1080 E. Janss Rd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (805) 497-6891 www.templeetzchaim.org

Chai Lites 5781/2020

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TOGETHER, ENGAGE, CONNECT

We Are T ECTemple Etz Chaim has been our spiritual home for fifty-nine years. We feel blessed that our family has been part of the Temple’s growth through our Clergy, Educators and Dedicated Members. Etz Chaim has provided the opportunity to make Judaism a significant part of our lives.-Ronald and Sybil Goldstein and Family

TEC is our family’s history and future. It’s summer camp and Kindergarten when all other options vanish. TEC is our dynamic Conejo Jewish community where we feel at home. - Eric Feigenbaum

Sharing friendships, holidays and life cycle events with our TEC family is a crucial part of my family’s life. I love teaching our preschool music and miss it sooo much during these unusual times. The Black/Werner gang LOVES TEC and we look forward to better times.-Bobbie Black

TEC is an extension of home to my family. It represents lifelong connections and sweet memories because all of our most important life milestones were there.-Stephanie Morgenstern

TEC is a part of me. It is treasured memories in my past ...it is joyful and fulfilling moments in my present... It is a reassuring and enduring connection in my future with my Jewish community, loved friends and admired coworkers.-Maureen Axelrad TEC is a home to me. A home for learning, worship, tradition, and friendship.-Buzz Schoenkerman

TEC is the Pollack Family synagogue, members since 1964: Bar Mitzvahs; Confirmations; Wedding celebrations, Life-long friendships, Funerals. Sunday School teachers: Ruth (3rd grade) and Joan (Kindergarten), Joan Pollack Sandoval-Sisterhood President and TEC Executive Director.-Marshall (deceased), Ruth, Joan, Linda, Debbie, Michael and Fred Pollack. Ruth served as Recording Secretary on TEC Board of Directors

TEC is a place of worship to me and a group/community where I can share moments of joy and moments of sadness where I know “I’ve got a friend.”-Elissa Lazarus

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TEC means community. It is the place of some of our most cherished memories, and somewhere where we always feel welcome.-The Withrow Family TEC is a place for learning, praying and gathering with friends. It has become our family of friends with whom we share good times and bad and enjoy volunteer opportunities. We love this Temple!-Sheri & Jeff Schoenwald TEC has been my spiritual home for more years than I can remember! In the walls of TEC I find love, acceptance, friendship, community and my strong sense of being a Jew!!-Hattie Wolf

To me, TEC is a place where I get to slow down after a busy week and be with my family. Where there are no emails, no phone calls to return, and no dishes to do. A place where I can be happy, silly, and sentimental all in the same evening. -Melissa Cohen

A home for our family when my children were born. A home for our grandchildren to grow as their parents did. A place to celebrate and a place to grieve with the TEC family of families.-Wendy Margolis TEC is a place of joy and happiness. Where you can always be yourself and have no one to judge you.-Sasha Cohen

I like the scholarship, values, ethics and sense of community being shared with my children. -Randol Cohen TEC is a place for education with fun teachers, singing, and cheek pinches from my Bubbe.-Zoe Cohen

TEC means family, community and spirituality to me and my family. It has been my spiritual home for over 40 years and together in person or through a screen, nothing can break the bond. We LOVE TEC!-Cheryl & Jeff Wolf and Family

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TOGETHER, ENGAGE, CONNECT

Kol Nidre Appeal

By the time you read this, you will have received your High Holidays@Home Gift Bag, and I hope are enjoying its thoughtful contents and preparing your table with your round challah as well as the Shabbat

candles, apple dish, honey pot and other special items for Erev Rosh Hashanah and Shabbat. I would like to call your attention to the envelope inserted inside your Machzor, holding your High Holiday tickets, and the schedule of services and events taking place beginning Erev Rosh Hashanah through Neilah, the commencement of Yom Kippur. You may be asking, why do I need a ticket if we are not coming into shul? I could say because it is tradition, which it is, but it is also your way to say Hineni - here I am. Here I am for my Temple family. Here I am to help a family in need with their membership this year. Here I am to help send a child to Religious School who may have otherwise not been fortunate enough to attend. I hope these tickets inspire in you the capacity to help those who need a little extra at this time and show gratitude to those who have come before us, who had the vision to build TEC for us, for our children and the future.

As we all know, this is a most unusual year, and while we are celebrating and atoning in the sanctity of our own homes, running TEC is an enormous financial undertaking and requires continued and consistent financing. Did you know that membership dues are approximately 1/3 of our overall budget? We count on your generous support in our budget process. We need to keep the lights on for our fantastic office staff who have been working diligently and safely back in the office since July. We need to meet our payroll for approximately 110 employees, which includes our exceptional teaching staff and incredible clergy. Our grounds are beautiful and not by luck. We have a maintenance staff, gardeners and more. Additionally, due to COVID-19, cleaning protocols and supplies have expanded, and prices for cleaning supplies have skyrocketed. We have defrayed these additional expenses, but we need everyone’s help. Think about your residence; we share many of the same expenses and whether we gather in our beautiful sanctuary or in our respective homes, little else changes in the way we run TEC behind the scenes.

