Volume 33, Number 5 the January 2014 Volume 31, Number 7 Tevet/Shevat 5774 March 2012 TEMPLE BETH ABRAHAM Adar / Nisan 5772

Friday Night Lights R Traditions i Pu M DIRECTORY WHAT’S HAPPENING GENERAL INFORMATION: Services Schedule All phone numbers use (510) prefix unless otherwise noted. Tu B’Shevat WTBA Membership Event Services Location Time Mailing Address 336 Euclid Ave. Oakland, CA 94610 Monday & Thursday Hours M-Th: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Fr: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Wetlands Restoration Day Vision Board Event: January 12 Morning Minyan Chapel 8:00 a.m. Discover the key to unlocking your potential! Friday Evening (Kabbalat Shabbat) Chapel 6:15 p.m. Office Phone 832-0936 Sunday, January 12 • 12:00 - 3:00 PM Shabbat Morning Sanctuary 9:30 a.m. Office Fax 832-4930 Arrowhead Marsh, in the Martin Luther King Regional See page 6 for more details E-Mail [email protected] Park (exact location provided closer to event date) Candle Lighting (Friday) Gan Avraham 763-7528 Reserve your spot, contact Jody London, jodyl@earthlink. Bet Sefer 663-1683 net, (510) 459-0667 (cell), (510) 658-2100 (home) Temple Beth Abraham is starting a January 3 4:45 p.m. January 10 4:51 p.m. STAFF Join your fellow congregants for Temple Beth Abraham’s Young Adult Group (21-40) annual wetlands restoration day with Save the Bay. All January 17 4:58 p.m. (x 213) Mark Bloom and we would love for you to join us Cantor (x 218) Richard Kaplan ages are welcome to this fun and educational work day. at our inaugural Young Adult event! January 24 5:06 p.m. Gabbi Marshall Langfeld Discover the hidden gem of the Arrowhead Marsh, and January 31 5:14 p.m. Executive Director (x 214) Rayna Arnold check on the tree that Save the Bay planted in honor of Thursday, January 30, 6:00-8:00pm TBA last year! Regular participants, note later program Office Coordinator (x 210) Virginia Tiger We will be getting together at a bar in Downtown Bet Sefer Director Susan Simon 663-1683 time due to high tide. Portions (Saturday) Gan Avraham Director Barbara Kanter 763-7528 Oakland to have a drink, share some appetizers, January 4 Bo Bookkeeper (x 215) Kevin Blattel schmooze, and get to know one another! January Beshalach Custodian (x 211) Joe Lewis TBA Book Group If you are a member of TBA and would like to help January Kindergym/Toddler Program Dawn Margolin 547-7726 plan future Young Adult events, please send an Volunteers (x 229) Herman & Agnes Pencovic January Mishpatim Monday, January 27, 7:00 p.m. email to Ariel Kurland at [email protected]. OFFICERS OF THE BOARD Rescheduled Date Looking forward to seeing you on January 30! President Mark Fickes 652-8545 “The Golem and the Jinni” More information will be coming your way soon! TEMPLE BETH ABRAHAM Vice President Eric Friedman 984-2575 Vice President Lynn Langfeld 769-6970 by Helene Wecker Vice President Flo Raskin 653-7947 is proud to support the Conservative At the home of Sophie Souroujon Movement by affiliating with The United Vice President Laura Wildmann 601-9571 Mah Jongg of Conservative . Secretary JB Leibovitch 653-7133 Please RSVP to Deena by Monday, January 6 at 1:00 p.m. after in the Baum Treasurer Susan Shub 852-2500 [email protected] or call (510) 225-5107 Youth Center just come on by!! If we do not have an adequate response, we will COMMITTEES & ORGANIZATIONS: postpone the book group meeting. January 11 for Beginners Advertising Policy: Anyone may sponsor an issue of The If you would like to contact the committee chairs, please contact the Omer and receive a dedication for their business or loved synagogue office for phone numbers and e-mail addresses. January 18 for Experienced players one. Contact us for details. We do not accept outside or paid advertising. Adult Education Steve Glaser & Aaron Paul The Omer is published on paper that is 30% post-consumer Chesed Warren Gould THE TEEN SCENE fibers. Development Steve Grossman & Flo Raskin The Friendship Circle The Omer (USPS 020299) is published monthly except Dues Evaluation Susan Shub Endowment Fund Herman Pencovic Friendship Circle programs present KINDERGYM July and August by Congregation Beth Abraham, 336 Next sessions begin January 8, 9 & 10 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610. Finance Susan Shub families of individuals with special needs and teen volunteers the Periodicals Postage Paid at Oakland, CA. Gan Avraham Parents Cori Constantine & Rebecca Skiles For ALL families with a baby who’s crawling or a Gan Avraham School Committee Rebecca Posamentier opportunity to form real friendships POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Omer, c/o toddler who’s jumping off everything: Come join Dawn House Stephen Shub within a non-judgmental and supportive community. Temple Beth Abraham, 336 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA Margolin–and bring your friends–to our wonderful 94610-3232. Affairs J.B. Leibovitch Teen Scene: weekday classes for lots of fun in our KINDERGYM. Membership Ulli Rotzscher © 2014. Temple Beth Abraham. Teen Scene is a semimonthly, one and a half hour We’ll jump, slide, crawl, splash and munch as we Men’s Club Jeff Ilfeld program on Sunday evenings for teens with special enjoy all the wonderful play equipment, fire engines, The Omer is published by Temple Beth Abraham, a non- Omer Rachel Dornhelm needs to join with loving teen volunteers for a fun, profit, located at 336 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610; Personnel Laura Wildmann playdough, water and parachute play, snack, educational group experience. telephone (510) 832-0936. It is published monthly except Public Relations Lisa Fernandez singing,and more. Fridays include a very special for the months of July and August for a total of ten issues Ritual Eric Friedman The program begins with a light dinner and is followed getting ready for Shabbat with Rabbi Bloom. per annum. It is sent as a requester publication and there by an hour of activities and Jewish discussion. Teens Schools Lynn Langfeld Dawn Margolin is no paid distribution. enjoy various activities, which include dancing, Social Action Marc Bruner www.tbaoakland.org/kindergym for more information Torah Fund Anne Levine basketball, yoga, drum circle and more... To view The Omer in color, visit Web Site Liz Willner For more information, including Teen Scene dates, See additional WTBA sponsored Adult Women of TBA Jeanne Korn & Lori Rosenthal please contact Devorah Romano, [email protected]. www.tbaoakland.org. Youth Phil Hankin Education activities on page 6. 1 i FROM THE RABBI PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

