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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 New York, 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..............