Visit our website: Shir Notes www.shirami.com The Official Newsletter of Congregation Shir Ami Volume 19, Number 7, July/August 2021. Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Rabbi’s Column . Events I write this on June 20, 2021. It’s both Father’s Day of the Month and the 50th anniversary of my wedding to Bonnie.

Shabbat services via Zoom Family will be arriving soon to celebrate. It will be a and Livestreaming subdued affair. The original celebration was going to be much more grand, but that will have to wait until next year. In the meantime, Saturday, July 31 - 10:30 am Bonnie and I will continue our joy by going to Disneyland tomorrow, where Birthday /Anniversary Shabbat we honeymooned 50 years ago! ------But this evening will still be a Golden Wedding Anniversary. BBQ and Barchu - Service Under the Stars It will include a video I put together in an attempt to show my family what Friday, August 20, 6:30 pm happened a half century ago. We were married in my parents’ back yard. at home of Gladys Sturman There was no video made of the wedding, and we were thankful that a couple of friends kindly took pictures or there would have been nothing Our annual BBQ dinner will be much to prove we had a lovely event. We did have a tape recorder going prepared by Ventura Kosher, which provided us, 50 years later, with the only audio evidence of the followed by White Shabbat ceremony. Service Under the Stars 7:30 pm ------These I stitched together to form the movie we will show to our children and Shabbat Torah Study grandchildren (and siblings who, residing in Oregon and , will Saturday, July 17 10:30 am Zoom in). Saturday, August 14 10:30 am My children never heard the original at home of Schroeders wedding ceremony (something which See flyer for more information. all future generations will be able to watch of their family events as I can’t imagine any event occurring these days which will not be recorded by multiple cameras and phones!). My kids did see some of the pictures over the years, but I’m really looking forward to their hearing what my father, Rabbi Max Vorspan z”l, told Bonnie and myself during the ceremony. We were married on Father’s Day, See poem and it was also the anniversary of my parents wedding! My father wove the events together into a wonderful service. on page 9 After watching the video, my son-in-law, Rabbi Ahud Sela, will officiate at an informal ceremony in our living room, and we will stand under the original huppa. It is the tallit which I purchased in Jerusalem a few years before our wedding, and which I subsequently wore at my ordination.

I’ve officiated at many Golden Wedding Anniversaries over the years. I like to think that those events were for old people, but here we are! But what has kept me young (a youthfulness I feel until I look into a mirror, which I try to do with less frequency) has been the world Bonnie has created for me: a Tisha B’Av Sunday, July 18 Gan Eden (Garden of Eden) within which I daily reside, embraced by her

love and the love of our children and grandchildren. Jenn Dollins is our Office Manager. Her email is I will try to tell her this and how much she’s meant to me during the renewal [email protected]. of our vows this evening, but in the event I can’t get through it without Phone: (818) 818-6094. choking up, these words, when she reads them, will have to do.

Rabbi David Vorspan

page 2 July/August 2021 President’s Report Ritual Committee

Shalom, With summer upon us it is time to look back on this

Last year, due to the Covid-19 past COVID 19 Shir Ami year, reflecting upon what we Pandemic, we did not get our usual July-August learned and thanking those who made our successful year possible. vacation. And while Zoom services through the summer were very convenient, a vacation is still a We learned that community is especially important vacation. As we are reaching a greater number of when we can’t gather in person. And that community vaccinated people and Covid-19 seems to be winding extends beyond local geographic boundaries thanks down, this year we get that vacation back until we to Zoom and other internet capabilities. I encourage meet again for the High Holy Days. all of you to increase your computer skills to be able to use Zoom, Google and other search programs, and Well, almost. We will be having a “Midsummer online classes, videos, and information outlets. Find a Madness” Shabbat service around the midpoint of our (usually younger) relative or friend to help you. You hiatus, just so we can all keep our hands in davening can contact me at [email protected] or so we will be ready for the High Holy Days. The date (818) 718-7466. Also let me know if you are willing to has not been selected yet, but keep your eyes on your help our members and community. email boxes. Our Ritual Vice-President, Stan Schroeder will continue his Shabbat Torah Study We were blessed to have our weekly Around the Sessions, so watch for that information. Rabbi’s Tisch via Zoom since the beginning of COVID thanks to Rabbi Vorspan’s willingness to give up his The Board is in the midst of planning our High Holy 2020 summer vacation. Our last Zoom June 24 had Day Services. First, I want to thank you all for your 24 computers with 30 “attendees”. responses to our survey. With that information in We also had twice-monthly Shabbat services via both hand, we will do our best to have in person services Zoom and Livestream. The recent services are while doing it in a manner that makes as many people available to watch on our website via YouTube. as comfortable as possible in doing it. One thing you can do now to prepare for whatever form our High And we had four Sunday Zoom programs: Holy Day Services take is to get vaccinated against November Rabbi David Vorspan - the Covid-19 virus if you haven’t already done so. The Breakfast with the Rabbi more members who are vaccinated, the more January VBS Rabbi Ed Feinstein - comfortable our membership will be in attending Life and Legacy of Rabbi Harold Schulweis services in person. However, we will also be streaming March Cantor Jonathan Friedmann - our services for those who wish to worship from home. Synagogue Song – It’s Origins and Meaning It was easy getting used to the idea of High Holy Day April UCLA Professor Mark Kligman - services that only lasted two hours, but we will be From Yiddish Theatre to Pop Charts and Broadway to aiming for a more traditional service (if traditional the American Song Book means the way we did it two years ago). Thanks to these presenters and Sherry Dollins and

