Festival TBE This Weekend A Weekend to Awaken the Soul
August 21-23
We are so looking forward to our very first Festival TBE.
We open our doors to our beloved community in a weekend full of prayer, music, contemplation, social action, games and fun ... and... our first ever TBE Zoom-A-Thon. Join us for this special month of Elul as we countdown to the High Holy Days.
See below for a full listing of offerings during Festival TBE Weekend.
Tech Team
These amazing folks have volunteered to take calls from anyone having trouble using Zoom.
Gale Swartz Andrea Lawrence Eric Imley Lillian Imley Shoni Gramcko Sharyl Holtzman Matthaniel Cowell Karyn Zafran (available on weekends and after 5pm weekdays)
Zoom Telephone Instructions
1. Dial 669-900-6833 2. Enter the meeting ID followed by the # key. 3. Press # again. 4. You will automatically be muted. To speak, press *6. When you are done speaking, press *6 again to mute yourself.
Upcoming Virtual Programs
Daily Elul Reflections Beginning Friday, August 21 at 9:00 a.m. Join us each morning at 9:00 a.m., on Facebook Live and TBE's YouTube page, for Elul Reflections. This program will include the call of the Shofar, music, prayers, and inspirational words by TBE community members. It is a great way to start each morning.
Social Action Shabbat featuring award-winning author and producer, Marra B. Gad, who will discuss her book: "The Color of Love."
In her debut memoir, Marra-the "mixed-race Jewish" woman of the subtitle-describes how she chose to help her racist, abusive, estranged Great-Aunt Nette after Nette developed Alzheimer's. The disease slowly erased Nette's prejudices, at last allowing Marra to develop a relationship with the woman who had shunned her in her youth where she was adopted by a white Jewish family in Chicago three days after she was born.
"The Color of Love" is the Winner of the 2020 Midwest Book Award in Autobiography/Memoir presented by the Midwest Independent Publishing Association.
Saturday, August 22 10:00 a.m.
Zoom Meeting ID: 429 568 840 See above for phone instructions.
This Shabbat is presented by TBE Open Tent with generous sponsorships from Lido Advisors and Coastline Equity.
To purchase your book of The Color of Love by Marra B. Gad, please use the links below:
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/the-color-of-love-a-story-of- a-mixed-race-jewish-girl/9781572842755 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-color-of- love-marra-b-gad/1130982083?ean=9781572842755 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Color-Love-Story-Mixed-Race- Jewish/dp/157284275X Agate: https://www.agatepublishing.com/titles/the-color-of-love
Zoom-A-Thon
$72 Watch Party Sponosor Basket includes a gift basket with popcorn and candy, etc.
$108 Havdalah Sponsor Basket includes a gift basket with Watch Party snacks, make-your-own Havdalah candle and a split of wine.
Click here for Online Sponsorship Options Or contact Shoni in the Finance Office.
Saturday, August 22 7:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting ID: 818 9085 7835 See above for phone instructions.
TBE's first Zoom "telethon" uplifting our Temple Beth El community. This special evening will begin with Havdalah with Rabbi Cassi followed by testimonials, entertainment, information about Temple Beth El programs, committees, organizations and featuring Headline Performances by Jewish Music Stars:
Rick Recht Neshama Carlebach Josh Goldberg Rob Aronson Charlie Kramer and more!
Zoom-A-Thon is FREE and Open to All.
Many thanks to Georgia Freedman-Harvey and Andrea Lawrence for co- chairing the Zoom-A-Thon.
"SUNday FUNday"
Sunday, August 23 10:00 a.m.
Torah School is ready to kick-off the school year! We will celebrate with a Torah School Drive-by Parade followed by a "driving" Scavenger Hunt around San Pedro. Torah School Supply Boxes will be given out to students after the Scavenger Hunt.
7:00 p.m. SPeTY Back to School Game Night
Hallah Bake supporting Feed & Be Fed: San Pedro
Deadline to order is August 18 No late orders can be accepted.
Bake a hallah for a good cause!
Order dough for pick-up on Friday, August 21 from Temple Beth El and bake along with your friends on Musical Shabbat.
