TEMPLE BETH HILLEL , RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA Volume 20, Issue 11. August-September 2014, Av-Tishrei 5774. 1 www.tbhrichmond.org T he S hofar August-September 2014 Av-Tishrei 5774 The cycle of the Jewish calendar is constant. High Holy days, Sukkot and Simchat Torah in the Fall, Hanukkah in the heart of Winter, Tu b’Shvat at the first blooming just before Spring, Purim, Pesach and Shavuot in the Spring and then the long quiet days of summer, punctuated only by Tisha b’Av. They cycle of the Jewish year is always the same, but each year we are different. Each year we are changed: a lile older, perhaps a lile wiser. We may have lost a family member or friend through death or gained a new family member through marriage or birth. Each year we mark these changes at mes like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This year at Rosh Hashanah we will come together, as we always do, but things will be different. Not just because of new faces joining us or old faces that will be missing but because we are going through some profound and posive changes at Temple Beth Hillel. First, we have a new member of our clergy, our Cantor, Fran Burgess. Fran brings a deep commitment to Jewish worship and profound love of Jewish life to her service here at Temple Beth Hillel and she does view her cantorial work as service. I think her beauful voice, her warm and engaging spirit, and her knowledge of Jewish worship will make these High Holy Days, and our services year round, special and rich. But they will be different. Another big change this year, is that we will be pilong the new Reform Mahzor (High Holy Day prayer book) on Rosh Hashannah evening, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur aſternoon. Our movement has been developing a new mahzor over the last few years. We need one desperately. Our current one, The Gates of Repentance, was wrien in the 1970’s. Much of the world view of Gates was influenced by the Follow TBH on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/templebethhillel “e Shofar” is published eleven months per year by Temple Beth Hillel 801 Park Central Richmond, CA 94803 Pages 1-2 Message from Rabbi Dean Kertesz 2 Notice: Selichot Service Time Change 3 From e Desk Of Cantor Fran 4 from Our President, Jane Durango 5 High Holy Days Schedule 6 High Holy Days Community Reservation Form 7 Anniversaries, Birthdays, Congratulations Invitation to sing with the TBH Choir 8 Yahrtzeits, Condolences 9 Notes From e Board Introducing our Choir Director 10 Solano Stroll TBH Booth Notice 11 Road Warrior by Roberta Alexander 12 Letter From Malka Helfman about RS Tzedakah Tel Shalom Advertisement 13 Special anks, 14 Hebrew Corner 15 JFCS Support Group re: Israel 16-18 Calendars 19 Child Care Reservation Form Advertisements 20 Help Wanted In is Issue A Message from Rabbi Dean
The cycle of the Jewish calendar is constant. High Holy days, Sukkot and Simchat Torah in the Fall, Hanukkah in the heart of Winter, Tu b’Shvat at the first blooming just before Spring, Purim, Pesach and Shavuot in the Spring and then the long quiet days of summer, punctuated only by Tisha b’Av. They cycle of the Jewish year is always the same, but each year we are different. Each year we are changed: a little older, perhaps a little wiser. We may have lost a family member or friend through death or gained a new family member through marriage or birth. Each
year we mark these changes at times like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
This year at Rosh Hashanah we will come together, as we always do, but things will be different. Not just because of new faces joining us or old faces that will be missing but because we are going through some profound and positive changes at Temple Beth Hillel.
First, we have a new member of our clergy, our Cantor, Fran Burgess. Fran brings a deep commitment to Jewish worship and profound love of Jewish life to her service here at Temple Beth Hillel and she does view her cantorial work as service. I think her beautiful voice, her warm and engaging spirit, and her knowledge of Jewish worship will make these High Holy Days, and our services year round, special and rich. But they will be different.
