the scroll - shulcloud...orit morgenshtern important dates: april saturday, april 6th -final...
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Page 1
Scroll The
A Publication of Mosaic Law Congregation
April 2013 | 21 Nisan - 20 Iyar 5773
Inside this Issue
Services & Festivals 2
Education & Youth 3
Women’s Network 4
Community Notes 4
Donations 5-6
Birthdays 6
Anniversaries, Kiddush Sponsors,
Mazel Tov! and Condolences 7
2300 Sierra Boulevard | Sacramento, CA 95825 | (916) 488-1122 | Fax: (916) 488-1165 | www.mosaiclaw.org
Second Clergy and The
Search
As you know, one of the primary
goals for this year was to hire a
second clergy to assist Rabbi and
help grow our congregation. The
Chai 5 campaign, phenomenally
chaired by Deborah Gonzalez and Carol Loew, has been in
full swing for two years, taking a hiatus during the High
Holidays. The goal of raising enough funds to support ei-
ther a cantor or rabbi has been met, with a huge thank you
to Rowena Fahn for her very generous gift to the cam-
paign.
As members of United Synagogue of Conservative
Judaism, the process to hire a cantor or rabbi is bureaucrat-
ic, to put it mildly. The Rabbinic Assembly requires the
completion of what ends up being a 20-page application
(with no accommodation for supplying pictures in lieu of
written descriptions) while the Cantor’s Assembly asks for
completion of a one-page application, with only five ques-
tions asked. Both get submitted with appropriate requests
for “activation” and then “the games begin.”
For many applicants, there is “Interview Week” in New
York. For one week, rabbinic and cantorial candidates
come to the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) and are
matched up with representatives from a myriad of syna-
gogues from around the world. The candidates submit
their resumes and JTS schedules them in what could be
5-6 hours of consecutive 50-minute interviews. During
Interview Week this year, we were lucky to have Second
Vice-President Dan Ott conduct our interviews and vett
the candidates for the search committee, diligently chaired
by First Vice-President Jonathan Lightman.
Independent of JTS, we received a number of resumes
from rabbis and cantors with prior experience who had
heard wonderful things about Rabbi Taff and Mosaic Law.
The committee sifted through 25+ resumes and determined
whom we should take to the next level. In this high tech
age, candidates sent us mp3 files of their liturgy, pdf-based
portfolios of the accolades and articles, and links to their
websites for reading what their resume doesn’t say.
Search committee members in have spent tens of hours
listening, rating and discussing the pros and cons of each
candidate. Those that made the “second cut” were sched-
uled for Skype interviews, thereby saving us funds by not
having to fly them out to Sacramento. Of those that made
the “third cut”, the congregation was blessed to have three
candidates visit on three consecutive weekends to see how
they do when put through their paces.
The Rabbinic Assembly dictates the timing of the inter-
views – many interviewees expect to receive job offers by
Passover. Mosaic Law’s process dictates that the search
committee makes a recommendation to the Board of Trus-
tees and the Board determines if an offer should be extend-
ed to the preferred candidate. While you may be reading
this during the Passover holiday, the search committee, in
consultation with Rabbi Taff, will be meeting during Chol
Hamoed to determine who, if any of the candidates, should
be offered the position of second clergy at Mosaic Law.
(Continued on page 2)
Reflections from the President
Caren Zorman
Page 2
The Scroll
April
Services & Festivals
Shabbat Candlelighting Times
April 5 - 7:14pm
April 12 - 7:21pm
April 19 - 7:27pm
April 26 - 7:34pm
Shabbat Shabbat Morning Service
9:00am
April 6 - Parshat Shemini
Havdalah - 8:13pm
April 13 - Parshat Tazria/Metsora
Havdalah - 8:20pm
April 20 - Parshat Aharey Mot &
Kedoshim
Havdalah - 8:28
April 27 - Parshat Emor
Lag Ba’Omer
Havdalah - 8:35
Minyan Schedule
Mornings
Sunday – 9:00am
Monday, Thursday &
Rosh Chodesh – 7:15am
Federal Holidays – 8:30am
Afternoons
To the members of the committee, my sincere thanks for the vast amount of time,
diligence and ethics you have brought to this very important task:
It’s an exciting time for the shul as we enter a new chapter of growth. Your feed-
back on the candidates is always welcome and I encourage talking to either a
Trustee or member of the search committee. Look for an announcement on the
second clergy status in mid-April, at the earliest.
