February 2020 6 Shevat — 4 Adar 5780

Volume 44 Number 2

We’re Praying for You

We offer a Mi Shebeirach prayer for all who are ill at every Shabbat service. Call the synagogue office, 714-963-4611, to have a prayer offered for yourself, a member of your family, or a friend. Names will be placed on the list for a period of two months.

THIS IS YOUR PAGE Share your simchas and sorrows with your friends at CBT. Let Rabbi Young or the office know about happy events to share in our Mazel Talk section. If you notify us about the death of a family member, we will publish the name in our In Sympathy section. We also want to know if you or a family member or friend is ill and should be included on the Mi Shebeirach list.

The congregation extends a heartfelt thank you to members and friends who host our Ongei Shabbat. Let us know if you would like a partner to help host an Oneg. Call the synagogue office at 714-963-4611 or email office@cbtfv.org.

February 7 — Available for sponsorship February 14 — The Young Family, in honor of Alexander Michael Young becoming a Bar Mitzvah February 21 — Arnold and Mira Adler, in honor of Mira’s birthday February 28 — Available for sponsorship

Shabbat Services

February 7 Family Beatles Shabbat Service 7:30 PM Note time! February 14 Shabbat Service 7:00 PM Note time!

Alexander Young becomes a Bar Mitzvah February 21 Tot Shabbat Service 6:00 PM Brotherhood Shabbat Service 7:30 PM February 28 Musical Shabbat Service 7:30 PM Sponsored Sam and Diane Salzman and Mike Tucker and Karlee Hughes February 29 Shabbat Service 10:30 AM Justin Weiss becomes a Bar Mitzvah

Adult Education and Programs ............... 6

Advertising Supporters .......................... 15

Birthdays and Anniversaries ................. 10

Brotherhood Beat ..................................... 9

Cantorial Corner ....................................... 4

Ongei Shabbat .......................................... 1

President’s Message ................................ 3

Rabbi Young’s Message .......................... 2

Religious School News ............................ 5

Sister to Sister...........................................8

Thank Yous ............................................. 10

Tzedakah ........................................... 12, 13

Upcoming Events....................................16

In Sympathy

The Congregation extends its condolences to:

Gary (Roberta) Hopkins, on the passing of his mother, Marion Hopkins

Brian and Aubrie Ofner, on the passing of their mother/grandmother, Roslyn Ofner

Renee Barger, of the passing of her son, Steve Barger

Harriet (Benjamin) Dolgin on the passing of her sister, Sylvia Bandler

Susie Katz, on the passing of her sister, Marilyn Hirsch

Elaine Weissman, Melinda (David) Asbury, and Joseph (Vanessa) Garcia, on the passing of their husband/father/grandfather, Michael Weissman

May the source of peace grant consolation to all who are bereaved.

2

3

6 Shevat — 4 Adar 5780 February 2020

Whenever we enter a new year on the Gregorian calendar that is evenly divisible by 4, a few things immediately come to mind: summer Olympics, presidential elections, and leap year! It immediately made me wonder if this is also a leap year on the Jewish calendar, because that system is very, very different. Only Jews could construct something so mathematically complicated! For those who love leap days and leap years and math and calendars and Adar, here’s a quick and dirty guide to leap years on the Gregorian and Hebrew calendars. Gregorian Calendar Leap Years:

• During a Gregorian calendar leap year, an additional day is added to February. • We do this to compensate for a full rotation of the earth around the sun actually being 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds.

• A Gregorian year is a leap year if it meets BOTH criteria: • It is divisible by 4. • It is not divisible by 100, unless it is also divisible by 400.

• 2020 is divisible by 4 and not divisible by 100, and is therefore a leap year.

• The next leap year will be in 2024.

• Only 0.07% of people are born on leap day (that’s 1 in 1,461). • As far as I know, none of CBT’s congregants were born on February 29 or have an anniversary that day, but please correct me if I’m wrong!

