Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
!1
A.T. Receives Rebates From
Purchases Through Our Site
Double CLICK HERE TO
SHOP
smile.amazon.com/ch/20-1000739
AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION P.O. BOX 442 SANTA MONICA, CA 90406
Torah: Shmini Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47 Distinguished Speaker: Holocaust Survivor Roman Ward Torah Chanters:Rena Jaffe and Marvin WarsofskyGreeter: Helene Silber
THIS SHABBAT 9:00AM Ethics/Mussar Rabbi Miriam Hamrell 10:00 - 12:15 PM Shabbat Services 12:15 PM - Potluck
Dairy Lunch 1:00 PM Social Action
Committee Meeting
AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION 343 South Church Lane, Los Angeles, CA 90049 (310) 362-1111 ONE TORAH, ONE COMMUNITY, MANY TEACHERS COMMITTED TO REPAIRING THE WORLD ahavattorahla.org
April 22, 2017
This week’s parsha is Shmini which is Hebrew for the “eighth.” On the eighth day (the day after the seven days of consecration of the priests) Moses summons Aaron, his sons and the elders of Israel. Moses instructs Aaron and his sons to make burnt and sin offerings at the Tabernacle so that God will forgive the Children of Israel. Aaron lifts up his hands towards the people and blesses them. A fire consumes the offerings and the people shout. Aaron's sons offer a strange fire to God and God kills them. On the day that should have been the happiest day of Aaron’s life, his sons are killed by God. Aaron is silent. Moses tells Aaron and his surviving sons not to mourn but commands the rest of the people to do so. God instructs Aaron that neither he nor his sons nor priests for generations to follow are to drink alcohol before entering the Tabernacle. He further instructs them about making sacrifices.
Rabbi: Miriam Hamrell MHL,MAEd
Cantorial Soloist: Gary Levine Associate Cantorial Soloist: Kimberly Haynes President: Shoshi Wilchfort Treasurer: Hal Jaffe Secretary: Mary Kalifon Board Members: Sophia Avants Linda Badger Debra Barrath Barbara Burbank Vivian Gold Ben Greenberg Gary Levine Rita Reuben Renee Schwartz Jonathan Troper Andrea Yahudian Executive Director and Newsletter Editor: Linda Badger Past Presidents Judy Kollack Michael Stevens Rena Jaffe Jean Katz Ron Estroff Sid Rosenblatt Blanche Moss Ex-officio Members: Rabbi Miriam Hamrell Charles Hamrell, MD
!2
The first ten chapters of Leviticus contain The Laws of the Sanctuary. With few exceptions the remainder of the Book deals with The Laws of Daily Life. God describes to Moses the laws of kashrut which are to distinguish between pure and impure animals, birds, fish, and insects. The Dietary Laws have proved an important factor in the preservation of the Jewish people in the past, and are, in more than one respect, an irreplaceable agency for maintaining Jewish identity in the present. If a Jew, at the time of partaking of food, remembers the identical words used by his fellow Jews since time immemorial and the world over, he relies on himself, wherever he be at the moment in communion with his imperishable people. Shmini ends with God instructing Moses and Aaron in several laws of ritual purity. God commands Moses and Aaron to instruct the children of Israel on these laws of ritual purity.
Shalom Haverim and Haverot,
So many are scrambling to see the amazing super blooms and solar eclipse...so many more need to think of the miraculous wonders of our ecosystems, human bodies and even the sun rising each morning! Judaism says, "God is hidden within nature." The world of nature with all its genius, beauty and symmetry IS A GIFT FROM HASHEM. Just as every brushstroke bears the artist’s signature, so Hashem is hidden within all of His creation.
As Hashem delighted in each day of His creation, saying "It is good", we too have the opportunity to delight in the colors, variety and wonders. On Tuesday April 25, 9:30 A.M. on a nature/photo walk, led by artist, spiritualist and friend Joy Krauthammer and Rabbi Miriam, we will also be celebrating Rosh Hodesh, the new month and counting of the omer, in the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot. Please see the details and directions following in this newsletter and respond to Linda, for the event and brunch because reservations are needed.