What Time is Shabbat Dinner? The Power of Shabbat Traditions by Rabbi Mark Bloom by Mark Fickes The simple answer is 5 p.m. from 2001-2010 and 8 p.m. from 2011 through today. How we got I first started looking for ways to observe Shabbat about 10 years ago. Because I did not there is a little more complicated. grow up in an observant household, Shabbat traditions were foreign and uncomfortable. As the Rabbi of the synagogue our Shabbatot revolve around services. I am blessed to have a So, I started with baby steps by attending services on Friday nights. One Friday, the wife who enjoys them, and our kids, well, that’s one aspect of their lives where they have very Rabbi at my former shul spoke about the importance of Shabbat rituals and traditions. She little choice. challenged each of us to pick one Shabbat tradition that was new to us and give it a try. She warned that things would seem strange at first but that if we kept at it, we just might Since our services have always been at 6:15 at Temple Beth Abraham, our dinner time changed find some meaning in the experience. My family began lighting candles before dinner. in association with our kids’ ages. If we wanted to have any sort of Shabbat dinner when the It seemed an easy place to start. The melody is not that complicated and the Hebrew not boys were little, we had to do it before services, since after services it was pretty much bedtime. too involved. At first, nothing felt natural about the experience but we kept at it. Before This made the dinner quite rushed, but at least we got to spend it together, recite the blessings, long, lighting candles was a habit. When my children were babies, I loved watching their and reviewing our highlights of the week before, admittedly, rushing back to the synagogue for expressions when we lit the candles and sang the blessing. Later, we added Kiddush and Kabbalat Shabbat services. Hamotzi to the mix. Now that the boys are older and don’t mind staying up late, we might have a little snack before- Nowadays, everyone is busy and it can seem so daunting to find time for ritual. If you hand, but we have our main Shabbat dinner after services at about 8 p.m. Sure, we’re a little are like me, however, rituals are comforting. I find Shabbat rituals particularly enjoyable worn out, but we know we can relax. because they mark the end of the work week. Over the years, I learned that these rituals are The point is that we moved one of our “traditions” (our Shabbat dinner time) around in order to comforting to children as well. When my kids started Contra Costa Jewish day school more accommodate the other competing interests—the fixed service time and our children’s ages. than three years ago, they came home one day asking why we didn’t give tzedaka before lighting candles and why we didn’t wash hands as part of our Shabbat celebration. So we 6:15 is a difficult time for those who wish to have both a Shabbat dinner and still come to added those traditions as well. Now, I can’t imagine a Friday where I don’t bless my kids. Friday night services. Dinner has to be too early for some and too late for others. On the other hand, 5:30, 7, 7:30, or 8 p.m. wouldn’t be any more convenient. These times would just be Perhaps the most amazing thing about Shabbat traditions is that they can be so meaningful inconvenient in a different way or for different groups of people. even if you are not observant or religious. A few months ago, we were invited to a Shabbat dinnner at a friend’s house. Several families were there with kids ranging from 9 to 17. Ironically, many of our most observant members do not attend Friday night services, because A couple of the teens professed that Judaism doesn’t mean much to them. Others told me their preference is for a more leisurely Shabbat dinner in their home. That’s the life we live in they don’t really believe in G-d. At some point, most of them disappeared to text, tweet, America, so our better attended service is Saturday morning. play video games and find other ways to ignore the adults. Then, something amazing However, in Jerusalem it is the opposite. Kabbalat Shabbat services, no matter what time they happened. We gathered everyone together to sing the Birkat Hamazon. Within seconds, our start, are far better attended than Saturday morning services. As a result, they are filled with disinterested teen atheists, some of whom had recently returned from Camp Ramah, were singing, dancing, and an amazing (spirit), while Saturday morning services are generally singing at the top of their lungs. For a few minutes, we were one Jewish family who came more leisurely and low-key. It helps that the city virtually shuts down early Friday afternoon, so together by and through the magic power of Shabbat ritual. people have more time to physically prepare for a nice Shabbat dinner and spiritually prepare for a service which welcomes Shabbat into their lives. What’s the point of all this? On the one hand, it’s to show that times can be moved around to Thanks to everyone who contributed accommodate different priorities and traditions. Traditions are no more steady then, let’s say, a “fiddler on the roof.” On the other hand, speaking of Fiddler, consider moving your dinnertimes to the Thanksgiving food drive. around in order to come to our Friday night services. They have a lot of ruach (spirit), but the TBA collectively donated $8,307.21. more people that are there, the higher the ruach soars! L’shalom, Rabbi Mark Bloom Coat Drive Runs Through January 15 These past few chilly weeks are a reminder that it can get very cold at night, even in the temperate Come and learn with Rabbi Bloom Bay Area. I am fortunate to be able to sleep in a warm house every night and have coats for my SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Learn Torah with Rabbi Bloom kids to wear to school. Many in our community are not so fortunate and can use your help this FROM EGYPT TO OAKLAND and other Tba’ers holiday season. This will be a three session mini-course Each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. If your children have outgrown last year’s coats, if you are looking to get a new coat this year, or if in early 2014 covering Torah, Talmud and at the Woodminster Cafe. you simply want to help someone in need, TBA’s annual coat drive has begun. Midrashic texts dealing with slavery. No knowledge of Please take the time to donate a coat, jacket, or anything warm that is new or lightly used. The Watch your email and the February Omer Hebrew is required. coat drive runs through January 15. There are barrels located in the TBA lobby and outside the for more information. chapel.

2 3 EDITOR’S MESSAGE GALA GOURMET Making time for Shabbat beginning and end of days often slips by by Rachel Dornhelm unnoticed, save on New Year’s Eve. The clock strikes twelve in the dead of night. Growing up in a somewhat observant family, In the Jewish calendar, there is a beauty in Shabbat meant certain familiar things: being able to mark and sanctify the passing candles, prayers, and Friday night services Please join us for Temple Beth Abraham’s of time each Shabbat. at our small synagogue, sweetened by Stella D’Oro cookies at the oneg afterwards. This was driven home to me the day my twin girls were born. It was late on a Friday But I never really thought beyond the afternoon, almost seven years ago to the ~ Gala Gourmet ~ observances of the holiday to some of the day that this Omer is being printed. When spiritual and religious meaning behind them it came time to write their Hebrew naming until I got to study Jewish theology with certificates, Rabbi Bloom commented that A Hot Night in Mumbai my husband during his conversion. One of he had to do a little research. Because they the first books we read together was “The were born so close to sunset, it seemed one Sabbath” by Abraham Joshua Heschel. had been born on one day in the Jewish Enjoy cocktails, dinner and dancing It’s a very thin volume, but beautiful and calendar, while her younger sister was born easy to devour. Paragraphs like this jumped after sunset – the next day, Shabbat. out at me: With a performance in the traditions It’s not uncommon now for me to think of “The meaning of the Sabbath is to celebrate that dividing line as Shabbat begins. It helps of Indian classical music time rather than space. Six days a week we remind me, this is a new day, a new time. live under the tyranny of things of space; We all have our own ways to mark the on the Sabbath we try to become attuned Sabbath. I became much more conscious of to holiness in time. It is a day on which we Saturday, January 25, 2014 • 6:00 p.m. February what my family was doing on Shabbat as I are called upon to share in what is eternal in edited the submissions for this issue. Many Omer Theme: time, to turn from the results of creation to of the articles in the issue are a testament to Music the mystery of creation; from the world of how our traditions marking this passage of Temple Beth Abraham Social Hall creation to the creation of the world.” time, stand the test of time. In the secular calendar the precise 327 MacArthur Boulevard • Oakland, CA Shabbat Shalom.

synagogue and singing “Shalom Aleichem” and before About the Cover: sitting down to the Shabbat evening meal. Eshet Chayil Reserve your tickets by January 15, 2014 Myra Kaplan is a new TBA member, but is a longtime is a twenty-two verse poem with which King Solomon member of the San Francisco Bay Area Judaica scene. concludes the book of Proverbs. The cover image shows some of her recent work: hand L’chah dodi, likrat kalah – This is a traditional song sewn and stenciled covers (myrakaplan.weebly. recited at dusk on Erev Shabbat. It was composed in Black tie or festive Indian attire suggested com). You can read more on page 8 about Kaplan and, by Rabbi , a Kabbalist. as a creator of ritual objects, her relationship to Shabbat means “come my beloved,” and is a request tradition. of a mysterious “beloved” that could mean either God or The phrases featured in the cover art translate as follow: one’s friend(s) to join together in welcoming Shabbat. Child care available Eishet Chayil mi yimtza – This is from the hymn Woman Shabbat Yom Tov – Many challah covers have the words of Valor. Called Eshet Chayil in Hebrew, it is customarily Shabbat v’yom tov on them, indicating that it can be used recited on Friday evenings, after returning from for Shabbat or holidays. THE OMER We cheerfully accept member submissions. Deadline for articles and letters is the seventh of the month preceding publication. Editor in Chief Rachel Dornhelm Jessica Dell’Era, Nadine Joseph, Richard Kauffman, Jan Silverman, Copy Editors Managing Editor Lisa Fernandez Debbie Spangler PARENTS NIGHT OUT! June Brott, Jessica Dell’Era, Charles Feltman, Jeanne Korn, Anne Levine, Layout & Design Jessica Sterling Proofreaders Stephen Shub, Susan Simon, Debbie Spangler Enjoy this event while your children (ages 5+) enjoy dinner and a fun night in the Baum Center. Calendars Jon Golding Distribution Hennie Hecht, Herman and Agnes Pencovic Care provided by Dreidel AZA, our local boys’ teen youth group, from 6:00 p.m. til 10:00 p.m. B’nai Editor Susan Simon Mailing Address 336 Euclid Ave. Oakland, CA 94610 Flat rate of $20 for first child; $5 for each additional child. Cover Myra Kaplan E-Mail [email protected] For more information contact Zach Hankin at [email protected]. Help From People like you!

4 5 WTBA, OUR SISTERHOOD MEN’S CLUB

No event in January: Happy New Year!

