Slightly Nasal Voice of K LD HAM the People TEMPLE BETH HAM ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS WE PRINT • VOL. 19, NO. 2 • Adar/Nisan 5779 • March/April 2019

Sacred snips at Location Changes TBA Adult Upsherin for this coming By Scott Taryle he atmosphere on Ziering Field that TSunday afternoon was both festive and sacred, punctuated by the sounds of ululation and clipping scissors. It was the culmination of Temple Beth Am’s first Adult Upsherin editation Plus will not be able to meet in Whiteman program, and for the proud participants, it MConference Room and will instead be meeting in the Library. was a momentous, if delayed, rite of passage. The Library , which has not met in the Library for decades, Traditionally, Jewish boys undergo their upsherin— their ritual first haircut— will not meet as usual in the Chapel, but will meet half in Adelson Hall at age three. But sadly, due to various circumstances, many adult in our and half in the Ballroom to try a new “arbitrary mechitza” experiment. kahal have never experienced an upsherin as a young child. “I always felt privately Shir Hadash, the Sanctuary service which has not met in the embarrassed and uncomfortable in shul,” said program participant Mike Cohn, Sanctuary for a year and is usually either in Adelson or in the “looking at the other heads around me, seeing their neatly shorn locks shimmering Chapel, will meet on Ziering Family Field, because it’s nice outside, and bouncing about the edges of their kippot in that special Jewy way that only an no? In case it’s raining, they’ll also meet half in Adelson and half in upsherined ’s would, wondering if they noticed my shame.” the Ballroom, and displace the Library Minyan to the parking lot. Sensing a desperate need in the community, Matt Shapiro launched That wouldn’t go over too well, so please pray “mashiv ha’ruach the Adult Upsherin program as a volunteer in early 2016. For the next three u’morid ha’gashem” very, very quietly. years, participants abstained from all haircuts and studied intensely in Children’s programming will be held in the Chapel, because of spiritual preparation for the big event. “We plunged into the great texts,” said the pretty animal drawings on the ceiling. Rabbi Shapiro, “argued and debated Rashi and Ibn Ezra, Vidal Sasson and Jheri Hama’alot will meet in Whiteman Conference room, because it’s Redding, exploring the real meaning behind, ‘If you don’t look good, we don’t the highest location possible (except for the roof, and that didn’t go look good.’ Then we devoted two weeks to the awesome hair bands of the so well last time [refu’ah shlema, Cantor Stone!]). 1970s rock scene.” The 23 participants, aged 28 through 85, had fascinating Please note that after all services are completed, each service is back stories. Some came from families who could not handle scissors properly, legally required to have kiddush on a different level than the level while the two female participants grew up at a time when uphserins for girls on which the service actually took place. Please pay close attention were frowned upon. to the “kiddush ushers” at the top and bottom of each staircase to When the big day arrived, Ziering Field was packed with family and friends avoid getting trampled by roving hordes of guacamole hunters. who took turns snipping locks with the beautifully ornate, two-foot shears As usual, Beiteinu will meet in Pilch. designed by Wanda Peretz for the occasion. Yet there were some hitches to the program, as it was difficult to coax some of the AdultUpsherin participants out of the Moon Bouncer when it was their turn to sit in the barber chair. “I Daily Minyan found it helpful to make goo-goo faces at them during the haircutting to keep them from squirming too much,” said Cantor Rabbi Hillary Chorny, who Changes Name opened the festivities with a medley from the musical “Hair.” By Monica Kramer The program was so well-received that several remaining, non-upsherined n order to attract members to its daily minyan, TBA has decided adults have already expressed interest in joining the next class. Nevertheless, Ito brand the service Daily Minion. The congregation has been some remain reluctant. “I have never had a haircut in my life,” said longtime struggling to ensure a quorum of ten people each evening and Temple Beth Am member Barry Rosenblatt, “and I’m not going to start now.” is hoping to boost attendance by jumping on the popularity of the media franchise Despicable Me, whose main character Gru is Special TBA Gift Opportunity! surrounded by diminutive yellow henchmen known as “minions.” The series of films featuring these nonsensical, barrel- For the low, low price of $18, a bound copy of “Rabbi Kligfeld’s Sabbatical shaped creatures has grossed over $3.7 billion, proving that the Emails, Vol. 3: November-December 2017”! This 300 page volume contains word “minion” is all the enticement audiences need. The most of our senior rabbi’s writings from the last two months of his time abroad; is banking on the same strategy. Yellow attire and goggles are the remaining emails will be available in another volume, coming soon! encouraged but not required. Pressman Academy Launches Black Gold, Texas Tea For Innovative Work-Study Program Temple Beth Am! ressman Academy prides itself on being By Stuart Weiss Pa school for the 21st century, teaching its students the tools necessary to compete in an ever-changing world: critical thinking, grit and mental toughness, and, now, basic construction skills. After Tanakh, STEAM, or council, 5th through 8th grade students are brought to the site of the new sanctuary where they engage in electrical engineering, work on their welding, and shlep up to 200 lbs of steel at a time. Mark Samuel, who is helping to oversee the project, stated “we want to be mindful of not going over-budget on this project, and we also want to always look to find ways to integrate the t was a moment that would have made Beverly Hillbillies Jed synagogue side with programs at the school. IClampett and Granny proud. Oil has been discovered beneath What a perfect match!” Ziering Family Field! “Construction is fine, I guess,” Stevie Schwartz, a Pressman 6th grader, said. It happened just as the Pressman Second Graders were “I get a little sweaty, but it’s better than math class.” Though the primary walls learning how to plant a vegetable garden on the north side of the and foundation were built by seasoned professionals, Pressman students and Field. After about five minutes of manual soil tilling the students faculty have been tasked with the remainder of the project- yes, a challenge, noticed that the dirt was black in color, gooey to the touch and but also a tremendous opportunity. Dr. Erica Rothblum, head of school for stinky. Upon this unexplained discovery Morah Bella Kapp Pressman Academy, explained: “we consider safety concerns to be paramount gently concluded the activity without causing any alarm by her for this project, so we have trained our faculty to yell REALLY loud in case it students (or cause for messy clean-ups.) looks like something is about to go wrong. We have tremendous faith in our Within a few days after the gardening lesson, House & students, and can’t wait to see how the sanctuary turns out!” She added, “I Grounds VP Aaron Aftergood contacted the USC Department might wait to show up for the second service, just in case.” of Petroleum Engineering. Upon Aaron’s inquiry and invitation Synagogue president Avi Peretz beamed as he watched the students at a group of graduate students and professors came to the field work. “I’m so glad to see the seventh graders using the hard hats I give them for and conducted a thorough inspection of the former vegetable their B’nei !” When asked about what the kids who have yet to reach garden site. They determined in short order that Ziering Family this milestone should do, Peretz shrugged his shoulders and smiled wryly: Field sits over a large reservoir of high quality “sweet” crude oil “Guess they better learn those readings faster!” containing very low Sulphur content. “This is good stuff!” said “Two whole days since the last accident!” enthused Dr. Rothblum nearby. one of the grad students. “This could mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual royalty income to the school and shul!” exclaimed President Hail-Preparedness Seminar: Avi Peretz. “…and contributions to the Endowment Funds for scholarships too!” extoled Dr. Erica Rothblum. More great ideas Are you ready for the “BIG” one? are expected from every facet of the TBA/JPA community. By Monica Kramer Very soon a twenty-foot high oil derrick will be assembled ast month’s five-minute hailstorm has in the middle of the Field. It will be sheathed in white steel Lreminded us that we can never be too sheets and suitable for art. “We can transform it into the largest prepared for precipitation. Hail in the city of Los Shamash in Los Angeles as part of a display!” Angeles has brought about disillusion and fear suggested TBA resident artist, Wanda Peretz. “No candle lighting among its people and has troubled many young or Havdalah ceremonies nearby though,” cautioned Aaron. The children and even parents. Why did this happen? derrick will not operate on Shabbat or holidays. Will it happen again? What can we do to protect That oil was discovered did not surprise many TBA members. ourselves? The idea that LA is a sunny place has Evidence of local oil includes the old well on the Beverly Hills been quashed. And if it can happen here, it can High School campus and the active well at the intersection of happen anywhere. A community task force has Pico & Doheny. been created to ensure that people never get As for that defunct JPA vegetable gardening project, there lightly pummeled again. Weather experts will will be a class on hydroponics introduced as a substitute. As for give tips on how to keep you and your family dry as well as discuss ways to prepare TBA and the Pressman Academy, Black Gold and Texas Tea will to your children for the next “big one”. After all, by the time it happens again our enhance our community for years to come. children might have their own children. In the meantime, safety kits are available for purchase at endoftheworld.com. Or you can just get a rain jacket at Target. Kold Ham 2 Voice of the People OGV KUE

