Shofar “Where Judaism Lives” Temple Beth El · The Ten Commandments are the baseline for how to...

Sunday, April 2 & 23 @ 9:30 AM

Religious School

Wednesday, April 5, 19 & 26 @ 5:30 PM

Hebrew School Friday, April 7, 21 & 28 @ 7:30 PM

Shabbat Worship Service Monday, April 10 @ 6:00 PM

Passover Seder Wednesday, April 12 @ 7:00 PM

Board Meeting

Friday, April 14 @ 6:00 PM

Family Night Service Saturday, April 15 @ 10:00 AM

Torah Talk

Sunday, April 23 @ 2:00 PM

Yom HaShoah

Sunday, April 30 @ 11:00 AM

Jewish Food Festival

Temple Beth El

“Where Judaism Lives”

April, 2017 Nisan/Iyar 5777 Volume 73, Issue 8

Shofar

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Rabbi’s Ruminations Nisan/Iyar 5777

Parashat Ki Tisa – the Torah narrative that includes the story of the Golden Calf – opens with these words: “The Eternal spoke to Moses saying: When you take a census of the Israelite people according to their enrollment…” (Exodus 30:1) We do a lot of head-counting at Temple Beth El – and as a consequence, a lot of hand-wringing. “Where have all the Jews gone?” we lament. Ki Tisa begins with a count of Israelite males over the age of twenty. But it isn’t the men who are counted. It is the half-shekels that they contribute. Biblical censes notwithstanding, in fact, our tradition teaches us that we ought never to count actual Jewish heads. When King David conducted a census, the people were stricken with a plague. The great commentator Rashi reasoned that counting Jews risks their exposure to the evil eye. Perhaps this is part of our problem! Conventional wisdom has it that there is strength in numbers. Yet historically, our people have always been numerically modest in comparison with the broader population. One estimate has it that currently, Jews make up a mere 5th of one percent of humanity. Biblically, we might see that our smallness is part of a grander design. In Deuteronomy 7:7 we read: “God did not set affection on your and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you are the fewest of all peoples.” Our greatness, as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks reminds us, is not and has never been measured by our numbers, but rather, by our contributions. Consider, for a moment, the great Jewish thinkers, philosophers and scientists, the great Jewish artists and musicians, jurists and economists. From Einstein and Wittgenstein to Levi-Strauss to Freud; from Milton Friedman to Proust and Kafka, from Agnon to Schoenberg to Berlin and Gershwin; from Brandeis to Frankfuter to the “notorious RBG,” our tiny people has produced an unceasing flow of intellectual, scientific, legal and artistic achievement: 48 Nobel prizes in the field of economics alone! We can confidently claim that our congregation has not broken the mold. OK, I am unaware of any Nobel winners that trace their roots to TBE. Yet our contributions to the quality of life in Bakersfield at large – and yes, even to ourselves – belie our diminutive size. Our members are still, and have long been, local leaders in the fields of law, education, communal service and the fine arts. And who would think that our little shul could produce Purimspiels and Megillah-renderings as entertaining and as creative as what we annually experience? Who would think that two tiny shuls, working together, could produce an event as grandiose and worthy as our Jewish Food Festivals? Or even that we might inspire and shepherd so many seekers to become Jews themselves? Enough with the constant counting of tushes in the pews and people at our programs. (Though truly – if all one does is complain about it and not show up, one is part of the problem, not the solution!). Let us measure our worth by the richness of Jewish life in Bakersfield. For if we focus on growing our contributions to that, we will surely attract the attention we desire – and the half-shekels that come with it. My family and I wish you all a sweet and kosher Pesach. See you at the Jewish Food Festival! Livracha, Rabbi Cheryl Rosenstein

