, a statistical analysis of the response to the “would you
recommend Emanu-El” question (the so-called “net promoter”
score) shows that our results are positive but are much lower
than organizations with scores that are considered the gold
standard in member/customer experience.
In sum, playing off of the title from the Jim Collins business
classic, Emanu-El needs to go from good (or very good) to
great in the minds of more congregants.
Of all the Emanu-El functions queried
in the survey, Welcoming Newcomers
was the item most congregants
strongly agreed that Emanu-El did well
(73%).
Member Engagement - The Key To Going From Very Good
to Great?
Thirty-eight percent of Emanu-El congregants describe their
engagement levels as high or very high. Yet in this group,
fewer than 6% described their engagement as very high. An
analysis of over 300,000 religious organizations in the United
States showed that 80% of congregants had medium or low
involvement. See Thumma, Scott; Bird, Warren The Other
80 Percent: Turning Your Spectators into Active Participants
(2010). Emanu-El’s engagement numbers are likely on par
with the average congregation. Yet, there is certainly room for
improvement.
Improving engagement numbers will make a positive
difference in the lives of members and could be the key to
making the congregants’ positive responses even better.
Research presented in the The Other 80% shows that highly
engaged members are more spiritually fulfilled, more strongly
committed to the organization’s goals, and stay members
longer (even when circumstances change) than those with
lower levels of involvement.
Emanu-El’s Congregational survey found similar connections
between engagement and satisfaction. Engaged congregants
rated Emanu-El higher than less engaged congregants
in every single function or experience questioned. For
example, over 70% of engaged congregants strongly agree
that the congregation communicates openly, is innovative
and is headed in the right direction. Yet, less than 40% of
congregants with low or very low engagement strongly agree
with these same statements.
Even more importantly, engaged congregants also have
radically different experiences at Emanu-El when compared to
those with lower engagement. Here are a few examples that
are typical of the results in the survey
Strongly Agree With…
High Low
Engagement Engagement
“I am growing Jewishly”
55%
10%
“I feel personally connected
to a member of the clergy”
100%
29%
“I have found community
within the congregation”
83%
8%
Young Adult Sukkot
Survey results varied more widely based on engagement
levels than any other factor we examined, including age and
length of membership.
Whether high engagement causes congregant satisfaction
or satisfaction causes congregants to be more engaged is
an open question. Most likely “the two realities are highly
correlated. They reinforce each other.” Thumma, Scott; Bird,
Warren, The Other 80 Percent (Kindle Locations 3108-3109).
Next Steps
The survey just closed at the time that I’m writing this article
and the results. I will review the results with every level of
management from clergy, our member team, and the board
of directors. Even our initial review yields some important
lessons for the congregation and our future. We have a very
strong base of satisfaction to start with but we need to focus
on creating a more highly-engaged membership who more
uniformly agree that Emanu-el is making a positive impact on
their lives.
Annual Meeting
Thursday, November 19, 7:00 pm
The 166th Annual Meeting of Congregation
Emanu-El is being held on Thursday,
November 19 in the Martin Meyer Sanctuary
beginning at 7:00 pm with a wine and cheese
reception preceding at 6:30 pm.
We look forward to seeing you there.
ASK THE RABBI
Every month, starting in December, we will be
featuring questions submitted by our readers
to our rabbis. Please send your questions to
Rob Freedman at [email protected]
with “Ask the Rabbi” in the subject line.
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November Calendar
1
Sunday
Monday
2
Mazel Tots at 9:30 am
Stories of Your Life
at 10:00 am
For more information, please call us at (415) 751-2535 or visit www.emanuelsf.org.
All events take place at Temple Emanu-El unless marked Not at Temple (NAT).
