Shir Notes The Official Newsletter of Congregation Shir Ami Volume 12, Number 3, March 2014 Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Rabbi’s Column Events of the Month .We Jews have our own March Madness. It’s called Purim, and this month is will be held on March 15/16.

How many of you will be celebrating it? If you’re Shabbat services thinking, Why should I be celebrating this children’s at Temple Ramat Zion holiday, consider these mitzvot relating to Purim: Saturday, March 1, 10:30 am Birthday Shabbat 1. We send GIFTS OF FOOD to friends and acquaintances. On Purim, we Saturday, March 8, 10:30 am emphasize the importance of Jewish unity and friendship by sending gifts Saturday, March 15, 10:30 am of food. Known in Hebrew as mishloach manot (you might know it as Saturday, March 22, 10:30 am shalach manos), these parcels should contain two different types of Anniversary Shabbat ready_to_eat treats. True Judaism is practiced by those who demonstrate Saturday, March 29, 10:30 am ------an unconditional kindness to those around them. Bonnie puts together Early Bird Movie & Dinner beautiful baskets of homemade and purchased treats, and we distribute Sunday, March 23, 2:30 pm them to our family and friends. This is our way of showing our affection for others! Our classic comedy will be The Frisco Kid starring Gene Wilder. 2. It is a separate duty to arrange for GIFTS TO THE NEEDY on Purim. We See article on page 2 and flyer for carry out this mitzvah by giving funds to at least two needy individuals details and reservation. Call Helga during the daytime hours of Purim. While this mitzvah of matanot Unkeless at (818) 340-5751. la_evyonim is best fulfilled by giving directly, donations to a charity box or ------a worthwhile agency are acceptable substitutes. While concern for the poor Around the Rabbi’s Tisch is a year_round Jewish responsibility, on Purim we accentuate this Thurs., March 6, 13, 20, & 27 awareness as a spiritual response to our good fortune. 7:30 pm at the Vorspans’ 3. When all of the above tasks are completed, it is commanded that we sit Our 5774 season of Rabbi’s popular down to a FESTIVE MEAL. Known as a seudah, this celebratory feast can weekly discussion around his dining be the forum for Purim Torah (a satirical spin on the sacred works of our room table continues. Join us for an opportunity to learn Jewish wisdom tradition), spiels (creative skits of mockery and jest), and the much_needed and discuss current topics of Jewish release that unburdens all of us at the end of winter. interest. Call Rabbi at (818) 888- 9817 for more details. 4. And, of course, we are commanded to hear THE READING OF MEGILLAT ESTHER. We learn of the good fortune that spared the total destruction of the Persian Jewish community, and consider who would best fit the role of contemporary Hamans.

Is this all children’s play? Is there nothing in these mitzvot that in fact are best done by adults? Purim is a holiday best celebrated by Jews of any age.

Do you fit that description?

Rabbi David Vorspan

Visit our website: www.shirami.com Adloyada: Purim parade in Israel page 2 March 2014 President’s Report

Early Bird Movie & Dinner March 23, 2:30 pm Shalom, by Helga Unkeless

Once again, as we’ve done so many Once again we will hold our annual Early Bird Movie times in the past, we are writing a new and Dinner in the recreation room of the Northridge chapter in the history of Congregation Shir Ami. Mobile Home Park at 19120 Nordhoff St. in Northridge. As you enter from Nordhoff, turn left to At the end of June of this year, we will be ending our park. The rec room is near the pool to the south. lease with Temple Ramat Zion. I would like to thank the members and the board of TRZ for the This year’s film is the classic commedy hospitality and cooperation they have shown us over The Frisco Kid starring Gene Wilder the past two years. as Rabbi Avram Belinski from Poland who is travelling West to San Francisco After taking July and August off, we will begin our for a new job and Harrison Ford as new year conducting Shabbat services at the New Tommy Lillard, a soft-hearted bank Community Jewish High School in West Hills. robber who befriends him and helps Shabbat services will be conducted two Saturdays him on his trouble plagued journey. each month. This year, we will conduct our High You will meet the Pennsylvania Dutch Amish, a Holy Day services as we have for the past few years Trappist monk, and and an Indian (native American) at our “shul away from shul” the Valley Vineyard. tribe as well as the con men and bandits who take advantage of Avram’s naivity. Even if you have seen We will continue to feature Around the Rabbi’s it before, you will laugh and enjoy it again. Tisch (and on the Rebbitzen’s chairs) for two 10- week semesters. We will continue to offer our full Dinner following the movie will be tasty pizza, salad, range of programs and events such as our BBQ and and desserts. The nominal $10 cost is a real bargain. Barchu, Chanukah dinner and other programs as See the flyer with this Shir Notes. well as our Social Action activities.

