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Congregation Beth Israel Kislev-Tevet 5779

December 2018

SHOFAR Monthly Newsletter of the Monterey Peninsula Jewish Community

www.carmelbethisrael.org

Carmel Jewish Film Festival Gears Up for 9th Season The CJFF Committee is pleased to announce that another spectacular film festival is being planned for March 2-17. Films will be featured from six countries and will include award-winning documentaries, dramas, and short films. A number of filmmakers, directors, speakers, and panels will enhance the festival, and a fun closing night reception of film, food and even dance, is in the works. Our festival would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors. Only about 20% of our income is generated by ticket sales. This year, the festival has invested in a new screen, computer, and BluRay player for the Social Hall to improve the viewing experience at CBI. Please consider increasing your sponsorship level if you are a past sponsor. If you have never been a sponsor, there are special benefits. The biggest benefit is the great feeling that you are helping CBI as well as educating and involving our greater community with your support. The official film lineup will be announced in the January Shofar. Keep checking the website in December for updates: www.carmeljff.org . Until the new website is live, you may become a sponsor by calling the CBI office at 831-624-2015 or Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006. Please refer to the flyer in this Shofar for categories and benefits.

Chanukah Extravaganza! Join us as we gather together for our holiday celebration. We will enjoy a potluck dinner followed by our Sabbath service. We are planning a special Chanukah evening on Friday, December 7, the sixth night of Chanukah. We join at 6:00 PM for a community Chanukah Menorah lighting followed by a Potluck Chanukah dinner. Based on your last name, A-H should bring a side dish; I-M should bring a main dish, and N-S should bring a salad. The congregation will provide latkes and drinks. The dessert/Oneg will be hosted by those whose last name ends with T-Z. All dishes should be brought ready to serve. Remember no pork or shellfish! Advance reservations will help us set up the room! Please call CBI at 624-2015

no later than December 4 and let us know if you want to join us for our Chanukah celebration. Be prepared to sing many Chanukah songs. Bring a homemade Chanukah menorah and win a special prize! The rabbi will also hold his annual dreidle-spinning contest! Everyone wins chocolate gelt.

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From the Rabbi’s Desk…

Seventeen years ago on

September 11 I was at the athletic club when their receptionist told us we should look at the television. Every news station was showing a plane flying into the world trade center tower. Minutes later we watched as another plane crashed. All of us at the club sat there in disbelief as to what we were witnessing. I quickly showered and headed to our synagogue. Our driveway was blocked off by a car parked across the top of the CBI driveway. One of our members thought it was best to secure our Monterey Peninsula Jewish home.

Since that fateful morning we have witnessed too many attacks. Hundreds of mass shootings at schools, theaters, churches and recently at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. While most of these attacks have not specifically targeted Jews, the incidents of anti-Semitism across the United Sates has increased dramatically over the last few years. Swastikas have been painted on synagogues, hateful anti-Semitic flyers have been posted, and the hate sites on the internet are growing. How should we respond?

While we must take time to mourn the loss of life and comfort those who have lost their loved ones, our actions cannot stop there. It is far past the time when we should become proactive in trying to prevent this spread of bigotry and acts of hatred. While we cannot stop every act of violence and end anti-Semitism, there are things each of us can do to make a difference. Let me suggest a few things you might consider doing today.

1. Support education against bigotry and anti-Semitism. Financially support organizations like the ADL or the Southern Poverty Law Center, or any

organization that is educating others as to the reality of these hate groups and trying to prevent their growth. 2. Encourage passage of sensible gun laws. It is time to recognize that machine guns, rapid fire pistols, and military weapons do not belong in the hands of citizens. I am not saying take away all rifles (I respect the rights of those who legally hunt) but fewer guns on the streets make for a safer society. Calls and letters to every politician encouraging better gun laws can make a difference. 3. Report suspicious behavior. In Israel every citizen is taught from an early age to be aware of things that don’t look right. A bag left alone, a suspicious package, a person wearing a coat on a hot day all are reasons for concern. We should follow Israel’s example of being more sensitive to these sorts of things and report them. This includes reporting people who are overly aggressive or have wild mood swings.

At the synagogue we have formed a security committee looking at how we might make our building safer. While I hope we do not end up with an armed guard by our front door, there are steps our congregation can take. Already we have an action plan for our religious school in case of an emergency. Our teachers have been taught what to do to keep our students safe in case of an intruder. While we keep all but the front door secured, we might add a new security system just to come through the front door. Our staff has discussed how we should welcome everyone who enters and at the same time make sure they belong in our building. I want CBI to remain a warm, welcoming home for all who want to join us. Hopefully we can find a nice balance between security and hospitality. May peace and friendship fill our homes and synagogue this holiday season.

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From our President Cara Lieb, President Board of Trustees Continuing with the theme of “Our Jewish Stories,” I decided to learn more about the Schnitzer family (Julie,

Jason, Makayla, and David). The Schnitzers joined our congregational family in the summer of 2017 after having relocated to Pacific Grove. They moved here from San Jose where they were very active members at Temple Emanu-El (which supported Julie through her conversion in 2012). Julie grew up in Colorado and met Jason there, who was working in Colorado at the time. Jason grew up in Los Gatos and was raised Jewish, becoming a Bar Mitzvah at Shir Hadash. They met in 2001, relocated to California together in 2002, and got married in 2004. I asked Julie to describe how the Schnitzers “live Jewishly,” and here’s what she said:

“It’s so quiet, calm, tidy and orderly here” ...said NOBODY, ever upon entering our home!

We are a lively, creative, opinionated, excitable, healthy and very happy crew. We are: Jason (the dad), Julie (the mom), Makayla (the 8-year-old BOSS), David (the 6-year-old efficiency expert), and Jasmine (the 13-year-old Labrador puppy). We are the Schnitzers.

When Cara asked me to introduce my family to you, I outlined this thing: timelines and jobs and hobbies, etc. And those are all important activities that fill our calendars, keep us busy, and exemplify how we prioritize our time. But I want to use this real estate a little more wisely (I AM quickly approaching 40, you see, which means I am learning the art of getting down to business!). Instead, I want to tell you what we value most:

1. Participating in meals together. No screens. No homework. Just the four of us and all the things we bring to the table: stories about our day, challenges we’re facing, challenges with one other, wishes for the future, our mixed feelings about Mom’s latest broccoli creation, and the absolute certainty that we belong to each other. We battle about sitting still or taking turns

talking or being our most respectful… we digest, and we bond. These are the most important moments of our weeks, the ones that define our family togetherness.

