chag sameach purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “kadosh, kadosh, kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” we are...

19
Volume 40, Number 5 February 2021 Shevat/Adar 5781 the T E M P L E B E T H A B R A H A M During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors. — From a Prayer for a Pandemic (author unknown) v Movement v

Upload: others

Post on 11-Apr-2021

3 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

Volume 40, Number 5 February 2021 Shevat/Adar 5781

Volume 31, Number 7

March 2012

Adar / Nisan 5772

the

T E M P L E B E T H A B R A H A M

Pu RiM

During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors. — From a Prayer for a Pandemic (author unknown)

v

Movement

v

Page 2: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

2

DIRECTORY SERVICES TIMES AND PARSHOT

SERVICES SCHEDULEMonday & Thursday Morning Minyan

Facebook and YouTube, 8:00 a.m.

Friday Morning Gan Shabbat, 12:40 PM on Facebook

Friday Evening (Kabbalat Shabbat) Facebook and YouTube, 6:15 p.m.

Candle Lighting Times (Friday)February 5 5:16 pmFebruary 12 5:24 pmFebruary 19 5:32 pmFebruary 26 5:39 pm

Shabbat Morning Facebook and YouTube, 9:30 a.m.

Torah Portions (Saturday)February 6 YitroFebruary 13 ShekalimFebruary 20 ZachorFebruary 27 Tetzaveh

GENERAL INFORMATION: All phone numbers use (510) prefix unless noted.

Mailing Address 336 Euclid Ave. Oakland, CA 94610

Hours Closed during pandemic Office Phone 832-0936Office Fax 832-4930E-Mail [email protected]

STAFFRabbi (x 213) Mark BloomCantorial Soloist/Hazzanit Yael KriegerGabbai Marshall LangfeldExecutive Director (x 214) Rayna ArnoldOffice Manager (x 210) Virginia TigerBet Sefer Director Susan Simon 663-1683Gan Avraham Director Rachel Fenyves 763-7528Bookkeeper (x 215) Suzie ShermanFacilities Manager (x 211) Joe LewisKindergym/ Toddler Program (on hold)

Dawn Margolin [email protected]

OFFICERS OF THE BOARDPresident David Goodwin 510-655-0529Vice President Garrett Schwartz 510-533-6910Vice President Ann Rapson 510-612-2304Vice President Jessica Sterling 415-640-5003Vice President Larry Reback 415-690-9735Secretary Etta Heber 510-332-9925Treasurer Peter Miller 510-652-7814Immediate Past President Alice Hale

COMMITTEES & ORGANIZATIONS: If you would like to contact the committee chairs, please contact the synagogue office for phone numbers and email addresses.

Adult Education Aaron PaulChesed Heidi Bersin & Heike FriedmanBoard of Trustees Jan KesslerFinance Peter MillerGan Avraham School Committee Becky Brown

House Stephen ShubIsrael Affairs Ann Rapson

Membership Joe Aamidor, Marlene Dines, Stacy Month, Ann Rapson

Men’s Club Bryan SchwartzOmer see page 6Personnel David GoodwinPublic Relations Lisa FernandezRitual Marshall LangfeldSchools Jessica SterlingSocial Action Ann RapsonWomen of TBA Gabriella Gordon & Abby KleinYouth/BBYO/La’atid Celena Ritchey

2

Chag Sameach Purim!

Page 3: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

3

EVENTS

WEEKLY TEXT STUDY with Rabbi Bloom

Contact [email protected] for Zoom link

SHABBAT MISHPACHA WITH BECKY FRANK

FEBRUARY 510:15AM ON ZOOM

Use Amazon and TBA will receive a percentage Go to this link and enjoy your shopping!:

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-1375793

Join Women of TBA & Oakland Ruach Hadassah

ROSH CHODESH MEETING

FEBRUARY 15 at 9:30 AM

Monthly meetings on a Monday close to Rosh Chodesh and are facilitated by group members.

We are reading “America’s Jewish Women:

A History from Colonial Times to Today”

FREE. All East Bay women are invited to join.

For Zoom link: Amy Tessler at [email protected] or (510) 482-1218

Services During Covid:Morning Minyan moved to ZOOM virtual location. 8-9am on Monday and Thursday

CLICK HERE

Meeting ID & Passcode in Rayna’s weekly emails.

Monday, February 8Morning Minyan virtual Zoom location 8-9am

CLICK HERE

Meeting ID & Passcode in Rayna’s weekly emails.

Tuesday, February 9Virtual Bet Sefer 4pm

Wednesday, February 10Weekly Text Study 9:00am Click here to contact Rabbi Bloom for the viewing platform

Adult Education Hebrew Decoding 7:00pm on Zoom-Click here to sign up through Susan Simon

Thursday, February 11Virtual Bet Sefer 4pm

Friday, February 12Kabbalat Shabbat Virtual Service at 6:15pm

CLICK HERE OR can be accessed through the TBA website www.TBAoakland.org

Saturday, February 13“A Taste of Text Study” Adult Education 9:00-9:30am. Come gain some insight into the Torah.

CLICK HERE

Meeting ID & Passcode in Rayna’s weekly emails.

Shabbat Virtual Service begins at 9:30am Service

CLICK HERE OR can be accessed through the TBA website at www.TBAoakland.org

Shabbat Mishpacha with children ages up to 5. Watch emails for Zoom link 10:15am

Virtual Kiddush: bring your own food and gather after services for a WTBA Zoom for ALL

Link opens at 9:45am Service ends around 11am

CLICK HERE

Meeting ID & Passcode in Rayna’s weekly emails.

Watch for Rayna’s weekly Shabbat emails.

