Shir Notes The Official Newsletter of Congregation Shir Ami Volume 9, Number 10, October 2011 Affiliated with United Synagogue of

Rabbi’s Column Events On the twenty-first day of this month of October, we of the Month close out the holiday season with Simchat . We Shabbat services celebrate the completion and resumption again of the at Temple Ner Maarav cycle.

Friday, October 14 8:00 pm It's a wonderful service. Everybody present who wants Birthday Shabbat will receive an aliyah to the Torah. In those Saturday, October 22 10:00 am congregations blessed with many in attendance, this could take some Saturday, October 29 10:00 am time! And so in some congregations, the daveners are divided into Anniversary Shabbat groupings based on any creative method that comes to mind-by hair color, ------High Holy Day services age grouping, city of origin, or whatever. at The Vineyard In this way, everybody gets assigned to a group aliyah, expediting the 6642 Reseda Blvd. in Reseda process.

Friday, October 7 6:45 pm And then the most important aliyot - the person honored with the aliyah for Kil Nidre Saturday, October 8 10:00 am the reading of the concluding verses of the Torah - the death of Moses, Yom Kippur followed by the aliyah for the reading of the first verses - the creation story. ------Sukkah Neighborhood Party When I was younger, I questioned why we have to keep reading the same at the Vorspans’ book over and over. I would ask my teachers, "Don't we have any other books?" The answer was always the same - we have plenty of sacred Tuesday, October 18 7:00 pm literature, but only the Torah reigns supreme. Join Rabbi and Bonnie at the Vor- span sukkah. See flyer. Call Rabbi at But as I grew older, I discovered something interesting about the Torah. (818) 888-9917 for more information. While the Torah remained the same, year after year, I changed. And ------consequently, the lessons I learned from the Torah readings would evolve Around the Rabbi’s Tisch in sophistication and interpretation. at the Vorspans’ Thursday, October 27 7:30 pm The library of Torah commentaries is vast, and a lifetime might not be enough time to glean the wisdom. When there is so much to read with so The first Tisch of the 5772 season. little time, a comprehensive humash becomes a requirement, and there is See flyer. Call Rabbi at (818) 888- none better than the Conservative Movement's Etz Hayim humash. 9917 for more information. ------The English text is an elegant translation, based on the Jewish Publication Mitzvah Day Society's scholarship. There are commentaries reflecting not only ancient at Temple Ner Maarav and Rabbinic times, but contemporary times, as well. Sunday, October 30 10:00 am And where a law or custom developed from the text, a special section Our annual Social Action event benefits School-on-Wheels. See within each chapter becomes dedicated to that ritual. flyer and article on page 4. Call Fran (Continued on Page 2) Kobulnick at (818) 345-2405 for more information. This Month’s Featured Articles:

Visit our website: Page 2 Remembering Morris Nimovitz by Judy Eisikowitz www.shirami.com Page 6 Biography of the Month: Sholem Aleichem by Stan Schroeder Page 7 Cantor’s Notes by Cantor Roger Goodman page 2 October 2011

President’s Report Remembering Morris Nimovitz by Judy Eisikowitz On behalf of our President, Helga Unkeless, who is spending the High Last month we all said our goodbyes to Morris Holy Days with family, I want to Nimovitz, in public and private ways. welcome back all our returning members and wish our extended Morris was my friend Shir Ami family a happy and healthy New Year. for the past six plus years—since he turned With your help, we hope to make 90 and we met through this the best year and one where Helga Unkeless. Besides we live up to our tradition estab- being my friend, and a lishing Congregation Shir Ami as friend to others at our "The Little Congregation Schul shul, Morris played that Does!" numerous important roles in the history of our synagogue, starting many years Shanah Tovah, ago. Rabbi Vorspan told me that Morris was the Jordan Pistol first “spiritual leader” of the synagogue, and that he Executive Vice President was also the first director of the school.

