Jewish Community News

Newsbriefs: September 2008

It’s synagogue-shopping time again

Summer is almost over and, before you know it, it will be time for the High Holy Days! Do you know where your seats will be? Do you know who will be giving the sermons to inspire you through the year, who will be giving you insights into what you are doing there and what Jews believe? Have you found the place to call “my congregation?”
    May I suggest that now it the time to spend “synagogue shopping”—visiting, meeting the rabbi and congregants, trying them on for size, so to speak.
    Perhaps you think a specific congregation is “too religious” for you. But remember, a house of worship is supposed to inspire you, bring you to greater heights, educate you. It shouldn’t be the lowest common denominator.
     There are not many weeks left for “shopping.” Don’t be one of the people who calls at the last minute and asks, “How much are the High Holy Day tickets?” and then has to sit and pray with strangers. Make a congregation your home. There are many choices in the South Bay area.

Grandparents helping grandparents

   Grandparents with grandchildren that have special needs are invited to get together to discuss, support and empower one another in dealing with these challenging circumstances.  A group is being formed where grandparents can meet others whose lives have been impacted with grandchildren who may have developmental or physical disabilities.
    The group will have its first meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September  12 at the home of  Karen Guggenheim.  There will be no speaker or facilitator at this meeting and grandparents will be encouraged to discuss how they can help one another deal with issues that can be emotionally devastating and share knowledge of resources that are available in the community to help families of children with special needs.

Coffee and klezmer music at Beth David

     Join Congregation Beth David on November 22 for an exciting coffee house environment with the mid-peninsula’s very own klezmer band, the Klezmakers (http://www.klezmakers.com).
     With a repertoire encompassing Eastern European dances, the Klezmakers play both Yiddish theater tunes and traditional Israeli folk songs. The Klezmakers create a joyous and heartfelt sound that echoes the Old World, while still making today’s audiences get up and dance.

Kehillah hires development director

     Stuart J. Rogoff has been named the director of development at Kehillah Jewish High School. He will oversee development campaigns - with a special focus on major gifts, as well as marketing and communications efforts.

New ADL director

   Josh Rosenberg began working as the assistant regional director for the Peninsula/Silicon Valley at the San Francisco office of the Anti Defamation League on July 14.  He grew up in San Jose and graduated from Brandeis University in 2007 with degrees in history and politics.  He and his family have been members of Congregation Beth David since the early 1990s.  Rosenberg’s previous work experience includes heading sales and marketing at a small Silicon Valley internet startup called Street Keys LLC, interning for Senator Dianne Feinstein, and working as a cook for two summers at Camp Tawonga.  In addition to working for the ADL, Rosenberg  is currently advising the Saratoga AZA chapter of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization.

Professor to talk on “Jews, Power and Politics”

     With the current election year as a backdrop, Professor Marc Dollinger, the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Chair in Jewish Studies and Social Responsibility at San Francisco State University, will present a lecture on “Jews, Power and Politics” at Congregation Shir Hadash at 7 p.m., Sunday, October 12.
     The free program will trace the American Jewish community’s political activities from the years after the Civil Rights Movement through the present.
     Dollinger has published several books including “California Jews” and “Quest for Inclusion: Jews and Liberalism in Modern America.” His areas of expertise are Jewish history of the United States and California, Jewish social responsibility, liberalism, modern Jewish identity, Jews and public policy, and separation of church and state.

Used televisions and computers needed

    Do you have an old TV sitting unused and collecting dust?
     JFS is looking for late model (after 1994) TVs to donate to our resettlement clients.
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation of your TV, please contact Caroline Golpashin, vocational case manager, at (408) 357-7449 or (408) 556-0600 or email carolineg@jfssv.org.

“A Taste of Judaism” offers answers for the curious

Lulav and etrog sets available at Ahabat Torah

    With the approach of the High Holy Day season and the following Festival of Sukkot, orders are being taken by Ahabat Torah for the Arba Minim (Four Species).
    The law is taken from the verse in the Torah (Leviticus XXIII, 40) “And you shall take for yourselves on the first day of the Festival a branch from palm trees (Lulav), the fruit of a goodly tree (Etrog), a branch of myrtle (Hadass), and branches of the willow-of-the-brook (Aravot).”
    There are laws governing the requirements for each of these species, and Ahabat Torah and Rabbi Simcha Green are particular that the Kashrut of each of these species is maintained on every package that it acquires from reliable and pious suppliers. Sets will be available at various price levels.

Introduction to Judaism class offered by Shir Hadash/Emanu-El

    Congregation Shir Hadash and Temple Emanu-El will offer an “Introduction to Judaism” class beginning October 14. The class meets every other Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and includes elementary Hebrew instruction and presentations by Rabbi Melanie Aron of Shir Hadash and Rabbi Dana Magat of Emanu-El.
    The class is designed to offer an extensive view of Jewish ethics and values, study, community and spirituality, covering topics such as, “What We Believe – G-d, Torah & Israel/Sin & Redemption,” Jewish Holidays (Sukkot, Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Simchat Torah, Shabbat, Chanukah, Tu Bishvat, Purim, Passover, Shavuot), Jewish Life Cycle, Our History, Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron (modern holidays), the American Jewish Community, our local Jewish Community and Conversion.

