October 2018 5779
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Main Office 408-257-3333 [email protected]
Rabbis Jaymee Alpert Senior Rabbi 408-366-9104 [email protected]
Daniel J. Pressman Rabbi Emeritus [email protected]
Staff Sarah Hanuka Director of Lifelong Learning 408-366-9116 [email protected]
Tanya Lorien Honeygrams Director of Operations 408-366-9107 We wish to thank all the generous donors who made this year’s [email protected] Honeygrams such a smashing success. Barbara Biran Director of Lifecycle Events and In addition, we acknowledge the Synagogue Ritual following donors whose names 408-366-9106 were not listed on the print out [email protected] distributed with the bags:
Honey Bee Monica Hernandez Marty & Nancy Newman Member Account Associate 408-366-9108 Queen Bee [email protected] Marty & Corrine Sherman
Bumble Bee Jillian Cosgrave Vladimir Gorlovetsky & Faina Eichis Front Office Associate 408-366-9110 [email protected] Want To See D’var In Full Color? Lynn Crocker Mkt & Comm Associate 408-366-9102 View it online: [email protected]
www.beth-david.org/communications/dvar Jamie Lynn Valdez Admin. Sarah Hanuka 408-366-9101 [email protected]
Jewish Experience for Teens (JET) [email protected]
To stop receiving a hard copy of D’var and receive an email notification when the full color, online version is published, email: [email protected] 2
FROM Rabbi Jaymee Alpert
I would like to take this opportunity to share my remarks from Erev Rosh Hashanah with you. Wishing you a happy, healthy, peaceful New Year.
As part of the evening service, not just on Erev Rosh Hashanah, but every night, we recite the Hashkiveinu. This prayer asks God to protect us. We ask God to grant us peace and to watch over us. We pray:
“Allow us, Adonai our God, to sleep peacefully and to awaken again to life, our sovereign. Spread over us Your sukkat shalom – Your canopy of peace, restore us with Your good counsel, and save us for the sake of Your name. Shield us: Remove from us enemies and pestilence, sword, starvation, and sorrow, and remove the evil forces that surround us. Shelter us in the shadow of Your wings, for You, God, watch over and deliver us, and You are the Sovereign, merciful and compassionate. Ensure our going and coming for life, and peace, now and forever. May You spread over us Your canopy of peace. Praised are You Adonai, who spreads the canopy of peace over us, and over all the people Israel, and over Jerusalem.”
Like children asking our parents to tuck us in at night, and to make sure there are no monsters lurking under the bed or behind the closet door, we ask God to guard us as we sleep. This prayer is said in a liminal moment, in an “in-between” space. When we said it a little bit earlier, it was not quite day and not quite night. It was not quite the year that was ending, nor was it the year that was about to begin. We prayed in the “in-between” time.
“In-between” time or liminal moments make us vulnerable, and in so doing, they open us up spiritually. We are not sure of our footing in ‘in-between’ time. Sleep and the moments that come just before – when we are not quite awake and not yet fully asleep, is a time that causes us to let down our defenses. With our guard down, we cannot protect ourselves, and so we must rely on God’s care – it’s why we need the Hashkiveinu.
This short prayer asks God to spread a sukkat shalom – the Divine canopy of peace over us three times. I have always been taken by this image. What is a sukkah of peace? And why a sukkah? After all, a sukkah is fragile. It is susceptible to the elements and can be knocked over.
The sukkah itself is liminal – it is not quite inside, not quite outside. It is not nothing but nor is it a durable shelter. Why would we ask to be sheltered in a sukkah? Why not a sturdy building with a solid foundation? Why not something that has doors we can lock to keep us safe? And a roof on top to keep us warm and dry? Perhaps the sukkah’s precariousness is a reminder that we must do our part to protect that which is fragile. We cannot rely on God alone. Like shattering a glass at a wedding to remind us of what is broken in the world, and to remind the couple that they must take care of one another and their relationship in order to keep it whole, perhaps the sukkah warns us that we must do our part to protect our relationships with one another, with ourselves, and with God.
The High Holy Days offer us time and space to do this. Perhaps not in an actual sukkah – that’s still two weeks away, but throughout these days and this season, we have the ability to search out the corners of our hearts and lives that are easy to overlook. The High Holy Days offer us time and space to come clean with ourselves, to begin to make amends, and to resolve to live differently. It is fascinating that we can be surrounded by hundreds of people and completely alone with our thoughts and innermost selves at the same time.
But we must not remain totally alone, because the High Holy Days also give us time and space to be in community. We spend a lot of time in shul together over the course of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – whether you come for the prayer or the schmoozefest or perhaps a bit of both, there is no doubt that these two holidays provide us with hours and hours of time to be together. We need this time together – it helps us to foster a sukkat shalom. While we ask God for help when we say Haskiveinu, we also need to do our part.
A sukkat shalom – a canopy of peace: we need that today, in our world, perhaps more than at any other time in recent history. It is an understatement to say that we live in a politically divisive era. Everything we say, everything we hear one another say has a political valence, whether or not it is intended. Our relationships have become fragile. Some have shattered. It is becoming ever more difficult to engage in civil discourse and to share differing opinions. (Continued on page 5) 3
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FROM Rabbi Jaymee Alpert (CONTINUED)
(Continued from page 3)
We no longer seek out friends who have different beliefs than we do. Moreover, since the presidential election almost two years ago, people have lost friends because of political beliefs.
With our ability to curate social media, we tend to hear our own opinions being shouted back to us, and we are able to block out the opinions we don’t want to hear because we disagree. We no longer allow for the possibility that someone else might have a valid point of view, even if it is one with which we disagree.
Over the summer I read, Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion.” In it, he offers reasons why Liberals and Conservatives have different intuitions about right and wrong and explains why both groups are right about their central concerns.
On his website, righteousmind.com, Haidt writes, “Americans have long known that they have racial, ethnic, class, and partisan divides. But the 2016 presidential election has forced all of us to recognize that these gaps may be far larger, more numerous, and more dangerous than we thought. Americans are not just failing to meet each other and know each other. Increasingly, we hate each other—particularly across the partisan divide. Hatred and mistrust damage democracy, and they can seep onto campus and distort academic life as well.”
Mistrust hasn’t only entered the academic sphere, and the political arena – how many politicians are known for reaching across the aisle these days? It has entered religious communities too. Houses of worship are becoming increasingly one-dimensional.
