Jewish Community News

Newsbriefs: November 2007

How was the Bible passed down?

Rabbi David Stein, co-author of “The Torah: A Modern Commentary” and other books, will present his views on the origin of the Bible and its transmission over the centuries at a morning program at Congregation Shir Hadash on Sunday,
December  2.

Stein, will lead an exploration of  the history of the Bible, its origins and the way in which it has come down to us. He will add archeological findings that have shed light on Torah passages. The two-hour program will feature refreshments and begins at 9:45 a.m. There is no fee. Shir Hadash is located at 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. For more information contact the Temple office at (408) 358-1751.

Fox News' Bill Cowan to speak at Fed Annual
Dinner

The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley’s Annual Dinner will be held on Saturday, January 26 at 6 p.m. at the Levy Family Campus. The event is chaired by Dr. Jeff & Renee Kanel. Lieutenant Colonel Bill Cowan, a news analyst for Fox News, will be the featured speaker. His talk will focus on the California primary election and America’s foreign policy as it relates to Israel, Iran and Iraq. The dinner is open to individuals and families who give a minimum $1,000 gift to the Federation’s 2008 Annual Campaign. Young adults who give a minimum $500 gift are welcome.  For more information please contact Arielle Hendel at (408) 357-7501.

Raising Parents workshops

Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley and the APJCC Preschool are cohosting a Raising Parents discussion series where parents can share experiences, discuss and practice skills together, and even role-play. Groups meet Tuesdays at 9 a.m. in the Kif-Kef room at the APJCC Preschool. Upcoming workshops include December 11, Parenting as Partners; January 22, Juggling 2 - The New Baby and the Older Sibling; February 19, Positive Discipline.  For more information on these free workshops, contact Lizi Oceransky at (408) 357-7425 or Lizio@jfssv.org.

Women of Temple Emanu-El Chanukah
Boutique Nov. 18

The Women of Temple Emanu-El will host its annual Chanukah Boutique on Sunday, November 18 from 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Items for sale will include paper journals, picture frames, Balinese mobiles, woodcuts, hand-painted mezuzzot, ceramic hamsas and menorahs, silver jewelry, greeting cards, handmade pottery and judaic jewelry, multi-denominational calendars, Australian crystals, clothing, Judaic T-Shirts, kippah klips, handmade painted boxes, Judaic tiles, hand-knitted scarves, personalized (while-u-wait) infant and children’s toys and accessories and more. Children’s activities will be offered from 12-2:30 including cookie decorating, arts and crafts and a jump house. Lunch will also be available.

Latke dinner and Hanukkah service at Shir Hadash

The community is invited to a special Hanukkah service at Congregation Shir Hadash on Friday, December 7 at 7:15 p.m. Congregants are invited to bring their own Hanukiyah (Hanukah menorah) to help fill the sanctuary with the lights of the festival. The service will be preceded by a latke dinner at 6 p.m. Shir Hadash is located at 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. For more information contact the Temple office at (408) 358-1751.

MenorahLighting Dec. 9
 
   The Almaden Valley Torah Center invites the community to its Menorah Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, December 9 at 4 p.m., at De Anza Park, on Meridian near Blossom Hill Road.  Festivities will begin with entertainment, the menorah lighting, music, and of course the dancing dreidel. The program will continue at 1422 Helmond Lane with delicious food, a special children’s balloon game, and an auction of donated prizes. For more information, or to donate a gift for the auction please call Rabbi Noach or Rivkah Vogel at (408) 445-1770.

