Etzetera - June/July 2020

ETZETERA June/July 2020

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Clergy Corner Rabbi Ari Averbach Had you told me in March that the pandemic of COVID-19 was going to be more than three weeks, I would have said it was impossible. That I would not be able to shelter in place for that long. I love my family, but thinking of teaching kindergarten and preschool while my wife and I work and the world fears for life every day, I would have said that we would not be able to make it three weeks - which was the original estimate I remember from mid-March.

And now we are going into the third month. Time has done funny things. The beginning of this feels like years ago, partly because our lives have changed.

I am indeed sick of this pandemic. I know that I am lucky - that my wife and I both work and we are all healthy - but that does not diminish how I feel. This is not comparative, where we have to tell ourselves that we can’t feel bad compared to everyone else who is suffering.

Over the past week, we have been witness to even more suffering. We turn on the news and we see stories of sadness, disgust, frustration and anger.

In the midst of the greatest pandemic of many of our lifetimes, the protests that have rocked our nation have the ability to make our usually tranquil existence seem anything but.

With the spread of COVID-19, this is a time of confusion. What we hear from one expert is then refuted by the others, and so we settle on the loudest voice in the room, which is not always the

correct one. Let’s focus on what we know to be true.

We know that our community is strong between online services, a car parade, challah, pizza and ice cream, we have seen or spoken to hundreds of people, families going through this separately together. We know that our will is stronger than we could have expected.

If this is getting to be too much, and I am certain that it is for many people, there are some wonderful resources in our community and the greater LA community able to help. Through the Jewish Federation, there is access to interestfree loans, food banks, support for teens, as well as ways to safely volunteer and give back to the community. For more information on any of these fronts, you can call (323) 761-8305.

Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Sages) teaches us, “Al Tifrosh Min HaTzibbur - Do not separate yourself from the community.” At a time when we are all mostly distanced, it is good to know that we have so many ways of staying connected.

Ventura County is beginning to reopen, which is assuring and feels optimistic as businesses are doing so tentatively and with the wellness of its customers first and foremost.

And as we continue to watch the unrest unfold nationally, we can all collectively pray for what we, as a Jewish people, always have prayed for.

Peace.

Rabbi Averbach can be reached at rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org

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Hazzan Pablo Duek As I was watching the film “Trolls World Tour“ with my children, I found its message powerful. We must learn to accept each other’s differences while building a better world based on each other’s strengths.

At one part of the movie when all music genres were destroyed and trolls felt hopeless, one of them placed a microphone to his heart and others began making music using the noise of the heart beat as a trigger.

What do you do when you feel hopeless? - First, connect to yourself. Then, with others. If you are too discouraged to make that connection to yourself then allow others to lift you up.

At our beloved Temple Etz Chaim we are working hard to create diverse spaces to connect. It feels great to do so and hearing your feedback gives us renewed strength to keep going.

As I’m writing this article I’m organizing the second part of “Hold my Hand“ Children’s Concert. The first video attracted more than 1200 viewers in different parts of the world.

I am grateful to the 17 professionals that devoted their time, talent and passion to connect with our little heroes, our children, bringing them a magic world of music, puppets and stories. For the record, many of us, adults, also enjoyed it tremendously.

Each one of us has something to give, each one of us needs to feel loved and taken care of. When we fulfill these needs in community we are practicing Tikkun Olam, repairing the world.

May these difficult times serve us as an opportunity to see each other on a new light.

May we grow in patience and wisdom to to become role models to our families and society at large.

May we soon be able to celebrate life as we know it, but meanwhile, let’s continue making this world a better place based on each other‘s strengths.

B’Shalom

Hazzan Pablo Duek

Hazzan Pablo can be reached at hazzanpablo@templeetzchaim.org.

Gideon Manzur - Executive Director When I accepted the role of Executive Director, I knew that my first year would hit some speed bumps. I hadn’t quite imagined a global pandemic but I knew the job would always be challenging, yet rewarding. Over the course of the past year I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the passion and dedication that our clergy, Directors and Board have for our community and the love our community has for them in return.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jessica, Lindsey, and Shane, my administrative staff, for all the hard work you do each and every day. As a team you ensure that all the behind the scenes work is completed, and you do it each and

every time with a smile, regardless of the challenges that get thrown your way.

