ETZetera March 2025 FINAL

MARCH 2025

ISSUE 3

Inside This Issue

PAGE 4

PAGE 7

PAGE 25

Purim Carnial!

Community Happenings

SAVE THE DATE: Scholar in Residence

Contents 3

Annual Purim Carnival & Street Fair

4

Letters From Our Leaders

6

TEC Education

7

TEC Happenings

8

TEC Community

10

March Calendar

11

Birthdays and Anniversaries

12

B’nai Mitzvah

13

Simchas

14

TEC Tributes

16

Upcoming Events

28 Memorial Plaques, Memorial Leaf and SCRIP 29 End-of-Life Care and Planning 30 Kids’ Corner 32 Support Our Community: Small Business Highlights

Clergy Rabbi Ari Averbach Cantor Noam Fields-Meyer Gould Associate Chaplain Benny Sommerfeld Rabbi Emeritus Richard Spiegel Rabbi Emeritus Simon Paskow (z”l)

Staff

Interim Executive Director, Programming & Youth 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

Board of Directors

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.

President Felicia Toporoff Vice President Dan Lubetkin 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 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, Sustainability Ely Jacobsohn Trustee, Ways and Means Judy Gindi 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

www.templeetzchaim.org

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

3

Letters from Our Leaders Rabbi Ari Averbach

rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org

It has become common knowledge that Inuits have dozens of words for snow. It makes sense - a language will develop many words for what its speakers find most important.

We learn about Hebrew by its dictionary as well. It has many words for love and happiness, which we list off during the Sheva Brachot of the wedding ceremony. It has dozens of names for God, sprinkled throughout our prayers and Bible. Hebrew also has several words for a synagogue. But oddly, the name Beit Tfillah (House of Prayer) is rarely used. The most common name for a synagogue in our literature is Beit Knesset, which translates roughly as House of Gathering. While prayer is central to our religious identity (minyan, services, singing, and reading Torah

have been an integral part of Judaism forever), it is amazing all the different ways we find ourselves gathering at TEC. In a given week, we have 200 preschoolers, as young as 3 months old; 200 Religious School students from TK-12th grades; Bingo volunteers and players; people making (and eating) food; people working in our garden and creating our first genizah; meetings and classes and lectures and movie screenings. The list goes on, obviously.

We are so lucky to have the lay leadership we do, to have the professionals we do, to have you. Thank you for giving our space sanctity and meaning as we continue to make Etz Chaim a place to gather.

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

I’m so excited to celebrate Purim with Temple Etz Chaim this year. It’s always been one of my favorite holidays—loud, joyful, a little ridiculous, and full of deep meaning beneath all the silliness.

Some of my strongest childhood memories are tied to Purim.

Every year, my family does a themed costume together. We’ve been The Incredibles, Blue’s Clues, the emotions from Inside Out—and sometimes things a little more abstract, like the house from Up or the year that we were all Thing 2 from Dr. Seuss.

groggers shaking, all of us fully caught up in the celebration. I can’t wait to sing together again this year and, of course, to see what incredible costumes everyone comes up with. And the spiel!

Our Purim spiel is always hilarious—I won’t give anything away, but this year’s is definitely something to look forward to.

I also think about driving around Los Angeles with my dad, dropping off mishloach manot at friends’ houses. The excited looks on their faces, the feeling of delivering something small but joyful—it all captured what Purim is about: generosity, community, and delighting in the unexpected.

I’ve also been talking a lot about Purim with my 10th-grade confirmation students, and our conversations have really gotten me thinking about one of the core themes of the holiday: how things can turn upside down and, sometimes, for the better. Venahafoch hu—the idea that fortunes can flip, that the unexpected can bring us to a better place. I wasn’t expecting to be here, in this community, in this role, at this point in my life. But I am, and I’m so grateful.

Purim is also filled with music. I have vivid memories of singing Purim songs in day school at Pressman Academy, voices loud,

Chag Purim Sameach! Looking forward to celebrating with you all soon.