Gladys Sturman for arranging for these informative Also, please pencil in your calendar for our return to and entertaining programs. another tradition, the Barbecue and Barchu on Friday, August 20 And I can’t help but mentioning the monthly Shir Notes and weekly emails that I prepare and distribute. Our membership renewal packages will be coming out Thanks to Lou Loomis, Jordan Pistol, Rabbi David to you soon, so keep a watch on your mailboxes. Vorspan, Mike Easley, Rae Wazana, and Fran As always, if you have any questions or want to Kobulnick for their regular inputs. Thanks to Phyllis provide your input, or if you just want to know what’s Schroeder for her proofreading and suggestions. And going on, please feel free to email me at thanks to our members including Helga Unkeless, [email protected]. Leon Nachenberg, Fiona Taylor, and others for

sending links to websites that I include. Shalom and keep healthy. I look forward to an exciting year ahead with in-person Jordan Pistol, President services and events and continued online availability.

Stan Schroeder, Ritual Vice President page 3 July/August 2021

DONATIONS Birthdays & Anniversaries

Congregation Shir Ami wishes to Birthdays acknowledge the following donations: $ Gale Cohen...... 7/1 Heather Hyman...... 7/1 Yahrzeits Ethel Granik...... 7/7

Fran Feinman...... 7/12 Art and Carol Altshiller for Albert Heiser Ed Schackman...... 7/15 Harvey Cohen for Sally Cohen Barbara Hattem...... 7/22 Fran Feinman for Myrna Gold Phyllis Feldman-Schroeder...... 7/27 Jacquie Gordon for Louis Katz Stan Goodman...... 7/27 Neil and Barbara Hattem for Morris Hattem Charlene Kazel...... 7/29 Jack Kutcher for Faye Kutcher Judy Eisikowitz...... 7/30 Ed Schackman for Mark David Schackman Barbara Grubman...... 8/2 Lonny and Nancy Scharf for Rosalyn Scharf Edward Schneier...... 8/5 Ed Schneier Paula Frankel...... 8/6 Lea Schwartz for Joey Segal Art Altshiller...... 8/12 Claire and Lew Silverman for Cecyl Silverman William Niesen...... 8/15 Laura Simon for Henrietta Haim Thelma Goldstein...... 8/18 Fiona Taylor for Gladys Miles Bonnie Vorspan...... 8/21 Bonnie and Rabbi David Vorspan for Rabbi Max Vorspan Stan Schroeder...... 8/24

Paul Frankel...... 8/27 Birthdays

Anniversaries Irwin Koransky (79)

Stan Rosenbluth (93) Clara and Stan Rosenbluth...... 7/6 69th Helga Unkeless (90) Lorraine and Dan Simansky...... 7/10 56th Bonnie and Rabbi David Vorspan for Shaina Vorspan (38) Susan and David Lipman...... 7/12 51st Sima and Steve Schuster...... 7/15 54th Anniversary Claire and Lew Silverman...... 8/2 66th Heather and Mark Hyman...... 8/10 18th Rebecca and Gary Finlay (22) Carol and Art Altshiller...... 8/16 41st Paul and Paula Frankel Janet and Richard Kirshbaum (59) Bonnie and Rabbi David Vorspan (50) Bonnie and Rabbi David Vorspan for Congregational News Alisha and Rabbi Ahud Sela (20) Bonnie and Rabbi David Vorspan for Get well wishes rafuah schleimah to:

