Temple Topics
Summer 2024
EmbracingJudaism:LeadingwithLove
Rabbi
Jonathan Aaron
Lately, I’ve been reading about the history of blood libel accusations against the Jewish people In the mid-12th century, the murder of William of Norwich began an accusation about Jews killing Christian babies for ritual purposes Decades later in France, Jews were burned at the stake accused of the same crime (without any evidence) Centuries later, the Jewish people are expelled from Spain and Portugal Closer to our contemporary period, we still have relatives who recollect stories about the pogroms at the end of the 19th century, the Holocaust of the 30s and 40s, and now, the increasing presence of antisemitism in the streets, on campuses, and in our daily social lives online and in person
en a century where we as a people were not singled y and truthfully when he wrote on X (formerly ws are colonial settlers Nazism is a perennial hatred, nists, if you hate capitalism, Jews are capitalists You se they are strong and ethno-nationalists. Because long black coats and side curls and refuse to m ‘vermin’) and because they are superhumans who bornly religious Because they went like lambs to the the Jew shapeshifts as a dark psychic threat in the , whether marching at a Klan rally or just hanging out Jews just because they are Jews ”
There are enough people bad mouthing the people Israel, and the state of Israel, to fill the world. I, too, have critiques of the way Israel goes about their political business I, too, have critiques about the Jewish religion and concepts of spirituality What I will not do, is add to the vitriolic conversation that turns critique into hate and turns our beautiful Jewish traditions and peace-seeking people into a genocidal loving nation I don’t understand the Jewish people who side with a terrorist organization who has vowed to destroy the one Jewish democratic state in the world, and whose purpose it is to murder all Jews Nor do I understand those Jewish people who join in the conversation online to support the anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, antisemitic groups who all condemn Israel using Hamas (and Iranian) propaganda to portray Israel as an occupational aggressor (is not the goal of Hamas to occupy all of Israel and were they not the aggressors who started this whole war?).
For me, I choose to react by embracing my Judaism more I proudly wear my Israeli/American flag pin, and the yellow hostages’ ribbon, and the blue square bringing awareness to antisemitism in our country. I wear those items to be proud of who I am and the people I represent by being a Jew, and I know that we are a people who strive to improve the world, indeed, to spread love and compassion, to live by the adage, “love your neighbor as yourself,” and “Justice, Justice, shall you pursue ” These are just two of the values that our people brought into this world, and the best way that we can continue to share these values, with the hope that all will join us in them, is to continue to be Jewish, spread the teachings of our tradition, and form a strong base of faith, from all of us, that we can make a difference in the world by helping each of us live more peaceful and beautiful lives I can’t fight the hatred over centuries, I can’t fight the hate on the internet all I can do is influence those with whom I share life, and make sure that I am spewing love and peace, with the hope that more and more will follow, and we can finally learn to love each other, no matter who the “other” is
Simchas
Mazel Tov To...
Helen Pollock Abrams & Michael Abrams on the birth of their daughter, Ellie
Christine Averill & Garrett Kaplan on their marriage
Sharom Baumgold & Roy Young (z”l) on the birth of their grandson, Rafael Baruch Koren
Hilla & Marc Carrel on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Liana
Kenda Dala and Aryan Naim on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Nima
Karen & Mike De Vore on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Skylar
Rachel Eisenbarth & Zachary Fouladian on their marriage
Lauren Fishelman & Benjamin Marcus on the birth of their son, Noah Conrad Marcus
Andi & Larry Harrow on the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter, Reagan
Courtney & Jason Harrow on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Reagan
Judy Kandel on the birth of her granddaughter, Emily Hannah Whitby
Nancy & John Lee on the birth of their grandson, Ezra Moore Lee
Debby & Marc Lepp on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Hannah
Rochelle & Richard Maize on the birth of their granddaughter, Blake Remi Boren
Rochelle & Richard Maize on the birth of their grandson, Jack London Rosenthal
Jill & Gary Mittman on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Sammy
Ellen & James Pocrass on the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter, Skylar
Michelle & Scott Redston on the marriage of their daughter, Jenny, to Ariel Cheszes
Aaron Wiener & Adam Przybylski on their marriage
Condolences To...
