Message from the Rosh

Shalom Chaverim,

 

I hope you had a meaningful and joyous Pesach. I just returned from Pesach in Israel, my first time in Israel for this holiday, and it was extraordinary. We visited our daughter, who is spending this academic year on Nativ, the Conservative Movement's gap year program. We made our seder with many of Michael's family who live in Israel and a few of Mira's friends. We enjoyed seeing Mira's favorite parts of Israel, including the town of Yerucham, its lake and crater — a sight to behold. We had many options to enjoy great meals in restaurants; it was impossible to feel any deprivation! Israel is economically booming; there were too many construction cranes to count, both in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as well as in between. The Jewish Quarter of the Old City was teeming with people. Israel has challenges, but everyone was on vacation from them during Pesach.

 

Closer to home, the end of Pesach brought tragedy to our neighbors in the Chabad synagogue in Poway. We mourn the loss of life; we've read of the kindness and generosity Lori Gilbert Kaye (z'l) shared with her friends, family and even those she didn't know. We pray for a refuah shelamah for the injured. Anti-semitism continues to rear its ugly head. And in its face, we will continue to be Jews, practice our religion, fulfill mitzvot and live our values. Hopefully, we will appreciate each other a little more, be a little less critical and judgmental, reminding ourselves that we are all created b'tzelem Elohim, in the image of God.

 

We will continue to look forward in the Library Minyan this month: an upcoming auf ruf, a post-kiddush talk on Jerusalem's history and a Torah club celebration. See you in shul!

 

— Melissa Berenbaum

As part of our commemoration of Yom Ha-Atzmaut, Meyer Shwarzstein will deliver a post-Kiddush lecture on Shabbat, May 11. This lecture will focus on the recent history of Jerusalem from the perspective of Meyer's own family, which can trace its residence in the holy city back to the 1800s. There will be a co-sponsored Kiddush that day so everyone can fortify themselves with a nice lunch before staying to hear Meyer speak.

Pressman Academy participates in the National GeographBee, a contest sponsored by the National Geographic Society. In addition to cash prizes, there is a raffle for all of the contestants, with a prize of 100 foreign coins.

 

The cash prizes encourages the students to take the contest seriously; the raffle encourages participation by a wider group of students. Both efforts have been successful. Since most Jewish American kids are less than three generations from their immigrant roots, studying geography helps connect them with those roots.

 

Coin donations from many of you have helped maintain this raffle over the past several years; thank you! Before I leave for aliyah (this summer), I want to appeal for your assistance to maintain the raffle in future years.

 

I am not seeking coins that are valuable; indeed, the more totally worthless the coins are, the better. Pre-Euro European coins, pre-decimal British coins, older coins that have become worthless through inflation: these are the coins with the greatest teaching value. I want coins that will encourage students to ask: where is this country, what are these symbols or persons on these coins, etc. I would be grateful for any coins that you can donate to this effort.

 

Please bring a blanket and a dairy or pareve lunch for yourself — and then a dessert to share. All variations of cheesecake are welcome, along with other less-lactose heavy treats for the members of the tribe who have sensitive tummies.

 

We will have some sports equipment for everyone to work off that cheesecake, a drash and if the spirit moves us, some singing.

 

Childcare can be provided if we have enough young ones coming, so if you are coming with kids under the age of 10, please RSVP to Michelle Wolf michellekwolfla@gmail.com or Deborah Blum deborahblum12@gmail.com.

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone on June 10 in the park!

 

— Michelle K. Wolf

Upcoming Events

Mishna study 9:20

Tefillot begin 9:45

Temple Beth Am

Dorff-Nelson Chapel

1039 S. La Cienega Blvd, 90035