Etzetera - March 2020

ETZETERA March 2020 Adar/Nisan 5780

Join us for Purim!

March 8th - 9th Details inside!

1

Hazzan Pablo Duek

Clergy Corner Rabbi Ari Averbach Purim celebrates a day when our life, our very future, was hanging in the balance. It is the only holiday on our calendar that commemorates a time when all of Judaism could have been wiped out. The Persian Empire at the time was expansive, stretching to include the lands of India, Ethiopia, Libya, Kazakhstan, and Greece. The Jews had spread out as the empire, which was mostly friendly towards our people, enabling us to thrive across the land.

As Haman’s edict went out, his overreaction against one Jew who would not treat him as a deity, word spread across the entire known world that on a single day in the middle of the spring, an entire people would be wiped out. But due to some miracles - all plebeian, none of them grand like we see with plagues or parting of waters - the tables were turned. The Jews survived (and here we still are), and the archvillain was brought to justice. A narrow escape.

The Jews survived (and here we still are), and the archvillain was brought to justice. A narrow escape.

And how do we note this, 2500 years later? With a holiday named after the trifling game he used to play with our fate. The holiday of the Lottery (more like Shirley Jackson’s than the Powerball) is named after Haman’s game to pick the date of our annihilation. It is now a day of frivolity and celebrating that we somehow survived in the face of great evil, a day where we dress in silly costumes and become inebriated (safely and within reason), it is a mirror of another day on the calendar: Yom Kippur (which is often referred to as Yom KiPurim, or the Day Like Purim).

Yom Kippur is cerebral and humorless, we fast and torture ourselves, standing in prayer, everyone wearing white to remind ourselves that it is time to start over. To remember how close we have come to the end of our lives, barely surviving because of last year’s actions. It is Purim on its head, or perhaps the other way around. When we barely escape cataclysm, we seem to have two ways of coping: looking inward and trying to better ourselves, or celebrating that fate had other plans for us.

I hope you will join us for our Purim celebrations – to see the joys of Judaism – or by fulfilling the mitzvot of the holiday: giving gifts and food to friends and to the needy. A beautiful way to remember we are alive.

Rabbi Averbach can be reached at rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org

2

As I began my journey as an amateur Hazzan, at the age of 16 years old in the greater Buenos Aires, I witnessed young boys and girls taking their place in Judaism as they became B’nai Mitzvah. I taught many of them, and had the honor of calling them to the Torah for the first time. I felt how anxious and nervous they were as they began chanting a prayer. I felt how proud they were as they completed their Torah portion. I did my best to infuse them with courage and confidence with nothing more than a fatherly smile, a genuine hug and a word of honest affection. In one word, I believe I always tried to give them love. And love was what I received from them and their families. I feel so blessed to be a Hazzan and serve people.

Our oldest son, Carmel Yosef Duek, is becoming a Bar Mitzvah on March 28th and Julieta and I couldn’t be happier. I dreamed so many times about this moment and the moment is here and now.

I can imagine myself having another profession, living in a different place, but I cannot imagine myself not having you Carmel in my life. You challenge me to be a better person, your true and kind heart define who you are, a tall Mensch in who grows in wisdom every day. Your curiosity will open countless streams of knowledge and your existential questions will help you to live a more meaningful life. I can go on and on about how proud I am of you but for now, I want you to know, as I’m telling you every day, that I love you and I am so happy to be your Dad. As a proud father and your Hazzan, Julieta and I want to invite each one of you to join us in our sanctuary as Carmel is called to the Torah for the

first time and as he takes his place as a young Jewish adult. Kiddush luncheon to follow.

Each one of us expresses ourselves in different ways; by talking and writing, by dancing and singing, by painting and sculpting. May each one of us find the voice to tell one another: “I love you”.

To the upcoming many wonderful boys and girls becoming B’nai Mitzvah in the month of March I want to shout out to you and your families: Mazal Tov!

While I do not want to discuss specific actions that we are taking at Temple Etz Chaim regarding security (for obvious reasons), I do want to reassure you that we take security very seriously. The cost of security is one of our largest investments. Recently, we applied for a sizable grant to assist us with further increases to our security (at the time of the writing of this article, we had yet to be informed as to whether the grant was approved or denied).