We are hopeful, as in the past, to have a beautiful President’s Reception for all donors of $500 or more. As circumstances change, and it is safe for us to gather, rest assured a reception will be held and it will be extra sweet for us

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Weekly Schedule For ViewingSunday 8:30 am

Morning Minyan ServiceMonday7:15 pm

Evening Minyan Service

* Visit TEC@Home for updates

Wednesday7:15 pm

Evening Minyan Service

Tuesday10:00 AM

Tuesdays with Rabbi Spiegel

Friday 6:00 pm

Kabbalat Shabbat Under the StarsSaturday9:30 am

Shabbat Morning Service8:30 pm

Community Havdalah

to be together again in gratitude. Our reception will likely be in the spring of 2021 - a specific date to be determined.

Hineni, here I am for you, my Temple family. Please give from your heart. If you are one of the fortunate who can give a little extra, please do so. If you have been impacted by the pandemic, a gift of Chai ($18) is a beautiful Kol Nidre gesture. My sincere request for us this year, 5781, is that we all give something, to the best of our abilities.

May you and your families be inscribed in the Book of Life for a sweet new year.Most grateful and humble,

Shari Mark President

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OUR LEADERSHIP

Welcome to our first-ever TEC@Home High Holidays. On behalf of the Board of Directors, as well as personally, I sincerely wish each and

every one of our families a happy, healthy and beautiful new year. While we are reading this in the sanctuary of our respective homes, which will serve as our holy space for this holiday season, I know we are together in love and spirit.

May we be able to unite in a common physical space in the coming year, and how sweet our reunion will be.

I hope you are enjoying the contents of your carefully cultivated High Holidays@home gift bag. It was truly an idea that came to life with creativity, attention to detail and an abundance of passion by a small, dedicated group whose desire is to meaningfully enhance your High Holidays@Home experience. We hope you appreciate the gifts as much as we loved crafting them for you and your families. My husband Ron, daughters Jamie and Kelly and I wish everyone L’shana Tova. May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a wonderful year ahead.L’Shalom, Shari Mark

On Rosh Hashanah it is written… On Yom Kippur it is sealed. While these are our traditional greetings, we all know this year is far from traditional. Your

Temple Etz Chaim family has been and will continue to work hard to ensure we provide you with as traditional an experience as we can, all while safeguarding you and our staff. Please be understanding as we navigate through these

challenging times, and if you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out to me, as my door is always open. When you look into your heart as this New Year starts, may you discover a new sense of possibility, a new belief in the gifts you have to share, and a renewed commitment to your faith and your dreams. May it be sealed that you have a new year that brings fulfillment and happiness, peace and prosperity – all of life’s very best things. Have a Happy, Healthy New Year!Gideon Manzur

President ’s Message

Executive Director’s Message

President’s Message

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OUR LEADERSHIP

This will be, without a doubt, the strangest Jewish experience of our lifetime. The High Holidays are, for so many, the few days they feel deeply connected

to God, to Judaism, to Etz Chaim, to Torah. And this year, for the first time in our lives, it is impossible to convene with 1,500 people davening and singing shoulder-to-shoulder in one room. You take on the near-impossible task of trying to

find comfort and holiness in your homes or yards, perhaps sharing space with family members or friends. We hope we can be of help in that pursuit, and we hope that the services are still inspiring. We worked hard with so many incredible people to put together a service that feels as close to previous years as possible. May you feel comfortable to sing along, to read along, and to dive in, despite us being spread miles apart. Remember that we are reachable, always able to serve our community, no matter what is thrown our way. May 5781 be filled with blessings and coming back together. Shana Tova.

Rabbi Ari Averbach

Dear TEC family,As we approach the High Holidays we are all puzzled as to how this new remote services

experience will look. The fact that our sanctuary will be empty only changes the physical place for us to congregate

around sacred Jewish values: introspection, renewal, hope, forgiveness and time.

I feel honored and grateful for allowing me to serve you in my 20th year as your Hazzan. Time goes fast but it is filled with countless memories - bitter and sweet - and we treasure them all. May we all continue to grow in sanctity, sense of purpose and love for one another.

Wishing you a sweet and healthy new year. Shana tova u’metukah!

Hazzan Pablo Duek and family

Rabbi ’s Message

Hazzan’s Message

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OUR HIGH HOLIDAYS EXPERIENCE

On the afternoon of Sunday, September 20, on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, we will gather for Taslich at the T.O. Library park joining USY. At the service we will have the opportunity to cast

away our sins. In your gift bag you will find dissolvable paper to write your sins on and bring to the park. We will go by the lake and toss the paper in to symbolically rid ourselves from our sins.Bring your Shofar to the park and we will join together in Blowing the Shofar. There will be another opportunity as well at the Havdalah service on Yom Kippur that we will do live via Zoom. In the end of the service we will jointly blow the “long sound” of Tekiah Gedolah. We will gather at the Thousand Oaks library park at 4 pm, as part of a joint program with The Jewish Federation. The Shofar is sounding throughout greater Los Angeles with a start in Pasadena and ending in Thousand Oaks.Please visit our website, High Holidays@Home, for the latest information.

Shofar Blowing Procession

I wish you all a new year filled with health, happiness and kindness. The past year has been a year of trial and tribulations. Who would have thought, a year ago, that this year would end up the way it did, nobody?

