Chai Lights The Newsletter of Congregation Beth Shalom

Daven and Dinner Friday December 7th at 6:00pm

LATKE DINNER

Board of Directors 2018–2019 President

Debby Nelson

VP Administration

Margaret Kane

VP Education

Jeff Swatt

VP Religious Practices

Diane Weber

VP Membership

Liz Stein

VP Finance

Brian Uslan

VP Programming/Fundraising

Open

VP Operations

Marty Berbach

Financial Secretary

Ron Simon

Treasurer

Phil Spilberg

Recording Secretary

Jeanne Appell

Immediate Past President

Jana Uslan

Members at Large

Eddie Appell

Lisa Bertaccini

Richard Erlich

Len Garfinkel

Religious

Leader

Rabbi Nancy Wechsler

rabbinancy@cbshalom.org

Rabbi Emeritus

Rabbi Joseph Melamed

Synagogue Administrator

Carol Schreiber

administrator@cbshalom.org

Office Manager

Symone Stephens

office@cbshalom.org

Music Director

Jennifer Reason

Congregation Beth Shalom

4746 El Camino Ave.

Carmichael CA 95608

916-485-4478

www.cbshalom.org

Lori Jean Hatten

Lydia Inghram

Meryl Shader

Ester Varano

From the Rabbi’s Desk:

Building Interfaith Relationships –

A Theology of Life

“Compassion is no longer an option—it is the key to our survival. If our religious and ethical

traditions fail to address these challenges, they will fail the test of our time.”

Karen Armstrong, “Compassion: An Urgent Global Imperative”

There are few tenets as powerful in today’s Judaism than genuine interfaith engagement.

In true interfaith work, there is no overt or subliminal hints of conversion nor effort to

diminish the other’s spiritual path. Traditions, prayer, language, foods and names for the

Divine are welcomed with respect. Authentic interfaith work relies upon diverse

community thirsting for collaboration through curiosity, compassion and vision.

Over the years Congregation Beth Shalom has built bridges of friendship with the

Christian community. Years ago, with St. Marks Methodist Church we exchanged

childcare during our High Holidays and their Christmas services. Today, that

relationship has grown to where our teens frequently interface and adults volunteer at

the St. Marks Winter Shelter. St. Marks and CBS teens recently met at the Sacramento

Unity Center following the Pittsburgh shooting. As well, CBS shares a longstanding

relationship with Sierra Arden Neighborhood Food Closet and its worship community,

the United Church of Christ and Church of the Good Shepherd. Our CBS food

collection is brought to their site for donation.

The Muslim community from Salam are dear to our community. We share the annual

Interfaith Sukkot gathering, and last month our CBS teens were part of eighty teens at

the Salam Friendsgiving event. Before we know it, we will be celebrating the third year

of our Interfaith Seders of Freedom.

Friday, December 21st 7:00 PM: Inter-Spirituality with

Sofia Jamal

This month, as part of our 3rd Friday of the month, Social Action theme: Building

Bridges of Interfaith, we welcome to our bima, Sofia Jama, already a friend to the CBS

family. Sofia Jamal creates and produces inspirational daily calendars based on Quran

verses. On Friday, December 21st, Sofia Jamal will share inspirational Quran verses that

resonate with Jewish text. The teachings are a universal blessing.

Our Social Action project includes bringing gifts for children ages 5-8. We suggest

sports equipment, crafts or board game. Thank you for your generosity.

As we enter our Chanukah season, we rededicate ourselves to strengthening our own

identity and building bridges with the diverse community of Sacramento. With blessings

for a season of peace and increased light.

Pilgrimage to the place of the wise, is to find escape from the flame of separateness.”

Rumi, 13th century Persian poet

Rabbi Nancy Wechsler

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CHAPPY CHANUKAH everyone! I hope you all enjoy

a warm and happy holiday with your friends and family.

Don’t miss our family latke dinner following the 6:00

Shabbat service on December 7!