With the changes we have made, I am pleased to announce that Congregation Shir Ami will continue. Association of Jewish Educators Scholarships Now that we have talked about the future, let’s look by Maralyn Soifer at the present. This month we will have our Early This year’s Walk Around Lake Balboa will benefit the Bird Movie and Dinner. Our Shabbat services Association of Jewish Educators (AJE) to provide continue as does Around the Rabbi’s Tisch (and scholarships for Jewish high school students to attend on the Rebbitzen’s chairs). Over the next few college. With college cost sky rocketing, it has months, we are looking forward to our participation become increasingly difficult for parents to provide in the Jewish World Watch Walk to End Genocide funds for their children to attend college. and our Walk Around Lake Balboa in June. There are two types of scholarships that AJE If you have any questions or want to provide your provides. The “New Comers” sponsorship is specific to input, please feel free to email me at Jewish students who have been in the United States [email protected].. for less than five years. These students come here and register for school knowing little or no English. Thank you. They are hard workers who maintain college prep Jordan Pistol, President classes while learning the language of their new country. Their stories are amazing. The other type of Purim Prayer: Al Hanisim scholarship is for Jewish students who maintain a high grade point average, are active in their synagogue, We thank Thee for the miracles, the redemption, and participate in extra-curricular school activities and and the triumphant victories, and liberation which community projects. They give up a lot of their time to Thou hast wrought for our fathers in days of old at help others. Email [email protected] or call me this season. at (818) 532-9237 for more information, . page 3 March 2014 Birthdays & Anniversaries DONATIONS Congregation Shir Ami wishes to Birthdays

acknowledge the following donations: $ Carol Cramer...... 3/5 Neil Hattem...... 3/9 In Memory of Ted Lipschultz Seymour Potell...... 3/15 Jerry Michaelson...... 3/19 Ronald and Tobi Kramer Stephen Schuster...... 3/29 Jerry Gort Donna Levine...... 3/31

Yahrzeits Anniversaries

Esther Karalnick for Shirley Tarnow Paula and Lou Loomis...... 3/3 41st Lorraine and Ed Orens for Julius Orens Rae and Armand Wazana...... 3/11 47th Rosalind Schackman for Belle Schackman Fran and Sam Kobulnick...... 3/23 45th Clara and Stan Rosenbluth for Helen Wolf Phyllis and Stan Schroeder for Sally Schroeder

Birthdays Congregation Shir Ami Tribute Cards Lorraine Simansky Thanks to Phyllis Schroeder for sending your cards celebrating simchas and conveying your get- Our Condolences well and condolence messages.

We regret to inform the congre- She is creative with indivualized, gational family of the passing of: artistic cards that include a message longtime member Ted Lipschultz and color graphics. Call her at (818) 718-7466. and Gert Klorman, longtime member of Temple Minimum donation of $5 per card is appreciated.

Beth Ami. May God comfort Bernice and her family and the Klerman family during this time of their bereavement. Congregational News

Get well wishes rafuah schleimah to:

Phyllis Robinson Fran Kobulnick Sam Kobulnick Payee on Checks to Shir Ami Ed Halem Laurie Orens stent insertion surgery Our Treasurer, Clara Rosenbluth, was informed Phyllis Schroeder shoulder replacement surgery by our bank that all checks must be payable to Congregation Shir Ami, NOT CSA as some were May they be blessed with a complete recovery in previously abbreviated. body and spirit.

Ralphs Rewards Program must re-enroll for the next year on or after Re-registration Required September 1. Follow the directions on page 10. If by Maralyn Soifer you haven’t already enrolled, there are directions for

Registering for the Ralphs Community you, also.

