An evening - Temple Sinai
Transcription
An evening - Temple Sinai
12 Nissan to 11 Iyar APRIL 2015 ISSUE 99 INSIDE Israel Shabbat . . . . . . . . . . 3 Passover at Temple Sinai . . 4 Answering Tough Questions About Israel. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Tillie and Rene Molho Endowment for Holocaust Remembrance of the Jewish Community Federation and Foundation of the Greater East Bay invites you to An evening Technology Update by Mike Baker. . . . . . . . . . . 5 WTS and Brotherhood . . . . 6 Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . 7 and Resistance Estate Planning. . . . . . . . . 8 EWJ and Adult Education . . . . . . . . 8 Serving Students with Special Needs . . . . . . 9 Preschool, Youth Programs and Midrasha . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Lifecycles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Tuesday, April 14, 7:45pm Temple Sinai 28th and Webster Streets, Oakland The 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Partisan Mira Shelub Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Guest Speaker: Fred Rosenbaum Author, Historian and the Director of Lehrhaus Judaica People of the Book Literacy Project. . . . . . . . . 11 6:00pm – 7:15pm Dinner for Holocaust Survivors and their Families Social Action Community Projects. . . . . 11 Sponsors Bay Area Midrasha, Beth Jacob Congregation, B’nai B’rith Oakland, JCC of the East Bay, JFCS/East Bay, JCRC/East Bay, Oakland Hebrew Day School, Tehiyah Day School, Temple Beth Abraham, Temple Israel, Temple Sinai, and The Jewish Federation and The Jewish Community Foundation of the East Bay. People of the Book. . . . . . 11 Special Shabbat Service in May. . . . . . . . back www.oaklandsinai.org Prayers of Remembrance and Candlelighting Admission is free and open to the public For information: (510) 809-4953 or [email protected] FROM THE CANTOR’s CANTOR’S DESK I’ve never met an Israeli who couldn’t sing! I know it sounds like a stereotype, but I believe it to be true. In all my interactions with Israelis, and in all my years of visiting and living in Israel, I have noticed that most Israelis have an ear for music and love to sing. Case in point, Rabbi Regev! This must have something to do with music being such a large part of Israeli life and culture. Modern Israeli song goes back to the early years of settling the land. The early settlers were called chalutzim or pioneers, and they worked the land and developed it long before the state was established in 1948. And like most workers, they sang when they worked to help pass the time and lend rhythm to the motions of their labor. Out of these pioneers came an entire genre of Israeli song that is known today as songs of the chalutzim, or working songs. These songs speak about the land and the fruits of the pioneers’ labor. It was from this genre of music that the Israeli folk dance developed. The chalutzim would work the fields by day and dance by night, and so these songs developed into the Israeli folk dance songs that we know of today. The most popular of these Israeli folk dances is the hora which Jews all over the world use to celebrate at weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties. Of course, the pioneers did more than just work and dance. They also fell in love, and so developed the Israeli love song. However, Jews do not have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to love songs. We have our very own book of Jewish love songs already written from thousands of years ago! Many of the Israeli composers have set texts from Song of Songs or Shir HaShirim to their own Israeli style folk tunes or Middle Eastern style melodies which they heard and adopted from their Arab neighbors. As a result, the genre of the Israeli love song developed, and can be heard today at Jewish weddings all over the world. One of the greatest love affairs for Jews and Israelis alike is the love of Jerusalem. There is something about that magical city on the hill that conjures up feelings of nostalgia and spirituality that is inexplicable. Perhaps it is the way the sun rises over the Judean hills to the east and reflects off the ramparts of the ancient city walls to create a golden aura of light. Whatever the reason, there have been hundreds of Israeli songs written about that ancient city of Jerusalem, and for Jews as a whole, it has become a focal point of our liturgy. Israeli and Diaspora Jews alike finish every Passover seder with the singing of L’shana Haba’ah b’Yerushalayim, Next Year in Jerusalem. Our liturgy has multiple prayers for both the land of Israel as well as the city of Jerusalem. We are a people who are linked with the land, and this is reflected in our prayers. Israelis have taken this part of our tradition and have created a genre of Israeli art songs, folk songs, and pop songs that speak about our connection to this holy ancient city. The word Jerusalem literally means “abode of peace,” but this city has seen everything but peace in its 3,000 plus years of existence. Multiple religions and peoples have sought to dominate this city, and have destroyed it over and over again throughout the centuries. For a city named for peace, it has seen too much war and strife. In modern times, Israelis composers have been campaigning for peace through their music. Israeli Jews and Arabs have come together to use music as a way to build bridges between their people and cultures. Thousands of songs have been written calling for peace in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Music