We responded fast and quickly and adapted to the new realities which made us “go virtual” from mid-March. We have started and, hopefully, can continue with outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat services. However, for the foreseeable future TEC will continue with online Tefillah. You can find all information on our website TEC@Home. If you have any ideas or suggestions please email: religion@templeetzchaim.org.For all congregants who participated in our High Holiday recording sessions, Yashir Koach, and thank you. You have contributed to make our High Holiday experience beautiful and more personal under the current limitations. I know that some of you did not want to enter our Sanctuary or to be part of an indoor filming session, which I can fully understand. I hope and pray that there soon will be a future which allows for in-person participation, and that we can all pray under the same roof at the same time again. Please note that we will have live online programming on the day of the High Holidays. We intend to kick off the sacredness of the day with a Torah discussion and the ability to see each other and wish one another a Happy New Year. Shanah Tovah,Benny Sommerfeld, VP Religion and Worship

High Holidays Services

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Yom Kippur Havdallah Sept. 28th, 7:00pm

We are happy to include in our programming this year a new and refreshing take on Tashlich! Looking toward the future we decided to create something for everyone, something that is

inclusive and engaging, and something that will give all of us the opportunity to reflect, forgive, and look forward to a better year.

Tashlich Programs to look forward to are:

1. Tashlich at Conejo Creek Park (In-person, socially distanced)2. Tashlich Guided Meditation (Live virtual)3. Tashlich Tour (Self-paced virtual)

For more information, please contact shannon@templeetzchaim.org.

Everyone is welcome to participate in our Yom Kippur Zoom Havdallah service. Please join us for this emotional and meaningful Havdallah service. A Havdallah candle can be found in your HighHolidays@

HOME gift bag as well as a glow stick in the High Holidays Children’s Bag

Please visit the HighHolidays@Home for the Zoom link.

For more information, please call the Religious School Office at (805) 494-8174.

Tashlich Experience

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OUR MEMBERSHIP

Shana Tova!In these uncertain times it is more important than ever to maintain our connections with each other. THANK YOU to all who renewed their

memberships. When we support our Temple, we are not just supporting the facility, we are supporting Judaism continuing in the hearts of our members. Synagogues have always been the “Sustainers of Jewish life.” It is where we come to celebrate our life cycle events, mourn our losses, and to feel a sense of community during moments in our lives when we need each other the most.

If you are interested in being part of a virtual group meetup, also known as Havurah, please email me at Membership@templeetzchaim.org and I will help you create new personal connections with other members of

our wonderful TEC family! I look forward to seeing each and every one of you either virtually or in person as soon as possible!Stay well, Stay safeShana Tova u’Metukah“May you have a Good and Sweet Year”!

Jennifer ElsonVP Membership

Membership Message

Join A Havurah!

Welcome New MembersWelcome to our newest members: Kevin Ardebili, Adam Barukh,

Benjamin Barukh, The Carmona Fmaily, The Druyen Family, The Gerin Family, The Jacobs Family, The Klein Family, The

Korn Family, The Margolis Family, The Robichaud Family, and The Weiner Family.

We understand that many families have been affected by the current financial climate. No family will be excluded from Temple Etz Chaim because of financial need.

Please feel free to contact me at membership@templeetzchaim.org with any

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Shofar Blast From The Past

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OUR EDUCATION

Infant Care Birth-2 years oldTEC’s Infant Center celebrated its 5th Anniversary in August! The

infant program offers full time and part time care for babies ages birth - 2 years. Our staff offers a developmentally appropriate

curriculum in a warm, Jewish environment. The babies enjoy indoor and outdoor activities. The staff send updates to parents throughout the day on the Brightwheel app.

Preschool started its new school year on Monday, August 24th! We welcomed our new and returning families for the 2020-21 school year. We have made some changes this year due to the COVID pandemic in

order to offer a safe and healthy environment for our staff, the children, and our TEC Community. We are excited to be using the Brightwheel childcare app now so that parents can enjoy a no-touch sign-in and sign-out and updates all day from teachers. We are also maintaining low classroom sizes and complying with social distancing. Staff and older children are wearing masks during the day and health screenings are conducted upon arrival and throughout the day.

Temple Etz Chaim’s ECE Center is now offering a full day Kindergarten program! Our children can now enjoy an in-class Kindergarten experience within our warm, Jewish environment. Our staff will

provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum including art, science, math, reading, literacy, physical education as well as Judaica. The school day is structured so that children have small group time to explore, investigate, problem-solve, and question in both indoor and outdoor activities! We have small class sizes so we can comply with social distancing and follow other health and safety precautions! We look forward to an exciting first year with all our TEC Kindergarteners!For information about our infant, preschool or kindergarten programs, contact Debbie Blumenthal, ECE Director at debbieb@templeetzchaim.org or call the school office at (805) 497-6852.

Preschool 18 months- 5 years old

Kindergarten

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Religious School

Youth/ US Y

Religious School is an opportunity for your child to experience & learn the beauty of Judaism…a gift for their lifetime! It’s not too late!!! Religious School Education is for students in grades TK-12. Please

register your child!

For more information, please contact Joyce Bronstein, Director of Religious School Education at joyce@templeetzchaim.org or call the Religious Scool Office at (805) 494-8174.

The new school year is starting, and we are really excited for all of the wonderful experiences planned for the USYer’s and the TEC kids! The Youth Department has risen to the occasion and has created some

incredible out-of-the-box programming for our families. This year the Youth Department is an added bonus to your Temple membership and we want you to know that your child’s Jewish experiences and their connection to TEC, Judaism, and each other will be at the forefront of all of our programming.

Thank you for your continued support. I am looking forward to a wonderful year ahead with all of you.If you have any questions or want to get involved, please feel free to contact Shannon Tepfer, Youth Director at shannon@templeetzchaim.org or call the Youth Office at (805) 494-3648.

