News of Our Congregants - January 2018

CONDOLENCES

Our deepest condolences to the families of several of our past congregants and their loved ones.  In December we lost:
Long time member, INEZ LIPKIN
LINDA HIRSCH, daughter of Donna Leff
MARCI CURLEO, daughter of Dottie Schatz
 
We know they will live on in your hearts and memories.

GET WELL
To Jean Brown, who broke her shoulder last month is still recovering. 

To Ron Trachtenberg, our Temple President who spent much of the holidays battling a viral infection. 

We hope you are both firmly on the road to recovery - we miss you! 

    __________________________________________________

We know there are always a number of congregants who are battling illness or other have suffered other health issues.  We send you wishes of a return to good health. 

 

(Please let us know if you, or a fellow congregant is infirmed so that we may send prayers and wishes for a return to good health).

Volunteer Opportunities

As a great synagogue with a small congregation, Valley Beth Israel grows and thrives as a result of it's dedicated volunteers.  And we need more help!

Our volunteers help plan and organize our events, build toward the future as members of our Board, and hold many other roles in between.  YOUR help is most definitely wanted, and needed.  Please read below for a list of our various volunteer opportunities. 

If you want to be involved, but cannot fully commit to a task, please let us know as we would be thrilled to have a list of volunteers we can contact as needs arise.

• Board Members
• Event Planning - including creating flyers and marketing our events
• Event Preparation - shopping / cooking / serving / set up / clean up

The following activity has an immediate need!

VBI Newsletter - Writing this newsletter is a rewarding task as you interface routinely with the most dedicated and involved members of the synagogue.  Candice Gottlieb-Clark who has been dedicated in this role for the past year is planning a move out of state.  She is looking for one or two volunteers to take on this role and has offered to train/teach our next editor in chief!  This role must be filled by March 2018 to allow ample time for training and getting our new Newsletter Marvel or Maven up to speed.  

Torah Fund - December 2017

As Jewish women, we are at the very heart of the struggle for Jewish continuity.  Part of the success of every synagogue is related to the strength of its Sisterhood.  When Sisterhoods are strong and growing, our synagogues thrive and sustain communities for future generations.   Most of the core principles that guide us as Conservative Jews are directly connected to Torah and study for ensuring the future of Jewish life.

 

Women’s League is committed to working in partnership with the best Jewish universities through Torah Fund.   We must do whatever we can to ensure that financial need is not a barrier to the best and the brightest of our young people devoting their lives to sustaining the Jewish community as leaders and teachers.  When you contribute to the Torah Fund campaign you help launch the careers of students who bring honor to our people through their work.   We must be able to provide funding to our future Rabbis and Cantors for the required year of study in Israel.

 

Please send your contributions to Valley Beth Israel Sisterhood Torah Fund   We need your support more than ever.   Again, thank you for your continued support of Torah Fund.  

 

Bobbie Cohen 764-7952

Torah Fund V. P.

Chanukah - 2017

Dear Chevre, (friends),

 

Who could believe that Chanukah is already upon us?  December 12th is the first night and December 17, Sunday at 10:30, is our annual Chanukah celebration with our students in our Hebrew School.  We will be featuring Chanukah songs in Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino and English.  Come prepared to join in singing as there will be song-sheets for all!

 

Please bring your Chanukah Menorah and candles to light with us as the Students lead us in the blessings.

After the program, continue the Chanukah celebration with the students and teachers, noshing on Latkes and fixings presented by the Men’s club, as you will, no doubt, read elsewhere in this newsletter. 

Looking forward to seeing you there!!!

Rabbi Janet Bieber

Director of Education

 

Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Celebrations - Dec 2017

Birthdays and Anniversaries!!

To honor birthdays and other celebrations, please join our congregation in our monthly Choral Shabbat.  Our December program was held on December 1st, and our next program will be this Friday, January 5th, 2018.
Services begin at 7:30pm

Please let Judy Knigin know if you will be celebrating a birthday or anniversary in the coming month.  Likewise, we invite you to sponsor an Oneg Shabbat or Kiddush Luncheon.  Judy can be reached in the VBI office at (818) 782-2281.

News of Our Congregants - Dec 2017

GET WELL

Jean Brown, who broke her shoulder, we wish you well in your recovery.

 

We know there are always a number of congregants who are battling illness or other have suffered other health issues.  We send you wishes of a return to good health. 

 

(Please let us know if you, or a fellow congregant is infirmed so that we may send prayers and wishes for a return to good health).