Anna & Patricio Abramzon and family on the passing of Anna’s grandmother, Mayya Polishchuk
Ava Azizi & Jeffrey Faust and family on the passing of Ava’s grandmother, Rosalyn Salzman
Farrah Azizi & Michael and family on the passing of Farrah’s grandmother, Rosalyn Salzman
Jonathan Altman & Rachel Ellenport on the passing of Jonathan’s father, Kurt Altman
The family of Connie Bennett on her passing
Paula & Michael Block on the passing of Paula’s sister, Betsy Schwartz
Frances Boxer on the passing of her daughter, Kimberly Boxer Friedman
Gary & Linda Briskman on the passing of Gary's mother, Rae Briskman Stern
Danna Lee Appel Coonen on the passing of her son, Steven Abraham Lawrence Coonen
Allison & Michael Druyanoff on the passing of Allison’s father, Sidney Cary Cole
Elayne Garber & John Forbess on the passing of Elayne’s mother, Sonia Iris & Howard Kornberg on the passing of Howard’s mother, Louise Kornberg
Helen Laufer on the passing of her husband, Ira Laufer
Farhad Novian and family on the passing of his mother, Fakhri “Faye” Novian
Ondania Pick on the passing of her husband, David Pick
Mitchell Reback & Cathy Costin on the passing of Mitch’s mother, Phyllis Reback
Michael & Carole Scheinberg on the passing of Michael’s stepmother, Joan B Scheinberg
Ari Silber and family on the passing of his father, David Silber
Lowell Simon & Stephanie Ross Simon on the passing of Lowell’s father, Edgar Simon
Shelley Singer on the passing of her husband, Ronald Singer
Danielle Soto on the passing of her great aunt, Yetta Rosenberg
Lisa & Adam Stoll on the passing of Lisa’s grandmother, Beverly Fenimore Smith
Lenoard & Cathy Unger on the passing of Leonard’s sister, Ida Esther Unger
General Fund Contributions
In Memory of:
Rae Briskman Stern from Sue & Barry Brucker
Fakhri “Fay” Novian from Sue & Barry Brucker
Toni Corwin
Ross Dreyer
Roy Young from
Susan Lava
Elisa Newman & Andy White
In Honor of:
The Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class from Lisa Ponder
Julie & Chuck Shapiro from Jonathan Rosenbloom
Rabbi Aaron’s Discretionary Fund
In Appreciation from:
Grace Blaustein
Ginger & Peter Bort
Anthony B Fein
Helen Pollock Abrams
In Memory of:
Rae Briskman Stern from Linda & Gary Briskman
Sonia F Garber from Elayne Garber & John Forbess
Harvey & Rachel Kates from Frances & Don Kates
Cis Klein from the Glassman & Euell and families
Ira Monosson from Aviva Monosson
Fakhri ”Fay” Novian from Bonnie & Donald Dwares
Burton Reinfeld from Lynn & Michael Doner
Roy Young from Rabbi Alicia Magal
Cantor Weiss’ Discretionary Fund
In Appreciation from:
Helen Pollock Abrams
In Honor of:
Cantor Lizzie Weiss from Flora Trostler
Birth of Emelia Reina Stein Dwork (great-grand niece) from Trisha Roth
In Memory of:
Mitch Dawson from:
Amy & Joey Behrstock
Donna Kronson
Sonia F Garber from Elayne Garber & John Forbess
Cecelia (Cis) Klein from Colleen & Sol Rabin
Louise Kornberg from Howard & Iris Kornberg
Ira Monosson from Aviva Monosson
Voices in the Desert Concert in Israel:
Kara Corwin
Pamela Bennett
Sue & Barry Brucker
Louise Kershman
Mark Masliah & Nicholas Pasqua
Linda J Smith
Susan & Geoffrey Wharton
Rabbi Alban’s Discretionary Fund
In Appreciation from:
Grace Blaustein
Marge Chirchick
In Honor of:
Judy & Arnold Alban from Lila & Sheldon Snow
The Sol & Evelyn Zuckerman Memorial Trust from Jane Zachary
Elisa Newman & Andy White
Helene & Brad Winston
Cis Klein from Lisa Ponder
David Pick from Susan Lava
David Silber from Randi & Alan Jablin
Shirley & Marshall Levy
Daniel Mikelberg
Flora Trostler
Margot Serden from Michelle & Alan L Kaye
Rabbi Geller’s Discretionary Fund
General Fund Discretionary Fund Fund
In Appreciation from:
Ronald M Andiman
Sarah & David Block
In Memory of:
Roy Young from Cathy Costin & Mitch Reback
Kiddush Lunch Fund
Anonymous (several)
Hilla Shprung Carrel & Marc Carrel
Kate & Farrell Covell
Kenda Dala & Aryan Naim
Farhad Novian and family
E.D. Friedman Scholarship Fund
In Memory of:
Gertrude Vivian Friedman from Elinor & Marvin Sobel
Alys Pollet Scholarship Fund and Gus Pollet Memorial Fund
In Honor of:
Jill Cahn & Judy Narvid from Gayle & Steve Jagoda
In Memory of:
Hannah Kaufman from:
Jill & Bobby Cahn
Gayle & Steve Jagoda
Judy & Michael Narvid
Alys K Pollet & Gus Pollet from:
Jill & Robert Cahn
Gayle & Steve Jagoda
Judy & Michael Narvid
Yahrzeit Fund
In Memory of:
Bess Alberts from Sylvia Alberts
Jackson Alberts from Sylvia Alberts
Murray Averack from Susan Lava
Jack Barenfeld from Patty, Larry, Greg, & Jeff Goodman
