May, 2017 NEWSLETTER 5 Iyar - 6 Sivan 5777

Shavuot means “weeks," referring to the seven weeks that are counted from

the second day of Passover up to the holiday of Shavuot. It is a beautiful tradition to count the 7 times 7 weeks, that is, 49 days, from Passover to the 50

th day, Shavuot. Each day in mystical teachings has a special essence, a

quality that permeates that day within that week. So the first week is framed as hesed, lovingkindness; the second week is about gevurah, boundaries, discipline, and the third week of tiferet points to balance, harmony, and merging of those first two qualities. To make it even more interesting, each day within each week cycles through those qualities - of lovingkindness, discipline, harmony, etc. If you wish to do a personal “check-in” each day, I suggest you get reminders each day online from “The Counting of the Omer: Forty-Nine Steps to Personal Refinement” by Rabbi Simon Jacobson. It is available as a booklet or online. Each day of each week we ask ourselves, "How am I doing in the realm of Endurance, or Intimate Communication, Groundedness?" It is a wonderful and enlightening

discipline that helps us count the days and make our days count!

This year, the culmination of the weeks of counting, Erev Shavuot, will be celebrated on Tuesday evening, May 30, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with two Study Sessions, traditional refreshments, and a ceremony in the Sanctuary where we will hear the Ten Commandments chanted from the Torah and read together a “Ketubah” – marriage contract – reconfirming the Covenant between God and Israel.

Other names for Shavuot are: - The 'Time of the Giving of Our Torah' (Zman Matan Torahteinu). This is the holiday celebrating our receiving the Torah from God. It is the culmination of the seven weeks of counting the Omer beginning at Passover. The Children of Israel needed time to shed the slave mentality of Egypt and ready themselves for the responsibility of accepting the laws of the Torah. - First-Fruits Day (Yom Habikkurim).

When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, the Jewish

farmer would go out to his field and tie a thread around the first fruits that started to bud. When these fruits ripened, the farmer would bring them in a fancy basket to the Temple to offer thanks. - Harvest Festival (Chag Hakatzir).

This holiday also celebrates the wheat-harvesting season. In Israel, children dress

in white, with flowers in their hair, and carry baskets of fruit and wheat. On the kibbutzim, each branch shows off its produce – bananas, avocados, cotton, vegetables, fish from the fish ponds, and even the products from their factories! And… it is traditional to eat dairy treats such as cheesecake and blintzes! We will enjoy various dairy dishes, including cheesecake, blintz soufflé, and fruit salad during our Leil Tikkun – the Evening of Study that traditionally lasts all night… but, according to Sedona tradition, will conclude at 9 p.m.

Counting the Days; Making Your Days Count

Blessing for the Hebrew months of Iyar (April 27 – May 25) and Sivan (May 26-June23, 2017)

May we give thanks for the bounty of our personal harvest of learning and spiritual development. May

we each feel a deeper connection to each other and to our roots during this time of growth, study, and

reflection. May we count our days and make each day count! May this journey be fruitful and full of joy.

-Amen

Page 2 JCSVV NEWSLETTER

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT—BONNIE GOLUB

As we approach the end of our fiscal year and many of the our members plan trips to visit family and friends, I want to remind you that numerous important and worthwhile activities are still taking place in our congregation. At the end of May we will celebrate Shavout. Some members of our congregation will share their educational expertise as we engage in the ancient tradition of studying on Shavuot. Others will share their baking talents so we can appreciate the sweet dairy treats that are a part of the holiday.

At the beginning of June—on Sunday, June 4—we will meet as a congregation to review the year and to vote on the 2017-2018 budget for our fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2017. I hope that you will respond to the ballot material which should arrive in the mail by the middle of May. Please join the Board of Directors to support us as we vote on plans for the upcoming year. Our bylaws are written so we function as a democratic organization. The core principles of democracy are based on the fundamental contribution and equality of each member of our congregation and the concept that the majority rules. Your understanding of how our congregation functions, the activities of its leadership, and the decisions we make about the future are all up for discussion and questioning at the meeting. Your participation is vital to our success.

After the meeting, we will share a light luncheon and informal talking and laughing together.

Sheldon and I look forward to seeing you at Shabbat services and the variety of activities that are available to you as a member of the JCSVV.