November was a celebratory month at CBS. Many of

you know our dear friend Louisette Simon-Brown.

Louisette discovered her Jewish roots somewhat late in

life, and on November 16, she officially affirmed her

Jewish faith and reclaimed her Jewish heritage before

those of us gathered for Shabbat.

Also on that Shabbat, we witnessed our members Leah

Geer and Razi Zarchy as they shared an Aliyah aka

Aufruf in anticipation of their wedding the following

Sunday.

And now, allow me

to introduce (drum roll please) our new

Temple Administrator, Carol Schreiber.

Carol comes to us from Penn Valley, via

Vermont, New York, and Jamaica! She has

experience operating her own businesses

and we look forward to a long and

successful friendship with Carol. Please

make her welcome when you see her.

Also in November, a mitzvah crew of

members helped with dinner service for the

needy at St. Marks’s Methodist Church.

Thanks to Jeanne Appell who organized

the effort and to Robyn Asch, Richard

Erlich, Holly Ilfeld, Bob Bennett,

Phyllis Jacobs, Bill Rozell, Rabbi Nancy, Laura and Len Garfinkel, and

Diane Weber.

A brief word about security. In December, our board will be meeting with a

sheriff’s deputy who is trained to assess security issues. In addition, Rabbi Nancy,

Richard Erlich and I will be attending an Active Shooter Training for Houses of

Worship. This training is sponsored by just about every law enforcement agency

in the region – federal, state, and local. We will continue to take appropriate

action to secure our synagogue and its membership. Thank you to Richard who

has volunteered to chair our security committee.

Finally, if you are looking for year-end opportunities to make donations, CBS is

always happy to receive your generous contributions. At the same time, I want

to encourage you to find an organization that will continue to aid victims of the

Camp Fire. It’s a mitzvah.

For now, I wish you all a Happy, Healthy, and Peaceful 2019.

PRESIDENT

Debby Nelson

CONGREATION BETH

SHALOM IS A MEMBER

OF THE UNION OF

REFORM JUDAISM

SHABBAT SERVICES SCHEDULE:

Family Service/ Daven &

Dinner

1st Friday: 6:00 pm

Shabbat Service

2nd Friday: 7:00 pm

Shabbat with a Beat/

Social Action Shabbat

3rd Friday: 7:00 pm

Shabbat Service

4th Friday: 7:00 pm

Shabbat Service

5th Friday: 7:00 pm

TORAH STUDY

Saturdays: 9:00 am

OFFICE HOURS

Monday through Friday

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

CBS JUDAICA GIFT SHOP

The CBS Judaica Gift Shop will be

open 9:00 am-12:30 pm Sunday

mornings, when Kehillah is

scheduled; prior to regular Shabbat

services: 5:00-5:45pm on the first

Friday of the month; 6:00-6:45pm

on all other Fridays; or by

appointment. Contact Wendy

Wilson at 489-3767 or Carry

Cohn 488-8893.

December 2018

ISSUE

Anniversaries

Birthdays

Calendar

Candle Lighting

Contribution Form

Life & Legacy

President

Tributes

Yahrzeits

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11

18

10

3

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3

4

Pre-Hanukkah Pajama Havdallah

Rabbis Nancy Wechsler & Reuven Taff, and Kehillah Director, Irit Winston

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BSTY had a lot of fun at our November Game Night. It

took an unexpected turn into more of a movie night but we

enjoyed it just the same! December’s event is our much

beloved Hanukkah Latk’n. It will be held on December 7th

at 9pm after services and dinner. Join us for an epic

sleepover of games, snacks, movies and a special treat. RSVP

by December 3rd at bstyevents@gmail.com. We hope you

join us for this wonderful event!

BSTY Advisor Amalia Birch

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Sofia Jamal was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, she grew up in a vibrant multi-cultural city

off the Arabian Sea. She had the opportunity to travel to different countries over the years and

it helped her connect with people across many cultures and ethnicities. She is passionate about

building bridges of understanding, and also sharing her own perspective/experience as a South

Asian Muslim woman in today’s world.

