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CONGREGATION AM HAYAM

4839 Market Street, Unit C, Ventura, Ca. 93003 Phone (805) 644-2899 Fax (805) 644-2887

Website: www.AmHayam.com

From The Rabbi’s Study— June 2017

continued

HAMIGDALOR

From The Rabbi’s Study— June 2019

From the Rabbi’s Study

Ruth and Naomi--The Impact of Chesed

When Boaz first met Ruth gathering sheaves in his fields, he greeted her with admiration,

It has been told to me all that you have done for your mother-in-law...how you leftהגד הגד לי, “your mother, your father, and the land of your birth and followed a people you had not known before.”

The Targum Pseudo-Yonatan1 explains that Boaz had received a prophetic communication that Ruth’s descendants would be bestowed the monarchy of Israel because of two deeds. The first was the care she bestowed upon her widowed mother-in-law Naomi. The second was her decision to relin-quish her life in Moab in order to live a life of hardship and poverty as a Jew. This latter has been deemed all the more remarkable because Ruth is depicted in Jewish tradition2 as a Moabite princess, daughter of King Eglon3 and granddaughter of King Balak4. The juxtaposition of these two reasons given for G!d’s rewarding Ruth’s descendants in the future with a monarchy appears strange. The second reason certainly seem so much more important than the first. Ruth’s willingness to surrender her royal position in exchange for a life as a pauper and stranger among the Jewish people, demonstrates spiritual greatness. To leave the lap of luxury and step down from the royal palace in exchange for hunger and isolation is indeed an achievement. On the other hand, the first reason cited hardly seems worthy of mention. After all, following the death of Naomi’s husband, wouldn’t it be expected, out of simple common decency, for Ruth to care for her mother-in-law? The fact that these two reasons are stated, not only in the same breath, but in this specific order, holds up for us a great lesson. Ruth’s caring for Naomi might have been overlooked as less significant had it not been placed as the primary reason. Tanakh explicitly mentions it first to teach us the value of

contin-

1. Targum Pseudo-Yonatan is a western translation from the land of Israel, as opposed to the Targum Onkelos, which is a Babylonian targum. Its original title was Targum Yerushalmi, but was changed due to a printer’s error. It is a combination of translation, commentary, and midrash. Its dating is uncertain but seems to have been attained final form between the late eighth century and the early fourteenth century. 2. See BT Sanhedrin 105b. 3. See Judges 3:12-30. 4. See Numbers 22-24

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chesed, loving kindness, kindness performed with passion, with thoughtfulness, and with patience. It is hard to imagine how the kindness of Ruth’s care for and support of Naomi was actually greater than her even more difficult personal life decision, yet Tanakh and Pseudo-Yonatan compel us to consider this: A small chesed done in a meticulous and loving manner, with strong and sincere kavanah--intention--to do G!d’s will, to act ethically, can have a spiritual impact greater than Ruth’s monumental sacrifice to become a Jew. Ruth cared for Naomi in such a beautiful and special way that it shined forth much brighter than just a common courtesy. It was this act of heartfelt chesed that was the primary reason for deserving the eternal reward of the royal dynasty of David HaMelech (King David) and his descendants. At this time of Shavuot, when we have finally completed s’firat ha’omer (the counting of the Omer) culminating in our acceptance of Torah, our spiritual goals are--and should be--set high. Yet, we should not ignore our daily routine in our search for ways to uplift and improve ourselves. The acts of chesed--kindness--we perform should not be viewed with the same perspective that we had in our childhood--as mere good deeds or even humanitarian gestures. Rather, chesed is the hallmark of our G!d, and our chesed is the greatest emulation of G!d (imitatio Dei) that we can achieve. If we elevate our acts of chesed, infusing them with new depths of feeling and purity of intention, they can have boundless repercussions that will help merit for us the long awaited coming of Ruth’s descendant--the Mashiach (Messiah).

Rabbi J.B. Sacks

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Message from Brenda Rich

Greetings:

June is here and summer has come. Where did the first 5 months go? June brings a full month for our members and community. This coming weekend June 7th and 8th are our regular services. Friday night at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. Erev Shavuot begins on Saturday night but we will not be having services Saturday night.

