Issuu

AUGUST 2026

ISSUE 8

Inside This Issue

PAGE 4

PAGE 8

PAGE 10

Letters from our leaders

Updates from our community groups

Mitzvah & Simchas

High Holiday Schedule at a Glance

Letters From Our Leaders

TEC Education

TEC Community

B’nai Mitzvah and Simchas

TEC Tributes

August Calendar

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Upcoming Events

24 Kids’ Corner 26 Memorial Receptions Available 27

Memorial Plaques & Digital Memorial Library

Hearing Assistance Network

Support Our Community: Small Business Highlights

WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS? Space is available in our Etzetera. If you are interested in placing an ad, please send an email to: communications@templeetzchaim.org

Join TEC on Social Media! Stay up-to-date with community events, news and happenings. Follow us on your favorite social platform. Search for @templeetzchaim across all platforms. On Facebook search for Temple Etz Chaim as well as Temple Etz Chaim Preschool.

Rabbi Ari Averbach Hazzan Noam Fields-Meyer Gould Chaplain Benny Sommerfeld Rabbi Emeritus Richard Spiegel

Executive Director Cindy Goldberg Early Childhood Education Director Keri Loventhal Religious School Director Joyce Bronstein Early Childhood Education Asst. Director Ina Weismann Office Manager Shane Silverstein ECE Administrative Assistant Jessica Jacoby RS Administrative Assistant Sarah Karamas Clergy Assistant Jill Rosenberg Musical Director Mariano Dugatkin

President Dan Lubetkin Vice President Adya Riss Immediate Past President Felicia Toporoff Treasurer Arnie Blitstein Secretary Brianna Abrams Trustee, Bingo Michael Roberts Trustee, Building and Grounds Steve Plotkin Trustee, Early Childhood Education Josh Atlas Trustee, Endowment Jeff Landau Trustee, Financial Consideration Neal Arons Trustee, Membership, Sarica Klein Trustee, Personnel & Legal Affairs Mike Wellen Trustees, Programming Eric Feigenbaum* & Shari Mark* Trustee, Religion and Worship Cheryl Math Trustee, Religious School Education Leah Neiderman Trustee, Security Paul Dryman Trustee, Social Action Heidi Birnbaum & Lindsay Halper Trustee, Special Projects Paula Lefko Trustee, Volunteer Coordination Evan Robichaud Trustee, Ways & Means Donald Zimring President, Men’s Club Mark Goldstein President, Women of TEC Phyllis Dankberg

Past President, Board Member Sherri Finn-Werber Past President, Board Member Gary Katz Past President, Board Member Myles Simpson Past President, Board Member Marshall Scherr Past President, Board Member Wendy Margolis *Also, Past Presidents

www.templeetzchaim.org

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

Letters from Our Leaders Rabbi Ari Averbach

rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org

During the summer, people often ask me if I am getting ready for the High Holidays. It’s easy small talk to make with a rabbi. And it gives me the chance to make the same stale joke, asking if they would like to write a sermon for me. Once in a while, I am asked if I use AI for my sermons, and I answer with an unwavering and emphatic no. At this point in my career, I cannot fathom a reason where anyone cares what a fancy computer thinks about the meaning of life, the depths of despair, the chutzpa of resilience, the possibility of repentance. And once a rabbi uses this technology, why wouldn’t rabbis become obsolete, as anyone else could give their favorite bot a prompt to learn our millennia of accumulated values and immediately get a worthy sermon spit out. (To be fair, I know many people who use LLMs for all sorts of work).

