February 2016 Beth Am Builder by Congregation Beth Am

f eb r ua ry 2016 Shvat / adar 1 5776

Adult Jewish Learning f o u r u n i q u e l ea r n i n g o p p o r t u n i t i es at beth am

in this issue:

n PROFESSOR RUSSELL BERMAN OF STANFORD UNIVERSITY Sponsored by the Ernst Guthaner Fund for Cultural and Educational Programming Sunday, February 21, 3:30 P.M., Sanctuary Guthaner guest lecturer Russell Berman will discuss “Returning to Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem and the New Debate on Israel and Zionism.” When Eichmann in Jerusalem appeared more than half a century ago, it provoked a fierce debate in the American Jewish community. The book has become a widely read text on the Shoah. Today it is being reinterpreted as evidence in support of efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel. Mr. Berman will discuss the history of how the book has been interpreted through time as well as its contemporary significance. To attend the reception after Professor Berman’s talk, RSVP by Friday, February 12 at www.betham.org/guthaner2016 or call (650) 493-4661. .

B e t h A m Wo m e n Y E S Te a page 3

THE FEAST OF JEWISH LEARNING RETURNS Saturday, February 20, 7 P.M., Congregation Beth Am Come together with people of all ages from throughout the community for an unforgettable evening of Jewish unity, with study, schmoozing and entertainment! All FREE (voluntary donations accepted!). There will be stimulating workshops on Jewish thought, texts, music, tradition, ethics, culture and spirituality, led by the best and brightest Bay Area teachers and artists. Experience what thousands of Jews all over the Bay Area rave about year after year. n

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n DR. MICAH GOODMAN Research Fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem Tuesday, February 23, 7:30 P.M., Beit Kehillah Dr. Micah Goodman, a leading Israeli scholar, writer and educator, will be speaking on Zionism’s Limitations on National Power. The Biblical story seems to recount a journey in which the Jewish people attain power — yet Biblical legislation seems largely designed to impose limitations on the exercise of power. What do these findings imply for the Jewish state? .

Jewish Disability A w a re n e ss & I n c l u s i o n Month page 8

n 5776’s SAXE FAMILY SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE WEEKEND Beth Am Welcomes Alan Morinis, Founder of The Mussar Institute Save the Dates: Friday, April 8 to Saturday, April 9, Congregation Beth Am Mark your calendars for this year’s Saxe Family Scholar-in-Residence Weekend, April 8-9. Our scholar is Alan Morinis, founder and dean of The Mussar Institute and an active interpreter of the teachings and practices of the Mussar tradition, about which he regularly gives lectures and workshops. A full schedule of the weekend will be available soon. .

PHOTO CREDIT: LIZA KUNZ

THE BETH AM

From Rabbi Jonathan Prosnit Rethinking Contributions

We are on the front lines of what it means to be a Jew — contributing to a synagogue is shaping our future.

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You’ve likely had this conversation with yourself or with your family members: Should we cancel our cable TV subscription and save the $70 per month on our bills? Do we watch enough television to justify the fee? With the combination of Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and others, we can almost always watch what we want, when we want. If we want something a little extra, we can always fork over a few extra dollars for a special movie or buy the app to stream the out-of-market baseball or basketball game. If you have had this conversation, you are not alone. This phenomenon, known as “cord-cutting,” is on the uptick. According to a recent survey, nearly 25% of adults don’t pay for TV and the number is even greater among millennials; over one third of millennials do not have television pay packages and instead watch shows using entirely different means. There are even online guides outlining how to cordcut depending on specific viewing habits. If it’s not TV, chances are you’ve had the conversation about something else. Do I go to Costco enough to justify the fee? I haven’t gone to the gym in months; should I keep my membership? So what does this have to do with synagogues and Beth Am? How can synagogues buck this cultural trend when we live in a world of individual customization? Rabbi David Segal writes: “I once heard a religion sociologist suggest that in America, we are becoming a nation of 320 million people with 320 million different religions. Not content with inherited tradition, distrustful of authority and disaffected by institutions, more Americans are turning away from organized religion even as they remain spiritual seekers.” This remains a constant challenge for us at Beth Am. Our program team would certainly rather discuss ideas regarding tradition, community, meaning, relationships, covenant and belonging than discuss dues, membership pledges and billing statements. I worry that the conversation surrounding synagogues has begun to drift into the realm of a cable package or gym membership; a feefor-service model through which we measure what we pay by what we receive or how much we use it. Fee-for-service Judaism does exist. A wedding will cost you $X and a Bar Mitzvah $Y and a funeral $Z. Hebrew language can be learned through Rosetta Stone and a Talmud class can be taken online. If the conversation about membership only focuses on dollars and cents, not only have we already lost, but we have also missed the mark. Let’s instead seize the idea of contribution. Contribution to a synagogue creates a vibrant Jewish community that fosters and enriches the future of our people. Contribution creates an epicenter of Judaism where life is lived every moment from birth to death. Contribution to Beth Am allows us to nurture the next generation of Jewish children and challenge, intellectually and