We are happy to announced that the deadline for the submission of tributes for the Gala Tribute Book has been extended to May 10th, 2017 so be sure to get yours within the next few weeks.
B'shalom v'ahava,Shoshi
Dear Fellow Congregants Our Silent Auction is a major part of our fund raising efforts at our Gala. The money we make from the Auction of donated gift certificates helps us with our programs during the year. Coleman Colla, who is in charge of this part of the Gala, indicates that we are a bit behind where we were last year at this time. PLEASE, PLEASE, GET FORMS FROM JUDITH WEINBERGER ON SHABBAT OR PRINT OUT THE ENCLOSED
FORMS IN THIS NEWSLETTER TO GET DONATIONS FROM THE MERCHANTS AND SERVICES THAT YOU PATRONIZE. The success of the Gala and the Silent Auction is in each of (your) OUR hands.
THE WEEKLY MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT SHOSHI WILCHFORT
!3
As a witness and a survivor to the horror of the Holocaust, Mr. Roman Ward captured clearly, directly and succinctly his amazing and legendary life of miracles in his book“HANGING HITLER’S LONG JOHNS.” You will be mesmerized by his true story. Roman will be joined by his co-author Frank Feldinger.
This riveting book will be for sale for $20 during lunch time.
“We must never dare to draw conclusions from the Shoah. There are no answers. But we can choose what we do with the memory.”*
YOM HASHOAH HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY COMMEMORATED THIS SATURDAY
When: April 22nd, 2017 @ 10:00 am Where: 343 S. Church Lane, LA
Rabbi Miriam Hamrell, a Second Generation Survivor, will be holding services at Ahavat Torah Congregation on April 22nd. This Shabbat service is being dedicated to the Six Million Jews who were killed by the Nazis, to the Survivors, and to the heroism of the Jewish resistance to the Holocaust.
We are honored to have Holocaust Survivor and
Author Mr. Roman Ward as our distinguished speaker.
!4
AHAVAT TORAH CLASS In the Mid-Wilshire Area
Rabbi Miriam Hamrell is teaching a class on the
TORAH PORTION OF THE WEEK
Date: Wednesday, April 19th, 2017 Time: 10:00AM-12:00 Noon
Place: A Private Home
Thank you M & Ms for your gracious hospitality for hosting these fantastic classes.Please RSVP to email: [email protected], or [email protected].
Enjoy learning Torah like you never did before! Come and bring a friend.
COME AND ENJOY A.T.’S THURSDAY CLASSES RABBI MIRIAM AT HER HOME
TANYA - Time: 11:-12:00 Noon - The Seeker & the Perplexed Study Our Jewish Manual for Ethical Life
The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions about life. It has revolutionized the way we think about God, the human soul, the world and our place within it.
Time: 12-12:20 Potluck Dairy Lunch
12:20-2:00 -A deep study of the Torah Portion of the week 2-2:30PM - A deep study of the Haftarah Portion of the week
Cost: $5 Members; $10 Non-members
Come and bring a friend to these fascinating and rare classes.
!5
Kabbalat Shabbat with Candle Lighting and Blessings by our Rabbi Miriam Hamrell, together with great music by Rev Eli Lester, Phil Bell and Alyssa Rosenbaum. POTLUCK DINNER, dairy, vegetarian. After dinner a SONG CIRCLE. Our theme is FREEDOM. We want to hear YOUR voice. Please bring a poem, short story, or a memorable experience to share. Donations will be accepted to help cover expenses (kitchen helpers and rent.)
You are Invited to
AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION’S Friday Night Soul Shabbat Topic of the month is
Passover FREEDOM
WHERE: 343 S. Church Lane, LA 90049 WHEN: APRIL 21, 2017 @ 6:45 pm to 9:30 pm
PLEASE RSVP TO LINDA BADGER [email protected] or call (310)625-3146
!6
Potluck Dessert; Kosher and Halaal Veggie or Dairy and Soft Drinks.