To prepare for the holidays, I am more likely to find books that I have been meaning to read (or come back to) and look for inspiration, for topics that ignite something within me that I need to share. Which also means that you – everyone – can take this time to prepare for the High Holidays. You don’t have to be clergy to get yourself ready for days of introspection. Below are some books I recommend to you to get you thinking about the holidays. I have so many more (a library more!) in case you want to peruse. • • • •

This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared, by Alan Lew The Amen Effect, by Sharon Brous Here All Along, by Sarah Hurwitz More Beautiful Than Before, by Steve Leder

Noam Fields-Meyer Gould, Hazzan Noam@templeetzchaim.org

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer, finding some shade, and staying cool out there. It’s been a warm one. One of the joys of this past stretch has been producing Between Two Shabbatot, our temple podcast. Getting to dig into the history of this community — the stories, the people, the small moments that add up to who we are — has been a delight. There’s a journalist’s thrill in it that I didn’t quite expect, and I’m grateful to everyone who’s shared a

memory or pointed me toward one. If you’ve been listening, you’ll know Episode 6 is all about “Shuling.” And I want to take a second to thank all of you who’ve been doing exactly that this month — showing up, pitching in, being present. It means more than you know. (And if you’re not sure what “shuling” means? Go listen!) Have a wonderful month — see you in shul.

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

Dan Lubetkin, President dan@templeetzchaim.org

August 1st has always been a bittersweet milestone for me. Even as a kid, it was the day that signaled summer was inevitably winding down. Think about it: May 1st feels like summer is just around the corner, June 1st means it’s finally here, and July 1st drops us right into the excitement of the 4th of July. But August 1st?... meh. But wait! Just because we are nearing the end of summer doesn’t mean the fun is over. At TEC, August houses one of our best community-wide traditions: Tailgate Shabbat. If you’ve never been, picture this: a beautiful Friday night service held right on the Wolfson Lawn. Families bring lawn chairs and blankets, volunteers serve up infinite slices from Pizza Nosh, and—most importantly—we get to experience a moving service led by Rabbi Averbach and Hazzan Noam, featuring the incredible music of Mariano Dugatkin. What more could you ask for? Tailgate Shabbat has been a staple at TEC for as long as I can remember. I’ve watched my own kids grow up on that lawn. We even kept the tradition alive post-COVID with masks on (and yes, I have the pictures to prove it!). It is one of the warmest, most inviting evenings of the year for every member of the family. Because it’s such a perfect showcase of our community, this

event is proudly co-sponsored by both Religious School and Membership. Joyce does an amazing job planning the night, and she is unmatched in her ability to recruit volunteers to commandeer the food stations. But there is a strategic reason Membership is also so heavily involved. If you have friends, neighbors, or even acquaintances looking for a spiritual home, Tailgate Shabbat is an essential night to invite them. Prospective families who weren’t sure about joining completely fall in love with our community after just one Tailgate Shabbat evening on Warren Lawn. As Californians, we are blessed with mostly beautiful weather year-round, but there is something truly magical about a Friday August evening in Thousand Oaks. It can’t be beat. If you can, please bring at least one potential new member family with you. That’s all you have to do! Let them devour some Pizza Nosh, meet members of our wonderful community (including our dynamic new President), and be spiritually moved by a beautiful service. Whether or not they join is ultimately up to them—but whether or not they get the chance to experience TEC is up to you. (Oh, and please include them in your RSVP so we can get an accurate count.) So, yes—maybe August 1st is a bittersweet milestone. Summer 2026 is almost over, but it ain’t over yet. Let’s make the most of it together.

Benny Sommerfeld, Chaplain benny@templeetzchaim.org

We are in the month leading up to the Hebrew month of Elul, which in Hebrew spells: ‫אלול‬. The month has a special meaning on many different levels. It starts on Aug 14, the new year tithing animals, one of our four new year celebrations. The Israeli ranchers took stock of their newborn animal livestock and set aside tithing to the priest. It is also Tailgate Shabbat for our outdoor service which this year adds the distribution of our High Holidays tickets. However, my focus is on the spiritual relationship between us and Hashem. The Hebrew spelling stands for an acronym that is found in Song of Songs. The alef ‫א‬, Ani; the lamed ‫ל‬, Le’dodi; the vav ‫ו‬, Ve’dodi; the end lamed ‫ל‬, Li; “Ani Le’dodi Ve’dodi Li” I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. This means that there is a loving bond between us and Hashem. Chabad Hasidim labels it as: “Hashem is in the field.” It is www.templeetzchaim.org