TEMPLE BETH AM AFFILIATED WITH THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE • VOL 19, NO. 2 • Adar/Nisan 5779 • March/April 2019

FROM THE PRESIDENT A CHAMPIONSHIP YEAR know this is the Kold Ham edition so I should I write something really funny. Maybe get Howard Nemetz to help me out with joke writing. But alas, there is just too much going at TBA that I need to kvell about. First, our Rabbinic Search has ended with Rabbi Rebecca Schatz being selected. As you likely recall, the Search Committee brought three extraordinarily well-qualified rabbinic candidates (including Rabbi Schatz) for weekends at TBA. The candidates could not have been more different, but in the end Rabbi Schatz was the preferred choice. Before she became a rabbi, Rebecca was an intern here whose lasting impact really made her a natural for the position. The connection of the Schatz family to TBA goes back decades, and we are delighted that we can again call Rabbi Schatz one of our own. Thank you to Mike Cohn and his amazingly diverse committee for spending hours and hours poring over all the information, and especially the feedback from TBA members, to make their final recommendation. Rabbi Schatz, welcome home! There’s a good chance that when you’re reading this, a contingent of 40 TBA members (including Wanda and me) will be touring Morocco on a TBA-sponsored trip. The trip sold out so quickly that next year we will have to figure out if we can expand the trip to accommodate everyone that wishes to come. Stay tuned. Did I mention that we have a construction project – make that two construction projects – going on right now? We’re beginning to plan for a dedication of the new Ganzberg Sanctuary, so keep your eyes peeled for announcements. We’ll need the practice of the Sanctuary Dedication because shortly thereafter we will have the Gym Dedication. As president, I will insist on being the first person to hit a jumper (of at least twenty feet) in the new Gym. I expect to make it on my first try so no snickering on how long we might have to wait. Our TBA softball team kicked off its season with a come-from- behind 12-11 victory so we expect another championship year from them. If you can, get out there and cheer them on. And, we have our Gala coming on April 7th where we will be honoring Marshall Temkin and Nina Golden, two extraordinary people whom we are so fortunate to have at TBA. Please see details in the next column and make your plans to join us in honoring them. With coming up, all I can say Dayeinu for this column. Although, if you don’t have plans for the 2nd Seder, our communal one at TBA, led this year by Rabbinic Intern Ariel Root Wolpe, is awesome for old, young, singles, and families. Really everyone. These are exciting times at TBA and I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am to each and every one of you. Ultimately everything we do, everything we build, is for you and your families as we create and enhance our larger TBA community.