------In her eloquent eulogy for Morris, Gladys Sturman

added other pertinent details: “Without Morris, the Rabbi’s Column (continued) synagogue would not have survived its 50 or more I urge you to make the study of Torah a regular part of successful years and beyond as Congregation Shir your week. If you don't have a text as lucid and Ami. Morris was not president of the shul or even of comprehensive as the Etz Hayim, purchase one the men’s club, but he was the rock on which the (available from the United Synagogue Book Service, shul stood. He taught our children, put together — or Amazon). and held together—the school and the daily minyan, conducted high holiday services, and often, when And when the year of the Torah reading cycle necessary, the shabbos and holiday services. He concludes next October, begin the process all over was our spiritual advisor and guide.” again. And see if I'm not right — that the Torah will remain the same, but we will change. And with it, our Gladys noted that “Serious young students, like my insights into our most sacred literature. daughter Esther and Paul Margolis, and many others, felt he was their friend, their tutor, and their Rabbi David Vorspan exemplar. He was a demonstration of how Judaism should be lived.” Morris was also a scholar, an author, and a translator from Yiddish to English; and he was published and known in his elite circles.

Mailbox I miss Morris now, and I know I will miss him at the high holidays and in the new year. But besides our To our Shir Ami family, personal connections to Morris, we can all thank him for the many things he did during the last 50+ I want to take this opportunity to thank all years to help us survive as a congregation. of you who were kind enough to write, call, or e-mail, and wish me a full recovery from May his memory be a blessing. my recent surgery. You have no idea how good it felt hearing from you.

Al Simon

page 3 October 2011

Birthdays & Anniversaries DONATIONS Congregation Shir Ami wishes to Birthdays acknowledge the following donations: $ Ann Goldfarb...... 10/2 Michael Turitz...... 10/3 Yahrzeits Beirit Harvey...... 10/7 21st Bernice Lipschultz...... 10/7 Jacquie and Marshall Gordon for Louis Katz Roberta Turitz...... 10/9 Nancy and Loni Scharf for Sandy Scharf Paula Loomis...... 10/11 Andrea and Leon Nachenberg for Martha Stover Rena Perez...... 10/11 Rae and Armand Wazana for Bella Ruth Kroop Ted Lipschultz...... 10/15 Carol and Irwin Koransky for Milton Clara Rosenbluth...... 10/15 Gloria and Larry Weinstein for Ida Pearl Fram Barbara Tober...... 10/17 Irving Strassner for Sybil Strassner Irving Strassner...... 10/18 Marcie and Steve Spetner for Ellen Spetner Fredman, Gerry Hochberg...... 10/20 Norman Spetner and Harry Lurie Peg Kovar...... 10/21 Laura and Al Simon for Eliezer Haim and Dinah Simon Zahava Segal...... 10/22 Ann and Isidore Goldfarb for Oscar Berman Paul Soifer...... 10/22 Gloria Weinstein...... 10/22 Birthdays Fran Kobulnick...... 10/26 Philip Cooperman...... 10/29 Izzy Goldfarb Ann Potell...... 10/29 Ed Halem Alisha Sela Anniversaries Evan Max Vorspan 10/18 24th Phyllis and Stan Schroeder ...... Nancy and Ken Bereny...... 10/23 23rd Anniversaries Ann and Izzy Goldfarb...... 10/25 64th

Nancy and Lonny Scharf

Carol and Art Altshiller Jacquie and Marshall Gordon Congregational News Laurie and Ed Orens Get well wishes rafuah schleimah to: Mailbox Sam Kobulnick recovering from pancreatic illness Dear friends at Congregation Shir Ami, May he be blessed with a complete recovery in body On behalf of myself and my daughter and and spirit. her family, I want to thank all who cared and sent their condolences on the loss of my beloved grandson, Joey Jannol.

Your words and thoughts were a comfort to me.

