Community Guide
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BETH JACOB CONGREGATION COMMUNITY GUIDE 5776 Connected to the Past – Committed to the Future 2015 - 2016 A Message from Our Rabbi Living the Good Life e all want to get the most out of life. The blessing of living a good and happy Wlife is indeed achievable, if we would just have the tools to tap into it. The good news is that those tools are available to every Jew for the taking, and they are the Torah, mitzvot, Jewish values and community. These enable us to deepen our relationships, add meaning to our experiences, enhance our sense of personal fulfillment, bring joy to life and enable us to be the best we can be. Beth Jacob is a unique “tool shop,” a special place, a spiritual center, and second home for so many, which brings Torah and a sense of community into our lives. Our engaging Torah classes, educational programs, prayer services, chesed opportunities, pro-Israel and pro-AIPAC activism, social events, teen and youth programming are all designed to make Judaism come alive in our minds and hearts. This all helps us live the good life. Towards the end of each Yom Kippur Amidah, we say “Elokai ad shelo notzarti, eini kidai – “My G-d, before I was created, I wasn’t worthy.” What is the meaning of The tools for this puzzling statement? “ Rav Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of modern day pre-State Israel, explained that living a good life you are born into this world in a specific time and place for a reason. You have personal capabilities to fulfill a unique purpose that can only be achieved in that are available to time and place. Indeed, “before I was created I wasn’t worthy,” because had I been born in an earlier era, I would have been worthless, unable to accomplish my every Jew for the purpose for both myself and the master plan of the progression of history. While the mission is uncertain, open ended and indefinite, we attempt, during the course taking – they are of our lives to define the substance and contours of that mission. Why are we here? What is my purpose? How can I make a difference? How can I live in a way the Torah, mitzvot, that maximizes my life and impacts others? All big questions. No easy answers. At Beth Jacob, in a warm, fun and friendly environment, we reflect individually and Jewish values and communally with these meaningful questions. Engage in these questions together with us. Learn Torah. Build relationships. community. Receive support during the tough times. Celebrate the good times with friends. If ” you haven’t been a part of it, check it out. I think you’ll see how this can help you and your family get more out of life. As we head into a new year, I want to express appreciation to our energetic staff, our dedicated shul officers, and all of you—our dear members—for all your time, energy and devotion which make all these programs happen, make them successful and make our shul the very special place it is. Let us continue working together to create a compassionate and righteous community that makes a difference in our lives, in the world around us and for which we can all be proud. It is with that sense of pride in the past and anticipation for our future, that Jordana and I wish you and your family a year of good health, happiness, prosperity and success, together with peace in Israel and the world. Rabbi Kalman Topp 2 Table of Contents Torah Programs Weekly Class Schedule ......................................4-5 Scholars in Residence & Shabbat Programs ......6-7 Modern Minds on Jewish Matters .........................8 Film & Entertainment .............................................9 Prayer ...................................................................10 Shabbat Morning at Beth Jacob .............................11 Sisterhood & Men’s Club .........................................12 Social Action ...........................................................13 Young Professionals ...........................................14-15 Youth ..................................................................16-17 Teens ..................................................................18-19 BILU .........................................................................20 Bnai Mitzvah ............................................................21 Community Projects for Israel .................................22 AIPAC & Friends of Israel Committee ......................23 Resources & Opportunities .....................................24 Summer Learning ....................................................25 Lifecycle Events ......................................................26 Holidays, Commemorations & Celebrations ...........27 3 Torah Weekly Class Schedule Portals of Entry MONDAY through FRIDAY Daf Yomi, 7:00 am hen looking at the Jewish Come join this popular worldwide Wcalendar as a whole, a fascinating dichotomy presents learning program. itself. We often go through Mishna, 8:30 am a roller coaster of emotions, Rabbi Adir Posy each holiday or milestone This informal group studies Mishna having its own impact on our after the 3rd Shacharit Minyan. spiritual landscape. From the passionate retelling of the Exodus