Jewish Heritage Month at Foothill starts in January

January is Hillel of Silicon Valley’s third annual Jewish Heritage Month at Foothill College. This year’s theme “Jews in the Arts” will bring speakers, movies, and more to the students at Foothill as well as the local community.
    The month will kick off with an art exhibit in the new Campus Center showcasing  M.C. Escher. Other events will include Chayele Ash on the Yiddish Theatre, Mark Levy on Jewish music, and comedian Jeff Applebaum. There will be a Krav Maga demonstration, a showing of the Traveling Jewish Theatre’s “The Wonders,” a viewing of “West Bank Story,” information on the Bedouin and Ethiopians in Israel, and Gary Frohlich speaking about Jewish Genetic Diseases. 
    The opening ceremony takes place January 9, with music and festivities to welcome. The closing ceremony will be on January 31. All events will be held at Foothill College and all daytime events are free for both students and community members. This month is made possible through the support of Foothill College, JIFF (Jews, Israelis, and Friends at Foothill) Club, Hillel of Silicon Valley, the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley Beneficiary and the Jewish Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, and Sonoma Counties. For a complete schedule, refer to www.hillelsv.org or contact campus programs@hillelsv.org.

Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life

More than 250 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, October 7 for the Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life in Palo Alto. The campus will be home to the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center and 899 Charleston, an innovative senior living community that is an initiative of the Jewish Home of San Francisco. When it opens in the Fall of 2009, the Taube Koret Campus will provide an innovative, intergenerational complex for the South Peninsula community. The campus will have a pedestrian-friendly, village feel and an environmentally conscious design. In addition to the Oshman Family JCC and 899 Charleston, the campus will provide regional offices for several South Bay Jewish agencies, including the Jewish Community Federation, the Bureau of Jewish Education and the Jewish Community Relations Council.

Local author to talk about nature and the environment

       Local travel and environmental writer Michal Strutin will speak at Congregation Beth David on January 17 at 7:30 p.m. In her slide-lecture about Israel, Strutin will weave in how Torah teaches concern for nature, and how modern Israel is working to honor those concerns.
     A recent South Bay resident, Strutin is a science librarian at Santa Clara University and author of eight books, including “Discovering Natural Israel.”  In her writing she combines her two biggest concerns - Israel and the environment.
      Formerly an editor at Outside and National Parks magazines, Strutin has written for numerous national newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, and Rolling Stone.
    Strutin and her husband Michael live in San Jose.   She says that she is thankful for living in California, which is very environmentally aware. Strutin’s lecture is part of the Conversations in Jewish Learning series.  These lectures are free to members of Beth David or partnering organizations.  Non-members are asked for a $5 donation per lecture.

Shir Hadash holds marriage enrichment class

      Jewish tradition teaches: “Many embark on marriage: some succeed” (Numbers Rabbah 9:4). That may seem harsh, but it does seem to reflect the reality of modern-day marriages and relationships even though it was written years ago.
     In these busy times, too often the most important things are left to last. This winter, Congregation Shir Hadash is inviting married couples to take time to invest in their relationship and to enrich themselves as couples. Susan Fredkin, L.M.F.T., and Rabbi Melanie Aron, trained in the Prepare/Enrich Program, will lead a series designed to give couples better insight into their relationships and to help them discuss and resolve existing issues. The program will be held on Sunday mornings starting January 13 and continuing February 3, February 24 and March 9 from 9:45 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The cost for the program is $50 per couple, which will include testing material from the University of Minnesota. Shir Hadash is located at 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. For more information contact the Temple office at (408) 358-1751.

The Bible goes to the movies at Shir Hadash

Hollywood’s storytelling has colored our view not only of Biblical Israel, but the Israel we know today. To investigate this phenomenon, Congregation Shir Hadash will present a class on Sunday, January 13, entitled “The Bible Goes to the Movies.”
     Dr. Jehon Grist will lead the class in visual tours of the actual history of the ancient biblical world (especially Israel and Egypt) as opposed to the Hollywood versions. The evening will begin with a light supper at 5:30 p.m. with the presentation following at 6:30 p.m. Popcorn will be served for the movies! Shir Hadash is located at 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. For more information contact the Temple office at (408) 358-1751.