In 2014, she obtained her Masters’ in Religious Studies to further her knowledge of religions,

cultures, and people around the world. She worked as a foreign language instructor, creating

and teaching the curriculum for the Urdu language at the university. In 2017 she relaunched her

publishing business and started working on contemporary spiritual products to help showcase

the beautiful teachings of Islam, to foster better understanding of the religion and its people.

Sofia Jamal spends her time being an active part of the interfaith community, participating in

interfaith cultural events, and balancing business work. She serves as co-leader for the 2nd

chapter of the Sisterhood of Salaam-Shalom, a national organization bringing Jewish and Muslim

women together through a shared understanding, creating bonds of lasting friendship. She is

also an active member of SALAM Islamic Center in Sacramento and volunteer for various

nonprofits including Habitat for Humanity and Loaves & Fishes.

Social Action Shabbat:

Building Bridges of Interfaith

Inter-Spirituality with Sofia Jamal Friday, December 21, 7:00 pm

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Mikvah Day

New Tallit

Louisette Simon-Brown

Shoshana Maya “ I was told by my dearest aunt, sister to my father, when I was fifty years old, that

I was Jewish.” A DNA test confirmed what I was told and “that day I felt like the

door of heaven was open when I read I was Jewish.”

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Pantry Needs

Cereal

Bagels

Cheese and crackers

Fruit

Bananas

Lunch meat

Cheese

Lunchables

Gogurts

Cookies

Pudding

Water bottles

Juice pouches

Instant Mac & Cheese cups

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Life & Legacy Donors

Thank you for committing to a lasting contribution for the future of CBS!

Add your name to the list of people who are assuring Jewish tomorrows!

For more information about the Life & Legacy Program and how to participate,

please contact the office to get connected to one of our Legacy Team Members.

Anonymous (4)

Jeanne & Eddie Appell

Robyn Asch

Gene Bagoon

Barbara Beeman & Joseph Domagalski

Robert Bennett

Joan & Dave Bories

Jessica Braverman Birch & Joel Birch

Penni Blumberg

Katie Braverman

Larry Brownston

Carry Cohn

Marlo Dewing

Dana Drukker

Jack & Angela Ezekiel

Alla Gamarnik & Joel Blank

Laura & Len Garfinkel

Ivan Gennis (z”l)

Monica Gershonzon

Mario Giacomotto

David Ginsburg

Mauria Hirning

Karren Hull

Holly Ilfeld

Lydia Inghram

Jenny Jeffrey

Steve Jeffrey

Linda ER Jones

Margaret Kane & Rick Frey

Judy Lewis

Steve Lewis

Dave & Roberta Malkin

Sherry & David Meyer

Arika Mills

Jonathan Mills

Dean Mirtle

Deborah Nelson

Scott Parrish

Jean Rubin

Tivon Schardl

Andrea Segal

Miriam Simon

Ron Simon

Deon Stein

Elizabeth Stein

Ann Marie Steinke

Jana & Brian Uslan

Rabbi Nancy Wechsler

Wendy Wilson, Ph.D.

Sheila Wolfe & Chris Drouin

Wendy & Saul Zales

LIFE & LEGACY is a partnership program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation

(HGF) that assists communities across North America, through partnerships with

Jewish Federations and Foundations, to promote after-lifetime giving to benefit

Jewish day schools, synagogues, social service organizations and other Jewish

entities. Through training, support and monetary incentives, LIFE & LEGACY

motivates Jewish organizations to secure legacy gifts, steward donors and

integrate legacy giving into the philanthropic culture of the Jewish community.

Yes, EVERYONE can be a Life & Legacy donor!

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Gifts for 19 Young Refugee Children Needed

As part of our Social Action project for the month of December, please bring a

new unwrapped gift for a young child, ages 5-8. These children have experienced

much hardship and deprivation. It is our blessing to be able to give to them.