our opportunity to prepare for the Coronation of Hashem which happens on Rosh Hashanah, our New Year. Elul together with Tishrei are part of the 60 days that cover all our holidays carrying a momentum of renewal throughout the month of Tishrei. It is our time to take stock of who we are, and who we would like to become. We are renewing our relationship with the divine and pray for being inscribed in the book of life for another year. The weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah are in total seven weeks from Tisha B’Av. Every week we move to a higher spiritual place. We read seven different Haftarot to elevate our souls and getting ready. Take this opportunity to make a review of your past year. Make it count and enjoy the High Holiday and Sukkot season.

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

TEC Education Joyce Bronstein, Religious School Director joyce@templeetzchaim.org

Even though summer is still in full swing, we are already busy preparing for the upcoming school year. We can’t wait to welcome our students and families back for another meaningful Jewish educational experience filled with learning, laughter, and sincere friendships. The first day of Religious School for students in grades 3-7 is Tuesday, September 8, and students in grades TK-2 will begin on Sunday, September 20. There will be a parent meeting on the first days of school on both dates. Please stop by to get your “Parent Tags” and learn about the upcoming year. Before the school year begins, we invite you to join us for one of our favorite Temple Etz Chaim traditions, “Tailgate Shabbat” on Friday, August 14th at 5:00 p.m. This fun and welcoming evening is a great way to celebrate Shabbat, come together as a community, enjoy a delicious dinner, and cool off with popsicles for dessert. Just RSVP, bring your blankets and chairs. You will be able to pick up your High Holy Day tickets at Tailgate Shabbat too. That evening, we will have representatives from many of our Temple auxiliaries and programs. They will be there to answer questions, share information, and help you discover

all the wonderful opportunities TEC has to offer. Be sure to stop by the Religious School table, where we’ll be taking family photos for you to keep, as well as for our Temple Etz Chaim scrapbook. If you know a family searching for a warm and caring Jewish community or considering Religious School for their children, please invite them to Tailgate Shabbat, as it provides the perfect atmosphere to meet our clergy, staff, and other TEC families. This evening is an opportunity to experience the warmth and spirit that makes our community so special. Thank you, families, for being part of the TEC family and giving your children a Jewish education. Being part of the TEC community creates lasting friendships, strengthens Jewish identity, builds a sense of belonging, and instills Jewish values and traditions that will stay with them throughout their lives. As always, if you have any questions or want to stop by and say hello, I would love it. I wish you and your family a happy, safe, relaxing, and meaningful summer. I hope to see everyone at Tailgate Shabbat! L’hitraot, Joyce

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

Keri Loventhal, Early Education Director Keri@templeetzchaim.org

The ECE is having a wonderful summer filled with laughter, learning, and exciting adventures! Each week, our children explore a new theme, discover the work of a featured artist, and learn about a meaningful Jewish value through hands-on experiences. One of our favorite events was our Back to School Bash, where families came together for a day of fun! The children enjoyed blowing bubbles, splashing in the water, watercolor painting, decorating colorful visors, and cooling off with

www.templeetzchaim.org

delicious popsicles. It was the perfect way to kick off the new school year and celebrate our wonderful community. This week, the excitement continued with our Foam & Fun event! The children danced, played, and laughed in mountains of foam, enjoyed music and movement with Mr. Jeffrey, participated in gymnastics, and ended the week by celebrating Shabbat together. We are looking forward to many more weeks of summer fun, friendship, learning, and joyful memories at ECE!