spiritually, the current generations of Jewish adults. It is a refuge of compassion, strength and aspiration. We are on the front lines of what it means to be a Jew — contributing to a synagogue is shaping our future. As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel teaches, contributing embraces “a vision of a dynamic, vibrant, compelling Judaism that finds its home in the synagogue, but whose message is lived inside and outside the synagogue walls.” Over 2000 years ago, Rabbi Hillel said: “Do not separate yourself from the community.” But if we only consider a synagogue and what we get out of membership, we miss the entire point. Rabbi Danny Zemel writes: “How can we affix dues — a financial obligation — to the future of the Jewish people and Judaism? How can we measure what that is worth to us? ... The temple bill then comes each month and gets put in the pile with the other bills and gets paid out or overlooked accordingly. The system unwittingly makes a mockery of the spiritual and historical mission of the synagogue and, therefore, of Jewish life. Imagine instead that we were asked annually to help preserve the future of the Jewish People and sustain the transmission of Torah to future generations. That’s the overarching purpose of temple dues.” Remarkable Work by Our Initiative Against Trafficking Team Last year, via a Presidential Proclamation, President Obama declared January to be National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. This is a constant and powerful reminder that slavery and trafficking occur and endure in the United States and around the world. According to the UN International Labor Organization, 21 million people are in slavery. Other organizations estimate an even higher number. As February begins, now is a terrific opportunity to recognize the Beth Am team involved in Beth Am’s Initiative Against Human Trafficking. This team has tirelessly committed themselves to working to combat this evil — they have educated, advocated and volunteered in a host of arenas working to fight human trafficking — ranging from educational programs here at Beth Am, to gathering signatures to advance anti-trafficking legislation and resolutions, to working with local hotels and nail salons to help identify signs of human trafficking, to collecting clothing, blankets and toiletries for trafficking survivors. Our team has built coalitions with other faithbased institutions, with local law enforcement agencies, with survivor networks and with other advocates. They participated in the 2015 Freedom Summit, America’s largest community-based antitrafficking event, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara last summer. The work continues as we, as a community, fight this modern-day horror.

T h e Entir e C ommunit y I s I nvit e d :

Beth Am Women YES Tea Honors Remarkable Women for Their Service

VOLUNTEER WITH BETH AM WOMEN:

Bake Delicious Hamantaschen Create Purim Treats for Beth Am College Students, Jewish Military Personnel, Émigrés and the Elderly

S u n d a y, F e br u a ry 2 8 , 3 t o 5 P. M . , Soc i a l H a ll

Join Beth Am Women for the YES Tea 2016 to honor five outstanding women for their service to Youth, Education and Special Projects/Services in our community. The YES Tea is an inspiring occasion — complete with tasty food and warm conversation — devoted to celebrating the innovative achievements of visionary women within our congregation. At this biennial event, the entire community is invited to recognize the volunteer efforts of Leah Strauss, Barbara August, Nancy Federman, Marla Holtzman and Deb Sack. We will also pay tribute to three past presidents of Beth Am Women: Jo Ann Kukulus, Barbara Windham and Deborah Radin. Attendees will hear about the range of involvement of these women who enrich the lives of congregants and the larger community. To purchase tickets by Thursday, February 18, visit www.betham.org/ yestea2016 to download the sign up form (to complete and mail with your check) OR register and pay using the online form. For more information, please contact BAWevents@betham.org.

