december 2005 ~ cheshvan - kislev 5766

Chevre and Friends...

Announcements:

Mazel Tov to Eric Adams for winning the New Yorker Magazine's caption contest of the week.

The Jewish Teen Community of Sonoma County invites you to come see your name up in lights at:
A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES
Saturday, December 3, 2005
7-10pm
Congregation Ner Shalom
$10 per teen
Come as your favorite movie star!
(Theme dress is strongly recommended)
Please bring an unwrapped gift appropriate for a boy or girl under the age of 13.
RSVP to Sara Pflantzer, 510-547-8303 or sarapearl16@gmail.com

Pre-Holiday Women's Clothing Exchange and Chocolate Fest!
Congregation Ner Shalom, Friday Dec. 23 4-7 PM
$18 donation
Please bring at least 5-10 items of gently used clothing, jewelry, good quality books or other gift items.
Bring a friend or two and be prepared for lots of fun, laughing and chocolate! Please note: this is not a rummage sale, make sure whatever you bring is in good condition.
Children welcome.
Candle lighting at 7:00.

Safeway eScrip participants please renew your commitment by going to www.eScrip.com to keep your contributions flowing.

A New Home for the Jewish Community Free Clinic!
See Community Announcements for complete story.

From the Rebbe

Dear Hevre,

     Consider this article to be an invitation to join us at Dor Hadash on the 11th of December. We will be recreating the worship at the temple on a small (and slightly modified) scale. We will be donning our best robes and gathering to hear the psalms sung, smell the incense, choose a sheep or two, and of course, enjoy some excellent barbeque, courtesy of the Holy One, Blessed be
G!d. Come at 10AM for the fun (ideally in biblical outfits), and please let Reb Leslie know so we have enough to feed you!

     Just as a reminder, anyone who entered the Temple in Jerusalem (and therefore our re-construction of it) had to be in a state of ritual readiness. Part of that always included going to the mikvah before you entered the Temple to clean away any 'tumah'.

     What is 'tumah? Here is a biblical citation: Numbers: Chapter 5

     1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2. Command the people of Israel, that they take out of the camp every leper, and every one who has a bodily discharge, and whoever is defiled by the dead; 3. Both male and female shall you take out, outside the camp shall you take them; that they communicate it not through their camps, in the midst of which I dwell. 4. And the people of Israel did so, and took them outside the camp; as the Lord spoke to Moses, so did the people of Israel.

Here are some of the things that give you tumah:

* blood (outside the body); touching someone who is bleeding; sitting on a chair after someone who is bleeding has sat on it...
* pus (outside the body); touching someone who is pus-y; sitting on a chair after someone who is pus-y has sat on it...
* any other unusual bodily fluid (outside the body); touching someone who is oozing; sitting on a chair after someone who is oozing has sat on it...
* 'leprosy' (sounds more like psoriasis from the description - white flakes on your skin)
* touching a dead person, being in a house where someone has died (tumat hamet)
* handling reptiles

     Tumah is sort of like cooties - if you have it, you can pass it along by touching someone else. Then they have tumah until they go to the mikveh and change their clothes. If you go into the Temple with tumah, you may well die - it's like matter and anti-matter when a person with tumah encounters the Presence of G!d. The word tumah is often translated as 'impurity', but it's not about badness, just ritual unpreparedness to be near the Divine. It's opposite is taharah. One cannot lay too much stress upon the point that tumah and taharah are, above all, spiritual and not physical concepts; they are not at all to be confused with the kinds of impurity and purity which the human mind finds most easy to grasp, such as physical filth, dirt, and the like.

     Also, remember that Tumah and taharah were important while the Temple was still standing, for the G!d dwelt in that specific place. Now that we have a different sort of access to the Divine, it is really not an issue (pardon the pun), though some Orthodox Jews still maintain parts of the tradition (Levites and Cohens in these groups do not stay at someone's death bed, for instance). Still, in our short-lived Temple, we will also be having a mikveh, at least for the hands. So don you loincloths and robes, bring your goats and meal offerings, and we will see you at the Temple!