2. Bringing our best. Perhaps we will talk again in ten years and I will tell you that we desperately hope for our high school children to come home with straight A’s on their report cards. But today, our question to them (and to ourselves) is always this: “Did you try your best?” Not by someone else’s scale, but by yours. Did you do the best you could today with the tools you had? Did you show up ready to work? Did you learn about your areas of growth? Were you a compassionate friend? Are you evolving?

3. Staying safe and having fun. Whereas Jason is typically concerned with the latter and I the former, we have the exact same goal: we want our family to thrive. Our future is secure due to Jason’s never-ending hard work; our everyday is joyful because of my commitment to cultivate play and exploration.

4. Contributing. Because of the solid and unwavering support we give each other in our home, we all launch into our respective communities with the ability to make a positive impact - Jason as an engineering leader, Julie as a personal trainer, Makayla as a reading enthusiast and gymnast, and Davey as an engineering and creative soccer/basketball/football star.

As you can see, underlying all of our family’s values are the most fundamental of Jewish values: connection, learning, and mitzvot. I know with undue certainty that these have resonated with our community here at CBI, because in our short time as congregants (just a year and a half) you have welcomed us with open arms and made us feel at home. Thank you! We are thrilled to be here and excited about the decades ahead… contributing, learning and connecting with YOU!

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Our Congregational Home

Needs You!

Every home needs to be maintained over

time to fulfill its purpose. Our building at

Congregation Beth Israel is no exception.

The building is now 30+ years old and it

needs some attention. That’s why we

are asking you to contribute to the

Building & Grounds Restricted Fund.

We have just completed an essential

project to replace a significant amount

of the building’s siding, which was

weatherworn and starting to have areas

of significant deterioration. But

completing this task has drained a very

large proportion of the Building &

Grounds Restricted Fund, which

supports such projects. For example,

with our renewed focus on security at

CBI, we will want to make significant

improvements in this area and require

greater resources for this purpose.

In addition to enhanced security, there

are over 25 other projects that require

attention, including:

Replacing the Sanctuary carpet,

which is original

Buying a new water heater (also

original)

Replacing areas of classroom and

Social Hall flooring that are warped

and cracked

Repairing broken areas on the roof

Putting in double-pane windows

to lower ever increasing heating

bills.

In years past, the Board of Trustees

might have added a Buildings & Grounds

assessment to the annual dues. But with

our new Congregational Pledge system,

we rely on the voluntary contributions of

our members.

So, we are asking every member family

and single member to contribute to the

Building and Grounds Restricted fund,

beyond what you have already pledged

to CBI. If every member contributes

$200, we will be well on our way to being

able to take on these much-needed

projects. Please give at whatever level

you can: Give less if you need to; give

more if you are able. You will receive no

bill for a Building Assessment. In the

spirit of terumah, gift of the heart, we

ask each of you to step up and take this

step voluntarily. Our Congregational

home needs you!

CBI Writers’ Group

The CBI Writers’ Group will meet on December 20 and all are

welcome. All meetings are from

10:30 – Noon at CBI.

CBI Book Club

December 11, 1:30 PM, home of Karen Wiskoff (wiskoff@aol.com). Book: DINNER AT THE CENTER OF THE EARTH by Nathan Englander

January 8, 1:30 PM, home of Susan Schwartz (schwartzs@redshift.com). Book: KATALIN STREET by Magda Szabo

February 12, 1:30 PM, home of Karen Wiskoff (wiskoff@aol.com). Book: A BOY IN WINTER by Rachel Seiffert

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From our Cantor Alisa Fineman

November 7, 2018 Dear CBI,

I wrote the following letter to the Tree of Life Synagogue to share

our solidarity with them in light of the synagogue shootings on October 27th. Thank you, Sam Ezekiel, for this suggestion. I chose to share the experience of our “Gathering of Mourning and Hope” on Oct. 30th. For those of you who could not attend, I hope this letter gives you a sense of the remarkable presence of community, affection and support we experienced that evening.

We owe many thanks to Rabbi Jeff Schulman for his soulful leadership and planning of this service; to Past President Todd Hornik for extending an invitation to Congressman Jimmy Panetta to speak and to Jimmy for his powerful words; to Rabbi Bruce Greenbaum for reaching out to his extended network of clergy friends on our peninsula; to Cantor Margaret Bruner for her ethereal chanting; and to our CBI staff and board members for their patience and perseverance in logistical juggling to help make the gathering happen in such a short time.

It is hard for us to try and comprehend the unthinkable acts unfolding around us on a daily basis. For those of us who were able to attend this gathering, let’s mark the feeling we experienced, that sense of hope and promise, and share it with others as we move forward as the amazing community we are, held by an even wider community that loves, supports and stands by us.

As Psalm 89:3 says, and which we sing so beautifully together, “For if we build this world, then God will build this world from love.”

Olam Chesed Yibaneh, Cantor Alisa Fineman Congregation Beth Israel

5716 Carmel Valley Rd

Carmel, CA 93922

Tree of Life- Or L’Simcha Congregation

5898 Wilkins Ave

Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Dear Members of Tree of Life,

We are among the many congregations reeling from the tragic

news of the dead and injured in your community. To have the

space of Shabbat, the day of wholeness and hope, shattered so

brutally in one community, is to experience it everywhere. Yet the

world continues to stand with you through an outpouring of love

and solidarity received through congregations like ours.

On October 30th we held a “Gathering of Mourning and Hope” in

honor of your community, opening with a powerful message

delivered by our congressman Jimmy Panetta. We were overcome

by the numbers of attendees; our shul was overflowing with people

and clergy of all faiths, Jewish brothers and sisters who have not

stepped into a synagogue in decades, as well as temple members.

Many of the clergy and community leaders expressed a desire to

speak, but time did not allow. Instead, each lit a candle for each

victim and read a description of their humanity and how they were

seen by the members of your congregation. The number of clergy

and community leaders who wished to light far exceeded the

number of candles, a testament to the collective desire to stand

together, with us, with you.

The overflowing number of people, many standing or sitting in the

aisles, joined their voices in song with a great and mighty spirit.

As we concluded the service, most did not rise to go, as if they

wished to continue singing. One of our members, a convert, said it

was his proudest day as a Jew since his conversion and other

Jewish members expressed a similar sentiment. Our local news

channels were intent on covering our service as they did the

evening before at our sister congregation, Temple Beth El, in

Salinas.

Non-Jewish members of our community continue to join us for

Shabbat, and some even come to sit in our sanctuary on week

days. In addition to many emails we’ve received from neighboring

faith communities, one Catholic church sent us flowers. Like the

messengers and angels that we sing of in “Shalom Aleichem” on

Erev Shabbat, it is clear we do not stand alone.

