September 2010 • Elul / Tishrei 5770
A nondenominational synagogue center serving the Jewish community in the greater Chico area
Rosh Hashanah, 5771: A Time of New Beginnings
Congregation Beth Israel welcomes the Hebrew New
Year of 5771 with welcoming and inspiring services that
will be held in our own congregational home. Rabbi Julie
Danan will lead our services with Avraham Danan serving
as Hazzan and many other leaders and participants,
accompanied by the lively and uplifting music of our
congregational band.
We strongly encourage families to bring their children.
There will be children’s services on the first day of Rosh
Hashanah and on Yom Kippur at approximately 11 a.m.,
after the children have the opportunity to participate in
our Torah parade. In addition, childcare will be available
during the evening and morning services on the first day
of Rosh Hashanah and much of Yom Kippur.
Prepare yourself spiritually for the Days of Awe with
a Selichot experience on Saturday, September 4 at 7:15
p.m. at home of Rabbi Julie and Avraham Danan, 196
E. Second Avenue (for directions, call 343-6447). Bring
a vegetarian dish to share for our Shabbat afternoon
meal which will be followed by Havdalah. You may also
bring a photo or memento of a departed one to share in
our Memory Fest. We conclude with a short and sweet
Selichot service.
Erev Rosh Hashanah service is Wednesday, September
8 at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Danan will speak about “How
to Become a Lamed-Vavnik in a Troubled World.” A
Kiddush with traditional holiday desserts will be
sponsored by our Board. Sisterhood/Haverot will provide
apples and honey for a sweet new year.
Morning services will be held on Thursday, September
9 and Friday, September 10, at 10 a.m. until about 12:45
p.m., followed by Kiddush. The shofar will be sounded
at all services. Tashlich, the custom of “casting our sins”
into the water, will be observed at One Mile in Bidwell
Park on Thursday, September 9, at 6:00 p.m. Bring a
vegetarian dish for our potluck picnic.
The guest speaker and discussion leader at the
Thursday morning service will be Liora Danan. Liora,
the eldest daughter of Rabbi Julie and Avraham Danan,
is director of special projects for Middle East Programs
at the UC Institute for Global Conflict and Cooperation,
as well as a fellow with the U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom. Liora’s topic, “New
Beginnings,” will tie the theme of the New Year to new
initiatives in U.S. diplomacy, and also touch on the
subject of the proposed mosque near Ground Zero in
New York City.
On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Danan
leads a study/discussion entitled, “Step on the Scale: How
to Weigh Your Deeds.”
Rosh Hashanah flows right into Shabbat Shuvah
(Sabbath of Return) this year. Services will be held at
Congregation Beth Israel on Saturday, September 11,
at 10 a.m. Our Shabbat scholar is Irv Schiffman, CBI
president and professor emeritus at CSU Chico, who
will speak about challenges from the left and the right
to the often-touted “two-state solution” for Israel and
the Palestinians. A special prayer will be offered in
recognition of 9/11.
Inside this Issue
Yom Kippur Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 2
Sukkot and Simchat Torah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pp. 4-5
Yom Kippur: The Day of At-One-Ment
Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, which can be
read as “At-One-Ment.” Healthy adults from Bar or Bat
Mitzvah age fast, and we engage in a daylong “spiritual
retreat” of prayer and reflection that renews us for the
year ahead. Join us Friday, September 17 at 7 p.m. for our
Kol Nidrei service. The haunting and moving Kol Nidrei
prayer will be sung by Dr. Steve Schwartz. Rabbi Danan
will speak on “How to Support Israel When We Can’t
Agree.”
Morning services begin on Saturday, September 18 at
10 a.m. Rabbi Danan will speak on “How to Be a Mitzvah
Mensch,” with comments by Keren Carter and Loretta
Steinke. Yizkor (memorial service) is at approximately 1
p.m., followed by Musaf and a short break.
Marv and Bonnie Megibow lead our lively afternoon
discussion forum that helps us to make the themes of
the Days of Awe part of our personal lives. Their topic is,
“Practicing Forgiveness in Tumultuous Times.”
Minchah, the afternoon service, begins at 5:45 p.m.
with a Torah service led by Keren Carter and Steve
Margolin. It is followed by Ne’ilah (“the closing of
the gates”) at 7 p.m.. At 7:50 p.m., we sound the final
Shofar blast of the Holy Days, followed immediately by
Havadalah and our famous CBI break-the-fast, to which
all are warmly welcomed. Contact the Edelmans if you
can make a dish for this delicious communal meal.
Missing School for Rosh Hashanah
Missing school and work on the holiest days of
the Jewish year is a powerful way to demonstrate the
timeless value of our ancient faith. Fortunately, this year
and next Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat and there is no
need to miss school to participate fully. However, Rosh
Hashanah does come midweek this year. Rabbi Danan
would like to encourage and support all of our families
with school-aged children and teens to join their Jewish
peers throughout the country in taking Rosh Hashanah
off from school. We will have childcare and children’s
services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah.