4

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

Felicia Toporoff, President ftoporoff@templeetzchaim.org

It’s amazing how fast time flies. How are we already on the “back 9” of this school and fiscal year? In just a short month and a half, we all will be celebrating Passover with our families and loved ones. It truly will be here before we know it. And with all the preparations that need to be done attendant to hosting a seder and preparing our homes for the holiday, the Board of Trustees thought this annual Spring event was the perfect time to do a Spring-cleaning fundraiser!

We have partnered with an organization called Clothes4Cash, who takes donated clothing items and pays us for them, per pound. All items will benefit impoverished communities in Africa and South America. On April 6th through April 11th, we will be collecting

clothes, shoes, bags (purses and totes), and linens (no blankets).

Place all items you wish to donate into 13-gallon kitchen bags and bring them in! That’s all there is to it. We will take it from there.

This is such a win-win for all of us. The Temple can earn some much-needed fundraising dollars, you can clean out your closets of items you wanted to donate anyway, and people in need will benefit from your donation. If you bring your donated items to the temple on the morning of April 6th, you can also get your car washed by the kids of TEC and enjoy some last bits of chametz from our bake sale before we all go into a Matzoh lockdown.

So, start gathering the items you wish to donate and get a jump start on your Spring cleaning!

Benny Sommerfeld, Associate Chaplain benny@templeetzchaim.org

My heart weighs heavily upon the news about the tragic ending for the Bibas family. There seems to be no end to what evil can do. We just read in Parashah Yitro about the Amalekites. “Hashem said to Moses, “Inscribe this in a document as a reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven!”. They have unfortunately been reincarnated and reside in Gaza. I pray that the war will come to an end and the remaining hostages will be free when you read this. The month of Adar is here and with it comes Purim. This is the only festival that will remain when the time of Mesias is ushered in. Let us hope it will be soon; we really need it. But back to Purim. It is a great time

www.templeetzchaim.org

for celebration and recognizing the miracle of life, and how we all matter. It was thanks to Queen Esther’s bravery that the Persian Jews were spared annihilation. She used her creativity to get the King’s attention and let him know about the evil plans against them. With that said, I encourage you to think outside your comfort zone and try something new. Come to TEC and take part in our festivities in celebrating Purim. There are four mitzvot for Purim: 1) to hear the Megilla being read, 2) Give Tzedakka to the needy; 3) send food gifts to friends Misloach Minot, 4) Party! Let’s see if you can make all four Mitzvot happen. Chag Purim Sameach.

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

5

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

As the month of March begins, the preschoolers are getting ready to welcome their Grandparents on March 7th! The teachers and children have planned a morning of interactive activities involving the children and their grandparents and guests. Then we look forward to celebrating Shabbat together with fun songs, a Shabbat story and blessings.

Next the children will be introduced to the story of Purim. The classrooms are stocked with crowns, costumes, Purim character masks and of course, groggers. This is a holiday where the children can use their dramatic play skills to celebrate the bravery of Esther, be silly like King Achashverosh, and be a hero to help the Jewish people.

On Friday, March 14th, the entire ECE Center will celebrate Purim

by dressing up in Purim costumes, singing holiday songs with Cantor Kenny and Rabbi Ari and enjoying a pizza lunch sponsored by our Parents of Temple Etz Chaim (PTEC). The preschool children will also enjoy a Purim puppet show and bake hamantaschen.

Towards the end of March, we are introducing the next Jewish holiday Pesach, or Passover. The older preschoolers will visit the Matzah Factory and make their own matzah. We will enjoy the story of Passover, special Passover foods and classroom Seders.

We appreciate all the parent volunteers and those on the committee of the Parents of Temple Etz Chaim for helping us with our school, holiday, and family events! We all value your support!

Chag Sameach!

Joyce Bronstein, Religious School Director joyce@templeetzchaim.org

Purim is here! This holiday falls in the month of Adar on the Jewish calendar. There’s a saying in Hebrew, “When the month of Adar appears, we increase our happiness,” and we pray for this to be true for you and your family during this festive time!

At Temple Etz Chaim, our Religious School students celebrate Purim in many exciting and fun ways. They’re creating colorful masks, baking delicious hamantaschen, making beautiful Purim crafts, participating in a costume parade, learning the Purim story, acting in plays, reading the Megillah, and having fun with friends, teachers, and families.