The availability of funds for this grant are, unfortunately, the result of the acknowledged rising tide of threats against Jewish institutions.

I ask for your understanding that these upcoming changes are made in an effort to improve security and not meant to inconvenience you.

Hazzan Pablo can be reached at hazzanpablo@templeetzchaim.org

President Jeff Solomon Happy Purim!

There are really no other holidays or Holy Days on the Jewish calendar that can compare to Purim. It is such a fun and silly holiday in the way we celebrate it such as a noisy Megillah reading, a pizza party, an adultsonly Purim Shpiel, etc. However, the story of Mordechai and Esther and Haman is rooted in a rather dire story that involves a potential genocide and, ultimately, the death of Haman.

None of us has to look far to see acts of anti-Semitism on the rise all around the world. Certainly, there have been a lot of stories about the growth of anti-Semitism in Europe over recent years, but the increases here in our United States over the past few years is really scary.

The Board of Temple Etz Chaim works very closely with our professional staff to make sure that your safety and the safety of our facilities is a primary concern. As we move forward into 2020, we will continue to make changes in order to continually improve our security.

3

Jeff Solomon can be reached at president@templeetzchaim.org

Contents 2-3 Clergy Corner 6-7 Simchas 8-9 Education at TEC 10 - 11 Women of TEC and Beautification 12 Tikkun Olam 14-15 Upcoming Programs and Events 17 Last Month at TEC 18 Tributes 20 Shabbat Schedule

4

5

Simchas

Simchas

B’nai Mitzvah Kira Hampton

March 7, 2020

B’nai Mitzvah Benjamin Goldstein

March 21, 2020

Hi, my name is Kira Hampton and I will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on March 7,

Hello, my name is Benjamin Goldstein. I am more commonly known as Benny. I am currently

2020. I’m in 7th grade at Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park. I love to spend time with

in 7th grade and going to Lindero Canyon Middle School. My Bar Mitzvah is on March 21,

my family, friends and cousins. I competed in gymnastics for 3 years and the beam was

2020. I have been at Temple Etz Chaim since second grade. In my spare time, I like to read,

always my favorite! I now play club volleyball and go to the local YMCA where I completed

play video games, do martial arts, and play guitar. I am a second degree black belt in karate

a Jr Lifeguard Training program. I’m so happy to share this day with my family and friends

and pursuing one in Jiu-Jitsu as well. I would like to thank all of my teachers who have

who have traveled near and far to help me celebrate my Simcha. I wanted to thank Joyce

helped me be who I am today, including Hazzan Pablo, Rabbi Averbach, Rabbi Spiegel, and

Bronstein for her support and for always putting me to work in order to achieve my volunteer

Rivka Moscovitch, my tutor. Of course, I would also like to thank my wonderful family and

hours for ASB. I also wanted to thank Hazzan Pablo for his on-going dedication, beautiful

classmates. I can’t wait to become a Bar Mitzvah.

voice and support in helping me become a Bat Mitzvah, and to Betty Zonshine for tutoring me, giving me confidence, and helping me prepare for my special day. Thank you to Rabbi Averbach for his guidance and encouragement throughout this process. Finally, thank you to my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, sister and parents for their unconditional love and support along this amazing journey.

Matthew Horowitz

March 14, 2020

Jaden Goldstein

March 21, 2020

Shalom! My name is Matthew Horowitz. I am currently in seventh grade attending Medea

My name is Jaden (Jadi) Goldstein and I am proud to become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday

Creek Middle School. I am also very excited to be celebrating my B’nai Mitzvah on March

March 21, 2020! I currently attend Lindero Canyon Middle School as a 7th grader and enjoy

14th. Beside me will be my twin sister Abby also being called to the torah. In my spare time

using my free time to do dance, including ballet, jazz, lyrical, pointe, modern, and aerial arts,

I love playing tennis, learning new things, and working on my fish tank with my dad. I also

as well as performing in big dance productions.

love to go fishing with my dad. I have been attending Temple Etz Chaim since 3rd grade

I am thankful for all the wonderful TEC teachers and staff who have been part of my Jewish

but took a break and returned in 5th. I love it here and will continue taking part in services

education since second grade. I would like to thank my parents, my tutor Rivka Moscovitch,

after my B’nai Mitzvah. I would like to thank Joyce Bronstein, Rabbi Averbach, Hazzan Pablo,

Hazzan Pablo, and Rabbi Averbach for helping me prepare for the special day that I will

my religious school teachers, my tutor Kenny Ellis, and most of all my family for helping me

share with my twin brother, Benny.

prepare for this special day.

