Jenn Dollins is our Office Manager. Her email is Shir Notes [email protected]. Phone: (818) 818-6094. The Official Newsletter of Congregation Shir Ami Volume 19, Number 6, June 2021. Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Rabbi’s Column .

Events of the Month I anticipate that June will be the last time we will be joining together for virtual Shabbat Contemporary

Services. Shabbat services via Zoom and Livestreaming We will be off July and August, though we will probably

Saturday, June 5 - 10:30 am have one service during these months to keep some continuity. But I hope Birthday Shabbat that September will find us together in one room, feeling the sense of community that comes from sharing a space and raising our voices in song Saturday, June 19 - 10:30 am and prayer. Anniversary Shabbat ------And so a few thoughts about what the last year has meant as we struggled Around the Rabbi’s Tisch to maintain our community virtually.

Thursday, June 10, 17, & 24 Obviously, what was missing was the sense of singing with each other. I’m 7:30 pm via Zoom glad my wife Bonnie was able to join me for most of the services (except Our 5781 season of Rabbi’s weekly when she was recovering from her knee replacement surgery) for to sing discussion concludes its second half alone is a lonely experience. I’m sure those of you who joined us for our in its online format. Call Rabbi at Zoom services and were by yourselves in your room felt how empty that (818) 888-9817 or see flyer. experience was. ------Torah and Shabbat Study But as I watched the screens during services, I was impressed by how many Saturday, June 12, 10:30 am of you were singing, nonetheless! via Zoom But what I liked about the Zoom experience was that we were joined by so

Stan Schroeder will email his study many who lived far away or who, for one reason or another, couldn’t leave material. If you want to be added to your home (including for illness or lack of mobility). his list, please see flyer. It was so nice to be joined by people from New York, Arizona, Nevada and Central California (among other locales).

It’s very possible that we will be able to maintain this mode of sharing our service for those far and wide in the future, even after we have been allowed to attend services at de Toledo High School. We will probably not Zoom the service, but livestream it via YouTube. Flag Day Monday, June 14 And while it was fun to almost roll out of bed and into the “sanctuary” in the next room on Saturday mornings, the convenience of broadcasting from home cannot replace the spirit generated from joining together in person.

Zoom is a remarkable technology, developed just in time to get us all through this past year. But come September, if the CDC and local health requirements allow it, our Shabbat and High Holy Days should bring us one step closer to feeling normal again!

Rabbi David Vorspan Sunday, June 20 See Biblical Verses for Visit our website: Father’s Day on page 9 www.shirami.com page 2 June 2021 President’s Report Ritual Committee

Shalom, We are nearing the end of the COVID pandemic dictating much of our lives. What have we learned from We are going to start June with a partial return to the experience? normalcy by having two more Shabbat Services in It is even more important to June via Zoom before we take a well-deserved two- maintain our sense of community month vacation. So, this is your chance to take in times when we can’t be together advantage of two more davening Shabbat Days as a community. Zoom has been a before the summer. lifesaver for us. We have conducted our Shabbat

