June FLAME 2014

3 Sivan - 2 TammuzJune 2014

Rabbi JoshuaShavuot: Torah is Still Here; are You?

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

The Talmud recounts a famous story as a way of explaining the m u l t i t u d e o f opinions allowed in interpreting To r a h . R a b b i Eliezer is trying to convince his colleagues of his

certitude in a matter of law regarding the kashrut of an oven, and when they don’t agree with him, he calls out to the heavens, “If the law is in accordance with me, let the carob tree prove it!” So a nearby carob tree suddenly becomes uprooted. The sages remain unconvinced. So he yells out again, “If the law is in accordance with me, let the House of Study prove it!” So the walls of the beit midrash begin to incline toward one another. Still, the sages are not convinced. Finally, after a few more miracle tries, a Heavenly Voice comes down and says, “Why don’t you follow Rabbi Eliezer, the law is in accordance with him!” Brazenly, the rabbis answer back, quoting the Torah itself, saying, “The Torah is not in heaven! The Torah has already been given on Mt. Sinai; we no longer listen to a heavenly voice.”

In his thought-provoking book, Open-Minded Torah , Bar-Ilan professor William Kolbrener writes of this Talmudic story, “Not only does truth, after the giving of the Torah, ‘sprout from the earth,’ as the midrash affirms, but truth is also plural, a result of interpretation and disagreement.” As we approach Shavuot, which begins Tuesday night

June 3, I am thinking about how we see Torah and how we involve ourselves in interpreting it in the 21st century and here at PJTC.

Kolbrener makes a point of reminding us that the Talmud instructs us that at Mt. Sinai, tradition says the Torah was given “in 70 voices, or with 70 faces,” which has come to mean that there are many different interpretations of how to understand the revelation. We all heard it as we needed to hear it. The old heard it in their way, the young in theirs, men and women, all of us receiving Torah, which we celebrate on Shavuot, in our own way. Yet, Kolbrener writes, “That there are 70 faces to the Torah is both inclusive and exclusive. Seventy may be many, but it is not an infinite number.” It is not “everything goes,” even as we have evolved, developed, expanded, contracted, added and subtracted.

We can stretch the models of prayer, stretch the boundaries of kashrut, experiment with Shabbat observance, create new ways of reading Torah; yet we must also remember that there are limits, that there are some basic groundings upon which we still stand, that we must compromise and be willing to participate in the paths of our tradition, sometimes not getting exactly what we want. It is this kind of Judaism, one that seeks inclusivity within limits, that we are trying to bring to PJTC. And I am proud that we are creating a community with this mindset. The more of us involved in the conversation, the better off our congregation will be in the future.

The main question of Shavuot:

June 3/4/5 ShavuotTues. Shavuot Study Session 7:30 PM Social Hall

Wed. Shavuot Service 9:00 AM Knell Chapel

Thurs. Shavuot Service/Yizkor 9:00 AM Knell Chapel

June 6/7 Parashat: Beha’alotekhaFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert SanctuaryOneg hosted by Ginny and Ira Blitz in honor

of their 40th anniversary

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

June 13/14 Parashat: Shelah LekhaFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary

Jacob Balian Bar MitzvahSat. Service 9:00 AM Galpert Sanctuary

Oneg and Kiddush hosted Judy and Steven Balian

June 20/21 Parashat: KorahFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary

Matt Weiner Bar MitzvahSat. Service 9:00 AM Galpert Sanctuary

Oneg and Kiddush hosted by Jessica and Robert Weiner

June 27/28 Parashat: HukkatFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary

Elliott Herbst Bar MitzvahSat. Service 9:00 AM Galpert Sanctuary

Oneg and Kiddush hosted by Liane and Larry Herbst

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The FLAME 2 June 2014

A f t e r f i v e years of growing together, PJTC will bid goodbye to Congregation Shaarei Torah's former location on June 22. While we are celebrating the fifth anniversary of the coming

together of our two congregations, this is also an occasion for many of us to think back on the happy memories of all the prayers, simchas and friendships that were born at CST, as well as the many friends in the CST family who are no longer with us. These memories and friendships will stay with us here at PJTC, and we will build brand new ones. But we must acknowledge a loss as well of the previous home of our Jewish lives.

CST’s origins go almost as far back as those of PJTC. Beth Israel of Sierra Madre was incorporated on October 19, 1928. Later it became the Foothill Temple-Center in Sierra Madre. In 1964 it merged with B’nai Israel Temple Center in El Monte and moved to its current location in a new building on Second Avenue in Arcadia. During the 1970s it was renamed Temple Shaarei Tikvah. In 1993 Shaarei Tikvah merged with Temple Beth Torah in Alhambra, and became Congregation Shaarei Torah, combining the names of the two predecessor congregations.

The two “hearts” of any congregation are its members and the Torah, the two representatives of G-d on Earth. So we

congregants will carry the Torahs that were used at CST over to the PJTC campus. Reminiscent of the way the Torah is carried through the congregation to the bimah for reading, we will carry them from their ark at CST to the new one at PJTC. Welcoming the new CST Torahs to the PJTC campus is a way to show how our Jewish lives, like our history, are passed from generation to generation, hand to hand, dor l’dor, yad l’yad.

