April 2016 - Temple Isaiah

April2011
2016
December
Adar
/
Nisan
5776
Kislev / Tevet 5772
Introducing Rabbi Jay LeVine
It is with great pleasure that we announce the selection of Jay
LeVine to serve as assistant rabbi at Temple Isaiah. The search committee was impressed and moved by his passion, spirituality, intellect, and creativity, and we are excited that he will be joining our
community and clergy team.
Rabbi LeVine will be starting his work at Temple Isaiah on July 1,
but in the meantime, in the spirit of the Passover season, we’ve asked
him to answer four questions to introduce him to our community.
1) You grew up in rural Arizona, a bit of a distance from any established Jewish community. What was your Jewish upbringing like?
I grew up without a lot of connection to Jewish community, but
with a deep connection to Jewish study and practice. My parents
read a lot to my brother (one year younger) and me every night,
from kid’s books to more serious fiction – and Torah as well. Every
year we would cycle through the Five Books, and while I sometimes spaced out, I did gain an affinity to coming back again and
again to the text. I never knew what detail would pop out that I’d
never noticed before!
When I was approaching bar mitzvah age, we would drive an
hour and a half (each way) to Tucson to attend Shabbat services
and religious school. I loved being in larger Jewish spaces, but I
also remember the intimate sweetness of Shabbat at home – just
my parents, my brother, and the dogs (and at various points in my
childhood, cats, chickens, and goats). One of my favorite parts was
when the sun would set and we would do a short havdalah ritual,
then go for an evening stroll. When we returned home all was dark,
and the regular week had returned. I was eager for what lay ahead
and just a little sad to say goodbye to the serenity of Shabbat for
another week.
2) Both of your parents are musicians. What role does music play
in your life and how has it become a part of your rabbinate?
Music is a big part of my life. Much of what I know about the importance of practice and the joy of developing a skill comes from this
area of my life. I grew up playing piano, trumpet, and a little bit of
guitar. In rabbinical school I’ve mostly played mandolin.
But before I ever plunked a key or strummed a chord, I am told
my very young self constantly went around humming. That same
impulse inspired me in the last six years to sing my own niggunim,
simple melodies I often base on prayers or biblical verses. I’ve
grown to appreciate group chanting, an inexplicably powerful
experience.
I also enjoy listening to music. I’m always exploring new
albums, from the Israeli scene to the Afro blues of Mali. And of
course, more mainstream music like Adele.
3) The realm of prayer is something you are very passionate
about; in fact, you’ve even compiled your own siddur. What
is the role of prayer in your life and what would you advise
a congregant who is skeptical about prayer?
Prayer is such a fascinating thing to me. I think partly I just
keep doing it and then spend a lot of time trying to figure
out why. I can identify at least three
aspects that draw me to prayer: (1)
It is a collection of sacred poetry,
begging to be understood but never
to lose its mystery. What can I learn
about these prayer-poems and about
myself when I encounter them daily,
weekly, monthly? (2) Praying is an
opportunity to practice curiosity
and compassion, much like other
meditative activities. It is a chance
to check my moral compass and
Rabbi Jay LeVine
my spiritual health and to put my
yearnings into words. Perhaps they
are heard, but I know they must be spoken. (3) Public prayer
is the quintessential moment of communal gathering. I get to
engage with something meaningful and beautiful with people
who mean a great deal to me.
If you are skeptical about prayer, I’m glad. I think every religious belief and action should be scrutinized skeptically.That’s
what keeps us honest. But don’t live a life solely based on
skepticism. Find moments to experience embrace, to experience something bigger. Consider it an experiment. Stretch your
imaginative talents. Don’t be afraid to dwell in discomfort, at
least momentarily. Most of all, share your journey. No one has
the ultimate answers, but asking the questions together makes
us a lot less lonely.
(Continued on page 2)
TEMPLE ISAIAH
945 Risa Road, Lafayette, CA 94549
Temple Isaiah’s mission is to embody, enhance, and
perpetuate our Jewish tradition by providing a
welcoming spiritual home where the membership
gathers to worship God, study Torah, engage in acts of
Tikun Olam, participate in Jewish rituals and life cycle
events, and experience the joy of being a part of a
caring community.
David Douglas
Jasmine Tarkoff
Tony Crea
Dan Myers
Karen Goldberg
Steve Lipson
Parliamentarian
Robert Goldberg
Phone Ext
Rabbi
Roberto Graetz 308
Rabbi
Judy Shanks 308
Associate Rabbi
Alissa Miller 308
Rabbi Emeritus Shelley Waldenberg 308
Cantor
Leigh Korn 308
Executive Director
Debbie Kirsch 301
Education Director
Rabbi Nicki Greninger 313
Gan Ilan Director
Liz Kaufman 108
Youth Director
Jory Gwasdoff 311
Membership
Abby Seitelman 306
Facilities Rental Michaela Caughlan 303
Librarian
Melissa Gianotti 316
Clergy Secretary
Nina Jones 308
Education Asst.
Daniella Forney 315
Gan Ilan Asst.
Jeanette Woskow 109
Comm. & Dev. Dir.
Jen Boxerman 310
Office Staff
Joanie Zecherle 300
Special Gifts
Sonia Das 304
Bookkeeper
Sherry Tsai 302
President
Executive Vice President
Vice President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Office 925-283-8575
Fax
925-283-8355
Religious School 925-284-9191
Gan Ilan Preschool 925-284-8453
Gift Shop
925-284-4933
Website
www.temple-isaiah.org
Ruach Vol. 64, No. 09, April 2016
Ruach is published monthly except in July by Temple
Isaiah. Ruach is breath, wind, or spirit. It also means
soul. May it be a breeze of fresh Jewish spirit arriving
at your home.
