September October

6 Elul - 6 TishreiSeptember 2014

(October 2014 insert)

Temple President Jon Weisz

Rabbi JoshuaPreparing Our Souls: High Holy Days 5775

ServicesMinyan Services are held every Sunday in Knell Chapel, beginning at 9:00 AM.

1434 N. Altadena Drive • Pasadena CA 91107 http://www.pjtc.net/ ( 6 2 6 ) 7 9 8 - 1 1 6 1

September 5/6 Parashat: Ki tetseTot Shabbat 6:45 PM Knell ChapelFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary

Hannah and Daniel Crump B’nai MitzvahSat. Service 9:00 AM Galpert Sanctuary

Oneg and Kiddush hosted by Wendy and Stephen Crump

September 12/13 Parashat: Ki tavoFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary

Oneg hosted by Sisterhood

Sat. Service 9:00 AM Knell ChapelShabbat Rinah 9:30 AM Wohlmann HallKiddush hosted by Shabbes Minyan GroupFamily Havdallah 6:00 PM Social Hall

September 19/20 Parashat: Nitsavim + VayelekhKabbalat Service 6:30 PM Social HallFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary

Oneg hosted by SisterhoodSat. Service 9:00 AM Knell ChapelKiddush hosted by Shabbes Minyan Group

SelichotService and Program 7:30 PM Knell Chapel

September 24/25/26 Rosh HashanahErev Rosh Hashanah

Wed. Service 8:00 PM Galpert Sanctuary

First Day Rosh HashanahThurs. Service 9:00 AM Galpert SanctuaryThurs. Tashlich 4:00 PM LA Arboretum

Second Day Rosh HashanahFri. Service 9:00 AM Galpert SanctuaryFamily Service 5:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary

September 26/27 Parashat: Ha’azinuFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary


Sat. Service 9:00 AM Knell ChapelKiddush hosted by Shabbes Minyan Group

It is hard to believe that we are again approaching the High Holy Days. The past year has gone rapidly, but it has been quite eventful. Among the most profound and anticipated changes made at PJTC are the upcoming transformations of our schools and youth programs. With the arrival of our new Education Director, Rabbi Becky Silverstein, the B’nai Simcha Preschool move to the PJTC campus, and a hoped-for revitalization of our USY Youth Program, I am proud of the wonderful and expanding opportunities we can offer our youth and their families.

The future looks bright at PJTC.

The New Year 5775 brings with it a new chapter for the Louis B. Silver Religious School. I strongly feel that the great strengths and traditions of our

school are in good hands with Rabbi Silverstein. His passion for Judaism and Jewish education, his intellect and creativity made him the clear choice to follow our beloved Debby Singer. I encourage all of our PJTC families and members to visit the religious school office and meet him. You can also reach him at

A s I w r i t e this at the end of July, Israel is in the midst of its most extensive, and deadly war in decades. It is battling against an extremist Hamas and the cost in l ives of Israeli

soldiers and Palestinian civilians is extremely high. I pray that by the time you are reading this in September, this war has ended and there have been moves to negotiate a longer-term, political solution to this conflict. I imagine there will be much more to say on this subject as the fall unfolds.

The Yamim Noraim, the High

Holy Days, are late this year. With the month of Elul just beginning last week, we have time together, in the fall, to prepare our minds, hearts, souls and bodies for the coming days of prayer and reflection. We have so much to be grateful for in our PJTC community, and this time of year always accentuates our positives.

We welcome R abbi B e cky Silverstein as our new Education Director and head of LBSRS, bringing new ideas to build upon our amazing school foundation. We welcome Melissa Levy as our new Youth Director, energizing our teens and helping to integrate them more fully into our learning community.

We welcome B’nai Simcha Preschool to the PJTC campus, bringing the buzzing energy of

Click here to continue

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The FLAME 2 September 2014

I once witnessed a family education program that still sticks out in my mind. It was led by a guest teacher who was known for his innovative experiential education. He brought a drum and a bean bag, arranged the chairs in

a circle, and the students sat with their parents, chatting, waiting for the program to begin. With the drum he taught a niggun, a wordless melody, which he used to bring us back together throughout the program.

The goal of the learning activity was to help students understand their place in the masoret, the passing down, of our tradition. The teacher gave each student a name from Pirkei Avot 1:1 – Moses received Torah on Sinai, and handed it to Joshua; Joshua to the elders, and so on. A bean bag was tossed from student to student down the chain. If someone dropped the bean bag, the group all had to go back to Moses at Mt. Sinai (the first person).

Some of the kids were my students and as such had been prepared for this kind of activity; we frequently tossed bean bags as ice breakers or to learn each other’s names or Hebrew words. They lobbed the bean bag gently to each other, saying each other’s names first and looking them in the eye to be sure they were ready. Other students threw the bean bag hard and in a straight line, not bothering to look up to see if anyone was there to receive it. Parents sat in chairs near their children hoping the bean bag wouldn’t fall again so that the activity could finally conclude.

This activity raised several questions for me:

Why were my students so good at •throwing bean bags while other students were not?How do we call each other together, •or to attention? Do we do so with raised voices, or with melodies that seek to unite as many voices as possible? Do we admonish the talkers or guide their voices to something new?What role does each of us have in •the passing down of tradition? Are some of us passing it on, and others encouraging from the sidelines, or are we all actively involved? Or maybe that is a false distinction, and we need to ask ourselves how encouragement itself is a form of being involved.When and how do our students •teach each other? Are they aware of that role? Do they do it thoughtfully? Do we teach them how?Which are the moments that we are •sitting there wondering when the activity will be over and how can we transform those into something more meaningful?

My wish for all of us this year is to embrace the role that each of us in the PJTC community has in educating our young people and each other. I invite you to share with me questions this story raises for you. For Judaism to thrive it must grow laterally among peers and vertically among mentors and mentees.

I want to thank everyone at PJTC for such a warm, wide welcome. I am looking forward to learning with all of you. May we all go from strength to strength.

Staff and Officers

Advertise in The FLAMEHelp offset the cost of our monthly publication while promoting your

business or service.Business Card @ $20.00/month Quarter Page @ $35.00/month

Half Page @ $70.00/monthThree month minimum. Discounted rates

are available for longer running ads. Make your request at

[email protected]

The Communications Committee can assist you with ad copy and layout.

ChantingLonger periods of silence in between prayers

Selected liturgy ~ Three Torah AliyotClergy joined by Justin SteinExtended Torah discussion

Saturday, September 13 & October 25 Wohlmann Hall

9:30 AM - Schmooze, Nosh and Schnapps9:50 AM Service

Religious School Newsby Rabbi Becky Silverstein, Education DirectorPasadena Jewish Temple and Center

1434 N. Altadena DrivePasadena, California 91107

(626) 798-1161 • (626) 798-8410 (Fax)http://www.pjtc.net/

[email protected]– PJTC Clergy and Staff –Joshua Levine Grater – RabbiGilbert Kollin – Rabbi EmeritusRuth Berman Harris – Cantor

Sondra Dreshner - GabbaiEitan Trabin – Executive Director

Rabbi Becky Silverstein – Education DirectorEitan Loewenstein –Religious School Assistant

Bruce Applebaum – Operations ManagerMelissa (Bergman) Levy – Youth DirectorDebra Bunting – Assistant to the Rabbi

Marian Rosen – BookkeeperRobert Brown – Facilities Manager

– PJTC Officers –President – Jonathon WeiszSecretary – Erich SchlechtTreasurer – Mickey Bernath

Exec. VP Management – Faith SegalExec. VP Programs – Jeff Landau

VP Administration – Noah Golden-KrasnerVP Adult Programs – Felicity SwerdlowVP Youth Programs – Geoff DeBoskey

VP Finance – Sandy HartfordVP Membership – Andrea Edwards

VP Religious Affairs – Richard SamuelsonPlanning Committee Chair – Brian Mark

Sisterhood President – Debbie GuestMen's Club President – Andy Schwarz

– Board of Directors –Keri Axel, Judy Balian, Ira Blitz,Valerie Grover, Haley Karish,

Jacob Levy, Carol Rader-Meislin,Amy Richardson, Nathan Temple,

Roberta Tragarz, Ruth Several–Voting Past Presidents –Judy Callahan, Cathy Krasner

Matt Ober, Mickey Segal

– The FLAME Staff –Bruce Applebaum – LayoutEdie Taylor, Roz Scherr and Breyne Moskowitz – Editors

Karen Hochman Brown – Advisor


By the time you read this column, the summer will have flown by and the High Holy Days will be fast approaching. I am writing, however, during the leisurely days of early August. I find myself reflecting on the high I gained at the Women's League for Conservative Judaism National Convention, which

Carolyn Siegal and I attended in mid-July. I have been trying to describe the experience of this

convention to my friends and family. The best I can say is that it was like a combination of a Women's League Leadership Institute and our regional Women's League Shabbaton on steroids, and on a much, much larger scale. At all three events, I befriended groups of talented, dedicated women, all of whom share a common purpose: to promote Jewish learning and leadership while celebrating our Jewish community. I don't have the words to describe how joyful it felt to participate in tefillot, surrounded by 400 women all singing with one voice, a capella. We were creating prayer, not reciting prayer by rote or passively listening to a performance. The workshops I attended were enlightening. My only disappointment is that I could not clone myself and attend more. As a new president, I took advantage of the specialized classes, such as Presidents 101. Fortunately, Carolyn Siegal attended different sessions, and we can share notes. The speakers on the panels were engaging, informative and amusing in turn. At the end of a day, we had some unstructured time to get to know one another in informal settings (karaoke, anyone?) At Convention's end, I was proud to walk across the stage with Carolyn to represent our PJTC Sisterhood as we were awarded our second Jewel in the Crown certificate. To qualify for this achievement, a Sisterhood has to have participated in or produced a number of programs in several categories, such as Education/Programs, Community Service, and Women's League Activities. There are two levels of achievement recognized, and we met the higher goal.

