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THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF

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T H I S

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SOME EXCITING NEWS FOR TEC PAGE 6 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY PAGE 8 TEST YOUR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF JUDAISM PAGE 15

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THIS MONTH'S SPOTLIGHT IN HONOR OF YOU READ MORE ON PAGE 8

3. 4. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 16.

Letters From Our Leaders TEC's February Calendar Exciting News for TEC TEC Education and Simchas In Honor of You TEC Community Get to Know: TEC Board MYSTERY PHOTO MATCH 'EM UP by Ron Goldstein TEC Tributes ETZ-ITING EVENTS Community Partners

CLERGY Rabbi Rabbi Rabbi Rabbi

Ari Averbach Intern Rachel Simmons Emeritus Richard Spiegel Emeritus Shimon Paskow

STAFF Executive Director Gideon Manzur ECE Director Debbie Blumenthal Religious School Director Joyce Bronstein Youth & Programming Director Cindy Goldberg ECE Assistant Director Kathy Sharp Program/Events Coordinator Shane Silverstein Accounts Receivable Jessica Jacoby Marketing Assistant Alex Steinhauer Clergy Assistant Jill Rosenberg

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Shari Mark Executive Vice President Eric Feigenbaum Treasurer David Yodkovik Corresponding Secretary Elissa Lazarus Financial Secretary Wendy Margolis* Recording Secretary Beth Meyer VP, Building and Grounds Larry Slomowitz VP, Communications Dan Lubetkin VP, Early Childhood Education Joe Zwicker VP, Membership Jennifer Elson VP, Personnel/Legal Tom Milhaupt VP, Religion & Worship Benny Sommerfeld VP, Religious School Education Felicia Toporoff VP, Social Action Judy Gindi VP, Youth Ilana Sweet Trustee, Adult Education Sherri Finn-Werber* Trustee, Bingo Marshall Scherr* Trustee, Outreach Mark Goldstein Trustee, Strategic Planning Terri Zwicker President, Mens Club Colin Pullan President, Women of TEC Cindy Scherr Past President, Board Member Gary Katz Past President, Board Member Myles Simpson *Past President

LETTERS FROM LEADERS RABBI ARI AVERBACH When I finished Rabbinical School, Rabbi Noah Farkas said that I was now ready to be a student. I found this off-putting, as I had just spent the previous five years swimming in a sea of Talmud, learning parts of our religion, history and peoplehood that I previously had not known even existed. I wrote a capstone paper that earned plaudits, after countless essays and exams. How could I only be ready to be a student now?! And yet, I quickly learned, one of the best parts of my job is to constantly be a student. I still study - not for a test or to prepare for a presentation, just to learn.

As a community, we have built strength upon strength to propel us forward to where we are today. It hasn’t always been easy or linear, for every step back we’ve taken, we’ve taken multiple steps forward. So much of our success has come from past presidents and their boards and volunteers.

Most of the time, my learning is informal - me, book, pencil. Sometimes it is in hevruta - me, book, pencil, friend. Rarely is it in a formal setting - me, articles, zoom conferences, breakout rooms.

As I grew up, my literary tastes changed, but the attraction of libraries and bookstores never ceased: Neil Gaiman, R.A. Salvatore, N.K. Jemisin, and Octavia Butler became familiar, friendly names I could turn to and find refuge in, no matter what was going on in "real" life.

I learned beautiful Jewish texts; I learned new ways to tackle problems; I learned tactics in leadership. But mostly I learned from my colleagues that, compared with the national landscape, Etz Chaim is doing very well. We are thriving. It was great learning!

