December

9 Kislev - 9 TevetDecember 2014

¡Vámanos!

ServicesMinyan Services are held every Sunday in Knell Chapel, beginning at 9:00 AM.

1434 N. Altadena Drive • Pasadena CA 91107 http://www.pjtc.net/ ( 6 2 6 ) 7 9 8 - 1 1 6 1

Cantor Ruth Berman Harris

Hi Everyone! By the time you read this, I will be almost ready to have a foot on the airplane! How cool is that?

On December 24, 22 of our congregants and I will embark on an unbelievable journey together.

Having been born in Argentina, I was inspired to find a way to share my culture and heritage with my congregation. I decided to host a trip to Argentina, with the hope that I could convey a meaningful experience through all the historical landmarks and Jewish cultural attractions Argentina has to offer. Argentina is rich in culture and history, and throughout this ten-day trip, it is my goal to offer an experience that could only be sensed by being there.

The trip is scheduled to take place December 24, 2014-January 2, 2015. A few key events on the itinerary include:

A tour of the Jewish Community •Center “Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina” (AMIA);Kabbalat Shabbat Services and •Shabbat Dinner at the oldest synagogue in the country, the Libertad Street Synagogue;A v is i t to the S ephardic •Synagogue of Lavalle Street, which was built in 1936;“Barrio del Once”, known as the •Lower East Side of Buenos Aires, a neighborhood that holds much historic significance for the local Jewish community;A visit to the Recoleta Cemetery, •where the tomb of Evita Perón, first lady of Argentina from 1946-1952, is located;

A guided tour of •the biggest theatre in the southern hemisphere, “El Teatro Colon”;

A Vi s i t t o t h e •Marshall T. Meyer Latin Amer ican S eminar y, the academic, cultural and religious center of the Jewish Conservative Movement (Masorti) in

Argentina and Latin America;A chance to meet and learn from •representatives of the Moisés Ville community from the city of Santa Fe;A visit to the Anne Frank •museum in Buenos Aires, which opened in 2009 and is unique in Latin America;A Tango Class followed by a •wonderful Dinner and Tango Gala Show;A visit to “Estancia La Susana” •(Argentinean Ranch) with an Argentinean Style BBQ;And much more!•

The trip offers a unique opportunity to truly experience these Jewish and non-Jewish landmarks, as well as the historical significance they have to offer. There are many cities in the world that have Jewish communities, but this one is exceptional, and this trip has specific things that can’t be found on any other kind of trip because I have organized these very special activities.

I thank our congregation and look forward to this amazing opportunity! And make sure you check on us on our PJTC website updates.

With excitement, Cantor Ruth

December 5/6 Parashat: VayishlahWhitman Dinner 6:00 PM Social HallFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert SanctuarySat. Service 9:00 AM Knell Chapel

Kiddush hosted by Carolyn Kunin in honor of her birthday

December 12/13 Parashat: VayeshevHei Class will lead services

Fri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert SanctuaryOneg hosted by Hei Class parents

Services with Nava TehillahSat. Schmooze and Schnapps 9:00 AM Social HallSat. Service 9:30 AM Social HallKiddush hosted by Shabbes Minyan Group

December 19/20 Parashat: MikketElla and Noah Grater B’nai Mitzvah

Fri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary

Sat. Service 9:00 AM Galpert SanctuaryOneg and Kiddush hosted by

Rabbi Joshua and Franci Levine GraterDecember 26/27 Parashat: VayiggashFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary

Oneg hosted by Sisterhood

Sat. Service 9:00 AM Knell ChapelKiddush hosted by Shabbes Minyan Group

Whitman DinnerFriday

December 56:00 PM

Social HallRSVP to the Temple office

by December 1

The FLAME 2 December 2014

Staff and Officers

Advertise in The FLAMEHelp offset the cost of our monthly publication while promoting your

business or service.Business Card @ $20.00/month Quarter Page @ $35.00/month

Half Page @ $70.00/monthThree month minimum. Discounted rates

are available for longer running ads. Make your request at

[email protected]

The Communications Committee can assist you with ad copy and layout.

Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center1434 N. Altadena Drive

Pasadena, California 91107(626) 798-1161 • (626) 798-8410 (Fax)

http://www.pjtc.net/[email protected]

– PJTC Clergy and Staff –Joshua Levine Grater – RabbiGilbert Kollin – Rabbi EmeritusRuth Berman Harris – Cantor

Claire Gorfinkel - Caring Community Coordinator

Sondra Dreshner - GabbaiEitan Trabin – Executive Director

Rabbi Becky Silverstein – Education DirectorEitan Loewenstein –Religious School Assistant

Bruce Applebaum – Operations ManagerMelissa Levy – Youth Director

Debra Bunting – Assistant to the RabbiMarian Rosen – Bookkeeper

Robert Brown – Facilities Manager

– PJTC Officers –President – Jonathon WeiszSecretary – Erich SchlechtTreasurer – Mickey Bernath