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

TEC Community Mark Goldstein, President, Men’s Club Hi Everyone! Happy summer! For some of you, it’s already back to work and the school year, and for others, there’s still a lot of summer fun left. Our upcoming Men’s Night Out is the perfect event to take a break, share summer vacation stories, meet other men from TEC, and enjoy the camaraderie of Men’s Club. The next Men’s Night Out will be Wednesday, August 12, 7pm – 9pm at Naughty Pine Brewing Co. in Westlake Village. Speaking of summer, all are invited to upcoming havdallah Adventures in Learning activities to enjoy the sunsets together and learn about nature and Judaism as a temple community. The next is a Torah on the Trail event set for Saturday August 8 at 6:30 pm. All are welcome, from preschool families to seniors. See the flyer in this ETZetera for more information. Make sure to RSVP by email to mensclub@templeetzchaim.org for event details. And speaking of upcoming activities —High Holidays are early this year, and planning is well underway. Please volunteer to participate in services and surrounding support including being a greeter, honor table volunteer and other opportunities. Email us and we’ll get you connected. Plus, save the dates: Sukkah Building will be Sunday, September 20 and Men’s Club Scotch, Steak (or Salmon) and Torah in the Sukkah dinner event will be Tuesday, September 29. Here’s a short recap of recent Men’s Club activities.

The Jeff Finn Memorial Dinner, formerly known as Cigars, Scotch and Talmud, was held Tuesday, July 7, 2026 on a warm summer night in the temple courtyard. Big thank yous to: Richard Finn for sponsoring the evening, Rabbi Averbach for a scintillating exposition on a portion of Midrash, and Gary Katz for his heartfelt leadership in toasting former men’s club leader Jeff Finn. This event exemplified two of the tenets of FJMC – friendship and community. To learn more about how meaningful this event is, list to Hazzan Naom’s Between Two Shabbatot, Episode 6. We held our annual Men’s Club Planning Meeting and BBQ at a member’s home, on Sunday, July 12. Thank you Mark Zucherman for hosting and cooking! Members brainstormed and generated a lot of great events for the year. Thank you to Benny Sommerfeld, Myles Simpson, Mark Zucherman and Rich Quodomine for facilitating the constructive discourse. We will be formalizing upcoming activities at the next Men’s Club board meeting. Please attend to sign up to volunteer at one of the fantastic activities that are in the works. All are welcome to Men’s Club Board Meetings. The next is set for Tuesday August 4, 7 pm. And yes, a new Men’s Club TEC Cycling Club is still forming. Events will be announced soon. Please email if you’re interested. Get ready to roll! Shalom, Mark

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

Phyllis Dankberg, President, Women of TEC While still in our summer mode the Women of TEC have been diligently preparing for fall events. Each year the Women of Temple Etz Chaim publishes a High Holiday New Year Greeting Book and a High Holiday Book of Remembrance. On the cover of the books, we have selected artwork that enhances the theme of the books. For this year’s books we worked with the TEC Religious School and held an art contest that was held last spring. The WOTEC Board selected the winners of the contest, and you can look forward to seeing the artwork of Megan Welch a 6th grade student on the cover of the New Year Greeting Book. Liam Landes a 5th grade student won the back cover spot for the New Year Greeting Book. Highlighted on the front of The Book of Remembrance will be the artwork of Presley Pollack a 6th grade student. We had many talented students, and it was difficult to make a choice. Thank you to Joyce Bronstein who made it possible to showcase our talented artists.

Coming up: October 13th Torah Fund Ice Cream Social. This fundraiser helps with Scholarships for student Rabbis, Cantors and Jewish Educators. The Women of TEC is proud to support this very worthwhile program. November 15th Paid-Up Membership Luncheon. Everyone looks forward to this annual event, so save the date! These are just two of our kickoff events.

Heidi Birnbaum and Lindsay Halper, Trustees, Social Action Did you know that 1 in 4 people in Ventura County is struggling with food insecurity? These are our local friends and neighbors. That is why every month, TEC has a Feed the Hungry program which provides Harbor House with fully packed lunches and drinks for their community meal program. Beth Melin-Perel and Issie Perel organize and run this program for our temple, and they need our support. Each week, there is a link in the Shabbat Scoop email to sign up to donate items for these lunches. Please consider signing up. Items can be www.templeetzchaim.org

purchased online and can be delivered directly to Shane’s office. Anyone who is interested in helping pack the lunches for Harbor House can join us on the third Tuesday each month at 2:30, in the hallway right outside Spiegel Hall. Beth and Issie and their team having everything so well organized that the lunches are typically packed in less than 40 minutes. The next packing session is Tuesday, August 18th. We would love to see some new names and faces get involved in any part of this valuable program! Heidi and Lindsay

