high holy days edition 5777/2016 - mishkon tephilo...

Mishkon Tephilo

Mailing/Office: 201 Hampton Drive , Venice, CA 90291

Sanctuary: 206 Main Street , Venice, CA 90291

310 392-3029 www.mishkon.org

[email protected]

The Galim High Holy Days Edition

5777/2016

Todah Rabah to Our Mishkon Donors Below is a list of those who have donated to Mishkon during the 5776/2015 High Holy Days

We thank you for your generosity.

Allyn, Verri Amarawansa, Karen and Ananda Barone, Sherry Bashoff, Jaclyn Batinkoff, Randall Bell, Phil and Chana Bender, Andrew Benovaisch, David Berg, Benyeta Berger, Shelley Bratman, Jordan Bronner, Deborah Brookman, Daniel and Linda Cohen, Howard and Lehrman, June Cohen, Nicholas Davich, Victor Davis, Howard and Sternfeld, Janet Decker, Denise Drexler, Marcy Enzer, Adrienne Eskin, Gregory and Marina Eule, Carole Felixson, Carol and Jaduszliwer, Bernardo Fierstein, Michael Finston, Steve and Diane Flax, Scott Fleck, Jeffrey and Steinhart, Deborah Freedman, Bernard and Gail Friedman, Lee and Cande Friedman, Lonnie Friedman, Monroe and Rita Geil, Ed and Michelle Geller, Joseph Goldstein, Cynthia Goldstein, Sara and Raymond Gordon, Gail Gordon, Judith P. Gornbein, Jeff and Martin, Fredricka Grebler, Gillian and Hull, Rob Grebler, Rene Greenberg, Scott and Vick, Michelle Greenleigh, Stephanie and Rezak, Donald Greenspan, Dayna and Schwartz, Robert Grunstein, Michael and Judith

Guttman, Alex and Andrea Hammerman, Fern Hamovitch, Hannah Harelik, Richard and Joan Herman, Charles Herman, Paul Heyl, Hillary and Joel Weiner Hirsch, Lisa Hirt, Randy and Eddy, Bruce Honig, Marilyn Horn, Susan Fox Ickovits, T’mimah Itzkowitz, Jay Kadish, Sheldon and Rosenfeld, Mary Ann Kalis, Murray Katz, Monroe Khazai, Shahriar and Esphahani, Izabela Kleinman, Alan and Sharon Kolodny, Jack Kozak, Donna and Aria Kunstler, Evelyn Kunstler, Peter and Karen Landau, Joy Levin, Stuart Levine, Gerald A. Lewitt, Marilyn Lipsky, Allan and Marilyn Loberman, Loetitia Louria, Ken and Bilson, Meredith Lustman, Nathan Malman, Ruth Mathason, Marcia and Bruce Milstein, Hymie Mollin, Peggy Osser, Patricia and Irving Panush, Rachel and Grant, Will Paris, David and Cowen, Nancy Pariser, Alfred and Cheryl Pildesh, Svetlana and Drabkin, Ellen Podus, Deborah Pomerantz, Earl and Myra Prince, Michele and Jeffrey Rappaport, Madeleine & Oded, Ben Itzhak Rasmussen, Nicole Siskind

Raz, Shifra and Rubinstein, Benny Ron, Micah and Carrasco, Bobbie Rose, Judith Rosen, Richard Rosin, Mark and Hoppenfeld, Cynthia Sager, David Samuel, Yael and Jacob Sandler, Ellen and Basch, Peter Schalit, Marilyn Schrag, Morton and Lorraine Schreck, Rhona and Ira Schwartz, Lawrence and Maggy Schwartz, Russell and Goland, Susan Segall, Ilana and Allen Sharman, Jason and Miriam Shepnick, Ira and Ninette Shwartz, Josef and Michelle Singer, Ben and Portnoy, Sarah Smith, Howard J. and Levine, Victoria Sneh, Louis Solomon, David Sorter, Thomas and Phyllis Spevak, Albert Starer, Lois B. Steckler, Lisa and Morgan Stein, David and Carole Steinberg, Barry and Ann Stern, Arthur A. Tarsky, Melissa and Brian Tishman, Roberta Urbaitis, Marleen and Ortasse, Solomon Waterstone, Harry and Ilene Weisman, Sandy Weissler, Eric Willis, Saundra Fay Wilson, Stephen and Claudia Wine, Aliza Winkur, Alan Wittenberg, Jeffrey Yomtob, Abraham Zuk, George and Heit, Karen

