aug 2008 ~ tamuz-av 5768

The religious community is based not so much on common ideas as on common interests, experiences, hopes and fears; it is a community of the heart rather than of the mind.

~Mordechai Kaplan

Gifts of Life

MEMORIAL DONATIONS...
LIZA RAVITZ, in memory of Norman Ravitz

OFFERINGS...
MURRAY GARBER, a donation to Dor Hadash in gratitude of Irwin Keller for his gracious help during a recent death in the family
eScrip

Do you need new tires or more for your vehicle? If you do, than check out the participating merchants in the eScrip (two are Big O Tires and Pep Boys) www.eScrip.com and Communitysmart (such as McLea's Tire) www.communitysmart.com programs. All it takes is having work done at one of these merchants and then when you go to pay for it present your Communitysmart card or use your credit/debit card linked with eScrip. Its so easy to make your vehicle safe and provide a donation to your community.
eScrip shoppers please make sure you keep your credit/debit cards up to date. Just go on-line to www.eScrip.com and check out my escrip to see what your expiration dates and card numbers are on their records.

Oliver's and about nine other markets belong to the Communitysmart Card program. To join this program you can instantly join by asking for a card at Oliver's checkout counter, call COMMUNITYsmart at 568-4995, or go online to www.communitysmart.com. When you check out at one of the participating merchants, you slide your Communitysmart card just like a debit card to get credit for your transaction. This program requires that a certain minimum be spent but then we receive a greater rebate (for Oliver's you need to spend $25 for a rebate of 5%).

Raley's users just need to obtain a Raley's partner's card from Anna Ghandour and activate it through their website: raleys.com. Using the card without activating it for Ner Shalom will leave those rebates in suspense.

Not sure where you stand with all these programs? Give Anna Ghandour a call at 584- 4829 or e-mail her at huskyanna@yahoo.com and let her help you make a difference today.

From the Board

Dear Chevre,

After returning to Sonoma County last week after a few weeks of time with dear friends in the Midwest, I was struck by the energy and ruach of our little community and the enormous dedication of so many. The end of last Thursday's board meeting marked the transition as the outgoing board stepped away from the oneg table and the incoming board stepped forward. There was so much positive energy as the two groups sat together and discussed many exciting ideas and activities - from plans for the High Holidays, the report from the Kavanah Committee, to the new Teen Group being formed. We have now scheduled guest rabbis each month through November and will also be having monthly Shabbat dinners. It feels as if we are coming from a space of abundance.

We are indebted to the commitment of outgoing board members Renee Kramer, Ellyn Lazar, Nancy Rapp, and especially Jack Fender who served as chair during a particularly challenging year. Thanks also to Barkat Ferar and Anna Belle Kaufman who joined the board in March, and to Berrine De Carmo who will continue to serve on the board in the coming year. Almost all of new board members - Shari Brenner, Berrine De Carmo, Ariana Elster, Alan Hahn, A.J. Levis, Art Magnus, Barbara Lesch McCaffry, and Helene Steinlauf-Norwitt - are already active on one or more committees and we are all enriched by their ideas, enthusiasm and commitment. The board has scheduled a full day retreat in early September. Until then Ariana Elster, Berrine De Carmo and Barbara Lesch McCaffry have stepped forward as an Interim Executive Committee until the board elects its officers.

And, a special word of thanks to Irwin Keller who has taken on a leadership role with Dor Hadash, the Kavanah Committee and with High Holiday services. We are benefiting from his insight, knowledge, warmth and positive energy.

We hope that many of you will be able to join us for services this month and have a chance to meet Rabbi Alyjah Navy on August 15th and Reb Yiskah Rosenfeld on September 5th.

May these warm days of summer result in great sweetness for each one of you and may the months ahead see our community truly appreciate its strengths and expand. We look forward to seeing you at services and welcome your feedback!