Contribution Program is an easy way to support Shir Ami receives a quarterly check based on our our congregation. Everyone currently registered purchases. Thank you for participating. page 4 March 2014

Social Action Committee Operation Gratitude and Project MOT The months seem to being fly so by Charlene Kazel quickly lately! In January we once again held a very successful joint Linen Shabbat In January we celebrated Tu with Temple Ramat Zion to benefit the Domestic B’Shevat when we planted trees Violence Shelters we help sponsor. Together, we for the Hebrew calendar New Year of the Trees. We donated over 300 items for the Linen Shabbat! also planted seeds of lovingkindness when we Again, thank you for your thoughtfulness, kindness, honored and remembered our troops in the military. and generosity in helping the women and children in Thanks to Bonnie Vorspan for 140 yarmulkes and the Shelters! bags of books. February was a hearts and flowers In February we started our new month with cards, gifts, and 159 books sent. A huge SOVA Passover 2014 food drive thanks to our congregation for all your donations. off by letting you know that we are And now time Marches on. It’s a green month with the collecting 5 lb. packages of Passover kosher 2014 brginning of Spring. So let’s spring into action in matzah at our services and events. We will even remembering those so far away from home and loved help you purchase bulk donations if necessary. ones, And since we will be celebrating the festive Please contact Fran Kobulnick, Fiona Taylor, Leon holiday of Purim, let’s see if we can send some funny Nachenberg, or Sima Schuster if you have bulk or joke books to bring laughter to the members of donations. You may also donate non-Passover items MOT for them to share with others. Happy Purim and to the SOVA bins at Shabbat services or to SOVA Happy Spring to all! directly. Please remember that SOVA Food Pantry has a large list of Jewish families who will be Jewish World Watch Walk to End Genocide needing Passover items this year. If you have any by Rae Wazana questions, please call Fran, Please join our Shir Ami team in partici- Beginning March 1 our Committee is pating in the JWW 2014 Walk to End again collecting Target $10 gift cards Genocide. This year, we are doing the for the mothers and children in the Walk in the Conejo Valley on Sunday, May 4th. The Domestic Violence Shelters for Mother’s Day. The theme of this year’s Walk is:Ten Years. One Life at a shelters have expanded and are helping more Time. We are stepping up our efforts to raise women and children than ever! Please mail your awareness, support, and hope for the survivors of cards to Fran Kobulnick or give them to Rae genocide and mass atrocities. Wazana, Claire Silverstein, or Ann Potell at Shabbat services. We thank you in advance for your The co- captains for Shir Ami’s team are Fiona Taylor thoughtfulness and kindess in helping with this and Rae Wazana. Please be part of our Walk team or special community mitzvah project. We can also help support us in raising money for Jewish World purchase the Target gift cards for you if you let us Watch. You can register on-line at: know in advance. www.walktoendgenocide.org or call Rae at (818) 881-5549 or Fiona at (818)-903-6381 if you have any See the right hand column article by Rae Wazana questions. for details of the Jewish World Watch 2014 Walk to End Genocide in the Conejo Valley Sunday May 4. Thank you for your support. And see the article by Maralyn Soifer on page 2 to learn about the charity we will be raising money for at our annual Walk Around Lake Balboa on Sunday, June 1.

Shalom, Fran Kobulnick, Social Action Vice President page 5 March 2014 amusement area with carney barkers, games of chance, The Maxwell Street Experience and ethnic food booths. Exploring it would have been by Owen Delman

more fun, but, we were there to buy a suit. “He needs a suit for Warren’s Bar Mitzvah!” my mother declared to my My hand firmly clenched by my father’s, we walked along father. Warren was the number two the noisy, strolling crowds until we reached Weinstein’s cousin in age, after my brother and Store which looked like all the other store fronts before me. I was ten. complete with “grabbers and hawkers” out front cajoling and harassing the possible customers. Dad knew Mr. “Oh man, what do I need a suit for,” I whined and was Weinstein, introduced me, and explained what we were totally ignored. looking for. I was promptly whisked to the back of the narrow store, placed on a small platform and imperfectly “I’ll take him to Marshall Field’s. They have a nice hidden from the street by a curtain too short and too children’s department. We’ll have an ice cream soda narrow for a ten year old’s privacy. There I was in the tearoom after.” She directed that to me, but it alternately undressed and dressed multiple times by a started an immediate discussion with my father and I balding tailor in a vest which served as a pin cushion. felt I was in danger of losing the ice cream. Whenever he needed a pin, he would reach down

“I’ll take him to Maxwell St. It’ll be cheaper,” said Dad. without looking and pluck one of the hundreds arranged like ammunition up and down the front of his vest like “Phil, what’s wrong with Field’s?” bandoliers of a Mexican bandit.

