june 2007 ~ sivan -tammuz 5767

Chevre and Friends...

Announcements:

From the Rebbe

Dear Hevre,

Our time together has come to an end. We have built together, and we have laughed and cried together, your children have grown, some of us have moved on, all of us are older, wiser, different than when I wrote my first rabbi note to you in January of 1999. In that letter, I shared with you a piece of my personal theology. In this letter, I share with you my blessings. In the book of Deuteronomy, just as Moses is leaving, he too shares blessings (I know he goes off to die, though I am not planning on doing that so soon!). Then the people are left to find their way through the wilderness to the promised land, as I hope you will find your way out of the uncertainty and into security for the community. I base my blessing upon his:
May Ner Shalom live and not disperse, though few now be your numbers. Hear, O Lord the voice of the seeker and restore her to her spiritual home. Bless, O Lord, the substance of this people, and favor their undertakings. May your leadership make appropriate judgements and enhancing decisions for Ner Shalom. May your Torah go forth from your gates and welcome the stranger who enters. Let many young people come to read of Her. May friendships form and deepen amongst your members. May the community find its path, grow, thrive, and prosper. May your doorbolts be iron and copper, and your security last all your days.

Blessed of the Lord be this county with the bounty of dew from heaven, with the bounteous yield of the sun, and the bounteous crop of the moons; with the best from the ancient mountains, and the bounty of hills immemorial; with the bounty of earth and its fullness, and the favor of the Presence. Rejoice, O people, in your journeys, and in your homes. Invite your kin to share the joys of your success. May you teach your traditions to your sons and your blessing- ways to your daughters. May you all be sated with favor and full of the Lord's blessing. Thus may you dwell in safety, untroubled and happy, in a land of grain and wine, a community of warmth and caring, under heavens dripping dew.

For remember, G! d has put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life by loving the Lord your G!d, and holding fast to G!d. Choose life for yourself, your families, your community, by reaching out to all, so that the whole world may be bound up in the great fabric of life, interwoven, with still the chance to stop and listen as the nightingale sings. For thereby you shall long endure.

I'll end here as I began in my first article to you all, by sharing a wonderful prayer written by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, the founder of the Reconstructionist movement:

"Enable us, G-d, to behold meaning in the chaos of life about us and purpose in the chaos of life within us. Deliver us from the sense of futility in our strivings toward the light and truth. Give us strength to ride safely through the maelstrom of petty cares and anxieties. May we behold things in their proper proportions and see life in its wholeness and its holiness".

Amen. Selah. Farewell.

L'Shalom,
Elisheva

Gifts of Light

MEMORIAL DONATIONS...
PAUL & LORRAINE LICHTMAN, a donation in memory of David Spiegel
ARIANA ELSTER, a donation in memory of Hyman Elster
PAUL & LORRAINE LICHTMAN, a donation in memory of Dick Goodman
OFFERINGS...
MARGO MILLER & JERRY ELIASER, a donation to Dor Hadash in honor of Karen Mitchell for her many years of teaching mi dor la dor at Dor Hadash

THANK YOU TO...
TAMAR & WERNER BERG and ARIANA ELSTER, for sponsoring the May 4th Oneg

News from Dor Hadash

Dear Chevre,

We have just finished the 2006-2007 school year of Dor Hadash and, once again, I want to thank all the participants that have helped the school be successful. It has not been an easy year due to all the uncertainty, but the students did make great strides in their Hebrew learning and their appreciation of Judaism. Debbie Fass and I will be sharing the directorship of Dor Hadash for the 2007-2008 school year. Debbie is creative, dedicated, fluent in Hebrew and very knowledgeable about Israel and Jewish history. Debbie and her husband Daniel Levy lived on a Kibbutz in the Negev for 15 years, before coming to Sebastopol. They have 4 children, all of whom have helped out in the school at one time or another.

Irwin Keller, a parent of 2 of our students, Ari and Squid, has been a tremendous help this month preparing a grant that we have submitted to the Bureau of Jewish Education. We are hoping to develop a program that invites unaffiliated families with young children into the school for special holiday celebrations and professional storytellers. Irwin is also working on a grant to benefit our oldest students by bringing them into the community for a long-term tikkun olam project with Habitat for Humanity.

