Shir Notes the Official Newsletter of Congregation Shir Ami Volume 11, Number 3, April 2013 Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
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Shir Notes The Official Newsletter of Congregation Shir Ami Volume 11, Number 3, April 2013 Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Events Rabbi’s Column of the Month I read recently about the discovery of a treasure trove of old photographs representing the career of a now de- Shabbat services ceased professional photographer. They were in his attic. at Temple Ramat Zion 20,000 photographs. Saturday, April 6 10:30 am Birthday Shabbat Big deal! Last week, I took 2,500 photographs of a high Saturday, April 13 10:30 am school swim competition. In three hours. 20,000 in a Saturday, April 20 10:30 am career? I’ll take 20k pictures in a school academic year. Saturday, April 27 10:30 am Anniversary Shabbat And taking so many pictures cost me nothing (but my time to review all of -------------------------------------------- them and pick out the best). Jewish World Watch Walk to End Genocide But I can appreciate how different photography is today compared to the Sunday, April 14 9:00 am past, when it was such an expensive process. After all, I spent a year in at Pan Pacific Park Israel in the early 1970s and took about 1,000 slides representing my entire experience. Those were the days a roll of film came in either 24 or 36 Shir Ami’s team led by Rae pictures, and it was important to be very careful about what one shot so film Wazana will again participate in this wasn’t wasted and the developing costs were kept down. important annual Walk. See article on page 5 or call Rae at (818) 881- But having the liberty to take so many photos today with the cost being 5549 to sign up or make a donation negligible has several important advantages. Can you recall a time back in or for more information. the old days when you remembered to bring your camera on a trip and your -------------------------------------------- friend forgot his? And asked you to take a picture of him and send him a Free Ice Cream Social & Bingo copy? What an imposition! (members only) Sunday, April 21 2:00 pm Today, to take a picture, later bring it up on the computer screen and email at Ramat Zion Social Hall it costs nothing in time or expense. We will again combine these But another advantage is this: in the old days, when a kid wanted to borrow popular events for a fun filled after- a camera and take a few pictures, we were hesitant. What if he took terrible noon of ice cream sundaes and a chance to win prizes and socialize pictures, or too many boring ones? Or used up the roll of film? And so we with fellow Shir Ami-ites. See article guarded our camera and allowed a child to take only one or two. Or none. on page 2 and flyer or Call Jerry Zatz at (818) 883-9924. Today, we hand over the camera and let him take as many as he wants. It -------------------------------------------- not only costs us nothing, but it might have another by-product: it can kindle Around the Rabbi’s Tisch an interest in photography. And, as we know, walking around the block with Thursdays, April 4, 11, 18, and 25 a camera, looking for interesting angles, unique lighting, or special subjects, at 7:30 pm at the Vorspans’ is an entirely different experience than walking without one. Our weekly discussion led by Rabbi April is a month that seems designed to provide Kodak Moments! Passover, Vorspan on Jewish wisdom and Yom HaShoah, Israel Independence Day – all are opportunities to create current events continues with its that image that perpetuates and reinforces the memory. 5773 season. You may call Rabbi at (818) 888-9817 for information. So, if you haven’t gotten into the hobby of photography yet, let me know. I’ll be delighted to lend you my camera! Visit our website: www.shirami.com Rabbi David Vorspan Editor’s Note: Congregation Shir Ami receives a donation from Ralphs whenever you shop if you register. See updated instructions on page 9. page 2 April 2013 President’s Report A Special Sunday Sundae Treat Shalom, Is it an Ice Cream Social with Bingo I hope you are having a Happy Pesach a Bingo afternoon with Ice Cream? and your Matzah tastes just as Either way, you’re going to get both delicious on the eighth day as it did at the First Seder. of them together at a very special Shir Ami event. And it’s free! Now it’s time to step into Spring, and I do mean “step!” On Sunday, April 14, we will be joining Jewish That’s right! On April 21 2:00 pm, as World Watch’s Walk to End Genocide. The small, a special treat and thank you to our but mighty, Shir Ami contingent always has room for Shir Ami membership, you are invited more people and sponsors. ito a combined Bingo/Ice