november 2006 ~ cheshvan - kislev 5767

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

Chevre and Friends...

Announcements:

Chanting Service ~ Saturday, Nov. 4 10 am - noon
According to Rabbi Shefa Gold, "Chanting is a practice of receptivity and generosity."
Come open your hearts through chanting sacred phrases from the Torah and cultivate the ability to be present through the practice of chant.
These exploratory journeys will be co-facilitated by Rabbi Elisheva Salomo and Ellen Solot.

Seniors At Home, a program with Jewish Family and Children's Services is offering a new service to Jewish Seniors. This new program is offering free rides to Jewish Seniors to doctors appointments, to the grocery store and Jewish community activities. Please phone 571-8131.

From the Rebbe

Dear Hevre,
Thank you so much for such a lovely holiday season. I know our prayers soared above Cotati, and our spirit lit many flames of Hesed. One of the lovely things about celebrating at Ner Shalom is that we have been doing so together for a long time - some people for more than 25 years! Part of that joy is connected to our being familiar and comfortable with each other and with the prayers. I noticed over the High Holidays that many of our holy congregation are still not entirely familiar with the 'choreography' of reading and blessing the Torah, so I thought a brief reminder might be of assistance, so we can all approach the Torah with confidence and pride.
Traditionally you are called up to the Torah by your Hebrew name. That's the name you were given at your bris or naming, and the names of your parents. So, for instance, I am called to the Torah as Elisheva bat (daughter of) Rifka v'Daveed. In Orthodox synagogues, the mother's name is not included (although prayers for healing use only the mother's name). You come to the bima speedily, to convey your eagerness to be near the Torah. Generally, you stand on the right side of the Torah as it is facing you - that is the Beresheet, or Genesis roller of the scroll, not the Deuteronomy one. This symbolizes the renewed relationship you have with the text each time you ascend. Ascend? Even though our bima is at floor level? Yes, for making a blessing over the Torah is called an 'aliyah', which means 'to go up'. It's also the word used for immigrating to Israel.

Once you are there, the reader (whose job it is to read, not to bless!) will show you where to kiss the Torah - at the start of the portion that she or he is about to read. You touch that place with your tzitzit (the fringes on your tallit), and then kiss them. Then you can hold the wooden scroll (etz Haim) while you say the BarHu. Just like the call to worship in the main prayer service, you invite people, they respond, and then you repeat their response before making the big blessing.

The Reconstructionist blessings over the Torah are DIFFERENT than the ones that everyone else says. Traditionally, the blessing says 'asher baHar banu mikol ha'amim venatan lanu et torato' instead of 'asher kervanu la'avodato venatan lanu et torato'. The traditional version means 'who has chosen us from among the nations, and given us the Torah'. We avoid using language that might offend people who are not Jewish. Even if that's not our kavanna, or intention, other people might feel excluded!

After your blessing, the reader reads. Feel free to follow along and look at the beautiful script of the Torah. At the end of the reading, the reader will show you where to kiss again, and you roll the scroll closed for the final blessings, since we have finished with it and want to protect is as much as possible. Some people like to lift the scroll a bit as they say 'noten haTorah'.

After the blessing it is customary to shake hands or give hugs all around, and to wait until the next blessers have finished before returning to your seat. Some people even go backward (slowly) so as to always face the Torah, as well as to indicate their reluctance to leave her. The great thing is that you can always come up on another occasion. I hope this helps to clarify for everyone, and I look forward to blessing each one of you at the bima in this new year.

L'Shalom, Elisheva

Gifts of Light

MEMORIAL DONATIONS...
EVELYN SACKLER, a donation in memory of Irving Anshen and Joseph Hanson
ALAN ZIFF, a donation in memory of Sam Ziff
HELENE STEINLAUF-NORWITT, a donation in memory of Jacob Steinlauf

THANK YOU TO...
ELLYN & WAYNE LAZAR and RICHARD & JUDY TOYFOYA, for sponsoring the Oct. 6th Oneg
JACK FENDER, for replacing light bulbs throughout the synagogue
ARIANA ELSTER, a donation in honor of the new Board

News from Dor Hadash

Dear Chevre,
I hope that many of you were able to enjoy the beautiful sukkah that the Dor Hadash students and family members made on October 8. Thank you to Daniel Levy for erecting the structure with the help of the madrichim and for teaching us about the holiday. Thank to John Maas who played the keyboard for us and taught a new song about peace. And thank you to everyone who brought fruit to make the delicious fruit salad. It was a memorable day.