At this time, we are attempting to determine whether services and held our weekly Around the Rabbi’s Tisch we will have our High Holy Day services in person, from the Vorspan home into our homes. With Rabbi in person with social distanced seating, by Zoom or Vorspan starting the Zoom about 15 minutes before with a combination of all of them. This will depend and continuing it after, we caught up on personal news on what deToledo’s policies and the policies of the and issues we didn’t have the same opportunity State of California and Los Angeles will be. Of together before. And we connected with members and course, we expect our members to have some voice former members from out of our area. Our former in the matter, and likely many voices in the matter! President Clara Rosenbluth and her husband Stan To that end, I would appreciate your email input as have been able to participate on a regular basis. to how comfortable you would be in attending Former Beth Ami members Janet and Richard services in person, if we are able to do so. And, yes, Kirshbaum attend services from their home in Arizona I sort of enjoyed services that didn’t last more than and have joined Shir Ami. Corrine Geller participates two hours, but that shouldn’t be the deciding issue. via Zoom and has become a member. Member Fran So, please let me know at my email below or at our Feinman (Freeway Fran) has become a regular office manager’s email at [email protected]. attendee via Zoom from her home in Century City. Social Action Vice President Fran Kobulnick hadn’t In addition to our two Shabbat Services in June, we been able to participate because of physical limitations, will also have our Shabbat/Torah Study Session via but now she and Sam join us on Shabbat Zoom Zoom and our Zoom-Tisch on most Thursdays. services. Hopefully, we will soon be able to let our webcams rest through the summer and, beginning in I have appointed myself as Communications September, we can start to dress from the waist Coordinator and send out at-least weekly emails to our down, as well as the waist up. members and online Shir Notes recipients. I include the Zoom schedule for the week and links to Jewish and As another reminder of normalcy, look forward to articles and lectures on the internet. It is also my receiving our membership renewal packages during way of maintaining Shir Ami community involvement. the summer. The Board of Directors is actively I have revived my monthly Shabbat Torah study that we planning for any and all contingencies to make sure held at the Northridge Mobile Home Park via Zoom. See that we will have High Holy Day Services and you flyer in this issue for details and how to participate. are all expected to be there. We will be investigating how to continue Zoom in some As always, if you have any questions or want to form in the fall when we expect to get back to de Toledo provide your input, especially on how you want to High School and in-person Tisch and events. Our spend the High Holy Days, please feel free to email member Gladys Sturman informed me she wants very me at [email protected]. much to host our Friday night dinner and Service Under the Stars before Rosh Hashanah at her Calabasas Shalom and keep healthy. home.

Jordan Pistol, President We have much to be thankful for and to look forward to. Stay healthy.

Stan Schroeder, Ritual Vice President page 3 June 2021

Birthdays & Anniversaries DONATIONS Congregation Shir Ami wishes to Birthdays acknowledge the following donations: $ Wayne Geffen...... 6/3 Sondra Licht...... 6/6 Yahrzeits Gary Finlay...... 6/10 Stan Rosenbluth...... 6/14 Karen Benson for Sadie Williams, Wilfred Williams, Irwin Koransky...... 6/15 Patricia Williams, Ruth Breyer, and Judy Shepherd Stanley Finkelstein...... 6/20 Fran Feinman for Stephen Feinman Jay Cohen...... 6/26 Philip Hockmeyer for Joe Hockmeyer Helga Unkeless...... 6/26 Sylvia Hockmeyer for Joe Hockmeyer David Lipman...... 6/29

Dov and Stephanie Silk Landau for Nathan R. Silk Anniversaries Lou and Paula Loomis for Doris Loomis and Jay Goldfarb Andrea and Leon Nachenberg for Milton Stover 6/7 57th Elizabeth and David Raider for Phil Raider Bette and Owen Delman...... 6/10 42nd Lonny and Nancy Gail Scharf for Blima Froilech and Marcie and Steve Spetner...... 6/13 22nd Claire Halprin Becky and Gary Finlay...... 6/16 31st Edward Schneier Paula and Paul Frankel...... 6/20 50th Claire and Lew Silverman for Aarion Verity-Rubin Bonnie and Rabbi David Vorspan. 6/25 54th Rae and Armand Wazana for Isaac Wazana Sherry and Lee Dollins...... 6/28 51st Phyllis and Stan Schroeder for Albert Kaufman Cheryl and William Niesen...... 6/28 52nd Maralyn and Paul Soifer......

Birthdays

Harvey Cohen (99) Congregational News Corinne Geller Jerry Kovar Get well wishes rafuah schleimah to: Linda Tapper (73) Bonnie and Rabbi David Vorspan for Fran Kobulnick Yael and Gavi Sela (17) Paullette Pistol Judy Eisikowitz Anniversary Sima Schuster

Rabbi and Bonnie Vorspan for May they be blessed with a complete recovery in Shaina and Aaron Brenner's 7th wedding anniversary body and spirit.

Congregation Shir Ami Tribute Cards

Thanks to Phyllis Schroeder for sending your cards celebrating simchas and conveying your get- well and condolence messages.

