Jewish Community News

Newsbriefs: February 2008

Grandpals program at the APJCC

Do you miss your grandkids, or wish you had some? The Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center has an antidote to grandchild deprivation syndrome. At the JCC’s free Grandpals Shabbat program, seniors interact with 4-year-olds from the APJCC Preschool every other Friday. Activities include music, art, storytelling, and Shabbat celebrations. The program meets from 9:30 -10:15 a.m. on selected Fridays in the APJCC Auditorium. Upcoming dates are February 29, March 14, March 28, April 11, May 9, and May 30. Admission is free but you must RSVP. For more information, contact Hope Yaghutiel at (408) 357-7438 or hope@svjcc.org.

Grieving and mourning group at Congregation Beth David

Daniel Pressman will offer a new class: “HaMakom Yenachem...May the Presence Give Comfort: A Jewish Journey Group for Those Grieving a Loss.”  Based on a model from Synagogue 2000, this course is designed to provide a supportive and caring community during the mourning process. Classes will be on Mondays, 7-9:30 p.m., Feb. 25, March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31. The cost is $25 for Beth David members and $45 for non-members. RSVP to jaggars@beth-david.org or call (408) 257-3333.

Federation's animated video draws thousands of viewers

The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley’s new animated video, “Where Does all the Money Go?”  has sparked interest from the Bay Area, across the country, and even abroad.  It has been replayed thousands of times, becoming one of YouTube’s most viewed videos in the non-profit category.    

The video explains the path of a donation to the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, tracing a dollar as it goes (in big blue trucks and airplanes, affixed with the Federation’s logo, of course) from agency to agency.  Trucks pull up at various agencies in need, and poof!   A puff of smoke and the scene has changed to one of unbridled success.  Airplanes drop care packages, solving crises in New Orleans, Eastern Europe, and Israel.

Eleanor Reissa, queen of Yiddish soul, to perform at Congregation Sinai

Coming direct from a sold-out run at the Houseman Theatre in New York, Eleanor Reissa will bring her highly-praised Off-Broadway show, “Hot , Hip, and Heymish!” to Congregation Sinai on Sunday, February 24 at 2 p.m.     

Reissa is a renowned interpreter of Yiddish music,  a Tony-nominated director and award-winning theatre artist. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, attending the New York City public school system. Her parents were Holocaust survivors, which accounts for Reissa’s fluency in Yiddish and love of Yiddishkeit.

Danny Maseng to be scholar-in-residence at Shir Hadash

Singer, teacher and storyteller Danny Maseng will be the scholar-in-residence at Congregation Shir Hadash  February 29 – March 2. Maseng will  lead the Shabbat Service on Friday, February 29, singing alongside Cantor Felder-Levy, the Choir and the Junior Choir. The group will sing many of Maseng’s original tunes   (Mah Tovu, Elohai N’tzor, and Shiru L’Adonai). Maseng will lead a Vertical Torah reading on Saturday, March 1 followed by a short service and kiddush lunch celebrating Shir Hadash’s 26th anniversary. In the evening on Saturday, Maseng will lead a concert celebrating Israel’s 60th birthday. To order tickets, please contact Leo Gutstein at tickets@shirhadash.org.

American Jews & Israel class

A special class exploring the relationship of American Jews and Israel will take place at Congregation Shir Hadash on Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m., March 9-30. The class will address questions such as: Why as an American Jew should I have a relationship with Israel? What does it mean to consider Israel a spiritual center? What does Israel contribute to world Jewry and to our lives here in America as a place where Judaism is the majority culture? As American Jews grow more comfortable and accepted in American culture,  the perceived need for Israel as a place of refuge diminishes. Contemporary Judaism is more centered around identity and meaning. It tends to be more about the customs, stories and ethics of our people and less about ethnic or national Jewish identity.

Nominations for Teen Tikkun Olam Award sought

San Francisco’s Jewish Community Federation is seeking outstanding California teens to be nominated for the 2008 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards. $36,000 will be awarded to five teens. San Francisco Bay Area philanthropist Helen Diller established the award in 2007 to recognize and model young people who have shown leadership in helping to repair the world. Up to five California teens (ages 13 – 19) will be recognized for their extraordinary community service. The deadline for nominations is March 11, 2008. The monetary prize is to be used for college or furthering the teen’s work to make our world a better place.

Passover food drive begins March 17

Jewish Family Services is holding its annual Project N.O.A.H. (No One Abandoned Here) Passover Food Drive March 17 through April 4. The drive aims to collect and distribute kosher for Passover food to lower income and elderly Jews. Last year JFS delivered 125 packages to needy Jewish seniors and families and 280 gift bags to seniors in facilities. Barrels decorated with balloons will be in  the Levy  Campus lobby areas beginning March 17. Also, look for food barrels in local synagogues and Lucky supermarkets. Contributions of the following items are especially needed: gefilte fish, horseradish, jam, candies, honey, latke mix, potato starch, wine, matzo ball soup, macaroons, cookies, dried fruit (pre-bagged or pre-boxed), matzo meal, cake meal, and tea.

