the · aza, is hosting kabbalat shabbat services on friday, march 9, at 6:15 p.m. in the tba...
TRANSCRIPT
Volume 31, Number 7
March 2012
Adar / Nisan 5772
the
T E M P L E B E T H A B R A H A M
Pu RiM
General InFOrMaTIOn
All phone numbers use (510) prefix unless otherwise noted.
Mailing address 336 Euclid Ave. Oakland, CA 94610
Hours M-Th: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Fr: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Office Phone 832-0936Office Fax 832-4930
e-Mail [email protected] avraham 763-7528
Bet Sefer 663-1683
STaFF
rabbi (ext. 213) Mark BloomCantor (ext. 218) Richard Kaplan
Gabai David Galant & Jay Goldmanexecutive Director (ext. 214) Rayna ArnoldOffice Coordinator (ext. 210) Virginia TigerBet Sefer Director (ext. 217) Susan Simon
Gan avraham Director (ext. 219) Ruth MorrisBookkeeper (ext. 215) Christine Tripod
Custodian (ext. 211) Joe LewisKindergym/Toddler Program Dawn Margolin 547-7726
Volunteers (ext. 229) Herman & Agnes Pencovic
OFFICerS
President Bryan Schwartz 847-8079Vice President Mark Fickes 652-8545Vice President Steve Glaser 531-6384Vice President Steve Grossman 834-3937Vice President Laura Wildmann 601-9571
Secretary Flo Raskin 653-7947Treasurer Dan Finkelstein 428-2849
COMMITTeeS & OrGanIzaTIOnS
If you would like to contact the committee chairs, please contact the synagogue office for phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
adult education Steve Glaser & Aaron Paul
Chesed Warren Gould
Development Steve Grossman & Flo Raskin
Dues evaluation Dan Finkelstein
endowment Fund Herman Pencovic
Finance Dan Finkelstein
Gan avraham Parents Lauren Kaplan & Mala Johnson
Gan avraham School Committee Jenny MichaelsonHouse Murray Davis
Israel affairs David Marinoff
Membership Mark Fickes
Men’s Club Phil Hankin
Omer Lori Rosenthal
Personnel Steve Glaser
Public relations Lisa Fernandez
ritual Eric Friedman
Schools Laura Wildmann
Social action Jessica Dell’Era
Torah Fund Anne Levine
Web Site Jason Swartz
Women of TBa Jeanne Korn
Youth Steve Fankuchen
directory
Services ScheduleServices/ Time LocationMonday & Thursday Morning Minyan Chapel 8:00 a.m.Friday Evening (Kabbalat Shabbat) Chapel 6:15 p.m.Shabbat Morning Sanctuary 9:30 a.m.
Candle Lighting (Friday)March 2 5:46 p.m.March 9 5:53 p.m.March 16 7:00 p.m.March 23 7:06 p.m.March 30 7:13 p.m.
Torah Portions (Saturday)March 3 T’TzavvehMarch 10 Ki TissaMarch 17 Va-yakhelMarch 24 P’KudeiMarch 31 Va-Yikra
TeMPle BeTH aBraHaMis proud to support the Conservative Movement by affiliating with The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Advertising Policy: Anyone may sponsor an issue of The Omer and receive a dedication for their business or loved one. Contact us for details. We do not accept outside or paid advertising.The Omer is published on paper that is 30% post-consumer fibers.The Omer (USPS 020299) is published monthly except July and August by Congregation Beth Abraham, 336 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610. Periodicals Postage Paid at Oakland, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Omer, c/o Temple Beth Abraham, 336 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610-3232.© 2010. Temple Beth Abraham.
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The Omer is published by Temple Beth Abraham, a non-profit, located at 336 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610; telephone 510-832-0936. It is published monthly except for the months of July and August for a total of ten issues per annum. It is sent as a requester publication and there is no paid distribution.
To view The Omer in color, visit www.tbaoakland.org.
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what’s happening
See additional WTBA and other Adult Education
activities on page 5.
TBA Annual Blood Drive
April 15 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Call the Red Cross to schedule an appointment
at (800) 733-2767
Contact Charles Feltman with questions:
Rock & Roll Purim, Megillah Reading,
and Family ServicesWednesday, March 7 at 6:15 p.m.
In the main sanctuary
This year’s spoof songs will include hits by Maroon 5, Adele, and the usual classic,
Beatles, Sonny & Cher, etc.
It should be a fabulous time!
Fifth Annual East Bay Women’s Torah Study
Monday, April 30, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. Hosted by the Women of Temple Beth Abraham (WTBA)
341 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA
Join women from throughout the East Bay as we explore a wide range of thought-provoking topics. Taught by Bay Area Women Rabbis and Teachers.
Contact Ellen Kaufman ([email protected]) or Lori Rosenthal ([email protected]) with questions.
K O L O T NASHiM
SAVE THE DATE!
Women on the Move Sunday, March 11, 9:45 a.m.
WTBA hikes happen the second Sunday of every month. We meet at 9:45 and depart promptly at 10:00. Hikes end by 11:30.We will meet at the Skyline Gate on Skyline just south of Snake and hike in Redwood Regional Park.For details, contact Deena Aerenson at [email protected] or (510) 225-5107.
Hello, teenagers of TBA!
Now that you’ve had your bar/bat mitzvah, what’s next??
Find out by joining BBYO!
Our local BBYO chapter, called Dreidel AZA, is hosting Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, March 9, at 6:15 p.m. in the TBA Chapel, and you’re invited! It’s going to be lots of fun. For more information on the service, or about BBYO, please contact Greg Korn, current president of the boys’ chapter, at (510) 919-5094, or at [email protected].
Keflanu: Shabbat Fun & Games for 3rd - 6th GradersMarch 17, after services
See details on page 11.
War Horse: Tickets still available!A fund raiser for theater goers, organized by WTBA.
See details on page 9.
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from the rabbiPurim – a “G” or an “r” rating?When most people think of Purim, we think of children. We see children dressed in elaborate costumes, from Queen Esther and Haman on the Purim side to Cinderella and Darth Vader on the secular side. We think of games and carnivals. I now understand why my parents would never let us take home the actual goldfish they gave out as prizes when I was a child. We think of children and adults shaking their groggers as loudly as they can to blot out Haman’s name. That’s the G rated version with which most of us are familiar.But there’s a PG-13 to R version as well. First, regarding its observance, adults are commanded to drink so much that you can’t distinguish between the words “Blessed is Mordecai” and “Cursed be Haman.” This stands in marked contrast to the rest of Jewish tradition and culture, where modera-tion rather than Achashverosh reigns as king. I personally do not believe it is ever good to drink oneself to such a point, but it certainly a part of traditional adult Jewish observance of the holiday.And the story? If you read the whole Megillah, Chapter 9 shows a violent side that would make most of us cringe (I say “would,” because in the main service we abbreviate the reading and so many never hear it). After proceeding to kill ten of Haman’s sons and five hundred of his closest associates under Mordecai, the rest of the Jews go out and kill 75,000 more enemies. I believe the entire story is a farce, but the violent nature of the end of the book is particularly not meant for children. It forces us to struggle with very adult questions about the nature of violence, revenge, and the thin line that often separates them. Over the years I have come to appreciate that our tradition doesn’t sugarcoat or idealize the Biblical characters, but rather, forces us to engage in difficult thoughts and discussions. So when the band rocks out its silly songs and we cheer for Esther and Mordecai and boo at any mention of Haman, I’ll be having a “G” rated ball. But we should also know that behind the merriment lies a very “R” rated adult story that really makes us think.And for one story and one holiday to accomplish both things at once, to work on multiple levels of meaning? How very, very Jewish that is indeed.
Join us for Rock & Roll Purim, Megillah Reading,
and Family Services on Wednesday,
March 7 at 6:15 p.m. in the main sanctuary. This year’s spoof songs will include hits by Maroon 5,
Adele, and the usual classic, Beatles, Sonny & Cher, etc.
