CJC Newsletter May/June 2006

Dear Chevarim,

Our multiple Passover seders, hosted in beautiful, intimate settings in members' homes, were a heart-warming success. Thank you to all of you that helped organize, cooked, and participated in furthering the CJC definition of inclusiveness. We will continue this home-hosting model on an ongoing basis for some holidays and events.

The continued call for your involvement is part of our efforts to grow and sustain the community, and serve our membership. Your help with upcoming event and holiday preparations would be one great and much appreciated way to move the community into greater sustainability.

Contact Sara Russell at: (650) 490-0914, or email: saralrussell@sbcglobal.net.
Click here for a Membership Form

Va'ad Progress, Membership Meeting, & Passover Reviews

Our annual Member Meeting will take place in Half Moon Bay on Sunday June 4th. Details below.

Va’ad Means Council, Member Means You: A Summary of Recent Accomplishments and a Peek into the Future

CJC’s advisory council—Va’ad in Hebrew—has done some really awesome work over the past year. Created by our beautiful and talented past president Linda Jacobson and facilitated by the masterful Kevin Morgan, the Va’ad’s work is the product of over 30 (nearly half of us!) members who have pooled their time, talents and unique gifts to create a vision and structure to shape our community—our chevra—for the next few years as well as to develop the new leadership to continue our journey. Truly, this is a blessing of tzedakah for all of us.

Since the start of 2006, based on the feedback provided by last summer’s survey of the community (results are available through a link on our website) the Va’ad has:

• redefined CJC board functions and positions
• created a set of recommendations for improved organizational structure, marketing, communications, and programs and services
• undertaken development of a new, improved database
• found a new president and new treasurer
• recommended hiring of a professional bookkeeper
• begun outreach and recruitment for new board members for 2007.

Our next steps will begin with the annual Member Meeting on Sunday, June 4th at 10am, Marta Drury’s Barn. This meeting is an excellent opportunity for you to come together with other members and review the work of the Va’ad and Board, vote for the new board members and celebrate the work of outgoing board members. On behalf of the board and Va’ad, I look forward to seeing you there.

As president, I’d like to shout out kol ha’kavod (congratulations) to Chip Goldstein for stepping up to be our new treasurer; to Rachael Gershenson, our new bookkeeper; to everyone who has participated in the Va’ad over the past year, and to everyone in CJC for making us who we are.

I often reflect on the prayer Mah Tovu: How beautiful are your tents, Jacob; Your holy dwellings, Yisra’el. So much of CJC’s avodah (work and worship) gets done in people’s homes (read tents) and builds holy community (read holy dwellings, literally the mishkan, the residence of the Shechinah, the divine presence). In other words, our homes house the divine spirit. In that light, I’d like to offer a special thanks to all the folks who have opened their homes to the divine: Leslie and Les Deman, Linda Bea Miller and Phil Chapnick, Nancy Margulies and Gary Warhaftig, Marta Drury, Amee and Paul Godwin, Jon Helfman and Beth Craig, and everyone who hosted a seder.

B’shalom u’vracha (in peace and blessing),
Carrie

For more information, email: coastsidejewishcommunity@yahoo.com


Home-Hosted Seders continue the CJC model of intimate togetherness and inclusiveness

The Passover Committee would like to commend our organizers and attendees of the recent Passover seders. Here are a few of the messages we received as feedback on the event:

Jon & Beth,
Thank you so much for hosting the seder. It was wonderful to have an intimate home-based seder and have SO MANY people there! It was the best of both worlds. We are truly blessed in our CJC community and (I believe) gatherings like the seder help to inspire us to increase our efforts to ensure that the community continues to thrive.

Thank you for giving us that golden opportunity - and for all your hard work and effort on behalf of the community.
b'shalom, Wendy


Thank you!!!! I had a wonderful time (best Seder I've been to in years). Sorry my husband was not there (we do so little apart from each other). I did want to come down your way again and show Allan where the seder was - I know he would love to see the country site.

Again, thanks so much for hosting this wonderful event.
Take care, Ruth


Thank you, Jon and Beth, and everyone who came for making such a beautiful and meaningful seder. All of the participation, singing, questioning, sharing, eating, praising....it was divine.

Next year in Half Moon Bay??
Chag sameach, Julie

nature photos ©2005 Amee Evans Godwin

From Our Maggid: Staying on the Curvy Road of Life
by Jhos Singer

Shalom Chaverim-

Spring is springing!! I love the clean green shoots that are appearing everywhere, the wild blossoms and the blasts of fragrances--freesias, roses, lilac--that whack me as I walk my kids to school. Truly, this is an extraordinary existence. But this year, it’s harder to revel in our lush California dream, because this year there is so much death, chaos and violence filling our world. It is difficult to reckon the discrepancy between life as I know it and life as the Iraqis, or the Darfurians, or the former New Orleanites are living. Judaism has a formula for reckoning the lunar calendar with the solar calendar called, sod ha-ibbur / the secret of reconciliation. The notion that two very independent cycles have some base that aligns them is one that finds its way into Jewish spiritual life and thinking. I have found myself searching for a socio-political sod ha-ibbur lately.

