C ongregation News
th Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf ~ Our 50 Year
March/April 2010 Adar~Iyar 5770 Volume 48 Issue 3 & 4
Postal Address: PO Box 33396 Granada Hills CA 91394 Meeting address: 18200 Rinaldi Place, Northridge, CA 91326 •818-363-5580/voice • www.tbsdeafjewish.org •Email: [email protected]
Why is this Night Different?
TBS Community Passover Seder
Tuesday, March 30, 6:00pm Airtel Plaza Hotel, Earhart Room
7277 Valjean Avenue, Van Nuys Members $40.00 Non-members $45.00 Rabbi Deborah Goldmann officiating Reservation deadline, March 24th Free parking for members
Menu: Broiled Salmon, Roasted Chicken or steamed vegetable plate Oven roasted potatoes & green beans Dessert & coffee Also served is the traditional hard-boiled eggs, gefilte fish, matzah ball soup & charoset)
Send reservations,
Committee: table preference Elaine Aikins & meal choice by Mar. 24th Ruth Richter to: Florence Haberman Temple Beth Solomon, PO Box 33396 Granada Hills, CA 91394
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Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf
50 Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future
Join with us as we commemorate 50 years of Deaf Jews, a landmark affair as we celebrate the people who brought to life and nurtured our culturally unique synagogue. October 24th, 2010 Marriott Hotel, Woodland Hills CA 11-1 pm Gourmet Brunch and social 1-4 pm Program $50.00 per person
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ary and I left for Barcelona on March 13th; our first out- of-country travel since my hip surgery in 2008, so we M are excited
Our community Passover Seder is scheduled for Tuesday, March 30th at the Airtel Plaza Hotel with Rabbi Deborah officiating. Don’t m iss this traditional event. The 50th Anniversary Planning Committee is making progress. We hav e selected, October 24th, at the Woodland Hills Marriott Hotel for the event. As chair of the committee, I
think we have assembled an excellent group to bring this Charles Katz & Elaine Aikins milestone event to you all: included on the committee are:
Elaine Aikins, Adele Podolsky, Maurice & Ruth Richter, Gary Jacobson, Joyce Linden, Charles Katz, Jan Seeley, Rabbi Alan I N THIS ISSUE Henkin, Carol Trachtenberg, Marla Petal, Roz Rosen, Shoshannah Stern, Bernard Bragg and Marlee Matlin. Our • Commu nity Seder th committee is now complete but we are still accepting help •TBS’ 50 Anniversary from anyone interested in helping especially with your ideas. • Presid ent Joe’s Page It is my great pleasure to announce that TBS will attend
• Rabbi Deborah’s Page Shabbat Services with Temple Ahavat Shalom on Friday
evening, April 9th for a very special occasion. The service will • Upcom ing Events celebrate the 90th birthday of Rabbi Solomon Kleinman, who is • Jan’s P age Rabbi Emeritus of TAS. • Tzedakah Well before "inclusion" or "accessibility" became popular, •Holidays Rabbi Kleinman thoroughly understood the concept; it was a •Mazel Tov Rabbi Kleinman natural part of his Jewish heart. In 1960, Rose Zucker approached him, the Regional Director of the UAHC, for help in • Rabbi Gordon obituary organizing education for Jewish deaf children. After all other Jewish organizations turned her away, Rabbi Kleinman came to the rescue and was instrumental in the founding of TBS. In a gesture of deep gratitude, the Charter Members of Temple B eth Solomon named our synagogue after him to honor him for this overwhelming act of h uman kindness. Fifty years later we celebrate this mensch of a man on his 90th birthday to again thank him for ourselves and on be half of deaf Jews everywhere that through this mitzvah he touched. Please join us on April 9th at 8pm to celebrate this great man. Finally, it is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of one of our part-time Rabbis, Bill Gordon on January 31st. He came to us last fall when he officiated our High Holy Day services. Mary happened to meet him at a social event and although he was retired, he graciously offered his services. We didn’t know him long, but the time we had with him showed him to be a warm, kind and passionate man, who overflowed with love. We will miss him. Our most sincere condolences to his wife, Deena and his family. May his memory be for a sweet blessing. Have a wonderful Passover, and best of luck to everyone as we approach tax season!