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

B’nai Mitzvah

Micah Simpson

August 29

Hi! My name is Micah Simpson, and I am an eighth grader at Lindero Canyon Middle School. I have attended TEC since the third grade and my grandparents have been members here for over 40 years. I am also fortunate to have grown my Judaism during my five amazing summers (and counting) at Camp Alonim. I enjoy playing football and baseball, and spending time with my dogs, Coco and Scout. I would like to thank my parents, my tutor Rivka Moscovitch, Rabbi Ari, Hazzan Noam, Joyce Bronstein, Cantor Kenny, and Toby Love for helping me in my Bar Mitzvah studies. I would also like to thank my little brother for always waiting right until I was studying my Torah portion to come bother me, and my sister for always throwing her squishies around... (like I get it, it’s a NeeDoh, but chill). As I become a Bar Mitzvah, I look forward to stepping into my role as a Jewish adult as my dad did here, at Temple Etz Chaim, and celebrating with my family, friends, and the TEC community.

Congratulations to the Schwager family on the birth of

Congratulations to the Bronstein family on the birth of

Emilia Rose Devine

Joseph Mills Bronstein

Parents: Rachel and Jacob Devine Grandparents: Nancy and Charles Schwager & Eve and Dr. Sean Devine

Parents: Kathryn and Jonathan Bronstein Grandparents: Joyce and Leo Bronstein & Jacqui and Jon Irwin

Born July 7, 2026

Born July 21, 2026

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

Community Garden & Bird Sanctuary

In Honor of Their Marriage Yan & Bella Spivak

Dunaier Music Fund

In Memory of Anne Lutzker John Lutzker

In Memory of David Isaac Cohen Fred Cohen In Memory of Arnold Landau In Memory of Eleanor Landau Gina Landau In Memory of Edith Weinberg Susan Solovy

Early Childhood Education Fund

In Memory of Courtney Maltz Eric Maltz In Memory of Joseph Futterman Gary & Bev Futterman

Elisa Feldman Memorial Religious School Scholarship Fund

In Memory of Sylvia Gilbard Steven Gilbard In Memory of Zavel Averbach Zane Averbach In Memory of Pearl Schwager Charles Schwager In Memory of Max Minarsky Robert Peisner

In Memory of Ralph Raye Pamela Katz

In Memory of Harry Treisman Robin Oberman

In Memory of Ben Zion Kulik Morry Kulik

In Memory of Faye Cohen Irwin & Ilene Barney

In Memory of Arthur Farbenbloom Sylvia Weiss

In Memory of Abraham Klapper In Memory of Sophie Schein Bonnie Goldenberg

In Memory of Jean O’Connor Laura Gilbard

In Honor of the Birth of Sam Braverman Myles & Gail Simpson In Memory of Penny Meth Merrill Goldenberg

Fienberg-Lerner Fund

In Memory of Samuel Jacob Slomowitz Larry Slomowitz

Hazzan Noam’s Disrectionary Fund

In Memory of Louis S. Farbenbloom In Memory of Arthur Farbenbloom Sylvia Weiss William & Cynthia Koepcke

In Memory of Terrill Oberman Robin Oberman In Memory of Harold Rose Glen & Ruth Rose In Memory of Ernest Solomon Marie Rubens

In Memory of Wally Michelson Barbara Shannon

Men’s Club Scholar-inResidence In Memory of Rona Kaufman Joel Shrater

Rabbi Averbach’s Discretionary Fund

In Memory of Irving Zwicker Joseph Zwicker In Memory of Norma Hammer In Memory of Rose Solomon Elliott & Lynne Smith In Memory of David Pfefferman Arthur Pfefferman

