Etzetera - April 2021

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T H E O F F I C I A L N E WS L E T T E R O F T E MPLE E T Z CHA I M

IN THIS ISSUE

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CLERGY

STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SPOTLIGHT: SPRING THINGS

*Past President

THIS MONTH'S SPOTLIGHT

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"I think a new tradition has been born and all it takes is a small army to dream it, build it, bring it to fruition..."

"The feeling of communal joy, especially in the face of communal mourning, is so powerful."

Rabbi Rachel is TEC's new Rabbinic Intern.

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G E T T O K N O W:

S HA BBA T DI NNE R S T O GO

DO Y O U WI S H Y O U H A D F R E S H L Y P R E P A R E D K O S H E R M E A L S F O R S H A B B A T T H A T Y O U DI DN ' T H A V E T O C O O K ?

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CA LE NDA R

PASSOVER (cont'd) KADIMA ISRAEL LOUNGE April Fool's Day

PASSOVER (cont'd)

TIKKUN OLAM BLOOD DRIVE MEN'S CLUB VIRTUAL BRUNCH

HOLOCAUST REMEMBERANCE DAY

Deep Dish Pizza Day

ROSH CHODESH

ROSH CHODESH

20 YOM HaATZMA'UT EXPERIENCE

YOM HaATZMA'UT

WOTEC GAME NIGHT

Earth Day

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MONTHLY MITZVAH WEDNESDAY

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- TEC@HOME WEEKLY SCHEDULE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO 1 Dina Torgan Monica Borochoff 2 Daniel Schwager Jason Ungar Joshua Hopstone Esme Label

PASSOVER (cont'd)

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Good Friday

3 Scott Smith Robert Wynner Susan Wallace 4 Amy Sarto Barbara Budish Jeremy Seiden Brooke Roberts Aaron Nagy

Nat'l Unicorn Day

Nat'l Siblings Day

5 Jacob Oberman Sarah Sklar Emily Frydrych Grady Sterling Yoni Oren Kenneth Starr 6 Scott Blumenthal David Mahler Kevin Deitel Michael Grosslight Kenneth Stelman Hayley Ratzan-Wank Shanna Pullan Jude Morris 7 Beth Meyer Jenna Lotterman Michael Lieber Lily Perlmutter

LAG B'OMER Arbor Day

8 Beryl Mann Alexander Forsythe Aidan Shechter Davin Carey

9 Sophia Lysobey Leah Shechter Sarah Fireman Helene Gollub 10 Tobi Love David Israel Elad Goren Liliana Feldman Michael Scherr

18 Wendy Rothman Andrew Gerin Joshua Fireman 19 Ian Friedman 20 Candy Portman Sabrina Cohen Elissa Lazarus

11 Mindi Mahler Kendra Sternberg Amy Scop Daniel Lotterman

21 Michael Roberts Elizabeth Groden Jennifer Jacobs Warren Blatt

12 Libat Hoffmann John Melideo Herb Wexler

22 Hannah Meyer Zachary Miller Jonathan Benjamin

13 Marshall Scherr Grace Levin Michael Lichtman Gillian Mellon

23 David Zimring Bernard Gero Jeff Katz Jamie Mark Judith Katzburg Shayna Israel Judi Gill

14 Ori Sarid Jacob Finn Dan Margolis Daniel Margolis Meredith Goodkin Ascher Morton 15 Dawne Ratzan Deborah Fingerman 16 Lisa Cain Lisa Gurien Caroline Karamas 17 Hannah Zucherman Merrill Goldenberg

24 Gregory Kay Matthew Barukh Morgan Guttman 25 Max Wasserman Jared Goldberg Colin Pullan Evan Robichaud Debbie Alpert Rachel Brusseau Stephanie Lessman 26 Ronan Winthrop Russell Wolf Yaron Sarid Miriam Carmona Aaron Dem David Heber Richard Seinfeld

27 Zachary Sweet Lawrence Bugaisky Perry Pierce 28 Talia Ginsburg Julia Stelman 29 Arthur Harris Linda Hutchings Patricia Kaye 30 Michal Lipkin Harold Seiden

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E DUCA T I ON

- APRIL DATES -

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SIMCHA S

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Daniel Kahn

Ascher Morton

Zac Miller

Our TEC family just got bigger!