Tuesday
3
Interfaith Group’s
Honoring
Traditions at 7:00 pm
Wednesday
4
Thursday
Friday
5
Cooking for Congregants at
9:00 am
Pre-oneg at 5:30 pm
Classic Shabbat Service
at 6:00 pm
Scrabble at noon
8
9
Mazel Tots at 9:30 am
6
Bagels and Babies at
9:30 am
7 Rabbi Kushner’s Mystical
Torah Class at 9:15 am
Torah Study at 9:15 am
Got Shabbat at 10:15 am
Family Shabbat Service at
Shabbat Morning Minyan
6:00 pm
including Bar Mitzvah of
Simchat Shabbat Dinner George Rumsey at 7:00 pm
at 10:30 am
10
Scrabble at noon
11
The Jews and the
Panama - Pacific
International
Exposition of 1915
at 7:00 pm
12
Cooking for Congregants at
9:00 am
13
Bagels and Babies at
9:30 am
Pre-oneg at 5:30 pm
ONE SHABBAT at 6:00 pm
Late Shabbat
at 8:30 pm
15
16
Men’s Group in
Mazel Tots at Wine Country 9:00 9:30 am
am NAT
Scrabble at noon
Saturday
17
18
Women’s JEWMBA
at 7:00 pm
19
20
Bagels and Babies at
9:30 am
14 Rabbi Kushner’s Mystical
Torah Class at 9:15 am
Torah Study at 9:15 am
Shabbat Morning Minyan
including Bar Mitzvah of
Eli Gordon at 10:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service
including Bar Mitzvah of
Samuel Yolles at 10:30 am
21 Scholar Torah Study at 9:15 am
Pre-oneg at 5:30 pm
Shabbat Morning Minyan
ONE SHABBAT at 6:00 pm including Bar Mitzvah of
Benjamin Slaughter at
50s & 60s Individuals
10:30 am
Havurah Potluck at 7:00
Shabbat Morning Service
pm
including Bar Mitzvah
of Jonah Benningfield at
10:30 am
Scholar-In-Residence Weekend
22
23
Mazel Tots at 9:30 am
24
Scrabble at noon
25
26
27
Bagels and Babies at
9:30 am
28 Rabbi Kushner’s Mystical
Torah Class at 9:15 am
Pre-oneg at 5:30 pm
Torah Study at 9:15 am
ONE SHABBAT at 6:00 pm Shabbat Morning Minyan
at 10:30 am
Shabbat Morning Service
including Bar Mitzvah of
Isaiah Koenig at 10:30 am
29
30
Mazel Tots at 9:30 am
Scrabble at
noon
View school calendars at
www.emanuelsf.org/school-calendars
14
Lifecycles & Mazel Tovs
MAZEL TOV TO OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED JOY
Rozlynn Silvaggio and Keith Bauman on the birth of their daughter,
Brooklyn Jayne Bauman
Rebecca and Mark Schulman on the birth of their daughter,
Isabel Dorothy Schulman
Samantha and Mike Matthews on the birth of their daughter,
Alivia Jac Matthews
Mollie Goodman and Andrew O’Brien on the birth of their daughter,
Audrey O’Brien
Jamie Freedman and Paul Ross on the birth of their daughter,
Lori Florence Freedman
Amy and Harish Abbot on the birth of their daughter,
Zoe Meher Abbott
Dana Kalish and Matthew Gallivan on the birth of their daughter,
Louise Bolt Gallivan
Natalya Vaksman and Robert Sverbilov on the birth of their daughter,
Natalya and Yefim Sverbilov on the birth of their granddaughter,
and Anna Mordehai on the birth of her niece, Evie Yael Sverbilov
Ellie Fritz-Lewis and Preston Lewis on the birth of their daughter,
Chloe Alexandra Rose Lewis
CONDOLENCES TO OUR MEMBERS WHO
HAVE SUFFERED RECENT LOSSES
Colleen Prince (Jeffrey Judd) on the death of her mother, and
Dashiell Prince-Judd and Madison Prince-Judd on the death of
their grandmother, Josephine Prince
Elizabeth Ozer (Cliff Staton) on the death of her uncle, Harvey Ozer
Elaine Hilp on the death of her son, Harry A. Hilp
Paul Zarefsky on the death of his sister-in-law, and Jacob Zarefsky
on the death of his aunt, Nikki Zarefsky
Richard Gerstein (Mariela) on the death of his father, and Jacob,
Samuel and Sarah Gerstein on the death of their grandfather,
David Maurice Gerstein
Susan Shwartz (Paul) on the death of her mother, and Jason Gutstein
on the death of his grandmother, Frieda Shapiro
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MEMBERS
ON THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS
Frances Dinkelspiel on the publication of her book Tangled Vines.