“Maxwell Street is cheaper! How often is he going to Mr. Weinstein would bring out a suit, hand it to the tailor wear a suit before he outgrows it?” And, just like that, who, without words, would motion for me to put it on -- I lost the ice cream! pants first! Then, still mute with occasional grunts, he would push and prod me into position, mildly glaring if I A week later I was taken on my first sojourn to moved as he was re-positioning me. He would tug, pull Maxwell Street, the cultural and historic heart of and pinch the suit into its proper place and then pluck Chicago’s immigrant Jewish community. and quickly place a pin where needed. Sometimes it was one pin, other times multiples were inserted as if by a Dating from the 1890’s, Max- machine gun in rapid succession -- pluck-pin, pluck-pin, well Street, like New York’s pluck-pin. I was very intimidated by those pins! Hester Street, was a predom- inantly Jewish market area in The whole process of my suit modeling and un-modeling the midst of tenements and drew a small crowd of store workers, customers and sweat shop factories and street gawkers, all of whom seemed to have mummering characterized by ethnic food comments about the process as I stood there in my pushcarts, rickety card tables displaying bargains in underwear. Finally, after trying on an endless number of watches, jewelry, and clothing and small store fronts garments of all colors -- always pants first -- my father’s which enclosed the hectic scene of the street itself. expectations were met. It was over, only requiring a The stores were owned by those successful return visit the next week for pick up. I couldn’t wait! merchants who had graduated from the card tables. I must admit, everyone else at the Bar Mitzvah had a Though America offered Jewish immigrants more suit, so I was glad Mom had insisted. I looked pretty freedoms than Germany or Russia, there was still snazzy -- at least until I left the cousin’s table and anti-Semitism in both housing and jobs. So the someone noted I had somehow gotten white cake immigrants had turned to peddling which required frosting and chocolate sauce spilled down the front of my little cash outlay and, in addition, built upon their suit coat. So, in the end Mom was doubly right. I also European experience. The Maxwell and Hester needed a suit to keep my shirt from getting dirty. Streets of America were where Jews began their economic climb in their new country. AUTHOR’S NOTE: By the 1950’s, when this suit-buying expedition took place, Maxwell Street was near its end To me, on that first visit, Maxwell Street was foreign as a Jewish experience. Second and third generations and exciting. It had the sounds, food smells, and had moved out of the central city and on to the suburbs. general feel of Wrigley Field during an especially Sadly, by 2000, the iconic Marshall Field’s was also exciting Cubs game. Add to this the carnival atmo- gone, completely enfolded into the Target family of sphere of Riverview Park, Chicago’s year-round department stores. Chicagoans are still in mourning.

page 6 March 2014

Biography of the Month: Sid Caesar expert know-nothing, or his “Somerset Winterset” by Stan Schroeder nonsensical storyteller, and Caesar and Coca played

With Sid ’s death last month at the age of Charlie and Doris Hickenlooper, a mismatched 91, I am republishing this bio I first wrote married couple. for the September 2007 Shir Notes. Also see Owen As for the ingrained Jewishness of Caesar and his Delman’s article on page 8 writers, they never tried to hide it. He recalls Larry