UPDATE 3/29/13:
Our Second Clergy Search Committee has been meeting diligently over the past
three months, reviewing applications and arranging for interviews at Mosaic Law
Congregation. At this point in the process, the committee has recommended the
candidacy of soon-to-be Rabbi Marc Kraus to the Board of Trustees. The Board
will conduct an independent review before determining its next steps. We thank
the congregation for being warm and inviting to our three outstanding candidates
we have brought to Sacramento. Please feel free to contact President Caren
Zorman with feedback at [email protected].
President (Continued from page 1)
Jonathan Lightman, Chair
Steve Turtletaub, Vice-Chair
Alan Brodovsky
Deborah Gonzalez
Dr. David Lerner
Michael Levy
Jan Linver
Carol Loew
Betsy Singer
Ardyth Sokoler
Karl Zeff
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The Scroll
Scholarship Fund
The KESHER SCHOLARSHIP FUND was estab-
lished approximately 10 years ago by Linda and
Marvin Kamras. To ensure that this fund remains sol-
vent, we match dollar for dollar ANY contributions.
Thus a "chai" donation becomes $36, just as a $500 do-
nation becomes $1,000. Our children need adults to
look into the future to guarantee and recognize their
desire to be part of a Jewish and civic minded commu-
nity. For Kesher Scholarship forms, contact
From the Director of Education
and Youth - Orit Morgenshtern
Important Dates:
April
Saturday, April 6th - Final ShabbaBoom!
Sunday, April 7th from 11:30am - 12:30pm - Yom Hashoah Program. Mark Rubin, will be speak-
ing. Mark Rubin, Caren Zorman's father, is a child survivor of the Holocaust. Liberated with his
immediate family from Terezin when he was 8 years old, Mark was one of 100 children left in the concentration camp
out of 10,000. He immigrated to the United States in 1948 and is a successful real estate developer in Los Angeles. He
is dad to Caren, Brian and Michelle and "Zeide" to Aaron & Evan Zorman and Brock & Eva Rubin. This program is
open to the congregation.
Saturday, April 13th - 5th & 6th grade are participating in leading the services.
Sunday, April 14th - Yom Ha'Atzma'ut. We will be having Maccabee Games. Please have your children wear tennis
shoes and clothing that can get dirty.
Saturday, April 27th - 3rd & 4th grade are participating in leading the services.
NO SCHOOL on Sunday, April 28 due to the Jewish Heritage Festival. For more information, go to
www.jewishsac.org.
May
Sunday, May 5th - Last Day of Religious School with Aliyah Ceremony and BBQ! Invite your friends and family to
watch the students get their graduation certificates and join us at the BBQ.
For more information on Youth Group activities,
contact one of the following:
Perachim (Kindergarten through 2nd grade) - Sarah
Turtletaub: [email protected]
B’nai Mazel (3rd & 4th grade) - Sharon Best:
Machar (5th & 6th grade) - Monica Shapiro:
Kadima (7th & 8th grade) - Dana Schneider Penn:
USY (9th through 12th grade) - Alex Mazakas:
Youth Group Advisors
Page 4
The Scroll
From The Women’s Network
Carol Loew
Do you ever see people and won-
der what their names are? Have
you ever heard an announcement
regarding a member and wished
you could put a face with a name?
Are you a new member and wish you had something to
help you put names with faces? Help is on the way! We
are producing a Pictorial Directory for 5774! There is
no cost to have your photographs taken, and you will
receive a complimentary 8x10 portrait and directory for
participating. You will be able to view your images elec-
tronically immediately after photography. At that time,
you will have the opportunity to purchase additional
portraits to share with family and friends.
The picture dates are April 21-25th; 28th, May 2nd, and
May 5th-8th.
Volunteers needed!
To make our directory a great success we need volun-
teers. Kerry Wittlake-Taylor is coordinating the volun-
teers for our new directory. If you are interested in help-
ing during our photography sign-ups, telephoning our
members, or serving as a host or hostess during the actu-
al photography sessions, contact Kerry at
To register to get your picture taken, go to the link on
our website at www.mosaiclaw.org or https://
www.securedata-trans14.com/ap/
mosaiclawcongregation/index.php?page=10.