Join us next month for WTBA’s Girls’ Night Out Thursday, February 6 WTBA Vision Board Event - 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Discover the Key To Unlocking YOUR Potential Baum Youth Center, 341 MacArthur Sunday, January 12th, 3-6 p.m. Free to all WTBA members Special Guest: Faith Kramer • Oprah recommends it. • “The Secret” has created a multi-million International dollar industry from it. Jewish Spice • Neuroscientists are even showing us why it Routes has such a powerful impact on our brains. and • It can appear that everyone is on the Vision How Different Board wagon - would you like to try it? Cultures use their Spices Whether this will be your first or your fifth vision TBA Men's Club Basketball Players, looking wiped out after playing five full court games. board, there is good reason to believe that creating Reach out to Jason Klein or Jon Shuster for a schedule of upcoming games. a visual representation (known as a vision board) of your hopes and dreams can tap into your inner voice Girls’ Night Out is a casual, monthly event to gather in a more powerful way and bring you into action to TBA women together for relaxed and unstructured An Introduction to the Talmud & achieve your goals. social time. Drop in on the first Thursday of each Monday, January 6, 2014 WTBA’s annual membership event is bringing month to chat, laugh, debate, have a glass of wine and On behalf of The Women of TBA (WTBA) and Sisterhood Shabbat some light goodies, and get to know each other better. the power of making your dreams a reality to a Oakland Ruach Hadassah, we would like to No need to bring a thing! Meet old friends, and synagogue near you (TBA, that is). We invite you February 1, 2014 make new friends. There’s a different mix, vibe and invite all East Bay Women to join our Rosh to join the Women of TBA in a special afternoon of conversation every month. Come check it out! Chodesh group. The group meets monthly on Services begin at 9:30 a.m. connecting, sharing and giving voice and space to the Monday closest to Rosh Chodesh, from Questions: [email protected] or Kiddush luncheon following the service your long-term desires and wishes. 9:30-11:30 a.m. at rotating members’ homes. [email protected]. As the Cheshire Cat once said, “If you don’t know The meetings are facilitated by members of the Parashat Terumah THIS EVENT IS FREE, sponsored by WTBA where you are going, any road will get you there.” group. All WTBA members are invited to be part of this January 2014 is the perfect time to set a course of This month, we will begin our study of the service. If you are not yet a member, this is a great action that is meaningful to you and helps you reach book Taste of Text by Ronald H. Isaacs. This time to join. You can choose to lead an English for your own stars. At WTBA, we are thrilled to pro- Women on the Move book introduces the reading, investigating or Hebrew prayer, read Torah or , have an vide a sacred space, the tools, the food, and the guid- and questioning of Talmudic and Midrashic aliyah, present the drash; or select a non-speaking ance to support you on your quest for a more aligned Sunday, January 12 materials. Susan Simon will be facilitating honor such as opening/closing the ark or dressing 2014 and beyond. this month’s meeting. We will discuss the the Torah. Educational support, if needed, will be WTBA hikes happen the second Sunday of every introduction and the collection of topics, provided. Join WTBA today by going to www.womenoftba. month. We meet at 9:45 and depart promptly at which address items of personal and religious com and clicking on online payments. Then join us 10:00. Hikes end by 11:30. Please respond to Amy Tessler by email at abtessler@ importance. as our treat on January 12th from 3-6 p.m. for a life- We will meet at the Skyline comcast.net or by phone at (510) 482-1218 to let The meeting will opens with a short discussion changing membership event that is not to be missed. Gate on Skyline just south of us know your preferences and whether you need about the significance of the month of Shevat. (Non-members can attend with payment) Snake and hike in Redwood educational support. Questions? Contact Amy Tessler at abtessler@ Questions: Contact membership co-chairs Regional Park. For details, If you are interested in becoming a member of contact Deena Aerenson comcast.net or (510) 482-1218 to obtain the WTBA, contact Jo Ilfeld at [email protected]. Anne Levine ([email protected])or reading materials and get on the distribution list Jo Ilfeld ([email protected]). at (510) 225-5107 or [email protected]. for the upcoming meeting locations.

6 7 FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Interview: A Jewish ritual artist’s sticks, a silver Kiddush cup (a tenth wedding anniversary relationship with Shabbat present to my husband David) and a challah. Sometimes the challah is instead a piece of bread, and at times it has Myra Kaplan grew up in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. even been a tortilla! A motzi is a motzi, no? She graduated from Hunter College, and trained in pottery at the Brooklyn Museum Art School. She taught We say the blessings and then each of us offers thanks in New York City before moving here in 1970. Omer for what we feel grateful for in our lives at the moment. editor Rachel Dornhelm talked to her about her work Sometimes we remember a particular loved one or pray in Judaica, and her relationship with ritual objects and for a better world. Shabbat traditions. The interview was edited for length The whole ritual takes about ten minutes and it gives us and clarity. pause from a busy week. RD: How did you get started in Judaica? We have a chance to reflect as a family. The meal is usu- MK: I had a pottery studio in San Francisco on Clement ally simple and might be matzo ball soup with a salad. Street and 2nd Avenue for years. I did French country With more time, I prepare a vegetable dish or a casserole. tableware, and I was the only store that was closed on We then watch a rented movie from Redbox or old TV Rosh Hashanah. Someone asked me to make them a shows such as “Bewitched”, “I Dream of Jeannie”, or seder plate and I didn’t know what that meant. I taught “The Odd Couple.” myself the Hebrew alphabet and I read about the history With the approach of simplicity we are likely to observe of Judaicain Europe the last two to three hundred years. It Myra displays her Challah covers. Shabbat on most Friday nights. was fascinating. I didn’t have children, and in some way I think this I used to make Kiddush cups and Miriam cups for Judaica is what I present, to keep the tradition going. Shabbos Jobs, How to Half Clean Your . I designed a children’s menorah for the Jewish RD: What do you hope the Judaica you make brings to House For Shabbat Museum in New York. I did art workshops for families people’s traditions? by Lisa Fernandez Lisa does her “Shabbos job.” at the San Francisco JCC. Then I moved to the East Bay MK: In making the objects, I want to make things as Growing up, my mother made my younger brother, Josh, while doing nothing in the living room (maybe reading a and worked as the manager at Afikomen. When I stopped beautiful as I can. I think the pride is in putting my atten- and me do “Shabbos jobs” every Friday afternoon before book?) so that the sound of the machine would trick Mom doing ceramics I had my mother’s old Singer sewing tion into this. I appreciate that in my childhood everyone the start of Shabbat. into thinking she was getting crumb-free rugs. machine, so I started making challah covers. around me was Jewish. And then moving to California All of our friends knew about these jobs, and would So basically, our house would get half clean each week. My longtime friend Novak’s (mother of former everyone around is not Jewish. I think when I moved here purposely ask us over after school on Friday afternoons – I was mad then at the unfairness of it all. But I giggle TBA board member Rachel Teichman) house is almost a I realized that if you want to have a Jewish life you have knowing that we couldn’t – until we finished our Shabbos now when I think of cleaning the house – or half cleaning timeline of the things I’ve made. to reach for it. jobs. They just wanted to hear us say, “Sure, after my it – before Shabbat. At least now, in my tiny Oakland I think I may have begun to make Judaica almost for I like the ceremony, I am proud to be Jewish. I am happy Shabbos jobs,” which we did, with straight faces, every home, I only have one bathroom to clean, which I do myself and what my mother and father never had. They to be Jewish. Friday after school. fully, each week before Friday dinner. had left Russia and couldn’t take anything. They call it in When you observe Shabbat in your house you should do And so, we would clean the house before the sun went psychology “the lost object,” what never was seen. TBA Men’s Club - Shabbat Traditions it in the most beautiful way. Most Jewish ceremony is down. Or at least I would. RD: What were your family’s Shabbat traditions like by Howard Zangwill with inspiration from my wife Stacy really in the home, so the table is like the temple. First, let me explain that my brother and I alternated the when you were growing up? When I hear the word “Tradition” I can see Tevye in the RD: Why did you join TBA? jobs; one week you got the “easy” jobs, which meant the ‘Fiddler on the Roof” dancing and singing. The word MK: When I was growing up, people didn’t have smaller “brown” bathroom to clean, and the other week MK: After I left Afikomen, I wasn’t so in touch with the tradition cannot simply be summed up as a custom as Judaica. Maybe they had candlesticks from Israel, but no you got the “hard” jobs, which meant cleaning the bigger Jewish community and wanted a connection. I moved to it encompasses much more. Tradition for me, and I am , for instance. For Chanukah we had an old “blue” bathroom. the Dimond District three years ago. And after knowing guessing many of you, implies something passed on from candleabra. My dad put on a hat and lit the candles. We about TBA for years I am glad to be a member. TBA feels Mind you, our friends – even the non-Jewish ones – paid one generation to the next and seems essential to keeping got a dollar and that was that. very hamish and comfortable for me. attention to whether Josh or I had “easy” or “hard” and Judaism strong. My father was an immigrant from Russia and was more kept us on track. It would be a weekly discussion at our Growing up in a conservative traditional kosher home in like a Socialist. And we didn’t have a Shabbat dinner A Simple Shabbat high school over lunch, with our buddies trying to egg us Southern California, Friday night was always a special because my parents had to work. They had a shop and got by Treya Weintraub on as to who had more chores that week. time in our home. Although we did not have the smell of home at 9 p.m. So family meals were on Sunday. That Do we scrub and clean the house on Friday like Golda Well, being the goodie two shoes that I was, I did my freshly baked challah or tzimis cooking on the stove, we was when the whole family would get together. My father in “Fiddler on the Roof” or my great aunts? Do I spend jobs, both easy and hard. had our own special traditions. The aroma of my mom’s and my uncle sang songs in Russian. It wasn’t a formal hours in the kitchen preparing a chicken dinner, matzo cranberry chicken and sweet raisin filled our home Shabbat but that was the only day my parents didn’t work. Josh-the-Rebel did not. ball soup, and an enticing dessert for our Shabbos dinner? and my parents, sister, brother and I all knew it was the But my parents spoke Yiddish. We went to shul growing up. The answer to both is no. We do, however, take out the He’d fake my mom out, spraying Windex for that “clean” one time a week we would all be together at our dining smell, and running the vacuum cleaner for 15 minutes, You know the saying D’or v’dor? It means “it continues.” easy to reach key ingredients for Shabbat; the candle continued on page 10 8 9 ANNOUNCEMENTS MASTERCHEF - LATKE COMPETITION Scholarship Award for High School First Annual Masterchef Latke Competition Hertz Fund Grants Available Jewish Student-Athletes by Susan Simon Students who are planning on visiting Israel this year may apply for a grant from the Hertz Fund. This is a The Northern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame is About 100 TBA members and even some people checking fund that was established by the Hertz family in order accepting nominations of outstanding Jewish student- us out were stuffed to the gills after attending TBA’s first to encourage our young people to travel to Israel and athletes for a small college scholarship (approx. $1,500) ever Masterchef Latke Competition. Attendees enjoyed strengthen their intellectual and emotional connection to be awarded at a gala dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel, Japanese latkes, Cajun latkes, Bet Sefer recipe latkes as to a place that is so important to the Jewish people. San Francisco, on April 13, 2014. Any secondary school well as really delicious offerings from our competitors. The monetary grant is made without consideration of Jewish student (male or female, grade 12) in Northern After the votes were counted, we crowned Jody London financial need and the money can be used for anything California may be nominated. (pictured below) as our first ever Latke Masterchef. connected with a trip to Israel. The requirements are the Criteria for eligibility: One who identifies him/herself There were crafts for young and old. Rabbi Bloom led following: as a Jew, or who acknowledges their Jewish heritage, or us in lighting the Hanukkiah as well as some not so traditional songs. Really a fun evening. • The young person must be in 9th grade or above – who wants to reconnect with their Jewish ancestral iden- up to age 22 by the time the trip starts; tity. Please send a 150-word application stating why this Hope you’ll be able to attend (and compete!) next year. • The young person must have graduated from Bet person is worthy of recognition (students may nominate Sefer Religious school and celebrated a Bar/Bat themselves). Mitzvah ceremony at TBA; OR – Please include: • The young person must have attended a Jewish day • A letter of application from the student-athlete school and celebrated their Bar or Bat Mitzvah cer- (150 words). emony at TBA. • A letter from a person who is familiar with the The money that can be allocated each year will depend student-athlete (150 words). upon how much interest the fund has accumulated over • A list of athletic participation signed by a coach the prior year. The available funds will be divided or counselor. evenly between the students who apply up to a maxi- • A transcript of grades up to date of application mum of $500 per student. Students may apply now for (must include a verification stamp). any trip to Israel to be commenced any time in 2014. • A list of community service and extra-curricular If your child is planning on going to Israel this year activities. and would like to apply for a share of the Hertz Fund, • Additional letters of recommendation from coaches, please have her/him fill in the attached form and return administrators, teachers, clergy (no more than 3). it to the synagogue, addressed to my attention, no later Date to submit the application is February 15, 2014. than January 24. Send to Gary Wiener, JSHOFNC, 4200 Indigo Oak Court, Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions San Jose, CA 95121. If you have questions, please call or concerns.Am Yisrael Chai! Gary Wiener at (408) 374-1600, or Barbara Oseroff (TBA Susan Simon member), scholarship committee, (510) 653-5155.