Isaac Sidney Caesar was born September 8, 1922 in Gelbart being asked why “all of my writers tended to be young and Jewish. ‘Probably because all of our Yonkers, New York where his father, Max, and mother, parents were old and Jewish,’ was his reply.” Ida, ran a twenty-four-hour luncheonette. His parents thought of naming him Felix after Felix Frankfurter, He went on to Caesar's Hour, a one-hour sketch the Harvard law professor and later first Jewish show with Morris, Reiner, and a young Bea Arthur, Supreme Court Justice. But Ida was afraid he might be but without Coca, his ideal sparring partner. He then teased because of Felix, the Cat, and so decided starred in Sid Caesar Invites You, a half-hour sketch upon Sidney. Sid helped his parents by waiting on show with Coca, which was quickly cancelled. tables. During this time he learned to mimic many of Caesar's best work was always opposite Coca, and the accents he would use throughout his long career. on The Hollywood Palace, a late 60s weekly comedy- variety show with a different host each week. As a child, he took saxophone lessons, and he was good enough to study at the Juilliard School of Music In 1963 he briefly starred in The Sid Caesar Show, a after graduating from Yonkers High School in 1939. half-hour sketch comedy show that aired every However he soon enlisted in the Coast Guard, and second Thursday on ABC, alternating with Edie played the sax in military revues and shows. His knack Adams in Here's Edie. He took occasional roles in for wisecracks got bigger applause than the musical Broadway plays, toured doing stand-up comedy, and numbers, and the show's producer asked him to do Caesar and Adams played a bickering married stand-up between the tunes. couple in the all-star ensemble It's a Mad Mad Mad

After leaving the Coast Guard in 1945, he did stand-up Mad World. in the Catskills and Florida. He briefly played sax in Beyond that, though, Caesar faded away into Benny Goodman's band, then spent a year on alcoholism and barbiturates, and even after recovery Broadway, starring in the musical Make Mine Manhat- he spent the rest of his life out of the limelight. In his tan, and made his first TV appearance on an episode autobiography Caesar's Hour: My Life in Comedy, of Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater in 1948. With Love and Laughter, Sid confesses that he

turned to alcohol and drugs to overcome the Caesar's first series, Admiral Broadway Revue with insecurity of having a successful career unravel. He Imogene Coca, was broadcast on two networks, NBC took random supporting roles on TV and in feature and DuMont, live from a theater on Broadway, with the films, most memorably as the studio chief in Brooks' biggest-name guest stars performing comedy sketches Silent Movie, the coach in Grease, and as Elliott interspersed with elaborately staged production Gould's uncle in Over the Brooklyn Bridge. numbers. It was sponsored by the Admiral Corp., an appliance company hoping to increase sales of its Sid Caesar won Emmies in 1952 and 1957 and TVs, but the show was so popular Admiral's factories received a lifetime achievement award from the could not keep up, a problem the company solved by television critics in 2001. Notorious for his deviations canceling the show despite its dominant ratings. from the script, he was skilled at mime, dialects,

He was not out of work for long, returning months later monologues, foreign language double-talk, and in Your Show of Shows, a mix of scripted and general comic acting. Not a rapid-fire jokester like improvised comedy, movie and television satires, Berle or Fred Allen, Caesar was often compared in Caesar's inimitable double-talk monologues, and top the press to the likes of Charlie Chaplin and musical guests. The program's writers and performers W.C. Fields. included Mel Brooks, Coca, Nanette Fabray, Larry Sid married Florence Levy in 1943 and they have Gelbart, Howard Morris, Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, three children: Michele, Richard, and Karen. He and of course, Caesar himself. In its most famous bits, credits her for all his success, saying simply, "she is Caesar did his “Professor”, a gibberish-spouting my guts." They currently live in Beverly Hills.

