July 2015 by Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley

JValley news OF SILICON VALLEY

July 2015

Breathe for Change An ever-changing community Jewish organizations welcome new staff BDS storms the shores of local campuses Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley 14855 Oka Rd., Suite 200 Los Gatos, CA 95032 Change Service Requested

Published by the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley July 2015

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID SAN JOSE, CA PERMIT #553

www.jvalley.org

from the ceo It is hard to believe that summertime is passing by so quickly. These weeks are extra fulfilling for me in my position here at Federation. This month I’m entering my 28th year as a Federation employee and summer has always been my favorite time to reflect on the work we do. When the campaign year ends in June we get a chance to tell the community about all of the work we have done, much of it with our partners in Silicon Valley. At this year’s annual meeting it was such a delight to see so many new faces representing our community. If you missed the meeting, you’ll definitely want to check out our annual report and photos of the event at www.jvalley.org. In addition to riding the successes of the past year, summer carries with it a chance for refreshing. The campus is home to the APJCC’s summer camp and the Camp Shalom campers remind me why I’ve dedicated nearly three decades to this work! Their laughter and the smells of sunscreen fill the halls. As we plan for the year to come, they plan only for the minutes ahead. In our planning, we try to imbibe the same sense of excitement these campers share with us. This fall we are excited to launch a new Women’s Philanthropy, begin our PJ Our Way group and share our NextGen happenings out in the community. Join us and see what’s in store for 2015-16!

jyl jurman, Federation CEO

CANDLELIGHTING San Jose, CA

Friday, July 24................8:04 p.m. Friday, July 31..................7:58 p.m. Friday, Aug 7.....................7:51 p.m. Friday, Aug 14..................7:43 p.m. Friday, Aug 21..................7:34 p.m. Friday, Aug 28.................7:24 p.m. Friday, Sept 4...................7:14 p.m. Friday, Sept 11.................7:04 p.m. Rosh Hashanah First Night Sunday, Sept 13...............7:00 P.M.

JValley news

JValley.news is published by the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley JEWISH FEDERATION CEO Jyl Jurman jyl@jvalley.org 408-357-7500

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Amanda Glincher amanda@jvalley.org 408-357-7503

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Pat Bergman Kay Gatell

ADVERTISING Amanda Glincher amanda@jvalley.org 408-357-7503

SIMCHA & OBITUARY DEPARTMENTS Andrea Greyber andrea.greyber@gmail.com

BILLING Jeri Jensen jeri@jvalley.org 408-357-7507

Published six times a year by the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley. We reserve the right to edit all copy. JValley.news is not responsible for the content of paid advertising. Send copy to JValley.news, 14855 Oka Rd., Suite 200, Los Gatos, CA 95032. Fax: (408) 356-0733.

content

Local Highlights

Sinai welcomes education director San Jose Mikvah undergoes renovation Share your garden’s bounty Beth David celebrates adult b’not mitzvot Bay Area hired as rabbinic intern APJCC teacher selected for Sheva Fellowship Encountering Jewish roots in Europe Emanu-El preschool celebrates bar mitzvah BDS storms local campuses Breathe for Change CRC welcomes summer intern Emanu-El welcomes new education director Hillel of Silicon Valley welcomes new staff Shared beliefs unite

6 6 7 7 7 8 9 9 10 10 12 15 15 19

In Every Issue

Community photos Rabbi’s column Simchas Datebook Professional Directory Obituary Professional Directory

4 12 17 18 21 22 21

Second Night Monday, Sept 14..after 8:29 P.M. Friday, Sept 18.................6:53 P.M. Yom Kippur Tuesday, Sept 22............6:47 P.M. Friday, Sept 25................6:42 P.M. www.jvalley.org

c mmunity photos

Rhonda Farber and Robin Sabes display fidget quilt as Barbara Berlant presents about Knitzvah. Meri Zavorine received the Bobbi Shulkin Award for her dedicated volunteer service to Jewish Family Services.

Students explore science, engineering and more at Yavneh Day Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s booth at the Bay Area 2015 Maker Faire in San Mateo.

Federation Annual Meeting

Diane Fisher presents the CRC Emerging Leadership Award to Kevin Zwick.

Current board member Jonathan Katz enjoys the hot dog dinner with his son, Noah.

Eleanor Dickman shows off the plate presented to her for her time as chair of PJ Library.

More than 2,600 people attended the 4th annual Silicon Valley Jewish Music Festival at the JCC on June 28. The headliner was Grammy-nominated reggae artist Matisyahu. Also appearing were the Red Hot Chachkas, Hot Kugel, and Octopretzel. 4

www.jvalley.org

This Winter in Israel. For Free!

TA G L I T - B I R T H R I G H T I S R A E L Silicon Valley Trip for Young Adults (ages 22-26)

Save the dates: January 4-15, 2016

Pre-register today at www.israeloutdoors.com Addison-Penzak JCC of Silicon Valley

速 OF SILICON VALLEY

Levy Family Campus

Becka Ross: becka@jvalley.org | 408-357-7502

Jason Goldstein: jason@svjcc.org | 408-357-7497

www.jvalley.org for everything Jewish in Silicon Valley

Los Gatos Memorial Park Shalom Garden

Serving the Bay Area Jewish community since 1889 Peaceful, park-like setting overlooking Santa Cruz Mountains

*Pre Plan and receive a discount *Graveside Ceremonies in a serene setting *Upright monuments available *Trained funeral professionals *Traditional caskets and ritual services

Schedule a tour of Shalom Garden and receive a

$25

Viva Restaurant Gift Card!

2255 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd., San Jose, CA 95124

www.losgatosmemorialpark.com

(408) 356-4151 Darling-Fischer Mortuaries Chapel of the Hills 615 N. Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos, CA 95030 (408) 354-7740 FD940

Garden Chapel 471 E. Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95112 (408) 998-2226 FD557

Campbell Memorial Chapel 231 E. Campbell Ave. Campbell, CA 95008 (408) 379-5010 FD898

www.darlingandfischer.com www.jvalley.org

l cal news

Congregation Sinai welcomes new education director

San Jose Mikvah re-opens after renovation

2015 has been a year of change for the Sinai community with two significant events: the sabbatical of Rabbi Josh Berkenwald and as well the appointment of a new education director, Ms. Jamie Zimmer.

By Fabienne Adler

A relatively new import to the Bay Area, having relocated to San Jose from Tel Aviv in April 2014, Jamie is no newcomer to Jewish education. Born into a traditional family in Cleveland, Ohio, her family moved to her father’s hometown of Melbourne, Australia when she was four. Looking for a balance between tradition and quality academics, her family chose the King David School, Australia’s only progressive Jewish day school, where Jamie attended from kindergarten to 12th grade. After spending a year in Israel with her youth movement, Netzer (the Australian version of NFTY) Jamie Zimmer Jamie returned to Monash University in Melbourne and embarked upon a Journalism and Communications Bachelors Degree. “My parents always told friends I was actually getting a degree in youth movements and summer camp,” Zimmer said. “These places — camp, youth group meetings, shabbatonim, Israel trips — these are places outside of home and school where my identity formed, where I began to realize this was really my passion, the kind of work I simply love to do.” During her final year of university Jamie took up the position of youth and education director at Temple Beth Israel, Australia’s largest Progressive community, and remained there until 2008, when she married Ilan, set off backpacking around the world for four months before returning home to pack up their belongings and make aliyah. During their six and half years in Israel, Jamie worked as the deputy managing editor of youth and teen magazines, as well as English Improvement publications at The Jerusalem Post, while also lecturing for the Jewish Agency for teens on year programs and leading Shabbatonim for birthright groups. “As lovely as it was to finally use my degree, I always found myself returning to my roots in Jewish education” she said. After the birth of her son in 2011, Jamie moved towards the Israeli high tech scene and became MarCom director at eTeacher, an online Hebrew academy, specializing in modern and Biblical Hebrew classes.