One theme threaded its way through the four days: Women's League exists to support its Sisterhoods. It offers opportunities for personal growth (Leadership Institutes), and is ready to come to the aid of struggling Sisterhoods with free training workshops (they'll come to us), online workshops, or one-on-one mentoring. Resources exist to aid individuals or the whole group. About half of your $36 PJTC Sisterhood dues goes to Women's League each year to pay for these services. I intend to get our money's worth during my presidency.

Coming Up: For High Holy Days Challah orders, contact Carol Mills; Rugelach orders, call Ricki Lane or Wendy Frankel; Restaurant night at Souplanation, September 23, contact Anita Landau; Break the Fast, October 4, contact Ricki Lane; Sukkot Potluck, October10, contact Nancy Carlton; for Rosh Chodesh, October 23, contact Kathy Kobayashi or Susan Auerbach. Cooking for the High Holy Days? Buy a cookbook from the Judaica Shop and try one of five brisket recipes. Are you a guest at another home? Bring a cookbook for a hostess gift!

It's Happening with Sisterhood!by Debbie Guest, Sisterehood President

Artisan Boutique & Art Show

Sunday, November 16, 201410:00 am – 4:00 pm

Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center1434 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena, CA 91107

Call for participationFor more info and an application form contact [email protected].

You may also download an application online at http://www.pjtc.net/Downloads/ArtisanBoutique.pdf

- Wanted - Bunco Babes

Must know how to toss dice.Must know how to add to twenty-one.

Must be able to recognize three of a kind.Must be willing to have a great time.

No experience necessary.Sisterhood Members are Invited to

play Bunco!Tuesday, October 14, 7:30 – 8:30 PM

Wohlmann HallBunco babes are welcome to bring appetizers or wine.Please RSVP by October 7 to Aty Rotter. at

[email protected]

https://origin.library.constantcontact.com/doc202/1101893904925/doc/4xQ6OTyTePejXty9.pdf


by Melissa (Bergman) Levy, Youth Director The USY board has been hard at work

this summer getting ready for a jam-packed, fun-filled school year! As I type this, we are gearing up to make our new Youth Lounge space feel like home. Come check out our new digs just off the social hall!

By the time you read this, we will be in the midst of our USY Kick-Off Weekend: a pool party on August 30 and a trip to Disneyland to meet up with other young

Jews in our region on August 31! Be sure to check Facebook and our boards for all the fun photos! And here are just SOME of the events to look forward to in September and October:

Kadima Kick-Off Weekend! (Kadima is grades 4-6.) Scavenger hunt (in conjunction with the Family Havdallah event) on Saturday September 13. Kickball and picnic at the park Sunday, September 14.

Shake Your Lulav Music Video Shoot! Yes, that’s right. We are rewriting a KC & the Sunshine Band classic and adding our own Jewish twist. Members of USY will “choreograph.” We’ll shoot this HILARIOUS video all over PJTC’s campus from Sunday, October 5 (Kadima’s day!) through Tuesday, October 7 (USY’s night!) We can’t wait to share what we come up with before Sukkot!

Lounge Nights are a way for USYers to get together and just hang out. We are planning these at LEAST every other Tuesday night this fall and welcome ideas from our community’s teenagers. September 9 will be an introductory lounge night with games, laughter, a bit of USY 101, and a chance to share ideas and interests. Tuesday, September 30 we’ll be watching Ghostbusters and discussing how to get rid of the ... eh ... “ghosts of our past” as we bring in the Jewish New Year. Don’t you love how we made that work? A sports night, and an evening of “Mean Girls” (and how NOT to be one of them!) are also in the works. Pssst! Teenagers out there! What else do YOU want to see happen?

Interested in joining Kadima or USY? Pick up a membership packet in the PJTC lobby! Want to learn more about our programs? We’ve started making phone calls, sending emails, and sending Facebook messages to introduce ourselves. Have you heard from us yet? If not, let’s make sure we have your correct contact information! Please email Melissa at [email protected].

Membership Committee USY ColumnWine, Cheese, and Other Tasty Bites - Friday, September 12, 2014 at 6:00 PM

by Andrea Edwards, Membership VPAll prospective members and congregants

are invited to attend our annual Wine, Cheese, and Other Tasty Bites (enough to call it dinner) reception on Friday, September 12, beginning at 6:00 PM. This wonderful event, sponsored by the Membership Committee, is a great opportunity for guests to meet

one another, get to know our inspiring clergy and staff, and mingle with members of the PJTC Board and congregation. We encourage all congregants to bring friends and family/prospective members to the reception.

Then, please plan to stay for our beautiful Shabbat services, beginning at 7:30 PM. After the service, PJTC Sisterhood will host a delicious Oneg with wonderful homemade desserts baked by talented Sisterhood members.

Keep in mind that we have just instituted a ‘free’ first-year membership plan for all new members; please be sure to pass this information along to your family and friends. Yes, that’s right! First-year dues are waived for new families (some restrictions apply, of course); the PJTC office can give you more details.

Please join us for a delightful evening of food and drink, prayer, and more food. Questions? Call our PJTC office at (626) 798-1161.

Topic: Exploring the World of Yiddish Women Poets,

with Norma Fain Pratt

RSVP to [email protected] or

[email protected]. Save the date for our

next gathering on Thursday, November 20.

RoshChodesh

elebration5775

Thursday Evening7:30 to 9:00 PM

We welcome the month of

Heshvan — October 23At the home of Susan Auerbach

New Family Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Fridayssept. 19Oct. 17

Service will include

Lots of Singing•

Ask the Rabbi•

Torah Portion Skit•

Ice Cream•

6:30 pMsOcial Hall

Pleasejoinus

For grades

K-3rd and

their families


Men's Club Newsby Andy Schwarz, Men's Club President

As we enter the fall season, the Men's Club is shifting into high gear. We are pleased to announce that on Sunday morning, September 7, we will sponsor a free pancake breakfast to welcome back our religious school students and their families and to greet our new LBSRS Director Rabbi Becky Silverstein.

During the High Holy Day season, the Men's Club will once again sponsor the High Holiday Shuttle Bus Service and will be helping out with ushering duties.

Everyone should have received a mailing with information about membership dues and our annual NFL Football Pool fundraiser. If you have not sent in your dues, please do so now. Women are welcome to join the Men's Club; we already have several women members. If you have any questions about the football pool, please contact Jerry Halpert. All proceeds from annual dues and the football pool go to help support the youth of our community as well as Temple programs and events.

The Men's Club will soon be installing a 40-inch TV in the Temple Lobby to be used as an electronic billboard. The television will list Temple events and activities along with pictures and videos.

Please mark your calendars for Saturday night, November 15, when we will host our Second Annual Men's Club Night at the Races Fundraiser. Last year's event was a tremendous success and a great time was had by all. This year's program promises to be even better.

Finally, the Board of Directors of the Men's Club and I would like to thank everyone for their support and wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.

Each Football Pool booklet is only $10, covers each week of the 18 week season and gives the holder 18 chances to win 1 of 3 cash

prizes mailed directly to the winners. 54 chances to win CASH

Booklets are available from Jerry Halpert 626-793-8783 or email: [email protected]

September 56:45 PM

Knell ChapelCome for an

evening of togetherness, song

and prayer!Join Judy Callahan, Director of B’nai Simcha Preschool,

and Cantor Ruth for a half-hour Shabbat experience filled with music and movement for families with children age seven and under.

Tot Shabbat Service

- Some of the Prizes -39” LED Flat Screen TV

$150 Visa Gift CardNordstrom Gift

Certificate4 Passes to

Universal StudiosLaker and Dodger Ticketsand many more to come!

Available to the best (or luckiest) handicappers.