State law permits our students to miss school for
religious reasons, and the Chico Unified School District
attendance policy explicitly states that they may miss
school because of “observance obligations of a student’s
religion.” Parents should provide a note or phone call
explaining the reason for the absence.
Need a Ride to Services?
Elders in need of transportation to services should
contact Sue Mintzes, Sunshine & Mitzvot chairperson,
at 809-1564, who will try to arrange rides as possible.
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Congregation Beth Israel • PO Box 3266
1336 Hemlock St • Chico, CA 95927
Ph: 530-342-6146 • Fax: 530-342-027
www.cbichico.org
Executive Board
President . ....................................................................... Irv Schiffman
Vice President/Membership....................................... Dave Bermann
Vice President/Bldg and Grounds.........................Michael Mulcahy
Vice President...............................................................David Zeichick
Past President/Capital Campaign................................David Halimi
Treasurer..........................................................................Stan Gottlieb
Secretary....................................................................... Jona Pressman
Sisterhood President..............................................Donna Greenberg
Committee Chairs
Building and Grounds........................................Marshall Thompson
Communication................................................Terri (Lind) Richman
Fundraising......................................................................Karen Rogers
Religious School............................................................. Steve Naiman
Ritual................................................................................ Keren Carter
Tikkun Olam/Social Action.........................................Phyllis Cullen
Social and Cultural...................................................... Kristy Bergson
Sunshine and Mitzvot......................................................Sue Mintzes
Member-at-large..........................................................Leanna Rawley
Member-at-Large........................................................... John Mitchell
Member-at-large................................................... Elisa Kleiman
The CBI newsletter is edited by Terri Richman.
When interested in submitting articles or special events,
please e-mail Terri at [email protected]. Deadline for
submissions is the 15th of the month.
CBI Office Hours
Administrative Assistant Liz Bohn,
e-mail: [email protected]
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 1–5 p.m.
(Note New Thursday Hours).
To make an appointment with Rabbi Danan, call 342-6146.
Team Tekiah
Join our team of Shofar blowers for the holidays! There
will be a “taste of Shofar” on the Eve of Rosh Hashanah, full
shofar services on both days of Rosh Hashanah, and a final
long shofar blast to signal the end of Yom Kippur. If you can
toot your own horn, contact “Team Tekiah” leader Steve
Margolin, 342-6476, [email protected]. Steve is
also happy to provide instruction to new Shofar blowers.
Contact him now as the holidays start early.
From Our Rabbi… “How To”
By Rabbi Dr. Julie Hilton Danan
The Days of Awe or High
Holy Days are more like a
“life cycle event” than a mere
holiday. They resound with
themes of birth and death.
We call Rosh Hashanah the
“Birthday of the World,” and
on Yom Kippur we have Yizkor
to remember departed loved ones. That is part of
the reason that it’s traditional to remember our
deceased during the time preceding the High Holy
Days.
I want to extend deepest condolences to CBI
members Pam Dakof, Irma Dakof, and Jay and Scott
Dakof on the passing this summer of their beloved
husband, son and father, Michael. Mike was such a
vibrant, positive, caring man and his legacy is truly
a blessing for all who knew him.
In the past year or two, many adult members of
our congregation have lost a parent or other close
relative. Jewish tradition urges us to remember and
honor them, especially during this time of year.
First, please be sure to send in your Yizkor form
to the CBI office so that your loved ones will be
mentioned during the Yizkor service.
In addition, anyone who has lost a loved one,
recently or long past, is especially welcome to
attend the Selichot and “Memory Fest” at our home
on Saturday evening, Sept. 4. We will meet at 7:15
pm for a potluck “Se’udah Shlesheet” (Sabbath
afternoon meal), then Havdalah, time for sharing
memories of loved ones, and finally a Selichot
service which brings to mind the melodies and
themes of the Days of Awe. The evening’s program
will be over by about 9:00p.m.
When friends are ill or bereaved, we often want
to reach out, but many people tell me, “Rabbi, I
just don’t know what to say or do.” That led me to
developing a theme for this year’s Holiday sermons:
“How To.” On Yom Kippur morning, Keren Carter
and Loretta Steinke will join me in sharing
suggestions on “How to Be a Mitzvah Mensch” and
support friends and community members through
troubled times in their lives.
For the Eve of Rosh Hashanah, Sept. 8, I would
like to ponder the question of “How to Become a
Lamed-Vavnik in a Troubled World.” The legend
of the Lamed-Vavnik is that there are 36 righteous
people on whose behalf the world exists. With
the myriad assaults on our environment and
complicated challenges in the world, how can we
find meaning and do our part for Tikkun Olam?
What does it mean to be a Lamed-Vavnik today?
Equally baff ling is the more political issue
of “How to Support Israel” these days, when it
sometimes seems that no two Jews can agree on
how to really do so. I’m sure that virtually all
of us support Israel’s right to exist and thrive
as the Jewish homeland and haven. Yet our own
small congregation runs the gamut on political
viewpoints about Israel. How can we learn to be
tolerant of different points of view, dialogue among
ourselves about Israel, and learn a variety of ways
to support it? That will be my topic on the Eve of
Yom Kippur, and I hope to follow it up with a series
on “How To Support Israel” in many ways, whatever
your politics.