Friday Night Lights, continued from page 9 grown, they still smile at us as we bless them. Friday room table. This table is now at my brother, and fellow evenings are a time for us to relax, have a great meal, TBA member, Stuart and his wife Abby’s home, and we sing songs and appreciate all we have. still enjoy family and festival meals around it. In our Over the years our family has enjoyed the prayers and home, we all had a Kiddush cup filled with Manischewitz songs from Gan Avraham, Ramah Family Camp and wine as we recited the blessing. Bet Sefer, and these songs and blessing have been Today my family – Stacy, Leorah, Aliza and Peri – still incorporated into our family traditions. Although our enjoy many of the same traditions and recipes. In fact daughters no longer look out the window on Friday Aliza and her Uncle Stuart have a tradition of preparing nights anxiously waiting for me to come from work, we mom’s kugel after Shul on Yom Kippur for our annual do occasionally sing “It’s Friday night and I am looking break-the–fast. Our family has veered a bit from what out the window for my Abba to come home” and smile at my parents did in terms of what we cook and enjoy on the memories it brings to all of us. Shabbat, but not from gathering with family and friends From Tevye’s time to ours, the tradition of family, to bring in the Shabbat. We light the candles, recite the blessings, song, good food and wine continue to nourish blessings over wine, challah and most importantly over the Jewish people. May you all be blessed with the our wonderful children. Although our girls are mostly warmth of Shabbat and many traditions of your own..