B'shalom, Joe Slotnick
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Dear TBS Family, The month of March seems to be flying by! We only lost an hour, and yet it feels as though we have lost days. This month is so busy that every time I think to myself, “this [phone call, reading a book, learning something new] can wait until I have more time,” I think of Rabbi Hillel’s
words. One of Rabbi Hillel’s wise mottos was “Don’t say, ‘When I have time, I will study’–perhaps, you never will have that leisure.” (Pirkei Avot 2:4) The truth is, the things we choose to spend our time doing are not a matter of “time” but a matter of value. I value spending time with my family, so no matter how busy life gets, I always find time for family. Yet, sometimes, we have so many things happening at once that some
of the things we value fall off of our radar. nose remained above the water level. And For th is reason, we have to constantly what did Nachshon do? He took yet another revalua te our values and our mission in life. step into the sea, and in that moment, when Being fully aware of our values and our he was fully submerged, the waters of the mission in life is no easy task. But the clearer Red Sea parted and the Israelites were able to we un derstand ourselves, our goals, the escape the Egyptian army. easier i t is to say “no” to the things that may I can think of no more overwhelming not qu ite fit our goals. While we are always situation than fighting for your life, for your occupie d with tasks we may not enjoy (filling freedom. And yet, Nachshon looked at his up on gas, balancing checkbooks), we can options (stay on the shores, be captured by take ac tion when these tasks overwhelm us. the Egyptians, perhaps return to slavery, When the Israelites left Egypt they came perhaps be killed; or get in the water and see upon t he shore of the Red Sea. With the what happens) and took action. Egyptian army in hot pursuit, the Israelites Both Rabbi Hillel and Nachshon understood felt trapped and unsure of how to proceed. the difference between desire and action. In Nachshon, one of the many Israelites, order for our values to be played out in our de cide d to step into the Red Sea. Nachshon lives, in order for our dreams to turn into walked in slowly. As he walked into the sea, reality, we have to make choices and take the water rose up to his knees, then his steps in the direction of our dreams. waist, then his chest, and finally, only his This holiday season, may we all find the determination to make great choices that take us one step closer to our dreams. Hag Sameach, Happy Passover,
Rabbi Deborah
Healing Prayers to: Lotte Friedman, Ezra Levy, Maurice Richter, Cynthia Glick. May G-d who blessed our ancestors, at the sea and at the desert, heal the people we have named with r'fua shlayma, renewal of body and spirit.