B’shalom, Avi Peretz YOUTH LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT Why We To provide dynamic experiences for children, teens and their families to encounter Jewish life and community, so that they Do YLE can be empowered to embark on their lifelong Jewish journeys.

rom Superheroes, to Jedis, to Wizards, you Fnever know who you are going to meet at an SO EPIC Epic Shabbat. This special Shabbat experience offers families with children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade the opportunity to participate in a unique family service, that includes children’s activities and adult learning all centered around an exciting pop culture theme. This year, Epic Shabbat blasted off to a great launch with Epic “Outer Space” Shabbat, and went down the yellow brick road with an exciting “Wizard of Oz” Shabbat tied into Pressman Academy’s Middle School Musical. Beyond the overall excitement created by the costumes, set design and general fun, this year we have added an Epic lunch thanks to generous parent sponsors. TBA Kadimaniks, Jr. and Sr. USYers joined for a Mega Kinnus Join us on April 13th at 10:00am on Ziering Family Field for Epic “Minions” at Camp Ramah in January for 4th-12th Graders. Shabbat, the final Epic Shabbat of this school year.

CAMP KESHET REGISTRATION IS OPEN! For all the details, visit www.tbala.org/camp

What’s your favorite activity at Camp Keshet? Our campers LOVE field trips!

“We love going on the giant waterslide amd to get dressed up each week in my costumes” - Charley and Sarah G. (ECC)

“I love doing “I love playing “I love going to the beach and the pool” - Romy LV (3rd Grade) waterplay and soccer on the field “I love going to the Camp Ramah Sleepover, we even celebrated splashing around during sports and my birthday there!” - Stella S. (3rd Grade) with my friends in group time” the pools” - Miles D. “I love Seaside Lagoon, it’s so fun!” - Lia F. (3rd Grade) -Saul K. (ECC) (4th Grade) “I love GlowZone, there are so many fun things to do there” - Ella G. (3rd Grade)

“I love going on trips, I LOVE all of them!” - Eliana S. (Kindergarten) “We love going to Pump it Up “I love playing with playdough and getting and Knott’s Berry Farm” messy with my friends” - Gavin (4th Grade) - Finley O. (Kindergarten) and Sollie D. (2nd Grade)

Kol Ha’am 4 Yahrzeit Donations Our B’nei Mitzvah We thank those who support the synagogue community in memory of their loved ones named below: AYLA RICHLAND Chaim Abenhaim, Lena Alpert, Michele Antignas, Joseph Bainvoll, Joseph Bajder, Esther Beim, Daughter of Tatyana Beregovenko, Sol Bergstein, Tillie Bird, Jerome Borak, Rae Braunstein, Hyman Brooks, Jana and Bruce Richland Jetty Chanania, Pearl Chazanov, H. David Cherman, Rabbi Ronnie Cohen, Sandra Cohn, Irving Cole, March 2, 2019 Jennie Colker, Ronald Colker, Shlomo Contract, Ida Modiano De Benadon, Martin Drutz, Batya Eisen, Becky Engle, Herman Feifel, Feifel, Mildred Fienberg, Mary Fineman, Max Fineman, Milton Firestone, Helen Frankel, Miriam Frankl, Morris Freeman, Athalie Friedman, Lazar Friedman, Lili Friedman, Samuel Garber, Ephraim Gelberg, Ester Geretz, Victor Geretz, Zoltan Gerstel, Minnette Gibbons, ANINA HART-LEMBERGER Ida Ginsburg, Pearl Glaser, Rochel Glika, Irving Gold, Jenny Gold, Harvey Goldscheider, Abe Goldzweig, Daughter of Elaine Goodman, Jessie Gootkin, Sara Gordon, Gerald Greenberg, Warren Grinel, Hanna Grinetz, Michal Lemberger Mahlya Grinetz, Sonya Grinetz, Florence Gritz, Ann Hacker, David Hacker, Gloria Hackman, and Ron Hart Meyer Hackman, Isaac Heffler, Millie Heffler, Gussie Horowitz, Rose Horwitz, Neima Javaher, March 9, 2019 Fannie Kaplan, Ida Kaplan, Leo Kaplan, Marjorie Kaplan, Anne Kleinman, Parvin Khoramian, Sam Korn, at IKAR Marie Lasher, Laura Klein, Lena Klein, Isidor Kraushaar, Kreiner, David Krymer, Henryka Kunstler, Danny Landres, Morris Langer, Abram Lebedev, Rivka Lechter, Harold Leon, Joseph Lumer, Rifka Mader, Oscar Mandel, Robert Melanson, Cecelia Miller, Martin Miller, Meyer Miller, Helen Milmeister, Izzy Mirkin, JOHNATHAN “JJ” STOFF Ida Moed, Rose Molasky, Lulu Navah, Doris Nisell, Dorothy Pearlman, Celia Pellow, Bernard Pflug, Son of Ruth Pflug, Cecile Pogoda, Charles Post, Nathan Prager, Perle Pregler, Robert Pregler, Mendel Ritter, Vanessa and Kenneth Stoff Forrest Roberts, Abraham Rosen, Norman Rosenblatt, Zelda Rotwein, Reuben Rubaum, Anne Rubin, March 30, 2019 Marcia Rubin, Ted Rubin, Nathan Samborsky, William Schecter, William H. Schloss Jr., Micah Schwartz, Bella Segel, Jacob Segel, Pearl Serber, Jay Shalmoni, Albert Shain, Esther Shoushani, Shahyar Shoushani, Hilda Silberschein, Ellen Silk, Eliahu Silon, Bernice Silver, Richard Silvera, Miriam Mitzi Rosenblatt, Harry Small, Mary Small, Charles Somers, Claire Steiner, Ignatz Steiner, Tanya Snyder, Nessie Swartz, GABRIELLA GILBERT Miriam Wagman, Selma Wagner, Emmanuel Wasserman, Marjory Waxman, Rivkah Weisdorf, Daughter of Julian Wolkovitch, Edythe Zeichick, Georgette Zerbib Nancy and Lloyd Gilbert April 6, 2019 Bris and Baby Namings NAOMI CHALOFF Ruby Serafina Salama Daughter of Daughter of Melissa & Evan Salama Christy and Born on December 5, 2018 Alexander Chaloff April 13, 2019

