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SISTERHOODREVIEW

June 2016 Issue 10

EDITOR:

DEE DEE QUINN

InstallationTuesday, June 21Installation: 10:00 a.m. Brunch: 11:00 a.m.

1 Co-Presidents’ Greetings 2 Project Caring 2 Tributes 3 Installation 4 Sisterhood Classes 5 Birthdays & Anniversaries 7 Prayer Books 8 Reports from Women’s League PSW Conference13 Torah Fund Cards14 Project Outreach14 Rosh Hodesh Club15 Sisterhood Honey Fundraiser16 High Holiday Greeting Cards16 Torah Fund Luncheon Report17 Letter from the Editor18 Tentative Calendar

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Sinai Temple Sisterhood 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90024 (310) 474-‐1518

Co-Presidents’ Greetings: Dear Friends,

It has been our honor and privilege to have served as Sisterhood Co-Presidents for the past two years. As our term of office comes to an end on June 30th, we wish the incoming Co-Presidents, Flora Ahdout and Lisa Pompan, a hearty Mazal Tov and success in the coming year. We are certain that under their capable leadership our Sisterhood will thrive. Come celebrate Flora, Lisa and the Board of Directors at the Sisterhood Installation on Tuesday, June 21st. Details will be forthcoming.

We have been very fortunate to have had an amazing group of women as part of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. They have been instrumental in carrying out the mission of our Sisterhood. We supported Sinai Temple through our various donations throughout the fiscal year. We have furthered Jewish education by our support of Sinai Akiba Academy and the Religious School and by providing scholarships for Camp Ramah. The Torah Fund Campaign, which provides money for the education of future Conservative rabbis and cantors, was highly successful. We have done outreach to the community-at-large with our Project Caring and Project Outreach and donations to worthwhile groups in Los Angeles and Israel. We have encouraged learning, creativity and camaraderie with our monthly programs, Rosh Hodesh gatherings and offerings of classes. Our Sisterhood Shabbaton was spiritually uplifting and brought our members together as we shared Shabbat dinner and participated in services, concluding Shabbat with Havdalah and a Seudah Shlishit. Our Catering Committee catered fantastic life-cycle events for synagogue members. The Judaica Shop provided exquisite items for gifts and religious observances. We are extremely grateful to our Board and Executive Committee for all their hard work and dedication to Sisterhood.

On May 3rd, we had a well-received joint program with Men’s Club, ATID and JNet. A distinguished speaker, Jeffrey Bleich, discussed Cybersecurity and its implication in the modern world. It was very thought-provoking. On May 17th, we had a wonderful Donor Luncheon at the Olympic Collection, where everyone enjoyed entertainment by Cantor Marcus Feldman and Aryell Cohen, a delicious lunch in the company of friends, many prizes and auction items. We thank Jina Rezvanpour and Lili Shafai for chairing this event.

This is our last issue of the Sisterhood Review before a summer hiatus. You will be receiving a Membership letter during the summer. Please send in your dues promptly as this helps fund our many meaningful projects at Sinai Temple and in the community. Please support our other fundraisers throughout the summer: personalized New Year cards, the High Holiday Temple-wide greeting card from Sisterhood, and Honey jar sales for Rosh Hashanah. They will assist you in ushering in a beautiful New Year and you will receive Donor Credit when you participate in them.

We wish you an enjoyable and relaxing summer!

Michele Gabai and Clara Bruno

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PROJECT CARING

Join Sisterhood member, Beanie Polsky, in bringing cheer to residents at the Brentwood Health Care Center on Tuesdays, 2:30 to 3:30 PM. The next visit dates are:

May 24 June 14 June 28

The Center is located at: 1321 Franklin St., Santa Monica, CA 90404 New participants are invited to experience the incredible magic Music and connection makes for the patients. If you would like to participate, please contact Beanie at (310) 305-1912 or [email protected].

