November FLAME

28 Heshvan - 27 Kislev November 2013

Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater Giving Thanks for our Community In a recent S u n d a y minyan, which was thankfully attended by several of our b’nai mitzvah students and some of their parents, I continued the conversation that I raised in my sermons about the Pew Study and what we can do at PJTC to help secure a strong and meaningful Jewish future. I asked everyone why they were here in services. I asked everyone why they were a part of PJTC. Some of the answers: community; a sense of belonging; a safe place to be a Jew; connections

to ancestry and past; a desire to learn and be part of something spiritual.

These are all beautiful answers to the biggest question facing American Judaism in the non-Orthodox world: why are you or should you be a part of a Jewish community and strive to live a life filled with Jewish purpose?

One of the parents told me that they went home, talked about it together as a family and made a commitment to dig deeper, participate more and grow in their Jewish life. Amen!

In my m i nd, w hat we are doing at PJTC is all about offering opportunities to answer this question.

As I said in one of my sermons, we all have to make the choice to be in a relationship with Judaism. We all have to choose to make Jewish ritual, Click here to continue

Temple President Jon Weisz Holiday Opportunities News Bulletin: The lunar calendar has run amok and they are already playing Hanukkah songs in the local department stores. Hanukkah before Thanksgiving...it’s a scary thought, but it is a reality this year. As we begin to prepare for both of our November holidays, it is vital that we remind ourselves that there are many individuals and families in our greater communities who are in need and have little to celebrate. Fortunately, there are organizations within PJTC and outside working hard to make a

difference. We can all help and participate.

PJTC is blessed to have several organizations that reach out to help those less fortunate. The Membership Assistance Committee (MAC) is one of these groups. It provides bereavement meals and other assistance for our temple families experiencing life’s challenges. MAC also distributes High Holy Day and Pesach gifts to congregants who are institutionalized, suffering with prolonged illnesses, or recovering from surgery. This wonderful committee can always Click here to continue

Services Minyan Services are held every Sunday in Knell Chapel, beginning at 9:00 AM

November 1/2

Parashat: Toledot

Tot Shabbat 6:45 PM Knell Chapel Shabbat Service 7:30 PM

Galpert Sanctuary Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Sat. Service 9:00 AM Knell Chapel Kiddush hosted by Shabbes Minyan Group November 8/9

Parashat: Vayetze

Shabbat Service 7:30 PM

Galpert Sanctuary Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Sat. Service 9:00 AM Knell Chapel Kiddush hosted by Linda & Paul Rourman in honor of their 45th wedding anniversary November 15/16

Parashat: Vayishlah

Shabbat Service 7:30 PM

Galpert Sanctuary Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Sat. Service 9:00 AM Knell Chapel Kiddush hosted by Carolyn Kunin in honor of her birthday November 22/23

Parashat: Vayeshev

Shabbat Service 7:30 PM

Galpert Sanctuary Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Sat. Service 9:00 AM Knell Chapel Kiddush hosted by Shabbes Minyan Group November 29/30

Parashat: Miketz

Shabbat Service 7:30 PM

Galpert Sanctuary Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Sat. Service 9:00 AM Knell Chapel Kiddush hosted by Shabbes Minyan Group

Whitman Dinner

Friday December 6 6:00 PM Social Hall RSVP to the temple office by December 2.

1434 N. Altadena Drive • Pasadena CA 91107

http://www.pjtc.net/

(626) 798-1161

Staff and Officers Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center 1434 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, California 91107 (626) 798-1161 • (626) 798-8410 (Fax) http://www.pjtc.net/ info@pjtc.net

– PJTC Clergy and Staff – Joshua Levine Grater – Rabbi Gilbert Kollin – Rabbi Emeritus Ruth Berman Harris – Cantor Sondra Dreshner - Gabbai Eitan Trabin – Executive Director Debby Singer – Education Director Eitan Lowenstein – Religious School Assistant Bruce Applebaum – Operations Manager Zachary Madick – Youth Director Jane Hirschkowitz – Assistant to the Rabbi Marian Rosen – Bookkeeper Robert Brown – Facilities Manager

– PJTC Officers – President – Jonathon Weisz Secretary – Bob Levinson Treasurer – Mickey Bernath Exec. VP Management – Faith Segal Exec. VP Programs – Jeff Landau VP Administration – Noah Golden-Krasner VP Adult Programs – Felicity Swerdlow VP Youth Programs – Roberta Tragarz VP Finance – Sandy Hartford VP Membership – Andrea Edwards VP Religious Affairs – Richard Samuelson Planning Committee Chair – Mickey Segal Sisterhood President – Carolyn Siegal Men's Club President – Jerry Halpert

– Board of Directors – Keri Axel, Judy Balian, Judy Callahan, Ricky Calvin, Geoff DeBoskey, Valerie Grover, Stephanie Ivler, Haley Karish, Amy Richardson, Meredith Rose, Ruth Several

–Voting Past Presidents – David Lorin, Brian Mark Matt Ober, Art Taus

– The FLAME Staff – Bruce Applebaum – Layout Edie Taylor, Roz Scherr and Breyne Moskowitz – Editors Karen Hochman Brown – Advisor

Advertise in The FLAME Help offset the cost of our monthly publication while promoting your business or service.

Business Card @ $20.00/month Quarter Page @ $35.00/month Half Page @ $70.00/month

Three month minimum. Discounted rates are available for longer running ads.

Make your request at communications@pjtc.net The Communications Committee can assist you with ad copy and layout.

The FLAME

Cantor Ruth Berman Harris An Amazing USCJ Centennial Convention!

Last month I attended the United Synagogue of C ons e r v at ive Ju d ais m ' s Centennial convention. It was my first USCJ convention and I am very glad I went. I went wearing two "hats." I wanted to bring back new ideas for our congregation, and I also hoped to grow on a personal level.

It started with an amazing Shabbaton. I was fortunate to experience an uplifting Shabbat morning service led by Rabbi David Ingber, spiritual leader of Romemu in NYC, which dwelled on what, in a lengthy private conversation he called "the art of davenology." It was sort of a continuous and soulful music that wrapped and carried every prayer, bringing us along on that journey and connecting us to one another. It was intense, joyful, dynamic and transformative. This experience was probably one of the "just for me" programs. The sessions on institutional branding, visioning, new educational platforms, and the plenary sessions could be more "for PJTC," although they are all intertwined.

Rabbi Steven Wernick, leader of the USCJ, encouraged us to question who we are as Jews, what do we stand for, and how do we contribute to the Jewish landscape? He said, "We'll be talking about what we share with Jews of other denominations and about what is unique to our conservative Jewish identity. We'll be exploring what works in Conservative Jewish life, and what needs to be recreated.

Let's be real. There is much that needs fixing, and readjusting, and tweaking. As I see it, we reverse the narrative of decline by affirming three pillars of Conservative Jewish life: tradition, community, and renewal. The baton has been passed to us.

Let us open our minds and hearts. Let the conversation of the century begin!"

Dr. Erica Brown challenged the Centennial attendees to take up the Biblical mandate to go out and create.

Create from nothing. Do the impossible.

Be possibilitarians!!! She described five traits of innovators as read from The Innovator's DNA. These are: associating, questioning, observing, networking, and

experimenting. Innovative people make broad and often uncanny associations.

They actively desire to change the status quo. They regularly take smart risks to make that change happen.

Dr. Brown closed by urging that we focus on our final product: the J for Jewish in our alphabet soup, rather than in the planning and politics. She encouraged us to go and be disruptive, to do some careful damage. People–our Jewish people–are waiting for our leadership. They are ready for positive disruption. Are we?