I can’t wait to share my big day with all the people I love!

Abigail Horowitz

March 14, 2020

Carmel Duek

March 28, 2020

Hello! My name is Abby Horowitz, and I am a 7th grader at Lindero Canyon Middle School.

My name is Carmel Duek and I am becoming a Bar Mitzvah on March 28, 2020. I am a 7th

On March 14th I will be called to the Torah with my twin brother, Matthew. In my spare time

grader at Medea Creek Middle School. In my spare time, I enjoy being with friends and

I like playing the cello, roller skating, dancing, and playing with my two guinea pigs and

family, biking, reading, listening to new genres of music, and gaming with my friends. I have

my dog. I began my Jewish education in preschool and would like to thank everyone who

been attending Temple Etz Chaim for as long as I can remember. Thank you Mom and Dad

helped me along the way. Even though I started my Jewish practices in preschool, I did not

for helping me and taking care of me whenever I need you the most , my friends for carrying

start attending Etz Chaim until third grade. I’d also like to give special thanks to my tutor,

me along the way, and my tutor Marv Friedman, for taking me on a journey of what it is like

Cantor Kenny Ellis, my parents, brother, family, friends, Rabbi Averbach, Hazzan Pablo, and

to become a Bar Mitzvah.

Joyce Bronstein for helping me reach this amazing milestone in my life. Shabbat Shalom!

6

7

Shannon Tepfer - Youth Department

Education at TEC

Joyce Bronstein - Religious School There is a Hebrew saying, “When the month of Adar appears, we increase our happiness.”

May this declaration be true for your family!

Celebrate Purim together at TEC on March 9th.

Join us at the “Pop Up Purim Pizza Party,” at 5:30, wear your costumes, listen as the Megillah is read, “boo, boo, boo” when _ _ _ _ _ name is read, enjoy the sound of children singing and

laughing.

In Religious School, students will be celebrating Purim in many festive ways. They are making masks, baking hamentaschen, creating beautiful Purim pieces, participating in costume parades, learning the story of Purim, acting in a Purim/Spiel (play), reading the Megillah and having so much fun with their friends, teachers and families.

Take a breath and enjoy these special days with your precious children. Appreciate our Jewish traditions, customs and heritage.

And, together as a family, treasure these important moments.

Wishing everyone a Happy Purim. Hag Purim Sameach!

Joyce can be reached at joyce@templeetzchaim.org

Debbie Blumenthal - Early Childhood Education Many of us have great memories of spending a few weeks away at summer camp each year. We made great friends, enjoyed celebrating Shabbat together, arts and crafts, dancing, swimming, hiking and much more! On March 20-22, all TEC preschool parents and their children will have the opportunity to experience the magic of camp together at our very first – Temple Etz Chaim Family Camp 2020!

Our family camp will take place in beautiful Ojai at Camp Ramah! At Family Camp, you and your family will enjoy Shabbat, Havdallah, music and singing, parent talks, swimming, arts and crafts, adult only activities, and much more together in the beautiful setting of the camp. The Jewish Federation has made this experience possible for all ECE families at Temple Etz Chaim.

Summer Camp at Temple Etz Chaim ECE Center will also be fun and exciting. We are offering camp for a total of 10 weeks for children ages 18 months through Kindergarten. We have so many new activities and experiences planned for your children.

Registration information and a camp calendar are available now in the preschool office.

Spring is here and Purim is coming!!!

That means that Temple Etz Chaim’s Youth Department is busy painting signs, prepping games, organizing menus, looking for cool new prizes, ordering giant inflatables, organizing the costume contest, gathering volunteers, and much, much more!