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Tributes – Speedy Recovery To: From: Vi Friedland Diane & Ovvie Miller Gabriella Nasch Lea & Alex Loewinger Ruth Pilot Linda & Bob Camras Dee Dee Quinn Linda & Bob Camras Hana Rosenbaum Dee & Arny Gooze Carole & Dick Greenberg Frances Katz

Mazal Tov

Abbe Barron Lea & Alex Loewinger Happy birthday Laura Dwoskin Lea & Alex Loewinger

For those who wish to honor someone with a tribute,

Call Carole Greenberg at (310) 476-8048

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SISTERHOOD CLASSES

BODY Sculpting for Women with Molly Basler. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. April 5 – June 28, 2016. No class April 19. Ms. Basler is a certified personal trainer with over 15 years of experience. This is a complete body conditioning/body sculpting class to help redefine your line and combines a light-weight workout for strength, cardio to burn fat and core exercises to tone your muscles. All levels are welcome. Cost is $175 for 12 weeks (24 sessions). Calligraphy with DeAnn Singh. 9 Mondays, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. April 18 – June 20, 2016. No class May 30 (Memorial Day). Cost is $175 per person. Ms. Singh is a renowned calligrapher who has been teaching on the Westside for over 30 years. Calligraphy is a wonderful skill for relaxation and brain activity stimulation. It’s a useful craft for addressing envelopes and making cards. This quarter we will be making books with blackletter styles. We will also learn to carve stamps from rubber erasers to use as illustrations in our books. A very fun and active class! Open to beginning and intermediate students. Materials may be purchased during first class. Look for list at DeAnnSinghCalligraphy.blogspot.com. Class is limited to 18 students. Registrations accepted on a first come, first served basis. Cost is $175. More Adventures in Watercolor--Landscape with Ande Chen. 8 Tuesdays, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. April 19 – June 14, 2016. Cost is $120 plus a $15 materials fee payable to instructor at first class. Butterflies and fish, flower bouquets inspired by Redon. Students will be asked to provide own supplies and watercolor paper for each class, except for Yupo paper provided by Ande. Intermediate and advanced students only. Class is limited to 18 students. $120 plus $15 materials fee payable to Ande at first class. NEW CLASS: Mah Jongg with Joyce McShane. 8 Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. May 11 to June 29, 2016. Mah Jongg is a fascinating game enjoyed by young, old, and couples. Joyce McShane has been teaching for over 15 years on the Westside including The Learning Annex, Brentwood and Wilshire Country Clubs, Tea Garden, Zen Emporium and Roxbury Park and has won many tournaments. Class is limited to 8 students. Cost is $150 payable to Sisterhood plus $8 for a Mah Jongg card payable to Ms. McShane. To register for the above classes, please contact Rosa Berman Ruder at (310) 557-1009 or [email protected]. Midrash and Merlot with Rabbi Nicole Guzik. 5 Thursdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m. May 12, 19, 26 and June 2 and 9, 2016. This class will focus on intimate, in-depth study for each portion in the Book of Genesis, taking a careful look at character analysis and metaphors in the Bible. There is a minimum requirement of 8 attendees for this class to begin, so please be sure to register in advance! Free for Sinai Temple Members and Sisterhood members and $25/class (or $125 for all 5 classes) for non-members. Co-sponsored by Sisterhood, Dor Chadash and ATID. Register online at www.sinaitemple.org or contact Rebeka Small, Program Director at (310) 481-3243 or [email protected].

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Carla Loebman 6/4 Roslyn & Allan Swartz 6/2Marilyn Goldman 6/6 Sally & Jon Greenfield 6/3Sara Aftergood 6/7 Paulette & Joseph Lubin 6/6Sharon Jacobson 6/8 Jacqueline & Marshall Lerner 6/8Sarah Shokrian 6/9 Sheree & Preston Gould 6/9Ruth Fiske 6/13 Bella & Sol Liber 6/14Tommie Shulman 6/13 Yael & Joseph Daee 6/15Victoria Shemaria 6/15 Isabel & Milo Mandel 6/15Dorothy Salkin 6/16 Ruth & Daniel Merritt 6/15Cherie Fensten 6/17 Ronna & Richard Shpall 6/16Shirley Bilfield 6/18 Mahnaz & Kambiz Hekmat 6/17Sheila Hyman 6/18 Sara & David Aftergood 6/18Marilyn Kram 6/19 Clara & Roman Bruno 6/18Doris Michaels 6/25 Sylvia & Charles Weiner 6/18Marilyn Stern 6/26 Barbara & Jack Berman 6/20Selma Kamon 6/29 Julie & Andy Feig 6/21

Betsy & Sanford Weinstein 6/22Deborah & Joel Weinstein 6/23Joan & Irving S. White 6/24Jessica & Jason Fruithandler 6/25Joyce & Jerry Monkarsh 6/25Marcy & Frank Melton 6/27Etty & Claude Arnall 6/29Danielle & Marcus Kassin 6/29Elaine & Gordon Berman 6/30Ilene & Gerry Sraberg 6/30