 

     

Torah Fund - November 2017

Torah Fund Campaign of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism is a grassroots fundraising campaign dedicated to perpetuating Judaism by supporting its seminaries and scholarship funds.    This campaign was first launched in 1942 as a scholarship fund.  In 1963 it combined with the Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall campaign, which provided housing for undergraduate students at JTS and University of Judaism in Los Angeles.

This year, 2017-2018, our theme Mah tovu  which means “how good”, is a phrase that originates in the Torah, in Numbers 24:5.   Quoted in our prayer book, it forms the basis of the opening prayer that is sung when we enter the synagogue.

The one value that we all share is our love of Judaism and Jewish education.  It is because of this that we all benefit from the graduates of the schools that our Torah Fund campaign supports.  

You have received  letters for the 2017-2018 Torah Fund campaign in August.  We need your support more than ever in our Torah Fund campaign so please send your checks if you haven’t. 

Again, thank you for your continued support of Torah Fund.  

Bobbie Cohen 764-7952

Torah Fund V. P.

Birthdays, Anniversaries, Celebrations - Nov 2017

Mazel Tov 

To Flora Jean and Merkel Weiss upon the birth of their first grandchild, Ryan to their son David and wife Genevieve.  

Birthdays and Anniversaries!!

To honor birthdays and other celebrations, please join our congregation in our monthly Choral Shabbat.  Our next program will be this Friday, November 3rd, 2017.
Services begin at 7:30pm

Please let Judy Knigin know if you will be celebrating a birthday or anniversary in the coming month.  Likewise, we invite you to sponsor an Oneg Shabbat or Kiddush Luncheon. Judy can be reached in the Temple office at (818) 782-2281

News of Our Congregants - Nov 2017

CONDOLENCES

Our deepest condolences to Bea Gelfand whose son Harold Gelfand passed during the High Holidays.  Harold lived in Buffalo, New York.  Bea is a long time member of VBI, though she is 95 and unable to join us at VBI for most festivities. 

 

Our very own "Behind  the Headlines" writer Selma Alpert passed suddenly this month.  She'd only just retired from her column last month.  We will miss you Selma, and send our condolences to your family and loved ones.

 

Finally. we send our condolences to the victims of the many recent tragedies our fellow Americans have faced in Las Vegas, in fires throughout our state, and as a result of the many hurricanes that have devastated so many.

 

GET WELL
Donna Leff, who suffered a recent fall, we wish you well in your recovery.

There are always a handful of our congregants who are battling illness or other health issues.  We send you wishes of a return to good health.  We look forward to seeing you back at VBI soon.

     

Interfaith Thanksgiving at VBI

Monday November 20th, Valley Beth Israel will be participating in the Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. This special community events brings together the local Jewish, Catholic, and Presbyterian congregations for a special service that promotes our shared faith in G-d and our love for humankind. Interfaith services will be held throughout southern California - we hope you will join us in attending our local event which begins at 7:00pm and concludes at about 8:15pm - with refreshments to follow.

 

The service is a special time for coming together and building good-will. The diverse program features music, words, and songs from many faiths, including a wonderful performance by a children's choir. Whether this will be your first time or one of many, you will learn and experience something new and wonderful about your neighbors of other faiths. And you'll get to meet and visit with some of them as you enjoy light (and Kosher) refreshments after the program.

 

This year's theme is "In the Image of God" reminds us "do not oppress the orphans, widows or strangers among you". Leaders of Panorama Presbyterian Church, St. Genevieve Catholic Church, and our Temple, Valley Beth Israel, along with special guest Rev. Ken Craft of the Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission all participate in leading this community event. 

 

The event works to provide support to Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, www.hopeofthevalley.org. Free-will offerings of non-perishable food, clean used clothing, and monetary gifts will be collected.

 

Congregations of Valley Beth Israel, Panorama Presbyterian Church, and St. Genevieve Catholic Church come together as congregants for this interfaith event.  This year's event will be hosted by our very own Valley Beth Israel Temple.  Please come and show your support for your synagogue and your fellow man at this fantastic event.

 

Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Celebrations - October 2017

Mazel Tov 

Last month we wished Mazel Tov to Elaine and Dan Rubinstein on the birth of their new granddaughter.  Their loving response...

 

Thank you for your donations and congratulations on the birth of our granddaughter in Finland. She now has a name!  It is Oreen Mia which is Hebrew for light of joy from God.

Receiving your cards with the congratulations and listing the many, many donations brought smiles to our faces.  You always respond whether it’s times of joy or sorrow.  Please know that all of you are greatly appreciated.

Birthdays and Anniversaries!!