Elana and Ben Vorspan (14) Fran Kobulnick

Thelma Goldstein Paullette Pistol Paula Loomis Congregation Shir Ami Tribute Cards May they be blessed with a complete recovery in Thanks to Phyllis Schroeder for body and spirit. sending your cards celebrating simchas and conveying your get- well and condolence messages. Our Not-so New Office Manager

She is creative with individualized, Jenn Dollins has now been our Office artistic cards that include a message Manager for several months and has and color graphics. Call her at (818) 718-7466. done an outstanding job. You may Minimum donation of $5 per card is appreciated. email her at [email protected]

or call our office at (818) 818-6094. page 4 July/August 2021

Socail Action Committee

Dear Rabbi and Bonnie Vorspan and Congregation Shir Ami, May 20, 2021 I personally would like to thank you all for your support during this past year! This truly was the most difficult year for all of us and our families. A very special thanks to Rabbi and Bonnie for leading us on the beautiful Zoom Shabbat services. For many of us, Dear Friends, it was the lifesaver that we really needed. I want to thank you all so very much for the I want to thank all of you for your continued support generous donation of Target Gift Cards you of JFS Domestic Violence with your donations of made to JFS Hope. The women in our domestic Target gift cards for the women and children. Please violence shelters were so delighted to be see Thank You letter from Kitty Glass of JFS in the celebrated on Mother’s Day in this very special right hand column. way. Their appreciation is boundless and only

We are now asking everyone to PLEASE give your wish they could thank you all personally. support to the Annual JFS SOVA FOOD DRIVE for Please know, however, that your gifts provided the High Holy Days. Please see the enclosed SOVA great joy and were received with deep gratitude Flyer for more information. Because we have not for your kindness. been able to collect food this year, we are now asking you to please mail your generous check donations I especially wish to thank Fran Kobulnick for directly to JFS SOVA FOOD DONATIONS at the always being the advocate for our program. enclosed address. Please put JFS SOVA - FOOD in She is devoted to the mission of helping victims the memo section of your check. Also please attach a of intimate partner abuse and is passionate in note to the check telling them you are from soliciting the support of the synagogue. The Congregation Shir Ami and you would appreciate a receipt for your donation to be used for tax staff at JFS Hope are so grateful for your deductions. We will try to collect some food at the ongoing commitment to our work and we hope High Holy Day Services, but because of the that each and every Mother had a wonderful arrangements, we are not guaranteed enough time to celebratory day. I know our shelter Moms collect enough food to make up for this past year. certainly did. You can also drop off food directly to JFS SOVA at 16439 Vanowen St., Van Nuys 91406 (near The staff joins me in thanking you with warm Hayvenhurst) Monday-Thursday and Sunday wishes for good health, happiness and peace. mornings. Their phone is (818) 988-7682. Thank you in advance for all of your kindness and generosity.

Warmly, From all our Social Action Committee and our families, we wish you all good health, happiness, and Kitty Glass continued mitzvoth together. Community Outreach Coordinator JFS Hope Happy New Year! L'Shana Tovah!

