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Tikvah Talk Vol. 30 Iss. 11 Congregation B’nai Tikvah Walnut Creek, CA Summer 2011 From Where I Stand... By Rabbi Raphael Asher State of the Congregation In many ways it has been a difficult year within the congregation with some untimely deaths and health issues from “left field.” However, these challenges locally have fostered more compassion globally as we’ve been more sensi- tized to agonies in Japan, throughout the South, and to those still languishing in Haiti. Our Social Action Shabbat recently under Glenn Gould, welcomed long term member Haylene Sandler and her husband Pierre Anesoir who spoke about their medical and engineering energies in Haiti, and I hope there will be more opportunities next year to consider areas where our attention and resources can be helpful. The Jewish Year began with our local rabbis declaring this the “Year of Civil Discourse.” Noticing more vitriol and even violence within the Jewish community surrounding Israel, the economy, and local politics, we rabbis coordinated public statements about bet- ter dialogue and mutual respect. Last year’s Yontov sermons, if you recall, focused on Yiddish revival, and one of my points was that the Yiddish language was able to be both caustic, insightful, and disarming at the same time. Jewish discourse on the left, on the right, pro-Zionist, or anti-Zionist has lost a good deal of humor and insight and these need to be retrieved. With all the hopes and misgivings in the Jewish community about the “Arab Spring,’ B’nai Tikvah together with Beth Chaim, B’nai Shalom and Isaiah will be bringing a Jewish scholar on Islam and the Arab world to deliver a series of lectures at all 4 synagogues on “Understanding the Muslim Faith and Community.” When anxieties and change polarize Jewish opinion, it will be good to temper our emotions with real knowledge. Last year’s Rabbi Joseph Asher Memorial Lecture was delivered by one of Israel’s first women rabbis, Maya Leibowicz, who high- (continued on page 8) Reflections… By Cantor Jennie Chabon On Monday evening, June 20th, the Shir Joy band and I went to play music at Juvenile Hall in Martinez. We were invited by Jennifer Rosenberg, (Rabbi Asher’s wife), who reads to the boys there once a week. You might be won- dering how it came about that we were invited to play Jewish music for a group of non-Jewish inmates. Well, it’s an interesting story! Before she begins reading, Jennifer plays a song for the boys to get them excited about hearing a book. After decid- ing between several choices, the boys settled on—of all things!—the version of Oseh Shalom that is at the end of my first album, Shirei Tikvah. She translated the song for them, and they listen to it every week, some of them dancing and singing along in their individual rooms, even though they don’t know or understand the words. After many weeks of this ritual, Jennifer called and asked if we would be willing to bring them some live music. We were thrilled at the invitation! I was a little bit nervous as the day approached. I wasn’t worried that anything would happen to us, but I didn’t know what to ex- pect, having never been in a jail or juvenile hall before. Jennifer reassured us that we were seeing them at their best: sober, eating three meals a day, safe from the dangers of their usual lives. Nothing like this had ever happened for the boys and Jennifer had to work hard to convince them to let us play. I am so grateful that she did. The experience was simultaneously so uplifting and completely heart-breaking. The boys came out of their tiny cinderblock rooms one by one, wearing matching sweatpants and t-shirts, each with their hands behind their backs. They sat down respectfully, waiting for the concert to begin. Jennifer had brought cookies and fruit, and as they waited, their counselors passed out the snacks for them to enjoy while we played. The average age was probably 15. (continued on page 7) Congregation B’nai Tikvah is a Reform congregation which, through personal attention, provides to its mem- bers an extended family. The congregation fulfills its members’ spiritual needs, fosters their Jewish identity, We’ve gone GREEN!! promotes the perpetuation of Judaism and its members’ Jewish education, and encourages a commitment to full Would you like your billing statements participation in Temple life. emailed to you? If so, please email [email protected]. Raphael W. Asher, Rabbi Jennie Chabon, Cantor Stephen Richards, Cantor Emeritus Judy Blum, Temple Administrator Phil Hankin, Director of Education Have YOU visited the Tzedaka box in our Lobby? Temple