Everyone I spoke to at the Convention seemed to feel inspired and hopeful about the future of the movement based on many of the remarkable speakers, presenters and performers who attended. There were 1,200 people at the Convention! There were over 100 clergy, over 100 USY high school students, synagogue presidents, board members, staff and congregants.

What made this convention unique was that virtually all arms of the conservative movement were together, embracing our future. It was inspirational to listen to Rabbi Harold Kushner and Dr. Erica Brown, who lifted us off our feet and made us think about how we can play a great role in the future of the conservative movement.

Shabbat at the USCJ Centennial was incredible. USY had its own featured Kabbalat Shabbat service, full of energy and spirit. USYers also led the entire conference in ruach after dinner. The highlight for many was a program with Andrew Lustig, the featured spoken word artist and Poet-In-Residence at the Centennial.

What did I learn that I want to share with YOU? There is a slow but surely growing sense in synagogue circles that organized Jewish life, especially "shul life" is rapidly changing, and that the classic synagogue structure that we've known for the last 75 years or so will be very different by the end of the next decade.

My sense is that this will have a dramatic impact on how we "do" synagogue, what it means to become a bar or bat mitzvah, what it means to attend Hebrew school, Click here to continue

2

November 2013

Men's Club News

by Jerry Halpert, Men's Club President

Everything You Want To Know And Were Afraid To Ask About This Fun-Filled Event

Next Men’s C lub Bre a k fast , 10:15 AM Sunday, December 15, 2013 Mark your calendars to join us for a full Sunday breakfast with bagels and lox and all the trimmings on December 15 at 10:15 AM. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Brian Mark, accomplished investment counselor. He will speak on “Tax Incentives and Saving for College.”

Men and women are always welcome to share our Men’s Club events with us.

Please RSVP to mensclub@pjtc.net by December 11.

If it has slipped your mind, we are still accepting your membership dues for the 2013-14 year (only $36) and we are still selling Football Pool books at $10 each. There are 10 more weeks to win one of the Football Pool cash prizes. Send checks to the PJTC Men’s Club at the PJTC office.

7:30 PM, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Join Us at PJTC for a “NITE AT THE RACES” Your admission includes • • • •

Deli dinner A drink A booklet of information about the races A list of great prizes and $2,000 of funny money for betting.

Races from famous tracks will be shown on the big screen in the PJTC social hall.

The winner with the most funny money at the end of the last race will have a choice of prizes; second highest, second choice, and so on.

Prizes include: • Overnight at the Langham Hotel with breakfast and parking • Two nights at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa • One night at the Irvine Marriott with parking • $250 Nordstrom Gift Certificate • Numerous other sports and theater event tickets and gifts.

The good news is that admission is only $30 (before November 10) or $35 (after).

This is a Men’s Club special fundraising event that will bring lots of fun and enjoyment and will be used to support our youth programs.

Upcoming events Welcome Back to School – Free pancake breakfast for kids and parents, 9:15 AM, Sunday, January 5. This is a chance for students and parents to re-establish connections after the holiday break. See you there!

Star-Gazing in February. We are repeating this fun event for kids and parents at a date TBD. A hot dog dinner will be provided.

Dinty Moore Dinner on March 5. Join us for this delightful deli dinner with guest musical entertainment by singer-pianist David Kamenir.

For more info, send email to mensclub@pjtc.net or call (626) 793-8783.

Congratulations to the Winners Of Men’s Club NFL Football Pool

Football Pool Winners

Week 4

Week 5

Do you love to travel? Would you like to visit Argentina and/or Israel?

Week 6

Highest Score ( $50) Not sold Not sold Mel Cohen, Neil Brown Next Highest($20) Sue Galpert Ike Langholz Barry Krasner Lowest Score ($10) Barry Gold Jerome Kaplan Bob Levinson

Jim Hogan

Beautiful and historic places, delicious food, flexible itineraries, and memorable moments await you! Great for families, novice travelers, independent adventurers and those looking to see the treasures of our world through a Jewish lens focused on our history, religion and culture.

PJTC Annual Blood Drive for Huntington Hospital

Tuesday, December 10 • 12:30 - 7:00 PM

Don’t just drop your kids off for Hebrew School! Stay and donate blood!

Did you know that PJTC has consistently held the most successful blood drives for Huntington Hospital? Last year we donated 60 pints!! That’s what we call SOCIAL ACTION! If you are age 17-75 you can donate!

Start your new year by saving a life! To sign-up for a time slot, please contact Stacy Miller, stacymm8@gmail.com.

Start loading up on your iron consumption now!

Please contact Stacy for information about recent travel that may prohibit donating.

The FLAME

PJTC is planning a series of congregational trips to: • Israel with Rabbi Grater: May 4 - 18, 2014 • Argentina with Cantor Ruth: December (winter break) 2014 • Family Trip to Israel December 2015.

Book now. Relax later.

And leave all the planning to us!

Are you interested? Please let us know! For more information email rabbijoshua@pjtc.net or cantorruth@pjtc.net.

Click to see flyer

3

November 2013

It's Happening with Sisterhood!

by Carolyn Siegal, Sisterhood President

The theme for Sisterhood in October was collaboration and community. On October 3 we hosted our first-ever j oint Rosh C ho desh wit h Adu lt Education. Franci Levine Grater spoke to a packed house in Wohlmann Hall. We learned first-hand what it was like to be in Israel and to join with the Women of the Wall, a group of women praying, wearing tallesim in the women’s section of the kotel, not just as an act of prayer but also as a protest, or as Franci so aptly put it, “political theater.” If you haven’t been following this controversy, then you might not know that the ultra-Orthodox are adamantly opposed to hearing the voices of women raised in prayer. The reactions to their actions had been escalating to a level that Franci called “scary,” but has now resulted in a new approach, a third section of the Kotel not under the governance of the Orthodox where women can pray freely. If you want to learn more about the Women of the Wall organization on the internet and their fight to achieve something we take for granted, go to http://womenofthewall.org.il/. See photos below of Franci and audience from the event. Whether or not you agree with their methods or even their intentions, it does make you appreciate the egalitarian culture of PJTC, with many of our Sisterhood members leading the way in temple governance, Torah reading and other areas of lay leadership.

Sisterhood Hosts Annual Sukkot Potluck Dinner under the Stars

by Nancy Carlton, Event Chair

Sisterhood welcomed approximately 125 guests to its Sukkot Potluck Dinner on Friday, September 20. We shared a wonderful evening of food and friendship under the Sukkah and stars at one of Sisterhood’s most popular annual events. Potluck dishes offered everything from tasty appetizers to delicious salads and sides to pizza (a favorite among the young) and kugels. It was fun to see the variety and creativity of contributions to the potluck dinner.

A special acknowledgment goes to Elliott Mazur. His collaboration with Sisterhood and donation towards Waste Less Living Services provided us with an opportunity to recycle and properly compost the specialty paper goods. I am happy to report that approximately 33 pounds of food waste and compostable tableware was successfully recovered and diverted from the landfill, and instead composted and turned back into nutrient– enriched soil.

Thank you to Sisterhood members Marcia Alper, Mary Ann Bernath, Andrea Edwards, Ricki Lane, Sheila Padlipsky, Aty Rotter, Carolyn Siegal and Edie Taylor for helping me with event set-up, clean-up and making sure everything ran smoothly.

I look forward to seeing all of you at next year’s Sukkot Potluck Dinner!

