ETZETERA - January 2023

C H A I M

ISSUE 1

E T Z

JANUARY 2023

T E M P L E

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THIS

MONTH'S SPOTLIGHT DÈJÁ VIEW HANUKKAH 2022 SEE PAGES 6 & 7

3. Letters From Our Leaders 4. TEC Education 5. Construction Update 6. Deja View 8. Events Calendar 9. Birthdays & Anniversaries 10. TEC Tributes 11. TEC Community 12. Simchas 13. Upcoming Events

CLERGY Rabbi Ari Averbach Interim Cantor Kenny Ellis Rabbi Emeritus Richard Spiegel Rabbi Emeritus Shimon Paskow STAFF Executive Director Gideon Manzur Early Childhood Education Director Debbie Blumenthal Religious School Director Joyce Bronstein Programming & Youth Director Cindy Goldberg Programming & Events Coordinator Shane Silverstein ECE Assistant Director Kristi Dollison ECE Administrative Assistant Linda Starr RS Administrative Assistant Sarah Karamas Accounts Receivable Jessica Jacoby Clergy Assistant Jill Rosenberg Musical Director Mariano Dugatkin BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Eric Feigenbaum Executive Vice President Felicia Toporoff Immediate Past President Shari Mark Treasurer David Yodkovik Corresponding Secretary Elissa Lazarus Recording Secretary Rachael Pugh VP, Building & Grounds Dan Wachs VP, Communications Rachel Carmona VP, Early Childhood Education Chad Hampton VP, Personnel & Legal Josh Hopstone VP, Project Funding Wendy Margolis* VP, Religion & Worship Benny Sommerfeld VP, Religious School Education Adya Riss VP, Social Action Pam Friedman VP, Youth Ilana Sweet Trustee, Bingo Marshall Scherr* Trustee, Community Outreach Mark Goldstein Trustee, Governance Steve Plotkin Trustee, Programming Dan Lubetkin Trustee, Sustainability Ely Jacobsohn President, Mens Club Irwin Barney President, Women of TEC Linda Hutchings Past President, Board Member Sherri Finn-Werber Past President, Board Member Gary Katz Past President, Board Member Myles Simpson *Past President

LETTERS FROM OUR LEADERS

RABBI ARI AVERBACH rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org

With each new year, we think about what the year will bring - whether we consider it in January or Tishrei and we hope for health and blessings. But I also think about the notable anniversaries that this year will bring.

The end of April will mark the 75th birthday of the state of Israel, a dream for 2,000 years that was fulfilled by dreamers and pioneers. A dream we - and our cousins 10,000 miles away - are continuing to make a reality. It will also be the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, which changed the geography and political landscape in Israel.

But other turning points in history will also be noted this coming year. December will mark 250 years since the Boston Tea Party, which was a turning point in the move for independence in our own country.

March will be 25 years since Pope John Paul II apologized on behalf of the Catholic Church for not doing anything to intervene in the Shoah.

A few months later will also mark 25 years since the website Google launched. And it is ten years since the movie Frozen taught us to "Let it Go."

ERIC FEIGENBAUM, PRESIDENT eric@templeetzchaim.org

Jews are fortunate to get two New Years – both Jewish and secular. We are a people with the tendency to reflect on the past and draw lessons – so the modern era giving us two New Years is a gift.

My resolution as Temple President is to create as many meaningful opportunities for our congregants and community to engage in Jewish life through TEC as possible. This is something we’ve been building towards for months and that I hope to see blossom in 2023.

Already arrived: The Sunday Stickaround. Every Sunday from 9:30 to 11:30 we offer varied programs aimed to engage a variety of tastes and interests across the demographics that make up our congregation. We’ve already enjoyed a broad swath of activities including making sandwiches for the hungry, town hall meetings, challah making, active shooter training and learning how to safeguard our kids from predators. In the future we’ll have yoga, anxiety experts, adult education and of course holiday programming as we move through the Jewish year.

Beyond that, expect to have a lecture series from our new Sister Synagogue (more on that to come) Etz Hayyim of Hania, Crete this spring. This tiny synagogue and UNESCO World Heritage site is still recovering from Holocaust and has several academics who study and teach about the Judaism and Jewish life of Crete and Greece, which include a unique Non-Talmudic Judaism and Seferim Torah written in Greek. We are exploring numerous ways our Shuls can work together in the long run and how our Etz Chaim can be part of helping another Jewish community to flourish once again.