Stanford Slavic language professor to speak at Beth David March 13

Professor Gabriella Safran, associate professor of Slavic Languages and Literature at Stanford University, will speak at Congregation Beth David on Thursday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Conversations in Jewish Learning series. Professor Safran’s talk will be entitled “Yiddish Protest Songs, Russian Miners’ Songs and Children’s Rhymes: On Producing a Compact Disk with the Music of S. An-sky.” Prof. Safran and musician Michael Alpert have recently produced a music CD that combines wax cylinder recordings of Yiddish folk songs with new performances of the music collected and written by S. An-sky (Shloyme-Zanvl Rappoport, 1863-1920),  author of the play “The Dybbuk,” as well as an editor, organizer, revolutionary and ethnomusicologist who studied the Jews of the Pale of Settlement.

Hillel of Silicon Valley wins prestigious award

Hillel of Silicon Valley was honored by the international parent organization at a December 2007 conference, receiving the “Indispensible Campus Partnership Award,” for its success at becoming involved with student life at the colleges.
    

“A lot of times Hillel will have its own programs, but we have true partnership with the colleges and the existing programs and structures,” said Sue Maltiel, director of Hillel of Silicon Valley. As an example of its successes, Hillel works in partnership with the Foothill College  to host a Jewish Heritage Month every January. At Santa Clara University, Hillel partnered with the campus ministry to provide programming and Jewish opportunities from within the college. Julian Sander, chair of the Hillel International Board of Directors,  acknowledged Hillel of Silicon Valley for achieving this working relationship with not just one campus, but with four. “This award, it’s a really big deal for us,” said Maltiel.

Blood drive at Emanu-El

The Temple Emanu-El Brotherhood, in cooperation with the Stanford Blood Center, will host a blood drive on Sunday, February 24.  Appointments are available and walk-ins are welcome.  Potential donors need to be between 17 and 65 years of age, with no symptoms of cold or flu.  Come well-hydrated. Enjoy cream cheese, lox and bagels, and orange juice after your donation. For more information call (408) 292-0939.

Costumes are not just for kids!     

Temple Emanu-El’s Adult Purim Evening on Thursday, March 20 welcomes everyone to become someone new (or not).  Starting with a bring-your-own-dinner at 6 p.m., Rabbi  Magat will lead a study session, followed by a 7 p.m. reading of “the whole megillah.” Designated drivers welcome, hamentaschen provided. RSVP to the Temple office, (408) 292-0939, by March 18.

Sinai Purim Carnival and toy auction

Adults and children are invited to celebrate Purim at Congregation Sinai on Sunday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m. Activities will include  a dunk tank, petting zoo, jumpy castle, and wine tasting. Tickets will be sold at the door and lunch may be purchased at the event. Congregation Sinai is located at 1532 Willowbrae Avenue, San Jose. For more information, contact the Sinai office at (408) 264-8542.

Diaspora Dinner XV at Emanu-El March 22

The Temple Emanu-El Diaspora Dinner featuring the Jews and cuisine of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and more) will take place on Saturday, March 22 at 6 p.m. Look forward to spectactular food and a multi-media presentation about the region. The cost is $49 per person, with an optional wine pairing (selected by Cheriel Magat) for $18 (which can be shared among two diners).

"Yossi & Jagger" movie at Shir Hadash April 4

Congregation Shir Hadash will show the film “Yossi & Jaggar,” a story of true love in the Israeli army, on Friday, April 4 at 8:30 p.m. Based on a true story, the film is about a “don’t ask, don’t tell” relationship at a remote outpost along the Lebanese border. A brief discussion will be led by the rabbis following the film, and dinner will be held at 7:30 p.m. for $14.  Please contact the Temple office for reservations at (408) 358-1751.     

JFS launches "Welcome to America" program

Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley has launched a new program, “Welcome to America,” which provides household items for newly arrived refugees. People in the South Bay Jewish community have been eager to help. One havurah held a kitchen shower and donated a beautifully wrapped box of new small appliances. A teen studies class donated a kitchen and bath gift cleverly packaged in reusable containers.

Hillel Pillars Brunch scheduled for April 6

Hillel of Silicon Valley presents the 4th annual Pillars of the Community Brunch on  April 6 at 11:30 a.m. at Congregation Sinai. This year’s community honorees include Kay Fireman, Phil Kipnis, Barabara Shapira, and Father Jack Treacy. This year’s student honorees include Yael Kafri, Rebecca Lotvin, Amir Mesguich, and Shiry Tannenbaum. This is Hillel’s sole fundraiser of the year and community support is vital. If you would like to underwrite the event or sponsor an ad in the tribute program, please contact Sue Maltiel at (408) 286- 6669 or director@hillelsv.org. You can also sign up to attend on the website www.hillelsv.org.

Learn Hebrew in 5 sessions for free at the APJCC

Have you always wanted to learn Hebrew? Now you can, in just five, one-and-a-half-hour courses at the APJCC’s Center for Jewish Life and Learning. Over 20 students have begun the five-week course offered Tuesday afternoons from 12:30-2:00 and Wednesday evenings from 8:30-9:45 p.m.  “There is no reason for anyone who wants to be able to read Hebrew or any other language to not be able to do so,” said Rabbi Fenton, director of the Center for Jewish Life and Learning.

"One Community, One Book" program continues

The APJCC is continuing its “One Community, One Book” program encouraging those who have not already done to to read “As a Drive Leaf” by Milton Steinberg. Steinberg’s novel, set in Talmudic times, is a story of a man torn between living a Jewish life and blending into the secular world. Book clubs have formed to discuss the book at the APJCC, Congregation Beth David, Congregation Sinai, and Temple Emanu-El.