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Jewish Community News

Newsbriefs: October 2006

Help memorialize Holocaust victims

Over six million Jews perished in the Holocaust yet only 2.5 million have so far been memorialized in the Yad Vashem archives in Israel. Yad Vashem has issued an urgent call for Survivors and their families to submit the names of their loved ones and friends who perished, into the their database (www.yadvashem.org/names). The South Bay Holocaust Survivors Group is seeking volunteers to insure that no Holocaust victim is forgotten. If you have Web access and would like to help or list names of relatives who perished in the Holocaust, please contact Barbara Faxon at 218-7654 or brfaxon@yahoo.com.

Brandeis Brunch on October 24

The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of Brandeis University National Women’s Committee is presenting a special brunch and program entitled “Backstage at the Celebrity Forum” on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 10:30 a.m. at the Atrium Retirement Community, 1009 Blossom River Way, San Jose. The program will feature Dr. Dick Henning, past vice president of Foothill College and founder of the Celebrity Forum. Dr. Henning will speak about the many celebrities he has met and entertained over the years. There will be a donation of $10 ($7 is tax deductible) for the program and brunch. For information and reservations, call Lottie Hakim at 270-1453 or Judy Stein at 270-0726 before Oct. 17. This event is open to the public.

The December Dilemma every year

Do you have questions on what is appropriate for holiday celebrations in the public schools, or how to handle non-Jewish grandparents who want to share their holiday? Rabbi Dana Magat of Temple Emanu-El will facilitate the discussion on Sunday, December 10, at 11 a.m. in the Benefactors Room at Temple Emanu-El. RSVP's are requested to the Temple office, 292-0939.

Palestinian journalist to speak at Levy
Campus Oct. 29

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) in partnership with CAMERA (Committee for Accurate Middle East Reporting in America) is bringing Khaled Abu Toameh to the Levy Family Campus on Sunday, October 29 at 4 p.m. Toameh, a Palestinian journalist, contributes regular columns about happenings in the West Bank and Gaza for The Jerusalem Post. Toameh exemplifies the democratic voice of a Palestinian who straddles the gap of extremes in the Middle East. He epitomizes Israel’s freedom of press and demonstrates the free exchange of ideas. JCRC’s goal is to continue to embrace its position of working “in the crack,” bridging the communal gaps that threaten co-existence and peace. Many other community agencies are participating in sponsoring this dynamic speaker. If you would like to join the JCRC in its mission of bridging communal fissures or would like to report an incident which the JCRC should address, please contact Diane Fisher at dfisher@jcrcsv.org or 357-7504.

Federation hires two new staff members

The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley has hired two new staff members: Cathie Whalen as Director of Finance and Michelle Steinberger as Campaign Associate. Cathie Whalen has lived in the communities of Los Gatos and Saratoga for the past 17 years and became acquainted with the Federation through a consulting engagement with her former employer, Rose Ryan.

Michelle Steinberger also joined the Federation staff in the last month. Before moving to the Silicon Valley in the fall of 2005 she owned a health and fitness consulting company. Before that Steinberger worked for eight years as a sales and marketing executive for a Seattle communication agency where her clients included Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Dell, Tommy Bahama, and Amazon. Her Jewish Federation experience includes 6 years on the Young Leadership Division board where she was president for two years.

Hillel beach clean up Havdallah & BBQ

Hillel of Silicon Valley is hosting a Shabbat beach clean-up, Havdallah, BBQ, and bonfire with FREE food on October 14, 5:30 p.m. at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz. College and graduate students from ALL schools in the area are invited. People interested in carpooling can meet at the Hillel House, 336 E. William Street in San Jose at 4:30 p.m. For questions or RSVP (please do!!) contact Ruth at (408) 286-6669 or campusprograms@hillelsv.org. This program is supported by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley and the Koret Foundation.

Federation awards $70,000 in grants

The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley has awarded $70,000 in Opportunity Grants to local Jewish agencies. The Allocations committee awarded grants to projects which had the greatest community impact.