is the great hope of the Jewish people, so it is no wonder that Israelis are raised singing and making song. If you want to hear Israel sing, join us on Friday, April 24, 2015 at 7:30pm in the Sanctuary for Israel Shabbat featuring the Temple Sinai Adult Choir. Learn about the origin of some of the most popular Israeli folk songs, and be prepared to sing along to your favorite Israeli standards. Cantor Ilene Keys Jacqueline Mates-Muchin, Rabbi Ilene Keys, Cantor Yoni Regev, Rabbi Samuel Broude, Rabbi Emeritus Steven A. Chester, Rabbi Emeritus t Cantor Keys, Rabbi Mates-Muchin and Rabbi Regev Mike Baker, President Paul Geduldig, Executive Director Sue Bojdak, Director of Education Ellen Lefkowitz, Preschool Director Lisa Hanauer, Director of Membership & Communications TEMPLE SINAI BULLETIN (USPS 7053) is published monthly except June and July by the First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland, 2808 Summit Street, Oakland, CA 94609. Periodicals Postage Paid at Oakland, CA and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Temple Sinai Bulletin, 2808 Summit Street, Oakland CA 94609-3605. 2 n Temple Sinai n April 2015 T’filah /prayer SHABBAT MINYAN Second Shabbat morning of each month, at 10:30am in the Albers Chapel The Shabbat Minyan is an exuberant and joyful lay-led service. This highly participatory celebration combines traditional elements with professionally led modern music. Our strong sense of community is enhanced by the potluck kiddush that follows the service. Volunteers (for chanting, readings, etc.) can contact Dan Fendel at [email protected]. Schedule of Services TUESDAY MORNING MINYAN Every Tuesday morning from 7:30am – 8:00am Join us in an intimate setting for prayer based on the tradition, and using the Reform siddur, with time and space for individual prayer as well. We begin in the Chapel at 7:30am with 10 minutes of learning (presented either by Rabbi Regev or a lay participant), followed by the prayer service itself, ending at 8:00am. Newcomers, including those not familiar with the prayers, are especially welcome to join us in times of special need, to help perform the mitzvah of providing a minyan for those who are saying kaddish, or if you would like to explore prayer and learning to see how it may enhance your day. We welcome you to join us afterwards for coffee/tea/bagels at Posh Bagel on Piedmont Avenue. 10:30am, Shabbat Morning and First Day Passover Festival Service; Albers Chapel SHABBAT MORNING TORAH STUDY Every Shabbat Morning from 9:00am – 10:15am We study Torah together. Become part of the group that joins Rabbi Mates-Muchin or Rabbi Regev in a stimulating discussion as we work our way slowly, about a chapter per week, through Torah. We are now in the book of Leviticus. The session closes with a prepared drash by a volunteer congregant on the portion of the week. Bagels and coffee are served and the discussions end in time for the 10:30am Shabbat Morning Service. Erev Shabbat – Mizmor Shir! Service Friday, April 17, 7:30pm A musical Shabbat service featuring Cantor Keys and the Mizmor Shir! musicians on piano, guitar, mandolin, flute, saxophone, clarinet, violin, harmonica, drums and other percussive instruments. This service features congregational melodies and eclectic, contemporary music which complement the creative service booklet compiled by Rabbi Mates-Muchin specifically for this service. Israel Shabbat Friday, April 24, 2015 at 7:30 pm in our Sanctuary featuring Cantor Ilene Keys Temple Sinai Adult Choir George Anton Emblom, Choir Director Learn the origin of popular Israeli folk songs and sing-a-long to your favorite Israeli standards. Friday, April 3 5:30pm, Erev Shabbat Service; Albers Chapel, Erev Pesach Saturday, April 4 5:30pm, Congregational Passover Seder; Stern Hall (RSVP required) Friday, April 10 7:30pm, Erev Shabbat Service with Yizkor; Albers Chapel Saturday, April 11 10:30am, Shabbat Minyan Service; Albers Chapel Tuesday, April 14 7:45pm, Community Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony; Sanctuary Friday, April 17 7:30pm, Mizmor Shir! Erev Shabbat Service featuring the Mizmor Shir! musicians and soulful music; Sanctuary Saturday, April 18 10:30am, Shabbat Morning Service with the Bat Mitzvah of Julia Stewart; Sanctuary Friday, April 24 6:00pm, Sababa Shabbat Service for Pre-K through 2nd grade children with their families; Albers Chapel 7:30pm, Erev Shabbat Service Celebrating Israel featuring the Temple Sinai Adult Choir, sponsored by the Israel Education Committee; Sanctuary Saturday, April 25 10:30am, Shabbat Morning Service with the Bar Mitzvah of Finneas Patterson; Sanctuary Temple Sinai is committed to accessibility. All programs taking place at Temple Sinai are wheelchair accessible. Accessibility of programs taking place offsite is noted by the wheelchair accessibility symbol. If you have concerns about an offsite location, please check with the contact person provided for that program. oaklandsinai.org n 3 TO PROGRAMS FROM COME THE CANTOR’S and EVENTS DESK Passover at Temple Sinai The Next Chapter Pesach, or Passover, is a celebration of liberation and birth – our liberation from bondage in Egypt and the birth of the nation of Israel. It’s a time for recounting the story of those events and reaffirming our link with the Jewish people and with all who struggle for human rights and liberty in our own time. In the words of the haggadah (a book we read from, meaning “telling”), “In every generation, each person should feel as