ConnectionsTemple Emanu-El Kislev-Tevet-Sh’vat, 5778 • V. 82 No. 3 December 2017 - January 2018
December Service Schedule Help Light Up The Holidays! Friday, December 1 Thank you to everyone who has 6:00 PM Shabbatluck Dinner supported our Annual Campaign so far! 7:00 PM Erev Shabbat Family We have made great progress towards our goal of Service with the 3rd and 6th grades and $75,000 but still have a ways to go. MazelTones The Annual Campaign helps fund programs, events, Saturday, December 2 and educational opportunities for our Temple. 10:30 AM Bar Mitzvah of If you have yet to donate, please consider doing Jared Nussbaum so by December 31 on the Temple website or by Friday, December 8 calling the Temple Administrative Office 7:00 PM Erev Shabbat Service with Sermon and Song Jeff Applebaum presents … Saturday, December 9 January 9:00 AM Baby Shabbat Service Schedule Friday, December 15 Monday, January 1 6:00 PM Tot Shabbat Temple Administrative, Clergy, 2017 and Preschool Offices Closed 6:30 PM Tot Shabbat Catered Dinner Friday, January 5 7:30 PM Cheese and 6:00 PM Shabbatluck Dinner appetizer reception 7:00 PM Erev EESY Shabbat Service 8:00 PM Chanukah Rock Shabbat Service Friday, January 12 Saturday, December 16 7:00 PM Erev MLK Shabbat Service 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan Saturday, January 13 9:00 AM Baby Shabbat Friday, December 22 Monday, January 15 6:30 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Temple Administrative, Clergy, and Special Guest and Preschool Offices Closed Monday, December 25 Friday, January 19 6:00 PM Tot Shabbat Temple Administrative, Clergy, Doors Open/Dinner-5:30PM Comedy Show-6:30PM and Preschool Offices Closed 6:30 PM Tot Shabbat Students (14-21):$18 General Admission:$54 Catered Dinner (Reserved premium tables of 10 available) Friday, December 29 7:00 PM Erev Shabbat 6:30 PM Erev Kabbalat Temple Emanu-El: 408.292.0939 Service with Rabbi Shabbat Service led 1010 University Ave, San Jose, CA Sermon by Ritual Committee Tickets: www.latkesandlaughs.com Friday, January 26 7:00 PM Erev Shabbat Shira Service 1010 University Ave., San Jose, CA 95126 • 408-292-0939 • www.templesanjose.org Saturday, January 27 facebook.com/templesanjose • twitter.com/templesanjose • [email protected] 10:00 AM Shabbat in Nature Connections
From the President Sugar, Sour Cream, or other great contributors to a less than healthy lifestyle. Or maybe, for once, our procrastination and poor follow- Salt??? through has served a purpose – it has contributed to the Lately I’ve been thinking of food longer life span of our people. more, and I don’t think it’s an And we’re going through something of a seasonal accident. On vacation over the milestone here (late November at this writing) – the final summer I read the book about few Bnai Mitzvah events of a busy year. As I may have Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs on mentioned in a previous article, my daughter was part of Coney Island, and I think that this class and they have been a great crew, many of them started me (unwittingly) down have known each other from their days at our preschool. that path. While I’m not really Now, in what seemed like a blink of an eye, they’re our much of a reader in general, one thing became very teens reading Torah with no help and all, and in another obvious about halfway through the story: for your health, blink, they’ll be off to college and gone. Another Jewish choose your books wisely. I expected this to be a great cycle is coming full circle, and those little toddlers are story of ambition, immigration, Jewish values, and national really growing up… success, and it was all of that, but it also was a subliminal express train to the refrigerator and/or snack cabinet. It makes me feel a little sad… but nothing some latkes and Every third paragraph had some or all of the words hot sour cream can’t fix…Happy Chanukah! dog, bun, French fries, etc. and I was constantly hungry Andrew Weinberg while reading. And that’s where the warning of choosing your books carefully comes in – after a really good story I had also gained some 5 lbs. Maybe there’s a diet version of the book that replaces the words hot dog with carrot stick and French fries with apple. Nah, that would never work – no one would read a book about “Nathan’s Famous Carrots”… Anyway, despite my sudden increased girth, and following the inevitable bagel/lox/kugel euphoria of Yom Kippur Break-The-Fast (which also called for a mandatory belt loosening), I’ve been thinking of all of our Jewish food traditions. And maybe there’s a divine hand in the fact that all of our beloved foods are spaced out through the different holidays. We always say things like “…man, these latkes are so good – we should have them more than once a year…” or “…was that chopped liver great or what – when can we have it again?” But the reality is we hardly ever, if ever at all, follow through on any of those sudden thoughts of latkes for example becoming a weekly treat. (The only exception to those dreams is matzah – I’ve never heard of anyone wanting to find another 8 days of the year to eat nothing but matzah…) Maybe it has something to do with all of these foods being seasonal traditions that otherwise would feel odd. Or is it divine intervention trying to help us reach old age? Face it, these Jewish comfort foods may be great for the spiritual you, but the rest of you probably wouldn’t last long if they became a regular thing. They’re a cardiologist’s office warning poster on what to avoid – deep frying, cholesterol, fat, heavy carbohydrates, salt and
2 Connections
Cantor Notes I am beyond thrilled and honored to be participating in a URJ Camp Newman benefit concert at Shir Hadash: Light the Way to a New Camp Day! Saturday, December 16 at 7:00 This holiday season, help bring joy to those in need! PM, join myself, Cantors Devorah Felder-Levy, Kay Greenwald, Jamie Temple Emanu-El is hosting Village House Women’s Shelter Shpall, and Camp Newman song from December 6—January 3 and we need your help! leader Daniel Bernstein for a fun benefit concert filled with Camp Newman melodies, Chanukah 15 women will be staying in our facility and here is how you can lights, and spirit! All funds raised will go directly to Camp get involved: Newman to provide relief in the aftermath of the Northern California fires. Meal Service Volunteers All donations are appreciated, and suggested values Overnight Stays include $18, $36, and $54, or any form of Chai. Intake Ted and I wish to Laundry express our sincere gratitude at the More information and sign-ups are available on our outpouring of love website at www.templesanjose.org. we experienced with the Baby Shower that Sign-up today to do a mitzvah this holiday season. the Temple graciously hosted for us. We are so excited for her arrival and are so lucky to share our excitement with you all. A very special thank you to the staff and congregants involved in putting the Friday, January 26 celebration together: Stephanie and the A-Team, Rabbi and Cheriel Magat, Dana