Etzetera - August 2020

ETZETERA August 2020

Rabbi Ari Averbach Soon after Vanessa and I started dating, she bought me a beautiful spice box for havdalah. We poured in cloves and cinnamon sticks, found a candle and some wine, and found beauty in havdalah being a ritual we could take on together. I was already hosting weekly Shabbat dinners for friends and family. This was something new that we could do together, something that was not one of my weekly customs.

We continue to sing the songs of havdalah - inviting our kids to join if they are awake - and find great beauty in that five minute ceremony. Now we do it on Zoom with other members of the shul.

One of the questions I keep getting asked when I speak with you is about how we keep moving forward. Despite the pandemic, despite the quarantine, despite the world being turned upside down, we are able to find new meaning in our tradition, new inroads to God and Torah. The Hebrew word for this forward movement is Kadima.

President - Shari Mark As I sit in my home office, writing my first official article as President of Temple Etz Chaim, I’m overwhelmed by the gratitude for the privilege to serve you, my fellow congregants. I take this opportunity seriously and I fully appreciate the big shoes left behind by Jeff Solomon and the many past presidents I have had the privilege of serving under in my variety of board positions over the years. I begin with a thank you to all who have held this position.

For those who don’t know me, my name is Shari Mark. I moved to the Conejo Valley in 1994 with my husband, Ron, (aka Captain Ron) and then 1 year old, Jamie. We found our temple home in 1995 when I enrolled Jamie in Mommy and Me, then preschool at age two. Our family grew in 1996 and Kelly made her first appearance at TEC at two weeks old. The rest is history.

Ron and I are now empty nesters, our girls live in the OC and are some seriously wonderful young adults much can be attributed to their years at TEC, both in preschool and religious school. Jamie is completing her MBA at Chapman University while working in Admissions at the Fowler School of Law at Chapman. Kelly has accepted an Event/ Sales and Marketing position with the Hotel Esencia in Tulum, Mexico beginning September 1st.

As for my experience, I started as RSVP (Religious School Volunteer Program) Co-President, served on the RS committee for many years, and have held the following board positions (some multiple terms): Membership, Religious School, Ways and Means, ECE and most currently Executive Vice President.

Temple Etz Chaim is more than the sum of its parts. We are a family of families and I am grateful for every single one of you. Let’s build on our already extraordinary legacy over the next two years together. In the meantime, while we are in our homes, staying safe and healthy and away from others, we remain together in our hearts and spirits. I look forward to meeting you over the next two years both in person (when safe) and on Zoom for services and other programming.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas or just to say hello. I’d love to hear from you.

Gratefully,

Shari Mark can be reached at president@templeetzchaim.org

A friend of mine likes to call this “one more thing.” Her explanation is that we are currently comfortable in our practice of Judaism, but how beautiful that we can add one more thing to our practice and our learning. Judaism is infinitely deep and wide, with more interpretations and ideas and understandings than we can grasp.

Maybe you want to learn Hebrew - a few more letters, a few more words - connecting you to your tradition.

Or maybe you desire to become a bat/bar mitzvah as an adult. Maybe, when you grew up, that was not an option for you and you want to take on that task. Or maybe when you were twelve it was not so meaningful and you want to spend these strange days re-learning what was once forgotten. We are here for you, able to guide you.

Let us know and we will put together a class! We can start online at any level, preparing you to read Torah in front of a community.

As we approach the new year, I hope we all catch the spirit of Kadima, to move ourselves forward towards who we ought to be.

Rabbi Averbach can be reached at rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org

Hazzan Pablo Duek As we get closer to our Yamim Noraim, our yearly communal time of self-renewal and introspection, we dare to anticipate how different this year’s experience will be. How will we elevate ourselves in prayer while being unable to listen to one another?

To whom will we greet with “Shana Tova” or “Chatimah Tova” at the end of each service?

Who will hold me in a sweet embrace during Yizkor?

No Torah procession, no standing and seating, standing and seating - and more standing and seating. Humor aside, the big question for me is, how can I experience a meaningful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at home, far away from my second home?

Nobody knows. For some, this High Holidays will be “shvakh” (Yiddish for weak, pathetic, low), and for others, it will be an opportunity to reinvent themselves in prayer.

As your Hazzan, I feel the challenge and responsibility to be transparent and centered in my prayer despite the fact that each one of our High Holiday services will be pre-recorded and edited. This once in a lifetime situation is new for Jews around the world, clergy included.

How many times have you felt moved to tears watching a movie, listening to music or feeling enchanted by someone’s eloquent words?

