kinews our monthly conversationKEHILLAT ISRAEL RECONSTRUCTIONIST CONGREGATION OF PACIFIC PALISADES

FEBRUARY 2012 | SHEVAT/ADAR 5772

Volume 61 | Issue 6

BY RABBI AMY BERNSTEIN

A Holy Place In November KISS sponsored an evening at KI focusing on the needs of the women of Congo. We heard the story of one woman from Congo who now helps raise money and awareness, full-time, on behalf of women and girls in Congo, and we were moved by the many images and stories she told, as well as by the words and harmonies of the Congolese choir. A local artist was commissioned to do a piece representing the plight of the women and girls of Congo, which we displayed in the Sanctuary until the end of the year. If you had walked into the Sanctuary you would have noticed it to the right of the Ark. Looking closely, you would have seen strike marks on the canvas, each representing a girl or woman brutalized by rape in Congo as part of the strategy to destabilize villages and steal their land. The artist made slashes in the canvas with her knife, into which she inserted prayers of women and girls in Congo written on tightly-rolled muslin strips. Those of us attending were asked to write our own prayers for these, our Congolese sisters, and we waited in a solemn line for the artist to insert them into the piece while we listened to the Congolese choir sing songs from their homeland. It was a powerful night, and I will never forget the complex feelings I had as I watched my 8-year-old daughter (who I brought in at this point to hear the choir) write her prayer for these girls and women halfway across the world. I was proud that her wishes for these women would be a permanent part of this piece of art which will travel the United States and eventually be on display at the United Nations. It was a night, that I was deeply proud to be a rabbi at KI.

Just before Hanukah, we gathered in the Sanctuary on another evening for an event sponsored by our Green Team, linking the idea of making one day of oil last for eight, to our own use of energy. We watched a challenging film about how much of our energy comes from coal (44%) and how mountain-top mining of coal is destroying the ecosystem of places like West Virginia, and poisoning the animals and people who drink the polluted groundwater and eat food grown in contaminated soil. Children are frail and sick and their parents unable to provide the very basic

care we take for granted. The film was projected onto the wall of the Sanctuary. So this difficult and important message was framed by the piece of art I just described on the one side and the ner tamid, the eternal flame, on the other. I was aware of the power of people gathering to take responsibility for others and the promise of the (solar-powered) eternal light we each represent.

Just to the left and beneath the ner tamid is the Ark holding our sacred teachings. Torah calls us to action in support of Judaism’s ethical demands. To the left of the Ark the flag of the United States proudly stands. This is the flag of the only country in the history of the world, from its inception, to grant Jews full citizenship.

During that film, I realized that this was a tableau describing Reconstructionist Judaism at its best. We were watching a sermon, in documentary form, which brought a deep contemporary meaning to the practice of a

Jewish holiday. It was framed on one side by a piece of artwork by a Jewish woman designed to inspire us to help end violence against innocents – the artwork based on a traditional Jewish practice (placing prayers in the Western Wall). On the other side was our solar-powered symbol of the eternality of our core Jewish values. Beneath was our beautiful Ark, housing our sacred texts about justice and equity, the holiness of all life and the blessing that Creation is. On the far side, it was boundaried by the emblem of our democracy which has so influenced the evolution of our Jewish practice for the better.

This was a magical moment of a fullness and peace for me as a woman rabbi in 21st century America. In our frantic and information-saturated lives, KI was a beacon and a haven, a place of moral challenge and discomfort, a place whose mission is continually to call us to the highest expression of Jewish and American values. It is a place to celebrate our divine capability to fulfill the mission of repairing ourselves and our world. In that moment I knew that I am part of something vital and important and that my life is blessed to have a congregation, like ours at KI, in which to do such holy work.