We will start with a final Sunday minyan at 8:30 AM, and begin carrying the Torah scrolls to Arcadia Park a few blocks away. In deference to the summer heat, we will transport walkers and Torahs from Arcadia Park to Victory Park, a few blocks south of PJTC. Parking there will be on Cooley Place at Del Rey Avenue. The walk will continue up Del Rey, one block east of busy Altadena Drive, then west on Washington Blvd. to Altadena Drive and up to PJTC. When the Torahs have reached their new home, we will have a light festive meal at PJTC around noon, sponsored by the Mens’ Club.

If you would like to participate in carrying the Torahs to their new home, please contact the office at (626) 798-1161, or send an email to Jerry Halpert at [email protected]. Even if you can carry only a short distance, or would like someone to carry in partnership with you, don’t hesitate to contact us!!

We are also looking for someone to volunteer to video the event so it can be viewed later by those who are unable to participate. Do let me know.

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

Sondra Dreshner - GabbaiEitan Trabin – Executive Director

Debby Singer – Education DirectorEitan Lowenstein – Religious School Assistant

Bruce Applebaum – Operations ManagerZachary Madick – 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 – Jerry Halpert

– 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

Men's Club News

12/24/2014 to1/2/2015

Contact Cantor Ruth at [email protected] more information

Last Procession–Shaarei Torah’s Torahs, Sunday, June 22 at 8:30 AMby Jerry Halpert, Men's Club President

Men’s Club Annual Meeting and Election of Board

10:15 AM, Sunday, June 29

Men’s Club will hold its annual breakfast meeting and election of Board Officers and Directors at this Sunday breakfast. We urge you to join us for this important event to support your Men’s Club. The program is to be announced.


It's Happening with Sisterhood!

How to Make & Taste Jams

Sunday, June 29 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Hosted by PJTC Sisterhood in the Main Kitchen.Learn various methods of jam preparation with

hands-on participation.Limited to 20 participants.

Class fee of $18.00 includes souvenir home-made jam & recipes.

RSVP to Nancy Carlton or Aty Rotter.

by Carolyn Siegal, Sisterhood PresidentWe approved the 2014-2015 Slate at

our last Sisterhood meeting and I am looking forward to the installation event on June 1. I hope that if you are one of our many wonderful volunteers you will be at the installation because this is the absolute best opportunity for me to say thank you. But just in case you don’t make it, let me say thank you, thank you, thank you! I cannot say it enough.

Of course a special thanks for my executive committee: Carol Mills, Stacy Ober, Debbie Guest, Nancy Carlton, Nancy Copeland, Aty Rotter, Jan Pais, Bobbi Sloan, Andrea Edwards, Lindsay Wetmore-Arkader, and Barbara Levinson. I couldn’t have done it without you. And to all the other board members, committee chairs and volunteers, too many to mention in this column, this has been an amazing year and all because of the support of the wonderful women of Sisterhood. Thinkers, planners, bakers, fundraisers … we are doers and movers, and we make things happen at PJTC.

I am so proud to have had the opportunity to serve as President, and I know my successor, Debbie Guest, will give the job 110% and bring a level of attention and commitment that will far exceed what I was able to do. Debbie was the driver of our Family Favorites Cookbook project. If you haven’t seen it yet, do check it out, because I know if you do, you will buy a copy or two.

I also hope that by the time this column appears, our Wohlmann kitchen facelift will be completed. It was well overdue and I am glad it was something we could work together with the temple to accomplish. By working together, we can make PJTC better in every way, each and every day.

Approved Sisterhood Slate for 2014-15:Board

President Debbie GuestMembership VP Carol MillsDevelopment VPs Anita Landau and Barbara LevinsonProgram VPs Nancy Carlton and Aty RotterEducation VP Jan PaisTorah Fund VP Bobbi SloanRecording Secretary Ginny BlitzCorresponding Secretary/Sunshine Joan HalpertTreasurer Nancy CopelandParliamentarian Carolyn Siegal Committee ChairsArtisan Boutique Stacy OberBook Club Connie TausBreak the Fast Ricki LaneChallah Sales Carol MillsCollege Outreach Sarah WeiszConference Chair Edie TaylorD’Var Torah Sue GalpertHamantashen Bake Judy CallahanHappy Purim Carol Rader-Meislin (with a co-chair to be found)High Holiday Greetings Ruth Kaye and Karen BrownHistorian Louise WannierInvitations Lisa LaneJudaica Shop TBDOnegs Arlene WeissPoetry/Music Event TBDPrayer Books Sheila PadlipskyPublicity Jane HirschkowitzRosh Chodesh Kathy Kobayashi, Franci Levine-Grater, Susan AuerbachShowcase House Wendy FrankelSukkot Potluck Nancy CarltonTikkun Olam Lindsay Wetmore-ArkaderTributes Roz ScherrWomen’s Seder Marcia AlperZ’hava Lisa Lane

You are Invited to Sisterhood’s InstallationSunday Evening, June 1 at 7:00 PMAt the home of Carol & Eric Mills

Dessert Reception - Donation $10.00Please RSVP to Stacy Miller

Sisterhood’s “Family Favorites” CookbookAvailable for Purchase Now!

Buy several, as this is the perfect gift for school graduations, hostess gifts, special occasions and for your friends and family members who enjoy cooking.

With over 260 recipes from 80 contributors, you will find family favorites from traditional briskets to modern vegetarian dishes to famous desserts and more. This cookbook is a “must” addition to the library of veteran or novice cooks and is a wonderful keepsake.