There’s so much for your family to enjoy at TEC! On March 13, don’t

6

miss out on the “Pop-up Purim Pizza Party,” which will occur before the children’s Megillah reading. This is a great way to enjoy a quick dinner and move directly into the Sanctuary. There will be a costume contest and parade, singing, hamantaschen, and of course, the chance to “shake your groggers and boo, boo, boo” whenever the name of -------- is read. It’s a wonderful way to be together, enjoy our children sing and laugh, and celebrate our Jewish traditions, customs, and heritage.

As we celebrate Purim, let’s truly enjoy this holiday with our loved ones and treasure the moment.

Chag Purim Sameach!

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

TEC Happenings It’s Not Too Late to Vote for MERCAZ USA! The 2025 World Zionist Congress elections are just around the corner and it’s time to get ready to vote for the MERCAZ USA slate.

It’s critical that the voice of Conservative/Masorti Judaism is heard.

The World Zionist Congress and its affiliates provide millions of dollars in funding and support the programs that enrich your community and Jewish life in the U.S. Voting for MERCAZ USA is an investment in the future of the Jewish institutions at the heart of our communities. This funding includes Israel education at Ramah summer camps, programming at our congregation, and critical philanthropy objectives supporting hostage families, the global diaspora, and more.

World Wide Wrap More details about this even on page 10.

Commit to voting by visiting mercazusa.org/votemercaz2025 and filling out the form, and encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to do the same! Together, we can realize the Zionist vision of a safe, secure, Jewish, and democratic Israel that serves as a home for every Jew. The voting period begins on March 10, 2025, and no preregistration or organizational membership is required beforehand. Any Jewish adult over 18 who lives permanently in the U.S. and didn’t vote in the last Knesset election can vote for MERCAZ USA in the World Zionist Congress elections.

Please direct any questions your MERCAZ USA captains at TEC: Adam Lerner Adamelliotlerner@gmail.com Maya Tenenbaum Dr.Maya.Tenenbaum@gmail.com

Camp Fair

www.templeetzchaim.org

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

7

TEC Community Phyllis Dankberg & Elissa Lazarus, Co-President, Women of TEC As I write this article near the end of February we have had two wonderful events. There was the very meaningful Tu B’Shevat Seder, together with the Men’s Club, under the very capable leadership of Phyllis Dankberg and Marshall Rosen. Thanks to the volunteers from WOTEC and Men’s Club for their assistance in preparing the various foods associated with the four seasons.

We then went on to Knish Klatch near the end of the month under the leadership of Wendy Margolis who instructed attendees how to make potato knishes. Who can resist that!

We start off the month of March on the 4th with a program open to all of the TEC Community. Our very own Clergy Assistant, Jill Rosenberg, will present “The Ever Present Past.” A conversation with Jill moderated by Rabbi Ari in the Sanctuary at 7 P.M. What is it like to never be able to forget? Jill is the first scientifically

documented case of Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory.

She can recall details from every day for the past 50+ years. It is still not too late to RSVP to attend this phenomenal program.

Watch your emails for future events in 2025 via the Wednesday Windup and the Friday Shabbat Scoop as well as weekly emails with details from WOTEC’s Chair of Communications Linda Hutchings. Read the various communications from TEC and WOTEC and be in the know. There is something for everyone.

WOTEC is for all ages at all stages in life. You are also welcome to attend a monthly Board Meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at TEC at 7 P.M. We would value your input and perhaps you will think of participating in the planning of an event.

If you have any suggestions or questions, please reach out to us at womenoftec@templeetzchaim.org.

Mark Goldstein, President, Men’s Club Shalom All! In February Men’s Club co-hosted a Tu B’shevat Seder with WoTEC. Thank you to the many volunteers who contributed to make this a wonderfully fun learning event, in particular Marshall Rosen, Phyllis Dankberg and Jill Rosenberg. Plus, in coordination with Rabbi Averbach and Joyce Bronstein Religious School students, temple members, Men’s Club members and congregants learned about and wrapped tefillin at the World Wide Wrap in a powerful showing of Yiddishkeit in conjunction with congregations throughout North America. Thank you to Steve Friedman, Jon Hops and other Men’ Club members for contributing to the event. Picture on page 9.