The San Jose Mikvah, located on Phantom Avenue in Campbell, was built in 1997. Originally built to serve the South Bay Jewish community, the mikvah now averages 50 monthly visitors who follow the laws of taharat hamishpachah (family purity laws). The Mikvah of San Jose has reopened its doors after closing for two months for a complete renovation. A state-of-the-art facility abiding by the highest kashrut standards, it is now an inviting, and elegant space, equipped with a comfortable prep room and a beautiful, marble lined immersion pool. The project, led by Meni and Chani Peretz and supervised by Rabbi Menachem Levine and Rabbi Noach Vogel, was completed early July. Every project needs the funds to enable the dream to become a reality. The Mikvah Society of San Jose, managed by Pat Bergman, generously donated $12,000 to the renovations. More than $20,000 has been raised by members of the community as well. The Mikvah Society of San Jose is a 501(c)3, taxexempt organization and all donations are tax deductible. To make an appointment or for more information on the San Jose Mikvah, please call (408) 371-9548. Leave a message and your call will be returned.

Since her arrival in the Bay Area Jamie has been simultaneously teaching in the Sinai Religious School as well as teaching middle school Judaics at Yavneh Day School. “As sad as I was to leave Israel, it has been wonderful to land so safely in such a connected, committed community of Jews” Zimmer said. Yavneh, which Zimmer says is “incredibly similar” to the King David School of her childhood, offers her “a great way to understand the greater Jewish community while being able to understand the Sinai community from an entirely new perspective. I get to interact with kids from so many different backgrounds, some who attend Sinai and some who don’t, all the while within a framework where we view and embrace the world through a Jewish lens. It’s very special.” With her love for camp, Israel and Hebrew, Jamie intends to form strong bonds with USY, integrate a stronger modern Hebrew curriculum alongside prayer Hebrew, as well as incorporate a larger Israel component into the curriculum. “We are B’nei Yisrael, which makes up Am Yisrael, we created Medinat Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael. Israel is at the heart of everything we do,” Zimmer said, smiling. “And the best part? It all started at Sinai."

Fully renovated mikvah in Campbell Editor’s note: We are delighted that this state-of-theart mikvah exists alongside the Community Mikvah at the Levy Family Campus. For more information on either mikvah, visit the community directory at www.jvalley.org.

www.jvalley.org

l cal news

Calling all gardeners: share your garden’s bounty! Are your peas climbing the walls? Are your peppers especially prolific? Do neighbors hide when they see you coming with your bags of zucchini? Instead of letting your fruits and veggies go to waste, share them with the people Jewish Family Services helps. Single parent families, isolated seniors, recently-arrived refugees, and unemployed adults who can’t afford fresh produce will LOVE your bounty. (Freshpicked only, please.) Bring it to the JFS office, Suite 202 at the Levy Family Campus, Monday-Thursday year-round. If your donation exceeds 25 pounds please call first. For more information, please call Jodi at (408) 357-7456 or contact jodicd@jfssv.org. Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley is a proud member of Ample Harvest.

Congregation Beth David celebrates adult b’not mitzvahs An adult B’not Mitzvah was held on Shabbat, May 16, 2015 at Congregation Beth David, during which six women conducted the service and shared their thoughts about their religious “coming of age.” The group included Mindy Berkowitz, Rhoda Bress, Marilyn Goodman, Patty Hughes, Marilyn Sefchovich, and Helen Tieger. Families and friends created a special mood of affectionate celebration in honor of their achievement.

Bay Area native to be Shir Hadash’s rabbinic intern Congregation Shir Hadash is enthusiastically anticipating the arrival of its new rabbinic intern for the coming year. Aaron is currently a fourth year rabbinic intern at the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles campus. In parallel he is working towards a Certificate in Jewish Non-Profit Management. In an email to next year’s Hebrew High juniors and seniors he shares that he has lived in many places, including Tennessee, New Jersey, Virginia, Oregon, and Israel. He is a graduate of Los Altos High School and attended the University of Oregon where he received a B.A. in Judaic Studies.

Aaron Sataloff In addition to the year he spent in Israel as a rabbinic student, Aaron took a year off from college to experience Israel, living on a kibbutz, teaching English and learning modern Hebrew. He attended ulpan at Kibbutz Tzuba. Aaron has a deep love for Israel, and enjoys helping Jews create their own meaningful connections to their Jewish homeland. He has recently completed a Master Concentration in Israel Education from the iCenter in Chicago. Since beginning his studies at Hebrew Union College Aaron has held numerous internship positions in the Los Angeles area as well as other California locations. He has taught youth of all ages, led services, and taught adult study. In addition to his official internships, Aaron is involved with organizations such as the Jewish National Fund and Moishe House, and serves as a board member of Masa Israel Alumni group. His participation and engagement with these organizations comes from a deep passion towards building inclusive, diverse, and caring Jewish communities. His experiences with Jewish Community Centers all over the country has fostered this passion, which he hopes to bring to our community at Shir Hadash. Aaron is a leader who believes in enhancing the accessibility of Jewish experiences for emerging adults by fostering authentic relationships and creating unique learning experiences. He will surely be a linch pin in strengthening the youth community at Shir Hadash and beyond!

et Me

Simplify Your Real Estate Needs!

Gloria Melmon Ascher Cell 408.781.8624 Office 408.741.1111 gascher@apr.com License #00613382

apr.com | SARATOGA 12772 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road

www.jvalley.org

l cal news

APJCC Preschool teacher selected for Sheva Fellowship Annie Hurst of the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center Preschool has has been selected as one of 19 fellows nationwide to participate in JCC Association’s first Sheva-Covenant Directors Institute. The program, funded with a $230,000 Covenant Foundation Signature Grant, will develop high quality leadership in the field of early childhood education to ensure excellence in programming in the field and address anticipated leadership shortages. “The APJCC Preschool is delighted that one of our teachers has been selected as a Sheva Fellow,” said Cyndi Sherman, the preschool’s director. “Annie at a young age is already a wonderful teacher and this program will help her develop into one of the next generation of leaders in Jewish early childhood education.” JCC Association research indicates that over the next five to seven years, approximately 40 percent of active JCC early childhood education directors will retire. There has been no plan in place to ensure a steady stream of qualified candidates to ensure continuity, and the fellowship program, by focusing on early childhood center Annie Hurst leadership, intends to address that. The 19 fellows come from JCCs in diverse communities across the United States. The three-year program will provide concrete skills and knowledge to help the fellows develop as leaders in the field. They will participate in in-person retreats, distance learning and a study tour to Israel. The fellows will work on a national early childhood director’s credential, Aim4Excellence, through the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University in Chicago. The fellows are all teachers who currently serve in leadership roles in their JCCs’ early childhood programs and who have expressed a desire to stay and advance within the field. The Directors Institute will allow them to do that while ensuring that these educators benefit from the knowledge and research gleaned through best practices and highest standards grounded in Jewish knowledge. In all, there are 147 JCC early childhood programs in North America which educate approximately 21,000 children. “This is an exciting opportunity to shape the field of Jewish early childhood education,” said Mark Horowitz, JCC Association’s vice president of early childhood education and family engagement. “Focusing on the directors allows us to continue providing excellent education that has become synonymous with what JCCs offer; we’re very grateful to the Covenant Foundation for recognizing this and providing this opportunity.”

Saratoga Elegance!