The film class is in full swing. The Jewish Federation has been kind enough to give us the grant which helps to fund this program. The class meets with Rabbi Elisheva for 2 hours and is open to any high school student who would like to participate.

We have begun a Madrichim/Leadership Training Program, funded by the Bureau of Jewish Education. I enjoyed meeting with confirmation students Joelle, Tyler, Rebecca and Leora to discuss the responsibilities of being a role model to the younger students at Dor Hadash, and how best to help out in the classroom. We will be meeting 4 more times during the year, and all confirmation students are welcome. Each student received a manual which poses challenging ethical questions and gives guidance related to being a madrich (guide or aide).

November 12 is a Teacher Training Event taking place at the JCCSF in the afternoon. Teachers who are participating will leave immediately after school. All madrichim are encouraged to participate in their own Teen Program.

Dor Hadash is scheduled to meet November 5, 12(entire school) and 19(entire school). We will not meet during the Thanksgiving holiday.

The 6th and 7th grade students are leading a food drive to collect canned foods for the Redwood Food Bank. Please help your children remember to bring contributions in the form of non-perishable foods to Dor Hadash. This will continue through the month of November.

We appreciate every person’s participation. Without each of you, our school cannot live up to its potential.

Peace, Shalom, Salaam,
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

Dor Hadash is supported by our community, and by a generous grant from Sinai Memorial Chapel.

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 Anna can provide you.

Raley's users just need to obtain a Raley's partner's card from Anna 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 Anna Ghandour a call at 584- 4829 or e-mail her at huskyanna@yahoo.com and let her help you make a difference today.

Board News

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

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

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

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

Steve Rotstein 795-7894
e-mail: stevenroy@sbcglobal.net

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

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

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

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

Building and Maintenance - Jack Fender 588- 8824
e-mail: fenderola@yahoo.com

Newsletter - Pamela Pepper 588-8824
e-mail: p.pepper@yahoo.com

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

High Holiday Thank-You

As we end our Days of Awe for 5767, I would like to thank the all the folks who helped make our High Holy Days special. As you can see by this large list of volunteers and their jobs, it takes many people doing a variety of tasks to make it all flow smoothly. (If I have inadvertently left you off, or forgot to mention all the ways you helped, please forgive me!)
After 4 years of being the Coordinator, I am going to be giving someone else the opportunity to lead the effort next year. Please consider if you would be willing to perform this mitzvah for the community. With so many folks willing to help, it’s not a difficult job!

Rabbi Elisheva Salamo, for leading us with thoughtfulness, beauty, and warmth.

Ariana Elster, for opening and closing for each service, organizing the greeters and sitting at the greeting table through many services, donating the many challot and honey, and helping with set-up and clean-up at all the food events.

Carol Vanek, for helping create the High Holy Day ad book and organizing all the reservations.

Myrna Rogoff, for preparing the food for the Children’s Services, being a panelist during Rosh Hashana, being a greeter, and helping with the Break- the-Fast Pot-Luck set-up.

Marvin Rogoff, for organizing the Torah readers and Rosh Hashana panel, and being a greeter.

Ellen Solot, for shopping for the Children’s Services snacks, for helping clean up the Break-the- Fast Pot-Luck, and being a greeter.

Amy Levine-Koman, for helping create the High Holy Day ad book and the High Holy Day brochure.

Richard Koman, for helping create the High Holy Day brochure, and being a greeter.

Leslie Gattmann, for organizing the Children’s Services.

Karen Mitchell, for leading the Children’s Services.

Pam Pepper, for organizing the Food Donation Drive.

Helene Steinlauf-Norwitt, for Tashlich set-up and clean-up, and arranging with the Cotati Police to leave a police car out front.

Cass Smith, for leading the Security efforts.

Sally Churgel, for helping set up and clean up the Break-the-Fast Pot-Luck, being a greeter, and helping with the Rabbi’s Tish.

Shira Hadditt, for being a greeter, and helping set up and clean up the Break-the-Fast Pot- Luck.

Rozalia Dague, for helping set up and clean up the Break-the-Fast Pot-Luck, and helping with the Rabbi’s Tish.

George Triest, for pouring the champagne at Erev Rosh Hashana.

Margo Norman, for donating and arranging the flowers.

Mary Ann Malinak & Arthur Magnus, for donating the apples for Erev Rosh Hashana.

Will Rogers, for being a greeter.

Berrine DeCarmo, for being a greeter.

Robin Birdfeather, for general facility assistance.

John Barone, for helping with Security.

Dave Abramson, for helping with Security.