Upcoming events being planned include a game night for adults with special Israeli drinks, a Dragon Fruit Orchard Visit, Hike and Havdalah, and a magic night for adults. Plus, a Hearing Men’s Voices program to address challenges of being a dad and grandfather is being scheduled. We welcome your participation

8

in organizing, leading or assisting in these programs. Please email mensclub@tempeetzchaim.org to volunteer.

Men’s Club is excited to host the 25th Annual Men’s Cub Scholar in Residence Weekend, April 25 – 27, 2025. In view of events in Israel and worldwide, the weekend will provide learning opportunities centered on the importance of the State of Israel entitled Learn, Grow, and Stay Connected with the State of Israel will include speakers from StandWithUs, visiting clergy and experts leading presentations and discussions to foster a sense of community and camaraderie, strengthen our bonds with each other and with Israel. There is still time to sponsor the weekend – see the temple website or here https:// tec.shulcloud.com/form/mc-sir-2025.html.

All are welcome to our Men’s Club Board Meetings held the third Tuesday of the month @ 7:00 pm. The next meeting is March 18, 2025.

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

Pam Friedman, VP, Social Action If you want to gain some insight into what it is like to be unhoused, plan on seeing the movie “No Address.” It will be screening at the AMC at the Oaks and the Regal at the Janss Mall for a limited showing from February 28th – March 6th. This powerful movie is a must see.

Check out the trailer at https://www.hhtps.harborhouseto.org/ Our unhoused community has grown since last year and is continuing to grow. So many people live paycheck to paycheck, and it does not take very much to push them over to homelessness. With the federal funding cuts and the harsh winter weather, our homeless community has been deeply impacted and needs help. In addition, support services for the unhoused in the Conejo Valley have been reduced this year. Fortunately Harbor House has continued to provide services in our community.

As a Temple community, we support the unhoused in these ways: our Mitzvah Day comfort kit backpacks, our monthly Feed the Hungry Program, the Manna Food Pantry Donation Box, and our monthly Donations to the Conejo Closet. Supporting the Conejo Closet is our newest venture where we help to provide clothing, toiletries and

school supplies to homeless children and families attending CVSD. If you want to do more. Here a just a few of the programs where Harbor House needs help. It might just be what you are looking for.

Go to https://www.hhtps.harborhouseto.org to sign up or for details of all the volunteer opportunities that Harbor House has to offer you.

Hot Meal Program, make or buy 25 hot meals with a group of friends. I have done this, and it is fun.

Volunteer as a server with the Hot Meal Program, help serve dinner to clients. If you have done this in the past, then you remember how rewarding it was to work directly with the clients.

Launderland Volunteer, help clients wash their clothes by handing out the coins for the machines and laundry pods at the laundromat.

Seniors Helping Seniors provide essential support and companionship to low-income seniors. You will be helping to enrich the life of a senior.

I hope I have given you a way to reach out to the community and support the unhoused. It’s a mitzvah.

Susan Kane, Chairperson, Inclusion Committee A great big THANK YOU to the many sponsors of our Mishloach Manot FUN-raiser as well as the countless volunteers that will be assembling and distributing the gift bags. It truly takes a village.

Every family in our TEC community will receive a gift of sweets in celebration of Purim. These gifts will be distributed as follows: For those who have children who attend TEC, bags will be distributed to the program your youngest child attends: ECE – Monday March 10th Religious School – Sunday March 9th Confirmation/Post Confirmation – Monday March 10th For members who do not have children attending TEC (and are in reasonable driving distance), bags will be delivered to your front

www.templeetzchaim.org

door Sunday, March 9th – Wednesday, March 12th as long as we can access your home. (e.g. in a gated community).

Magnifying sheets continue to be available to support those with vision impairment. They will be available in the lobby to be used during services. Please return them to the lobby at the conclusion of services. Should you need them for any other temple related activity, please notify the office in advance to make arrangements.