April 7th - Communitywide Yom HaShoah Commem-
oration. The program is sponsored by the Jewish Federa-
tion and the Jewish Community Relations Council and
held at 7:00pm at Congregation B'nai Israel, 3600 River-
side Blvd. See additional details below. For more infor-
mation, contact Simone Monnier-Clay at simo-
April 14th - Yom HaZikaron - Israeli Memorial Day.
Perhaps the most widely recognized commemoration in
Israel, this day is observed as a Memorial Day for soldiers
who lost their lives in battle defending Israel. The evening
includes the traditional transition from Yom HaZikaron to
Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day. 2:00-3:30pm.
Kenesset Israel Torah Center, 1165 Morse Ave. For more
information or to RSVP, contact Federation at 916-486-
0906 or [email protected].
April 28th - Jewish Heritage Festival: Celebrating
Israel at 65! Midtown street fair with live music by San
Francisco-based band Sol Tevel, Lucy's Bones, Rio Amer-
icano High School Jazz Band members, and the Sacra-
mento Israeli Dance Troupe. Food trucks, kosher food by
Yair Luria, shopping vendors, Israel displays, and activi-
ties for kids of all ages. 10:00am-2:00pm. Pre-register for
a chance to a $500 prize. Stay tuned for online pre-
registration, which begins April 3rd. Provides expedited
entrance and entry into the raffle. First 100 people to ar-
rive receive a copy of Sol Tevel's new CD. Sponsorship
opportunities available. For more information, contact
Federation at 916-486-0906 or [email protected].
Leisure League
April 10th - Learn the Art of Tai Chi. Instructor Showen
Farruggia grew up in Taiwan and came to the U.S. in
1989, where she has been teaching Tai Chi for 10 years.
The class will include an introduction of Tai Chi move-
ments and Chi Kung for longevity, and is suitable for all
levels of mobility. $5 includes lunch. 12:00-2:00pm, Tem-
ple Or Rishon, 7755 Hazel Ave.
April 25, 2013. Great Jewish Artists of Theater and Film.
Cynthia and Sara Brideson have been studying classic film
from the time they were seven years old. Currently, they
are working on a book about Jews and the creation of the
American musical. They reside in Sacramento with their
family and two cats. $5 includes lunch. 12:00-2:00pm.
The Einstein Center, 1935 Wright St.
Leisure League is supported by the Jewish Federation and
the Trust Fund for the Jewish Elderly. For more infor-
mation or to RSVP, contact 916-486-0906 or federa-
Shalom School
2013-14 Applications available for Preschool and Kinder-
garten-6th Grades. Schedule a tour and learn more about
our programs, infants through 6th grade. Free.
Preschool Summer Art Camp. Now accepting applications
for this fun-filled camp for children 3.6 -5 years of age
and potty-trained. Flexible schedules: half and full-days.
Fees range from $360-$560 per 2-week session. 7:30am-
12:30pm or 6:00pm. Shalom School, 2320 Sierra Blvd.
contact 916-485-4151 or visit www.shalomschool.org.
