Congregation P'nai Tikvah's Kol Kiruv - July 2015 - Tammuz / Av 5775 by Congregation Pnai.Tikvah

CONGREGATION P’NAI TIKVAH

Kol Kiruv July 2015

Tammuz-Av

Happenings

Rabbi's Message

2-4

Cantor’s Notes

President’s Message

BwB Calendar 2015-16

CPT Outreach

Todah Rabah to L’Chayim Committee

L’Chayim Gala

Pictures from L’Chayim Gala

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JewliciousEndofYearCelebration& DirahL’Haskir

Pictures from Jewlicious End of Year Celebration & Dirah L’Haskir

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Kidz Korner

Reconstructionist News You Can Use

Vol. 22—No. 1

PicturesfromShavuotService&BatMitzvahofSabrina 19-22 Oneg Calendar

23-24

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Women’s Rosh Chodesh Retreat

Yahrzeits

Community Happenings

28-29

Nid’vei Leiv—From the Heart

Contribution Form

Calendar at a Glance

Clergy and Staff Rabbi: Yocheved Mintz Cantor: Marla Goldberg Accompanist: Timothy Cooper Newsletter: Nancey Eason Educators: Rabbi Mintz , Cantor Marla Goldberg Bookkeeper: Lynn Pisetzner Office Administrator: Nancey Eason info@pnaitikvahlv.org www.pnaitikvahlv.org www.facebook.com/pnaitikvahlv www.twitter.com/pnaitikvahlv

Summer Time in the Valley Remember to drink water and stay cool! Keep an eye on your pets and the young and the elderly of your friends and family. Respect flash flooding! Be safe! Congregation P’nai Tikvah will worship on Shabbat, August 7th and August 21st at Kraft-Sussman Chapel, in the Bank of Nevada Business Park at 3975 S. Durango, Suite 104, in Las Vegas. Tot ShabbatKabbalat Shabbat and Maariv services will begin at 6:30 PM on August 7th and Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv services will begin at 7:30 PM on August 21st. Torah Study will take place at 10:00 AM on August 8th and 22nd at Rabbi Mintz’s home. A bagels and lox brunch is served. Please RSVP by emailing info@pnaitikvahlv.org.

Message from the Rabbi “Musings on a Sultry Summer’s Day…” Dear Chevreh: July has arrived and some of us have taken off for cooler havens. Those of us willing to bake like cookies in the Las Vegas summer heat, however, know that there’s much to do…and lots to forego doing… during the month of July. Many of us are looking forward to Friday dinners with friends as we bring in Shabbat through our “Shabbat Across the Valley” experiences. Some of us are still studying Biblical Hebrew on Wednesday evenings. (A new cohort will open in October). Some of us are (your Rabbi, Cantor, and the Committee) are already deeply involved in planning for the Days of Awe. (Yipes, they’re only a few months away). And some of us are, well, doing absolutely nothing…and happily so. I know that I have stacks of books I’ve been hoping to find time to read, and, hopefully, I’ll get to a few of them this month. Whatever your summer plans are or are not, enjoy this special time of year, embrace it, and come away refreshed and renewed! While summer seems to give us permission to be a little bit lazy, I am reminded of Psalm 121: 4 “The One who guards Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.” And, if we are created in the image of G-d, then it would seem to me that, even in the lazy dog-days of summer, it would behoove us to pay attention to what’s happening, both here in Las Vegas “The One who and across the world; and not just as observers, but, where possible as participants. The world is somewhat volatile these days, and if we guards Israel neither slumbers simply watch as wrongs are not righted, we become part of the problem. Eli Weisel, the Holocaust survivor, professor, author, and Nobel nor sleeps.” Psalm 121: 4 Peace Prize winner (1986) once said: “The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.” I’m sad to say, “indifference” is alive and well in Las Vegas. Some of the things on my list of concerns are: BDS, the rise of Anti-Semitism, the disregard for self-education in the Jewish community, and the “seeming disappearance” of involved Jewish males in institutional life. They may not be on your list, but let me explain why they are on mine.

