November/December 2014 5775 Congregation Beth Ami Office, Library, and Gift Shop Hours 4676 Mayette Avenue Mon.–Thurs

november/december 2014 5775 Congregation Beth Ami Office, Library, and Gift Shop Hours 4676 Mayette Avenue Mon.–Thurs. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Santa Rosa, CA 95405 Fri. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Telephone707/360-3000 Fax707/360-3003 Mission Statement [email protected] Congregation Beth Ami enriches our lives, transforms Websitewww.BethAmiSR.org our hearts, helps heal the world and sustains our Jew- ish heritage. We are deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and welcome all to our community through celebration, Please “like” us at learning, education, and prayer. facebook.com/CongregationBethAmi

Personnel Andrea Nett, Lyla Nathan Friedman Center Director Rabbi Mordecai Miller [email protected], 526-7438 707-360-3021 314-308-3672 Jeff Sheff, [email protected] [email protected] Adult Education Edythe Smith, Invitations Carolyn Metz, Executive Director [email protected], 539-5346 707-538-3698 707-360-3011 Leanne Schy, [email protected] Officers and Board of Torah/Haftarah Readings Elizabeth Jarlsberg, Directors, 2014–15 [email protected], 528-4874 Office Manager Laura Alexander, President Members Ex Officio 707-360-3000 [email protected], 837-8695 Carolyn Metz, 481-3390 [email protected] Jenny Levine-Smith, 360-3030 Barbara McGee, Treasurer Diane Lennox, Bookkeeper Pnina Loeb, 695-2275 [email protected], 953-2526 [email protected] Rabbi Miller, (314) 308-3672 Betty Boyd, Secretary Jenny Levine-Smith Andrea Nett, 707-360-3021 [email protected], Nursery School Director 537-2211 707-360-3030 Deadline for Jan./Feb. 2015 [email protected] Arnold Drake, Past President Shofar is Dec. 15 [email protected], 542-1765 Mandi Emery-Flynn, NS Assistant 707-360-3030 Myrna Morse, [email protected] VP of Administration Jewish Community Contacts [email protected] , 539-5457 Rick Concoff, JCC Teen Program Hillel of Sonoma County 707-823-3916 Russ Gurevitch, VP of Facilities Ilana Stoelting, (707) 795-5464 [email protected] [email protected] www.sonomahillel.org Ben and Tara Winkler, Barbara Tomin, JCC, Sonoma County Shofar Newsletter VP of Youth & Education Beth Goodman, 528-4222, www.jccsoco.org 641-451-7076 [email protected], 576-1167 Jewish Community Federation [email protected] Mel Decker, Barbara Levinson, 568-6207, www.sfjcf.org Pnina Loeb, RS Director VP of Ways and Means, Jewish Community Free Clinic 707-360-3000 [email protected], 540-0614 Donna Waldman, 585-7780, [email protected] Members at Large www.jewishfreeclinic.org Gabor Por, Librarian Jewish Community Relations Richard Kahn Council 707-360-3006 [email protected], 217-5265 [email protected] Suzan Berns, 415/957-1551, www.jcrc.org Alan Krubiner Jewish Family & Children’s Services Bonnie Boren, Gift Shop [email protected], 694-6239 707-360-3022 Diana Klein, 571-8131, [email protected] www.jfcs.org/sonoma-county

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 2 • www.bethamisr.org Rabbi’s remarks Rabbi Mordecai Miller “The Best Speech an Israeli Diplomat Ever Held” Editor’s Note: Rabbi Miller requested that, “in es, and run away’. They said they will need the place of my column, I would love to have just a few days, in which with 5 armies they The Shofar use the September 27, 2014 speech promised to destroy the newly born Israel. My in Oslo by the Israeli Vice Ambassador to Nor- family, horrified by what might happen, de- way, George Deek. It so totally makes the point cided to flee, with most others. of my Kol Nidre sermon.” A priest was rushed to the Deek family’s Thanks to our recent guest speaker at Beth house, and he wedded George and Vera my Ami, Jonathan Carey, for bringing this speech grandparents, in the house, in haste. My grand- to our attention, at https://www.youtube.com/ mother did not even have a chance to get a watch?v=8m6ux-IeNo4 and to Eli Cohen for proper dress. After their sudden wedding, the providing the link to the English transcript at entire family started fleeing north, towards http://www.miff.no/Englisharticles/2014/10/04T Lebanon. But when the war was over, the hebestspeechanIsraelidiplomateverheld.htm. Arabs failed to destroy Israel. My family was at George Deek, Israel Vice Ambassador to the other side of the border, and it seemed that Norway: the fate of the brothers and sisters of the Deek When I walk in the streets of my home town family was to be scattered around the globe. Jaffa, I am often reminded of the year 1948. Today, I have relatives in Jordan, Syria, Leba- The Alleys of the old city, the houses in Aja- non, Dubai, the U.K., Canada, the U.S., Austra- mi neighborhood, the fishing nets at the port— lia, and more. they all seem to tell different stories about the The story of my family is just one—and prob- year that has changed my city forever. One of ably not the worst—among the many tragic those stories is about one of the oldest fami- stories of the year 1948. And to be frank, you lies in this ancient city—the Deek family—my don’t need to be an anti-Israeli to acknowledge own. Before 1948 my grandfather George, after the humanitarian disaster of the Palestinians in whom I’m named, worked as an electrician, 1948, namely the Nakba. The fact that I have at the Rotenberg Electricity Company. He was to skype with relatives in Canada who don’t not very interested in politics. And since Jaffa speak Arabic, or a cousin in an Arab country was a mixed city, he naturally had some Jew- that still has no citizenship there, despite being ish friends. In fact, his friends at the electricity a third generation– is a living testimony to the company even taught him Yiddish, making tragic consequences of the war. him one the first Arabs to ever speak the lan- According to the U.N. 711 thousand Palestin- guage. In 1947 He got engaged to Vera—My ians were displaced, we’ve heard that before— grandmother—and together they had plans to some fled and some forcefully expelled. At the build a family in the same city where the Deek same time, because of the establishment of Is- family has lived for about 400 years—Jaffa. rael, 800 thousand Jews were intimidated into But a few months later, those plans changed, leaving the Arab world, leaving mostly empty literally overnight. When the U.N. approved of Jews. As we’ve heard before, atrocities from the establishment of Israel, and a few months both sides were not uncommon. the State of Israel was established, the Arab But it seems that this conflict was not the leaders warned the Arabs that the Jews are only one during the 19th and 20th century that planning to kill them if they stay home, and lead to expulsion and transfer. they used the Deir Yassin massacre as an ex- From 1821 to 1922, 5 million Muslims were ample. They told everyone: ‘Leave your hous- expelled from Europe, mostly to Turkey. In the