Community Notes
Page 5
The Scroll
Generous Gifts From Thoughtful People Donations Made Between March 1 - March 20
Aliyah Fund
Speedy Recovery to Arlene
Pearl
Cheryl & Norm
Weiner
Beryl Schuster Bar/Bat
Mitzvah Fund
In memory of Florence
Miller, grandmother
Joyce Berger
Building Maintenance
Fund
In honor of Rabbi Taff and
Judy Kahler’s upcoming
marriage
Scarlet LaRue
Edber
General Synagogue Fund In honor of Rabbi Taff &
Judy Kahler’s Ufruf
Ruth Saunders
In honor of Rabbi & Judy
Alan & Dana
Edelstein
In memory of Randy
Pollack’s dear mother
Hilda Harouni
In memory of Irv Goldberg
Mr & Mrs Roger M
Goldberg
In honor of Rabbi Taff &
Judy Kahler’s upcoming
wedding
Karl & Sheri Zeff
In memory of Lois Levin,
sister of Ilene Herman
Martha & Phyllis
Limberg
In honor of the marriage of
Rabbi Reuven Taff and
Judith Abrams Kahler
Judy & Mike
Altman
In appreciation - thank you
for all your help and sup-
port with our daughter’s
Bat Mitzvah
Scott & Monica
Shapiro
In honor of Rabbi Taff’s
upcoming marriage
Martha Limberg
In honor of Rabbi Taff and
Judy Kahler’s Aufruf
Jerry Fogler
In honor of Rabbi Taff &
Judy Kahler’s Ufruf
Elissa Provance
In honor of Rabbi Taff &
Judy Kahler
Merle Freeman
Mazel Tov! To Rabbi
Reuven Taff & Judith
Kahler on your marriage
Stephen Craig
Kesher Scholarship Find
In honor of Rabbi Taff &
Judy Kahler
Shira & Don
Gilbert
KOH Library & Cultural
Center
Mazel Tov! To Racquel
Salka
Lesley & Enid
Malkin
Mort & Marcy Friedman
Scholar-in-Residence
Fund
In memory of Mort
Friedman
Mitch & Teri
Ostwald
In memory of Mort
Friedman
Shirley Fahn
In memory of Mort
Friedman
Carol Loew
Murray Bachman
Minyan Fund
In memory of Elayne
Metzger, Irv Goldberg,
Huberta Bilodeau, Matt
Compton, Libby Parr, and
Dorothy Weisberg
Carol Loew
In appreciation of the
Minyan
Jim & Judy
Lawson
Other
In honor of Rabbi Taff &
Judy Kahler’s Ufruf
Ruth Saunders
Past President’s Youth
Fund
Speedy Recovery to Arlene
Pearl and Mazel Tov on
your Bat Mitzvah
Mitch & Teri
Ostwald
In memory of Pamela’s
beloved father
Janet & Mort
Ehrlich
Rabbi’s Mitzvah Fund
In honor of my birthday
Lillian Gabriel &
family
In appreciation of Rabbi
Taff for the beautiful baby
naming ceremony for my
great-granddaughter
Claire Merksamer
Mazel Tov! To Rabbi and
Judy on your Ufruf and
wishes for a marriage filled
with much joy and love
Cheryl & Norm
Weiner
In memory of Lois Levin,
sister, and in appreciation
of Rabbi’s compassion
during a difficult time
Ilene & Irwin
Herman
In loving memory of Irv
Goldberg
Lillian Gabriel
In honor of Suzie Lauer’s
70th birthday
Norman & Muriel
Davis
Mazel Tov! On Rabbi’s
marriage to Judy Kahler
Carol Loew
In memory of Cilli Berger
(Charna bat Jacob v’Rifka),
mother-in-law
Joyce Berger
In appreciation of Rabbi’s
officiating at the bris and
naming of our grandson
Larry & Dee
Mozes
Mazel Tov! To Rabbi &
Judy on your marriage
Betty Salomon
In memory of Elayne
Metzger, Susan Metzger &
Ruth Leibovitz
Mitch & Teri
Ostwald
Religious School
Scholarship Fund
In memory of Libby Parr
In memory of Dorothy
Weisberg
Shirley Fahn
Women’s Network
In honor of Judy Persin,
Genalyn Lobel and Pia
Spector on their Bat
Mitzvah’s
In honor of Lou
Weintraub’s birthday
Carol Loew
Yahrzeit
In memory of Louis
Neibrief (Label ben Lazar
v’Sarah), her father
Lorraine Katz
(Continued on page 6)
Page 6
The Scroll
In memory of Dr.