Page 4: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

4

FROM THE RABBIMovement in PrayerIn a typical Shabbat morning service, you often see people standing, sitting, bowing, and making other movements at various times, and it can be hard to know exactly when you are supposed to do that. I am going to highlight some of the key “movements” of a tradi-tional Shabbat morning prayer service right here.

1. Facing East or the Ark. Jews traditionally say certain prayers, or the entire service facing Jerusalem, which is Eastward from the United States. Most arks are therefore placed on the Eastern wall in most sanctuaries. Unfortunately, that is not the case at Beth Abraham. We generally face the ark, but that is actually Southwesterly in our sanctuary.

2. Barechu. During this formal call to prayer, the leader bows on the word Barechu (Barechu et Adonai hamevorach), and the congregation responds by bowing at the word Baruch (Baruch Adonai hamevorach le’olam va’ed). The word Barechu, which means blessed or praised, has the same root as the word for knee, so we bow using our knees.

3. Shema. This is probably the motion people are most familiar with. We cover our eyes while reciting the Shema, because unlike the rest of the service, only the Shema requires complete intentionality to fulfill the commandment.

4. Amidah. Lots of motion in this prayer.

A Adonai Sefatai Tiftach. As we prepare to recite the Amidah, we take 3 steps backward and 3 steps forward, as if approaching a Queen or King with some trepidation, after which we bow before them in the next passage.

B. Avot. We do indeed bow at Baruch at the beginning and end of this first prayer within the Amidah, where we acknowledge God’s connection to our patriarchs and matriarchs.

C. Other Amidah Blessings. We specifically do not bow during most of the other Baruch’s in the Amidah. It is considered by our sages as laying it on a little too thick to the point of insincerity. God gets the point already.

D. Kedusha. During this prayer you stand with your feet together, in symbolic imitation of the angels, who are said to have only one leg. We rise on our toes several times throughout the Kedusha, most notably 3 times on the line “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God.

E. Modim Anachnu Lach. Even though it is still the Amidah and we stopped bowing because God gets the point already, in this prayer, acknowledging our gratitude to God, we bow once again at the beginning and the end. In contrast to the other times, here we do not use our knees while bowing, perhaps because this does not begin with the “knee” word Baruch.

5. Aleinu. We bow on the words “Ve’anachnu korim umishtachavim u’modim,” which literally means we bow before and lie down prostrate in thanksgiving. On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we lie all the way down on the floor in prostration, but at all other times, we simply bow. This is followed by the Shehu noteh shamayim part, where people alternatively bob up and down or backward and forward, often in synch with the people sitting next to them. This is just for fun. It is a camp tradition and has no basis in meaning in traditional prayer. But it is really fun. I encourage you to try it.

I actually encourage you to try all these movements. Not only are they part of the Jewish prayer tradition, but when you involve your body as well as your mind in prayer, you undoubtedly get much more out of the experience.

Page 5: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

5

FROM THE PRESIDENTMovement?by David GoodwinI had to smile when I saw that this month’s theme is “movement.” I used to have a lot of movement in my life. I would commute to my office in San Francisco most days, braving Bart in the mornings and evenings, trying to squeeze onto a Bart car, which was no easy feat at Embarcadero station. When my firm moved into the Salesforce Tower nearly two years ago, I had the great pleasure of taking the elevator up to the 53rd floor and gasping at the view every day. I say gasping literally. During eleven months I worked there before everything shut down last March 16, the unimpeded view from the upper floors of Salesforce Tower was a recurring delight. Plus, at lunch or at the end of the afternoon, there was the Salesforce park, half a mile long, five stories above the ground, and truly lovely. (If you hadn’t had the opportunity to visit the park before COVID-19, put it on your list of things to do when the world begins again.)

I used to travel too. Much of it was on business, sometimes a trip a week or even more often. In fact, there were periods in 2019 when I spent more time in Wilmington, Delaware than I did in Oakland. (If, after we all start traveling again, you ever find yourself in Wilmington on Shabbat, by the way, check out Congregation Beth Shalom. The Rabbi is from San Francisco and went to UC Berkeley, and the cantor grew up in Los Angeles, attended the conservative synagogue closest to where I grew up, and graduated from UC Santa Barbara. I felt at home.) In fact, in the “but for” world with no virus, I would flown to Seattle the day on which I am writing this column, for a ten-day arbitration in the gloomy Pacific Northwest (we’re doing the arbitration by Zoom instead).

And then there were vacations. Stella and I would fly to Paris two or three times a year to visit our daughter Charlotte and son-in-law Jerôme and our grandchildren William and Alice, and they would fly here every year and spend August with us. Most weeks, Stella and I would go out to dinner or drive to San Francisco to visit a museum or attend a concert, or we would go to the university for events or get together with friends. To say nothing, of course, of attending services in person at TBA, which was, and still is, albeit virtually, one of the joys of my life.

But now, my movement is from the breakfast table twenty feet to my home office, where I spend my days (and, recently, many evenings too) working, and occasionally rising from my desk to make a cup of coffee or a sandwich for lunch. Yes, we take a walk after dinner most evenings, and I will occasionally engage in a risky endeavor like buy-ing vegetables at the Temescal farmers’ market on Sunday mornings. But that’s about it.

Still, there are many pleasures in our life right now, including at TBA. The Gala this year was terrific – wonderful food and great entertainment. The film club has contin-ued to select interesting films – especially the latest film, The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance – and to hold fascinating discussions. I have continued to enjoy watching our b’nei mitzvah lead services give drashes, and read from the Torah: we have amazing young people in our Congregation. And I want to give a shout-out to our board of directors, whose members are great.

May we all be able to move again, meet again, and pray together again, soon. And a mi shebeirach for our country and our world as we head into February.