Editor
Judy Lipson
[email protected]
Photographer
Michael Fox
Production
Wes Carlson
2 Temple Isaiah Ruach, April 2016
(Rabbi Jay LeVine continued from page 1)
4) What are you most looking forward to
as you become a rabbi at Temple Isaiah?
I am so excited to join the community of
Temple Isaiah! I’ve shared some of my story,
and I look forward to beginning to hear stories from members and over time creating
our own shared story together. I’m also looking forward to learning with and from the
incredible clergy team.
Annual Meeting
Please join us on Tuesday, May 3, for Temple
Isaiah’s annual meeting. Our bylaws require
a quorum of 10% of member households in
order to approve next year’s budget, elect
officers and directors, and transact other
important temple business. There will be a
free barbeque dinner at 6 p.m. in the oneg
area followed by the meeting at 7:15 p.m. in
the Social Hall. To RSVP for the dinner go to
www.temple-isaiah.org/annualmeeting.
OFFICERS TO BE ELECTED:
President
Executive VP
Vice President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Parliamentarian
David Douglas
Jasmine Tarkoff
Dan Myers
Alan Gennis
Steve Zenker
Susan Rideout
Lisa Hirsch
DIRECTORS TO BE ELECTED:
Dan Bushell - one year term
Debbie Frank
Jill Jacobson
Sarah Landes - two year term
Jay Sherwin
Marlene Thier
Bob Weiss
CONTINUING DIRECTORS:
Julie Bell
Steven Bliss
Derek Cedars Jeff Mann Vivian Poettgen
Alex Rudd
Dan Schick
Lise Wollenberg
Under our bylaws, nominations also may
be made by petition of the membership.
Petitions must include the name of the candidate, a written statement of the willingness
of the candidate to serve, and endorsement
of the nomination by no fewer than 10 members other than the candidate. Petitions must
be delivered to the temple office no later
than April 15.
Study with Cantor Korn
Join Cantor Korn for “Developing a Personal
Prayer Practice,” a new clergy course on
Sunday, April 10 and 24 and May 1, from
11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Jews have found great meaning in practices such as meditation, yoga, and Mussar
as spiritual disciplines. Prayer, however, is
more often regarded as something that happens at a service or something that happens
spontaneously without forethought. Some
even posit that it is uncommon for Jews to
delve into daily prayer outside the walls of
the sanctuary. And yet prayer is something
that we Jews can engage in on a daily basis
with great intention and with specific aims,
forms, and techniques to refine and elevate
our conscious connection with God.
Through text study, discussion, and personal experimentation, we will focus on
ways that we can incorporate prayer into
our daily routines and heighten our spiritual
awareness through a variety of modes of personal practice.
Register at www.temple-isaiah.org/adulted
or call (925) 284-9191. Free of charge.
Stav Shaffir to Speak
J Street SF Bay Area, the New Israel Fund,
and Temple Isaiah’s Israel and World Jewry
Committee invite you to hear Knesset
member Stav Shaffir speak on “Navigating
the Current Political Climate in Israel” on
Thursday, April 14, at 7 p.m. in the Social
Hall.
Stav Shaffir, the youngest female member of the Knesset, rose to prominence in
the 2011 Occupy protests in Tel Aviv and was
elected to the Knesset
on the Labor ticket in
2013. An exciting speaker, Shaffir is known for
her support for social
justice issues including
Stav Shaffir
affordable housing for
young Israelis and religious pluralism. She
has prayed at the Western Wall with Women
of the Wall and has been an outspoken critic
of government corruption and misallocation
of funding.
This event is free and open to the public.
RSVP at www.temple-isaiah.org/knesset.
for the latest information www.temple-isaiah.org
NEWS AND INSPIRATION
April Highlights
Spring into Fitness
Documentary Film with Cantor Korn
April 10, 4 p.m., Adult Lounge In Kabbalah
As the days have become longer, I now see
people out walking, jogging, and biking
after work. In New England, spring is more
boldly welcomed by the move outdoors,
from cozy nights in front of the TV and
fireplace to a more active awakening of
body and spirit. Even in this warmer climate, spring seems to turn our thoughts
and our desires towards fitness. In addition
to physical fitness, we also look to improve
Debbie Kirsch
our minds and our surroundings.
When we make the temple and our homes ready for Passover,
that urge to open the windows and do a thorough spring cleaning is not just about getting rid of chametz and preparing to be
reminded how we ourselves were freed from bondage in Egypt.
It is also a welcoming of the new season and a different type of
new year: a fresh start and endless possibilities.
This spiritual fitness can be strengthened all year long, but
why not add it to our spring makeover? There are so many ways
to achieve this. Every mitzvah, every act of tikkun olam can help
build your spiritual fitness. Moments of prayer or meditation, acts
of loving-kindness, as well as taking a walk with your dog or playing a game with your family, all have the potential not only to be
rewarding in the moment, but to improve our overall satisfaction
with our lives.
Here at Temple Isaiah there are many opportunities to build
your spiritual fitness. From silent meditation to hikes to Tot
Shabbat to a myriad of learning, volunteer, and social action
opportunities, there is truly something for everyone. Spring is
here. Jump in!
Debbie Kirsch, Executive Director
Me, director Steven Bram embarks on a personal journey into the spiritual phenomenon known as Kabbalah. His curiosity leads
him to reunite with the Hasidic branch of
his family and journey to Israel where he
immerses himself in the history and traditions of the Holy Land. Join us for the film
and a lively discussion. Free of charge.
An Afternoon of Mussar Sunday, April 10,
1-5 p.m., CCJDS The Mussar Institute’s Alan
Morinis leads an interactive program exploring Mussar, the Jewish path of spirituality
and mindfulness. Our own Kendra Fried will
be one of the teachers. $54. Information and
registration at www.bayareamussar.org.
Women’s Intergenerational Seder
Monday, April 11, 6:30 p.m., Social Hall
All temple women are invited to join
us at Women of Isaiah’s annual Passover
Seder led by Rabbi Judy Shanks. It’s free,
and female family members and friends
are welcome. RSVP, sign up to bring food
and other items, and volunteer to help at
www.temple-isaiah.org/womensseder.