L'Shalom, Elisheva

     In all cases except handling dead people, you need to wait a period of time, then wash, immerse in the mikveh, change your clothes before you can go back to the Temple. For tumat hamet you also get sprinkled with water that has in it the ashes of a red heifer, completely burned.

Gifts of Light

MEMORIAL DONATIONS...
RUSS MESSING, a donation in memory of Wilma Jean Messing
HELENE STEINLAUF-NORWITT, a donation in memory of Jacob Steinlauf
JULIA KRASNER, a donation in memory of David Krasner
SHOSHONA DAVID & ALAN PHELPS, a donation in memory of their daughter, Rachel
EVELYN SACKLER, a donation in memory of Joseph Hanson

OFFERINGS...
DENISE MEIER & MICHAEL JACOB, a donation in gratitude of Margo Norman for helping with flowers for Liora Jacob’s Bat Mitzvah, and a donation toward a “pomegranate” in honor of Liora’s Bat Mitzvah
LIZ & RANDY HAGEN, a donation to Dor Hadash to cover Carrie Koper’s “aid” pay for the year, and a donation in honor of Clair MacElroy’s Bat Mitzvah

THANK YOU TO...
ALAN HAHN and ALAN ZIFF & SHARON BURNS, for sponsoring the Nov. 4th Oneg
LAURIE LIPPIN and KAREN & MARK WEDDLE, for sponsoring the Nov. 18th Oneg
ARIANA ELSTER and her wonderful crew of chefs, for catering a delicious meal for the Nov. 18th Shabbat Dinner

News from Dor Hadash

Dear Chevre,
     We have an exciting event coming up on December 11 that we want to invite our entire Ner Shalom community to participate in. We will be living history by re-creating the Second Temple, with priests in robes, a marketplace, singing and chanting, animal sacrifices, burnt offerings, incense, and we will finish the day with a meal of barbecued chicken. This promises to be a day unlike any other! Please come and participate with us because the more participants, the more realistic an experience!

     School is going very well. I was thrilled to hear about a group of 8th grade girls that had a slumber party, and wanted to come to our Confirmation Class and learn about Judaism, as part of their party activities.

     We are looking forward to Gesher Calmenson joining us on January 8 for an adult education session on creating your own personal Siddur. Gesher is a wonderful teacher, and this is an opportunity not to be missed. For more information and registration, call the Ner Shalom office. Gesher is asking for a donation from participants for the 1 1&Mac218;4 hour workshop.

     Lastly, beginning in January, Dor Hadash School will begin a monthly fundraiser of Jewish lunches from around the world. January 22 we will be serving a Russian meal with potato knishes, vegetarian borscht soup, drinks and dessert. The meal will be available at the end of school, 12:30 pm. We are looking for volunteers who love to cook, and love to help clean-up. Future ethnic meals will include a Sephardic, Israeli, Ethiopian, and New York style lunches. We will send out a calendar of delicious dates soon!

     Many thanks to all of you who help Dor Hadash thrive. Remember, we are always welcoming to new students at any time during the year. Tell your friends about our warm and wonderful school.

B’shalom,
Leslie

     "The most direct means for attaching ourselves to G-d from this material world is through music and song. Even if you can't sing well, sing. Sing to yourself. Sing in the privacy of your own home. But sing."
Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav

eScrip and more...

Do you buy GROCERIES??

If you do, than you can participate in the mitzvah of no-cost tzedakkah, because almost every Grocer other than G&G belongs to one of the many no-cost tzedakkah programs. Most of these programs allow you to split your tzedakkah between multiple organizations, so why not spread a bissel to the Ner Shalom/Dor Hadash community?

Safeway shoppers must renew their commitment to the eScrip program. You just go on-line to www.eScrip.com and hit the renew button. While you are there please take a moment to check that your credit/debit card numbers/expiration dates are up to date by going into "my eScrip".

Oliver's and about 9 other markets belong to the Communitysmart Card program. Oliver's shoppers please note this major change!! To join this program you can: instantly join by asking for a card at Oliver's checkout counter; call COMMUNITYsmart at 568-4995 or go on-line to www.communitysmart.com. When you check out at one of the participating merchants, you slide your Communitysmart card just like a debit card to get credit for your transaction. This program requires that a certain minimum be spent but then we receive a greater rebate (for Oliver's you need to spend $25 for a rebate of 5%).