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Alicia & Avi Albek Estelle AlperNorma & Aton Arbisser Madeline & Peter Abrahams Jane & Richard AbramsMichael AsherMichelle & Robert AshleyRabbi Sheryl Lewart & Bob AuerbachLisa AuerbachEleanor & Alfred Avins Karen & Barry Balin Banchik FamilyFran & Jonathan BaruchBelinsky FamilyBobbie & Jim BellerRegina Covitt & Salah BendifallahLaurie & Bill BenensonSue & Robert BenunRabbi Amy BernsteinJill & Josh BermanRachel & Jonathan BermanWesley BilsonBonnie Baehr & Steve BirnbaumBloom CompanyRosanne & Martin BloomChrissy & Jason BlumenthalMiriam & Justin Bookey Lisa Kaas Boyle & David BoyleNancy & Sandy Bresler Pearl & Mel Brooks Robin & Robert BurgCarol Petschek & Martin CaanMarcia & Myron CaplanMarlene Canter Sandy & Rod ChaseJudy Silk & Daniel CoganJudy & Mitchell CohenShelly & Mike CohenKim Kowsky & Sheldon CohnDebra & Jeffrey ColbertWendy & Victor ColemanShirlene & Isaac ComfortesToni & Ray CordierJeffrey CowanNancy CronigClaire DannenbaumKathleen Rawson & Lisa DannenbaumRabbi Lindy & Matt DavidsonLisa & Randall DavidsonMary & Chuck DemboMarcia De PaulaJennifer & Steven DershLynne & Jimmy DeWittFran & Roger DiamondJessica & Jonathan DishellJenny & Adam DombchikNorma & Werner DreifussBarbara & Ed DreyfusEvelyn & Elmer EastonRobin & Robert EatmanAlison & Geoff Edelstein Rita & Edward EffrosFlorence ElfantMarilyn & Tom EliasLeslie & William ElkusChristiane & Steve EngelDana & Rick EntinBernard Katz & Geoffrey Evans

Bonnie & Robert EzraLani & Justin Farar Jewlz & Terry FahnJulie FasteauDana & Sumner FeinPatti & Jeffrey FinkelsteinBecky FishLauren & Austin FiteMasha FleissigSusan FrankJudith & Harvey FreedCindy & Alan Freedland Marsi & Cantor Chayim FrenkelLora Fremont Rhonda Sherman-Friedman & Barry FriedmanPat & Sandy GageSheila & Andy GarbSharon & Andrew GavinMarca GayJacqueline Liebman-GentileReca GerchikGordon GersonLeslie & Bruce GiffordEllen Ledley & Patti GiggansValerie Karno & Eric GlaserSherry & Dave GoldDiane & Daniel GoldbergRalph GoldmanJane Heiden Gomer & Steve GomerWendy Felson & David GoodmanLynn & Robert GorenEileen & Mark GorlickSheri & Michael GreenGreenberg Family Audrey GreenbergLaura & Elliot GrossDiane & Les HajnalNancy & Robert Handler Carolyn & Donald HaselkornSusan & Henry HaskellLaura Diamond & Christopher HeisenLisa & David HernandEmily & Stephen HirschDiana & Richard HomerCharlotte & Larry JacobsPam & Larry JacobsonPeter JacobsonEve & Glenn JaffeRachel & Bruce JefferStacie Smiley & Damon JuhaFay & Bruce KaganJoan & Arnold KalanDana & Adam KallerHeidi KatzJo Ann & Charlie KaplanVickie & Stuart KartenDana Kiper Family Gaby & Randy KirshnerBarbara & Richard Klein Kristen KleinSusan Kanowith-Klein & Marvin KleinCarol & Bert Kleinman Barbara & Ben KohnKeri & Alon KraftElaine & Lawrence KramerMark KriegelGary LandinskySheryl & Jonathan Layne

Jill & Daniel LeanseFran & Michael LebDoreen & Benjamin LeedsIlene & Kenneth LeedsBarbara LehmanWendy & Gary LeshgoldBarbara & Mark LesserAndy Abowitz & Michael LevinJan Levine & FamilyNicole & Ross LevinsohnPatricia LewinLois Yaffee & Steven Lewis Stephanie & Stuart LinerLany & Sy LippmanFelicia LopezTherese & Jeff LotmanNina & David LuceLaurie Hasencamp & Michael LureyKimberly & Andrew LurieBeverly Auerbach & Bart LynnLeah & David ManningTrula & Gary MarcusPamela & Ron MassDawn & Ed MasseyMarla & Brett MessingMarka & Ronald MidwinEJ & Gregory MilkenAndie & Mark Miller Rachael Jeck & Hank Millner Angela & Mark MilsteinTodd MorganMargot MorrisonJen & Robert MortonHolly Moss-Naim & Kevin NaimSheila & Rick Nasch Audra & Jeff NathansonBobbi & Dick NathansonRebecca & Michael Neidorf Sally Koenig & Michael NovitchJennifer Dion & Mitch OhlbaumJanie & Allan OrensteinFrancine & Michael OstrowMindy & Mark OwensLoren Kaplan & Scott Packer Bren & Jeremy PadawerBeatrice PrenticeGail & Gary RachelefskyJustin RadellMary & I.C. RapoportJoan Herman & Richard RasiejTia Palmero & Jess RavichReichwald FamilyJosh ResnickWendi & Robert ResnickGail Geyer & Bernard ResserDidi & Rabbi Steven Carr ReubenLauri RingerLeslie & Doug RobinsonRosanna & Andrew RockerRene & Matthew RodmanDiana & Randall RothschildMeli & Stephen RoseLinda & Michael Rosen Vicky & Bruce RosenRochelle & Kenneth RosenbergVictoria RosenfieldLaurie RosenthalSari & Matthew Ross & Family

