“Honoring Tradition, Celebrating Diversity, and Building a Jewish Future”
Issue 149 · June/July/August 2015
Congregation Beth El is
a member of The Union
for Reform Judaism
From the
Incoming
President
PAG E 3
Gender
Equality on
the Bimah
PAG E 4
Get to Know
the Kee Tov
Staff
PAG E 8
IN THIS ISSUE
2
From the Rabbis
3
From the President
4-5Gender Equality
on the Bimah
6-7
Events &
Announcements
Meet the CKT Staff
8
New Members
8
9
IRAC
YAFE Director
10
Says L’hitra’ot
BENS Wrap Up
11
Eyes on You(th)!
11
12
BESTY
12
Teen Recognition
Awards
Midrasha
13
B’nei Mitzvah
13
14
New & Notable in
the Library
15
Recipe
Torah Study
16
Ways to Give
16
17
Mazel Tov
18-19 Tzedakah
21-23 Calendar
24 Gift Shop
CONGREGATION
BETH EL
1301 Oxford Street
Berkeley, CA 94709-1424
Phone: 510-848-3988
Fax: 510-848-2707
Youth and Family
Education Office
Direct Line: 510-848-2122
Nursery School Office
Direct Line: 510-848-9428
Camp Kee Tov Office
Direct Line: 510-848-2372
Midrasha Office
Direct Line: 510-843-4667
FROM THE RABBIS
CLERGY & STAFF
Rabbi Yoel H. Kahn
ext. 215 · [email protected]
Reform CA: Reform Jewish
Organizing and Activism
Across Our State
Norm Frankel
Executive Director
ext. 212 · [email protected]
Debra Sagan Massey
Director of Education
ext. 213 · [email protected]
Maguy Weizmann-McGuire
Early Childhood Education Director
ext. 219 · [email protected]
by Rabbi Yoel Kahn and Rabbi Rebekah Stern
REFORM CA IS A CAMPAIGN of the Reform Movement in
California to act powerfully together for justice and compassion
in our state. A project of the social justice initiatives of the Reform
Movement: the Union for Reform Judaism’s Just Congregations,
the Peace and Justice Committee of the Central Conference of
American Rabbis, and the Religious Action Center, we feel called to
play a role in repairing the broken California dream. We join with
one another and our interfaith partners to address systemic issues
of injustice that hurt our families and our brothers and sisters across
lines of race, class and faith. Justice has been at the foundation
of our Movement since its inception and we proudly stand on
the shoulders of the giants of justice who came before us. Acting
together, we seek to build a California that is just, compassionate,
thriving and inspiring.
What success has Reform CA achieved?
The TRUST Act Campaign. In October 2012, the state legislature
passed legislation protecting 3 million California immigrants without
documents from the fear of being separated from their families
through deportation as a result of coming forward as a victim of domestic abuse or
witness to a crime, or due to an arrest for a minor infraction like selling food without a
license.
Wander No More Campaign for Affordable Homes. In 2014, Reform CA helped win a
long-term, steady stream of funding for the building of affordable homes near transit to
be allocated from the state’s cap-and-trade revenue, with $65 million in 2014–2015 and at
least 10 percent of cap-and-trade revenue every year after ($200–300 million per year)
for building affordable homes for the most vulnerable families in California.
C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 17
2 · T H E B U I L D E R · J U N E /J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 5
Rabbi Rebekah P. Stern
ext. 228 · [email protected]
Zach Landres-Schnur
Camp Kee Tov & Youth Director
ext. 217 · [email protected]
Tameka Young-Diaby
Bookkeeper
ext. 210 · [email protected]
Juliet Gardner
Administrative Coordinator
ext. 225 · [email protected]
Aliza Minkina
Rabbinical Assistant
ext. 235 · [email protected]
Mimi Abraham
Communications Coordinator
ext. 211 · [email protected]
Emily Schnitzer
Camp Kee Tov Admin. Coordinator
ext. 223 · [email protected]
Allie Liepman
Youth and Family Education
Admin. Coordinator
ext. 214 · [email protected]
Rabbi Jennifer Flamm
Midrasha Director
510-843-4667 · [email protected]
Odette Blachman
Gift Shop
ext. 240 · [email protected]
Rabbi Reuben Zellman
Music Director
On Leave 2014-2015
Rabbi Ferenc Raj
Rabbi Emeritus
[email protected]
FROM THE PRESIDENT
How Are You Related?
by Jill Siegel Dodd, President of the Board of Directors
I AM HONORED TO BE SERVING as the president of the board of
I was born and
directors of Congregation Beth El. My first order of business, President’s
raised in the Bronx.
Column-wise, is to say a big todah rabah to Paul Sugarman for his superb
leadership over the last two years. Paul has been a wonderful teacher to
The South Bronx
me and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to apprentice under him.
Of course, like everything we do, we do it together, in community, and
neighborhood in
I have learned, not only from Paul these past two years but from all of
the board members with whom I have had the pleasure of serving. And a
which I spent the
particular thank you to Rabbi Kahn, who, in addition to being my rabbi, has
also been a mentor to me in my leadership role over these past two years. Going forward, I will
first nine years
most definitely not be acting as president on my own; rather, I will be surrounded by a team of
conscientious, able and caring members of the board. I look forward to working with all of them
of my life was so
over the next two years.
As some of you already know, I was born and raised in the Bronx. The South Bronx
totally Jewish, and
neighborhood in which I spent the first nine years of my life was so totally Jewish, and I was
so immersed in Yiddishkeit, that I thought the whole world was Jewish! Although my world
I was so immersed
view began to change when we moved to the Northeast Bronx (about 50–50 Jewish–Italian),
still, I was given a very strong sense of my Jewish identity. Both my parents were very active
in Yiddishkeit, that
in our local (Orthodox) synagogue and, in fact, when I was a teenager, my Dad was president
(and led a much-needed renovation project). Some of my happiest memories growing up are
I thought the whole
of the seders my grandfather led, and of sitting in shul during the High Holy Days between
my mother and grandmother (women on the right side of the aisle and men on the left) and
world was Jewish!
wearing a new holiday outfit, often including a new sweater my grandmother had knitted for
the occasion.
Martin and I have been members of Beth El since 1988, when we joined to guarantee a
place in the nursery school for our youngest daughter, Lizzie. Our “transactional” membership
(we joined to receive a particular service from Beth El) soon became a “relational” membership (we are members because we consider
ourselves part of this community). I was recruited to join our first Interfaith Committee shortly after we joined, ably led by Linda Walker,
and I was then recruited to join the Board as its recording secretary, serving under Andy Ganes and Stu Berman. I learned early on how
rewarding it is to be involved, not the least because you make wonderful friends. Sarah and Lizzie both went to the religious school and
became bat mitzvah here, and Lizzie tutored b’nei mitzvah students during high school and was confirmed at Beth El. Both Lizzie and
Sarah were loyal and enthusiastic Kee Tov campers their entire childhood and into their early teens. And Martin also got involved, first
serving on the committee to build our new synagogue, and later joining the board and then becoming president. Martin and I were part
of the first adult b’nei mitzvah class in 2003. Our entire family has reaped the rewards of being a part of this wonderful community, and I
hope that each of you, in whatever connections you have to Beth El, feel similarly fortunate to be part of our community.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Communications
Coordinator
Mimi Abraham
Copy Editor
Janine Baer
Designer
Jennifer Robinson
Member Contributors
Jill Siegel Dodd
Sondra Napell
Judith Gussman
Scott Spear
Marjorie Gelb
Sharon Friedman
Rudy Brandt
Ruth Ehrenkrantz
Nila Rosen
Odette Blachman
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. If you
have a subject of interest to the Congregation, write
a letter or essay of a maximum of 500 words and
submit it to Mimi Abraham at mimi@bethelberkeley.
org. No anonymous submissions will be accepted.
Deadline for the next issue: July 17, 2015
Letters, essays and guest articles may be edited for
length, content and style.
CO N G R E G AT I O N B E T H E L · B E T H E L B E R K E L E Y. O R G · 3
FEATURE
Gender Equality on the Bimah
by Sondra Napell
P H OTO BY M I M I A B R A H A M
“DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WOMEN should have the same
rights as men in synagogue services?”
The question startled me, coming out of the quiet of the hall
where I had been seated, reading, waiting for my two sons, ages
10 and 11, who were upstairs studying for their bar mitzvahs. The
year was 1971.
I looked up to see who had posed this question. It was the
newly-appointed young rabbi who had come over to where I was
seated.
Caught off guard, I blurted out, “I was trained just as well as
my boyfriends — but when they turned 13 they had bar mitzvahs,
while there was nothing, not even confirmation, for me and the
few other girls who’d continued on in Hebrew school.”
“Well…” the rabbi persisted (was that a challenging twinkle I
saw in his eye?), “do you think it’s time?”
And so…the germ of his question grew into a plan, which
blossomed into a proposal to the board of directors of our
temple, which culminated at a Sunday morning breakfast-andconversation open board meeting.
We listened intently as one after another of the men on the
board vehemently spoke against the agenda item we’d submitted:
“Shall the women of our congregation be accorded the same
religious rights as the men — to be called to the bimah, have aliyot,
and read from the Torah?”
The discussion grew heated with vociferous antagonism to
“breaking an ancient tradition,” “polluting the sanctity of the
Torah,” “lowering the high and holy standards set by bar mitzvah
4 · T H E B U I L D E R · J U N E /J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 5
training.” “Nothing would ever be the same.” One man warned,
“Dire consequences would follow.” Round and round they went.
Finally, finally, when the aggravated rhetoric was beginning
to repeat itself, a voice was heard over the din. “Call for the
question!”
A hush fell over the assembled board. The board chairman
rose, cleared his throat, and announced, “All in favor of the
question ‘Shall women have the same rights as men to participate
in the religious rituals of our congregation?’ — signify by saying
‘aye’ and raising your right hand.”
And then, to the utter amazement of everyone in that room
— almost to a man, each board member called “aye” and raised his
right hand in assent!
It seemed that members of the board believed they had
done their duty, raised all the arguments against, and then
embraced the rights of their wives, daughters, and indeed all the
congregation’s women, by voting for equality in religious ritual.
The room rocked with loud applause!
But suddenly, like the old fairy at the joyous christening
of Sleeping Beauty, a small, wizened elderly man stood up and
pounded the table for silence. Everyone turned toward him. The
room grew quiet. Visibly agitated, the revered gabbi, the religious
arbiter of our congregation, announced in a trembling voice, “The
morning that a woman comes up to the bimah and reads from
the Torah, I will resign from this congregation!” And, with that
ultimatum, this oldest member whose definitive voice on ritual
and religious rites was often the final word, turned his back on all
assembled and left the room.