Another big change this year, is that we will be piloting the new Reform Mahzor (High Holy Day prayer book) on Rosh Hashannah evening, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur afternoon. Our movement has been developing a new mahzor over the last few years. We need one desperately. Our current one, The Gates of Repentance, was written in the 1970’s. Much of the world view of Gates was influenced by the
Follow TBH on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/templebethhillel
“The Shofar” is published eleven months per year
by Temple Beth Hillel 801 Park Central
Richmond, CA 94803
Pages1-2 Message from Rabbi Dean Kertesz2 Notice: Selichot Service Time Change3 From The Desk Of Cantor Fran4 from Our President, Jane Durango5 High Holy Days Schedule6 High Holy Days Community Reservation Form7 Anniversaries, Birthdays, Congratulations Invitation to sing with the TBH Choir 8 Yahrtzeits, Condolences9 Notes From The Board Introducing our Choir Director 10 Solano Stroll TBH Booth Notice11 Road Warrior by Roberta Alexander12 Letter From Malka Helfman about RS Tzedakah Tel Shalom Advertisement 13 Special Thanks,14 Hebrew Corner15 JFCS Support Group re: Israel16-18 Calendars19 Child Care Reservation Form Advertisements20 Help Wanted
Rabbi Dean Kertesz Cantor Fran Burgess Educator Malka Helfman
Officers President Jane Durango 1st Vice Pres. Carl Nelson 2nd Vice Pres Jane Kemp Treasurer Holvis Delgadillo Secretary Roberta Alexander Past President Larry Fox
Board Members
Newsletter Editor
Barbara Weidenfeld [email protected] Copy editor: Jay Weidenfeld Circulation: Arlene Lisby
Audrey Berger Josh Gensar Neoma Kenwood Dana MeyerAndre Moskowitz Jeff Romm Greg Tananbaum Sheri Tattenham Laura Taub Michelle Waxman
Viet Nam War and the struggle to enable Soviet Jews to either live freely as Jews or leave the Soviet Union to come to Israel or America. What was relevant then is dated now. We need a High Holy Day prayer book that speaks to us, where we are now. The new Reform Mahzor does just that. In one sense it is timeless, with a richer depth of sources and prayers than are in The Gates of Repentance. On other hand it is contemporary. It contains many more readings and speaks more directly to the spiritual yearnings of many of us. So the new mahzor is simultaneously more traditional and more contemporary. It will be available in time for next year’s High Holy Days in 2015. We will by using it for part of our services this year as a transition, to see how it feels. I believe it will make our High Holy Day worship feel more congruent with our Shabbat worship and make our experience even more satisfying. But regardless, this will be another big change.
But that is what life is about; change. That is true in religious life as well. We are always caught between two the poles: the desire for things to remain the same and the need for religious life to reflect our personal lived experience. If our religious life remains constant
it becomes stagnant. If it is always changing and improvised we feel that we have no foundation, nothing to rely on. So we try to stay to do a difficult dance, always balancing memory, meaning and change to create a vital religious experience.
I hope you will join us on Erev Rosh Hashanah with an open heart and willingness to face a new year, filled with the promise of many changes, many things that will remain the same, and with awesome potential.
Rabbi Dean Kertesz
Selichot service at a new time this year
This year our Selichot service will be on September 20 at a new time- 8PM. Please join Cantor Fran Burgess as she leads the congregation in the first service of the High Holy season. Selichot or “forgivenesses” will be the start of our spiritual journey to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We will be guided by the Reform movement’s service book, the Gates of Forgiveness, in a series of meditations and prayers aimed at opening our hearts to the coming tasks of the High Holy Days. The volunteer choir will be on hand as we are introduced to some of the beautiful melodies we only hear at this time of year.
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“Let every living thing Yah’s praises sing!” from psalm 150
Why do Jews sing a good portion of their prayers? The impact of music in worship, and indeed for the human condition in general, cannot be understated. Music has the power to move us in ways that we do not always understand, an ineffable quality that can’t be explained, sometimes beyond the reach of the reasoned mind. It was so important within the ancient Near East cultures that the profession of musician in the Bible was listed right after shepherding and tilling the soil. Cain and Abel’s half- brother Jubal was described in Genesis 4:20 as “the ancestor of all who play the lyre and the pipe”. The early mention of music as a fundamental pursuit is a testament to its importance in the daily life of the ancient peoples.
But what happens when music and worship are combined? It can be a truly awesome experience. When we sing our praises to God, we elevate the conversation. It is one of the reasons that we chant the Torah rather than recite from it. Singing our liturgy takes us out the realm of the everyday world and can sanctify our service, can bring an intentionality or kavanah to it. We can utilize music to express the inexpressible, to transport our prayers into a true service of the heart.