It should be a fabulous time!
Thank You!We would like to gratefully acknowledge these contribu-tions to gala gourmet 2012 Our Chef: Jing Piser Our Bar Captain: Joel PiserOur Decorators: Bella Gordon & Billy GentryOur Wine Suppliers: Booker Holton & Elaine GerstlerDecorating & Kitchen Help:from a great crew of volun-teers too many to mention for fear of leaving someone out.The TBA Office StaffEveryone who donated above and beyond.Saint Germain
Murray & Virginia DavisGeorge & Janet King
Le MaraisJoanne Goldstein & Charles Bernstein
Herbert & Harriet BloomDean Goldfein & Tamara ElulCarol Robinson & Art GouldRobyn & Brett HodessLori & David RosenthtalMarcia & Andy WassermanAllison Kent Weiss & Paul Weiss
La LouvreJan & Randy KesslerDeborah & Michael Sosebee
Le Moulin RougeMark Fickes & Billy GentryDavid GalantElaine Gerstler & Booker HoltonJessica Siegel & Ulli RotscherAdi & Curt SchackerGeorge Zimmer
2012 Gala Gourmet Co-Chairs
Art Gould & Booker Holton
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president’s message
Please Join Us for Morning Minyan on Mondays and Thursdays
Join the regulars at our Minyan service, each Monday and Thursday starting at 8:00 a.m. The ser-vice lasts about an hour, and is really a great way to start the day. As an added bonus, breakfast is served immediately afterwards. To use the old expression – try it, you’ll like it. If not as a regular, just stop in once or twice and see what it’s all about.
Sing the Purim Blues – or, What Do The Blues, Ukraine, Temple Beth abraham, and Purim Have in Common?By Bryan Schwartz
The blues are happy music. Don’t let the name fool you.The blues are happy the way that five o’clock on Friday is happy, the way that seeing a good friend after a bad breakup is happy. The blues are a party after long nights of lockdown. Visit a juke joint in Clarksdale, Mississippi, or a blues dive on the South Side of Chicago – and there’s noth-ing quite like the joy of shouting “I been mistreated, baby!” in an appreciative crowd. The blues are therapy. It makes us glad to know that people share our experiences – good or bad – and this is essence of the blues. We cannot all find orchestral symphonies in our daily lives, but every adult human can find the blues within him or her, just scratching the surface.Purim is a favorite Jewish blues tune. I never appreciated this so much as when I spent Purim in the Vinnitsya Oblast of Ukraine, 11 Purims ago. This was a part of Ukraine where maybe some of your ancestors lived – after all, there were hundreds of thousands of Jews in Vinnitsya a century ago. Several hours from Kiev, this backwater was dotted with shtetls, teeming with Jewish life. Then came the Cossacks. And the Nazis. And the Communists. Somehow, by the time I got there, just after the turn of the Millennium, there were still 8,500 Jews.The Jews of Vinnistya I met didn’t know much Hebrew, and even Yiddish was a faded memory for most. They would struggle to recite Jewish prayers, do not know Shabbat’s rules, and kashrut – fuhgeddaboudit. But Purim – Purim rocks in Vinnitsya.Every community, no matter how small, hosts a Purim spiel – and these are not tame affairs: lumpy-breasted, cross-dressing Esthers; drunk Nazi Hamans; and many, many vodka l’chaims, sweet wine l’chaims, and hamantashen. Oy. I must have attended more than a dozen spiels, accom-panied by boisterous Megillah readings, shouting down that SOB Haman.As one young Jewish musician told me, “Imagine it. You have a difficult life. You go to a festival, like Purim, and hear sad music?” she asked. “It’s to forget your problems.”Vera Shvartsman Cheyved was 78 when I met her in Vinnitsya, having survived being ghettoized, orphaned, shot, starved, dressed in rags, left childless, torn from her husband, exiled, denied reli-gious freedom, and, more recently, stripped of adequate health care. What I remember about her, though, is the incredible joy she showed, shining her gold-plated teeth at me and laughing uncon-trollably with friends while singing Yiddish songs together for Purim.Purim was summed up for me most beautifully by my guide in Vinnitsya, Sasha Tsondekovich, a school teacher about my age, who was trying to get by on the $25/month state salary. “Our sense of humor,” he said, “is how we survive.”Think of African-Americans, overcoming slavery, and poverty, and despair, to smile and sing the blues, and…raise your glass. Think back to our Jewish ancestors, our brothers and sisters from Persia to Vinnitsya, overcoming genocidal Haman, and genocidal Hitler, and many others in between, and…raise your glass. Think of the worst disappointments and saddest moments in your own life, and drown them in the happiness of coming together as a community for some rowdi-ness and a good laugh. I look forward to singing the Purim blues with you this year, TBA!
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editor’s message
the
OMERWe cheerfully accept member submissions. Deadline for articles and letters is the seventh of the month preceding publication.
editor in Chief Lori RosenthalManaging editor Lisa Fernandezlayout & Design Jessica Sterling
Calendars Jon GoldingB’nai Mitzvah editor Susan Simon
Cover Ruth TeitelbaumHelp From People like you!
Copy editors Jessica Dell’Era, Charles Feltman, Nadine Joseph, Richard Kauffman, Jan Silverman, Debbie Spangler, James Wakeman
Proofreaders June Brott, Jessica Dell’Era, Jeanne Korn, Anne Levine, Stephen Shub, Susan Simon, Debbie Spangler
Distribution Fifi Goodfellow, Hennie Hecht, Herman and Agnes Pencovic, Gertrude Veiss
Mailing address 336 Euclid Ave. Oakland, CA 94610e-Mail [email protected]
Upcoming Omer theme in April: Spring Is In The Air
Mermaid for a DayBy Lori Rosenthal
I joined my first swim team at age 6 as part of Suburban Swim Club’s summer league. From the moment I donned that red and white stripe Dolphin team suit, size 26, and dove into the pool, it was basically love at first touch. I loved the cool feel of the water surrounding my body, that clear blue-water color all around me, the colorful pool flags flapping overhead, and even the smell of chlo-rine. I was hooked. Fast forward to today, literally five decades later, and I am still infatuated.It’s not just swimming pools that call my name. Show me a body of water and guess what I plan to do? In the many camping trips I have taken over the years, I don’t think there is a swimmable body of water that I have neglected to jump or wade into. Cold water, warm water, smooth bottom, rocky bottom, yukky disgusting muddy bottom, I’m there. I’ve been swimming on four of the seven continents, and in most of the major cities throughout the United States. When David and I were first dating, he joined me many early Sunday mornings to be my cheer-ing squad for some organized open water swim or other. It just went with the territory. When we had kids, they learned to swim at a young age. And through the years, they have waded, jumped, or been pushed into many bodies of water with me. It is a source of pride to me that both Emma and Becca have called or texted over the years to excitedly tell me in which body of water in some far flung place at some odd hour they have gone skinny-dipping. Other parents would be mortified. Not so with me… it makes this mama bear proud!In 1998, I took the plunge into my first fund raising swim - the Women’s Cancer Resource Center’s (WCRC) Swim A Mile event at Mills College. WCRC is an Oakland based organization that pro-vides direct services to women with cancer and advocates for changes in the health care system, and is, in general, a local cause that I strongly support. I plan to participate in my 15th swim WCRC this October. And now my story circles back to Purim. Because this year, by way of a friendship that began at the bridge tables, I was invited to be a MERMAID! Specifically, I was invited to join Marty’s Mermaids, a “team” of swimmers who have also participated in this fund raising event for over a decade, and do it up in grand style. From the pictures they’ve sent me, their pre-swim costume includes incandescent mermaid tails and a goofy hat. I am excited in advance to join them!Though I won’t have the costume in time for Purim this year, in my heart, that night at TBA, I will be a proud mermaid. Whatever your costume is that night, feel free to swim on over and say hi!Please join me for the Megillah reading and festivities at TBA on the evening of Wednesday, March 7.
eaST BaY InTernaTIOnal JeWISH FIlM FeSTIVal The 17th Annual East Bay International Jewish Film Festival is coming this month! With more than 40 films, there is a cinematic gem for everyone – from feel-good dramas like Le Concert to chilling thrillers like Kirot. The Festival will screen at several venues this year: the CineArts in Pleasant Hill, the Vine Cinema in Livermore and the Orinda Theatre (both theatres I and II). To purchase tickets online, go to www.eastbayjewishfilm.org or call (510) 318-6456.