of the Seder to the frenetic ecstasy of SUNDAYS Purim to the fear and trembling of Yom Kippur, Halacha Chabura, 9:00 am Jewish life has a way of touching the deepest Rabbi Nachum Sauer recesses of our hearts. Yet it is interesting to note An interactive study of Halacha followed by a summary shiur. that this goal is achieved through a variety of For men only. different modalities. Like all of our traditions, we believe that this dichotomy is by design. While at certain times, we are meant to be consumed by MONDAYS our practical Avodat Hashem, checking the tip of a Intermediate Hebrew Conversation, 9:45 am Lulav or scrubbing a pot to be kashered, at other Bracha Malkin times we are meant to revel in the closeness and Improve your Hebrew skills with a conversational curriculum passion of the relationship we have with Hashem, designed to make learning Hebrew an exciting experience. like on Shavuot, which has very few organic rituals. For it has been this balance that has The Intersection of Judaism and the Modern World kept Jewish life vibrant for so many generations, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm through persecution and pogroms, and everything Rabbi Kalman Topp in between. If you are interested in grappling with modern ethical issues, Our Adult Education Program here at Beth Jacob then this class is for you. goes along similar lines. Like Jewish life itself, our Torah Center is proud to be multifaceted, offering a Bread and Bible wide swath of classic text-based studies, riveting 12:00 to 1:00 pm talks on contemporary issues, educational film nights, action-oriented lectures and more that come Rabbi Kalman Topp together to form a beautiful tapestry. We encourage Enjoy lunch (bread is optional) you to look through our schedule of classes, and learn the portion of the week. shiurim, lectures, scholars in residence and events We will explore the text and realize how many different ways we offer to and highlight themes and expand your mind, add meaning to your life, and interpretations of the make a difference in our Jewish community and commentaries. beyond. We invite you to join with us to experience all of the great things that make us the multifaceted community that we know and love. Rabbi Adir Posy 4 Torah Weekly Class Schedule MONDAYS (Continued) THURSDAYS BMW Beit Midrash for Women, 7:30 - 9:30 pm Treasures of the Alef Bet, 12:00 pm Women come together Rabbi Adir Posy to learn, think, and grow A stimulating discussion of a Torah topic in a dynamic, nurturing relating to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. environment. Learn with In the Ives Lounge. a chavruta on the topic of Gemara, 8:15 pm your choice, or join a study Rabbi Nachum Sauer group, where we tackle Journey into the depths of the Talmud with one of the topics like Tefilah, Tehillim and Parsha led by clergy, leading Talmidei Chachamim in Los Angeles. teachers, guest speakers and our own BMW members. SHABBAT TUESDAYS Parshat Hashavua, 8:00 am First Times in Tanach, 11:00 am Rabbi Kalman Topp Chazan Arik Wollheim Start your Shabbat morning with a coffee By exploring the first time something and enhance your understanding of the biblical appears in Tanach we might understand narrative by discovering the underlying themes. the Torah’s understanding of our most basic human emotions, drives and experiences. Unlocking the Siddur, 30 minutes before Mincha Gemara Beitzah, 7:00 pm Rabbi Adir Posy Rabbi Nechemia Langer See the Siddur in a new light with an eye towards the halacha, This class delves into laws relating to Shabbat and the philosophy and inspiration of our shul service. Jewish holidays. Men only. Torah Gems, 7:30 pm Beth Jacob is on itunes! Rabbi Arye Sufrin Search “Beth Jacob” in the itunes store and Learn Masechet Bava Kamma in depth. download a wide variety of recorded shiurim free of charge. Living the Good Life, 8:00 pm Recordings also available at bethjacob.org. Rabbi Kalman Topp Learn how Jewish values can enhance your relationships, your career and your life. MACHON PUAH SYMPOSIUM Sunday, November 22 WEDNESDAYS 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Parenting and Parsha, 9:00 am This half day learning program will feature lectures Given on a rotating basis by and presentations by doctors, rabbis and mental health Rabbi Kalman Topp & professionals on medical, ethical and halachic aspects of Rabbi Y. Boruch Sufrin infertility. Symposium will address real life difficulties and In conjunction with Harkham Hillel Hebrew endeavor to offer solutions. Academy. Coffee & yogurt are served. 5 Torah Scholars in Residence & Shabbat Programs Rabbi Dov Lipman Shabbat, September 5, 2015 Rabbi Dov Lipman served as a member of the 19th Knesset with the Yesh Atid party, and is the author of four books about Judaism, including his latest, To Unify a Nation: My Vision for the Future of Israel. He currently serves as chairman of Anglo and Diaspora Affairs for Yesh Atid. Rabbi Menachem Leibtag Simchat Torah, Monday & Tuesday, October 5 & 6, 2015 Rabbi Menachem Leibtag is a senior lecturer at Yeshivat Har Etzion and Midreshet Lindenbaum in Israel, as well as an acclaimed Torah scholar and pioneer of Jewish education on the internet.