From The President

Congregation "BETH" Shalom or Congregation "BEIT" Shalom?

Have you ever asked yourself why our synagogue is called "Beth" Shalom?  There are not many words associated with Judaism that end in the "th" sound, "Beth" and "Sabbath" being 2 that come to mind.  So how did we become "BETH" Shalom?  As it turns out, the Hebrew letter for T, or Tov, used to be pronounced differently.  In our shul, we pronounce it like "T" in Shabbat, which is the Sephardic pronunciation.   Many of our parents who came from the east coast continue to pronounce it as "S" as in Shabbos.  So where did the "th" come from since there really is no "th" sound in Hebrew anymore?

These questions and many more were asked and answered at MinImun where Andra Greenwald and I spent Sunday through Wednesday this past week (where I am writing this article during lunch break), learning to chant Torah, lead services, and learn Hebrew grammar.  Don't expect either of us to be able to sight-read from the Torah, but I think we will both leave here tomorrow with new-found knowledge in all of these skills.

MinImun is an abbreviated 3-day program of the regular Imun program that is held every year at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires.  Tom Gough attended 2 years ago and was able to teach many of us the things he learned during his 8-day adult Jewish summer camp experience.  This is the first time United Synagogue has put on the abbreviated program and Andra and I learned alongside 6 other students from Los Angeles, Monterey, San Jose, and Calgary.  Our teachers were Rabbi Paul Drazen, Cantor Neil Schwartz, and Rabbi Joshua Berkenwald, all experts at what they taught us.

So in answer to my question, I learned that many many years ago, the Hebrew letter Tov also used to be pronounced with a little lisp, giving it the "th" sound.  So my question to you (that we can ponder over the next few months):  is it time for us to do as many other congregations named "Beth" do, and drop the "H" to become Congregation Beit Shalom?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

February will be a very busy month for us.  We have a visiting cantor coming for the first weekend this month, and he will also be involved in our Tu B'Shvat tree planting at Pike's Park.  The Rabbi/cantor search committee will be bringing a potential candidate out for a mid-week interview, and we welcome you to come to shacharit services on Thursday, February 12 if you would like to hear the Rabbi's excellent Torah chanting.  On February 15, Sunday Afternoons at CBS will have its annual sweetheart concert with Grace Lieberman, and preparations for Cafe Shalom are beginning as well.

We have a few special events coming in March that I also want to call to your attention.  On Monday evening, March 2, we will bring Gary Kenzer of Honestreporting.com, who will lead a program on media biases. (See the flyer in the Bulletin).  HonestReporting is a Jewish media watchdog organization that monitors media throughout the world to make sure they are reporting honestly about Israel.  This should be a very educational and enlightening program.  There is no cost but we suggest donations.

Also in March, Laura has arranged for a Rabbi-turned-Jewish Comedian to perform a Purim program for us on Sunday, March 15, at 2 p.m.  Please mark your calendars for these two events.

I look forward to seeing you at synagogue.

Religious School News

Greetings! Since the last time I was able to send a note in this newsletter, a lot has come and gone; Chanukah, New Year's, Winter Break, the recession became official, a war with Israel & Hamas and we now have a new President. "New" is all around us. And, it is also around our children and students.

How will the new President work with Israel through the conflicts with Hamas? How will changes in the United States, financial and political, effect our little world of Hebrew/Sunday School and students? What changes will be implemented in our congregation at CBS in the coming few months?

These are all good questions. Do we have answers for each? I doubt it or we would be miracle workers. What we can do is have discussions with the students, our children, about change and how it affects us as Jews and our Hebrew Nation, Israel. That's not a political sentiment, just a request for dialogue.

For instance, the war in Gaza was not between Israel and the Palestinians, but rather Israel and Hamas, a recognized terror organization by both the US and European Union. Take your kids to www.israelemb.org and read what the Israeli consulate is saying that our local media is not.

Let the kids ask questions about President Obama and Israel. Or just peruse the History Channel listings. In the last month they've covered fascinating subjects from the archeological facts about the story of Exodus to Joseph (a Hebrew) being included in statues and heiroglyphs of the ancient Egyptians.

Many of us remember growing up with wars against Israel by the surrounding Arab nations. And we also remember the peace that followed. However, our children don't. Take time to discuss the past in relation to the future with the students. They have plenty of questions and the news does not give historical perspective to the current conflicts. For instance, "Did you know that prior to Israeli Independence in May of 1948, Jews from the area known as Palestine were called Palestinian Jews?"

This way, the Jewish dialogue we start in Sunday school and Hebrew school becomes a part of their life and they end up having a closer connection to their Judaism. Even more so, they will feel comfortable in their secular world while being proud as a Jewish citizen and spokespersons on behalf of Israel as well.

Now, on to more "light" stuff:

• February 8th is our celebration of Tu Bishvat at Pikes Park (arranged by Marlene with the city...another great job!)
• The first Sunday in March, the 8th, we will celebrate Purim with a fun carnival and 'Mini Megillah' reading!
• And, of course, the weekly adult ed classes continue on Sundays.

See you on Thursdays and Sundays!

Mazel Tov!

To Mike and Flo Loeffler on the engagement of their daughter Nicole to Dr. Merek Siu of Edmonton, Canada. Nicole will graduate from New York Medical College in May and will do her residency in Pediatrics. Happily for Mike and Flo, Merek works in Livermore, so the couple will be residing back in California. Wedding plans are for June 7th in Livermore. Mazel tov to the entire family (to Grandma Martha as well!)

To Marty Grynbaum and his fiance Kay on their engagement.

First Responders Dinner – Thank you

(original letter posted on bulletin board in foyer)

I want to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for your generous support of police personnel on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Many members of the police department enjoyed the food and refreshments that you supplied.

Thank you for your support of the Modesto Police Department.

Remember, half of every subscription to J- will go to Congregation Beth Shalom.  See your Bulletin for details.