“Well,” the rabbi continued a few days later “it will all be a
hollow victory if no woman steps forward to exercise this newlygranted privilege.” And his eyes, like a finger pointing at me,
stared challengingly, expectantly.
And so, I agreed, and began my preparation. I met with the
cantor, chose a Shabbat morning months hence for my “debut”
breakthrough and began to study for, to “learn,” my Torah and
haftarah portions.
However, a small, niggling discomfort, after that momentous
board meeting, was contaminating my excitement, my eagerness,
as I prepared to be the first woman to be called to the bimah,
have an aliya, and read from the Torah. I felt a sadness, a visceral
curdling, that the old gabbi, the religious backbone of our
congregation, was disapproving — might even fulfill his threat to
resign, because of me. I decided to reach out to him.
A few weeks before my preparation was complete, as I
zoomed in on being “ready,” I attended a Shabbat morning
service, and afterwards I approached him. I asked if we could
sit down together and
talk. “You know where to
“l fear that if he
find me,” he brusquely
responded. When I looked
were here today, he puzzled, he replied, “Any
Monday or Thursday at
would probably feel morning minyan services.”
The very next Monday
exactly as you do,
morning, while my husband
and the boys were still
and be vigorously
asleep, I drove off to the
synagogue.
opposed to my
Gathered together
at 6:00 am in the small
coming up to the
room behind the main
sanctuary, the traditional
bimah and daring to minimum of 10 men (a
minyan) met every Monday
read from the Torah and Thursday for morning
prayers before embarking
— no matter how
on their business days. I
joined them, chanting the
hard l am studying melodies so familiar to me
from my childhood.
to do it well — and
Prayers over, I
approached the gabbi,
despite the fact that greeted him with a smile,
and asked if we could talk.
he started it all by
He stared at me, then sat
down and gestured for me
learning with me.”
to sit on the chair beside
him. I began. “I’d like you
to know a little about my
upbringing, my Hebrew
education. My grandfather was a very learned scholar and
teacher,” I said. “He sat me, the first grandchild of the family, on
his knee when I was a very little girl, and showed me, by tracing
with our fingers, Aleph, Bet, Gimmel, Daled — before I even knew
my ABCs. “From then on, whenever l visited my grandparents’
home, he would beckon to me and say, ‘kum, tuchter, learnen.’
He never said he was teaching, neither would he use the word
lesson. It was always,
‘let’s learn.’ As l
look back now on
those hours spent
with him, I realize
that, seated side by
side, he wanted me
to understand that
we were learning
together.”
Memories
began to flood over
me, and my voice
grew quiver-y. “I do
understand what
you are thinking and
feeling,” l turned
away, not daring to
look at him, for my
S O N D R A N A P EL L , 19 7 2
eyes were beginning
to fill with tears, “because you remind me so much of my grandpa,
and I fear...” (At this moment tears began to run down my cheeks)
“l fear that if he were here today, he would probably feel exactly
as you do, and be vigorously opposed to my coming up to the
bimah and daring to read from the Torah — no matter how hard
l am studying to do it well — and despite the fact that he started
it all by learning with me.” l covered my face. I was trembling and
sobbing.
Suddenly, this little old man, who had been rigidly facing away
from me as l spoke, turned towards me and put his arms around
my shaking shoulders. He was weeping. “Go,” he said. “Go and
do what you need to do. I won’t oppose you — only understand,
that l can’t be in the synagogue at that time.” He rose, placed his
hands on my shoulders, studied my face, and murmured, “God
bless you.” And left. He went his way. l went home — to continue
my studying.
The Sabbath morning of my “debut” arrived. Many seats in
the temple were filled with people who rarely attended Sabbath
services, but who had come this day to bear witness to the first
woman being called to the Torah.
The cantor intoned, “Shayna Leah” (my Hebrew name)
“Bat Yoel Menachem” (daughter of my father) “Bat Pelta” (and
daughter of my mother). I rose from my seat in the sanctuary, and
ascended to the bimah.
As I recited the blessings before reading from the Torah, the
cantor stepped aside and I sensed a presence to my left. I glanced
over, and there, holding the yad (the small, silver hand with the
finger extended to point to the place in the holy text), was the
gabbi. He nodded to me, bent his head toward the text, and,
fulfilling his role, pointed at where I was to begin.
And then...a most amazing sensation came over me. As I
began to chant the ancient words, as the trope rolled off my
tongue, as the ancestral melodies filled my heart, I had the feeling
that it was no longer my voice but the voices of all of our ancestral
Torah readers from way, way back in Jewish history who were
together with me reading the weekly portion of this most ancient,
most cherished, most holy of tomes.
CO N G R E G AT I O N B E T H E L · B E T H E L B E R K E L E Y. O R G · 5
EVENTS
Summertime Is
Chardonnay Time!
In the summer we take advantage of
the warmer weather and our beautiful,
natural setting under the oak trees to
enjoy a glass of Chardonnay, get to know
each other and celebrate Shabbat.
Shabbat Pride Evening Service and
Chardonnay Shabbat
Friday, June 26 at 5:30 pm
Celebrate Pride at Beth El.
¡Bienvenido a Casa!, Rabbi Zellman:
Yismechu Service and Chardonnay
Shabbat
Friday, July 24 at 5:30 pm
Join us as we welcome Rabbi Zellman
back from his sabbatical in Chile.
Chardonnay Shabbat
Friday, August 28 at 5:30 pm
Celebrate the last Shabbat of the
summer at Beth El.
Ongoing programs
Men’s Club
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting will be hel
d
in late summer. Please check
the
e-Updates for the specific dat
e.
The direction of the Men’s Clu
b
for the next year and beyond will
be the cornerstone of the meetin
g.
Anyone and everyone concerned
about future programming is
encouraged to attend. We are
looking for new programming
ideas to implement and give
back to the Beth El congregation
.
Contact Allan Sobel 510-878-2
726
or email [email protected] for
information.
People of the Book
People of the Book is on its
summer vacation from June
through August. We’re looking
for interesting books (and
interested presenters) for our
“winter semester” (September–
December). Please contact Bar
ry
Silverblatt at [email protected]
t
with your suggestions. Thanks
for
supporting this literary progra
m!
Life Stories
An interactive program for me
n
and women who would like to
begin a guided autobiography,
or have dedicated time to write
whatever they like, and to sha
re
their work with other members
of the group. Contact Marilyn
at
([email protected]) or
510525-5010 for more
6 · T H E B U I L D E R · J U N E /J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 5
information. Meets regularly the
1st and 3rd Monday of the mo
nth
(location during summer TBD)
and
the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the
month at 7:30 pm at Beth El.
Lunch & Learn
Global Anti-Semitism with Set
h
Brysk Thursday, June 11, 12:00 pm;
speaker at 12:30 pm
Seth Brysk, a Beth El congregan
t,
is regional director for the San
Francisco-based central office
of the Anti-Defamation League
.
Bring a bag lunch. Dessert &
beverages will be provided.
Lunch & Learn events are free
and open to the community.
For more information, contact
Harry Margulius at h.marguliu
s@
comcast.net.
Rosh Chodesh
Thursdays, June 18, July 16 and
August 20 at 8:00 pm
Meetings held monthly, near the
New Moon. Gather with Rabbi
Stern for womanly reflection,
learning and conversation.
Roots & Branches
Roots & Branches will not be
meeting during the summer
months. This class will resume
in
5776.
EVENTS
Jumpstart into a Healthy
Jewish New Year
by Nila Rosen
READY TO START THIS YEAR off with a food transformation? Ready
to experience this year’s Yom Kippur fast as a nourishing cleanse? Want to be in a
supportive Jewish community while you revolutionize and deepen the commitment that
you have to your body and the way you approach food? Want a healthy roadmap that
you can use for the holidays? (each year!)
Please join us for the very first Jumpstart into a Healthy Jewish New Year program, a
commitment to yourself, your body and your health this New Year. This nurturing whole
foods cleanse will help you:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Create healthy food habits
Inspire you to cook
Energize you during the holidays and beyond
Share the work of cooking
Look and feel great in your body
Bring you greater focus and clarity
Connect you more deeply to your spirit
SAVE THE
DATE(S):
High Holy Days
S’lichot Service
Saturday, September 5
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Sunday, September 13
Rosh Hashanah
Monday, September 14
Second Day Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, September 15
Kever Avot: Visiting the Graves of
Loved Ones
Sunday, September 20
The three-week gentle cleanse program begins on Wednesday, September 9, and ends
on October 1. You will be fully guided with holiday recipes, food guides, cleanse rituals,
detox and community support.
The investment in your vibrant New Year is $300. Ten percent of the program costs
will be donated back to Beth El to be used for healthy foods for Beth El programming.
If joining this program speaks to you but money concerns are holding you back, please
sign up with a friend! You will each receive a $50 discount. Or contact us to hear about
payment plans or how you can further discount your experience. We have some creative
solutions for you.
This program has been developed specifically for the Jewish holidays by Beth El member
Nila Rosen, MPH Nutrition and Health Researcher, and Marnie Northrop, Certified
Health Coach. We are absolutely honored to work together with you on this journey.
Erev Yom Kippur: Kol Nidre
Tuesday, September 22
Yom Kippur
Wednesday, September 23
Erev Sukkot
Sunday, September 27
Sukkot
Monday, September 28
Simchat Torah / Consecration
Tuesday, October 6
You can find more details or
sign up directly at
http://www.becominghealth.com/
healthy-jewish-newyear/
Shabbaton
Friday, October 16–18
Honey from the Heart
A Sweet Gift for the New Year
by Sharon Friedman
WHAT BETTER WAY TO WISH family,
friends and business associates a “Sweet
and Healthy New Year” than sending a jar of
honey?
Connect with your friends and family during
the High Holy Day season with a sweet
greeting, carrying on an enduring Jewish
tradition. Congregation Beth El will receive
a portion of the proceeds — right at the
time of year when we turn our attention
to t’shuvah (returning to our best selves)
and tzedakah. Shortly, the weekly e-update
emails will post a link for you to order
an 8-ounce jar of delicious, kosher
honey that will arrive in time for Rosh
Hashanah. It will be decorated with a
colorful label and include a personalized
card reading “L’Shana Tovah — Wishing
you a Healthy and Happy New Year.” The
card will let the recipients know that a
donation by you has been made to Beth
El in their honor.
The cost will be $11, with free shipping if
you order by mid-July. Stay tuned!
Summer is upon us, but it’s not too soon to be thinking about the holidays!
CO N G R E G AT I O N B E T H E L · B E T H E L B E R K E L E Y. O R G · 7
KEE TOV
Camp Kee Tov –
Meet the Staff
Jamie Costello, Operations Director
18 summers. Jamie’s family is deeply connected to
Camp Kee Tov and Beth El — he met his wife at
Camp Kee Tov and two of his nieces attend Kee
Tov and Kadima!