Hebrew Calendar Leap Years:

• During a Hebrew calendar leap year, an additional month of Adar is added. Adar is a happy, lucky month, so having an extra Adar is great luck!

• There are seven leap years in every 19 years. • The 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 19th years of the 19-year Metonic cycle are leap years. • 5780 is year number 4 of the cycle and is therefore not a leap year. • The next leap year will be in 5782 — year number 6 of the cycle. 5782, which overlaps with 2024, will also be a leap year on the Jewish calendar because it will be in year 8 of the cycle. • A mnemonic for remembering the years corresponding to leap years is: גוחאדזט The Hebrew letters Gimmel, Vav, Chet, Aleph, Dalet, Zayin, and Tet are used to represent the Hebrew numerals 3, 6, 8, 1, 4, 7, and 9. • Mathematically, it can be determined if a year is a leap year by determining whether ((7*year)+1) mod 19) is less than 7. Example: (7*5780+1) mod 19 = 10, so 5780 is not a leap year. If you copy and paste (7*5780+1) mod 19 into Google, it’ll show you the answer, too!

• Or easier, use this leap year calculator: www.torahcalc.com/leapyears/ Enjoy! Shellie Halprin

4

A TRULY MUSICAL MONTH!

This month, I am thrilled to be collaborating on two special musical events. First, come celebrate Shabbat Shirah Beatles Style at CBT on Friday, February 7 at 7:30 PM. Before services, join with our community for a delicious Shabbat dinner at 6:30 PM. Proceeds generated by this wonderful Beatles Shabbat dinner will benefit our CBT community through the support of Jewish youth summer programming, as well as new synagogue repertoire, new expertise in Jewish music, and new musical programming for CBT!

Next, on February 16 at 5:00 PM, join me for “Songs of Hope,” a very special Cantor’s Concert at Temple Beth Shalom of Long Beach. In addition to myself, Hazzan Judy Sofer, and a number of other notable Cantors, this concert will feature the Urban Voices Project, directed by Leeav Sofer. It will be a truly musical night filled with joy, hope, and beautiful voices! You can RSVP for this concert via the Temple Beth Shalom office, or you may buy your tickets at http://www.paypal.me/tbslb with the memo line: Cantor’s Concert. Ticket prices start at $36 for general admission.

Please join me and be on the lookout for the flyer for more details along with sponsorship opportunities for Beatles Shabbat!

I look forward to joining you this month for evenings of joyful song!

B’Shirah, Jenna

CBT ROCKIN’ SHABBATOT: SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE!

The beauty and energy of our CBT Rockin’ Shabbatot are made possible through generous donations from our congregants. Each CBT Rockin’ Shabbat costs $225, and we need your help to continue to bring these dynamic Shabbat services to our community. We need YOU to sponsor these moving musical evenings! We thank Maury and Rena Shulman for sponsoring the January Rockin’ Shabbat in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Cantorial Corner

5

6 Shevat — 5 Adar 5780

February 2020

Religious School News

Remembering Bernie Kessler While earning my Master’s degree at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in the early 2000’s, I was privileged to have studied on a generous scholarship sponsored by a local philanthropist. Each year, students who received scholarships were matched with a donor and sent an introductory letter by the particular donor talking about his/her connection to the Jewish community. The recipients sent “thank you” letters back to our sponsors and included a little information about our studies and goals for the future. At the time, it seemed more like a formality, and I did not think too much of the interaction until my first Board Meeting at Congregation B’nai Tzedek. I entered my first Board Meeting at the temple in September of 2017, and there was one seat left in the room next to an elderly gentleman with a Veteran’s hat. During introductions I learned that the man sitting next to me was Bernie Kessler. Over the duration of the meeting, something about this gentleman’s name sounded familiar, and at first, I could not place how I knew it. At the end of the meeting I hesitantly asked Bernie if he had donated to HUC-JIR as a scholarship sponsor and he said yes! Here I was in my new position, and the individual who sponsored my education to become a Religious School Director was in my congregation and on the Board of Directors with me! Few people get to meet their scholarship sponsor in person, and I considered myself so lucky to actually work alongside mine. In a way, my joining CBT felt like b’sheret because of this connection (among many others). I will always remember Bernie as a generous, thoughtful, well-spoken gentleman and will miss him greatly! He did so much for so many people in the community, and I am forever grateful to how he contributed to my life. May his memory be a blessing. April Akiva Religious School Director

