WZO Elections: Your Vote Is Needed Beth El's Pesach Kids Parting

Issue 148 · April/May 2015

“Honoring Tradition, Celebrating Diversity, and Building a Jewish Future”

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Beth El’sPesach KidsBY LAURA TURBOW

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Congregation Beth El is a member of The Union for Reform Judaism

THE TALMUD (BT Kiddushin 40b) RELATES A STORY of a friendly debate among scholars, held one quiet afternoon while reclining in one of their homes.

“Which is greater,” the question was posed, “study or practice?” Rabbi Tarfon, a sage of the Mishnah (a 2nd-century work of

rabbinic literature), answered first: “Practice is greater,” he said.His colleague, the great Rabbi Akiba, countered, “Study is

greater, because it leads to practice.”Soon the rest of the assembled Elders chimed in, “Study is

greater, for it leads to action.”This is likely the logic that explains why, in the Mishnah, in a list of mitzvot

(commandments) that includes honoring one’s mother and father and caring for the poor, study is stated as being “equal to them all” (Mishnah Peah 1:1).

This year in our YAFE (Youth and Family Education) programs we have been learning about middot (Jewish values). Our middot have been a great foundation for provocative conversations across developmental stages, and provided motivation for righteous choices. Learning about values such as ometz lev (courage) and emet (truthfulness) has been combined with the stories and rituals around holidays like Chanukah and Purim in order to help students of all ages relate our ancient tradition to their contemporary reality. In this way, we hope, study will indeed lead to action, as we live our Judaism everywhere we go—in our homes, at school, at work—and choose to speak up and take action when we witness injustice. This is what it means to live by Akiba’s wisdom. The more we learn, the more we can put that learning to use as we act in the world, both within and beyond our specific Jewish practice.

And, with all due respect to Rabbi Akiba, we can also appreciate the wisdom in Rabbi Tarfon’s response, especially this month in the observance of Passover. As several repetitions during the Exodus story found both in the Torah and the Haggadah remind us, practicing the ritual leads to questions about meaning, and then to further study. “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival of Adonai. Throughout the seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten; no leavened bread shall be found in all your territory. And you shall explain to your

Learning, Practice, and Celebrationby Rabbi Rebekah Stern

2 From the Rabbi3 From the President4 The Genealogical

Information Highway5 WZO Elections6 Events8 Were You There?

Photos from Beth El Events

10 New Members

11 Recipes12 Library13 Children’s Library14 Eyes on (You)th15 Midrasha15 B’nei Mitzvah 15 New Teen Awards 16 BENS News17 Chug Mishpacha

17 Mitzvah Corps18 Torah Study19 Chutzpah List19 Mazel Tov20 Tzedakah22 Calendar24 Gift Shop

CONGREGATION BETH EL

1301 Oxford Street Berkeley, CA 94709-1424

Phone: 510-848-3988 Fax: 510-848-2707

Youth and Family Education Office

Direct Line: 510-848-2122

Nursery School Office Direct Line: 510-848-9428

Camp Kee Tov Office Direct Line: 510-848-2372

Midrasha OfficeDirect Line: 510-843-4667

CLERGY & STAFF

Rabbi Yoel H. Kahnext. 215 · [email protected]

Rabbi Rebekah P. Sternext. 228 · [email protected]

Norm Frankel Executive Director

ext. 212 · [email protected]

Debra Sagan MasseyDirector of Education


Maguy Weizmann-McGuireEarly Childhood Education Director


Zach Landres-Schnur Camp Kee Tov & Youth Director


Tameka Young-DiabyBookkeeper


Juliet Gardner Administrative Coordinator


Aliza Minkina Rabbinical Assistant


Mimi AbrahamCommunications Coordinator


Emily SchnitzerCamp Kee Tov Admin. Coordinator ext. 223 · [email protected]

Allie LiepmanYouth and Family Education

Admin. Coordinator ext. 214 · [email protected]

Rabbi Jennifer FlammMidrasha Director

510-843-4667 · [email protected]

Odette BlachmanGift Shop


Rabbi Reuben Zellman Music Director

On Leave 2014-2015

Rabbi Ferenc RajRabbi Emeritus

[email protected]

IN THIS ISSUE

FROM THE RABBI

Correction: In the last issue, we inadvertently omitted the photo credit for the image of Robinn Magid’s family, which should have been attributed to Shoey Sindel.

CONTIN UED ON PAGE 18

2 · THE BUILDER · APRIL/MAY 2015

THIS COLUMN MARKS MY LAST as president of Congregation Beth El. For the past two years I have used my Builder soapbox to address nearly a dozen topics: the strength of our synagogue and its programs; the importance of lifelong membership and participation in a synagogue community; the personal rewards that flow from volunteering at Beth El; the abundance of benefits that our members receive by virtue of their synagogue membership; and the importance of developing future generations of Beth El leadership. So what’s left for me to write about?

Only this — the extraordinary dedication and commitment of Beth El’s volunteers, and those who support our synagogue, through tens of thousands

of hours of volunteer service each year and the generous donations that help to ensure Beth El’s financial stability.

We are a truly remarkable community. No other institution with which I have ever been affiliated commands the sustained outpouring of volunteer effort and generosity that pours forth from our members. Every year we honor our volunteers at an Erev Shabbat service — please join us at the next such service on May 15th — and every year the list of volunteers grows longer, numbering more than 600 this year. If I were to try to list the committees, task forces, programs, projects and tasks that benefit from the efforts of our volunteers, I would exceed the word limit of this column! Instead, I simply offer my heartfelt thanks to you all.

And while I hesitate to single out any one group of volunteers lest I be perceived as undervaluing the contributions of others, I do wish to thank and applaud the members of the Beth El Board of Directors with whom I have had the pleasure of working. I often ask myself why, as Chair of the Board, I never seem able to end Board meetings on time. After all, I have chaired other nonprofit boards and more than a dozen board committees. I always managed to conclude those meetings on time. What is it about Beth El Board meetings that makes it impossible for me to end them on time?

A simplistic answer might be that Beth El’s Board is the only board I have chaired comprised entirely of Jews. (The old adage of “two Jews, five opinions” comes to mind!) But the answer goes deeper than the Jewish characteristic of bringing Talmudic-like debate to every question. Rather, it is the very dedication of our Board members, their commitment to examine and discuss every issue in depth — however long it takes — in order to determine how best to govern our synagogue and to serve the interests of its members, that leads to lengthy meetings. And for that, I am truly grateful.

Finally, I cannot end without thanking all of you for the privilege of allowing me to serve our synagogue community. As president, I have had the opportunity to get to know many of you across the generations, and that has been among the greatest personal rewards of my time in office. Thank you for entrusting me with the leadership of Beth El for the past two years.

L’shalom,

Parting Words: “Long Meetings Mean We Care More ”by Paul Sugarman, President of the Board of Directors

FROM THE PRESIDENT

LETTERS TO THE EDITORYour thoughts and opinions are important to us. If you have a subject of interest to the Congregation, write a letter or essay of a maximum of 500 words and submit it to Mimi Abraham at [email protected]. No anonymous submissions will be accepted.

Deadline for the next issue: April 17, 2015

Letters, essays and guest articles may be edited for length, content and style.

Member ContributorsOdette Blachman Jenn Brysk Marjorie Gelb Marlene Getz Jerry Iserson Robinn Magid

Scott Spear Paul Sugarman Susan Sugarman Laura Turbow Susan Zarchy

Communications Coordinator Mimi Abraham

Copy Editor Janine Baer

Designer Cheshire Isaacs

Board Installation and Volunteer RecognitionHave you volunteered this year? Hundreds of our members have contributed to the community, sharing time and skills, from answering phones in the office to leading a class to cooking for the Gala to driving a meal to another family at a time of need. We will honor and thank all of our volunteers at our annual Volunteer Recognition Shabbat on Friday, May 15. Incoming President Jill Dodd and our 2015–2016 Board members will also be installed at this celebratory evening.

A catered buffet dinner will be served at 6:15 pm and the service will begin promptly at 7:30. Dinner is free; advance sign-ups are essential! Please visit our website to RSVP.

CONGREGATION BETH EL · BETHELBERKELEY.ORG · 3

ALL AROUND CONGREGATION BETH EL are public displays of names that have meaning for the people who posted them. They are also part of the “Information Highway” with meaning for avid Jewish genealogists! (Who knew?) For example, along our Eastern Wall are bronze yahrzeit plaques with biographical data that congregants have installed in memory of their loved ones. Many of our rooms and the backs of our chairs include a plaque lovingly dedicated to someone connected to Beth El. We even have a Sefer Torah (Torah scroll) donated in memory of a lost teenage son. Then, of course, there are our congregation’s two local cemetery sections complete with matzevot (tombstones). Each is of interest to the genealogist and family historian, which is why we participate in JewishGen.org, the “Official Home of Jewish Genealogy on the Internet,” by adding our congregation’s data to their protected databases. We have participated in the JewishGen Online World-Wide Burial Registry (JOWBR) for about five years, and we will soon participate in the Yahrzeit Plaque database. These are searchable to people who register in the JewishGen Family Finder, which is the first step to becoming a Jewish genealogist.

At Beth El we also honor people in the ways in which they have been associated with the congregation. In the reference section of our library, there is a small tribute to the rabbis who have served this congregation, and downstairs is the Gallery of the Past Presidents. The Education wing houses a gallery of Midrasha graduating classes featuring their individual names, and we will soon hang our collection of Confirmation Class photos acknowledging their

names. Outside our social hall appear the names of contributors to our current building’s capital campaign, and carefully tucked away in our archives, we save old member directories, antique photos and even issues of this publication, The Builder. Each is a testament to the activities of someone’s life and values.

As genealogists, first we pencil in the hierarchy of the people upon whose shoulders we stand, and then we rough out that sketch using dates of vital events. Next, we add facts and photos to develop our understanding of the character of each relative. Recording organized synagogue life in the family history adds a dimension to the developing picture of the complete person. By tracking our ancestors through the clues they leave behind, we actively participate in the prayer that they “be bound up in the bonds of life” and that their memory “may be among the living.” Are you surprised to learn that a genealogy hobby could be so closely tied to our religious practice?

Welcome to the colorful world of Jewish Genealogy if you are new to this idea! Visit JewishGen.org and investigate our local Jewish Genealogy Society (Google: SFBA-JGS). Write me if you need help to get past some roadblock you might have on the Jewish Genealogy Information Highway! And Happy Trails!

Robinn Magid is an expert genealogist, active in the SFBA-JGS, and a long-time board member of Jewish Records Indexing — Poland (JRI-Poland.org). She often writes and speaks on a variety of Jewish Genealogy topics and is reachable at: [email protected]. She is currently a Beth El trustee.

The Genealogical Information Highway, Mapping a Path to Jewish Lifeby Robinn Magid

FEATURE

PH OTO BY M IM I A B R A HA M


ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS that diaspora Jews can take to support Israel’s democracy and pluralism, and bond with world Jewry and the state of Israel is to vote in this year’s World Zionist Congress elections; the polls are open for registration and voting through April 15, 2015. The World Zionist Congress — first convened by Theodor Herzl in 1897 — continues its historic role as the international “Parliament of the Jewish People.” The most important role of the Congress is as the governing body for the Jewish Agency, the largest Jewish nonprofit in the world. The Jewish Agency has primary responsibility for facilitating the Aliyah and resettlement of new immigrants and, as Israel’s largest NGO, directly influences many Israeli institutions. The Jewish Agency’s support — and our votes — have made and will continue to make a critical difference in support for Reform Judaism in Israel along with furthering religious pluralism and gender equality and advocating for a two-state solution. These elections are the strongest way for American Reform Jews to promote and encourage the ideals of justice, equality and democracy in Israel itself and help build the kind of Jewish state we know is possible.