Rachel Kator, Rishonim Program Director
(entering kindergarten)
17 summers. Ever since she got her first whiff of the
crisp Tilden air and SPF 30 Coppertone sunscreen
as a wee Rishonimer in 1999, Rachel was hooked
on Camp Kee Tov!
Lena Miller, Habonim Program Director
(entering 1st and 2nd grades)
18 summers. Lena’s love for camp runs so deep,
she can still remember the dance moves from her
Mapilim performances!
Maya Zeemont, Giborim Program Director
(entering 3rd and 4th grades)
14 summers. Maya began preparing for years of
Camp Kee Tov fun and ruach at BENS in 1997!
Charlie Schnitzer, Mapilim Program Director
(entering 5th and 6th grades)
16 summers. Charlie’s family has been a part of
Camp Kee Tov and Beth El since 1996 and his class
was the last to have their b’nei mitzvot at the old
synagogue!
Carly Thompson, Chalutzim Program Director
(entering 7th and 8th grades)
19 summers. She believes no summer would be
complete without Bay Area fog, sitting in wet
grass during kumzits (evening gatherings), and AllCamp Shabbat with her favorite people.
Beckett Sheeder, Gesher Program Director
(entering 9th grade)
15 summers. Beckett is dusting off the backpack
and camping stove for he will embark on his first
ever Gesher backpacking trip, having missed the
amazing opportunity as a teen.
Danielle Schnur, Chaverim Program Director
(extended day care)
20 summers. Danielle’s parents met as Kee Tov
counselors when they were 19 and have been
together ever since — sending her and her brother
to religious school and Kee Tov for years!
8 · T H E B U I L D E R · J U N E /J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 5
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to Beth El!
Robin Grossinger and Erica Wandner
Robin has lived in the greater
Bay Area since he was about
7 and Erica mostly grew up
in Washington, D.C., until
coming out to Northern
California for college. They
met at a punk rock concert
on Sproul Plaza 22 years
ago and have been together
ever since. Robin is an
environmental scientist at
the San Francisco Estuary
Institute and Erica is a clinical
psychologist in private
practice. With their sons Leo, 9, and Joey, 4, they love music, art,
gardening, outdoor adventures of the wilderness and urban type,
and just hanging out at home. Leo has attended Camp Kee Tov
for three summers and the whole family loves the Kee Tov/Beth El
creative spirit — especially the use of music and the imagination
— as a way to learn about and explore Judaism. They look
forward to finding ways for the family to participate in the Beth El
community throughout the year.
Judith and Jonathan Fern
The Ferns came to know Beth El via Camp Kee Tov. Ellie and
Danielle, their twin 6-year-olds, had a blast there last summer.
The family really feels the camp and congregation ruach is
heartfelt and are happy to be joining the community. And the
twins are looking forward to their Kee Tov double-session this
summer!
Other new members include: Steven Rothman and Kathleen
Tierney, and Dione Armand and Shaun Case.
Only a few spaces left for
Camp Kee Tov 2015!
Summer 2015 registration has
almost hit maximum capacity,
but there are a few spots left.
Please contact
Emily Schnitzer
if you are interested:
[email protected].
COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER!
29 DAYS!
Session 1: June 29 - July 17
Session 2: July 27 - August 21
IRAC
What You Always Wanted to Know About IRAC
(And why it’s so important to Reform Jews)
by Judith Gussman
SO, YOU’RE SENDING IN YOUR ANNUAL DUES and
there’s a place to check in support of IRAC. Perhaps the Israel
Religious Action Center is not familiar to you, and you don’t know
why it is important, or why supporting it is so meaningful.
IRAC, the public and legal advocacy arm of the Reform
Movement in Israel, was founded in 1987 with the goals of
advancing pluralism in Israeli society and defending the freedoms
of conscience, faith and religion. Today it’s the preeminent civil
and human rights organization in Israel focusing on the issues of
religion and state, and is the leading Jewish organization that
advocates on behalf of a broadly inclusive Israeli democracy,
infusing social justice advocacy with the spiritual energy and
humane worldview of Progressive Judaism.
An example of IRAC’s work from their recent newsletter
helps illustrate their value to Reform Jews by sharing their success
in one recent case. A truncated version of the newsletter follows.
It was written by Anat Hoffman.
An Israeli court recently ruled that “modesty signs” in
Beit Shemesh (a city west of Jeruselem) limiting women’s
rights are illegal. IRAC made history by taking this case to
court. Both Orthodox and Reform Jews partnered to
achieve this landmark victory, making it all the more
special and momentous. The judge ruled that Beit
Shemesh must remove signs and pay a fine of NIS 60,000
(Israeli currency) plus court costs to the four brave
Orthodox women IRAC represented in this case: Nili
Philipp, Eve Finkelstein, Miriam Friedman Zussman and
Rachely Yair Schloss.
So, how did IRAC become involved? After stones had
been thrown at Nili Philipp by ultra-Orthodox men, she
approached IRAC for legal assistance.
“I walked into the building and met IRAC attorney Orly
Erez-Likhovski. Immediately I felt safe, embraced and
supported. I didn’t have to justify my feelings or the
trauma that I suffered in Beit Shemesh. People in my
community asked questions like: ‘Why can’t you just
ignore the signs?’ Or ‘why does it bother you to have to
cross the street?’ When I first heard these questions, my
jaw dropped. But everyone at IRAC understood me right
away.” [The court decision] has restored my faith in
democracy and law and order.”
This new legal precedent will have real consequences
throughout the country. It joins a growing list of powerful
rulings upholding women’s rights in the public sphere: on
the radio, at cemeteries, at the Western wall and on
buses. The threat of damages for these kinds of violations
will deter illegal conduct by local governments and their
officials.
To read Anat Hofmann’s letter in full, go to: www.irac.org/
newsletters.aspx. Then click on: “Newsletters — beginning April
23, 2012.” Lastly, click on: “Jan. 26, 2015 — Goodbye Signs. Hello
Fines.” You can also read any of the many other informative
newsletters with a click.
You can financially support IRAC’s deeply important work by
signing on automatically with your Beth El membership dues
payment, or at any other time, including now.
“Dress modestly. Long sleeve shirts. No pants. Long dresses,” says this sign
placed by local rabbis in Beit Shamesh. Courtesy of IRAC.
CO N G R E G AT I O N B E T H E L · B E T H E L B E R K E L E Y. O R G · 9
YAFE DIRECTOR
YAFE
YAFE Opening Dates
August 30
YAFE/BENS Family Picnic
Reluctantly I Say L’Hitra’ot
by Debra Sagan Massey
September 8 First Day of 7th Grade B’nei Mitzvah Program
September 10 First Day of Kadima
October 3
First Day of Chug Mishpacha
Register for Beth El’s YAFE Programs at
http://www.bethelberkeley.org/learning/
k-7-education/register-now! In order for
us to best plan for the coming year, we
ask that everyone register by August
1st or pay a $100 late fee. Registration
information and forms are available on
our website.
We look forward to seeing
you in the fall!
BENS Calendar
June, July, August
June 2
Parents’ Café, 9:00 am
June 5
Gan Hadar Shabbat &
Siyum Dinner, 5:00pm
June 12 BENS Last Day of School:
All School Shabbat Service with Potluck Lunch, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
June 15 – 19
BENS Closed for Teachers’
In-TTService Training
June 22 – July 17
BENS Summer Camp Session I
July 20 – July 24
BENS Closed for Summer Break
July 27 – August 21
BENS Summer Session II
August 24 – August 28
BENS Closed for Teachers’
In-Service Training
August 30 YAFE/BENS Family Picnic
Arlington Park in El Cerrito –
11:00 am
IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY when I
received a call from Rabbi Kahn to see if I was interested in a
job as Interim Religious School Director. Back in 2008, I had just
moved from Israel with my family, and I was still getting settled
in our new life here in California. I had two boys under the age of
4, which seemed like enough of a full-time job for anyone, and
I was still working part time. Doubtful that there was much of a
chance for this to work, I still agreed to meet with Rabbi Kahn.
And once I stepped into the doors at Beth El, I felt I was home.
I quickly fell in love with the people at Beth El, and I knew
that Beth El was my community. My youngest son attended
P H OTO BY C H E S H I R E I S A AC S
BENS, both children spent summers at Kee Tov, and the
Shabbaton became a fun-filled weekend that we all looked forward to every year. Work didn’t
seem like “work”; rather a place of warmth and community that nurtured me every day.
It is really hard for me to say good-bye. I treasure the past seven years at Beth El, and it
was a difficult decision to leave. I have so many memories of celebrations, services and lifecycle events. It is because of each of you, each Beth El member, that my “work” has truly been
a pleasure.
While I will be moving to a new job on July 1, please know that I don’t plan on going away.
I won’t be at Beth El as often but I do look forward to joining you at services, participating in
programs, and of course enjoying the Shabbaton with you.
I want to thank the Beth El staff for your support and partnership over the years. You
all make going to work so much fun. And to each and every member, I am grateful for your
dedication to this community and to making Beth El what it is today.
It is really hard for me to say good-bye; so I will say “l’hitra’ot” — see you soon.
L’shalom,
Deb
Director of Youth and Family Education
Chug Mishpacha
LOOKING FOR A WAY TO SPEND
QUALITY TIME AS A FAMILY?
Well...look no more! Join Beth El’s innovative
family education program, Chug Mishpacha!
This program meets regularly on Saturday
mornings and engages the whole family in
hands-on learning, community building and
P H OTO BY D EB R A S AG A N M A S S E Y
fun! On Saturday mornings you can hear us
raise our voice in song as we begin Shabbat at 10:15 am with a short t’fillah (service), followed
by parallel learning. Adults get the opportunity to learn on a weekly basis with either Rabbi
Stern or Rabbi Kahn, while children spend time with their age cohort participating in activities
that focus on the same topic as the parents. Following our class time, we have snack and
continue with family activities, and wrap up with kiddush by 12:30 pm. The Chug Mishpacha
group also participates in off-site activities including tikkun-olam projects, camping trips,
sukkah building and holiday parties. We are always open to new families and are happy to
answer any questions about the program! Please contact the YAFE office for more information.
10 · T H E B U I L D E R · J U N E /J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 5
BENS
YOUTH PROGRAMS
BENS Kids Are
Becoming “Shomrei
Adamah” – Guardians
of the Earth
Jolie Gobler, Anna Portnoy,
By Maguy McGuire
Shira Cohen, Ty Wenrick,
and Noah King; kids at Camp
Newman
don’t walk —
they fly!
REFLECTING ON THE PAST
YEAR, I can’t help but to be proud
of what we, teachers, families and
children, accomplished. Our theme
for this year focused on being
“guardians of the earth — shomrei
adamah” — sharing ways our
children and their parents could
be involved in their day-to-day
practices as shomer and shomeret
adamah.