Debbie, Joyce, Shannon and Kathy, I want to recognize your genuine commitment to our youngest congregants. I have no doubt that our infants and preschoolers, elementary and high schoolers, and our USYers are getting the best education and experiential learning.

You pour your heart and souls into all that you give these kids (I know because I see the hours you email me) and I know that they and their families share my admiration and gratitude.

Rabbi Spiegel, thank you for the advice and leadership as I came on board. It was and always will be invaluable.

Rabbi Averbach and Hazzan Pablo,

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surely the quarantine has had its challenges, however, both of you have redefined how we connect to Judaism and maintain our community bonds. Your leadership has guided our congregation during this unprecedented time.

I know that as we evolve, we will continue to make Temple Etz Chaim a thriving Jewish Community in the Conejo Valley.

Finally, thank you to my wife Elisha, Eliana and Ariella for your patience and support. I know the long hours, late night meetings, and endless text messages and emails often pull me away from family time.

Gideon Manzur can be reached at gideon@templeetzchaim.org.

President Jeff Solomon At the end of June, my 25-month term as President of Temple Etz Chaim will come to an end. Before I talk about the present, I would like to reflect upon the past. We have accomplished so much over the past 2 years. We experienced Rabbi Spiegel’s 2nd final year and found a wonderful new Rabbi in Rabbi Averbach. Even from the inside, the transition has been smooth and seamless (not bad for the second transition in over 40 years). We put on an incredible Gala for Rabbi Spiegel and a wonderful Installation Weekend for Rabbi Averbach that I know many of you enjoyed. Thanks to all of you, we had two of our most successful Kol Nidre appeals. Our Bingo program has been thriving. Our Preschool and Infant Care Centers expanded their childcare license to every possible classroom in our facility and then we filled them all with your children to the point we were on the verge of a waiting list. I instituted a Bar and Bat Mitzvah certificate starting on the first Shabbat of my term and was honored to pass them out week after week to our Religious School students after starting off with an Adult B’Nai Mitzvah class that I so admired.

None of this would have been possible without the great team assembled behind me.

I have enjoyed monthly (almost) lunches with Shari Mark, my Executive VP, where we discussed everything going on at TEC (and there has always been a lot). I know you will do a great job over the next two years. I want to thank Gary Katz, Sherri Finn and Wendy Margolis, my go-to Past Presidents for their counsel when issues have arisen. Thank you to Benny Sommerfeld, Tom Milhaupt, Myles Simpson and Robin Kahn for their work on some difficult HR issues we tackled.

Thank you to Beth Meyer for taking diligent minutes (I know how thankless a job you do from first-hand experience). Thank you to our newer Board members, Eric Feigenbaum, Jen Elson, Dan Lubetkin, Judy Gindi, Mark Goldstein, and Joe Zwicker who probably do not realize they have only completed 2 or less years on the Board. Thank you to those of you on the opposite side, our longer term Board members: David Yodkovik, Terri Zwicker, Felicia Toporoff, Larry Slomowitz, Elissa Lazarus, and Michael Roberts. Thank you to both Ken Leon and Cindy Scherr for your leadership and representation of our auxiliaries.

A big thank you to our senior staff. Gideon Manzur, thank you for volunteering for the Rabbinic Search Committee and then calling me out of the blue 3 years ago to see if you could fill a vacant seat on the Board. Your work over the past year as our Executive Director has been invaluable to me.

Thank you to Joyce Bronstein for everything you do for our children and for TEC. Thank you to Debbie Blumenthal for the wonderful job you do running our ECE. I know it is stressful at times and hope that I have provided you some relief. I will miss dropping in to the school office to talk to our Directors and staff just to keep plugged into what is going on in “the other building.” Thanks to Shannon Tepfer for the important work you do with our teens.

Thank you to our clergy. I have truly enjoyed having the honor to work alongside Rabbi Averbach during his inaugural year at TEC and am excited to watch what is to come.

Thank you to Hazzan Pablo for being my teacher and supporter. It was my unique pleasure to get to work with Rabbi Spiegel during his last year as Senior Rabbi.

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Of course, this is not the way I had envisioned the end of my term.