Page 6: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

6

COMMUNITY

THE OMER We accept member submissions. Deadline for articles and letters is the seventh of the month preceding publication.

Editors in Chief Lisa Fernandez & Rachel Dornhelm

Layout & Design Jessica SterlingCalendar Virginia Tiger

B’nai Mitzvah Editor Susan Simon

Help From People like you!Cover by Gabriella Gordon

Copy Editor Jenny Rooney

Proofreaders Rachel Dornhelm

Distribution online version only during pandemicMailing Address 336 Euclid Ave. Oakland, CA 94610

email [email protected]

Advertising Policy: Anyone may sponsor an issue of The Omer and receive a dedication for their business or loved one. Contact us for details. We do not accept outside or paid advertising.

The Omer is published on paper that is 30% post-consumer fibers.

Periodicals Postage Paid at Oakland, CA.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Omer, c/o Temple Beth Abraham, 336 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610-3232.

© 2020. Temple Beth Abraham.

The Omer (USPS 020299) is published by Temple Beth Abraham, a non-profit, located at 336 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610; telephone (510) 832-0936. It is published monthly except for the months of January, July and August for a total of 9 issues per annum. It is sent as a requester publication and there is no paid distribution.

TEMPLE BETH ABRAHAM is proud to support the Conservative Movement by affiliating with The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

Come exercise for free during the pandemic By Lisa FernandezI like to move, whether it’s in the middle of a pandemic or not.

But during coronavirus, I have felt especially caged up, confined to my small apartment with my family of four.

So for my mental health, I walk, sometimes twice a day, around the neighborhood and to new hiking trails near my house. (Sibley Regional Park is one that I discovered over these last 10 months.)

But what has made me the happiest is teaching step aerobics on my apartment stairs, twice a week, every week, since March. Aside from being a journalist and Hebrew School teach-er, I have also taught exercise classes since 1991. (My first job was teaching seniors at the JCC in Rochester, NY.)

So, I’m inviting anyone from TBA, and your friends and family, to join me for “Curbside Corona Cardio” every Wednesday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. It’s free!

We exercise for 40 minutes (when my free Zoom runs out) and schmooze a bit at the end of class. If you have questions, feel free to ask me or Karen Bloom, one of my loyal regu-lars.

Email me at lisajenfernandez@gmail if you want to Zoom links.

Page 7: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

7

COMMUNITY

Thank You TBA!!Gala 2021-Broadway Benefits TBA

On Saturday evening January 9th, more than 280 mem-bers of our community gathered for TBA’s first ever virtual fundraiser Gala - ’Broadway Benefits TBA’. It was a fun, engaging, warm and entertaining evening and a mov-ing reminder of the power of community during this chal-lenging time. Broadway stars Tory Ross Roman, Zachary Piser and Adam Rothenberg graced us with spectacular performances. Chef Jing Piser made 240 gourmet meals and cocktails that were delivered to guests that day. We are immensely grateful for the support of those members who helped us raise money for our beloved congregation!

We cannot wait to be back together again in person, in our sanctuary, social hall and theatres!

Your Gala 2021 Co-Chairs, Jill Rosenthal Rebecca Posamentier Jing Piser

A huge and heartfelt thank you to the many folks who helped make this fundraiser a success!

Chef: Jing Piser Sous Chef: Joel Piser

Meal Delivery Coordinator: Amy Tessler, along with husband Steve and son, Scott helped load meals into cars for delivery.

Program and Label Design: Virginia Tiger

Stage Manager: Susan Simon

Zoom Tech Crew: Jaqueline Palchik & Rick Heeger

Our Meal Delivery Crew: Rachel Goldstone/Joe Young Jody London/Michael Aronson Joan Korin/Ronn Berrol Sabrina Berdux/Alden Cohen Gabriella and Allan Gordon Alice Hale/Rick Heeger Frances Herb/Richard Levine Jan and Randy Kessler Abby and Ari Klein Doree Jorow Klein/Jason Klein Lynn and Marshall Langfeld Eric Leve Stacy Month/Joe Karwat Kelsi and Drew Perttula Flo and Paul Raskin Rayna and Saul Arnold Deborah and Larry Reback Lori and David Rosenthal Joan and Rick Rubin Cheryl and Alan Silver Rebecca and Will Sparks Barbara Gross/Ben Stiegler Sarah Tunik/Dan Oppenheimer Ellen Kaufman/David Weiner

Adam Rothenberg

Tory Ross Roman

Zachary Piser

Page 8: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

8

SOCIAL ACTION

Baking for Tikkun OlamBy Eliana Bloomfield I’m a TBA member since birth, currently on a gap year before heading to Wesleyan University. Over the past five weeks, I’ve run a challah business/charity from my home. It was one of those crazy middle of the night ideas, but this time I decided to go for it! I donated 50% of the proceeds to a different charity each week. The five charities I chose were Alameda County Community Food Bank, World Central Kitchen, Eat Play Learn, CARE, and Wish of a Lifetime. It was such a joy to turn my house into a bakery each week and get a taste of running a business.

I’m moving on to my next gap year adventure (an EMT training course in Santa Cruz), but stay tuned because I may restart the challah business later this spring! Send me an email at [email protected] if you’d like to be added to the order form email list.

Eliana and her fresh baked challah. Challah ready for pick up.

Chag Sameach Purim!!!

Page 9: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

9

COMMUNITYMovementBy Ann RapsonThe pebble broke through the surface of the water. The movement rippled across the pond in concentric circles. Peace and tranquility were disturbed.