2nd Annual Night at the Races at PJTCSaturday, November 15

The PJTC Men’s Club is Proud To offer you an evening of food, fun and Prizes

Doors open at 6:30 PMFirst race - 7:00 PM

Entry includes: Racing Book$2000 Play Money

Buffet DinnerBeverages & Prizes

Tickets $36.00 - After November 1: $40.00

Please invite friends and join us on the following Thursdays

September 18 October 23

7:30 PM in the Lounge


Help Us Create a More

Starting in September, PJTC’s new Caring Community program will assist our clergy with reaching out, responding to and providing caring services to members of our community who are ill, aging, home-bound, bereaved, facing a crisis, or attending to a loved one, and to our seniors ranging from the about-to-be-retired to active elders. You are warmly invited to let us know if you – or someone you know – need some extra attention, especially in the following four areas:

Maintaining contact with our frail members: We will reach out to those who are recuperating from an illness, or have long-term chronic conditions, are serving as caregivers for loved ones, or who for other reasons are not able to attend services and other programs.

Bereavement support: We will offer additional outreach to those who have been bereaved in the past year or two.

Information resources: Whether it’s an urgent crisis or a new visitor to our community, an ongoing problem with transportation, or a program for unaffiliated Jews in our area, we depend on congregants to let us know about needs, and we will try to respond.

Programming for seniors: A new “successful aging” program is emerging in Los Angeles, to serve the Jewish “boomer” generation as well as our older congregants, and we hope to import some of that to PJTC next spring.

If you or someone you know has a need to which we should respond, and/or if you would like to help in some way, please contact Claire Gorfinkel, Caring Community Coordinator.

by Liz Green, Book Club ChairThe PJTC Book Club is open to ALL temple members.

Please join our lively discussions, and bring your suggestions for books to read in upcoming months. We meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM.

September 11 (We will meet in the Lounge). Jerusalem’s Traitor by Desmond Seward. When the Jews revolted against Rome in 66 CE, Josephus, a Jerusalem aristocrat, was made a general in his nation’s army. Captured by the Romans, he saved his skin by finding favor with the emperor Vespasian. He then served as an adviser to the Roman legions, running a network of spies inside Jerusalem, in the belief that the Jews’ only

hope of survival lay in surrender to Rome. Josephus is our only source of information for the war of extermination that ended in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, and the amazing times in which he lived. Was Josephus a hero or a traitor?

October 8 (NOTE change of meeting date in observance of Sukkot. We will meet in Wohlmann Hall). Plainsong by Kent Haruf. Haruf reveals a whole community as he interweaves the stories of a pregnant high school girl, a lonely teacher, a pair of boys abandoned by their mother, and a couple of crusty bachelor farmers. From simple elements, Haruf achieves a novel of wisdom and grace, which was a finalist for the 1999 National Book Award.

November 13. Little Failure: A Memoir, by Gary Shteyngart. The author gives us a visceral sense of what it was like to be uprooted as a child from the U.S.S.R. to the U.S.A. He poignantly conveys his parents’ hard-fought efforts to make new lives for themselves in America, while using humor to chronicle his own difficulties in trying to bridge the dislocations of two cultures. (We will meet in Wohlmann Hall.)

PJTC Book Club selections are available at Vroman’s at a 20% discount.

Bruce and Rebecca Gaither Sylmar

Mark Richman and Virginia Huang Richman Pasadena

Michael and Luciona Rosenzweig Sierra Madre

Edan and Anna SheklowLa Crescenta

Diana FisherPasadena

Mercedes and Fernando FleischmanLa Canada

Eli and Anh Do DinerLos Angeles

Jenna Kloosterman and William RaileyPasadena

Nehama JacobsPasadena

Steven and Suzanne BarstonGlendale

A Warm Welcome to our New Membersby Andrea Edwards, Membership VP

On Friday evening, October 24, our new members are invited to a special dinner to be held in the Social Hall, starting at 6:00 PM.

We want all new members to be our guests, as the Membership Committee honors your presence in our community. New members, please mark your calendars now and look for an email invitation after the High Holy Days.


August DonationsGeneral Fund

Susan Lorin in memory of Stacy Ober’s mother, Lynn HarrisIra Rothstein in memory of our visitSandy & Steven Hartford in memory of Bob LevinsonGiovanna FradkinRoza Kuppermann in memory of Betty Fishman’s sister, Marion Prasow

Madeline Mark Memorial FundMichael & Diane Burr

Shabbes MinyanRoz & Larry Scherr in honor of Jeff Landau to thank him for his kindness

USYMichael & Diane Burr

Donations to General Fund Donated by: In Memory of:Ira Blitz Father, Julius BlitzIra Blitz Grandfather, Morris WeprinskyErich Schlecht & Deborah Noble Mother, Allison HeathLouise Wannier Father, Philip SaffmanLouis Friedman Father, Benjamin FriedmanPeter & Nurith Brier Aunt, Vally LoewenbergGaynell Stinson Mother, Juanita E. Wesson-MurrayJudy Fox Father, Harold CarshBetty Becker Seinfeld Mother, Doris BeckerJoan Halpert Father and Mother, Harry & Sadie AbendJoan Halpert Sister, Ruth AckermanJosh Goldberg Father, Zygmunt GoldbergJerome Kaplan Father, Paul KaplanLawrence Teitelbaum Father, Irving TeitelbaumRoza Kuppermann Sister, Tema DavidsonMarvin Gross Mother & Brother, Rita Gross & Howard GrossBarbara Weisenberg Grandmother, Fannie RetskeGeorge Lubow Father & Mother, Benes & Bella LubowRoz Lubow Mother, Ella HochsteinEdie Taylor Husband, Sam TaylorEdie Taylor Brother, Irvin VegoEdie Taylor Aunt, Esther VegoEdie Taylor Mother-in-Law, Jennie TaylorMichael & Janet Klekner Friend, Hanne O’DellMichael Klekner Sister, Merle Klekner

Sisterhood TributesTo Larry Bines & Robert Chao in loving memory of Larry’s dad, Marvin

Bines, from Lisa and Michael RittenbergTo Steve Edberg & family in loving memory of his father, Joe Edberg,

from Linda and Paul Rourman, and from Edie Taylor

September Birthdays

and Anniversaries

September 1 ....Allen Emmerich Joseph Widman

September 2 .... Helen Freeman Norma Pratt

September 3 ........Max Fishman September 5 ........... Talia Harris

Max Polansky September 6 ..... Jo Beth Cohen

Shayna Goldstein Ava Leonard Larry Moore

Abigail Sheklow September 7 ...........Nick Brown

Roni Orlina Emma Sale

Arlene Weiss September 8 ......... Fay Breslow

Barnaby Douglas Henny Moskowitz

Barbara Solish Sandra Sonies Eileen Temple

September 9 ........ Roger Brown Kylie Spindler

September 10 ..........Carol Sofer Kristine Garroway

September 11 .....Aaron Golden September 12 ...........Ellie Gerst

Janet Kadin September 13 ..Raina Markham

Andres Martinez Gail Moore

Maia Rosenbaum September 14 ...... Robert Bruck

Marvin Donner September 15 .........Miranda Ho

Jackson Douglas Jeremy Kaufman

September 16 ...... Liana Kindler Shana Levin

Monica Mitrani September 17 ....Maxwell Beller

Leo Garroway Sylvia Paz

Bonnie Skolnik

September 18 .... Daphna Enzer Julia Hartford

Felice Mittman September 19 ........ David Miller

Cherylynne Berger Evelyn Rappel

Hannah Temple September 20 .......... Ricki Lane

Grace Leonard Louise Wannier

September 21 ..Sharon DeMeritLenny Dalrymple

Hannah Friedman September 22 .....Joy Silverman

Max Brunngraber Kimberly Spindler

September 23 ........Kara Cohen Paris Cohen

Deborah Noble September 24 .Sylvia Schleimer

Francine Hokin KatzSeptember 25 ....Paul Andersen September 26 ....... Daniel Levin September 27 ....Roberta Braun

Zoe Bruck Maya Golden-Krasner

Paula Svonkin Jill Wright

September 28 ...Lisa Grossman Sanford Grossman Shoshanah Gurvis Rebecca Johnson

Michael Klekner September 29 .....Michael Kadin September 30 .......Ed Honowitz

Craig Pettigrew Sutton Spindler Acsa Villasenor

Jordan and Judy Ellis ................................................................9/2/1958Geoff and Jen DeBoskey ...........................................................9/2/2001Steve and Jennifer Leonard ......................................................9/3/2000Marc and Haley Karish ..............................................................9/3/2000Stuart and Stacy Miller ..............................................................9/3/2005Neil and Melissa Gabriel ............................................................9/5/1999Lawrence and Roz Scherr .........................................................9/6/1970Steve and Roberta Breton ........................#45 ....................9/7/1969Mark and Alice Rothenberg .......................................................9/7/1991Peter Nortman and Jodi Kinzler .................................................9/9/2000David and Jane Feinberg ..........................................................9/9/2001Scott and Laura Van Dellen ..................................................... 9/11/1983Matt and Stacy Ober ................................................................9/14/1985Ed Honowitz and Ellen Pais ....................................................9/19/1987Richard Novak and Joiline Hardman .......................................9/21/1997Laurence Harris and Ruth Berman Harris ...............................9/25/1997Robert and Jessica Weiner .....................................................9/28/1991

MiShaberach List UpdateBy Roz Scherr, PJTC Ritual Committee

Having Rabbi Grater or Cantor Ruth read out the names of ill or injured congregants, family and friends, plus saying a prayer for their healing is a special part of our regular Saturday morning service. However, our list

can get overly long, as we don’t always know when to remove names of people who are back in good health again.