The Torah teaches us u’vacharta ba-chayim / and therefore choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19). Looking closely at the text, one could read this text to say, in command form: Choose with Life! And if that is the case, we have to look at what Life chooses in order to know what we should choose. Perhaps Life doesn’t choose as much as it allows. It allows for things that challenge its very existence, which seems paradoxical at the very least. Counter-intuitively, Life allows for depression and disease, degradation and despair to exist, seemingly unfettered. I find myself wanting to rebuke Life for its tolerance. I want Life to take a stand against these threats to itself; I find my innermost feelings growling, “Come on Life, fight back!” Life should say “No!” to hopelessness, to despondency, to failure. But it doesn’t.
(Jhos' continued...)
Instead it stretches and aches, it yields and distends allowing all states and conditions, from bliss to suffering, from excitement to gloom, to thrive within its boundaries. Life is uncertain, unpredictable and oft times unmanageable. Life is a riddle about time and movement and growth that has yet to be solved. We live under the illusion that Life is fruitful, that more is better, and that all roads lead to wisdom. Sorry, but I wouldn't count on it…. Life is loaded with "what ifs" and paths not taken. Life is kalideoscopic and trippy. Ironically, life is surreal.

Death on the other hand is very clear-cut. For one thing, it is guaranteed. We might not like it, but we have to give death a little credit -- at the very least, it is reliable. We will all die one way or another. It is inevitable. And it is fair. Everyone dies, regardless of status, virtue, talent or brilliance. Death doesn't require anything from us. It finds everyone, ready or not. Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, teach us that dying is easy, "as easy as lifting a hair out of milk." But the mere thought of it gives most of us anxiety and discomfort. Now, how wacky is that? We embrace Life, which is erratic, unfair and fraught with uncertainty, but we reject Death, even though it is a sure bet. In some ways this set up is totally crazy-making….

So, "choose Life"? What's the point? Could be that as long as we have found ourselves here, alive, despite the perils, we might as well Live. Judaism teaches us that we should practice standing up after each tumble. The muscles we need to rise up again and again are strengthened every time we experience joy, love, compassion and contentment. Each time we laugh, kiss, smile, sing, dance and pray we bulk up spiritually. Its not foolproof, but then, neither is life. Choosing Life is full of risks. Let's face it: ultimately we will lose everything we have worked so hard to attain. Part of choosing life then is learning to be a good loser. Losing with grace, dignity and poise is one aspect of glorifying God. Transforming our losses into compassion, wisdom, art and strength is what it means to build a Mishkan, a dwelling place, for God here amongst us.

The state of the world today is deplorable. Every day seems more manic than the last. Simplicity is going the way of the pterodactyl and dodo bird. Terrorism, pollution, a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots, bumbling leadership and a stressed out constituency are the signposts of this decade. Choosing Life means reading those signposts and managing to stay on the road, despite mounting fear and exhaustion. One foot at a time, we attempt to find a way to a gentle and just world. We offer our time, our voices, our resources and our faith to efforts that affirm our love for one another. We do this in big political ways and in personal, intimate ways. Some of our efforts pay off, while others end in failure. It's easy to crumple under the weight of the failures. What takes effort is learning to celebrate our triumphs. Spring comes along as a role model of celebration. Spring shows us the beauty and thrill of choosing Life.

This spring, let us continue to strive for justice without being foolish enough to hold our breath until it is achieved. Believing in the power of one step, of one person, of one triumph-- that's choosing with Life. As you trek along the path, you will encounter discouraging signposts. Don't stop there; just take it in and keep moving. Between the signposts you will find freesias, roses and lilacs. And when you do, take them in too. Let the yellow, red and lavender remind you of the many vibrant colors of Life. Fill your lungs with the fleeting sweet scent of Life, and know you have chosen well.

Blessings---

Jhos

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nature photos ©2005 Amee Evans Godwin

From our Sheli'ach Tsibbur, Julie Batz

I've selected these two poems, one by Elizabeth Bishop, and one by Hafiz, to reflect some of the themes that Jhos is exploring in this issue.

B'shalom, Julie

One Art

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

---Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

-- Elizabeth Bishop

It Felt Love

How
Did the rose
Ever open its heart

And give the world
All its
Beauty?