Jewish Book Group Wednesday, April 27, 10:30 a.m., Adult
Lounge. This month’s selection is The Girl
from Human Street: Ghosts of Memory in a
Jewish Family by New York Times columnist
Roger Cohen, “an intimate and profoundly
moving Jewish family history – a story of
displacement, prejudice, hope, despair, and
love.” Rabbi Shanks will facilitate the discussion, and all book lovers are welcome.
All It Takes Is One
All it takes is one
supportive temple angel –
be an angel too.
One ride, one errand, one meal, one card. It’s so simple – as
simple and yet as eloquent as a haiku poem. Angel Network’s
Ilana Samuels hopes her haiku will inspire you to send a
quick email and sign up as an Angel Network volunteer today.
Contact Jill Jacobson at [email protected] or Ruth Willen at
[email protected].
www.temple-isaiah.org for the latest information
Library Open House
We invite you to stop by the Temple Isaiah library on Sunday,
April 24, between 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. for our annual open
house. Activities for younger readers will include bookmark
decorating, a scavenger hunt with literary-themed prizes, yummy
snacks, and of course the chance to check out books. Librarian
Melissa Gianotti and library committee members will be there
to answer questions about our fabulous library program and collection.
If you have not
yet had the opportunity to visit our
library, this is wonderful opportunity
to become part of
our vibrant literary
community and discover your next great reading adventure.
Mark your calendar: Library Shabbat with author Helene
Wecker has been rescheduled for Friday, June 10, at 8 p.m.
Temple Isaiah Ruach, April 2016 3
YOUTH AND EDUCATION
Connecting with Israel
CCAR
As many of you know, in February I had
the opportunity to spend some time in
Israel. While there I explored dance in
modern Israeli society, visited my rabbinical school alma mater (the Hebrew Union
College – Jewish Institute of Religion), studied texts related to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict at the Shalom Hartman Institute,
spent Shabbat at Kehilat Natan-Ya, our sister congregation in Netanya, and attended
a week-long convention of the Central
Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)
Rabbi Nicki
with 300 Reform rabbis from around the
Greninger
world. I am excited to share what I learned
with our Temple Isaiah community and plan to do so in the weeks
and months to come.
During the CCAR convention, we gathered for a Thursday morning service at the Kotel (the Western Wall) in Jerusalem at the
platform built specifically for egalitarian prayer, where I had the
wonderful opportunity to chant Torah. In holding a service and
chanting Torah, we did not do anything particularly groundbreaking, as we were located in the small space already designated for
egalitarian prayer. The purpose of our service was to show our
support for the recent agreement in which the Israeli government
approved the dramatic expansion of space for egalitarian prayer,
making it visible and accessible to all. Our service made news
in Israel and North America because it both raised awareness
about the agreement and caused a significant backlash from UltraOrthodox groups. Prayer at the Kotel has become a hot-button
issue in Israel because it raises critical issues about Jewish identity,
Jewish practice, and what is considered acceptable, normative,
and legal in the Jewish state. Those issues do not pertain only to
the Kotel, but that is where they are playing out in a very heated
way right now.
Israel is a complicated, multifaceted place. It is both ancient and
modern. It is both safe and dangerous. It is a mix of almost every
different culture you can imagine. It is a high-tech country with
Rabbi Greninger chanting Torah at the Kotel.
4 Temple Isaiah Ruach, April 2016
incredible innovation, but also a place filled with extremists from
different religions. For those of us who live in California, Israel
can seem very far away – politically, geographically, religiously, and
culturally. For some of us, Israel is a place that holds deep meaning
– a place we have visited, a place where we have deep roots and
connections. For many others of us, Israel is a faraway place with
which we may have almost no connection at all.
One of our challenges is to figure out the best way to help
everyone at Temple Isaiah develop a connection with Israel even
though it is so far away and is a place that many of us have never
visited. For the past year, we have been implementing an Israel
education initiative, generously sponsored by Women of Isaiah,
Jewish Learning Works (a San Francisco-based Jewish education
organization), and the Jewish Federation of the East Bay. We began
with a meeting last spring of people from different committees
of Temple Isaiah – Gan Ilan, JQuest, Noar Night Teen Advisory
Group, Adult Education, and Israel and World Jewry – along with
clergy and senior staff. Our goal was to develop a mission statement (“enduring understandings” in educational terms) for Israel
education that will guide us in lesson planning. Since then we
have worked with Israel education expert Ilan Vitemberg, held a
number of professional development sessions with our teachers,
and developed a series of “essential questions” for Israel education.
We have also hired an Israel educator (Keren Smith in the fall, Erin
Bloom this spring) to help develop our curriculum and work with
all our teachers to develop their Israel-related lesson plans.
Israel education, like Israel itself, is complicated, multifaceted,
and crucial. Through this new initiative we are striving to deepen
the knowledge and experiences of our students, which hopefully
will lead to lifelong, meaningful connections with the land, people,
and state of Israel.
Rabbi Nicki Greninger, Director of Education
TI’s Top Scouts
Charles Price and Joshua Singer Douglas are the latest Temple
Isaiah teens to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award
in Boy Scouts. Charlie is member of Troop 204 in Lafayette, and
Josh belongs to Troop 224, also in Lafayette. Both had their Eagle
Court of Honor in March.
They join our other recent Eagles, Adam Rideout of Danville
Troop 36 and Connor Williams of Lafayette Troop 200. Adam’s
Court of Honor was held in December 2015, and Connor’s in
January of this year.
Two young women at Temple Isaiah have received Girl Scouts
of America’s Gold Award, the highest honor that the organization
confers. Elise Berg of Troop 30245 earned her award in June 2014.
Julia Lauer, a member of Troop 30814, achieved hers this past
February.