To try to help manage our list, we would like to keep a name on the list for only one month, UNLESS YOU TELL US DIFFERENT. We’re certainly more than willing to keep names on longer if requested! But for short-term illnesses or accidents, we’re hoping that one month will be enough.


Yahrzeits for September (announced Fri/Sat preceding the date)Elul 6 September 01, 2014

Ruelene Hochman Bette Slifkin

Elul 7 September 02, 2014Gordon Franklin Ackerson

Margaret Bloom Fannie Retsky

Sarah Strauchler Elul 8 September 03, 2014

Molly Cohen Rose Green

Sarah Jaslow Lena Kantrowitz

Paul Kaplan Rose Leibl

Hanne O’Dell Leo Schafler Rose Tansky

Elul 9 September 04, 2014Stanley Claster

Howard Ledeen Joseph M. Levy

Lena Schultz Elul 10 September 05, 2014

Anna Jacoby John Loughren

Mildred Michaels Regina Moskowitz

Betty Shor Elul 11 September 06, 2014

Nathan Brown Albert Knight Ruth Lepold

Morris Shure Rachel Streiker

Elul 12 September 07, 2014Bernice Cutler

Evelyn Friedman Selma Hassman

Max Perry Harold Rothstein

Elul 13 September 08, 2014Irwin Grater

Nathan Greene Mordecai Greenspan

Thelma Lipton Jules Tragarz

Elul 14 September 09, 2014Isaac Goldfine

Louis Surle Elul 15 September 10, 2014

Laura Feiner Frieda Fishman

Jorge Goryn Max Hassman

Irene Levine Frieda Wohlman

Elul 16 September 11, 2014Judith Barron

Samuel Berkowitz William Farmer

Belle Levin Darlene R. Seligman

Estelle Sofer Irving Teitelbaum

Elul 17 September 12, 2014Israel Fradkin

George Schaffer Raymond Seligman

Elul 18 September 13, 2014Milton Bogad Sam Gordon Frida Leytes

Edward Martin Frieda Tatkin

Elul 19 September 14, 2014Frances Goldberg Rachel Goodstein

Isaac Levy Jeffrey Michaels

Elul 20 September 15, 2014Ruth Friedlander

Irving Pemstein Jacqueline Sencer

Esther Weise Elul 21 September 16, 2014

Max Spellman Elul 22 September 17, 2014

Cindy Bernath Martin Segal

Elul 23 September 18, 2014Louis Graff

Nathan Kuchinsky Elul 24 September 19, 2014

Dorothy Gross Elul 25 September 20, 2014

Lillian Ledeen Tessie Phillips

Elul 26 September 21, 2014Ethel Bortnik

Juda Fox Jerome Howard

Leo Klein Lois Kronsburg

Sophie Newman Elul 27 September 22, 2014

Mimi Gold Carolyn Nolan

Louis (Lewy) Silberberg Elul 28 September 23, 2014

Mohammad Basseri Elul 29 September 24, 2014

Miriam Farstad Pauline Maniloff

Anita Molduf Kimberly Orlin

Tishrei 1 September 25, 2014Bernard Bowman Maurice Lassman

Rose Ostrow Norman Whitman

Tishrei 2 September 26, 2014Lynda Brown Goldy Davis

Fortunee Hodara Dena R. Jackson

Dorothy Lowenthal Judy Schnitzer

Blanche Spector Tishrei 3 September 27, 2014

Shari Cohen Miriam Goldberg

Tishrei 4 September 28, 2014Jack Clotzman Dorothy Factor Laura Kreitman Stanley Lanes

Bertha Saperstein Emanuel Ufland

Richard Alan Weisz Tishrei 5 September 29, 2014

Paula Frankel Goldie Landsman

Adolf L. Levy Esther Lokietz

Ruth Wrobel Tishrei 6 September 30, 2014

Martin Bender Ernest Beutler

Len Gold George Katzman

Ila B. Klekner Vera Lefkowitz

Robert Postman Ann Schneider

Bob Several

Interfaith Study Groupby Cecilia Fox, PJTC’s ISG representative

The Interfaith Study Group was founded in 2007 by members of Pasadena Jewish Temple, All Saints Episcopal Church, Pasadena, and Islamic Center of So.Calif., L.A. Vegetarian potluck is after the one hour meeting,

Sunday, September 14, at PJTC, Wohlmann HallSophia Momand, M.D., family physician, board member

Islamic Shura Council. Topic: Doctor for the Homeless: A Community Outreach Story.

Sunday, October 12, at All Saints Church, 132 N. Euclid, Pasadena Rev. Ed Bacon, Rector, All Saints. Topic: Transformed by a Professional Laugher: A Transmission of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Sunday, November. 9, Islamic Center of So. Calif., 434 S. Vermont, L.A., Tarek Shawky, from Altadena mosque Masjid Al-Taqwa, will speak on Nature’s Example of Submission to the Divine: Quranic reflections on nature as a guide to submission, and what it means to submit to our divinely inspired human instincts.

For further information re carpools, etc., contact Norma Sigmund, [email protected] phone (626) 583-2734 or Cecilia Fox

The Jewish Youth Orchestra Continuing the Musical Traditions of our Culture!

by Janice Markham and Leeav SoferThe Jewish Youth Orchestra (JYO) is a music program under

the auspices of the Cultural Arts Department of the Jewish Federation of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. The JYO is dedicated to the study and performance of Jewish music as well as music influenced and connected to Jewish culture.

This unique ensemble is co-directed by Janice Markham and Leeav Sofer. Cultural Arts Director Hazzan Judy Sofer created a home for this ensemble at the Federation. The JYO is celebrating the start of its fourth year with fourteen enthusiastic young musicians!

Upcoming performances: Nixon Library on November 16, and Festival of Jewish Music on December 14. For more details: www.jewishsgpv.org.

For information on joining the orchestra, inviting the orchestra to play at an event, or making a contribution to the orchestra, please call Cultural Arts Program Coordinator Hazzan Judy Sofer at (626) 445-0810 or email [email protected].


1434 N. Altadena Drive • Pasadena CA 91107 http://www.pjtc.net/ ( 6 2 6 ) 7 9 8 - 1 1 6 1

ServicesMinyan Services are held every Sunday in Knell Chapel, beginning at 9:00 AM.

October 3/4 Yom KippurFri. Early Kol Nidre 6:00 PM Knell ChapelFri. Kol Nidre 7:00 PM Galpert Sanctuary

Yom Kippur/YizkorSat. Service 9:00 AM Galpert Sanctuary

October 9/10 SukkotSukkot

Thurs. Service 9:00 AM Knell ChapelKiddush Luncheon hosted by Ruth Kaye and Marcia Alper

Fri. Service 9:00 AM Knell ChapelOctober 10/11 Chol Hamoed Sukkot

Sisterhood Sukkot Potluck Fri. 6:00 PM Katz TerraceFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary


Sat. Service 9:00 AM Knell ChapelKiddush hosted by the

Shabbes Minyan GroupOctober 16/17 Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah

Shemini AtzeretThurs. Service 9:00 AM Knell ChapelThurs. Service 7:00 PM Galpert Sanctuary

Simchat Torah, Kabbalat Panimand Consecration

Simchat TorahFri. Service 9:00 AM Knell Chapel

October 17/18 Parashat: BereshitKabbalat Service 6:30 PM Social HallFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary


Sat. Service 9:00 AM Knell ChapelKiddush hosted by Shabbes Minyan Group

October 24/25 Parashat: NoahKabbalat Service 6:30 PM Social HallFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary


Sat. Service 9:00 AM Knell ChapelShabbat Rinah 9:30 PM Wohlmann HallKiddush hosted by Shabbes Minyan Group

October 31/November 1 Parashat: Lekh lekhaFri. Service 7:30 PM Galpert Sanctuary

Noam Metivier Bar MitvahSat. Service 9:00 AM Galpert Sanctuary

Oneg and Kiddush hosted by Julie Sonigo and Jerome Metivier

Rosh HashanahErev—Wed., Sept. 24

Service ............................... 8:00 PMFirst Day—Thurs., Sept. 25Brachot/Shacharit ................9:00 AM

Tashlich —Thurs., Sept. 25The Arboretum .................... 4:00 PM

Second Day—Fri., Sept. 26Brachot/Shacharit ................9:00 AMFamily Service .................... 5:30 PM

Led by Rabbi Silversteinfollowed by "bring your own" Shabbat Dinner

High Holy Days Service Schedule Yom Kippur

Kol Nidre—Fri. Oct. 3Early Kol Nidre 6:00 PMKol Nidre 7:00 PM

Yom Kippur DaySat., Oct. 4

Brachot/Shacharit ............9:00 AMTorah Service

Yizkor MemorialFollowed by Rabbi's Sermon

Musaf Service................To FollowStudy Session .................3:45 PMMinchah ...........................5:00 PMNeilah ..............................6:00 PMHavdallah ........................7:15 PM

by Brain Mark, Strategic Planning Committee

I want to bring you up-to-date on the activities and progress of your Strategic Planning Committee (SPC). As you know, the SPC was charged by the Board to make an assessment of our current health and vitality and to make recommendations on how to ensure that our health and vitality continues into our second one hundred years as a synagogue.

