ETZetera July 2025

J U LY 2 0 2 5

ISSUE 7

Inside This Issue

PAGE 4

PAGE 6

PAGE 10

Letters from our leaders

Updates from our community groups

Calendar of summer events

Contents 4

Letters From Our Leaders

Clergy

5

TEC Education

Rabbi Ari Averbach

6

TEC Community, Memorial Plaques & SCRIP

7

TEC Tributes

8

B’nai Mitzvah and Simcha

10

July Calendar

Staff

11

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Early Childhood Education Director Debbie Blumenthal

12

Upcoming Events

16

Memorial Reception Services

17

Memorial Leaf

18

Kids’ Corner

20 Support Our Community: Small Business Highlights

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

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

Board of Trustees President Felicia Toporoff

Vice President Dan Lubetkin

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

Immediate Past President Eric Feigenbaum Treasurer Arnie Blitstein Secretary Sarica Klein Trustee, Bingo Michael Roberts Trustee, Building and Grounds Steve Plotkin Trustee, Early Childhood Education Chad Hampton Trustee, Financial Consideration Neal Arons Trustee, Inclusion Paula Lefko Trustee, Membership Rachael Pugh Trustee, Personnel & Legal Affairs Josh Hopstone

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.

Trustee, Programming Evan Robichaud Trustee, Religion and Worship Cheryl Math Trustee, Religious Education Adya Riss Trustee, Security Paul Dryman Trustee, Social Action Pam Friedman Trustee, Rachel Carmona Trustee, Shira Soria President, Men’s Club Mark Goldstein President, Women of TEC Phyllis Dankberg & Elissa Lazarus 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 Shari Mark Past President, Board Member Wendy Margolis

www.templeetzchaim.org

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

3

Letters from Our Leaders Rabbi Ari Averbach

rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org On Friday night, I stood on the bimah listening to story after story from our congregants who went on March of the Living. I was moved, their words reminding me of my own trip six years ago walking from Auschwitz to Birkenau, saying Kaddish at Treblinka, looking through the enormous book of 4.3 million names of Jews whose lives were cut short by an authoritarian government.

Just 24 hours earlier, we got the news that Israel had begun its dismantling of Iran’s advanced nuclear arsenal, knowing that these days could drastically shape the future of Israel, the Middle East, and the world. Once again living in fear for what our enemies are capable of, though this time we have our own defense structure, stronger than ever before.

During services, two kids came up on the bimah to help lead services – their b’nai mitzvah just a few months away. I thought of Emil Fackenheim, a philosopher who was arrested on Kristallnacht and

placed in Sachsenhausen concentration camp. He escaped, lived an incredible life, and wrote a number of books. He is best known for his idea of the 614th Commandment.

The Torah, as you may know, has 613 mitzvot (sacred obligations, also know as commandments). Shabbat, holidays, how we treat each other — it is all covered in those 613 holy rules. Rabbi Fackenheim adds one more: not to let Judaism die. Not to give the Nazis a posthumous victory.

Sharing the bimah with people who bore witness to the Shoah’s atrocities, and then turning to two 12-year-olds, was a poignant moment. They were living proof that Judaism continues to thrive in Thousand Oaks – and the world – despite our awareness of all the horrors out there. And we vow to keep up our work so we can continue to thrive.

Benny Sommerfeld, Chaplain benny@templeetzchaim.org

Summer is here and with it the summer solstice. Many places around the globe make a big deal out of it, but not so in the US, at least not in SoCal. You might have noticed that Shabbat ends later and later.

We are having a couple of weeks where Havdalah is at 9 pm. With summer comes the travelling Minyan on Sunday mornings. We are away from the TEC campus and out in our community. Unlike the Israelites, who were wandering for 40 years in circles, we are set up with different locations for all the morning services. The office knows where we are so you can always find us on Sunday mornings.

Please, come and help us make a Minyan during the summer.

I hope you take time to relax or take a trip this summer, recharging your batteries. Spiritually we are entering a time of sadness, we are approaching the weeks of the first fast day 17 of Tammuz, the breach of the walls of Jerusalem. Three weeks later we commemorate Tisha

4

B’Av, the day when the two Temples were destroyed. However, it also marks the turning point where we have reached a spiritual low to start building us up, seven weeks, to enter a spiritual high, the High Holidays.

Enjoy the long days and beautiful evenings, spend time outside if the weather permits. Find time and a place to nurture your spiritual self. Be it the ocean, hiking trail, swimming pool, or together with family friends, grandchildren, whatever makes it special and spiritual.

I’d like to end my column by giving thoughts and prayer to Israel; Hashem, bring the hostages back home and protect all the population of Israel. Grant them shelter, peace and end the conflict.

