Clergy and Leadership Mishkon Clergy: Rabbi Gabriel Botnick Daniel R. Shevitz, Rabbi Emeritus

Executive Board: Melissa Tarsky, President Cindy Goldstein, Vice President

Rena Panush, Vice President Michele Prince, Vice President

Judy Gordon, Treasurer Dayna Greenspan, Secretary

Board of Directors: Phil Bell Carol Felixson

Jeff Fleck Jeff Gornbein

Michael Kirschbaum Itai Klein

Johanna Schmidt Russell Schwartz

Rosalind Silver

Committee Chairs: Phil Bell, Adult Education Rena Panush, Barbara’s Book Club

Peter Kunstler, Cemetery Plots Cindy Goldstein, Communications

Carol Felixson, Communications Marilyn Lewitt, Hazak Group

Miriam Barron, Hazak Group Shifra Raz, Membership Acquisition and Retention

Andy Bender, Kiddush Rena Panush, Kiddush

Johanna Schmidt, Preschool Liaison Michael Kirschbaum, Religious School Liaison

Jeff Gornbein, Tephila Stacy Feinberg, Building and Grounds

Senior Staff: Kelley Courtney, Executive Director

Elisa Coburn, Preschool Director

Mishkon Tephilo

201 Hampton Drive

Venice, CA 90291

Phone: (310) 392-3029

Fax: (310) 392-0420

E-mail: office@mishkon.org

Web: www.mishkon.org

The Galim Winter 2016

Mishkon Tephilo is a participatory, egalitarian congregation. We strive to meet the religious, spiritual, educational, and social needs

of a diverse membership within the framework of Conservative Judaism.

The commitment and participation of all congregants is to be

nurtured, with the understanding that all contribute value to our community. We value full participation, regardless of gender, race,

sexual orientation, disability, age, or marital status. We view ourselves as partners in God’s Mitzvot of Torah, Avodah, and

Gemilut.

We are bound together by traditional Jewish experience through the following values: Spirituality: Members engage in prayer and

study experiences that bring them closer to God and to each other. Community: We are bound together by a Brit Tzibur of providing celebration, solace and support throughout the Jewish lifecycle.

Torah: We are an educational center for the teaching and study of Jewish texts, rituals, practices and values. Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam: We understand our obligations as Jews to care for and

support the Jewish people, the State of Israel, the community in which we live.

Mishkon Tephilo

Mission Statement

Serving Jewish communities in Venice and Santa Monica since 1917

In This Edition

On Fire and Faith by Rabbi Gabriel Botnick ......... 2

Thankful for Our Community

by Melissa Tarsky .................................................. 3

Preschool Thanksgiving......................................... 3

Board Goals for the Year

by Dayna Greenspan ............................................. 4

Mishkon Anglers Club Off to a Great Start

by Phil Bell ............................................................ 4

Voting at Susan Sims Bodenstein Preschool

by Ellen Aiken .…………………………………………………. 5

Bat Mitzvah Spotlight ........................................... 6

Mishkon Simchas .................................................. 6

Join Us for Our Hanukah Party ............................. 6

Mishkon Members Attend Simchat Torah at

Woman's Prison ................................................... 7

The Rashi Corner by Jeff Fleck .............................. 7

Advance Healthcare Directives Program

by Phil Bell ............................................................ 8

Mishkon Collects Donations by Michele Prince .... 9

Todah Rabah to Our Mishkon Donors .................. 10

Todah Rabah to Our Mishkon Donors Below is a list of those who donated to Mishkon during the last quarter

We thank you for your generosity.