Abigail Michelson Porth, Associate Executive Director of the Jewish
Community Relations Council, on being appointed to the San
Francisco Human Rights Commission by Mayor Ed Lee in a
ceremony at City Hall.
New Members, as of October 5
Anita and Marc Abramovich• Jennifer and Noah Berland, Jacob D.
Berland, Zoe K. Berland • Mr. Nathan Berrebbi • Mr. David Carvel •
Mr. Stephen Chernekoff • Ms. Margot Edelman • Mr. Eric Edelman
• Mr. Joel Englander • Ms. Virginie Eskenazi • Mr. Jeffrey Farber
and Ms. Leah Hatem • Ms. Leemore Federman • Mr. Jett Fein • Ms.
Alexandra Fradin • Danielle and Charlie Friend • Hannah P. Gallagher
• Rachel and Larry Gould, Hannah Gould, Skye Gould • Mr. Alex
Hollander • Ms. Laura Jones and Mr. Brian Matthay, Mila A. Matthay
• Ms. Olivia Joyce • Mr. and Mrs. Thor Kaslofsky, Kaleya E. Kaslofsky,
Lucian H. Kaslofsky • Ms. Maya Kaye • Mr. Stuart Landesberg and
Ms. Caitlin Looney • Mr. David Lasker • Ms. Abigail Lieberfarb •
Miriam E. Markowitz • Mr. Michael Masserman • Samantha and
Mike Matthews, Alivia J. Matthews • Ms. Pamela Mika • Ms. and
Mr. Melissa Nemer, Samson J. Einborn, Ayla E. Einborn • Ms. Katie
Poplin, Madeleine M. Davis • Jordan and Tiffany Sapp, Jonah Sapp
• Ms. Leah Schachar • Ms. Jessica Schiffman • David and Laura
Schwartz, Asher E. Schwartz • Trisha and Greg Sherman, Riley L.
Sherman, Mia C. Sherman • Ian and Laura Sherr • Mrs. Ilana Stern
and Mr. Jeff Enquist • Ms. Jessica Stolbach • Mr. Logan Sugarman
and Ms. Lauren Berson • Mr. Feliks Bilyak and Mrs. Valeriya
Suvorova, Raffaella E. Bilyak • Sean D. Taube • Mr. Michael Topol •
Ms. Jennifer Weiss • Ms. Tal Yeshanov • Matthew and Emily Ziegler
• Sam Zimmerman and Sarah Doernberg • Edie N. Zimmerman, Noa
D. Zimmerman
November B’nei Mitzvah
George Rumsey
Bar Mitzvah: November 7
Martin Meyer Sanctuary
Parents: Lisa Bransten & John Rumsey
Torah Portion: Haye Sarah
Samuel Yolles
Bar Mitzvah: November 14
Main Sanctuary
Parents: Jill Einstein & Peter Yolles
Torah Portion: Tol’doth
Eli Gordon
Bar Mitzvah: November 14
Martin Meyer Sanctuary
Parents: Alexandra & Steven Gordon
Torah Portion: Tol’doth
Jonah Benningfield
Bar Mitzvah: November 21
Main Sanctuary
Parents: Susanna & Milo Benningfield
Torah Portion: Vayetze
Benjamin Slaughter
Bar Mitzvah: November 21
Martin Meyer Sanctuary
Parents: Staci & James Slaughter
Torah Portion: Vayetze
Isaiah Koenig
Bar Mitzvah: November 28
Main Sanctuary
Parents: Elizabeth Rody & Howard Koenig
Torah Portion: Vayishlah
Rejoined Members, as of October 5
Mr. and Ms. Johan Almqvist, Olivia M. Almqvist, Magnus
Almqvist• Ms. Julia Bernstein and Mr. Robert Schwartz • Ms.