In the introduction to her book “Voices of a People: the Story of Yiddish Folk Song”, Ruth Rubin observes that the Jews have always been a singing people, bringing their music to every land they settled in and in turn absorbing the melodies of the cultures around them. Music tells the story of a culture and preserves it in a way that endures. We have a vast richness to our musical heritage, both in the folk genre and in our classical reform compositions. It is that which makes our music unique and endurable. Cantor Jacob Beimel (1880-1944) stated this so eloquently:
The soul receives its very nourishment from these two attributes, religion and music. There has existed, since time immemorial, a strong and inseparable bond between divinity and the art of music…Rabbis wrote that the gates of song preceded the gates of repentance, and that the source of song is the nearest source of holiness.
Consider deepening your worship experience this High Holyday season- volunteer to sing with your High Holyday choir! We will meet on Wednesday and Thursday evenings starting in August. The music is easy to learn, and no prior experience is needed. I have started many volunteer choirs and the feedback is always positive, especially for people who have never sung in a High Holyday choir. If you are interested, please contact Cantor Fran.
“JEWISH” OR “CROWNED” APPLE CAKE (From Joan Nathan’s The Jewish Holiday Kitchen
5 large apples, unpeeled (gala, preferred) ½ cup orange juice2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla2 cups sugar 3 cups unsifted flour4 eggs 3 teaspoons baking powder1 cup vegetable oil ½ teaspoon salt
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Core and slice the apples in eighths. Place in a large bowl and sprinkle with the cinnamon and 5 tablespoons sugar.
2. Beat eggs and gradually add remaining sugar, oil, orange juice and vanilla
3. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Combine with egg mixture
4. Grease a tube pan and dust with flour
5. Pour 1/3 of the batter into the pan. Layer with 1/3 of the apples. Repeat for 2 more layers, ending with apples o top. Bake 1 ½ hours until golden on top. Let sit a few minutes and then unmold.
Dear Friends,
Although I am writing to you in the middle of summer, this will reach you when preparation for the High Holy Days at Temple Beth Hillel is in full swing. The dates this year are: S’lichot on Saturday night, Sept. 20th, Rosh Hashanah starting on Wednesday night, Sept. 24th and Yom Kippur starting on Friday night, Oct. 3rd. The Ritual Committee led by Rabbi Dean and Cantor Fran will be making a few changes to our services this year. I’m sure our wonderful choir will be bringing us glorious music again this year. Just like every year, I can’t wait to spend the High Holy Days with all of you as a community. Our preparation whether it be choir rehearsals, practicing a Torah or Haftarah portion, practicing Torah blessings for being called to the Torah, preparing the food for our Rosh Hashanah oneg or our Break Fast for Yom Kippur, or getting the synagogue ready for this time is something that I look forward to all year round.
We have enclosed reservation forms and schedules for you in this issue of the Shofar. I hope all of you can join us for this most sacred time in our Jewish calendar as well as a time when our community joins together to
commemorate these ancient Holy Days which are so meaningful to this day.
I would also like to invite you to participate in the services if you would like to do a Hebrew reading, English reading, ritual honor (call to the Torah, open/close ark, Torah procession), read/chant Torah or Haftarah, help as an usher handing out prayer books and greeting attendees, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
This month, I am sending you the recipe for the apple cake I bake every year for the Rosh Hashanah oneg that accompanies the apples and honey we bless and eat hoping to ensure a sweet year for all of us.
I would like to wish each and every member of our TBH family and sweet year full of peace. health and happiness.
Please fill in applicable sections and return to Temple Beth Hillel by September 17, 2014.