Cream Social with free Bingo cards, cash The following Sunday, April 21, we will have our prizes and ice cream with all the “Members Only” Ice Cream Social and Free Bingo. toppings. (Did I say FREE?) (Yes, I said FREE!) This is your big chance to get something for nothing, except your It’s going to be a fun afternoon. Look for details in valuable presence. Such a deal! the Bingo flyer. And that’s not all that’s FREE this month. Every Be sure to RSVP to Jerry Zatz: (818) 883-9924 or Shabbat, we have our contemporary Shabbat email to [email protected]. Services in Classrooms 7, 8 and 9 at Temple Ramat Zion. And, it’s FREE! In fact, we’ll even give you a לכה דודי sweet nosh as a thank you for coming. And, at no Kabbalat Shabbat: Lecha Dodi further cost to you, we are throwing in Around the by Stan Schroeder Rabbi’s Tisch (and on the Rebbitzen’s Chairs) every Thursday Evening. We know that Kabbalah is the mystical interpretation of Judaism going back to the 1st to 2nd centuries CE. We are also asking for your help in our fundraising It emerged in Medieval times in southwestern Europe for a Parochet (curtain for the Ark). Our Artist-in- and was re-interpreted by Isaac Luria in Safed in the Residence, Bonnie Vorspan, has created wonderful 16th century. During this time Rabbi Shlomo Halevi design representing the Jerusalem skyline. With your Alkabetz, a Safed Kabbalist and poet, composed the help, this design will become a reality. song Lecha Dodi (come, my beloved) that became the opening prayer of our Friday night Shabbat service As always, we continue our collections for SOVA and prior to the traditional Maariv (evening service.) everything else we do that makes Shir Ami the “Little Shul that DOES!” And Shir Ami “DOES” because we The image of Shabbat as a bride is central to the all “DO!” Kabbalist view that Shabbat brings us closest to the Divine experience in our earthly realm. As always, if you have any questions or want to provide your input, please feel free to email me at As was common at the time, the song is also an [email protected]. acrostic, with the first letter of the first eight stanzas spelling the author's name. The author draws much of Thank you, Jordan Pistol, his phraseology from Isaiah's prophecy of Israel's President restoration, and six of his verses are full of the thoughts to which his vision of Israel as the bride on that great Shabbat of Messianic deliverance gives rise. Next time you stand facing the open door for the last verse: Come in peace, crown of her husband ... Come O Bride! Come O Bride [Boi khalah boi khalah] put yourself is the spiritual space of the Kabbalist. Shabbat shalom page 3 April 2013 Birthdays & Anniversaries DONATIONS Congregation Shir Ami wishes to Birthdays $ acknowledge the following donations: Sylvia Hockmeyer........................... 4/5 Ken Bereny..................................... 4/10 Yahrzeits Lee Dollins...................................... 4/16 Carol Altshiller................................ 4/17 Carol and Irwin Koransky for Blanch Koransky Marian Perlmutter........................... 4/17 Carol and Art Altshiller for Martin Altshiller Jerry Zatz........................................ 4/20 Esther Perez for Josephine Paparo Pat Michaelson............................... 4/22 Gloria and Larry Weinstein for Evelyn Soodak Ed Orens......................................... 4/23 Betty and Harvey Cohen for Bertha Gottesman Marcie Spetner............................... 4/25 Florence and Ben Schulkin Betty Cohen.................................... 4/28 Fran Friedman for H. Glassman Ellie Zatz..........................................4/28 Nancy and Lonny Scharf for David Haas Phyllis and Stan Schroeder for Sally Schroeder Anniversaries Ann and Izzy Goldfarb for Rose Rosen and Jay Martin Goldfarb Paula and Lou Loomis................. 3/3 40th (omitted last month) Birthdays Roster Corrections Seymour Potell Howard Levine Anniversaries 11960 Cohasset St No. Hollywood, CA 91605 Rae and Armand Wazana Phone: (818) 759-4622 Paula and Lou Loomis Sale of Hametz Norman Bressick Cell phone: (818) 590-8583 Audrey and Ed Halem Shirley Esko Paula and Lou Loomis Congregational News Nancy and Lonny Scharf Get well wishes rafuah schleimah to: Gerry Hochberg hip surgery as a result of a fall Bob Licht broken arm from a fall Ellen Fremed hand surgery Lee Stark aortic valve replacement May they be blessed with a complete recovery in body and spirit. Congregation Shir Ami Tribute Cards Thanks to Phyllis Schroeder for sending your cards celebrating simchas and conveying your get- well and condolence messages. She is creative with indivualized, artistic cards that include a message and color graphics. Call her at (818) 718-7466. Minimum donation of $5 per card is appreciated.