Galim High Holy Days 5777 1

Clergy and Leadership

Mishkon Clergy: Rabbi Gabriel Botnick Daniel R. Shevitz, Rabbi Emeritus

Executive Board: Melissa Tarsky, President Cindy Goldstein, Vice President

Rena Panush, Vice President Michele Prince, Vice President

Judy Gordon, Treasurer Dayna Greenspan, Secretary

Board of Directors: Phil Bell Carol Felixson

Jeff Fleck Jeff Gornbein

Michael Kirschbaum Itai Klein

Johanna Schmidt Russell Schwartz

Rosalind Silver

Committee Chairs: Phil Bell, Adult Education Rena Panush, Barbara’s Book Club

Peter Kunstler, Cemetery Plots Cindy Goldstein, Communications

Carol Felixson, Communications Marilyn Lewitt, Hazak Group

Miriam Barron, Hazak Group Shifra Raz, Membership Acquisition and Retention

Andy Bender, Kiddush Rena Panush, Kiddush

Johanna Schmidt, Preschool Liaison Michael Kirschbaum, Religious School Liaison

Jeff Gornbein, Tephila Stacy Feinberg, Building and Grounds

Senior Staff: Kelley Courtney, Executive Director

Elisa Coburn, Preschool Director

HIGH HOLY DAYS

AT

MISHKON TEPHILO

Mishkon Tephilo Welcomes Our Newest Members


We are pleased to note that, over the past year, our congregation has

been joyously enlarged by the arrival of new babies to:

Johanna and Benjamin Schmidt

Rabbi Gabriel Botnick and Rose Prevezer

Lillian and Shawn Abrishamy

David Ehrenberg and Felicia Saltzbart

Alan Van Gelder and Nathan Zimmermann

Isaac Schmidt

Lev Botnick Prevezer

Maya Ehrenberg

Nathan Van Gelder

Nicholas Abrishamy

Mishkon Tephilo is a participatory, egalitarian congregation. We strive to meet the religious, spiritual, educational, and social needs of a diverse

membership within the framework of Conservative Judaism.

The commitment and participation of all congregants is to be nurtured with the understanding that all contribute value to our community. We value full participation, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation,

disability, age, or marital status. We view ourselves as partners in God’s Mitzvot of Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut.

We are bound together by traditional Jewish experience through the following values: Spirituality: Members engage in prayer and study

experiences that bring them closer to God and to each other. Community: We are bound together by a Brit Tzibur of providing

celebration, solace and support throughout the Jewish lifecycle. Torah: We are an educational center for the teaching and study of Jewish texts, rituals, practices and values. Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam: We understand

our obligations as Jews to care for and support the Jewish people, the State of Israel, the community in which we live.

Mishkon Tephilo

Mission Statement

Serving Jewish communities in Venice and Santa Monica since 1917

In This Edition

Are you a Good Jew or a Bad Jew? A Letter

from the Rabbi ....................................... 4

Join us for Shabbat B’Yachad. A Letter from

the President ......................................... 6

The Czarina Reports,

by Cindy Goldstein ................................. 7

Rabbi Botnick Participates in Planning Adult

Education, by Phil Bell ........................... 7

Religious School Update,

by Julia Yannatta .................................... 8

Into the New,

by Dayna Greenspan ............................. 10

Celebrating Sukkot at Mishkon, by Rena

Panush ................................................... 11

Mishkon doesn’t have a caterer; it has

something better. by Andy Bender ....... 12

Blue Fin Tuna at Mishkon, by Phil Bell ... 13

Preschool Fundraiser, by Elisa Coburn .. 14

Abbot Kinney Festival Success ............... 15

Members Share Their High Holy Days

Memories .............................................. 16


New Year, New Rabbi, New You!

Thank you all who attended the open

house to meet Rabbi Botnick

and his family.