Name(s):
Address:
Telephone: E-mail:
Young Adult/Student (18-24 years) $18/person $
First Time Visitor $30/person or family $
Non-Member Individual $270/person $
Non-Member Family $475/family $
Donation Toward Bimah Flowers
In Memory ☐ or Honor ☐ of (indicate name)
$
Other donation (please specify)
$
Total amount enclosed: $
Questions?
www.tbhrichmond.org or (510) 223-2560
Temple Beth Hillel High Holy Days Community Reservation Form
5775-2014
Please note: Free childcare will be provided. A donation to help with the cost of staffing would be greatly appreciated. See reverse side for childcare reservation information
Let us know how you heard about Temple Beth HillelÕs High Holy Day Services: ________________________________________
Sheryl & Susannah Bell Fishman 8/20Michael Nye & Mindy Pines 8/23Jay & Barbara Weidenfeld 8/24Hallie Friedman & Kim Mack 9/1Dana Meyer & June Kamerling 9/9Joel Rosenbaum & Wendy Roth 9/9Penelope A & Kevin Norman 9/18Renee Powell & Sam Chen 9/19
Ellen Seskin 8/1Josh Genser 8/3Sheryl Fishman 8/9Edward Max Chanowitz 8/12Evan Joseph Class 8/13Melanie Dixon 8/13Jacob Louis Fox 8/13Adolph Kamil 8/13Mya Berger 8/14Arlene Lisby 8/14Jayden Jones Horton 8/16Elisabeth Miller 8/18Jane Kaasa 8/19Gary Class 8/21Barbara Weidenfeld 8/21Sarah Novick 8/22Bob Lisby 8/25Bonnie Zell 8/25Elaina Genser 8/28Naura Soares 8/28Zachary Mack 8/29Sharin Mendelson 8/30Daniel Goldwyn 9/2Marcia Delgadillo 9/3Madeleine Breyer-Lipson 9/7Hugo Gerstman 9/10Lili Nelson 9/11Anna Stein 9/11Stefan Feurst 9/12Bobbi Nadler 9/14Beatrice Benezra 9/15Sam Chen 9/15Tarah Chen 9/16Douglas Freifeld 9/16Jane Durango 9/17Shekinah Ariel Dunson 9/18Joseph Chanowitz 9/20Soluna Razi Delgadillo 9/20Sid Levy 9/21Frank Snitz 9/21Daniel Fine-Salan 9/27Roberta Mandel 9/29
Anniversaries: Birthdays:
Congratulations
To Aviv Delgadillo (son of Holvis and Marcia Delgadillo) who graduated from the Jewish Community High School of the Bay on June 12th. He will be attending Northwestern University. Aviv gave the Senior Address at his high school graduation.
To Dori Goldberg (Son of Nahum and Selma Devries-Goldberg) who graduated from El Cerrito High School. He will be attendng San Francisco State University.
To Kobi Meyer (son of Dana Meyer and June Kamerling) who graduated from El Cerrito High School.
To Geoffrey Class (son of Gary and Helene Class) who has graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison
To Nikhil Nadler, granbson of Bobbi Nadler, who graduated from Howland High School in Warren, Ohio with honors and will be in a pre-med program at Kent State
Do you love to sing?
Even if you have never sung in a HHD choir before, Cantor Fran invites you to deepen your High Holyday worship by singing in your synagogue choir. Rehearsals will be on Wednesday and Sunday evenings starting in August. No prior experience or music reading skills required. For more information contact
8/1 Frank Raskin, father of Gordon Raskin8/2 Dorothy Friedman, aunt of Jim Koenig8/3 Margaret Olvin, aunt of Pat Trumbull8/5 Max Lakritz, step-father of Renee Powell8/6 Seymour Hertzberg, father of Marilyn Hertzberg8/7 Florence Flum, mother of Judith Flum8/7 Imre Kertesz, husband of Eva Kertesz, father of Dean Kertesz8/8 Gary Hale, son-in-law of Sanford & Helene Wichner8/9 Ruth Feurst, mother of Irving Feurst8/10 Bernard Welstand, father of Steve Welstand8/11 Selma Cohen, mother of Jane Durango8/12 Joseph Genser, husband of Clara-Rae Genser, father of Josh Genser8/14 Rosamunde Kurny, mother of Eva Kertesz, grandmother of Dean Kertesz8/15 Tamara Blanter, grandmother of Anna Stein8/15 Jim McCram, brother of Dean Kertesz8/16 Philip Koenig, father of James Koenig8/17 Daniel Coven, great uncle of Kieran Kemp8/19 Gerda Straus Mathan, sister-in-law of Henry Linker8/21 Neoma G. Kenwood, mother of Neoma Kenwood8/23 Isadore M. Linker, brother of Henry Linker8/26 Cielo Sumayao Romm, wife of Jeff Romm8/27 Edith Kiefer, wife of Harry Kiefer8/27 Hyman