Fran Kobulnick, Social Action Vice President page 5 July/August 2021

The Summer of 2021 always been some level of anti-semitism in the past, by Lou Loomis even before the lockdown, and the Jewish community has taken reasonable measures to offer secure It’s summertime! The Living is easy locations, sometimes with the hiring of guards, and …at least I hope so. We’ve been sometimes just with normal vigilance. I firmly believe through a long lockdown due to the we should not be cowed into not attending services by pandemic, and only just recently the fears of violence. At least not here in America. has the mask mandate been dropped. Many of us One of the chief reasons Jews immigrated to America are finally going outside our homes unmasked was for the freedom to be who we are, and to worship (unless asked otherwise). Still others are fearful of as we see fit. Jews are resilient, resourceful, and disease and will don the mask anyway. I understand united as a community. Despite rational fears, Jews flu phobia now like I never did before, since so many have faced down hatred and violence, even with our of my acquaintances still refuse to unmask. They small numbers. We can (and should) be proud of that. cite health reasons, for the most part. And I see some people wearing a mask while driving alone in If ever we need examples of how to live our lives their cars. That I do not understand. joyfully, despite the dangers that haunt us in the 21st century, we only have to look at the Jews of Israel. But we missed summer last year; we were locked They have faced down unbelievable odds since its down. Shut in. But now, since getting our shots, founding, surrounded by hostile neighbors, and a cold things are starting to change. and often unfeeling world. To be Jewish is to have Last month, Paula and I took a drive to San untold examples of resilience. Francisco to visit our grandchildren and new grand dog. We detoured in Cambria for a couple of nights, One of the advantages of being in lockdown was the did some wine tasting along the way, and enjoyed chance to read and study topics of interest. We have the newly reopened Highway 1. It was joyful. This been afforded the opportunity to indulge ourselves in summer’s plans have yet to be made until we see hobbies that we may never have had before. If you how much of the state and country is going to be have been reluctant to wander off the singular path available. Lots of places still adhere to “COVID during these last 12 months, there still is time. Get a protocols,” and we are respectful of others’ little crazy. Write some poetry, watch some old concerns. movies, join a singing group, or just do whatever. But as the masks come off, we should also try to remove Much has changed since the flu lockdown began. some of our inhibitions. Succeed or fail, who cares? I Many cities have been hit with the blight of firmly believe that if we are to judge anything or unemployment, homelessness, and violence. I have anyone, we need to judge our own ability to try new seen many new homeless camps spring up around things. There will always be critics as we move ahead. my beautiful city, and some now close to my home. But the advice I prefer is to keep trying to move and A homeless encampment has moved into my progress, to keep writing our autobiographies. As long neighborhood park, which is now unsafe for families. as we are able, our life stories are still a “work in The park playground is especially unsafe for young progress.” children. Public and private agencies dealing with this issue are overwhelmed. Solutions range from So now it’s summer. the “sublime to the ridiculous.” We have hot days and warm nights. It’s As I had feared early this year, the rise of anti- always a mixed bag semitism has not stopped. In Los Angeles, where it here in Southern had once been virtually invisible, Jew-hatred is now California, but now out and ugly. Anti-semitic graffiti appears on walls there are so many and billboards, and violence against “visible” Jews joys and new things seems to be unstoppable. We have even been opening up for us. warned by some government officials to not wear We can now visit “Jewish head covering in public” if we don’t want to and even hug friends, be targets. family, and others.

We have been attending Shabbat, holiday services We really should. It and study groups via zoom or U-Tube, so we’ve had is now time to be no safety concerns. I wonder what will happen when optimistic. in-person services resume. Of course, there has page 6 July/August 2021 Biography of the Month: and Tony Randall by Stan Schroeder His first big theatrical part was in Mr. Roberts

with Henry Fonda. “In 1949, I got the second Our member Judy Eisikowitz lead—the part of the doc—on the road,” recently lent me a book she had Klugman notes. His connection with Fonda led to checked out from the Library, tony other parts, including Juror No. 5 in the film 12 and me a story of friendship by Angry Men. Jack Klugman. Most of our readers By the mid-1950’s, Klugman was working surely remember the television series regularly in live television, performing on such based on the Neil showcases as Kraft Television Theatre, Studio Simon Broadway play starring Art One and . “I did three live hour Carney and Walter Matthau. The play debuted shows in three and a half weeks,” he says. “I was March 10, 1965. The weekly TV series ran from 1970 at a party once and Johnny Mercer”—the to 1975 with Tony Randall playing Felix Unger, the songwriter—“was there. He said, ‘Holy mackerel, neat freak, and Klugman playing Oscar Madison, the I haven’t seen you on television in half an hour.’ I slob. Ratings were low the first year when the show was on all the time.” was recorded with a laugh-track added. Klugman convinced the producers to record with a live In 1965, ’s The Odd Couple opened audience and ratings improved dramatically. Klugman on Broadway, starring Walter Matthau and Art wrote the book as a tribute to Randall after Tony’s Carney in a plot based loosely on the night-and- death in 2004. Besides working together on the TV day personalities of Simon’s brother, Danny, and series and subsequent productions, they became agent Roy Gerber, who roomed together briefly very close friends, as described in the book. after their wives left them.