The Inclusion Committee seeks to expand the opportunities for full participation and support by listening to congregants’ needs and experiences so we can advocate for positive changes. We certainly don’t have all the answers, so we are leading with curiosity and welcome your thoughts and suggestions—where can we improve and what are we doing well. Email us at hurykne@mac.com

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

9

Dates to Remember

March SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

1 Jacob Abramovicz Bar Mitzvah

2

3

9

10

16

Purim Carnival

23

17

St Patrick’s Day

24 30

10

4

WOTEC Guest Speaker “The Ever Present Past”

31

5

7

8 Olivia Lurie Bat Mitzvah

11

12

18

25

Feed the Hungry Book Club via Zoom

6

Pop-Up Purim Pizza Party Megillah Reading

14

Purim

15

19

20

21

22

26

27

28

29

Board Meeting

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

13

www.templeetzchaim.org

Birthdays & Anniversaries

March 1 Samuel Friedman Jamie Friedman Zander Halper 2 Dana Agosin Andrea Corona David Cohen Felipe Oyarzun Estrada Daniela Shulman 3 Deborah Cohen Adam Kaiser-Durkee Jeff Schoenwald 4 Adam Goldberg Ezra Nagy Wyatt Rosen Michael Raileanu 5 Craig Gluckman Susan Goldberg Lawrence Levine Olivia Lurie 6 Jamie Elson 7 Harvey Gurien Sharon Landes 8 Jennifer Ghozland Valerie Knight Sylvia Koppel Sarah Somogyi Ethan Soria 9 Susan Richman Julie Saul Daniel Sissman James Sterling Nicholas West 10 Naythan Dekowski Wendy Margolis Israel Perel Jamie Rice 11 Rachel Bekerman Deborah Blumenthal David Carmona Reena Hettena Annie Lascoe Palmer Alik Shulman

www.templeetzchaim.org

12 Jaclyn Gorney Kenneth Leon 13 Mandi Dekowski Daniel Gero Ari Shterenberg 14 Tamara Domingo Richard Rosenberg Ellen Zucker 15 Ethan Borochoff Brian Feldman Joshua Jacoby Zoe Grace Ehrenpreis Tashjian Myles Simpson 16 Daniel Agosin Sarah Jo Lynne Katz Corey Mendelson Talia Palmer Josh Segal Shayne Shulman Sara Sturman 17 Jered Blitstein Matthew Bordofsky Michael Halper Daniel Mendelson Miller Robichaud 18 David Resnik Charlie Volk 19 Isaiah Averbach Deborah Davis Shirley Lipkin 20 Sidnie Charnaw Judy Mayer Jeff Neiderman Alison West Eugene Yankevich 21 Susan Malchicoff Jen Sonnenberg Rhim Yevgeniya Belenkaya-Shulman Jenna Weiss 22 Marni Goren Rita Krane David Rosenfeld Shira Weber

23 Jeremy Berg Rachel Devine Jon Hoffmann Sarah Karamas Lynda Kessler Peter Margolis Gilbert Simoni 24 Lauren Elson Jill Katz Darren Klein Elliot Morris Jeannine Shannon 25 Matthew Brusseau Laura Ellis Rachael Pugh Samuel Rosenblatt Mila Schein Hannah Shulman Aaron Simoni Shira Soria 26 Theodore Korn Em Meyer 27 Eva Bowens Jonah Dennis Jennifer Gollub Alexander Jacobs Jennifer Lysobey Ellen Stein 28 Jonathan Katz Sasha Koutal Shira Neiderman 29 Jesse Esqueda Steven Gilbard Susan Jacobs Jackie Wellen 30 Douglas Kerzner David Love Claudine Marx 31 Drew Abrams Marsha Goldin Lori Lubetkin Gideon Manzur David Munowitch Joel Shrater Mike Wellen

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

1 Alessandro & Andrea Corona 6 Zinovy & Tatyana Gutman 7 George & Jeanne Mitchell 10 Kenneth Marks & Sandra Reuben 11 Robert & Shira Weber Bruce & Aviva Raskin 12 Adam McCullough & Inbal Lapid 15 Perry & Susan Pierce 16 Bryan & Kim Merjan Robert & Betty Zonshine 18 Tracy & Aaron Kitzman 19 Gary & Bev Futterman 20 Jason & Alison Gorowitz Jeff & Sheri Schoenwald 23 Matthew & Julie Jacobs 24 Richard & Barbara Rosenberg 27 Kenneth & Linda Starr Ron & Ellen Stein 28 Arthur & Peggy Barukh Martin & Lindy Breverman 29 Mark & Julie Goldstein Mark & Niki Stokols