Just for fun, you may have noticed that I’ve lost
some weight. This got me thinking about the image
of scales as a classical symbol of Rosh Hashanah.
“Step on the Scale: How to Weigh Your Deeds,” is
the topic of our study/discussion the second day of
Rosh Hashanah, Friday, Sept. 10.
In addition to my own sermons, I always invite
a congregant, guest or two to speak at our Days
of Awe services. One speaker will in fact be
addressing a hot topic about Israel. CBI president
Irv Schiffman, Professor Emeritus of Political
Science at Chico State, will be our Shabbat Scholar
on Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath between Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Saturday morning,
Sept. 11). He will discuss the issue of a “One State”
vs. “Two State” solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conf lict, a topic which has some surprising twists.
But we’ll also be sure to devote part of that service
to contemplating teshuvah (repentance), and to
offer a prayer commemorating 9/11.
Finally, I’m delighted to say that our daughter
Liora will be guest speaker on the first day of Rosh
Hashanah, during the morning service on Sept.
9. Liora is a specialist in International Relations,
with particular expertise on freedom of religion
around the world. Her talk and discussion, “New
Beginnings,” will tie in the New Year theme to
recent American foreign policy developments
and touch on the issue of building a mosque near
“Ground Zero” in Manhattan.
I’m excited to hear from our special speakers and
also to share some suggestions about “How To” be a
mensch and a committed Jew in today’s challenging
world. I look forward to seeing all of you at the Days
of Awe and to hearing your points of view as well.
L’Shanah Tovah Tikateyvu ve’Tehateymu, May we
all be written and sealed for a Good New Year,
—Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan
CBI News | 3
From the President
By Irv Schiffman
September marks the beginning of the 2010–2011 CBI
religious, cultural, and social season and, as in the previous
year, a calendar full of religious, cultural, and social events
are planned for the next twelve months. We started off
early on August 27 with a “Back to Shul” night, and, before
you know it, the High Holy Days will be here. The High
Holy Days come early this year, beginning on the evening
of September 8. Three years from now, in 2013, they will
begin even earlier, on the evening of September 4, which
is the earliest they can begin. Why is that? Because Rosh
Hashanah occurs 163 days after the first day of Passover,
and the date for Passover varies by year since the Jewish
year is based on the lunar calendar.
We will once again be holding High Holy Day services
at our temple building. It’s nice to be home, even though it
can get a bit crowded at times, but members arriving early
will enjoy the comfort of 50 reupholstered wooden chairs.
The reupholstering is due mainly to a gift by Madelyn
Holzman and Miguel Puig in honor of their son’s Bar
Mitzvah. Sisterhood/Haverot also contributed to the effort,
as did members George Rawley, Mark Levine, and Nitsa
Schiffman. A special thanks goes out to Michael Mulcahy,
Tim Carter, and Cecil Carter for their efforts in seeing the
work through to completion.
The Annie B’s fundraising drive is currently underway
and will continue until the end of September. Last
year’s drive was very successful and member and friend
contributions played an important role in contributing
$15,000 to the CBI budget. We look forward to this year’s
drive being equally successful. Contributions designated
for the general fund allow such monies to be used for
operating expenses, an important need at this time.
Membership forms were mailed out last month. We
rely on pledges of membership dues to determine our
budget for the year and the sooner they are returned the
sooner we can finalize our spending program. The amount
pledged is not as important as actually meeting the pledge
so that we are not caught short in our spending. At CBI
membership dues are based on a graduated structure,
which enables all those who are interested in supporting
our community and participating in congregation
life to join CBI. No individuals or families are denied
membership due to financial circumstances.
My thanks to Dave Bermann (who prepared the
membership materials), Karen Rogers, Maria Naiman,
Renee Everett, Donna Greenberg, and Nitsa Schiffman, all
of whom volunteered to stuff the envelopes and saw to it
that the membership and Annie B’s letters got out on time.
I will miss Mike Dakof. He and Pam have been
members of CBI since the early 70s. I rarely saw Mike in
bad humor and he always greeted me with some gentle
4 | w w w. c b i c h i co . o r g
teasing remark. He was a successful businessman and a
loving father to Jay and Scott. The large number of friends
who attended the memorial service led by Rabbi Fisdel is
evidence of the great esteem in which Mike was held by all
those who knew him.
Finally, I wish to all our members and friends of CBI
L’shana Tova, a very happy, prosperous and healthy New
Year.
Sukkot Celebrated with Potlucks, Sukkah Tour,
and More
Sukkot is the Torah’s harvest festival, which we celebrate
by making outdoor huts or booths (known as a sukkah,
plural sukkot), in which to spend as much of the holiday
as possible. It begins the eve of September 22, when you
are encouraged to celebrate the holiday in your own home
sukkah. We will also have several fun holiday celebrations
at our CBI sukkah and at members’ home sukkot. Thank
you to Michael Mulcahy and other volunteers for setting
up our community sukkah, and to our Religious School
students, who will decorate it on September 21.