Uncertainty everywhere. A global pandemic resulting in the loss of lives. The synagogue shuttered for two months and counting. Financial uncertainty as we enter our next fiscal year.

I am so proud of the job we have done recently.

During the past few months, we reshaped our programming on the fly going from in-person events to Zoom everything; services, meetings, classes, etc. My pride to have led this team is immeasurable. Our clergy and senior staff have gone beyond the call to create meaningful content that has kept many of you engaged whether as a congregant or a student. We certainly have had higher attendance at services (either live on Zoom or streamed via Facebook) and minyanim over the past few months. I can only hope that this positive development is reflected in our membership in the coming year (hint, hint). We certainly will need that as we enter 2020-2021 and our recovery year.

Lastly (and most importantly), I could not have done any of this without my wife, Jan. I have spent a lot of time at TEC for meetings, services and events over the past 2 years and her understanding has meant more to me than I can express.

Stay safe and I hope to see you around the campus in the coming months.

Jeff

Jeff Solomon can be reached at president@templeetzchaim.org

Education at TEC Joyce Bronstein - Religious School

To begin, I want to sincerely thank Rabbi Averbach as he completes his first year at TEC. Rabbi, your leadership and the role you have played in our congregants’ lives is truly inspiring. I appreciate the classes you have taught throughout this year to children and adults alike. These past few months have been a testimony of your ability to adapt Religious life to a new and challenging normal. I am positive that your rabbinic classes did not include, “How to be a Congregational Rabbi in a Pandemic.” Your ideas and positive attitude have blessed Temple Etz Chaim. We are so lucky to have you!

Looking ahead, next year Religious School may require a mixture of teaching methods and learning depending on the virus and restrictions that might be in place. We have planned for various scenarios and feel more than confident that we will meet any circumstances that arise.

Whether our students are at home or in a physical classroom, the Religious School teachers are committed to teaching our students in an engaging, interesting and joyful manner, instilling a love of Judaica and the beauty of Hebrew to help cement your child’s Jewish knowledge and identity.

The staff and I look forward to fostering a wonderful and well-rounded program.

Joyce can be reached at joyce@templeetzchaim.org

Debbie Blumenthal - Early Childhood Education June has always been a bittersweet month for us at Temple Etz Chaim preschool as we normally celebrate our Gesher (Pre-Kindergarten) graduates with a beautiful ceremony in the Temple Etz Chaim sanctuary. This is an especially poignant year as children from our very first Infant classroom are now finishing preschool and moving on to Kindergarten in the fall. Even though we are not able to celebrate as a group this year, the entire ECE staff and I are very thankful to have been able to love and care for all these children during these early years! We know that each and everyone of these children is ready and eager to spread their wings and continue their education. We hope that this is not goodbye though. We look forward to seeing you in the fall as hopefully you will be attending Temple Etz Chaim Religious School and continuing your Jewish education.

For the past three months, the ECE staff have been connecting with families each week through Zoom, phone calls, Facebook, FaceTime, and by email. The teachers have become amazing with technology and providing art, science, stories, songs, cooking projects, and so much more. We have an amazing, talented, and hard-working group of teachers and I’m so proud of all they have done since we closed our Center in March!

Now, it is time for us to return to our beloved classrooms! For the past few weeks, we have been training and preparing for the new preschool and infant program health and safety changes in hopes of re-opening Temple Etz Chaim ECE Center in the month of June and providing childcare during the summer months. We cannot wait to see all the children and their families again!n Stay safe and be well,

Debbie can be reached at debbie@templeetzchaim.org

Shannon Tepfer - Youth Department My name is Shannon Tepfer, I am the Director of the Youth Department here at Temple Etz Chaim and I am excited to be a part of your students Jewish education next year. In the Youth Department our students learn leadership skills, develop a love of Judaism like no other, connect with friends old and new, and get to participate in amazing and unforgettable experiences on and off campus. We have four programs available: Machar K-2nd, Kadima 3rd-6th, Jr USY 7th-8th, and Sr USY 9th-12th. All programming is age appropriate, engaging, and fun! To join the Youth Department, or for more details and information email youth@templeetzchaim.org. You can also check out our TEC website for more info at www.templeetzchaim.org . I am available all summer to talk with you about your child’s individual experience and needs in growing a more fulfilling Jewish life. The cost is $90 for the entire year and the more the merrier. We look forward to meeting you and being a part of your students Jewish life.