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What is the one more thing that you can add to your Judaism? For some people, it is lighting Shabbat candles on Friday nights. Despite everything else keeping you busy, you find that you can take two minutes to bring holiness into your week.

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A father’s pride for his daughter is felt miles away. A mother’s cry for her son’s illness is vivid and real, despite the physical distance between them. Our feelings and emotions are real whether we are sharing a common physical space or not.

Personally, I am planning on seeing you on the other side of the screen, far away yet close by, sometimes in silent meditation and some other times singing “Avinu Malkeinu” with so much ruach that your neighbors will be wondering if you lost your mind!

We read in the Torah: “U’bacharta bachayim” (and you shall choose life). I invite you to willingly connect with yourselves and with your fellow congregants. This year, we are at home praying like you, in front of a TV, PC or Mac, or smartphone. Don’t be shy! Even though you are home, sing aloud as loud as you can!

At the end of each service, you may be saying “Shanah Tova u’Metukah” to your screen or device, but believe it or not, we’ll be greeting each other with the same love and sweetness as we do every year. Just apply the power of the mind and the power of your imagination.

Hazzan Pablo Duek

Hazzan Pablo can be reached at hazzanpablo@templeetzchaim.org

Education at TEC

Shannon Tepfer - Youth Department Join TEC USY for all of our fun activities and challenges for the month of August! We can’t wait to see you there! Contact the Youth Department for more information either by email or phone: youth@templeetzchaim.org or call (805) 494-3648

Joyce Bronstein - Religious School

Please click below to view a special message from our USY Director!

A few weeks ago, because of the pandemic, we sent a survey to families asking for their educational preference: would you prefer to send your children to the classroom or to continue with remote learning? Responses were mixed, but as you now know, public schools in our county will be providing online learning only when school resumes. We always follow the school district and because of this policy, in September we will be offering online learning only. When the school district reverts back to classroom learning, we will follow their lead. Of course, parents will continue to have the option of online learning at that time.

During these summer months, our teachers are attending Zoom workshops, taught by professional trainers, to learn how to effectively use this platform in order to provide a meaningful Jewish educational experience. Live Zoom classes will be held during regularly scheduled Religious School hours. All grade level materials and books will be given to students to enable them to learn at home just as well as they would in the classroom. Whether Zoomroom or classroom, we are ready for the upcoming school year! Please contact me if you have any questions.

On a different note, I would like to sincerely thank Jeff Solomon, our outgoing Synagogue President, for his dedication and commitment to the Religious School and Temple Etz Chaim. During his term, Jeff worked tirelessly to support the TEC community, and his commitment to our students, families and staff is truly appreciated. His leadership during this Pandemic has been beyond remarkable, and I truly thank him. Yasher Koach, Jeff!

Shannon can be reached at shannon@templeetzchaim.org PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR AN ACTIVITY CALENDAR FOR USY! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE EMAIL THE YOUTH DEPARTMENT

A warm welcome to our incoming President, Shari Mark. Shari has always shown a strong commitment to strengthening our synagogue. Shari has served on the board for many years, including as V.P. of Religious School Education. She has volunteered many hours and is a wonderful person with a vision for the future of TEC. I know she will be a fantastic president! To the Synagogue Board of Directors, outgoing and incoming, my sincerest thank you for volunteering your time and energy. All of your efforts are greatly appreciated. Because of your commitment and dedication, Temple Etz Chaim is that much better! Our Executive Director, Gideon Manzur, recently completed his first year. I actually met Gideon a number of years ago at Summerfest and at that time he expressed to me his love and appreciation of TEC. I look forward to working with him for many years to come! I appreciate his expertise, knowledge and commitment.

During the summer months, if you know of a family that is looking to find a temple, please refer them to me. I would love to have the opportunity to speak with them!

Stay well and stay safe! L’hitraot, Joyce can be reached at joyce@templeetzchaim.org

Debbie Blumenthal - Early Childhood Education By the time you are reading this article, our ECE Center has been open for the past 10 weeks! The staff and I are all wearing masks, taking temperatures, handwashing, and doing everything we can to keep ourselves, the children, and our TEC community healthy and safe. At the same time, our summer campers have been having a great time exploring different fun themes each week, dressing up for school spirit days on Fridays, and watching the TEC Shabbat Live from their classrooms on Friday mornings. It is all new for us but quickly becoming our normal.

As we look ahead to starting our school year on August 24th, we can imagine that our school year will look very much the same. We are keeping our class sizes smaller, physical distancing ourselves, and health screening all day long.