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“BDS” (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) is a worldwide campaign that is attempting to increase political and economic pressure on Israel to end what is incorrectly termed Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, to achieve full equality for Arab-Palestinians and the application of a “right of return” for Palestinian refugees. Since the summer of 2005, Palestinian NGOs have been calling for varying kinds of boycott, divestment, and sanctions, internationally, against Israel. They have used the term “apartheid” against Israel. Citing a number of antiIsrael United Nations’ resolutions, incredibly, the BDS movement has achieved traction, and threatens to delegitimize Israel’s right to exist. It is very dangerous, and, I think what bothers me the most, is how many Jews actually buy into the BDS hype. Self-hating Jews? No, I don’t think so; but I do believe they are poorly educated or misled Jews. BDS plays into the growing incidents of anti-Semitism that have arisen in Europe, and to a lesser extent, even here in the United States. Sometimes disguised as anti-Israel sentiments, the rise in anti-Semitism has been accompanied with a rise in violence against Jews. Historically, inexplicably, the Hebrew months of Tammuz and Av have often been tragic. I pray that history doesn’t repeat itself this summer. While I am gratified at the number of members of Congregation P’nai Tikvah who have availed themselves of the learning opportunities made possible by CPT, the Melton School for Adult Jewish Learning, the JCC, ALEPH, and other Jewish studies programs, I am saddened by how hard it is to motivate the larger segment of the community to become lifelong learners. One of the excuses I have heard is “it takes too long”…Referring to the two year commitment for the Melton program’s core curriculum, or even the 18 months or so those who wish to become B’nei Simchat Chochmah. The two years or 18 months go by anyhow, and those who have made the effort to participate in those learning programs become intellectually enriched, and those who complain that it “The two years or 18 takes too long are simply two years or 18 months older, with months go by anyhow, and those who have made no educational growth to account for the time that has passed. the effort to participate in If you wish to become more Jewishly educated, remember those learning programs that Hillel said “If I am not for myself, who will be for me; become intellectually en- and if I am only for myself, what am I; and if not now, riched, …” when?!” Seriously consider signing up for some form of Jewish education course this Fall. If not now, when?

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The fourth item on my immediate list of concerns this summer is a disturbing trend that I’ve observed over the past twenty years or so; I call it the disappearance of the American Jewish male in institutional leadership. While it has been wonderful to see how women have taken upon themselves opportunities for leadership, there seems to be an unfortunate decrease in participation in Jewish leadership by males. Even right here in CPT, the number of men who have stepped up to active participation in leadership roles might be measured on less than two hands. Why is this so? I don’t know, “Think about it… but I hope I see a change for the better. While Stan Zuckerman I invite you to prove attempted to pull together a men’s interest group several years me wrong.” ago, there has been no one since who has done so. How many men might be interested in a men only retreat? (I’ve heard that some of the guys wish we would have one…or a couples retreat…or just open up the annual Women’s Rosh Chodesh retreat to men as well. But no male has stepped up and said, “Rabbi, how can I help make this happen?” Think about it…I invite you to prove me wrong. Of course, to be perfectly honest, I have additional concerns, but I’m going to concentrate on the four I have enumerated and hope that this summer will see more Jews standing up against BDS, will see the world stand up against those who would discredit Jews, will see more Jews standing up to improve their own Jewish education, and will see more adult Jewish men stepping up to become more involved in the leadership of their communities, beginning right here at Congregation P’nai Tikvah. Want to discuss what’s on your mind this summer? Let’s set up a time to get together and schmooze. L’Shalom,

Rabbi Yocheved Mintz

Cantor’s Notes A Note From the Cantor At this past Shavuot, I had the honor of chanting the Ten Commandments with Scott Linker in celebration, not only of the holiday, but of Sabrina’s becoming a Bat Mitzvah. If you were not there, it was an incredible experience as we chanted from the top of our own “Mount Sinai” a small mound on the grassy knoll near the Rabbi’s home. Reading from the Torah there, and having those who attended the service standing at the bottom of the little hill, reminiscent of our Israelite ancestors standing below Moshe, gave me a great feeling of wonderment and joy. Perhaps I felt a little like Moshe proclaiming the words of God in grand fashion. The trope, the symbols that indicate the melodies that make up the chant, of the Ten Commandments are one of the most unique verses of the Torah. The regular trope, similar to the trope chanted for V’ahavta, is one version. The symbols used to indicate what melody to use are mostly below the words in the books that show them. When chanting the Ten Commandments in this trope, the paragraphs are made up of several sentences. We call the ending of a sentence a sof pasook. The other way to chant is much grander. We call it the high t’amim, or the “high tropes”. When chanting with the high trope, the paragraphs are all one sentence. The sof pasook only comes at the end of the paragraph. The trope melodies used are bigger, longer, and much more dramatic. The trope symbols used here are mostly above the letters, thus the “High Trope”. I used the high trope at Shavout, and, indeed, as I delivered the message in high tropes from high atop the knoll, it was a spiritual high, a “peak” experience, for me, as well. These verses also have a little more significance for me because this was the portion I had to chant for my teacher, Cantor Eli Schleifer, for my first year trope class final. And yes, we all had to chant the high trope. I remember how hard I worked to learn it, and the struggle it first was for me. Basically I just got through it but now, thanks to Eli, I only had to review the portion, and was able to add more drama to my reading, and really feel as if I was telling the Children of Israel the laws that make us who we are. On a sadder note last month saw the passing of one of the great cantors of this era, Lawrence Avery. He was a cantor, composer and teacher. He taught at the Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion-Debbie Friedman School of Music and the Jewish Theological Seminary, and served as cantor and cantor emeritus at Beth El Synogogue in New Rochelle, NY. May his memory be for blessing. L’Shalom, Cantor Marla Goldberg 5