10 11 COOKING CORNER COOKING CORNER Winter Shabbat Tradition and Cabbage After the cabbage has softened a bit you could add favorite) or unseasoned Chinese rice vinegar. Taste. Want Soup cooked beans, grains and or meat. Try white beans, more punch? Add more and taste again. Need to soften chickpeas, cooked barley, rice, small pasta or bite-sized the acidity? Add a tablespoon of sugar or brown sugar. by Faith Kramer bits of smoked sausage, cooked chicken or meat at this Taste and adjust to your palette. It’s the time of year that thoughts turn to warming dishes, stage. If you want to use raw meat products, you’ll need If you are going for a smoky flavor instead of sweet particularly soup. My favorite cold weather soup is a to make sure they are cooked through. and sour, sprinkle a bit of smoked paprika in when you sweet and sour cabbage soup, a style of soup I associate Keep cooking until vegetables are cooked through and correct the seasonings toward the end or add a bit of with Jewish delis in New York and my Eastern European it tastes like soup. Taste and adjust seasonings as need liquid smoke or even a tablespoon or two of a smoky heritage. be (salt, pepper, hot sauce, curry powder, ground ginger, barbecue sauce. Smoked sausage, tempeh or tofu would I have a confession. I never make the soup the same way soy sauce, etc.) If you used a prepared broth or bouillon make nice add ins to complement this flavor. Again, taste twice and often it doesn’t seem remotely “Jewish” as I cubes, taste carefully since these ingredients add a lot of and adjust to your palette. play with ingredients and flavors. One common theme salt to begin with. Add your minced fresh herbs – such as basil, Italian in my soup is what in the store looks good or what in the Now is the time to adjust the seasonings you put in earli- parsley, fennel leaves, cilantro (only if not using basil and fridge is beginning to look a bit past its prime. er. If you’ve over seasoned, add a bit more stock or water. fennel!), chives and or green onions (especially good for Try my Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup with Butternut If you’ve under seasoned add a bit more of your earlier Asian variations). Squash recipe, or read my directions for making cabbage spice mixture. If the soup is too salty it can be remedied To really add punch to the soup, just before finishing and soup and try your hand at your own version. Let me by putting half of a peeled potato in the soup and cooking serving, swirl in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (for know what you did and how it turned out. it. Remove it before serving. It should have absorbed a the Asian variation, try toasted sesame oil). Start with your aromatics. I generally use chopped onions • Curry seasoning, ground ginger, ground cumin lot of the excess salt. If the soup is a bit thin or you’d like I know this is a lot of information. It really is easy to make (usually a whole small yellow onion), leeks (if available) more of a tomato taste, add in some tomato paste. I always use some freshly ground black pepper and often this soup as simple or complex as you like. I hope this and garlic (at least two cloves). I spray the bottom of my pop in a bay leaf. If I want some heat, I add about 1/8 - If you intend to make a sweet and sour soup, add about inspires you to create your own cabbage soup tradition. soup pot with an olive oil spray or drizzle a little olive or 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes and for a smoky hot flavor, I’d 2-4 tablespoons of lemon juice, apple cider vinegar (my other oil on the bottom, swirling the warmed pan around add some chopped chipotle pepper and bit of the sauce so it coats the bottom. they are canned with (caution, usually one pepper from Add onions and leeks and sauté a few minutes to soften, the can heats things up enough). You can also use fresh, SWEET AND SOUR CABBAGE SOUP WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH then add the garlic. If I am using a little chopped fresh chopped chilies when you add the aromatics. Serves 8 ginger I’ll add it now. Continue sautéing until lightly Let the spices heat up a bit to release the maximum 2 Tbs. olive oil 1/4 tsp. ground dried 6 cups chopped green or browned. flavor. 1 cup of chopped onions oregano savoy cabbage leaves Now add your harder vegetables cut into a smallish dice 2 minced garlic cloves 1/4 tsp. ground dried 1 15 oz. can tomatoes, Now comes the stock. For stock you can use vegetable, thyme chopped with juices or thin rounds. Here is where I’ll add my carrots (the 2 celery stalks, chopped chicken or beef stock. How much to put in? I suggest 1/4 tsp. freshly ground 2 Tbs. tomato paste more you add the sweeter the soup), celery or fennel using about double the amount of the veggies you use 2 medium carrots, chopped black pepper, plus more 1-2 cups water bulb, potato, turnip (adds a nice peppery taste to the pot), in total. I don’t recommend you don’t use plain water. 2 cups of peeled, cubed for later Salt kohlrabi or whatever I have in the house. Again add a bit Any form of broth will add to your depth of flavor. If butternut squash (cut into about 1/2" cubes) 4 cups chicken or vegeta- 2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar of water or stock if it sticks or starts to burn. you don’t use homemade stock, look for low sodium and ble stock bouillon cube brands. 1/8 tsp. red pepper 1 Tbs. sugar After that has browned and softened a bit I add bell pep- flakes Bay leaf pers, again cut into a soup spoon friendly size. I like Then comes the cabbage and other greens. I usually use to use red and yellow. Cut-up green beans go into the about half-to-a-whole of a medium head of green cabbage. In a large pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and sauté until beginning to pot now, too. If I’m using eggplant, that goes in now as You could use more or less or try some of the other types soften, add garlic and sauté until just beginning to become golden. Add celery, carrots and squash and sauté until squash cubes have begun to caramelize. Add red pepper flakes, well. Also good are mushrooms. I like the cremini (small of cabbage (Napa, Savoy, etc.) Especially if I am making brown) ones. Portobello are good, too, but I slice off the oregano, thyme and black pepper and sauté a minute or two until the seasonings’ aromas the curry variation, I’ll use spinach or Swiss chard instead are released. dark gills before I cut them up. Those gills will turn any or the cabbage. Try some bok Choy, Napa cabbage or other broth very dark brown and muddy looking and your soup Asian greens or perhaps escarole or frisee. Add stock and bay leaf. Cover pot, bring to a simmer and lower heat to keep soup sim- will lose a lot of its visual appeal. Try shitake mushrooms mering. Add cabbage. Simmer until cabbage has begun to soften. Add tomatoes and tomato Chop or thinly slice the greens into bite size pieces or paste. Stir well. Add 1 to 2 cups of water until soup is at desired thickness. Cover and for Asian-influenced soups. Add zucchini after the other slivers and add to the pot. simmer until vegetables are softened. Taste soup and add salt and more pepper to taste. vegetables have softened since it needs less time to cook. Let simmer a bit until seasoning is incorporated, then add balsamic vinegar and sugar. Next add your tomatoes Not vital, but they are pretty I brown that a bit then add in any spices I might be using. Mix thoroughly, let simmer a minute or two and taste. If the soup should be sweeter, add typical for sweet and sour style. I usually use a large can Some suggested mixtures: a bit more sugar. If it needs more sour punch, add more vinegar. Remove bay leaf before of diced tomatoes with liquid. I’ve also used dry-packed serving. • French Provençal seasoning (my favorite all-purpose sun-dried tomatoes softened in hot water and chopped. It mix with dried basil, rosemary, lavender and fennel) adds a complex note to the tomato taste In addition to writing for the Omer, Faith Kramer is a cooking columnist for the j. weekly. She blogs her food at • Cumin seed, caraway seed, fennel seed, ground ginger www.clickblogappetit.com. Send questions, suggestions or comments to [email protected] 12 13 GAN AVRAHAM LA’ATID BET SEFER Gan Shabbat – Challah Dough and Shabbat Circles  by Barbara Kanter At the Gan we begin practicing for Shabbat on Friday  mornings. Every Friday morning, we make our challah dough together. Then each class braids its loaves for  sharing with family and friends at their Shabbat circle  after lunch. We end every Friday morning (yes, a little  early) with a Shabbat circle in each class. The children  give tzedakah, sing songs, light candles and chant the blessing, say Kiddush and drink grape juice and say  hamotzi before sharing the challah that they made. This  Shabbat observance is practiced every week by the chil- GAN AVRAHAM PRESCHOOL  dren as an integral part of their Gan experience. It is one way we strive to introduce and expose the children to the INFORMATION EVENING •  ritual and tradition of Jewish life. Please Join Us  In addition to our weekly Shabbat circle, our classesGan AvrahamWednesday, January 22,Preschool 2014 often visit the chapel together on Friday mornings for a  7:30 p.m.  short torah service with Rabbi Bloom. We sing songs and chant blessings, have an opportunity to touch the In Room 10 •  torah and listen to a story from the rabbi. This is anotherInformation Evening  wonderful Shabbat tradition at Gan Avraham. Meet the Director,  In an effort to increase the positive experience of Shabbat Learn about our Program and to connect home and school, we also have a tradition Ask Questions,  of families receiving a Shabbat Basket for the weekend. Schedule your Visit The basket includes all the ritual items for both Shabbat Please Join Us  and . Each basket contains and  candlesticks, a Kiddush cup, challah and cover, a spice If you are unable to attend the Information  Wednesday,Evening, please January call 510-763-7528 22, 2014 box, Havdalah candle and holder, a Shabbat songbook,  Shabbat and Havdalah blessings and a book. All of our after January 22 to schedule a visit children have a turn during the year to take home a bas- At 7:30pm  ket and celebrate with their family. Gan Avraham Preschool And now is the time for prospective families to be At Temple Beth Abraham introduced to the Gan. Our Information Evening for In336 EuclidRoom Ave., Oakland 10 A huge thank you to the parents who volunteered prospective families is Wednesday, January 22 at 7:30 Please RSVP at [email protected] their time to make our Bet Sefer Hanukkah p.m. Please contact Barbara Kanter at (510) 763-7528 celebration such a success. Thank you to Roberta or [email protected] if you are interested in Meetor 510-763-7528 the Director Masliyah, Laura Wildmann, Arlene Zuckerberg, enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year. Jeanne Korn, Dawn Margolin, Treya Weintraub and Learn about our Program most especially, Mary Odenheimer, the organizer and latke cooker extraordinaire, for helping us to If you are a 4th - 7th grade parent this year, Ask Questions make well over 600 latkes. It was choreography and your child is automatically a member of La’atid organization of the highest order, not to mention (Hebrew for “To the Future”). We have Schedule your Visit resulting in fabulous latkes. monthly events which tend to be both social and 2013-14 CALENDAR Thank you also to the parents who helped out at the 2 Hanukkah parties. We had Susan Kagan Waitkus socially conscious. If you are unable to attendJan the 19-20Information - Sleepover Evening, please call 510-763-7528 Feb 23 - TBD and Diana Miller on Tuesday and Rachel Goldstone, after January 22 to schedule a visit Sherry Marcus and Joni Tanis on Thursday. The Next Event: January 19-20 Mar 30 - Chocolate Seder children had a wonderful time wolfing down latkes Sleepover!!! May 4 - End of the year event and gelt, playing dreidle and singing songs with Gan Avraham Preschool Rabbi Bloom. Another year of fun celebrations, To RSVP or questions, contact your trusty advi- thanks to our wonderful volunteers! sors, Dina & Phil Hankin at [email protected]. At Temple Beth Abraham