• Future Events and Programs• Live Cooking Events: • Challah Baking • Inter-Chapter Havdallah Programs• Israel Lounges • Tashlich Experience• Yom Kippur TeenTalk• Escape Room • Murder Mystery• Jewpardy!• Scavenger Hunt• Game Night• Virtual Disney Day

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OUR EDUCATION

Melton School For Adult Jewish Learning

The Conejo/West Valley Melton School is a community consortium of Jewish organizations working together to offer the highest quality adult learning. This year, we are thrilled to host Melton as a part of

Temple Etz Chaim and our congregation. Classes meet once a week for 1 ½ - 2 hours. All classes are being offered via Zoom. Please check Melton’s website for this year’s morning and evening courses with titles like “Beyond Borders: The History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict”, “Bereshit: The Book of Genesis and the First Jewish Family”; “The Book of Kings and the Jewish Struggle With National Identity”; “Social Justice: the Heart of Judaism in Theory and Practice”. Engage with Members of the Tribe in Living Wisdom and Thoughtful, Soulful Jewish Learning. Designed by scholars from the Melton Centre for Jewish Education at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and taught by the finest Rabbis and educators in our community, this world-class, university-quality curriculum examines Jewish texts in English to explore BIG questions about the “why’s” of Judaism through the lens of personal and collective experience. We invite you to join the great Jewish conversation as we explore text, reflect on commentary, question preconceived ideas, experience great learning and community, debate and (re)discover Jewish context in our lives and find relevancy for responding to and grappling with today’s looming questions. See you in class!

For more information, please email:Pamela Rookspamela@templeetzchaim.orgor visit meltonwestvalley.org

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Women of T ECOUR COMMUNITY

Women of TEC meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month, unless otherwise noted. For now, the meetings are held via Zoom, at 7:00 pm.

We’ve planned some fun and different activities to get us to the end of the year. These are unusual times, so our activities have been modified. They include: Tuesday, 10/13 Movie and Discussion - we will watch a predetermined movie individually, then discuss it over Zoom. Bring a snack and a glass of wine! Tuesday, 11/10 Challah Bake - Fee (TBD) materials will be provided. A leader will be giving instructions via Zoom. Wednesday, 12/2 Hanukkah Prep Night - Fee (TBD) materials will be provided to make Hanukkah candles, with a leader giving instructions via Zoom. Bring your favorite Hanukkah story & recipe to share. Tuesday, 12/22 Bingo Zoom - Bingo cards will be provided either through email or standard mail. Prizes for the winners!

All events are tentatively scheduled to start at 6:30 pm. If you have any questions, please contact Dana Gallenberg, our programs VP, or myself, at womenoftec@templeetzchaim.org. I hope to see you Zooming in and sharing the fun!

Cindy ScherrPresident, Women of TEC

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Judaica Shop

Torah FundThe Judaica Shop is open by appointment only. Please contact

womenoftec@templeetzchaim.org to schedule your appointment.

This year’s Torah Fund theme is B’Yachad, which means “together.” It seems appropriate for this year, because due to the pandemic,

“we are all in this together”. Women of Temple Etz Chaim is excited to announce our 2020-2021 Torah Fund campaign raising funds to ensure our legacy to future generations of Conservative Jews by providing: Rabbis, Cantors, Educators, Administrators, Social Workers, Scholars, Professional and Lay Leaders, Researchers and more. Torah Fund supports higher Jewish learning at:

JTS - The Jewish Theological Seminary (New York)

Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies (Los Angeles)

Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies (Jerusalem)

Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano (Buenos Aires)

Zacharias Frankel Seminary (Potsdam, Germany)

More information will be coming soon, but if you’d like to make a Torah Fund donation, or have any questions about Torah Fund, please contact Esther Pullan or Phyllis Dankberg through the TEC office.

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Men’s ClubOUR COMMUNITY

The Men’s Club at Temple Etz Chaim exists to involve Jewish Men in Jewish Life. Prior to this global pandemic, we did this largely by bringing guys together at many innovative and traditional events

both inside the four walls of our Synagogue, as well as, beyond our lovely campus. While the quarantine has caused a notable pause in our Men’s Club programming, with the support of our larger umbrella organization (the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC)) we are planning an exciting array of online programming in the weeks and months ahead.

We will kick off the New Year with our traditional Men’s Club Sukkah Building which we hope to redesign for all of our Synagogue families to enjoy in a socially distant and safe manner. Have you ever seen a drive-through Sukkah before?

Our signature programs include, Sunday Brunches, Scholar in Residence weekend, Poker Nights, Steak in the Sukkah and our Jeffrey Finn Memorial Cigars, Scotch and Talmud will occur in the upcoming year. However, they will likely be home-based and include online components. We might be listening to our brunch speakers online while enjoying food safely delivered from your Men’s Club leadership. We are exploring online and easy to use poker platforms. And we are learning from our FJMC brothers throughout the United States and Canada regarding how to maintain our club’s outstanding track record of leadership, innovation, and camaraderie into Zoom rooms and webinars.

Do you have a special skill or talent that you’d like to share? Maybe your COVID hobby has developed into a passion that you’d like to share with other like-minded guys. Your TEC Men’s Club is always looking for new ideas, new events, and new opportunities for leadership.

Be on the lookout for email updates from the Temple Etz Chaim Men’s Club leadership as well as from Regional and International FJMC events. And if you have any questions or are interested in being part of the Men’s Club Leadership team, feel free to send us a note!

