ETZetera March 2026 FINAL

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF

TEMPLE ETZ CHAIM

MARCH 2026

ISSUE 3

Inside This Issue

PAGE 3 Spring Boutique Vendors Wanted!

PAGE 4 PAGE 20 Letters from Our Leaders

Scholar in Residence

Contents 4

Letters From Our Leaders

Clergy

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TEC Education

Rabbi Ari Averbach

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TEC Community

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B’nai Mitzvah

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Simchas

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March Calendar

Staff

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Birthdays and Anniversaries

Early Childhood Education Director Debbie Blumenthal

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TEC Tributes

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Upcoming Events

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

24 Kids’ Corner

ECE Administrative Assistant Jessica Jacoby

26 Memorial Receptions Available

Clergy Assistant Jill Rosenberg

RS Administrative Assistant Sarah Karamas

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Memorial Plaques & Digital Memorial Library

Musical Director Mariano Dugatkin

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Hearing Assistance Network Support Our Community: Small Business Highlights

Board of Trustees

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President Felicia Toporoff

Vice President Dan Lubetkin Immediate Past President Eric Feigenbaum

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

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, Inclusion Paula Lefko Trustee, Membership, Sarica Klein Trustee, Personnel & Legal Affairs Josh Hopstone Trustee, Programming Evan Robichaud

Join TEC on Social Media!

Trustee, Religion and Worship Cheryl Math

Stay up-to-date with community events, news and happenings. Follow us on your favorite social platform.

President, Women of TEC Phyllis Dankberg & Elissa Lazarus

Search for @templeetzchaim across all platforms. On Facebook search for Temple Etz Chaim as well as Temple Etz Chaim Preschool.

Trustee, Religious Education Adya Riss Trustee, Security Paul Dryman Trustee, Social Action Pam Friedman Trustee, Ways & Means Donald Zimring President, Men’s Club Mark Goldstein

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

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Letters from Our Leaders Rabbi Ari Averbach

rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org

The weeks leading up to Pesach are laden with profound meaning.

That first visit to a grocery store where the end cap is jars of gefilte fish and macaroons (and, for some reason, Hanukkah candles!) puts a pit in my stomach.

I love Pesach. I love the meal and the songs. I love the seder and actually wish it were longer. I love the wine (well, the first glass – by the third, I’m feeling dizzy). I love that how we do seder is almost the same as how my great-grandparents did it, all the way back. The seder is essentially all in the Talmud (written in Babylonia 1500+ years ago).

I also love that, when I ask people who are considering converting to Judaism what the singular moment was when they decided to choose joining our peoplehood, nearly every one of them says it

was a seder. The idea of a deep discussion around a meaningful meal, a tradition where everyone’s voice is heard, where we acknowledge past pains and our fight to overcome, is powerful.

As you take this month to prepare for the holiday, find someone new to bring to your table. Find a new song, or a new interpretation, to add a layer to this historic meal (as every generation has done).

If you want to share it with me, I am always looking for something beautiful to add to our conversation. And, if you want to “sell” your hametz through the synagogue, please let me know. We take care of that the week before the holiday.

May this be a month of joy as we work towards becoming a free people.

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

It’s been a busy and beautiful month at TEC. We’ve celebrated some truly outstanding B’nai Mitzvahs — our students have been singing beautifully, speaking beautifully, and involving their families in such meaningful ways. We’re so proud of each and every one of them. Meanwhile, Purim is just around the corner, and Passover isn’t far behind, so there’s plenty of music-making and preparing happening behind the scenes.

In the midst of all of it, I’ve found myself sitting with a question that keeps coming up in both my personal life as a Jew and in my own research: what does Judaism actually sound like? What does it sound like to be in synagogue, to be in prayer, to be part of a community that sings together?

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When Jewish sound shows up in popular culture, it’s usually flattened into something recognizable but thin — a few familiar tropes that don’t come close to capturing what I experience here every week. The real thing is richer, more encompassing: multilayered, multigenerational, steeped in nusach and memory and the particular acoustics of this room with these people.

These are questions I’ve been exploring academically as well, and I’ll be presenting some of this work at an upcoming conference. If you’d like to hear more about it, feel free to reach out.

