JValley news November 2014
community candlelighting at santana row what to do with leftover chocolate local teens fight hunger local leaders receive honors
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 November 2014
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save t he date f or th e j e w is h fe d e rat ion o f s il i c on val l e y an n ual e v e nt
a night at the ranch sunday
2.8.15
a hootenanny featuring: mechanical bull
WHISKEY BAR SALOON BLACKJACK TABLES
B A R B E QU E D I N N E R line
dancing
6:00 PM • LEVY FAMILY CAMPUS • RSVP NOW: $75 UNTIL JAN. 19 co-chairs Susan & Jonathan Sweedler
register: jvalley.org/ranch info: Michelle Nathanson Tel: (408) 357-7508 michellen@jvalley.org
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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
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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.
CANDLELIGHTING San Jose, CA
Friday, Nov. 14......................,.....4:40 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21......................,.....4:36 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28......................,.....4:33 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5.........................,.....4:32 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12.......................,.....4:32 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19.......................,.....4:35 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26.......................,.....4:38 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2..........................,.....4:44 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9..........................,.....4:50 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16........................,.....4:57 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23........................,.....5:04 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30........................,.....5:12 p.m.
from the president The joys of winter As the first rains are finally beginning to fall, it is beautiful time to look around our community and reflect on our many blessings. Our synagogues, the JCC and of course, PJ Library, have many special treats in store for us this Hanukkah. And just as the year turns we will be jumping into our campaign season, with many events for you to enjoy, beginning with our Major Gifts Dinner on December 2 featuring guest speaker Izzy Ezagui, IDF soldier. The Power of Women with Carol Leifer is our first major women’s event in a few years and sure to be a hit. Following it up just two weeks later is a Night at the Ranch, our annual event with traditional hoedown fun. And, of course, you can’t forget Super Sunday on February 22! As you browse through this issue of the paper and quickly fill your calendars, you may notice QR codes throughout. These codes can be scanned with your smart phone to visit special sites regarding the articles and events you are reading. We hope you enjoy this experience! B’shalom, Julie Krigel
content Local Highlights
Ron Fagin receives high honor No evidence of disease Craig Taubman to visit Emeth APJCC celebrates 40th anniversary Embrace-a-Family this Hanukkah What tree will you plant? Local author releases new title Teens fight hunger Judy Levin recognized for volunteering JValley Generators National award for teen leaders Levy Family Campus news Kehillah volleyball team makes playoffs
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In Every Issue Community photos Ask the clergy Rabbis’ column Recipe column Simchas Datebook Obituaries Just words Professional Directory
www.jvalley.org
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Hanukah SNOWSTORM Sunday, December 14th, 2014 12:00-4:00pm at the APJCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos
BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY TO CELEBRATE HANUKAH WITH A SNOWSTORM IN THE JCC GYMNASIUM We’ll fill the gym with synthetic snow that you can play with just like real snow. Plus you can enjoy carnival games and bounce houses. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
More info: 408.357.7497 Addison-Penzak JCC Levy Family Campus 14855 Oka Road Los Gatos, CA 95032 www.SiliconValleyJCC.org
Baby and Me 1st Thursdays of the month: Family Learning Location: Rotating at the different preschools 2nd Thursdays of the month: Baby and Me Yoga Location: Activity Room C, Levy Family Campus 3rd Thursdays of the month: Stroller Fitness Walk Location: Departs from Levy Family Campus
STARTING IN NOVEMBER: A new weekly program for all Jewish families with babies ages 0-2. Join Baby and Me for a different activity every Thursday at 10am.
Baby and Me is run by the Federation/PJ Library and is partnering with: APJCC Preschool, Gan Aviv at South Peninsula Hebrew Day School, Shir Hadash Early Childhood Center, Sinai Nursery School, Temple Emanu-El Preschool, and the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center
4th Thursdays of the month: Snories (Snacks and Stories) Location: Activity Room B, Levy Family Campus
Information: becka@jvalley.org | 408-357-7502 | www.jvalley.org/babyandme ® OF SILICON VALLEY
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jewish federation of silicon valley women’s philanthropy presents
the power of women with
Carol Leifer • comedian & bestselling author • 4-time emmy nominee (seinfeld, Saturday night live, Larry Sanders, Oscars®)
praise for carol’s new book: how to succeed in business without really crying
“When I was 17, I read a profile of Carol Leifer. Since then, I wanted to be her. I still want to be her.” — Sarah Silverman “The best memoir of the year (not written by the victim of a horrible crime).”—Judd Apatow “Listen up to every word, because if Carol can’t help you, nobody can.”—Jimmy Kimmel “Carol Leifer is funny, really funny.”—Chris Rock “I was sad when I finished this book. I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t want it to end, or because I’m just sad in general.”—Larry David
Thursday, January 22, 2015
@The Fourth Street Garage, San Jose Join us to honor robin sabes, janet berg awardee
Tickets and information:
Event chair: Linda mighdoll committee in formation
Tickets on sale now at www.jvalley.org $72 per person; $108 patron ticket (includes signed book) RSVP by January 5 ®
OF SILICON VALLEY
Women’s Philanthropy
For more information please contact Arielle Hendel, arielle@jvalley.org, 408.357.7501
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c mmunity photos
Marci Gerston, Community Relations Council co-chair, Kristen Pan Lyn, candidate for Cupertino Union School District, Susan Ellenberg, candidate for SJUSD Trustee Area 2, and Steve Ellenberg, Federation past president pose at the reception hosted by Greenfield Draa & Harrington LLP and sponsored by the Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Council in September. Photo credit Marjan Sadoughi.
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c mmunity photos
The Yavneh community gathered in the school sukkah during Sukkot.
Children gathered around to see snakes and turtles at the Celebration of Animals event sponsored by PJ Library at Congregation Sinai on October 26.
Local teens gathered for an annual creek cleanup partnering with the Community Relations Council of the Federation at Guadalupe River.
Yavneh Middle School put on a Teshuvah Carnival for the whole school, including games and activities about Teshuvah, Tefillah, and Tzedakah.
Yavneh students created shofars with personal messages for the New Year.
NextGen of the Jewish Federation partnered with Jewish Family Services to build food packages for local people in need.
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Get Hanukkah Happy at Hicklebee’s Get Hanukkah Happy - ready to celebrate light, freedom and pride. Hear PJ Library Hanukkah stories in preparation for the holiday which begins December 16th at sundown. Have fun with holiday-themed songs, finger play, stories, crafts with friends. Cantor Meeka Simerly of Temple Emanu-El will lead the songs and interactive story telling!
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2014
3:30 to 4:30 pm Hicklebee’s Independent Booksellers 1378 Lincoln Ave San Jose 95125 Sponsored by The PJ Library and the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley.
Register at www.jvalley.org/pjlibrary Space is limited. (408) 357-7501 pjlibrary@jvalley.org
Literary Lite
Be a hero to your children and grandchildren.
November 20, 2014 7:30 - 9 pm
SUPPORT THE SILICON VALLEY JEWISH COMMUNITY LEGACY PROJECT.
Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley and APJCC Adult Programming invite you to join us for
a discussion group based on the Lilith and Hadassah magazines.*
December 11, 2014 7:30 - 9 pm
Please call 408.357.7508 or go to www.communitylegacyproject.org.