We labored for months and concluded that whi le we are eminently successful as a synagogue we do not have a vision of where we are going. We have a healthy treasury but a declining membership. We are concerned that without thoroughly understanding how we as a congregation see ourselves, we cannot sufficiently plan for our future. We concluded that we need outside, professional, and dispassionate analysis – a consultant.

I am pleased to tell you that at our PJTC Board meeting of August 18, 2014, our Board endorsed our analysis and voted to retain a consultant with

deep experience in working with synagogues: “Measuring Success."

You will be hearing a good deal more about PJTC’s strategic planning at our High Holy Days services. One of our most important goals is to be sure our temple leadership and membership are in alignment about how we want our synagogue to serve us.

The first task, as we move forward in our strategic planning, is to take a survey of our members' needs and wants. The survey will be via email sent out from three joint signers: Rabbi Grater, Executive Director Eitan Trabin, and me. If you do not have email, don’t worry, you will be able to access the survey at PJTC. All responses will be held in strictest confidence.

I ask your help in participating in the survey. Your voice can and will be heard. The pace of the strategic planning process will be accelerating, and I will keep you thoroughly informed.

Thank you

Strategic Planning Committee

7 Tishrei - 7 HeshvanOctober 2014

1 October 2014


Come Cheer On Your Federation & PJTC Friends

In The Jfed Players’ Upcoming Production:Don’t Drink the Water

a comedy by Woody AllenPerformances will be at the

Arroyo Pacific Academy400 Rolyn Place, Arcadia

Five Wonderful Performance Dates:Saturdays, October 11 and 18 at 8:00 PM•Sunday, October 12 at 2:00 PM •Sunday, October 19 at 2:00 and 6:30 PM•

Tickets: $20 (general seating), $10 (children/students)Our talented cast includes PJTC members:

Karen Hochman Brown, Neil Brown, John Carlton, and George Roegler

For more information or to buy tickets, call the Federation at (626) 445-0810 or email [email protected]

Sukkot Potluck DinnerShare an evening of food & friendship at one

of Sisterhood’s most popular annual events!

Friday, October 106:00 p.m. Dinner

7:30 p.m. Shabbat ServiceKatz Terrace

(Dress accordingly for an evening outdoors)- Participate in our Potluck -

Bring a ready-to-serve dairy or pareve appetizer, entrée, salad, or vegetable dish

for eight in a disposable container.In observance of Kashrut, all food items must

be brought in disposable containers and should be assembled at home, ready to

serve; no heating available.

Sisterhood to provide the rest, including desserts for the Oneg following services.

You are also welcome to bring a bottle of wine to accompany your dinner.

No reservations necessary.For further details or questions, contact: Nancy Carlton @ 626.798.5920 or

[email protected]

October BirthdaysOctober 1 ................ Liam Davis

Ryann Jorban October 2 ................ Dawn Lyon

Sarah Weisz Bailey Woolsey

October 3 ..............Alex Arkader Jenna Forster

Jonathan Herbst Roberta Tragarz

October 4 ...................Lisa Lane Erika Leyva Alex Meyers

Richard Novak Sarah Ostroff

Alan Schaefer Robbie Schaefer

Ruth Slater October 5 ..............Yael Grinblat

Maya Grove October 7 ............ Susan Carroll

Clara Jacobs Ruth Kaye

Howard Schneider October 8 ........ Cyrus Garroway

Lisa Goldstein Devota-Rose Pistol-Boesch

October 9 ................Jodi Kinzler Ilan Orlina

Suzanne Spitz October 10 ..............Tara Brown

Jana Dickter Erica Fishman

Ariel Harris October 11 ... Mary Ann Bernath

Bruce Gaither Maria Tornek

Laura Waluch October 12 ..Corinne Rotenberg October 13 .......... Noah Arkader

Matilda Feuer John Guest

Olivia Honowitz Kevin Jick

Rachelle Silberberg October 14 .........Noam Metivier

Sara Sternberg Nathan Temple

October 15 ........Norma Chodos Ella Levine Grater

Noah Levine Grater Raul Martinez

Jeff Stein October 16 .. Roza Kuppermann

Leah Morrow Richard Ricciardi

Cynthia Shilling October 19 .....Karolyn Berkman

Harold Kern Reuben Lam

Jesse Radulovic October 20 .........Daniel Sigoloff

Joshua Tornek Allegra Wright

October 21 ...............Barry Gold Warren Meislin

October 22 ............ Joshua Copi Nathan Feinberg

Jonathan Grinblat Carol Mills

Paul Spiegel October 23 .............June Brodie

Lea Kiguelman October 24 ............Joan Halpert October 25 ...... Joiline Hardman

Giannina Tornek October 26 Barbara Weisenberg October 27 ...Christopher Grove October 28 ........Gavrielle Blank

Ellen Dinerman Valerie Kronsburg

October 29 .........Ariana Basseri Karen Lujan

Matthew Sofer Jonathan Swerdlow

October 30 ........Lauren Frankel Roxana Honowitz

Isaac Tragarz October 31 ..........Grace Gaither

Ray Nehdar Jenelle Rotenberg

and AnniversariesJoshua and Paris Cohen .........................................................10/5/1996Doug and Keri Axel ..................................................................10/6/2001Peter and Roberta Braun .........................................................10/9/1977Mike Reynolds and Feridey Carr .............................................10/9/2005Michael and Diane Burr .........................................................10/12/1980Bob and Hilary Jacobs ...........................................................10/13/1985Randy and Mona Shulman ....................................................10/13/2002Lowell Bernstein and Sherri Hauer ........................................10/14/2007George Bermudez and Joy Silverman ...................................10/17/1992Mel and Marcia Spira .............................................................10/20/1960Alfred Solish and Margaret Frerking .........#40 ................10/20/1974Mickey and Mary Ann Bernath ...............................................10/21/1966Moshe and Ryna Aviram ..........................#45 ................10/21/1969Joseph and Rebecca Johnson ..............................................10/21/2001Sam and Mala Langholz ........................................................10/24/1952Steven and Judy Balian .........................................................10/24/1998Jackson and Alex Douglas ....................................................10/24/1998Sam and Peggy Schiffman ....................................................10/26/1958Bruce and Kelly Linden ..........................................................10/29/1995Allen and Karen Gross ................................. #45 ..................10/31/1969

22 October 2014


Yahrzeits for October (announced Fri/Sat preceding the date)Tishrei 7 October 01, 2014