L’Shanah Tovah From Robert and Anita Tepper

From Miriam Barron

From Rene Grebler and Family

From Sandra and Gerson Safran

Shanah Tovah Melissa, Brian,

Elizabeth and Sarah Tarsky

L’shanah Tovah Tikatevu Janet and Howard Davis

Shanah Tovah! Jeff and Deborah Fleck

(Here since 1987)

A good and sweet year to my outstanding Mishkon community

Judy Gordon

L’shanah Tovah Tikatevu Shifra Raz and Benny Rubinstein

L’shanah Tovah to All Holly and Sam Rozay

Thanks to Mishkon’s dedicated staff, office and board for their service.

A healthy and low-stress new year.

Jeffrey Gornbein and Fredricka Martin

Wishing Mishkon Family a Sweet Year Raymond and Sara

Benjamin, Harry, and Eliana Goldstein

The High Holy Days at Mishkon by Peter Kunstler

As a boy studying the violin, I learned to play a transcription of the lovely riff on the Kol Nidre by Max Bruch. Yet Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur remained a mystery to me, except for following my parents’ vestigial observance—for me, staying home from school and “being respectful.”

Later, when living in Antwerp, I accompanied my grandfather to Yom Kippur services at the Sephardic Synagogue. Thereafter came a hiatus; then I became a confirmed once-a-year Jew at liberal services in Brussels. My practice of only annual attendance continued when we moved to Los Angeles, and I observed the holy day at UCLA Hillel.

The change began to take place when I joined Mishkon Tephilo around 1998. Yom Kippur became the anchor for discovering Rosh Hashanah, for much more frequent attendance at shul, and for a significantly greater appreciation of our rites and rituals. Fasting became not simply an endurance test but a path enabling me to concentrate on the meaning of atonement. Yes, I still enjoyed the radiant melody of Kol Nidre and looked forward to Neila and relief from self-denial.

But somehow, I have gradually found myself breaking the fast with a sense of melancholy, of regret that I’ll have to wait another year before reciting and singing the holy day prayers, or reflecting with the same intensity upon God, Judaism and our wonderful community.

The High Holy Days at Mishkon are an intensely personal affair that has reassured me that we need not find ourselves alienated from participating in our holy rituals. Mishkon reminds me and, I hope, many others that observing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is not just an obligation, but also a privilege.

In Good Times and in Bad by Daniel Brookman

As longtime Mishkonites, we have shared many simchas at our beloved shul with many of our friends over the past 30 years or so. Among the life-affirming events was the High Holiday where my very pregnant wife, Linda, was trying to corral our other two boys from running up and down the aisles during the service. As it turned out, this scene of emerging life for Mishkon Tephilo inspired one of our older members, Louis Gold, to endow the L’Chaim fund, providing a cash reward for families having babies during the year. This fund still exists today and has provided help to many families over the course of a quarter of a century.

Unfortunately, not all memories are pleasant. Occasionally, life-altering events happen, as well.

Two years ago, while attending Yom Kippur services, I received an emergency message that my beloved Uncle Meyer “Mike” Meyerson had been severely hurt in an auto accident and was in critical care at UCLA. I rushed over to Westwood just in time as Mike breathed his last and was pronounced dead by the attending physicians. It seems that my uncle had left Kol Nidre services the night before at Temple Akiba and had run across the street to bring his car around to help some other senior citizens so they wouldn’t have to walk as far. As Uncle Mike crossed a dimly lit Overland Boulevard, he was struck and fatally injured by a drunk driver. Despite the best efforts of the emergency staff, he passed away 12 hours later without regaining consciousness. As tragic and painful as this experience was and remains, it does make me more fully aware of the fragility of life and what a short amount of time we are able to spend here. My uncle was a devout and observant Jew who hosted our yearly Seders for the extended families while I was growing up. Although he was well into his 80s at the time of his death, he was still healthy and vibrant. I retrieved his tallit bag and honor his memory every year at this time.

Mishkon has provided our family comfort, meaning and purpose over the three decades that we have been attending. I hope the spirit of Mishkon will continue to provide services and solace to yet another generation


We spend a lot of time during the High Holy Days reflecting on the past year, pounding our chests, trying to think of ways we can be better in the coming year. I remember being a kid and pounding on my chest so hard, joking with my friends that I had been a “bad Jew” that year. As I recall this memory, I also recall an encounter I had soon after I became a rabbi.

It was maybe a week or two into my first pulpit when I received a call from a congregant who was in the hospital and wanted to speak with a rabbi. This person knew they did not have much longer to live and was afraid of how they would be judged once they left this world. "You see, Rabbi," they confided in me, "I have not been what you would call a 'good Jew.’" Hearing this confession, my heart sank, and I fell silent, searching for any words that might bring this person peace of mind.