Sisterhood/Haverot will hold a fabulous potluck dinner
and kick-off on Thursday, September 23. Full details are in
Donna Greenberg’s column in this newsletter.
Scene from a previous CBI Sukkah Tour
On Friday, September 24, at 6 p.m., there will be a
family Shabbat potluck in the congregational sukkah.
There will be no formal service; instead, we will say
blessings, sing, and eat together in our big CBI sukkah.
That Saturday morning, September 25, we will celebrate
Shabbat and the yom tov (holy day) of Sukkot with a Torah
service at 10 a.m, followed by Kiddush in the sukkah.
Be sure to join us for the great tradition of our
CBI home sukkah tour on Sunday, September 26.
Refreshments appropriate to the hour will be served at
each home sukkah. A full schedule will be distributed by
e-mail and in a flyer available on Yom Kippur at CBI.
Lulav and etrog refers to the branches and citron fruit
that we wave for the Sukkot holiday as a sign of blessing.
We will not do a group order this year but encourage
our members to order individually. Avrohom Fohn at
Zion Etrogim will be glad to assist you with your order.
Contact him via e-mail at [email protected] or
call 718-253-4824. The deadline for all lulav orders is
Wednesday, September 15.
On the eighth day from the beginning of Sukkot, we
celebrate the yom tov of Shemini Atzeret and recite Yizkor
(memorial prayers) again. We say the prayer for rain
and also have a bit of a warm-up for the Simchat Torah
hakafot (circuits). Please contact Rabbi Danan is you can
commit to a minyan on Thursday, September 30 at 10 a.m.
If we have enough responses to guarantee a minyan, this
service will confirmed by e-mail.
congregation there to hold it up! Recent and upcoming
B’nai Mitzvah are welcome to point out their Torah
portions. Kids will get sweet treats and we will have
refreshments. Contact Kristy Bergson if you can make a
dessert or a nosh.
Why Are the Holidays Early?
Unlike our Gregorian calendar, which is solar, or the
Muslim calendar (entirely lunar), the Jewish calendar
balances solar and lunar. Our months follow the moon,
but every few years (including next spring) we add an
extra leap month at the happy Purim season to make sure
that our annual holidays continue to follow the seasons of
the solar year (in the Northern Hemisphere, specifically
in Israel). That’s why this fall our holidays all seem “early,”
while next spring Purim and Passover, and next fall’s High
Holy Days, will come “late.” To stay on top of the holidays,
pick up your Jewish calendar in the CBI lobby.
Religious School News
By Carol Edelman
Unrolling the entire Torah Scroll on Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah Extravaganza!
Join us to unroll the entire Torah as a community!
Simchat Torah is the climax of all the fall holidays,
as we complete our annual cycle of Torah readings
and immediately begin again to the accompaniment of
hakafot, flags, dances, live music by our fantastic CBI
band, refreshments, and treats. Our youngest Religious
School students will be honored at the Consecration/
Sweetness of Torah ceremony, and our “Bet” Class will
present their completed model Torah.
Just as we all stood together at Sinai, we will all stand
together to support the Torah as we unroll and reroll it.
As we did for the first time last year, we plan to unscroll
and open the entire Torah scroll, so we need the entire
As every year, when we start Religious School, the
fall holidays are upon us. This is the theme that will
dominate our September classes, along with our study
of Hebrew, history, and ethics. We look forward to
celebrating Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and
Simchat Torah together inside our classes and as part of
the CBI community. Make sure you see our decorations
of the sukkah. When school is over and you are picking
your children up, try to come into the classroom
sometimes to talk with the teacher and see what your
children are doing; their work will be all over the walls
of the room. We hope to continue to build throughout
the whole year on the fun and community developed at
the Shabbaton. It was a wonderful weekend together and
we thank the Zeichicks for hosting us a second year in
a row. Thank you as well to all the families who brought
delicious meals to share, and to all those who led and
participated in our many activities, including Rabbi
Julie. Wishing you all a good year in every way possible!
L’Shana Tova tikatevu!
Exploring Judaism Has Begun
It’s not too late to join the Judaism class taught by
Rabbi Danan at CBI. It began on Thursday, August 26
and goes through January 2011. The class time is 5:15–
6:15 p.m.
This class is free and open to anyone who wants to
learn more about Judaism, including those who are
considering conversion to Judaism. Contact the rabbi for
more information.
