Shir Notes The Official Newsletter of Congregation Shir Ami Volume 12, Number 3, March 2014 Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Rabbi’s Column Events of the Month .We Jews have our own March Madness. It’s called Purim, and this month is will be held on March 15/16. How many of you will be celebrating it? If you’re Shabbat services thinking, Why should I be celebrating this children’s at Temple Ramat Zion holiday, consider these mitzvot relating to Purim: Saturday, March 1, 10:30 am Birthday Shabbat 1. We send GIFTS OF FOOD to friends and acquaintances. On Purim, we Saturday, March 8, 10:30 am emphasize the importance of Jewish unity and friendship by sending gifts Saturday, March 15, 10:30 am of food. Known in Hebrew as mishloach manot (you might know it as Saturday, March 22, 10:30 am shalach manos), these parcels should contain two different types of Anniversary Shabbat ready_to_eat treats. True Judaism is practiced by those who demonstrate Saturday, March 29, 10:30 am -------------------------------------------- an unconditional kindness to those around them. Bonnie puts together Early Bird Movie & Dinner beautiful baskets of homemade and purchased treats, and we distribute Sunday, March 23, 2:30 pm them to our family and friends. This is our way of showing our affection for others! Our classic comedy will be The Frisco Kid starring Gene Wilder. 2. It is a separate duty to arrange for GIFTS TO THE NEEDY on Purim. We See article on page 2 and flyer for carry out this mitzvah by giving funds to at least two needy individuals details and reservation. Call Helga during the daytime hours of Purim. While this mitzvah of matanot Unkeless at (818) 340-5751. la_evyonim is best fulfilled by giving directly, donations to a charity box or -------------------------------------------- a worthwhile agency are acceptable substitutes. While concern for the poor Around the Rabbi’s Tisch is a year_round Jewish responsibility, on Purim we accentuate this Thurs., March 6, 13, 20, & 27 awareness as a spiritual response to our good fortune. 7:30 pm at the Vorspans’ 3. When all of the above tasks are completed, it is commanded that we sit Our 5774 season of Rabbi’s popular down to a FESTIVE MEAL. Known as a seudah, this celebratory feast can weekly discussion around his dining be the forum for Purim Torah (a satirical spin on the sacred works of our room table continues. Join us for an opportunity to learn Jewish wisdom tradition), spiels (creative skits of mockery and jest), and the much_needed and discuss current topics of Jewish release that unburdens all of us at the end of winter. interest. Call Rabbi at (818) 888- 9817 for more details. 4. And, of course, we are commanded to hear THE READING OF MEGILLAT ESTHER. We learn of the good fortune that spared the total destruction of the Persian Jewish community, and consider who would best fit the role of contemporary Hamans. Is this all children’s play? Is there nothing in these mitzvot that in fact are best done by adults? Purim is a holiday best celebrated by Jews of any age. Do you fit that description? Rabbi David Vorspan Visit our website: www.shirami.com Adloyada: Purim parade in Israel page 2 March 2014 President’s Report Early Bird Movie & Dinner March 23, 2:30 pm Shalom, by Helga Unkeless Once again, as we’ve done so many Once again we will hold our annual Early Bird Movie times in the past, we are writing a new and Dinner in the recreation room of the Northridge chapter in the history of Congregation Shir Ami. Mobile Home Park at 19120 Nordhoff St. in Northridge. As you enter from Nordhoff, turn left to At the end of June of this year, we will be ending our park. The rec room is near the pool to the south. lease with Temple Ramat Zion. I would like to thank the members and the board of TRZ for the This year’s film is the classic commedy hospitality and cooperation they have shown us over The Frisco Kid starring Gene Wilder the past two years. as Rabbi Avram Belinski from Poland who is travelling West to San Francisco After taking July and August off, we will begin our for a new job and Harrison Ford as new year conducting Shabbat services at the New Tommy Lillard, a soft-hearted bank Community Jewish High School in West Hills. robber who befriends him and helps Shabbat services will be conducted two Saturdays him on his trouble plagued journey. each month. This year, we will conduct our High You will meet the Pennsylvania Dutch Amish, a Holy Day services as we have for the past few years Trappist monk, and and an Indian (native American) at our “shul away from shul” the Valley Vineyard. tribe as well as the con men and bandits who take advantage of Avram’s naivity. Even if you have seen We will continue to feature Around the Rabbi’s it before, you will laugh and enjoy it again. Tisch (and on the Rebbitzen’s chairs) for two 10- week semesters. We will continue to offer our