Brody-Brown, Jamie Gold, Alissa Shabbat Shira Meltzer, Ilene Tucker, Lynn Offenhartz, Andrew Weinberg, (Shabbat in Song); and Sherri Wiesner. It has been, and I’m sure it will be a commemorates the time challenge to have our families so far away, but to know that this community supports us so wholeheartedly and in our people’s history without question is not only reassuring, it’s uplifting. Thank when the Israelites you to everyone who attended, thank you to everyone crossed the parted sea and who brought and sent gifts - this little girl is already more sang the song of freedom - Mi Chamocha. spoiled than she can even know! We’ll have a short Kabbalat Shabbat service, and When she is born (her due date is January 2), Ted and I immediately following we’ll have a special guest are looking forward to spending time with and getting to band, No|Ya put on a concert. They are a 3-piece know our little girl. I plan to stay home with her for a few band that creates ambient-style music with solo weeks, and will not be in the Temple during that time. We features on top. The soloist of the band is our very are hoping to introduce her to the congregation and give own Alan Chen, who plays violin for us on the High her her Hebrew name at services on Friday, March 9th. We Holy Days. hope you’ll join us for that very special celebration! Cantor Amanda Edmondson
3 Connections
Stephanie’s New Member Corner Annie Rubenstein The shorter days and longer nights Annie Rubenstein is of the winter months is a great time a returning member. to nestle close to loved ones and She was a member reflect about the past year and all for 10 years and is that we are thankful for. I am grateful to work with such now rejoining the a wonderful community. It warms my heart each year to congregation. Annie see everyone come together for exciting services and is from Montreal and events like Chanukah Rock Shabbat and Latkes & Laughs. is currently reading I am thankful for the caring and adventurous spirit of our A Man and His congregation to recognize needs in our community and join Mountain. in to meet those needs. This December we are opening our doors to 15 medically fragile women as we host the Village House Shelter Network from December 6 to January 3.
Temple Emanu-El is involved in so many inspiring programs and creates such a wonderful sense of community. We could not do all we do throughout the year without the B’nai Mitzvot generous donations of our members and friends! Jared Nussbaum Two of the ways that we are able to do these things are the Annual Campaign and the matching program. If you have not Jared Nussbaum, son of Andrew yet made your donation to the Annual Campaign, it continues and Stacey Nussbaum, will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah through December 31 and all donations are tax deductible. on Saturday, December 2. He is in Happy Chanukah and Happy 2018! 8th grade at Willow Glen Middle School. He enjoys science, math, French, video games, dank memes, and hanging out with friends. Jared has a sister, Mira, who is in 5th grade. Jared is a lifelong member of Temple Emanu-El. And, he’s hecka cool.
Temple Emanu-El’s senior youth group, EESY has many upcoming events for 8-12 graders, such as our Chanukah Party on December 16th and Bring a Friend Ice Skating on January 27th! And don’t forget to save the date for our EESY Shabbat on Friday, January 5th! Feel free to email EESY at youthgroup@ templesanjose.org with any questions, and to be added to our event detail emails!
4 Connections
My Take on Torah This D’var Torah was given by Sherri Wiesner at the November Board of Abraham did with his 3 strangers. Let us be a welcoming Trustees Meeting. place for strangers to come on a variety of levels. D’var Torah-Vayera in Genesis 1. Most basic: Let us welcome people off of the streets who want to see who we are and what our Temple This parsha is very full and has many stories we can focus is about. Perhaps they are looking for a Temple to on….. join. Perhaps they wonder what Judaism is about and 1. In Hebron- Abraham welcomes 3 strangers who prove come here to look for answers. Let us welcome them to be angels or messengers. I’ll focus upon this one as they walk through our doors. later. 2. Let us welcome strangers from other communities- 2. God informs Abraham he’ll destroy Sodom and other faiths, other backgrounds, other beliefs. We Gomorrah. This is where Abraham bargains with God have a perfect example of this coming in December and we see an example of the people of Sodom and when we house 15 homeless women in our Temple Gomorrah do not embrace the stranger. It’s also where House. The only way we will understand each other Lot’s wife looks back after being told not to and turns and accept each other is if we know each other. Let into a pillar of salt. us greet them with a smile and a welcome heart. Let 3. Then Lot’s daughters who live alone with him in a cave us talk and listen until we are no longer strangers. get him drunk and lie with him in order to get pregnant. 3. And last, let us know our current membership so that Not sure if they saw this as totally inappropriate or not nobody who belongs here ever feels like a stranger. at the time. It’s a good thing we don’t take the Torah We are each other’s Temple community. We are literally! an extended family. We are a support system. Let’s 4. Isaac is born to 90 year old Sarah and 100 year old make sure we act as such. Let’s let go of any cliques Abraham. or preconceived notions about others and practice 5. Ishmael and Hagar show up. Sarah banishes them in inclusion. We, as board members, need to be the first order to prevent Ishmael (Abraham’s teenage son with to do so, so that all congregants will also do so. the servant Hagar) from taking Isaac’s inheritance. God That is our obligation. That is our mitzvah. saves Ishmael and makes him a great nation thought Sherri Wiesner to be the Arabs. 6. Finally, we read about the binding of Isaac in this Parsha. Wow – it’s a lot to read through. Let’s concentrate on the opening story of 3 strangers appearing in front of Abraham. These strangers were thought to be angels/messengers but Abraham didn’t know that until they predicted that Sarah would give birth to a son at such a late age. Most important: Abraham performed one of our most important Mitzvot, Hachnasat Orchim—the Welcoming of guests. He was thought to be totally genuine in his welcoming of strangers. • Abraham attended to every need of his guests • He had Sarah knead cakes • He had a servant boy prepare a choice calf • He got water to wash their feet after a long walk in the desert • He had them recline under a shady tree • He escorted them when they left • He made them feel totally welcome
How can we learn from this? As individuals, a community Dogs on leash permitted. Owners are responsible for and specifically a Temple Board, let us behave like maintaining their pets' good behavior during the service. This event is sponsored by the Temple Emanu-El Ritual Committee and is free to members and non-members.
