Kol Kiruv April 2018
Nissan - Iyyar
Vol. 27—No. 8
Happenings
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From Rabbi Mintz, Rabbi Emerita
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A Message From Reb Jamie
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to 7:15 PM. On April 6th and 20th, Shabbat-
The President’s Message, Sam Lieberman
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Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv services will begin
A Note From the Cantor
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at 7:30PM.
Free Money
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Upcoming Events
8-10
Jewlicious Learners
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Purim
8
Queen Esther’s Ball
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Yahrzeit, Nid’vei Lev and Celebrations
10-11
please call 702.436.4900 for sponsorship and
Bikkur Cholim
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catering opportunities.
Calendar at a Glance
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Congregation P’nai Tikvah will worship on Shabbat, April 6th and 20th. Tot Shabbat is from 6:00
Torah Study will be on April 7th and 21st at 9:30 AM at 2685 South Rainbow, Suite 108. If you are interested in sponsoring an oneg to celebrate an event or memorialize a loved one,
May your day be filled with good thoughts, kind people, and happy moments.
Message from Rabbi Emerita Yocheved Mintz Dear Chevreh: The Count-up Begins! When the second day of Pesach has passed we begin the counting of the Omer. In biblical days, when we were an agrarian people, this ritual linked the barley harvest to the wheat harvest, thereby predicting the year’s prosperity. The ripening of the grain was marked by waving an Omer of barley (which generally became ripe on or before Pesach) each day for the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot. And on the 50th day, two loaves of wheat bread were to be waved as an offering. There was internal struggle between the priestly and pre-rabbinic factions for the two centuries leading up to the destruction of the Temple, ostensibly regarding the beginning of the counting of the Omer, but, more probably, regarding the date and significance of Shavuot. The priests felt that Shavuot should be Chag HaBikkurim, the Festival of the First Fruits; the forerunners of the rabbis felt that Shavuot should be commemorated as the Festival of the Giving of the Torah. When the Temple was destroyed, and sacrifices could no longer be given, the counting of the Omer gave way to a more spiritual counting…a count-up, if you will, to the celebration of the Revelation on Sinai, the giving of the Torah. In a contemporary context, we use these seven weeks to elevate our spiritual selves to be prepared to once again receive the Torah on a virtual Sinai. Each day we get closer to that peak experience; each day we can consciously elevate our souls by concentrating on a principle or thought that can help lift us higher, day-byday, step-by-step. Once again, this year, I am happy to offer a thought a day for the 49 days of the Counting of the Omer. Utilizing the emotional aspects of the seven lower Kabbalistic sfirot, we combine and intertwine to develop ourselves as fully functional, multi-dimensional beings, ready to accept the gift of Torah. The seven aspects of the sfirot are: Chesed (lovingkindness, benevolence), G’vurah (discipline, justice, restraint, are), Tif’eret (beauty, harmony, compassion), Netzach (endurance, victory, fortitude, ambition), Hod (humility, splendor), Y’sod (bonding, foundation), and Mal’chut (nobility, sovereignty, leadership). If you wish to receive the thought-a-day, please contact me at gkmintz@aol.com. We will culminate our count-up with a special Shavuot experience, Sunday, May 20th, a Torah Trek with Reb Jamie and a picnic in a state park. Be sure to join us…a great way to cap off the journey from Redemption to Revelation. L’Shalom,
Rabbi Yocheved Mintz Rabbi Emerita/Senior Educator 2
Message from Reb Jamie
I spend a lot of time in my car between San Ramon and Los Angeles. Lately I’ve been listening to the podcast “Judaism Unbound.” Judaism Unbound explores out-of-the-box thinking about what is working and what is not and where the Jewish community is headed. Their first guest was Rabbi Benay Lappe who spoke about the way people react when the structure around them (in this case institutional Jewish life) no longer works for them. According to Rabbi Lappe, people have 3 options – they can stay, they can leave, or adapt or innovate to create something that does work. I fit into the third category. For years, since my kids went off to college, most Friday nights you will find our family gathered to light Shabbat candles and to share our week. This might not be so unusual in some circles but for the fact that one son lives in Irvine, one in Vermont, my father and step-mom are in Idaho and we live in Northern California. Come sundown and 7:30 PST we all gather via Zoom technology, on our computers, as a family. We sing, we bless, we eat, we laugh. Our pets meow and bark and we create special, sacred time. We could let the distance get the better of us and we could drift apart but using the structure of Shabbat, we are strengthening our connection as a family and experiencing a time-honored Jewish ritual. Judaism Unbound raises the point that in today’s Jewish world our focus should be on the quality of our interactions; rather than how big our congregations are. They also raise the point that it seems to many that to lead an authentic Jewish life you must buy into the “whole package” – to do every ritual and every prayer. 3