SOLD IN 1 WEEK! Rosa Bencuya

Vickery Avenue

Saratoga Realtor® 408.499.2077 rbencuya@apr.com | HomeByRosa.com

Offered at $2,728,000 Serving Buyers and Sellers in Diverse Communities of Silicon Valley

www.jvalley.org

Encountering our Jewish roots in Central Europe By Naomi Kalmus When you live in the US where there are vibrant Jewish communities, it is hard to imagine what the Jewish landscape is like in Central Europe. Many of the towns where Jews thrived for hundreds, even a thousand years have only a few hundred identified Jews living there today. In some towns, the only indication that Jews ever lived there are old, unused synagogues and cemeteries. In Europe one is very aware that there are still fewer Jews in the world than there were before the Holocaust. In late May, a group led by Rabbi Melanie Aron of Congregation Shir Hadash, traveled to Krakow, Budapest and Prague to witness both the absence and presence of Jews in these communities. As part of their visit, they toured the Weliczka Salt Mines, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Complex, the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, the Old Ghetto of Prague with its numerous synagogues, Terezin—the Nazi’s “Model” Camp, Prague Castle and memorials to those martyred in the Holocaust. The trip concluded on a high note with a visit to Kolin (just outside Prague) where the Synagogue’s Holocaust Torah originated and where a special commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the return of survivors was held. Some of the sites the group toured will be immediately recognized by you, others less so. In Budapest, one of the most moving sites was the memorial Shoes on the Danube Promenade. This memorial on the Pest side of the Danube honors Jews who were killed by the Arrow Cross militants during WWII; the memorial represents the shoes left behind on the river bank as the Jews fell into the river after being shot. More familiar to most Americans was the Oskar Schindler factory made famous by the movie “Schindler’s List” and Terezin which was turned into a ghetto and concentration camp and departure point for thousands of Jews who were then deported to Auschwitz. In Krakow, Sandy Wolf was struck by the fact that, “The commercial square was full of Jewish restaurants, run and owned by non-Jews. At Terezin, the group met with an 89-year-old survivor who told the story of some of the survivors who actually survived the regimes of multiple camps and the final death marches at the end of the war when Germany was clearly losing. According to Rabbi Aron, the size of the Birkenau site was overwhelming. She said, “It goes on as far as you can see in every direction. You can imagine how helpless a prisoner would have felt at the immensity of the camp.” The visit to Kolin was especially emotional for Jill Becker as she had personally gone to do the pick up when Shir Hadash received its Holocaust Torah 32 years ago. In Kolin, the group was joined by a member of the Northwood Temple in London led by Rabbi Andrew Goldstein as well as several other congregations with Kolin Torahs and 21 Israeli descendants of a survivor from Kolin. Gathering from all over the world, the assembly joined in Shabbat services and learned about the Kolin Jewish community which lost over 90% of its members who were deported in 1942. As their Israeli guide Michael Hollander said, the trip was about “the presence of absence and the absence of presence.” That is, even where there are no Jews there is still a strong sense of the previous presence of the Jewish community. There is also a desire on the part of the nonJewish community and of the descendants of Jews who are newly hearing about their Jewish connection to learn more and preserve the history of the Jews of Europe.

l cal news Temple Emanu-El Preschool celebrates its Bar Mitzvah By Stephanie Pollock 2015 marks the thirteenth year of Temple EmanuEl Preschool and this momentous occasion was celebrated on May 9 at the annual preschool end-ofyear celebration. Over 200 people were in attendance and guests included current preschool families, alumni, and the school’s very first students: Raya Magat and Noah Levinson. The evening “felt like the world’s largest family reunion,” remarked founding Founding Director Director Barbara Smead. Barbara Smead and “There was such a sense of first student Raya accomplishment seeing past Magat families return. We feel so much pride at how our school has blossomed into such a strong presence in the Jewish community. We felt that it was important to celebrate such a significant milestone.” The evening’s festivities included a celebratory service followed by a potluck dinner and Havdalah led by Rabbi Dana Magat and Cantor Meeka Simerly. Preparations for this event began in November of 2014 when 500 fabric squares were mailed to all current and past families with the instruction to decorate the square to represent their family or a special preschool memory. Over The Preschool Talit 100 squares were returned and ranged from intricate needlepoints to basic hand drawings and were all beautifully unique. Barbara Smead expressed that she was “overwhelmed with excitement” when a square was returned and “was immediately transported back to when they were my student.” Temple Emanu-El member and current preschool parent Jennifer Wandruff and her mother Linda Thurston took on the task of assembling the squares into a giant talit complete with tzitzit. The end result of that “labor of love” is a beautiful piece that was used to bless all of the students during the celebratory service. Mazel Tov! to Temple Emanu-El Preschool for thirteen years of excellence.

www.jvalley.org

l cal news

Campuses attacked by Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement By Sarita Bronstein Hillel of Silicon Valley is a home away from home. A snapshot of one afternoon provides a sense of what Hillel offers: • a student works with Hillel staff on a campus march to commemorate the Holocaust; • students crowd around the dining table to discuss upcoming events; • students start to set up for Shabbat dinner. These are activities we prefer to focus on. Increasingly, Hillel and Jewish students are on the front lines of a sustained antiIsraeli assault embroiling campuses, making students targets of anti-Semitism. The worldwide BDS movement, whose goal is to delegitimize Israel, focuses its campus efforts through an organization called Students for Justice in Palestine. Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) began at UC-Berkeley in 1993 but recently exploded to 100 campuses nationwide. In fall 2014, SJP established chapters at San Jose State and Santa Clara University. Well funded and highly organized, SJP follows a meticulously crafted set of instructions to gain traction on campus: it plays the victim card, looks to partner with groups that see themselves as oppressed minorities, works to get on student government committees, and uses “free speech” as camouflage for bullying. As a result, Jewish students are harassed, intimidated, and occasionally physically assaulted. Anti-Semitic tropes that erupt on the quad are also found in classrooms of biased professors who use their authority to push their anti-Israel agenda and silence opposing views. Here’s recent examples of what Jewish students face on California campuses: UCLA: One of our South Bay students was challenged as a candidate for the UCLA student judicial board because she was Jewish. Stanford: A Jewish student, hoping to gain a campus group’s endorsement for a student government position, was asked how her Judaism affects her view of divestment from Israel. San Jose State University: Shouting anti-Israel slogans, SJP disrupted a hummus and falafel tasting where Hillel partnered with the Vegan Club. SJP also holds anti-Israel rallies. Santa Clara University: Palestinian Awareness Week featured the Apartheid Wall and Hatem Bazian, a hate-mongering antiIsrael activist and SJP cofounder. SJP also hosted Steven Salaita, another anti-Israel professor. California Community Colleges: General Assembly of the Student Senate is bringing resolutions to divest from companies doing business with Israel. UC-Berkeley: The message “Zionists should be sent to the gas chamber” was scrawled on a bathroom wall, along with other anti-Semitic slogans after a contentious BDS campaign. Nationwide: Annual Israel Apartheid Week, inflammatory posts

on social media, anti-Israel and, increasingly, anti-Semitic events and speakers happen. What Hillel Is Doing Hillel helps students foster peer-to-peer relationships and build alliances with other campus groups, provides advocacy training to help students stand up to bullying, offers fact-based information for Hillel students and the campus community. Students cannot fight this increasing onslaught alone. They need support from the whole Jewish community. Today’s malicious threats pose future threats. Students who hear only one narrative may buy into the propaganda they hear. Today’s students are tomorrow’s decision-makers. A distorted perception of Israel—and Jews—is likely to affect their voting. How you can help: • Stay informed and support organizations that combat these threats. In addition to Hillel, AMCHA, StandWithUs, and Israel on Campus Coalition are among the most active on campus. • Alumni: follow your investment; is your money supporting antiIsrael/anti-Jewish trends? • If you learn of anti-Jewish activities on campus, contact Hillel to direct you to organized letter campaigns to the campus president and other pertinent faculty and administrators. • Become familiar with the U.S. State Department definition of anti-Semitism: http://go.usa.gov/3bWue For questions or to support Hillel, contact Sarita Bronstein: sarita@hillelsv.org, visit our website at hillelsv.org, or call (408) 286-6669.