We want to share this outpouring of love, support and affection

with you, with hope that it provides strength and healing, the way

a tree receives the light and love it requires to flourish. We are

given this life to learn to be more fully ‘B’tzelem Elohim.’ May

our prayers and communal singing make us braver and bolder.

May it be our mission to do everything in our power to rise beyond

this horrible moment and become instruments of change and

beacons of light, exposing the shadows of hate and ignorance

wherever they fester. And may we do so with the love and mighty

spirit of community we experienced on Oct. 30th.

Y’hi zichram baruch- may the memory of your beloved, holy

members be for a blessing, and may they inspire us to devote

ourselves to the highest ideals of humanity.

On Behalf of Congregation Beth Israel,

Cantor Alisa Fineman

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Words from Cantor Alisa about Chanukah

Chanukah is our wintertime “festival of lights” that lasts eight days and nights. Indeed, ‘light’ is the star of the show. And so is the possibility of ‘miracles.’

The root of the word, “Chanukah,” (chet, nun, chaf) means dedication – so named because it celebrates the historical rededication of the Holy Temple that had been defiled by the occupiers of the day- the Seleucids (Syrian Greeks). They had prohibited the people of the land from their spiritual and religious practices until a small band led by the Maccabees defeated the powerful Seleucid army and rededicated their Temple in the service of the Divine. This is the first miracle.

The story continues…With only enough olive oil to fuel the lamp for one day, they went ahead and relit the Menorah anyway. Why did our ancestors light the Menorah, which symbolizes Eternal Light, knowing that processing new oil would take much longer? In fact, the oil lasted 8 days which was enough time to make new pure oil. Another miracle.

But the early rabbis debated whether or not to even include Chanukah in the cannon because of the violence and zealotry associated with the Maccabees. These sages questioned and argued everything with the intent of conveying a message that would help guide future generations in the ways of holiness and goodness.

Instead, they instituted the festival of Chanukah by highlighting the prophet Zachariah’s vision: “Not by might and not by power, but by spirit alone shall all people live in peace.” That’s pretty darn good stuff. So, the take away of this story for us, is that no matter how dark it gets, to remember what we are capable of, even made of. It is a political act not to lose faith, a sense of possibility or determination. Chanukah is about light and miracles-- our ability to act and continue to

hope and believe against the odds. By doing so we become lights to one another, reminding each other when we forget. Just imagine how one small flame can dispel a roomful of darkness.

The light of Chanukah symbolizes the spark of the divine in all of us, the light of hope, the light of creation, the light of gratitude, awe and wonder, the light that illuminates a path of love, goodness, truth and kindness. It is the light within us that no one can extinguish.

Our sages instruct that every act we perform should increase holiness in the world. We add a candle each night to bring more and more light into our communities and into our consciousness, to increase the potential for kindness and goodness in the world. We sing blessings and songs, watch the glow and dance of the flames in our windows, on our tables, and feel the warmth of loved ones around us. We tell stories. Some of us eat latkes (potato pancakes). Children often receive gifts or Chanukah gelt in the form of chocolate coins. My grandfather used to give us each a silver dollar.

With themes of light and miracles, Chanukah is also about religious freedom, not just for one group, but for everyone, religious or not. How can we all re-dedicate ourselves to the light within us and to honor the light in each other, needed more than ever?

How beautiful that the Festival of Lights comes at the darkest time of the year. As our Chanukah flames shimmer, may their light remind us of our inner light and our innate spirit to outshine the darkness, especially now.

Cantor Alisa Fineman

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Best Years Chanukah Party! A special invitation to all those who want to help us celebrate a Chanukah that arrives early in December this year! Join us Thursday,

December 6 at 4:00 PM for a fun Chanukah Party! This popular party allows us to enjoy delicious beverages including some wine. We dine on both hot and cold hors d’oeuvres. With some nice background music it will be a wonderful way to spend the late afternoon together. To RSVP for this party, call the CBI office at 624-2015 by December 4. Remember, this event is free. Please let us know if you need a ride to this event.

Lunch with the Rabbi

.Join Rabbi Greenbaum

this month on Thursday, December 13 at noon at Baja Cantina located about a

mile east of CBI when he will lead a discussion on “Invaders or Refugees: Discussing our views on Immigration.” What is the best response to the “caravan” coming from Central America? How do we welcome potential immigrants while protecting our country? Is there an appropriate Jewish response to this issue? Come prepared to RESPECTFULLY discuss, question and debate these issues. Lunch costs only $20. Call the CBI office at 624-2015 to RSVP.

Come to the Women’s Torah Study Group Shabbaton We are a group of CBI members who find stimulation and community in studying together at periodic Shabbatons (celebratory/educational Shabbat events). Our next Shabbaton will be Saturday December 8 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. During that time Cantor Fineman will lead a Torah Service, we will sing, nosh, laugh, share potluck lunch and study with Dr. Beryl Levinger. Our past Sabbatons have been educational, inspiring, joyful, and delicious, and the women attending form a special bond. All women CBI members are invited to join us December 8. Contact Bee Epstein-Shepherd at 831 625-3188 (this number does not receive texts) or DrBeeMM@me.com for information and directions.

Community Shabbat Dinner -Join us on Friday, December 28

Join with us at 6:30 for our last community Shabbat dinner of the year, prepared by Malina Breaux and her entourage of assistants. Savor a sense of community and food worthy of celebration. Gather as we offer blessings for the bread and wine and sing traditional music to begin our gatherings. Children are welcome. Evening services follow at 7:30. Call the CBI office for reservations. Members $12.50, non-members $20, Children $5

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Do We Need to Build an Ark? Climate Change and Sea Level Rise

There is no doubt that the climate is changing. We see changes in weather patterns, extensive drought, and record breaking wildfires here in California and around the world. These events hit the headlines so often, it’s impossible to ignore them, and they are clear evidence that our planet’s temperature is rising.

It’s not as easy to see changes in the ocean. Even though Noah’s flood has long receded, the oceans still cover 70% of our planet, and from day to day we don’t notice them getting warmer, or deeper, or nearer to our homes. However, as the earth warms up bit by bit, the ice in glaciers is melting and adding to the volume of the ocean. Over time, this will cause sea level to rise.

Like our ancestor Noah, we should be preparing for future flooding. Some synagogues in Florida are already tackling this question through their Higher Ground Initiative (https://rac.org/sea-level-rise-higher-ground-initiative). The ocean is our neighbor, too, and if it comes closer to our doorstep how will it affect us? How can we know? And what can we do?