Miller, grandfather of Arlene Lisby8/28 Sylvia Leben, mother of Barbara Weidenfeld8/30 Julius Zarchin, father of Neil Zarchin9/1 Edith Straus, mother of Eva Linker9/2 Louis Haberer, grandfather of Linda Rose9/3 Thornton Hardy, father of Sherbie Aberle9/4 Mildred Gold Snitz, beloved mother of Frank Snitz9/8 Ruth Hoffman, grandmother of Marcia Delgadillo9/12 Ollie Lisby, mother of Bob Lisby9/14 Leon Kolb, father of Fran Welstand9/20 Marcy A. Binder, sister of Fran Welstand9/20 William Fink, remembered by Irene Morgan9/21 Adolph Alexander, father of Roberta Alexander9/23 Freda Caplan, mother of Judy Windrix9/24 Antonio Sumayao, brother-in-law of Jeff Romm9/27 Violet Nye, beloved mother of Michael Nye
Yahrzeits May Their Memories Be For A blessing
Long time member of Temple Beth Hillel, Sanford Wichner died on July 25. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Helene and their children Shelby Lena Wichner and Mara Lynn Hale
Janet Neiderbach, member of TBH for 25 years, died on July 23. We extend our deepest condolences to her children, Evelyn Schwartz, Jonathan Neiderbach and their families.
• The Ritual Committee says that the Kol Nidre service will be at 7 p.m. this year rather than the usual 7:30.
• The Membership Committee is planning the TBH booth at the Solano Stroll, which is Sunday, Sept. 14. Volunteers are asked to get in touch with Larry Fox.
• The Marketing Committee has arranged for publicity for the HHD in various media.
Religious School
• An estimate has been obtained for the revitalization of the adult ed room. Projects include painting, better lighting, a flat screen TV, installing a ceiling fan and window treatments. Josh Genser, who is spearheading the project, hopes it can be done by the HHD.
• The GRIP cooking project will continue this year. Neoma Kenwood is working on a calendar for it.
Board Retreat
• The annual retreat will be Sunday, Aug. 10. Instead of the usual day of talking, the board instead plans to do a beautification project on the grounds. The day will still include the traditional brunch potluck.
Submitted by Roberta Alexander, secretary
Notes From The Board July 17,2014 About Our Choir Director
John Kendall Bailey returns for his second year to direct the Temple Beth Hillel choir for High Holy Days. John sang for thirteen years as bass section leader and soloist for the choir at Temple Isaiah, Lafayette (where he first worked with Cantor Fran Burgess!); he has also sung at Peninsula Temple Shalom, Burlingame, and Temple Emanu-El, San Francisco.
Conducting is John’s primary interest, and he has conducted concerts with Oakland East Bay Symphony, Oakland Ballet, Oakland Youth Orchestra, Mesopotamia Symphony, American Philharmonic-Sonoma County, Diablo Symphony, opera productions for Festival Opera of Walnut Creek, West Bay Opera, North Bay Opera, Trinity Lyric Opera, Pocket Opera, and choral groups including Voices of Musica Sacra, Opera San Jose Chorus, Festival Opera Chorus, and the choruses at UC Berkeley and UC Davis. One of his current positions is serving as the temporary music director at Calvary Presbyterian Church, San Francisco.
As a baritone, John has sung many operatic roles, and also has sung with numerous choral groups included the choruses of Philharmonia Baroque and American Bach Soloists. John is also a pianist and oboist, and has performed with the San Francisco Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, Redding Symphony, and many others.
John is a popular lecturer in the Bay Area; he has been the sole pre-performance lecturer for the Oakland East Bay Symphony for the past fourteen years, and for many other groups including San Francisco Opera. He gives frequent lectures and courses for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and at San Francisco Towers and St. Paul’s Towers. His own compositions have been performed locally and abroad, including arrangements written for Carlos Santana and the Oakland East Bay Symphony.