Cookbooks ($25.00) and optional cookbook stands ($2.00) are available in the Judaica Shop.


Sisterhood’s Annual Torah Fund by Bobbi Sloan, VP, Sisterhood’s Rae Goodstein Memorial Torah Fund

Our 2013-2014 Torah Fund campaign has come to an end. This year’s total is $13,207 for the general campaign and $120 for the scholarship fund. We exceeded our goal of $12,000. Thank you for your generosity!

When you contribute to Torah Fund, you are investing in the future of our children: an investment in knowledge pays the best interest! Education is one of the most important means of transferring the wealth of tradition from one generation to the next. Torah Fund supports the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, and Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires.

Mazal Tov to Weizmann Day School’s Graduating 8th Gradersby Lisa Feldman, Weizmann Day School, Head of School, M.A. Ed.

On behalf of the entire Weizmann faculty and staff, please join me in wishing Mazal Tov to our 2014 graduating 8th grade class! It has been our honor to teach this group of talented students and watch them grow into the remarkable individuals they are today. May the knowledge, skills and values they learned at Weizmann take them far in the world. We wish them every success in the future.

Omer R.Nicole S. Zoe V.

Ben S. Matthew H. Nelson H.

Corrections to the New Sisterhood Cookbook

Nobody is perfect, but we try to come as close as we can. Please make the following corrections in your new Sisterhood Cookbook:

Pg. 166 – Black Velvet Cake – Change amount of water •to 1/2 cup instead of 1/3 cup. Pg. 206 – Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake •– Change quantity of butter to 1/2 cup instead of 1/4 cup.Pg, 229 – Toffee Chip Cookies with oatmeal and nuts •– should be DAIRY, not PAREVE. Listings on the Contents page should be changed to DAIRY as well as on the Index at the end. The version with chocolate chips on pg. 216 is correctly listed as PAREVE.

Mazal tov to Tami Cutler and Craig Fox on the arrival of another grandchild born to Tami’s son and daughter-in-law, Damian and Amber Cutler. Ava Brooke Cutler was born on April 15, 2014,

in Goose Creek, South Carolina. Her big brother, Jack, is now 4½ years old. Grandma Tami joyfully made the cross-country trip to greet the new addition.

I was deeply honored and humbled to be named PJTC’s Congregant of the Year, and to join the ranks of those who have been honored in the past. My work has been a labor of love, and over the years I have been blessed to work with so many members of our community. It has been a privilege

and pleasure to be a member of and serve PJTC.Thank you to my dear friends and co-chairs of the event,

Susan Lorin and Barbara Bushnell, and the entire talented committee for all the time and effort put into planning a wonderful, successful evening. The Social Hall was transformed, we were all entertained by a string quartet, the delicious food was provided by Balabusta Caterers, and Laura Van Dellen created an exceptional video tribute. In addition to the co-chairs, the committee included Judy Callahan, Jane Fishman, Valerie Grover, Steve Hartford, Cathy Krasner, Stacy Ober, Josh Pais, Faith Segal, Lee Segal, Laura Van Dellen, and Sandy Whitman. I’m also very grateful for the hard work and contribution of our staff: Eitan, Marian, Bruce, Robert, and Kenny.

When I was told that I was chosen to be the Congregant of the Year and asked what type of celebration I wanted, it was my desire that the Temple benefit financially from the event. It was the first time that the Congregant

of the Year was a fundraising celebration, and because of all of you who came, sponsored, and supported the event, it was very successful for PJTC. It is my sincere hope that this will set a precedent for future Congregant of the Year events, as we continue to work together towards the continued success of PJTC.

Thanks so much to all of you who attended, to the generous sponsors of the event, and for all your good wishes through tributes and notes.

With much appreciation,Sandy Hartford

Dear PJTC Clergy, Members, and Staff,


Adult Education by Carol Sofer, Adult Education Committee Chair

Tikkun Leil Shavuot, Tuesday, June 3. The Adult Education Committee will sponsor The Return

of the Jew: Poland and Germany for our Shavuot Educational Program.

Shavuot traditionally offers us the opportunity to study as a group and enjoy dairy foods in celebration of the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. The evening will begin with a short service led by Rabbi Grater and Cantor Ruth at 7:00 PM.

PJTC will host two speakers: Dr. Leah Hochman, Director of the Louchheim School for Judaic Studies, USC, and Assistant Professor of Jewish Thought, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion; and Gosia Szymanska Weiss, Lodz, Poland native and Assistant Director for International Relations, Los Angeles Office, American Jewish Committee (AJC).

Following the program, the festivities will continue with an ice cream social. According to tradition, the evening will close with a “Later with Grater” text study for those who wish to continue the night’s educational enrichment. Jewish Spirituality Workshop Planning Meeting Monday, June 16

“Jewish Embodied Cosmology,” “Liquid Kabbalah: Continuum Movement,” and “Siddur as Portal into the Divine” are just three of the Jewish Spirituality workshop topics offered by Rabbi T’mimah Ickovits. The PJTC Adult Education Committee is exploring the possibility of hosting a workshop on Sunday afternoon, October 19, 2014. On Monday, June 16, at 7:30 PM the PJTC Adult Education Committee will host a Skype meeting with Rabbi T’mimah to plan the workshop, tailored to our needs and desires.