June Birthdays June Anniversaries

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Beverly Goldner 7/2 Revytal & Simon Barlava 7/1Dolly Weisserman 7/3 Jacqueline & Raphael Nach 7/1Debbie Farahnik 7/4 Julie & Marc Platt 7/1Brina Rosenbaum 7/4 Karen & Martin Neumann 7/2Elaine Abramson 7/6 Myrna & Howard Singer 7/3Florence Bernstein 7/6 Sheila & Milton Hyman 7/4Bella Liber 7/7 Barbara & Peter Rothholz 7/4Louise Wechsler 7/7 Beanie & Stan Polsky 7/5Lee Hahn 7/8 Anna & Michael Nazarian 7/6Karen Fishel 7/9 Angela & Ben Cohan 7/7Flora Ahdout 7/12 Judy & Jerry Rosenberg 7/8Annette Lutwak 7/13 Gerry & Jack Weichman 7/9Julie Platt 7/15 Shireen & Adam Zacharius 7/16Ada Leff 7/16 Charlotte & Thomas Lane 7/20Karen Neumann 7/17 Sunny & Larry Russ 7/25Hellen Shabatian 7/17 Linda & Robert Camras 7/26Avid Shooshani 7/17 Lee & William Hahn 7/29Genia Varsha 7/17 Donna & Harvey Rosen 7/31Judith Richman 7/18Judith Fischer 7/19Sally Mark 7/19Elaine Holiday 7/20Elaine Goralnick 7/25Paulette Lubin 7/25Hedy Magna 7/25Phyllis Poplawski 7/26Roxenne Serber 7/26Lili Shafai 7/27Engelina Billauer 7/29Roslyn Goldstine 7/29

July Birthdays July Anniversaries

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Carol Muchin 8/1 Gail & Kenneth Nussen 8/5Ethel Siegal 8/2 Siona & Elie Alyeshmerni 8/6Shana Kharrazi 8/9 Barbara & Milton Moritz 8/6Mahin Bina 8/10 Joyce Schneir 8/7Dorothy Goren 8/10 Abby & Ira Friedman 8/11Ellen Guzik 8/10 Rachelle & Edwin Marcus 8/11Betsy Weinstein 8/11 Stephanie & Daniel Ginzburg 8/13Rosa Berman-Ruder 8/12 Marjorie & Jeffrey Sayers 8/14Sonia Morriss 8/12 Ann & Martin Mitnick 8/14Revytal Barlava 8/14 Libby & Joe Murez 8/16Ruth Merritt 8/20 Judy & Irwin (Chip) Chasalow 8/18Judith Chasalow 8/21 Monica & Mark Haloossim 8/18Hana Rosenbaum 8/22 Annette & Sol Lutwak 8/18Mildred Baker 8/24 Deborah & Howard Brandes 8/20Lisa Pompan 8/24 Debra & Robert Kasirer 8/21Phyllis Fries 8/26 Sheila & Aaron Leibovic 8/21Sima Lalezari 8/27 Francine & Myles Weiss 8/25Charlotte Kamenir 8/28 Cindi & Jeff Hausheer 8/27Diane Miller 8/28 Carole & Richard Greenberg 8/28Phyllis Reicher 8/29 Mojgan & Enayat Mirharooni 8/28Eleanor Slivkin 8/29 Mira & Abe Shaard 8/28

Estelle & Sanford Silberman 8/28Joyce & Leonard Wilstein 8/28Roya & Soheil Hekmat 8/29Adele & Stanley Stogel 8/31

August Birthdays August Anniversaries

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PRAYER BOOKS In memory of Neil Anthony Lapidus 1 book from Elaine Goralnick 2 books from Diane Rosen

To purchase a prayer book, contact Jessica Sacher at [email protected] or at (310) 454-4764

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OVERVIEW OF THE WOMEN’S LEAGUE PSW REGION