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

TEC Education Debbie Blumenthal, Early Education Director debbieb@templeetzchaim.org

We are so excited to welcome all the early childhood parents and your little learners to a brand-new school year at Temple Etz Chaim Preschool and Infant Center! The first day of school is just around the corner – Monday, July 7th – and we cannot wait to see our classrooms filled with smiles, laughter, and curiosity.

Whether your child is returning or joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to partner with you in this exciting stage of early learning. Our teachers and staff have been busy preparing a warm, welcoming, and engaging environment where children can explore, grow, and thrive.

What’s Ahead this Year? We’ve planned a rich variety of handson activities and themed units that will spark imagination and

www.templeetzchaim.org

promote development in all areas including creative art, time adventures, sensory play, music and movement, outdoor play and exploration, and circle time learning.

During the summer, the children will enjoy waterplay, learning about famous artists, dress-up days and our favorite — Shabbat programs every Friday morning.

We plan on making this school year one to remember! If you are interested in learning more about our Infant Center or preschool program, feel free to contact me for a tour and I will be happy to answer any questions.

We hope everyone has a fun and safe summer!

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

5

TEC Community Phyllis Dankberg & Elissa Lazarus, Co-President, Women of TEC

WE NEED YOU! As summer will soon be settling in and school is over for most of the school districts, Women of TEC is working diligently on coming up with many exciting programs for 202526. Dates will be announced soon. We welcome any ideas or suggestions from you. We also have started organizing the High Holidays Greeting Book and Book of Remembrance.

Check the Scoop each week for the link where you can put your names for one or both publications that are given out each Rosh Hashanah. We had a very successful Bunco afternoon on June 8. If you would like to see more programs like that or a general Games Day or Night let us know.

Linda Hutchings, immediate Past President would like to teach

6

someone how to send out our Constant Contacts. She promises that it is not difficult and helps WOTEC keep in touch with its membership. Contact Elissa Lazarus or Phyllis Dankberg and we will put you in touch with Linda.

Come to an event, come to a WOTEC Board Meeting. Please get involved. You won’t regret it!!!

Please contact Co-Presidents Elissa Lazarus or Phyllis Dankberg.

We would love to hear from you. Wishing you all a great summer! elazarus@templeetzchaim.org

June 2025 | Sivan - Tamuz 5785

phyllis@templeetzchaim.org

www.templeetzchaim.org

Tributes Community Garden and Bird Sanctuary In Memory of Magda Chesnick Myrna Stelman

Dunaier Music Fund

In Honor of Hazzan Noam Fields-Meyer Gould’s Doctorate from UC Santa Barbara Nomi Freed In Memory of Fanny Buchbinder Frances Deutsch In Memory of Abe Weinberg Susan Solovy In Honor of Hazzan Noam Fields-Meyer Gould’s Doctorate from UC Santa Barbara Josh & Debbie Atlas

Early Childhood Education Fund

Men’s Club Scholar-in-Residence In Memory of Sue Shrater Joel Shrater

In Memory of Lillian Wexler Shirley Lipkin In Honor of Irwin Barney’s Birthday Marshall and Cindy Scherr

Men’s Club Silverstein Humanitarian Fund In Memory of Paul Chesnick Myrna Stelman

Rabbi Averbach’s Discretionary Fund In Memory of Rose Morris Elizabeth Groden

In Memory of Davood Moradian Nasser Moradian

In Memory of Evelyn Levin Joyce Goldberg

In Honor of Speedy Recovery for Mark Gumbiner Elissa Lazarus

In Memory of Morton Adler Joyce Goldberg

In Memory of William Winreb Robert & Betty Zonshine

Elisa Feldman Memorial Religious School Scholarship Fund

In Memory of Bob Wexler Robert & Betty Zonshine

In Honor of Hazzan Noam Fields-Meyer Gould’s Doctorate from UC Santa Barbara Les & Debbie Feldman

In Honor of Chaplain Benny Sommerfeld’s Ordination Les & Debbie Feldman In Honor of Irwin Barney’s Birthday Les & Debbie Feldman In Honor of Rabbi Richard Spiegel’s Birthday Les & Debbie Feldman

Fienberg-Lerner Chapel Minyan Fund In Memory of Andrew Fienberg Eileen Sachs

In Honor of Chaplain Benny Sommerfeld’s Ordination Alan & Susan Flaschner In Memory of Andrew Fienberg Harriet Adelstein In Honor of Chaplain Benny Sommerfeld’s Ordination Josh & Debbie Atlas

Jotkowitz Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund In Memory of Raymond Raskin Fred & Rebecca Raskin