In her July 11th op-ed in The New York Times entitled “When Politicians Determine Your Religious Beliefs,” Michele Margolis writes, “researchers have found that hearing diverse political messages promotes tolerance, interacting in politically integrated social settings curbs partisan biases, and having key social groups represented in both political parties helps maintain civil political discourse. Churches used to facilitate this, uniting people with diverse political opinions. But when politics affects whether and where Americans go to church, even our houses of worship become political echo chambers. Americans will increasingly find themselves able to bitterly denounce or unflinchingly laud Donald Trump, to a chorus of agreement. In the end, this will further divide us.”
This is not a healthy trend. It does not help us build or maintain a sukkat shalom if we cannot make space to hear one another’s opinion. Perhaps Hashkiveinu employs the image of a sukkah rather than a solid building to remind us that if we do not tend to it, if we are not careful, it is fragile, and it will eventually collapse.
The sukkah is also open. When we are inside, we are not really inside. I know the elements aren’t too concerning here in Saratoga, but in New York, you can feel the wind, the rain, and occasionally the snow.
And when we are in the sukkah, we are supposed to be spiritually open. Being open to the physical elements and being open to our spiritual needs make us vulnerable. If we were sheltered in a secure building, we would not need to ask for God’s protection. We would not need faith. But in a sukkah, we cannot afford to be without them. In a sukkah, we prioritize our immediate needs, which must include each other. We are a community. We may hold different beliefs about politics – both here, and in Israel, and throughout the world. We may use different lenses through which to understand the events of our world, but at the end of the day, we must prioritize one another. We must not shut each other out because we disagree. The sukkat shalom reminds us that we need each other, and that we must open our minds and hearts to hear one another.
We have a long tradition of valuing different beliefs. The Talmud in Masechet Eruvin (13b) teaches, “Rabbi Abba said in the name of Shmuel, For three years, Beit Hillel – the house of Hillel and Beit Shammai - the house of Shammai argued.
Beit Hillel said, 'The halakha – the Jewish law - is like us,' and Beit Shammai said, 'The halakha – the Jewish law - is like us.' Then, a Bat Kol – a Divine voice spoke: "Elu v’elu divrei Elohim chaim - these and these are the words of the living God.” In other words, both opinions are valid, and even though the halakha, is decided according to Beit Hillel, the Talmud acknowledges and records Beit Shammai’s ruling as well. This type of respect for opinions when they are coming from an intentional and holy place is a powerful model for us today. Everything I have experienced in the short time I have been at Congregation Beth David makes it clear that we are a family, and a place dedicated to process, and to allowing for a multiplicity of voices. However, as we know, we live in a divisive age, and so we must work continuously to maintain our sukkat shalom. (Continued on page 6)
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FROM Rabbi Jaymee Alpert (CONTINUED)
(Continued from page 5)
In this new year, let us use Hashkiveinu as a nightly reminder that there is room at Beth David for a variety of opinions and beliefs. Let us use Haskiveinu as a nightly reminder that when we engage one another in meaningful and intentional conversation, we deepen the bonds of community and we are able to say “elu v’elu divrei Elohim chaim – these and these are the words of the living God.” When we do this, we will truly be able to feel God’s presence in our sukkat shalom.
Kein Yehi Ratzon – so may it be God’s will.
Rabbi Jaymee Alpert
CBD Social Action Presents: Balk Family Memorial Jews, Christians and Muslims unite to Camp Scholarship
serve the poor! We are now The mission of Abrahamic accepting Alliance International (AAi) is to nominations for unite Jews, Christians and summer 2019 resident camp Muslims for active peacemaking scholarships funded and poverty relief. By doing by the Balk Family social action together we build Memorial Camp lasting bridges of understanding Scholarship Fund. and respect between us. This time we are collaborating This fund perpetuates with Saratoga Federated Church and West Valley the memory and Muslim Association. ideals of Beth David Sunday, October 21 members Sheldon and Melvina Balk and their sons, Richard and David Balk. We seek to capture and light the spirit of Part 1: 1:00 – 3:30 Judaism in our youth, especially those who may seem Discussion in buddy groups and meal preparation at apathetic about Jewish activities. Beth David Part 2: 4:00 – 6:00 Please note these are not merit-based scholarships. We offer substantial aid, not based on academic results or Travel to CitiTeam shelter, serve meal, dine together* activities, but, rather, to awaken a student’s Jewish Register at https://arcssaratoga2018.eventbrite.com identity. We give preference to Beth David first time Financial Donations Welcome! campers. The amount we disburse depends upon donations Each event costs $500 plus the cost of donated foods. to the Fund and current interest, but this summer, aided by Your much appreciated donations to CBD Social Action our scholarships, two Beth David students attended Camp Ramah camps. are welcome. Email Iris for more information on how you can help - [email protected]. Please call Chuck Taubman at 408-257-3251 for additional information and to learn how to submit a nomination (the *You can sign up for Part 1 only or Part 1 & 2 together but due date is January 18, 2019). not Part 2 only.
Please share our joy as our son, Andrew is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.
Saturday, October 6, 2018
We invite you to join us for Kiddush lunch following the service.
Jeff and Kate Fox
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President’s perspective By Bill Beyda
The following remarks were spoken by our President, Bill Beyda, at Kol Nidre services this year: Good evening. My name is Bill Beyda, and I am the President of Congregation Beth David. We have a two year term for Presidents, so that’s only two attempts at perfecting the Kol Nidre speech. Last year was my first, and this year is my last. Like a Broadway show that opens one night and closes the next, there’s not a lot of time to refine your act. Fortunately, congregants generally have really low expectations for the president’s speech. You want to hear about the current state of things, and at some point, you expect me to mention the annual campaign. But really, it’s a way we mark time, another year has passed and we’re back in synagogue with 1400 of our closest friends listening to the current president drone on about something.
So I did my best last year, filling the ten minutes with anecdotes, humor, and all of the positive things going on here. There were plenty of things to be happy about, and we could see a brighter future on the horizon. But underneath it all, a lot of us were very nervous about the synagogue’s debt, and the pain we all experienced as a result of our contractors’ bankruptcy was still fresh in our minds. When I spoke last year, we still didn’t know Rabbi Ohriner would decide to retire from the pulpit. So in the days following Yom Kippur when we learned of his planned departure, people’s nervousness about our future increased. What would we do? All this debt? Would we get a good Rabbi to come here? The housing costs are so high, nobody would consider us! Those are the words I heard in the Mercaz last fall at Shabbat services. After thousands of years being an oppressed people, Jews excel at worrying, and last fall, it seemed we had a lot to worry about!