IN MEMORIAM We mourn the passing of: Daniel L. Baughman, father of Jeff Baughman Daniel Aaron Daniel, father of Jeremy Daniel (Farrah Noah), Grandfather of Bella and Chloe Daniel Joan Guilianelli, sister of Diane Shapiro, aunt of Aleza and Isaac Janice Rosenthal, sister of Amy Popkin (Evan Puziss) Adele Schloss, mother of Diane Fishman Roosth, Grandmother of David and Meir Landau Leonard Smith, TBA past president Arnold Stengel, father of Sue Stengel (Steve Wallock) and grandfather of Noa Wallock 5 Kol Ha’am

MARCH/APRIL 2019 CALENDAR

CLASSES OF THE REMBAUM INSTITUTE OF ADULT MARCH EDUCATION AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING For information and class sign-ups, visit www.tbala.org/rembaum, Friday - 5:45 p.m. or email [email protected], or call Lia Mandelbaum at COLKER-KLEIN-SHAPIRO SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE (310) 652-7354 x 215 1 ELIANA LIGHT Special Shabbat Sovev Service, HUMASH WITH RASHI followed by Community Shabbat Dinner at 7:15 p.m. WITH RABBI ADAM KLIGFELD For last minute dinner reservations email [email protected] 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 20 and all Wednesdays in April (no class on March 6, 13, or 27) Saturday - 7:30 p.m. SONGS ABOUT G!D WITH ELIANA LIGHT MINI CLASS WITH RABBI AVI HAVIVI 2 At a private home; RSVP for location: www.tbala.org/elianalight Tuesday mornings for 20 min after minyan

LIBRARY MINYAN STUDY Sunday through Monday, March 18 Shabbat Mornings, 9:20 - 9:40 a.m. TBA TRIP TO MOROCCO / PORTUGAL , teachers, and other members of the Library Minyan will take 3 turns teaching a weekly session in Mishnah on Makkot. Bon Voyage to our 40 travelers! MAHLOKET MATTERS: HOW TO DISAGREE Sunday CONSTRUCTIVELY 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; also Monday at 7:00 p.m. Final class: Tuesday, March 5 17 Join Rabbi Matt Shapiro for the last in this series of workshops PRESSMAN ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSICAL about how to engage more constructively with conflicting opinions PRESENTING THE WIZARD OF OZ through texts and concepts grounded in our tradition. See left page for details and ticket info ANTI-SEMITISM: A BRIEF HISTORY A 7- part series with Rabbi Joel Rembaum Wednesday Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.March 12, 19 and 26; April 2, 9, 30; May 7 20 EREV PURIM A blend of lecture, text reading, and discussion will allow us to PURIM ILLUMINATED meaningfully explore this phenomenon that is, once again, in 5:30 p.m. - Shir Purim in the Chapel forefront of the minds of Jews around the world. 6:00 p.m. - Purim Illustrated in the Ballroom 7:30 p.m. - Library Minyan Megillah Reading in the Chapel 8:00 p.m. - The Whole Megillah in Pilch Hall Operation PB&J – after Megillah reading, in Adelson Hall See back cover for all the Erev Purim details

Thursday 21 PURIM DAY 7:15 a.m. - Shaharit Megillah Reading 6:00 p.m. - Library Minyan Purim Seudah: The Marvelous Mrs. Megillah! Great food, music, and fun! Come as your favorite character. Everyone is invited!

Friday through Sunday, March 24 22 FAMILY SHABBATON AT CAMP RAMAH (sold out!) Sunday through Tuesday, March 26 24 TBA DELEGATION AT AIPAC POLICY CONFERENCE, WASHINGTON D.C.

