Temple Topics: Summer 2023

Temple Topics

Shabbat Doesn’t Take the Summer Off

by Rabbi Jonathan Aaron Senior Rabbi, Temple Emanuel

At the end of the school year, I tell a story to our religious students about a young boy who encounters animals in a forest as he is walking home from the last day of religious school. Each animal lets him know that even though it’s summer, he can still be Jewish. Astonished, he runs home to tell his mother, “Mom! We can still be Jewish in the summer!” It is a reminder that just because the school year has ended, and people are on vacation—Judaism isn’t tied to a 10 month calendar with a break during July and August. Every Friday night Shabbat begins, every Saturday morning we read Torah and study the wisdom of our people, even in the summer months. In fact, as the summer months usually allow our workloads to lighten up a little bit—taking the time to regenerate ourselves for when things “pick up” again in the fall, our weekly communal gatherings for Shabbat can help and provide spiritual growth experiences to enhance the process of regeneration. Even taking a moment on a Friday evening in your home, after a long week, to share a candlelight dinner with others (along with blessing the moment through the candles and wine), and discuss what you went through during the week is a wonderful way to rejuvenate yourselves. When I am working with students towards conversion, it’s common for them to feel as if they don’t “know” enough. My first question is, “Have you been sharing Shabbat?” For me, Judaism is about the experience of life, to enhance our awareness of ourselves and the others around us—that is accomplished more through the simple act of lighting candles, sharing wine and a meal, and talking about our lives with each other—than it is from reading another book (unless it’s the Torah of course). Let us find a way to connect to our own Judaism this summer, whether it means having a Shabbat meal, visiting a Jewish museum, or even if you find yourself in a foreign land, visiting a synagogue or exploring Jewish restaurants. Just as the boy discovered that he can be Jewish in the summer even though he doesn’t go to religious school each Sunday, we, too, can explore our own Jewishness with each other at Emanuel, or wherever you are.

If you are uncomfortable with the Shabbat blessings, we have printed easy to use cards with all the blessings one would need to do Shabbat at home (in Hebrew and transliteration). If you’d like one of these cards, please email kelley@tebh.org and request yours today or for an online copy visit tebh.org/shabbatcard.

Summer 2023 | Kayitz 5783

Simchas

Talia Amiri & Frederic Bakhchi on the birth of their daughter, Valentina Bakhchi

Rebecca Berg & Greg Porper on their marriage

Nancy Davis & Ken Rickel on the wedding of Nancy’s niece, Whitney Davis to Luke White

Rita & Izzy Eichenstein on the birth of their grandson, Lev Emmanuel Fyhrie

Azi Borna & Shahrouz Golshani on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Dylan Golshani

Amanda Collin & Len Pitzele on their marriage

Shirin & Kamyar Kamjoo on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Ashton

Tianyu Lange on her conversion

Tara Law & Mattathias Lerner on their marriage

Kristin & John Jameson on the birth of their grandson, Ashwin Orion Stevens

Nancy & John Lee on the wedding of their son, Michael Lee to Natalie Nosek

Ellyn & Erik Lerner on the marriage of their son, Mattathias to Tara Law

Beth Meyers on the Bat Mitzvah of her daughter, Maisy

Sintia Palma on her conversion

Karen & Rob Porper on the wedding of their son, Greg to Rebecca Berg

Riki Quinn on her conversion

Sophie Saraicecu on her conversion

Judith Schneider & Michael Petzold on the birth of their grandson, Boaz Petzold

Jacquie Shabel on the Bar Mitzvah of her son, Rhys Shabel Fisher

Shari & Leonard Shapiro on the birth of their grandson, Miles Ellison Mierke

Sheryl & Jonathan Sokoloff on the birth of their grandson, Solomon Eddie Schwartz

Rachel Wald & Jake Petzold on the birth of their son, Boaz Petzold

Alissa Roston on the birth of her grandson, Ryder Roston

Schulyer Sorosky & Matthew Roston on the birth of their son, Ryder Roston

Jose Vivanco on his conversion

Raquel Vivanco on her conversion

Rabbi Michael Walden on his ordination

Condolences To . . .