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 3 • www.bethamisr.org Rabbi's Remarks continued… 90’s Yugoslavia broke apart, leading to 100,000 the Jewish state. In other words: they do not people dead and about 3 million displaced. mourn the fact that my cousins are Jordanians, From 1919 to 1949, during the Visla operation they mourn the fact that I am an Israeli. between Poland and Ukraine, 150,000 people By doing so, The Palestinians have become died, and 1.5 million were displaced. Follow- slaves to the past, held captive by the chains ing World War II and the Potsdam conven- of resentment, prisoners in the world of frus- tion, between 12-17 million Germans were tration and hate. displaced. When India and Pakistan were But friends, the evident yet simple truth is— established, about 15 million people were that in order not to be reduced to sorrow and transferred. This trend also exists in the Middle bitterness, we must look forward. To put it East, more clearly: To mend the past, first you have For example the displacement of 1.1 million to secure the future. Kurds by the Ottomans, This is something I learned from my music 2.2 million Christians who were expelled teacher, Avraham Nov. When I was 7 years old from Iraq, And as we speak today, Yazidis, I joined the marching band of the Arab-Chris- Bahai, Kurds, Christians and even Muslims are tian community in Jaffa. That’s where I met being killed and expelled in a rate of 1,000 Avraham, my music teacher, who taught me people per month, following the rise of Radi- to play the flute and later the clarinet. I was cal Islam. good. Avraham is a holocaust survivor, and his The chances of any of those groups to return entire family was murdered by the Nazis. He to their homes, is almost non-existent. was the only one who managed to survive, be- So why is it then, Why is it that the tragedies cause a certain Nazi officer found him gifted in of the Serbs, the European Muslims, the Polish playing the harmonica, so he took him home refugees or the Iraqi Christians are not com- during the war to entertain his guests. When memorated? How come the displacement of the war was over and he was left alone, he the Jews from the Arab world was completely could have easily sat, and wept and cried over forgotten, while the tragedy of the Palestinians, the greatest crime of man against man in his- the Nakba, is still alive in today’s politics? It tory, and over the fact that he left alone. seems to me to be so, because the Nakba has But he didn’t, he looked forward not back- been transformed from a humanitarian disaster wards; he chose life, not death; to a political offensive. The commemoration hope, rather than despair. Avraham came of the Nakba is no longer about remembering to Israel, got married, built a family, and he what happened, but about resenting the mere started teaching the same thing that saved his existence of the state of Israel. life—music. He became the music teacher of It is demonstrated most clearly in the date hundreds and thousands of children all over chosen to commemorate it: the country. And when he saw the tension be- The Nakba day is not April 9th—the day of tween Arabs and Jews, this holocaust survivor the Deir Yassin massacre, Or July 13th—the decided to teach hope through music to hun- day of the expulsion from Lod. The Nakba dreds of Arab children like me. day was set on May 15th—the day after Israel Holocaust survivors like Avraham are among proclaimed its independence. By that the Pal- the most extraordinary people you can find. estinian leadership declared that the disaster of I was always curious to understand how the Nakba is not the expulsion, the abandoned they were able to survive, knowing what they villages or the exile—the Nakba in their eyes knew, seeing what they saw. But throughout in the creation of Israel. They are saddened the 15 years I have known Avraham when less by the humanitarian catastrophe that befell I was his student, he never spoke about his on Palestinians, and more by the revival of past, except once—When I demanded to continued pg. 14 November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 4 • www.bethamisr.org Events & Announcements

Drivers 55+—Receive a Discount on Biblical Hebrew at Junior College your Auto Insurance! The biblical Hebrew club which meets weekly, Mature Driver Course in the afternoon, at the Junior College, still Sun., Nov. 9, 9 a.m. with lunch break welcomes Beth Ami members with some 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.—$12.50 knowledge of biblical Hebrew. For details, contact Larry Lieberman at [email protected] By completing this all day DMV approved course, you will receive a DMV certificate to The Sonoma County Israel Fair be eligible to receive an insurance discount. FREE in the Friedman Event Center with ko- Instructor Craig Dill is AAA certified with 35 sher food offered for sale in the Social Hall of years of traffic safety experience. Craig will Congregation Beth Ami. provide driver awareness strategies and answer Sun., Dec. 7; 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. questions relating to older & wiser drivers. Pre-registration required, call (707) 360-3000 The Israeli Consul will open the fair and be or email [email protected]. Send check available to talk with you one-to-one. Spend (made out to Craig H. Dill) to Congregation a few hours exploring Israel Culture and its Beth Ami, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa, CA opportunities while enjoying Israeli music and 95405. Hosted by Congregation Beth Ami culture. Activities for kids of all ages. Meet and talk with representatives of organizations about Israeli Folk Dance— their opportunities to visit, learn, and volunteer 2 Wednesdays a Month in Israel. Representatives include American As- Come dance sociates Ben Gurion University, Jewish Nation- circle dances to al Fund Israel Missions, Masa Israel, MZ Teens songs from Israel, Internship program, NCSY-Northern California, and other places Sarel and Volunteers for Israel, Skilled Volun- too—with varied teers for Israel, Stand with Us Israel Mission, speeds, moods Birthright NEXT, Nativ, and more are adding and styles. each week. In addition to showing us opportunities to 6:30–9:30 p.m. visit, learn, and volunteer, the fair also offers Nov. 12 & 26 Israeli music, food, activities for kids, and op- Friedman Center, portunities to sell and buy Judaica. This is an $3 donation to Beth Ami ideal opportunity to celebrate and learn. December TBD, please see the BethAmiSR.org Bring your friends! All supporters of the Jew- calendar or call Leanne at 528-4874. ish State are welcome to this free event! This Halayla Hagadol Gala in January program is supported by a Ma’alot Grant for Israel Education and Advocacy, a partnership The Fundraising Committee is planning a of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Halayla Hagadol gala at the homes of your and Nefesh B’Nefesh. fellow congregants. Save the date: Jan. 24, 2015 More information as it materializes. For information, contact Mel Decker at meldecker5@ gmail.com.