Exec. VP Management – Faith SegalExec. VP Programs – Jeff Landau

VP Administration – Noah Golden-KrasnerVP Adult Programs – Felicity SwerdlowVP Youth Programs – Geoff DeBoskey

VP Finance – Sandy HartfordVP Membership – Andrea Edwards

VP Religious Affairs – Richard SamuelsonPlanning Committee Chair – Brian Mark

Sisterhood President – Debbie GuestMen's Club President – Andy Schwarz

– Board of Directors –Keri Axel, Judy Balian, Ira Blitz,Valerie Grover, Haley Karish,

Jacob Levy, Carol Rader-Meislin,Amy Richardson, Nathan Temple,

Roberta Tragarz, Ruth Several–Voting Past Presidents –Judy Callahan, Cathy Krasner

Matt Ober, Mickey Segal

– The FLAME Staff –Bruce Applebaum – LayoutEdie Taylor, Roz Scherr and Breyne Moskowitz – Editors

Karen Hochman Brown – Advisor

For the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center (PJTC), hiring Rabbi Becky Silverstein as their Education Director just made sense. A recent graduate of Hebrew College, Rabbi Silverstein brought the knowledge, the passion, and the training that the position required. He won over the board, the staff, and the community.

What made things just a little bit complicated was the fact that Rabbi Silverstein is transgender—and one of the very few openly transgender rabbis in America.

Keshet has ta lked with R abbi Silverstein before to get his perspective on the learning curve associated with being, as a rabbi, a public transgender figure. For Rabbi Silverstein, “As a person who identifies as trans and genderqueer and whose pronoun (intentionally) creates dissonance with my name, I try to remember that those whom I am encountering may be going through their own process. This requires approaching everyone with compassion and an ear to understanding where they are so that I can respond appropriately.”

We recently talked with Eitan Trabin, PJTC’s Executive Director, about the tachlis of hiring Rabbi Silverstein. Trabin shared how the hiring process developed. “During our first interview with Becky, his pronouns were established. There wasn’t a dramatic moment of head scratching, but after the interview our hiring board took a moment to discuss. I knew we could talk about Becky being trans in terms of learning about it, but this wasn’t going to be something to weigh in terms of hiring. I probably had a dozen conversations with people about transgender education during the hiring process. Most of the people on the hiring committee said, ‘Oh, okay.’ And others said, ‘Oh, okay… so what’s that?’ So, there was education that we had to do right away.”

“There was a little conversation of ‘How would this be taken by the congregation?’ and the overwhelming weight was given to the fact that Rabbi Silverstein was an exceptional candidate, no matter what, which is why we offered him the position.”

When Rabbi Silverstein offered his thoughts on the hiring process, he shared that PJTC’s willingness to discussing pronouns, gender, and creating a dialogue was crucial to his feeling that it could be a professional and personal Jewish home for him. Concrete steps that PJTC took made it clear that they were doing their part to be an inclusive and safe place.

After Rabbi Silverstein was hired, one staff member came to Trabin and said, “I’m really excited, I met Becky, I think he’s awesome, and I’d love to know more. This is new to me, I don’t want to do the wrong thing and say the wrong thing, and I want to learn more especially since people will come to me with questions.”

Trabin and PJTC decided to hold a “Gender 101” training for their staff. They brought together the staff members who regularly interface with the community and congregation, with the idea that they should understand some basic ideas about gender identity, as well as how to make PJTC more trans friendly. With the help of Dr. Joel Kushner from The Institute for Judaism, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the staff discussed lexicon, gender identity, and sexual orientation. They examined the practicalities of being an inclusive environment, and looked at how ideas of gender may or may not play out in the synagogue. Together, as a staff and a community, they discussed what could be done to make PJTC more trans friendly.

Trabin fe lt “the t raining was successful—folks who were there have been respectful about pronouns. It’s like learning a new language—and you have to think about learning styles and what makes sense. Sometimes it’s not a comment on openness, it’s a matter of understanding what learned behavior there is to overcome, so it might take longer for some people. It’s okay that not everyone gets everything, or that we don’t have all the terminology down. What was important was what this would mean when Rabbi Silverstein arrives, and it was easier to discuss in the concrete than the abstract.”

“Where the rubber hits the road and

How To Hire a Trans Rabbiby Jordyn Rozensky

Originally printed at:http://www.myjewishlearning.com/blog/keshet/2014/11/06/how-to-hire-a-trans-rabbi/

Continued on page 10


It's Happening with Sisterhood!by Debbie Guest, Sisterhood President

Sisterhood’s goals include promoting the welfare of our congregation and encouraging congregants to participate in Jewish life, both in synagogue and at home. We do so by working diligently year-round to raise money and to put on programs which advance Jewish values. The money enables

us to offer financial support when no other support will suffice, whether it be an unrestricted gift to the Temple (this year: $13,000!) or directed donations such as scholarships for USY Shabbatot. These gifts are made possible only when we have received support from the community, across the board. While fundraising is important, it is not the sole focus of Sisterhood.