Please be sure to join us for our Annual Purim Carnival on March 8th from 11:30-2:30 pm. We will have new games, petting zoo, dunk tank, bungee jumping, ultimate slides, food, prizes, silent auction, face painting, cotton candy, crafts, costumes, photo booth, awesome DJ and tons of fun! Don’t forget to pre-order your tickets, hamentashen, and NOW you can pre-order knish! There will be fun for kids, teens, and adults. All of the money raised from our carnival and auction helps TEC Youth attend regional and international events and supports our TEC Youth programing. Want to be a volunteer? Contact Shannon at youth@templeetzchaim.org for more details or check out the TEC website for the links to our ticket purchases, volunteer sign ups, and pre-orders. We can’t wait to see you there!!

PURIM PREP! PREP! PURIM

Come make posters + decorations for the Purim Carnival!

Kadima, Jr. USY, Sr. USY are welcome

TUESDAY, MARCH 3 @ THE WOLFSON 6:15PM-7:45PM COST: $10

RSVP at: youth@templeetzchaim.org Feel free to call us: (805)-494-3648

Shannon can be reached at shannon@templeetzchaim.org

This W ay!

Youth Department ages and groups: Machar K-2nd, Kadima 3rd- 6th, Jr’s 7th-8th, Sr’s 9th-12th.

Go k c Ba

March 3 Purim Prep Lounge (3rd grade and up) March 8 Purim Festival March 15 Jr/ Sr USY vs. Men’s Club at Dojo Boom March 17 Kadima Scavenger Hunt March 22 Youth Commission Meeting March 29 Pesach Machar March 31 USY Candle Packing with Men’s Club

The re

March 15 6:15 pm - 7:45 pm $10 and dinner is included

Yom HaShoah Candle Packing An event for: the entire Congregation

Sunday March 29 11:30am-1:30pm Lunch is included Cost is $10

March 31th, 2020 6:15 pm -7:45 pm In the Social Hall 3rd-12th graders Encouraged to help!

We join together as a Congregation in the remembrance of the Holocaust Pizza served at 6:15pm Candle packing at 6:45pm

RSVP to youth@templeetzchaim.org 805 494 3648

RSVP By: 03/26: youth@templeetzchaim.org (805)494-3648

Debbie can be reached at debbie@templeetzchaim.org

8

!

That Way

TEC and Men’s Club

Are you looking for a camp for your school-age child? Temple Etz Chaim is once again offering School-Age Camp for campers going into grades 1-3 in Fall 2020! Perfect if you have a sibling attending the preschool camp! We are offering 9 one-week sessions with fun themes and activities. We are offering temple member and sibling discounts. For further information, contact Debbie Blumenthal at 805-497-6852. Feel free to call or email Debbie Blumenthal for details and information. Our telephone number is 805-497-6852 and email is debbieb@templeetzchaim.org.

We hope to see our young families at our March Tot Shabbat on Friday, March 20th at 6:15 p.m. Our Intermediate classes will be singing Shabbat songs with us! A delicious dessert reception will follow the service.

Looking forward to making great camp memories with our TEC families!

Scavenger Hunt Kadima Lounge

RSVP by: 03/11 youth@templeeztchaim.org (805)494-3648

Machar “Passover Play” ● ● ● ●

Here

Connect with us @templeetzchaim

9

Women of TEC Cindy Scherr - WOTEC President

Our Tu B’Shvat Seder was a great success! A special thanks to Sarah Karamas for organizing the event, and to Ellen Zucker for leading us and teaching us so beautifully. We have so many more wonderful programs on the horizon – be sure to be on the lookout for information!

On March 22, WOTEC is having our major event of the year, “An Afternoon in the Catskills”. Everyone is welcome to attend – ladies, men, singles, couples… the more the merrier! Think “Mrs. Maisel” or “Dirty Dancing”! We’ll have a full catered lunch buffet, and our own Cantor Kenny Ellis will provide us with the afternoon’s entertainment of music and comedy. There will also be a silent auction with some really great items (a Coach purse, theater packages, and more) and prize opportunity drawings as well. All this for only $36 per person! RSVP at womenoftec@templeetzchaim.org or through the TEC office, no later than March 15. Check this month’s bulletin and your emails for more information. We hope to see you all there!