Sunday 31 JEWISH WORLD WATCH WALK TO END GENOCIDE AND GLOBAL FREEDOM FORUM Join Team TBA! See Page 11 for details

Kol Ha’am 6 MORNING MINYAN: EVENING MINYAN -Sunday – Thursday FRIDAY NIGHTS Daily Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m. March 3-7 5:30 p.m. March 1, 8 at 5:45 p.m. March 10-14; 17-19 6:30 p.m. March 15, 22, 29 at 6:15 p.m. Sunday & Federal Holidays: Minyan March 20 6:00 p.m. Erev Purim April 5, 12 at 6:15 p.m. Times 8:00 a.m. March 21 6:45 p.m. April 19, 26 at 6:30 p.m. March 24-28 & 31, April 1-4 6:30 p.m. Saturdays: 90 minutes before the end of Shabbat April 7-11; 14-18; 20; 22-25; 29-30 7:00 p.m. APRIL

Wednesday - 7:00 p.m. 10 TALK BY RABBI GERSHOM SIZOMU Pre-Pesah program on the 100-year History of the Abayudaya Jewish community in Uganda, and the marking of 40 years since their exodus Saturday Morning Services from their own Pharaoh, former ruler, Idi Amin. Meditation Plus Friday 9:15 a.m. Whiteman Conference Room 12 6:15 p.m. - Shabbat Sovev followed at 7:30 p.m. Shir Hadash by Pre-Pesah Shabbat Dinner 9:15 a.m. RSVP for dinner at: www.tbala.org/communityshabbat On March 9: Shir Hadash welcomes 6th Grade Shabbat This Service will not be held on March 16 Sunday - 9:00 a.m. – Noon Combined with Beiteinu on March 2 and 23 KASHERING FOR 14 PESAH Beiteinu 10:00 a.m. 9:45 a.m. in Pilch Hall JEWISH CARTOONING WORKSHOP Combined with Shir Hadash on March 2 and 23 WITH JORDAN GORFINKEL Beiteinu Lab March 9: Meditation Plus Beiteinu Friday April 6: Diving into the Siddur through Text and Music EREV PESAH – 1ST SEDER 19 Library Minyan Saturday 9:20 a.m. Mishnah Study 7:30 p.m. - 2ND NIGHT COMMUNITY SEDER 9:45 a.m. Services; 9:30 a.m. start time during Pesah 20 (no Mishnah study on these early dates) with Rabbinic Intern Ariel Root Wolpe RSVP at www.tbala.org/seder DURING CONSTRUCTION, PLEASE CHECK Sunday THE SIGNS FOR EXACT SERVICE LOCATIONS. 21 PESAH – 2ND DAY 9:30 a.m. - Combined Services SPECIAL SERVICES Friday March 2: Artist in Residence Eliana Light 26 PESAH – 7TH DAY Shir Hadash & Beiteinu Combined 9:30 a.m. - Combined Services March 16: Hama’alot at 10:30 a.m. Hashkama (early) Minyan at 8:00 a.m.

April 13: Epic Shabbat Gesher - 3rd grade and families at 10:00 a.m. on Ziering Field Candle Lighting Torah Portion April 13: Kadima Shabbat March 1 5:31 p.m. March 2 Vayakhel (4th - 6th grade) at 10:30 a.m. in the Ganzberg Building March 8 5:36 p.m. March 9 Pekudei March 15 6:42 p.m. March 16 Vayikra POST-KIDDUSH TALKS March 22 6:47 p.m. March 23 Tzav Saturday, March 2 March 29 6:53 p.m. March 30 Shemini G!D talk with Scholar-in-Residence Eliana Light April 5 6:58 p.m. April 6 Tazria April 12 7:03 p.m. April 13 Mezorah Saturday, April 13 April 19 7:09 p.m. April 20 1st Day Pesah Jordan Gorfinkel speaking about: April 20 8:13 p.m. April 27 8th Day Pesah Passover Haggadah as Graphic Novel April 25 7:13 p.m. April 26 7:14 p.m. 7 Kol Ha’am Under the Big Top he Pressman Academy UnGala is our annual celebration Tacross all of our schools celebrating our amazing faculty and staff! This year, we celebrated Miriam Dimant, ECC Assistant Teacher, and Eric Hartung, Middle School Science Teacher. Plus a special thank you to Rabbi Yechiel Hoffman for making Pressman Academy and Temple Beth Am a 24/7 Jewish learning experience for our families with his work with the YLE Department.

Youngest donor makes a big impact!

r. Erica Rothblum was handed an envelope Dwith the hand-written note (pictured below) in morning carline. The Pressman student who delivered the note is arguably our youngest donor and is on the shy side and wishes to be anonymous. There are over 290 donors to the Campus Expansion & Renovation Project. Each gift we receive in support of the Campaign is meaningful and tells a story. Dr. Rothblum was overcome by the gesture. “We ask everyone in our community to help build and sustain this His mother shared that her son came up with the idea on his own community. I was completely overwhelmed and inspired by a child and was pleased that he was able to help support the school. When taking those words literally and giving his own money.” The project is asked how he had the cash to donate he said that he won the money on schedule to be completed in late Spring 2019. gambling from his sister on Hanukkah. We confirmed that the money We took the opportunity to ask this young man how he came was won fairly during a family dreidel game. the decision to support the project. He said, “I will really use it a lot As we watch the construction progress with great anticipation especially on Tuesdays and Wednesday when I have PE”. “It will be good we thank our latest donor and all of our donors for their inspiring for rainy days too!” He loves to play soccer, basketball and baseball. support.