14 336 Euclid Ave. 15 MIDRASHA MIDRASHA Our Bay Area, Jewish web of And she probably hadn’t been in BBG either. Our Jewish across the dining hall from Midrasha, eating with possible because we live in California and cooperation interconnectedness paths never crossed. their children. What sort of parents enroll their young and collegiality are in the water. We don’t do anything by Diane Bernbaum Life isn’t like that here. To get a picture in your heads, I children in an intensive, experiential, pluralistic, non- just because our grandparents did them that way. hope this fall most of you have taken the time to look at denominational, Hebrew-infused program and then want It’s a privilege to be part of this web of love, of continu- In November I was honored to receive the Jewish to spend a weekend at a camp with them and share the Federation’s Shomrei HaKabbalah award, an honor given the magnificent spider webs that pop up this time of the ity and inter-connectedness. year. The kind that is so beautiful that when you see them dining hall with nearly 100 Midrasha teens? to a Jewish educator or educational lay leader most years. Oakland Midrasha Winter Retreat around At the event I delivered the following: glistening with dewdrops you whip out your phone and The answer is: adults who either had been Midrasha snap a picture. Our life here is that sort of a web. students themselves or had been on the Midrasha staff. Of the corner It is an honor and a privilege to receive this award and the parents on that retreat three were Midrasha students, by Kendra Lubalin in thinking about it this past week, it has reminded me This weekend I was on a Midrasha retreat at Walker Creek Ranch. Almost 100 teens from the four Midrasha two had been Midrasha teachers, two met as a couple The first semester at Oakland Midrasha was full of bond- of what a privilege it is to live, to work and to be Jewish while staffing the Federation’s Let’s Go Israel Trip for in this community. We are a community without the bor- campuses and a very creative, charismatic staff spent 48 ing, debating, learning, and questioning, and the feedback hours at camp, davening, learning, making art, playing Midrasha teens, five had been staff on retreat weekends, has been so wonderful from teens and parents. Teens ders and boundaries that exist elsewhere in this country three of them have run the whole Midrasha retreat and elsewhere in the world. And it’s due to the spirit of basketball, taking hikes, dancing to the music of Eric have continued to trickle in all semester at the urging of Schoen and just hanging out. At the end of the weekend, program. One is now the president of the Midrasha Board their friends and the energy is high on Tuesday nights! cooperation and collegiality fostered by those of you sit- of Directors. Others had yet more connections. ting in this room. We live in a community where people teens sat in groups by grade, each with a ball of yarn. January brings new opportunities for engagement, with a often belong to multiple , where a Shabbat The first teen held on to the end of the yarn and told And I’ve probably forgotten a few. But, OK, OK. I new series of electives starting, and our annual BRING A morning service is filled with people from many other of a memory of the weekend, then threw the ball to a only used examples from the people and institutions FRIEND NIGHT on January 14th. ANY INTERESTED shuls, where the same person – a woman no less – has person who was a part of that memory. The second held I know, but I’m sure that each of you in the room has TEEN is invited to come check out Midrasha that night, been president of both the Reform and the Orthodox shul on to the yarn, recounted another memory and threw other inter-denominational, non-denominational, post no commitment necessary. The evening begins at 6:00 in Berkeley and where for 45 years East Bay synagogues it to someone else. Pretty soon a web was created, denominational examples of your own. In the East Bay p.m., at Temple Sinai in Oakland, with a pre-Midrasha have worked together to sponsor Midrasha so that all and although this web was of yellow yarn and not of a we are bound together, not like where I grew up, where lounge night, and ends after electives at 9:15 p.m. their teens may learn together and benefit from critical spider’s filament, it was every bit as beautiful. we were all pushed into our separate boxes. We are all so lucky. We have a Federation that works very hard to Our Winter Retreat, always our biggest retreat of the year, mass and diversity of background. But that’s not the only web that was created this will host close to 200 teens from four Midrasha campuses weekend. We shared the camp with two other groups. bring us together as a community and to create the means It wasn’t like that when I was growing up in Milwaukee. for our institutions to overlap and nourish each other. in the end of January. Teens from all over the bay area As a high school student who belonged to a Conservative One of them, Kehilla Synagogue’s 6th graders, are part will come together for Shabbat and Havdalah, participate of the web of the community, because the teens from We have and educators who put a high priority on synagogue, I was intrigued by the Sunday night class working together with colleagues, not on hiding behind in dynamic programming, and make friendships that will taught by the rabbi of a Reform synagogue. It was closer this partner synagogue will be Midrasha students in two last well into their adult lives. years. The other group was Edah. For those of you who fences. Synagogues frequently sponsor speakers and to my home, many of my high school friends went there events together and one only has to spend an hour at If you have questions about Midrasha or know a teen and the rabbi was very charismatic. When I asked the don’t know, Edah is an afterschool, five day a week program that offers experiential, Hebrew-infused Jewish the Tikkun Leyl to see a community of diverse who might be interested, please contact Kendra Lubalin rabbi if I could attend, he made me get a signed permis- who like being together. Sometimes I think this is at [email protected] or (510) 501-6692. sion slip from my rabbi, so he wouldn’t be accused of learning for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade. poaching students. These students hopefully too will some day be Midrasha students. But that’s the web of the future. Everyone lived in their own Jewish box. I was reminded of this last September when I flew back to Milwaukee The real web, the one that took my breath away and for my 50th high school reunion. No one in my class nearly brought me to tears several times during the Save the Date. had become a rabbi, but one weekend, was to see the Edah families sitting at tables We want YOU at this year’s Midra-Shabang, member of the class had married a rabbi. My first reaction when our annual fundraiser and FUN party. I found that out was to think “But I didn’t even know Caren Sunday, March 23, 2014 from 5-9 p.m. • Congregation Beth El. Jean was Jewish.” And when I later told a friend from the class Tickets will be available on-line at an e-address not available at press time, who hadn’t been able to attend so e-mail Midrasha in Berkeley. An extra, added attraction (for me at least) is the reunion, her comment was, that this year’s Midra-Shabang will also be a retirement celebration for me, “But I didn’t even know Caren Diane Bernbaum, and I’d really love it if many of the people who have Jean was Jewish.” Of course we didn’t. Caren Jean didn’t attend meant so much to me during my 33 years at Midrasha were there. my Conservative or my friend’s Contact: [email protected] or go to our website: www.midrasha.org Reform synagogue. She was a member of the break-away, small and we will send you details as they become available. Reform shul.

16 17 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER BULLETIN BOARD LIFE CYCLES Ava Remler, January 18, 2014 I am a seventh grader at CCJDS, or Contra Costa Jewish Day School, in Baby It’s COLD Outside… Lafayette. I’ve been going to my school since kindergarten and I really love it. I live in Oakland, and joined TBA this year, but I’ve already experienced a lot This winter season, please donate: here, and I love everything about it. I like reading books, listening to music, and playing games with my friends and family, however ridiculous the games are. My favorite book is Hamlet, and my favorite song is Nightshift. one blanket, My Torah portion is Yitro, in the book of Shmot. I will be talking about Yitro

B’nai Mitzvah and how he helps Moshe improve the Israelites’ justice system. I’ve always been really into Jewish culture, and am really excited to get to celebrate my one jacket, Bat Mitzvah. I hope I’ll see you all there! one sweater, one hat, one pair of gloves, one raincoat, Welcome New Members Mazel Tov and/or Eric & Tina Eisenman Mazel tov to Bryan Schwartz and Alicia Cernitz- Schwartz, and big sister Camelia, on the birth of one sleeping bag. a new son, Sy David. A NOTE TO NEW MEMBERS: We would like to introduce you to the TBA community in an upcoming newsletter. Please send a short introduction of you and your family, Bins are in the downstairs lobby and near the Gan classrooms. with a digital photo, to [email protected]. Donate until January 15. Thanks!

Keflanu: Shabbat Fun and Games Special happening for 3rd - 6th Graders We would like to invite 3rd - 6th graders to join their friends in the Baum Youth Center Welcome a following Shabbat services on the 1st and 3rd Shabbat of the month Give a new parent Dates coincide with Junior Congregation: January 4, February 1, March 1, April 5, May 3 an hour to shower New Member After the service, join together for lunch in the social hall. After lunch check-in at the Baum Youth Center! A perfect mitzvah for those with daytime Do you have time to help Have fun with Shabbat appropriate games and activities... flexibility. Volunteers needed to provide short basketball, board games, jump ropefoosball, ping pong, or even just shmooze daytime sits free of charge deliver TBA’s to our new moms and dads new member • Drop off: When children arrive they should check in with the chaperone at the Youth Center. allowing them to shower, get baskets? • Parents can enjoy the kiddush, please stay on campus while your child is at Keflanu. a haircut or just take a walk. If so, please Interested sitters should contact Virginia • Pick up: parents should pick up their child at the Youth Center. Just let the chaperone know contact us at womenoftba@ at virginia@ tbaoakland.org your child is leaving. Please pick up by 1:15pm. tbaoakland.org.