Carol Akiba on the passing of her grandmother, Catherine Hatfield

Frances Boxer on the passing of her husband, Lester Boxer

Nancy Davis & Ken Rickel on the passing of Nancy’s sister, Patty Raynes

Vida & Shawn Delrahim on the passing of Shawn’s great uncle, Yakov Ben Meir

Jackie Kassorla on the passing of her mother, Dr. Irene Kassorla

Stacy & Brad Kesner on the passing of Stacy’s uncle, Robert Simon

Ellen Maltz Kidwell & Robert Kidwell on the passing of Ellen’s mother, Dana Maltz

Yael Massry & Geoff Rendon on the passing of Yael’s father, Shaul G. Massry

Robert H. Rhodes on the passing of his sister, Deborah L. Rhodes

Leah Rolnik, Miriam Goldblum, Daniel Goldblum, Dominyka Seibokaite, Corrinne Mann Kempinsky & Louis Kempinsky on the passing of Gary Goldblum

Alissa Roston and family, on the passing of her husband, Warren Roston

Matthew Roston & Schuyler Sorosky and family, on the passing of Mathew’s father, Warren Roston

Sheryl and Jonathan Sokoloff on the passing of Jonathan’s father, Harold Lawrence Sokoloff

Helene & Brad Winston on the passing of Helene’s father, Gunter Zernik

Barbara & David Zarider on the passing of Barbara’s mother, Gloria Boraz

Contributions

General Fund

In Memory of:

Rachel Babst Parker from Susan & Mark Babst

Gloria Boraz from Betsy & Marc Axelrod

Warren Roston from Pamela & David Bennett

Warren Roston from Lilly & David Lewis

Warren Roston from the Trostler/Schwarzkopf families

Warren Roston from Sarelyn Wager and family

Rabbi Cantor Gary Shapiro from Judy & Aron Shapiro

In Honor of:

Cis Klein’s Bat Mitzvah from the Trostler/Schwarzkopf families

Passover from Jane Zachary and The Sol & Evelyn Zuckerman Memorial Trust

Adam Max Samuel Goldstein from William Goldstein

Rabbi Aaron’s Discretionary Fund

In Appreciation from: Mojdeh Soleymani

In Honor of:

Mattathias Lerner & Tara Law’s marriage from Ellyn & Erik Lerner

Rebecca Berg and Greg Porper’s marriage from Karen & Rob Porper

Rebecca Berg & Greg Porper’s marriage

Henry Markowitz’s Bar Mitzvah from Juliet Markowitz

Maggie Wolf & Jason Lewis’ wedding from Lilly & David Lewis

In Memory of:

Gloria Boraz from Nancy & Leonard Friedman

Gary Goldblum from Corrinne Mann Kempinsky & Louis Kempinsky

Dr. Irene C. Kassorla from Jackie Kassorla & Ronnie Kassorla

Dr. Warren Roston from Marnie & Randy Greenwald

Dr. Warren Roston from Lilly & David Lewis

Cantor Weiss’ Discretionary Fund

In Honor of:

Henry Markowitz’s Bar Mitzvah from Juliet Markowitz

In Memory of:

Gloria Boraz from Nancy & Leonard Friedman

Dr. Irene C. Kassorla from Jackie Kassorla and Ronnie Kassorla

Dr. Warren Roston from Alissa Roston

Rami Wernik from Nili Kosmal

Rabbi Geller’s Discretionary Fund

In Memory of:

Herbert Morris from Robert Gerstein

Dr. Warren Roston from Alissa Roston

Minyan Fund

Minyan Lunch from: Lisa Brian, and Alyssa Fortman

In Honor of:

Dylan Golshani’s Bar Mitzvah from Azadeh Borna & Shahrouz Golshani

Ashton Kamjoo’s Bar Mitzvah from Shirin & Kamyar Kamjoo

Maisy Meyers’ Bat Mitzvah from Beth Meyers

Rebecca Berg and Greg Porper’s Auf Ruf from Karen & Rob Porper

Rhys Shabel Fisher’s Bar Mitzvah from Jacquie Shabel and family

Alys Pollet Scholarship Fund and Gus Pollet Memorial Fund

In Honor of:

Alys Pollet’s birthday, her twin brother

Albert Kaufman‘s birthday, Mother’s Day, and Gus Pollet’s birthday from Gayle & Steve Jagoda

Judy Narvid and Jill Cahn’s birthdays, Father’s Day, and Jill’s health from Gayle & Steve Jagoda

Gus & Alys Pollet’s birthdays and Uncle Albert from Judy & Michael Narvid

In Memory of:

Alys and Gus Pollet’s birthdays from Jill & Bob Cahn

Yahrzeit Fund

In Memory of:

Jackson Alberts from Sylvia Alberts

Murray Averack from Susan Lava

Jack Barenfeld from Patty, Larry, Greg, and Jeff Goodman

Elva Breitbard from Ronda & Stanley Breitbard

Esther Degen from Jan & Alan Block and family

E.D. Friedman from Elinor & Marvin Sobel

Elisha Friedman from Elinor & Marvin Sobel

Nathan Friedman from Elinor & Marvin Sobel

Dr. Mozellar Goldstein from William Goldstein

Anne Grossman from Andrea & Rick Grossman

Manny Karbelnig from Sally Karbelnig

Carole & Barry Kaye from Michelle & Alan Kaye

Saul Kluger from the Wecker Family

Roberta Knaster from Ronda & Stanley Breitbard

Rose Kortz from Pearle Rae & Mark B. (z”l) Levey & family

Edward Krawll from Kathy Krawll, Richard Feinberg, Meredith Pettengill, and Lauren Ryan

Mark Irwin Krawll from Kathy Krawll, Richard Feinberg, Meredith Pettengill, and Lauren Ryan

Irving Kreeger from Elinor & Marvin Sobel

Muriel Kreeger from Elinor & Marvin Sobel

Muriel & Merwin Kreeger from Patti Kreeger

Mark B. Levey from Alan & Deborah Levey, Nancy & Jeff Cherry

Mark B. Levey from Pearle Rae & Mark B. (z”l) Levey & family

Grace Nachmias from Karen & Rob Porper

Dorothy Oppenheim from Sheri Neuberg

Ann Nichols from Michael Solomon

Gertrude Prezant from Claire Rexon

Sol Raffel from Sharon Lubin

Aaron Rothenberg from Dr. Trisha Rothenberg Roth

Mildred & Morris Schnitzer from Jeanne Schnitzer Marks & family

Helena Schweid from Rena Brooks

Irv Sobel from Marvin & Elinor Sobel

Stephen Solomon from Michael Solomon

Abraham Tishkoff from Lee Tishkoff

Abram Szuchmann from Betty Short

Marvin Wager from Sarelyn Wager and family

Thank You to Our Pillar Members

Pillar members are a special group of donors whose contributions go to the heart of our operating budget—they are the lifeblood that allows us to continually create innovative, cutting-edge programs and sustain our thriving congregation. Pillar donors strengthen Temple Emanuel by giving annually in addition to their membership.

In appreciation, special Pillar perks include:

• Pillar’s name on our Sanctuary Recognition wall

• Early entry to all High Holy Days services taking place in Corwin Family Sanctuary

• Guest passes at High Holy Days (Double Chai and above)

• Free participation in our Mishloach Manot Purim gift giving (L’dor V’dor and above)

Joining or renewing is easy, and membership has a tremendous impact. Contact Tannaz Lavian Gatto at Tannaz@tebh.org or 310-409-4640 for more information. Learn more at tebh.org/Pillar.

Bonim (Builders)

Carmen Kobor, Kathy Kobor, Lauren Escobar and Julian Javor

Malachim (Angel)