In Honor of Feed the Hungry for Harbor House Myles & Gail Simpson In Memory of Louis Rothman Bonnie Rothman In Honor of Feed the Hungry for Harbor House Perry & Susan Pierce

In Memory of Florence Greenberg Janis Leshnov

In Memory of Florence Goldfinger Robin Goldfinger In Memory of Harry Kramer Linda Natlin In Memory of Hyman Foster Sylvia Koppel In Memory of Regina Hime Koppel Richard Koppel

Kiddush Fund

In Memory of Phillip Bunkin In Memory of Mollie Bunkin In Memory of Dorann Bunkin Michael Bunkin

In Memory of Arnold Landau In Memory of Eleanor Landau In Memory of Shirley Neustadt Jay & Debra Levine

In Appreciation of Rabbi Averbach — Thank You! Edward & Andrea Norick

In Memory of Andrew “Bandi” Sabolch Judith Feldman

Lipnick RSSF

In Memory of Hanna Hayman Ann Hayman

In Memory of Ida Dell Janice Orlowski

William & Cynthia Koepcke

In Honor of the Birth of Sam Braverman In Memory of Faye Cohen William & Cynthia Koepcke

Social Action Fund

In Memory of Michael Goldberg In Memory of Mina Agranoff Eileen Sachs

Jotkowitz Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund In Memory of Henia Rutberg Barbara Nemet

In Memory of Melvin S. Wank David Wank In Memory of Sarah Ratzan Dawne Ratzan

In Appreciation of Rabbi Averbach Craig Pfefferman

In Memory of William Musiker William Jacobs & Marilynn Musikr Roth

Sandee Tischler Religious School Scholarship Fund

In Honor of Nomi Freed’s Special Birthday William & Cynthia Koepcke

In Memory of Gertrude Barney Irwin Barney

In Memory of Sam Freed Nomi Freed

Tributes

In Memory of Joan Darsa Susan Kane

Religious School Fund In Memory of Joan Darsa Susan Kane

In Memory of Beatrice Cohen Fred Cohen In Memory of Florence Goldfinger Robin Goldfinger In Memory of Eva Winer Mark Wolfson In Memory of Dr. David Zucker William & Cynthia Koepcke

Ritual Fund

In Memory of Fano Buttica Ciaccio Rebeccah Schwartz

Temple General Fund

In Memory of Luzer Finkelstein Reuben Finkelstein In Memory of Irving Kessler Gil Kessler In Memory of Mary Green William Green Memory of Ethel Lieberman Sheldon Malchicoff

Women of TEC

In Memory of Marilyn Zimmerman Shirley Lipkin

Women of TEC Scholarship Fund

In Memory of Elaine Schermerhorn Steve Schermerhorn

Women of TEC Torah Fund In Memory of Steven Seery Holly Seery

Dates to Remember

August SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

Samech at the Beach

Pre-Hagafen

Shabbat Yeladim Torah on the Trail: Hike & Havdalah

Tailgate Shabbat

24 30

Feed the Hungry Book Club via Zoom

Board Meeting

Micah Simpson Bar Mitzvah

31 August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

Birthdays & Anniversaries

August 1 Richard Quodomine Michelle Adelman Lorne Label Jenna Morad 2 Alexa Warren Kayli Finley Jonah Kierman Maya Schwartz Michael Hopstone Steven Rothman Hattie Wolf Rabbi Ari Averbach 3 Eric Isaacs Diana Rado Sarah Rosenblum Josh Lichtman Sarah Moskowitz Josh Greenbaum 4 Alexis Levin Holly Seery 5 Joshua Tobias Spencer Miller Elizabeth Chase Jacob Moskowitz Marie Rubens

11 Jeffrey Raskin Sara Abrams Evan Milhaupt Jeffrey Raskin Joseph Tischler Revital Goldreich 12 Dan Dankberg Mark Wolfson Milena Hampton Benjamin Jacobs Daniel Dankberg 13 Halston Landau Elissa Goodkin Neil Levine William Tenenbaum Dylan Javinsky 14 Mark Goldstein Tov Lutzker Robert Zuckerman Paige Averbach

