CONGREGATION NEVEH SHALOM May 2009 Nisan-Iyar 5769 CHRONICLE No. 7 This newsletter is supported by the Sala Kryszek Memorial Publication Fund From the President From the Pulpit There is much activity to report from your Board of Directors. I am pleased to report Mountain that at the request of the Cemetery Committee the BOD had approved the immediate replacement of the caretaker's quarters at Neveh Zedek Cemetery . The family that has Climbing been living there is currently living in an apartment temporarily while a new home is to be Last week I was erected at the cemetery. The living conditions were unacceptable. My hat is off to both the driving to the store to Cemetery Committee and the Board for moving quickly once the issue was identiied. grab challah before The Cantorial committee has been hard at work looking at both short and long-term Shabbat. By some issues surrounding the transition. We have auditioned several qualiied candidates for divine intervention the the High Holidays and should make an announcement shortly. Insuring that the Bar/ many things on my Bat Mitzvah program runs smoothly is also a high priority. The committee is also hard at to-do list for the day work identifying the direction or directions we as a Congregation will go. There have been were almost done well before the sun several meetings identifying our needs and wants. I will keep you informed as their work was setting and services would begin progresses. at 6:15. It was an unusual day so I The Budget hearings for 2009-2010 have not concluded as of the writing of this article. decided to try something different. I But of those that have already taken place it is clear that a balanced budget will be dificult had seen announcements for a local Tai to obtain. I am conident that the budget that comes out of the committee will be balanced Chi class but I always dismissed them but will require sacriice from all areas of the Congregation. Certainly the question of a because the classes took place late dues increase will be on the table. The sense I get from the discussions thus far is that the Friday afternoons. Tai Chi (of which I committee is very sensitive to the economic environment we all ind ourselves in and will know very little) is an ancient meditative look closely at the percentage increase they recommend. I invite you to get details on this budget at the annual meeting scheduled for June 28, 2009. form of slow moving martial arts…think yoga meets karate. I thought to myself Doug Lenhoff, President “what could be a better way to usher in Shabbat, our day of rest and renewal, TIKKUN LEIL SHAVUOT—A NIGHT OF JEWISH LEARNING than to partake in this eastern meditation Thursday, May 28th practice that has spanned centuries?” I knew it wouldn’t work. For me late 8:15 pm, Maariv following by an introduction with Rabbi Greenstein and concluding with our Rabbinic Panel Friday afternoon means reaching the Join Rabbi Isaak and his multi-denomination panel, Rabbi Kenneth Brodkin of Kesser Israel and Rabbi summit of my Shabbat preparations: Michael Cahana of Congregation Beth Israel. If you missed last year’s panel, you won’t want to miss this inishing up a sermon, studying the one. If you enjoyed last year’s please join us again as we take the discussion to another level. All of the torah portion for the week, visiting the rabbis participating grew up in the Conservative Movement but went in different directions as adults. We hospital, or cooking shabbos dinner will learn about their fascinating choices. with Sarah and Adirah. But racing A NEW teen study track will be led by Youth Director Jonathan Emanuel. against the sun this week was different For more information check our weekly email update as Shavuot approaches or contact the synagogue and with everything near completion office, 503-246-8831. I put one foot in front of the other and EVENING SCHEDULE walked into my irst Tai Chi class. For Maariv 8:15 pm about an hour I tried with all my heart Opening Study Session with Rabbi Greenstein 8:45 pm to embrace movement, smoothly, with Dessert Break 9:30 pm intention…but all I did was twist and Panel with Rabbis Isaak, Cahana & Brodkin 10:00 pm turn…and make myself sore. There Study sessions 11:00 pm and beyond were a few moments, very few, when I felt like I was “doing it right,” tapping According to Jewish tradition, the Ten Commandments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai on Shavout. in to what seemed to hint at an ancient That is why this holiday is called “Zman Matan Toratenu”—the Time of the Giving of Our Law. Shavuot, tradition of tracing a universal