It pains me to consider how we have been misled into believing there is such a thing as a "good Jew" and a "bad Jew.” Indeed, I believe this mode of thinking contributes to the limited number of people engaging in Jewish life today.

If I were to ask you to describe what makes someone a "bad Jew," you might say, "They eat cheeseburgers or shellfish, they rarely go to synagogue, they don't know Hebrew, they go out on Shabbat." And if I were to ask you to describe what makes someone a "good Jew," you might say the exact opposite: "They keep Kosher, they pray daily or at least somewhat regularly, they know Hebrew or at least can read it, they keep Shabbat." Am I wrong? Would you not agree that many - if not most - people hold by this binary view of Jewish observance?

The problem with this binary understanding is that it sets us up for failure. When presented with this description of a "good Jew," most people would view it as an impossible, undesirable, or unrealistic standard. Then, having written off the idea of being considered a "good Jew," they are forced to self-identify as a "bad Jew." So it simply makes sense to do the things that a "bad Jew" would do. After all, if you're never going to keep Shabbat exactly like your Orthodox cousin, then you might as well go to a movie on Friday night and run a bunch of errands on

Saturday. I realize this may be an extraordinary leap of logic, yet so many of us fall victim to this erroneous line of reasoning.

The Hebrew word Halakhah is typically translated as "Jewish law" and is closely related to the word Mahalakhah, which means "promenade" or "path." The late Rabbi David Hartman saw great significance in the relationship between these two words. According to Rabbi Hartman, Halakhah should be viewed as a path, one of several on which a person may choose to navigate life - somewhat like Robert Frost's image of two roads diverging in a yellow wood. For Hartman, Halakhah is like most forest trails in that the point is not to reach the end but rather to enjoy the journey. That is to say, when we first set out on a path of Jewish observance, we should never expect to become perfect adherents of the laws, or even to feel comfortable with our surroundings. Rather, it is assumed that we may step off the path from time to time in order to admire a flower here or a bird there; after all, it’s only human to slip up or give in to temptation every now and then. The important thing, however, is that we always return to a path of Jewish observance and see it as the best way for us to navigate life.

I strongly believe there is no such thing as a "good Jew" or a "bad Jew." Rather, there are Jews who embrace the journey of a Jewish life - one that is filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, distractions and digressions - and there are Jews who stand frozen at the trailhead - mistakenly thinking they should proceed only if they know for certain they will reach the end. So consider this an official invitation to explore the path of Shabbat, Kashrut, Tefillah (prayer), Talmud Torah (learning), Gemilut Chasadim (helping others), and all the other Mitzvot. My hope is that you will realize the beauty to be seen along the path of Jewish observance and that you will want to continue walking down it. And then, I hope, your experience will help to debunk the myth of there being such a thing as a "good Jew" or a "bad Jew."

L’Shanah Tovah uMetukah!

Are You a Good Jew or a Bad Jew? by Rabbi Gabriel Botnick


Join us For Shabbat B’Yachad by Melissa Tarsky

If you’ve ever been to Mishkon’s Tashlich service, you’ve experienced something special. There are people of all ages – from the very young to the very old. Everyone participates in the service, and everyone gets something out of it. It’s a fabulous experience.

Mishkon is going to try to capture that feeling of togetherness every month, with a new program called Shabbat B’Yachad (Shabbat Together). Here’s the schedule for the Friday night program:

5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Family service targeting our younger children 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Pot luck dinner for everyone 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Kabalat Shabbat service 8 p.m. – whenever Drinks, dessert, etc.

We understand that not everyone can get to Mishkon at 5:30 and that not everyone wants to participate in a child-friendly service. We also understand that not all of our younger members can sit through an adult service, particularly one that begins close to their bedtimes. Therefore, we created this program so that everyone will share a meal together from 6 to 7, and everyone will have a service that meets their needs. (Of course, one could also just come for dinner and socializing.)

Because potluck is new to Mishkon, there are some rules about what you can bring:

Make only dairy dishes. That means no meat or fish. Also, read the ingredients of canned, packed, and prepared foods to ensure that they don’t have any meat in them.