Rose Chaplan ------Our Condolences Dear Congregation Shir Ami family, We regret to inform the congre- A grateful thank-you to all who sent cards, made calls, gational family of the passing of gave hugs, and made donations on the passing of my Joey Jannol, grandson of Rose Chaplan, and dear mother, Estelle Riak. Albert Freiman, brother of Gladys Sturman, who It is always rewarding, but never surprising, to realize died in Chicago at 91 after a productive life. that we have such a caring congregation. May God comfort the Chaplan and Sturman Love and Shana Tova, Laurie Orens families during this time of their bereavement. page 4 October 2011 Social Action Committee We have been involved with School- on-Wheels for many years, and to L’SHANA TOVAH! May the New Year bring you all date we have donated over 1000 good health, happiness, peace, joy, prosperity, and backpacks. Please register to join us the ability to continue to join us in Congregation in sponsoring as many backpacks at Shir Ami’s community mitzvah projects. If you have $12 each as you can afford. Invite never joined us in any of our special mitzvah all your friends and family too, and ask them to projects, this is the perfect time. The best way to pre-register and support us. These describe the feeling we all get when we support special children deserve the same right emotionally and financially our community mitzvah to be educated as do all other children. projects, is one of pure satisfaction and elation. Join us in making them feel wanted and There is no better feeling than helping those truly in special. It is not the children’s fault that need who are grateful for our help. they are living in less than desirable surroundings. Congregation Shir Ami and its family and friends all try hard to support SOVA Food Pantry not only at We will have tables set up for card and letter writing to the SOVA High Holy Days our deployed military. We will be collecting new and Food Drive, but all year too. near-new books for the care packages along with the We collect non-perishable cards and letters. We are very proud to have been part and non- breakable food of Operation Gratitude since the day it started. items, along with new toiletries Congregation Shir Ami has sent well over 5000 letters and new and gently used and cards and has donated nearly 1000 books. Call children’s books at all our weekly Shabbat services Esther Perez at (818) 886-7512 if you have any and all temple events. The SOVA bins are always questions. located at the doors leading in from the parking lots. We are also able to accept bulk donations of Jewish World Watch, another non-perishable and non-breakable food for SOVA. of our ongoing projects, is the Please call Leon Nachenberg at (818) 885-6736 or third project we support on Fran Kobulnick at (818) 345-2405 to arrange for a Mitzvah Day. This year Rae bulk food donation in advance. SOVA is non- Wazana will lead us in painting sectarian and helps more than 13,000 families pot holders for the Solar Cooker Project as well as monthly. We gladly accept kosher food as well as designing posters for JWW. We will supply all the non-kosher food items. Fill up your shopping bags needed items, so come join us for that mitzvah too. Call and bring them into High Holy Day services as well Rae at (818) 881-5549 if you have any questions about as all year too. Refer to the SOVA shopping list in Jewish World Watch and its projects. the flyer with this Shir Notes when doing your We all know that these are difficult times for many of us. shopping. We truly appreciate and need all your As bad as things seem for us, please take a minute to help with this important community mitzvah project. remember those who truly are going through more The Social Action Committee also leads difficult times than we. Let us take the time to be Congregation Shir Ami and its family and friends in thankful for all our blessings, and find the compassion an annual Mitzvah Day. This year, Congregation and kindness to share our blessings by doing mitzvot for Shir Ami will be celebrating our Mitzvah Day on others. Sunday, October 30. We will all gather at Ner Maarav Social Hall at 10:00 am sharp to pack On behalf of the entire Social Action Committee and our backpacks full of new school supplies for the families, we wish you a very blessed New Year! School-on-Wheels project. It is administered by a non-profit organization that has volunteer tutors L’Shanah Tovah! who reach out to all the needy children in homeless Fran Kobulnick, Social Action Vice President shelters, domestic violence shelters, foster homes, hospitals, cars, and bus stations. page 5 October 2011

Ritual Committee

Congregation Shir Ami is proud to announce that Rabbi David Vorspan and Cantor Roger Goodman will conduct services to celebrate the 5772/2011 High Holy Day season. Our Kol Nidre service will be Friday evening, October 7 at 6:45 pm and the Yom Kippur service will start 10:00 am Saturday morning. We will again have the comfort of The Vineyard located at 6642 Reseda Blvd. in Reseda with convenient parking in the rear of the building.