The only requirements for voting are that you must be Jewish and at least 18 years of age. There is a one-time-only administrative charge of $5 for young Jews between the ages of 18 and 30, and $10 for Jews over 30. (This fee is assessed by the World Zionist Organization to administer the elections.)

There are a total of eleven slates which are eligible for American Jewish votes; you may, of course, vote for any of them. We urge you to join us in registering and voting for the ARZA slate, the Association of Reform Zionists of America. The ARZA slate includes many distinguished America Reform rabbis and leaders of the Union for Reform Judaism representing 1.3 million American Jews. You can register and actually vote at the same time here: www.reformjews4israel.org.

What is the ARZA Platform? The platform supports gender equality, religious equality and equal treatment for all citizens in the State of Israel. The ARZA platform supports peace, security and stability through a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Why vote for ARZA? ARZA currently holds 39% of the US representation in the World Zionist Congress based on the results of the last election for the WZC. Consequently, over the past five years $20 million has been given to the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) to support its programs,

congregations, rabbis, outreach, and social justice work. The Israeli government has also provided four new buildings for Reform communities around Israel because of our large American Reform Zionist representation.

The government of the state of Israel does not give any money directly to the Reform movement except through special programs. However, the government does fund generously orthodox schools and synagogues. This is not only unfair, it is a violation of the spirit of Israel’s own Declaration of Independence. We support our movement and others in Israel who are struggling through the courts to be treated equally under the law.

In the meantime, we must raise money to support our Israeli Reform movement, and our success in this WZC election is one sure way to do that. The Israeli Reform movement is a significant leader in support of the Israel Religious Action Center in Jerusalem and our 45 congregations, 2 kibbutzim, strong youth programs, nursery schools, day schools, and gap-year programs all over the country.

Our movement supports civil marriage unions in Israel without having to involve the Chief Rabbinate, egalitarianism at the Western Wall, anti-racism laws, anti-poverty activism, and many other social justice causes. A vote for ARZA is a vote in favor of policies and program which are consistent with and supportive of a two-state solution.

We ask every adult Jewish member of your household to register, pay the $5 or $10 fee and join us in supporting the Reform movement in Israel. Israeli citizens living abroad can vote in this election if they did not vote in the current Knesset election. If you have trouble voting, please call 844-413-2929 or email [email protected].

WZO Elections: Your Vote Is Needed

WZO ELECTIONS

Rabbi Yoel Kahn Rabbi Ferenc Raj Rabbi Rebekah Stern Rabbi Reuben Zellman

What is the ARZA Platform? The platform supports gender equality, religious equality and equal treatment for all citizens in the State of Israel. The ARZA platform supports peace, security and stability through a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.


EVENTS

Pesach Congregational

Passover SederSaturday, April 4 at 6:00 pm

Join Rabbis Yoel Kahn and Rebekah Stern and Beth El friends,

old and new, in our annual Second Night Congregational Seder

on Saturday evening, April 4 at 6:00 pm. We will enjoy a festive

Pesach celebration and a delicious Kosher-for-Passover meal;

dinner will be catered by Lucy Aghadjian, whose extraordinary

cooking was the talk-of-the-shul at the Gala and the installation

dinner for Rabbi Rebekah Stern.

We are never too old, nor too young to learn and retell the

story of Passover. Through song, ritual and discussion, we will

retell the ancient story, making connections to our own lives

and our world.Adults: (Members) $48 (Guests) $60, Seniors $36, Young

Professionals (30 and under) $36, Students/Youth/Children $25

Through the generosity of anonymous Beth El members,

no one will be turned away because of inability to pay. Kids are

warmly welcomed to join in the seder and/or the parallel kids’

Pesach activities. Visit bethelberkeley.org/pesach to RSVP.

Yom Iyyun: Prayer as PracticeMonday, June 1, 9:00 am–5:00 pm

Come together with leading guest teachers and Bay Area Jewish

prayer leaders for an experiential exploration of prayer as practice.

Guest presenters include Rabbi Nancy Flam (Prayer Project Director,

IJS), Shir Yaakov Feit (musician, composer, prayer leader); and Sylvia

Boorstein, Ph.D. (meditation teacher, author).

Register online: regonline.com/yomiyyunbayarea.

Yizkor ServicesAs a community, we seek to support our members as they live with loss and grief. Yizkor is our tradition’s dedicated memorial service, recited four times a year, including at the end of Passover and Shavuot. While all are invited to attend the Yizkor service, it is especially appropriate to attend during the first year of mourning after a loved one has died.

Passover Yizkor Circle and ServiceFriday, April 104:30 pm Yizkor Circle: A facilitated gathering to speak about the people whom we have lost5:30 pm Yizkor Service

Shavuot Yizkor ServiceMonday, May 257:00 pm Yizkor Service

Yom haShoah

Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30 pm

Congregation Beth El will commemorate Yom haShoah, Holocaust and

Heroism Memorial Day, on Wednesday evening, April 15, at 7:30 pm.

Congregation Netivot Shalom & Congregation Beth Israel, along with other

community partners, will join us in observance. As the number of eye-witness

survivors continues to dwindle, the importance of hearing their stories and

of our passing on the memory only grows. Testimony, music, prayer and

reflection will aid us in naming and honoring all that was lost.

Israel Independence Day (Yom haAtzmaut)Thursday, April 23 at 4:45 pmBeginning with a short ceremony, Beth El will celebrate Israel’s Independence Day with a free program open to the community. Enjoy hands-on family activities, Israeli dancing, and of course, falafel! Wear blue and white, and join us for the celebration!

Celebration of Education Honoring

Debra Sagan Massey

Friday, May 8 starting at 5:00 pm

Celebrate learning at our end-of-the-school-year Shabbat YAFE Celebration

of Education. In a joyful and celebratory gathering, we will recognize our

graduating high school seniors, hear from our confirmation class and

participate in Shabbat YAFE led by our 7th grade students. We will also honor

and thank Debra Sagan Massey as she completes her service as Director of

Youth and Family Education (watch your email for additional info! But shhh…

it’s a surprise!). For dinner, we will be inviting several different local food

trucks to park in the Courtyard for a different kind of Shabbat! And, of course,

there will be a wonderful oneg after (did someone say “ice cream”?)!

5:00 pm Tot Shabbat

5:00–7:00 pm Dinner in the Courtyard — Food trucks

7:00 pm Shabbat YAFE Service and Celebration of Education

Tikkun Leil ShavuotSaturday, May 23 beginning at 6:00 pmThe East Bay Jewish community’s annual “all-night” study session, Tikkun Leil Shavuot, will be held at the JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley on Saturday evening, May 23.

Shavuot, the third of the Torah’s three ancient pilgrimage festivals, is considered the anniversary of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. For hundreds of years, Jews have gathered in a study-vigil, lasting until midnight or dawn. The Berkeley Jewish community gathers – in all its diversity – each year at the JCC of the East Bay for a celebration of study and community. Rabbi Yoel Kahn will be among the many presenters offering classes and teaching throughout the evening. You are welcome to come at any time and stay as long as you wish; childcare is provided. Additional information on teachers and the evening’s schedule will be in the e-update.


Ruth Messinger, President, American

Jewish World Service: “Women Hold Up

Half the Sky”Friday, April 17 at 7:30 pm

Ruth W. Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), will speak

about the empowerment of women around the world and their particular role in

increasing social justice in the world at Shabbat evening services on Friday, April 17

at 7:30 pm. AJWS is the world’s leading Jewish organization working to end poverty

and realize human rights in the developing world. Ruth Messinger came to AJWS in

1998, after a 20-year career in public service in New York City. Many national Jewish

organizations have honored Ruth, and The Jewish Daily Forward, The Jerusalem Post

and Huffington Post have named her on lists of the world’s most influential Jews and

religious leaders. AJWS pursues lasting change by providing financial support to local

grassroots and global human rights organizations working in Africa, Asia, Latin America

and the Caribbean and by mobilizing American Jews and others in the U.S. to advocate

for policies that will benefit people in the developing world. Katherine Haynes-Sanstad,

past President of Beth El, will introduce Ruth Messinger.

Ongoing programsLunch & Learn

Thursday, April 23 at noon: Showdown at Shinagawa: Tales of Filming from Bombay to Brazil, presented by Bill Zarchy

Bill Zarchy is a freelance director of photography, writer and teacher. He has shot film and video projects in 30 countries and 40 states, including interviews with three former presidents for the Emmy-winning West Wing Documentary Special. Thursday, May 14 at noon: Are the Trees All Right? Sudden Oak Death and Other Threats to Our Forests, presented by Susan Frankel

Susan Frankel is a forest pathologist (aka “tree doctor”) for the USDA Forest Service and has worked on tree diseases in California for over 25 years. For more information, contact Harry Margulius at [email protected].

People of the BookThursday, April 16 at 7:00 pm: Viv Trotz will present People of the Book’s first graphic novel, Will Eisner’s revolutionary literary work, A Contract with God.

Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 pm: Barry Silverblatt will present the San Francisco Jewish Community Library’s choice for 2015’s One Bay One Book program, The Betrayers by David Bezmozgis, “a powerful morality tale for modern times.”For more information, or to suggest a book presentation, contact Barry Silverblatt at [email protected] Chodesh

Sunday, April 19 and Thursday, May 28 at 8:00 pmHeld monthly, near the New Moon. Gather with Rabbi Stern for womanly reflection, learning and conversation.

Roots & BranchesSunday, April 12, 26, May 3, 10, 17 at 9:15 amRabbi Yoel Kahn’s open-ended, ongoing exploration of the texts and ideas of the Jewish tradition continues. The topic is Ketuvim, the Writings, the third section of the Hebrew Bible. Throughout April and May, we will continue reading and discussing the Book of Job — one of the most beautifully written and challenging books in all of Jewish

literature. Please note that on April 12, we will join the confirmation class at 10:30 am for a showing of A Serious Man.

Rabbi’s TischSunday, April 12 at 4:00 pm and Sunday, May 17 at 4:30 pmHigh school juniors and seniors gather monthly for food, study and fun at Rabbi Kahn’s home. April 12 is movie night: Fiddler on the Roof (note earlier start time!)

Men’s ClubWednesday, April 22 at 7:00 pm: Beth El congregant Jason Turbow is the author of The Baseball Codes. He will be discussing his next book about the championship Oakland A’s teams of the early 1970s. Jason will read excerpts and share his journey in bringing this important work to press. Also, bring your baseball memorabilia and gear to show off and share with everyone.

Sunday, May 31: Make your plans to see the Oakland A’s vs. NY Yankees for an afternoon game at the Coliseum. Tickets include a voucher for refreshments/souvenirs.Contact Allan Sobel at [email protected] or Bob Goldstein at

[email protected].

THE ANNUAL MEETING is open to all members and is an opportunity to conduct important congregational business and communicate information on the financial state of the congregation.