Bernard Barron Alexander Dorman

Cecila Eisenberg Tishrei 8 October 02, 2014

Adele Abrams Raphael Simcha Davidson

Mary Goldman Sandra Lehrer

Steven J. Markman Rachel Wrobel

Tishrei 9 October 03, 2014Miriam Rosen

Sylvia Rosenberg Sol Weisenberg

Tishrei 10 October 04, 2014Abraham Abis

Toby Bluestein Yakov Bortnik

Esther Corson Alexander David Frank Emmerich

Max Ginsberg Polly Robin

Henry Sandig Herman Sofer

Tishrei 11 October 05, 2014Rose Chessen

Fredric Gologorsky Tishrei 12 October 06, 2014

Natalie Bender Jeanne Cornetto

Mamie Glassman David Hamburg

Molly Helman Harry Krohn

Rose Soshnik Ida Vegotsky

Tishrei 13 October 07, 2014Rose Connick Raye Morgan Max Streiker

Tishrei 14 October 08, 2014Alex Feiner

Benjamin Fine Leonard Kustner Philip Rosenberg

Frances Sampson

Tishrei 15 October 09, 2014Morris Burten

Rebecca Cohen Harold Ginsberg

Molly Rabstein Tishrei 16 October 10, 2014

Kate F. Cytron David Davis

Alfred Fluster Julius Ganulin

Sydney Gelber Nathan Hartman Eva Rabinowitch Estelle Roodman

Muriel Walter Tishrei 17 October 11, 2014

Ralph Baskin Lillian Rebecca Kahn

Herbert Kronsburg Aron Kuppermann

Rose Rosenberg Stanley Svonkin

Jack Younessi Tishrei 18 October 12, 2014

Benny Lorin Tishrei 19 October 13, 2014

Irene Groban Katherine Kokis

Minnie Mittleman Ruth Silverman

Tishrei 20 October 14, 2014Donald Cozen

Arnold Davidson Margaret Hochschild

John Schroeder Tishrei 21 October 15, 2014

Jan Comras Louis Donner Judith Faden

Louis Gan Bertha Goldman

Esther Mastey Alex Roseman

Stanley Svonkin Mark Umansky

Roslyn Wynn

Tishrei 22 October 16, 2014Ida Gordon

Kenneth Pratt Tishrei 23 October 17, 2014

Dorothy Faibish Howard Krachman

Maurice Salz Seymour Spar

Tishrei 24 October 18, 2014Marshall Alper

Lori Brandstetter Joseph Levenson

Meta Mendel Linda Scanlon

Tishrei 25 October 19, 2014Leo Cohen

Alexander S. David Sherman Finesilver

Betty Katzen Sydney Kirschen Tavous Younessi

Tishrei 26 October 20, 2014April Hagan

Fay Katz Charles Liebman

Murray Morrkw Tishrei 27 October 21, 2014

Bernard Blumenfeld Marshall Gumbiner

Isaac Hodara Harold Levenson Seymour Posen

Charles Sussman Tishrei 28 October 22, 2014

Libby Balkin Beatrice Several

Edwin Smith Edward Spira Elaine Weise

Donald Eli Witkin Tishrei 29 October 23, 2014

Charles Levinson Evelyn Schaefer

Tishrei 30 October 24, 2014Harry Browdy Bess Donald

Fanny Dvoredsky Barnet Ginsberg Clara Goldberg

Ermiene Mallinger Abe Selrenik

Sophia Weiner Heshvan 1 October 25, 2014

Bessie Breslow Connie Chodos Howard Coplan

Melvin Feiner Mortimer Felsinger

Herman Scherr Heshvan 2 October 26, 2014

Harry Abend Minnie Heller Samuel Reff

Anna Umansky Heshvan 3 October 27, 2014

Jean Frechtman Julius Kaplan

Hyman Schwartz Pauline Todd

Heshvan 4 October 28, 2014Eleanor Jacobs Kurt Rosenthal

Heshvan 5 October 29, 2014Louis Beskin

David Fain Giesela Farber Samuel Shrifter

Heshvan 6 October 30, 2014Charles Baker Evelyn Blinder

Benjamin C. Eisenberg Rudolf Seelig

Alida Ultan Heshvan 7 October 31, 2014

Norman Finer Sadye Goldman

Benedetto Mascoli Minnie Weissman

— Contact for Donations —Donate to Temple Projects & FundsOrder a Memorial PlaqueFreeman Passover FundOrder Leaf/Stone on Tree of Life ... Temple Office (626) 798-1161Shabbat b'Lev Music Fund ...................................... Cantor RuthMAC Committee............................................................. Aty RotterPJTC Oral History Project ...................................Michael Several Simcha & Memorial Tablecloths ............................ Paula Waluch Sisterhood's Lena Berman Tribute Fund .................. Roz Scherr Dedicate a Prayer Book ...................................... Sheila PadlipskyLarge Print Sim Shalom .................................................Roz Scherr Rabbi Galpert Memorial Fund ........................................ Jan Pais

Shirley Hoffman L.B. Silver Religious School........................................... Jan PaisTorah Fund Donations ...............................................Bobbi SloanJudaica Shop ...............................................................Stacy Miller Sisterhood Kitchen Fund ....................................Nancy Copeland Women's Retreat Fund .........................................Nancy CopelandMadeline Mark Memorial Fund ...................................Ruth Several

3 October 2014

Documentary Discussion GroupOur first Documentary film and Discussion Group of the

year will meet on Tuesday, October 21, at 7:00 PM at PJTC. Please note our new meeting night! We offer an opportunity for you to view interesting and thought-provoking Jewish-themed documentary films and to share views and ideas with others. The film for October is The Jewish Cardinal. This drama details the true story of Jean-Marie Lustiger, the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, who became a leader in the Catholic Church. For more information, contact Jerry Halpert at [email protected].

The FLAME 12 September 20141 October 2014

To view the October FLAME

calendar clickHere


Arlene & Maury Weiss, Jim & Sue Hogan, Jim & Sue Sanford, & Alanna Sanford, Ira Blitz, Eitan Trabin, Cantor Ruth Berman Harris, Laurence Harris, & 3 kids, Becky Silverstein, Larry & Lianne Herbst, Elliott & Jonathan, Jon & Sarah Weisz, Jeremy, Alex, Rachel, Aaren, Willie & Debbie Ordonez & Owens (son) Stacy Ober, Ruth Failer, Stacy Miller, Andy Schwarz, Jake & Melissa Levy, Elliott Mazur, Judy & Phil Callahan, Ruth Chan, Robert, Gerson, Robert III, Alex Beck, Elisa Rothenberg, Shayna Rothenberg and Alex & Jeremy Weisz

Hannah and Daniel Crump are the youngest of four children born in Pasadena to Wendy and Stephen Crump. They will be called to the Torah for their b’nai mitzvah on Shabbat, September 6. They both are in the eighth grade and attend

La Canada High School. Although they are twins, the two have very different

interests. Daniel is a passionate baseball player and Hannah, an avid horseback rider.

As Hannah and Daniel’s shared mitzvah project, they have chosen to support Guide Dogs in Israel. You can make a difference in the life of a visually-impaired Israeli by donating to www.israelguidedog.org or purchasing an “eye can see” bracelet from Hannah or Daniel for only $2.00. All proceeds go directly to the Israel Guide Dog Foundation.

B'nai Mitzvah

Religious School students and parents are invited to reconnect, schmooze, and enjoy a festive back-to-school pancake breakfast at 9:15 AM on September 7. Men's Club invites all LBSRS families to ring in 2014 with friends, family and food before the first day of classes. Please RSVP to Bruce at the Temple office (626) 798-1161 or to [email protected]. See you there!

Welcome Back To Religious SchoolFree Pancake Breakfast

Beautification Day

Rose Elizabeth Smith was born on August 5 to Jessica Scillieri Smith and Peter Smith in Canton NY. She weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz. and was 21 inches long. Her Safta, Breyne

Moskowitz, says that she is cute as a button, with blue eyes and black hair. Rose's great-aunt and -uncle, Rabbis Susie and Steven Moskowits conducted the naming ceremony. We miss Breyne, who left PJTC to live in NY, and is thrilled to help raise her new granddaughter.

*************News from Ginny and Ira Blitz: their granddaughter,

Odeliah Miriam Blitz, 8 lbs., 6 oz., was born in New York at 3:20 AM on Wednesday, August 6, to Matt and Daphna Blitz. The family and big brother, Ariel Joseph, are delighted to welcome their new little girl.

*************Mazel tov to grandparents Judy and Phil Callahan and

parents Ezra and Marisa Callahan on the birth of Emilia Ruth (Emmie) on August 28 — a 3-generation PJTC family!

9


Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center (PJTC) is a dynamic and inclusive, multigenerational community. Our congregation provides abundant opportunities for religious worship and observance, lifelong educational and spiritual learning, community building, leadership and volunteering. Please join us for one or all of our 2014 Annual Open House events to see what we’re all about!

September 12, 6:00 PM: Friday Evening Wine, Cheese and other Bites

Followed by 7:30 PM Shabbat Services Open to all new and prospective members, this is an

opportunity to introduce your friends to the PJTC family. Oneg hosted by Sisterhood

September 13, 6:30 PM: Saturday Evening Family Havdallah with Pizza, Ice Cream,

Bounce House, Story Time and Scavenger HuntThe night will end with the traditional Havdallah

ceremony.Please contact PJTC (626) 798-1161, or

[email protected] for more information.

High Holy Day Ushers Needed The High Holy Days are

coming soon, and we are once again recruiting ushers. Ushers’ main job is to make congregants feel welcome and secure and to help them have a good experience at PJTC. There will again be two

shifts for evening services and three during the day. You can see the locations of the various stations and specific schedule times on diagrams here [links to diagram – hh13usher-pkt-diagram.140808.pdf, schedule – hh14usher-sched080.140808.pdf] . There is also a document [link to hh13usher-pkt-f0.140808.pdf] describing the usher duties. Your help in filling the nearly one hundred slots throughout the High Holy Days would be much appreciated. You can volunteer by emailing or calling Phil Callahan at [email protected], 796-3556. Every effort will be made to give you your requested time and location.