Clara Brenner • Douglas Weinstein and Margot Cooke • Mr. and
Mrs. Christopher J. Dean, Daisy M. Dean • Dr. Kimberly and Mr.
Jonathan Garfinkel, Madelyn D. Garfinkel, Oliver G. Garfinkel,
Annabelle K. Garfinkel • Ms. Shira Gasarch • Mr. Reuben Gibson •
Mr. Andrew Goldfarb and Mr. Robert Rohr • L. David Kingsley and
Erin Kingsley • Mr. Leonard B. Paul • Mr. Travis Schachne • Ms.
Diane Stern and Mr. Andy Quintana • Laynie Tzena
Celebrating a Shehecheyanu Moment?
Congregation Emanu-El is an ever-present partner in the
transitional moments of our members’ lives. Be it a baby
naming or brit milah, bar or bat mitzvah, conversion or wedding
ceremony, or a recovery from illness, the congregation’s clergy
and staff strive to ensure that each sacred ‘Shehecheyanu
Moment’ is deeply fulfilling and personal.
A donation to the Emanu-El Life-Cycle Fund is a lovely way to
mark a personal life-cycle experience, to honor friends or family
celebrating a happy milestone or in gratitude for the services
the clergy provide during these profound moments. Please
donate online at www.emanuelsf.org or call the Development
office at (415) 750-7554.
15
Congregation Emanu-El
Two Lake Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
www.emanuelsf.org
M
PERIODICAL
We are a vibrant, sacred Jewish
community that is dedicated to
advancing our members’ lifelong
involvement in Judaism through
worship, learning, good deeds, and
congregant to congregant connections.
Jonathan Singer, Senior Rabbi
Beth Singer, Senior Rabbi
Sydney B. Mintz, Rabbi
Ryan Bauer, Rabbi
Carla Fenves, Rabbi
Jason Rodich, Rabbi
Marsha Attie, Cantor
Arik Luck, Cantor
Roslyn Barak, Senior Cantor Emerita
Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, Emanu-El Scholar
Stephen Pearce, Senior Rabbi Emeritus
David N. Goldman, Executive Director and
General Counsel
Terry Kraus, FTA, Director of Membership Services
Elena Gary, Chief Financial Officer
Lani Zinn, Director of Development
Heather Erez, Director of Youth Education
Ariana Estoque, MEd, Director of Adult and Adolescent Education
Rob Freedman, Director of Marketing and
Communications
Heather Mendelsohn Posner, Director of
Early Childhood Education
Svetlana Leykin, Director of Facilities and Special Events
Sandy Rechtschaffen, Director of
Community Engagement
Penny Mika, Director of Operations and Office
Administration
Judi Leff, Director of Arts and Cultural
Programs
Karen Schiller, Copy Editor
Members of the Board Of Directors
President, Donny Friend
Past President, Steven E. Dinkelspiel
Vice President, Mark Lehmann
Vice President, Paul Zarefsky
Treasurer, Steven Polsky
Secretary, Erika Coplon
Sandi Bragar
Dale Boutiette
Steve Cohen
Lara Ettenson
Alan Greinetz
Barbara Kaufman
Margaret Kaufman
Sasha Kovriga
Rachel Melman
Mark Nagel
Abby Porth
Paula Pretlow
Jim Shapiro
Ted Storey
The Temple Chronicle (USPS 023-317) is published
monthly except June and July for $36 per year by
The Congregation Emanu-El, Two Lake Street, San
Francisco, CA 94118. Periodicals Postage Paid at San
Francisco, CA, and at additional mailing offices
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The
Temple Chronicle at Congregation Emanu-El, Two
Lake Street, San Francisco, CA 94118.
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