Rosh Chodesh elebration for everyone 5774

Thursday Evening 7:30 to 9:00 PM Save the date for our next Rosh Chodesh on Thursday, December 5 at the home of Stacy Miller, when we will view and discuss PJTC's new textile art with the five artists..

Questions and RSVP to sisterhood@pjtc. net or Kathy Kobayashi

Another collaborative event was the joint fundraiser with LBSRS at Domenico’s on October 2. It was our most successful restaurant fundraiser yet and I personally enjoyed the takeout gnocchi and lasagna I ordered.

Please see the accompanying article about our successful Sukkot event.

In November, Sisterhood will lend a hand, organizing the refreshments for two book festival events, plus the ACTS Interfaith Thanksgiving service on November 24. We are also hosting a Rosh Chodesh on Jewish Women Poets on November 7 at my house, and a wine and food tasting event at Savor the Flavor in Sierra Madre on November 17.

If it sounds like we are busy, it is because we are! We have an amazing group of women who are always glad to contribute their time and heart to make PJTC a better place. As Sisterhood president, I am so impressed by the way in which our members rally around our own in a crisis, whether it be the loss of a loved one or an illness in the family. If you want a community you can count on, Sisterhood is the place to be.

The FLAME

We welcome the month of Kislev — November 7

home of Carolyn Siegal Topic: Jewish Women Poets: A Reading and Discussion with poet, Jenny Factor

Join us in this second annual exploration of Jewish women poets led by Jenny Factor, PJTC member and widely published poet, who is Core Faculty in Poetry at Antioch University Los Angeles.

Whet our Appetites!

PJTC Sisterhood will soon be collecting FAMILY FAVORITE recipes to produce a cookbook for our community.

Get ready to share special recipes from your grandmother mother sister

relatives extended family friends loved ones ancestors kinfolk

clan nearest and dearest and don’t forget about those recipes you prepare simply because they’re family favorites!

Details to follow in the December issue of the FLAME as well as a mailing to your home.

4

November 2013

Private Shopping Party at Savor the Flavor: Sunday, November 17

Documentary Discussion Group November Meeting Tuesday, November 19 at 7:30 PM

by Debbie Guest, Sisterhood VP Development

by Breyne Moskowitz

Are you hosting a Hanukkah party? Are you hosting Thanksgiving? Maybe both at the same time? Are you a guest at somebody’s home? Come to this exclusive event at one of our area’s most charming stores: Savor the Flavor, in the heart of Sierra Madre. Learn about all the hot new food and gift trends, as you sip wine or champagne.

This is a fun event where you will be offered wine, hors d’oeuvres and decadent desserts in an intimate setting. We encourage you to stock up on all of your upcoming holiday needs because Savor the Flavor is donating 10% of the proceeds to us.

This late Sunday afternoon party can be the start of a lovely evening in Sierra Madre. There are many fine restaurants within easy walking distance of Savor the Flavor, which is centrally located at Kersting Court in this quaint little town. Your first course of wine and appetizers is on the house! Parking is free on the street.

Please note that the party starts at 4:15, at which time the presentation will be given to the assembled guests. You are free to browse at your leisure after that. This boutique is chock full of surprising and delightful items all year round.

Reservations are mandatory, space is limited. Please RSVP to Debbie Guest: debbie.j.guest@gmail.com or (626) 355-9672

by Monday November 11.

Please note change of date!

In the final weeks of World War II, Britain’s Jewish Brigade, the only all-Jewish fighting unit in the war, went into combat against the Nazis, and came away victorious. It was after the war, though, that the real story of the Brigade began.

Amidst the chaos of post-war Europe, and under the noses of the occupying Allied armies, the young Jewish soldiers masterminded one clandestine operation after another, forming secret vengeance squads to assassinate Nazi officers in hiding, and engineering the rescue and illegal movement of Holocaust survivors to Palestine. Later, in 1948, Brigade veterans helped organize and lead the fledgling Israel Defense Forces in their new country’s War of Independence.

From the trenches of Northern Italy to the refugee camps of war-torn Europe, In Our Own Hands unravels the thrilling tale of young Jewish soldiers who carried the weight of a people on their shoulders. This amazing documentary will form the basis of our discussions at the second meeting of the Documentary Discussion Group on Tuesday, November 19. (Note day and date change due to Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, and other conflicts.)

Bring a nosh or drinks to share while we discuss the exploits of these Jewish Brits after viewing the film. Sponsored by Adult Education

Whitman Dinner

Sisterhood Presents

“The Women in My Life…..

Including My Husband”

Friday December 6 6:00 PM Social Hall

Join us on Sunday, December 8 at 10:15 AM in the Social Hall for a light nosh with featured guest speaker Patricia Bunin.

Author, Pasadena Star News columnist, and synagogue member Patricia Bunin will share her thoughts and heartfelt as well as humorous writings focused on women’s relationships and roles as mother, daughter, wife, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend.

RSVP to Nancy Carlton at iamyou082@aol.com. $5.00 donation recommended.

You will have an opportunity to purchase a personalized, autographed book Password: SeniorMoments, by Patricia ($14.95). The book’s short essays are a collection of Patricia’s weekly “Senior Moments” column in the Pasadena Star News and other Southland newspapers.

There is no charge for the dinner but we must have your reservations by Monday, December 2. Reservations will not be accepted after that date. Call the PJTC office at 798-1161.

RSVP to the Temple office by December 2

Tot Shabbat Service

PJTC Babysitter Roster Please contact Stacy Miller if you would like to be added to our Babysitter Roster or if you would like a roster sent to you by email.

The FLAME

November 1 6:45 PM Knell Chapel

Come for an evening of togetherness, song and prayer!

Join Judy Callahan, Director of B’nai Simcha Preschool, and Cantor Ruth for a half-hour Shabbat experience filled with music and movement for families with children age seven and under.

5

November 2013

Israel Matters

From the Eugene and Marilyn Fingerhut Memorial History Project

Encountering Peace: Making Peace, Not Just Negotiating

by Michael Several, Project Chair

by Gershon Baskin

This is the fifth and last of a five-part series on Frank Ackerman.

The first two parts appeared in the April and May issues of 2012.

The third part appeared in the 2013 August/September issue and the fourth part in October.

Frank Ackerman joined PJTC in 1952 and left in 1962 in a bitter dispute over Rabbi Galpert’s contract renewal. He then joined the Foothill Jewish Temple Center in Sierra Madre. During his ten years at the Foothill Jewish Temple Center, he engineered the congregation’s merger with the El Monte congregation, acquired property in Arcadia for the new congregation, and strongly influenced the design of the congregation’s home. In 1972, Ackerman left the congregation over a dispute whose details no one ever recalls. Until he passed away in 1997, Ackerman ceased having any connection with the area’s established congregations.

However, during those last 25 years of his life he enjoyed his most successful public engagement in the religious life of the San Gabriel Valley and left a legacy that continues today.

In September, 1972, shortly after leaving the Foothill Temple and Center in Arcadia, Ackerman formed a congregation with about 50 families he called Am Emet, the People of Truth. Linda Rourman, who joined shortly after it began, recalled that Ackerman ”wrote his own prayer book that incorporated prayers from other prayer books, and he typed it all on his manual typewriter that he had since before God was invented. He also wrote a lot of prose and poetry for the prayer book. It was very meaningful.”

The first service that Rourman recalls was on Rosh Hashanah, held in a Glendora bowling alley banquet room. The congregation later held services in a building on Huntington Drive in Arcadia, the Masonic Temple in Alhambra, and the Elks Lodge in Arcadia.