Rabbi T’mimah offers text study combined with experiential practices. Her students range from absolute beginners to professionals, and she can provide a Sunday afternoon workshop or urban mini-retreat. https://www.facebook.com/HolisticJew or www.KabbalahTmimah.org

A Walk Through the Siddur – Rabbi T'mimah says, “Prayer books and siddurim are carefully sequenced compilations of Judaism’s prayer practices.”

Jewish Embodied Cosmology – This is text study and experiential practices rooted in the Sefir Yitz. Join in havruta text study of brilliant somatic commentary and the Torah in which it is rooted.

Liquid Kabbalah: Continuum Movement – Through sounding and loosely choreographed gentle movements we engage with the Etz Hayyim Tree of Life and relevant wisdom from Jewish Mystical tradition. New Book Group and Jewish Yoga

Are you interested in a new book group or yoga with a Jewish twist? Adult Ed will sponsor a new book group, to include men and women reading and discussing the group’s choices of books. Yoga has many options that may appeal to various groups: a weekday morning class for seniors, an evening class of varied Jewish themes, a one-time yoga/havdalah program, or a 4- or 6-part course, “Aleph Bet.” Ida Unger, M.Ed., Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor and student of Torah, has a lifelong passion for Torah and spiritual pursuits. Please contact Carol Sofer, [email protected], if you are interested in either this book group or “Yoga with a Jewish Twist.”

B'nai MitzvahJacob Vahe Balian, son of Judy and

Steve Balian, will be called to the Torah on June 14, 2014. Brother to Shane (age 9) and Naomi (age 5), Jacob attends John Marshall Fundamental Middle School in Pasadena. Jake writes: I enjoy playing tennis, hanging with good friends, listening to music, and, of course, playing

video games. For my mitzvah project, and keeping with my passion for tennis, I volunteered with the organization “Acing for Autism.” It feels good to help out people who don’t have as many opportunities as I do and to do something that I love to do and be able to pass it on to others. I also enjoy being creative by drawing, painting, and making ceramics.

Matt Weiner, son of Jessica and Robert Weiner, will become a bar mitzvah on June 21, 2014. Matt is a seventh-grader at Foothills Middle School in Arcadia. His religious education began at age 2 at B’nai Simcha Preschool.

Sports are Matt’s passion. He began playing baseball with the Santa Anita Little League at age 5, and still plays with their 13 & 14 year-old program as the starting pitcher.

For his mitzvah project, Matt has delivered food to the homeless. He teamed up with The High-Risk Youth Program at Children’s Hospital, providing services for runaway and homeless youth between the ages of 12 and 24. Matt and his dad went with the group on a bi-weekly midnight outreach effort in West Hollywood. The biggest impression on him was how articulate many of the people were. He realized that homelessness has many stories and many faces.

Matt’s brother Grant became a bar mitzvah at PJTC in June 2010.

Elliott Herbst, son of Liane and Larry Herbst, will be called to the Torah on June 28. Elliott takes a special joy in being a bar mitzvah here at PJTC, surrounded by a community he loves.

Elliott attends Renaissance Arts Academy, where he is a seventh grader. Music is a huge part of his life. He plays viola in the school orchestra and clarinet

in the Jewish Youth Orchestra, and is keenly interested in composing. On June 1, the Jewish Youth Orchestra will play one of his short works. For his mitzvah project, Elliott is raising funds to help schools provide musical instruments to children in need.

Elliott would like to be a film composer and work in the industry. Elliott has blown the shofar at PJTC for several years, and was able to acquire and play a shofar in the Old City of Jerusalem last summer. He longs to return to Israel in the near future.

Elliott has a 10-year-old brother Jonathan, who will celebrate his bar mitzvah at PJTC in 2016.


Donations to General Fund Donated by: In Memory of:Marilyn Kirschen Husband, Gregory WilliamsMartin Kirschen Sister, Stephanie Kirschen ColeJo Anne Kindler Father, Joseph Robert ElsnerBonnie Buratti Father, Ralph BurattiMark & Alice Rothenberg Departed loved onesMena Shapiro Mother, Ella MorrisonMena Shapiro Mother-in-law, Bessie ShapiroRuth Marcus Father & BrotherJack Eisenberg Sister, Ruth BinenHelene Emmerich Mother & Father, Abraham & Sylvia KatzmanShirley Ornstein Mother, Olga WolfJordan Ellis Father, David EllisAdolf Gruenfeld Wife, Hedda GruenfeldSara Sternberg Husband, Nathan SternbergShirley Hoffman Sister, Thelma BermanDavid Snyder Sister, Wendy SnyderGail Snyder Mother, Henrietta FormanDolores Schwam Brother, Louis NoblemanSteve Hartford Mother, Erna HartfordNorma Chodos Husband, Don Chodos

Sisterhood TributesTo Rabbi Gil Kollin in honor of his 80th birthday, from Sue & Jim Hogan,

Marcia Alper, Connie & Art Taus, Stacy & Matt Ober, Stacy & Stu Miller, Nancy & Craig Copeland, and from Ruth Kaye

To Joan & Jerry Halpert in honor of both their 80th birthdays, from Edie Taylor, and from Sue Galpert