Bereavement Group

Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim will be holding a bereavement group on Wednesday, February 19 at 1:00 PM.

Temple Beth Emet is located at

1770 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim, CA 92804.

6

Talmud Study, Tuesdays, 8:00 PM Taught by Rabbi Young

Torah Study, Saturdays, 9:15 AM Taught by Rabbi Young

Our Torah study has begun a new program as we move from Deuteronomy to the book of Joshua. Each week we will move through the post-Torah texts of the Bible, moving through Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, until we are finished with the entire Bible.

7

6 Shevat — 4 Adar 5780 February 2020

8

Tu B’Shevat: Come join us for Sisterhood’s second annual Barbara Stein Harriette Herman Memorial Tu B’Shevat Seder on Sunday, February 9. The Seder begins at 12:30 PM, followed by lunch at 1:30 PM. Barbara has organized the event for 18 years in honor of her mother, Harriette Herman. We will partake of the seven species of fruits and nuts mentioned in the Torah: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. We’ll also drink four cups of wine, representing the four seasons. Please bring canned fruit, dried fruit, or nuts for the needy, along with a dairy dish to share. Food assignments are based on the first letter of your last name: A-F: dessert; G-P: salad; Q-Z: main dish. Bonus tiles: And don’t forget our Mah Jongg get-togethers every Monday from 9:30 AM to noon. Mark your calendar: Sisterhood will sponsor the March 27 Musical Shabbat Service. Show your support by joining us for a rollicking, spiritual, and inspirational evening.

Sister to Sister

9

6 Shevat — 4 Adar 5780 February 2020

If you see members of the CBT Brotherhood swaying and bouncing around, don’t worry, they are not drunk, just practicing their moves for the annual Dinner/Dance program set for February 15 at 7:00 PM in the CBT Social Hall. Our members will be “letting their hair down” (those who have hair to let down) as we dance to a variety of selections for all ages from the South Coast Simcha Band. Dinner will be catered by Avi Colodny. All this and shmoozing with friends for only $25 per person. Such a deal! To reserve a place for the action, send checks to our treasurer, Mike Kibel, in care of CBT, 9669 Talbert Avenue, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. For more information contact President Greg Halprin, ghalprin1@gmail.com

The Brotherhood Shabbat service is the following Friday, February 21. Religious Practices chair Al Davidson is lining up service participants. Brotherhood will co-host the oneg with Mira Adler, who is marking a birthday that day.

Brotherhood members have become Men of the Night, switching our meetings from the first Sunday morning of the month to 7:00 PM the last Thursday of the month. That way we can enjoy the spaciousness of the Social Hall without conflicting or interfering with any other group or program. However, we still will meet on Sunday, March 8 at 9:30 AM to pack the Yom Ha Shoah candle boxes and send them out to all congregants. Recipients are asked to light the candle to remember victims of the Holocaust on the evening before April 21, which is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Donations for the candles go toward programs of the religious school and to support the CBT’s activities.

Brotherhood will continue to provide services to CBT by ushering at Shabbat services and will be available to barbecue hamburgers and hot dogs at CBT programs, such as the Purim Carnival, Mitzvah Day and the congregational picnic at Mile Square Park. Hope to see you at a future CBT event!