Elaine Greenwood, for helping set up the Break-the-Fast Pot-Luck.

Renee Kramer, for helping set up the Break- the-Fast Pot-Luck.

Carol Coleman, for helping with the Rabbi’s Tish and set up for the Break-the-Fast Pot-Luck.

Sue Cohen, for helping with the Rabbi’s Tish.

Ellyn Lazar, for helping with the Rabbi’s Tish.

Lily Coleman, for helping set up the Break- the-Fast Pot-Luck.

Izzy Green, being a panelist during Rosh Hashana.

Jack Fender for spending many hours putting up our beautiful lights on the outside of the synagogue.

Barbara Tobin, High Holy Day Volunteer Coordinator

Community Announcements

AN EVENING OF SACRED JEWISH MEDITATION RETREAT CHANT
SATURDAY NOV. 11th ~ 7:30-9:00 p.m
At Ner Shalom
This is your chance: Get the New CD "Live--Best of Jewish Meditation Retreat 2005" complete with chants, storytelling and song!
Suggested Donation $18.00--All proceeds from the evening go the JCC Jewish Meditation Retreat Scholarship Fund.
Dessert and Refreshments will follow.
Please R.S.V.P. to Sheila Katz Feiwell at Drkatzmeow@ pacbell.net so we know how many goodies to prepare!
IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE EVENING BUT WANT TO GET THE CD PLEASE JUST REPLY TO THIS EMAIL WITH THAT INFORMATION.
Save the Date:
JCC Jewish Meditation Retreat Dec. 15-17th, 2006!!
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OUTREACH!
If you are 55+ living outside of Santa Rosa, but still in Sonoma County, then something very exciting is happening for you right now!
The Friendship Circle of the Jewish Community Center, Sonoma County received a grant from the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, to develop and implement low-cost programs for those of us 55+ in the under-served smaller communities of Sonoma County. If you are looking for:
• A more active social life right in your home town area
• A way to get out and about on entertaining day trips (Broadway shows, Jewish Film Series, San Francisco Shopping Sprees)
• Organized card games (mahjong, pan, dominoes)
• Help with transportation, for fun & entertainment
• Exercise classes designed with you in mind
• Classes to take, a book club, and interesting speakers
Please, don’t hesitate! Call me today to join the Friendship Circle mailing list to get our monthly newsletter with all of the updated events. Also, please call me with your ideas! I’m here to make it all happen for you. You can reach me, Elly Cohen, Outreach Coordinator, Friendship Circle, at the Jewish Community Center, Sonoma County at (707) 528-1476 or by email at ellyc@jccsoco.org
website: www.jccsoco.org
I look forward to hearing from you soon.

2 Job Opportunities at Jewish Family and Children's Services. Please check the website for details. nershalom.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.

ASK JCI & R
Yours for the Asking:

Did you know....the following publications and educational guides are available to you free of charge (and if you want one for a friend, just ask for two, with our compliments)!

*Jewish calendar for the New Year 5767
*Resource, A Guide to Jewish Life in the Bay Area 2006
*JCIR Bookmark/Calendar 2005/2006
*The Whole Megillah--A Guide to Jewish adult activities in the Bay Area
*A Guide to Compensation and Restitution for Holocaust Survivors
Israel Information:
*An Insider’s Guide to Israel
*Out of the Closet and into the Streets of Tel Aviv (DVD)
*In Every Tongue: A Story of Eternity (DVD)
Family stuff:
*Resource book for planning a great Jewish summer
*Bridges/Issues and Information for Interfaith Families
*Alef Bet, the Letters, Language & Literature of the Jewish People
*Havdalah, how to
*Common Threads: the Fabrics of Jewish Life
*Heroes, Who Needs ‘Em
*Our Family Matters, Jewish Memory & Storytelling
*Rosh Hodesh, how to
*What we’re reading/People of the Book talk about Books
*Jewish Heroes activity book
*Kids and the Law: An A-to-Z Guide for Parents
*When you become 18: A survival guide for teenagers
Émigré information:
*Creating Success: Russian-English Guide to Financial Security
Senior information:
*Seniors and the Law: A Guide for Maturing Californians
*New Lifestyles, Area Guide to Senior Residences and Care Options
*Senior Alternatives: Informed Decisions

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

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.

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

2 Job Opportunities at Jewish Family and Children's Services. Please check the website for details. nershalom.org
See our website www.nershalom.org/news/JFCS for programs and classes listed for November 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 2:00 p.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.

Contact Information

email: p.pepper@yahoo.com
phone: (707)664-8622
web: http://www.nershalom.org