What a difference a year makes! None of us could have imagined what would transpire. We entered into a community conversation about our congregation’s rabbinical needs, interviewed dozens of candidates, and brought two out here for visits. Rabbi Alpert was selected in March, she joined us August 1st and the community welcomed her with open arms. She has jumped right in with both feet and continued our longstanding traditions and added a few twists of her own. She has delighted those who have attended events she led, like the Barbecue and Barchu, where hundreds of people not only ate dinner in our patio, but stayed and prayed at their tables for a lively outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat service. Who knows, an exercise service or a hiking service may be in your future, or perhaps a more musical Friday evening. Of course you may choose to attend the traditional worship offerings we always have held if that’s your preference, but there will be more to choose from soon! More services and programs to attract young families will be offered too. Her leadership in expanding our spiritual offerings is just starting, so if you like what you saw thus far, watch what the new year brings! So this past spring, as we planned to welcome Rabbi Alpert, the Board returned to its task of managing the congregation’s seven figure debt while still offering services, programs, and educational offerings to meet the needs of everyone. Even with the debt looming over us, last year at this time, I told you to look around this beautiful building and marvel at how lucky we are. Our old building served us well for decades, but we have transformed our synagogue into a more modern facility for the next 50 years. We have space for multiple services and activities, with an open lobby, or Mercaz, that allows us to gather and interact. Our new building is more than just a physical space, it is a physical embodiment of what we are becoming as a community.
Multidimensional programming, thriving affinity groups, a sustaining contribution model that accepts all comers without judgment about their financial means --- these are the fundamental tenets of what we have been establishing here over the last several years. Our dedicated staff, several consecutive synagogue boards, and countless volunteers, have made it all happen. CBD Women, with its popular Ladies who Lunch and Dames that Dine events, sees attendance of 40-60 women monthly. Hazak for those over 55 years of age has numerous educational and social events. Men’s Club focuses on both socializing and service projects. The list of things to get involved in is endless. Yet even with all of this going for us, a few months ago, many in our congregation were still worried about our financial future. Until one day this spring, I received a phone call. In an instant, everything changed. Now believe me, I get many phone calls about Congregation Beth David, some days 10 calls, some days even 20. But over the course of these 18 months, I am confident this is the call I will remember the most. It was David Hoffman, one of our past presidents, letting me know the Deputy District Attorney wanted to meet with us. A couple of weeks later, all of the money that was lost as a result of our contractor’s bankruptcy was repaid to us, our debts were all paid off, and we now have a one million dollar plus building endowment to keep this building in tip-top shape in (Continued on page 8) 7
President’s perspective (CONTINUED)
(Continued on from 7) perpetuity. Look around you. Instead of filling three-quarters of the sanctuary today with folding chairs, we acquired an additional 350 padded chairs, which we also use in our social hall on Shabbat. This was part of the project we had to halt when the loss occurred, but now we could finally complete it, and you can be more comfortable. We still have some rental chairs in the back, but we now own most of the chairs we are using so you can be more comfortable.
Even with the building construction and future maintenance paid for, we still need funds every year to pay salaries, run services like this one, hold classes and conduct programming. Your sustaining member contributions pay for 80% of our operations, and our annual campaign pays for 20%. Now in a note to all congregants this year I invited you to donate to our annual campaign before tonight’s speech, and if we reached our goal, I would drop the subject entirely. Well we are about 70% the way there, so I will cut the length of my appeal by 70%, and simply say that to those of you that have already given, thank you very much. For those members that are considering it, please prove that not having a check-in desk where we give you a donation card was a good idea, and send in your donation after the holidays. Finally, if you are a guest visiting us, please do what you can to support our congregation financially, so we can continue to offer services such as this one for the community to enjoy. When you give, you are honoring the traditions passed on to you by your parents and their parents, as Jews have done for centuries, supporting our synagogues as the hub of Jewish life in our community.
Since this is my last time as President speaking to a group this large, I did want to take this opportunity to suggest to you that the more time you put into Congregation Beth David, the more you and your family get out of it. Whether you volunteer to help at an event, join a committee, or even sit on the Board of Directors, you will make a lot of friends across different age groups. I can look at my own experience, and my wife Cathy’s in her role as President of CBD Women. The new people we have met have completely changed our lives. We have so many connections here that we didn’t a decade ago. Start small. Try volunteering at something you like. Or attend an event you are interested in. Say hello to someone. Watch what happens. It takes a little time, but the rewards are incredible. You won’t regret it.
In my term as your President, I have tried to always be honest with you. So I will let you in on something I haven’t told many people: I never planned or expected to be President of this congregation. When David Hoffman and Dan Skilken were knee-deep in the building construction and asked me to jump in and help, at first I resisted. Rabbi Ohriner finally talked me into it. I never imagined how hard it would be, but I also never imagined the deep sense of accomplishment when you can help things go right for the community. Our former President, Dan Skilken, handed over a beautiful new building when I took over, to house our services and programming for the next 50 years. In about four months I will hand our next President a debt-free balance sheet and a healthy endowment, along with a superb new Rabbi to lead us into our future. I’m very proud of that. It’s all I could have hoped for. Now I know with a group this large, not everybody got what they wanted this year from our Congregation and the Board, or even from me, and in keeping with our theme of atonement today, I would like to apologize for any shortcomings. I will try to do better in the future.
I would also like to extend some thank yous. Thank you to all of the volunteers, including our committee members, and our Board of Directors, for putting the congregation’s needs ahead of their own so many times this year. I would like to thank our members, who vote with their heart and their wallets to make Congregation Beth David their Jewish home and support the holy work we do here. I would like to thank our guests today, who I hope will see what a special place this is, and choose to become a part of our community as members this year. Finally, I would like to thank my wife Cathy, and my adult children Joey and Rachel, for putting up with all of the time I have been at meetings, unreachable, or on phone calls with board members or congregants in these last two years.
In closing, I would like to wish all of you and your families G'mar Hatima Tova, may you be sealed in the Book of Life. I hope that in the coming year Congregation Beth David will inspire, enthuse, delight, educate, and comfort you.
And I hope you have an easy fast. Todah rabah!
Bill Beyda President, Congregation Beth David 8 Security Committee UPDATE
“Should Beth David make any changes to the security posture of our community and, if so, what should we do?” This is a question that will be presented to the membership at the Annual Meeting on December 9th.