Beth & Cappy RothmanLinda & Tony RubinJulie & Cary Sacks Marta & Alfred SamulonAnne & Gary SalengerMarlene & Roger Schaffner Linda & Robert SchibelLauren & Anton SchiffKaren & Eric SchifferSabrina & Bob SchillerNanette & Michael SchneirCamilla & Ronald SchurRosalind & Mark SchurginJodi & Steve SchwartzMarion & Jules SchwartzNatalie Blake & Steven SchwartzStephanie Kerley Schwartz & Michael SchwartzSumner SchwartzCarrie & Michael ScottCynthia Chapman & Neil SelmanAlisa & Roy ShakedMyra & Harold ShapiroMelani ShaumSheryl & Howard SherDebra & Adam SilbarJessica & Hunter SimonLisa & Jeff SimonMarcie & Greg SinaikoPatti & Richard SinaikoDeena & Martin SingerNancy & Mike Sitrick Francine & Roger SohnCarol SolomonPam & Bob Solomon Errol SpiroDorinda & Andy StarrelsEllen SterlingAdrienne & Nate StockLainie & Barry SugarmanElaine & Stan SwartzSandra Gottlieb & David Swedelson Kelli & John TabbNancy & Scott TaylorMoira & Stuart Tenzer Michele & Patrick ThibiantRobyn TravisJeff TrentonMariana Grosz & Noe TrevesBart TrowLauren & Bobby TurnerJudith UbickWachtel FamilyGeraldine & Jack WeichmanJill & Brian WeintraubRuth Kahn & Gerald WellsJudith WexlerMillie & Paul WexlerOna & Philip WexlerCarole & David WhiteJolie & John WhitesellDeborah Lehman & Marc WishingradCarol & Alan YellinFran & Harold YeomanRosanne ZieringEllie Kanner-Zuckerman & David ZuckermanMarie ZweigNadine & Zach Zysman

In formation as of 1.11.12

Make your "Commitment to Community" gift today at www.kehillatisrael.org.

Is your name missing from the list?

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shabbat prayer

Shabbat Services ScheduleT O U C H O F T O R A H

(See page 5 for B’nai Mitzvah schedule)

February 4 | Beshalah (Exodus 13:17-17:16)In this week’s portion we finally experience the thrill of escape from the slavery of Egypt and the remarkable crossing of the Sea of Reeds. The Midrash teaches that the waters parted only after the first Jew had enough faith to step into the sea. Find something you have been afraid to do or try in your life, and emulate that Israelite at the shores of the sea. Take just the first step this week and see what miracles can happen.

February 11 | Yitro (Exodus18:1-20:23)In this portion we are given the Ten Commandments which form the ethical foundation of all of Western civilization. You might look them up and read through them during the week (they begin at Chapter 20), and then choose one action or behavior that you can do to live out each commandment this month.

February 18 | Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18)This week contains scores of civil, criminal, property, marital and ethical laws that give greater substance and form to what Jewish tradition expects of a “religious” person. They have to do with how we treat other human beings, having the courage to resist an evil crowd and stand up for what you believe in, and treating all people fairly and with justice. Take this week to contemplate the issues that you are willing to stand up for in your life, and decide on a course of action to champion one of your causes.

February 25 | Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19)This week’s Torah portion contains the quotation that is inscribed on the dedication plaque on the outside wall of Kehillat Israel, “Build me a sanctuary that I might dwell among them.” God tells us that anywhere in which we create a sacred space together we will be able to find the divine. Holiness isn’t within the building, it is found within our relationships and through the acts of holiness we bring into each other’s lives. Find at least one new place to bring holiness into your life this week.