One of the congregants, Mel Kaplan, was a high school wood shop teacher who had his students build a portable ark. The congregation’s Torah was purchased at a big discount from the owner of Solomon’s Book Store on Fairfax Avenue after Ackerman helped him in a dispute with the Alhambra temple.

Shabbat services were held on the first and third Friday nights of each month and drew about 25 to 30 people. Ackerman led the services and combined it with discussions about world events, issues affecting world Jewry, and the weekly Torah portion.

Saturday morning services were only held when there was a bar or bat mitzvah, which, along with High Holy Days, were the only times the Torah was read.

Meeting twice a month, the congregation’s Sunday school had three classes — one for pre-schoolers through first grade, one for second to fourth graders, and one for fifth graders to b’nai mitzvah.

Rourman was the head of the school and taught the class for the youngest children.

In addition to $15 a year dues, an annual fundraiser was held.

According to Rourman, one was a Las Vegas night, and another was a performance of a play Ackerman wrote that was performed in his house by members of the congregation. It “was silly and stupid but everyone got a kick out of it.”

By the time Ackerman passed away in 1997, the congregation had declined to about 20 families. However, the friendships made and the relationships established didn’t cease. Seven or eight families continue sharing their High Holy Days and Passover together.

The FLAME

It’s extremely difficult to find Palestinians who believe the current Israeli-Palestinian negotiations will produce a peace agreement. It is extremely difficult to find Israelis who believe that the current IsraeliPalestinian negotiations will produce a peace agreement.

The Palestinians speak about Israel’s continued settlement building, the refusal to see the “Green Line” as the basis for negotiations, and the Israeli demand for a continued military presence in the West Bank, “proving” that Israel has no real intention of ending its control over the Palestinians and allowing them to have a state of their own.

The Israelis speak about the Palestinians’ refusal to recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, their continued incitement in textbooks, mosques and the media, and their refusal to give up the right of return for Palestinian refugees to Israel proper, “proving” the Palestinians are not really ready for peace.

I suggest that with U.S. Secretary of State Kerry’s negotiation clock ticking, we begin to focus on making use of opportunities rather than tossing them out of the proverbial window. Perhaps it is time to invite P.A. President Abbas to address the Knesset. Perhaps it is time for Prime Minister Netanyahu to address the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.

Perhaps it is time for every single Israeli government minister to meet their counterpart on the Palestinian side to discuss how to make peace real.

This is part of the job of governing. There is no need to wait for someone on the other side to take the initiative. Each minister (on both sides) can easily pick up the phone and invite their counterpart for lunch. If they have trouble finding the phone number, they can call me. If they would like some third party to arrange the meeting, I am more than willing to serve this function. If they would like their first encounter to be private and out of the media, this too can be arranged.

It would of course be better, as public servants, for the public to know about the meetings. Meeting and developing personal and professional relationships between the respective ministers or other figures will not jeopardize the chances of reaching an agreement.

The total absence of any trust is a huge liability for any negotiation.

In our case there is little reason to believe that either side has any good intention to implement obligations when there have been so many examples of non-implementation of obligations (by both sides).

The opening of contacts between officials, as suggested above, can also put a more human dimension to the efforts for making peace. This is the responsibility of leaders and elected representatives of the people.

Each and every Israeli and Palestinian leader who sees themselves as a leader has a public responsibility to help to make peace real. It’s not just about negotiations; it is about reaching out to the other side and changing reality.

The writer is the co-chairman of IPCRI, the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information, a columnist for “The Jerusalem Post” and the initiator and negotiator of the secret back channel for the release of Gilad Schalit. His new book, Freeing Gilad: the Secret Back Channel, has been published by Kinneret Zmora Bitan in Hebrew, and The Negotiator: Freeing Gilad Schalit from Hamas is forthcoming from The Toby Press.

Mr. Baskin will be speaking at PJTC at 7:30 PM on Thursday, November 21. He will recount his conversations with Ghazi Hamad, Hamas’ deputy foreign minister, which led to the release of Gilad Shalit, and will discuss his strategies for achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

6

November 2013

PJTC Membership

New Member Spotlight:

by Andrea Edwards, VP Membership

Jonathan Pattow was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He came to the Southland for graduate school, graduated from USC in 2001, and has lived here ever since. He and his wife, Katie, have a wonderful, energetic son, Eitan, who is five years old. Jonathan and Katie joined PJTC in May, and Eitan attends LBSRS. Jonathan works for the Department of Mental Health and manages a mental health clinic in Granada Hills. His specialty is Therapy and Case Management Crisis.

Jonathan told me that he pursues this profession, as difficult as it is, because he wants to ease human suffering. What an altruistic soul!

Jonathan related that his journey to join PJTC has an element of mysticism in it. About a year ago, he felt an internal presence of God. He discussed this experience with his brother-in-law, a Rabbi in NJ, and with Rabbi Gil Kollin. Unknowingly, both these religious leaders came to the same conclusion: that he had been given a message. It was up to Jonathan to decide what action to take. Shortly after, Jonathan started coming to services and came to Talmud classes. “Although I was an absent Jew for more than 20 years and an existentialist, I feel that I cannot deny that God came to me with a message.”

Sunday, October 6…a typically beautiful Sunday in the Southland. As I prepared to journey to the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, I wondered what prompted me to give up a Sunday to attend a Synagogue Leadership Conference. What was I hoping to learn that could be of greater service to PJTC? In my professional life, I mentor senior executives on leadership and developing the next generation of leaders.

I was curious to learn how the "corporate" framework for leaders would be different from the "secular" framework for leaders.

It was Ron Wolfson’s newest book, Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community (For People of All Faiths, All Backgrounds) that prompted my curiosity. His fresh approach was particularly pointed as we referenced the Pew Research report on Jewish Americans (released just a few days before the conference; a serendipitious coincidence). As your Membership VP, I’m keenly aware of the importance of attracting new families to PJTC and creating such a warm and inviting community that they all renew their memberships!

There were 40 congregations represented, with a fabulous group of presenters and thought leaders. Dr. Wolfson spoke eloquently about the "Nine Levels of Relationships" and how these could be the basis of an ever–expanding membership at our places of worship. Of course, there were other speakers, and a few panels, and even a bit of controversy (now, of course, you’d expect that at a Jewish event, wouldn’t you?). Yet it was Dr. Wolfson’s discussion about the importance of membership to our culture, our community, our very being that caught my attention.

Wow…was I ever inspired! My mind raced as I struggled to take notes, learning and absorbing as much as I could about membership. Yes, membership. Not leadership as much as a focus on membership. There’s so much to understand, so much to apply to our community. I must admit: this is when I’m happiest and most effective — learning, asking questions, turning our current approaches upside down, being willing to adapt to a new way of doing things…it was a meeting that left me gasping for more.

The Membership Committee at PJTC continues to do a fabulous job of working with our newest cohort (members who have joined this fiscal year, Cohort 1314) to make them feel special, welcomed and inspired. Would you like to help us? We could use a few more folks who want to be part of Relational Judaism. It’s very gratifying work and I’m certain you would benefit as much as our newest members would. Do come join us.

We’re excited to begin a new series with this issue of The FLAME. Check out our "New Member Spotlight" for profiles of two of our newest member families. I think you’ll be amazed, impressed, and curious to know more.

The FLAME

Anita Bergmann was born in Granite City, Illinois and moved to Southern California in her early adulthood. Soon thereafter, Anita began a career as a software tester; this was the beginning of a very wide variety of careers.