Galim Hanukah Edition 2016

Alper, Eugene and Bloch, Susan Alper, Laurie Anthony, Tyler and Ashley Apfelberg, Andrew and Rebecca Barenholtz, Brett and Rachel Barron, Miriam Beck, Laura and Loren Beecher, Mindy and Adam Bell, Phil and Chana Bender, Andrew Beresh, Robyn Berger, Shelley Berkovich, Alon and Tali Bliss, Richard Blum, Lillian Bratman, Jordan Brick, Ilene Bronstein, Ella Brookman, Daniel and Linda Bruce, Mark and Rosin, Cynthia Buchbinder, Harriet and Stuart Chasin, Perri Cummings, James Daman, Phil and Bliss, Jennifer Davich, Victor Davis, Carol V. Davis, Howard and Sternfeld, Janet Donohue, Marlena Doktorczyk Elkinson, Kenneth and Edythe Enzer, Adrienne Eule, Carole Feinberg, Stacy and Brylawski, Michael Felixson, Carol and Jaduszliwer, Bernardo Feuerstein, Helene Fineman, Igor Fins, Paula Forman, Cindy Friedman, Judith and Mark Friedman, Lee and Cande Geil, Ed and Michelle Geller, Joseph Goldstein, Cynthia Goldstein, Robert and Tong, Olivia Goldstein, Sara and Raymond Gordon, Judith Gornbein, Jeff and Martin, Fredricka Gourarie, Hadassah Grebler, Rene Greenspan, Dayna and Schwartz, Robert

Groschadl, Joseph Grunstein, Michael and Judith Haber, Elaine and Darren Harelik, Richard and Joan Hershkowitz, David and Helena Hirt, Randy and Eddy, Bruce Hochman, Jessica and Michael Hoehler, Dan and Robin Horn, Susan Fox Kadish, Sheldon and Rosenfeld, Mary Ann Kaye, Ronnie Kennedy, Michael and Monique Kirschbaum, Michael and Michelle Klein, Itai and Erica Kunstler, Evelyn Lakin, Marty and Dee Lewitt, Marilyn Lieberman, Myron and Arlene Lightdale, LLC Linden, Gary and Nannette Lulla, Victor Makiri, David Malamud, Donna Manning, Roberta Markowitz, Michael and Goodman, Randi Mashaal, Joy and Nuss, Matthew Mathason, Marcia and Bruce Maurer, Todd and Kaplan, Natasha Medeiros, Ryan Meltser, Aleksander Milstein, Hymie Mollin, Peggy Morris, Donald Naim, Mark and Shorah Navi, Marco and Elham Osser, Patricia and Irving Panush, Rena and Richard Paradise, Mitch Paris, David and Cowen, Nancy Pillar, Russ Polansky, Ronald and Susan Pomerantz, Earl and Myra Portnoy, Caryl Prince, Michele and Jeffrey Rachootin, Nadine Rankin, Bonnie Rapoport, David and Barbara Raz, Shifra and Rubinstein, Benny Rieger, Jane Luna

Rose, Judith Rosen, Richard Rosenheck, Molly and Spencer Ross, Matthew and Page, Frances Sager, David Saltzbart, Felicia and Ehrenberg, David Samuel, Yael and Jacob Saunders, Brad and Lauren Schmidt, Johanna and Benjamin Schrag, Morton and Lorraine Schreck, Rhona and Ira Schwartz, David and Effros, Barbara Schwartz, Lawrence and Maggy Schwartz, Russell and Goland, Susan Seder, Elyse Sharman, Jason and Miriam Shepnick, Ira and Ninette Sherman, Cynthia Shevitz, Daniel Shirazian, Shabnam Sara Singer, Ben and Portnoy, Sarah Slesaranksy, Eduardo Small, Alan and Floriberta Smith, Howard J. and Levine, Victoria Sneh, Louis Sorter, Thomas and Phyllis Spiegel, Marylin and Simeon Stanger, Phil and Roxanne Steckler, Lisa and Morgan Stein, Russell Steinberg, Barry and Ann Stonehouse, Gail and Stephen Tarfman, Madelynn Tarsky, Melissa and Brian Taylor, Fern Vivian Tepper, Robert and Anita Tishman, Roberta Wechsler, Irene and Chase, Richard Weisman, Sandy Weissler, Eric Wilson, Stephen and Claudia Wine, Aliza Wolken, Ann Zalben, Janet Zlotolow, Miriam

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Living Room Furniture:

Couches

Coffee tables

Household appliances: Rice cookers,

microwaves

Clock

Kitchen Items

Kitchen table

Forks, knifes, spoons

Plates, bowls, cups

Pots and pans

Mixing/serving bowls

Kitchen utensils (spatula, wooden

spoon, serving utensils, etc.)