The real question is what are we going to do in 2023?

How are you and I going to learn together, grow, and make our community stronger, kinder, and more holy?

We are also excited that Professor Kathryn Paige Harden (https://www.kpharden.com) will be the first speaker in our Spring thought-leader series at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks.

More on that soon as well.

I look forward to celebrating with you in this new year, sitting down to coffee with you, and learning more of your story.

All of this to say 2023 is going to be a big year for TEC. I recognize we all participate in this community for different reasons, bringing our different needs. My hope is that in 2023 everyone finds something they crave.

Happy New Year!

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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION DIRECTOR

DEBBIE BLUMENTHAL Happy New Year! As we begin a new year and the second half of our school year, we look forward to coming back from winter break and getting back to our classroom routines and learning!

January is a fun month for winter themes to enrich our learning and exploration. Within our classrooms, the children will be learning about hibernation, penguins, arctic animals, space, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Towards the end of the month, the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat will be introduced. The children can explore the curriculum in their learning centers, sensory play, songs, and stories.

Before we know it, we will be starting registration for the 2023-24 school year! In the month of February, all current TEC preschool and infant families will be asked to register for the new school year and then we will start filling open spaces from our Wait List and new registrations after that.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day the entire school will enjoy a “Peace Picnic” together and sing songs of Peace with Miss Bobbie. The children will participate in activities that introduce kindness and peaceful fun for everyone!

debbieb@templeetzchaim.org The staff and I all appreciate your support and help with all our health and safety protocols, mask wearing when necessary, staying home when sick, and Brightwheel communication! We are so happy to be at school with your children and working very hard to keep everyone healthy and safe and have fun learning all at the same time!

Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy, and bright New Year 2023!

Thank you for being a part of our Temple Etz Chaim family!

Debbie Blumenthal

JOYCE BRONSTEIN

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DIRECTOR

After a wonderful Hanukkah celebration and a festive New Year, the staff and I eagerly look forward to seeing our students. We miss them!

information can be found in this bulletin you are currently reading. Seeing everyone there will make this day great!

Havdalah and Hotdogs will take place on February 4, 2023…. please save the date. Although the name is the same, the theme and activities for all ages will be different. The theme this year is “Tu B’Shevat.”

Havdalah and Hotdogs is fun, creative, and informative. Every age group will be able to participate in the many exciting activities based on the “theme” of the evening. Remember to come and be a part of the “community project.” Please sign up by following the link on the TEC website, “Havdalah and Hotdogs;” the flyer with more

Programs such as “Havdalah and Hotdogs” leave an incredible imprint on our children.

Additionally, extracurricular “happenings” enrich our students’ Jewish Education at Temple Etz Chaim. We hope that your children will be able to participate in many activities on January 4th and that you, as parents, will join them too.

Thank you so much for Temple Etz Chaim’s thoughtful in-kind donation of 60 sets of personal care items, received on Sunday, November 6, 2022 as part of Mitzvah Day.

CINDY GOLDBERG

PROGRAMMING & YOUTH DIRECTOR

joyce@templeetzchaim.org We are grateful for your compassion for our kids, evidenced by your kind gift, enabling us to provide much more for these struggling youth than would be possible on their own. Thank you for helping us to meet needs, to stretch the boundaries of possibilities, and to enable them to experience a piece of the innocence that their childhood should know. We are grateful for your partnership in bringing healing to Through these many experiences TEC offers to our children, we hope to enrich and strengthen their Jewish identity.

B’Vracha, Joyce Bronstein

cindy@templeetzchaim.org

As you read this, Ḥ anukkah is a recent memory. We are so happy for all who came to celebrate together on the 21st. It’s wonderful to be able to be together with our TEC family to eat, sing, and enjoy an evening together. Thank you to all the volunteers and religious school aides who helped make the event such a success.

common practices that build both our synagogue community and the community at large. Save the date for an ADL Walk Against Hate the afternoon of February 26 at Conejo Creek North. More information to come!