Local woman creates change through breathing By Amanda Glincher “In a community, first you have to love yourself, because if you don’t love yourself, you can’t love anybody else.” The Breathe for Change mission begins with this quote by a former student of Ilana Nankin’s. Ilana, a 28-year-old Silicon Valley native, founded the organization earlier this year. As the quote relays, Ilana and her team at Breathe for Change work with schools to improve the health and well-being of teachers and students through yoga and mindfulness. The organization provides training for teachers to foster classrooms where students can be engaged and present.

Ilana Nankin

Breathe for Change has 37 current partners and counting. Included in these relationships are such entities as Athleta, Direct TV and Sam’s Club. It is clear that the mission of the organization is one that is valued by many.

Ilana currently resides in Madison, Wisconsin and is a PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin. She is an inspiration to all who come in contact with her. Motivated, intelligent and empathetic, her strides to make such an impact on the world are likely to succeed. Learn more at www.breatheforchange.org.

www.jvalley.org

l cal news CRC welcomes summer Interfaith Intern Diane Fisher, CRC Director The Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley is very pleased to welcome Gabe Paoletti as a summer Interfaith Intern, to explore the opportunities to expand CatholicJewish relations at this propitious moment. Interfaith relations are a fundamental part of the work Gabe Paoletti of the CRC, and this fall we will be joining with many around the country in marking the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate (In Our Time). This seminal document on the Vatican’s relations with non-Christian religious traditions was unprecedented in the history of Jewish-Christian relations. We are also looking forward to joint Catholic-Jewish responses to Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si (Praised Be to You), a compelling religious call in our current time, for global action on climate change. Gabe is a student at Fordham University where he is pursuing a degree in English with a minor in Political Science. He has been involved in the Jewish Community in Silicon Valley from a young age, attending Yavneh Day School and serving as an AZA chapter president in high school. At Fordham University, he has been involved in the Roosevelt Institute, a national campus organization that discusses and proposes public policy, and he has studied a number of religions, including Catholicism and Buddhism, in order to better understand Judaism’s role in the larger faith community. Throughout the summer, he will be writing on interfaith issues on the Federation’s blog (www. jvalley.org/blog), on the CRC facebook page (www.facebook.com/JCRCSV), and in other local media. He welcomes your comments on his posts.

An ever-changing community By Rabbi James Greene, Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center Our Jewish community is ever-changing, and for many in the organized Jewish community we are unhappy with the continued decline in the number of Jews who are connecting to Jewish organizations. This is not only a problem here in the South Bay, but a larger trend that is cause for concern. Nationally, less than 33% of Jews are affiliated to some Jewish institution. Here in the South Bay, that number is even lower, perhaps approaching 15% or 20%. When we look around to ask why, we must look inward and explore our organizations and our process for connecting with people, to look for answers. I believe that, in part, the lack of affiliation in the Jewish community reflects a tidal shift in how people choose to identify. Our emerging generation of Jews does not Rabbi James Greene seek membership as a means of connecting to their Jewish identity. They are finding it through films, cultural arts, food, music, and the internet. They may seek out clergy at life-cycle moments, but do not yet see the value of joining a community when they themselves are not settled to live in one place for their entire life. As Jewish organizations, we have also forgotten that we are strongest when we stand together. We can provide the fullest experience and deepest relationship for members of the Jewish community when we work hand-in-hand to broaden the opportunities for connection. This past year, two staff members from the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center participated in a training program with the Jewish Outreach Institute. During this learning process, we spent a lot of time thinking about how we engage those in our community who are not currently connected. This is not about membership growth for our organization, but rather about how we can truly serve this generation of Jews. By visiting public spaces to provide Jewish content, we believe that we can reach folks where they are and help them find a pathway into Jewish life. So, look for us to be at your local Whole Foods or Lucky’s in the coming year, helping folks celebrate Hanukah, Passover, and other Jewish holidays. And see if you can spot us hosting Jewish programs in other community destinations! But we recognize that we cannot be doing this work alone. That is why I am so excited about the collaboration we are developing with Congregation Beth David this year to partner not only on outreach and engagement programming, but also looking at ways that we our organizations can support one another. Our community is strongest when we work together and help each other become more welcoming and engaging in communal spaces. I am excited to explore joint holiday and Shabbat programs, collaborative youth opportunities, and even shared community events! The Torah, in Genesis 18, tells the story of Abraham, who was sitting at the entrance of his tent at the heat of the day: “Looking up, he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and, bowing to the ground, he said, ‘Friends, if it is alright with you, do not go rush ahead and pass me by. Let me bring you some water; bathe your feet and rest under the tree. And let me get you something to eat so that you may refresh yourselves….’” In a tradition where words are often sparse, the Torah here gives a lot of description. Why? I will argue that it speaks to the importance of proactive hospitality. Abraham does not simply wait around for folks to show up; he gets out there and meets them where they are. And together as a community we can do a better job of meeting folks where they are, not just where we want them to be. Although our plan is ambitious, I believe it is truly sacred work that will better connect, engage, and support the Jewish community moving forward.

www.jvalley.org

Be a hero to your children and grandchildren. SUPPORT THE SILICON VALLEY JEWISH COMMUNITY LEGACY PROJECT.

Professional Home Care Compassionate Service

CO M M U N I T Y PA R T N E R S Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center Congregation Beth David Congregation Shir Hadash Congregation Sinai Hillel of Silicon Valley Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley Temple Emanu-El Yavneh Day School

Please call 408.357.7508 or go to www.communitylegacyproject.org. S I L I C O N VA L L E Y J E W I S H C O M M U N I T Y

JFS SV HomeCare Services features non-medical care for older or disabled adults and children including: • • • • •

Personal care Domestic duties Transportation Companionship Mobility

Call Jewish Family Services at (408) 556-0600 to schedule an interview and home visit. Competitive rates; call for details. Limited scholarships available.

LEGACY PROJECT

homecare@jfssv.org www.jfssv.org/home-care.html

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE SOUTH BAY INFO AND ACTION NIGHT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5

DOORS OPEN 6:15PM, PROGRAM BEGINS 6:30PM LEVY FAMILY CAMPUS, 14855 OKA ROAD, LOS GATOS ID required at entrance. Light refreshments served Free tickets available at www.jvalley.org/endslavery Info: Diane@jvalley.org, Julie.Ramirez@ceo.sccgov.org Learn about the dark side of becoming a Super Bowl host community, and how together we can abolish 21st century slavery. Speakers include Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, District Attorney Jeff Rosen, Supervisor Cindy Chavez, and a panel presentation by the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking.

OF SILICON VALLEY

Community Relations Council

CONGRESSWOMAN ZOE LOFGREN

DISTRICT ATTORNEY JEFF ROSEN

SUPERVISOR CINDY CHAVEZ

www.jvalley.org

Lunch and Ledaber: Hebrew Conversation !vkjt

?lnuka vn

?ohbhhbgv vn

with special guest appearance by Author Maggie Anton

?gnab vn ?vgav vn

?vrue vn ?asj vn

Lit Study: Rav Hisda’s Daughter

!ihumn

?vkug vz vnf

!rsxc kfv

Need to practice speaking Hebrew?

Grab your lunch and come to this informal, lunchtime gathering to keep your Hebrew conversational skills sharp. Led by Rabbi Ilana Baird, the JCC’s Hebrew instructor. Commit and save!