PLEASE BRING YOUR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
RSVP to [email protected] or Linda Badger - [email protected] 310-625-3146
PLEASE JOIN RABBI MIRIAM HAMRELL OF AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION and
KARIMA KYLBERG SPIRITUAL LEADER AT THE MUSALLAH TAUHID, LOS ANGELES SUFI CENTER
AS THEY HOST DHIKR MULTI-FAITH ECSTATIC CHANT
Dhikr Leaders: Mu’adhdhina Crystal Keshawarz
Rabbi Tsvi Bar-David
WHEN: THIS Sunday, April 23rd, 2017 @ 2:00 - 4:00 PM
WHERE: Hosted by Rabbi Miriam Hamrell at her home in Marian del Rey.
Address provided when RSVP (Parking is limited. Please carpool.)
!7
We are excited to announce that this year we are opening up the Tribute Book to everyone who would like to honor their loved ones. Take this time to share your feelings and thoughts to all those who are playing have or
played an important roles in your life. If you have a special photo of your loved one or icon you would like to include in your tribute we would love to include it. This might also be the time to place a special tribute to Rabbi Miriam, Cantorial Soloist Gary, and all the members and friends from Ahavat Torah. You may also share news of an organization with whom you have volunteered. The donation schedule for the tributes are in the reservation forms. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Linda Badger. If you order a tribute and would like an extra copy of the book to send to your family and friends, please add $5.00 to your request.
Please click on this link for additional information on our Nature Photo Walk http://joys-favorite-fotos.blogspot.com/2016/02/joyous-nature-photo-walk-2-ahavat-torah.html
!8
Brittney Weissman Executive Director
NAMI
Chaplain Ruth Belonsky MJS,BCC
Guest Speakers: Chaplain Ruth Belonsky Brittney Weissman
AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION SPECIAL 5TH SHABBAT
ENDING THE SHAME AND SILENCE OF
MENTAL ILLNESS !
FAMILIES FACING THE CHALLENGES OF THEIR LOVED ONE’S MENTAL ILLNESS
WHEN: April 29th, 2017 @ 1:00 PM WHERE: Ahavat Torah Congregation 343 S. Church Lane, LA 90049
!9
JOIN TEAM AHAVAT TORAH AS WE WALK TO END GENOCIDE
On Sunday, April 30th, 2017 we will be TEAM AHAVAT TORAH as we support Jewish World Watch’s efforts to End Genocide. The Walk (5 K) will take place in the Pan Pacific Park between 8AM-12 noon. A generous AT member is providing partial subsidies for AT members who may want to participate in the walk ( $28 registration fee) and find the registration fee a bit high for their budget. Contact Linda Badger if you think you need help with the registration fee. She is coordinating AT's Team and will advise you on how to register on the registration site: la.walktoendgenocide.org. We are hoping for many AT members to join the AT Team on this walk which is the major fundraising activity for the Jewish World Watch. This organization supports many necessary projects in Sudan, Darfur, Chad, and other African countries where genocide is rampant and must be stopped! For more info, you may check the JWW website jww.org .
!10
YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION’S MEMBERS AND FRIENDS FOR OUR BOOK SALON WITH AUTHOR DAVID COOPERSON
When: Sunday, May 7, 2017 @ 2:00 - 4:00 p.m Where: Jean Katz’s home Address will be given at time of RSVP Limited to the First 30
Light desert and soft drinks will be served.
Suggested donation for expenses $5.00
RSVP to [email protected] (310) 625-3146
David A. Cooperson, MSW, MA, LCSW, brings you the impressive book,
“The Holocaust Lessons on Compassionate Parenting and Child Corporal Punishment,” an evocative look at corporal punishment on
children. Cooperson who witnessed the devastating consequences will be interviewed
by Rabbi Miriam Hamrell.
!11
!12
!13
IT’S A WIN-WIN SITUATION
WE PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE PUBLICATION THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT OUR
ANNUAL GALA ON MAY 27, 2017.