5 Connections Brotherhood My apologies for an omission in the last article. JW catering It is December again and the great latke cook off was a donated all of the food for the Brotherhood fundraiser in bubbling success. We were truly cooking with gas. Yes, August and that was awesome. We greatly appreciate the once again Brotherhood has stepped up the latke process support. with a deep fryer bringing more delectable eats to religious school kids and comedic aficionados (Latkes and Laughs) According to a recent poll, ours is the best Brotherhood in faster, hotter and better. Who knows what we will come up Northern California. Of course the poll was taken at our last with next year? Latke Food Truck? I’m just saying. meeting among the attendees but you gotta love their spirit. Early in January we will be providing a back-to-school Back in November, some of our membership volunteered lunch, as is our tradition. Other Brotherhood-related to work at Second Harvest Food Bank. From personal initiatives include the Green Team, striving to achieve Green experience I can tell you this is a highly rewarding Certification for the Temple; and a blood drive on Mitzvah experience. The number of families served by Second day. These are member driving ideas that make real sense Harvest is overwhelming and the need continues to grow. for our community. In February Brotherhood is planning our Paid-Up Membership dinner. These are usually a lot of fun and include wine in some fashion. If you would like to be included, join us now. There is usually a membership
Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley application included in Connections or you can join through the Temple website. Love to see you at the next meeting.
Chanukah Sameach – Happy Chanukah! Steve Wernick
Here Is How It Works:
From November 15 to December 19 Pull a dreidel tag from any of our dreidel boards, purchase the item and return the gift and tag to Jewish Family Services
...And put a large smile on someone’s face! Thank you for your support.
Any questions? Contact Lori Cinnamon At 408.357.7467 or [email protected]
Our address: 14855 Oka Road, Suite 202 Los Gatos, CA 95032
Join Rabbi Magat for December Dilemma on Sunday, December 17 at 11:30 AM.
6 Connections Religious School Memories
During the celebration of my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah May, 2015, our Rabbi allowed us to perform the traditional “Torah generational pass” as my daughter received the Torah in a symbolic passing down Save the date through the generations of the ancient scroll. Since it is not customary in our synagogue to do this, the Rabbi Winter Neighborhood Havdalah allowed us this opportunity to do so in order to honor my grandfather, who made it to the ceremony 3 weeks will take place on shy of his 100th birthday (he subsequently passed 10 days after the Bat Mitzvah). This brief public display Saturday, February 3 at 6:00 PM! was the ultimate example of L’dor VaDor. I would not be the person and educator that I am if it were not for the Mark your calendars and Jewish foundation that my grandparents and parents enjoy Havdalah forged for me over the years. It is through their examples with your neighbors and friends. of how they lived their lives that I learned the real life lessons that can be found in the Torah. It is my hope that my children will feel the same as they grow, age, and begin raising families of their own. I tell you this story because memories are very powerful and in some instances the ones that keep people Jewish. As a Jewish educator who is entrusted with the responsibility of creating memories for the young people of the synagogue, I hope that you, the adults of Temple Emanu-El, continue the process of building powerful Jewish memories for your kids and grandkids. It is not just what happens in the shul but also what happens at home. Since it is Chanukah time and the celebrations that surround holidays are some of the most distinctive memories one can have, how many of 7:30 PM Wine and Appetizer Reception you can remember lighting the Chanukiah on a dark, December evening and then parading around the house 8:00 PM Rock Shabbat Chanukah Service singing Ma Otzur? Pesach seders from your childhood? Purim costumes? Planting trees on Tu B’shevat? Sitting in your sukkah on Sukkot? The more we keep memories Featuring the musical stylings of our Rock like these alive the more we remember where we come Shabbat Band! An innovative and joyous worship from. This can only help guide us in our life long Jewish path, no matter which path we choose. Honoring our experience with musicians and singers joining elders and our past is one of the greatest mitzvot that we Rabbi Dana Magat and Cantor Amanda can do. As the time changes and it gets darker earlier, keep the light of your past alive within you and your Edmondson. Congregational singing is definitely children. encouraged, as is dancing in the aisles. Join us as Chag Sameach!! we welcome the Sabbath in a fun and lively Phil Hankin manner.