For more information on the Renovation and Expansion Projects, contact Hilary Hellman, Director of Advancement at [email protected]

Kol Ha’am 8

TEAM ISRAEL this is sisterhood

lease join us for a lively, fun and interactive evening learning about Pthe Jewish Folk-Art of the 1700s that covered the walls and ceilings of Poland’s Lost Wooden . Led by Wanda Peretz, on May 6th. For more info please email Ann Istrin- [email protected]. We are looking forward to our new KNITTING CLASSES and CANASTA CLASSES! If you are interested and know someone who would be interested in teaching knitting or canasta,, please email Ann Istrin- [email protected]. Don’t forget to join us for our monthly Mahjong, Book Groups and Rosh Hodesh Discussions!

Left to right: Michael Berlin, Ty Kelly, Bill Seligman

e had an incredible turnout for our January WFilm Series screening of the documentary, Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel. Some even showed up in baseball caps and uniforms! The film documents the journey of Israel’s underestimated national baseball team, competing for the first time in the 2017 World Baseball Classic among the top 16 teams in the world. The story had us laughing and cheering, but also witnessing the profound journey of these ten American baseball players of Jewish TBA Sisterhood Rosh Hodesh Evening with our guest speaker heritage not only visit Israel, but come to understand Havi Kligfeld, LCSW. What an inspiring evening! what it means to be a Jewish baseball player. There were several great moments in the film, such as when the game happened to fall on Purim, and several people with the team read from the Book of Esther in the dugout; watching their mascot, Mensch on a Bench, become a superstar; and watching the team wear their kippot during the national anthem. You also saw more poignant moments as the players shared their experiences with stereotypes and struggles with identity. During the post-film discussion, we had our own in-house film and baseball aficionado, Dr. Michael Berlin, in conversation with our guest of TBA Sisterhood at The Skirball’s Notorious RBG: The Life and Times the evening, Team Israel’s third baseman and former of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Docent Tour. Fantastic exhibit! Wonderful Mets and Phillies player, Tyler Patrick “Ty” Kelly. Ty afternoon and lunch! grew up in a home with an Irish-Catholic father, and a Jewish mother, who also traveled with Team Israel. The evening concluded on a great note, when Michael cryptically said to Ty that “your past can never escape you”, and Ty responded, “wait, what did I do??” And then TBA member, Bill Seligman, walked up to Ty wearing a Team Israel baseball cap and carrying a bag, and said, “It was St. Patrick Day of 2017, and only 48 hours after the World Classic, and you managed to somehow not only make it back to Port St. Lucie Florida, but to play five innings.” He then reached into his bag and shared “you also managed to autograph my hat,” and reached into his bag to share the signed TBA Sisterhood Baking Class with Paula Shoyer! We made cap with Kelly. Chocolate Babka and Rugelach! Yum! 9 Kol Ha’am Temple Beth Am Gratefully Acknowledges Donations through February 11, 2019

GENERAL FUND PRAYERBOOK FUND IN HONOR OF IN MEMORY OF Temple Beth Am Mark & Rosa Bernstein Selma Daye Janet Halbert Christy & Alex Chaloff Jean Huang Morris Istrin Angela Shoushani & Shawn Saeedian

Susan & Ofer Hetsroni’s home hospitality Sarah & Ted Schachter MARCY COLKER KLEIN/BARRY SHAPIRO MEMORIAL FUND Cantor Chorny, Rabbi Kligfeld, Rabbi Schatz Allie & Mark Divine IN HONOR OF & Cantor Stone’s amazing leadership Avi Peretz’ complete & comfortable recovery Dvorah Colker of the Kol Tefillah 2.0 Conference Shoshi Wilchfort’s complete & comfortable recovery Dvorah Colker

IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF Gertrude Bacharach Sandra & Bob Braun James Farley Dvorah Colker & Family Judith Kaplan Collazo Joshua Katzan Joan Guilianelli Dvorah Colker & Family, Jacqui & Alex Jacobs, Abraham Cohen Sherri & Mike Cohn, Josh Metzger & Dina Hellerstein Janet Halbert, Judy & Lou Miller, Kathe Pilch, Natalie Roberts Daniel Aaron Daniel Judy Alban Miriam Hoberman Dvorah Colker Marina Gelfand Josh Metzger & Dina Hellerstein Barbara Rabin’s Yahrzeit Natalie Roberts Morris Istrin Kimberly Gordon, Holly Toplitzky Jeanne Kranhold Janet Halbert EMILY GREENSTEIN MEMORIAL FUND Janice Rosenthal Hilary Hellman IN HONOR OF

Tamara Greenstein’s 80th Birthday Marlene & Harvey Glaser, Myrna & Howard Singer BILL STRICK MEMORIAL HELPING HAND FUND IN MEMORY OF RABBI KLIGFELD’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Gertrude Bacharach Vivian & Ron Alberts IN HONOR OF Ann Gorrin Natalie Roberts Ashkelon Rosa & Mark Bernstein, Rebecca & Leonard Friedman, Joan Guilianelli Vivian & Ron Alberts, Janet Metson Urman & Harold Urman Judy & Lou Miller, Marshall Temkin Angie Bass’ Father Janet Metson Urman & Harold Urman Refuah Sh’lemah to David Kaplan Melissa & Michael Berenbaum, Morris Istrin Vivian & Ron Alberts Rosa & Mark Bernstein, Alisa Shudofsky & David Cohen,