though he or she were redeemed from Egypt...” Thursday, April 9, 6:30pm, Seysetha Thai Restaurant, Oakland Join The Next Chapter (60+) for an evening of musical entertainment and a no-host dinner. We will enjoy The Bob Schoen Trio, with vocals by Catherine DeCuir, performing from 7:30pm-9:30pm. No cover, just good food at reasonable prices. Please RSVP by April 6 to either Hannah Goody at [email protected] or Trish Elliott at [email protected]. The ritual observance of this holiday centers around a special service called the seder (meaning “order”). We read from the haggadah, which contains the order of prayers, rituals, readings and songs for the Pesach seder. The Pesach seder is the only ritual meal in the Jewish calendar year for which such an order is prescribed. Temple Sinai Trivia Team Here is what is going on at Temple Sinai for Passover: Thursday April 9, 7:00pm Join us for food, fun and trivia at the New Parkway Theater, 474 24th St., Oakland New! YADID Friend or Companion wednesday, april 1, 5:45pm WTS Women’s Seder & Potluck Join women of all ages as we honor the heroines of Jewish history and rejoice in our personal liberation. Sunday, April 19, 2:00pm – 4:00pm at Temple Sinai Parents of 2016 Bar and Bat Mitzvah Students: Have questions? Don’t know where to start? Join us to learn about a special new parent-led program designed to give you extra support during this exciting year. Friday, APRIL 3, 12:30pm Preschool Seders & Parent Nosh RSVP to Aviva Black [email protected] or Anne Schmitz [email protected]. saturday, APRIL 4, 5:30pm Temple Sinai’s Annual Community Seder Let all who are hungry – for a meal catered by Z Café and for community – join us this night! Wilderness Torah’s Passover in the Desert: In the Wilderness, Come Close to the One Thursday, April 9 to Monday, April 13 Pre-Festival Vision Quest Option:Tuesday April 7 – Thursday, April 9. Panamint Valley, near Death Valley, SE California. Each year, we Jews retell our core story — our Passover journey from slavery to freedom. This spring, step into your Exodus experience and discover transformation and liberation with the expansive desert as your guide. Passover in the Desert is a 5-day journey in multi-generational village life, designed to help you connect more deeply with yourself, community, nature, and Spirit. Register here for festival & avodah (work exchange). wildernesstorah.org/programs/ festivals/passover/ Sunday Morning Mah Jongg Sundays in April (except the 5th Sunday), 9:30am – 11:00am in Stern Hall All levels welcome (instructors available each week). Learn this Jewish classic while your children study the Jewish classics! Co-sponsored by the Women of Temple Sinai 4 n Temple Sinai n April 2015 Outdoor Shabbat Saturday, May 2, 10:30am, Roberts Regional Park Temple Sinai’s first outdoor Shabbat on May 2 promises to be a delightful occasion for the whole community. We’ll be in the Huckleberry picnic area (by the Park Entrance on Skyline), where the sights, sounds, and smells of the redwood forest will help us enjoy the Shabbat morning service. If you’ve never heard the Torah chanted against the background rustle of the woods, this event is for you! Bring a picnic blanket, a picnic lunch, and the whole family. Kids of all ages are welcome. This is a fully accessible location. Carpooling is encouraged! We need to tell the park how many cars to expect, so please rsvp at templesinaioutdoorshabbat. eventbrite.com. Temple Sinai will cover the parking fees. If you’ve got questions about the event, please contact Richard Hart at [email protected]. Save the Date Grief and Growing Weekend: Friday – Sunday, August 21 – 23 Save the date for Grief and Growing weekend at Camp Newman. This weekend program is professionally guided by grief care specialists providing a supportive Jewish environment where people of all ages and backgrounds can meet and work with those who have experienced similar losses. TO COME Answering Tough Questions About Israel A program with Jonathan Carey, BlueStar PR Thursday April 30, 2015; 7:30pm in the Albers Chapel How should we respond when criticisms of Israel in the press or in everyday conversations strike us as unfair or distorted? Even if we’re passionate about Israel, have travelled there, and keep ourselves well-informed, we may feel like a deer caught in the headlights when confronted with heated rhetoric. What are the most effective, least inflammatory ways to respond during discussions? What are the best approaches to take in writing letters to the editor? Many in our community don’t speak up—not because we don’t want to, but because we may lack concrete skills in this area. Jonathan Carey, a Temple Sinai congregant and a member of the Board of Trustees, has developed a distinctive way to impart these skills as President of the non-profit BlueStar PR. He will explore how we can address such hot-button issues as: • Should settlements be frozen? • Do Palestinian refugees and their descendants have a right to return to Israel? • Does Israel’s law of return, which entitles Jews and their families to become Israeli citizens, make it a racist or apartheid state? • Was Israel’s response in the 2014 war with Hamas “disproportionate”? • Is Israel a colonialist state? The program is being presented by the Temple Sinai Israel Education Committee and co-sponsored by The Brotherhood of Temple Sinai. For more information, go to oaklandsinai.org/IEC_Events For more information about Jonathan Carey and BlueStar PR, please visit bluestarpr.com The Shocking