Both scouting awards recognize years of dedication, hard work,
leadership and organizational skills, and community involvement.
Mazal tov to all these accomplished young people and their proud
parents!
for the latest information www.temple-isaiah.org
COMMUNITY
Then and Now
In 1954, I was one of hundreds of thousands of baby boomers
who participated in the Salk polio vaccination program.There
were no trials of the vaccine, but rather a nationwide effort
to stamp out a deadly disease. One day someone came into
my homeroom class and asked for volunteers. My hand shot
up before I knew that the “opportunity” involved blood tests
throughout the year to help researchers evaluate the vaccine.
Now, over 60 years later, I have the opportunity to write
about why these years of volunteering have made me proud
and helped me grow personally and professionally.
I’ve had the chance to be involved in or in charge of many
wonderful activities at Temple Isaiah, but few have been as
engaging and rewarding as being co-president of Women of
Isaiah, the single most outstanding volunteer position that
I’ve had the honor to fill.
Besides providing a vast array of programs and activities for
the women of our temple, Women of Isaiah is dedicated to
supporting Temple Isaiah as a whole. Our greatest contributions are to Temple Isaiah’s youth and education programs.
As part of our annual budget we provide funds for Gan
Ilan Preschool, 5th grade Torah books, confirmation class
Tanakhs, the JQuest shelter lunch program, and teen leadership development. We also provide major funding for Avodah,
where teens who serve as JQuest teaching assistants receive
stipends to be used for Jewish camp, leadership training, trips
to Israel, and more. All of the income from our March Mahj
Madness event went directly to our Avodah fund.
Our Journey Continues
Find traditional and contemporary
Passover items for your seder at
The WOI Gift Shop.
Open during JQuest hours:
4 - 6pm on Tuesday
and Wednesday
9am - 1pm on Sunday
Extra holiday hours
11am -1pm, April 18-21
Or by appointment
(925) 284-1404
We provide additional funds for temple projects through our Maagal Tzedakah
grants, made possible by member dues,
limited fundraising, and sales by our wonderful volunteer-run WOI Gift Shop. Just
recently our leadership team approved
grants for exciting JQuest programs (building Jerusalem out of Legos, Bonim track
curriculum development, Israel education
initiative) as well as donations to the temple gala and the Fund for Our Jewish Future
in honor of Rabbi Graetz who has been
Sandy Anderson
unwavering in his support of Women of
Isaiah.
Women of Isaiah reaches every part of
our community and ties us together, from
the very young all the way up to our founding members. When I hear someone say, “I
can’t find a place,” or “My kids are grown
and we’ve outgrown the temple’s usefulness for us,” I groan inwardly. If we don’t
continue to support our temple, we are
denying our youth a chance to share in the
richness of Judaism. Belonging to Temple
Isaiah and Women of Isaiah helps ensure
that these special institutions are there
Judy Carney
when we need them in times of crises and
life cycle events.
There is a feeling of camaraderie and sheer joy in being together
with the women of our congregation. The love and warmth that
flows generously whenever we get together – hiking, praying,
cooking, learning, doing mitzvot – make Women of Isaiah the best
way for newcomers to integrate into the community and get to
know new people.
As I reflect back on 60 plus years of volunteering, I am grateful
for our clergy, staff, and mostly our women, who have given me
the chance to mentor, lead, learn, and grow as a volunteer activist
for Women of Isaiah.
Sandy Anderson,
Women of Isaiah Co-President
Welcome New Members
February 10 – March 10, 2016
Please see your printed copy of the
Ruach for this month’s new member listing.
www.temple-isaiah.org for the latest information
Temple Isaiah Ruach, April 2016 5
COMMUNITY
100% Participation Needed for the Fund for Our Jewish Future in Honor of Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz
This $2.5 million campaign to burn our mortgage and build our endowment was launched thanks to a $1 million challenge grant
from the Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation in loving memory of Carole. As of March 20, we have received the following
contributions, and we encourage everyone to participate and help us raise the additional $253,533 needed to reach our goal.
Anonymous (12)
Jeryl and Ronald Abelmann
Jill and Sadi Adri
Sandy and Dave Anderson*
Vivian and David Auslander
Barbie Bacher
Ellen Baer
Linda and Michael Bandler*
Julie and Stephen Bell
Judy and Marty Berg
Elinor and Gordon Berke
Sherry and Ike Berkman
Marilyn and Shalom Blaj
Susan Bloch and Igor Khandros**
Nancy and Peter Bluford
Sarah and Steven Blumenfeld
Jen and Jon Boxerman
Sue Adler-Bressler and Dave Bressler*
Kathy and Mark Bressler
Laurie Bronson and Robert Dolinko
Yoni and Barry Bushell
Laurie and Dan Bushell
Miriam Cairns
Julie and Paul Candau*
Carole Carluccio and David Millstein
Marjorie and Richard Carmel
Judy and Steve Carney
Helene and Daniel Casella
Phyllis and Harvey Ceaser
