JUNE-AUGUST 2017 | SIVAN-ELUL 5777 Volume 65 | Issue 4 our community kiKEHILLAT ISRAELquarterly RECONSTRUCTIONIST CONGREGATION OF PACIFIC PALISADES conversation A Turning Point for Israel BY RABBI NICK RENNER [email protected] In this summer of wide-eyed hatred broader American Jewish community struggles with itself and and blind love, I’m beginning to remains scarcely able to have a conversation on the topic. believe again in all the little things But I’m also optimistic. Here at KI, it was incredibly uplifting to that will fill the holes left by learn and take part in Rabbi Bernstein’s iEngage class and see our the shells… own community rise to new heights of understanding with one -Yehuda Amichai, “Jerusalem 1967” another and connection with Israel. I’m grateful to be part of the discourse on Israel, and I’m blessed to be in the conversation with This summer we honor the 50th all of you. As part of that conversation, we have to continue to anniversary of the Six-Day War. On hope. Fifty years ago, following the Six-Day War, the Israeli soldier June 5, 1967, Israel recognized the and poet Yehuda Amichai wrote a cycle of poems titled, mobilization of enemy forces along its “Jerusalem 1967.” In our own era, I find myself uplifted by borders and launched a series of preemptive air strikes, paralyzing Amichai’s hope: the militaries of Egypt, Syria and Jordan. In Israel’s Independence War in 1948, they lost Jerusalem, but this time Israeli In this summer of wide-eyed hatred paratroopers were able to retake the Old City. On June 7, 1967, and blind love, I’m beginning to believe again for the first time since the Roman destruction of 70 C.E., in all the little things that will fill Jerusalem was reunified. the holes left by the shells: soil, a bit of grass perhaps, after the rains, small insects of every kind. The Six-Day War was a significant turning point in the history of I think of children growing up half in the ethics of their fathers the Middle East. It firmly established the State of Israel with a and half in the science of war. vitality and security that was previously in question. It was the The tears now penetrate into my eyes from the outside realization of Theodor Herzl’s famous expression, “If you will it, and my ears create, every day, the footsteps it is no dream.” of the messenger of good tidings. June 1967 also altered circumstances throughout Israel. The conquest of the West Bank led to a political and religious movement that sought to settle the biblical lands of Judea and Samaria. For those without this orientation to those lands, considerations emerged about how to operate a military administration governing a Palestinian population that remained resolute in opposition, seeking its own state. Having lived in Israel for two years and visited a dozen times, it’s a place I love. I love it with its complexities. I love it for the synthesis of the ancient and holy, with the living and breathing. I love Israel for its language and its music, for its culture and its people. And yet I remain frustrated by the way in which the from the president table of contents BY ROBERT RESNICK page [email protected] From Rabbi Nick Renner 1 From the President 2 Love and Gratitude From the Executive Director 3 A Note from the Rabbi 4 It’s really hard to believe that my two years as President will end on June 30th. As Mitzvah Circle Members 5 you can imagine, many feelings are coming up. I will always cherish the memories Early Childhood Center 6 and the bonds I have developed with so many wonderful families, individuals, clergy, and staff who make up our amazing Kehillah (community). Jewish Experience Center 7 Our B'nai Mitzvah 8 I have had the honor and the privilege of working with a world-class Board of Calendars 9-11 Trustees and professional staff, every one of which has given more time, heart and Year in Review 12-13 talent than you can even imagine! And, I am so pleased and proud to report that Enrichment 14 they embraced every single challenge that came with accomplishing a very bold and ambitious agenda… one that will leave KI healthy and strong for years to come! Tikkun Olam 15 Community Events 16 From Vision 2020 to Trustee-Staff team building, staff and Board reorganizations, KISS 17 finding a new High Holy Days venue in Westwood, completely revamping all KI Annual Giving 18-20 security protocols, building a brand new KI website, implementing ShulCloud, a Tributes/Contributions 22-23 comprehensive new KI-wide digital platform, creating the KI Ambassadors program, taking Tikkun Olam programming to a new level, strengthening our financial controls, remodeling the Social Hall and schools facilities (ECC and JEC), and hosting Mayor Garcetti, Congressman Lieu, and Israel Consul General David Siegel, it’s been a very busy two years!! For me, it’s always been about L’Dor V’Dor…from generation to generation. So perhaps most important of all, as we forged ahead with our bold and ambitious agenda, we made it a point to identify, engage and empower an entirely new generation of “Future Leaders” at every step of the way. And, you won’t have to search too far to find them. Several now sit proudly and actively engaged on KI’s Board of Trustees. I have always told my children that the mark of a life well led is leaving the world a little better than you found it. I believe our Board and professional staff can feel confident and proud that they have more than met that standard! I am very excited about KI’s future and would like to thank our entire community for your continued support and confidence, and know that the Future Leaders of KI will continue to meet and exceed your expectations. And, please don’t expect me to completely disappear…like other past Presidents, I will continue to be there at your side, to support and continue building our wonderful Kehillah whenever duty calls! With love and gratitude, I thank all of you for the opportunity of a lifetime! 2 B’Shalom, KI Quartery Quarterly Robert from the BY MATT DAVIDSON executive director [email protected] Gratitude I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the entire KI team for another year of inspirational sermons, engaging speakers, meaningful connections, relevant and timely programming, collaborative community-building, impactful Tikkun Olam efforts, uplifting holiday celebrations and so much more. Lay leaders, staff, clergy, volunteers: you are all such integral parts of KI. Kehillat Israel is such a special community, and it begins and ends with the people. You make it what it is. To that end, I want to thank those members of the Board of Trustees whose term of service has come to an end. Thank you so much for your time and service as leaders of our congregation. I especially want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Robert Resnick, our President, who has deftly guided us through all the ups and downs of the past two years. I have learned a great deal from Robert, and he has poured his heart and soul into serving our KI community. From the start, it was quite apparent what a labor of love this office was for Robert and I am proud to call him a mentor and friend. And I would also like to thank Julie Dubron, who is leaving us after six years of dedicated service to KI as our ECC Director. As a beloved member of our senior staff, Julie’s warm smile and gregarious laugh will most definitely be missed. On behalf of all of us at KI, we wish Julie the best as she embarks on a new chapter in her life. Change is hard and often scary. Any modification or deviation from our routine, from what we are accustomed to, can throw us for a loop. It can also be transformational. Truly, change enables us to learn and grow. Art critic, scholar and curator of Chinese and Japanese Art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Kakuzo Okakura once said: "The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings." As we venture forth into the summer months and then the year ahead, may we all embrace whatever changes we are facing. And may that change be uplifting and transformational for each and every one of us. Summer 2017 Don’t miss this great family celebration as we gather for special CAN YOU BELIEVE Shabbat services surrounded by surf and sand as the sun sets. IT’S ALREADY TIME See website for details. TO… Friday, June 30 Friday, July 28 5:30 PM BYO Dinner 6:15 PM Shabbat Service RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP! 7th Annual Shabbat at the Beach BBQ Friday, August 25 4:45 PM Festivities begin 6:15 PM Shabbat Service 3 Kosher food available for pre-order online only. Keep a lookout for information Complete meals include main course, side salad, chips, drink and dessert. about how to renew your 2017-18 membership online or via mail. KI Quarterly Services will be held at Will Rogers State Beach. Park in the lot at the intersection of Temescal and PCH and look for the KI banner at lifeguard station #5. a note from the rabbi BY RABBI AMY BERNSTEIN [email protected] In preparing to travel to the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association convention recently, I found myself distracted and even a little cranky about going.