But recently, this is what I did. Through the national program Clergy Leadership Incubator, I got the opportunity to learn with colleagues from across the country, and to begin to develop new ideas for TEC.

smark@templeetzchaim.org

This wave of success continues to our present board members and volunteers whose commitments of time and energy are unwavering. The momentum continues to our professional staff and clergy whose commitments to TEC know no bounds and culminates to you, the congregation who support TEC financially and to everyone who shows up and engages whenever and wherever possible. As we continue to build and move TEC to it’s next exciting chapter(s), let us focus on all that we share, because as the commonly quoted saying goes, "We've got more in

RABBI RACHEL SIMMONS One of the greatest gifts my parents ever gave me was a love of the written word. When I was little, my bookshelves were full of riches for the imagination: Brian Jacques' Redwall series, the Boxcar children, Berenstain Bears, and Shel Silverstein. I could spend entire afternoons immersed in the pages of these tales, and I read my favorites over and over.

rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org

Maybe I will teach it, but more likely, it will change me. I immerse myself in the learning because I truly love that I am still growing.

SHARI MARK, PRESIDENT On a recent Peloton ride, the instructor said, multiple times, “your commitment is your strength.” These five words stayed with me, even in my sleep, I kept hearing and processing those words and finally I realized I had my inspiration for this article.

common than we think,” we share our love of and commitment to TEC, once again building upon our many strengths. Your support and commitment nourish me, keep me energized, propelling me to everyday be a better version of myself. So to my family of families, I thank you and remind you that inspiration can be found in sometimes odd or unusual places. So keep an open mind and who knows what or where your next inspiration will be?

rachels@templeetzchaim.org

When school or work got to be too stressful, I could fly with dragons in Anne McCaffery and Ursula K. LeGuin's fantastical universes. When the stories on the news got scary, I could battle evil alongside unassuming Hobbits from Tolkein's Shire. Through this lens, it is unsurprising that I was so drawn to a Jewish way of life, because to be a Jew is to be bound up in an epic, unending narrative. Ours is a people that has criss-crossed thousands of miles, faced down unimaginable odds, survived wars and slavery, and emerged from the other side full of wisdom, spirited debate, and delicious brisket recipes. Ours is a story that, if we allow it,

will take root in our hearts and never die: a story of creation, of challenge, of conundrums, of miracles. As we dive into a new year of life, I would invite us all to try and reopen ourselves to our Torah, our liturgy, and our Jewish identity in the same way we open ourselves to the secular books and shows that also shape who we are. Become familiar with the characters. Get emotionally invested in the plot. And who knows, if you get really into it you might even write some fan fiction-- or as the rabbis like to call it, "Midrash". Enjoy!

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT 5

PARSHA: TERUMAH

HEBREW READING ADULT ED PROGRAM

FEEDING THE HUNGRY

12 ADAM MORGENSTERN'S BAR MITZVAH

PARSHA: TETZAVEH

HEBREW READING ADULT ED PROGRAM

BINGO

GUEST SPEAKER

TEC BOOK CLUB

WORLD WIDE WRAP

REENA HETTENA'S BAT MITZVAH

ECE SHABBAT DINNER TO-GO FUNDRAISER

PARSHA: KI TISA

SUMMER CAMP FAIR

HEBREW READING ADULT ED PROGRAM

PRESIDENT'S DAY THE TEMPLE OFFICE & ECE ARE CLOSED

MONTHLY MITZVAH WEDNESDAY

BINGO

BOARD MEETING

CSC CANDIDATE VISIT WEEKEND RELIGIOUS SCHOOL SHABBAT DINNER TO-GO FUNDRAISER

PARSHA: VAYAK'HEL

26 CSC CANDIDATE VISIT WEEKEND

Weekly

SCHEDULE at

HOME

WE HAVE A PASSION FOR OUR EVENTS IN FEBRUARY AT TEC PAGE 14

TEC IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE...

CINDY GOLDBERG AS OUR NEW YOUTH DIRECTOR & PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR

VISITING CLERGY CANDIDATE

WEEKEND FEB 25-27

THE CLERGY SEARCH COMMITTEE IS HOSTING HAZZAN DANIEL FRIEDMAN COME MEET OUR FIRST CANDIDATE!