A raging mob broke through the windows smashing glass and destroying property in Washington, D. C. A deadly melee ensued as they moved through the Rotunda and beyond. Rabbi Bloom and other leaders compared the event with Kristallnacht. Anguished reactions radiated from Washington.

A singular event may trigger a reaction that seems out-sized based on the original activity. But movements may begin small, smolder and finally ignite into a full confla-gration. Based on our history as Jewish people, we cannot afford to wait and see what will happen.

My own grandparents fled the pogroms of Tsarist Russia in early 1900 and emigrated to America through Ellis Island. My grandmother described in vivid detail the knocking on the door in the middle of the night and being awakened by soldiers wanting to examine their books and their property. They lived in constant fear that they would be arrested. A few years after Grandma Lilly moved to New Jersey, letters from Russia stopped coming and the entire family was presumably annihilated.

The events in Germany and throughout Eastern Europe in the 1930’s are well known and equally horrifying. We have members of our own congregation who survived the Holocaust and called out the events in DC in real time. Photos appeared on the news of a man wearing a Camp Auschwitz shirt and another with the inscription 6MWE (Six Million Wasn’t Enough.)

These events shock the conscience. We cannot tolerate this criminal activity. We will not condone this morally offensive behavior. We do not accept violence. These perpetrators need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. And fortunately, here in the United States, these rep-rehensible domestic terrorists likely will be convicted.

We need to stay vigilant at all times to root out the rotten core. We need to recognize anti-semitism and hate of all types and put a stop to the movement from which it ema-nates. When we say, “Never again,” we mean that never again are we going to stand idly by and watch the circles of discrimination radiate. May our new leaders have the courage to stand up.

TBA Book ClubOur next meeting of the TBA book club will be held via Zoom on Thursday, March 11th at 7:30p.m. We will be discussing the fiction book House on Endless Waters by Emuna Elon. There are two copies each at the Oakland and the Berkeley libraries and Link + has the book available from 27 libraries.

House on Endless Waters reviews:

“Emuna Elon’s powerful House on Endless Waters is essential Jewish fiction…a deeply immersive achievement that brings to life stories that must never be forgotten.” —USA TODAY

“A story of love, loss, and yearning. Lyrically phrased and often powerfully visual…this deep-ly felt tale offers a rewarding meditation on survival.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

At the behest of his agent, renowned author Yoel Blum reluctantly agrees to visit his birthplace of Amsterdam to promote his books, despite promising his late mother that he would never return to that city. While touring the Jewish Historical Museum with his wife, Yoel stumbles upon footage portraying prewar Dutch Jewry and is astonished to see the youthful face of his beloved mother staring back at him, posing with his father, his older sister…and an infant he doesn’t recognize.

This unsettling discovery launches him into a fervent search for the truth, shining a light on Amsterdam’s dark wartime history—the underground networks that hid Jewish children away from danger and those who betrayed their own for the sake of survival. The deeper into the past Yoel digs to tell the story of his life, the better he understands his mother’s silence, and the more urgent the question that has unconsciously haunted him for a lifetime—Who am I?—becomes.

Part family mystery, part wartime drama, House on Endless Waters is an unforgettable meditation on identity, belonging, and the inextricable nature of past and present.

Page 10: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

10

Hamantaschen the Size of Haman’s Hat with Apricot and Cheesecake FillingBy Faith KramerI’m not one for making a bunch of small pastries when a big one will do, so this Purim I’ll be making my haman-taschen the size of Haman’s hat, a rustic apricot cheese-cake (or goat cheesecake) tart. Purim begins the evening of February 27 and ends after sunset February 28.

Hamantaschen are Ashkenazi, filled, open face, individual, triangular pastries usually described as representing the Purim villain’s hat but more like the size of his ear, so making one actually the size of his hat saves time and showcases the creamy filling and poached dried apricot topping. Use a purchased pie crust for additional conve-nience.

HAMAN’S HAT TART WITH APRICOTS AND CHEESECAKE

Serves 6-to-81 recipe Cheesecake Filling (see below)1 recipe Apricot Topping (see below)1 prepared (unbaked) pie crust 11-to-12 inches in

diameter, room temperature (see notes)1 Tbs. milk1 Tbs. sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking tray with parch-ment paper. Center pie crust on tray. Spread cheesecake filling on top, leaving a 2-inch border all around. Top with apricots. Brush apricot cooking syrup over filled portion of tart. Fold pie crust up over filling into a trian-gle, pinching corners to look like a hamantaschen. Brush milk over crust. Sprinkle sugar across crust and filling. Bake about 35 minutes until golden brown. Cheesecake Filling: Have ingredients at room tempera-ture. In bowl of electric mixer, cream 8 oz. plain brick-style cream cheese (either regular or light, but not tub, soft or whipped), 2 Tbs. sugar, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, 1/2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice, and 1 large egg until smooth, light, and fluffy. (For goat cheese filling, substitute 4 oz. fresh, soft goat cheese for half the cream cheese.)

Apricot Topping: For best results, choose softer and lighter colored dried apricots. Place 1/2 lb. dried apricots in pan with 1/2 cup water, 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract, 1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp. minced ginger, and 1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cover and continue to simmer until liquid is thick and syrupy and apricots are soft but not mushy. (About 25 minutes but timing will vary. Add more water if needed.) Let cool slightly. Stir in 1/2 Tbs. orange flow-er water (optional). Notes: I purchased a pie crust, the type rolled up in a car-ton. Follow package directions for use. A crust for a 9-to-10-inch pie will have a diameter of 11-to-12 inches. To use homemade roll dough out to 11-to-12 inches in diam-eter. The finished tart will have a very rustic appearance.Faith Kramer writes a food column for the j., the Jewish News of Northern California (www.jweekly.com) and blogs her food at www.clickblogappetit.com. She is the author of the upcoming 52 Shabbats: Friday Night Dinners Inspired by a Global Jewish Kitchen (com-ing November 2021 from The Collective Book Studio). Contact her at [email protected]

COOKING CORNER

Page 11: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

11

B’NEI MITZVAH LIFE CYCLES

Oliver Goldman, February 6, 2021My name is Oliver Goldman. My bar mitzvah is February 6, 2021.