Thank you to the following

Oneg Sponsors for April:

Faye & Steve Kornfeld Bonnie & Sheldon Golub Debra and Martin Darvick in honor of their 37

th anniversary and Debra’s birthday

Mark Rothstein and Barbara Morris in honor of Mark’s mother Irene Rothstein’s 83

rd birthday

Please join us in May for the following:

May 5: Helen King May 12: In honor of Hannah Gurne becoming a Bat Mitzvah May 19: Clare and Milt Small

To schedule an oneg, please contact Lisa Glinsky at lisadeco@netscape.net

JCSVV NEWSLETTER Page 3

Leil Tikkun Shavuot

2017

Jewish Community of Sedona

and the Verde Valley

An Evening of Learning and Receiving Torah

Tuesday, May 30, 2017 - 6 Sivan 5777

6:00 pm at the JCSVV

Please join us for our Shavuot program with interactive presentation-workshops.

The Dead Sea Scrolls, the Development of Literacy and the Creation of the Tanakh PowerPoint Presentation — Bonnie Golub, JCSVV President

• How, when, and why ancient Israelite accounts of our faith—once conveyed only orally—came to be written down and accepted as Scripture. Using the scrolls at Qumran on the Dead Sea we will explore the idea that in order to have a sacred text, Israelite culture had to have writing. For that text to be the central authority of our religion, literacy had to be widespread.

Quiet Heroes and Heroines in the Book of Ruth

Presented by writer, director, producer Dan Gordon, JCSVV member and Captain in the Israel Defense Forces

• Dan’s study of biblical texts combined with his years of experience as a teller of stories in book, film and theater forms enable him to reveal the personalities of an-cient characters in a vibrant, human way. In past Shavuot study sessions, Dan has given fascinating insights into King David and the Psalms he authored.

In addition, dairy and fruit refreshments will be served

(think blintzes, cheese cake and more treats).

We will then gather in the Sanctuary to receive Torah

by listening to the chanting of theTen Commandments

and reciting aloud our renewed covenant in the language of a Ketubah

– marriage contract – between Israel and God.

If you wish to contribute fruit or your special cheese cake or blintzes, please contact

Joe Berger at 928.254.9936

Page 4 JCSVV NEWSLETTER

JCSVV

GIFT

SHOP

WOMEN’S HAVURAH NEWS BY CHAYA MIRIAM

Many thanks to all of the women who attended the Women’s Seder on April 13. In addition, we

appreciated all the people who helped set up, serve, and clean up. A special thanks to Sybil

Malinowski-Melody and Rabbi Alicia Magal. Please see below the beautiful pictures of all who

attended.

Our next regular meeting, the last one of our fiscal year, is on Thursday, May 11 at 7 pm at the

JCSVV. We will be discussing our business needs for the 2017-18 year and will hold our annual elections. Please

think about whom you would like to nominate for a position. The following positions will be open: President, Vice

President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Please remember to bring toiletry items for the residents of Kachina Point.

After our May meeting, we will celebrate the wonderful year we have had with a year-end party!

“Weekend Backpack Program” Fundraiser at Java Love Cafe a Great Success! On March 30, the JCSVV and Sedona Unitarian Universalists Fellowship came together to raise money for food-insecure children in the Verde Valley. Dotan and Megan Lori generously donated their Java Love Cafe space, as they have done for the past 4 years. They prepared wonderful “backpack” wraps, drinks, and dessert for the 65 people in attendance. The event raised approximately $5500 for the Yavapai Food Council (YFC), which supports organizations like food banks and pantries who feed the hungry.

How much difference does the JCSVV volunteer and financial support of YFC make to our community? Since 2012, weekend food packs for kids have grown from 50 to 345 a week. Starting last September, the Bountiful Kitchen has prepared 30,000 breakfasts and lunches for students at public schools that lack facilities to serve food on campus.

From August 2013, the Yavapai Food Neighbors Project (“Green Bags”) has grown from one community with 8 neighborhood coordinators to over 2200 food donors across Yavapai County, providing 818,200 meals. All this to say: THANK YOU, JCSVV! We can and do make a difference to the less fortunate among us.