CBI News | 5
CBI Calendar
September 2010
Sunday
Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wednesday
31
3:30pm
Religious
School
Thursday
1
Friday
2
5:15 pm
Exploring
Judaism Class
5:30 pm
Confirmation
Class
Elul / Tishrei 5770
Saturday
3
7:30 pm
Shabbat
Service
10 am Torah
Service
6:30 pm
Mah Jongg
5
6
3:30 pm
Religious
School
4
7:15 Selichot at
Danan home
7
8
Eve of Rosh
Hashanah
9
10 am Rosh
Hashanah
Service I
10
6:30 pm
Mah Jongg
11
10 am Torah
Service
Shabbat Scholar
Irv Schiffman
10 am Rosh
Hashanah
Service II
6 pm Tashlich at
One Mile
No Evening
Servi ce
12
Fast of Gedaliah
(traditional)
13
14
3:30 pm
Religious
School
6:30 pm
Mah Jongg
19
20
21
27
6:30 pm
Mah Jongg
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22
7 pm Kol Nidrei
23
18
10 am Yom
Kippur Service
begins
24
6 pm Shabbat
o f S u k k o t Potluck
5:15 pm
Exploring
Judaism Class
Light holiday
candles
25
10 am Torah
Service
6:30 pm
Sisterhood
Potluck &
Kick-off Event
in Sukkah
28
3:30 pm
Religious
School
17
7:50 pm Shofar
Eve of Sukkot
6:30 pm
Mah Jongg
26
16
5:15 pm
Exploring
Judaism Class
5:30 pm
Confirmation
Class
3:30 pm
Religious
School
Sukkah Tour
15
11 am Sages’
Brunch
at the Country
Waffle
on Cohassett
29
Eve of Shemini
Atzeret (light
holiday candles)
30
10 am
Shemini Atzeret
Service (tent.)
1
7 pm Simchat
Torah
2
9 am Adult Study
begins
10 am Torah
Service
Shabbat and Holiday Services for September
CBI celebrates Kabbalat Shabbat on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., often accompanied by instrumental music. Beginning on November 5 (after the Holidays),
the first Friday service of each month will be a Mishpachah Shabbat at 6 p.m. An Oneg Shabbat follows. Shabbat Saturday morning services
generally begin with a brief guided meditation. The first hour of the service consists of prayer; the second hour is a Torah reading and a Torah study.
About noon we have a Kiddush and socialize over a light lunch.
Friday, September 3
Light Candles at 7:19p.m.
Saturday, September 4
7:30 p.m.
10 a.m.
7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, September 8
Light Candles at 7:11p.m.
Thursday, September 9
7:30 p.m.
10 a.m.
11 a.m. (concurrent)
6 p.m.
Friday, September 10
Light Candles at 7:08p.m.
10 a.m.
(No Kabbalat Shabbat
tonight)
Kabbalat Shabbat
Oneg sponsored by Jean Corwin in honor of Irma Dakof
Torah Service
Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech
Kiddush sponsored by the Mitchells in honor of their daughter and
new granddaughter
Selichot and Memory Fest at the Danans, incl. Potluck &
Havdalah
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Kiddush sponsored by the CBI board
Childcare provided
Rosh Hashanah Day I Service
Guest Speaker: Liora Danan
Childcare provided.
Children’s Service after Torah parade
Light Kiddush provided
Tashlich & Potluck Vegetarian Picnic at One Mile at Bidwell Park
Rosh Hashanah Day II Service and Kiddush
Saturday, September 11
10 a.m.
Shabbat Shuvah (Sabbath of Return)
Shabbat Scholar Irv Schiffman
Kiddush sponsored by Sharon Kaplan in memory of
Dr. Michael Shallman.
Friday, September 17
Light Candles at 6:56p.m.
7 p.m.
Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei
Cantorial Soloist: Dr. Steve Schwartz
Childcare provided.
Saturday, September 18
10 a.m.
11 a.m.
1 p.m.
1:45 – 3 p.m.
3 – 4 p.m.
4 – 5:30 p.m.
5:45 – 7 p.m.
7:05 – 7:50 p.m.
Wednesday, September 22
Light Candles at 6:48 p.m.
NO Service
Friday, September 24
Light Candles at 6:45 p.m.
Note Time: 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 25
10 a.m.
Thursday, September 30
10 a.m. (tentative)
Friday, October 1
Light Candles at 6:33p.m
Note Time: 7:00 p.m.
Yom Kippur Morning Service Childcare provided
Concurrent Children’s Service (after Torah Parade)
Yizkor
Musaf
Break
Discussion Forum led by Megibows
Minchah (childcare resumes)
Ne’ilah
Shofar, then Havdalah
Break the Fast follows (free & all are welcome)
Light Candles & Enjoy your home Sukkah
Shabbat of Sukkot
Potluck Family Dinner & Celebration in the Sukkah
All ages are welcome to a potluck veggie-dairy Shabbat Dinner in
the sukkah. We will sing, say blessings and enjoy the holiday. No
formal Service.
Shabbat of Sukkot, Torah Service
Kiddush in the Sukkah, Sponsor TBA
Shemini Atzeret Torah Service with Yizkor
This service will be held if we have commitments to make a minyan.
RSVP to Rabbi Danan if you will attend.
Light Kiddush.
Simchat Torah Super Celebration!