Can opener

Microwave

Rice cooker

Toaster

Coffee maker

Linens and Other Household Supplies

Hand towels, bath towels

Sets of sheets and blankets for beds

Pillows/pillowcases

Light bulbs

Cleaning Supplies

Dish soap

Bathroom/kitchen cleaner

Sponges, cleaning rags and/or paper

towels

Laundry detergent

Waste baskets

Mops, brooms, buckets

Trash bags

Trash cans

Toiletries

Toilet paper

Shampoo, conditioner, body wash

Men’s and women’s razors

Hand soap

Toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash

Feminine hygiene products

Lotion

Q-tips

Baby Items

Car seats

Strollers

Bottles

Diapers

Baby clothing

Bibs

Clothing for Men, Women, and Children

Socks

Undergarments

Men’s jeans

Business clothing for men and women

Dresses

Blouses

School Supplies

Paper, pens and/or

pencils

Backpacks

Rulers

Notebooks

Children’s books

Donations needed for Project Hope Part 2, resettling refugees in San Diego

Mishkon Collects Donations for Jewish Family Service by Michele Prince

Mishkon has joined with Beth Am, B'nai David, IKAR and other groups for Project Hope Part 2. We will be collecting items to donate to Jewish Family Service, which is a non-profit organization assisting refugees by finding and furnishing homes for them as they settle in a city.

The donations we are collecting will help refugees traveling from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, with the emphasis on Syria, Burma, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The families are being settled in San Diego. The donations we provide will help JFS stock the new homes with necessary conveniences to allow people to begin leading a normal life from Day One. A dozen new refugee families arrive in San Diego each week.

We are asking for donations of new or like-new clothes, school supplies, toiletries, furniture, and kitchen appliances collected throughout January. A team of volunteers will be renting trucks to deliver the shipment in February.

Galim Hanukah Edition 2016

Join Mishkon’s Social Action Committee!

Mishkon is looking for volunteers to begin a Social Action Committee. Contact office@mishkon.org if you are interested.

9 Galim Hanukah Edition 2016

According to our tradition, a miracle occurred on the first Shabbat. On Friday afternoon, when the sun was setting, God sanctified Shabbat by kindling Shabbat candles. Now this being God's work, the candlelight was so bright that, even though the sun had set, the daylight remained in place until the end of Shabbat. But then, on Saturday evening, it began to get dark, and Adam became scared. So God taught Adam how to make fire with two flintstones and he stopped worrying.

However, a couple months later, Adam started to notice something strange: The days were getting shorter, with less and less sunlight every day. He figured this surely was a sign that the world was coming to an inevitable end: All as a punishment for his wrongdoing. Around the middle of December (and the middle of Kislev, just before Hanukah starts), Adam decided there was nothing to do but

sit in mourning for the death of the world. But then Adam's period of mourning was cut short by yet another miracle - the days began to get longer. Overjoyed by this unexpected turn of events, Adam immediately commenced a new period of celebration, which included the lighting of fire.

These two stories can teach us so much about human nature. First, we're easily frightened. The moment things stop feeling familiar, we tend to panic. Second, we struggle to learn from our past. If a new experience is just a little different from a previous experience, it can be difficult for us to draw a comparison and to figure out how best to respond. Finally, we can be a bit dramatic. Even when the power to change our reality is readily in our hands, we often fall into the trap of hopelessness.

And yet these two stories can also teach us about the power of hope and faith. Adam was able to overcome his fear when facing darkness for the first time because God was there to guide him. The next time Adam was inclined to be afraid, he found hope not from God being there in person but from the understanding that God was behind a miraculous moment of salvation. In both stories, Adam was able to move beyond his fear and to find comfort and hope through the gifts of fire, light, and his faith in God.