As always, Rabbi Vorspan will provide insight into the prayers, and informative inspiring sermons on the Torah portions and High Holy Day mitzvot and customs. Cantor Goodman will lead us in singing the traditional melodies that connect us to everywhere, past and present. Shir Ami members deliver Dvar Torah commentaries at our Torah services to give a layman’s perspective to the Torah readings.

See the flyer with this Shir Notes for our full service schedule. Don’t forget to bring food for our SOVA bins; a flyer for needed items is also included. And see our beautiful ad (right-hand column) that appeared in the Jewish Journal, TRIBE magazine, and a northwest Valley regional publication. Mailbox

We would like to thank Jerry Gort for building a plat- Congregation Shir Ami form for our Ark. It can now be moved easily at Ner Dear Fran [Kobulnick] and Rae [Wazana], Maarav and at The Vineyard. Also thanks to Jerry Zatz, Art Altshiller, and Owen Delman for their help in setting Thank you for choosing to support up the lights for our Service Under the Stars August 19. Northridge Hospital Medical Center with your generous donations of children’s With the Sukkot holiday upon us, Rabbi and Bonnie books. The children and their Vorspan again invite our members to attend a Sukkah parents so much appreciate and Party at their home Tuesday, October 18 from 7:00 pm enjoy the variety of books. We at to 9:00 pm. We can fulfill the mitzvah of dwelling in the Northridge Hospital appreciate sukkah and experience shaking the lulav and the etrog. your caring. The Vorspans always decorate their sukkah with original crafts and Bonnie provides seasonal treats to eat. This is Sincerely, Gabriella Evans, Volunteer Coordinator a wonderful opportunity to meet old and new friends.

On Thursday, October 27 at 7:00 pm we will begin the Congregation Shir Ami Tribute Cards 5772 season of Around the Rabbi’s Tisch, the popular weekly discussion of timeless and timely Jewish topics, Thanks to Phyllis Schroeder for also at the Vorspans’ home. Rabbi Vorspan selects sending your cards celebrating Jewish wisdom literature and suggests topics from simchas and conveying your get- current events. Members may also bring up questions well and condolence messages. and topics for discussion. The Vorspan home is located She is creative with indivualized, at 22320 Philiprimm in Woodland Hills. Call Rabbi artistic cards that include a message Vorspan at (818) 888-9817 or see flyer with this Shir and color graphics. Call her at (818) 718-7466. Notes for more information. Minimum donation of $5 per card is appreciated.