P H OTO BY R AC H A EL LO P E S
Throughout the year we organized field trips to Urban
Adamah, took nature hikes, and involved our teachers in naturerelated workshops. Together we learned how to care for plants,
found ways to support our garden while conserving water, and
explored the natural world surrounding Beth El. Our families
played a huge role in keeping with this year’s theme helping our
vision come to life. During the school’s Work Party Day, they were
instrumental in transforming our yard with play structures our
children enjoy every day.
The month of May was dedicated to our teachers! I pay
tribute to all BENS staff for their commitment, efforts, dedication
and patience, and for touching each and every child’s mind with
their creativity and imagination. Our school would not be what it
is without them. I’m grateful and appreciative of their partnership,
friendship and talent. I owe my gratitude to all the teachers and
thank them for being valuable members of our community. Kol
Hakavod Lachem!
We have been working on summer preparations and are
looking forward to having most of our families participate in
both summer sessions. Our registration for next year continues
with the majority of this years’ families returning and many new
families enrolling in the 2’s classroom.
During the month of August, BENS staff will be involved in
a week-long training with continued focus on how to expand the
theme of shomrei adamah incorporating Jewish values as a lens to
develop and enhance appropriate day-to-day practices with our
children and families.
By the time you receive this newsletter, our school year will
have ended and, sadly, we will have said “good-bye” to all our Gan
Hadar families moving on to Camp Kee Tov and Kindergarten. We
thank Gan Hadar for their three-year partnership at BENS and
look forward to their continued involvement at Beth El.
Have a great summer!
L’shalom,
Maguy
Early Childhood Education Director
Eyes on You(th)!
Article and Photo by Emily Schnitzer
YOUTH LOUNGE READY FOR 5776!
The new Youth Lounge is finally here! In April, Sababa members
gathered to paint Room 220 to get it ready for the Youth Lounge.
We worked hard taping the walls, covering the floor and painting
to transform the room into our new space! This room will be
used for Ruach, Sababa, and BESTY kids to gather — there will be
homework stations, couches to hang out on, and many types of
games. We’ll be able to have our board meetings, host events and
hang out in a space that is set aside for us!
Now that the lounge is painted, we need to finish furnishing it.
If you would like to donate any of these items to help put the
finishing touches on our Youth Lounge, we’d appreciate it!
1. Desktop computer: 1–2
2. Bean bag chairs: 2–4
3. Foosball table: 1
4. Pool table: 1
5. Air hockey table: 1
6. Coffee table: 1
7. Magazine/book shelf: 1–2
8. Magnetic paint & magnets
9. Chalkboard paint and colored chalk
10. Wall decor stickers — Jewish- and nature-themed: 2–3
packages
11. Decks of cards: 3–4
12. Card games — Set, Anomia, Apples to Apples, etc.
13. Other games — Bananagrams, Boggle, Taboo, etc.
14. Game consoles — Playstation, Nintendo, etc.
CO N G R E G AT I O N B E T H E L · B E T H E L B E R K E L E Y. O R G · 11
BESTY
BESTY at Beth El
by Rudy Brandt
WHEN I WAS IN 9TH GRADE, all of my friends from URJ Camp
Newman began to wear necklaces that were plain silver chains with
many colored beads. I wondered why they all had them and why the
beads were so random and different from one another. It took no
more than a curious glance and quick explanation to learn that these
beads meant that my friends had begun their journey in NFTY — the
North American Federation for Temple Youth. They all belonged to
their synagogue’s teen youth groups and through these groups they
attended regional events in our NFTY Central West Region (CWR).
I learned that the beads on their necklaces corresponded to events
they had attended and, as I touched my own bare neck, I realized that
I wanted in.
I went to work with Beth El’s wonderful staff to build our 9th to
12th grade youth group — BESTY (Beth El Synagogue Teen Youth) —
from the ground up. I helped to found the youth group and led it for
the past three years as BESTY’s president and number one fan. I went
to CWR regional events and fell more in love with NFTY with each
moment I spent in this sacred community.
The NFTY model includes a board of seven leadership positions
elected by the region that exist on the regional level and are mirrored
within temple youth groups throughout the region. As I fell more in love
with NFTY, I began to realize that what I really wanted to do was make
a difference beyond BESTY, a difference that would affect all of NFTY
CWR.
While in Israel this semester on a NFTY study abroad in high
school program, I ran for the position of Religious and Cultural Vice
President (RCVP) on the CWR Regional Board with the hope that I
could strengthen our region’s connection to Judaism when it comes
to religious ceremony, cultural practice and Israel. To my greatest
delight, I won the election and am proud to assume the role of CWR’s
RCVP for the 5775–5776 term. Taking on a regional board role is a huge
responsibility and one that I am excited to hold. I couldn’t be happier
continued on page 20
Eli Waldman, Daniel Kivel-Goldstein, Liora Ami, Rudy Brandt, Ali Greenland, Jacob Sarasohn, and
Kayla Reagan all served on the 2014 - 2015 BESTY Board.
12 · T H E B U I L D E R · J U N E /J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 5
Teens Recognized
for Their
Leadership at the
Celebration of
Education
by Ruth Ehrenkrantz
AT THE YAFE
CELEBRATION OF
EDUCATION in May,
two new awards were
presented to several
teen congregants. The
Teen Leadership Award
recognizes up to three
8th grade teens who have
demonstrated strong
leadership skills through
the Sababa Youth Group
or through a self-directed tikkun olam project
that contribute to strengthening the Beth El
teen community. The award was developed by
Rabbis Stern and Kahn and is funded through
the rabbis’ discretionary fund.
All three of the recipients of this year’s Teen
Leadership Award grew up in Beth El, became
b’nei mitzvot here and attended Camp Kee
Tov as campers for many years. Anna Portnoy
served as our congregation’s Sababa Youth
Group President this year. She has also worked
as a madricha with 2nd and 3rd graders in
Kadima. Jolie Gobler served as the Sababa
Youth Group Social Action Vice President this
year. She has also worked as a Kadima madricha
in the garden and with 2nd grade students.
Nathan Magid served as the Sababa Youth
continued on page 20
MIDRASHA
Shalom, Beth El
Community!
I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING AN
AMAZING SUMMER. Here at
Berkeley Midrasha, we are gearing
up for another awesome year...
B’NEI MITZVAH
The congregation is cordially invited
to attend the service and kiddush
following to honor these bar and bat
mitzvah candidates:
AUGUST NOE will be called to the Torah as a
bar mitzvah on Saturday, June 6 at 10:15 am.
August is the son of Alva Noe and Miriam Dym.
What is Midrasha?
Berkeley Midrasha is, first
and foremost, a community. We
provide opportunities in experiential
education for local teens to journey
deeper into their Judaism. We
challenge minds, cultivate identities, and nourish souls. We
encourage transparency, creativity and self-expression. We stand
for socialization and social justice. We give our teens the time of
their lives.
Berkeley Midrasha meets Sunday mornings at 9:30 am
at Beth El. The uniqueness of our program is that we pride
ourselves on a commitment to fun, diverse and often rigorous
learning experiences, each with its own distinctive lens. Where
else can teens study Rabbinic texts, learn to understand
tradition through yoga and Jewish foods, or get their advance
Hebrew on, all the while building dynamic, impactful
relationships with peers and mentors?
MARLEY JANOFF will be called to the Torah
as a bat mitzvah on Saturday, June 13 at 10:15
am. Marley is the daughter of Stacey and Erin
Janoff.
AARON GILBERT will be called to the Torah
as a bar mitzvah on Saturday, June 20 at
10:15 am. Aaron is son of Jim Gilbert and
Susan Orbuch.
ZELIE KINOY will be called to the Torah as
a bat mitzvah on Saturday, June 27 at 10:15
am. Zelie is daughter of Michael Dotter and
Ellen Kinoy.
What does a day at Midrasha look like?
Core and Breakfast:
Teens begin the morning grabbing breakfast on the way to their
core class. Through a Jewish perspective, Core provides a focused,
content-driven conversation that encourages teens to explore the
meaning of life and issues that are not just important, but truly
relevant to them. It is through our core class that many lifelong
friendships are created.
Hafsakah:
Teens gather together to snack, schmooze and chill.
Hakirah or Explorations:
Over a seven- to eight-week period, teens elect subject matter
that explores their interests in the context of their lives and
development. Hakirah subjects will change three times a year.
What is new at Berkeley Midrasha?
We are launching a new 12th Grade Sunday morning program:
Ma’avar or “Transitions” — Moving from High School to College.
community. It will provide your senior with a context to discuss
and explore the issues that will become relevant when they are
out on their own.
You are welcome to check out our website for more information
on Berkeley Midrasha, or copy and paste the following link into
your web browser to pre-register now:
http://goo.gl/forms/EZ0XcNtXJ3
I can’t wait to see your teen this fall at Berkeley Midrasha! Wishing
you an amazing summer!
L’Shalom,
Rabbi Jennifer Flam
Executive Director of Berkeley Midrasha
T: 510-843-4667
[email protected]
www.midrasha.org
Three units make up the year — self-care in the Jewish tradition,
creating Jewish family, and building a Jewish adult identity. And
If you have an incoming Midrasha senior (12th grade), Ma’avar
will be an amazing way for them to be even closer with your
CO N G R E G AT I O N B E T H E L · B E T H E L B E R K E L E Y. O R G · 13
LIBRARY
More New Books to Offer Our Readers
by Scott Spear, Library Chair
Donations to the Aaron Plishner and Rabbi George Vida Funds make it possible to buy new children’s and adult’s books.
Here are some recent additions to Beth El’s library:
Rebbe by Joseph Telushkin is subtitled
The Life and Teachings of Menachem M.
Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in
Modern History. The Rebbe, who turned
his movement, Chabad-Lubavitch, into
one of the most dynamic and widespread
organizations ever seen in the Jewish
world, was the only rabbi to receive the
Congressional Gold Medal, and since his
death his movement has doubled in size.
Ruth Messinger says, “I am now living
differently, guided by some of the most pertinent advice in this
book: ‘Do whatever you can for others whenever you can do it,
and do it immediately.’”
A commonality between the Rebbe and the
radical Jewish chicken ranchers of Petaluma
is shown in Comrades and Chicken
Ranchers: The Story of a California Jewish
Community by Kenneth Kann, where
the story is told, through interviews of
200 people, of three generations, of a
community who also believed in doing
what you can for others, and doing it now.
This community, though seemingly very
different, can be likened in many respects to Chabad.
Poems by Alter Esselin is an English
translation from the Yiddish. The poet,
born Oreh Serebrenik in the Ukraine,
lived and wrote in Milwaukee, where he
made his living as a carpenter. Yiddish
critic Melach Ravitch wrote, “Alter Esselin
is one of the most authentic Yiddish
poets, a person-to-person poet.”