Gift Suggestions: Sports Equipment, Arts and Crafts, and Board Games.

These gifts will be collected Friday night, December 21st at our Shabbat Service

themed Building Interfaith Bridges.

DO YOU HAVE GOOD NEWS TO SHARE?

Be sure to contact the office so we can acknowledge your simcha and others can celebrate with

you.

Please consider honoring or remembering a loved one by making a donation to

Congregation Beth Shalom, or by sponsoring an oneg, or First Friday Shabbat Dinner.

GIFT SHOP SALE!!!

The Gift Shop has everything you need for Chanukah: menorahs, candles,

gelt, dreidels, toys, gift bags, decorations, and more, all in a wide variety –

something to suit every taste and budget. And from now through the

end of Chanukah all menorahs are 20% off. Come in during our regular

hours, or contact the office for an appointment.

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HAPPY DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS HAPPY DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

Mark Kraut

Sharon Furlong

Jennie Nitta

Bruce Patt

Barbara Black

Matthew Kurtz

Sylvia Wechsler

Brian Muller

Diane Weber

Max Glenn

Alexis Rosenberg

Ezra Silverburg

Carl Haller

Jonathan King

Andrea Leibenhaut

Ellah Varano

Phyllis and John Blum

Norm and Phyllis Jacobs

Alexander and Tatyana Kagan

Estee and Dan Cohen

Leon and Jennifer Davidson

NOVEMBER TRIBUTES

To the Education Fund

From Dave and Roberta Malkin, in honor of the birth of

their granddaughter, Giuliana Christine.

To the General Fund

From Patricia Meyers, in memory of Milton Meyers, Golda

Meyers, Beverly Meyers, and Mortimer Sackler.

From Gladys Codron, in memory of Sophie Wasserman.

To the Rabbi Discretionary Fund

From Razi and Leah Zarchy, in honor of their wedding.

From Lynn Hou, in honor of Razi and Leah Zarchy’s

wedding.

From Robyn Salter, in memory of Scott Alcalay.

DECEMBER YAHRTZEITS

Dr. Victor Asch

Hank Asch

Marcel Baer

Serf Baum

Ray Berg

Paul Francis Bertaccini

Pearl Shirley Blue

Irma Brandt

Emil Buchler

Karen Cargill

Leon Cohen

Mary Malkin Cohen

Sol Cohen

Marilyn Cohen-Wasserman

Edith White Cohn

Edward R. Dawson

David De Bevoise

Jack Duke

Hartly Fleischmann

Delores Forman

Libby Freedman

Eva Friedland

William Garcia

Julia Garland

Richard Carl Gillett

Larry Gould

Mark Gould

Sylvia Grossman

Milly Hayward

Bertha Herold

Harry Herold

Lillian Hersch

David Hochstat

Frederick Johnson

Arthur Kahn

William Kirchheim

Esther Knox

Pearl Kraut

Bernard Kuhn

Michelle Lafranca

Lavena Laughlin

Marion Burl Laughlin

Virginia Lee

Isadore ""Irv"" Levine

Joe Levy

Rachel Lewis

Sally Levy Malin

Alvin Malkin

Esther Maltz

Harry Matzkind

Betty McCandless

Golda Meir

Annette Canter Meyer

Morton Mills

Irwin Mintz

Lilo Neumann

Marie Noble

Rebekah Owen

Elizabeth Porter

Charles Rogoff

Jerry Maxwell Rosenberg

Roberta Rosenblum

Daniel Ruxin

Shirley Y. Schuffman

Tirzah Schutzengel

Edith Schwartz

Vera Simon

Caroline Smith

Renee Solarz Fryden

Simon Solarz

Julius Tammer

Loretta Walker

Rachel Weizman

Judy Weltsch

Eleanor Wintrau

John Zarit

Lily Goldstene

Alexander Kagan

Alice Brenin

Ray Nalangan

Elise Ezekiel

Holly Ilfeld

Ethan Polis

Daniel Rosen

Samuel Schwartz

Marissa Ruxin

Hannah Gobuty

Laura Lawrence

Scott Pettinato

Warren Harris

Nancy Cowen-Pollock

Robin Taylor

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Remember a Loved One

with a Yahrzeit Plaque

Only $250

Contact office@cbshalom.org

for guidelines and details.