Programs will be held at the Levy Family Campus FREE but RSVP required to get a copy of the magazine for each month RSVP to either: Cherie@svjcc.org or Arielle@jvalley.org or at www.jvalley.org *other magazines will be considered after these dates
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
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
® OF SILICON VALLEY
Addison-Penzak JCC of Silicon Valley Levy Family Campus
LEGACY PROJECT
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l cal news Ron Fagin honored with election to American Academy of Arts and Sciences By Amanda Glincher Lifetime IBM employee and long-time Silicon Valley resident Ron Fagin has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Of the 204 newly elected members, eight were computer scientists. One of these eight was IBM Fellow Ron Fagin, for his breakthrough work. Election to the American Academy is considered one of the nation’s highest honors since its founding during the American Revolution, when its first class included George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Fagin, originally from Oklahoma, decided to make the Bay Area his home after completing his PhD in Mathematics from UC Berkeley in 1973. He joined the IBM Research Division in 1973, spending two years at the Thomas J. Watson Research Center, and then transferred in 1975 to what is now the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California. In addition to his recent election, Fagin has received numerous professional awards for his work including the recent honors of the 2014 Gödel Prize (the highest award in theoretical computer science) and election to the US National Academy of Engineering. He received a Docteur Honoris Causa from the University of Paris. He won the IEEE W. Wallace McDowell Award (sometimes called the “IT Nobel”), the IEEE Technical Achievement Award, and the ACM SIGMOD Edgar F. Codd Innovations Award (a lifetime achievement award in databases). He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and of the IEEE and ACM. Fagin is an IBM Fellow, IBM’s highest technical honor. There are currently 86 active IBM Fellows (out of 430,000 IBM employees worldwide), and there have been only 257 IBM Fellows in the 51-year history of the program. Fagin has focused applying theory to practice, particularly in relational databases. He works with theoreticians and practitioners, both at IBM and in universities, to encourage theoreticians and practitioners to collaborate with each other. After over 40 years in the field, Fagin still attributes his Jewish upbringing to his success. “Jews traditionally have a love of learning. From my mother, I really gained a love of learning. I attribute that in part to my Jewish background,” says Fagin. He also encourages others to do what they love. And he says, “Follow your heart and you’ll never regret it.” A proud father of three children and grandfather to five, Ron is married to Susan Fagin and resides in Los Gatos.
www.jvalley.org Your place for everything Jewish in Silicon Valley
No Evidence of Disease by Arielle Hendel I am going to share that this issue is personal. Right off the bat. Very personal. In 1984, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and thankfully, gratefully treated. In 2005, my mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer and thankfully, gratefully treated. In 2013, a dear friend, was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer and thankfully, gratefully on her way to recovery. These are only a few examples of the MANY women (and their families) touched by gynecological cancers. I am sure you can name a few women in your life, too. The key to effective treatment is early detection. The key to early detection is education and that’s where NED comes in. This year, we have been given an opportunity to go “below the belt” to shed light on these medical issues. Carol Pliner brought this movie, No Evidence of Disease (NED), to Women’s Philanthropy’s attention. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 11 and look for details later this year on our website: www.jvalley.org. NED, is an intimate, humorous, and inspiring documentary from award-winning Spark Media which follows six GYN/ONC doctors and their patients. The doctors also are musicians in a rock band together. “No evidence of disease” are the words every patient dreams to hear. The movie interweaves the harrowing experiences and remarkable courage of women, their devoted families, and dedicated doctors. As music and medicine join forces in the fight for life, the surgeons are transformed into rising rock stars, and their patients and loved ones jump on the bandwagon, infusing the struggle for survival with heart, hope and Rock ‘n’ Roll. Women’s Philanthropy is hosting this event and Cancer Care Point is the first of our sponsors. We welcome other hospitals, care facilities and doctors to join us in bringing this important health issue to our community. Women, and the men who love them, are welcome to join us for this event. For more information, to join the committee or to become an event sponsor, please contact me at arielle@jvalley.org.
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Coming to Congregation Emeth: Craig Taubman — Jewish singer/ songwriter/music producer Members of the Silicon Valley Jewish community and their families are warmly invited to join Craig Taubman and members of Congregation Emeth for a high energy Friday Night Live Shabbat service on Friday, January 23. Craig Taubman was one of the creators of the high energy “Friday Night Live” service format. At Congregation Emeth, we use his beautiful melodies—such as those for Romenu, L’cha Dodi, Ahavat Olam, and Hashkiveinu—at services. Listen to Craig on YouTube: Hashkiveinu www.youtube.com/ watch?v=bUTiKtCS23c or L’cha Dodi www. youtube.com/watch?v=aevi1t7mVNc. Congregation Emeth is located at 17835 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill, CA 95037. The service will begin at 7:15 p.m. For more information about Craig, go to http://craignco.com/v3/wordpress/about-craig/. For more information about Congregation Emeth, go to http://www.emeth.net.
l cal news APJCC celebrates 40th anniversary The Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a gala on Saturday, November 15 at 6pm. The gala promises to be a night to remember, with dinner, dancing, and live and silent auctions to support JCC programs. Diana Schnabel, the JCC’s director of hospitality and special projects, says, “The gala will be a fun and memorable event for the entire community. From unique auction items to fabulous food to an amazing DJ, this gala promises to be a celebration of 40 wonderful years of giving back to our community.” JCC in America date back to the 1850s, when they began providing cultural and athletic facilities for Jewish immigrants to the United States. Over time, they also began to offer summer camps, preschools, informal education, and services for the aged. Today JCCs serve the entire community and welcome people of all faiths. For more information on the JCC or the gala, contact Diana Schnabel at diana@svjcc.org or (408) 357-7402.
Embrace-A-Family this Hanukkah Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley makes Hanukkah brighter for those in need! JFS invites you to be a part of our 7th Annual Embrace-A-Family program and help us bring hope and smiles to others. This program is designed to ease the pressure and stress the holidays bring to financially needy families, seniors, and adults. These are people and families that struggle with everyday expenses and the holidays add even more emotional and financial pressure. Recipients include single-parent families trying to make ends meet, isolated seniors who appreciate loving care, newly-arrived refugees who escape persecution and seek a new life, and low income disabled adults. Look for our dreidel boards in the community from November 13 through December 18. Our boards will be at these locations: Levy Family Campus (main and Yavneh/APJCC Preschool lobbies, upstairs at Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley), synagogues (Congregations Beth David, Emeth, Shir Hadash, Sinai; and Temples Emanu-El and Beth Torah), Kehillah Jewish High School, Pars Kosher Market, South Peninsula Hebrew Day School, and Israeli preschools. Purchase the gift on the tag and bring your unwrapped gift to the JFS office. Your gift will bring a smile – and be a blessing – to someone in need. Embrace-A-Family giving grows: Last year a Bat Mitzvah girl asked her guests to contribute gift cards for the Embrace-A-Family in lieu of gifts. Gift cards provide a safety net to needy families throughout the year and provide food, gas, and household goods to those who would otherwise go without. Chavurot get into the act: Several chavurot pooled their Hanukah gelt and purchased larger and numerous gifts for our clients. New this year: ONLINE EMBRACE-A-FAMILY DREIDELS: dreidels will be available on the JFS web site: www.jfssv.org. Gifts can be selected, purchased, and shipped online directly. Donors outside of Silicon Valley can now contribute to Embrace-A-Family.