For example, our mission statement encourages support of our young people. That might mean stepping into bowling shoes, or teaching a child how to shape a challah, or “shaking it” for the camera (lulavs, that is…). When we get up on Saturday mornings to attend the b’nai mitzvah of our LBSRS students, we affirm our pride in their accomplishments and show our children that Jewish life doesn’t end at age thirteen.

There are so many groups of interest here at PJTC, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that each is part of a greater whole. All of the organizations under the PJTC umbrella benefit by member participation in each other’s events, and not only the fundraisers. Our mutual purpose is to create a vibrant, thriving Jewish community. What better way is there to strengthen our bonds to one another and our Judaism than to participate in synagogue life in some new way? Build bridges by attending an event put on by Men’s Club. Chat up the women you meet at an Adult Education Bagel Brunch, and encourage them to get involved in Sisterhood. Never volunteered? We offer opportunities ranging from an hour’s time to a leadership role. Not able to volunteer? Attend a Sisterhood program or board meeting to schmooze with old friends or make new ones. Sisterhood has over sixty new members this year! If transportation is a barrier to your attendance, please contact me and I’ll do my best to arrange a ride.

Sisterhood has been hard at work on your behalf this past fall, putting the money we’ve raised to use in service of the entire Temple, and coming up with new program ideas while continuing to offer our tried-and-true events. Recently we produced the Temple directory, sold challah and rugelach to sweeten the new year, provided a break-the-fast, participated in USY’s Sukkot video, organized the Sukkot potluck, held a Bunco evening, cooked twice with Weizmann kids, presented the Artisan Boutique and hosted a reception for a Federation book event.

Did you know that Sisterhood has a Facebook group? It is not open to the public, but any Sisterhood member is invited to join. Keep up with our activities or participate in ongoing discussions from the comfort of your home. Give Carolyn Siegal or me your email address and we’ll get you in, no secret handshake required.

USY Newsby Melissa Levy, Youth Director

If only everyone loved their job as much as I love mine! It is so rewarding to watch our next generation bond, learn from their peers, give back to others, and develop the leadership skills necessary to live happy, healthy lives. It is also incredibly helpful to have the support of so many parents, community members, Sisterhood and Men’s Club as our program expands. We hope you enjoyed the “Shake Your Lulav” music

video sent out to the congregation before Sukkot, which was choreographed, taped, and edited entirely by our community’s youth. Since the holidays, our USYers (7th-12th grade) have had a blast playing Ultimate Frisbee, while our Kadimaniks (4th-6th grade) learned to ice skate.

The USY board just returned from a weekend retreat at Camp Ramah, where they joined other leaders from around the region to hone their skills. This was my first time experiencing what a USY shabbat is like, and I must say, the ruach (spirit) is infectious and inspiring! I can’t wait to bring that spirit back to our own community. And speaking of community, on November 11, we had nearly 50 members of USY, Kadima, their families, and distinguished community members attend our charity bowl-a-thon, which was a great opportunity for mixing and mingling across all age groups while also fulfilling the mitzvah of giving tzedakah.

Next up: Our USYers will be meeting up with USYers from our neighboring chapter at Adat Ari El for our “Bring in the Warmth Laser Tag” event on December 3, where they will be collecting warm clothing for those in need this winter and playing some old-school laser tag at Ultra Zone. The 9th-12th graders will then have the opportunity to enjoy a potluck shabbat dinner on Friday, December 12 at the home of a USYer from Adat Ari El. The Kadima Kommittee, a group of USYers interested in focusing on helping younger members enjoy upcoming Jewish festivals, are now hard at work planning our Kadima @ LBSRS Hanukkah program for Tuesday, December 16, which will be open to the entire PJTC community in grades 3-7. I’m also looking to start a committee of young leaders to focus on teen shabbat programming this spring. If you have a teen who might be interested, or you have other ideas you’d like to share, let me know by emailing [email protected].

Safety and SecurityAt our events and services, kids are great but remember our staff has a lot on its plate.Keeping children safe is an important thing to do but parents and grandparents, it’s up to YOU!


Noah Shalom GraterNoah is in 7th grade at Marshall

Fundamental, where his favorite subject is English. He is an alum of B’nai Simcha Preschool and attended Weizmann Day School from kindergarten through 6th grade. Noah plays drums and guitar, and also enjoys biking, running and reading.

His favorite part of preparing for his bar mitzvah is learning

to chant the haftorah at home. Noah’s mitzvah project will benefit the Turn 2 Foundation, which supports healthy living for children.