Lawrence Breslau (Aryeh
ben Tanchum v’Rochel
Leah)
Jonathan Breslau
In memory of Phyllis
Zimmelman
Jerry Fogler
In memory of Helen
Einhorn, her mother
Elissa Provance
In memory of Esther
Feinberg (Esther bat Label
v’Sarah)
In memory of Dave
Rosenberg (Duvid ben
Label v’Sarah), his father
Lew Rosenberg
In memory of Dora
Elfenbaum (Dvorah bat
Yoseph v’Toba)
Louis Elfenbaum
In memory of Harry Silver,
her father
Joan Klafer
In memory of Loretta
Yassinger (Itta bat Yacob
v’Dvoriah), her mother
Dale Cohen
In memory of Leo
Goldstein (Lippman ben
Harry v’Minnie)
Jeffrey Goldstein
In memory of Gregory
Komsky (Gersh ben
Solomon v’Luba)
Arkady Komsky
In memory of Nettie
Goppman (Necha bat
Yakov v’Malka)
Marlene Chernev
In memory of Tedra Berko-
witz (Ruth bat Avraham),
his wife
Albert Berkowitz
In memory of Cantor Jacob
Smith
Soni Meyer
In memory of Al Polansky
(Avram ben Kalman), his
father
Steven Polansky
In memory of Lillian
Nitzberg, her sister-in-law
Lillian Edelstein
In memory of Betty
Stecher (Rivka bat
Avraham v’Sarah), his wife
Leonard Stecher
In memory of Rene
Raphael (Raphael ben
Raphael), her father
Marcia Raphael
In memory of Pauline
Freedenberg (Peshke bat
Osher v’Anna), her grand-
mother
Toni Rosenberg
Donations
(Continued from page 5)
1 Karen Levy
1 Lisa Metzger
2 Rebecca Winter
2 Corey Darf
2 Lisa Velazquez
3 Shira Darf
3 Trevor Brasch
4 Abraham Siegel
4 April Goore
4 Frances Sutz Brown
5 Michael Hayward
5 Norman Davis
5 Bernice Ross
5 Francie Teitelbaum
5 Natalie Polan
6 Cheryl Block
6 Benjamin Klein
6 Jacob Keating
7 Lillian Zeff
8 Muriel Davis
8 Karen Polansky
8 Marc Epstein
8 Karly Cartwright
9 Marlene Chernev
9 Stephen Waks
9 Etty Blackman
9 Sarah Adelman
10 Susan Latorre
10 David Poisner
10 Jonathan Sharg
11 Michael Gorssman
11 Zachary Berkowitz
11 Eitan Goore
12 Ronald Bachman
12 Janice Linver
12 Dee Tannenbaum
12 Isaac Gordon
13 Lew Rosenberg
13 Julie Terner
14 David Morvai
15 Jody Wickham
15 Caron Zamansky
15 Joshua Terner
16 Brett Polan
17 Susan Skeer
17 Rachel Vierra
17 Brandon Rosenberg
17 Tyler Barth
18 Sam Ross
18 Sylvan Karfiol
18 Janie Gumpert
18 Michael Rogawski
18 Michael Waks
19 Mosche Cohan
20 Ashley Lipshutz
20 Monica Melamed-
Spilkin
20 Cameron Horst
21 Linda Kamras
21 Murray Cleaner
21 Elliot Morvai
21 Nathan Aizenberg
22 Miriam Steinberg
22 Sylvia Haggatt-
Brasch
22 Joshua Taff
22 Malcom Naftulin
22 Rachel Keating
22 Johanna Tokarski
22 Hannah
VanLanningham
22 Elliot Taylor
23 Kathy Warren
23 Sherrie Backman
24 Anita Kincaid
24 Jessica Revesz
24 Mochael Reiner
24 Madison Barth
25 Peter Kuttner
25 Sam Anapolsky
25 Joel Blank
25 Thomas Strasser
26 Trent Meyer
26 Roan Karavani
27 Alan Verpukhovsky
28 Edythe Asch
28 Alyssa Rosengard
28 Abraham Leibovitz
28 Noah Lightman
29 Richard Bernheimer
29 Scott Duensing
30 Malcolm Segal
April Birthdays
Page 7
Kiddush Sponsors, Hosts and Co-Sponsors for March 1 - March 23 Anonymous
Mark & Dianne Cohn in honor of their
anniversary
Richard & Zoey Goore in honor of the Bat
Mitzvah of their daughter, Edina
Scott & Monica Shapiro in honor of the Bat
Mitzvah of their daughter, Rebeka
Janis & Jonathan Lightman in honor of
Jonathan’s birthday
Jim & Judy Lawson in honor of their
anniversary
Ruth Saunders in honor of her birthday
Jacob & Elizabeth Igra in honor of their
anniversary
Molly & Bernie Goldberg in honor of
Molly’s birthday
Edward & Gayle Fishkin in honor of their
anniversary
Bev & Art Zimmerman in honor of the Bar
Mitzvah of their grandson, Avery, in Israel
Alan & Dana Edelstein in honor of their
anniversary
Janet & Mort Ehrlich in honor of Mort’s
birthday and their anniversary
Stephen & Joyce Weinberg in honor of
Stephen’s birthday and their anniversary
Leslie & Martin Cohen in honor of the
naming of their granddaughter, Neta Ruth
Lavi
The Scroll
Condolences for March 1 - March 23 Lois Rosenberg Payne on the loss of her dear husband, Lawrence Halleck “Hal”
Payne, of blessed memory.