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In last month’s newsletter I wrote about my experiences at the Schiedt Seminar. I shared a couple of takeaways of what stood out, as in what were my goals as temple president, and what is it like being a Jew in Bakersfield. I invited you all to share via email, phone call, or oneg conversation as to what it meant to you individually. I can’t say that I got an overwhelming response, but that is ok, I was unable to answer that question as quickly as I had hoped as well. There was another aspect of the Scheidt Seminar that I did not share last time, and that is the Why?! As in “Why should I join Temple Beth El?” or “Why should I pay dues/donate money?” or “Why should I participate?” This simple word/question can be quite difficult to answer and it can lead to uncomfortable feelings. I am sure all of the parents and grandparents can agree with the difficulty of answering this simple question asked by an inquisitive child. The frustration that sets in when that child listens to the explanation and asks again, “why” then the next answer is given, and the child asks the follow up question that could drive anyone to their limit… “but why?” I have learned from my Mussar class, that being uncomfortable is a good thing. Because it is this discomfort that leads us to stretch ourselves, and push our outer limits so that we may learn and grow from that discomfort. The discomfort of trying to answer this question has led me to this. Why join Temple Beth El? Because what we are doing is Holy. Being a kind person to your neighbor is not good enough. Temple Beth El offers the opportunities to stretch yourself to learn and grow. I had the pleasure of watching one of Stan Simrin’s old lectures that was recorded by Irvin Pike. While I had recognized some of the lesson, as Stan was my Sunday school teacher at least two years, I heard him say something that I had not contemplated before. The Ten Commandments are the baseline for how to live one’s life. Following the Ten Commandments does not make you a Jew, it just keeps you from going to jail. Temple Beth El offers everyone a chance to do holy work that matters as we as Jews are commanded to do! By doing this holy work helps give our lives meaning while we live them and helps inspire others after we are gone. I invite you all to get out of your comfort zones and do something for the Temple that you would not normally do. I promise you will not regret it.

Elliott Magnus

Temple President

President Elliott Magnus’ Perspective

Need help finding a ride or someone to carpool with to Temple?

Call Andy Abrams 589-3778

or email him @ [email protected]

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Congregation B’nai Jacob and Temple Beth El of Bakersfield invite the community-at-large to observe

Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day

Survivor Testimony will follow the memorial service

Sunday, April 23, 2017 2:00 PM

@ Temple Beth El, 2906 Loma Linda Drive

When you make a donation to the temple

honoring someone, sending condolences,

or wishing someone well, Charlotte

Abrams, Tribute Chairperson, will mail a

tribute card to the recipient in your

name.

After you have sent your donation to the

temple, notify her of the name, address

of the recipient and to which fund the

donation was made.

Call Charlotte at 587-7706

Email at [email protected]

Temple Beth El Special Funds

Tree of Life, Memorials, Prayer Book

Plates, Rabbi’s Discretionary, Vision

Committee, Caring Committee, Shirley

Lipco Social Justice Fund, Building

(Torah Learning Center), Camperships,

Library, Paul Bregor Music Endowment,

Kol Nidre (High Holy Days).

Own Your Piece of Real Estate for Eternity

Temple Beth El maintains its own dedicat-ed section at Greenlawn Memorial Park on

River Blvd. The price of a plot is $1,875 which can be paid in three installments

over a period of two years. For more info, contact Barry Goldner at 395-1000 (work) or at 589-4096 (home).

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TBE Seder reservation request for Monday, April 10, 2017. Make checks payable to: “WOTBE” (Women of Temple Beth El) TBE 2906 Loma Linda Dr. Bakersfield, CA 93305 ATTN: Norma Schwartz

Check your dinner choices below Children 11 years and under

Name: _________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________

Phone: _________________________________

Total in Party

Number of Adults Brisket

$36 ea.

Number of Adults Chicken

$36 ea.

Number of Adults Salmon

$36 ea.

Children Brisket $18 ea.

Children Chicken $18 ea.

Children Salmon $18 ea.