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 5 • www.bethamisr.org Religious School Report Pnina Loeb, Religious School Director

Save these dates wide Israel Fair information day in the Fried- Sunday, November 2, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.— man Center. Beth Ami & You event Guf’ing Around Our religious school is growing with 23 students and our post B’Mitzvah group has a very Friday, November 7, 6 p.m.—Family Shabbat exciting program this year as well! Ron Shela- Dinner nis giving them the opportunity to gain some Friday, November 21—Rockin’ Shabbat hands-on experience in how to invest in the Sunday, December 7, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.— stock and real estate markets; how to analyze Beth Ami & You, Israel Fair (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) return on the investment and learn basic prin- and Food Drive ciples of Jewish business practice. Dr. Arnold Friday December 5—Family Shabbat Dinner Drake is offering a course on Jewish Medical Ethics. Many of the topics that are being cov- Our next Beth Ami & You program on Nov. ered offer the chance to discuss issues that 2nd is: Guf’ing Around—Your body and how may well confront the students in the course of to keep it in shape. Guf means body in He- their lives. Jeff Sheff’s topic is “Towards un- brew. Includes an interactive story by Lauren, derstanding the Modern State of Israel.” He is finding your fingers and toes in Hebrew, fun exploring the events taking place in Israel and art activities, phrases on healthy habits for Gaza. There is a great deal of confusion and little ones and their families, and of course a this is giving participants an opportunity to snack. On Dec. 7th our topic is Hebrew for gain some clarity and depth.The group’s deep your favorite foods. The morning will include thinking can lead to debates, which are very an interactive story by Lauren, hands on games welcome! and learning about Hebrew words for some Religious School families are warmly invited of our everyday foods, and a snack. Following to Beth Ami’s Chanukah party on December this you are welcome to join our community 21st at 4 p.m.

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 6 • www.bethamisr.org Nursery School Notes Jenny Levine-Smith Nursery School Director

The school year is off to a wonderful start here have even discovered how to make prints. Our at Beth Ami Community Nursery School. It is two’s kids are playing with the properties of such a joy to walk around campus, watching various sensory materials, from water to corn the kids hard at work playing, exploring, and kernels to flubber to sand. They’ve painted by learning. The school is filled daily with laugh- using apples on forks as paint brushes, and ter, probing questions, elaborate role playing, learned Hebrew songs. and music and dance. We are looking forward to our next fundrais- Each Shabbat, we gather as a school to read ing event which is fast approaching. On No- a story with the Rabbi, and to sing in Hebrew vember 15th in the sanctuary and social hall, and English with Ayala (one of our beloved the nursery school will be hosting a concert three’s teachers and our in-house musician). featuring singer-songwriters Steve Seskin and For Rosh Hashanah, we invited our families Julia Sinclair. The doors will open (for food, to celebrate with us as we blessed and ate ap- wine, good conversation, and a silent auction) ples with honey, sang songs, and heard Rabbi at 6:30 p.m., with music set to begin at 7:30. Miller blow the Shofar. We spent a lot of time This is a community event. If you are interest- in our Sukkah this fall as well, and worked ed in coming, stop by the nursery school office hard to help decorate it. During Sukkot, we or check out the Fundraisers section of the combined with the CBA Religious School to BACNS website for more information or to buy host our first fundraiser of the year, a lovely tickets. We are also busy planning our Chanu- event that featured crafts, face painting, food, kah party, which will be held on December and an amazing show by author (and father of 17th. BACNS alumni) Matthew Gollub. Our enrollment has grown even further since But the holiday celebrations are only the start the start of the school year, but we still have a of what’s been going on at school. Our four’s few spots left in each class. If you or anyone classes have conducted experiments with turn- you know may be interested in our school, ing grapes to raisins, gone on a nature walk please give us a call. And remember, we are to collect supplies for natural artwork, learned open daily from 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. about bees from the beekeeper visit, and gone on fieldtrips to the pumpkin patch. Our three’s kids have been experimenting with different art mediums, using marbles and trucks in place of paint brushes for their unique effects, and

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 7 • www.bethamisr.org Israel From The Left Coast Bob Raful

Memo From Jerusalem Sometimes we were traveling on roads, some- by Caleb Jackman and Bob Raful times the APCs just go overland. The APCs This summer’s Gaza War has faded from the are designed for 11 soldiers but we had 14 in headlines; but not forgotten by those of us them.” who follow Israeli affairs. Here is a unique first “Our mission was to find the entrances to hand story. tunnels. We were given the location of a build- Tiburon’s Congregation Kol Shofar stays cur- ing and sent to secure it. The majority of the rent with a varied program called Bridges to Is- fighting was outside of Gaza City because that rael. So, Second Day Rosh HaShanah, we met was where the professional Hamas soldiers an Israeli Lone Soldier (a volunteer without were fighting. In the rest of Gaza, the soldiers immediate family in Israel). were volunteers. The fighting was the most Caleb Jackman, who grew up at Kol Shofar, intense the first day. made Aliyah to Israel in March 2012. He chose We were only about 2 kilometers inside the to quickly join the IDF because, “I knew if border because most of the tunnels were there. I wanted to be an Israeli citizen and part of We’d be in battle for 72 hours, fall back into Israel; I needed to serve in the IDF. Otherwise, Israel for about two hours to refuel, then go I would never really be accepted.” back in. (Back Story-Caleb had been in Israel on 2 On the borders, Israeli civilians were waiting family trips as well as a high school semester for us with food, clothes, phones, anything we near Jerusalem-he decided on Aliyah during needed. It was inspiring to see how the coun- that semester, because ”I was sitting on the try supports its soldiers.” balcony at the kibbutz one night, looking up There was relief when they were ordered at the stars and realized that my people had to withdraw. Golani 13 lost many exceptional been on this land, looking at the stars from young men, several who were friends of Ca- this place for generations. It was where I be- leb. “This is what I had been trained for. But it longed.”) is still hard.” He spent five months in an ulpan, then After the High Holidays Caleb returned to his moved to Kibbutz Nir Oz on the Gaza border. unit in Israel. We pray for his safety and for a As a lone soldier, he was matched with a fam- glimmer of hope of peace in 5775 ily on the kibbutz. “My family is great. They treat me like one of their own kids. I always feel welcome and comfortable with them.” He is a Light Machine Gunner in the elite Please Support Golani Brigade Battalion 13. They were on Our Advertisers guard duty for a year on the Gaza border; de- ployed, for a time at Mt Hermon in the North Contact Congregation Beth Ami Office (Syria border); and then sent back to Gaza as war approached. [email protected] “When we went into Gaza, my group traveled in armored personnel carriers, or APCs. for details about advertising Even though we traveled less than 10 miles, it in the Shofar. took more than 12 hours because there was so Thank you! much equipment and people being moved in.