February 4: Havdalah and Hot Dogs ~ See Joyce’s article

SAVE THE DATES:

The holiday’s focus of standing together and combating those who want to eradicate Jews is relevant today, as it was in 200 BC. As a synagogue community, we will recommit ourselves to standing up and speaking out as Jews who believe that inciteful, dangerous speech and hateful actions are simply not acceptable.

January 7: Bim Bam Shabbat will be held on the Gesher play yard (or the rotunda, weather depending).

February 26 : Walk Against Hate at Conejo Creek North (Noon)

The Talmud teaches that staying silent is equivalent to assent. When we hear something or read something that is antisemitic or hate-filled in any way, we must renounce it. To show our commitment, we are excited to have been chosen to participate in the first cohort of a nationwide program called Kulanu: Synagogues Together Fighting Antisemitism (Kulanu means “all of us”). In the coming months, we will be moving in that direction: learning, growing, and advocating for

www.templeetzchaim.org

January 8: Sunday StickAround ~ Vinyasa Yoga for all, no equipment or experience necessary

Febraruary 5: Plant a tree (and more) in our very own TEC community garden forTu B’Shevat

USY DATES TO SAVE: January 10: Kadima New Year’s Fun Lounge January 20 – 22: USY Wizarding Weekend at Ramah

January 22: Sunday StickAround ~ Navigating the Anxiety Roller Coaster for Parents, Caregivers, and Kids of All ages; Jennifer Mundy, LMFT

January 29: Machar New Year’s Fun Lounge

January 29: Sunday StickAround ~ Walking Club with Dan Lubetkin

Thank you to all who helped make 2022 such a wonderful year at TEC! Looking forward to lots of fun together in 2023!

February 4: Bim Bam Shabbat on the Gesher play yard (or the rotunda, weather depending)

January 29 1 PM: USY Lounge

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GIDEON MANZUR

gideon@templeetzchaim.org

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

2023 is here and construction on the sanctuary building is well underway! We have shared many wonderful simchas and events in this building and the improvements provided by the capital campaign will ensure there will be many more to come!

Please keep an eye out for emails or articles in the Etzetera for additional updates.

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D È J Á

V I E W

A LOOK BACK AT TEMPLE EVENTS & PROGRAMMING

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D E J A

V I E W

A LOOK BACK AT TEMPLE EVENTS & PROGRAMMING

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JAN 2023

DATES TO REMEMBER SUN 1

MON 2

TUE 3

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

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BIM BAM SHABBAT

TEMPLE OFFICE CLOSED

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SUNDAY STICKAROUND: YOGA

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WOTEC MAHJ & TRIVIA

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FOOTBALL W/THE RABBI

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SUNDAY STICKAROUND: NAVIGATING THE ANXIETY ROLLER COASTER

TEC FEEDS THE HUNGRY

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BOARD MEETING

ICE SKATING W/MEN'S CLUB

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SUNDAY STICKAROUND: WALKING CLUB W/DAN LUBETKIN

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Havdalah Hot Dogs

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T E C Barbara & Harvey Scherr Memorial Fund In Memory of Dora Bigley Ferne Blaugrund Dunaier Music Fund In Memory of Benjamin Marx David Marx

T R I B U T E S Rabbi Averbach's Discretionary Fund In Memory of Stubby Kaye Cheryl Wolfe In Memory of Samuel Groden Ronald Groden In Memory of Bronna Engler Richard Engler

Early Childhood Education Fund In Memory of Aaron Marcus Bruce Cohen

In Memory of Doris Levine Gary Levine

In Memory of Passing of Opa Evan& Elisa Robichaud

In Memory of Frances Greenholt Marie Rubens

In Memroy of Fern Starr Debbi& Scott Blumenthal

In Memory of Jylian Mendelson Beau Mann

In Memory of Fern Starr Jessica Dennis

In Memory of Esther Natkowitz Marvin Natlin

Tim Tucker & Kiki Perrin

In Memory of Shirley Zeitlin Lubetkin The Lubetkin Family

Elisa Feldman Memorial Religious School Scholarship Fund In Memory of Seymour Feldman Les & Debbie Feldman Feeding the Hungry for Harbor House Jack & Judy Gindi Jotkowitz Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund In Memory of Gerald Schwager Charles Schwager