As you can tell, John is quite a well-rounded and experienced musician! One of the most meaningful things about his occupation is how he comes into contact with people from all different cultures, religions, and communities - in a context where the dividing lines between such different people melt away and music becomes a force for community-building and bringing our global society together in a way that promotes enjoyment and understanding between all people.
Please stop by our booth near the Miyuki Restaurant between Tulare and Ventura Avenues on the north side of on Solano Avenue this year. If you would like to volunteer to help staff our booth and have a great time talking about Temple Beth
Hillel please contact Larry at [email protected] or (510) 965-9351. Let’s make it a memorable outing and get the word out about how wonderful our TBH community is. See you at the Stroll!
I was summoned recently to renew my driver’s license, and not happy to learn the process would include the written test.
I know what to do on the road; I just don’t always know the technicalities of the rules. So: if you come to an unmarked railroad crossing, do you slow to 15 mph, 20 mph or 25 mph?
I don’t like any of the choices. I think unmarked railroad crossings are death traps and I slow practically to zero while I look both ways—twice.
But that is not one of the choices.
This explains why I spent 10 days studying the driver handbook.
For many years I have renewed my license by mail, which is about as efficient a process as any government operation could be.
But this show-up-and-take-the-test thing made me distinctly uneasy. What if the unthinkable happened and I failed? What if I lost my license? My whole life would come screeching to a halt.
I grew up using public transportation, and would be happy to use it now if it was handy. But it isn’t. Ad after all these years of suburban living, I’m as dependent upon the car as I am on oxygen.
Before I gave in to my panic, I noticed one line in the handbook that said: “The DMV wants you to pass.”
It did? I didn’t know that, but I clung to it all the same. The questions weren’t designed to torment me? What a concept. I reminded myself every few pages: “I’m an experienced driver who has never been in trouble. The DMV wants me to pass.”
As a mantra it may not resonate much, but every little bit helped.
You enter a designated turn lane to make a left turn at an upcoming intersection. There is oncoming traffic. You should move to the left of the center lane, signal before you arrive at the intersection or turn your front wheels to the left to be prepared to turn.
In addition to the handbook, the DMV also provides some sample tests. On one level, these were reassuring, as I whipped through most of the questions without any complications. My plan was to note where I had trouble on the sample tests and go over that material in the handbook again.
What I didn’t count on was getting the same thing wrong on a subsequent practice test. Clearly, I had some ideas in my head that were awfully hard to dislodge. I wondered briefly if
Road Warrior By Roberta Alexander
that suggested that I had convictions on other (non-driving) subjects that I continued to believe despite evidence to the contrary.
I pushed the thought aside. I do not have the emotional capacity to study for a crucial test while in a state of near-panic as well as examine the rest of my life for fallibility. Perhaps those people whose licenses are not close to expiring can afford the luxury of intensive self-examination.
It turned out I was not the only person suffering from license angst. Indeed, when I brought the subject up, I was regaled with stories.
• “I studied for hours. And it’s a good thing I did because I still got several wrong!”
• “Nah, I didn’t study. And I flunked it twice! My husband suggested I study before I tried again. And the third time I passed.”
• “The guy ahead of me in line flunked. And the examiner turned the test over and asked him three questions on that side. He got them right and got to keep his license.”
I found that last story particularly reassuring. Maybe the DMV really does want us to pass.
You were parked and have been waiting a long time with your turn signal on to re-enter traffic. However, traffic is heavy. You should continue waiting and yielding to traffic in the lane; slowly inch your vehicle into the traffic lane; or drive on the shoulder until a gap in traffic appears.
A month after I got my first driver’s license, I had to drive our Plymouth Valiant alone on the freeway during a hailstorm. The hail was the size of golf balls and it was bouncing on the car. I was terrified. When I got home and inspected the car, it was undamaged. But my palms had gouges from where my fingernails had pressed as I held the steering wheel in a death grip.
I never saw anything in the manual that would have made that experience any easier.
When I finally showed up at the DMV for my scheduled appointment, I was discombobulated to discover that the written test was the last thing on the agenda. I thought it was cruel to prolong the torture … and maybe waste my time on the vision test, the thumbprint and paying the fee if I wasn’t going to pass.
