Shir Notes the Official Newsletter of Congregation Shir Ami Volume 16, Number 6, June 2018
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Shir Notes The Official Newsletter of Congregation Shir Ami Volume 16, Number 6, June 2018. Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Rabbi’s Column Events . We’re going to dedicate a Ner Tamid at the end of this of the Month month. Shabbat services at It was designed by us but hand-made in Israel reflecting our de Toledo High School name and the congregation’s musical emphasis. I’d post a picture, but we Saturday, June `9 - 10:30 am Birthday Shabbat want the reveal on June 23 to be our first view of this artistic endeavor! Saturday, June 23 - 10:30 am The Eternal Light is often associated with the menorah, the seven-branched Anniversary Shabbat lamp stand which was part of the Bet HaMikdash – the Holy Temple in Ner Tamid dedication Jerusalem. (See article on page 2) Kiddush lunch for Ethyl Granik’s The rabbis interpreted the Ner Tamid as a symbol of God’s eternal presence 90th birthday in the world. --------------------------------------------- Walk Around Lake Balboa Originally the Ner Tamid was an oil lamp. Ours will be a battery powered Sunday, June 3, 9:00 am bulb. It’s supposed to be “eternal” but how long the batteries last will determine that. Our Walk this year raises money for the Painted Turtle Camp for Obviously, we have been able to manage without a Ner Tamid this long, so seriously ill children. Call Sheilah what will this light add to our lives? Hart at (818) 884-2342. See article on page 4 and flyer. The light shines above the ark, repository of the Torah scrolls. The Hebrew --------------------------------------------- root for both the Torah and the Ner Tamid is “or.” Interestingly, both the The Story of the Jews Hebrew words of parent (Hor’rah) and teacher (Mo’rah) also contain that Sunday, June 10 same root for “light.” Meaning that illumination comes from many different 2:00 pm at the Vorspans’ sources. This is the fourth afternoon of a five We as a people are supposed to be an “Or La’goyim”–a light unto the part series originally shown on PBS nations. Perhaps we, as individuals, can serve that same purpose, reminded created by Professor Simon Schama. This segment portrays to do so by the Ner Tamid. how the Jews of eastern Europe made their mark in the modern Life can be trying, but it is at those times that we must be on our best world. Rabbi Vorspan will lead a behavior. In moments of impatience, or anger, or frustration – these are discussion following the video. See when we must remember that light shining above the ark. the article on page 7 and see the flyer to register. And become that light. Rabbi David Vorspan Featured articles inside Dedication of Our New Ner Tamid and Parochet at Shabbat Service June 23 by Sherry Dollins - page 2 Biography of the Month: Sandy Koufax by Stan Schroeder - page 5 Jewish World Watch Walk to End Genocide by Rae Wazana - page 6 Visit our website: The Story of the Jews [4], Sunday, June 10 by Stan Schroeder - page 7 www.shirami.com Operation Gratitude - Father’s Day by Charlene Kazel - page 8 page 2 June 2018 President’s Report Dedication of Our New Ner Tamid and Shalom, Parochet at Shabbat Service June 23 June is here and like kids all over the by Sherry Dollins country can hardly wait until school is out, we are Our congregation is fortunate to have two new ritual waiting for Schul to be “out” as we look forward to items to enhance our Shabbat services. At her Tribute our annual two-month hiatus in July and August. Luncheon, our rebbetzin, Bonnie Vosrpan, presented the congregation with a gift of a beautiful hand-made Not so fast, though. We have a lot to accomplish parochet that she created for our ARK, which was this June. We have two more Saturday morning installed several months ago. Additionally, as a result Shabbat services and one more Torah/Shabbat of a very successful fundraising campaign, we were Study Session. Our Shabbat services will still be able to have a ritual designer in Israel create a lovely held at De Toledo High School, but we still don’t battery operated Ner Tamid that represents our know exactly where, so keep alert. And we should all be looking forward to the last Shabbat service of musical heritage. Our member, Jerry Gort, has June when we will be unveiling our new Ner Tamid. installed the new Ner Tamid on our Ark. On June 23rd, we will be dedicating these two new But that doesn’t mean we’ll be standing idly by, enhancements to our Shabbat sanctuary and we waiting for our vacation. Not so! We will be having invite you to join us for this special celebration. A our annual “Walk Around Lake Balboa.” This year, special Kiddush will be part of the commemoration. we walk to benefit the Painted Turtle Camp which provides a fun-filled free camping experience to We are lucky to have wonderful, big-hearted members kids with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. We and a caring and talented rebbetzin who contribute so will