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wtba, our sisterhood
Second Annual Vashti’s BanquetSunday, March 11, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., TBA Social HallCalling all women of TBA who need a break…from work…from carpools…from organizing your household. Share the experience of the intimacy and energy that is generated by terrific women in a setting that re-imagines a Middle Eastern harem.
Once again, WTBA presents Vashti’s Banquet on March 11 from 3-5 p.m. It promises to be a feast for the senses…a chance to relax and re-energize and to have a lot of fun!
aa Lounge in the comfort and beauty of a magical desert tent created in our Social Hall while feasting on delicious finger foods and pomegranate martinis
aa Have a tarot reading…a henna treatment… a neck and shoulder massage…
aa Belly dance to the sounds and rhythms of Middle East.
aa Discover Vashti, an early feminist who refused to dance for the King.
Last year’s attendees loved it!
The event is open to all members of TBA, but we also encourage you to bring friends as well. Cost is $18 for members and $30 for guests.
Daughters aged 15 and up are welcome – they will love the henna and the tarot! Childcare will be provided, (ONLY WITH RSVP by Monday, March 5), so there’s no reason to stay home!
Harem attire is encouraged…comfort is the key.
RSVP is gratefully encouraged, but not required (except for childcare). Please RSVP to Jeanne Korn, [email protected] or (510) 339-3795, by March 7. Payment will be made at the door.
Now, Ladies…close your eyes and picture yourself transported to the mysteries of the Middle East. An exotic trip — AND you don’t even have to get on a plane! Abby Klein: “I blissfully recall the henna, mas-
sage, harem tent, AND pomegranate martinis, as well as the conversation and company of lovely women. I definitely plan on attending again!”
Jody London: “For me, the highlight of last year’s banquet was belly dancing with an instructor who was very pregnant, and the henna tattoos! I had never had a henna tattoo before, and they are very fun! Not to mention the oasis in the middle of the Social Hall. And don’t let me forget the great company of the Women of TBA! This is an event well-worth leaving the kids for an afternoon.”
Flo Raskin: “I loved the pomegranate martinis and the beautiful harem tent....it created an instant atmosphere of being far, far away. And I loved that we were all unselfconscious as we tried basics of belly dance!”
Elizabeth Simms: “How could I forget the pomegranate martinis???”
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wtba, our sisterhood monday minyan tba ski trip
Pirkei Imahot Monday, March 26,
9:30 a.m.
Subversive Sequels in The Bible
How Biblical Stories Mine and Undermine Each Other
Join our community of women as we uncover the emotional and intellectual themes that live in Torah and connect to our lives. Our Rosh Chodesh Torah study meets monthly, on the Monday closest to Rosh Chodesh. Meetings are hosted and facilitated by group members.
Sponsored jointly by Oakland Ruach Hadassah and the Women of TBA, the group is open to all women.
Questions? Contact Debbie Spangler at [email protected] or (510) 531-1105 for the location of our next meeting.
TBa Ski Trip was a Powdery Sensation!
I Know a MinyanaireBy Charles Feltman
My apologies to Irvin Berlin for butchering the fourth word from his 1915 hit song, but at least I have your attention. This article is a confessional history of my involvement with the TBA Monday and Thursday Morning Minyan.I came originally on a lark (there I go with music again) because I knew nothing (and I do mean nothing). Imagine my surprise when I found that there was a Torah processional and reading, much like on Shabbat.My original visit was on a Monday Holiday prior to my retirement, and it was fairly well attended (about 20). More than a year later there was an opportunity to say Kaddish for my Mom on a weekday after my retirement.That visit, which had barely more than a Minyan, plus an informal friendly breakfast afterwards made me a regular. I wanted to be there for those who wanted to say Kaddish the same way the other Minyanaires had been there for me.I have stayed for this and the “ruach” which is hard to describe – so I suggest you check it out yourself when you can. By no means should you feel that this is attempting to provide a “guilt trip” for you, just an opportunity to participate.OK – So what WAS the name of that 1915 hit by Irving Berlin? Join me on Monday or Thursday and I will even sing it for you.
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shabbatShabbat – Our Gift to the WorldBy Susan Simon
I have read that before the Israelites shared the concept of Shabbat with the world, there was no concept of a weekly day of rest anywhere on earth. The Babylonians evidently had something that was called Spattu on the 15th day of the month which was also known as “the day of the quieting of the gods.” But the ceremonies that took place on this date had little to do with anything we would think of as Shabbat.The idea of a day of rest caught on quickly and was adopted by all religions that followed. Although the day selected may be different (Friday or Sunday) and the manner of observance may be different, the notion that human beings need a time each week where their stresses are reduced, where their routine is broken, and where they are encour-aged to be with family and friends seems universal.It doesn’t take God long in the Torah to get to the part where the importance of rest is unveiled. In Genesis (2:1-3) after completing the creation of heaven and earth, God stopped doing any of the work that God had done, God blessed this 7th day and declared it holy. In Exodus (16:4-5) God told Moses that on the 6th day God would provide enough manna for two days so that the Israelites don’t have to work on Shabbat to gather food. And just four chapters later (Exodus 20:8-11) God very specifically reminds the people to “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” And in this section, God is much more specific than before: “you shall not do any work – you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, or your cattle, or the stranger who is within your settlements.” The reason given relates back to the quote from Genesis – because God rested on the 7th day and there-fore God blessed Shabbat and “hallowed it.”There are at least two more references to the importance of Shabbat in the Torah (Exodus 31:13-18 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15), but, like much of the Torah, there aren’t any details about what “doing Shabbat” really means. This vagueness leaves it up to the individual to determine what makes Shabbat a day of rest for him/her; what it means to refrain from work; what brings holiness to the individual; what serves as a reference of God on the 7th day.If you are very strict in your observance of Shabbat, perhaps you use the 39 melakhot1 (prohibited acts) as your guide. 1 These 39 prohibited acts are planting, plowing, reaping, gathering, threshing, winnowing, sorting, grinding, sifting, kneading, cooking, shearing, laundering, combining wool, dying, spinning, warping, making two loops, separating two threads, tying, untying, sewing, tearing, trapping, slaugh-tering, skinning, preserving, smoothing, scoring, measured cutting, writing, erasing, building, demolition, extinguish-ing a fire, igniting a fire, applying the finishing touches, transferring between domains.
Many of these 39 prohibitions aren’t particularly relevant in the lives of modern city dwellers – I don’t know that I have ever threshed, winnowed, or combined wool. But I do routinely ignite and extinguish fire every time I use my gas stove. And if I am wearing shoes with laces, I routinely make at least one loop, perhaps even two as I tie my shoes. While I don’t trap animals or slaughter or skin them, I do use writing implements on a regular basis. And on the rare occasions that I get to garden, I love to plant seeds and harvest any vegetables I have managed to eke out of the earth. The 39 melakhot say that I cannot do these things on Shabbat. I admit that I look at this list with puzzlement sometimes and with the desire to understand why these par-ticular things are so “bad” to do on Shabbat.I suppose that historically, these acts were ones which were used by the Israelites to earn a living. Doing all of these acts took up the time that might be enjoyed in Torah lishma (study for self improvement, not for other gain), in hachna-sat orchim (welcoming guests) in bikhur kholim (visiting the sick), and in menucha (rest), all activities that we probably have a hard time doing in our busy lives. So many of us work without much rest, rest that is badly needed to renew our spirits as well as our bodies. For those of us who do not follow the 39 melakhot, what can we do to obtain the benefits of menucha and make the day of Shabbat holy, separate, different from the rest of our ordinary week? And for a person or family that has never experienced this differentiated day, how does one get started?I suggest a commitment to being mindful that the world is different from Friday night at sundown until Saturday night at sundown. You can do this by instituting little changes to your life that won’t impose a major hardship but will keep the notion of a day of rest in your mind. Decide that you will come to services at least once a month on a Friday night or Saturday morning to be with members of your community. Make a rule for yourself that if you need to drive on Shabbat that you won’t turn on the radio. Make a resolution to have another person or family over for Shabbat dinner at least once a month. Institute a custom in your family that at the Friday night dinner table that you talk about the weekly Torah portion or something Jewish or about Israel. Make it a practice to put some money in a tzedakah box every Friday before sundown. Each of these small acts differentiates Shabbat from the rest of the ordi-nary work week. Each of these acts help to make Shabbat holy, and helps to replenish our souls and our relationships with other people. We were given the gift of weekly rejuve-nation – let’s enjoy it!