Ella Zimra GraterElla is in 7th grade at Marshall Fundamental, and also

attended B’nai Simcha and Weizmann Day School. She loves hanging out with old and new friends, listening to music, photography and reading. She plans to be an author, and she has already completed one novel.

For Ella, the best part of preparing for her bat mitzvah is working with the rabbi and cantor. Her mitzvah project will support the Pasadena Humane Society.

B'nai Mitzvah

Twinkle, twinkle Hanukah lights.Shining brightly for eight nights.

See the dreidel spin around.Eat some latkas crisp and brown.

.….or…..how about eating some cookies?Twinkle, twinkle Hanukkah lights.

Come and join us on this “Cookie Exchange” night!

Hanukkah Cookie ExchangeHosted by PJTC Sisterhood

Tuesday, December 97:00 – 8:30 PMWohlmann Hall

Join us for a cup of coffee and Hanukkah cookies.

This is a great opportunity to share sweet ideas for celebrating Hanukkah! Bring 4 dozen of your favorite home-baked cookies and a copy of the recipe. Recipes will be compiled and sent out to all who participate. Bring a container to collect your cookies. RSVP to Nancy Carlton by December 5 at (626) 798.5920 or [email protected].

Jerusalem's “Nava Tehila” Ensemble

Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center presents:

Rabbi Grater and Cantor Ruth will be joined by the “Nava Tehila” musical prayer leaders for a Shabbat morning of music, song, and the ecstatic celebration of prayer, Psalms and Song of Songs.

Shabbat Morning, December 13th, 9:30 am

Hebrew for "beautiful praise", Nava Tehila was founded in a Jerusalem living room on Shabbat Shirah 2005 and has become one of the Jewish world's most innovative musical prayer communities. Their original melodies can now be heard and sung in synagogues across Israel and throughout the globe. For more information and to listen to original music, visit their website at www.navatehila.org.

1434 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena, CA 91107 - Tel. 626.798.1161 - www.pjtc.net

AND THEY'RE OFF!

Over 100 people attended the PJTC Men's Club second "Annual Night at the Races" event, and 21 of them went home with prizes. After eight races, the top winner was Stevie Shreve who accumulated $149,000 in play money, after starting with only $2,000 (as did everyone). She got first pick from prizes valued at over $4,000 including nights at the Langham hotel, 39-inch HDTV, and gift certificates. Even those who went home empty-handed had fun, many saying, "I'll do better next year!" Good fun, good food, good company!


PJTC Green Committeeby Meredith Rose, Committee Facilitator

The Louis B. Silver Religious School has initiated a new green approach to one of its most popular components of the curriculum, art. The “SababArt” program is a way for students and teachers to reduce, reuse, recycle and recreate religious art. Artistic expression as a means of increasing understanding and making an impact is an important part of the LBSRS curriculum. The goal is to use materials that currently exist in the school supply closet and in the world, as teachers weave art into their lesson plans. To that end, the religious school purchased a scaled down supply list to begin the year. With the help of Kaileh Pistol, who teaches the Mechina class, art projects now aim to incorporate recycled and re-purposed items. For example, this year’s Sukkah decorations were composed of 95% recycled materials! After considering ways in which recycled and current materials may be used for any given project, LBSRS will purchase new supplies as needed.

Kaileh is championing this program with committed staff support and under the guidance of Education Director Rabbi Silverstein. Donations will be sought from congregants shortly for items ranging from old picture frames to jars to produce netting, etc. Look for an e-mail soon from LBSRS. By the way, “sababa” loosely translates to “cool” in Hebrew, and “SababArt” is a pretty cool way for the Religious School to make a difference.

Interfaith Study Groupby Cecilia Fox, PJTC’s ISG representative

The Interfaith Study Group was founded in 2007 by members of Pasadena Jewish Temple, All Saints Episcopal Church, Pasadena, and Islamic Center of So. Calif., L.A. We meet monthly, 5:00-7:00 PM, rotating venues. We learn from each other respectfully in a congenial environment. All ages welcome! Bring an item for the vegetarian potluck (after the one-hour meeting), then question and discussion time.

Sunday, December 14, 2014, 5:00-7:00 PM, at Pasadena Jewish Temple. We will discuss annual holiday celebrations in the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith traditions. Our vegetarian potluck meal is at 6:00 PM, and we enjoy getting to know each other at our table, and preparing for the discussion after the meal.

Come with an open mind, and please bring something for the vegetarian potluck. Beverages, paper goods, silverware are provided.

Sunday, January 11, 2015, 5:00–7:00 PM, at All Saints Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena, Aziza Hasan, Director, New Ground: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership, will speak on the organization and its work.