TOTAL

Enter the amount of the check here:

CELEBRATE PASSOVER AT TEMPLE BETH EL

With CONGREGATION B’NAI JACOB

Monday, April 10th, 2017 6:00 PM

Hosted by Women of Temple Beth El

Seder Leader: Irvin Pike

Menu: Gefilte fish, Chicken Soup with Matzah Balls, Brisket, Chicken, Salmon, Tzimmes, Vegetable, Dessert Price: $36 (adult - brisket or chicken or salmon) $18 (child - brisket or chicken or salmon) 11 years and under Make checks payable to: WOTBE to confirm your reservation. Space is limited to the first 100 paid reservations. Note: Arrive early if you have a large party that would like to sit together. (If you have unaffiliated friends you want to invite, include them in your party) Mail your check to TBE with the completed form below. Registrations will open to non-temple members on April 1st - so get your check in ASAP. Please write “Passover Seder” in your memo and on the outside of your envelope. Complete and include the form below with your payment. Cut and Mail form below with payment.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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April

7 Miriam & John Beam Barbara & Martin Kessler

14 Jill Egland Ilene Castaneda

21 Ahron & Linda Hakimi

28 Selwyn & Cecily Kay Judy & Michael Feldman

If you are unable to host your scheduled night, please find a replacement; then call the office at 322-7607 so that our Shabbat Worship Service cards are updated accordingly. Reminder: Clean-up includes washing and putting away dishes and utensils. Thank you for your cooperation.

Oneg

Lorrie Larribas (661) 221-1434

Pet/House Sitting Elderly Assistance Office Assistance

Errands

Web: www.voilaconcierge.net Email: [email protected]

Temple Beth El Provides a sanctuary for your sacred

prayers, a social hall for special

celebrations, a library to study our heritage,

a school to teach our eternal values and

ways to remember loved ones who are no

longer with us. One of the traditional ways

we honor those who helped shape our lives

is by placing a made-to-order bronze

Memorial Plaque which will be added to the

walls of the Temple foyer.

For more info, contact Andy Abrams at (661)

328-6426 or email at [email protected]

The Israeli Festival will take place in Los

Angeles on Sunday, May 1st at Rancho

Park in West LA. The topic was discussed

at the joint Board meeting with CBJ. If you

need more information, you can go to the

website. Just type in Israeli Festival, Los

Angeles 2017, and you will find info about

activities, vendors etc. We are in process

of trying to find a bus to take us.

Kol Nidre Donation

Vivian Gonzales Memorials/Yahrzeits

Ronald & Laura Lauria

In memory of Emily Lepp Building Fund

Ahron & Linda Hakimi Tiffany & Francis Mayer Adult Education

Michael & Judy Feldman In honor of Unscrolling the Scrolls

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

Gretchen Bloch

Contributions

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JEWISH FOOD FESTIVAL FACT SHEET

When: Sunday, April 30th, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Where: Congregation B’nai Jacob at 600 17th St.

At ‘S’ Street in downtown Bakersfield

What: Traditional Jewish Meals for $18 each. Brisket Sandwich with pickle, Israeli Salad

and a water OR Lox & Bagel with cream cheese, tomato, onion, capers, pickle,

Israeli Salad and a water. All made in a kosher kitchen by members of the host

Jewish congregations of Temple Beth El & B’nai Jacob.

Authentic Matzo Ball Chicken Soup will be on sale.

Outside Food Vendors - Moo Creamery, Flame & Skewers, Pita Paradise, Dr.

Brown’s Sodas and Kona Ice will be providing Jewish-themed delectables.

Jewish Bake shop featuring authentic treats such as Mandel Bread, Rugelach,

Babka & Challa bread for sale.

Outside crafts vendors with jewelry & clothing for sale.

Temple Beth El’s Judaica Shop where beautiful authentic Jewish Religious &

Cultural items for adults and children are for sale.

Beer & Wine Tasting Garden

Kid Zone with a Bounce House and Arts & Crafts.

