july 2006 ~ tammuz - av 5766

in this issue
-- Gifts of Light
-- News from Dor Hadash
-- eScrip and more...
-- Board News
-- Community Announcements
-- Etz Chaim ~Tree of Life
-- Jewish Family and Children's Services
-- Donations Make a Difference!
-- Newsletter Guidelines

Chevre and Friends...

Announcements:

Chevre and Friends...

Announcements:

RABBI ELISHEVA SALAMO is on sabbatical until September 1st. If you need to speak to a Rabbi with an urgent matter, you may phone Rabbi George Gittleman at Shomrei Torah at 578-5519.

Gifts of Light

MEMORIAL DONATIONS...
PAUL & LORRAINE LICHTMAN, a donation in memory of Dick Goodman and Harold Goodman
HELEN STEINLAUF-NORWITT, a donation in memory of Rachel Steinlauf
RENEE KRAMER, a donation in memory of Selma Kramer
OFFERINGS...
ROZALIA DAGUE, a donation to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
SHIRA HADDITT, a donation to the General Fund in honor of Ariana Elster’s work on the successful fundraiser

THANK YOU TO...
JERRY GREEN and RENEE KRAMER, for sponsoring the June 2nd Oneg
WERNER BERG, for leading Friday Night Services on June 2nd
SALLY CHURGEL and ANN & MARTIN HEDLUND, for sponsoring the June 16th Oneg

News from Dor Hadash

Have a wonderful, safe summer.
Dor Hadash column will resume in August.
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 need new tires or more for your vehicle? If you do, than check out the participating merchants in the eScrip (two are Big O Tires and Pep Boys) www.eScrip.com and Communitysmart (such as McLea's Tire) www.communitysmart.com programs. All it takes is having work done at one of these merchants and then when you go to pay for it present your Communitysmart card or use your credit/debit card linked with eScrip. Its so easy to make your vehicle safe and provide a donation to your community.
eScrip shoppers please make sure you keep your credit/debit cards up to date. Just go on-line to www.eScrip.com and check out "my escrip" to see what your expiration dates and card numbers are on their records.

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.

Board News

From the cowardice that shrinks from new truths,
From the laziness that is content with half- truths,
And from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,
O G-d of truth, deliver us.
-Rabbi Mordechai M. Kaplan
Rabbi Kaplan’s statement is timely and applicable to the situation at our synagogue today as we find ourselves dealing with some difficult issues. We have a shortage of people willing to take on leadership roles, our membership base is small, and finances are not meeting our current obligations. We are also in the process of renegotiating our land lease with the Jewish Community Free Clinic.

All of us who attended the June congregational meeting were engaged in tending to the housekeeping and spiritual needs of our community. Three new Board members were elected: Richard Koman, William Rogers, and Dan Williamson. We congratulate them for their wisdom and willingness to engage in the work of leading our congregation. Ari Kimiti, Anna Ghandour, and I will continue on as carryover members of the Board. Please feel welcome to contact any of us with issues regarding our community. While Anna will remain our Secretary and I will act as interim President, the office of President, Vice-President and Treasurer remain open. Please consider joining us if you have experience or would like to develop skills in administration or accounting. There is no better way to see that you too can be a productive Board member than by joining or even just attending Board meetings with no obligation whatsoever.

About our finances: I may have spoken too soon and wishfully when I said that because of our successful fundraiser we would end our fiscal year on June 30, in the black. The real truth is that we do not know for sure where we are financially because of the sudden loss of our long- time bookkeeper due to illness in December and the change of guard in Treasurer at the same time. We have struggled to make sure our bills and employees have been paid. We are now working on cleaning up the rest of the books to get us back on track with our own receivables (income) with a new bookkeeper, Debbie Fass. Based on the budget we passed last year and the decrease in income we have had due to our lack of billing (thank you to those who automatically send your obligations), we will most likely end the year with losses around 20,000 dollars. We hope that we can cover this with our current general reserve funds and replete some of those funds as our members meet their past obligations when our billing for dues and any remaining Dor Hadash obligations begin again. Please remember dues are an obligation as a member of our community whether you physically receive a bill or not. Any questions about dues or donations may be addressed through Carol Vanek in our office 664-8622.

THANK YOU Anna Ghandour for taking over the leadership of our No-cost Fundraising. This is over and above her ongoing position on the Board as Secretary and heading the Personnel Committee and acknowledging your donations to our community. Todah Rabah is not enough. You are flying on angel status. THANK YOU, Nina Carson, Mark Cohen, Mollie Nagel, and Claire MacElroy for sitting on our Board of Directors for the past two years. Claire has earned angel status through her work with our finances for the past 6 months. Each of you has watered seeds of love and wisdom that have sprouted and support our community.

Jewish life is the heart of Ner Shalom. 85 La Plaza, Cotati, is our home. It is here that We come to study:

Torah Study every Saturday at 10am
Dor Hadash for children on Sundays, September thru May
We come to eat: Every 3rd Friday supper, songs, and blessings
Passover Seder, Purim, Hannukah, and Sukkot feasts
We come to dance: Klezmer and Israeli dancing organized by Qayima Rogers
We come to daven: 1st and 3rd Friday of every month
High Holy Days
B’nai Mitzvot on scheduled Shabbat Saturdays
We come to celebrate: Rosh Chodesh for women on the 1st eve of each new lunar month
Sukkot, Hannukah, Purim
We come to create justice: Building the Jewish Community Free Clinic
Annual Creek restoration work by the Dor Hadash students
Let’s do more

We come as a people whose genetic and spiritual ancestors allowed them to be led by a sustaining unified Divine power, a Love, a Spirit.

We come as people who choose to honor the One Divine Power within and without us.

In love,
Ariana

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

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

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

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

Richard Koman 887-0278
e-mail: rkoman@gmail.com

William Rogers 762-8645
e-mail: willrogers13@gmail.com

Dan Williamson 480-2235
e-mail: danrw@sonic.net

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

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

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

Building Maintenance - Dan Williamson 480- 2235
e-mail: danrw@sonic.net

No-Cost Fundraising - Anna Ghandour 584-4829
e-mail: huskyanna@yahoo.com

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 664-8603

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

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

Community Announcements

The Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust (ASH) & the SSU Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide are pleased to present
An Event Honoring Holocaust Survivors & Supporters of Holocaust Education
Sunday, Sept 17, 2006
3 to 5 p.m. - Congregation Ner Shalom
85 La Plaza in Cotati Please check out this website for more information:www.sonoma.edu/holocaust/ash/events
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: We are planning a vacation to far-flung areas. We enjoy connecting with Jewish communities. Where can I find out the names of synagogues, Jewish sightseeing, and Kosher restaurants?

A: For all you wandering Jews out there: Whether you are traveling for fun or business, relocating, or just plain curious, Jewish communities and synagogues exist everywhere, from Australia to Zurich. Call us and we will share capsule histories and demographics. We can connect you with synagogues, food, Kosher restaurants, and historic sites. Cruising? We can tell you about Kosher cruises. Surfing? We share websites for the world Jewish traveler. Please let us know if you would like a free "Insider’s Guide to the Israel experience."

For more information about connecting to Jewish life, call JCI & R at 415/777-4545 or local toll-free 877- 777-JCIR (5247)
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 at: www.JewishNfo.org or bayarea.planitjewish.com

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 July 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

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.