I am in the eighth grade at Edna Brewer Middle School. I like ten-nis (and am always looking for people to play with if you are inter-ested) and playing the piano.

My Torah portion is called Yitro and comes from the Book of Exodus. Yitro – in English, Jethro – is Moses’s father-in-law. In this portion, God gives the 10 commandments to the Jewish people.

Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov to Isaac Safier and Rebecca Feigelson on the birth of a daughter, Leia Sofia Safier!

Welcome New Members: Brian & Jessica Neil. Children Eli & MaxRachel Teisch. Twins Dov and Rafi

Camelia Schwartz, February 13, 2021My name is Camelia Schwartz and I am a 7th grader at Junior Jets in Alameda. I spend most of my time dancing and watching Grey’s Anatomy. I love traveling and am looking forward to my next trip.

My Torah portion is Mishpatim in the Book of Exodus/Shemot. It’s about the Torah’s laws and our concept of justice, and also empha-sizes the importance of compassion. My Drash will focus on some of the laws which are still so relevant, like laws against oppressing the vulnerable. I will discuss how justice and compassion are both important aspects of Gd, the Jewish people, and in our world today.

Page 12: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

12

GAN AVRAHAM

Movement at the Gan By Rachel Fenyves Jumping, climbing, spinning, running, skipping, crawling, tiptoeing, rolling, swinging, sliding, twirling. These are just some examples of the various types of movement we see at the Gan in any given moment. We believe that children learn through hands on experiences, and here at the Gan this allows the children to use their imaginations and their whole body to take in information and create meaning for themselves. The teachers often incorporate movement activities into their group times inside and outside the classroom. However, much of the children’s day is spent in self-guided play where they are free to move about and make choices about what they will interact with and how. For young children to make sense of their world, they must be able to move around unrestricted learning how to regulate their bodies in space. Have you ever witnessed a child master a physical skill? We get to watch the whole process unfold each day. Here are some photos of the many ways children keep their bodies moving throughout the day.

Page 13: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

13

GAN AVRAHAM

Page 14: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

14

Murray Davis CourtyardGary & Faith Kramer

Jack and Jeanette Jeger Kitchen FundBarbara Oseroff, in memory of Les Leibovitch

Barbara Oseroff, in memory of Nathan Denenberg

Joel Piser & Jing Weng Hsieh, in memory of Monroe Mendel Piser

Joel Piser & Jing Weng Hsieh, in memory of Toni W. Berke

Bet Sefer Discretionary FundS. Morris Goldberg, in memory of Rheta Goldberg

Gan Avraham Discretionary FundGregory & Amanda Eng, in honor of Teacher Amanda Jarman

Noah Goldstein & Jenny Michaelson, in memory of Jay Michaelson

High Holy Day Appeal General FundMichael & Kathy BurgeAlicia Cernitz-SchwartzS. Morris GoldbergRabbi Arthur Gould & Carol Robinson

Rick Heeger & Alice HaleJoseph Karwat & Stacy MonthRandall & Jan KesslerAdam & Diana MillerAaron & Eva PaulJoel Piser & Jing Weng HsiehColin & Cecile SchlesingerJosh Weiss & Janna Lipman Weiss

High Holy Day Appeal-Endowment FundMichael & Kathy BurgePeter GertlerS. Morris GoldbergRabbi Arthur Gould & Carol Robinson

Rick Heeger & Alice HaleJoseph Karwat & Stacy Month

Randall & Jan KesslerAdam & Diana MillerBarbara OseroffAaron & Eva PaulJoel Piser & Jing Weng HsiehColin & Cecile SchlesingerJosh Weiss & Janna Lipman WeissStuart & Abby Zangwill

Temple Beth Abraham General FundBarry Barnes & Samantha SpielmanJon & Andrea Berlin, appreciation for the community Karen & Rabbi Bloom have created

Joshua & Heidi BersinHarvey & Fran BlatterHarriet BloomLeon & Judy Bloomfield, to help families struggling to pay dues dur-ing the COVID pandemic

Abigail BornsteinDesten Broach & Franci KurshMatt Disco & Sandra RappaportBarbara Cahn, in honor of Andy Wasserman

Jeffrey & Susan Callen, in honor of Amy Maidenberg and family

Alysa Chadow & Brian FisherDavid & Diane FeldhammerEric & Heike FriedmanGlenn & Amy Friedman, in memory of Michael Wallerstein

Steven Glaser & Deena AerensonJudy GlickReuven Glick & Marci GottliebJon Golding & Carla ItzkowichDorothy GoldsmithDavid Goldstein & Sharon ShoshaniFifi Goodfellow, in memory of Raymond Naggar

David & Stella GoodwinWarren & Outi GouldMorey GreensteinAretha Caron HarrisSteven & Penny HarrisAlice Harron, Excellent YouTube

Shabbat Services!Stephen & Toya HertzBooker Holton & Elaine GerstlerEric & Linda HorodasJeff & Johanna IlfeldJonathan & Joy Jacobs, in memory of Jewel Koletsky

Bob & Lori JaffeLaurence & Elizabeth JamesDavid Joseph & Jennifer BeckHarlan & Pearl Kann, in memory of Meyer Kranz