Truth About How Volunteering Affects Your Health! Join the New Member Welcome Committee and find out how contacting new congregants to welcome them to Temple Sinai will improve your memory, your sense of well-being, and more! PROGRAMS and Announcements WORSHIP Message from Mike Baker You should all have received my letter last month describing the launch of our technology upgrade. Once completed, the project will improve our member experience in many ways: registering for preschool and religious school, renewing membership, ordering High Holiday tickets, making donations, connecting with members, and much more. We are fortunate to have a talented You, our congregants, Technology Task Force made appreciate just how up of tech-savvy members who much technology can have taken the lead to solve the problems of our current computer transform the way systems. They recommended that we conduct business we migrate from outdated software and enhance your applications on antiquated servers to a portfolio of cloud-based tools member experience. for data management, accounting and administration. Our new state-of-the-art management system will not only streamline office and accounting functions, but also offer members a number of online features through a secure member portal. (Nonetheless, rest assured that those of you who prefer to conduct your lives without computers will always be able to do so here at Temple Sinai.) The Board has made a commitment to raise $50,000 to $70,000 for the upgrade. We are therefore asking everyone in the congregation to consider a one-time voluntary contribution of $100 or more per household. We chose the approach of a broad appeal because we are confident that you, our congregants, appreciate how technology can transform the way we conduct our business and engage our community. We have already made excellent progress. Work started in early February, and in March our office business systems were moved off the servers and into the cloud. We expect the synagogue management system and member portal to go live by mid-summer. Of course change can sometimes be messy. We appreciate everyone’s support and patience as we make this transition. Our congregation has a proud tradition of participation and generosity. We hope you will join in our leap to the 21st century with your contribution to the technology project. Questions? want to donate? Email [email protected] Please contact CeCe Langs, [email protected], for the details. oaklandsinai.org n 5 WTS FROMand THEBROTHERHOOD CANTOR’S DESK Women of Temple Sinai Membership in WTS helps support various programs of interest to our members, and helps support wonderful events for the entire Temple Sinai community. Through our membership in the international organization, Women of Reform Judaism, we support social and educational issues of importance to the global community of Jewish women. Inviting all WTS Women to YES Fund Tea Sunday, April 26, 2:30pm – 4:30pm, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette Let’s get together with our “Sisters” for a cup of tea, opportunity to share ideas, fun and learn more about YES Fund which supports Reform Youth (camperships and camps), Education (cantors and rabbis) and Service to Sisterhoods (in the U.S., Israel and throughout the Reform Judaism world). Questions? Email Ricki Oleon, [email protected]. On-Going With WTS WTS film series Come to WTS’ last film showing of the year. Wednesday, April 29th at 7:00pm. “Nicky’s Family”. Winner of Montreal’s World Film Festival documentary. Sunday Mah Jongg at the Temple Co-sponsored by WTS. Most Sundays from 9:30am – 11:00am. All levels are welcome. Instructors will be there. WTS Gift Shop Tallitot for your B’nei Mitzvah. Contact Susan Levy at [email protected] or Office Staff for help. 10% discount to B’nei Mitzvah Families. WTS Daytime Book Club Meets the 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 1:00pm in the TS Library. April 15, 2015 – The Betrayers by David Bezmozgis May 20, 2015 – All the Light We Can Not See by Anthony Doerr WTS evening Book Club The WTS evening book club meets every 6 weeks on Thursday evenings from 7:30pm – 9:30pm at the home of Lynn Greenberg & Michael Rothschild in Oakland. For further information please contact Zell Nathanson at (925) 247-0132. WTS Party Bridge We play two Wednesday evenings each month from 7:00pm – 9:00pm-ish. To join (with or without a regular partner) call Lynn Greenberg at (510) 250-9419. 6 n Temple Sinai n April 2014 WTS Lunch Connection Meets the first Wednesday of every month to enable members to strengthen bonds of friendship while enjoying a no-host lunch at local restaurants. This year we will be gathering from 11:30am to about 1:00pm to allow for a more leisurely time to visit. Please contact Sabina Cohen at [email protected] if you have any questions. WTS Membership Please join WTS and renew your WTS dues now! For further membership information please contact Beth Eiselman at: [email protected] WTS Board Meetings Monthly Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month at the Temple. 