7 Connections
Preschool Life in the preschool is never boring!!! November was filled with enrichment classes, our annual turkey and canned food I have a little eScrip, drive, music with Cantor Amanda and of course Shabbat with Rabbi among other fun activities. We are a few months into the new school I use it every day. year and the kids have all adjusted so very well. New friendships have formed And when I shop and eat, and the giggles in the classroom always brighten our day. I love watching as our youngest friends (2 years old) go from observing and parallel play on Then Temple will be paid. the playground to suddenly running around holding hands and realizing how special it is to have a friend. TEPS is a very special place to be! We are already It’s time accepting applications for the 2018-2019 school year so please contact me for for holiday information or to set up a tour. shopping and after- Barbara Smead | [email protected] holiday sales. Each time you shop at an eScrip merchant, the eScrip Online Mall, or eat at an eScrip restaurant, you earn money for Temple. Information is available for the Mall, Dining Rewards, family of merchants and more at www.escrip.com. Not a supporter? Rush to www. escrip.com and follow the prompts. Temple’s zip code is 95126. Register your credit/debit cards. Earning money for Temple at no cost to you is a gift that Donate a Blessing Bag keeps giving. Make your holiday For Local Family Shelters shopping count for our Temple. Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood was recognized at the WRJ Biennial The book, 14,000 Things to Convention 2015 with the Amri “Light of Our People” Award for be Happy About, calls itself a their Mitzvah Day Service Project in 2015. With the support of quirky, compulsive, irresistible donations from our congregants, 75 insulated bags were purchased along with toiletry list of all the things that make items and then donated to local family shelters. Sisterhood would like to continue this us happy, such as “starting to program all year long instead of once a year at Mitzvah Day. Please consider donating make things happen,” “working to this project. toward goals,” and “not waiting I would like to donate to ensure we reach too long.” So why not be happy more families in need! that you joined the shoppers Yes and eaters who happily stay Name______connected to our Temple family in such a special way? Please accept my tax-deductible donation of: #______of blessing bags x $25.00 Happy Chanukah and Total Donation $______healthy New Year! Make check payable to: Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood Lorie Kaplan, eScrip coordinator 408.267.4563 Mail to: Temple Emanu-El, Att: Sisterhood Blessing Bags 1010 University Ave, San Jose CA 95126
8 Connections
Sisterhood A Ritual Committee A Our Healing Temple As American Jews, we can’t help but be aware of Hanukkah. If there ever was a year that tested my faith and the The Festival of Lights is the celebration that American society bonds I share with many in our congregation, 2017 was has determined to be the Jewish version of Christmas, neatly it for me. Politics aside, the last year was a rocky road topping the list of winter holiday alternatives which justify with unexpected blessings. As many in our community the vagueness in the bland, nonspecific catch-all December and beyond, we struggle with aging, from our parents platitudes “Season’s Greetings” and “Happy Holidays”. We to our children and those we care about most. We are know that Hannukkah, in the scheme of Jewish festivals, never really prepared to lose someone close to us, or to is one of the minor holidays, asking practitioners only to have a parent repeatedly call you by your sibling’s name light a few candles for eight days. Minor, in the sense that while looking into your eyes before lashing out at you there’s no proscription against work or need to gather as a because you are nearby. You are never really prepared community, and the holiday celebrates a violent revolt, not a for your teenager to change the rules of communication biblical event. overnight, cut emotional ties, and lash out at you because And yet, we also know that to the rest of America, you are nearby. Even though being nearby can be a hard Chanukkah is the most famous Jewish festival, having place to be, I find the opposite is the case with my family become the national Jewish holiday. So, unlike with Passover at Temple Emanu-El. Over the years, I have fostered or Rosh Hashanah, each year this means answering some strong bonds with members of our congregation. The of the same questions from our non-Jewish friends. “There’s Temple has become a place of respite and a place not really a specific spelling, it’s a transliteration from to heal. Just being in the gift shop, painting the walls Hebrew.” “It’s called a dreidel, it’s for a children’s game.” “The feels special to me, or cooking in the kitchen for Tot date moves each year, it’s based on the Hebrew calendar, Shabbat brings back cooking with Melenie Pearson for which is lunisolar. No, I don’t know what that means, either.” Wednesday teen dinner. Each room I spend time in helps Whereas the “major” Jewish holidays are ours to practice as me overcome the hard memories of last year. I see the we see fit, our Hanuka practices are subject to the questions memory of smiling or laughing faces of Anita Medeiros of and