6 Kate Wolfson Owen Ishibashi Dylan Wengler

15 Karen Levine Michael Malchicoff Nathan Sharon Marley Gabbai Tracy Kitzman Geoffrey Graham Lisa Jacobs Michael Zonshine Chloe Crown-Yuro

7 Mason Goldblatt Preston Shaffer Mishel Mendelson Joseph Weiss Hannah Axelrad Jonah Yuro

16 Lisa Warren Bonnie Goldenberg Jordan Roberts Penny Sterling Zinovy Gutman Gary Paller

8 Elizabeth Marks Eric Marks Joshua Braverman Max Evans Steven Friedman

17 Ethan Cohen

9 Justin Eakins 10 Lauren Kivowitz Kate Mauge Nathaniel Elkins Lynne Smith Bobbie Black Cooper Shrum Kayla Dugatkin

www.templeetzchaim.org

18 Amy Richman Nicolette Warren Azure Heirshberg Brian Smith 19 Rachel Carmona Saminh Greenberg Neil Ishibashi Ashley Hoisie Oren Hoisie Alexander Bugaisky Ariella Rutschman Steven Ormond

20 Robin Tuchman Noah Freeman Devorah Klein Michelle DeSalay David Kaye 21 William Koepcke 22 Emily Wolfson Jordan Bader Jonah Finley Nicholas Iscakis Shelley Kierman Georgina Sissman Noah Weintraub Joshua Sassoon 23 Jeffrey Landes Madilyn Domingo Steven Spielberg Meghann Morris Julie Jacobs Marc Breverman Randee Paller Mariano Dugatkin 24 Ryan Sanders Austyn Schwartz Sam Koutal Nathaniel Raphaely Alexis Gilbard Alisa Glickman Ryan Sanders 25 David Seery Sara Kaye 26 Michael David Bennett Waters Maverick Eakins Felicia Toporoff Glen Rose Kelly Fields-Meyer Gould 27 Sadie Bader Harriet Sarto Adam Tischler 28 Mitchell Glodowski Mila Fitch Robert Peisner Samuel Dugatkin

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

29 Danielle Wachs Larry Slomowitz Logan Nordahl Allison Gerin Benjamin Friedman Alan Whitman Martin Breverman Sara Lipkin Ethan Javinsky

1 Matthew & Heather Nordahl Jesse & Rachel Esqueda John & Evy Mc Cauley 2 Michael & Kate Mauge 4 David Munowitch & Emily Habib 5 Ronald & Rebecca Lascoe 8 Jason & Kimberly Bader Jason & Rebecca Fitch Marshall & Roni Rosen 10 Ronald Goldstein & Sybil Goldstein 14 Aaron Dem & Stacey Datnow Aaron Heirshberg & Theresa Heirshberg David & Anita Heber Mark & Pamela Katz 15 Ean & Phoebe Kleiger Steven & Merrill Kaminsky Dale & Cheryl Cohen 16 Michael & Karen Roberts Myles & Gail Simpson 17 Andrew & Susan Richman Noam & Lauren Hoffenberg Harvey & Linda Moskowitz 18 Lane & Sarah Nussbaum Lorne & Caryl Label

30 Jake Rutten Natalie Stock Phyllis Dankberg 31 Adam Barukh Adya Riss Jaymee Margolis Adam Garfinkle

19 Reuben & Francine Finkelstein Duncan & Shari Forsythe 21 Jonathan & Kathryn Bronstein Dalton Bush & Emily Bush Robert Sarto & Harriet Sarto David Wank & Tami Ratzan-Wank 22 Elad & Marni Goren Joshua & Austyn Schwartz 23 Eric & Elizabeth Marks Boris & Aami Gutman 25 Spencer & Erika Miller Adam & Lauren Kivowitz Nathan & Tiffany Tracy Neal & Andrea Arons Alan & Susan Flaschner 27 Joel & Harriet Shrater 28 Maximilien & Sophie Simon 30 Randall & Linda Hutchings Roee Rubinstein & Lei Zhuang 31 Jack & Hadar Dvir

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

Discover the Hidden Words

Spot 10 Differences

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

Color by Number

Find 2 matching jellyfish

www.templeetzchaim.org

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

The Mitzvah Committee is here to help... and remember your loved ones.