The “proper” level of security practices is a highly personal subject for all us that is influenced by individual perspectives on the balance of welcoming-ness and safety, our past experience, our concerns about an unknowable future, uncontrollable external events, and other factors. If you think about it, it is clear that there is “no right answer”. No matter what we do, subsequent events could prove that we should have done things differently. For the past fifteen months, the Security Committee has been gathering data on best practices, talking to experts
in the local law enforcement community, the FBI, the JCRC, and the ADL. We have also been putting out questions on Security practices to USCJ-affiliated Synagogues across the country and polling our closest five synagogue neighbors. The Committee will be sharing this information with you in two forums: The first will be a special meeting to be held at Beth David on Sunday, November 11th starting at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. At this meeting we will have guest speakers from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and the ADL. The speakers will be offering their input on best practices for security at religious institutions based on many years of experience. We will also be hearing about the frequency of hate crimes within a radius of approximately 100 miles from us, and the activities of various hate groups. After about 40 minutes of presentations, you will be able to ask your questions of the experts for more information or clarification on anything they have presented. We hope you make it a priority to attend. The meeting is anticipated to run about 2 hours. The second meeting is our Annual Membership Meeting on December 9th starting at 10:00 a.m. The presentation at this meeting will include a brief summary of what we learned on November 11th, a summary of what we have already learned of the practices of other USCJ Synagogues, a summary of the security practices of our five neighboring synagogues, and the questions to be decided which are: Question #1: Should our front door be locked or unlocked during peak periods of membership use of our building? If we vote to maintain our current practice, all further discussion and decisions are unnecessary. If we vote to change our current practice and move to a locked door all of the time, our membership will have to adopt the use of key cards. But, we will also need to make accommodation for guests, members who forget their cards, and for those of us who would view the use of a key card on Shabbat as forbidden. For this reason, a locked door requires a person to monitor the door and admit people requesting entrance who do not appear threatening. Who this door monitor should be gives rise to Question #2. Question #2: Should the door monitoring function be performed by one of our existing employees (most likely one of our facility employees), or should we engage the services of an outside security company to provide a trained officer to act as a security guard during those periods when our building is most heavily used by our membership? If the membership votes to use one of our existing employees to act as the door monitor, then the rest of the discussion and decisions are unnecessary. If the membership wants to retain the services of a trained security professional, then a third question requires a decision. Question #3: Should the security guard we hire be armed or unarmed? There is a difference in deterrent effect, welcoming-ness, and cost depending on the answer to this question. We can assume an unarmed guard will cost
Important Information About The Future of of SecurityTheCBDat Future About ImportantInformation us approximately $60K per year for coverage anytime there are more than about 50 members in the building: Shabbat, Religious School, various Haggim, heavily attended events like BBQ & Barchu or the Scholar in Residence for example, and some of our daily Minyanim. An armed security guard costs about twice that number. If the membership votes to hire a professional security guard, the Board of Directors will figure out how to pay for the additional cost as part of the annual budget process. The Security Committee will not be making a recommendation at the Annual Meeting. Its job is to present data to help the membership become informed and to implement whatever decisions the membership makes. Please help us help you become more informed by planning to attend the November 11th meeting with the Security Experts and then coming to the December 9th meeting prepared to vote your preferences. 9
From the VP of membership By David fishman
With the new year, I want to begin a conversation on ways of belonging in our CBD community. I’ve been inspired by a fascinating new book, Next Generation Judaism, by Rabbi Mike Uram, the Hillel rabbi at the University of Pennsylvania (http://bit.ly/CBD-NextGenJudaism).
Living here at the crossroads of global innovation, we naturally seek new ways to engage. But belonging is something we can't take for granted. In reality, our community is a collection of pathways. I call this "Netivot Ha-Kehillah" or "Pathways of Community."
You probably recognize the passage from the Torah Service, "v’Kol netivoteha shalom" "And all its pathways are peaceful." Just as there is more than one way to be "smart", there are various ways our Jewish practices and beliefs tie us together at CBD. Learning to love and recognize the differences is essential to the kind of belonging we need to make our community strong and to grow.
#1 Public ↔ Private Belonging: When do you feel most connected to being Jewish? Think of these as "Jewish moments." Are you deeply inspired and engaged hearing the shofar with a crowd on Rosh Hashanah? Or when you are alone, outdoors, at sunset on Friday evening? A quorum for minyan shows important Jewish rituals are both public and communal. Yet Jewish mysticism has a practice called "hitbodedut", where solitude is essential for accessing the Divine. The difference between "public" or "private" pathways is not the size of the group, but how you make meaning happen within that group.
#2 Fixed ↔ Improvisational Belonging: The Passover Seder is the quintessential Jewish moment. Are you most inspired by ancient parts of the Haggadah recited by past generations? Or by finding new ways to personalize the Exodus each year? If formal ritual and repetition are your thing, you probably gravitate toward the "fixed" path; Shabbat services are the perfect example. But we all recognize the power of "private" and "improvisational" expressions of Judaism. Lighting candles and offering spontaneous blessings celebration among family and friends illuminate your pathways more powerfully than attending services like clockwork.
#3 Particularistic ↔ Universal Belonging: In giving tzedakah, do you lean toward a Jewish charity or one with a broad social justice agenda? Differences about this pathway, between being "particularistic" and "universal", are visceral and thought-provoking. Yet both are deeply embedded in Jewish tradition. Isaiah teaches we are "or l’goyim", "a light unto the nations", drawing on Jewish values to improve the world. On the other hand, Numbers 23:9 says we are "am l’vadad yishkon", "a nation meant to dwell alone."
#4 Thinking ↔ Feeling for Belonging: Are you most engaged and inspired when something Jewish speaks to your head? Or to your heart? In this pathway of belonging, Jewish tradition embraces different ways of God relating to humanity. For Maimonides, God is intellectualized, and has neither love nor anger; God simply is. Abraham Joshua Heschel teaches that the way to approach God is through emotion, experience, and cultivation of a sense of radical amazement.
The way you experience Jewish peoplehood is another view of this fourth path. Are you drawn first by our community’s successes and challenges, or to unspoken bonds between us? If ethics and ideals are top of mind in your Jewish world, yours is the "thinking" pathway; you travel the pathways of belonging through feeling when the pull of Jewish peoplehood on your heart is hard to express in words. In our community, we live as one, and we live as many -- which challenges our ideals. Would our future be simpler if most Jews fit into one simple box? Perhaps. Our challenge is to seek cohesion and authenticity even as we encourage independence and diversity.
A key to thriving in a Jewish community, from the Mishnah and Talmud to today, is that there have always been many pathways. We belong together, as a community when we open our eyes, hearts, and minds to pathways we walk together.