As always, you can contact me at the email address below at any time with any questions you may have. Our WOTEC meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month, at 7:00 pm, and all WOTEC members are welcome to attend. I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you at our activities and at shul.

Cindy can be reached at womenoftec@templeetzchaim.org

TEC Beautification

Wendy Margolis and Shari Mark - Beautification Committee Chairs

March 2020…A brief history for those who don’t know. Our Sanctuary building was built in the mid 1980’s and has not been updated since. Our goal is to renovate the lobby bathrooms to include a single restroom for young families, for aging congregants, and for guests who may need assistance. We plan to do some minor updates to the foyer, administrative offices, sanctuary (important to note, no major renovation here), and Spiegel Hall. This is a project that has been talked about for some time and is near and dear to the heart of our Rabbi Emeritus, who, when asked what we can do to honor him upon his retirement, replied “raise money to update our building.” So, let’s honor Rabbi Spiegel and make his wish a reality, all the while bringing our building into the new chapter of Temple Etz Chaim.

Our goal is to raise $500,000, and as of this writing we have raised 25% of that goal with just about 20 commitments.

We are currently creating plans and working hard with our architect and project manager toward a start date of the end of June and unveiling by the High Holidays. Any donations are greatly appreciated.

We are so excited to be working on this project. The vision of an updated building can’t be done by a few, it will take a village - our wonderful, loving, generous TEC village. Have questions or want to talk, my email is sharimark@templeetzchaim.org. Please feel very comfortable to email me and we can make an appointment to talk or convene in person.

10

11

Tikkun Olam

Community Outreach - Mark Goldstein and Social Action - Judy Gindi Love Your Neighbor Weekend - beginning Thursday, March 12 On Thursday, March 12, join us for an interfaith gathering at California Lutheran University’s Samuelson Chapel at 7:00 pm as a part of “Love Your Neighbor” weekend.

Please RSVP to outreach@templeetzchaim.org so we can meet up as a group. Plus, during shabbat services that weekend, Rabbi Averbach will address the importance of knowing your neighbors and participating in a larger community.

Smotrich Family Foundation Award of Merit for Early Childhood Education

Temple Etz Chaim ECE Center is excited to announce that one of our toddler teachers, Jackie Blitstein was chosen for this year’s Smotrich Family Foundation Award of Merit for Early Childhood Educators by the Builders of Jewish Education (BJE). The Smotrich Award recognizes two “up and coming” teachers from the Greater Los Angeles area in the field of early childhood education each year.

TEC Cares - Sunday, March 22 Our first TEC CARES event in January and was a big success! Over the course of the weekend, multiple therapists spoke about psychological challenges and support in our community. Join us for our next event Sunday, March 22 in the TEC Library at 9:45 am. Coffee, fruit and bagels will be provided. TEC Cares is an ongoing series addressing a multitude of life issues we all face - from the challenges of ailing loved ones and aging parents to the struggles of teen anxiety and selfdestructive behavior.

Wine Cheese and Chat - Friday, March 27 Join us for a monthly discussion about being Jewish and “living Jewishly.” Our January discussion focused on traveling to Israel and our February discussion centered on Jewish food. At our next event on Friday, March 27 at 6:30 pm we will be discussing Jewish Music. We’ll listen to and discuss different kinds of Jewish music from Broadway and Klezmer to Kol Nidre and Leonard Cohen. TEC will provide food and wine! Please email your favorite Jewish songs to outreach@templeetzchaim. org by March 25. And don’t forget a performance by the LAZC featuring Hazzan Pablo on Sunday, March 29!

Congratulations to Our Own Jackie Blitstein

The Blankets and Jackets project was a great success.

We donated to local homeless, the Westminster Free Clinic and the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles. Thank you to those who stored, sorted and distributed these items.

In March, we will collect unused travel size shampoos, lotions, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and feminine hygiene products for those in need. Please drop off in hampers in front of the main office or religious school. It would be wonderful if we could get some of these items in bulk.