Send all simcha information to communications@templeetzchaim.org

Josh Abugow

Sarah Fireman

DE J A V I E W

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S POT LI GHT : S PR I NG T H I NGS

Smell the flowers

Visit the farmer's market

Spring cleaning & donate

Climb a tree

Wave an Israeli flag

Touch an insect

Look for 4 leaf clovers

Fly a kite

Feed ducks at a pond

Plant something

RULE S FOR THE

Take photos of you doing the items from the checklist above.

Post them to Facebook or Instagram Tag TEC in the photo and/or in the comment Include the hashtag #iamTEC in your comment.

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BY PA R T I CI PA T I N G I N T HI S CHA LLE N GE , A LL CON T E S T A N T S GI V E T E C PE R MI S S I ON T O US E A N Y PHOT OS S UBMI T T E D FOR T HI S CHA LLE NGE I N A NY T E C MA R K E T I NG I NCLUDI NG ON T E C' S S OCI A L ME DI A PA GE S A ND/ OR UPCOMI NG I S S UE S OF E T Z E T E R A

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A DA PT E D FR O M M Y J E WI S H LE A R N I N G . C O M

T H E CE LE BR A T I ON OF I S R A E LI I N DE PE N DE N CE I S MA R K E D E A CH Y E A R ON T H E FI FT H DA Y OF T H E H E BR E W MON T H OF I Y A R Israel’s Independence Day is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Iyar, which is the Hebrew date of the formal establishment of the State of Israel, when members of the “provisional government” read and signed a Declaration of Independence in Tel Aviv. The original date corresponded to May 14, 1948.

Most of the Jewish communities in the Western world have incorporated this modern holiday into their calendars, but some North American Jewish communities hold the public celebrations on a following Sunday in order to attract more participation. In the State of Israel it is a formal holiday, so almost everyone has the day off.

Yom HaAtzma'ut in Israel is always preceded by Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers. The message of linking these two days is clear: Israelis owe their independence — the very existence of the state — to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for it.

THE "SWITCH" The official “switch” from Yom Hazikaron to Yom HaAtzma'ut takes place a few minutes after sundown, with a ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem in which the flag is raised from half staff (due to Memorial Day) to the top of the pole. The president of Israel delivers a speech of congratulations, and soldiers representing the Army, Navy, and Air Force parade with their flags. In recent decades this small-scale parade has replaced the large-scale daytime parade, which was the main event during the 1950s and ’60s. The evening parade is followed by a torch lighting (hadlakat masuot) ceremony, which marks the country’s achievements in all spheres of life.

Other than the official ceremonies, Israelis celebrate Yom HaAtzma'ut in a variety of ways.

In the cities, the nighttime festivities may be found on the main streets. Crowds will gather to watch public shows offered for free by the municipalities and the government.

Many spend the night dancing Israeli folk dances or singing Israeli songs. During the daytime thousands of Israeli families go out on hikes and picnics. Army camps are open for civilians to visit and to display the recent technological achievements of the Israeli Defense Forces.

Yom HaAtzma'ut is concluded with the ceremony of granting the “Israel Prize” recognizing individual Israelis for their unique contribution to the country’s culture, science, arts, and the humanities.

The religious character of Yom HaAtzma'ut is still in the process of formation, and is still subject to debate. The Chief Rabbinate of the State (which consists of Orthodox rabbis) has decided that this day should be marked with the recitation of Hallel (psalms of praise), similar to other joyous holidays, and with the reading of a special haftarah (prophetic portion). Most ultra-Orthodox Jews, in Israel and abroad, have not accepted this ruling, and some Orthodox Jews chant the Hallel psalms without the blessing which precedes it.

On the other hand, HaKibbutz HaDati (Modern Orthodox Kibbutz Movement) initiated a version of the prayer Al HaNissim (“Concerning the Miracles”) to be added to the Amidah (the central prayer recited while standing) on Yom Ha’atzmaut, as it is on Hanukkah and Purim.

This special addition to the liturgy of the day was not approved by the Chief Rabbinate but was adopted by the Masorti (Conservative) and the Progressive (Reform) congregations in Israel. Some rabbis argue that Yom HaAtzma'ut should be viewed in conjunction with Hanukkah and Purim, since all three commemorate a “miraculous” victory of the Jews over an enemy of superior military might.

It should be noted that most Israelis do not consider Yom Ha’atzmaut a religious holiday at all.