Albertson's shoppers can participate by connecting your blue and white Preferred Savers card to Ner Shalom by going to www.Albertsons. com or using a tan and white Community Partners card Michelle can provide you.

Raley's users just need to obtain a Raley's partner's card from Michelle and activate it through their website (Raleys.com). Using the card without activating it for Ner Shalom will leave those rebates in suspense.

Not sure where you stand with all these programs? Give Michelle Marks a call at 778-6346 or e-mail her at Steven.Marks@prodigy.net and let her help you make a difference today.

Recycling.... Don't forget to continue to save all your spent laser and inkjet cartridges!!
We can do tikkun olam (repairing the world) and give some tzedakkah at the same time if we recycle. There is a collection box in the hallway leading into the sanctuary. If you donate laser cartridges please put the spent cartridge back into the box with the end pieces so it can be sent back in the best condition possible.

Board News ~ President's Letter

Dear Members and Friends of Ner Shalom, ,
     As we think of the holidays and of Chanukah gifts, let us remember the Olive Oil blessed by the children of Dor Hadash. This is delicious, high quality oil pressed from California olives. Now at $10 a bottle the price is a deal. We also have a few copies of the Children’s' Siddur just out from the JRF Press. This book is a beauty and an inspiration. Do check it out.

     This month I am using my column to reprint a letter that was written by one of our members, Ellen Solot, to her niece and nephews in preface to her upcoming Bat Mitzvah. Her brother and his family live in Brazil while Ellen lived in Japan for seven years. As Jews in the Diaspora we live in a mostly Christian culture while our roots are planted in Judaism. This concept of living in 2 civilizations is one of the tenets of Reconstructionism. Telling our personal stories helps us relate to each other in meaningful ways. How does Ellen's story relate to your life and experiences? Please consider sharing a special story of your family's journey with our community.

Dear Ilan, Andy, and Liana, (November 7, 2005)
     I hope you are all well. When I think of each of you, I feel so glad we are related! There is always the yearning to have more and a different kind of time with each of you, to get to know you more, to share and be influenced by each other in ways that are fun and conscious and in present time. I find it is such a practice to accept the way things are, in other words, the fact that we live so far apart.

     Having said that, it has taken me a while to come to writing this letter to you. It is important for me to let you know a little bit more of why (as far as I know), I have chosen to have this Bat Mitzvah later in life. You may know this is a fairly common practice. Some do it because they were never offered the chance and want to, others are doing it over again because it was such a horrible experience the first time.

     In my case it fits into the broader perspective I have in my work and vision. I have always been curious, and explored off and on the nature of being an immigrant. That experience of coming from another place and making a choice to live in a new one, often involves dropping off various aspects of the prior place of living in order to assimilate in the new place. My guess is that since all of you have the special dual-citizenship status and strong influence of at least 2 cultures (and a lot of back and forth between US and Brazil), you may be able to relate to this in some way. I hope so. Anyway in the case of Solot, Levy, Koltnow group coming from Eastern Europe in the early part of last century, I can only imagine how intense the situation in Eastern Europe must have been to motivate such a move!

     Then Ben Solot and Rose Koltnow-Levy both moved to Tucson for health reasons. Again a huge uprooting and transplanting occurred. I think it took a lot of bravery for Grandma Rose to take a train across the county by herself. Ben was sent to recover from TB and his company paid for him to be out in Arizona. Then he chose to stay. At least that's what I heard from Granddaddy. Anyway coming from a large metropolitan area like Philadelphia, in 1928 or 1944, to Tucson must have been such a huge shock. I can hardly imagine what it must have been like for them.

     Since you all grew up in Rio, Brazil, urban environment, and really one of the most amazing cities in the world, with so much water, natural beauty and culture, I know coming to Tucson, which does have it's own rich culture and natural beauty to be sure, must still be a culture shock each time you land there. It’s probably a bit of an oasis experience.