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 8 • www.bethamisr.org Winning Your USY Alex Mazakas the PR War

About 45 members and nonmembers got an Hello Beth Ami! eye-opening lesson on perspective when My name is Alex Mazakas and I am your BlueStar CEO Jonathan Carey came up from new United Synagogue Youth Advisor! San Francisco to talk to us about Answering A little bit about me: I am originally from the Ten Toughest Questions about Israel. He Southern California and now I am studying explained why Jews lose the PR war: we’re too Food Science at UC Davis. In high school, I focused on facts. We think that if Israel’s accus- was deeply involved with the Far West USY ers knew the true facts, which we are prepared region and went to every event that I could. to tell them at length, they would see the error I am so excited to be a part of the Beth Ami of their ways. They won’t. community and I am looking forward to an ac- Carey modeled effective ways to encourage tion packed USY year! those with anti-Israel sentiments to question Last month, our chapter attended the USY their own assumptions. He left us with a lot to Leadership Training Institute weekend in San think about and with offers of materials and Jose, where we met tons of Jewish teens from advice if we want to learn more about effec- all over the Bay area and even from Reno, NV. tively advocating for Israel. While there, we learned essential leadership Want to learn more? Contact Esther Baruch at skills and tools to help make our programs and [email protected]. events the best our region has ever seen! BlueStarPR, a nonprofit dedicated to empow- Looking ahead on the calendar, in November ering the next generation of Israel advocates, we have Fall Kinnus in Sacramento, which will distributes free resources to college campuses, feature the theme Back to the Bass-ics and an and creates online and other campaigns to awesome show by LA’s premiere Jewish Punk spread information on Israel. The October Rock band, The Groggers. In December, we 11 talk was supported by a Ma’alot Grant for will by flying to the beautiful Atlanta, Georgia Israel Education and Advocacy, a partnership attend the biggest USY International Conven- of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism tion ever! Stay tuned for more USY updates. and Nefesh B’Nefesh and co-sponsored by the Sonoma County Israel Committee.

Can’t you just hear the music in your head? President’s Page How can you keep from singing it out loud? Laura Alexander, President Well, I can’t stop singing it and I can’t wait for Chanukah! Chanukah is a time for families to come together to share latkes and stories, light What’s that I hear? Chanukah is almost here! menorot and enjoy the glow of the candles Oh Chanukah, Oh, Chanukah, Come light the during the dark nights, spin dreidels and most menorah. Let’s have a party, We’ll all dance the importantly spend time together. hora. Gather round the table, we’ll give you a Come join us on December 21st at 4 p.m. treat, Sevivon to play with latkes to eat. for our Board sponsored Chanukah party! The And while we are playing, The candles are Board will make lots of yummy latkes, we’ll burning low. One for each night, they shed a light our menorot together, play lots of games sweet light, To remind us of days long ago. and of course there will be plenty of dreidels to One for each night, they shed a sweet light, spin! We hope that to see you and your family To remind us of days long ago. there. Look for more details in the Cybershul. November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 9 • www.bethamisr.org Mitzvah Moments Adult Education Tish Levee

Trees naturally remove CO2 from the atmo- Adult Education is back starting November sphere. 6. For five Thursdays in November through We’re cutting down so many trees, that each December 11 from 7:30–9 p.m., Beth Ami will year the loss of forests worldwide contributes sponsor a class in room 12/13 (no class on more to global emissions than transportation. Thanksgiving) on Early Christianity from a Reducing deforestation is a highly cost-effec- Jewish perspective, taught by Beth Ami member tive method to reduce greenhouse gas emis- and former Resident Head of the Christian Mis- sions. sion in Jerusalem, Ishie Petlock. One way to do that is to reduce the use of The course will cover the time- span from products from trees. Americans use 3 billion the start of Christianity as a Jewish sect to its pounds annually of paper towels, which come adoption by the Roman Emperor in the 4th from trees. If each of us used just one less pa- century as the state religion. per towel a day, we could save the equivalent There will be no required reading, but most of 5.7 million trees; if each household replaced material will be taken from the writings of Pro- just one 500 count package of paper napkins fessor Amy Jill Levine of Vanderbilt University, with 100% recycled ones, it would save one especially her edition of The Jewish Annotated million trees. New Testament, Oxford University Press, 2011. Another way is to plant trees. (with Marc Brettler). There are a number of ways to calculate how There will be no charge for the course. much carbon a tree sequesters, but one that For any questions e-mail Jeffrey Sheff (jssheff@ Trees for the Future uses estimates that trees gmail.com) they plant in tropical climates will sequester at- mospheric carbon dioxide at an average of 50 pounds of CO2 per tree annually, the amount Beth Ami Gift Shop produced by burning 2 ½ gallons of gas. Trees also filter the air and prevent run-off, Hanukkah Candles, Menorahs, allowing water to seep into the soil and re- Dreidels, Mezuzahs charge the groundwater. They reverse impacts and all gifts Judaica! of erosion, and provide food, energy, and in- A Purchase from the come, creating long-term economic and envi- ronmental sustainability. Beth Ami Judaica shop While planting trees in Israel is a mitzvah, is a donation to our Synagogue. you may also want to consider some organizations which plant trees in impoverished countries, on a large scale for a low cost/tree, such as www.treesforthefuture.org, 10 cents/tree; the Canopy Project at www.earthday.org/, and www.treesforlife.org, $1.00/tree. © Copyright Tish Levee, 2014. All rights re- served. Permission to reprint given to Congre- gation Beth Ami. M–W 10–4:30 • Th 10–6 • F 10–2 Located in Beth Ami Gift Office

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 10 • www.bethamisr.org Social Action Scoop Ellen Mundell (for Lyla Nathan)

Hoping that everyone had joyous Holidays. about love, connection, food, smells and Wishing everyone a Healthy and Sweet New sounds and much more. We shared our stories Year from the Social Action Committee. and when we finished we knew more about First, a great thank you for all the food that each other and hopefully our relationships was brought to Beth Ami during the holidays. were deepened. As always we provided Jewish Family and It would be wonderful to have more oppor- Children Services the opportunity to refill their tuinities to have these conversations and the pantry for which they are very thankful. Please board as well as the social action committee remember that hunger is a year round problem will be discussing different venues in which so continue to bring an item or two everytime to meet. If you have any ideas please let us you come to shul. Thanks know. We will be going to the Redwood Empire I heard from many people who attended Food Bank on Wed., Nov. 5th from 10 a.m.–12 services who mentioned how welcomed they p.m. We have a core of people who have been felt at Beth Ami. They told me they felt it the volunteering. Thanks so much for your efforts. moment that they walked in the door. It has Please consider doing this mitzvah. Help is been the goal of the Social Action Commit- always needed and it is a good way to connect tee and the Beth Ami Board of Directors to with friends and with the community. become a welcoming and caring community. This year during the High Holidays we had Thanks to everyone in the congregation who community conversations on Rosh Ha Shana have helped making Beth Ami really a loving and Yom kippur. On Rosh Ha Shana we were community. It shows! able to greet each other and share our hopes As the days shorten and become cooler for the holidays. On Yom Kippur we had very heading into winter please start collecting interesting conversations sharing our personal blankets and warm clothes for the annual experiences about the holidays. People talked winter clothing drive that we co sponsor with about fond memories as a children as well as Shomrei Torah. More information to follow. recent memories here at Beth Ami. We talked