MazelTalk and Thank Yous

The Shalom Squad of greeters and ushers for January were Arnold Adler, Brandi Cohen, Gerald Fleischmann, Bill Geltman, Sheri Lyn Hamrell, Steve Hamrell, Martin Heimlich, Amy Kaskel, Stephanie Korenberg, Aiden Maio, Linda Mason, and John Tice.

10

February Birthdays and Anniversaries

3 Steve Gilbert 3 Andrew Kessler 4 William Braverman 4 Lyra Miller 5 Cindy Kolsin 5 Jay Spencer 9 Phyllis Fried 9 Edith Gollay 9 Michael Wellborn 10 Deborah Biebelberg 10 Keith Kushner 11 Logan Cader 11 Sherri Coons 11 Rochelle Kaplan 11 Ava Orsbern 12 Ronald Krasnitz 13 Steve Ostrin

13 Wendy Selin 15 Miriam McGorrin 15 Alexander Young 16 Gita Fisher 17 Joshua Garcia 17 Michael Ruffolo 18 Jacob Singer 19 Tina Bauer 19 Liby Kotler 19 Sheldon Liebman 20 Bonnie Rogoff 21 Mira Adler 21 Alice Castillo 21 Robin Einstein 21 Andrew Haimov 21 Andrew Mars 22 April Akiva 22 Lari Davis 22 Jenna Sagan 22 Richard Schnur 24 Adina Akiva 24 Beverly Pastore

24 Brandon Vu 25 David Alm 25 Gerald Fleischmann 25 William Geltman 25 Stefanie Lunsk

1 Rod and Roberta Fruchter- Reaoch 9 Mark Abramson and Susan Lange 10 Keith and Doreen Kushner 15 Michael and Susan Kibel 18 Russell and Shelby Wolf 20 Kelvin and Georgia Thompson 21 Mort and Phyllis Fried

11

6 Shevat — 5 Adar 5780 February 2020

Everyone loves the Oneg!

Everyone enjoys gathering after a Shabbat service for the Oneg Shabbat (literally, “the joy of Shabbat”). After the kiddush and motzi, we visit with our fellow congregants and guests, while enjoying delicious refreshments. Have you ever thought about how those treats magically appear? One way is if someone sponsors the oneg. To learn more, contact Sarah in the office. What is the second way to contribute to making each oneg possible? Donate to the Oneg Fund, one of CBT’s charitable funds. It couldn’t be simpler…fill out the donation form included in each issue of the Bulletin, add your form of payment, and mail or carry it to CBT. You can also get a form in the office. There are so many opportunities in our lives for supporting the Oneg Fund...consider honoring your friend’s or relative’s birthday, anniversary, or any other occasion. Skip the commercial greeting card store and instead support CBT! Make a donation--in any amount--to the Oneg Fund and CBT will send the recipient a lovely personal note conveying your wishes (excluding the amount, of course). Your donation will be acknowledged in the Bulletin as well. Donations to the Oneg Fund—they’re fast, they’re easy, and best of all, you will make it possible for all of us to experience the joy of Shabbat at CBT.

12

BUILDING FUND Jay and Suzanne Seiden .......................................................................... In memory of Gregory Davidson Jay and Suzanne Seiden .......................................................................... In memory of beloved Bernie Kessler Albert Mencher ....................................................................................... In honor of our wedding