To honor birthdays and other celebrations, please join our congregation in our monthly Choral Shabbat.  Our next program will be this Friday, October 6th, 2017.
Services begin at 7:30pm
 

Please let Judy Knigin know if you will be celebrating a birthday or anniversary in the coming month.  Likewise, we invite you to sponsor an Oneg Shabbat or Kiddush Luncheon. Judy can be reached in the Temple office at (818) 782-2281

Torah Fund - October 2017

Thank you for your continued support of our Torah Fund campaign!

 

Torah Fund is the grassroots fundraising campaign of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism that supports the seminaries of the Conservative/Masorti movement, the Jewish Theological Seminary in N. Y. the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles,  the Schechter Institutes in Jerusalem, Rabinico Latinoamericano in Buenas Aires and now Potsdam, Germany.

 

We are blessed in our synagogues with depth of learning, prayer, and acts of kindness that bind us together, with communal leaders who are thoughtful and learned; with children and grandchildren who make us smile; and with the love of family and friends.  Everyone has the opportunity to participate in preserving, promoting and perpetuating the Conservative movement by giving to the Torah Fund Campaign.   

 

By supporting the Jewish institutes our mission remains the same: educating rabbis, cantors, educators, scholars, and future lay leaders that our communities need to energize the “vital center” of religious life.

 

We need your support more than ever in our Torah Fund campaign. 

 

Again, thank you for your continued support of Torah Fund.  

 

Bobbie Cohen 764-7952

Torah Fund V. P.

News of Our Congregants - October 2017

Our High Holiday services engaged many members and we really enjoyed the participation of each person who got involved. 
A very special Mitzvah was done by Justin Jacobs who conducted the Haftorah reading on Rosh Hashanah.  Justin became a Bar Mitzvah last year and requested to be involved in the service.  He and Shirley Winger spent months in preparation for the reading and it was beautiful.  Justin's proud family commented that "you could hear a pin drop" as congregants listened to the chanting of this young man.  Well Done Justin and Shirley!




A handful of our congregants have battled illness this summer.  We know some of you are doing much better and we are so glad for it.  We hope you all continue to improve and, please get well soon! 

Get well Macey Taylor!  Macey, who is 11 years old and a member of our Hebrew School is being treated for atypical pneumonia.  She's doing better and we wish her a speedy return to good health!

Finally, we send our well wishes to Selma Alpert - long time contributor the VBI Temple through her "In the Headlines" news reports.  Selma is recovering from major surgery - and has also decided to retire from her writings.  We wish you well and we thank you for your many contributions!

     

 

 

 

President's Message - October 2017

L’Shana Tovah everyone,

Yom Kippur is only a day away as I am writing this message. I hope the beginning of the new year has been kind to you and I wish for you only the best as the year progresses. We had a great start to the holiday with a Selichot dinner and service on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah. In prior years attendance for this beginning of the year had decreased to the point of perhaps cancelling it. My oldest daughter, Amy, stood up at a ritual meeting and said that was not a good idea suggesting that a dinner might attract at least a few people so that the service would be meaningful for Rabbi Mark and those that came. Well, lo and behold, we had 40 – 45 people at the dinner and over 60 for the service. All it took was someone to come forward with an idea and a few people to make it happen.

 

Much goes on behind the scenes to get the synagogue in a holiday mode: changing Torah covers and polishing the silver, setting the chairs in the social hall, preparing and distributing the tickets and pledge cards and many other things. All this is done by volunteers who do it out of love for the synagogue. They don’t look to have their names published and since I was under the weather and wasn’t there to help I don’t know all who helped but I can imagine the names of most of them. I want to say thank you from me and the congregation for your efforts.

Services have gone well this year with some different people leading parts of the service. Rabbi has had one of these nagging coughs but has been able to somehow belt out the melodies. I expect to see all of you at Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur day services. As I mentioned in the last newsletter there has been a change in the way we do our appeals this year. Three of us will speak about the synagogue and our need to have you provide as much support as you are able. However, when you come to your seats you will not find pledge cards on them as in past years. A small white pledge card was sent to you with your tickets so that you could fill them out in the privacy of your home and either bring or send your pledge to the synagogue. The High Holy days are the one time each year that we ask you to think about Valley Beth Israel and what it has meant to you over the years. Please contribute to the synagogue as much as you are able. Every year it gets more difficult to satisfy our financial obligations.  