There are many reasons why we light the Hanukah candles every year. Some say it's to celebrate the re-dedication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt. Others say it's to remember the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days, when it should have lasted for only one. However, I like to think we light candles to remind ourselves that, when facing our darkest moments, we must embrace our hope and faith even more. God blessed us with the ability to overcome our fears and to change our reality, so we must never turn our backs on this gift.

Now, for Adam, this ability to change reality came through the gift of fire. But what about us? Well, the Hebrew for fire is Aish, which is another name for the Torah; the rabbis teach us that the Torah was written as "black fire" (the letters) on "white fire" (the parchment). Therefore, we have the ability to change reality through the gift of Torah - our spiritual fire.

As we approach the darkness of winter, I want to invite you to embrace the light of Torah and its transformative power. It might seem overwhelming at first, but know that you need to start with only the smallest act to begin the process of transformation. For proof, just look at the Hanukah candles. A single candle can brighten even the darkest room. But that one tiny flame just needs to touch another candle to strengthen its light. And then, before you know it, you're basking in the warm glow of a completely transformed room. That is the miracle of Hanukah. That is the miracle of faith.

On Fire and Faith by Rabbi Gabriel Botnick

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Thankful for Our Community by Melissa Tarsky, President

It’s Thanksgiving time, and I’m feeling thankful. I’m thankful for the lack of seasons and lack of snow. I’m thankful because no one looks at me funny if I’m wearing a winter coat when it’s 60 degrees. I get to see the ocean nearly every day, and feel as excited about it now as I did when we first moved into our house 12 years ago.

I’m thankful that I live in a good community. I love the diversity, the walkability and the friendliness of my neighbors. I love that so many of us worry about our homeless population and try, in ways both big and small, to help them out.

I’m particularly thankful for my Mishkon community. At the Preschool Shabbat on Friday, I’m inspired by the energy shown by the little ones as they sing and dance to the songs. I love their enthusiasm as they answer the question, “What do you like about Shabbat?” Some children list things like the wine, their family, the challah, and others are more creative. One week, a child was thankful for Spiderman. Other children are thankful for the universe.

I’m thankful that I can walk to Mishkon. On Saturday

mornings, the sounds of the familiar prayers wash over me and erase some of the stress of the week. I love listening to the familiar tunes of the Torah reading, and I am looking

forward to, one day, learning how to read Torah myself.

I feel thankful that our Adult Education Committee creates so many programs that I usually find some that interest me. I’m thankful that we have holiday programs, Tikkun Olam programs where my girls can help out and a fabulous Religious School that includes a class for post-B’Nai Mitzvah children.

When I read about the rest of the world, I feel very thankful to live in this country, where I can be Jewish and am free to practice my religion without fear of reprisal. Although not everyone is pleased with the outcome of our latest election, once again we’re having a peaceful transition of power, which isn’t something we should take for granted. In some countries, elections are violent affairs, voting may be dangerous to those wanting to cast their ballots, and the outcomes may be disputed with guns and militias. Here, we have peaceful protests, hand wringing and a tremendous number of articles and memes online. We, as Jews and as citizens, are free to discuss openly how we feel about the election.

Although, when you read this Galim, Thanksgiving will be over, the turkey will be but a memory (or a few pounds that need to be lost), and we’ll be preparing for the next holiday. However, I will still be feeling thankful. There’s so much for which to be thankful that I can’t do it all in one day.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to Mishkon. Whether it be through labor, donations, or showing up. I am thankful for your being part of our sacred community.

I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving.

Galim Hanukah Edition 2016

Preschool Thanksgiving Was a Success!

Thank you to all who

celebrated Thanksgiving with

Susan Sims Bodenstein

Preschool!

3

Advance Healthcare Directives Program Impresses All by Phil Bell

What is an Advance Healthcare Directive? What is a POLST? Why are these documents important?