YOU DONATE A GIFT CERTIFICATE OR MERCHANDISE TO OUR
AUCTION THAT WILL BE HELD THAT EVENING. WHO WE ARE: Ahavat Torah Congregation is deeply committed to Tikkun Olam (healing the world through social action) within the community and the world. This past year, Ahavat Torah Congregation participated in a Thanksgiving Celebration for over 5000 veterans and their families (many of whom are struggling financially and are challenged in other ways as well). We collected over 250 boxes of gently used clothing, over 200 pairs of brand new sneakers and shoes, bought hundreds of new toys and distributed all for free to some very appreciative men, women, and children at our booth on the Veteran's Administration's campus. Some of our other Social Action activities include: Feeding the Hungry through SOVA, conducting Interfaith Activities, activities and outings with Chil-dren’s Institute, and supporting Jewish World Watch.
Social Action is an important part of our philosophy and the money that is collected from the Auction of your merchandise or gift certificates at this year’s Fifteenth Annual Anniversary Party on May 27, 2017 will be used to help fund these programs.
Your donation to Ahavat Torah is tax-deductible to the extent al-lowed by law and a written acknowledgement will be sent to you for your records. Please fill in the enclosed Donation Form and return it by May 7, 2017. Please send the donation to: Ahavat Torah, c/o Coleman Colla, 535 S. Curson #3H, Los Angeles, CA 90036.
With much appreciation, Arlene Rosenblatt Silent Auction Chairperson
Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Ahavat Torah is a 501C(3). Tax identification number is 20-1000739. P.O. Box 442, Santa Monica, CA 90406 ▪343 South Church Lane, Brentwood CA 90049 (310) 362-1111▪ www.ahavattorahla.org
AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION One Torah, Many Teachers, One Community Committed to Repairing the World
Rabbi: Miriam Hamrell MHL,MAEd Cantorial Soloist: Gary Levine Associate Cantorial Soloist: Kimberly Haynes President: Shoshi Wilchfort Treasurer: Hal Jaffe Secretary: Mary Kalifon Board Members: Sophia Avants Linda Badger Debra Barrath Barbara Burbank Vivian Gold Ben Greenberg Gary Levine Rita Reuben Renee Schwartz Jonathan Troper Andrea Yahudian Executive Director and News-letter Editor: Linda Badger Past Presidents Judy Kollack Michael Stevens Rena Jaffe Jean Katz Ron Estroff Sid Rosenblatt Blanche Moss Ex-officio Members: Rabbi Miriam Hamrell Charles Hamrell, MD
!14
AHAVAT TORAH
One Torah, Many Teachers, One Community
PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW AND RETURN WITH YOUR GIFT CERTIFICATE BY April 27, 2017
Your donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law IRC Section 501C (3)Tax I.D. #20-1000739
P.O. Box 442, Sata Monica, CA 90406 343 Church Lane, Brentwood, CA 90049 (310)362-1111
www.ahavattorahla.org
Your donations are greatly appreciated. There will be a busi-ness size card advertisement for your company in our “SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS” publication.
DONOR INFORMATION Name (Business or Individual):_________________________________________________
Contact Person (If different than above)__________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip_______________________________________________________________ Email Address:_________________________________________ Phone ______________
DONATION INFORMATION Please describe in detail the item you are donating,
and any restrictions, blackout dates, or expiration date: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fair Market Value ________; if you do not know, what starting bid should be used:___________ I will provide gift certificate Please design one for me Donor Signature_____________________________________________
Solicited by _________________________________ Phone #___________________________
MAIL TO: Ahavat Torah c/o Coleman Colla 535 South Curson Ave. #3H Los Angeles, CA 90036
!15
RESERVATION FORM
Your Name____________________________________ _____________________________________________
Ahavat Torah’s 14th Anniversary Celebration Mulholland Tennis Club Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 5:00 P.M.