     I always found it interesting that your Dad and to a degree, me too, decided to live for a long time in different countries. In a way we chose to be immigrants again. I can certainly say I had a bit of that kind of experience being a foreigner in Japan for those 7 years. It was a rich, life changing experience for me. I went back last year at this time to reconnect with friends and complete some experiences as well. When I came back I felt the impulse to drop deeper into my own heritage. This has always been, in my mind, a big part of Homecomings, the work I do with people. Actually now I am using the name Ellen's Homeland Security Project as the umbrella name for my work and the Homecomings fits into that. Anyway there is something important; it seems to me, to really claiming, and engaging with one's own roots. So the Bat Mitzvah thing is really a ROOTS experience. I knew Rabbi Elisheva Salamo a little and decided to study with her. I am really enjoying it.

     I have always had aversion as well as attraction to the Jewish culture. And what I have chosen to do in the process is to begin to engage with it and sort it out a bit. I am discovering a lot of how much my identity and conditioning comes from this culture. It's great to be more conscious of that! I never imagined, a year ago January, that it would become a big family reunion. I am glad for that and it is important for me to let you know how important a role you play in the whole thing. I am hoping you can enjoy it and appreciate your connection to it all. The service has a lot of parts that involve me asking people to participate. It is a small synagogue, very homey. I hope you will at least come up and get a blessing. It’s part of the service...you don’t have to DO anything. I am certainly hoping the event will let you know more of your connection to family in this part of the world. Sending you all lots of love, Ellen

     May each of us know the miracle of light when the darkness looms over our shoulder.

Ariana

OFFICERS OF THE BOARD

President - Ariana Elster 824-5609
e-mail: aelster@comcast.net

Vice President - Your name here

Secretary - Anna Ghandour 584-4829
e-mail: huskyanna@yahoo.com

Treasurer - Michele St.Clair 433-8090
e-mail: msaintc@comcast.net

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Education - Liz Hagen 829-3031
e-mail: lizhagen@earthlink.net

Finance - Michele St. Clair 433-8090
e-mail: msaintc@comcast.net

Religious Practices - Ari Kimiti Wang'oo 239- 9615
e-mail: kimitiwangoo@yahoo.com

Building Maintenance - Mark Cohen 792- 4368
e-mail: mcsax420@netscape.net

No-Cost Fundraising - Michelle Marks 778- 6346
e-mail: steven.marks@prodigy.net

Personnel - Anna Ghandour 584-4829
e-mail: huskyanna@yahoo.com

Membership - Sally Churgel 823-0541
e-mail: churgel@pacbell.net

Newsletter - Pam Pepper 588-8824
e-mail: twinsushilover27@yahoo.com

Publicity - your name here

Website - Anne Woods
e-mail: rainywoods@yahoo.com

Rabbi: Elisheva Sachs Salamo 664-8622

Dor Hadash Education Director: Leslie Gattmann
e-mail: lgatttmann@msn.com

Cantor: Bella Bogart

Office Manager: Carol Vanek 664-8622
e-mail: shalom@sonic.net
Office Hours: Tues.-Fri. 9:00 AM- 2:00 PM

Community Yom HashoaH Commemoration

SAVE THE DATE

     The legacy of the Nuremberg Trials will be the featured presentation at the 2006 Community Yom Hashoah Commemoration on Sunday April 23rd, to be held at the Friedman Events Center in Santa Rosa.

     In the year of the 60th Anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials, presenter Lawrence Raful, Dean and Professor of Law at Touro Law School, Huntington, NY, will examine the effects of the trials on international law, and especially why they have not stemmed the tide of genocides around the world since then. Prof. Raful was the director of the 2005 Conference on the Nuremberg War Trials in July this year in Nuremberg, Germany.

     Please mark the change of venue this year from Sonoma State University to the Friedman Events Center in Santa Rosa. However, the Commemoration remains a community program and collaboration of the Jewish Community Agency, the Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust at Sonoma State University, and the Jewish congregations of Sonoma County.