She is creative with individualized, artistic cards that include a message and color graphics. Call her at (818) 718-7466. Minimum donation of $5 per card is appreciated. page 4 June 2021

Jewish World Watch Jewish World Watch (JWW) applauds the March from their website www.jww.org introduction of the Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act (H.R. 1630) in the House of It is with great sadness that we share the Representatives to support Uyghurs seeking passing of Malkah Schulweis, a life force for her asylum. beautiful family, for the Valley Beth Shalom community and Jewish World Watch. “The Jewish community understands viscerally the importance of providing refugee status to the Uyghurs fleeing an ongoing genocide,” said JWW Executive Director Serena Oberstein. “This bill would alleviate the constant fear of extradition for those who have escaped China’s deliberate and systematic persecution.”

The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Rep. Ted Deutch (D), Rep. Diaz-Balart (R), Rep. Chris Smith (R), and Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D), would allow applicants to forgo a United Nations referral and apply directly as refugees to the U.S. Malkah was a brilliant woman with extraordinary government. intellect and was a critical part of our work at Jewish World Watch. While she was always dedicated to our Many Uyghur refugees are currently seeking safety mission of not standing idly by in the face of genocide in countries with strong economic and diplomatic and bringing life-saving aid to survivors, her work on ties to China, leaving them at extreme risk of our board took on special meaning in the aftermath of expulsion. our co-founder, Rabbi Schulweis’ passing. At that China has interned more than two million Uyghur time, Malkah redoubled her commitment, never people – many of whom have been relocated and missing a board meeting and always contributing forced into slave labor. The U.S. has declared the mightily. Her intelligence and wisdom added violations against the Uyghurs a genocide. Now immeasurably to the growth and vigor of Jewish World Congress must act to safeguard Uyghurs who have Watch and our fight against the scourge of genocide. escaped and ensure that their human rights are Malkah leaves an amazing legacy. Her depth, her protected. elegance, her wisdom, her intelligence, her We are asking our supporters to contact their compassion, and her beauty are unparalleled; we have Representatives using our simple advocacy tool to been enriched immeasurably by her life. Malkah urge them to be an early co-signer of this much- Schulweis’ memory will be a blessing and an needed bill. While we continue to fight against inspiration for all of us at Jewish World Watch. human rights abuses within China, we cannot forget about those seeking a better life away from their With warm regards, homes. Janice Kamenir-Reznik Co-Founder

Diana Buckhantz Jane Z. Cohen Board Co-Chair Board Co-Chair

Jewish World Watch is an expression of Judaism in action, bringing help and healing to survivors of mass atrocities around the globe and seeking to inspire people of all faiths and cultures to join the ongoing fight against genocide,

page 5 June 2021 was an instant success at the festival. Three weeks Biography of the Month: later the Six Day War broke out, and East by Stan Schroeder and the were captured. Shemer then added a

May 10 was Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), the new verse to the song describing the situation after the celebration of the reunification of Jerusalem in the war. In the months after the war the song became a 1967 Six Day War. Jerusalem has a special place in all sort of second national anthem. our hearts as we pray L’Shana Haba’ah Naomi Shemer won a battle over cancer in the late B’Yerushalayim, next year in Jerusalem. And no one seventies. At this time she wrote the song Emtza captured the essence of Jerusalem better than Naomi Tammuz (Middle of Tammuz) in which she foresaw her Shemer. For a unique rendition of her song sung by a death during the Hebrew month of Tammuz. Around group of women cantors for 2020 Yom Yerushalayim, 20 years later, the cancer returned, and eventually led select https://youtu.be/C1BepTwlG9I to her death June 26, 2004 during the month of