For more information about how you can get involved, please contact Rabbi

Magal at 928-204-1285 or office@jcsvv.org. Volunteers needed for packing

weekend food packs next September and October! SOCIAL ACTION TEAM MEMBERS

JCSVV NEWSLETTER Page 5

ADULT EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS at the JCSVV

Hebrew 101, sponsored by the National Jewish Outreach Program, has been completed. Seven students participated in classes that started on January 5, 2017 and concluded on April 13, 2017. A heartfelt thank you goes to Addie Simpson, the instructor, who did an outstanding teaching job and volunteering her time. All the students can now read. A Level II class is tentatively scheduled to begin in the Fall. If you are able to read and need a refresher course this may be a good place to start. Jewish News and Views, Sunday, May 7, 2017, 11:00 to 12:30.This is an informal, friendly sharing of ideas and news articles that members want to discuss. Feel free to bring any article on a Jewish subject you would like to talk about. It is facilitated by Paul Friedman and Annette Star Lustgarten. Limited to JCSVV members. Jews in Spain, Kohava Benatar will conclude her workshop series on Thursday, May 18, 2017, 3:30 -5:00 p.m., with the showing of the film, From Toledo to Jerusalem. The film is free for members and non-members. The Richness of Cultural Judaism, Thursday, June 8, 2017, 1:30-3:00 p.m. Paul Friedman will conclude the workshops based upon the book Why Be Jewish? by Edgar Bronfman. Members, no charge. Non-members $10.00.

Please note updated information below regarding DONATING TO THE JCSVV THROUGH

YOUR PURCHASES ON AMAZON SMILE !

• Use the instructions below to set up your Amazon Smile account

to designate JCSVV as your charity.

• After that has been set up, your Amazon Smile purchases will benefit the JCSVV.

• Note the Amazon Smile link on the bottom of the home page on jcsvv.org, which will take

you to the Amazon Smile homepage.

1. Sign into your Amazon account with your normal password.

2. Insert into the search bar: smile.amazon.com

3. You will then have an option to change your charity from SMILE to JCSVV.

4. Insert Jewish Community of Sedona Arizona.

5. It will automatically donate a percentage on future purchases to the JCSVV and

state on the section where you are paying that a percent is being donated.

We thank you for your attention to this, which will benefit the JCSVV!

Page 6 JCSVV NEWSLETTER

MEN’S CLUB NEWS BY JOE KNAUER

Passover is now behind us and we look forward to the spring and the blossoming and blooming of nature. The Spring Picnic that the Men’s Club sponsored for many years will not be held this year, but let’s look forward to a July 4

th celebration where we all come together as one

nation to celebrate our nation’s liberation. More information about the Fourth of July celebration will soon be in the mail to you. The Community Suppers at St. Andrews Church are actively supported six times a year by the Men’s Club. Al Pivnick reported that the dining room was filled for the March 20 Community Supper and all the food we prepared was devoured. He also stated that we received a letter from St. Andrews Church thanking us for the six suppers we provide and asking if we would increase our commitment. A brief discussion took place among our members and the only additional commitment would be a Christmas Dinner on December 25. What a MITZVAH that would be; I will be asking for volunteers to make this an outstanding and worthy accomplishment. At our last meeting Dr. Cory Krueger was our guest speaker. Dr. Krueger is a geriatrics doctor in Cottonwood, Arizona. He received his medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Krueger is the primary physician to many of our members, who all speak very highly of his professional skills and patient demeanor. Dr. Krueger opened his talk by stressing that our aging population needs to exercise, eat properly,

and receive appropriate medical treatment and advice. He is a strong advocate of seniors taking the Influenza, Pneumonia, and Shingles shots. A lively discussion about shots took place with some members stating they would not put the disease into their bodies by being vaccinated because they believe vaccinations cause the diseases instead of preventing them. Dr. Krueger made a strong statistical and professional case that the prevention of these diseases by taking the shots is important to seniors. Many more medical questions were asked of the doctor and answered with his depth of knowledge. Some other discussions, concerning drugs, aging prevention pills, prostate problems, erections, and more took place. We enjoyed Dr. Krueger’s lively and informative presentation and asked that he come back to talk to us again soon.

Our breakfast meetings are open to all who wish to attend and enjoy the meal and the topics being discussed.

DO YOU HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TO SHARE ABOUT YOURSELF OR

YOUR FAMILY: ENGAGEMENT, MARRIAGE, NEW BABY, B’NAI

MITZVAH, GRADUATION, NEW JOB, AWARD, HONOR…...

Send your good news to Lisa Schatz Glinsky at:

lisadeco@netscape.net by the 15th of each month and we’ll share your news

in the JCSVV newsletter!

KORNER

Page 7 JCSVV NEWSLETTER

BY ANDREA PORTNOY

Our next Membership Committee meeting will be held

on May 8 at 9:30 am. Any congregants who would

like to join our committee may contact:

Andrea Portnoy at aportnoy60@gmail.com.

A JOYOUS AND BEAUTIFUL PASSOVER, 2017 SEDER

The JCSVV First Night Seder, held on Monday, April 10, was again a huge success thanks to Clare Small

and her catering team. The Seder, catered by Sound Bites, was led by Rabbi Alicia Magal with help from

the enthusiastic guests who attended.