Because of the patterns in our solar system, we have a way to envision that future every winter, when king tides bring the highest tides of the year. These have always occurred -- even in Noah’s time -- because in winter, we are closer to the sun than at any other time of year. So the ordinary monthly pull of the full moon on our ocean is increased due to the sun’s proximity to

the earth every year around January 2 (perihelion). NOAA’s California King Tides project asks citizen scientists (like you!) to go out during the king tides and contribute photographs of what our future may look like. You can see photographs of past king tides at https://www.coastal.ca.gov/kingtides/. This year, we invite you to join us in photographing the future of our coastline. December 22 at 9:05 a.m. we will experience a tide 6.4 feet above the mean water level. Choose a beach, a wharf, or a favorite ocean view from 8:30 to 9:00 and take some pictures of the future of our coast--then join us for coffee and conversation at 9:30 at the East Village Coffee Lounge at 498 Washington St, Monterey. We’ll be done in time for you to get to Torah study at 10:30! Questions? Contact Laura (laura.arnow@gmail.com) or Donna (djbythesea@gmail.com).

A Series of Exciting Events

At Home with CBI does more than support CBI financially. It is a way for our members to get to know each other better, to share stories and create new friendships.

I need your help! I will find something as small or as large as you are comfortable doing.

co-chair this fundraiser

help with publicity

have an event at your home

attend an event

help with simple tasks such as addressing invitations or making phone calls

Please contact Malina Breaux at malinabreaux@gmail.com or 831.601.5791 to help with this project.

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UJC Donations David Sabih & Anna Swartley: in memory of Dr. Jerry Rubin General Endowment Aaron & Maureen Rosenblatt Building & Grounds Monica Browning: In honor of Ryan Dicus’ Bar Mitzvah Cantorial Fund Diana Rosenthal Rabbi's Discretionary Diana Greenbaum: in memory of Jerry Rubin Barry R. Harrow Carmel Jewish Film Festival Sponsor Lester & Wendy Tockerman General Donations David & Laurie Benjamin: in memory of Dr. Jerry Rubin Aaron Aviv & Christine Amalie Davis Alexandra Fallon David & Sharon Goldenson: in memory of Jerry Rubin Richard Klein & Kaete Salomon: in memory of Martin Klein Thomas & Ellen G. Krause: in memory of Tom's father, Thomas Krause Stephen L. & Wendie A. Ryter: in memory of Betsy Goldstein Jim & Natalie Sammet: in memory of Dr.

Jerry Rubin Gary & Judy Simon: Donation in memory of Inga Simon & Abe Lefkowitz Wall of Remembrance Samuel & Beryl Levinger: in memory of Joseph Solomon Levinger

A Message from Your Caring Committee The Caring Committee is here to serve you. Many of your fellow congregants have volunteered to help after surgery or illness by

providing meals or transportation, or just visits and friendship. Because of HIPPA laws, which protect your privacy, only the person in need or their representative can request help. When you want the help of the Caring Committee call the Rabbi or office staff. This is the only way we will know of your need. Should you be mourning we can help by providing a minyan, food, or other services. We are eager to help and invite you to contact us!

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Thank You to Our Oneg Hosts

We are grateful to the following people who helped make our November and December Onegs a beautiful experience:

November 2: The Blatt Family – In loving memory of Hilda Blatt. November 9: Debbie & Mitchel Winick – In loving memory of Debbie’s father Sam Mervis November 23: Stuart & Julie Chase – In honor of their 35th Wedding Anniversary November 30: Margaret & Richard Harrit - In loving memory of Rich's Uncle Archie Cohen and the CBI Trusttes - in honor of Herb and Esther Stern's 70th wedding anniversary. December 7, 2018: Chanukah Parties –Families with names starting with T through Z -In honor of Chanukah December 14, 2018: The Lyons Family – In honor of the family being here one year. December 21, 2018: Bee Epstein Shepherd December 28, 2018: Diana Rosenthal in memory of her late husband, Rick

Be an Oneg Host

Those of us who attend Friday evening services look forward to the post service Oneg where we socialize, perhaps meet new people, and “nosh” on the “goodies” provided by the Oneg Host.

Congregants host in memory of a loved one’s Yahrzeit, to honor an anniversary or birthday, baby naming or other events, or “just because.” Hosting is easy. It involves providing and setting out “goodies” for around the 25-35 people who attend Friday services.

Some people host several times a year, and others never have the pleasure of doing this Mitzvah on Friday evening. We are now asking everyone to take a turn. So please, when you get a call with the request to host, say “Yes, it will be my pleasure!” There are about 250 member families so your turn will only come once every few years!

If there is a particular event you want to commemorate please call the office to reserve that date. Thanks in advance for hosting.

Congratulations to our Wonderful Food Festival!!

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Kenneth Kroopf 2 Tehila Eisenstat 3 David Goldberg 4 Anita Artstein-Dunsay 5 Gabrielle Kaatz 8 Michael Addison 9 Mary Sher 9 Robert Conner 10 Howard Messinger 10 Bonni Weinstein 13 Lois Epel 15 Larisa Modorsky 16 Daniel Nussbaum 16 Randi Brookstein 17 Rosemary Lande 17

Gary & Judy Simon 4 Scott & Shel Lyons 7 Edward & Mona Zander 11 Gadi & Marlene Maier 12 Richard & Barbara Kreitman 13 Jim & Natalie Sammet 16 David & Lois Epel 18 Michael Leavy & Susan Galvin 19 Elaine Gallup Conner & Robert Conner 22 22 Melvin & Susan Gorelick 23 Victor & Sylvia Krimsley 24 Mike & Leslie Vitiello 27 Marshal & Angelica Blatt 28 Ben & Sarah Kaatz 29 Sidney & Edward Richardson 31

Wendy Schmidt 17 Rich Ader 20 Richard Fogg 20 Marce Humphrey 20 Seth Pollack 20 Samuel Levinger 21 Wendie A. Ryter 21 Deborah Kosmont 22 Julie Schnitzer 22 Sarah Kaatz 24 Asher Dor Heisman 26 Dennis M. Niekro 29 Gloria Beil-Phillips 30 David Sabih 31

Sincerest condolences on the passing of Sam Levinger’s father, Joseph Solomon Levinger.

Condolences to the family of Eric Lang on the passing of his mother, Miriam Lang.

May their memories be a blessing to us all.

A celebration of the life of Dr. Jerry Rubin will be held at CBI on Sunday, December 30, beginning at 2:00 PM.

Our Congregation strives to offer love and support to fellow congregants in times of joy and celebration, as well as in times of trouble and sorrow. One of the ways we do this is to let the Congregation know your news. Please let us know if there is a simcha (blessing) you wish to share (or know someone else’s that they are willing to share), or a wish of encouragement or condolence that can be shared. You can send this information to shalomcbi@aol.com to be included in the Shofar.