We will begin the annual meeting at 10:00 am with a brunch reception in honor of retiring Executive Director Norm Frankel. We will express our thanks to Norm as he concludes his six years of service at Beth El and a career dedicated to helping our community.

The business portion of the meeting will begin at 11:00 am, and will include reports on the state of the synagogue, a review of our current year’s finances and the operating budget for the coming fiscal year. There will also be an update on the status of our financial obligations to our bank and others, and an opportunity to answer your questions on the state of the synagogue.

The agenda will also include a vote on the Board of Directors’ recommendation for base membership dues for the next fiscal year, as well as a vote on the proposed slate of candidates for the 2015–2016 Board of Directors. Details on these two items, as well as any other items that might be added to the agenda, will be sent at least 10 days prior to May 3, 2015.

The meeting will conclude with the presentation of the Marion Magid Award for Excellence in Leadership. At this year’s Annual Meeting we will be honoring one of our members whose efforts and leadership epitomize the vital importance of volunteer participation at all levels in building and sustaining our community.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our Annual Meeting.

—Paul Sugarman, President

Please join us at the Congregation Beth El Annual Meeting Sunday, May 3 at 10 am

EVENTS

Norm Frankel

CONGREGATION BETH EL · BETHELBERKELEY.ORG · 7CONGREGATION BETH EL · BETHELBERKELEY.ORG · 7

Were You There?Moments from recent events at Congregation Beth El

TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS24 Hour Fitness - FitLite · 4 Cats Art Studio · A Priori · Abby Rezneck & Miles Ehrlich* · Acme Bread · Albany Jazzercise · Albany Nail Salon · Alegio Chocolate · Alison Fisher & Matthew Oshry* · Andronico’s Market · Anna Mantell & Bob Goldstein · Anytime Fitness · As You Wish Frozen Yogurt · Asian Art Museum · Aurora Theatre · Aveda · Barbara & Steven Segal · Bartavelle · Bay Area Children’s Theatre · Belinda Lyons-Newman & Daniel Newman* · Ben Highton & Nancy Berglas* · Benefit Cosmetics · BENS Gan Alonim · BENS Gan Dvorim · BENS Gan Galim · BENS Gan Hadar · Berkeley Bowl · Berkeley Ironworks · Berkeley Playhouse · Berkeley Repertory Theatre · Berkeley Symphony Orchestra · Bette’s Oceanview Diner · Bonnie Cooperstein · Briel Pomerantz · Bruce Linton · Brushstrokes · Cafe Raj · Cal Performances · Cal Shakespeare Theater · California Academy of Science · California Jazz Conservatory · Camp Kee Tov · Canyon Swim School · Cap’n Bill – William Teplow · Carol Brownstein · Carrie Goux & Jonathan Spalter · Chabot Space & Science Center · Cheeseboard · Chez Panisse · Chora Nova Choir · Chug Mishpacha · Claire & Richard Taylor · Claremont Resort and Spa · Copy Central · Corso · Country Cheese Company · Cugini · deYoung Museum · Diane Halberg & Josh Langenthal* · Donna Friedman Meir & Gadi Meir** · Doubletree Hotel · Emma Newman · Exploratorium · Fabkids · Fairyland · Flowerland Nursery · Folkmani’s Puppets · Freight & Salvage · Gillian Lich · Granlibbaken Resort · Habitot · Hannah’s · Head over Heels · Jason Levis · JCC Maccabi Sports Camp · Kadima – 1st Grade · Kadima – 3rd Grade · Kadima – 5th Grade · Kadima – 6th Grade · Karen & Stuart Gansky · Katherine Haynes Sanstad* · Kaye Anderson · Kermit Lynch · Kiehl’s · Kitchen on Fire · Jill & Martin Dodd** · Jodi Gladstone · Julie Matlof Kennedy & Patrick Kennedy* · La Mediterranee · Landmark Theater/California Theatre · Lani Schlafman & Erin Weltzien* · Laura Mytels & Ethan Andelman* · Laura Turbow Photography · Lawrence Hall of Science · Leslie Reckler · Leyna Bernstein & Brian Parker* · Lindsay Wildlife Museum · Little Star Pizza · Lo Coco’s · Lori & Doug Perlstadt** · Lorianna Seidlitz-Smith & Nick Smith · Lucy Adhadjian Catering · Lush Gelato · Maguy Weizmann-McGuire · Maia & Adam Noily* · Mama’s Royal Cafe · Mark & Estie Hudes · Michelle & Alex Bergtraun · Michelle Pearl & Brett Mendel* · Michelle Wolfson & Tony Hecht · Monterey Market · Nancy Lewin-Offel & Jim Offel · Nancy Turak & Marc Davis* · Natural Grocery Co. · Neatos · Nicole Booz · Oakland A’s · Oakland East Bay Symphony · Odette Blachman · Paramount’s Great America · Pave Jewelers · Peggy Samuels · Peter Thomas Hair · Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra · Playland Not at the Beach · Rabbi Yoel Kahn · Rachel Adam & Dev Millstein* · Rachel Ostroy · Rebecca & Leo Levenson · Rendez Vous Cafe Bistro · Rialto Cinemas · Rick & Ann’s · Rivoli Restaurant · Robin & Edward Wenrick* · Robinn & Dan Magid** · Rochelle Johnson · Ron Blachman · Sandy Bacskai & David Huebner · San Francisco Jewish Film Festival · San Francisco Opera · San Francisco Symphony · Sara Kupor · Sarah & Andrew Rosenbach* · Saul’s · Scandia Family Center · Scott Kane · Semifreddi’s · Shimmer Mini Skin Spa · SHN · Shoey Sindel Photography · Shutterfly · Space Pop · Steven Resnik · Sticks Framing & Fine Art · Studio G+S Architects · Studio Grow · Sue Johnson Custom Lamps · Susan & Paul Sugarman · Susan Sterling · Tanir Ami & Josh Konecky · Tatiana Rogiers & Seth Kaufman* · Teance · Teresa Marylander · The Body Shop · The Local Butcher Shop · Trang & Ron Robinson* · Transports · Urban Adamah · USS Hornet Museum · Woods Bar & Brewery · Zuzu’s Petals* denotes Sponsor-a-Teacher **denotes Sponsor-a-Teacher and donation

EVENTS

Clockwise from top Yael Galinson, Jane Sperling Wise, Elizabeth Friedman Branoff, and Jessica Wolin — BENS, Kadima and Kee Tov moms; Abigail

and Craig Rudnick flash their pearly whites; A few of our tireless Gala volunteers, Becky Gross and Joel Chala; Donna Friedman Meir and Elizabeth

Friedman Branoff dance the tango for the Oh!Snap Photographers; Motown glamour gals Mimi Schultz and Katherine Haynes-Sanstad

11th Annual Gala & Silent AuctionA glamorous evening to support our Youth & Family Education Fund and a sparkling tribute dedicated to Max Cooperstein, z”l.

From our dedicated committee to our incredible Beth El Staff; from the silent auction all the way to the dance floor —Motown: Rhythm & Jews was a SMASHING SUCCESS!

With your support and generosity, we raised over $60,000 for the Youth & Family Education Scholarship Fund, benefiting BENS, Camp Kee Tov, Chug Mishpacha, Kadima, Shabbaton and Youth Groups!

A special shout-out to LUCY AGHADJIAN CATERING who filled our bellies with a delicious, thoughtful menu of exquisite fresh-made appetizers, dinner and dessert.

An incredible thank you to our generous MOTOWN MENSCHES — you really TOOK IT TO THE MAX!

by Jenn Brysk, Gala Committee Chair

THE MARVELETTESMaia & Adam NoilyRobinn & Dan MagidThe Rabbis of Beth El & their families:Rabbi Yoel Kahn & Dan BellmRabbi Rebekah Stern & Sean HolcombeRabbi Reuben Zellman and Erika KatskeRabbi Ferenc & Paula Raj

THE JACKSON FIVEElizabeth Friedman Branoff & Steven BranoffOH SNAP! Booth Co.Abby Rezneck & Miles EhrlichLorraine Sandoval & David RothenbergDebbie & David Taylor

LINER NOTABLESJoanne Backman & Harry PollackJudy & Stuart BermanBEVMO!Jill & Martin DoddJulie Matloff Kennedy & Patrick KennedyGwen & Marv Pearlstein

Bonnie Cooperstein, the “belle of the ball,” standing

in front of her husband Max’s z”l wine collection

which she generously donated for the auction


Purim Celebration,March 4Clockwise from top Steve Kurtzman rounded up volunteers to read from the Megillah (thanks for coordinating!); Paul and Susan Sugarman; “Pirate” Katherine Sanstad; Rabbis goofin’ around; Sultan Oren Massey and “Newsie” son, Zev; the MegillahPH OTOS BY B ILL Z A RCH Y

Kadima Purim Celebration, March 5Clockwise from top Deb and Rabbi Kahn

unroll the Megillah; Deb welcomes Kadima kids to Purim Schpiel; Kindergarteners

tell their own version; King ‘Hash finds his “Belle” (Esther aka Emily Schnitzer)

PH OTOS BY M IM I A B R A HA M

Shabbat YAFE, February 26Left to right BENS Director Maguy serves challot during Tot Shabbat; Marnina and Leora dance a jig while Rabbi Stern plays PH OTOS BY L AU R A T U RB OW


NEW MEMBERS

Bella CorsaroOriginally from Los Angeles, Bella Corsaro moved to the Bay Area about 16 years ago. Along with her son, Atticus, she enjoys sports and reenacting Buster Keaton movies. For the last 22 years, Bella has worked in private practice as a pediatric speech language pathologist. She specializes in play therapy and feeding with babies, birth to age three. She uses UC Berkeley as a resource to make sure her work is founded in research, especially for conducting therapy in ASL, Spanish and Hebrew. She squeezes in work as a voice actor and a stand up comedian, a family tradition from an early age. Babies love it.

Bella first came to Beth El eight years ago, after many years of exploring links to her Jewish heritage. Rabbi Raj and his compassionate ear inspired her to continue on her personal journey of study, and it is with that spirit that she joins us now.

Care UdellOriginally from Southern California, Care Udell has found her true home in the Bay Area, where she moved 12 years ago after attending graduate school in Baltimore. Her favorite pastime is raising her daughter, Kyla, with the incredible help and support of her mother and friends. She also enjoys film, photography, writing, travel and being outdoors. Kyla likes the outdoors as well, and has already proven to be a savvy traveler herself! When not with Kyla, Care works for a nonprofit providing early intervention and mental health services to children and families. Care was drawn to Beth El because of her interest in joining a community and re-connecting with her cultural heritage. She also would like Kyla, who has recently started BENS, to have this experience. She would love to learn about volunteer opportunities at Beth El.

Dena and Eric MapesDena and Eric Mapes are both originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. Eric is an administrator at Piedmont High School, ironically where Dena grew up, and Dena works for Pearson, a global education company. Both are very passionate about education and international travel. In 2000, the couple moved to Beijing to teach English and traveled throughout Asia. Based on that experience, Dena decided to obtain a master’s degree in international service from American University, which

brought them to Washington, DC. Samara, 10, and Jonah, 8, were born in DC. When Jonah was one, the family decided to move back to the Bay Area to be closer to family, and in 2011 the family was blessed with the birth of their third child, Amelia.