Anita tells that her favorite careers were being a magician’s assistant and teaching stage combat to kids. Quite interesting, wouldn’t you say? Just like Anita, interesting and varied. Today, she is a devoted foodie and makes her living in the food industry.

She and her partner, Jeff Mayeux, live in Pasadena and joined PJTC in August; Anita is a Jew by Choice and began her journey because she feels that Judaism is as much an "intellectual pursuit" as it is a spiritual pursuit. Her conversion began in earnest a few years ago; she attended the Introduction to Judaism class at PJTC and completed her conversion in 2010.

I asked Anita why she joined PJTC. She related a curious series of events: “A few years ago, as I was heading to work, on the train, there was a woman wearing a T-shirt, a black T-shirt that read ‘Got Mitzvot?’ Although I’ve been painfully shy all my life, I felt I just had to approach this person and ask her where she worshipped. And, that’s how my interest in PJTC first began.

Sadly, I don’t know this woman’s name….I want to thank her for unknowingly guiding me to this beautiful and soulful place called PJTC.”

Please welcome Jonathan, Katie and Eitan, and Anita and Jeff!

7

November 2013

Jon Weisz's article continued from page 1

Adult Education Committee

use extra volunteers to augment their efforts. Please contact Ricki Lane or Aty Rotter if you might be interested in helping MAC provide this valuable service for our PJTC community.

The PJTC Bikkur Cholim / Spiritual Care Committee aims to further the response and caring services available to our congregants, in coordination with MAC and our clergy. In addition to outreach for members in retirement communities, senior homes, and hospitals, the committee’s goal is to provide assistance to caregivers, facilitate transportation issues, and improve access to public services. The Bikkur Cholim Committee will also sponsor several programs for the coming year. Plans include a Wellness Program (co-sponsored by the Adult Education Committee), and an educational program about Chevra Kadisha, contemporary issues and practices regarding death and funerals. Please contact Claire Gorfinkel (cgorfinkel@earthlink.net) if you would like to assist with this compassionate work.

The PJTC Tikkun Olam Committee helps to coordinate assistance for a variety of programs and organizations in our surrounding communities. Among the local organizations it assists are Friends in Deed, Foothill Unity Center, and Union Station Homeless Services. Friends in Deed provides a bad weather shelter and a hot meal to homeless people in Pasadena during the winter. PJTC volunteers are scheduled to participate on several nights this season. Contact Yudie Fishman (Yudie@ Fishman.org) to learn more about this gratifying experience. The Foothill Unity Center is a primary source of food, health care, and crisis help to poverty-stricken families in the San Gabriel Valley. They also distribute much-needed school supplies to these families. PJTC has a tradition of collecting nonperishable food for Foothill Unity during the High Holy Days. We have also been contributing to the Annual Turkey Drive prior to Thanksgiving. Please help to support their program later this month; contact Felicity Swerdlow (felicityswerdlow@gmail. com) for more information. Union Station Homeless Services is the largest and most comprehensive agency working to end homelessness in our area. PJTC members have been active preparing and serving meals at Union Station for many years.

Please consider joining this team of dedicated volunteers.

Contact Andy Schwarz (Andy@beedarlin.com) to discuss Union Station opportunities.

Another amazing Tikkun Olam target program is Reading Partners, a national nonprofit that provides tutors for lowincome young children needing assistance in reading. The local program works with students in three Pasadena elementary schools. Students are given one-on-one assistance to help them achieve grade-level proficiency. The tutors are trained and provided with materials to optimize the experience. With just one to two hours a week, you can be a hero for a child! PJTC volunteers have been tutors in this program for three years.

You can contact Jane Fishman (Jane @Fishman.org) if you are interested.

Be inspired this year and commit yourself to one of these terrific mitzvah activities. Experience the gratification of assisting others truly in need. Let us all help to make a difference this holiday season. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Happy Hanukkah!

Jon Return to Page 1 The FLAME

by Carol Sofer, Committee Chair

Our Adult Education Committee is proud to sponsor a special bagel breakfast on Sunday, November 17 at 10:15 AM. The speaker will be Grant Gochin. Grant Gochin is a Litvak who has been researching his family history for the past 30 years. His talk is titled “Malice, Murder and Manipulation.”

Citizenship and legal status affected every aspect of Jewish life in the “Old Country.” Our speaker will take us along on a 100 year circular story; how Lithuanian national laws were misapplied, causing multiple Jewish deaths in 1922, and how the same government repeated the identical behavior towards the same family four generations later. Follow the documented saga of deportations, starvation, massive deaths, abductions and movements of one Jewish family, and understand the implications of heritage citizenship for past, current and future generations.

Please remember to bring canned food whenever you come to the temple. Be sure to notice the basket on the table in the main lobby. Please bring a couple of cans of food to help fill it.

Tikkun Olam Committee

by Yudie Fishman

Do you have an hour or two a week to help grade school students build strong literacy skills, gain confidence, and discover a passion for reading?

PJTC members have been volunteering with Reading Partners, an educational nonprofit, over the past three years.

The organization works in schools throughout the country and has a presence in three Pasadena elementary schools. Reading Partners aims to increase literacy proficiency levels in lowincome communities by recruiting and training community volunteers to work one-on-one with elementary school students who struggle with reading. The Reading Partners model centers around partnering with local Title 1 schools and incorporating tutoring during the school day and after school. Tutors use a research-based curriculum that Reading Partners developed, and Reading Partners’ program staff regularly assess students to benchmark and monitor their progress.

Reading Partners’ results are impressive. Last year, 88% of their students improved their rate of learning in reading, and 72% narrowed their achievement gap. With just one or two hours each week, you can be a hero for a child!

You can find out more information about Reading Partners from their website:http://readingpartners.org, or, you can call Vicky, the local site coordinator at Jackson School: (818) 527-5372.

If you’d like to hear about our personal experiences, don’t hesitate to contact one of us, PJTC members, who have been volunteering with Reading Partners: Jane Fishman: (626) 355-1107 jane@fishman.org Gail Snyder: (626) 446-6434 gailfs@gmail.com Hal Barron (626) 791-5184 barron@g.hmc.edu.

8

November 2013

November Birthdays

Interfaith Study Group

by Cecilia Fox, PJTC’s ISG Representative

The Interfaith Study Group was founded in 2007 by members of Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, All Saints Episcopal Church of Pasadena, and Islamic Center of Southern California, Los Angeles. A congenial group, we meet the second Sunday monthly, rotating locations at each institution. Our purpose is to grow in understanding, to be respectful, and interested in learning from each other. ALL ARE WELCOME! Please bring an item for dairy/vege potluck, following the program.

Sunday, November 10, 5:00-7:00 PM, at Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, Wohlmann Hall, We will hear Vicki Tamoush, founder, Interfaith Witnesses, speaking on “Rooted in Faith, Standing for Love,” her group’s commitment to stand in silent witness wherever people are harassed because of their faith.

Sunday, December 8, 5:00-7:00 PM, at Islamic Center of So. Calif., 434 S. Vermont, L.A. (carpool from All Saints north parking lot at 4:15 PM). Jihad Turk will speak on the Bayan Project, Islamic Graduate Program, Claremont School of Theology.

Sunday, January 12, 2014, 5:00-7:00 PM, at All Saints Church,132 North Euclid, Pasadena. PJTC’s Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater and Franci Levine Grater will speak on their recent sevenmonth sabbatical in Jerusalem.

Questions? Leave message for Cecilia Fox at PJTC, (626) 798-1161. To be on our email calendar, contact Norma Sigmund, at 626 583 2734 or at NSigmund@allsaints-pas.org.