Ruth Bareket and Sandy Spungen holding dreidel board
Embrace-A-Family is a program of JFS’s Project N.O.A.H. For additional information and volunteer opportunities contact Lori Cinnamon, Coordinator of Volunteer Engagement at (408) 357-7467 or loric@jfssv.org. 10
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Question: Why do Jews from the Former Soviet Union celebrate New Year’s Eve with a Christmas tree? By Rabbi Ilana Baird, Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center Many of us raised in the Soviet Union hold the approaching holiday dear to our hearts. I’m talking about the coming New Year’s Eve. We loved celebrating it in our childhood. We are no longer in the Soviet Union, but still we continue to celebrate New Year’s Eve like we used to celebrate it in the past. However, the question is about the meaning of the symbols from our childhood memories for us as Jewish adults with our own children in America. First of all, we had no idea that there was a connection between the Soviet New Year holiday and Christmas. All attributes and symbols of Christmas in Soviet Russia were adapted to the New Year holiday: decorated trees, people gathered in a circle of friends and family, drinking champagne, traditional Russian foods and salads laid out on the holiday table. That is how I spent the holiday in my childhood. After leaving Russia, during my first New Year’s Eve in Israel, I continued to celebrate the New Year understanding that it was a secular holiday, and had no religious meaning associated with it. As years went by, I had a new perspective. Yes, all of those decades of Soviet-style New Year’s Eve came from the tradition of the religious Christian holiday of Christmas. American children will worry on the eve of December 24 what a bearded old man will bring them as gifts under the Christmas tree, and then it’s Christmas day! After that date, December 25, the American dumped Christmas trees are recycled, and holiday decorations removed from the houses and shops. Moreover, some who grew up in the Soviet Union collect and place these trees in their homes, lovingly decorating them with toys, ribbons and other fancy things. It will be their New Year’s Eve tree, picked up for a bargain once Christmas is over, and their children will get presents from a Russian-style bearded old man called Dyed Moroz, Grandpa Frost. What is the New Year? It is generally not associated with the birth of a Jewish boy of more than two thousand years ago. If that boy was born on December 25, then on January 1, according to Jewish tradition, he was circumcised. Even before the Christian story, marking the beginning of the year from January 1 was established by Julius Caesar in 46 BCE. In ancient Rome, the day was dedicated to the two-faced Janus – god of choice. One of his faces was looking forward and the other back. It was a beautiful metaphor of the past and present. This was a pagan symbol, and not related to Christianity. In Russia, however, from 1492, the New Year was marked on September 1, as is familiar to Jews who also celebrate their New Year around the same time in the month of Tishrei. Before that, it was on March 1, around the time of the Jewish month of Nissan, the New Year of the Jewish nation. In 1700, Peter the Great decided to move the new year to January 1, as was the case in the rest of Europe, according to the Julian calendar. January 1 was designated a holiday and a day off in the USSR only in 1947 by decree of the Supreme Soviet. What about Christmas trees in Russia? The Christmas tree comes from a pagan tradition Germanic peoples followed long before being baptised. The first tree set at Christmas was in Riga in 1510, and burned down immediately after the celebration. Even then, the ritual was still pagan. During the reign of Peter the Great in Russia a tradition began of decorating Christmas tree branches in houses for the New Year, not Christmas. By the
rabbis speak
19th century in St. Petersburg, trees appeared in houses that Germans lived in. One loyal distributor of Christmas trees was the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, also known as Charlotte of Prussia. The Russian Orthodox Church forbade trees until 1917, declaring them a “German custom.” The Council of People’s Commissars in 1918 decided to move to the Gregorian calendar, and January 31 was followed by February 14. Since the Orthodox Church continued to use the old Julian calendar, they celebrated Christmas in January, after New Year’s day of the Gregorian calendar. In 1929, the Christmas tree was suppressed in the USSR in connection with the celebration of “religious practices.” Then in 1935, suddenly the tree was again permitted as children’s entertainment, with great enthusiasm. In 1937, after years of persecution of religious traditions, the gray-haired, bearded old man Dyed Moroz, Grandpa Frost, along with his granddaughter, Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, made a comeback to Soviet Russia at the official Soviet New Year’s party in the Kremlin in Moscow. One can only imagine what was happening in the country in 1937 with arrests, killings and people being sent to the Gulag. Stalin needed to unite the people around a common Soviet idea. They reinvented their religion on the ruins of the old symbols, which were banned and erased from memories of Russians, Jews and other peoples. A New Year holiday united all peoples with common traditions. For us, for the former “Soviet people,” it was a celebration of the Soviet atheist religion. It continued to be the biggest holiday of the Soviet people each year and is still an important holiday in modern Russia. Are the symbols of the Soviet New Year’s Eve, taken from pagan customs, appropriate for Jews, then or now? According to Jewish law, if idolaters abandoned their idols, images and customs, then Jews can make use of those decorations without religious significance or fear of pagan idolatry. For example, in a synagogue in Tzipori from the 5th or 6th century CE, images of ancient Greek gods adorn a mosaic zodiac on the floor. These are benign decorations, as the non-Jewish local population were Byzantine Christian and abandoned the earlier pagan Hellenistic beliefs. In the same way, Soviet Jews, who grew up with the distorted and secular Soviet holidays, are neither worshiping ancient Slavic deities, nor celebrating Christian holidays. The date is not even Christmas, and traditions acquired different meanings. It certainly is difficult for us, Jews from the Former Soviet Union, to let go of the traditions and customs of our youth and childhood. When we decorate a tree on New Year’s Eve, we should be aware of what is symbolized here in America, even as we recall what it meant for us in our youth. However, living in America, we are able to openly observe our Jewish holidays. We can bring Hanukkah into our lives, our wonderful Jewish Festival of Lights, which is of great importance for the Jewish people. Our children and grandchildren are not part of the Soviet secular religion, which Russia abandoned more than 20 years ago. It is up to us which holidays our children celebrate. Like a wise person once said, “Jewish identity is not determined by one’s grandparents, but rather by one’s grandchildren.” I wish you all a Happy Hanukkah, by the lights of the branches of your menorah.
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2014/5775 LECTURES AT THE APJCC An Evening with Gail Sheehy, Ground-breaking journalist and author of Passages Thursday, November 20th | 7:00pm
Gail Sheehy, author of Passages, discusses her new memoir, Daring: My Passages. Daring: My Passages is the story of the unconventional life of a writer who dared to walk New York City streets with hookers and pimps to expose violent prostitution; to march with civil rights protesters in Northern Ireland as British paratroopers opened fire; to follow Hillary Clinton into the ladies’ room to ask her questions about her husband’s indiscretions; to seek out Egypt’s president Anwar Sadat when he was targeted for death after making peace with Israel. Gaily Sheehy’s fascinating story is a testament to resilience, smarts, and daring, and offers a bold perspective on all life’s passages.
$7 general admission, $5 JCC members 408.357.7411 | CJLL@svjcc.org
BOOKS WILL BE FOR SALE COURTESY OF VILLAGE HOUSE OF BOOKS
APJCC Center for Jewish Life and Learning Addison-Penzak JCC Levy Family Campus 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032
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rabbis speak Finding meaning through Hanukkah By Rabbi James Greene, Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center I really love the Hanukkah holiday! And not just for the candles and the presents. The story of the holiday challenges us to articulate values that we are willing to fight for, and to rededicate ourselves to bringing more light into the world. How do we determine what values are worthy of struggle? And, how can we do that while also fulfilling the prophet Zachariah’s command that we do it, “not by might, not by power, but by spirit alone.” Proverbs writes that, “The human spirit is G-d’s candle.” For me, this pasuk argues that we should be seeking passionate engagement in our lives – to make our spirit light up like a divine flame. It is a challenge to us to find ways of seeking out meaningful work, meaningful giving, and meaningful practice. Our spirit, energy, and efforts bring light in to this world – light of love, justice, and compassion. If we work toward building lives of meaning then the candles of the menorah will serve as a reminder for the internal menorah that remains burning long after Hanukkah has ended. And that means a more and more powerful relationship with the story of this season and with a tradition that nurtures that inner candle. Hanukkah is a time to celebrate winter. At the JCC, this year we are going to make an indoor snow storm! It is a time to have fun, to exchange gifts and good wishes, and to enjoy the company of friends and family. But it is also a time to rededicate ourselves. I hope that this year, in the midst of the presents, latkes, and parties, you will do some of the reflection work sought by our tradition and look for ways to make more meaning in your own life. May the light of the Hanukiah warm your hearts, the hearts of your family and friends, and may it usher in a better world for us and for all humankind.
Creating Sweet Memories in Our Homes. . .
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Realtor® 408.499.2077 rbencuya@apr.com
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Happy Hannukah
Servicing Diverse Communities in Silicon Valley www.jvalley.org
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What tree will you plant? By Gordon Gladstone, Congregation Shir Hadash The Brit Milah or baby naming…joining the synagogue…consecration… “Parent Education” classes in primary grades, tzedakah and snacks, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah cycle – our child(ren) and others, Hebrew High for some, BBYO or Jewish summer camps for others. For many of us, raising a Jewish family has been anchored by a connection to the synagogue or the broader Jewish community. As our children grow up and move away for college and beyond, we become Empty Nesters. The years of carpool shlepping on Sundays and Tuesdays are over. It is a bittersweet finish as it forces us to recognize that a part of our child-rearing responsibilities have reached an end. By this time, our children’s Jewish and personal identities are formed and we have the naches (or disappointment) of seeing what kind of adults have been formed. But what about us Empty Nesters? What is our relationship to the synagogue and to Judaism now, when weekly default drop-offs and “mandatory” attendance at services is no longer required? For many of us, this is a time of reevaluation and rediscovery of priorities. Perhaps our professional life is revving up after many years at home. Or maybe retirement is on the horizon, just as soon as that last kid’s tuition is paid. Where does Jewish life and synagogue involvement lie on this spectrum? What is our place? If we were involved with a havurah (small group), it is likely that we know others at the same stage and can commiserate with each other. Still, more effort is indicated to convene the group when the natural family get-togethers are now only the “old folks”. If a havurah was not part of your synagogue experience, there may be a vacuum of friends or acquaintances when going to synagogue. Developing new friendships as an Empty Nester brings new challenges. Many individuals and couples renew their relationship with the synagogue by volunteering or participating in activities of interest now that more disposable income and time is available. Social justice concerns, healthy living, Sisterhood, Brotherhood, teaching young children, being a bar mitzvah coach or confirmation advisor are all ways to test the waters of increased involvement in the synagogue or broader Jewish community, using expertise that you probably already possess. Some empty nesters travel and find themselves seeking Judaic sights of interest in farflung places which renews their curiosity and interest in culture and/ or religion. Still others are content with financially supporting their synagogue and participating only in High Holy Day services and life-cycle events. I do not have advice or platitudes to offer as I, too, am part of this demographic. As you reach this phase, consider your relationship with the synagogue and with the Jewish community. What interests you? What could you offer the generation following you? What role does Judaism or spirituality play in your daily life? Is there one committee or activity that might be the thread of your connection to the synagogue? How important is this to you over the next 2-3 decades? Last, this new phase can be a time of new beginnings; try things you didn’t do before and meet people beyond those with kids your kids’ ages. Start to think about the future and building for the future: there was a community here for you, what can you do to make sure there is a community there for the next generation? Honi, a Talmudic miracle worker said, “I found carob trees in the world. Just like my ancestors planted for me, I plant for my children.” What tree will you plant?