Wishing everyone a wonderful month ahead — hope to see you in services. Come say hi!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Benny Sommerfeld, Chaplain benny@templeetzchaim.org

Spring is almost in the air, and the rain has made all the hills green and lush in Conejo Valley. The Olympic games have finished, and we can all go back to our normal routine. I speak for myself, the Olypmics have been a big deal for me, and it resulted in many late nights watching the athletes from around the globe competing in different disciplines. It was great to see the snippets from the bobsled team from Israel. As a Jew from the frozen tundra, I got a lot of joy seeing them in the slopes of Cortina. Purim is here and it comes with mitzvot including the “ganze Megilla.” The mitzvot are listening/reading of the Megillah (Book of Esther), sending food gifts to friends (Mishloach Manot), giving charity to the poor (Matanot La’evyonim), and eating a festive meal (Seudah). If you scored more than one of the four, I applaud you. Purim brings me back to Jerusalem in 2023. As a walled city, it celebrates two days.

Hence our daughter living in Tel-Aviv at the time took it to heart and jumped on the train for day two and joined us in Jerusalem.

One of the streets outside Machane Yehuda (the Shuk), Agrippas Street was closed off and turned into a carnival with a music scene filled with ruach, music and food. There was a sea of people who were dressed up in all sorts of costumes, young and old.

We created a lively atmosphere at our celebration at TEC. I hope that you enjoyed the Purim carnival and the rest of that day and reading of the Megillah on the following day. One more thing about Purim is, Peasch is only a month away. It is time to brush off the Haggadah from last year and see what to include this year. If you want to share your ideas or get some new ones, I am here for you.

World Wide Wrap, February 8 www.templeetzchaim.org

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

As spring approaches, our children are full of excitement as we welcome the joyful month of March in our Early Childhood Education program. We begin the month with lots of anticipation for our Purim celebrations. The children are already talking about the carnival on March 1, the costumes they will wear, and of course their favorite part of the holiday – shaking their groggers and making plenty of noise when they hear Haman’s name during the Purim story. In the classrooms, students are busy creating groggers and festive masks, and they are looking forward to baking and tasting hamantaschen and bringing home their own shalach manot baskets to share with family.

special Dr. Seuss-themed dress-up day.

Another highlight of March is our intergenerational visits. Each classroom takes turns inviting special family members or friends to join us and experience a day of preschool!

We begin the month with our toddlers welcoming their guests.

Each Friday the guests will participate in classroom activities, join us for a preschool Shabbat with Rabbi Ari and Hazzan Noam, and enjoy challah!

That same week, we will also celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss.

Classrooms will be filled with his beloved stories as we focus on rhyming activities throughout the week.

As March ends, we will begin introducing Passover stories, music, and blessings as we prepare for our upcoming Seders at the start of April. Meanwhile our garden boxes that were planted on Tu B’ Shevat are beginning to sprout! The children are carefully watering, observing, and eagerly watching each new plant appear.

Families always enjoy joining us as guest readers, and the children especially love this special opportunity to share their classroom with parents. We may even see some “green eggs” served as part of the fun! On Friday, March 6, we will celebrate Shabbat with a

We truly love this season of renewal. Spring brings meaningful holidays, hands-on learning, and many opportunities for connection, and we look forward to celebrating together throughout the month of March.

Joyce Bronstein, Religious School Director joyce@templeetzchaim.org

So much is being planned for this month as Purim approaches.

Most likely, as you read this bulletin, it is March 1, hopefully with beautiful weather, and the TEC Purim Carnival is the highlight of the day. I know our students truly look forward to this special and fun time each year.

On March 2, we will gather for our Purim Pop-Up Pizza Party at 5:15 PM. We will begin with pizza, read the Megillah, and enthusiastically drown out Haman’s name with our groggers! Recently, Rabbi Averbach sponsored cartoonist Jordan Gorfinkel (AKA Gorf) to teach our students in grades 3–12 the art of cartooning. Each student drew and wrote about Purim, and the finished product is the Purim story told through their creative illustrations. I am so excited to see our students’ faces as they watch their artwork

destroy us, the tables turn, and the threat is overcome. Thankfully, life continues with our precious family and friends, and we celebrate our resilience and faith.

As the month continues, we will begin learning about Passover. In Religious School, our students will participate in a Seder in their classrooms. Depending on their grade level, various Haggadot will be used, each tailored to their age group. I find it truly inspiring to watch teachers and students experience this meaningful holiday together.

Everyone at the table has the opportunity to share thoughts and insights about the significance and symbolism of Passover, which adds to the richness of the experience.

displayed on the big screen. Thank you, Rabbi Averbach, for your vision in bringing this fun and meaningful opportunity to our students. I hope you will join us for our Purim celebration and enjoy being together as a community.