To Bruce Applebaum in honor of his birthday, from Stacy & Stu Miller, Stacy & Matt Ober, Anita & Jeff Landau, Carol and Eric Mills, and from Sue & Jim Hogan

To Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater in honor of his birthday, from Anita & Jeff Landau, Carol & Eric Mills, and from Sue & Jim Hogan

To the Berman/Harris family in honor of Adam’s bar mitzvah, from Sue & Jim Hogan

To Ellen & Harvey Knell in honor of the birth of their new grandson, Gabriel Michael Knell, from Kathy Kobayashi & Hal Barron

To Amy & Lorin Knell in honor of the birth of their new son, Gabriel Michael Knell, from Kathy Kobayashi & Hal Barron

To Sandy Hartford in honor of her being named as PJTC’s Congregant of the Year, from Nancy & John Carlton, and from Ruth Kaye

To Jan Pais, “Mazel tov on your well-deserved honor at our Friday night service,” from Marcia Alper

To Ruth Several in appreciation of all her work organizing the beautiful Sisterhood Shabbat, from Trudie Strobel

To Meredith Rose with thanks for leading our Rosh Chodesh event, from Kathy Kobayashi

To Sheila Padlipsky with thanks for hosting our Rosh Chodesh event, from Kathy Kobayashi

To Debbie Guest in appreciation of all her work on our new Sisterhood Cookbook, from Sue Galpert

To Karen Brown in appreciation of all her work on our new Sisterhood Cookbook, from Sue Galpert

To Mel Spira wishing him a speedy recovery and return to good health, from Sue & Jim Hogan

To Mickey Segal wishing him a speedy recovery and return to good health, from Sue & Jim Hogan

To Ernie Robinson wishing him a speedy recovery and return to good health, from Nancy & Craig Copeland, and from Sue & Jim Hogan

To Adrienne Bass on the loss of her beloved mother, Rose Elbaum, from Ruth Kaye

To Pat Kirkish on the loss of her beloved husband, Allen Bergman, from Ruth Kaye

To Ed, Barry, & Mel Honowitz on the loss of their beloved mother, Dottie Honowitz, from Ruth Kaye

To the Katz family on the loss of their beloved husband & father, Marshall Katz, from Ruth Kaye, and from Stacy & Matt Ober

To Jane Monterroso on the loss of her beloved father, Paul Kasdin, from Nancy & John Carlton, and from Stacy & Stu Miller

General FundVeda & Jordan Ofseyer in honor of Gil Kollin’s 80th birthday celebrationKai Shue Lam and Bonnie Buratti in honor of Rabbi Kollin’s 80th birthdayFaye & Ike Langholz in honor of Rabbi Kollin’s 80th birthday with all our

love and respectMala & Sam Langholz in honor of Rabbi Kollin’s 80th birthday with all

our love and respectKai Shue Lam and Bonnie Buratti in honor of Ruth Several for organizing

the Sisterhood ShabbatIsaac Schwartz & Elyse LeevanTessie Edlen in memory of Rene GolandMike & Janet Klekner in memory of Henrietta FlusterIra & Ginny Blitz in memory of Ruth LarnerEvelyn & Ernie Robinson in loving memory of our son, Danny Robinson

Madeline Mark Memorial FundRoza Kuppermann in honor of Rabbi Kollin’s 80th birthday

Shabbes Minyan FundRosalind BolleJohn & Debbie Guest in honor of Gil Kollin’s 80th birthday celebrationJohn & Debbie Guest in honor of Bruce Applebaum’s birthday, and many

moreJohn & Debbie Guest to Richard Samuelson, wishing him a quick

recovery from his broken foot. All the best.John & Debbie Guest to Ed Honowitz and family with sincere

condolences on the loss of his dear mother, Dottie. May her memory be for a blessing.

MAC CommitteeEdie Taylor in honor of Sandy Hartford, our Congregant of the Year

May Donations

Thanks to Our May 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 Anita Landau.To host a Kiddush, call Roz Scherr.

Oneg & Kiddush Hosts May 2/3 Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Kiddush hosted by Cindy and Rabbi Gil Kollin in

honor of his 80th birthday May 9/10 Oneg hosted by Debby Singer in honor of the LBSRS

teachers, teaching assistants and the Religious School Committee

Kiddush hosted by SisterhoodMay 16/17 Oneg hosted by Ale Kiguelman on the yahrzeit of

her grandfaher, Mario Kiguelman Kiddush hosted by Jerry and Joan Halpert in honor

of both their 80th birthdays May 23/24 Oneg and Kiddush hosted by Stacey and Todd Sharp

in honor of their son Ethan's bar mitzvah May 30/31 Oneg and Kiddush hosted by Anne and John Sigoloff

in honor of their son Benjamin's bar mitzvah

Gabbai'im Mickey Butnik Sondra Dreshner John Guest Roz Scherr

Torah and Haftorah Mark Chodos Sondra Dreshner Noah Golden-Krasner John Guest Sam Haddad Ruth Several Ethan Sharp Jarrett Sharp Benjamin Sigoloff