3, Friday 9:30 am Torah Study led by Rabbi Bernstein6:00 pm Tot Shabbat led by Rabbi Reuben and Cantor Frenkel7:30 pm “On the Rabbi’s Mind” Shabbat led by Rabbi Reuben and Cantor Frenkel

4, Saturday | Beshalah9:00 am Torah Study led by Rabbi Reuben10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service led by Rabbi Reuben and Cantor Frenkel – Hayden Schaffer becomes Bar Mitzvah4:30 pm Shabbat Afternoon Service led by Rabbi Bernstein and Cantor Frenkel – Elliana Blake becomes Bat Mitzvah

10, Friday 9:30 am Torah Study led by Rabbi Bernstein7:00 pm Family Shabbat led by Rabbi Vogel and Cantor Frenkel

11, Saturday | Yitro9:00 am Torah Study led by Rabbinic Intern Daniel Brook10:30 am KI Monthly Minyan led by congregants4:30 pm Shabbat Afternoon Service led by Rabbi Bernstein and Cantor Frenkel – Jacob Zionts becomes Bar Mitzvah

17, Friday9:30 am Torah Study led by Rabbi Bernstein7:30 pm Shir Shabbat – A Shabbat in Song led by Rabbi Bernstein and Cantor Frenkel

18, Saturday | Mishpatim9:00 am Torah Study led by congregant Bert Kleinman4:30 pm Shabbat Afternoon Service led by Rabbi Bernstein and Cantor Frenkel – Gabriel Galef becomes Bar Mitzvah

24, Friday9:30 am Torah Study led by Rabbi Bernstein 7:30 pm Limmud Shabbat – A Shabbat of Learning led by Rabbinic Intern Daniel Brook and Cantor Frenkel

25, Saturday | Terumah9:00 am Torah Study lay-led

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Upcoming KI Events

A rem

inder to

all

JEC FA

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S from

KEHILLAT IS

RAEL’S C

ATERER

PARTIES P

LUS

To attend a sp

ecial

Family

Shabbat service

and …

Friday, February 106:15 PM Dinner

7:00 PM Family Shabbat ServicesSpecial Oneg Celebration after Services

Feb. 1 1:30-3:30 PM KI Sages Bridge 10:00 AM-12:00 PM KI Cooks – Innovative Shabbat Dinners with Judy Zeidler

Feb. 5 9:30-11:30 AM Civil Rights Social Action Trip Pre-Meeting 3:15-4:15 PM Adult Acting Class 3:30-6:00 PM KITT Meetings

Feb. 6 7:00-9:00 PM KI Special Movie Screening Race to Nowhere

Feb. 7 7:30-9:00 PM Understanding Israel – Session 2: Shifting Winds: From Europe to Palestine

Feb. 8 9:00-12:00 PM ECC Tu Bishvat Seder (pre-K) 1:30-2:45 PM KI Sages Tu Bishvat Games and Nosh Party 3:00-4:30 PM KI Sages – Documentary and Discussion with Jessica Simon An Inconvenient Truth

Feb. 9 7:00-9:00 PM ECC Speaker Series – Nutrition for ages 0-5

Feb. 10 6:15 PM KI Rocks! Shabbat Dinner followed by services and special oneg (see below)

Feb. 11 10:30 AM KI Monthly Minyan led by Rabbinic Intern Daniel Brook Feb. 12 No JEC Classes 9:00 AM-5:00 PM B’nai Mitzvah Family Retreat 10:00 AM KI Goes to College Care Packaging meeting 3:15-4:15 PM Adult Acting Class 6:00-8:00 PM 7th Grade Rosh Hodesh

Feb. 13 7:30-8:30 PM KI Book Group – The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy

Feb. 15 1:00-2:45 PM KI Sages Memoir writing workshop 3:00-4:30 PM KI Sages Class - Jewish Perspectives on Current Events led by Rabbi Bernstein

Feb. 16 7:30 PM Board of Trustees meeting

Feb. 17-20 Civil Rights Social Action Trip (8th-12th Grades)

Feb. 17 6:30 PM KI Sages Shabbat Dinner

Feb. 19-21 No JEC Classes

Feb. 20 Presidents Day Holiday – offices and schools closed

Feb. 21 7:30-9:00 PM Understanding Israel – Session 3 – A State is Born: The First 50 Years

Feb. 22 7:30-9:00 PM Being Jewish: Things I Should Have Learned in Sunday School – Sex is a Mitzvah!