The Mapeses love traveling, finding adventure, and outdoor activities. Samara plays soccer and dances; Jonah plays soccer and baseball. Amelia started pre-school this year and loves her ballet classes. While Eric grew up attending a non-denominational church, he has always embraced the traditions and culture of Judaism. Dena grew up attending Temple Sinai in Oakland and is very excited to share Jewish traditions with her young children and join the Beth El community.

John and Leah RosenthalLeah Rosenthal was born in Boston and her husband, John, was born in Chicago. They each moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and met here. They married in Berkeley and have lived in Northern California ever since.

John and Leah had their son, Benjamin, in 2012 while in the Bay Area, and they recently bought and renovated a little house in the Berkeley hills. They wanted to join a synagogue and be part of a Jewish community. While an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley, Leah was a counselor at Camp Kee Tov. They were drawn to the joy and kindness of Beth El and the wonderful Nursery School, BENS. They love to be at home, read, explore swings at parks, cook and garden.

John is a graduate of UC Davis School of Law and is an attorney. Leah earned her doctorate at UC Berkeley and is a clinical psychologist.

The Rosenthals look forward to getting to know the community. John has volunteered at BENS. They enjoy caring for children, gardening and celebrating Shabbat.

Adam and Aracely ZabarskyAdam has been in the East Bay for over 10 years, and believe it or not, Chelly is a San Francisco native! Chelly works as a school social worker in the SF school district, and Adam works at the digital radio service Pandora. With daughters Ella, 4, and Simone, 7, the family loves drawing, singing, hiking and going biking and scootering throughout Berkeley. They were drawn to the warmth and inclusiveness of the community at Beth El and are looking forward to finding their place within it.

Other new members include: Margaret and Erik Davidson, Uri and Karen Sarid, Suzanne and Jonathan Gelbard, and Steven and Teresa Marylander.

Welcome to Beth El!Compiled by Jerry Iserson


RECIPES

Asparagus Soup (serves 4)Nothing tastes or smells better than roasted asparagus and leeks. I got the idea from Diane Rossen Worthington’s book Seriously Simple. It’s good hot or cold.

Ingredients2½ pounds asparagus, woody ends broken off2 leeks, white and light green part only3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oilSalt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste4 cups vegetable stock*Plain yogurt and/or chopped herbs for garnish (optional)

Cooking DirectionsPreheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut asparagus into 2-inch

pieces. Cut leeks in half lengthwise and clean by running under cold water (sometimes leeks have dirt between their layers—very unappetizing). Slice into 1/3-inch half-moons.

Place the asparagus, leeks, olive oil, and salt and pepper in a heavy roasting pan and toss to coat. Roast for 30–35 minutes, stirring occasionally. The leeks should be brown but not burnt.

Place half of the vegetable mixture in a blender; add 2 cups of stock, and process until smooth, adding more stock if the mixture is too thick. Empty blender into a saucepan. Add to the blender the remainder of the vegetables and add 1½ to 2 cups more stock as needed to keep the asparagus puréeing smoothly. Add water if the mixture seems too thick. (This soup works best if you use the blender and not a food processor or an immersion blender, which do not produce the desirable smooth texture.)

Serve hot or cold, with or without garnish of yogurt and herbs.

*Some store-bought vegetable stocks have a lot of carrot in them, which throw off the taste of this recipe. Use homemade stock or a neutral-tasting vegetarian stock instead.

Veggie Soups for Pesachby Marjorie Gelb

WE ALL KNOW THAT PASSOVER ISN’T PASSOVER without matzah ball soup, but for the vegetarians who surround us, washed out vegetable broth can drown even the finest matzo balls. This Passover, I’m making two soups. Both are vegetarian, and both can be made up to two days in advance so you don’t crowd your precious kitchen the day of the Seder.

Roasted Carrot Soup (serves 4)

Ingredients1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch slices1 teaspoon salt, divided¼ teaspoon white pepper, divided2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil3 tablespoons butter1 medium onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1½-inch piece ginger, peeled and minced 1 teaspoon ground cumin½ teaspoon ground coriander (optional for Pesach**)4 cups vegetable stock¼ cup orange juicePlain yogurt, parsley, or cilantro for garnish

Cooking DirectionsPreheat oven to 450 degrees. On a cookie sheet with a rim,

toss carrots with ½ teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon white pepper, and olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes, until browned.

While carrots roast, in a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and sauté the onion for about 5 minutes, until softened. After 3 minutes, add the garlic and ginger (which can be minced in a mini food processor) and cook 2 minutes more. Add optional cumin and coriander and stir to combine.

Add roasted carrots and stock to the pot with the onions. Bring to a boil and cook uncovered 10 minutes.

Blend until smooth with an immersion blender or in a blender. Add orange juice. Add more stock if the mixture is too thick.

If you puréed the soup in a blender, return it to the saucepan. Adjust seasonings.

To serve, garnish with a little yogurt, parsley or cilantro.

**Historically some rabbis thought that coriander wasn’t kosher for Passover, but that was because it was sometimes stored with other seed grains which could turn the chametz. Today, however, most spice companies use sophisticated equipment to remove foreign particles and I understand that the Orthodox Union certifies coriander for Pesach.


LIBRARY

Donations to the Aaron Plishner and Rabbi George Vida Funds make it possible to buy new books. Here are some recent additions:

Enchantress by Maggie Anton is the author’s fifth historical novel about daughters of rabbis of earlier times, and the second about Rav Hisda’s daughter, Hisdadukh, in late third-century Babylonia, carrying her story forward from Apprentice. Ms. Anton is learned in Talmud and her novels reflect this learning while being greatly entertaining and thoughtful with drama, suspense and romance.

Defining Neighbors: Religion, Race, and the Early Zionist-Arab Encounter by Princeton historian Jonathan Gribetz is a history of Zionist and Arab relations in the late Ottoman Empire before World War I. He demonstrates they did not interpret the other’s actions in terms of territory or nationalism, nor did they perceive one another as strangers vying for possession of a land each regarded as exclusively their

own — and that the present seemingly intractable contest was at its start conceived in very different terms. Ruth Wisse calls this book “brilliant” and “indispensable,” giving us new language in going forward.

In the Bible Leah gets one adjective and two lines of speech, but at least in our prayer book she is listed with Sarah, Rebecca and her sister, Rachel. Biblical neglect of this matriarch is made up for in later Jewish writings, as shown in The Lost Matriarch: Finding Leah in the Bible and Midrash by Jerry Rabow, who weaves all these texts together to reveal Leah’s full story, reading between the lines and introducing a new method of personal Bible interpretation in a “biblical drama of love, loyalty, and intrigue.” (Rabbi Harold Schulweis, z”l)

Jewish Meaning in a World of Choice: Studies in Tradition and Modernity by David Ellenson, chancellor of HUC-JIR, is a collection of 23 essays centering on a description and examination of the complex push and pull between Jewish tradition and Western culture, looking at all emerging trends in American Jewish life.

In Crisis, Revolution, and Russian Jews, Jonathan Frankel, z”l, professor at Hebrew University, examines the politicization of the Jewish people in the Russian empire in the late tsarist period, with focus on the revolution of 1905, in which radicalized activists emerged who would have extraordinary influence on 20th century Jewish history in Eastern Europe, Palestine and the United States.

In her book Poetic Trespass: Writing between Hebrew and Arabic in Israel/Palestine, Lital Levy offers the first in-depth study of the relationship between Hebrew and Arabic in the literature and culture of Israel/Palestine, tracing the interwoven life of the two languages in the work of such writers as Bialik and Yehoshua, Habiby and Behar. Though the author now teaches at Princeton, much of the book was done at U.C. Berkeley under the tutelage of Chana Kronfeld and Robert Alter.

More New Books to Offer Our Readersby Scott Spear, Library Chair


LIBRARY

WITH PASSOVER RIGHT AROUND the corner, come and check out the following:

Rabbi Jamie Korngold, with exquisite photographs by Jeff Finkelstein, invites you to join a group of families as they celebrate Passover in the desert. In Sandy Lanton’s The Littlest Levine, a child bemoans being small until she finds out that as the youngest, she has a special role at Passover. Miriam’s Cup by Fran Manuska is a beautifully written and illustrated story of the beloved prophet that recounts how a second cup found its way to the seder table. Bryna J. Fireside’s Private Joel and the Sewell Mountain Seder describes how a group of Jewish soldiers improvise a seder during the Civil War. The colorful paintings add to the appeal of this short chapter book. We also now have new additions with color illustrations of two old favorites: The Mouse in the Matzah Factory by Francine Medoff with illustrations by Nicole en den Bosch and Only Nine Chairs by Deborah Uchill Miller.

In the Shabbat section, Around the World in One Shabbat by Durga Yael Bernhard takes the reader from country to country, introducing new and diverse traditions as Shabbat progresses, eventually ending with havdalah in Israel. Lesléa Newman’s Here Is the World is a joyful celebration of the Jewish holidays told in rhymes, beginning and ending with Shabbat. Additional information about each holiday is in the back of the book along with recipes and art projects. In the story section, Snow in Jerusalem by Deborah da Costa tells the tale of two boys — one

Jewish, the other an Arab — who despite their differences, form a bond over a stray cat.

New additions to the young adult Holocaust section:Grandpa’s Third Drawer by Judy Tal Kopelman is a moving

story of how a young child’s curiosity opens up a flood of sad memories for his grandfather. In Hidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust, written by Loic Dauvillier, Marc Lizano and Greg Salsedo, a grandmother, through flashbacks, shares her experience in France during WWII with her young granddaughter. This very touching and tender story was originally published in French.

Also featured in this section are three books based on true stories. Trina Robbins’s Lily Renée, Escape Artist, told in graphics, follows the story of Lily, a very brave girl, as she escapes the Nazis and becomes a well-known comic book artist. A Danish family risks their lives while sheltering a Jewish woman and her son in The Whispering Town by Jennifer Elvgren. J. L. Witterick’s My Mother’s Secret, written in lovely prose, describes the plight of two Jewish families and a German soldier hiding with a woman and her daughter in Poland during WWII.

Once a month I have the pleasure of reading stories in the library to the Kadima kindergarten class. After stories, the children are able to find and check out books, giving them access to the wonderful world of Jewish children’s literature.

Plenty of Pesach Booksby Marlene Getz, Children’s Library Volunteer


YOUTH PROGRAMS

Clockwise from above Israeli dancing on Shabbat — Amelia Leach, Sidney Plummer, and Olivia Rokhsar (6th grade); Shira Cohen, Jolie Gobler, and Anna Portnoy (8th); Aaron Gilbert (7th-awake) and Nathan Magid (8th-asleep)

Eyes on You(th)!Article and Photos by Emily Schnitzer

OVER MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WEEKEND, Sababa travelled to Camp Newman in Santa Rosa for West Coast Party Jr., a NFTY-sponsored event for 6th through 8th graders. NFTY, or North American Federation for Temple Youth, is the URJ’s national youth group for high school students. Every other year they put on a retreat for middle school kids to show them what NFTY is all about. There were 12 Sababa kids from Beth El who participated in the retreat — playing games in their cabins and exploring Martin Luther King Jr.’s inspiring vision, all the while connecting to their Jewish community and strengthening their Jewish identity. Here are some testimonials from the weekend:

“Going to West Coast Party Jr. was an experience I will never forget. I made so many new friends that I text almost every day! I loved making a dream catcher for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech! I have it in my room and it works every night. I had an amazing time at West Coast Party Jr. and I want to return every year.”