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The information on the Holiday Connect Form will only be used for CBD Holiday Connect and will not be shared with outside parties
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October Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
1 22nd of Tishrei 2 23rd of Tishrei 3 24th of Tishrei Admin Office Closed Admin Office Closed 11:30am CBD Women Shmini Atzeret Simchat Torah Movie and Discussion 9:30am Services 9:30am Services Group 12:00pm Kiddush 12:00pm Kiddush
4:00pm JEWEL
6:30pm Simchat-TOT
7:15pm Erev Simchat 7:40pm Candle lighting 7:00pm Minyan
7 28th of Tishrei 8 29th of Tishrei 9 30th of Tishrei 10 1st of Cheshvan 9:00am Men’s Club Columbus Day Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan Monthly Meeting 9:00am Torah Trope 9:30am JCORE 9:30am JET Program 9:30am Minyan 4:00pm JEWEL 9:45am Yoga for the Soul for teens and Adults
7:00pm Hazak Presents: Larry Gerston 7:00pm Minyan 7:00pm Minyan 7:00pm Minyan
14 5th of Cheshvan 15 6th of Cheshvan 16 7th of Cheshvan 17 8th of Cheshvan 9:00am Torah Trope Yom HaAliyah 9:30am JCORE 9:30am Minyan 3:00pm Yiddish 4:00pm JEWEL Conversation Group
7:00pm Minyan 7:00pm Minyan 7:00pm Minyan
21 12th of Cheshvan 22 13th of Cheshvan 23 14th of Cheshvan 24 15th of Cheshvan 9:00am Torah Trope 9:30am JET Program 9:30am Minyan 4:00 pm JEWEL
1:00pm Abrahamic Alliance International Cook & Serve 7:00pm Minyan 7:00pm Minyan 7:00pm Minyan 7:30pm Board Meeting
28 19th of Cheshvan 29 20th of Cheshvan 30 21st of Cheshvan 31 22nd of Cheshvan 9:00am Torah Trope 9:30am JCORE 9:30am JET Program 9:30am Minyan 10:30am AbraKadabra – Magical Brunch & Presentation
7:00pm Minyan 7:00pm Minyan 7:00pm Minyan
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Thursday Friday Saturday
4 25th of Tishrei 5 26th of Tishrei 6 27th of Tishrei 9:30am Services/Andrew 10:15am Friday Talmud Fox Bar Mitzvah Study 10:30am Mindfulness 11:15am Jewish Ethics and Meditation Yoga for the Soul for Through the Hasidic Teens and Adults Lens Sunday, October 7 10:30am Youth 9:45am Congregation (see page 16) 6:26pm Candle 12:00pm Kiddush Lighting 1:30pm Menschlichkeit 101 7:00pm Minyan 6:30pm Services
11 2nd of Cheshvan 12 3rd of Cheshvan 13 4th of Cheshvan Hazak Presents Larry 9:30am Services/Legacy Gerston - The 2018 10:15am Friday Talmud Giving Shabbat Midterm Elections: Study 10:30am An Exploration 11:15am Jewish Ethics of Shabbat Prayer & Hopes and Expectations Study for Russian Sunday, October 7 Speakers 7:00pm 11:15am Tot Shabbat (see page 14) 12:00pm Kiddush 1:30pm Jewish Book Discussion Group 7:00pm Minyan 6:16pm Candle 7:30pm CBD Women Lighting Abrahamic Alliance General Meeting 6:30pm Services International Cook & and Dessert Social Serve Sunday, October 21 18 9th of Cheshvan 19 10th of Cheshvan 20 11th of Cheshvan 1:00pm 9:30am Services/Aufruf (see page 6) 10:15am Friday Talmud Josh Goldstein & Study Michelle Danis 11:15am Jewish Ethics 10:30am Haverim 10:30am Youth AbraKadabra – Magical 7:00 pm Dames Who 6:06pm Candle Congregation Brunch & Presentation Dine Lighting 12:00pm Kiddush Sunday, October 28 7:00pm Minyan 6:30pm Services 10:30am (see page 15) 25 16th of Cheshvan 26 17th of Cheshvan 27 18th of Cheshvan 9:30am Services 10:15am Friday Talmud 10:30am Approachable Study Torah 11:15am Jewish Ethics 11:15am Tot Shabbat 12:00pm Kiddush 5:58pm Candle Lighting 7:00pm Minyan 6:30pm Services
“Should Beth David make any changes to the security posture of our community and, if so, what should we do?” Join us for the following meetings where the Security Committee will address this question.
Information Meeting - Sunday, November 11th 10:00 a.m. We will have guest speakers from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and the ADL. The meeting is anticipated to run about 2 hours.
Annual Meeting - Sunday, December 9th 10:00 a.m. We will review what we learned so far and pose three very important questions related to changes in security procedures. See page 9 for details
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See calendar for dates www.beth-david.org/adult-learning Mindfulness and Meditation Through the Hasidic Lens - 1st Shabbat 10:30 a.m. Using Hassidic Torah text and stories, this class enables participants to find personal meaning in Jewish prayer and discover that current spiritual tools are rooted in the traditional Jewish experience. Begins 10/6 Led by Rabbi Hugh Seid-Valencia
An Exploration of Shabbat Prayer & Study - 2nd Shabbat 10:30 a.m. For Russian speakers. Begins 10/13 Led by Rabbi Ilana Baird, in Russian
Stretching into Shabbat - 2nd Shabbat 10:00 a.m. Makom Yoga provides a refreshing mix of Jewish learning (with themes flowing from the weekly parsha, upcoming holidays, and beyond) with guided meditation, breath work and asana practice. Suitable for all levels. Begins 11/10 Led by Rabbi Laurie Matzkin
Approachable Torah - 4th Shabbat 10:30 a.m. A lively conversation about the Torah portion. Participants connect Torah lessons to their own experiences and create drashot - messages of meaning for everyday life. Begins 9/22 Led by Rabbi Allan Berkowitz
Sunday Seminar: AbraKadabra - Magic in the Jewish Tradition Sunday, October 28, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Brunch and Presentation Come discover with us the magic found in Jewish texts and sources. Enjoy a delicious brunch while listening to this fun and exciting presentation. Cost is $5.00 to attend. RSVP required by October 24th online at www.beth-david.org/rsvp or call the office at 408-257-3333. Led by Abra Greenspan - recipient of the 2018 Helen Diller Family Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
Shabbat Evening Modern History of an Ancient City - Jerusalem from the 20th through 21st Centuries Friday, November 2, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. We invite you for services followed by an informative discussion with our special speaker, Amit Grinfeld.