CONFERENCE / RETREAT Submitted by Clara Bruno

The 69th Annual Pacific Southwest Region of Women’s League Conference / Retreat took place on Sunday and Monday, April 3 and 4, 2016 at the Hilton Irvine Hotel. Over 120 women, representing Sisterhoods from Southern California, Las Vegas, Colorado and Texas, attended the Conference to learn, discuss and share ideas. We are proud that the Conference / Retreat Co-Vice Presidents were Jina Rezvanpour and Rachelle Marcus from our own Sisterhood. They and their committee did a wonderful job of arranging the workshops, plenaries, entertainment, and meals which made the Conference / Retreat a worthwhile and fun experience for everyone. We had 12 delegates from our Sisterhood attending. You will read some of their reports on workshops and plenaries in this issue of the Review. Besides the workshops on membership, fundraising, programs, Torah Fund, and presidents (incoming and outgoing), there were sessions on exercise, Jewish meditation and creative Judaic arts for self-improvement. Our own Rabbi Nicole Guzik conducted a Torah Study session with audience participation after Monday morning breakfast. It was very well received. There was also entertainment by the “Rolling Steins”, Sunday evening, which gladdened our hearts with music and songs. Sunda Croonquist, a comedian, told jokes and funny stories on Monday night, after dinner. Early Monday morning, we had a Shaharit prayer service conducted exclusively by women! Watch for information and dates for next year’s Conference and/or Retreat. We encourage you to attend. It will be good for you, physically, mentally and spiritually.

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OPENING PLENARY Submitted by Michele Gabai

The opening plenary session of this year’s Women’s League Pacific Southwest Region Spring Conference Retreat focused on the topic “Beyond Suspicion: Jews and Muslims Together.” Panelists included Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, a professor and the Religious Director of the Islamic Society Orange County and Professor Reuven Firestone, a Rabbi and Regenstein Professor in Medieval Judaism and Islam at Hebrew Union College, Los Angeles. Rabbi Aryeh Cohen, a professor of Rabbinic Literature at the American Jewish University, moderated the session. He ably filled in for Rabbi Elliot Dorf, the scheduled moderator, who had to attend a funeral.

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The two panelists had backgrounds and education that uniquely qualified them to discuss the issues involved in Jewish -- Muslim relations. Dr. Siddiqi received his Islamic education from the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow, India. He graduated from the Islamic University of Medina in Saudi Arabia with a higher degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He holds an M.A. in Theology from Birmingham University in England and a Ph.D. in Comparative Religion from Harvard University. Professor Firestone was educated at Antioch College, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Hebrew Union College where he was ordained in 1982. He received a Ph.D. in Arabic and Islamic Studies from New York University. He was awarded the Yad Hanadiv Research Fellowship at Hebrew University to study holy war in the Islamic tradition and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities for his research on holy war in Judaism. He also received the Fulbright CASA III Fellowship for study and research at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

Pointing out that Jews and Muslims have lived together for 1,500 years, Dr. Siddiqi spoke of the many similarities of Judaism and Islam, highlighting the concept of one G-d, prophets and an Islamic statement of faith that is similar to the Sh’ma and is similarly said multiple times a day. Dr. Siddiqi, who was born in India, also spoke about Islamophobia and how 6,000 Imams and scholars in India declared war on groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram, who commit “un-Islamic” acts in the name of Islam. He additionally mentioned “Children of Abraham: Jews and Muslims in Conversation,” which is a curriculum for Jewish and Islamic schools.

Professor Firestone spoke about religion as a means of motivating large numbers of people to do both good and bad. He spoke about the importance of engaging with people of other religions and humanizing the other. He mentioned a video available on-line -- “Two Faiths, One Prayer” – that talks about the similarities of the two religions.

The session was a most thought-provoking beginning to the Conference Retreat.

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WORKSHOP FOR INCOMING PRESIDENTS Submitted by Flora Ahdout and Lisa Pompan

Together Flora Ahdout and Lisa Pompan attended, on Sunday morning, the workshop for Incoming Sisterhood Presidents, which was run by Past Region President Renee Ravich and current Region President Brenda Katz. The workshop included a review of “Ongoing Responsibilities, How to be a (Good) President,” as well as an overview on the recently revamped Women’s League website (www.wlcj.org). Additionally, there was time for a Question-and-Answer portion. It was interesting to learn of the many mutual challenges and opportunities shared among the individual Sisterhoods. Much was learned and new friends made.