18 19 LIFE CYCLES LIFE CYCLES JANUARY BIRTHDAYS JANUARY YAHRZEITS 1 11 Harvey Varga 25 Molly Werthan Jason Finkelstein Jonah Moore Hannah Klein Samuel Werthan May God comfort you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem Zoe Waitkus Daniel Wasserman 12 TEVET 29-SHEVAT 2 SHEVAT 10-16 Gertrude Yarman 19 2 Miriam Gould 26 January 1-3 January 11-17 Bernice Righthand Lilliana Kay Micah Bloom Jacob Zatkin Maxwell Goldstone Herman Samuel Handloff Joe Zatkin Erwin Barany Sandra Simon Zoe Matsuzaki Penny Harris Benjamin Goor Aubrey Broudy SHEVAT 24-30 13 Polly Stevens Van de Water Eric Leve Maurice Kerns Moshe Naggar January 25-31 3 Sophia Share Raya Sawle 20 Harry Morofosky Shoshanah Shoshani Gertrude Kingston Philip Mezey Sydney Shub Helen Siegel David Saidan Judah Solomon Chabon Irwin Weintraub Ariana Rukin David Weintraub 27 Judah Eliahu SHEVAT 3-9 Harry H. Levine Al Rothman Eli Baum Ellie Gertler Rabbi Ralph DeKoven 5 14 Lawrence Polon January 4-10 Allan Stone Simon Gertler Max Levien Simon Jacobs Sonia Aronson Camelia Schwartz Ron Joseph Frieda Blatter Richard Kauffman William Morofsky Samuel J. Tobin Adiel Avidor Mani Saidan Joseph Gould Ezra Tobias Schwartz Janice Lasar Frankel 28 Nat Kaufman SHEVAT 17-23 Samuel Aaron Grinberg 6 January 18-24 Bernard Pollack Daniela Simone Goldfein 21 Elisabeth Schleuning Robert Morris Gabriel Abrami Erin Hodess Hannah Sumner Howard Rosenberg Sara Heber Irving Goronkin Jason Berger Jordan Isaac Goldsmith Ari Lipsett Leorah Zangwill Tom Turchin Phil Rothblatt Joseph Zuckerberg Sylvia Gutkin Avi Margolin Deborah Reback George Elber Selma Jackson William Brinner Adam Klein James Rose 29 Dorothy Glasser Curtis Schacker Margaret Ash Louis Kasdan Zachary Waitkus 15 Natalie Hagar Shirley Goldberg Ilya Varga Helen Hankin Harold Silberzweig Samuel Daffner Dina Hankin Celia Veiss Lillian Raphael Joseph G. Kay 7 Jana Good Garrett Schwartz 22 Ida Fass Fay Schaefer Eric Baum Adam Gildea Andrew Gooden Felix Baum 30 Stanley Levin Thomas W. Cain Tillie Elsenberg Michael Burge Grace Blue Ross David Okh Pearl S. Goodman 8 16 Karen Bloom Noah Garber Aden Goldberg Bethany Kharrazi Jay Goldman Marvin Schotland Martin Stone Gabriella Zak Sophia Posamentier Levi Zapruder 23 Oren Micah Schotland RECENT DEATHS IN OUR COMMUNITY 9 Sheldon Bereskin, father of Abby Zangwill Daniel Shaffer, brother of Sid (Ethel) Shaffer Dina Rose Zangwill Kimberley Carter 17 31 Howard Cohen, father of Karen Bloom Janice Thompson, mother of Gary Sherne (Sandra Matthew Hartsock Tamara Benau Max Berk-Wakeman 24 Jessie Kasdan Fruct) Melanie LaMar Jeanne Korn Asa Goldberg Jonah Abrami Stein Mason Bryna Ross Robert DeBare Charlotte Ragones Thomas Lowell MEMORIAL PLAQUE Anyone wishing to purchase a memorial plaque, please contact Lisa Silberstein 18 Leora Ragones Pinky at the synagogue office at extension 229. Ariella Sharone Falco Michael Wasserman 10 Jonah Goldsmith Daniel Silberstein Aviva Kellman A LEGACY GIFT LASTS FOREVER Include TBA in your Estate Planning so that your message to your family is loud and clear: Is your birthday information wrong or missing from this list? Please contact the TBA office to make corrections. The existence of Temple Beth Abraham is important to me and for the future of Jews in Oakland. Contact TBA’s Executive Director Rayna Arnold for further details (510) 832-0936 or [email protected]. You are never too young to plan for the future!

20 21 DONATIONS DONATIONS

Prayerbook Fund Silver Playground Fund Charity is equal in importance to all the other commandments combined. William & Sharon Ellenburg, in memory of June Fleck Shirley Silver, in memory of Rebecca Kerns yarhzeit Centennial Project Cindy Sloan Kiddush Fund Rabbi Discretionary Fund Stephen & Susan Shub Joseph Young & Rachel Goldstone Kevin Bergman & Sarah Greenberg, Herbert & Harriet Bloom, in memory of Rabbi Bloom’s grand- Leonard & Helen Fixler, father Mark Bloom Davis Courtyard Match Michael & Natalya Zatkin in memory of Miriam Nudler Fifi Goodfellow, in memory of Esther Haggar & Isaac Marcus Joseph & Judith Epstein, in memory of Rebecca Epstein Norman & Jo Budman, in honor of Sid and Ethel Shaffer Keith & Marlene Dines Henry Ramek & Eve Gordon-Ramek Alan Gellman & Arlene Zuckerberg, in memory of Harlan Mark Fickes & William Gentry Knut & Laura Grossmann , in memory of Daniel Shaffer Simon’s Father Warren & Outi Gould, in honor of Robin Disco’s Bat Mitzvah Libby Hertz Paul & Galen Rothman, in memory of Eve Rothman Alan Gellman & Arlene Zuckerberg, in memory of Loren Siegel Warren & Outi Gould Dr. Booker Holton & Elaine Gerstler , in honor of Hannah Friedman’s Bat Hennie Hecht, in memory of Freida Zilverberg Mitzvah Benjamin Krefetz Minyan Fund Robert Klein & Doreen Alper Philip & Dina Hankin Aaron & Eva Paul Rabbi Chaya Gusfield, in gratitude of morning minyan Richard Levine & Frances Herb Randall & Jan Kessler, in memory of Bernard Hodess (Brett Klaus Ullrich Rotzscher Daniel & Anne Bookin, in memory of Norman Bookin Hodess’s father) Andy & Marcia Wasserman Norman & Jo Budman, in honor of Pinky’s 90th birthday Celia & Morris Davis Hunger Fund Harlan & Pearl Kann, in memory of Sophie Kranz Marshall & Lynn Langfeld, in memory of Brett Hodess’s father HH Days Appeal - Endowment Fund Fifi Goodfellow, in memory of Herb Goodfellow Marshall & Lynn Langfeld, in memory of Loren Siegel Raphael Breines & Rinat Fried Fifi Goodfellow, in memory of Raymond Naggar Rubel Music Fund Sheldon & Barbara Rothblatt Keith & Marlene Dines Milton & Margaret Greenstein, in memory of David Rosenstein Penny Righthand, in memory of Richard Levine Ruth Siver, in memory of Dave Siver Joseph & Judith Epstein Sidney & Ethel Shaffer, in memory of Abraham Shaffer Hertz Interfaith Fund Wendy & Marvin Siver, in honor of our parents Noah Goldstein & Jenny Michaelson Camper/Scholarship Fund Gerald & Ruby Hertz, in memory of Sam Monow Wendy & Marvin Siver, in honor of Talia Paulson’s Bat Mitzvah Jessie & Susan Kasdan Elinor DeKoven, get well wishes to Leonard Fixler Wasserman Fund Wendy & Marvin Siver, in memory of Dave Siver Judith Klinger Elinor DeKoven, get well wishes for Henry Ramek Dr. Booker Holton & Elaine Gerstler, in memory of Booker Wendy & Marvin Siver, in memory of Loren Siegel Sherry Marcus & Sheldon Schreiberg Holton Sr. Mark & Lori Spiegel, in memory of our fathers Larry Miller & Mary Kelly Madeline Weinstein, in memory of Herman Roth Shoshanna Raiber-Kornfeld David & Treya Weintraub, in honor of Robin Disco’s Bar Joan & Richard Rubin It is a Jewish tradition to give contributions to commemorate life cycle events and other occasions. Are you celebrat- Mitzvah Stephen & Susan Shub ing a birthday, engagement, anniversary, baby naming, Bat/Bar Mitzvah or recovery from illness? Or perhaps remem- Stuart & Abby Zangwill, in honor of Lev Guendelman’s Brit Harlan Simon & Mary Cain-Simon, bering a yahrzeit? These are just a few ideas of appropriate times to commemorate with a donation to Temple Beth Mitzvah Cindy Sloan Abraham. These tax-deductible donations are greatly appreciated and are a vital financial supplement to support the Stuart & Abby Zangwill, in honor of Yossi Neta’s Brit Milah Alon Wolf & Liat Porat wonderful variety of programs and activities that we offer. Jeanette Jeger Kitchen Fund Joseph Young & Rachel Goldstone Thanks again for your support! We could not do it without you! Jack Jeger, in memory of Jeanette Jeger Michael & Natalya Zatkin Thank you for your generosity. Misia Nudler, to Brett Hodess consdolences on loss of his father Jon Golding & Carla Itzkowich Please make checks payable to Temple Beth Abraham and mail to: 336 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610 Misia Nudler , in memory of Jeanette Jeger Dr. Booker Holton & Elaine Gerstler or donate online at http://tbaoakland.org/giving/donate Misia Nudler, in memory of Miriam Nudler Benjamin Krefetz m m Stuart & Abby Zangwill, in honor of Luca Cabrera’s Brit Milah Aaron & Eva Paul General Fund–Use where most needed Danielle and Deren Rehr-Davis Teen Fund Bet Sefer Discretionary Fund Klaus Ullrich Rotzscher m Centennial Building Fund m Harold Rubel Memorial Music Fund Morris Goldberg, yizkor and yahrzeit of Julius Goldberg Pavel & Jennifer Slavin m Leonard Quittman Endowment Fund m Herb and Ellen Goldstein Memorial Jewish HH Day Appeal - General Fund General Fund m Rabbi Mark S. Bloom Discretionary Fund Education Fund Raphael Breines & Rinat Fried Melissa Berenbaum m Leo and Helen Wasserman Fund m Herman Hertz Israel Scholarship Fund Joseph & Judith Epstein Keith & Marlene Dines, in memory of Joseph Schein m m Jack and Mary Berger Fund Noah Goldstein & Jenny Michaelson Glenn & Amy Friedman, in memory of Michael Wallerstein Kiddush Fund m Jessie & Susan Kasdan Rabbi Arthur Gould & Carol Robinson, yahrzeit for Louis m Minyan Fund Jeanette Jeger Kitchen Fund Judith Klinger Robinson m Prayer Book Fund m Mollie Hertz Interfaith and Outreach Fund Sherry Marcus & Sheldon Schreiberg James Govert & Rachel Nosowsky m Women of TBA (WTBA) m Rose Bud Silver Library Fund Larry Miller & Mary Kelly Sari & Sari Grossman, in honor of Pinky’s Birthday m m Sam Silver Playground Fund Barbara Oseroff Alison Heyman, in memory of Loren Siegel & in honor of TBA Men’s Club Shoshanna Raiber-Kornfeld Pinky’s 90th birthday m Cantor Kaplan’s Discretionary Fund m Yom Hashoah Fund Joan & Richard Rubin Alfred & Anne Hyman, in memory of Marres Gelfand m Campership/Scholarship Fund m Other: ______David Paulson & Debra Weinstein Stephen & Susan Shub m Celia and Morris Davis Hunger Fund Harlan Simon & Mary Cain-Simon