President’s Message In a few more months, we will be attending the High Holiday services, a time of reflection of where we have been and where we are going as individuals. A time for us to consider how we can be a better person. For the board, this time of reflection begins now, as July 1, begins our “formal” new year. It is a time to review current programs and a time for us to consider what new programs should be developed to meet the needs of our Congregation for the 20152016 calendar year. It is a time for us to approve our projected operating budget. Behind the scenes, Vice-President Jackie Ackerman is working with her team and with Rabbi Teutsch of the Reconstructionist Organization as we develop a strategic plan for our Congregation. Major issues, concerns and opportunities are being explored.

What makes you want to be a member and stay a member of our Congregation, today and in our future?

As we go through a very specific process, we will be including the membership at different intervals as we answer such questions, as what is our future?, where are we going?, what needs must we meet in order to continue to engage a vibrant Congregation? What changes do we need to make to meet the challenges that include membership, and financial stability in a changing world where affiliation may not be as important to the younger generation? Finally, the ultimate questions, why are you here? What makes you want to be a member and stay a member of our Congregation, today and in our future? We have accomplished so much in the last two years which has enabled us to establish a foundation of which to build upon and build upon this foundation to move to the next level as a religious organization, one on solid financial grounds. That is our ultimate objective as we enter into a new year.

Barbara Holland President of the Board

“ We Are P’nai Tikvah” The Membership/Outreach Committee is embarking on an effort to let us get to know one another better. Each month they will be asking questions of a member and sharing their responses in the newsletter. This month they interviewed Iris Katz

1.What brought you to Congregation P'nai Tikvah? 2. What keeps you involved in P'nai Tikvah? 3. What has P'nai Tikvah brought/added to your life? In response to all your questions Torah ,Torah ,Torah ....I came to study Torah with a friend, Ann Castro who knew Rabbi Mintz and her husband ....and stayed mainly for Rabbi Mintz's insightful Torah Study.. 8

Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Chayim Gala Committee to whom we owe a huge thank you! (Front) Regent Sam Lieberman, (L to R) Jane Kusel and Lynn Pisetzner; (Back) Rabbi Yocheved Mintz 9

L’Chayim Gala The L’Chayim Gala was held at the M Resort on May 30, 2015. It was a beautiful evening with music, family, friends and colleagues from across Rabbi Mintz’s lifetime who attended this special occasion, helping to make it truly a gala event in honor of the 10th year of Rabbi Mintz being the spiritual leader of Congregation P’nai Tikvah. Havdallah, outdoor by the poolside was delightful as each person in attendance sang arm in arm. The Lux, the penthouse restaurant atop of the M Resort provided stunning views of the Las Vegas Valley. The food was delicious and the desserts divine. Dancing, singing , laughing and honors abounded. Among the guests in attendance were Dr. Tamar Frankiel, President of Academy of Jewish Religion, CA; Etty Dolgin, director of Moadon Kol Chadash, a Chicago based after-school experience which she co-founded with Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, Elliot Karp, President and CEO of Jewish Federation of Las Vegas; Jeff Metz, Executive Director of JCC; Sam Lieberman, Regent of Nevada System of Higher Education; Michael Naft, District Director for Congresswoman Dina Titus; Jolie Brislin, Executive Director of ADL; Barbara Raben, President of the Board and acting Director for Jewish Family Services Agency, Cantor Marla Goldberg from Congregation P’nai Tikvah; Cantor Jessica Hutchings from Congregation Ner Tamid; Wendy and Laura Kraft-Sussman, Co-Directors of the Kraft-Sussman Funeral Services and Jay Poster, Founder and General Manager of King David Mortuary, and friends and congregants of Congregation P’nai Tikvah. Entertainment was provided by The Mintz Brother’s Band, Ari Mintz, M.D., Steve Mintz, Jonathon Mintz, with Jeffery Mintz on lead vocals, and special guests Lee Mintz and Kristy Mintz; and a surprise serenade to Rabbi Mintz presented by nine of her fourteen grandchildren.