She was born Naomi Sapir in Kvutzat Tammuz. She was buried on the Kibbutz where she Kinneret July 13, 1930. Her parents, was born and raised. In accordance with her wishes Rivka and Meir Sapir, were founders there was no eulogy at her funeral. Instead several of her songs were sung. of the Kibbutz. Since she was a child she participated in singing and poetry Statements by prominent Israelis after her death reading evenings. At the age of six, with her mother's summarized her contributions to Israel and those of us encouragement, Naomi began piano lessons. When who love the land and its inhabitants. she grew older she went on to learn at musical academies in Jerusalem and . A few years later "Naomi Shemer's Hebrew songs left bookmarks on the she returned to the Kibbutz where she taught music to country's history," said President Moshe Katsav. "Her little children. songs expressed an intense love for the country and for the people of Israel. The words of her songs are In 1953, she joined the IDF and served in the her legacy, and they will accompany us forever." Brigade, an entertaining troupe. After she was Education Minister Limor Livnat instructed schools discharged, she teamed up with Yochanan around the country to devote part of their studies that Zarai to help write the musical Chamesh-Chamesh day to Shemer's lifetime work. "We have had a great (Five Five). In 1954 she married actor Gideon Shemer privilege that a giant like Naomi Shemer has lived and and in 1956 gave birth to their daughter, Halleli. created in our generation," Livnat said. "Naomi has left She was invited to write for the first show of the band us an immortal legacy of Hebrew works on which many Batzal Yarok (Hebrew for Green Onion). This enabled generations of Israelis will be raised," she said. "The her to start putting words to her own music. Her first kingdom of Hebrew song has today lost its queen." song that she both wrote and composed was The Long Path in 1957 and was a major success. Former Prime Minister Shimon Peres said Naomi Shemer was a rare example of Israeli consensus. "Few In 1960, Shemer wrote many songs for Nach"al's people have been able to unite the nation with their entertainment troupe that were all immediate personality, with their actions and creations, and with successes. All through the early sixties, Shemer wrote sadness at their deaths," Peres said. "She left us with many songs for different groups and musicals, each song, taught us to mourn, and to rejoice as a nation, only broadening her fan base. Around that time Naomi and as individuals." separated from her husband and went with her daughter to Paris. She came back to Israel before 1967 "Naomi Shemer's death is a great loss," said actor and was married to lawyer Mordechai Horowitz. In Shaike Levy, who as part of the entertainment troupe 1969 she gave birth to their son, Ariel Horowitz, who is performed many of Shemer's songs. "There are now a composer. whose creations flow like a river. There are others whose works are like a fountain. But with Naomi One of the pinnacles of Shemer's Shemer it was like rain, because we all got wet," he career was in 1967 when she said. wrote the song Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (). Her closeness to the natural cycles of the Land of The idea for the song came from Israel, coupled with her deep knowledge of the , Mayor of Jerusalem Teddy its text steeped in natural imagery, made her work so Kollek, who wanted a special Israeli. Her songs are uniquely part of this marvelous song written about the city country that is so closely tied both to ancient Israel and hosting the Israel Song Festival that year. The song to the modern state.

page 6 June 2021 Israel in 2021 One of the first things Hamas did was to smuggle a by Lou Loomis massive amount of armaments into Gaza from Iran. Most of the intercepted arms came from Iran. There We’re returning to normal! The global have been several wars between the two states, all pandemic is declining. We are now having been started by Hamas. If this sounds a bit starting to shed our masks and return biased, read this from the Hamas Charter: to life as we knew it pre-pandemic. Those of us who are either vaccinated or who have “…identifies Hamas as the Muslim Brotherhood in survived COVID without shots are now considered Palestine and declares its members to be Muslims immune and may start to go “out” without masks who "fear God and raise the banner of Jihad in the (unless we are told otherwise - often for the sake of face of the oppressors." The charter states that "our optics). A lot has happened in this last year. We struggle against the Jews is very great and very have a new US president, with new policies, and serious" and calls for the eventual creation of an we’ll see what that means in the next few months. Islamic state in Palestine, in place of Israel and the Also, in Israel, they’ve just had yet another election Palestinian Territories, and the obliteration or to try and determine which political party will be in dissolution of Israel. It emphasizes the importance of charge. It looks like Netanyahu and his Likud Party jihad… "There is no solution for the Palestinian may no longer be in charge. And once again, question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals Hamas has started another round of fighting with and international conferences are all a waste of time Israel, after several years of a shaky peace. and vain endeavors…”