Try to use kosher ingredients. There are many symbols on packaged food that show whether something is kosher. A quick Internet search will show you the most common ones.

Use disposable serving dishes and serving pieces. (This is more so that you can leave your leftovers at the dinner if you leave early.)

Make a label (like a tent card) for your dish so others know what it is. If your dish is vegan, gluten-free or from a kosher kitchen, please note that, because we have members who prefer these foods.

If you don’t feel comfortable eating other’s prepared foods, please bring enough for yourself, and join us for dinner.

Rabbi Botnick has created a more complete list of food rules, which can be found on our website. Please check out that list, and contact Rabbi Botnick if you have questions.

Mishkon’s first Shabbat B’Yachad will be in the Sukkah on Friday, October 21, but most months the program will take place on the second Friday of the month. Check the online calendar to find the correct dates.

My family and I are looking forward to seeing you at this innovative, inclusive program. I expect we will also learn some lessons the first few times, but I also feel certain that we can make this a fun program for everyone in the Mishkon community. Shanah Tovah!


Members Share Their Special

High Holy Days Experiences

Devotion by the Ocean, En Un Mar Blanco by Carol Felixon

Translated from Spanish into English, En Un Mar Blanco means In a Sea of White. When I attend High Holy Days services at Mishkon, I truly consider myself to be immersed in a sea of white. Why the sea? Because Mishkon is known as “the Synagogue by the Sea.” It's a fitting description given that the ocean only a few blocks away can be seen, and a breeze felt, in our lobby and on our steps - our sanctuary, a vessel in which to embark on a wondrous journey. Why white? Because the vast majority of those attending and leading the services, as well as the Torahs and Bima dressings, are clothed in white.

And finally, why the reference in Spanish? Because for me, it is a beautifully lyrical language and best expresses my deep emotions. Choosing the white garments that I wear on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is part of my High Holy Days preparation. I don’t always wear white for all of the services. But when I do, I feel a profound shift within. As one drop of water is considered to be both a single element and a small but fundamental part of the immense ocean, I come to know myself as an individual and at the same time an integral member of the larger Mishkon community and Jews worldwide. Do I need to wear white to feel this way? No. But it enhances this experience.

While wearing white and surrounded by others also in white, I feel a poignant beauty in observing how the Mishkon community sits and stands, ebbs and flows, much like the currents of the sea. And when we leave services and walk out Mishkon’s front doors onto Main Street, it is as if we are explorers, having completed this year’s momentous voyage, disembarking and returning to land and to our homes.

… fortunate to share Devotion by the Ocean En Un Mar Blanco.


Get Your Holiday Photos Done While Supporting Our Preschool. What Could Be Easier?

Preschool Corner

The Susan Sims Bodenstein Preschool at Mishkon Tephilo is having its annual family photo fundraising event. It has scheduled TWO dates and THREE locations for your family photos.

Sunday, October 16 - 7:30-10:30 a.m. at Burton Chase Park (www.katiebphoto.com) Sunday, October 16 - 3-5 p.m. at Will Rogers Beach (www.katiebphoto.com) Sunday, October 30 - 8-3 p.m. under the Santa Monica Pier (www.skalijphoto.com)

There will be two awesome family photographers (Katie B www.katiebphoto.com and Christina Skalij www.skalijphoto.com) to take your family photos at these three beautiful locations. The sitting fee is $50, made payable to Mishkon Tephilo. Both photographers have several reasonably priced photo packages to choose from. Please sign up for your photo

session now! Spaces are limited and are already being booked. Just let the preschool know what time you would like, and Elisa will do her best to accommodate your request. You can e-mail Elisa Coburn at [email protected] with questions or to sign up.

The preschool is off to a great start! The children come to us naturally curious about the world, with a large range of capabilities! The first several weeks have been very busy and lots of fun! We have spent much time engaging in creative connections to get to know one another.

In addition, we have begun familiarizing the children with traditions from our rich Jewish culture. We have celebrated Shabbat, baked challah, engaged in havdalah, making our own v’samim and multi-wick candles, and have begun teaching about Rosh Hashanah through stories, songs, and arts and crafts! SHANA TOVA from the children and preschool staff!


The Czarina Reports by Cindy Goldstein

Rabbi Botnick Helps Plan Adult Education by Phil Bell

Every year, as Mishkon’s High Holy Days Czarina, I seek your comments, questions, requests and complaints about High Holy Days past, present and future.