But their point is that we can be “unbounded’ from this notion and “unbundle” the different elements of the package. We can do the things that are relevant and meaningful in our lives, and not focus on what is not. There are some who say that we shouldn’t be using computers on Shabbat, and others who might take umbrage with the cats and dogs in the background, and others who for whatever reason say that our Shabbat gathering doesn’t work, but this works for us. It infuses our lives with connection to each other, with connection to our family’s history and our family’s future, as well as with ideas of creating sacred Jewish space. And it is no small thing that on a Friday night, my 27-year old son chooses to light Shabbat candles, to mark Jewish time, before he does whatever a single 27-year old does on a Friday night. With age and experience comes understanding. It used to sound cliché but now I really understand the expression “The Jews don’t keep the Shabbat; the Shabbat keeps the Jews,” because it is my reality. Wishing you all a Happy Passover filled with food, friends and family,
Reb Jamie
From the President… On behalf of the board, clergy, and leadership of Congregation P’nai Tikvah, we wish you and your family a wonderful Passover season. As we move forward to spring, please stay involved with the congregation, attend services, Torah study and watch out for other exciting programs that are coming soon. I also want to take this time to thank everyone who participated in making “The Trial of the Century” a huge success. Thank you to Judi Stotland, Dale Gardner, Lynn Pisetzner and the team for their time, talents and energy on behalf of this event and our congregation. All of the best
Sam Lieberman
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A Note From Cantor Marla Goldberg It probably won’t come as a shock to those that know me to say that I love Broadway musicals. I know I share this love with Rabbi Mintz, a fact that is made clear on many Shabbats when we suddenly break into songs from various Broadway shows. One of the very first live productions I ever saw was, “West Side Story”. I was about 3 years old. My parents definitely got me started early in my love for shows, as this was one of 2 productions I saw before I turned 4. (The other was “Flower Drum Song”.) I don’t remember much of either production, especially the part when the Jets and Sharks jumped off the stage with knives out. Apparently my family was in the front row, and according to my father I didn’t come down from the ceiling until act 2. Still, I do have slight memories of each. In “West Side Story” I can remember the ending of Maria walking away in sorrow after the death of Tony, and something like a bell tolled. From that beginning, “West Side Story” has been one of my favorite musicals. The music, by the great Leonard Bernstein, is jazzy, melodic, and hauntingly beautiful. It is one of many, many incredible scores Bernstein wrote over his great career. I also recently had my mind slightly blown when something was brought to my attention when I was reading about Bernstein’s career Before I tell what that mind blowing thing was, I want to tell why I was reading about him. This year marks the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein, and the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia has recently opened an exhibit honoring, “Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music. This exhibition is exploring his life and work, focusing on his Jewish identity. This leads me to what blew my mind. I have always known that composers are influenced by their lives, their childhood upbringing, and that they find inspiration in all things around them. Leonard grew up in a Jewish home in Boston. His parents were immigrants. He went to shul regularly and was taught Bible and Talmud by his father. According to Ivy Weingram, the Accociate Curator of the National Museum of American Jewish History, … “Bernstein’s Jewish identity, so deeply ingrained in him by his parents and so intricately woven through his life and work, informed his distinctive compositional style….” (www.nmajh.org) So what does this have to do with “West Side Story”? If you have seen it, either on stage or the movie version, think about the first three notes that the overture plays. These are also the notes that the Jets whistle to get their gang’s attention. These notes resemble the notes of the T’kiah. The first shofar blast of Rosh Hashanah. All these years I have watched, and sung along to this musical. I have become an ordained cantor, who has often given the calls for the shofar blasts, and I never really thought of this. But it is there. My mind was, and still is blown. Mostly because I just never realized it before. I discovered all this, and a lot more, because the National Museum of American Jewish History sent out a “Cantor’s Kit” set of resources about this exhibition to all cantors in our country who were interested. I certainly was, and still am. From this kit I have found so much more to be discovered about Leonard Bernstein and his music. The exhibit will be in Philadelphia through September, 2018, and they plan to tour the country with it. It would be a great thing to see and be able to honor one of the great American composers of the 20th century. L’shalom,
Cantor Marla Goldberg
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$
FREE MONEY
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Inspiring Donations® Giving More Back to the Community! Smith's Food and Drug is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. Year after year, local schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations will earn millions of dollars through Smith’s Inspiring Donations®. Smith’s Inspiring Donations® makes fund-raising easy.. all you have to do is shop at Smith's Food and Drug and swipe your Rewards Card!