Ilene Herman on the loss of her dear sister, Lois Levin, of blessed memory.
Dr. Gordon Isakson on the loss of his dear father, Gabriel Isakson, of blessed
memory
Karen Polansky on the loss of her dear brother, Neil Kaufman, of blessed
memory.
Mosaic Law Congregation
Board of Trustees
2012-2013
Executive Board President - Caren Zorman
First Vice Pres - Jonathan
Lightman
Second Vice Pres - Dan Ott
Treasurer - David Long
Secretary - Erich Olson
Immediate Past President -
Deborah Gonzalez
Board of Trustees Scott Cartwright
Mark Cohn
Tamsen D’Souza
Burt Ginsburg
Michelle Masoner
Larry Mozes
Arlene Pearl
Randy Pollack
David Rosenheimer
Todd Sperber
Vickie Wheelock, MD
Karl Zeff, MD
Sisterhood President - Carol
Loew
Men’s Club President - Alex
Zamansky
Past Presidents Alan Brodovsky
Mark Cohn
Alan Edelstein
Morton Ehrlich, MD
Kenneth Goore
Frank Gumpert
Marvin Kamras, MD
Steven Mopsick
Charles Nadler
Michael Opper
Mitchell Ostwald
Arlene Pearl
Elliott Pearl
Steven Polansky, MD
Sid Rosenberg
Marc Sussman
Robert Zeff, MD
Thank you!
A great big Thank You! To everyone who made sure we had kosher meals while I
have been recovering. Special thanks goes to Orit Morgenshtern, Monica Shapiro,
Dana Edelstein, Julie Lavine, Dorothy Bard, Carol Loew, Joyce Berger, Phyllis
Goldstein and Linda Kamras.
With love, Arlene Pearl
April Anniversaries
3 Jerry & Gayle Merksamer
5 Dani & Susan Weinstein
6 Howard & Sharon Futerman
9 Carl & Lesley Stein
10 Ricardo & Sylvia Brasch
10 Larry & Susan Long
11 David & Kathy Warren
11 Michael & Louise Caplan
11 Herb & Maddy Marks
17 Richard & Helaina Kravitz
18 Tomer & Emily Tamarkin
20 Norman & Muriel Davis
22 Robbie Holland & Kim Connor
22 Alan & Barbara Tomiyama
30 Peter & Susan Kuttner
Page 8
The Scroll
Mosaic Law Congregation
Rabbi Reuven Taff……………………....ext 13
email: [email protected]
Cantor Emeritus George Wald
email: [email protected]
Rabbi’s Secretary Mary Blumenstein………………..ext 19
email: [email protected]
Education & Youth Director Orit Morgenshtern………………..ext 17
email: [email protected]
Education & Youth Assistant;
Weekly/Monthly Scroll Designer Barbara Blue……………………..ext 18
email: [email protected]
Accountant Lisa Wade………………………..ext 16
email: [email protected]
President Caren Zorman
email: [email protected]
Men’s Club President Alex Zamansky
email: [email protected]
Women’s Network President Carol Loew
email: [email protected]
The Scroll Editor Laura Wendel, Editor
email: [email protected]
Published monthly by:
Mosaic Law Congregation
2300 Sierra Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95825 A member congregation of United
Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Office Hours: Mon-Thu: 9am - 5pm Fri: 9am - 4pm Sun: 9am - 1pm (during the Religious School year only)
Telephone: (916) 488-1122 Fax: (916) 488-1165 Website: www.mosaiclaw.org
Scroll Deadline
Deadline for submissions to The Scroll is
the 15th of the month prior to publication.
Please send your article to:
Submissions received after the deadline will
be held until the next Scroll is published.