K o l e n u Our Voice T H E B I - M ON T H L Y N E W S LE tt E R O F P E N I N S U L A T E mp L E B E T H E L Where Has the Time Gone? Rabbi Dennis J. Eisner made famous by the Hebrew Bible and most Iyar/Sivan/Tamuz memorable when Pete Seeger put them to 5777 music in the 1950s, are ringing in my ears. Because for me, more often than not, when May/June 2017 I have a chance to catch my breath and slow down from daily tasks, I realize that the world around me, like the summer months, is moving at a blistering pace. Inside this Issue 2 Bonim B’Yachad Where has the time gone? 3 President's I find it hard to believe that it has been ten Message As I write this article it is the fourth day of years that I have had the pleasure, blessing, Passover and the third day of counting the and honor of serving this community. I find 4 PTBE’s Got Talent Omer. For the next forty-six days (equaling it hard to believe I have experienced ten years, six temple presidents, five associate a total of forty-nine days) I will be counting 5 Education the Omer. As an agricultural festival, Passover rabbis, one cantorial soloist, 350+ new Programs marks the spring barley harvest. Then, some family members, hundreds of weddings, seven weeks later, in the spring or very early baby namings, and, sadly, too many funerals. 6 Confirmation Class summer, newly ripened wheat is ready to be During these ten years I have made countless close and important friendships and shared gathered. At the end of our counting these 7 B’nai Mitzvah forty-nine days we celebrate of the festival of ten cycles of celebrating the rhythm of the Shavuot—the festival of receiving our Torah. Jewish calendar with the PTBE community. 8-9 Our Community As I contemplate this ancient tradition of Where has the time gone? 10 Adult Studies counting the days between our liberation To me it seems like yesterday that I entered 11 Beth El Women from Egypt and our receiving of Torah at Mt. our synagogue and met Ceil Winton z”l, Sinai, I can’t help but reflect on the passage of 12 Senior Friendship this spirited octogenarian who welcomed me Club time. During the dark days of winter it seems into her shul and made sure I knew that she as if time stands still, and during the heat of wanted to hear what this young pisher of a 15 Contributions summer I often look back and ask, “Where rabbi was all about. It seems like yesterday 17-18 Calendar of has the time gone?” that my children were seven and four, Events We read in the book of Ecclesiastes “. a running around the sanctuary and getting season is set for everything, a time for every 19 Yahrzeits experience under heaven . .” These words, See Rabbi Eisner on page 2 For updates on events at PTBE please check our website at www.ptbe.org RESOURCES Iyar/Sivan/Tamuz 5777 KOLENU Rabbi Eisner from page 1 have the power to slow my life down, to not Published Bi-Monthly by only count each day but to make each day Peninsula Temple Beth El ready to start their new lives in San Mateo. It count. And as I begin my next decade serving 1700 Alameda de las Pulgas seems like just yesterday that I was the young this amazing community, I want to make sure San Mateo, CA 94403 (650) 341-7701 new rabbi in town trying to figure out what that time doesn’t just pass me by but that it Fax (650) 570-7183 my place would be in this great congregation continues to strengthen and elevate my life www.ptbe.org and this great Jewish community. and the lives of those around me. Education Office (650) 931-0775 Where has the time gone? Where has the time gone? Gift Shop (650) 345-6563 A reform congregation So now as I count the Omer, preparing myself It has gone by fast but it has also left an affiliated with the Union for to receive the Torah once again, I realize that indelible mark on my soul, and for that I feel Reform Judaism our tradition is trying to teach me something forever blessed. PTBE Staff that I have neglected in my past. I actually Dennis J. Eisner Senior Rabbi Sara Mason-Barkin Associate Rabbi/Educator Lisa Kingston BIG NEWS OF THE DAY Associate Rabbi/Educator Elana Jagoda Kaye Planning Commission Says Yes to Bonim B’Yachad Plans Cantorial Soloist Eric Stone and Lorna Siepser spoke on behalf of PTBE Executive Director during the Public Comment Session. Tamir Frankel ECE Co-Director We couldn’t be prouder of those directly Meredith Liron involved with this multiyear effort that led to ECE Co-Director our design plan approval. As reported at the Cindi Serbin end of the year, we have raised a remarkable Communications Manager $7.1 million with 415 families