—Olivia Rokhsar, 6th grade

“West Coast Party Jr. was very fun. I made a lot of new friends there and I participated in many interesting activities. I went to the farm and I made bird feeders and went into a mud hut made by kids who were there many years ago. It was really cool to be up there in such a pretty part of California with all my friends, old and new. We sang, we danced, the food was AWESOME, and I made some creative art. The counselors were great, too. I recommend the retreat to other kids who want to go on adventures, meet some nice new people, and learn more about Judaism and themselves.”

—Jessicah Ross, 7th grade

“West Coast Party Jr. was an amazing way to spend my weekend. I started the trip with a few friends and ended it with

at least triple that amount. The activities were so fun and interactive, and don’t forget the great snacks! I loved dancing, singing, and running around with all my new and old friends, I wish I could go back to that weekend. I had a fun time!”

—Shira Cohen, 8th grade

“West Coast Party Jr. was a great experience for me because I met new friends and I got to connect with other young people around my age. My new friends were in and out of my cabin. I connected with people through activities that the camp set up that everybody participated

in. I would love to go again, because I forget about other things that are stressful outside of camp and have a great time. Some of the great things about this event are that you meet new people, make new friends and sometimes some people have their bar/bat mitzvahs there during the event and everybody attends the service. Some of the other things I enjoy are when they held Havdalah services and everybody was there singing and praying. In addition the counselors are great and you can ask them about college and life as an adult, and I meet with my friends that I know from the summer. West Coast Party Jr. was a great experience for me and everybody enjoyed it.”

—Aaron Gilbert, 7th grade

Jolie Gobler, Anna Portnoy, Shira Cohen, Ty Wenrick, and Noah King; kids at Camp Newman don’t walk — they fly!


The congregation is cordially invited to attend the service and kiddush following to honor these bar and bat mitzvah candidates:

NATHAN GELOBTER will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on Saturday, April 11 at 10:15 am. Nathan is the son of Michel Gelobter and Sharron Williams.

SAM REAGAN will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on Saturday, April 25 at 10:15 am. Sam is the son of Gail and Tom Reagan.

MIA STEIN will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Saturday, May 9 at 10:15 am. Mia is the daughter of Dan and Toni Stein.

CLARA SCHWARTZ will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Saturday, May 16 at 10:15 am. Clara is the daughter of Steffie and Paul Schwartz.

NITZAN GLADSTONE will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on Saturday, May 23 at 10:15 am. Nitzan is the son of Gordon and Jodi Gladstone.

JULIA AND LAUREN WHEELER will be called to the Torah as b’not mitzvah on Saturday, May 30 at 10:15 am. Julia and Lauren are the daughters of Charles Wheeler and Martha Berman.

B’NEI MITZVAH

WITH AN ABUNDANCE of dedicated and talented youth at Congregation Beth El, it is with great pleasure that we announce the establishment of two youth recognition awards — The Teen Leadership Award and The Austin Teen Distinguished Service Award.

The Teen Leadership Award recognizes up to three 8th-grade teens who have demonstrated strong leadership skills in the Sababa Youth Group, or have engaged in a self-directed Tikkun Olam project. Recipients will receive a $250 award that can be used to further their leadership skills through attendance

at workshops or retreats at Camp Newman, BESTY and other NFTY activities, or for enrollment in Jewish learning programs such as Midrasha or Jewish Youth for Community Action (JYCA).

The Austin Teen Distinguished Service Award recognizes up to two 11th/12th-grade teens who have strengthened the Beth El Community through their involvement in the arts, education, social action or other personal initiatives. The $250 award can be used to further their involvement, such as attendance in workshops or retreats, in BESTY or other NFTY related activities, the purchase of books, equipment or supplies, or for enrollment in Jewish learning programs such as Midrasha or Lehrhaus Judaica.

Additional information regarding the awards can be found on Beth El’s website under Youth and Family Learning.Join us at the annual Celebration of Education Shabbat on May 8 for the first annual presentation of the awards to amazing and

talented teens.

MIDRASHA

BETH EL FAMILIES with teens (8th–12th grade): Have you had the talk yet with your teen(s)? For some parents, it’s an easy experience. For others, it can be awkward. Some parents just avoid it entirely.

Just remember, the talk is perfectly normal and every Jewish teen and parent in the East Bay needs to have it. Don’t wait. Because now, more than ever, is the time to talk about —

BERKELEY MIDRASHA!For generations, Berkeley Midrasha has been providing

an enriching environment full of powerful dialogue, creativity, education and socialization for East Bay Jewish teens.

Our innovative, experiential program provides a world of learning that takes your teens beyond their B’nai Mitzvot and well into adulthood. Friendships form. Memories get made. Fun happens.

With plenty of guidance, love and mentorship from our amazing faculty, we pride ourselves on engaging our teens with these hard questions:

How can they explore the world, who they are and who they want to become? Where do they go to challenge themselves intellectually and spiritually? How do they deal with the day-to-day challenges of being a teenager? How do they develop their own Jewish perspective, while building meaningful and pluralistic Jewish community? How do they navigate the new frontiers of friendship,

Berkeley Midrasha Open House and The Talkby Rabbi Jennifer R. Flam, MAEd. Executive Director of Berkeley Midrasha

Two New Recognition Programs for Beth El Teens

CONTIN UED ON PAGE 18


BENS

Shalom from BENSWhen we returned from winter vacation, we began planning our curriculum for the rainy season. One of my favorite holidays celebrated during that time is Tu B’shevat. When I was growing up in Israel during the ‘50s, when land was barren and trees were few, on Tu B’shevat the entire school marched to an open field where each child planted a tree (mainly pine). This tradition continued throughout my high school years. Now, whenever I visit my home town, I pass by the same patches of forest trees that were planted 50 years ago. All these years later, Tu B’shevat is still one of my favorite holidays and I am fortunate to relive this experience with our children, teachers and parents.

This Tu B’shevat we planted three additional trees in what seemingly resembles a biblical garden with the seven species of fruit trees. We now have pomegranate, figs, kumquat, orange, lemon and some potted olive trees. For the next few years, our plan is to add as many fruit trees as our outdoor space allows so our children can explore the magical beauty that each tree brings in its season of growth.

Frozen ChallahSince our last project of “Challah-It Forward,” we created our own Frozen Challah drive where a group of parent volunteers comes once a month to prepare frozen challah. Frozen challah is distributed each Thursday. Families who have purchased the challah are raving about it! They specifically like the sweet taste and the aroma it brings to their home on Friday for Shabbat. This drive is open to all family members at Beth El. If you are interested, please send me an email at [email protected] so I can prepare a frozen challah for you! Each challah costs $5.00.

Purim at BENS In March, we celebrated Purim with a parade, puppet show and activities for the entire family. Shortly thereafter, we began preparing for Pesach with another family celebration filled with activities symbolizing the holiday.

2015 EnrollmentBENS enrollment for fall 2015 is now open to all families with children between the ages of 2 and 5. For a tour, please call Maguy Weizmann McGuire at 510-848-9428, ext. 219, or send an email to: [email protected].

We wish you and your families a happy Pesach!

L’Shalom,Maguy

BENS Newsby Maguy Weizmann-McGuire, Director of Early Childhood Education

YAFE CalendarApril

3–13 NO CLASSES — PASSOVER BREAK14 Classes Resume16 Parent Schmooze, 5:00 pm16 All-School T’filah, 5:40 pm21 Yom haShoah Speaker, 4:00–6:00 pm

6th and 7th Grades21 Education Committee Meeting, 7:30–9:00 pm23 Yom haAtzmaut Celebration, 4:45–7:00 pm24 Shabbat YAFE: Tots at 5:00 pm,

Dinner at 5:30 pm and Family Shabbat at 6:15 pm

May5 Last Day of 7th Grade6 Last Day of Parent/Child Hebrew 7 Last Day of Kadima/Family Celebration

at 5:30 pm with picnic8 Shabbat YAFE and Celebration of Education

Honoring Debra Sagan Massey, 5:00 pm8 Sababa Elections & Pizza Party

16 Chug Mishpacha Camping Trip

BENS CalendarApril

1 Parents’ Café, 9:00 am3 BENS Closes Early for Pesach at 1:00 pm

6–10 BENS CLOSED — SPRING BREAK7–9 BENS Mini Camp, 8:00 am–5:00 pm17 Walk with Rabbi Bekah, 11:00 am19 Gan Galim Hike with Jodi, 10:30 am21 Gan Hadar Field Trip to Urban Adamah22 Gan Galim Field Trip to Urban Adamah23 Yom haAtzmaut Celebration, 4:45–7:00 pm24 Shabbat YAFE: Tots at 5:00 pm,

Dinner at 5:30 pm and Family Shabbat at 6:15 pm

May1–31 Teacher Appreciation Month

5 Parents’ Café 8 Shabbat YAFE and Celebration of Education

Honoring Debra Sagan Massey, 5:00 pm13 Gan Hadar-Siyum Art Activity for Parents Only17 An All School Work Party Day20 Parent Teacher Conference — BENS Closes

Early at 1:00 pm22 Honoring Parents Brunch & Shavuot

Celebration25 BENS Closed for Memorial Day30 Saturday Night Live: A Parents’ Night Out,

5:00 pm

Top to bottom Maguy plants a tree for Tu B’Shevat (photo by Abigail Rudnick); firefighter Tal Nof and his pirate mom, Reut (photo by Emma Newman); Miriam Isaacs and Samara Frank with butterfly faces (photo by Emma Newman)


CHUG MISHPACHA MITZVAH CORPS

BETH EL OFFERS one of the most innovative and meaningful education programs around — Chug Mishpacha. This program, which gathers on Saturday mornings from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm, creates sacred time for families to be together and learn on Shabbat. Some families choose Chug Mishpacha instead of Kadima (our Tuesday/Thursday after-school program) while others combine it with one day a week at Kadima. Families who participate in Chug Mishpacha have the opportunity to learn and pray with our dynamic rabbis, enabling them to establish deep and meaningful relationships. We invite anyone who is interested in seeing Chug Mishpacha to join us on a Saturday and experience this unique program.

Reflections from a Chug Mishpacha family:“When we first moved here two years ago, Chug

Mishpacha was a wonderful way for us to build intimate connections with other synagogue members, as well as the rabbis and synagogue leadership. The combination of adult and family learning is a perfect balance for us. The adult discussions are provocative and relevant; the teaching both from the Rabbis and our fellow congregants, inspiring; and the family experiences meaningful, and often fun! I would strongly encourage new members (and old) to join Chug Mishpacha if you are interested in starting and/or continuing your own Jewish education and sharing in that learning with your kids. It’s a wonderful way to role model enthusiasm and interest in learning for your kids, too!”

For more information and to join for a day at Chug Mishpacha, please contact Debra Massey at: [email protected].

OUR WONDERFUL MITZVAH CORPS VOLUNTEERS have been busy helping Beth El members who are coping with challenging life transitions. Whether there is a new baby in the family, an injury, illness or loss, volunteers are ready to provide support. Delivering a meal is only one of many ways that congregants are supporting other congregants. We can also: drive someone to a medical appointment or to a Beth El event, help make a minyan for shiva, run an errand, help with a light household task (change a ceiling lightbulb, move a box) for someone who is frail, make a reassuring phone call to a homebound elder and even help find a one-time babysitter. If you know a member who needs assistance, please contact the office or any one of our clergy.