November 1 .......Susannah Copi Sammy Fishman Nicole Linden Kathryn Sachs Michael Sencer November 2 ........... Marcia Alper Nancy Carlton Peggy Schiffman Ellis Seligman November 4 ...Sophie Dalrymple Marc Karish Deborah Reff November 5 ......... Zachary Ober November 6 ... Benjamin Marcus November 7 ......... Jacob Krieger Julie Sonigo Metivier Scott Van Dellen November 8 ...........Micaela Earll Steven Grossman Laura Miller Stacy Miller Nancy Spiegel November 9 .... Andrew Schwarz Jordan Segal Igor Umansky Charlotte Van Noppen November 10 .. Yehuda Fishman Maxine Minovitz Sherry Weinberg November 11 ......... Rose Cobey November 12 .......Andrew Bruck David Mittman Ronald Paler November 13 ...........Zoe Kandel Carolyn Kunin

Thanks to Our October Volunteers PJTC offers our members a variety of ways to be of service to the Temple. Those who are able to give of their time are vital to sustaining our community.

To host an Oneg, call Anita Landau.

To host a Kiddush, call Roz Scherr.

Oct. 4/5 Oct. 11/12

Oct. 18/19 Oct. 25/26

and Anniversaries Alex Arkader and Lindsay Wetmore-Arkader ...................11/17/2005 Howard Belzberg and Linda Rever .................................. 11/11/1994 Christopher Grove and Janet Borrus . ..............................11/18/2000 Robert and Bryn Burke .....................................................11/28/1998 Phil and Judy Callahan . ...................................................11/19/1972 Bill and Sondra Dreshner .................................................11/21/1992 Craig Fox and Tami Cutler . ..............................................11/14/2001 Mark and Lisa Goldstein . ...................................................11/1/1992 Bradley and Ryann Jorban .................................................11/3/2006 Neal and Laura Miller .........................................................11/2/1991 Ronald Paler and Michael Loya .........................................11/5/2008 Landis and Amy Richardson . .............................................11/6/2010 Erich Schlecht and Debbie Noble . ...................................11/16/1997 Victor and Paula Waluch ..................................................11/17/1974 Aaron and Valerie Weiss ..................................................11/30/1975

Oneg & Kiddush Hosts

Oneg and Kiddush hosted by Eitye and Hannah Sheklow in honor of their daughter Abby’s bat mitzvah Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Kiddush hosted by Sarah and Jon Weisz Oneg and Kiddush hosted by grandmother Paula Svonkin and great-aunt Pamela Dubin in honor of the bar mitzvah of Max Ho Oneg hosted by the Membership Committee Kiddush hosted by the Shabbes Minyan Group

Gabbai’im

Mickey Butnik

Sondra Dreshner Roz Scherr

Mark Chodos

Sam Haddad Sasha Monterosso

Sondra Dreshner Noah Golden-Krasner Max Ho Jacob Levy Roz Scherr Ruth Several Abby Sheklow

John Guest

LETS GO TO THE MOVIES WITH HAZAK

Torah, and Haftorah Readers

Office Volunteers

Ryna Aviram Ginny Blitz

Sue Galpert Mila Gierowitz Michelle Kandel Ruth Kaye Marlene Reichenbach Roz Scherr

Arlene Weiss

The FLAME

November 14 ... Michael Bernath Michelle Kandel Gordon Pettigrew November 15 ..........William Finn Alan Weiss November 16 ...Kalvin Villasenor November 17 ...... Jane Feinberg November 18 ....Elana Friedman Isabel Green Hannah Owen November 19 ....... Aaron Booker Ivette Nowak Loretta Slifkin November 20 .....David Feinberg Harriet Neal Molly Wolveck November 21 ...........Judy Balian Karin Meiselman November 22 ......Alexa Johnson Jeffrey Silver November 23 ......... Terry Tornek November 25 .......... Pat Sullivan November 26 .............Judith Fox Carl Selkin Dina Zangwill Ken Zangwill November 27 .......... Irving Feuer Marshall Katz November 28 .........Ryna Aviram Dorine Davis Matthew Moore Susan Rogers November 29 ..... Cynthia Cohen Spencer Sharp

Please Join us in the lounge at PJTC on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 1:00 PM.

Judy Ellis Jerry Halpert Breyne Moskowitz Edie Taylor

9

November 2013

October Donations Madeline Mark Memorial Fund

Ernie & Evelyn Robinson in celebration of Sylvia Schleimer’s birthday

Yahrzeit Donations to General Fund Donated by: Barry Kustner Shirley Fishke Jim Younessi Jim Younessi Sylvia Gottesman Jennifer Factor Ilene Donner Doris Gilgus Leona Hyams Leona Hyams Leona Hyams Sylvia Shapiro Pearl Tyree Sylvia Heumann Paz Allen Emmerich Hava Ben-Zvi Molly Wolveck Leslie Aiken Leslie Aiken Ruth Genss Larner Ruth Genss Larner Ruth Genss Larner Sara Shapiro Martha Ruffman Fritz Gottfeld Josh Goldberg Ilene Bongo Alice Shulman Stu Miller Stacy Miller Stacy Miller Barbara Weisenberg

Shabbes Minyan Fund

In memory of Beatrice Several, mother of Michael Several, from Debbie & John Guest Matt & Carol Sofer

Sisterhood Tributes

To Eva & Tamas Lengyl in honor of their new grandson, Zev Loran Neuman, from Stacy & Stu Miller To Barbara & Bob Levinson in honor of their 30th wedding anniversary, from Sylvia Schleimer To Debbie Guest in appreciation of her leadership of Sisterhood’s Cookbook Committee & all her warm hospitality, from Nancy Carlton To Norma Chodos, wishing her a very happy birthday, from Judy Ungar To Sandy Hartford, wishing her a speedy recovery & return to good health, from Stacy & Stu Miller, Mary Ann & Mickey Bernath, Nancy & John Carlton, Andrea Edwards, Jan & Josh Pais, and from Susie & Jim Hogan To Ricky Calvin, “Thinking of you and wishing you a speedy recovery” from Nancy & John Carlton, Edie Taylor, and from Barbara and Bob Levinson To Trudie Strobel, wishing her a speedy recovery from her accident, from Nancy & John Carlton To Helen Freeman, wishing her a speedy recovery from her accident, from Stacy & Stu Miller To Mickey Bernath, “Thinking of you and hoping that you’ll soon be well again” from Nancy & John Carlton, Stacy & Stu Miller, Barbara & Bob Levinson, Edie Taylor, and from Sandy and Steve Hartford To Karen Brown in memory of her beloved mother, Ruelene Hochman, from Trudie Strobel To Hazzan Judy Sofer in memory of her beloved stepfather, Richard Blosser, from Marcia Alper, and from Jan & Josh Pais To Bill Dreshner in memory of his beloved sister, from Mary Ann & Mickey Bernath, and from Linda & Paul Rourman To Leslie Aiken in memory of her beloved mother, Jan Comras, from Stacy & Stu Miller, Nancy & John Carlton, Ruth Kaye, Nancy & Craig Copeland, Carolyn & Scott Siegal, Andrea Edwards, Jan & Josh Pais, and from Sue Galpert To Michael Several in memory of his beloved mother, Beatrice Several, from Sylvia Schleimer, Stacy & Stu Miller, Linda & Paul Rourman, Marcia Alper, Sandy & Steve Hartford, Ruth Kaye, Carolyn & Scott Siegal, Jan & Josh Pais, Sue Galpert, and from Susie & Jim Hogan To Valerie Grover & family in memory of her beloved father, Edvig Gershengoren, from Stacy & Stu Miller, and from Nancy & John Carlton