DONATIONS FOR THE CELEBRATION, TRIBUTE BOOK AND DRAWING:
GALA DINNER ____ @ $136 = $___________
TRIBUTE/AD JOURNAL WITH GREETINGS
Emerald Full Page $1,000 $___________ Platinum Full Page $ 500 $___________ Diamond Full Page $ 300 $___________ Gold Full Page $ 150 $___________ Silver Half Page $ 75 $___________ Bronze 1/4 Page $ 50 $___________ Pearl 1/8 Page $ 36 $___________
Please email tributes by April 30th to [email protected]
SPECIAL PACKAGES Full Diamond Page & one dinner $235 $___________ Full Diamond Page & two dinners $370 $___________
50/50 DRAWING 50/50 Drawing – proceeds split between the winner and Ahavat Torah. Winner need not be present.
Individual ticket _____@ $10 $___________ Book of three tickets _____@ $25 $___________
Return stubs - keep main part to redeem award.
Regret Donation $___________ Sponsor Donation $___________
TOTAL OF ALL ABOVE AMOUNTS: $___________
!16
Please see reverse side for contact & payment information
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND SEND TO:
Ahavat Torah Congregation, P.O. Box 442 Santa Monica, CA 90406
RSVP and payment for the dinner, Tribute/Ad Journal, and 50/50 tickets for drawing must be in by April 17th
Name __________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________
City _________________ State _________ Zip ______________
DINNER CHOICES: Sumptuous Dinners -For More Information Contact Linda Badger [email protected] or 310-625-3146
PLEASE COMBINE YOUR DONATIONS FOR DINNER, TRIBUTE/AD JOURNAL, 50/50 TICKETS FOR DRAWING, AND SPONSORSHIP INTO ONE PAYMENT.
Total Amount $__________
CHECKS PREFERRED Please make payable to Ahavat Torah Congregation
Credit Card if necessary Visa ______ Master Card ______
Card Number ___________________________________________
Expiration Date __________________________________________
Billing Address ___________________________________________
City ___________________ State ___________ Zip ____________
Signature _______________________________________________
Print Cardholder Name ____________________________________
For additional information on Tribute Book:
!17
Send response to AJRCA
3250 Wilshire Blvd #550,
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: (213) 884-4133
OUR RABBINIC INTERN FLORENCE DANN IS GRADUATING!
THE ACADEMY FOR JEWISH RELIGION CALIFORNIA PROUDLY INVITES YOU TO JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE OUR
2017 RABBINIC AND CANTORIAL ORDINATION AND CHAPLAINCY GRADUATION
OUR RABBINIC ORDINEES
Avraham Alpert Shira Kaplan Freidlin Melvin Alexander YoungFlorence Lois Dann Joshua M. Ginsberg-Margo Rebecca Ilana Birken Yussman
Allison Lawton
OUR CANTORIAL ORDINEESDaniel Eli FriedmanBruce Steven Shapiro
OUR CHAPLAINCY GRADUATESMichael Benjamin Salonius
Mitzi Ellen Jacobson Schwarz
MONDAY, MAY 29, 2017ORDINATION BEGINS PROMPTLY AT 2:00 PM
STEPHEN WISE TEMPLE15500 STEPHEN S. WISE DRIVE,
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90077
!18
By Rabbi Simon Jacobson
Wednesday Night 4/19/17 Day Nine: Examine the discipline factor of discipline. Is my discipline disciplined or is it excessive. Do I have enough discipline in my life and in my interactions? Am I organized? Is my time used efficiently? Why do I have problems with discipline and what can I do to enhance it? Do I take time each day for personal accounting of my schedule and accomplishments? Does my discipline include the other six aspects (see here for more on these traits), without which discipline cannot be effective and healthy? Exercise for the day: Make a detailed plan for spending your day and at the end of the day see if you've lived up to it.
Thursday Night 4/20/17 Day Ten: Not just love but compassion has to drive discipline. Love comes from recognizing one's merits and positive qualities (discipline channels and directs those strengths and weeds out the negative). Compassion is unconditional love. It is love just for the sake of love, not considering the other’s position. Tiferet is a result of total selflessness in the eyes of God. You love for no reason; you love because you are a reflection of God. Does my discipline have this element of compassion?