Gary S. Katz, PresidentFJMC Western Regiongkatz@templeetzchaim.org

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Community Outreach

Our goal at Outreach is to make your TEC experience even more fulfilling. During this unique time for all of us, we have continued earlier planned activities and morphed them into Covid-friendly

online events. We invite you to participate in these Outreach events and welcome your recommendations for new future activities.

In partnership with your TEC Men’s Club and as an extension of the “TEC Cares” mental health initiative, we will continue to hold “Coping with Covid” support group sessions online. These sessions provide tips on how to handle this “new normal” and facilitate connections with others facing similar daily challenges. Please join in upcoming sessions which will be offered in the coming months. Thanks to the local therapists and Temple members who generously volunteer their time during these trying circumstances.

If you haven’t attended a virtual Wine, Cheese and Chat (WCC) meet-up, you should! The WCC format provides an opportunity for you to rub shoulders with other congregants online. Congregants have enjoyed discussing Jewish books with Gail Simpson, learning about Jewish music with Hazzan Pablo and talking about Jewish movies with Rabbi Averbach. Look for upcoming announcements for new WCC sessions on Jewish culture and history including art, authors, leaders and Broadway, as well as additional Jewish music sessions with Hazzan Pablo.

We’re also planning additional Outreach programs. One will address the upcoming Presidential election, educating voters and getting out the vote. We are considering online Jewish cooking classes, virtual museum tours and hosting speakers from organizations like the ADL addressing online hate. If there are other kinds of events or topics that interest you that you’d like covered, let us know. If it’s of interest to you, it’s of interest to others. Have an idea for future sessions or want to lead a discussion, contact outreach@templeetzchaim.org.

Wishing you a New Year full of meaning and purpose!B’shalom,

Mark GoldsteinCommunity Outreach

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Social ActionOUR COMMUNITY

Shanah Tovah! I wish everyone good health and happiness.The Social Action Committee (SAC) meets via Zoom the last Wednesday of each month at 7:45 pm. This vibrant committee plans activities to

help those in need in our local and surrounding communities and worldwide. We will continue our quest to learn more about the needs of our community via “virtual” field trips. Activities planned for the near future include: • Feeding the Hungry with sack lunches via Harbor House. Go to

harborhouseto.org to sign up to provide 10 sack lunches at Trinity Lutheran Church. This is a mitzah you can do by yourself or with your family.

• Mitzvah Day - We are in the process of planning a safe Mitzvah Day in November for all ages.

• Adopt-a-Family - Our committee is looking forward to organizing this year’s toy drive that will be given to families from Harbor House, Many Mansions and Meals on Wheels. The need is so great, we would like to donate toys to the Jewish Federation and the Westminster Free Clinic also.

This year we are hoping to have the League of Women Voters review the propositions via Zoom.

Supporting our agencies that provide services for the underserved:The Westminster Free Clinic is in need of volunteer medical professionals such as physicians, pharmacists, nurses, MA’s, and translators. Please contact Lisa Safaeinili if you are interested in volunteering: lisasaf@mac.com or contact the clinic through its website at westminsterclinic.org.

Please join us at one of our meetings. Feel free to contact me for further information.

Judy Gindi (805) 701-6861VP Social Action Temple Etz Chaimsocialaction@templeetzchaim.org

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Blood Drive

Bingo Volunteers - Thank You

Temple Etz Chaim & Temple Adat Elohim have scheduled a Blood Drive for Sunday, November 1 between 9am & 1pm, at TEC. Now, more than ever, your generous donation is so needed! Advance

appointments are required to maintain social distancing, and all donors must bring and wear a mask or other cloth-based covering. We will also be testing for COVID-19 antibodies. To schedule your appointment, please contact Debra Levine at dlevine@templeetzchaim.org.

Thank you to all the TEC bingo volunteers who made this year’s bingo one of our most profitable. We appreciate your weekly efforts and dedication to make TEC Bingo a major source of income for TEC.

Unfortunately since March, Covid-19 has canceled bingo for an indefinite time. We look forward to jump-starting bingo when the pandemic no longer poses a threat, and we can safely resume our games. I miss seeing everyone and wish you all a healthy new year.

Thank you again and L’shanah Tovah. Michael Roberts (Bingo Boy)

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OUR COMMUNITY

Mt. Sinai Pre-Need

As we embark on a story about a family in today’s world, we all know that our lives have many ups and downs, with few guarantees. We all will live, pay taxes, have good days with bad days and sadly, one day,

the end of our lives as well.

Today’s story will observe a family in their late 40’ s; married with children. They are happy doing all of the good things this life permits. Their elderly parents, who are also grandparents, love to spoil their children and grandchildren as they can. They all share the same ups and downs of most average families. Money isn’t plentiful, but there is enough that they don’t have to worry. Work is good, health is good, family is good, life is good.

One day, grandpa becomes ill. His health is not good and is failing at 75 years of age. With uncontrollable sadness, as one of life’s guarantees, he passes away. The first family order of business is to properly plan the act of passing: a proper funeral.

But Grandpa, being the wise man, while he was in his 50’s met Josh Ryan at Mount Sinai Memorial Park. He and Josh designed an advance and prepaid plan that would take care of all the arrangements so his family would not have to. He knew the rich emotional toll and decisions that needed to be made and didn’t want his family to be burdened with the pressures and financial impact. With Josh’s help, Grandpa took care of the planning for him and grandma. His family would now have no worries or expenses; everything was pre-planned and prepaid; one great gift you can leave behind besides your legacy. Taking care of your family is one of life’s most beautiful mitzvahs. Shouldn’t you? What’ s your story?