Sunday, June 9th is Shavuot and there will be services at 10 a.m. Sunday night at 5 p.m. is our Community Shavuot kosher, dairy dinner followed by interesting discussions on the Book of Ruth led by Rabbi Sacks, Rabbis Lisa Hochberg-Miller, and Rabbi Lisa Bock. The evening is hosted by CAH, TBT, Jewish Community of Ojai and Ner Ami. There is a minimal charge of $10 per person. Please come and eat, pray, sing as we get together as a community in celebration of Shavuot.

Monday morning Shavuot continues with our service starting at 10 a.m. and Yizkor will be recited. Needless to say we need your presence at all these services.

All Family and singles have received ballots for the new budget and Board of Directors. Please return your ballots by either mailing them in or bringing them to our Congregational meeting on Sunday, June23 at 1 p.m. There has been a lot of loss in the world and in our own CAH family between our last Congregation meeting and the one on the 23rd. Let us come together as a community. Am Yisreal Hai.

Shalom

Brenda Rich

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June Birthdays

June Anniversaries

Roz & Mort Resnick 14

Andrea Massion 9

Kenny Halpern 11

Rabbi Sacks & Steven Karash 18

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Mondays with Mort

Remember!!!!!!

During the month of June there will be sessions of Mondays

With Mort at the home of Eva Lowe at 10:30 AM every

Monday except for Monday June 3rd and June 10th. Everyone

is invited to join us as we begin the Book of Bamidbar

(Numbers). Please email me if you are planning to attend any

session and if you need her address.

Question of the Month:

Which prince wanted to kill his father?

The answer can be found at

http://www.mondayswithmort.com/doyouknow.htm,

Also be sure to check out the entire Mondays with Mort web

site at

http:www.mondayswithmort.com

and the CAH

web site at www.amhayam.com .

Mort

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Get Well

Bob Packer

Sheila Myles

Fran Lande

Gail Packer

Irv Jacobs

Arnie Rich

Nancy Stein

Donna Gustafson

Isaac Javier Masnicoff

Judith Jacobson

Judye Newberger

Steven Karash

Eva Lowe

Craig Howard Gilman

Norma Van Riper

Mort Resnick

Dianne Ruthman

Ann Sperber

Herb Stein

Roz Resnick

Lee Rothschild

Beth Morales

Betty Abramson

Lois Lebman

Fil Barton

Dawn Kennedy

Bev Rosen

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SIGNIFICANT BOOK CLUB 2018-2019/5779

On Saturday, May 18, 2019, participants gathered together after Services, with plates full of good food from the Kiddush, to discuss the book “Letters to my Palestinian Neighbors” by Yossi Klein Halevi. Each chapter in the book is a letter which hopes to explain to the Palestinians the connections that Israelis have to their country. There was a lot of history packed into the book. Participants were asked to share what their connection to Israel was and what they would cover if they were to write a similar letter. Most had very intense responses ranging from Biblical reasons to historical occurrences. Rabbi Sacks shared about a group of Israeli and Palestinians who wanted to change the way peace was being negotiated.

In the end, it was clear that this book had so much to offer that further opportunities to learn and discuss the book and its subject matter should be explored.

This was the last book for this year. If you have suggestions for books for next year, please

contact Fran Lande, Adult Education chair, at fblande@gmail.com.

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TREES FOR ISRAEL

Mishloach Manot Thanks

We have some more shout outs to people who helped make our Purim fundraiser a big success.

Cantor Maurice & Joanne Glick

Norma Van Riper

Fran Bagdad

Sue Cohen & Ed Palmer

Linda Nelson

Ruth & Jeff Sitzer

Thanks so much. Your support is so appreciated.