low which means the Festival of Weeks, and occurs seven weeks after Passover, also commemorates the early of energy…I spent most of the time wheat harvest in Palestine. So we decorate our homes and synagogues with flowers and greens. Shavuot making sure my yarmulke wasn’t falling has still another meaning. It is the Festival of New Fruits, when each man brought the first of his barley, off. How fascinating to contemplate the wheat, grapes, figs, olive-oil, pomegranates, and honey to the Temple in Jerusalem. There, everyone took multitude of intricate, complex, and time part in the Bikkurim (First Fruits) ceremony, which has been revived in new ways in modern Israel. tested methods every culture uses to link themselves to that which cannot be Shavout Schedule explained. May 28th : Evening Services & Tikkun begin at 8:15pm Continued on page 3. May 29th & 30th : Services begin at 9am May 30th : Second day of Shavuot will include Yizkor & dedication of memorial plaques. Chronicle, No 7 5769/ Page 1 SHARED RESPONSIBILITY Jack Rubin • Along with each of you, we constantly strive to provide for, and meet the needs May 1st & 2nd and aspirations of, our (congregational) family. • Along with each of you, Neveh Shalom does everything possible to use our Mazel Tov to Jack Rubin who is becoming resources eficiently and wisely. Bar Mitzvah on • Along with each of you, the synagogue is doing its best to manage during these 05.01.09 and 05.02.09. challenging economic times. He is the son of • Along with each of you, we have bills to pay and obligations to fulill. Melissa & Dan Rubin, grandson to Mark & Please pay your outstanding Neveh Shalom balance today. Our iscal year ends Leah Rubin, Kathy & next month, and we have a responsibility to you to live within our means. If each Craig Abraham and brother to Leo Rubin. member simply pays their current outstanding balance, we will balance our budget. Jack is a 7th grade honor roll student at If you have a situation that prevents you from being current with the congregation – Robert Gray Middle School. Jack enjoys please call (Michelle Caplan or Fred Rothstein) and have a conversation with us. participating in team sports, playing video games, going out to dinner with his family, collecting basketball shoes, and spending summers at Camp. Our Beautiful newly remodeled facility is available to help with your rental needs. Kvell with Us Keep us in mind this spring, summer, or year round for family gatherings, simchas, Mazel Tov to Sydney Rubin who won Jessie Jansen or event business meetings. For more 1st on Vault L7 OR State Champ; 2nd May 8th & May 9th information contact Marci Atkins at All-Around highest score; top 6 loor; Mazel Tov to Jessie 503-293-7308 or top 8 beam. Sydney is the daughter of Jansen who is [email protected] David & Darcy Rubin, sister to Sophie becoming a Bat Rubin and granddaughter of Mark & Mitzvah on 5.08.09 Erev Shabbat Services Leah Rubin. and 5.09.09. She is All Erev Shabbat services are at 6:15pm. the daughter of Ariel Mazel Tov to Shoshanah Epstein who is Shattan and Philip Each 6:15 service has a distinct flavor of it's graduating from the University of New Mexico Law School in May and will be Jansen, sister to own. We invite you to sample: Arthur Shattan. Her grandparents are taking the bar exam in July. She plans to Sharon and Samuel Shattan and Katharine 1st Friday-Kabbalat Shabbat practice criminal and constitutional law. and Alan (z"l) Jansen. Singing Service with Ilene Safyan Shoshanah is the daughter of Jessie is in the 7th grade at Hayhurst Jordan Epstein. (monthly all member dinners will follow reservations school where she is in the Odyssey Program. Jessie is a straight A student required). Mazel Tov to Raissa Moore on the birth of her great-granddaughter, and she enjoys performing in her school 3rd Friday-Chik Chok- A lay-led productions, reading, and writing. She Damaris Isabella Zartman born on also enjoys spending time with friends and "Carlebach-style" service Friday, February 27, 2009 in Mariposa, California. She is also very happy to her pets! In the summer Jessie enjoys (followed by dinner with reservations required). spending time at the University of Oregon announce the marriage of her grand- Summer Enrichment Program. 2nd, 4th and 5th Friday- daughter Ronit to Goren Ruckenstein, on Thursday, March 26, 2009 in Har Kabbalat Shabbat Service Canaan, Israel with festivities celebrated at Rosh Pina, Israel. Goren has chosen Alexis Jewish Film Club to adopt his bride's family name as his own. Mendelsohn Sunday, May 1, 3:00pm May 22nd & May 23rd Each 4-6 weeks we Mazel Tov to Dr.