AMAZON SMILE 5% comes back whenever you shop through the smile.amazon.com portal. Sign Up and select Congregation P'nai Tikvah by typing it in Please note: do not use the apostrophe when searching use: Congregation Pnai Tikvah
It’s easy to find Box Tops. In fact, you may have some in your home right now. Clip Box Tops from your favorite products and turn them in to your child’s school today! Box Tops are each worth 10¢ and they add up fast! * Annie’s * Betty Crocker * Bugles * Cascadian Farms * * Fiber One * Finish * Gardetto’s * General Mills * Go-Gurt * * Green Giant * Hefty * Kleenex * Land O’Lakes * Larabar * Lysol * * Old El Paso * Pillsbury * Nature Valley * Reynold’s * Scott * * Totino’s * Yoplait * Ziploc * 6
KIDZ KORNER for April A Passover Symbol that Can’t be “Beet” Italian B’nei Anusim, descendants of Jews forced to convert during the Spanish Inquisition, have developed their own seder custom. In addition to the traditional seder plate placed on the table, each participant has his/her own personal seder plate with all of the symbolic items on it—plus an additional one not seen anywhere else. The added item is a bietola, a red beet, symbolizing the lamb’s blood the Israelites painted on their doorposts to save their firstborn from the tenth plague.
Israel’s Yiddish-Speaking Defense Dogs Israel is the only country in the world to have an elite squad of security dogs that understands Yiddish commands. The thinking behind this is that few of Israel’s enemies understand Yiddish. Dovid, Moishe, Zalman, Seven and Uman—the dog’s have Yiddish names too!
From One Pharaoh to Another American Pharoah, the name of the 2015 Triple Crown Winner (the first in 37 years) may be purposely misspelled— the correct spelling is Pharaoh! - but this thoroughbred horse’s owner is yet another one of the Children of Israel to leave Egypt. Ahmet Zayat, a Jew born in Cairo, came to America at age 18 to study at Boston University. In 2002 he opened Zayat Stables.
Marunchinos: Sephardic Almond Macaroons Ingredients 4 cups almonds, blanched
2 cups of granulated cane sugar
4 egg whites
Preparation
Music Saved Her Life When Alice Herz-Sommer died in 2014 at the age of 110, she was an inspiration to all knew her. An accomplished pianist who had performed throughout Europe, Alice was deported to the Terezin concentration camp during the Holocaust, along with her husband and young son. Terezin had an orchestra and Alice played the broken, outof-tune piano. To keep herself going, she learned Chopin’s Etudes, a set of 27 technically demanding solo pieces. Playing more than 100 concerts in Terezin, she proved that the sustaining power of music is very real.
Place almonds in food processor with sugar. Grind until fine. In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites until very frothy. Add ground almonds and sugar to egg whites and mix well. Using a very small scoop, scoop out cookies onto parchmentlined cookie sheets. Space cookies with room to spread. Heat oven to 350F. Place marunchinos in oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on them since nuts burn easily. Cookies should be white, just beginning to brown when done. Cool on rack. Carefully remove the parchment paper. Serve with sorbet, lemon curd, or dip them half-way in chocolate. About 52 cookies Recipe courtesy of Linda Capeloto Sendowski, The Global Jewish Kitchen, www.theglobaljewishkitchen.com, author of “Sephardic Baking with Nona”
Makayla Knepper, MayLee DeLee, Danica Lockett, and David Piekarsky making Matzo Balls with Rabbi Mintz.