Parade with the Torahs,wave flags, celebrate Consecration for our
youngest students. We will also unroll the entire Torah scroll!
Live music by the CBI band.
Refreshments provided by the Social/Cultural Committee.
Thanks to the Carters, the Danans, Loretta Steinke, Sisterhood/Haverot and Ingeborg Johannsen for sponsoring Onegs and Kiddush in August. If you
would like to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or any special event with the community, please sponsor a Friday night Oneg or a Saturday Kiddush. You
can either bring your own treats (most helpful), or make a donation of $25 (Saturday Kiddush, $50). Call the CBI office for more information at 342-6146.
We hope that each CBI household will contribute at least one kiddush or oneg in the course of this year!
CBI News | 7
Confirmation Class Begins
Confirmation class for post B’nai Mitzvah students
begins on September 1. It will be held two Wednesdays
a month at 5:30–6:45 p.m., with pizza dinner brought
by the families. The class is taught by Rabbi Danan
(with guest speakers) and includes a three-year rotation
among themes of “Jewish Heroes and Values, “Hot
Topics,” and “Tough Questions Jews Ask,” and also
includes a component on Jewish spirituality. After
three years in the program, students are eligible to be
confirmed and featured on our “Confirmation Wall of
Honor.” To sign up your teen, contact Rabbi Danan.
Intermediate Hebrew
Would you like to continue your Hebrew learning?
This 20-week course, which runs at CBI on Thursdays
from 7–8 p.m. beginning on October 7, builds on your
success in Book 1, Aleph Isn’t Tough. With Book 2,
Aleph Isn’t Enough, you’ll find yourself propelled into
a deeper understanding of the most frequently used
words in the siddur, by focusing on solid translation
skills, key vocabulary, and roots. Chapters focus on the
Shema, Amidah, the Torah service, the Hagadah, and
other sacred books.
Strong Hebrew reading skills are necessary. Please
call Keren Carter at 809-0303 to receive a gentle
assessment if your skills are in question. Fees for CBI
members are $36 for each of the two 10-week courses,
which includes the textbook. The fee for non-members
is $80 for each session. Scholarships for members are
available; don’t hesitate to inquire. Please RSVP by
September 15 so that the appropriate number of books
can be ordered to arrive in time for the first class on
October 7.
HaSifriyah: The Library Corner
By Wendy Diamond
“Books are made for use, not to be hidden away”
—Sefer Hasidim
Talked about a good book lately? Come join the
regulars at members’ homes to discuss books about
Jewish culture and tradition. It gets pretty lively and
you won’t be sorry!
Our August selection was: The Last Ember by Daniel
Levin, which The Los Angeles Times calls “A smartlypaced thriller with an added spice of archaeological
politics and historical revisionism.” Set in (or under)
Rome’s Coliseum and Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, chock
full of classical history via Flavius Josephus (who may
not have been as bad as rumor would have it), and
featuring a beautiful UN preservationist intent on
stopping illegal digging—what’s not to like?
The Book Club is currently establishing a fall schedule
and reading list. If you want to be included in updates,
contact Harriet Spiegel at [email protected].
Emily Carter Reprises Talk on “March of the Living”
Emily Carter will again present her talk on her
participation in “March of the Living” (i.e., going to
Poland and Israel with other Jewish teens) during
confirmation class on September 15, at 5:30 p.m.
Anyone in the congregation who missed Emily’s first
talk in August is welcome to come and hear her at that
time.
Adult Study Begins in October
Our weekly Shabbat Shiur (adult study group)
resumes on Saturday, October 2 at 9 a.m., immediately
following Simchat Torah. This class is free and open to
all. Our topic will be announced by e-mail and in the
October newsletter.
8 | w w w. c b i c h i co . o r g
David T Green
Financial Advisor
.
2101 Forest Ave Ste 120
Chico, CA 95928
530-892-8460
www.edwardjones.com
Member SIPC
Sisterhood/Haverot News
By Donna Greenberg
Can you believe another year has come and gone as we
welcome the new year of 5771? Summer vacation is just a
sweet memory. Once again the ladies of Sisterhood/Haverot
will provide the apples and honey for Erev Rosh Hashanah
and flowers for all services during the High Holy Days.
All of the women of CBI should have received 2010–2011
membership packets in the mail. Sisterhood/Haverot is a
lively group of women of various ages, backgrounds, and
interests, so please renew or become a first-time member.
Sisterhood/Haverot’s goal is to meet the needs of our
women where one can discuss women’s issues, find moral
support, friendship, laughter, food, and drink throughout
the year. We continue to support CBI via various projects
and fundraising, so come learn mahjongg, knitting, or enjoy
a movie or a play at a local venue, cook or bake delicacies for
Onegs, garner support from each other—these are just a few
of the ways Sisterhood/Haverot can be of service to you. Are
you ready for a fun, event-filled year? Watch your e-mail,
regular mail, and CBI newsletters for upcoming, exciting,
and special new and different programs throughout the
year!