Sisterhood Kitchen Fund

In Memory of: Father, Leonard Kustner Sister, Lee Dumas Brother, Jack Younessi Mother, Tavous Younessi Father, Sam Jurman Grandmother, Dorothy Factor Mother, Frances Goldberg Sister-in-law, Carole Plessner Relative, Al Albert Relative, Sylvia Alberts Husband, Donald Hyams Husband, Irving Shapiro Mother, Jean Frechtman Mother, Margaret Hochschild Father, Frank Emmerich Stepfather, Bernard Blumenfeld Grandmother, Sophia Weiner Father, Howard Comras Mother, Jan Comras Aunt, Lena Schultz Grandmother, Rebecca Fox Grandfather, Isaac Fox Mother, Zippora Tadelis Mother, April Hagan Mother, Emma Gottfeld Mother, Clara Goldberg Father, Alfred Fluster Father-in-law, Philip Shulman Grandmother, Dorothy Patrick Stepson, James Woolsey Father, Mel Feiner Grandfather, Morris Retsky

In memory of Ruelene Hochman. mother of Karen Brown, from Debbie & John Guest

Union Station

Karen & Daniel Levin

ACTS Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service

Clay and Aaren Heller Irvine Jeremy Kaufman and Gavrielle Blank Claremont Jeffrey Silverstone and Annette Silverstone Temple City

Sunday, November 24 7:00 PM at PJTC Participation by Clergy and congregations of many Altadena area religious groups

Guest speakers from Altadena Congregations Together Serving will join us for a friendly interdenominational service.

Featured Speaker:

Tarek Shawky representing Masjid Al-Taqwa, Altadena "Thanksgiving from an Islamic Perspective" Light refreshments to follow service

The FLAME

10

November 2013

Yahrzeits for November (announced Fri/Sat preceding the date) Heshvan 28

November 01, 2013

Lillian Burton Brenner Toby Eisenberg Pauline Kuchinsky Shinji Miyazaki Meyer Stepnick Heshvan 29

November 02, 2013

Phyllis Brown Maurice Clotzman Joseph Kokis Lilly Lackey Aron Mastey Kislev 1

November 04, 2013

Kislev 7

November 10, 2013

Kislev 8

Rae Hellman Anita Sharfstein Kislev 9

November 12, 2013

Carol Goodman Sara Rosentweig Theodore Siegel Abraham Vegotsky Kislev 10

November 05, 2013

Bessie Berkman Phyllis Rotman Arthur Silberman Bascha Snyder Jack Streiker Kislev 3

November 06, 2013

Kislev 11

November 14, 2013

Phyllis Berns Bert Fishman Louis Silver Max Wiskind Kislev 12

November 15, 2013

Josephine Holzer Yona Kollin Maurice Ufland Shirley Weissman

Lena Posner Morris Sharfstein Sarah Silberblatt Kislev 4

November 07, 2013

Ethel Harris Kislev 5

Kislev 13

November 16, 2013

Arthur Abend David Genss David Goldman

November 08, 2013

Chana Glinberg Ernestine King James Meehan Robert Messerman Kislev 6

November 09, 2013

Rose Gorelick Sally Nisenbaum

Kislev 16

Kislev 14

November 17, 2013

Kislev 17

November 20, 2013

Israel Eckstein Clare Selig Magnus Gertrude Rosen Raphael Zahler Nadine Zneimer Kislev 18

November 21, 2013

Pauline Ledeen Grace Rosenberg Kate Shapiro Kislev 19

November 22, 2013

Jules Gerber Israel Knell Meyer Weinberg Kislev 20

Kislev 23

November 23, 2013

Lillian Splaver Kislev 21

November 24, 2013

Kislev 22

November 25, 2013

Earl Carlson

November 26, 2013

Morris Borok Jerry Greenstein Theodore Marks Paul Van Dellen Maymie Weisz Lena Yates Kislev 24

November 27, 2013

Donald Engelhardt Milton Goldberg Sidney Smolens

November 19, 2013

Monci Benedek Rose Skolnik

November 13, 2013

Samuel Dinin Harriett Gerst Steven Levander Leon Malter Dolores Ober Hyman Orenstein

November 18, 2013

Davis Isaac Arnow Wanda Belleck Jose Dvoredsky Bess Feinberg Letha Friedman Lillian Levine Janine Poitras Phyllis Ryder Bertha Weinreb

November 11, 2013

Stanley Z. Bekey Charles Schiffman Robert Sencer Julius Tarnove Anne Zimmerman Kislev 2

Kislev 15

Abraham Fain Mildred Radin

Kislev 25

November 28, 2013

Catherine Walter Kislev 26

November 29, 2013

Raymond Kievman Louis Lampert Samuel Raichlen Miriam Silverman Sara Wilson Kislev 27

November 30, 2013

Genevieve Burten Isaac Fuhrman Morrie Greenberg Jack Katzman Dylan Kurey Salomon Lewin Rose Maslin Charles H. Meiselman Renee Rosenblum Naftali Liezer Rosentweig Lenore Samuels Blanche Shapiro Rosalyn Smith

Mildred Gould Elizabeth Moskowitz David Spira

Abraham Cheslow Gordon DeBoskey Ann Feuer Charles Moskowitz Lea Russo

Nov. 21, 7:30 PM

Gershon Baskin

Expert Math Tutoring

Freeing Gilad Shalit: The Secret Back Channel

Breyne Moskowitz, Ph.D. (PJTC member) (626) 800-8947

Elementary through College Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, AP Statistics, AP Calculus, IB Math (HL, SL, SSL) Reasonable rates Gershon Baskin, founder of the Israeli Palestinian Center for Research and Information, will be recounting his secret conversations with Ghazi Hamad, Hamas’ deputy foreign minister, which led to the release of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas. He’ll also be discussing his strategies for achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

We are continuing PJTC Basketball for adults (high school age and above) at 8:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month.

The FLAME

Sponsored by the Israel Committee $10.00 suggested donation

11

November 2013

Celebrating 30 Years of Educational Excellence

Cantor Ruth article continued from page 2

what it means to affiliate, to pay dues, to attend services; all of this is changing. But what is also changing is what it means to be associated with a particular "movement."

In the Conservative Movement this has generated interesting conversations which we had at the Centennial. What we know is that nationally the movement has been shrinking over the last 25 years. Fewer and fewer Jews who want to pitch their tent in the liberal Jewish community now do so in a Conservative congregation. And so the movement has been talking about who we should be, how we should define ourselves, and even what we should be called.

I want to suggest these two books for you to read: God of Becoming and Relationship: The Dynamic Nature of Process Theology, by Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, and Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform The Jewish Community, by Dr. Ron Wolfson.

I look forward to discussing the issues in these two books and about the Conversation of the Century.

Return to Page 2

By Lisa Feldman, MA Ed., Head of School, Weizmann Day School

It is with great joy that I announce that Weizmann Day School is marking our 30th year now! Having been at the school for nearly 19 of those glorious years, I take incredible pride in reflecting on all of the young people we have been privileged to educate and inspire throughout our 30 years. It has always been my hope and our school's mission to provide an academically challenging and comprehensive education built on a foundation of Jewish traditions and values to as many children as we can accommodate. There is no time like this very special milestone to put renewed energy into that mission.