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purimWhat a Drag: Why Can’t little Boys Wear Dresses?By Anat Shenker-Osorio
This month, Jews will celebrate Purim, my contender for all time best holiday in a religion. Not only are we encouraged to drink enough as to not be able to distinguish the names Haman and Mordecai (since those don’t sound remotely similar, that’s a lot of Manischewitz), we get to dress up and make lots of noise in the synagogue. And there are special cookies.More importantly, Purim is one of few holidays in any liturgy that centers around the achievements of a woman. Not only are men in the foreground of our other holidays honoring specific people, they take center stage in many of those of other major religions: Passover (Moses with best supporting actor to Aaron and a walk-on for Miriam), Hanukah (Judah Maccabee), Christmas (Jesus with Mary supporting), Easter (Jesus again) and Laylat Usra and Miraj (Mohammed.)Queen Esther, the heroine of the Purim tale, defied expecta-tions to help save her people from planned annihilation at the hands of her husband’s no-good advisor, Haman. Every year, Jewish children dress up as one of the main characters in this drama. And when asked, Mordecai, Haman or King Ahasuerus – my three year-old son quickly chose Queen Esther. A no brainer, really – she’s the star of this show.While I happily borrowed a dress of the frilliest, shiniest available (and went wild at Walgreens on a plastic crown with matching jewelry) my husband is not so keen on this little gender-bending adventure. A close friend, your liberal
by habit kind of corporate lawyer, declared – upon seeing him in full regalia – “that’s child abuse.”There’s been a spate of articles remarking on a burgeoning preference for girls. Change.org asked readers “so what do you think of this modern-day girl fetish? As we fight for equality among men, could it be possible that women in the United States will end up outgrowing the ‘boys club’?” And Elle magazine caused quite a stir with an article that chronicled several women’s obsessive desire for a girl.Perhaps it’s only fitting to want a girl, in this age when girls can be Superman or fairies, lumberjacks or princesses. Girls, in many cases, have the whole range of gender expression open to them. We may call them tomboys but climbing trees and playing matchbox cars is a possibility for girls.Not so for boys – from the clothes they wear to the toys they play with – there is a proscribed set of options. Boys not only will be boys, we seem determined to ensure that’s the case. And this is not just a re-enforcement of the impor-tance of masculinity above all things – it’s an implicit and powerful devaluation of what’s feminine in all of us.Make no mistake, my son will be the cutest little Queen Esther in my eyes but it’s troubling that this role playing will surely cause double-takes for others. My son is no more likely to actually think he’s a queen than he believes he is a frog, his choice for Halloween costume. He understands Esther as a character he’s learned about in pre-school – one he desires to play. To me, she symbolizes courage, non-conformity, loyalty and faith – if these are traits my child wishes to emulate, I couldn’t be happier.Happy Purim to you all!Note: This essay originally appeared in RH Reality Check in February 2010.
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purim war horsePurim, a Time for Hamantaschen and Store Bought CostumesBy Lisa Fernandez
Purim should be a time of happy memories, of haman-taschen and merriment.For me, not so much.What I remember is an itchy, unbecoming, yellow dress with daisies that my mother had me wear in the annual Purim costume contest, seemingly year after year. The dress, adorned with a green bow, was my mother’s flower girl dress when she was about 8, and suffice it to say, that even in the 1970s, this dress was woefully out of date and out of style. And so there I was, parading around as Esther, unhappy and frumpy, and of course, never the winner of the contest.So, to make up for all my old Purim heartache, my children get storebought outfits. Pippi Longstocking with a store bought wig. Batman with real puffy store bought muscles. Nothing makeshift. Nothing held together with duct tape.
Nothing to remind me of coming in close-to-last during the Purim contest.So, I know: the moral of this story seems to be that store bought is better. A superficial moral, and one that does not seem worth sharing. But seeing as how I don’t sew and have no time or skill to become Martha Stewart, the moral of this Purim story, as I see it, is to drop a few dimes at Target so that my children will absolutely feel great about this dress-up holiday. So that when they hear the Megillah, cheer for Mordechai and Esther, rock out with Rabbi Bloom’s band, they don’t need to itch their skin or hide, they can just eat their hamantaschen and be merry.
Plan Ahead for Great Seats TBA Goes to the Theater – at the Curran Theater in San Francisco
War Horse uses puppetry to tell the story of young Albert and his beloved horse, Joey. At the outbreak of WWI, Joey is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France, where he’s soon caught up in enemy fire and on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself in no man’s land. Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a mission to find him and bring him home. This story is told with the some of the most innovative stagecraft of our time.
Tickets available on these dates: august 2 (Thursday at 8 p.m.) - Mezz Row G (Previews: $60) – 12 total, 6 on each sideaugust 12 (Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.) - Orch Row T, 4 seats center, Orch Row S, 2 seats on the side ($100)September 2 (Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.) – LABOR DAY WEEKEND - Orch Row P, 5 seats, Mezz Row C, 4 seats, Mezz Row B, 6 seats ($100)
Name: ___________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
# of Tickets __________ Date __________ Total $ enclosed __________________
Phone: ____________________Email: ______________________________________Replies and payment due by April 10. Plan early - this show will SELL OUT!Seats will be assigned on a first come first served basis. Make checks out to Lori Rosenthal Mailing Address: 1868 Woodhaven Way, Oakland, CA 94611Contact Lori Rosenthal with questions – [email protected] or (510) 339-0133.This event brought to you by WTBA and is open to all. Spread the word!
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jewish day schools
Ella Sadikman enjoying Purim at CCJDS
Purim at CCJDS – The Whole Megillah By Dean Goldfein
Purim at CCJDS is greatly anticipated and traditions rule the day. Morning tefillah includes the formal megillah reading, very fast by Rabbi Dan, followed by a hilarious play performed by staff for the students. One year we con-sidered a new play but the tradition proved too powerful- the kids insisted in the staff play- and this annual comedy continued! Some students dress as traditional characters from the Megillat Esther and some in their favorite characters or animals and some we’re still trying to guess what they were/are. The staff commonly chooses a theme for their costume selection. Memorable ones from the past have included pirates, literary characters, and trees; together we made a
forest, well kind of. Each student receives a Mishloach Manot basket to take home and the Parents Association facilitates the pur-chase of special bas-kets for community members, with all profits going to sup-port a Shir Ha Lev Community Service Project partner of the school. We have one for each grade with many located in Israel.
The day ends with a wacky festival run by the Middle School students. There are games with prizes and a closing song by our cos-tumed 12-piece Rock Band, which starred at Israel in the Gardens last year! One thing that parents, teachers and students all share is that we are exhausted by the end of the day. Every day is fun at CCJDS but Purim is extra fun. Come join the fun with us. CCJDS keeps growing and growing each year now with 158 students in grades K-8 including our new Half-Day Bridge Kindergarten! Contact Amy Wittenberg, our Admissions Director, at (925) 284-8288 or [email protected]. Both Amy and I enjoy being part of both the CCJDS and TBA community, along with many others. We welcome the chance to tell you more about our school.