Jackie and her family have been long time members at Temple Etz Chaim. Jackie joined our preschool staff three years ago. Jackie is completely committed to Jewish life and to teaching the values to our youngest preschoolers.

She loves to share her love of Judaism with the families in her classroom with daily photos, cooking, holiday art activities, Shabbat and Family events. Temple Etz Chaim’s Toddler Program is very excited for Jackie and her accomplishments as a teacher in the field of early childhood education!

On Sunday, April 19th, The Jewish World Watch Walk to End Genocide and Family Fair will take place at Temple Adat Elohim. Register now with Team Temple Etz Chaim at cv.walktoendgenocide.org. JWW expresses Judaism in action, by helping and healing survivors of mass atrocities around the globe. It is based on the principle that as a people we have experienced genocide and must not stand idly by.

GET INVOLVED! Temple Etz Chaim has many opportunities for Members to become involved. We value the commitment of our volunteers to help steer the direction of our community in the form of program planning, event selection, education and many many more.

If you are interested in becoming involved, please send an email to getinvolved@templeetzchaim.org today!

12

13

Upcoming Programs/Events March

03

Purim Prep Tuesday, March 3 6:15 PM details pg. 9

08

Purim Festival Sunday, March 8 11:30 AM

09

Pop-Up Purim Pizza Party Monday, March 9 5:00 PM

Megillah Reading Mon, Mar. 9 @ 6:15 PM (details pg. 8) Purim Shpiel (21+) Mon, Mar. 9 @ 8:00 PM

April

14

JAM Saturday, March 14 11:00 AM

17

Book Club Tuesday, March 17 7:00 PM

20

Tot Shabbat Friday, March 20 6:15 PM

22

TEC Cares Sunday, March 22 9:45 AM

Afternoon in the Catskills Sun, Mar. 22 @ 12:30 PM (details pg. 11)

15 16

Adult U - Passover Learning with Rabbi Averbach Sunday, March 15 9:30 AM Adult U - Holocaust Survivor Speaker Monday, March 16 7:00 PM

27

Wine, Cheese, & Chat Friday, March 27 6:15 PM

29

LAZC Event Sunday, March 29 5:00 PM Details pg. 16

Candle Lighting Times: Fri. Mar. 6 Candle Lighting: 5:37 PM Sat. Mar. 7 Havdalah: 6:32 PM Fri. Mar. 13 Candle Lighting: 6:42 PM Sat. Mar. 14 Havdalah: 7:38 PM Fri. Mar. 20 Candle Lighting: 6:48 PM Sat. Mar. 21 Havdalah: 7:44 PM

12

Upcoming Programs/Events

Fri. Mar. 27 Candle Lighting: 6:43 PM Sat. Mar. 28 Havdalah: 7:49 PM

Love Your Neighbor Weekend Thursday, March 12 7:00 PM

14

Rock Shabbat Friday, April 3 7:00 PM 1st Night of Passover Wednesday. April 8 Community Passover Seder Thursday, April 9 5:30 PM Mixology Class Saturday, April 11 6:30 PM Tot Shabbat Friday, April 17 6:15 PM JWW Walk to End Genocide Sunday, April 19 6:15 PM Book Club Tuesday, April 21 7:00 PM WOTEC Game Night Wednesday, April 22 7:00 PM TEC Cares Sunday, April 26 9:45 AM

15

Last Month at TEC Yout h

at B’Shev u T C WOTE

t ’Sheva B u T ECE

100t h D ay of Sc hool

16

17

Tributes Early Childhood Education Fund: In memory of: Benjamin Cohen

Bruce Cohen

Jotkowitz Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund In memory of: Bobbie Eisenstadt

Harvey Kern Julius Kaplan

Janet Kaller Harriet Levy

Rabbi Jack Shechter Hazzan Duek’s Discretionary Fund In memory of: Philip Ruvman

Maureen Levine Don Rennick

Stacy Borsuk Robert Lichtmann

Martin Lichtmann Dorothy Erman

Russ Erman Carolyn Berk Kotiaho

Errol Berk Cecil Moll

Francine Finkelstein Jack Chadroff

Edward Chadroff Rhoda Simowitz

Lee and Susan Simowitz Our condolences to: The Weiss Family

Helene and Michael Gollub In support of:

The Golove Family Rabbi Averbach’s Discretionary Fund In memory of: Doris Levine

Gary Levine Yetta Storch

Lawrence Storch Irwin Gollub Esther Gollub

Michael Gollub Fred Kunin

Lorraine Dennis Richard Manes

Randy Manes Irving Malchicoff

Sheldon Malchicoff David Buchbinder

Sara Sturman Elizabeth Leibovich

Anna Friedman Abe N. Kessler

Gil Kessler Tania Pfefferman

Arthur Pfefferman Ann Rudman

Ronald Rudman Max Ganstwig Sheri Ganstwig

Elisha and Gideon Manzur Our condolences: The Gero Family

Rhonda Averbach The Field Family

Zane Averbach

The Schoenwald Family

Betty and Bob Zonshine

John and Sandra Lutzker The Goldstein Family

Myrna Stelman In support of:

Sidney and Sheryl Gutmann

The Golove Family Barbara & Harvey Scherr Memorial Fund In memory of: Dorothy Kwartler

Linda Moskowitz Jack Kirby Memorial Fund: In memory of: Gertrude Weiner

Elliott Harvey Religious School Fund In memory of: Gayle Weiner

Julie Sterling Mildred Phillips

Frank Phillips Manuel Label

Sarah Orlin Annette Shapiro

Barbara Budish Stan Friedman

Steven Friedman Jacob Funk

Myron Funk Frances Sarah Ratzan

Dr. Jerome Ratzan Our condolences to: The Weiss Family

Buzz Schoenkerman Elisa Feldman Memorial Religious School Scholarship Fund In memory of: Benjamin Barney

Irwin Barney Gertrude Altman

Nomi Freed Lillian Mezey

Gail Simpson Norman Epstein

Ilene Barney Rosalyn Gleimer

Ellen Hustead Our condolences to: The Schoenwald Family

Nomi Freed

Jan and Janice Orlowski In support of:

The Kilmnick Family Lipnick Religious School Scholarship Fund In memory of: Murray Goldberg Ira Goldberg

Susan Goldberg Seymour Horowitz William Frederick

Rose Frederick-Horowitz Jim Levin Anny Levin Walter Michelson

Barbara Shannon

18

Our condolences to: The Goldstein Family

Myrna Stelman

Our Sponsors

Tzedakah Fund In memory of: Halina Pinsker

Leon Pinsker USY Youth & Scholarship Fund In memory of: Morris Reiser

Patty Kaye

Betty Reiser Pinchos Smith

Andy Smith Sidney Barnett

Jane Spitzer Temple General Fund In memory of: Oscar Honigsberg

Max Honigsberg Sidney Green

William Green Bela Kalinski

The Kalinski Family Our condolences to: The Gero Family

Patty Kaye The Schoenwald Family

Patty Kaye The Kaye Family

Michele and Russell Spoto Men’s Club Scholar-in-Residence Fund In memory of: Joe Simpson

Myles Simpson Anne Henry Kaufman

Joel Shrater Men’s Club Silverstein Humanitarian Fund In memory of: Jack Stelman

Myrna Stelman Women of TEC Torah Fund: In memory of: Rhoda Simowitz

Lee and Susan Simowitz Women of TEC Torah Fund: In memory of: Rhoda Simowitz

Lee and Susan Simowitz Women of TEC Scholarships Fund In memory of: Gail Cohen

Stuart Hockman Women of TEC Beautification of TEC Fund In memory of: Alan Block

Linda Hutchings Women of TEC Tribute Fund: Mazel Tov: Michael and Karen Roberts

Gertie Sanders

Plan Ahead: Premier Pre-Need Program A TEC and Mt. Sinai Partnership

The time is now. Plan ahead. Take care of your arrangements.

Starting the discussion is not always easy. Ask for Josh Ryan and the Premier Pre-Need Program as part of your advance planning needs and TEC monetary benefits. To get your confidential conversation started, please call Josh Ryan, Property Specialist, and say “Temple Etz Chaim”at 805-306-6411 or jtryan@mountsinaiparks.org.