For further information, or to be on our email list, phone Norma Sigmund, phone 626 583 2734 email NSigmund@allsaints_pas.org, or contact Cecilia Fox, via PJTC.

From the Crimea to California;From cancer to the brain;

And back again.Hear the journey of Dr. Eugene Roberts

Our speaker, a member of the National Academy of Sciences,

is the Director of the Department of Neurobiochemistry at

City of HopeJoin us at

The Men’s Club Quarterly BreakfastSunday, December 7, 2014

10:15 AMPJTC SOCIAL HALL

Suggested Donation $10.00

Rock-a-Bye BabyMazel tov to Carol and Eric

Mills, first-time grandparents of Mason Wesley Mills, born to Carole and Ian Mills on November 7. The young family lives in Mammoth, CA.

It was a beautiful wedding for Daniel Scherr and Amineh Helalian: sunny skies, lovely bride, handsome groom...and we were very happy to share all the good wishes expressed in our friends' tribute cards. Many thanks to all of you!

Roz and Larry Scherr

To all of my PJTC friends who have sent cards and to those who

made contributions to the Temple in memory of my brother-in-law, Tom Brown, who passed away last month. My sister will be staying with me early next year but she asked me to extend her thanks to you at this time, as well. So, a double thanks to all of you!

Sylvia Schleimer


Documentary Discussion GroupTuesday, December 16

7:00 PM, Wohlmann Hall“Koch”

We offer an opportunity for you to view interesting and thought-provoking Jewish-themed documentary films and to share views and ideas with others. The film for December is Koch. In his first film, the Wall Street Journal's Neil Barsky crafts an intimate portrait of Ed Koch, the mayor who shepherded New York through the 1980s. The irascible Koch reflects on his

term during one of the city's most tumultuous eras.For more information, contact Jerry Halpert at

[email protected].

by Liz Green, Book Club ChairThe PJTC Book Club invites all temple members to join us in our lively discussions of a diverse selection of interesting books. We meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM and welcome new as well as continuing participants. Please feel free to bring suggestions for future readings. Following is our schedule:

December 11, 2014 – Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick. The author’s story goes far beyond the myth of the first Thanksgiving, exploring the complicated politics that came to dominate a world created when the arrival of English dissidents challenged the balance of power among Native American peoples. Phillbrick gives us a well-written exploration of much

of the history of Plymouth colony and the dynamic world that was created as European settlers came into contact with the native peoples of North America. He allows us to see the individuals who inhabited the world of early New England and the complexities of their lives. (Location to be announced).

January 8, 2015 – My Beloved World, a Memoir by Sonia Sotomayor. In nominating Judge Sotomayor to the highest court in the land, President Obama pointed out that her life story was the embodiment of the American dream. She grew up poor in a Bronx housing project, learned she had juvenile diabetes when she was seven years old, and lost her father a couple of years later. She went on to Princeton, Yale Law School, the Manhattan district attorney’s

office, and ultimately the Supreme Court, where she became the nation’s first Hispanic justice. (Location to be announced).

PJTC Book Club selections are available at Vroman’s at a 20% discount.

December DonationsGeneral Fund

Len Lipton & Barbara Weisenberg in memory of Susie Levin’s husband, Ed LevinYahrzeit Donations to General Fund

Donated by: In Memory of:Alice Shulman Father-in-law, Philip ShulmanIrving Feuer Mother & Father, Bertha & Alexander FeuerIra Blitz Mother, Sylvia Weprinsky BlitzGil Kollin Wife, Yona KollinDolores Schwam Father, Herman NoblemanPauline Witkin Polansky Husband, Donald Eli WitkinPauline Witkin Polansky Aunt, Shana SergiePauline Witkin Polansky Grandmother, Sarah SilberblattPeter Braun Mother, Tamar BraunBarbara Weisenberg Grandfather, Morris RetskyLouise Lorden Grandmother, Sarah Miller

Sisterhood Tributes

To Roz & Larry Scherr in honor of the marriage of their son Daniel to Amineh Helalian, from Ruth Kaye, Anita & Jeff Landau, Jan & Josh Pais, Aty & Howard Rotter, Karen & Neil Brown, Ginny & Ira Blitz, and Edie Taylor

To Carol & Eric Mills in celebration of the birth of their first grandchild, Mason Wesley Mills, from Aty & Howard Rotter, Linda & Paul Rourman, Kathy Kobayashi & Hal Barron, Nancy & John Carlton, Bonnie Buratti and Kai Lam and Marcia Alper

To Rabbi & Franci Levine Grater in honor of the b’nai mitzvah of their children, Ella & Noah, from Marcia Alper and Edie Taylor

To Ella & Noah Grater in celebration of their b’nai mitzvah, from Marcia Alper

To Stacy Ober with congratulations on producing a great Artisan Boutique, from Nancy Carlton

To Hilary Jacobs, wishing her a speedy recovery from surgery & return to good health, from Jan & Josh Pais