With this most recent restarting of the Hamas and There are many other complications between Israel Israel fighting, the once-quiet anti-semitism has and her hostile neighbors (including the Palestine again resurfaced, and from the old places. Once Authority, Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza, etc.), but these Israel and several Arab countries began what was to involve issues that can be negotiated peacefully by become the “Abraham Accords,” the old anti- cordial neighbors. Unfortunately, Israel’s closest Israel/anti-semitic screeds from hostile sources were neighbors are not cordial. temporarily silenced. But no more. Today, the Israel haters are loud and pointing fingers at Jews, angry It’s been said by that Israel is defending itself from the Hamas Israel’s hostile missiles. They would prefer Israel not fight back. critics that Israel Remember not too many years ago, how there were is racist, mainly so many stories of Jews as victims, Jews who didn’t anti-Arab, but that fight against the Nazis, Jews who went meekly into completely ignores the gas chambers. Of course, stories of Jewish Israel’s Zionist resistance were conveniently overlooked, except constitution. Israel with the occasional mention of the Warsaw Ghetto was founded to be uprising, or Jewish resistance fighters throughout a haven not just for Europe. Anti-semites would rather Jews be supine Jewish holocaust refugees but also as a safe land for than fight back. Hence the criticism of Israel not all the Arab, Muslim, Christians and others living in wanting to have their children murdered by Hamas Palestine. Israel guarantees equal rights to all citizens, missiles. It’s called balance. “Israel is so much more and as proof, there are several Arab parties in its powerful than Gaza, and they shouldn’t try and stop Knesset. Just as important, Israel is a country of laws the missiles,” goes the narrative. with a Supreme Court that rules “blindly,” upholding the concept of justice for all. In the all-important issue Israel is called an aggressor and occupier. It is of land disputes between Arab and Jews, the Israeli called apartheid. This ignores all of the history of Supreme Court has often decided in favor of Arabs Arab-Palestinian refusal to negotiate peace with over Jews. Neither Gaza nor does the PA allow Jews Israel. to live in any of their territories. That is racist.

Israel turned over Gaza to the Palestinian Authority Hamas began the indiscriminate shelling of Israel (PA) in 2005, but left a functioning infrastructure so when it appeared that the Supreme Court was about the new country could survive. Israel was rewarded to enforce a recent property dispute which favored with war. When the Palestinian election took place, Jews. Perhaps Hamas decided to attack Israel Hamas won Gaza, seemingly because the PA had a because it believes that world anti-semitism has risen reputation for being corrupt and unresponsive to the to an acceptable level. It may be right. needs of their people. Hamas promised victory. page 7 June 2021 stops creating, and inventing new stuff,” says Berger Happy 80th Birthday to who says he has “probably the largest collection of by Stan Schroeder Bob Dylan bootlegs and other memorabilia in the Middle East.” I am writing this article on Tuesday, May 25th Yesterday Although the existence of Dylan and the 1960s folk was Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday revival was not widely known in the isolated Israel of and I heard a tribute to him. the early 1960s, things started a-changin’ here I am writing this as my tribute to this iconic (born following the Six Day War when Israel, and Jewish) American songwriter/performer. particularly kibbutzim, became something of a Mecca for hippies and other young people from all over the He was born Robert Allen Zimmerman May 24, 1941 world making the trek here for extended sojourns. in Duluth, Minnesota, and raised in Hibbing, 75 miles Yehuda Eder was one of the beneficiaries of the southeast. His paternal grandparents, Anna Kirghiz overseas cultural influx. Now one of the doyens of and Zigman Zimmerman, emigrated from Odessa in the scene, the 69-year-old guitarist- the Russian Empire (now Ukraine) to the United vocalist says he got in on the Dylan act earlier than States, following the pogroms against Jews of most. 1905. His maternal grandparents, Florence and Ben Stone, were Lithuanian Jews who arrived in the United “I grew up on Kibbutz Kfar Hanassi, which was States in 1902. founded by people from Britain,” he recalls. “So we got all these volunteers coming over from abroad, In 1962 he renamed himself Bob Dylan after the and they brought sex, drugs and rock & roll over with Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. In the late 1970s, Dylan them,” he laughs. converted to Evangelical Christianity, undertaking a three-month discipleship course run by the Association That exciting multi-sensorial mix took in material by of Vineyard Churches, and released three of the then emerging superstar of the folk music contemporary gospel music. revival.