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TBS MARCH/APRIL 2010 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
TBS COMMUNITY PASSOVER SEDER TH UESDAY ARCH PM ABBI EBORAH OLDMANN T , M 30 , 6:00 R D G
AIRTEL PLAZA HOTEL, EARHART ROOM (SEE DETAILS BELOW)
SHABBAT SERVICE, FRIDAY, APRIL 2ND 6:30PM , CHAPEL
RABBI DEBORAH GOLDMANN
SPECIAL SHABBAT SERVICE WITH TEMPLE AHAVAT SHALOM
HONORING RABBI SOLOMON KLEINMAN
TH FRIDAY, APRIL 9 8:00PM MAIN SANCTUARY
TBS PASSOVER CO MMUNITY SEDER Tues., Mar. 30th, 6pm, TBS Passover Seder, Airt el Plaza Hotel, Earhart Room, $40.00 members, $45.00 non-members. Parking for members free. RSVP by March 24th • [email protected] •818-363 -5580/voice
THEATRE Sat., Mar . 27th, 2pm, Interpreted performance: IN A GARDEN, South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Use code 3655 for discount tix •714-708-5555 • www.scr.org
THEATRE Sat., Apr. 3rd, 2pm, Interpreted performance: DREAMGIRLS Ahmanson Theatre, 35 Grand Ave. LA 90012, Pre-play discussion 1:00p Interpreters: Francine Stern, John Arce •213-680-4017/tty www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/ProjectDATE
THEATRE Sat., Apr. 17th, 2pm, Interpreted performance: THE WAKE, Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Bl, Culver City, Pre-play discussion 1:00p Interpreters: Francine Stern, John Arce •213-680-4017/tty www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/Projectdate
FUNDRAISER Sun., Apr. 18th National Center on Deafness @ CSUN SIGN N' RUN, 8a-2p 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge CA 5k and ASL Festival, $10. to participate as a walker/runner with sponsors. Children under 10 free. • www.csun.edu/ncod/ • [email protected]
THEATRE Apr. 10th-May 31 Deaf West Theatre presents: MY SISTER IN THIS HOUSE www.deafwest.org
CONFERENCE July 6-10th 50th Biennial NAD Conference, Philadelphia, Marriott Hotel • www.nad.org
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Happy Passover to everyone! We had such fun at our Purim dinner. (See p. 8) Rabbi Deborah made us all laugh performing: “A Shel Silverstein Purim Schpiel.” She created hats for the characters from the Megillah and as she read the story, she and I changed hats to become the characters. It was one of the best Purims I can remember. We recently archived another precious piece of our history: we disconnected our TTY phone number, a sadly nostalgic day: after 30 years of being connected to the greater world through this wonderful machine, we no longer need it. The good news is we are happily traveling on the information super-highway with all the accompanying gadgets to stay in touch, the TTY has become almost obsolete. Thanks so much to everyone who donated to the Annual Appeal for TBS and CHAD. In this challenging economy you still came through and we are so grateful! We are busy at work on the 50th anniversary. Here is a sneak preview photo from 1962 of TBS’ Religious School class featuring: L-R Steven Cole, Hedy Udkovich (Stern), Susan Shapiro, Sharon Roller (Caldwell), and teaching, Joyce Linden. Now, Hedy has 3 grown, busy, successful children and Sharon is a grandmother! Stay tuned for more photos in issues to come. Love, jan
Become a Bone Marrow Donor Deaf Holocaust Survivor Interview The Jewish community is underrepresented on the National Doris Fedrid (FD on shoulder), deaf Marrow Donor Program Registry. A patient with a bone marrow and then blinded later in her life, is a disease is more likely to match someone of a similar ethnic group Holocaust survivor who lives in and there is a need in the Jewish community. If you are between Seattle. Doris is a good friend of TBS the age of 18-60 please consider becoming a donor. member, Adele Davidson, who When you join the Match Registry® you will complete a health brought this interview to my questionnaire to confirm you meet the medical guidelines. This attention. This 32-minute video is a protects your health as a potential donor as well as the health of fascinating brief overview of her the transplant patient. experience. Go to this link: Learn the facts about bone marrow donation to help you make http://tinyurl.com/mqx7bk an informed decision and help save a life. Go to www.marrow.org
Be part of our “Memories Project” In honor of our 50th Anniversary. We are collecting your stories about TBS. If you have memories or stories to share, please send them to Jan: [email protected]
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We acknowledge with sincere appreciation the following contributions from members and friends:
GENERAL FUND Sherwood Boxer–In memory of beloved father, Julius Boxer. Maurice & Ruth Richter–Wishing sister, Shayne Johnston–In memory of beloved parents, Horace & Selma M arshak, a very speedy recovery. Reeve Waddell. Teddi & Robert Duncan–In memory of Marcia Canin–In memory of beloved father, Henry Garbowitz Jean Gree nberg and Freda Schuman. beloved, and uncle, Louis Garbowitz. long-tim e, close friends. Barbara Goldman–In memory of dear mom, Shirley Goldman. Ezra Levy –In honor of TBS. Helen Inga–In memory of beloved father, Harry Zucker. Bess & Max rty Hyman–In memory of Rabbi Bill Gor don, beloved husband of Deena 2009-2010 ANNUAL APPEAL Gordon. Esther & Jeff Weisel–In honor of TBS and CHAD. Marla P etal–In memory of Jean Greenberg and Larry Fleischer. TBS CHARTER MEMBER'S YAHRZEIT March/April Bess Hyma n–Wishing a speedy recovery In memory of beloved TBS mem bers: Sally Golowen, Sylvia Linden, to Elaine Aikins and Maurice Richter. Si dney Cooper, Nettie Kishineff, Hyman Aheroni, Elliott Fromberg, Herb Helen In ga–In memory of Evelyn Diamond, Katz, Sari Pink, Art Kruger, James Fortus, David Kishineff and Shirley sister-in- law of Sanford Diamond. Goldman. YAHRZEIT TBS MEMORIAL PLAQUES March/April Martin Zucker–In memory of beloved Jacob Beldengruen Marilyn Maxwell Chava Wosk father, H arry Zucker. Sylvia Linden Murrie Hyman Tauba Spector Larry Newman–In memory of beloved Lena Wallack Julius Boxer Jack Levin brother, George Newman. Nathan Epstein Sidney Cooper Jack Margolin Vivien Wynner–In memory of beloved Sarah Goodman Philip Sugarman Clara Kremen grandmother, Anna Dorfman. M ax Block Louis Garbowitz Anna Levin Agnes Herman–In memory of beloved B etty Kr asne Brent Whaley Jr. Henry Lindenbaum husband , Rabbi Erwin Herman. Rebecca Lindenbaum Lillian Wynner Philip Hanover Florence Haberman–In memory of Karen Carter Leopold Frey Hugo Schlessinger beloved father, Paul Haberman. Samuel Sh rybma n Tessie Bernstein Rose Margolin Maurice & Ruth Richter–In memory of his Faye Contract Charles Greenbaum Solomon Zinkowetsky beloved mother, grandmother and great Jame s For tus Samuel Feldman Eva Einzig grandmother, Rose Beckreck. A braham Kligman Eva Block Abraham Eholnikof Ruth Beesen–In memory of beloved Jack Rosenthal Harry Intrator grandfather, Morris Spivack. Sheldon Wald–In memory of beloved Isadore “Izzy” Hazan 1929-2010 father, Louis Wald. Sharie Schneider–In memory of beloved TBS Charter member, Isadore Hazan, passed away February th cousin, Mona Fleeman. 12 at age 81 from pneumonia at his son’s residence in Indiana. Bess Hyman–In memory of beloved Izzy lived in Las Vegas for several years with his wife of blessed brother, Walter Hochberg. memory, Lucille, also a Charter Member. He was buried in Los Bess & Marty Hyman–In memory of Angeles with his beloved wife. TBS extends our deepest condolences to his sons and daughters: Harold, Martin, bel oved father and husband, Murrie D. Hyman. Shoshana Plotkin and Eileen Foster. May his memory be for a Jerry Mandel–In memory of beloved sweet blessing. mother and step father, Nettie & David Kishineff. TBS sends our deepest Esther Zawolkow–In memory of beloved condolences to Susan Margolin father, Louis Wallack and sister, Anna on the recent loss of her mother, Lubow. Shirlee Margolin. May her Sara Beldengruen–In memory of beloved memory be for a blessing. mother, Marie Lerman and husband, Jacob Beldengruen. Adele Davidson–In memory of beloved husband, Bernard Davidson; sister-in-law, With lots of love and thanks to Gladys Kauffman and mother-in-law, Rose everyone who remembered me on my Davidson. January birthday with cards and Esther Aheroni–In memory of beloved emails. It meant so much to hear from husband, Hyman Aheroni and mother, old friends. Chava Wosk. Marge Klugman
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First Seder March 29
Second Seder March 30
TBS Purim celebration characters top row L-R: Richard Cato,
Marty Hyman, Elaine Aikins, Florence Haberman, Brad & Dianna Kanawyer, Candy Scott, bottom row: Adele Podolsk y, Bess Hyman, Ruth Beesen, Rabbi Deborah, Erin Shabbat Candle lighting Subar
Mar. 5 5:34 Apr. 2 6:56 Mar. 12 5:40 Apr. 9 7:01 Yom Hashoah Israel Mar. 19 6:45 Apr. 16 7:07 Ho locaust Independence Mar. 26 6:51 Apr. 23 7:12 Reme mbrance Day Apr. 30 7:18 Day April 19 April 11
Happy March & April Birthday to:
Murray Kurz Sam Kadin Don Kalivoda Freda Urling April Robinson Dawn Robinson Josh Klein David Klein James Kalivoda Baruch Atah Adonai Elohaynu Melech haolam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu Mazel Tov to: l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat.