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


Yahrzeits for June (announced Fri/Sat preceding the date)Sivan 3 June 01, 2014

Al Gould Abraham Holland

Maurice Kaplan Sivan 4 June 02, 2014

Frank Ackerman Irving Fox

Pearl Hassler Leah Kafenhaus

Zelda Kelin Benjamin Kloder Morris Morrison

Private David Scheflin Elannah Rose Sheklow

Sivan 5 June 03, 2014Gustav Farber

Rose Hart Milton Honowitz

Anne Kelley Warren Levin Andre Molnar

Sivan 6 June 04, 2014Helen Claster

Engel Salamonne Flora Ishak Keshev Benes Lubow

David Reif Engel Salamon Charles Yanoff

Sivan 7 June 05, 2014Judith Bershatsky

Rosalind Chalek Arthur Gomperts

Rose Hacker Irving Korobkin

Louis Nobleman Sarah Pais

Harry Schick Idelle Seigan

Bessie Shapiro Sivan 8 June 06, 2014

Hanna Judkiewicz Nettie Marks

Arlene Meehan Fannie Theodore

Sivan 9 June 07, 2014Estelle Alt

Paul Cooper Harold Fluster David Hellman Ethel Raichlen

Rita Schlesinger Mary Shenfeld

Leah Witkin Korobkin Sivan 10 June 08, 2014

Beatrice Fink Sara Glickman Herman Green Jack Isaacson

Rachel Morgenstern Joseph Morris

Fay Ricks Adolf Stiefel

Abraham Weiner Martin Zuckerman

Sivan 11 June 09, 2014Sarah Cooper

Samuel Ginsburg Bernard Julius

Anna Kahn Max Katzman

Sivan 12 June 10, 2014Hazel Donner

Ben Gordon Sarah Levine

David Mitchell Lillian Pessin

Sandie Rambach Tessie Spellman

Sivan 13 June 11, 2014Annie Fox

Lee Halpert Milton Kunin Norma Loeb

Paul Benjamin Parker Max Segal

Anna Shulman Sivan 14 June 12, 2014

Alvin Applebaum Louis Asher

Chaka Bortnik David Brown

Isadore Danchik Anna Hoenig

Ida Singer

Sivan 15 June 13, 2014Rose Adelstone

Sid Baskin Leo Fox

Gideon Hofmann Sivan 16 June 14, 2014

Les Berman Barbara Greenbaum

Max Larner Rachel Mandel

Irwin Sameth Saul Shapiro

Sivan 17 June 15, 2014Jack Kruger

Abraham Meyers Anna Helen Segall

Seymour David Shilling Sivan 18 June 16, 2014

Jacob Cytron Mae Etgen

Marian Lorin Sarah Mintz

Samuel Scheflin Sivan 19 June 17, 2014

David Hoffman Marjorie Kerridge

Sarah Minovitz Sivan 20 June 18, 2014

Samuel Chernock Lois Kinzler

Sidney Lipser Sivan 21 June 19, 2014

Leslie Lipton Siegmund Mendel

Lorraine Rabinowitz Radkiewicz Family

Sivan 22 June 20, 2014Edith Cohen Malter

Harold Dinerman Edward Levine

Sivan 23 June 21, 2014Morris Bershatsky

Charlotte Beskin Samuel Conovitz August Fingerhut Harriett Goldberg

Nate Groban Charlotte Kunin Libby Silberblatt

Sivan 24 June 22, 2014Michael Bezpalko

Sam Hess Anne Knight

Jennie Vicker Sivan 26 June 24, 2014

Sarah Cohen Rachel DeMerit

Frances Eckstein Abraham Frankel

Irene Hensger Maurice Reichler Victor Umansky

Sivan 27 June 25, 2014Zelda Calvin

Joseph Freeman Albert Harris David Myron

Sivan 28 June 26, 2014Philip Applebaum

Morris Bass Isaac Breslow

Daniel Ivler Frank Lash

Thelma Lassman Avrum Odessky

Allen Tornek Sivan 29 June 27, 2014

James Dinerman Helen Gorfinkel

Julius Lokietz Jack Roseman

Sivan 30 June 28, 2014David Finkelstein

Mary Rambach Mary Wolveck

Tammuz 1 June 29, 2014Samuel Charney

Abraham Ginsburg Sidney Laks

Harry Ruskin Paula Schiffman

Tammuz 2 June 30, 2014Morris Finesod

Laura Sandig Eva Silberman

Genena Wadsworth Harry York

Documentary Discussion Group Needs a New Leaderby Breyne Moskowitz

We have watched some excellent and intriguing documentaries, and had some good discussions. Sadly, I will be leaving Pasadena, so the DDG is looking for a volunteer to take over as the new leader. It is not much work – you only have to select a documentary and have it ready to go for the next meeting. I can give the new leader tips on where to find the DVDs. The new setup for the FLAME means you only have to write an article once every three months. (I find descriptions of the films online.) I hope that someone will volunteer so that this activity can continue. And if you volunteer to lead, you get to choose the time and day for the meetings.

Have You Lost Something?Our Lost and Found cupboard is full of items which

you or your children may have lost or left at PJTC. We will donate them after June 30. Please come in and check to see if any of your sweaters, hoodies, or other missing items are waiting for you here.

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!