“A volunteer gave me a cassette by [Dylan’s mid- I wondered about Bob’s connection to Israel and found Sixties back-up group] The Band and I’d listen to it this article in the Jerusalem Post by Barry Davis: all night,” Eder says. “That was one of the most At 80, Dylan’s influence is alive and well in Israel formative things that happened to me in my life. No one told me it was good music. I just felt it.” Eder was In a landmark press conference in San Francisco in well and truly hooked. “I used to put his LPs on, like 1965, Bob Dylan was asked by an older journalist Freewheelin’, and [1975 release] Blood on the what he thought his role was. Then a sprightly 24- Tracks and play them all night, and then learn how to year-old, Dylan shot back with his trademark play them on the .” somewhat sardonic smile, “Just to stay here as long as I can.” THAT EARLY impact began to filter through into Eder’s evolving musicianship and, eventually into the Well, Dylan, who is turning 80 years old on Monday, output of mid-Seventies seminal Israeli rock band made good on his promise. It is hard to think of Tammuz, with the likes of and anyone in the history of rock & roll who has been so preeminent rocker in the lineup. trailblazing, creative, prolific and adulated. Across a now-60-year career, the then-scruffy-looking Jewish Hanoch, and many of his contemporaries, says lad named Robert Zimmerman has constantly veteran rock and pop radio show presenter and reinvented himself, begging, borrowing and stealing walking-talking encyclopedia of Israeli commercial from everyone and everything he could get his hands music history Yoav Kutner ,were heavily influenced on, and keeping the folk and rock world agape with his by Dylan. ability to constantly come up with the goods. “Shalom Hanoch had an amazing record called According to local Dylan devotee, US-born Shmuel White Wedding,” he says referencing Hanoch’s Berger, any musician who has played with Dylan talks critically acclaimed 1981 offering. “You listen to that of his incredible inventiveness. and you just know that Hanoch must have gotten into Blood on the Tracks, and songs like “Sara” [from “[Guitarist-vocalist] Charlie Sexton, who has been in Dylan’s 1976 Desire]. Dylan’s backing band for over 20 years, once said that the most amazing thing about Dylan is that he never (continued on page 8)

page 8 June 2021 Happy 80th Birthday to Bob Dylan (continued) Blowin' in the Wind

Kutner believes it wasn’t just the sound or even the "Blowin' in the Wind" is a poetic lyrical content that left their imprint on cutting- song written by Bob Dylan in edge Israeli artists. “[Late poet-troubadour] 1962. It was released as a was in the United States in the late-Sixties to early- single and included on his Seventies, and he heard Dylan there. That was when album The Freewheelin' Bob he realized he could write songs that were five or six Dylan in 1963. It has been minutes long, and he didn’t have to make do with described as a songs of two, two-and-a-half minutes.” and poses a series of rhetorical questions about

Years later Zilber put out a cover version, in Hebrew peace, war, and freedom. The refrain "The answer, my and English, of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” which friend, is blowin' in the wind" has been described as Dylan wrote for the soundtrack of 1973 western Pat "impenetrably ambiguous: either the answer is so Garrett & Billy The Kid, in which he also appeared, obvious it is right in your face, or the answer is as and was featured on his eponymous record. And there intangible as the wind". are plenty more Israeli artists who have helped to bring Dylan into the local cultural fold, including the How many roads must a man walk down likes of now 77-year-old -leaning rocker Danny Before you call him a man? Litani, 56-year-old vocalist Hemi Rodner and 48-year- How many seas must a white dove sail old former enfant terrible Aviv Geffen. The latter’s Before she sleeps in the sand? feted writer dad, Yehonatan, translated various Dylan Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly numbers into Hebrew. Before they're forever banned?