7:15pm for coffee and schmoozing; 7:30pm for the meeting. Everybody is welcome. Please join us and get involved. Please contact Sue Bachman at [email protected] for more information. Brotherhood past events The Temple Brotherhood has been busy! Our educational session on “Saving for College” was well attended and well received. Revelers at the annual Purim Carnival and Spiel were well fed by the Brotherhood and its volunteers, and the Brotherhood softball team has begun its regular season of spectacular fielding and hitting. spring softball It’s not too late to join the team. We play in a Jewish League in Walnut Creek, and games are Sunday morning from April through July. We have two teams and can always use more players. Please contact Player-Coach Barry Dubin at [email protected] or call him at (510) 593-9191. MONTHLY MEETINGS Brotherhood meetings are usually (not always) held on the second Thursday of the month at 7:30pm. Join us for our informal monthly gathering and discussion of additional ways Brotherhood can give Temple activities financial and volunteer support. Meetings and membership are open to all. For more information contact Dan Crouch at [email protected]. Community Photo Members of Temple Sinai’s new ATID group for adults in their 20s, 30s and those “young at heart,” gathered at Z Cafe last month. CONTRIBUTIONS WORSHIP Todah rabah! Thank you very much to the following who provided contributions to Temple Sinai. These donations were recorded between February 1 & February 28, 2015. For corrections or additions to this list, please contact [email protected] (510) 451-3263 x302. Annual Giving Campaign Elaine Binger In memory of Herman Binger Michael and Aviva Black Michael Jonath and Sylvie Mwila Jonath Brett and Linsey Morrison Cantor Keys Music Fund Ron and Sue Bachman In memory of Margie Siegan Sherri Richards and Tom Flynn In appreciation of Stan Klezmer Andy Huntington and Melissa Schoen In honor of Cantor Keys and all her support for Ben Huntington becoming a Bar Mitzvah Annette Lipkin In honor of Seth Bobrowsky becoming a Bar Mitzvah Bob and Barbara Morrison In honor of Cantor Ilene Keys, George Emblom and the volunteer choir Lisa Braver Moss and Mark Moss In honor of Seth Bobrowsky becoming a Bar Mitzvah Marty and Stan Ross In memory of Pearl Seifer Lewin Ed and Fritzi Schoen In honor of Ben Huntington becoming a Bar Mitzvah In memory of Jamie Schoen Pearl Wolffs In appreciation of the beautiful music that raises the prayers to a higher and more profound level Fine Arts Fund George Krevsky In honor of Temple Sinai’s Tin Pan Alley Singers George and Maggie Lazar Gerry Nelson and Joanne Rocklin Warner Oberndoerfer Phillip Rubin and Laurie Leiber Cathy Sillavo Joe Remcho Fund for Preschool Scholarships Jeff Gutkin and Helene Blatter Ben Galison and Sabrina Hollander Lisa Hanauer In honor of Gemma Baumer’s 20th birthday Brett and Linsey Morrison In appreciation of Barbara and Bob Morrison Daniel Nieder and Diane Grauer Subodh and Margot Nijsure Robert Siegfried In honor of Amanda, Allen, and Emmett Scott on the occasion of Emmet’s preschool experience Drew Sieminski and Brook Pessin-Whedbee Lionel Benas Confirmation Fund Evelyn Benas and Daniel Benas In memory of Richard D. Benas and Herman Barber Literacy Project – People of the Book Fund Jack and Lois Clauson In memory of Margie B. Siegan Sherri Richards and Tom Flynn In memory of Dr. Stanley Schonberger Stephen & Peter Goodman In memory of Monroe Leon Goodman Prayerbook Fund Fred Isaac and Robin Reiner In memory of Irving Isaac Rabbi Chester Discretionary Fund Sandy Cohn In memory of Herbert Roth Rabbis’ Giving Fund Paul and Shirley Kadden In memory of Dr. Stanley Schonberger Rabbi Mates-Muchin Discretionary Fund Ron and Sue Bachman In memory of Margie B. Siegan Joel Berger and Linda Zwerdling Michael and Aviva Black In memory of Gertrude Skoller Sherri Richards and Tom Flynn In appreciation of Rabbi Mates-Muchin In honor of Teddy Mates-Muchin Leonore Foorman In memory of Wil Fountain Andy Huntington and Melissa Schoen In honor of Rabbi Mates-Muchin’s support for Ben Huntington becoming a Bar Mitzvah Roger and Joan Mann In memory of Margie B. Siegan Tom Mayhew and Matti Fromson In honor of Teddy Mates-Muchin becoming a Bar Mitzvah Bob and Barbara Morrison In honor of the election of Rabbi Jackie MatesMuchin as our Senior Rabbi Ken and Carol Ogren In memory of Margie B. Siegan Ed and Fritzi Schoen In honor of Ben Huntington becoming a Bar Mitzvah In memory of Margie B. Siegan In memory of Jamie Schoen Steven and Carolyn Schwarz In memory of Helga Tannenbaum Pearl Wolffs In memory of Bessie Sweet Rabbi Regev Discretionary Fund Bob and Barbara Morrison In honor of Rabbi Yoni Regev becoming our Assistant Rabbi Ed and Fritzi Schoen In honor of Ben Huntington becoming a Bar Mitzvah Pearl Wolffs In memory of Bessie Sweet Special Education Fund Herb and Marilyn Friedman In memory of Margie B. Siegan Rai Newman In memory of Sara Golson Temple Sinai Technology Upgrades Ben Galison and Sabrina Hollander Matti Fromson and Thomas Mayhew URJ Camp Scholarships Fund Andy Huntington and Melissa Schoen In honor of Mir, Maureen, Ophira and all the Temple Staff support for Ben Huntington becoming a Bar Mitzvah Mike and Susan Levy In memory of Margie B. Siegan Where The Need Is Greatest Fund Robert and Doris Bachman In memory of our great aunt, Margie Bachman Siegan Elaine Binger In memory of Andre Welmond Ann Brandt In memory of Frank Brandt Rabbi Samuel and Judith Broude In appreciation of Temple Sinai Maxine Brownstein In memory of Margie Siegan Dick and Jane Cohen In memory of Herbert Roth, Charles Papae, and Emily Levey Jeanne Eber In memory of Rose Scherman and Florence Bloom Jerry and Myra Feiger In memory of Margie B. Siegan Douglas Fountain In memory of Wilbert Bernard Fountain Frances Greenberg In memory of Dr. Stanley Schonberger Glen and Janis Rotner In memory of Sara Buchman Bruce and Teddy Schwab In memory of Sara