page 7 March 2014

My Trip to Jewish Morocco We then visited Merouga, a city that was empty of by Sheilah Hart Jews – they were bull dozing the synagogue while we were there. The Jewish population had left for Twenty four hours after leaving home my Israel in 1952. We found the old cemetery, it has son Joshua and I arrived in Casablanca, been the center of pilgrimage for Moroccan Jews for Morocco. We were embarking on an centuries. eleven day trip of Jewish Morocco. We drove to the city of Rabat and were taken to a beautiful We visited a grainery that held 1,000 horses, riad (a refurbished mansion built around a garden area) thousands of people and had thirty-foot high ceilings with rooms built in balcony style several stories high. I in the rooms that had been used to store grain. couldn’t believe what I was seeing. After walking through small dark alleys lined with indistinguishable brown We then went to Erfoud buildings one after another, there appeared upon the looking for the synagogue. opening of a door, a scene right out of Ali Baba. The We had a general idea of architecture was one of tear shaped arches, vivid colors, where it was located and indoor bubbling water fountains filled with rose petals, went exploring. We found and, flickering candles everywhere, furnished with very a door with a Star of David ornate furniture. painted on it with a barely legible phone number. Our The next morning we set driver called the number out for the Royal Palace and a few minutes later an headstone in Moraccan set in the middle of older Jewish man appeard – cemetery beautiful gardens. he was the caretaker. We Onward to the ruins of went inside and found school rooms just outside of the casbah (city). All the sanctuary, In the sanctuary I asked the man if of the roof tops had stork they still had a Torah. He asked me if we were nests occupied by storks. Jewish and we replied yes. He then unlocked the I had never seen so many storks . Ark, I pulled the parochet aside and there was the Torah. He told us it was at least 200 years old. It was We then went to the unfinished mosque designed and so overwhelming to touch the Torah and say some built by the same man who had designed The Alhambra prayers. We were told that there were only 50 Jewish Palace in Spain. From there we visited the casbah of people left in the town. Before we left the man said Oudayas located next to the Medina within the ramparts he wanted to bless us. He did and we left a large of the old city. Oudayas is famous for its blue and white donation. buildings. Walking through the mellah where the jews lived centuries ago. The word mellah means salt. Next day we drove for an hour into the Sarhara Because the Jews had been salt traders, the Jewish Desert on no roads or paths. We reached a man quarters became known as mellahs. The crowded old waiting for us in the middle of no where with two mellah is known for its historic Jewish street names. camels. We rode an additional 40 minutes into the Greek inscriptions still appear in local synagogues. We desert and onto the red dunes of sand to watch an made our way to the tomb of Rabbi David Benmedan – unbelievable sunset. The stars that night were the Patron of Menkes. It was located in the middle of a breathtaking. We slept in a tent pitched on the sand large cemetery dating back 700 years. Most of the covered with 6 bankets – it was 30 degrees in our headstones had been obliterated. A woman with small tent. Talk about COLD brrrrr. children lived within the walls of the cemetery was the groundskeeper. We departed the next morning for Quarzazate visiting Tiliit, known as the ancient city of the Jews Fes is among the best known cities in medieval Jewish of the Dades. The fortress of Tiliit has been the history. It was once the home of one of the most center of a Jewish region ruled by the Spanish family influential Talmudic scholars of all times, Rabbi Isaac of Perez from the end of the 15th century until the Alfasi, as well as of Maimonides in the years 1160 to reign of Moulay Ismail in 1672. 1165. We visited the synagogue complete with the (continued on page 8) mikvah in the basement, We toured the grounds which had in previous years also been a fairly large school.

page 8 March 2014

My Trip to Jewish Morocco (continued) by Sheilah Hart

In the afternoon next day we were in Marrakech where the Saadian dynasty made it their capital and converted the palace to a mellah which became home of a thriving community of native and Spanish Jews famed for their rabbinical schools and scholars. We visited the Rabbi Hanamia HaCohen cemetery which is known as the burial place of HaCohen Azough and Rabbi Mordekhai ben Altar known as the patrons of Marrakech.

Our last stop was Casablanca (white house). We went to beautiful Synagogue Beth El that was still very active, The iron work on the building, iron on windows and fencing was all done in a Mogen David motif. There, too, was a religious day school on the premises.Casablanca is home to the largest Jewish community in Morocco and has numerous congregations and active communal institutions. The trip was wonderful and so were the many people we met in Morocco. We then headed to the airport for our flight home. Beth El Synagogue in Casablanca

and depression which continued long after the Hail Caesar -- A Memoriam “Show of Shows” even though he was still by Owen Delman performing on stage, film and television guest

Your [The] Show of Shows, on 1950‘s appearances. Finally, in the 70’s he checked television, featured the comic talents of himself into a hospital and began a successful Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard “cold turkey” recovery program. As he said, “I chose to live.” Morris performing the situations and words of a uniquely talented team of comedy writers: Neil Simon’s play, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, is Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and Larry an inside look at the goings-on of a television Gelbart. As I wrote in last month’s Shir Notes, it was writing and performing team in the 50‘s and is a easy to identify with Caesar’s humor, laced as it was thinly disguised The Show of Shows. Based on with Yiddish-like foolishness which resonated both with Simon’s years with the show, it portrays a team of Jewish and non-Jewish audiences. Sadly, Mr. Caesar talented performers and writers being driven by died last month on February 12. It would be difficult to the larger than life and slightly unhinged chariot find another comic performer who uncovered man’s driver, Caesar, as they put together each weekly foibles with the same flair and, yet, gentleness. show. It was performed at Pierce College last year and plays regularly around the country. It should The weekly The Show of be seen by all who miss incredible talent-driven Shows was televised live for performances like The Show of Shows and want ninety minutes without cue to relive a bit of the artistry and craziness. cards and TelePrompters for a full 39 week season. It is hard As a character says in Neil Simon’s play, “Maybe to imagine such an under- we’ll never again have this much fun in our entire taking in today’s television lives.” That’s probably true for a lot of us. world. However, the accumu- lated grind of such a schedule eventually had its effect on Caesar, who fell into a twenty year spiral of alcohol, sedatives, angry outbursts