The staff and I feel so fortunate to teach the beauty of Judaism to our students. One of the greatest rewards is seeing former students return as parents, becoming members of TEC, enrolling their children in Religious School, and continuing the traditions. It is beautiful in so many ways.

There is a recurring theme throughout many of our holidays, including Purim: the Jewish people face adversity, someone seeks to

Let us take pride in our Jewish traditions, customs, and heritage.

Chag Purim Sameach! Wishing everyone a joyful and Happy Purim.

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Havdalah and Hotdogs, January 31

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TEC Community Phyllis Dankberg & Elissa Lazarus, Co-President, Women of TEC It is only the beginning of March and I’m already thinking about Passover. What dishes will be on our menu this year? How will I set the table so that it is beautiful when my guests walk into the dining room? What activities will be awaiting the great-grandchildren?

What about an Afikoman prize and will I be ready come Wednesday evening April 1st? But despite my anxiety it is truly one of my greatest pleasures to celebrate Passover with our family. Along with my personal planning for our family Seder, Jill Rosenberg Women of TEC’s Program VP and I have been planning something special for all of you.

On Tuesday evening March 24th the Women of TEC will be having a Passover Desserts Program. One of the recipes we’ll be featuring will be Rabbi Ari’s famous Mac and Cheese, not quite a dessert but

we recommend it for any time of the day. Cindy Goldberg’s sisterin-law’s addictive Granola samples will disappear very quickly along with Jill’s Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding Muffins made with Matzah.

If you have a special dessert that you would like to share email the recipe to Jill Rosenberg at jrosenberg@templeetzchaim.org.

Also coming up during Passover is the WOTEC/Men’s Club Shabbat on April 3rd. and 4th. This is a semi-annual event where the Women of Tec and Men’s Club conduct services. Please contact Cyndy Koepke at ckoepke@templeetzchaim.org if you would like an English or Hebrew reading on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Looking forward to sharing all the exciting upcoming events with all of you!

elazarus@templeetzchaim.org | phyllis@templeetzchaim.org.

Mark Goldstein, President, Men’s Club Hi Everyone! The momentum of TEC Men’s Club continues!

We’re having regular, monthly Men’s Night Out meet ups. The numbers keep growing! The third Wednesday Men’s Night Out at Naughty Pine Brewing Co. in Westlake Village will be Wednesday, March 11 from 7 pm – 9 pm. Come after minyan or dropping the kids off. Come for a few minutes or all two hours. Just hang and schmooze.

More than 40 attended our second Sunday brunch of the year to learn from the regional director of ADL Santa Barbara / Tri-counties, Joshua Burt, who provided techniques for talking about antisemitism and growing allies. The extended time brunch was a testament to our community’s interest and the importance of the message. Thanks to Myles Simpson for managing the kitchen crew and many members for assisting with the preparation and clean up.

In February, there was also World Wide Wrap held in conjunction with FJMC International. Rabbi Averbach and multiple Men’s Club volunteers instructed about tefillin and provides wrapping opportunities. Thanks to Steve Friedman for managing this and all volunteers and participants for making this a meaningful event! (pics on page 5) When Purim arrives, during the Purim Carnival on March 1, Men’s Club will be hosting a beer tasting tent for adults. If you want to meet parents and grandparents of religious school students and like beer,

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please volunteer to man the booth. And if you’re at the carnival, please drop by to say hi and try a new beer you’ve never tasted before.

Later this month is Scholar in Residence Weekend from March 2729. This year, we welcome Dr. Revital Somekh-Goldreich, an awardwinning scholar, educator, and artist who will use art and sensory experience to present Jewish topics in an interactive and impactful way. The theme, “Beyond the Text: Building Bridges of Meaning from Purim to Passover through Visual Theology,” promises a weekend of engaging discovery for our community. Please plan to attend this stimulating educational experience.

Upcoming events include Men’s Club/WoTEC Shabbat April 3-4, havdallah hikes to be scheduled and a new TEC Cycling Club – get ready to roll! Plus, Men’s Club members will be delivering holocaust memorial candles for lighting on Yom HaShoah as part of FJMC’s Yellow Candle Program. Make sure to light your Shoah Yellow Candle at sundown on Monday, April 13.

For all of the above, see email and flyers for more information.

We welcome your participation in organizing, leading or assisting in these and other programs. All are welcome to Men’s Club Board Meetings regularly held the third Tuesday of the month at 7 pm, except this month we’ve changed the meeting to March 10.