Starting the discussion:

Reflecting:

“I don’t want to think about it.”

“Let’s talk about it later” … (but the time never comes) “Let’s be obvious, it’s not a fun subject...”

“We don’t need to think about this now at our age.”

“I think he was sorry he didn’t have it planned at the time because he couldn’t think about it when it happened. and when it happened he let someone else do the deciding.”

“I didn’t know the answers” “It was one of the toughest things to go through…”

“I never realized all the decisions.”

Why you made the arrangements now:

We ALL know someone who wasn’t prepared,who didn’t know what to do.

“I don’t want them to go through what I had to experience” “Why? Because it takes the burden off my kids when they will have so much to deal with … that’s why.”

“Because it is my responsibility to shield my family from having to make intense financial and difficult decisions at a vulnerable challenging time.”

“I know I need to do this to take care of my family: spiritually, financially and emotionally.”

“They have enough to worry about. I know it’s the best gift I could give to my family.”

“I know my family will appreciate it in the long run.”

“I don’t want to be buried in my gym clothes.”

“I like knowing now where my family will be visiting me.”

Thank you to those contributing and sharing thoughts & quotes. *Cremation properties and Caves of Abraham excluded; Mt. Sinai has a firm price policy; Mt. Sinai Simi Valley, 6150 Mount Sinai Drive, 93063 (805) 306-6411www.mountsinaiparks.org; Questions, call Bob Zonshine, TEC, (818) 438-6894 bobz@templeetzchaim.org

Having discussions, making arrangements, can alleviate a significant amount of pressure in an already most stressful time for your loved ones no matter what age.

Hopefully this helps you start the discussion needed because starting the discussion is sometimes one of the hardest steps.

Starting the discussion is not always easy

www.templeetzchaim.org

19

Clergy Rabbi Ari Averbach Hazzan Pablo Duek Rabbi Emeritus Shimon Paskow Rabbi Emeritus Richard Spiegel Staff Gideon Manzur - Executive Director Debbie Blumenthal - ECE Director Joyce Bronstein - Religious School Director Shannon Tepfer - Youth Director Kathy Sharp - ECE Assistant Director Lindsey Alpert - Administrative Support Dana Gallenberg - Programs/Events Coordinator Jessica Jacoby - Accounts Receivable Board of Directors Jeff Solomon - President Shari Mark - Executive Vice President Sherri Finn - Immediate Past President David Abramovicz - VP Ways and Means Jennifer Elson - VP Membership Eric Feigenbaum - VP Youth Mark Goldstein - Trustee Community Outreach Judy Gindi - VP Social Action Robin Kahn - Trustee Business Services Elissa Lazarus - Corresponding Secretary Ken Leon - Men’s Club President Dan Lubetkin - VP Communications Wendy Margolis - Financial Secretary Beth Meyer - Recording Secretary Tom Milhaupt - VP Personnel/Legal Michael Roberts - Trustee Bingo Cindy Scherr - Women of TEC President Larry Slomowitz - VP Building and Grounds Benny Sommerfeld - VP Religion and Worship Felicia Toporoff - VP Religious School David Yodkovik - Treasurer Joe Zwicker - VP Early Childhood Education Terri Zwicker - Trustee Strategic Planning Gary Katz - Past President Marshall Scherr - Past President Myles Simpson - Past President

1080 East Janss Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 www.templeetzchaim.org

Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 131 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Weekly Services Erev Shabbat 7:30 PM

Shabbat Morning 10:00 AM

Sunday Minyan 8:30 AM

Mon/Wed Minyan 7:15 PM

Temple Etz Chaim Live Stream!

At Temple Etz Chaim, all Shabbat Services held in the Paskow Sanctuary are live streamed. Live Streaming allows those in our community who otherwise cannot physically come to the Temple to participate in the Shabbat experience. It also affords B’nai Mitzvah families with out-of-town guests who cannot make it to services the opportunity to participate in the simcha.

Please know that if you ascend the bimah, light the Shabbat candles, have an Aliyah, or open the ark, your image and voice will be broadcast on the live stream.

Services can now be viewed live! Visit our Facebook page or streamspot.com.