Feb. 23 7:00 PM KI Movie Night - Between Two Worlds

Feb. 24 – 26 KISS Women’s Retreat

Feb. 25 6:00-9:30 PM 4th Street Mystery Bus Adventure

Feb. 26 9:00-11:30 PM Yom HaMishpaha (Family Program) 1st Grade 9:30-11:00 AM Civil Rights Social Action Trip Post-Meeting 1:00-3:30 PM Avodah 3:15-4:15 PM Adult Acting Class

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Our B’nai MitzvahHayden Schaffer, son of Lizabeth and Adam Schaffer, will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah February 4, 2012, at 10:00 AM

Jacob Zionts, son of Sunny and Lewis Zionts, will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah February 11, 2012, at 4:30 PM

Elliana Blake, daughter of Patti and Jeff Blake, will be called to the Torah as Bat Mitzvah February 4, 2012, at 4:30 PM

Gabriel Galef, son of Marni and Michael Galef, will be called to the Torah as Bar Mitzvah February 18, 2012, at 4:30 PM

90-minute sessions on Tuesday evenings, 7:30 - 9:00 PM | Feb. 7, Feb. 21, Mar. 13

Step back from the passions and politics of your feelings about Israel

Israel is an integral part of our lives. No country in the world elicits more passionate views. To put these in context, join us for this extraordinary opportunity to learn with world-class scholars about the history of the State of Israel, starting from the early Zionist period (1870) to the present.

February sessions:Session 2: Shifting Winds: From Europe to PalestineSession 3: A State is Born: The First 50 Years

Presenters:Dr. David Myers Professor & Department Chair of the UCLA Department of History Dr. Arieh Saposnik Professor & Director of the UCLA Nazarian Center for Israel StudiesDr. Steven L. Spiegel Professor of Political Science at UCLA

Fees Congregants: $12/session Non-Congregants : $18/session Seniors and students: $8/session 2012 Trip to Israel Participants: FREE

RSVP online at www.kehillatisrael.org, or contact Eleanor at

eleanor.powers@kehillatisrael.org or 424.214.7461.

AIPAC ANNUAL POLICY CONFERENCEMarch 4-6, 2012 in Washington, D.C.

Join Rabbi Reuben, Rabbi Bernstein, Cantor Frenkel, and fellow KI congregants for a unique opportunity to hear heads of state, attend workshops on the most pressing issues of the day, and participate as a pro-Israel citizen activist lobbying members of Congress about issues affecting the US and Israel. Sign up now to attend a series of pre-conference events.Those who have attended past Policy Conferences and felt the energy of being in a room with over 10,000 other pro-Israel activists have called the experience “life-changing,” “awe-inspiring,” “empowering,” and “electrifying.” It’s quite simply not to be missed.

Between Two WorldsFebruary 23, 6:45 PM Seating Movie starts promptly at 7:00 PM

Between Two Worlds is a personal essay film telling five riveting stories that reveal the passionate debates over identity and generational change inside today's American Jewish community.

Q&A with filmmakers following the screening. Free and open to all.

Upcoming: Who Do You Love? March 22.

KI MOVIE NIGHTSKI MOVIE NIGHTS

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communitytributes/contributions

Tribute cards are a wonderful way to remember your friends and relatives on important occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, recoveries from illness, as well as condolences. A tribute card will be sent in your name and an acknowledgment published in the KI News.The synagogue extends its sincere appreciation for the following donations:

ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGNIn Honor of• Their friendship with Robert and Wendi Resnick by Steven and Jennifer Dersh