11

B’nai Mitzvah

JACOB ABRAMOVICZ

MARCH 1

I’m Jake Abramovicz, a 7th grader at Lindero Canyon Middle School. My connection with Temple Etz Chaim goes back to first grade, and it’s been an important part of my life ever since. When I’m not focused on schoolwork or preparing for my Bar Mitzvah, I love to explore my creative side. I’m really into drawing, and I often spend time sketching characters that pop into my head. I also have a passion for building with Legos. And, like a lot of kids my age, I enjoy playing video games, where I can strategize, compete, and hang out with friends online. As I get ready to celebrate my Bar Mitzvah, I want to say a huge thank you to my family. Their love and support mean the world to me, and I’m so grateful for everything they’ve done to help me get to this point. I’m really looking forward to sharing this special day with them. I would like to thank Benny Sommerfeld and Rabbi Ari Averbach for their support on my journey to becoming a Bar Mitzvah. I would also like to give a special thank you to Shane Silverstein for assisting my dad with the planning of my Bar Mitzvah.

OLIVIA LURIE

MARCH 8

Hi! My name is Olivia Lurie, and I am in 7th grade at Los Cerritos Middle School. In my free time I enjoy playing soccer and volleyball, singing and getting involved in extracurricular and leadership activities at my school and spending quality time with friends and family. I’d like to give a big thank you to Rabbi Averbach, Joyce Bronstein, my fantastic tutor, Betty Zonshine, and all the teachers and staff who have helped me at my time at TEC. I’d also like to thank my parents for their love and support in studying for my Bat Mitzvah - and beyond! I’m looking forward to my big day and can’t wait to celebrate with all my friends and family.

12

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

Congratulations to the Isaacs family on the birth of

Asher Lee Isaacs Born on January 21, 2025 Parents: Kay & Eric Isaacs Big Brothers: David & Zev

Congratulations to the Math family on the birth of

Alexander Leon Mesnik Born on January 21, 2025 Parents: Hannah and Jasper Mesnik Big Brother: Clyde Grandparents: Cheryl and Jeffrey Math Bill Mesnik Great Grandparents: Hattie Wolf, Maureen Watson, and Stephen Math

www.templeetzchaim.org

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

13

Tributes Barbara & Harvey Scherr Memorial Fund In Memory of Louis Bigley Ferne Blaugrund

Dunaier Mucis Fund In Memory of Kenneth Solovy Susan Solovy

Early Childhood Education Fund In Memory of Joy Krieger Bev Futterman

Elisa Feldman Memorial Religious School Scholarship Fund In Memory of Eugene Feldman In Memory of Paul Essick In Memory of Jerome Ratzan In Honor of the Birth of Asher Lee Isaacs Les & Debbie Feldman

In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Ann Sturman In Memory of Bernard Mezey In Memory of Lillian Mezey Gail Simpson In Memory of Ruth Schoenwald Jeff Schoenwald In Memory of Morris Reiser Patricia Kaye In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Elissa Lazarus In Memory of Norman Epstein Ilene Barney In Memory of Gertrude Altman Nomi Freed In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Zona Pidgeon In Memory of Simon Dubinsky Jeff Schoenwald In Memory of Benjamin Barney Irwin Barney In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Maurice & Gayle Feldman In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday - What a wonderful reason to celebrate!