To Sylvia Schleimer in memory of her beloved brother-in-law, Tom Brown, from Stacy & Stu Miller, Judy Unger, Marcia Alper, Ruth Kaye, Jan & Josh Pais, Anita & Jeff Landau, Carolyn & Scott Siegal, Karen & Neil Brown, and Ginny & Ira Blitz

PJTC Book Club

Topic: From Ramses

to the Promised Land A r t i s t J o a n n e To l k o f f will discuss her work in a c o l l ab or at i v e L . A . a r t s experiment called Culture Lab // Margin. Her part in the group's interactive arts installation was a 125 ft. mural of the Israelites' 40-year journey of self-discovery and

revelation. Questions & RSVP to

Kathy [email protected].

RoshChodesh

elebration5775

Thursday Evening7:30 to 9:00 PM

January 22Sisterhood welcomes

the month ofSh'vat

Home of Stacy MillerNo program in December


December Birthdays

and Anniversaries

Thanks to Our November VolunteersPJTC offers our members a variety of ways to be of service

to the Temple. Those who are able to give of their time are vital to sustaining our community.

To host an Oneg, call Arlene Weiss.To host a Kiddush, call Roz Scherr.

Oneg and Kiddush Hosts

Oct. 31/Nov. 1 Oneg and Kiddush hosted by Julie Sonigo and Jerome Metivier in honor of their son Noam's bar mitzvah

Nov. 7/8 Oneg and Kiddush hosted by Alison Schmidt and Troy Schmidt in honor of their son Kyle's bar mitzvah

Nov. 14/15 Oneg hosted by Sisterhood. Kiddush hosted by Leah Stein and Jesse Duker and

families in honor of their Aufruf Nov. 21/22 Oneg and Kiddush hosted by Annette and Jeff

Silverstone in honor of the bat mitzvah of their daughter Elizabeth

Nov. 28/29 Oneg hosted by Sisterhood. Kiddush hosted by the Shabbes Minyan Group

Gabbai’im Mickey Butnik Sondra Dreshner John Guest Roz Scherr

Torah, & Haftorah Readers Ethan Sharp Benny Sigoloff Noam Metivier Roz Scherr John Guest Noah Golden-Krasner Ruth Several Mark Chodos Kyle Schmidt Libby Silverstone Matt Hurwitz Jeff Chen Sam Haddad Cantor Ruth Harris

Office Volunteers Ryna Aviram Ginny Blitz Judy Ellis Sue Galpert Jerry Halpert Michelle Kandel Ruth Kaye Marlene Reichenbach George Roegler Roz Scherr Edie Taylor Arlene Weiss

December 1 ........... Isaac Ergas Peter Nortman

December 2 .......Aaron Hartford Diedre Rosen

Michelle SeeryDecember 3 ...Barbara Bushnell

Eli Diner Morris Weiss

December 4 ...............Talia Puni Jennifer Svonkin

December 6 ......... Emily Aledort Leo Barston

Miriam Popilsky Mona Shulman

December 7 ...Nathaniel Booker Elizabeth Conovitz

December 8 ...... Noah HollandMoritz December 9 ......... Allie Hartford

Steve Leonard Ruth Saffman

December 10 ..Rochelle Kaplan David Kurs Neal Miller

Melvin SpicerDecember 11 ... Aaron Saidman

Noah Sheklow John Sigoloff

Jeffrey SilverstoneDecember 12 ...... Dani Michaeli

Czeska Markham Ari Raz

Ruth Roberts Annette Sharfstein

Michael Silver Gail Snyder

December 13 ....... Lucy Barston Janet Borrus

Allie Diamond Diana Fisher

George Roegler Jonathan Shatzmiller

December 14 ............ Terry Earll Filiberto Lujan

Lindsey Schiffman Doris Segall Matt Weiner Aaron Weiss

December 15 .......... Cecilia Fox Anita Landau

December 16 Chase Gaither Sondra Hauge

Maxwell Ho Alex Levin

Karen Levin Ella Moss

Cary PresantDecember 17 ...... Amelia Dreier

Sarah Dreier Raymond Haddad

December 18 ....... Lucas Brown December 19 ... Suzy DalrympleDecember 20 ............ Matt Ober

Jacob Tragarz December 21 .. Raymond Gould

Lauren Hartford Dan Raz

December 22 .........Karen ChanDecember 23 ...........Ruth Failer

Susan Galpert Henry Zimmerman

December 24 ........ Chris Bogad Larry Cousens Tamara Silver

Semyon TsarovksyDecember 25 ...... Hilde Gottfeld

Adolf Gruenfeld Anita Merzel-Todd

December 26 ....Andrew Kindler Leah Sloan

Jeanine SvonkinDecember 27 .....Landis RichardsonDecember 28 ......Michael Beller