In Memory of• Florence Davis Cohen, mother of Didi Carr Reuben, by Lisa Bloom by Shelly and Mike Cohen by Toni and Ray Cordier by Steven and Jennifer Dersh by Laura Diamond by Jessica and Jon Dishell by Florence Elfant by Marilyn and Tom Elias by Steve and Christiane Engel by Dana and Rick Entin by Sumner and Dana Fein by Cindy and Alan Freedland by Nancy and Robert Handler by Larry and Charlotte Jacobs by Heidi Katz by Bert and Carol Kleinman by Jill and Daniel Leanse by Bart Lynn, Beverley Auerbach, Brett, Berit and Brock by Mark and Andie Miller by Sarah and Itzik Moskovitz by Bea Prentice by Kathleen Rawson and Lisa Dannenbaum by Robert and Wendi Resnick by Ken and Shelly Rosenberg by Alfred and Marta Samulon by Cynthia Chapman and Neil Selman by Roy and Alisa Shaked by Harold and Myra Shapiro by Martin and Deena Singer by Pam and Bob Solomon by Stan and Elaine Swartz by David Swedelson and Sandra Gottlieb by Moira and Stuart Tenzer • Marcie Greenberg by Jan Levine

AUERBACH FAMILY RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND • Minda Hanscom

BEAUTIFICATION FUND In celebration of • Stan Swartz's great improvement by Judith Ubick

In Honor of• Rabbi Reuben's new book by Judith Ubick

In Memory of• Ann Louise Truelson by Judith Ubick • Didi Carr Reuben's mother and in gratitude to her for giving us Didi by Judith Ubick • Abe Grundstein by Judith Ubick • Frances Walter by David Walter

BURTON J. MORRISON MUSIC FUND• Marilyn and Stewart Lonky

In Memory of• Florence Davis Cohen, mother of Didi Carr Reuben, by Margot Morrison and Family • Her choir buddy, Ben Kahn, by Patti Sinaiko

CANTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND• Linda and Robert Waxman and Jonathan Waxman

In Honor of• Cantor Frenkel by David Boyle and Lisa Kaas Boyle • Cantor Frenkel's 50th Birthday by Jeffrey and Wendy Broudy • Cole Schiffer's Bar Mitzvah by David and Sherry Gold • Marcie Greenberg by Richard and JoAnn Greenberg • High Holy Days by Alvin Greenwald • Cantor Frenkel's 50th Birthday by John and Rita Haddow • Cantor Frenkel by Glenn and Eve Jaffe • Cantor Frenkel's 50th Birthday by Mark and Elizabeth Kogan • Noah's Bar Mitzvah by David and Dianne Markman • The wedding of Mindy and Jon Merwitzer by Nelson and Sandi Merwitzer • Cantor Frenkel by Marty Nislick and Lynn Koff • Asker and Sofie Powazek by Jack and Sandra Powazek • Hudson "David" Luse by Gary and Gail Rachelefsky • Oliver Miles Field's Bris by Michael and Nancy Sitrick

In Memory of• Florence Davis Cohen by Rabbi Steven and Didi Carr Reuben • Matilda Fagan Cohen by Joseph Cohen • Pesach Palefsky by Stewart and Marilyn Lonky • Dora Meyer by Gary and Gail Rachelefsky • Laurel Shedler, Albert Shedler, Helen Crystal Greenfield and Jack Crystal by Michael Shedler • Joel Shinderman by Mark and Jill Shinderman • Marty Zweig by Tim and Lori Wilson • Ethel Benson, Cathie Wishnick's beloved mother, by Arnie Wishnick

CONGREGATIONAL COMMITMENT ASSISTANCE FUND • With best wishes for the full recovery of Blanche Rosloff by Tom and Marilyn Elias

In Honor of• Fay Samulon and Sheila and Andy Garb by Barbara and Gilbert Dembo

In Memory of• Jack Cherbo by Barbara and Gilbert Dembo • Edna Gyepes by Barbara and Gilbert Dembo

DONALD GOLDBERG MEMORIALCHILDREN'S BOOK FUNDIn Memory of• Edgar J. Drachman by Winifred Davis

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER FUND In Memory of• Frances Olian, mother of Betsy Sorkin, by Richard and Jane Abrams • Abe Grundstein by Bruce and Debbie Goldstein • Frances Walter by David Walter

ISRAEL TRAVEL AND STUDY FUND • Victor Coleman

In Memory of• Alan Shapiro by Leonard Schlessinger

KIN CARING FUND In Memory of• Edna Gyepes by Patti Sinaiko

KEHILLAT ISRAEL GENERAL FUNDIn Memory of• Janet Jaffe by Jon and Jessica Dishell • Abe Grundstein by Marvin and Adelle Goldstein • Bella Cohen and Joseph Klein by Marvin Klein • Murray Alfred Pollack by Beatrice Pollack • Hilda Abramowitz by Karen and Ken Scopp • Elon Wertman by Adlai Wertman and Janet Ambrosi Wertman • Abe Grundstein by Bob and Jean Zeldin • Abe Grundstein by Sarah Zeldin