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Guest Torah Connections:

Vol. 129 December 2018, 5779

Don’t be Jew-ish, Be a Jew By Kira Natanya Waxer (Shira Neshama Ben Israel)

As many of you know, I grew up in Congregation Beth Israel with my brothers Zachary and Benjamin. I made the decision to make Aliyah about four years ago. All three of us now call Israel home. I have had an amazing journey here discovering more about Judaism and myself and my purpose here, and a little over a year ago married my soulmate Yehonatan Ben Israel, a convert from Tennessee (He doesn’t mind me mentioning that he is a convert).

We are expecting our first baby b’ezrat Hashem (with the help of G-d) this Chanukah. This means that the next generation of our family will be Israeli. One of the reasons I made Aliyah is so that my children would know what a beautiful thing it is to be a Jew. Now it is becoming more and more real. This is the life I chose. And I would like to explain why.

We are supposed to be a light unto the nations, and not the nations a light unto us. In other words, Jews are supposed to influence the world and not be influenced by it. And how can we be a light? By knowing who we are, where we came from, and passing that on.

My grandmother on my father’s side was not very observant. But she made sure that each of her grandchildren knew how important it was to marry a Jew. I write this article because I care so much. It is easy to turn my back on the past but I want to see a future of children who know the beauty of being Jews. Who never have to sing Christmas songs in school, or feel its a cool thing to go on an Easter Egg hunt, or think that Shabbat is on Sunday. Who aren’t known in public school as “Jewish” but live in a world where they can be proud of their heritage and know what it means.

The Torah has much wisdom. Even the name of this article series, “Torah Connections” has a deeper meaning. It can make us reflect- how often do we connect to Torah? Is it once a week for Shabbat? Once a year for the high holy days? What I have

learned and tried to live here in Israel is to connect to Torah in as many moments as possible. We say everyday in the paragraphs after the Shema:

“Teach them thoroughly to your children and speak of them while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way, when you retire and when you arise...” (Deuteronomy 6:7)

It is so very important to teach your children what Hashem is, what Torah is. To wake up and say Modeh Ani, bless after the bathroom, eat and keep Kosher, celebrate Shabbat as a family, give blessings to people, listen to a Torah class, sing Jewish holy songs. There is so much beauty in Judaism to pass on to our children and so much goodness we can spread in the world through the Torah’s wisdom.

It reminds me of what some say at the end of a Jewish wedding ceremony before breaking the glass: “Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim, Tishkach Yemini” (If I forget you, Oh Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its strength). Just as our ancestors for generations and generations prayed to return to Jerusalem, we have the chance to be part of the miracle. To not forget Jerusalem is to not forget who we are. Our purpose here. Just as it is impossible to forget our right hand’s strength, may we never forget the unique special gift of being a Jew.

We mustn’t be the weak link in the chain. We cannot forget Jerusalem. We cannot turn our backs on all our ancestors who kept the light of Judaism glowing, despite sometimes very hard circumstances. Our role in this world as Jews is so much bigger than what we see in front of us. America is a great country where we can be free to be Jewish. But I strongly feel that it is not enough to be Jew-ish.

The Maccabees fought and died fighting for maintaining Judaism against Western culture. This is the time to remember and honor them. We ARE them. If we do not fight, then our children will have no connection to our ancestors and nothing to pass on to the next generation. What will you be passing on?? My hope is that this article will help you make positive choices to help your children live their lives as Jews.

This article includes inspiration from many sources, but is the sole expression of the author and specifically does NOT necessarily reflect those of the Board of Trustees of CBI, CBI, its membership, Reform Judaism, or Judaism. If you have any comments please e-mail a note to: kirawaxer@gmail.com or to mlwaxer@sbcglobal.net.

Page 14

HELP Outreach

CBI Sponsored. . . I-HELP: Interfaith Homeless Emergency

Lodging Program

I-HELP for Men November 4th – Kindergarten/ First Grade – The November dinner was hosted by the K/1 religious school class and coordinated by Jillian Heisman. During class earlier in the day, the K/1 students learned about the mitzvot of sheltering the homeless, feeding the hungry and welcoming the stranger. They made placemats for our guests, sharing their warm welcome. These placemats always make the men smile. There were a number of new faces and the I-HELP program continues to help homeless men transition to jobs and homes. In addition to a wonderful dinner of baked chicken and chili, side dishes and a sumptuous cake for dessert, there were two more mitzvot shared. Religious school and B’nei Mitzvah student Ruth Lyons once again distributed her homemade “blessing bags”. As her social action mitzvah, these bags include personal grooming items, snacks, water and a list of community social service resources. In addition, one of our congregants made a significant donation of quality men’s clothing. A mixture of business and casual clothing, all were cleaned, pressed and folded to enable a very nice presentation for the men’s selection. These words don’t adequately express the genuine appreciation and how truly grateful the men feel for our congregation’s care and concern. They truly thank you. Your mitzvot are vital in helping those in our community that need help. December 2nd – Second / Third Grade Class – This dinner is being hosted by the 2/3 religious school class. The teachers and I-HELP coordinators will again present a lesson on feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and caring for those in need in support of these important mitzvot. Your support of this important community mitzvah truly helps to positively change the lives of many people in need. Thank you.

If you have any questions about I-HELP or interest in supporting the program, please contact Charlene or Matthew Schuss at cnmne3@comcast.net or call 250-7170. Thank you!

And Still More IHELP News… There are still some important ways you can help IHELP before the end of the year, 2018: Donate to IHELP through MCGIVES! Please remember IHELP in your year-end charitable giving, especially if you can designate IHELP as one of your donation recipients in the wonderful MCGIVES matching program. Check out The Weekly or check with Susan Schwartz or Matthew Schuss for more information!

IHELP for Women

Help IHELP Women in CBI’s last IHELP dinner for 2018 On December 31, New Year’s Eve, CBI is scheduled to host Women’s IHELP. We are hoping to make it a special, festive evening. Susan Schwartz and Bari Tolliver are coordinating the evening and there is still time to donate a dish for the New Year’s Eve buffet, helped to set up and serve, or to donate New Year’s eve decorations or little gifts. Food that can be stored and reheated as necessary could even be brought to CBI before that evening. Also, because the following day is New Year’s Day, a holiday, neither our CBI office, nor the Paradigm program will be using the building, and our IHELP guests will have the option of arranging a later bus pick up. This means that we could use some volunteers to come and serve a regular sit down breakfast, and perhaps even cook something special that morning. As there will be no custodial service that day, we will need some volunteers to come in and help monitor cleanup of the kitchen and social hall, and reset up of chairs and tables for Paradigm’s use on January 2nd. Please contact Susan Schwartz (schwartzs@redshift.com or 831-595-7623, text or call) if you can help!