The children all know this routine by now and they are so good about our frequent pauses to wash hands or to have our temperature taken. We are looking forward to having more children join come back to TEC for the start of the new school year and we look forward to a year of celebrating our Jewish holidays, learning through new hands-on experiences, and just being social with friends and teachers!

Our Infant Center and Preschool will continue with our monthly Midot Program starting in September so that we can all learn about our Jewish values and ways in which we can help and take care of others and the world around us.

Rabbi Averbach and Hazzan Pablo will be visiting our classrooms and enriching our lives with additional Jewish learning and songs.

If you have any questions about our Preschool or Infant Center or our Health and Safety Protocols, please feel free to contact Debbie Blumenthal.

Shalom and be safe!

Debbie can be reached at debbieb@templeetzchaim.org Our latest Tot Shabbat link Health Screening Procedures every morning upon arrival at TEC.

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Tikkun Olam

Member’s Corner

Blood Drive

Joe Tischler

Our Spring Blood Drive was incredibly successful. It had been scheduled for April, but we rescheduled for June 14 and we exceeded our goal of donations collected. A very special thanks to Temple Adat Elohim for hosting this Blood Drive, and to the many donors who still joined us in the midst of COVID-19. Distancing, masks and additional disinfecting procedures were all strictly adhered to and observed.

Is the Religious School Scholarship fund just another Temple donation? Not when you take a closer look at it.

Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon or Maimonides defined 8 levels of charity or Tzedakah: the lowest is the one who gives grudgingly and the highest level is to prevent one from needing charity. When you donate to the Temple’s Religious School scholarship funds, neither you nor the student know who each other are. This is classified as the second highest form of charitable giving. Your charitable scholarship gift is carefully classified as dedicated solely to support our needy students. What qualifies a student for a religious school scholarship? Financial need!

Please SAVE THE DATE and MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY for our next scheduled Blood Drive on Sunday, November 1 - Mitzvah Day! Many have already signed up, but we still have time-slots available. Please click on the below link to book your Mitzvah Day donation: TEC BLOOD DRIVE APPT PORTAL - SUNDAY, NOV. 1

Thousand Oaks is an affluent community but there are those who struggle not only to make end’s meet but also to provide their children with a Jewish education. Temple Etz Chaim strives to accommodate all of those in need but we can’t do it without your support. Over 80 students needed some form of assistance last year.

Many families have difficulties. Some have only one parent, some have children with special needs that drain financial resources, some are beset with illness or an accident that stretches their budget beyond their abilities. For the health and enrichment of our community, please search your resources and find a token of financial giving to our Religious School scholarships.

Joe’s wife, Sandee Tischler

How much should you give? To answer this question, please go into the bathroom and ask the image in the mirror.

That’s the most important person to answer this personal question. There are those who will feel, “I put my kids through religious school and that should be enough.” But consider this: our spectacular institution wasn’t always as it is today. It took hundreds of TEC members decades to establish what we now have. Our beginnings were far more humble: we had one building used as both a sanctuary and classrooms. And High Holiday services were split between our building and other nearby church locations. We have all benefited from the donations and contributions to our Jewish community, but we truly need you as part of that community to find that place in your heart and help our Religious School participants who are in need.

Sandee Tischler was a teacher’s teacher. She taught at Santa Rosa public school, as well as at Temple Etz Chaim. It’s hard to fathom the effects of teaching and I can only begin to comprehend them. One Friday evening, after my last name was mentioned at Shabbat services, a young lady approached me afterwards and inquired “Excuse me, are you Sandee Tischler’s husband?” She had remembered Sandee from her Religious School experience.

Social Action - Judy Gindi We had a great first zoom meeting during the pandemic. It was wonderful to connect with everyone and to see how we were all fairing during these turbulent times. We discussed racism in America and planned how to feed the hungry through Harbor House. I want to thank those who made baked goods, PB & J sandwiches, bought items at Costco and helped schlep things to the lunch site all while social distancing.

On Juneteenth some members of the committee participated in a Shabbat Service on racism in America. It was a very moving service.

We have enjoyed going on field trips to learn about organizations that help the homeless or the working poor. Presently, we are enjoying virtual field trips and have discussions afterwards.

We all have had teachers that give us lasting impressions Julius Lipnick, Elisa Feldman, Dr. Ruth Kaplan and Sandee were all eclectic, memorable teachers at our Religious School, dedicated to their students. They taught with love for their students; and that love glowed in their lives when it was returned to their families and friends.