Arthur Cherdack
Dvora and Eric Citron
Linda and Mark Clar
Lisa and Dick Cohen
Robbie and Len (z”l) Cohn*
Cindy and Robert Coleman
Jean and Sandy Colen*
Jeanie Goldeen Conneran and
Michael Conneran
Nancy and Stewart Daniels
Linda Borick-Davidson and Bill Davidson
Lucy and Anthony DiBianca
Celia and Leland Douglas*
Jill and David Douglas
Arlene and Yale Downes
Michele and Lawrence Downes
Ardeth and Arthur Dreshfield
Kim and Mark Drucker
Linda and Gilbert Duritz
Margaret and Herb Eder
Shoshana and Shalom Eliahu
Vicki Elliot and David Levine
Ellen Emold
Deborah and David Enelow
Susan and Bill Epstein
Ruth and Marvin Epstein
Amy Faltz and Tony Crea
Lynn and Hank Fanger
Frances Feinberg
Judy Feins and Rich London
6 Temple Isaiah Ruach, April 2016
Mark Feldman
Wendy Feldman
Christine and Andy Firstenberg
Nora and Ken Fishbach
Karen and Charles Fiske
Lorraine Force
Debbie Frank and Edward Hanley
Nicole and Adam Friedenberg
Linda and Daniel Friedman*
Brie Gallagher and Derek Cedars
Sanna Garcia and Ben Horenstein
Laurette and Alan Gennis
Eleanor and Ernest Glaser
Denise and Roy Glicklin
Elizabeth and Roger Goldberg
Karen and Larry Goldberg
Sandy and Robert Goldberg
Jari Goldstone and Neal Pereira
Estelle Gracer
Donna and James Green
Lois Green
Faith and Dan Greenberg
Rabbi Nicki and Dan Greninger
Sarah and Mike Grossman
Julie and Jason Hammerman
Phyllis Harford and Steven Hallert
Laura Hauer
Mildred Hauer
Elaine Highiet
Marilyn and Carl Hirsch
Lisa Hirsch
Wendy and Stanley Holcenberg
Eva and Allan Hyman
Ellen and Jay Israel
Melissa and Larry Jakubowitz
Monique and David Jasper
Sali and Paul Johnson
Debra and Jonathan Kalan
Lillian Katzburg
Nancy and Bruce Kaufman
Bonnie and George Kennedy*
Deb and Stuart Kirsch
Cheryl and Eric Kohleriter
Cantor Leigh Korn
Terri and Jim Kravetz
Melinda and David Krigel
Angela and Michael Kurtzman
Sarah and Brian Landes
Dan Lange
Sheryl and Ari Lauer
Rachel Lefkowitz and Jay Sherwin
Nora and David Levine
Anna Marie Levy
Rose and Asher Levy
Helen Ann and Norman Licht
Judy and Maynard Lichterman*
Barbara and Michael Liepman
Judy and Steve Lipson
Shirley Maccabee
Arlee Maier
Carol Mann
Jackie and Jeff Mann
Merle Manning
Lorraine and Len Marshall
Sheila and David Matz
Judy and Terry Matzkin
Susan and Willy Mautner
Carol and Howard Melamed*
Cynthia and Paul Menaker
Linda and Malcolm Mendelson
Aliza and Peter Metzner*
Rabbi Alissa and Dan Miller
Valerie and Mark Milner
Mercedes and Jorge Moreno
Marilyn and Mark Morris
Marsha and Richard Molling
Melba Muscarolas and Steven Glazer*
Dorotea Nathan
Jackie Nissim and Phil Groman
Carol Olmert and Alan Burckin
Irene and Leonard Osias
Linda and Nick Padula
Laura and Gregg Perloff
Ruth and Charles Pettler
Randy and Irving Pike and Family
Mindy Plotkin and Daniel Myers
Vivian and Gregory Poettgen
Diane Portnoff and Alan Fitzgerald
Andrea and Kent Price
Nancy and Norman Price
Susan and Jeffrey Rideout
Marion and Stanley Robboy
Linda and Jeff Rosenthal
Dayle and Phillip Ross
Betty Rothaus
Sherry and Harvey Rowen
Mark and Beth Ruben
Jessica and Alex Rudd
Shari Salomon
Janet Saunders and Roy Kaplan
Dori and Daniel Schick
Gloria and Bob Schiller
Linda and Nathan Schultz
Bette and Stewart Schuster
Wendy and Richard Segol
Louise Shalit
(Continued on the following page)
* $10,000 to $99,999
** $100,000 and above
Board of Directors in italics
Karen Maas and Steve Weinzimmer
for the latest information www.temple-isaiah.org
COMMUNITY
Fund for Our Jewish Future (continued)
Rabbi Judy Shanks and James Gracer*
Beryl and Ivor Silver**
Cindy Silver
Marla and Jim Simon
Carol and Mark Simons
Deborah Simon and Jesse Phillips
Frances Singer
Amy and Brad Skepner
Karla and Neil Smith
Natalie Smolkin and Zakhar Baran
Stephanie and Jay Snyder
Helen Sokol and Don Wayne
Deena and Daniel Solwren
Bette and Hyron (z”l) Spinrad
Malaika Stoll and Steven Bliss
Marlene and Martin Stein
Nancy and David Steinberg
Susan and Maury Stern
Beth and Robert Sterns
Marge Sterns
Malaika Stoll and Steven Bliss
Jill and Steven Student
Mala Subramarian and Ben Winig
Sandy Sussman
Helen and Rodney Sweet
Miriam and Michael Swernoff
Jasmine and Robert Tarkoff*
Karen and Mitchell Tarkoff
Marlene and Herb Thier
Jan and Alex Trzesniewski
Stephen Trzesniewski
Lindy and Bruce Tuttle
Marci and Robert Waldman
Linda and Milford Waldroup
Courtney and Dan Wasserman
Debby and Jeremy Weinstein*
Nancy and David Weinstein
Kim and Stuart Weinstein
Ofra and Bob Weiss
Ellen and Craig Whittom
Twinning – It’s in Our Hands
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.”
– William Shakespeare
When I read this quotation, I thought about our sister congregation in Netanya, Israel, since it is up to each of us to get to
know our twinning partners – it’s in our hands.
Our twinning relationship with Kehilat Natan-Ya in Israel is
almost two years old, and like a two-year old, we are starting to
take larger strides with greater surety. We continue, however, to
ask the core question: What can we all do to know each other
better and develop meaningful relationships? Getting to know
each other gives us the opportunity to begin to understand our
Israeli brothers and sisters, and perhaps bring us closer to finding
our own personal relationship with Israel.