14 · T H E B U I L D E R · J U N E /J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 5
Herzl’s Vision: Theodor Herzl and
the Foundation of the Jewish State by
Shlomo Avineri, professor of political
science at Hebrew University who served
as Director-General of Israel’s Ministry
of Foreign Affairs under Yitzhak Rabin, is
an intellectual biography of the founder
of Zionism. The book tells how Herzl
fashioned the policies and institutions
paving the way for the Jewish State.
There is such a thing as Jewish time! In Time and Process in
Ancient Judaism, Sacha Stern, based on his massive study of
calendar and community from the second
century BCE to the tenth century CE,
demonstrates that the concept of time
as an entity or a continuum was entirely
absent from ancient Judaism. Reality and
change were conceived in terms of events
and concrete processes. There was no
concept of time at all, unlike all of Greek
philosophy, with the notable exception of
Aristotle, and unlike our modern concept,
which may shackle us.
In The Jews and the Bible, Jean-Christophe Attias, professor of
medieval Jewish thought at the Sorbonne, ponders the place of
the Bible in Jewish religion and culture,
from the Bible’s pre-history to the present.
This is a complex story of how Jews in
various times and places have defined
themselves in relation to the Bible — with
the Bible, without the Bible, against the
Bible. It is an elusive book; what does
Judaism tell us about it?
Sardine Pâté
by Marjorie Gelb
DON’T RUN AWAY YET. I know very few of us cook with sardines these days, but I promise you this pâté, which is inspired by a
recipe from the brilliant David Lebovitz, is divine. Mr. Lebovitz is a chef who lives in Paris, and he creates some of the most delicious,
simple recipes I’ve ever come across. I especially adore this recipe because everything in the recipe (except the chives, I suppose) can be
kept in your pantry or refrigerator for eons, making this a perfect “oh dear, company’s coming” last-minute find. Serve it for a snack, at
picnics, potlucks or just during a quiet evening at home.
Ingredients
Cooking Directions
3 tablespoons minced shallots (2 medium)
3 cans skinless and boneless sardines in olive oil (usually 3.7
ounces each), drained
2–3 tablespoons chives, minced (1/2 bunch)
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
3–4 tablespoons butter, softened
2–3 tablespoons olive oil
1–2 tablespoons lemon juice
Pulse shallots in food processor.
Add sardines and pulse again.
Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse together until smooth
or chunky, according to your preference. Taste and adjust the
ingredients to your liking.
Scrape mixture into a bowl and chill for at least 8 hours. Let it
come to room temperature before serving.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Resting time: 8 hours
Serves 8
This pâté can be made without a food processor:
Mash the sardines with a fork. Add other ingredients and mash
together until well combined. It will be a little chunky.
This is best served on rye bread or crackers like Kavli, but is also
good with baguette.
CO N G R E G AT I O N B E T H E L · B E T H E L B E R K E L E Y. O R G · 15
TORAH STUDY
June
July
August
6/6/2015
Parashat Beha’alotcha
Numbers 8:1-12:16
Sara Kupor
7/4/2015
Parashat Balak
Numbers 22:2-25:9
Caroline Lehman
8/1/2015
Parashat Vaetchanan
Deut 3:23-7:11
Marcia Diaz
6/13/2015
Parashat Sh’lach lecha
Numbers 13:1-15:41
Bruce Carter
7/11/2015
Parashat Pinchas
Numbers 25:10-30:1
Florence Lewis
8/8/2015
Parashat Eikev
Deut. 7:12-11:25
Rabbi Yoel Kahn
6/20/2015
Parashat Korach
Numbers 16:1-18:32
Barry Silverblatt
7/18/2015
Parashat Matot-Masei
Numbers 30:2-36:13
Naomi Janowitz
8/15/2015
Parashat Re’eh
Deut. 11:26-16:17
Lloyd Morgan
6/27/2015
Parashat Chukat
Numbers 19:1-22:1
Laurie Swiadon
7/25/2015
Parashat Devarim
Deut. 1:1-3:22
Dan Magid
8/22/2015
Parashat Shoftim
Deut. 16:18-21:9
Jonathan Simon
Torah Study meets on Saturdays at 9:15 am in the Beit Midrash.
All are welome! For questions or to sign up as a presenter, contact
Caroline Lehman by email at [email protected] or by phone at
510-528-3220.
8/29/2015
Parashat Ki Teitzei
Deut. 21:10-25:19
Jeff Gillman
Congregation Beth El’s
Chutzpah List
• Laptop, no older than two years
Ways to Give
•
•
•
•
DO YOU HAVE UNUSED ITEMS
•
•
•
we can put to good use here at Beth El?
Consider donating them. The following
is our Chutzpah “wish list.” Contact the
front office (frontoffice@bethelberkeley.
org) if you’d like to make a tax-deductible
donation of a gently-used (or new) item on
the following list.
Thanks to Bruce Saldinger and Lynn
Royer for their donation of A/V cables.
•
•
•
Color laser printer
2 large potted plants
Drought-resistant succulent plants
2 area rugs — one for new youth lounge, one for Rabbi Stern’s
office
Tripod for photography and/or vtideo
Conference table
Set of computer speakers for AV presentations
around the building
Cuisinart (second for upstairs kitchen)
A folding machine for large mailings
Video cables: VGA, HDMI, DVI
For BENS:
• CD Player
• Area Lamps
• Cuisinart
• Used pots, pans and utensils for outdoor play
For Youth:
See page 11 for Eyes on You(th) article by Emily Schnitzer.
16 · T H E B U I L D E R · J U N E /J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 5
MAZEL TOV
From the Rabbis
CO NTI N U ED FRO M PAG E 2
What are Reform CA’s goals?
• To enact significant and real social and economic change in
California
• To connect Reform Jews and congregations meaningfully,
strengthening our communities and our Movement
• To build relationships with our brothers and sisters across lines of
race, class and faith
WE EXTEND OUR WARM CONGRATULATIONS
to members of our synagogue community who were
recently recognized for a significant personal or professional
accomplishment, or who celebrated a major lifecycle event:
How does Reform CA decide which issue/campaign to take on?
• Conversations with Reform Jews in which we ask, “What is the
California you dream of?”
• Research with experts in the field to learn the political landscape
and current state of major issues in California
• Work with the Reform Movement’s Commission on Social Action
to ensure our action is in accordance with national Reform
Movement goals and policy
Then, potential campaigns are measured against these questions:
Would this issue impact many Californians’ lives and bring greater
equality and justice to our state? Is this issue deeply and broadly felt
within our base? Is this issue grounded in Torah and Jewish tradition? Is
it winnable? If we, as Reform Jews, were to participate, could we have a
meaningful impact? Are there excellent coalition partners with whom
to work?
Reform California’s Third Campaign — “B’yachad: In This
Together”
Last summer, during the hardest days of the Ferguson
demonstrations, an African-American mother, Keesha Beckford, wrote
a blog entitled Dear White Moms: “I need to know that you are not
merely worried about this most tragic of worst case scenarios befalling
my son; I need to know that you are out there changing the ethos
that puts it in place. That you see this as something that unites us as
mothers, friends and human beings.” And what are we doing to change
that ethos? What could we do?
As Reform Jews in California, we have the beginning of an answer.
We will work with Reform CA, in partnership with other Reform Jews
across the state, to build and strengthen meaningful relationships in our
communities across lines of difference. We will partner with members
of African-American churches and with our allies of many races and
faiths, and will listen especially carefully to the experiences of Jews of
color who are members of our own communities. We will work to pass
essential legislation to ensure the safety and security of all our citizens.
Together with our partners across lines of difference, we will share
stories about how experiences of race and racism touch our lives and
break our hearts and will commit to amplifying the voices of those who
are most directly affected by these issues. As we seek to strengthen our
communities, our efforts will reflect our deep respect and appreciation
for our brave law enforcement officers who risk their lives and wellbeing every day to protect California’s residents.
Torah teaches us that we are forbidden to stand idly by the blood
of our neighbors. Keesha Beckford ended her essay asking: “I need
you, too, because I can’t do this alone.” Let’s stand with her. We hope
you’ll join us.
Join the Reform CA email list and join the B’yachad campaign at
rac.org/reformca.
Mazel tov to Rebecca and Steven Band on the birth and
entry into the covenant of their daughter, Michaela Band,
born March 28, 2015.
Mazel tov to Nurit Garner, BENS
teacher, on the birth of her grandson,
Benjamin (Ben) David Garner, born
to Kfir Garner and Jessica Stimson on
April 2, 2015.
Mazel tov to Sharon Sanderovitch
and Guy Rotberg on the birth of their
daughter, Bar Rotberg, born April 25, 2015.
Mazel tov to Deena Aranoff and Adam Berman on the birth
of their daughter, Maya Tamar Berman, born May 5, 2015.
Sponsor an Oneg
YOU CAN CELEBRATE YOUR SIMCHA or
remember loved ones with your Beth El community by
hosting a Shabbat Oneg on a Friday night or Shabbat
morning.
Your sponsorship will be acknowledged in the
e-Update and from the bimah. Beth El members will
be able to join you in your celebration or honor the
memory of your loved ones.
Please go to our website and click on “Ways
to Give” and then “Oneg Sponsorship.” Read the
description of how to sign up, then follow the link
to select your menu choices and make payment.
Your donation to Beth El will cover the cost of food,
preparation, serving and cleanup, and will help support
our programs.
To speak to someone regarding oneg sponsorship,
please contact Juliet Gardner in the Beth El office at
[email protected].
Rabbi Rebekah Stern has been involved with Reform CA since it began
in August 2012 and has served on its Leadership Team since 2014.