have our annual “Class Photo” and then we put generously to our congregation. Please join us for ourselves into orbit around Lake Balboa. this very special occasion. Take advantage of July and August, so you can return tanned, rested, and ready to begin another year of Shabbat Services. And we promise to let you Mailbox know in what room they will be held, really. Dearest Friends, As always, if you have any questions or want to provide your input, please feel free to email me at On behalf of the women and children [email protected]. victims we serve at JFS{Hope, I would like to thank you all so very much for your generous Thank you. contribution of Target Gift Cards to our program. Your Jordan Pistol, President generosity of spirit and commitment to our work continues to be outstanding and we’re deeply grateful and appreciative to you all. The gift cards will be distributed to the women and they will be so thrilled having a special outing with their children to indulge in a little “something” for themselves. You have no idea how deeply our clients appreciate the “kindness of strangers”….folks they’ll never get to meet or thank in person. So please accept my gratitude and rest Congregational News assured your gifts will be a great Mother’s Day treat!! Get well wishes rafuah schleimah to: The staff joins me in wishing all the Moms in the synagogue a very Happy Mother’s Day with deep Cantor Roger Goodman thanks for thinking of our special folks. Take good care Fran Kobulnick and have a healthy, happy summer. Paullette Pistol May they be blessed with a complete recovery in Warmly, body and spirit. Kitty Glass, Community Outreach Coordinator page 3 June 2018 Birthdays & Anniversaries DONATIONS Congregation Shir Ami wishes to Birthdays acknowledge the following donations: $ Wayne Geffen................................ 6/3 Yahrzeits Sondra Licht................................... 6/6 Gary Finlay..................................... 6/10 Lynn Cherney for Dora Cherney Stan Rosenbluth............................. 6/14 Harvey Cohen for Sally Cohen Irwin Koransky................................ 6/15 Fran Feinman for Stephen Feinman and Myrna Gold Jay Cohen...................................... 6/26 Jacquie Gordon for Marshall Gordon Helga Unkeless.............................. 6/26 Philip Hockmeyer for Joseph Hockmeyer David Lipman................................. 6/29 Sylvia Hockmeyer for Joseph Hockmeyer Gale Cohen.................................... 7/1 Andrea and Leon Nachenberg for Milton Stover Heather Hyman.............................. 7/1 Ann and Seymour Potell for Libby Blankstein Ethel Granik................................... 7/7 Ed Schackman for Mark David Schackman Fran Feinman................................ 7/12 Sally Shane Ed Schackman............................... 7/15 Irving Strassner for Ann Perelmutter Barbara Hattem.............................. 7/22 Bonnie and Rabbi Vorspan for Max Vorspan and Al Siebler........................................ 7/22 Sandy Vorspan Phyllis Feldman-Schroeder............ 7/27 Phyllis and Stan Schroeder for Albert Kaufman Stan Goodman............................... 7/27 Birthdays Charlene Kazel.............................. 7/29 Judy Eisikowitz.............................. 7/30 Ellen Fremed Yael and Gavi Sela (14) (by Bonnie and Rabbi Vorspan) Anniversaries Linda Tapper (70) Ben Vorspan (by Bonnie and Rabbi Vorspan) Bette and Owen Delman................ 6/7 54th Shaina Vorspan (35) (by Bonnie and Rabbi Vorspan) Marcie and Steve Spetner.............. 6/10 39th Phyllis Schroeder Becky and Gary Finlay................... 6/13 19th Paula and Paul Frankel.................. 6/16 28th Anniversaries Karen and Fenton Harvey.............. 6/24 34th Sherry and Lee Dollins................... 6/25 51st Shaina and Aaron Brenner (4th) Cheryl and William Niesen............ 6/28 48th (by Bonnie and Rabbi Vorspan) Maralyn and Paul Soifer................. 6/28 49th Alisha and Ehud Sela (17th) Clara and Stan Rosenbluth............ 7/6 66th (by Bonnie and Rabbi Vorspan) Lorraine and Dan Simansky........... 7/10 53rd Ben and Elana Vorspan (11th) Susan and David Lipman............... 7/12 48th (by Bonnie and Rabbi Vorspan) Sima and Steve Schuster............... 7/15 51st Rabbi David and Bonnie Vorspan (47th) Other Owen and Bette Delman in fond memory of Esther Perez Jerry Gort in memory of Esther Perez Jerry Gort in honor of Harvey Cohen's 96th birthday Phyllis and Stan Schroeder in honor of Harvey Cohen's 96th birthday Bonnie and Rabbi Vorspan for Yael and Gavi Sela's graduation from Heschel Day School Congregation Shir Ami Tribute Cards Our Condolences Thanks to Phyllis Schroeder for sending your cards celebrating We regret to inform the congre- simchas and conveying your get- gational family of the passing of: well and condolence messages. Patricia Williams, stepmother of our Secretary Karen Benson. She is creative with individualized, artistic cards that include a message May God comfort Karen and her family at this time and color graphics.