Marilyn & Bernard Castaline Bless You Adonai our God on a Milestone 58th King of the universe. You make us holy Wedding Anniversary! with your mitzvot and command us Much love to you both! to light the candles for Shabbat.
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TBS Namesake Rabbi Solomon Kleinman Celebrates 90th Birthday
By Jan Seeley
By the late 1950's many members of the Los Angeles Hebrew
Association of the Deaf longed for a synagogue in which they could nurture their unique style of worship, study and social interaction. At the same time, Rose Zucker was looking for a way to provide her deaf daughter, Helen, (Inga) with a Jewish education. With the help and advice of Rabbi Solomon Kleinman, a synagogue of, not for, Deaf Jews was born. In gratitude to Rabbi Solomon Kleinman the members named the synagogue: Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf. Rose, a feisty woman with a deep sense of righteousness, had approached the heads of the Conservative and Orthodox organizations for help to arrange some kind of Jewish education for her deaf daughter—she was turned down Rabbi Kleinman has a long distinguished career flat, citing this would breach Hallachic Law. with a multitude of milestone accomplishments. But then she met Rabbi Solomon Kleinman, In addition to serving as a Rabbi in several the Regional Director of the UAHC, the arm of pulpits, he procured the property and established the Reform movement, and everything Camp Swig, established Union Hebrew High changed. School, served as Dean of LA College of Jewish Rabbi Kleinman recalls with great Studies, advocated for farm workers, participated satisfaction how he enthusiastically embraced in the Civil rights movement, and the list goes on the undertaking that would result in the and on. But to TBS, his greatest legacy is the gift creation of the first congregation anywhere in he gave us—recognition with dignity and respect the world to serve the Jewish Deaf. to be included as capable, self-sustaining When Rose and Rabbi Kleinman met, she members of the Jewish people. This is a man with explained how many Jewish deaf children, a sense of justice and heart, who understood the away at residential schools were sent to need and eagerly reached out to a church on Sundays with their Christian disenfranchised group that only wanted to classmates and he agreed that somehow a worship as Jews—he made sure that came to class or school for them must be created. But fruition. then upon hearing there were as many as 500 Rabbi Kleinman is Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Deaf Jews in Los Angeles, he thought—Why Ahavat Shalom, the same synagogue where we not create a Deaf congregation with a school! now worship. It appears we have come full He realized that the two largest obstacles circle–at the same time that TBS celebrates our would be funding and staff, which was solved 50th year, we pay tribute to Rabbi Kleinman as he by the generosity of Helen Winer and the celebrates his 90th year. Sisterhood of Wilshire Boulevard Temple who Please plan to join us on April 9th as we agreed to provide the funding. With this first applaud a most admirable man who along with obstacle overcome, the rest quickly followed: the vision of a mother, made it possible for the religious school classes began with space Deaf Jews of Los Angeles to experience a full donated at University Synagogue, teachers Jewish life with pride. were hired and three or four classes began. Beth Gesner was hired to interpret and Rabbi Kleinman led the first Shabbat service. TBS came together very quickly and Rabbi Kleinman’s role changed to focus on working with student rabbis who served the congregation in its early years; most notably, Jerry Fisher and Bernard King.
