May/June 2016 These Words from a Poem by Lives by Doing So
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K o l e n u Our Voice T H E B I - M O N T H L Y N EW S LETTER OF PE nins U L A T E mp L E B E T H E L A Fond Farewell Rabbi Callie Schulman “Once or twice in a lifetime / A man or impact that your lifecycle rituals can have Nisan/Iyar/Sivan woman may choose / A radical leaving, on your clergy; you welcome us into your 5776 having heard - Lech L’cha - Go forth.” most intimate moments and trust us to walk through them with you, and change our May/June 2016 These words from a poem by lives by doing so. To pray and sing with the Rabbi Norman Hirsch have been inimitable Elana Jagoda Kaye is a blessing running through my head as that I know this community cherishes, and I Matthew and I prepare to leave am grateful to you all for letting me “sit in” Inside this Issue Peninsula Temple Beth El at the for her from time to time. Hers are impossible end of June. We have been blessed 2 Confirmation shoes to fill, and by following her lead I have Class 2016 to spend these three very full years with been challenged to grow as a musician and you learning, celebrating, creating, and a shaliach tzibbur (prayer leader.) Through 3 Schedule of growing. PTBE’s dedicated lay leadership, the various modes of education in which I Shabbat Services kind and hard-working staff, and warm have taught—from WNP to Movie Midrash, & President's families have made us feel so very and from Tuesday Lunchtime Learning to Message welcome, all the while teaching me what interfaith exchanges—this community has 4 Ed Programs it means to be a rabbi. 1700 Alameda de continually taught me what it means to be a las Pulgas has become my spiritual home, teacher, which is the ultimate task of a rabbi. 5 Adult B’nai and it is bittersweet to leave; but our Mitzvah leaving this place is not quite so radical I leave my position as Associate Rabbi/ as Abraham’s leaving. It is natural in the Educator at PTBE only in search of more 6-7 B’nai Mitzvah course of a rabbi’s career to move on of these things that you have taught me to 7 Message from from the community where we begin our love: lifecycle ritual, worship, and teaching. the Executive journeys; but leaving isn’t always easy. Matthew and I will be relocating to Portland, Director Oregon, over the summer, where I will be Newly minted as a rabbi when I arrived in pursuing my creative passions of writing, 8 Youth 2013 along with my beloved colleagues, spiritual direction, teaching, and spending 9 Our Community Rabbis Sara and Lisa, we set about the work time with my family. We are excited for this of learning our roles as rabbi/educators next chapter and we leave you with grateful 10 BEW in this community. I came to PTBE with hearts. As Rabbi Hirsch’s poem concludes: 11 Brotherhood experience in, and enthusiasm for, running a “We don’t like leaving / But God loves teen program and administering a religious becoming.” 13 Senior Friendship school, but the rabbinic part was all new to Club me. With the guidance of a generous Senior Todah Raba Lachem – Thank you all, so very Rabbi, I learned how to marry, bury, and bless much. 14-15 Our Community the Jewish people. You may never know the 19-20 Contributions 21-22 Calendar of For updates on events at PTBE Events please check our website at 23 Yahrzeits www.ptbe.org MESSAGES Nisan/Iyar/Sivan 5776 KOLENU Published Bi-Monthly by The Confirmation Class of 2016/5776 Peninsula Temple Beth El 1700 Alameda de las Pulgas San Mateo, CA 94403 cordially invites the congregation to worship with us (650) 341-7701 Fax (650) 570-7183 as we celebrate our commitment to Torah www.ptbe.org Education Office (650) 931-0775 Wednesday, May 18, at 6:00 pm Gift Shop (650) 345-6563 A reform congregation 10 Iyar 5776 affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism Share in the celebration of Confirmation as our 10th grade class affirms their commitment as PTBE Staff Dennis J. Eisner lifelong students of Torah and leads the congregation in worship and song with its own creative Senior Rabbi service. Students will also share inspiring remarks about their connection to Judaism and their Sara Mason-Barkin interpretation of the Jewish tradition. Associate Rabbi/Educator Lisa Kingston Lucas Becker-Lipton Ralphie Holmes Associate Rabbi/Educator Son of Marla Becker and Daniel Lipton Son of Billie and Barry Holmes Callie Schulman Associate Rabbi/Educator Jeffrey Bernstein Sophia Kajani Elana Jagoda Kaye Cantorial Soloist Son of Lisa and Robert Bernstein Daughter of Lisa and Ted Kajani Eric Stone Executive Director Jarrod Blau Kai Listgarten Tamir Frankel Son of Stephanie and Steven Blau Son of Petra Silton and