explanations to outsiders. And as we move through and friends filling the BFR at game night. This makes me our lives, new questions arise along with our circumstances. feel warm inside. Just thinking of the memories of the many events I attended at the Temple has helped me In June this past summer, my wife gave birth to a beautiful overcome the hard memories of “being nearby” over the baby girl, and we became parents for the first time. While last year and I am grateful for that connection. my generation of the family long ago found a rhythm for This week I dropped off twenty blessing bags to House handling our array of December dilemmas, being a first time on the Hill. They were thrilled to receive them and are parent has thrown all those answers askew. My wife and I, always looking for support from the community. This non- addicted to planning as we are, thought we had figured out profit organization helps pregnant women with shelter all these issues long ago, before we were even married. and many other resources. Their campus is located in the However, our plans provided inadequate answers for the rolling hills off Baily Road in South San Jose. This month, questions we began receiving. Our daughter is not even six efforts are going into building storage for the many months old, and already we are needing to determine what clothing items people have donated through the years. she’s doing to celebrate (watching us turn on our electric They are mainly looking for diapers and baby supplies, candelabra and say a prayer), what gifts she wants (nothing, so please keep this in mind if you are looking to support she’s an infant), is it OK if she gets Christmas gifts from her this wonderful charity. Please continue to support the Christian cousins (as if she could tell the difference), what Blessing Bag Fund Raising program as we have plenty we’re telling her about Santa (nothing, she’s an infant, and more to give out with your support. On page 8 is the Jewish), and are we doing “Hanukkah Harry” (no). form for you to send in so we can provide bags to the I know that, tiring as I’m making these questions seem, really Women’s Shelter we are hosting in December. I’m just honored that our non-Jewish relatives and friends What’s happening in December? are interested in respecting our family’s wishes. And I also know that at just five months old, we’ve got it easy. The older Will be gathering for our annual holiday meeting during she gets, the more complex the Channukkah questions Chanukah. Please read your Evites for the date and (and answers) will be. But this is why it is important for us location or call Jan Phinick at (408) 615-1605 for details. to start with a solid base now, setting the precedent when We will continue our tradition of Game Night with Chinese the precedent is easiest to set, and most importantly, not food on the 24th of December. forgetting to enjoy the holidays together as a family. Janet Phinick | Sisterhood President Branden Frederick for the Ritual Committee
9 Connections
This list includes contributions made on or between 10/11/2017–11/21/2017. Thank You for Your Generous Contributions Alvin Ravel Garden Fund Cantor’s Discretionary Fund In kind donation Sally Ravel, in memory of Bernard Axelrad Bob and Rhonda Hansen, in memory of Flora Fishoff Jo Ann Shank Annual Campaign Roy and Rachelle Vogler, in special thanks for all of Cantor Edmondson’s support during Sarah’s Israel Scholarship Fund Larry and Deanne Ball journey to becoming a Bat Mitzvah! Denise Elbert, in memory of Arcadi Elbert Jake and Pauline Braunstein Jake and Pauline Braunstein Endowment Fund JoAnne Salman-Tehrani Homeless Fund Bob and Maggie Cant Jake and Pauline Braunstein, in memory of Michelle Selber Genevieve Dishotsky Sidney Braunstein Judith Jurman Omens Cemetery Andrew and Catherine Edwards Jake and Pauline Braunstein, in memory of Rose Braunstein Beautification Fund Denise Elbert Richard and Charlotte Burriesci, in memory of Marvin and Joan Fox, in memory of Milton Fox Marilyn Feldman Helen Slater Anita Fenner Facilities for the Aged Fund Marilyn and Mort Leiter, in memory of Lionel Leiter Larry and Audrey Fox Wanda Pollack and Family, in memory of Jack Pollack Ruth and Robert Fox Kitchen Improvements Wanda Pollack and Family, in memory of Bruce Frederick Deborah Katzman, to thank Fagie Rosen and Jean Gambord Harriet Saltzman Margie Goodman Steven Keller and Michelle Tidwell, in loving memory Uri and Judith Gottfeld of Melitta and Albert Tidwell Milton Fox Campership Fund Herm and Beryl Greenberg David and Linda Mighdoll, in loving memory of Jeff and Pam Hoffman General Fund Milton Fox in honor of his yahrzeit Fred Ascher and Gloria Melmon Ascher Scott Sweet and Carol Hoffman Phyllis Matzner Campership Fund Brian and Mira Karp Joseph and Michelle Gabriel, in memory of Sadie Gabrilowitz Carol Thailer, in honor of Iris and Gene Albert’s 60th Sylvia Karp anniversary Ray and Bobi Levine Marsha and Sherman Geeser, in memory of Cele Goldstein Carol Thailer, in memory of Gene Alberts’ brother, Corinne Lipman Burton Alberts Steve and Arlene Greenberg, in memory of Mark Leon Abe Livchitz Steve and Arlene Greenberg, in memory of Linda and David Mighdoll Phyllis Omel Junior Choir Fund Eugene Weiss Sheri Prizant Norma Slavit and Family, in memory of Abraham Slavit Steve and Arlene Greenberg, in memory of David Reiser Cyril Weiss Prayerbook Tribute Wayne