Temple Beth Solomon of Rabbi William J. Gordon September 1928~January 2010 th e Deaf By Jan Seeley Organiz ed June 17, 1960 The funeral service of Rabbi Incorpor ated Oct. 11, 1963 William J. Gordon was overflowing with those who came to honor and memorialize this gentle man. The room was filled beyond capacity and spilled outside where extra chairs had been set up to accommodate this huge crowd. He was well represented by five Board of Trustees members of the rabbinate, all Pres...... Joe Slotnick close friends, and his family who [email protected] Adm. VP…...... Elaine Aikins each spoke with adoring humor [email protected] and such deep love and respect for this wonderfully gifted man. VP...... Lotte Friedman His daughter spoke of the lessons she learned from her father, notable [email protected] the time the family celebrated Passover in a prison with the Jewish Sec’y...... Maurice Richter inmates. He believed in the goodness of people despite their mistakes [email protected] Treasurer.....Gary Jacobson and brought dignity even to those who society throws away. [email protected] Being in this room, filled with people, the affect he had had on them Auditor...... vacant over his 48-years as a Rabbi was clearly apparent. You could feel the Administrator....Jan Seeley love they held for him; for the individual touch and indelible mark he [email protected] had left on each of them. They had come to say thank you and so-long. Rabbi Gordon’s brand was “being of service” in whatever form that Affiliates took and he truly lived as if that was his guiding light. When our Sis’hd Pres...Elaine Aikins congregant, Mary Slotnick, met him and told him about TBS, without SC Reps….M & R Richter hesitation he offered his services in any capacity we might need. TBS only met Rabbi Gordon and his family in the fall of 2009 where he Honorary Members officiated at our High Holiday services, but in this short time we quickly Rbi Solomon F. Kleinman developed a very warm affinity and deep respect for him and his unique Marge Klugman style. During the services, Rabbi Gordon turned to me and said, "I love Rbi Lennard Thal your services–everyone participates!" That really was suggestive of who Jean Greenberg* he was; he wanted every Jew, no matter their background, gender or Alvin Klugman* Freda Schuman* education level, to connect to the beauty of Judaism wherever it Robert Arkush* resonated with them and then he built on that. He was open and Sam Brand* approachable, easily granting you your opinions and ideas as if he was Abe J. & Kate Levin* learning as much from you as he was teaching you. David L. Caplan* He lived in the fluctuating and often vicious world of cancer for about Charles Gesner* the last eight years, but he refused to make this a focal point in his life Rbi Edgar & Evelyn Magnin* and consequently not many people in our congregation knew he was ill. Evelyn Magnin* In his determined fashion to make every moment count, he officiated Elizabeth T. Gesner* our Shabbat services on January 15th while in tremendous pain, known Abraham & Sue Gottfried* only to a few, just a week before he entered hospice care. Dr. Louis & Helen Winer* Rabbi Gordon made this world a sweeter place. His light has dimmed Rbi Erwin L. Herman* Martin & Helen Hersh* for now, but all those who knew him will carry that light adding their Harry & Rose Zucker* own gifts to his and paying it forward. Betty Zukor* Our deepest sympathies and love to Rabbi Gordon’s beloved wife, Roz Robinson* Deena and their amazing family: Bruce, Rayna and Mitch Gordon, *Deceased Melissa, Steve and Eden Latrell, Michelle & Brandon, Ethan and Jonah Simon and Sydney Gordon. Even though it was fleeting, our congregation was so very fortunate to have met this outstanding man and shared in his superlative life. His memory is forever a sweet, sweet blessing.