Shabbat Dinner RSVP Shabbat Dinner: Name ❑ Friday, November 7 Phone ❑ Friday, December 5 I want to volunteer for (indicate which event) # of Beth Ami Member Adults @$18 = Total amount enclosed # of Non-member Adults @$22 = ❑ Check ❑ Visa/MC # of Youth (ages 6–17) @$10 = Credit Card # # of Families @$46 = Expiration Date / Please return payment and forms to: Billing Zipcode Congregation Beth Ami 4676 Mayette Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95405

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 11 • www.bethamisr.org The Kitchen Corner Jeffrey & Janet Stein-Larson (Co-Chairs)

What’s happening in the Beth Ami Kitchen? follow the pamphlet that has the Food and Pot- How about something to keep us warm for luck Guidelines. this fall & winter? We had some great soups And if you don’t have an idea of what to made last year for Shabbat potlucks and we make, just check out the Shabbat Potluck Rec- are hoping for more again this year! ipe Pamphlet that Mieneke Drake put together Oh, and how about the baking? Besides the for some simple ideas. conversations going around about the wonder- Whether you are planning to use the kitchen ful Challah made; there has been another infor a big event or small, check out the newest teresting baking topic that is being discussed— pamphlet that is now available for you. It’s the making bagels. Special Events, Use Of Kitchen, and it gives you Are there any more workshops in the plan- an idea of what needs to be done if you plan ning? Who knows, maybe we’ll have a work- on using the Beth Ami Kitchen whether you shop on bagels. are planning for a major event like the Schol- And we have the upcoming Chanukah cel- arship in Residence Program or the Board’s ebration coming with latkes! Mmmm, we chal- famous latkes party or even a small event like lenge you to find something that smells better coming in to make a special dish to be served then latkes on the griddle. And last year, every- at the next potluck or planning a tea for your one got into the act to make latkas at Beth next Chavarah meeting at Beth Ami. Ami. We had our Board, the Religious School, All of the above pamphlets from the CBA the 13th tribe, and the nursery school, all mak- Kitchen Committee are available for you, either ing latkas in the kitchen. It’s never too soon to by email (in PDF format), or in the Beth Ami start planning for Chanukah. Office. You just have to ask. You may have noticed more variety in the A special thank you for all of you who foods offered at our potlucks; kugels, potato have participated in making the CBA kitchen salads, pasta salads etc. They were there be- a happening place. Whether you brought in cause they were cooked in the Beth Ami kitch- food to share for our events, donated food or en following our kosher guidelines. Would equipment or money for food for our Shabbat you like to make a cold salad made with pasta lunches, donated your time and labor to be a or rice you’d like to add to the Potluck table? Mashgiach for one of our events, to organize Then come and cook with us in the Beth Ami and clean the kitchen, to fix our elderly freezer Kitchen. Check out the pamphlet, Guidelines or to getting our knives sharpened (and you for Kitchen Use. all know who you are) we appreciate you one If you want to bring food from home, just and all.

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 12 • www.bethamisr.org Buy your Thanksgiving & Chanukah groceries at Safeway & Oliver’s to benefit Beth Ami! For the first 8 months of 2014, supporters of eScrip earned $1,479 for Beth Ami. This generous donation was achieved by shopping at Oliver’s, Safeway (or Vons in Southern California) and other merchants. If you are not an eScrip supporter, now is the time to sign up…then all you have to do is SHOP! Thank you & welcome to the Elizalde family who became CBA eScrip supporters this year. If you shop at Oliver’s Markets in Santa Rosa or Cotati, remember to get your Community Card at the store and choose BETH AMI to get the eScrip proceeds. Any- one can participate in eScrip and contribute; you do not have to be a CBA member & you do not have to live in Sonoma County. Ask your friends & relatives! Just go to escrip. com and put in ID# 136921119. For sign- up help or any eScrip questions, contact Nancy Sherman at (707)538-9388 or nan- [email protected] or Lauren New- man at (707)525-9029. NOTE: Safeway purchases paid for with a credit card will no longer earn eScrip contributions for Beth Ami. Accepted payment types include check, cash, debit card and Safeway gift card. So, just purchase a Safeway gift card with your credit card and then use that to make your purchases. This will ensure that Beth Ami will receive your eScrip contributions.

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 13 • www.bethamisr.org Rabbi's Remarks continued… know. What I came to realize was that Avra- help refugees establish a new home, establish ham was not the only one, and that many a future and end their status as refugees, the Holocaust survivors did not speak about those goal of UNRWA is opposite: to preserve their years, about the holocaust, even to their fami- status as refugees, and prevent them from be- lies, sometimes for decades, or even a lifetime. ing able to start new lives. Only when they had secured the future did The International community cannot seri- they allow themselves to look back at the past. ously expect the refugee problem to be solved, Only when they had built a time of hope they when it is collaborating with the Arab world in permitted themselves to remember the days treating the refugees’ as political pawns, deny- of despair. They built the future in their old- ing them the basic rights they deserve. Wher- new home, the state of Israel. And under the ever the Palestinian refugees were granted shadows of their greatest tragedy, Jews were equal rights—they prospered and contributed able to build a country that leads the world in to their society—In South America, in the U.S., medicine, agriculture and technology – and even in Israel. In fact, Israel was one of Why? Because they looked forward. the few countries that automatically gave full Friends, this is a lesson to every nation that citizenship and equality for all Palestinians in it wishes to overcome a tragedy—including the after ‘48. Palestinians. If the Palestinians wish to redeem And we see the results: despite all the chal- the past, they need to first focus on securing a lenges, the Arab citizens of Israel built a future. future, on building a world as it should be, as Israeli Arabs are the most educated Arabs in our children deserve it to be. the world, with the best living standards and And the first step in that direction, without a opportunities in the region. Arabs serve as doubt, is to end the shameful treatment of the judges in the Supreme Court; Some of the best Palestinian refugees. In the Arab world, the doctors in Israel are Arabs, working in almost Palestinian refugees—including their children, every hospital in the country. There are 13 their grandchildren and even their great-grand- Arab members of parliament who enjoy the children—are still not settled, aggressively right to criticize the government—a right that discriminated against, and in most cases de- they exhaust to the fullest—protected by the nied citizenship and basic human rights. Why freedom of speech; Arabs win popular real- is it, that my relatives in Canada are Canadian ity shows; And you can even find Arab diplo- citizens, while my relatives in Syria, Lebanon mats—and one of them is standing in front of or the gulf countries—who were born there you. and know no other home—are still considered Today, when I walk the streets of Jaffa, I see refugees? the old buildings and the old port, Clearly, the treatment of the Palestinians in But I also see children going to school and the Arab countries is the greatest oppression university; I see flourishing businesses; and I they experience anywhere. And the collabora- see a vibrant culture. In short, despite the fact tors in this crime are no other than the interna- that we still have a long road ahead of us as a tional community and the United Nations. minority, we have a future in Israel. Rather than doing its job and help the refu- This brings me to my next point — Time has gees build a life, the international community come to put an end the culture of hatred and is feeding the narrative of the victimhood. incitement- because Anti-Semitism, I believe, While there is one U.N. agency in charge of all is a threat to Muslims and Christians, as much refugees in the world—the UNHCR, another as for Jews. I arrived to Norway just over two agency was established to deal only with the years ago, and here was the first time that I Palestinian ones—UNRWA. This is no coin- interacted with Jews as a minority community. cidence—while the goal of the UNHCR is to I’m usually… used to seeing them as a major-