If you would like more information, please reach out to Tami Wank, twank@templeetzchaim.org or Bob Zonshine bobz@templeetzchaim.org

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OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

How lucky we are to share our parking lot with United Methodist

Church of Thousand Oaks. Over the past decades, they have been great neighbors and collaborators, especially with our interfaith service the night before Thanksgiving. This year, we hope not to break tradition, and continue with our service together, singing and learning with our friends and their new Pastor, Anna Mulford. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 25th to be part of this beautiful night of study and music online. Next year in person!

Join Rabbi Richard Spiegel, our Rabbi Emeritus, Tuesday mornings from 10 am - 11 am as we study traditional Jewish texts and discuss their meaning in the 21st century. This is an ongoing class, and new

participants are welcome at any time. Presently, we are meeting via zoom. If you would like to learn more and participate, please reach out to the Temple Office.

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Nov. 25th

Tuesdays With Rabbi Spiegel

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Two years ago, Hazzan Pablo paired his musical efforts with Ignition Band, a talented cover group that performs all year long. They created a variety of special musical Friday nights Shabbatot: Beatles,

Rock and Beach Boys Shabbat. Hazzan is also working on two new music genres that will enhance our praying experience.

As soon as we can congregate, we’ll be back with highly spirited services in which praying demands the body to dance and our voices to sing along. Stay tuned for dates!

One of the musical highlights of the year is the TEC Cantor’s Concert. In previous years, it coincided with ferocious fires but we rescheduled and did it anyway. This year Hazzan Pablo is planning to bring you

a Cantor’s Concert in the comfort of your own home; with a glass of your favorite drink.

The date is in the making but it promises to be a one of a kind event. As soon as health guidelines allow us to congregate, you’ll be treated to another concert, in person. Music unites us and moves us; let’s celebrate being alive by joining in your next TEC Cantor’s Concert.

Musical Shabbatot

Cantor’s Concert

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OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

Rabbi Averbach and Hazzan Pablo are launching a new Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class. This one-year-plus journey will teach you to read Hebrew, learn to chant the Shabbat prayers, prepare you to have your

own Alyiah to the Torah and read from it. Many classes on Jewish topics will enhance your knowledge and hopefully trigger more questions about being Jewish and doing Jewish.

Contact Rabbi Averbach, Hazzan Pablo, or the Temple office for more information.

For the last 4 years a group of families with young children (2 to 6 years old) join Hazzan Pablo once a month on Shabbat morning for musical and interactive fun. We sing, dance, read Torah and dance

with Torah and we always engage in a creative and super fun art project. It is a supercharged hour of Judaism for our youngest crowd. We have the honor to be accompanied by guest musicians, most recently Steve Ormond and Lior Geller. Until we can resume our in-person JAM events, we invite you to join us for remote services to be held monthly beginning in October. Stay tuned!

Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class

Jewish Arts and Movement

Saturday, Nov 2311:00 am start, 12:00 pm lunch

JEWISH ARTS & MOVEMENT

T E M P L E E T Z C H A I M P R E S E N T S

JAMIt’s time for singing, dancing, learning, arts & crafts, and food!

Fun for families with children aged 3 - 8!

L E D B Y H A Z Z A N PA B L O,M U S I C B Y L I O R G E L L E R ,

S T O RY B Y R A B B I AV E R B A C H

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TEC’s annual family extravaganza. Sunday, May 2, 12:00pm-4:00pmPlease join us for a Havdallah Service and of course hot dogs, too!Sunday, May 2: Hot Dogs at 12pm

Havdallah at 12:30pm Family Activities at 12:45pm-4pmA fun-filled day for the entire family of arts and crafts, music and a fewsurprises.

Donate school supplies now for the Backpack Program. Each year we donate 60 new backpacks filled with school supplies to the children of Casa Pacifica. Please be a part of this important and meaningful

project. This will be taking place on Mitzvah Day. Please see ETZETERA to donate new supplies.

Welcome to the TEC Book Club! Here are our upcoming Book selections and meeting dates:

Tuesday, September 15th - The Book of Dirt by Bram Presser

Tuesday, October 20th - Oreo by Fran Ross

Tuesday, November 17th - The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner

At this time, all meetings will be on Zoom at 7:00 pm. For information about TEC Book Club or to be added to the mailing list, please contact Liz Groden via the Temple Office at (805) 497-6891 or adult-ed@templeetzchaim.org.

Havdalah & Hot Dogs

Backpack Program

T EC Book Club

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OUR GIVING

Join the Temple Etz Chaim Legacy Society and help us “Strengthen Our Roots for the Future.” Your bequest to TEC allows you to shape how you will be remembered

and by whom, and will set an example for your loved ones in the best sense in Tzedakah. To learn more about your options for leaving a bequest to TEC, please pick up a brochure in the Temple Office and/or contact the Temple Office at (805) 497-6891.

Memorial bronze plaques are always a beautiful reminder of a loved one who has passed. They help memorialize our treasured ones in our beautiful Sanctuary. A comforting feeling to see your loved one’s name, and stop and pause and remember. The cost per plaque is $360. Please contact the Temple Office at (805) 497-6891 for the form to place your order.