NEWMAN HOMELESS FUND • Leila Newman

In Memory of• Bernice Schwartz Stewart, Jack Schwartz and Mollie Gitelman Schwartz by Susan Friedman

RABBI BERNSTEIN'S DISCRETIONARY FUNDIn Appreciation of• Rabbi Amy Bernstein by Michael and Pamela Kogan

In Gratitude for• The many positive and creative elements Rabbi Bernstein has brought to KI by Marilyn and Tom Elias

In Honor of• Megan Banchik's Bat Mitzvah by Randy and Jannell Banchik • Samuel Marguleas' Bar Mitzvah by Anthony and Sue Marguleas

In Honor of his children• Jesse (Jacob), Matthew (Moshe), Marissa (Malcha); and parents, Joyce (Eta) and Paul (Pinchas) by Mitchell Chupack

In Memory of• Rachel Touber, her beloved mother, by Charlotte Winokur

RABBI REUBEN'S DISCRETIONARY FUND• Robert and Robin Burg• Joseph Cohen• Leila Newman• Linda and Robert Waxman and Jonathan Waxman

In Appreciation of• The New Year by Richard Littlestone

In Honor of• Cole Schiffer's Bar Mitzvah by David and Sherry Gold • Their daughter, Dyan Reilly, by Bert and Carol Kleinman • Noah Markman's Bar Mitzvah by David and Dianne Markman • Mindy and Jon Merwitzer's wedding by Nelson and Sandi Merwitzer • Samantha Messing’s Bat Mitzvah by Marla and Brett Messing• Oliver Miles Field's Bris by Michael and Nancy Sitrick

In Honor of his children• Jesse (Jacob), Matthew (Moshe), Marissa (Malcha); and parents, Joyce (Eta) and Paul (Pinchas) by Mitchell Chupack

In Memory of• Florence Davis Cohen, Didi Carr Reuben's mother, by John and Roz Arenson • Sara Lee Finkelstein by Stevan Birnbaum and Bonnie Baehr • Florence Davis Cohen, mother of Didi Carr Reuben, by Nancy and Richard Bernheimer • Marcie Greenberg by Richard and JoAnn Greenberg • Mark Shane Ehrenreich by Ruthe Newmann

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new members

nahamuwords of comfort

ki scrip program

kvell

• To Gary Praglin, on the death of his uncle, David Barris

• To Judy Silk, on the death of her uncle, Larry Silk

• To Ora Nadrich, on the death of her stepfather, Alter Mandel • To Marie Zweig, on the death of her mother, Patricia Kinsella

• To Lilia Krayevsky, on the death of her father, Faynshteyn Shmul

• To Bella Shapiro, on the death of her husband, Alan Shapiro;to Mihal Shapiro-Skaggs, Amos Shapiro, Phillip Shapiro, and Elisha Shapiro, on the death of their father

• To Natalie Graff-Radford, on the death of her father, Michael Becker

• To Steve Reiner, on the death of his mother, Rosalyn Reiner

• To Hillar Kaplan-New, on the death of her mother, Reva Kaplan

• To Rebecca Neidorf, on the death of her father, John Allen Isaacs

Deanne and Eric KripkeJessica and Sean Masterson

• Mazal Tov to Martin Singer who will be honored at the Beverly Hills Hotel in April by the Beverly Hills Bar Association as 2012 Entertainment Lawyer of the Year.

• Mazal Tov to Austin Leeds on having his animated short film, “Embrace Diversity” chosen as a winner in his school’s Reflections Contest and accepted for inclusion in the Irvine International Film Festival.

let the ki community share in your life-cycle events. let us know! If you would like to announce a birth or death in the KI News, please contact Leslie Zimmer at 424.214.7466. Or if you would like to congratulate someone for an event or accomplishment in Kvell Corner, please send to barbara.lehman@kehillatisrael.org.

Thank you to the following people who supported the Scrip Program in December.