Needless to say, our pearl anniversary deserves a proper celebration. We hope you will save the date to join us at a very special event rejoicing in this wonderful milestone on the evening of Saturday, February 8, 2014 in the Social Hall at the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center. Our 30th anniversary celebration will honor Weizmann Day School founders Alan and Sandy Whitman, along with all of our school's past presidents and founders whose vision, dedication and generous support have been instrumental in the creation and growth of our school. This festive event will feature music, cocktails, an elegant seated dinner, dancing and more.

But most important of all, proceeds from the event will support our school's new Rambam Scholarship, aptly named for Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Rambam). Rambam was a physician and preeminent Jewish philosopher whose seminal work, the Mishneh Torah, describes the eight levels of tzedakah (righteous giving.) The Rambam Scholarship program will help current and future generations of students to attend Weizmann Day School and benefit from all that our school has to offer.

Caring community members like you, who share our passion for Jewish education and continuity, can make a very direct and significant impact to this great cause by contributing to the Rambam Scholarship Fund. The return on your investment will be clearly evident each time a new student walks through our doors – and when each graduate leaves us and goes on to make an impact on the world. Please plan to join us for this memorable and inspiring evening and consider making a gift to help build our school for many decades to come.

To contribute to the Rambam Scholarship program, please call (626) 797-0204 or email info@weizmann.net. For additional information about the event or becoming an event sponsor, please contact our event co-chair, Faith Segal at (626) 388-5642.

Safety and Security

At our events and services, kids are great

but remember our staff has a lot on its plate.

Keeping children safe is an important thing to do

but parents and grandparents, it’s up to YOU! PJTC Green Committee

by Meredith Rose

The PJTC Green Committee is not alone.

Since the 1990s, the Jewish community has identified a need to directly address the earth’s environmental challenges. People have created organizations that connect the problems our world faces with specific Jewish values in order to guide and motivate a Jewish response to help solve these ecological problems.

Here is a list, by no means complete, of organizations that are working to both inform and engage the Jewish community in confronting the issues we face. You can easily find out more about them on the internet.

1. Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (www. coejl.org) deepens and broadens the Jewish community’s commitment to stewardship and the protection of the Earth through outreach, activism, and Jewish learning.

2. Hazon (www.hazon.org) which means “vision,” creates healthy and sustainable communities in the Jewish world and beyond.

3. Jewcology (www.jewcology.com) offers a resource for the entire Jewish-environmental community with the goal of educating communities about Jewish responsibility to protect the environment.

4. Canfei Nesharim (www.canfeinesharim.org) connects traditional Torah texts with contemporary scientific findings in order to educate and empower Jewish individuals, organizations and communities to take an active role in protecting the environment, in order to build a more sustainable future.

Happily, we can add the PJTC Green Committee to that list as well. Please join us as we work to preserve and protect our one and only planet.

Return to Page 1 The FLAME

Come for a visit! Weizmann Day School is a non-profit, independent K-8 school accredited by WASC and the Builders of Jewish Education. We provide an outstanding academic education enriched by Jewish principles and traditions. For a personal tour of our school please call the office at (626) 7970204 or visit us at www.weizmann.net.

12

November 2013

Remember us for your next Simcha!

News Flash From The Judaica Shop

Visit the Judaica Shop for Hanukkah! Menorahs, candles, dreidels, gift wrap, and gelt! You know you will find so much more!

Great gifts, aprons, and some fabulous hostess gifts: coasters, matches, wine tags and other decoration.

Coffee • Sandwiches • Pastries

New Menu Items

Extended Hours

1359 North Altadena Dr.

Mon. - Fri. • 6:00 PM) - 8:00 PM Sat. • 7:00 am - 5:30 PM After Hour Rentals

Remember that Hanukkah comes early this year; we look forward to seeing you soon!

(at Washington Blvd.)

(626) 398-8654

– A friend to PJTC –

We thank you for supporting our advertisers Air Control of California unparalleled representation for savvy home buyers and sellers 1-800-354-3361 Sam Haddad

-Temple Member-

t: 323.671.1260 | e: elise@ThePropertyShopPasadena.com w: ThePropertyShopPasadena.com | dre: 01344668

#540986

– Temple Member –

Pasadena Jewelers

Serving San Gabriel Valley Since 1988

• Jewelry and Watch Repair • Special Orders • Diamond Settings • Engraving

painting and wallpapering

— A friend of PJTC members —

1864 E. Washington Boulevard • Pasadena, CA 91104 in the Washington Mini-mall at the corner of Allen and Washington.

E L L I O T T

S C L #5875 4 9

(626) 798-4403 www.pasadenajewelers.com The FLAME

M A Z U R

62 6 • 398 • 9 9 2 8

– Temple Member – 13

November 2013

Rabbi Grater's article continued from page 1

Factory Trained Technicians

(626)792-5879 (800) 300-2532 3230 E. Colorado Blvd. (Between San Gabriel and Rosemead)

Rourman Tallitot

Beautiful Hand Embroidered Custom Tallitot made to order

Pashmina style tallesim as low as $100.00

learning, history, community, justice, friendship, and Israel, central to our lives. There are so many other things cramming for our attention; there are so many other things that may seem more important, have a higher priority, or take precedent. We have survived throughout the generations, from Abraham and Sarah on down to you and me, because more of us than not chose to make our traditions, our religion, our people central to our lives. I seek to inspire us in a way that speaks to you on your path. Every Shabbat, your synagogue is a place of meaningful, inspiring and musically rich prayer, song and meditation; join us. There are multiple opportunities to learn and study on a weekly basis; join us. Every month, at least, there is a way to give back to our community, feeding the hungry, tutoring children, fighting for justice, meeting with members of other faiths; join us. Want to know more about Israel, what is happening on the ground, in the hearts and souls of Israelis? Join us as we offer multiple ways to find out. Not getting what YOU want or need from our community? Let us know how we can feed your soul and we will work to do it. Have something to offer that will feed others’ souls? Let us know and we will provide you the chance to do it.

As we sit down to our Thanksgiving tables this month, and light our hanukkiahs at the same time (!), offer a prayer of gratitude for the rich and thriving Jewish community that we are blessed to create and share together. Judaism, with Jewish prayer at its heart, is all about gratitude, all about reminding ourselves not to take life for granted, all about how each day is a blessing, a gift. "Modeh ani l’fanecha, I am grateful, before You, Holy One of Blessing." Before you sit down at your tables this year, I hope that you will bring turkeys to PJTC to feed the homeless, come hear Gershon Baskin talk about how he helped free Israeli POW Gilad Shalit, and join us for an interfaith Thanksgiving service hosted by PJTC. To keep PJTC great, we need YOU! Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Hanukkah, blessings abound!

Rabbi Joshua Return to Page 1 Women’s Book Club

by Connie Taus, Book Club Chair

The book for Thursday, November 14 is Mary Coin, by Marisa Silver. The author recreated a world behind the iconic photograph entitled “Migrant Mother,” a depression-era, desperate, fearful woman, and the interaction between this poor soul and her photographer.

The book for December 12 is The Dovekeepers: A Novel by Alice Hoffman. It is based on the events of the Roman defeat of the Jews at the mountain fortress of Masada and told through the poignant stories of four women who are bound together by faith and religion.

Books are available at a 20% discount at Vroman’s, where we are listed as the PJTC Book Club.

Custom Judaica

• Mazal Tov bags

• Chuppahs • Challah covers • Matzoh covers and more.

Call Linda Rourman (626) 447-7252 LKR_48@yahoo.com www.Rourmantallitot.com -Temple MemberThe FLAME

14

November 2013

To view the November FLAME calendar, please click icon

1434 N. Altadena Drive • Pasadena, CA 91107