Temple Etz Chaim’s Tree of Life Donor Recognition Tree symbolizes the goals of many people and the contributions of each one. The memorial tree with it’s bronze trunk and engravable golden

bronze leaves adorns the walls of Remembrance Hall. Each leaf represents a meaningful Simcha in someone’s life – a Bar/Bat mitzvah, wedding, graduation, birthday, confirmation, baby’s birth, anniversary, a retirement, the list is endless as hopefully as the Simchas in your life. TEC’s Tree of Life is awaiting new growth with the addition of your engraved Simcha on the bronze leaves.

Adding your Simcha to the Tree of Life allows you to share your joy with the congregation and provides the benefit of a donation to the Temple. The cost per leaf is $180, and each one can be engraved with up to 150 characters. Donor stones are available for $2,500.

Contact the Temple Office at (805) 497-6891 to place your special order.

Legacy Society / Memorial P laques

Tree of Life

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Caring Connections seeks to provide hope and support during times of illness and sorrow, as well as, celebrations in times of joy. Please let us know of a temple member in need of our support package: condolence,

prayer for healing or Mazel Tov package. We created a Community Resource Binder, located in the Temple Office for your borrowed access should you need some added support. We always welcome your ideas, support, involvement, and helping hands to grow our Caring Connection program in our TEC community. Feel free to reach out to twank@templeetzchaim.org. Take care.

It’s easy and simple! It’s a win-win. Here’s how scrip works. Purchase gift cards (scrip) of any amount (from $25-$100) from popular

retailers that you already frequent and use them for your purchases. TEC earns money with each gift card purchase, no hidden fees or costs. Scrip cards are the same gift cards you purchase from the retailer or your local grocery store.

Write a check to TEC for any amount and you receive that exact amount in scrip! They are perfect for your everyday needs, teachers’ gifts, birthdays, and holidays. Just let us know which retailer and we will let you know if we carry it or can get it.

You can place your order by contacting the Temple Office (805) 497-6891 or email jessica@templeetzchaim.org.

Caring Connections

Scrip

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OUR FUN

Word SearchName: Date: Word Search Worksheets

TEMPLEETZ CHAIM

HIGHHOLIDAYS

ROSHHASHANAH

YOMKIPPUR

RABBIAVERBACH

HAZZANPABLO

HAPPYNEW YEAR CHALLAH APPLES HONEY

SHOFAR SIDDUR CONGREGATION CHAILIGHTS

H A A I K T F Q P P Y B X I U J C A R SS A B S I D D U R Z J I P W F P J P F EG X H A Z Z A N P A B L O U H N C V H LS A P M Z R T T L Z T X I D K O E B U PH C A B R E V A I B B A R C E I N E L PG R J D B X T O M R A L I R H T P E E AE N A S F X B K Q I N H G L I A O G Y CH K R E I B Y X I B Y R Y F Q G L M R SA D J N Y E F R D U C D I R U E A L I WN V S T E W M C Y T D Y E O H R H R A MA T E M P L E E T Z C H A I M G Z U W HH I T U T R Y N B G N K P A E N O P R MS I F E L P A T Y I B O G W N O A P L UA M V Z D O X F P P G J K E A C Y I W NH M A A S D Z L O Z P B G M U Z R K K PH B E J N J R E J H V A Y X A Q F M N BS T H G I L I A H C S C H W D L N O Q CO Z S D O W W H I G H H O L I D A Y S OR P K Y V G K W K A G A M I G I C Z L DT H G V B X A O Y X U P N Z U E Y S W T

Name: Date: Word Search Worksheets

TEMPLEETZ CHAIM

HIGHHOLIDAYS

ROSHHASHANAH

YOMKIPPUR

RABBIAVERBACH

HAZZANPABLO

HAPPYNEW YEAR CHALLAH APPLES HONEY

SHOFAR SIDDUR CONGREGATION CHAILIGHTS

H A A I K T F Q P P Y B X I U J C A R SS A B S I D D U R Z J I P W F P J P F EG X H A Z Z A N P A B L O U H N C V H LS A P M Z R T T L Z T X I D K O E B U PH C A B R E V A I B B A R C E I N E L PG R J D B X T O M R A L I R H T P E E AE N A S F X B K Q I N H G L I A O G Y CH K R E I B Y X I B Y R Y F Q G L M R SA D J N Y E F R D U C D I R U E A L I WN V S T E W M C Y T D Y E O H R H R A MA T E M P L E E T Z C H A I M G Z U W HH I T U T R Y N B G N K P A E N O P R MS I F E L P A T Y I B O G W N O A P L UA M V Z D O X F P P G J K E A C Y I W NH M A A S D Z L O Z P B G M U Z R K K PH B E J N J R E J H V A Y X A Q F M N BS T H G I L I A H C S C H W D L N O Q CO Z S D O W W H I G H H O L I D A Y S OR P K Y V G K W K A G A M I G I C Z L DT H G V B X A O Y X U P N Z U E Y S W T

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It’s never been easier to reach out to us! Please see our contact information below.

Rabbi Ari Averbach - (805) 497-6891 ext 124 rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org

Hazzan Pablo Duek - (805) 497-6891 ext 136hazzanpablo@templeetzchaim.org

Rabbi Emeritis Richard Spiegel - (805) 497-6891rabbispiegel@templeetzchaim.org

Executive Director Gideon Manzur - (805) 497-6891 ext 137gideon@templeetzchaim.org

ECE Director Debbie Blumenthal - (805) 497-6852debbieb@templeetzchaim.org

Religious School Director Joyce Bronstein - (805) 494-8174joyce@tempeletzchaim.org

Youth Director - Shannon Tepfer - (805) 494-3648shannon@templeetzchaim.org

Contact InformationREACH OUT TO US

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REACH OUT TO US

Return of Prayer BooksAs this year is fairly different for our shared High Holidays experience,

we are lending our members our Prayer Books for use during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. After the High Holidays, we would

greatly appreciate it if you would return these Prayer Books to our Office.