Purim at Tehiyah Day School is always a Blast!!By Donna Sidel, Tehiyah’s Director of Communications
Purim starts early at Tehiyah Day School, and ends with a bang! Beginning weeks before Purim begins, the school’s faculty and staff show up each morning for our morning prayer assembly, Modeh Ani, wearing a stunning display of silly hats. All gathered, including students, parents, and staff and faculty, are welcomed with a series of jokes, some aimed at our youngest students, and some for our middle school students and the adults.Two weeks before Purim, the entire school gets decorated by parents in an amazing display of colorful items. Every post is wrapped, every eave has something hanging from it, including old toys and an assortment of other items, and the school turns into a kaleidoscope of color and fun. It is positively delightful to walk around our usually colorful and highly decorated campus to see the imaginative ways the parents have dressed it up for the holiday. All of this activity culminates at Tehiyah Day School’s annu-al Purim celebration, which is, for many, the best day of the school year. Everyone dresses up, from the youngest of our Bridge Kindergarten students through our eighth-graders, as well as teachers, staff, administrators, and parents. All join together in the morning for a reading of the Megillah of Esther. Full of booing, cheering, groggers, music, Purim shpiels, singing, and more, the Megillah reading always offers something new. Last year, it featured a great student-created video featuring our Head of General Studies in the memo-rable role of the missing Queen Vashti.But the Megillah reading is just a prelude to the real fun
Dean Goldfein, TBA member and CCJDS Head of School, starring in the Purim Play at CCJDS
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jewish day schoolsduring Purim at Tehiyah, for after lunch begins the Purim Carnival, an amazing extravaganza. Every grade runs a booth with games and prizes. There are cakewalks and other games for everyone. Jump houses abound on campus, some reserved only for younger students, and some for the older. There are free sno-cone and popcorn machines working at several locations, always with a long line of takers. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Purim without hamentaschen, which are for sale in a variety of flavors along with coffee and drinks. Some families even pre-order hamentaschen by the dozen and pick them up at the Carnival.This annual event is such a beloved institution, our alumni often take off school for the day to join us on campus with their parents, and friends of the school often attend to join in the fun. Purim at Tehiyah is always full of fun, funny costumes, treats, and high spirits. If you’d like to learn more about Purim at Tehiyah, or about our strong academics and our values-based Bridge-K through eighth-grade program, please don’t hesitate to call our director of admissions, Jim Gaines at (510) 233-3013.
Keflanu: Shabbat Fun and Games for 3rd - 6th GradersWe would like to invite 3rd – 6th graders to join their friends in the Baum Youth Center
following Shabbat services on the 1st and 3rd Shabbat of the month,
Dates include: March 17 april 7,21 May 5,19 June 2,16After the service join together for lunch in the social hall.
About 20 minutes after motzi, the Rabbi will announce the chaperone is ready for check-in at the Baum Youth Center!Have fun with Shabbat appropriate games and activities…
basketball • board games • jump rope • foosball • ping pong • or even just shmoozeParents: we ask that an adult accompany the child/children to the Baum Youth Center – the chaperone will sign your child in and an adult pick-up at the Baum Youth Center –
for the safety of the youth, we ask that they not leave the site on their own.We ask your assistance and cooperation with this new program. Please make suggestions as we work out any kinks.
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gan avraham
April 1 - Chocolate Seder May 13 - Pool party/Graduation
To rSVP or if you have questions, contact your trusty advisors, Dina and Phil Hankin at [email protected].
La’atid Events 2012
Purim at the GanBy Ruth Morris
Purim is a favorite holiday at the Gan. Children really connect with stories about kings and queens, the powerful and the powerless, and struggles with good and evil impulses. They can relate! The children hear a modified version of the Purim story that plays down the more violent aspects of the Megillah and stresses the strength of character and intelligence of Esther and Mordechai in standing up for the Jews of Shushan. Lots of “practice-time” is given over to grogger-shaking. Puppets, dress-up clothes and other props are placed in the classrooms so that the children can reenact the story on their own. In Kitah Gimmel, the children build the king’s palace in Shushan and play in it. Children make their own megillot, or little stick puppets of the Purim characters as well as groggers. They may make crowns, masks or jewelry for their own costumes. The Purim songs the children learn are catchy. It isn’t unusual to hear children singing to themselves about “Once there was a wicked, wicked man”, or about “my hat it has three corners”. The aroma of just-baked Hamentaschen wafts through the school on the days before Purim. The children don’t know it, but while they are busy making Hamentaschen, they are also learning about circles and triangles, as well as measurement! All of this excitement culminates in the Purim play or Purimspiel on Friday, March 9 at 9:15 in the chapel. Children can come to school wearing Purim costumes if they choose to. All the families in the school are invited to enjoy a very silly and special performance featuring the Gan Avraham teachers, with Rabbi Bloom in the starring role of Queen Esther. If you’d like to be part of an enthusiastic group of Purim revelers, you’re welcome to come too!
Shabbat Mishpacha by Rachel Teichman
Shabbat Mishpacha literally means “Family Shabbat.” It is a monthly Saturday morning service where young kids through age six, and their own families, can come to pray, sing, laugh and dance. While it is led by adults, usually leaders Angela Engel and Lily Halem, it is really child-driven. When a kid has the urge to start a dance circle in the middle of the Modeh Ani prayer, they are encouraged to do so. When asked what children are thankful for during the Birkat Hashachar, answers will range from “butterflies and flowers” to “the earth, and my brothers and sisters.” One morning a four-year-old boy claimed that superheroes were what he was thankful for. When my three-year-old said she was thankful for princesses, he whispered “princesses don’t exist.” It really gets kids thinking! If you ask a child what they like most about Shabbat Mishpacha, you may hear “snack,” “the yard,” or “the Torah
parade.” Speaking of snack, it consists of fun and healthy items such as string cheese, pretzels, blueberries and animal crackers, all served family style in little bowls in Kitah Alef. For KA graduates, it is nice to spend time in the room they spent so much time in when they were “little!”Live music and performances have been an added treat to the services this year. During a most recent service, we were fortunate to have Cantor Kaplan’s drum playing inspire a lot of dancing and moving about the room! We also heard an animated story about the circle of life, told by Miriam Gould, that had the children captivated. The ruach that we all want to bring to services, is right in the hearts of the six and under crowd. Come to the Gan’s Kitah Gimmel the first Saturday of every month, and it will be waiting for you. The next services are April 21, May 5 and June 2. If you would like to volunteer to lead services, read a story, per-form music or bring snacks, please email [email protected] or [email protected].
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bet sefer tba schools auctionYou’ve Got a FriendBy Susan Simon
Each year our 7th graders discuss and consider what makes a good friend. They examine the wisdom of ancient rabbis, such as Ben Sira and Rav Naftali. Some of the advice seems to have been written in our own time, while other advice seems harsh or inappropriate to us now. For instance, what would you make of the advice “Do not desert an old friend; a new one is not worth as much.” Or how about “Some friends turn into enemies and shame you by making the quarrel public.” Consider this one: “Always greet him first when you meet him and wish him well in all his endeavors.”Are these the most important elements in making and sustaining a wonderful friendship, or do you have other wisdom that would be more appropriate in the 21st century? Our Kitah Zayin students were asked to create their own mishnayot – their own teachings – about friendship. Here are some excerpts from their wisdom. Enjoy!“A friend is a companion, one full of loyalty, trust, care and love.”Many people don’t know the boundaries of friendship. The boundaries are none.”“Never insult your friends. That means be NICE!!”“Beware of the difference between those who are your friends and those who you call your friends.”“Friends are not just a face, but whole splendid beings.”“If you aren’t open to different things you may never meet the best friend you’ll have.”“Being humorous makes every friendship memorable and last long.”