Shannon can be reached at shannon@templeetzchaim.org

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Tikkun Olam

Community Outreach - Mark Goldstein

If you haven’t attended a virtual Wine, Cheese and Chat (WCC) meet-up, you should! The WCC format provides an opportunity for congregants to rub shoulders with one other virtually. Recently, congregants enjoyed learning about Jewish music with Hazzan Pablo and discussing Jewish movies with Rabbi Averbach. Please join the next session on Thursday, June 4 at 8:00 pm when Gail Simpson will lead a discussion of Jewish books. Look for upcoming announcements for new WCC sessions on Jewish topics like Jewish art. Let us know if you have an idea for future sessions or want to lead a discussion.

Hard to believe the stay-at-home routine has lasted as long as it has. And changes to our daily lives persist. Pick up tips on how to handle this “new normal” and facilitate connections with others facing similar challenges. As an extension of the “TEC Cares” mental health initiative, we continue to hold “Coping with Covid” support groups online. Many within the TEC community have already participated, and we will be offering more sessions in the coming weeks. Thanks to the local therapists who generously volunteer their time.

Keep an eye out for email about upcoming Coping with Covid sessions and Wine, Cheese and Chat sessions, and regularly check the TEC @ Home web page for a current listing of events.

Mark can be reached at outreach@templeetzchaim.org

Social Action - Judy Gindi Judy can be reached at socialaction@templeetzchaim.org

We Can Save Lives!

Vitalant is excited to begin collecting convalescent plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients as part of a pilot program to treat those infected with the virus. To be eligible to donate convalescent plasma, you must have a prior COVID-19 diagnosis documented by a laboratory and meet additional eligibility requirements.

If you are interested in donating convalescent plasma, DO NOT MAKE A NORMAL PLASMA APPOINTMENT. To learn more and apply, visit www.vitalant.org/COVIDfree You can also help with a regular donation if you have not had COVID-19. The need for continuing blood supplies is dire! Almost 500 Blood Drives have been cancelled nationwide. If you are healthy, able, and NOT AT RISK, please consider donating at another blood drive. Check out these websites for a drive near you.

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! Go online or call to make your appointment.

Vitalant

blood4life.org

Red Cross

1-877-25-VITAL 1-877-258-4825

redcrossblood.org

1-800-RED CROSS 1-800-733-2767

Extra precautions are being taken, including: Masks Required for donors and staff Temperature Checks - taken at check-in Social Distancing - donor chairs/beds spaced 6’ apart Only Healthy Donors - are eligible to donate Sanitizing Surfaces - wiping down donortouched and high-touch areas

Sterile Collection Equipment - one-time collection kits for each donor Antiseptic Scrub - cleansing donors’ arms for 30 seconds Blankets - using once prior to washing or wrapping in disposable draping Appointments - required, no walk-ins

Contact Debra Levine, TEC Blood Drive Coordinator, with questions at (818) 271-1307 or dlevine@templeetzchaim.org

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Tikkun Olam

CONGRATULATIONS TO POST CONFIRMATION STUDENT ISABELLA APPELL! Congratulations and thanks to the efforts on behalf of 11th grade Viewpoint student Isabella Appell and her creation of Talking Masks. Talking Masks creates face masks with a clear vinyl panel encouraging lip-reading by members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. There have been many press reports about Isabella’s efforts. In addition to our own Thousand Oaks Acorn (LINK HERE), Isabella has conducted interviews with NBC (LINK HERE) & CBS (LINK HERE).

Isabella selected ASL as her confirmation elective while at Temple Etz Chaim, and she also works as an office aide. So far, she has produced over 250 masks and is offering the masks online; please CLICK HERE for her site.

All donations go directly to The Hearing Aid Project and the link is on talking-masks.com. Masks are free of charge, except for shipping costs. Masks will be shipped out per donation and upon prior approval by Talking Masks.

Isabella is looking for Volunteers to donate cotton fabric and other supplies, as well as help with the sewing, cutting and creation of these masks as demand for them is high. Please refrain from any cash donations at this time, as the real need is volunteers for fulfillment of orders.