We have a lot to look forward to in the coming year. We encourage anyone who is part of the Ner Shalom community to come to our school and get involved. We can always use and appreciate help on Sunday mornings. And we always have tasty snacks.

Have a lovely and safe summer,
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...

Are your grocery purchases helping Ner Shalom? Every grocery store in the area, (except Trader Joe's) is a member of some program that benefits us. The cost to you is nothing-- but the benefits to Ner Shalom are great. If you don't know which program your store is connected with, ask at the store or contact Anna Ghandour. We all buy groceries - why not help the synagogue at the same time? Your friends and relatives can also sign up and name Ner Shalom as the beneficiary. We have or will be getting over $300 for the first four months of this year alone. If every member and their friends took a minute to sign up at their favorite store or on line, the money could be doubled!!!

Also, ask at your favorite merchants if they are part of the Community Smart program. You may reach COMMUNITYsmart at 568-4995 or go on-line to www.communitysmart.comand check out their merchant list before you make a purchase. Another painless way to raise money!

Yet another Albertson's change! Albertson's markets in Northern California have been purchased by Save Mart and they will soon no longer by accepting the Preferred Savings Card. Save Mart has their own program called S.M.A.R.T which pays up to 3% of every qualified dollar spent. Between April and August, Save Mart will be transitioning to the new program as they take over stores. I have requested the paperwork from Save Mart and will let you know when new cards are available. In the meantime, keep using your Preferred Cards until the transition is complete.

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.c om 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 are current. If you are not up to date, than Ner Shalom does not receive contributions from your eScrip transactions. You can also register your major credit cards so that qualified purchases on cards also raise money for the congregation. This is a secure site with an excellent track record.

eScrip also has an "Online Mall" which directs you to the homepage of participating merchants. Each merchant contributes a set percentage of purchases to Ner Shalom (Land's End 5%; Eddie Bauer 4%; Barnes and Nobel 3.5%; 1-800-Pet Meds 6% for example). It is just one extra step for you but think what you can contribute to Ner Shalom!

Check to be sure that your Safeway receipt says "Qualifying purchases have been accumulated towards eScrip." Then go to the eScrip web site and verify that Ner Shalom is registered as your school Just go on-line to www.eScrip.c om and check out "my escrip" to see what your expiration dates and card numbers are on their records.

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

Shalom and Blessings to All,
The Board of Directors,
Sally Churgel, Ariana Elster, Jack Fender, Richard Koman, Renee Kramer, Ellyn Lazar, Will Rogers, Steve Rotstein

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

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

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

Renee Kramer 823-9555
e-mail: reneek777@sbcglobal.net

Ellyn Lazar 838-4785
e-mail: emlazar@sbcglobal.net

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

Birthdays and Anniversaries ~ June

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
BARBARA LESCH-McCAFFRY ~ JUNE 14

Community Announcements

The Jewish Community Free Clinic is now accepting donations of toys and children's books. Please bring them to Ner Shalom and drop off in lobby. Or you may deliver them directly to the Jewish Free Clinic now located at Commerce Blvd. next door to the old Albertson's and across from Summit Bank.

JFCS RIDES hits the road to help seniors go to medical appointments, shopping, personal care appointments, and local community events.

Please check our website nershalom.org for more information.

OPEN YOUR HEART TO A WAITING CHILD
Sonoma County has a serious shortage of caring foster families.
Foster parents are needed for children and youth of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.
Please check our website nershalom.org for more information.

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

ASK JCI & R...

About the Bay Area's top ten Jewish sites

Welcoming visitors this summer? Here are ways to explore Jewish San Francisco:

*Feel: George Segal's the Survivor sculpture at the Lincoln Park, near the Legion of honor
*Pray in the new Jewish cable car and in magnificent synagogues
*See exhibits in the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Judah Magnes Museum and galleries displaying Jewish art
*View Architecture: the magnificent Haas
*Lilienthal House, a wonderful example of Victorian heritage with Jewish history
*Eat and drink at kosher restaurants and kosher wineries
*Experience a music, theater, film, or outdoor event
*Shop for Jewish books and gifts and art
*Read about the history of Jews of San Francisco
*Tour a kosher chocolate factory
*Be inspired by prominent early Jewish philanthropists

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.
Please check our website nershalom.org for more information.

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.

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