Kol Kiruv August 2018
Av - Elul
Vol. 27—No. 12
Happenings
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Congregation P’nai Tikvah will worship on
A Note From Cantor Goldberg
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August 3rd and 17th. Tot Shabbat, Kabbalat
A Message From Reb Jamie
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Shabbat and Ma’ariv services will begin at
A Message From Rabbi Mintz, Rabbi Emerita 4
6:30 PM on August 3rd. On August 17th, Shabbat-Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv Ser-
The President’s Message, Sam Lieberman
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Garage Sale
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Avi Stotland, Bar Mitzvah
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High Holidays
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Free Money
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Yahrzeit, Nid’vei Lev and Celebrations
10-11 one, please call 702.436.4900 for sponsorship
Calendar at a Glance
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vices will begin at 7:30PM. Torah Study will be on August 4th and 18th 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 and catering opportunities.
A Note From Cantor Marla Goldberg “This land is mine, God gave this land to me” is the first line of the title song from the movie, Exodus. It also happens to be the first line of a Bat Mitzvah speech given 38 years ago this month for the parasha Ekev. The portion read was Deuteronomy chapter 8, verses 1-10, the middle of the parasha. This portion tells of how God promised the land to the people of Israel, how God led us through the desert sometimes with gifts, sometimes with struggles to help us to learn and grow. The well known line, “Man does not live by bread alone” comes from this portion. If you haven’t guessed by now, that Bat Mitzvah speech was mine. The idea of using the song from Exodus came from my father, but I did see how the lyrics compared to the words from this portion. Verse one of the portion says, “All the commandments that I command you today shall ye observe to do, that you may live and multiply and go and possess the land which I promised to your ancestors.” I never have forgotten that first line. The song, Exodus also goes on to say that “With the help of God, I know I can be strong” another theme from the Torah portion. Of the many other things I remember in training for my Bat Mitzvah was the frustration Cantor Colbert must have had with my lack of study skills. I was a great procrastinator (a fault I still work on today) and just learned the portion in time. This gave me great empathy for any student I might have who didn’t always do their homework. I’ve been there, I understand. The prayers I did not really need to learn, as I had participated in many Shabbat morning services as a member of my Temple’s Junior Choir. We sang every Saturday morning for services during the school year. Therefore, I heard the prayers many times, and repetition was a very good teacher. That experience is a reason I feel strongly about having children at services. The more they are there, the more they hear and participate in the prayers, the more they can do them, and become the next leaders of our people.
38 years ago, there really were not many young women who decided to have a Bat Mitzvah in the Reform Movement. It was a time of transition from having only a group confirmation ceremony to having the individual celebration for a young person who chooses to make the commitment to Judaism by participating as a leader in prayer. My Bat Mitzvah was the event where my true path in life came to me, even though it took over 20 years to come to fruition. At the end of the morning service our Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Levine, would say to the Bar or Bat Mitzvah, “You should be a Rabbi”. To me he said, “You should be a Cantor”. I am happy to have taken his advice. This path led me here, to Las Vegas, and to Congregation P’nai Tikvah where I get to see hope every Shabbat, and help to bring heart and soul to all who attend. “This land is mine” I make it my own. L’Shalom,
Cantor Marla Goldberg
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Message from Reb Jamie I am spending much of my summer thinking about the purpose of public prayer. What do we hope to accomplish when we come together and engage in worship? As part of my summer reading, I just finished “The Art of Public Prayer” by Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman (which is much more interesting than the dry title would imply). For Hoffman, one of my favorite teachers as a Wexner fellow, public prayer connects us to our past, enriches our present, and directs our future. Communal prayer reminds us that in our past our people were slaves in Egypt and a wandering tribe, and that memory informs our lives today. Our present lives are both enriched by our connection to those with whom we are praying and grounded by our