During these first two years, we have developed activities
to help address this question. Our closed Facebook group has
given us a place to discuss topics
of mutual interest. As time goes
on, we interact on a more personal level and have even dipped
our toes into hot button political
issues. We invite you to join us
by clicking on the Facebook
Group link on our webpage at
www.temple-isaiah.org/get-involved/israel-and-world-jewry.
We just love our Tu BiSh’vat Seder celebrations when we Skype
with Natan-Ya. Each year it feels more like a reunion, as we seek
out familiar faces and reconnect with each other. It would be
really wonderful to have you join us to experience this excitement as we get to know each other in real time. We continue to
explore ways to use Skype for other holiday celebrations, events,
and conversations.
Our program has expanded to include our JQuest students, as
www.temple-isaiah.org for the latest information
Deanne and Frank Winer
Martha Ann and Sandy Wishnev
Mary Anne and Hugh Winig
Lyssa and Marvin Wittlin
Hal Wolf
Women of Isaiah
Lise Wollenberg and Adam Zoger
Sherri and Mitchell Zack
Faith and Steve Zenker
* $10,000 to $99,999
** $100,000 and above
Board of Directors in italics
Please help us reach our goal! Donations of
any amount are appreciated.
Call us at (925) 283-8575 or donate online at
www.temple-isaiah.org/donate.
each month classes in Israel and JQuest exchange greetings and
pictures. We will soon be starting a b’nai mitzvah twinning program where students share dates and ideas about their Torah portions, perhaps using Skype to have some real time togetherness.
At the end of February, Rabbi Greninger and a group of Reform
rabbis attending the Central Conference of American Rabbis convention in Israel celebrated Shabbat at Kehilat Natan-Ya. We were
excited to see photos from her visit (posted on our Facebook
page) as she experienced the congregation’s hospitality first
hand. It is our fervent wish that more and more Temple Isaiah
members and their families can have this experience when they
travel to Israel.
We welcome you to join us in developing meaningful relationships with our twinning partners while sharing engaging Jewish
experiences. Please contact me at [email protected] with
your ideas and to get involved.
Marlene Thier, Israel and World Jewry Committee Co-Chair
Yizkor Elohim
January 21, 2016
■ Bernard Rosenfeld, father of our member Toby Rosenfeld
(Michael Conley).
February 26, 2016
■ Naomi Rousseau, grandmother of our member Julie Bell
(Stephen).
March 2, 2016
■ Clifford Marshall, brother of our member Leonard
Marshall (Lorraine).
Temple Isaiah Ruach, April 2016 7
YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE – SPECIAL GIFTS
Special Gifts February 1 – 29, 2016
Angel Network Fund
In honor of:
Rabbi Graetz’s upcoming retirement, from Donna
Abraham-Moldoff & Seth Moldoff
In memory of:
Denise Berg, from Beverly Kivel
For the yahrzeit of:
Leonard Farkas, from Cecile Farkas & Family
George Joseph Sladnick, from Carolyn Sladnick
Cantor’s Music Fund
In appreciation of:
Cantor Korn, from Linda Feldman Duritz
Cantor Korn and his CD, from Loretta & Herbert
Modelevsky
Cantor Korn for making Jennifer’s bat mitzvah so
special, from the Wyle Family
Steve and Judy Lipson, from Beverly Kivel
In honor of:
Lauren Miller’s bat mitzvah, from Judy Miller
In memory of:
Len Cohn, from Judy Chinn, Robbie Cohn & Family,
Wendy, Jenna, Kyla & Justin Feldman
For the yahrzeit of:
Miriam Benjamin, Herb’s teacher and Marg’s
friend, from Margaret & Herbert Eder
Robert Jay Brown, from Margaret & Herbert Eder
Ethel Domnitch, from Arlene & Yale Downes
Ruby Domnitch, from Arlene & Yale Downes
Leonard Garber, from Ellen Bernstein-Ellis &
Stephen Ellis
Stephanie Michele Goodman, from Steve
Goodman
Frances Gross, from Margaret & Herbert Eder
Jeane Maas, from Karen Maas & Steven
Weinzimmer
Leo Maas, from Karen Maas & Steven Weinzimmer
Suzanne Peterman, from Margaret & Herbert Eder
Rosalie Snyder, from Margaret & Herbert Eder
Donald Sterns, from Marge Sterns
Cantor Ted Cotler Library
In appreciation of:
Temple Isaiah library commitee and volunteers,
from Melissa Gianotti
For the yahrzeit of:
Rose Deutsch, from Anna Baron
Samuel Garfield, from Judy & Steve Lipson
Julius Schneit, from Andrew Schneit
8 Temple Isaiah Ruach, April 2016
Charles Emold Fund
In memory of:
Ann Goldeen, from Ellen Emold
Joseph Man Ho Kim, from Ellen Emold
Daniel Baron Feed the Hungry Fund
In honor of:
Melinna Gershik’s special birthday, from Lynne
“Ya Ya” Raider
For the yahrzeit of:
Ida Goldfein, from Phyllis & Harvey Ceaser
Endowment Fund
In memory of:
Len Cohn, from Wendy & Stan Holcenberg, Joanne
& Phil Peterson
General Fund
In memory of:
Denise Berg, from Ardeth & Arthur Dreshfield
Len Cohn, from Lillian & Lou Bernstein, Ardeth &
Arthur Dreshfield, Rosanne & Randall Oyer,
Keith & Michelle Tandowsky, Vera Zatkin