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Bo / W t B a Yitro Ki Tisa Tetzaveh Beshalach Terumah Gala Gourmet Havdalah (42 min) Havdalah (42 min) Havdalah (42 min) Havdalah (42 min) Vayakhel Mishpatim Havdalah (42 min) Havdalah (42 min) Havdalah (42 min) Havdalah (42 min) led by CCJDS Mary Brett Koplen Mary Brett beginners welcome 6p experienced players beginners welcome hodesh experienced players beginners welcome experienced players Wasserman Speaker - Wasserman

9:30a Shabbat Services 10:15a T’fillat Yeladim

10:15a T’fillat Yeladim C 5:54p 6:01p 5:47p 6:09p 1p Mah Jongg@Baum YC 1p Mah Jongg@Baum 1p Mah Jongg@Baum YC 1p Mah Jongg@Baum 9:30a-12p Shabbat Service Bat Mitzvah of Ava Remler Ava Bat Mitzvah of 10:15a Shabbat Mishpacha 1p Mah Jongg@Baum YC 1p Mah Jongg@Baum 1p Mah Jongg@Baum YC 1p Mah Jongg@Baum 6:24p 6:16p 6:32p 6:39p 9:30a-12p Shabbat Services 10:15a Junior Congregation 9:30a-12p Shabbat Services 10:15a Shabbat Mishpacha 1p Mah Jongg@Baum YC 1p Mah Jongg@Baum 1p Mah Jongg@Baum YC 1p Mah Jongg@Baum HOT NIGHT IN MUMBAI NIGHT HOT 9:30a-12p Shabbat Service 10:15a Junior Congregation 10:15a Shabbat Mishpacha 9:30a-12p Shabbat Services 9:30a-12p Shabbat Services 10:15a Junior Congregation 9:30a-12p Shabbat Services osh 24 Sh’vat 17 Sh’vat 3 Sh’vat 10 Sh’vat r 12p Keflanu-play together grades 3-6 12p Keflanu-play together grades 3-6 22 Adar 1 15 Adar 1 1 Adar 1 8 Adar 1 12p Keflanu-play together grades 3-6

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K 5:08 p 4:53 p C 5:38 p 5:23 p 5:15 p 4:46 p 5:45 p ' Kindergym Kindergym ' Kindergym urim osh Kindergym Kindergym Kindergym Kindergym ' ' ' ' No Kindergym P r ' ' ' No GAN - winter break 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 6:15p-7:15p Kabbalat Shabbat 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 9:30-10:30a & 10:45-11:45a 6:15p-7:15p Kabbalat Shabbat 6:15p-7:15p Kabbalat Shabbat 6:15p-7:15p Kabbalat Shabbat 6:15p-7:15p Kabbalat Shabbat 6:15p-7:15p Kabbalat Shabbat 6:15p-7:15p Kabbalat Shabbat 6:15p-7:15p Kabbalat Shabbat 6:15p-7:15p Kabbalat Shabbat 7p East Bay Minyan (Baum YC) 7p East Bay Minyan (Baum 6:15p Kitah Alef Share a Shabbat 6:15p Kitah 6:15p Kitah Bet Share a Shabbat 7p East Bay Minyan (Baum YC) 7p East Bay Minyan (Baum 30 Sh’vat 23 Sh’vat 16 Sh’vat 9 Sh’vat 2 Sh’vat 28 Adar 1 21 Adar 1 14 Adar 1 7 Adar 1

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ay 6 3 . D r 27 20 13 ay 10 24 17 J ay are produced 30-60 days in advance using the best data available from the TBA Administration Staff. This calendar is also available at our website the TBA 30-60 days in advance using the best data available from produced are D are produced 30-60 days in advance using the best data available from the TBA Administration Staff. This calendar is also available at our website the TBA 30-60 days in advance using the best data available from produced are d o L C aust

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L e M MB ran C P r Office and Gan Closed Office 8a-9a Minyan (Chapel) 9-10a Minyan (Chapel) 8a-9a Minyan (Chapel) 8a-9a Minyan (Chapel) Office and Gan Closed Office 8a-9a Minyan (Chapel) 9-10a Minyan (Chapel) 8a-9a Minyan (Chapel) 8a-9a Minyan (Chapel) L nternationa artin i 9:30a Rosh Chodesh-Sh’vat Always check the Congregational E-mail or the Weekly Shabbat Bulletin for more up-to-date information. Please note any corrections care of Rayna Arnold at the TBA office. Arnold at the TBA of Rayna care up-to-date information. Please note any corrections Shabbat Bulletin for more E-mail or the Weekly Always check the Congregational 9:30a Rosh Chodesh-Adar 1 Always check the Congregational E-mail or the Weekly Shabbat Bulletin for more up-to-date information. Please note any corrections care of Rayna Arnold at the TBA office. Arnold at the TBA of Rayna care up-to-date information. Please note any corrections Shabbat Bulletin for more E-mail or the Weekly Always check the Congregational M (Home of Alicia Von Kugelgen) Von Alicia (Home of 26 Sh’vat 19 Sh’vat 12 Sh’vat 5 Sh’vat 7p Book Group Meeting (off campus) (off 7p Book Group Meeting 24 Adar 1 17 Adar 1 10 Adar 1 3 Adar 1 Kitah Zayin Trip to L.A. with Rabbi Bloom Trip Kitah Zayin

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6:57 p lood 6:57 p B ' ' t B a with Pastor Lucy

Baum Youth Center Baum Youth a La’atid sleepover at the La’atid Redwood Regional Park 8 Redwood Regional Park

10:30a Sunday Kindergym 10:30a Sunday Kindergym 10:30a Sunday Kindergym India with Bryan Schwartz La’atid Event (Contact Phil and Dina Hankin for details) Discover Your Next Big Thing Next Big Your Discover 3p WTBA Membership Event - Membership WTBA 3p 6p Teen Scene: Baum Youth Center Youth Scene: Baum Teen 6p 10a-12p Adult Education: Jews of Adult Education: 10a-12p 6p Teen Scene: Baum Youth Center Youth Scene: Baum Teen 6p 9:45a Women on the Move: Hike in Women 9:45a 25 Sh’vat 18 Sh’vat 11 Sh’vat 4 Sh’vat 10a Interdenominational Text Study Text 10a Interdenominational 6p Teen Scene: Baum Youth Center Youth Scene: Baum Teen 6p 9:45a Women on the Move: Hike in Women 9:45a 23 Adar 1 16 Adar 1 9 Adar 1 2 Adar 1 12p Wetlands Save the Bay-Tikun Olam Save the Bay-Tikun Wetlands 12p Tevet 5774 / Sh’vat Tevet Adar 1 5774 24 25 Temple Beth Abraham PERIODICALS 327 MacArthur Boulevard POSTAGE P A I D Oakland, CA 94610 Oakland, CA Permit No. 020299

Please Join Us for TBA’s Youth Services

Shabbat Mishpacha T’fillat Y’ladim Junior Congregation for preschool-aged children for children in Kindergarten, for children in 3rd - 6th grade. and their families. 1st & 2nd grade In the Chapel. Kitah Gimmel classroom. and their families. January 4, 10:15 a.m. January 11, 10:15 a.m. In the Chapel. January 18, 10:15 a.m.

WHAT’S INSIDE TBA Directory...... i Friday Night Lights...... 8 Community...... 18 What’s Happening...... 1 Announcements...... 10 Keflanu...... 18 From the Rabbi...... 2 Master Chef...... 11 Volunteer Bulletin Board.... 19 President’s Message...... 3 Cooking Corner...... 12 Life Cycles...... 19 Editor’s Message...... 4 Gan Avraham News...... 14 Donations...... 22 Gala Gourmet...... 5 La’atid...... 14 Calendar...... 24 Women of TBA...... 6 Bet Sefer News...... 15 Men’s Club...... 7 Midrasha...... 16