Purchase a 5, 10, or 20 pack of sessions-the more you buy, the more you save! $8 per session; $35 for a 5-session pack; $62 for a 10-session pack; $100 for a 20-session pack

Wednesdays, October 28th-November 18th 10:30am-12:00pm OR 7:00pm-8:30pm In Rav Hisda’s Daughter, award-winning author Maggie Anton tells the tale of the independent-minded and clever Hisdadukh, youngest child of the Talmudic sage Rav Hisda. The novel depicts a time when demons were feared, magic was accepted as real, and being an enchantress was a respected and prestigious profession. Based on actual Talmud texts and populated with its rabbis and their families, Rav Hisda’s Daughter vividly brings the world of the Talmud to life - from a woman’s perspective. Together, we will explore this imaginative and meticulously researched book, discussing what we find most fascinating, touching, challenging and puzzling.

We will deepen our dialogue in our final session, when we’re privileged to have author Maggie Anton join us.

Fridays, 12:00-1:00pm. Every other week beginning September 11th* *Class will meet on 9/11, 9/25, 10/9, 10/23, 11/6, 11/20, 12/4, 12/18, 1/8, 1/22, 2/5, 2/19, 3/4, 3/18, 4/1, 4/15, 5/6, 5/20, 6/3, 6/17

Addison-Penzak JCC of Silicon Valley Levy Family Campus

www.jvalley.org

Hankin is new education director at Emanu-El Temple Emanu-El is proud to announce the newest member of our congregational family: Phil Hankin, who joined us as director of education on July 1. Phil has had a long history with the Jewish community in the SF Bay Area. His formative years were spent in Fremont, attending Phil Hankin Temple Beth Torah. He attended UAHC Camp Swig as a camper, CIT, and staff person, and was very active in NFTY as a teen. He stayed active with his Judaism during college and beyond by working as a religious school teacher, Israeli folk dance instructor, and youth group advisor at multiple synagogues throughout California. Following completion of his Master’s Degree in Jewish Education (May 2001) from Hebrew Union College, Los Angeles, Phil served many institutions within the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Community. Before coming to Temple Emanu-El to serve as the full-time director of education, his prior posts included serving as education director at Congregations B’nai Tikvah in Walnut Creek and Kol Shofar in Tiburon, project director of the East Bay Jewish Teen Foundation, youth educator at Temple Sinai in Oakland, camp director of Camp Kadima in Pleasanton, and associate camp director at URJ Camp Newman. Phil is an avid sports fan and enjoys participating in many sports (e.g. golf, tennis, softball, soccer, poker— is that even a sport?). In his free time, Phil enjoys spending time with his two lovely children, Zachary and Sophie, and his wife Dina, whom he first met at a NFTY retreat at Camp Swig in 1985. Temple Emanu-El is excited to welcome this exuberant and engaging educator to our ranks!

l cal news

Hillel of Silicon Valley welcomes new staff By Sarita Bronstein

Creative, fun, passionate, experienced, friendly, and smart were among the words used by students and staff who participated in the screening interviews to describe the new staff members. As you will find by reading about Noa, Shelby, and Shifra, they come to us each with an impressive and relevant set of expertise to expand and enrich our programming to a new level. With no further ado please “meet” our new staff. “I want to bring Israel with me; I am proud to show what MY Israel is really like.” Noa Shemer, our new Israel Fellow, holds a B.A Degree in psychology and human resources from Haifa University. While in college Noa worked at the Israeli Friends Association of the University of Haifa where she was responsible for stewarding donor and alumni relations. Noa’s passion for advocating for Israel is evident by her body of work. Noa coordinated the Ambassadors on Line course where she trained 35 students about public diplomacy, and best practices for communicating a positive image of Israel. She developed a project highlighting Israel as the only country in the Middle East with women’s rights and ways to communicate it to the Noa Shemer world. Her project won 1st place and won her a scholarship from Chaikin Chair in Geostrategy. A StandWithUs Fellowship alum, Noa initiated The Taste for Israel 2013 project in which 8 bloggers from around the world went to Israel for a week-long culinary trip. While serving in the IDF Noa worked as a diagnostician of behavioral sciences at the Israeli Air Force. Noa is no stranger to the US as she has worked as a camp counselor at different day camps around the US, among them one in Sacramento; she has always wanted to come back to the Bay Area. Shelby Jirikils is a recent graduate of UC Irvine with a bachelors in history. Her academic involvements included internships with the University’s Special Collections in the Southeast Asian Archives. She took the research skills she learned to Washington, DC for a quarter-long internship as part of the UCDC Academic Internship Program. There, she worked for the NASA History Office, where she acquired social media skills as an effective tool for representation and communication. Shelby was involved with the Jewish community on campus from her first year, specifically as an active member in Hillel and Alpha Epsilon Phi where she served as vice president of recruitment, president, Shelby Jirikils and director of philanthropy. She recruited women to the chapter, promoted sisterhood, and raised over fifteen hundred dollars in honor of their national philanthropies. At Hillel, she worked closely with the student president as the director of outreach and engagement, and later as president to provide a Jewish home away from home for students at UCI. Her passion for ensuring consistent programming that students can rely on and her passion for the Jewish community at UCI inspired her to seek a career with Hillel. “I am excited and honored to be Hillel SV’s program and engagement associate and can hardly wait to join the team.” After four years with Hillel at Stanford as the Gesher director (Gesher is the graduate and young adult community out of Hillel at Stanford) and later the interim director of Jewish Life and Learning, Shifra Elman has come to Hillel of Silicon Valley. In her capacity as assistant director, Shifra is excited to tackle new challenges, work with new colleagues, and continue to make sure Jewish life stays vibrant for our five schools. She received her MSW in community organizing, BA in media planning and AA in Judaic studies from Yeshiva University and is passionate about Jewish life and learning. Some of her favorite Jewish philosophers include A.J Heschel, J.B. Soloveitchik, and of course, Martin Buber (come chat any time!). She also loves going to the gym, hiking, cooking, creating connections, art, and travel. Shifra is Shifra Elman originally from Brooklyn and incredibly happy to call the Bay Area home. Help us welcome Noa, Shelby, and Shifra to our community! For more information on Hillel visit www.hillelsv.org or call (408) 286-6669.

www.jvalley.org

NEXTGEN

HAVDALLAH AND

OUTDOOR MOVIE

• Havdallah Service • Watch Animal House on the big screen • Drinks and snacks provided

Saturday, August 29th, 2015 7:45pm Congregation Shir Hadash

Suggested donation of $10 per person, with all proceeds going to Hillel of Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz Hillel.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket to watch the movie.

20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos

Contact: becka@jvalley.org | 408-357-7502

START here

NEXT chapter

Join the kids in your area who have been Jewish bedtime stories and songs for children 6 months to 8 years.

enjoying PJ Our Way, the newest chapter of PJ Library forWay, kids ages 9-11! chapter Join PJ Our the newest

of PJ Library for kids ages 9-11!

FREE! Enroll online at www.jvalley.org. For more information: (408) 357-7501 pjlibrary@jvalley.org

Choose a free book each month 16 www.jvalley.org

SIMCHAS By Andrea Cohen Greyber

Births David & Keight Tofig welcomed Kirra Emmeline on April 11. She was 7 pounds 12 ounces and 21 inches long. She joins sisters Siena, 6½, and Violet Wren, 5 and brother Sawyer, 3, in their Aptos home. Her grandparents, Maurice & Lainey Tofig of Beth David are thrilled with her arrival as are her maternal grandparents Pat & Colleen Fahey of Omaha. “Kirra” is a surf wave that breaks off Kirra Point in Australia. It means leaf or to live. Emmeline is in memory of her maternal great-grandmother. Adam & Tricia Green are delighted with the arrival of Piper Beany Green. She was born May 4 and weighed seven pounds 15 ounces and was 20½ inches long. Her older brother Cameron Daniel is pleased to have a baby sister and grandparents Steve & Helaine Green are thrilled with their growing family as are her other grandparents Jim & Lorry Bush. Piper also has a great-grandfather, Maurice Dennis of Florida, and a great-grandmother, Dorothy Green of San Jose. Josh & Jill Rosenberg were pleased to welcome Robert Aryeh to their family on May 30. He weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces and was 20½ inches long. Josh & Jill are members of Congregation Beth David as are his grandparents, Bettina & Dan Rosenberg. Jill’s parents are Rona Edelman of Miami, FL and Ronald Pottel of Montreal. The baby was named in memory of Bettina’s father and Jill’s uncle. Jerry & Rita Jacobson of Congregation Sinai are greatgrandparents for the third time. They welcomed Josef Mendel Jacobson to the clan. He is the son of Chaya & Nechemia Jacobson of Jerusalem and is the grandson of Rabbi David & Emily Jacobson of Los Angeles and Bella & Yehudah Hoschander of Toronto. His other great-grandparents are Dr. George & Grace Fox. Josef Mendel was born in Jerusalem on June 25. He weighed 8 pounds. He was named in memory of his paternal great-greatgrandfather and maternal grandfather.