“True friends do not hold grudges, tell your secrets or keep secrets from you.”“A good friend is one who always has your back and will always be there for you.”“Friendship is like a shooting star – it is eye-opening and amazing.”“Friends should be two people who wouldn’t be the same without the other.”“You don’t have to be the star of your friendship.”“Friends save your life from stink-ing and make life awesome.”“When you are making a new friend you need to know if they’re trustworthy.”
“Friendship can be a brilliant fire in the darkness if we know how to start it.”“If you have to buy your friend’s faith, then they are not worth keeping in the first place.”“If you have a friend that is super close to you, you can always fall back on him/her.”“Friendship is priceless.”“Be honest, open and kind and your friendship shall be uncondi-tional.”“Friends will always be there for you if you are there for them.”“Friends support each other as an ice cream cone supports a scoop of ice cream.”
Schools auction, May 6: How Can You Help?By Lisa Fernandez
So, it’s the Schools Auction time again, and we’re hoping that you can join in the fun, by partaking at the party, and helping us to raise funds. This year, the auction is May 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and the theme is Sunday Night Fever.Each year, the auction typically raises nearly $40,000 and is used for overall school costs at the Gan and Bet Sefer, teacher enrichment, guest speakers, and scholarships. Last year, TBA gave scholarships totaling $30,000.To help reach our goal, here’s how you can pitch in:Think of contributing services that you are good at yourself: Can you cook a Shabbat meal, dog sit, or perform financial services? Is your living room large enough to host a ladies’ only gathering, or a fancy dinner for eight? If so, please donate your time and space.Do you eat out at a favorite restaurant? Do your children take gymnastics or Tae Kwon Do? If so, be bold, and ask
the manager to donate a gift certificate to TBA. You may be surprised at how quickly they’ll say yes.Do you have a vacation home? A yacht? Would you lend it out for TBA members to bid on? Now it’s easier than ever to donate. This year we have an online form. You can use http://goo.gl/yTXxu to pull up the form, and submit your donation on line.While the auc-tion isn’t until May, there’s no time like the present to sub-mit your donation.We’re looking forward to working with you. If you have any questions, here’s who to contact:Auction co-chairs are Rachel Teichman at [email protected] and Eric Leve at [email protected] solicitations co-chairs are Lauren Kaplan at [email protected] and Jenny Michaelson at [email protected] solicitations chair is JB Leibovitch at [email protected].
Congrats to our wonderful community for donating ~ 1,000 pounds of fresh produce to the Alameda County Food Bank in honor of Tu B'Shvat - WOW!!!!!! Thank you! Susan Simon
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midrasha israel tidbitsPouring for PassoverBy Kendra Lubalin
Please join Bay Area Midrasha for Pouring for Passover, a wine tasting celebration! This event features wines from some of the most prominent Jewish winemakers in Nothern California, as well as the area’s leading caterers, and is a great chance to buy wine for Passover, as well as wines made for any day throughout the year. Bay Area Midrasha is a both formal and informal educational program serving teens from the Oakland, Piedmont, Alameda, San Leandro and Berkeley synagogues and communities, and your cover charge, raffle tickets, and auction bids support our pro-grams and allow us to offer scholarships to all students in need. Pouring for Passover is March 25 from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at Temple Sinai in Oakland. Please visit our website bayareamidrasha.org for more information, and click on the Pouring for Passover icon. Thanks for your vital support of our teens!
Midra-Shabang at Berkeley MidrashaBy Diane Bernbaum
Midrasha is looking forward to seeing YOU at our annual fundraiser, the Midra-Shabang. (Doesn’t that sound like fun?) On Sunday, March 11 from 5-8 p.m. we will be at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford Street in Berkeley for an evening of great food, open wine bar, music, and auc-tion. This year we are having both a Silent and a Live Auction and the items that have been pouring in are really, really wonderful – vacation homes, art, dinners with faculty, restaurants, jewelry. You get the picture. And we kept the price to attend the event really, really low – just $36. This year’s theme is Experience Paradise and the food and drinks will make you feel like you’re on a tropical island. If you love Midrasha and want to support it, COME. If you know very little about Midrasha and want to learn more,
COME. We’ll treat you to a few of our students telling you why Midrasha means a lot to them. If you want to pick up some bargains, COME. The auction items that we have will make you want to spend your money. If you want to support the next generation of involved Jews, COME. Whatever your reason, come join us, come bid, come eat, come drink. For tickets and information call the Midrasha office, (510) 843-4667.
Israel TidbitsSubmitted by June Brott
Israel’s Mobileye system addresses the fact that 90% of accidents are caused by driver errors, most of which occur because a driver was inattentive for just seconds before an accident. Mobileye, a one-camera vision system, eliminates those brief, dangerous moments in several ways. BMW, GM, Volvo and Nissan have bought Mobileye, which reduces accidents, keeps cars inside traffic lanes, and detects nearby vehicles and pedestrians, day or night, moving or not. To make it easier for oncoming motorists, an installed Mobileye also automatically raises and lowers a car’s high beams.——————————————————To prevent damage to ‘good’ cells while radiation attacks ‘bad’ cells, Israel has developed a biodegradable balloon that sepa-rates healthy tissues from cancerous ones. A balloon, Implanted in a minimally invasive procedure, dissolves in months, reduces the side effects of radiation, and is safer than most radiation therapy.From Israel21.com
Oakland Midrasha Students Relaxing Between Classes
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cooking cornerShabbat Chicken Dinner – Then and nowBy Faith Kramer
Growing up I thought having chicken for Friday night dinner was manda-tory. Even if it wasn’t the main dish it seemed to crop up in the soup or chopped liver or some other dish.I’m not alone in my fowl expecta-tions; Temple Beth Abraham member Lori Rosenthal recalls her youthful Shabbat dinners. “We always ate some variety or other of chicken. Truthfully, I was well into my teens before I knew other people didn’t eat chicken on Friday night. The funny thing is…I serve chicken on Friday night more than any other dish I make. It is just so easy and so versatile.”How did chicken become so prominent on our Shabbat dinner table? It all starts with the fact that chickens can’t fly very well, making them easy to domesticate. From their ancestral home in India, chickens spread through Sumeria and Persia and finally to the Greeks and Romans, mostly for the thrill of cockfighting. The Romans, who spread the birds throughout their lands, also liked the taste. It is during the Roman period that chicken became what the Talmud called the “choicest of birds” and available in Israel. With the fall of Rome, chickens practically disappeared from Europe until their re-introduction after the Crusades. The early Ashkenazi doted on goose or beef for their Friday night dinners, fulfill-ing the halacha (or path or way or law) of experiencing delight through foods thought to give us pleasure on Shabbat. A European meat shortage in the 15th Century increased chicken production and chicken consumption, although flocks were kept small because of the fear of contagion and disease. They were valued for their eggs and only rarely eaten as meat, usually when a hen had outlived her egg-laying years. Chicken popularity spread, especially with Jews who lived in Eastern Europe, where beef and geese were never as available as in Western Europe. Jewish com-munities around the world developed numerous recipes for chicken, many of them long-simmering, perhaps to best extract the flavor from and tenderize a tough hen or overage rooster.Because of the Talmud’s exhortation to “be fruitful and multiply like chickens,” the birds became the symbolic food of choice at Jewish weddings and other cel-ebrations, cementing their importance to traditional meals.By the end of the 19th Century, incubation and other technological advances increased the availability of chickens (and decreased their cost) and in 1930s the broiler, meant to grow fast and be eaten young, was developed. By the 1950s freezing and packing technology led to the rise of the frozen kosher chicken and its availability throughout the U.S. and its strategic placement on our Shabbat dinner plates.The night my husband Gary and I celebrated Shabbat with Lori and David Rosenthal, the Rosenthal’s served this tangy chicken with Israeli couscous with roasted vegetables. These recipes are by Lori Rosenthal.