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PURIM
Golf Lunatic - Stan Zuckerman
Jack and Jill Shayna Davis & Chance Griggs Pink Lady Cantor Marla Goldberg
Spiderman. Ninja Warrior and a Gypsy Daniel, David and Rachel Piekarsky
Identity Thief and Bag of Jelly Beans David & Faith Silverman
Almost a Hamantaschen Phyllis Zuckerman
Pirates Matthew & Jennifer Knepper 8
Queen Esther’s Ball
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FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL
Irwin Berger -Remembered by Laura & Wendy Kraft Sussman David Bernstein -Remembered by Harriet Bernstein Sheldon Elliot -Remembered by Rachel Piekarsky
Memorial plaques are available; to honor the departed, to inspire the living, to be remembered in the hearts of those we leave behind is, in a sense, to live forever. For further information, call the Synagogue office at 702-436-4900
Norma Feldman -Remembered by Barbara Holland Edward Fox -Remembered by Marc Fox Pearl Hewel -Remembered by Jacqueline Ackerman
Dr Kayvan Khiabani -Remembered by Marc & Cindy Fox Jerry Lytel -Remembered by Laurie Lytel Abraham Platt -Remembered by Zandra Bender Gertrude Rose -Remembered by Sondra Rose
Lee Burger Shilepsky -Remembered by Ann Brandt Adelina Solivan -Remembered by Julita Patascher Helene Sussman -Remembered by Laura Sussman
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APRIL BIRTHDAYS
Judith Levine Julita Patascher Gail Hansen Kristen Jaeger Rozlyne Tessler Laurie Lytel Sam Lieberman Joseph Davis Fern Kosh Sabrina Linker
April 4 April 8 April 9 April 10 April 13 April 15 April 16 April 23 April 23 April 28
APRIL ANNIVERSARIES
Tim Lockett & Kristen Jaeger
April 2
Vincent & Dale Gardner
April 24
Nid’vei Lev Donations from the Heart
Zandra Bender in memory of Bertha Platt Anita Lewy
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New: BIKKUR CHOLIM TRAINING PROGRAM
Fellow Chevre, The commandment of visiting the sick (Bikkur Cholim) is a very great deed. Concerning this mitzvah, the Mishnah states that this is one of those actions of which one “eats of its fruits” in this world, and retains the “principle” in the next world. According to certain opinions, this is a biblical mitzvah, based upon the verse “And you shall walk in His ways.” According to others (including Maimonides), it is a rabbinical commandment. Yet others maintain that this is a mitzvah which is a law that was handed down to Moses at Sinai (halachah le-Moshe mi-Sinai). Maimonides states that the commandment of visiting the sick is also an aspect of the mitzvah of “You shall love your fellow as yourself.” Rabbi Yeshayahu Horowitz, the holy Shaloh, writes that the commandment of visiting the sick involves three components: with one’s body (b’guf), with one’s soul (b’nefesh) and with one’s money (b’mamon). 1. With one’s body: Not only should you pay a per sonal visit, but you should also do actual things which will uplift the spirit and the comfort of the patient. This can be accomplished in a number of ways; bringing him material to read, bringing her food (especially if the patient is in a hospital where she might avoid eating many of the foods due to kashrut concerns), helping raise or lower the bed, brightening up the room, etc. When a patient is in a hospital, there are more opportunities for doing this aspect, since nurses do not always have enough time to deal with patients. [As mentioned earlier, one must use common sense, and not overstay a visit, or visit at inopportune times.] 2. With one’s soul: by pr aying and saying Psalms for the sick. Don’t forget to wish and bless the sick with a speedy recovery (“refuah sheleimah”) before leaving. Rabbi Moshe Isserles, the Rema, writes that a person who visits the sick and does not pray for him has not fulfilled this commandment. The Talmud states that one who is able to pray for the sick and does not is called a sinner. [Thus, if Psalms are being said in synagogue for a sick person, it is important to participate.] 