Weddings

Anniversaries = 130 YEARS! Sandy & Burt Epstein met at a fraternity tea dance and dated through college: she at the University of Pittsburgh and he at Carnegie Tech. They were married June 18, 1950. They moved to San Jose in 1970, joined Temple Emanu-El and have been very active in the community ever since. Burt helped establish and was president of the Jewish Family Services as well as Chai House. Sandy was active in Hadassah, Sisterhood and Good Samaritan Hospital. She also taught mah-jongg for many years. The Epsteins raised their daughters, Robin, the late Marcy and Judith at Emanu-El and are the grandparents of five and the great-grandparents of one. Marilyn & Gene Handloff met at “Presents” at the University of California at Berkeley (Go Bears). They married in San Francisco at Temple Sherith Israel on June 5, 1950. They moved to San Jose in 1960, joined Temple Emanu-El where they raised their children Philip, David, Bruce and Susan. Marilyn taught at the religious school for many years and has taught piano in the community for a very long time. Gene has been on the board of Chai House and together they helped to start the Lyric Theater. They are the proud grandparents of eight and great-grandparents of one. The Handloffs and the Epsteins celebrated 130 years of happiness together at the Siena restaurant on June 5, 2015. Mazel tov to both couples!

Wedding and Bar/Bat Mitzvah Videography

408.206.6505

www.blue-moon-productions.com 408.

Etan Green, son of Sinai members Joseph & Beth Green, and Dorothy Kronick, daughter of Richard Kronick and Amy Bridges, were married at the home of her grandmother in Brooklyn, NY on April 2 in a small ceremony attended by family and friends. They met in a statistics class while in graduate school at Stanford University. Please send announcements and photos to Andrea Greyber at andrea. greyber@gmail.com or phone her at (408) 377-6224.

www.jvalley.org

datebook

All area codes are 408 unless otherwise noted.

ONGOING EVENTS TUESDAYS Yiddish Conversation Group Beth David, 3 PM, 8/4, 8/18, 9/1, 9/15 Enjoy Yiddish conversation, jokes and more with speakers of all levels. Cbd. yiddish@beth-david.org, 257-3333 WEDNESDAYS Kuzari Jewish Study Network, 10:45 AM Join Rabbi Felsen for a dialogue on the Kuzari, exploring the theological, philosophical and ideological dilemmas that are as pressing today as they were then. info@jsn.info, (650) 493-4764 Mah Jongg Lessons Levy Family Campus, 7 PM For beginners. $54 for six-weeks beginning July 29. Taught by Karen Guggenheim and Doris Kats. michellen@jvalley.org, 357-7508 THURSDAYS Silicon Valley Beit Midrash Sinai, 9:30-11 AM In-depth study of Jewish thought, belief and practice. Taught by Rabbi Josh Berkenwald. office@sinai-sj.org, 264-8542 FRIDAYS Jewish Ethics Discussion Group Beth David, 11:15 AM Explore Jewish wisdom dealing with ethics and morals in this participant-led group. Newcomers welcome. Donations appreciated. adulted@beth-david.org, 257-3333

UPCOMING EVENTS SATURDAY, JULY 25 Tot Shabbat Beth David, 11:15 AM Relaxing and interactive program including songs, puppets and more. info@beth-david.org, 2573333 MONDAY, JULY 27 Jewish Heritage Night at AT&T Park San Francisco, 7:15 PM Join Beth David for this game against the Brewers. $35 includes

special heritage item. 257-3333, Carolrlweiss@gmail.com FRIDAY, JULY 31 Happy Hour and Kabbalat Shabbat Sinai, 5:30 PM Wine and appetizers (adult and child-friendly) followed by evening services. office@sinai-sj.org, 264-8542 SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 Shabbat Service Wildwood Park, 10:30 AM Join Shir Hadash for a beautiful Shabbat service with a lovely deck and big trees. Lawn chairs and picnic food welcome. 358-1751, nadine@shirhadash.org TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 Jewish Heritage Night at the Oakland A’s O.co Coliseum, 5 PM Join NextGen Silicon Valley and East Bay YAD! $28 ticket includes pregame event, giveaway, food item and free parking! Register at www.jvalley.org. becka@jvalley.org, 357-7502 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 Human Trafficking in the South Bay: Info and Action Night Levy Family Campus, 6:30 PM See ad on page 13. SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 Emergency Preparedness Shabbat Sinai, 9 AM City of San Jose police officers will lead the annual mock evacuation drill. Join to be prepared in case of disaster. office@sinai-sj.org, 264-8542 Book Discussion Group Beth David, approx. 1:30 PM The Lady in Gold by Anne-Marie O’Connor. Led by Miriam Palgon. 257-3333, adulted@beth-david.org THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 Freilache Menschen Retirees Group Luncheon Shir Hadash, 11:30 AM Light lunch and program on the 100th anniversary of the lynching of Leo Frank. Join Rabbi Aron for an exploration of Jewish American history and a discussion of implications for the present day.

$5/person. shanda@shirhadash.org, 358-1751 FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 PJ Shabbat Beth David, 6 PM Special Shabbat service for children and their families. Candlestick making, chocolate chip challah and a kid-friendly dinner. Service and crafts are free. Dinner: $10/adult; $2/child 3-12; FREE for under age 3. RSVP at beth-david.org/RSVP or call 257-3333. SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 Pathways of the Soul Netivot Haneshamah Beth David, 10:30 AM Torah study with Rabbi Berkowitz. Discuss literal text and go beyond the surface. 257-3333, alexander@beth-david.org Jewish Artist Group Beth David, 1:30 PM Presentations and discussions on Judaism after Kiddush lunch. Everyone is welcome. Cbd. artists@beth-david.org, 257-3333 SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 Beer & Bouncy BBQ Shir Hadash, 10:30 AM End-of-summer, back-to-school event with cold beer, supervised bounce houses and lots of friends! Join for grilled lunch, beer and dessert (don’t forget your water bottles!) For families with children 5 and under. 358-1751, shanda@shirhadash.org FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 Back-to-Shul Open House Sinai, 5:30 PM Experience the warmth of the Sinai community. Begin with a wine and cheese reception at 5:30 followed by Musical Kabbal Shabbat at 6 and Shabbat Dinner at 7. $20/adult (13+), $5/child (512), free under age 5. $54 family maximum. RSVP: office@sinai-sj.org, 264-8542 SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 “Oliver” the Musical APJCC, 7 PM A Shoestring Family Theatre production with music by Lionel Bart. More information at www. apjcc.org/shoestring. jenny@svjcc.org, 357-7430 SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 JCORE Back to School Event Beth David, 9:30 AM Students, parents and teachers interact and discuss the year’s

programs. Interested parents & students welcome. 257-3333, bendahan@beth-david.org FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 Barbecue and Barkhu Beth David, 5:30 PM New surprises and a chance to catch up after the summer! Gluten-free and vegetarian meals available. RSVP by August 24 online at info@beth-david.org or call 257-3333 SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 NextGen Havdallah and Outdoor Movie Shir Hadash, 7:45 PM See ad on page 16. SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 Prospective New Member Informational Coffee Shir Hadash, 10 AM Join other prospective members to learn more about Shir Hadash. Brief presentations by committee members and clergy. Bagels, shmear and coffee provided. 3581751, nadine@shirhadash.org WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Slichot Program: Worthy Inheritor or Bad Jew? Shir Hadash, 8 PM Explore what students think is important in being Jewish: benefits of ethical behavior, passing Judaism on to the next generation or being observant oneself? This thought-provoking service is free and open to the public. 358-1751, nadine@shirhadash.org Selihot: Change by Design Beth David, 8:30 PM “Mad Men” is off the air, but we still need to create great advertising for why we should take time to repent during the High Holy Days. Become the cocreative directors to promote repentance. View your creations and participate in Selihot services. 366-9104, alexander@beth-david.org MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 WP Breakfast Levy Family Campus, 8 AM See ad on page 20.