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“MOMENTS WITH THE MAVENS” WORKSHOP

Submitted by Fran Stengel

The Monday morning workshop, “Moments with the Mavens”, was the opportunity for Conference attendees to meet with three Past Presidents of PSW Region of Women’s League: Roslyn Goldstine (Sinai Temple), Eve Wechsberg (Ner Tamid, South Bay) and Iris Lasky (Temple Ramat Zion, Northridge). It was moderated by Fran Stengel (Past President of Sinai Temple Sisterhood). The workshop was designed to be informal and informative. Everyone sat in a circle and discussed issues and dilemmas that the Past Presidents had encountered during their term in office:

1) The issue of attendance at individual Sisterhood meetings and events.

2) How some Sisterhoods have evening meetings featuring fun activities as well as more serious discussions.

3) Retaining and attracting young members -- the difficulties of reaching out to

working women; those with young children and those involved in the children’s school activities rather than Sisterhood.

The “reviews” from this workshop were very, very positive. Everyone enjoyed the

discussion and the sharing of ideas.

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MEMBERSHIP WORKSHOP Submitted by Rosa Berman Ruder,

Region Sisterhood Support V.P.

Area Directors Melanie Greenberg and Maxine Silverberg and I led this workshop where we covered “Outreach to New Members,” “Calling on Past Members,” and “Turning Existing Members into Workers and Leaders.” The 16 members in attendance introduced themselves and briefly answered two questions: why they joined Sisterhood and what keeps them involved. Most women said the friends they made in Sisterhood is what keeps them involved. The membership team should consist of several people, including the Sisterhood President and the Membership V.P. However, everyone in Sisterhood is part of the team and can act as welcoming ambassadors to new members and help with the retention of members.

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Attracting new members: To expand membership, target the groups

you want to reach, young women (preschool moms), people who are experiencing life changes such as change of career, retirement, and widowhood. People join when it is the right time for them. Someone who has said “no” before may be in a different place now and may say “yes.”

Put together a team of active Sisterhood members to meet with these women on a one-to-one basis. Ask them to go for coffee. Be positive, honest and have good listening skills. The WL website provides a list of “excuse busters” that can be used to counter arguments for not joining at this particular time.

Have a small event such as a wine and cheese gathering at a lovely home where Sisterhood members tell potential new members what Sisterhood is about. People feel good being part of a select few and this gives them a chance with socialize and meet new people.

Offer free membership to new groups of people such as preschool moms and b’nai mitzvah moms.

Welcoming new members. (1) Get them involved little by little. Now that your goal is set and you

have “listened” to the women you have met with, you can ask them to volunteer for small jobs, such as do centerpieces, or write an article, or sit at the check-in table for an event. Give them a successful “taste” of volunteering and they will be more likely to do it again. The next step is to share that info with the appropriate officer or committee chair and follow up to make sure the people have been contacted.

(2) Membership events. At a large Membership luncheon, make sure your registration person or greeters have big smiles! Use “buddies,” “ice breakers,” and make sure first-timers are invited to a table.

Membership Retention. Communication is paramount, and there is nothing like a phone call to someone who has not come to Sisterhood events in a long time to find out how they are doing. Maybe they just forgot to send in their membership dues. For the most part, people respond favorably when they are remembered by their Sisterhood friends.

Online billing may be particularly attractive to the younger crowd, as they are used to conducting business that way.

Current members need love too, and they are the best source for volunteers and leadership. Get potential women to do one thing and make sure they are properly supported and trained. See how it goes. If they liked it and did a good job, ask them to do something else. Also, be a good “reader” of people.



How to get more out of each woman: One on one. Talk to them and

let them know how important they are. Develop people over time. Let them know you want them, that they would enjoy doing something. Make sure your Sisterhood is a welcoming place, as well as your Board meetings, so anyone would enjoy being on your Board. Change starts at the top. Set the example for your Sisterhood. Wipe out negativity with a permanent eraser!

There is a wealth of materials at the WL WEBSITE, wlcj.org to help you with Sisterhood business, programs, d’vrei Torah and events. You can access many member services without logging in. To download materials, you can log in with your email address and a password you choose. For Region information, visit our website: wlcj.net/psw.

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REPORT ON THE CLOSING PLENARY Submitted by Clara Bruno

On Monday afternoon, the Closing Plenary, entitled “The Propaganda War

Against Israel”, was presented by Roz Rothstein, Co-Founder and CEO of StandWithUs. Based in Los Angeles, StandWithUs has 19 offices across the United States, Israel

and the United Kingdom (UK). The organization was started in May, 2001, when a group of people got together to explain the situation from Israel’s point of view. StandWithUs provides education, materials, speakers, and programs that help inform young adults about Israel’s challenges and achievements. Their goal is to educate people about the facts of Israel in the Middle East.