MEMORIAL RECEPTION Services offered by Women of TEC Mitzvah Committee

What to Expect We will be at your house a day or two before the funeral, or as time permits, for planning and any questions. We will arrive at your house half hour to one hour before you leave for the cemetery to receive any last-minute instructions. Our volunteers will be there to accept all deliveries and complete the set-up.

We will provide:

Family provides:

• Handwashing station to be set up outside, in front of the door, including water pitcher, paper towels, TV tray and trash bag • Hard-boiled eggs (12) • Challah, wine and mini wine cups • Large and small paper plates, napkins, and cutlery • Hot and cold cups • Ice cubes in a cooler • Large coffee maker, coffee, tea bags • Sugar, sweeteners, mocha mix • Large plastic trash bags

• Tablecloth, serving platters and utensils • Cold drinks, water bottles • Folding chairs

Have the deli/bakery deliver: • Platters of food, bread, salads, cakes, etc.

Special Instructions for the deli/bakery:

• Be sure to schedule these items to be delivered at the same time the funeral is scheduled to begin. • Remind them not to mix meat and dairy on the same platter.

To ask questions or make arrangements Contact the Temple Office at

805-497-6891 or inquire via email at Shiva@templeetzchaim.org After hours, please contact Roni Rosen at 818-585-9449

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

www.templeetzchaim.org

TEC Has a Hearing TEC Has a Hearing Assistance Network Assistance Network

Improve your hearing when Improve your hearing when being in services, using your being in services, using own smartphone and your own smartphone and or earbuds, headphones, earbuds, headphones, or compatible hearing aids. compatible hearing aids.

To Access the network, do the following: To Access the network, do the following: 1. Download the ListenWIFI app your app store or scan 1. from Download the ListenWIFI app the QR code from your app store or scan the QRyou code 2. When arrive at TEC, go to your settings and togo Wi-Fi 2. phone When you arrive at go TEC, to your connections. Scroll phone settings and down go to your Wi-Filist and select TEC Listen Everywhere connections. Scroll down your list and select TECis: Listen Everywhere 3. Password TEC24680! 3. Join Password is: TEC24680! 4. the network (Note: you will be to an internal Wi-Fi 4. connected Join the network (Note: you will be system, notto toan the internet) connected internal Wi-Fi system, not to the internet) 5. Open the ListenWIFI app 5. Open the ListenWIFI 6. If permission is asked app by app, please "Allow" 6. answer If permission is asked by app, please answer 7. Click on"Allow" the venue scan button 7. Click Click on on the the top venue scanof button 8. button the screen. connected tothe thescreen. 8. You Clickare on now the top button of hearing network. Please You are assistance now connected to the adjust volume on your phone to hearingthe assistance network. Please control thevolume sound in adjust the onyour yourears. phone to control the sound in your ears.

www.templeetzchaim.org

See more ads on page 28! Prices starting at

HEARING ASSISTANCE HEARING AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

$650 P.K. Video Production

Contact for quote

Preserving your special day forever—Quality beyond your expectation Weddings | Bar-Bat Mitzvah | and other special occasions

PETER KALISCH

Experienced cameraman for over 45 years Member Weve International International Photogragher Guild IATSE600

(818) 731-8726 pkvideo2000@hotmail.com

PKVIDEO.ORG

August 2026 | Av - Elul, 5786

Dental treatment from a compassionate team dedicated to quality and comfort. Our goal is to assist each patient in achieving and maintaining long-term oral health and a beautiful smile.

Vik Luthra, DDS, FICOI Nomi Isaacs Luthra, DDS 228 Lombard St, Suite B • Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

(805) 497-3726 | toaksdental.com

See more community ads on page 27!