Community Announcements

An Evening of Chinese Food and a Movie
to benefit the Jewish Community Free Clinic
Sunday, December 25, 2005 2-6pm
Friedman Center, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa
Click on our website for more information.nershalom.org

What is your family doing this summer?

Come to the 3rd annual Northern California Jewish Summer Camps and Israel Programs Fair and find out! Meet representatives from over 50 overnight and day camps, including travel, sports, art, leadership and academic programs! Programs take place across the USA, Israel and around the world, for kids from kindergarten to college...and families, too. Summer jobs, internships, year round opportunities and scholarship info available. Free admission.
This year in two convenient locations in the Bay Area:
Sunday, January 29, 2006 11:00am - 4:00pm, ALSJCC Palo Alto
(behind Cubberley Community Center)
Monday, January 30, 2006 5:00pm – 9:00pm, San Francisco JCC
For more information call: 415-512-6267 or e- mail niliy@sfjcf.org or visit www.israelcentersf.org/summer- fair/2006/

The Jewish Community Free Clinic is moving in the direction of establishing a permanent facility at Congregation Ner Shalom. They are working with the City of Cotati, volunteer architects, and planners to make their home a reality. The planned new facility will offer three dedicated exam rooms, providing a level of privacy not currently available to our patients. They also plan for a Biblical garden with courtyard. Their aim is to open a Women’s and Men’s Health Clinic as soon as the new building is in place.
They plan to break ground by early autumn of 2005. By spring of 2006, they anticipate moving into their new home. The Capital Campaign will soon be open to the public with opportunities to name different features of the building and the Biblical Garden and Courtyard. They look forward to involving volunteers in all aspects of the new building construction, from capital contributions to donations of labor and materials. The Jewish Community Free Clinic is a 501C (3) non-profit, volunteer driven organization. 100% of your tax deductible donation will go to helping those in need of free outpatient medical care. Please contact the JCFC for any further information or questions at (707) 792-1932, email at info@jewishfreeclinic.org or look to their website at jewishfreeclinic.org

Jewish Reconstructionist Federation West Coast Region website: www.jrf.org/westcoast

Ongoing Toy and Book Drive for Jewish Community Free Clinic
Donations of gently used toys and/or books can be brought to Free Clinic on ongoing basis at 421 E. Cotati Avenue, Suite C, or call 792-1932.

Creativity Kabbalah Study with Izzy Green & Michael Gest at Ner Shalom, which has included readings from the new Daniel Matt translation of Zohar and listening meditations based in Sefer Yetzirah, has been meeting in a private home in Sebastopol during the summer months. The group’s numbers have fluctuated according to the availability of vacation schedules.
We would like to know if there is sufficient interest in conducting further studies at Ner Shalom this fall. Those interested are invited to call or email Izzy Green and express their interest and viewpoints.
Would you attend continued studies of Zohar? Are you interested in experiential meditation practices? Are there other texts you wish to study?What nights are you available?
B'shalom,
Yitzak "Izzy" Green
824-4344
yitzak@medagree.com

Interested in an Interest-Free Loan?
The Hebrew Free Loan Association provides interest-free loans to Jewish residents in Northern California needing assistance with personal or financial matters. Types of loans include: Student, Emergency, Adoption, Personal, Business, First-time Home Buyer, Life Cycle, Debt Consolidation, Institutional (for Jewish communal agencies and synagogues) and Special Needs (for emotionally and physically challenged people).

Since 1897, the Hebrew Free Loan of San Francisco has provided vital assistance to more than 50,000 families. Each year, we help more than 350 people to reach their goals and pave their way towards financial security and future success.

We offer a helping hand, rather than a handout. Whether we're providing people a way out of their financial distress, or helping them to realize a lifelong dream, our recipients maintain dignity and self- sufficiency as they repay their interest-free loans.

If you, or someone you know, needs financial assistance and would like to apply for an interest- free loan, please contact us by phone (415-546- 9902) or e-mail info@hflasf.org.
Check out our website: www.hflasf.org.