J e wish F ilm S e ri e s P r e s e nts

American Jerusalem: Jews and the Making of San Francisco S a t u rd a y, F e br u a ry 1 3 , 3 : 3 0 P. M . B e i t K e h i ll a h

American Jerusalem: Jews and the Making of San Francisco is the epic story of the pioneering Jews of San Francisco. Escaping persecution in Europe, these Jews played a central role in transforming San Francisco from a sleepy village to a thriving metropolis. In the process, they reinvented themselves as well — each becoming a distinctly new kind of Jew — a San Francisco Jew. San Francisco’s rich Jewish history lives on today. The San Francisco Bay Area Jewish community remains different from other Jewish communities in the United States — more diverse, secular and open, with a lower rate of synagogue attendance and a higher rate of intermarriage. American Jerusalem unveils the long and largely unknown history of this singular community, as well as its significance and place in the fabric of not only California and the West, but of America. This film is free and refreshments will be served.

S u n d a y , M a rc h 6 - T h r e e S h i f t s : (1) 9 A.M. to NOON; (2) 11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.; (3) 2 to 5 P.M. B e t h Am K i t c h e n a n d Soc i a l H a ll

If you enjoy laughing and making friends in the sweet warmth of a kitchen, or love making hamantaschen to fulfill the mitzvah of mishloach manot (gifts of food that are sent to friends and family on Purim), join Beth Am Women to bake and package delicious Purim treats! Our homemade hamantaschen will be sent to college students of Beth Am congregants living away from home, congregants’ relatives in the U.S. military, émigrés and the elderly in the Beth Am community. RSVP online at www.betham.org/ purimbaking2016 to participate in one of three shifts (9 A.M. to noon; 11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.; 2 to 5 P.M.) during the all-day baking event in Beth Am’s kitchen. All bakers over B’nei Mitzvah age are welcome and greatly appreciated! For more information, contact bawcookies@gmail.com. n Register your college student or U.S. military service person online at www.betham.org/purimpackage2016 before Wednesday, February 17 to receive Beth Am Women’s FREE box of freshlybaked hamantaschen. n We also need volunteers to deliver the mishloach manot to the elderly in our congregation. Please sign up online at www.betham.org/purimdelivery2016 by Sunday, February 14.

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10:oo Chicken Soupers

Adult Hebrew Level A2 PM

12:00 Hebrew Tutoring

5:30 6:00 6:15 7:30

Tuesday Night Program Teen GPS Class Adult Hebrew Level B Adult Hebrew Level A

11:00 Adult Hebrew Level F 5:30 Avodah! 5:30 Tuesday Night Program 6:00 Building Bridges 6:00 Confirmation 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level B 7:30 Adult Hebrew Level A 7:30 BAW Rosh Chodesh

4:00 Hagigah 4:00 Hebrew P 5:15 Hebrew P 5:45 Prayerboo 6:30 Ballroom 6:30 Hebrew T 7:00 Adult He

4:00 Hagigah 4:00 Hebrew P 5:45 Prayerboo 6:15 Beit R’fua 6:30 Ballroom 6:30 Hebrew T 7:00 Adult He 7:30 BAM Pho

presidents’ day — office closed 14 15 16 11:00 Adult Hebrew Level F

12:00 Hebrew Tutoring 1:30 Family Playdate (offsite) 3:00 BAW YES Tea Event

8:00 BAM Breakfast 11:00 Adult Hebrew Level F

5:30 Avodah! 5:30 Tuesday Night Program 6:00 Confirmation 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level B 7:30 Hartman Speaker: Dr. Micah Goodman