Susan Bernstein

14

In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Rosalyn Sokoler In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Myles & Gail Simpson In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Burton & Linda Lewensohn In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Jan & Janice Orlowski In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Colin & Esther Pullan In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Jerrald & Deborah Cohen In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Beth Meyer In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Duncan Forsythe & Shari Cohen Forsythe In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Neal & Andrea Arons

Men’s Club Silverstein Humanitarian Fund

In Memory of Bella Lewin Varkel Frank Lewin In Honor of Alan Flaschner’s 2nd Bar Mitzvah In Appreciation of Lee Shapiro, for guiding our Havurah at the Reagan Library Myles & Gail Simpson In Memory of Joseph Mason Claudine Marx

Ner Tamid Education & Community Center Fund In Memory of Gertrude Weiner Elliott Harvey

Rabbi Averbach’s Discretionary Fund

In Memory of Marcia Pomush Steve Pomush

In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Farid Rasekhi

In Memory of Myer Greenberg Janis Leshnov

Fienberg-Lerner Chapel Minyan Fund

In Honor of Rabbi Averbach. Congratulations! We loved being at your special service and are so proud of your amazing accomplishments! Much love.

Jeff & Allyn Levine

In Memory of Jerome Ratzan Larry Slomowitz

In Memory of Esther Kane Daniel Kane

Kiddush Fund

Jerrald & Deborah Cohen

In Appreciation of Rabbi Averbach overseeing Linda’s Conversion Steven Mutnick

In Honor of Les Feldman’s 70th Birthday Nomi Freed

In Honor of Rabbi Averbach’s 5th Anniversary at TEC Laura-Beth Sholkoff

Lipnick RSSF

In Memory of Anny Levin Barbara Shannon

In Memory of Bobbie Eisenstadt Harvey Kern In Memory of Irwin Gollub Michael & Helene Gollub

In Memory of Clara Stockell Bonnie Rothman

In Honor of Rabbi Averbach’s 5th Anniversary at TEC Robyn Field, Anthony O’Carroll, Ibby O’Carroll, Kate O’Carroll and Lisa Field

In Memory of Murray Goldberg Susan Goldberg

In Memory of Sarah Orlin Lorne Label

Men’s Club Scholar-in-Residence In Memory of Anne Henry Kaufman Joel Shrater

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

In Memory of Elliott Messinger Marsha Roberts In Memory of Tania Pfefferman Arthur Pffefferman

www.templeetzchaim.org

In Memory of Herman Weiss Ronald Weiss

In Memory of of Bela Kalinski Zvi & Yola Kalinski

In Memory of Gene Geller Evy Mc Cauley

In Honor of The Birth of Asher Lee Isaacs David & Rebeccah Schwartz

In Honor of Larry Mayer’s 80th Birthday Stan & Lynne Rosen

In Memory of Jerome Ratzan Jay & Debra Levine

In Honor of Livia Van Buren’s Baby Naming Shirley Lipkin

In Memory of Sidney Green William Green

Religious School Fund In Memory of Stephen Sissman Gary & Randee Paller In Memory of Esther Kane Daniel Kane In Memory of Phyllis Lipson Cynthia Urbach In Memory of Stanley Friedman Steven & Pamela Friedman In Memory of Pinchos Philip Smith Andy & Ellen Smith In Memory of Betty Herrman Richard Engler & Ellen Zucker

Ritual Fund

In Honor of the Birth of Asher Lee Isaacs William & Cynthis Koepcke

Sandee Tischler RSSF

In Memory of Frances Sarah Ratzan Dawne Ratzan In Memory of Marcia Levine Dawne Ratzan

Social Action Fund

In Honor of Feed the Hungry for Harbor House Myles & Gail Simpson

Temple General Fund

In Memory of Sara Tevet Orly Spielberg In Honor of Alan Flaschner’s 2nd Bar Mitzvah Irwin & Gloria Ktz

Tribute Book

In Honor of Rabbi Averbach’s 5th Anniversary at TEC Irwin & Ilene Barney

Tzedakah Fund

In Memory of Rabbi Shimon Paskow In Memory of Maury Samson In Memory of Ed Jotkowitz Herb Wexler Linda Kulik In Memory of Ada Samuels Mark Wolfson

USY Youth & Scholarship Fund In Memory of Sidney Barnett Jane Spitzer

Women of TEC Torah Fund In Memory of Stewart H. Brookstein In Memory of Jack Chadroff Edward Chadroff In Memory of Robin Sales In Memory of Theodore Fleser In Memory of Miriam Fleser Holly Seery

In Memory of Barbara King In Memory of Maurice King In Memory of David King Paul King

In Memory of Sandor Nemet John Nemet

www.templeetzchaim.org

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

15

TUESDAY

THE WOMEN OF TEC PRESENT

MARCH 4

The

7PM • PASKOW SANCTUARY

Ever Present Past A Conve r s at ion wi t h Ji ll R os e nb erg Moderated by Rabbi Ari Averbach

Jill is the First Scientifically Documented Case of Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory. She can recall details from every day for the past 50 years.