By the time it occurred to me that the arrangement assumed I would pass, that the department wanted me to pass, I was humming in the parking lot, smiling at the smokers perched on benches, my new license safe in my wallet.
I hope you have had a relaxing summer. TBH Religious School will start the school year on August 24, 2014. Mid week Hebrew will resume on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at TBH.
The first RS open house will happen on September 21, 2014 – the guests will celebrate the Jewish New Year with us and visit the classrooms. Please spread the word. The TBH community is invited to join us at the table for the Jewish New Year Seder starting at 11:00 AM.
This year the religious school will concentrate on the main theme of Tzedakah, Charitable Giving, in addition to our usual curriculum. As one activity of charitable giving RS plans to collect 200 jars of peanut butter to be given at the annual food drive (thank you, Margie, for the idea). We welcome your donations of peanut butter jars to accomplish this noble goal.
RS will celebrate the Jewish New Year, will read the Megila, and celebrate other holidays. Please consult the TBH calendar and join our religious school in celebrating the Jewish holidays throughout the school year.
Peace, please!
B’Shalom,
Malka Helfman
Dues Relief Fund:Irene Morgan, in remembrance of Abe Pupkin, Ida Morgan & Allan Morgan
Maintenance Fund: Bobbi Nadler, in remembrance of Jaime Nadler Linda Rose & Jim Montgomery, in remembrance of Charles Rose
Tzedakah-Tikkun Olam Fund: Roberta Alexander, in remembrance of Ruth Alexander Eric Husby-Gerry, in remembrance of Herman Lester Gerry Michael Nye & Mindy Pines, in remembrance of Nathan Nye Adult Education Fund: Michael & Joan Seal, M.D., in remembrance of Dr. Herman Seal
Office Equipment Fund: Bernie & Daisy Dulberg, in remembrance of Norma Matta
Sherry Stone Scholarship Fund:Raquel Matta, in loving remembrance of Norma Matta
Cantor’s Disccretionary Fund:Alan & Margie Marks, in remembrance of Rena Marks
Rabbi’s Discretion Fund:Steve & Fran Welstand, in remembrance of Joseph Maurice Welstand
Cantor’s MemorialFund:Rose Fox, in remembrance of Bill Fox & Israel SchwartzZelda Holland, in remembrance of Alexander Schlocker
Tzedakah“If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
And if only for myself, what am I?And if not now, when?”
About Beit Midrash
“To Many a Cemetery is a BusinessTo Us - It’s a Mitzvah”
Special Thanks ToJosh Genser for organizing, donating the site, and promoting the Men's Weekend.
---- Larry Fox for organizing our booth at the El Cerrito Fourth of July Festival ,
and Jane Durango, Josh and Elaina Genser, Marilyn Hertzberg, Jane Kemp, Rabbi Dean Kertesz, Alan Marks, Dana Meyer, Andre Moskowitz,
Carl Nelson, Michael Nye, Jeff Romm, Joel Rosenbaum, Wendy Roth, Daniel Salan and friend, and Scott Wexelberg for their help.
----Rabbi Dean Kertesz for the July Fourth Barbeque.
----Wendy Roth for her work on creating a new Temple web site.
----Jane Kaasa for organizing and shopping for the GRIP Souper Center,
and, with Arnold Faerber, Robert Mah, Margie Marks, Sheri Tattenham, Laura Taub, and Barbara Weidenfeld, preparing and serving lunches in May.
In June, Jane was assisted by Arnold Faerber, who also shopped and provided transportation, Adoph Kamil, Robert Mah, Alan Marks, Sheri Tattenham, Laura Taub,
Barbara Weidenfeld, and Fran Welstand. ----
For our services:Eric Husby-Gerry for his musical contributions;Michael Nye for baking delicious challahs for us;
Muriel Brounstein, Jane Kaasa, Bobbi Nadler, Michele Waxman and Judy Windrix,who provided us with delicious onegs;
and Sheri Tattenham for organizing all the onegs.----
Rabbi Dean Kertesz for his stimulating Adult Education discussion of The Talmud, “Understanding the Jewish Mind”
----The Caring Community, led by Marilyn Hertzberg,
with help from Michele Waxman and all the participants, for providing support to our members during difficult times.