Adult Hebrew Level A2 PM

9:00 9:00 9:30 11:30 11:30

6:15 PM

12:00 Avodah! 12:00 Hebrew Tutoring 3:00 Torah Circle 3:30 Guthaner Lecture: Professor Russell Berman

CCAR Convention in Israel 21 22 23

2nd Grade Family Day Sunday Program A Season of Mussar Teen Seminar w/Rabbi Marder Zimriyah: Junior Choir Teen Study w/Rabbi Weissman

4:00 Hagigah 4:00 Hebrew P 5:30 Jr. Congre 5:45 Prayerboo 6:30 Ballroom 6:30 Hebrew T 7:00 Adult Heb 7:00 Mah Jong

28 29

Jewish Literature Class Sunday Program HUC Live Streaming: The Mystery of the Dead Sea Scrolls Zimriyah: Junior Choir Madrichim Training

6:15 PM

9:00 9:00 9:15 11:30 11:30 11:30

5:45 Prayerboo 6:30 Ballroom 7:00 Adult Heb

Adult Hebrew Level B Adult Hebrew Level A

6:15 7:30

6:15

11:30 Zimriyah: Junior Choir

11:00 Adult Hebrew Level F

A Season of Mussar

9:00 Sunday Program 9:15

For a more detailed calendar visit www.betham.org

Wednesday

T u e s d a y AM

Monday

Sunday

Adult Hebrew Level A2

C on g r e g ation

f e bruar

For a more detailed calenda

Calendar

AM PM

Tizmoret Service

BAJY West Coast Party

5:00 Lay-Led Gates of Prayer 6:15 Jewish Disability Awareness Shabbat Service

8:00 Thursday Morning Minyan 9:00 Adult Hebrew Level A1 9:00 Yoga for Israel 10:30 Adult Hebrew Level C 12:00 Talmud 1:30 Jewish Spirituality Class 4:00 Hebrew Program and T’filah 5:30 Jr. Congregation Rehearsal 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level E 6:45 Tinnitus Support Group 7:30 Advanced Conv. Hebrew 7:30 Board Meeting

6:15

8:30 9:00 9:15 10:15

Bagels and Coffee Torah Study Tot Shabbat Torah Minyan

3:00 Connections 2 Learning Session 3:00 Connections 3 Learning Session

8:30 Bagels and Coffee 9:00 Torah Study 10:15 Torah Minyan 10:30 B’not Mitzvah Service: Simon/Simon 3:30

Jewish Film Series: American Jerusalem

5 5:00 Lay-Led Gates of Prayer

S a t u rd a y

12:00 Talmud 1:30 Jewish Spirituality Class 4:00 Hebrew Program and T’filah 5:15 Hebrew Program 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level E 7:00 BAW Board Meeting 7:30 Advanced Conv. Hebrew 7:30 Building Blocks Class

Program and T’filah ok Hebrew ah m Dancing Tutoring ebrew Level D otography Group

8:00 Thursday Morning Minyan 9:00 Adult Hebrew Level A1 10:30 Adult Hebrew Level C

Program and T’filah Program ok Hebrew m Dancing Tutoring ebrew Level D

Friday

T h u r s d a y

5:00 Lay-Led Gates of Prayer 6:15 Shabbat Service In the Round

12:00 Talmud 1:30 Jewish Spirituality Class 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level E 7:00 BAW Chai Mitzvah 7:00 Knitzvah Circle 7:30 Advanced Conv. Hebrew 7:30 Building Blocks Class

9:00 Adult Hebrew Level A1 10:30 Adult Hebrew Level C

ok Hebrew Dancing brew Level D

8:00 Thursday Morning 8:30 Bagels and Coffee 17 18 19 20 Minyan 9:00 Torah Study 10:15 Torah Minyan 10:30 B’nei Mitzvah Service: Schwarzbach/Cope