It felt the encouragement of light
Against its
Being,

Otherwise,
We all remain

Too

Frightened.

-- Hafiz

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From Our President: Carrie Sealine
The Omer or It Takes a Lot of Beans to Build a Hill of Beans

Our holy teacher Rabbi Steven Fisdel teaches us that the meaning of the Omer—the seven-week period bridging Pesach (liberation) and Shavuot (revelation)—is that of accumulation, of aggregation, of building something large and holy over time from small and seemingly insignificant offerings.

In the Torah (Lev. 23:9-14), Hashem commands every household in Israel to bring a sheaf (omer) of the first grain harvest to the cohain (priest) beginning after the pesach observance. The priests collected these sheaves for seven weeks, by which time they had amassed a significant store of grain for sacrifice, to eat themselves, and to feed the poor. With each household contributing a small amount of barley or wheat or rye over an extended period of time, the entire community built up an abundance of food.

In observance of the Omer today, we can make daily offerings of small amounts of time or money to ourselves, to our families and to our Coastside Jewish Community. For example, if your daily prayer practice, like mine, consists of a quick “Modah Ani” as you wash your hands every morning, the Omer gifts us with the chance to add another prayer, chant, or meditation to our routine. Or to take an extra moment to fix our kavannah (intention) of gratitude.

If your habit of study consists, like mine, of a quick dip into the parasha of the week, the Omer grants us the time to read a little more, reflect a bit more deeply, or check in with a friend to discuss an interesting, confusing, or really irritating bit.

If your habit of tzedakah, like mine, consists of giving small amounts inconsistently and irregularly, or even sometimes not at all, the Omer says, “OK, put aside a little every day for forty-nine days—then write a nice, big check to the organization, group, or cause you’ve been wishing you could give to.”

If your involvement with CJC has been, like mine, intermittent and sporadic, use the Omer to reflect on how you can contribute to our holy community in small, regular, and ongoing ways. Be part of a Shabbat minyan. Host an event at your home. Volunteer to open and close our shul once a quarter or to be the voice of CJC on our outgoing telephone message. Take a class with Julie, study Torah with Jhos, or check out the ruach chavurah. Attend a va’ad meeting; serve on a task force, step up to the board.

Unlike the great festivals, which demand a lot of time and attention, the Omer calls for a narrow focus, a tiny gesture, a small change, a slight shift, an incremental approach. Over the course of the Omer’s seven weeks, we find that we are davening more, and more deeply, studying more thoroughly, giving more generously, and participating in our community more fully.

In this way, the Omer helps us blur the boundary between sacred and ordinary time and space, bayn kodesh v’chol—to bring a bit of Shabbat into everyday life. The Omer prepares us to stand face- to-face, connected heart-to-heart with the holy shechinah by allowing us to create gradually the space inside and outside ourselves into which we will receive the divine revelation of Shavuot.

B’shalom u’vracha (in peace and blessing), Carrie

 

Lifecycles - Bikkur Cholim

LIFECYCLES

On April 2nd, for Dorothy Rosenbaum’s Yartzeit, Sara Russell, Lesli Sachs, Marta Drury, Karen L. Erlichman, Carrie Sealine, and Linda Bea Miller went to Beth Shalom to be with Liz and honor Dorothy. It was a lovely service and wonderful to get to spend some special moments with Liz.

Ely Raphael Cristol-Deman's Bris was Sunday, March 5 at his grandparent’s house, Les and Leslie Deman. It was a heart warming experience with hardly a whimper from Ely as grandpa soothed him with a little Kosher liquid.

Our deep-felt sorrow to member Leila Lurie whose father passed away. May his memory be a blessing.

Congratulations to Miriam Gershenson-Lynch. She took 1st place in the Cunha Science Fair in her category! She placed first in the Bay Area completion and now, goes onto the state completion at the end of May. Miriam also was accepted at Lick-Wilmerding High School in SF that specializes in hands-on technology. Mazel Tov!!!!

Word on the Jacobson/Bell twins is that they are getting big, so if you are like me and have not had moment to visit, get going or before we know it they will be having their Bar Mitzvah. Maryann has returned to work and they have a “nanny” with the boys. I would think that home cooked food is always a treat. (Remember that Linda has a wheat allergy.)

Karen Gonzales’ mother who lives in Los Angeles, has Alzheimer's Disease. She is almost 88 years old and the disease is in the moderate stage. Fortunately she can stay in her own home with a caregiver but she has always been very independent and is resisting this. If any of the members have been through this with their own parents, please email her at karen226@sbcglobal.net to share information.

Feel better, Sage Russell, who injured his lower lip while playing, and recently underwent an eartube procedure.

Gary Warhaftig attended the last Va’ad and was looking rather spry.