Mickey Beckenfeld from Ronald Beckenfeld
Leslie Bell from Amy & Greg Bell
Jack Berman from Sonia Berman
Jack Bernstein from Diane & Max Weissberg and family
Jeanette Sylvia Block from Jan & Alan Block
Elva Breitbard from Stanley & Ronda Breitbard
Dr Hyman Camins from Diane Siegel and family
Judie Sutton Chroman from Eve Sutton
Audrey L Cohen from David Cohen
Deborah Criswell from Linda Smith
Esther Degen from Jan & Alan Block
Marilynn Lubin Falik from Louis H Falik
Clement Franco from Karen & Rob Porper and family
E D Friedman from Elinor & Marvin Sobel
Elisha Friedman from Elinor & Marvin Sobel
Marilyn H Friedman from Larry Friedman
Nathan Friedman from Elinor & Marvin Sobel
Rose Friedman from Elinor & Marvin Sobel
Maurice Gersh from Ellyn Gersh Lerner
David Goldstein from Gail Goldstein & Robert Bird
Mozellar Goldstein from William Goldstein and family
Paul Grossman from Rick L Grossman
Edith Gumbiner from Jill Gumbiner
Reuben Kabrins from Judy & Ron Kabrins
Ellen Kaminski from Sonia Rapoport Berman
Rose B Kaplan from Susan Lee Kaplan
Saul Kluger from Hannah & Michael Wecker
Rose Kortz from Pearle Rae & Mark B Levey (z”l) & family
Cantor Edward Krawll from the Krawll/Feinberg Family:
Kathy, Richard, Meredith, & Lauren
Mark Irwin Krawll from the Krawll/Feinberg Family:
Kathy, Richard, Meredith, & Lauren
Joyce Krawll from Krawll/Feinberg Family:
Kathy, Richard, Meredith, & Lauren
Irving Kreeger from Elinor & Marvin Sobel
Alan Laff from Pearle Rae & Mark B Levey (z”l) & family
Mark B Levey from Nancy & Jeff Cherry
Mark B Levey from Pearle Rae Levey & family
Judy Lopez from Joan Slottow
Rose Margolis from Jerald J Silverhardt
Goldie Miller from Jacqueline Miller
scar L Paris from Sanford P Paris
Gertrude Prezant from Claire Rexon
Mildred & Morris Schnitzer from Jeanne Schnitzer Marks & family
Raymond Post, Jr from Jerry Silverhardt
Cecille Robman from Steven Robman
Rabbi Cantor Gary Shapiro from Judy & Aron Shapiro
Lois Sherman from Frances & Don Kates
Brenda Siegler from Richard Siegler
Ike Silverhardt from Jerry Silverhardt
Diane Solomon from Michael H Solomon
Sara Sternlight from Natalie Fabe Ubias
Abram Szuchmann from Betty Short
Ella Weissberg from Diane & Max Weissberg
Rami Wernik from Nili Kosmal
Avishag Wyte from Michael Wyte
Joyce Yale from Leah Bishop & Gary Yale
Kenneth Yale from Leah Bishop & Gary Yale
Nima Naim - February 3, 2024
“Work like you’ve never won, play like you’ve never lost ” - Michael Jordan
Reagan Harrow - April 13, 2024
“Never let anyone treat you like a yellow starburst You are a pink starburst ” - Judith Cuffe
Samuel Mittman - May 11, 2024
“Nothing is impossible ” - Sammy Mittman
Skylar De Vore - May 18, 2024
“Challenges are opportunities for growth and learning Embrace them and don't be afraid to fail " - Maddie Ziegler
Liana Carrel - May 25, 2024
“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy ” - Anne Frank
Harrison Covell - June 8, 2024
“Doing stuff that’s hard to do is hard to do, but when you look back at what you achieved, it is worth it ” - Harrison Covell
Hannah Lepp - June 15, 2024
“You never fail unless you stop trying ” - Albert Einstein
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Elayne Garber & John Forbess
Myra Lurie & David Goldman
Patty & Larry Goodman
Bobbi Holland
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Vickie & Fred Kaplan
Sheryl & Jon Sokoloff
Tzadikim
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Double Chai
Sandra & Charles (z"l) Aronberg
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Pamela Reisman & Brad Donenfeld
Allison & Michael Druyanoff
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Jane Factor & Max Factor III
Bonnie & Ronald Fein
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Terri & Michael Kaplan
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Diane Vanette &
Sander Schwartz
Tamar and Randy Seff
Edgar Simon
Annika & Abe (z"l) Somer
Laurie Goodman & Don Spetner
Susan & Ilan Tamir
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Flora Trostler
Sandy Weiner
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Ruth Weisberg
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Joan & David Wellisch
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Elisa Newman White & Andy White
Terri & Richard Wolf
Clergy
Jonathan Aaron, Senior Rabbi
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Staff
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2024 – 2025
Presidents
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