CO N G R E G AT I O N B E T H E L · B E T H E L B E R K E L E Y. O R G · 17
TZEDAKAH
ADULT EDUCATION FUND
Monty Garretson
Harry and Marilyn Margulius in memory of Allan
Gorelick
Joan and Steve Ominsky in memory of Rosa Mayeri
and Ariel Levy, and in honor of Beverly and
Richard Eigner
Phyllis Zisman in honor of Harry Margulius
ALLAN AND TYBIL SMITH
KAHN FUND
Bonnie Cooperstein in memory of Max Cooperstein
Marilyn and Harry Margulius in memory of Irving
Brendze and Rose Brendze Goloboy
BAR LEV LANDSCAPE FUND
Susan Amdur in memory of Hilda Amdur
Janine Baer in memory of Irving Baer
Nancy Turak and Marc Davis in memory of Henny
Weil
B’NEI MITZVAH TZEDAKAH
FUND
Yael Bloom and Howie Rosen
Janet Byron in honor of Jonah Meier
Ronnie and Stuart Cohen
Christopher and Molly Gales
Neil Gray and Helise Cohn
Andrew Ingall and Neal Hoffman in honor of Max
Sklar
Nancy and Scott Kane
Sharon and Michael King
Ellen Kinoy
Marc Korchin
Jeffrey Laurence and Johnette Jauron
Christine Meuris and Andrew Love
Paul Steckel and Mo Morris
Douglas and Lori Perlstadt
The Reckler/Moore Family
Jena Resner and Jon Loran
Joshua and Ruth Simon
Max Sklar
Robin, Ed, Ty and Trey Wenrick
BUILDING FUND
Odette Blachman in memory of Bob Goldstein
Rose and Jack Gansky in memory of Louis Gansky,
Shia Gansky, and Zenda Brownfain
Ellie Goldstein-Erickson in memory of Bob
Goldstein
Mary Jacobs in memory of Bob Goldstein
CAMP KEE TOV
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Diane and Ed Bernbaum in memory of Ariel Levy
Jean Henderson in memory of Marilyn Hecht and
Sylvia Gross
Barbara and Michael Liepman in honor of Allie
Liepman
DAVID COTTON MEMORIAL
CAMP NEWMAN FUND
Edythe Heda in memory of Ariel Levy and Rex
Bernstein, and in honor of Jerry Weintraub
GENERAL FUND
Betsy Ami
Diane and Ed Bernbaum in honor of Norm Frankel
Florence Borkon in memory of Oscar Borkon
Sharon Caplow Todd
Michael Charlson and Susan Austin
Bonnie Cooperstein, in memory of Bob Goldstein,
in honor of Miriam Rabinovitz and in memory of
Allan Gorelick
Jack and Rose Gansky
Steven Joseph and Corey Hansen-Joseph in
memory of Sylvia Apple and Ariel Levy and in
celebration of Pesach
Melvin and Dorothy Lemberger
Nathan Magid in honor of the restoration of the
Holocaust scroll
Anna Mantell and Bob Goldstein, z”l in honor of
Jerry Weintraub and in memory of Ariel Levy
Julie Matlof Kennedy in memory of Morris Matlof
Miriam Rabinovitz in memory of Nancy Feiner and
Ariel Levy
Thomas and Betty Seaton in honor of Bob
Goldstein
Rabbi Stuart and Victoria Kelman in memory of
Ariel Levy
Bruce and Margaret Winkelman in memory of Ruby
Winkelman
Vadjiheh Yadegar in memory of Nosrat Yadegar and
Ashraf Kashfi
Phyllis Zisman in memory of Ariel Levy and in honor
of Jerry Weintraub
HOMELESS MEAL PROGRAM
Adele Amodeo in honor of Jerry Weintraub and in
memory of Ariel Levy and Aron Rosenzweig
Judith Bell and James Greenberg
Stephen R Blum and Lorraine Midanik in memory
of Ariel Levy
Bruce and Susan Carter in honor of Bob Goldstein
Mervin Cherrin
Sheila and Michael Cooper in memory of Bob
Goldstein
Bonnie Cooperstein in memory of Ariel Levy and
Allan Gorelick, in honor of Rabbi Kahn and
Miriam Rabinovitz
Clarke and Maria Daniels
Marcia Diaz
Marcia and Jim Emery in memory of Bob Goldstein
Barbara Fierer and Robert Brandfon in memory of
Jacob Brandfon
James and Judith Freeman in honor of Bob
Goldstein and Anna Mantell
Margie Gelb and Mark Aaronson
Linda Gerson
Sandy and Vivian Golden in memory of Bob
Goldstein
Richard and Elizabeth Gonzales in memory of
Ariel Levy
Neil Gozan and Gale Antokal in memory of Phoebe
Gozan
Mark Gross in memory of Lore Gross and Henry
Gross
Evelyn Herrera and Adam Eigner
Estie and Mark Hudes in memory of Malka Glick
Shtern, Avraham Glick and Gideon Glick
Naomi Janowitz and Andrew Lazarus
Steven Joseph and Corey Hansen-Joseph in
memory of Sylvia Apple, Ariel Levy, and Bob
Goldstein and in celebration of Pesach
Steve Kurzman and Kim Nies
Steve and Caroline Lehman in memory of Ilse Marx
Peggy and Michael Lipson in celebration of Pesach
Anna Mantell and Bob Goldstein, z”l in honor of
Jerry Weintraub and in memory of Ariel Levy
Marilyn and Harry Margulius in memory of Ariel
Levy, Sylvia Apple, Irving Brendze and Rose
Brendze Goloboy
Congregation Beth El’s L’Dor Vador
Legacy Circle
We gratefully acknowledge the members of Congregation Beth El’s newly
formed L’Dor Vador Legacy Circle. These members have made a planned gift
for the Congregation.
Sondra Napell in memory of Herb Napell
Elisha and Ilana Novak
Miriam Rabinovitz in memory of Nancy Feiner and
Ariel Levy
Stephen and Wilma Rader
David Rothenberg and Lorraine Sandoval
Joe and Elisabeth Schlessinger in honor of Bob
Goldstein
Thomas and Betty Seaton in memory of Ariel Levy
and Bob Goldstein
Ruth and Scott Spear in memory of Herman Davis,
Eddie Hudes, Ariel Levy, Allan Gorelick, and Max
Cooperstein; in honor of Cathy Stevens and Jerry
Weintraub, and in honor of the B’not Mitzvah of
Katherine Haynes Sanstad, Susan Zarchy, Jennifer
Robinson and Susan Sugarman
Michael and Simma Stein
Judith and David Tabb in memory of Bob Goldstein
Amy and David Tick
Revan and Elsa Tranter in memory of Ariel Levy
Nancy Turak and Marc Davis in memory of Jean
Davis, and Abe and Sylvia Apple
Laura and Jason Turbow
Mike Turbow
Robert and Linda Walker in honor of Jerry
Weintraub
Jerry Weintraub in appreciation of the Men’s Club
Honors
Benjamin Wolfe
Vadjiheh Yadegar in memory of Nosrat Yadegar and
Ashraf Kashfi
Beth Zeitman in memory of Nancy Feiner
Phyllis Zisman in memory of Ariel Levy and Bob
Goldstein and in honor of Jerry Weintraub
Neil and Jane Levy in memory of Ariel Levy
MARIAN MAGID MEMORIAL
FUND
Edythe Heda in memory of Ariel Levy and Rex
Bernstein, and in honor of Jerry Weintraub
Jean Henderson in memory of Marilyn Hecht and
Sylvia Gross
Stacey and Edward Holly
Barbara Morgan in memory of Ruben Zelwer
MEN’S CLUB FUND
Leyna Bernstein in memory of Ariel Levy
Howard and Alice Gruber in honor of Jerry
Weintraub
MITZVAH CORPS
Mary Jacobs in memory of Sylvia Apple
Spencer Klein and Ruth Ehrenkrantz in memory
of Ellie Klein
Barbara and Michael Liepman in memory of Eva
Cohn
Joan and Steve Ominsky in memory of Rosa Mayeri
and Ariel Levy, and in honor of Beverly and
Richard Eigner
MUSIC FUND
Judy Chess in memory of Barbara Chess
Anna Fogelman in memory of Ilan Gabriel
Biederman
Daniel Newman and Belinda Lyons-Newman in
memory of Roslyn Marion Lyons
Renee Passy-Zale in memory of Feride Passy
PLAQUE FUND
Rabbi Ferenc and Paula Raj in memory of Rabbi
Tamas Raj and Benjamin Wolk
Judith and Gabor Somorjai in memory of Marietta
Somorjai Rhodes
PRAYER BOOK FUND
Rose and Jack Gansky in honor of Jerry Weintraub
Sylvia Goldeen in memory of Millicent Shapiro
Linda and James Phipps
RABBI VIDA LIBRARY FUND
Ruth and Scott Spear in memory of Herman Davis,
Eddie Hudes, Ariel Levy, Allan Gorelick, and Max
Cooperstein; in honor of Cathy Stevens and Jerry
Weintraub, and in honor of the B’not Mitzvah of
Katherine Haynes Sanstad, Susan Zarchy, Jennifer
Robinson and Susan Sugarman
Nancy Turak and Marc Davis in memory of Ariel
Levy
RABBIS’ DISCRETIONARY
FUND
Michael and Susan Austin in memory of Gay Austin
Stephen R Blum and Lorraine Midanik in memory
of Ariel Levy
Bonnie Cooperstein in memory of Ariel Levy and in
honor of Rabbi Kahn
Marcia and James Emery in memory of Ariel Levy
Edythe Heda in celebration of Pesach, in memory
of Ariel Levy and Rex Bernstein, and in honor of
Jerry Weintraub
Jerry Iserson in memory of Sylvia Apple
Ann Manheimer and Arthur Swislocki in memory of
Adam Swislocki
Lloyd Morgan in memory of Alice Morgan
Marv Pearlstein in honor of Gwen Pearlstein
Marcel and Margrit Schurman in honor of Adrianna
Schurman and in memory of Raphael Kafka
John Scott and Ann Gonski in memory of Linda
Gonski
Nancy Turak and Marc Davis in memory of Zev Kahn
YOUTH AND FAMILY
EDUCATION FUND
Jeremy Alberga in honor of Debra Sagan Massey
Diane and Ed Bernbaum in honor of Debra Sagan
Massey
Robert Gilden and Marlene Getz in honor of Debra
Sagan Massey
Mary Jacobs in honor of Debra Sagan Massey
Barbara and Michael Liepman in honor of Debra
Sagan Massey
Jonathan Packman and Elizabeth Kaplan in memory
of Julius Packman
Abigail and Craig Rudnick in honor of Debra Sagan
Massey
Robin and Ed Wenrickin honor of Debra Sagan
Massey
NURSERY SCHOOL FUND
Steven and Barbara Segal in memory of Ariel Levy
Mary Jacobs in honor of Norm Frankel
If you have provided for the Congregation with a bequest in your estate plan but
have not yet informed us, please let us know by contacting Ruth Ehrenkrantz.
We welcome the opportunity to thank and acknowledge you.
Daniel & Nancy Altman
Max* and Odette Blachman
Martin and Jill Dodd
Richard and Beverly Eigner
Arthur and Carol Goldman
David* and Dorothy* Golner
Barry and Erica Goode
John Hartog
*Of blessed memory
18 · T H E B U I L D E R · J U N E /J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 5
ONEG/KIDDUSH FUND
Kimberly Beeson and Rebecca Abravanel in
memory of Phil Gradolph
Bonnie Cooperstein
Susan and Bill Zarchy in memory of Ronnie and
Bud Slanhoff
Rabbi Yoel Kahn and Dan Bellm
Patrick Kennedy and Julie Matlof Kennedy
Spencer Klein and Ruth Ehrenkrantz
Jeff and Debbie Leon
The Magid Family
Jim Offel and Nancy Lewin
Jeffrey M. Seideman and Elisabeth Meyer Wechsler
Paul and Susan Sugarman
Annual Appeal
We gratefully acknowledge all of our donors to Beth El’s Annual Appeal. Donations to the Annual Appeal help support our wonderful synagogue
programming, community activities and diverse membership. Donations listed below were received between July 1, 2014and May 1, 2015.