Ruthy Resnick

To Theresa Cordova

In loving memory of your father Jerry Cordova

From Brenda and Arnie Rich

To Myra Matlin

Good luck on your new home

From Brenda and Arnie Rich

To Kunstadt Family

In loving memory Of Hilda Kunstadt

Mother wife grandmother

Brenda and Arnie Rich

To Fran Bagdad

Speedy recovery

From Brenda and Arnie Rich

To Bob Fleischman

Speedy recovery

From Brenda and Arnie Rich

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People in Ventura County are hungry year-round

According to Food Share, 1 in 6 people in Ventura County are

food-insecure.

That's why we decided we need to keep a Food Share barrel in our lobby year-round. Please think about depositing non-perishables in the barrel. Bags are available in our lobby. When it's full, we'll call Food Share for pick-up. Look for the yellow barrel in our lobby.

Congregation Am HaYam of Ventura County

4839 Market Street, Unit C, Ventura, Ca. 93003 Phone (805) 644-2899

www.amhayam.com

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*Inscribed on Memorial Wall

Friday, June 7th

*Aaron Resnick, Father of Mort Resnick and Father-In-Law of Ruth Resnick

Joseph Stein, Father of Herb Stein

Sara Light, Sister of Herb Stein

Friday, June 21

*Rose Kaufman, Mother of Betty Abramson

Herman Spunt, Grandfather of Fil Barton

Sydney Becker, Father-In-Law of Renee Becker

David Goch, Father of Stephen Goch

Milton Resnick, Brother-In-Law of Irv Jacobs

Nathan Matlin, Grandfather of Myra Matlin

YAHRZEIT

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Shabbat

Ends

8:47PM

June2019 Iyar/Sivan 5779

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 3

NO

Mondays with Mort

4 5 6 7

Services 8PM

Light

Candles

at 7:49PM

8 Services

10 am

Shabbat Ends

8:47PM

Happy

Birthday

Andrea Massion

Shavuot Services

10a.m.

Community

Shavuot Dinner/

Services

5 p.m. Light

candles 8:51

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NO Mondays

with Mort 10:30

Shavuot Ser-

vices 10 a.m.

Yizkor Service

Holiday ends

8:52 pm

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Happy

Birthday

Kenny Halpern

12 13 14 Happy

Anniversary Mort & Roz

Resnick

Light

Candles

at 7:52PM

15

16

Fathers Day

17 Mondays with Mort 10:30 AM

At Home of

Eva Lowe

18

Happy Anniversary Rabbi Sacks

& Steven Karash

19 20 21

Services

8 p.m.

Light

Candles

at 7:54PM

22

Services

10 a.m.

Shabbat Ends

8:56PM

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Congregational

Meeting 1 pm at

CAH

24 Mondays with Mort 10:30 AM

At Home of

Eva Lowe

25 26 27

28

Light

Candles

at 7:55PM

29

30

Shabbat

Ends

8:54 PM

Shabbat

Ends

8:57PM

S

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Rabbi J. B. Sacks

rabbijb@aol.com———phone#323-387-0096

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT Brenda Rich

brenda.bashful16@gmail.com

phone#-805-469-0268

VICE-PRESIDENT—

TREASURER- Lois Lebman

SECRETARY - Donna Gustafson

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY-Ruth Resnick

WAYS & MEANS VP - Marc Goldman

MEMBERSHIP VP - Miriam Mack

RITUAL VP - Roz Resnick

RITUAL VP Emeritus—Milt Rothschild z”l

HOUSING VP - Neal Abramson

IMMEDIATE PAST PRES - Brenda Rich

ADULT EDUCATION VP - Fran Lande

DIRECTORS—Betty Abramson,

Andrea Massion

Lee Rothschild

PAST PRESIDENTS

Mort Resnick

Arnie Fingerhut z’l

Jerry Ruthman z'l

Peter Shack z'l

Brenda Rich

OUR VOLUNTEERS

Kiddushim - Brenda Rich

Oneg Shabbat -Fil Barton

Librarian -- Donna Gustafson

Programming

Tributes — Lois Lebman

Telephone

Purchasing — Ruth Resnick

Yahrzeits — Bev Rosen

Migdalor— Bev Rosen

Sunshine

Webmaster—Mort Resnick

Publicity