We invite you to add variety to our freezer inventory. Casseroles (meat, dairy or vegan) would be welcome. If you like to cook or bake, pick up a couple of containers at the CBE office to fill with lasagna, stew or other hearty entrée. When you prepare food for Pesach, you might consider making some extra portions for the Mitzvah Corps. Keep containers in your own freezer, so that you can easily respond when there is a need, or store them at Beth El where we have a designated shelf for meals that can be delivered by our volunteers. Or make cookies (include your kids) and deliver them in ziplock sandwich bags to our Mitzvah Corps freezer shelf. Your homemade sweet will help complete a meal. Small challahs would also be welcome.

Heartfelt thanks to those who have donated to the Mitzvah Corps Fund. Your donations helped us to purchase food containers for our freezer project and print sympathy cards featuring BENS student art work. Thanks to you, we bought the ingredients for 30 quarts of soup, which our volunteers prepared at our Stone Soup event in January. We also appreciate Sur La Table Union Square for sending us Chef Emma Sanchez, who enlightened our volunteers with a knife demonstration. (Look for Emma at the Walnut Creek Sur La Table, where she will be opening a new cooking school.)

Our volunteer corps is 137 members strong. If you wish to help, you will be enriched by the experience. Request membership by going to bethelberkeley.org/mitzvah-corps.

Contact any one of us if you have questions or suggestions:Laura Turbow: [email protected] Sugarman: [email protected] Zarchy: [email protected]

Shabbat Is Family Time at Chug Mishpachaby Debra Sagan Massey

Mitzvah Corps Steps Up to the Plate

Hard-working ladies from the Stone Soup event, left to right: Phyllis

Zisman, Barbara Fierer and Alison Fisher (photo by Susan Sugarman)

Families discussing the value of “Emet/Truth” at our Chug Mishpacha Family Program (photo by Deb Massey)


4/4/2015 Pesach — First Day Exodus 12:1–51 & Numbers 28:16–25 Stuart Berman

4/11/2015 Pesach — Last Day Deuteronomy 14:22–16:17 & Numbers 28:19–25 or Song of Songs Arella Barlev

4/18/2015 Parashat Shmini Leviticus 9:1–11:47 Dan Magid

4/25/2015 Parashat Tazria-Metzora Leviticus 12:1–15:33 Ellen Goldstein

5/2/2015 Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim Leviticus 16:1–20:27 Rabbi Yoel Kahn

5/9/2015 Parashat Emor Leviticus 21:1–24:23 Barry Levine

5/16/2015 Parashat Behar-Bechukotai Leviticus 25:1–27:34 Harry Margulius

5/23/2015Parashat Bamidbar Numbers 1:1–4:20 or Ruth Emily Marthinsen

5/30/2015 Parashat Nasso Numbers 4:21–7:89 Steve Joseph

Torah StudyTorah Study meets on Saturdays at 9:15 am in the Beit Midrash. All are welome! For questions or to sign up as a presenter, contact Jerry Weintraub at [email protected].

TORAH STUDY

child on that day, ‘It is because of what Adonai did for me when I went free from Egypt.’” (Exodus 12:6-8) Here we see that the practice of not eating leavened bread during the week of Passover serves as a prompt for a discussion of the deeper meaning and values behind the ritual. Passover is rich with such opportunities for discussion, and of course the Seder itself is a ritual whose whole purpose is to generate a family or wider community conversation around timeless topics such as freedom, oppression, gratitude and power.

In May we will come together as a community for our Celebration of Education, in order to recognize the invaluable contributions of our educators and to honor the achievements of our students. We will celebrate the Jewish value of talmud Torah (lifelong learning), reminding ourselves that, of course, in addition to learning by sitting in front of a book or at the feet of a great teacher, we also learn through action. In our time and in this place, since it is not dangerous for us to engage in either Jewish learning or Jewish practice, as it was in the time and place of Rabbis Tarfon and Akiba, the question of which is greater is ultimately moot. We are fortunate enough not to have to choose, and to benefit both from learning as practice and practice as learning. May this be for all of us a season of learning, practice and celebration!

From the RabbiCONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Midrasha Open HouseCONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Jewish learning, and the twenty-first century network of social multimedia? How do they build a better, lasting tomorrow for themselves and future Jewish generations?

So, what are you waiting for? Start talking and...

Experience the awesomeness! If you have a teen in 7th–12th grade who is not currently part of Berkeley Midrasha, please join us for:

Experience the Awesomeness: Berkeley Midrasha Open House Sunday, May 3, 2015 10:00 am–12:30 pm

Teens are invited to attend and parents are welcome to come and be part of our information workshop. This is no ordinary Open House. The day will begin with breakfast and ruach. The teens will have the opportunity to spend time with their current friends and meet some new ones, too. The teens will then choose two Midrasha workshops. The workshops will include: Understanding Aleph through Jewish Art and Music, The Simpsons?!, Environmental Judaism, Tzedek, Tzedek, Tirdof — A Social Justice Symposium, Jewish Philosophy, Talmud and many more.

Plus, we’ve got something really awesome that — well, you’ll just have to come and find out!

Contact me at [email protected] and I will be happy to answer any questions you might have!

Beth El and Camp Kee Tov are going to Israel!Don’t miss this opportunity to travel to Israel with your Beth El family and friends. This multi-generational trip will run from December 20–31, 2015. To see the detailed itinerary and to register for the trip, please visit our website: bethelberkeley.org/cktisrael.

Spaces for Camp Kee Tov 2015 LIMITED!Summer 2015 Registration is in full swing and we are almost full! Spaces are very limited! Please contact Emily Schnitzer if you are interested in registering: [email protected].

COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER! 89 DAYS!Session 1: June 29 - July 17Session 2: July 27 - August 21


Congregation Beth El’s Chutzpah ListIf We Don’t Ask for It, Who Will?Do you have unused items we can put to good use here at Beth El? Consider donating them. The following is our Chutzpah “wish list.” Contact Norm Frankel if you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation of a gently-used (or new) item on this list:

• 2 area rugs — one for new youth lounge, one for Rabbi Stern’s office

• Tripod for photography and/or video• Conference table• Set of computer speakers for AV presentations

around the building• Cuisinart (second for upstairs kitchen)• An iMac system for graphic design and audio/

video editing• A folding machine for large mailings• Video cables: VGA, HDMI, DVI

For BENS:• CD player• Area lamps• Cuisinart• Used pots, pans and utensils for outdoor play

A special THANK YOU to Jean Henderson, Jerry Weintraub and Paul Sugarman who all made donations based on our last edition’s Chutzpah List.

WAYS TO GIVE

WE EXTEND OUR WARM CONGRATULATIONS to members of our synagogue community who were recently recognized for a significant personal or professional accomplishment, or who celebrated a major lifecycle event:

Mazel tov to Miriam Rabinovitz and to her son and daughter-in-law, Robby Roller and Shayna Fleischman, on the birth of her grandson, Caleb Fleischman Roller. Caleb was born on the morning of February 26.

Mazel tov to Adam Noily and Maia Beyler-Noily on the birth of their daughter, Elisheva Sarah born Monday, January 26.

MAZEL TOV

Sponsor an OnegYOU CAN CELEBRATE YOUR SIMCHA or remember loved ones with your Beth El community by hosting a Shabbat oneg on a Friday night or Shabbat morning.

Your sponsorship will be acknowledged in the e-update and from the bimah. Beth El members will be able to join you in your celebration or honor the memory of your loved ones.

Please go to our website and click on “Ways to Give” and then “Oneg Sponsorship.” Read the description of how to sign up, then follow the link to select your menu choices and make payment. Your donation to Beth El will cover the cost of food, preparation, serving and cleanup, and will help support our programs.

To speak to someone regarding oneg sponsorship, please contact Juliet Gardner in the Beth El office at [email protected].


AARON PLISHNER CHILDREN’S LIBRARYDr. Howard and Alice Gruber

in memory of Rex Bernstein Phyllis Zisman in memory of Eddie Hudes

ADULT EDUCATION FUNDArthur and Debra Weinstein Bakal

in memory of Al GorelickEd and Mary Bock in memory of Allan Gorelick Judith and Burton Calder in memory of Allan Gorelick Catherine and Jonathan Cherin

in memory of Richard CherinPhyllis Gorelick in memory of Allan GorelickArlene James in memory of Al Gorelick Ruth Ehrenkrantz and Spencer Klein in honor of Beverly

and Richard EignerMarilyn and Harry Margulius in memory of Eddie Hudes

and Al GorelickStephen and Wilma Rader in honor of Miriam SchiffmanJohn and Reva Segall in memory of Al Gorelick Alan Spector and Stacey Shulman in memory of

Al GorelickElaine and Allan Sobel in honor of the Eigner FamilyVirginia Stearns in memory of Allan Gorelick Richard Schindler in memory of Allan GorelickJerry Weintraub in honor of Beverly and Richard Eigner,

in honor of the adult B’not Mitzvah, and in memory of Al Gorelick

Phyllis Zisman in honor of Beverly and Richard Eigner

BUILDER FUNDNancy Turak and Marc Davis in honor of

Elisabeth Wechsler

BUILDING FUNDRose and Jack Gansky in memory of Abraham Bass Camp Kee Tov Scholarship FundPauline Hale in memory of Peter HaleSondra Napell in memory of Otto Napell

CAMP KEE TOV SCHOLARSHIP FUNDSondra Napell in memory of Pauline Matkowsky

and Kate Napell

CHEVRA KADISHA FUNDBrian Parker and Leyna Bernstein in memory of

Rex Bernstein

DAVID SOL COTTON MEMORIAL SWIG/NEWMAN FUNDAlfred and Anita Cotton in memory of David Sol Cotton

GENERAL FUNDDiane and Ed Bernbaum in memory of Eddie Hudes,

Rosa Mayeri and Shalom WeizmanCarolyn and Curt Coleman in honor of

Beverly and Richard EignerBonnie Cooperstein in memory of Herman DavisLeatrice Gutmann in honor of Beverly and Richard Eigner Steven Joseph and Corey Hansen-Joseph in memory of

Herman Davis, Belle Rosenstein Joseph and Yehuda Hudes

Maxim Schrogin and Karen Harber in support of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast

Mary Jacobs in honor of Beverly and Richard EignerRuth Ehrenkrantz and Spencer Klein in memory of

Sidney KleinNaomi Janowitz and Andrew Lazarus in support of the

Martin Luther King, Jr. BreakfastJT Morcom in memory of Rex Bernstein Lloyd Morgan in memory of Lawrence MorganGail and David Offen-Brown in memory of Eddie HudesMarv and Gwen Pearlstein in memory of Helen Diller and

in honor of Katherine Haynes Sanstad, Susan Sugarman, and Jordan Greenberg

Marv Pearlstein in honor of Gwen Pearlstein Miriam Rabinovitz in honor of Norm and Jan Frankel and

in memory of Eddie Hudes Thomas and Betty Seaton in honor of Beverly and

Richard EignerAlan Spector and Stacey Shulman in memory of

Eddie Hudes Sander Stadtler in honor of Beverly and Richard EignerIsabel Stusser in honor of Beverly, Richard and