Live Traditional Yiddish Klezmer Music will be played throughout the day.

Israeli Folk Dancing will start up every hour on the hour.

Six beautiful, valuable raffle prizes to be given away.

Raffle tickets come with each meal ticket and will be sold separately for $1 each.

Informative tours of the Synagogue will be every half hour on the hour.

Admission is FREE to the public.

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For information call:

Norma Schwartz @ 472-1759

That’s right! As part of the Jewish Food Festival, we will again hold a Kugel Baking Contest. We have expanded the competition to include sweet kugels AND savory kugels. But wait, there’s more! A third category will be the People’s Choice award. So, bakers, you will have two chances to win this year, as every entry will be eligible for the People’s Choice. For a $5 donation, Festival attendees will taste each kugel and choose their favorite. We ask that you prepare and bake your choice of kugel in a new, disposable (13 X 9) alumi-num pan. Deliver your dish by 10:45 AM on April 30th at Congregation B’Nai Jacob. Judg-ing for the Most Savory and Sweetest Kugels will begin at 11:00. If you have any questions and to sign up in advance, please call Elaine White at 549-9606.

SWEET OR SAVORY

Simcha Set Luncheon

For more information

call:

Lynne Green 412-8989

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1 Mary Speare

2 Aaron Marcus 19th

3 Pearl Davis

4 Kathi Briefer-Gose

4 Laura Reyes

5 Ferdinand Aggenbach

5 Matthew Kay 1st

6 Leora Freedman

7 Adam Rodriquez

10 John Beam

10 Dylan Gaul-Sanchez

11 Rachel Goldner

12 Shoshanah Hansford 6th

12 Thomas Stull

15 Matthew Kay

15 Catharina Rose Preciado 16th

16 Beth Spiegel

17 Joshua Rueben Carruthers

17 Carol Shain

18 Ira Peshkin

19 Isabella Bronstein 6th

21 Timothy Fromm

23 Misty Franklin

24 Alpha Anders

24 Stan Ferguson

24 Sidney Freedman 11th

24 Michael Weinberg

25 Janet Blumberg

25 Sakina Hansford

26 Abigail Martinez 3rd

26 Connie Wellman

27 Sarah Bertrand

28 Alyson Burns 12th

28 Joy Byrom

28 Clara Danielle Greenberg 14th

29 Marcy Smith

6 William & Terry Skinner 42nd

17 Connie Sedacca & Eugene Whitt 13th

22 Shepard & Merriem Palitz 67th

26 Tom & Robin Feher 27th

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Friday, April 7th @ 7:30 pm

Shabbat Worship Service Parashat -

Leviticus 6:1-8:36 Haftarah

Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; 9:22-23

Candle Blesser

Janet Blumberg Torah Bearer

David Kessler Torah Blesser

Sermon

Kiddush Oneg Hosts

Miriam & John Beam Barbara & Martin Kessler

Ushers

Jeanne Moore Greg Broida


Family Night Service Hol HaMoed Pesach

Candle Blesser

Ali Moore Kiddush

Stacy Davis Oneg Hosts

Jill Egland Ilene Castaneda

Ushers

Elaine White Laurie Peshkin

Friday, April 21st @ 7:30 pm



II Samuel 6:1-7:17 (II Samuel 6:1-19)

Candle Blesser

Etta Robin Torah Bearer

Ahron Hakimi Torah Blesser

James Hugo

D’var Torah

Susie Easley Kiddush

Susan Cohn Oneg Hosts

Ahron & Linda Hakimi Ushers

Judy Strauss Pamela Elisheva




2 Kings 7:3-20

Candle Blesser

Kathleen Chambers Torah Bearer

Larry Elman Torah Blesser

Bruce Joseph

Torah Reader

Nancy McCombs Kiddush

Tom Feher Oneg Hosts

Selwyn & Cecily Kay Judy & Michael Feldman

Ushers

Bob Allison Laura Wolfe

Service & Pulpit Honors

Non-Profit Program Benefits TBE

Use the services of H&R Block anywhere in the country, give the

referral number 400074566268, and $25 is donated to Bright Beginnings/HaGan.