If baking isn't for you, buy a pre-baked hallah. If you don't want a hallah, but want to support the cause, buy a virtual hallah.
Cost is $5; proceeds will benefit Feed & Be Fed: San Pedro; a local initiative that believes in nourishing the whole person using urban farm to feed the local community in body, mind, and spirit through the cultivation of healthy food, educational programs, and creating a natural sanctuary in the heart of our urban community on the edge of the Port of Los Angeles, in San Pedro, CA.
Everyone who places an order will receive a confirmation email from Shoni about specific instructions for pickup.
Place your online order. Contact Shoni in the Finance Office to order.
SADIE'S COOKIES FOR A CAUSE Bat Mitzvah Project for Sadie Lieb
Deadline to order is August 18
No late orders can be accepted.
In honor of becoming bat mitzvah, Sadie is mixing up batches of cookie dough to support the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank whose mission is to ensure that no one goes hungry in LA County.
Cost is $10. Choose from chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, and lavender shortbread. Or go crazy and get one of each!
If you are staying away from sugar, you can donate "dough."
Pickup is Friday, August 21 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at Temple Beth El. You can pick up your cookie dough and hallot at the same time!
Order Cookie Dough Online or Contact Shoni in the Finance Office
High Holy Days BOOT CAMP
At 7:00 p.m. on these Thursdays, you’re invited to join Rabbi Cassi and Cantor Ilan for a discussion on the High Holy Day prayers.
August 27 – Why is the Shofar so important anyway
September 3 – Who shall live and who shall die: A deep dive into the meaning of the Unetaneh Tokef prayer
September 10 – Our Father Our King: exploring new interpretations of Avinu Malkeinu
Zoom Meeting ID: 849 2887 8411 See above for telephone instructions.
TBE MENsch Club First Event of the Season
Thursday, September 3 7:30 p.m. on ZOOM *The first 30 minutes of this program will be social time, so it will not conflict with 7:00 p.m. Boot Camp attendees.
Talking Baseball with Alon Leichman, Israeli Olympic Baseball Player MLB Pitching Coach
Registration is REQUIRED for Mensch Club Event. Please click here to register for this event.
High Holy Days Schedule
S'lihot Service Saturday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m. During our S'lihot Service, we are pleased to welcome guest speaker Neshama Carlebach.
Erev Rosh Hashanah Service Friday, September 18 7:00 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah Saturday, September 19 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Morning Service with shofar and sermon 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Torah Service with community honors 1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Family Service 6:00 p.m. Rosh Hashanah Seder & Social Dinner A Rosh Hashanah Seder is a common Sefardic custom. After this twenty minute food-based program, attendees will go into break out rooms to enjoy a virtual dinner and pleasant conversation.
Shabbat Shuvah Service Friday, September 25 at 7:00 p.m.
Kol Nidrei Service Sunday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Yom Kippur Monday, September 28 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Family Service 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Morning Service with a sermon 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Torah Service 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Yom Kippur Learning 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Yom Kippur Afternoon Experience 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Yizkor Memorial Service 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Neila Service 6:30 p.m. Break-the-Fast
Shabbat Sukkot Service Friday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Simhat Torah Celebration Friday, October 9
*As a reminder, we will be using "Visual T'filah" during High Holy Days Services which means prayers will be shared on our screen for you to easily view. But if you would like to purchase your own prayerbooks for the High Holy Days, here are the links to use:
Hardback books from CCAR Press: Regular Edition Large Print Edition
Kindle e-books from Amazon: Rosh HaShanah Yom Kippur
Flipbooks from CCAR Press
For all High Holy Days Services, beginning with S'lihot, please use this special Zoom Meeting ID: 849 5876 0830 See above for telephone instructions.
Teen Opportunity Youth Kahaoot & Check-In
Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. For all Yaldei Shalom and SPeTY students with Cantor Ilan.
Zoom Meeting ID: 938 934 100 See above for telephone instructions.
Cantor's Corner
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Please join us for inspiring music with Cantor Ilan.