Schwab Nathan Stein In loving memory of Henrietta Oberndoerfer Jonathan and Marni Weinstock In appreciation of Rabbi Mates-Muchin on the occasion of Meredith’s baby naming Ann Winthrop In memory of Marvin Winthrop Harold and Mary Zlot In memory of Margie Siegan oaklandsinai.org n 7 ADULT FROM THE EDUCATION CANTOR’S DESK Hollywood Spies: Jewish Infiltration of Nazi Groups in LA in the ’30s and ’40s with Dr. Laura Rosenzweig Sunday, April 19, 2015, 9:30-11:00am, in the Albers Chapel Sundays at 9:15am in the Albers Chapel From 1933-1945, the executives of the motion picture industry funded a covert fact-finding operation to collect evidence of Nazi sedition in Los Angeles. Join Dr. Rosenzweig as she reveals new research on Jewish Hollywood’s fight against Nazism in the United States in the 1930s. Learn the significance of the information they collected on Congressional and federal actions against Nazi groups in the United States during this time, and how this relates to a new perspective on Anti-Semitism in the United States in the 1930s. Dr. Laura Rosenzweig works for the UC Office of the President and regularly teaches Jewish This program is supported in history at San Francisco State University. She holds a PhD in U.S. History from UC Santa Cruz. part by the Newton & Rochelle Becker Charitable Trust Economic Justice –the Jewish Angle: Addressing the Crisis of Inequality in partnership with with Susan Lubeck, Regional Director, Bend the Arc, Bay Area Jewish Learning Works. Sunday, April 26, 2015, 9:30-11:00am, in the Albers Chapel Rising inequality has reached alarming proportions, and we can feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem and the challenges of engaging effectively in our political system. What does our tradition have to teach about economic justice and public engagement? Reflect on the meaning of economic justice as informed by Jewish thought, and learn about current efforts to fight inequality, including the role of Jews in this work. Susan has been fighting for economic justice for decades through law, advocacy and organizing and has been the regional director of Bend the Arc Bay Area since 2010. She agrees with Adrienne Rich: “There’s something more than the food and the humor” – though the food and the humor are not to be underestimated. Estate Planning Is Temple Sinai already in your will? Do you want to include us in your estate plans? Temple Sinai has been accepted into LIFE & LEGACY, a program sponsored by The Jewish Community Foundation. Through training workshops, ongoing consultation and a community-wide recognition program, LIFE & LEGACY will help Temple Sinai obtain commitments from congregants to designate Temple Sinai in their will, trust or retirement plan. These “legacy gifts” will go toward increasing our endowment and play a significant role in ensuing our congregation’s vibrant future. In addition, Temple Sinai will be eligible for incentive grants of $10,000 a year for two years when we reach our goal of securing at least 36 commitments. Special thanks for our congregant Joe Hurwich, the chair of LIFE & LEGACY. Please contatct Temple Sinai Planned Giving Chair, Geoff Piller at [email protected] or (510) 625-9700 to discuss how you can make a legacy gift to Temple Sinai. Sharing the Public Sphere: New Foundations for a Jewish Democracy WITH RABBI JACQUELINE MATES-MUCHIN & RABBI YONI REGEV Part Seven of The Tribes of Israel: A Hartman Institute Study Series Sunday, April 12, 9:30 – 11:00am, in the Albers Chapel This final installation in our monthly Israel study series looks at cases taken from headlines to examine the way in which the challenge of sharing the public sphere is being addressed in the current reality of modern Israel. Co-sponsored with Lehrhaus Judaica and the Israel Education Committees of Temple Sinai & Congregation Beth-El Introduction to the Jewish Experience with Rabbi Ruth Adar Wednesdays, April 8 thru May 27, 7:30 – 9:00pm at Congregation Beth El in Berkeley There have been multiple expressions of Judaism since the days of the Second Temple. In this class, we will study the varieties of Judaism in the late antique and early medieval period, Ashkenazi Judaism, Sephardic Judaism, and the modern streams of Judaism. We will also look at some of the elements that make Judaism in America, in California, and in our local Jewish community so distinctive. The class will finish with a look at food traditions in Judaism: kashrut (keeping kosher) and other Jewish food traditions. This class is part of a three-unit series. Please visit the class website at jewishexperienceonline.com. Tuition is $105 for the public/$90 for members. Pre-registration is required at catalog.lehrhaus. org/course/2015/winter/I100C-CBE/ or by calling (510) 845-6420. Co-sponsored with Lehrhaus Judaica and Congregation Beth-El. 8 n Temple Sinai n April 2015 PRESCHOOL, YOUTH PROGRAMS & MIDRASHA WORSHIP Youth Events Religious School Prospective Family Day Sunday, April 19 at 10:00am Are you a Temple member whose children will be ready to Religious School next year? Do you have friends with children who are considering joining the Temple but are still on the fence? Come join us, or invite your friends to join us, for our Open House. You will be oriented to the Religious School by Director of Education Sue Bojdak and members of the Education Committee plus have an opportunity to tour the Religious School site, visit classes, and attend tfillah, (Religious School services). Children are welcome. For more information, please