3:00 Connections 1 Learning Session 7:00 Feast of Jewish Learning

ation B e th A m

y 2016

ar, visit www. betham.org

Lay-Led Gates of Prayer Tot Shabbat Shabbat Service Confirmation Shabbat Dinner

5:00 5:15 6:15 7:30

12:00 Talmud 1:30 Jewish Spirituality Class 4:00 Hebrew Program and T’filah 5:30 Jr. Congregation Rehearsal 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level E 7:30 Advanced Conv. Hebrew 7:30 Building Blocks Class

Minyan 9:00 Adult Hebrew Level A1 10:30 Adult Hebrew Level C

Program and T’filah egation Rehearsal ok Hebrew Dancing Tutoring brew Level D gg

8:30 Bagels and Coffee 8:00 Thursday Morning 24 25 26 27 9:00 Torah Study 10:15 Torah Minyan 10:30 B’not Mitzvah Service: Delman/Marcus 3:30 Far From the Tree Book Discussion 6:00 BATY Purim Event

Builders Circle Member Profile:

Lori and Hal Luft What do you get when you match a young actively Jewish woman with a young man who has barely set foot in a synagogue since his Bar Mitzvah? In the case of Lori and Hal Luft, you get a journey that results in a deeply committed and fulfilling Jewish life spent at Beth Am, where a home was found for both Lori’s pursuits and Hal’s rediscovery of his interest in Jewish life. Both Lori and Hal love Beth Am Shabbat services, attending as often as they can. Lori finds it “a time for peace and contemplation, to go inward and to think on a deeper level about what I want to change or work on.” They are also regulars at the annual Beth Am Asilomar Adult Study Retreat (which they call their “adult Jewish summer camp”), making very strong connections with friends there over the years. This has broadened the already large circle of friends gained over the years of board and committee work and teaching that Lori and Hal have done at Beth Am. Preparing a legacy gift to Beth Am was a reflection of their appreciation for our community, and their desire to use their philanthropy to impact others in a meaningful way. “Giving can create the next generation — giving to Beth Am will make things happen, now and into the future,” says Hal. He and Lori also hope that in doing so, they will encourage others to make the same kind of gift. “We are encouraged to be generous by seeing others being generous.” Learn more about the Lufts at www.betham.org/LuftLegacy. The Beth Am Builders Circle is the group of members who have included a legacy gift, such as a bequest, to Beth Am. For more information, please contact Director of Development Mandy Eisner at meisner@betham.org, call (650) 493-4661. For sample bequest language, please visit www.betham.org/legacygiving. *This article is based on an interview that was conducted in October 2015 and is printed here with the permission of Lori and Hal Luft.

A Note from the President

Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month It’s February, and that means that it’s Jewish Disability Awareness Month. You may be asking the same thing that I did at first: why bother? Why should we, as Jews, pay more attention than anyone else to disabilities? And, why should we devote a whole month to this? Really, my questions were upside down: why would we devote ONLY a month to issues of disabilities? And how, as Jews, could we NOT focus on inclusion and the inherent holiness of every member of our community? Fortunately, both Congregation Beth Am and the Reform movement are devoting far more than a single month to this important topic. Read more at www.betham.org/JDAM. L’Shalom, Loree Farrar President@betham.org

Jeremy Weinstein and Rachel Gibson Rachel Gibson and Jeremy Weinstein have been members of Beth Am for 10 years. They have two adorable sons, Jonah (8) and Lev (5), who are in 3rd grade and kindergarten at Nixon Elementary. MEMBERs Jeremy is a native of Palo Alto and Professor of S P OT L I G HT Political Science at Stanford. For the last two years, Jeremy served on President Obama’s foreign policy team, most recently as Deputy to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Rachel hails from Southern California and works as an environmental advocate for the nonprofit Health Care Without Harm. Rachel serves on the Beth Am Board of Directors and is heading up the synagogue’s B’nei Mitzvah Revolution with Cantor Shpall. She also coaches baseball for Jonah’s and Lev’s Little League teams. The Gibson-Weinsteins are proud members of their Beth Am Connections group — The Chaggers — and are some of the warmest and most welcoming people you’re likely to meet at Beth Am. They are also avid Giants fans! Beth Am is fortunate to have them as members.