Harlan & Pearl Kann, in memory of Sophie Kranz

Isaac Kaplan & Sandy SchwarczMyra KaplanRobert KirshStuart & Jeanne Korn, in honor of Rayna Arnold

Phillip & Andrea LaMarMichael & Renee MarxMark & Maribel Mogill, in memory of Minnette Mogill

Jeffrey & Mona Morris, in memory of my mother, Libbe Murez & my sister Linda Dunlap

Judy Morris, in honor of Rayna Arnold

Frank OffenBetty Ann Polse, in memory of Burton, Dennis, and Maury Polse

Steven Rosenthal & Ailsa Steckel, in memory of Erna Pikarski

Sheldon & Barbara Rothblatt, in memory of Benjamin Goor

Barry & Hana Rotman, in memory of Paula Rotman

Klaus-Ullrich Rotzscher & Ruth Kleinman, in memory of Norman Kleinman

Allen Rubin, in memory of Samuel Rubin

Nissan & Carol SaidianDavid Scharff & Gizelle BaranyBryan Schwartz & Gabriela MariniLori-Jill Seltzer, in memory of Luben Calabio

DONATIONS

Charity is equal in importance to all the other commandments combined. combined.

Page 15: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

15

DONATIONSGary Sherne & Sandra FruchtSally ShoreStephen & Susan Shub, in honor of the TBA staff - thanks!

Elizabeth Simms, in memory of Charles Simms and Gloria Simms

Adam & Olya SingerMarvin & Wendy Siver, in memory of George Hochman

Mark & Lori SpiegelLisa Strongin & Maxine EppersonJerome & Beverly TurchinAndy & Marcia WassermanCheryl Zatkin-Steres & George Steres

Minyan FundRob Kaufman, in memory of The Man in Shorts

Roma & Thomas Lascano, in memory of Rabbi Hayim Gorn Perelmuter

JB Leibovitch & Judy Chun, in memory of Les Leibovitch

Ronald & Sharon Reiss, in memory of Allan Green

Rabbi Discretionary FundHarriet Bloom, in memory of Ben Nathan

Glenn & Amy Friedman, in memory of Robert Wallerstein

Marianne Friedman, in memory of Sidney Levee, Sidney Levee Jr., and Beatrice Levee

Rachel Gonsenhauser, in honor of the Torah reading & Haftorah by Eve and Ezra Maidenberg

Fifi Goodfellow, in memory of Becky Singer

Ward Hagar & Caroline Hastings, in memory of Thomas Lee Hastings

Anonymous, in memory of those who have perished as a result of the COVID 19 plague

Steven & Penny Harris, in memory of Evelyn Harris

Richard & Annette Jaffe, in honor of Matthew and Lucia’s wedding, the birth of Clara

Richard & Annette Jaffe, in memory of Pablo Macias

Randall & Jan Kessler, in memory of Leslie M. Kessler

Daniel & Jessica Klein, in honor of Ethan’s 3rd birthday haircut by Rabbi Bloom

Robert Klein & Doreen Alper, in honor of celebrating 30 years of partnership

Misia Nudler, in memory of Miriam Nudler and Jeanette Jeger

Philip & Cheryl Paul, in memory of Allan Green

Paul & Florence RaskinSheldon & Barbara Rothblatt, in honor of Chanukah

Colin & Cecile Schlesinger, in mem-ory of Rolf Schlesinger and Nella Schlesinger

Colin & Cecile Schlesinger, in mem-ory of William Tenery and Mary Tenery

Sheldon Schreiberg & Sherry Marcus

Matthew & Lauren SmithStephen & Amy Tessler, in memory of Edna Levine

Welch Warren, in loving memory of Kay Warren

Stuart & Abby ZangwillVera Zatkin, in memory of Irving Kingston

Leonard Quittman Endowment Fund Barry Barnes & Samantha SpielmanHarriet BloomFifi Goodfellow, in memory of Herbert A. Goodfellow

Steven & Penny HarrisStuart & Jeanne KornAngelina LevyJeffrey & Judith Quittman, in mem-ory of Leonard Quittman

Herman Hertz Israel Scholarship FundGerald & Ruby Hertz, in memory of Sally Simon

Welch Warren, in loving memory of Kay Warren

Mollie Hertz Interfaith Outreach FundGerald & Ruby Hertz, in memory of Harry Morofsky

Howard & Karen HertzJeri & Marvin Schechtman, in mem-ory of Stanley Schechtman

Pola Silver Teen Holocaust Education Trip FundRon & Adele Ostomel, in memory of our father, Sam Silver

A Legacy Gift Lasts ForeverInclude TBA in your Estate Planning so that your message to your family is loud and clear:

“The existence of Temple Beth Abraham is important to me and for the future of Jews in Oakland.”Contact TBA’s Executive Director Rayna Arnold for further details:(510) 832-0936 [email protected].

Page 16: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

16

LIFE CYCLES

Is your birthday information wrong or missing from this list? Please contact the TBA office to make corrections.