Roz talked about BDS which stands for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

against Israel. Roz feels strongly that BDS is a form of Anti-Semitism, trying to do the 3 D’s: Demonization, Delegitimization and Double Standard in the United Nations. Those promoting BDS make Israel appear as an evil country. With the many wars and conflicts in countries around the world, Israel is singled out and picked on. BDS has groups in colleges across the United States. StandWithUs focus has been to college campuses, but now they are going to high schools and middle schools to provide information to students so that they are prepared to answer when confronted by lies and falsehoods about Israel.

Roz urged us to write letters to the editors to the Los Angeles Times or other

newspapers to correct headlines or articles against Israel. Eventually, the letters will be printed. She also showed brief videos of what they try to do to help educate people.

Booklets produced by StandWithUs were displayed and distributed at this session.

Some examples are: West Bank - Settlements, Communities and Facts on the Ground, Human



Rights in the Middle East - Know the Facts, The Hamas Charter - an Oppressive Doctrine that Promotes Terrorism and a new booklet, Israel Timeline - Celebrating Over 3,000 Years. You can order these booklets at www.standwithus.com or call (310) 836-6140.

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BOOK REVIEW – SUNDAY MORNING WORKSHOP Submitted by Edie Nitzberg

This workshop was run by Rabbi Aryeh Cohen who was a last-minute substitute

for Rabbi Elliot Dorff who had to go to Philadelphia for a funeral. Rabbi Cohen has been a professor of Rabbinic Literature at AJU since 1995.

Rabbi Dorf was going to talk about his latest book and have copies for sale.

Obviously, Rabbi Cohen could not do that as he had not yet read the book. He talked about his most recent book, Justice in the City, but he did not have books to bring. He told us it was available on Amazon.

The premise of the book is that the city or town or village is a community of

obligations. The city has a responsibility to the stranger. He must be given two meals a day, three on Shabbat, and a place to sleep. Geographic boundaries are not boundaries of responsibility; perhaps the city is the whole world. When we see something wrong, we must protest. Silence is acquiescence.

He also spoke of Restorative Justice. He talked about the Jubilee Year in Judaism

when property is supposed to be returned to its original owner. He admitted he does not know how it worked or if it was actually practiced in Biblical times but it would make everyone feel like a worthwhile member of society.

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TORAH FUND CARDS Torah Fund cards for all occasions are for sale for $5 per card or 5 cards for $20. Keep them on hand to send. They support education for Rabbis and teachers at the AJU and Jewish Theological Seminary.

Torah Fund Card Chairman: Elaine Lotwin 310-271-5554

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PROJECT OUTREACH Sisterhood would like to thank the following people who volunteered to deliver food and supplies for Project Outreach before Passover on Thursday, April 14th, to sick and elderly people whose names are provided to us by Jewish Family Service. We also thank Project Outreach Co-Chairs Sandy Croll and Estelle Ashkenazi who purchased and packed the food and supplies with the money we raise at our monthly program luncheons and through your donations. Our volunteers on April 14th: Sara Aftergood Edie Nitzberg Estelle Ashkenazi Gail Nussen Clara Bruno Lisa Pompan Linda Camras (plus one friend) Brina Rosenbaum Sandy Croll (plus 2 friends) Rosa Berman Ruder Michele Gabai Alexandra Smothers Sheree Gould Fran Stengel Golda Mendelsohn Gabriella Nasch Call Lisa Pompan at (310) 837-6070 or email at [email protected] if you wish to participate. Next delivery will be in September before Rosh Hashanah. You will bring a ray of sunshine to lonely people and you will feel better for it.

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ROSH HODESH CLUB

The Club had a very successful year of nine get-togethers and is looking forward to starting again. The first get-together of the new year, to celebrate the month of Elul, will be on September 1st. It will be the annual Rosh Hodesh Al Fresco. Flyers will go out the beginning of August. If you are a member of the group and have e-mail, it will come that way. If you are a member and don’t have e-mail, yours will come by snail mail. If you are not a member of the group and would like to participate, call Edie Nitzberg at (310) 471-0886 and let her know. Have a wonderful summer!