You will recognize me during the holidays because I am wearing my tiara, a gift from a Mishkonian.

My job is to make sure all the people responsible for the many aspects of the holidays are ready, willing and able to do

their jobs. If everything is happening smoothly and it all looks effortless, then I am succeeding.

So please let me hear from you. Approach me before, during or after services. Between or after the holidays, call me at 310-820-8588, or email me at [email protected]

Mishkon's Adult Education Committee has hit the ground running this year with the enthusiastic help and support of Rabbi Botnick. Programs include the following:

AKCESS (After Kiddush Cultural, Educational, and Spiritual Shiurim)

These learning opportunities are for people who stay after Saturday kiddush lunches. Rabbi Botnick began teaching in August and will continue on the first and third shabbat of the month. The first shabbat of the month will focus on "Spiritual Paths to the Parsha." The third shabbat of the month will focus on "Secrets of the New Siddur-Lev Shalem."

Mishkonian Jeff Fleck will continue teaching his successful "Chug Rashi" program using Rashi's commentary on the weekly parsha to help facilitate discussion. He will teach on the second shabbat of the month.

Sunday Series (Sundays from 10 a.m. to Noon)

This series will include the Hartman Lecture Series, "Advance Care Medical Directives," an Interfaith/Martin Luther King program, Poetry Day, a Yom Hashoah program, a Lag B'Omer program, and Yiddish Collage.

Other Adult Education programs are sponsorship and support of the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival as well as Mishkonian Jeff Gornbein teaching "Prayerbook Hebrew."

Also, Rabbi Botnick is teaching the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program at Kehillat Ma'Arav on Thursday evenings October 27 to March 16.

If you are interested in joining the Adult Education Committee, please contact Chairperson Phil Bell at [email protected].


From the Sanctuary roof, Rabbi

Botnick welcomes everyone to

participate in Mishkon’s Adult

Education programs.

http://www.katiebphoto.com


http://www.skalijphoto.com


http://www.skalijphoto.com

mailto:[email protected]


Voice Coach

Did you know that one of our board

members is a voice coach!

Contact Rena Panush using the

contact information in the ad, and

she can assist you with a

variety of prep and production needs.

Mishkon Tephilo is co-sponsoring the Shalom Hartman Collaborative Lecture Series this year with many other temples in Los Angeles. Each of the four Sunday lectures include speakers on a variety of issues important to the Jewish community. The lectures are free to Mishkon members. A dinner and discussion will follow each lecture except the one on January 22, 2017, which will have a nominal charge. Rabbi Botnick will be attending the lectures and dinners and facilitating discussion afterward.

Shalom Hartman Collaborative Lecture Series

Speakers, Dates, and Locations

Visions for a Shared Society: The "Tribes" of Israel What are the core values of some of the "tribes" that comprise Israel today - Secular, Arab Palestinian Israeli,

Religious Zionist, and Ultra-Orthodox? How does a people divided along religious, geographic, and ideological lines build a shared society? What are the challenges and the possibilities for Israel in building a Jewish and Democratic State?

Elena Stein Hain

4 p.m., March 5, 2017

Temple Beth Am

Tal Becker

4 p.m., December 11, 2016

Stephen S. Wise Temple

Micah Goodman

3 p.m., January 22, 2017

Valley Beth Shalom

Yehuda Kurtzer

4 p.m., November 13, 2016

Leo Baeck Temple

Looking for a venue for your next event? We have a beautiful sanctuary, social hall, chapel, and full-service kosher kitchens for rent. Check our website for capacity and rates, or call the office at 310-392-3029 for

more information.


Blue Fin Tuna at Mishkon by Phil Bell

What could bluefin tuna and Mishkon possibly have to do with each other?

If you attend Shabbat morning services, then you know that I often announce that my catch of the week is available to Mishkon members in return for a donation to the Kiddush Lunch Fund.

During the last week in August, I was on a five-day angling adventure on the Red Rooster III, a San Diego yacht. The money raised from raffles on this trip supports veterans' and kids' fishing trips. The fish I caught on the trip help support the Kiddush Lunch Fund.