Michael Listgarten ECE Co-Director Meredith Liron Zachary Bonilla Alexandra Manyak ECE Co-Director Son of Jeri and Jose Bonilla Daughter of Tanya and Gene Manyak Cindi Serbin Communications Manager Rachel Borshchenko Zoe Nachlis Officers 2015-2016 Daughter of Tatiana Blank and Daughter of Michelle Corbett and President Jill Goldring Alexander Borshchenko Mark Nachlis First VP Lawrence Siegel Second VP Geri Wohl Max Eisner Alexandra Pinski Secretary Judy Fisher Son of Mandy and Rabbi Dennis Eisner Daughter of Elizabeth Brown and Treasurer Jeff Hyman Member at Large Sharon Vinick David Pinski Campaign Officer Lorna Siepser Jordan Goldstein Son of Angela Cacciatore and Samantha Rhodes Board of Trustees 2015-2016 Steven Goldstein Daughter of Dominique and Laura Barde Davida Talcove Timothy Rhodes Jennifer Benelli Sharon Vinick Jordan Greene Stan Gross Geri Wohl Daughter of Michele Brenner and Evan Ridge Diana Hardy Ex-Officio Sharon Blau Members Robert Greene Son of Carrie and Bret Ridge Hartley Jay Mellman, Jeff Hyman Brotherhood Elsa Haugen Michelle Tenin Carol Kadet Judy Thalheimer, Daughter of Jill Goldring and Marc Haugen Daughter of Janny Ratner and Pavel Tenin Jeff Lager Beth El Women Drew Lieberman Zara Jaffe, Senior Lisa Meltzer Penn Friendship Club Rich Polonsky Tricia Mission Statement of PTBE Leslie Reisfeld Schoenbaum, Nicole Sorger Education Based on the principles of Reform Judaism, Peninsula Temple Beth El is a holy community Jeffrey Sosnick Committee that cares for its members, the State of Israel and her people, and the world around us. We Patty Steinhardt promote the love of Torah from generation to generation by inspiring Jewish living through 2 study, prayer, fellowship, and good deeds. MESSAGES May/June 2016 Message from the President Jill Goldring, President It has been almost two years since I began place we call PTBE. my presidency here at PTBE. It seems unbelievable that it is almost complete. As I reflect back on what I have experienced Serving our community has been a great I am in awe of what our community means honor and privilege, one that could not have and what it does. In the rawest form we are been possible without the hard work of so essentially a group of people with a shared many people from the clergy and temple staff vision who pool their resources through to our lay leaders and community members. membership dues, donations, and volunteered time, and somehow create this complex We are a community of diverse, intelligent, organization. and interesting individuals with amazing backgrounds, stories, and gifts to share. Our An organization where people are born, where community is remarkable because all of you, our members, work together to create this See President on page 16 PTBE’s Annual Schedule of Shabbat Services Meeting Friday, May 6 Saturday, June 4 Tuesday, May 17 6:30 PM Shabbat Hallelu and Concert 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Chloe 7:30 pm Saturday, May 7 Schmeltzer and Griffin Chalif become b’nai mitzvah 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Eli All members are invited Shubert becomes bar mitzvah Friday, June 10 to attend and learn 6:30 PM Friday, May 13 Erev Shabbat Service about the progress of 6:30 PM Erev Shabbat Camp Service Saturday, June 11 our community over 10:30 AM the past year. We will Saturday, May 14 Shabbat Morning Service, Jake Fond becomes bar mitzvah honor our Lisa Meltzer 9:00 AM This Shabbat Rocks! 5:00 PM Adult B’nai Mitzvah 10:45 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Chloe Penn, Member of the Zeldin and Ayal Meyers become b’nai Friday, June 17 Year, Rhonda Press, mitzvah 6:30 PM Erev Shabbat Service the recipient of the Friday, May 20 Saturday, June 18 Or HaTorah award, as 6:30 PM Erev Shabbat Service; Oneg 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Samuel well as bid farewell to Honoring Rabbi Callie Bloom and Aaron Becker become departing members of Saturday, May 21 b’nai mitzvah the Board of Trustees 4:00 PM 9:00 AM Nancy Schneider becomes whose terms have Tot Shabbat bat mitzvah 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Ashley ended. We will also Pelzner becomes bat mitzvah Friday, June 24 meet and elect our new 5:00 PM Friday, May 27 Bim Bam Shabbat in the Park slate of candidates for 6:30 PM Erev Shabbat Service 6:30 PM Erev Shabbat Service the Board of Trustees. Saturday, June 25 We will conclude with Saturday, May 28 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Maya 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Liana a dessert reception. Siegel and Halle Strause become Feigelson becomes bat mitzvah RSVP to Kenneth at b’not mitzvah [email protected] or Friday, June 3 341-7701.