ASK JCI & R
Nun, gimel, hey, shin!
Let the magic of Chanukah begin!
Looking for?
. Community menorah lighting events
. Family and tzedakah Chanukah projects.
. Adopt-a-family-sponsor a needy family for Chanukah
. Latke and holiday recipes
. Directions for the dreidel game
. Traditions and rules for lighting the candles
. Fun gift and entertaining ideas
. Lyrics and music to traditional and contemporary songs
. Or just trying to get the candle wax drippings off your menorah?
Nu, you've come to the right place!

For information about Chanukah and connecting to Jewish life, call JCIR 415/777-4545 or local toll-free in the Bay Area 877-777-JCIR (5247) or e-mail Info@JewishNfo.org

Jewish Community Information and Referral is a service of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, and Sonoma counties. Visit our websites www.JewishNfo.org and www.jholidays.org

Hanukkah Party and Stuffed Animal & Book Drive

ANNUAL HANUKKAH POTLUCK PARTY

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30 ~ 6:15 PM
POTLUCK DINNER

Please bring the following for the potluck dinner to serve 8-10 people dairy/kosher fish (no chicken or brisket, folks!)
(last name starting with:)
A ~ L main course
M ~ O dessert
P ~ Z salad

Join us for our annual dreidel derby! This year with a new "spin" on it!
Prizes and goodies for all the children!
Please bring your Hanukah menorahs and candles for the 6th night.

Members: No charge
Non-members: Adults ~ $5.00
Children under 12 ~ $3.00

EVERYONE is expected to bring potluck!
Contact Pam Pepper at 588-8824 for further information.

Remitzvah Class of 2005 Book and Stuffed Animal Drive

The Remitzvah Class of 2005 is having a children's book and stuffed animal drive on December 30, 2005.
Please help the class by bringing new or like new children's books and stuffed animals to our Hanukkah party on December 30, 2005. There will be ribbons and decorations available to fancy up your book or stuffed animal. If you are unable to attend the Hanukkah party and wish to donate a book or stuffed animal, or if you would like the class to purchase a book or stuffed animal for you, please call Ellyn Lazar at (707) 838-4785. Donations of ribbons, wrapping paper, material etc. would also be appreciated.

Etz Chaim ~Tree of Life

Etz Chaim - Tree of Life
Our Tree of Life in the Oneg room began as a way to thank those in our community who worked so hard to establish our permanent home in Cotati.
It will now be used to help Ner Shalom continue to flourish through the celebration of life events. A simcha leaf to honor a special life event and a pomegranate to commemorate the seeds of our community's hard work, our B'nai Mitzvahs, can be obtained through a donation of 10 Chai or $180 To mark your special occasion with a simcha leaf or pomegranate please contact the office.

Jewish Family and Children's Services

See our website www.nershalom.org/news/JFCS for programs and classes listed for December at JFCS in Sonoma County.

All low-cost/ no-cost JFCS and Parents Place programs listed on our website are non-sectarian and open to all members of the public.

Donations Make a Difference!

Donations to Ner Shalom Make A Difference!

• Building Repair Fund
• Dor Hadash School
• Etz Chaim (Tree of Life)
• General Fund
• Music Fund
• Rabbi's Discretionary Fund
• Teen Fund
• Tikkun Olam Fund
• Written Word/Torah Fund
• Waldman Challenge Fund

Honor some one; remember an event or a special person. Donations (minimum of $6 {1/3 Chai} per listing) will be listed in the Gifts of Light section of the next newsletter. Send the donation to the office with the appropriate designation or call the office at 664-8622 for more information. Your generous support of Ner Shalom is greatly appreciated.

Memorialize the memory of a loved one with a Yahrzeit Plaque on our Wall of Remembrance. The cost of a plaque and inscription is $200 Please contact the office at 664-8622 for more information.

Newsletter Guidelines

*1. Deadline will be at 2:00p.m. on the first Friday of every month (unless arrangements have been made with the editor of the newsletter.)

*2. All submissions should be sent to the editor via e- mail with the subject heading: NL submission.

*3. Editor will change, edit, or delete any or all portions of submission(s) as deemed necessary without prior approval of the author.

*4. Editor is not responsible for retrieving submissions from other sources. It is the responsibility of the author to submit all necessary components to the editor by the deadline.