After successfully fishing for yellowtail in Mexican waters the second and third days of the trip, we moved to an area between San Clemente Island and San Diego. Hundreds of bluefin tuna were rolling, jumping, and crashing into the ocean. I was fortunate enough to catch a 74-pounder and a 148-pounder, my personal-best bluefin ever.

Now, the answer to the question: Nutritious, delicious, succulent bluefin tuna is available to Mishkon members in return for a donation to the Kiddush Lunch Fund. Contact Fisherman Phil Bell [email protected] if you would like some fish.

When: Sunday, November 20, 2016, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Where: Mishkon Social Hall

Voluntary donations for breakfast are welcome. RSVP by November 14. The event will be canceled if there are not enough RSVPs.

Nuts and Bolts of Advance Healthcare Directives for Yourself or Your Spouse/Parents/Grandparents

with additional thoughts from a Jewish perspective

Panel Workshop and Presentation At any age or life stage, unexpected circumstances, accidents or severe illness may prevent us from speaking for ourselves. Advance Healthcare Directives help doctors and families make treatment choices that reflect and honor specific wishes and values. But how can we make informed choices? What Jewish teachings or California law might be relevant? Get the perspective of a UCLA medical professional, a social worker, a lawyer, and a rabbi. 2016 Advance Healthcare Directives and other newly issued California health forms will be available and reviewed during the first part of the program, followed by a panel discussion and Q & A session. A light breakfast will be served. Advanced registration is required.

MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILY HEALTHCARE DECISIONS



Mishkon Doesn’t Have a Caterer; It Has Something Better by Andy Bender

“Are you the caterer?” one of our new members asked me recently. On the one hand, I was flattered - are Mishkon's kiddushim that good? On the other, I had to chuckle because the idea of our little shul having its own caterer seemed so far from our reality. No, Mishkon doesn’t have a caterer, but it has something even better: an awesome community of volunteers that makes these weekly lunches happen after Shabbat services, especially:

The small but dedicated crew we nickname the kiddush elves. It takes work to make a kiddush, and these volunteers give their time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings to help with everything from shopping for food to meal preparation, serving, cleanup and making sure the shul is properly locked after lunch.

Our generous sponsors, members who sponsor a kiddush in honor of a simcha or in memory of a loved one. Our fundraising team that does outreach to bring in other funds. Fisherman Phil (a.k.a. our member and pal Phil Bell). Phil goes on regular deep-sea fishing adventures and brings back an amaaaazing (his word) catch of high-quality fish, which he flash-freezes and gives away to Mishkon members. All he asks in return is a donation for the Kiddush Fund.

As grateful as we are for these volunteers, we could always use more help. Here are a few easy ways to get involved and have fun: Help prepare a kiddush: Prime prep time is Friday morning, a fun hour or two of cooking and kibitzing. Come join us! Sponsor a kiddush: I’ve done it many times, and the gratitude you get back is worth way more than you any funds you give. There are a variety of kiddush packages starting at around $180, or we can help you design your

own. Check out the shul’s website, or contact the office or one of us below for further information.

Mishkon’s one-of-a-kind Kiddush Club. Each month, members celebrating birthdays and anniversaries are invited to contribute a modest amount (suggested donation: $75), which we pool toward the monthly Simcha Kiddush, now combined with Family Shabbat. This extra festive lunch shows off Mishkon at its best, and having many co-sponsors keeps the cost low for everyone, while leftover funds go toward other kiddushim with no special sponsor. When a volunteer from the Kiddush Committee contacts you about co-sponsoring the Simcha Kiddush and Family Shabbat, please say yes.

Then there’s the most important part of the kiddush: you. All are welcome at any kiddush, but if you haven't been in a while, the Simcha/Family Kiddush, usually the third

Shabbat of the month, is a great way to experience the ruach of our community (check the calendar on the shul’s website for details). Come by any Shabbat, and we'll even make a l’chaim with you.

For more information, to volunteer, donate or sponsor, please contact the shul office, me ([email protected]) or Kiddush Committee co-chair Rena Panush ([email protected]). Fisherman Phil Bell can be reached at [email protected].

Todah rabah, and b’tayavon!


Religious School Update by Julia Yannatta

Religious School at Mishkon Tephilo is off to a fine

start. We have 30 students enrolled this year, and

Rabbi Botnick is serving as Acting Director of the

Religious School.