page 9 March 2014

TREE OF LIFE Congregation Shir Ami Memorial Board

This beautiful Tree of Life, with leaves If you would like to honor the memory of your priced at $100 and rocks at $250 (one loved ones by dedicating plaques on our new remaining), makes a perfect way to Memorial Board, please call Clara Rosenbluth celebrate family occasions and support at (818) 348-1498 so she may mail you an Congregation Shir Ami. order form. The cost of each plaque is $36.

The Tree is on a rosewood background Each plaque may contain up to three lines of and consists of gold-colored leaves and engraving: English name, Hebrew name, and rocks. It is displayed at all Congregation the years of birth and death. Both of our Shir Ami services and events. Memorial Boards are displayed at all our

For more information or to place an order, services. call Sherry Dollins at (818) 886-7590. page 10 March 2014

Shop at Ralphs - Earn Money for Shir Ami You can do a search for Congregation Shir Ami by Maralyn Soifer by putting in the number 92785. Our congrega- tion will pop up and click on the button next to Here is an easy way to earn the name. Click on the button that saves the money for our Temple. We changes. are now officially a Ralphs’ community agency. All 5. You should also check the bottom of your you have to do is follow these simple instructions to receipt when you shop. It should say “At your help earn money for Congregation Shir Ami. request, Ralph’s is donating to

1. If you don’t have a Ralph’s rewards card already, CONGREGATION SHIR AMI”. go to the store or go to website www.ralphs.com 6. If all else fails, call me in the evening at (818) and select Order a Ralphs reward card. 704-0306. I’ll be happy to walk you through it. 7. Start Shopping! 2. Once you have your card, go to the website: www.ralphs.com and select Create an account Make sure that the clerk swipes your card each 3. If you have an account, your email address is your time you shop. Verify that your receipt shows a account ID. If you forgot your password, select contribution to Congregation Shir Ami at the Forgot your password? and you will receive an bottom. email with instructions to reset it. Follow the instructions to enter your email address and Important Note: All participants must confirm create a new password. their selection annually starting in September. 4. If you already have a Ralph’s reward card and an On or after September 1, sign into your account account, you will see Account Summary when you and reconfirm Community Rewards selection. login. You can change to our Temple by clicking on Edit within Community Rewards.

91365 CA Hills, Woodland

6353 Box P.O.

Ami Shir Congregation Congregation Shir Ami Early Bird Movie and Dinner Sunday March 23rd 2:30 pm at Northridge Mobile Home Park Recreation Room 19120 Nordhoff St., Northridge Turn left at entrance to park, walk to rec room by pool.

Movie starts at 3:00 followed by pizza and salad dinner... and still drive home before dark!

The delightful movie will be the 1979 comedy The Frisco Kid starring Gene Wilder as Rabbi Avram Belinski from Poland, who is traveling West to San Francisco for a new job and Harrison Ford as Tommy Lillard, a soft-hearted bank robber who befriends him and helps him on his trouble plagued journey. This classic comedy is full of surprises and clever situations. Lots of fun!

Each year our annual Early Bird Movie and dinner has been lots of fun and an opportunity to schmooze with your Shir Ami old and new friends. Come join us for another entertaining afternoon.

$10 per person ($18 for sponsor) For more information call Helga at (818) 340-5751 ------

Clip this form and send with payment by March 17th (Early Bird Movie)

Your name:______Phone No.:______

# of people attending:____ Total enclosed: $______

Mail this form and payment to: Congregation Shir Ami P.O. Box 6353 Woodland Hills, CA 91365