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For Teens and Adults First & Third Tuesday of the Month Taught by certified Yoga instructor 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Resumes October 16th John Nadler. In addition to a challenging workout, John shows Do you know how yoga shifts your life's balance Yiddish? Would you toward a more centered position, like to chat with balancing the body, the mind and others in Yiddish? the spirit. This group is for Select Sundays people to 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. re-activate prior Yiddish knowledge, October 7 January 27 to learn Yiddish for November 4 March 31 the first time, and to have conversations. December 16 April 28 January 6 For more information, email [email protected]
Hebrew Marathon Sundays, December 2 & 9 Walking with Lions 12:45 – 4:30 p.m. by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen Please join us for a led by Harry Cornbleet beginner’s adult Hebrew Saturday, October 13th decoding marathon. You after Kiddush lunch (about 1:15 p.m.) will learn techniques necessary for reading "Vividly imagined, prayers, as well as receive clever, and morally tools to begin your study for ambiguous....[Waking an adult bar or bat mitzvah. Lions] is a smart and No knowledge of the disturbing exploration of Hebrew alphabet is the high price of walking required. Free for CBD away, whether it be members/$36 for non-members. Taught by Sarah from a car accident or Hanuka from one's own politically unstable Modern Hebrew - Beginner homeland." ― Maureen Thursdays, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Corrigan, National Public Join us for your first year of modern Hebrew lessons. Radio's "Fresh Air" Learn vocabulary, grammar and day-to-day use of words. Free. Begins 11/1 Taught by Sarah Hanuka. UPCOMING NOVEMBER 10th Modern Hebrew - Intermediate Sons and Soldiers: The Untold Story of the Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Jews Who Escaped the Nazis and Join us for your continuing education in modern Returned with the U.S. Army to Hebrew. Learn vocabulary, grammar and day-to-day Fight Hitler by Bruce Henderson, led by use of words. Free. Begins 11/6 Taught by Sarah Steve Levin Hanuka.
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Sessions begin after Kiddush Lunch (about 1:15pm) See calendar for dates www.beth-david.org/adult-learning Menschlichkeit 101 1st Shabbat of the Month In a world that seems increasingly callous, cruel and crude, Judaism's teachings of compassion and respect seem even more relevant and necessary. We will examine topics like: respect for others, manners, proper language, and more. Begins 10/6 Taught by Rabbi Pressman
Jewish Book Discussion Group 2nd Shabbat of the Month Read and discuss Jewish-related fiction and nonfiction books. All adults and mature teens are welcome. Continues 10/13 Coordinated by Miriam Marr (See page 16 for upcoming topics.)
Israel Today 3rd Shabbat of the Month Come join us and discuss current events of our homeland Israel. Begins 11/17. Taught by Sarah Hanuka
See calendar for dates www.beth-david.org/adult-learning
Jewish Ethics Talmud Study Fridays, 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Explore Fridays, 10:15 - 11:15 a.m. the wisdom of Jewish ethical teachings in this Join a continuing study of Tractate Megillah, participant-led group. We are currently read- containing laws of Purim, Torah reading, and ing A Code of Jewish Ethics, Volume 1: You synagogue practices. English texts are Shall Be Holy by Rabbi Joseph Telush- available. Newcomers are welcome. Donations kin. Please join us as we study this important to Adult Education are appreciated. Free. work on the vital topic of personal character Begins 10/5 Taught by Rabbi Alpert and integrity, written by one of the premier Jewish scholars of our time. Free. Begins Modern History of Israel 10/5 The group is moderated by Phil Doppelt Thursdays, 11:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m. and David Harris We will continue our second year of the discussion of the history, politics and media of our homeland, Israel. Free. Begins 11/1 Taught by Sarah Hanuka.
Shmuel Shultz would like to start a French language affinity group. Please contact him at [email protected].
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These are great opportunities for women of all ages to get to know new friends or catch up with old ones.
Movie and Discussion Group Wednesday, October 3, 11:30am – 3:00pm General Business Meeting Join other CBD Women for a midweek matinee and Dessert Social followed by lunch to discuss the movie. Email Thursday, October 11 [email protected] for the selected movie 7:30 - 9:00pm at CBD location and time.
Dames Who Dine Join CBD Women for a Thursday, October 18, 7:00 - 9:00pm general business meeting and This is an opportunity to get to know new Beth David dessert social. We will women or to catch up with old friends. Email schmooze, update you on [email protected] for location. recent events, and discuss future plans. Please bring your October Ladies Who Lunch has been cancelled. ideas and a friend! To RSVP Come to the October 11 General Business meeting and for more info email instead [email protected].
Men's Club provides community based activities, service projects, sports and socializing for the men of CBD.
Men of all ages are welcome. Show your support for CBD and help to strengthen our community.
Want to volunteer? We are looking for help with the following:
• Event Coordinators to help plan, organize and implement events. • Membership VP to coordinate CBD in-reach and community outreach activities.