Our thanks to Joy Spicer, a tax preparer for H&R Block, for getting our education programs on board.

If unable to perform assigned honors, please find a replacement or contact Irvin Pike, Honors Coor-dinator; THEN contact the Temple office inform Lorrie of such changes.

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4/7 Shabbat Worship Service

Freda Singer, mother of Sylvia Neal z”l; grandmother of Laurie Henderson 4/08

Abraham Popel, father of Sonia Simrin z”l; grandfather of Marty Weinberg & Susie Easley 4/09

Estelle Smith, mother of Nesta Aharoni 4/09

Alice Laborde, mother of Fanny Jacobs 4/10

Esther Yehoudov, remembered by TBE 4/10-Nisan 14

Ron Deem, son-in-law of Stan z”l & Norma Schwartz 4/11

Daniel Guralnick, brother of Esther Greenberg 4/11

Harry Nadler, father of Jack Nadler 4/11

Alice Lillian Anderson, aunt of Alexander Potter z”l 4/12

Fred Sherwyn, grandfather of Liz Sherwyn 4/12

Mary Louise Benner, mother of Patricia Young 4/13

Eva Blumer, mother of Vivian Gonzales 4/13

4/14 Family Night Service

Ric Hugo, father of Mark Hugo 4/14

Rose Aharoni, mother of Eitan Aharoni 4/15

Louis Caplan, father of Diane Rogers 4/15

Robert Lawson, nephew of Michael Farber 4/15

Greta Oppenheimer, mother of Judy Feldman 4/15-Nisan 19

Alvar Kivisto, remembered by TBE 4/16

Patrick Falkner, friend of Gail Lipton 4/17

Marie Schulman, grandmother of Marc Schulman 4/17-Nisan 21

Keith Richard Daufel, father of Amy Snyder 4/18

Kenneth Harman, nephew of Miriam Stull; cousin of Daniel & Joshua Rudnick & Libbie Mahan 4/18

Alvin Polland, uncle of Laura Lauria 4/18-Nisan 22

March 2017 Yahrzeits

4/21 Family Night Service

David Bitton, father of Dorise Bitton 4/22-Nisan 26

Sharon Lipco, sister of Lisa Levine 4/22

Mollie Schwalbendorf, grandmother of Larry Fish 4/22

Lillian Soren, remembered by TBE 4/22

Susan Plichta, friend of Lynne Rosenstein 4/23

Max Rockoff, father of Art Rockoff z”l 4/23-Nisan 27

Jewish Community of Sambor, Poland, remembered by TBE 4/23-Nisan 27

Haya Sura Shnaiderman, sister of Etel Lewis 4/23

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in honor or In memory. . . The perfect remembrance Bookplates in our prayer books are available for only $18 each. To order, send your check payable to Temple Beth El and include the wording of your choice and the manner in which you want your name to ap-pear. On the envelope, please write “attn: bookplate”. Questions? Call Lorrie in the Temple office: 322-7607

4/28 Shabbat Worship Service

Paul Blatt, son of Rose Blatt; brother of Barbara Kessler; uncle of David Kessler 4/28-Iyyar 2

Diane Polland Carrete, sister of Laura Lauria 4/28-Iyyar 2

Simon Lewi, brother of Ana Genel; uncle of Janet Blumberg 4/28

Martha Ann Ohe, mother of Marianne Gartenlaub 4/28

Rosalie Kelbick, sister of Stephen Bronstein; aunt of Nancy Brennan 4/29

Violet Kessler, mother of Martin Kessler; grandmother of David Kessler 4/29-Iyyar 3