Annabella Tornek December 29 ....... Douglas Axel

Hal Barron Craig Copeland

Rebecca Gaither Betty Krachman

Brian MarkDecember 30 .... Jerome Kaplan

Samuel SchiffmanDecember 31 ........ Marin Knight

Semyon and Bella Tsarovksy ...................#50 ..................12/4/1964Michael and Janet Klekner ................................................12/4/1977Edward and Barbara Gomperts .......................................12/12/1967James and Denise Schaefer ....................#40 ................12/15/1974Izak and Faye Langholz ...........................#60 ................12/18/1954Otto and Irene Kahn ........................................................12/18/1986Scott and Jennifer Svonkin ..............................................12/18/1999Harvey Goldman and Ellen Dinerman .............................12/20/1987Ronnie and Priscilla Kershner .........................................12/20/2013Jeffrey and Anita Landau .................................................12/21/1967Bryan Langholz and Susan Auerbach .............................12/21/1986Raul Martinez and Bonnie Pais-Martinez ........................12/21/1996Josh and Jan Pais ...........................................................12/25/1956Kenneth and Ellie Gerst ...................................................12/25/1966Mike and Valerie Kronsburg ............................................12/27/2003Jacob and Michal Brand ..................................................12/27/2008Joel and Sheila Padlipsky ................................................12/28/1957Josh and Sharon Goldberg ..............................................12/28/1975Gideon and Janice Markham ...........................................12/30/2000

PJTC Annual Blood Drive for Huntington Hospital

Tuesday, December 2 • 12:30 - 7:00 PMDon’t just drop your kids off for Hebrew School! Stay

and donate blood.Did you know that PJTC has consistently held the most

successful blood drives for Huntington Hospital? Last year we donated 60 pints!!

That’s what we call SOCIAL ACTION. If you are age 17-75 you can donate!

Start your new year by saving a life! To sign up for a time slot, please contact Stacy Miller, [email protected]. Start loading up on your iron

consumption now! Donors will receive a certificate for a free pint of ice cream

courtesy of Basken Robbins.Please contact Stacy for information about recent travel

that may prohibit donating.


The PJTC gift shop is packed for •Hanukkah!One-of-a-kind menorahs by local •artistsFair Trade gelt and gelt from Israel•Ever y conce ivable color of •Hanukkah candle!Dreidels for collectors and for •spinningLots of fun prints of kippot•Products from the Dead Sea•Kitschey stuff just for fun!•Toys, games and good children's •booksFABULOUS jewelry for gifts•

Start and end with your Holiday shopping at YOUR gift shop.

Learn to JuggleTuesdays, 6:15 - 8:45 PM

Social Hall

The South Pasadena Juggling Club is meeting Tuesday evenings at PJTC. Join us and we'll teach you how to juggle, unicycle, and other unmarketable skills. We provide equipment, just show up and have fun. For PJTC members and friends, ages 9 and up.

Cost: Free (a small donation to help cover cost would be appreciated)

Getting a new laptop for Hanukkah?

Consider donating your old one to the Religious School and Youth Programs - USY and Kadima!

ENGAGING ISRAEL: FOUNDATIONS FOR A NEW RELATIONSHIP

Classes are held in Wohlmann Hall on

the following Wednesdays,

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM:

10/22/2014

11/5/2014

11/19/2014

12/3/2014

2/25/2015

3/18/2015

4/1/2015

4/22/2015

5/6/2015

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, CA 91107 Tel. 626.798.1161 www.pjtc.net

The Adult Education and Israel Committee are pleased to bring this nine-video lecture series to the PJTC community. Please join us for video lectures featuring Rabbi Donniel Hartman, text study, and lively group discussions as we explore the Jewish values and ideas at the foundation of our relationship with Israel.

What are the benefits of Jewish sovereignty? How should a Jewish state exercise military power ethically?

How do we create and maintain a Jewish democracy? Why should American Jews care about Israel? What values should a Jewish state embody?

What can Israel offer the world?

The lecture series, led by Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater provides relevant, contemporary approaches to the most urgent challenges facing the Jewish people today. Each video can stand by itself as a wonderful learning experience. One need not attend all nine to benefit.

Please RSVP to Debi Bunting, Clergy Assistant by email at [email protected] or by calling the PJTC office at 626.798.1161.

A Shalom Hartman Institute Video Lecture Series

We are continuing PJTC Basketball for adults (high school age and above) at 8:00 PM on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month.

There is no charge for the dinner but we

must have your reservations by Monday, December 1. Reservations will not be accepted after that date. Call the PJTC office at 798-1161.RSVP to the Temple office by December 1

FridayDecember 5

6:00 PM Social Hall

Whitman Dinner


Coffee • Sandwiches • Pastries

New Menu Items Extended Hours 1359 North Altadena Dr.Mon. - Fri. • 6:00 PM) - 8:00 PM (at Washington Blvd.)