Zoom Meeting ID: 511 057 769 See above for telephone instructions.
Parent's Survival Hour
Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m.
Socialize with other Torah School parents after you put
the kids to bed.
Zoom Meeting ID: 656 488 312 See above for telephone instructions.
Torah Study Join your TBE Friends for a weekly session of Torah.
Thursdays at Noon
Join us to explore the weekly Torah portion. No experience is necessary.
Zoom Meeting ID: 561 240 220 See above for telephone instructions.
Breakfast & Storytime with Cantor Ilan
Fridays at 9 a.m.
Kids come join Cantor Ilan for Storytime.
Zoom Meeting ID: 668 983 799
Contemplative Sound Healing with TBE congregant, Chaplain Bonnie
Leopold
Fridays at 10 a.m.
Please join TBE congregant Bonnie Leopold every Friday at 10:00 a.m. for beautiful sounds of healing and peace.
Zoom Meeting ID: 855 238 144 See above for telephone instructions.
Please see the Friday email for the schedule of Shabbat offerings.
CAMPFIRE ON TOUR Online Concert Series benefiting URJ Camps & NFTY
Sunday Nights at 5:00 p.m.
Streaming Facebook LIVE at Facebook.com/URJORG Later on Instagram (@Reformjudaism) and YouTube (YouTube.com/user/URJWEB/channels)
Donate.Reformjudaism.org/Campfire
August 23 - Rick Recht
"Peter's Picks" Recommended shows & programs to
watch from our TV guru, Peter Herwitt
While we are adjusting to a new way of life and behavior for the time being, we are also becoming creative in the way we are using our time. Face Timing, Zooming, calling family and friends, renewing friendships, reading and sharing thoughts and ideas. At the end of a TBE committee meeting, I have been sharing some movies and programs with the committee members. The question became why not include more people? With this in mind, we came up with the title "Peter's Picks" (thank you Doris Jacobson). If you have some free time, and you like movies or special programs, give it a try.
Here is my recommendation for the week.
The Women's Balcony An accidental collapse of the balcony occurs at a devout orthodox Sephardic Jewish synagogue in Israel. Winner of the best screenplay at the UK Jewish Film Festival in 2017. Amazon $3.99
Wishing you happy viewing. Stay safe, Peter
Other Ways to Get Involved
Temple Beth El's Got Talent!
Cantor Ilan and the Cultural Arts committee are looking for TBE members with extraordinary talents for upcoming events and programs.
Are you or your child a musician, magician, dancer,
poet or artist who would be willing to share your talents with us? Please contact Cantor Ilan with your particular talent or something you'd be interested in performing.
Temple Beth El is proud and excited to partner with the PJ Library program to provide Jewish books each
month to children and families in our community.
PJ Library shares stories that celebrate Jewish values, culture and traditions and brings ideas and inspiration for families to experience together.
Children from birth to 8 1/2 years old are able to receive books. Children ages 9-12 are able to participate in PJ Our Way and will receive monthly chapter books.
All books are sent at no cost.
To register your children or grandchildren, go to the PJ Library website at www.pjlibrary.org
For additional information, contact [email protected]
If anyone is interested in forming a LGBTQ+ group at Temple Beth El, please contact Doris Jacobson, Open Tent Project Coordinator.
We want to honor YOU at Shabbat Services
We would love for YOU to participate in our Friday night Shabbat Service by accepting a special honor.
It could be candle lighting, kiddush, a reading or a prayer.
Please email Rabbi Cassi and let us know if you will accept this honor.
Looking for help in navigating TBE's website?
Want to find our livestream services and our calendar of events?
Contact our webmaster, Elliott Brunner, and he will take you on a virtual "tour."
Homeless Support Project We need VOLUNTEERS to make bagged lunches on August 29.
If you would like to volunteer to help us make lunches, please email Susan Brooks.
Temple Beth El's Social Action Committee, in partnership with San Pedro United Methodist Church and Pastor Lisa Williams, are making 50 bagged lunches each Saturday for people in our community who are homeless.