Stan Schroeder, Ritual Vice President

page 6 October 2011 Biography of the Month: Sholem Aleichem language of nearly all literate East European Jews. It was by Stan Schroeder often derogatorily called "jargon", but Aleichem used this term in an entirely non-pejorative sense. Sholem Aleichem was the pen name of the most famous Apart from his own literary output, Sholem Aleichem used author of Yiddish literature, his personal fortune to encourage other Yiddish writers. In 1888-1889, he put out two issues of an almanac, Di Solomon Yakov Rabinovitz. Yidishe Folksbibliotek ("The Yiddish Popular Library") The name 'Sholem Aleichem' which gave important exposure to young Yiddish writers. is derived directly from the name Solomon, which in In 1890 Aleichem lost his entire fortune, and could not Yiddish is often spelled Sholomo. 'Aleichem' afford to print the third issue, which had been edited but completes the name to form a Yiddish greeting, or was never printed. Over the next few years, while phrase, from the Hebrew for 'Peace be unto you'. continuing to write in Yiddish, he also wrote in Russian Solomon was born on March 2, 1859 in the small town for an Odessa newspaper and for Voskhod, the leading of Pereyaslav, southeast of Kiev, now Ukraine, then a Russian Jewish publication of the time, as well as in part of the Russian Empire. His family was relatively Hebrew for Ha-melitz. well-off and he had eleven siblings. His father was a In about 1900 when the discrimination escalated to merchant and was knowledgeable about religious violent waves of state-sanctioned pogroms, the Jewish matters. He sympathized with the haskalah, which was life in these small towns ceased to exist in the way it a progressive movement within Judaism – towards a used to. Aleichem and his family left eastern Europe in less traditionalistic form. He was part of the so-called 1905. Aleichem's work - in some way - united the inteligentsia, an ill-defined circle of middle-class dislocated Jewish community, and at the same time intellectuals (from all walks of life) in Russia. reminded them of the world they had to leave. He was an In the early 1860s the family moved to Voronko, a very impassioned advocate of Yiddish as a national Jewish small town, not far from Pereyaslav. This village language, one which should be accorded the same ended up serving as a model for the fictitious Jewish status and respect as other modern European shtetls in Aleichem's work. Around 1870 the family ran languages. He also devoted himself to the cause of into financial difficulties and moved back to Zionism; many of his writings present the Zionist case. In Pereyaslav. Aleichem's mother died in 1872 during a 1907, he served as an American delegate to the Eighth cholera epidemic. Encouraged by his father, Solomon Zionist Congress held in The Hague. attended secondary school in Russia – in spite of the Sholom Aleichem died in New York City on May 13, intensive religious segregation. 1916. On the day of his burial, all Jewish shops closed, His first venture into writing was an alphabetic and hundreds of thousands attended. glossary of the epithets used by his stepmother. At the age of fifteen, inspired by Robinson Crusoe, he Sholem Aleichem’s most famous stories were about composed a Jewish version of the novel. He adopted Tevye, the Dairyman, a pious Jewish milkman in Tsarist the pseudonym Sholem Aleichem. Russia, and the troubles he has with his six daughter. They were originally published in Yiddish in 1894. In 1939 After graduation in 1876 he started working as a tutor the Yiddish film Teyve was filmed in New York City and for a wealthy landowner's daughter, Olga (Golde) Long Island. The English language version entitled Loyev. From 1880 to 1883 he served as a so-called Fiddler on the Roof was produced as a Broadway play 'court-rabbi' in the town of Lubny, a very poor Jewish in 1964, starring Zero Mostel. It ran for 3,242 perform- village. During this time he learned to love the simple, ances at three increasingly larger theaters The highly humble Jewish people, who were to become the successful movie version was released in 1971, starring characters of his stories. In 1883 he married Golde Topol as Teyve. against her father’s wishes. The documentary movie Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in At first, Aleichem wrote in Russian and Hebrew. From the Darkness was released in July of this year. It is much 1883 on, he produced over forty volumes in Yiddish, more than his story - it is the story of his times and his thereby becoming a central figure in Yiddish literature people. The combination of old photographs and by 1890. Most writing for Russian Jews at the time informative interviews, including his 100 year-old was in Hebrew, the liturgical language used largely by granddaughter, added to my enjoyment at the Laemmle. learned Jews. Yiddish, however, was the vernacular page 7 October 2011

Notes from our Cantor Repentance), from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur, when you will probably be reading this. Last month, I wrote about the ancient Midrash titled Perek Shirah It is very encouraging that the word T’shuvah (A Chapter of Song), containing (repentance) is related to Shuvah (return). We don’t 84 Biblical verses, each one the have to find a brand new place in our lives. We just “song” (or attribute, or theme of have to turn towards God and to go back to where we praising God, or moral lesson) of once were, to our good behavior and to our better one of His creations, including selves. It may be a difficult journey, but we can do physical features of the world, forces of nature, and this! According to the Zohar, it is Niggun (melody) various species of plants and animals. Each of these which facilitates this reconnection with God. There is aspects of creation is fixed and immutable, so each a locked heavenly chamber of Niggun, but the only song is constant and may be written down. way to open it is with the Niggun. Catch-22!