Sat. • 7:00 am - 5:30 PM (626) 398-8654

After Hour Rentals

– A friend to PJTC –

We thank you for supporting our advertisers

Pasadena JewelersServing San Gabriel Valley Since 1988• Jewelry and Watch Repair • Special Orders

• Diamond Settings • Engraving

— A friend of PJTC members —1864 E. Washington Boulevard • Pasadena, CA

91104in the Washington Mini-mall

at the corner of Allen and Washington.

(626) 798-4403 www.pasadenajewelers.com

– Temple Member –

E L L I O T T M A Z U RSCL #587549 626 •398•9928

painting and wallpapering

Weizmann Day School Thursday, December 11, 2014

9:30 am-10:30 am

Come visit the classrooms, meet the

teachers, and watch the students learn!

Our tour begins downstairs in Room 1A

Please RSVP to 626-797-0204 or

email [email protected]


(626)792-5879

(800) 300-2532

3230 E. Colorado Blvd. (Between San Gabriel and Rosemead)

Factory Trained Technicians

Rourman TallitotBeautiful Hand Embroidered Custom

Tallitot made to order

Pashmina style tallesim as low as $100.00

Custom Judaica• Mazel Tov bags •Chuppahs

•Challahcovers•Matzohcoversandmore.

Call Linda Rourman(626) 447-7252 [email protected]

-Temple Member-

where it makes a difference is being willing to make mistakes, learn, and be open,” Trabin shared. “Tachlis is learning vocabulary, and thinking about how we gender kids, what we do with bathrooms, even if all it comes down to is hearing voices and elevating voices. Sometimes there’s some repetitiveness that is required—we have to keep asking the questions: are we being successful? Are we shifting the conversation? What it would be like if a gender non-conforming kid walks in? How will they feel?”

Next up on PJTC’s inclusion docket? Broader congregational education on gender and sexuality, and a follow-up for staff and allies on how to correct people’s misuse of pronouns.

“PJTC Community Trip to Israel: December 2015”

………………………………………………………….

Informational Meeting

(For families, singles, couples, EVERYONE!)

Please RSVP to Debi, Clergy Assistant, at [email protected] or by calling the Temple office at 626-798-1161.

Want more information on the community trip to Israel? This important informational meeting will include: highlights of the trip, a general itinerary, discussion about the importance of an Israel trip and the Jewish connection to the land, in addition to a Q&A session.

Bring your questions and join Rabbi Grater and the travel coordinators from Israel Maven!

{ W h e n } D e c e m b e r 1 0 { W h e r e } S o c i a l H a l l { T i m e } 7 : 3 0 - 9 P M

— Contact for Donations —Donate to Temple Projects & FundsOrder a Memorial PlaqueFreeman Passover FundOrder Leaf/Stone on Tree of Life ... Temple Office (626) 798-1161Shabbat b'Lev Music Fund ...................................... Cantor RuthMAC Committee............................................................. Aty RotterPJTC Oral History Project ...................................Michael Several Simcha & Memorial Tablecloths ............................ Paula Waluch Sisterhood's Lena Berman Tribute Fund .................. Roz Scherr Dedicate a Prayer Book ...................................... Sheila PadlipskyLarge Print Sim Shalom .................................................Roz Scherr Rabbi Galpert Memorial Fund ........................................ Jan Pais

Shirley Hoffman L.B. Silver Religious School........................................... Jan PaisTorah Fund Donations ...............................................Bobbi SloanJudaica Shop ...............................................................Stacy Miller Sisterhood Kitchen Fund ....................................Nancy Copeland Women's Retreat Fund .........................................Nancy CopelandMadeline Mark Memorial Fund ...................................Ruth Several

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To view the December FLAME

calendar, please click

1434 N. Altadena Drive • Pasadena, CA 91107

Family KabbalatShabbat Service

FridayJanuary 9

Service will include

Lots of Singing•

Ask the Rabbi•

Torah Portion Skit•

Ice Cream•

6:30 PMSocial Hall

Pleasejoinus

For grades

K-2nd and

their families

BRING IN THE WARMTHUSY LASER TAG WITH ADAT ARI EL

Wednesday, December 3rd from 6:30-8:30PM

UltraZone in Sherman Oaks14622 Ventura Blvd Suite 208, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

RSVP required to [email protected] by Sunday, November 30th at 8PM

This even has limited space, so the earlier the RSVP, the better!

$10 for USY Members, $15 for non-membersMeet new USY friends from Adat Ari El while having a blast at laser tag! The cost includes pizza dinner (there will be a non-dairy option) and two games of laser tag. We are also collecting donations of hats, gloves, scarves, coats, sweaters, and other warm clothing to help those less fortunate this winter.

2014

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December