ETZetera July 2026 FINAL

J U LY 2 0 2 6

ISSUE 7

Inside This Issue

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PAGE 8

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Letters from our leaders

Updates from our community groups

Congrats to our B’nai Mitzvah

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Letters From Our Leaders

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TEC Education

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TEC Community

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B’nai Mitzvah and Simchas

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July Calendar

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Birthdays and Anniversaries

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TEC Tributes

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Upcoming Events

22 End of Life Care and Planning 23 Learn About the Ezra Network 24 Kids’ Corner 26 Memorial Receptions Available 27

Memorial Plaques & Digital Memorial Library

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Hearing Assistance Network

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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 Debbie Blumenthal 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

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 Pam Friedman 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

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Rabbi Ari Averbach

rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org

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

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Dan Lubetkin, President dan@templeetzchaim.org

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Benny Sommerfeld, Chaplain benny@templeetzchaim.org

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Joyce Bronstein, Religious School Director joyce@templeetzchaim.org

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Keri Loventhal, Early Education Director Keri@templeetzchaim.org

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Mark Goldstein, President, Men’s Club

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Phyllis Dankberg, President, Women of TEC ¯ °

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Pam Friedman, Trustee, Social Action

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Lindsay Halper

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Heidi Birnbaum

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Ryan Gelfound

July 11

Hello, my name is Ryan Gelfound, and I am advancing to the 8th grade at Medea Creek Middle School. I have been a part of Temple Etz Chaim since the 3rd grade. I am enrolled in the Agoura baseball league and enjoy other sports such as basketball and football, which I play occasionally. Over the summer, I am planning on getting involved in martial arts or boxing and participating in various camps to pursue outdoor experiences. Additionally, I will take part in spending time with family and friends during the summer. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge all the people who have helped me through my journey of becoming a Bar Mitzvah. Starting with my dad and mom for giving me the opportunity and confidence to achieve this milestone. I would also like to mention my brother, who always makes me laugh, and my Religious School teachers, who taught me what it means to be a Bar Mitzvah. I would finally like to thank Hazzan Noam, Cantor Kenny, Rabbi Averbach, Joyce, and Rivka, who guided me along the way, teaching me the necessary prayers to become a Bar Mitzvah. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without all of you, and I’m really grateful for your support.

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Congratulations to the Spiegel/Braverman family on the birth of

Sam William Braverman Born April 24, 2026 Parents: Katie Hawkins and Joshua Braverman Siblings: Sophie Jane Braverman Grandparents: Linda and Rabbi Richard Spiegel & Rebecca and Doug Braverman & Michelle and Joe Hawkins Aunts and Uncles: Lisa and Grant Pickering & Maia Jachimowitz and Jeremy Spiegel & Alyssa and Brian Spiegel

Congratulations to the Cedillos family on the birth of

Benjamin Eli Cedillos Estrada Born May 28 2026 Parents: Temple members, Nicolette Estrada and Ilan Cedillos Sibling: Felipe Grandparents: Gail Seidman and Raphael Cedillos & Carmen Rios and Flavio Estrada Aunt: Michael Cedillos

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July

Samech Brunch

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Men’s Club Scotch, Steak & Torah

Pre-Hagafen

Happy July 4th!

Pre-Hagafen

Ryan Gelfound Bar Mitzvah

Pre-Hagafen Village Klezmer Band

Feed the Hungry Book Club via Zoom

Board Meeting

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Pre-Hagafen

Pre-Hagafen

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1 Andrea Gero David Graham Alex Irvin Tami Ratzan-Wank Solomon Rosenblatt 2 Isabelle Ishibashi Charlotte Lovi Ayla Lubetkin Terri Zwicker 3 Alexander Corona Reuben Finkelstein Jenifer Ludwick Jonathan Melin Nicole Shterenberg Daniela Weintraub 4 Micah Gutman Kimberly Lovi Ilana Ormond 5 Robert Gravich Brayden Loewith 6 Mark Gero Kira Hampton Gary Katz Noah Lazarus Andrea Norick Cindy Rosenfeld Maya Tenenbaum 7 Archie Kaiser-Durkee 8 Scarlett Arons Sophie Berman Jane Dankberg Sandi Israel Michael Schwartz 9 Channie Amato Elijah Schein 10 Adena Hartstein Larry Irvin Rachel Katz Gina Loewith Renie Schoenkerman Rebecca Shanbrom Lisa Silverstein Flora Solomon 11 Karen Gold Jayson Hill Michael Kaminsky Stephanie Shipow Micah Simpson

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

20 Shaya Allsbrook Adam Gerstel Jay Klarnet Ronen McDole Orly Spielberg

July

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 Alden Rutschman Noah Slomowitz Gil Tobias 24 Zachary Byer Ilan Cedillos Brian Goss Ella Hoffenberg Sharon Seiden Ethan West 25 Zachary Benjamin Mia Carroll Alexander Edgar Marissa Sommerfeld 27 Gary Futterman Jordan Gluckman Sascha Golove 28 Nathan Dvir Melinda Garabedian Brian Sachs Martha Simoni Ian Simpson Ellen Smith Rickie Whitman 29 Lynn Freeman Mylah Hill Tiffany Tracy 30 Brianna Abrams Neal Arons Natalie Cohen Stacey Datnow Cullen Rose 31 Jasper Heirshberg Zoe Moon Jacob Roberts Mila Weiner

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1 Dan & Jane Dankberg 3 Joshua & Michelle Hopstone Jeffrey & Cheryl Math 4 Adya & JoAnne Riss Michael & Toby Hopstone 5 Lester & Wendy Halpert Mark & Heidi Birnbaum 6 David & Zack Futterman Jeremy & Melissa Scharf 7 Mitchell & Fay Glodowski Sheldon & Susan Malchicoff Richard & Marion Lessman Benny & Irma Sommerfeld 8 Jerrald & Deborah Cohen 9 Eric & Janis Sterling 10 Ian & Felicia Toporoff 12 Garret Blutter & Jennie Winderlich 13 Michael & Jennifer Lysobey Daniel & Elissa Goodkin Robert & Dorothy Charnaw 15 Michael & Carrie Carroll Adam & Mindy Garfinkle Kevin & Maureen Axelrad 16 Brian & Wendy Goodkin 18 David & Claudine Marx 21 Nathaniel & Lisa Elkins 22 Donald & Carolyn Zimring 24 Jeffrey & Dorlee Rinkov 25 Aaron Schein & Rita Krane 27 Steven & Laura Gilbard 31 Jeffrey & Beverly Adler

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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

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TEC Has a Hearing TEC Has a Hearing Assistance Network Assistance Network Improve your hearing when being in services, using your own smartphone and earbuds, headphones, or compatible hearing aids.

To Access the network, do the following: 1.

Download the ListenWIFI app from your app store or scan the QR code 2. When you arrive at TEC, go to your phone settings and go to Wi-Fi connections. Scroll down your list and select TEC Listen Everywhere 3. Password is: TEC24680!

4. Join the network (Note: you will be connected to an internal Wi-Fi system, not to the internet) 5. Open the ListenWIFI app 6. If permission is asked by app, please answer "Allow" 7. Click on the venue scan button 8. Click on the top button of the screen.

You are now connected to the hearing assistance network. Please adjust the volume on your phone to control the sound in your ears.

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July 2026 | Tammuz - Av, 5786

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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.

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See more community ads on page 27!