Mark Aaronson & Marjorie Gelb*
Harry and Lee Abrams
Abravanel-Beeson Family*
Daniel & Nancy Altman
Betsy Ami
Adele Amodeo
Susan Amdur
Ethan Andelman & Laura Mytels
Joyce Appelbaum
Judith Appel & Alison Bernstein
Madison Arent
Deirdre Arima
Michael & Susan Austin
Shoshana Berger & Anthony Saxe
Rachel Berkowitz & Jose Villagrana
Odette Blachman
Joel & Rochelle Blumenfeld
Richard & Liz Bordow
Angela Botelho & Barry Silverblatt
Henry Brady & Patricia Kates*
Elizabeth & Steven Branoff
Jeffrey & Susan Brand
Pamela & James Brandman
Barbara Brenner
Steven & Ann Brick
Janet Byron
Mona Cain*
Bruce & Susan Carter
Susan Austin & Michael Charlson*
Jonathan Cherin & Catherine Pfister Cherin
Karen Cilman
Felicia Cole & Dean Amundson
Bonnie Cooperstein
Alfred & Anita Cotton
Michael & Pamela Crane
Clarke & Maria Daniels
Marc Derewetzky & Jennifer Kawar*
Mark Dinaburg
Martin & Jill Dodd*
Keith & Dana Dubinsky
Ruth Dunham
Lynn Eden & Ruth Schoenbach
Ruth Ehrenkrantz & Spencer Klein
Leah Emdy
Robert Epstein & Amy Roth*
Ellie Goldstein-Erickson
Michael & Merle Fajans*
Jonathan Feinstein & Meera Sharnoff
Lisa Feldman
David Fields & Anita Roger Fields
Daniel Fishman
Anna & Michael Fogelman
Susan Frankel & Moshe Maler
Matthew & Lisa Friedman*
Andy & Lauren Ganes
Rose & Jack Gansky
Nurit & David Garner
Molly Gerstein-Gales & Christopher Gales
Aleksandra Gertsvolf
Marlene Getz & Robert Gilden
Jim Gilbert & Susan Orbuch
Jodi & Gordon Gladstone
Ellen Goldstein & Jack Holleman
Josh & Barbara Goldstein
Norm & Gina Gold
Sharon Goldfarb & Brad Glasser
Marcia Golner-Tilford & Michael Tilford
Ann Gonski & John Scott
John Gordon & Janis Mitchell*
Avrum Gratch
Leatrice Gutmann
Laura Harnish
John Hartog & Margaret Hand*
Anthony Hecht & Michelle Wolfson
Jean Henderson
David Hoffman & Joan Sarnat*
Stanley Hoffman
Mark & Estie Hudes*
David Huebner & Sandy Bacskai
Phyllis Isaacson
Jerry Iserson & Nancy Silverman
Paul & Sali Johnson*
Steve Joseph & Corey Hansen-Joseph
Rabbi Yoel Kahn and Dan Bellm
Peter Kane & Barbara Gordon*
Seth Kaufman & Tatiana Roegiers
Patrick Kennedy & Julie Matlof Kennedy*
Ilan & Marlene Keret
Leroy Kessler
Mike Klayman
Juliet Lee
Jessica Lehman
Leo & Rebecca Levenson
Neil & Jane Levy
Ross Libenson & Susie Marcus
Margeaux Lieberman & Daniel Weinberg
Michael & Barbara Liepman
Michael & Peggy Lipson*
Brian & Wendy Lukas*
Thomas Lurquin*
Desmid Lyon
Albert Magid*
Daniel & Robinn Magid*
Alexandre Makler & Anna Brock
Harry & Marilyn Margulius
William & Emily Marthinsen*
Rosa Mayeri z’’l
Charles Meier & Sharon Friedman
David & Donna L. Mendelsohn
Eugene & Robin Millstein
Mark Mogill & Maribel Paterno-Mogill
Lloyd Morgan
Calvin & Alisa Morrill
Mo Morris & Paul Steckel
Dr. Sondra Napell
Allen & Pamela Nudel
Julie & Ted Obbard
David & Gail Offen-Brown*
Jim Offel & Nancy Lewin-Offel
Amy Oppenheimer & Jennifer Krebs
Brian Parker & Leyna Bernstein*
Marv Pearlstein*
Lori & Douglas Perlstadt
Julie & Eddie Pledger
Harry Pollack & Joanne Backman*
Daniel Portnoy
Miriam Rabinovitz
Jennifer Rader
Wilma & Stephen Rader
Ferenc & Paula Raj
Leslie Reckler & Cameron Moore*
Amy Resner & William Lee
Jena Resner & Jon Loran
Steven & Katherine Resnik*
Dorothy Rice
Michael Richards
Mayer & Linda Riff
Ron & Trang Robinson
Bonnie Roditti
Anne & Fred Rosenthal
Martin & P.J. Rosenthal*
Rony & Gideon Ross
Elana Roston
David Rothenberg & Lorraine Sandoval
Sylvia Rubin
Abigail & Craig Rudnick*
Bruce Saldinger & Lynne Royer*
Suzanne & Bob Samuels
James & Judith Sanders
Alan Sanstad
Katherine Haynes Sanstad
David Schatsky
Jane Scherr
Stanley & Miriam Schiffman*
Richard Schindler
Marcel & Margrit Schurman*
Steven & Barbara Segal*
Steven Shatz & Nina Rivkind
Stacey Shulman
Sheila & Rachel Siemons
Barry Silverman
Thalia & Laurence Silverman
Jonathan Simon & Christina Spaulding*
Joshua & Ruth Simon
Steven & Shelley Simrin*
Edward Sklar & Jennifer Levin
Jeff Sloan
Rahel Smith & Caroline Boyden
Amy & Steven Solomon
Jonathan Spalter & Carissa Goux
Scott & Ruth Spear
Alan & Paula Statman
David & Jane Stern*
Rabbi Rebekah Stern & Sean Holcombe
Julie Stone-Evans
William & Marilyn Sugar
Paul & Susan Sugarman*
Sara Sunstein
Laurie Swiadon
Arthur Swislocki & Ann Manheimer*
Steve Tabak & Blair Kilpatrick-Tabak
Amy & David Tick
Elna Tsao
Lassie Ulman
Buddy & Jodi Warner*
Aryeh Weinstein & Erica Michelstein
Gerald Weintraub
Vadjiheh Yadegar
Dan Zeiger & Josefina Coloma
Bill & Susan Zarchy
Ms. Beth Zeitman
Joel & Karen Zeldin
Alexander & Izabella Zheleznyak
Phyllis Zisman*
*MAIMONIDES SOCIETY MEMBER
Ma Tovu
We gratefully acknowledge our members who have supported and contributed to the Ma Tovu Capital Campaign:
Frances Alexander
Daniel & Nancy Altman
Adele Amodeo
Ethan Andelman & Laura Mytels
Richard & Christine Aptaker
Michael & Susan Austin
Shoshana Berger & Anthony Saxe
Stuart & Judy Berman
Ralph & Gail Bernstein
Odette Blachman
Stephen Blum & Lorraine Midanik
James Blume & Kathryn Frank
Henry Brady & Patricia Kates
Barbara Brenner
Janet Byron
Mona Cain
Bruce & Susan Carter
Jonathan Cherin & Catherine Pfister Cherin
Max, z”l & Bonnie Cooperstein
Elliot Cravitz & Miriam Schultz
Marc Davis & Nancy Turak
Marc Derewetzky & Jennifer Kawar
Martin & Jill Dodd
Scott & Julie Drummond
Ruth Ehrenkrantz & Spencer Klein
Michael Eichberg & Maya Ponte
Michael & Merle Fajans
William Falik & Diana Cohen
Lisa Feldman
Daniel & Lynne Fingerman
Alison Fisher & Matt Oshry
Andy & Lauren Ganes
Jack & Rose Gansky
Jim Gilbert & Susan Orbuch
Sandy & Vivian Golden
Arthur & Carol Goldman
Robert Goldstein, z”l & Anna Mantell
David & Dorothy Golner z”l
Barry & Erica Goode
Howard & Alice Gruber
Valerie Gutwirth & Elio Gizzi
Diane Halberg & Joshua Langenthal
John Hartog & Margaret Hand
Jean Henderson
David Hoffman & Joan Sarnat
Donald & Ronna Honigman
Jerry Iserson & Nancy Silverman
Paul Johnson & Sali Gold-Johnson
Rabbi Yoel Kahn & Dan Bellm
Laurence Kaplan
Seth Kaufman & Tatiana Roegiers
Patrick Kennedy & Julie Matlof Kennedy
Andy Kivel & Susan Goldstein
Jeff & Debbie Leon
Leo & Rebecca Levenson
Keri Levy
Michael & Peggy Lipson
Brian & Wendy Lukas
Thomas Lurquin
Albert Magid
Daniel & Robinn Magid
Leigh Marymor
Eugene & Robin Millstein
Adam & Lauran Mizock
Mark Mogill & Maribel Paterno-Mogill
Mo Morris & Paul Steckel
Joanna Moss & Robert Sonderegger
Allen & Pamela Nudel
Lisa Ochs & Lea Salem
Jim Offel & Nancy Lewin
Amy Oppenheimer & Jennifer Krebs
Renee Passy-Zale
Marv Pearlstein
Todd & Diane Perlman
Lori & Douglas Perlstadt
Andy Pollack & Debbie Jordan
Harry Pollack & Joanne Backman
Leslie Reckler & Cameron Moore
Amy Resner & William Lee
Jena Resner & Jon Loran
Steven & Katherine Resnik
Bonnie Roditti
Bruce Saldinger & Lynne Royer
Katherine Sanstad
William Schechner
Stanley & Miriam Schiffman
Debra Schoenberg & Karen Fierer
Susan & Richard Seeley
Jeffrey Seideman & Elisabeth Wechsler
Robert & Elizabeth Sharf
Jeff Sloan
Scott & Ruth Spear
Alan & Paula Statman
Paul & Susan Sugarman
Laurie Swiadon
David & Debbie Taylor
Edward Vine & Ellen Singer-Vine
Buddy & Jodi Warner
Gerald Weintraub
Robin & Edward Wenrick
John & Niloufar Yadegar
Vadjiheh Yadegar
Beth Zeitman
Phyllis Zisman
CO N G R E G AT I O N B E T H E L · B E T H E L B E R K E L E Y. O R G · 19
Tzedakah News
by Ruth Ehrenkrantz,
VP of Development
P H OTO BY S H O E Y S I N D EL
Robinn Magid, Recipient of
the Marian Magid Award for
Community Service
At the Annual Meeting on May 3, Robinn Magid received the
Marian Magid Award for Community Service. Robinn is the
guardian and caretaker for all our ritual objects, including
the recent restoration of our Holocaust Torah scrolls. She
has served Congregation Beth El in many capacities over
the years including: as a member and Chair of the Ritual
Committee, as volunteer interim Executive Director, as
the unofficial historian and archivist for our congregation,
and as coleader of the Gift Shop and Chanukah Bazaar for
more years than anyone can count. This year Robinn began
serving on the Board as a Trustee. Kol haKavod, Robinn.