Any day now you should be receiving an invitation to our
annual combined Kickoff and Sukkot Potluck. Wednesday,
September 23 is the date; 6:30 p.m. is the time. I always look
forward to this annual event and all the wonderful food
dishes that you all prepare! At the Kickoff we will present
our plans for the year and provide information on our
interest groups, plus a short service conducted by Rabbi
Julie. If you have not mailed in your membership form and
check before September 23rd, just bring them with you.
I look forward to greeting you all on September 23 in the
sukkah.
Sisterhood/Haverot will continue our tradition of
sponsoring the Friday night Onegs on the second Friday
of the month. All I ask is for members to help each month
with set-up, food, and clean-up. You can do this as a team
and you will be reimbursed up to $30. What would be extra
special is if you volunteered during your birthday month
and you can be honored.
Haverot Sisterhood president Donna Greenberg presents a check
for $3000 from Sisterhood for the CBI Building Fund to David
Halimi, Capital Campaign Chair
Feel free to call (891-6439) or e-mail ([email protected]) if
you have any questions, comments, concerns, or willingness
to help. I’m looking forward to a great year! L’Shana Tova!
Sisterhood/Haverot Board 2010-2011
President: ....................................................... Donna Greenberg
Treasurer:.............................................................. Kristy Bergson
VP, Interest Groups: .................................................. Pam Dakof
Secretary/Sunshine:................................................. Sue Mintzes
Members at Large: .............................................Loretta Steinke
.................................................................................Terri Richman
Sisterhood/Haverot 2010-2011 Calendar
Sukkot Potluck Kickoff...........................................September 23
Women’s Issues........................................................November 14
Sisterhood Shabbat
..............................January 21, 2011
21st Anniversary Party........................................ February 2011
Bagel Brunch
. ............................................ May 2011
End of the year brunch
........................................June 2011
Thank You—Todah Rabbah
To Keren Carter and the Ritual Committee for
a tremendous amount of work preparing for and
helping to lead the High Holy Day services
To David Zeichick for volunteering to serve as our
“High Holy Day Macher” and supervise all the nonritual aspects of the holidays
To Michael Mulcahy for making a new CBI sign
and several other projects for our building
To Marshall Thompson and Michael Mulcahy for
all their hard work in yard
To the Schiffmans, Dave Bermann, Renee Everett,
Karen Rogers, Maria Naiman, and Donna Greenberg
for sending out mailings for the beginning of the year
CBI News | 9
Annie B’s Fund Drive Assists CBI
Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) is once again participating in the Annie B’s Community Drive. The
Drive allows us to take advantage of an exceptional grant program from Annie B’s sponsor, the
North Valley Community Foundation. The Foundation will add an additional 7% (based on last
year’s results) to donations made to CBI between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30, 2010. Both members of
CBI and non-member friends of CBI are encouraged to participate.
Although our operating funds (membership dues and religious school fees) are not subject to this
match, all other donations to CBI, such as the General Fund, Building Fund, Yiskor and Yahrzeit
donations, Gert Lenner Fund (youth camp), Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund (for community welfare
needs), Religious School Fund, and High Holy Day donations are subject to the additional
dollars.
Your donation check should be made out to “Annie B/CBI” and sent to our CBI address. We will
then submit the checks to Annie B’s foundation. All of the funds contributed to CBI through Annie
B’s Community Drive are then returned to CBI by Oct. 15, along with the funds added by the
Foundation.
If you have any questions please feel free to call Irv at 343-7108 or Karen at 321-2227 and we
will be happy to answer them for you.
Dennis Deromedi
Realtor, President, Chico Assoc. Realtors 1998
Realtor of the Year 1999
$500 donation to CBI General Fund for each listing received and sold through this ad. $1,000
donation if I have the listing and I sell your
home without another agent.
DEROMEDI
& ASSOCIATES
REAL ESTATE
220 West 6th St. Chico, CA 95928
Office: 530-899-2313 Fax 530-899-2314 Cell: 530-321-1828
E-Mail [email protected]
William A. Landes, M.D.
Medical Director/Owner
Skypark Walk-In Medical Center
2485 Notre Dame Blvd.
Suite 230
Chico, CA 95928
Phone: (530) 899-9500
FAX: (530) 899-4040
BROOKLYN BRIDGE BAGEL
DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE EXCELLENT
PASTRAMI AND WE ROAST OUR OWN
TURKEY BREASTS FOR 4 HOURS?
BAGELS AND MORE.