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 14 • www.bethamisr.org ity. And I have to say, it looks very familiar. room for humanity. I grew up in a similar environment, in the Friends, let’s not forget - Anti-Semitism may Arab-Christian community in Jaffa. I was part begin with Jews, but it never ends with Jews. of the Orthodox Christians, who are part of Jews were not the only ones to be forcefully the Christian community, who are part of the converted under the inquisition; Hitler made Arab minority, in the Jewish State of Israel, in sure that gypsies and homosexuals, among the Muslim Middle East. It’s like those Russian others, suffered alongside the Jews; And it is dolls, you open a big one and there’s a smaller happening now again, this time in the Middle one inside? I’m the smallest piece. East. The Arab world seems to have forgot- A Jew in Norway or an Arab in Israel, being ten that its greatest days in the last 1,400 years a minority means that you are always a part were when it showed tolerance and openness of a small community where everyone cares towards those who are different. The genius for each other and supports each other; It’s a mathematician Ibn Musa el-Khawazmi was Uz- beautiful thing to know that no matter what, beki, The great Philosopher Rumi was Persian, you always have a community that will care The glorious leader Salah a-din was Kurdish, about you. Being part of a minority community The founder of Arab nationalism was Michel has been a blessing throughout my life. But Aflaq—a Christian, And the one who brought friends, the life of a minority is also a life of the Islamic rediscovery of Plato and Aristotle to constant struggle for fair treatment. Sometimes the rest of the world was Maimonides—a Jew. you are discriminated, and might even be a But rather than reviving the successful ap- victim of hate crimes. Even in a democracy like proach of tolerance, Arab youth are being Israel, being an Arab minority is not always taught to hate Jews, using anti-Semitic rhetoric easy. Just over a year ago, a bunch of price tag from medieval Europe, mixed with Islamic rad- bullies walked into the Arab Christian cemetery icalism. And once again, what started as hostil- in Jaffa, and they desecrated the graves with ity towards Jews has become hostility towards writings “death to the Arabs”, and one on the anyone who is different. Just last week more graves in that cemetery, was my father’s. than 60,000 Kurds fled from Syria towards Tur- Being a minority my friends is a challenge key, afraid of being slaughtered. On the same anywhere, because being a minority means day, 15 Palestinians from Gaza drowned in the being different. And no nation has ever paid a sea trying to escape the claws of Hamas; Bahai heavier price for being a minority, being differ- and Yazidis are at risk. And on top of it all, the ent, than the Jewish people. The history of the ethnic cleansing of Christians in the Middle Jewish people added many words to the hu- East is the biggest crime against humanity in man vocabulary: words like expulsion, forced the 21st century. In just two decades Christians conversion, inquisition, ghetto, pogrom, not to like me have been reduced from 20% of the mention the word holocaust. Rabbi Lord Jona- population of the Middle East to a mere 4% than Sacks explains accurately, that the Jews today. suffered throughout the ages, because they And when we see that the main victims of were different. Because they were the most Islamist violence are Muslims, it is getting significant non-Christian minority in Europe, clear to everyone—At the end of the day, hate And today the most significant non-Muslim destroys the hater. So friends, If we wish to minority in the Middle East. But friends, in succeed in protecting our right to be different, fact—aren’t we all different? The truth is: be- if we want to have a future in that region, I being different is what makes us human! Every lieve we should stand together—Jews, Muslims person, every culture, every religion is unique, and Christians: We will fight for the right of and therefore irreplaceable. And a Europe, or a Christians everywhere to live their faith with- Middle East, that has no room for Jews, has no out fear, with the same passion with which we continued. pg. 18 November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 15 • www.bethamisr.org November Yahrzeits Secular dates correspond to Hebrew date of death. Observance of yahrzeit begins at sundown the previous day. All yahrzeits observed at Beth Ami.