TEC EDUCATION DEBBIE BLUMENTHAL February 2022 will bring four weeks of nonstop fun around TEC’s ECE Center. During the next four weeks, we will be celebrating our 100th day of school, Groundhog Day, Presidents Day, Chinese New Year and - toward the end of February we will begin to introduce the fun Jewish holiday of Purim. We are also going to celebrate a fun “Twos-day” in February as we celebrate 2/02/2022… on a Tuesday! The children are taking care of their seeds that were planted on Tu

B’Shevat and watching the sprouts pop up. Hopefully we have a good crop of parsley by the time Pesach arrives. The spurts of rain and sunshine are helping. As we have for the past two years, we are all doing our best to minimize risk and exposure to COVID-19. The health and safety of our children, staff and community are a high priority. We are all doing our part by wearing upgraded masks, social distancing, keeping our

JOYCE BRONSTEIN After our seventh-grade students become B'nai Mitzvah, I am so proud to see them return to the classroom to complete their seventh-grade year. The majority of our Religious School graduates continue their Jewish education in TEC's Confirmation Program. One of the highlights of my week is to see our teenagers each Monday night in grades 8-10 study, discuss and socialize. The first hour is a core class with a specific curriculum for each grade. The second hour consists of elective choices.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION DIRECTOR

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DIRECTOR

As part of the Confirmation Program, TEC hosts Dinner Seminars throughout the year, in which guest lecturers present diverse and fascinating topics. Parents and students are invited to share and learn together. Rabbi Averbach teaches our 11th and 12th graders. Many important and sensitive topics are discussed in his class. Rabbi tries to address issues that are on our students’ minds. As our students begin their college years, they can fall back on the

debbieb@templeetzchaim.org

classroom cohorts separate, eating meals outdoors and staying home when we are not feeling well. We tremendously appreciate the support of all the parents and staff at TEC who are helping us. Registration for the 2022-23 school year begins this month. If you are interested in getting more information about any of our ECE programs, please feel free to contact me!

joyce@templeetzchaim.org values and insights that he provides. I hope that our children are inspired to cherish their Jewish experiences throughout their lifetime. With encouragement and a positive attitude, we can strengthen our children's Jewish identity and, ultimately, the Jewish community. As they leave our school, I hope they will feel Judaism in their hearts and know that Temple Etz Chaim will always be there for them. We love our students!

B'NAI MITZVAH

Whether you have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah or a little bundle of joy on the way, please let us know so our entire community can share in the celebration. Send all simcha information to communications@templeetzchaim.org

SHARE THE LOVE

JUDY GINDI

VP, SOCIAL ACTION socialaction@templeetzchaim.org A belated thank you to everyone who participated in the 2021 Adopt-a-Family program. It was truly an exceptional year in so many ways and you each made a difference in many local families’ lives. Our donations - and number of donors were surpassed beyond our wildest imagination! We are proud to let you know that with your help, we provided holiday gifts for 42 local Meals on Wheels seniors, all living alone. We additionally donated $2,500 to help Meals on Wheels with their continuous Covid programs. We provided gifts for 75 low-income children and their parents through Many Mansions. We donated over $3,000 in gift cards to Harbor House for the homeless as well as adopting a few of their neediest families. We delivered all of these gifts with eager and helpful volunteers from TEC. Through your generosity, this was our greatest year to date!

CINDY SCHERR

PRESIDENT, WOMEN OF TEC (WOTEC) womenoftec@templeetzchaim.org February already! WOTEC is busy planning spring activities, including our rescheduled Sharsheret evening. As soon as we have dates, we will pass them on to you – please be watching for information! We will be working on our camp scholarships for our kids -- the applications will be on the TEC website soon. We are in the process of selecting a slate of officers for the WOTEC board for the 2022-2023 year. If you are interested in being on our board and taking an active part in WOTEC, please contact me. We are always looking for volunteers! You can also be a part of WOTEC by serving on a committee, working in our Judaica Shop or helping to plan activities. Again, please let me know if you are interested.

We hope you were happy you participated and we look forward to next year’s event when we can thank each of you in person.

Our Judaica Shop is available to you for all your needs, whether you need to purchase a kippah and tallit for a B’Nai Mitzvah, a baby or wedding gift, or something for yourself! Because of COVID, our shop is only open by appointment. We will meet you at your convenience.