Pictures from the Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Chayim Gala Photos by JN Photography

(L to R )Ann Mandell, Scott Linker and Cantor Marla Goldberg

(L to R )Barbara Raben, Wendy and Laura Kraft-Sussman

(L to R ) Tim Lockett, Ann Mandell and Eileen Ancman

(L to R )Ken and Evelyn Clark (L to R ) Sam Lieberman and Stephanie Paykel continued on page 12

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(L to R ) Jeffery Mintz, Steve Mintz, Ari Mintz and Lee Mintz

(L to R ) Jacqueline Ackerman, Barbara Holland, Meera Kamegai (L to R ) Kristen Jaeger and Tim Lockett

(L to R ) Maxine Blechman and Jennifer Cohen

Jewlicious Learners End of Year Ceremony, with culminating project: “ Dirah L’Haskir, Apartment for Rent.” Students being promoted to next level: Meyer DeLee, MayLee DeLee, Samantha Holland, Sydney Knepper, Sabrina Linker, and Danica Lockett. They were also the stars of the play Apartment for Rent based on the book Dirah L’Haskir by Leah Goldberg. Joyce Nance and Cole Bush were the videographers, Rabbi Yocheved Mintz and Cantor Marla Goldberg worked with the children in understanding the Hebrew and participating in the video. “In a beautiful valley, Beneath a blue sky. There stands a tower – Five stories high. And who lives in the tower?” In this story we meet four animals who are the tenants of an apartment building, and are trying to rent out an apartment that was previously owned by a mouse. These tenants, who are very different from one another, are a fat hen, a tidy black cat, a cuckoo bird whose children live in others’ nests, and a voracious squirrel who cracks nuts all day. The potential tenants who come to look at the apartment all seem to like it, but each has reservations about one of the neighbors. The hard-working ant says it will not live with a “lazy hen.” The motherly rabbit won’t live with a cuckoo bird who “neglects” her offspring. The white pig won’t live with the cat just because of the color of her fur. The musically sophisticated nightingale can’t stand the noise raised by the nut-cracking squirrel. And at last comes the dove, the universal symbol of Peace. She is not too impressed by the apartment itself, but finds merit in each of the neighbors and decides to live in their good and peaceful company. Over the year, the older children developed dictionary skills and learned some rudimentary Hebrew grammar in order to translate the Hebrew of this classic story, written by Leah Goldberg. As the children became more aware of what they were translating, conversations grew and the students became more and more aware of the story of tolerance and understanding that was the moral of the narrative. By the end of the year, the children not only learned new vocabulary, new skills, how to operate puppets, and how to participate in video-taping sessions, but, more importantly, the students developed a keen sensitivity regarding how to treat one another, how to be kind to those who are different than you, and how to stand up against bullying and bigotry. We are grateful to congregants, Joyce Nance and Colene Bush, for the hours of volunteer time video-taping and editing “Dirah L’Haskir/Apartment to Rent” To watch the video, in Hebrew, with English subtitles, please go to https://youtu.be/i8vWzoDc4ow .

Pictures from Jewlicious Learners End of Year Ceremony, with culminating project: “ Dirah L’Haskir, Apartment for Rent.”

MayLee DeLee

Meyer DeLee

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continued from page 14 Danica Lockett

Danica Lockett

Sydney Knepper

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Sabrina Linker

Sami Holland

KIDZ KORNER for July

Reconstructionist News You Can Use Hazon 2015 New York Ride Looking for a fun way to cycle with new and old friends while also giving back to your community? Sign-up for the 2015 Hazon New York Ride! This exciting weekend retreat is a fullysupported ride and community experience for people of all cycling levels and ages. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll enjoy canoeing, hiking, yoga, food demos, farm tour, goat milking, a dance party, and, of course, cycling through the Berkshires and the Hudson Valley. Spend Shabbat at Hazonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, Connecticut. (Non-riders are invited to join by supporting the cyclists on the road as members of the crew.) Mini-grants are available for teams of 4+ people to benefit your synagogue or the Reconstructionist movement! Learn more or register at http://hazon.org/bike-rides/new-york-ride.