Even though the students do not know who the donors are, you will sometimes find tears of joy in the Congregation when our youth classes sing at services on Friday nights. Some of us take comfort knowing that our gifts directly contributed their harmony and education. If you already donate to TEC, please consider distributing a portion to our Religious School scholarships. And when you can, please think of us and give often. Every donation helps.

May God bless you,

We would also like to thank Jersey Mike’s for donating 60 turkey sandwiches. Getting involved in causes such as these helps us feel connected when most of us feel very isolated during these times.

Joe Tischler

Wishing you good Health, Judy

Joe Tischler is a member of the congregation of Temple Etz Chaim.

Judy can be reached at socialaction@templeetzchaim.org

If you would like to contribute an article to “Member’s Corner,” please email communications@templeetzchaim.org.

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Tributes Early Childhood Education Fund: In memory of: David Abdolrazagh

Zoe Abdolrazagh Morton Adler

Joyce Goldberg Ethel Lieberman

Sheldon Malchicoff

Weekly Schedule* Sunday

8:30 am Morning Minyan Service

Monday 7:15 pm Evening Minyan Service

Tuesday 10:00 AM Tuesdays with Rabbi Spiegel

Wednesday 7:15 pm Evening Minyan Service

Friday 6:45 pm Community Candle Lighting 7:00 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Under the Stars

Saturday 9:30 am Shabbat Morning Service 8:30 pm Community Havdalah

* Visit TEC @ Home for updates 8

David Presser

Francine Finkelstein Rose Morris

Elizabeth Groden Yitzchak Moscovitch

Rivka Moscovitch Hilda Conn Lionel Conn

Lisa and Rich Eidman David Pfefferman

Arthur Pfefferman Luzer Finkelstein

Reuben Finkelstein Melvin S. Wank

David Wank Harry Kramer

Linda Natlin Max Minarsky

Robert Peisner Hyman Foster

Sylvia Koppel Irving Zwicker

Joseph Zwicker Frieda Bass Sarah Ratzan

Dr. Ratzan Shirley Wojcik

Barbara Ungar Our condolences to: The Sturman Family

Zane and Deborah

Mark and Sandy

Steveand Sondi Happy Birthday to: Jeff Solomon Terri Zwicker Tami Ratzan-Wank

Patty Kaye Thank you:

Herb Wexler In support of:

John and Sandra Lutzker

Jotkowitz Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund In memory of: Our condolences to: The Braun Family

Rosalie and Ken Fromberg The Evans Family

Rosalie and Ken Fromberg Hazzan Duek’s Discretionary Fund In memory of: Rose Kumin Ira Jay Berk

Errol Berk Rouhollah Safani

Michael Safani Daniel Presser

Francine Finkelstein William Groden

Ronald Groden Louis Miller

Susan Kanner Stanley Scherr Frieda Freilich Abraham Freilich

Marshall Scherr Harry Treisman

Robin Oberman Anne Lutzker

John Lutzker Charles Stein

Ron Stein Charles Sneed Johnnie Bruun

Judy Sneed Edward Garabedian

Melinda Garabedian Ida Dell

Janice Orlowski

Ner Tamid Education & Community Center Fund In memory of: Belle Kunin

Ricky Dennis Florence Greenberg

Janis Leshnov

Rabbi Averbach’s Discretionary Fund In memory of: Charles Sneed Johnnie Bruun

Judy Sneed Stanley Scherr Frieda Freilich Abraham Freilich

Marshall Scherr Dena Yaskiel

Cyndi Mahler Fannie (Nana) Markowitz

Bonnie Garfinkel Eli Storch Yetta Storch Claire Zelkowitz Toby Yoskowitz

Larry Storch Sol Gleimer

Ellen Gleimer Hustead Theodore Sturman

Martin Sturman

Barbara & Harvey Scherr Memorial Fund In memory of: Perle Gil

Barbara Krupin Religious School Fund In memory of: Joan Darsa

Susan Kane Ruth Wachs

Lesley Schneider Reuben Zucker

Ellen Zucker Alenne Mayer

Iris Antell Charlotte Lipschitz

Claire Maultasch Maurice Budish

Gary Budish

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Tributes Religious School Fund In memory of: Joan Darsa

Susan Kane Ruth Wachs

Lesley Schneider Reuben Zucker

Ellen Zucker Alenne Mayer

Iris Antell Charlotte Lipschitz

Claire Maultasch Maurice Budish

Gary Budish Frieda Bass Sarah Ratzan

Dr. Ratzan Our condolences to: The Sturman Family

Jessica Dennis

Elisa Feldman Memorial Religious School Scholarship Fund In memory of: Max Rosenberg