Sending gratitude and good health, Judy Gindi and Robyn Zimmet

Please feel free to contact me at any time. I look forward to hearing from you!

GET TO KNOW

OUR ONGOING SERIES OF INTROS TO

MEMBERS OF THE TEC BOARD

BETH MEYER RECORDING SECRETARY

MEMBER SINCE 2011

What I do: I record all minutes at each Board Meeting, and send them out to all Board Members after the meeting. The Minutes are voted on and confirmed at each Meeting. Originally from: Long Island, New York. I grew up in Plainview. My Occupation: I'm a Social Worker, but haven't worked in the field for many years. I currently work part time for my brother's dental office. My Family: I've been married for 27 years to my husband, Scott. We have 2 daughters, Hannah is 22 and Emily is 18 years old. When I'm not at TEC, you can find me: Relaxing with friends and catching up on all the TV shows I've missed!

Favorite Movie: Airplane! Favorite TV Show: This Is Us Favorite Musician/Band: The Police; Sting; Phil Collins; Billy Joel Favorite Jewish Holiday: Sukkot & Purim

david yodkovik

MEMBER SINCE 1996

TREASURER

What I do: My overall responsibility is to ensure the financial responsibility of TEC. Specifically, I oversee the accounting activity, cash control, cash forecasting, budgeting and the banking relationships of TEC. Originally from: Kibbutz Kfar Giladi, located in the Northern Galilee in Israel. Occupation: Chief Financial Officer My Family: I met my late wife, Leila, in Israel in 1969. We moved to the US in 1971. We have two kids, Naomi and Eitan. I just recently remarried to Michell Orkin and we currently reside in Northridge. When I'm not at TEC, you can find me: Hiking and Golfing Favorite Movie: The Godfather Favorite TV Show: Jeopardy Favorite Musician/Band: Mumford & Sons Favorite Jewish Holiday: Hanukkah

from the TEC vault

Here's our February 2022 Photo

Kids in Go Karts?? Where - and when - was this?

If you recognize someone in this photo or know the story behind it, please let us know!

More on our November 2021 Photo! Myrna Stelman writes:

"Harvey Dunaier was our resident accordion player for all festive Temple occasions for many years... Avi & Jack Kaya are pictured in the back."

And lots of information on our January 2022 Photo! Joyce Bronstein writes:

"The picture location is the School building rotunda (as it was built). The Kane Community Center was operational, and we were using these rooms while they built the school building. Both buildings were attached, although they were completed a few years apart. Everyone is looking up because the beams form The Star of David. I love this location because the Star is embracing all who walk in. Pictured: Dave Munowitch & Emily Habib, Esther Pullan, Lynne & Elliott Smith, Marcey & Buzz Schoenkerman and Jay Mangel."

Many additional thanks to Elisa Robichaud who recognized her parents in the Photo! SEND YOUR COMMENTS & MEMORIES TO COMMUNICATIONS@TEMPLEETZCHAIM.ORG