Lisa Feldman & Brian Greene, Fran & Joel Grossman, DAILY MINYAN Miriam Prum Hess & Mark Hess, Marshall & Hannah Kramer, Scott Shapiro & Jacqueline Redner Fran & Robert Malina, Natalie Roberts, CAMPUS RENOVATION & EXPANSION PROJECT Jessica & Mark Samuel, Dianne Shershow IN HONOR OF Our trip to Israel Karen & Steve Grey The Clergy Barbara & David Bagley

IN MEMORY OF CANTOR SAMUEL KELEMERz”l MUSIC FUND Bates Metson Jeanne & David Herman IN MEMORY OF Petty Metson Jeanne & David Herman Roger M Goodman Milton Goodman Marina Gelfand Lilia Gelfand-Hirshhorn PRESSMAN ACADEMY DAY SCHOOL Adele Schloss Norm & Rachel Green, Diane & Bob Roosth, H.Diane Roosth IN HONOR OF Isaac Heffler H. Diane Roosth Avital Becker Victoria & Stuart Kelman Millie Heffler H. Diane Roosth

Sasha & Jeremy Kutner Rochelle & David Zohn RABBI MATT SHAPIRO’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Deena Messinger Michelle Fellner & Paul Lerner IN HONOR OF Birth of Frances Weber-Pelcovits Janet Halbert 9 Adar Project Norm Green

IN MEMORY OF RABBI CHORNY’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Max Fried Sherri, Mike, Rebecca & Josh Cohn IN HONOR OF Miriam Hoberman Janet Halbert Tyler’s Bar Mitzvah Ken Firtel & Jana Posalski Morris Istrin Mark Drooks, Andrea & Matt Pearlman Ashkelon Ilanit & Daniel Brook PRESSMAN ACADEMY ECC Rabbi Chorny’s support for the Pilch family Lloyd & Bethe Pilch IN HONOR OF Rabbi Chorny’s teaching on Dec. 8 Rosh Chodesh TBA Sisterhood Noa Kligfeld being elected as Monica, Gabriel, Nina & Jesse Kramer Support for Mitch Cohen and his family Mitch, Pam, Gaby & Seth Cohen USY International President Birth oF baby girl Kupchan Monica, Gabriel, Nina & Jesse Kramer IN MEMORY OF Marriage of Eliana Bass to Josh Monica, Gabriel, Nina & Jesse Kramer Adele Schloss Susan Laemmle & John Antignas, Michael & Linda Checkley, Norm & Rachel Green IN MEMORY OF Morris Istrin Rachel Borkow DR. ERICA ROTHBLUM’S DISCRETIONARY FUND IN MEMORY OF PILCH SCHOLARSHIP FUND (JLC) Muriel Scotto Michelle & Alain Bonavida IN MEMORY OF James Farley Mike, Sherri, Rebecca & Josh Cohn, Rebecca, George & Oliver Greenberg LIBRARY MINYAN FUND Roger M Goodman Milton Goodman Birth of granddaughter to Cathie Lippman & Jules Kamin Cathie Lippman & Jules Kamin, Rose Pilch Goldie Altman; Mike, Sherri, Rebecca & Josh Cohn Debbie Rich Birth of granddaughter to Sara & Myron Hecht John Antignas & Susan Laemmle, CAMP RAMAH SCHOLARSHIP FUND Essia Cartoon Fredman & Howard Fredman, IN HONOR OF Myron & Sara Hecht The birth of identical twin grandsons for Ronna Sundy Ariella Moss Peterseil Birth of grandson to Sharon & Brad Grob Essia Cartoon Fredman & Howard Fredman, In appreciation of the Daily Minyan and in honor of his parents, Jeff Bernhardt Brad & Sharon Grob, Myron & Sara Hecht, Ruth and Henry Bernhardt Melissa & Michael Berenbaum IN MEMORY OF Birth of grandchild to Bob & Sandra Braun Melissa & Michael Berenbaum, Marina Gelfand Mike, Sherri, Rebecca & Josh Cohn Bob & Sandra Braun, Janet Halbert Birth of grandchild to Paula Pearlman & Mark Shapiro Melissa & Michael Berenbaum, YOUTH DEPARTMENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND Paula Pearlman & Mark Shapiro IN HONOR OF Birth of our grandson, Fox Alexander Lovering Avi & Wanda Peretz Noa Kligfeld as new USY International President Judy & Lou Miller Birth of our grandchild Alan & Sheila Spiwak SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TEEN PROGRAMS IN ISRAEL Birth of grandchild Susan Grinel & Laurence Rubin IN MEMORY OF 2 grandchildren born in 2018 Dale & Mark Bodenstein Sandra Cohn Mike, Sherri, Rebecca and Josh Cohn BJE 2019 honor of Michael Berenbaum Cheryl Patack & Chris Schenker Shabbat Services at Library Minyan Kenneth Goss 99th birthday of Abe Berman Melissa & Michael Berenbaum, Allan & Laraine Kokin, Judith & Lou Miller, Judy Yaras