Thank you to our Captain volunteers: Stu Miller, Neil Brown, Matt Ober, Jack Singer, Dave Lorin, Ed Honowitz, and Richard Samuelson. Contact me or any of the Captains to answer any questions.

We will be holding an usher training session Sunday, September 21 at 10:00 AM. Please make every effort to attend.

by Carol Sofer, Adult Education Chair PJTC Adult Ed Sponsors "A Walk Through the Siddur"

Workshop on October 19 Join us for a deep personal journey as

visiting Rabbi T'mimah Ickovits guides us through an introduction to a Walk through the Siddur. Familiar to every Jew, the Siddur is an inspired compendium of prayer. Its forms, structures, and language invite entry into the journey of Jewish prayer. The prayer cycle is a most natural process; in fact, its flow

models the human brain's structure. Workshop participants will begin the "Walk Through the Siddur" a study of the Sh'ma Yisrael, the quintessential Jewish declaration. Torah teaches us to chant it twice daily. Tradition invites the words of the Sh'ma to be recited before falling asleep each night and to be the final words before leaving this life. In addition, the workshop will offer many opportunities for discussion as well as for individual prayers and chevrura (partner) study. A delicious, healthy salad lunch is included in the $18 workshop donation. Join your friends at PJTC on Sunday, October 19, 12:30-4:00 PM in Wohlmann Hall. Please send a check made out to PJTC Adult Ed or RSVP to Bruce at the PJTC office. Rabbi T'mimah Ickovits is a teacher of siddur and prayer. She also compiled the "Holistic Jew" series of siddurim, serves on the Steering Committee of Jewish Burial Society of Southern California, is a Continuum Movement Instructor and the founding rabbi of Holistic Jew in Santa Monica.

High Holiday Prep Program. In preparation for the upcoming holidays, Rabbi Joshua Grater will teach Getting Higher & Holier on the High Holy Day, a series of three sessions to be held on two Wednesday evenings, September 10 and 17, at 7:30 PM, and on a Shabbat morning, September 13. The Shabbat experience will also be enhanced by music from Jubilation Music. Please RSVP to Debi, Rabbi Grater's assistant, by email at [email protected] or by calling the PJTC office.

Israel Lecture Series Adult Education and Israel Committees are pleased to announce that beginning Wednesday evening, October 22, 7:00-9:00 PM, the nine video lecture series, "Engaging Israel: Foundations for a New Relationship," will be available to PJTCers, facilitated and led by Rabbi Joshua Grater and other PJTC clergy. This series, created and produced by the famous Shalom Hartman Institute of Israel, focuses on the critical questions facing world Jewry relating to Israel. Each video includes a 25-minute lecture by Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman followed by a 25-minute dialogue between Rabbi Hartman and members of the Engaging Israel Research Team or other subject matter experts. The dialogues explore some of the complexities of the issues raised in the lectures. Each video can stand by itself as a wonderful learning experience. One need not attend all nine to benefit. The series will continue through May 2015. Please RSVP to Debi, Rabbi Grater's assistant.

The Hartman Institute video lecture series brings the excellence of Hartman scholarship directly to the PJTC community. The lecture series provides relevant, contemporary approaches to the most urgent challenges facing the Jewish people today. For more information, please contact Carol Sofer, Adult Education Committee Chairperson.

Adult Eduction

10


Kadima Kick-Off Weekend! September 13-14

(Kadima is open to all Jewish youth grades 4-6) Scavenger Hunt

Saturday, September 136:00 PM Katz Terrace

Meet other kadimanicks and team up for a special scavenger hunt designed just for you! While parents and younger siblings are outside on the terrace for PJTC's Family Havdallah event, Kadima will take over the rest of

the PJTC campus for a fun-filled race to the finish! A teenage member of USY will be with your team every step of the way to show you how it's done! Then, come enjoy pizza and other activities with your family back out on the terrace, and we'll all sing havdallah blessings together to end the evening!

This event is FREE, but you must RSVP to be part of the special Kadima portion of the evening!Please RSVP to our Youth Director, Melissa Levy at

[email protected] by Wednesday September 11

Picnic and Games Sunday, September 14.

12:30-2:00 PMMeet at Victory Park, specific location

TBD. Make new friends, play kickball, learn

cool new songs and have a picnic in the park! Vegetarian lunch will be provided for participants. Please wear sneakers, and bring

a picnic blanket!Non-Kadima Members: $7,

Kadima Members: FREEPlease RSVP to our Youth

Director, Melissa (Bergman)Levy at [email protected] by Wednesday September 11. **All participants must bring or have already completed signed waivers for this off-site event.**

Want to learn more about Kadima, or how to become a member? Pick up a Kadima Membership Packet in the atrium of PJTC! Or, email Melissa at [email protected].

LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!!

[email protected]. While I am personally confident that Rabbi Silverstein’s talents will translate into many successes over time, we must be patient. His current tenure as our Education Director has now reached an entire six weeks. Please bring your enthusiasm and support as we begin the exciting LBSRS academic year on September 7. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

The B’nai Simcha Preschool has been a vibrant institution of Jewish education for more than a generation. Many of our children and grandchildren are graduates or are current students of the school. I am thrilled that B’nai Simcha will now be located at PJTC. The process of physically moving and constructing a new school at our site has not been easy. A tremendous amount of advance planning and work needed to be done. First, a successful CUP (Conditional Use Permit) was obtained from L.A. County, an ordeal that took many months. A professional space planner was then hired to design and coordinate construction plans with the Louis B. Silver Religious School and the Weizmann Day School. The entire summer has been spent bringing the preschool site up to code, while creating a fun and inviting space for the children and their teachers. We can now look forward to the arrival of the smiling, eager to learn, and energetic new students at PJTC. There will certainly be some logistic challenges at the start. However, the synergy and joy of having even more kids on our campus should be ... amazing. As a pediatrician and parent, I can’t wait!

The PJTC/USY Program has a long history of inconsistency in memberships and interest from our temple youth. I am very hopeful that our new Youth Director, Melissa (Bergman) Levy, will provide the enthusiasm and programming direction that will spark a heightened interest this year. I am also happy that my daughter, Aaren Weisz Heller, has volunteered as Youth Advisor to help with this project. Rabbi Silverstein is likewise committed to the cause, agreeing to assist and promote the youth program at the Religious School. There is so much potential for a successful and enriching social experience for our PJTC kids and high schoolers. There are plans to reach out to the Weizmann Day School students as well. As a parent of four USY graduates, I have personally witnessed the peer bonding and strong sense of Jewish identity this program can achieve. I encourage all of our PJTC families with applicable children to give USY a tryout this year. The Kadima USY is for students in grades 3-6; Junior USY is for students in grades 7 and 8; and, Senior USY is for students in grades 9-12. You can obtain more information by contacting Melissa at: [email protected]. Find out how much fun being a Jewish youth can be!

The Louis B. Silver Religious School, the B’nai Simcha Preschool, the Weizmann Day School, and the PJTC USY are three schools and a youth program we should all be very proud of. Please join me as we collectively celebrate our youth during the High Holy Days. The Kol Nidre Torah procession for 5775 will honor these four wonderful institutions. I hope that you and yours have a Happy and Healthy New Year!

L’shana Tova Tikatevu,Jon Weisz, PJTC President

PJTC Adult Ed will co-sponsor a Jewish Federation Book Event. Save the date! On Tuesday night, November 18, at 7:30 PM, we will host a Jewish Book event at PJTC.

Jon Weisz's article continued from page 1

Safety and SecurityAt our events and services, kids are great but remember our staff has a lot on its plate.Keeping children safe is an important thing to do but parents and grandparents, it’s up to YOU!

11

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Thanks to Our August VolunteersPJTC offers our members a variety of ways to be of service

to the Temple. Those who are able to give of their time are vital to sustaining our community.

To host an Oneg, call Arlene Weiss.To host a Kiddush, call Roz Scherr.

Oneg and Kiddush HostsAug.1/2 Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Kiddush hosted by Richard Samuelson Aug. 8/9 Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Kiddush hosted by the Shabbes Minyan Group Aug. 15/16 Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Kiddush hosted by Ale Kiguelman Aug 22/23 Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Kiddush hosted by the Shabbes Minyan Group Aug 29/30 Oneg hosted by Sisterhood Kiddush hosted by the Adult B'nai Mitvah Class

Gabbai’im Mickey Butnik Sondra Dreshner John Guest Ofer Ho Roz Scherr Erich Schlecht

Torah, Haftarah and Tisha B'Av Readers Marcia Alper Bonnie Buratti Mark Chodos Sondra Dreshner John Guest Matt Hurwitz Franci Levine-Grater Jacob Levy Linda Rourman Roz Scherr Ruth Several Ethan Sharp Erich Schlecht Bobbi Sloan

Office Volunteers Ryna Aviram Ginny Blitz Judy Ellis Sue Galpert Jerry Halpert Michelle Kandel Ruth Kaye Marlene Reichenbach George Roegler Roz Scherr Edie Taylor Arlene Weiss

Sisterhood’s Annual Torah Fund Campaign by Bobbi Sloan, VP, Sisterhood’s Rae Goodstein Memorial Torah Fund

Education is one of the most important means of transferring the wealth of tradition from one generation to the next. When you contribute to Torah Fund, you are investing in the future of our children: an investment in knowledge pays the best interest! Torah Fund supports The Jewish Theological

Seminary in New York, the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Israel, and the Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires.