and Iva Rose Steve and Arlene Greenberg, in memory of Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence A.R. Ross, in memory of Eleanor and Richard Rusnak Zelda Heitner Ben Benson Jo Ann Shank Steve and Arlene Greenberg, in memory of Ed Miller, Scott Silverstein brother of Fred Miller Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Mark and Lynette Tannen, in memory of David and Joanna Snyder Marc Israel Bernard Smulyan Sybil Sommer Marc and Melissa Israel Mark and Lynette Tannen, in memory of Jenna and Zach Szereszewski Selma Karchem, in memory of Alan Singer Ellen Tannenbaum Terrell Steven Keller and Michelle Tidwell Diane and Howard Kauffman, in memory of Roy and Rachelle Vogler, in heartfelt thanks to Daniel and Julie Turchin Walter Saltzman Rabbi Magat for all of your love and support during David and Sherry Wiesner Gary Morris, in memory of Claudine Morris Sarah’s Bat Mitzvah journey! Kimberly Williams Arlene Ravel, in memory of Mildred Allen Bertram Berns Music Fund Arlene Ravel, wishing Teri Kane a speedy recovery Religious School Fund The Gorenberg Family, in memory of Abe Livchitz, in memory of Fanny Katz R. Henry Richards, in memory of Sam Spinner Dr. Marvin Gorenberg Betty Rinsler Religious School Harriet Saltzman, in memory of David Silen Endowment Fund Harriet Saltzman, in memory of Rose Silen Scholar in Residence Fund Mark and Bette Emanuel, in memory of Rose Woron Henry and Debra Watkins Bob and Maggie Cant, in memory of Sam Kaisel Bob and Maggie Cant, in memory of Lillian Becker Mildred Wolfson, in memory of Jack Fischer Harold Cahn Prayerbook Fund Break The Fast Ed and Margie Cahn, in memory of Harold Cahn Susanne C. Blickman Arts and Fatmata and Joel Osias Ed and Margie Cahn, in memory of Lillian S. Malen Crafts Fund Campership Fund Abe Livchitz, in memory of Leon Livchitz Ida F. Kragen Consecration and David Reiser, in memory of Jennie Juroff Fagie Rosen, Melissa Gary, and Miranda Katz, in memory of Felisa Laber Caring Fund Michele and Jason Balaban, in memory of Ida Kragen Temple Emanu-El Endowment Fund Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood and Al Kragen Marvin and Joan Fox, in memory of Winnie Levin
If you would like to make a contribution, visit www.templesanjose.org
10 Connections
We Remember
Those who have died recently Simon Shumer, Ben A. Solomon, David Sommer, Gabor Stiasny, Paul Andrea Gabbert, mother of Matthew Gabbert Swersky, Theron Taber, Sara Clara Weinstein, Alex Weis Sidney Green, husband of Bernice Green December 29 | Rose Altman, Bernard Becker, Aaron Berman, Else Danziger, Eugenia Dellarocca, Annabelle Erlichman, George Edward Hochman, father of Sue Shachal Everett, Cele Goldstein, Marvin Gorenberg, Cherna Gravitch, Wally John Kiharany, father of Lara Kyle, grandfather of Hirsch, Arthur Horshman, Jacob Jacobson, Mary Jurman, David Moses Kyle Kristal, Mark Leon, Samuel Lubin, Ernest Marcus, Anna Rae Marks, Morris Marsh, Betty Ostran, Sidney Rosenberg, Harry Swartz, Max Robert Pencovic, brother of Jane Schwartz Unell, Sadie Weinberg, Bernice Wiener, Ruth Yaffee Ninal Sigal, friend of Lori Rush January 5 | Alan L. Abrams, Joseph Applebaum, Hildegard And those we have lost in years past Berliner, Milton Cherkasky, Eli Epstein, John Fernandez Jr., Suzan Fischer, Estelle Glantz, Herman Goldstein, Kenneth Gordon, Gable December 1 | Bernard Joseph Axelrad, Eleanor Babel, Ben Benson, Gorenberg, C. Sylvester Green, Ralph C. Hutchins, Maxwell Ibsen, Sidney M. Berkowitz, Jean Bernstein, Esther Bessner, Guillermo Jeanne E. Jones, Leo Just, Harriet Katzen, Fannie Klein, Jeffrey Brzostowski, Winston Cornell, Meyer Davidson, Eli Delman, Madelyn Koga, Eileen Kover, Isadore Krohn, Carl Lazarus, Harry Levin, Oda Ekhilevsky, Martha Friedman, Lester Gabriel, Jean Gambord, Livchitz, Edward Lutsky, Toni Marsh, Lawrence Newman, Morris Clara Gluckman, Gisela Guen, Zelda Heitner, Bettie Hirsch, Howie Nissman, Lowell Noble, Mildred Peckman, Janice Perlitch, Anne Kamins, Howard Lubarsky, Dr. Arthur Messinger, Isadore Meyerson, Pomarantz, Robert Puopolo, William Ravel, Lena Rosenberg, Sidney Harry M. Miller, Joseph Piazza, Benjamin Poley, Harold Rosenberg, Rosenberg, Marilyn Bach Rosenthal, Lorraine Saltzman, Morris Mae Gladys Rossman, Daniel Shev, Edward Shev, Alan Singer, Dale Shulman, Marilyn Simon, Jack Smith, Joyce Sogg, Sally Sogg, Sprintz, Sylvia Swid, Ellen Tannenbaum Terrell, Harold Paul Teren, Catherine Soto, Ronald Timpson, Tom Young, Elaine Zwern Susanne Tucker-Oken, Eleanor Weinstein, Irving Oscar Zell January 12 | Ethel Asher, Joseph Bain, Irving Barowsky, Mendel December 8 | William Asher, Murray Bernstein, Irving Blum, Ed Bessner, Andrew Boxer, Bessie Cohen, Dora Morris Green, Ruth Cavanaugh, Bessie Chernin, Max Cohen, Gwen Decker, Hyman M. Guttman, Samuel Guttman, Irving Hirsch, Robert Hoffman, Morris Farber, Sheila Federman, Robert Feldman, Frieda Forster, Krystyna Katz, Helen Kidder, Sandra Levin, Joe Loren, Joseph Mandel, Frenkel, Lydia Friedman, Lena Gordon, Max L. Gordon, Louise Alan Matusow, Fred Oken, Helen Parrish, Ida Ress, Judge Martin Greenberg, Julius Gross, Anna Jacobs, Mitchell Jones, Elaine Rothenberg, Bernard Rubenstein, Leo Sachs, Sylvia Saslaw, Hilde Kaufman, Joseph Land, Dr. Charles C. Lax, Elliott Lerner, Mose Levy, Schmitt, Norman Silver, Simon Slater, Mary Stoll, Al Turek, Leonard Hattie Bloom Lewis, Min Lotman, Frederick Malter, Esther Miller, Jack