$107.50 from Gelsons

Linda and Tony RubinCynthia Chapman and Neil SelmanLisa and Jeff SimonGeraldine and Jack WeichmanFran and Harold Yeoman

• Mary Rubin Lasky by Dale Nutter • Joseph Padawer by Jeremy and Bren Padawer • Maxwell Starkman by Robert and Phyllis Starkman • Ruth Dordick by Judy Wexler • Florence Davis Cohen, Didi Carr Reuben's mother, by Paul and Millie Wexler • Florence Davis Cohen, Rebbetzin Didi's beloved Mom, by Arnie Wishnick • Alan Shapiro by Judy Wexler

RESNICK FUND FOR CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMINGAND FACILITIES In Honor of• Robert and Wendi Resnick's wedding by Jane and Brian Krantz

TIKKUN OLAM FUND In Memory of• Rosalind T. Jeffer by Bruce Jeffer

mazal tov• To Stephanie Morton Millstein and Eric Millstein, on the birth of their son, Myles Henry Morton MillsteinKehillat Israel Business Network presents:

Breaking Investment Barriers: Where you Need to be in Today's Financial WorldThursday, March 1, 7:30 - 9:00 PM

Featured speakers:Eric Bruck: principal, certified financial planner, Silver Oak Wealth AdvisorsBrad Ebner: vice-president, Bernstein Global Wealth ManagementTodd Morgan: co-founder and senior managing director, Bel Air Investment Advisors

Learn various investing methodologies from three astute financial investors who are KI congregants and who represent diverse aspects of the investment world. Explore how their different firms operate, where the market is now, and where it may be heading next.

KISS Women’s Retreat 2012February 24-26Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel and Resort, Oxnard

ZIERING TZEDAKAH TEEN FUND In Honor of• Herbie Schwartz by Linda Daly • Jacob Goodman by David Goodman and Wendy Felson• Jacob Goodman by Talia Goodman • Matt Kaufman by Jeffrey and Ruth Kaufman • David Taylor by Jill and Daniel Leanse • Sarah Wishingrad by Bob and Sandra Lehman • KITT Havurah Tova Board by Sandep and Elizabeth Rahi • KITT Havurah Tova Board by Eric and Julie Wasserman • Sarah Wishingrad by Michele and Ronnie Wise

In Memory of• Bill Collins by Patricia Collins

Revive your body. Refresh your mind. Recharge your Soul. Breathe!RSVP at www.kehillatisrael.org For more information, contact Matt Davidson at 424.214.7454 ormatt.davidson@kehillatisrael.org

kinews

Return Service Requested K E H I L L A T I S R A E L , a Reconstructionist Congregation,

is an inclusive spiritual community,

providing a warm, nurturing

environment where we pray, learn,

educate, and perpetuate Torah and

Jewish values, while serving the

greater community.

Steven Carr Reuben, PhD, Rabbi Amy Bernstein, Rabbi Chayim Frenkel, CantorMarca Gay, Executive DirectorAlice Greenwald, Director, Youth and Family Education Julie Dubron, Director, Early Childhood Center Abraham Winokur z”l, Founding Rabbi

Mickey Bienenfeld, Cantor Emeritus

KI Board of Trustees 2011-12/5771-5772: Officers: Kathleen Rawson, President; Miriam Bookey, VP Synagogue Services; Jessica Dishell, VP Education; Angela Milstein, VP Strategic Planning/Special Projects; Robert Resnick, VP Finance; Moira Tenzer, Ex-Officio, Advisor to the President;Trustees: Laura Diamond, Lani Farar, Cindy Freedland, Steve Gomer, Nancy Handler, Rachael Jeck, Heidi Katz, Richard Klein, Bert Kleinman, Jill Leanse, Steven Lewis, Mark Miller, Rick Nasch, Michael Rosen, Stephanie Kerley Schwartz, Pamela Solomon, Rosanne Ziering

KI Communications Director:Barbara LehmanKI News Art Direction and Production:Barbara Lehman, Gili WolfEditorial Support:Matt Davidson, Mariana Grosz

KI News is published monthly by Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation of Pacific Palisades,16019 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to KI News, 16019 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

KI Cooks: Innovative Shabbat DinnersWednesday, February 1, 10:00 AM - NoonClass fee: $45

Judy Zeidler returns to teach us some basics as well as new ideas for Shabbat dinner. We’ll learn how to make homemade hallah and more!

RSVP online at www.kehillatisrael.org or contact Eleanor at eleanor.powers@kehillatisrael.org or 424.214.7461.