Announced on Nov. 7 & 8 Nov. 25 John Metz, Son of Nov. 9 Berkeley Garrison, Florence Metz November Birthdays Grandson of Tish Levee Nov. 26 Alvin Dove, Brother-in-law 1 Roslyn Edelson Nov. 9 Irv Judd, Son of of Betty Franks 1 Vivian Salmon Lillian Judd Nov. 27 Minnie Friedman, Mother 6 Janice Sternfeld Nov. 9 Harold Zeamans, of Harry Friedman 8 Bonnie Gee Grandfather of Nov. 27 Clara Glass, Mother of 9 Vivian Klein Judith Helman Gussie Levine 9 Erik Uriarte Nov. 10 Charles Cohen, Father of Nov. 27 Kees Rijnveldt, Stepbrother 11 Harry Friedman Eli Cohen of Mieneke Drake 13 Jane Rogan 19 Joseph Minuskin Nov. 11 Anny Myerfeld, Announced on Nov. 28 & 29 20 Fara Elizalde Grandmother of Nov. 29 Vivian Kearns, Aunt of 21 Edee Sternfield‑Squires Patty Bernstein Vivian Salmon 22 Gloria Glickman Nov. 12 Malka Wachsberg Miller, Nov. 29 Marcella Liverman, Aunt of 23 Claire Miller Mother of Eli Miller Marc Bernstein 26 Nancy Fleming Nov. 13 Max Malk, Father of Nov. 29 Bernard Shelan, Father of 26 Sherrill Golemb Phyllis Shapiro Ronald Shelan 28 Dr. Russ Gurevitch Announced on Nov. 14 & 15 Nov. 30 David Spiegelman, Cousin November Anniversaries Nov. 16 Norman Schloner, Brother of Ronit Glickman 8 Erik & Chelsie Uriarte of Carol Swanson and Nov. 30 Gaye Spiegelman, Aunt of 16 Leanne Schy & Fred Schloner Ronit Glickman Mark Stoelting Nov. 17 Belle Rosen, Mother of Nov. 30 Mark Spiegelman, Cousin 18 Jack & Patie Wegman Mark Rosen of Ronit Glickman 21 Stuart & Ethel Schy Nov. 18 Samson Hochfield, Father Nov. 30 Sylvia Spiegelman, Cousin 23 Eli Cohen & Betty Boyd of Malvina Tsipan of Ronit Glickman Nov. 18 Max Sucher, Husband of Dec. 1 Leonard Klein, Brother of Sylvia Sucher Lillian Judd Nov. 18 Mayer Wegman, Father of Dec. 2 Joe Goldberg, Father of Jack Wegman Richard Goldberg Nov. 19 Hans Biberstein, Father of Dec. 4 Phil Epstein, Father of Susanne Batzdorff Shacharit Rosenthal Nov. 20 Helen Margolese, Mother Dec. 4 Miriam Malk, Mother of of Michelle Zygielbaum Phyllis Shapiro and Sister-in-law of Dec. 4 Isadore Wiesenthal, Father Irwin Margolese of Natalie Friedman Announced on Nov. 21 & 22 Dec. 5 Joaquin Boadella, Father of Nov. 23 Moshe Tzaig, Husband of Lillian Shelan Branangan Dec. 5 Jennie Goldberg, Mother Nov. 24 Florence Goodman, of Betty Franks Mother of Dec. 5 Rose Schneider, Mother of Andrea Goodman Evelyn Gurevitch Nov. 24 Joseph Harrosh, Uncle of Dr. Mark Sutter Nov. 25 Dorit Epstein, Mother of Shacharit Rosenthal

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 16 • www.bethamisr.org December Yahrzeits Secular dates correspond to Hebrew date of death. Observance of yahrzeit begins at sundown the previous day. All yahrzeits observed at Beth Ami.

Announced Dec. 5 & 6 Dec. 22 Olive Cordill, Mother of Dec. 6 Jacob Goldman, Father of Kim Cordell December Birthdays Ethel Schy Dec. 22 Jack Guttenberg, Father of 1 Susan Brown Dec. 7 Alma Shapiro, Mother of Michele Guttenberg 2 Anya Por Raynore Paule Dec. 22 Joseph Schussheim, Father 3 Bonnie Meltzer Dec. 8 Rochelle Adler, Sister of of Karen Herskovic 6 Harold Boren Judith Dzik Dec. 22 Max Stein, Father of 8 Ronald Shelan Dec. 8 Raymond Nett, Father of Janet Stein-Larson 9 Max Graff Stephen Nett Dec. 25 Rose Kovar, Grandmother 10 Ronit Glickman of Dr. Gary Herzberg 13 Eleanor Cohen Dec. 8 Abraham Schwaber, Father 14 Michael Kupperberg of Fredrika Gross Announced on Dec. 26 & 27 15 Debra Chapman Dec. 10 George Kaplan, Father of Dec. 29 Carol Cohn, Mother of 18 Melvin Decker Rhonda Rosenbach Henry Cohn and 19 Carolyn Metz Dec. 12 Frances Ross, Mother of Mother-in-Law of 19 Dan Pleasant Stuart Ross Stuart Ross 20 Stanley Feingold Announced on Dec. 12 & 13 Dec. 29 Gertrude German, Mother 22 Todd Elizalde 24 Natalie Friedman Dec. 14 Anna Barta, Mother of of Ellen Mundell 27 Fredrika Gross Ivan Barta Dec. 29 Evelyn Schwaber, Mother 29 Marilyn Sommer Dec. 15 Elsa Ballo, Grandmother of of Fredrika Gross Dec. 30 Gert Cohen, Mother of 30 Deborah Hight Kramer David Ballo 31 Regina Marvan Dec. 16 Dr. Eduard Vrijdag, Father Eli Cohen of Mieneke Drake Dec. 30 David Kerben, Husband of December Anniversaries Dec. 17 Noah Minuskin, Father of Claire Miller 5 Bill & Suzie Friedman Joseph Minuskin Jan. 1 Dean Fleming, Father of 9 Iosif & Marina Voulfson Dec. 18 Mary Minuskin, Mother of Andy Fleming 18 Ron & Lillian Shelan Joseph Minuskin Jan. 1 Benjamin Strudler, 18 Bob & Charli Silverman Nephew of Susan Miller 23 Howard & Adrea Moss Announced on Dec. 19 & 20 31 David & Sherri Kahn Dec. 20 Henry Lotsoff, Father of Cheryle Miller Dec. 21 Leo Schweitzer, Father of Blair Pleasant Thank you all for your generous donations— Dec. 21 Irving Winkler, Father of We hope to list them in the next issue! Ben Winkler