These questions and many others were answered by some wonderful and knowledgeable speakers at the first Adult Education Sunday Series program of the year. Coordinated by Shelley Berger, the healthcare panel was moderated by Michele Prince and included Jeannette Meyer, Brett Barenholtz, Rabbi Dan, and Rabbi Botnick. The event was well-attended and included a delicious breakfast.

Jeanette Meyer, clinical nurse specialist for palliative care at UCLA, used a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate the important end-of-life issues that can and should be addressed by individuals and their families in the Advance Healthcare Directive well before the need arises. Meyer also emphasized the need for a Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment between patients and their physician to determine the specific medical treatment to be implemented when people are critically ill near the end of their life.

Rabbi Dan and Rabbi Botnick presented the Jewish perspective on AHCDs and POLST. They both urged the audience to complete the two documents sooner than later because no one knows when a life-threatening incident might occur. The rabbis also mentioned how important the documents are for clarifying patients’ end-of-life wishes for their physician and family.

Brett Berenholtz presented the legal issues involved with an AHCD and POLST, including the selection of a person to carry out the end-of-life wishes of the patient and the need to notarize and then file the AHCD in a safe place.

MIchele and Shelley coordinated the Q and A at the end of the program. They also provided AHCD forms to the audience.

The next Adult Education Sunday Series program will be related to Martin Luther King Jr. and take place on Sunday, January l5.

Galim Hanukah Edition 2016

Upcoming Weekend Event: 32nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

Theme: “Stand Against Injustice” Rabbi Botnick will give the invocation before a speech at 9 a.m. on Monday, January 16, by Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffrey, the superintendent and president of Santa Monica College. The event is at the SGI-USA World Peace Ikeda Auditorium, 525 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.

8

Toward the end of the 11th Century,

Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (known by the

acronym Rashi) wrote a commentary

on the Torah that was to become the

preeminent guide to the Bible for Jews

throughout the world until modern

times. Modern readers who come to

his commentary for the first time,

however, are often perplexed, puzzled,

and exasperated by Rashi's comments.

These readers are just as often

charmed, enlightened, and even

inspired. Whatever the case, Rashi's

commentary offers a unique portal to

the traditional sources of Jewish

attitudes and ideas about the world

and about ourselves.

In the Torah portion Vayetse, we read

of Jacob's journey from his parents'

home in Beersheba to the home of his

uncle, Laban, in Haran. At sundown,

Jacob "took some stones from the

place and placed them at his head and

lay down." (Gen 28:11). A few lines

later, we are told, "Jacob arose in the

early morning and took the stone that

he had placed at his head." (Gen 28:18)

So how did many stones turn into one

stone overnight? Were they magical

stones? Was it a miracle? Is there a

rational explanation? Perhaps it was

only a typographical (i.e., scribal) error.

Drawing on the work of the Rabbis of

earller times, Rashi provides this:

Jacob placed the stones in the form of a

conduit around his head because he

feared for vermin. The stones started

quarreling with one another. One said,

“Let the righteous man lay his head on

me,” and another one said, “Let him lay

his head on me.” Immediately, the Holy

One, blessed be He, made them into

one stone.

Obviously, this is not a literal

interpretation of the text but rather an

example of that imaginative, often

playful but always meaningful,

approach to the text that both the

Rabbis and Rashi called midrash

aggadah. So what might that meaning

be? Is there an attitude, idea, or value

embodied in this flight of fancy?

At “Chug Rashi” (The Rashi Club), these

are the kinds of questions that set the

agenda for our lively discussions after

kiddush on the second Shabbat of each

month. No special knowledge of

Hebrew is required, and everyone is

welcome. The next “Chug Rashi” is

scheduled for January 14, 2017.

Mishkon Members Attend Simchat Torah at Women's Prison

Donna Malamud, Chana Bell, and Phil Bell danced with the Torah and sang with the women prisoners at California Institution for Women, in Chino on Sunday, October 30. The Jewish Women's program there is called B'not Or – Women of Light. Rabbi Moshe Halfon leads the program. Seventy-five volunteers, many from Jewish temples all over L.A., help provide a comprehensive and exciting program for the Jewish women inmates.

