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DECEMBER 2016 - FEBRUARY 2017 | KISLEV-ADAR 5777 Volume 66 | Issue 2 our community kiKEHILLAT ISRAELquarterly RECONSTRUCTIONIST CONGREGATION OF PACIFIC PALISADES conversation Invisible No More BY RABBI NICK RENNER [email protected] Have you ever been stopped at a Many in our own community have connected through Kehillat traffic light that just wouldn't Israel's Tikkun Olam Committee with a range of projects to serve change? You sit and sit, but it won't those in need. One example is the Imagine LA Mentorship go from red to green. From what I Program, wherein members of our KI community volunteer to understand, there are sensors in the help a family emerging from homelessness. Volunteers help with road that detect when you drive up tutoring, career development, childcare, healthcare, meal-planning so it can indicate to the traffic light to and more. In this way, the program has ensured that every change. But sometimes, for whatever family who has gone through the two-year program has remained reason, the light just won't change. in housing. Imagine LA has worked to help nearly 100 families escape from homelessness. Outside of the other challenges of driving, this is irritating in a different way. In fact, I think the And Imagine LA isn't the only project KI has connected with irritation is actually linked to some of the other frustrating through Tikkun Olam. Among others are One-on-One outreach experiences in life, such as waiting on the phone for customer delivery, Turning Point dinners, our High Holiday Food Drive, turkey service with the telephone or internet company. I believe the drives and food sorts, Safe Place for Youth dinners, sustainability common thread with these experiences is that when we're stuck films for Hanukah, and social justice speakers. at the traffic light or we're on hold with a telecommunications giant, we're not being seen. We're present, we might need help I believe the call to see those amongst us who are unseen is from tech support or at least a left-turn arrow, but we're not seen. an important call, and this time of year gives us a special reminder. It's no accident that many cultures and religions have Now, realistically, when we're not seen by the telecom company festivals revolving around light at this time of year. It's the time or the road sensor, our plight is minor next to others in our when the days are shortest and the nights are darkest. So in community who are invisible. Those who are poor, hungry, response, we push back the darkness with our own light, that we disabled, or homeless are often the ones we don't see. I suggest may see others in our lives and in our community. Please take our that we can do better. own Festival of Light as an invitation to cast our own light into the community and see those who are invisible to us. Happy Hanukah, and may each and every one of us be the light that pushes back the darkness, to see those around us who are invisible. ...cast your own light into the community from the president table of contents BY ROBERT RESNICK page [email protected] From Rabbi Nick Renner 1 From the President 2 From the Executive Director 3 Another Bright Early Childhood Center 4 Jewish Experience Center 5 Year for KI From Rabbi Amy Bernstein 6 As I write this, 2016 is about to come to a close. Year end is a wonderful time to Tot Shabbat 7 count our blessings, and find meaningful ways to express our gratitude for those Our B'nai Mitzvah 8-9 blessings! In that regard, I often reflect on the many wonderful people I have had the pleasure to meet at KI, and how different life would be without our wonderful Calendars 10-12 shared sense of community. Enrichment 13 Tikkun Olam 14-15 In our Vision 2020 strategic planning process, “community” was the overwhelming KI Community Events 16-17 response when participants were asked to describe the one word that best describes KISS 18 why they joined and continue to rejoin KI. How lucky we are to have so many dedicated people in our community who work so hard to make KI feel like home. KI Community Events 19 It is, in fact, the selfless and tireless work of so many others that inspires me to do KI Community Photos 20-21 more every day. Tributes/Contributions 22-24 It was wonderful to see so many good friends at High Holy Days! We received very positive feedback on our new venue at the Westwood Village Theater, which is so beautiful, warm, and spacious. It was, of course, also wonderful to participate in services at KI as well. I look forward to a bright 2017 for KI and all of our members. And I look forward to another year of connecting with friends, finding meaningful ways to continue January 26 at KI building our community, and laughing and smiling with KI’s kids at Tot Shabbat and 6:45 PM Seating in our schools. 