Congregation Beth Shalom|Newsletter September 2009

September 2009 / Elul 5769 - Tishri 5770
From The President L'Shana Tova! I hope you are all in the midst of getting ready for the high holidays. There is a lot of activity around the synagogue and I can smell apples, honey and Challah in the air (make sure you order your Rosh Hashana basket from the USYers). The rabbi, ritual committee and the board have been working hard all summer to make the high holy days be a very meaningful experience for you this year. The Rabbi has been working on his sermons and with Cantor Dave Sislen who we have hired. Cantor Dave Sislen has also been working with the choir who will be singing on erev Rosh Hashana. On Yom Kippur, before Kol Nidrei begins, a cellist and pianist will set the mood for the rendition of the Kol Nidrei service. Please try to arrive early so that you will be able to hear this short musical passage before we begin services. Of course we will have youth services again on both the 1st and 2nd days of Rosh Hashana and on Yom Kippur. Because many of our holidays this year fall on Sunday, we will be having Sunday school on those days and the children will participate in the services. And since no Jewish service is complete without a little nosh, on the 2nd day of Rosh Hashana after Tashlich we will have a potluck lunch in the court yard. Of course our traditional break-the-fast will happen after Yom Kippur services are over. We will also have a bar-b-que in the sukkah after Sukkot services on October 4 and a nosh break in between dancing around the sanctuary on Simhat Torah on October 11. This should be a very festive and delicious High Holy day season and I hope you will be able to attend as many of these services and eating events as you can. If you know of any Jewish families who would like to join us this year for the holidays, please let us know so we can welcome them to our family. Finally, I would like to wish each and every one of you a joyful and prosperous new year. May you all be inscribed in the book of Life. -- Joyce From the Religious School Did you know the names of the four "new" years on the Hebrew Calendar? What was the name of the Jewish Astronaut to spin the first dreidel in space? How many of Joseph Stalin's wives were Jews? Why do we eat challah that is round during at Rosh Hashanah? Why is the pomegranate the fruit symbol of Rosh Hashanah? (how many seeds?) From what animal does the shofar come from? Yom Hadin is an alternative name for what day? What Hebrew month is Rosh Hashanah celebrated in? How many times will the shofar be blown during Rosh Hashanah services (when not on Shabbat)? What Haftarah story is read during Yom Kippur? What do we use to remember how Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac? What is the name of the king who built the first temple? What Jewish Holiday was created after the Tanach (bible) was created? Is the nation of Israel larger or smaller than the land described in the Torah? Who was the first prime minister of Israel? How many commandments are there in the Torah? What was the name of the first woman Jewish Astronaut? What shape mezuzah did Gregory Chamitoff place near his bunk on the space shuttle? So think about it...how many of these answers do you know? How many do your kids know? Even more importantly, how many do you think either of you should know? This year we'll be teaching the answers to these questions and more in Religious School at CBS. Of course, we'll be learning Hebrew (Dr. Seuss style!), the service order and even Israeli History! Our goals for the coming year are to help our kids establish a strong Jewish identity through all the new programs being introduced. Big Class, Small Class, Tall Class, Short Class...either way, we will have a great time with some new fun teachers as well. Come on over on a Sunday and join us! Don't forget Adult Ed Classes with Sheldon Werber on Sundays at 10:30 am too! Todd Aaronson, Religious School Director Remember, half of every subscription to J- will go to Congregation Beth Shalom. See your Bulletin for details.	Previous newsletters are here. Oneg Shabbat Hosts Oneg host schedule can be found here. Sept. 4 -- Bicek & Cohn families. Sept. 11 -- Blankenship & Grose families. Sept. 18 -- Community Oneg: Erev Rosh Hashanah. Sept. 25 -- Werber & Kailes families. Thank you for participating. Please remember to include fruit as an alternative dessert. Thank Yous Thank you to Lyn Rabinovitz for volunteering to do shredding and prestuffing of envelopes, and to for helping with the August Bulletin. Thank you to Lyn Rabinovitz, Andrea Moldo, and Jake Biewer for assisting with the High Holiday mailing. We are always looking for volunteers to help with the Bulletin. Please call the CBS office if you are available. MAZEL TOV Mazel Tov to Michelle & Joseph Bettencourt on the birth of their son Aaron Nathaniel born on August 20th. He weighed 6 lbs., 9 oz., and was 19.5 inches long. We wish them all the joys that a new baby brings to a family. Mazel Tov to Carole Buchanan on her engagement to Ian Mills. Carole is the daughter of Harold & Bette Rubin-Smith and the late Peter Buchanan. Ian is the son of Eric and Carol Mills of Pasadena, CA; he graduated from American Jewish University this past May with Carole, with a degree in Natural Science. He is employed in the Animal Control department of the City of Pasadena. He will be entering the Pasadena police academy beginning in January 2010. Driver Available Do you need transportation on Mondays? Call Bari Mantel. "I would be both happy and delighted if you would call me to take you anywhere you need to go!" "Get Well" Information Needed If you know of a congregant who is ill or in the hospital, please help us include them for calls, visits, and the speedy recovery list by letting the office staff know. Please remember that hospitals are not permitted to share information with the public, including the synagogue. Inkjet Cartridge Recycling Program Thank you for your past support and we hope that more of you will think of recycling your used ink jet cartidges by placing them in the recycling bin in the foyer. Scrip News We no longer carry Starbucks scrip. Safeway and Macy's If you shop at Safeway or Macy's, we ask that you consider registering your store cards with eScrip. Every time you make a purchase, you generate a percentage for CBS. SaveMart If you shop at SaveMart, please register for a SHARES card. Forms are available in the foyer or call the CBS office and we will mail one to you. If you have any questions on any of these programs, please call the CBS office at 571-6060.