FOR AMERICAN JEWS For American Jews, celebrating Yom HaAtzma'ut has been a way to express solidarity with the state of Israel and to strengthen their alliance with it. In many communities, it is one of few occasions in which Jewish organizations and synagogues of different ideologies and denominations cooperate in forming a common celebration. In many North American congregations, the joint public celebration often is augmented by a religious service. In some cases, this would occur on the Shabbat closest to Yom Ha’atzmaut and would consist of additional readings added to the service and, usually, the singing of Hatikvah (the Israeli national anthem).

There is not yet an accepted “tradition” of how to celebrate this holiday, and only time will tell whether certain customs, foods, prayers, and melodies will be linked in the Jewish mind with this holiday, as with holidays that emerged many centuries before Yom HaAtzma'ut. For Jews around the world, joining with Israelis celebrating Yom HaAtzma'ut has become a concrete link in the Jewish connection to the land of Israel.

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TEC COMMUNITY

MEN'S CLUB

Colin Pullan is President of TEC Mens Club.

He can be reached at mensclub@templeetzchaim.org

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WOMEN OF TEC

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TIKKUN OLAM

Cindy Scherr is President of WOTEC. She can be reached at womenoftec@templeetzchaim.org

Judy Gindi is VP, Social Action.

She can be reached at socialaction@templeetzchaim.org

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Barbara and Harvey Scherr Memorial Fund for Ner Tamid Education Center In honor of: Simon Scherr Nomi Freed Early Childhood Education Fund In memory of: Bob Landun Doreen Landun-Querido Bonnie Malchicoff Sheldon Malchicoff Florence Brookstein Edward Chadroff Florence Golditch Stephanie Shipow Howard Landun Doreen Landun-Querido Justin Koppel Richard Koppel Sylvia Rosen Marshall Rosen Elisa Feldman Memorial Religious School Scholarship Fund In memory of: Alice Tahir Robert Bickerman Betty Wechsler Ilene Barney Eugene Feldman Elinor and Steve Fienberg Laurie Tahir Marc Firestone Robert Bickerman Morris Freed Nomi Freed Fienberg-Lerner Chapel Minyan Fund In memory of: Estelle Lerner Elinor Fienberg Jacobo Reines Elinor and Steve Fienberg Jerome Melvin Fienberg Stephen Fienberg Inbar Israel Travel and Education Scholarship Fund In memory of: Sophie Goldenberg Bonnie Goldenberg Jotkowitz Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund In memory of: Dora Borenstein Jeffrey Borenstein Ed Jotkowitz Marc and Carole Firestone The Blavatt Family Roberta Perlman Israel Borenstein Jeffrey Borenstein Pearl Witkin Leah Shechter Lipnick Religious School Scholarship Fund In memory of: Stan Rothman Bonnie Rothman Yetta Edelstein Judi Gill In honor of: Mark and Sandy Elson Ron and Sybil Goldstein Purim Fund In appreciation of: The Youth Department Ron and Sybil Goldstein

T R I BUT ES

Rabbi Averbach’s Discretionary Fund In memory of: Abe Lutzker John Lutzker Arlyn Pomush Steve Pomush Carol Schwartzberg Lawrence Storch Charlotte Lichtmann Martin Lichtmann Earl Lutzker John and Sandra Lutzker Edward Bernstein Shari Mark Eileen Peisner Robert Peisner Fay Falk Beryl Mann Gloria Kaminsky Ellen Stein Goldie Warner Kenneth Warner Harry Rudman Ronald Rudman Irving Malchicoff Sheldon Malchicoff Lester Sachs David Sachs Lisa Katz Gary Katz Matthew Schoenwald Jeff Schoenwald Maurice Zealand Helene and Michael Gollub Melvin Garner Helene Phillips Morris Rosen Stan Rosen Myrtle Zealand Helene and Michael Gollub Nureet Druyen Michael Druyen Pauline Garfinkel Arnie Garfinkel Phil Marko Reuben Finkelstein Ruth K. Waters Hattie Wolf Stan Rubens Marie Rubens Sylvia Groden Ronald Groden In honour of: Shari and Ron Mark and Family Linda Hutchings In appreciation of: Rabbi Ari Averbach David Munowitch Geoffrey and Laura Graham Herb Wexler the Corwin Family Religious School Fund In memory of: Maurice L. Fine Lila Oberman Maurice Fine Lori Lubetkin Rachel Sender Fine Lila Oberman Abraham Bass Dr. Ratzan Abraham Ratzan Dr. Ratzan Frances Levine Dr. Ratzan Frances Smith Linda Friedlander Mac Ratzan Dr. Ratzan Marcie Budish Barbara Budish Nancy Colton Ted Wasserman Samuel Carlin Dr. Ratzan In honor of: Sandy and Marc Elson Linda and Carl Friedlander