Kol Ha’am 10 Donations (continued) Temple Beth Am Programs

Dale & Mark Bodenstein, wonderful life events Del & Sandey Fields Helping Our Community to the Torah Baruch Link Cantor Robert Pflug Jeff Gottesman at Home and Abroad Rita Cofsky Ted Cofsky Baruch Hashem Edward Miles-Arnold Birthday of Jules Kamin Jules Kamin and Cathie-Ann Lippman emple Beth Am is Library Minyan Mishnah Study Group; Russell Cohen, Howard Fredman, Tpartnering with a completing Mishnah Tractate Makkot Norm & Rachel Green, Diane & Larry Herman, Herbert Kleinman, Hannah & Marshall Kramer, variety of organizations to Henry Morgen, Zwi Reznik, Barry Rosenblatt help refugees and people IN MEMORY OF without a safe home in our Mother of Sandra Braun, Miriam Hoberman Essia Cartoon Fredman & Howard Fredman, own community and in Lloyd Gilbert, David & Elanine Gill, Arthur & Susan Mishler, trouble spots throughout Debbie Rich, David Cohen & Alisa Shudofsky the world. My father, Hyman Weiss Jackie Weiss Mother of Lilia Hirschhorn Essia Cartoon Fredman & Howard Fredman Last year, Temple Beth Mother of Sandra Brenner, Selma Daye Sandey Fields, Arthur & Susan Mishler, Am and Tiyya were Natalie Roberts awarded a grant from Mother of Diane Roosth, Adele Schloss Anita Happel Temple Beth Am members Mia Pardo, Yahrzeit of father, Rabbi Chaim Grossman Joel Grossman Islamic Relief USA to fund First Yahrzeit of mother, Helen Frankel Judy Gottesman Dianne Shershow and Sandra Barber and Adja Victor from the Tiyya our Building Bridges and Crossing Barriers project, SISTERHOOD DONATIONS Foundation community serve lunch, To place a Sisterhood Tribute, contact Marlene Glaser catered by Malia Hamza, at the which includes a number at (310) 550-1738 or email: [email protected] SOLAR facility in Compton. of joint events between the TBA and Tiyya communities. Our first event was a Holiday party MAZEL TOV! Rabbi Adam & Havi Kligfeld Agnes and Semyon Emert at the SOLAR recuperative interim housing facility operated by The Noa Becoming USY International President People Concern. Members of the TBA and Tiyya communities served Noa Kligfeld Agnes and Semyon Emert Becoming USY International President lunch (prepared by a Flavors From Afar caterer who came to the US as Ronna Sundy & Family Agnes and Semyon Emert a refugee from Somalia), played bingo, and dined with the residents. Birth of Twin Grandsons Marlene and Harvey Glaser Jessica, Mark, Chason, Eleanor & Sienna Samuel In addition, TBA members helped homeless people in the Los Angeles community in a variety of ways during the holidays, CONDOLENCES Michael and Sharon Bacharach Agnes and Semyon Emert including events with The Giving Spirit, PATH and People Concern Loss of Mother, Gertrude shelters, Midnight Mission, and One Voice. TBA also participated Tsilah Burman & Ron Solomon Marlene and Harvey Glaser Loss of Mother & Grandmother, Elaine Gross in Big Sunday’s MLK Day Clothing Drive. Adinah Solomon Our next event with Tiyya will be on March 31. The day will begin Ollie Istrin & Family Marlene and Harvey Glaser Loss of Father, Morris Gabriela & Elie Litov with a joint TBA/Tiyya Team at the Jewish World Watch Walk to George, Rebecca & Oliver Greenberg End Genocide, which raises awareness of, and funds, to combat the Jessica, Mark, Chason, Eleanor & Sienna Samuel Alex Kay & Family Audrey Cohn devastating consequence of genocide and mass atrocities in Sudan, Loss of Wife, Susann the Congo, and Syria. Last year TBA had a large and generous team Dr. Reva Gershen Levy & Family Gabriela & Elie Litov – we hope the 2019 Team will be even larger, in person or in spirit. Loss of Mother, Adele Schloss Diane Shapiro Agnes and Semyon Emert Register at WalkToEndGenocide.org/LA; contact Dianne Shershow, Loss of Sister, Joan Rebecca, George & Oliver Greenberg Team Captain, at [email protected] if you have any questions. Gabriela and Elie Litov Shelly Szwalbenest & Family Agnes and Semyon Emert After the Walk, the Temple Beth Am Refugee Taskforce will Loss of Father, Sol host a 3rd Annual Global Freedom Forum, An Outstretched Arm: Ida Ann & Harold Zweig Marlene and Harvey Glaser Loss of Cousin, Mel Experiencing the Stages of the Refugee Journey. Participants will begin the program by walking through stations that convey what SPECIAL Sandra Braun & Family Ivy & Faramarz Azizi refugees and asylum seekers go through as they seek refuge. After Loss of Mother, Miriam Hoberman Sherri & Mike Cohn this journey, a lunch catered by a refugee caterer from Tiyya’s Dorit & Joel Cooper Flavors From Afar will be served. During lunch we will hear stories Hilary Hellman The Vaakil Family from local refugees, asylum seekers, and Dreamers – accompanied by music from their home countries – and will discuss these experiences with the help of materials that can be used at Seder IDEAS in Dallas in April. The program will be appropriate for older children and Pressman Academy is proud to alternative programming for younger children will be available. have been selected to be part of the Write to [email protected] if you have any questions. first cohort of the Institute for Day School Excellence and Sustainability program (IDEAS). Shown here at the recent Dallas conference: Jennifer Elad, Dr Erica Rothblum, Sarah Tannenbaum and Hilary Hellman. 11 Kol Ha’am Kol Ha’am (USPS 008-599) Periodicals Postage Paid at Los Angeles, Temple Beth Am California and additional mailing offices. 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90035-2507