Page 15

Our IHELP Dinners Post Pittsburgh: A Life Affirming Experience of Community Support

On the Monday night, October 29, following the terrible synagogue shootings in Pittsburgh, CBI hosted a life affirming Women’s IHELP dinner for perhaps the largest group of homeless women we have ever served in one evening. Like the IHELP men whom we hosted the following Sunday, our IHELP guests and their monitors expressed their condolences and support. No one indicated that they were afraid to be on our premises, and all understood when Social Action Trustee Susan Schwartz restated our long-standing policies that after all the women have arrived, the doors are to be locked from the inside to guarantee safety and security for all. Those of us who joined that night’s IHELP sponsor, CBI member Arlene Krebs and her group from the Lambourn Institute for Life Mastery, experienced a wonderful, uplifting evening, sharing food, fellowship, and generous gift bags from both Ms Ruthie and the sponsors. Some of the women knew of the interfaith service planned for the next night and indicated they were looking into attending if possible. Thank you to Rabbi Jeff Schulman and CBI Cantor Alisa Fineman who organized the memorial service and quickly changed the day from Monday to Tuesday night once they were made aware of the prior CBI commitment to Women’s IHELP. Our Jewish values of the mitzvah of feeding and clothing those in need were once again recognized and practiced, even while we mourned and honored the lives of those killed in the Tree of Life synagogue. Members of the Interfaith IHELP Board and Leadership council specifically asked that their thanks be extended to the organizers and members of our congregation. Many from the IHELP Leadership were among the hundreds who attended the Tuesday night service of remembrance and hope, and all expressed not only condolences, but also their support and gratitude to CBI for all we do and share.

Tax Benefits for You from Donating Stocks or RMDs to CBI

The end of the year is an excellent time to consider making a charitable donation to CBI and benefit yourself by reducing your federal taxes. Donating Stocks: Giving appreciated stock you’ve held for more than a year is better than giving cash. If you donate stock that has increased in value since you bought it more than a year ago – and if you itemize deductions -- you can take a charitable deduction for the stock’s fair market value on the day you give it away. You’ll also avoid capital-gains taxes on the increase in value over time, which you would have had to pay if you sold the stock then gave the charity the cash proceeds. You can deduct the fair market value only if you hold the stock for more than a year before giving it away. Donating Required Minimum Distributions (RMD): For Congregants over 70½ years of age, who have traditional IRAs, making a RMD to a charity, known as a “Qualified Charitable Distribution” (QCD), keeps your RMD out of your adjusted gross income. This can help you stay below the income cutoff for some taxes and other charges (like Medicare charges). Donating stock or RMDs can take a little bit of time when working through your Broker, so if you are interested in pursuing either of these options, start to work with your Broker as early in December as possible. Also, please advise CBI’s Administrator, Julie Chase, of your intentions so we can be looking for your transaction to be completed and send you a letter documenting your donation. [Please consult your own tax adviser to determine if one or both of these opportunities apply to your specific tax situation.]

Page 16

Oven Latkes

Looking for a slightly healthier take on this traditional Chanukah treat?

Latkes — potato pancakes — are generally made by standing over a hot stove, grease sputtering and popping, and frying the cakes 2 or 3 at a time. It's a long, labor-intensive process. Here's a better method: bake them in the oven, so you can serve a dozen hot latkes, all at once, with very little effort. In addition, latkes are traditionally made with raw grated potatoes, squeezed dry in a towel or pressed in a colander to remove their liquid. Here's an easier method: cook the potatoes first, then put them through a potato ricer. Gently combine with the remaining ingredients, bake, and you'll make latkes that are crispy-crunchy outside, and soft within.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 to 1 3/4 pounds Russet baking potatoes or yellow boiling potatoes, about 3 medium potatoes 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons salt 1 medium onion, peeled and finely diced or shredded; about 3/4 cup shredded onion 1 large egg 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour about 1/2 cup peanut oil or vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Peel the potatoes. Cut each potato into about 6 chunks.

2. If you're using baking potatoes, place them on a microwave-safe plate. Sprinkle with 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, to taste (more if you like a saltier latke). Cover the plate with plastic wrap, and microwave for about 10 minutes, until the potatoes are soft.

3. If you're using yellow boiling potatoes, cut each of the chunks in half, and place them in a medium saucepan. Cover with about 4 cups of water; the water should cover the potatoes by about 1/2". Add 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons salt to the water (yes, tablespoons; use the greater amount if you like

saltier latkes). Boil the potatoes for about 8 minutes, or until they're fork tender. Drain in a colander.

4. Allow the potatoes to cool a bit while you shred or dice the onion, and whisk the egg. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

5. Use a potato ricer to rice about 1/3 of the cooked potatoes into a bowl. Sprinkle with half the onions and 1 tablespoon of the flour, and drizzle with about half the beaten egg. Rice another third of the potatoes into the bowl, and sprinkle with the remaining onions and flour; drizzle with the remaining egg. Rice the remaining potatoes into the bowl.

6. Gently combine all of the ingredients. Don't stir too much; you don't want thoroughly mashed potatoes.

7. Line two rimmed baking sheets with easy-release aluminum foil (for easiest cleanup, and guaranteed no-stick latkes). Or simply get out two rimmed baking sheets. Pour 1/4 cup oil into each, tilting the pan to spread it around.

8. Place one of the pans into the oven, and allow the oil to heat for 2 minutes. this step isn't necessary if you use easy-release aluminum foil, but helps avoid sticking if you're using a plain aluminum foil.

9. If you've heated the pan, remove it from the oven. Scoop a heaping 1/4 cup of potatoes onto the pan; a muffin scoop works well here. Repeat till you've scooped 6 or 7 latkes onto the pan. Using the back of a spoon or your fingers (be careful!), gently flatten the latkes to about 3/8" thick.

10. Repeat with the second pan and the remaining potatoes.

11. Bake the latkes for 10 minutes. Reverse the pans in the oven — upper pan to the lower rack, lower pan to the upper rack — and bake for an additional 15 minutes, till the bottoms of the latkes are golden brown.

12. Remove the pans from the oven, and carefully flip the latkes. If you're not using easy release foil, and they stick, try baking for a few more minutes; when they're thoroughly cooked on the bottom, they should flip over without sticking.

13. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the bottoms are nicely browned.