contact Sue at (510) 451-3263 x342 or [email protected]. Religious School End-of-Year Celebration of Learning Wednesday, April 29 & Sunday, May 3 Let’s celebrate a great year of Jewish learning! Parents please join us for a fun and festive final day of Religious School this year. We’ll be visiting core classes, participating in explore activities, doing great art, and appreciating our teachers. On Sunday we’ll hear Shamati (featuring Nathaniel Markman & Isaac Zones) in concert plus enjoy a festive on-site picnic with food, ga-ga, jumpy house, art and community. All Shamati Hebrew classes WILL meet on our last days except the Sunday 11:45am class. All Temple Sinai members in grades 4-6 should join us on Sunday April 19 for our next adventure at Sky-Hi trampoline park in Concord. We’ll meet at Temple at noon, take BART to Concord, bounce and play before heading back to meet at BART by 6:00pm. Need more information? Contact Michele [email protected] How Well Are We Serving Students with Special Needs? Understanding diagnoses, conducting teacher workshops, providing student aides, orchestrating professional consultations, facilitating parent-teacher dialogue; these are just some of the elements involved in ensuring that Temple Sinai meets the needs of all of our students and families. But how well are we doing really and what are we missing? What more could we be doing in order to ensure that our educational programs, and really our whole community, are not just inclusive enough but warm, welcoming and supportive for all of our students and their families? In order to answer those questions Temple Sinai has engaged Dr. David Neufeld, Director of Special Needs Programs and Services at Jewish LearningWorks’ Project Include to conduct a Special Needs Assessment this spring. Dr. Neufeld will be observing classes in the Preschool and Religious School, interviewing teachers and parents, and collaborating with a small team of clergy, staff and lay leaders to understand past initiatives, current challenges, and hopes and dreams for creating a more inclusive educational program for Sinai students in preschool through b’nei mitzvah. At the conclusion of the assessment, we’ll have a list of recommendations and next steps toward building a more inclusive educational program that we will begin working on in the next school year. Many thanks to the Jewish Federation & Jewish Community Foundation of the East Bay for the Special Education Grant which is making this assessment possible. Interested in getting involved or learning more? Contact Director of Education Sue Bojdak at [email protected]. Religious School Dates to Remember Sunday, April 5 thru Thursday, April 9: No Religious School – Passover/Spring Break Sunday, April 19: Prospective Family Day Wednesday, April 26 & Sunday, May 3: Religious School End-of-Year Celebration of Learning & Teacher Appreciation! Celebrating Shabbat with children in Pre-K – 2nd grade and their families. Friday, April 24 – Evening Service Pizza dinner from 5:30pm – 6:00pm. RSVP on website. Service in the chapel 6:00pm – 6:30pm. Oneg 6:30pm – 7:00pm. Next Month: Saturday, May 16 – Morning Service Go to oaklandsinai.org for program descriptions and RSVP info. Contact: [email protected] oaklandsinai.org n 9 LIFECYCLES BIRTHDAYS wedding ANNIVERSARIES 4/1 Stanley Osher 4/2 Romy Falck 4/2 Stephen Zell 4/3 Elizabeth Weintraub 4/4 Steven A. Chester 4/4 Judy Grunwald 4/5 Renee Grimani-Kardener 4/6 Lorin Blum 4/6 Beth Eiselman 4/6 Denise Jacobson 4/8 Carol Cohen 4/8 Murray Gordon 4/9 Edie Kaplan 4/10 Christopher Coutu 4/10 Marilyn Haase 4/11 Julian Montgomery 4/11 Caryn Newbrun 4/12 Emily Mendel 4/12 Franklin Silver 4/13 Marsha Van Broek 4/14 Arlene Garfinkle 4/14 Ruth Hurvitz 4/16 Paul Dresnick 4/18 Matthew Fogelson 4/18 Joyce Smail 4/19 Harvey Freedman 4/20 Andy Wolpert 4/21 James Allison 4/21 Gerald Michaels 4/22 Steven Goldstein 4/22 David Thorne 4/23 Ronald Bachman 4/23 Cheryl Eccles 4/23 Peter Laub 4/24 Arlene Saidman 4/26 Betty Anne Lipow 4/26 Victor Sonenberg 4/27 Shaun Reid 4/27 Lawrence Saidman 4/28 Arthur Stanten 4/30 Hilda J. Hendel 4/30 Helene Schwartz 4/9 Neil & Andrea Muchin 20 4/10 Adam & Amanda Brill 5 4/12 Steven & Dale Block 45 4/21 James & Rebecca Eisen 30 4/22 Philip Witte & Rebecca Schnier 20 4/22 Barry & Kate Augus 20 4/29 Robert Boyle & Danielle Gilbert 15 Weekly eNews REmemberances Isadore Mendel, father of Elisa Mendel Franz Treml, father of Linda Treml Mildred ‘Mitzi’ McClosky, mother of Dan McClosky welcome new members! Jordana and Bryan Hemberg, Noa (age 2), Mayer (6 mos.) Sheryl Fishman and Susannah Bell Fishman, Georgia (age 9) b’nEi Mitzvah Julia Rose Stewart Daughter of Vincent & Karen Stewart Saturday, 4/18/2015 Finneas Reed Patterson Son of Frances & Jen Rainin and Chris Patterson Saturday, 4/25/2015 Thank you to the following march B’nei Mitzvah Families for Oneg Sponsorship: Are you receiving the Weekly eNews each Tuesday? 4/10 Patterson/Stevens/Rainin family It’s a great way to 4/17 Stewart Family keep track of up- 4/24 Patterson Family coming events at Temple Sinai. To ensure that you aren’t missing anything, email [email protected] with Weekly eNews in the subject title. 