l cal news Local author releases new title: Sadie, Sadie, P.I. Lady Long-time Silicon Valley resident and author Michelle Gabriel recently released her newest title: Sadie, Sadie P.I. Lady. The story is about Sonja Maven (a.k.a. Sadie), a 62-year old woman from Brooklyn with a strong affinity for persistently involving herself in the affairs of others. The book is as lovely as its author, often making the reader laugh out loud at references that might remind one of their own Jewish grandmother. A professional writer for more than 35 years, Gabriel has authored numerous projects including Jewish Plays for Jewish Days, Rucheleh’s Challah and I Never Met a Mandelbread I Didn’t Like.
Teens fight hunger Hunger exists for over 50 million people in America. In Israel, 16% of the population experiences food insecurity, and 11% are forced to go without food at least once every two days. In Canada, 1.1 million households are faced with hunger. Hunger is OUR problem. In that vein, our teen community is coming together to make a difference. Over the course of the next several months, agencies across the Silicon Valley will be hosting a variety of projects and events encouraging education about and a continued fight against hunger. These efforts, graciously underwritten by the teen initiative grant of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, will include experiential hunger education programming for middle school, an “alternative spring break at home” with opportunities to volunteer at local food banks and other hunger-oriented organizations, food drives (the first of which began October 30 with drop-off points at the Levy Family Campus and Oshman Family JCC benefiting Second Harvest), and one very special event coming up in just a couple of weeks that is so exclusive, we can’t even publish it in this article or post it on our websites. All we can say is…6-12 grade teens, mark your calendars for November 19 and contact us for more details! Silicon Valley teens will make a difference this year. We’re making hunger OUR problem and we’re ready to start solving it…one step at a time. For more information about upcoming events, please contact Jill at jpottel@bbyo.org, (408) 357-7426.
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hanukkah recipes What to do with the chocolate gelt? Without fail, every year when Hanukkah is over I find myself with a big box of leftover gelt. I always think we will need more gelt than we end up using so I always seem to buy too much. Once the holiday is over the gelt loses its appeal and we tend to forget about it on a back shelf of the pantry until I find it when I am cleaning out for Passover. It seemed like a shame to be wasting all that chocolate, so I knew I needed to do something great with the leftovers. This recipe for chocolate peanut butter gelt cookies is the perfect solution. Rich chewy peanut butter cookies stuffed with peanut butter chocolate gelt sandwiches, these cookies are a peanut butter lover’s dream. While I first developed the recipe as a way to use up leftovers, this recipe is also perfect for serving at a Hanukkah party. No matter when you make them, it is worth buying extra gelt just to use for these cookies. More unique Hanukkah dessert suggestions (like a dreidel sugar cookies that break open to reveal gelt in the middle or pumpkin piefilled sufganiyot) can be found at www.couldntbeparve.com Gelt Filled Peanut Butter Cookies Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes 35 minutes Yield: 21 cookies PREPARATION Preheat the oven to 350. Assemble the Fillings: Remove the foil from the chocolate gelt. In a small bowl stir together the peanut butter and powdered sugar.
INGREDIENTS For Cookies 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt (use 1/8 tsp if using salted margarine) 1/2 cup margarine 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup dark brown sugar 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg
For Filling 42 pieces of gelt, the small size 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter 2 tablespoons powdered sugar Special Equipment 2 12-cup mini muffin pans
Place one teaspoon of the peanut butter mixture on one side of a piece of chocolate gelt. Top with another piece of gelt to make a “sandwich.” Repeat with remaining gelt. Set aside until the cookies are baked. Make the Cookies: In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer cream together the margarine and both sugars. Beat until light and fluffy. Add the peanut butter and beat until well combined. Add the vanilla and egg and beat until smooth. Add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Place one tablespoon of cookie dough in each muffin tin. (A cookie scoop is the easiest way to do this). It won’t seem like a lot of dough but it is important not to overfill them. Bake the cookies for 14-16 minutes, or until they feel set on the top. (The centers may look collapsed. That is fine.) Remove the cookies from the oven. Working quickly press one chocolate “sandwich” into the center of each cookie. Let the cookies cool slightly then remove them from the pans and transfer them to a cooling rack. Cool completely. Rabbi Shoshana Ohriner is the creator and author of the popular blog Couldn’t Be Parve, specializing in naturally delicious dairy-free desserts. Her recipes have been published in a variety of publications and websites, including the Jewish Week and Kosher.com. Shoshana is the mother of three young boys and married to Rabbi Philip Ohriner.
More recipes by Rabbi Shoshana Ohriner can be found on her blog by scanning the QR link here.
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THE PJ LIBRARY ® PROGRAM AND SANTANA ROW INVITE YOU TO
COME LIGHT THE CANDLES WITH US
Celebrate Hanukkah with the Silicon Valley Jewish community at Santana Row. LIVE MUSIC WITH RICK RECHT CRAFTS • TASTY TREATS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014
4:00-6:00 pm • Park Valencia (near Starbucks)
FREE! Info: www.jvalley.org
® OF SILICON VALLEY
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Saturday, December 13th 7:00 – 9:00pm
An Evening of Fun and Philanthropy
At Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga
Creating illuminations, color and sparkle to prepare for Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights . Havdalah, refreshments, glow in the dark crafts, live music
RSVP Requested Beth-David.org/RSVP or call 408-257-3333 RSVP closes December 10th or when event is full Co-sponsored by:
One Million Lights Foundation Distributing Solar Lights Worldwide
We share this evening with One Million Lights, an organization dedicated to distributing safe, rechargeable solar lights around the world, replacing dangerous and polluting kerosene lamps. A donation of $15 provides one solar light. Learn more onemillionlights.org
Congregation Beth David 19700 Prospect Road Saratoga CA 95070 408.257.3333 www.beth-david.org
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Judy Levin to be recognized as Distinguished Volunteer Fundraiser for National Philanthropy Day By Eleanor Weber Dickman When you hear the name “Judy Levin,” perhaps the first thing you think of is her smile. Next, of course, are her energy, her devotion to community enrichment, her creativity and resourcefulness, and her success as an outstanding volunteer on behalf of the Jewish community of Silicon Valley. Before becoming the catalyst for successful community building, Judy was a special events planner for the March of Dimes, and she coordinated public relations for CARE in San Francisco. Other beneficiaries of her enthusiasm and skill have been the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley, KTEH/Channel 54 Public Television Foundation, Yavneh Day School, and as a leader for countless Jewish community campaigns, galas, dinners and phonathons over the past three decades. Judy’s dynamic leadership has been strongly felt through her work for the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley ― as assistant campaign chair and then president for the Women’s Division, then overall campaign chair and twice president of the Federation. Demonstrating extraordinary energy and skills as a fundraiser led Judy to be named to the Board of Trustees for United Jewish Communities (now JFNA), involving her in that organization’s $250 million annual fundraising campaigns throughout the country. Judy served for six years (2001-2007) as the chair of the $24 million Levy Family Campus Campaign, demonstrating her leadership as a major contributor to the Campus Campaign while maintaining her strong commitment for annual giving campaigns. In addition to her work for the Federation, Judy has served as a past chair of the Addison-Penzak JCC (APJCC) Board. Judy continues to be one of APJCC’s most energetic fundraisers. She now leads the APJCC’s Planned Giving (Legacy Program) Committee. The effectiveness of her leadership, the creativity of her initiatives, and the warmth of her personality have made her one of the most successful fundraisers on behalf of our local Jewish community, while, at the same time, inspiring the community to develop a strong sense of inter-agency collaboration and community-wide celebrations of success. Jyl Jurman, CEO of the Federation, praises Judy for “engaging fellow volunteers so effortlessly. She appreciates people and motivates them to join in the success she is endeavoring to accomplish.” According to Director of Development for APJCC Jon Kaplan, the caliber of Judy’s fundraising and community-building prowess is matched by the magnitude of what she personally takes on to do herself. For APJCC, Judy is the primary liaison with 45 of the APJCC’s most generous donors. Beyond the annual task for APJCC, Judy is in contact with the same 45 people many times each year as an ever-able ambassador for APJCC. In recognition of all these accomplishments and contributions to community, Judy was nominated by the Jewish Federation and the APJCC as a “Distinguished Volunteer Fundraiser,” now to be recognized by the Silicon Valley chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals at their National Philanthropy Day Luncheon at the Santa Clara Convention Center on Thursday, November 20. Her many friends and beneficiaries can think of no better choice for this accolade!