February BirthdaysFEBRUARY 1 - 5Miriam IlfeldAnn RapsonHannah RebackNancy RoseArnold BlusteinElise Hannah SchleuningLisa TabakArjun BornsteinAriela FedorovAmy FriedmanElla Rose GordonLena GutkinLeah HagarJing Weng HsiehShaun KozolchykJacob RaskinEsther AamidorAkash BornsteinKristina BronitskyMaya MarcusNaftali Bojdak-YatesMr. Dan MaidenbergSarah MarcusRami Weinberg

FEBRUARY 6 - 12Reuben GoldbergAmber HymanJulia JohnsonDawn MargolinSusan SassonStuart ZangwillHattie GutkinElizabeth JamesBarbara RoseCecile SchlesingerJennifer WeinsteinSarah DanielsMatten Isaac PincasAbby KleinSarah Bookin Hanson

Sherry MarcusDavid SassonLyra Vergano EganNeve VerganoTina EisenmanBecky FrankJoanne GoldsteinRuth Tunik OppenheimerLauren SmithLiam SondrealJoni TanisGavriel Haim BlatmanItai Bojdak-YatesJulie KatzJessica Sterling

FEBRUARY 13 - 19Buzz BerelowitzLarry MillerVictoria RomanAliya Love CohenPaul DilibertoMira GellmanAllan GordonMark LissJake MooreDarleen BercovichAlexander FinkelsteinBenjamin HymanJames KleinmannEli NeilPaloma Margarita SiegelYonathan WolfIsaac BerlaAvi EliahuDeren Rehr-DavisDavid RosenthalJosh SadikmanCharles DahanEric JonesMaya SherneRoslyn Aronson

Lisa Spielman PolstonAndres TurnerDaniel HarvittRachel HertzJacob KleinVictoria ReichenbergAmy SchoenblumFranklin Wahl

FEBRUARY 20 - 21Leah BayenJacob LironAvi WeinbergJoseph CharlesworthWard SpanglerJudith KlingerDebbie SpanglerSteven WolmarkDaniel BerelowitzAaron BornsteinAmit BornsteinAri GoldbergOrli SteyerJagger WinikoffLila BlumbergOliver BlumbergJoshua DeBareKivah FedorovTheodore JamesSagie KleinlererMarjorie BlusteinPhilip Hankin

FEBRUARY 27-28Julian GoldsteinFlorena ShapiroMarc BrunerPaula HamiltonMerav KaganJonathan RingBella Scharff

Page 17: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

17

LIFE CYCLES

19 - 23 SHEVATFebruary 1 - 5Max BrickSelma JacksonTheo JosephNorbert NemonHarold SilberzweigErnest WeinerEdward FriendlyBlanche NeumanLillian RaphaelFay SchaeferGeorge TabakAdolph WollnerThomas W. CainLouis FeldmanSeymour MillerJoseph MorvaiDavid OkhGertrude YarmanJoel CareyJoseph GrutmanHarry PodolskyLawrence A. “Sonny” SingermanIrwin BaranyEtty BernsteinEleanore LeonIsaac ShatzkinLucille Tama

24 - 30 SHEVATFebruary 6 - 12Mark Evan CyprusHarold Tott FrankelArlene GilletteEthel EngelGertrude Kingston

Carol G. MillerBetty MoskoCharles SomersIrwin WeintraubJean CharlesworthAlexis FalquierAl RothmanAllan StoneJulian WolfSamuel BandelElizabeth BernsteinFrieda BlatterHyman BrodkeJoseph GouldSamuel Aaron GrinbergRose HillmanBernard PollackMilton WeinerLeonard WolfIrving GoronkinShirley GouldRose KotzSam WolfJoseph ZuckerbergDorothy GlasserShirley GoldbergJoseph G. KayJoseph KvintMelissa Anne PowersIrma RobinsonLillian AdlerHelen AldeffEric BaumAvraham ElbertPaul GildeaKalman GluckPearl S. Goodman

1 - 7 ADARFebruary 13 - 19 Judy BerkowitzRose BruderCora CoulterIrving Selig GoldmanCassel GulinsonAnna JacobsMoses SeligsonDenise DavidGoldine JacobsMarjorie KauffmanCelia KesslerJulius KohnJoel LaLoneSimon LerchSydney Sylvia RossRuth RothMabel StevensMary BergerRoberta BlasensteinRaymond ChunAnnie FinkelsteinMatilda Bloom HolzmanHelen KatzburgMarion MorrisBenjamin OttovichJules KohnLouis RothenbergDaniel ShusterMilton WeintraubMax PearlClara RamoRobert BurnsteinPhilip Samuel FruchtCelia GoldsteinHarry David Levine

May God comfort you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem

February Yahrziets

Luben Calabio, Brother Florina (Richard) ShapiroLarry Kauffman, Father of Richard (Audrey) Kauffman

Sid Rose, Father of Mike (Barbara) RoseRecent Deaths in Our Community

Continued on page 18

Page 18: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

18

LIFE CYCLES SOCIAL ACTION

Bernice LobelHarry SimonFrederick Harland SpectorAbraham BaimAnna CohenTille CohenSylvia HertzHarry JangerSigmund KaplanSara SchmulowitzArthur Yarman

8 - 14 ADARFebruary 20 - 26Louis AdlerRachel AelionPhilip BakarCharles Bernard BernsteinArnold LissHenry RamekBeatrice ToasPhyllis ZangwillAvram Mendel GoldbergHarry GoldenharSue KraftEdythe SchultzHarry TesselRegina WeissWillliam Miller

Susan MooreSamson Nour-OmidIda PuroLilly ShoehalterNancy von KugelgenNathan FeldmanJacob SaidianMilt WeinerShirley AbramsMollie ForkosPhyllis GoldbergSara GoldbergJames JonasNathan PolseJacob RubinLloyd SilverHoward Morse SpectorSheba Widlan BookinMike CarrilloBecky ChunJennie CoopersmithRuth Miriam CowanErnest Harvey FriedmanWilliam GroskopfCelia KesslerIra KurtzShirley LangfeldMorrey RanzerDorothy SarverSusanne SpritzerSidney Jerome Zywotow

Isaac BiedermanZiesel FriedmanMinnie IsenbergDaniel A. KingMorris KlangMartin PolonEli Schwartz

15 - 16 ADARFebruary 27-28Olga BanksRobert ChabonMoses FrankelEmily G. FriedmanEsther GershensonShirley HandloffLeon JaffePhyllis KaizerLillian LevineSelma LiroffIsador MargolinRachael RutterArnold ShusterGoldie WeisbrodHelen GoldbergLatifa NaggarUry RathWilliam TeneryHarold Usef

Temple Beth Abraham Temple Beth Abraham Temple Beth Abraham AcceptsAcceptsAccepts

Vehicle DonationsVehicle DonationsVehicle Donations

WHY Donate:WHY Donate:WHY Donate: Recycling your car saves energy and natural resources.