---- Andre Moskowitz for his service on the Midrasha Board
and his help with the the Midrashabang. ----
Barbara Weidenfeldwith the help of The Freifeld family, Arlene Lisby, and Jay Weidenfeld
for publishing the Shofar every month.----
Rabbi Dean Kertesz, Roberta Alexander and Wendy Roth for the publication of the weekly e-mail update.
---- Sharon Mittleman, Bobbi Nadler, and Louise Snitz for serving on the Tel Shalom Board,
and Fran Welstand for staffing Tel Shalom.----
The Marketing Committee: Audrey Berger, Marcia Delgadillo, Marilyn Hertzberg, Jane Kemp, Wendy Roth
and Sheri Tattenhamfor their ongoing work in letting the world know about us.
---- Jane Durango for planning our bagel brunches.
---- Arlene Lisby, who supports us in everything we do.
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www.templebethhillelrichmond.org
Issue NO. 3 Ðגיליון שלישי
by Malka Helfman Do you know Hebrew (and Yiddish) words that integrated into the American culture? I am sure you know few like chutzpah, mazal tov, amen, kosher, goy, etc. How about: Maven - expert (from Yiddish מבֿין meyvn, from Hebrew ׳ מביןmevin׳ 'one who understands') Mechaye: a source of pleasure (from the Hebrew ׳ חייםchayim׳, meaning ׳life׳) Oytzer: sweetheart, dear (from Hebrew ׳ אוצרotzar׳, meaning ׳treasure׳) Traif (or trayf): forbidden, non-Kosher foods (from Hebrew טרף ÔtahrefÕ, or טרפה ÔtrefaÕ, shares a root with the word Ôto consumeÕ ÕלטרוףÕ) Let me expand on this one: Tsaddik: pious, righteous person; (from Hebrew צדיק ÔtzadikÕ, meaning Ôrighteous personÕ). The Hebrew root of the word is צ.ד.ק It is shared with the words צדק (tzedek = justice), and צדקה (tzedakah = charitable giving). These words start with the Hebrew letter צ (Tzadik = lit. righteous man) LetÕs engage in צדקה this year!
Joining HandsA Support Group for Community Members
with Loved Ones in Israel
In the midst of the current crisis, many East Bay residents are deeply concerned about their children, grandchildren, and other family members and friends living in Israel. We at JFCS/East Bay invite those who are aff ected to come together to share their feelings and fi nd support during this diffi cult time. The group will be moderated by psychotherapist Rikki Sudikoff , LCSW.
We are off ering three sessions; participants are welcome to attend any or all.Please RSVP so we know to expect you.
WednesdaysAugust 13, 20, and 27
6:30 to 7:30 pmJewish Family & Children’s Services of the East Bay
2484 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 210Berkeley
All are welcome and participation is free.
For questions and registration, please contact:Rikki Sudikoff , LCSW
(510) 704-7480, ext. 761
JFCS/East Bay has been providing vital mental health and social services to Alameda and Contra Costa county individuals, families, children, seniors, Holocaust survivors, and refugees of all affi liations, races, and backgrounds for 137 years. www.jfcs-eastbay.org
TEMPLE BETH HILLEL801 PARK CENTRALRICHMOND, CALIFORNIA 94803 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
August-September 2014 Av-Tishrei 5774
HELP WANTED
Help with the project to reconfigure the Religious School – Contact Larry Fox.
Participate in the Temple and Religious School Clean-up on August 17 – Contact Larry Fox.
Feed the hungry at the GRIP Souper Center. Our next days are August 27 and September 24 – Contact Jane Kaasa
Let the world know about us at the Solano Stroll on September 14 – Contact Larry Fox
Post Temple events on websites and community calendars – Contact the Marketing Committee at [email protected]
Help organize Bagel Brunches and other cultural activities for the congregation – Contact Jane Durango.
Sponsor an oneg to celebrate Shabbat – Contact Sheri Tattenham.,
Shelve and/or process books for the Children's Library – Contact Laura Taub Let the Board know of your ideas to improve our community – Contact any Board member.
Develop an incident-response plan – Contact David Brown.
We have openings for representatives to the Midrasha Board – Contact Andre Moskowitz.