Lorraine & Jerry Factor

Sheryl & Jon Sokoloff

Tzadikim

Barbara Coyne & Jeffrey Hendel

Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg

Shana & Don Passman

Sylvia Price

Lisa & Adam Stoll

L’dor V’dor

Julie & Ken Moelis

Belinda & Jeff Pop

Shelley & Ron Singer

Sustaining

Lili & Jon Bosse

Sue & Barry Brucker

Nadine & Harold Davidson

Andrea & Rick Grossman

Pearle Rae & Mark B. (z”l) Levey

Lilly & David Lewis

Jill & Dennis Roach

Cathy & Louis Rosenmayer

Dorothy & Avram Salkin

Michal Amir-Salkin & Ken Salkin

Pillar Double Chai

Sandra & Chuck Aronberg

Sam Bachner

Pamela & David Bennett

Elliot Berkowitz

Ronda & Stan Breitbard

Barbara Bruser & Richard Clark

Pamela Reisman & Brad Donenfeld

Anne & Steve Factor

Jane Factor & Max Factor III

Bonnie & Ronald Fein

Bunni & Murray Fischer

Elayne Garber & John Forbess

Myra Lurie & David Goldman

Patty & Larry Goodman

Bobbi Holland

Kristin & John Jameson

Judy & Ron Kabrins

Vickie & Fred Kaplan

Terri & Michael Kaplan

Jackie Kassorla

Fran & Don Kates

Michelle & Alan Kaye

Linda & Ross Kemper

Rochelle & Richard Maize

Stacey Mickell

Jody Minsky

Lauren & Eric Muhlheim

The Farhad Novian Family

Elizabeth & William Quicksilver

Carol & Jerry Redston

Claudia & Bruce Resnikoff

Nancy Davis & Ken Rickel

Ronda & Fred Rose

Alissa &

Warren (z”l) Roston

Paula & Allan Rudnick

Robert Schwab

Richard Seff

Leslie & Scott Shlecter

Linda Smith

Terri & Michael Smooke

Annika & Abe Somer

Peter Thompson

Sunnye & Richard Tuch

Cathy & Len Unger

Halina Wachtel

Suzette Wachtel

Sandy Weiner

Diane & Max Weissberg

Susan & Geoff Wharton

Penny & Bob White

Marilyn &

Howard Wizenberg

Leah Bishop & Gary Yale

Chai Anonymous

Lynda Barrad

Robert Bird

Jan & Alan Block

Toni Corwin

Iris & Gordon Cutler

Eileen Dardick

Allison & Michael Druyanoff

Natasha & Jerry Ferris

Simone & Lester Friedman

Donna Garber

Bonnie & Bernie Goler

Andi & Larry Harrow

Susan & Rob Kazdan

Iris Perl-Kornberg & Howard Kornberg

Char & Sandy Kornblum

Eugene Korney

Dennis Lavinthal

Nancy & John Lee

Marcia & Ron Levenson

Samantha & Gregory Lombardo

Juliet Markowitz

Jeanne & Leonard Marks

Julie Mason-Fram

Corinne Auge & Laurent Opman

Nancy & Stephen Paul

Arline & Buddy Pepp

Vicki Reynolds & Murray Pepper

Ondania & David Pick

Cathy Costin & Mitch Reback

Mary & Robb Rothman

Marcia & Dick Schulman

Diane Vanette & Sander Schwartz

Tamar and Randy Seff

Hope Stevens & Peter Siegel

Edgar Simon

Laurie Goodman & Don Spetner

Susan & Ilan Tamir

Dorothy Schouten & Steven Tator

Flora Trostler

Sheila and Bill Wasserman

Barbara Weinstock

Ruth Weisberg

David Weissberg & Troy Skinner-Weissberg

Joan & David Wellisch

Elisa Newman White & Andy White

Joan Cohen Wilson & Chuck Wilson

Terri & Richard Wolf

Our Temple Family

Welcome to Our New Members

Judith Alban & Arnold Alban

Jasmine Cochran & Brandon Banks

Padideh Farivar

Wendy Fisher

Cayla Kondo & Scott Berger

Rabbi Myrna Matsa

Melanie & Harold Snedcof

Suzette Wachtel

Clergy

Jonathan Aaron, Senior Rabbi

Lizzie Weiss, Senior Cantor

Liora Alban, Associate Rabbi

Laura Geller, Rabbi Emerita

Staff

Sara Hiner, Executive Director

Carol Akiba

Lilya Aleksandrovskya

Alison Berkowitz

Amanda Collin

Kelley Courtney

Sebastian Fernandez

Tannaz Lavian Gatto

Joaquin Gomez

Mojgan Kahenasa

Kalanit Kamara

Stacy Kesner

Jenny Kramer

Mazel Tov to our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class

After almost two years of weekly training, the Adult B’nai Mitzvah students were thrilled to be called to the Torah on June 3, 2023. This wonderful group of adults have committed to furthering their Jewish knowledge and liturgical literacy, and forming lifelong relationships.

Paula Block

Cis Klein

Andrea Kune-Clark

Katharine La Ronde

Irina Kreuger

Savannah LaDuke

Adrian Martinez

Robin Platt

Karen Porper

Luis Rodriguez

Aria Saha

Mojdeh Soleymani

Nicole Solomon

Aaron Wiener

Cynthia Gearhart Williams

Helene Winston

Brad Yater

Board of Directors 2023 – 2024

Presidents

Kara Corwin and Farhad Novian

Directors & Committee Chairs

Pamela Bennett

Barry Brucker

Sue Brucker

Vida Delrahim

Rachel Ellenport

Simone Friedman

Dr. Michele Kalt

Jackie Kassorla

Dr. Nancy Lee

Wennie Lu

Benjamin Marcus

Dr. Bruce Phillips

Linda Smith

Danielle Soto

Scott Stone

Faye Ugolnik

David Weissberg

Geoffrey P. Wharton

Duke Marine

Gail Millan

Lisa Ponder

Michelle Redston

Mazel Tov to our Bat Mitzvah

Maisy Meyers — June 17, 2023

“I think fearless is having fears but jumping in anyway.” - Taylor Swift