Born in a poor neighborhood of “Walter was brilliant,” Klugman says. “The Philadelphia April 27, 1922, the son audiences loved him.” But when Matthau took a of Russian-Jewish immigrants, leave to film The Fortune Cookie, Klugman Jacob Joachim Klugman had a stepped into what he considers the greatest tough childhood. His father Max, a comedy written in the 20th century.

house painter, died young, forcing Then, in 1970, he and Tony Randall began their his mother Rose to make hats in her collaboration. Over five seasons, the television kitchen to buy food and clothing for her six children. series’ plots branched out—there were scenes in Jack, who worked as a street peddler, later observed: a hospital and a monastery; the pair even tried to "Poverty can teach lessons that privilege cannot." compete on Password, in what became This background may have contributed to many of his Klugman’s favorite episode. Other actors joined impassioned and gritty performances. The the cast; Klugman’s then wife, Brett Somers, the synagogue, though only four doors away, played mother of his children, played Oscar’s ex-wife. little role in the future actor’s life. “I think the first They married in 1956 and divorced after 19 time I went in there was when my father died,” he years; Klugman never remarried but has had a recalls. “I was 12, to say Kaddish.” serious relationship with Peggy Crosby for

After serving in the army in World War II, Klugman several years. was able, under the GI bill, to enter Carnegie Mellon We had the best writers in the business,” University in Pittsburgh, where he studied drama. But Klugman says. “I’d say, where’s the love scene, after his first audition, his teacher told him: "You're the scene where I say, ‘I love you, Felix, but I not suited to be an actor. You're more suited, Mr. can’t do that. You’re asking me to go too far.’ Klugman, to be a truck driver. Not that there's That gave it substance.” anything wrong with truck drivers, but you're really not ready for this." Jack went to Israel once on a caravan of stars for the Hebrew University. The group included Zubin He thrived there. After a couple of years of acting Mehta and Vidal Sassoon. Jack was invited school, he left for New York and never looked because he was starring as a forensic pathologist back. “I was 25, 26 when I went to New York,” in the highly popular TV series “Quincy, M.E.” Klugman says. “I’d been in the Army and I didn’t (1976-83). know where I was headed. But I knew it was a better life than I had in Philadelphia.” (continued on page 7)

page 7 July/August 2021

Biography of the Month: Jack Klugman and Tony Randall (continued) On the way to Tel Aviv he saw his first signs in Discord broke out on the set of the fluffy “Pillow Talk” Hebrew. “I felt I found a place where I belong,” he because Randall and Shapiro disagreed over the said. “It was a wonderful feeling. I burst into tears.” value of psychotherapy.

His room at the Tel Aviv Hilton was furnished like a In 1998, Randall recalled to an interviewer that he coroner’s examining room. “They wanted to make me had delayed shooting to protest Shapiro’s lines, until feel at home.” he was reminded that the film’s Jewish director

In 2005 he played the head of a dysfunctional family Michael Gordon (born Irving Kunin Gordon) was at a Passover seder in the film When Do We Eat? desperately trying to revive his career after languishing for years on the Hollywood blacklist. Congregation Shir Ami showed it at our Early Bird Movie and Dinner series in February 2013. Other teasing dialogue about identity also appears in

Jack Klugman died in his home in Woodland Hills on Shapiro’s dialogue for “Pillow Talk.” At one point, December 24, 2012, of prostate cancer at age 90. Randall complains to Hudson: “The trouble with you ------is, you’re prejudiced against me because I’m part of a minority group.” Anthony Leonard Randall was born Aryeh Leonard Rosenberg For a moment, cinema audiences may have February 26, 1920 in Tulsa, , speculated whether Randall could be referring to the son of Julia (nee Finston) and Jews or perhaps gays, due to his typically effete Mogscha Rosenberg, an antique and screen persona. Finally, Randall explains that the objet d’art dealer who moved West to minority group he was referring to is millionaires. This sell home furnishings to prospectors persistent spoofing of the search for roots of psychic who had struck oil. He attended syna- trouble was at the core of Randall’s career success. gogue with his father, as a child. By the time he starred in “Odd Couple,” Randall had Randall served four years with the US Army Signal boldly applied and exaggerated his diverse Corps in World War II, including work at the Signal performance skills to produce a flamboyantly Intelligence Service. After the war he worked at the affected, theatricality that captivated viewers. He was Olney Theatre in before heading back to prissy and fussy, yet with a self-consciously grave, . One of his first jobs there was playing resonant baritone voice. His visible façade was made Reggie in the long-running radio series I Love a of cast iron, and so carefully composed that he even Mystery. chose to narrate a recording of William Walton’s