Proceeds from the sale of your car help support TBA.

Your donation is tax-deductible even if it’s not running!

CONTACT: CONTACT: CONTACT: [email protected]

or call the TBA office 510-832-0936

WHAT can you donate:WHAT can you donate:WHAT can you donate: Cars, Trucks, Boats, Motorcycles and RV’s

Free Pick up & DMV processing!!

One of our monthly Social Action activities was to serve dinner at CityTeam. From the CityTeam website: For our volunteers: We are discontinuing all volunteer shifts as a result of the order issued across six counties in the Bay Area.

How you can help during this time: Please PRAY. We ask for the Lord’s guidance and protection as we do all we can to fulfill our mission to share God’s unconditional love.

Support: As we continue to deliver our services and adapt our programs, we appreciate your ongoing financial support in order to continue serving our neighbors experi-encing homelessness and hunger.

More Social Action opportunities

Continued from page 17

Page 19: Chag Sameach Purim! · 2021. 2. 3. · “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, holy, holy, holy.” We are attempting to elevate our-selves to the level of angels in our praise of God. E. Modim

19

CALENDARFEBRUARY 2021 19 SHEVAT – 15 ADAR 5781

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 (19 Shevat) 2 (20 Shevat) 3 (21 Shevat) 4 (22 Shevat) 5 (23 Shevat) 6 (24 Shevat)

8:00am Morning

Minyan via Zoom

4:00pm Virtual Bet

Sefer

9:00am Virtual Weekly Text Study

6:00pm 88h & 10th Grade Tichon

7:00pm Adult Hebrew Decoding via zoom

7:00pm Virtual BBYO – AZA & BBG

8:00am Morning Minyan via Zoom

4:00pm Virtual Bet

Sefer

6:15pm Virtual

Kabbalat Shabbat

Parashat Yitro Bar Mitzvah of Oliver Goldman

9:00am Adult Text Study 9:30am Virtual Shabbat

Services followed by Zoom Kiddush

10:15am Shabbat Mishpacha via zoom

5:16 Candle lighting 6:18p Havdalah (42 min) 7 (25 Shevat) 8 (26 Shevat) 9 (27 Shevat) 10 (28 Shevat) 11 (29 Shevat) 12 (30 Shevat) 13 (1 Adar)

8:00am Morning

Minyan via Zoom

4:00pm Virtual Bet

Sefer 7:15pm WTBA virtual

pilates

9:00am Virtual Weekly Text Study

6:00pm 88h& 10th Grade Tichon

7:00pm Adult Hebrew Decoding via zoom

7:00pm Virtual BBYO – AZA & BBG

8:00am Morning Minyan via Zoom

4:00pm Virtual Bet

Sefer

Rosh Chodesh Adar

Gan closed for

Teacher ECE 6:15pm Virtual

Kabbalat Shabbat

Shabbat Shekalim Parashat Mishpatim Bat Mitzvah of Camelia Schwartz 9:00am Adult Text Study 9:30am Virtual Shabbat

Services followed by Zoom Kiddush

5:24p Candle lighting 6:26 Havdalah (42 min) 14 (2 Adar) 15 (3 Adar) 16 (4 Adar) 17 (5 Adar) 18 (6 Adar) 19 (7 Adar) 20 (8 Adar)

Gan & Office closed for Presidents’ Day

8:00am Morning

Minyan via Zoom 9:30am Rosh Chodesh

via zoom:”

NO BET SEFER 7:00pm WTBA Girls

Night Out via Zoom

9:00am Virtual Weekly Text Study

NO TICHON CLASS

7:00pm Adult Hebrew Decoding via zoom

7:00pm Virtual BBYO – AZA & BBG

8:00am Morning Minyan via Zoom

NO BET SEFER

6:15pm Virtual

Kabbalat Shabbat

Shabbat Zachor Parashat Terumah

9:00am Adult Text Study 9:30am Virtual Shabbat

Services followed by Zoom Kiddush

5:32p Candle lighting 6:33p Havdalah (42 min) 21 (9 Adar) 22 (10 Adar) 23 (11 Adar) 24 (12 Adar) 25 (13 Adar) 26 (14 Adar) 27 (15 Adar)

8:30AM

MISHLOACH MANOT ASSEMBLY & DELIVERY

8:00am Morning Minyan via Zoom

4:00pm Virtual

Bet Sefer

Purim Carnival 7:30pm TBA Board

Meeting via zoom

9:00am Virtual Weekly Text Study

6:00pm 88h & 10th Grade Tichon

7:00pm Adult Hebrew Decoding via zoom

7:00pm Virtual BBYO – AZA & BBG

Ta’anit Esther Erev Purim

8:00am Morning

Minyan via Zoom 4:00pm Virtual Bet

Sefer 6:15pm Purim

Rock n Roll Service

Purim 6:15pm Virtual

Kabbalat Shabbat

Parashat Tetzaveh 9:00am Adult Text Study 9:30am Virtual Shabbat

Services followed by Zoom Kiddush

5:39p Candle lighting 6:41p Havdalah (42 min) 28 (16 Adar)

10:00am WTBA Purim event

7:30pm TBA Film &

Discussion via Zoom