Shabbat at the rosenthal’s “Growing up, it was mandatory to be home for Shabbat dinner,” says Lori Rosenthal. She and husband David also make Shabbat dinner a ritual in their home.“It wasn’t ever a question … it was just what we did. The kids knew that Friday night was family night. When they were little, their job was always to help set the table, arrange who would sit where, and make nametags for our guests. They were quite ornate – with felt, buttons or letters glued to construction paper. And they kept the kids busy for hours. We still have nametags for the “regulars” at our Shabbat and holiday table,” she says.Rosenthal looks for ways to involve Friday night guests whether it is through conversations about busi-ness, politics or philosophy, or by asking “whoever is joining us for dinner to bring a part of the meal –usually salad or dessert. I find it so much easier to put a nice meal on the table when I don’t have to make all of it!“Even though the Rosenthals’ two daughters, Rebecca and Emma, are away at college, the couple still makes “an effort to have a special Friday night dinner – either at our house or elsewhere.” Lori is not always the head cook at their house and David’s meals are legendary in their own right.
about this seriesShabbat Dinner ProjectAll this year I’ll be highlighting our Friday night traditions. Part of this is asking for YOUR stories, recipes, memories and rituals and maybe even an invite over to your place to see how you welcome Shabbat. Please email me at [email protected] or call 510.339.3850 if you’d like to participate in the Shabbat Dinner Project. I look forward to sharing with you.
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life cyclesB
’nai
Mit
zvah
anna Schacker, March 31I am a seventh grader at Oakland Hebrew Day School (OHDS). Going to OHDS helps me improve my Hebrew speaking and improve my connection between my Bat Mitzvah Judaic studies at OHDS and at TBA Bet Sefer. I also have a lot of friends who support me.This is my first year at TBA Bet Sefer, and at first it was hard to make new friends. However, now I enjoy going because of all of the nice people that I met there. Bet Sefer is a great way to meet new people, as well as having fun learning about different topics that help me have a new input on Judaic studies.I’m really excited for my Bat Mitzvah. I’m looking forward to reading Torah, leading Musaf, and reading my Drash. I hope you can all come!
Lori’s Curry ChiCkenServes 4
Remove skin if desired. Arrange chicken pieces in one layer in a large baking dish. (Lori uses a 9”x13” glass baking dish). Mix honey, mustard, curry, cayenne, salt and pepper and pour sauce over chicken. Marinate for 1 hour, turning occasionally. Heat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 40 - 45 minutes, basting occasionally, until chicken is cooked through.
Variation: Substitute about 2 pounds of boneless chicken breasts. Reduce cooking time to about 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
israeLi CousCous with roasted VeggiesServes 4
Israeli couscous is a small round pasta, much larger in size than traditional Moroccan couscous. Israeli cous-cous is also known by its Hebrew name of petitim. Look for it in larger grocery stores or in specialty markets. Feel free to choose other seasonal or favorite vegetables for the ones listed here.
First roast the vegetables. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease roasting pan with oil. Arrange cut up veggies in a single layer in pan. Drizzle with a Tbs. or so of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Bake for about 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender, turning once or twice. When the vegetables are cool, cut into bite-size pieces and mix with garlic, the almonds and additional salt and pepper (if desired).
Next prepare the marinade. Whisk 1/2 cup olive oil with vinegar and mustard. Pour over prepared vegeta-bles. Toss gently.
Prepare the couscous. Heat 1-2 tsp. of olive oil in a pot over medium high. Add the couscous and toast the couscous for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the pasta is golden brown. Cover the couscous with hot, simmering liquid, raise heat and bring to a boil. Cook for about seven minutes until al dente and drain well. Combine couscous and marinated vegetables in serving bowl. Toss. Taste and add salt and pepper if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Oil or oil spray for greasing pan6 asparagus stalks (slice in half if thick)1/2 head cauliflower (cut into 1/2 inch slices)3 carrots (quartered lengthwise, then cut in half)1/2 cup olive oil, plus some extra for cooking the
vegetables and couscousSalt, to taste Pepper, to taste
3 cloves garlic, chopped1/4 cup sliced almonds1/4 cup balsamic vinegar1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard1 cup Israeli couscous2 cups simmering chicken or vegetable stock (or
water)
1 cut-up chicken (about 3-4 pounds) OR about 3-4 pounds of chicken parts, on the bone, of your choice
1 cup honey1 cup Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. curry powder1/2 to 1 tsp. cayenne powder, or to tasteSalt, to tastePepper, to taste
Faith Kramer blogs her food at www.clickblogappetit.blogspot.com. Her food columns appear twice a month in the j. weekly.
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life cycles
Is your birthday information wrong or missing from this list? Please contact the TBA office to make corrections.
1Paz Avidor
2Hilary AltmanMark Beilock
Isaiah GoldsteinJeffrey RothmanLisa Sadikman
Ori Sasson3
Ilan BreinesOona Grace Swartz
Sarah Ur4
Leah Kaizer5
Debra BarachAmanda Brown-Stevens
Lowell DavisRachel Lorber
Scarlett Wagner6
Howard Maccabee7
Nancy BergerBenjamin Bernstein
Ward HagarAnthony Kay
Mark LangbergSarah Eve Mirkin
Julian Ring8
Linda AronsDenise Bostrom
Mark FickesAmy MaidenbergJulia Mendelsohn
Adam MillerBenjamin Mirkin
Janice Reisman PrystowskyChris Wike
Victoria Zatkin9
Joanna BergJeremy Bruner
10Karen GlasserKeren NathanAnya Wayne
11Jon Golding
David MendelsohnNoah Stiegler
12Brooks Solomon Hagey
Michelle SchubnelHannah Sosebee
13Noa Sara Bernstein
Hannah Lilah HalemMarjorie Myers
Katara Shea DinkinRickie Shea Dinkin
14Naomi Bernstein
Isadora Blachman-BiatchSarah Broach
Naomi Rosenblum15
Samuel BowersLloyd Silberzweig
Vicki Weller
16Katie Anna Kaizer-Salk
Elya PrystowskyDavid ShermanAaron Sunshine
17Jonah KunisSage Wagner
18David GalantElliot Gordon
Esther PinkhasovRebecca Posamentier
Joan Rubin19
Nina Teichman20
Jennifer KoppPaul LeonardHana Rotman
22Penelope Hagan
Talia HaganSophie Levin
David Paulson23
Kenneth CohenAaron Feldhammer
Oliver GoldmanMala Johnson
David LindenbaumBetty Ann PolseSanjiv SanghviAriela SimonElon Simon
Daniel SosebeeJessica Teisch
24Rebecca Glick
25Rayna ArnoldHenry Gerber
Hannah GovertSara Govert
Stephanie Mendelsohn26
Kathryn BurgeEllen Collaco
Susan CossetteDaniel DeBare
27Endre Balint
Reba Schechtman28
Brian LernerJill Rosenthal
Barbara Rothblatt29
Jennifer Goodman AbramiBarak Albert
Deborah Kahane RegoKirk Mclean
Benjamin PersinYuval Wolf
30Tosha SchoreIlana Share
31Madeleine Leibovitch
Susan Truss
March Birthdays
Welcome New Members Mazel TovDavid & Talia KaplanGary Sherne & Sandra Frucht and family (Welcome Back!)Daphne & Rami Albert. Their children Arielle, Barak and RanniMichael & Jessica Zapruder. Their sons Levi and SamuelBernard & Alison Hazens. Their daughter NaomiLaurence & Tonia James. Their daughter Fiona
Joel Goldsmith and Mor Tzadik on the birth of their son, Jordan Isaac.Steve and Jennie Chabon on the birth of their son, Judah Solomon.