14. Remove the latkes from the oven, and serve warm.

Page 17

Congregation Beth Israel

December 2018

Kislev ~ Tevet 5779

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

28 4:00 PM B’nai Mitzvah Class 4:30 PM Hebrew School 6:00 PM Aleynu

29 7:30 Adult Liturgy Class

30 6:30 PM Community Shabbat Dinner 7:30PM Erev Shabbat Services with special Birthday blessings

1 9:00 AM Morning Shabbat Service 10:30 AM Mazel Tots- Chanukah 10:45 AM Shabbat Study

2 Erev Chanukah 9:30 AM Religious School K- 7th Aleynu trip to San Francisco

4:00 I-Help Men’s – Sponsored by the 2nd/3rd grade students and family

3 1st Day Chanukah

4 2nd Day Chanukah

5 3rd Day Chanukah

4:00 PM B’nai Mitzvah Class 4:30 PM Hebrew School

6 4th Day Chanukah

4:00 PM Best Year’s Chanukah Party

7 5th Day Chanukah 6:00 PM CBI Chanukah Potluck Party 7:30 PM Erev Shabbat Services

8 6th Day Chanukah

10:00 AM Women’s Shabbaton 10:30 AM Shabbat Study

9 7th Day Chanukah

9:30 AM Religious School K/7th Grades

11:00 AM Family Chanukah Party

10 8th Day Chanukah

11

12

4:00 PM B’nai Mitzvah Class 4:30 PM Hebrew School 5:00 PM Camp Presentation

13

4:00 PM Lunch with Rabbi 7:30 Adult Liturgy Class

14 7:30 PM Erev Shabbat Services

15 9:30 AM Religious School Grades 6 & 7 10:30 AM Morning Service with 6 & 7th Grades

16

Religious School K to 5

17

18

19

4:00 PM B’nai Mitzvah Class 4:30 PM Hebrew School 6:00 Aleynu

20

21 7:30 PM Erev Shabbat Services

22

10:30 AM Shabbat Study

23 No Religious School Winter Break

24

25 Office Closed

26 No Hebrew School Winter Break

27

28

6:30 PM Community Shabbat Dinner 7:30 PM Erev Shabbat Services with special Anniversary Blessings

29 10:30 AM Shabbat Study

30 No Religious School Winter Break 2:00 PM Celebration of life: Jerry Rubin

31 I-HELP Women

1 January 2019

New Year’s Day

CBI Office Closed

2

No Hebrew School

3 12:00 PM Lunch with the Rabbi

7:30 PM Adult Liturgy Class

4 7:30 PM Erev Shabbat Services

5 9:00 AM Morning Shabbat Services 10:45 Shabbat Study

Page 18

CBI Youth Calendar for December 2018

Our Youth Calendar for the entire year is now in a

Google Calendar Format.

View and download it through our website:

CarmelBethIsrael.org/Learning

Date Events and Activities

Saturday,

Dec. 1

Mazel Tots - Chanukah (10:30 -

12:00)

Sunday, Dec.

2

Religious School Grades K - 7

(9:30 - 12:00)

Art - all grades

IHELP 2nd

/ 3rd

Grade

Aleynu trip to San Francisco

Wednesday,

Dec. 5

B’nai Mitzvah Class (4:00 - 6:00)

Hebrew School (4:30 - 6:00)

Sunday, Dec.

9

Religious School Grades K - 7

(9:30 - 12:00)

Cooking - Applesauce

Family Chanukah Party (11:00 -

12:00)

Katanim Chanukah Party (grades 3

- 5) (12:00 - 1:30)

Wednesday,

Dec. 12

B’nai Mitzvah Class (4:00 - 6:00)

Hebrew School (4:30 - 6:00)

Camp Presentation - 5:30

Saturday,

Dec. 15

Shabbat Study for Grades 6 & 7

(9:30 - 12:00)

Sunday, Dec.

16

Religious School for Grades K - 5

(9:30 - 12:00)

Holiday Mitzvah Gifts due by 9:30

am.

Shira

My Munchkin & Me (9:30 - 11:00)

Wednesday,

Dec. 19

B’nai Mitzvah Class (4:00 - 6:00)

Hebrew School (4:30 - 6:00)

Aleynu (6:00 - 8:00)

Sunday, Dec.

23

No Religious School - Winter

Break

Wednesday,

Dec. 26 No Hebrew School - Winter Break

Sunday, Dec.

30

No Religious School - Winter

Break

Who: Parallel program for parents of babies through school age children & Babies through Preschoolers When: Sunday, December 16, 9:30 - 11:00 & one Sunday a month throughout the school year What: Parenting discussion group based on “How to Raise a Jewish Child” by Karen Kushner and Anita Diamant. Discussion facilitated by Megan Felthoven. This month’s gathering will focus on Chapter 3 “Making Community”. Preschool group with PJ Library story and craft with Kerri Goldberg. Yummy snacks/ breakfast provided for adults and children. How Much: $18 for the remaining 5 sessions OR $5 drop-in. Price includes the book. Come meet new friends or re-connect with familiar faces as you discuss parenting issues. Thank you to the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for underwriting this program. .

Page 19

Celebrate Shabbat

November 3, 10:30 - 12:00

Celebrate Chanukah

December 1, 10:30 - 12:00 Children ages 2 1/2 - 5, with a parent, are invited learn about Chanukah with Early Childhood Educator, Chinanit Kershner. The children will discover this fun holiday as they listen to a PJ Library story, a make a craft, and have fun playing. Parents - make new friends yourself when you bring your child to this special program. Pre- registration is very helpful for the purchasing of materials. The fee is $30 with preregistration for the remaining events this year, $5 for a single event with preregistration, or $10 at the door. For more information or to preregister, email directorlouise@aol.com.

A PJ Library Program

Thank you to the Harold Grinspoon

Foundation and the Hornik Family

Foundation for subsidizing this program.

VISIT the CBI GIFTSHOP

Hanukkah 5779 begins on the

evening of December 2. Do you

need candles, a menorah or gifts

for the family?

Camp Newman Presentation

Sunday, Wednesday, December 12 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. Parents Welcome Come learn about Camp Newman and the 6 Points Specialty Camps. Investigate the possibility of sending your child to a Jewish camp this summer. Watch a video about camp and take the opportunity to ask questions of a representative from the camp staff. Camperships are available through Camp Newman and CBI.

Page 20

Sunday, Wednesday, December 12

Page 21

Religious School Chanukah Party Families Invited!