For more information on the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center, please visit www.svjcc.org. For more information on the Jewish Federation Federation of Silicon Valley, please visit www.jvalley.org.
leadership We keep the lights on, you make them bright The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley is delighted to announce our community’s newest opportunity: JValley Generators. The Federation provides numerous resources to the Jewish community, both locally and around the world. This is your chance to have Federation fund your “brightest” idea. Through November 24, applications can be completed at www.jvalley.org/generators. Opportunities are currently available for projects requesting between $2,000-$5,000, which will be awarded in January. Please contact Arielle Hendel at (408) 357-7501 or arielle@jvalley.org with questions.
Inspiring the next civic generation: national $36,000 award for Jewish teen leaders Know a socially-minded teen with a passion for repairing the world? The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards is seeking nominations of Jewish teens with community service/social change projects that embody the value of tikkun olam, repairing the world. Nominations for the Awards present an opportunity for educators, civic leaders, and teen mentors to acknowledge Jewish teens whose thoughtful approach to making a difference is creating meaningful change, whether locally, nationally, or globally. The Helen Diller Family Foundation will recognize up to 15 recipients for its 2015 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards with $36,000 each. Community members can nominate young leaders now through December 14 using a simple online form on www.DillerTeenAwards. org. All Jewish teen volunteers who are 13 to 19 years old at the time of nomination are eligible. Since 2007, this annual program of the Helen Diller Family Foundation has recognized 55 Jewish teens with nearly $2 million to further their volunteer projects and education. For questions, contact dillerteenawards@sfjcf.org or (415) 512-6432. Deadline for nominations is December 14.
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JEWISH HERITAGE NIGHT AT THE SAN JOSE SHARKS T U E S D AY, D E C . 9 T H AT 7 : 3 0 P M AT T H E S A P C E N T E R TICKET PRICES STARTING AT $36
Ticket price includes the ticket and a special Jewish Heritage Night Sharks t-shirt A PORTION OF TICKETS SALES BENEFITS OUR LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITY Tickets available at www.jvalley.org/sharks and entering special offer code “jvalley” as the promotion code (must be entered to receive discounted tickets and shirt) Tickets are up to 20% off normal price ® OF SILICON VALLEY
Be the next JValley Generator WE KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, YOU MAKE THEM BRIGHT. Info: www.jvalley.org/generators OF SILICON VALLEY
Bring your ideas to life with a grant from the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
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SIMCHAS By Andrea Cohen Greyber
BIRTHS Rita & Jerry Jacobson are pleased to announce the birth of their second great-grandchild, Miriam Aidle Jacobson, on June 18 in Lakewood, NJ. She is the daughter of Mindy & Hananya Jacobson and a little sister to Refoel Jacobson. The grandparents are Rabbi David & Emily Jacobson of Los Angeles and Rabbi Yaakov & Cookie Lipsky of Baltimore, MD.
CALLED TO THE TORAH Ari Myron, son of David & Michele Myron, was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah at the Robinson Arch in Jerusalem on August 8. It was the first time in Israel for his Uncle Glen Segal, Uncle Richard Segal, Aunt Rachel Segal and Cousin Ryan Segal. His grandparents Stuart & Phyllis Myron were there and his grandfather Arthur Segal celebrated his 82nd birthday that day. Danny Milgram, a close family friend also celebrated this wonderful occasion. Ari celebrated with his Congregation Sinai family on August 30 where he read the Haftarah. Ari is in the eighth grade at Yavneh where his younger brothers, Nadav and Kovi, also attend. His older brother Eitan is a student at Kehillah High School. Ari enjoys flag football and is active in BBYO. He is donating some of his Bar Mitzvah monies to Magen David Adom.
is now a senior sustainability manager at Webcor Builders in San Francisco. Yosef, who earned a Bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting at Cal Poly, is employed at Morgan Stanley as an associate asset manager. The couple is living in Oakland. Taryn Gluckman was her sister’s matron of honor. Grandparents who celebrated with the couple were Ina & Fred Hoffman of San Mateo, Margaret Gagle of Fresno and Esther Woll of San Rafael.
SPECIAL OCCASIONS To commemorate her 70th birthday, Miriam Leiseroff, a long-time member of Congregation Sinai who frequently recites Psukei D’Zimra, read from the Torah for the first time on August 16. She chanted the sixth Aliyah in Eikev and did so without a flaw. She celebrated her actual birthday with a friend at a restaurant on Santana Row. Please send announcements and photos to Andrea Greyber at andrea.greyber@gmail.com or phone her at (408) 377-6224.
Wedding and Bar/Bat Mitzvah Videography
408.206.6505
www.blue-moon-productions.com 408.
Max Braker, son of Matt & Cyd Braker, was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on October 25 at Congregation Sinai. Max is in the eighth grade at Ida Price Middle School. He is the younger brother of Billy Braker who is a sophomore at Leigh High School. Max enjoys playing volleyball, baseball and basketball. He also plays the piano and likes to hang out with his friends. He was very pleased to have all four of his grandparents attend this simcha: Dr. Martin & Jacqueline Braker of Walnut Creek and Joe & Ona Rotenberg of Tiburon. Aunt Audrey & Uncle Larry Fox and cousins Hannah and Carter Fox from Los Altos attended and Uncle Mitch & Aunt Jill Lustig and Cousins Allie, Robbie and Danielle Lustig of Issaquah, WA were thrilled to attend. WEDDINGS Jenelle Hoffman, daughter of Pamela & Jeff Hoffman of Saratoga and Yosef Shapiro, son of Daphne & Yehoshua Shapiro of Petaluma, were married at the Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa on August 23 in a ceremony presided over by Rabbi Dana Magat of Temple Emanu-El. Jenelle, who received a Bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Arizona and a Masters degree in sustainability from Columbia University, www.jvalley.org
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datebook
All area codes are 408 unless otherwise noted.