3. With one’s money: If the sick per son is having financial difficulties cover ing his medical expenses, then one should help him. This also will help bring the sick person a bit of peace of mind. [It would seem to me that included in this component would be giving charity on behalf of the sick person.] We at P’nai Tikvah, would like to form a group of dedicated and committed members who would be interested in being part of a team to fulfill this important mitzvah. To that end we would initially like to have a corps of people who would visit the sick and shut-ins on a rotating basis once a week. Training will be conducted in 13 sessions and will be a requirement in order to participate. Our training system is based on the Refuat HaNefesh Fellows Training Program pioneered by Rabbi Cheryl Weiner, PhD, BCC and Rabbi Frederick L. Klein, MPhil, BCC of Mishkan Miami. There are specific things one needs to know other than just showing up with a smile. If you have interest and would like to partake of this wonderful mitzvah and opportunity to do good in our community, please sign up on the sheet in the foyer or call Rabbi Mintz at the office, 702-4364900. We will contact you once we have enough people interested to schedule the training sessions. Thank you in advance for your participation. Carolyn Wright Lay leader of the Bikkur Cholim Fellows http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/383786/jewish/The-Laws-of-Visiting-the-Sick.htm
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BIKKUR CHOLIM Come, be trained in the art of parachaplaincy so we can attend to one another in times of illness. If you are interested in doing this mitzvah work, please contact Rabbi Mintz at 702-869-2700.
For $40.00 a prayer book can either be purchased for personal use or be dedicated to the congregation “In Memory” or “In Honor of” and a card from CPT will be sent to the family. The prayer book plate will be placed on the inside cover of our Kol HaNeshamah siddur.
If you would like a copy of Kol Kiruv sent to your home, please send $ 72.00, along with your address to: Administrative Office, 1697 Black Fox Canyon Rd, Henderson, NV 89052
Clergy and Staff Rabbi Emerita: Rabbi Yocheved Mintz Rabbinic Intern: Jamie Hyams Cantor: Cantor Marla Goldberg Educators: Rabbi Mintz and Cantor Goldberg Teacher’s Aide: Austin Royer Bookkeeper: Lynn Pisetzner Treasurer: Lynn Pisetzner
702.436.4900 www.pnaitikvahlv.org info@pnaitikvahlv.org
P’nai Tikvah is a warm and coming, progressive, and pluralistic
welegalitarian,
congregation focus-
ing on the spiritual, educational, and social well-being of those who wish to live a fulfilling and meaningful
Jew-
ish life. 13
CALENDAR AT A GLANCE: April 2
4:15 PM
Jewlicious Learning
April 6
6:30 PM 7:30 PM
Tot Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat & Maariv Service
April 7
9:30 AM
Torah Study
April 8 April 9
Board Retreat 4:15 PM
April 15
Jewlicious Learning Rosh Chodesh
April 16
4:15 PM 7:00 PM
Jewlicious Learning Biblical Hebrew
April 20
7:30 PM
Kabbalat Shabbat & Maariv Service
April 21
9:30 AM
Torah Study
April 23
4:15 PM 7:00 PM
Jewlicious Learning Biblical Hebrew
April 30
4:15 PM 7:00 PM
Jewlicious Learning Biblical Hebrew
May 4
6:30 PM
Tot Shabbat
7:30 PM
Kabbalat Shabbat & Maariv Service
May 5
9:30 AM
Torah Study
May 7
4:15 PM 7:00 PM
Jewlicious Learning Biblical Hebrew
May 18
7:30 PM
Kabbalat Shabbat & Maariv Service
May 19
9:30 AM
Torah Study
May 20
10:00 AM
Shavuot Torah Trek
Jun 3
11:00 AM
Congregational Meeting
Blessing for Iyyar Time to let go of that which is not supporting our well-being and time to open up to that which is true and real. May we be blessed with the ability to move from avdut to cheirut, from constraint to freedom. Amen. 14