Kiddush Fund

In Memory of Joe Futterman Gary Futterman In Memory of Joyce Caplan Shelly Armas Women’s League for Conservative Judaism In Appreciation of Rabbi Averbach Officiating Bob Berman’s Unveiling Ceremony Diane Berman In Memory of Yitzchak Saranga Rivka Moscovitch In Memory of William Groden Ronald Groden In Memory of Phyllis Naiman Sylvia Weiss In Appreciation of Rabbi Averbach for making our wedding so special Jeffrey & Evann Barash

Rabbi Spiegel’s Discretionary Fund In Honor of Rabbi Richard Spiegel’s Birthday Marshall and Cindy Scherr

Religious School Fund In Memory of Alenne Mayer Iris Antell

In Memory of Elisa Feldman Les & Debbie Feldman

In Memory of Michael Platt Fred & Rebecca Raskin

Lipnick RSSF

Ritual Fund

In Memory of Geraldine Janka Altenburg Myrna Stelman

In Honor of Chaplain Benny Sommerfeld’s Ordination Nomi Freed

Men’s Club

In Honor of Chaplain Benny Sommerfeld’s Ordination In Honor of Hazzan Noam Fields-Meyer Gould’s Doctorate from UC Santa Barbara Patricia Kaye

In Honor of Irwin Barbey’s Birthday Yaakov & Janice Orlowski

www.templeetzchaim.org

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

Social Action Fund

In Honor of Judy Gindi’s Birthday In Honor of David Shechter’s Birthday In Honor of Jack Gindi’s Birthday In Honor of Daniel & Susan Kane’s Anniversary In Honor of Dan & Lori Lubetkin’s Anniversary In Honor of Irwin & Ilene Barney’s Anniversary In Honor of Zvi & Yola Kalinski’s Anniversary Patricia Kaye In Memory of Sol Gleimer Ellen Hustead

Temple General Fund In Memory of Elsie Bayewitch Joseph & Phyllis Bayewitch In Memory of Bob Wexler Joseph & Phyllis Bayewitch In Honor of Liam Lefko’s Confirmation George & Susan Kaplan In Memory of Sheila Wallman David Schwartz In Memory of Maurice Benchimol Elaine Scully Marilyn Jorrie In Memory of Janice Elaine Levich Michelle Ferber In Memory of Benjamin Woods In Memory of Sol Anbinder Leon Woods In Memory of Rouhollah Safani Michael Safani In Memory of Abraham Freilich In Memory of Stanley Scherr Marshall Scherr In Honor of Irwin Barney’s Birthday Burt & Linda Lewensohn In Honor of Rabbi Richard Spiegel’s Birthday Yaakov & Janice Orlowski

Tribute Book

In Honor of HHD Greeting Book & Book of Remembrance Nomi Freed

Tzedakah Fund

In Memory of Marcus Kluber Lou Kluber

Women of TEC

In Memory of Malka Greenberg Larry and Nina Wallach

Women of TEC Torah Fund In Memory of Penny Neugroschl Cindy Scherr In Memory of Frieda Freilich Marshall Scherr

7

B’nai Mitzvah

Brielle Arons

July 12

Shalom! I am so excited for my bat mitzvah to finally be here. I have been working really hard to prepare for it, but I still find time to do many of the other things I love. My favorite activities are playing clarinet in the Redwood Marching Band, playing violin, taking care of my dog, cat, and chickens, playing soccer and basketball, going to 4H, and baking! I am entering 8th grade at Redwood Middle School and am looking forward to an awesome summer. I’d like to thank all of those at TEC who have helped make my bat mitzvah a reality, as well as my grandparents for their love and uber service to temple every week, and my family for their constant support. I look forward to continuing my education at TEC through confirmation after my bat mitzvah.

Congratulations to the Wallach family on the birth of

Theo Rowan Wallach Ferdowsian Born on May 23, 2025 Parents: Rachel Wallach & Carin Ferdowsia Grandparents: Nina & Larry Wallach Laura Wiseman & Barry Rubinoff Linda & Fred Ferdowsian

8

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

Honors

Mazel Tov to

Benny Sommerfeld and

Myles Simpson

on their well-deserved honors from the Federation of Jewish Men’s Club

Benny lives up to the ideals of Gemilut Hasidim in all he does.

Myles continues to be a leader of the highest caliber.

Both are dugma’ot for TEC, FJMC and beyond.