ONGOING EVENTS Warm Up the Winter Blanket and Coat Drive Levy Family Campus through December 1 Donate used or new blankets and coats. Items can be brought to the Levy Family Campus, Beth David or Sinai. diane@jvalley.org, 357-7504 SUNDAYS Knitzvah APJCC, 10:30 AM Knitzvah is a JFS volunteer group of knitters, crocheters and seamstresses of all ages. They meet monthly to create beautiful handmade creations. Knitzvah distributes these gifts to 18 nonprofits. All ages and levels of experience are welcome. Come and be a part of this dynamic group or donate yarn to help them meet the needs of our community. loric@jfssv.org, 556-0600 TUESDAYS Israeli Folk Dancing Emanu-El, 7:30 PM Beginner folk dancers—no partners needed. 292-0939 THURSDAYS Silicon Valley Beit Midrash Sinai, 9:30-11 AM Join Rabbi Josh Berkenwald for in-depth study of Jewish thought, belief, and practice. No fee; drop-ins are welcome; no experience necessary. Schedule subject to change. Office@Sinai-SJ.org, 264-8542 Baby and Me Events Various locations, 10 AM See ad on page 4. Siddur Hebrew Reading Class Level 2 Sinai, 11 AM Already comfortable with basic Hebrew reading? This class uses the book “Alef Isn’t Enough,” and selections from the prayer book to further strengthen
skills. Taught by Alisa Israel Goldberg. No fee; open to all. limmud@sinai-sj.org, 264-8542 Engaging Israel: Foundation for a New Relationship Sinai, 7 PM Through video lectures, text study and discussion groups, Rabbi Josh Berkenwald leads this exploration on Jewish values and ideas at the foundation of our relationships with Israel. 264-8542 Literary Lite Levy Family Campus, 7:30 PM, 11/20 and 12/18 See ad on page 8. FRIDAYS Talmud Study Beth David, 8:30 AM Join a lively discussion in the exploration of Jewish rituals and rules. Newcomers encouraged to join! Donations welcome. 257-3333, adulted@beth-david.org Stroller Fitness Emanu-El, 9 AM A stroller-based indoor/outdoor exercise class using cardio and strength training as well as stretching. $5/class. 292-0939, jmschnitzer@gmail.com Spiritual Ethics Discussion Group Beth David, 10 AM Explore Jewish wisdom dealing with ethics and morals in this participant-led group. Newcomers welcome. Donations appreciated. 2573333, adulted@beth-david.org Tot Shabbat and Catered Dinner Emanu-El, 6 PM, 11/21, 12/19 Brief services for families with young children, followed by a delicious dinner free of charge. membership@templesanjose. org, 292-0939
SATURDAYS Singing the Siddur Sinai, 9 AM, 11/22, 12/17, 1/24 Come practice singing the Shabbat prayers. No fee. Open to all. No registration required. limmud@sinai-sj.org, 264-8542 Torah Study Shir Hadash, 9:30 AM Each week we will begin with a section of the Parashat HaShavuah (weekly Torah portion) and then layer onto our study the commentary of Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, known as the Gerrer Rebbe, through a wonderful translation of his work by Arthur Green, one of the foremost contemporary scholars of Jewish mysticism and Neo-Hasidism. Step out of your weekday world and join us for 50 minutes on a different plane. Some of those attending Torah study stay on for Shabbat morning services, but it is not required. Informal dress and drop-ins are welcome. 358-1751
UPCOMING EVENTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Community Shabbat Service— Jewish Book Month Shir Hadash, 10:30 AM nadine@shirhadash.org, 358-1751 x5 Jewish Artist Group Beth David, 1:30 PM Open to all artists in the Jewish community. Corinne Sherman will present on teaching art, with a discussion following. 257-3333, CBDArtists@beth-david.org APJCC Fundraiser Levy Family Campus, 6 PM See article on page 10. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Blood Drive Shir Hadash, 8 AM-Noon Save a life, donate blood! Appointments recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. 3581751, nadine@shirhadash.org
When Comedy Went to School OFJCC, 4 PM Closing night event with the Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival and Larry King. Why are there so many Jewish comedians? This film answers this question. jill@svjff.org, (800) 838-3006 Fish Fry Fiesta Sinai, 5 PM Food, friend and music by the Sinaites! $12/adult; $6/child. office@sinai-sj.org, 264-8542 “Wrestling Jerusalem” Shir Hadash, 7:30 PM An Aaron Davidman Performance Project. Twelve characters in a one-man show wrestle with the complexities of Israel. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. 358-1751 x5, nadine@shirhadash.org TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 The State of Global AntiSemitism Beth David, 7:30 PM This timely talk discusses key findings from the recentlyreleased ADL Global 100: An Index of Anti-Semitism. 2573333, adulted@beth-david.org Lions of Judah @ Cantor Arts Center Stanford, 11 AM A private docent tour with a vegetarian lunch following. arielle@jvalley.org, 357-7501 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 PJ Library Goes to Hicklebee’s 1378 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, 3:30 PM See ad on page 8. An Evening with Gail Sheehy Levy Family Campus, 7 PM See ad on page 12. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 Kabbalat Shabbat Services and Dinner Sinai, 6 PM Reservations required for 7 PM dinner. $20/adult, $5/child before 11/18. office@sinai-sj. org, 264-8542 NextGen Shabbat Emanu-El, 7:30 PM A monthly Shabbat experience open to adults 21-45. becka@jvalley.org, 357-7502
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 What the Books We Read Say about Us—Exploring the World of Judaism Shir Hadash, 9:30 AM Join speaker Howard Freedman, director of the Jewish Community Library, for a look at the newest trends in Jewish literature. 358-1751 x5, nadine@shirhadash.org TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 Interfaith Thanksgiving Shir Hadash, 7 PM Clergy and lay leaders from eight local congregations will participate in the service, which will also include a joint choir and a collection for local needs. Open to the entire community and sponsored by the Los Gatos Interfaith Clergy Group. nadine@shirhadash.org, 358-1751 x5 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Sinai Lunch Team for the San Jose Family Supportive Housing 11 AM Volunteers are needed to prepare and serve lunch to young families temporarily in need. 264-8542, SocialAction@sinai-sj.org TUESDAY, DECEDMBER 2 Major Gifts Dinner La Rinconada Country Club, 6 PM This evening for donors of a $5,000 minimum gift to the Jewish Federation’s annual campaign will feature guest speaker Izzy Ezagui. Chaired by Amy and Dan Schiff. 357-7508, michellen@jvalley.org Hollywood Spies—Jewish Infiltration of Nazi Groups in Los Angeles Beth David, 7:30 PM From 1933 to 1941, executives of the motion picture industry funded a covert operation to document Nazi sedition in Los Angeles. Speaker Dr. Laura Rosenzweig explains Jewish Hollywood’s fight against Nazism in the United States. adulted@beth-david.org, 2573333
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4 Hot Button Issues on Law & Judaism Law Foundation, 152 N 3rd St, San Jose, Noon A monthly hour of discussion. Presenter Tyler Draa is a trial lawyer who has taken more than 40 jury trials to verdict. CLE credit available. 358-1751 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 Let’s Do Lunch Literary Circle: Maggie Anton Levy Family Campus, 1 PM Maggie Anton, author of the Rashi’s Daughter series, will be chatting about her new book, “Enchantress,” over lunch. jenessa@svjcc.org, 358-3636 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9 Heroes in the Holocaust Shir Hadash, 7 PM Storytelling presentation by author and speaker Marty Brounstein. Open to members of the community. 358-1751, shanda@shirhadash.org San Jose Sharks Jewish Heritage Night SAP Arena, 7:30 PM See ad on page 20. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12 NextGen Shabbat Beth David, TBA A monthly, rotating Shabbat experience open to all adults 21-45. becka@jvalley.org, 3577502 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 Book Discussion: “Precious Objects: A Story of Diamonds, Family, and a Way of Life” Beth David, 1:30 PM Author Alicia Oltsuke writes about a tour of the diamond industry exploring the historically rich network connecting Communist Siberia, Israel, and New York’s diamond district, and profiles some of the industry’s more colorful characters including the author’s father. Led by Harry Cornbleet. 257-3333, adulted@beth-david.org SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 Sinai Presents: Living with Violent Sacred Texts Sinai, 10 AM Every faith carries forward problematic texts that seem
uncomfortable or even unconscionable. The texts are part of the canon and cannot be erased. How do moderns with different sensibilities deal with such texts? This talk, based on Rabbi Lewis’ book, “Torah of Reconciliation,” will discuss how Jewish thinkers over time have grappled with very troublesome passages in the Hebrew Bible. limmud@sinai-sj.org, 264-8542 Book Group: Orly CastelBloom Shir Hadash, 10:45 AM Orly Castel-Bloom is considered a leading voice in Hebrew literature today. The Jewish Community Library (JCL) of San Francisco’s Book Club in a Box program will provide most of the books, which can be borrowed from the Temple office. Just come to the Temple to pick up your copy, read the book, and enjoy a spirited conversation in the Temple library. nadine@shirhadash.org, 358-1751 x5 Hanukah Snowstorm at the JCC Levy Family Campus, Noon See ad on page 4. Latkes and Laughs Emanu-El, 6:30 PM See ad on page 31. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16 Chanukah Party Sinai, 6 PM See ad on page 8. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17 PJ Library Hanukkah Celebration Santana Row, 4 PM See ad page 17. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 Hanukkah Service Shir Hadash, 7:30 PM Join in the celebration of Hanukkah through prayer, song and story. Bring chanukiyot and candles to light up the Sanctuary on the fourth night. Junior Choir will perform and jelly-filled donuts will be available. Everyone is welcome! 358-1751 x5, nadine@shirhadash.org
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4 Adult Prayerbook Hebrew Shir Hadash, 9:30 AM This class is designed for those of us who want to increase our understanding and deepen our spiritual prayer experience. Learn Hebrew and also discuss the language choices and philosophy of the major prayers. This is a wonderful introduction for those who intend to study for the adult B’nai Mitzvah class next year. The only pre-requisite is a reading knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet. Cost: $50 includes “Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way.” 358-1751, patty@shirhadash.org SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 Three Generation Service Shir Hadash, 10:30 AM Celebrate the relationships among grandparents, parents, and children. The morning service will be adapted to be both meaningful to adults and welcoming to kids. Please join for a potluck brunch and activities following the service. nadine@shirhadash.org, 358-1751 x5 Book Discussion: “The Bible Unearthed” Beth David, 1:30 PM This book offers a fascinating and controversial perspective on when and why the Bible was written and why it possesses such great spiritual and emotional power. 257-3333, adulted@beth-david.org Havdallah & Happy Hour Shir Hadash, 6:30 PM BBQ, Beer, Bubbly Water and Live Music—it’s a party for everyone! Send out Shabbat with a festive evening of socializing. A great time for people who come every week, and folks who come twice a year. Come and hang out with us. nadine@shirhadash.org, 358-1751 x5
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obituaries JASON JURMAN
November 6, 1979 – October 11, 2014 Beloved son of Denise and Art Adams and Jyl and David Jurman, dear brother to Jeffrey Jurman, stepbrother of Brad Adams, Jayme David and Jodi Gerston, devoted grandson of Fay Labowitz, Arlene and Rubin Jurman, cherished nephew of Rhonda and Joey Covelman and Tamara Misle, loving cousin to Steven Covelman, Jaime Omens, Mandy Misle, Eva Misle and Sadie Misle. Jason graduated from Los Gatos High School in 1998 and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Boston Conservatory in 2002. He was a talented actor who appeared in San Jose Children’s Musical Theater and San Jose Civic Light Opera. He was honored to receive the prestigious High School Actor of the Year award presented to him by the American Musical Theatre of San Jose for his performance in the Los Gatos High School production of Fame. Jason was in the first Broadway National Tour of Oliver and starred in Cougar Club. Other credits include Law and Order, Arrested Development, 30 Rock and Blue Bloods among many more. Jason had a heart of gold and a smile that would light up a room. He will be a shining star in our hearts forever. Donations can be made to the Actor’s Fund or the Motion Picture and Television Fund.