The women also prepared and distributed a book of essays and poems about Simchat Torah, which they read at the celebration. The writing demonstrated the skill of the

women and the impact of B'not Or program. Volunteers got to talk with the women during a catered lunch.

Donna is involved with the Women's Shabbat and Ethics program. Phil and Chana help out with the Jewish holiday activities. Phil plays guitar and sings with a group of musicians who volunteer. Chana reads her poetry.

Please contact Phil Bell at shalvah@aol.com or Donna Malamud at domalamud@gmail.com if you would like to know more about B'not Or and/or participate as a volunteer at CIW.

The Rashi Corner by Jeff Fleck

Mishkon has cemetery plots in our section of Eden Cemetery available to members at a discounted price. Call the office at 310-392-3092 for more information.

Galim Hanukah Edition 2016 7

Board Goals for This Year by Dayna Greenspan

Our Board of Directors held a retreat in mid-September, moderated by Rabbi Cheryl Peretz from American Jewish University. We spent a day studying text, learning more about our individual backgrounds, discussing the direction of the synagogue, and developing goals for the upcoming year.

Mishkon’s goals for 2016-17 / 5777 are:

MISHKON BOARD: Develop Board of Directors training tools and education.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION: Improve Mishkon’s brand. Create an integrated marketing and communication plan.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Integrate Mishkon into the larger Venice / Santa Monica community.

NEW MEMBERS: Foster a plan to incorporate new members into the Mishkon community.

NEW PROGRAMMING: Develop new programming to appeal to our diverse membership.

We are excited to have a clear direction for the coming year. Let us know if you are

interested in participating in any of these initiatives!

Mishkon Anglers Club Off to a Great Start by Phil Bell

The Mishkon Anglers Club is off to a great start. Ben Schmidt, David Ehrenberg, and I had our inaugural MAC trip on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11 aboard the New Del Mar ½-day boat from Marina Del Rey Sportfishing. The weather was warm and picture-perfect.

We left the dock at 7:30 a.m. David and Ben had very little experience deep-sea fishing, so on the way out to the fishing grounds, I mentored them on the basics. When we arrived at the first stop, Ben and David illustrated how well they understood the basics by catching some beautiful rock fish. The fishing was outstanding the rest of the morning. At the end of the trip, all three of us had a nice bag of filleted rock fish for Shabbat dinner. We returned to the dock at 12:30 in the afternoon.

We will continue to have once-a-month fishing trips from Marina del Rey. We will decide on a date in December and open the

trip to all Mishkon members who would like to participate in these angling adventures.

Please e-mail Fisherman Phil at shalvah@aol.com if you would like to participate.

Galim Hanukah Edition 2016

We update our website

calendar daily, and you can always

check it for the latest events. No need

to wait for the weekly newsletter or to

call the office!

RSVPing to events is now easy! Just

find the calendar date on our web-

site, and click the red RSVP tab. You

can even pay online!

You can donate to funds and pay for

membership and events online. Just

log on to our Website, and click the

donate tab on the upper right. Simply

scroll down to choose a fund, and we

will take it from there!

We offer lovely and thoughtful Mish-

kon tribute cards that we will mail or

email for you to people you want to

honor. You can choose what the card

should say, and we will do the rest!

You can even order and pay online!

You can return your pushke/tzedakah

box to Mishkon any time of the year

when you fill it. We will empty it for

you and return it to you to be refilled.

And you will have made a wonderful

contribution to your synagogue!

You can honor the memory of a loved

one by purchasing a memorial

plaque. The beautiful, engraved

tablet will be displayed on the back

wall of the sanctuary. You can call the

office for an order form, or simply

download it from our website sliding

banner.