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HONEY FUNDRAISER

What better What better What better What better

way to wish way to wish way to wish way to wish family, friendsfamily, friendsfamily, friendsfamily, friends

and business and business and business and business associates a associates a associates a associates a

“Sweet and “Sweet and “Sweet and “Sweet and Healthy New Healthy New Healthy New Healthy New

Year” than Year” than Year” than Year” than sending a jar sending a jar sending a jar sending a jar

of honey?of honey?of honey?of honey?

For more information please contact:

Rachelle Marcus 310.550.5884

[email protected] or

Ronna Shpall 310-801-4295

2 donor credits per jar

No limit

SINAI TEMPLE SISTERHOOD

This 8-ounce jar of delicious

kosher honey arrives in time for

the Rosh Hashanah holiday, decorated with a colorful label,

and includes a personalized card reading “L’Shana Tova—Wishing

you a Healthy and Happy New

Year”. This card also lets the recipients know that a donation

has been made in their honor to

Sinai Temple Sisterhood

Your cost is $11$11$11$11.00 per jar .00 per jar .00 per jar .00 per jar which includes

shipping and handling within the United States. We will gladly mail orders outside the United

States for an additional fee. To order honey go to www.sinaitemple.orgwww.sinaitemple.orgwww.sinaitemple.orgwww.sinaitemple.org click the honey link and

follow the step-by-step instructions.

Order by Order by Order by Order by JulyJulyJulyJuly 29 29 29 29 thththth, , , , 2012012012016666

to avoid a $to avoid a $to avoid a $to avoid a $4.004.004.004.00 per jar shipping fee. per jar shipping fee. per jar shipping fee. per jar shipping fee.



HIGH HOLIDAY GREETING CARDS

High Holiday Greeting Cards book will be arriving shortly. If you are interested in ordering personalized cards, please call me and then I will contact you when I receive the book.

Judi Hoffman (310) 476 4834

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TORAH FUND LUNCHEON REPORT

On March 15, 2016, approximately 131 women and men attended the Torah Fund Luncheon honoring Judy Begin and Nora Chaouli Rakow. People found the luncheon both enjoyable and meaningful. Carol Madvig, PSW Region Director for Torah Fund, brought greetings from the WLCJ and thanked Sinai Temple Sisterhood for its support of the WLCJ and the Torah Fund. Deborah Weinstein, Co-Vice President of Torah Fund, gave a short speech regarding the support Torah Fund provides to four conservative seminaries and the importance of donating to Torah Fund in order to provide needed financial assistance to rabbinical students and to ensure the future of Conservative Judaism as well as the future of Sinai Temple. Mehrzad Roshan, Co-Vice President of Torah Fund, spoke about the Women’s League’s special campaign called “She Plants a Seed for the Future.” The goal of this campaign is to raise $600,000 before the end of 2017 with half of the funds going to Ziegler for scholarships to rabbinical students during their year of study in Israel and half going to JTS for the refurbishment of the Women’s League Seminary Synagogue. She thanked the Men’s Club and Sisterhood for each of their donations to the Seeds Campaign in the amount of $1800. Rabbi Sherman then gave a D’var Torah reflecting on how funds he received from the Torah Fund benefited him when he was a rabbinical student. Everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch by Pat’s consisting of salmon and several wonderful salads. After lunch, Rabbi Wolpe gave very insightful and meaningful introductions of Nora and Judy. Each honoree was presented with a plaque in the shape of a flame in recognition of each one’s dedication to the Sisterhood, Sinai Temple and our community. Both Nora and Judy shared some of their thoughts with us and thanked the Sisterhood for honoring them. Pella, a Jewish a cappela group, provided lively and interactive entertainment, singing both Hebrew and English songs, with the theme of life cycles. Towards the end of the program, people were clapping and dancing. Mehrzad and Deborah are very grateful for the many generous donations to the Torah Fund in honor of Nora and Judy. With these donations, Sisterhood has more than met its fundraising goal of $35,000 plus it has raised an additional $3,600 for the Seeds Campaign. Mehrzad and Deborah thank everyone who donated to the 2015-2016 campaign and those who helped make the Torah Fund Luncheon a success. We could not have done it without your help. Deborah Weinstein and Mehrzad Roshan, Co-Vice Presidents of Torah Fun



LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Sisters,

Michael and I recently saw Cinderella (the musical, not the girl…you don’t have to worry about us quite yet). This version opened on Broadway in 2013 and came as part of

season tickets that we get each year to the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. Although it was an evening performance, there were lots of little girls there. And as far as I could tell, all of them came dressed up in their fancy princess dresses. I didn’t see any little boys, although I’m sure there were some in the audience as well. The staging, costumes, acting, and singing were all wonderful - we’ve found the shows there to be first rate across the board - and I’m sure I witnessed real magic because several times I saw costumes changed instantly before my very eyes. Of course, my eyes were perhaps a little less jaded that night, surrounded and influenced as I was by so many excited little princesses watching the show with their own wonder-filled, decidedly non-jaded eyes.