5776 Pocket Calendars Pocket calendars are once again available through the Reconstructionist Press. These handy little calendar books are great for keeping track of appointments and holidays in the upcoming Jewish year. They also include contact information for the Reconstructionist movement's offices and a directory of Reconstructionist affiliates. Order your calendar today at http:// stores.jewishreconbooks.org/5776-pocketcalendar.

To inquire about creating or joining a team, email rhandler@rrc.edu.

Jewish Gap Year Program in Portland, OR, Seeks Adventurous and Visionary 17-20 Year-Olds! $1,000 discount for Reconstructionist-affiliated participants! Additional need-based financial aid is also available at this time. Tivnu Gap Year is 9 months of hands-on, Jewish social justice engagement. Participants live together, create community, discover the Pacific Northwest, and explore connections between Jewish life and social justice with their heads, hands, and hearts. Options include the Building track or the new Direct Service and Advocacy track. Building Track: Participants learn and apply construction skills by building affordable housing projects with Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East. Participants also intern one day a week with local direct service and advocacy groups. Direct Service and Organizing Track: Participants work hands-on with local social justice organizations that align with their particular interests, including affordable housing/homelessness, food security, and environmental justice. Possible placements include JOIN, Portland Homeless Family Solutions, Street Roots, and Sisters of the Road. Participants in both tracks grapple with the complex issues of housing and related social justice issues through general and Jewish perspectives. To learn more, please visit http://tivnu.org/gap-year-program or contact Steve Eisenbach-Budner at steve@tivnu.org or 503.232.1864.

Pictures from Shavuot Services and Sabrina Ani Linker becoming a Bat Mitzvah Photography by Syd Rabin

Rabbi Yocheved Mintz and Sabrina Ani Linker

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Scott Linker, father of Sabrina and Sabrina Ani Linker

Sabrina Ani Linker and Cantor Marla Goldberg

Sabrina Ani Linker and Ariel Cole, mother of Sabrina

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Rabbi Yocheved Mintz and Sabrina Ani Linker

Danica Lockett, MayLee DeLee, Sami Holland and Rabbi Yocheved Mintz

Sabrina reading from the Torah

Rabbi Yocheved assisting Hagbah (person lifting the Torah), Nancey Eason & Gelilah (person dressing the Torah), Dotti Elgart

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Above: Sami Holland blows the shofar as Sabrina Linker looks on; Bottom Left: Michael DeLee with the newest DeLee, Maple DeLee. Bottom Right: MayLee DeLee

SIGN UP TO SPONSOR AND/OR CATER AN ONEG Our first and third Friday evening services create space for people to socialize, to talk over the ideas Rabbi Mintz has shared in her sermon, and to meet one another. Sponsoring and/or catering the Oneg Shabbat is a lovely way to share joy of Shabbat with the community. Any reason is a good reason to sponsor and/or cater an Oneg! Perhaps you are marking a special event (a birth, baby-naming, engagement, wedding, anniversary, graduation, bar/bat mitzvah) or you want to remember a loved one in a special way, or celebrate a return to health, a new job…or any reason. We welcome you to sign up to provide a simple buffet to be enjoyed by all. Feeding others is a nourishing experience in so many ways! Foods to consider: Easily served finger foods such as: cheese/crackers, hummus/pita, nuts, raw veggies, cookies, wasabi peas, pretzels, chips, spreads/crackers, dried fruits, fresh fruit (cut up). Judging quantities: Remember, the Oneg is just a nosh, not a meal! We tend to average about 70 -100 people at services. Set up: We have access to the space at Kraft-Sussman starting at about 1/2 hour before services. Two 6-foot tables will be set up for the Oneg.

June 19

Sponsored and Catered by the Chai Mitzvah Graduating Class Sponsored by Hariet Miller in honor of her 85th birthday

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August 7

Sponsored by Dr. Meera and Dr. Minao Kamegai in honor of Meeraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 85th Birthday Catered by

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