Danielle EignerMarilyn and William Sugar in honor of Beverly and

Richard EignerAnn Manheimer and Arthur Swislocki in memory of Zola

and Betty Manheimer, and Paul and Sophie LasoffMarc Davis and Nancy TurakVadjiheh Yadegar in memory of Aziz Olah Benlevi and

Jahangir YadegarPhyllis Zisman in memory of Rex Bernstein and

Eddie Hudes

HOMELESS MEAL PROGRAMStuart and Judy Berman in honor of Bob Goldstein Mona Cain Clarke and Maria Daniels Mark Gross in memory of William KantzEdythe Heda in memory of Allan GorelickAllen King Amy & David TickRose Ellen Morrell

Sondra Napell in memory of Otto Napell, Pauline Matkowsky and Kate Napell

Robert Epstein and Amy Roth Michael Talkovsky in memory of Amy Hertz Vadjiheh Yadegar in memory of Benjamin Benlevi

ISRAEL COMMITTEE FUNDMary Jacobs Elaine and Allan Sobel in memory of Herman Davis and

Benjamin Sobel

ISRAEL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDVadjiheh Yadegar in memory of Sinour Yadegar

MARIAN MAGID MEMORIAL FUNDNancy Turak and Marc Davis in honor of Marv and

Gwen PearlsteinStacey and Edward Holly

MEMORIAL PLAQUE FUNDDr. Towfig Arjmand

MEN’S CLUB FUNDElaine and Allan Sobel

MITZVAH COMMITTEEJames and Marica Emery in honor of Susan ZarchyEdythe Heda in memory of Eddie HudesMark and Estie Hudes in memory of Sala Hudes and

in honor of Susan Sugarman, Katherine Haynes Sanstad, Susan Zarchy, and Jenny Robinson

Donna Breger Stanton in memory of Samuel BregerPaul and Susan Sugarman

MUSIC FUNDNancy Turak and Marc Davis in memory of Herman DavisMerle and Michael Fajans in memory of Herman Davis Mary Jacobs in memory of Herman DavisFaye Potts in memory of Herman DavisPaul and Susan Sugarman

ONEG/KIDDUSH FUNDNeal Hoffman in honor of Rabbi Zellman

NURSERY SCHOOL FUNDNancy Turak and Marc Davis in honor of Jenn Brysk and

the Gala CommitteePhyllis Gorelick in honor of Beverly and Richard EignerDavid Newman and Deirdre Steinberg

RABBI EMERITUS RAJ’S DISCRETIONARY FUNDSteven and Joan Ominsky in honor of Naomi Ominsky

RABBIS’ DISCRETIONARY FUNDJanine Baer in memory of Harold Baer Alison Bernstein and Judy Appel Mona Cain Bonnie Cooperstein in memory of Eddie HudesJames and Marica Emery Malcom Feeley and Rivka Amado in memory of

Marlene Simon Rose and Jack Gansky in memory of Mollie Bass and

Benjamin CoopersteinMichelle and Andre Ventura and David Green in honor

of Emma GreenSteven Joseph and Corey Hansen-Joseph in memory of

Belle Rosenstein Joseph and Yehuda Hudes Edythe Heda in memory of Rosa MayeriPaul and Sali Gold Johnson in memory of Irma Margaret

Sundberg Ikavalko Johnson Julie Matlof Kennedy in memory of June Gallop and

Genevieve Matlof Paul Steckel and Marlene Morris in memory of

Abraham MorrisAmy Oppenheimer in memory of Peter OppenheimerNorman Postone in memory of Rabbi Abraham PostoneFred and Anne Rosenthal in honor of Rabbi Kahn Katherine Haynes Sanstad Gabor and Judith Somorjai Paul and Susan Sugarman Susan and Bill Zarchy in memory of Jeanette Zarchy Phyllis Gorelick in memory of Allan GorelickPaul and Susan Sugarman

SHABBATON FUNDNancy Turak and Marc Davis in memory of Eddie Hudes

SOCIAL ACTION FUNDKaren and Max Harber Schrogin in honor of Susan ZarchyPhyllis Zisman in honor of Susan Sugarman and

Katherine Haynes Sanstad

YOUTH AND FAMILY EDUCATION FUNDNancy Turak and Marc Davis in honor of Debra and

Oren MasseyMark Dinaburg in memory of Aaron DinaburgMichael and Merle Fajans Herschel and Judith Langenthal

TZEDAKAH

Frances AlexanderDaniel & Nancy AltmanAdele AmodeoEthan Andelman & Laura MytelsRichard & Christine AptakerMichael & Susan AustinShoshana Berger & Anthony SaxeStuart & Judy BermanRalph & Gail BernsteinOdette BlachmanStephen Blum & Lorraine MidanikJames Blume & Kathryn FrankHenry Brady & Patricia KatesBarbara BrennerJanet ByronMona CainBruce & Susan CarterJonathan Cherin & Catherine Pfister CherinBonnie CoopersteinElliot Cravitz & Miriam SchultzMarc Davis & Nancy TurakMarc Derewetzky & Jennifer KawarMartin & Jill DoddScott & Julie DrummondRuth Ehrenkrantz & Spencer KleinMichael Eichberg & Maya Ponte

Michael & Merle FajansWilliam Falik & Diana CohenLisa FeldmanDaniel & Lynne FingermanAlison Fisher & Matt OshryAndy & Lauren GanesJack & Rose GanskyJim Gilbert & Susan OrbuchSandy & Vivian GoldenArthur & Carol GoldmanRobert Goldstein & Anna MantellDavid & Dorothy Golner z”lBarry & Erica GoodeHoward & Alice GruberValerie Gutwirth & Elio GizziDiane Halberg & Joshua LangenthalJohn Hartog & Margaret HandJean HendersonDavid Hoffman & Joan SarnatDonald & Ronna HonigmanJerry Iserson & Nancy SilvermanPaul Johnson & Sali Gold-JohnsonRabbi Yoel Kahn & Dan BellmLaurence KaplanSeth Kaufman & Tatiana RoegiersPatrick Kennedy & Julie Matlof Kennedy

Andy Kivel & Susan GoldsteinJeff & Debbie LeonLeo & Rebecca LevensonKeri LevyMichael & Peggy LipsonBrian & Wendy LukasThomas LurquinAlbert MagidDaniel & Robinn MagidLeigh MarymorEugene & Robin MillsteinAdam & Lauran MizockMark Mogill & Maribel Paterno-MogillMarlene Morris & Paul SteckelJoanna Moss & Robert SondereggerAllen & Pamela NudelLisa Ochs & Lea SalemJim Offel & Nancy Lewin-OffelAmy Oppenheimer & Jennifer KrebsRenee Passy-ZaleMarv PearlsteinTodd & Diane PerlmanLori & Douglas PerlstadtAndy Pollack & Debbie JordanHarry Pollack & Joanne BackmanLeslie Reckler & Cameron Moore

Amy Resner & William LeeJena Resner & Jon LoranSteven & Katherine ResnikBonnie RodittiBruce Saldinger & Lynne RoyerKatherine SanstadWilliam SchechnerStanley & Miriam SchiffmanDebra Schoenberg & Karen FiererSusan & Richard SeeleyJeffrey Seideman & Elisabeth WechslerRobert & Elizabeth SharfJeff SloanScott & Ruth SpearAlan & Paula StatmanPaul & Susan SugarmanLaurie SwiadonDavid & Debbie TaylorEdward Vine & Ellen Singer-VineBuddy & Jodi WarnerGerald WeintraubRobin & Edward WenrickJohn & Niloufar YadegarVadjiheh YadegarBeth ZeitmanPhyllis Zisman

Ma TovuWe gratefully acknowledge our members who have supported and contributed to the Ma Tovu Capital Campaign:


Congregation Beth El’s L’Dor Vador Legacy CircleWe gratefully acknowledge the members of Congregation Beth El’s newly formed L’Dor Vador Legacy Circle. These members have made a planned gift for the Congregation.

Daniel & Nancy AltmanMax* and Odette BlachmanMartin and Jill DoddRichard and Beverly EignerArthur and Carol GoldmanDavid* and Dorothy* Golner Barry and Erica Goode John Hartog

Rabbi Yoel Kahn and Dan BellmPatrick Kennedy and Julie Matlof KennedySpencer Klein and Ruth Ehrenkrantz Jeff and Debbie LeonThe Magid FamilyJim Offel and Nancy LewinJeffrey M. Seideman and Elisabeth Meyer WechslerPaul and Susan Sugarman

*Of blessed memory

If you have provided for the Congregation with a bequest in your estate plan but have not yet informed us, please let us know by contacting Norm Frankel, Executive Director. We welcome the opportunity to thank and acknowledge you.

Anonymous (3)Mark Aaronson & Marjorie Gelb*Harry and Lee AbramsAbravanel-Beeson Family*Daniel & Nancy AltmanBetsy AmiAdele AmodeoSusan AmdurEthan Andelman & Laura MytelsJoyce AppelbaumJudith Appel & Alison BernsteinMadison ArentDeirdre ArimaMichael & Susan AustinShoshana Berger & Anthony SaxeRachel Berkowitz & Jose VillagranaOdette BlachmanJoel & Rochelle BlumenfeldRichard & Liz BordowAngela Botelho & Barry SilverblattHenry Brady & Patricia Kates*Elizabeth & Steven BranoffJeffrey & Susan BrandPamela & James BrandmanBarbara BrennerSteven & Ann BrickJanet ByronMona Cain*Susan Austin & Michael Charlson*Jonathan Cherin & Catherine Pfister CherinKaren CilmanFelicia Cole & Dean AmundsonBonnie CoopersteinAlfred & Anita CottonMichael & Pamela CraneClarke & Maria DanielsMarc Derewetzky & Jennifer Kawar*Mark DinaburgMartin & Jill Dodd*Keith & Dana DubinskyRuth DunhamLynn Eden & Ruth SchoenbachRuth Ehrenkrantz & Spencer KleinLeah EmdyRobert Epstein & Amy Roth*.Ellie Goldstein-EricksonMichael & Merle Fajans*

Jonathan Feinstein & Meera SharnoffLisa FeldmanDavid Fields & Anita Roger FieldsDaniel FishmanAnna & Michael FogelmanSusan Frankel & Moshe MalerMatthew & Lisa Friedman*Andy & Lauren GanesRose & Jack GanskyNurit & David GarnerMolly Gerstein-Gales & Christopher GalesAleksandra GertsvolfMarlene Getz & Robert GildenJim Gilbert & Susan OrbuchJodi & Gordon GladstoneEllen Goldstein & Jack HollemanJosh & Barbara GoldsteinNorm & Gina GoldSharon Goldfarb & Brad GlasserAnn Gonski & John ScottJohn Gordon & Janis Mitchell*Avrum GratchLeatrice GutmannLaura HarnishJohn Hartog & Margaret Hand*Anthony Hecht & Michelle WolfsonJean HendersonDavid Hoffman & Joan Sarnat*Stanley HoffmanMark & Estie Hudes*David Huebner & Sandy BacskaiPhyllis IsaacsonJerry Iserson & Nancy SilvermanPaul Johnson & Sali Gold-Johnson*Steve Joseph & Corey Hansen-JosephPeter Kane & Barbara Gordon*Patrick Kennedy & Julie Matlof Kennedy*Ilan & Marlene KeretLeroy KesslerMike KlaymanJuliet LeeJessica LehmanLeo & Rebecca LevensonNeil & Jane LevyRoss Libenson & Susie MarcusMargeaux Lieberman & Daniel WeinbergMichael & Barbara Liepman