Members of the younger crowd have also ingested The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind Dylan’s heady lyrical and melodic sensibilities, with The answer is blowin' in the wind internationally renowned indie pop duo Lola Marsh member Gil Landau, and folk-country band Jane Yes, and how many years must a mountain exist Bordeaux vocalist Doron Talmon, fusing their oeuvre Before it is washed to the sea? with Dylanesque content. And how many years can some people exist Before they're allowed to be free? “Dylan opened up possibilities for singer-songwriters Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head here,” Kutner suggests, in more senses than one. “He And pretend that he just doesn't see? sometimes declaimed the words, rather than singing them. That eventually influenced people here, around The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind five, 10 years later. I love Dylan’s voice but I think The answer is blowin' in the wind artists here realized they didn’t have to sound like Yes, and how many times must a man look up Sinatra, and they could fashion their own vocal style.” Before he can see the sky? Indeed, no one could “accuse” the iconic American And how many ears must one man have songsmith-singer of operatic renditions but, like fellow Before he can hear people cry? poet-singer the late Leonard Cohen, Dylan has a Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knows unique musicality and delivery. That too many people have died? And the man just keeps on giving. Last year’s Rough and Rowdy Ways album, produced during a The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind coronavirus-induced lull in Dylan’s normally packed The answer is blowin' in the wind gigging schedule, is testament to the octogenarian’s staying power and seemingly bottomless well of creativity.

Happy birthday Bob.

Joan Baez and Bob Dylan They sang Blowin’ in the Wind together for the last time on a European tour in 1984. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG12XQgxkws page 9 June 2021

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 Helga Unkeless at celebrate family occasions and support (818) 340-5751 so she may mail you an order Congregation Shir Ami. form. The cost of each plaque is $36.

The Tree is on a rosewood background and consists of gold-colored leaves and Each plaque may contain up to three lines of rocks. It is displayed at all Congregation engraving: English name, Hebrew name, and Shir Ami services and events. the years of birth and death. Both of our Memorial Boards are displayed at all our For more information or to place an order, services. call Helga Unkeless at (818) 340-5751.

Proverbs 23:22: "Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." Proverbs 23:24: "The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise Biblical Verses for Father’s Day son rejoices in him."

Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your Psalm 103:13: "As a father has compassion mother, in order that your days be on his children, so the Lord has compassion lengthened on the land that the Lord, your on those who fear him." God, is giving you.” 2 Samuel 7:14-15: "I will be a father to him, Proverbs 1:8: "Hear, my son, your father's and he'll be a son to me. When he does instruction, and forsake not your mother's wrong, I'll discipline him in the usual ways, the teaching." pitfalls and obstacles of this mortal life. But I'll never remove my gracious love from him." Proverbs 4:11-12: "I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright Deuteronomy 1:31: "There you saw how the paths. When you walk, your steps will not Lord your God carried you, as a father carries be hampered, and when you run, you will his son, all the way you went until you reached not stumble." this place."

Malachi 4:6: "He will turn the hearts of the Proverbs 22:6: "Start children off on the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the way they should go, and even when they children to their fathers." are old they will not turn from it."

page 10 June 2021

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

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Ami Shir Congregation Thursdays June 13, 20, and 27, 7:30 - 8:30 pm “Around the Rabbi’s Tisch” via Zoom

This popular Shir Ami educational series concludes its first half of the 2021 season via Zoom. The meeting ID is 864 4008 2040. The password is 677588. With your computer or smart phone, join us for our weekly discussion of Rabbi Vorspan’s selected topics of Jewish interest. We discuss Jewish texts and current events as they relate to Jewish values and our lives as Jews. This is a unique opportunity to learn and share in an informal format. We look forward to this fall when we expect to again gather around the Vorspans’ dining room table.

Call Rabbi Vorspan at (818) 888-9817 for more information.

Saturday, June 12, 10:30 am “Shabbat Torah Study” via Zoom

Stan Schroeder has revived his monthly Shabbat Torah Study he had conducted at the rec room of Northridge Mobile Home Park until the Pandemic restrictions. The sessions are via Zoom and include a discussion of the parsha of the week and a current holiday. Since there are no upcoming holidays, for the second half we will discuss the . We will start with a brief history of the period and then study one interesting selection.

The Torah study is open to our community. Stan sends participants an email with a dvar Torah and material for the second half to be read before the session. This is a way to study and discuss in an informal format and connect to Shir Ami friends.

Send Stan an email at [email protected] or call him at (818) 718-7466. He will send you Zoom info and study material.