June Birthdays and AnniversariesJune 1 .............Benjamin Karish

Shirley OrnsteinJune 2 .................... Linda Elyad

Elizabeth Short Adam Weiss Liam Wright

June 3 ......................Dylan Jack Faye Langholz Adam Libman Peter Mendel

Marcus Monterroso June 4 ........Markham Goldstein

Jacob Levy Claire Schubin

June 5 ................Howard RotterJune 7 ...............Stephen SachsJune 8 ............. Lynn Bienenfeld

Sara Konakowitz Eric Mills

June 9 .................Pamela Dubin Daniel Holland-Moritz

Phyllis TelisJune 11 ...........Nancy Copeland

Sofia Manacker Penina Segall-Gutierrez

June 12 ..................Jade Cohen Tami Cutler

Sondra Dreshner Martha Ruffman

June 13 ................Susan FactorJune 14 ................ Nshan Ergas

Anya Rose Carol Selkin

June 15 ............ Michael Farmer Sam Langholz

Jarrett SharpJune 16 ............... Daniel Crump

Hannah Crump Sean Crump

Johanna Lacoe Jared Sharfstein Larry Weinberg

June 17 ...............Bradley Segal Elizabeth Silverstone

June 18 ...........Marilyn Kirschen Erika Ober

James Segall-Gutierrez Scott Siegal

June 19 .............. Maya Brattkus Rachel Guest Stacey Sharp

Howard Shilling Grant Weiner

June 21 ................. Jesse Duker Jerome Metivier Jack Weinberg

June 22 ......................Ezra Axel Ariel Kohl

Isaac Kohl June 23 ..........Katherine OschinJune 24 .............. Judy Callahan

Elliott Herbst Denise Schaefer

David Van Noppen Phillip Weise

June 25 .......... Ashley Hassman Rubin Hassman

Lonne Lane Jordana Owens

June 26 ...........Phyllis Hassman Jonathon Weisz

June 27 ..............Carolyn SiegalJune 28 ................... Becky SaleJune 29 ....................Neil Brown

Asher Butnik Hedy Fintescu

Ruby Hardman Novak Shirley Hoffman Deborah Singer

June 30 ................ Haley Cohen Rachel DeMerit

Mark Nowak

Dave Boesch and Kaileh Pistol ...........................................6/1/1991Jacob Leos-Urbel and Johanna Lacoe ................................6/3/2012Herbert and Karin Meiselman ..............................................6/9/1963Ira and Ginny Blitz ....................................#40 ....................6/9/1974Ezra and Marisa Callahan ...................................................6/9/2012Bryan and Marina Jick ..............................#30 ..................6/10/1984Fritz and Hilde Gottfeld ......................................................6/11/1947Cary and Sheila Presant ....................................................6/11/1966Matthew and Carol Sofer ...................................................6/11/1972Rabbi and Franci Levine Grater ........................................6/11/1995Michael and Janet Kadin ...................................................6/12/1966Daniel and Karen Levin .....................................................6/12/1987Barry and Susie Kustner ....................................................6/14/1963Steven and Sandy Hartford ...............................................6/15/1975David Holland-Moritz and Suzanne Spitz ..........................6/15/1986Samuel and Marjorie Gulkis ..............................................6/16/1963Nadav and Anat Bar-Chaim ...............................................6/16/1977Bud and Isabel Green ........................................................6/17/1956Lawrence Teitelbaum and Barbara Felsinger ..#30 ............6/17/1984Harvey and Ellen Knell ......................................................6/19/1966Robert Weissman and Dorine Davis .................................6/19/1994Carl and Carol Selkin .........................................................6/20/1965Hal Barron and Kathy Kobayashi ......................................6/23/1977Les and Loretta Slifkin .......................................................6/24/1961Steve and Evelyn Rappel ..................................................6/24/1962Michael Krakower and Lynn Bienenfeld ...#35 ..................6/24/1979Scott and Carolyn Siegal ..........................#30 ..................6/24/1984Terry and Maria Tornek ......................................................6/25/1967Paul and Josette Bellan .....................................................6/25/1972Jeffrey and Bonnie Skolnik ................................................6/25/1972Lonne and Ricki Lane ........................................................6/27/1965Ray and Lynn Gould ..........................................................6/27/1976Elliot and Linda Mazur .......................................................6/27/1993Sandra Sonies and Harold Kern ........................................6/27/1998Ernest and Evelyn Robinson .............................................6/29/1958Jonathan Fuhrman and Susan Kane .................................6/29/1997Jeffrey and JoBeth Cohen .................................................6/30/1985

Give your child(ren) an amazing Jewish experience this summer!

Camp Gan Shalom, a program of your Jewish Federation, still has space for your child(ren). There will be two distinct programs simultaneously: Kehilla, for children entering Kindergarten through 6th grades; and Manheegim, for those entering 7th through 9th grades. To learn more, go to www.jewishsgpv.org/programs, email [email protected] or call (626) 445-0810.

Women’s Book Club by Connie Taus, Book Club Chair

On June 12 we will meet and discuss What I Talk About When I Talk of Running , by Haruki Murakami. A celebrated Japanese writer, Murakami is also a serious marathon runner, who writes a memoir in which he talks about the influence of running on his life and on his writing.

On July 10 we will discuss The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Pa k is t an i aut hor

Mohsin Hamid.We will not meet in August. Watch the

FLAME and other notices for news of future meetings.

Books are available at a 20% discount at Vroman’s, where we are listed as the PJTC Book Club.

Wedding BellsSharon Meiselman, daughter of

Herb and Karin Meiselman, married Bradley Kraus on January 31, 2014. The ceremony was performed by Cantor

Ruth at the Meiselmans' home.


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.