Baby BoomerCoffee & Conversation    

The clock has officially begun ticking for baby boomers as the first members of that generation officially became eligible for Social Security payments this year. The challenges of this large and diverse group will be addressed at a class at Congregation Shir Hadash in Los Gatos on Sunday, January 27, from 7- 8:30 p.m.
    The class is designed to address many questions, such as retirement, what to do with spare time, and more.
    The group is aimed at creating open frank discussion of these and other issues. It will be led by therapists Rocki Kramer, LCSW, and Susan Fredkin, MA LMFT. No fee. Shir Hadash is located at 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. For more information contact the Temple office at (408) 358-1751.

Community learning night at the APJCC

    The second annual South Bay Community Night of Learning will be held on Saturday, February 9 from 7–10 p.m. at the Addison-Penzak JCC at the Levy Family Campus in Los Gatos. Entitled “The Spice of Eretz Yisrael: the People, Land and Soul,” the program begins with Havdalah, followed by presentations from over 20 presenters. Topics will range from Biblical Israel, the arts of music and dance, political issues facing Israel today, and food for the Jewish soul.
    “This program with its very broad base of presenters and topics, is sure to attract the attention and interest of all spectrums of our extremely diverse Jewish Silicon Valley,” says co-chair Dianne Portnoy. “It is also a great place to see many people as we all join together to support an outstanding program in our community.” The event is free and the public is welcome. For more information, please contact Rabbi Joshua Fenton, director of Jewish Life and Learning, at (408) 358-3636 or rabbifenton@svjcc.org.

David’s Story: Bringing lessons from his Torah portion to life

My name is David Sigura, and I’m twelve. For my Bar Mitzvah project, I wanted to do something special, and help out in the Jewish community. In my Torah portion, Yitro, it says that Moses bows to his father-in-law and kisses his hand.  Yitro is a very old man.  I think it says to respect and help your elders.  So, I wanted to do some project related to my Torah portion.  I looked at my options, and my mom suggested that I give my time. It was a good idea, so I have been generally helping out with Holocaust survivors, going to Kids Mitzvah Days at JFS, and blowing the shofar for residents in senior facilities who don’t usually hear it during the High Holy Days. This took a lot of effort and time. I had to learn how to blow the shofar and blew it for three senior facilities. It was a great learning experience and I enjoyed it.

Rabbi Berkenwald to be installed at Congregation Sinai

Join the festivities on Sunday, November 11 at 3 p.m. as Congregation Sinai formally installs Joshua Berkenwald as its rabbi. Rabbi Barry Katz of Conservative synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale is coming in from New York to do the actual installation; Rabbi Katz was Rabbi Berkenwald’s mentor. Rachel Michelberg, cantorial soloist, will lead songs for the event. A wine and dessert reception will follow. Please contact the Sinai office for more information (408) 264-8542.

Chanukah Boutique has new vendors

The Women of Temple Emanu-El is sponsoring its Chanukah Boutique on Sunday, November 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.  New wares will include silk flowers, Judaica, jewelry and ceramics.  Of course, food will be served, and children are welcome to participate in the Kids Activity area, making gifts and art projects.  Crafts people looking for a location are encourage to contact the Temple office at (408) 292-0939.

Temple Emanu-El Brotherhood sponsors Rabbi Lennard Thal

Rabbi Lennard Thal, senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism will be the guest speaker on Saturday, December 8 at Temple Emanu-El. The event, open to the community without charge, will begin with Havdallah. Rabbi Thal will give a “State of the Union (for Reform Judaism)” presentation, highlighting some of the issues that will be featured at the URJ Biennial, to be held in San Diego December 11-16. For more information contact Temple Emanu-El at (408) 292-0939.

Shir Hadash forms two book group

Congregation Shir Hadash of Los Gatos is beginning two book groups – Book Group Extraordinaire that will feature evening book discussions over wine, coffee and desert, and Café Shir Hadash, a Sunday morning book discussion featuring coffee and bagels. The groups are free and open to all. Each group will collectively decide on books to be read and discussed. Café Shir Hadash, which is facilitated by the Adult Education Committee, will begin Jan. 6. Information on Book Group Extraordinaire, which is facilitated by Rabbi Melanie Aron, is available through the Shir Hadash office, (408) 358-1751 ext.