September 2009 / Elul 5769 - Tishri 5770

From The President

L'Shana Tova!

I hope you are all in the midst of getting ready for the high holidays. There is a lot of activity around the synagogue and I can smell apples, honey and Challah in the air (make sure you order your Rosh Hashana basket from the USYers).

The rabbi, ritual committee and the board have been working hard all summer to make the high holy days be a very meaningful experience for you this year. The Rabbi has been working on his sermons and with Cantor Dave Sislen who we have hired. Cantor Dave Sislen has also been working with the choir who will be singing on erev Rosh Hashana.

On Yom Kippur, before Kol Nidrei begins, a cellist and pianist will set the mood for the rendition of the Kol Nidrei service. Please try to arrive early so that you will be able to hear this short musical passage before we begin services.

Of course we will have youth services again on both the 1st and 2nd days of Rosh Hashana and on Yom Kippur. Because many of our holidays this year fall on Sunday, we will be having Sunday school on those days and the children will participate in the services.

And since no Jewish service is complete without a little nosh, on the 2nd day of Rosh Hashana after Tashlich we will have a potluck lunch in the court yard. Of course our traditional break-the-fast will happen after Yom Kippur services are over. We will also have a bar-b-que in the sukkah after Sukkot services on October 4 and a nosh break in between dancing around the sanctuary on Simhat Torah on October 11.

This should be a very festive and delicious High Holy day season and I hope you will be able to attend as many of these services and eating events as you can. If you know of any Jewish families who would like to join us this year for the holidays, please let us know so we can welcome them to our family.

Finally, I would like to wish each and every one of you a joyful and prosperous new year. May you all be inscribed in the book of Life.

-- Joyce

From the Religious School

Did you know the names of the four "new" years on the Hebrew Calendar?

What was the name of the Jewish Astronaut to spin the first dreidel in space?

How many of Joseph Stalin's wives were Jews?

Why do we eat challah that is round during at Rosh Hashanah?

Why is the pomegranate the fruit symbol of Rosh Hashanah? (how many seeds?)

From what animal does the shofar come from?

Yom Hadin is an alternative name for what day?

What Hebrew month is Rosh Hashanah celebrated in?

How many times will the shofar be blown during Rosh Hashanah services (when not on Shabbat)?

What Haftarah story is read during Yom Kippur?

What do we use to remember how Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac?

What is the name of the king who built the first temple?

What Jewish Holiday was created after the Tanach (bible) was created?

Is the nation of Israel larger or smaller than the land described in the Torah?

Who was the first prime minister of Israel?

How many commandments are there in the Torah?

What was the name of the first woman Jewish Astronaut?

What shape mezuzah did Gregory Chamitoff place near his bunk on the space shuttle?

So think about it...how many of these answers do you know? How many do your kids know? Even more importantly, how many do you think either of you should know?

This year we'll be teaching the answers to these questions and more in Religious School at CBS. Of course, we'll be learning Hebrew (Dr. Seuss style!), the service order and even Israeli History! Our goals for the coming year are to help our kids establish a strong Jewish identity through all the new programs being introduced.

Big Class, Small Class, Tall Class, Short Class...either way, we will have a great time with some new fun teachers as well. Come on over on a Sunday and join us!

Don't forget Adult Ed Classes with Sheldon Werber on Sundays at 10:30 am too!

Todd Aaronson, Religious School Director

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

Previous newsletters are here.

Oneg Shabbat Hosts

Oneg host schedule can be found here.

Sept. 4 -- Bicek & Cohn families.
Sept. 11 -- Blankenship & Grose families.
Sept. 18 -- Community Oneg: Erev Rosh Hashanah.
Sept. 25 -- Werber & Kailes families.

Thank you for participating. Please remember to include fruit as an alternative dessert.

Thank Yous

Thank you to Lyn Rabinovitz for volunteering to do shredding and prestuffing of envelopes, and to for helping with the August Bulletin.

Thank you to Lyn Rabinovitz, Andrea Moldo, and Jake Biewer for assisting with the High Holiday mailing.

We are always looking for volunteers to help with the Bulletin. Please call the CBS office if you are available.

MAZEL TOV

Mazel Tov to Michelle & Joseph Bettencourt on the birth of their son Aaron Nathaniel born on August 20th. He weighed 6 lbs., 9 oz., and was 19.5 inches long. We wish them all the joys that a new baby brings to a family.

Mazel Tov to Carole Buchanan on her engagement to Ian Mills. Carole is the daughter of Harold & Bette Rubin-Smith and the late Peter Buchanan. Ian is the son of Eric and Carol Mills of Pasadena, CA; he graduated from American Jewish University this past May with Carole, with a degree in Natural Science. He is employed in the Animal Control department of the City of Pasadena. He will be entering the Pasadena police academy beginning in January 2010.

Driver Available

Do you need transportation on Mondays? Call Bari Mantel.

"I would be both happy and delighted if you would call me to take you anywhere you need to go!"

"Get Well" Information Needed

If you know of a congregant who is ill or in the hospital, please help us include them for calls, visits, and the speedy recovery list by letting the office staff know.

Please remember that hospitals are not permitted to share information with the public, including the synagogue.

Inkjet Cartridge Recycling Program

Thank you for your past support and we hope that more of you will think of recycling your used ink jet cartidges by placing them in the recycling bin in the foyer.

Scrip News

We no longer carry Starbucks scrip.

Safeway and Macy's
If you shop at Safeway or Macy's, we ask that you consider registering your store cards with eScrip. Every time you make a purchase, you generate a percentage for CBS.

SaveMart
If you shop at SaveMart, please register for a SHARES card. Forms are available in the foyer or call the CBS office and we will mail one to you.
If you have any questions on any of these programs, please call the CBS office at 571-6060.