Bowling with the Bocce with the Boys Boys Sunday, November 18 Sunday, December 16 at 6:00pm at 6:00pm Bowlmor Lanes at Campo di Bocce in Los Vallco Mall in Cupertino Gatos
Sign up for our mailing list or RSVP for any of our events [email protected]
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October Birthdays
1st 7th 13th 26th (continued) Ori Gross 20th Sylvia Metz Chris Cassell Martin Newman Marina Salzman Edward Gipstein Lisa Lipkind Yulia Shvarts David Marash- Jack Moore Ziva Fishman Revekka Mikhlin Rebecca Paktor Whitman Samantha Selincourt Alan Weissberger 21st 14th Stephen Green 2nd Alex Vainberg Anna Tseselsky Elie Alcheck 27th Joel Nelson Amalia Arndt 8th Eric Steiger Irina Umansky Karen Deloumi Devi Knaster Diane Clement Phyllis Newman Steven Levin Lauren Flato Phil Schaechter Kenneth Levy Keren Blaunstein Sandra Levitt Dori Jaroslow 3rd Sharon Spieler Ofek Lavian Stephen Frieden Ilya Umansky Steven Schwartz 22nd Lee Hirsch 9th Robert Mehler 4th Joel Schwartz 15th Leonard Metz 28th Benjamin Aronson Rebecca Rosenheim Vladimir Gor- Sheryl Rattner Michal Korol Sheila Weisberg Howard Gannes lovetsky Daniel Stein Dorothy Dorsay Benjamin Aronson Samuel Goldstein Tal Spieler Esther Belogolovsky
Ezra Rosenheim 23rd Alexandr 10th 16th Martin Rattner Dov Isaacs Jeremy Bloom Marc Weiner Chekhanovskiy Elana Schaevitz Louis Selincourt Ginny Baird Mariel Weiner 29th 5th Allan Lavetter Susan Levine 24th Gerald Daniel
Ruth Zohoori Fay Levinson Deborah Hoffman Emily Shani 17th Elizabeth Lichy Jacob Miller 11th Marlene Bernstein Lisa Kiss 30th 6th Jennifer Orrin Michelle Selincourt Lia Pickholtz 26th Jeanette Lerner Martin Weisberg 18th Merav Tzori Kira Hoffman Mordechai Blaunstein Nora Bress Marina Gafni 31st Michael Veksler William Halper 12th Marsha Witkin Michael Acevedo Andrew Fox Lauryn Weinstein Sarah Hanuka 19th Jane Jacobson Gayle Weissbrodt Dalia Neshmit-Adar Meryle Sussman Liliya Yunerman James Kastelman Noah Miller Arielle Veksler Oleg Korol
October Anniversaries
18th 2nd 14th Steven & Ellen Karel Paul & Melissa Taylor Irvan & Addy Krantzler Grant & Alana Goodman Doron & Diane Aronson 6th David & Laura Abada 19th David & Janet Hurwitz James & Dorene Kastelman Don Gould & Rhonda Raider 8th 15th Gould Eli & Britt Harari Harry & Marcia Ratner 25th 9th 16th Eli & Rachel Gild Martin & Denise Goldberg Scott & Michelle Nathanson 26th 10th Harvey & Ina Checkman Donald & Harriet Fernandez Alex & Miri Volinsky 17th 29th Steven Labovitz & Lauren Flato Frank & Lourdes Yashar Len & Sylvia Metz 13th Charlie & Jackie Klein 30th Ronen & Cara Vainish Gene & Irina Tenberg
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Contributions Contributions are vital to the life of our community. We acknowledge the gifts received between August 1—31 from the following individuals and families.
Adult Education Programs In memory of my sister, Laraine Lindenbaum, from Georgette Tanenbaum, in memory of Alan Tanenbaum, Bonnie Ashkenazi from Stephen & Lynne Kinsey In memory of my father, Seymour Klein, from Margie Pomerantz, in memory of your dad, Sam Charlie Klein Heyman, from Stephen & Lynne Kinsey In memory of my mother, Anna Lasarev, from Alex Annual Campaign Belogolovsky In memory of my mother, Frances Gage, from Ruth In memory of my mother, Mary Goldberg, from Ruth Brill Gipstein In memory of my sister, Erika Gage, from Ruth Brill In memory of my mother, Bessie Gipstein, from In memory of my grandmother, Pesya Malkah Edward Gipstein Vinnikova, from Marina Salzman In memory of my father, Moshe Feizzadeh, from Enayat Feizzadeh Balk Family Camp Scholarship Fund Alisa Balk, in memory of Richard Dean Balk, from Art Kiddush Lunch & Sheila Braufman Sponsor Kiddush Succot Day 1, from Dov & Madelyn Isaacs Congregation Beth David Endowment Fund Sponsor kiddush on August 25, 2018 in honor of my In memory of my wife, Nancy Wiener, from Kenneth first Aliyah, from Angela Schueller Wiener Margie Pomerantz & Family, in memory of your Congregation Beth David Fund father, Sam Heyman, from Stephen & Barbara Margie Pomerantz, in memory of your father, Sam Goldstein Heyman, from Rachel Sisk Sandi Bretz & Family, in memory of Ken Bretz, from Sandi Bretz, in memory of Ken Bretz, from Maxie & Stephen & Barbara Goldstein Helen Baer Georgette Tanenbaum, in memory of your husband, Shelley & Nazgol Timmins, in memory of Richard Alan Tanenbaum, from William & Elizabeth Timmins, from Alice Timmins, Kim Lowrance Menkin MD and Darlene Hasenpflug. Maureen Smerdon, in memory of Regina Keenan, Georgette Tanenbaum, in memory of your husband, from William & Elizabeth Menkin MD Alan Tanenbaum, from Harry & Joanne Sandi Bretz, in memory of your husband, Ken Bretz, Cornbleet from Ed & Ellie Kiss Dora Bakaler, in memory of your brother, Marcos Georgette Tanenbaum, in memory of Alan Alazraki, from Harry & Joanne Cornbleet Tanenbaum, from Arye & Barbara Green Sandi Bretz & Family, in memory of Ken Bretz, from Sandi Bretz, in memory of your husband, Ken Bretz, Len & Jane Jacobson from Arye & Barbara Green Stan Farkas, for refuah sheleimah, from Len & Jane Eric Lewis, in honor of your birthday, from Lee Jacobson Gavens Sandi Bretz, in memory of Ken Bretz, from Barbara & Rick & Ann Tavan, in honor of your birthdays, from Alan Nobler Lee Gavens Ginny Baird, with love and appreciation to my friend, Howard & Renee Fine, in honor of your birthdays, from Lorraine Hoff from Daniel & Bettina Rosenberg Georgette Tanenbaum, in memory of your husband, Nat Kallman, in honor of your 97th birthday, from Alan Tanenbaum, from Herman & Penina Stern Natalie Schriger & Jerry Daniel Georgette Tanenbaum, in memory of Alan Tanenbaum, Sandi Bretz, in memory of Ken (our fellow reader), from Sandra Blair from Israel & Judith Krongold Dora Bakaler, in memory of your brother, Marcos Margie Pomerantz, in memory of your father, Sam Alazraki, from Izak & Rosa Bencuya Heyman, from Vivian Herman Dora Bakaler, in memory of your brother, Marcos Dora Bakaler, in memory of your brother, Marcos Alazraki, from Pola Bencuya Alazraki, from Vivian Herman Kenneth Aitchison & Rabbi Leslie Alexander, in Sandi Bretz, in memory of Ken Bretz, from Larry & memory of Henia Aitchison, from Harry & Edye Stein Joanne Cornbleet Melissa Taylor, in memory of your father, Marvin Congregation Beth David, from Benjamin Leznik Irwin Kussoy, from Larry & Edye Stein
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Contributions (Continued)