Sunday, December 9 11:00 - 11:15 - Sing Chanukah songs with Alisa 11:15 - 12:00 - Chanukah Party Families are encouraged to join their children at our Religious School Chanukah celebration. We will eat latkes with homemade applesauce that the children will help prepare earlier in the morning, make crafts projects, play dreidel together and socialize with each other. Parents are invited to join in the fun! A Cup Cakewalk will be included in this year’s activities. Please make sure your child has money to participate if you will not be joining us ($1 per round).

Aleynu Update We launched a new community Jewish teen program this fall with multiple ways of participating. Some of our

teens are involved with several components of this program, while others have chosen a single avenue to focus their limited discretionary time. The first Trimester of the Wednesday Evening component of Aleynu is winding up as I write. Teens in grades 8 - 12 from throughout the county and with various congregational affiliations meet approximately every other week from 6:00 - 8:00. They begin the evening socially as they eat their brown bag dinner. Cantor Alisa Fineman is teaching the Limmud (study) component on “The Ingredients of Revolution”. The students are so engaged in this topic that they voted to continue it for the 2nd trimester. The teens also participate in a

Chug (experiential) component every session. During the 1st trimester they cooked (and ate) Jewish food under the direction of Paige Weisskirch. Paul Richmond will facilitate their painting a mural to be displayed in the CBI playground for the 2nd trimester Chug. Teens are still welcome to join this engaging program. Col Kol (All Voices) is the social/ youth group arm of Aleynu under the guidance of Charles Stone. Gaining leadership skills, these teens are planning a Chanukah gathering on Saturday, December 8 from 5:30 - 8:30. All kids in grades 8 - 12 (Jewish or not) are invited. Come & bring your friends! The Madrichim (teacher assistance) program in the Religious and Hebrew School continues to thrive. Charles Stone is the supervisor for this group of teens. He connects with them weekly - in person if he is teaching that week, via text if he is not in the building. He is available to them to problem solve any issues that might arise and is a liaison for them with other adults. The fourth component of Aleynu are 2 exciting trips. The entire group has been invited to go to San Francisco on December 2. They will have lunch and then go to the Contemporary Jewish Museum and where they will enjoy a docent led tour of the exhibit "Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo" followed by an hour long art-making workshop directly related to the content learned in the exhibition. In March the 10th - 12th graders are invited to join L’Taken in Washington DC. Participants from all over the United States research a topic that matters to them and learn how to create a lobbing voice which they present to members of Congress. They also see some of the sites of our nation’s capital. A number of people from both Congregation Beth Israel and Temple Beth El worked hard for over a year to create this new multi-facetted programs for the Jewish teens in our community. We so grateful for the insights, time and energy they shared.

Page 22

Jewish Family Ideas

December 2018

This year, the 1st Candle of Chanukah is Sunday night, December 2. Some tips to make your Chanukah meaningful: Each night, as you light the

menorah, share your miracle of the day: (Each day, be on the lookout for your Miracle!!)

List 8 things you can do to create more light. Enhance awareness on an issue that is important to you.

8 nights of family fun. Make a list of something special to do each night of Chanukah. Ideas: latke night, restaurant night, game night, tzedakah night, movie night, popcorn night.

Play dreidel using mini fair-trade chocolate, nuts, or cacao beans (like the Aztecs) or pennies as gelt (money).

Create space for new blessings and gifts to come in. Go through your closets and donate things you are not using to a homeless or women's shelter.

Book Suggestions: Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? by Sharon Duke Estroff. Balancing family traditions and the realities of contemporary culture can be incredibly challenging. Estroff illuminates with humor the ways that Jewish tradition can be used to form a lasting, emotional safety net for modern families. Age: Adult. The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate by Janice Cohn. Based on a true incident, the townspeople in Billings, Montana

who joined together to fight a series of hate crimes against a Jewish family. Ages 9-12. The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco. During a scarlet fever epidemic in Michigan, the members of a Jewish family help make Christmas special for their very sick neighbors. Ages 5 – 10 Papa Jethro by Deborah Bodin Cohen. Papa Jethro reminds readers that interfaith families are not new. This quiet and engaging story avoids all sticky issues for a narrative that emphasizes love, contentment, and acceptance. Ages 4 – 8

Note: Some of the above book suggestions are also PJ Library selections. To sign your children, ages 6 months – 8 years, up for a FREE Jewish book of the month club go to: PJLibrary.org. Children ages 9 - 11 are now eligible to choose their own chapter book monthly for free through PJ Our Way. Go to: pjourway.org

Page 23

Page 24

Parshiot December 1, Vayeshev T: Genesis 37:1-40:23 H: Amos 2:6-3:8 December 8, Miketz T: Genesis 41:1-44:17 H: I Kings 3:15-4:1 Dec. 15, Vayigash T: Genesis 44:18-47:27 H: Ezekiel 37:15-28 December 22, Vayechi T: Genesis 47:28-50:26 H: I Kings 2:1-12 December 29, Shemot T: Exodus 1:1-6:1 H: Isaiah 27:6-28:13

Congregation Beth Israel

5716 Carmel Valley Road

Carmel, CA 93923

(831) 624-2015

E-mail: shalomcbi@aol.com

Website: www.carmelbethisrael.org

Chartered in 1954 as the Jewish Community of the

Monterey Peninsula, Congregation Beth Israel today

serves the spiritual, educational, and social needs

of Jews on the Peninsula. We derive programming

and administrative strength from our affiliation

with the Union for Reform Judaism and offer

traditional programming to meet the needs of most

Jews on the Monterey Peninsula. The Congregation

sponsors weekly worship services on Shabbat

evening and Shabbat morning; observances of all

holidays and festivals; and formal educational

programs from toddler through adult. We operate

our own school on weekend mornings and midweek

afternoons, and we also maintain a Judaic library.

Senior Staff Bruce Greenbaum - Rabbi, D.D.

Alisa Fineman - Cantor

Louise Riddell–Kaufman - Religious Education Director

Julie Chase- Administrator

Abby King- Administrative Assistant/Facility Use

Coordinator

Ruby Cohan - Bookkeeper

Board of Trustees

5778 (2018)

Cara Lieb, President

Todd Hornik, Past President

Cary Stiebel, 1st Vice President Rich Ader, VP Finance/Treasurer

Laura Arnow, Secretary

Dan Nussbaum, Adult Education

Abra Teitler, Buildings/Grounds

Rena Feuerstein, Communications/Marketing

Malina Breaux, Fundraising

Bee Epstein-Shepherd, Member Services Susan Schwartz, Social Action

Xochitl Kolinsky, Youth Activities

Ilana Entin, At Large

Scott Lyons, At Large

Bee Epstein-Shepherd, Honorary Life Trustee

Herb Stern, Honorary Life Trustee