 

Three things, at least for now, to put on your calendar: Barbeque in the sukkah on October 8^th sponsored by the Men’s Club; 23^rd Interfaith Service on November 20^th hosted by VBI; and the Return of the Big Bands on December 2^nd. Please remember these events and make plans to be at each of them if you are able.

 

We look forward to each of you getting involved in the services and events that are happening at your synagogue.  Beyond attending functions, please volunteer for a committee and help us get projects done.  Valley Beth Israel needs you so please get involved. If you want to be on the Board of Directors of the synagogue and be a voice in the decisions that affect the survival of VBI please call me.

 

I hope to see you at the synagogue soon.  To a healthy, safe, peaceful and prosperous New Year.

                                                Ron

Bar-b-Que in the Sukkah

 

Well our 2017 BBQ in the Sukkah was a great event.  Coming together for this event, breaking bread together, and eating under the Sukkah are the obvious highlights - and this year was no different.  We served 62 people and made over $275 in profits for the Temple.  Special thanks to Ed and Miriam who prepare, cook, and host the event and an added thanks to Brian Silk who helped with preparations and cleanup.  We could not do it without you!



 

BEHIND THE HEADLINES - Final Words

For over 25 years I have written this column for VBI.  

 

One reader told me, " I don't agree with everything you write, but I always read your column."  Another recently told me, " I have kept every copy of your articles."  

Imagine that!  

 

Now I am  recovering from major surgery.  I've decided that my column and I will retire.

 

I wish all my readers a Happy and Healthy New Year!

                                                                                Selma  Alpert

President's Message - September 2017

L’Shana Tovah everyone,

 The Jewish new year has arrived and it’s amazing how fast the year has gone. The holiday period begins with a service called Selichot and it is held on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah. This year it will be on September 16^th. The service is not long and the choir will be singing. So come and join us as we usher in the new year. Prior to the service (which will be at 7:30 pm) we are having a dinner that will start at 6:15 pm. You just know that the dinner will be good with plenty of food. Check out the flyer in this newsletter and respond accordingly with your paid reservations to the office no later than September 10^th. Please don’t wait until the last minute. Now if the words you have just read seem familiar that’s because it’s almost verbatim to what I wrote in the last newsletter.

If you haven’t gotten your High Holy day tickets please contact the office right away. I won’t waste your time with all the hours of the services because they are on the tickets or posted on the VBI website. I look forward to seeing you at some or all of the services. A lot of work goes into preparing for the holidays and I hope you will enjoy your experience.

There is a change in the appeals this year. We will most likely still have three as in past years. However, we do not plan to have pledge cards on your seats when you come to services. Note that with your tickets there is a pledge card enclosed that you can fill out in the privacy of your home and either bring or send them to the office at your convenience. High Holy days are the one time each year that we ask you to think about Valley Beth Israel and what it has meant to you over the years. Please contribute to the synagogue as much as you are able. Every year it gets more difficult to balance our financial obligations. You know how difficult it is in your own situation but we deal with a lot of unknowns in what we budget; i.e., unexpected breakdowns and repairs, increases in utility rates, changes in numbers of members, etc. As I’ve said before I don’t want you to give until it hurts but at least give until it’s a little uncomfortable!

I am still looking for some of you to step up and join committees. There is much to be done and a little of your time each month will help us get projects done. It’s the beginning of the new year and I know there are many things that we can do at our synagogue to help bring in much needed funds. Valley Beth Israel needs you so please get involved.

I have one special thank you to make. My oldest daughter Amy volunteered to man the office while Judy was away for a nine day period at the end of August. She stepped in with little understanding of what needed to be done yet in addition to answering the phone she took reservations for High Holy day ticket, dinner reservations for the Selichot dinner, prepared the yahrzeit list for September and the Friday night flyer and many other things. The office did not skip a beat.  From the bottom of my heart, I thank her for the tremendous effort she put forth.

I hope to see you at the synagogue soon. Please be careful in the heat and drink plenty of water.
Ron
 
Ron Trachtenberg
VBI President

News of Our Congregants - September 2017

David McGarry was honored during a Friday night Shabbat service last month.  Rabbi Mark thanked David for his dedication and service to VBI from childhood to adulthood, and wished him well as he transitions to college and the world beyond.

 

We wish you well David!





A handful of our congregants have battled illness this summer.  We know some of you are doing much better and we are so glad for it.  We hope you all continue to improve and, please get well soon!

            Dottie Crystal

            Bud Seligson
 

            Ron Trachtenberg
 

            Flora Jean Weiss

 

Heartfelt condolences go to the family of NORMA NEIMAN.  Norma was a long time member of VBI, and she will be missed by all who knew her.