During a January 2005 interview on CNN, Randall’s 1920s musical entertainment “Façade” with the widow informed Larry King that her late husband was Boston Pops Orchestra. “borderline atheist. He had a strange upbringing with Part of Randall’s disinterment of the past included his father who was an Orthodox Jew, and made life echoing early experiences onstage. In 1991, he very hard. So [Randall] kind of rejected it totally. But I founded a , in part to allow did have a rabbi at the funeral.” him to expand upon personal investigations into Enamored of the arts from a young age, and Yiddishkeit. A 1997 production of Neil Simon’s “The apparently rejecting religious observance, Randall Sunshine Boys” with former “Odd Couple” colleague worked ardently to make his roots cohere with his Jack Klugman, as well as a staging in 2001 professional obsessions. This quest included two of “Judgment at Nuremberg” by Abby Mann (born years of psychotherapy, which he valued enough to Abraham Goodman) were examples. object to what he saw as disrespectful jokes about psychiatrists in the screenplay for the comedy “Pillow In September 1993, Randall and Jack Klugman reunited in the CBS-TV movie The Odd Couple: Talk” (1959). Together Again reprising their roles. The story began Stanley Shapiro, the screenwriter of “Pillow Talk,” when, after Felix ruined plans for his daughter had spent many years in analysis. Shapiro expressed Edna's wedding, his wife Gloria threw him out of the his resentment of the ordeal through Randall, who house for 11 days, which left him no choice but to reacts to co-star ’s duplicity by move back in with Oscar and to help him recover, exclaiming: “I should have listened to my psychiatrist. getting him back in shape after throat cancer surgery He told me never to trust anyone but him.” left his voice very raspy.

(continued on page 8)

page 8 July/August 2021 Biography of the Month: Jack Klugman and Tony Randall (continued)

One of Randall’s last onstage appearances was in “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui” (2002) Brecht’s 1941 satire mocking the rise of Hitler in pre-war Germany as a timely warning against fascism. In a prologue, Randall, as The Actor, explained the play’s content and plot to the audience, much as Randall himself would do in fussily didactic appearances on “” and other TV chat programs.

His final films also alluded to the past. In “” (2003), he played a male chauvinist publisher in a screen homage to the Rock Hudson- comedies; he also had a cameo in the posthumously released “It’s About Time” (2005), in which his character was Mr. Rosenberg, surely an homage to his birth name. At heart, he was still a Rosenberg.

It is uncertain whether the homonym had influenced his co-narrating a 1990 documentary about Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, convicted as Soviet nuclear spies.

Randall was also a longtime supporter of Yiddish Theater. He was married to his college sweetheart, Florence Gibbs, for 54 years until she died of cancer in 1992.

In 1995, Randall married Heather Harlan, who was 50 years his junior. He met her through his National Actors Theatre, where she was an intern; then-New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani performed the ceremony.

Randall died in his sleep on May 17, 2004, at NYU Medical Center of pneumonia that he had contracted following coronary bypass surgery in December 2003. He had been hospitalized since the operation.

The couple had two children at the time of his death: 7- year-old Julia Laurette and 5-year-old Jefferson Salvini. Randall told AP Radio that he couldn’t believe he’d become a father for the first time in his 70s.

Thanks to Judy Eisikowitz for rekindling my interest in these two great actors. The Odd Couple TV series is currently available on Hulu, a subscription service. They offer new customers a free trial period.

page 9 July/August 2021

TREE OF LIFE Congregation Shir Ami Memorial Board

This beautiful Tree of Life, with leaves If you would like to honor the memory of your priced at $100 and rocks at $250 (one loved ones by dedicating plaques on our new remaining), makes a perfect way to Memorial Board, please call Helga Unkeless at celebrate family occasions and support (818) 340-5751 so she may mail you an order Congregation Shir Ami. form. The cost of each plaque is $36.

The Tree is on a rosewood background and consists of gold-colored leaves and Each plaque may contain up to three lines of rocks. It is displayed at all Congregation engraving: English name, Hebrew name, and Shir Ami services and events. the years of birth and death. Both of our Memorial Boards are displayed at all our For more information or to place an order, services. call Helga Unkeless at (818) 340-5751.