Sheri Schoenwald Gertrude Barney

Irwin Barney Samuel Freed

Nomi Freed Parents

Debbie and Les Feldman Sophie Schein Abraham Klapper

Bonnie Goldenberg Howard Grossman

Beth Meyer Our condolences to: The Sturman Family

Debbie and Les Feldman

Sheri and Jeff Schoenwald Get well soon: Les Feldman

Sheri Schoenwald Lipnick Religious School Scholarship Fund In memory of: Louis Rothman

Bonnie Rothman Ben Gurien

Harvey Gurien Tzedakah Fund In memory of: Marcus Kluber

Lou Kluber Mary Wexler Michael Wexler

Herb Wexler Nathaniel Rubens

Marie Rubens

USY Youth & Scholarship Fund In memory of: Arthur Kahn

Brian Kahn Shana Ozark

Lisa Warren Evelyn Goldberg Barnett Rebecca Baker

Jane and Leonard Spitzer Courtney Maltz

Eric Maltz Temple General Fund In memory of: Sheila Wallman

David Schwartz David Leichter

Yola Kalinski Maurice Benchimol

Elaine Scully Evelyn Weisberg

Herb Weisberg Eva Minarsky

Robert Peisner Sharon Mahler

Bruce Mahler Jack Kalinski

The Kalinski Family David Issac Cohen

Susan Cohen Mary Green

William Green Shirley Neustadt

Debra Levine Our condolences to: The Sturman Family

Janice and Yaakov Orlowski The Garabidian Family

Jonathan Hops The Landau Family

Debra Levine In support of:

Alan Weiss

Bonnie Rothman Happy Birthday to: Terri Zwicker

Jonathan Hops Men’s Club Scholar-in-Residence Fund In memory of: Sue Shrater

Joel Shrater Lillian Wexler

Alan Lipkin Marilyn Zimmerman

Shirley Lipkin Women of TEC Torah Fund: In memory of: Hymen Tenenbaum

William Tenenbaum Women of TEC Tribute Fund: Our condolences to: The Sturman Family

Elissa Lazarus

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Clergy Rabbi Ari Averbach Hazzan Pablo Duek Rabbi Emeritus Shimon Paskow Rabbi Emeritus Richard Spiegel

Space is available to advertising in our Etzetera. If you are interested in placing an ad, please send an email to communications@templeetzchaim.org

Staff Gideon Manzur - Executive Director Debbie Blumenthal - ECE Director Joyce Bronstein - Religious School Director Shannon Tepfer - Youth Director Kathy Sharp - ECE Assistant Director Lindsey Alpert - Administrative Support Shane Silverstein - Programs/Events Coordinator Jessica Jacoby - Accounts Receivable Board of Directors Shari Mark - President Eric Feigenbaum - Executive VP Jeff Solomon - Immediate Past President Jennifer Elson - VP Membership Mark Goldstein - Trustee Community Outreach Judy Gindi - VP Social Action Elissa Lazarus - Corresponding Secretary Dan Lubetkin - VP Communications Wendy Margolis - Financial Secretary Beth Meyer - Recording Secretary Tom Milhaupt - VP Personnel/Legal Michael Roberts - Trustee Bingo Cindy Scherr - Women of TEC President Larry Slomowitz - VP Building and Grounds Benny Sommerfeld - VP Religion and Worship Ilana Sweet - VP Youth Brian Tepfer - Men’s Club President Felicia Toporoff - VP Religious School David Yodkovik - Treasurer Joe Zwicker - VP Early Childhood Education Terri Zwicker - Trustee Strategic Planning Sherri Finn-Werber - Trustee, Adult Education Gary Katz - Past President Marshall Scherr - Past President Myles Simpson - Past President

Temple Etz Chaim Live Stream!

At Temple Etz Chaim, all Shabbat Services held in the Paskow Sanctuary are live streamed. Live Streaming allows those in our community who otherwise cannot physically come to the Temple to participate in the Shabbat experience. It also affords B’nai Mitzvah families with out-of-town guests who cannot make it to services the opportunity to participate in the simcha.

Please know that if you ascend the bimah, light the Shabbat candles, have an Aliyah, or open the ark, your image and voice will be broadcast on the live stream. Services can now be viewed live! Visit our Facebook page or streamspot.com.

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