Selma Epstein, from Susan & Robert Wolfe
Donald Solomon, from Terry Solomon
For the yahrzeit of:
Jack Lichtman, from Heidi & Herbert Benenson
Natan Luchrmann-Cowen, from Rosemary CowenKnight & Lewis Knight
Dorothy Stone Maron, from the Maron Family
Marscia Pereira, from Neal Pereira
Gloria Pincus, from Cheryl & Neil Pincus
Ivy Blum Memorial Fund
In memory of:
Len Cohn, from Marilyn & Seymore Hertz, Cookie &
Marty Javinsky
Delores Price, from Marilyn & Seymore Hertz
For the yahrzeit of:
Nancy Branson, from Barbie Bacher
Julius Feldman, from Linda Feldman Duritz
Jacob M. Tarkoff Gan Ilan Fund
In memory of:
Murray Brown, from Joanne & Phil Peterson
Memorial Plaques Fund
In memory of:
Marvin Lee Bernstein, from Ellen Bernstein-Ellis &
Stephen Ellis
Prayer Book Fund
In memory of:
Len Cohn, from Judy & Marty Berg
For the yahrzeit of:
Josephine Butschowitz, from Aliza & Peter Metzner
Project Hearth for the Homeless Fund
A donation from:
Steve Goodman, Sara Reinganum
In honor of:
Jakob Weiner’s bar mitzvah, from Karen & Charles
Fiske
In memory of:
Denise Berg, from Lynn Gitomer & Daniel Weiner
Rabbi Graetz’s Discretionary Fund
A donation from:
Allen Teitelman
In appreciation of:
Rabbi Graetz, from Judy & Irv Berg
Rabbi Graetz, from Linda Feldman Duritz
In memory of:
Denise Berg, from Elaine Highiet, Nancy & Wayne
Morse
Murray Brown, from Joanne & Phil Peterson
Len Cohn, from Robbie Cohn & Family
Richard Snider, from Julie Magilen
For the yahrzeit of:
William Brand, from Daryl Brand
Gail Freedman, sister of Rochelle Freedman
Hassen, from Rochelle Freedman Hassen &
Joel Hassen
Pearl Miller, from Frances & Robert Cahn
Clara Stern, from Maury Stern
Rabbi Miller’s Discretionary Fund
In appreciation of:
Rabbi Miller, from Linda Feldman Duritz
Rabbi Miller for all that she has done for Petra
and to support TI youth, from Pat & Pedro
Reyes
In honor of:
The birth of Jake Levi Miller, from Arlene & Yale
Downes
Rabbi Shanks’s Discretionary Fund
In appreciation of:
Rabbi Shanks, from Linda Feldman Duritz
Rabbi Shanks for making Jennifer’s bat mitzvah
so special, from the Wyle Family
Rabbi Shanks for officiating at Lila Rose’s baby
naming, from Marilyn & Mark Morris
for the latest information www.temple-isaiah.org
YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE – SPECIAL GIFTS
Rabbi Shanks’s Discretionary Fund Cont’d
In honor of:
Estelle Gracer, from Elaine Highiet
Estelle Gracer’s special birthday, from Beverly
Kivel
Lauren Miller’s bat mitzvah, from Judy Miller
In memory of:
Len Cohn, from Frances Greenberg & Donald
Chaiken, Robbie Cohn & Family, Wendy,
Jenna, Kyla & Justin Feldman, Anne & Richard
Kellagher, Bette Spinrad, Karen & Mitchell
Tarkoff
Barbara Searles, from Steve Goodman
Hy Spinrad, from Bette Spinrad
For the yahrzeit of:
Ronald Abrams, from Bette Spinrad
E. Gil Boyer, from Dawn Boyer Comer
William Brand, from Daryl Brand
Rabbi Shanks’s Discretionary Fund Cont’d
For the yahrzeit of cont’d:
Jack Gordon Cohen, from Bette Spinrad
Gerhard Danziger, from Deborah & David McCabe
Rita Danziger, from Deborah & David McCabe
Sylvia Feldman, from Rose Michaels
Max Gottlieb, from Werner Gottlieb
Emanuel Spinrad, from Bette Spinrad
Ida S. Spinrad, from Bette Spinrad
Alexander Zubak, from Bette Spinrad
Religious School and Youth Fund Cont’d
For the yahrzeit of:
Ethel Bernstein, from Ellen Bernstein-Ellis &
Stephen Ellis
Irvin Kravitz, from Mina & Rick Kravitz
Social Action Fund
In memory of:
Len Cohn, from Joanne & Phil Peterson
Waldenberg-Zwerling Youth Leadership Fund
Religious School and Youth Fund
In memory of:
Denise Berg, from Robbie Cohn & Family, Ruth &
Marvin Epstein
Len Cohn, from Ellen Bernstein-Ellis & Stephen
Ellis
For the yahrzeit of:
Ruth Zwerling, from Susan Wolfe
Women of Isaiah Fund
In memory of:
Ann Goldeen, from Shirley Maccabee
Special Shabbat Oneg
Give the gift of life. Temple Isaiah is sponsoring a community
blood drive on Wednesday, May 4, from 2 to 7 p.m. in the Adult
Lounge. Visit www.redcrossblood.org to schedule your appointment and enter the sponsor code TIBLOOD or call 1-800-RED
CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
By beginning the donation process online you can shorten the
time you spend at the blood drive by up to 15 minutes. Go to
www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass to learn more.
Please help us create an extra-special oneg
for the Shabbat service honoring Rabbi
Graetz on Friday, May 13. We are expecting
a very large turnout and need lots of volunteers to bake, create fruit and mixed nut
platters, and to help with a variety of tasks.
Visit www.temple-isaiah.org/oneg for more
information and a link to our sign-up form.
Architect Stephen Schwartz and TI families building the Old
City of Jerusalem with Legos in March.
Queen Esther (Nicole Friedenberg) wins the heart of The King
(Jenna Benenson) in this year’s Purimspiel.