awareness of God/Oneness/Source of Life. And our future, the world that we hope to bring about, is made real through our actions which are shaped by our past and our present. At the end of June my mother turned 80. Our multiple generations gathered from across the country to celebrate my mother and her vibrant spirit. To paraphrase Abraham Joshua Heschel, my mother “prays with her feet.” Not much of a shul-goer as an adult, she grew up in a synagogue full of form but bereft of spiritual content. She has spent much of her life protesting for change to create a more equitable world. From women’s rights and Vietnam to El Salvador and disability rights, my mom is either marching in the crowd or writing letters to the editor stating her views. I am my mother’s daughter, but in this arena of spiritual practice, she takes the lead. As our family gathered to enjoy the warmth of each other’s company, to welcome in the sabbath, and to share our lives, we were acutely aware that not far away, protests were occurring against the current administrations’ immigration policy, that other families were torn apart and not together. Sitting on the couch in our vacation home grousing didn’t seem to be enough and so as a family, we chose action. We drove 20 miles and joined the protests in Watsonville, a small farming community nearby. It was a powerful moment for all of us. To know that we were standing up for what we believe, as a family, with our parents and grandparents, our children and grandchildren, our cousins, and our brothers and sisters. It was a moment where you could see that the lessons and values of one generation had been passed to the next, and now the torch was burning to light the way for the youngest in our family. M’dor l’dor – from generation to generation. If public prayer reminds us our past and where we came from; if it enriches our present as we encounter community and Oneness; and if it forms our future as we build a better world; then my family spent that Shabbat morning publicly praying in Watsonville, praying with our feet. May the memory of our past, and the warmth of our community in the present, help us to build the world of our future, the world to come.
Reb Jamie 3
Message from Rabbi Emerita Yocheved Mintz Dear Chevreh:
The month of Elul is the month of possibilities. The month leading up to Tishrei, which brings Rosh HaShanah, is our opportunity to do T’shuvah between one another…set things straight over hurts intentionally inflicted or unwittingly done. The work of T’shuvah between people is traditionally done prior to the Asseret Y’mei T’shuvah (Ten Days of Repentance) which fall between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, leaving those days for the T’shuvah that we have to do between each of us and G-d. There are five steps to T’shuvah: Acknowledging the wrong-doing. Apologizing Making amends (including monetary compensation if applicable) Promising not to do it again Not doing it again (usually the hardest step) Sometimes the hurts we inflict on others are done without our being aware that we’ve done them-say, in the case of inadvertently embarrassing another person. We are still responsible for our actions, so it is traditional, during the month of Elul, to offer the apology to all our friends, family, and acquaintances. Then, if we find out that we had, indeed, done something wrong inadvertently, we can follow through with the T’shuvah. The month of Elul is also a month of hope. The Hebrew for Elul (spelled aleph, lamed, vov, lamed) is an acronym for “ani l’dodi v’dodi li”, I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. It refers to the close proximity of G-d, at this time of year. It is as if the Sovereign is in the meadow and all we have to do is go out to meet him/her….no appointment necessary. Friends, may this month of Elul be meaningful for each of us. May we finish the year 5778 in positive steps and prepare for welcoming 5779 in good stead with one another. May we prepare for a year of growth and good health. On a very personal note, if I have done anything to hurt any of you, I am deeply sorry. Please let me know what I have done, so I can make amends.
To one and all: L’Shanah Tovah Tikateivu…May you be inscribed for a good year
Rabbi Yocheved Mintz Rabbi Emerita/Senior Educator 4
From the President‌ So much to look forward to: a garage sale, High Holidays, a fundraising roast, exciting new leadership, new educational opportunities and more. I ask two things of each of you, make your pledge to CPT that you will stay involved and engaged as an individual and as a family. We need to know where we stand fiscally in order to complete the planning for our exciting program calendar. Finally, I hope you will join us in wishing Mazel Tov to Avi Stotland on his Bar Mitzvah on Aug 25th. More details will follow and we look forward to celebrating this simcha with Avi and his family. If you have any questions about the upcoming year, call me at 702-286-0739.
Thanks for all you do!!