Wiesner Woodrow A. Morgan, Minnie Nathan, Claire Ludwig Peterson, Jules Prizant, Jerry Richman, Manny Rosenson, Abraham Slavit, Alice January 19 | Ben Atlas, Rosalie Atlas, Lila Cohen, Alan Danoff, Sternberg, Arleen Taylor, Nathan Taylor, Miriam Turetzky, Bessie Michael Bernard Elman, Stuart Ganz, Pauline Gunar, Lena Heller, Wagner, Louis Wasserman, Israel Weinberg, Amanda Weingarten, Rosel Herman, Nella Hoffman, Faye Jorgensen, Seaman Lloyd Kay, Herman Weissberger, Louise Morrison Winter, Virginia Worthington Sam Kovnat, Gertrude Leiter, Mary Leon, Milton Levine, Joseph Lee Lipsie, John Lukes, Helene Malek, Sam Marchick, William Medeiros December 15 | Cecile Aronson, Jerry Bendit, Doris Berns, Mark Sr., Benjamin Nerenberg, Stephen Penner, Elissa M Powell, Reva K Bershadsky, Jennie Bloom, Jack Braude, Maurice Carl, Hilda Richards, Rosa Lebrecht Roy, Samuel Rubin, Ilean Rudin, Abraham Diamond, Jacob Doblin, Ida Epstein, Cecila Estrina, Evsey Estrina, Schaffer, Benjamin Schatten, Joseph Schwarz, Rose Smith, Dr. Jerome Wolfe Gootherts, Sadie Greenhut, Tillie Handlin, Vera Howard Steiner, Maurice Tucker, Sam Wasserman, Miriam Winter, Hirsch, Benjamin Koeppel, Joseph Kolder, Albert Kragen, Annie Gerhard Wolff, Rose Zabinsky, Lola Zeidenweber Levin, Richard Levin, Jerry Magedman, Isidor Marcus, Dorothy Murov, Annie Myers, Charlotte Newman, Alex Purwin, Blanche January 26 | Edward Jacob Abelson, Mabel Field Baker, Bill Schwartz, Anna Sarah Shanske, Steve Siegel, Lori Solomon, Harold Bitter, Princess Braithwaite, Lawrence Brenner, Bernard Bronk, Swid, Beverly Telson, Melitta Tidwell, Katrine K. Walker, Elisa Warner, Philip Cohen, George Edwards, Goldie Epstein, Sam Epstein, Shep Eugene Weiss, Hilda Gordon Wolff, Marcy Epstein Wolff, Abel Finkelstein, Tybil Garshon, Alene Goldberg, David Goldberg, Rose Wolfson, Harry Yaffee, Walter Zimmer Gorenberg, Eric Hoffman, Grace Evelyn Hoffman, Norman Jackman, Mona Jacobs, Ervin Katz, Louis Howard Katz, Martin Kreisman, Belle December 22 | Oscar Altman, Etta Bach, Evelyn Berman, Isadore Ladowitz, Sarah C. Landau, Anne Leven, Virginia Levin, Charles Bernstein, Rose Braunstein, Herman Brown, Diane Creech, Frances Frank, William Gizang, Helen Grant, Pauline Jaffe, Dr. Gary Katz, Lewis, Frances Lutsky, Maurice Miller, Janet Moore, Ted Purwin, Al Marcus Laevsky, Isadore Levine, Helen Matzner, Julius Mendel, Reiser, Abraham Joseph Rosenberg, Gerald Sapper, Max Segal, Rose Pollack-Berlant, Edy Port, Ira Progoff, Shaney Raphael, Michel Virginia Shivell, David Sommer, Stanley Tobin, Sandy Waldo, Mollie Roll, Lorin Rosenberg, Rebecca Sachs, Marty Seldon, Lily Shopkow, Wasserman, Hannah Weiner, Robert Gary Weiner
11 Connections
If you would like to advertise in Temple Emanu-El’s Connections contact Megan Hendrickson at [email protected].
12 Connections
Gloria Melmon Ascher Realtor BRE#00613382
REALTORS Cell 408.781.8624 12772 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road Office 408.741.1111 x604 Suite 1000 Fax 408.741.1199 Saratoga, CA 95070 [email protected] www.GloriaAscher.com
Jewish Family Services Home Care Cave to Cellar Personal care Domestic duties French Wines Transportation Companionship T Mobility OCC Competitive rates Artisnal wines
[email protected] for every day, (408) 556-0600 Gifts, Holidays!
Order online today!
Champagne • Rhone Burgundy • Beaujolais www.cavetocellar.com
13 Connections
9 16 23 30
Shabbat Morning Baby Shabbat Bar Mitzvah of Jared Nussbaum Saturday 9:00 AM Minyan 9:00 AM 10:30 AM
12
15 22 29
Shabbatluck Erev Kabbalat Erev Kabbalat Shabbat Service led by Ritual Erev Shabbat Family Service with the 3rd and 6th grades and Erev Shabbat Service with Sermon and Song Kabbalat Shabbat Kabbalat Service with Rabbi Service with Rabbi and Special Guest Catered Dinner Cheese and appetizer reception Chanukah Rock Shabbat Service Tot Shabbat Tot Shabbat Tot Friday 6:00 PM 6:30 PM Committee Dinner 7:00 PM MazelTones 7:00 PM
6:30 PM
7:30 PM 8:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 78 14 21 28 Thursday Village House Shelter Project Village House Shelter Project Village House Shelter Project Village House Shelter Project
13 20 27
Lunch and Learn Lunch School Religious Beit No’ar Cantor’s Lunch Lunch Cantor’s and Learn School Religious Beit No’ar Religious School Religious Beit No’ar Torah Study Torah Lunch and Learn and Learn Lunch Wednesday 12:00 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 12:00 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM
12:00 PM
56 12 19 26 DECEMBER 2017 Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Israeli Dancing Tuesday 7:00 PM Meeting 7:30 PM 11 18 25 Monday Temple Administrative, Clergy, Clergy, Administrative, Temple and Preschool Offices Closed 34
10 17 24 31
in honor of their participation in tonight’s service grade classes in honor of their participation tonight’s Ariana, Analise and Braydon Henry in honor of Aurora’s Bat Mitzvah; Families of the 6th and 7th November 3, 2017 | The Zeltser family in honor of Aurora’s Bat Mitzvah family in honor of Sarah’s 2017 | The Vogler November 10, grandfather of Henry, father of Karen Henry, 2017 | The Henry family in nemory of Lesley November 17, Emanu-El November 24, 2017 | Temple
Chinese Food & Game Night Confirmation Class School Religious Brotherhood Confirmation Class School Religious Confirmation Class School Religious December Dilemma and Laughs Latkes Sunday Sponsors Oneg Oneg 6:30 PM Meeting 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:30 AM 5:30 PM