If you are interested in helping Isabella and Talking Masks in the fulfillment of orders, please email her at isabella@talkingmasks.com. This endeavor is an incredible mitzvah, and please join TEC and our whole community in congratulating Isabella for her amazing work!

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Weekly Schedule of Services Sunday 8:30 am Morning Minyan Service

Monday 7:15 pm Evening Minyan Service

Wednesday 7:15 pm Evening Minyan Service

Friday 6:15 pm Community Candle Lighting 7:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat

Saturday 9:30 am Shabbat Morning Service 8:15 pm Community Havdalah

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Tributes The family of Steven Lazarus would like to acknowledge all of the contributions and cards received from the TEC family. It has meant a great deal to us that people care. The synagogue has been very important to my family. Thank you all for reaching out to us.

Elissa Lazarus Michael, Robyn and Eden Lazarus Stuart, Jenny, Ben and Olivia Lazarus Jean, Brian, Liam and Rose Virtue

Dunaier Music Fund: In memory of: Harvey Dunaier

Howard Dunaier Fanny Buchbinder

Frances Deutsch Early Childhood Education Fund: In memory of: Davood Moradian

Nasser Moradian Our condolences to: The Slomowitz Family

Lynne and Elliott Smith Fienberg-Lerner Chapel Minyan Fund: In memory of: Joseph Bernstein

Marshall Rosen Jotkowitz Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund In memory of: Frances Weiner

Janice and Manny Perlman Hazzan Duek’s Discretionary Fund In memory of: Ruth Kaplan

Barbara Harris Jean Kanner

Allen Kanner Marcey Schoenkerman

Buzz Schoenkerman Carole Klein

Susan Malchicoff Our condolences to: The Lazarus Family

Marsha Rosenblum The Garabedian Family

Elizabeth Groden In support of:

Myrna Stelman Rabbi Averbach’s Discretionary Fund In memory of: Avremi Manzur

The Manzur Family Eli Storch Yetta Storch Claire Zelkowitz Toby Yoskowitz

Larry Storch Lazarus Falk

Beryl Mann Marcey Schoenkerman

Buzz Schoenkerman Penny Neugroschl

Cindy Scherr

Religious School Fund In memory of: Jack Lipschitz A. Maultasch

Claire Maultasch Our condolences to: The Lazarus Family

Pamela and Steven Friedman The Slomowitz Family

Pamela and Steven Friedman Elisa Feldman Memorial Religious School Scholarship Fund In memory of: Harry Altman Morris Freed

Nomi Freed Lipnick Religious School Scholarship Fund In memory of: Natalee Gurien

Harvey Gurien Katie Goldberg

Susan Goldberg Sandee Tischler Religious School Scholarship Fund In memory of: Sheldon Friedman

Heywood Friedman Ritual Fund Our condolences to: The Lazarus Family

Josh and Debbie Atlas Tzedakah Fund In memory of: Klara Kover

Rita Kovar Larry A. Gruer

Lillian Gruer Temple General Fund In memory of: Abe Lutzker

John and Sandra Lutzker Helen Odoroff

Robyn Krieger Larry Dvorkin

Judith Dvorkin Marcey Schoenkerman

John and Sandra Lutzker Our condolences to: The Lazarus Family

Ari Brunschwig

Robin and Brian Kahn

Judy and Bob Goldstein

Rhoda and Saul Margulies

Maureen and Gary Levine

Missy, Steve, Sam, and Stella Sole

Stanley Nachimson

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Men’s Club Silverstein Humanitarian Fund In memory of: Joseph Mason

Claudine Marx Sarah Simpson

Myles Simpson Women of TEC Torah Fund: In memory of: Harold Segal

Sheila and Edward Chadroff Our condolences to: The Lazarus Family

Claire Maultasch

Lynda and Gil Kessler

Susan Cohen

Ann and Steve Ross Women of TEC Beautification of TEC Fund In memory of: Joseph Mason

Claudine Marx Nancee Maze

Heidi Birnbaum Women of TEC Tribute Fund: In memory of: Shirley Silverberg

Barbara Excell Our condolences to: The Lazarus Family

The Meyer Family The Fishman Family

Shirley and Alan Lipkin Get well soon: Beth Romano

Shirley and Alan Lipkin

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

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