What is it like to never be able to forget?

The Woman Who Can't Forget: The Extraordinary Story of Living with the Most Remarkable Memory Known to Science

Jill’s insights into the nature of memory, forgeting and the formation of our sense of self will resonate with a wide audience. — Publishers Weekly

RSVP

https://tec.shulcloud.com/form/rsvp---the-ever-present-past.html

16

1080 E. Janss Rd. • Thousand 91360 March 2025Oaks, | Adar CA - Nissan, 5785• (805) 497-6891 • www.templeetzchaim.org www.templeetzchaim.org

www.templeetzchaim.org

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

17

THURS

MAR

13 5:00PM

$18 PER FAMILY

Register today!

18

1080 E. Janss Rd. • Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 • (805) 497-6891 • www.templeetzchaim.org March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785 www.templeetzchaim.org

www.templeetzchaim.org

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

19

20

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

One Performance only! Sunday, May 4th at 2:00pm!

Questions may be emailed to Rachael@TempleEtzChaim.org

Auditions are 3/9!

All Ages and talents welcome! All acts must be family friendlv. While all interested entrants will be included, final participation may be subject to planning committee approval.

sign up today!

Sign up with QR code to secure an audition slot for Sunday, March 9th at 12:00pm. No accompanist provided. We can’t wait to see all the fabulous talent TEC has to offer!

www.templeetzchaim.org

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

21

22

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

www.templeetzchaim.org

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

23

24

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

SAVE THE DATE

APRIL 2527

2025

TEC MEN’S CLUB IS PROUD TO PRESENT

25TH ANNUAL

SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE WEEKEND F O R T HE E N T IR E C ON G R E G AT I ON Learn, grow, and stay connected with the state of Israel

Temple Etz Chaim Men’s Club is proud to host 2025 Scholar in Residence weekend event celebrating the State of Israel.

Join us for a weekend of inspiring lectures, and thought-provoking discussions. Our distinguished scholars will delve into the rich history, culture, and current affairs of the State of Israel.

This year, a diverse “Community of Scholars” will address the importance of the State of Israel, and how antisemitism and recent current events have affected us as a Jewish community and how you can respond and take action to help the State of Israel.

Event Highlights include Speakers from StandWithUs and Clergy and experts.

FRIDAY EVENING • Reclaiming Our Narrative. Learn how to tell Israel’s story and frame messaging in a compelling way.

SATURDAY MORNING • Jewish Identity, Zionism, and Antisemitism - Explore the boundaries of free speech and how it intersects with antisemitism and anti-Zionism.

SATURDAY EVENING • 75 Years Later: Answering the Tough Questions About Israel • Panel discussion with Rabbi Ari, Rabbi Lana Zilberman Soloway, StandWithUs, and others.

SUNDAY BRUNCH • Call to Action: Your Role in Our Enduring Narrative • Panel discussion with Rabbi Ari, Rabbi Lana Zilberman Soloway, StandWithUs, and others.

www.templeetzchaim.org

Scholar in Residence Weekend 2025 Temple Etz Chaim Conservative Synagogue in Thousand Oaks, California Please visit our Scholar-In-Residence website often for updated agenda information, details and sponsorship opportunities.

RSVPs are appreciated.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION https://www.templeetzchaim.org/connect/mens-club/ scholar-in-residence-weekend-2025/

StandWithUs is an international and non-partisan Israel education organization that inspires and educates people of all ages and backgrounds, challenges misinformation and fights antisemitism.

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

25

26

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

www.templeetzchaim.org

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

27

28

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

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

www.templeetzchaim.org

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

29

Start celebrating Purim Today!

Cut on dotted line 30

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

www.templeetzchaim.org

Cut on dotted line

www.templeetzchaim.org

March 2025 | Adar - Nissan, 5785

31

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