In Memory of Sylvia Samson Donald Samson In Memory of Henry Zonshine Bob Zonshine

Sandra Tischler Religious School Scholarship Fund In Memory of Alan Bass Jerome Ratzan In Memory of Marcelle Carlin Jerome Ratzan Temple General Fund In Memory of Florence Young George Usi In memory of Babcia Jay & Debra Levine In Memory of Dr. Michael J. Fishbein Bruce & Cara Berryman In Memory of Noel & Vivian Sterling Randi Cohn In Memory of Betty Honigsberg Max Honigsberg In Memory of Benno Silberman Jon & Jacqueline Silberman In Memory of Hilda Presser Francine Finkelstein Sidney & Sheryl Gutmann

In Memory of Joseph Markowitz Bonnie Garfinkel In Memory of Esther Kane Daniel Kane

Tzedakah Fund In Memory of Lillian Bettman Kluber Lou Kluber

In Honor of Men's Club Board Alan Horwitz

In Memory if Dolores Plaster David Cohan

USY Youth & Scholarship Fund In Memory of Sylvia Elbling Ronald Elbling

Kiddush Fund In Memory of Barbara Diane Jacobs Margie Gendler Marks

In Memory of Irwin Marco Fran Curtis

In Memory of Norma Smith Andy & Ellen Smith

In Appreciation of Rabbi Averbach for all of his suppprt and support of the Hillel students by extension.Robert & Seth Browner

Women of TEC Scholarship Fund In Memory of Paul Moore Ann Moore-Ross

Lipnick Religious School Scholarship Fund In Memory of Solomon Stockell Bonnie Rothman In Memory of Irwin Stockell Bonnie Rothman In Memory of Lillian Gurien Harvey Gurien

In Appreciation of Rabbi Averbach's support of Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Gabor Nagy & Harriet Oberman Religious School Fund In Memory of Beatrice Speiser Robin Goldfinger

Men's Club Scholar-in-Residence In Honor of Buzz Schoenkerman with gratitude for 35 years of friendship and support John & Sandra Lutzker

In Memory of Josephine Berman Cynthia Urbach

Men's Club Silverstein Humanitarian Fund In Memory of Abraham Goldstein Susan E. Cohen

In Honor of Mitzvah Day Beth Meyer

Women of TEC Torah Fund In Memory of Emilee Markstein Lynda Manzur-Peek In Memory of Sophie Tenenbaum William & Sandy Tenenbaum

In Memory of Esther Kane Daniel Kane

In Memory of Wilma Saly Richard Saly In Memory of Bernie Silverstein Richard & Gari Saly

Temple Etz Chaim wants to thank you for your generous contributions to our community in honor of those we love and in memory of those we have lost. www.templeetzchaim.org

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PAM FRIEDMAN

LINDA HUTCHINGS

TEC Social Action is so grateful for the amazing support of our congregation. Our Adopt a Family donation drive was able to donate $2,000 in Target gift cards to Harbor House for the local homeless community. Sheri Groenveld explained how this donation will make such a difference in so many lives. Ann Sturman at Many Mansions was overjoyed with our gifts. We dropped off three bikes, and piles and piles of gifts for the families of Many Mansions. All of the beautifully wrapped gifts for Homebound Seniors were excitedly accepted by Senior Concerns and then delivered by the Meals on Wheels Program. Finally, a wonderful collection of unwrapped toys for the families who rely on the Westminster Free Clinic for medical care were dropped off to welcoming arms and smiles. I would like to thank the Social Action team for all their hard work in putting this donation drive together. There are so many things to do including coordinating adopting families and adoptees, packaging, collecting gifts, and delivery of course. A special thanks to the efforts of Judy Gindi and Robyn Zimmet.

WOTEC is looking forward to an exciting 2023! Our membership booklets will be heading your way soon and we have some fun events planned in the new year. Our first event will be on the afternoon of January 8th from 1-5pm and it will be a Trivial Pursuit Tournament with the option to play Mahjong and some other board games too. We will have a lot of fun, so please mark your calendars. Some other great events are in the works, so please check your email updates. All of the WOTEC Constant Contact emails come from the following email: Wotecnews@gmail.com -- so please notate this email as a safe sender so you can receive our updates.