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand Emma Lazarus - 1849-1887 A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Posthumously famous for her sonnet, Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name "The New Colossus," which is engraved on the Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand base of the Statue of Liberty, Emma Lazarus is Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command considered America's first important Jewish poet The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, page 10 July/August 2021

Shop at Ralphs - Earn Money for Shir Ami You can do a search for Congregation Shir Ami by Maralyn Soifer by putting in the number 92785. Our congrega- tion will pop up and click on the button next to Here is an easy way to earn the name. Click on the button that saves the money for our Temple. We changes. are now officially a Ralphs’ community agency. All 5. You should also check the bottom of your you have to do is follow these simple instructions to receipt when you shop. It should say “At your help earn money for Congregation Shir Ami. request, Ralph’s is donating to

1. If you don’t have a Ralph’s rewards card already, CONGREGATION SHIR AMI”. go to the store or go to website www.ralphs.com 6. If all else fails, call me in the evening at (818) and select Order a Ralphs reward card. 704-0306. I’ll be happy to walk you through it. 7. Start Shopping! 2. Once you have your card, go to the website: www.ralphs.com and select Create an account Make sure that the clerk swipes your card each 3. If you have an account, your email address is your time you shop. Verify that your receipt shows a account ID. If you forgot your password, select contribution to Congregation Shir Ami at the Forgot your password? and you will receive an bottom. email with instructions to reset it. Follow the instructions to enter your email address and Important Note: All participants must confirm create a new password. their selection annually starting in September. 4. If you already have a Ralph’s reward card and an On or after September 1, sign into your account account, you will see Account Summary when you and reconfirm Community Rewards selection. login. You can change to our Temple by clicking on Edit within Community Rewards.

91365 CA Hills, Woodland

6353 Box P.O.

Ami Shir Congregation No sessions scheduled.

“Around the Rabbi’s Tisch” This popular Shir Ami educational series has concluded its 5781 season. Thanks to the generosity of the Vorspans we had tisches via Zoom from their home every Thursday night through June. Come join us after Sukkot to start the 5782 season for our Thursday evening 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. We expect to resume our in-person sessions. This is a unique opportunity to learn and share in an informal format around the Vorspans’ dining room table.

Call Rabbi Vorspan at (818) 888-9817 for more information.

Torah/Shabbat Study at the Schroeders’ July 17 and August 14

Before COVID Stan Schroeder usually led a Shabbat study session one Saturday morning a month at Northridge Mobile Home Park. This venue is no longer available to us, so the sessions will be held at his home 8450 Winnetka Ave. Unit 14. We discuss the weekly Torah portion and upcoming holidays or aspects of Conservative Judaism.

The July 17 Torah portion is Devarim, the first part of the Book of Deuteronomy. The August 14 portion is Shoftim, Stan’s bar mitzvah parsha. We are commanded “la asok b’divrei torah” (to engage in the study of Torah). Join us and fulfill the mitzvah.

Call Stan at (818) 718-7466 or email [email protected] for more information.

Congregation Shir Ami invites you to attend our annual

BBQ AND BARCHU FREE to MEMBERS! (who have paid 1/3 membership + extras by August 11) & WHITE SHABBAT

Friday, August 20

DINNER AT 6:30 pm FOLLOWED BY KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICES at 7:30

Held at home of Gladys Sturman 4411 Park Mallorca, Calabasas (818) 222-4694

Please join us for this special evening. We will share a delicious catered barbecued chicken dinner with all the fixin’s by Ventura Kosher and then participate in outdoor Shabbat services led by Rabbi Vorspan. We encourage you to dress in white clothing to help Rabbi Vorspan remember his summer camp Shabbat experiences. This program has been a favorite of the congregation for over 15 years! Call Sima at (818) 774-1951 or Gladys for more information.

Dinner: $24 person for guests

The ABSOLUTE deadline for dinner reservations is Friday, August 13

------Tear Off------Please return this reservation form with your check by August 11 to Congregation Shir Ami – BBQ and Barchu P.O. Box 6353 Woodland Hills, CA 91365

Name______Phone No.______

No. of members (No charge)______No. of guests and members after deadline @ $24______(if 1/3 membership and extras paid by Aug. ??)

Total enclosed $______