10 n Temple Sinai n April 2015 Birthdays and Anniversaries are listed in multiples of 5 as well as birthdays age 69 and over. Mazel Tov! The Amazing Purim Spiel march, 2015 APRILWORSHIP 2015 Temple Sinai Calendar sunday monday tuesday wednesday 9:30am Sunday Morning Mah Jongg 10:00am Preschool Annual Fundraising Event 11:00am Gift Shop Passover Sale 11:30am Jr. Choir 1:00pm Adult Hebrew Class 1:00pm Holocaust Memorial Service at Home of Eternity 3/29 3/30 No Midrasha 7:30am Tuesday Morning Minyan 7:00pm Adult Choir 5 6 No Midrasha No Adult Choir 7:30am Tuesday Morning Minyan 6:00pm Ritual Committee Meeting No Junior Choir 9:30am Adult Education: Tribes of Israel Hartman Institute Series 9:30am Sunday Morning Mah Jongg 12:00pm Adult B’nei Mitzvah 12 13 7:30am Tuesday Morning Minyan 7:00pm Adult Choir 7:15pm Midrasha: Yom HaShoah Memorial 7:45pm Yom HaShoah Holocaust Community Service 19 20 27 No Religious School/ Hebrew Classes Midrasha Retreat 9:30am EWJ Speaker Series: Dr. Laura Rosenzweig on Hollywood Spies 9:30am Sunday Morning Mah Jongg 11:30am Jr. Choir 1:00pm Adult Hebrew Class 2:00pm B’nei Mitzvah Mentor Meeting 26 9:30am EWJ Speaker Series: Susan Lubeck on Economic Justice – the Jewish Angle 9:30am Sunday Morning Mah Jongg 10:00am New Member Brunch 11:30am Jr. Choir last Sunday rehearsal Parent/Teacher Conferences – No student day 3/31 1 friday 2 8 9 Preschool Spring Break No Religious School/ Hebrew Classes 12:15pm Al-Anon Meeting 7:15pm WTS Board Meeting 14 12:15pm Al-Anon Meeting 1:00pm WTS Book Group Meeting 6:00pm Cantor’s Intro Family B’nei Mitzvah Meeting 7:00pm Temple Board Meeting 7:30pm Education Committee Meeting 7:30am Tuesday Morning Minyan 7:00pm Adult Choir 7:15pm Midrasha 7:30pm Green Committee Meeting 21 Yom HaZikaron – Israel Memorial Day 12:15pm Al-Anon Meeting 7:00pm Adult Education Committee meeting 7:30pm Israel Education Committee meeting 7:30am Tuesday Morning Minyan 11:30am Seniors Lunch 7:00pm Adult Choir 7:15pm Midrasha 28 Religious School – Last Wednesday 7:00pm WTS Film Series 7:15pm Adult Hebrew Class People of the Book Literacy Project People of The Book Literacy Project hosted three events in February: a schoolwide book giveaway at our new partner school, Bella Vista Elementary School; another book giveaway at International Community School; and an author presentation at Greenleaf School, where N.H. Senzai talked to 5th and 6th graders about her book, “Shooting Kabul.” Thank you to our generous congregation for the gifts that made these events possible! 7 thursday 11:30am WTS Lunch 7:30pm Preschool Parent Connection (offsite) Committee Meeting 12:15pm Al-Anon Meeting 5:30pm Women of Temple Sinai Seder Preschool Spring Break 7:30pm Brotherhood Board Meeting (Offsite) 15 Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Day 22 Yom HaAtzmaut – Israeli Independence Day 29 7:30pm Israel Education Committee Speaker First Night Seder saturday 3 Passover 1st Day 4 10 9:00am Torah Study 10:30am Shabbat Minyan Service 11 17 Midrasha Retreat 9:00am Torah Study 10:30am Shabbat Morning Service with Bat Mitzvah of Julia Stewart 18 24 9:00am Torah Study 10:30am Shabbat Morning Service with Bar Mitzvah of Finneas Patterson 5/1 7th Grade Retreat 9:00am Torah Study 10:30am Shabbat Morning Service – Green Committee Sponsored 12:30pm Preschool Passover Seders 5:30pm Erev Shabbat Service Preschool Spring Break Passover 7th Day 7:30pm Erev Shabbat Service with Yizkor 9:00pm Holocaust Survivor Photo Exhibit Opening 16 Midrasha Retreat 7:30pm Erev Shabbat – Mizmor Shir! Service 23 5:30pm Sababa Shabbat Dinner 6:00pm Sababa Shabbat Service 6:30pm Sababa Shabbat Oneg 7:30pm Erev Shabbat Service Celebrating Israel Shabbat with Adult Choir 30 7th Grade Retreat 12:30pm Family Shabbat Dinner 5:30pm Erev Shabbat Family Service with Junior Choir & Family School 9:00am Torah Study 10:30am Shabbat and Festival Service 5:30pm Congregational Seder at Temple Sinai 25 5/2 Social Action Community Projects The office of Councilmember Lynette McElhaney would welcome support on these two community projects. Neighborhood Cleanup – May 3, 9:30am –12:30pm. Projects will include litter pick up, painting out graffiti, and other improvements. Co-sponsored by Social Action and the Green Committee. For more information and to sign up, contact Teri Bleckner at teri.bleckner@ gmail.com. STEM Guest Speaker Opportunity The West Oakland STEM Corridor is looking for guest speakers to teach K-12th grade students about your career in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math. Any optometrists want to teach elementary scholars about the science behind an eye exam? Any horticulturists or gardeners want to show students how you grow the bee population with pollinators? Any technologists or coders want to Top: Judy Zollman with Bella Vista 3rd graders at our book giveaway; show high school students how to write in code? Contact Casey Farmer Bottom: Author N.H. Senzai at [email protected] and copy Helen Smiler at hsmiler@aol. signing autographs at Greenleaf com. Casey is the aide to Councilmember McElhaney who can connect School you with one of the 10 West Oakland Schools seeking guest speakers, field trips, or workshop leaders. PERIODICAL First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland Temple Sinai 2808 Summit Street Oakland, CA 94609 (510) 451-3263 www.oaklandsinai.org sa v e the date Friday, May 8, 7:30pm Special Shabbat Service and Reception Join Temple Sinai in a special Shabbat Service and reception in celebration of the installation of our new Senior Rabbi Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin Temple Sinai has been certified as a Bay Area Green Business Our Bulletin is printed on recycled paper at a printer registered as a Green Business and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. We print with earth-friendly soy-based ink.