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Beth Am

Teen Art Show F r i day, M a rc h 4 , 6 : 1 5 P. M ., C o n f e r e n c e R oom

Beth Am salutes the talents of our high school artists and rejoices in the ways that art can build community. The opening reception for this year’s Teen Art Show will be held on Friday evening, March 4 after our Shabbat service. The artwork will be on display in the Conference Room through Sunday, April 17. If you are a Beth Am teenager who would like to share your work, please be in touch with Becky DePalma at bdepalma@betham.org. “Adonai said to Moses, ‘See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts — to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.’” Exodus 31

Youth Education 2016-17

Youth Education registration is online again this year! The signup deadline for all programs is Monday, May 2. To register, log in to the Beth Am members’ website at www.betham.org/members. If you need help or you need your login/password, please call the Beth Am office at (650) 493-4661. Before you register, check out what’s happening this year in youth education at www.betham.org/youth. We hope you’ll consider joining one of these innovative programs that focus on friendship-building and active Jewish learning.

Slalom Rav Enjoy great downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and/or cross-country skiing

beth am accepts

Car Donations It’s a Win/Win for You and for Beth Am

Friday, March 11 to Sunday, March 13, Lake Tahoe, CA

We have snow! Sign up for the 9th annual Slalom Rav, the men’s winter retreat weekend hosted by Beth Am Men. For the past eight years, we have gathered together — as fathers, brothers, sons and friends — for a weekend of winter sports and Jewish community. Enjoy great downhill skiing and snowboarding at Alpine/Squaw, or explore snowshoeing trails and cross-country skiing at Royal Gorge. This trip is open to all adult male congregants of Beth Am (BAM membership not required). Teenage sons are welcome to attend with an adult. Note: Space is limited; this year’s trip may fill up faster than in recent years. The total cost is TBD depending on the number of people who register, as we’ll be renting a house. Please sign up using the online form at www.betham.org/BAMski2016.

Car donations are an easy way to support Beth Am, providing you with a tax write-off and Beth Am with additional funds for our community. We take care of the DMV paperwork, pick up your car, sell it at auction and then send you a receipt for the full amount that the car sold for. It’s that easy! We also accept trucks, boats, motorcycles and RVs. For more information and to begin the process, please contact Beth Am Development Director Mandy Eisner at meisner@betham.org or (650) 493-4661, ext. 504.

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Inclusion for All Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month

“For My house shall be a house of prayer for all people.” (Isaiah 56:5) Each February, Jewish communities throughout North America mark Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion month, highlighting our commitment to ensure equal access for all people, and the full participation of individuals with disabilities in religious and communal life. This month, three special events are being sponsored by our inclusion task force, INCLUDE Beth Am: n Friday, February 12, 6:15 P.M., Sanctuary: Erev Shabbat service — Beth Am congregants Melissa Kelley, a board member, and Elijah King, who grew up at Beth Am, will speak at the service.

Discussion of Andrew Solomon’s Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity, led by Rabbi Janet Marder, with Beth Am members Susan Markowitz, Ph.D. and Stacey Ashlund.

n saturday, february 27, 3:30 p.m., conference room:

n sunday, february 28, 1:30 p.m., magical bridge playground, 600 e. meadow drive, palo alto: Join other Beth Am families for a playdate at the Magical Bridge

Playground, the nation’s most innovative and inclusive playground, designed and built for visitors of all ages and abilities. RSVP online by Thursday, February 25. Learn more about these events at www.betham.org/FebInclusion.

Save the Dates Beth Am Purim 5776 Is Coming! F a m i ly P u r i m : S u n d a y M a rc h 2 0 Ad u lt P u r i m : W e d n e s d ay, M a rc h 2 3

Get ready for a celebration of festivity and laughter as we celebrate Purim the Beth Am way! All proceeds from Beth Am Purim events support our programs. Details regarding sign up for both family and adult Purim events will be coming in early March.

For more info visit www.betham.org • Please “Like us” on Facebook and “Follow Us” on Twitter!