We welcome the following

new members:

Abraham (Abe) Baron

Abba Kastin, M.D.

Michael & Fredda Klopper: Associate Members

JCSVV NEWSLETTER JCSVV NEWSLETTER JCSVV NEWSLETTER Page 8

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

Abraham Baron – In gratitude for the assistance and special friendship that Joe Berger has provided David & Marilyn Frazer – In honor of Rabbi Magal’s Birthday Annette Star Lustgarten – for sale of Chometz

Yahrzeit

Garry Shuster – for the Yahrzeit of his mother, Mildred Shuster Linda Waddell – for the Yahrzeit of her husband, Jim Waddell Maryann Green – in memory of her daughter-in-law, Melyssa Griffin-Bluestone Susan Dolin – for the Yahrzeit of her mother, Etta Pearl Dolin Pamela & Ben Boal Marilyn Frazer—for the Yahrzeit of her mother, Ann Schneider Fealk Rosalie & Rick Malter—for the Yahrzeit of Rosalie’s father, Sam Moss; Rick’s mother, Helen Malter; Rick’s father, Leo Malter Ken Weisberg—for the Yahrzeit of his father, Robert S. Weisberg Devorah Nye—for the Yahrzeit of her father, Melvin W. Tracey Annette Star Lustgarten—for the Yahrzeit of her father, Hyman Star

Tribute Cards To Harold Streem for a speedy recovery, from Lisa and Martin Glinsky

To Addie Simpson for her extraordinary teaching of the beginning Hebrew class, from Lisa and Martin Glinsky

Operating Fund

Denise & Giora Israel – To use where needed most Denise & Giora Israel – In honor of Rabbi Alicia Magal’s 10 year anniversary

Social Action Committee Jim & Barbara Winnerman – In memory of Debby Cortes Jim & Barbara Winnerman – In honor of Cy & Phyllis Elliott’s contribution to the temple

Shabbat Music Fund

Ilaine Packman – for the Yahrzeit of her father, Walter Lorber Ilaine Packman – for the Atlantis Babbitt Bat Mitzvah

Cultural Committee Eli Ben-Mayor

DONATIONS

MAY BIRTHDAYS

Richard Reiss 05/03 Dan Gordon 05/05

Larry Rosenberg 05/05

Dr. Ben Boal 05/14

Phyllis Elliott 05/21 Joseph Knauer 05/21

Martin Gelender 05/21 Edward O. Bierman 05/26

Nika Fleissig 05/27 Sandra Schenholm 05/31

MAY ANNIVERSARIES

Susan Broude & Tami Pivnick 05/18

Mary & Mike Schwartz 05/21 Lea Gracer & Dr. Les Adler 05/22

Dawn & Harvey Bershader 05/25

Michael Iskowitz & Alex Simson 05/25

Sybil Malinowski & Henry Melody 05/30

PAGE 8 JCSVV NEWSLETTER Page 9

BEIT SEFER SHALOM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF SEDONA AND THE VERDE VALLEY

BY KIM SZECHTER

Our school year will be ending shortly with a picnic at our last session on June 4, 2017. We want to thank

every congregant and friend for the loving support of Beit Sefer Shalom during the past year.

We have many sweet memories of the children and their families celebrating

holidays with each other and the congregation. We fondly recall the children and

their families eating together in our traditional sukkah; marching with their torahs on

Simchat Torah; singing and celebrating Hanukkah with each other; planting a tree

with Joe Berger and enjoying our annual Tu B’Shvat Seder; and celebrating

Passover at our annual Passover Seder held at the JCSVV.

We thank Kohava Benatar, our Hebrew teacher, and our teaching assistant, Kai

Simson, for their help in making this year fun, enjoyable, and educational.

Beit Sefer Shalom meets on Sundays from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Rabbi Alicia Magal is our active,

spiritual leader for the school. We are always looking for families and children in the Verde Valley to become

part of our school community.

JCSVV GIFT SHOP NEWS

BY HELEN KING

We have received some

beautiful items in our

JCSVV Gift Shop.

Please stop by and visit

us between 10am and

2pm, Monday through

Friday. You’ll be

pleasantly

surprised at

what you will

find!

Holocaust Memorial Day was held Sunday, April 23

at the JCSVV.

Six memorial candles were lit by survivors and their descendants while the Shalom Singers beautifully sang solemn songs. Rabbi Magal led the service while members recited readings from the heart. Our guest speaker, Fr. Zacharia Saribekian from the Phoenix Armenian Church, spoke on Genocide Awareness Week and the role of Jews in making the world aware of the concept and horror of genocide.