We welcome back our beloved community member

Shifra Raz as our Hebrew teacher. We are also excited

to welcome rabbinical student Aviva Funke as our

new Judaics teacher. After months of dedicated work

last spring and over the summer, the Search

Committee did not find the right candidate to serve as

permanent director. The committee will continue its

work during this academic year.

Meanwhile, Rabbi Botnick, Shifra, Aviva, and the

Religious School Committee finalized the curriculum,

the schedule and the tuition for the year. Feedback

from the Religious School families, who were

surveyed in June, was taken into careful

consideration. The result is a rigorous, engaging and

relevant Jewish education for our Mishkon students.

Classes are divided by ages: TK - 2nd Grade; 3rd - 6th

Grade; and 7th Grade and Up. School is in session on

Wednesday afternoons and includes a Family Tikkun

Olam Experiential Learning on the first Sunday of

every month and a Family Shabbat Experience on the

third Saturday of every month. Everyone in the

Mishkon community is welcome at the Family

Shabbat Experience! Come and join us for:

Learners’ service and Torah study for students and

their families (students will join the rest of the

community for the end of the main service)

Yoga for parents and older siblings

Torah study with the Rabbi for parents and older

siblings

Main service for parents and older siblings

Tikkun Olam Experiential Learning Sundays will be

opened to the broader community on select

occasions, when space and resources permit.

If you have yet to register your child in Religious

School or would like more information, please see

Executive Director Kelley Courtney in the front office,

or email her at [email protected].






Celebrating Sukkot at Mishkon by Rena Panush

Sukkot, a lovely Jewish holiday, comes fast on the heels of Yom Kippur. We have a tradition at Mishkon of sending out a list of homes that are willing to open their Sukkot to Mishkonians on the Sunday afternoon during the week of Sukkot. This year, the date is Sunday, October 23. Individual hosts decide on their own hours.

The preschool and Religious School students decorate Mishkon's Sukkah. We always need volunteers to help with both decorating and setup.

Services on the first two mornings of Sukkot - Monday, October 17 and Tuesday, October 18 - will take place in the Sukkah.

On the intermediate Shabbat, we will be having

Shabbat B'Yachad (Sabbath together):

Friday, October 21: Kabbalat shabbat (welcoming shabbat) service followed by dinner in the Sukkah.

Saturday, October 22: Following services in the Sanctuary, kiddush lunch will take place in the Sukkah.

Check out the Calendar on our website at Mishkon.org for details.

If you would like to decorate a Sukkah at your home this year and need help planning, please contact Mishkon or me, Rena Panush, at [email protected] or 973-951-5679.

Mishkon has cemetery plots in our section of Eden Cemetery available to members at a discounted price. Call the office at 310-392-3092 for more information.


Into The New by Dayna Greenspan

“The reality is that neither rabbis nor congregations can be expected to simply flip a switch and become instantly comfortable and in tune with new rabbinic leadership (especially not when a community has spent decades with another rabbi leading them). It’s equally important that rabbis new to a congregation … feel free to bring their own spirit to their services. Maintaining continuity where essential while allowing for change where needed is a delicate balance.”

From ejewishphilanthropy.com (5/8/16)

To help Rabbi Gabriel Botnick thrive in his first year as our new leader, we have created a Rabbi Transition

Committee. The committee comprises Andy Bender, Dayna Greenspan, Joy Mashaal, Russell Schwartz and Carole

Stein. The role of this committee is to be the “eyes and ears” of the congregation for Rabbi Botnick, to create a

forum for him to hear what is working well and what needs to be adjusted. Also, this committee is a place for

Mishkon’s members to be able to express themselves.

Committee’s Role Organize informal gatherings to build relationships, such as the Open House series Offer support Give feedback Provide information about Mishkon and our members and schools Communicate with the community

Rabbi Botnick is looking forward to meeting every Mishkon member. He wants to

learn about you and your families, hear your ideas, uncover what interests you and

understand what you need. He is interested in feedback from you on his tenure thus

far, as well as your ideas. If you would like to share, please come talk to the rabbi:

Office hours on Tuesday afternoons from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact him at [email protected] or 310-392-3029, to speak to him or

make an appointment. Please note that Monday is the rabbi’s day off.

At any time, please reach out to any of this committee’s members. If you have questions, please feel free to contact [email protected].





high holy days edition 5777/2016 - mishkon tephilo...

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