Staff changes at Temple Emanu-El

   Jane Jacobson, who retired from Temple Emanu-El at the end of June, will be honored during Shabbat services on Friday, September 19. Jane brought a warmth, vision and professionalism to her work. She will leave to enjoy time with her husband Len, children and three grandchildren (and another on the way!) and her continued work with Hadassah.
   James Perlstein started as executive director in August. He brings a wealth of congregational, community and professional experience from the Chicago area. James is looking forward to becoming active in the South Bay Jewish community. To say hello and welcome him to the neighborhood, contact him at (408) 292-0939 or jperlstein@templesanjose.org.

How American Jews’ role can promote security and peace in Israel

Shir Hadash members turn blank walls into art show

While many at Congregation Shir Hadash have been focused on the upcoming construction that will expand the Temple’s Oneg Room, two women saw the soon to be demolished walls as a potential art gallery.
     Marilyn Katz and Ingeborg Jakobson created “Pictures 2008: the Art Show,” a display of art created by members of Shir Hadash. The show includes 18 works of art and will be on display on the walls of the Temple’s Oneg Room – until the walls are torn down for  expansion. The artists in the show – who have contributed photography, paintings in oil, acrylic and water color, drawings, fiber art pieces and a mosaic collage – are all members of Shir Hadash.

SJSU offers Hebrew to high school students

    South Bay high school students interested in filling their foreign language requirement have many choices: Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and  French. But for students not attending a Jewish High School, there haven’t been any options for Hebrew —until now!
     In September, San Jose State University will launch a new course for high school students wishing to take Hebrew to fulfill their high school foreign language requirement (or as an additional language). The course is fully accredited as an SJSU language course; students will earn 3 units of college credit each semester.

Auditions set for JCC’s “Music Man” production

     The Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center is buzzing with the news of the third multi-generational community theatre production of Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” to be held on January 30, 31 and February 1, 6, 7 and 8, at the Heritage Theater in Campbell.
     Mark your calendars now for one of the following audition dates to be held in the APJCC auditorium, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. Children and adult auditions will be held from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis Sunday, September 21. Children’s auditions will continue on Wednesday, September 24, 5 – 7 p.m.  Adult auditions will continue on Wednesday, September 24, 7 – 9 p.m. Bring a prepared vocal number or prepared dance. Sheet music is preferred. You will be accompanied by our audition pianist. You may also use recorded music. Your prepared piece should be no longer than two-minutes.
     Families, friends, cousins, mothers and fathers and their children are encouraged to try out. Children are considered between the ages of 8 to 17 years of age. Adults are 18 years and older!
    “The Music Man” follows the fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band and he vows to organize this despite the fact he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall.  

Twelve-year-old donates $900 to animal shelter for bat mitzvah project

Over breakfast two years ago, Isabel Ullmann (now 12) started a conversation about her bat mitzvah project. Always an animal lover, she knew her project would involve dogs and cats. Within a few hours Izzy’s Pet Care was launched, and Isabel quickly became the sole source of pet care for her 210-unit condo complex. She determined she would give 50 percent of her proceeds to Pets in Need, a no-kill animal shelter in Redwood City.
    Hundreds of hours of dog walking, kitty cuddling, and poop scooping later and with still nine months to go before her bat mitzvah, Izzy decided it was time to give Pets in Need her $900 donation.
 Visiting Pets in Need in July, Izzy reflected,    

Classes for Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish Study Network is offering several classes for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. All classes are free and cover topics including “The Mitzuah to Eat on Yom Kippur” and “G-d is Your Shadow: Human Forgivness and Divine Response.”  
For more class information or to registar visit www.jsn.info.

Living without your loved one through the High Holy Days program

Congregation Shir Hadash is offering a free program “Living Without Your Loved One Through the High Holy Days” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Lee Pollock, director of NextSteps, a Sinai Memorial Chapel outreach program for mourners, will facilitate the program.
    “The holidays are a tough time to grieve,” said Pollock. “Knowing that does not make them any easier, but it may help us understand and accept our reactions, learn some things we can do to help ourselves cope, and experience new beginnings with the holiday.”

Women’s Philanthropy installs new board

THe Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley installed its new Board of Directors for the 2008-9 Campaign year on June 5. Susie Brenner and Linda Fox-Mighdoll, Co-Presidents; Denise Kappler, VP Campaign, Susan Gavens, Assistant VP Campaign; Beryl Grace, VP Lions; Bonnie Slavitt Moore, VP LOJE Development; Rena Schochet, VP Education; Ginny Baird, VP Leadership Development; Joelle Pluemer, VP Outreach; April Tilles, Recording and Corresponding Secretary; and Rosemary Scher, Immediate Past President.  General Board members include Cyd Braker, Fran Chevlen, Sue Leiter, Dana Lowy, Claudia Muller, Sharon Samuels, Barbara Schapira, Wendy Shapiro, Kathy Sucher, and Elise Wolf.