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 17 • www.bethamisr.org Rabbi's Remarks continued… will fight for the right of Jews to live without the last 15 years to end the conflict. Self-reflec- fear. tion is not a weakness; it is a sign of strength. We will fight against Islamophobia, but we It brings forth our ability to overcome fear and need our Muslims partners to join the fight face reality. It demands us to look sincerely against Christianophobia and Judeophobia. into our decisions, and take responsibility for Because the thing at stake is our shared hu- it. manity. Only the Arabs themselves can change their I know that this might sound naïve, but I be- reality. By stopping the leaning on conspiracy lieve that it’s possible, and the only thing that theories and the blaming of outside powers— is standing between us and a more tolerant America, the Jews, the West or whoever—for world is fear. When the world changes, people all the problems. By learning from past mis- start worrying about what the future holds. takes, and by making wiser decisions in the This fear makes people shrink themselves into future. the passive position of victims, rejecting reality, Just two days ago the U.S. President Obama and looking for someone to blame for being stood at the U.N. podium in front of the Gen- behind all this. eral Assembly and said: “The task of rejecting It is true today as much as it was true in sectarianism and extremism is a generational 1948. task—a task for the people of the Middle East The Arab world can overcome this mind- themselves. No external power can bring set, but it requires the courage to think and about a transformation of hearts and minds”. act differently. This change demands that the Lately I’ve read a very interesting article by Arabs realize that they are not helpless victims. Lord Sacks about rivalry among brothers in the It demands that they open up to self-criticism, bible. There are four stories about rival broth- and to holding themselves accountable. Up to ers in the book of Genesis: Cain and Abel, this day, not a single history book in the Arab Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph world questions the historic mistake of reject- and his brothers. Each story ends differently - ing the establishment of the Jewish state. No In the case of Cain and Abel, Abel lies dead. In prominent Arab academic has come out saying the case of Isaac and Ishmael, they are stand- that if the Arabs would’ve accepted the idea ing together at their father’s grave. In the case of a Jewish state, there would’ve been two of Jacob and Esau, they meet, embrace and go states, there would’ve been no war, and there their separate ways. would’ve been no refugees’ problem. But the case of Joseph ends differently. For I see Israelis like Benny Morris who is with those who are not familiar with the story: us today, who dare to challenge the narratives Joseph was the 11th of Jacob‘s 12 sons and of their leadership in Israel, taking personal Rachel‘s firstborn, in the land of Canaan. At risks in the quest of a truth that is not always some stage, because of their jealousy of him, comfortable for their people. But I fail to find his brothers decide to sell him to slavery. their Arab equivalents. I fail to see a debate However, after a while Joseph rose to become questioning the wisdom of the destructive the second most powerful man in Egypt next leadership of the Mufti of Jerusalem Hajj Amin to Pharaoh. When famine struck Canaan, Jo- al-Hussaini; or the unnecessary war launched seph’s father Jacob and Joseph’s brothers came by the Arab league in 1948, or any of the wars to Egypt. And there, instead of punishing them against Israel, in the years that followed un- for what they have done to him, Joseph de- til today; And I fail to see self-criticism in the cides to forgive his brothers. This was the first Palestinian mainstream today about the use of recorded event of forgiveness and reconcilia- terrorism, the launching of the second intifada, tion in literature. Joseph provides his brothers or the rejection of at least two Israeli offers in with all their needs. They prosper, they grow

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 18 • www.bethamisr.org in numbers, and they become a great nation. would have dared—he reached out to those At the end of the story, Joseph says to his that his community saw as their enemies. He brothers “You intended to harm me, but God got hold of one of his old friends from the intended it for good, to accomplish what is electricity company, and asked for his help to now being done, the saving of many lives.” By get back. And that friend, of whom I’ve heard that, he meant that by our acts in the present through my father’s stories, and never knew we can shape the future, and by that redeem his name, not only was able and willing to the past. help my grandfather get back, but in an ex- Jews and Palestinians, we might not be traordinary act of grace, he even helped him brothers in faith, but we certainly are brothers get his old job back at what has become the in fate. And I believe that just like in the story Israeli electricity company, making him one of Joseph, through making the right choices, the very few Arabs who work there. by choosing to focus on the future, we can Today, among my siblings and cousins we redeem our past. have accountants, teachers, insurance agents, Yesterday’s enemies can be tomorrow’s Hi-tech engineers, diplomats, factory manag- friends. It happened between Israel and Ger- ers, university professors, doctors, lawyers, many, Israel and Egypt, Israel and Jordan. It investment consultants, managers of top Israeli is time to start in making a ray of hope in the companies, architects and even electricians. relations between Israelis and Palestinians, so The reason that my family have succeeded that we can put an end to the replaying of old in life, the reason that I’m standing here as an grievances, and focus on our future and the Israeli diplomat, and not as a Palestinian refu- exciting possibilities it holds for us all, if we’d gee from Lebanon—is because my grandfather only dare. had the courage to take a decision that was I still didn’t tell you the rest of my family’s unthinkable to others. Rather than falling into story in 1948. After a long journey towards despair, he found hope where no one dared to Lebanon, most of it by foot, my grandpar- look for it; He chose to live among those who ents George and Vera reached Lebanon. They were considered his enemies, and to make stayed there for many months. And while them his friends; For that, I and my family owe there, my grandmother gave birth to her first him and my grandmother eternal gratitude. son, my uncle Sami. When the war was over, The story of the Deek family should serve they realized that they had been lied to—The as a source of inspiration to the Palestinian Arabs did not win the war, as promised. And people. at the same time, the Jews did not kill all the We cannot change the past. But we can Arabs as they were told that would happen. secure a future for our next generations, if we My grandfather looked around him and saw want to mend the past some day; We can help nothing but a dead-end life as refugees. He the Palestinian refugees have a normal life; We looked at his young wife Vera—not even 18 can be sincere about our past, and learn from yet, and his newborn son, and knew that in a our mistakes; And we can unite—Muslims, place stuck in the past with no ability to look Jews and Christians—to protect our right to be forward, there is no future for his family. While different, and by that preserve our humanity; his brothers and sisters saw their future in Leb- Indeed we can’t change the past, But if we do anon and other Arab and Western countries, all that, we will change the future. he thought otherwise. He wanted to go back to Jaffa, his hometown. Because he worked with Jews in the past and was a friend to them, he was not brainwashed with hatred. My grandfather George did what few others

November / December 2014 • Congregation Beth Ami Shofar • page 19 • www.bethamisr.org Address service requested

November Shabbatot December Shabbatot November 1 December 6 Parshat Lech Lecha: Gen 14:1–15:21 (Pg 77) Parshat Vayishlach: Gen 34:1–35:15 (Pg 206) Candle Lighting—5:54 Candle Lighting—4:32 Havdalah—6:52 Havdalah—5:34 November 8 December 13 Parshat Vayera: Gen 19:1–20:18 (Pg 12) Parshat Vayeshev: Gen 38:1–38:30 (Pg 233) Candle Lighting—4:47 Candle Lighting—4:33 Havdalah—5:45 Havdalah—5:35 November 15 December 20 Parshat Chayei Sarah:Gen 24:10–24:52 Parshat Mikeitz:Gen 41:53–43:15 (Pg 257) (Pg 104) Candle Lighting—4:35 Candle Lighting—4:41 Havdalah—5:37 Havdalah—5:40 December 27 November 22 Parshat Vayigash: Gen 45:28–46:27 (Pg 279) Parshat Toledot: Gen 26:23–27:27 (Pg 152) Candle Lighting—4:39 Candle Lighting—4:36 Havdalah—5:41 Havdalah—5:36 November 29 Parshat Vayetzei: Gen 30:14–31:16 (Pg 176) Candle Lighting—4:33 Havdalah—5:34