Friday Night 4/21/17 Day Eleven: Effective discipline must be enduring and tenacious. Is my discipline consistent or only when forced? Am I perceived as a weak disciplinarian? Exercise for the day: Extend the plan you made on day two for a longer period of time, listing short-term and long-term goals and review and update it each day, and see how consistent you are and if you follow through.
Saturday Night 4/22/17 Day Twelve:The results of discipline and might without humility are obvious. The greatest catastrophes have occurred as a result of people sitting in arrogant judgement of others. Am I arrogant in the name of justice (what I consider as just)? Do I ever think that I sit on a higher pedestal and bestow judgement on my subjects below? What about my children? Students? A judge has to be the most humble of creatures, recognizing that he sits in judgement not by his own merit but only because God gave the right to judge His children. Exercise for the day: Don't judge anyone unless you are doing so selflessly with no personal bias.
Sunday Night 4/23/17 Day Thirteen: For discipline to be effective it must be coupled with commitment and bonding. Both in disciplining yourself and others there has to be a sense that the discipline is important for developing a stronger bond - not that I discipline you, but that we are doing it together for our mutual benefit. Exercise for the day: Demonstrate to your child or student how your bonding with each other is an essential ingredient in discipline and growth.
!19
Monday Night 4/24/17 Day Fourteen: Discipline, like love, must enhance personal dignity (see week one day seven). Discipline that breaks a person will backfire. Healthy discipline should bolster self-esteem and help elicit the best in a person cultivating his sovereignty. And that does not compromise the discipline; on the contrary it fosters and enhances it. Does my discipline cripple the human spirit; does it weaken or strengthen me
and others? Exercise for the day: When disciplining your child or student foster his self-respect.
WEEK THREE - TIFERET Tiferet - compassion - blends and harmonizes the free outpouring love of chesed with the discipline of gevurah. Tiferet possesses this power by introducing a third dimension - the dimension of truth, which is neither love nor discipline and therefore can integrate the two. Truth is accessed through selflessness. Rising above your ego and your predispositions enables you to realize truth and a clear and objective picture of yours and other’s needs. The imbalance of love and discipline (and for that matter, any distortion) is a result of a subjective, hence limited perspective; introducing truth, by suspending personal prejudices, allows you to express your feelings (including the synthesis of chesed and gevurah) in the healthiest manner. This quality gives tiferet its name, which means beauty. It blends the differing colors of love and discipline, and this harmony makes it beautiful. For tiferet to be complete it needs the inclusion of the following seven facets: love of compassion, discipline of compassion, compassion of compassion, endurance of compassion, humility of compassion, bonding of compassion and sovereignty of compassion.
Tuesday Night 4/25/17 Day One of Week 3 (15th day of Omer): Hesed of Tiferet Examine the love aspect of compassion. Ask yourself: Is my compassion tender and loving or does it come across as pity? Is my sympathy condescending and patronizing? Even if my intention is otherwise, do others perceive it as such? Does my compassion overflow with love and warmth; is it expressed with enthusiasm, or is it static and lifeless? Exercise for the day: When helping someone extend yourself in the fullest way; offer a smile or a loving gesture.
We can register your Ralph’s card for you!!! Just contact Linda Badger at [email protected] or (310) 625-3146 or see Linda after services and she will register you on-line. Linda will be bringing her computer to help register YOU this Shabbat!
It is a “win-win” way to help our community. If you registered your card last year, we need to register you again!
!20
LAST SHABBAT
A.T.’s Mussar class with Rabbi Miriam and two of
her grandchildren.
We were blessed to have three chanters last week Rabbi Miriam Hamrell, Jonathan Troper, and Vivian Gold.
!21
Chaplaincy Intern Judy Weintraub’s drash was very informative. She
continued the discussion with her Pearls of Torah after services.
Rabbi Miriam called Chana Bell up to the Bimah to give her a
blessing for good health.
!22