This year’s Torah Fund theme is Mishpahah: Family. This theme encourages us, as Conservative/Masorti Jews, to recognize the diverse character of our families. It also encourages our communities to be pluralistic, welcoming, and open-hearted. The community lends its strength to each family and in turn draws renewed energy, wisdom and direction from its cherished members.

A letter has recently been sent out to the community asking for your donations. Donors of $180.00 and above will be given this year’s pin/pendant as a gift for your participation. During the holidays and Shabbat, I will be distributing the pins. We appreciate any amount that you are able to give.

Contact me at (626) 254-9724 for more information or donations.

Announcing The PJTC Gift Membership ProgramThe Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center is excited to

announce a new and exciting Gift Membership Program. As a valued member of PJTC, you already know that our synagogue is a wonderful place where people come together for Jewish worship, learning, and community. But there are many Jews in our area who are not affiliated with a synagogue and could benefit from what PJTC has to offer.

The PJTC Gift Membership Program gives you the opportunity to offer a free, 12-month “gift” membership to unaffiliated families and friends. Few gift-giving opportunities in life hold such high potential. There is no cost to you or the recipient, and there is no limit to the number of gift memberships you may offer. Membership in our vibrant congregation opens doors to unique Jewish experiences that can have an impact for a lifetime and for future generations.

Recipients are considered full members of the congregation, entitled to all the benefits of a member in good standing, including High Holy Days tickets, as well as the opportunity to participate in all Temple programs. In addition, recipients may enroll their children in the Religious School at the tuition rates normally charged to dues-paying members. At the end of the sponsorship period, the new members will be invited to join PJTC as regular members at the appropriate dues rate for their demographic category. (Special dues arrangements may be requested.)

Consider presenting a membership to: …an adult needing a little encouragement to reconnect with his/her Jewish roots; … a couple looking for opportunities to socialize with other like-minded folks; …a senior who would enjoy our variety of events and programs; … families wanting to foster their children’s Jewish education and identity; … an interfaith family or LGBT individual who is seeking an open and welcoming congregation; or anyone searching for spiritual connection and meaningful worship experiences.

We hope you will participate in this mitzvah and help us open our doors to your friends and relatives. If you would like to sponsor a family, or if you have any questions about the program, contact Eitan Trabin in the Temple office. (Certain conditions may apply.)

Exciting 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah

Family Service and Bring Your Own Shabbat Dinner

Friday, September 26

Following services in Galpert Sanctuary join us for a bring–your–own family picnic on the Katz Terrace.

Led by Rabbi Silverstein 5:30 PM

Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center

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We are continuing PJTC Basketball for adults (high school age and above) at 8:00 PM on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month.

Coffee • Sandwiches • Pastries

New Menu Items Extended Hours 1359 North Altadena Dr.Mon. - Fri. • 6:00 PM) - 8:00 PM (at Washington Blvd.)

Sat. • 7:00 am - 5:30 PM (626) 398-8654

After Hour Rentals

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High Holy Days are coming up this month! (Rosh Hashana begins Wednesday night, September 24).

Be sure to check out our new shipment of shofars, honey-servers, tallitot, and as always, so much more! See you soon!

Remember us for your next Simcha!

Please remember to bring canned food whenever you come to the temple. Be sure to notice the basket on the table in the main lobby. Please bring a couple of cans of food to help fill it.

The FLAMEIf you prefer to receive the FLAME by mail at no

charge, please email the office at [email protected].

Please spread the wordIsrael has a new 24-hour Internet

news channel broadcasting in English from Tel Aviv. This is the link: http://www.i24news.tv/en/tv/live.

Put it on your browser. It is a 24-hour news feed (from the Israeli perspective) and is intended to rival CNN, Al-Jazeera, BBC, etc. It covers world news but also has a specific Israel news section. So many people don’t know about it, but let’s not keep it a secret! There are already many hits from across the Arab world. They too are watching.

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-Temple Member-

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Rabbi Grater's article continued from page 1

There will be an opportunity for some “hands on Judaism” Friday, October 3 at 9:00 AM when the PJTC sch’ach cutters gather at the LA County Arboretum to cut palm fronds for the roof of our succah. It is always a morning of adventure and camaraderie. Call or email Phil Callahan (796-3556, [email protected]) to volunteer or with questions.

Help Build Our Sukkah

new life and excitement, as well as a new look to some of our physical space. We welcome back Weizmann Day School, a center of Jewish education for our community. We have new members joining, we have new ideas for programs and classes, we have over a dozen adults preparing with Cantor Ruth for their b’nai mitzvah this coming year, and we are hoping to launch into a serious and meaningful strategic planning process as a community so that we can map out, together, where we want to go in the coming years. “Mah tov chelkeinu u’mah na’im goraleinu, how good is our lot, how stunning is our existence!”

And, of course, we are preparing for the holy days. Each year, Cantor Ruth and I talk about what we can do to raise the level, inspire us to crack our hearts open, pray with fervor and find the most meaning in these ever-important days. We will be continuing with the beautiful music of last year, which so many of you loved and commented on, adding a few new pieces of liturgy, and encouraging you to come to pray with us, singing loud, going deep and staying present. I am again sending my daily Elul meditations, which I hope more and more of you will engage with, and I will be offering a three-part series this month, “Getting Higher and Holier on the High Holy Days,” as a way to prepare ourselves to get the most out of these days of awe. As with anything in life, the more we put in, the more we will get out of the experience.

There was once a young person who asked to help lead High Holy Day services. He prepared, reviewed the machzor and learned all the tunes. When he came to the rabbi, he said, “I am prepared and ready, I have gone through the machzor at least three times!” The rabbi smiled and said, That is great. But how many times has the machzor gone through you?” For these days to have the most meaning, we must both prepare our souls, and be prepared to have everything we know undone once we walk into the sanctuary. As Rabbi Alan Lew z’l titled his famous book on the High Holy Days, This is Real and You are Totally Unprepared. It is counterintuitive, yes, I know. Prepare and be unprepared. Get yourselves ready and then let the waves of God’s love, the musical ecstasy of the service and the incomprehensible knowledge that life is finite and we are mortal, take you to unknown territory of soul searching. That is what these days are all about. Together, we stand ready to be rebuilt, as individuals and as a community.

Franci, Ella, Noah and I wish you and your families a shana tovah, a happy and healthy New Year of sweetness, health, joy, learning, growth and peace.

Return to Page 1

To view the September FLAME

calendar clickHere

1434 N. Altadena Drive • Pasadena, CA 91107

Pick up on Tuesday, September 23Temple Parking Lot, 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM

Call or email to ordercarolarmills@gmail or call in your order to

Carol Mills(626) 351-8403

Please provide your phone number and/or email for a friendly reminder

Annual

Sisterhood

Challah Sale

2 Lb. Round Challahs – Plain, RaisinWhole Wheat or Whole Wheat/Raisin

$9.00 eachHoneycakes (Plain or with Nuts)– $9.00 each

Home-Made Rugalah Too! – $15.00/lbOriginal or Chocolate Chip

DO NOT SEND ORDERS OR CHECKS TO THE TEMPLE

Pay when you pick up. Cash or Checks only.Make checks payable to PJTC Sisterhood

L'Shana Tovah

Join fellow PJTC congregants on Tuesday, September 23 for dinner between 5:00 and 8:00 PM at the Souplantation Restaurant, 201 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, between Del Mar and Cordova Avenues. You MUST present the flyer at the time of payment, be sure to order a beverage, and then 20% of your bill will be donated to the PJTC Sisterhood. No discount coupons will be accepted in order to have the donation made to Sisterhood.

Please park in the underground lot near the northwest corner of Cordova at Lake, across the street from the Souplantation, and your parking ticket will be validated for up to two free hours. The buffet-style restaurant offers a large variety of composed salads and separate veggies to create your own salads. There are soups, pastas, breads, bakery items and fresh fruit. Enjoy vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options too.

What a great way to get closer to PJTC friends, with no cooking or clean up to do. Isn’t this a wonderful way to give our Sisterhood a boost?

Additional flyers can be found in the temple lobby. Contact Anita Landau with questions.

Fliers available in the temple lobby

September October

Documents

Transcript of September October