Among these grants is the M’yuchad program, which provides Jewish and Hebrew education to community children with special needs. M’yuchad received $16,000. Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley received $4,000 to provide Kosher food to Jewish families in need, and $7,000 to provide To Life! Wellness and education seminars and services to seniors. B’nai Brith Youth Organizations received $7,000 for teen programming in conjunction with the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center. For a complete listing of Opportunity Grant recipients, please visit www. jvalley.org.

The Jewish Federation thanks all its donors, and the Koret Foundation, for making these grants possible. To contribute through the Jewish Federation or for information about applying for a grant, please contact Arielle Hendel at 357-7501.

Federation raises $140,000 for Israel

The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley thanks volunteers and donors who helped raise more than $140,000 so far for Israel. One hundred percent of the money goes to Israel for services and rebuilding efforts resulting from the recent war. Several volunteers came to the Federation in mid-September to make fundraising calls on behalf of Israel. The Federation extends a special thank you to these individuals: Bonnie Slavitt Moore, Denise Kappler, Edward Yevelev, Elise Wolf, Ginny Baird, Ivan Gralnik, Jerry Jacobson, Judy Levin, Linda Allen, Linda Rossen, Marat Volman, Marina Beniaminison, Max Kamenetsky, Melissa Solin, Ron Peled, Shai Goldman, Stephen Green and Steve Schleimer. Individuals who haven't made a donation yet, and would like to be counted among the supporters of these services for Israel and its citizens, please call Arielle Hendel at (408) 357-7501 or go on line at www.jvalley.org.

Barbie and the Jews at Emanu-El Oct. 18

Did you know that the creator of the Barbie doll was Jewish? Do you want to be entertained by a quick and irreverent jaunt through Jewish history? If so, Temple Emanu-El invites you to Tiffany Shlain's film, a hit at last year's Sundance Film Festival. The film will be presented on Wednesday, October 18, by Women of Temple Emanu-El. A light dinner will be held starting at 6 p.m., with the film and discussion following at 6:30 p.m. RSVP to Peggy Frederick at 354-1084 or pegif@comcast.net. The cost for dinner and the film is $15.

SPHDS ice cream social and open house October 29

Families of children entering Kindergarten in September 2007 are invited to an open house/ice cream social at South Peninsula Hebrew Day School on Sunday, October 29, from 3-5 p.m at 1030 Astoria Drive in Sunnyvale.

The program will include arts and crafts, games with the school’s physical education instructor, a tour of the campus, a visit to the library, and hands-on fun in the Benhamou Computer Center led by SPHDS' computer teacher.

To RSVP, or for further information, please call Director of Early Childhood Education Barbara Goldstein at (408) 738-3060 or email: barbara.goldstein@sphds.org.

Hanukkah Boutique at Emanu-El
November 12

Favorite and new vendors will be featured at Temple Emanu-El’s Hanukkah boutique, scheduled for Sunday, November 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Whether your list of needs includes personalized items, selected Judaica or jewelry and gift items from Israel, you are sure to find the perfect gift. Lunch, children's activities and more will round out the day's activities. For more information on the boutique or to sign up as a vendor, contact the Temple office at 292-0939 or Candy Halbig, boutique chair, at chalbig@sbcglobal.net.

Author to speak about growing up in a Jewish-Arabic family in America

Author Jack Marshall will speak at Congregation Beth David on Thursday, November 9, at 7:30 p.m. In his memoir, he explores the expulsion of Arabic-speaking (Sephardic, or Mizrachi) Jews from Spain in 1492, and their scattering into Muslim countries, including the difference in treatment by their host monarchs from their European (Ashkenazic) counterparts, and their emigration to America during the Depression. In America, they comprised an insular minority within a minority, keeping their Old World customs and language and rigorously observing their ancient Jewish laws and traditions, while adjusting to the demands of earning a living and raising their families in the New World.

Besides the memoir, “From Baghdad to Brooklyn,” Marshall has published ten volumes of poetry and received several awards. He has been a writer-in-residence and taught at the University of Iowa Writers Workshop, San Francisco State University, University of Hawaii, and UC Davis. Book sales and signing will follow the lecture. This talk is part of the Conversations in Jewish Learning (CJL) lecture series, and is free to members and CJL partners; a $5 donation is requested from non-members. For more information please call 257-3333.

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