Noticeably missing in Perek As explained by Rabbi Yigal Shafran, the Torah Shirah is any mention of the which God gave us contains the hidden key, the song of humans, i.e., the solution to this dilemma. It opens with B'reishit bara species Homo sapiens. That Elokim (In the beginning, God created). The letters of שיר תאב B’reishit can also spell בראשית is because there is no one the first word song which fits all. Men and Shir Ta’ev (a desirable song). The Torah closes with women, the only creatures L’einei kol Yisrael (before the eyes of all of Israel). Yisrael can also ישראל possessing the divine spark of The letters of the last word Shir Ha-keil (the song of God). So the שיר א־ל knowledge and reason, are spell the only ones with the hidden Niggun is revealed in the Torah, from start to capacity for both collective finish and everywhere in between. B’reishit bara and personal thoughts and actions. Human songs are Elokim equals Shir ta’ev bara Elokim (God created a not static or automatic; they reflect our varied desirable song), which means that God created a personalities. world which desires to sing! Studying Torah and living

As an example of people’s diversity of songs, Rabbi by the Torah lead to Shira, which ensures divine favor and repentance. Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev (1740-1809) wrote in K’dushat Levi about the concept that each nation has Once again, I ask you to keep alive our Jewish an angel ministering between it and God, and each of tradition of prayer in song, by joining in for all the these angels has a particular song, which if revealed congregational singing. Lift up your voice! If you don’t to a righteous person and sung by him or her, can read Hebrew, please refer to the new booklet of compel the angel to cause that nation to change their transliterations. attitude to good towards Israel. (We could benefit from this today!) I am looking forward to my tenth year of davening at Shir Ami for the High Holy Days, and I hope to greet In addition to nations, each group of people (e.g., the each and every one of you. Melody, Joshua, Jeffrey, righteous, the wicked, the haughty, the humble) also Kenneth, and Daniel join me in wishing all of you a has a “song,” a theme, a behavior. More importantly, sweet year of peace, good health, joy, and harmony. each person on the planet has an individual song, reflecting his or her words and deeds. Better yet, God L’Shanah Tovah uM’tukah, has given us the ability to “change our tune,” to not A joyous and sweet New Year, be stuck with the “same old song.” Cantor Roger Goodman

Several biblical verses, notably Psalms 96:1, contain the plea Shiru Ladonai shir chadash (O sing unto the Lord a new song). We’re not talking just music here but something much more profound: a reset, a new chance to get it right, and a transformation. This longing to change, to improve, and to repair, is the theme of the Aseret Y’mei T’shuvah (Ten Days of

page 8 October 2011

$10 Target Gift Card Donations TREE OF LIFE Our Social Action Committee is again collecting $10 Target gift cards for the women and child- ren in the Domestic Violence Shelters we help sponsor. You may donate as many as you want, but they should each only be for the $10 amount. We treat each person in the shelters fairly, and give everyone the same amount. If you have any questions, contact Fran Kobulnick This beautiful Tree of Life, with leaves at (818) 345-2405. priced at $100 and rocks at $250 (one remaining), makes a perfect way to celebrate family occasions and support Congregation Shir Ami.

The Tree is on a rosewood background and consists of gold-colored leaves and rocks. It is displayed at all Congregation Shir Ami services and events.

For more information or to place an order, call Sherry Dollins at (818) 886-7590. page 9 October 2011

Shop at Ralphs - Earn Money for Shir Ami 6. If you already have a Ralph’s reward card and by Maralyn Soifer have registered it, go to sign in. You can change to our Temple by going to your profile page and Here is an easy way to earn clicking on Community Rewards. Then click on money for our Temple. We Edit Community Rewards. You can do a are now officially a Ralphs’ community agency. All search for Congregation Shir Ami by putting in you have to do is follow these simple instructions to the number 92785. Our congregation will pop help earn money for Congregation Shir Ami. up and click on the button next to the name.