EDITH KALLMAN
May 27, 1926 – August 24, 2014 Edith Kallman was born in Brooklyn, NY and moved with her young family to the Bay Area in 1959. She was a resident of Sunnyvale and then moved to Saratoga. She passed away in Santa Rosa in late August. Edith was an accomplished artist. Her spirit and appreciation for color and design will remain with us through her artwork. In 1963 Edith and her husband were two of the co-founders of Congregation Beth David in Saratoga. She enjoyed socializing, in particular, hosting events and gatherings for her many friends. She was well known for her warm demeanor and caring nature; she loved and was loved. Her passing is a great loss to so many, especially to her family who were the center of her life. Edie is survived by her husband of 64 years, Nat Kallman, their son, H. Jay Kallman of Bellevue, WA, daughter and son-in-law Melanie & Michael Carlston of Santa
Rosa, grandchildren Morgan, Rachel and Marissa Carlston and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters: Abraham Lazar, Reuben Lazar, Florence Fellner, Fran Kaufman, and Alice Gouldin. The family suggests donations in her memory be made to the World Jewish Congress or Heartland Hospice of Santa Rosa; in addition because of the benefits that Edith received from the treatment, please consider donating to the University of California’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR).
DOROTHY MILLER
January 10, 1945 –October 16, 2014 Dorothy Miller was born in Patterson, NJ. She lived in many places over the course of her lifetime and moved to Sunnyvale in 1974. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Douglas College in NJ. She created and ran the Hebrew High program at Congregation Beth David for many years, taught seventh grade and ran the Junior Congregation at Beth David. She also worked at the Center for Jewish Education in Silicon Valley from 1994 – 2004. Dottie was predeceased by her husband, Michael, who died in 2007. She is survived by her son, Jonathan who was born in Virginia and now lives with his wife, Tamar and children, Beckett and Michaela in Burlingame; her daughter, Laurie, who was born in Asamar, Ethiopia, and now lives with her husband Doran Golubtchik and their three children, Tamar, Tali and Hillel in Woodmere, NY and her daughter Rachel who was born in Sunnyvale and now lives in Atlanta with her husband Jeff Lazarus and daughters, Alison and Jessica. Contributions in her memory may be made to Sharone Hadassah. Please specify the Dorothy Miller fund as a special project will be created in her honor. Please send obituaries and photos to Andrea Greyber at andrea. greyber@gmail.com or phone her at (408) 377-6224.
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
Bob Basuino, Administrator
(408) 292-0939 cemetery@templesanjose.org
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community relations Just Words Diane Fisher, Community Relations Council Rabbi Saperstein famously said that there is no such thing as ‘Social Action Judaism,’ because the thread of social justice is so intricately woven into the fabric of Judaism that trying to extract it would render our faith aimless. While I strongly agree, I think we need to frequently speak of these values to keep ourselves accountable, and to inspire greater creativity in implementing them. So, as we step into 5775 with the new reality imagined on Yom Kippur still fresh, I am writing the first installment of “Just Words.” Jews across Silicon Valley are living out Jewish social justice values. They are doing it in Jewish institutional contexts, and they are doing it in the larger community, often not defining their work as explicitly Jewish. Our Jewish institutions have come a long way from the single Mitzvah Day event, which now is seen as a way to introduce and grow an on-going commitment to living out social justice values. The Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation connects this on-going work across the valley by convening a quarterly meeting of Jewish South Bay Social Justice/Social Action Leadership, led by Andrea Harris. The gathering serves to share best practices and inspire collaboration. The breadth of engagement this fall is impressive—here are some highlights. Gun violence prevention (Congregation Shir Hadash), senior isolation (Congregation Beth David and Temple Emanu-El) and affordable housing (Congregation Emeth) are the justice issues currently being addressed by our local synagogues. The most immediate call for participation is on November 18, 7p.m. at San Jose City Hall, to support the Housing Impact Fee. The council will vote on whether to institute a fee on market-rate rental housing to be used to build housing for working families. A rally will be held at 6p.m. at the City Hall Plaza. Another important public discussion on affordable housing will be held on December 2, 7p.m. at the Los Gatos Town Council, where the North 40 Specific Plan will be on the agenda. Affordable housing advocates will be asking for the plan to move forward, with further individual study still possible. Giving Tuesday will be hosted locally by the APJCC on December 2 from 8:30a.m. – 5:30p.m. Created two years ago by 92nd Street Y Executive Director Henry Timms, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, it is a global day dedicated to giving back, in the aftermath of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Nonprofit agencies will be represented in the lobby of the Levy Family Campus, with activities to engage the community in service projects.
FD262
Serving the entire Jewish Community for over 110 years Honoring the dignity of the deceased and providing compassion and support for the living
Advanced planning counseling At-need arrangements Bereavement support and services Burial at all Jewish cemeteries locally and globally
Peninsula Office (FD1830) 777 Woodside Road, Suite C, Redwood City Robert L. Malinow (FDR894) Managing Funeral Director rmalinow@sinaichapel.org
(408) 297-3636 Wayne A. Rose (FDR979) Funeral Director wrose@sinaichapel.org
FDIC insured Pre-need funeral arrangements available.
