Congregation B’nai B’rith FALL 2017 • JOURNAL VOL. 92 NO. 2 • ADAR 5777 - TISHREI 5778 FOCUS: YEAR OF STORIES Where I Came From Sara Miller McCune, Founder of Sage Publishing and Philanthropist, Looks Back Interview by Rabbi Steve Cohen This summer, Sara Miller McCune and I managed to find some time together, for a relaxed conversa- tion about her Jewish background and how it has shaped her, and her thoughts about Judaism’s wisdom of that type to be had in New York City. He traveled as far as for our generation. Although Sara and I have known Texas but had no luck, and so returned to New York and learned a new trade as a kosher butcher, which he remained all his work- each other for over twenty years, I was surprised and ing life. He was a Kohen and proud of it, and very devoted to his delighted by many of her reminiscences. We are hon- religious observance. ored and grateful to Sara for allowing us to share some My paternal grandfather, Benjamin Miller, was a tailor and came of her story with the rest of the CBB family. to this country with my grandmother Ester Miller, who was Sara, I'd like to begin by asking you a little bit about your five-foot tall and ruled the entire family. With my grandmother’s Jewish upbringing. Could you tell me a little bit about your drive, they bought the brownstone buildings housing the tailor parents and where they came from, and where did you come shop. from? So how did your parents meet? I was born in New York City as were both my parents, Rose My mother grew up in Far Rockaway in Long Island. They went Glass Miller and Nat Miller. Their parents on both sides had out on a blind date, but did not at first continue dating. Then she immigrated; on my mother's side, from a small town outside of was in a car accident and had broken some ribs. Since my dad Warsaw, and my dad's side from Georgia (Russia). had sort of liked her personality, he came around to see what My maternal grandfather had been the kind of lumberjack in Po- she looked like after she got out of her casts. Well, he liked what land who could look at a tree and estimate how many board feet he saw and he stuck around for the better part of two years of lumber you could get from it. But there wasn't much business until my mother's mother said, “you know you're taking up a Continued on page 12 CBB VOICES FALL 2017 JOURNAL BHY provides a vibrant setting for your child’s early educational experience and first friendships. Schedule a time to visit our school, see our teachers in action, and get a peek into our unique and welcoming community! www.cbbsb.org/bhy-home Contact: Julie Ehrenstein at [email protected] or 964-7869 x336. Jewish Learning Programs at CBB A learning community for Grades k-12 CBB TEENS... At CBB, we are on this journey together. Please join us. 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WWW.CBBSB.ORG CBB BOARD, 2017/18 Officers/ Executive Committee Religious Practices Valerie Edelheit Honorary Board Members President Steven Amerikaner Jewish Learning Programs Nancy Collins Marlyn Bernard Bernstein z”l Executive VP Josh Narva Social Action Dan Meisel Aaron Ettenberg Fundraising Events Bethy Fineberg Administrative VP Dan Rothschild Ruelene Hochman z”l Education VP Mimi Dent Program VP Marina Stephens At-Large Rachel Wilson Financial VP Rich Parisse At-Large Harvey Wolf Development VP Diane Zipperstein Membership VP Laura Habecker Sisterhood Trustee Rachelle Geiger Past President Judi Koper SBORTY President Max Gaynes SBORTY President Matthew Dusette Trustees Board Positions Appointed Thank You Building Michael Baker by the President Corresponding Secretary Lynne Glasman Music Maia Lowenschuss Treasurer Ellen Chase* Palmer For Your Parliamentarian Alan Levy Shomrei HaBrit Daniel Hochman Early Childhood Education Sarah Porat (Guardian of the Covenant) Recording Secretary Geren Piltz Service! 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For more information email Director of Operations Paul Zakrzewski Audrey Okaneko at [email protected]. [email protected] | ext 137 Contributors Ruby Campbell Terry Grimes IDEAS FOR A STORY? Bookkeeper & HR Manager Rabbi Steve Cohen PHOTOS TO SHARE? [email protected] | ext 119 Evely Laser Shlensky INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? Nona Feinberg Jen Lewis Jacob Kim-Sherman Be a part of Voices Director of Jewish Learning Rebekah Lovejoy Contact Paul Zakrzewski at Programs (K–12) Mahela Morrow-Jones 805/964-7869 ext 128 or [email protected]. [email protected] | ext 225 Monica Steiner Ben Mazur Marina Stephens INTERESTED IN Director of Youth Engagement Franny Taran Freund Becoming a [email protected] | ext 228 Photographers CBB Member? Audrey Okaneko Juri Holmes Office Manager/Clergy Assistant Contact Elizabeth Gaynes at 805/964-7869 Jen Lewis [email protected] | ext 113 ext 111 or [email protected]. 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Property Manager/Caretaker [email protected] | ext 130 Paul Zakrzewski VOICES is a publication offered free of charge Director of Communications Congregation B’nai B’rith 1000 San Antonio Creek Road | Santa Barbara, CA 93111 & Programs 805/964-7869 | www.cbbsb.org [email protected] | ext 128 4 WWW.CBBSB.ORG 1 Table of Contents Focus: Year of Stories Where I Came From: Sara Miller McCune Looks Back Cover Interview by Rabbi Steve Cohen Rabbi’s Letter: Stories and the Meaning of Our Lives 6 By Rabbi Steve Cohen “Father, Who Am I?” 8 By Marina Stephens The Only Jew 9 By Ruby Campbell Jewish Storytelling Is My Inheritance 10 2 By Rebekah Lovejoy Light Drives Out the Darkness: A Profile of the Sisters of Salaam Shalom 13 By Mahela Morrow-Jones Thomas and Sissy: A Friendship 14 By Franny Taran Freund Finding a Third Way at CBB 16 By Monica Steiner Personal Reflections and Columns Isaac Lewis Bar Mitzvah Project & Yahrzeit Wall Project 17 Gratitude in the Garden 18 Summer 2017 19 Skofield Park Campout 20 Melton: A Room In the House of Judaism 21 By Nona Fienberg Sanctuary—Then & Now 22 By Evely Laser Shlensky Grace Notes: Music and Judaism (Kirsh Scholarship Essay) 23 3 4 By Jacob Kim-Sherman Mazel Tov 25 May Their Lives Be For A Blessing 26 Remembering Michael Towbes 27 By Rabbi Steve Cohen Inclusivity at CBB: An Interview with Halina Silverman 33 PHOTOS (top to bottom): (1) Lauren Saltman and Pam Gunther; (2) Ben Mazur and Samara Geiger-Higgins; (3) Eric Wilk, Lauren Wilk, and 5 Robert Howell; (4) ceramics class summer 2017; (5) Sarah Porat and Valerie Edelheit. 5 CBB VOICES FALL 2017 JOURNAL Stories and the Meaning of Our Lives By Rabbi Steve Cohen LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY, in the old world, before we crossed What happens to a people who for one thousand years reads the sea to America, a Jew woke at sunrise to greet the day.