Prayer books can be returned to the Temple Office beginning the week of October 5, 2020 between 10 am and 3 pm. No appointment needed.

Thank you!

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Get InvolvedTEC thrives because of your involvement! Be a part of your community!

Whether we are doing virtual programming or activities, we are stronger together. Through this custom Chai Lights, see the various

info that each group contributes, gain a better understanding of offerings, and understand all the entities TEC brings to you. Take advantage of all that TEC represents and offers to your community that is for you. Think about volunteering, contributing to any group, or working on an idea you might have. The possibilities are endless. Looking forward to engaging and connecting together.

Come participate in our Men’s Club (mensclub@templeetzchaim.org) or Women of TEC (womenoftec@templeetzchaim.org).

Learn ways to give back to our community and help those less fortunate through our Social Action Committee (socialaction@templeetzchaim.org).

Volunteer or play at our weekly Bingo (bingo@templeetzchaim.org).

Participate in growing our congregation and planning events for members with our Membership department (membership@templeetzchaim.org).

Seeking guidance or support in our challenging times? Reach out to Caring Connection (twank@templeetzchaim.org).

Discover ways to connect with our TEC Family through Community Outreach (outreach@templeetzchaim.org).

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REACH OUT TO US

Thank You To Those Who HelpedIn a year where so much of life has changed, Rabbi Averbach and Hazzan

Pablo reimagined a High Holiday experience we never thought possible, and we are the fortunate, congregants of TEC, who reap the benefits

of their boundless spirituality and love for and commitment to Judaism. I am in awe. Rabbi and Hazzan you have our immense gratitude and utmost appreciation. Thank you to our dear Rabbi Emeritus Spiegel for his contribution to our second day Rosh Hashanah service.

To the High Holiday Planning Committee, what are we going to do with our time on Thursday mornings? In a year so different than any other, there was no blueprint from which to draw, this committee raised the bar and exceeded all expectations. No detail too small to ignore, or too big to take on, this committee - composed of clergy, office staff and volunteers - met weekly, communicating, collaborating, planning and executing logistics; ultimately creating a project whose seamlessness belies its challenges.

The following are deserving of our appreciation: Rabbi Averbach and Hazzan Pablo, there are not enough ways to say thank you. They participated and contributed in our weekly planning meetings and of course, they will no doubt inspire us on the Bimah during the upcoming holidays. From the office, Gideon Manzur, our Executive Director extraordinaire, and his terrific staff - Shane Silverstein, Jessica Jacoby and Lindsey Alpert - took on anything and everything, always with a smile. The volunteers, who took their roles on this committee as if it was their primary job, their number one commitment and did so with giant hearts, soul and an enormous amount of their time. Tami Wank, the awesomely organized and keen eye to detail ‘leader’ and “Project Manager” of the beautiful High Holidays@Home Gift Bags. Dan Lubetkin, Master Communicator for all things TEC, your dedication and calm demeanor contributed to the team’s success. Eric Feigenbaum, EVP and Temple resource, voice of reason and steady thoughtful ideas and strategizer and humble contributor. Finally, Benny Sommerfeld, the man representing all things religiously oriented, thank you for your time, energy and for being such a big part of TEC’s success. Together, we Engaged with one another and Connected all the details to ready us for a High Holiday experience like no other.

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A grateful Todah Rabah to the following for their generous support to the High Holidays@Home Gift bags (In the past Bima Flower donors): Ed and Sheila Chadroff, Nomi Freed, Ron and Liz Groden, Peter and Wendy Margolis, Ron and Shari Mark, Michael and Karen Roberts, Jeff and Jan Solomon, David and Tami Wank, and Bob and Betty Zonshine.

Additional donors include: The Women of TEC, Men’s Club, Leo and Joyce Bronstein, The Math Family and Joel and Harriet Schrater-Minimus LLC.

Lights, camera, action… thank you to Paul Lefko not only for the lights, cameras, tripods etc. but also for setting it all up and making us look so good too.

A big thank you to Immediate Past President, Jeff Solomon, for his initial vision of pre-producing the High Holiday experience. Special acknowledgment to our fabulous directors Debbie Blumenthal, Joyce Bronstein and Shannon Tepfer for their contributions to the activities and of course, for their always positive, can-do attitudes. To Marni Goren, thank you for the unique kids holiday-themed coloring pages. Also to Cheryl Wolf-Math for her generosity of time working behind the scenes with Tami to make the bags so wonderful and to Julie Goldstein for being such a sweet liaison to Minimus LLC. To Gary Katz, thank you for lending a helpful hand with Men’s Club.

Finally, to all the volunteers, you know who you are, who came out to help us build, fill and distribute the bags, thank you. This was a very big undertaking and it couldn’t have been done without every one of you.

Thank you to everyone who went above and beyond. Time is precious, and we appreciate yours.

With much love and gratitude,

Shari MarkPresident

1080 East Janss Road • Thousand Oaks, CA 91360(805) 497-6891 • templeetzchaim.org