If you are unable to help make lunches, you can donate for this project and the other homeless support projects TBE is partnering with United Methodist Church on. Please donate online or contact Shoni in the Finance Office.
TBE is officially on Instagram ~ Please find us at https://www.instagram.com/tbesanpedro/
@tbesanpedro
Hashtags: #tbesanpedro #tbetime #tbeisforeveryone
Also, please send photos for our Facebook and Instagram page to: [email protected]
In Our Community
"VolunteerLA" Calling all Angelinos! Want to volunteer to help fellow Angelinos during this crisis?
Please go to https://volunteer.lamayor.org/ and indicate the ways in which you are able and willing to help. We are so much stronger as a community because of your help!
American Red Cross The Red Cross is encouraging people to make appointments to donate blood.
To do so, go to redcrossblood.org, and put in your zip code
to learn about nearby drives and to make an appointment. Appointments are scattered so as to mitigate risks of spreading COVID-19.
Meals on Wheels San Pedro "It is our mission that no one goes hungry."
San Pedro "Meals on Wheels" will deliver a sack lunch and a hot meal, mid day, five days
a week.
You can find more information about Meals on Wheels here.
Or if you need any help getting groceries or items to your home, please email Temple Beth El here and we can assist you.
The Ezra Network in partnership with The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
As you move through this ever-changing world of response to and living with COVID-19, you may feel anxious and unsettled. The Jewish community is here for you. You do not have to go through this difficult time alone. The Ezra Network can provide you with short term counseling, financial assistance, legal help, vocational support and so much more.
To access these free services please call or email the Ezra Network service providers:
Social worker (818) 854-9760 Job Counselor (310) 728-5567 Legal Counselor (323) 549-5827
You can find more information on our website JewishLa.org/Ezra.
Resources from the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
Please click here for a wonderful resource link to
use from the URJ.
To access prayer books online...
Mishkan T'filah for Shabbat: · Free online flip book or Discounted Kindle ebook
Mishkan T'filah for Weekdays, Shabbat, and Festivals: · Free online flip book or Discounted Kindle ebook
The Torah: A Modern Commentary (Plaut) · Discounted Kindle ebook
Amen: Seeking Presence with Prayer, Poetry, and Mindfulness Practice · Discounted print book or Discounted Kindle ebook
Sisterhood
Sisterhood Membership
Ladies, it is time to send in your Sisterhood Dues for 2020-2021.
Sisterhood counts on your dues in order to offer programs that benefit our Temple, our youth and our community.
Dues are $50 for TBE members. $60 for Sisterhood-Only members.
Make checks payable to TBE SISTERHOOD and mail directly to Rose Kolas.
Or pay online here.
For questions, email Rose Kolas.
Help TBE's Caring Community
Caring for one another is our obligation as Jews. By responding to the calls of our fellow TBE
members is a way for each of us to reply "Hineini"
here I am.
The Caring Community Committee reaches out to congregants when there has been a death in the family, when a ride is needed for a medical procedure, or a meal after a hospital stay. But Without You, We Are One Volunteer Short!
The Caring Community invites you to help us realize our goal of having every congregant be a member of our Caring Community. The Caring Community is an unusual committee, because to be a "member," you only need to be a member of TBE. When we are made aware of a congregant in need you will receive an email from a Caring Community chair, asking for your help. Please respond if you can, when we perform a mitzvah for others, we strengthen them, our entire community and ourselves.
To join the committee or for more information, please contact Gail Burch.
Lifelong Learning
Ten Minutes of Torah TBE is delighted to partner with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) to bring opportunities for Jewish study right to your inbox. Five days a week, the URJ publishes Ten Minutes of Torah, a daily email.
Sign up today. Be sure to include our congregation's name and location. It only takes 10
minutes to get started on a lifetime of Jewish learning. Begin today!
Support TBE
Donate to Temple Beth El
Make a donation online by clicking here.
Tribute Card
Send a Tribute Card to recognize an event of someone who is important to you! The Sisterhood will send your wishes - on
marriage, birth, b'nai mitzvah, bereavement, get well, and more - for $4.00 per card.
Contact Audrey Stempel to order a Tribute Card.