CALL SCOTT FOR DELI TRAYS
345-3443
10 | w w w. c b i c h i co . o r g
Mazal Tov
To Andrew & Helene on the birth of their
grandchildren James Sabersky, b. 03/01/2010 in
Pittsburg, PA to Abraham and Katie Sabersky, and
Caroline Glory Stegman born in June to Lillian and
Andrew Stegman
Anniversaries
David & Kelly Zeichick...............................September 3, 2010
Samuel & Carol Edelman...........................September 6, 2010
Peter Straus & Nancy Evens....................September 15, 2010
Birthdays
Irma Dakof...................................................September 1, 2010
Eddi Deromedi............................................September 3, 2010
Isaac Miller..................................................September 3, 2010
Jess Price.......................................................September 4, 2010
Nancy Evens.................................................September 5, 2010
Greg Einhorn...............................................September 6, 2010
Carol Passovoy.............................................September 9, 2010
Sharon Kaplan...........................................September 13, 2010
Beverly Paull..............................................September 15, 2010
Larry Trimboli...........................................September 15, 2010
Lilly Sabersky............................................. September 17, 2010
Dr. Miguel Puig.........................................September 18, 2010
Vicky Tarazon............................................September 18, 2010
Shirley Puritz............................................ September 22, 2010
David Zisle................................................ September 22, 2010
Lia Deromedi.............................................September 25, 2010
Sarah Lewkowicz....................................... September 27, 2010
Maria Naiman........................................... September 28, 2010
Shifra Chaikoff......................................... Saturday, 9/25/2010
Remembered by Stanley & Anne Gottlieb
Robert Fishkin........................................... Tuesday, 9/28/2010
Remembered by Martha Fishkin
Sadelle Gagerman ...............................Wednesday, 9/29/2010
Remembered by David Frankel & Janice Gagerman
Salvador Troncoso................................Wednesday, 9/29/2010
Remembered by Derek & Magdalena Baum
Donors
We would like to thank the following nadvanim:
Building Fund
Derek & Magdalena Baum
General Donations
George & Leanna Rawley: In memory of Mike Dakof
RDF Donations
Al & Sandy Abrams
Mike & Terri Richman
Yahrzeit
Oscar Dobkin: In memory of wife Eve
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
And if I am for myself alone, what am I then?
And if not now, when? —Hillel, c150 C.E.
Yahrzeits
Arthur M. Arnold......................................Thursday, 9/9/2010
Remembered by Louis & Selda Arnoff
Polly Greenberg.............................................Friday, 9/10/2010
Remembered by Robert & Donna Greenberg
Sarah Senehi-Abadia.................................. Sunday, 9/12/2010
Observing this yahrzeit David & Fran Halimi
Leroy Clark..................................................... Friday, 9/17/2010
Remembered by Joe & Rose Clark
Irene Suneson................................................ Friday, 9/17/2010
Remembered by Harvey & Lisa Rappaport
Renee Arginteanu................................Wednesday, 9/22/2010
Remembered by Louis & Selda Arnoff
Blanche Franden..................................Wednesday, 9/22/2010
Remembered by Dan Franden & Laurie Feldman
Fanny Hilton............................................ Thursday, 9/23/2010
Remembered by Avraham Danan & Julie Hilton Danan
Frances Brownfield Jessee............................Friday, 9/24/2010
Remembered by James & Nelda Jessee
Helping Children Heal for 25 years
Parent–Child Conflict
•
Behavior Problems • Video/Computer
Game Addictions • and More
Specializing in
PlayTherapy
Children
Adolescents
Parents/Adults
Families
Se Habla Español
HELENE GINSBERG, LCSW
341 Broadway #400B
•
Chico • 530.342.1523
C B I N e w s | 11
Congregation Beth Israel
Post Office Box 3266
Chico, CA 95927
Non Profit
U.S. Postage
PA I D
Return Service Requested
Chico, CA
Permit No. 955
Contents
Rosh Hashanah, 5771: A Time of New Beginnings. . . . . . . . . 1
Yom Kippur: The Day of At-One-Ment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
From Our Rabbi… “How To” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
From the President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Sukkot Celebrated with Potlucks, Sukkah Tour, and More. . . . . 4
Simchat Torah Extravaganza!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
September Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Shabbat and Holiday Services for September . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Mark your calendar
September 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosh Hashanah Eve
September 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kol Nidrei
September 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sukkot Begins
October 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Simchat Torah Extravaganza
Congregation Beth Israel
Congregation Beth Israel is an independent, egalitarian
Jewish community whose roots date back a century. The
synagogue is both nondenominational and unaffiliated.
Our guiding principle is K’lal Yisrael, the unity of the
Jewish people. True to that spirit, CBI embraces a diverse
membership of Jews from all backgrounds as well as interfaith
couples and those exploring Judaism. We serve nearly 100
families in the greater Chico area with a wide range of
programs for toddlers, tweens, teens, adults, and seniors.
Our Religious School is very strong, and our Sisterhood is
very active. Services are held Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. and
Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. We also hold services on all
major Jewish holidays.
The ideal to which we strive is Mordecai Kaplan’s concept
of the “synagogue center,” in which a congregation serves both
as a house of worship and as a community center. Rabbi Julie
Hilton Danan provides the inspirational leadership for our
Jewish values: study, Torah; worship and practice, Avodah; social
action, Tikkun Olam; acts of kindness, Gemilut Hasadim; and
connection with the Jewish People, Am Yisrael.
Outdoor Torah Service at Religious School Shabbaton