1. If you don’t have a Ralph’s rewards card already, Click on the button that saves the changes. go to the store and fill out the application. You can 7. You can also check the bottom of your receipt get it from the customer service station or any when you shop. It should say “Thank you for checker. supporting Congregation Shir Ami”. 2. Once you have your card, go to the website: 8. If all else fails, call me in the evening at (818) www.ralphs.com 704-0306. I’ll be happy to walk you through it. 3. Go to the top where the red bar is located and 9. Start Shopping!

click on services. Make sure that the clerk swipes your card each 4. On the left, click on Community Contributions. time you shop. Verify that your receipt shows a 5. In the upper left hand corner click on Create an contribution to Congregation Shir Ami at the Account if you haven’t already registered a card bottom. with a community organization.

Important note: A new term for the Ralphs Community Contribution Program starts September 1. All

participants will be required to re-register on or after that date. Please visit Ralphs.com and do so!

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Ami Shir Congregation Congregation Shir Ami Schedule of Shabbat Services July - December 2011 Conducted by Rabbi David Vorspan at Temple Ner Maarav, 17730 Magnolia Blvd., Encino

Friday 8:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am (unless otherwise noted)

July No services scheduled

August Saturday, August 6 Birthday Saturday, August 13 Friday, August 19 BBQ and Barchu 6:30 pm Saturday, August 27 Anniversary

September Saturday, September 3 Birthday Saturday, September 10 Saturday, September 17 Saturday, September 24 Anniversary Friday, September 30

October Friday, October 14 Birthday Saturday, October 22 Saturday, October 29 Anniversary

November Saturday, November 5 Birthday Saturday, November 12 Saturday, November 19 Saturday, November 26 Anniversary Helga Unkeless David Vorspan President Rabbi December Saturday, December 3 Birthday Saturday, December 10 Saturday, December 17 Saturday, December 24 Anniversary Saturday, December 31

If you would like more information about our congregation please visit our website at www.shirami.com

Congregation Shir Ami

Schedule of High Holy Days Services 5772/2011

Rabbi David E. Vorspan Hazzan Roger Goodman

All Services will be held at the Vineyard 6642 Reseda Blvd. Reseda

Erev Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 28th 8:00 pm

Rosh Hashanah 1st Day Thursday, September 29th David Vorspan Roger Goodman Rabbi 9:00 am Hazzan

Rosh Hashanah 2nd Day Contemporary Service Friday, September 30th 10:00 am

Kol Nidre Friday,October 7th 6:45 pm

Yom Kippur Saturday, October 8th Helga Unkeless 10:00 am President Yizkor approximately 12:45 pm Blessing of Children approximately 7:15 pm

www.shirami.com

Congregation Shir Ami Mitzvah Day Sunday, October 30 at 10:00 AM sharp Temple Ner Maarav Social Hall

Our Social Action Committee will once again organize our congregation to fill school backpacks for the School on Wheels program.

Every week, hundreds of School on Wheels’ volunteer tutors give hope, educational assistance and support to the thousands of homeless children living in Southern California.

School on Wheels provides one-on-one tutoring for homeless kids who live in shelters, motels, group foster homes and on the streets. In addition to weekly tutoring and mentoring, every student receives a backpack, school supplies, and uniforms; students get assistance enrolling in school and with locating and filing school records; and each student receives a toll-free phone number for around-the-clock School on Wheels’ support.

They do all this with no government funding. They survive through the donations of people like you who believe as we do that every child has potential and every volunteer makes a difference.

Other Mitzvah projects will be available to those who must sit down. Please bring non-breakable/non-perishable food for the SOVA food drive. Light refreshments will be served. For further information call Fran Kobulnick at (818) 345-2405 or Leon Nachenberg at (818) 885-6736.