Match em up! WE'VE HEARD THEM BEFORE SCORE DEPENDS ON WHICH YOU KNOW

ALL CORRECT

HONORARY RABBI

10 CORRECT

ASST. HONORARY RABBI

9 CORRECT

HONORARY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

8 CORRECT

HONORARY BOARD MEMBER

7 OR LESS CORRECT

IT'S OK - WIKIPEDIA AWAITS

1. MAGILLA

A. The primary source of Jewish religious law and theology

2. HEBREW BIBLE

B. Printed Torah (not a scroll), from the word for Five

3. CHUMASH

C. Rabbinical analysis of the Mishnah

4. TORAH

D. Torah, Writings, Profits

5. GAMORA

E. An acronym derived from the names of the three divisions

6. HALACHA

F. Rabbinic interpretation of the Bible

7. TALMUD (Mishna plus Gamora)

G. Oral Torah, from about 1,800 years ago

8. MIDRASH

H. A scroll with the Five Books of Moses

9. MISHNA

I. The third division of the Hebrew Bible; Writings

10. TANAKH (of the Hebrew Bible)

J. Jewish religious laws derived from the written Oral Torah

11.KETUVIM

K. Hebrew word for Scroll

Word Match Provided by Ron Goldstein

ANSWERS: 1K, 2D, 3B, 4H, 5C, 6J, 7A, 8F, 9G, 10E, 11I

Barbara & Harvey Scherr Memorial Fund In Memory of Louis Bigley and Leon Noel Blaugrund Ferne Blaugrund Dr. Ruth Kaplan Religious School Scholarship Fund In Memory of Frances Paller Jessica Dennis Dunaier Music Fund In Memory Lucille Deutsch Frances Deutsch Early Childhood Education Fund In Memory of Ronnie Greenberg Scott Blumenthal Elisa Feldman Memorial Religious School Scholarship Fund In Memory of Pinney Kanter Mara Levin In Memory of Frances Paller Nomi Freed Les & Debbie Feldman In Memory of Eugene Feldman Les & Debbie Feldman Feeding the Hungry for Harbor House Susan Pierce Jotkowitz Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund In Honor of The Pullan Family Alan Horwitz In Memory of Bobbie Eisenstadt Harvey Kern Kol Nidre Appeal In Memory of Frances Paller Linda and Carl Friedlander Lipnick Religious School Scholarship Fund In Memory of Anny and Jim Levin Barbara Shannon In Memory of Murray Goldberg Susan Goldberg In Memory of Jacob Stelman Myrna Stelman In Memory of Clara Stockell Bonnie Rothman Men's Club Scholar-in-Residence Fund In Honor of David & Rachel Carmona On the Birth of Their Son Gary Katz In Memory of Jack Treger Shirley Lipkin Melton School In Honor of Linda Hyman's 80th Birthday Barbara Anik Laura-Beth Sholkoff Men's Club Silverstein Humanitarian Fund In Memory of Bella Lewin Varkel Frank Lewin

Rabbi Averbach's Discretionary Fund In Memory of Frances Paller Rivka Moscovitch In Memory of Paul Anik Barbara Anik In Memory of Phyllis Lipson Cynthia Urbach In Memory of Bernard Isidore Becker Marc and Michelle Tuchman

Temple General Fund In Memory of Sofia Roisman Weinstein and Rebecca Weinstein Cornelio Sofia Kobrin In Memory of Morris Kanner The Estate of Allen Kanner In Memory of Sandor Nemet John Nemet

In Memory of Ann Rudman Ronald Rudman

In Honor of Alan and Susan Flaschner's 80th Birthday Marilyn and Norman Braveman Ann and Bill Millman

In Memory of Robert Lichtmann Martin Lichtmann

In Memory of Sidney Green William Green

In Memory of Morris Reiser Betty Reiser

In Memory of Aristides Saiez Rebeccah Schwartz

In Memory of Herman David Crane Linda Kulik

In Memory of Pauline Herskovits Eva Liebman

In Memory of Fannie Sturman Martin Sturman

In Memory of Bela Kalinski The Kalinski Family

In Memory of Leona Sachs David Sachs

Tzedakah Fund In Memory of Otilia Kellerman Rita Kovar

In Honor of Ruth Schoenwald and Evelyn Dubinsky Jeff Schoenwald In Appreciation of Rabbi Averbach Martin & Renee Jourdan In Honor of Sybil Goldstein Barbara Unger In Memory of Frances Sarah Ratzan Jerome Ratzan In Honor of Liam Lefko's Bar Mitzvah Paul and Paula Lefko Religious School Fund In Memory of Frances Paller Rivka Moscovitch Ellen Zucker

USY Youth & Scholarship Fund In Memory of Pinchos Smith Andy Smith In Memory of Jane Spitzer Sidney Barnett In Honor of Liam's Bar Mitzvah Paul and Paula Lefko In Memory of Cecil Moll Francine Finkelstein Women of TEC Torah Fund In Memory of Maurice Samson Donald Samson

HTNOM SIHT

STNEVE GNITI-ZTE

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