Please visit the back page to contribute to

CBS programs and funds.

There are many from which to choose—

what is your passion? Help sustain Jewish

programming!

Parashot Candle Lighting

Friday, December 7/ 30 Kislev 4:26 PM

Rosh Chodesh Chanukah

Miketz

Genesis 41:1-44:17, 38:9-15

Maftir: Numbers 28:9-15 & 7:42-

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Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14-4:7

Friday, December 15/ 7 Tevet 4:27 PM

Vayigash

Genesis 44:18-47:27

Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28

Friday, December 22/ 14 Tevet 4:30 PM

Vayechi

Genesis 47:28-50:26

Haftarah: 1 Kings 2:1-12

Friday, December 29/ 21 Tevet 4:34 PM

Shemot

Exodus 1:1-6:1

Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-

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Love Torah?

Join us 9:00am*

On Saturdays

for Torah Study

We focus upon efforts of peace

and reconciliation within each

parasha.

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Email _________________________________________________

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CBS is proud to announce its adoption of Mishkan HaNefesh,

the new two volume Machzor for the Days of Awe.

One set of Mishkan HaNefesh

is only $50!

$100 “buys” one set for you

and one set for the congregation.

All donations will be acknowledged with a bookplate in the prayer books.

Donations should be made to CBS (Religious Practices Committee) and should

identify the “New Machzorim” as the purpose of your donation.

Keep CBS in Mind When Shopping on Amazon! Amazon contributes to CBS when you connect to them through our link.

It costs you nothing and benefits the congregation.

Go to smile.amazon.com . The first time you go there, it will ask you to choose your Charity.

Our Temple Charity name is listed as Sacramento Jewish Fellowship of Carmichael. That's about all!

Select to support Sacramento Jewish Fellowship

Get the Amazon 1Button App

Share your support on Facebook or Twitter

Show your friends how they can support CBS (Sacramento Jewish Fellowship)

Remember: CBS only benefits when you start at: http://smile.amazon.com

Just copy and paste this URL into your browser https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7316431

Friday Night Shabbat Services:

1st Fridays: 6:00 pm 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th Fridays: 7:00 pm

Saturday Morning Torah Study:

9:00 am

Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region is now accepting donations for its

Kosher Food Pantry.

All goods should be non-perishable and have a kosher symbol.

Items may be delivered to the Federation office at 2130 21st Street, Sacramento. We also accept toiletries and Judaica items. We always need:

Pasta/sauce Canned fruits and vegetables

Breakfast cereal Peanut Butter

Tuna Crackers

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Postage

Address Label

CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM CONTRIBUTION TRIBUTE DONATION FORM

The enclosed is: ( ) a deposit to my individual tribute account

( ) a designation of $________ from my tribute account to ___________________Fund.

( ) a contribution to the ____________________________________________________ Fund.

In memory/honor (circle one) of _____________________________________________________________

Please acknowledge:

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

City, State Zip ____________________________________________________________________________

Donor:

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

City, State Zip: ___________________________________________________________________________

Phone: ________________________________ E-mail: _________________________________________

General Support Fund • Rabbis’ Discretionary Fund • Roger Ruby Memorial Theater Fund

Education Program Funds• Catherine Bos Music Fund • Lester Gould Library Fund • Beautification Fund

Unjericho Fund • Memorial Board • Rachel Melamed Storytelling Fund

Youth Programs Fund • Religious Practices Fund • Inclusivity & Access Fund • Other Thank you for making a tribute to Congregation Beth Shalom in memory or honor of an individual.

To insure proper recognition, please use this tribute form when sending your tribute.

Please return completed form to CBS Office

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