february 2006 ~ shevat 5766

Chevre and Friends...

Announcements:

Invitation to a Meeting of our Tribe
Hosted by the Board of Congregation Ner Shalom
Sunday, February 12
Members of Congregation Ner Shalom, are invited to gather for an
All-Congregational Meeting. PLEASE attend if you are a member.

12:30 pm Lunch HOME-COOKED by the angels of Dor Hadash (Profits support Dor Hadash) $7 each: pre-order to insure we have the right amount (Pre-order NOT required but help us out on this one for extra mazel). Call 664- 8622 or email the office by Friday Feb 10. nershalom@sonic. net

1 - 3 PM GENERAL MEETING of our Tribe
Childcare will be available. Please call the office to sign-up.
Our Dor Hadash graduates will be paid. Donations to defer costs gratefully appreciated.

LIFE STORIES WRITING CLASS
Meets every Tuesday, beginning Feb. 7, 2006 1:30 AM – 3:30 PM at Congregation Ner Shalom.
No writing experience needed, just bring your life experience and a desire to write about it. All ages welcome. Free of charge. Donations gladly accepted.
The life stories writing class provides structure for getting stories written about your life, offers a place for inspiring memory, provides structure and support, gives you writing tips, and allows you a chance to have a good time creating a collection of stories your family and friends can treasure for years to come. This non-credit, Santa Rosa Junior College class is ongoing, year-round.
The instructor, Suzanne Sherman, is a writer and book editor (Ten Speed Press, Chronicle Books), and has taught autobiography writing for Santa Rosa Junior College since 1996.

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

ADMINISTRATOR’S WISH LIST: duct tape

Gifts of Light

MEMORIAL DONATIONS...
LORRAINE & PAUL LICHTMAN, a donation in memory of Ray Goodman
MARLENE IADAVAIA, a donation in memory of Benjamin Gluck
RUSS MESSING, a donation in memory of Bud Messing
STEVEN & MICHELLE MARKS, a donation in memory of Jack Marks

OFFERINGS...
LOUIS HOPFER, a donation to the Building Fund
ARIANA ELSTER, a donation in honor of Claire MacElroy's Bat Mitzvah
PAM PEPPER, a donation in honor of Blake Pepper-Tunick's Bar Mitzvah, and a donation in honor of her "Get" to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund
LISA SHULMAN, a donation of her book, The Matzo Ball Boy,to the synagogue library
ELLYN & WAYNE LAZAR, a donation to the Building Fund in honor of Claire MacElroy's Bat Mitzvah
THE MARKS FAMILY, a donation in honor of Claire MacElroy's Bat Mitzvah
ANONYMOUS, a donation in appreciation of all the time and energy given to our community by Ariana Elster and Liz Hagen
RHODA FELDMAN, a donation In honor of Ellen Solot's Bat Mitzvah
JANE KRENSKY & PEGGY TOURJE, a donation in honor of the B'nai Mitzvah class of 2005/2006: Liora Jacob, Blake Pepper-Tunick, Ryan Taylor-Davis, Nalani Genser, Max Gorden, Sophie Krensky, Nica Rice, Olivia Greenbaum, Rebecca Cohen, Jasmine Wingard

THANK YOU TO...
ELLYN & WAYNE LAZAR for sponsoring the Jan. 6th Oneg
SID & CORISSA AARONSON and ARCHIE LEWINSTEIN for sponsoring the Jan. 20th Oneg
January's Shabbat Supper was deliciously and graciously prepared by Ariana E. with major support from Ann Hedlund, Archie Lewinstein, Sophie Lewinstein and Olivia Greenbaum.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS...
SHARI BRENNER & FAMILY
MARY ANN MALINAK
ROBYN LEVY
GANGA & JIVAN DICOVSKI
RICHARD & AMY KOMAN
DAN WILLIAMSON
ROZALIA LEE DAGUE

News from Dor Hadash

Dear Chevre,
January has brought Dor Hadash into the new secular year with many new experiences. We had a wonderful adult education class, taught by our Director-Emaritis, Gesher Calmenson, on creating your own personal siddur. The adult class met in our beautiful new library space that was so graciously created by Nancy Rapp. We are planning three more adult education classes with Rebbe Elisheva on March 5, March 19 and April 12, which will be concerning the history of Israel.