B'Shalom,

Barbara Lesch McCaffry
on behalf of the Ner Shalom Board of Directors

Rabbinic Support

If any Ner Shalom member is in need of spiritual counseling or rabbinic support for a life cycle event, feel free to contact Rabbi Ted Feldman of B'nai Israel in Petaluma. His phone number is (707) 765-2937. We also wish to thank Rabbi Tsvi Bar-David for his spirit-filled rabbinic support over the past year.

Shabbat Services & Dinners

Ner Shalom has revived the tradition of welcoming Shabbat together on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month, as well as having a family-friendly Shabbat dinner on the 2nd Friday. Below are upcoming services and a Shabbat dinner:

Shabbat Services
Friday, August 15 ~ 7:00pm
Led by Rabbi Alyjah Navy of the Bay Area's Ayn Sof Kabbalah Community

Rabbi Navy will focus on teachings surrounding the Aseret Yemei Teshuva -- the Ten Days of Return that constitute the core of the High Holiday Season. What are we returning to? Healing, Harmony, Happiness are just a few examples of what we hope to renew and rejuvenate in our lives. This ten day period is also understood by Jewish mystics to symbolize Ten Days of Light. There is a powerful healing exercise that Kabbalists engage in on each of these 10 Holy Days to help create Tikun Olam (transformation and healing of our world). Rabbi Navy invites you to come join him for the revelation of these and other mystical secrets at Ner Shalom Shabbat services on August 15th. An oneg will follow.

Shabbat Services
Friday, September 5 ~ 7:00 pm
Led by Reb Yiskah Rosenfeld, music by Reb Irwin Keller

Shabbat Dinner
Friday, September 12 ~ 6:00 pm
Join us to light candles, make kiddush, eat and sing together.
Children are welcome!
RSVP by September 9th by calling the office at (707) 664-8622.

High Holiday Services

We are looking forward to a full and exciting High Holiday season at Ner Shalom this year. The holidays will be spirited, musical and uplifting, and will allow many opportunities for soul searching, study and song. Services will be led by Reb Irwin Keller who, besides being a professional singer and performer, is a Hebrew scholar, educator and periodic Cantorial soloist at other congregations. Reb Irwin will be assisted by many Ner Shalom members of all ages who will sing, read Torah, blow shofar, make art, share wisdom and hold the sacred energy of this awesome season.

Our services this year will include a magical late night Selichot on September 20 (the shofar blows at midnight!); Rosh Hashanah services on September 29 & 30 featuring a dramatized "Binding of Isaac" Torah portion, and a community tashlich. Yom Kippur on October 8 & 9 will offer a contemplative healing service led by Sally Churgel and a Crane Creek stroll, in addition to the full array of traditional Yom Kippur services. Child care will be available during all services, and there will be children's services suitable for young children on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur mornings.

We are still looking for volunteers to help with the many logistics involved in a smooth holiday season. If you are willing to help out, please email Ellyn Lazar.

So plan to come, and plan to bring your friends. Watch for registration forms later this month. HIgh Holiday Schedule

Dor Hadash News

Classes begin on Sunday, September 7th. Registration info to follow later this month - stay tuned.

Dor Hadash 2008-09 promises to be a wonderful year, and we hope many new students will be joining us. We are working on a curriculum that enhances the kids' love of learning, incorporates Bar Mitzvah study and builds community. We will be asking all members of the Ner Shalom community to participate in some way. Meanwhile, the Special Needs class will move into its second year of programming, bringing in families from around the Bay Area.

JEWISH TEEN GROUP: In collaboration with Congregation B'nai Israel of Petaluma, Ner Shalom is in the process of finalizing plans for two teen groups - one for junior high age and one for high school age. The organizing is being done by the teens themselves, with the support and expertise of the of the Jewish Teen Alliance of the Bureau of Jewish Education. Several Ner Shalom teens are involved in the planning committee, with special leadership being taken by Sophia Ferar. We invite Ner Shalom members - teens and adults (you don't have children to help!) - to be part of this exciting effort. The next meeting is August 21 at 6:30 pm at B'nai Israel in Petaluma. For more information, contact Irwin Keller.