Congregation Sinai has launched a Shemitah Pledge, to promote a more balanced relationship to the land and our consumption of resources. www.sinai-sj.org/shemitah_pledge_form is where people are making personal commitments to make a difference. Specific donations to the Jewish Family Services Embrace-A-Family program, to provide useful Hanukkah gifts to families in need, will be collected November through mid-December. The Shir Hadash Blood Drive will be held November 16, 8a.m. - noon. Warm Up the Winter Blanket and Coat Drive runs through December 3, and has drop off sites at the Levy Family Campus, Congregation Beth David, Congregation Sinai, and Yavneh Day School; new items for donation can be purchased through www.jvalley.org/warmupthewinter. If you are interested in learning more about social justice and social action activities in the South Bay Jewish community, here are some leaders you can contact. Bryan Ferguson socialaction@beth-david.org Jonathan Weinberg board-tikunolam@shirhadash.org Bob Levy to@templesanjose.org Heather Rothenberg socialaction@sinai-sj.org Geoff Jackson socialaction@emeth.net Volunteering volunteer@svjcc.org Lori Cinnamon loric@jfssv.org Diane Fisher diane@jvalley.org
www.jvalley.org
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PICTURE 10227 S De Anza Blvd, Cupertino, CA 408.446.2900 vardysjewelers.com
J E W E L E R S
2000
heartsonfire.com
EUROPEAN GOLDSMITH
4135-Vardys_Ad_4.875x6.25.indd 1
3/20/13 5:14 PM
Join us to travel to Poland and Israel this Spring POLAND TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: April 13 - 20, 2015
ISRAEL TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: April 20 - 28, 2015
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Sights include: Warsaw Cemetery, Lauder School, Museum of History of the Polish Jews, Umshlagplatz, Mila 18, Rapaport, Lublin, Majdanek, Lublin Yeshiva, Krakow, Schindler’s factory, Auschwitz, March of the Living walk and ceremony (VIP seating), Birkenau, Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, Krakow JCC, Galicia Museum, conversations with survivors, righteous among the nations, current Jewish community in Poland. Some meals and services will be held with our local Teen March of the Living. Kosher meals every day Deluxe bus including driver and security Private guide Entrance fees ® OF SILICON VALLEY
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Design your own Israel experience Choose from up to five excursions each day Tracks include: green and hi-tech, historic Israel, arts and culture, social action and geopolitical, and Jewish learning Daily Israeli style breakfasts, welcome, Shabbat and farewell dinners All gratuities and museum admissions included Experienced tour guides Two tiers of pricing for accommodations: 4 and 5 star hotel choices. Addison-Penzak JCC Levy Family Campus
For more information visit www.jvalley.org/israelpoland or contact Arielle Hendel: 408.357.7501, arielle@jvalley.org
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levy family campus LFC hosts 9th Community in Compassion Conference On Sunday, October 19, 2014, nearly 400 people of diverse faiths, cultures and backgrounds joined together at the Levy Family Campus (LFC) for the 9th Community in Compassion Conference & Youth Leadership Summit. The purpose of the conference is to inspire individuals to pledge to make personal changes, through a place of compassion, to create stronger families, safer schools, thriving workplaces, sustainable environments, and healthy communities. The conference was convened by Carry the Vision, Supervisor Dave Cortese, The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment; the partners included the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley and the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center. The take-away action from the conference is open to everyone in the community—a commitment to play the Compassion Games on www.compassiongames.org/silicon-valley-ca. Log in and share your random acts of kindness, and generate “co-opitition” for “Survival of the Kindest”!
Rabby Sheldon Lewis was a panelist and also joined the group discussions.
Friends from the Sikh Gurdwara-San Jose and the Jain Center of Northern California provided lunch.
Over 30 diverse clergy and religious representatives processed in together to welcome people. apr.com
www.alefbetjudaica.com
Is this your year to
At one time, you were proud of that old car. Now, you can be proud of it again. Donate your unwanted vehicle to Jewish Family Services and support vital programs for families, children, and older adults in need. Donate Today!
1-877-JFS-4-CAR
1-8 7 7- 5 3 7- 4 2 2 7 www.jfssv.org
BUY or
SELL? Let me help you with all of your Real Estate needs! SARATOGA
Gloria Melmon Ascher Direct 408.781.8624 Office 408.741.1174, Ext. 604 gascher@apr.com
12772 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road
www.jvalley.org
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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
Create . Connect . Celebrate At Shir Hadash • Create lasting friendships, in our welcoming, and vibrant Reform Jewish community. • Connect through new and old traditions; “Wrestling Jerusalem” An Aaron Davidman Performance Project
• Celebrate connectedness, spiritual growth, and
Hanukkah Celebrations and Shabbat Service schedule can be found at ShirHadash.org Congregation Shir Hadash • 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos • 408-358-1751
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l cal news Kehillah volleyball team makes championship playoffs
Warm up the Winter BLANKET & COAT DRIVE
Drop off locations: • Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga • Congregation Sinai, 1532 Willowbrae Avenue, San Jose • Levy Family Campus, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos
www.jvalley.org/warmupthewinter diane@jvalley.org or (408) 357-7504
Scan to donate a coat or blanket today!
Kehillah Jewish High School is very excited to announce that the varsity girls volleyball team has made the PSAL championship playoffs for the first time in KJHS sports history! It has been an exciting wining season for the Rams volleyball girls and there is a lot to look forward to. The KJHS volleyball team is graduating only one senior, Ally Weinstock. Coach Jen Idleman is extremely proud of the team and looking forward to next week’s championship playoff games at Thomas More High School in San Jose. There are good things to come for the Kehillah Jewish High School Rams! More informaton on the playoffs, including game results, can found at www.PSALSports.org For more information on Kehillah Jewish High School, please visit www.kehillah.org or call (650) 213-9600.
תורהIsrael
engineering
reading ethics math
science music קהילהcharity art holidays prayer technology talmud sports
leadership fun community mitzvot
עברית
history
www.jvalley.org
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Jewish Professional Directory Attorneys Peter D. Feinberg
Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel 60 S. Market St., Ste 1400 San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 287-9501 pdf@hogefenton.com
www.hogefenton.com/our-people/attorneys/ Feinberg-Peter-D
Practice focused on corporate, M & A and business transactions.
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.
David J. Hofmann
Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel 60 S. Market St., Ste. 1400 San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 287-9501 djh@hogefenton.com www.hogefenton.com/hofmann.html Practice focused on commercial and residential real estate transactions & finance.
David S. Howard
Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel 60 S. Market St., Ste. 1400 San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 287-9501 dsh@hogefenton.com www.hogefenton.com/howard.html Practice focused on complex taxation, corporate strategy, and business succession planning..
Steven D. Siner
Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel 60 S. Market St., Ste. 1400 San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 287-9501 sds@hogefenton.com www.hogefenton.com/siner.html Practice focused on complex business transactions, estate planning, and family business succession planning.
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
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.
Attorneys
Financial Services
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, post-judgement issues.
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.
Orna & Ruben Yomtoubian
408-253-2250 or 408-887-8239 888-Do0-Fees 888-360-3337 (Toll Free) 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
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.
Commercial Real Estate
Guggenheim Realty Group, Inc
595 Millich Drive, Suite 101, Campbell, CA 95008 (408) 871-8722 x222 Fax (408) 834-4959 www.guggenheimrgi.com Commercial Real Estate Management, Investments, and Leasing. Call us for your property management, leasing and sales needs. Allen Guggenheim & Gary Naillon
Financial Services
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 455 S. Mathilda, Sunnyvale 94086 (408) 736-1566 www.LWWilliamsCPA.com Leonard W. Williams, CPA Y. Mary King, CPA, Brenda L. George, EA, T. Patricia Cohen, EA, Sue Conners, 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
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Home Care Assistance Provides Silicon Valley’s Premier Home Care Services
Temple Emanu-El
Come Celebrate Chanukah with Temple Emanu-El Chanukah Boutique
Sunday, December 7 from 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM Join us for your holiday shopping! There will be kids crafts, cookie decorating, and a jumper for the kids. $5 at the door for full participation or FREE WITH $10 Boutique ticket purchase (excluding gift shop and food). Vendors, contact anitajmed@yahoo.com.
Silicon Valley’s Best Caregivers. Each has at least 2 years experience and undergoes extensive training and screening, including a DOJ back-ground check, drug test and proprietary psychological exam designed to test for honesty and conscientiousness. We are the only care company with a formal Kosher Care training program for caregivers!
408-356-0127
14777 Los Gatos Blvd., #104 Los Gatos, CA 95032 www.HomeCareAssistance.com
Latkes and Laughs
Saturday, December 14 at 6:00 PM A night of potato pancakes and punchlines featuring the comedic stylings of Wayne Federman, Jeff Applebaum, and Joe Nguyen. Tickets on sale at www.latkesandlaughs.com.
The December Dilemma
Sunday, December 14 at 11:30 AM Join Rabbi Magat for this special Adult Education class where we will discuss the challenges so often faced by parents (particularly in interfaith families) in connection with the winter holidays
www.jvalley.org
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