Jory Gwasdoff
Rabbi Nicki Greninger
May Blood Drive
www.temple-isaiah.org for the latest information
Temple Isaiah Ruach, April 2016 9
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
April 2016
Sunday
Adar / Nisan 5776
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
Friday
Michael Fox
9:15am Ganeinu
3
4
5
10
8
9am Meditation
10am Neshamah Yoga
Women’s Shabbat Retreat Women’s Shabbat Retreat
9:15am Ganeinu
8:45am Torah Study
9:30am Tot Shabbat
10:30am Shabbat Service
(Bar Mitzvah: Simon
Neuwirth-Stein)
8pm Shabbat Service
Followed by Oneg
12
13
14
15
16
9am Meditation
9am Meditation
10am Neshamah Yoga
Kulanu Family Retreat
9:15am Ganeinu
Kulanu Family Retreat
8:45am Torah Study
10:30am Shabbat Service
(Bar Mitzvah: Emerson
Hogan)
WOI Bridge Marathon
10am Neshamah Yoga
4pm JQuest
1pm Mussar Institute
4pm Documentary Film
Series
6:30pm Women’s Seder
17
18
Kulanu Family Retreat
JQuest and Adult
Education
7pm Anshei Isaiah Board
Meeting
7pm Sacred Hebrew
Chant and Healing
Circle
9
7
7pm WOI Leadership
Team Meeting
11
5:45pm Shabbatarama
8:45am Torah Study
10:30am Mussar and
Meditation Shabbat
Service
10:30am Shabbat
Service (Bar Mitzvah:
Samuel Potozkin)
9am Meditation
12pm Talmud Study
1pm TEXTorah Study
JQuest and Adult
Education
11:15am Clergy Course
with Cantor Korn
Saturday
6
10am Neshamah Yoga
3pm HaMakom Grief
Support Group
3pm P’tach Libeynu
2
4pm JQuest
12pm Talmud Study
1pm TEXTorah Study
6pm Happy Half Hour
Oneg
6:30pm Shabbat Service
with Mizmor Band
6:45pm Noar Night
6:45pm Noar Night
7pm Stav Shaffir
19
20
21
22
23
10am Neshamah Yoga
9am Meditation
9am Meditation
10am Neshamah Yoga
First Passover Seder
4pm JQuest
12pm Talmud Study
1pm TEXTorah Study
Passover
9:15am Torah Study
10:30am Passover
Shabbat Service
4pm JQuest
7:15pm Board Meeting
6:45pm Noar Night
7pm Adult Choir
Rehearsal
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Passover
JQuest and Adult
Education
10:30am Library Open
House
11:15am Clergy Course
with Cantor Korn
Passover
Passover
Passover
8:15am WOI Wednesday
Hike
9am Meditation
10:30am Jewish Book
Group
Passover
9am Meditation
Passover
9am Passover Service
with Yizkor
8:45am Torah Study
10:30am Shabbat
Service (Bar Mitzvah:
Spencer Lewis)
12:30pm Mah Jongg
4pm JQuest
7pm P’tach Libeynu
10 Temple Isaiah Ruach, April 2016
4pm JQuest
6:45pm Noar Night
7pm Adult Choir
Rehearsal
5pm Tot Shabbat Snack
5:30pm Tot Shabbat
Service Followed by
Dinner
6pm Happy Half Hour
Oneg
6:30pm Shabbat Service
for the latest information www.temple-isaiah.org
SCOTT LASKY
PHOTOGRAPHY
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs - Weddings
(408)807-4770
www.laskyphoto.com
[email protected]
Multiple Past Winner of the J Weekly’s Photographer of the Year Award
Over 900 Mitzvahs Photographed and Counting.....Go for Experience
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www.temple-isaiah.org for the latest information
Temple Isaiah Ruach, April 2016 11
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
Shabbat
Worship Services
Friday, April 1
5:45pm Shabbatarama Dinner
6:30pm Shabbatarama Service
Saturday, April 2
8:45am Torah Study
10:30am Mussar and Meditation
Shabbat Service
10:30am Shabbat Morning Service
Samuel Potozkin, Bar Mitzvah
Paid
Lafayette, CA
94549
Permit No. 30
945 Risa Road
Lafayette, CA 94549
(925) 283-8575
Address Service Requested
Leviticus 9:1-11:47, Sh’mini
Friday, April 8
8:00pm Shabbat Service Followed
by Oneg
Saturday, April 9
8:45am Torah Study
9:30am Tot Shabbat
10:30am Shabbat Morning Service
Simon Neuwirth-Stein, Bar Mitzvah
Ti m e ly in fo r matio n EN C LOS ED: P lea se d eliv er b y Ap ri l 1
Friday, April 15
6:00pm Happy Half Hour Oneg
6:30pm Shabbat Service with
Mizmor Band
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Temple
Isaiah’s Gala
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May 14, 2016
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Leviticus 12:1-13:59, Tazria
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An Inspirational
Saturday, April 16
8:45am Torah Study
10:30am Shabbat Morning Service
Emerson Hogan, Bat Mitzvah
Leviticus 14:1-15:33, M’tzora
Friday, April 22 – First Seder
No Service
Saturday, April 23 – Passover
9:15am Torah Study
10:30am Passover Shabbat
Service
Exodus 12:37-42; 13:3-10, Pesach
Friday, April 29
5:30pm Tot Shabbat
6:00pm Happy Half Hour Oneg
6:30pm Shabbat Service
Saturday, April 30
8:45am Torah Study
10:30am Shabbat Morning Service
Spencer Lewis, Bar Mitzvah
Exodus 13:17-15:26, Pesach 8th Day
A Celebration of Leadership, Teaching and Tikkun Olam
In honor of our beloved Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz
San Ramon Marriott
Live and Silent Auction • Cocktails • Dinner • Celebration • Dancing
Black Tie Optional
Don’t miss this opportunity to express a heartfelt message
to Rabbi Graetz by reserving a space in our Special Tribute Directory.
Reservations can be made at
www.temple-isaiah.org/gala2016
Individual/business ads and sponsorship opportunities available:
Individual: Sandy Goldberg [email protected]
Business: Diane Portnoff [email protected]
Stu Kirsch [email protected]
Tickets for the gala on sale now!
www.temple-isaiah.org/gala2016