Please submit upcoming events online at www.jvalley.org.

www.jvalley.org

Shared beliefs unite Judaism and Catholicism By Gabe Paoletti, Interfaith Summer Intern, Community Relations Council On June 18, Pope Francis released an encyclical, an authoritative teaching document, entitled Laudato Si’ (Praised Be to You) which called on Catholics, and all people worldwide, to work to curb the dangerous effects of climate change and cease the exploitation and denigration of Earth. He demands that we in the developed world take a greater responsibility for the damage we have caused to ourselves and others, and work to rectify it. This is a message that is necessary for all of us, Catholic, Jewish, or otherwise, to address more fully as we continue further into the 21st century. It is also a message rooted in the same values that we as Jews hold, the belief that we have a responsibility to take care of the world around us, both Earth and the people on it, and our aspirations for a just world. It exemplifies the same values as the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, our responsibility to take care of Earth. These shared values between Jews and Catholics have always been apparent to me. My father is a convert from Catholicism and an entire side of my family remains Roman Catholic, and through interacting with them, I’ve noticed that they share many of the same values of social responsibility as Jews. Chief among these beliefs is the shared commitment to creating a more just and good world, something emphasized in recent papal activity, like this encyclical. These similarities in values, as well as the positive relationship between the two religions, encouraged me, as a Jew, to attend the Catholic Fordham University. On the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the papal document that ushered modern Catholic-Jewish relationships, it is important to recognize the similarities that underlie these two belief systems, and the common ground that unites us. Nostra Aetate rejected the condemnation of the entire Jewish people for the death of Jesus, and recognized Judaism as the “well-cultivated olive tree onto which” the “wild shoots” of Christianity were grafted. In honor of this anniversary, and of modern CatholicJewish relations as a whole, I will be writing a number of articles for the Jewish Community Relations Council focusing on the relationship and connections between Jews and Catholics, as well as the way Nostra Aetate has changed the Catholic perception of Jews, and shifted the relationship from one of animosity and persecution to one of reconciliation and partnership. We hope to work with a number of Catholic leaders in our own community to understand the impact of this document and to create even greater ties and understanding between our community and theirs. In doing so, we will explore the beliefs that unite us all as people, so we can better address the ills of this world together.

JFS SV seeking part-time development director Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley is seeking a part-time development director to strategically develop, implement and analyze its fundraising efforts. Responsibilities include donor development, corporate giving, event planning and community relations. JFS is seeking someone who is friendly, detail-oriented, analytical and highly organized, and who has a passion for helping people have better lives. The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Please send résumés to: jobs@jfssv.org.

Experience it all at the JCC! Join us for Jewish education, enrichment classes, fitness, aquatics, camp, preschool,cultural programs, and much more.

Addison-Penzak JCC of Silicon Valley Levy Family Campus

14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032 408.358.3636 | info@apjcc.org www.apjcc.org

www.jvalley.org

September 5th 8:30pm - Midnight Become co-creative directors for our commercials and print ads to promote teshuva (repentance) during the High Holy Day season. An evening of learning, socializing, and exploring the idea of repentance from a new angle. Stay to view your creations and participate in Selihot Services.

Congregation Beth David 19700 Prospect Road ● Saratoga ● 408.257.3333 ● Beth–David.org

Save the Dates for these Women’s Philanthropy Events DO

THE

twist Join the women of Silicon Valley for an evening to treat your Jewish soul. • Mix and mingle • • Challah braiding with unique mix-ins • • Insightful conversation on food •

Gluten-free option

October 22, 2015 • 7-9PM at the Levy Family Campus Jodi Gerston and Andrea Rubnitz, Chairs

WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY

MAH JONGG

September 10 | 8:15am Levy Family Campus

November 15 | 9am Levy Family Campus Even if you don’t play, join us for breakfast, fun games and lunch.

Breakfast

Tournament

Grab a nosh, learn about upcoming WP events, see your friends on the way to work, or stay and socialize!

Lessons available beginning 7/29

Jodi Gerston and Andrea Rubnitz, Chairs

Karen Guggenheim and Doris Katz, Chairs

For more information please visit www.jvalley.org/wp or contact Michelle Nathanson: michellen@jvalley.org, 408.357.7508

www.jvalley.org

Jewish Professional Directory Attorneys Christl Denecke

“Helping you plan for your family’s tomorrow at every stage of your life.” 1743 Pilgrim Avenue Mountain View, CA 94040 (650) 336-5185 Christl@DeneckePlanning.com www.DeneckePlanning.com Family Wealth Planning • Living Trusts • Special Needs Trusts • Estate Planning for Young Families Estate Planning for Non-Traditional Families

Judith Navi Douglass

Douglas P. Barnes, APLC 210 Almendra Avenue Los Gatos, CA 95030 408.395.4800 judy@dougbarneslaw.com www.dougbarneslaw.com Estate Planning, Elder Law, Probate & Medi-Cal Planning

Philip L. Hammer

Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel 60 S. Market St., Ste. 1400 San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 287-9501 plh@hogefenton.com www.hogefenton.com/hammer.html Specializing in complex family law matters. Certified Specialist in Family Law, State Bar of CA; Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Attorneys

Financial Services

Carol Elias Zolla

16450 Los Gatos Boulevard, Suite 208, Los Gatos, CA 95032 Tel: 408-358-6900 carol@zollalawfirm.com www.zollalawfirm.com Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law. The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Audiology Marni Novick, AuD

“Open your ears to a new world of sound.” Silicon Valley Hearing, Inc. 340 Dardanelli Lane, Suite 22 Los Gatos, CA 95032 (408) 540-7128 info@siliconvalleyhearing.com; siliconvalleyhearing.com Our Doctor of Audiology, whose own experience with hearing loss led her to help others with theirs, has 13 years’ experience fitting hearing aids and wireless assistive listening devices. Our services include comprehensive diagnostic hearing evaluations, hearing aid consultations, balance assessments, and tinnitus evaluations and management.

Make real estate work for YOU! Buying, Selling or Investing? Get the knowledge you need to make wiser decisions I guarantee that after attending my free seminar you will understand Silicon Valley’s crazy real estate market better than before

You too deserve to know!

Commercial Real Estate

Avi Urban |

C: 650.305.1111 | O: 408.245.7327 avi@650and408homes.com www.650and408homes.com

Guggenheim Realty Group, Inc Law Office of Derryl H. Molina

“Trust Your Trust to Us!” 1142 S. Winchester Blvd., Ste. B San Jose, CA 95128 (408) 244-4992 attderryl@comcast.net www.fulllifecareplanner.net Estate Planning, Probate, and Elder Law. Mediation Facilitor.