MILDRED KESSLER CHESED FUND Einstein-Amado-Kessler Family ............................................................. In memory of Bernard Kessler Einstein-Amado-Kessler Family ............................................................. In appreciation of the Meal of Condolence The Nefts ................................................................................................. In memory of Bernie Kessler Steve and Cathy Gilbert .......................................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Al Shifberg-Mencher .............................................................................. In memory of Aliza Shifberg, mother of Zipora and grandmother of Arielle Bernard and Paulette Fainsztein .............................................................. In memory of Bernie Kessler Bernard and Paulette Fainsztein .............................................................. In memory of grandfather, Chaim Boksenbaum Bernard and Paulette Fainsztein .............................................................. In memory of Gregory Davidson Elliott and Jeanne Mercer ........................................................................ In memory of Bernard Kessler Les Mittleman ......................................................................................... In memory of that Mighty Man, Bernie Kessler Bill Shane ................................................................................................ In memory of Bernie Kessler Wendy Cohen .......................................................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Wendy Selin and Family ......................................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Larry and Susan Slonim .......................................................................... In memory of Kate Slonim Arnold and Mira Adler ............................................................................ In memory of Bernie Kessler Elaine Asa ............................................................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Wendy Cohen .......................................................................................... In memory of Gregory Davidson Michael and Susan Kibel ......................................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Sam and Diane Salzman .......................................................................... In memory of beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Bernard “Bernie” Kessler Greg and Josie Wagner ........................................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Mike and Myrna Capsuto ........................................................................ In memory of Bernie Kessler

GENERAL FUND

Debra Neinstein ....................................................................................... In memory of Bernard Kessler Masashi Hani ........................................................................................... In memory of good friend, Bernard Kessler Mindy Edberg ......................................................................................... In memory of Rubin Haftarczyk and Sender Edberg Ken and Sue Wolkon and Family ........................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Richard and Elaine Lindhein ................................................................... In memory of Bernard Kessler Sam and Susan Backer ............................................................................ In memory of Sidney Backer Robert and Carole Collen ........................................................................ In memory of Dr. Leonard A. Brotchner Richard and Alyssa Colodny ................................................................... In honor of Judy Lerner’s birthday Richard and Alyssa Colodny ................................................................... In memory of Leonid Korenberg, father of Jeff, and grandfather of Leah and Adam Sam and Susan Backer ............................................................................ In memory of Gregory Davidson Burt and Doris Willis .............................................................................. In memory of Gregory Davidson Burt and Doris Willis .............................................................................. In memory of Joseph Halperin

MUSIC FUND Stephen and Sandra Maybaum and Family ............................................. In memory of Philip Ross Michael and Susan Kibel ......................................................................... In memory of Louis Boyere Mark and Sharon Goldhamer .................................................................. In memory of Greg Davidson Mark and Sharon Goldhamer .................................................................. In memory of Lester Sagan Wendy Selin and Family ......................................................................... Wishing Jay and Mimi Spencer continued recovery

13

6 Shevat — 4 Adar 5780 February 2020

ONEG FUND Gideon Ariel ........................................................................................... In memory of Tova Goldberg Ariel Les Mittleman ......................................................................................... With cheers for granddaughter Hannah Judith Mittleman’s early admission to Princeton University Gerry Kaskel ........................................................................................... In honor of brother-in-law Leonard Kaskel’s special birthday Robert and Carole Collen ....................................................................... In memory of Marjorie Rosen Brotchner Justin and Leslie Wheatley ..................................................................... In memory of Bernard Kessler Justin and Leslie Wheatley ..................................................................... In memory of Leon Korenberg

RABBI STEPHEN J. EINSTEIN YOUTH EDUCATION FUND Gayle Douglas ........................................................................................ In appreciation The Nefts ................................................................................................ In memory of Bernie Kessler Rabbi Stephen and Robin Einstein ......................................................... In memory of Selma Einstein and Ester Frankel Kathleen Haimov .................................................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Ben and Carol Colodny .......................................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Bernard and Paulette Fainsztein ............................................................. In memory of uncle, Leo Milz Bernard and Paulette Fainsztein ............................................................. In memory of cousin, Mayer Zaharia Susan Gelerter ......................................................................................... In loving memory of Bernard Kessler Mark and Sharon Goldhamer .................................................................. In memory of Bernie Kessler Avi and Rachel Peri ................................................................................ In memory of Bernie Kessler Tania Klugman ....................................................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Marilen Steiger ....................................................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Sam and Diane Salzman ......................................................................... In memory of beloved Gregory Davidson Sam and Diane Salzman ......................................................................... In memory of beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather, Bernard “Bernie” Kessler