participating. Officers 2016–2017 We have been approached by several temple President Lawrence Siegel members regarding giving second gifts or 1st VP Judy Fisher The San Mateo City Planning Commission, in its 2nd VP Patty Steinhardt hearing on Tuesday evening, April 25, spent well those who would like to make a first gift. We Secretary Laura Barde over an hour listening to reports from various are open to it all! The more we can raise, the Treasurer Jeff Hyman more we can build. Immediate Past President Jill Goldring city staff and PTBE participants to determine whether they would approve our full-campus Our design and construction team, along plan. They voted unanimously to approve our Board of Trustees 2016–2017 with our architects, will now be moving Jennifer Benelli Patty Steinhardt plan. Several of the commissioners offered forward with design elements that we can Roger Feigelson Davida Talcove good wishes and compliments on the plan, Jonathan Fox Sharon Vinick build. We will keep everybody apprised as we the work, and the patience of our architects, Aliya Gordon move forward to begin construction. Stan Gross Ex-Officio other involved professionals, and our own Natasha Kehimkar Members design and construction team. At the hearing, Jeff Lager Jay Mellman, Drew Lieberman Brotherhood Rabbi Eisner, Michael Adler, Rick Lenat, Lisa Meltzer Penn Zara Jaffe, Senior Erik Nierenberg Friendship Club Leslie Reisfeld Marcia Barkoff, Nicole Sorger Beth El Women Jeffrey Sosnick Mindy Shelton, Mission Statement of PTBE Michele Stafford Ed. Comm. Based on the principles of Reform Judaism, Peninsula Temple Beth El is a holy community that cares for its members, the State of Israel and her people, and the world around us. We promote the love of Torah from generation to generation by inspiring Jewish living through 2 study, prayer, fellowship, and good deeds. MESSAGES May/June 2017 Message from the President Lawrence Siegel, President Spring brings many changes that we shore and the temptation of climbing in the anticipate and enjoy. Time with family and boat and reaching for the rudder. the opportunity to observe Jewish holidays together helps us with our sense of renewal With offers in hand, students may feel the as the wildflowers bloom. For many families, sense of control return and engage in the this is also when students finally hear from nervous excitement of making decisions and schools to which they have applied for plans. It is particularly inspiring to see this admission. Whether applying to college, high resilience as enthusiasm and energy for the school, middle school, graduate school, or future replace the anxiety and uncertainty a training program, students face scrutiny of the past. Before long, the school year that may challenge self-confidence and raise concludes and in the joy of graduation doubts previously unprompted. Application celebrations, there is the realization that processes can be long and arduous, and while growth and change come both in little pieces the student may at times sail in rough waters, and in big chunks. family members may struggle to choose between offering their calm support from the See President on page 16 Schedule of Shabbat Services PTBE’s Annual Friday, May 5 Saturday, May 27 Meeting 6:30 PM Shabbat Hallelu 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Almarah Urman becomes bat mitzvah Tuesday, May 16 Saturday, May 6 7:30 pm 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Alexis Friday, June 2 Romanowsky becomes bat mitzvah 6:30 PM Erev Shabbat Service All members are invited Friday, May 12 Saturday, June 3 to attend and learn 6:30 PM Erev Shabbat and Confirmation 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service about the progress of our community Service and Seniors Blessing Friday, June 9 Saturday, May 13 6:30 PM Erev Shabbat Service over the past year. 9:00 AM We will honor our This Shabbat Rocks! Saturday, June 10 10:45 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Congregant of the Year, 9:00 AM Tot Shabbat Zachary Leighton becomes bar mitzvah the recipient of the 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Or HaTorah award, as Friday, May 19 Madison Rhodes becomes bat mitzvah 5:00 PM well as bid farewell to Bim Bam Shabbat Friday, June 16 6:30 PM Erev Shabbat Service departing members of 6:30 PM Erev Shabbat Service the Board of Trustees Saturday, May 20 Saturday, June 17 whose terms have 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service, Samuel 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service ended.