Michael & Peggy Lipson*Brian & Wendy Lukas*Thomas Lurquin*Desmid LyonAlbert Magid*Daniel & Robinn Magid*Alexandre Makler & Anna BrockHarry & Marilyn MarguliusWilliam & Emily Marthinsen*Rosa Mayeri z’’lCharles Meier & Sharon FriedmanDavid & Donna L. MendelsohnEugene & Robin MillsteinMark Mogill & Maribel Paterno-MogillLloyd MorganCalvin & Alisa MorrillMarlene Morris & Paul SteckelDr. Sondra NapellAllen & Pamela NudelJulie & Ted ObbardDavid & Gail Offen-Brown*Jim Offel & Nancy Lewin-OffelAmy Oppenheimer & Jennifer KrebsBrian Parker & Leyna Bernstein*Marv & Gwen Pearlstein*Lori & Douglas PerlstadtJulie & Eddie PledgerHarry Pollack & Joanne Backman*Daniel PortnoyMiriam RabinovitzJennifer RaderWilma & Stephen RaderFerenc & Paula RajLeslie Reckler & Cameron Moore*Amy Resner & William LeeJena Resner & Jon LoranSteven & Katherine Resnik*Dorothy RiceMichael RichardsMayer & Linda RiffRon & Trang RobinsonBonnie RodittiAnne & Fred RosenthalMartin & P.J. Rosenthal*Rony & Gideon RossElana Roston David Rothenberg& Lorraine Sandoval

Sylvia RubinAbigail & Craig Rudnick*Bruce Saldinger & Lynne Royer*Suzanne & Bob SamuelsJames & Judith SandersAlan SanstadKatherine SanstadDavid SchatskyStanley & Miriam Schiffman*Richard SchindlerMarcel & Margrit Schurman*Steven & Barbara Segal*Steven Shatz & Nina Rivkind Stacey ShulmanSheila & Rachel SiemonsBarry SilvermanThalia & Laurence SilvermanJonathan Simon & Christina Spaulding*Joshua & Ruth SimonSteven & Shelley Simrin*Edward Sklar & Jennifer LevinJeff SloanRahel Smith & Caroline BoydenAmy & Steven SolomonJonathan Spalter & Carissa GouxScott & Ruth SpearAlan & Paula StatmanDavid & Jane Stern*Rabbi Rebekah Stern & Sean HolcombeJulie Stone-EvansWilliam & Marilyn SugarPaul & Susan Sugarman*Sara SunsteinLaurie SwiadonArthur Swislocki & Ann Manheimer*Steve Tabak & Blair Kilpatrick-TabakElna TsaoBuddy & Jodi Warner*Aryeh Weinstein & Erica MichelsteinGerald WeintraubVadjiheh YadegarDan Zeiger & Josefina ColomaBill & Susan ZarchyMs. Beth ZeitmanJoel & Karen ZeldinAlexander & Izabella ZheleznyakPhyllis Zisman*

Annual AppealWe gratefully acknowledge all of our donors to Beth El’s Annual Appeal. Special thanks to John Hartog and Margaret Hand, and Robinn and Daniel Magid for generously providing the matching fund challenge this year. Donations to the Annual Appeal help support our wonderful synagogue programming, community activities and diverse membership. Donations listed below were received between July 1, 2014 and February 28, 2015.

*MAIMONIDES SOCIETY MEMBER


CALENDAR

APRIL 2015 · NISAN–IYAR 5775

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

19:00 am BENS Parent Café

27:00 pm Israel Committee

3Erev PesachNo Talmud Class No Shabbat Services1:00 pm BENS & Office Close

4PesachNo Chug Mishpacha8:30 am Early Minyan9:15 am Torah Study10:15 am Shabbat Service 12:30 pm Potluck Lunch6:00 pm Congregational Seder

5PesachNo Midrasha

6Pesach2:00 pm Library Committee2:30 pm Life Stories

7PesachNo Kadima8:00 am BENS Mini-Camp7:00 pm Hannah Arendt Reading Group7:00 pm Ritual Committee

8PesachNo Parent-Child Hebrew8:00 am BENS Mini-Camp7:30 pm Lehrhaus’ Intro to the Jewish Experience

9PesachNo Kadima8:00 am BENS Mini-Camp7:00 pm Life Stories

10BENS & Office Close4:30 pm Yizkor Circle5:00 pm Talmud Study5:30 pm Yizkor Service6:15 pm Shabbat Evening Service

11No Chug Mishpacha 8:30 am Early Minyan9:15 am Torah Study10:15 am Shabbat Evening Service: Nathan Gelobter Bar Mitzvah

129:15 am Roots & Branches10:30 am Roots & Branches and Confirmation Class Movie Viewing, A Serious Man

132:00 pm Library Committee

147:30 pm Executive Committee

157:30 pm Yom haShoah Community Observance

16Yom haShoah5:00 pm Parent Schmooze7:00 pm People of the Book

1711:00 am BENS Walk with Rabbi Bekah5:00 pm Talmud Study7:30 pm “Women Hold Up Half the Sky”: Shabbat Service with Ruth Messinger, AJWS

188:30 am Early Minyan9:15 am Torah Study10:15 am Chug Mishpacha10:15 am Shabbat Service

1910:30 am Gan Galim Hike with Jodi2:00 pm Homeless Meal – Medical Clinic4:00 pm Homeless Meal8:00 pm Rosh Chodesh

202:00 pm Library Committee2:30 pm Life Stories

219:00 am BENS Gan Hadar Urban Adamah Field Trip4:00 pm Kadima Yom haShoah Guest Speaker7:30 pm Education Committee

229:00 am BENS Gan Galim Urban Adamah Field Trip7:00 pm Jason Turbow, “The Baseball Codes” – Men’s Club7:30 pm Lehrhaus’ Intro to the Jewish Experience

2312:00 pm Lunch & Learn4:45 pm Community-wide Yom haAtzmaut Celebration7:00 pm Life Stories

245:00 pm Talmud Study5:00 pm YAFE Tot Shabbat5:30 pm Shabbat YAFE Dinner6:15 pm Shabbat YAFE Evening Service7:00 pm Shabbat YAFE Oneg & Activity

258:30 am Early Minyan9:15 am Torah Study10:15 am Chug Mishpacha10:15 am Shabbat Service: Sam Reagan Bar Mitzvah

269:15 am Roots and Branches


287:00 pm Board of Directors

297:30 pm Lehrhaus’ Intro to the Jewish Experience

30

All About Passover...Online!If you need ideas, recipes, kids’ activities, or suggestions for how to make your Seder meaningful for all your guests — or simply Passover 101 — please visit these sites:

ReformJudaism.org is the online site for our national synagogue organization, the Union for Reform Judaism.MyJewishLearning.com has a little bit of this and a little bit of that — from the basics of matzah balls to how to choose a Haggadah.


CALENDAR

MAY 2015 · IYAR–SIVAN 5775

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

15:00 pm Talmud Study6:15 pm Shabbat Evening Service

28:30 am Early Minyan9:15 am Torah Study10:15 am Chug Mishpacha10:15 am Shabbat Morning Service

39:15 am Roots & Branches10:00 am Annual Meeting


5Last Day of 7th Grade 9:00 am Parents Café7:00 pm Hannah Arendt Reading Group7:00 pm Ritual Committee


7Last day of Kadima5:30 pm Kadima Family Celebration & Picnic7:00 pm Israel Committee

85:00 pm Talmud Study5:00 pm Shabbat YAFE: Tot Shabbat5:00 pm Food Trucks5:00 pm Sababa Elections & Pizza Party7:00 pm Celebration of Education Honoring Debra Sagan Massey

98:30 am Early Minyan9:15 am Torah Study10:15 am Chug Mishpacha10:15 am Shabbat Service: Mia Stein Bat Mitzvah

109:15 am Roots & Branches


127:30 am Executive Committee

137:00 pm BENS Gan Hadar Art for Siyum7:30 pm Lehrhaus’ Intro to the Jewish Experience

1412:00 pm Lunch & Learn7:00 pm Life Stories

155:00 pm Talmud Study6:15 pm Board Installation & Volunteer Recognition

16Chug Mishpacha Camping Trip8:30 am Early Minyan9:15 am Torah Study10:15 am Shabbat Service: Clara Schwartz Bat Mitzvah

179:00 am BENS Work Party9:15 am Roots & Branches2:00 pm Homeless Meal – Medical Clinic5:00 pm Homeless Meal


197:00 pm Program Council

20BENS closes at 1:00 pm1:00 pm BENS Parent/Teacher Conferences7:30 pm Lehrhaus’ Intro to the Jewish Experience

217:00 pm People of the Book

229:00 am Shavuot & Parent Recognition Brunch5:00 pm Talmud Study6:15 pm Yismechu Shabbat Evening Service

238:30 am Early Minyan9:15 am Torah Study10:15 am Shabbat Service: Nitzan Gladstone Bar Mitzvah6:00 pm Tikkun Leil Shavuot, Berkeley Branch JCC East Bay

24Shavuot

25BENS & Office Close7:00 pm Shavuot Yizkor Service

267:00 pm Board of Directors


287:00 pm Life Stories8:00 pm Rosh Chodesh

295:00 pm Talmud Study6:15 pm Shabbat Evening Service

308:30 am Early Minyan9:15 am Torah Study10:15 am Shabbat Service: Julia and Lauren Wheeler B’not Mitzvah5:00 pm BENS Parents’ Night Out

31 (June 1)9:00 am - 5:00 pm Yom Iyyun: Prayer As Practice


CONGREGATION BETH EL1301 Oxford StreetBerkeley, CA 94709–1424

Nonprofit OrgUS Postage

PaidBerkeley CAPermit #207

April 3 is the first night of Pesach, a holiday we celebrate at home where family and friends gather to retell our ancestors’ stories through the seder. Whether you are hosting a seder or are invited to share one, visit the Gift Shop for some great supplies:

Two versions of the Haggadah that we always recommend

Seder plates, pottery or metal — some with added inserts — in a variety of very reasonable prices

Matzah baskets and covers in appropriately decorated styles

Hand-washing pitchers (netilat yadayim) in pottery, metal and other materials

Suggested hostess gifts: three-piece kitchen oven mitts and towel, trivets, Passover cookbooks

Afikomen presents: flip frogs, 10 plagues finger puppets and masks, puzzles and a number of games.

Try the Gift Shop for any occasion — weddings, birthdays, b’nei mitzvot, Mother’s Day or just for yourself. We are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (except for holidays). When a volunteer is not available, the front office will gladly help you. Personal appointments are also available: call Odette (510-526-4917) or email Robinn ([email protected]). All profits benefit the congregation.Chag Pesach Sameach!

Odette and [email protected]

Inside this issueBoard Installation and Volunteer Recognition page 3

Annual Meeting page 7

Teen Recognition Award Program page 15

Shabbat Is Family Time at Chug Mishpacha page 17

PH OTO BY M IM I A B R A HA M

FROM THE GIFT SHOP

Documents

WZO Elections: Your Vote Is Needed Beth El's Pesach Kids Parting