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Pam Friedman, Trustee, Social Action I would like to thank our Temple community for coming together on February 8 for our joint donation drive with the Salvation Army.

Both the ECE and Religious School brought bags and boxes to the drive throughout the morning. Congregants came and brought donations by the carload; dishes, small appliances, books, clothing as well as household items. The donation drop off site filled up with items all through the morning. It was wonderful to see our

community come together to help those in need.

When the Salvation Army pickup truck came and started loading, we could not believe our eyes. The truck filled up! It felt so good knowing that everything donated would be going to someone in need either directly to their rehabilitation or to help with their rehabilitation. What a mitzvah!

Salvation Army Donation Drive, February 8

Men’s Club Brunch, February 22

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B’nai Mitzvah

Jasper Heirshberg

March 7

Shalom, my name is Jasper Heirshberg. My path to my Bar Mitzvah has been different than most since I did not attend Sunday School during the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade years. After this hiatus, I returned to Temple Etz Chaim over a year and a half ago and was welcomed back by Rabbi Averbach and Mrs. Joyce Bronstein. Ever since then, I have been studying and attending services on an almost weekly basis to prepare. I am grateful for the excellent one-on-one tutoring

by Mrs. Ellen Zucker and all her patience with me. I appreciate Hazzan Noam for teaching me my Torah portion and melodies. Thank you to my Mom, Dad, and brother Azure for all their support and encouragement. I truly look forward to my Bar Mitzvah…it is special to me.

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Simchas

Archie Nolan Orens Born: January 7, 2026 Parents: Hannah and Zachry Orens Grandparents: Dorlee and Jeff Rinkov & Gail and Steven Orens

Jacob Boucher Silverman Born: February 17, 2026 Parents: Jackie and Adam Silverman Grandparents: Beth and David Silverman & Kate and Leo Mamorsky

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Dates to Remember

March SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Purim Carnival

Purim Pop up Pizza Party

Jasper Heirshberg Bar Mitzvah

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9

10

15

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Feed the Hungry

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12

13

14

18

19

20

21

25

26

27

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Men’s Club: Men’s Night Out @ Naughty Pine Brewing

Book Club via Zoom

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23

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WOTEC Passover Desserts

Board Meeting

Scholar in Residence Weekend Shabbat Yeladim

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30

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Scholar in Residence Weekend

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Birthdays & Anniversaries

March 1 Jamie Friedman Samuel Friedman Zander Halper 2 Felipe Cedillos Estrada David Cohen Andrea Corona Abby Sassoon Daniela Shulman 3 Deborah Cohen Adam Kaiser-Durkee Jeff Schoenwald 4 Adam Goldberg Ezra Nagy Wyatt Rosen Roman Titerman 5 Amy Gluckman Susan Goldberg Lawrence Levine Olivia Lurie 6 Jamie Elson 7 Harvey Gurien Sharon Landes Jennifer Yomtov 8 Jennifer Ghozland Valerie Knight Sylvia Koppel Noa Reed Sarah Somogyi 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 Hannah Mansky Steinberg Nicole Raphaely Alik Shulman

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12 Kenneth Leon 13 Mandi Dekowski Daniel Gero Ari Shterenberg Tova Weinstock 14 Tamara Domingo Richard Rosenberg Ellen Zucker 15 Ethan Borochoff Brian Feldman Joshua Jacoby Myles Simpson Zoe Grace Ehrenpreis Tashjian 16 Sarah Jo Lynne Katz Jeremiah McDole Corey Mendelson Talia Palmer Josh Segal Shayne Shulman Sara Sturman

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 26 Theodore Korn Em Meyer

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

17 Jered Blitstein Matthew Bordofsky Michael Halper Daniel Mendelson Miller Robichaud

27 Jonah Dennis Jennifer Gollub Alexander Jacobs Jennifer Lysobey Ellen Stein

16 Bryan & Kim Merjan Robert & Betty Zonshine

18 David Resnik Charlie Volk

28 Jonathan Katz Sasha Koutal Shira Neiderman

19 Gary & Bev Futterman

19 Isaiah Averbach Deborah Davis Lily Kleiger 20 Sidnie Charnaw Judy Mayer Jeff Neiderman Alison West Eugene Yankevich 21 Yevgeniya Belenkaya-Shulman Susan Malchicoff Jen Sonnenberg Rhim Jenna Weiss 22 Marni Goren Rita Krane David Rosenfeld Shira Weber