------Name: ______Mail this tear-off to sign Phone No. ______up for Mitzvah Day 2011 Number of backpacks @ $12 each: ______Other donation: $18 $36 $54 $72 $108 $216 I will attend: YES NO Number of people attending: ______Checks must be payable to Congregation Shir Ami (put Mitzvah Day in the memo) and mailed to P.O. Box 6353 Community Service School Woodland Hills, CA 91365 credit for students

Please bring your filled bags to: Congregation Shir Ami High Holy Day services at The Vineyard, 6642 Reseda Blvd. in Reseda SOVA bins will be in the lobby when entering from the parking lot.

Erev Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 28 at 8:00 pm Rosh Hashanah 1st day Thursday, September 29 at 9:00 am Rosh Hashanah 2nd day Friday, September 30 at 10:00 am Kol Nidre Friday, October 7 at 6:45 pm Yom Kippur Saturday, October 8 at 10:00 am

For more information call Fran Kobulnick at (818) 345-2405. SAVE THE DATE!!!

Congregation Shir Ami’s Annual Chanukah Dinner will be held on Tuesday, December 27th at Temple Ner Maarav.

The evening’s program will include:

Chanukah Dinner complete with Latkes

Candle lighting ceremony (bring your own Chanukiah and share in this moving experience)

Songfest with Rabbi Vorspan

Chanukah games for adults with prizes

Childrens’ Chanukah story and game corner with Bonnie Vorspan

Yummy Sofganiot (donuts for dessert)

A flyer with complete information and a response form will be included in the next Shir Notes. Tuesday October 18, 7:00 - 9:00 pm Sukkah Neighborhood Party at the Vorspans’

Fulfill the mitzvah to “dwell in the sukkah”, shake the lulav and etrog, and enjoy Bonnie’s refreshments. See how the Vorspans have decorated their sukkah this year, meet your old and make new Shir Ami friends.

Thursday October 27th, 7:30 - 8:30 pm “Around the Rabbi’s Tisch” at the Vorspans’

This popular Shir Ami educational series starts its 5772 season. Come join us for our weekly discussion of Rabbi Vorspan’s selected topics of Jewish interest. We discuss Jewish texts and current events as they relate to Jewish values and our lives as Jews. This is a unique opportunity to learn and share in an informal format around the Vorspans’ dining room table.

The Vorspans’ home is located at 22320 Philiprimm St. in Woodland Hills. You may call Rabbi Vorspan at (818) 888-9817 for more information.

!

You are cordially invited to attend the 35th Annual Catholic-Jewish Women’s Conference ! ! FINDING HOPE IN CHALLENGING TIMES: GATHERING STRENGTH FROM OUR TRADITIONS

Sponsored by American Jewish Committee, Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Board of Rabbis of Southern California ! ! Friday Morning Speakers November 11, 2011 Holli Levitsky, Ph.D. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Director of Jewish Studies Associate Professor of English Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles Bishop Conaty - Our Lady of Loretto High School Margarita Flores Parish Life Director 2900 West Pico Boulevard Sagrado Corazón Parish, Compton, CA Los Angeles, CA 90006

Visit our website Afternoon Program! http://sites.google.com/site/cjwcla/ Participant Dialogue Groups to view transportation options.

Cost for the day, $40 per person ($15 tax deductible) / $25 per student (not tax deductible), includes Continental Breakfast, Beverages and Box Lunch. Return the tear off below with a check payable to CJWC ----$40 per person/$25 per student to: Saundra Mandel, 5441-1 Yarmouth Avenue, Encino, CA 91316 Scholarships are available – contact Saundra at (818) 609-7070 Questions? Agnes Adlhoch (818) 992-6953, [email protected] Doris Haims (310) 440-9580, [email protected] !

Please register me for the conference on November 11, 2011. I have included $40 per person/$25 per student.

Name ______Phone ______

Address______

City______Zip______

RELIGIOUS TRADITION Jewish ___ Catholic ___ Other ___

Please indicate Chicken Sandwich Box Lunch ______or Vegetarian Sandwich Box Lunch ______

Student’s school ______