Michael W. Malter

Binder & Malter, LLP 2775 Park Avenue Santa Clara, CA 95050 (408) 295-1700 Michael@bindermalter.com www.bindermalter.com Certified Specialist, Bankruptcy Law The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Specializing in all aspects of bankruptcy representation, issues re distressed real estate and asset protection.

Lynne R. Snyder

101 Church St., Suite 13, Los Gatos, CA 95032 (408) 354-5590 Adoption, Custody, Dissolutions, Guardianship, Juvenile Court, Paternity

Shannon Stein

Law Offices of Shannon Stein 438 South Murphy Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (408) 774-9097 shannon@shannonsteinlaw.com www.shannonsteinlaw.com Family Law Attorney, specializing in dissolutions, child custody, child support, mediation, restraining orders, limited scope representation, postjudgement issues.

BRE#01485729

EE, Real Estate Consultant

595 Millich Drive, Suite 101, Campbell, CA 95008 (408) 871-8722 x222 Fax (408) 834-4959 Janice L. Shapiro Janice L. Shapiro www.guggenheimrgi.com Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Commercial Real Estate Management, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist S. Bascom Ave., 216 Suite 216 Investments, and Leasing. Call us for your property3880 S.3880 Bascom Ave., Suite San Jose, CA 95124 management, leasing and sales needs. San Jose, CA 95124 408 596-4810 Allen Guggenheim & Gary Naillon 408 596-4810 Web: janiceleeshapiro.com Web: janiceleeshapiro.com Welcomes individuals, Welcomes individuals, couples and families couples and families LicenseLicense No. LMFT86051 No. LMFT86051

Marriage and Family Therapy

Financial Services

Orna & Ruben Yomtoubian

408-253-2250 or 408-887-8239 888-Do0-Fees 888-360-3337 Orna@ORNA.com www.ORNA.com Full Service Discount Commission Realty Broker/Owner BS, MS, MIS, Finance www.aDiscountRealty.com • 1% Listing Broker Commission • I pay all my Buyer’s Closing Costs* • Free Service to Jewish Organizations (Bet Kenesets) www.aDiscountMortgage.com • 30 Years Fixed Conforming No Fee Loan 3.5% APR • No Upfront Fees, No Fee Loans, $417K> Loan>$250K Real Estate #01098186, Mortgage #NMLS31413, Appraisal #AL029181

Senior Services Lyn Pasqua DELIVERED BY GRACE

Transportation and Shopping Service 408-590-5898 Personalized transportation service, serving seniors throughout Santa Clara and most cities in San Mateo County. Our service is tailored to meet your needs.

Tax Preparation & Representation Leonard W. Williams, CPA

A Professional Corporation 1307 S. Mary Ave., Suite 250; Sunnyvale (408) 736-1566 www.LWWilliamsCPA.com Leonard W. Williams, CPA, James Park, CPA, Bruce Pajak, CPA, Brenda L. George, EA, T. Patricia Cohen, EA, Sue Conners, EA, Jenny Barnes EA Tax Planning & Return Preparation for Individuals, Trusts & Estates.

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS OR SERVICE IN THE JEWISH PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY! Contact Amanda Glincher: amanda@jvalley.org, (408) 357-7503

www.jvalley.org

obituary DANIEL R. COWANS

August 30, 1922 – May 5, 2015 Daniel Cowans, a resident of Willow Glen, was born in Fort Worth, TX and died in San Jose. He was a graduate of Sacramento High School (1940), the University of California at Berkeley (1943) and Boalt Law School in 1950. He served in combat in the Pacific as a Lieutenant and Captain in the Infantry in World War II and also served in postwar Japan. Launching his career as an attorney with Shapiro and Rothschild in San Francisco, he met his future wife, Diane Weill. They married and moved to San Jose in 1955. From 1959–75, he served as a bankruptcy judge in San Jose while also teaching at Santa Clara University Law School. He was president of the National Bankruptcy Judges (1968-69), president of the National Bankruptcy Judges and author of the “Cowans Bankruptcy Law and Practice.” Devoted to the notion that effective bankruptcy law makes a society more humane, he wrote the Dischargeability Bill, a reform of federal bankruptcy law signed into law by President Nixon in 1969, and he testified before both house of Congress with the assistance of Senator Sam Ervin (NC) and Congressman Don Edwards of San Jose. After resigning from the bench in 1975, he practiced bankruptcy law in San Francisco, Palo Alto and San Jose in the early years of Silicon Valley, a time of numerous start-ups and shut-downs.

10227 S De Anza Blvd, Cupertino, CA 408.446.2900 vardysjewelers.com

J E W E L E R S

heartsonfire.com

EUROPEAN GOLDSMITH

4135-Vardys_Ad_4.875x6.25.indd 1

3/20/13 5:14 PM

He was the first president of Congregation Sinai in Willow Glen; he also co-owned a ranch and vineyard in San Juan Batista with Mel Cotton and other friends in the 1970s. His passions included his wife, sons and family, animals, the environment, travel, photography, Indian pottery, fine wine, gardening and Corvettes. He is survived by his wife Diana, sons Bruce (Deborah) and Jon (Reyther), grandchildren Deena, Aaron, Naomi, Alejandra and Marcelo, nephew Arlan Weiss and niece Shelley Spilberg(Phil) of Sacramento and brother-in-law Maurice Weill (Barbara) of San Leandro. Donations may be sent in his memory to the American Associates of Ben Gurion University http://aaabgu.org/donate/done-inmemory-of-dancowans.

Home of Peace Cemetery and Mausoleum Founded 1853

Owned and operated by Temple Emanu-El South Bay Area’s only Jewish-owned Cemetery, Mausoleum, and Columbarium. Pre-Need Terms Wayne Rose, Administrator

(408) 266-4184 cemetery@templesanjose.org

www.jvalley.org

Temple Emanu-El

Create . Connect . Celebrate At Shir Hadash

“MISHPACHA SHELI” (“My Family”) Open to the Community Pre-K Family Education Sundays, from 10:15 AM – 12:30 PM A program designed for pre-kindergarten aged children and their parents who would like a “whole family” experience. We offer an introduction to Jewish values, holidays, traditions and customs through singing, storytelling, art, movement games and cooking. ***Children must be at least 3 years old by September 1, 2015*** Class dates: 10/4/15, 11/15/15, 12/13/15, 1/24/16, 3/20/16, and 4/24/16 Registration is now open online at www.templesanjose.org!

Beer & Bouncy

Camping

at 7:30 PM

Family High Holiday Sevices Services schedule and events can be found at ShirHadash.org

We’re here for you.

Selichot Saturday, September 5 6:30 PM Selichot Film and Discussion 9:00 PM Selichot Service

Congregation Shir Hadash • 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos 408-358-1751

Rosa Bencuya’s Recent Listings Pike Road, Saratoga

Sold for $2,275,000

Vickery Avenue, Saratoga

Sold for $2,800,000

Looking to Buy or Sell? Call Rosa for a Complimentary Consultation

Serving Buyers and Sellers in Diverse Communities of Silicon Valley

Rosa Bencuya

Saratoga Realtor® 408.499.2077 rbencuya@apr.com HomeByRosa.com

www.jvalley.org

Be the next JValley Generator WE KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, YOU MAKE THEM BRIGHT. Previous Grant Recipients Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center • Programming for Adults with Special Needs Varda Bashan - Individual • Shabbat the Queen program for children to experience Shabbat weekly Community Teens • Individual grants for regional and national youth group conventions

Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley • Community Freedom Seder for Russian Speakers • HomeCare Scholarships for Low Income Seniors • Quality of Life Scholarships for Low Income Seniors Yavneh Day School • ‘Seed’ money for Tzedek Garden

Bring your ideas to life with a grant from the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley OF SILICON VALLEY

Apply now at: www.jvalley.org/generators