The students in the school have been learning about prayer, from several different perspectives, this month. The 2/3 graders wrote a prayer for peace for the world, and we sent it, as a gift to President Bush, in hopes that he may listen to the suggestions of the 7 and 8-year-olds. A little advice from our wise children can't hurt!

Tu B'shvat was celebrated by the school as another family education day and it was a great success. We teamed up with our friends at Cotati Creek Critters, to help clean garbage out of the creek, and to plant trees along the waterway. We love the opportunity to do Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) in our own neighborhood. Karen Mitchell is the person who co-ordinates the Tu B'shvat celebration each year and we thank her. Speaking of Karen, the school is sending Karen to a music retreat/workshop sponsored by the Bureau of Jewish Education, so that she can return with all kinds of new music for us!

Feel free to come join us once a month for our Dor Hadash luncheon fundraiser. Last month we served hot borscht, potato perogi, drinks and dessert! Lunch is served at 12:30, at the end of Dor Hadash, so that families can leave school with a full stomach, and the school can benefit from your generosity. Everyone wins!

Thank you for supporting the 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,
December was a month of miracles for me. On the 7th I had surgery on my right hip and all went well. Thank you, toda raba to all of you for your prayers, cards, gifts, and donations to Ner Shalom in my honor. It is at such times that I realize we live by the grace of community. By myself I would not have made it. Please let us know when you and your family are going through difficult times. Call or email the office. I want to be there for you as you were there for me.

The Chanukah Party at Ner Shalom was another grand success. Thank you Pam Pepper and your crew for your latkes and your abiding love of our community. May the light of the Chanukah candles continue to warm our hearts and show us truth. By the time you are reading this in late January/early February, the days will clearly be longer and the promise of spring will be clear.

Invitation to a Meeting of our Tribe
Hosted by the Board of Congregation Ner Shalom
Sunday, February 12
Members of Congregation Ner Shalom, are invited to gather for an
All-Congregational Meeting. PLEASE attend if you are a member.

12:30 pm Lunch HOME-COOKED by the angels of Dor Hadash (Profits support Dor Hadash) $7 each: pre-order to insure we have the right amount (Pre-order NOT required but help us out on this one for extra mazel). Call 664- 8622 or email the office by Friday Feb 10. nershalom@sonic. net

1 - 3 PM GENERAL MEETING of our Tribe
Childcare will be available. Please call the office to sign-up.
Our Dor Hadash graduates will be paid. Donations to defer costs gratefully appreciated.

We will review our history, look at our present state of the synagogue and discuss the possibilities for our future.

And we could even have a good time.

Nu? What's not to love?

From all of us on the Board

B'Shalom,
Ariana Elster, President Ner Shalom

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 - Claire Mac Elroy 878-2572
e-mail: macelroy_home@sbcglobal.net

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

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

Finance - Claire Mac Elroy 878-2572
e-mail: macelroy_home@sbcglobal.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

Bureau of Jewish Education's Feast of Jewish Learning comes to Sonoma County!
Sunday, March 5th, 1:30 – 5:00 pm
Join the Jewish Community Agency and the entire Sonoma County Jewish community as we gather at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (East wing, at Sonoma Academy) to explore the theme of "Provocative Jewish Voices." This Sonoma County Day of Jewish Unity promises to stimulate your mind and soul as you study and schmooze with each other and fascinating teachers. Classes will represent a spectrum of Jewish perspectives and will be fun for the whole family. Event is FREE and everyone is invited! For more information, please contact Barbara Tobin at (707) 526-5538 or email barbarat@jcage ncy.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.

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
Q: I would like to start a book club, with a Jewish slant. Are there resources you can suggest?

A: We are book lovers too! Whether your club is interested in Jewish mysteries, Holocaust-related literature, or children's books, we can offer pointers for discussions, including outstanding websites. We can provide your groups with reading guides to Jewish books. We can tell you about Book Club (and Film Club) in a Box, which provides all that you need for a lively discussion, including the books and a one- time facilitator. And if you want to know what's Jewish about Harry Potter, contact Jewish Community Information and Referral (415) 777-4545 or local toll-free (877) 777-5247 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 website www.JewishNfo.org

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 February 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.