Temple General Fund In memory of: Aghdass Harounian Safani Michael Safani Anna Konigsberg Shirley Bressler Ayzik Pivovarov The Shulman Family Daniel Presser Francine Finkelstein Edna Gray Sandy Tenenbaum Ernest Kovar Rita Kovar Florence Kinsbruner Jodi Greenberg Gail Cohen Stuart Hockman Helen Odoroff Robyn Krieger Jeffrey Liss Verna Liss Laurie Tahir Toby and Lenny Ginsberg Lily Malchicoff Sheldon Malchicoff Louis Gray Sandy Tenenbaum Mala Leichter The Kalinsky Family Mollie Sulkis Mrs. Ethel Sulkis Sam Jacobs Harold Jacobs Sarah Jacobs Harold Jacobs Selig Spero Lynda Kessler In honor of: Alan Kassan Zane and Debra Irving Reifman Zane and Mark Tzedakah Fund In memory of: Blanche Kulik Morry Kulik Eli Levine Barbara Kluber Robert Treisman Robin Oberman USY Youth and Scholarship Fund In appreciation of: Shannon Tepfer Barbara Unger Men’s Club Scholar-In-Residence Fund In memory of: Dora Treger Shirley Lipkin Frieda Dryman Paul Dryman Women of TEC Scholarship Fund In memory of: Hilda Garabedian Melinda Garabedian In honor of: Simon Scherr Liz and Ron Groden Women of TEC Torah Fund In memory of: Lilian Reuben Sandra Reuben Yom Hashoah Donation In memory of: Bert and Evelyn Shoenkerman Buzz Shoenkerman Zerlin Library Fund In memory of: Ida Bernstein Marshall Rosen

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FE A T UR E D E V E NT S

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D ON' T F OR GE T A BO U T DON'T FORGET ABOUT

T EC T OG O TEC TO GO SEE OUR FULL MENU FOR APRIL ON PG 5

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Matt and Sara Goldberg got Pepper, their Bluetick Coonhound / English Springer Spaniel mix on August 16, 2020.

She came all the way from a working dairy farm in Ohio. Sara joked "Have a puppy they said. It'll be fun they said." Despite Sara's sarcasm, Pepper has brought a lot of love and laughter to the Goldberg household.

(L) 10 weeks old, the day Pepper arrived.

(R) 7 months old, at Dioji in Agoura Hills.

Eliana and Ariella Manzur can't get enough of Milo, their adorable English Golden Doodle puppy on April 16, 2020. He came to them from Baja Mexico. They were told by the breeder, "He'll be 40-50 pounds." Although he surpassed that by 40 pounds he is a gentle giant with a protective side to his family.

(L) 7 weeks old, on his adoption day in Winnetka, (R) 1 year old at their new house in Moorpark.

Winston Belvedere was adopted from Shelter of Hope in Thousand Oaks by Brian and Shannon Tepfer on August 26th. He just turned 8 weeks old and weighed a mere 12 lbs.

Now he's 9 months old and weighs 80 lbs!!

Winston loves snuggling with his sisters, chasing bunnies and eating ice cubes.

(L) 8 weeks old.

(R) 9 months old.

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WHAT I'M INTO RIGHT NOW On Audible, “Start Here" with Mel Robbins.” Mel is a motivator and life coach. This particular program consists of 10 short (roughly 30 minute) pep talks on things like life, family, happiness, goals, friends etc.

She is clear, direct, no nonsense and of course motivating. - Shari Mark

Loved reading the book "The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett. My husband recommended it to me. Couldn't put it down. - Judy Gindi

I am listening to the storytelling podcast: “The Moth.” - Rabbi Averbach

I’ve been listening to quite a few podcasts, but just finished “Headlong: Running from Cops” about the longrunning FOX series “Cops.” I also watched all four hours of “Zack Snyder’s Justice League." - Dan Lubetkin

Been reading -- just finished "Firefly Lane" and its sequel "Fly Away" by Kristin Hannah, and "A Time for Mercy" by John Grisham (sequel to "A Time to Kill"). We've been watching a couple of network shows -- "New Amsterdam" and "This is Us." - Cindy Scherr

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COMMUNI T Y PA R T NER S

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