7:00 PM Screening Popcorn and dessert will be Wendi and I look forward to seeing all of you at KI in 2017, and wish everyone all served. Q&A session follows that you desire, and that your new year be filled with love, laughter, good health, each screening.) and delight. Hummus! With love and best wishes to all, In Hummus! The Movie we meet three main characters – a 2016-17 hardworking Muslim woman, an ever-smiling KEHILLAT ISRAEL Robert Jew and a young BOARD OF TRUSTEES Christian Arab on a quest for meaning. And they all have 2 one thing in common… a love of Hummus. More great movie screenings to KI Quartery come: Feb 23 | Mar 23 | May 4| May 25 | Jun 22 from the BY MATT DAVIDSON executive director [email protected] No Limits One of the reasons I love coming • All children with a hearing loss should have a variety of to work every day at KI is that I find communication options. myself continually blown away and inspired by the work that so • All children with a hearing loss deserve to receive a many of you are doing of your own volition to help make the quality education equivalent to their hearing peers. world a better place. From time to time I’d like to highlight some • All children with a hearing loss have the ability to become of the wonderful causes our congregants support. literate and educated and contribute to the community. • An informed parent is a child's best educator. On Sunday, October 9, members of the KI Boychicks softball team participated in the 8th annual homerun for kids charity softball The No Limits Theater Program is the only one of its kind in the game organized by KI congregant Ron Schur. Through Ron’s nation for deaf children who are learning to speak and listen. efforts over the years, over $100,000 has been raised to support To date, the children of No Limits have performed in over 85 No Limits for deaf and hard of hearing children. productions throughout the country, reaching an audience of over 150,000 people. No Limits has been featured in the New York Founded in 1996, No Limits Educational Centers in Los Angeles, Times, Newsday, OPRAH, CNN, and other media outlets. Las Vegas and Oxnard, provide year round, high-quality specialty services to deaf children and their families. The after-school Due to the essential skills children develop at No Limits, with a program offers: 100% success rate their graduates enter college and become • Individual auditory, speech and language therapy productive and engaged citizens. Many of the original cast • Academic tutoring members of the first No Limits production volunteer weekly to • Literacy classes give back to No Limits and inspire younger deaf children and the • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) families who love them. Kudos to Ron Schur for his dedication • Music, Theatrical Arts and Public Speaking and commitment to such a worthy cause. • Leadership & Mentoring Academy for teens • Parent Education and Family Support Many thanks to the following KI players who participated in the • Audiological services (including loaner hearing aids) charity softball game: Cliff Lyon, Gary Spivack, Chris Heisen, Garry Corman, Steve Levine, Josh Popkin, Brian Coughlin, Matt Meyer, No Limits builds the self-esteem and communication skills of Lisa Simon, myself and Cantor Chayim Frenkel. To learn more children who are deaf or hard of hearing by providing the highest about No Limits, visit nolimitsfordeafchildren.org. quality of services so they can reach their potential regardless of economic status. The organization’s core values are the following: Email me at [email protected] to tell me more about work you do with other worthy organizations! • All children should be given the tools to believe in themselves. • All children have the potential to realize their dreams. New Staff Welcome! 3 Daryl La Fountain KI welcomes Daryl La Fountain as the Director of Finance and HR. The former director of Finance and HR at Stephen Wise Temple, Daryl has a background in the Jewish nonprofit sector and a degree in accounting from Bradford College in Massachusetts. A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native, Daryl moved to California in KI Quarterly 2012. When he's not busy getting KI in tip-top shape, he enjoys playing tennis, hiking and traveling.Daryl lives in West Hollywood with his three year-old daughter Maya and his dog, Buddy. educationearly childhood center Making Hanukah Meaningful BY JULIE DUBRON, DIRECTOR, EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER [email protected] I remember Hanukah vividly as a child.