Kavanah Committee

The Kavanah Committee is the group that focuses on the spiritual life at Ner Shalom. We work with our guest rabbis, plan services and holiday observances, cultivate the musical life of the congregation and explore new directions in ritual and study. The committee is currently planning shabbat dinners for coming months, exploring the tenets of the Reconstructionist movement, and identifying needs we have for ritual objects to enhance our spiritual life.

To that end, GIVE US A HAND! And we mean that literally. The yad (pointer) that we use for reading Torah is broken and needs to be replaced. Our historic Torah Scroll, saved from Nazi destruction, has also not had a ritual breastplate since it's been in our possession. Might you be the person to donate one? (Or are you a metal artist who can make one?)

Our next meeting is Monday, August 11th at 9:30 am at Northlight Books in Cotati. All interested congregants are welcome. If you have questions or suggestions, email us!

Monthly Healing Day

Sunday, August 10, 11am - 4pm

Robin Birdfeather, Pain Management Specialist, is offering a two-hour participatory playshop, beginning at 1:00pm. The workshop includes self-help pain relief and management information to be used in everyday life, along with individualized easy movements to prevent, alleviate or eliminate persistent pain.Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. For more information, call Robin from noon - 10 pm at 795-4405 (answer machine is always on), or email her at freebyrd60@gmail.com.

In support of Robin, Alan will give a free 20-minute chair massage to all who sign up in advance for Robin's class. Please call him at 795-3891 to sign up. He is also available for full sessions.

Donation suggestion is double chai - $36, but no one will be turned away.

Special Thanks To...

Anna Ghandour for her years handling donation letters and redesigning the donation postcard

Berrine DeCarmo for taking on Anna's job of handling donation leltters

In Our Community

The Jewish Community Free Clinic of Sonoma County is now accepting donations of toys and children's books. Please bring them to their new location at Center Drive in Rohnert Park, just north of the public library. Go to JCFC for more details.

JFCS Rides hits the road to help seniors get to medical appointments, shopping, personal care appointments, and local community events. Go to JFCS Senior Programs for more information.

More events, needs and opportunities in our community can be found at Ner Shalom Community Announcements.

Congregation Ner Shalom Malakh
Carol Vanek
Editor
(707) 664-8622

August Birthdays

14 Nora Brenner-West
5 Tyler Hagen
28 Liz Hagen
28 Sally Churgel

Board Members

Shari Brenner
707-575-5863
sbrenner@sonic.net

Berrine DeCarmo
707-588- 9088
berrine1988@sbcglobal.net

Ariana Elster
707-824-5609/479-2237(cell)
aelster@comcast.net

Alan Hahn
707-795-3891
allisuno@earthlink.net

Barbara Lesch McCaffry
707-585- 2291
mccaffry@sonoma.edu

A.J. Levis
707-829-3619/480-6010(cell)
Xangoyes@gmail.com

Art Magnus
707-766-6667
arthur.magnus@comcast.net

Helene Steinlauf-Norwitt
707-664-8269
heleneno@netscape.com

Committees

Education Committee
Shari Brenner
707-575-5863
sbrenner@sonic.net

Personnel Committee
Barbara Lesch McCaffry
707-585- 2291
mccaffry@sonoma.edu

Finance Committee
Ariana Elster
707-824- 5609
aelster@comcast.net

Membership Committee
Nancy Rapp
415-897- 5090
nancyerappinsky@yahoo.com

Building and Maintenance Jack Fender
707-588- 8824
fenderola@yahoo.com

Kavanah Committee
(formerly Religious Life)
Irwin Keller
415-637-2003
irwin@irwinkeller.com

Administrator
Carol Vanek
707-664-8622
shalom@sonic.net
Office Hours:
Tues.- Fri. 9:00 am - 2:00 pm