Sam
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 Cantor: Cantor Marla Goldberg Rabbinic Intern: Jamie Hyams Rabbi Emerita: Rabbi Yocheved Mintz Educators: Rabbi Mintz and Cantor Goldberg Bookkeeper/Treasurer: Lynn Pisetzner Administrative Assistant: Faith Silverman Marketing Director: Cindy Fox
P’nai Tikvah is a warm and welcoming, progressive, egalitarian, and pluralistic congregation focusing on the spiritual, educational, and social well-being of those who wish to live a fulfilling and
702.436.4900 www.pnaitikvahlv.org info@pnaitikvahlv.org
meaningful Jewish life.
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to judivision@yahoo.com
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Sun., Aug. 26 * Various Challah Across the Valley Sat., Sept 1 * 7:30pm Selichot & Potluck Dessert - Katz home Sun., Sept. 9 * 7pm Erev Rosh Hashanah - Texas Station Mon., Sept. 10 * 10am Rosh Hashanah - Texas Station Tues., Sept 11 * 5pm Tashlich and Picnic Dinner Tues., Sept 18 * 7pm Erev Yom Kippur - Kol Nidre - Texas Station Wed., Sept 19 * 10am Yom Kippur (all day) - Texas Station Suggested donation of $180 or more is welcomed to help our small progressive community to continue to offer free High Holiday services to the community.
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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 * 9
FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST Sam Bender -Remembered by Elliot Bender Sidney Benstock -Remembered by Edward Benstock Barry Corchnoy -Remembered by Anne & Gary Ullman Patricia Elliot -Remembered by Rachel Elliot 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
Michael Goldberg -Remembered by Nancy Goldberg & Cantor Marla Goldberg Dorothy Hillman -Remembered by Anne & Gary Ullman Shirley Kamanitz -Remembered by Barbara Holland Davida Lewin-Schermer -Remembered by CPT Congregation David Lieberman -Remembered by Sam Lieberman Harold Sussman -Remembered by Laura Sussman Samuel Weiman -Remembered by Barbara Holland
Our condolences to Jackie Ackerman & family on the loss of her mother, Marie Ackerman 10
With h the mo ability streng and co
Blessin
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
Gary Ullman Mason DeLee Darren Levaton Evelyn Clark Ann Castro Laurie Lytel Iris Katz David Aris Aaron Nussbaum Rachel Piekarsky
Spring pate c the ab ing and
August 1 August 10 August 17 August 19 August 20 August 23 August 27 August 29 August 29 August 30
AUGUST ANNIVERSARIES Ellen & Ron Royer
August 6
Iris & Joel Katz
August 22
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CALENDAR AT A GLANCE: Aug 3
630 pm
Tot Shabbat/Kabbalat Shabbat
Indigo Valley
Aug 4
930 am
Torah Study
Indigo Valley
Aug 12
8:00 am Garage Sale
Ellen Royer
Aug 16
TBA
TBA
Aug 17
7:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Indigo Valley
Aug 18
9:30 am Torah Study
Indigo Valley
Aug 20
4:15 pm Jewlicious Learners
Rabbi Mintz
Aug 26
Various
Various
Aug 27
4:15 pm Jewlicious Learners
Rabbi Mintz
Sept 1
7:30 pm S’lichot
Iris Katz
Sept 7
6:30 pm Tot Shabbat/Kabbalat Shabbat
Indigo Valley
Sept 8
9:30 am Torah Study
Indigo Valley
Sept 9
7:00 pm Erev Rosh Hashanah
Texas Station
Sept 10
10:00 am Rosh Hashanah
Texas Station
Sept 11
5:00 pm Tashlich & Picnic Dinner
Sunset Park
Sept 17
4:15 pm Jewlicious Learners
Rabbi Mintz
Sept 18
7:00 pm Erev Yom Kippur
Texas Station
Sept 19
10:00 am Yom Kippur
Texas Station
Sept 21
7:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Indigo Valley
Sept 23
6:00 pm Sukkot
Rabbi Mintz
Sept 24
4:15 pm Jewlicious Learners
Rabbi Mintz
Board Meeting
Challah Bake-a-thon
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