29 Jesse Esqueda Steven Gilbard Olive Gold Susan Jacobs Jackie Wellen 30 David Love Claudine Marx 31 Goldi Abramovici Drew Abrams Lori Lubetkin Gideon Manzur David Munowitch Joel Shrater Mike Wellen

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18 Aaron & Tracy Kitzman

20 Jason & Alison Gorowitz Jeff & Sheri Schoenwald 23 Jay & Helene Calhoun Maurice & Caroline Solomon 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

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Tributes Barbara & Harvey Scherr Memorial Fund

In Memory of Leon Noel Blaugrund In Memory of Louis Bigley Ferne Blaugrund

Dunaier Music Fund

In Memory of Kenneth Solovy Susan Solovy

Early Childhood Education Fund In Honor of The Birth of Archie Nolan Orens Steven & Gail Orens

Elisa Feldman Memorial Religious School Scholarship Fund In Memory of Diane Berman Eileen Sachs In Memory of Max Sher Bernard & Melanie Gero

Fienberg-Lerner Chapel Minyan Fund

In Memory of Norma Robinson Smith Andy & Ellen Smith

Hazzan Noam’s Discretionary Fund

In Memory of Lenny Cummins David & Sandi Israel

In Memory of Shirley Nudelman Jack & Laura-Beth Sholkoff

Hazzan Noam’s Discretionary Fund

In Appreciation of Hazzan Noam Officiating our daughter’s naming ceremony—We hope you can buy some new intruments!

Matt & Sara Timsit

Jotkowitz Camp Ramah Camp Scholarship Fund

In Memory of Toba Greinetz Robert & Lynne Zuckerman

Lipnick RSSF

In Memory of Anny Levin In Memory of Jim Levin In Memory of Walter Michelson Barbara Shannon In Memory of Murray Goldberg Susan Goldberg In Memory of Mollie Bunkin In Memory of Dorann Bunkin In Memory of Esther Lipnick Michael Bunkin

Memorial Plaque Fund

In Memory of Stanley Farber Roberta Toporoff

Men’s Club Scholar-in-Residence Fund

In Memory of Bella Lewin Varkel Frank Lewin Steven & Pamela Friedman

Men’s Club Silverstein Humanitarian Fund

In Memory of Joseph Mason Claudine Marx

In Memory of Anne Henry Kaufman Joel Shrater In Memory of Julian Robert Saly Richard & Gari Saly

Rabbi Averbach’s Discretionary Fund

In Memory of Stewart H. Brookstein Edward Chadroff In Memory of Bernard Ehrenpreis Sarah Jo In Memory of Diane Berman Elissa Lazarus In Memory of Ada Samuels Mark Wolfson In Memory of Alfred Agranoff Eileen Sachs Lee & Ruth Forman and Haley Isman In Memory of Vivian Sterling In Memory of Noel Sterling Randi Cohn In Memory of Bobbie Eisenstadt Harvey Kern In Memory of Irwin Gollub In Memory of Esther Gollub Michael Gollub In Memory of Albert Shipow Robert Shipow In Memory of Sarah Orlin Lorne & Caryl Label In Memory of Herman Weiss Ronald Weiss In Memory of Joy Krieger Bev Futterman In Memory of Martin Bordofsky Neil & Carolyn Bordofsky In Memory of Simon Dubinsky Jeff Schoenwald

Rabbi Averbach’s Discretionary Fund

In Memory of Fred Shragai In Memory of Edith Rose Glen & Ruth Rose

In Memory of Sandy Pfefferman In Memory of Tania Pfefferman Arthur Pfefferman In Memory of Sidney Reuben Sandra Reuben In Memory of Della Carmona Mika Carmona In Memory of Abe N. Kessler Gilbert Kessler In Memory of Rachel Sender Fine Lila Fine Oberman In Memory of Gene Geller Evy McCauley In Appreciation of Rabbi Averbach Officiating Our Wedding Caroline Goldfarb In Appreciation of Rabbi Averbach and his Staff ’s Kindness During Parent’s Yahrzeit Lisa Garfinkle In Honor of the Birth of Jacob Silverman Robert & Betty Zonshine

Sandee Tischler RSSF

In Memory of Sandy Ratzan In Memory of Frances R. Levine In Memory of Natalie Friedman Dawne Ratzan