Rose Bard, grandmother of Marc Schulman 4/30-Iyyar 4

Mark Burgess, brother-in-law of Peggie Soltis & Connie Wellman 4/30

Albert Abram Kaplan, father of Marsha Parr 4/30

Ruben Kay, father of Selwyn Kay 5/01

Neil Martin Cohen, cousin of Nancy Brennan 5/02

Leola Lee Gross, remembered by TBE 5/02

Ozias Leib Gross, remembered by TBE 5/02

Alia Linder, remembered by TBE 5/02

Rachel Linder, remembered by TBE 5/02

Jacob Ben Robbins, remembered by TBE 5/03

Samuel Schacter, father of Sharon Miller 5/03-Iyyar 7

Charles Schwartz, grandfather of Diane Andrews 5/03

Viola Curley, mother of Ronda Valdez z”l 5/04

Vince Sisti, friend of Mike Miller 5/04

4/21 Family Night Service (cont’d)

Bertha Wallen, grandmother of Michael Greenberg 4/23

Ethel Gentzler, great-aunt of Laura Lauria 4/25-Nisan 29

Marsha Huacuja, aunt of Richard Schenkman 4/26

Jewish tradition prescribes that a meal be provided for the family following the burial of a family member. To that end the Caring Committee of Temple Beth El is prepared to provide a Meal of Condolence for temple families who experience the loss of a loved one. Please consider making a donation in memory of your loved one to the Caring Committee so that we may continue to provide this Mitzvah to others! Thank you, Vivian Gonzales Marsha Parr

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April, 2017 Nisan/Iyar 5777

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

2 9:30 AM Religious

School

3

4 5 5:30 PM Hebrew School

6 7 7:30 PM Shabbat Worship Service

8

9

10 6:00 PM Passover Seder @

TBE

11

12 7:00 PM Board

Meeting


15 10:00 AM

Torah Talk

16

17 18 19 5:30 PM Hebrew School


22

23 9:30 AM Religious

School

24 25 26 5:30 PM Hebrew School


29

30 11:00 AM

Jewish Food

Festival

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Get Ready to Read - PJ Library is Here! Temple Beth El and Congregation B’nai Jacob are delighted to be included in the PJ (Pajama) Library initiative of the URJ and United Synagogue. We are two of 60 small congregations nationwide to participate in this exciting project, which aims to get FREE Jewish children’s books into the hands of Jewish families. New titles will be shipped to registered households as the books are released. The books are aimed at children ages 6 months to 8 years. There is no cost or obligation on your part. All you have to do is to go to our special “landing page” online and sign up! Our PJ Library address is www.pjlibrary.org/Bakersfield. We hope to enroll families who are not already members of our congregations, so feel free to share this and any other publicity we put out there with your Jewish friends and neighbors! Kol tuv, Rabbi Cheryl Rosenstein, TBE Nathy Wright, CBJ

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E-mail your Shofar submission to the Temple at [email protected]

Deadline for the May Shofar is April 15, 2016

Our monthly Shofar is published by:

TEMPLE BETH EL 2906 Loma Linda Drive Bakersfield, CA 93305 Tel: (661) 322-7607 Fax: (661) 322-7807 Website: www.templebethelbakersfield.org

Rabbi Cheryl Rosenstein President Elliott Magnus Vice President Greg Broida Corresponding Secretary Tim Fromm Recording Secretary Jill Egland Financial Secretary Irvin Pike Treasurer Andy Abrams Administrator Lorrie Larribas

Publish Your News In The Shofar

Your items of interest are welcomed for publication. Deadline is 12 noon on the 15th of the month.

Call Lorrie at 322-7607 or email at

[email protected] or [email protected]

Changes?

Please notify Lorrie in the Temple office with your membership information -- ad-dresses (including email), phone number(s), births, marriage, yahrzeits. Please help up keep our data base and membership directory updated.

Shofar “Where Judaism Lives” Temple Beth El · The Ten Commandments are the baseline for how to...

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