RABBI YOUNG’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Joel and Janice Tankenson ...................................................................... In memory of Bernie Kessler Larry Kutinsky ........................................................................................ In memory of Blanche Kutinsky Albert Mencher ....................................................................................... In honor of our wedding Sam and Diane Salzman ......................................................................... In memory of beloved Gregory Davidson Sam and Diane Salzman ......................................................................... In memory of beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather, Bernard “Bernie” Kessler Gary and Roberta Hopkins ..................................................................... In appreciation of Rabbi Young Michael Weinstein .................................................................................. In memory of Frank Weinstein

YAHRZEIT FUND Sylvia Wagner ........................................................................................ In memory of Helene Wagner Sonia Silverstein ..................................................................................... In memory of Sam Silverstein Richard and Alyssa Colodny .................................................................. In memory of Berty Kroker, grandmother of Alyssa, great grandmother of Lauren Mike and Myrna Capsuto ....................................................................... In memory of Gregory Davidson Mike and Myrna Capsuto ....................................................................... In memory of Lester Nathaniel Sagan Stan and Irene Bassin .............................................................................. In memory of Bernie Kessler Lucita Greenberg .................................................................................... In memory of Louis Ribman Harris and Eileen Stutman ...................................................................... In memory of Bernard Kessler Yefim and Rimma Epelbaum ................................................................. In memory of Anna Reyngold

14

Save the Date! CBT’S annual

Mitzvah Day

Sunday, April 19, 2020 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Contact Brandi Cohen at anocmom@gmail.com to serve on the planning committee.

aldavidson@snfprinting.com

6 Shevat — 5 Adar 5780 February 2020

15

Imagine … Your Ad Here

Emai l Michel le Matusof f to f ind out how to

make that happen.

michel le .matusof f@gmai l .com

16

Upcoming Event s

Follow us on Facebook

and Twitter!

The Bulletin is published monthly by:

Congregation B’nai Tzedek 9669 Talbert Avenue

Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Rabbi ..................................................David N. Young Cantorial Soloist ...................................... Jenna Sagan Director of Education .............................. April Akiva

Founding Rabbi Emeritus ............ Stephen J. Einstein Cantor Emerita ....................................... Linda Ecker Bookkeeper ............................................. Lisa Alvarez Bookkeeper inquiries...............bookkeeper@cbtfv.org Office Coordinator...................................Sarah DuVal General inquiries.............................. office@cbtfv.org Rabbi David N. Young .......................833-RABBS-01 Office ..................................................... 714-963-4611

Office Hours:

Bulletin Advertising Rate Ad Size Per Issue Annual Business card .................. $ 25............................. $ 270 1/4 page ........................... $ 50............................. $ 540 1/2 page .......................... $ 100 .......................... $ 1080 Full page ........................ $ 200 .......................... $ 2160 VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A LIST OF ALL EVENTS: CBTFV.ORG

The deadline for Bulletin articles and advertisements is the first of the month prior to the month of publication. The deadline for flyers is the 15th of the month prior to the month of publication. E-mail articles and flyers to bulletin@cbtfv.org.

Beatles Shabbat Dinner February 7, 2020

Tu B’Shevat Seder February 9, 2020

Pinot and Paint February 13, 2020

Brotherhood Dinner/Dance February 15, 2020

Author Rochelle Weinstein February 23, 2020

Purim Spiel March 9, 2020

Debut of Hineynu Campaign March 9, 2020

Camping Weekend March 27-29, 2020

MONDAY ................................................... 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM TUESDAY .................................................. 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM WEDNESDAY ............................................ 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM THURSDAY ............................................... 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM FRIDAY ...................................................... 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM SATURDAY ............................................... CLOSED SUNDAY .................................................... CLOSED