Security Fund

In Memory of Murry Weber Bradley Weber & Dianna Kaffka

Social Action Fund

In Memory of Morris Reiser In Memory of Frances Kaye Patricia Kaye In Memory of Clara Stockell In Memory of Sylvia Rothman Bonnie Rothman In Memory of Kari Munowitch David Munowitch & Emily Habib In Memory of Stanley Friedman Steven & Pamela Friedman In Honor of Feed the Hungry for Harbor House Myles & Gail Simpson

Temple General Fund

In Memory of Bella Kalinski Zvi & Yola Kalinski In Memory of Cecil Moll Francine Finkelstein

In Memory of George Kaplan Daniel Goldberg In Appreciation of TEC’s warm and welcoming community Sidney & Sheryl Gutmann In Memory of Jay Shery David & Rebeccah Schwartz In Memory of Betty Marko Reuben Finkelstein In Memory of George Kaplan Mike & Sherri Cohn Jerrald & Deborah Cohen In Memory of Barbara King In Memory of Maurice King In Memory of David King Paul King

Tzedakah Fund

In Memory of Sara Tevet Steven & Orly Spielberg In Memory of Pearl Rosenfeld Harold Rosenfeld

USY Youth & Scholarship Fund

In Memory of Sidney Barnett Jane Spitzer

Women of TEC

In Honor of Best Recovery Wishes for Elissa Lazarus Cindy Goldberg

Women of TEC Torah Fund

In Memory of Miriam Fleser In Memory of Robin Sales Holly Seery

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SAVE THE DATE

MARCH

TEC MEN’S CLUB IS PROUD TO PRESENT

2729, 2026

25TH SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE

WEEKEND EVENT F O R TH E EN T I R E CO NGRE GAT IO N

Seeing the Sounds - Visual Interpretations of Biblical Text and the Holidays Dr. Revital Somekh-Goldreich

An award-winning scholar, educator, stained-glass artist, and community builder who uses art and sensory experiences to make Jewish studies more interactive and relevant.

SEEING BEYOND THE TEXT: BUILDING BRIDGES OF MEANING FROM PURIM TO PASSOVER THROUGH VISUAL THEOLOGY

FRIDAY EVENING

SATURDAY EVENING

SATURDAY MORNING

SUNDAY MORNING BRUNCH

7:00 PM Shabbat Evening Service What is Experiential Midrash? Take a magical carousel ride through the realm of experiential midrash to uncover why this approach is so exciting and relevant today.

9:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service Turn It and Turn It Again! Fun and games with visual theology for Purim and Passover. Explore the synergy of text, image, and frame in Visual Theology.

7:00PM Havdalah and Interactive Presentation (with refreshments) Are Exile and Diaspora Synonyms?

Explore this question by examining the Purim and Passover story-cycles and their rich visual interpretations.

9:30 AM, Meaning-Making Workshop So Many Bridges, So Little Time! Join us for a dynamic, co-creative workshop where we’ll discover and test relevant Purim-Passover connections, bringing our weekend of visual theology to a powerful close.

Saturday Evening and Sunday Brunch: $10 pp (no charge for SIR Sponsors, Legacy level &above, and students

Please visit our Scholar-In-Residence website often for updated agenda information, details and sponsorship opportunities.

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CHECK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION https://www.templeetzchaim.org/connect/mens-club/scholar-in-residence-weekend-2026

1080 E. Janss Rd. • Thousand Oaks, 91360 • (805) February 2026CA | Shevat - Adar, 5786 497-6891 • www.templeetzchaim.org www.templeetzchaim.org

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Show Your Heart & Save Lives

DONATE BLOOD

Temple Etz Chaim and Temple Adat Elohim are teaming up to save lives!

Sunday, April 19, 2026 8:45 AM to 1:00 PM At Temple Adat Elohim 2420 E. Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks

APPOINTMENTS REQUIRED Please help us spread the word about the constant need for lifesaving blood donations to friends and family!

Blood Donation

To schedule an appointment, please contact Temple Etz Chaim Blood Drive Coordinators:

Shari Mark, (805) 490-0966 smark@templeetzchaim.org Wendy Margolis (805) 279-3736 wmargolis@templeetzchaim.org

Temple Adat Elohim Blood Drive Coordinator:

Joyce Bloom, jbloom1967@gmail.com (818) 326-0122

Start celebrating Purim Today!

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Cut on dotted line

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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

26

March 2026 | Adar - Nissan, 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

HEARING ASSISTANCE HEARING AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

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March 2026 | Adar - Nissan, 5786

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Our goal is to assist each patient in achieving and maintaining long-term oral health and a beautiful smile.

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