Page 10 JCSVV NEWSLETTER

Rabbi: Alicia Magal................................................ 928-204-1286

Executive Assistant: Andrea Western................... 928-204-1286

JCSVV Office Hours: Monday—Friday, 10 am—2 pm

President: Bonnie L. Gustav Golub

Executive Vice President: Linda Weisberg

Finance VP: Margie Gershtenson

Recording Secretary: Lisa Schatz Glinsky

Membership VP: Andrea Portnoy

Religious Affairs VP: Joe Berger

Directors:

Harry Bunn

Avrum Cohen

Chaya Miriam Colodner

Cyrus Elliott

Martin Glinsky

Harvey Gore

Helen King

Faye Kornfeld

Clare Small

Beit Sefer Shalom Religious School Director: Kim Szechter

The Community Update is a publication of the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde

Valley. It is published monthly. Subscription rates are $50.00 annually (12 issues) for non-

members and free to members. Submissions of articles, advertisements, and Letters to the

Editor should be made using the on-line forms on our web site: www.JCSVV.com. Submis-

sions must be made by the 15th of the month. See the back page for location and contact

information. Copyright © 2014 by Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley

Join Rabbi Magal Every Wednesday at

8:30 am for our Minyan Service

JOIN US FOR TORAH STUDY ON:

May 6, 13, 20, and 27

Please bring a dairy/parve dish to

share for our pot luck lunch.

THE NEXT JCSVV

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

WILL BE HELD ON

SUNDAY, May 21, 2017 AT 10 A.M.

ALL JCSVV MEMBERS IN GOOD

STANDING ARE INVITED.

Michelle DeWitt

100 Verde Valley School Rd., #107

Sedona, AZ 86351—928-284-1441

www.RedRockCafeAZ.com

PAGE 11 JCSVV NEWSLETTER

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Yom HaZikaron

2 Yom Ha’Atzma’ut

3 8:30 am:

Egalitarian Minyan

2-4pm Choir

Rehearsal Yom

Ha’atzma’ut

4 11:30 am: Adult

Education Committee

5 7:30pm: Erev Shabbat

Services featuring Shalom

Singers in honor of Israel

Independence Celebration

Oneg sponsored by Helen

King

6

11 am: Torah Study

Pot Luck dairy/parve

lunch

Parsha: Achrei Mot-

Kedoshim

7 8:30: Men’s Club

10 am: Religious

School

11am-12:30 pm:

Jewish News &

Views Adult Ed

program

8 9:30 am:

Membership committee

9 10

8:30 am: Egalitarian

Minyan

11 7:00pm: Havurah

Elections 12 5:30pm: Erev Shabbat

Hannah Gurne

Bat Mitzvah

Simcha Shabbat

Oneg sponsored by

Hannah Gurne’s family

13

11 am: Torah Study

Pot Luck dairy/parve

lunch

Parsha: Emor

14

MOTHER’S DAY

Lag B’Omer

NO Religious

School

15

NEWSLETTER

SUBMISSION

16 17

8:30 am: Egalitarian

Minyan

9:30 am: Religious

Affairs Committee

18 3:30-5:00 pm

Adult Ed Workshop &

Film, Toledo to Jersulam,

facilitated by Kohava

Benatar

19 7:30pm: Erev Shabbat

Oneg sponsored by Clare

and Milt Small

20

11 am: Torah Study

Pot Luck dairy/parve

lunch

Parsha: Behar

Beckhukotai

21

NO Religious School

10am Board of

Directors Meeting

22 23 24

8:30 am: Egalitarian

Minyan

25 26 7:30pm: Lay Led

Erev Shabbat 27

11 am: Torah Study

Pot Luck dairy/parve

lunch

Parsha: Bemidbar

28 29

MEMORIAL

DAY

JCSVV Office Closed

30 6pm Erev Shavuot

Leil Tikkun Shavuot

31

8:30 am: Egalitarian

Minyan

MAY 2017

Nonprofit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Sedona, AZ

Shalom and Welcome

Visitors are always welcome at our

synagogue in beautiful Sedona, AZ!

Located at: 100 Meadow Lark Drive

Sedona, Arizona 86336

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 13

Sedona, AZ 86339-0013

Website: www.jcsvv.org

Telephone: (928) 204-1286

Fax: (928) 204-2616

E-Mail: office@JCSVV.org

Please refrain from wearing perfume or after shave lotion

at services & functions, as many congregants are allergic.