A big thank you to Leslie Deman for the great spread she put out for our last Va’ad and to both Les and Leslie Deman for the use of her house. The Va'ad is an advisory group who will help keep our community strong and informed.

-Linda Bea Miller

 

YARTZHEIT

Edward Lobel, Kerry Lobel's father --- 4/25 --- 27 Nisan 5754
Jessica Wilson's father --- 4/17 --- 19 Nisan 5765

Danial Steven Ross, Elizabeth Ross' brother --- 4/28 --- 30 Nisan
Joel White's mother --- 5/5

Betty Miller, Linda Bea Miller's mother --- 5/24 --- 26 Lyyar
Burt Lawrence Chapnick, Philip Chapnick's brother --- 5/28 --- 26 Lyyar

Grace Polansky, Vaughn Harrison's mother --- 5/18 --- 20 Lyyar
Zalman Josel Scherer, Marlene Scherer Stern's father --- 5/13 --- 15 Lyyar

Alice Stern, Hank Stern's mother --- 5/20 --- 22 Lyyar
Sally Wallach, Thea Wallach's brother --- 6/2

Jeff Lobel, Kerry Lobel's brother --- 5/15 --- 17 Lyyar
Beverly Cornet, partner of Barry Cornet --- 6/12 --- 16 Sivan
Celia Brodsky-Goldberg, Rosalyn Isaac's mother --- 6/3 --- 7 Sivan

Rema Hortr Mann, Karen Erlichman's sister-in-law --- 5/5 --- 7 Lyyar
Alexander Ash Ross, Elizabeth Ross' father --- 5/29 --- 2 Sivan

Solomon Jacobson, Linda Jacobson's father --- 7/3 --- 7 Tamuz
Gary Warhaftig's sister --- 6/

“Help for our community is needed”

As always, new families appreciate dinners delivered to them.
Anyone able to cook for or help transport our community when the need arises,
please contact Linda Bea Miller: lb250a@hotmail.com or 726-6959.
We are in need of helpers.

A final word, we have vacancies on the CJC governing board as well as supporting positions (like mine). The term will be ending after 2 years of service for these folks. Anyone who is interested please contact any board member. We are looking for a vice president, treasurer (we now have a bookkeeper on staff), education chair, life cycle chair, fundraiser chair, membership chair, and events chair. There are other ways to serve our community as well. Oneg is a great place to start after all the challah and the sound system don't just magically appear, although thanks to our board members it does seem like that. High Holy Days are coming up. Last year it took 3 of us to make it happen. 4 could make it even easier. We have a great, unusual community but because of our size we all need to contribute to keep us vital.

Thanks, -LB (LB250a@hotmail.com)

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Donations

GENERAL FUND

Sheila Weiss: donation in memory

Ruach Havurah: tzedakah donation

Jhos Singer: tzedakah donation

Marta Drury: in honor of Randi Howard and Mark Perlsweig

Wendi Lash: Ruach Havurah donation

Carrie Sealine: Ruach Havurah donation

Karen Erlichman: Ruach Havurah donation

CJC Board Members: in honor of Liz' Gray's service to the board and in memory of Dorothy Rosenbaum

Union Bank: a donation to match the donation of Jacque Maxon

 

Get more involved with CJC!

Sign up with eScrip - the electronic fundraising program in which participating merchants contribute when you buy stuff using your supermarket club/debit/credit cards that you register with eScrip. No receipts to collect, no tsuris (trouble) for you-and every purchase counts! Every time you shop at one of 6,000 merchant locations, a percentage of your purchase goes directly to CJC! It's simple and secure to sign up online:

Step #1: Go to www.escrip.com
Step #2: Click on Sign Up
Step #3: Enter CJC's Group ID#144028734
Step #4: Enter your card number(s).

It's easy. It's free. It's great for CJC.

 

Contact us!

CJC on the Web: www.coastsidejewishcommunity.org

Email: coastsidejewishcommunity@yahoo.com

Mailing Address: PO Box 1729, El Granada, CA, 94018

Spiritual Leaders:
Jhos Singer, Maggid 510-526-5397 cjcmaggid@sbcglobal.net
Julie Batz, Sheli'ach Tsibbur 510-549-3121 jbatz@sbcglobal.net

Board Members:
Carrie Sealine (President)
Sara Russell (Membership)
Leslie Deman (Secretary)
Wendi Shafir (Education)
Linda Bea Miller (Lifecycles)
Amee Evans Godwin (Publications)
Lissin Lev Chaya (Ritual)

CJC Newsletter: Amee Evans Godwin
Email: coastsidejewishcommunity@yahoo.com

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Publications/Webmaster - coastsidejewishcommunity@yahoo.com