Kiddush donations are always

appreciated: Sponsor a kiddush,

contribute to the monthly simcha

kiddush or buy freshly caught fish

from Phil Bell, the proceeds of which

he donates to pay for kidushim. These

lunches are great opportunities to

gather after services and get to know

more Mishkonians.

4

Voting at Susan Sims Bodenstein Preschool by Ellen Aiken

The 2016 Election!

Galim Hanukah Edition 2016

Awaiting the Results.

Everybody Stay Civil.

Voting Day! Let’s All Sign In.

Creating Our Ballots! Get Involved. Spread the Word.

In the Voting Booth.

No Peeking and No Selfies!

The buzz of our 2016 presidential election found its way to our preschool! The children had a lot of questions and a lot to

say! We, the teachers, listened, remaining objective and never sharing our political views. Some of the comments were …

“I like Hillary Clinton. She’s nice.”

“Donald Trump is naughty. He doesn't like people from other countries and doesn't like children.”

“It would be good to have a girl for president!”

“I’m rooting for Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump makes jokes about girls, and it makes girls sad.”

“I like Donald Trump.”

“Donald Trump is too scary. He wants to put people in jail and lock it. What if he puts the teachers in jail?”

“Actually, I don’t like Donald Trump. He only likes white men and doesn't like babies.”

“Hillary Clinton is nice. She likes kids. She doesn't make jokes about girls or anyone … And she is smart.”

“I think Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are allergic to each other.”

We took the opportunity to teach the children a bit about how you become president, what the president does, and all

about the White House. We read some wonderful books. (Thank you, Markowitz family!) So You Want to Be President,

Duck for President, Our Flag and If I Were President. The children decided that they wanted to have their own election! So

we created our own ballots, decorated a voting booth, and made American flags. On Tuesday, November 8, we voted, and

each child got a “I VOTED” sticker! We then tallied up the results. In the classroom, Clinton beat Trump by 11-4. This was a

wonderful learning experience for our children, who will one day be our leaders.

5 Galim Hanukah Edition 2016

Join Us for Our Hanukah Party DON'T MISS IT...MISHKON'S HANUKAH DINNER AND PARTY!

Monday, December 26, 2016 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Crafts! Candle Lighting! Singing! Dancing! Catered Brisket! Mishkon-Made Latkes! Fresh Roasted Vegetables! Sufganiyot! Maccabee Punch! Music featuring the Klezmer sound!

5-5:30 p.m. - Crafts for Children 5:30-6 p.m. - Candle Lighting on Main Street steps, blessings and singing 6 p.m. - Dinner in social hall, dancing and partying

Bring your family Menorah (with candles!) for the group lighting

FOR ALL AGES – General public and friends welcome!

$12 per Adult, $5 per Child (12 and younger)

Bat Mitzvah: Kidist Rose Itkoff Diamond January 7, 2017

Rosie is a vivacious, passionate friend, sister, daughter and grandchild. She attends Crossroads Middle School, where she is an honors student and track-and-field team member. She will be the Raven in the school play “Animal Farm.” Rosie is known far and wide as the life of the party: hilarious, a dancing machine and a loyal friend. She was born in Ethiopia and came to the U.S. when she was 7 months old. She will be fresh off the slopes of Montana when she reads her Torah portion. She lives with her broth-er, Leo, mother, Sandy, father, Jonathan, and dog, Posey. Rosie and her family look forward to celebrating with you!

Looking for a venue for your next event? We have a beautiful sanctuary, social hall, chapel, and full-service kosher kitchens for rent. Check our website for capacity and rates, or call the office at 310-392-3029 for more information.

Mishkon Simchas Congratulations on the wedding of Aliza Wine and Jonathan Marcus.

Married on August 21, 2016

Congratulations on the wedding of Zack and Jaclyn Steinberg. Married

November 20. Zack is the son of Ann and Barry Steinberg.

Congratulations on the conversion of Molly Karcher

Congratulations on the upcoming wedding of Shiri Steinberg to

Yoni Sassoon. Shiri is the daughter of Ann and Barry Steinberg.

6