Thank you for your service to our community!
Annual Campaign Goal Met
Thank you to the many donors who have contributed to
the Annual Campaign. This year 193 families gave to the
campaign, including 80 new donors and 40-plus families
who increased their gifts over previous years. At this
writing, $114,000 has been donated. This money is used
for scholarships, programming and activities, and enables
us to welcome anyone who wants to join our community.
Thank you to John Hartog and Maggie Hand, and Robinn
and Daniel Magid, who provided the matching pool that
encouraged our members to give so generously. When we
all give what we can, our community has what it needs. All
gifts are very much appreciated.
20 · T H E B U I L D E R · J U N E /J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 5
B E S T Y, C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 2
not only to represent BESTY, but also to show my love for NFTY
and spread it as far and wide as possible. It is my belief that every
teen deserves something like NFTY where teens both lead and
follow. To say that this can be found through a Jewish program
brings me such joy.
BESTY is completely peer-led. We like to say that it is led by
teens for teens and that’s why our teens love it. It is associated
with NFTY, the Union for Reform Judaism’s international
organization for teens that is made up of regions all over North
America. BESTY belongs to NFTY’s Central West Region that
includes URJ Camp Newman.
NFTY’s leadership style is based on a democratically-elected
board with positions that each have a unique job leading the
community and planning and facilitating events. The board
positions on NFTY’s national board are mirrored in both the
regional board and each temple youth group — including BESTY.
Throughout the year there are synagogue-based, regional, national
and international opportunities available to our teens through
BESTY and NFTY. Be sure to like BESTY on Facebook to stay in the
know about our upcoming events!
As I prepare to come home from my semester in Israel and
assume my role on the regional board, I know that I am leaving
BESTY in the capable hands of the brilliant teen leaders of our
Beth El community. Throughout this next year, I cannot wait
to see all that our youth group, and our region, are capable of
accomplishing.
T E E N AWA R D S , C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 2
Group Programming Vice President. He participates in Midrasha
and attended the NFTY Gesher Kallah (summer retreat).
The Austin Distinguished Teen Service Award recognizes 11th
and 12th grade students who have strengthened the Beth El
community through their efforts in the arts, education, social
action or other personal initiatives. This award was developed and
funded by Susan and Mike Austin.
Kayla Reagan and Alyssa Alishoev are this year’s recipients of
the Austin Distinguished Teen Service Award. Kayla served as the
BESTY Fundraising and Merchandise Vice President this year and
participated in the NFTY Convention in Atlanta. She has attended
Midrasha for several years.
Alyssa has worked in Kadima for the past two years co-teaching
Kindergarten and 1st grade students. Before that she worked as
a madricha in the office. Alyssa has been a Camp Kee Tov staff
member for the past four years. Thank you all for your service to
our community and yasher koach (continuing strength).
CALENDAR
J U N E 2015 · S IVAN –TAM M UZ 5775
S U N D AY
M O N D AY
1
T U E S D AY
2
W E D N E S D AY
3
9:00 am BENS Parent Café
7:00 pm Ritual Committee
Meeting
7
14
8
9
2:00 pm Library Committee
7:30 pm Executive Committee
Meeting
15
16
10
17
2:00 pm Library Committee
2:30 pm Life Stories
21
22
23
12:00 pm Camp Kee Tov
Orientation
2:00 pm Homeless Meal
Medical Clinic
5:00 pm Homeless Meal
9:00 am BENS & Camp Kee
Tov Session I Begins
2:00 pm Library Committee
7:00 pm Board of Directors
28
29
30
24
T H U R S D AY
F R I D AY
S AT U R D AY
4
5
6
7:00 pm Israel Committee
7:00 pm Program Council
5:00 pm Talmud Study
5:00 pm BENS Gan Hadar
Dinner & Siyyum
6:15 pm Shabbat Evening
Service
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service:
August Noe Bar Mitzvah
12:15 pm Jewish Stories
Proust Reading Group
11
12
13
12:00 pm Lunch & Learn
7:00 pm Life Stories
(offsite)
BENS Last Day
12:00 pm BENS: All-School
Shabbat Service & Potluck
5:00 pm Talmud Study
6:15 pm Shabbat Evening
Service
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service:
Marley Janoff Bat Mitzvah
18
19
20
8:00 pm Rosh Chodesh
Group
5:00 pm Talmud Study
6:15 pm Yismechu Shabbat
Evening Service
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service:
Aaron Gilbert Bar Mitzvah
25
26
27
7:00 pm Life Stories
(offsite)
5:00 pm Talmud Study
5:30 pm Chardonnay Shabbat
Oneg
6:15 pm Shabbat Pride
Evening Service
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service:
Zelie Kinoy Bat Mitzvah
2:00 pm Library Committee
Free Tutoring: Hebrew and Torah Reading
Sara Kupor, a lifelong Jewish educator, has graciously offered to provide individual tutoring to Beth El
members in Hebrew and synagogue skills at no cost. If you would like help working on your Hebrew
or siddur (prayer book) reading skills or in leyning (chanting) from the Torah, please contact Sara at
[email protected]. We are deeply grateful to Sara for her generosity.
CO N G R E G AT I O N B E T H E L · B E T H E L B E R K E L E Y. O R G · 21
CALENDAR
J U LY 2015 · TAM M UZ–AV 5775
S U N D AY
M O N D AY
T U E S D AY
W E D N E S D AY
T H U R S D AY
F R I D AY
S AT U R D AY
1
2
3
4
Camp Kee Tov, BENS and
Office Closed
5:00 pm Talmud Study
6:15 pm Shabbat Evening
Service
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
2:00 pm Homeless Meal
Medical Clinic
5:00 pm Homeless Meal
Tish’a B’Av
3:00 pm Camp Kee Tov
Orientation
2:00 pm Library Committee
2:30 pm Life Stories
2:00 pm Library Committee
Camp Kee Tov & BENS Closed
for the Week
2:00 pm Library Committee
2:30 pm Life Stories
BENS & Camp Kee Tov
Session II Begins
2:00 pm Library Committee
22 · T H E B U I L D E R · J U N E /J U LY/AU G U S T 2 0 1 5
7:30 pm Mapilim Show
7:00 pm Life Stories
(offsite)
8:00 pm Rosh Chodesh
Group
7:00 pm Life Stories
(offsite)
5:00 pm Talmud Study
6:15 pm Shabbat Evening
Service
5:00 pm Talmud Study
5:00 pm Camp Kee Tov Family
Night (Roberts Park)
6:15 pm Shabbat Evening
Service
5:00 pm Talmud Study
5:30 pm Chardonnay Shabbat
Oneg
6:15 pm ¡Bienvenido a Casa!,
Rabbi Zellman: Yismechu
Shabbat Evening Service
5:00 pm Talmud Study
6:15 pm Camp Kee Tov
Shabbat
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 Shabbat Service
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service
CALENDAR
AU G U ST 2015 · AV- E LU L 5775
S U N D AY
M O N D AY
T U E S D AY
W E D N E S D AY
T H U R S D AY
F R I D AY
S AT U R D AY
1
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
2:00 pm Homeless Meal
Medical Clinic
5:00 pm Homeless Meal
11:00 am YAFE & BENS Picnic
(offsite)
2:00 pm Library Committee
2:30 pm Life Stories
2:00 pm Library Committee
2:00 pm Library Committee
2:30 pm Life Stories
BENS CLOSED
2:00 pm Library Committee
2:00 pm Library Committee
7:00 pm Ritual Committee
Meeting
7:00 pm Board of Directors
11:00 am BENS New Family
Orientation
7:00 pm Life Stories
(offsite)
7:30 pm Mapilim Show
8:00 pm Rosh Chodesh
Group
7:00 pm Life Stories
(offsite)
7:00 pm BENS All School
Orientation
BENS First Day of School
5:00 pm Talmud Study
6:15 pm Shabbat Evening
Service
5:00 pm Talmud Study
6:15 pm Shabbat Evening
Service
BENS & Camp Kee Tov
Session Ends
5:00 pm Camp Kee Tov Family
Night (Roberts Park)
5:00 pm Talmud Study
6:15 pm Yismechu Shabbat
Evening Service
5:00 pm Talmud Study
5:30 pm Chardonnay Shabbat
Oneg
6:15 pm Shabbat Evening
Service
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service
8:30 am Early Minyan
9:15 am Torah Study
10:15 am Shabbat Service
S E P TE M B E R
CO N G R E G AT I O N B E T H E L · B E T H E L B E R K E L E Y. O R G · 23
CONGREGATION BETH EL
1301 Oxford Street
Berkeley, CA 94709–1424
Nonprofit Org
US Postage
Paid
Berkeley CA
Permit #207
Inside this issue
Reform CA: From the Rabbis
page 2
Parting Words from YAFE
Director, Debra Sagan Massey
page 10
NEW: Tzedakah News
page 20
FROM THE GIFT SHOP
In June everyone’s daily routine changes: school ends for the summer; day camp and
vacation plans are scheduled. Are you traveling to visit folks out of town or do you know
an upcoming graduate? The Gift Shop can suggest easy-to-pack presents to surprise host
families or friends.
Are wedding invitations sitting on your desk? We have dozens of useful and attractive gift
ideas for you in a range of prices to fit your budget. How about little mementoes for your
proud graduate or favorite teacher, bridal shower, new baby? We can cover any occasion.
Besides an abundance of Judaica such as mezzuzot, candlesticks, kiddush cups, tzedakah
boxes, havdallah sets, challah trays and covers, menorahs and hamsas in many styles,
we also carry home and personal items beyond Judaica. Perfect presents include: trays,
trivets, serving flatware, night lights, scarves, handbags, baby gifts and games... much of it
made in Israel.
Shopping at Beth El is easy and convenient. We are open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays
except on holidays. If there is no volunteer available to serve you, our friendly office staff is
well-trained and graciously fills in.
If you need a special time, we are glad to set an appointment for you. Just call Odette (510526-4917) or Robinn (510-524-2297) and we will be glad to do it. Cash, check or credit cards
are welcome and all profits benefit our congregation. Thanks for your patronage, and we
hope you have a great summer!
Odette Blachman and Robinn Magid
[email protected]
P H OTO BY M I M I A B R A H A M