Office (925) 933-5397 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 - 5:00 Donations made by September 30 will benefit the Fax (925) 933-6833 Winter Nights Sleeping Bag Program E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.tikvah.org This quarter’s recipient selected by the Ritual Committee in honor of Lisa Wenger’s successful presidency! CONGREGATIONAL OFFICERS President John Rubenfeld Vice President Lynda Webster Vice President Tina Guterman Vice President Glenn Gould Secretary Bob Stern Welcome to our new members: Treasurer Todd Goldman Past President Lisa Wenger Jeff Levy Ilana 12, Kara 10 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Deanna Broom and Mitzi Moskovitz David 5 Karl Bemesderfer Bob Canter Chuck Eisner Alan Gould Dan Lapporte Barbara Loebel Bruce Meyers Rayna Ravitz Tikvah Talk David Specland Mary Ann Wittenberg Tikvah Talk is published 11 times a year and is distributed free of charge to anyone expressing an interest in Congregation B’nai Todd Young Tikvah. All news items are due the 10th of each month. Please submit articles electronically, if possible, to Congregation B’nai Tikvah, at [email protected] (subject Tikvah Talk) or by mail to 25 Hillcroft Way, Walnut Creek, CA 94597, (925) 933-5397. page 2 Tikvah Talk Summer 2011 President’s Message Turn It, Turn It, Turn It Again By John Rubenfeld By Phil Hankin, Director of Education I’m honored to represent the congregation I recently spent two weeks at URJ (Union for for the next two years. I have the inevitable Reform Judaism) Camp Newman working as a task of following Lisa Wenger who con- guest education faculty member. My role was veyed a clear vision of our needs and articu- to work closely with a particular unit to pro- lated it in a caring and warm way. Her ac- vide support and guidance for the staff, CITs, complishments are innumerable and her and unit heads. I helped with the educational legacy will be felt for years to come. I’m programming and the t’fillot (prayer services), fortunate to have her guidance as I begin my and was also a valuable resource in mentoring term. to the adult unit heads. Not only do I get to be a fly on the wall to observe my own children, but I get to look Understanding the importance of my position, I realize the deci- after the campers in my unit and the B’nai Tikvah kids through- sions we make during the next two years will have a profound out camp. It always give me great joy in returning to camp effect on all of us. Some of you know me, but to many, I’m just each summer in this role as mentor and educator, and I also get a name. As I take on the title of President, it’s important to to “talk shop” with my colleagues who also serve in this capac- know who I am. ity. I learn not only from the kids but from my friends. One such learning came from Rabbi Laura Novak Winer, the URJ’s I was born at Mt. Zion hospital in San Francisco. My parents, (Union for Reform Judaism) Senior Consultant on Teen En- Ed and Carol, were also San Francisco natives. Unfortunately, gagement. Rabbi Novak Winer met with the entire faculty dur- my mother lost her battle to colon cancer when I was eight. I ing our time at camp and proceeded to inform us about the Un- lived in the Richmond and Sunset districts of San Francisco. I ion’s spotlight initiative on Teen Engagement. There is an ex- was raised in orthodox household and attended a Yeshiva for a panded push over the next 10 years with the goal of couple of years. My father and I were members of Anshey Se- “transforming the culture of teen engagement in congregational fard. When I was 10, we moved to Cerritos, a small community life.” The Union is concerned that teen connection and involve- in Southern California. Sadly, the closest synagogue was 25 ment has waned over the years and this has resulted in a less miles away and it was reform. What a shock to the system that committed adult Jewish population. For the entire initiative, was! Going from an all Hebrew service to mostly English, all you can read the information on the URJ website at: http:// my friends being Jewish to only one, and daily Hebrew school urj.org/teen/. to just Sunday school. It was quite an adjustment. I completed my Bar Mitzvah, but soon after I lost interest in being part of What does this mean to us here at B’nai Tikvah? There are the community. many ways teens can stay connected and engaged post-B’nai Mitzvah. One should continue their Jewish education by at- After high school, I moved to Sacramento and earned my tending one of the East Bay Midrasha programs, the closest one bachelor’s degree in finance from Cal State Sacramento.