14 JANUARY 2018
6:00 PM Shabbatluck Dinner Administrative, Clergy ,and 7:00 PM Board of Trustees 6:00 PM Ritual Committee 7:00 PM Erev EESY Shabbat Preschool Offices Closed Meeting Meeting Service Village House Shelter Project
9:00 AM Confirmation Class 10:00 AMReligious School 12:00 PMLunch and Learn 12:30 PMBack from Winter 4:30 PM Religious School 7:00 PM Erev MLK Shabbat Break Luch 6:30 PM Beit No’ar Service 9:00 AM Baby Shabbat
6:00 PM Tot Shabbat 9:00 AM Brotherhood 6:30 PM Tot Shabbat Meeting Catered Dinner 9:00 AM Confirmation Class 7:00 PM Erev Shabbat 10:00 AMReligious School 4:30 PM Religious School Temple Administrative, Clergy Service with Rabbi 12:30 PMBeit No’ar ,and Preschool Offices Closed7:30 PM Israeli Dancing 6:30 PM Beit No’ar Sermon
12:00 PMLunch and Learn Torah Study 9:00 AM Confirmation Class 4:30 PM Religious School 7:00 PM Erev Shabbat Shira 10:00 AMReligious School 6:30 PM Beit No’ar Service 10:00 AMShabbat in Nature Connections
9:00 AM Confirmation Class 10:00 AMReligious School 4:30 PM Religious School
12:30 PMBeit No’ar 7:30 PM Israeli Dancing 6:30 PM Beit No’ar 15 Non-Profit Org. US POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 542 San Jose, CA
1010 University Ave. San Jose, CA 95126
Clergy______Award/Operating and Tribute Funds Dana Magat | Senior Rabbi – [email protected] General Fund Amanda Edmondson | Cantor – [email protected] Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Joseph Gitin, D.D. (z”l) | Rabbi Emeritus Cantor’s Discretionary Fund Alvin Ravel Garden Fund Committee Chairs______Beverly Jordan Temple Beautification Fund Bobi Levine | Havurah Coordinator – [email protected] Judith Jurman Omens Cemetery Beautification Fund Dan Lee | Membership Commitment – [email protected] Lou and Clara Juren Library Fund Uri Gottfeld | Facilities – [email protected] Ralph Goldeen Library Fund Debbie Michels | Marketing – [email protected] Endowment Fund Maggie Cant | Ritual – [email protected] Religious Funds Robert Levy | Tikkun Olam – [email protected] Harold Cahn Prayerbook Fund Debbie Michels | Membership – [email protected] Kenneth Gordon Children’s Prayerbook Fund Enrique Guadiamos | Leadership Development – [email protected] Susanne & Maurice Tucker High Holy Days Kim Jackman | Religious School – [email protected] Music Fund Fagie Rosen and Harriet Saltzman | Caring Committee – [email protected] Ida F. Kragen Consecration and Caring Fund Robin Feinman-Marino | Fundraising Committee – [email protected] Youth Funds Joe Riggio | Endowment Committee – [email protected] Religious School Fund Denise Moreno | Preschool Committee – [email protected] Religious School Enrichment Fund Betty Rinsler Religious School Staff______Endowment Fund Stephanie Pollock | Executive Director – [email protected] | 408-292-0939 ext. 233 Weintraub Religious School Scholarship Fund Barbara Smead | Director, Early Childhood Education – [email protected] | 408-293-8660 | #434404443 Campership Fund Phil Hankin | Director of Education – [email protected] | 408-292-3223 Leonard and Bernice Gaon Campership Fund Shantha Smith | Bookkeeper – [email protected] | 408-292-0939 x235 Michael Elman Campership Fund Milton Fox Campership Fund Megan Hendrickson | Marketing & Communications Coordinator– [email protected] | 408-292-0939 ext. 234 Phyllis Matzner Campership Fund Wayne Rose | Cemetery Administrator – [email protected] | 408-266-4184 Israel Scholarship Fund Board of Trustees______Susanne C. Blickman Arts and Crafts Fund Andrew Weinberg | President – [email protected] Cultural Funds Ilene Tucker | VP Administration – [email protected] Choir Fund Debbie Michels | VP Membership – [email protected] Phyllis Omel Junior Choir Fund Bertram Berns Music Fund Alissa Meltzer | VP Education & Youth – [email protected] Shank-Rockman Family Sound System Fund Edgardo Laber | Secretary – [email protected] Scholar in Residence Fund David Heiman | Treasurer – [email protected] Dana Brody-Brown Mira Karp Eric Snider Community Funds Robin Feinman-Marino Annette Ladowitz Greg Turetzky Facilities for the Aged Fund (Chai House) JoAnne Salman-Tehrani Homeless Fund Larry Fox Shirley Lee Sherri Wiesner Jamie Gold Denise Moreno Other Tribute Opportunities Bob Hansen Fagie Rosen $36 - Prayerbook Tribute $218/$500/$750 - Tree of Life Auxiliaries______Leaf/small/large rock Zach Szereszewski | Brotherhood President – [email protected] $500 - Sanctuary Chair Plaque $750 - Memorial Plaque Janet Phinick | Sisterhood President – [email protected] (in sanctuary foyer) Matthew Dworkin | EESY President – [email protected] Opportunities in CONNECTIONS is published 10 times a year by Temple Emanu-El, 1010 University Ave., San Jose, CA 95126. Levin Learning Center $5,000 - Stair Plaque Making a contribution to one of Temple Emanu-El’s many funds is a wonderful way to $10,000 - Library Column Dedication honor your friends and family. You may make contributions in honor of a birth, a birthday, $25,000 - Room Dedication brit milah, baby naming, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, confirmation, graduation, engagement, wedding, anniversary, promotion, new home, special occasion or just because. You may Contact the Admin team for also make contributions for get-well wishes, condolences, remembrances and yahrzeits. additional opportunities.