We love you and appreciate you.

www.templeetzchaim.org

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

9

Dates to Remember

July SUN

6

MON

7

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

1

2

3

4

5

8

9

10

11

12 Brielle Arons Bat Mitzvah

13

14

20

27

Men’s Club BBQ & Planning Meeting

10

15

16

17

18

21

22

23

24

25

28

29

30

31

Feed the Hungry Book Club via Zoom

Board Meeting

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

19

Havdalah in Nature

26

www.templeetzchaim.org

Birthdays & Anniversaries

July

Birthdays 1 Matthew Furniss Andrea Gero David Graham Alex Irvin Solomon Rosenblatt Tami Ratzan-Wank 2 Isabelle Ishibashi Ayla Lubetkin Terri Zwicker 3 Alexander Corona Reuben Finkelstein Benjamin Gorney Jonathan Melin Chad Stephen Nicole Shterenberg Daniela Weintraub 4 Micah Gutman Ilana Ormond 5 Brayden Loewith 6 Ruby Wasserman Andrea Norick Mark Gero Gary Katz Noah Lazarus Kira Hampton Cindy Rosenfeld Maya Tenenbaum 7 Nicole Malone 8 Scarlett Arons Sophie Berman Jane Dankberg Talia Gorney Sandi Israel Michael Schwartz 9 Channie Amato Daniel Kahn Elijah Schein 10 Adena Hartstein Larry Irvin Rachel Katz Gina Loewith Rebecca Shanbrom Renie Schoenkerman Lisa Silverstein 11 Jayson Hill Michael Kaminsky Stephanie Shipow Micah Simpson www.templeetzchaim.org

12 Melissa Cohen Randall Hutchings Benjamin Math Robert Solovy Kason Speer Brinley Torgan Shayna Weiss 13 Andrew Cohen Leslie Field Nomi Freed Benjamin Goren Lucy Hoffmann Theodore Kraus 14 Jack Abrams Molly Friedman Noah Gerin Jennifer Gill Lorie Hampton Brian Mitchell Bradley Rosenblum Jordan Robinson Cindy Scherr Steven Tenenbaum 15 Andrew Lurie Lee Simowitz Andrea Sklar 16 Robin Berman Susan Flaschner Phoebe Good Nathan Halper Ryan Rosen Michael Vener 17 Hannah Chase Aden Kass Jessica Lerner Tamara Lieber Jeffrey Prince Larisa Sassoon Rochelle Simoni 18 June Bean Craig Brogan Lisa Elkins Marc Firestone Emily Freedman Rebecca Lyons Joel Volk 19 Emerson Domingo Wyatt Golden Revi Goren

20 Adam Gerstel Orly Spielberg 21 Maya David Lee Forman Itzhak Kalinski Sarica Klein Caleb Stokols 22 Deborah Atlas Shiloh Finley Dylan Sanders 23 Jason Gorowitz Arlo Herrera Jacqueline Rosenblatt Noah Slomowitz 24 Zachary Byer Ilan Cedillos Brian Goss Sharon Seiden Ethan West 25 Zachary Benjamin Mia Carroll Alexander Edgar Marissa Sommerfeld 27 Isaiah Bowens Gary Futterman Sascha Golove Jordan Gluckman 28 Nathan Dvir Melinda Garabedian Daniella Hodeda Brian Sachs Martha Simoni Ian Simpson Ellen Smith Rickie Whitman

1 Dan & Jane Dankberg 3 Alex & Leora Hettena Joshua & Michelle Hopstone Aaron & Alyssa Kass Jeffrey & Cheryl Math 4 Michael & Toby Hopstone Adya & JoAnne Riss 5 Mark & Heidi Birnbaum Lester & Wendy Halpert 6 David & Zack Futterman Jeremy & Melissa Scharf 7 Richard & Marion Lessman Sheldon & Susan Malchicoff Benny & Benny Sommerfeld 8 Jerrald & Deborah Cohen 9 Eric & Janis Sterling 10 Robert & Nicole Malone Ian & Felicia Toporoff 11 Mika & Gilead Raday 12 Garret Blutter & Jennie Winderlich Adam & Melissa Spiegelman 13 Robert & Dorothy Charnaw Daniel & Elissa Goodkin Michael & Jennifer Lysobey 15 Kevin & Maureen Axelrad Michael & Carrie Carroll Adam & Mindy Garfinkle 16 Brian & Wendy Goodkin 17 Daniel & Shira Soria

29 Lynn Freeman Mylah Hill

18 David & Claudine Marx

30 Neal Arons Brianna Abrams Natalie Cohen Stacey Datnow Marc Elson

22 Donald & Carolyn Zimring

31 Jasper Heirshberg Jacob Roberts Alice Spiegelman Mila Weiner

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

21 Nathaniel & Lisa Elkins

24 Jeffrey & Dorlee Rinkov 25 Aaron Schein & Rita Krane 27 Steven & Laura Gilbard 31 Jeffrey & Beverly Adler

11

12

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

www.templeetzchaim.org

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

13

14

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

www.templeetzchaim.org

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

15

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

16

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

www.templeetzchaim.org

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

17

Discover the Hidden Words

Spot 10 Differences

18

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

Color by Number

Find 2 matching jellyfish

www.templeetzchaim.org

July 2025 | Tammuz - Av 5785

19

Prices starting at

$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