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life cycles
aDar 7-8March 1-2Abraham BaimLeonard BaumSylvia HertzSamuel JaffeArthur YarmanRachel AelionCharles Bernard BernsteinArnold LissJohn MillerPhyllis Zangwill
aDar 9-15March 3-9Sue KraftEdythe SchultzWillliam MillerLilly ShoehalterAvram Mendel GoldbergJacob SaidanNancy von KugelgenMilt WeinerPhyllis GoldbergJames JonasRaymond KivelNathan PolseLloyd SilverSheba Widlan BookinWilliam GroskopfCelia KesslerAnn Krause
Sharon LernerJennie CoopersmithDaniel KingMorris KlangSidney Jerome ZywotowOlga BanksPearl BrookShirley HandloffJack JacobsRachel LevyIsador Margolin
aDar 16-22March 10-16Helen GoldbergEdith GruberLatifa NaggarUry RathDavid RoachWilliam TeneryJ. Leon BlochCharles MarcusGoldie BrodyMorris LermanIda B. Edelson RiskindFlorence BrettlerHarvey CassonAudrey CohenBenjamin SutzAllen SilverAbraham SilvermanSylvia TurkenitzIrma Eisenbud
Harry JaffeCarol KirschMax Clar
aDar 23-29March 17-23Pauline BelzerEthel Rose KaplerMaria BelinHarry BercovichMorris DavisFreda KatzBernice RingDavid RosenfeldMiriam GoldbergAlek LernerLuba LernerJoseph Horace MarxEsther MorofskyDavid WeinsteinGoldie AlperPeter HechtJennie RosenzweigRose Moses FinesteinMelvin KleinLeo WoodSam FrankelJack HelfendCarl KarpBarbara May BenjaminBoris CarasickWilliam GoldfineEileen Kessler
Michael LasarMary LeavittTom MillerSamuel NeumanArleen Shub RobinowitzMaurice Veiss
nISSan 1-7March 24-30Jack KubalikAnne GoorWerner GrossRaymond LitmanIrving LutzSamuel MosesAdolph MooreBettie BercovichH. Andre BlauHerman HertzVernon Alpert BonarRichard FickesSam GlasserAllen Lee LipsettGertrude S. WhiteSamuel Peters
nISSan 8March 31Anna HoffmanJennie Relation
May God comfort you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem
March Yahrzeits
MeMOrIal PlaQUe Anyone wishing to purchase a memorial plaque, please contact Pinky at the synagogue office at extension 229.
19
Centennial ProjectSheldon & Barbara rothblatt, speedy recovery Pinky
Stephen & Susan ShubMarc & eden Bruner
Centennial MatchMark Fickes & William GentryPhilip & Dina HankinGerald & ruby HertzJeff & Johanna IlfeldJosh & rebecca PosamentierCurtis & adi SchackerHoward zangwill & Stacy Margolin
Jeanette Jeger Kitchen FundFifi Goodfellow, In memory of Becky Singer
Misia nudler, get well Ethel Shaffer and condolences to Barbara Rothblatt
Barbara Oseroff, In memory of Nathan Denenberg
General FundMichael aronson & Jody london, in honor of Sonia Aronson’s Bat Mitzvah
Kenneth & ann CohnDennis & Susan Gildea, confirmation class
Milton & Margaret Greenstein, in memory of David Rosenstein
alfred & anne Hyman, in memory of Marres Gelfand
Brent Kauffman, confirmation class for Eliza
Barbara Oseroff, in honor of Ariela Simon’s Bat Mitzvah
Barbara Oseroff, in memory of Rabbi Joel Goor
David & lori rosenthal, in honor of Heidi and Josh Bersin’s 25th anniversary
nissan & Carol Saidian, in memory of Moni and Jacob Saidian
Michael & Deborah Sosebee, in honor of Adi Schacker
Vera zatkin
Kiddush FundIrwin Keinon & adele Mendelsohn-Keinon, speedy recovery to Ethel Shaffer and Herman Pencovic
Minyan FundFifi Goodfellow, in memory of Moshe Naggar
Sheldon & Barbara rothblatt, in memory of Benjamin Goor
Sheldon & Barbara rothblatt, in memory of Phil Rothblatt
Rabbi Discretionary FundSam & ellen Bercovich, Happy Birthday Carol Davis
lucienne levy, in memory of Vicorine Misan
Jeffrey & Judith Quittman, in memory of Leonard Quittman
Carl & Tove Sunshine
Cantor Discretionary FundMaurice & Barbara Weill, in memory of Joseph Singerman
Celia & Morris Davis Hunger FundSharon e. Fogelson, in memory of Lily Mary Gogelson
Endowment FundHerman & agnes Pencovic, in honor of Sam & Ellen Bercovich’s wedding anniversary
Sheldon & Barbara rothblatt, Happy Birthday Susan Sasson
Hertz Interfaith FundGerald & ruby Hertz, in memory of Harry Morofsky
Wasserman FundMarc & Janet Wasserman, in memory of Leo Wasserman
Charity is equal in importance to all the other commandments combined.
donations
“How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment to start to improve the world.”
anne Frank
It is a Jewish tradition to give contributions to commemorate life cycle events and other occasions. Are you celebrating a birthday, engagement, anniversary, baby naming, Bat/Bar Mitzvah or recovery from illness? Or perhaps remembering a yahrzeit? These are just a few ideas of appropriate times to commemorate with a donation to Temple Beth Abraham. These tax-deductible donations are greatly appreciated and are a vital financial supplement to support the wonderful variety of programs and activities that we offer. Thanks again for your support! We could not do it without you!
20
1824
A
dar
1925
A
dar
2026
A
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2127
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2228
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2329
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241 N
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10:3
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2p K
inde
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Pla
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4p A
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lass
6-7:
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Teen
Frie
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ip C
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(Bau
m
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4p
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Bet
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15p
Con
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8:07
p H
avda
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(42
min
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1117
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1218
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1319
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1420
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1521
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aff.
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enda
r is a
lso
avai
labl
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our
web
site
ww
w.tb
aoak
land
.org
Al
way
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l E-m
ail o
r the
Wee
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Shab
bat B
ulle
tin fo
r mor
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-to-d
ate
info
rmat
ion.
Ple
ase
note
any
cor
rect
ions
car
e of
Ray
na A
rnol
d at
the
TBA
offic
e.
7th
Gra
de T
rip to
LA
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p H
avda
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min
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min
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enda
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The
Om
er ar
e pr
oduc
ed 3
0-60
day
s in
adva
nce
usin
g th
e be
st d
ata
avai
labl
e fro
m th
e TB
A Ad
min
istr
atio
n St
aff.
This
cal
enda
r is a
lso
avai
labl
e at
our
web
site
ww
w.tb
aoak
land
.org
Al
way
s che
ck th
e C
ongr
egat
iona
l E-m
ail o
r the
Wee
kly
Shab
bat B
ulle
tin fo
r mor
e up
-to-d
ate
info
rmat
ion.
Ple
ase
note
any
cor
rect
ions
car
e of
Ray
na A
rnol
d at
the
TBA
offic
e.
4p T
een R
osh C
hode
sh G
roup
PERIODICALS POSTAGE
P A I DOakland, CA
Permit No. 020299
Temple Beth Abraham327 MacArthur BoulevardOakland, CA 94610
TBA Directory ......................... i
What’s Happening ..................1
From the Rabbi .......................2
President’s Message ................3
Editor’s Message .....................4
Women of TBA .......................5
TBA Ski Trip .............................6
Shabbat ...................................7
Purim .....................................8
War Horse Fund Raiser ..........9
Jewish Day Schools ..............10
Gan Avraham News .............12
La’atid ..................................12
Bet Sefer News .....................13
Midrasha ..............................14
Israel Tidbits .........................14
Cooking Corner ....................15
Life Cycles ............................16
Donations .............................19
Calendar ......................... ......20
what’s inside
Save the Date
Sunday Night FeverThe TBA Schools Auction (Benefitting Gan Avraham & Bet Sefer)Sunday, May 6, 2012 5:30-8:30 p.m.Disco the night away! To volunteer for the event, please email [email protected] or [email protected].
TBA Women please join us:
Vashti’s BanquetSunday, March 11, 2012 3:00-5:00 p.m.For more information see page 5.