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

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JUNE – a month full of special occasions: Father's Day, graduations, weddings ... You can find lovely gifts for these and other celebrations at your PJTC Sisterhood's Judaica Shop.

Avoid crowded malls! Shop here first! Stop by and browse!

Remember us for your next Simcha!

Please remember to bring canned food whenever you come to the temple. Be sure to notice the basket on the table in the main lobby. Please bring a couple of cans of food to help fill it.

I am looking for a source in Passdena for ground poppy seeds. Please call Anat Bar-Chaim if you have a supplier.

The FLAMEIf you prefer to receive the FLAME by mail at no

charge, please email the office at [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• Mazal Tov bags •Chuppahs

•Challahcovers•Matzohcoversandmore.

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

-Temple Member-

Rabbi Grater's article continued from page 1

Where are YOU in the story of the Torah? What commitments have YOU made to keep Torah alive in your life? What priority or place does Torah have in YOUR life? And by Torah, I mean not only the actual book and words, but the teachings, rituals, practices and weekly gifts that Jewish life offers. These are the questions to ask yourself this Shavuot. I look forward to sharing in the answers you find, helping you in answering the questions and guiding you in making the Torah more central for you and your family in a 21st century, creative and inspiring way. Without YOU, members of the Jewish community, of what use would the Torah be in the future?

Chag Sameach. I look forward to seeing you at what promises to be a fascinating program on Tuesday night, June 3.

Return to Page 1Talia Harris Wins Madeline Mark Memorial Award by Patricia Bunin

Respect for the customs of her own faith, as well as those of others, was one of the important lessons Talia Harris took away from her trip to Israel. Her essay, “A Trip to My Homeland,” detailing how that experience changed the way she views the world, has won her the 2014 Madeline Mark Memorial Award.

This award honors the memory of Madeline Mark, who was deeply involved in encouraging youth to find their own highest expression of growth, motivation and achievement. The MMMA is given to the student whose essay is deemed to best represent the values of reflection, growth, and positive change as a result of an insight gained from a life experience.

Talia, 14, the daughter of Cantor Ruth Berman Harris and Laurence Harris, is an eighth-grader at Sierra Madre Middle School. Her travel experience made her decide to apply for a high school semester abroad and follow in her father’s path to travel the world and gain a better understanding of people from other cultures as well as her own. She looks forward to returning to Israel.

Talia’s name will be added to the Madeline Mark Memorial Honor Plaque, prominently displayed at PJTC. The award consists of a $250 grant. She was recognized for her achievement during Friday night services on May 30. A link to her winning essay is posted on the PJTC website and the essay will be published in the next issue of the FLAME. Interfaith Study Groupby Cecilia Fox, PJTC’s ISG representative

On Sunday, June 8, at 5:00 PM, at Islamic Center of Southern Calif., 400 S. Vermont, L.A., Dr. Steve Wiebe of New Vision Partners Program (nonprofit founded by members of All Saints Church in 1999, associated with the Abrahamic Faiths Peace Initiative), will share very short films made by young students in the innovative New Vision Interfaith Youth Leadership Initiative video production. The program will be followed at 6:00 PM by a vegetarian potluck. Question/answer session follows until 7:00 PM.

We do hope young people will attend this special program. Please come with an open mind to our always congenial event, and bring something for the vegetarian potluck. (Beverages, paper goods, silverware are provided.)

For further information, or to be added to email list, please contact Norma Sigmund, phone (626) 583-734, or email NSigmund@allsaints_pas.org, or contact Cecilia Fox [email protected], PJTC member.

To view the June FLAME

calendar, please click icon

1434 N. Altadena Drive • Pasadena, CA 91107

Flower CrownsTo decorate our Torahs for ShavuotWe continue the tradition of making flower crowns for

the Torah scrolls for Shavuot. Ilona Fuchs, now 96, taught us as her mother and grandmother in Hungary taught her. Please join us in carrying on this beautiful and joyous tradition!

Tuesday, June 3 at 4:00 PMHome of John and Nancy Carlton

RSVP to Kathy [email protected] or

Temple Office (626) 798-1161

Kol HaEmek Jewish Community Chorale PresentsShir Delights 5Sunday, June 1

2:00 PM, Jewish FederationJewish Musical Selections featuring the Federation Youth Symphony Orchestra

Light dessert reception to followPrice $15.00 per person

www.khechorale.org(626) 445-0810

The Jewish Federation, 550 S. Second Ave. Arcadia

Invite friends and join us! Please RSVP to

[email protected] June 197:30 PM, Lounge

TIKKUN LEIL PROGRAM

SHAVUOTThe Return of the Jew: Poland and Germany

Tuesday, June 37:30 PM

Adult Education Committee is hosting another terrific educational event. Shavuot traditionally offers us the opportunity to study as a group, enjoy dairy foods in celebration of the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. The evening will begin with a short service led by Rabbi Grater and Cantor Ruth. Following the service, there will be a stimulating program, “The Return of the Jew: Poland and Germany.” Sponsored by the Adult Education Committee.

Ice Cream •Social

“Later with •Grater” Study

Session

Dr. Leah HochmanGosia Szymanski Weiss

Speakers

Shaarei Torah ProcessionSunday June 22

8:30 AM Minyan at Shaarei Torah(No Minyan at PJTC)

Shaarei Torah CampusSee page 2 for more information

Documents

June FLAME 2014