Kiddush Lunch (continued) In memory of my grandfather, Saul Klein, from David Margie Pomerantz, in memory of your beloved father, & Deborah Hoffman Sam Heyman, from Stanley & Doris Katz In memory of my brother-in-law, Isac Robert Barocas, Georgette Tanenbaum, in memory of your husband, from Ike Nassi Alan Tanenbaum, from Stanley & Doris Katz In memory of my father, Morris Roman, from Susan Marshall Burak, in honor of your birthday, from Rhonda Ehrlich Farber In memory of Barry's mother, Zita Brummer, from Bettina Rosenberg, in honor of your birthday, from Barry & Linda Brummer Rhonda Farber In memory of my mother, Ruth Howard, from Ronee Congregation Beth David, in honor of Rick's birthday, Nassi
from Rick & Ann Tavan March of the Living Fund Chuck & Barbara Taubman, in celebration of your Lee Gavens & Family, in memory of Susan Gavens, anniversary, from Howard & Emily Gannes from Michael & Susan Leitner Barbara Taubman, in celebration of your birthday, from In memory of my husband, Samuel Engel, from Miriam Howard & Emily Gannes Engel Rick & Ann Tavan, in honor of your milestone birthdays, from Howard & Margie Pomerantz Rabbi Alpert Discretionary Fund Kenneth Aitchison & Rabbi Leslie Alexander, in Sandi Bretz, in memory of your beloved husband, Ken memory of Henia Aitchison, from Bonnie Slavitt Bretz, from Albert & Sue Sabes Wendy Askenas, in memory of your mother, Barbara Rabbi Jaymee Alpert, in honor of Hannah Yael's baby Wolf-Gerber, from Bonnie Slavitt naming, from Doron & Diane Aronson Georgette Tanenbaum, in fond memory of Alan Georgette Tanenbaum, in memory of Alan Tanenbaum, Tanenbaum, Rodef Shalom VeOhev Tzedek from Charles & Sherry Campbell (Pursuer of Peace and justice), you will be greatly Rabbi Jaymee Alpert, from Leonard & Jane Jacobson missed, from Rivka Shenhav & Renata Zaliznyak Rabbi Jaymee Alpert, welcome to your new Kehillah! Congregation Beth David, in honor of Hannah Yael's from David & Deborah Hoffman baby naming, from Doron & Diane Aronson In memory of my mother, Ida Yevelev, from Igor Kenneth Aitchison & Rabbi Leslie Alexander, in Yevelev
memory of Henia Aitchison, from Arye & Barbara Rama Strod Education Fund Green Sandi Bretz, in memory of Ken Bretz, from Noah & Neal Gafter, in memory of your mother, Estelle Gafter, Ruth Bareket from David & Deborah Hoffman Margie Pomerantz, in memory of your dad, Sam Margie Pomerantz, in memory of your father, Sam Heyman, from Noah & Ruth Bareket Heyman, from Eric & Sheryl Lewis Barry & Linda Brummer, in honor of your new Georgette Tanenbaum, in memory of Alan Tanenbaum, granddaughter, from Noah & Ruth Bareket from Jack & Marilyn Goodman In memory of my aunt, Jeanne Feldman, from Harriet Kenneth Aitchison & Rabbi Leslie Alexander, in Weiss memory of your mother, Henia Aitchison, from Jack & Marilyn Goodman Religious School Myuchad Fund Kenneth Aitchison & Rabbi Leslie Alexander, in The Family of Joseph Cohen, in memory of Joseph memory of your mother, Henia Aitchison, from Cohen, from Natalie Schriger David & Deborah Hoffman In memory of my beloved mothers, Esther Schriger & Annabel Smiley Moskowitz, from Natalie Schriger Nathan Handelsman, in honor of Zoe's Bat Mitzvah, from Dov & Madelyn Isaacs Robert E. Levinson Memorial Library Fund Congregation Beth David, from the Wine Lovers Group Margie Pomerantz & Family, in memory of your father, In memory of my father, Oscar Yoel Hurwitz, from Sam Heyman, from Israel & Judith Krongold Betty Becker In memory of my mother, Anna Hurwitz, from Betty In memory of my father, Solomon H. Betensky, from Becker
Miriam Marr Varadi Youth Education Fund In memory of my mother, Eva Freudenthal, from Paul In memory of my friend, Harry Gelfman, from Charles Freudenthal Klein In memory of my father, Julius Schweitzer, from Eleanor Kiss In memory of my step-mother, Sally Isaac, from Myrtle Schwartz 22
Donor(s): (If donor is a Beth David member, you may leave address blank) Name______Address______Street City State Zip In honor/memory of______
Acknowledge this donation to: (If acknowledgement goes to Beth David members, you may leave address blank) Name______Address______Street City State Zip Donation Amount $______or check one of the following:______$18 ______$36 ______$72 ______$108
Congregation Beth David _____ Area of Greatest Need _____Endowment Fund _____ Kiddush Fund
Billing: (Choose One) ______Check/Payment attached, please process directly ______Bill my account for the above amount and process immediately. Account # ______Note: For a complete list of designated funds, please call the office at 408-257-3333
Officers President Bill Beyda [email protected] Executive VP Betty Menkin [email protected] Administration VP Ron Ruebusch [email protected] Education VP Ruth Bareket [email protected] Finance VP Andrew Passett [email protected] Membership VP David Fishman [email protected] Ritual VP Michael Leitner [email protected] Recording Secretary Madelyn Isaacs [email protected] Treasurer Bob Bankirer [email protected] Financial Secretary Alex Drukarev [email protected]
General Board Immed. Past Pres. Dan Skilken Director at Large Elizabeth Batson Dir. at Large Youth Chair Sharon Horovitz Director at Large Opher Harel Dir. at Large Facilities Chair Lee Hirsch Director at Large Bonnie Slavitt Dir. at Large Finance Rep Bill Halper Director at Large Alison Ruebusch Dir. at Large Adult Education Rep Carol Cassell Director at Large Thelma Ramm Dir. at Large Program Chair Barbara Green Director at Large Michael Bierman Dir. at Large Sisterhood Rep Cathy Beyda Director at Large Nathan Handelsman Dir. at Large Men’s Club Rep Art Singer
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Congregation Beth David Nonprofit Org 19700 Prospect Road U.S. Postage Saratoga, CA 95070-3352 PAID Permit No. 94 Change service requested Cupertino, CA
Did you know the D’var is available online? Help us save resources and money. Stop receiving a hard copy of D’var. Email [email protected].
Important The Future of Security at CBD
Information Meeting Sunday, November 11th 10:00 a.m. We will have guest speakers from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and the ADL. The meeting is anticipated to run about 2 hours.
Annual Meeting All are welcome as we formally install th Rabbi Jaymee Alpert Sunday, December 9 10:00 a.m. We will review what we learned so far and pose three very important questions related to changes in security procedures.
Be sure to attend! See page 9 for details
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