full Dinner following the movie will be tasty pizza, salad, range of programs and events such as our BBQ and and desserts. The nominal $10 cost is a real bargain. Barchu, Chanukah dinner and other programs as See the flyer with this Shir Notes. well as our Social Action activities. With the changes we have made, I am pleased to announce that Congregation Shir Ami will continue. Association of Jewish Educators Scholarships Now that we have talked about the future, let’s look by Maralyn Soifer at the present. This month we will have our Early This year’s Walk Around Lake Balboa will benefit the Bird Movie and Dinner. Our Shabbat services Association of Jewish Educators (AJE) to provide continue as does Around the Rabbi’s Tisch (and scholarships for Jewish high school students to attend on the Rebbitzen’s chairs). Over the next few college. With college cost sky rocketing, it has months, we are looking forward to our participation become increasingly difficult for parents to provide in the Jewish World Watch Walk to End Genocide funds for their children to attend college. and our Walk Around Lake Balboa in June. There are two types of scholarships that AJE If you have any questions or want to provide your provides. The “New Comers” sponsorship is specific to input, please feel free to email me at Jewish students who have been in the United States [email protected].. for less than five years. These students come here and register for school knowing little or no English. Thank you. They are hard workers who maintain college prep Jordan Pistol, President classes while learning the language of their new country. Their stories are amazing. The other type of Purim Prayer: Al Hanisim scholarship is for Jewish students who maintain a high grade point average, are active in their synagogue, We thank Thee for the miracles, the redemption, and participate in extra-curricular school activities and and the triumphant victories, and liberation which community projects. They give up a lot of their time to Thou hast wrought for our fathers in days of old at help others. Email [email protected] or call me this season. at (818) 532-9237 for more information, . page 3 March 2014 Birthdays & Anniversaries DONATIONS Congregation Shir Ami wishes to Birthdays acknowledge the following donations: $ Carol Cramer................................ 3/5 Neil Hattem................................... 3/9 In Memory of Ted Lipschultz Seymour Potell.............................. 3/15 Jerry Michaelson........................... 3/19 Ronald and Tobi Kramer Stephen Schuster........................... 3/29 Jerry Gort Donna Levine............................... 3/31 Yahrzeits Anniversaries Esther Karalnick for Shirley Tarnow Paula and Lou Loomis.................. 3/3 41st Lorraine and Ed Orens for Julius Orens Rae and Armand Wazana............. 3/11 47th Rosalind Schackman for Belle Schackman Fran and Sam Kobulnick................ 3/23 45th Clara and Stan Rosenbluth for Helen Wolf Phyllis and Stan Schroeder for Sally Schroeder Birthdays Congregation Shir Ami Tribute Cards Lorraine Simansky Thanks to Phyllis Schroeder for sending your cards celebrating simchas and conveying your get- Our Condolences well and condolence messages. We regret to inform the congre- She is creative with indivualized, gational family of the passing of: artistic cards that include a message longtime member Ted Lipschultz and color graphics. Call her at (818) 718-7466. and Gert Klorman, longtime member of Temple Minimum donation of $5 per card is appreciated. Beth Ami. May God comfort Bernice and her family and the Klerman family during this time of their bereavement. Congregational News Get well wishes rafuah schleimah to: Phyllis Robinson Fran Kobulnick Sam Kobulnick Payee on Checks to Shir Ami Ed Halem Laurie Orens stent insertion surgery Our Treasurer, Clara Rosenbluth, was informed Phyllis Schroeder shoulder replacement surgery by our bank that all checks must be payable to Congregation Shir Ami, NOT CSA as some were May they be blessed with a complete recovery in previously abbreviated. body and spirit. Ralphs Rewards Program must re-enroll for the next year on or after Re-registration Required September 1. Follow the directions on page 10. If by Maralyn Soifer you haven’t already enrolled, there are directions for Registering for the Ralphs Community you, also. Contribution Program is an easy way to support Shir Ami receives a quarterly check based on our our congregation. Everyone currently registered purchases. Thank you for participating. page 4 March 2014 Social Action Committee Operation Gratitude and Project MOT The months seem to being fly so by Charlene Kazel quickly lately! In January we once again held a very successful joint Linen Shabbat In January we celebrated Tu with Temple Ramat Zion to benefit the Domestic B’Shevat when we planted trees Violence Shelters we help sponsor.