VP, SOCIAL ACTION socialaction@templeetzchaim.org

This month we will be finishing our First Aid Drive. Look for the email and click on the donation link or use the QR code to bring up the Signup Genius list. Thursday January 19th is the last day to drop off donation items in the yellow donation bin next to the guard station.

Our next Feed the Hungry for Harbor House will be Tuesday, January 24th. A Constant Contact email will be sent out soon.

Thank you for your continued support, Pamela Friedman

IRWIN BARNEY

PRESIDENT, MEN'S CLUB mensclub@templeetzchaim.org

On Wednesday evening, December 21, the Men’s Club provided, prepared, and served latkes (with applesauce and sour cream) in support of the Temple Etz Chaim’s program to celebrate the fourth night of Chanukah. The turnout was great, and it was so wonderful to see families having such a fun time, especially the children.

On January 15, the Men’s Club is coordinating a “Football with the Rabbi” event. We will be watching the NFL Playoff games, imbibing our favorite beverages, and kibbitzing. Check the Temple flyer for time and place.

On January 22, the Men’s Club is organizing an Ice-Skating event.

Everyone is welcome to join in. Once again, check the Temple flyers for time, place, and cost.

In mid-December, you should have received a letter from Men’s Club Scholar in Residence Chair, Mark Zucherman, and me informing you of our Scholar in Residence weekend scheduled for April 28 – April 30.

This year’s scholar is Rabbi Daniel Cohen. He speaks nationally inspiring people to maximize every moment while leading a life of impact and legacy. One of his books titles is “What Will They Say About You When You Are Gone? Creating a Life of Legacy.” Please reserve time on your calendar to attend and consider participating as a Program Sponsor. If you have not received the mid-December mailing or would like more information, please reach out to us via the Men’s Club mailbox: mensclub@templeetzchaim.org Happy and healthy 2023 to all. www.templeetzchaim.org

PRESIDENT, WOMEN OF TEC (WOTEC) womenoftec@templeetzchaim.org

November and December were busy months for WOTEC. We enjoyed a fabulous WALK and NOSH in November. We walked throughout the Oak Canyon Park and then finished off with a lovely brunch of bagels, muffins and fruit. WOTEC was also honored to provide the Sufganiyot for the Hanukkah event. We enjoyed the Mahjong Game Day event and an informal happy hour event too.

WOTEC Board meetings are on the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm and we hold these either in person or on Zoom. If you would like to attend, please feel free.

If you are looking for worthwhile causes to donate to, please consider donating to Torah Fund. Torah Fund is the official philanthropy of the Women's League of Conservative Judaism that raises funds to support Rabbinical and Cantorial Scholars. Please reach out to Esther Pullan or Phyllis Dankberg for more details.

If you are looking for any Gift Shop Judaica items, please reach out to Ann Ross or Phyllis Dankberg -- they can help you with tallit, invitations and anything else that you are looking for.

Also, please make sure to be added to our WOTEC Constant Contact emails. If you are not receiving our email updates, please email me at LindaH@templeetzchaim.org B'Shalom, Linda Hutchings

ANDREA ARONS

CHAIR, CLERGY SEARCH COMMITTEE andrea@templeetzchaim.org

Dear Temple Etz Chaim, The Clergy Search Committee is patiently awaiting candidates' submissions from the Cantorial Assembly, the conservative movement's largest group of Cantor oversight. It seems that patience is a required virtue in this process. We have reached out a number of times to ensure that all steps are being properly followed, and each time the response is to just be patient.

In the meantime, we're exploring all avenues and prospects. We strive for helping the long term success and overall well being of TEC. As we know more about candidates and prospects we'll continue to update you.

We thank you for your support and understanding through this process.

As always, we are always available to speak with you.

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Whether you are anticipating a Bar or Bat Mitzvah or a little bundle of joy, please let us know so our entire community can share in the celebration.

Send all simcha information to communications@templeetzchaim.org www.templeetzchaim.org

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FOR ALL ADVERTISING INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT TEC COMMUNICATIONS AT COMMUNICATIONS@TEMPLEETZCHAIM.ORG www.templeetzchaim.org

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