Apart from their clothing clues, one could just sense the total identity each little girl had with the princess-to-be up on the stage. Isn’t it interesting how little girls want to be princesses but little boys don’t want to be princes (or kings or even presidents)? Little boys imagine being firemen or policemen; honorable callings to be sure, but somewhat lower down in the real-world food chain than a princess! And they wear uniforms, which is pretty much the opposite of a dress and diamond tiara that hushes the ballroom and draws glares from every other woman who sees her. But maybe that’s the point. Related to their love of sports, boys dream of being on a team. The ideal fireman or policeman is not only a good guy doing great work, he does it together with a lot of other good “teammates” all wearing the same uniform. Being a part of something bigger than yourself, helping the world become a better place? OK, so maybe little boys have good fantasies too…

Anyway, I was surprised by the Cinderella plot. I only knew the Disney version of the story, and although I never gave it any thought, I just assumed that the story was a Disney invention. As it turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The basic Cinderella fairy tale, where a poor, young and oppressed woman attains remarkable fortune virtually overnight, is an ancient one. The version of the folk tale that is generally considered to be the earliest dates back to the sixth century B.C.E. It’s the story of Rhodopsis, a courtesan who was bathing when an eagle swooped down from the sky, seized one of her very small slippers, carried it off, and dropped it in the lap of the king. He noticed how beautiful and tiny it was, and so he felt that its owner must be very lovely indeed (male logic…don’t ask). He searched for its owner, and when he found her he married her and made her his queen. Sure sounds like Cinderella to me, right down to the slippers.

China’s version of Cinderella, Ye Xian, dates from 860 C.E. Other Cinderella stories come out of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Korea. The earliest European version was written in Naples in 1634, and its plot is the one that I (and apparently Walt Disney) have always known. The music we heard was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein for a 1957 television production that starred Julie Andrews and was watched by more than 107 million people, which was 60% of the American population at the time! Astounding! I cannot imagine 60% of our country watching anything, even if you count all the hours binge-watching Breaking Bad over several days. But this was 60% of America’s population watching on a single evening.

The Cinderella we saw was billed as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella plus four new Rodgers and Hammerstein songs. That last part really caught my eye, since Rodgers died almost 30 years ago and Hammerstein died nearly 60 years ago. That really would be some magic coming out of Broadway! But no, they were counted as “new” songs because they were not part of the music written for and included in the 1957 Cinderella. To me, that sounds more like the magical use of language that comes out of Washington, D.C.

More startling, until I thought about it, was the story line. Sure, the glass slipper, the wicked stepmother, the fairy godmother, the ball, and Cinderella having to be home by midnight were all there. But I didn’t expect one of the stepsisters to be relatively good, and I certainly didn’t expect that Cinderella would demand that the prince move to correct the injustice in his kingdom and hold an election for prime minister, which resulted in the downfall of the prince’s evil chancellor in favor of Jean-Michel, a revolutionary who fights for the people and is a friend of Cinderella’s. That’s when I realized that this “modern” Cinderella was really based on one of the oldest Cinderella stories around, maybe one as old as Rhodopsis. Unlike Rhodopsis, our very own Cinderella (aka Esther) still gets her story told every year. And that may be because, also unlike Rhodopsis and most other Cinderellas, Esther uses her beauty and feminine guile to attain justice and avoid great evil, not just to snare a tiara and escape a humdrum life. Your editor, Dee Dee Quinn



TENTATIVE SISTERHOOD CALENDAR 2015-2016

June

Tuesday 7-Jun 9:15 AM Executive Committee Meeting

10:30 AM Board Meeting Saturday 11-Jun Erev Shavuot Sunday 12-Jun Shavuot-Day 1 Monday 13-Jun Shavuot-Day 2 Tuesday 21-Jun 10:00 AM Installation Brunch

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